The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1780: What’s Next?

What would happen next?

That was the silent question lingering in everyone's minds as they waited for Rex to return. Every gaze was fixed upon him, each person wondering how he intended to proceed after everything that had transpired.

Given the events that led to this moment, he had numerous paths he could take. Since none of them could decipher his thoughts, their curiosity was piqued.

'He... he isn't actually planning to slaughter the empire and go on a rampage across the Spirit Realm, is he?' Alana gripped her elbow tightly with her other hand. She feared he might still choose a path of blood and vengeance. 'Even if it's flawed, this realm is the birthplace of the Divine Countess.'

Despite how broken and shadowed the realm had become, it remained their home. Alana did not wish to see it annihilated, especially now that she and Kei Xun had essentially staked everything on Rex. If destruction was his goal, the two of them were in no position to stop him.

'The next priority is saving Devo,' Amanir mused, casting a glance toward the heavens. Somewhere in the sky, Devo was awaiting rescue, and further delay was risky. 'Since relations with the empire have soured to this extent, I wouldn't mind postponing my aptitude upgrade until Devo is safe.'

Being bound within Rex had unintentionally forged a closer bond between them. Though Amanir rarely showed it, he was deeply concerned for Devo. By now, Devo might have already walked into a trap set by his own kin, or perhaps he was being tortured—or worse, killed. Regardless, the rescue could not wait.

'His Majesty was exceptionally merciful to give them the benefit of the doubt,' Linthia thought, her eyes closing as she realized Rex would not let the matter rest. To ignore what happened would be to forgive betrayal, a precedent a ruler like him could never set. 'Someone is going to pay,' she concluded with absolute certainty. 'There is no doubt about it.'

In Linthia's estimation, this was the only way Rex would move forward. She had spent countless hours analyzing Rex’s decision-making process. As a future general of the Clarentium Empire, she made it her mission to learn from him, branding his vision and image into her mind. Retaliation was the only way for him to maintain that image.

Rex remained silent for several minutes, weighing his answer while the tension in the air grew thick. The anticipation made the others breathless during the long pause. Finally, the doubt cleared from his eyes.

"I traveled to this realm for the Phoenix Feather—that was one of my primary objectives," Rex stated, his expression hardening and his brow furrowing with intense resolve. "Naturally, the next step is the other main reason I am here: to rescue Devo."

Amanir nodded at these words, as it was exactly what he had hoped to hear. Alana breathed a sigh of relief, finding this path much more acceptable, while Linthia looked surprised. However, their moods shifted once more as Rex continued.

"However, I cannot simply overlook what the Empress did to me," Rex added, his eyes burning with a savage, lethal intent. "The Empire must be hunting for her right now and will likely find her soon. Therefore, I will merge these two objectives into one. Depending on how the Empire responds," he turned his gaze toward Alana, "I will decide whether to avoid further bloodshed or not."

Alana looked down. Even though the heat of the moment had passed, Rex hadn't forgotten his words. He hadn't spoken out of simple rage; he spoke because it was a necessity. There was no way he would allow those who crossed him to escape unscathed.

"As long as I draw breath, I will follow you anywhere, Your Majesty," Linthia said, bowing low. Her words were backed by the same fierce determination as Rex's.

"If that is your choice, then I accept it," Alana said, standing up to bow as well. "I am at your service."

Meanwhile, Amanir watched the two women reaffirm their loyalty, then looked at Rex with a face full of confusion. "So... what exactly is the plan? I'm lost," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "Are we saving Devo or getting revenge on the Empress?"

Rex gave Amanir a flat, lazy look, as if staring at a particularly dim-witted potato. "Just follow my lead," he sighed, shaking his head. "Where is the Maw of Oblivion? Did you leave it behind?"

"Oh, that's right..." Amanir snapped his fingers, remembering the second treasure chest. "I haven't opened it yet. I dropped it when I saw the Voidal Lord attacking you. It should be fine, though; that chest is incredibly sturdy."

"Retrieve the other treasure chest and bring it here," Rex commanded Linthia. "Also, find us a place to stay hidden."

Swish—!

Like a ghost, Linthia sank into the earth, moving through the ground as if it were water as she sped away.

"Why haven't you gone back to Kei Xun yet?" Rex asked, his eyes turning to Alana. "She is on my side now, isn't she? Contact her and bring her here. I need to speak with her. If she truly supports me, it's time she proved it."

"I need a bit more time to recover," Alana replied regretfully. "I will do so as soon as I am able."

Rex didn't press her. She had been a great help to him earlier, so he saw no reason to be unkind.

"Sir... Er—Your Majesty?" Alana hesitated, unsure of how to address him. It felt strange to speak to him casually when the others treated him as an Emperor.

"You aren't one of my subjects, and I am no longer a knight of the Empire. Just use my name."

"Right... Rex, I wanted to let you know that the Princess was likely near the Tomb of Heroes earlier."

"Princess? Do you mean Davina?"

"Yes. For some reason, she was traveling toward the Tomb of Heroes."

Alana had detected two distinct signatures while she was blocked from the invincibility trial's arena. One was Linthia's shadow presence, and the other was an approaching convoy. Inside one of the carriages, she had clearly sensed Princess Davina. She felt Rex should know this, given their history.

Upon hearing this, Rex massaged his forehead. Once again, Davina had been pulled into his chaos. He clenched his fists, deciding that once they found a hiding spot, he would send Linthia to check on her.

"But the Princess's Qi feels different now. I'm not sure why," Alana noted.

"That's because of me. I turned her into a werewolf," Rex explained, recalling the grand phenomenon that occurred when he made Princess Davina a pack member—the Heiress of Moon and Stars. "She is part of my pack now."

"What?! You did?!" Amanir shouted, completely caught off guard. Then, he remembered the magnificent display that had appeared in the sky. "Oh! That was then!" He twitched his ears, finally realizing the source of that spectacle. "Did you really turn her? Are you certain she's okay with that? What about the others?"

"She was the one who requested it," Rex said, rubbing his face. "And she is incredibly powerful. Even if I wanted to refuse, I'm not sure I could. As for the others, I'm sure they won't mind, as she will be a massive asset."

"Congratulations on growing your Invincibility Cadre," Alana said.

"Invincibility Cadre?" Rex arched an eyebrow. "What is that?"

"Every Scion has their own specialized group, usually called an Invincibility Cadre, or just a Cadre. They are the subordinates and supporters who help you climb the stairs," Alana explained, realizing Rex was a new Scion who might lack this knowledge. "I am part of the Divine Saintess's Cadre. All her servants are priests or priestesses who reside in the sanctuary."

This triggered a memory for Rex. He thought of the new skill he had received from the System: the Silverstar Genesis. It was a pocket dimension he hadn't yet explored due to the recent chaos. The 'sanctuary' Alana mentioned was likely a similar pocket dimension controlled by Kei Xun.

Rex realized he still had much to learn about the workings of the Scions. What was the true importance of a Cadre? Why weren't the Scions constantly killing each other if they were rivals? And how exactly did one ascend the stairs to reach the Highseat of Invincibility?

"What else can you tell me about the Scions?" Rex asked, his curiosity growing. Since they were waiting for Linthia, he figured Alana could provide some useful information. Given her proximity to Kei Xun, she was likely the equivalent of a Female Alpha or Luna in that Cadre and surely knew a great deal.

"I'm sorry," Alana said with a small smile, raising her hands. "I don't think it's my place to explain these matters to you. The Divine Saintess is the one who should answer your questions regarding the Scions."

"Is that so?" Rex shrugged. He had expected as much. Information about Scions was rare, and those in the know didn't share it lightly.

"What are you two talking about?" Amanir cut in, looking totally lost. "What are Scions?"

"Nothing."

"Are you treating me like a child?! I'm thousands of years older than you!"

Rex looked away, showing no intention of explaining. Amanir pulled his ear into a ball in frustration, annoyed at being ignored.

"Sigh... Anyway, aren't you going to let Davina know you're alright?" Amanir asked. He received no reply. Rex stayed silent, waiting for Linthia to return. "What? You're not going to tell her? Why? I thought you two were closer now," Amanir stammered, his eyes wide. "Wait—does this have to do with your plan? Rex, what are you actually plotting?"

"You want to save Devo quickly, don't you?" Rex asked, glancing at him. He looked at Amanir as if the answer should be obvious. He then pointed a finger toward the sky. "To do that, we have to go up there. We'll face massive resistance from the Skillian Divine Court. Every one of them is likely as strong as, if not stronger than, the Spirit Emperor. Do you think that's going to be easy?"

"What are you saying?" Amanir asked, his breath catching.

"Extreme measures for extreme situations," Alana said, answering on Rex's behalf. "That is what he means."

"Extreme... measures?" Amanir repeated.

Rex stood up slowly. He was still drained, but he had regained enough strength to stay on his feet. His face began to shift into a muzzle as his bones cracked and rearranged. Once the transformation was complete, he inhaled deeply.

Aooouuu!!

A roaring howl tore through the air, piercing even the vortex Linthia had created. Amanir looked in the direction of the howl and then back at Rex. "What was that for?"

"I don't want to drag Princess Davina into this, but I still need an informant inside the Empire," Rex said, a smirk playing on his lips as he listened to his howl echo into the distance. "And I have just the person in mind. No matter how stubborn she is, she won't be able to resist me now."