Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 408

Chapter 408: Artifact

“Artifacts this powerful don’t come without challenges,” Aiden said, scanning the room. “Stay on guard.”

As if in response, the chamber rumbled. From the far corners, massive stone constructs began to stir. Forged in the image of ancient warriors, their bodies glowed with the same runes as the hammer, and their movements were precise and deliberate.

“A trial,” Thalric growled, hefting his axe. “They want to see if we’re worthy.”

“Then let’s prove it,” Aiden said, stepping forward. His sword ignited with celestial light, casting an aura of defiance.

The constructs charged, their heavy footfalls shaking the ground. The team sprang into action, each member taking a role in the battle.

Thalric met one construct head-on, his axe crashing into its massive shield. Sparks flew as he pushed with all his might, the runes on his weapon flaring to life. “Come on, you oversized statue! Show me what you’ve got!”

Myne darted around another, her arrows striking weak points in its armor. Every shot was precise, forcing the construct to move sluggishly as it struggled to keep up with her speed.

Kaelith focused on the battlefield from a distance, her hands weaving intricate sigils in the air. She conjured bursts of flame and barriers of wind to protect the others, her voice a steady hum of incantations.

Rick unleashed torrents of elemental magic, his spells alternating between fire, ice, and lightning. He targeted the joints and runes of the constructs, aiming to disrupt their movements.

Aiden faced the largest of the constructs, its twin blades carving through the air with deadly precision. His strikes were calculated, each one testing the construct’s defenses. With a powerful swing, he deflected one of its attacks, countering with a slash that left a glowing scar across its chest.

Despite their combined efforts, the constructs proved relentless. Each time one fell, its runes reignited, and it rose again, stronger and faster than before.

“They’re adapting!” Kaelith warned, her voice tinged with frustration. “We need to end this, now!”

Aiden glanced at the pedestal. “The artifacts! They’re the key!”

“But we can’t take them all,” Rick shouted, dodging a crushing blow. “The trial’s forcing us to choose!”

Aiden’s mind raced. Each artifact represented a different path, a different advantage. The hammer would enhance their ability to forge weapons and armor to combat the Abyss. The orb could unlock untold knowledge and magic. The gauntlets would grant unparalleled physical power, possibly even rivaling an Abyssal Lord.

“We don’t have time for debates!” Myne snapped, loosing another arrow. “Aiden, make the call!”

Aiden gritted his teeth, his gaze flickering between the artifacts. The team trusted him to make the right decision, and their survival—and possibly the survival of the Highlands—depended on it.

Finally, he stepped forward, reaching out toward—

[Which artifact will Aiden choose? The Star-Metal Hammer, the Crystalline Orb, or the Obsidian Gauntlets?]

Aiden’s hand hovered over the artifacts for only a moment before he grabbed the Crystalline Orb, its swirling energy flaring brightly at his touch. The orb felt cold and impossibly light, as if it barely existed in the physical realm. Instantly, a rush of knowledge and energy coursed through him, illuminating his mind with ancient techniques, spells, and strategies.

As he gripped the orb, the constructs froze in place, their glowing runes dimming. The chamber’s oppressive tension lifted, replaced by a sense of calm. The pedestal began to sink into the ground, and a resonant voice echoed through the chamber.

“The Orb of Creation has chosen you. Knowledge is the greatest weapon, and with it, you may shape destiny. But beware: enlightenment comes at a price. Use it wisely, or be consumed by what you uncover.”

The light in the chamber faded, and the constructs crumbled into piles of inert stone. Aiden turned to his team, the orb still radiating power in his hand.

“That’s it?” Thalric asked, his axe still raised as he surveyed the remains of the constructs. “No final boss, no collapsing temple?”

“I wouldn’t relax just yet,” Rick muttered, his sharp gaze darting around. “The Abyss doesn’t let victories like this go unanswered.”

Kaelith stepped closer, her eyes locked on the orb. “Aiden, do you feel it? The orb is alive—it’s… reacting to you.”

Aiden nodded, the overwhelming influx of information slowly settling in his mind. “It’s more than a tool. It’s a guide. I can see fragments of the Forge Masters’ memories… their triumphs, their mistakes. There’s so much we didn’t know about their war with the Abyss.”

“And what does it tell you about our war?” Myne asked, slinging her bow over her shoulder.

Aiden’s expression darkened. “The Abyss is far older and more powerful than we realized. The Forge Masters only delayed its advance—they didn’t stop it. But this… this is a start.”

The group didn’t have time to process his words. A deep rumble shook the ground, and an unnatural chill filled the chamber. Aiden’s Spirit Sense flared with warning. Something—or someone—had arrived.

A low, guttural voice echoed from the shadows at the far end of the room. “So, you’re the ones causing all this trouble.”

From the darkness emerged a figure cloaked in Abyssal energy. His crimson eyes glowed like embers, and an aura of malice surrounded him. He carried a massive scythe, its blade dripping with black ichor that sizzled as it hit the ground.

“My name is Malakar,” the figure hissed. “And you’ve stolen something that doesn’t belong to you.”

Thalric hefted his axe, his teeth bared. “Finally, a real fight!”

“Stand down,” Aiden ordered, stepping forward. He felt the orb pulsing in his hand, as if urging him to act. “This isn’t your battle, Thalric. He’s here for me.”

Rick frowned. “You can’t take him alone, Aiden. That’s an Abyssal Warlord. They’re in a league of their own.”

“Maybe,” Aiden said, his voice calm. “But I have something he doesn’t.”

He raised the Crystalline Orb, and a surge of energy erupted from it, forming a protective barrier around his team. The orb’s voice echoed in his mind, guiding his movements.

Malakar snarled, his scythe slicing through the air as he charged. The ground cracked under his steps, his speed unnatural for his size. Aiden met the attack head-on, his sword colliding with the scythe in a burst of light and darkness.