Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 362

Chapter 362: Battle III

Night fell quickly, the storm clouds that had lingered earlier finally dispersing to reveal a pale crescent moon. The team moved through the forest like shadows, their dark armor blending seamlessly with the terrain. Myne’s shadowmancy cloaked their presence, the tendrils of darkness wrapping around them like a second skin.

Ebonhold loomed ahead, its jagged spires rising against the night sky. The fortress was an imposing structure, its blackstone walls pulsing faintly with the energy of defensive wards. Liam had already begun dismantling the wards from a distance, his spectral form flickering as he worked.

“They’ve reinforced the outer defenses since Joran was last here,” Liam whispered to Aiden through their shared communication channel. “This is going to take longer than I expected.”

“Just get us in,” Aiden replied. “We’ll handle the rest.”

Once Liam deactivated the primary ward, the team advanced, their movements precise and silent. Joran led the way, his knowledge of the fortress’s layout proving invaluable as they navigated the labyrinthine corridors. Despite his earlier confidence, Aiden kept a close eye on him, his hand never far from the hilt of his sword.

They reached the lower wards without incident, but the tension in the air was palpable. Myne signaled for the team to halt, her sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit corridor ahead. “Guards,” she murmured. “Two, heavily armed.”

Aiden gestured for two operatives to move forward. They dispatched the guards swiftly and silently, their movements honed by years of training.

“This way,” Joran whispered, leading them to a heavy iron door. He hesitated for a moment, then pushed it open, revealing a cramped holding area filled with cells. A woman and a young boy huddled together in one of the cells, their faces lighting up with hope when they saw Joran.

“Papa!” the boy cried, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aiden stepped forward, his gaze scanning the room for traps or hidden threats. “Get them out,” he ordered.

While one of the operatives worked on the lock, Aiden turned to Myne. “Plant the charges. We’re not leaving here without making our mark.”

“Already on it,” she replied, disappearing into the shadows.

The clock was ticking, and Aiden knew they wouldn’t leave Ebonhold without a fight.

The lock on the cell clicked open, and the iron door creaked as it swung outward. Joran rushed in, gathering his wife and son into his arms. His wife’s face was streaked with tears, a mixture of relief and terror etched into her expression. The boy clung to him desperately, his small hands gripping the fabric of his tunic.

“We’re getting out of here,” Joran whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. “I promise.”

Aiden’s voice cut through the moment like a blade. “We’re not out yet. Move quickly and stay silent.”

Joran nodded, ushering his family toward the door as Aiden’s operatives formed a protective formation around them. Every second spent in the holding area was a risk, and Aiden’s instincts screamed at him to keep moving.

As they exited the cell block, Liam’s voice echoed in Aiden’s earpiece. “You’ve got incoming. A patrol’s heading your way, and they’re not small in number.”

“How long do we have?” Aiden asked.

“Two minutes, maybe less,” Liam replied. “And I can sense elevated energy signatures. They’re bringing enforcers.”

“Damn it,” Aiden muttered. “Myne, how’s it going with the charges?”

Her voice came through with a grim edge. “Almost done. These supports are reinforced with leyline energy—it’s taking longer to place the explosives without triggering alarms.”

“Finish up. We’ll buy you time,” Aiden ordered, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. He turned to the team. “We’ve got a patrol closing in. Defensive formation. Keep Joran and his family in the center.”

The operatives moved with precision, their weapons drawn as they took up positions around the narrow corridor. The sound of boots echoed in the distance, growing louder with every passing second. Aiden positioned himself at the forefront, his senses heightened and his mind calm despite the storm brewing ahead.

The first wave of guards rounded the corner, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. Aiden moved like a shadow, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. The first two guards fell before they could even raise their weapons, their bodies hitting the ground with dull thuds.

The corridor erupted into chaos as the rest of the patrol charged forward. Aiden’s operatives met them head-on, their movements fluid and coordinated. Blades clashed, sparks flying as steel met steel. Aiden fought with brutal efficiency, every strike calculated to incapacitate or kill. His sword glowed faintly with an ethereal light, a manifestation of the energy he channeled through it.

Joran’s wife clutched her son tightly, her eyes wide with fear as the battle raged around them. Joran positioned himself in front of them, his trembling hands gripping a dagger he’d taken from one of the fallen guards. It was clear he was no fighter, but his determination to protect his family was unshakable.

Liam’s voice cut through the chaos. “Reinforcements are on their way. You’ve got another squad inbound, and they’re closing fast.”

“Myne, we’re running out of time!” Aiden barked.

“Just one more charge,” she replied, her voice strained. “Hold them off a little longer.”

Aiden growled under his breath, his sword cutting through another guard. The enforcers Liam had warned about finally appeared, their energy flaring like beacons in the dim corridor. They moved with unnatural speed, their strikes precise and devastating.

One of the enforcers lunged at Aiden, their halberd glowing with an ominous red energy. Aiden parried the blow, the force of the impact reverberating through his arms. He countered with a slash aimed at their midsection, but the enforcer dodged with inhuman agility.

“You’ll need more than that,” the enforcer sneered, their voice distorted by the magical energy coursing through them.

Aiden smirked, his blade igniting with blue flames. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

With a surge of power, he unleashed a devastating arc of energy that tore through the corridor. The enforcer barely had time to react before the attack struck, sending them crashing into the wall with a thunderous impact.

Before Aiden could capitalize, another enforcer closed the distance, their spear thrusting toward him with deadly precision. He sidestepped the attack, his movements a blur as he struck back with a flurry of slashes that forced the enforcer onto the defensive.

“Myne!” he shouted again, his patience wearing thin.

“Done!” her voice echoed from the shadows. A moment later, she appeared beside him, her twin daggers dripping with dark energy. “Charges are set. Let’s move before this whole place comes down.”

“Fall back!” Aiden commanded. His operatives disengaged with practiced efficiency, their formation tightening around Joran and his family as they retreated down the corridor. The enforcers pressed forward, but Myne’s shadowmancy slowed their advance, tendrils of darkness coiling around their limbs and dragging them back.

As the team emerged into the open air, Myne detonated the charges with a flick of her wrist. The ground trembled beneath them as Ebonhold’s lower levels collapsed, a deafening roar echoing through the night. A plume of dust and debris rose into the sky, a grim testament to the fortress’s fall.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Aiden said, his gaze scanning the forest. “Liam, guide us to the extraction point.”

“Already marking the path,” Liam replied, his voice steady despite the tension.

As they disappeared into the shadows of the forest, Aiden allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. The mission wasn’t over, but they’d dealt a critical blow to the Celestial Court. For now, that was enough.

The forest was alive with the sounds of pursuit—distant shouts, the snap of branches, and the clinking of armor as the Celestial Court’s soldiers fanned out to hunt them. Aiden led the group with unerring precision, his senses attuned to every shift in the terrain. His mind worked as swiftly as his feet, calculating every possible ambush point, every potential route of escape.

“Stay close,” he said, his voice low but firm. “We’re not stopping until we reach the extraction point.”

Joran’s wife stumbled, her breath ragged from the exertion, but she clung tightly to her son, who was too frightened to make a sound. Joran moved to support her, his face pale but determined. Aiden glanced back, his eyes briefly meeting Joran’s. There was no need for words—the gratitude in the man’s expression spoke volumes.

“Contact, three o’clock!” Myne hissed. Her shadows flared to life, stretching unnaturally to obscure their movement.

Aiden’s hand shot up, signaling a halt. He crouched low, scanning the darkness. His Spirit Sense painted a vivid picture in his mind: a squad of heavily armed soldiers moving in a wide arc, trying to flank them.

“They’re trying to box us in,” Aiden murmured. “Myne, cover our retreat. Liam, how far to the extraction point?”

“Two clicks east,” Liam replied through the comms. “But there’s a patrol cutting across your path. You’ll need to double back or break through.”