MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 2: Arrived

Within a towering edifice grand enough to be a fortress, a woman labored to bring new life into the world. Midwives surrounded her, offering words of encouragement to keep pushing. As she struggled, a brilliant golden soul descended from the heavens, streaking toward the massive building.

Once the delivery was complete, the mother gazed upon the infant she had carried for nine long months.

"It is a boy," announced one of the midwives, cradling the newborn.

"Let me hold my son," the woman requested. As she took the child into her arms, a smile touched her lips while a whirlwind of emotions surged through her heart.

Unbeknownst to her, the golden soul had arrived the very moment the child entered the world, merging with the infant. Immediately, the baby let out a sharp cry.

Observing that her son possessed the same hair color as his father, she smiled. With a flick of her hand, she cast cleaning magic to wash away the grime of birth. "His name shall be Anthony," she declared. "Null Anthony, the firstborn son and heir of the Null family."

With a contented expression, she settled her baby beside her, and the two of them drifted into a deep slumber.

Anthony opened his eyes the following day, surveying the room from his cradle. Noting the opulent aesthetics and walls adorned with priceless decorations, he felt a sense of relief. He was grateful that his family was wealthy, glad that he wouldn't have to navigate this life as an impoverished orphan.

He felt a surge of excitement, dreaming of future adventures and the dragons he would eventually slay. These heroic thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a foul odor; he had soiled himself. 'This is incredibly humiliating. It seems I must grow up before I can slay anything,' he lamented. He began to cry, summoning a maid who quickly arrived to change his diapers.

His daily routine became a cycle of eating, sleeping, and personal business. Five years passed in this manner. During this time, he repeatedly attempted to draw mana into his body, but his total failure left him frustrated. As he grew older and learned to read, he spent his hours in the library searching for the reason behind his inability to cultivate mana. He feared he was crippled or that the higher being had cheated him. Just as he was on the verge of despair, he discovered that inhabitants of this world could only utilize mana after their awakening at ten years old.

Relief washed over him upon learning there was nothing wrong with his body, and he offered silent thanks to the being. He also learned that his new home was called Blue Planet. Mana had existed here since the world's inception, a span of time no one could truly measure. The planet was estimated to be over 200 times the size of Earth, though that was merely an educated guess.

The world was partitioned into domains governed by different races. While these races lived in a state of coexistence, it was more an act of mutual tolerance than true peace. They refrained from constant warfare primarily because of a shared threat: The Demons.

Legends stated that the demons invaded Blue Planet seven million years ago. They appeared as an endless tide of slaughter, driven by a desire to consume all life and the planet's core itself. It was said they were a universal plague, hopping from world to world to spread destruction since the dawn of their race. Their true motives remained a mystery.

The dominant powers of Blue Planet included the Dragons, who were unrivaled in magic, and the Phoenixes, who vied with the Dragons for magical supremacy. Then there were the Titans, unmatched in raw physical strength; the Elves, masters of wind and spirit magic; and the Dwarves, legendary blacksmiths who were also formidable warriors. The Human race was regarded as the "Jack of all trades"—versatile in all areas but rarely surpassing specialists, yet still a significant force. Demi-humans, such as foxkin, catkin, and werewolves, united to form their own domain. Finally, there were the Vampires, known as the dominators of blood.

Numerous smaller races also existed, but lacking the strength to hold their own domains, they resided on the borders or within the territories of the major powers.

He also learned more about his lineage. His mother, who had named him, was Mitchelle Crimson of the Crimson family. She had married his father, Null Michael. Anthony had yet to meet the man, as his mother always claimed he would return in a few years. Eventually, Anthony stopped asking and simply waited.

Information regarding the awakening process revealed that humans gained "classes" at age ten. These classes provided supportive perks, and some lucky individuals also awakened special physiques or bloodlines. This intrigued him. He had initially wanted to begin sword training early, but his mother forbade it, warning that he might awaken as a Mechanic class. The thought gave him nightmares, so he decided to wait for the official ceremony. He also learned that while many tried to measure talent to identify who to nurture, such efforts usually failed. Consequently, those with bloodlines or physiques were highly coveted, as were those with powerful classes and hidden perks.

Anthony realized he had grandparents, but they were currently away, expected to return only a week before his tenth birthday. It appeared the ongoing struggle against demons and beasts kept everyone occupied.

The Null family, he discovered, was one of the six pillars of the human domain. The other five elite powerhouses were the Crimson, Amos, Stellar, Lionheart, and Landell families. Together, they ruled the human territories.

He anticipated the arrival of cliché, arrogant Young Masters with a slight headache. However, he resolved that if anyone crossed him, he would strike them down and finish the job in secret. He had reincarnated fully prepared for such tropes. If he were ever suspected after eliminating a Young Master, he figured a powerhouse family existed specifically to shield its members from such trouble.

Even if evidence were found, would the accusers have the strength to act on it? Regardless, he had no intention of leaving any evidence behind.

To his surprise, this world was technologically advanced, much like Earth. He had assumed mana would lead to a primitive lifestyle, but the presence of cars, yachts, smartphones, laptops, and modern plumbing delighted him. He wouldn't have to endure bumpy rides in wooden horse-carriages. He gave the higher being another mental thumbs-up for catering to his tastes—a being to whom even gods were like ants clearly knew what they were doing.

He spent his time waiting for his tenth year to arrive so he could finally meet his "shameless" father. He occupied himself with reading and studying history. He often pondered the "cheats" he was promised, frustrated that no system notifications had appeared despite five years of trying. He felt the urge to curse the being but restrained himself, remembering how he had died shortly after cursing God in his previous life. He feared the being might revoke his gifts if he showed disrespect.

This uncertainty left him somewhat depressed, wishing he could simply sleep until the day of his awakening. Instead, he filled his days with library research and chatting with the maids.

Every two days, he insisted the butler take him for a drive in a different luxury car. Having never even smelled such wealth in his past life, he was determined to enjoy every vehicle before his rigorous training began at age ten.

Regarding the awakening, he learned his mother possessed the Elemental Magician class. This gave her mastery over various elements and several unique perks, though she refused to elaborate, claiming he was too young to grasp the details.

Left with no other choice, he settled in to wait for his own moment of destiny.