MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 1000: Above the Apexus Mana Rank

Aaaninja's lips curved in a slight twitch upon hearing Anthony's response, leaving him to wonder inwardly just how the young man had mastered such bold and nearly overbearing ways of answering. No matter what topic he brought up in questions to Anthony, the reply always boiled down to something along the lines of, "because I am Null Anthony," delivered as if that single phrase wrapped up the entire matter without any need for extra explanation or proof.

Yet, Aaaninja had to admit that Anthony's statements carried no real arrogance or superiority; the boy backed them with genuine strength, turning it into nothing less than raw, unshakeable self-assurance. On top of that, the clash between Lucian and Anthony lingered sharply in his memory—the very Lucian who'd overpowered him had been defeated by Anthony without so much as a scratch on the boy or requiring him to push hard in the fight.

Aaaninja found himself pondering if a rematch with Anthony at his old strength level could end in his own defeat... perhaps. Though he recognized deep down that the loss was certain, he stuck to "perhaps" anyway, holding onto a slim thread of pride that wouldn't quite let go.

"Then I await that day," Aaaninja responded, a subtle grin forming on his face, his thoughts already wandering to Anthony's reaction when defeat finally came his way—after all, Anthony had claimed he'd never tasted loss in any battle since his birth. Aaaninja had shared that perfect streak until facing Anthony, Lucian had held it until crossing paths with Aaaninja, and Aura Nova had kept hers until Lucian appeared.

In essence, each of them had maintained an undefeated legacy until encountering the one individual destined to break that myth of being unbeatable and make them recognize a greater force.

"I can't help feeling sorry for those invading Angels," Rain remarked, seated with a serene and steady demeanor, observing the younger ones chat back and forth with mild entertainment and curiosity.

Even though he'd once ruled as the top powerhouse on his world before Aura Nova's unstoppable ascent, Rain knew he couldn't take down a Ten Winged Angel single-handedly, not like the folks around him who handled such threats with little trouble.

Rain's comment drew a soft laugh and a warm smile from Mitchelle, who truly did feel compassion for the Angels. They'd struck with the element of surprise, only to get utterly crushed in return, and worse, this new generation had slain Eleven Winged Angels like they were mere pests, all while growing even mightier by the second. Wasn't that just sending those Angels straight to their doom?

"If only they realized they're heading to their own end—how entertaining," Mitchelle said at last, her soft smile lingering, though it hid a trace of icy detachment.

"No telling when they'll strike again; I'm somewhat eager for it," Zachary added, his face calm and at ease, a small grin spreading as excitement sparked in his gaze.

However, while the others buzzed with thrill and eagerness for the next conflict, Klaus and Amara couldn't muster the same feeling—they held enough might to obliterate a whole Galaxy solo if they chose, so why get worked up over a mere Galactical takeover? For them, one effortless strike would wipe out the entire Divinora Galaxy, leaving it in ruins impossible to rebuild, barring some superior cosmic power stepping in.

A faint smile tugged at Michael's lips, his fighting spirit flashing for a moment before fading away. Unlike the rest, Michael's anticipation for facing a Twelve Winged Angel stemmed from an entirely different motive. The Sword Origin had driven him to his breaking point, propelling him deeper into his journey of strength; couldn't the Twelve Winged Angels offer the same boost? And what of the whispered Thirteen Winged Angels? Or their almighty God, who lorded over everything unchallenged?

To Null Michael, such beings served merely as grinding stones to hone his edge, perfect his skills, and propel his being to new heights past its present limits.

Collins, Anthony's grandfather, stayed utterly quiet and indifferent throughout, having barely spoken a handful of words since the sparring started—you could tally them on one hand. The Angels meant nothing to him, the Divinora Galaxy held no weight; only his wife, Irene, truly counted above everything. His son Michael? The kid could handle any crisis on his own, so no need to fret. And grandson Anthony? He was plenty capable too, which settled any worries.

"Shall we get back to the fight?" Klaus interrupted the talk between Anthony and the group, as if praising Aaaninja's win or noting his success felt like too much hassle.

Anthony's brilliant blue eyes shifted to Klaus as he said, "You realize saying congrats to him wouldn't hurt, don't you?" His tone stayed light, but a hint of resolve underlined it.

Klaus halted for a second at Anthony's remark, then let out a gentle sigh, like admitting others' wins demanded way too much energy.

Aaaninja glanced at Klaus, then at Amara; he wouldn't deny it—these two struck him as deeply enigmatic and beyond grasp. He recalled vividly how, during the Galaxy's destruction, they'd sat unaffected, simply viewing the chaos like some minor show.

'Beyond the Apexus Mana Rank?' Aaaninja mused silently, even though he'd never encountered tales of a Mana Rank surpassing Apexus, he was dead sure a higher level waited out of his reach.

As if sensing Aaaninja's inner musings without effort, Anthony answered steadily, "Yes, both of them surpass the Apexus Mana Rank, so no matter what you or anyone achieves, to them we're just kids playing around—don't dwell on it too much."

Anthony had no clue about Klaus's true age; the guy could predate the Blue Planet's formation by eons, and no ancient powerhouse like that would dwell on something trivial like the Apexus Mana Rank.

Aaaninja eyed Anthony with a wary squint, suspicion and intrigue mixing in his stare. Catching the look, Anthony shifted his attention from Klaus back to Aaaninja and said evenly, "No worries, I didn't peek into your head; your ideas are screaming out loud, plain as day on your face for anyone sharp to notice."

With a soft shake of his head and a hushed breath, Aaaninja went quiet, his mind wandering to a far-off time when he'd wield strength matching Klaus and Amara's, breaking free from the chains that held him now.