The Invincible Full-Moon System

Chapter 1928: Pre-Departure

Rex had only separated them for barely half an hour.

Since he told them, Davina to be exact, to make sure the soldiers would be amicable towards them, as they would be fighting together soon enough, he was hoping that she could make sure the soldiers from the Red Skull Elite Force would respect them.

So, he came out expecting there to be tension in the air, but way better than it was earlier.

A manageable tension.

But when he came out, the tension was completely gone.

And he could see adoration in the soldiers’ eyes, which should be impossible.

”Seems like we’re going to depart now,” Lilliana said, rising as she caught sight of Rex standing frozen at the scene. Turning to the soldiers, she raised her fist and flashed them a smile. ”Let’s give it out all—and see this assignment through smoothly.”

All soldiers cheered in a united manner, also raising their fists in response.

Davina flicked her hair as she also stood and went over to Rex.

Like a fever dream, the soldiers returned to what they were doing—lining up and making their way out of the premises to prepare for their departure. Even Alexander, who was standing beside Rex completely stunned to see this.

Even before he instructed them to move, they had already moved.

”How... How did you do that?” Alexander asked when the sisters neared. ”It takes me years to make them listen to my orders without question. I needed to prove to them that I am a worthy leader— worthy enough to follow in battle. So, how...?”

Rex also waited, curious as to how these two could even manage to do that to the soldiers.

Since there’s no bruise or any sign of fighting, it’s not strength that made those soldiers like that.

It’s something else.

Just earlier, they all were giving a judgmental gaze, so this should be impossible.

”All of them are good soldiers, that’s why.”

”I think they are great listeners.”

Alexander and Rex exchanged a look; both believed that those answers were bullshit.

Still intent on uncovering the real reason, as this was unnatural, Alexander seized a passing soldier by the arm and yanked him back hard. ”I never gave the order to assemble,” He said, gripping the soldier firmly by both shoulders. ”Why are you already falling in? Why are you already assembling?”

”Aren’t... Aren’t we going to depart soon, Sir?” the soldier asked back, confused.

”Yes, we are going to depart right now, but that’s not the point!” Alexander exclaimed.

On the side, Lilliana chuckled at his reaction, making his face burn even more.

”I’m asking why you are listening to them?”

”Something in the way they said it, Sir. That’s the only way for me to put it into words.”

Alexander was completely at a loss for words.

He wanted to believe Davina or Lilliana ha d used something. Some trick. Some influence. Something to make the soldiers act this way. But they hadn’t. Eyes are clear. No foreign energy inside the soldier’s body, which meant he was following the sisters’ order of his own volition.

Eventually, Alexander let go of the soldier.

Rex also scanned Davina and Lilliana, asking the System for an answer to this.

Is this what they call a noble’s majesty?

Moments later.

”What did you talk about inside?” Davina asked, walking beside Rex closely.

Right now, the three of them were heading to a hangar; the only area in the compound untouched by the frantic rush of soldiers preparing to depart. All around them, the air throbbed with the rumble of engines, the deep growls of monstrous beasts, and the sharp echoes of shouted orders.

It was chaotic, and Rex needed somewhere moderately quiet to think.

”High Lord Rashal wanted us to make sure we make a statement to our enemies,” Rex answered.

”Make a statement?” Lilliana’s forehead creased. ”I overheard no such talk from the High Millinar.”

”Because his assignment is different,” Rex said, stopping in front of a wooden crate before sitting down on it. ”He’s tasked with repelling the invaders and stopping them from achieving their goals, while we’re here to make sure the end result is a statement. One that gives the High Lord leverage.”

”He wanted us to slaughter the enemy forces,” Davina crossed her arms.

”Not a normal slaughter, but a cruel and brutal slaughter,” Rex raised his gaze, staring at the sisters. ”I need to know whether the two of you have the stomach and heart for it. If you don’t, then tell me now, so that I can adjust.”

”I’ve seen my fair share,” Davina shrugged. ”I have no problem with it.”

”Rex...” Lilliana sneered. ”We killed our own Father. Do you think we’re that soft?”

”Just asking,” Rex raised his hands in surrender. ”Didn’t mean anything by it.”

Perhaps because he was talking with Gistella and Evelyn recently, he had forgotten who these two were.

Gistella’s past was grim, but she had been on the receiving end, so it’s not natural for her to be cruel. It wasn’t in her nature. Evelyn’s upbringing made even less room for such things. She had been raised in a good household, and though exiled had taken that from her, it hadn’t taught her to be cruel.

On the other hand, the sisters grew up surrounded by a political bloodbath.

Cruelty is a necessity for them.

And since both of them were on board, Rex told them about what was discussed in the briefing.

Later, Rex called a passing soldier.

”You call for me?”

”Yes, I’m wondering, do you have livestock somewhere in the compound?”

”I’m sorry??”

”Livestock. Bred animals.”

”Oh, yes,” the soldier said with a nod, pointing toward a building in the distance. It was on the outskirts, far from the command center. ”Most of our resources come from Larta City, so supplies aren’t usually a concern. But in an emergency, we keep livestock for food—chickens, cows, and the most valuable of all, the Energy Sheep.”

”Okay, thank you,” Rex nodded and turned to the sisters. ”Let’s go.”’

Before he could walk further, the soldier grabbed his arm.

”If something happened with the livestock, we’re going to have a problem. I’m answering your question out of goodwill,” His eyes shifted to Rex, and they glowered. It was a warning. ”Don’t do anything that will put me in trouble.”

”Just going to kill three of them, am I allowed to do that?”

”Since you’re a part of us temporarily, then yes, I can do that.”

”Good soldier,” Rex nodded, tapping his shoulder as he walked past, entirely unbothered by the threat.

All of these soldiers are elite forces, so they are extremely cautious and sharp.

Upon reaching what was supposed to be a barn, the sheer noise of the livestock rattled their ears—there were far more animals than expected. Rex scanned the building with the System, then made his way to a side entrance, slipping into the chicken enclosure.

Since he came to test something, he thought killing the chicken would be less of a loss for the compound.

”May I help you?” the herdsman approached hesitantly.

”I need a few chickens,” Rex raised four fingers. ”Give me four.”

”O-Okay?” He quickly walked away and went to grab exactly four as Rex requested.

Despite not knowing who Rex was, for him to be here meant he was a part of the Red Skull Elite Force.

”What are we doing here exactly?” Davina asked, pinching her nose to block out the stench of animals.

”To test our new skill,” Rex said, grabbing a chicken from the herdsman. Without a moment’s thought, he pressed his thumb into its neck. A soft pop, and the bird went limp. ”Go on,” He took another one— and killed it, too. ”Take one and kill it with your bare hands.”

Davina and Lilliana did the same under the herdsman’s eyes.

He was totally confused, but quickly retreated when Rex signaled for him to go.

Rex activated his Blood Moon King Mark and then cast the new skill, ”Phantom Pack.”

Swish—!

A blood-red, regal energy engulfed the chicken carcass completely, enveloping it and dissolving it into blood before their eyes. Within seconds, the pooling blood began to glow and shift, slowly sculpting itself into the shape of a small creature.

No, a small wolf with blood-red fur—so small that it was practically the smallest wolf.

It was only as big as the bigger breed of cat.

Once it was formed and moved, Rex’s eyes glowed as he scanned the small wolf.

A bit stronger than a chicken would be, and it has one passive skill. Blood-bend.

Out of the three skills he had chosen, the Phantom Pack skill was the first he’d adapted to—and is also going to be the one that’ll help him the most. Since the spectral wolf it created would be shaped by his King Mark, he wanted to see how the end result differed from one King Mark to another.

Rex used the Phantom Pack skill once again, and this time, a jet-black wolf manifested.

It was derived from the Banished Dark Moon King Mark.

And like the first one, it has one passive skill, Dark-bend.

On the side, Davina and Lilliana also did the same thing, using the new skill on the chicken carcass.

Rex had expected the wolves to emerge white—more like a spirit than flesh. Instead, they were black. Since Phantom Pack was an upgrade of the skill he’d adapted, he’d assumed Davina and Lilliana would have the original skill, the Memory Spirit skill.

But it seemed they also have the Phantom Pack skill.

System, I thought the version they got was the original one.

In that case, why do they have Almighty Aura, not Almighty Bearing?

But they don’t have a King Mark. What would influence their wolves—and where would they store the wolves?

”I see.” Rex decided not to fret about it and scanned their wolves.

Just like the ones he manifested, the wolves they created have one passive skill.

Davina’s wolf possessed a passive skill called Stellar Wind, which caused it to emanate a steady stream of energy that gradually eroded all energy around it. The potency of this erosion depended heavily on the wolf’s sheer strength.

Stronger carcass or corpse meant stronger wolves, which in turn made the Stellar Wind stronger.

As for Lilliana, her wolf possessed a passive skill called Drifting Soul, which lowered its presence and gave it a spectral soul-like body. Unlike the wolves of Rex and Davina, which galloped across the ground, hers glided, rendering terrain meaningless.

Hmm, okay. Now we have more options.

Once they finished testing the Phantom Pack skill and dispersed the wolves, they exited the barn—only to find themselves facing a squad of twenty soldiers—led by a stern-looking man. A red beret sat atop his head, and a red skull mask covered the lower half of his face.

”Reporting, Sir Rex,” He saluted, and the soldiers behind him saluted. ”We’ll be under your command when we arrive on the Grey Realm.”

Rex swept his gaze over them and nodded.

It was the reason why he decided to test out the Phantom Pack skill first, knowing that he would need far more helping hands as an entire realm was their battlefield.

He had already anticipated a shortage of soldiers—not because Alexander was unwilling to assign more, but because their numbers were simply limited. Initially, he’d expected only ten. Twenty then was a pleasant surprise.

”Follow my instructions exactly,” Rex said with a strong voice. ”Do that, and all of you will live.”