Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 265

Chapter 265: Final Battle III

Somewhere in the vast sea of stars, a woman of such breathtaking beauty that kings would wage war for her favor stirred. Her eyes, deep and filled with the cosmos, opened as she gazed into the endless expanse of space. “Finally… he’s reached the second half,” she whispered, her voice so alluring that even the sound of it could ensnare a soul in eternal longing.

“I wonder what kind of master he’ll become,” she mused, closing her eyes again as she drifted back into a peaceful slumber.

She was Gemini, the Sentinel of Aiden’s Black and White Celestial Sword Martial Spirit. Since Aiden had only managed to awaken half of the Martial Spirit, the other half remained bound to the Will of the Galaxy, resting in her celestial domain. But now that the two halves had come into contact, she had been alerted to the battle.

Gemini’s eyes briefly fluttered open again, observing the ongoing clash between her true master, Aiden, and the one who had stolen her other half through treachery. With a sigh, she watched the confrontation, waiting for the moment her fates would reunite.

Gemini’s eyes shifted once again, her gaze settling on another figure. It was a beautiful woman, regal and poised, sitting atop a grand throne as an entourage of equally stunning attendants cared for her. Yet despite the luxury and attention, there was a hollow expression on the woman’s face, as though the opulence around her could not fill the void within.

“My other half… she took a human form, but left her essence with the sword,” Gemini murmured softly, her cosmic gaze focusing on Ramona—the very same woman Aiden had encountered during the tournament when he first arrived in this world.

Unlike Gemini, who was the spirit of the White Celestial Sword, Ramona was the Sentience of the Black Celestial Sword. However, she had been separated from her true form after an unspeakable betrayal, her body stolen by Raven through nefarious means. This cruel act had severed her from the sword’s essence, leaving her with only fragmented memories of her original purpose.

Despite this, Ramona remained inexplicably drawn to Aiden, a connection she couldn’t quite comprehend. What she didn’t realize was that the pull she felt was caused by the Black Celestial Sword, which rightfully belonged to Aiden but had been stolen by Raven. This ancient bond between the twin blades of light and darkness linked her fate with Aiden’s, even though she didn’t fully understand why.

Gemini sighed again, her cosmic awareness attuned to the unfolding events. She could see that both Ramona and the Black Celestial Sword’s power were tied to Aiden’s destiny, and the inevitable clash between him and Raven would determine the rightful bearer of the twin swords. All that was left was to wait for the moment when the stars would realign, and the fates of the swords—and their masters—would be decided.

“I really hope the True Master wins… but he has yet to fully unlock its powers, unlike that old coot who’s already mastered the Black Celestial Sword,” Gemini murmured, her voice laced with concern. Her eyes shimmered with starlight, betraying her worry. She knew Aiden’s potential, but the fact that he hadn’t yet tapped into the full strength of the White Celestial Sword weighed heavily on her mind.

Raven possessed the Black Celestial Sword, but the story of how he obtained it was steeped in a tragic twist of fate. When the original Aiden had died, the very fabric of space and time had been disrupted by the immense power unleashed at the moment of his awakening. The resulting break in the space-time barrier had sent the dead body of Aiden into a jungle, a remote place where Raven happened to be fleeing as well.

By pure coincidence—or perhaps the will of fate—Raven stumbled upon Aiden’s lifeless body. Near the fallen warrior were the two Celestial Swords: the White and Black Celestial Swords, Martial Spirits bound to Aiden. After their owners die, it is customary for Martial Spirits to remain by their side for a few moments as a final tribute. Raven arrived at the scene just in time to witness this solemn moment.

Recognizing the opportunity before him, Raven acted swiftly. Before the Black Celestial Sword could fade away, he seized it, binding it to himself in a moment of desperation and ambition. Thus, he began his dark reign.

To cement his mastery over the Black Celestial Sword, Raven committed the ultimate atrocity. By sacrificing an entire world, he gained full control over its power. Yet, the Sentient Spirit of the sword, Ramona, rebelled against this dark path. Unwilling to serve Raven, she separated herself from the sword, choosing exile rather than becoming a tool for his malevolent ambitions.

As Gemini gazed one last time at the cosmic battleground, Gemini sighed. “Let fate decide what it wants from us,” she whispered, surrendering her thoughts to the universe. Slowly, she closed her eyes, her consciousness drifting back into the slumber that awaited her within the fabric of the stars, trusting that the forces of destiny would guide her true master to his rightful victory—if he could unlock his power in time.

****

back to Aiden

“Let’s fight, and then we’ll see whether your light or my darkness is supreme,” Raven declared as he swung his Black Celestial Sword with immense force, releasing a massive, dark slash aimed straight at Aiden.

Aiden countered immediately, his White Celestial Sword glowing brightly as he unleashed a radiant slash of pure light. The two opposing forces clashed violently in the air, sending shockwaves throughout the battlefield. Dark and light energies wrestled for dominance, intertwining in a chaotic dance as the air crackled with power.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still as both slashes pressed against each other, neither yielding. Then, with a deafening crack, the energy dissipated, leaving the field still.

Aiden frowned, his grip tightening on his sword. “I used a fused slash… so why was it a draw?” he muttered under his breath, clearly frustrated. His mind raced, and that’s when it dawned on him—Raven had fully unlocked the Black Celestial Sword’s power. Aiden, on the other hand, had only just begun mastering the White Celestial Sword, barely scratching the surface of its full potential.

Raven’s dark smile widened. “What’s wrong, Aiden? Surprised that your precious light wasn’t enough? I’ve had years to explore the depths of the Black Celestial Sword’s power. You, however, are still just a novice, its clear as day from your basic slash”

Raven’s eyes gleamed with sinister delight as he sneered, “You can’t win.” With a swift movement, he launched another fierce attack. Aiden parried and countered, their swords clashing in a storm of light and darkness. But amidst the chaos, a dark slash managed to slip through Aiden’s defenses, striking his body.

Raven’s smirk deepened as he witnessed the blow land. “You’re done,” he declared confidently, watching the attack unfold. The others observing the battle held their breath, wondering if this was truly the end for Aiden. However, to everyone’s shock, the slash seemed to phase through Aiden’s body, leaving him completely unharmed.

Aiden remained calm, his gaze steady. “You’re right… I haven’t fully unlocked the White Celestial Sword’s power,” he admitted, watching Raven’s face twist in disbelief. Raven’s mocking smile faltered, his mouth gaping open as he struggled to comprehend what had just happened.

“But I was arrogant to think I wouldn’t face another Supreme Martial Spirit user,” Aiden continued, his voice steady and resolute. “However, my strength is far beyond just my Martial Spirit.”

As Aiden spoke, his body began to shimmer, as if his form was splitting into multiple realities. A strange, ethereal energy swirled around him, warping the very space in his vicinity.

[Dimensional Ruler]

…

…

Dimensional Switch:

Transposes the user’s body in and out of different dimensions, entering a state of absolute evasion.

Aiden had activated the authority of Dimensional Ruler, allowing him to effortlessly dodge Raven’s deadly strike by switching between dimensions. It was an advanced ability that transcended normal martial arts and put him in a realm where even supreme Martial Spirits could not touch him.

“Let me show you a portion of my true capabilities,” Aiden said, putting away his White Celestial Sword. As he spoke, the battlefield around them shifted as he randomly summoned a new weapon—a greatsword with an oceanic design and a dark blue hilt that seemed to pulse with an unseen power.

“I’ll kill you without even using my Martial Spirit,” he declared, his tone cold and resolute. In an instant, Aiden vanished from Raven’s sight, moving faster than even Raven’s senses could follow.

Raven flinched, darting his eyes around, trying to locate Aiden, but before he could react, a searing pain erupted on his back as a deep gash appeared, blood spilling from the fresh wound.

“Arghhh!” Raven screamed, twisting in agony. “How dare you mock me!” he yelled, launching an attack into the air where Aiden once stood, but he hit nothing. Aiden had vanished again, leaving only the chilling silence of the battlefield.

A moment later, Aiden reappeared, slashing his greatsword across Raven’s chest with surgical precision, leaving another devastating wound. Raven stumbled, gasping in pain, his rage growing uncontrollable.

“You can’t win against me,” Aiden said calmly, observing Raven’s desperate attempts to strike back. The overwhelming speed and skill with which Aiden moved made him seem untouchable. Raven, now breathing heavily and bloodied, could barely stand as he clutched at both his back and chest.