MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 1: Talk with ???

A heavy sigh escaped him as his fingers danced across the keyboard. Glancing at the clock, he realized it was growing late. Stopping his work, he grabbed his bag and exited the office to begin his commute home.

Descending the stairs, he found himself reflecting on the trajectory of his life and the journey that brought him to this point.

Anthony was his name. An orphan who had balanced countless part-time jobs just to afford his tuition, he had managed to avoid academic failure thanks to a remarkably sharp memory. He had spent years toiling to reach his current position, yet all that effort had only secured him a low-paying role in a minor firm. Lacking any real friends to turn to, he sought comfort within the worlds of anime and novels.

Cursing his luck while walking down the steps, he debated which story to dive into once he arrived home. He stood at the roadside waiting for a taxi, his mind wandering through various plots, when a truck suddenly appeared out of nowhere, hurtling toward him at high speed. Panic surged through him, but his limbs were paralyzed by sheer terror. He cursed internally, wondering if the gods had unleashed "truck-kun" upon him for his earlier bitterness. Before he could process more, he lost consciousness, bleeding out onto the pavement.

His soul began to drift through the vastness of the universe, wandering without a fixed destination.

"Oh? A golden soul possessing such unprecedented intensity," a mysterious voice remarked.

An irresistible force pulled Anthony’s soul toward the entity. The being’s eyes shimmered with a white light as it peered through the history of Anthony’s life. With a gesture, the entity roused Anthony, reshaping his soul back into a familiar human form. He blinked his eyes open and surveyed his surroundings.

'Where is this? I was certain I died. Is this heaven? Isn't truck-kun supposed to send me to a reincarnation? Tsk, I better not run into those webnovel authors in the afterlife.'

"Quiet your thoughts, mortal. This place is not heaven," the voice echoed.

Anthony looked up and was struck with awe. Before him stood a figure composed of ethereal darkness, shaped like a man but devoid of any facial features. Terror seized him; "the devil" was the only thought Anthony could muster upon seeing this creature.

"I am neither a devil nor a god, mortal. Do not insult me by comparing me to such ants," the being stated.

Though Anthony felt a deep dread, he realized he was already dead and had no choice but to accept his situation.

"Uh... who are you, sir? Where are we? How did I get here?"

The entity answered, "My name is ******. Ah, my apologies—your mortal ears cannot comprehend my true name. I pulled you here after witnessing the brilliance of your golden soul."

"A golden soul?" Anthony asked, confused.

"Do not obsess over the specifics," the being replied.

'But we are talking about my soul! How can I not worry about the details?' Anthony thought to himself.

"Even if I explained the nature of souls, let alone a golden one, it would be beyond your understanding. Even the deities and demons you speak of haven't grasped even 0.1% of the concept."

"You can read my mind?" Anthony blurted out.

"Naturally. Have you already forgotten what I am?"

"You never actually told me who you are," Anthony pointed out.

"Well, it is hardly my fault you lack the strength to hear my name. Many refer to me as the Consciousness of the Universe, the Core of the Cosmos, or the Holder of Truth. The list is endless, but those are merely labels. In truth, I am nothingness—present before the dawn of time and before the beginning of all things."

Stunned, Anthony struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the entity standing before him.

"So, you are the universe's consciousness," Anthony concluded.

"Not exactly. Those are just names given by those who could not know my essence. Furthermore, there are infinite universes, parallel worlds, and various dimensions. Every concept you have read about in your novels actually exists."

Anthony was left speechless, his mind reeling as he tried to process the scale of reality. The being chuckled at his vivid imagination and allowed him a moment to think. Eventually, Anthony asked,

"So, why have you brought me here?"

"There was no grand design. I was simply intrigued by the sight of such a radiant golden soul. That is all."

"Are bright souls that rare?"

"Across infinite dimensions and parallel universes, do you think they would be? However, your soul's intensity is the highest I have witnessed since the first universe was born. Usually, I only spare a passing glance at golden souls."

Anthony felt like a mere plaything, something to be inspected and then discarded. He worried he might be cast into hell for his lack of piety during his life.

Sensing his anxiety, the being laughed. A smile finally touched the entity's form as it spoke.

"Would you like to be reincarnated?"

"Yes!" Anthony shouted immediately, terrified the offer might be withdrawn.

"Very well. Into what kind of world do you wish to be reborn?"

Anthony fell into deep contemplation, recalling every novel he had ever consumed. After a moment, he replied,

"I want a world of magic and martial arts. A place with Dragons, Phoenixes, Titans, Fairies, and Elves—all the mystical beings I've read about." His eyes shone with the anticipation of future adventures.

The entity sighed and shook its head, having predicted such a response.

"I accept. Now, let us discuss the talents or perks you desire."

The moment the being mentioned this, Anthony’s brain went into overdrive. He cycled through countless abilities before speaking.

"I want supreme talent in the sword, in magic, and several systems..." Anthony began a long, exhaustive list. Fearing a headache from the endless rambling, the entity cut him off.

"It is quite surprising that you didn't request a leveling system like your favorite protagonist from Solo Leveling."

"No, I don't want to rely on EXP. While it's helpful early on, it becomes a cage in the long run. I’d be forced to constantly hunt stronger beings just to progress. That just leads to stagnation or making enemies of every race just to level up."

The being smiled and nodded in approval.

"Focus on all the abilities, talents, and traits you desire within your mind. I will extract them from there. Don't waste time on specific spells like 'fireball'; simply wish for the elemental affinity. Once you study magic, the casting will come naturally. Since I am granting such an absurd request, I will give you five minutes. I shall grant everything you can conceive of in that time—excluding things like instant immortality or reaching my level of power with a single thought."

A timer was initiated immediately.

Anthony took a steadying breath—despite his lack of lungs—and let his mind race. He listed elite abilities, their requirements, passive skills, and various types of Systems to be fused into one. He recalled every trope he had ever seen and even invented new ones using his own imagination.

When the timer signaled the end, Anthony’s train of thought was instantly halted.

"Now that your choices are made, I shall send you on your way. Do you have any final words?"

After a brief pause, Anthony simply said, "Thanks."

The entity smiled. "Off you go," it said, and Anthony vanished into the void.