The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 2033: Full-blown Disrespect

"High Lord Rashal, as much as I respect you, this is outrageous."

"I second that opinion. We are your swords. Fighting for you is our duty. For you to give that task away to two unknown strangers is an insult to all of us—who have fought alongside you for hundreds of years. How can you come to this decision?"

"We cannot accept this."

Silence enveloped the main office to a choking level.

Now, the office was not only full of people in armour, but it was also full of years, of loyalty, of unspoken accusations that pressed against the walls like smoke in a sealed room. High Lord Rashal sat behind his desk, reclined in the high-backed chair, one hand massaging his throbbing forehead.

It had been days, and now the Purgation Duel loomed half a day away.

A blade dangling over his fate, and yet the thing making his skull pound was not the coming battle.

It was this troublesome moment instead—the people in it and the weight of their stares.

For almost three straight days, High Lord Rashal had hidden. For three straight days—he had been in seclusion, with his location known only to his only cousin, Vadyn. Of course, he was dumping the troublesome situation on her.

Everyone who was searching for him would come to her.

Frankly, he believed Vadyn would break eventually and reveal his location—but she had not betrayed that secret. Not to anyone. It was quite surprising. And for that, he was grateful, as he had gotten the full solitary silence that he needed to properly fix his mind on the approaching battle.

Just like every single time he was faced with a problem, he preferred to be in isolation.

Let his body and mind be backed against the wall.

Miracles happened to those who could remain in isolation with their minds.

On the final day, High Lord Rashal had slipped back into his office like a ghost, hoping to wait for Rex in silence. But they were already there. Of course, they were. He knew them, and was certain that they wouldn’t give up that easily.

Knowing that he had to return eventually, they waited in the main headquarters.

A dozen High Millinars filled the room, men and women who had bled under his banner for centuries. Their faces were carved from monolith, grim and shadowed, and their eyes—older than wars, older than most nations—bored into him with a single, unspoken question.

All of them were asking one question: Why?

Why had he chosen strangers over them? Over warriors who had stood beside him when the sky burned and the realm split? The betrayal in their silence was worse than any shout—as the High Millinars were heartbroken by his decision.

And the worst part? High Lord Rashal knew that his decision would break their hearts.

He wasn’t stupid enough not to know that.

So, despite knowing what his decision would cause, he still decided to go through with it anyway.

Go through with breaking their hearts.

On either side of him were his wives.

Both of them were draped in a pompous, elegant dress—white and gold, respectively. One was wearing an exuberant white mink coat made of a powerful beast that matched her short hair, and the other wore a golden silk cape that matched her blonde hair, covering her shoulders but only falling down to her waist.

Such beauties could make nations war against one another.

However, their faces were also marred with the same heartbreak as the High Millinars.

Neither spoke, but their eyes carried their own storm.

High Lord Rashal had not asked for their counsel; he had not even told them about his plan. In fact, the two learned about the Purgation Duel through whisperers among the High Millinar Alexander’s people who were preparing for their invasion.

It was a solid blow to their hearts when they learned about the upcoming battle.

One that would determine everything.

And what confused them even more was that High Lord Rashal somehow decided to choose two utter strangers to help him in a battle—that would determine his future. Not the people who could be trusted completely and knew how to complement his strength.

Such a wound from that omission was fresh and deep.

One could see it clearly through their grim expressions and the slight narrowing of their eyes.

"I have already taken into account every single thing about this matter. I have already taken into account your strengths, the chemistry, and also the enemies. And I came to the verdict that choosing even one of you—as a warrior to represent me in the Purgation Duel..." High Lord Rashal raised his gaze to look at them. "Are simply not ideal."

"Not ideal? What do those strangers have that we don’t have?"

"If you want people who’d give up their lives to fight for you—then you’re looking at them. Any of us would gladly give up our lives to fight for you. Our wills to fight to the death for you are a hundred, if not a thousand times greater than those two!"

"And that’s precisely why I decided to choose them instead," High Lord Rashal let out a small sigh. "It would be too predictable for the enemies if any of you were in the battle. All of you would simply come to support me, and that’s not how victory is achieved in this battle.

"More importantly, you would be too emotional. Easily enraged." He added.

Since they were not going to give this a rest, he had no other choice but to expose his calculations.

From the start—they were going to enter the battle at a disadvantage. High Lord Ursa would most likely create a plan to counter if their side decided to stick close to mitigate being isolated and ganged up on. So, picking the High Millinars is going to be a sure loss.

Picking Rex and Davina, on the other hand, would give far more unpredictable variance to the battle.

High Lord Rashal had dug into Rex’s past.

He knew that Rex was a powerhouse when it comes to being outnumbered—and outmuscled. Brawling against multiple opponents at the same time is something that he was good at, so he would be a big deal of distraction during the battle.

As for Davina, she would be able to support him and swell that distraction.

Not to mention, Rex was also an unknown individual.

It would force High Lord Ursa and his warriors to fight against him sparingly and with carefulness.

And that would complement the distraction that Rex could provide until he could take out one—or more from the other side. "In comparison, the two warriors that I chose have no emotional ties with me. We’re battling for our own needs, and in this peculiar battle, that’s a far stronger reason than your loyalties."

One High Millinar stepped forward.

"Say that you, sir, lose. How would we accept that defeat if we have no part in it?"

"Enough. My decision is already made. None of you have any more say in this."

"Then what about me?" Elizabeth—the elegant woman with short white hair finally opened her mouth. Her voice was sharp and venomous like a snake. "Do I also not have any say in this? Have no say in things involving the life and death of my own husband?"

"Elizabeth, listen to—"

"No, you listen to me. Even if the High Millinars, the people who had sacrificed everything for you, are not compatible with this battle—there are still many others who could help! All you need to do is lower your ego and ask for their help."

"..."

"If you can’t even do that for your own life, then let me do it."

"What are you saying? You don’t need to do anything like that for me. I’ll handle this."

"Too bad. I already did."

"What...?"

Elizabeth crossed her arms and looked down on High Lord Rashal with her sharp white eyes. The eyes that could strike fear into anyone they fixed on. "I already spoke to High Lord Ezio—and he agreed that he could lend the Red Reaper to be one of your warriors."

"You spoke with that pretty boy?" High Lord Rashal’s eyes narrowed. "And what does High Lord Ezio want in return for this favour?"

"As you know—the Red Reaper is also a Transcendent Demigod. Two Transcendent Demigods against one." She continued, ignoring High Lord Rashal’s question entirely. "No matter what scheme High Lord Ursa was going to use, it won’t work."

Just as her words ended, the air thickened and the silence stretched.

"Elizabeth..." Cecile, the woman with blonde hair, spoke up when she noticed High Lord Rashal’s grim expression. One that she knew clearly meant he was extremely furious. "I don’t think we should take High Lord Ezio’s helping hand. He fancies you."

"So what?" Elizabeth shot her a glare. "Do you prefer him to lose, then? Do you prefer him dying for his own foolishness for trusting strangers who we know nothing about? If you have the gall to say that I shouldn’t accept High Lord Ezio’s help, then give me an alternative!"

Cecile looked down.

Even though the situation was infuriating for High Lord Rashal, it seemed to be the best way they had.

It was the one that’d give the highest chance of victory.

"Go talk to the Cluster Custodian." Elizabeth looked down at the silent High Lord Rashal. "Inform him that you wanted to change the warriors you picked. I’m sure he didn’t mind giving you some leeway if you flash those war feats you were so proud of."

Just then, another one of the High Millinars stepped forward.

A well-built old man whose face and arms were a map of old battles.

Every scar has a story.

He stopped after taking two steps closer to the desk, straightened his spine, and placed his old but sturdy fist against his chest in a crisp salute. "My lord." He said with a low and rough voice, like grinding stone. "I suggest swallowing your pride and going with Lady Elizabeth’s suggestion. Survive now, and fix your reputation later."

For a second, the tension in the air spiked to the point of choking.

High Lord Rashal raised his cold gaze and stared directly at this old High Millinar.

As the oldest, he was supposed to be the wisest, and yet he did this.

But the fiery tension was broken by a ring—a call notification emerged from a small circular gadget on the table. High Lord slowly reached out his hand, as if his body was weighing a ton, and tapped on the button.

Vadyn’s voice immediately rang.

"Rashal, Rex has opened the portal back to Larta City. He’s coming."

"Okay. Greet him and keep him there. I’m on my way."

"Alright. Oh, and also, I knew those babies were listening. I have one thing to say. If you can’t accept the decision your High Lord and husband made—then all of you are a disgrace. Once the Purgation Duel is done, my cousin might forgive you. But I will never forgive you. I’ll make your lives a living Hell."

As soon as she said that, the communication line disconnected abruptly.

Only then did High Lord Rashal finally rise to his feet.

His movements were slow and deliberate, and his eyes scanned the people inside the room.

He stared longer at Elizabeth.

"All of you had disrespected me today," High Lord Rashal said—and raised his index finger. Even though he looked only mildly pissed on the outside, the fire inside him had turned into an inferno. "First... you questioned my decision, and then suggested that I sell my own wife in exchange for my life."

"And you," He turned to Elizabeth. "I expected far more from you."

Once he said that, High Lord Rashal walked towards the executive lift and stopped right by the door.

"Come with me," He commanded as he glanced over his shoulder. "Let us see the strangers you looked down on. And then we’ll see if you can still keep your attitude."