Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 426

Chapter 426: Abyssal XIV

Myne grinned, a wild glint in her eyes. “Finally, some action. Try not to get yourself killed, Aiden. I’d hate to miss out on watching you squirm later.”

Nexus nodded, his gaze briefly meeting Aiden’s. “Be careful. Valen’s no ordinary opponent. He wields the Judgment Spear, a weapon said to pierce the soul itself.”

“Noted,” Aiden replied, his tone unwavering.

As Myne and Nexus darted toward the left flank, Aiden stepped forward, his Abyssal Seal surging with power. The shadows around him coiled and twisted, taking on forms that seemed alive. The air grew colder, the oppressive aura of the Abyss enveloping the battlefield.

Valen descended from his position at the forefront of the army, his golden armor blazing with divine energy. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he landed, his imposing figure towering over Aiden. In his hand, the Judgment Spear shimmered with a light so pure it seemed to reject the very concept of darkness.

“You think you can stand against me?” Valen said, his voice laced with contempt. “You are but a speck of shadow before the light of the heavens.”

Aiden’s smirk widened, his Abyssal Seal pulsating as he summoned his Reaper Scythe. The massive weapon materialized in his hand, its blade dripping with an inky darkness that seemed to devour the light around it.

“Funny thing about shadows,” Aiden replied, spinning the scythe with practiced ease. “They only get stronger when the light shines brighter.”

With that, Valen lunged, his Judgment Spear thrusting forward like a lightning bolt. Aiden met the attack head-on, the blade of his scythe colliding with the spear in an explosion of energy. The shockwave rippled across the battlefield, forcing even the most stalwart of soldiers to brace themselves.

The clash of divine light and abyssal shadow painted the night in flashes of gold and black. Aiden moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior, his scythe slicing through the air in arcs that seemed to distort reality itself. Valen countered with brutal efficiency, his spear striking with the speed and force of a celestial storm.

Around them, the battlefield erupted into chaos. Myne and Nexus tore through the Celestial Vanguard’s left flank, their combined prowess carving a path of destruction. The fortress defenses activated, unleashing barrages of shadowy tendrils and abyssal fire that rained down upon the advancing army.

Despite their overwhelming numbers, the Celestial Vanguard struggled to gain ground. The fortress, now fully under Aiden’s control, fought back with a ferocity that matched its new master’s resolve.

As the battle raged, Aiden and Valen’s duel reached a fever pitch. The ground beneath them cracked and crumbled under the weight of their clashes, and the air grew thick with the scent of ozone and scorched earth.

“You fight well for a mortal,” Valen admitted, his tone begrudging. “But this ends now.”

He raised the Judgment Spear high, its tip glowing with an intensity that seemed to rival the sun itself. The air around him distorted as he channeled his divine energy, preparing a strike that could level the entire battlefield.

Aiden gritted his teeth, his Abyssal Seal flaring as he drew upon the full power of the fortress. The shadows around him surged, coalescing into a massive, spectral figure that loomed over him like a guardian.

“You’re not the only one with tricks up your sleeve,” Aiden said, his voice steady despite the strain.

As Valen’s spear descended, Aiden unleashed the full force of his Abyssal power. The clash that followed wasn’t just a meeting of weapons—it was a collision of worlds, light and shadow battling for supremacy in a storm of raw energy.

When the dust settled, the battlefield was silent. The outcome of the clash hung in the air like a fragile thread, waiting to be revealed.

As the dust cleared, faint silhouettes began to emerge amidst the ruins of their clash. The ground was shattered into a crater, and the surrounding air shimmered with residual divine and abyssal energies clashing in subtle ripples.

Valen stood tall at the edge of the crater, the golden glow of his Judgment Spear dimmed but not extinguished. His armor bore cracks, faint trails of smoke rising from the damaged sections. His once-pristine composure was marred by a slight tremor in his hands.

Opposite him, Aiden rose slowly, leaning on his Reaper Scythe. His figure seemed worn, the Abyssal Seal on his body flickering as if struggling to maintain its power. Yet his expression remained defiant, his golden-white hair disheveled and streaked with soot.

“You’re still standing,” Valen said, his voice tinged with both respect and frustration. “I’ll give you credit—you’re far more resilient than I anticipated. But you’ve only delayed the inevitable.”

Aiden smirked, wiping a trail of blood from his lip. “And you’re not as invincible as you thought. That’s twice now you’ve failed to finish me off.”

The battlefield around them was still for a moment, as if all forces—both the Celestial Vanguard and Aiden’s allies—held their breath. Even the chaotic screams of battle had dulled, the sheer magnitude of the clash leaving soldiers awestruck.

Valen’s eyes narrowed. “You’re toying with forces you cannot comprehend. I wield the authority of the heavens themselves. You are a mere mortal dabbling in shadows, defying the natural order. That’s why you’ll lose.”

Aiden chuckled weakly. “You think light is the natural order? The Abyss was here before your gods lit their first candle. I’m not just some mortal; I’m the bridge between what your kind fears and what they pretend doesn’t exist.”

Before Valen could retort, a voice cut through the tense silence, calm yet commanding.

“Enough of this pointless posturing, both of you.”

From the far edge of the battlefield, a figure emerged—a woman cloaked in radiant silver and violet, her presence exuding an aura that demanded attention. Her piercing amethyst eyes scanned the battlefield with dispassionate authority, and the massive glaive she carried over her shoulder seemed to hum with restrained power.

“Myne!” Aiden called out, recognizing her immediately.

“No,” Myne corrected sharply, her demeanor colder than usual. “Not right now. This is business.”