Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 458

Chapter 458: War XXXI

“About the Death Core?” Myne asked, leaning forward. “Or about the next fight we’ll inevitably walk into?”

Aiden chuckled softly. “Both. It’s always both.”

Rick, who had been sharpening his sword, looked up. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m more worried about who else might come looking for that core. A power like that never stays hidden for long.”

Nexus approached with an old scroll in his hand. His expression was grave. “Rick’s right. I did some digging in the ancient records. That Death Core isn’t just a fragment of Eeh’liel’s power. It’s a key.”

“A key to what?” Aiden asked, his voice steady but cold.

Nexus unrolled the scroll, revealing a faded map marked with dark symbols. “A key to the Underworld Gate—the place where Eeh’liel was originally sealed. If someone uses this core at the gate, they can fully restore his power… or worse, release something far darker.”

The camp fell silent, the weight of Nexus’s words settling heavily on everyone.

“So, destroying the core won’t just trigger a backlash,” Myne said, narrowing her eyes. “It’ll unlock a prison we were never supposed to open.”

Aiden stood, his golden flames flickering around him. “Then we have no choice. We’ll have to find the gate and seal it forever before anyone else can get there.”

Rick crossed his arms. “Sounds like a suicide mission. The Underworld Gate isn’t exactly a place you visit for fun.”

“That’s why we’ll prepare,” Aiden replied, his voice unwavering. “No rushing in blind. We’ll gather resources, gather allies, and—”

“Too late for that,” Myne interrupted, her eyes flashing with urgency. “Look!”

A dark ripple spread across the night sky, crackling with ominous energy. The stars flickered, momentarily drowned out by a swirling black vortex. A massive rift opened far in the distance, and from it, shadowy figures began to emerge—spectral warriors clad in black armor with crimson eyes that glowed like burning coals.

“The Underworld’s army,” Nexus whispered. “Someone’s already trying to open the gate.”

Aiden clenched his fists, his power surging around him. “Then we’ll stop them here and now.”

Myne drew her daggers, shadows coiling around her like living creatures. “Let’s make sure they regret stepping into our world.”

Rick smirked. “Finally, some fun.”

The ground trembled as the spectral army marched closer, their numbers growing by the second.

Aiden took a step forward, his eyes blazing with golden light. “No one opens that gate. Not today. Not ever.”

And with that, the battle for the Underworld Gate began.

The battlefield transformed instantly, shadows twisting and colliding with golden light. The first wave of spectral warriors charged, their weapons glowing with abyssal energy. The ground beneath them cracked and split, releasing dark mist that spread like poison.

“Hold the formation!” Aiden shouted, his golden aura expanding to shield the others from the encroaching darkness.

Rick shot into the sky, twin energy cannons forming around his arms. “Let’s cut these numbers down!” He unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, each shot detonating with pinpoint accuracy, reducing dozens of spectral figures to ash.

Myne melted into the shadows, appearing behind enemy lines. Her daggers sliced through the ethereal bodies of the spectral warriors, her attacks precise and deadly. “Too slow,” she whispered, vanishing again before a counterattack could land.

Nexus held back near the center, forming complex runes in the air with swift hand movements. “I’ll weaken the connection to the Underworld! Buy me a few minutes!” His runes pulsed with white energy, creating a protective barrier around the team and slowing the flow of new enemies.

Aiden charged forward, his sword blazing with golden light. The closest specter swung a massive axe at him, but Aiden sidestepped with ease, delivering a single, devastating slash that cleaved through both the warrior and the dark mist around it. Each strike of his sword left trails of radiant energy that purified the tainted air.

The ground shook violently, and a towering figure emerged from the rift—a monstrous, armored wraith far larger than the others. Its crimson eyes locked onto Aiden, and a voice like grinding stone echoed across the battlefield.

“Mortal fool… You will not stop the awakening. Your light will be extinguished.”

Aiden narrowed his eyes. “Try me.”

The wraith raised its massive scythe, darkness coiling around the blade like a living thing. It swung with enough force to tear through the air, creating a shockwave that carved a deep trench in the ground.

Aiden met the attack head-on, his sword colliding with the scythe in a burst of light and shadow. The impact sent ripples of energy through the battlefield, forcing Rick and Myne to brace themselves.

The wraith pushed harder, its strength immense. “You cannot stop what has already begun.”

Aiden’s golden flames flared, and his voice echoed with unwavering resolve. “We’ll see about that.” He twisted his blade, shattering the dark energy surrounding the scythe and forcing the wraith back several steps.

“Aiden, the rift is destabilizing!” Nexus called out, sweat pouring down his face as the runes around him pulsed erratically. “I need another minute!”

“You’ve got it!” Aiden replied, his sword glowing brighter. “Rick, Dren—cover Nexus! Myne, with me!”

Rick nodded and unleashed another round of energy blasts, forming a protective perimeter around Nexus. Dren appeared beside him, smashing spectral enemies with earth-shattering punches that shook the ground. “No one’s getting through,” Dren growled, his fists blazing with raw power.

Aiden and Myne advanced toward the wraith. Myne darted around it, striking with lightning-fast attacks, each one disrupting the creature’s movements.

“Keep it off balance!” Aiden shouted as he raised his sword high. His aura surged, and the air around him began to hum with energy.

Myne grinned. “Consider it done.”

With a final burst of speed, Aiden closed the distance, his sword bursting into blinding radiance. “Judgment Strike!” He brought the blade down in a powerful arc, the light consuming the wraith in a brilliant explosion.

When the light faded, the battlefield was silent. The wraith was gone, and the rift began to shrink, its connection to the Underworld severed by Nexus’s spell.

Aiden exhaled slowly, lowering his sword. “It’s over… for now.”

Rick walked over, clapping him on the back. “You keep saying that, but the universe clearly disagrees.”

Nexus nodded, his expression serious. “We stopped them this time, but the enemy knows we have the core. They’ll be back—stronger and more determined.”

Aiden’s gaze drifted toward the horizon, his golden eyes reflecting the fading light. “Then we’ll be ready. No matter what comes next, we won’t let them win.”

The team stood together, the weight of what lay ahead heavy on their shoulders. The war was far from over, but they had won this battle—and they would fight every step of the way until the very end.

The air was still charged with residual energy from the battle. Everyone took a moment to gather themselves, but the tension lingered—victory was fleeting, and danger was always one step behind.

Rick scanned the surroundings, his energy cannons slowly dissipating. “We should move. That fight wasn’t exactly subtle. If anyone was watching, they’ll be here soon.”

Aiden nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. His Spirit Sense pulsed outward, ensuring no immediate threats remained. “Agreed. Nexus, can you track where the remaining fragments of the core might be?”

Nexus, still catching his breath, adjusted the runic map he had conjured mid-battle. His eyes flickered with silver light as he tapped into the remaining energy signature. “It’s faint… but yes, I can trace it. There are at least three more fragments scattered across this region. Each one is protected—probably worse than what we just faced.”

“Worse?” Myne raised an eyebrow, her daggers spinning lazily in her hands. “That was a warm-up?”

“We’re dealing with ancient seals and powers that shouldn’t exist anymore,” Nexus replied grimly. “Whoever—whatever—is behind this wants the core whole again. If they succeed, it’s game over for this entire world.”

“Then we make sure that never happens,” Aiden said, his voice steady and determined. “We split up. Myne and Rick, scout the nearest fragment. Nexus, stay with me—we’ll prepare for the next confrontation.”

Rick chuckled. “Splitting up? Bold move, leader. You’ve been watching too many bad stories, huh?”

Myne smirked. “I like it. Let’s make things interesting.” She vanished into the shadows with a wave. Rick followed, his armor shifting into a more compact form as he sprinted toward the eastern hills.

Nexus remained behind, focusing once again on his runes. “The next fragment is in a place called the Ruins of Avaros. It’s a forgotten city buried beneath the sands. If the energy readings are right, it’s crawling with ancient guardians.”

Aiden tilted his head slightly. “Guardians. What kind of guardians?”

“The kind that don’t sleep, don’t die, and won’t stop chasing you until you’re dust.” Nexus glanced at him. “You ready for that?”

Aiden’s lips curled into a confident smile. “I’ve fought worse.”

The two set off, the fading light behind them casting long shadows across the battlefield. Every step closer to the Ruins of Avaros felt like a step deeper into a labyrinth of fate, where each wrong move could spell disaster.

As night fell, the temperature dropped sharply. The dunes glowed faintly under the moonlight as Aiden and Nexus reached the outskirts of the ruins. Massive stone structures jutted from the sand, half-buried and weathered by centuries of wind and time.

“Stay sharp,” Aiden warned. “These places tend to have… surprises.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a low, guttural sound echoed from the depths of the ruins. The air grew colder, and the sand at their feet began to shift unnaturally.

Aiden instinctively drew his sword, its golden light illuminating the surroundings. Nexus quickly formed defensive runes, his hands moving in a blur. “Something’s waking up…”

The ground split open, and skeletal figures wrapped in tattered armor rose from the sand, their eyes burning with eerie blue flames. Their weapons, ancient yet pristine, glowed with dark runes.

“Welcome to the Ruins of Avaros,” Nexus muttered. “I hope you like company.”

Aiden tightened his grip on his sword. “I don’t mind—so long as they’re ready for a fight.”

The skeletal guardians surged forward, their weapons gleaming under the moonlight. With a sharp breath, Aiden’s aura exploded outward, golden flames engulfing his body.

“Let’s dance.”

The battle had only just begun.