The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1828: A Possible Answer

In a vast hall filled with luxury. Polished marble tiles. Luxurious silk drapes. Gleaming gold accents. Timeless relics thrumming with vital essence. Dorn found himself enveloped by treasures and prestige capable of driving anyone to madness. Just one object from this space could launch a person toward unprecedented levels of strength.

Yet to him, all of this seemed like nothing more than a heavy load.

An ordinary individual might gaze upon such wealth and envision boundless power.

For Dorn, it represented the immense duties and pressures of the entire Spirit Realm under his watchful eye.

The weight pressed in on him relentlessly, particularly in the wake of recent events.

Zorina's approval of the Sky Judgment had caught the eye of every other Sky City. Now, even the Supreme Elders were turning their focus here. Dorn hadn't expended much to attract their notice, which was fortunate, yet the abrupt shift left him caught off guard.

Only moments ago, word had reached him from Malvis, the Gatekeeper of Shadow, about a discussion between Zorina and Rezar.

Any alliance between them spelled trouble for Dorn.

One was consumed by arrogance, while the other burned with revenge over the shame inflicted upon him.

Dorn had no choice but to urgently request a meeting with the present Elders and Supreme Elders. He attempted to sway them by highlighting the dangers posed by Chaos, but the ruling got postponed due to Zorina and Rezar's protests over the devastation and countless lives lost in the assault.

Persuading the Supreme Elders proved nearly impossible with the casualty figures climbing into the millions.

At this moment, he occupied a seat in the Hall of Gatekeepers, deeply pondering his next moves.

Seated on an ornate throne adorned with crimson and golden threads nearby was Malvis.

He observed the tense furrows on Dorn's brow and realized the crisis had escalated to dire levels.

"I've already spoken with the other Gatekeepers," Malvis began, shattering the quiet. "Most weren't there for the assault, making them simpler to persuade. Still, they're demanding a session with Dominar to grasp the complete story."

"That's not happening," Dorn replied, rubbing his temples with his fingertips. "I won't allow it."

"I don't get it. Why not?"

"That pretender, Rex, planned to offer up Dominar to boost the potential of some Spirits under his control. One belongs to the Tridan House. If harm came to him—I'd forfeit the sole leverage I hold against Rex."

Malvis leaned forward over the desk and intertwined his fingers.

"You and I could keep an eye on the rest while they converse with Dominar," he suggested a way forward, aware that compromise required risking something from both sides. "If we refuse to reach out, they won't trust us. Zorina and Rezar already find it straightforward to sway the group with their tactics. Without yielding ground, we'll be defeated."

More than anything, Malvis recognized Dorn's unyielding commitment to his role.

He embodied the ideal that every Gatekeeper should strive toward.

That quality alone justified Malvis's support for him, though it didn't sway the rest.

Dorn stayed quiet for quite some time.

At first, Malvis assumed he was mulling over the proposal. But that wasn't true.

"Ricco," Dorn snapped his fingers. A drop of molten rock hit the marble surface, instantly morphing into the figure he'd summoned. "Assemble half our troops here, and dispatch the rest below. Strangle the alliances linked to the Gatekeeper of the Sky and Light."

"I'll handle the preparations," Ricco inclined his head and reverted to a glob of magma.

He vanished completely to execute the command.

"Have you lost your mind...?" Malvis drew in a sharp gasp. "That could ignite a civil war!"

"I'd prefer sparking a civil war over standing idle while our realm falls apart."

"Falls apart? What on earth do you mean? If it's Chaos we're facing, we can still push back."

Dorn wished he could echo Malvis's words. He yearned to declare with confidence that the Spirit Realm could repel Chaos's armies and emerge victorious, banners waving triumphantly. As a Gatekeeper, his faith in the Sky People remained unshakable.

But circumstances had shifted this time.

"You know exactly what I do," Dorn gripped the armrests tightly with both hands. "How much time has passed since the Black Rift emerged? How many souls has our realm sacrificed? What territories have we surrendered? I've longed for aid from the God Realm's inhabitants, but no assistance has arrived until this point. None at all.

"We hold no solution to the Black Rift, Malvis," he regarded his companion with weary eyes. "We're wide open."

Malvis grasped this reality all too well.

He shared the anger and feared their world might not endure.

The Black Rift expanded denser and more potent. Voidal Monarchs multiplied steadily. Spirit settlements dwindled in number. Obelisks of Lives faded gradually over time. Before long, Chaos would seize the entire Spirit Realm.

And no strategy existed beyond merely delaying their doom.

"We can't pin all our hopes solely on the God Realm. We must forge our own path forward."

"Is he capable? Could that pretender truly pull it off?"

"Rex represents an unstoppable otherworldly power we could potentially rely upon," Dorn fixed his gaze forward, his mind replaying the assault's evening as if in a vivid reverie. "A figure like him doesn't chase after power the way we do. Instead, power pursues him relentlessly, denying him any real tranquility. His talent lies in his relentless drive to seize whatever he desires, no matter the cost.

"Both of us witnessed it. That evening... We viewed him through the eyes of his foes," a tremor ran through his frame at the memory. "He wiped out a noble house the instant he entered our domain. He ascended to Eternal Spirit rank within mere months. He compelled a High Priestess to forsake her sacred vow. He shattered an empire from the inside out. He bent a Voidal Monarch to his will. He faced down our legions with a broad grin, despite the risk of death.

"Observe his companions..." Dorn pressed on, thinking back to the conviction in Amanir’s and Linthia’s stares. "No hesitation lingered in their gazes. I'm certain they've endured countless dire trials alongside him back in the Mortal Realm. Dominar views him as a deity trapped in mortal flesh. He believes that if Rex decrees ruin upon others, destiny itself will obey."

Dorn conjured a parchment from flowing lava and handed it over to Malvis.

It contained the findings from his orders to probe every detail of Rex's presence since arriving.

"Check the final section," he instructed.

Malvis scanned the concluding lines and inhaled sharply.

The document revealed that the emblem Rex had etched onto the Sky City resisted all attempts at removal. Furthermore, the waves of energy he unleashed that night had amplified the life force density across a hundred-mile expanse.

Every mark he imprinted carried immense potency.

Even the Black Rift had recoiled, transforming the land beneath the Sky City into a radiant haven.

Malvis had dismissed Dominar's claims as overblown.

Yet after reviewing the account, he began to suspect Rex could indeed be a concealed divinity.

"I'm among the mightiest beings in this world, Malvis." Dorn's gaze held firm, unclouded by doubt right then. "I've confronted countless challenges throughout my existence, but locking eyes with him that night left me feeling helpless, my legs trembling. Do you comprehend...?

"Chaos desires him for good cause, and it's prudent for us to aid his rise." He concluded, his voice resolute.

Swallowing the bitter fact that their realm stood no chance against Chaos proved difficult.

Malvis clung to the hope of some hidden method to shield their domain from Chaos's onslaught. However, he was shrewd enough to recognize the slim odds—and the dwindling hours to uncover it.

He knew Dorn harbored similar sentiments.

A portion of him yearned to safeguard the realm through its inherent might.

But true command emerges when feelings are set aside to perceive the grander scheme.

"How might we draw him into our cause?" Malvis inquired.

"No—we won't ensnare him. Our aim is to forge him into a steadfast friend. Binding him transactionally would breed falseness," Dorn denied with a shake of his head. "Besides, there's no need. Others have already paved the way for us."

"Others?"

"Indeed. First and foremost, Rex remains youthful. He's formed bonds with several women from the Haeltara Empire."

Hearing this, Malvis let out a light laugh.

It explained why arranged unions persisted so strongly in their world even today.

Human connections simply followed the natural rhythm of existence.

"Erlin..." Malvis summoned, and from his shadow rose another figure. A shadowy form with sharp, intense eyes. "Rally every unit under our command and back up the Gatekeeper of Lava’s troops. Provide aid in whatever manner required, regardless of the madness involved."

Without a word in response, the shadow form melted away once more.

...

Through Princess Davina and Lilliana, Rex gained insight into the empire's current state.

He first received the positive update—that Emperor Dominar had been seized by the Sky People. Rumors pointed to the Gatekeepers' involvement, which relieved Rex, confirming Dorn wasn't scheming alongside the emperor against him.

Though the emperor had vanished, the empire endured without collapsing, though turmoil now gripped it tightly.

Various houses had banded into minor alliances, all vying to seize the vacant throne.

A grand civil conflict loomed inevitable with the seat of power unoccupied.

Rex hoped April fared well amid the disorder, but anxiety didn't grip him. Great Elder Rosa understood her importance to him, ensuring no harm would befall April. Beyond that, a twinge of guilt stirred for Althea.

She had stood by him when Emperor Dominar ordered his execution.

For thrusting the empire into such profound turmoil, she likely seethed with rage toward him.

Still, Rex saw no alternative path.

Now that he'd secured his objectives, he intended to make amends with her.

Nearly two full days passed before the Shade Crawlers, joined by Linthia, Amanir, and Devo, reached the sanctuary. Rex had linked minds with Varya via telepathy to share his whereabouts. The distance was considerable, fraught with perils en route, which delayed their arrival.

"Princess Davina," Amanir said with respect, noting the alterations in her look.

"Devoratar Tridan," she responded with a nod, a hint of mirth in her eyes. "So you're the target Rex pursued all the way to the Sky City. I have to admit, you've stirred up tremendous chaos for the empire. He essentially tore it down just to reach you."

Amanir managed a bitter grin.

He realized numerous tasks awaited him to prevent becoming a liability.

Rex had emphasized this to him plainly.

"I figured you'd be the noble best suited for Rex," he remarked, touching his ears to indicate her wolf-like ones. "Well done on ascending to Silverstar. You've embraced the fast track to strength, trading it for a horde of foes."

Princess Davina let out a soft laugh at the observation.

She had fully anticipated the consequences of aligning with Rex, so it didn't faze her.

"Where is Rex?" Linthia cut in. She carried urgent words to relay, but her senses failed to locate him. Not even her abilities could pinpoint his position.

"He ought to be close by," Lilliana scanned the surroundings, recalling his recent departure. He'd stepped away roughly half an hour prior. "Just hold on for him. We should head to the shelter before some dangerous voidal beast detects us."

...

A few miles distant.

Rex positioned himself inside a subterranean vault. An intricate array of barriers enveloped the whole area, concealing his presence and odor. Even a Voidal Monarch hovering directly overhead couldn't detect his hidden spot below.

Arrayed before him lay numerous crimson gems stained with blood.

He extended his arms and rolled his shoulders, "Time to discover how many threads these will yield."