Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 356

Chapter 356: Fights II

Aiden stood at the edge of the clearing, the wind carrying the faint scent of rain and blood. The weight of the night’s events pressed heavily on his shoulders, but his resolve only hardened. The shadows of the forest seemed to whisper warnings of the trials yet to come, but Aiden embraced the uncertainty. There was no turning back now.

Liam’s voice echoed faintly in his mind, calm but urgent. “You’ve rattled the Court, but they won’t retreat easily. Be prepared for their retaliation. And remember, the ritual isn’t just dangerous—it’s desperate. They’re cornered, which makes them more unpredictable.”

Aiden exhaled slowly, running a hand through his white hair as his golden eyes scanned the dark horizon. The ritual was an imminent threat, but tracking it would require precision, resources, and time—luxuries they didn’t have in abundance. He knew the Court would strike back before they had the chance to gather the intelligence they needed. They always did.

Behind him, the team was regrouping. Reia was tending to Cyris’s wounds, her deft hands working quickly to wrap the gash on his side. Arlen, as irreverent as ever, was tinkering with one of his explosives, muttering something about needing a bigger blast radius next time. Myne sat apart from the others, her expression unreadable as she leaned against a tree, her hand idly tracing patterns in the air—shadows curling and twisting in response to her touch.

Aiden turned to them, his voice cutting through the quiet. “We don’t have much time. They’ll retaliate, and soon. We need to move before they regain their footing.”

Reia glanced up, her brow furrowed. “We’ve pushed them tonight, but what’s the next step? Are we going after the ritual?”

“Not yet,” Aiden said firmly. “We’ll need more intel before we can risk an assault on their inner territory. Liam’s tracking the energy signatures, but until we have a precise location, we can’t afford to split our forces. For now, we’ll regroup at the safehouse, reinforce our position, and prepare for the counterstrike.”

Myne spoke up, her voice carrying a sharp edge. “And what happens when they bring the full weight of their Division down on us? We’ve got skills, sure, but we can’t hold out forever against their numbers.”

Aiden’s gaze met hers, unflinching. “We don’t need to hold out forever. Just long enough to cripple their momentum. Every battle we fight isn’t just about survival—it’s about sending a message. The Court thrives on fear and control. If we show them we’re not afraid, we undermine their foundation. That’s how revolutions start.”

Myne’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she nodded, her shadows flickering faintly as if in agreement. “Fine. But if you get yourself killed, I’m dragging you back just to yell at you.”

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Aiden’s mouth. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

The team packed up quickly, their movements efficient despite their fatigue. Within minutes, they were on the move again, the forest swallowing them in its dark embrace. The safehouse was miles away, hidden deep within a labyrinth of caves that only Aiden and his operatives knew how to navigate. It was a temporary haven, but one they’d fortified to withstand even the most determined assault.

As they trekked through the dense undergrowth, Liam’s voice returned, breaking the silence. “Aiden, I’ve detected something unusual near the borderlands. It’s faint, but it could be connected to the ritual. I’ll need time to pinpoint the exact location.”

“How much time?” Aiden asked, his tone sharp.

“Hours, maybe days. The energy signatures are erratic, as if they’re deliberately masking it. Whoever’s leading this ritual knows how to cover their tracks.”

Aiden’s jaw tightened. “Keep me updated. We’ll hold the line until you’ve got something concrete.”

The journey to the safehouse was uneventful, the oppressive silence of the forest broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant cry of a nocturnal predator. By the time they arrived, the first light of dawn was beginning to creep over the horizon, casting the cave entrance in a pale, golden glow.

Inside, the team spread out, each member falling into their routines. Reia set up a watch post near the entrance, her rifle within arm’s reach. Arlen began checking their supplies, muttering about needing more explosives. Cyris, ever the stoic warrior, sharpened his blades with a quiet intensity. Myne disappeared into the shadows, likely to meditate or recharge her energy.

Aiden, however, didn’t rest. He stood in the center of the safehouse, a crude map of the region spread out before him. His mind raced as he considered their next moves, every possibility and contingency running through his thoughts.

The Celestial Court wasn’t just an enemy—they were a force of nature, entrenched in power and unyielding in their pursuit of dominance. But Aiden knew that even the mightiest forces had weaknesses. It was just a matter of finding the right pressure points.

His fingers traced a path on the map, his golden eyes narrowing. If Liam’s lead panned out, they’d have a chance to strike at the heart of the Court’s plans. But it would require perfect timing, flawless execution, and a willingness to gamble everything.

And Aiden was more than willing. He thrived in the shadows, where every step was a risk and every victory came at a cost. The storm was far from over, but Aiden wasn’t just weathering it.

He was becoming it.

The faint glow of dawn seeped into the cavern, painting its rough stone walls with an ethereal light. Aiden stood over the map, his shadow stretching across it like the shadow of a looming storm. The weight of leadership bore down on him, but it was a weight he had grown accustomed to carrying. In the silence, his thoughts churned, running through strategies and calculating risks.

The safehouse was still, save for the faint clinking of Cyris sharpening his blades and the quiet mutterings of Arlen as he inventoried their dwindling supplies. Myne reemerged from the shadows, her emerald eyes sharp and rested. She approached him silently, her presence as subtle as her craft, before speaking in a low voice.

“You’re not going to rest, are you?” she asked, though it was less a question and more an observation.

Aiden’s lips quirked in the faintest hint of a smile. “There’s no time for that. Not yet.”

She crossed her arms, leaning casually against the stone wall beside him. “You keep saying that. But even storms lose their force if they rage too long.”

He didn’t reply immediately, his golden eyes scanning the map as if it held answers to questions he hadn’t yet asked. Finally, he said, “Rest is a luxury I can’t afford, not while the Court is out there plotting their next move. If I falter, we all fall.”

Myne’s gaze softened, just slightly. “You’re a stubborn bastard, you know that?”

He chuckled softly. “I’ve heard worse.”

Their quiet exchange was interrupted by a sharp whistle from Arlen, who was holding up a small, rectangular device. “Got something for you, boss. Surveillance unit we swiped from the depot—it’s still active. I think I can hack into their communications, but it’ll take some time.”

Aiden’s attention snapped to Arlen, his interest piqued. “Do it. If we can intercept their plans or find out more about this ritual, it’ll give us the edge we need.”

“On it,” Arlen said, his fingers already working deftly over the device. “Just don’t blame me if this thing blows up—it’s got a nasty failsafe built in.”

While Arlen tinkered with the stolen tech, Reia approached the map table, her expression grim. “We’ve got movement near the forest’s edge. Scouts, most likely. They’re sweeping the area.”

Aiden nodded, his mind racing. “They’ll be looking for us. Increase the perimeter surveillance, but keep it subtle. If they find us here, we won’t have the resources to hold them off for long.”

Reia’s lips thinned, but she nodded. “Understood. I’ll take the first watch.”

As she moved to her post, Aiden returned his focus to the map, his mind a storm of thoughts. The ritual, the Court’s scouts, their limited resources—it all felt like a game of chess where the enemy had more pieces on the board. But Aiden had always been a master of turning the odds in his favor.

Arlen’s triumphant shout broke through his concentration. “Got it! Their comms are open.”

The room seemed to hold its breath as Arlen patched the signal through to a small, crackling speaker. A distorted voice came through, formal and commanding.

“—progress on the ritual must not be delayed. The High Council has ordered immediate reinforcement of the eastern quadrant. All units are to converge at the appointed site within three days. Failure will not be tolerated.”

The transmission ended abruptly, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

Myne was the first to speak. “The eastern quadrant… That’s deep in their territory. If that’s where the ritual’s happening, it’s going to be a nightmare to get in.”

Aiden’s golden eyes burned with determination. “Nightmares don’t stop us. They fuel us. Arlen, can you track the signal’s origin?”

“Already working on it,” Arlen replied, his hands flying over the device. “Give me a few minutes.”