MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

The Overseer observed with a faint smile, his gaze steady and contemplative.

Though the battle had not concluded with death, it had proven to be a spectacle almost worth his attention.

He mused, however, witnessing the Calamity Demon in action would have been far more exhilarating.

Still, Orion's clash had its moments of intrigue.

The highlight, in his opinion, was when Orion teleported humans onto the battlefield, a maneuver both audacious and strategic.

Even the Overseer, with all his foresight, had anticipated Anthony to falter under the weight of such a ploy.

Yet, Anthony had defied expectations, feigning heroics as though rescuing the humans, only to turn the ruse into a cunning assault against Orion.

It was a performance that even the Overseer had to admit was masterful.

After relocating Orion's unconscious body, the Overseer materialized before the gathered champions, his presence commanding immediate attention.

"Congratulations on making it this far"

He announced, his voice carrying an air of finality.

The earlier smile that had graced his face was now replaced with an unreadable expression, devoid of warmth.

"Though most of the battles were uninspiring"

He continued, his tone sharp yet devoid of mockery.

"I suppose I shouldn't have expected much from mere ants"

His words were not delivered with overt disdain, but the weight of his presence made them cut all the same.

'Wasn't he once like us, cultivating to ascend through ranks?'
Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire

This thought surfaced in the minds of every champion, a shared realization that flickered across their faces in silence.

The Overseer's gaze shifted deliberately to the Voidwalker champion, one of the elite top ten finalist.

It was not a rare occurrence to see someone of the Voidwalker race reach such heights, and while it offered him a faint sense of satisfaction, it was a fleeting sentiment.

What truly mattered to him was the champion's standing in the top ten, it would dictate his regard for the individual.

As the Overseer's piercing eyes settled on him, the Voidwalker champion felt an oppressive weight press down upon him, as though the very air had thickened.

His knees threatened to buckle, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.

His breathing turned shallow and uneven, each inhalation a laborious effort under the crushing intensity of the Overseer's gaze.

The champion clenched his fists, fighting to maintain composure, but it was clear, the Overseer's mere attention was a burden few could withstand.

The Overseer shifted his gaze away from the Voidwalker champion, his focus now encompassing the entire group.

His voice, sharp and authoritative, carried across the gathering.

"The rules for the top ten placements remain largely unchanged. Almost nothing is different, except for one key point"

He announced, his tone unwavering.

"From this moment forward, killing is strictly forbidden. You are also prohibited from crippling your opponents by destroying their mana cores"

For a fleeting moment, his voice seemed to waver, a flicker of sadness threading through his words as though lamenting the constraint imposed upon the battles.

'How tiresome…'

The Overseer thought with a mental frown, his disappointment palpable.

'Just because they've reached the top ten, they're no longer allowed to kill one another'

The thought lingered briefly before he resumed speaking, his tone once again devoid of emotion, as if the momentary sadness had never existed.

"Now, before the battle begins"

The Overseer declared, his gaze sweeping over the ten champions with an air of detached authority.

"You ant like top ten are granted a respite of twenty four hours. I'm certain some of you have gleaned insights or experienced breakthroughs during the battles. This is your time to consolidate those gains and prepare yourselves"

The Overseer's words hung in the air, a testament to the potential of those present.

Among the champions, it was not uncommon to gain profound insights simply from observing others' battles or clashing with formidable opponents.

Such was the nature of talent and determination.

The majority nodded in understanding, acknowledging the Overseer's words.

Anthony, however, stood among them, his expression betraying his bewilderment.

As he glanced at his peers, he couldn't help but notice the confident glimmers in their eyes, a stark contrast to the unease in his own mind.

'Am I the only one who didn't gain any insights during the fights?'

He wondered, his thoughts spiraling in disbelief.

'How is this even possible? I have limitless talent, don't I? Aren't I supposed to be the protagonist of this story? Or is the author playing games with me again?'

A fleeting flicker of irritation crossed his eyes before his gaze shifted upward, fixing on some indeterminate point in the sky.

In his mind, he raised a metaphorical middle finger to the author, his silent protest laced with frustration.

Still, Anthony hesitated to act on his impulses.

'As much as I'd love to give the author a real middle finger right now, what if the Overseer misunderstands and takes it as an insult?'

With a quiet sigh, he dropped the thought, silently cursing his predicament while maintaining his outward composure.

As Anthony delved deeper into his overthinking spiral, Lucian's gaze naturally drifted toward him.

Observing Anthony's distant expression, Lucian's lips curled into an amused smile.

'He's overthinking again'

Lucian mused, shaking his head slightly.

Having read through Anthony's endless overthinking sessions in his previous life, Lucian had a fairly good idea of what was running through his mind.

It was almost entertaining to see how little had changed in that regard.

Meanwhile, Anthony remained oblivious, lost in his own mental tirade.

In his frantic analysis, he failed to realize a crucial detail, those weaker than him had nothing to offer him in terms of insights.

His unmatched physique and bloodline, combined with his exceptional battle experience, skills, and talents, left no discernible gaps in his abilities.

'What insight could those significantly weaker than me possibly provide?'

He might have thought, if only he weren't so caught up in his frustration.

Even some of those stronger than him lacked the means to contribute anything meaningful, after all, their experiences didn't align with the cheat like standards of his life.

And so, Anthony continued to overthink, unaware of how thoroughly his unique advantages set him apart from the others.

Lucian, however, merely watched, his smile lingering as if he were privy to a private joke no one else understood.

A glowing twenty four hour countdown materialized above the battlefield, its steady progression a reminder of the time granted for rest and preparation.

Some of the champions moved from their floating seats to the ground, assuming cross legged lotus positions to delve into their newfound insights.

Others remained on their floating seats, their gazes distant as they immersed themselves in silent contemplation.

Anthony, Lucian, and Aaaninja, however, remained unmoving.

Anthony was still lost in his overthinking spiral, Aaaninja sat with his eyes closed as always, his demeanor tranquil yet unyielding, and Lucian maintained his usual impassive expression, his face a mask of calm indifference.

An hour passed in relative silence before Lucian finally broke it, his voice cutting through the stillness.

"Hey, Anthony, aren't you going to bring out the cottage?"

The words jolted Anthony from his overthinking session.

He turned to Lucian, his brows furrowed in mild annoyance.

"Do I look like your maid or something, mister young master?"

He retorted, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Lucian simply shrugged, unfazed by the jab.

"Just create the cottage, Anthony. There are still twenty three hours left"

Aaaninja chimed in, his voice calm but firm, as if issuing an unspoken command.

Anthony rolled his eyes, exasperation flickering across his face.

'Are these two muscleheads seriously turning me into a construction worker now?'

He thought with a heavy sigh, silently lamenting his predicament.

Nevertheless, he reluctantly began preparing to conjure the cottage, knowing resistance was futile against the combined persistence of these two.

With a swift motion, Anthony dropped down from his seat and flew off toward a different location.

Aaaninja and Lucian, without a word, followed in his wake.

After a brief flight, they arrived at a secluded area, where Anthony nonchalantly waved his hand.

In an instant, the familiar cottage materialized before them.

Without further hesitation, the trio stepped inside.

The living room was quiet and serene, a stark contrast to the intensity of the battles they had just endured.

Anthony, ever the restless soul, pulled out his phone to watch a movie, eager to relax and escape his earlier thoughts.

But as he glanced around, he noticed both Aaaninja and Lucian were already lying down, preparing to sleep.

"Didn't you two gain some insights or whatever?"

Anthony asked aloud, his voice casual, though his fingers never stopped swiping on his phone.

"Aren't you going to digest them?"

Aaaninja adjusted his pillow, his tone as calm as ever.

"None of them use the Time element, so there's nothing to gain here"

Lucian's voice came shortly after, sharp and matter of fact.

"What insights can the weak give to the strong?"

The impact of Lucian's words struck Anthony like a thunderclap, his mind snapping into clarity.

'I should have thought of this. Where's my Divine Intelligence when I need it?'

He mentally chastised himself, nearly facepalming in embarrassment.

The realization hit him hard, his immense talents and abilities, along with his cheat like advantages, made it impossible for him to glean anything of value from the others.

How could weaker opponents provide any real insight into his power?

Feeling foolish for missing such an obvious point, he settled deeper into his thoughts, the movie on his phone forgotten.

And so, time continued to tick away, the hours slipping by unnoticed as each of them prepared in their own way for what was yet to come.