Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 353

Chapter 353: Ritual II

The preparations were swift, but efficient. Aiden’s operatives worked like a well-oiled machine, securing equipment, sharpening weapons, and exchanging information with a quiet sense of urgency. The air in the underground chamber buzzed with anticipation—this wasn’t just another mission. It was the beginning of a battle that could determine the fate of the rebellion.

Aiden stood in the armory, inspecting his own gear. His black, lightweight armor gleamed faintly under the dim lighting, enhanced with enchantments that would offer limited protection against magical attacks. He tightened the straps on his bracers and reached for his weapons—a pair of curved, twin daggers forged from obsidian steel and etched with runes that pulsed faintly with power. They weren’t just tools of combat—they were an extension of himself, forged for precision and lethality.

Liam’s voice crackled through the communication crystal embedded in his wrist. “The diversion team is ready to deploy. Myne is already moving toward the western perimeter of the Emerald Wastes. She’ll hit their patrol lines within the hour.”

“Good,” Aiden replied, his voice steady. “Tell her to keep their attention for as long as she can without overextending. We’ll need every second she can buy us.”

“Understood,” Liam said. “And one more thing—I’ve detected increased leyline activity near the ruins. It’s erratic, unstable. Whatever the Court is doing, they’re pushing the limits of what those conduits can handle.”

“Then we’ll make sure they push too far,” Aiden said grimly, sliding his daggers into their sheathes.

He left the armory and made his way to the staging area where the infiltration team was assembling. A small, elite unit—handpicked for their skills and loyalty—stood waiting. Each member bore an air of quiet determination, their expressions mirroring Aiden’s own resolve.

“Listen up,” Aiden began, his voice cutting through the murmur of conversation. “This mission isn’t just about disrupting their ritual. It’s about sending a message. The Celestial Court thinks they can toy with forces beyond their understanding, but we’re going to remind them that every action has consequences. Stick to the plan, watch each other’s backs, and don’t take unnecessary risks. We go in, hit them hard, and get out.”

The operatives nodded, their resolve unshaken.

Aiden’s gaze swept over them, his tone softening for a moment. “We’ve all lost something to the Court. Friends, family, freedom. Tonight, we take the first step toward reclaiming what’s ours.”

The team let out a low murmur of agreement before falling silent again. Aiden activated the waypoint portal, its shimmering light casting eerie reflections across the chamber. One by one, the operatives stepped through, and Aiden followed, the familiar pull of teleportation once again taking hold.

When they reappeared, the dense, oppressive air of the Emerald Wastes greeted them. The forest was alive with strange, bioluminescent plants and the distant howls of creatures better left unseen. Aiden glanced at Liam’s projection, which flickered into view beside him.

“The ruins are three clicks east,” Liam said, his voice calm but urgent. “I’ve marked the patrol routes and known guard positions on your map. The western perimeter is already seeing movement—they’ve taken Myne’s bait.”

Aiden nodded. “Good. Keep us updated on their movements.”

The team moved silently through the forest, their steps muffled by the soft, moss-covered ground. Aiden led the way, his keen senses attuned to every sound and movement. The closer they got to the ruins, the more the air seemed to hum with energy—a faint but unmistakable vibration that set his teeth on edge.

When they reached the outskirts of the ruins, Aiden signaled for the team to halt. They crouched behind a dense thicket, their eyes scanning the ancient stone structures ahead. The ruins were massive, their crumbling walls covered in glowing runes that pulsed with leyline energy. Guards patrolled the area in tight formations, their armor gleaming in the faint, otherworldly light.

“Liam,” Aiden whispered, tapping the crystal. “Where are the conduits?”

“Three primary nodes,” Liam replied. “One is in the central chamber—likely heavily guarded. The other two are along the northern and eastern wings. Disabling any one of them will destabilize the ritual, but taking out all three will ensure they can’t recover.”

Aiden considered their options. Splitting the team was risky, but it might be the only way to hit all three nodes before the Court realized what was happening. He turned to his second-in-command, a quiet but deadly scout named Kael.

“You take two operatives and hit the eastern node,” Aiden instructed. “I’ll handle the northern one. Once those are down, we’ll regroup and take the central chamber together.”

Kael nodded. “Understood.”

The team split, each group disappearing into the shadows. Aiden led his group along the northern perimeter, moving with the silent precision of a predator. The hum of leyline energy grew stronger, the vibrations in the air becoming almost painful. He could feel the raw power coursing through the ruins, unstable and dangerous.

When they reached the northern node, Aiden signaled for his operatives to fan out. The node was a massive crystal embedded in a stone pedestal, surrounded by intricate runes that glowed with an ominous light. Two guards stood watch, their stances alert.

Aiden drew his daggers, his movements fluid and precise. He signaled to his operatives, and they moved as one, striking with lethal efficiency. The guards didn’t even have time to cry out before they fell.

Aiden approached the node, inspecting the runes. “Liam, how do we disable this?”

“Destroy the crystal,” Liam replied. “But be careful—the energy release could attract attention.”

Aiden nodded. He raised one dagger, the blade glinting with a faint blue light as he channeled his energy into it. With a single, powerful strike, he shattered the crystal. A burst of energy erupted from the pedestal, sending a shockwave through the air. Aiden shielded his face, bracing against the force.

“One down,” he muttered. “Kael, report.”

“The eastern node is down,” Kael’s voice crackled through the crystal. “We’re heading to the rendezvous point now.”

“Good,” Aiden said. “I’ll meet you there. Liam, keep an eye on the central chamber. If they’re accelerating the ritual, I want to know.”

“Understood,” Liam replied, his tone clipped.

Aiden turned to his operatives. “Let’s move. The final node won’t wait for us.”

As they slipped back into the shadows, the ruins seemed to come alive with activity. Alarms echoed through the ancient halls, and the hum of energy grew louder. The Celestial Court knew they were here.

The real fight was about to begin.

****

The echoes of the alarms reverberated through the ancient ruins as Aiden and his team moved with urgency. The once faint hum of leyline energy now roared like a storm beneath their feet, vibrating through the crumbling stone. Aiden’s sharp senses detected movement up ahead—reinforcements were scrambling to secure the central node.

“Liam,” Aiden whispered, tapping the communication crystal, “status on the central chamber?”

Liam’s projection flickered into view, his expression tense. “They’ve fortified their defenses. I’m reading at least three squads converging on the area. Worse, the leyline energy is spiking—they’ve definitely accelerated the ritual. You don’t have much time.”

Aiden’s jaw tightened. “What about Kael?”

“En route to your position,” Liam replied. “But there’s a lot of activity near the rendezvous point. You might be walking into an ambush.”

Aiden cursed under his breath. “Noted. Keep feeding us their positions. We’ll adapt.”

He turned to his operatives, their expressions steely despite the rising tension. “The central node is our priority now. Stay sharp—we’re walking into a hornet’s nest.”

They moved swiftly but carefully, weaving through the maze-like ruins. Every step brought them closer to the central chamber, where the energy was so thick in the air it felt like electricity against their skin. The ruins were a battlefield now, with shouts and the clash of weapons echoing from distant skirmishes. Myne’s diversion had done its job, but the window of opportunity was closing fast.

As they approached the central chamber, Aiden motioned for his team to halt. He peered around the edge of a crumbling pillar, his eyes scanning the area. The chamber was massive, its ceiling vaulted and adorned with ancient carvings that glowed faintly with leyline energy. At its center stood the final node—a monolithic crystal surrounded by a swirling vortex of light. The energy it radiated was almost blinding.

Dozens of guards had taken up defensive positions around the node, their weapons drawn and their faces grim. Among them were robed figures—mages, no doubt responsible for maintaining the ritual. Aiden’s gaze narrowed as he spotted something else: a figure clad in ornate armor, standing near the node. The aura they exuded was suffocating—a high-ranking officer of the Celestial Court.

“Well, this just got complicated,” Aiden muttered.

One of his operatives, a sharpshooter named Reia, leaned in. “What’s the play, boss? We can’t take them all head-on.”

“We don’t have to,” Aiden replied. His mind raced, piecing together a plan. “Reia, find a vantage point and pick off their mages. We’ll need to disrupt their focus. Arlen, you’ll plant charges along the outer pillars. If we can’t destroy the node, we’ll bring the whole chamber down on it.”