Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 434

Chapter 434: War VII

At the Spire’s entrance, Myne stood beside Aiden, both of them breathing heavily as the battlefield grew silent. The remaining Abyssal forces had either fled or dissolved into nothingness, their connection to the Spire severed.

“You did it,” Myne said, a faint smile on her lips.

Aiden nodded, his radiant sword fading back into its original form. “We did it. But it’s not over yet. Let’s regroup with Rick and Dren.”

As they made their way toward the rendezvous point, Aiden glanced back at the Spire, now crumbling under its own weight. The battle was a victory, but the war against the Abyss was far from over.

For now, though, they had struck a decisive blow—and the light of hope burned brighter than ever.

The team regrouped near the extraction point, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and relief. Rick leaned against a crumbling pillar, wiping dirt and ash from his face. Dren stood nearby, his fists still faintly glowing from the battle, while Myne inspected her shadow-wrapped arm, which bore scorch marks from the General’s counterattacks.

“That was one hell of a show, Aiden,” Rick said, clapping Aiden on the back. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

Aiden gave him a tired smile. “Let’s hope you never have to.” He looked at each of them in turn. “Are you all okay?”

“Survived, didn’t we?” Dren grinned, though his voice betrayed his weariness. “That General of theirs won’t be terrorizing anyone else.”

Myne glanced toward the ruins of the Abyssal Spire. “We bought some time, but this was only one battle. The Abyss will retaliate when they recover from this loss.”

Rick sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “She’s right. They won’t let this go unanswered. But for now, we’ve given the people in this region something they haven’t had in a long time: a chance to breathe.”

Aiden nodded, his gaze distant. “It’s a small step, but we have to keep moving forward. The Abyss thrives on fear, and we’ve shown them we won’t back down.”

The teleportation rune began to hum, its intricate carvings lighting up with a soft, blue glow. It was their way out, but the moment felt bittersweet. The battlefield behind them was littered with the remnants of their clash—scorched earth, broken weapons, and fading traces of dark energy. It was a grim reminder of the cost of their fight.

Before stepping into the rune, Aiden turned to his team. “You’ve all done more than I could’ve asked for. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

Rick grinned. “Don’t get all sentimental on us, boss. We’ve got a long way to go.”

Dren chuckled. “He’s right. Save the pep talk for after we’ve actually won this war.”

Even Myne allowed herself a faint smile. “Let’s go. The Abyss isn’t going to wait for us to catch our breath.”

As they stepped into the rune, the energy surged around them, enveloping the team in a soft blue light. The battlefield disappeared, replaced by the familiar surroundings of their hidden base—a secluded haven deep within the forests of Eryndale.

The moment they arrived, the team scattered to tend to their injuries and prepare for the next step. Rick headed to the command room to analyze the data they’d gathered from the Spire. Dren hit the training hall, muttering something about needing to refine his techniques. Myne disappeared into the shadows, as she often did, likely to meditate and regain her strength.

Aiden lingered in the central chamber, staring at a large, glowing map of the region. The Spire they had destroyed was marked with a flickering red light that slowly dimmed, signaling its defeat. But surrounding it were dozens more red markers, each representing another Abyssal stronghold.

The enormity of their task weighed heavily on him. He clenched his fists, the Everlight Core fragment pulsing faintly against his chest as if sensing his doubts.

“You’re shouldering too much again.” Myne’s voice came from the shadows, and she stepped into the dim light, her gaze steady. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

Aiden sighed, his shoulders sagging. “I know. But I can’t shake the feeling that I have to do more. Every second we rest, the Abyss gets stronger.”

“And every battle we win, they weaken,” Myne countered. “You don’t have to carry the weight of the entire war, Aiden. We’re all in this together.”

Her words resonated, and he offered her a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, Myne. I needed that.”

She nodded, her usual stoicism softening for a brief moment. “Get some rest. You’ll be no good to anyone if you collapse from exhaustion.”

As she disappeared back into the shadows, Aiden turned his attention to the map one last time. He tapped one of the red markers, marking their next target. The battle was far from over, but for tonight, they had earned this small victory—and the hope that came with it.

Tomorrow, the fight would continue, but Aiden knew he wouldn’t be facing it alone.

The base was quiet, save for the faint hum of magical wards and the rustling of leaves outside. Aiden sat at the edge of his cot in the living quarters, gazing at the Everlight Core fragment hanging from his neck. It pulsed faintly, a rhythmic glow that felt like a heartbeat. Its power was immense, but it also came with a burden—a constant reminder of what was at stake.

He leaned back, closing his eyes, replaying the battle in his mind. The General’s mocking voice still echoed, the weight of the clash still fresh. He clenched his fist, the memory of his decisive strike vivid but not entirely satisfying. One enemy down, but countless more to go.

A soft knock broke his thoughts. He glanced up to see Rick leaning against the doorframe, a tablet in his hand. “Got a minute?”

Aiden nodded, sitting up straighter. “What’s up?”

Rick stepped inside, his usual grin replaced by a more serious expression. “Ran the data we pulled from the Spire’s central core. It’s… bigger than we thought.”

Aiden frowned. “How big?”