The Invincible Full-Moon System

Expertly, Davina channeled her life energy and expanded it in a sudden burst.

Her aura, strong and overwhelming, swallowed the mountain peak.

Everyone—guests and servants alike was alerted but she didn't care.

Almost instantly, her senses locked onto two figures.

One was undoubtedly Duke Lorcan while the other was a familiar person, the last person she wanted to see the moment she came home. A rush of anger coursed through her veins—and in an instant, her face turned grim, "She's here…?"

Glancing at Liliana, she found her sister's expression was stiff.

It was clear that she wasn't mistaken, that woman was here.

Realizing this, Davina instantly turned and stormed away—ready for a confrontation.

Liliana paused for a second before she chased after Davina helplessly.

Along the corridor, Liliana kept persuading her.

"I think it's about time you let this go, it's been fifty years since mom died, and before that, mom was sick for more than a hundred years but father has always been there for her," She explained—while trying to keep up with Davina's pace. "As his children, we should be more understanding and let him marry again, he's lonely,"

"Do you think I forbid father from marrying?" Davina asked coldly. "It's that whore that I don't like"

"Our father is the Duke, it's natural for anyone who wanted to be with him to like him—because of his status, it's simply who he is," Liliana argued, panicking even more—as they were getting closer to the main bed chamber. "As long as he's fine with it, we should also be fine with it"

Brak!

Ignoring Liliana's persuasion, Davina kicked the door open roughly.

She scanned the room and instantly fixed on the woman who was covering herself with a robe.

Just one look of her pale blonde hair along with her cold and calculated gaze was more than enough for Davina to recognize her. She is the Baroness of the Sordan House—Octavia Sordan. And the sight of her drowned Davina in a sea of rage.

Davina didn't shout or roar, her anger was a calm storm that sent a shiver done her spine.

"I regret welcoming you home in such an unpleasant state, princess," Octavia uttered politely.

Ignoring the comment, Davina stepped towards her with hard stomps.

But as she got close, a hand barred her way.

A tall man, his spine as straight as an arrow, halted her. His physique was toned, still superior to most men—but his face bore marks of age. Once black, his hair had turned to iron-gray, disheveled in a rare sign of haste.

Underneath, a well-kept beard framed his jaw, adding to the weight of wisdom in the air around him.

Naturally, this man was the Grand Duke of the Haeltara Empire, Lorcan Castillion.

"Where are your manners?" Lorcan asked his daughter sharply. "Wait for me in the grand hall,"

"Explain to me the best you could…" Davina ignored his instruction—and turned to look at him in the eyes without backing away. "I told you no matter what, as long as I don't give my blessing, this woman can't step into our home. So how come she's here?"

"She's here because I allowed her to be here," Lorcan answered commandingly.

"I have a say in this, you can't do this," Davina argued.

However, Lorcan didn't take her seriously, "No, you don't. Wait for me in the grand hall, we'll talk"

"I don't?" Davina scoffed—she found Lorcan always act unreasonable when he was around Octavia. "In case you forget, father, you no longer have any sons. Both of them are dead. No crown heir, and Liliana already become a part of her husband's house. I'm the one and only one who can succeed you in case you die, in case something unfortunate happens"

Lorcan clenched his jaw when he heard this.

He knew it already—he didn't need to be reminded like this.

"Princess Davina," Octavia stood up and approached, dragging the long robe that was covering her bare body. "I understand your anger and discomfort with me but all I'm asking is a chance to prove I'm not as bad as you perceive. Please…"

Octavia extended her hand and held Davina's shoulder, "Give me a chance to make your father happy"

Gritting her teeth, Davina slapped Octavia's hand away.

"Don't touch me with your dirty hands," She growled, glaring at Octavia with unbridled anger.

Davina didn't her hand hard, it was a light slap with enough force to push her hand away but Octavia moaned in pain a little, exaggerating the slap as she rubbed her hand—while trying to keep a composed smile as if she was the victim who was wronged.

Seeing this made Lorcan furious.

He raised his hand and swung it, intending to slap Davina with the back of his hand.

However, his hand was stopped mid-track by an invisible force.

Realizing that Davina dared to use her power against him, his expression turned darker.

Pah!

As he channeled his life energy, he broke free from the invisible force—and slapped Davina across her face. Lorcan easily overpowered whatever Davina did but once again, she was able to raise her hand in time to block the slap, "She already corrupted you, Father. I can't believe you turned out like this,"

"Don't act like you were in the right, daughter," Lorcan sneered and stood in front of Octavia. "I told you how to stop this already. Once you pick a husband—and give me a grandson, I'll immediately cease my relationship with Lady Octavia. I'll only make contact with her if you give me your blessing"

"Until then, you can't do anything," He added with a sense of finality.

Upon hearing this, Davina bit her lower lip hard.

Once again, Lorcan brought that up.

Liliana, who was watching in silence gazed at Lorcan with a complex gaze before she too left.

Reaching the door, Davina stopped to cast one last look at Lorcan.

Her heart throbbed in pain when she saw Lorcan, hunched a little while rubbing Octavia's hand, the air of authority and power that he usually commands melted completely in front of the baroness. She could not bear to watch this so she turned away for the second time and left.

Contrast to earlier, walking through the corridor to wait in the grand hall was more tense and silent.

Davina and Liliana walked side by side but none uttered a single word.

Then, Liliana saw Davina stop and reach her hand out to the marble pillar for support.

"Sister, are you okay?" She asked, rubbing Davina's back lightly.

"It's alright," Davina shook her head and waved his hand. "It's only my limitation, I'll be fine"

Liliana sighed heavily, regret weighing on her shoulders—she wished she could stay and help Davina bear the burdens of the duke's royal household—but she had a responsibility in her husband's territory, and she couldn't help much.

Turning away, she leaned her head back against the pillar and clasped her hands in front of her belly.

"Listen," She started with a heavy tone. "I know in your eyes father has always been strong and highly dependable in the past but that was because he has mom beside him. I'm not completely on board with his relationship with Lady Octavia but you must understand, he has no one else to talk to, no one who he could be vulnerable with"

"He has me, I'm always here" Davina argued through gritted teeth.

"It's not the same—we're his daughters," Liliana said, shaking her head. "It hasn't been long since he lost both his sons, our brothers. He's grieving too, you know… and also stressed. But he won't show it to us. Now, he's desperate for someone, anyone. Be understanding a little, sister"

Despite knowing all of that already, Davina was still angry.

"I hate seeing him acting weak in front of Octavia," She mumbled. "I really hate it…"

Another sigh escaped Liliana's lips.

She understood where both sides were coming from.

"Just do what he wanted," Liliana finally said again, glancing at her sister. "He promised to make some distance with Lady Octavia if you have a husband. You know him as well as me, he never broke any of his words. Quickly choose a husband, a temporary husband…"

"What?" Davina turned to look at Liliana, noticing her meaningful tone. "You mean a pretend?"

Liliana chuckled a bit and took a couple of steps forward, her back facing Davina.

"The Saintess of Purity already peered into your future—and she said this realm has nobody who could match your talent and standing. Nobody could match the Graceful Stafall," Liliana declared firmly before she turned to face Davina. "So why are you so picky when you know it will not last?"

Upon hearing this, Davina's eyes widened slightly before her gaze turned resolute.

"Okay, I'll make sure to find a suitable one," Davina nodded.

As she said that, she couldn't help but trail her gaze towards the blue sky.

'If only I was stronger,' She thought inside. "Father wouldn't be stressed and be like this. His old self will be back and he will be perfect again. Regardless, it's my fault that I'm not strong enough so there's no choice but to go along with Sister's suggestion,'

…

Meanwhile, somewhere within the Black Rift.

A barren wasteland stretched endlessly beneath a sky choked with heavy, shifting black wind. Cracked earth bore the scars of time, devoid of life, save for the oppressive silence—that clung to the air. Then, the ground trembled.

Coming from the side, a deep, rolling quake reverberated across the desolate plain.

It was accompanied by the unsettling distortion of the black wind around the area.

Swoosh!

Something immersive moved within the shadows.

It slithered unseen, a phantom of impossible proportions.

Every time it passed, the air itself warped, leaving behind gaping tunnels in its wake.

Despite the monstrous size, it moved with eerie agility—too fast, too fluid, as if the rules of nature bent around its existence. It did not merely pass through shadows, it became them, swallowed whole by the abyss beneath its form.

At the heart of this forsaken land stood a lone, weathered boulder.

An anomaly amidst the emptiness.

Seated upon it was a solitary figure, shrouded in darkness, an unmoving specter.

Though the distance obscured finer details, one thing was unmistakable—the bone-white gleam of a reptilian mask, stark against the surrounding gloom. A long, sinuous black snake coiled lazily in its lap, and its sleep form shifted from solid to shadow under the figure's idle touch.

It was certainly a Voidal Monster but the aura it possessed made it extremely clear.

Whatever this thing was, it wasn't a normal Voidal Monster—it was a Voidal Monarch.

Splash!

Just then, a black dragon snake emerged from the darkness and hissed at the Voidal Monarch with its maw wide open. It was massive—or at least it should be massive, but the Voidal Monarch was not that small in comparison.

Despite the charging dragon snake, it didn't move.

It stared straight at the dragon snake with its ruby eyes behind the mask.

Once near enough, the dragon snake stopped abruptly, closed its maw, and circled the Voidal Monarch.

Then, as the dragon snake continued, the Voidal Monarch abruptly stood from the boulder and grabbed its body roughly—stopping it dead on its track. Naturally, the dragon snake winced and hissed but the Voidal Monarch ignored it.

Instead, the Voidal Monarch focused on a specific part of the dragon snake's body.

A light purple sizzle that only it could see was there.

Seeing the purple sizzle seemed to catch the Voidal Monarch off guard.

Hiss!!

Its grip tightened around the dragon snake's body, crushing the armored scales and forcing a wailing hiss from the beast. Pinning the dragon snake down, it extended its fingers, siphoning the crackling purple energy before releasing it in a sharp burst to the side.

Almost instantly, the purple energy splashed and created a portal.

Once the portal was fully opened, the Voidal Monarch crossed it and found itself in another place.

It was still within the Black Rift but there were several people around the area.

None of them sensed the Voidal Monarch's arrival but it also ignored them, focusing solely on a spot where more traces of the purple energy could be seen. Tilting its head eerily, the Voidal Monarch approached the spot like a ghost and looked at the spot.

A flicker of clarity flashed in its eyes that lasted only briefly.

From the looks of it, the Voidal Monarch has come to realize something.