MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 912: Old Stars

Amara’s golden eyes lingered on Lucian for a second longer, her stare both tranquil and sharp, as if she were peering into the very depths of his soul. Then, walking with an unhurried grace and a faint smile, she moved toward him. Although she displayed no aggression and released no visible pressure, the mere weight of her existence seemed to make the very air around them grow heavy.

"You are quite the handsome young man," she remarked in a silky, warm voice. "Tell me, what is your name?" Her inquiry was calm, devoid of any hidden threats, and filled only with a sense of light curiosity.

"I am Lucian. Lucian Darkheart," he answered, meeting her golden gaze directly. Even as he fought to remain composed, he felt his pulse quicken under the intensity of her stare.

"I will grant you a reprieve this time, Lucian," Amara said softly. She reached out and patted his shoulder with a casual, almost motherly familiarity. "In the future, remember not to show such disrespect toward your elders."

"Please accept my apologies," Lucian replied instantly, his face flushing with embarrassment as he gave a small, respectful bow of his head.

"I am eager to see your upcoming fight. It seems you possess some rather intriguing talents," Amara added, her eyes gleaming with a strange light as she observed him a moment longer. Suddenly, Riven and Vespera appeared at Lucian’s side. Their movements were a blur of protective speed, their stern gazes locked onto Amara as if to silently warn her against taking another step.

Amara simply shook her head with a look of amusement, a tiny smile playing on her lips. She turned and strolled away, entirely unruffled by their defensive stance. She had never harbored any intent to harm Lucian; after all, why would she hurt a friend of her daughter? Her approach was merely a lesson after catching him spying on them—an act that had piqued her interest rather than her anger.

Klaus remained silent, his unreadable gaze resting on Lucian for a heartbeat before he turned away to offer a small smile to Vega.

Exhaling slowly, Lucian couldn't help but wonder how Amara had detected his surveillance so effortlessly. Upon reflection, it made sense. This was a woman who had once caught Anthony trying to use the Authority of Information to investigate her. If she could spot a specialized power like that, Lucian’s own attempts at stealth stood no chance against her perception.

‘Sigh... for a split second, I genuinely thought my life was over,’ Lucian mused, feeling a wave of relief wash through him.

[I also suspected we might not reach the conclusion of your story, Host.]

The cold, mechanical voice of the system resonated in his mind.

‘You and me both,’ Lucian thought back, a weary smile touching his lips. He understood the situation perfectly. The moment Amara looked at him, she had seen right through the various abilities he had accumulated over the years. However, he felt confident that his Absolute Copy ability remained hidden, as the system always ensured that specific power stayed undetectable.

"I’m alright, Dad. Mom," Lucian said, turning to address Riven and Vespera.

They didn't respond at once, eventually offering only a quiet nod. While they recognized that Klaus and Amara existed on a level of power far beyond anyone else in the room, they would never stand idly by if their son was being threatened.

‘I just hope Klaus doesn’t decide to kill me while I sleep,’ Lucian thought nervously. He hadn't missed the brief, piercing look Klaus had given him earlier before their eyes disconnected.

"So," Klaus spoke up suddenly, shifting his focus. "Why aren't you joining the competition?" He looked directly at his daughter. "You are in your youth. This is the perfect time to test yourself against your peers, to fight and evolve together."

"Dad, I’m just not interested," Vega replied, shaking her head with a weary sigh.

Klaus paused for a second. "Are you worried about losing?"

Vega blinked, surprised by the question, before shaking her head again. "Not at all. If you’re so eager for a fight, why don’t you go down there and battle them yourself?"

Klaus fell silent, sighing as he struggled to grasp his daughter's perspective. Had he been in her shoes, he would have jumped into the fray without a second thought. His own youth had been defined by a relentless drive to prove his strength against others.

"Leave the girl be," Amara intervened, her tone soft but commanding. "If she doesn't want to join, don't push her. I'm certain she got her fill of combat when she fought the Angel."

"Dad, you know, it’s not too late for you to have a son you can turn into a battle-hungry maniac," Vega teased, her playful confidence returning with her mother's support.

Klaus chuckled softly. "I actually quite like that idea," he admitted, looking thoughtful as if he were actually considering the possibility.

"See? Now you have a solu—" Vega began, but her father interrupted her instantly.

"Why don't you just provide me with a grandson I can train instead?" he asked with a casual grin, watching her reaction.

Vega nearly choked on her own breath. She had suggested a brother, and now he was talking about grandchildren. Amara remained quiet, though a small, knowing smile suggested she wouldn't be opposed to the idea of a grandson either.

"Mom, aren't you going to help me out here?" Vega turned to her mother, but Amara had already looked away, sensing the direction of the conversation.

"It has been quite some time, Anthony," Amara said smoothly, completely changing the subject.

"Unbelievable," Vega grumbled. "I'm not even married. Aren't you skipping several important steps?"

"Well... you can just hand over the baby first," Klaus replied with a straight face. "If Anthony refuses to marry you afterward, I'll simply snap his legs."

Vega let out a long sigh and gave up. She had learned long ago that arguing with her father was a losing battle. Seeing her silence, Klaus just smiled and shook his head before addressing the other parents nearby.

"My daughter’s words gave me an interesting thought," he announced. "Once these young stars have finished their duels, how about we old stars have a little session of our own?" A wide, eager grin spread across his face.

The hallway plunged into a stunned silence. Everyone stared at Klaus in disbelief. They had only just survived a war against a foreign Galaxy, and many were still nursing wounds. Yet, here was this man, casually proposing a high-level brawl.

While most were speechless, Michael reacted differently. The Sword Intent surrounding him suddenly flared, becoming sharper and more lethal as he stared at Klaus with a fierce smile. He didn't need words; his surging aura was a clear acceptance of the challenge.

Michael had recently progressed further on his path after his encounter with the Sword Origin. There was no better way to test his new limits than by clashing with a man like Klaus.