The Invincible Full-Moon System

Chapter 1797: Kept in the Dark

It was another depressing night.

A woman draped in a tight-fitting royal emerald and white commander uniform was walking through the hall. Her half-split hair, one emerald and the other black, fell in waves to her shoulders, framing her uptight face.

Her steps slammed hard against the soft carpet.

Frustration was evident as she put more strength than normal into her steps.

In her hand is an open leather scroll.

From the royal stamp near the bottom, it must be from the royal bubble. From the emperor.

Princess Davina went to the eastern wing and arrived in a rectangular room. She looked to the side—to the sofa, and saw Lady Mira was sitting there in the darkness, away from the window and the moonlight that carries the temptation from the Blood Moon.

She sat across from Mira and threw the scroll onto the table.

It has been days since the Tomb of Heroes.

And since then, Rex hadn’t contacted her at all.

Her connection with him also told her nothing, like she hadn’t been reverted back into a Spirit and lost contact with Rex. She has sent out scouting parties in search of him throughout her entire territory, but there’s still no good news.

Almost like he simply disappeared.

She was worried that Rex might already run out of time in this realm.

But what scared her the most was that he was wounded somewhere, or perhaps nearing death.

She wanted to be there for him if he needed help, but now, she was left in the dark.

A sigh escaped her lips as she clasped her hands and pressed them against her throbbing forehead.

”Still nothing?” Mira asked, placing a cup of tea on the table.

”Nothing.” Princess Davina ran her fingers through her hair in frustration—and leaned back. She had only returned from scouting along with her men—and now she’s exhausted. Both from the strain of the Black Rift and thinking about Rex, ”Where is he, really?”

Mira took the scroll and read its content.

Inside was a formal invitation from the emperor, calling for her presence at the royal bubble.

”Are you going to the royal bubble?”

”For what? So that I can be held captive to lure Rex in? Please.”

Emperor Dominar’s intention was as clear as day.

His forces couldn’t enter the House of Castillon’s territory lest they spark a civil war.

But now, even that threat didn’t last long.

”Hmm? Your Father sided with him?” Mira’s brows furrowed into a frown.

On the bottom of the scroll, near the royal stamp, was also Duke Lorcan’s stamp.

It meant the summoning was also supported by Duke Lorcan.

Now, Princess Davina was going against her own father, along with the emperor.

Fortunately, she was beloved by most across her entire territory, so her forces would remain loyal.

”Yes,” Princess Davina exhaled through her nose tiredly. ”That idiot never sided with me. Had he known it was Rex who coaxed me to give Octavia a chance, he would’ve really understood how stupid he’s being. Damn him and his honor.”

Despite her exhaustion, she wasn’t going to give up that easily.

For the next five hours, Princess Davina took out a map and marked the area she had scoured.

She also highlighted areas where Rex most likely would be with a red flag, trying hard to put herself in Rex’s shoes, with Mira occasionally giving her opinions. It was hours of non-stop discussion, one that solidified the plan for tomorrow.

It was almost morning when they were done.

”But still, this is assuming he’s still in this realm or alive,” Mira leaned back, eyes droopy.

Spirits are not meant to stay through the night, so this really took a toll on her.

And it’s the same for Princess Davina, though she doesn’t show it.

”He’s not dead.” Princess Davina blinked hard, trying to fight back the sleepiness. She is a werewolf now, but her power is still adjusting to her body. ”Had you seen it with your own two eyes what he did during the mission, you would understand how hard it is to kill him. I’m pretty sure he’s still alive. We would’ve sensed it, too, if he died.

”And I also believe he’s still in this realm. He wouldn’t go without saying goodbye to me.” She added.

Her fingers instinctively reached for her heart-shaped lips.

The kiss she had with Rex at the top of the Deific Grove of Concordia was magical.

And she could feel his genuine warmth from it.

He wouldn’t leave without saying anything to her. She refused to believe it.

”I’ll mobilize my men to support yours,” Mira nodded. ”But don’t expect much. My hands are tied.”

”Anything is better than nothing,” Princess Davina nodded. ”Thank you for helping.”

Right now, no nobles under her would answer her call other than Mira.

She is fighting for the usurper, blinded by emotions, so most would side with Duke Lorcan.

Princess Davina swept her gaze over the map again.

Her eyes landed and lingered on a particular spot far away from any other bubble.

A place called Point Zero, which was at least one hundred miles from the nearest bubble. It was really deep in the Black Rift and was also flanked by the Monarchy border of a Voidal Monarch. A place that is untouched by Spirits.

Noticing what she was looking at, Mira chuckled.

”No way Rex would be there,” she said with humor. ”That area is crawling with aberrations, and it’s far from the Tomb of Heroes. If he survived, he’d be in no shape to make the journey. He’s probably hiding somewhere. Point Zero is a vast open field. He wouldn’t choose there out of all places.”

”Yes, I know,” Princess Davina nodded. ”But he can reach there with help.”

”Help?” Mira tilted her head. ”Who?”

”Shade Crawlers.”

Mira’s expression twitched when she heard that, but the princess didn’t see it.

”I saw one of the Shade Crawlers come to sniff Rex. And I couldn’t help but think they might be related to werewolves,” Princess Davina took a flag from the side of the table, a blue one instead of the red one like the others, and placed it on Point Zero. ”He might be in their nest right now.”

Just then, Princess Davina caught Mira’s lips curling a little.

It was an unnatural one.

And when Mira realized she was looking, the smile vanished.

”Why do you smile?” Princess Davina asked, eyes narrowing. ”Is it wrong?”

”Just feeling unreal,” Mira answered after a quick pause. ”The supposed princess who never even spared a glance at the Crown Prince. The princess without an equal prince. I can’t believe that princess is now fighting for a mere man.”

”You mock me,” Princess Davina rubbed her face with her hands. ”Don’t act like Althea, now.”

”Speaking of Althea, did you hear she fought with her husband?”

”Gossip. I don’t dwell on that kind of thing.”

”You want to hear this one, believe me,” Mira leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table to support the weight of her body. ”Some of the soldiers saw her being very close to Rex, and her husband heard it and was furious.”

”Really?” Princess Davina also leaned in, suddenly into the gossip. ”Good. She deserved that.”

”Not good. Her husband now sent almost fifteen thousand of his personal troops to the emperor.”

”Fifteen thousand? That’s half of his forces.”

”Althea blocked the march with her own troops as a warning, but her husband didn’t care.”

”She’s always troublesome, that one—”

Gossip fueled them with more stimulation through their exhaustion.

But eventually, the dreamland seized them.

Princess Davina’s eyelids trembled as she slowly opened them—blinking to adjust to the light from the chandelier above. She tilted her head down and blinked again, frowning at the sight of Mira touching the flags laid on the map on the table.

”What are you doing?” She asked, pulling herself up.

Her voice startled Mira. Her body stiffened as she turned to Princess Davina with a slight smile.

”You’re up?” She asked.

”I asked you a question,” Princess Davina rubbed her eyes and sat properly. ”What are you doing?”

Her eyes trailed to the map again, trying to see whether the flags had been moved.

But she found no changes.

”You must’ve had a dream earlier and knocked the table,” Mira offered a smile as she placed down the last flag on the map, placing it right above Point Zero. She did it under Princess Davina’s intense look. ”I was only tidying up.”

None of the flags were moved.

It sounded like Mira was telling the truth.

But Princess Davina couldn’t help but wonder. If she hadn’t woken up, would that still be the case?

”You came to me later than I expected after I sent you my message,” Princess Davina mused—her eyes were now staring at Mira intently, probingly. She was suspicious. ”If you don’t mind me asking, what were you doing?”

Mira had read the scroll after she got back to the mansion.

She was drilled with questions from the head butler, and it was hard for her to get him off her back after seeing the broken window. But fortunately, she was able to seamlessly coax him—so that she could leave again without him reporting her to Great Elder Rosa.

And that’s the reason why she was late.

But she couldn’t tell that to Princess Davina.

She would realize that Rex called her.

”Your heart is beating harder,” Princess Davina dragged her words in a rasp, raising the tension in the air to see if Mira would crack. ”I hope you wouldn’t dare to lie to me, Lady Mira.”

Back with the formality again.

It was Princess Davina’s way of saying that she’s now speaking as the duke’s daughter.

The lady who owned the land Mira and her family were occupying.

Mira sat back down slowly, giving her time to adjust to the tension before she stared at Princess Davina in the eyes. ”You’re asking like you didn’t know the answer, ”She pointed out the window. Toward the sky. ”Of course, it’s because the approaching full moon.”

A logical answer.

Princess Davina let the moment drag for a few seconds before she stood up.

”I will need to start the search again,” She said and walked, stopping only when she was about to leave the room. She looked back at Mira, ”Keep the map safe for me, Lady Mira.”

Once she left, Mira slumped on the sofa.

’She’s too sharp,’ she thought, rubbing her temple. Her gaze drifted to Point Zero, where the stark blue flag stood erected as if mocking her. With Princess Davina’s suspicion now fixed on her, she could not shift the blue flag. ’She’ll find Rex at this rate.’

...

A man in tattered armor was walking along an empty Life Vein, arms crossed—like he was hugging his own body. His eyes flicked left and right at the blackness of the Black Rift. Fear was evident in them, and his hurried steps made it clear that he was being chased by someone or something.

Grr...

”Haah!” The man fell to his butt.

He heard a growl.

Since he was within the protection of the Obelisk of Life, within the bubble, no sound from outside could be heard. It must be his mind playing tricks on him, but the growl was so real. So close. Like it was right beside his ears.

Across from him, the darkness morphed into a figure.

A monster.

Its crimson eyes struck fear into the man.

But with a blink, the monster disappeared, swept by the rushing black wind of the Black Rift.

It was only inside his mind.

”Fuck,” the man rose to his feet and quickly continued on his path. ”He’s alive... He’s still alive. How is it possible?” Haxel grabbed his head as he walked, sweating, panicking as he heard the news that the empire is now going to take out the usurper. ”I fed him to the Immortal Slugs. How is he still alive?”

Aooouuu!

Haxel stopped and looked to the side in fear.

He heard a howl.

Another trick from his mind. Or at least, it should be.

But the howl resounded again.

It’s real, and near.

”Rex...”