Max entered the dimensional battlefield and the first thing he noticed upon flying in there was a sea of warriors clad in armour.
Wyverns, Dragon's, Phoenix's, Eagles, Gryphons and countless other creatures flew in the air almost filling up the entire sky with most having warriors seated on their backs.
Even in the sky full of various creatures, it was easy to spot mama Rhea who was probably the biggest beast of them all in the sky.
There were no small dragons or wyverns who dared to fly in a 100 metres radius of the black dragon queen, creating a vacuum around the space where she flew.
There were visible bruises on her body, as if she had just been embroiled in a terrifying battle, however, because she was a wounded dragon, her presence became that much more intimidating.
No-one wanted to cross the black dragon queen known to have a temper, especially when she was wounded and more irritable than ever.
Being on top of Mira, Max also joined the ranks of the warriors in the sky as he looked down below to see the full picture.
Max looked down at the sprawling vista of armies below him. The sheer scale of the assembled forces was nothing short of breathtaking. It was a sight that made one realise how small one was in the face of such power and determination.
First in his sight was the Hazelgrove Empire army. Thousands upon thousands of uniformed soldiers lined up in neat rows, their polished armour gleaming under the relentless sun.
At their helm was Emperor Cervantez, a formidable figure straight out of the legends. A thick sword hanging by his side as he rode the legendary Pegasus horse.
Right behind him was Prince Aman, a controversial figure known to dabble in the dark arts of necromancy, yet an undeniable backbone of the Hazelgrove army.
The contingent was primarily consisting of humans with a few odd members but with their rigorous discipline and synchronised March, they painted the perfect picture of the empire's strength.
Adjacent to them were the joint forces of the Titus and Caesar clans. Lord Titus Vega and Julian Caesar stood side by side, casting commanding shadows over their troops. Their army, though not as numerous as the Empire's, was better in terms of quality with each vampire worth two men in battle.
If the two men hated each other to the bone, it was not visible today as they marched shoulder to shoulder.
If Max did not understand their personalities well he would have thought they actually got along with each other, but because he did know them very well he could not help but grin looking at the scene.
Not far from them, the Won Knight army presented a unique picture. Led by the patriarch Augustus Won Knight and Leader Patricia Won Knight, their army was an intriguing amalgamation of beastmen, humans, and demi-humans. Their diversity was their strength, the blend of races and cultures creating a unique synergy that few could rival.
But all these formidable forces seemed to pale in the face of the most powerful army. The angel army led by the archangels Micheal, Sariel, Raphael, and Hazriel was a spectacle to behold. Each warrior was resplendent in shining white armour, wings ablaze with holy light. They were the epitome of divine might, their presence alone stirring waves of awe and reverence among the other forces.
A ripple of tension swept across the battlefield. Max could feel it in the air, in the stifled breaths of the warriors beneath him, and in the restless beating of Mira beneath him. This was not just a battlefield. It was a cacophony of emotions – of fears and hopes, of resolves and doubts.
His heart pounded in his chest as he looked at the sight below him. The scale of the upcoming conflict, the forces involved, the powerful individuals who were leading them; it all felt surreal. He felt a lump in his throat, a mixture of fear and excitement. As much as he dreaded the upcoming battle, there was a part of him that was drawn to it, to the clash of powers, to the challenge, and to the stories that were yet to unfold.
As the Bloodfall clan entered the battlefield in its full, Max flew directly over their heads as Sebastian and Anna joined him with dragon's of their own.
There were maybe a few hundred million, maybe a billion troops marching at once in the battlefield and yet there were many more forces that Max could not even spot who he knew would be here.
This was a gathering of the universe's strongest and yet it was only one half of the universe.
What the gathering would look like beyond the half line at the dark faction end of the battlefield, Max did not know, but he was sure that if he saw hundreds of millions of demons marching alongside other unsightly creatures, it would give him nightmares for decades to come.
**********
( Meanwhile Rudra )
Despite being on the ground, with his omniscient eyes Rudra was able to scan the entire battlefield.
He was happy to see some familiar faces and impressed to see a few others.
He had fought a fair share of wars in his lifetime, yet this one felt impressive even to him.
The reason why it felt so impressive was because everyone was uniting in this fight for a common cause.
There was no victory for the vampire kingdom or the Elite Kingdom or the Hazelgroove Empire here.
There was only a victory for the light faction or the dark faction.
If Max was participating in a war of this scale without him around, he would have been worried for his safety.
But posing as an old man, Rudra knew that even if he was unable to kill Lucifer here, he would at least not fail in saving Max's life if a grave danger did appear.
That aside, Rudra did not plan to interfere in his fights.
This was a great chance for him to grow and learn and even if the learning opportunity came after being slashed and bruised by an enemy, Rudra did not mind at all.
Trotting slowly on his horse as he marched with the Bloodfall clan, Rudra smiled his wrinkled smile and breathed in the scent of metal and fire.
" Mmm, smells like an adventure " he said, smacking his lips as he entered a cheerful mood.
This was the mode of life he was most comfortable with.
The battlefield was his home.