Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 420

Chapter 420: Abyssal VIII

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.

“We can’t keep this up!” Garrick shouted, his axe cleaving through one of the beasts. “There’s too many!”

Lila chanted a spell, a barrier of golden light springing up around them. It held the Void Stalkers at bay, but the creatures clawed relentlessly at the shield, their shrieks piercing the air.

“It won’t hold for long!” Lila warned, sweat streaming down her face.

Aiden stepped forward, his hand resting on the barrier. “Drop it,” he said, his voice low but steady.

“What?” Myne turned to him, her eyes wide. “Are you insane?”

“Trust me,” he said, meeting her gaze—or at least, where he knew her gaze would be.

Reluctantly, Lila lowered the barrier. The Void Stalkers lunged, but before they could reach the group, Aiden raised his hand. The seal on his chest flared with an intense, blinding light, and a wave of dark energy erupted outward. The Void Stalkers disintegrated instantly, their shrieks cut short as they were consumed.

When the light faded, Aiden collapsed to one knee, panting heavily. The seal on his chest flickered erratically, and for a moment, it looked as though it might unravel completely.

“Aiden!” Myne rushed to his side, gripping his arm. “You idiot, you’re going to kill yourself at this rate!”

“I’ll be fine,” he said weakly, though his trembling hands betrayed him.

Lila knelt beside him, her expression grim. “You’re burning through your life force every time you use that seal. If you keep this up—”

“I don’t care,” Aiden interrupted, forcing himself to stand. “We’re almost there. Let’s move.”

The group pressed on, reaching the archway at last. Up close, the runes on its surface seemed to pulse in time with their heartbeats. Aiden placed a hand on the crystal, and the runes flared brightly.

The air around them shifted, and the group found themselves standing in a vast, star-filled void. Floating islands of books and scrolls surrounded them, connected by shimmering bridges of light. At the center of it all stood a towering figure clad in silver robes, its face hidden beneath a hood.

“Who seeks the knowledge of the Astral Sanctum?” the figure intoned, its voice resonating like a thousand whispers.

Aiden stepped forward, his voice unwavering despite his exhaustion. “I do. I need answers about the Abyss and the seal on my chest.”

The figure regarded him silently for a moment before speaking again. “Knowledge comes at a price. Are you prepared to pay it?”

Aiden hesitated, glancing back at his companions. Myne gave him a small nod, her expression unreadable.

“I am,” he said, turning back to the figure.

“Then step forward,” the figure said, extending a hand. “And prepare to face the truth.”

Aiden felt an invisible force pulling him toward the towering figure as its outstretched hand emitted a faint, silver glow. The void around them seemed to shift and shimmer, the distant stars flaring and dimming as though they were alive. His companions stood frozen, unable to follow him, their forms growing faint and blurred as if they were being pushed further into the background of this surreal space.

As Aiden took a step closer, he heard faint whispers all around him, a chaotic chorus of voices speaking in languages he couldn’t understand. They grew louder with every step, tugging at his mind, threatening to overwhelm him. But he pressed on, his resolve unyielding.

The figure raised its hand higher, and the stars around them suddenly converged, forming a massive sphere of light that hovered above its head. Within the sphere, images began to swirl—fragments of memories, battles, and ancient, incomprehensible symbols that seemed to ripple with power.

“The Abyss,” the figure began, its voice resonating through the void, “is not merely a void of darkness. It is a realm of unbridled chaos and creation, an endless cycle of destruction and rebirth. To wield its power is to challenge the natural order of existence itself.”

The sphere of light descended, stopping just above Aiden’s head. The images within grew sharper, revealing scenes of devastation—a world consumed by black flames, a sky torn apart by cracks of dark energy, and a lone figure standing amidst it all, their chest glowing with the same seal that burned on Aiden’s own body.

“That figure…” Aiden murmured, his voice barely audible. “Is that me?”

“No,” the figure replied. “That is the originator of your seal. The first bearer of the Abyssal Mark. His name is lost to time, but his actions resonate through the fabric of reality. His power created the seal you now carry—a fragment of his will, designed to bind the Abyss within you.”

Aiden clenched his fists. “Then why does it feel like this seal is breaking me apart? Why am I losing control?”

“Because you lack balance,” the figure said. “The Abyss is infinite, its power too vast for any one being to contain. The seal was never meant to be a permanent solution. It was designed to give its bearer time—time to understand, time to prepare, time to choose.”

“Choose what?” Aiden demanded.

The sphere above him began to shift again, showing two diverging paths. One was filled with light, depicting a radiant figure standing atop a golden throne, their form wreathed in an aura of peace and stability. The other path descended into shadow, showing a figure cloaked in darkness, their hands crackling with destructive energy as the world crumbled around them.

“You must choose whether to master the Abyss… or let it master you,” the figure said. “To walk the path of balance and unity, or to surrender to chaos and destruction. Each path will shape your destiny and the fate of those around you.”

Aiden stared at the images, his heart pounding. “And if I fail to choose?”