MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Radiant light flared as they materialized within the Divine Realm.

In an instant, their heads turned sharply, instincts honing in on two distant presences, Anthony and Litt.

The ground trembled beneath them, unable to withstand the force as they propelled themselves skyward.

The landscape blurred into streaks of green and gold as they traversed the vast distance in mere heartbeats.

Then, with a thunderous impact, they descended, the earth quaking beneath their arrival as a cloud of dust billowed into the air.

Their gaze settled upon Anthony, who greeted their arrival with nothing more than a calm, knowing smile.

Marcus, however, took it a step further, striding toward Anthony with open arms, intent on embracing him.

Yet, just as he began to lift his hand for the gesture, he froze mid-motion.

Infinity had activated, an invisible force halting him in place.

'Men should shake hands'

Anthony mused to himself, watching Marcus with a helpless expression.

"How have you all been?"

Anthony's voice carried warmth as he swept his gaze over each of them, his smile laced with quiet amusement.

'It seems they've been working hard'

He mused inwardly.

Before him stood warriors, each having ascended to Mythic Rank Level Seven, even the notoriously lazy Litt had reached this stage.

Yet, among them, one stood apart.

Clement.

Clement's aura pulsed with quiet intensity, his rank unmistakably marked his ascension into the Ecliptic Rank.

And he hadn't merely stepped into it.

He had already climbed to Level Four.

Anthony, at Ecliptic Rank Level Nine, observed him in silence.

'What absurd abilities is his physique granting him? Why aren't the others receiving the same boost?'

The thought lingered as Anthony regarded Clement speechlessly, though outwardly, his expression remained composed, his calm smile unwavering.

"Let's go in first. There is much to discuss"

He finally said, turning toward the entrance.

With a nod of silent agreement, they made their way toward the nearest building, stepping inside one by one.

Settling into their seats, the air grew thick with unspoken curiosity.

Anthony leaned back, crossing his arms and legs, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"I can see the questions burning in your eyes. Go ahead"

Vivian was the first to break the silence.

"You were gone for two months. Was the location really that far?"

Anthony shook his head slightly.

"Not at all. We actually reached our destination in about a week. It was the tests, and the countless resting and the passage of time within them, that consumed most of it"

Though they had no idea what kind of tests he referred to, they simply nodded, accepting his words without further question.

"What were the other races like?"

Spectre's voice carried a rare curiosity.

Anthony tapped his fingers against his armrest, his gaze thoughtful.

"Hmm... If I'm being honest, their racial abilities are overwhelmingly powerful, especially those of the Top Ten Galaxy Races. To them, dragons, elves, and the like are nothing more than insignificant"

A sharp glint flashed in Clement's eyes as he spoke for the first time.

"Do you think we would lose if we fought them?"

Anthony considered the question before answering.

"At your current level, you might have an advantage against many simply because of your cultivation advantage. But against certain individuals, you're bound to lose"

He exhaled lightly before continuing.

"People like Charles, Aaaninja, Lucian, they're on a different level. The top races of the galaxy also possess racial abilities so powerful that they can bridge the gap in cultivation rank entirely"

His words lingered in the air, and for a moment, silence reigned.

They understood Anthony's words.

At their current strength, they held the overwhelming advantage in raw cultivation alone, enough to crush even the top races.

Yet, those races possessed unique abilities that allowed them to bridge the gap, some even turning the tide entirely.

But more than that, Anthony had named individuals capable of outright defeating them.

'The galaxy is truly vast...'

Mike mused, a flicker of realization passing through his mind.

Breaking the silence, Donna spoke.

"Did you take first place?"

Her oceanic blue eyes locked onto Anthony's gem-like sapphire gaze, not with doubt, but simple curiosity.

Anthony's lips curled into a smirk, his tone laced with arrogance.

"Is there even a need to ask?"

"Tell us about the battle, everything"

Arnold urged, his eagerness evident.

Anthony exhaled, leaning back.

"I don't think I have enough saliva to keep talking. How about we just Netflix it?"

"Netflix?"

Evelyn echoed, her brows knitting in confusion.

Anthony chuckled.

"I mean, we'll watch it. Just like how I've shown you things through illusions before, but this time, you'll feel everything. Every sensation. Every pain"

As he spoke, a fleeting thought crossed his mind.

'Too bad I couldn't 'Netflix and Chill' with that elf girl… I didn't even get her name. Well, there will be more opportunities in the future'

With a snap of his fingers, reality twisted.

Then, it unfolded before them.

Anthony spared them the preliminaries, the trials, the survival battles, the age measurements.

None of that mattered.

What he showed them instead… were the battles.

Aaaninja and Lucian, effortlessly sweeping through their opponents, each movement a display of overwhelming power.

Anthony himself—bleeding.

His injuries, deep and unforgiving, painting a stark contrast to his usual untouchable presence.

And they felt it.

Every strike, every cut, every ounce of pain slammed into them as if the illusion had rewritten reality itself.

Aaaninja, bending time with the ease of a casual gesture, as if he were merely flipping through the pages of a book.

Lucian, unleashing ability after ability, each drawn forth with seamless mastery.

Pulling them out as effortlessly as one might pluck vegetables from a garden.

Yet wielding them with an expertise so refined, it was terrifying.

Which begged the question, when had Lucian found the time to master all these abilities?

To train them, cultivate his strength, and refine his battle instincts to such an overwhelming degree?

Then also cultivate on top of that.

Then came Orion, effortlessly warping reality itself as though the laws of existence were mere suggestions.

Aaaninja, tearing through time, venturing into the past, summoning alternate versions of himself from countless different realities.

And then… the mesmerizing Eyes Of Genesis.

A force so absolute, so incomprehensible, that it left an imprint on their very souls.

After the final clash against Aaaninja, the illusion shattered.

Anthony released them, pulling them back into the present.

Yet the weight of what they had witnessed remained.

They sat there in stunned silence, struggling to process what they had just experienced.

"Are we the ones with the system… or could the one they possess be a higher version?"

Marcus clicked his tongue in frustration, the thought gnawing at him.

They knew one thing for certain.

If they faced Aaaninja—Instant death.

Lucian? Instant death.

Charles? They might put up a struggle, but the outcome remained the same—instant death.

Orion? There, they might fight back, resist, but victory?

That was another matter entirely.

Anthony did not stop there.

He provided them with information on the top races, detailing their racial abilities, gifts so powerful that even raw cultivation alone would not bridge the gap.

At that moment, a harsh truth settled over them.

Humanity was weak.

"Now that you know there are those far stronger than you, I hope you continue to train hard"

Anthony's voice was calm, but his smile carried an unspoken challenge.

Yet, instead of discouragement, battle intent flared in their eyes.

They were warriors and if they ever crossed paths with the likes of Aaaninja, Lucian, or Orion, they would fight.

Seeing their resolve, Anthony's smirk widened.

"How about you put that battle intent to good use, and fight me?"

He rose from his seat, his gaze sweeping over them.

"Let me assess how far you've come"

A brief pause, then he added with an amused glint.

"Besides… I've never fought any of you before. Except Clement, of course"

With that, he turned and strode toward the door.

His voice echoed behind him, lingering in the air like a dare.

"Let me see if I've been wasting my time and resources cultivating you"

For a moment, they were stunned.

Fight Anthony?

The thought sent a thrill through their veins.

They weren't against it.

They wanted it.

No—they wished for it.

They had prayed for this opportunity.

And now? Their wish had been granted.

A grin stretched across their faces, one that bordered on maniacal, their battle intent surging like a wildfire.

Even Clement, usually composed, smirked, ready for a rematch.