Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 379

Chapter 379: Convergence

The smoldering ruins of the depot cast an ominous glow in the distance, but Aiden’s focus was elsewhere. The celestial fragment in his hand emanated a faint warmth, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. It was a piece of something much larger, something beyond even his comprehension. Whatever its purpose, he knew it was central to the “convergence” the silver-eyed man had raved about.

Myne stepped closer, her cloak of shadows dissipating now that they were away from immediate danger. She studied the fragment with a raised eyebrow. “So, what’s the plan? Are we keeping that thing, or are you planning to toss it into a black hole?”

Aiden’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “Tossing it into a black hole would be too easy. This fragment is a clue—one we can’t afford to ignore. If the convergence is as dangerous as he claimed, we need every advantage we can get.”

Myne crossed her arms, her expression skeptical but not dismissive. “Fair enough. But carrying that thing around might paint an even bigger target on your back.”

“Let them come,” Aiden replied, his voice sharp with determination. “We need answers, and I’m not about to sit back and wait for them to come to us. Nexus might have some insight. I’ll contact him once we’re out of this region.”

Myne nodded but didn’t look entirely convinced. “Fine. Just don’t expect me to hold your hand if it turns out to be cursed or some otherworldly beacon of doom.”

Aiden let out a low chuckle. “Noted.”

The strike team regrouped as the first light of dawn filtered through the trees. Despite their exhaustion, they moved with precision and discipline, each operative understanding the importance of their mission. Myne took point alongside Aiden, her eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of pursuit.

“We’re clear for now,” she said quietly, breaking the silence. “But that won’t last. The explosion will draw attention, and it’s only a matter of time before reinforcements show up.”

“Then we move fast,” Aiden replied. “We’ll rendezvous at the fallback point and assess our next move. I want full debriefs from everyone.”

The trek through the forest was grueling but uneventful. By the time they reached the fallback point, the operatives had shed their battle tension, their relief palpable. Aiden, however, remained vigilant, his Spirit Sense sweeping the area for any signs of danger.

Myne approached him as he stood apart from the group, leaning against a massive tree. “You’re thinking too much again,” she said, her tone light but tinged with genuine concern.

“Can you blame me?” Aiden shot back, though there was no heat in his voice. “We’re playing a game with pieces we don’t fully understand. One wrong move, and it’s game over—not just for us, but for everyone.”

She sighed, her usual sarcasm giving way to something softer. “You’ve carried this weight for too long, Aiden. You don’t have to do it alone.”

“I know,” he admitted, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “But that doesn’t mean I can let my guard down. Not now. Not ever.”

Their conversation was cut short by the sharp whistle of one of the operatives. A scout emerged from the treeline, his face pale.

“Commander,” the scout said, addressing Aiden. “We’ve got company. Fast-moving. Likely Abyssal reinforcements. They’ll be on us in less than ten minutes.”

Aiden’s jaw tightened. “All right. Everyone, gear up. We’re moving.”

Myne’s shadows flickered around her like a living entity, her confidence returning. “Looks like we’re not getting that break you promised.”

Aiden smirked, his golden blade materializing once more. “Who needs breaks? We’ve got a war to win.”

The team melted into the forest, their movements swift and silent. As the Abyssal reinforcements drew closer, Aiden’s grip on the celestial fragment tightened. It was more than a piece of some grand puzzle—it was a promise that he would uncover the truth, no matter the cost. And for the sake of the kingdoms hanging in the balance, failure was not an option.

The forest grew darker as Aiden and his team moved swiftly through the dense undergrowth, their movements synchronized and quiet. The looming presence of the Abyssal reinforcements was like a thundercloud overhead, suffocating and ominous. Despite the tension, Aiden’s mind was clear, each step taken with deliberate purpose.

“Myne,” he said in a low voice, glancing to his side where she moved like a shadow, her presence almost indistinguishable from the surrounding darkness.

“Yeah?” she replied, her tone calm despite the urgency.

“We’ll split into two groups. I’ll draw them away while you take the others to the secondary fallback point.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re not pulling that martyr nonsense again, are you?”

Aiden’s smirk was faint but telling. “Not martyrdom—strategy. They’re tracking us, but they’re after me. If I separate from the team, they’ll follow. It’ll give you a clean escape.”

Myne clicked her tongue, clearly unhappy. “Fine, but if you get yourself killed, I’m haunting you.”

“Deal,” he said, and without another word, he surged ahead, the golden glow of his blade briefly illuminating the shadows before vanishing into the distance.

Myne turned to the team, her voice sharp and commanding. “You heard the man. Follow me. We’re heading north.”

The operatives moved without hesitation, trusting in both their commander’s plan and Myne’s ability to lead. Still, a weight settled over them—an unspoken understanding that Aiden was willingly walking into danger to protect them.

Aiden slowed as he reached a rocky clearing, the faint glow of the celestial fragment in his hand pulsing rhythmically. He could sense them now, the Abyssal forces closing in like a storm. Their presence was a jagged wound in the fabric of the world, raw and unnatural.

“Come on,” he muttered under his breath, his golden blade materializing in a blaze of light. He stood tall, his white cloak fluttering in the wind, a stark contrast to the encroaching darkness.

The first of the Abyssal warriors emerged from the treeline, their forms twisted and grotesque, exuding malice. They paused, as if surprised to find their prey standing so boldly before them.

Aiden tilted his head, his smirk widening. “What took you so long?”

With a roar, the Abyssals surged forward, their monstrous forms barreling toward him like a wave of nightmares. Aiden didn’t flinch. His blade sang as it cleaved through the first attacker, golden arcs of light scattering like fireworks in the darkness.

The battle was chaos. Abyssals swarmed from all sides, their numbers seemingly endless, but Aiden moved with the precision of a master, his strikes lethal and unrelenting. He wielded his blade like an extension of himself, each swing cutting through the tide with devastating efficiency.

But even as he fought, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The Abyssals were relentless, but their attacks lacked coordination. It was as if they were stalling rather than trying to overwhelm him.

A sudden surge of energy snapped Aiden out of his thoughts. From the treeline, a figure emerged, its presence commanding and cold. Clad in dark armor that shimmered with Abyssal energy, the figure’s silver eyes locked onto Aiden, radiating power and malice.

“So,” the figure said, its voice deep and mocking. “This is the infamous Aiden. I must admit, you’re living up to the reputation.”

Aiden’s grip on his blade tightened. “And you are?”

The figure inclined its head slightly. “Call me Kael. I’ve been watching you for some time now, and I must say, you’ve proven… problematic.”

“Flattered,” Aiden said dryly. “But if you’ve been watching, you should know I don’t go down easily.”

Kael chuckled, a low, menacing sound. “Indeed. That’s why I’m here—to see just how far you can go before you break.”

As Kael raised a hand, Abyssal energy crackled around him, forming into jagged spears of darkness. Aiden steadied himself, his golden blade gleaming in defiance.

Kael didn’t wait for Aiden to make the first move. With a sharp motion, he hurled the spears of Abyssal energy toward him, their edges crackling with malevolent power. Aiden stepped into the attack rather than retreating, his blade spinning in a wide arc. Golden light clashed with Abyssal darkness, sending shockwaves rippling through the clearing.

The spears exploded, shattering into fragments of energy that dissipated into the air, but Aiden was already moving. He closed the distance between them in a blur, his blade arcing toward Kael’s neck.

Kael raised a gauntleted hand, catching the strike with a dark barrier that shimmered like obsidian. Sparks flew as the two energies clashed, and Kael twisted his wrist, forcing Aiden back with a surge of power.

“You’re fast,” Kael said, his tone almost bored. “But speed alone won’t save you.”

Aiden smirked, stepping back and lowering his blade slightly, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dark. “I wasn’t counting on speed. Let’s see how you handle this.”

He raised his free hand, and a circle of runes materialized in the air around him, spinning rapidly as golden energy condensed at its center. Kael’s silver eyes narrowed, recognizing the power building within the spell.

Aiden thrust his hand forward, unleashing a torrent of golden light. The beam roared toward Kael, obliterating everything in its path, the ground itself scorched by its passage. Kael crossed his arms, summoning a dome of Abyssal energy that flared to life around him, absorbing the blast with a deafening roar.

When the light faded, Kael stood untouched, his shield dissipating like smoke. He dusted off his armor, his expression one of mild irritation.