Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 387

Chapter 387: Victory

Together, they worked on the encrypted scroll, their combined abilities gradually peeling back the layers of the Abyss’s defenses.

Hours passed, and the first rays of dawn began to pierce the night sky. Aiden’s eyes lit up as the final layer of encryption unraveled, revealing a detailed map of the Abyssal stronghold. It was more than he’d hoped for—detailed schematics, troop placements, and even notes on recent shipments of experimental weaponry.

“This is it,” Aiden said, his voice low but charged with purpose. “This is how we bring them down.”

Myne studied the map, her expression turning serious. “They’re hoarding a lot of resources in their central vault. If we hit that, it’ll cripple them far worse than just taking out their supply depots.”

Aiden nodded. “Exactly. But we’ll need more than just stealth for this. We’ll need allies—diversions, reinforcements, and precision strikes. This isn’t a mission for a small team. It’s a coordinated assault.”

He turned to the rest of the team, who were already on their feet, sensing the shift in the air. “We’ve dealt them a blow, but the real battle lies ahead. We’ll regroup, gather our allies, and strike when they least expect it. This isn’t just about survival anymore. This is about ending their tyranny, once and for all.”

The operatives saluted, their resolve mirrored in their eyes. They trusted Aiden, not just as their leader, but as the one who could change the tide of this war.

Myne chuckled softly, her usual teasing tone giving way to admiration. “You always have a way of inspiring people, Aiden. Let’s just hope you’re ready for what’s coming.”

He glanced at her, his smirk returning. “I always am.”

With the map secured and the next steps clear, Aiden’s strike team prepared to move out. The Abyss’s heart was within their sights, and with it, the chance to turn the tide of the war. Aiden knew the risks, but he also knew one thing with absolute certainty:

Victory wasn’t just possible—it was inevitable.

Days later, Aiden and his team returned to their base of operations, hidden deep within the forested mountains that bordered the Abyss’s territory. The encrypted map was laid out on a large table in the war room, its details illuminated by glowing crystals that hummed with energy. Around the table stood his key allies: Myne, Kellan, and the leaders of the resistance factions who had pledged their loyalty to Aiden’s cause.

“This is the stronghold’s layout,” Aiden began, pointing to the map. “Here are the key points: the central vault, where they store their resources and experimental weaponry; the command center, where their generals coordinate operations; and the generator that powers their defensive barriers. If we take these out, the Abyss’s defenses will crumble.”

One of the faction leaders, a grizzled warrior named Garrik, crossed his arms. “Their defenses are formidable. We’d need an army to breach them.”

Aiden met Garrik’s gaze, his voice firm. “We’re not breaching anything. We’re going to dismantle them from the inside. My team and I will infiltrate the stronghold and disable the generator. Once the barriers are down, your forces will attack from the north and west, creating enough chaos to draw their troops away from the vault and command center.”

Garrik frowned. “And what about the vault? If it’s as heavily guarded as you say, how do you plan to break in?”

Myne stepped forward, her eyes glinting with confidence. “That’s where I come in. My shadowmancy can bypass their wards, and Aiden’s precision will handle the rest. We’ll get in, retrieve what we can, and plant charges to destroy what we can’t.”

The room was silent as the leaders absorbed the plan. Finally, a younger resistance leader, a mage named Elira, spoke up. “It’s risky, but it’s our best chance. If we wait, they’ll only grow stronger.”

Aiden nodded. “Exactly. Time is not on our side. We strike within three days. Use that time to prepare your forces and coordinate your movements. Once the generator is down, you’ll only have a short window to strike before the Abyss regroups.”

The meeting adjourned, and the leaders dispersed to relay the plan to their troops. Aiden lingered in the war room, staring at the map. Myne approached, her voice softer now. “You’ve got them all fired up. You really think we can pull this off?”

He looked at her, his expression resolute. “We don’t have a choice. If we don’t act now, the Abyss will tighten its grip on this region, and any hope of resistance will be crushed.”

Myne placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch grounding him. “Then let’s make sure we don’t fail.”

Over the next two days, preparations went into overdrive. Aiden’s strike team fine-tuned their strategies, resistance factions gathered their forces, and supply lines were bolstered. Myne spent hours weaving shadow wards around the operatives, ensuring they could remain undetected during the infiltration.

On the third night, under the cover of darkness, the operation began.

Aiden’s team approached the Abyssal stronghold from the southeast, their movements silent and deliberate. Myne’s shadows cloaked them, blending them seamlessly into the forest. The air was tense, every rustle of leaves or distant howl of a beast setting nerves on edge.

As they neared the stronghold’s perimeter, Aiden raised a hand, signaling the team to halt. His Spirit Sense swept the area, detecting the intricate web of wards and patrol routes. “Patrol ahead,” he whispered. “Two guards, moving northwest. We wait.”

The team froze, their breathing barely audible. Moments later, two Abyssal soldiers passed by, their dark armor glinting faintly in the moonlight. Once they were out of sight, Aiden motioned for the team to continue.

Reaching the generator site, Aiden and Myne worked in perfect sync. Myne’s shadows neutralized the wards while Aiden disabled the physical defenses with surgical precision. It was a meticulous process, each second stretching into eternity, but finally, the generator’s core was exposed.

Aiden planted a charge on the core, his hands steady. “Generator is rigged. Let’s move.”

The explosion was timed to coincide with the resistance’s attack. As the charge detonated, a blinding light erupted from the generator site, and the stronghold’s barriers flickered and failed. Moments later, the northern and western skies lit up with the fires of battle as resistance forces launched their assault.

Inside the stronghold, chaos erupted. Alarms blared, and Abyssal soldiers scrambled to respond to the breach. Aiden’s team used the confusion to slip deeper into the stronghold, their sights set on the vault.

The mission was far from over, and the hardest part was yet to come. But Aiden’s resolve burned brighter than ever. This was more than a battle—it was the turning point in a war that would reshape the fate of the world.

As the alarms blared and chaos spread through the stronghold, Aiden’s team moved with practiced precision. Every step, every movement, had been rehearsed to perfection. Myne led the way, her shadowmancy weaving an impenetrable cloak around them, shrouding their presence from the Abyss’s sentries.

The vault was buried deep beneath the stronghold, a fortress within a fortress. Aiden’s Spirit Sense mapped the labyrinthine corridors as they descended, identifying guard positions and hidden traps. “Two sentries ahead, heavily armed,” he whispered, signaling for the team to halt.

Myne nodded, her lips curling into a sly smile. With a flick of her wrist, tendrils of shadow slithered across the ground like living serpents, coiling around the sentries’ ankles. Before they could react, the shadows tightened, dragging them into the darkness. A muffled gasp, and then silence.

“They won’t be a problem,” Myne said, her voice laced with satisfaction.

Aiden led the team forward, his senses on high alert. The closer they got to the vault, the more oppressive the air became. The Abyssal energy radiating from the stronghold was almost tangible, a dark, suffocating presence that pressed against his mind. He shook it off, focusing on the task at hand.

Finally, they reached the vault. The massive door loomed before them, its surface covered in intricate runes that pulsed with an eerie red light. Aiden stepped forward, examining the runes. “It’s a blood-lock. It requires a specific bloodline to open.”

Myne tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Good thing I’m good at breaking things.” She extended her hand, and a blade of pure shadow formed in her grip. With a precise strike, she severed the central rune, disrupting the lock’s integrity. The red light flickered and died, and the door groaned as it slowly swung open.

Inside, the vault was a treasure trove of resources and weaponry. Crates of rare metals, racks of enchanted weapons, and shelves lined with glowing vials filled the room. But at the center of it all stood a pedestal, atop which rested a dark crystal pulsating with malevolent energy.

Aiden approached the pedestal cautiously, his Spirit Sense probing the crystal. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered—a concentrated fragment of Abyssal power. “This is it,” he said, his voice low. “The heart of their operations.”