Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 417

Chapter 417: Abyssal V

By the time they reached the outskirts of the Shattered Spire, the group was weary but unbroken. The Spire itself was a haunting sight: a towering structure of jagged black stone, its surface cracked and glowing with faint red lines that pulsed like veins. The ground around it was littered with the remains of ancient battles—broken weapons, shattered armor, and the skeletal remains of those who had perished here.

“This place feels wrong,” Alina murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lila nodded, her hands glowing faintly as she cast a detection spell. “The magical energy here is… unstable. Be on guard.”

As they approached the Spire, the air grew colder, and the shadows seemed to deepen. Aiden could feel the seal reacting, its energy thrumming in time with the Spire’s pulse. It was as if the two were connected, their fates intertwined.

At the base of the Spire, they found an entrance—a jagged archway that seemed to swallow the light. Without hesitation, Aiden led the way, his resolve unwavering despite the unease that gnawed at the edges of his mind.

The interior of the Spire was a labyrinth of twisting corridors and cavernous chambers, each more unsettling than the last. The walls were covered in runes that pulsed with malevolent energy, and the air was thick with the echoes of long-forgotten screams.

“This place isn’t just a ruin,” Lila said, her voice trembling. “It’s alive.”

“Then let’s make sure it dies,” Garrick growled, tightening his grip on his sword.

As they delved deeper, they encountered more corrupted creatures, each more ferocious than the last. But it wasn’t just the physical threats that wore them down—it was the psychological toll. The Spire seemed to prey on their fears and doubts, warping their perceptions and forcing them to confront their darkest memories.

For Aiden, it was the memory of the day he’d first unleashed the seal’s power. He saw the destruction it had caused, the lives it had claimed, and the horror in the eyes of those he had sworn to protect. The whispers grew louder, urging him to embrace the seal fully, to let it consume him.

But he pushed back, clinging to the faces of his comrades—their trust, their hope, their belief in him. It was enough to keep him grounded, for now.

At last, they reached the heart of the Spire: a vast chamber dominated by a massive crystalline structure suspended in the air. It pulsed with the same malevolent energy as the Spire, its surface etched with runes that radiated pure Abyssal power.

“That’s the anchor,” Lila said, her voice filled with both awe and dread. “Destroying it will sever the Abyss’s connection to this place.”

“Easier said than done,” Myne muttered, pointing to the shadowy figures that began to emerge from the walls. They were humanoid in shape but utterly devoid of features, their bodies made of shifting darkness.

“Looks like they don’t want us to leave,” Rick said, drawing his weapon.

Aiden stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the anchor. “We’re not leaving until this is done. Hold them off—I’ll take care of the anchor.”

The battle erupted in a cacophony of steel and magic as the team fought to keep the shadowy figures at bay. Aiden, meanwhile, focused all his energy on the anchor, the seal flaring brighter than ever as he unleashed its full power.

But as the anchor began to crack, the whispers grew deafening. The seal’s energy surged, threatening to overwhelm him. For a moment, he teetered on the edge of losing control.

And then, he heard Myne’s voice. “Aiden! Focus! You’re stronger than this!”

Her words cut through the chaos, grounding him. With a final, earth-shaking strike, the anchor shattered, releasing a wave of energy that sent the shadowy figures dissolving into nothingness.

As the dust settled, the team stood victorious—but the cost was clear. Aiden’s body trembled, the strain of wielding the seal taking its toll. Yet, despite the exhaustion, he stood tall, a faint smile on his lips.

The anchor was destroyed, but the fight against the Abyss was far from over. The Spire had been just one piece of the puzzle, and Aiden knew that greater challenges awaited.

For now, though, they had won. And that was enough.

The aftermath of the battle left the group standing in silence, surrounded by the faint glow of the now-destroyed anchor’s remains. The oppressive energy of the Spire had lessened, but the weight of what they had just endured lingered heavily in the air.

Aiden staggered, barely able to keep himself upright. Myne rushed to his side, steadying him. “You idiot,” she muttered, her voice trembling with a mix of relief and frustration. “You nearly tore yourself apart.”

He offered a faint smirk. “Guess I’ve got a habit of overdoing things.”

Rick leaned against a crumbling wall, his blade resting on his shoulder. “You’re lucky Myne kept yelling at you, or we’d all be shadow chow.”

Alina lowered her bow, scanning the room warily. “This place might feel calmer, but something’s still not right. We need to leave.”

Lila nodded in agreement. “The destruction of the anchor severed the Abyss’s immediate control, but the energy here hasn’t fully dissipated. It’ll take time, and there could be residual traps or creatures left behind.”

Garrick sheathed his sword with a heavy sigh. “Agreed. Let’s not wait around for something worse to crawl out of the walls.”

The journey out of the Spire was no less grueling than their descent. Though the immediate danger had passed, the labyrinth seemed to shift subtly, making the path back unnervingly unfamiliar. Aiden’s condition didn’t help—every step was a struggle, and though he tried to mask it, the others could see the toll the seal had taken on him.

Lila walked close beside him, her hand glowing faintly as she used her magic to stabilize his energy. “You’re burning yourself out, Aiden,” she said softly. “Whatever power you’re drawing from that seal… it’s not sustainable.”

“I know,” Aiden admitted, his voice hoarse. “But until we find another way, it’s what I’ve got.”

Myne, overhearing, frowned but said nothing. The frustration on her face was clear—she wanted to argue, to demand he stop risking himself, but she knew this wasn’t the time or place.