The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1797: Kept in the Dark

Another night of heavy gloom hung over everything.

Through the corridor strode a woman clad in a snug royal emerald and white commander's outfit. Her hair, divided into two halves—one emerald, the other black—tumbled in gentle waves to her shoulders, outlining her tense features.

Her footsteps thudded forcefully against the plush rug.

Clear irritation showed as she stomped with extra vigor than usual.

In her grip lay an unfurled leather parchment.

The royal seal close to the edge indicated it came from the royal bubble. Straight from the emperor.

Princess Davina headed toward the eastern section and entered a square chamber. She glanced aside—to the couch—and spotted Lady Mira seated in the shadows, distant from the window and the alluring glow of the moonlight infused with the Blood Moon's pull.

She took a seat opposite Mira and tossed the parchment onto the surface.

Days had passed since the Tomb of Heroes.

And from that point, Rex had made no contact whatsoever.

Her bond with him revealed zero insights, as if she hadn't transformed back into a Spirit and severed ties with Rex. She dispatched search teams across her whole domain to hunt for him, yet no positive updates emerged.

Nearly as if he had vanished into thin air.

She feared Rex might have exhausted his stay in this realm.

Yet what truly terrified her was the chance he lay injured someplace, or close to perishing.

She longed to stand by him should he require aid, yet she remained utterly clueless.

A heavy sigh slipped from her mouth as she intertwined her fingers and pressed them to her aching brow.

"Still no word?" Mira inquired, setting a teacup down on the table.

"None at all." Princess Davina raked her fingers through her locks in annoyance—and reclined. She had just come back from patrolling with her troops—and fatigue weighed on her now. Both from the toll of the Black Rift and fretting over Rex, "Where on earth is he?"

Mira picked up the parchment and scanned its words.

Within lay an official summons from the emperor, requesting her attendance at the royal bubble.

"Planning to head to the royal bubble?"

"Why bother? Just to get trapped as bait for Rex? No thanks."

Emperor Dominar's motives shone as plainly as sunlight.

His troops were barred from invading House of Castillon lands to avoid igniting a civil conflict.

However, that safeguard didn't endure.

"Hmm? Your father has aligned with him?" Mira's eyebrows knit into a scowl.

At the parchment's base, beside the royal seal, appeared Duke Lorcan's mark as well.

It signified the call bore Duke Lorcan's backing too.

Thus, Princess Davina now opposed both her father and the emperor.

Luckily, she enjoyed widespread affection throughout her domain, ensuring her followers' steadfastness.

"Yes," Princess Davina breathed out wearily through her nostrils. "That fool never takes my side. If he realized Rex persuaded me to offer Octavia an opportunity, he'd grasp just how foolish he's acting. Curse him and his blasted honor."

Exhaustion gripped her, yet surrender wasn't in her nature.

For the following five hours, Princess Davina unfolded a map and noted the regions her searches had covered.

She also pinpointed spots where Rex seemed most probable to hide with red markers, straining to envision his perspective, while Mira chipped in thoughts now and then. Hours of relentless talk followed, forging the strategy for the coming day.

Dawn neared by the time they finished.

"But remember, this hinges on him still being in this realm or breathing," Mira reclined, her eyelids heavy.

Spirits aren't built for all-night vigils, so the effort drained her deeply.

The same fatigue plagued Princess Davina, though she masked it well.

"He's not gone." Princess Davina squeezed her eyes shut tightly, battling drowsiness. As a fresh werewolf, her abilities were still settling into her form. "If you'd witnessed his feats on that mission firsthand, you'd get why he's so tough to take down. I'm certain he's out there. We'd feel it if he perished.

"Plus, I trust he's remained in this realm. He wouldn't depart without bidding me farewell." She continued.

Her hand moved on instinct to her heart-shaped mouth.

The kiss shared with Rex atop the Deific Grove of Concordia held pure enchantment.

And his true affection radiated through it.

He wouldn't vanish without a word to her. She wouldn't accept that notion.

"I'll rally my forces to back yours," Mira agreed with a nod. "Though don't count on a lot. I'm somewhat restricted."

"Something beats nothing," Princess Davina nodded. "Thanks for your support."

At present, only Mira among her nobles heeded her summons.

She battled for the pretender, swayed by feelings, so the majority backed Duke Lorcan.

Princess Davina scanned the map once more.

Her gaze settled and dwelled on a remote location isolated from other bubbles.

Known as Point Zero, it lay over a hundred miles from the closest bubble. Deep within the Black Rift, it bordered a Voidal Monarch's domain. A zone Spirits avoided entirely.

Catching her focus, Mira let out a light laugh.

"Rex couldn't possibly be there," she remarked amusedly. "Aberrations swarm that zone, and it's distant from the Tomb of Heroes. Even if he endured, he'd lack the strength for such travel. Likely he's tucked away nearby. Point Zero's just an expansive plain. Of everywhere, why pick that?"

"True, I get it," Princess Davina nodded. "But aid could get him there."

"Aid?" Mira cocked her head. "From whom?"

"Shade Crawlers."

Mira's face flickered at the words, though the princess missed it.

"One Shade Crawler approached to scent Rex, and it struck me they could tie to werewolves," Princess Davina grabbed a flag from the table's edge—a blue one, unlike the red others—and set it on Point Zero. "He could be in their lair as we speak."

Suddenly, Princess Davina noticed Mira's mouth twisting faintly.

It looked forced.

And as Mira sensed the scrutiny, the grin faded away.

"Why the smile?" Princess Davina questioned, her gaze sharpening. "Am I off base?"

"Feels surreal, that's all," Mira replied after a brief hesitation. "The princess who ignored the Crown Prince entirely. The one without a matching consort. Hard to fathom her now battling for an ordinary guy."

"You're teasing me," Princess Davina massaged her face with her palms. "Quit channeling Althea."

"On Althea, heard she clashed with her spouse?"

"Idle chatter. I steer clear of that."

"This one's worth hearing, trust me," Mira leaned ahead, resting elbows on the table to prop herself. "Troops spotted her cozying up to Rex, her husband caught wind and exploded in rage."

"For real?" Princess Davina leaned closer too, hooked by the tale. "Serves her right."

"Not ideal. Her husband dispatched nearly fifteen thousand personal soldiers to the emperor."

"Fifteen thousand? Half his army."

"Althea halted their advance with her guards as a caution, but he pressed on regardless."

"Always stirring trouble, that woman—"

The chatter sparked fresh energy amid their weariness.

Yet in time, slumber overtook them.

Princess Davina's lids quivered as she gradually lifted them—blinking against the chandelier's glow overhead. She dipped her chin and blinked once more, creasing her brow at Mira fiddling with the flags spread across the table's map.

"What’s that you're up to?" She queried, hauling herself upright.

Her tone jolted Mira. Her frame went rigid as she pivoted toward Princess Davina with a faint grin.

"Awake already?" She responded.

"I posed a question," Princess Davina cleared her eyes and straightened up. "What are you doing?"

Her sight shifted back to the map, scanning for any shifted flags.

Yet everything stayed the same.

"You probably dreamed and bumped the table," Mira flashed a grin while setting the final flag on the map, positioning it directly over Point Zero. She did so beneath Princess Davina's piercing stare. "Just straightening things out."

No flags had budged.

Mira's words rang true.

Still, Princess Davina couldn't shake the doubt. Had she slumbered on, would it differ?

"You arrived later than anticipated after my message," Princess Davina pondered—now fixing Mira with a keen, searching look. Suspicion brewed. "If you don't object, what held you up?"

Mira had perused the parchment upon returning to the estate.

The chief butler bombarded her with queries, tough to deflect after spotting the shattered pane. But she managed to soothe him smoothly—freeing her to depart anew without alerting Great Elder Rosa.

That delay stemmed from it.

Yet revealing it to Princess Davina was impossible.

She'd deduce Rex had reached out.

"Your pulse races faster," Princess Davina drew out her words in a low rasp, heightening the room's strain to test Mira's resolve. "I trust you wouldn't stoop to deceiving me, Lady Mira."

Formality returned.

Princess Davina's signal that she spoke now as the duke's heir.

The ruler of the lands housing Mira and her kin.

Mira eased back into her seat gradually, gathering composure amid the pressure before meeting Princess Davina's eyes squarely. "You question as if you already know," She gestured out the window. To the heavens. "Obviously, the nearing full moon."

A sound rationale.

Princess Davina prolonged the silence a moment longer before rising.

"Time to resume the hunt," She declared and strode off, pausing at the doorway. She glanced back at Mira, "Safeguard the map for me, Lady Mira."

As soon as she departed, Mira collapsed onto the couch.

'Too perceptive,' she mused, massaging her temple. Her eyes wandered to Point Zero, the bold blue flag rising like a taunt. With Princess Davina's doubts now aimed at her, relocating the blue flag was out. 'At this pace, she'll uncover Rex.'

...

Along a deserted Life Vein trudged a man in ragged armor, arms folded tight—like cradling himself. His gaze darted side to side into the Black Rift's void. Terror gleamed in them, and his swift pace betrayed pursuit by some entity.

Grr...

"Haah!" The man toppled onto his rear.

A snarl reached him.

Shielded by the Obelisk of Life inside the bubble, external noises shouldn't penetrate. Likely his imagination, but the snarl felt vivid. So immediate. As if whispering right by his ear.

Opposite him, the shadows twisted into a shape.

A beast.

Its red eyes pierced the man's soul with dread.

But in an instant, the beast dissolved, whisked away by the Black Rift's gusting dark winds.

All in his head.

"Damn it," the man clambered up and hastened onward. "He's surviving... Still hanging on. How?" Haxel clutched his skull while advancing, drenched in sweat, frantic upon hearing the empire's move against the pretender. "I tossed him to the Immortal Slugs. How's he enduring?"

Aooouuu!

Haxel halted and peered aside in terror.

A wail echoed.

Another mental illusion. Or so it ought to be.

But the wail repeated.

Genuine, and close by.

"Rex..."