Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 363

Chapter 363: Battle IV

Aiden cursed under his breath. Time was running out, and doubling back would only increase the risk of being caught. Breaking through was dangerous, but it was their only viable option.

“We go through them,” he decided. “Myne, thin their numbers. Everyone else, protect Joran’s family. No mistakes.”

Myne’s lips curled into a feral grin. “Gladly.”

She melted into the shadows, her presence vanishing completely. Moments later, muffled cries echoed from the direction of the patrol, followed by the unmistakable sound of bodies hitting the ground. When Myne reappeared, her daggers glistened with blood.

“They’re distracted,” she said. “But not for long. Move.”

The group surged forward, weaving through the dense underbrush. The soldiers were disoriented, some scrambling to regroup while others lay sprawled on the forest floor, clutching at the unnatural wounds inflicted by Myne’s shadowmancy. Aiden didn’t spare them a glance as he led his team past the chaos.

The extraction point came into view—a small clearing where a sleek, rune-covered transport vessel hovered silently above the ground. Aiden’s team quickened their pace, the promise of safety spurring them on.

“Almost there!” he called out. But the words had barely left his mouth when the air grew heavy with an oppressive energy. Aiden’s steps faltered, his instincts screaming a warning.

“They’ve sent a Warden,” Liam’s voice crackled through the comms. “A high-level one.”

A figure emerged from the shadows, clad in ornate armor that radiated an aura of raw power. The Warden’s presence was suffocating, their piercing gaze locking onto Aiden with predatory intent. In their hand was a glaive etched with runes, each one pulsing with the same malevolent energy that surrounded them.

“You’ve caused quite the mess,” the Warden said, their voice calm but laced with menace. “But it ends here.”

Aiden stepped forward, positioning himself between the Warden and his team. He drew his sword, its blue flames flickering to life. “You’re welcome to try.”

The Warden smirked, twirling their glaive with practiced ease. “Foolish, but admirable. Let’s see how long you last.”

Without warning, the Warden surged forward, their glaive slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Aiden met the attack head-on, their weapons clashing in a shower of sparks. The force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the clearing, scattering leaves and dirt.

“Myne, get them on the transport!” Aiden shouted, his voice strained as he parried another strike.

“What about you?” Myne demanded, her daggers already in hand.

“I’ll handle this. Just go!”

Reluctantly, Myne obeyed, her shadows coiling around Joran and his family as she ushered them toward the vessel. Aiden could hear the transport’s engines humming to life, but his focus remained entirely on the Warden.

The Warden pressed their advantage, each strike coming faster and heavier than the last. Aiden’s muscles burned as he fought to keep up, his movements a blur of calculated precision. But the Warden was relentless, their power undeniable.

“You can’t win,” the Warden taunted, their glaive sweeping low in an attempt to unbalance him. “You’re outmatched.”

Aiden smirked, his blade igniting with renewed intensity. “I’ve heard that before.”

He ducked under the glaive and countered with a powerful upward slash, forcing the Warden to retreat. Seizing the opportunity, Aiden channeled his energy into a devastating attack, his sword carving a glowing arc through the air.

The Warden raised their glaive to block, but the force of the strike drove them back, their armor cracking under the pressure. A flicker of uncertainty crossed their face, quickly replaced by anger.

“You’ll regret that,” they snarled, their aura flaring as they prepared to unleash a devastating attack.

But before they could strike, a sudden explosion rocked the clearing. Myne’s shadows erupted from the ground, entwining the Warden in a web of darkness. The transport vessel hovered nearby, its hatch open and waiting.

“Aiden, now!” Myne called out.

Without hesitation, Aiden broke away from the Warden and sprinted toward the vessel. He leaped through the hatch just as the transport lifted off, its engines roaring to full power. Below, the Warden struggled against Myne’s shadows, their enraged shouts fading as the vessel ascended into the sky.

Aiden collapsed into a seat, his chest heaving as adrenaline coursed through his veins. Myne sat across from him, her smirk returning as she wiped the blood from her daggers.

“Close call,” she said. “But we made it.”

Aiden nodded, his gaze shifting to Joran and his family. The boy was asleep, his head resting on his mother’s lap, while Joran sat with an arm around his wife, his expression one of quiet gratitude.

“We’re not done yet,” Aiden said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion creeping in. “The Court won’t let this go unanswered. But for now… we rest.”

As the transport disappeared into the night, the forest below returned to an uneasy silence, the aftermath of their raid leaving ripples that would soon spread across the land.

The transport cut through the darkened skies, the hum of its engines blending into the stillness of the night. Inside, the air was thick with a tension that even exhaustion couldn’t dispel. Aiden sat at the front, his sword propped against his knee, the faint glow of its flame casting shadows over his face.

Liam materialized beside him, his form flickering slightly as he adjusted to the vessel’s energy field. “The Warden won’t stay tangled for long,” he said, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of urgency. “They’ll rally their forces and track us. We’ve got maybe an hour before they’re on our trail again.”

Aiden didn’t look up, his gaze fixed on the floor as if piecing together a strategy from the scattered thoughts racing through his mind. “Then we need to ensure they don’t find us. What’s our best option for disappearing?”

“North,” Liam replied without hesitation. “There’s a stretch of leyline dead zones where tracking magic won’t work. We can lose them there, but it’s risky. Those areas are… unstable. Few who wander into them come back.”

Aiden finally looked at Liam, his sharp eyes cutting through the dim light. “We don’t have a choice. Plot a course.”

Liam nodded and began interfacing with the vessel’s navigation systems. As he worked, Myne approached, leaning against the wall with a casualness that didn’t quite mask her concern. She crossed her arms, studying Aiden with a frown.

“Unstable dead zones? That’s the plan?” she asked, her tone laced with skepticism.

“It’s better than waiting for them to catch us,” Aiden replied without missing a beat. “We can’t afford to fight them head-on, not in this condition.”

Myne’s frown deepened, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she shifted her gaze to Joran’s family at the back of the cabin. The boy stirred in his sleep, clutching a small wooden carving in his tiny hands—a keepsake, perhaps, from a life now torn away.

“At least they’re safe,” she muttered. “For now.”

Aiden’s expression softened, the faintest hint of a smile flickering across his face. “For now is all we can give them. It’s more than most get.”

The vessel jolted suddenly, a warning alarm blaring through the cabin. Liam’s spectral form solidified as he turned toward the others. “We’ve got company. Three Celestial Court scouts closing in from the west.”

Aiden sprang to his feet, his exhaustion forgotten. “How far out?”

“Two minutes, tops. They’ve already got a fix on us.”

Myne unsheathed her daggers, her grin returning, sharper than ever. “Well, guess they’re eager for round two. What’s the play?”

Aiden moved to the cockpit, scanning the holographic display that projected their pursuers’ positions. The scouts were fast—too fast to outrun without risking an all-out confrontation. His jaw tightened as the seconds ticked away.

“Liam, take the controls,” he ordered. “Get us as close to the dead zone as you can. Myne, you’re with me. We’ll handle the scouts.”

“You’re going out there?” Liam asked, his tone bordering on incredulous.

Aiden grabbed his sword and headed toward the exit hatch. “We don’t have a choice. If we let them report back, the whole Celestial Court will be on us in minutes.”

Myne followed, her steps light but purposeful. “You’d better keep up, boss. I’m not dragging your sorry ass back in here if you get yourself killed.”

Aiden smirked despite the gravity of the situation. “You wish.”

The hatch opened, and the wind roared as the vessel streaked through the night sky. Aiden leaped into the void, Myne close behind. As they fell, their auras flared to life, Aiden’s sword igniting in a blaze of blue flame while Myne’s shadows coiled around her like a living cloak.

The first scout swooped in, their spear glinting in the moonlight. Aiden twisted in midair, deflecting the attack with a calculated strike. The clash sent sparks flying, the force of it reverberating through the night.

Myne vanished into the darkness, reappearing behind another scout in a flash of shadow. Her daggers struck with lethal precision, severing the straps of the enemy’s harness and sending them spiraling out of control.

Aiden turned his attention to the third scout, who was already preparing a volley of magic-infused arrows. With a surge of energy, he propelled himself forward, his sword cleaving through the air. The scout barely had time to react before their bow shattered under the force of his strike.