Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 394

Chapter 394: Abyssal Post II

The Aftermath

The blast from the Abyssal outpost lit up the sky, its shockwave tearing through the surrounding terrain. Aiden, Myne, and Dren stood on a nearby ridge, the sheer force of the explosion making the ground tremble beneath their feet. Aiden’s eyes scanned the inferno below, his expression grim.

“That’s one less outpost,” Dren muttered, wiping blood from a shallow cut on his cheek. “But we’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest. Malakar won’t let this go unanswered.”

“Malakar…” Aiden whispered, his mind replaying the fight. The Warden’s overwhelming power and chilling confidence left a bitter taste in his mouth. “He’s not like the others. He knew exactly who I was and didn’t see us as a threat. That’s dangerous.”

“We bought ourselves some time,” Myne said, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. “But you’re right. The Abyss won’t stay quiet for long. Their invasion is far from over.”

Aiden nodded, still staring at the burning remains of the outpost. “Then we use that time wisely. We need to regroup, gather intelligence, and find out just how deep their plans run.”

The Return to Nexus

Their extraction was swift, the comms team coordinating a portal directly to Nexus Headquarters. Aiden felt the familiar pull of spatial magic, and in the blink of an eye, they were back in the war room. The air in Nexus was tense, the operations team buzzing with activity as reports from other fronts came in.

Nexus himself stood at the head of the central table, his presence commanding the room. The moment Aiden, Myne, and Dren arrived, he turned toward them, his expression a mix of relief and urgency.

“Report,” Nexus said, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.

Aiden stepped forward, his tone direct. “The Abyssal outpost has been destroyed. Their Void Gate is gone, and their staging area has been neutralized. But we encountered something unexpected—Malakar, Warden of the Abyss.”

The room fell silent at the name. Nexus’s usually composed demeanor faltered for a brief moment before he regained his composure. “Malakar. That complicates things.”

“He’s not just powerful; he’s strategic,” Aiden continued. “He let us destroy the outpost. I think it was part of his plan to assess our capabilities.”

Nexus frowned, his gaze hardening. “If Malakar has entered the field, the Abyss is escalating faster than we anticipated. We’ll need to reinforce all critical zones immediately. Aiden, your team’s success is vital, but this is only the beginning.”

“What’s our next move?” Myne asked, stepping forward.

Nexus brought up a holographic display of the Abyss’s suspected movements. “We’ve identified three potential high-priority targets. Each one plays a key role in their invasion plans. You’ll need to choose carefully which to address first.”

The holograms shifted, showing three locations:

The Ruined Sanctum: An ancient temple buried deep in a corrupted jungle, believed to be a central point for Abyssal summoning rituals. Destroying it could cripple their ability to reinforce their forces.

The Skybreaker Citadel: A floating fortress armed with devastating siege weapons aimed at Nexus’s allied territories. Neutralizing it could save countless lives.

The Abyssal Forge: A massive foundry where Void Titans and other Abyssal constructs are being created. Its destruction would hinder their ability to deploy heavy forces.

“You can’t tackle all three at once,” Nexus said. “And the longer we wait, the stronger their positions will become. Choose wisely.”

Aiden studied the holograms, weighing their options. Each target was critical, and each came with its own risks.

“The Forge,” Aiden said after a moment. “If they finish those Void Titans, no amount of reinforcements will hold them back. We need to take it out.”

Nexus nodded. “Agreed. But the Forge will be heavily guarded, and Malakar may anticipate this move. Prepare your team for the worst.”

Preparations for the Forge

Back in his quarters, Aiden sat at his desk, reviewing every detail about the Abyssal Forge. Its defenses were formidable, but what concerned him most was the unknown. The Abyss always had a way of hiding its deadliest cards until it was too late.

Myne entered, her expression serious. “You’re sure about this? The Forge is going to be a nightmare, even for us.”

“I know,” Aiden said, his voice calm but resolute. “But if we don’t stop it, everything we’ve fought for will be meaningless.”

She nodded, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Then let’s make sure we’re ready. I’ll start assembling the gear we’ll need. Dren’s already rounding up supplies.”

“Thanks,” Aiden said, offering a faint smile. “We’ll get through this. We have to.”

As Myne left, Aiden leaned back, staring at the map of the Forge. The weight of their mission bore down on him, but he refused to let it crush him.

In the corner of his mind, he felt a faint stir—the presence of his newly hatched companion. The small fox-like creature, curled up in a magical cradle, opened one eye, its gaze meeting his. Its voice echoed softly in his mind.

“Don’t worry, Aiden. We’ll win.”

Aiden chuckled softly, reaching out to scratch behind the fox’s ear. “Yeah, we will. Together.”

The road ahead was dark, but Aiden knew they would face it head-on. The Abyss may have its Warden, but Nexus had Aiden Valerian. And he wasn’t backing down.

The following morning, Nexus Headquarters was alive with preparation. Engineers hurried to optimize equipment, scouts returned with intelligence from the field, and strategists refined their plans. Aiden, Myne, and Dren stood at the briefing table with Nexus, reviewing the final details of their assault on the Abyssal Forge.

“Reports indicate the Forge is surrounded by Void Sentinels and patrolled by Abyssal Constructs,” Nexus began, his voice steady. “Its main entrance is impenetrable, but our scouts found a potential weak point—a ventilation shaft on the southern side. It’s narrow and heavily reinforced, but it’s your best shot.”

“Once inside, what’s our objective?” Aiden asked, his gaze fixed on the holographic map of the Forge.

“You’ll need to disable its power core,” Nexus explained. “The Forge relies on a Void Crystal Reactor. If you overload it, the resulting chain reaction should destroy the entire facility.”

“Should?” Myne raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.”