Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 389

Chapter 389: Victory III

The journey to the rendezvous point was fraught with danger. Aiden and his team moved under the cover of Myne’s shadows, their senses heightened to detect any sign of pursuit. The forest around them seemed alive with hostile intent, every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig putting them on edge.

Midway through the trek, Aiden signaled a halt. He crouched low, his Spirit Sense sweeping the area. Myne stepped beside him, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Something’s wrong,” she said. “I can feel it.”

Aiden nodded. “They’re here.”

Moments later, the forest erupted into chaos. Abyssal creatures surged from the underbrush, their twisted forms grotesque and horrifying. The strike team responded with precision, their training and discipline evident as they formed a defensive perimeter.

Aiden’s silver eyes glowed as he unleashed his Martial Spirit, the Death Dragon of Infinite Darkness. The ethereal beast roared, its black scales shimmering with an otherworldly light as it tore through the Abyssal creatures with ruthless efficiency.

Myne’s shadowmancy came alive, tendrils of darkness snaring enemies and crushing them with merciless force. The rest of the team fought with equal ferocity, their weapons flashing in the dim light as they pushed back the Abyssal tide.

Despite their efforts, the creatures kept coming. For every one they cut down, two more took its place. It was clear this wasn’t a random ambush—it was a coordinated assault, designed to overwhelm them.

“We’re being herded!” Dren shouted, parrying a strike from a clawed monstrosity. “They’re trying to box us in!”

Aiden’s mind raced. They couldn’t afford to be trapped, not with the crystal in their possession. He scanned the battlefield, his Spirit Sense picking up faint traces of a clearing to the east.

“Fall back!” he commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Eastward, to the clearing! Move!”

The team obeyed without hesitation, their formation shifting as they began a fighting retreat. Aiden and Myne held the rear, their combined powers devastating the pursuing creatures.

As they broke through the forest into the clearing, a brilliant golden light erupted before them. Standing at the center was Nexus, his form radiating an aura of unshakable authority. With a wave of his hand, the Abyssal creatures were engulfed in a torrent of divine fire, their screams echoing into silence.

“You’re late,” Aiden said, his voice tinged with relief.

Nexus smirked, lowering his hand. “You’re welcome.” He glanced at the crystal, now dim and inert. “I see you’ve found something… interesting.”

“Interesting doesn’t cover it,” Myne muttered, brushing dirt from her armor. “That thing’s a nightmare in a box.”

Nexus stepped forward, examining the crystal with a critical eye. “This is no ordinary fragment. If the Abyss sent this many forces to retrieve it, it’s more valuable than we thought.”

“Can you secure it?” Aiden asked.

Nexus nodded. “I’ll take it to the Sanctum. They have the facilities to contain and study it safely. But be warned—this isn’t the end. The Abyss will escalate their efforts. They’ll come for you harder and faster.”

Aiden’s jaw tightened. “Let them. We’re ready.”

Nexus placed a hand on Aiden’s shoulder. “Be careful, my friend. The Abyss isn’t just an enemy—it’s a force of nature. And forces like this have a way of consuming even the strongest wills.”

Aiden met his gaze, his silver eyes unyielding. “I’ll take my chances.”

With that, the crystal was transferred into Nexus’s care, its dark energy safely sealed within his protective wards. As Nexus departed, Aiden turned back to his team, their faces weary but resolute.

“Rest up,” he said. “This war is far from over.”

The next few hours passed in tense silence. The team set up a temporary camp at the edge of the clearing, their weapons never far from reach. While some patched up their armor or treated minor wounds, others stood watch, their eyes scanning the shadowy forest for any sign of further pursuit.

Aiden sat on a large rock near the campfire, sharpening his blade with slow, deliberate strokes. Myne approached, a waterskin in her hand. She tossed it to him, and he caught it without looking up.

“You look like you could use a drink,” she said, plopping down next to him.

He took a long sip before setting the waterskin aside. “Not much time to relax. The Abyss won’t let this slide.”

Myne smirked, leaning back on her elbows. “You think they’ll send more of those twisted freaks after us? Or do you think they’ll bring out the big guns next time?”

Aiden’s jaw tightened. “They’ll escalate. Nexus was right—they don’t just want to reclaim the crystal. They want to make an example of us. Show the world what happens to those who stand in their way.”

“Let them try,” Myne said, her tone laced with defiance. “They don’t scare me.”

Aiden glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You say that now, but you’ve never faced their generals.”

“Neither have you,” she countered, her grin widening. “But when that day comes, I’m betting on us.”

By the time dawn broke, the team was on the move again, their temporary camp dismantled and their trail carefully covered. The forest was eerily quiet, as if the Abyss’s presence had driven away all other life. Aiden led the group, his Spirit Sense constantly scanning for danger.

Their destination was a hidden sanctuary several miles away, a place Nexus had arranged for them to regroup and resupply. It was a long trek, but Aiden knew the importance of staying off the Abyss’s radar.

As they walked, Myne moved to his side. “What’s the plan once we reach the sanctuary? Are we just going to sit around and wait for Nexus to come back with answers?”

“Not exactly,” Aiden replied. “The sanctuary will give us a chance to regroup, but we can’t stay idle. We need to prepare for the next phase.”

“Which is…?” she prompted, raising an eyebrow.

“Striking their command structure,” he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “We’ve hurt them, but it’s not enough. If we want to turn the tide of this war, we need to take out their leaders. Cut off the head, and the body dies.”

Myne let out a low whistle. “Ambitious. You’ve got names already, I take it?”

“Three,” Aiden confirmed. “Generals Varak, Zephyr, and Lucira. Each one oversees a critical aspect of the Abyss’s operations. If we take them out, it’ll destabilize their entire campaign.”

“Let me guess,” Myne said, a teasing edge to her voice. “You’ve got a ridiculously complicated plan for how we’re supposed to pull this off.”

Aiden smirked. “You know me too well.”

The sanctuary was nestled deep within a mountainous region, hidden behind layers of natural rock formations and enchanted wards. The entrance was little more than a narrow crevice in the cliffside, but once inside, the space opened up into a sprawling cavern outfitted with rudimentary facilities.

The team quickly settled in, spreading out to claim sleeping quarters and begin organizing their gear. Aiden convened a meeting in the central chamber, where a large map of the surrounding region had been laid out on a stone table.

“Our first target is General Varak,” he began, tracing a finger across the map to a marked location. “He’s in charge of logistics and supply lines. Without him, the Abyss’s war machine grinds to a halt.”

Dren crossed his arms, frowning. “And I’m guessing he’s not going to be sitting around waiting for us to show up.”

“Exactly,” Aiden said. “Varak’s fortress is heavily fortified, but he’s predictable. He oversees every major shipment personally, and his convoys follow the same route every time.”

“So we ambush the convoy,” Myne said, catching on. “Take him out in transit before he can reach the safety of the fortress.”

“That’s the idea,” Aiden confirmed. “But it won’t be easy. His guards are elite, and he’ll likely have Abyssal reinforcements nearby. We’ll need to strike fast and hard, leaving no room for retaliation.”

The team exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. It was a dangerous plan, but they had faced worse odds before.

“When do we move?” Dren asked.

“At dusk,” Aiden replied. “Rest up and prepare. This is just the beginning.”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the strike team set out once more, their dark armor blending seamlessly with the shadows. Aiden led the way, his senses attuned to every rustle of leaves and distant sound.

The ambush site was a narrow pass flanked by steep cliffs, the perfect location to trap a convoy. The team took up positions along the high ground, their weapons at the ready.

Aiden crouched behind a boulder, his eyes scanning the winding path below. Myne crouched beside him, her shadowmancy coiled like a living thing, ready to strike.

“Convoy’s coming,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I can feel the Abyssal energy.”

Aiden nodded, his grip tightening on his weapon. This was their moment. The first strike in a larger war. Failure was not an option.

“Wait for my signal,” he murmured, his gaze never leaving the path.

The tension was palpable as the convoy came into view, a line of armored wagons flanked by Abyssal creatures and heavily armed guards. At the center of it all rode General Varak, his hulking form unmistakable even from a distance.

Aiden raised his hand, the signal everyone had been waiting for.

“Now.”