Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 369

Chapter 369: Interception

The rest of the team murmured their agreement, their trust in Aiden evident despite the daunting odds. He didn’t take it lightly—every decision he made carried their lives in the balance. But hesitation wasn’t an option. Not now.

As the transport neared their hidden base, Aiden turned to Liam. “I want every detail you can find on that High Guardian. Strengths, weaknesses, patterns—anything we can use against them.”

Liam nodded. “I’m on it.”

The vehicle slowed to a halt, its cloaking field dissipating as they entered the concealed entrance to their underground sanctuary. The base was a hive of activity, operatives moving with purpose as they prepared for the next phase of the war. Despite their fatigue, there was a quiet determination in the air—a belief that, with Aiden leading them, victory was possible.

Aiden stepped out of the transport, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders like a familiar cloak. He couldn’t show weakness, not now. His team needed him to be steadfast, unyielding. And for their sake, he would be.

As the night deepened, the storm within Aiden’s mind raged on. The Celestial Court had made their move, and now it was his turn. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it head-on. Because in this war, there was no room for doubt—and no margin for error.

Aiden moved swiftly through the underground base, his boots echoing faintly against the stone floor. He navigated the labyrinthine corridors with ease, his steps purposeful. The war table in the central command chamber was already buzzing with activity, holograms of maps and troop movements lighting up the dimly lit space. Myne followed close behind, her presence as calm and composed as ever, though her sharp gaze missed nothing.

Liam’s holographic figure appeared again near the table, this time alongside one of their intelligence officers. “We’ve identified the High Guardian the Celestial Court has deployed,” Liam began without preamble. “It’s Salvara, the Blazing Warden.”

The name dropped like a heavy stone into the room, and a collective tension rippled through those present. Myne arched a brow. “Salvara? The one who turned an entire battlefield into molten slag during the Border Wars?”

Liam nodded grimly. “The same. Her mastery over fire-based leyline energy makes her one of the most destructive Guardians in their ranks. If she’s being brought in, it means they’re taking the situation very seriously.”

Aiden studied the projection of Salvara that flickered to life above the table—a tall, imposing figure clad in ornate crimson armor that radiated an aura of raw, searing power. Her twin blades, forged from leyline energy itself, glowed with an intensity that seemed to burn even in holographic form.

“We can’t face her directly,” Aiden said, his voice calm but firm. “Not without significant preparation. Our best bet is to keep her chasing shadows while we dismantle their infrastructure.”

“What about the ritual Liam mentioned earlier?” Myne asked. “If they’re pulling someone like Salvara, it could be tied to that.”

“It is,” Liam confirmed. “Preliminary scans of leyline activity show a massive spike near their southern stronghold. Whatever ritual they’re attempting, it’s drawing on unprecedented levels of energy. If it succeeds, it could amplify their forces significantly—or worse, destabilize the region entirely.”

Aiden’s jaw tightened. “Then we have to stop it.”

Myne crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. “We’ll need a multi-pronged approach. Hit their supply lines up north, as planned, but we’ll also need to infiltrate the ritual site. If we can disrupt their efforts, we might be able to turn their own power against them.”

“Agreed,” Aiden said. “Liam, coordinate with the infiltration team. I want detailed schematics of the southern stronghold and any intel on leyline anomalies. Myne, you’ll lead the northern strike. Keep their forces occupied and make it look like that’s our main focus.”

“And you?” Myne asked, though she already had an inkling of his answer.

“I’ll take the infiltration team,” Aiden replied. “If the ritual is the key to their plans, we can’t afford to leave it unchecked. This mission will be surgical—quick, silent, and precise.”

The room fell silent as his words sank in. The risks were monumental, but so were the stakes. If they failed, the Celestial Court would gain an insurmountable advantage. But if they succeeded, it could tip the scales of the entire war.

Myne smirked, breaking the tension. “Typical Aiden, taking the hardest job for himself.”

“I trust you to handle the rest,” Aiden replied with a rare, faint smile.

“Don’t make me regret that trust,” she shot back, her tone playful but her eyes serious.

As the meeting adjourned, the operatives dispersed to prepare for the dual operations. Aiden remained at the war table, staring at the projection of Salvara and the ritual site. His mind churned with strategies and contingencies, but a gnawing sense of unease lingered. The Celestial Court wouldn’t have brought Salvara into play unless they were confident. Whatever was happening in the south, it was more dangerous than even Liam’s intel suggested.

For now, though, Aiden pushed the doubts aside. The time for hesitation had passed. He would face Salvara’s flames and the ritual’s unknown perils head-on. Because if there was one thing he had learned in his battles, it was this: fortune favored the bold.

The infiltration team assembled in the shadow of the southern mountain range, the cold winds biting against their exposed skin. Clad in cloaks that shimmered faintly to blend into their surroundings, they moved like ghosts across the uneven terrain. Aiden led the way, his expression calm but his focus razor-sharp. Behind him, Liam’s projection floated silently, occasionally gesturing to highlight a holographic map projected in front of the team.

“We’ll enter through this fissure,” Liam explained, pointing to a narrow gap in the rock face. “It’s lightly guarded, but the leyline activity in the area is destabilizing the ground. Move carefully—one wrong step, and you’ll trigger a collapse.”

Aiden nodded, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his blade. “Understood. Keep scanning for anomalies; I want to know if anything changes before we’re inside.”

The team advanced with deliberate precision, every step calculated. Myne’s northern strike had already begun—explosions and flashes of energy lit up the horizon far behind them, a faint rumble carrying through the air. It was a distraction, but an effective one. The Celestial Court’s forces would be focused on the chaos up north, leaving their southern stronghold vulnerable.

As they reached the fissure, Aiden raised a hand to halt the group. He crouched, inspecting the narrow entrance. A faint hum of energy vibrated through the air, and he could see faint cracks glowing faintly blue beneath the surface of the rocks.

“Leyline energy,” he muttered, his voice low. “It’s already bleeding out into the environment.”

Liam appeared beside him. “It’s worse inside. The leyline isn’t just being tapped—they’re forcing it to flow unnaturally. If this continues, the entire area could collapse into a sinkhole.”

“Then we’ll make sure it doesn’t get that far,” Aiden said, motioning for the team to follow.

The fissure widened as they descended, revealing a massive cavern illuminated by streams of glowing energy that pulsed along the walls like veins. The air was thick with heat and power, the pressure almost suffocating. Aiden’s Spirit Sense flared, picking up faint traces of movement ahead. He signaled to the team, and they spread out, their footsteps silent as they melted into the shadows.

Liam’s voice came through the comms, quiet but firm. “Two patrols up ahead. One on the ground level, another on the scaffolding above. Their patterns are erratic—probably due to the leyline disruptions.”

Aiden tapped the side of his earpiece. “I’ll handle the ground. Kira, take the scaffolding.”

Kira, a wiry operative with sharp eyes, nodded and vanished into the darkness. Aiden moved forward, his blade drawn but held low to avoid reflecting the cavern’s light. The two guards on the ground were distracted, their focus split between their patrol and the unsettling energy coursing through the cavern.

Aiden struck with lethal precision. His blade flashed once, twice, and the guards crumpled silently to the ground. Above, Kira’s bow thrummed, and the sentries on the scaffolding toppled without a sound.

“Clear,” Aiden whispered into his comm.

The team regrouped and pressed onward. The cavern’s layout became more complex, with stone bridges and platforms suspended over yawning chasms. The leyline’s glow intensified, bathing the area in an eerie blue light. As they neared the heart of the stronghold, the sound of chanting reached their ears—low, guttural voices echoing off the cavern walls.

Liam’s projection appeared again, his expression grave. “We’re close. The ritual site is just ahead.”

Aiden raised a hand, signaling the team to halt. He stepped forward, peering around the corner. The sight that greeted him was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

A massive crystalline structure stood at the center of the chamber, its jagged spires pulsating with leyline energy. Around it, robed figures chanted in unison, their hands raised as they manipulated streams of raw power. At the far end of the chamber, a figure clad in crimson armor stood guard—Salvara, the Blazing Warden.

Her presence was like a furnace, the air around her shimmering with heat. Even at a distance, Aiden could feel the oppressive weight of her power.

“We can’t fight her head-on,” Liam whispered through the comm. “You’ll need to disrupt the ritual without drawing her attention.”