Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 451

Chapter 451: War XXIV

Moments later, the army set out.

Aiden led the way, his senses sharp and his spirit tense like a coiled spring. They marched across the broken plains of the Abyss, where reality seemed to twist and shimmer, the air heavy with dark energy. Every step brought them closer to the Citadel, its shadowy spires looming in the distance.

As they drew near, Myne slowed her pace, her eyes narrowing. “It’s too quiet. I don’t like it.”

Rick frowned. “Agreed. I expected patrols or scouts by now.”

Aiden extended his Spirit Sense, sweeping the area ahead. His eyes widened as he sensed something—a massive web of traps and wards laid out across the landscape.

“Stop!” he commanded, raising his hand. The army halted immediately.

“The entire area is laced with traps,” Aiden said. “They’re funneling us into a kill zone.”

Dren unsheathed his blade, its edge glowing with pale light. “I can cut through some of the wards, but it’ll take time.”

Aiden nodded. “Do it. Myne, Rick, cover him. I’ll work on disabling the central ward.”

As Dren got to work, Myne and Rick moved into defensive positions. Aiden closed his eyes, activating Akashic Insight, his mind racing to decipher the complex spellwork woven into the traps. Symbols flickered before him—dense layers of sealing and offensive magic meant to obliterate anyone who triggered them.

Inside the Citadel…

The Abyssal commander, the one with crimson eyes, watched their movements through a scrying orb. His smile widened as he observed their cautious progress.

“Fools,” he muttered. “Let them struggle. By the time they reach us, they’ll be too exhausted to fight back.”

He turned to his lieutenants. “Deploy the Shadows. Keep them under pressure. I want them bleeding before they ever set foot inside.”

The lieutenants bowed and vanished into the darkness.

Back on the battlefield…

Just as Dren severed the final ward, a chilling wave of energy swept over them. Dozens of shadowy figures emerged from the darkness, their forms shifting and flickering like living nightmares.

“Here they come!” Myne shouted, summoning a fiery barrier around the front lines.

Aiden raised his sword, its golden light blazing against the encroaching shadows. “Hold the line! Protect the casters!”

The two sides clashed in a storm of magic and steel. Aiden moved like a phantom, his sword carving through the shadowy attackers with precision. Each strike sent ripples of golden energy surging through the battlefield, illuminating the darkness.

Myne’s flames surged and danced, incinerating anything that drew too close. Rick’s earth-shattering punches created craters, hurling shadowy figures into oblivion.

But the enemy was relentless, their numbers seemingly endless.

“We need to push forward!” Dren shouted, cutting down two attackers with a single strike. “If we stay here, we’ll be overrun!”

Aiden gritted his teeth. He knew Dren was right.

“Form up!” he commanded. “We’re breaking through!”

The army regrouped, their formation tightening as they pushed toward the Citadel. The shadowy creatures fought with savage fury, but Aiden’s presence was like a beacon, driving the enemy back with every step.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the gates of the Abyssal Citadel. The massive black doors loomed before them, carved with ancient runes that pulsed with dark energy.

Aiden raised his sword, his voice steady and resolute. “No turning back now.”

He swung the blade, golden light slashing through the runes and shattering the doors.

The way into the heart of the Abyss lay open.

“Let’s finish this,” Aiden said, stepping through the threshold, his allies close behind.

Inside the Citadel, the true battle awaited.

The air inside was suffocating, filled with oppressive energy that seemed to sap their strength. The corridors were vast and labyrinthine, shadows clinging to every surface. Strange whispers echoed from the walls, and the temperature seemed to drop with every step.

“They’re trying to disorient us,” Myne muttered. “Stay close.”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll split into two teams. Myne, take the left flank and disable the defense wards. Rick and Dren, guard the rear. I’ll push toward the throne room.”

Myne hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Be careful.”

“I always am,” Aiden replied with a faint smile before vanishing into the shadows ahead.

Deep within the Citadel, the Abyssal commander waited.

His crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation. “So, you’ve come, Aiden… Let’s see if you’re truly worthy of the legends they whisper about.”

He rose from his throne, dark energy coiling around him like a living thing.

Aiden’s footsteps echoed through the cold, dark halls as he moved toward the throne room, his Spirit Sense stretched to its limits. The oppressive energy thickened with each step, pressing down on him like a physical weight.

He could feel the Abyssal commander’s presence—strong, ancient, and utterly malevolent.

Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled. The walls cracked and shifted, revealing hidden alcoves where monstrous figures of twisted flesh and shadow emerged, their eyes glowing with hunger.

“You’re not stopping me.” Aiden’s voice was calm but filled with unshakable resolve.

He gripped his golden sword, and brilliant arcs of energy surged outward, cleaving through the creatures. The beasts roared in pain as the light seared their bodies, reducing them to blackened ash.

Still, more kept coming.

Aiden activated his Reaper Scythe, dark energy swirling around him as his attacks became a deadly blend of light and shadow. His strikes grew faster, sharper, and more brutal. His scythe tore through their ranks, while his sword protected his flanks with dazzling counterattacks.

Meanwhile…

Myne and her team had reached the outer defense wards. Her hands moved swiftly, tracing fiery runes in the air as she dismantled the wards one by one. Sweat dripped down her brow, but her determination never wavered.

Rick and Dren fought beside her, fending off the waves of shadow creatures trying to stop their progress.

Rick punched the ground, sending shockwaves through the floor and knocking several creatures off balance. “How many of these things are there?!”

“Too many!” Dren shouted, slicing through two more. “But we don’t have a choice. We hold them off until Myne finishes!”