Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 386

Chapter 386: Abyssal Court V

The second commander lunged, his axe glowing with a sinister light. Aiden sidestepped at the last moment, countering with a vicious upward slash that tore through the man’s chest. The commander crumpled, his body dissipating into dark smoke.

The remaining soldiers hesitated, their morale shaken. Aiden seized the moment, summoning the Death Dragon of Infinite Darkness. It his Martial Spirit in cultivation world but now, its an summoning skill for him, The massive, spectral dragon erupted from his form, its piercing roar shaking the forest. Its black flames consumed the remaining Abyssal forces, leaving nothing but ash in its wake.

As the battlefield fell silent, Aiden stood alone, his breathing steady despite the intensity of the fight. He turned his gaze toward the river, where Myne and the others would be far from danger by now.

“First move is ours,” he muttered, sheathing the scythe. “Let’s see how the Abyss plays their next hand.”

With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving the smoldering remains of his enemies behind.

Aiden rejoined the team several hours later, his figure emerging from the darkness like a wraith. The strike team had set up a temporary camp deep within the forest, where Myne’s shadowmancy obscured them from prying eyes. The operatives had scattered to rest or tend to their gear, while Myne stood by the fire, waiting for him.

“You took your sweet time,” she remarked, crossing her arms. Her crimson eyes scanned him for injuries, but he appeared unharmed. “Let me guess—an entire platoon?”

Aiden shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Two commanders and their lackeys. They won’t be reporting back.”

Myne raised an eyebrow, impressed but not surprised. “Efficient as always. But you didn’t have to face them alone.”

“It wasn’t just about fighting them,” Aiden said, taking a seat near the fire. “It was about sending a message. The Abyss won’t underestimate us next time, but they’ll think twice before rushing in blindly.”

She nodded, her usual smirk softening slightly. “Fair point. Still, I’d rather not gamble with your life to make a statement.”

“Noted,” he said, his tone light. “Now, how’s the team?”

Myne sat down across from him, resting her chin on her hand. “Mission success. The supply caches are rigged with enough charges to light up the depot and half the surrounding forest. We’ll trigger them when we’re at a safe distance.”

“Good,” Aiden said. He leaned back, letting the tension in his shoulders ease. “The first strike was critical. If we keep up the pressure, we can disrupt their operations long enough to gain the upper hand.”

Myne studied him for a moment, her gaze sharp but thoughtful. “And what’s the endgame here, Aiden? You’ve been hitting the Abyss hard, but you haven’t told us what the bigger picture looks like.”

He met her eyes, his expression unwavering. “The Abyss is more than just an enemy army. They’re a machine—one that grinds down everything in its path. If we don’t dismantle it piece by piece, it’ll swallow the entire region. This isn’t just about survival; it’s about taking control of the board.”

Her lips curved into a sly smile. “Control, huh? Sounds ambitious. I like it.”

Before Aiden could respond, one of the operatives approached, saluting sharply. “Commander, scouts have reported movement to the north. Looks like another Abyssal unit, smaller this time, but they’re heading in our direction.”

Aiden’s demeanor shifted instantly, his relaxed posture replaced with sharp focus. “How far out?”

“Less than an hour, sir.”

He stood, his mind already working through options. “Prepare to move out. We’ll lead them away from this location before the charges detonate. Myne, I need you to—”

She cut him off with a grin. “I know the drill. Keep them in the dark and make them chase shadows. Consider it done.”

Aiden nodded, turning to address the rest of the team. “We’re not out of the woods yet. Stay sharp and follow the plan. The Abyss is persistent, but so are we.”

As the team mobilized, Aiden cast a glance toward the horizon, where the faint glow of the enemy’s approach was beginning to pierce the night. The Abyss was relentless, but so was he. This wasn’t just a war—it was a test of wills. And Aiden had no intention of losing.

The strike team moved with precision, their movements synchronized and silent as they slipped through the dense forest. Myne’s shadowmancy spread like an inky mist, swallowing their tracks and cloaking them from the encroaching Abyssal forces. Every step was calculated; every decision was measured.

Aiden led from the front, his senses honed to perfection. His Spirit Sense extended outward, mapping the terrain and tracking the Abyssal unit’s movements. He could feel their approach—like a pulsing drumbeat in the distance. This unit wasn’t large, but it moved with alarming cohesion, a testament to the Abyss’s discipline.

“Myne,” he whispered as they paused atop a ridge overlooking the valley below. “Position your shadows here. If they pass this point, I want them walking into a trap.”

She nodded, her hands weaving intricate symbols in the air. Shadows rippled and coalesced, forming tendrils that snaked across the forest floor. “Consider it done. They’ll think they’re chasing ghosts.”

“Good. Divide and delay,” Aiden said, his voice low but firm. He turned to the team. “You all know the plan. Make them work for every step they take, but don’t engage directly unless you have no choice.”

The operatives nodded, their faces steeled with determination. These were no ordinary soldiers—they were elite, handpicked by Aiden for missions exactly like this. They understood the stakes and trusted his leadership implicitly.

As the Abyssal unit entered the valley, the forest came alive with subtle traps and diversions. Explosive runes hidden beneath leaves erupted with controlled precision, scattering the enemy’s formation. Razor-thin tripwires triggered bursts of shadow magic, disorienting the soldiers and splitting them into smaller groups.

From his vantage point, Aiden watched the chaos unfold, his expression cold and calculating. “They’re disciplined, but not invincible,” he murmured. “Keep applying pressure.”

Myne grinned, her crimson eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. “They’re already unraveling. Just give me the signal, and I’ll herd them right where you want them.”

“Not yet,” Aiden said, his tone measured. “We need them deeper into the valley. Patience.”

Minutes turned into an hour as the Abyssal unit struggled to regain control. The forest seemed alive, shifting and twisting to thwart their every move. Aiden’s operatives moved like ghosts, striking swiftly before vanishing into the shadows. It was a masterclass in guerrilla warfare, and the Abyssal soldiers were being outmaneuvered at every turn.

Finally, when the enemy was sufficiently disoriented and fragmented, Aiden gave the command. “Collapse the valley. Now.”

Myne’s grin widened as she unleashed a torrent of shadow energy. The tendrils she had positioned earlier surged upward, intertwining with the forest itself. Trees groaned and toppled, creating a cascading avalanche of debris that sealed the valley’s entrances and exits. The Abyssal unit was trapped.

Aiden descended the ridge with his team, his presence radiating authority. The surviving Abyssal soldiers turned to face him, their fear palpable. They were cornered animals now, desperate and dangerous.

“Your choice is simple,” Aiden said, his voice cutting through the night like a blade. “Surrender and live, or resist and be crushed.”

For a moment, there was only silence, broken by the sound of distant explosions as the charges detonated at the depot. The night lit up with fire and smoke—a stark reminder of what defiance would cost.

One by one, the Abyssal soldiers dropped their weapons, their spirits broken. Aiden’s operatives moved swiftly to disarm and secure them.

As the strike team regrouped, Myne approached Aiden, her expression a mix of satisfaction and curiosity. “A clean victory, as always. But what’s next? We’ve crippled their supply line and captured their soldiers. Where do we hit them next?”

Aiden’s gaze turned toward the horizon, where the faint outline of the Abyss’s main stronghold loomed in the distance. “We’ve shaken their foundation. Now, we go for the heart.”

The horizon was dark, the faint outline of the Abyssal stronghold casting a shadow over the distant mountains. Aiden’s eyes narrowed as his team gathered around him, their expressions a mix of triumph and anticipation. The mission was a success, but it was only the beginning.

Myne leaned against a tree, her crimson eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “The heart, huh? That’s a tall order, even for you. You’re talking about penetrating one of the most fortified locations in the Abyss’s network.”

Aiden smirked faintly, his confidence unwavering. “Fortified or not, it has weaknesses. Every fortress does. We’ve weakened their supply chain, disrupted their reinforcements, and captured intel from their soldiers. We’ll find the cracks in their defenses.”

One of his operatives, a sharp-eyed man named Kellan, stepped forward, holding a small scroll. “Sir, we found this on one of the officers. It’s encrypted, but it might hold details about their stronghold.”

Aiden took the scroll, his Spirit Sense scanning it. The Abyss’s encryption was complex, but not beyond his capabilities. “Good work, Kellan. Myne, I’ll need you to assist in deciphering this. Your shadowmancy might be the key to unraveling their codes.”

She nodded, a playful grin tugging at her lips. “You know I love a challenge. Let’s crack it and see what secrets they’re hiding.”

As the team set up a temporary camp to rest and regroup, Aiden retreated to a quiet corner with Myne. Together, they worked on the encrypted scroll, their combined abilities gradually peeling back the layers of the Abyss’s defenses.