Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 382

Chapter 382: Abyssal Court

With a subtle gesture from Aiden, the ambush was sprung.

A rune etched into the ground exploded with blinding light, momentarily disorienting the Shadow Blades. Myne’s shadows surged forward like living tendrils, ensnaring two operatives before they could react. The air hummed with energy as Aiden’s team launched their assault.

Aiden moved like a predator, his blade flashing in the moonlight as he engaged the nearest Shadow Blade. Their swords clashed, the impact resonating through the forest. His opponent was skilled, their strikes precise and unrelenting, but Aiden’s movements were sharper, his strikes imbued with the power of his Martial Spirits.

To his left, Myne emerged from the shadows, her daggers slicing through the air with deadly precision. The operatives caught in her traps struggled against the shadowy tendrils, but her grip was unyielding. She dispatched them swiftly, her movements a dance of lethal grace.

Liam provided overwatch, his spectral form weaving through the chaos to relay intel. “Three more approaching from your six,” he warned, his voice calm despite the urgency.

Aiden pivoted, his sword cutting through the air as three more operatives appeared. He met their charge head-on, his strikes fluid and relentless. The forest echoed with the clash of steel, the scent of ozone mingling with the earthy aroma of moss and leaves.

The Shadow Blades fought with unwavering discipline, their training evident in every movement. But Aiden’s team was no less formidable. Each member executed their role with precision, their coordination honed through countless battles.

As the fight raged on, Aiden’s focus remained unbroken. This wasn’t just a battle—it was a message. The Abyssal Court had sent their best, but even their elite couldn’t match the sheer determination and ingenuity of Aiden’s team.

Finally, as the last Shadow Blade fell, the forest fell silent. The air was thick with the aftermath of battle, the faint glow of Myne’s shadows dissipating into the night. Aiden stood amidst the fallen operatives, his blade gleaming faintly in the moonlight.

“Status report,” he called, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him.

“All clear,” Myne replied, wiping blood from her daggers. “No casualties on our side.”

Liam materialized beside him, his expression thoughtful. “This will send a strong message to the Abyssal Court, but it also means they’ll escalate their efforts. They won’t stop until you’re eliminated.”

Aiden sheathed his sword, his gaze hard. “Let them come. They think they can control the game, but they’ve underestimated us. This isn’t just about survival anymore. It’s about showing them that we’re a force to be reckoned with.”

Myne smirked, her confidence unwavering. “What’s the next move, boss?”

Aiden looked toward the horizon, where the faint glow of the Abyssal Court’s stronghold loomed in the distance. “We take the fight to them. One strike at a time, we dismantle their empire. They wanted a war—now they’ve got one.”

Aiden’s words hung in the air like a solemn vow, his team silently steeling themselves for the battles ahead. The forest around them seemed to pulse with an unspoken energy, as if the earth itself acknowledged the coming storm.

“Myne,” Aiden said, his tone decisive. “Retrieve anything useful from the bodies. Weapons, intel, communication tools—anything that gives us an edge. Liam, sweep the area for traps or reinforcements.”

The team sprang into action. Myne moved swiftly, her shadowmancy aiding her in searching the fallen operatives with practiced efficiency. Liam’s spectral form faded into the surroundings, scanning for hidden dangers or lingering threats.

Aiden knelt near the leader of the Shadow Blades, who had fought with exceptional skill before falling to his blade. Reaching into the folds of the operative’s cloak, he pulled out a small, intricately engraved token. The token bore the symbol of the Abyssal Court, but with a curious, unfamiliar insignia etched in its center—an eye surrounded by jagged lines.

He studied it closely, his Spirit Sense probing the object. It radiated faint traces of spatial energy, a telltale sign of a communication device or tracker. Aiden’s eyes narrowed. This isn’t standard issue. They were using advanced tools. Someone high up is pulling strings.

“Boss,” Myne called softly, appearing at his side. She handed him a small scroll sealed with crimson wax. “Found this on one of them. It’s encrypted, but it looks important.”

Aiden took the scroll, his fingers brushing over the seal. The Abyssal Court’s sigil glowed faintly under his touch, the wax imbued with defensive runes. He could feel the complexity of the encryption—it wasn’t something that could be broken easily, but it could hold vital information.

“Good work,” he said, tucking the scroll into his satchel. “We’ll crack it back at the base. Liam, report.”

Liam reappeared, his expression grim. “No traps, but reinforcements are en route. A squad of Void Stalkers. They’ll be here in less than five minutes.”

Aiden stood, his mind racing. Void Stalkers were among the Abyssal Court’s deadliest operatives, known for their ruthless efficiency and ability to manipulate spatial energy. A direct confrontation with them would be costly.

“We’re not staying to greet them,” Aiden said. “Myne, deploy the disruption sigils. We’ll cover our retreat with misdirection. Everyone, move out.”

Myne grinned, already pulling a handful of sigils from her pouch. She activated them one by one, each unleashing a burst of energy that distorted the surrounding space, creating false trails and illusions. The Void Stalkers would be chasing shadows.

The team moved quickly, their movements synchronized and precise. Aiden led them deeper into the forest, his Spirit Sense mapping their path and ensuring they stayed ahead of the approaching threat.

As they reached a hidden clearing where their extraction point awaited, Aiden turned to face his team. “We’ve sent a message tonight, but this is only the beginning. They’ll retaliate, and we need to be ready. Prepare for the next phase. Rest, regroup, and rearm.”

The team nodded, their resolve unshaken. Myne leaned against a tree, her smirk returning. “You know, boss, I think they’re starting to take us seriously.”

Aiden’s lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes remained sharp. “Good. It’s about time they realized who they’re dealing with.”

The extraction portal shimmered to life, its swirling energy casting an otherworldly glow over the clearing. One by one, the team stepped through, leaving the forest behind. As Aiden passed through the portal, he cast one last glance at the battlefield they had left in their wake.

The Abyssal Court had made their move. Now it was Aiden’s turn to escalate.

As the portal deposited Aiden and his team into the underground hideout, the shift in atmosphere was immediate. The dimly lit chamber, lined with crystalline conduits channeling energy from the surrounding ley lines, was a stark contrast to the chaotic forest battlefield. The hum of mana reactors filled the air, a constant reminder of the hideout’s advanced infrastructure.

Aiden stepped down from the portal platform, his team trailing behind him. Myne stretched lazily, the tension of the mission finally beginning to dissipate. “Home sweet home,” she muttered, her smirk returning as she plopped onto a nearby bench.

“Liam,” Aiden said, turning to the scout, “debrief with the analysts. Get them started on decoding this.” He handed the encrypted scroll to the younger operative, who nodded briskly and disappeared into one of the side chambers.

Aiden walked to the central table, a massive construct of stone and steel, etched with maps, diagrams, and scattered intel reports. He placed the strange token he’d taken from the Abyssal Court operative onto the surface. The room’s ambient mana reacted to his presence, activating the table’s enchantments. A projection of the token appeared above it, rotating slowly as lines of text and symbols began to decode.

“Abyssal Court, tier-five clearance,” Aiden murmured, reading the projections. “Spatial anchoring matrix… They were tracking something—or someone.”

“Probably us,” Myne said, her tone light but her gaze sharp. “Or they wanted to know who’s been messing with their supply lines.”

“Maybe,” Aiden replied, his eyes narrowing. “But this level of tech? It feels bigger than a counterattack. They weren’t just reacting—they were anticipating. They knew we’d hit that depot.”

Myne frowned, crossing her arms. “A mole?”

“Possibly. Or they’re running predictive models based on our previous strikes. Either way, we need to adapt. If they can anticipate us, we have to move faster than they can analyze.”

Before Myne could reply, Liam returned, a grim expression on his face. “The analysts cracked the outer layer of the scroll’s encryption. It’s a transport schedule—an elite shipment being moved through their network in three days. No details yet, but the destination is a fortress in the Ebon Peaks.”

Aiden’s mind raced. The Ebon Peaks were treacherous terrain, steeped in ancient energy that disrupted most surveillance techniques. If the Abyssal Court was moving something there, it had to be critical.

“Send the details to the command core,” Aiden instructed. “We’ll need recon teams in the Peaks immediately. I want full terrain analysis, potential entry points, and the composition of their defenses.”

Liam nodded and hurried off again. Myne leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “What’s the play, boss? Hit them in transit or wait until they’re holed up in the fortress?”

Aiden’s gaze didn’t waver from the projection of the token. “We’ll do both. Disrupt their supply line to weaken their forces at the fortress, but the main strike will be at the destination. Whatever they’re transporting, it’s important enough to warrant elite guards and advanced tech. That makes it worth the risk.”

Myne grinned. “Ambitious. I like it.”