Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 468

Chapter 468: War XLI
Ivan’s grin faltered for a fraction of a second as Aiden’s aura surged to new heights. The space around him trembled, the sheer pressure of his presence distorting the very fabric of the Abyss.

But Ivan refused to back down. If anything, his blood boiled in excitement.

“Then come, Aiden!” Ivan roared, abyssal flames spiraling around him. His throne-like Martial Spirit materialized behind him, exuding an oppressive force that made even the Demonic Cultivators tremble. “Let’s see if your so-called ‘destiny’ can overcome absolute power!”

Aiden didn’t hesitate. He vanished from sight, reappearing directly in front of Ivan with a downward slash. His golden blade clashed with Ivan’s greatsword, the impact sending shockwaves through the battlefield. The corrupted ground beneath them cracked and crumbled as waves of abyssal and divine energy clashed in a chaotic maelstrom.

Ivan retaliated instantly, swinging his greatsword with overwhelming force. Aiden twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike before countering with a brutal kick to Ivan’s ribs.

BAM!

Ivan staggered back, his feet grinding against the shattered terrain. His smirk returned. “Heh. You actually landed a hit.”

Aiden didn’t respond. Instead, he lunged forward, his movements swift and precise. His blade shimmered with celestial light as he unleashed a relentless flurry of strikes. Each attack carried the weight of his Martial Spirits, his sword weaving between overwhelming power and absolute precision.

Ivan, however, wasn’t just standing still. He met each strike head-on, his abyssal energy surging to match Aiden’s divine might. His throne pulsed behind him, amplifying his power with every exchange.

The battlefield became a blur of golden and black streaks as the two warriors clashed at speeds beyond mortal comprehension.

Rick, Myne, and Dren stood at a distance, watching the duel with grim expressions.

“We need to intervene,” Rick muttered, his hands clenching into fists.

“No,” Myne interjected, her gaze locked on Aiden. “This is his fight.”

Rick gritted his teeth but knew she was right. If they got involved now, it could disrupt Aiden’s flow, and against an opponent like Ivan, one mistake could be fatal.

Back in the battle, Ivan suddenly shifted his stance.

Aiden recognized the movement instantly. He’s going for a finishing move!

Ivan’s abyssal energy condensed around his greatsword, forming a swirling vortex of darkness. His throne pulsed ominously, amplifying his strike to terrifying levels.

“Let’s end this, Aiden!” Ivan roared. “Absolute Abyssal Devastation!”

He swung his greatsword in a wide arc, unleashing a monstrous wave of abyssal energy that threatened to consume everything in its path. The sheer force of the attack tore through the landscape, warping space itself.

Aiden didn’t flinch.

He tightened his grip on his sword, his golden aura flaring to its peak. His Martial Spirits roared in unison as he activated his trump card.

“Celestial Judgement!”

With a single slash, Aiden unleashed a divine explosion of radiant energy. His golden blade cut through Ivan’s abyssal devastation like a blazing comet, carving a path of light through the darkness.

The two attacks collided in a cataclysmic explosion, the shockwave ripping through the Abyss and sending waves of energy across the battlefield.

For a moment, everything was silent.

Then—

A sharp CRACK echoed through the air.

Ivan’s greatsword fractured. His throne flickered, the abyssal energy surrounding him wavering.

And before he could react—

Aiden appeared before him, his blade pressed against Ivan’s chest.

Ivan’s eyes widened.

“This is where it ends,” Aiden said, his voice steady.

With a final, decisive thrust, Aiden’s golden sword pierced through Ivan’s core.

A brilliant light engulfed Ivan’s body as his abyssal energy was forcibly eradicated. He let out a strangled gasp, his crimson eyes flickering with disbelief.

“You…!” Ivan snarled, but his voice was already fading. The abyssal flames consuming his body began to die out, his power crumbling away.

Aiden pulled his sword free and took a step back, watching as Ivan collapsed to his knees.

Ivan looked up at him one last time, his smirk weak but defiant. “Heh… even now… you think you’ve won…?”

Aiden didn’t respond. He simply turned away.

With a final breath, Ivan’s body dissolved into motes of abyssal energy, vanishing into the void.

The battle was over.

Aiden exhaled slowly, his aura dimming. He turned to his team, who were already moving toward him.

“You did it,” Rick said, a rare look of relief on his face.

Aiden nodded. “One victory… but the war isn’t over yet.”

As the last remnants of the Abyss faded, the team prepared for what lay ahead.

As Ivan’s body disintegrated into abyssal motes, a deep, unsettling silence fell over the battlefield. The oppressive energy that had once radiated from his throne dissipated, but Aiden remained on high alert.

His instincts screamed at him—this was too easy. Ivan had been ridiculously overpowered, almost impossibly so. Even with Aiden’s trump cards, the fight shouldn’t have ended so decisively.

Then, the air itself seemed to twist.

Aiden’s eyes narrowed. Something’s not right.

Suddenly—

A sinister chuckle echoed through the void.

Aiden spun around, golden sword at the ready. His spirit sense flared, searching for any remaining traces of Ivan’s presence.

And then, from the abyssal motes that had scattered into the air, a dark vortex began to form. The energy within it was wrong—twisting, unstable, and… sentient.

Rick and Myne rushed to Aiden’s side, weapons drawn.

“He’s not dead, is he?” Rick muttered.

Aiden clenched his jaw. “No. He left something behind.”

The vortex pulsed violently before suddenly compressing into a singular form.

And then—

A new Ivan stepped forward.

But he was different.

His once-dark armor was now obsidian with glowing crimson cracks running through it. His eyes burned like twin abyssal suns, devoid of emotion, filled only with a profound sense of hunger.

“Rebirth…” Ivan murmured, flexing his fingers. His voice sounded distant, layered with something… else.

Aiden’s expression darkened. Demonic Rebirth…?!

Ivan turned his gaze to Aiden, his lips curling into a twisted grin. “Did you think I wouldn’t prepare for this, Aiden?”

Aiden exhaled sharply. He had felt it before—an underlying force within Ivan’s power, something even Ivan himself hadn’t been able to fully control.

But now…

That force had consumed him.

And it wasn’t just Demonic Qi anymore.

It was something worse.

Rick tightened his grip on his weapon. “Aiden, what the hell are we looking at?”

Aiden’s golden sword ignited once more, its radiance brighter than before. He had no time for explanations.

Because in that moment—

Ivan vanished from sight.

And then—

Aiden barely had time to block as Ivan’s greatsword, now fused with abyssal flames, crashed against his blade. The impact sent him skidding backward, tearing through the already shattered ground.

Ivan’s power had skyrocketed.