The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1801: The Peacemaker’s Switch

"What nonsense are you uttering, Amanir?"

From the shadows, Linthia stepped forward.

Her footsteps felt as light as air, as if she glided effortlessly, accompanied by Ethan.

"A sneak like you giving advice?" She let out a mocking laugh, amused by the absurdity. "Stop bothering the unfortunate woman."

"Linthia?" Amanir growled, folding his ears as though mimicking crossed arms. "Returned already? Things were calm without your presence."

"His Majesty dispatched me back—since he doubts your ability to safeguard them," Linthia motioned for Ethan to take a seat nearby. "You allowed him to roam alone? What if a voidal beast had seized him?"

"Yet he's unharmed, right?" Amanir shot back.

"True, thanks to my intervention," Linthia tilted her chin toward Ethan. "I spotted him straying beyond the boundary."

"What?!" Amanir burst out in shock, his expression swiftly shifting to fury. He glared at Ethan, eyes narrowing sharply. "I warned you against venturing too far, remember? Rex would have my head if you perished. If you're set on self-destruction, wait until you're home. Don't pull me into your mess."

"I apologize," Ethan rubbed the nape of his neck sheepishly. "I lost my way."

"His Majesty must hear of this," Linthia sighed, shaking her head in dismay.

"Hey," Amanir hovered closer, jabbing his ear toward her face. His teeth ground together in a blend of rage and irritation. "You're not the gentle, pure Linthia I remember. What occurred in the Well of the Untold? Did some bitter, spirit-loathing middle-aged woman possess you?"

"I'm not possessed," Linthia replied with a casual shrug. "I just see more clearly now what a fool you are."

"Fool? Me, a fool?! Lest you've forgotten, I aided Rex the most."

"Heh... Bragging like some flash-in-the-pan hero—"

April listened as their quarrel faded into the distance.

Her gaze dropped to the earth, far more captivating than observing the duo's spat.

Thoughts swirled chaotically in her head.

’Chance...’ The word echoed in her mind as she fixed on the jagged fissure in the rough terrain, hoping the solution might emerge if she focused intensely. ’Revenge against the realm.’

Despite racking her brain relentlessly, no plan came to her.

She struggled to devise a method to seize this moment.

Still, she conceded that Amanir spoke truth.

Displaying weakness wasn't an option, and she had to exploit this opening.

That is, if she truly desired the goal she claimed to crave.

A spark of determination ignited in her eyes, absent just moments before.

Before long, Rex came back from his errands.

He'd vowed to Ethan to stroll together once more, as companions.

Yet after concluding his chat with April, Linthia's message about Haxel reached him. He instructed Ethan to hold on for his return. The route to escort Ethan back aligned with April's location, so she lingered too.

Though Rex had concluded matters with April, one final shared walk posed no harm.

Since leaving to handle affairs, he'd recovered much of his power, though new injuries scarred his form. April's eyes widened in concern, her brow furrowing. Her thoughts tumbled in disarray, yet she could still detect the strange aura.

The cuts were recent, but what truly drew her notice was the crackling voidal essence.

Voidal creatures had surely clashed with him en route.

Nevertheless, intuition suggested deeper layers to the encounter.

Her instincts insisted on it. And they'd never misled her regarding Rex.

"Been in a scrape?" Amanir chuckled. "You appear dreadful."

"Something along those lines." Rex dismissed it with a wave, unwilling to elaborate.

Amanir glanced at Linthia, silently querying if she knew Rex's activities.

She denied it with a shake of her head.

All she understood was his departure with the Shade Crawlers to an unknown destination.

Their eyes returned to Rex.

Even as he led the way along the winding trail encircling the modest hill, vanishing into the gloom with Ethan and April trailing, they caught the grin on his features. Satisfaction radiated from him over some secret.

That grin chilled them to the core.

Though unaware of Rex's schemes, the expression promised doom for foes.

Amanir and Linthia felt sorrow for the empire clashing with Rex.

Traveling on foot proved exhausting and lengthy. Thus, Linthia conjured a temporary shadow sled that raced near supersonic velocity across the Black Rift. Impressive, given the resistance from the flow.

Delivering Ethan to his sanctuary required scarcely ten minutes.

Honoring his pledge for a stroll, they'd halt two or three miles out and proceed on foot.

Rex occupied the sled's leading edge, arms folded.

He cast a quick look at April.

Positioned on the right side, she gazed into the void's emptiness, lost in contemplation.

He'd anticipated words from her, yet conversation seemed absent.

April had embraced his choice.

The mere idea of parting carved emptiness in his chest, though he knew her pain dwarfed his. This quiet suited them. Resentment toward him would forge her path forward.

Emotions tangled within him—sorrow included. Yet this remained his chosen course.

Conversely, Ethan proved chattier than anticipated.

"Can't you reconsider?" he pressed, bending forward over the sled's edge to meet Rex's stare. Desperation gleamed in his eyes, yearning to avert disaster. "Princess Davina will surely aid in clearing your reputation. Lady April can assist too."

"That's overly optimistic," Rex answered, eyes averted. "Neither can intervene. Ultimately, the family head rules. The Duke and Marquess will judge. To them, I'm a traitor who betrayed the empress. A traitor akin to Mirza."

Rex spoke accurately.

Ethan recognized the validity.

Still, he held onto the dream of avoiding violence.

Noting Ethan's furrowed brow, creased like damp fabric from intense pondering, Rex mirrored the reflection. His wrath targeted Empress Morgana alone, not the empire. He sought only her surrender and aid in negotiating with the Sky People.

Should the empire yield to those terms, he'd forgo slaughter.

Despite the urge pulsing through every fiber, self-control held.

Likely, the Blood Moon fueled his bloodlust.

Once fury ebbed, indifference might follow.

Moreover, no system quest compelled conflict with the empire this time. The absence felt strange. Rex sensed disquiet, yet paranoia probably exaggerated it.

Regardless, options existed.

Peace awaited if demands met satisfaction.

But fulfillment seemed improbable.

Requesting an empire yield its empress... Submission appeared remote.

Rex remembered Empress Morgana's reverent stare at Stelios.

Almost worshipful, like beholding a god.

Evelyn's words to the empress echoed—mere puppet, existing to smile and gesture.

That jab must have wounded deeply.

In her position, Rex might shatter.

A smirk formed as speculation hit him about her actions.

With a theory on the motive, he could unravel the scheme.

Bloodshed might prove unnecessary.

Locating and confronting Empress Morgana first would force minor concessions from the empire. No full capitulation required—just a humbled pride acknowledging repercussions.

Rex revised his strategy mentally.

He withheld it from Ethan.

Not from reluctance, but the empire's vast resources might locate her first, dooming peace. Better no vows to Ethan.

Linthia dispersed the sled, and they advanced toward the distant bubble.

No voidal beasts lurked here.

This zone stayed monitored, with ongoing population checks and patrols.

Ethan persisted in urging an alternate route.

Desperation laced his tone. Loyalty? Dread of losing empire or friend? Unclear.

His anxiety rang true.

Strangely, proximity to the bubble heightened his distress. Likely realizing separation sealed their fate—no further pleas, eternal foes.

The party now stood mere hundreds of meters from the luminous city dome.

Warmth enveloped the air by the bubble, a stark contrast to the chill clutching them.

Winds howled fiercer.

Though farewell loomed, the realm's immensity remained indifferent.

Rex had never explored this sector, nor faced such relentless gales.

He'd assumed mastery of the area, yet gaps persisted.

A puzzled frown crossed April's face as she surveyed surroundings.

But Rex ignored her focus.

Ethan remained still. His head bowed.

"Stay hidden well," Rex advised, clapping a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "I'll limit the harm for your benefit. No indiscriminate civilian deaths. Once I secure the empress, I'll depart the empire. That much, my friend... I vow."

Ethan stayed silent briefly.

Rex noticed him grasping April's hand, startling both as much as him.

Reflecting, Ethan had shadowed him the journey's length.

Now he flanked April, edging nearer.

"Forgive me," Ethan whispered.

Rex's brows knit in suspicion.

Icy dread pierced his chest at the phrase. He whipped his head around, activating the System to scan frantically, but delay cost him. Twisting roots erupted from below, ensnaring Linthia and Amanir.

An energy projectile hurtled from afar, striking them instantly.

"Ambush!" Rex bellowed, transforming into his beastly form.

He lunged for Ethan, who dodged, yanking April with him.

A flash of green streaked by.

A huge battle-axe descended from overhead, yet the arcane organ throbbed within Rex, triggering his Blank state. A surge of crimson force halted the blade from cleaving his skull, granting a moment to identify the attacker.

A royal knight, clad in full battle attire.

Emerald plate, a billowing cloak of white and regal green, radiating ancient warrior's resolve.

He'd glimpsed one at his own knighting rite, recognizing the elite.

Far from feeble—an Eternal Spirit.

Yet his presence dwarfed Rex's level.

Twin thuds echoed as two more green blurs charged low, evading his sightlines. But a werewolf's perception demands respect.

Rex dodged a keen edge with a foot lift, then vaulted back to distance himself.

A fourth royal knight materialized overhead, axe-kicking him earthward.

Boom—!

Amid the rising dust, Rex hacked up blood.

A barbed vine awaited his fall, now skewering his gut.

Denying any counter, the fifth royal knight struck his leg.

The armored boot crushed his knee squarely. A crack resounded, shattering the cap, drawing a sharp gasp. Regeneration surged immediately—terrifying to witness. But the fifth knight swiftly drew a finger-length needle and plunged it into Rex's throat.

Toxin flooded his veins, halting healing and sealing his energy.

Rex lay captured.