The news about the fall of Command Centre 3 swept the entire light and dark army, leaving both in shock and disbelief. Just a few hours ago, Beast Prince Kandrif had reported his takedown of CC#3 along with setting up of barrier that was expected to last for a full month. They had even given the light army sufficient time to prepare their troops to take the command centre under their control. This was such a momentous event that even the immortal-expert who was in charge light army was stunned.

The army of the forts as well as the standing reserve army of the command centre along with the 10 peak-saints had returned in a few hours but had been unable to make a dent in the barrier. They had reported the entire situation to their headquarter leaving the entire dark army extremely infuriated. This was a reversal of the entire war. Initially, the dark empire had more than 40 more forts than the light empire which had pretty much cemented their victory. But each command centre was equal in value to the number of forts it commanded. Thus, CC#3 had a value of 31 forts. With its fall, the light empire was now leading in the war. Even without the talented army members of the light empire, they were leading in the war!

As the beast prince had even placed a barrier around the CC#3, there was no way to get it back the easy way. The only way was through a huge battle. The entire attention of both the empires was sent to this corner command centre that was never the most important or famous. Kandrif had divided the contribution as 40 per cent to himself, 40 per cent to Michael and the rest to all the members of the squad equally.

The amount of merit that had been given to both of them was mind-boggling. As Kandrif had invested quite a lot in the war, his investments had more or less balanced his returns. But for Michael, it was indeed a jackpot. Michael was not in any particular need for resources but this reward would help him to improve the level of the Rageberg family forces. Thus, he was quite moved with this reward.

Ashley and Michael were quite close to each other but there was still no spark between them. Michael may have his feelings but he valued other things more. Ashley was not even concerned as she was plotting her escape. The time for her to act was almost there.

As the different armies heard about the situation, Michael's and Kandrif's names resounded in Aterna again. This was a historic achievement on the battlefield! Never had a CC fallen in the hundred-year wars. This was indeed the first time. Even the neural empire and the god-beasts took note of the situation. As for light and dark empires, Michael and Kandrif's names were the most discussed topics even among the civilians. This event was being looked at as the rise of two powerful future experts.

The world was now watching the battle that was going to happen at CC#3. Both armies gathered huge armies from the other command centres and forts. This battle was not going to be a small scale skirmish but a real large-scale thunderous battle. But as these winds were blowing across the empires, Michael and his teammates were living in great comfort. All the dark races remaining in the centre were all locked into prison. The best living facilities were enjoyed by Michael's squad. Damian and his brothers were using many high-level resources to level up their cultivation. They knew that the upcoming battle was going to be the final test. If they could survive this, they would truly soar to the heavens.

The other members of the squad were preparing themselves as well. By the end of the week, they could observe many light army legions coming to the battlefield. They established their camps and started surrounding several entrances of the command centre. More and more legions were showing up from both sides. Soon, a huge army was standing in the two camps. There was around 60 kilometres distance between the camps with the command centre in the middle.

The battle would begin when the barrier dissolved as both sides would try to take the centre. According to the plan, Micahel's squad was to retreat as soon as the barrier dissolved. Both Ragnar and Kevin had pressurized the light army for the safe evacuation of the squad. As the battle was bound to be the fiercest inside the centre, Michael and his squad were going to evacuate and leave the battlefield. Michael had no objections to this.

Michael and Kandrif may be good fighters but they were not soldiers. They would not be able to follow the military tactics and formations that were used by the soldiers. Their presence was not needed and might even hinder the army in such a large scale battle. Kandrif too agreed with him.

As the day for the dissolution of barrier came closer, the army seemed to swell to preposterous sizes. The number of soldiers in both camps was higher than five hundred thousand. Each empire only had the standing army of about 2 million soldiers. Looking at the huge army on either side, even immortal experts would gasp.

Just a day before the fated day of battle, Michael was standing at the topmost tower of the command centre. Even though there was a distance of 30 kilometres to the army camp, he could see the sheer size of the army camp. It was indeed a war, the hundred-year war. While Michael in his previous life had seen even bigger armies, one could never get used to the majesty and epicness of a war of such proportions. Just as he was wondering if this would be good or bad for the plane in the future, Kandrif climbed up the stairs before sitting beside him.

Michael : What do you think about your handiwork? We are going to send so many to their deaths.

Kandrif : What? Are you trying to make me feel guilty or something? I am doing this for a reason. I need to hold the mantle of my entire race in the future. You are the same. The plane that we live in can only support so many races. If I have to lead my race, not only do I need the love and respect of my own race but I also need the fear from other races! Or else, my race would keep on being bullied. I need to make my legend of iron and blood so that when the other races think about attacking the werebeasts, they will think twice! This war today will ensure several generations of peace for my race. If it is for my race, I will bath the entire Aterna in blood!

Michael : What about enemy from beyond? If they invade after we have lost so many fighters, we will be much weaker.

Kandrif : Michael, I know that you are thinking about the entire plane. And I admire you for that. You are the only person who I know who thinks like that. Your method of thinking is so different from the others that it is refreshing. But know this, all of it boils down to one thing - strength. If you someday manage to achieve transcendental strength such that you can decide the life and death of everyone in the plane - your words will be the law. But before that, you can only do your best. We will evacuate tomorrow. It is better if we are not involved in the war. We have already done quite a lot.

Saying so, Kandrif left the watchtower. Michael sat on the observation deck as the same thought echoed in his mind again and again - transcendental strength that can decide life and death of anyone! He felt as is something inside of him was growing and spreading. It was as if something was converging inside of him - something that came from his nature - his dao.

As the curtains rose on the great historic battle of CC#3, several powers were looking at the situation.

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The day came and all the soldiers in both the camps began preparing themselves. The soldiers checked their weapons and armours as well as their warhorses. The camps were brimming with activity from the dusk. People were nervous and excited. This was going to be the final battle for many of the soldiers. But there was no regret in their eyes. One could see hints of fear in the eyes of soldiers but at the same time, there was endless battle intent. This battle intent was like an invisible feeling - a force field that wrapped itself around the entire army. As the soldiers saw their companions ready to fight the battle of their lives for the future of their races, they got even more courageous. Courage birthed courage, and battle intent birthed battle intent.

The smell of war was enveloping the army camps. The bloodthirsty aura of several war veterans was unleashed. It was indeed the build-up worth the clash of light and darkness. In just a few hours, the armies assumed their formations with more than 50 peak-saints taking the key points on either side. After the armies were prepared, they began to release their auras together.

The air seemed to rattle and shake at their determination. Both armies seemed like a huge being that was one unit! The combined auras of more than five hundred thousand soldiers on either side gave the impression that mythical beings had descended on earth. As if sensing the omen, even winds ceased. The different sounds in the environment slowly died down. Even the sound of insects was gone! As the armies took their position, the barrier in the distance flickered. It seemed as if the mighty barrier had lived its life and was like a candle in the wind - about to extinguish any moment.

As soon as this was observed, several peak-saints shouted with their full power - Attack!

Their shout in the stillness of the environment was like a physical blow that shattered the dam of tension and energy that had built up. Following the shout, all the soldiers lifted their weapons and shouted their war slogans before kicking off their warhorses. As these warhorses were the best in both empires, crossing 10 kilometres was would be done in less than five minutes. As they set off from their mark, the entire battlefield seemed to be waking up as a ferocious beast! The two armies approached each other at full speed with the momentum to drill mountains and run across water. There seemed to be nothing that could stop them!

This was a great war that had been recorded in the history of the plane as one of the biggest wars before the devil invasion.

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Michael and his squad had created a path for themselves from in between the war waging around them. As their squad had many experts, even in between a massive battlefield, they were capable of doing as they wished. Michael too was fighting and taking care of attackers. Kandrif could be seen in his partially transformed state fending off attacks from dark empire soldiers.

The battle had been underway for a full half hour. The smell of blood had spread around and seemed to dye the entire world red.

That being said, Michael was not having much difficulty. His fighting style was quite developed and he was able to fight off multiple opponents as well. With illusions surrounding him, he was very hard to track down. Also, his every attack extinguished the soul of one enemy making him seem like a veteran of killing on the battlefield.

It was then - he felt it! A sense of danger. A danger so malicious and deep that goosebumps appeared over his entire body! He immediately focussed on his All Seeing Eyes and was immediately able to catch the glimpse of someone. Someone was attacking him at the moment. To think that someone managed to get this close without him knowing anything! The palm attack was so close that it was almost touching Michael! The palm attack carried an aura that was extremely malevolent and sinister. Michael had a feeling that if he was touched by it, he would without a doubt die! All his two lifetimes of experience was telling him to avoid this attack at all costs!

Michael hurriedly sent his soul energy to attack and disorient the attacker so that he could evade. But, his soul attack was blocked!

He instantly understood: Soul guard!

All this happened in the fraction of a second.

By this time, the palm was just a few centimetres away from Michael's body! At this point, Michael closed his eyes.