The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1764: Hunting the Hunter (3)

In his own way, Stelios had never underestimated Rex.

He meticulously, almost ritualistically, followed the guidebook he himself had authored a long time ago on how to hunt Werewolves. It was a cold, flawless execution manual designed to maximize his chances of victory against any Werewolf.

Because this was to be his final hunt, it was only fitting that he perform every action perfectly, without a single error.

Unfortunately for him, perfection is no guarantee of success.

Once again, another of his rules was proven wrong.

Rex was supposed to be isolated within this realm; the inner pack members who influenced him most were not by his side. It should have been the ideal moment to hunt an Alpha Werewolf—when he is separated from his beloved pack.

But that plan backfired spectacularly.

Despite the separation, his pack members possessed an acute intuition for danger.

The Luna, specifically, has an incredibly sharp instinct.

The moment Rex departed without a word, Evelyn had already foreseen a situation like this unfolding.

She understood that Rex was desperate for whatever he sought in the Spirit Realm, a hunger so consuming that he avoided even saying goodbye to the pack. He was afraid that some of them might make him second-guess himself and fill him with doubts.

Doubts that would have weakened his resolve.

Evelyn could already detect the sharp scent of desperation coming from that resolve.

Consequently, she made her own preparations.

With the assistance of the entity residing within the moon earrings, Evelyn suppressed her bond with Rex until it was virtually severed. Since the connection between an Alpha and a Luna is the most potent, she was able to capitalize on that link.

Rex is resourceful.

Having stayed by his side through every trial, that fact was obvious to Evelyn.

However, the primary obstacle in this case was that they were dwelling in different realms.

That was likely why he felt the need to struggle through this alone.

Thus, Evelyn chose to cut their connection—spending days pooling as much moonlight energy as possible within herself. She even commanded the Alpha Primes to pile up the corpses from the fallen cities, ordering Sintra to convert them into moonlight energy.

While the great army marched, Evelyn continued to amass this moonlight energy.

It reached a point where Sintra warned her to stop, fearing her body might explode from the sheer volume she contained.

But she refused to quit.

Rex had endured so much and was precious to her—she would do anything to assist him.

When the signal finally arrived from Rex, she threw open the connection and flooded it with moonlight energy.

In that instant, the bond swelled tenfold.

Combined with an ancient ritual used by Werewolves to cross into the Spirit Realm in the primordial era, her soul, along with the others, was ripped away from the Mortal Realm. Of course, arriving there was one thing.

Adapting to the environment of that realm was an entirely different challenge.

But this was Rex.

If anyone was capable of carving a path through the impossible, it was him.

And he succeeded.

Rex discovered the way, neutralized the hostility of the Spirit Realm, and helped them adapt almost instantly.

That is how Evelyn and the others were able to be present at this moment.

None of them could maintain this state for long, but it would be more than enough to help Rex conclude this struggle.

"Good work..."

Evelyn’s eyes widened momentarily when she felt a weight settle on her shoulder.

Glancing to the side, she saw Rex’s large hand resting there.

The gesture caught her completely off guard, not to mention the compliment that came out of nowhere. At most, she expected her efforts to earn an acknowledging nod, but what she received went far beyond that.

Rex looked down at her with a faint smile.

"I would’ve been in trouble if it weren’t for you," he admitted, his voice sounding strained.

For some reason, the sight of his smile made Evelyn’s heart flutter, making it difficult to maintain eye contact.

She turned her face away, hiding her reddening cheeks from Rex's view.

"Don’t thank me yet," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of joy. "Finish him off."

Rex turned his gaze toward Stelios, who was staring at the reinforcements in sheer horror.

Above them, several thunderous violet explosions erupted as a ghostly white Werewolf and a fiery serpent blocked a massive contingent of celestial warriors. Only a few of the warriors were destroyed by the blasts, but none could bypass her.

On the flanks, celestial warriors were falling from the sky.

They crashed down like comets, the ground trembling with every impact, only to be torn apart by another battle-hardened Werewolf. None of the celestial warriors summoned through his sacrifice could provide him any aid now.

It was almost as if he was the one who was isolated and alone, rather than the Royal Black Prince.

"Don’t start running now..."

Stelios’ body went rigid as a chilling voice drifted into his ears.

Looking forward, he saw Rex approaching with slow, deliberate steps, raising sharp claws that were polished and ready to shred him. Beside him stood the Luna, Evelyn, who was infusing him with luna energy.

One could see Rex’s complexion visibly improving because of her support.

"Aren’t you supposed to be the one hunting me?"

"G-Get away!"

Pride, self-respect, and arrogance all vanished the moment death became a certainty.

Stelios turned his back and fled.

His divine decree, the sacred power that allowed him to command the holy knives, was now strained after a portion of it had been sacrificed. His holy energy was spent, and his wings were in ruins. He had nothing left to fight with.

The only thing remaining was the raw, primal instinct for self-preservation.

Survival was the priority.

If he lived, he could hunt Rex again another day and succeed.

As long as he survived... he could pay back this humiliation a hundred times over in the future.

"Look at you..." Rex tilted his head and smirked, watching Stelios scurry away like a cockroach. He no longer possessed the dignity and might he displayed half an hour ago. "Where are your manners? If other Angels saw you in this state, where would you hide your face?"

Swish—!

Rex gave chase.

He was significantly slower than he was at his peak, yet he remained much faster than the current Stelios.

Glancing back over his shoulder, Stelios turned pale at the sight of Rex galloping toward him like a beast.

It was terrifying.

Clang!

Rex lunged forward, reaching out with his claws.

Stelios managed to leap away, but the claws struck his foot, throwing him off balance.

He hit the dirt and rolled across the ground.

By the time he opened his eyes, Rex was already looming over him.

Instinct took control. Stelios curled his body and thrust both feet toward the sky—driving them into Rex’s chin with a desperate, powerful kick. The impact didn't feel like hitting flesh, but rather forged stone, causing Stelios more pain than it did Rex.

Though the strike snapped Rex’s head back slightly, it wasn't enough to halt his momentum.

Crack—!

Stelios ground his teeth in agony as his side was struck.

His armor shattered, leaving his body unprotected beneath.

Rex’s eyes gleamed as he spotted the vulnerability.

In a panic, Stelios reached for the pouch at his belt.

He shoved his hand inside, grabbed a handful of its contents, and threw it straight into Rex’s face.

It was pure, enchanted silver dust.

It felt like a swarm of burning needles hitting him, searing Rex’s eyes and burning his throat.

Furthermore, his regeneration was still incredibly sluggish.

"You’re being slow," Evelyn noted, using her luna energy to brush the dust away. She stood beside Rex, looking at him with a confused expression. "You’re fighting like a common animal. His movements are full of openings; I’m certain you can see them as well."

Rex was the undisputed master of close-quarters combat.

No one in the Mortal Realm was his equal, thanks to his vast experience in countless life-or-death struggles.

Finishing Stelios in his current state should have been simple.

"I’ll kill him the way I choose," Rex stated, his eyes glowing like molten gold. "Don’t interfere."

Evelyn frowned, feeling as though she were speaking to a stranger.

However, her attention was diverted as she sensed someone nearby.

Rex should have sensed this figure approaching as well—but it appeared that he somehow didn't.

Since Rex insisted on doing things his way, she decided to step aside.

A short distance away, Empress Morgana watched the scene and clenched her fists tightly.

The situation was becoming increasingly grim for both the Archangel of Knives and herself.

"I have to step in," she whispered to herself, preparing to intervene. "Even if he hates me for it later, I must help him now."

"No, you don't need to help him," a voice said, stopping her in her tracks.

Empress Morgana turned and saw a figure appearing from the distance—a woman who seemed to be more than just human. She narrowed her eyes, recognizing her as one of the figures that had manifested beside Rex earlier.

A member of the Silverstar Pack.

The woman walked with an elegance that made her seem to float. Her gaze was calm and steady, as if she were completely detached from the world. Empress Morgana felt that the air of authority the woman carried was not unlike her own.

It was clear that this figure was the Luna, and likely an empress herself in the Mortal Realm.

"What did you just say...?"

"I said, there is no need to assist the Archangel. Do not involve yourself any further."

Seeing Evelyn standing before her with her chin held high, Empress Morgana’s face turned ashen.

Only a select few were permitted such boldness on this continent, and Evelyn was not among them.

"Do not be mistaken; I am more powerful than the Archangel of Knives in this realm. I could kill you quite easily."

Evelyn responded with a faint, refined smile.

"Let us leave the displays of brute force to those who enjoy them," she remarked, gesturing toward the battle behind her. Her voice remained a calm contrast to the roar of the catastrophic fight. "I believe we should be more... sensible."

Empress Morgana’s eyes narrowed at those words.

It appeared Evelyn knew who she was—knew she was the empress of the empire that ruled these lands.

"The tide is turning," Evelyn continued, elegantly cupping her hands below her navel. "Would it not be more prudent to discuss where you will stand when the inevitable conclusion arrives? You wouldn't want to be on the losing side."

Empress Morgana swallowed her fury.

A thread of cool condescension, as fine and sharp as silk, was woven into every word.

She could tell Evelyn was already assuming Rex’s side would emerge victorious, and it was infuriating.

However, exploding in anger would only damage her own ego.

It was not the reaction of an empress, and Morgana could not allow that.

Especially not in front of another empress.

"What are you implying?"

"I am suggesting you stand down and let this play out."

"And why on earth would I do that?"

Empress Morgana raised an eyebrow; she couldn't think of a single reason to comply.

Doing so would only aid Rex's side, not her own.

"How exactly do you plan to explain this to the emperor?" Evelyn asked, looking around at the surrounding devastation. It was a scene that defied explanation—particularly the lingering energy signatures that would remain. "If I were to lie to the emperor and be discovered, there would be no saving me. I’m certain the same applies to you, does it not...?"

"Perhaps the emperor would spare me out of affection, but what about the others?" she added.

Of course, that was a valid point for Empress Morgana as well.

If Emperor Dominar discovered she was lying, she would be in massive trouble.

Even if she could persuade the Emperor to forgive her, what about the rest? The nobility? Those in service to the royal family, like Kaine? She would never be able to keep her status—especially since it hadn't been long since she was accepted.

"If you stand down, I will have Rex assist you in covering this up," Evelyn proposed.

Empress Morgana raised a brow. "How can you guarantee that? How could you possibly persuade him?"

At this, Evelyn tilted her head slightly.

Her lips curled into a mocking smile.

"I hold genuine power within my empire," she said, raising her hand as if she held the nation itself. "Perhaps I approached this incorrectly, and you mistakenly believe we are in the same position. We are not. Forgive me for being unclear, but I am not a disposable empress like you."