The Invincible Full-Moon System - Chapter 1681: Aiming the Nobles (3)
Chapter 1681: Aiming the Nobles (3)
Haxel smirked at him.
It was a smirk that clearly showed he knew what Rex was thinking of doing from the start.
Frankly, the moment Haxel knew that Rex’s real body turned out to be a Supernatural—from the Mortal Realm, a Werewolf, he knew that there was no way Rex would not determine that he was aiming to strike the nobles.
Possessing acute senses second to none, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Rex has a strong premonition.
Other than that, Rex was also extremely adaptable and resourceful.
Just from how he intercepted and defeated the Faceless Reaper showed that he’s a force to be reckoned with. Maybe his kit doesn’t allow him to pinpoint the plan Haxel had in mind exactly, but his quickness to react and adapt covered that weakness well.
’So, the answer becomes clear…’ Haxel grinned. ’I only need to keep him distracted.’
If quickness and adaptability are his strong suits, then Haxel only needs to distract him long enough until there’s simply no time for him to react and adapt. And making a performance is the key to his success— and he’s going to go all-out on it.
For the next half an hour, the nobles were intercepted multiple times by the same Voidal Prince.
It relentlessly followed them like there was bad blood between them.
But that shouldn’t be the case since they didn’t even veer into its territory in the first place.
As the time dragged on, the Rift Hurricane grew stronger, so much so that the Clear Reflection and the Rudicary Shield effects were beginning to lose their advantage. Under the endless surge of the hurricane building around them, the two items were gradually losing power.
For now, they were still capable of withstanding the hurricane, but there’s certainly a limit.
Boom!
“Your Majesty!”
Althea appeared from above, shaking her head as once again, the Voidal Prince appeared and intercepted them. It seemed it was adamant on not letting them reach their original, determined path, which made it seem like it was protecting something.
Seeing this, Empress Morgana clenched her jaw as this was not good for them.
Not in the slightest.
If they couldn’t return to trace the range, then they would need to make a long detour, which would also be nearing the other bubbles nearby. Even if they got through without harming the bubbles, the journey would be twice as long as following the original path.
Going back to the original path would not be possible if they didn’t do it right now.
Later, the only way to go back to their original path would demand climbing a steep cliff, which would be impossible for them even if they managed to escape the Rift Hurricane. Not to mention, the visibility granted by the Seekers grew dimmer with every surge of the storm’s fury.
At this moment, the people inside the flare couldn’t see more than a bit less than half a mile outside.
Pretty soon, the surroundings would grow darker, making climbing a cliff even more impossible.
“Let’s take the longer route. No use going against it.” Empress Morgana finally said. “Focus on finding a way for us to exit the hurricane.”
Upon hearing this, the nobles’ faces turned grim as this would mean exerting past their limits.
But then again, compared to dealing with a battle between two Voidal Monarchs, this was a lot better.
Better be exhausted and risk voidal metamorphosis than reporting to the emperor in defeat.
On the other hand, as Althea led them to take the longer route, Princess Davina stared at the seething voidal energy in the distance that the Voidal Prince was emanating. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, as its movements seemed calculated.
Like it was being controlled, but not by its Voidal Monarch.
A Voidal Monarch chasing them away through its Voidal Prince to keep the White Mask away from its territory was hardly unusual. In fact, the nobles expected that. However, after they had taken multiple wide detours to avoid nearing its territory, it should have lost interest, allowing them to return to their original path unhindered.
But this Voidal Prince kept following them and prevented them from going back.
It was suspicious.
“Esmeravon,” She whispered, turning to look skyward. “Try probing that Voidal Prince.”
Almost instantly, the sky rumbled.
A roaring sound of thunder cracked the air as a shadow descended, diving from above the clouds.
Esmeravon.
Considering that they were dealing with a Voidal Prince, Esmeravon stood little chance in a direct clash with it—but from a distance, she could still test its limits. Princess Davina fixed her gaze on the horizon, every sense sharpened, tracking the faint clash of presence between Esmeravon and the Voidal Prince.
She wanted to sense any anomalies coming from this particular Voidal Prince.
But as the sparks of energy appeared, she frowned as there didn’t seem to be anything wrong.
’Is it not Haxel’s doings?’ Princess Davina pinched her chin in contemplation. ’No, he cannot forcibly control a Voidal Prince. Its connection to the Voidal Monarch is too strong, and attempting to do it would hurt him. I’ve approached this wrongly. Haxel must’ve made a deal with the Voidal Prince.’
Despite the absurdity, this had happened in the past.
Unlike the serpent, who was a new Voidal Prince, the other Voidal Princes are more mature.
All of them have a level of intelligence that could rival a spirit, thus, have the capacity to make a deal.
’But what…? What can Haxel give that would entice a Voidal Prince? And for what purpose?’
Though it’s hard to think about this while exerting her power to hold the Voidal Prince back, there are a few things that came to mind. A Voidal Prince is, as the name indicates, the prince to the monarch. It’s an extension of the monarch’s influence.
A Prince’s duty was to regulate the level of power within the empire’s domain, suppress rebellion or usurpers—and also expand their influence to more lands. Each of them was also the Voidal Monarch’s duty, but until it reached a certain threshold, the Voidal Prince would be the one watching over.
So, if Haxel really successfully made a deal with this Voidal Prince, then it has to involve those things.
As for what purpose, Princess Davina is yet to determine.
Though straining herself to hold the Voidal Prince at bay, Princess Davina’s thoughts still turned, and there were a few things that came to mind. A Voidal Prince, after all, was to a Monarch as a Prince was to an emperor—an extension of authority, tasked with regulating power within the domain, quelling all rebellion or usurpers, and spreading influence into new lands.
Expanding the domain and gaining more power were the Voidal Monarch’s priorities.
It was the reason they were called as such, monarchs.
If Haxel had truly struck a bargain with such a Voidal Prince, then the deal would most certainly revolve around those duties. But Princess Davina had yet to discern how Haxel could convince the Voidal Prince to do this, as Haxel was too weak to make a deal.
And there was no correlation between his plan to sabotage the mission with the Voidal Prince.
“Regardless, our priority right now should be getting out of this Rift Hurricane first.”
Moments later.
Rex was still waiting for Haxel to make his move, hoping that Haxel would be the one to crack first.
His muscle fibers and nerves were scorching and twitching—ready to move at a moment’s notice as he can’t let Haxel get away. If Haxel wanted to kill the nobles to sabotage the mission without sacrificing Empress Morgana, then he would have to be ready to fight.
I can feel the distortion thinning—soon, we’ll break free of the hurricane.
He has to make his move right now. He won’t pass up this perfect chance to make a move.
Rex stared at Haxel intently, his breaths were already ragged and short from the anticipation and unease.
However, even until the horde exited the Rift Hurricane, nothing happened.
As soon as Rex felt the distortion disappearing around him and the Black Rift returning to normal, his eyes widened completely. He looked at Haxel in sheer disbelief, “He… He wasted the opportunity given by nature itself? Did he give up?”
“What’s that?”
“It’s the Shattered Bones Monarchy of the Deformed Lethal.”
“Deformed Lethal? Wait, that is the Monarchy of another Voidal Monarch?”
“Yes, it’s the first time I’ve seen it up close before, and it’s more endearing than I expected.”
Upon hearing the banters from the soldiers, Rex turned to the other side.
His eyes widened at the sight of an anomaly space about half a mile from them.
It was so close that Rex could practically see the Shattered Bones Monarchy—where the soil should’ve continued, it was instead fractured. Rex could see broken white lines running across the ground—like a spider’s web.
Each one glowed faintly with a sickly violet light.
Beyond those cracks, reality itself seemed torn apart.
The Shattered Bones Monarchy loomed ahead, a horizon of floating shards of bones suspended in the air, impossibly still yet always shifting. Some pieces hovered like broken continents, massive and rough, while others were razor-thin slivers of bones that spun lazily, glistening with ridiculous power.
Some were smooth enough that they could reflect the world.
However, the reflections they cast did not mirror the world truthfully.
Faces warped, shadows stretched, and sometimes the reflection displayed things—that weren’t there at all—visions that whispered of nightmares waiting inside. The border was unmistakable. On one side lay the Black Rift’s suffocating dark smoke, while on the other, the world was splintered into an endless prism of bone shards.
Compared to the White Mask’s monarchy domain, this one was more refined and terrifyingly powerful.
Rex could feel its power from the wind, and it’s something far beyond his current state.
It was not as helplessly overbearing as when he was within the Lunirich Gods’ pantheon, but certainly more than he can handle. And visible to the eyes, the bone shards were moving forward, expanding their influence slowly as the Voidal Monarch desired.
However, Rex noticed that the bone shards were recoiling from something.
Every time they tried to expand, they returned to their original position as if something stung them.
Sensing that this might give insight as to what Haxel was planning to do, Rex’s eyes glistened.
System, scan that monarchy and find out what is stopping it from expanding.
<Scanning…>
Rex waited for a few seconds as the System scanned the Shattered Bones Monarchy.
Normally, scanning something so powerful would hurt Rex’s mind as it would when he scanned entities that are far stronger than him. However, since he wasn’t trying to find out more about the monarchy, but rather, what stopped it from expanding, there shouldn’t be any problem.
And soon, another notification appeared.
<Notice: fear was detected from the monarchy’s consciousness.>
<A powerful interference is stopping the Shattered Bones Monarchy from expanding.>
Interference? Is it the White Mask? No, the Voidal Monarch behind this Shattered Bones Monarchy is a lot more mature and stronger. No chance that it was afraid of the White Mask. System, can you trace where that interference came from?
<Scanning…>
Show it to me. I want to see where it was with my own two eyes.
<Affirmative.>
As soon as he said that, a holographic strand began to form from the Shattered Bones Monarchy, and it slithered closer. Not towards Rex, but towards the front of the formation. No, not the formation, but to where the nobles were instead.
Rex’s breath was caught in his throat as his eyes followed the holographic strand.
It settled a hundred meters from where the nobles were, and seeped into the ground.
Just then, a notification appeared that made Rex’s eyes widen completely.
He stared at the notifications with trembling eyes as his face drained of all color.
“STOP!” Rex roared at the top of his lungs as he charged forward, hoping that his voice would reach the nobles before it was too late. His eyes were wide open in a panic, “STOP RIGHT NOW! THERE’S AN IMMORTAL SLUG!!”
At that point, Haxel’s eyes bulged with extreme delight and malice.
’I got you now, dog! You’re too late! You’re way too late to react! Watch them die!’
