Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 352

Chapter 352: Ritual

The depot loomed ahead, a sprawling compound surrounded by high wooden palisades reinforced with steel plating. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their movements precise and methodical. Lanterns mounted on tall poles bathed the area in flickering light, their glow barely piercing the darkness of the surrounding forest.

Aiden raised his hand, signaling the team to halt. They melted into the shadows, their forms nearly invisible against the trees. He glanced at Myne, who gave him a slight nod, her fingers already weaving delicate patterns in the air. Tendrils of shadow began to coil and writhe, ready to conceal the team’s movements and disrupt the guards’ vision.

Aiden stepped forward, his focus shifting to the guards near the northern gate. His figure blurred, and with a flick of his wrist, a small orb of shimmering light shot into the air. It soared high before detonating in a burst of radiant energy. The guards spun around, weapons drawn, shouting orders as the compound erupted into chaos.

“Go,” Aiden whispered, and the strike team sprang into action.

Myne and her unit darted toward the supply caches, slipping through gaps in the patrols with uncanny precision. The shadows seemed to move with them, shielding them from sight. Aiden, meanwhile, strode boldly toward the depot’s eastern flank, drawing the attention of the remaining guards.

“Over here!” one of them shouted, raising his spear as Aiden approached.

Before the man could sound an alarm, Aiden moved. In a blur of motion, he closed the distance, his blade flashing in the dim light. The guard crumpled silently, his weapon clattering to the ground. Aiden pressed on, cutting through the remaining sentries with brutal efficiency. Each strike was calculated, every movement honed to perfection.

Inside the depot, Myne and her team worked swiftly. They located the supply caches—crates filled with weapons, rations, and medical supplies—and began rigging them with explosive charges. Myne’s hands glided over the devices, her expression calm and focused. Around her, the team moved like a well-oiled machine, their tasks executed with silent precision.

Suddenly, a low rumble shook the ground, and the distant sound of marching footsteps reached their ears. Myne’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. “Reinforcements. They must’ve had a garrison nearby.”

Aiden’s voice crackled through the enchanted comm-link embedded in her armor. “Myne, status?”

“We’re almost done, but we’ve got company inbound,” she replied. “How much time can you buy us?”

“Enough,” Aiden said, his tone unyielding. “Finish the job.”

Myne grinned despite the tension. “Don’t get yourself killed, boss.”

Aiden disconnected, his gaze shifting to the tree line. Dozens of soldiers were advancing toward the depot, their armor glinting in the faint light. He tightened his grip on his blade, his mind racing. This wasn’t part of the plan, but it didn’t matter. Improvisation was a skill he’d mastered long ago.

He stepped forward, raising his free hand. With a surge of energy, he unleashed a wave of raw power that rippled through the air, striking the advancing soldiers like a thunderclap. The front line staggered, their formation breaking as Aiden launched himself into the fray.

His blade sang as it carved through armor and flesh, each strike precise and deadly. He moved like a tempest, weaving through his enemies with fluid grace. Yet for every soldier he felled, two more seemed to take their place. The sheer numbers were overwhelming, but Aiden didn’t falter.

Back at the depot, Myne’s team finished planting the last of the charges. “We’re done here!” she called out, her voice sharp. “Fall back!”

The operatives retreated into the forest, their movements as silent as shadows. Myne lingered for a moment, her gaze fixed on the eastern flank. She could hear the clash of steel, the shouts of soldiers, and the unmistakable sound of Aiden holding the line.

“Damn it,” she muttered before activating her comm-link. “Aiden, we’re clear. Get out of there.”

“Understood,” his voice came back, strained but steady.

Aiden glanced at the line of soldiers still advancing on him. He couldn’t let them reach the depot—not before the charges detonated. Gritting his teeth, he poured his energy into a final attack. The ground trembled as a massive wave of force erupted from his blade, scattering the soldiers like leaves in a storm.

Without waiting to see the aftermath, Aiden turned and sprinted toward the forest. He moved swiftly, his senses attuned to the environment around him. Behind him, a series of deafening explosions tore through the depot, lighting up the night sky. The shockwave sent a plume of smoke and debris into the air, marking the success of their mission.

Aiden regrouped with Myne and the others at the designated rendezvous point. His armor was battered, his movements slower, but his eyes burned with determination.

“Nice work,” Myne said, clapping him on the shoulder. “I knew you’d make it.”

“Wasn’t about to leave you to clean up my mess,” Aiden replied, a faint smirk crossing his lips.

As the team began their retreat, the forest seemed to close in around them, its shadows providing cover once more. The depot was in ruins, its supplies obliterated, and the Celestial Court’s grip on the region had been dealt a significant blow.

But Aiden knew this was only the beginning. The Court would retaliate, and the battles to come would be even fiercer. Yet as he moved through the darkness, his resolve only hardened.

The game had begun, and Aiden intended to win.

*****

The group traveled silently through the dense forest, their pace steady but cautious. The explosions would draw attention, and the Celestial Court’s forces wouldn’t hesitate to scour the area for survivors. Every step was calculated, every breath quiet. Myne, walking alongside Aiden, kept her senses sharp, her shadowmancy weaving subtle cloaks of darkness around their group to further obscure them.

Aiden’s mind, however, was already two steps ahead. His focus shifted from their immediate safety to what came next. The depot was destroyed, but that was merely a single strand in the vast web of the Celestial Court’s influence. Their strength wasn’t merely in supplies or soldiers—it was in their ancient knowledge, their rituals, and their mastery of leyline energy. The thought of that ritual Liam had mentioned still gnawed at him.

The group reached a clearing where a hidden waypoint portal shimmered faintly in the air. It was one of the safe zones they’d established, enchanted to prevent detection. Aiden stepped forward, inspecting the runes etched into the stones that powered it.

“We need to regroup at the base,” he said, his tone decisive. “But I want Liam waiting for me when we arrive. I need answers about that ritual, and I want them fast.”

Myne raised an eyebrow, her usual smirk returning. “You think the ritual’s that big a threat? I mean, blowing up that depot will buy us some time to breathe, right?”

“Not for long,” Aiden replied, his expression grim. “The Court’s operations are too coordinated. If they’re playing with leyline energy, they’re planning something bigger than simple domination. If we don’t figure out what, we’ll be fighting a losing war before we know it.”

“Fair enough,” Myne said, her smirk fading. She gestured for the team to enter the portal. “Let’s get back, then. I’d rather not find out what those reinforcements are capable of.”

One by one, the team stepped into the portal, vanishing in flashes of light. Aiden waited until the last operative had passed through before following, the familiar pull of teleportation tugging at his senses.

When the world steadied again, they were back in the heart of their hidden base. The underground chamber buzzed with quiet activity, operatives reporting in and healers tending to minor injuries. The room’s centerpiece was a massive map of the kingdom, its borders and key locations marked with glowing symbols. Aiden’s eyes immediately sought Liam, who was already waiting by the map table.

The ethereal figure of the strategist flickered into view as Aiden approached. “You wanted me here,” Liam said, his voice calm but tinged with urgency. “I’ve managed to trace some of the leyline disturbances to a specific region—an abandoned ruin deep in the Emerald Wastes.”

Aiden leaned over the map, his sharp eyes locking onto the area Liam pointed to. The Emerald Wastes were a dangerous expanse of tangled forest and ancient ruins, infested with wild magical anomalies and creatures that thrived in the chaos.

“The Court’s ritual is there?” Aiden asked.

“It’s a strong possibility,” Liam replied. “The energy signatures match what we’d expect from leyline manipulation. They’ve likely set up a base of operations in the ruins, using its natural connections to the leylines to amplify their power.”

Myne, who had joined them at the table, crossed her arms. “Great. So we’re heading into a deathtrap to stop some arcane nonsense that could blow us all to hell. Sounds fun.”

Aiden shot her a glance, his expression unamused. “We don’t have a choice. If we don’t act now, they’ll finish whatever they’re working on, and then it’s not just us in trouble—it’s the entire kingdom.”

Liam nodded. “I’ve already started analyzing potential approaches to the site. The ruins are heavily guarded, but their forces are concentrated around specific points, likely to protect the ritual site and the conduits they’re using. If we can disrupt those conduits, it might destabilize the entire process.”

“Then we’ll split into two teams,” Aiden said decisively. “One to create a diversion and draw their forces away, and another to infiltrate the ruins and take out the conduits. Myne, you’ll lead the diversion team. Liam, I want you coordinating from here, feeding us intel as we move.”

“And you?” Myne asked, arching an eyebrow.

“I’ll lead the infiltration team,” Aiden said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “If this ritual is as dangerous as we think, I’m not risking anyone else to stop it.”

For a moment, Myne looked like she wanted to protest, but she sighed and nodded. “Fine. Just don’t do anything stupid, boss. I’m not dragging your body out of there if you get yourself killed.”

“Noted,” Aiden said with a faint smirk.

As the team dispersed to prepare, Aiden lingered at the map table, his gaze fixed on the Emerald Wastes. The storm may have passed, but he knew the real tempest was yet to come. The Court was playing with forces they didn’t understand, and it was up to him to ensure they didn’t succeed.

No matter the cost.