Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 374

Chapter 374: Interception VI

“You’re better than I expected,” Alaric admitted, his tone almost admiring. “But skill alone won’t save you.”

Aiden didn’t respond. He ducked under a sweeping strike, retaliating with a powerful upward slash that forced Alaric to retreat. “Kira! Now!”

Kira didn’t hesitate. She drew a special arrow from her quiver, its shaft carved with intricate runes. As she released it, the arrow exploded into a burst of light, blinding and disorienting. For a moment, Alaric faltered, his movements slowed as he shielded his eyes.

That moment was all Aiden needed. He closed the distance in an instant, his blade glowing with concentrated energy. With a roar, he unleashed a devastating slash aimed directly at Alaric’s chest.

The strike connected, the force of it shattering the ground beneath them and sending a shockwave echoing through the valley. Alaric was thrown back, his robes torn and blood seeping from a deep gash across his torso. He staggered but didn’t fall, his glowing eyes narrowing with fury.

“You’ll regret that,” he snarled, his voice carrying a dangerous edge.

Aiden raised his blade, his stance unyielding. “You’re bleeding. That means you can die.”

Alaric’s smirk returned, but it was darker now, edged with malice. “Then let me show you what true power looks like.”

The ground beneath him began to glow, intricate runes appearing in a perfect circle around him. The air grew heavy, charged with an overwhelming energy that made even Aiden’s seasoned team hesitate. Aiden gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he assessed the situation.

“Myne!” he called. “Disrupt that spell!”

Myne moved without hesitation, her shadows surging forward to envelop the runes. But Alaric’s power flared, the runes resisting her interference. “You think you can stop this?” Alaric taunted. “Foolish.”

Before Aiden could respond, the runes exploded outward, releasing a wave of energy that sent everyone sprawling. Aiden hit the ground hard, his vision swimming as he struggled to get back to his feet. In the center of the glowing circle, Alaric stood, his injuries gone and his aura more menacing than ever.

Aiden pushed himself to his feet, every muscle in his body protesting against the force of Alaric’s spell. Around him, his team recovered quickly, their eyes locked on the glowing figure in the center of the battlefield. Alaric’s aura pulsed like a living thing, radiating power that seemed to warp the very air.

Aiden wiped the blood from his mouth and gripped his sword tighter. “We stick to the plan,” he said, his voice cutting through the tension. “We take him down, no matter what.”

Kira nodded, her bow already nocked with another rune-etched arrow. Myne’s shadows coalesced around her, darker and denser than before, a sign that she was drawing on her deeper reserves. The others tightened their formation, their determination unwavering.

Alaric’s eyes glowed with unrestrained malice. “You should have fled when you had the chance,” he said, his voice echoing unnaturally. “Now, you’ll witness the true might of the Court.”

He raised his hand, and the ground beneath him cracked, glowing fissures spreading outward like spiderwebs. From the ruptures emerged spectral forms—pale, humanoid figures with hollow eyes and jagged claws. They moved with unnatural speed, their screeches piercing the air as they surged toward Aiden and his team.

“Hold them off!” Aiden commanded, stepping forward to face Alaric directly. “I’ll handle him!”

The team sprang into action. Kira’s arrows flew in rapid succession, each one bursting into light as it struck the spectral creatures. Myne’s shadows lashed out, binding and tearing apart the apparitions before they could close the distance. The others fought with precision, their weapons cutting through the spectral horde like a well-oiled machine.

Aiden, meanwhile, charged at Alaric, his sword blazing with dark energy. He moved like a tempest, each strike calculated to break through the High Inquisitor’s defenses. But Alaric was faster, his every counterstrike executed with unnerving precision.

“You’re persistent,” Alaric said, his tone mocking. “But persistence alone won’t save you.”

He raised his free hand, summoning a torrent of golden light that shot toward Aiden like a lance. Aiden dodged, the beam narrowly missing him as it obliterated a tree behind him. He retaliated with a horizontal slash, unleashing a wave of energy that forced Alaric to step back.

“Your tricks won’t work forever,” Aiden growled, pressing the attack. He feinted to the left before delivering a powerful thrust aimed at Alaric’s core.

Alaric smirked, sidestepping the attack with ease. “And yet, you’re still trying,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. He retaliated with a swipe of his energy blade, the strike fast enough to leave a shimmering afterimage.

Aiden barely blocked the attack, the impact sending a jolt up his arm. His mind raced as he searched for an opening, but Alaric’s movements were flawless, his mastery of combat evident in every strike and counter.

Behind him, the battle against the spectral horde raged on. Kira loosed another rune arrow, the projectile exploding in a burst of light that incinerated a cluster of the apparitions. Myne was a blur of motion, her shadows weaving and striking with deadly precision. But the creatures kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.

“Myne!” Aiden called, his voice sharp. “Can you cut off his connection to the spell?”

Myne glanced at him, her expression strained. “I can try, but I’ll need time!”

“Do it!” Aiden said. “We’ll cover you!”

He shifted his focus back to Alaric, his determination hardening. “You’re not invincible,” he said, his voice steady. “And I’m going to prove it.”

Alaric laughed, the sound cold and hollow. “Bold words,” he said. “Let’s see if you can back them up.”

The ground beneath Aiden’s feet erupted as Alaric summoned another wave of golden energy, forcing him to leap back. He landed with practiced grace, his sword raised as he prepared for the next assault.

“Myne, now!” he shouted, buying time for her to focus.

Myne extended her hands, her shadows surging forward in a concentrated wave. They snaked toward the glowing fissures, seeking to sever the connection that fed Alaric’s power. Alaric noticed the movement and sneered, his attention momentarily divided.

Aiden seized the opening. He surged forward, his blade wreathed in dark energy, and struck with all his might. The blow landed, cutting through Alaric’s defenses and sending him staggering back.

“You’re bleeding again,” Aiden said, his voice cold. “I told you—you can die.”

Alaric’s expression twisted with fury, but before he could retaliate, Myne’s shadows reached the fissures. The glowing cracks dimmed, their light fading as her shadows choked the energy flow.

The spectral forms faltered, their movements slowing before they dissolved into nothingness. Aiden’s team regrouped, their weapons ready as they closed in on Alaric.

The High Inquisitor’s aura flickered, his power waning. He glared at Aiden, his glowing eyes burning with hatred. “This isn’t over,” he spat. “You’ve only delayed the inevitable.”

Aiden raised his sword, his stance unyielding. “Then let’s end it here.”

Alaric’s face twisted into a snarl, his body radiating defiance even as his aura began to wane. “You think you’ve won, boy? You have no idea what forces you’re meddling with.”

With a sudden surge of power, Alaric thrust his hand toward the ground, shattering the remnants of the dimmed fissures. Golden energy burst forth in jagged arcs, forming a protective barrier around him as he prepared to escape. Aiden immediately recognized the spell—a high-tier teleportation glyph designed to whisk its user to safety.

“Myne, disrupt that spell!” Aiden shouted, rushing forward.

Myne didn’t hesitate. Her shadows whipped out like serpents, clawing at the barrier with ferocity. Golden sparks flew as shadow and light clashed, but the glyph was already stabilizing. Alaric smirked, confident in his imminent escape.

Not this time, Aiden thought, narrowing his eyes. He reached into the depths of his power, summoning the authority of the Eternal Forge, one of his most potent abilities. His sword began to glow with an ethereal crimson hue, its edge crackling with primal energy.

“Break!” Aiden roared, slashing downward with all his might.

The force of the strike shattered the barrier like glass, the glyph’s formation crumbling in an instant. Alaric stumbled back, his eyes widening in disbelief as Aiden closed the distance between them.

“Enough of your tricks!” Aiden growled, his voice cutting through the chaos. He launched a flurry of attacks, each strike carrying the weight of his determination. Alaric managed to deflect the first few blows, but the sheer ferocity of Aiden’s assault overwhelmed him. Sparks flew as their blades clashed, the sound of metal ringing through the air.

Behind them, Kira and the others formed a perimeter, ensuring no reinforcements could interrupt the duel. Myne, her shadows coiled around her like a living armor, stood ready to intervene if needed.

“You’re outmatched, Alaric,” Aiden said, his voice steady despite the exertion. “Surrender, and I’ll make this quick.”

Alaric laughed, though it was tinged with desperation. “You think you’ve won because you’ve cornered me? I am the High Inquisitor! My will is absolute!”