Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 186

Chapter 186: Die or Fly II

The figure morphed into Sophia next. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of love and disappointment. “You always think you’re the hero, don’t you? But you’re just running away,” she accused, her hands crackling with energy.

Aiden blocked her attacks, the force of their clash creating sparks in the air. “I’m not running away. I’m facing my fears head-on,” he shouted, his sword clashing with Sophia’s energy blasts, dispelling the illusion with a final, decisive strike.

Sophia’s form then shifted into Chloe, her eyes filled with concern. “Aiden, please, just come back. You don’t have to fight anymore,” she pleaded, stepping forward with open arms.

Aiden hesitated for a moment, feeling the urge to embrace her, but he then bit his lower lip and clarity returned to his eyes, he reminded himself this is nothing but illusion “You’re not Chloe,” he said, his voice resolute. “And I can’t stop fighting until I find the truth.”

Chloe’s form twisted back into his father’s. “You are a failure, Aiden. You’ll never be good enough,” his father sneered, lunging at him with a fierce kick.

Aiden dodged the attack and countered with a flurry of strikes, each one infused with his spirit energy. “I am not a failure,” he shouted, his voice echoing through the void. “I am Aiden, The one whose Father was proud of him and you are not my father, watch me overcome this challenge! And beat the shit out of you! ”

The figure of his father laughed, shifting rapidly between all the forms it had taken before—Emily, Mark, Jimmy, Dio, Melina, Tista, Sophia, Chloe, and finally his father again. Each transformation brought a barrage of attacks that Aiden skillfully deflected, his spirit sword glowing brighter with each successful block and counter.

“Why do you fight so hard, Aiden?” the illusion taunted, its voice a cacophony of all the people it had impersonated. “You can’t escape your past. You can’t escape the truth.”

Aiden’s eyes burned with anger as he focused his energy. “The truth is, I am stronger than my past. I am stronger than my fears. I am stronger because I worked for it!” He channeled all his spirit energy into one final, devastating strike. His sword glowed with an intense, radiant light as he brought it down upon the illusion.

“Absolute Sever!”

The illusion screamed as the sword’s light engulfed it, tearing it apart piece by piece. The ocean and the dark sky around Aiden began to split in half and dissolve, replaced by a blinding white light.

When the light faded, Aiden found himself standing back in a pure white space, his spirit sword still in hand.

“What’s next?” Aiden panted, but his eyes shone with utmost focus. He looked around, trying to find what his next challenge was. But even after what seemed like an eternity, nothing happened.

Aiden sat cross-legged and began to meditate to recover his energy. After some hours, feeling rejuvenated, he stood up and looked around. “I arrived here when I began to test the sword,” he mused.

“Maybe, I have to do the same to get out of it,” Aiden mumbled to himself. He performed a horizontal slash. A golden sword aura slash formed from his sword, moving forward and vanishing after going some distance.

Aiden tilted his head in confusion. “Nothing?” he wondered aloud. “But I clearly felt a ripple when I swung my sword.”

He performed another horizontal slash, and again, he felt the ripple. “Yep, I was right. There’s definitely something happening,” he confirmed. He then performed two slashes back to back. This time, the ripple’s duration increased.

“I guess I have to perform sword slashes until I leave this place,” Aiden concluded. He took a stance, took a deep breath, and began to perform all the basic sword moves.

Aiden moved through the techniques with precision and grace, each slash and thrust generating a ripple in the white space. The more he practiced, the more the ripples grew in intensity and duration. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, but he didn’t stop. He pushed himself harder, pouring his spirit energy into each movement.

After what felt like hours of relentless practice, the white space began to twist and distort. Aiden could feel the fabric of this strange dimension beginning to tear under the force of his swordsmanship. He increased his pace, executing complex combinations of slashes and thrusts with remarkable speed and accuracy.

The space around him shuddered violently, the ripples now turning into waves of energy. With one final, powerful swing, Aiden unleashed all his remaining spirit energy in a massive golden slash.

The white space erupted in a blinding flash of light, and Aiden felt himself being pulled through a vortex of energy. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in his spirit sea. The vast, ethereal ocean stretched before him, dotted with three familiar islands and a new, fourth island that housed his spirits.

One island shone brighter than any other—it was his Sword Spirit Island, now illuminated with a blinding light. Aiden gazed at it, realizing he had grasped something that many spend their whole lives trying to achieve.

“Sword of Destruction,” Aiden mumbled as he looked at the shining island. Sword Awakening is a phenomenon where one awakens the intention behind their sword, or the reason their sword exists. Aiden had now awakened his sword’s intent of destruction. From now on, all his sword strikes would carry the destructive intent, amplifying their power and impact.

“So, that’s what was happening to me,” Aiden murmured to himself. He closed his eyes, focusing on his newfound understanding and power. When he opened them again, he found himself back on the stage—or what was supposed to be the stage. The platform was now broken in many places, with cracks and fissures leaking an ominous destructive energy.

Aiden looked around and found himself surrounded by many elders, their faces a mixture of amazement and concern. In one corner, he saw other students, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe, looking at him like he was an exotic animal.

“Hi,” Aiden said awkwardly, raising his hand in a tentative wave.

The elders exchanged glances, clearly impressed but also cautious.

Ross, the head elder, stepped forward, his eyes sharp and inquisitive. “Aiden, do you understand what you have just achieved?” he asked, his voice as serious as the situation.

” I know, I have awakened the Destruction Sword Intent” Aiden nodded and said.

Another elder, the female Elder named Amora, stepped closer, examining Aiden with a critical eye. “Sword Awakening at such a young age is unprecedented. Do you realize the responsibility that comes with this power?”

Aiden met her gaze without flinching. “I understand, Elder Amora. But i am no Saint, nor Devil, I will only use this power whenever I feel this is necessary.”

Amora frowned hearing Aiden answer but didn’t said anything.

Ray, the Elder from the Punishment Hall, unsheathed his sword and studied Aiden’s stance. “Show us your control, boy. Demonstrate that you can wield this power without causing unnecessary harm.”

Aiden nodded and took a deep breath, calming his mind. He raised his sword and performed a series of controlled slashes. The air crackled with energy, but the destructive intent was contained within each precise movement. The elders watched intently, noting the finesse and control in Aiden’s technique.

When Aiden finished, he lowered his sword and looked at the elders. “Is that sufficient?”

Ross nodded, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Indeed, it is. You have shown remarkable control for someone who has just awakened such a powerful intent.”

” Very well, I think Aiden is no longer a danger to anyone” Ray said and others nodded.

” Danger? ” Aiden asked confused.

” Well… ” Ross began to explain.

******””

A few hours earlier, as Aiden began to perform his sword slashes and dance, a black aura started to engulf him. The elders watching from the sidelines immediately recognized this as a sign of an inner demon trying to take hold of him. They exchanged worried glances but decided to observe for a moment longer, ready to intervene if necessary.

Aiden continued his movements, the black aura intensifying around him. His swings grew more erratic, and his face contorted with the struggle against the darkness trying to consume him. The students, oblivious to the deeper struggle, with exception of Ramona and Ivan, watched in awe and confusion as the black aura pulsated around him.

Ross and the other elders prepared to step in, but suddenly, something shifted. Aiden’s expression changed, his eyes filled with determination and anger. He took a deep breath, centering himself, and the black aura began to wane. Slowly, it dissipated, replaced by a radiant golden light that emanated from Aiden’s entire being.

The golden light was the manifestation of his newly awakened intent of destruction, pure and powerful. As he continued his sword dance, the light grew brighter, overwhelming the arena. The students shielded their eyes from the blinding glow, and the elders and Ivan watched in astonishment as Aiden was successful in awakening of his Sword.