The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1979: Not Bowing Down

"I’d like to postpone the evaluation."

"You’d like to what?"

Inside a completely white space, a woman in formal deep blue attire with ethereal blue hair tied into a clean low ponytail sat across from High Lord Rashal. She was the representative who was tasked to be the one to oversee High Lord Rashal’s evaluation.

She’s the one who has the authority to prepare the evaluation and ensure its fairness.

It was one day before the evaluation, and she was surprised when High Lord Rashal contacted her.

As a part of her task, she delved into High Lord Rashal’s past to understand the man she was to evaluate. His origins were humble, so she had assumed that now that he had power, he would be indifferent or perhaps even dismissive of structure.

He was the complete opposite.

High Lord Rashal is a rigidly straight-laced person—an efficient man with no likeness to nonsense.

So, she didn’t expect much from coming here.

In her mind, High Lord Rashal was only meeting her as a formality, ensuring that she would be fair.

She might be the one tasked with evaluating him, but she was not stronger. Just chosen. And a meeting with him like this would be a formal display of power. An intimidation tactic to make sure she knows— who she was dealing with.

Not a surprising tactic at all.

Most people in power like that—she has experience with them.

And since it worked most of the time, there’s no reason not to use this tactic at all.

Due to that, when he asked for the evaluation to be postponed, she was completely taken aback.

"I’m asking you to postpone the evaluation." High Lord Rashal repeated.

She blinked and fixed her glasses, "Postpone? But the evaluation is tomorrow."

"I know."

"If you know, then you should also know that the preparations are set to be done tomorrow."

"Yes, I know."

"And that includes the Cluster Custodian."

"Eh-hm. I know."

"I am sorry to say this, High Lord Rashal, but there’s no way I can do that. If you requested this a few days prior, then maybe I can work something out, but one day before the evaluation? And it’s nighttime, too. Hours away from the evaluation. What am I to say to the Cluster Custodian?"

"Just say whatever you need to postpone it."

The woman shifted on her chair, extremely troubled by this situation.

She could feel a cold shiver running down her spine at contacting a Cluster Custodian this late.

"I can’t do that..."

"We’re not at war—the Cluster Custodians are practically idle most of the time. I’m sure there won’t be any problem with asking to postpone until my desired date."

"Even so, I don’t think it’s appropriate when it’s so sudden like this."

"I’ll tell you what/" High Lord Rashal leaned forward, placed his elbows on his thighs, and intertwined his fingers. He paused for a moment to contemplate—and then spoke again. "Tell the Cluster Custodian that I’ll take responsibility for this."

"Is there a big reason for this?"

"Big reason? Depends. It’s big for me. Not so much for you."

"You really wanted to postpone it?" the woman asked to make sure.

"Yes." High Lord Rashal nodded, reached for something inside his suit, a letter—and handed it over to the woman. "Postpone it to that date and that exact time. Once you’ve delivered the message to the Cluster Custodian, you’ll have no business with it anymore."

"I hope whatever the reason, it’s also a big deal for the Cluster Custodian." the woman shook her head. "Or else, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble."

High Lord Rashal caught her hand before she could contact the Cluster Custodian.

His grip was firm.

"Also, after this meeting, please forget it ever happened."

"I... I understand."

"Good. You have a bright future ahead of you."

...

A Cluster Custodian is not an ordinary being.

Even for the high society of the Primordial Meadow, meeting one is a rare opportunity.

Some, mainly the close family of the High Lords, might not have ever seen one with their own two eyes.

The people of the Primordial Meadow knew about the Cluster Custodians—but most would go through their entire lives without seeing one, as these beings stand above the system in place. Entities that tower above the society, deeming themselves more like the sacred guardian of the realms.

Much like Demigods, the Cluster Custodians inherited a fraction of a God’s power.

In this case, the Overseer of Realms.

However, along with the inheritance, they also gained the authority that came along with the power.

Crossing over from one realm to another, almost every being in the Primordial Meadow possesses that power. It was mostly only the system in place that inhibited them from using it. But if placed in another lesser realm, they would be a master of dimensional travel and would even have space-bending abilities.

It was an innate ability to be born under the umbrella of the Overseer of Realms.

Cluster Custodians are different.

Not only do they have the same innate ability, but they also inherited the authority of that power.

Anyone, even people from the realms of other Gods who also possess the ability to cross between realms, would be touching the dominion of the Overseer of Realms. And as someone with the authority over it, Cluster Custodians could simply overpower them and render their power useless.

Just like the God of Fire that could kill any fire, a Cluster Custodian could block anyone from moving between realms.

In hindsight, the Cluster Custodians are extensions of the Overseer of Realms.

People who represented the Gods.

And within the Primordial Meadow—the Cluster Custodians are treated as prophets. Entities that could perform miracles through the Overseer of Realms to deal with any crisis. Unlike the High Lords or any person under the umbrella of the Primordial Meadow, Cluster Custodians didn’t deal with Demigods.

No—they went against other Gods on a daily basis.

Naturally, when such an entity entered the ballroom, the guests immediately lowered their heads.

Even the air suddenly vacated the room, leaving the guests inside breathless.

Only raised their heads when the Cluster Custodian allowed them to.

Despite lowering their heads, some of them could see the Cluster Custodian walk past them with the elegance of something beyond them. And though his steps didn’t make any sound at all, their minds played an echoing sound that only made their hearts race inside their chests.

Inside, they were also panicked.

It was true that the commotion was caused by the altercation between High Lord Rashal and High Lord Ursa, but as guests at this banquet, the Cluster Custodian could still deem them guilty. All of them were cursing High Lord Rashal for starting this lowly, child-like altercation.

Had they known High Lord Ursa invited the Cluster Custodian, they would’ve stepped in sooner.

Now, it was already too late.

But some among them had assumed it was High Lord Ursa who summoned the Cluster Custodian. That belief shattered the moment they saw High Lord Ursa himself, bowing his head, panic carved into every line of his face.

He hadn’t called anyone.

He was as caught off guard as the rest.

Just then, their hearts skipped a beat when the Cluster Custodian stopped mid-way and turned.

Guests on the side where he was looking felt cold sweat wetting their backs—as the cold gaze could be felt even with their heads bowed. And those who were near the area where the Cluster Custodian was looking were panicking even more.

None of them knew what they had done to draw the Cluster Custodian’s attention.

At least nobody knows until Vadyn realizes Rex was still standing straight.

And he even had the gall to gesture for the sisters to straighten their posture and forgo their bows.

Vadyn looked at Henry across the table, who was closer to Rex, signaling for him to warn Rex.

"Sir Rex, bow your head before the Cluster Custodian!" Henry’s voice came out as a strangled whisper, panic mounting with every passing second Rex stood tall—and unafraid. "That’s a being none of us can afford to provoke. A power from another dimension entirely!"

Rex ignored the warning entirely.

His eyes met the Cluster Custodian’s eyes without fear.

Even Davina and Lilliana began to feel uncomfortable as the cold gaze from the Cluster Custodian was unlike anything they had ever felt before. It felt like they were staring at something they shouldn’t, and that’s worrying.

"Rex, bow down!" Vadyn added. "Even if everyone in this place charges at the Cluster Custodian, we still wouldn’t stand a chance. He can kill us all—without even needing to lift a finger. Can you even imagine that kind of power?"

Once again, Rex remained silent.

Why should he be afraid of this Cluster Custodian’s gaze? He had stood in the presence of entities even stronger. He had felt the pressure from a God in the flesh. He had killed beings—that many did not even dare to look.

Met and confronted entities that even claimed to be stronger than Gods.

What’s different from this one? Nothing.

No matter the entity standing across from him, there was a reason he was chosen as a Scion.

It was the potential to achieve invincibility.

More than that, he had a reputation to consider, as another Scion was watching him.

Besides, he had lowered his head in the face of a stronger entity.

Hoping that those entities would leave him alone. Hoping that they would see that he means no harm.

And where did that bring him? A world of non-stop suffering and battle.

From his experiences against entities like the Cluster Custodian, he learned that the strong only respect the strong. Lowering heads, smiling, cowering, these are all the traits of prey. And prey has no other purpose but to be hunted.

This time, he wouldn’t do that.

He would show that he’s also an apex predator—small as he may be, he’s still one of the strong.

Rex only spoke when he sensed Davina and Lilliana lowering their heads again.

"Keep your heads up," Rex said—with a commanding tone. "If you’re really one of the Silverstar Pack, then keep your heads up. If you’re standing behind me—then keep your heads up. If you believe in me, then keep your heads up."

At such a command, Davina and Lilliana had no other choice but to remain steadfast.

Many would consider what he was doing to be arrogance.

But Rex had an entirely different view.

It was not arrogance if Rex knew that the Cluster Custodian wouldn’t attack him.

No risk if he knows for certain that the Cluster Custodian would take no offense.

After all, what could the Cluster Custodian possibly do? Fight the Scions? Even Ignatius was likely on par with—or stronger than—a God. And though the Overseer of Realms was a God of immense power, which meant the Cluster Custodian had to match that level, it still wouldn’t help.

The Scions of Vertex still have one hundred more entities stronger than Ignatius.

Some are catastrophically stronger than Ignatius.

Nobody would want to offend a faction as powerful as the Scions of Vertex.

For a moment, the Cluster Custodian looked at Rex and recognized what he represented. He was about to say something, but then his senses flickered at another aura. Slowly—he lifted his gaze and saw another person looking down from the second floor.

Another person with the same bottomless depth as Rex.

Diamantona.

It didn’t take long for him to realize that there was another like Rex attending this banquet.

"Interesting..." The Cluster Custodian’s smile widened at the immensely unique situation. "This is really interesting."