Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 415

Chapter 415: Abyssal III

Rick approached, blood staining his armor but his movements steady. He knelt beside Aiden, his expression a mixture of relief and concern. “We did it,” Rick said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “The Abyss has retreated—for now.”

Aiden’s gaze didn’t leave the horizon, where the faint traces of shadow still lingered. “It’s not over,” he muttered. “Vassago was just one piece of the Abyss. They’ll come back… stronger.”

Rick frowned, following Aiden’s gaze. “Maybe. But today, we pushed them back. That’s a victory.”

Aiden turned to him, his eyes shadowed with worry. “Victory doesn’t matter if we can’t hold what we’ve won. The Abyss isn’t like anything we’ve faced before. It adapts, it consumes, and it doesn’t stop.”

Rick sighed, placing a reassuring hand on Aiden’s shoulder. “Then we’ll adapt too. You’ve given us hope, Aiden. That’s something the Abyss can’t take away.”

Myne appeared moments later, limping slightly but otherwise composed. Her usual sharp demeanor was softened by the faint smile on her lips. “You look like you’ve been run over by a thousand-year storm,” she quipped, glancing at Aiden’s battered form.

“Feels like it too,” Aiden replied, managing a weak grin. “How are the others?”

Myne’s expression turned serious. “We lost many. But the survivors are rallying. They’re calling you a hero, you know.”

Aiden shook his head. “I’m not a hero. I’m just trying to do what needs to be done.”

“That’s what makes you one,” Myne said softly, her voice uncharacteristically gentle.

As night fell, the resistance set up camp on the edges of the battlefield. Fires flickered in the darkness, casting long shadows across the wounded earth. Aiden sat apart from the others, the seal resting in his lap. It felt heavier now, as though the weight of its power had shifted from light to something more somber.

Lila approached, carrying a steaming cup of herbal tea. “You should rest,” she said, handing him the cup. “Even you can’t keep going forever.”

Aiden accepted the tea but didn’t drink it. His thoughts were a whirlwind of strategies, doubts, and the lingering question of how to prepare for the next confrontation. “Rest feels like a luxury we can’t afford,” he murmured.

“It’s not a luxury,” Lila countered, sitting beside him. “It’s a necessity. If you break yourself, what hope do the rest of us have?”

Her words hit harder than he expected. He glanced at her, seeing the fatigue etched into her face but also the unyielding determination in her eyes. “You’re right,” he admitted reluctantly. “But it’s hard to stop when every moment feels like a countdown to disaster.”

Lila smiled faintly. “That’s why you’re not alone in this. Let us carry some of that weight.”

In the days that followed, Aiden worked tirelessly with Myne, Rick, and the other leaders of the resistance to fortify their position. Scouts were sent to monitor the Abyss’s movements, while engineers and mages collaborated to enhance their defenses. The seal’s power was carefully rationed, its light used to create wards that repelled the lingering corruption.

But even as they built their stronghold, Aiden’s mind was consumed by a growing unease. The Abyss wasn’t just a mindless force—it was intelligent, cunning, and patient. Vassago’s defeat might have slowed its advance, but it was only a matter of time before it struck again.

And then there was the seal itself. Its power was immense, but it came at a cost. Aiden could feel it draining him, not just physically but spiritually. Each time he used it, a piece of himself seemed to fade, leaving behind an emptiness he couldn’t explain.

One night, as he sat alone in his tent, the seal resting on the table before him, he felt a presence. Looking up, he saw Nexus standing in the shadows, her form shimmering faintly as though she weren’t entirely there.

“Nexus,” Aiden said, his voice tinged with surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to warn you,” she replied, her tone grave. “The seal is powerful, but it’s not without limits. If you continue to rely on it, it will consume you.”

Aiden frowned. “I don’t have a choice. Without it, we can’t fight the Abyss.”

“There’s always a choice,” Nexus said, stepping closer. “The seal is a tool, not a solution. If you want to truly defeat the Abyss, you need to find a way to sever its connection to this world.”

“And how do I do that?” Aiden asked, frustration creeping into his voice. “The Abyss isn’t something you can just cut off. It’s everywhere.”

Nexus placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch surprisingly warm. “You’ll find the way, Aiden. You always do. But remember—light doesn’t have to burn to shine.”

With that, she faded away, leaving Aiden alone with his thoughts. Her words echoed in his mind, planting a seed of doubt about his reliance on the seal. If there was another way to fight the Abyss, he needed to find it. Before it was too late.

The days pressed on, each filled with relentless preparation. Aiden immersed himself in both physical and mental training, pushing his limits to grasp a deeper understanding of the seal’s power and, more importantly, its origins. The warning Nexus had delivered weighed on him like a storm cloud on the horizon.

The resistance camp had grown into a fortified bastion, buzzing with life. Mages crafted intricate wards, engineers reinforced barricades, and healers tended to those recovering from injuries. Even in the bleakness of war, hope flickered like the fires that lit the camp each night.

Despite the bustling activity, Aiden felt a gnawing isolation. The burden of leadership and the uncertainty surrounding the seal kept him apart, even from those he fought to protect. It wasn’t until Myne stormed into his tent one evening, her arms crossed and eyes blazing, that the isolation shattered.

“You’re avoiding everyone,” she said bluntly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Aiden looked up from the map spread across his table. “I’m focused.”

“You’re hiding,” Myne shot back, stepping closer. “You think you have to carry this entire fight on your own. That’s not focus—that’s foolishness.”

Aiden sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s not that simple, Myne. The seal… it’s not just a tool. It’s a responsibility, and one I don’t fully understand yet.”

Her expression softened slightly, though her voice remained firm. “You’re not the only one with responsibilities. Everyone out there is fighting for this cause. You don’t have to bear it all alone, Aiden. Trust us. Trust me.”

For a moment, silence hung between them. Then Aiden gave a small nod, his shoulders relaxing. “You’re right. I’ll try.”

“Good,” Myne said with a smirk, turning to leave. “Because if you keep this up, I might just have to knock some sense into you.”