Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 261

Chapter 261: Mad Dog

As Aiden’s campaign against the slave trade continued to escalate, so did the attention he garnered—not just from enemies but from admirers, survivors, and those who had lost loved ones to the cruelty of the trade. His single-minded pursuit of justice, combined with the destruction he left in his wake, became the spark for a larger movement. People from all corners of the Immortal Realm, from downtrodden mortals to powerful cultivators who had grown disillusioned with the system, began to rally around him.

It started slowly at first—rescued slaves, filled with gratitude and admiration, sought to repay Aiden by following him. They were often powerless, untrained in the ways of cultivation, but their dedication was unmatched. Word spread from one world to another, and soon, others began to join. Cultivators who had lost family members to slave traders, idealists seeking justice, and even powerful Saints and Saint Lords who had grown weary of the corruption plaguing the Immortal Realm flocked to Aiden’s side.

As their numbers grew, Aiden’s movement transformed from a lone crusade into an organized rebellion. Without realizing it, Aiden had become the leader of an army. They called themselves “The Fallen,” a reference to those who had been broken by the system but rose once again, united under Aiden’s banner. Each new world he liberated brought fresh recruits, swelling their ranks further. Some offered their skills in cultivation, while others were experts in Alchemy, logistics, or Forging. Those unable to fight contributed in other ways, building a support network that spanned the entire realm.

At first, Aiden had no interest in leading anyone. He preferred to work alone, avoiding the complications that came with organizing such a massive force. But the reality was that he had become a symbol of hope. People needed a leader, someone they could rally behind. Reluctantly, Aiden began to accept his role as the figurehead of this growing rebellion.

The followers soon became more than just tagalongs—they were essential to Aiden’s success. With their help, he could coordinate attacks on multiple worlds at once, dismantling the slave trade in record time. His forces became a shadowy network, infiltrating the deepest, most well-guarded locations. As their influence spread, the slave traders grew desperate. Fortresses that had stood for centuries fell within days as Aiden’s forces swarmed them, overwhelming their defenses with sheer numbers and strategic precision.

For every powerful slave-trading faction that fell, more people joined the cause. Some were cultivators seeking redemption, others former slaves empowered by the opportunity to fight back. Even former mercenaries, hired to kill Aiden, switched sides after witnessing his strength and conviction. It was becoming increasingly clear to the powers of the Immortal Realm that Aiden was no longer just a dangerous individual—he was leading an unstoppable revolution.

The Immortal Realm itself began to fracture under the weight of this rebellion. Those who had grown fat and complacent from the profits of slavery were terrified. They scrambled to protect their assets, employing ever-stronger defenses and calling upon ancient pacts with forgotten powers. Entire alliances were formed with the sole purpose of bringing down Aiden and his army, but it was never enough. Every time they sent a force to destroy him, they underestimated his power and the loyalty of his followers.

While Aiden remained focused on his mission, his growing army had its own ideas. Many within his ranks began to see him not just as a leader but as something more—an avatar of justice, a revolutionary who could change the very structure of the Immortal Realm. Some began to speak of him in almost mythic terms, believing that he was destined to become the new ruler of the Immortal Realm, an emperor who would bring about a new age of fairness and equality. This belief spread like wildfire among his followers, even though Aiden himself had no such ambitions.

Despite the swelling of their ranks and resources, Aiden’s enemies were not idle. The Council of Black Chains, the secretive organization behind much of the slave trade, began to adjust their plans. They had underestimated him, but now they saw the full scope of the threat. The Council was ancient, with roots that ran deeper than any empire in the realm, and they commanded powers that even Aiden’s army could not easily counter.

But for all their scheming, they found it difficult to act. The scale of Aiden’s rebellion made it difficult to target him directly. Wherever Aiden moved, his followers protected him with their lives. The Council’s assassins found themselves cut down before they could even get close. As the Council’s influence waned, they turned to more extreme measures. Rumors began to spread of them summoning dark entities from beyond the Immortal Realm, beings of chaos and destruction that even the gods feared to invoke.

However, Aiden was far from concerned. The more resistance he faced, the more his power grew. His power, honed through countless battles and the absorption of countless Laws and essences, had reached terrifying heights. He wielded space and time like tools, manipulating reality to his will. His command of the Poison Law, in particular, had evolved to a point where even touching him could mean certain death. The Council of Black Chains’ attempts to stop him only seemed to make him stronger, and his followers more fervent.

In one particularly decisive confrontation, Aiden’s forces faced an army sent by one of the most powerful sects in the Immortal Realm, the Blood Crow Sect. This sect had thrived on the slave trade for millennia, its influence spreading across dozens of worlds. They sent their elites—Saint Kings, and even a handful of Saint Lords—to stop Aiden’s march.

The battle was cataclysmic. The sky itself seemed to tear apart as Aiden faced off against the Saint kings, their divine-level techniques shaking the very core of the planet they fought on. But even against such overwhelming power, Aiden stood firm. Using his mastery of space, he trapped the Saint Kings in a separate dimension, where time flowed differently, rendering their attacks useless. His army, meanwhile, overwhelmed the Blood Crow Sect’s forces on the battlefield.

When the dust settled, the Blood Crow Sect had been annihilated, its leaders either dead or captured. The destruction of such a powerful faction sent shockwaves through the entire Immortal Realm. The message was clear: no one was safe from Aiden’s wrath.

At the secret meeting of the Black Chains, tension filled the air.

“Why can’t we kill him?” an old man growled, slamming his fist onto the desk, shattering it into pieces.

Another man, calmer, waved his hand, and the desk instantly reformed, unbroken. “It’s like a cult. People have been brainwashed. They protect him, going as far as sacrificing their lives. Even our suicide bombers couldn’t get the job done.”

“Hmph,” a third man scoffed. “Even without that pitiful army, he’s powerful enough on his own. And his mastery of the Poison Law—it seems like a combination of multiple layers of comprehension. But how is that possible?”

“Yes, we’ve seen the emanation of his Poison Law,” another added with a heavy tone. “It’s clear he’s already fusing his laws together.”

“Impossible!” the first man exclaimed, his astonishment evident. “That sort of thing only happens in the Divine Realm. At best, a Saint can manipulate a single law, not fuse them like that.” His face showed disbelief as he grappled with the implications.

The room grew tense as the weight of their predicament settled in. The leader of the Black Chains leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming on the table as he spoke, his voice low and menacing.

“If this Aiden is truly fusing laws, then we’re dealing with a threat beyond what we’ve anticipated. This goes beyond the normal realms of power. If he continues unchecked, not just us, but the entire structure of power in the Immortal Realm will be at risk.”

The others nodded solemnly. They all knew the implications. Fusion of laws was something reserved for those far beyond the Saint stage. Even powerful Saint Kings struggled to attain such mastery, let alone someone from Aiden’s level.

“His actions have caused enough unrest,” one of them added. “The Immortal Realm is in chaos. Slave traders are being eradicated, and more are flocking to his banner. He’s building something… an army of followers, people who see him as a savior.”

“And what’s worse,” another continued, “is that these fools believe in him. They’re willing to die for him. He’s become a symbol, a rallying point for those who oppose us.”

The leader’s gaze hardened. “Symbols can be broken. He may be powerful, but we need to hit him where it hurts. He’s not invincible.”

One of the more strategic minds in the room spoke up. “If we can’t kill him directly, then we need to undermine his support. Find his weaknesses, turn his followers against him. Every man has something to lose.”

“We’ve tried,” another snapped, frustrated. “Every attempt to discredit him has failed. The more we push, the more people flock to his side. It’s as if the more we try to destroy him, the stronger he becomes.”

The leader stood, his eyes blazing with determination. “Then we stop playing games. No more subtlety. We bring out our greatest forces. If he wants a war, we’ll give him one. It’s time to summon our true assets—the hidden elites, the ones who never see the light of day. We’ll pull every string we have. He may think he’s untouchable, but we’ll show him what true power is.”

A dark silence followed, the gravity of the situation settling over them like a storm cloud. They had no choice but to escalate, for Aiden had forced their hand. This wasn’t just about survival anymore—it was about domination, control, and ensuring their place in the future of the Immortal Realm.

“Prepare the necessary measures,” the leader said with finality. “The Black Chains will show this upstart what it means to challenge us.”