Ascension of the Nephilim

The attack that they created were miniature star cores that would explode on the impact of a hard surface. There were five small meteorites created that were shot towards the portal.

Each meteorite had slight deviations to hit different ranges of the path. They didn't even make a practice shot, but Martha was confident in being able to pull it off. Her path of Combat and Foresight had improved during the training, and shooting the arrow was now easy.

The meteorites shot through the distance and quickly zoomed past the many Feather Folk who was waiting to send one more message before heading back to the Temple.

Finally, the Feather Folk watching over the portal saw it flying by. It flew straight for the opening of the portal.

On the other side of the portal, the armies continued to hastily position themselves near the exit where they would wait for Heralcus to emerge on the other exit.

Lucas, Eredus, Faust, and the new Giant Commander were assigned to prepare for the ambush, and they were moving their men towards the exit. And because of that, all the Commanders were at the forefront of the march.

Suddenly, several colorful lights flashed on the portal, and terrifying energy appeared.

"No!"

"Retreat!"

The three resurrected Commanders quickly activated various spells to the portal or moved out of the incoming power. They dared not block it as they couldn't even make out of the kind of energy that appeared in front of them. The Commanders ordered a retreat, and while many Champions was fast enough to react, not everyone was able to make their retreats quickly.

At the appearance of the small meteorites, many met their doom.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The meteors moved with incredible speed and exploded on different grounds of the path leading to the center where the Temple once stood.

The last meteor moved ahead of the rest and landed on the very center of the grounds.

BOOM!

Each explosion was enough to cover the full length of the path, and only those that had the ability to evade and jump and elements of all kinds erupted out in a grand mixture of pure power.

It was as if various stars were born in the darkness.

Each explosion had a diameter of a hundred meters, and all five exploded out quickly, killing those engulfed in the release of the elements.

The Giant Commander used his force to resist as his instincts were to defend. His low dexterity and his position in the army gave him little choice. And now, not one hair of him remained.

Lucas had used his Grendelor form and evaded by jumping as high as he could.

Eredus has flown to the skies and stood near the edge of the Life and Death Containing field.

Faust had teleported himself and many with him to the far end of the strange realm.

"What... What was that?!"

"That was the attack that Lord Heralcus told us about! That was the one that destroyed Darako's Dark dome! They know we are here! Everyone! Reform your ranks and attack!" Eredus ordered and summoned his vampire army, who took to the skies in their bat forms.

"On me! We're charging through! Eat whatever leftovers of our fallen allies you find!" Lucas roared with great anger as he ordered the surviving members of his squad to charge ahead. The remaining corpses that weren't incinerated were being eaten by the swifter creatures that could absorb the power.

The entire army charged madly towards the entrance.

The army they once commanded had lost nearly forty percent of their numbers. Many Champions and Captains died instantly, even before moving out of the portal.

The rage and fear of the three Commanders led to the orders to rush outside and attack the Nephilim.

Eredus was the first to move. If the Nephilim was ready to make another bombardment, he needed to appear on the other side and stop a surprise attack aiming for his Lord Cardinal.

He flew with great speed and moved ahead of everyone else. He flew into the portal that would lead back to Middle without hesitation.

But as he emerged on Middle, a bright light appeared right in front of his face!

The pale white face of the vampire turned whiter, and he retreated with such a great speed that it was as if his soul retreated ahead of him.

"AHHH! ANOTHER ATTACK!" He shouted as he emerged back to the Crossroads.

The sudden panicked shout and reappearance of Eredus caused the Commanders and their armies to panic immediately.

Many jumped to evade. Others retreated but would crash on their allies, rushing at them.

The sight of a fearful Commander flying back and screaming as if he was to die made the rest panic as well. After all, they had just experienced the full power of the attack.

In the commotion, many crushed on each other. Since only a few were resurrected as shades and had bodily or pseudo-bodily form, the resulting stampeded at the front of the gate and how even those who were flying made sudden turns and crashed into each other caused several men to fall off the path and into the Life and Death Containing Field.

Some of the bats that were flying also flew into the Life and Death Containing Field.

The Commanders all made their quick retreats.

And then, nothing happened.

"...What?!" Eredus was confused.

"What did you see?" Lucas asked.

"I saw several bright energies similar to the attack! It was right on my face!"

"On your face?" Faust questioned suspiciously.

"If it was, then the attack should have followed you closely!" Faust argued.

"Then... I shall check again!" Eredus cursed and moved back cautiously towards the portal.

He avoided the path as he moved back. Slowly, he pushed his head through from the upper-most right corner of the portal.

His head appeared in Middle, and he saw it. His great dexterity allowed him to move so fast that on the first time he moved out of the portal and the light, he immediately retreated, not seeing what it was. But now that he moved his head and caught sight of what it was, his soul exploded with rage.

Several strange firecrackers were hanging from several tall sticks and were lit up to make it look like another volley of attacks was sent. 

"THAT NEPHILIM!" He roared and used his magic to destroy the firecrackers and retreated to the portal.

"It was a trick! That bastard deceived me! Men! We attack now!" Eredus ordered, and he moved out.

The flying army of bats charged together with Eredus, and the rest moved out in great anger.

The swarm of bats emerged, and they scattered throughout the sky, searching for any living thing moving across the land.

"There!" One of the bats transformed into a vampire and pointed towards a Feather Folk flying towards the horizon.

Eredus wanted to chase after the flying figure, and he could catch up with his speed. But he knew it was dangerous to try. The feathered folk had already flown quite a distance from the delays they faced.

"Scatter out and don't stick next to each other!"

Suddenly, a bright light appeared on the skies above.

It was an arrow pointing down. It was a clear sign of provocation. The group was pointing in the direction where they were.

"That arrogant brat!" Lucas roared as he appeared out of the portal and saw the arrow.

At that moment, another portal was opening several hundreds of kilometers from where the portal was.

Heralcus appeared and immediately saw the arrow.

"Eredus! Why are you already outside?!" Heralcus shouted and called to Eredus through his dark link.

"They used bombardment spell similar to the attack that destroyed Darako's dome, my lord! We had to move out!"

"A bombardment spell?!"

"Yes! It happened fast, and nearly forty percent of our four armies were killed. And Giant Commander Trahder is dead!"

"Do not charge and move your armies to form ranks beyond the Temple. Do not engage them! And beware of any lies and traps set by this Nephilim! He is a descendant of the Lord of lies after all!" 

"Yes, Lord Cardinal!"

Suddenly, several fireworks erupted above the bright arrow above the skies.

The fireworks then created a massive statement written in dark fire.

"Come and die! For the victory feast of the Nephilim is at hand!"

The words declared with great arrogance the victory that is to come. And Heralcus was enraged. He could feel the power of the Taunt of Tyranus radiating out of the words.

All of Destiny's warriors felt something else as they looked at those words.

For those words were written with the power of Fate Challenger, and everyone had the impression that the sign was more than just an arrogant claim, but a decree of victory by Fate.

Heralcus made hurried arrangements to begin the march towards the area.

In the Temple, a team of Skeletons, Liches, led by the Emberdons and Martha, was ready to fly out.

"Strike team! Move out!" Demerus shouted as the team began to fly out.