The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1863: Being Followed

Nash claimed he knew the path to the closest settlement.

At first, Rex imagined a bustling, developed town complete with homes, markets, and all the usual features upon hearing the term settlement. A sturdy city of bricks and stones wouldn't suit this misty, lush evergreen meadow at all.

His assumption proved spot on.

Yet the actual sight before him was far from what he'd anticipated.

Rex and the sisters positioned themselves near the slope overlooking a hilly plain bursting with vibrant flowers that shimmered in the dark. The floral expanse extended endlessly, likely ringed by the meadow they'd traversed.

Roughly five miles distant lay a town constructed upon and encircling a vast lake.

Life buzzed within it. Rex watched crowds fill the streets—bartering, chuckling, immersing in joys overflowing from every nook. Yet the town's left flank across the lake painted a starkly different picture.

Total reversal.

Armored figures, barracks, and forges caught his eye.

A vibrant military district.

Snow-capped mountains pierced the sky beyond the town, their summits wreathed in clouds.

"What a stunning and serene spot," Lilliana dropped to her knees, picking a lovely pink double-petaled bloom amid the surrounding vivid flowers. "I heard the Spirit Realm used to resemble this long ago. It's a pity I never witnessed it myself."

"Patches like this still exist," Davina folded her arms protectively.

"True. But nothing this vast."

"Let's drop the subject."

The vista didn't mesmerize Rex. His attention locked onto the enormous opening overhead, the sole light piercing the region. They'd entered the God Realm—in the Southern Cavity of the Primordial Meadow.

Earlier, it hadn't registered.

Now he grasped they were deep within an underground cavern.

From his vantage, traversing that massive gap to the surface felt dauntingly arduous. Though he couldn't detect the realm's core energy clearly, the dense foggy veil at its edge hinted at overwhelming power.

Power that could choke or pulverize Rex on attempt.

"What's the strategy?" Davina pivoted to him. "Seek a Cluster Custodian right away?"

"Not practical," Rex denied with a head shake while pressing onward, noting Nash awaited near the town. The sisters trailed. "No matter how eager I am for a Cluster Custodian, securing our base comes first."

"Money, intel, alliances," Lilliana murmured. "The essentials."

Rex affirmed with a nod.

Pinpointing a Cluster Custodian ranked highest, yet connecting with such a key entity wouldn't be simple.

Otherwise, Rex could've just chatted with the mayor for an easy link.

Assuming lower-plane norms applied here.

Town entry revealed no walls or sentries.

Armored Godlings appeared, but none guarded the settlement. Their duties centered on the left wing, bypassing civilian defense.

Peculiar, given meadow Godlings dwelled in fortresses.

Rex figured nearby dangers demanded fortifications, yet none existed.

His order issued, awareness hit: every resident was a Demigod.

A few matched his Awakened Demigod divinity.

Though still formidable here, the power baseline dwarfed the Spirit Realm's. There, elites alone challenged him; here, average folk rivaled that might.

Everyday sorts packing his level of strength.

A mere dozen or half that could overwhelm him united.

Plus, origins varied wildly.

Unfamiliar races abounded—like Ashborn, Stoneborn, or Living Memory.

Attire mirrored diversity: crude leather and iron evoking stone ages, sleek suits, or casual mall garb with loose pants and tees.

None echoed the meadow Godlings he'd faced.

Rex pegged this town as a sanctuary for lower-plane wanderers. Nash's survival stemmed from it. All off-realm arrivals converged here.

"Split up?" Davina proposed.

"Seems secure enough," Lilliana agreed with a nod. "I'll scout info."

"I'll forge ties." Davina eyed elite clusters by the market—her crowd, door-openers, resource bearers, timely allies. "Three hours. Regroup here." Confidence lit her smile. "Plenty of time."

She faced Rex, hand to his chest.

"Relax, fiancée," she breathed. "No need to pose as a statue now, alright?"

A giggle escaped as she tapped his chest then departed.

"Try not to wreck the town," Lilliana tossed over her shoulder before vanishing. "Ease up some."

Without awaiting reply, the sisters parted, merging into the throng.

Rex eyed their retreating forms, rubbing his nape. "Guess money's on me."

He and Nash strolled the avenues abreast, dipping into shops for reconnaissance on the locale. Every scanned good hit divine-grade. Without exception.

Divine-grade wares as everyday stock stunned him.

Even ornaments qualified as divine-grade.

Not for raw power boosts, mind.

Materials defined them—forged from lower-realm-indestructible stuff. Beyond toughness, each held bonus reserves: energy cells in every fiber.

For Spirit Realm folk or lesser, one garment meant boundless might.

An eternal energy stream.

Ringed by floral plains, herbs dominated trade.

Or goods infused with floral blends.

"What's the money here?" Rex queried, eyeing stall baubles.

"Divine strands," Nash replied. "Currency's held steady since my stay."

"Hmm? Divine strands?" Rex spun to Nash, brow arched in puzzle—Nash lacked Demigod status, thus no innate strands. Survival seemed impossible. "You lack divine strands. How'd you manage?"

"Oh, not that way," Nash waved denial. "Not your inner divine strands. Natural ones—like plain flowers or strand-rich items, compressible to immortal coins."

"Pluck flowers for cash, then?"

"Can't harvest freely. Designated zones exist, but owned. Most earn immortal coins through labor, like locals."

Rex pinched his nose bridge.

Earning via work was obvious, but time pressed.

Then it struck: slain Godlings' citadels ripe for looting. Mental note set for swift raids. Immortal coins unlikely to sway the mayor, but excess funds never hurt.

Base secured, Zev checks would resume.

Sudden quest completion loomed large.

Next hour, Rex and Nash wandered cautiously, dodging rowdies.

Money mechanics grasped, he scanned for outlier powerhouses. Mayor topped strength; spotting him would guide post-setup moves.

On a quieter lane, Rex's instincts flared.

Innate alarm.

Stares pilfered his way. Lingering glances. Building windows framed peering faces. Status windows showed no elites—just townsfolk.

Mirror to street-crossers.

Market ignored him oddly; now eyes tracked.

"Am I acting weird?" Rex wondered.

"No," Nash denied, sensing stares too. "Nothing off, Your Majesty."

Periphery snagged it—stir in every shiny surface.

Shop glass. Door frames. Cart gloss. Endless mirrors revealing synchronized motions. Passes weren't for his oddity; they spotted his tails.

Locals recognized the stalkers.

"Shall I dispatch them, Your Majesty?" Nash queried, fangs gleaming.

"Nah, fine," Rex clapped his shoulder casually. "Gotta hold back, per Lilliana. They seem harmless anyway," Crimson gaze swept reflections, lips smirking. "Right?"

"Threats don't suit you," a spectral voice echoed.

From the right-hand window, a form emerged from the glass. Hood first—vivid crimson slashing the pane. Then her armored frame in flowing red robes, double-cross emblem bold on her chest.

She strode the street as if native.

Others materialized, encircling Rex and Nash.

Each radiated unmatched town power; reflection births screamed enforcers—Zev's mentioned crew. Most would tax him hard, but this woman topped the threat.

Still, combat wasn't his aim.