Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 383

Chapter 383: Abyssal Court II

The hours before deployment were filled with a symphony of activity. Aiden’s operatives moved like a well-oiled machine, checking gear, reviewing maps, and finalizing strategy. The command center was alight with projections of the Ebon Peaks, intricate models showcasing potential choke points, ambush sites, and supply routes.

Aiden stood at the head of the room, his arms crossed as he scrutinized the mission overlay. Myne lounged nearby, her demeanor relaxed but her eyes sharp. Liam was stationed at the main terminal, fingers flying across the enchanted interface as he coordinated with scouts in the field.

“Initial recon is in,” Liam announced. “The fortress is heavily fortified, but there’s a weak point on the eastern wall—a narrow cliffside path that leads to an auxiliary gate. The terrain is treacherous, but it’s the least guarded entry.”

Aiden nodded. “What about the transport route?”

“It’s scheduled to pass through the Rimewood Valley two days from now,” Liam replied. “Thick forest, limited visibility. Perfect for an ambush.”

“Good,” Aiden said, his voice steady. “We’ll split into two teams. Myne, you’ll lead the ambush in Rimewood. Disable the transport and secure the payload, but don’t linger. If reinforcements arrive, fall back to the extraction point.”

“And you?” Myne asked, her gaze locking onto his.

“I’ll lead the assault on the fortress,” Aiden replied. “If the transport doesn’t make it, the fortress will still be expecting it. That confusion will be our advantage.”

Myne’s smirk widened. “Taking the more dangerous mission, as always.”

“Leadership comes with perks,” Aiden said dryly.

Liam cut in, his tone urgent. “One more thing—the scouts reported unusual activity near the fortress. Abyssal Court mages conducting some kind of ritual. We don’t have specifics, but it’s centered around the ley lines.”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “They’re accelerating their plans. Whatever they’re doing, it’s tied to the transport. We’ll need to disrupt the ritual as part of the assault.”

“Understood,” Liam said, already updating the mission parameters.

As the final preparations fell into place, Aiden gathered his team for a briefing. The chamber was filled with operatives, each one focused and battle-ready. Aiden’s gaze swept over them, his voice steady and commanding.

“This mission isn’t just about striking a blow against the Abyssal Court,” he began. “It’s about proving that their strength isn’t absolute. They’ve built their empire on fear and control, but tonight, we show them the cracks in their foundation.”

A ripple of determination passed through the room. Aiden’s words weren’t just orders—they were a promise, a rallying cry for those who had chosen to stand against the overwhelming tide.

“Move out,” Aiden said, and the room erupted into action.

As night fell, the two teams departed the hideout, splitting at the forest’s edge. Myne led her squad into the dense underbrush of the Rimewood Valley, her shadowmancy cloaking their movements. Aiden, meanwhile, guided his operatives toward the jagged peaks, their path illuminated by the faint glow of distant ley lines.

The air grew colder as they climbed, the eerie hum of magical energy filling the silence. Aiden’s senses were heightened, his every step calculated. The fortress loomed ahead, its dark silhouette carved into the mountainside like a wound.

“We’re in position,” Liam’s voice crackled through the comm crystal, his words clipped but clear. “Rimewood team is ready to engage on your command.”

“Proceed,” Aiden replied, his voice a calm anchor in the storm.

From his vantage point, he could see the faint glow of lights along the fortress walls. He signaled his team to hold, his eyes fixed on the auxiliary gate. The cliffside path was narrow and treacherous, but it offered the element of surprise.

“Move,” Aiden commanded, his operatives springing into action.

They advanced silently, scaling the cliffs with practiced precision. The wind howled around them, carrying the scent of snow and stone. As they neared the gate, Aiden caught sight of the ritual—Abyssal Court mages arranged in a circle, their chants resonating with the pulsing ley lines.

The energy was volatile, dangerous. Whatever they were summoning, it couldn’t be allowed to succeed.

Aiden’s voice cut through the comm crystal. “Take the gate. I’ll handle the ritual.”

“But sir—” one of his operatives began, concern evident in their tone.

“That’s an order,” Aiden said firmly.

He broke away from the group, his movements swift and deliberate. As the first explosions rocked the fortress, signaling the team’s breach, Aiden descended toward the ritual site. His presence was a shadow in the chaos, his resolve unyielding.

The Abyssal Court mages didn’t notice him until it was too late. Aiden’s blade flashed in the moonlight, cutting through the protective barrier surrounding the ritual. The energy surged wildly, the ley lines flaring with unstable power.

One of the mages turned, their eyes widening in recognition. “You—”

Aiden didn’t hesitate. With a single strike, he severed the mage’s connection to the ritual, the backlash rippling through the circle like a thunderclap. The remaining mages faltered, their control slipping as the ley lines began to collapse.

Aiden stood amidst the chaos, his expression calm but unrelenting. The Abyssal Court had gambled with forces beyond their comprehension—and they had lost.

As the ley lines spiraled out of control, the ground beneath Aiden’s feet trembled violently. The volatile energy released by the disrupted ritual surged into the air, creating fissures of blinding light and dark shadows that clashed and warped reality itself.

Aiden’s instincts screamed for him to move, but he stood his ground, his Spirit Sense locked on the mages who were scrambling to escape the chaos they had unleashed. With a flick of his hand, he summoned his Reaper Scythe, its obsidian blade glinting ominously.

“You’ve meddled with forces you don’t understand,” Aiden said coldly, his voice carrying over the howling wind. “Now, pay the price.”

Before the mages could react, Aiden lunged, his movements a blur. The scythe tore through the air, severing not only their lives but the corrupted energy lingering around them. Each strike was precise, dismantling their influence over the ley lines and preventing any chance of recovery.

The final mage dropped to their knees, fear etched into their face as they tried to crawl away. Aiden stopped in front of them, his expression unreadable.

“Why the ritual?” he demanded, his tone ice-cold.

The mage coughed, blood staining their lips. “It… was meant… to summon a fragment… of the Abyssal Lord,” they rasped, their voice filled with equal parts fear and reverence. “But you’ve… undone… everything…”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “Then you’ve done your part. Rest in the void.”

With a swift motion, he ended the mage’s life. The moment their body hit the ground, the ritual circle erupted in a blinding flash of light, the ley lines snapping back into balance with a deafening roar. The energy dissipated, leaving behind silence and the faint hum of the restored natural order.

Aiden exhaled, his Spirit Sense sweeping the area for any remaining threats. Satisfied that none remained, he activated his comm crystal. “Ritual neutralized. Status report.”

Liam’s voice crackled through. “Rimewood team secured the transport. Minimal resistance, and no casualties on our end. Myne’s setting the charges now.”

“And the fortress?” Aiden asked, his gaze shifting to the distant explosions lighting up the mountainside.

“Gate breached, and we’ve taken control of the lower levels,” Liam replied. “Resistance is heavier near the armory, but the operatives are holding their ground. Should we proceed with the sweep?”

Aiden’s jaw tightened. The Abyssal Court wasn’t going to let this setback go unanswered, and they had undoubtedly called for reinforcements. They couldn’t afford to linger.

“Negative,” he said. “Retrieve what you can and fall back to the extraction point. We’ve dealt the blow we needed.”

“Understood,” Liam confirmed.

Aiden turned his attention to the burning wreckage of the ritual site. The Abyssal Court had overstepped, their ambitions now tempered by failure. But this was only a skirmish in a much larger war.

He clenched his fists, the Reaper Scythe dissolving into shadow as he began his ascent back toward the fortress. The path ahead was clear, but Aiden knew the stakes had just risen. The Abyssal Lord was no longer a distant threat—they were actively preparing for something monumental.

As Aiden ascended the rocky incline, the wind carried the acrid scent of burnt earth and smoldering debris. Each step felt heavier, not from physical exhaustion but from the weight of the revelations the mage’s dying words had left behind. The Abyssal Lord wasn’t just a distant nightmare whispered in myths—it was a tangible threat, a looming storm on the horizon.

By the time he reached the rendezvous point, Myne was already there, overseeing the operatives as they loaded crates onto a pair of sleek, black transports. Her emerald eyes caught his, and she approached, her expression grim but determined.

“Mission accomplished,” she said, though her tone lacked its usual levity. “Charges are set, and the supply caches are ours. We’ve left them a nice little parting gift.”

Aiden nodded, his gaze scanning the area. “Any casualties?”

“None on our side,” Myne replied. “But the Court’s forces are in shambles. If they weren’t so preoccupied with whatever ritual they were conducting, they might’ve put up more of a fight.”

“They were summoning a fragment of the Abyssal Lord,” Aiden said, his voice low but firm.

Myne’s eyes widened, her usual smirk replaced with a rare seriousness. “You’re kidding.”

“I wish I were,” Aiden replied. “The ritual failed, but the fact they were even attempting it means they’re desperate—or bold. Either way, we can’t let our guard down.”