The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1831: Almost a God (3)

Previously on The Invincible Full-Moon System...

Meloriana sensed a disturbance in her serene honey realm and investigated the throbbing connection to Kaiser's Blood Full Moon, entering his domain to find his people in despair as divine energy drained from one of the realm's colossal mountains. Unable to locate or halt the theft despite her efforts, she confronted the enraged Kaiser, who revealed that the mortal Royal Black Prince, Rex, was siphoning his power directly. Stunned by the impossibility of a mortal affecting gods, Meloriana realized Rex was ascending toward godhood, prompting Kaiser to awaken his true fury and vow not to hold back against the unseen entity supporting him.

Rex vividly recalls the moment he wondered if forsaking his mortal existence was truly worthwhile.

The very second Ruston perished at his strike, his own life was meant to conclude, yet the companions he crossed paths with during his travels seized a fragment of his essence from his parents in the afterlife. These days, his purpose revolves around safeguarding them against the threats that lurk in every shadowy nook of this ominous world.

Yet his foes showed no signs of vanishing.

On the contrary, their ranks swelled, pushing the demise he once yearned for further beyond his grasp.

Rex had faith that in time, he would embrace that finality while ensuring the safety of those around him, granting him the ideal circumstance to depart quietly. Without utterances. Without farewells. Prior to ascending to Godhood, there ought to be an instance where he could simply fade away.

At present, he understands that such thinking was overly simplistic on his part.

All that transpired following Ruston's death isn't merely extra time. It serves as recompense for his past shortcomings.

And countless tasks remain unfinished.

Splash—!

As if a veil of liquid fire was doused, the crimson veil over his flesh erupted outward.

Rex lowered himself gradually until his soles met the crimson pool beneath.

He balanced atop the liquid without submerging, and ahead of him, alerts from the System cascaded like a torrent.

<Congratulations—the user’s divinity has risen through the first mortal limit and become an Awakened Demigod!>

<Notice: Both biological bodies have successfully ascended beyond all mortal parameters>

<Notice: the Silverstar Genesis will now passively generate lesser divine strands>

Though the alerts weren't necessary, Rex sensed the shifts right away. His form brimmed with vitality and sturdiness surpassing even the Blood Moon's peak. It pulsed with such immense force that a casual lash from him could effortlessly cleave a massive peak in half.

If Stelios had clashed with him in this state, victory would have eluded the foe entirely.

Rex sensed he could dispatch Stelios with merely a palm strike.

Might coursed through his core to an alarming degree. No single being ought to wield such dominance, lest it unbalance the scales for all mortals. Yet he recalled the Gods, the Scions, and the myriad entities in the upper planes.

It's preferable that he holds this level of might rather than they.

He trusted himself to curb any misuse of this vast strength more effectively than them.

Or at minimum, he hopes he possesses that restraint.

"How strong am I now?"

...

Status: Intoxicated

Race: Grand Royal Black Werewolf / Ghost Spirit

Divinity: Awakened Demigod (First-star)

Invincibility Rank: Blank (Rankless)

Power: Eternal Spirit 1 (3) (Third Circle) – Harbinger of the Nightfall

Soul Artifact: Red Dawn of Kaiser – SSS-grade (Attack), Mask of the Banished Eclipse – SSS-grade (Hybrid), Aegis of Moon Sentinel – SSS-grade (Defense).

Echo(s): Dark Auctoritas, Spellcaster, Blood Moon.

Level: 74 (46%/100%)

Full Moon: 29 Days – Dark Moon

Berserk: 19%

Sanity: 79%

Spiritual Points: 25,000,000 (+2,500,000)

Strength: 21,650,000 (+17,155,000)

Agility: 18,800,000 (+15,160,000)

Endurance: 28,300,000 (+21,310,000)

Form Expiry Time: 13 years.

...

Rex stared in disbelief at the display before him.

He hadn't advanced in rank at all—yet the metamorphosis in his attributes was astonishing. As anticipated, this level of prowess would allow him to overwhelm Stelios without effort. And maybe even hold his own against Princess Davina using sheer force.

Truth be told, he'd never examined her attributes before, so certainty escaped him.

Still, he resolved to assess them upon his return.

"I possess thirteen years of vitality in this form without drawing more Nightfall Stars. Plus, Stelios resolved my soul issues," Rex stroked his jaw, pondering if this alternate vessel might endure indefinitely. "I could station this body here, but it requires a mechanism for self-guidance."

Rex knew he had to rejoin his primary form shortly.

Initially, he'd assumed this vessel would disintegrate sans a soul.

Now, though, he might avert such an outcome.

"Enough of that," Rex navigated the alerts, zeroing in on the initial batch. "Time to examine these prizes. With my divinity rank elevated, I anticipate the System will bestow richer rewards than usual."

...

<Nigh-Divine Adaptation>

Rank: Divine

Description: Following devouring, the user’s biological framework will begin to adapt, extracting and integrating viable traits from the most recently consumed prey. Acquired attributes may include, but are not limited to, energy resistance, immunity, active skills, or passive skills. Duration of retain traits is heavily determined by the amount of flesh consumed and the prey’s inherent bodily resistance.

...

"Hmm... It resembles Kyran’s devouring in certain aspects," Rex nodded, satisfied by the ability.

His own devouring granted extra experience, whereas Kyran’s delivered fleeting power surges. With this fresh skill, he could now preserve qualities from devoured foes, further motivating him to consume their remains.

He harbored no grievances about that.

"And being nigh-divine, it likely lets me consume fellow Demigods or entities close to divinity."

The temporary nature of the enhancement proved regrettable.

Nevertheless, upon reentering the Mortal Realm, he could potentially refine the skill.

Rex had yet to acquire any skill or artifact surpassing Divine-grade or rank, but higher tiers undoubtedly exist. Should this ability evolve, it might deliver lasting enhancements. It could even enable him to target divine entities for consumption.

The mere notion of feasting on Lunirich Gods sent chills through him.

Beyond that, his pack's core members received Minor Divinity as well.

...

Rank: Origin

Description: Provide a fraction of divine strands into their energies.

...

The effect was simple and direct.

Rex figured this passive would markedly enhance his allies' capabilities.

He lacked knowledge of their activities in the Mortal Realm, but this boost ought to aid them.

It wouldn't alter the immediate landscape, given his imminent homecoming. Here, days or weeks could elapse for him. There, scarcely a day or two would unfold. Ample duration for troubles to brew, yet insufficient for fatal blows.

At this juncture, they were likely overseeing the empire.

Should an assault occur, their forces combined with the empire's defenses could hold out for that span.

"Silverstar Genesis...?" Rex's brows knitted in confusion. Then they relaxed as memory stirred. "Ah, yes. I must venture into that domain shortly. I haven't even entered it yet, and it's already producing lesser divine strands."

That realm belonged uniquely to him.

Granted by the System ages past, possibly to equalize him with other Scions.

Rex dismissed the thought with a shake of his head and banished the alerts.

He inspected his physique first. It appeared utterly restored, a revelation that astonished him.

The prior System cautions had warned of explosion risks from ingesting so many divine strands. He'd prepared for grievous injuries, deep organ harm, or lasting scars. But none materialized. Evidently, the divinity ascension had reconstructed him, mending all flaws.

Even prior lingering injuries had vanished.

Next, he surveyed his surroundings. A scarlet haze enveloped the vicinity, roiling upward from the depths. Only by glancing downward did he perceive he now perched atop a vast liquid expanse. A genuine blood lake, judging by the acrid odor assaulting his senses.

"Did I cause this?" Rex voiced his musing. "No, that doesn't add up."

Despite his denial, the site had been a sparse woodland teeming with a handful of voidal beasts moments ago.

No trace of such a sanguine sea, confirming his role in its birth.

<Scanning...>

<It’s the Raging Crimson Basin. A magical lake sprang from the user’s detachment from mortal shackles. Its creation was fueled by the divine strands from the Greater Blood Moon Crystals. Anyone who falls into the lake would be assaulted by the user’s anger, drowning them whole. Those who survived would gain the user’s trait of growing stronger with anger>

"I definitely need to choose my ascension and rank-up spots more carefully from here on," Rex rubbed the nape of his neck sheepishly. "Good thing this area's mostly abandoned. It'd spell trouble if voidal beasts discovered this lake."

The image of rage-empowered voidal monsters unnerved him.

Not him personally, naturally.

Encountering such a creature, he'd likely tame it as a companion for the journey home.

A memento. Or perhaps a sparring partner for Delta.

But for any Spirits crossing its path by misfortune, it would prove nightmarish.

"Hey, hold on..." Rex reread the alert and widened his eyes. "What the hell? It draws power from the Greater Blood Moon Crystals?!"

Though his Blood Moon Crystals neared exhaustion, a single Greater one should remain. Each held vast divine strands, and now one was squandered on this spontaneous event.

"System, can't I extract this mess and restore the crystal immediately?"

"Is there any way to achieve that exact feat right away?"

"What do you mean negative?" Rex tsked irritably. "You hold the keys to virtually every feat imaginable, and you're claiming this is beyond you? That's nonsense. Spill how it's done. I know you possess the knowledge."

<It’s possible only when the user achieves Godhood, as it involves reverting a Divine Phenomenon back to its original state.>

Rex raked his fingers through his hair in vexation, irked by the very concept.

He'd forfeited thousands of divine strands. The fury built until he slammed his foot against the blood lake, which vibrated in response, a profound echo affirming his dominion. This only fueled his ire more.

Rex willed serenity into his tone, "It's alright. All is well. It's not as if I had to raze an entire aerial fortress to obtain that Greater Blood Moon Crystal."

A shadow flickered at the edge of his vision.

He pivoted to spot a figure drifting over the lake without direction, not distant from where he stood.

A known aroma reached him, and with a gesture, the red fog dispersed.

Linthia's gaze sparkled with delight at locating him.

She hurried closer, "Your Majesty."

"Honorifics once more?" Rex drifted backward toward solid ground. He remained unaccustomed to levitating so freely. Relief washed over him as his feet met terra firma, and he faced Linthia, who trailed right after. "Did the rest reach the sanctuary without incident?"

"Yes," Linthia pressed her palms together. "I ensured no mishaps occurred en route."

"I knew I could rely on you."

Rex arched an eyebrow. Linthia regarded him with shining eyes; the gaze one might direct at revered icons or champions. Utterly unlike her usual demeanor toward him. Unable to resist, he summoned a mirror from the Shop to behold what captivated her.

He examined his image and noted no drastic alterations to his features.

Merely a slight increase in height and an added edge of intimidation.

But with a deep breath, a symbol emerged on his exposed torso. A blood-red crescent moon, vivid as a new gash, its arc tracing from his collarbone up to his neck. Directly below, linked to the crescent at his midsection, an amorphous star glowed scarlet.

"You've grown even mightier, Your Majesty," She murmured in awe. "Your presence feels deeper and more enigmatic now. And this... lake. It radiates your essence—and carries a holy vibe. I can't resist inquiring. Have you become a God?"

"I’m no God," Rex denied with a headshake. "Not yet."