The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 2 Burning Hatred

Having consumed its latest victim, the beast rotated its head with agonizing slowness, locking its predatory crimson eyes onto Rex, who was peer-ing through the doorway.

Terrified by the gaze, Rex made a split-second decision to sprint downstairs with every ounce of strength he possessed.

Thud... Thud...

The heavy footsteps of the creature echoed right behind him. He aimed for the exit, but in a sudden flash of speed, the monster leaped past him, blocking the door. It moved with such effortless grace and velocity that Rex’s eyes couldn't even track the motion.

Confronted by the massive silhouette obstructing his escape, Rex collapsed to the floor. Fear fueled his muscles as he scrambled back up, fleeing in the opposite direction with tears streaming down his face. He spotted a cabinet in the living area and scrambled inside to hide.

Rex pulled the cabinet doors shut and squeezed his eyes closed, clutching his head tightly with his hands.

'Think happy thoughts.'

'It will leave soon.'

He chanted his father’s advice like a mantra in his mind, desperately trying to process a nightmare that still felt entirely surreal.

Thud... Thud... Thud...

The vibrations of the monster’s approach grew louder and more frequent.

Thud!

The footsteps ceased directly in front of his hiding spot. Through the narrow gap in the cabinet door, a shadow loomed. Rex stifled his breath, pressing a trembling hand over his mouth to remain silent.

'Mom... Dad... I'm so scared,' Rex sobbed silently in his thoughts.

A sharp claw began to rhythmically tap against the wood, the sound echoing in the small space. Slowly, the cabinet door began to creak open, as if the beast were intentionally prolonging Rex’s terror.

Then, without warning, "AAAAHHHH!!"

~

Moments prior,

Ms. Greene watched Rex enter the house, her brow furrowed as she scanned the surroundings. The neighborhood was enveloped in an unsettling silence that made her skin crawl. She began to walk down the street, passing the silent houses of her neighbors.

She froze when the sound of something breaking reached her ears.

"What was that?" Ms. Greene whispered, turning her gaze toward the residence on her left.

The noise had definitely originated from that house. Lights flickered through the windows as she crept closer, her expression tightening with concern. Another violent crash erupted from within the structure.

"Should I check on them?" she wondered aloud. Despite the loud disturbances, none of the other neighbors had emerged from their homes. Just as she moved toward the entrance—

Shatter!

A second-story window exploded outward as a body was hurled through the glass. The man landed violently near Ms. Greene, his torso shredded by deep, jagged claw marks. Ms. Greene gasped, collapsing to the pavement in horror. Her eyes widened as she realized the man lying next to her was already dead.

Growl!

A guttural snarl from the broken window forced her head up. Wasting no more time, she scrambled toward her motorcycle. However, as she reached the bike, she saw military convoys approaching from the far end of the street.

She prepared to start the engine and flee, but a piercing scream suddenly echoed from Rex's house. She froze, looking back at the building with intense worry.

Realizing Rex was trapped while chaos unfolded in the neighborhood, Ms. Greene abandoned her motorcycle and rushed inside the house.

~

Returning to the present,

"AAAAHHHH!!"

The high-pitched shriek filled the air. Rex recognized the voice, but his mind was too paralyzed by fear to identify it. The monster turned its head toward the new sound, licking its lips in anticipation of another meal arriving at its doorstep.

It was Ms. Greene who had burst inside. She slid to the floor, her mind screaming in terror, 'What is this?! What on earth is that thing?!' The sight of the furred monstrosity left her paralyzed with shock.

Seeing her, the beast decided to switch targets. Ms. Greene offered a more substantial meal than Rex’s small frame. But just as the monster prepared to lung, a blood-curdling howl vibrated through the air, sending chills down Rex’s spine.

AOUUUUUU!!

The creature stopped mid-motion, its face a mask of mingled rage and dread. It glanced toward the source of the howl, then angrily seized a nearby sofa and hurled it with incredible force. The furniture whistled past Ms. Greene, who managed to duck just in time.

Crash!

The couch smashed through the wall and landed outside. Following its own path of destruction, the beast leapt through the newly made hole in the wall. It spared one final glance at the terrified Ms. Greene before vanishing, completely ignoring Rex in the cabinet.

The monster disappeared as quickly as a shadow. Rex emerged from the cabinet, staring at the path the creature took—a trail of blood marked its exit. Other families who weren't as lucky were being slaughtered in its wake.

Rex stared at the crimson trail, a spark of inexplicable hatred flickering in his eyes before he turned to Ms. Greene.

'Nations across the globe are under a massive coordinated assault.'

'Unidentified entities have appeared without warning, attacking every human in sight. A global state of emergency has been declared.'

'Though the attack began only minutes ago, reports indicate millions have perished.'

'Citizens are urged to remain indoors. Military forces are being mobilized nationwide. Do not do anything to draw attention to yourselves.'

The television in the corner blared the breaking news, but Ms. Greene wasn't listening. Her eyes were fixed on Rex. She was stunned by the look on the young boy's face.

'No child should ever have an expression like that!'

-----

CLANG!

Rex jolted awake, drenched in sweat. The jarring halt of a military RV snapped him back to reality, though the traumatic memories of years ago continued to linger. A flash of pure loathing crossed his features before he forced his expression back to a neutral mask.

'Just wait, you disgusting monsters! Today marks the beginning of my revenge against the supernaturals—and eventually, you!' Rex thought of the furred beast that took his parents, his eyes burning with resolve.

The seeds of his unending malice were sown the night those creatures murdered his family for no reason, a scene that replayed in his nightmares. He remembered the crushing weight of his own helplessness. Even years later, every detail of the monster that ate his parents to sate its hunger remained etched in his mind.

Rex rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the cobwebs of sleep. Beside him, two other soldiers in full military gear were watching him with strange looks.

The conflict between Humanity and Supernaturals had erupted fifteen years prior, arriving like a sudden storm. Without any prior warning, the Supernaturals emerged, seizing half the planet and slaughtering any human they encountered.

These invaders comprised various races, all categorized under the term Supernatural. They formed a united front against a human population that was entirely unprepared for their existence. They were heartless, showing no mercy to anyone, not even infants.

In the face of this existential threat, the nations of the world united their military might to fight back, igniting a global war. However, even with modern technology and weapons, humans were largely outmatched.

The Supernaturals possessed physical superiority in every category: incredible strength, blinding speed, and senses so sharp they could react in a heartbeat. Some wielded supernatural powers that made even the most elite human units look amateurish.

Due to this massive gap in raw power, the Supernaturals were winning until humanity discovered a way to fight back—a glimmer of hope in the dark.

These individuals were known as the Awakened. They were humans who gained the ability to use magic after a process called Cultivation or natural awakening. These Awakened warriors could finally stand toe-to-toe with the Supernatural threat. While the tide began to shift, the war remained a grueling stalemate.

Out of desperation, the military began recruiting teenagers into the fray. Rex was one of them; now twenty-two and orphaned, he had been in the system since he was twelve. Having trained for a decade, he was now a member of the Special Reconnaissance Unit, specializing in stealth and scouting.

Years ago, Ms. Greene had taken pity on the boy who witnessed his parents' demise and had become his legal guardian. Now, Rex was embarking on his debut mission alongside two teammates.

During his youth in the military, Rex’s exceptional ability to learn and adapt had caught the attention of his superiors, leading to his placement in the elite scouting unit. Despite his frequent requests for active duty, he had only just received his first assignment alongside two other young soldiers.

"Hey, you okay? You looked like you were having a rough dream," remarked the man beside him, Edward.

Rex turned to him with a grim, unsettling grin. "I'm fine. I'm just eager to see those freaks get blown to pieces."

Edward gave a forced, dry chuckle and looked away. Suddenly, Kyle, the third member in the vehicle, spoke up. "I can't believe they stuck us with the worst possible job," he said, laughing bitterly at their luck.

Rex noticed the underlying anxiety in Kyle’s eyes.

"It’s a high-stakes operation, and we were the ones picked for it," Edward said with a sigh of resignation.

Kyle snapped back, "But why us? There are plenty of other teams."

"The Sergeant Major said that even though we're hunting ghouls, other Supernaturals are in the area. Deploying high-ranked Awakened would be like carrying a lantern into the dark," Edward explained. "They’d be detected instantly. That’s why it has to be us."

As they discussed the mission, a scarred, stern-faced man stepped out from the front cabin. The eight stripes on his uniform identified him as the Sergeant Major in charge.

"Soldiers, attention!"

The three of them immediately snapped to a straight line. The Sergeant Major nodded and began the briefing. "Your mission is to locate the ghoul den. Your goal is to mark the coordinates for the air force so they can commence a carpet bombing."

"This is a critical task. You three have the specific training and the low power signatures required to avoid Supernatural detection. Success here means victory in Dwight City. You will save more lives than your own are worth."

Despite the harshness of his words, the team remained silent and focused.

"The ghoul hordes are causing significant trouble, so failure is not an option. You know the stakes—do not hesitate, even if it costs your lives. Is that clear?" He stared intensely at Rex, Edward, and Kyle.

"Sir, yes sir!" they shouted in unison.

The Sergeant Major looked at Edward and Kyle. "As Rank 2 Awakened, I expect nothing less than perfection."

"Sir, yes sir!" they replied.

Then, he turned his gaze to Rex. "You may not be an Awakened, but you’ve trained your whole life for this. Lead them. Use your hatred for those creatures to ensure this mission succeeds."

"Sir, yes sir!" Rex answered with fierce intent.

With the final instructions given, the Sergeant Major exited. Shortly after, the yellow deployment light in the RV began to glow. Rex and his companions stood up to finalize their gear.

They donned specialized all-black uniforms, boots, vests, and tactical headgear equipped with night-vision goggles. This gear was essential for the pitch-black environment of the infested woods.

Kyle secured a razor-sharp black saber to his back, while Edward carried twin daggers that pulsed with a faint red aura. Rex, meanwhile, carried several heavy backpacks and a longsword strapped to his back.

The light shifted from yellow to green. The rear hatch of the RV hissed open. The three soldiers vanished into the forest as the vehicle departed silently.

As soon as they hit the ground, their boots sank into the damp earth. The stench of decaying flesh hung heavy in the air, and the dense canopy blocked out all moonlight. They immediately lowered their night-vision goggles.

Moving like specters through the rotting woods, they searched for the ghoul nest. Their specialized boots muffled their footsteps, making them nearly silent as they approached a landslide that seemed like a perfect hiding spot for their targets.

Using silent hand signals, Rex ordered Edward to set the bait in the open while Kyle scanned for immediate threats. They were deep in enemy territory and couldn't afford a single mistake.

Edward pulled a large portion of human meat from his pack. The putrid smell was overwhelming, but the soldiers remained stoic, long since desensitized to such sights. He tossed the bait into a clearing.

They quickly retreated to the landslide, using black ropes to secure themselves against the slope. They moved with ghost-like precision. Now, the waiting game began.

It was a test of patience. They lay motionless on the cold ground. Ghouls craved meat, but their dull senses meant it could take a long time for them to find the lure.

Five days passed without any sign of the ghouls. Rex and Kyle began to doubt the effectiveness of the bait, but since the military had vetted it, they had no choice but to stay put. The physical toll began to set in—exhaustion, itching from days without washing, and the monotony of field rations.

The supplies in Rex’s backpack were dwindling. They started discussing how to supplement their food. The forest was too damp for a fire, and using mana to hunt was forbidden as it would alert any nearby Supernaturals.

Throughout the week, they heard the cries of banshees, nymphs, and dark pixies. Any that wandered too close were silently neutralized by Kyle and Edward's blades. However, the previous night, the temperature had plummeted unnaturally.

During his watch, Kyle spotted a hovering, hooded figure with pale blue skin and glowing red eyes. The air grew colder the closer it drifted. Kyle’s eyes went wide with terror; every soldier knew the silhouette of a Lich.

Rex and Edward, always light sleepers on mission, sensed the change and woke instantly. Before they could ask what was happening, Kyle doused them all with water from a canteen and gestured for them to stay absolutely still and silent.

The confusion turned to dread as they saw the Lich in the distance, leading a small pack of ghouls. A Lich was a mid-tier Supernatural far beyond their ability to fight. Though blind, they were hyper-sensitive to heat signatures and mana fluctuations.

In the early days of the war, it took a concentrated barrage of heavy weaponry to bring down even a minor Lich. A high-ranking one could easily deflect such attacks with spells. Luckily, this one was far enough away to miss them.

Another week went by as the sun dipped below the horizon once more. Aside from a few low-level pests, nothing had approached the bait. The team was now starving and reaching their breaking point.

"I can't go on like this. We need food," Edward whispered hoarsely.

Kyle nodded in agreement, his face gaunt. "I'm with you. Let’s figure something out."

Their rations had been gone for six days. They hadn't expected the mission to drag on this long, and the hunger was becoming unbearable. After drafting a quick hunting plan, Kyle volunteered to go find something edible.

Rex and Edward remained behind to keep watch over the bait, knowing the situation could change at any moment.