The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1890: Traced Instantly

Rex traversed the verdant meadow, his potent aura surging with unrestrained fury, yet surprisingly causing no collateral damage to the serene surroundings.

His ire wasn't directed at the realm's proprietor, but rather at one of her subordinates. He meticulously followed the discernible path, his gaze fixed upon the ground, ensuring not to trample a single delicate baby-blue periwinkle. He was acutely aware of the searing stares fixated upon him, emanating from the profound darkness lurking between the trees.

Gardeners. These were the inhabitants he recognized. He understood their typically placid nature, for they had not launched an assault upon his arrival. However, the present circumstances were undeniably different. Sensing the palpable killing intent radiating from Rex, the Gardeners' inherent protective instincts were ignited.

Each of them had endured a devastating mental shattering by the Pale Defenders, who systematically stripped them of nearly all faculties, leaving behind only primal animal instincts. Deep within their beings, the formidable Curse of the Cavity Oustification had been indelibly imprinted, acting as an unbreakable chain that confined them to the Cavity. Their existence now revolved solely around the meticulous harvesting of baby-blue periwinkles. From all indications, their sworn duty also extended to safeguarding their revered master.

Rex continued his advance, unfazed by the myriad of watchful eyes encircling him. After a few more moments of steady progress, a majestic citadel materialized on the horizon. Though still leagues away, its sheer magnitude rendered it clearly visible. He halted abruptly, his eyes fixed upon the imposing structure.

His gaze sharpened as the System initiated a scan of the citadel, swiftly generating a statistical window. This belonged to the very individual Rex sought.

As Rex drew nearer to the citadel, he could now observe its intricate details more clearly. Each brick and marble component of the colossal edifice gleamed with a stark, bone-white hue. It stood at least three stories tall, but its soaring ceiling gave the citadel an even more formidable height. The structure was spherical, its facade marred by numerous glassless windows that spanned its entirety. An opening presented itself, revealing that the citadel was not a singular, connected entity. A significant gap, approximately a tenth of its total length, sliced through the structure, forming an entrance to the inner courtyard. Within this space, a towering spire ascended, surpassing the citadel's height by several stories.

This was the location of the person Rex was searching for. It appeared that a one-mile radius around the citadel marked the boundary the Gardeners strictly enforced.

One of the five Gardeners observing Rex from a considerable distance initiated an attack. He moved with impossible speed, effortlessly closing the distance as if it were negligible. A powerful, vertical slash was delivered with both swords, aimed directly at Rex.

The strike went wide. Rex vanished in an instant, reappearing several yards away, deftly evading the attack as if it were of no consequence.

More Gardeners joined the fray, launching a coordinated assault from all directions. Each one employed their unique and deadly combat styles. One unleashed torrents of hellfire from their palms, flames so intense they could liquefy a Demigod into mere sludge. Another executed precise slashes that seemed to carve the very air, leaving behind shimmering afterimages that lingered long after the blade had passed. A third summoned monstrous hunting beasts from their own flesh, dispatching them with voracious snarls towards Rex.

Despite their relentless onslaught, none of the Gardeners managed to land a hit. Rex utilized his Cavity Skipper skill, teleporting himself to safety well before any of their attacks could connect. It mattered little that there were five of them, or that they moved with lightning-fast reflexes; Rex remained utterly untouchable.

Crash—!

Rex positioned himself a few yards back, observing the Gardeners with a cold, impassive stare. As the five attackers prepared to launch another assault, Rex retrieved an item from his inventory.

Pah—!

A long whip materialized in his hand. With a violent snap, Rex brought it down against the earth, the resulting crack echoing like breaking bone, startling the Gardeners into stillness. Their aggressive movements froze, replaced by rigid tension. A single glance at the whip was enough to sap the strength from their limbs, leaving them trembling uncontrollably, a sensation unrelated to the ambient temperature.

All beings afflicted with the Curse of the Cavity were destined to fear this whip. One of the summoned hunting beasts, a hulking grey wolf the size of a school bus, refused to yield. Roaring ferociously and baring its formidable fangs, it lunged at Rex, utterly unfazed by the terror gripping its master. The whip held no significance for it, as it was not bound by the Curse of the Cavity.

Rex's eyes gleamed with a spark of genuine interest at this unique display. His body then began to contort and swell, shedding human limitations as he responded in kind.

Roar!

Transformed into his werewolf form, Rex opened his maw and let out a deafening roar, revealing his sharp fangs. The sound halted the charging grey wolf in its tracks. With its tail tucked between its legs and its body lowered in deference, the wolf acknowledged its subordinate position. Although it couldn't comprehend the whip's significance, it undeniably recognized the presence of an apex predator.

Rex cast a dismissive glance at the wolf before shifting his gaze back to the citadel. Drawing a deep breath, he swung the whip with immense force.

Lightning crackled around the whip as it impacted the citadel's wall with a thunderous explosion.

Crash—!

A subtle shockwave of wind radiated outwards, causing the surrounding foliage to rustle. Rex repeated the action, gradually increasing the power with each subsequent swing.

All the chaos eventually reached Zev within his grand tower. He moved to the window, his heart pounding as he gazed down. His eyes fixed on Rex, who continued his assault even though he knew he'd been discovered.

Seeing Rex sent a chill down Zev's spine.

'He's still alive...' Zev thought to himself.

Honestly, he had held out hope that the two assassins would have dealt with Rex completely.

While he wasn't the one who hired them, he would have been grateful if Rex had met his end.

Assassinated.

But that was clearly not the outcome.

Zev leaped from the window, landing directly at the main entrance.

"Stop your assault on my citadel!" he commanded, raising his hands to signal Rex to halt. Damaged walls would require significant time to repair. "I've already prepared everything you requested! All the Pale Defenders are marked, and everything is set! Why are you doing this?!"

Rex paused his advance.

He stood straighter, his shoulders squaring.

Only then did his gaze finally shift to Zev. He tilted his head slightly, inquiring, "Is that all you've been preparing?"

"What do you—?" Zev swallowed, realizing the implication of Rex's question.

Considering Rex's formidable presence, Zev had assumed he possessed numerous enemies eager for his demise. Assassins were not an unusual occurrence for someone of Rex's stature. Given the professionals involved, Zev was confident that tracing his involvement would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible.

Or at the very least, it would take considerable time.

By the time Rex figured it out, Zev presumed he would have long since departed, given Rex's apparent haste.

However, these were merely Zev's hopeful assumptions.

Rex had deduced the truth instantly.

"Ready to confess?" Rex noticed the dawning realization on Zev's face and grinned wickedly. "I had thought we were aligned. That we could cooperate. After all, I've eliminated your neighbors and am targeting more Pale Defenders in your vicinity.

"Once I'm finished, you'll become stronger. You can expand your territory and acquire more slaves." He shook his head ruefully.

It was unfortunate that things had escalated to this point.

Demonstrating his strength was merely a tactic—a way to deter others from provoking him without being prepared to face death. Those who proved useful could be spared, or even become allies. Yet, few individuals grasped this principle.

Not many recognized the advantages of forging an alliance with him.

"I did not send those assassins. They arrived at my citadel, both of them. They questioned me about a Pale Defender—one you had killed. I'm uncertain of their motives, but they made it explicitly clear that I would face death if I withheld any information."

"And you believe I won't eliminate you if you comply?"

A frown creased Zev's brow.

Beads of cold sweat began to trickle down his temples.

Rex disregarded Zev's reaction and turned his attention to the nearest Gardener.

"You there," he called out, pointing at the Gardener. "End your life immediately."

"What...? What are you doing?!" Zev's face drained of color. He turned towards the Gardener, his eyes wide with a silent warning, and gestured. "You will not obey him. You will not take your own life. Do you understand—?"

Crack—!

Before Zev could finish his plea, the whip struck the Gardener with a resounding crack.

A searing, golden welt appeared where the lash had made contact. The Gardener collapsed to his knees, his body stiffening as he fought to withstand the unbearable agony. Veins painfully protruded beneath his skin. He clenched his teeth so fiercely that his gums split, the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth.

A single strike had reduced him to such a state.

"I said, kill yourself," Rex repeated, his voice unwavering.

Unable to bear the relentless pain, the Gardener raised his hand and channeled his own energy into it.

"No!" Zev bellowed. "You must not! I am your master. You are bound to obey me!"

Crack—!

"Raaarghk!!"

A piercing scream erupted from the Gardener's throat as he was struck once more.

His mind and body were caught in a brutal conflict: obey Zev, his master of countless years, or submit to the stranger wielding the whip, whom he had never encountered before. One path offered loyalty, the other promised an end to the torment.

In that moment of extreme suffering, the Gardener locked eyes with Zev.

He could clearly see the concern etched on Zev's face.

Unlike Zev's customary reprimands, Rex's lashes were brutal and unrestrained.

Zev typically modulated his strength, inflicting pain sufficient for discipline but avoiding severe injury. His aim was balanced obedience. Rex, however, unleashed his full power, a force the Gardeners were incapable of enduring.

Ultimately, the Gardener plunged his hand into his own chest, causing his heart to erupt.

Death was instantaneous.

The other Gardeners watched, their bodies trembling, yet none dared to move from their positions.

It was as if remaining motionless offered a shield against attracting Rex's notice.

"It appears the whip carries more authority than the obedience you managed to instill," Rex sneered, giving a slight nod towards the whip. It was, without a doubt, a peculiar artifact. "Now, we have both learned a significant lesson. I ought to have ingrained a sense of pain into your mind before departing."

Zev clenched his fists tightly, then lunged towards Rex.

However, he halted his advance at a certain distance, his fist still raised but frozen in mid-motion.

"Oh? And what is it you intend to do? Attack me?" Rex inquired, raising an eyebrow and smirking. He didn't even need to prepare a defense, as Zev suddenly remembered Rex's formidable strength, realizing there was no possibility of victory. "You chose not to dispatch those assassins, but instead led them directly to me. Because of this betrayal, our agreement will no longer remain the same."

"W-What are you going to do?" Zev stammered through clenched teeth.

The situation was incredibly infuriating, yet he could not afford to lose any more Gardeners.

He absolutely could not.

"Me? I plan to wander leisurely within your tower," Rex declared, gesturing past Zev towards the imposing structure. "As for you, your task is to bring me the Pale Defenders you had marked for elimination. Whether they are dead or alive holds no importance to me. I also do not concern myself with the methods you employ, as long as you succeed in delivering them to me."

Rex began walking towards the entrance but paused once more before reaching it.

"Ah, yes, one more thing," Rex interjected, turning his head slightly to look over his shoulder. "Do not take an excessive amount of time. I will eliminate the Gardeners one by one. The longer you delay in completing this trivial task I've assigned. Since their numbers are few, I strongly advise you to act swiftly."

Having delivered his ultimatum, Rex proceeded into the tower.

Despite being met with an interior that boasted a unique blend of glass and marble, he did not pause to admire the surroundings.

He made his way directly to the uppermost level and sealed himself inside.

Rex had recently consumed several Godlings and now possessed additional corpses within his inventory.

It was the opportune moment for him to review some skills before attending to the Sudden Quest.