Moon abilities are the strongest form of spell a Werewolf could wield.


    Indirect moon abilities were the signature spell to those who had achieved the realm of kings by obtaining a King Mark. On the other hand, direct moon abilities were exclusively reserved, for those who had blue blood coursing inside their veins.


    A battle between true blood hardly happened.


    But at this moment, thendscape bears witness to a barrage of direct moon abilities.


    Despite Rex''s speed that exceeded the realm of normal within this thick air—Prince Leif was able to react to his attack in time. He saw Rex''s knuckles cutting through the wind like sharp des infused with a direct moon ability and responded with a moon ability of his own.


    "Moon Ability, Stormbound Gauntlets!"


    In an instant, Prince Leif cast one of his strongest moon abilities.


    Like wings, two additional arms made entirely of dark clouds protruded from his back.


    Bam!!


    Prince Leif sweated profusely when Rex''s punch stopped inches away, summoning eerie and humming runes as if it were a dark ritual. Poised ready, Prince Leif garnered his kingly energy and ced all four of his hands in front to shield himself.


    He trusted his moon ability, but his senses were responding opposite to his mind.


    "Brace yourself, I put everything into this," Rex smirked.


    Upon those words, that came out of Rex''s mouth, time slowed down around them—as Prince Leif''s focus narrowed at the tip of Rex''s fist. Despite his confidence, the muscle fibers across his body tightened in preparation.


    So hard that his azure eyes began to spark with violent flickers of his kingly energy.


    ''I''m also a Prince, I can stop this...''


    Badump!


    His heart thumped hard knowing that this was the attack Rex used to destroy this ce.


    Not to mention, this ability was also the one that hurt the Fifthborn.


    ''Like him, I also have two King Marks!''


    Badump!


    ''If I activate the Yule Moon King Mark, I''ll block this! I''ll be able to block this... right?''


    Badump!


    KABOOM!!


    At thest hard thump of his heart, Prince Leif was sted by a violent spiraling energy that contained an unbelievable amount of power. He saw Rex''s battle against the Fifthborn—and the Brutal Impulse he made then was not as thick as the one he used right now.


    It was clear now that the Royal ck Prince had somehow gotten stronger again.


    His momentum was not stopping, he was a rocket that never stopped rising.


    "Rrrgghhhk!!" Prince Leif was pushed back fiercely, the kingly energy contained—within the beam was akin to a thousand razorscerating his skin. His four arms held onto the beam, and blood kept pouring out of his mouth.


    Anything that got in the way of him and the beam got absolutely destroyed.


    Nothing was able to stop or slow their momentum.


    Even Prince ric and Princess Selene held their breaths, a direct hit was too much.


    ROAR!!


    Prince Leif unleashed a deafening roar as he pushed himself past the limit.


    He firmly nted his feet and pushed the beam back with all four of his arms, lightning could be seen crackling across his body, as he did this. A flicker of hope washed over him when he was able to slow down the beam''s momentum, there might be a chance for him.


    But his tion was short-lived as the beam began rippling with soundwaves. Find your next read on empire


    It assaulted him violently and exploded his eardrums.


    Blood began to seep out of his ears as Prince Leif persevered until a sharp sound rang.


    Crack!


    Prince Leif''s eyes widened when he heard a bony crack—and as he gazed ahead, his breath got stuck in his throat when he realized his left hand was bent back unnaturally. It got worse in the next second as his ws began to be peeled off gruesomely.


    Through his wide-opened eyes, he saw the beam''s impact ripple through his limbs.


    It made his flesh wobble like waves.


    "Gargghk!"


    His limbs broke first and it was now only up to his storm arms, holding back the might.


    Escaping this predicament is shameful but preferable nheless.


    However, Prince Leif couldn''t do that, he was bound in ce by the beam''s influence.


    ''I already activated both King Marks and even spread silver dust to lessen his attack''s power but I''m still overpowered?!'' Prince Leif eximed inside his head—not wanting to ept this result. ''I''m the Storm Prince, I''ve known no defeat! I am a True Werewolf! I refuse this—this is not possible!!''


    Crack!


    Another second passed and finally, one of his storm arms gave out.


    In the instant that happened, the beam pierced through and struck his torso violently.


    Prince Leif coughed a mouthful of blood before he was pushed by the beam for miles before a spectacr explosion that decimated the ground happened—forcing a gush of shockwave to the surroundings.


    For a brief second, the battle stopped as the onlookers viewed this massive explosion.


    Just the impact alone made the legion of Werewolves pale.


    Even though they had absolute confidence, in their royals, the true descendant of the Origin, the explosion wavered their beliefs. Rex was simply too strong for a mere pseudo-tenth-rank realm, he was the strongest at this current moment.


    Seeing this, Rex straightened his back and smirked.


    "I almost thought he would block it," He muttered inwardly, and looked down at his chest, an X-shaped bleeding scar could be seen there, steaming blue. "His Yule Moon kingly energy is very potent, but his body is not strong enough to wield it"


    During the sh earlier, Prince Leif activated his Yule Moon King Mark out of desperation.


    He poured everything he had to block the Brutal Impulse.


    Because of that, some random strands managed to cut Rex which resulted in this scar.


    On top of that—since the scar was inflicted by the Yule Moon kingly energy, it was healing at an extremely slow pace that Rex thought it wasn''t healing. He would need to be extra careful in dealing with this kind of energy.


    Considering the Yule Moon is lethal to Werewolf, this was expected.


    "I can''t use my banished dark moon kingly energy more than this, the Countess would be too burdened if I went for more. I will stick with the blood moon starting from now," Rex had used too much of his banished dark moon kingly energy.


    For a long time, this was his first time experiencing energy fatigue again.


    He probably could use one more banished dark moon-rted ability before exhaustion.


    Even then, his blood moon kingly energy was still robust.


    Rex''s Brutal Impulse skill was a direct moon ability, it sourced kingly energy from Rex as well as the Kaiser so using it repeatedly was not a problem for him as long, as his physique could sustain it, "Kaiser must be kicking and grinding his teeth up there," He mused cheekily.


    Just then, his eyes narrowed, "Speaking of the Lunirich Gods, it should be time..."


    A distance away to the side, Princess Selene climbed out of a crater.


    She fell there when she was thrown away earlier.


    Pulling herself up while panting heavily—she raised her gaze and saw Prince ric sprawled on the ground with one of his wings severed. Biting her lower lip, she coughed a mouthful of blood, the battle had gone beyond her expectations, "I... I can''t believe it,"


    "He''s this strong even when he only has two King Marks," She groaned, clutching the ground.


    It should''ve been Rex who was in peril tonight but it was the other way around instead.


    Despite her condition, she needs to get up and help Prince Leif.


    Seeing that Rex was not focused on them, Princess Selene stumbled her way towards Prince ric and fell near him. ced her hand above his heaving chest, she asked, "ric, can you still fight? If Prince Leif... fall, we would have no chance against him"


    "Run, Selene..." Prince ric muttered, ignoring what she was saying.


    Upon hearing this, Princess Selene hit his chest, "Silence yourself! We can still win!"


    "It''s not that I lose hope," He replied—groaning in pain, from the hit. "Nobody has ever gotten the Yule Moon King Mark for a reason, Selene. The Yule Moon is not a source of strength, it''s an abomination for us Werewolves. Prince Leif is losing and I''m sure the Lunirich God—of the Yule Moon would appear, and if it wins, it would kill us both"


    "If the Royal ck Prince wins, he will kill you but not me" He added weakly.


    Knowing that the Yule Moon was the eldest of the Lunirich Gods and the enforcer—he knew that even if the Yule Moon killed them, the Demon Moon and the Honey Moon wouldn''t have anything to say.


    Order-wise, the Yule Moon never intervened with the other Lunirich Gods.


    But when it did, it would have thest say in everything.


    Princess Selene was confused by this.


    She understood that the Yule Moon would kill them both, for bringing shame—to their names but she didn''t understand why Rex wouldn''t kill Prince ric, and her question could be seen clearly through her expression as Prince ric answered, "I don''t know why, either"


    "The Royal ck Prince had every chance to kill me but he didn''t," He added.


    Prince ric spoke with conviction.


    Even though she refused to let this battle end as their defeat, it might''ve been her arrogance talking when the oue was already obvious. Despite being bolstered by the Honey Moon, she wasn''t able to do anything to the Royal ck Prince.


    It was so bad that she was barely able to cast a single moon ability throughout this battle.


    Maybe it was enough, there was no need for her to fight anymore.


    Not when the chances are near zero.


    But as these thoughts swirled inside her head, her eyes caught sight of a puddle to the side.


    A remnant of what was once the Bloodstone Crater.


    "So be it," She suddenly said, raising her gaze ahead. "If I had to die here then so be it..."


    Upon hearing this, Prince ric wanted to stop her but he was toote.


    ...


    Boom!


    Rex made a powerful leap andnded on a huge crater, caving the earth inward.


    At the center of this crater was Prince Leif.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    His body, was broken beyond belief—bones protruded out at unnatural angles, limbs twisted grotesquely—and deepcerations marred his flesh, seeping blood that pooled beneath him, a pathetic and disgraceful sight for his status.


    Prince Leif''s body convulsed with pain, each breath a struggle.


    But as soon as Rexnded, his bloodshot eyes flicked to the side and red at Rex.


    Despite his regenerative ability kicking in, it was slow and through the pain, Prince Leif sat up in great struggle. He gazed at his own body—furious, and in disbelief, he gripped the earth in a violent grip of his ws.


    "I''vee here for you and you have my praise, you''re strong," Rex said in a calm tone.


    He was telling the truth.


    Compared to when he fought the Fifthborn, he was much stronger now.


    So the fact that Prince Leif could endure the Brutal Impulse was a testament to his strength.


    Just as he said, however, Prince Leif screamed.


    "RRAAARGGHHH!!!" He vented out his frustration, expelling everything out through a scream, that echoed throughout the surrounding ce. "Do you think I will be happy hearing that? Do you think your praise consoles me?! No, yours is an insult!!"


    Prince Leif waspletely frustrated.


    It was as if Rex had a halo above his head that made him lucky.


    Even though he was already strong, he coincidentally became a Ravenous One—through his diet, and became stronger. Back when he wanted to kill Rex—because of his strength, other Elders intervened and stopped him.


    Rex was indeed the chosen one.


    But the more Prince Leif thought about this, the more angry he became.


    "I refuse to believe this!!" He shouted once again, his aura—bing rampant. "I have the power of both the Yule and Storm Moon! I am also a Prince! The gap in our strength should not be this wide!! I REFUSE!! I REFUSEAAH!!"


    Upon seeing Prince Leif breaking down, Rex scoffed.


    Prince Leif might thought this was all luck but he had nned this from start to finish.


    If his n went smoothly tonight, he would achieve three things.


    Seems like it wouldn''te. Logically, it is understandable, as failing to kill me here would''ve created a massive time gap—that would allow me to be stronger, in peace. But really...? Does reason defeat the pride of a God...?


    Despite the unexpected result, Rex decided to end this battle.


    However, as he was about to take a step, the tantrum from Prince Leif halted abruptly.


    Rex looked at Prince Leif with a frown.


    Soon enough, Prince Leif slowly turned to look at him, exposing the influence of a God.


    A sight that caught Rex in surprise, sensing the air around Prince Leif changed.


    "Humble yourself beneath a God, mortal..."


    Brakk!!