Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 384

Chapter 384: Abyssal Court III

“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.”

Myne crossed her arms, her sharp gaze narrowing. “So what’s the play? Hit them harder? Go after their leaders?”

“Not yet,” Aiden said. “We’ve shaken them, but the Abyssal Court isn’t the type to crumble from one blow. They’ll regroup, and when they do, I need to know what their next move is. Liam is tracking the ritual’s origin point. Until we have more intel, we’ll consolidate our gains and prepare for retaliation.”

A sharp whistle cut through the air, drawing both their attention. One of the operatives signaled from the transport, indicating they were ready to depart. Aiden gave a curt nod and turned back to Myne.

“Get the team out of here. I’ll cover the retreat,” he said.

Myne arched an eyebrow. “You sure you don’t want me to stick around? You know, in case things get dicey.”

“I’ll manage,” Aiden said with a faint smile. “Besides, you’re more useful coordinating the extraction.”

She hesitated for a moment before relenting, her smirk returning. “Alright, boss. Don’t get yourself killed, though—I’d hate to have to find another strategist who’s half as good as you.”

With that, Myne hopped into the lead transport, and the convoy roared to life, disappearing into the forest’s dense shadows. Aiden lingered, his Spirit Sense extended to its limits, searching for any signs of pursuit.

The forest was unnervingly quiet, the usual sounds of wildlife absent, as though the land itself was holding its breath. Aiden’s fingers flexed around the hilt of the Reaper Scythe, which materialized at his side in a swirl of dark energy.

And then, from the shadows, came a slow, deliberate clap.

“Well, well,” a voice drawled, dripping with mockery. “The infamous Lord of Shadows, all alone in the aftermath of his little victory.”

Aiden turned, his expression impassive, as a figure emerged from the gloom. The man was clad in intricate black and crimson armor, his eyes glowing with an eerie, malevolent light. Around him, the air shimmered with oppressive energy—a clear indication of his power.

“Let me guess,” Aiden said dryly. “You’re here to deliver some overwrought speech about how I’ve meddled in things beyond my understanding.”

The man chuckled, the sound low and menacing. “Oh, I think you understand perfectly. You’ve disrupted our plans, and for that, you’ll pay. But first, a question: What makes you think you can stand against the Abyssal Court?”

Aiden’s smirk returned, razor-sharp. “Because I’ve already done more than stand. I’ve struck the first blow—and I’ll strike the last.”

The man’s smile faltered, replaced by a scowl. “Arrogance will be your undoing.”

“Let’s test that theory,” Aiden replied, his voice cold as he raised the Reaper Scythe.

The clearing erupted into chaos as Aiden’s scythe met the Abyssal agent’s twin-bladed weapon. Sparks danced in the air, illuminating the dark forest as the shockwaves of their strikes shattered nearby trees and sent debris flying.

The agent moved with calculated precision, his movements almost serpentine as he aimed for Aiden’s vital points. Each strike carried the weight of immense power, a testament to the agent’s mastery of the Abyssal arts. Yet Aiden’s agility and focus kept him one step ahead. The Reaper Scythe hummed with dark energy, its blade tearing through the air in arcs of pure destruction.

“You’ve got some skill,” the agent sneered as they locked blades. “But skill won’t save you from the Abyss.”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed, his voice calm. “You talk too much.”

With a sudden burst of power, Aiden disengaged, spinning the scythe in a deadly arc that forced the agent to leap back. Aiden seized the moment, his hand glowing with the energy of one of his Martial Spirits.

“Space Rend!” he called out, slashing the scythe horizontally. A rift in space tore through the battlefield, its edges shimmering with chaotic energy. The agent dodged with inhuman speed, but not before the edge of the rift grazed his left arm, drawing blackened blood.

The agent hissed in pain, his glowing eyes narrowing with fury. “You’ll regret that.”

Raising his hands, the air around the agent warped and darkened. Shadowy tendrils writhed to life, lashing out at Aiden with the intent to crush and ensnare. Aiden’s Spirit Sense flared, allowing him to anticipate and evade the strikes. He countered with precision, using the scythe to cut through the tendrils and summon waves of his own dark energy.

But then the agent changed tactics. Chanting in an ancient tongue, he summoned a dark sphere of Abyssal energy that pulsed with terrifying power. Aiden’s instincts screamed a warning as the sphere launched toward him at blinding speed.

“Void Step!” Aiden activated one of his Martial Spirit techniques, vanishing from his position in an instant. The sphere collided with the ground where he’d been, detonating in an explosion of darkness that carved a massive crater into the clearing.

Reappearing behind the agent, Aiden struck with ruthless efficiency. The Reaper Scythe descended like a guillotine, its blade aiming for the agent’s neck. But at the last moment, the agent spun, parrying with his twin blades and kicking Aiden back with incredible force.

Both combatants slid to a halt, breathing heavily as the storm raged overhead. The agent grinned, his malevolent aura intensifying. “You’re better than I expected, Lord of Shadows. But this ends now.”

Dark energy surged around the agent, forming an enormous, shadowy beast behind him. Its glowing red eyes radiated malice, and its guttural roar echoed across the forest, shaking the earth itself.

Aiden tightened his grip on the scythe, unshaken. His voice was steady as he spoke. “You’re not the first to summon a monstrosity like that. And you won’t be the last.”

Summoning his own power, Aiden activated one of his ultimate techniques. His Martial Spirits—the Golden Sword, Death Dragon of Infinite Darkness, Destiny Thread of Million Miracles, and the Reaper Scythe—manifested as ethereal figures behind him, their combined energy flooding the battlefield.

“Oblivion Ascension!” Aiden roared, the ground beneath him fracturing as his energy surged. The sky seemed to darken further, as though the storm itself bowed to his will. The Reaper Scythe glowed with an ominous light, its blade surrounded by a vortex of raw power.

The two forces clashed again, their attacks colliding in a cacophony of destruction. Energy waves rippled outward, obliterating everything in their path. The clearing became a battlefield of titanic proportions, each strike threatening to reshape the land itself.

The shadow beast lunged at Aiden with a feral roar, its massive claws tearing through the air. Aiden sidestepped with lightning speed, his Spirit Sense guiding him as he countered with a slash of the Reaper Scythe. The blade struck the beast’s claw, sending a shockwave that rippled through the forest.

The beast reeled but recovered quickly, its movements unnervingly fast for its size. It lashed out again, forcing Aiden to leap back, narrowly avoiding the strike. Meanwhile, the Abyssal agent used the distraction to charge forward, his twin blades glowing with malevolent energy.

Aiden’s Spirit Sense flared, warning him of the dual threat. He spun mid-air, using the momentum to deflect the agent’s blades with the scythe. The clash sent sparks flying, and Aiden landed gracefully, his eyes locking onto his opponent.

“You’re persistent,” Aiden said, his voice calm but laced with resolve.

The agent smirked, his confidence unshaken. “Persistence is the Abyss’s greatest weapon.”

Aiden narrowed his eyes, gripping the scythe tightly. “And arrogance is its greatest flaw.”

With a surge of energy, Aiden activated another technique. “Phantom Mirage!” His figure blurred, splitting into multiple afterimages that surrounded the agent and the shadow beast. Each afterimage moved in perfect synchronization, their presence disorienting and overwhelming.

The agent hesitated for a fraction of a second, his eyes darting between the afterimages. That was all Aiden needed.

One of the afterimages materialized behind the agent, its scythe swinging in a deadly arc. The agent barely managed to block the strike, but the force sent him stumbling forward. At the same time, another afterimage attacked the shadow beast, slicing through its ethereal body with precision. The beast howled in agony, its form flickering as if struggling to maintain its cohesion.

The real Aiden moved with relentless efficiency, exploiting every opening. His strikes were precise and devastating, each one aimed to wear down his opponents. The shadow beast faltered, its massive form shrinking with every blow, while the agent’s movements became increasingly erratic as he struggled to counter the onslaught.

“You can’t win this,” the agent growled, desperation creeping into his voice. “The Abyss is eternal!”

Aiden’s expression hardened, his voice cold. “Then it’s time to show you what eternity truly feels like.”

He raised the Reaper Scythe high, its blade glowing with an unearthly light. The ethereal figures of his Martial Spirits converged around him, their combined power flowing into the scythe. The air grew heavy, the ground trembling under the weight of the energy being unleashed.

“Eternal Severance!” Aiden roared, bringing the scythe down in a devastating strike. A massive arc of energy erupted from the blade, cutting through the battlefield with unstoppable force. The shadow beast disintegrated instantly, its roar fading into nothingness. The Abyssal agent raised his blades in a desperate attempt to block the attack, but the force was too great.