The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 2 Burning Hatred

Having consumed its latest victim, the beast rotated its head slowly toward its rear, pinning its feral crimson eyes on Rex, who was peering through the doorway.

Witnessing this, Rex made a desperate decision to sprint downstairs with every ounce of strength he possessed.

Thud... Thud...

The heavy footfalls of the creature echoed behind him. Rex aimed for the exit, but the monster suddenly leaped toward the door, intercepting his path.

It moved with such effortless speed that Rex’s eyes couldn't even register the motion.

Confronted by the massive creature blocking his escape, Rex collapsed to the floor, but he scrambled up instantly and fled in the opposite direction, tears streaming down his face.

He spotted a cabinet in the living room and scrambled inside to hide.

Rex pulled the cabinet shut and squeezed his eyes closed, clutching his head tightly with his hands.

'Happy thoughts.'

'It will go away.'

He chanted the words his father had taught him like a mantra inside his mind, desperately trying to process a reality that still felt like a nightmare.

Thud... Thud... Thud...

The monster’s footsteps grew increasingly loud as it drew near.

Thud!

The vibrations stopped directly in front of his hiding spot. A shadow flickered through the crack of the cabinet door. Rex held his breath, muffling his face with a trembling hand.

'Mom... Dad... I'm so scared,' Rex sobbed silently in his thoughts.

A claw scraped against the wood, creating a rhythmic tapping sound. The cabinet door began to creak open slowly, as if the beast was intentionally savoring Rex’s terror.

But then, a sudden cry erupted: "AAAAHHHH!!"

~

Just moments prior,

Ms. Greene watched Rex enter the house before scanning the surroundings with a deep frown.

The neighborhood was drowned in an unsettling silence that made her skin crawl. Sensing something was wrong, she began walking down the street, passing the adjacent homes.

Her pace halted abruptly at the sound of a violent crash.

"What was that?" Ms. Greene whispered, glancing toward the house on her left.

The noise had originated from that very building.

Lights flickered through the windows as Ms. Greene approached cautiously, her brow furrowed in concentration.

Another thunderous smashing sound echoed from within the structure.

"Should I investigate?" Ms. Greene murmured to herself. She noticed that despite the loud commotion, not a single neighbor had stepped outside.

Just as she moved toward the entrance,

Shatter!

An upper-floor window exploded as a body was hurled through the glass. The person slammed into the ground right next to Ms. Greene, their flesh torn apart by deep, gaping claw marks.

Ms. Greene gasped in horror, collapsing to the pavement.

Her eyes widened as she realized the man lying beside her was already dead!

Growl!

A guttural growl drew her attention back to the broken window. Wasting no more time, she scrambled up and bolted toward her motorcycle.

However, as she reached her bike,

She spotted military convoys approaching from the far end of the street.

She prepared to start the engine and flee, but a sharp scream suddenly pierced the air—it was coming from Rex’s house.

She froze, looking back toward the house with intense worry.

Knowing Rex was trapped inside while chaos gripped the neighborhood, Ms. Greene abandoned her motorcycle and sprinted toward the house, barging through the door.

~

Back in the present,

"AAAAHHHH!!"

A piercing scream rang out. The voice was familiar to Rex, but his mind was too paralyzed by fear to identify it.

The monster turned calmly toward the noise, licking its lips in anticipation of another meal arriving at its doorstep.

It was Ms. Greene who had just burst inside.

She slumped to the floor in terror. 'What is this?! What is that thing?!' she screamed internally, paralyzed by the sight of the furred monstrosity.

The creature's appearance was so shocking that she remained rooted to the spot.

Seeing her, the beast shifted its focus to Ms. Greene, who appeared much more substantial than the small boy who barely satisfied its hunger.

But just as the monster prepared to lung, a thunderous howl echoed, sending a freezing shiver down Rex’s spine.

AOUUUUUU!!

The beast stopped in its tracks, its face a mask of mingled rage and dread.

It glanced toward the source of the howl before furiously seizing a nearby sofa and hurling it with immense power. The furniture flew over Ms. Greene, who ducked just in time.

Crash!

The couch smashed through the wall and landed outside.

Following this, the creature leaped through the hole in the wall, tearing through the structure as it escaped.

It didn't leave without casting one final glance at the petrified Ms. Greene, completely ignoring Rex hiding in the cabinet.

The monster vanished as quickly as a shadow in the night.

Rex climbed out of the cabinet and stared at the path the creature had taken, marked by a trail of blood.

Several surviving families were unfortunate enough to cross its path and were slaughtered instantly.

Rex stared at the crimson trail with a flicker of hatred he didn't quite comprehend before looking toward Ms. Greene.

'Nations across the globe are reporting large-scale incursions.'

'Unidentified entities have appeared without warning, attacking everyone in sight. A global state of emergency has been declared.'

'The assault began only minutes ago, yet millions are already reported dead.'

'Citizens are urged to remain indoors. Military forces are deploying nationwide. Please stay hidden and avoid making any noise.'

The television nearby blared the breaking news updates.

Ms. Greene, however, was oblivious to the broadcast. Her eyes were locked on Rex, who stood before her. She was stunned by the look on the boy's face.

'That isn't an expression a child should ever have!'

-----

CLANG!

Rex jerked awake from his nightmare, drenched in sweat. The jarring sound of an RV military vehicle coming to a halt snapped him back to reality, though the years-old memories continued to plague him.

A flash of raw loathing crossed his features before he masked it in an instant.

'Just wait, you disgusting beasts! Today marks my first step toward wiping out the Supernaturals and eventually finding you!' Rex thought of the furred demon that took his parents, his eyes burning with resolve.

The seeds of his vengeance were sown when the Supernatural murdered his mother and father for no reason, a trauma that replayed in his dreams without end.

It was the memory of his own helplessness that stung the most.

He had watched that thing kill his parents to sate its bloodlust, and every detail of the encounter remained burned into his mind despite the passage of time.

Rex rubbed his eyes, shaking off the remnants of sleep.

Beside him, two others were adjusting their military equipment. Like Rex, they were geared for war, and they were watching him with strange looks.

The conflict between Humanity and the Supernatural had ignited fifteen years ago.

It started abruptly, without any prior warning.

Out of nowhere, the Supernaturals revealed themselves, seizing half the planet and slaughtering every human in their path.

They were composed of various races.

Every non-human race was categorized as Supernatural. They had united to strike a defenseless humanity that was totally unprepared for their arrival.

They were merciless, sparing no one—not even infants.

In the face of this global catastrophe,

Human nations united their forces to fight back, leading to this prolonged war.

Yet, even with high-tech weaponry, humans were largely outmatched by the Supernatural.

The Supernatural entities were superior in every physical trait: they possessed super-strength, incredible speed, and sharpened senses that allowed them to kill in a heartbeat.

Some even wielded mystical powers that made human elite forces look amateurish.

Due to this overwhelming raw power, the Supernaturals were winning, but the tide began to stabilize when humans started manifesting their own power.

A power that offered a glimmer of hope to a desperate race.

These individuals were known as the Awakened—humans granted the ability to use magic following a natural phenomenon called Awakening.

These Awakened warriors could finally stand toe-to-toe with the Supernatural threat.

With their intervention, the war's momentum shifted slightly toward humanity, though victory remained a distant dream.

Driven by desperation, the military began drafting teenagers into the conflict.

Rex was among them, now twenty-two years old and orphaned.

He had enlisted at the age of twelve and had been training ever since. He was now part of the Special Reconnaissance Unit, specializing in stealth and scouting.

Before his enlistment,

Ms. Greene had taken pity on the boy who witnessed his parents' demise. She had adopted Rex and served as his legal guardian.

Today, Rex was embarking on his debut mission alongside two teammates.

During his time in the academy, the military had noted Rex’s exceptional ability to learn and adapt despite his young age.

Consequently, he was assigned to the Special Reconnaissance Unit.

After Rex had requested a field assignment multiple times, the command finally granted him his first mission alongside two other young soldiers.

"Hey, you okay? You looked like you were having a rough nightmare," Edward, the soldier beside him, inquired.

Rex responded with a grim, unsettling grin. "I'm fine. I'm just eager to see those monsters get blown to bits."

Edward gave a nervous chuckle and looked away.

Suddenly, Kyle, the third member in the RV, chimed in. "I can't believe we got stuck with the worst possible assignment," he laughed, his voice laced with self-mockery.

Rex noticed the underlying anxiety in Kyle’s eyes.

"It's a high-stakes operation, and unfortunately, we're the ones tagged for it," Edward said with a look of resignation.

Kyle snapped back, "But why us? There are plenty of other squads."

"The Sergeant Major said that while we're hunting ghouls, other Supernaturals are in the area. Sending high-ranking Awakened would be like lighting a flare in the dark."

"They’d be spotted instantly. That’s why it has to be us," Edward explained with a heavy sigh.

While they discussed the mission,

A rugged man with a facial scar stepped from the front of the vehicle and stood before the team. The eight stripes on his uniform identified him as the Sergeant Major in charge.

"Soldiers, stand up!"

Instantly, Rex and his companions snapped to attention.

With a nod of approval, the Sergeant Major began the briefing. "Your task today is to locate a ghoul den. Your objective is to mark the coordinates for the air force so they can commence a carpet bombing."

"This mission is critical. You three are specialists whose power levels are below what the Supernaturals can easily detect. If you succeed, we secure victory in Dwight City. You will save more lives than any of you can imagine."

Despite the Sergeant Major’s blunt tone, the trio remained silent and focused.

"The ghouls and their endless numbers are a major problem. You must complete this mission at any cost. You know the stakes—do not hesitate, even if it means your lives. Understood, soldier?!" The Sergeant Major stared intensely at Rex, Edward, and Kyle.

His voice carried a heavy warning regarding the mission's gravity.

"Sir, yes sir!" the team shouted in unison.

The Sergeant Major turned to Edward and Kyle. "You are both Rank Two Awakened. Failure is not an option!"

"Sir, yes sir!" they barked.

He then looked at Rex. "You aren't an Awakened, but you've trained your whole life for this. Lead them. Channel your hatred for the Supernatural to ensure this mission succeeds."

"Sir, yes sir!" Rex replied with fierce intent.

After the final briefing, the Sergeant Major departed. Shortly after, the yellow light on the RV door began to glow.

The three soldiers stood and began checking their gear.

They donned full tactical black uniforms, boots, vests, headgear, and night-vision goggles, all designed for the operation.

The equipment was vital for the dark forest they were about to enter.

Kyle holstered a razor-sharp black saber on his back, while Edward equipped two daggers that pulsed with a faint crimson aura.

Rex carried a series of specialized backpacks and a longsword strapped to his back.

The light shifted from yellow to green.

The RV’s rear hatch hissed open. The trio sprinted out into the woods as the vehicle pulled away silently.

As soon as they hit the ground,

The damp earth clung to their boots. The stench of decaying corpses made the air thick and difficult to breathe, and the pitch-black woods restricted their range of sight.

They immediately activated their night-vision goggles as they had been trained.

With their vision adjusted, they began to push deep into the rotting forest, searching for the ghoul den that was their target.

Their boots were designed for silent movement, and their black gear blended into the environment.

Moving like phantoms, they scoured the area until they located a landslide—a perfect vantage point and hiding spot.

Using silent hand signals,

Rex instructed Edward to deploy the bait in the open while Kyle maintained a watch for any sudden threats. They were deep in Supernatural territory.

Total vigilance was required.

Edward retrieved a large piece of human flesh from his pack. The foul odor hit them instantly, but they remained stoic, long since desensitized to such things.

He tossed the meat into a clearing.

They quickly retreated to the landslide, securing themselves with black ropes to prevent slipping. They moved with ghost-like silence.

Once settled, the waiting game for the ghouls began.

This was the hardest part.

They remained motionless on the ground. Ghouls craved fresh meat, but their sense of smell was poor, meaning it could take time for them to find the bait.

Five days passed, yet the bait remained untouched.

Rex and Kyle began to have reservations, but the military had verified the effectiveness of the bait according to Edward, so they had to persist.

Initially, the physical discomfort and fatigue of staying stationary set in.

The longer they waited, the more intense the itching and grime became, having gone days without washing and surviving only on basic rations.

The heavy pack Rex carried was starting to empty.

As they waited, the three began to consider how they might forage for more food.

The forest was incredibly damp.

Starting a fire was impossible, and using mana to aid themselves was strictly forbidden, as it would alert the enemy and jeopardize the mission.

During those five days,

They heard the cries of other Supernaturals—banshees, nymphs, and dark pixies—but Kyle and Edward dispatched any that got too close using only their cold weapons.

However, the previous night, the temperature had plummeted unexpectedly.

Kyle was on watch when he spotted a hovering, hooded figure with pale blue skin. Its eyes burned red, and the air grew colder as it approached.

Fear gripped Kyle as he recognized the entity.

No soldier could fail to identify that floating, shrouded form.

Rex and Edward felt the chill and woke up instantly. Their training made them light sleepers, always ready for combat.

Before they could even assess the situation,

Kyle emptied a water pouch over the three of them, signaling for them to stay flat and absolutely silent.

Rex and Edward were initially confused,

But seeing Kyle’s actions, they realized what he was masking.

It was a mage of the Undead Race that carried the chill of the grave: a Lich.

They watched from a distance as the Lich led a pack of ghouls through the trees.

A Lich was a mid-tier Supernatural far beyond their ability to fight. They were blind but hyper-sensitive to heat signatures and mana fluctuations.

Before the Awakened appeared, it took a battery of rocket launchers just to bring one down.

And that was only the weakest variety; a high-tier Lich could easily deflect such attacks with magic.

Fortunately, the Lich was far enough away that it didn't detect them.

Another week went by, and the sun began to dip below the horizon once more.

The week was uneventful aside from minor Supernaturals wandering near, but the team was now starving and reaching their limit.

"I can't go on like this. We have to find food," Edward whispered weakly.

Kyle nodded in agreement. "I'm with you. Let's come up with a plan," he said, his face gaunt from hunger.

At this point,

Rex’s supplies had been exhausted for six days. They hadn't anticipated the mission lasting this long, and their hunger was becoming unbearable.

After drafting a strategy, Kyle offered to go out and hunt.

Rex and Edward would remain behind to monitor the bait, as there was no telling when the target might appear.