The Invincible Full-Moon System

Chapter 1744: Killing Time

Rex was in a carriage, heading straight for the Tomb of Heroes.

It was one of the carriages from the convoy, though its banners had been stripped away to avoid drawing unwanted attention. The driver explained earlier that the banners carried a signal transmitter that alerted nearby bubbles to the arrival of a Castillon family member.

Hearing that, Rex ordered him to remove every last one.

Other than the driver, inside the carriage with him was Amanir.

Since Empress Morgana handled everything, he didn’t know how she was planning to fulfill her end of the deal. Other than the requested items, he also asked to meet with the Spirit Emperor to ask for help in rescuing Devo.

He also wanted to ask for help to upgrade Amanir’s and Devo’s aptitude.

Regardless, he trusted Empress Morgana.

Considering her background, she must have her way to communicate with the Spirit Emperor.

Rex didn’t need to meet with the Spirit Emperor directly.

All he wanted was an audience, a chance to be heard, and that’s more than enough.

I managed to create an Original Echo. I doubt the Spirit Emperor would be unreasonable with me.

System, how long until we arrive at our destination?

Good. That’s plenty enough.

Rex was about to close his eyes and do something he had been wanting to do, but stopped at the sight of Amanir. His eyes seemed to be darting down, then outside the window—and then down again, almost like he was restless about something.

Naturally, Rex could already guess what was inside his mind.

”Are you nervous?”

”Eh...?”

Amanir turned toward him with a brow raised.

He knew what Rex was asking about.

Before he could answer, explain that it wasn’t about the battle ahead, Rex spoke again.

”Just remember the training I gave you. Demon Spirits are strong, but none of them know martial arts. It’ll be easy to take them down, even if they are a lot older than you. If you’re really nervous about the battle, look at me while you battle. I’ll give you some pointers.”

”I’m not nervous about that, though...”

”Really? Acting shy like a kid? It’s fine if you’re nervous. You’re not Devo.”

”You sounded sincere, but for some reason, I feel like you’re insulting me.”

Rex waved his hand with a small chuckle and closed his eyes.

He deliberately said that to rile Amanir up.

Annoyance is far better for the mind than nervousness, at least it’s better before a fight like this.

All nervousness would bring is negative thoughts, and that’s not good for Amanir.

Amanir wanted to refute Rex’s words; he wasn’t nervous about the battle, but the prospect of meeting with Empress Morgana was worrying. But he was already too late since Rex had already closed his eyes, and his presence disappeared.

It seemed like his mind went someplace else.

Regardless, Amanir decided not to think about it.

’Maybe it’s because I’m meeting a new person,’ Amanir sighed. ’I’m not good at socializing...’

On the other hand, Rex activated an item he purchased from the System.

An item called the Key of the Third Eye.

It was a key that would open a space within his mind where he could find refuge from the world.

A pocket area inside one’s mind.

Based on the description, it was mainly used by people when they were going through a hard time, like an extreme emotional distress or even torture. However, Rex didn’t purchase the item for any of that, as his mind is strong enough to endure most things.

He purchased this item for a hefty ten million gold for one reason only.

To converse with the others back in the Mortal Realm.

Since he was almost finishing his matters in the Spirit Realm, he thought he’d check on the others.

Once he went back, he needed to know what went down in the last few days he was gone.

It was quite an expensive purchase for only checking up on them, but there was another reason.

Rex was also doing this because he missed them.

Evelyn’s passionate intent, Adhara’s temperament, Gistella’s gentle care, and even Kyran’s trouble.

Being separated for so long made him remember them—more clearly, and though he wouldn’t admit it out loud, he missed being with them. And they would certainly accept it well if he decided to check up on them.

Perhaps talking with him would ease their concern.

Rex opened his eyes, and he was met with a completely blank space.

It was white everywhere, and with a simple command in his mind, the white changed to grey.

He was too blinded by the white color, so he changed the space to grey.

Once he was inside, he took out another item from the inventory, the Jar of Minds, and placed it down at the center. Rex closed his eyes—and pictured a person in his mind. Adhara first, since he was curious as to what made her go on a rampage.

The jar reacted to his thoughts, and smoke began to seep out from inside.

Soon, the smoke formed a figure across from him.

Adhara manifested inside the space.

And from the way her gaze snapped left and right even before her form manifested fully, it was evident that she was confused. One moment she’d been in the forest, and the next she was standing in this blank space as if someone had deliberately torn her out of space and dropped her here.

She was dizzy from the sudden shift, too.

”You looked rough. Is there a good reason for that?”

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Adhara’s body stiffened.

Just from the voice alone, she could already tell who was in this blank space with her.

Adhara finally looked ahead and found Rex standing across from her, looking at her with a questioning gaze. It was sharp, very sharp—and the way he looked at her made her believe that he could see through her mind.

She looked down at her own body and realized she was still in her other form.

Not to mention, the white fur highlighted the open wounds across her frame, and that’s not good.

’I have to act normal,’ Adhara reverted back to her human form—and smiled awkwardly. ”Rex? Where are we? How did I get here?”

”It’s not important where we are,” Rex tilted his head. ”All you need to know is that this place is secure. Now, talk to me about those wounds.”

”Wounds? What wounds?” She asked back innocently; her wounds were already healed.

”Hmm... I only left for a few days, and you’re already hiding things—from me,” Rex’s eyes narrowed, staring at Adhara with a demanding look. ”I know you went berserk recently, so don’t even think to lie to me.”

”I’m only teasing you,” Adhara said with a sheepish smile—as she approached and bumped her shoulder lightly into his. ”What else do you think I’m doing out here? I’m training. I was fighting against a Lesser Order Beast before you brought me here.”

”Are you fine being here? I specifically asked you telepathically if you could come.”

”Don’t worry, I was hiding when you contacted me.”

Rex stared at Adhara in silence for a good moment.

He was weighing whether Adhara was telling the truth to him or not.

It didn’t take long for him to know that she was lying.

”I told you not to lie,” Rex said, his eyes narrowing to a razor’s edge. ”I don’t know how you’re masking your link to me—Evelyn’s handiwork, no doubt—but did you really think I wouldn’t notice that you’re hiding something? Your heart is pounding.”

Appearance-wise, Adhara was able to perfectly act normally.

But her body was more honest than her.

No matter how hard she tries, masking how her body reacts is a lot harder than acting normal.

Adhara turned away and combed her hair back, slightly annoyed.

She was clearly distressed about this.

”Fine if you don’t want to tell me,” Rex shrugged his shoulders. ”But answer this one question.”

”If you’re asking if it’s anything dangerous, then the answer is yes,” Adhara answered, knowing exactly what Rex was going to ask as she pivoted around again. ”But even so, I don’t want to tell you. Can you please not ask further? Let us handle this.”

Rex saw determination behind her eyes.

He knew that it was also hard for her to tell him straight like this.

”Okay, I’ll not ask questions. At least until I get back,” Rex finally nodded, and then spread his arms to the side. ”That aside, not a good time to see you for me? Or glad to see me fine? Hmm... It has only been a few days in your place, but you already forgot me?”

A dramatic exhale escaped his mouth, ”I should have met with Gistella first—you don’t look like you’re happy to see me.”

Adhara paused for a second; her eyes slightly widened.

She wasn’t expecting Rex to yield that easily, especially when she had already prepared things that would help her convince him not to meddle with their problem. It was clear to her that the Spirit Realm had changed Rex.

And for some reason, he also looked older, or maybe because he was unshaven?

Either way, it’s good that he didn’t make it difficult for her.

”What are you saying?” Adhara snapped out of her trance and approached again, throwing both of her arms over him. ”Of course, I’m happy to see you. How can I not? You suddenly left and didn’t even give us an update on how you’re doing.”

”I thought it was easier to leave like this,” Rex answered as his hands rested on her waist.

In that quiet moment, they both leaned in until their foreheads touched, eyes gently closing as their breaths mingled. Neither spoke. Their shared silence was enough—an intimate exchange of longing that needed no words.

Adhara was the first one to break the moment as she looked up at Rex.

”Did you contact me because you’re about to go home, or because you’re staying a bit longer?”

”I’m about to go home as planned. Don’t worry.”

”Hmm...” Adhara allowed herself to smile a little. ”Did you get what you went there for?”

”Yes. I’m on the way to retrieve them right now, so I thought, why not come here to kill some time?” He replied whisperingly. ”I couldn’t even believe it myself, but I really managed to get them. Guess I really am quite formidable.”

Adhara looked at Rex as if he spoke a different language.

One corner of her lips curled downward as she stared at him like he was a stranger.

”Aren’t you a little bit too smug compared to normal?” She raised a brow, chuckling slightly. ”Where did you even learn to act like this?”

”Just happy to be going home soon,” Rex shrugged. ”Am I not allowed to be different?”

”Of course you can. I’m only surprised, that’s all,” Adhara patted his chest, but then, a thought came to her mind. ”But I doubt you can change that easily. After all, you were normally really uptight. So, I had to ask... how long has it been for you?”

Hearing this, Rex went silent.

He didn’t immediately answer as memories flashed inside his mind like an endless tide.

Even though it has only been a few days for the others, it has been quite a long time for him to the point that Adhara instantly realized that his demeanor had changed a little. But then again, he was confronted with all his fears in the Spirit Realm.

It was not on the same level of pain as what happened in the Mortal Realm, of course.

Rex wouldn’t even compare the two.

However, the difference now was that he managed to overcome one of his biggest flaws.

His tendency to make protecting others a burden rather than a purpose.

And that alone made Rex realize that it must’ve been suffocating for the others to be near him.

But that’s going to change.

”Not long enough to forget about you, that’s for certain,” Rex smiled and then caressed her cheek gently.