The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1913: Divine Source (1)

That particular issue had been lingering in his mind from the very beginning.

Transforming someone else into a Silverstar carried inherent risks; one significant danger was the amplification of emotions.

Any individual turned into a Silverstar would experience their strongest emotion directed towards Rex amplified to its absolute peak. Adoration would escalate into sheer reverence, while anger would transform into unadulterated hate. This was a primary concern Rex had to address early on.

However, the System diligently ensured that the Betas posed no potential harm to him whatsoever.

Moreover, their unwavering loyalty was guaranteed, contingent upon their strength relative to his own.

Davina and Lilliana, those from the Spirit Realm whom he had transformed, presented the most significant source of worry concerning this matter. As they were inherently more powerful than average individuals, if there was any possibility of disloyalty, it would most likely stem from them.

Yet, the notification currently displayed before him indicated otherwise.

<Notice: the Beta Enforcer, Kyran Cervantes’ loyalty is wavering.>

"What...?" Rex reread the notification multiple times, double-checking his perception and ensuring his mind wasn't deceiving him. "Kyran's loyalty is wavering? How? What did those scoundrels do to him?"

The Lunirich Gods.

His thoughts immediately gravitated towards them the instant he processed the notification.

Kyran was indeed impulsive and flawed, but he was never disloyal.

In truth, Rex could even assert that Kyran was the least likely among them to ever betray him.

Adhara, Evelyn, and Gistella might potentially turn against him due to their love. If pushed too far, the moment might arrive when they decide to betray him. But Kyran? Rex struggled to conceive of any conceivable reason for him to ever turn his back on him.

Just then, he shifted his posture, recalling something—or rather, someone.

"Naela..." Rex's brow furrowed deeply. "What has happened?"

<Pack Quest has been initiated!>

...

<Pack Quest: Disloyal Beta>

Objective: Consequence

Description: For harboring thoughts of disloyalty towards the Alpha, Kyran Cervantes must face severe retribution. Administer the ancient Body-Mind Melting torture upon the Beta Enforcer to instill a profound sense of hopelessness regarding any future disloyalty.

Penalty: All inner pack Betas will be absolved of their Silverstar Pack affiliation.

...

Rex abruptly pushed himself to his feet. His gaze sharpened with focus, and his fangs extended, a physical manifestation of his burgeoning anger.

He had not anticipated such an extreme reaction from the System.

"System, has Kyran already acted, or is it merely a thought in his mind?"

<Kyran Cervantes harbored only disloyal thoughts. However, any inclination to harm the user necessitates a forceful response. This principle applies equally to the user's adversaries and allies.>

"He must have been overwhelmed by the circumstances," Rex countered. Kaiser must have resorted to extreme measures in the Mortal Realm, an act that alone could have pushed Kyran beyond his breaking point. He might have entertained such thoughts in a moment of duress, not out of genuine disloyalty. "There's no need to punish him for something he hasn't actually done."

<Negative>

Rex clenched his fists tightly.

As much as he desired to halt this quest, it had already been set in motion.

Throughout his association with the System, it had never rescinded a quest once it had been issued in this manner.

"What exactly constitutes the Body-Mind Melting?"

Rex inquired about the torture method and proceeded to read its description. His eyes widened considerably upon absorbing the explanation. "I'm uncertain if Kyran can endure this..." He let out a breath through his nose. "But more critically, I have no idea how he will feel after undergoing such a punishment."

He had never hesitated to resort to extreme measures concerning the others.

However, his extreme actions were always intended to impart a vital lesson.

So that they would not face dire consequences in the future.

Kyran had not acted upon the thoughts he entertained internally—therefore, he ought not to be punished for them.

And yet, the System had already generated the quest, and there was no possibility of turning back.

"I will contemplate this when the time comes," Rex massaged his forehead, already dreading the impending moment. His focus shifted back to the corpses before him, along with the panels hovering above them. "Let's concentrate on the immediate task. I need to return to the Mortal Realm without delay."

It was abundantly clear that without his presence, internal strife was bound to emerge.

Rex now felt confident that the others, particularly Adhara, would be capable of managing the situation.

Even under extreme pressure, they should at least be able to survive an encounter with the Lunirich Gods.

He wouldn't even fault them if they chose to abandon the capital city or the entire empire when faced with the choice between self-preservation and dying for the empire. At the very least, Rex hoped they understood that he would prefer them to live rather than perish for his aspirations.

However, without the head, the body was destined to begin its decay.

Therefore, his prompt return was imperative.

Meanwhile, dozens of miles distant from the citadel, the clone traversed the expansive meadow at a terrifying velocity.

Upon Rex's arrival in the God Realm, a desolate area remained unexplored. Now, his clone had been tasked with its investigation. After dealing with a Gardener, the clone immediately proceeded towards the designated location, determined to delve deeper into its mysteries.

Naturally, the clone ensured the whip was safely stored within the inventory before departing.

It navigated by following a luminous trail just beneath the surface.

Eventually, the clone reached the boundary of the desolate expanse. Before it lay a barren landscape, characterized by withered trees and a grey moss that blanketed the ground like a funereal shroud. Behind it, the familiar meadow stretched out. An identical, bone-chilling cold permeated the air, but unlike Rex's prior experience, the clone felt no hesitation.

It crossed the threshold and ventured further in.

There was no cause for apprehension.

Should it perish, it would pose no significant issue, being merely a clone.

Given the pervasive cold, the clone sensed a considerable risk of demise within this region.

Despite its nature as a mere clone, Rex's Nigh-Divine Adaptation skill had profoundly altered him, enabling his clone's very anatomy to utilize the adapted ability. Consequently, the clone possessed access to the Cavity Skipper.

It traversed vast distances in mere minutes.

Flickering in and out of existence like a spectral entity.

Yet, even after traversing thousands of miles into the barren territory, the glowing line continued to stretch onward—revealing nothing but the same brittle, dead trees, the same grey moss, and an overwhelming, isolating monotony. Rex had surmised that the cavity was immense, perhaps rivaling the entire world he had left behind, but this reality defied all reason. It was far too vast, far too devoid of life.

He had arrived in the Southern Sector of the Cavity.

It appeared that even this single section alone was larger than anticipated.

A full hour of continuous usage of the Cavity Skipper skill passed before the clone observed any discernible alteration.

Halting its advance, the clone knelt, its fingers tracing the glowing line.

It was only then that the clone noticed the glowing line had broadened, expanding to nearly double its original width. Furthermore, its luminescence had become corrupted, no longer a pure white. This, the clone interpreted as a sign of proximity to the divine source the System had referenced.

With a subtle nod, it resumed its progress, the desolate scenery unfolding around it in its characteristic dullness.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a change manifested.

In the distance, a brilliant light pulsed, its radiance extending far and wide. The very terrain beneath the clone began to shift in response. Its feet sank into a pool, and the liquid that swirled around its weight was an inky black. Not merely dark water or mud, but a dense, light-devouring blackness that seemed to intensify the surrounding shadows.

It was as if the puddle itself represented an void carved into the realm.

Several miles further on, the clone encountered a steep downslope, a profound one.

And ahead, its gaze fell upon a spectacle so magnificent it overwhelmed the mind even before the eyes could fully process it. Suspended high above the barren ground was a colossal skeletal structure, perfectly cubical in form.

Vast arches and layered tendrils intertwined around the light, forming a celestial bastion.

The intricate lattice structure emitted a faint, rhythmic pulse of light.

Each strand vibrated with currents of energy that were palpable and visible even from the clone's distant vantage point.

Slowly, the clone descended the slope, drawing nearer to the structure.

Its eyes scanned left and right with vigilance, searching for any potential threats, but the area appeared secure. The System had already conducted a scan for any signs of life and detected none. At least, none within a ten-mile radius of this structure.

Beneath the skeletal cube, immense natural stone formations rose from the ground.

Towering pillars and arching buttresses, sculpted by the forces of nature.

They curved upwards, resembling the limbs of colossal beings, providing support for the impossible weight of the divine construct overhead. Veins of luminous energy coursed through the stone, glowing with a deep intensity within the rock, akin to living blood.

This was the same colorless energy encountered before.

An energy unique to the God Realm, one that Rex himself could not perceive.

However, the clone could ascertain that the power contained within these formations was of an immaculate nature.

Vast, pure, and immeasurable beyond its comprehension.

Indeed, the glowing lines that permeated the entirety of the desolate land were illuminated because of this very construct. "So, this is the divine source the System referred to," the clone mused internally, then began its ascent for a closer examination. "

As it climbed, the corruption affecting the luminescence became increasingly apparent.

Midway up, it observed that several of the glowing lines had either ceased to function or had been tainted by a stygian black energy.

An energy that Rex theorized must have been infused by an entity of incredible power.

Not merely a Demigod—but a true God.

Upon reaching the apex, the clone was immediately buffeted by an overwhelming gale. It could sense it—its own internal Qi surged, coiled, and thrashed against the confines of its form as if desperately seeking release. The brilliant light ahead was the undeniable origin of this phenomenon.

It blazed from within the skeletal cube, its bone-white bars struggling to contain the sheer intensity of the radiance.

A power within surged, causing his Qi to churn chaotically and escape his grasp with each passing moment.

Indeed, should he let his guard down even for an instant, his physical form would certainly be annihilated.

Recognizing that a defensive stance would only lead to his further exhaustion, the clone channeled his lunar mana, employing it as a shield for his body. While it barely countered the onslaught, it granted him just enough time to execute the Cavity Skipper skill once more.

Swish—!

He reappeared directly in front of the cube, extending a hand to make contact.

"System, scan it!"

<Scanning...>

The clone understood immediately that remaining near the divine source for an extended period was unfeasible.

The mere gust of wind emanating from the skeletal cage relentlessly stripped away the clone's very essence, causing his Qi to dissipate rapidly, layer by layer, scattering back into the void. He was disintegrating at a pace far exceeding his ability to withstand it.

The System required additional time for the scan.

However, he possessed no such luxury.

Thus, a decision was made.

He drew upon every iota of Qi from his lower body, forsaking that part of himself and channeling the energy upwards into his torso. All Qi below his waist was redirected. Almost instantaneously, his legs dissolved, crumbling into ash and ember, instantly scattered by the tempest.

His hips followed suit.

Then his spine succumbed.

The dissolution advanced like a fuse ignited, rapidly spreading.

Yet, the clone managed to preserve his torso. His arms. And his head.

At least for another fleeting moment before the wind intensified its howl. Half of his face unraveled, its flesh and skin peeling away into luminous strands devoured by the gale. A single eye remained. A fragment of skull. Still, his right arm held firm. His hand, pressed against the divine source, endured, though his flesh grew thin to the point of near transparency.

The bone beneath radiated with the luminescence of molten glass.

<Scanning complete!>

It was only as he teetered on the brink of collapse that the awaited notification finally materialized.

This was the sole objective of his perilous journey here. An answer to quell the gnawing question within his mind.

And in the very next second, the remnants of his being dissolved away.