The Invincible Full-Moon System

Chapter 1781: Cornering the Princess

”Grr... It’s the end of the line.”

Fenrik stepped onto the edge of a cliff and stared at the view ahead.

From this high-vantage point, he could oversee the expansive canyon that was made into a city before him. There was a time when he came to this place in the distant past for a joyous occasion, but now, it’s the complete opposite.

”Verrathen Canyon,” Valkis also stopped beside Fenrik.

He stared at the canyon with the same nostalgia, regretting that it had to end this way.

Just as Evelyn expected, the path into the Scarlet Banes Kingdom’s heart was gradually becoming easier and easier. She already told the main players within the Great Army that there was a big chance Princess Selene was leading them to a kill zone.

And since she was right about the intensity of the war, then she must also be right about that.

”In the past, there was a time where we werewolves bowed down to the Demons and Angels,” Fenrik whispered while scanning the empty canyon. ”In order to survive, our ancestors chose to bow temporarily and seize future opportunities. Why is she still resisting?”

”Pride,” Valkis rasped. ”She couldn’t stand bowing to a false werewolf.”

”False or not, it’s not up to us to decide.”

”Either way, the sheer fact that Emperor Rex is chosen as a Prince when he doesn’t have the bloodline of the Origin made him a false werewolf in their eyes. It’s not like the emperor ever boasted that he’s a werewolf, yet she still couldn’t set aside her pride.”

Both of them tensed when they sensed a presence approaching them from behind.

Even before turning around, the two knew who it was.

”Your Majesty...”

Valkis and Fenrik looked over their shoulders and saw Evelyn approaching them.

Both stepped to the side, allowing Evelyn to stand between them.

”It’s the Verrathen Canyon,” Valkis said as he glanced at the view. ”We have her cornered...”

In the wake of the world’s awakening, which saturated the realm with potent energy, increasing its level and violently altering the natural landscape, the Great Army’s advance was delayed. The terrain itself had become a stranger.

Even with the smooth path without much resistance, the army found itself lost a couple of times.

Struggling to reconcile maps with a land that no longer matched memory.

Valkis, Fenrik, and Mavok, as the leading figures of the Great Army, kept sending scouts ahead.

However, regardless of the difficulties, they finally arrived.

”What do you think her preparations would look like?” Evelyn asked, her voice soothing to the ears.

Her sharp red eyes shifted to Valkis first.

”Assuming that she’s really luring us to a kill zone, then she would’ve prepared several packs along the border,” Valkis pointed at the uneven grounds and hills surrounding the Verrathen Canyon. ”She would thin our numbers there, which would be entirely possible with the thick mist.”

Other than how expansive the city was, it was also clouded with thick mist.

It would hinder visibility badly, almost as badly as being inside a blizzard.

In such a rough condition, ambushes would be hard to spot—those with extremely sharp senses would be the key to go through the border—and reach the city. Mostly, werewolves would do exceptionally well, but the Great Army doesn’t consist only of werewolves.

Elves are the next ones with the sharpest senses after the werewolves.

As for the Tigermen, Orcs, and Dwarves, they would be easily destroyed in this kind of terrain.

Even the Elves wouldn’t be able to be as effective—enshrouded in mist, the battle inevitably closed to an intimate, brutal range. They might be able to sense an ambush as it emerged, but by then, the battle would already be upon them.

A struggle in close quarters, which would put them at an extreme disadvantage.

It became especially glaring against werewolves.

”What should we do?” Evelyn asked again. ”How do we deal with that?”

”Mix-up the Great Army,” Valkis answered. ”Have Elves in every core of the legions and those strong at close quarters at the rear. At the same time, we should also send scouts to make them attack first, and a stronger scout group through the dry river.”

Evelyn nodded and tilted her head, gesturing for him to make the adjustments with the Great Army as he suggested.

Up until this point, the Great Army was specifically separated depending on the races, since—that would give them the best chemistry, by fighting beside someone they know. But right now, that needed to be changed as Valkis pointed out.

And the scouts are also a great idea.

Seeing the opponents’ hands before the Great Army entered might be crucial to avoid too much loses.

Moreover, sending a strong group of scouts along the dried-up river would help map where all the commotion came from or even anticipate the movements from the enemy side. As expected, it was the right thing to ask for their opinions.

Evelyn wouldn’t think an approach like that.

”And you?” She turned to Fenrik. ”What do you think?”

”It’s true that we managed to draw in a lot of Alpha Primes, but we’re still missing the crucial ones that served closer to Princess Selene,” Fenrik said as he averted his gaze from the canyon. ”Some of their territories are very far, and we might be ahead of them. But—in order for us to avoid being attacked from all sides, we should scout the outer ring and place wards.”

”Oftentimes, in a situation like this—entering the territory might already mean our defeat.” He added. ”And I can’t help but feel uneasy about this.”

Evelyn listened attentively.

Compared to her, Fenrik and Valkis have more experience in battles.

Other than their knowledge, their guts are also valuable.

Valkis provided knowledge, while Fenrik provided the gut feeling honed through thousands of years.

”Go,” Evelyn waved her hand.

Once she was all alone, she stood silently on the edge, staring intently at the castle and the big cathedrals near the central square of the city. This was going to be the battle that would decide whether the Scarlet Banes Kingdom would fall under the Clarentium Empire or not.

Considering their triumph after triumph, one would assume she would be more confident.

But she’s not.

She was wary; it was never a bad thing to be wary, even in a winning position.

”It’s her territory for a thousand years,” Gistella approached from behind, standing beside her. ”I heard that from several werewolves talking about it earlier. It’s not wrong for you to be cautious, even though we’re overwhelmingly stronger.”

”You can read my mind?” Evelyn chuckled lightly.

”Not that hard when it’s written all over your face.”

”I’m not worried about Princess Selene’s forces. I’m worried that Rex might return any second now.”

”It will take him a while longer,” Gistella replied, a quiet chuckle warming her voice. The thought was satisfying—they had already aided Rex in the Spirit Realm, and now, if they succeeded here, he would return to one less problem on his plate. ”We told him not to rush. By the time he’s ready, we’ll have the princess dealt with, and the capital seized.”

”Yes, I’d like the sound of that,” Evelyn closed her eyes and tilted her head up.

She basked under the moonlight.

Her mind wandered to the Spirit Realm, happy that her suggestion came in clutch for Rex.

’But he’s fighting an Archangel there,’ Evelyn thought—recalling the infiltrator that was trying so hard to make the empire go against the Angels, Richard. ’I was hoping that he’d finally see—that the Angels are the biggest threat, above the Fourthborn, but this is going to be a problem.’

After hearing that vision from Madam Qonvale, she was worried about the Angels even more.

It was so vivid that her description was still clear in Evelyn’s mind.

Now that the Angels made contact with Rex, and not a good one at that, she was afraid that Rex might be lured to get involved in the battle against the Angels as Richard wanted. She couldn’t have that, not when Richard’s real motive was still unclear.

’Hah... Let’s focus on this first.’ Evelyn thought.

As she opened her eyes again, her brows furrowed into a deep frown.

”Gistella...” She called, still staring at the sky. ”Rex has a problem with the Blood Moon, right?”

”Hmm, I believe so. Is there something wrong?” Gistella asked back.

”That...” Evelyn pointed at the moon above that was now already turning crimson from pale red. ”We still have time before the Blood Moon arrives, right? Since the Blood Moon is hostile—I don’t want us fighting a war while it’s up.”

”No, I don’t think so. There should be a day or two until it blooms. I’ll go ask Sintra to be precise.”

”Okay, I’ll be waiting here.”

Gistella returned to the Great Army to ask Sintra who was now preparing for a War Spell.

She’s the appointed Shaman by Prince Alaric to help with this conquest, so this is the least she could do.

”A God wouldn’t bother with the likes of me,” Evelyn averted her gaze away from the forming Blood Moon. ”Rex is the one who could threaten them, not me. Besides, Rex wouldn’t leave us if he knew it wasn’t safe.”

For the next hour, the Great Army retained its position.

Tigermen warm up their bodies with exercises and sparring as they wait for the battle to start.

Elves prayed to Mother Nature for aid, did bow training, and prepared an offensive formation.

Dwarves sharpened their weapons, fed the war bears they were riding, and brand defensive runes.

Orcs brawl against each other to suppress their excitement for the battle that awaits them ahead.

As for the Werewolves, most of them, particularly those who were familiar with the treacherous paths of Verrathen Canyon, were sent to scout the perimeter, ensuring no hostile force lay in wait. A few packs were more than enough to secure a mile radius around the Great Army thanks to their keen senses.

On the other hand, Valkis, with a chosen few, went ahead to scout the road towards the main square.

Fenrik selected several groups to scout the outer rim of Verrathen Canyon, taking a handful of Elves to set wards and lay traps—where the terrain allowed. Meanwhile, Mavok remained at camp, briefing the other leaders on the new strategy Valkis had set in motion.

Even though Evelyn wanted to attack as soon as possible, she didn’t want to be reckless.

Preparation is a necessary step before attacking a fortified city.

Besides, there was also one more person whom the Great Army was going to wait for before attacking.

And that person finally came.

Crack—!

Evelyn’s ears perked at the thunderous crack.

She looked over to the other side and saw a cloud of dust covering the entire area, and several soldiers immediately moved to protect Evelyn and also surrounded the smoke. All of them were extremely alert; it took only a few seconds for them to get into position.

”Stand down,” Evelyn commanded, shifting her eyes ahead again. ”She’s not an enemy.”

”Thought you’d be able to take the kingdom down easily,” A voice rang from inside the smoke—before a pair of blazing white eyes emerged, carrying a presence that made the soldiers feel a weight pressing over their shoulders. ”Guess I was expecting too much.”

”Welcome back, Adhara,” Evelyn shook her head, ignoring the comment.

Once the cloud faded, a figure came into view.

Adhara was still in her werewolf form—a lean, lethal silhouette that looked menacing despite not being massive. Her slender frame was a map of unhealed wounds, clearly scarred from her battle against Sven.

She was also carrying an Elf like a sack with one arm, the one Evelyn sent to fetch her.

Out of the group sent to find her, this one is the only survivor.

Seeing that it was Adhara, the soldiers immediately stood down and stepped aside.

Her grand entrance made them think it was an enemy—fortunately, it’s not.

”So, care to tell me what happened to Kyran exactly?” She asked, eyes narrowing demandingly.