The Invincible Full-Moon System

Chapter 1693: Desperate Measure

Roar!!

A deafening roar erupted, rippling through the air with the force of a collapsing mountain.

Not an overbearing roar, but a triumphant one.

Once the Immortal Slugs grabbed hold of Rex, the restraint loosened enough for the serpent to twist its body and slither away from the fissure. And seeing the opening, the White Mask also merged with its Voidal Prince, allowing them to break free.

It was a successful gambit.

Being the weakest among the others within the empire, the serpent and the White Mask were in trouble.

Against the Immortal Slugs, there was nothing they could do.

Unlike the other Voidal Monarchs and their minions, who had cultivated countermeasures in case of this happening, the White Mask and the serpent hadn’t formed such a thing. Fortunately, the frustration and anger the Immortal Slugs harbored toward Rex helped them.

Rex was the perfect bait to distract the Immortal Slugs.

Rumble!

In a frantic manner, the serpent quickly slithered out of the Desolate Zone.

Near the edge, it roared again before casting one last look at Rex, who was clinging for dear life.

A blatant mockery.

Rex stared at the slithering serpent with bulging eyes—the pull was growing stronger by the second.

His blood was boiling as he spewed out every curse at the serpent inside his head.

I killed you once, yes, but you won’t die properly, you damn animal!

I’ll die… I can really die here!

Gulping harshly, he lowered his gaze at April, who was clinging to him hard.

Both of her eyes were closed.

And even with the adrenaline and the relentless pull, Rex could feel it—her body was trembling.

She was scared. Hopeless.

It lay on his shoulder to keep her close, to protect her, to save her from this deadly situation.

’Like always… when it mattered, you can never protect us.’

Mrs. Greene’s voice echoed inside his mind like a reminder, but that didn’t make him hopeless or afraid.

No, this is the time to prove myself. This time when it mattered… I will succeed!

Rex’s claws sank deep into the edge, gouging through the solid surface as he pulled with every ounce of strength he could muster at this moment. He fought for a few inches, but it was no sure thing. His attempt only made the Immortal Slugs’ grip on him stronger, crushing tighter with each desperate struggle.

As opposed to making the situation better, his attempt made it worse as the pull grew stronger.

A lot stronger than his claws were slipping.

Krrk!

“Krrgh…!” A rough grunt escaped Rex’s lips.

His claws were being wrenched backward, one by one, starting from his index finger, until the normally strong joints popped and tore from their sockets with sickening cracks. The sound was a mix of breaking bone and tearing flesh, sharp enough to make his vision blur from the pain.

Of course, his regeneration kicked in instantly, forcing the claws to regrow.

It allowed him to keep clinging to the edge, but it came at a cost.

No matter how many times his regeneration mended his claws, nothing would change as he was still being pulled down—trapped in place with nowhere to go. He could cling to the edge longer, but at the cost of being thrust into a relentless cycle of agony and renewal.

This is bad.

Krrk!

I can still endure, but the drain… My stamina is being sucked away. I can’t hold on much longer!

Krrk!

System! Recommend me an item, quickly! Find me an item that would teleport us away! Anywhere!

<Affirmative.>

<Scanning the Shop…>

<Dead Man’s Teleport can be used to teleport the user away, and it costs 25 million gold.>

<Be advised: the Dead Man’s Teleport can break any suppression below the twelfth rank, but at the cost of damaging the soul. If the user uses this item, the user’s damaged soul condition will worsen. Does the user want to purchase this item?>

Considering the Desolate Zone’s power, an item that could negate it must be extremely powerful.

It wasn’t surprising that it cost 20 million gold.

But Rex noticed something worrying.

Teleport me away?! Can it only be used by one person only?!

<Yes—to teleport two, the user has to purchase two Dead Man’s Teleport items.>

<Notice: the user has insufficient gold to purchase two Dead Man’s Teleport items!>

I’ve been racking up gold by killing as many monsters as I could along the way, and it’s still not enough?

<Notice: the implication from using two Dead Man’s Teleport items at once is too high. The probability of having the user’s soul permanently damaged would be 90%. It’s not advised to use two of the items at once.>

Nothing else/!

<Notice: the user has insufficient gold balance to purchase safer options to escape this situation.>

Rex’s expression turned grim.

He has to make a decision quickly, as he didn’t feel like he had any time to waste.

System, buy it!

<Affirmative.>

<Dead Man’s Teleport item has been stored in the Inventory.>

Almost instantly, Rex summoned the Dead Man’s Teleport, which, fortunately, was shaped like a small bead, black in color, and reeked of something sharp and sour. He clenched it between his teeth, careful not to bite down too hard and crush it, yet firm enough to keep it from slipping away.

“Aphil…” He called gently. “Pwease, ophen hour heyes…”

Even at his voice, April kept her eyes shut, shivering from the fear of dying.

She had never been so close to death before, and it terrified her.

Back when she and her siblings were sent to train along with Rex in the Rocky Puzzle was her real first combat experience without the dotting eyes of a protector. And now, being in this kind of situation was way past her limit.

Despite the urgency, Rex wasn’t angry at her.

Most of the people in Ratmawati City who weren’t Awakened are also like this, sheltered.

“Ips hokay,” Rex’s voice again. “Ophen hour heyes.”

Feeling the assurance from his voice finally seeping into her mind, April slowly opened her eyes and was surprised to find Rex was smiling assuringly. His form might be monstrous, but his smile… it was warm and assuring.

Blood streamed down his arms, soaking into his fur until its color deepened to a dark, matted shade.

Clamped between teeth was a small black bead, which emanated energy.

Despite the Desolate Zone’s suppression, its energy was still swirling vigorously.

But what caught April’s attention more was Rex’s intense gaze.

“Nho mapper pwhat, I’m hoing to photect youh,” He assured—his voice thick with determination.

Now that April had come back to her senses, Rex looked down.

“Takhe this bhead and eat it,” He instructed. “Yhou’ll be saphe when youh eat it.”

April eyed the sizzling black bead with a deep frown.

She had no idea what it truly was, but the sharp scent and the way it pulsed with energy even when the Desolate Zone was active told her enough—it had to be some kind of powerful one-use teleportation item, the only thing that could guarantee her escape from this hellish situation.

Since Rex looked confident, too, it really must be the case.

Naturally, she has the urge to ask—what about him? But there’s no use right now.

Doing so would only trouble Rex further.

She’s only going to be in the way, so eating the black pill should be the best course of action.

Knowing exactly what was inside her mind, Rex nodded, “I’ll bhe fhine. Jhuht gho for no—”

Crack!

Rex’s eyes widened completely when an excruciating pain surged through his nerves—causing him to twitch involuntarily. Both his and April’s eyes widened as they watched the Dead Man’s Teleport item slip from Rex’s bite and fall.

It happened so suddenly.

None of them could react in time as the black bead bounced against the wall and fell down.

“W-Wha…?” Rex blinked, eyes widening in horror. “HAXEL—KRAGHKK!!”

Rex snapped his head up and saw Haxel standing at the edge, smiling cruelly, his steel boot grinding down on Rex’s hand, crushing his claws into the solid ground. He finally understood what was going on with Haxel—why he ended up like this.

If all went well, he would even be willing to endure the Killing Intent penalty to avoid killing Haxel.

So long as he got what he wanted, he couldn’t care less what Haxel wanted to do after.

Or at least as long as Haxel didn’t harm the empire for good, Rex will be fine with whatever.

Sure, his spirit body’s limit would be reduced by ten days.

Moreover, his Berserk and Sanity stats were also going to plummet to a dangerous level.

But those penalties could be handled.

He was sure that there would be items in the System that would help him bypass that ten-day decrease, and going berserk would be easier to handle, as he could go to a desolate plain where he could run rampant freely.

Instead of repaying back his genuine goodwill, Haxel crossed the line and went further out of spite.

“Luck is also a skill, and it seemed Lady Luck took a pity on me, and at least helped me take you down,” Haxel grinned, twisting his steel boot as Rex pressed his forehead against the wall, biting down the pain away. “For getting in my way, you deserve to die…”

Crack!

Rex ground his teeth as his claws were peeled again.

“Bastard!” He roared, eyes glowing red with anger—and desperation. “I’m even willing to let you go, and this is how you repay me?!”

“Let me go? And then what?” Haxel bent down, deep pain and madness having taken root behind his eyes. “I am already caught. My identity is already exposed, and the nobles are going to hunt me down. What does your pity intention even serve? My life has already been destroyed. You destroyed it. Morgana is my life, and because of you… I can’t get her back anymore.”

“Okay… Okay!” Rex receded as his claws were slipping closer to the edge. “I will help you… I’ll help you get Morgana. No matter what, I’ll help dethrone Morgana. Just… Just help me get out of this right now. Quickly. I’m slipping… I can’t let her die! Please help me!”

“Hooh…” Haxel smiled cynically, surprised to hear him beg. “You’re Princess Davina’s fiancé, and yet you care that much about some second-rate lady who isn’t even a proper heir of her house? Dog… How much do you love her? Are you prepared to pay any price?”

“Name it!” Rex growled, eyes widening at the blood. “Name your price!”

It was becoming more slippery to hold on now that the ground was coated with blood.

“You can even leave me here to die! Take her with you,” Rex added, desperate. “Take her right now!”

“No! You can’t die!” April screamed, pounding his chest. “I don’t want you to die for me!”

Rex wanted to tell her to shut her mouth lest Haxel get more annoyed, but his hand slipped.

He slid deeper into the fissure, but his reflex was even faster.

He dug his claws into the ground again and caught himself, but now, he was hanging on with one hand.

Inside, his heart was pounding hard as he couldn’t hold on anymore—the ground was too slippery, and the pull was becoming unbearable. No matter what, he wouldn’t die easily, but April wasn’t on the same boat as him.

She will not survive the Immortal Slugs.

“Keukh!”

Rex’s eyes widened when another tendril from the Immortal Slug wrapped around April’s body.

It pulled her away from her.

He quickly used his free hand to catch her, clutching her as if she were a part of his body.

“H-Haxel…” Rex grunted weakly.

Haxel was still above, back straight, looking down at him with indignation.

“You’re the one who took a portion of my Echo, aren’t you?”

“I can give it bac—”

“No, keep it,” Haxel tilted his head as he raised his foot, preparing to make another stomp. “It’s worth nothing to me now. Like I said earlier… If I can’t have Morgana, then it’s only fair for you to lose her. Blame yourself for crossing me. This is the consequence you have to swallow.”

“No…” Rex’s eyes widened, staring at the rising foot. “Stop it! DON’T DO IT!!”

Crash!