The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1779: Forbidden Mantra

Rex rose to his feet, putting his back to Nivellen.

More than fifteen minutes had passed since he entered the Banished Realm; the time for his departure had arrived.

The situation would be far simpler if his objectives were complete, but his mission remained unfinished.

However, the inherent restorative properties of Archangel blood were already mending his soul. This meant the restriction on his stay as a visitor in the Spirit Realm had lessened. Rex no longer felt the pressure of a ticking clock.

While he had been certain he could succeed before his time expired, having the luxury of extra time was a welcome development.

Now, a singular goal remained: he had to save Devo.

To be honest, he wasn't certain if retrieving the Phoenix Feather was a more daunting task than liberating Devo.

Kaelthar had provided the coordinates for Devo’s prison, but the true obstacle lay in reaching the Sky City.

The Sky City was a far more formidable power than Stelios.

For Rex, attempting to breach the Sky City through raw strength was a fool's errand; there was simply no possibility of success.

Given that the Sky City held dominion over every kingdom and empire in the Spirit Realm, their military might was surely staggering. It was highly probable that the members of the Skilian Divine Court had all achieved the Primordial Spirit rank.

That level of Cultivation was currently beyond his reach.

Attaining such a rank would be equivalent to jumping to the eleventh or twelfth rank in just a few days.

Rex realized he required assistance.

He needed something extreme—a plan so radical it would normally be considered unthinkable.

Or perhaps, an action he would typically never consider taking.

"Do you require my assistance with anything?" Nivellen inquired from behind him, having noted the tension in his expression.

"Has your strength returned?" Rex asked, looking back over his shoulder. "Is your power available for me to use once more?"

"Fully? Not yet, as recovery demands time. However, you need not worry," she replied with conviction. The remedy Rex provided had essentially granted her a total rebirth; she felt vibrant and untainted again. "No amount of power you draw from me will leave me depleted."

This was a relief to hear.

Rex had been ignoring the Mask of the Banished Eclipse, which remained at the High Spirit rank.

It was a waste to leave it unused, especially since it granted access to the Minor Law of Foresight—a tool that would be incredibly beneficial. Now that Nivellen was purged of Chaos Corruption, there was no longer a reason to keep the artifact sidelined.

"The Banished Realm prevents me from manifesting grand interventions like Kaiser does, but I can still influence the Spirit Realm," Nivellen added, reassuring Rex of her capability and her willingness to go to any length. "Tell me what is on your mind, and I will do everything in my power to assist."

"No," Rex replied, shaking his head. "Not right now. For the time being, just monitor the realm to see if Kaiser tries to interfere again."

While the aid of a Goddess was a powerful temptation, Rex preferred to wait.

Nivellen was one of his hidden trump cards; he didn't want to rely on her before testing his own limits.

Furthermore, invoking her power would likely attract unwanted attention from the divinity.

It was bad enough that the Lunirich Gods might unite to plot against him again, but the involvement of another deity would be catastrophic. Rex was already overwhelmed and didn't need more divine eyes watching him.

Maintaining a stable status quo was the better path.

Currently, the worst-case scenario was Kaiser stepping in as he had before.

If Nivellen could simply act as a lookout and warn him of Kaiser's movements, that would be plenty. "Can you manage that?" he asked firmly. "Will you track Kaiser’s actions for me?"

"I can. Our power shares the same origin, so I am able to do so," Nivellen said with a smile.

Rex paused just as he was preparing to depart.

He recalled the moment Empress Morgana nearly killed him, and the earlier assault by the Voidal Lord. Even if he could normally withstand such blows, he needed a fallback for when he was exhausted.

His own demise didn't frighten him, but the thought of his companions dying did.

He required a safety net for when luck wasn't on his side.

Perhaps Nivellen held the key.

"Tell me..." Rex glanced back once more. "You mentioned you could influence minor things, right?"

"That is correct."

"Could you infuse my body with your power to increase my strength?"

"The Soul Artifact can achieve that. If you are looking for something beyond the artifact or the King Mark..." She hesitated, carefully weighing her words. "There is a specific mantra for that. It would allow our essences to merge momentarily, granting you a massive, temporary surge in power."

"Truly?" Rex turned fully toward her. "What is this man—"

"No, absolutely not," Nivellen interrupted him sharply. "I will never reveal that mantra to you. The danger is too great, and the price is far too high. There are other paths you can take."

"I understand..." Rex turned away again.

His tone was full of disappointment, as if he were deeply saddened by the rejection.

Hidden from Nivellen’s sight, however, a small smirk played on his lips.

A short while later.

"How did you undergo such a transformation, Linthia?" Amanir paced around her, studying her new form with the intensity of an artist viewing a masterpiece. "When you vanished so suddenly, I feared the worst, but I was completely mistaken! Just look at you!"

Linthia had just finished reinforcing the defenses around the vortex.

Voidal monsters were currently swarming outside, lured by the potent aura of the Phoenix Feather.

Fearing the vortex might collapse before Rex woke, she had bolstered its strength.

"I... I'm not entirely sure myself," she replied with a bashful smile.

Despite her newfound, almost otherworldly power, her personality remained unchanged.

She was still shy and quick to smile.

It was a comfort to Amanir; considering the trials she must have endured to gain such strength, a change in character would have been expected. That she was still herself felt like a miracle.

"Even so..." Amanir leaned in, shaking his head. "You realize how reckless that was, don't you? Entering the Black Rift with so little strength was basically a suicide mission. You gave Rex and me a real scare."

"I'll remember that," Linthia said, bowing repeatedly in apology. "I am truly sorry."

Amanir ended his lecture.

Now that she recognized the foolishness of her actions, there was no need to dwell on it.

"Amanir..."

"Yes? Is there something else?"

"What happened while I was gone? How did things get to this point?"

"Right, you missed a lot. Let me fill you in."

Since Linthia was back with the group, she needed to understand the gravity of their current situation. Amanir detailed everything: Rex’s integration into the Castillon House, his various struggles, the pact he made with Empress Morgana, and the recent chaos.

He left out no part of the story.

As she listened, Linthia’s fury began to boil.

"How could they be so cruel?" Her eyes flashed with rage, and her aura surged like a wildfire. "His Majesty was gracious enough to avoid a path of slaughter—and she rewards him with betrayal?"

"It was a shock," Amanir sighed. "Empress Morgana had no logical reason to turn on him."

"Angels..." She glared at the ground with pure loathing. "Who could have guessed the two realms were so closely linked?"

"Indeed. Had we known, we could have prevented this."

"His Majesty must be suffering terribly..."

Linthia understood that beneath his harsh exterior, Rex was incredibly devoted to those he cared for. He was willing to sacrifice himself for them, a fact proven by every choice he made.

Even his ultimate ambitions were rooted in nobility.

In this world, every good deed seems to require a heavy price.

And Rex was the one paying it, all by himself.

His pain was immense and often went completely unnoticed by others.

That was what she admired most: he never complained. His only concern was that his burden might spare others from suffering. ‘I possess power now,’ Linthia thought, staring at her palms before clenching them tight. ‘Power enough to support him. I swear—with everything I am, Your Majesty. I will follow you without hesitation.’

Nearby, Alana sat watching them.

She observed Linthia and Amanir with fascination, but her gaze kept returning to Linthia. In all her thousands of years, she had never seen a being like this. Even after eons in the Spirit Realm encountering terrifying voidal beasts and strange phenomena, this was unique.

‘Her body holds both life energy and voidal energy, which is remarkable. But her essence is what truly puzzles me,’ Alana’s eyes shimmered as she attempted to peer past Linthia’s physical form. ‘She is definitely not a Spirit.’

Every creature in the Spirit Realm followed a specific fundamental law.

Whether Spirit or Voidal Monster, their souls and bodies were one and the same.

That was the core definition of a Spirit.

Linthia, however, defied this.

Though her physical form and energy were right there, Alana sensed a void within her. It was as if this body were a mere projection—a shadow cast from afar—while her actual soul and flesh were anchored in a completely different location.

"Who is she?" Linthia asked, nodding toward Alana.

"To be honest, I'm not entirely certain, but she did help Rex earlier," Amanir replied with a shrug.

Based on her clothes and her aura, Amanir suspected she was connected to Kei Xun, but he didn't know her identity. He hadn't been by Rex’s side every moment, so he lacked the full details.

"I am Alana, a High Priestess of the Sun Ecclesia Church," she introduced herself. "I am an associate of Rex."

"A pleasure to meet you," Linthia said with a slight bow. "Would you like me to help heal your injuries?"

Though her new power felt strange and heavy in her veins, she could sense its potential. There was an instinctive certainty that she could use it to mend wounds. She hadn't tested it yet, but the knowledge felt deep and undeniable, like a dormant heartbeat ready to be used.

This was exactly how she was currently assisting Rex’s recovery.

She was helping his body expel toxic energy and poisons, allowing his natural regeneration to take over.

"No, I will be fine, though I appreciate the offer," Alana said with a strained smile, wincing as the wound on her abdomen throbbed with pain. "I require sunlight to properly heal this..."

Suddenly, all three of them turned their heads.

They noticed movement nearby.

It was Rex.

His soul gradually settled back into his physical frame, and his eyes blinked open.

The desperate urgency that had been on his face earlier was gone.

It was clear that his mission had been a success.

"What happened?" Amanir asked immediately. "What was the purpose of those items?"

"To save the Countess of the Banished Dark Moon, a Lunirich Goddess," Rex explained, leaving Amanir, Linthia, and Alana stunned. Since none of them knew his true objective, the revelation that he had saved a Goddess was shocking. "And I succeeded."

"The Goddess is fortunate to have your help, Your Majesty," Linthia remarked with deep respect.

In her eyes, anyone near Rex was fortunate.

She looked up at him and asked, "What is our next step, Your Majesty?"