The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1781: Cornering the Princess

"Grr... This is the end of the road."

Reaching the precipice of a jagged cliff, Fenrik paused to survey the landscape stretching out before him.

From this elevated position, he looked down upon a massive canyon that had been transformed into a sprawling metropolitan city. Long ago, he had visited this place for a celebration, but the circumstances of his return were now its grim opposite.

"Verrathen Canyon," Valkis remarked, coming to a halt at Fenrik’s side.

He gazed into the depths with a matching sense of melancholy, mourning the fact that events had led to this conclusion.

Just as Evelyn had predicted, the journey into the core of the Scarlet Banes Kingdom had become suspiciously effortless. She had already warned the primary commanders of the Great Army that Princess Selene was likely baiting them into a kill zone.

Given her accuracy regarding the war's ferocity thus far, her intuition on this matter was likely just as sharp.

"There was an era where we Werewolves knelt before the Demons and Angels," Fenrik murmured, his eyes scanning the silent canyon. "To ensure our survival, our forefathers submitted temporarily, waiting for the right moment to strike. Why does she persist in this resistance?"

"Pride," Valkis croaked. "She refused to bow to one she considers a false Werewolf."

"Whether he is false or not isn't for us to determine."

"Regardless, the fact that Emperor Rex was named a Prince despite lacking the bloodline of the Origin makes him a pretender in their eyes. The Emperor never even claimed to be a Werewolf, yet she still cannot discard her arrogance."

The two warriors suddenly stiffened as they detected someone approaching from the rear.

They didn't even need to look back to recognize the visitor.

"Your Majesty..."

Valkis and Fenrik glanced over their shoulders as Evelyn walked toward them.

They stepped apart, clearing a path for Evelyn to take her place between them.

"So, this is Verrathen Canyon," Valkis noted, staring out at the vista. "We have her backed into a corner..."

Following the world’s awakening, the realm had been flooded with intense energy, elevating its level and causing violent shifts in the topography. This had slowed the Great Army’s progress, as the very earth had become unrecognizable.

Despite the lack of enemy resistance on the road, the legions had lost their way several times.

It was a struggle to align their outdated maps with a landscape that no longer resembled their memories.

As the figureheads of the Great Army, Valkis, Fenrik, and Mavok had been forced to deploy scouts constantly.

Yet, despite the setbacks, they had finally arrived at their destination.

"What kind of defenses do you imagine she has readied?" Evelyn inquired, her voice carrying a soothing quality.

Her piercing red gaze landed on Valkis first.

"If she is indeed drawing us into a trap, she likely has multiple packs stationed along the perimeter," Valkis said, gesturing toward the jagged terrain and hills encircling Verrathen Canyon. "She would attempt to whittle down our ranks there, using the heavy fog to her advantage."

Aside from its sheer scale, the city was currently swallowed by a dense, suffocating mist.

Visibility was severely compromised, comparable to the whiteout conditions of a blizzard.

Under such circumstances, detecting an ambush would be nearly impossible. Only those with supernatural senses would be able to navigate the border and reach the city proper. While Werewolves would excel here, the Great Army was a multi-racial force.

Elves possessed the keenest senses after the Werewolves.

However, the Tigermen, Orcs, and Dwarves would be sitting ducks in this environment.

Even the Elves would struggle; the mist forced combat into a claustrophobic, lethal range. They might sense a foe at the last second, but by then, the blades would already be at their throats.

Such close-quarters chaos placed them at a severe disadvantage.

This was especially true when facing Werewolves in their element.

"What is our countermeasure?" Evelyn questioned. "How do we bypass this?"

"We must integrate the Great Army," Valkis replied. "Place Elves at the heart of every legion and station our close-combat specialists at the rear. Simultaneously, we should deploy bait scouts to trigger their first strike, while sending a high-tier scouting party through the dried riverbed."

Evelyn gave a subtle nod and gestured for him to begin reorganizing the ranks as he had described.

Until now, the Great Army had been partitioned by race to maximize the natural chemistry of fighting alongside one's own kind. However, as Valkis noted, that strategy had to be abandoned for this terrain.

The scout plan was equally sound.

Forcing the enemy to reveal their hand before the main force committed was vital to minimizing casualties.

Furthermore, a powerful group moving through the dry river could pinpoint the source of any skirmishes or predict enemy rotations. Evelyn realized it was wise to consult them; she might not have devised such a tactical approach on her own.

"And what of you?" She turned her attention to Fenrik. "What is your assessment?"

"While we have successfully drawn in many Alpha Primes, the elite inner circle serving Princess Selene is still unaccounted for," Fenrik stated, looking away from the canyon. "Some of their domains are distant, and we may have outpaced them. However, to prevent being flanked, we must sweep the outer ring and establish protective wards."

"In these scenarios, simply stepping into the territory can signal a loss," he added grimly. "I have a lingering sense of dread about this."

Evelyn took his words to heart.

Compared to her, Fenrik and Valkis were seasoned veterans of countless wars.

Their strategic minds were valuable, but their instincts were priceless.

While Valkis offered tactical logic, Fenrik provided an intuition forged over millennia of Cultivation and combat.

"Proceed," Evelyn said with a wave of her hand.

Left alone, she stood on the cliff's edge, her eyes fixed on the distant castle and the towering cathedrals near the city's heart. This upcoming clash would determine if the Scarlet Banes Kingdom would be absorbed by the Clarentium Empire.

Given their streak of victories, one might expect her to feel invincible.

She did not.

She remained vigilant; caution was a virtue even when one held the upper hand.

"This has been her domain for a thousand years," Gistella said, approaching from behind to stand at her side. "I overheard some Werewolves discussing it. It is only natural to be wary, despite our overwhelming military strength."

"Can you read my thoughts now?" Evelyn asked with a soft laugh.

"It isn't difficult when your concerns are written so clearly on your face."

"I am not truly afraid of Princess Selene’s legions. My concern is that Rex might return at any moment."

"He will be occupied for a while longer," Gistella answered, a faint chuckle in her voice. The thought brought her some peace—they had already assisted Rex in the Spirit Realm, and if they triumphed here, he would return to find one less burden on his shoulders. "We urged him not to hurry. By the time he is ready, the Princess will be defeated and the capital will be ours."

"I like the sound of that," Evelyn said, closing her eyes and tilting her face upward.

She soaked in the moonlight.

Her thoughts drifted back to the Spirit Realm, pleased that her advice had proven useful for Rex.

'But he is facing an Archangel there,' Evelyn pondered, thinking of Richard, the infiltrator who had tried to manipulate the Empire into a conflict with the Angels. 'I hoped he would realize the Angels are the true threat, even beyond the Fourthborn, but this complicates things.'

After hearing the prophecy from Madam Qonvale, her fear of the Angels had intensified.

The description had been so vivid it remained burned into Evelyn’s mind.

Now that Rex had made contact with the Angels—and a hostile one at that—she feared he might be manipulated into the war Richard desired. She couldn't allow that, especially while Richard's true agenda remained a mystery.

'Hah... I must focus on the task at hand first,' Evelyn thought.

When she opened her eyes again, her expression darkened into a frown.

"Gistella..." she called out, still watching the heavens. "Rex has an issue with the Blood Moon, doesn't he?"

"Yes, I believe so. Is something wrong?" Gistella asked.

"Look at that..." Evelyn pointed to the moon, which was shifting from a pale rose to a deep crimson. "We still have time before the Blood Moon truly rises, right? Since its influence is hostile, I want this war finished before it peaks."

"No, I don't believe it's time yet. There should be a day or two before it full blooms. I will consult Sintra for an exact time."

"Very well, I will wait here."

Gistella headed back to the main camp to find Sintra, who was currently preparing a powerful War Spell.

As the Shaman appointed by Prince Alaric to assist the conquest, this was her primary duty.

"A God wouldn't concern themselves with someone like me," Evelyn whispered, turning her eyes away from the gathering Blood Moon. "Rex is the one they view as a threat. Besides, Rex wouldn't have left us if he didn't think we were safe."

For the next hour, the Great Army held its ground.

Tigermen kept their muscles warm with exercises and light sparring, anticipating the coming fray.

Elves offered prayers to Mother Nature, practiced their archery, and refined their offensive formations.

Dwarves spent the time honing their blades, tending to their war bears, and etching defensive runes onto their gear.

Orcs engaged in rowdy brawls, venting their restless excitement for the impending battle.

As for the Werewolves, many who knew the winding paths of Verrathen Canyon were dispatched to secure the perimeter. A few packs were sufficient to patrol a mile radius, utilizing their heightened senses to ensure no enemies were lurking nearby.

Meanwhile, Valkis and a handpicked unit went ahead to scout the path toward the central plaza.

Fenrik organized several teams to investigate the outer edges of the canyon, taking Elven specialists to install wards and set traps wherever the land allowed. Mavok stayed at the camp, ensuring all sub-commanders understood the new tactical shifts Valkis had implemented.

Though Evelyn was eager to strike, she refused to be reckless.

Thorough preparation was mandatory before sieging a fortified stronghold.

Furthermore, there was one final individual the Great Army was waiting for before launching their assault.

And that person finally arrived.

Crack—!

Evelyn’s ears twitched at the sound of a thunderous explosion.

She turned to see a massive plume of dust erupting in the distance. Soldiers immediately rushed to form a protective circle around Evelyn while others surrounded the source of the smoke. Every warrior was on high alert, reaching their combat positions in seconds.

"Stand down," Evelyn ordered, her eyes narrowing as she looked into the haze. "She is not an enemy."

"I thought you would have toppled this kingdom by now," a voice echoed from within the dust. A pair of glowing white eyes pierced through the gloom, accompanied by an aura so heavy the surrounding soldiers felt a physical weight on their shoulders. "I suppose I expected too much."

"Welcome back, Adhara," Evelyn replied with a shake of her head, dismissing the jab.

As the dust settled, a figure emerged.

Adhara remained in her Werewolf form—a sleek, deadly silhouette that radiated menace despite her compact size. Her lithe frame was covered in fresh, unhealed scars from her brutal encounter with Sven.

She was carrying an Elf over her shoulder like a sack—the very one Evelyn had sent to find her.

Of the entire group sent on that mission, this Elf was the sole survivor.

Recognizing Adhara, the soldiers lowered their weapons and stepped back.

Her violent arrival had made them fear an attack, but fortunately, she was an ally.

"Now, are you going to explain exactly what happened to Kyran?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing with intensity.