Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 419

Chapter 419: Abyssal VII

Garrick sighed, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Guess I’m in, too. Someone has to keep you all alive.”

Lila returned her focus to Aiden, her voice softening. “He’ll need to recover enough to travel first. Give me a day or two, and I can stabilize him for the journey.”

The next morning, Aiden woke with a groan, his body feeling like it had been dragged through the depths of the Abyss itself. He blinked, his vision still dark, and remembered his current predicament. Spirit sense painted a faint picture of his surroundings, and he felt the faint hum of Myne’s presence beside him.

“You’re awake,” she said, relief laced with irritation. “Took you long enough.”

Aiden chuckled weakly. “Miss me already?”

“Shut up,” she snapped, but there was no heat in her words. “We’re heading out soon. Lila found a lead—a place that might have answers about that seal of yours.”

“Astral Sanctum?” he asked, surprising her.

“How do you know about it?” Myne asked, narrowing her eyes.

“I’ve heard whispers about it,” Aiden admitted, pushing himself into a sitting position. “It’s a long shot, but it’s worth it.”

“You’re not going anywhere in your condition,” Lila said firmly, walking over. “You need rest and time for your energy to recover.”

Aiden shook his head. “If this Sanctum has answers, I don’t care how dangerous it is. I’m going.”

Myne sighed. “Stubborn as always. Fine. But if you collapse halfway there, don’t expect me to carry you.”

The journey to the Luminaris Expanse was long and treacherous. The landscape grew increasingly hostile, the air thick with unnatural energy. Twisted forests and jagged mountains loomed ahead, and the group encountered numerous beasts along the way, each encounter testing their resolve and coordination.

Despite his weakened state, Aiden fought alongside them, refusing to be a burden. The seal’s power flared during battles, its destructive energy both a blessing and a curse. Each time he used it, the whispers grew louder, their malevolence gnawing at the edges of his mind.

One night, as they camped on the outskirts of the Expanse, Aiden sat alone, staring into the darkness with his spirit sense. Myne approached, sitting down beside him.

“You’re pushing yourself too hard,” she said quietly.

“I don’t have a choice,” Aiden replied. “If I don’t use the seal, we won’t make it. If I do… well, you know the risk.”

She hesitated before speaking. “You don’t have to do this alone, you know. We’re here for a reason. Let us carry some of the weight.”

Aiden smiled faintly. “Thanks, Myne. But this isn’t just about me. If we don’t stop the Abyss, it’ll consume everything.”

She sighed, punching his arm lightly. “You’re an idiot, but you’re our idiot. Just… don’t die on me, alright?”

“I’ll do my best,” he said, his tone light but his expression serious.

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, the group set out once more, the towering peaks of the Luminaris Expanse looming ahead. The path to the Astral Sanctum awaited, and with it, the hope of answers—or more perilous questions.

As the group ascended the treacherous slopes leading into the heart of the Luminaris Expanse, the atmosphere grew heavier with each step. The very air seemed charged with a strange, oppressive energy, making even the smallest movements feel like a test of will. Twisted trees with silver bark and pulsating veins lined the rocky path, their roots snaking through the jagged terrain as if alive.

Aiden relied heavily on his Spirit Sense to navigate, his steps precise despite his blindness. The others noticed how he moved, as if guided by an unseen hand, and though no one spoke of it, they couldn’t help but wonder how much longer he could endure. His seal had flared unpredictably throughout their journey, and even now, faint tendrils of dark energy coiled around him like a restless storm.

The group stopped at the edge of a sheer cliff that overlooked a vast, glowing chasm. In the center of the chasm stood a massive archway of white crystal, shimmering with an iridescent light. Inscribed along its surface were ancient runes that seemed to shift and dance when looked at directly.

“That must be the entrance to the Sanctum,” Lila said, her voice tinged with awe.

“But how do we get there?” Garrick asked, pointing to the narrow, crumbling path that wound its way around the chasm. “One wrong step, and we’re done for.”

Rick knelt near the edge, tossing a small rock into the chasm. The stone disintegrated the moment it touched the glowing energy below. He whistled. “Well, that’s comforting.”

“We don’t have a choice,” Aiden said, his tone resolute. “We take the path.”

“You’re barely holding it together,” Myne snapped. “If you fall—”

“I won’t,” Aiden interrupted, his voice firm. “Let’s go.”

One by one, they began the perilous trek along the winding path. The silence was broken only by the occasional scrape of boots against stone and the distant hum of the energy below. Aiden took the lead, his Spirit Sense allowing him to navigate the treacherous path with uncanny precision.

Halfway across, the air grew colder, and an unnatural wind began to howl through the chasm. Shadows danced along the walls, their movements erratic and menacing.

“This place doesn’t feel right,” Alina muttered, gripping her bow tightly.

As if in response, a low growl echoed from the darkness. The group froze, weapons drawn, as several pairs of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows.

“Void Stalkers,” Lila whispered, her face pale. “Predators of the Abyss. They feed on fear.”

The creatures stepped into the light, their forms sleek and sinuous, like panthers made of shifting smoke and bone. Their eyes burned with malevolence, and their claws left trails of black energy in the air.

“They don’t look like they’re here to talk,” Rick said, raising his sword.

The Void Stalkers pounced, their movements swift and fluid. The group fought back fiercely, but the narrow path left little room to maneuver. Aiden unleashed the power of his seal, dark tendrils lashing out to intercept the creatures. The energy burned them away, but each use of the seal left Aiden visibly weaker.