Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 404

Chapter 404: Aetheric Waste

Over the next three days, Aiden’s headquarters became a whirlwind of activity. Myne’s informants returned with crucial information, Rick secured support from the Ironshade Syndicate, and Dren reported that the Skyfury Nomads were willing to ally—provided the resistance delivered on their promises.

The intelligence Myne’s team gathered confirmed their fears: Abyssal forces were indeed converging near Khelar’s Crossroads, but the documents hinted at something more—a hidden command center deep in the Aetheric Wastes, far beyond the front lines. This base wasn’t just coordinating the Abyssal offensive; it was also a research hub for their forbidden magic experiments.

“This is it,” Aiden announced to the assembled team leaders, pointing to a hastily sketched map of the Aetheric Wastes. “If we take out this command center, we cripple their ability to launch large-scale operations. It won’t just be a victory—it’ll be a message.”

The room buzzed with murmurs of approval and concern. The Aetheric Wastes were treacherous, a place where even seasoned warriors feared to tread. The environment itself was hostile, riddled with unstable ley lines and predatory creatures warped by the Abyss’s experiments.

Rick crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. “Getting there is one thing. Surviving is another. And we’ll need more than brute force to break through their defenses.”

Aiden nodded. “That’s why we’ll use a two-pronged approach. Myne, you’ll lead a shadow team to infiltrate the command center. Your objective is to disable their arcane barriers and sow confusion from within.”

Myne smirked. “Finally, a plan that speaks my language. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure they’re too busy chasing shadows to see the blade coming.”

“Dren,” Aiden continued, “you’ll command the diversionary force. Hit their supply lines, draw their attention, and keep them guessing about our true target.”

Dren grinned, cracking his knuckles. “They’ll think we’re the main threat. By the time they realize otherwise, it’ll be too late.”

Rick leaned forward, studying the map. “And what about you? What’s your role in this?”

Aiden’s eyes burned with determination. “I’ll lead the assault on the command center itself. Once Myne disables the barriers, we’ll strike with everything we have. This ends with their leadership in shambles—or not at all.”

The room fell silent, the weight of the plan sinking in. It was audacious, bordering on reckless, but it was also their best shot at turning the tide of the war.

“Then it’s settled,” Rick said, breaking the silence. “We move at dawn.”

The march to the Aetheric Wastes was grueling. The air grew heavier with each step, the landscape transforming into a surreal nightmare of jagged cliffs and swirling energy storms. Myne’s shadowmancy provided cover from Abyssal scouts, while Dren’s diversionary attacks kept the enemy forces scattered and disorganized.

As they approached the outer perimeter of the command center, Myne and her shadow team split off, vanishing into the gloom. Aiden watched them go, trusting her to carry out her mission. The rest of the strike team remained hidden, waiting for the signal.

Hours passed in tense silence. Then, a distant explosion shattered the stillness, followed by the hum of failing arcane barriers. Myne had done her part.

“That’s our cue,” Aiden said, unsheathing his blade. “Move in!”

The strike team surged forward, their movements synchronized and precise. Abyssal soldiers scrambled to respond, but without their barriers and with chaos erupting inside the base, their defenses crumbled.

Aiden led the charge, his blade cutting through enemies with ruthless efficiency. Rick fought at his side, his strength and precision a match for the Abyss’s elite warriors. Dren’s diversionary force joined the fray moments later, their arrival tipping the scales even further.

Inside the command center, Myne’s team worked to sabotage critical systems. She moved like a shadow, her daggers finding throats and vital nodes with unerring accuracy. “Aiden,” her voice crackled through the communication crystal, “we’ve got them on the ropes. But there’s something you need to see—level three, west wing. It’s… bad.”

Aiden pushed forward, carving a path through the remaining defenders. He found Myne in a dimly lit chamber filled with rows of crystalline pods. Inside each one was a captive, their bodies twisted and writhing as dark energy coursed through them.

“They’re experimenting on people,” Myne said, her voice uncharacteristically subdued. “Trying to merge Abyssal essence with living hosts.”

Aiden’s jaw tightened, rage simmering beneath his calm exterior. “We destroy this place. All of it.”

“My team’s rigging charges as we speak,” Myne replied. “But we need to move fast. Reinforcements are on the way.”

Aiden nodded, his resolve hardening. “No one leaves here alive. Not them, and not their twisted experiments.”

As the team set the charges and prepared their retreat, Aiden took a moment to look at the captives. Most were beyond saving, their bodies too far gone. But a few still clung to life, their eyes pleading for release.

“We’ll take who we can,” Aiden said, his voice heavy with regret. “The rest… we end their suffering.”

The charges detonated as the strike team made their escape, the command center collapsing in a cascade of fire and rubble. The Abyssal forces outside were thrown into disarray, their chain of command shattered.

For the first time in weeks, Aiden felt a glimmer of hope. They had struck a decisive blow against the Abyss, one that would reverberate across the battlefield. But he knew the war was far from over. The Abyss would adapt, and their retaliation would be brutal.

As the team regrouped at a safehouse, Aiden looked at each of them, battered but alive. “We’ve won a battle,” he said, his voice steady. “But the war continues. Rest while you can. The fight isn’t over.”

Rick clapped him on the shoulder, a rare grin on his face. “Hell of a first strike, Aiden. Let’s make sure it’s not the last.”

Aiden allowed himself a faint smile. For now, they had earned a moment of reprieve. But his mind was already on the next move, the next battle, and the ultimate goal—a world free of the Abyss.