Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 449

Chapter 449: War XXII

The darkness spread across the forgotten lands like a living tide, consuming everything in its path. The Abyssal Lords, ancient entities that had slumbered for millennia, stirred within the void. Their awakening sent shockwaves through the Immortal Realm, a disturbance so potent that even those far removed from the conflict felt its ominous weight.

Back at Sanctum Delta, Aiden stood on the observation deck, his golden aura barely visible beneath the starlit sky. His Spirit Sense extended again, pushing the limits of his perception. He couldn’t shake the growing tension building in his chest.

“Still searching?” Myne asked as she approached, her voice soft yet edged with concern. She stopped beside him, arms crossed. “You’ve been standing here for hours.”

Aiden didn’t turn to face her. “I can feel it, Myne. Something’s wrong—something big. It’s like the world’s holding its breath, waiting for the storm to hit.”

Myne glanced at him, her silver hair catching the moonlight. “We’ve been through worse. Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.”

Aiden nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. “Thanks, Myne. I’ll hold you to that.”

Suddenly, the air around them grew heavier, charged with raw energy. Aiden’s Spirit Sense snapped to attention, locking onto a powerful presence hurtling toward Sanctum Delta at terrifying speed.

“Brace yourself!” he shouted, summoning Lumen Noctis as the sky tore open above them in a swirl of black and crimson energy. A figure emerged, descending with enough force to shake the ground beneath their feet.

The intruder was tall and cloaked in dark armor, his eyes burning with abyssal energy. His presence exuded overwhelming pressure—a General of the Abyss, more powerful than Vael ever was.

“You must be Aiden,” the General said, his voice a deep, resonant growl. “I am Drazhen, Lord of Desolation. I’ve come to deliver a message from the depths of the Abyss.”

Aiden’s grip on his sword tightened. “You picked the wrong place to bring your message.”

Drazhen chuckled, his voice dripping with malice. “You misunderstand. I’m not here to negotiate. I’m here to crush you beneath the weight of the Abyss and announce the coming of a new age—one where your light will be extinguished forever.”

Without warning, Drazhen raised his hand, and waves of dark energy erupted around him, slamming into Sanctum Delta’s defenses. The protective barriers flickered, struggling to hold.

“Myne, alert the others!” Aiden ordered. “We’re under attack!”

“On it!” Myne vanished into the shadows, her voice echoing back. “Don’t die before I get back!”

Aiden turned to face Drazhen, his golden aura blazing to life. The ground beneath him cracked as his power surged. “If you’re here to take me down, you’d better bring everything you’ve got.”

Drazhen grinned, his eyes narrowing with delight. “Oh, I intend to.”

The battle erupted with blinding speed, both combatants clashing in a storm of light and darkness. Each strike sent shockwaves across the battlefield, tearing apart the landscape. Aiden’s sword burned with radiant energy, while Drazhen’s dark blade left trails of abyssal fire in its wake.

Every move was a dance of power and precision, light battling shadow in a fight that seemed to transcend the physical world itself.

Back inside the sanctum, Rick and Dren rallied the other defenders, activating the emergency protocols. The walls of Sanctum Delta hummed with energy as defensive wards lit up, forming intricate patterns across the structure.

“This isn’t just another battle,” Rick muttered, his hands flying over the console. “This is an invasion.”

Dren cracked his knuckles, a fierce grin spreading across his face. “Then let’s make them regret stepping foot here.”

Outside, the battle between Aiden and Drazhen raged on. The sky darkened as their powers collided again and again, neither one willing to back down. But Drazhen was relentless, his strength seemingly without end.

“You’re strong,” Drazhen admitted, his voice filled with admiration. “But strength alone won’t be enough to save you.”

Aiden’s eyes burned with resolve. “I’m not just fighting for myself. I’m fighting for everyone who stands against the Abyss. And that makes me stronger than you’ll ever be.”

Summoning the full power of Lumen Noctis, Aiden unleashed a devastating burst of light, cutting through Drazhen’s defenses. The General stumbled back, his armor cracked and smoking.

But instead of falling, Drazhen laughed, a dark and chilling sound. “You think you’ve won? This was only the beginning. The Abyss is eternal, and it will swallow your world whole.”

Before Aiden could respond, Drazhen dissolved into shadow, his presence vanishing as quickly as it had come.

The battlefield grew silent, the only sound the crackling energy that lingered in the air.

Myne reappeared at Aiden’s side. “Gone already?”

Aiden nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. “For now. But he’ll be back, and next time, he won’t be alone.”

Rick’s voice came through the communicator. “We’ve got a bigger problem. Massive energy signatures detected all across the region. The Abyss is mobilizing.”

Aiden clenched his fists. “Then we’ll mobilize too. No matter what comes, we’ll be ready.”

He turned to his team, his eyes filled with determination. “This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning of the real fight.”

And with that, the countdown to war had truly begun.

The air remained tense in Sanctum Delta as Aiden and his allies gathered in the war room. A massive glowing map of the surrounding regions hovered above the center table, flickering with red dots—each representing an incoming threat from the Abyss.

Rick zoomed out, revealing dozens of red marks rapidly converging on key cities and sect strongholds. “It’s not just here. This is a coordinated attack. They’re striking all across the Immortal Realm.”

Myne leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “They’re trying to destabilize the realm before anyone has time to react.”

“Classic Abyss strategy,” Dren muttered, crossing his arms. “Sow chaos, break the will of the defenders, and consume everything in darkness.”

Aiden remained silent, his mind working through the possibilities. He finally spoke, his voice calm but resolute. “If they want to plunge the world into chaos, then we’ll be the ones who turn the tide.”

He turned to Rick. “Contact our allies. Tell them to prepare for war. We’ll need every resource and every soldier we can muster.”

Rick nodded. “Already on it.”

Aiden’s eyes burned with golden light as he looked back at the map. “Drazhen isn’t the only threat. More Abyssal Generals will come, each stronger than the last. If we don’t act fast, they’ll overwhelm the realm before we can stop them.”

Hours later, Aiden stood on the balcony overlooking the training grounds. The preparations were already underway. Soldiers, mages, and warriors trained tirelessly, their eyes filled with a mix of determination and fear.

Myne joined him, her silver hair gently swaying in the wind. “We’re going to need more than brute force to win this.”

“I know,” Aiden replied. “That’s why I’m calling in every favor we have. We’ll need to be smart, strike where it hurts the most, and cut off the Abyss’s advance before it can spread.”

Myne raised an eyebrow. “And how do you plan to do that?”

Aiden smiled faintly. “By doing what they don’t expect—taking the fight to them.”

Meanwhile, deep in the Abyss, Drazhen knelt before a towering figure cloaked in darkness. Its voice echoed through the void, ancient and commanding.

“You failed,” the figure growled. “Aiden still stands, and the light of his power continues to grow.”

Drazhen bowed his head. “Forgive me, Lord Malakar. I underestimated him. But I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

“You won’t get another chance alone,” Malakar hissed. “The time for games is over. We will unleash the full force of the Abyss upon the Immortal Realm. Gather the other Generals. It’s time to break the light once and for all.”

Drazhen’s eyes glowed with dark energy. “As you command.”

Back at Sanctum Delta, the final preparations were being made. Aiden stood before his gathered forces, his golden aura radiating confidence and strength.

“Today marks the beginning of our greatest battle,” Aiden declared. “We stand against the Abyss—not just for ourselves, but for every soul in the Immortal Realm. This enemy is strong, but we are stronger. Together, we will protect everything we hold dear.”

The crowd erupted into cheers, their spirits lifted by Aiden’s words.

In the distance, dark clouds loomed on the horizon, a sign of the coming storm. But Aiden stood tall, his heart steady.

This was his battlefield. His war.

And no matter the cost, he would lead his people to victory—or die trying.

The night before the battle, the air crackled with anticipation. Campfires burned across the hills surrounding Sanctum Delta, their flickering light illuminating the faces of warriors preparing for what could be their final fight. Weapons were sharpened, spells prepared, and quiet conversations held under the weight of looming uncertainty.

Aiden stood at the edge of the camp, gazing out toward the dark horizon. Myne approached, her steps light but purposeful.

“You’re not sleeping,” she observed.

Aiden smiled faintly without turning. “Didn’t think I would.”

“You carry too much weight on your shoulders.” Myne crossed her arms. “It’s not all on you, Aiden. We’re in this together.”