Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 402

Chapter 402: Fight III

Rick entered the chamber, his face grim. “The scouts confirmed Abyssal reinforcements are setting up a forward base near the southern ridgeline. If they establish a foothold there, they’ll be within striking distance of our supply convoys.”

“How much time do we have?” Aiden asked, turning toward him.

“Two days, maybe less,” Rick replied. “They’re moving fast.”

Aiden nodded, his mind already forming a plan. “We’ll hit them before they can finish setting up. A surgical strike to dismantle their operations and push them back.”

Rick frowned. “It’s risky. If they anticipate us—”

“They won’t,” Aiden interrupted. “We’ll send a decoy team to draw their attention while we strike the ridgeline directly. Myne can handle the diversions, and Dren’s team can plant charges to collapse their supply routes.”

Rick hesitated, then nodded. “Understood. I’ll start mobilizing the teams.”

As Rick left, Aiden turned back to the commander. The Abyssal stared at him with a mix of defiance and curiosity, as if trying to decipher the man who had led such a relentless resistance.

“You’ll watch as we tear Malakar’s plans apart,” Aiden said, his tone calm but firm. “Piece by piece. And when the time comes, you’ll realize that even gods can bleed.”

The commander didn’t reply, but something flickered in his expression—whether it was doubt, fear, or anger, Aiden couldn’t tell.

Hours later, the resistance base buzzed with activity. Strike teams prepared their gear, engineers fine-tuned explosive charges, and scouts relayed the latest intelligence. The tension in the air was palpable, but so was the determination.

Aiden stood with Myne, Dren, and Rick in the strategy room, finalizing their plan. The map displayed the southern ridgeline, marked with Abyssal positions and potential entry points.

“Myne, your team will create a distraction near the western pass,” Aiden said. “Make it loud enough to draw their attention but don’t overcommit. We can’t afford to lose anyone.”

Myne smirked, twirling a dagger between her fingers. “Loud and flashy. Got it.”

“Dren, you and your team will infiltrate their supply lines from the east,” Aiden continued. “Plant charges at key choke points and be ready to collapse the route on my signal.”

Dren nodded, his expression serious. “Consider it done.”

“Rick, you’re with me,” Aiden said. “We’ll lead the main strike force up the ridgeline and hit their command center directly.”

Rick raised an eyebrow. “The command center? You’re not making this easy for us.”

“Never said it would be,” Aiden replied. “But if we take out their command structure, the rest will fall apart. This isn’t just about delaying them—it’s about sending a message.”

The group dispersed, each member ready to carry out their role. As Aiden prepared to leave, Rick approached him.

“You sure about this?” Rick asked. “We’ve pulled off miracles before, but this feels… different.”

Aiden glanced at him, his expression unwavering. “It’s always different, Rick. But we adapt, we fight, and we survive. That’s what we do.”

Rick nodded, a faint smirk on his lips. “Just don’t get yourself killed. I’d hate to have to find a new leader.”

“Not planning on it,” Aiden replied, gripping Rick’s shoulder briefly. “Let’s finish this.”

With that, the strike teams moved out, the weight of the mission pressing on their shoulders. The Abyss had grown bolder, but so had the resistance.

The strike teams moved swiftly under the cover of darkness. The southern ridgeline loomed ahead, its jagged cliffs and dense foliage providing both a natural barrier and an opportunity for stealth. Aiden led the main force, Rick at his side, while Myne and Dren’s teams veered off toward their respective targets.

Aiden’s group advanced in silence, their movements synchronized like clockwork. His Spirit Sense pulsed outward, scanning for signs of Abyssal patrols. The enemy had set up a perimeter of sentries, but their positions were predictable—a flaw Aiden intended to exploit.

Rick crouched beside him, pointing to a cluster of tents illuminated by faint torchlight. “Looks like their command post is right where we expected. Heavy guard presence, though.”

Aiden nodded, his mind calculating their approach. “They’re expecting an attack, but not from this angle. We’ll circle around the ridge and hit them from the west. The terrain will force their guards into a bottleneck.”

Rick’s expression was grim but determined. “What about reinforcements? If they call for backup, we’re pinned.”

“Myne’s team is handling that,” Aiden replied. “Her distraction will keep their focus split. We just need to move fast and hit hard.”

A sharp crackle echoed in the distance—a controlled explosion from Dren’s team. The ground trembled slightly, signaling that their sabotage was underway. Aiden allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. Everything was proceeding according to plan.

“Move out,” he ordered, and his team followed without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Myne’s group had reached the western pass, where Abyssal scouts patrolled in tight formations. She crouched behind a boulder, her shadowmancy swirling around her like a living entity. With a flick of her wrist, the shadows lashed out, pulling one of the scouts into the darkness before he could cry out.

“Keep it clean,” she whispered to her team. “We can’t let them raise the alarm too soon.”

Her operatives nodded, fanning out to dispatch the remaining scouts. Within minutes, the area was clear, and Myne signaled for the next phase. She reached into her pouch and retrieved a handful of black powder, scattering it along the ground. When ignited, it would create a cascade of explosions designed to mimic a full-scale assault.

“Let’s give them a show,” she muttered, striking a match and tossing it onto the powder. The resulting explosion lit up the night sky, the thunderous sound echoing across the ridgeline.

Satisfied, Myne and her team slipped away, blending into the shadows as Abyssal forces rushed toward the commotion. The distraction was working.

Back on the ridgeline, Aiden’s team had reached their position overlooking the Abyssal command post. He crouched behind a cluster of rocks, surveying the scene below. The command tent was heavily fortified, with guards stationed at every entrance.

Aiden activated his Spirit Sense, mapping the area in greater detail. He detected the faint hum of magical wards—likely defensive enchantments to protect against intruders.