Chapter 1225: A Sudden Challenge
Rex has had enough of other forces making a move on him.
He was focusing on the Second Breath and the changes it brought, being peaceful to others, but it seemed he couldn't stay true to that. Now is the second time, a stray Werewolf—an old one who had only awakened entered his territory.
It was said that Werewolf has the best danger instincts, but apparently, that was false.
Knowing his feats, these Werewolves came to his territory as if they owned the place.
Almost as if there was a sign on his border that said 'welcome'.
"Even though none of them had come with bad intentions, I still can't have them coming here without repercussion. It would be very bad, for my reputation, and reputation is the first layer of protection, so I can't let this be" Rex mused lightly.
Deciding to do something about it, he extended his hand and controlled his lunar mana.
A moment is all it takes for a clone of himself to appear beside him.
"Go and tail those Werewolves. Since they were on the move—it should be easy to spot them—their technique will be of no use," Rex instructed before the clone, nodded and faced in the direction where the group of Werewolf had gone.
But before the clone goes, Rex also uses his elemental power to make the clone stealthy.
Keeping a good distance from the group should suffice to be unnoticed.
Nevertheless, it was never a bad thing to be more careful.
Just as the clone disappeared, Rex's mind fixed on Ragnar, "I can definitely use him,"
"I'll make use of him and make my own move..." He added with an evil grin.
Even though healing the Countess takes top priority right now it doesn't mean that he would neglect the Race Evolution Quest. Rex needs to devour old Werewolf blood—and Ragnar will be able to help him.
Ragnar will be the first step to complete that requirement.
Since he has the killing intent quest too, that's another reason to use Ragnar to his use.
Deciding to go back and rest a bit before going to the Chrono Hollow once again, Rex halted abruptly—when he heard a mighty howl, coming from the distance. Rex could feel, his beast side responding to this howl.
It was a call that he couldn't ignore as he was forced to glance over his shoulder.
<A challenge from another pack to the user's pack has been declared!>
<Dancing Stripes Pack has issued a challenge to the Silverstar Pack!>
<Does the user want to accept the challenge?>
Upon reading this notification, Rex frowned deeply, "A challenge...? From who exactly?"
Although the notifications showed that the challenge came from the Dancing Stripes Pack— Rex didn't know whose pack it was. He did not know any of the pack from the Scarlet Banes Kingdom so he was not aware of this one.
"Eughkk..." Rex grunted as he stumbled, forced to lean against a tree with his arm.
His vision blurred, a strange sensation bubbling within him, it felt like his body was on the brink of exploding, or there was something inside of him that was begging to come out. It was surreal, and a slight unrest flickered through his mind.
Looking down at his hand, Rex frowned, "What's happening to me?"
Seeping from within, he saw his kingly energy, both of them began to steam from his body.
It was activating without his consent, and it was becoming more intense.
Rex tried to suppress them, tried to deactivate them once more but it was futile.
Before long his hand started making cracking sounds as the bones within it shifted, growing larger and more powerful. Even his fingernails elongated and sharpened, turning into deadly claws that were able to kill anything they touched.
Upon seeing this, Rex gritted his teeth in pain, "It's the same as back then..."
"It was the same as when I first encountered Flunra," He added whisperingly.
Overwhelmed by the sensation of anger that came out of nowhere, Rex fell to his knees and gritted his teeth hard, trying to maintain control—but the primal force within him was utterly relentless, giving him no time to even breathe.
Just then his mind was electrocuted at a realization.
He had already read the Basic Book of the Lunirich, and it was quite resourceful.
Even though it was a thin book with only dozens of pages, it taught him the basics, about the Lunirich God's pantheon. A brief description of what each one of them represents, what each focus of their powers, and even the different ways to praise them.
Out of the Lunirich Gods, he attentively learned about the Blood and the Dark Moon.
Since he had both of their King Marks, he paid close attention to them.
It was also because of that he recalled a part on the Kaiser of the Scarlet Garland's section that stated that he was arrogant and prideful, and all of his champions took this trait. Since his champions are the representation of him, there were restrictions placed.
Naturally, with his godly arrogance, Kaiser didn't want his champions to disgrace him.
One disgraceful act for him was to refuse a challenge.
Regardless of the odds, the Blood Moon champions would always accept a challenge.
Krrkk...!
Unable to hold back the anger inside of him, that surfaced because of the howl, Rex clawed the ground with his vicious black steel claws as his body began to transform. His eyes were glowing crimson, a sign that the Blood Moon's kingly energy was taking over.
<Notice: Please do not resist the transformation!>
Seeing this, Rex clicked his tongue in displeasure as he didn't want to accept a challenge.
No matter what this was, he knew that it was something bad.
But the more he tried to resist the transformation, the more warning notifications appeared.
At the climax of the struggle, he eventually raised his gaze and looked ahead.
Growl!
Pounding the ground one time—he succumbed to the transformation and began to climb the thick and sky-high tree beside him. As he gets higher, his transformation becomes more and more complete.
His Banished Dark Moon's kingly energy vanished entirely from his glowing King Mark.
Each leap made him grow more feral, shedding the remnants of any humanity.
Finally, Rex assumed his full Werewolf form, landing on the highest tree branch with an aura, crimson aura flaring like blazing fire. His predator eyes—now keen, and wild, peered into the horizon where a yellowish aura pierced the heavens.
Seeing that aura made him snap, a primal instinct surged within him.
ROARR!!
Rex unleashed a mighty howl, shooting his crimson aura into the sky, piercing the clouds.
A soundwave was created by his roar that was reverberating, causing the leaves around him to tremble and whirl. It was a response to the distance howl, from earlier, and only then, that Rex felt way better internally.
He was still overwhelmed by the Blood Moon's kingly energy, but he could now think again.
"Grghh... Damn it! If I knew about it then they must've known about it too," Rex barked.
Considering that all of the old Supernaturals, were now awakened—Rex could safely assume that they also knew about the restriction placed by Kaiser, he couldn't refuse the challenge if he had the Blood Moon King Mark.
...
<Pack Duel Quest has been initiated!>
As a pursuer of Invincibility of all aspects, the user's pack must also not be a weak link. All of them must be Invincible, in their own way—aiding the user to reach the peak of power. Since the user's pack has been challenged, the System will use this, as a gauge to determine if the user's pack is on the right path. Adhara, Kyran, Flunra, and Gistella are the ones chosen.
Achieve triumph over the rivaling pack!
Pack Duel countdown: 220:31:44
Failure to complete the Pack Duel Quest will result in an appropriate pack penalty.
...
Upon reading this, Rex could only sigh inwardly.
It seemed Kaiser's restriction was in line with the System as he now got a quest.
Since it had come to this, he couldn't refuse the challenge anymore.
On the other hand, Kyran and Flunra arrived at the scene and saw that Rex was on the tree.
Just like Rex—both of them had heard the distant howl that made their blood boil—and both had come rushing when they heard Rex return the howl with his own. Climbing the tree, both instantly went to check on Rex.
"What happened?" Kyran asked in concern.
He saw Rex was in his Werewolf form and was overwhelmed with crimson kingly energy.
Not even needing Rex to answer, Flunra guessed, "Is it a challenge?"
"Hmm," Rex nodded, as he tried to steady his heavy breaths—but could not as the sensation was still lingering inside of him. "A pack called Dancing Stripes issued a challenge to us, they used the same howl as you did back then, Flunra, to pull my attention"
Upon hearing this, Flunra shook his head, "No, the howl I used to you back then is different"
"It's a technique only those who came from the first generation know," He added.
Rex nodded as he could somewhat tell the difference.
If it was Flunra's howl his aura would instantly go rampant, and shoot into the sky, while this howl, on the contrary, forced him to unleash his aura on his own. Had Rex not had the Blood Moon King Mark, he reckoned that he could easily decline this howl's call.
On the other hand, Flunra's howl was un-refusable, it was more absolute.
Gazing at the yellow aura in the very far distance, Flunra squinted his eyes, "Compared to mine—this howl is called the Provocation Howl. But since it riled your Blood Moon's kingly energy, a Prince or Princess must've been involved in this howl"
"Only by their involvement could they force you to accept," He added.
Naturally, this explanation made sense.
Had the duel was not even worth fighting, Kaiser's restriction wouldn't have been stimulated.
It would be troublesome if every literal challenge must be answered.
Upon saying that, Flunra contemplated for a moment and continued, "If my memory served me right, the Dancing Stripes should be Selene, the Moonblade Dancer's pack. She's is the princess of the Honey Moon, a troublesome one I should say..."
Once again, Flunra's knowledge proved to be extremely useful.
Rex wouldn't know who the Dancing Stripes pack was had Flunra not been here.
So that's why the duel would be held at the Honey Moon, they would be at an advantage.
As the countdown shows roughly ten days from now, Rex was sure that the duel would be held, at the time of the Honey Moon. Since none of the others were born under the Honey Moon, they wouldn't gain as much strength as the Dancing Stripes pack.
We would be in a disadvantageous position, but what is the purpose of this duel?
Surely their end goal is me. So are they aiming for the others first?
Due to the suddenness of the challenge, Rex was confused as to what their goal was.
But he was one hundred percent sure that they would try something during the duel.
Shaking his head, Rex focused back to Flunra again, "I'm not the one challenged, it would be you guys against the Dancing Stripes pack. Evelyn is not counted as she's the Luna, and the princess, Selene would also not participate as I'm not participating"
Upon hearing this, Flunra frowned as that was unexpected.
On the other hand, Kyran on the back was grinning massively at the prospect.
"Nevertheless, recall anything you know, about their pack members," Rex said to Flunra—he must know something about the Dancing Stripes pack members. "Even though the duel was unexpected, I still want to win"
Kyran and Flunra nodded, they were not going to disappoint Rex.
"What about you? I'm sure you know, but this is definitely a trap," Kyran asked.
Rex creased his brows into a frown, "Me...? I'm going to try to make the duel lean to our side"
Just as he said that his gaze turned downwards to the ground.
All three of them are still on the tree branch.
On the ground, there were a couple more figures that arrived.
Seeing this, Rex smiled in response, "Seems like everyone is here..."