MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

The world stirred with tension, power brokers gathering in hidden chambers to discuss the extraordinary rise of Anthony Null.

While whispers of his Grandmaster rank rippled across continents, Anthony himself lay sprawled across a luxurious chaise in the Null estate, doing absolutely nothing.

The sunlight streamed through the tall windows, bathing the room in a warm glow.

Anthony's katana rested against the wall, untouched for days.

He lay on his back, an arm draped lazily over his eyes, and a soft snore escaped his lips.

He was truly living out the life his clones enjoyed.

...

Meeting of Powers

In the heart of the Lionheart estate, a clandestine meeting took place in a grand hall.

The room was dimly lit, the flickering flames of ornate chandeliers casting dancing shadows on the walls.

Leaders, scholars, and military tacticians sat around a crescent table, their expressions grim.

"I don't believe it"

A bearded general growled, slamming his fist on the table

"No one that young can reach the Grandmaster rank. It's absurd"

"It doesn't matter if you believe it"

A woman in elegant robes countered, her voice cold.

"The rumors alone are dangerous. His name has already stirred the masses. Anthony Null is either a beacon of hope or a threat to our stability"

"Stability?"

An older man scoffed.

"A Grandmaster who fought a King ranker and lived to tell the tale… that disrupts more than stability. It challenges everything we know about power and hierarchy"

"Have we confirmed these claims?"

Another figure asked, their face obscured by a hood.

A scholar shuffled his papers, his hands trembling.

"The information is… fragmented, but credible sources confirm his fight with a King ranker. Witnesses describe the overwhelming aura that only a Grandmaster could possess"

"And his family?"

The general asked, leaning forward.

The scholar hesitated.

"Present. All of them. The Sword Saint. The Elemental Queen. The Lightning God… None of them have left the estate"

Another voice chimed in, sharper than the rest.

"That's not just protection; it's a statement. They're daring anyone to challenge them"

A heavy silence settled over the room. Finally, the hooded figure spoke, their voice a chilling whisper.

"We must tread carefully. If the Null family feels threatened, it won't just be Anthony we have to worry about. It will be all of them"

.....

The Shadow Guild

Far beneath the city streets of another Domain, a gathering of assassins met in the dim light of an underground chamber. The air reeked of damp stone and old blood.

"Anthony Null"

The guildmaster said, his voice a low rumble.

"The bounty on his head is unprecedented. Are there any among you daring enough to accept?"

The room was silent.

No one dared to speak.

"Cowards"

The guildmaster spat.

"Are you so afraid of a boy?"

"It's not him we fear"

One assassin muttered.

"It's what surrounds him. The Null estate isn't just a fortress; it's a death trap. His family would obliterate anyone foolish enough to try"

The guildmaster's eyes narrowed.

"Then we wait, sooner or later, he'll leave the estate. And when he does…"

He let the sentence hang in the air, a promise of violence yet to come.

....

The Null Family Estate

Anthony groaned as his mother, Mitchelle, burst into the room with a tray of fruit and a stern expression.

"You've been lying there for five days, Anthony"

She said, her voice firm but laced with affection.

"Are you planning to become one with the furniture?"

Anthony peeked out from under his arm, his voice muffled.

"It's been a long year, Mom. I'm recuperating"

Mitchelle sighed, setting the tray down on a nearby table.

"Recuperating or avoiding your training?"

Michael appeared in the doorway, his arms crossed.

"I warned you about this. The boy needs a challenge, or he'll grow soft"

Anthony sat up slightly, rubbing his eyes.

"Dad, I just fought a King ranker. I think I've earned a nap"

"Nap, my foot"

Michael retorted.

"Grandmaster or not, strength needs discipline. Do you think your enemies are resting just because you are?"

Collins entered the room next, his booming laughter filling the space.

"Let the boy rest, Michael. He's not going soft. He's just enjoying the rare luxury of peace"

Anthony shot his grandfather a grateful look.

"Finally, someone who understands me"

Mitchelle shook her head, exasperated.

"You're all impossible"

She turned to Anthony.

"Fine. Rest if you must, but don't forget to eat. And for goodness' sake, go outside once in a while. You look like a ghost"

Anthony smirked, reaching for a slice of fruit.

"Yes, ma'am"

As Mitchelle left, muttering about lazy men, Collins leaned against the wall, his expression growing serious.

"You do realize the world is watching you, Anthony. They're afraid of what you represent"

Anthony leaned back, biting into the fruit nonchalantly.

"Let them watch. I'm not in a rush to prove anything to anyone, I don't have time for the cliché assassinations, I just want to get to the next arc immediately"

Michael frowned but said nothing, his sharp eyes studying his son.

"Besides"

Anthony added with a sly grin,

"if they're so scared, they should just come find me. I'm not going anywhere"

After eating the fruit, Anthony just went back to his sleep.

Hours quickly went by as he slept.

......

The Null estate was serene under the blanket of night, the usual hum of energy subdued as its residents rested.

In the spacious living area, the faint crackle of a dying fireplace was the only sound, casting flickering shadows on the ornate walls.

Collins leaned back in his armchair, swirling a glass of amber liquid as he watched the flames dance.

Across from him, Mitchelle sat on a couch, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp.

Michael stood near the window, his arms crossed, gazing out at the sprawling estate grounds.

"I still can't believe him"

Mitchelle said suddenly, breaking the silence.

"He's been sleeping all day, eating like a bear preparing for hibernation, and barely training"

Michael chuckled softly, not turning from the window.

"That's Anthony. He thrives on chaos, then pretends he's unaffected. It's his way of recharging"

"He needs to take things more seriously"

She insisted, her voice firm but not unkind.

"The world isn't going to wait for him to 'recharge'"

Collins raised an eyebrow, his tone light.

"Do you remember how you were at his age, Mitchelle? You weren't exactly the most disciplined student either"

Mitchelle's eyes narrowed at her father, though a smile tugged at her lips.

"That's different. I wasn't being hunted by half the world"

Michael finally turned, his expression calm but serious.

"He'll be fine. He's not careless, no matter how he looks. You know as well as I do that he's already thinking five steps ahead"

"Speaking of five steps ahead"

Collins interjected, setting his glass down,

"Have we considered what happens when Anthony eventually steps out of this estate? We can't keep him here forever. The boy has a destiny far beyond these walls."

Mitchelle sighed, brushing her hair back.

"I know. But for now, I want him safe. Let the world speculate and scheme all they want. Anthony deserves this time to recover"

As if summoned by their conversation, Anthony strolled into the room, his hair a mess and his expression half-asleep. He yawned loudly, scratching the back of his head.

"Talking about me again, huh?"

He said, flopping onto the couch beside Mitchelle.

"You make it hard not to"

She replied dryly, nudging him with her elbow.

Collins grinned.

"So, young man, how does it feel to be the most talked-about person in the world right now?"

Anthony smirked lazily.

"Honestly? Exhausting. I don't know how you all do it. I'm thinking of going into hiding permanently" Stay tuned with m,v le,mpyr

Michael snorted.

"Hiding isn't in your blood, Anthony"

Anthony groaned, rubbing his temples.

"Great, another lecture. Can't we just enjoy a quiet evening without dissecting my life choices?"

"Your life choices are half the reason the world is losing its collective mind right now,"

Mitchelle said, a teasing edge to her voice.

"So, no, we can't"

Collins leaned back, his gaze twinkling.

"You know, Anthony, you remind me of your father when he was younger. Always downplaying his achievements, pretending like he wasn't carving out a legend. It's almost uncanny"

Anthony perked up at that, smirking at Michael.

"So I'm like you, huh? I will take that as a compliment"

Michael arched an eyebrow.

"Don't. I was a fool in my youth"

"Foolishly strong"

Collins interjected with a grin.

"Exactly"

Anthony laughed, pointing at his grandfather.

"See? I'm just continuing the family tradition."

Mitchelle shook her head, exasperated but smiling.

"Tradition or not, Anthony, you need to start taking yourself seriously. The Null estate might be safe now, but the world won't stay out there waiting forever. You've painted a target on your back"

Anthony sighed, finishing his apple.

"Yeah, I know. But can't I just have this time to be normal? Just for a little while? I've earned at least that, haven't I?"

Collins and Michael exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them. It was Mitchelle who finally spoke, her tone softer this time.

"Of course, you've earned it. But don't let yourself get too comfortable. The moment you step out of these walls, everything changes again"

Anthony tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling.

"Story of my life"

....

The Family Dinner

Later that evening, the family gathered in the grand dining hall.

The long table, usually reserved for formal occasions, was laden with simple but hearty dishes.

Collins insisted on pouring drinks for everyone, despite Mitchelle's protests that the younger ones didn't need any.

Michael raised his glass.

"To my baby monster. For giving us all something to argue about tonight"

They laughed, and even Anthony couldn't suppress a grin.

He raised his glass of juice, mock-saluting.

"To me. The troublemaker extraordinaire"

As the meal went on, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, stories of Michael and Mitchelle's adventures in their youth, Collins regaling them with tales of his battles.

"You know"

Collins said, leaning toward Anthony.

"I once faced down a battalion of King rankers. Took them all out without breaking a sweat"

Anthony raised an eyebrow.

"Really? A battalion?"

"Well"

Collins admitted, grinning.

"It might've been more like a squad. And maybe I broke a little sweat. But the point is, there's always more to achieve"

Michael snorted.

"Don't let him fool you, Anthony. He likes to embellish"

"And you don't?"

Collins shot back, laughing.

The banter continued, the family's camaraderie filling the room with warmth.

Here, within the safety of the Null estate, he wasn't a Grandmaster or a savior.

He was just Anthony, surrounded by family who cared for him beyond his achievements.

As the night wore on, Anthony found himself sitting alone in the garden.

The stars were bright, scattered across the vast expanse of the sky.

He leaned back on the cool grass, hands behind his head, letting the stillness wash over him.

Mitchelle appeared, her presence as gentle as the breeze.

She sat down beside him, not saying anything for a while.

"You're quieter than usual"

She remarked finally.

Anthony chuckled softly.

"Just thinking. For all the talk about what I've done, I'm not sure what comes next"

Mitchelle glanced at him, her expression unreadable.

"That's the thing about the future, Anthony. It's unwritten. And it's yours to shape"

He turned his head to look at her, not surprised by the softness in her tone.

"No pressure, right?"

He joked.

"None at all"

She replied, smiling.

"Just know that whatever you decide, we're here. You don't have to face it alone"

Anthony's smile faded into something more genuine.

"Thanks, Mom"

As they sat in companionable silence, the faint sound of laughter from the dining hall drifted through the garden, a reminder that, no matter what the world threw at him, he had a place to call home, knowing that here, in this quiet corner of the world, he was untouchable.