Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 427

Chapter 427: Abyssal XV

The Celestial Vanguard soldiers shifted uneasily as Myne approached, their instincts screaming danger despite her relatively calm gait. Even Valen stiffened, his golden glow pulsing defensively as his grip tightened on the Judgment Spear.

“You’ve made a mess of this, Valen,” Myne said, addressing the High Commander directly. “The council sent you to contain a threat quietly, not to create a spectacle that’s visible across realms. This battle is reckless and counterproductive.”

Valen frowned but didn’t lower his weapon. “Who are you to question the authority of the council, woman? This mortal is a danger to all existence—”

“And you’re an idiot who let him prove you’re not unbeatable,” Myne interrupted, her tone sharp and unyielding. “Do you even realize the implications of your failure? The Heavenly Council will not reward your incompetence.”

Aiden leaned against his scythe, raising an eyebrow. “Huh, didn’t expect you to jump in like this. What’s the deal, Myne? You on my side or theirs?”

Her amethyst gaze flicked to him briefly, unreadable. “I’m on the side of logic. Something you both seem to lack.”

Without warning, Myne planted her glaive in the ground, and a wave of energy surged outward. The force of it was enough to push back both Valen and Aiden slightly, creating a neutral zone around her.

“This ends here,” she declared. “If you insist on continuing, I’ll intervene personally—and neither of you will like the outcome.”

Valen hesitated, his pride warring with the palpable threat Myne represented. Aiden, on the other hand, grinned faintly.

“Well,” Aiden said, straightening up despite the clear exhaustion weighing on him, “looks like we’ve got ourselves a referee.”

Myne shot him a withering look. “Don’t push it.”

The standoff hung precariously, the fate of the battle teetering on the edge of Myne’s ultimatum.

The battlefield held its collective breath as the aftermath of the clash between Aiden and Valen came into focus. The ground where they had stood was a smoldering crater, its edges glowing with residual energy. The air rippled with the remnants of their divine and abyssal powers, making it hard for anyone nearby to breathe.

From the smoke, a figure emerged—Aiden, battered but standing tall. His Reaper Scythe rested on his shoulder, its blade still dripping with abyssal energy. His white hair was singed at the edges, his clothing torn, but his golden eyes burned with defiance.

Valen lay on one knee at the other side of the crater, his golden armor cracked and tarnished. The Judgment Spear was planted in the ground beside him, its glow dimmed but not extinguished. He coughed, spitting golden ichor, and glared at Aiden with a mixture of frustration and disbelief.

“You… You’re stronger than I anticipated,” Valen admitted, his voice strained but steady. “But this isn’t over. The heavens will never allow someone like you to exist.”

Aiden stepped forward, his every movement purposeful. “Then let the heavens try,” he said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of a storm. “But if they think they can send pawns like you to stop me, they’re in for a rude awakening.”

Before Valen could respond, a shadow zipped through the air. Myne appeared beside Aiden, her blades glistening with the blood of the Celestial Vanguard. She was grinning, though her expression carried a sharp edge.

“Looks like you softened him up for me,” Myne teased, her eyes flicking toward Valen. “Want me to finish him off?”

Valen’s aura flared weakly as he struggled to rise. “You dare… mock me? I am Valen, High Commander of the Celestial Vanguard!”

“High Commander or not,” Myne said, her grin widening, “you look like someone who just lost.”

Aiden raised a hand, signaling Myne to stand down. “No. Killing him now would only escalate things further. Let him crawl back to the Heavenly Council and deliver a message.”

Valen’s golden eyes narrowed. “A message? You think you can threaten the heavens?”

Aiden’s gaze bore into Valen, his tone low but commanding. “Tell them this: I’m not their pawn, and I won’t bow to their authority. If they want to challenge me, they’d better come prepared to face the full force of the Abyss.”

Valen hesitated, his pride clashing with his sense of survival. Finally, he grabbed his spear and stood shakily, his aura flickering like a dying flame. “You’ll regret this,” he spat before turning and retreating, his form shimmering as he vanished into the night sky.

As the remaining Celestial Vanguard began to retreat, the battlefield fell silent once more. The fortress defenses deactivated, and the shadows that had fought alongside Aiden receded, leaving the area eerily calm.

Nexus approached, his expression thoughtful. “That was bold, Aiden. Sending Valen back alive could either buy us time or bring the full wrath of the Heavenly Council down on us.”

Aiden nodded, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “They were coming either way. Now at least they’ll think twice before underestimating us.”

Myne sheathed her blades and stretched, her demeanor casual despite the carnage around them. “Well, that was fun. So, what’s next, boss?”

Aiden looked toward the horizon, where the faint glow of dawn began to break through the darkness. His eyes carried a quiet resolve, tempered by the weight of what was to come.

“We prepare,” he said. “This was just the beginning. If the heavens want a war, we’ll give them one they’ll never forget.”

The skies above the underground base ignited with chaos as a swarm of Abyssal forces descended like an unrelenting tide. Aiden stood at the forefront, his silver hair illuminated by the glow of the burning skies. Rick, now donning his obsidian armor, issued commands to the resistance forces, his voice calm yet firm despite the dire circumstances.

“Defensive wards up! Focus on holding the eastern and western flanks!” Rick barked, his voice cutting through the cacophony of clashing weapons and Abyssal roars.

Aiden unsheathed his twin blades, their edges gleaming with divine energy. Myne, by his side, wove shadows into defensive barriers, trapping enemy units in suffocating voids. Her dark eyes reflected the carnage around her, but she maintained a sharp focus.

The Abyssal army surged forward, a relentless wave of grotesque humanoids, towering demonic beasts, and shadowy constructs. Aiden leaped into the fray, his movements a blur of calculated destruction. His first blade slashed through an Abyssal construct, the divine energy severing its connection to the dark force animating it. With his second blade, he deflected a barrage of shadowy spears aimed at his comrades.

“Rick, how long until reinforcements arrive?” Aiden called out over the din of battle, his voice calm yet edged with urgency.