Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 243

Chapter 243: Poor Ivan II

The next day, in Aiden’s room, he sat cross-legged in the center, surrounded by several golden scrolls made of a transparent, ethereal substance. These scrolls flowed gracefully around him, each shimmering with a subtle, divine light. Aiden was deeply focused, using the Chronicle of Providence to search for any connection or destiny tied to the shards on Ivan. His gaze was sharp, scanning the mystical scrolls as they revealed hidden truths.

After a while, Aiden’s eyes gleamed with understanding. He had found what he sought. With a decisive motion, he willed the Chronicle to close. The golden scrolls gradually faded, their ethereal glow vanishing into the air, leaving the room quiet and serene once more. Aiden opened his eyes, his expression calm and resolute, having uncovered the knowledge he needed

“What did you find?” Myne asked as she stepped out of Aiden’s Soul Space, her presence filling the room with a different energy. Unlike Nexus, who radiated a celestial, almost divine aura, Myne’s clone had a distinctly demonic, succubus-like vibe. Her pink hair cascaded down her back, and her beautiful face and alluring figure were accentuated by a bold, black dress that highlighted her beauty in a way that was both captivating and dangerous.

Nexus, who had just finished her own date with Aiden, narrowed her eyes at Myne, not missing the blatant attempt to seduce him. “This slut,” she muttered under her breath, irritation clear in her voice as she watched Myne’s seductive demeanor.

Aiden, unfazed by the tension between the two, glanced at Myne with calm eyes. “I found what I needed,” he replied, his voice steady. “Ivan doesn’t just have a destiny tied to a single shard; he’s linked to many of them. He’s already obtained the Shard of Poison.”

[As expected of a Child of Destiny,] Nexus mused, her gaze shifting away from Myne. [But how many shards is he destined for?]

“I discovered that he’s destined to obtain a total of 26 shards,” Aiden revealed, causing both Myne and Nexus to suck in a cold breath, surprised by the revelation.

[Damn, he seems to be a high-level Child of Destiny,] Nexus remarked, her tone serious.

“We need to retrieve those shards as quickly as possible,” Myne added, crossing her legs seductively. “Especially since it’s clear that Ivan harbors a deep hatred for Aiden.”

Aiden’s eyes involuntarily flickered to Myne’s legs, and Nexus gritted her teeth in frustration at the obvious attempt to distract him. [Yes, let’s get to it,] she said, her voice tight with barely restrained irritation.

Aiden nodded in agreement. “Then I’ll head out to gather more information,” he said, already rising to leave. He began making his way toward the Ascender Association, to get information about the worlds where these shards are located.

As Aiden left the room, the tension between Nexus and Myne thickened, the air practically crackling with unspoken rivalry. Nexus turned to Myne, her expression a mix of frustration and disbelief.

[You’re supposed to be a Holy Light Spirit, Myne,] Nexus snapped, her eyes narrowing as she took in Myne’s succubus-like form. [Yet here you are, parading around like some demonic temptress. Do you even remember what you’re meant to represent?]

Myne chuckled, clearly unbothered by Nexus’s admonishment. “Oh, come on, Nexus,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “Just because I’m a Holy Light Spirit doesn’t mean I have to be some stiff, sanctimonious figure. Besides, this form has its advantages, especially when it comes to keeping Aiden… interested.” She smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction she was getting.

[Interested? You mean distracted,] Nexus shot back, her voice cold. [You’re not helping him; you’re just indulging your own whims. This isn’t about you, Myne. Aiden is fighting against not just Child of Destiny but Destiny itself, and you’re making things harder for him by pulling these stunts.]

Myne uncrossed her legs and stood up, her demeanor shifting from playful to serious. “And you think being all holy and pure is going to help him? Aiden needs all the tools he can get, including the power of seduction. If that means I take on a form that can help manipulate his enemies—or even him—then so be it. Besides,” she added with a sly grin, “Aiden didn’t seem to mind.”

Nexus’s frustration boiled over. [This isn’t a game, Myne! You’re supposed to guide him, not tempt him! There’s a reason you were created as a Holy Light Spirit, to be a beacon of purity and strength, not a seductress!]

Myne shrugged, unperturbed. “I’m still guiding him, just in my own way. And let’s not forget, Nexus, that you’re not exactly impartial when it comes to Aiden. You act all high and mighty, but we both know you’re just as invested in him as I am—maybe even more so.”

Nexus stiffened at the accusation, her celestial aura flaring slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure. [I care about Aiden because it’s my duty to protect and guide him, not because of some… infatuation.]

Myne’s smile widened, sensing she had struck a nerve. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, Nexus. But don’t think for a second that I’m going to stop doing what I do best. Aiden needs every advantage he can get, and if that means I have to embrace my darker side, then so be it.”

Nexus glared at Myne, her frustration palpable. [Just don’t forget who you are, Myne. This isn’t just about Aiden; it’s about staying true to what we represent.]

Myne’s expression softened slightly, though the playful glint in her eyes remained. “I know who I am, Nexus. And I know what I’m doing. You just focus on being the righteous guardian, and I’ll handle the rest.”

With that, the conversation ended, leaving a tense silence in the room. Nexus turned away, her mind racing with concern for Aiden, while Myne watched her go, a small, knowing smile on her lips. The rivalry between the two was far from over, but for now, they both had Aiden’s best interests at heart—even if their methods couldn’t be more different.

Unaware of the ongoing tension between Nexus and Myne, Aiden focused solely on his mission as he arrived at the Ascender Association. The grand building, a hub for those seeking knowledge and resources across the many realms, was bustling with activity. Ascenders from various worlds and backgrounds moved about, exchanging information, seeking quests, and acquiring the tools they needed for their journeys.

Aiden made his way through the crowd, his expression calm and determined. He approached the information desk, where a seasoned Ascender with sharp eyes and an air of authority greeted him.

“Welcome to the Ascender Association. How can I assist you today?” the Ascender asked, his tone professional and attentive.

“I’m looking for information about these worlds,” Aiden replied, handing over a list of worlds he had compiled. “I also need to know which of these worlds are closest to each other.”

The Ascender studied the list briefly before nodding. “Follow me,” he said, leading Aiden to a private room tucked away from the commotion of the main hall. The room was cozy yet filled with an air of importance, with shelves packed with ancient scrolls, detailed maps, and various artifacts from different realms. A large crystal globe stood prominently in the center of the room, emitting a soft, otherworldly glow.

The Ascender gestured for Aiden to sit at the table beside the globe. “This is a Nexus Sphere,” he explained, placing his hand on the globe. “It’s a device that allows us to access and visualize the interconnected worlds within various clusters.”

As the Ascender channeled energy into the Nexus Sphere, the crystal globe came to life, displaying a holographic map of the worlds Aiden had listed. The glowing spheres representing each world floated in the air, connected by faint lines indicating the paths between them.

“These are the worlds on your list,” the Ascender said, pointing to the various spheres. “Now, let’s see which ones are closest to each other.” He manipulated the Nexus Sphere, and the lines between the worlds began to shift, highlighting the shortest routes and the proximity of each world to the others.

Aiden watched intently as the Ascender continued. “The world you’re currently on belongs to the Crimson Sky Cluster, a volatile region with numerous Ascenders vying for control and resources. Among the worlds you’ve listed, several are within close proximity, particularly within the same cluster or neighboring clusters.”

The Ascender pointed to a cluster of worlds that glowed brighter than the others. “These worlds are near each other, within the Crimson Sky and Azure Cloud Clusters. The shortest path between them is through these routes,” he said, tracing the connections with his finger.

Aiden studied the glowing paths. “And what about this world?” he asked, pointing to one that seemed slightly isolated from the others.

“That one is farther away, located in a more secluded part of the Azure Cloud Cluster,” the Ascender explained. “It’s not impossible to reach, but the journey will be longer and more dangerous.”