Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 462

Chapter 462: War XXXV
The rest of the Mystic Flame Sect members exchanged nervous glances. Clearly, they had not expected to meet such a dangerous figure here.

“We meant no disrespect,” the leader said, bowing slightly. “We were merely concerned about the disturbance. If you have it under control, we’ll take our leave.”

Aiden waved them off casually. “Smart choice.”

As the Mystic Flame Sect retreated into the forest, Nexus chuckled. “Looks like your reputation is catching up to you.”

Aiden crossed his arms, watching the group disappear into the trees. “Reputation can be a double-edged sword. It keeps some enemies away, but it draws even bigger ones closer.”

He turned his gaze toward the horizon, where the sky was tinged with faint golden light. “It doesn’t matter. Let them come. I’ll handle them one by one, just like always.”

With that, he stepped into the void, his body dissolving into golden threads as he vanished into the distance. His next destination lay far ahead—a place where greater dangers, hidden secrets, and powerful forces awaited.

And somewhere in the depths of the Immortal Realm, the shadowy figure who had observed the battle smiled darkly.

“Soon, Aiden,” the figure whispered. “We’ll meet again.”

Aiden reappeared in the middle of a desolate valley, the air heavy with ancient energy. Mountains surrounded him like silent sentinels, their peaks piercing the sky. His Spirit Sense expanded again, searching for anything out of the ordinary. This place was far from any major city or sect, a perfect spot to hide for a while.

Nexus’s voice broke the silence. “You’ve been collecting a lot of fragments lately. You planning on assembling them all?”

Aiden glanced at his spatial ring, where several fragments hummed in resonance. Each fragment was a piece of something far greater—a weapon? A seal? A source of power? He wasn’t entirely sure yet, but one thing was clear: together, they were dangerous.

“Not yet,” Aiden replied. “I still need to figure out what they do. Bringing them all together might attract more trouble than it’s worth.”

He walked toward a cave hidden behind a waterfall at the valley’s edge. The mist cloaked the entrance, creating a natural barrier from prying eyes. Inside, the cave opened into a vast chamber filled with glowing crystals. He placed the fragments on a smooth stone surface and studied them closely.

The symbols etched on each fragment were ancient, pulsing with strange energy. He traced one with his finger, his Akashic Insight activating. Visions flickered in his mind—a massive gate, chains wrapped around it, and a flood of light spilling out.

Nexus hissed in alarm. “Careful! That symbol’s linked to sealing laws. If you tamper with it too much, you might break something you can’t fix.”

Aiden pulled back, his eyes narrowing. “Sealing laws… so these fragments were part of a barrier or a container.”

Before he could dwell further, a cold breeze swept through the cave, making the crystals flicker. Aiden instantly tensed, his Spirit Sense picking up a presence outside.

“You followed me this far, huh?” Aiden muttered, stepping into the shadows.

A dark figure appeared at the entrance, their crimson eyes glowing like burning coals. It was Ivan, his rival—now a fully awakened Demonic Cultivator. His once regal aura had twisted into something far darker, a chaotic mix of bloodthirst and madness.

“Aiden…” Ivan’s voice was a low growl, filled with barely contained rage. “You’ve been quite the thorn in my side.”

Aiden smirked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “You’re still alive? I thought I crushed you last time. Guess I’ll have to finish the job.”

Ivan laughed, his aura surging. “This time, I’ve got a few new tricks. You won’t escape again!”

The air crackled with power as the two prepared to clash once more. Ivan’s crimson throne-like Martial Spirit materialized behind him, while Aiden’s Death Dragon coiled around him protectively, its black scales gleaming with dark energy.

“Let’s settle this once and for all,” Ivan roared, charging forward. His sword slashed through the air, leaving trails of demonic fire in its wake.

Aiden’s golden sword appeared in his hand, its brilliance cutting through the darkness. He parried Ivan’s strike with ease, the force of their clash sending shockwaves through the cave. “You’ve gotten stronger… but not strong enough.”

Their battle raged on, each blow shaking the ground beneath them. Flames and shadows intertwined, the clash of their energies illuminating the cavern in bursts of light and darkness.

Ivan unleashed a flurry of attacks, his demonic fire growing wilder with each strike. “I’ll take everything from you—your power, your fragments, your life!”

Aiden’s eyes burned with determination. “You’ve tried before. And you failed. You’ll fail again.”

With a flick of his wrist, he activated Space Rend, a rift of pure spatial energy slicing through Ivan’s flames. Ivan barely dodged, a deep cut appearing on his arm.

Ivan snarled, his eyes glowing brighter. “You won’t be so lucky next time!” He unleashed a wave of dark energy, using it as cover to retreat into the shadows.

Aiden didn’t chase him. He knew Ivan would return—stronger, more dangerous. But next time, Aiden would be ready.

“Run while you can,” Aiden muttered. “It won’t save you.”

He turned back to the fragments, his mind already working through the next steps. Whatever they were connected to, it was bigger than him—or Ivan. And soon, the entire Immortal Realm would take notice.

And when that happened, Aiden would be at the center of it all.

Aiden stood in the cavern for a few moments, his mind racing as he processed the recent encounter. Ivan’s power had grown exponentially, far surpassing what Aiden had expected. “That throne-like Martial Spirit of his… it’s evolving. If I let him keep accumulating power, he’ll be unstoppable.”

Nexus chimed in, his voice calm yet tinged with concern. “You’ve got a small window to turn the tide. Either disrupt his ascension, or Ivan will hit a level even you’ll struggle to handle.”

Aiden’s gaze shifted back to the glowing fragments. “These might be the key. If they’re part of a seal, maybe they can help suppress Ivan’s cultivation—or something worse.”

He wrapped the fragments in a layer of energy and stashed them back in his spatial ring. His Spirit Sense extended outward, confirming that Ivan was long gone, but traces of demonic energy still lingered like an ominous warning.

“No more delays,” Aiden muttered. “It’s time to find a sect that can help me stabilize my power… and learn more about these fragments.” He activated a Spatial Step, vanishing from the cave and reappearing miles away in a dense forest, far from prying eyes.