Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 436

Chapter 436: War IX

With the commanders down, Aiden turned his attention to the energy node. He could feel its corrupt power pulsing, a malevolent force that seemed to resist his presence. Raising his sword, he channeled his light energy into it, the blade glowing brighter than ever.

“Rick, Dren, Myne! Get to the extraction point!” he shouted.

They didn’t need to be told twice. Rick and Dren regrouped, covering Myne as she retreated. Aiden focused all his strength into his attack, the light energy surging through his sword as he drove it into the node.

The node shattered with a deafening explosion, a wave of dark energy rippling outward. Aiden was thrown back, the force of the blast knocking the wind out of him. He struggled to his feet, the ground beneath him trembling as the depot began to collapse.

“Aiden, move!” Rick’s voice crackled over the comms.

Aiden pushed himself forward, sprinting toward the extraction point. The team was waiting, the teleportation rune already active. He dove into the glowing circle just as the depot was consumed by a massive explosion.

Back at the base, the team stood in silence, watching the distant glow of the destroyed depot fade into the horizon. They were exhausted but alive, and their mission had been a success.

Rick broke the silence. “That’s two for two. We’re on a roll.”

“Don’t get cocky,” Aiden said, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. “There’s still a fortress waiting for us.”

Myne glanced at him, her expression as unreadable as ever. “We’ll be ready.”

Aiden nodded, his resolve renewed. The Abyss wasn’t going to stop, but neither would they. Each victory brought them closer to the end of the war—and they wouldn’t rest until it was won.

The days following the destruction of the Abyssal depot were spent in preparation. The team knew the next target—the Abyssal fortress—would be their most dangerous mission yet. Recon reports painted a grim picture: heavily fortified walls, legions of elite Abyssal warriors, and a power source unlike anything they’d encountered before. To take it down, they would need more than just skill and courage—they needed a plan.

Aiden stood in the command room, a holographic map of the fortress hovering before him. Rick, Myne, and Dren were gathered around, each contributing to the strategy.

“The outer defenses are going to be a nightmare,” Rick began, pointing to the towering walls marked on the map. “Anti-air turrets, shield generators, and those new Abyssal golems we’ve been hearing about. Getting through that will take a miracle.”

Myne folded her arms, her gaze fixed on the map. “The shield generators are the key. If we can take them out, it’ll give us a window to hit the fortress hard. But they’ll be heavily guarded.”

Dren cracked his knuckles. “Let me handle the generators. If I can get close enough, I’ll tear them apart.”

Aiden shook his head. “Not alone. Myne will go with you. Her shadowmancy can cover your approach. Rick, you and I will create a distraction at the main gate to draw their forces away.”

Rick raised an eyebrow. “Just you and me against an army? Sounds like a party.”

Aiden smirked. “We’ve faced worse.”

The night before the mission, Aiden found himself alone, staring out at the stars. The weight of their task pressed down on him, but he couldn’t afford to show doubt. The team relied on him, and he wouldn’t let them down.

“You’re brooding again,” Myne’s voice came from behind him.

He turned to see her leaning against the doorway, her usual mask of indifference replaced with something softer. She stepped closer, her eyes searching his face.

“I’m not brooding,” he said, though his tone betrayed him.

Myne tilted her head. “You always do this before a big mission. Doubting yourself, carrying the weight of everything on your shoulders. You don’t have to.”

Aiden sighed. “If I don’t, who will?”

She placed a hand on his arm, a rare gesture of reassurance. “You’re not alone in this, Aiden. We’re a team. Trust us to do our part.”

Her words struck a chord, and he nodded. “I’ll try.”

She gave him a faint smile before turning to leave. “Get some rest. We’ll need you at your best tomorrow.”

The assault on the fortress began at dawn. Aiden and Rick approached the main gate, their movements deliberate and loud, ensuring they drew the attention of every sentry. Abyssal warriors poured out to meet them, their dark weapons gleaming in the early light.

Rick unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, the explosions lighting up the battlefield. Aiden charged into the fray, his glowing sword cutting through the enemy ranks with precision. The two of them fought side by side, a seamless blend of offense and defense that kept the Abyssal forces occupied.

Meanwhile, Myne and Dren moved through the shadows, their path leading to the shield generators. Myne’s shadowmancy cloaked them from sight, and when a patrol came too close, her tendrils struck with deadly efficiency. Dren’s raw strength came into play when they reached the first generator. With a roar, he drove his fists into the machinery, ripping it apart in a shower of sparks.

Back at the gate, Aiden sensed a shift in the battlefield. The Abyssal forces were adapting, their movements becoming more coordinated. A massive Abyssal golem emerged, its towering form bristling with weapons. It stomped toward them, each step shaking the ground.

“We’ve got company,” Rick said, his voice tinged with excitement.

Aiden nodded, gripping his sword tighter. “Let’s take it down.”

The golem swung a massive arm, forcing them to dodge in opposite directions. Rick fired a concentrated energy blast at its head, but the attack barely left a scratch. Aiden used the distraction to close the distance, his sword glowing brighter as he struck at the golem’s leg. The blade bit deep, and the golem staggered, but it wasn’t enough to bring it down.

“Dren, Myne, status?” Aiden called through the comms as he dodged another swing.

“First generator’s down,” Dren replied, his voice strained. “Working on the second.”

“Hurry,” Aiden said, narrowly avoiding a burst of Abyssal energy from the golem. “We’re running out of time.”