MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 881: Future Self

"You should just quit while you're ahead," Lucian remarked from the sidelines, letting out a sigh and shaking his head as he looked toward Aura Nova. "Don’t follow Aaaninja down that same impossible road."

At Lucian’s comment, Aura Nova’s brow furrowed slightly before she exhaled a soft sigh. She offered no verbal comeback. Despite her silence, her mind was made up; she would still go through with challenging Anthony. That was her primary reason for being here, after all—to test herself against Anthony, Aaaninja, and Lucian. She wasn't about to abandon her resolve just because of Lucian’s pessimistic warnings, regardless of how genuine they appeared to be.

Naturally, Aura Nova was grounded enough to recognize the truth of the situation. If Lucian’s predictions eventually manifested as reality, then... well, she cut that train of thought short. There was no use fretting over a result that hadn't happened yet. She would deal with that obstacle when she arrived at it, just as she always did.

"Sigh... I never realized you had so little confidence in me, Lucian," Aaaninja remarked with a weary sigh. "Though, I suppose it makes sense. After all, you don’t even have any faith or hope in yourself," he noted with a calm expression as he locked eyes with Lucian.

Lucian merely offered a smile in return, choosing not to argue. He didn't bother to justify his stance or try to force them to see things from his point of view. Since none of them were like him—reincarnated into this story—they could never grasp the absolute certainty behind his claims. Lucian didn't let it bother him. He was content to sit back, observe the drama, and record the moment Anthony beat the absolute crap out of Aaaninja and Aura Nova. When that time arrived, he would mock them without mercy.

Shifting his attention to Kingsley, Aaaninja asked, "Do you also believe that neither Aura Nova nor I have a chance against Anthony?"

Kingsley raised an eyebrow in slight confusion, wondering why he was being pulled into a discussion that didn't involve him. Nevertheless, he realized a response was necessary.

"I honestly can't say," Kingsley answered truthfully. "I've only just met the two of you, and I haven't witnessed either of you fighting at your full power." His reply was a skillful evasion of the question Aaaninja had thrown at him.

"A fine answer," Aura Nova noted with a soft chuckle. "A perfect way to sidestep the inquiry without actually providing a real response."

Kingsley just smiled, having nothing further to contribute.

"And what about you?" Aaaninja pressed, this time turning his query toward Vega.

Vega didn't waver for a second. Her response was blunt, and she made no attempt to sugarcoat the truth. "You will lose, just like you have in the past," she stated flatly. She took a brief pause before adding, her face remaining expressionless. "Challenging the impossible over and over doesn't suddenly make it possible. It only results in negative and adverse effects for you," she finished.

For a moment, a silence fell over Aaaninja and Aura Nova. Then, without uttering a word, they both nodded.

Aaaninja became lost in reflection as he weighed Vega’s words. He was all too aware of the reality they carried.

’My Temporal powers are a constant reminder that certain events are fixed in Time, even for someone like me,’ he mused. ’Is this one of those instances?’ The doubt weighed heavily upon him. ’There are fewer than ten Existences in the universe capable of changing this cosmic truth. Unfortunately, Time itself won’t reveal their identities to me.’ His thoughts swirled as his consciousness and gaze instinctively drifted toward the River of Time out of habit.

In that instant, however, a powerful voice resonated across the River of Time and the chaotic forces binding the void.

’Your words are wise, O Celestial of Time.’

Aaaninja’s inner monologue continued smoothly. ’But I still hope to find out.’

The voice echoed once more, this time in a way that Aaaninja truly processed.

’You shall... in Time.’

’That’s good to hear,’ Aaaninja replied half-consciously. But a second later, his face went rigid. ’Wait... why does that voice sound so familiar? No way!!!’ His eyes snapped wide open in a flash of recognition.

’Was I just talking to my future self without even knowing it?’ Aaaninja thought, reeling from the shock. The interaction had been so seamless that he hadn't noticed. When the voice first sounded in his mind, he had simply taken it for his own internal dialogue responding to his doubts.

Aaaninja tried immediately to forge a link between his current self and his future counterpart, but the connection had already vanished. His future self had merely been passing through the River of Time. Had Aaaninja not reached out to the River of Time just a few moments prior, the meeting never would have happened.

’Is such a thing even possible?’ he questioned himself. He had never even considered that such a scenario could occur.

While Aaaninja remained buried in his thoughts, already plotting how to re-establish contact with his future self, Lucian’s voice pulled him back to reality.

"Why do you look so stunned?" Lucian Darkheart inquired, observing the Time Celestial who still wore a lingering look of disbelief.

Aaaninja’s face quickly smoothed over. A moment later, a small smile played on his lips. He was about to speak, intending to inform the group that he had just met his future self—or at least shared a brief exchange—but before he could say anything, he sensed something.

He wasn't the only one who felt it.

Suddenly, Anthony’s head tilted upward, his sky-blue eyes piercing the cosmic heavens as if he were trying to see through a hidden veil. At that exact moment, his Perfect One skill alerted him that someone was attempting to gather intel on him.

He wasn't alone in this detection. Aura Nova, Aaaninja, Lucian, and Kingsley all shifted their attention toward the same point in the sky as Anthony. Though they lacked the Perfect One skill, each possessed their own specialized sensory techniques.

"Hoo... it looks like the Angels aren't ready to quit yet," Aura Nova remarked calmly. It didn't take much thought for them to realize it was the Angels observing them from an entirely different galaxy.

"So it seems..." Anthony answered before indifferently turning his eyes away from the stars. Whatever data the Angels thought they were collecting on him was completely pointless. The rest of the group was just as unconcerned. Every person there had more skills and techniques than they could bother to keep track of.

Truthfully, they were simply waiting. They were waiting for the Twelve-Winged Angels and their God to show their faces, rather than lurking in the shadows and watching until the final hour.

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