NOVPUBDespite their growing relationship, Rex never shared his plan in this realm.
Not that he didn't trust April.
From the simple fact that she believed in him and stayed behind, allowing them to experience the dread of life and death together, April had already earned his trust. It leaned more toward Rex, not wanting to burden her with his problems.
No, rather, he wanted to forget about the heavy problems on his shoulders for a moment.
Selfish? Maybe.
But he now came out more resolved than ever.
Just like April said, being selfish for once helped him let out the pent-up emotions inside of him.
She said that ultimately, living beings are designed to be selfish, to continue living, and the fact that Rex was disassociated from that so far would undoubtedly take a toll. And she was right. But now, it was time to drop the fantasy.
"Nameless Dragon Arena…?" April leaned away in shock. "Princess Davina?"
"It's not like that," Rex exhaled lightly. "I can explain."
No matter how much he tried to convince himself that this relationship between them was nothing for April, who was a spirit designed to live until the end of time, he knew that it was false. April developed feelings for him, and frankly, he could even admit the same.
But it was not the time for that.
April was silent, looking at Rex in the eyes as if she were searching for any sign of jest.
Once she realized it was the truth, she pulled away.
She took a couple of hesitant steps away, avoiding Rex's gaze for a brief moment, seemingly troubled by the news. Then, she turned around to face him again, "Okay… explain. We've been dancing around this topic, so I'll really appreciate it if you can tell me everything."
Rex walked past her and sat on the bed, his elbows on his knees.
"I came here to this realm mainly for two things: a Phoenix Feather and also to visit the Sky City." He finally said the truth, hiding nothing since he owed it that much to April for what she did. "Someone dear to me is sick—and I really need the Phoenix Feather. My intel told me the Spirit Emperor has two of them, and I'm here to negotiate for one."
"Also… My spirit… Devo is taken from me, and I came to rescue him." He continued.
As he said this, he kept studying April's expression.
Even though she was wearing her resting face, devoid of any emotions, he could see through it.
Her feelings were all over the place.
But once he checked her status section using the System, he found that the answer was even clearer.
It was heartbreak.
"He is a Gatekeeper, so I assumed he's in the Sky City..." He continued.
"Thus…" April gulped down her emotions. "You needed to marry Princess Davina to gain nobility and visit the Sky City. I understand why you need Princess Davina. Only those who are above the Marquess rank could enter the Sky City, a status that I can't provide."
Rex stood up—and held her shoulders, "It's not like this is anything but a necessity. It's not like we are not going to meet each other ever again. Once I marry Princess Davina, you can still visit. You can even help me if you want."
"If you marry her—we can't meet again," April said, looking down. "You'll be too out of reach. But it's okay, I already know you'll not stay around, knowing how strong you are. I'm nowhere near Princess Davina's talent. You two are a lot better for each other."
At her words, Rex gently cupped her face with both hands, guiding her gaze back to his.
Despite that, her eyes were still trailing away.
She refused to meet Rex's gaze.
Even a tear managed to slip out despite her attempt to be strong, but she quickly wiped it away.
"Ah, I don't know why I'm crying," April smiled weakly. "I didn't expect this to be really hard."
Rex was surprised to see this, stunned, even.
Sure, ten years is not a short time—they were bound to have a relationship.
But April was mentally unshakable—shaped by the harsh upbringing of a high-ranking noble house, she could practically handle anything. So, seeing her fighting back tears was quite shocking. And it wasn't only her—he also felt a weight pressing on his own chest, heavy and unexpected.
Gritting his teeth, his eyes burned with conviction.
System, can I really create an Echo myself? Even one that could match powerful Original Echoes?
<Notice: Yes, the user has the capability to create a powerful Original Echo.>
<Existing Original Echoes are also created by a higher power.>
How much would it cost to know how to create one?
<It costs 1 million gold to purchase information regarding Original Echo creation.>
Purchase it.
<Affirmative.>
Rex was not expecting the cost to be that cheap, but he wasn't complaining.
As the torrent of information stabbed into Rex's mind, teaching him all he needed to know to make this work, he decided to use the Red Selection Ticket item in his inventory and selected an Echo from the many Echoes displayed in front of him.
Unlike the Blue Selection Ticket, the Red Selection Ticket didn't instantly give Rex the Echo.
Instead, it gave him a map where the Echo could be found.
Blinking, he snapped out of his trance and focused on April once again.
"I forgot to tell you one thing about me," Rex suddenly said, a smile donning his face. "I'm really quite capable. Even though I'm not in my own realm—I could still do a lot of things. I could do things that would really help you."
"Hmm? What do you mean?" April asked in confusion.
Rex found her confusion exhilarating.
He couldn't wait to shock her.
But in the end, it's all up to her and her desire, not his.
If she failed, then what she said would be true—Princess Davina might be more compatible with him.
Or, she could prove her words wrong by succeeding.
"In five days time, go to a place called the Abyssal Forest. I'm sure you can find it on your own. Come only at exactly midnight, and you will find a monster that looks like a black ghost there. It will only appear for ten seconds starting from when the clock strikes midnight, so you have to be on time," Rex explained.
His explanation only increased the confusion April was feeling, but he didn't stop.
"It will come to you," He continued, his voice calm yet deliberate, ensuring April caught every word he said. "All you need to say is that you wished to sit beside it and bask in the night's darkness—that, on that particular night, felt more refreshing than usual."
"Wh-What do you mean? Why are you saying this?" April asked, trying to slow him down.
She was completely oblivious as to why Rex was saying all of this.
"You feel inferior to the most talented woman in the empire, I understand it," Rex nodded—before he pulled away, standing upright and strong in front of her motionlessly. "But now, you can change that. I have given you an opportunity, and whether you're really inferior to her as you said or not depends on you."
"What I told you earlier is the location of an Original Echo from one of the 100 Long Lost Catacombs," He added, exhaling calmly through his nose. "If you get your hands on it, I doubt you'd be inferior to Princess Davina."
Upon hearing this, April sucked in a cold breath.
Had it not been for the training to act like a lady, her jaw would've been on the floor by now.
An Original Echo of that caliber would certainly shake Princess Davina's supremacy.
It is an Echo suitable for high nobility, one that even Marquess Hadrian would want for himself.
Rex anticipated April's surprise—after all, he got this Original Echo from the System itself by using the Red Selection Ticket. It might even have surpassed the Dark Auctoritas Echo he currently wielded in both rarity and power.
Of course, he was planning to use the Red Selection Ticket on himself.
But he decided to give April the opportunity.
Maybe, there's a part of him that wanted to help April, or repay her for accompanying him.
And perhaps, this is a foolish move that he would regret.
But I couldn't shake the feeling from that day… That day, when I used the Invincible II item.
Rex recalled the moment he came across Kei Xun.
He recalled the swelling power that he felt back then when the Invincible II item was active.
Even though the Invincible II item was purely defensive and lacked any offensive capability, it was still an item that revealed the full extent of his potential, reflecting what he could become at his current level of physical strength, racial traits, and divinity.
Despite how brief it was, the sensation was imprinted in his mind.
Rex smirked inside as he recalled the sensation—a sensation that he couldn't quite forget.
A tingling feeling that stroked all three of his Soul Artifacts.
At that time, when the silver moon appeared above me and its power showered on me from head to toe… I knew that the Echo that's perfect for me doesn't exist. No point in having them, it wouldn't be worth it compared to making one that's designed only for me.
Just like the System stated, all Original Echoes were made by a higher power.
Unlike the people of the Spirit Realm, higher beings, perhaps like the Scions created their own Echo.
It made Rex wonder, why is that?
Someone who could create Echoes—decided to create a unique Echo for themselves. There must be a real reason for that, right…? Even the System threw around Selection Tickets as if it was nothing, so it was clear even the System treated the existing Echoes as nothing.
So why should I settle for existing Echoes?
Rex stared blankly ahead, watching as April recounted what he said as if it were a treasure.
He zoned out, processing the information that was drilled into his mind.
Slowly, he stepped into the moonlight that slipped in from the window—his movements were subtle, not even April realized it. Then, he looked up toward the moonlight, the very source of a Werewolf's power, the very source of his power.
I might be rationalizing this… Maybe I'm only rationalizing for making a foolish, emotional move.
Rex stared into the moon that glitters in his gaze, almost as if it was greeting him, as if it was saying hi.
Or maybe, deep down… I unconsciously already accepted what I am.
A Human and also a Werewolf.
A small smile slowly crept to his face, basking under the gentle warmth of the moonlight.
Seems like when that silver moon showered me with its light, it was your way of greeting me.
The System promised me to make me invincible under the moonlight, that's what it confessed to me. And all this time, while I searched desperately for a path to power, I overlooked the most glaring truth. The answer has always been above me, staring at me.
No matter what, even in his Spirit Body, he is still a Werewolf.
All this time, the System has always been right. If it said I can become invincible under the moonlight, then that is exactly—what I should be aiming for. Instead of searching for other powers, I'm going to lean on you now.
On the side, the Invincible Apparition, who has been standing behind Rex all this time, smiled.
He walked forward and also stared at the moon.
"Now you're beginning to understand," He said whisperingly. "That's our power."
Rex didn't answer—he remained silent and stared into the beautiful moon.
Then, the Invincible Apparition turned towards him, "So, what now? What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to start trusting the moon," Rex answered.
Upon hearing this, the Invincible Apparition smirked, "What about trusting me?"
"Hmph!" Rex scoffed when he heard this. "We'll see."
