Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 440

Chapter 440: War XIII

The battle was fierce. Every blow from the commander was a destructive force, shaking the very foundation of the fortress. But Aiden’s resolve was unshaken. He fought with precision and purpose, his strikes carving through the Abyssal energy.

As the fight reached its peak, Aiden unleashed his ultimate ability, pouring every ounce of his power into a single, devastating strike. The golden light engulfed the commander, piercing through his defenses and shattering the Abyssal core that sustained him.

When the light faded, the commander fell to his knees, his form crumbling into ash. The fortress began to collapse around them, the structural integrity destroyed by Rick’s explosives.

The team regrouped outside the fortress, their breaths heavy but their spirits high. The Abyssal command center was no more, and with it, the enemy’s grip on the region had been significantly weakened.

Rick grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. “Another win for the good guys.”

Dren clapped Aiden on the back. “You were incredible in there, man. That commander didn’t stand a chance.”

Aiden offered a faint smile, though his gaze remained fixed on the horizon. “It’s a victory, but we can’t let our guard down. The Abyss will retaliate.”

Myne stepped beside him, her expression unreadable. “Let them come. We’ll be ready.”

As the first rays of dawn broke through the clouds, the team set off, their resolve stronger than ever. The war against the Abyss was far from over, but they had taken another crucial step forward—and they wouldn’t stop until the darkness was vanquished.

As Aiden and his team moved through the war-torn landscape, the weight of their latest victory settled upon them. The destruction of the Abyssal command center had crippled the enemy’s operations in the region, but they all knew this was only a temporary reprieve. The Abyss was relentless.

Rick tapped a few commands into his wrist device, pulling up a tactical map. “Our next move is to regroup with the resistance at the Dawnspire Outpost. They need to know about the commander’s fall.”

Dren cracked his neck. “I just hope they have food. I swear, I haven’t eaten properly since this mission started.”

“You and your stomach,” Myne muttered, though a small smirk played on her lips.

Aiden remained silent, his gaze scanning the terrain ahead. His Spirit Sense picked up something—a flicker of movement, barely noticeable. His instincts screamed danger.

“Stop,” he ordered, his voice firm.

The team froze, weapons at the ready. Myne’s shadows coiled around her fingers, while Rick charged his energy blasters. Dren tensed, his muscles ready to explode into action.

Then, the trap was sprung.

From the ruins ahead, figures emerged—clad in Abyssal armor, their presence exuding a twisted, oppressive energy. But they weren’t just any enemies. These warriors bore insignias unlike the others.

“Elites,” Rick hissed.

There were five of them, each radiating a sinister aura. Their leader, a tall figure wrapped in shifting black mist, stepped forward. His helmet obscured his face, but his eyes—pits of swirling crimson—locked onto Aiden.

“So,” the leader spoke, his voice smooth yet dripping with venom, “you are the ones who have been causing trouble.”

Aiden met his gaze, his grip on his sword tightening. “And you’re the ones sent to clean up the mess?”

The leader chuckled. “Something like that. I am Varian, and unlike the fools you’ve fought before, we are true warriors of the Abyss.” His aura flared, dark tendrils swirling around his body. “Your little victory means nothing. The Abyss does not fall. It only consumes.”

Aiden raised his sword, golden light crackling along its edge. “We’ll see about that.”

Without warning, the Abyssal Elites attacked.

Dren intercepted one of them, engaging in a brutal exchange of blows. His fists met his opponent’s shadowy blade, each impact sending shockwaves through the ground.

Rick fired a series of rapid energy blasts, forcing another Elite into evasive maneuvers. But his opponent was fast—unnaturally fast—closing the distance in an instant and slashing at Rick’s armor, sparks flying.

Myne disappeared into the shadows, her presence flickering between dimensions as she faced off against an enemy wielding twin daggers infused with Abyssal fire.

That left Aiden with Varian.

The two warriors clashed, their power shaking the battlefield. Aiden’s golden light collided with Varian’s abyssal energy, creating a maelstrom of conflicting forces.

“You shine so brightly,” Varian mused, parrying Aiden’s strike with his curved blade. “But light fades. Darkness is eternal.”

Aiden pushed forward, his blade igniting with holy energy. “You’re wrong. Light isn’t something that fades—it’s something that endures.”

Their battle intensified, neither warrior giving ground. Aiden’s movements were precise, his attacks backed by years of experience and sheer determination. But Varian was no ordinary foe. His blade shifted mid-strike, twisting through space itself to land unexpected blows.

Aiden gritted his teeth as he narrowly dodged a deadly slash aimed at his throat. He countered with a surge of energy, his sword cleaving through the dark mist that surrounded Varian.

But the Abyssal warrior only grinned. “Good. Show me more.”

Nearby, Rick was struggling. His opponent was adapting to his attacks, dodging his energy blasts with unnatural reflexes. Dren, despite his monstrous strength, was barely holding his ground against an enemy who seemed to anticipate every move.

Myne, however, had managed to turn the tide of her battle. She used the enemy’s reliance on vision against them, dragging her opponent into the darkness where her shadowmancy reigned supreme. A strangled cry echoed from the abyss, and Myne reappeared, blood dripping from her daggers.

“One down,” she muttered.

But their troubles were far from over.

Varian’s aura flared, and he unleashed a wave of pure Abyssal energy that sent Aiden skidding backward. “Enough playing around,” he declared. “It’s time you learned the true depth of despair.”

Dark runes ignited across Varian’s armor, and the sky itself seemed to darken.

Aiden recognized it immediately.

A forbidden technique.

“Rick! Dren! Myne! Get back!” he shouted.

Varian raised his blade, and the battlefield erupted in abyssal fire.

The war against the Abyss had just escalated.