Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 422

Chapter 422: Abyssal X

The others formed a tight circle, their energies intertwining to create a faint barrier against the oppressive darkness. Aiden stood at the center, the Abyssal Seal on his chest glowing brighter with each passing moment.

As the whispers grew louder, a shape began to form in the distance—a massive, writhing mass of shadows, its form constantly shifting and changing. Eyes, mouths, and limbs appeared and disappeared across its surface, each one emanating a presence that felt ancient and unfathomable.

“That’s the heart of the Abyss?” Nexus asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Aiden took a step forward, his gaze fixed on the entity. “Stay back. This is my fight.”

“Aiden—” Myne began, but he cut her off.

“If I can’t face this, everything ends. Trust me.”

Reluctantly, they let him go. As Aiden approached the entity, the whispers grew deafening, the shadows around him pressing in closer. But he didn’t waver. He reached deep within himself, drawing on every ounce of strength, resolve, and understanding he had gained on his journey.

The entity loomed over him, its many eyes locking onto him as a voice—deep, resonant, and layered with countless tones—spoke directly into his mind.

“You are unworthy.”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed, the glow of the Abyssal Seal intensifying. “Then I’ll prove you wrong.”

The entity’s form twisted and expanded, filling the void with a suffocating presence. Shadows churned like a storm, and the countless mouths across its surface opened in unison, their combined voice echoing with an unearthly power.

“You challenge what you cannot comprehend. The Abyss consumes all.”

Aiden stood firm, his fists clenching as the Abyssal Seal on his chest flared brighter, pushing back the encroaching darkness. “The Abyss might consume others,” he replied, his voice steady, “but I’m not like the others. I’m here to claim it—not to be claimed by it.”

The shadows surged forward like a tidal wave, crashing against Aiden. For an instant, he was completely engulfed, his figure swallowed by the writhing mass. Myne, Lila, and Nexus shouted his name, but their voices were lost in the cacophony.

Inside the storm of shadows, Aiden was bombarded by visions—images of despair, failure, and his deepest fears. He saw himself losing everyone he cared about, becoming a hollow husk consumed by the very power he sought to control. The voices whispered doubts, taunted him with his weaknesses, and tried to erode his resolve.

But amidst the chaos, Aiden closed his eyes and focused inward. He remembered everything he had endured to reach this point—the battles, the sacrifices, the losses. He remembered Nexus’ guidance, Myne’s unwavering loyalty, and Lila’s humor that kept him grounded. He remembered the promise he made to himself to rise above the challenges, no matter how insurmountable they seemed.

His voice cut through the void, firm and unyielding. “I am not just a fragment of the Abyss—I am its master.”

The Abyssal Seal responded, its light erupting outward in a blinding wave. The shadows recoiled, hissing as they were burned away by the radiant energy. Aiden’s figure emerged, glowing with a faint aura that mixed the light of his spirit and the dark, consuming power of the Abyss. His eyes burned with clarity, and his steps were steady.

The entity’s form shrank, retreating slightly as it regarded him. “You resist. You endure. But resistance is not mastery. Show me your worth, mortal.”

The void trembled as the entity took shape, condensing into a towering humanoid figure clad in ever-shifting shadows. It extended a hand, and a blade of pure darkness materialized, crackling with raw energy. Aiden’s own blade appeared in his hand, forged from the fusion of his Spirit Energy and the Abyss’s power, its edges shimmering with a mixture of light and dark.

The figure lunged forward, and the clash began.

Each strike shook the void, the shockwaves rippling outward like bursts of lightning in a storm. Aiden’s movements were precise, every attack imbued with a balance of destruction and creation. The entity countered with overwhelming power, its blows carrying the weight of infinity. Sparks of energy lit the darkness as their blades met, each clash a battle of wills as much as strength.

“You can’t overpower me!” Aiden roared as he parried a strike and countered with a devastating slash. The entity staggered but retaliated with a flurry of strikes, forcing him on the defensive.

The battle raged on, but something began to change. Aiden wasn’t just resisting the entity’s power—he was drawing from it, letting the Abyss flow through him without losing himself to it. With each exchange, he grew stronger, faster, more in tune with the dark energy surrounding him.

Finally, as the entity raised its blade for a decisive blow, Aiden seized the moment. His Abyss-infused sword glowed with blinding intensity as he poured everything into a single strike. “This ends now!”

The blade sliced through the entity, the light of the Abyssal Seal exploding outward in a tidal wave of energy. The void trembled, and the entity let out a deafening roar as it shattered into countless fragments, the darkness dissipating like smoke.

When the light faded, Aiden stood alone. The void was gone, replaced by a vast expanse of stars and swirling galaxies. He felt the Abyss within him, no longer a wild, consuming force but a steady presence—a part of him.

A voice echoed softly, not from outside but from within. “You have proven yourself. The Abyss is yours to command, but it will always test you. Use it wisely.”

Aiden exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing. When he turned, he saw Myne, Nexus, and Lila running toward him, their faces filled with relief.

“You did it!” Lila said, punching his arm lightly. “For a second, I thought you were toast.”

Myne crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. “You’ve changed.”

Aiden gave her a faint smile. “I had to. Let’s move. This isn’t the end—just another beginning.”

The group nodded, and together they walked forward, leaving the stars and galaxies behind.