The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1758: Clarity and the Shadows

Millennia have passed since the foundation of the Haeltara Empire.

Throughout that vast span of time, Kaine served as the empire's shadow guardian, operating under the direct command of the imperial bloodline. Whether facing major disasters, bloody wars, or internal insurgencies, Kaine was consistently the shield at the front lines.

For thousands of years, he had successfully eradicated every threat that dared to endanger the realm.

Kaine’s entire existence was consecrated to the empire.

His purpose was that uncomplicated.

It was a profound, unbreakable loyalty that no amount of pressure could shatter.

He expected that any future descendants, should he have them, would inherit this heavy mantle of responsibility.

Yet, for the first time in his long life, a chilling sensation took root in his gut.

He felt a dawning certainty that the current turmoil surpassed any crisis the empire had encountered since its inception. Though Kaine lacked tangible evidence for this intuition, with the fate of the empire resting on his shoulders, he knew such instincts often served as the first warning of an approaching storm.

After all, what are instincts if not survival mechanisms refined by evolution to preserve life?

Finding the room deserted, Kaine immediately set out to locate Emperor Dominar.

Since the sovereign was not within the palace walls, Kaine had to travel a distance to find him.

’Empress Morgana originated from a minor family and lacks significant backing. While she has some adversaries, she isn't known for harboring long-term malice. She would typically eliminate her foes with swift efficiency,’ Kaine mused as he traversed a forest of towering, luminous trees. ’Given that, who was that chamber intended for? Why go to such lengths to keep it secret?’

’Rumors say she descended from the heavens,’ Kaine’s gaze sharpened. ’Who sent her? What is her true nature?’

He had harbored doubts about Empress Morgana from the beginning.

Now, those suspicions deepened the more he investigated.

Empress Morgana was far from simple.

She was much more than a mere bearer of Angel blood; her secrets ran far deeper.

Emerging into a clearing, Kaine was met with a breathtaking display of natural beauty.

Before him lay a shimmering lake surrounded by glowing flora, where the air was thick with potent life energy. This was Emperor Dominar’s sanctuary for reflection, and Kaine spotted him standing at the water's edge as anticipated.

However, the Emperor was not alone.

A well-known figure stood beside him.

"Duke Lorcan...?" Kaine noted as he moved toward them with quiet precision.

"Your Majesty, you must speak with the Empress," Duke Lorcan insisted with visible urgency. "I cannot locate my daughter or her fiancé. I am certain they intended to meet with the Empress, so she must be aware of their whereabouts."

"If they are in the company of the Empress, they are safe," Emperor Dominar replied with composure.

He believed the land itself favored Empress Morgana; if she held any ill intent toward the empire, the land would have surely turned against her. To him, the Duke’s worries were merely the product of an overactive imagination.

"Your Majesty, some form of interference is preventing me from contacting them," Duke Lorcan argued, his anxiety mounting. "Only your authority can reach through. I must confirm their safety! I demand that you—"

"You are in no position to demand anything of me, Duke Lorcan," Emperor Dominar interjected, looking at him coldly. "Return home."

"I have sacrificed my life for this empire! I have bled for this realm, and this is the respect I receive?" Duke Lorcan shouted, the veins in his neck bulging. "Fine, then allow me an audience with the Empress. I have urgent business with her and request a meeting immediately."

The air between them grew heavy with tension.

Duke Lorcan was driven by paternal fear, while Emperor Dominar relied on his spiritual connection to the land.

Seeing that neither man would budge, Kaine chose to intervene.

"Your Majesty, if I might speak..." Kaine stepped into view.

The two men only noticed his presence once he had spoken.

"Kaine, would you please escort the Duke away?"

"Leave? I will not move until you—"

Interrupting Duke Lorcan, Kaine moved between them and signaled for the Duke to calm himself.

A heated argument would achieve nothing.

In fact, it would only escalate the conflict.

"Allow me to deal with this," Kaine murmured, prompting Duke Lorcan to step back momentarily.

The Duke complied, though he did so with clear reluctance.

"Your Majesty," Kaine said with a respectful bow, maintaining decorum despite the gravity of the situation. "I have inspected the treasury and discovered a hidden bedchamber. Since the Empress has been frequenting the treasury lately, I suspect she knows its purpose. Would you be so kind as to tell me where she is?"

"You as well, Kaine?" Emperor Dominar sighed softly.

"Your Majesty, I would not disturb you if I did not believe this required your attention."

"I expected your investigation to prove her intentions were pure."

"I share that hope, sire—but I cannot ignore what I have found. I know you have trusted the land since before your coronation, but I ask you to grant this one request. If the land takes offense at your suspicion, I will take the blame upon myself."

"Very well..."

Despite his hesitation, Emperor Dominar decided to listen.

He never imagined he would doubt the land, but he could not ignore the counsel of his most trusted men.

Both Kaine and Duke Lorcan were pillars of the empire.

If they were both pressing him, he had little choice but to act.

Emperor Dominar made a shallow cut on his palm and held his hand out.

A single drop of blood fell onto the lake's calm surface.

Duke Lorcan and Kaine watched closely, both eager to find the Empress.

When she was crowned, a blood ritual had bound her to the land and the Emperor. This pact created a spiritual link, allowing them to feel each other's presence, communicate over long distances, and summon one another.

It was also an infallible way to track their locations.

Beyond these perks, the bond served as a safeguard.

A fatal injury to one would be felt by the other instantly.

Furthermore, if one neared death, they would be automatically teleported to the nearest member of the imperial line.

Now, Emperor Dominar was using that bond to find her.

The water where the blood had fallen turned crimson and began to swirl into a small whirlpool.

The Emperor watched the lake intently, waiting for the connection to solidify. Soon, ripples began to form, independent of the wind, until a reflection started to materialize.

The image showed a region untouched by the Black Rift.

In the center stood a massive, ancient stone monument.

The three men scrutinized the reflection, trying to identify the landmark.

Suddenly, the image distorted.

Splash!

The water erupted violently before them.

They watched in shock as a column of water surged toward the sky.

"It is the interference," Duke Lorcan whispered, stunned.

He had come seeking the Emperor’s absolute tracking method, never dreaming it could be thwarted. The realization raised a terrifying question: what power was capable of suppressing such a divine bond?

"I told you something was wrong!" Duke Lorcan bellowed. "Terribly wrong!"

"That monument... we can narrow down the search," Kaine said, manifesting a map from thin air and scanning for matches. "It must be far beyond the royal borders."

"It looks like the area near the Deific Grove of Concordia," Duke Lorcan suggested.

At this point, even Emperor Dominar could no longer deny the truth.

He stared at the water, unable to process the failure of the ritual.

Nothing should have been able to block it.

Not even the sorcery of neighboring nations possessed such power.

The Emperor looked up.

A shimmer of light appeared in the air, slowly taking the form of a person.

The three men recognized her immediately.

"Divine Saintess," Emperor Dominar said, his brow furrowing. "What brings you here?"

"The Tomb of Heroes," Kei Xun stated, ignoring his inquiry. "She is at the Tomb of Heroes, and a conflict has broken out. You should move quickly before she inflicts permanent harm upon the empire."

"Is Sir Rex also present?" Kaine asked. "Is he her target?"

"He is there..." Kei Xun confirmed with a nod. "And let me be clear. I have protected this realm for ages because of the Sun Ecclesia, and I have grown fond of it. But do not be mistaken—if the Haeltara Empire opposes Sir Rex, my protection will end."

"What...?" Emperor Dominar looked at her, baffled.

Their history was long and deep.

Rex was merely a knight; why would she show him such extreme favoritism?

"What of my daughter?!" Duke Lorcan demanded.

"She is unharmed but is currently heading toward the battle," Kei Xun answered; she could sense Princess Davina changing course. "I advise you to hurry. Once she is caught in the crossfire, there will be no escape."

The moment Kei Xun vanished, Kaine and Duke Lorcan dashed away at full speed.

Only Emperor Dominar remained by the lake.

He looked down at the water, his eyes shaking with doubt. "Have you truly failed me this time?"

...

"We have been exiled from our homeland. For how long? The memory has faded."

A figure emerged from the depths of a cavern.

Each heavy footfall was accompanied by the rhythmic strike of a cane against the stone floor.

"Time moves differently in this place, but it was ages ago. Our recollections of that era are dim. No Alpha. No packs. No support. Survival in this world has been a grueling struggle, and we have lost so many. We went from thousands to just a few."

A dark, freezing wind blew into the cave.

The air was thick with voidal energy, far more concentrated than usual.

However, the figure’s thick fur easily repelled the cold.

"Yet, we endured... Our forms adapted and shifted; we are no longer like our kin back home. Our transformation was tragic and grim. But survival is our only priority now, and we must embrace what we have become."

Stepping out of the cave, the figure gazed upward.

As always, the sky was choked with black clouds.

Neither the sun nor the moon could pierce the gloom.

"Even though we have adjusted to this world, the hope of returning home remains. It is a constant thought. Every one of us longs for the journey back. To see our kind again. To find our Origin... our families."

The figure looked down from the precipice and saw shadows staring back from below.

Dozens of them.

They radiated an excitement that had long been absent.

"Our hope had nearly withered... The way home seemed lost. There was a prophecy from a dead man that someone capable of leading us back would eventually appear. It sounded like the desperate ramblings of the dying, yet many clung to it."

"I was not one of them... I refused to believe. Until you appeared. Now, I will permit myself to hope once more."

Clang!

The figure struck her cane against the earth, sending a resonant soundwave echoing for miles.

She looked down at the shadows, the last survivors of her race.

"I am your Shaman!" she cried out with fierce intensity. "I have heard your cries. A stranger bearing our scent now walks these lands. The prophecy is real! Now... let us find him."

Aoouuuu!