The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1779: Forbidden Mantra

Rex rose to his feet, turning his back on Nivellen.

More than fifteen minutes had passed since he entered the Banished Realm; the time for his departure had arrived.

Had his objectives been fully met, the situation would be far simpler, but much work remained.

Because the restorative essence of an Archangel’s blood was currently mending his soul, the restrictions on his presence in the Spirit Realm as a visitor had loosened. Rex no longer felt the pressure of a ticking clock.

While he was certain he could have finished his tasks before the original deadline, having extra time was a welcome advantage.

Only one primary mission remained: he had to save Devo.

Truthfully, he questioned if obtaining the Phoenix Feather was actually a simpler feat than what lay ahead in rescuing Devo.

Kaelthar had provided the coordinates of Devo’s imprisonment, yet the true obstacle was reaching the Sky City itself.

The Sky City possessed power that far eclipsed that of Stelios.

Attempting to storm the Sky City with raw strength was a fool's errand; Rex knew he stood no chance in a direct assault.

Given that the Sky City maintained authority over every kingdom and empire within the Spirit Realm, their collective might had to be staggering. It was highly probable that the members of the Skilian Divine Court had all reached the Primordial Spirit rank.

Such a level of Cultivation was impossible for him to achieve in the immediate future.

Reaching that stage would be the equivalent of jumping to the eleventh or twelfth rank in a mere matter of days.

Rex realized he either required outside assistance,

or perhaps a desperate, unthinkable gamble—

something he would never consider under normal circumstances.

"Is there anything you require my assistance with?" Nivellen inquired from behind him, picking up on his visible distress.

"Has your strength returned?" Rex asked, glancing back. "Am I able to draw upon your power once more?"

"Completely? Not yet, as recovery takes time. However, you need not worry," she replied with conviction. The remedy Rex provided had essentially granted her a rebirth from the brink of destruction, leaving her feeling youthful and untainted. "No amount of power you draw will deplete me."

That was a relief to hear.

Rex had been neglecting the Mask of the Banished Eclipse, which remained at the High Spirit rank.

It was a waste to ignore it, especially since it housed the Minor Law of Foresight—an ability that would prove invaluable. Now that Nivellen was cleansed of Chaos Corruption, there was no longer any reason to leave the artifact unused.

"The Banished Realm prevents me from acting on a grand scale as Kaiser did, yet I can still influence the Spirit Realm," Nivellen added, reassuring Rex of her willingness and capability to help. "Tell me what you need, and I will do everything in my power."

"No," Rex said, shaking his head. "Not yet. For the time being, just monitor the realm to see if Kaiser tries to interfere again."

While the aid of a Goddess was a powerful temptation, Rex preferred to wait.

Nivellen was a hidden trump card, and he didn't want to rely on her before testing his own limits.

Furthermore, such a move would likely attract unwanted attention from the higher divinities.

It was bad enough that the Lunirich Gods might unite against him again, but the notice of another deity would be catastrophic. Rex was already overwhelmed and did not need more divine eyes tracking his every move.

Maintaining stability was the better path.

At the very least, the worst-case scenario was Kaiser stepping in as he had before.

If Nivellen could simply act as a lookout and alert him to any shifts in Kaiser’s movements, that would be sufficient. "Are you capable of that?" he asked seriously. "Can you track Kaiser’s actions for me?"

"I can. Our powers share the same origin," Nivellen said with a smile.

Rex paused just as he was about to depart.

He recalled the moments he was nearly defeated by Empress Morgana and the assault from the Voidal Lord. Though he could normally endure such strikes, he needed a fallback for when his Qi was spent.

He did not fear his own end, but the thought of his companions dying terrified him.

He required a safeguard for when luck ran out.

Perhaps Nivellen held the key.

"Listen..." Rex looked over his shoulder once more. "You mentioned you could influence minor things, right?"

"That is correct."

"Could you infuse my body with your power to increase my strength?"

"Your Soul Artifact already serves that purpose. If you are asking for something beyond the artifact or the King Mark..." She trailed off, considering her words carefully. "There is a specific mantra. It would allow our essences to merge briefly, granting you a massive, temporary surge in power."

"Truly?" Rex turned fully toward her. "What is the man—"

"No, I will not," Nivellen interrupted him sharply. "I refuse to teach you that mantra. The danger to you is too great, and the price is far too high. We will find other methods."

"I understand..." Rex turned away.

His voice carried a hint of disappointment, as if he regretted missing out on such a technique.

However, a faint smirk touched his lips, hidden from Nivellen’s sight.

A short while later.

"How did you undergo such a transformation, Linthia?" Amanir walked in circles around her, studying her new form like a critic admiring a masterpiece. "I feared you were lost when you vanished so suddenly, but I was clearly mistaken! Just look at you!"

Linthia had just finished reinforcing the safety protocols around the vortex.

Voidal monsters were currently swarming outside, lured by the potent energy of the Phoenix Feather.

Fearing the vortex might fail before Rex regained consciousness, she had bolstered its defenses.

"I... I am not entirely sure myself," she replied with a modest smile.

Despite her immense new power and her almost otherworldly presence, her personality remained unchanged.

She was still the same shy girl who smiled easily.

Amanir found it heartening; she must have endured a great deal to gain such strength, and it would have been natural for her to become cold. That she was still herself felt like a miracle.

"Even so..." Amanir leaned toward her, shaking his head. "You realize how reckless that was, don't you? Entering the Black Rift with so little strength was practically a suicide mission. You gave Rex and me a real scare."

"I will remember that," Linthia said, bowing repeatedly in apology. "I am truly sorry."

Amanir ended his scolding.

Now that she recognized the danger of her actions, there was no need to dwell on it.

"Amanir..."

"Yes? Is something on your mind?"

"What took place while I was gone? How did things reach this state?"

"Ah, you missed quite a bit. Let me fill you in."

Since Linthia was returning to their side, she needed to understand the gravity of their current circumstances. Amanir detailed everything: Rex’s integration into the Castillon House, his various struggles, the pact he made with Empress Morgana, and the recent betrayal.

He left out no part of the story.

As she listened, Linthia’s fury began to simmer.

"How could they be so cruel?" Her eyes glowed with rage, and her aura flared like an angry fire. "His Majesty was merciful enough to avoid a path of slaughter—and yet she betrayed his trust like this?"

"It was a shock," Amanir sighed. "There was no logical reason for Empress Morgana to turn on him."

"Angels..." She glared at the ground with pure loathing. "Who could have guessed the two realms were linked?"

"Indeed. Had we known, we could have prevented this."

"His Majesty must be suffering terribly..."

Linthia understood that beneath his intimidating exterior, Rex was deeply compassionate toward those he cared for. He was the type to sacrifice himself if it meant protecting others, a trait evident in every move he made.

His ambitions were rooted in nobility and kindness.

But as is often the case, someone has to pay the price for such goodness.

Rex shouldered that burden alone.

His pain was immense and frequently went unseen by those around him.

That was the quality she admired most: he never uttered a single complaint. His only concern was ensuring his suffering spared others from the same fate. ‘I possess power now,’ Linthia thought, staring at her palms before tightening them into fists. ‘Power enough to support him. I swear—with everything I am, Your Majesty. I will follow you without question.’

Nearby, Alana sat watching the exchange.

She observed Linthia and Amanir with wonder, but her attention was primarily fixed on Linthia. She had never seen a form like this in all her thousands of years. Throughout her long life in the Spirit Realm, through encounters with terrifying voidal beasts and strange phenomena, she had never seen anything comparable.

‘Her body holds both life energy and voidal energy, which is remarkable. But her essence is even more baffling,’ Alana’s eyes shimmered as she attempted to peer through Linthia’s physical shell. ‘She is certainly not a Spirit.’

Normally, every being in the Spirit Realm shared a specific fundamental nature.

Whether Spirit or Voidal Monster, their souls were fused with their physical forms.

That was the defining characteristic of a Spirit.

But Linthia broke that rule.

Her body and energy were physically present before Alana, yet there was a sense of emptiness within. It was as if her current form was merely a projection—a distant echo—while her true soul and flesh were anchored in a completely different location.

"And what of her?" Linthia asked, looking toward Alana. "Who might she be?"

"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. But she did help Rex earlier," Amanir said with a shrug.

Judging by her clothes and the aura she projected, Amanir guessed she was connected to Kei Xun, but her exact identity remained a mystery to him. He hadn't been by Rex's side the entire time.

"I am Alana, a High Priestess of the Sun Ecclesia Church," she introduced herself. "I am an associate of Rex."

"It is an honor," Linthia gave a small bow. "Would you like me to help mend your injuries?"

Though the power was new and felt heavy in her limbs, Linthia could sense its capability. There was a deep, instinctive certainty that she could use it to heal. She hadn't tested it yet, but the knowledge was there, like an untapped pulse.

This was exactly how she was currently assisting Rex’s recovery.

She was helping his body expel the toxic energy and poison, allowing his natural regeneration to take over.

"No, I can handle it, though I appreciate the offer," Alana said with a strained smile, nearly hissing as the wound on her abdomen throbbed. "I require sunlight to properly close this..."

Suddenly, all three of them turned their heads.

Movement caught their attention.

It was Rex.

Rex’s soul fully reintegrated with his body before his eyes finally snapped open.

The look of desperation he had worn earlier was gone.

It was clear that his mission had been a success.

"What was the outcome?" Amanir asked immediately. "What was the purpose of those items?"

"To save the Countess of the Banished Dark Moon, a Lunirich Goddess," Rex replied. His answer stunned Amanir, Linthia, and Alana alike. None of them had known his true objective, and the revelation that he had saved a Goddess left them speechless. "And I succeeded."

"The Goddess is fortunate to have your aid, Your Majesty," Linthia said with deep respect.

In her eyes, anyone associated with Rex was fortunate.

She then looked up at him, "What is our next course of action, Your Majesty?"