MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 944: Cute [Bonus - ]

Anthony shook his head while observing Lucian's actions. With a mere thought, he propelled himself ahead, effortlessly breaking through the barriers of sound and wind. The atmosphere shattered like broken glass under the immense pressure ahead of him, and in an instant, they reached the group that had been watching the duel between him and Lucian.

Right then, Klaus had already released everyone from the pocket dimensions he'd stored them in temporarily to shield them from the destructive blows exchanged between him and Lucian, safeguarding them against the lingering shockwaves that might have wiped out weaker individuals.

"It seems you had fun." Klaus's voice drifted from nearby as he lounged at ease with a grin, his stance utterly relaxed like he'd just viewed an amusing performance instead of a clash that ripped through space.

He wouldn't deny it; he truly relished observing these young talents. At first, he'd figured only Anthony stood out as intriguing, an unusual standout among prodigies, but surprisingly, the others proved equally remarkable. They exceeded his initial hopes by a wide margin. He particularly enjoyed Aura Nova's showdown with Kingsley, the fierce collision of skills and raw intuition, and Anthony's clash with Lucian captivated him even further, its immense scope and wild intensity demanding his full focus.

Sure, they remained feeble in comparison to him, but such gaps held little weight. Power could be built over time through cultivation. The real key was potential, and these youths had shattered his projections in an outrageous way. Though none matched Anthony's caliber in his view, each one was a prodigy defying logic, shattering conventional norms with ease.

Much like Aaaninja, Klaus grew increasingly intrigued by Kingsley. Despite the defeat, Klaus saw the young man as an extraordinary prodigy. Advancing so far relying solely on martial prowess, holding his own against these beasts, highlighted his insane battle sense and rigorous discipline. It showcased his terrifying progress and relentless practice. If he had a second daughter, Kingsley struck Klaus as a solid option, maybe even ideal.

"Of course, though it'd be more entertaining if you'd let everyone take me on together," Anthony shot back, his tone arrogant once more, but spoken with such effortless assurance that it came across less like bragging and more like an obvious truth.

"You mean like in your Omni Peak entry test around five years back?" Klaus inquired with a serene smile, obviously recalling the mayhem Anthony had stirred up then.

"Exactly, but I'll handle facing them one by one just fine," Anthony grinned assuredly, evidently relishing the setup, as if the whole string of bouts was mere warm-up for him.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd peg you as just another cocky kid... but then again, you've got the strength to support those claims," Klaus responded with a steady smile, his gaze subtly sparkling with eagerness for additional duels and unexpected twists.

Anthony halted briefly before continuing. "Aren't you planning to fortify this isolated realm for good? You've patched it up so often, and it just keeps crumbling. It's really not holding up well." He scanned the damaged surroundings. He knew his own Mirror Dimension wouldn't falter like this realm did. His creation was much tougher and way more resilient.

Klaus held quiet for a beat before responding. "That's not on me," he exhaled while starting his explanation. "I just misjudged how much destruction you all could unleash. Usually, I give it a quick boost and call it sufficient to endure... but clearly, I erred." He stopped for a second, then went on, "Time to make it solid for real. Just the outer shields, probably."

As soon as his words ended, mana burst forth like a booming thunder in their ears. It erupted fiercely from Klaus's form and rocketed upward like a azure beam stabbing the skies. With that, the whole isolated realm quivered nonstop, as if its core Laws were getting reshaped, the fabric of space quaking and settling firmly under his command.

The air grew denser, the earth solidified, and unseen defenses layered up one atop the other. Moments later, Klaus's mana faded abruptly, and calm resumed, everything now steadier and much more secure than earlier.

"There, that's finished," Klaus said in a composed, somewhat idle manner, like the feat he'd pulled off wasn't one that might demand whole sects decades to pull together.

Anthony just gave a nod and claimed his spot, his gaze shifting to his companions. Over on the other side, the girls were already murmuring quietly among themselves.

"Isn't your boyfriend getting a tad too full of himself?" Altheria's voice rang out, aimed at Vega, who perched nearby with a grin, obviously thrilled by Anthony's victory. Sure, she trusted her guy and felt secure in him, but she hadn't fully grasped Lucian's fighting strength either. What if he'd matched Anthony's level of absurdity? That doubt had nagged at her throughout the bout.

Their fights with the Eleven Winged Angels counted for little since they'd merely toyed with those foes like felines batting at rodents. No true threat had arisen, no genuine peril.

"Well... he comes off as arrogant to you since you don't really get him. I'm certain Aaaninja wouldn't take it that way," Vega answered, her grin steady and at ease. She got why Altheria bristled at Anthony's remarks. After all, Aaaninja was her partner as well. How could she stay composed hearing such talk about him?

Vega's gaze flicked to Veronica, seated next to her, before she added, "Looks like I take this round, Veronica."

Veronica kept quiet briefly, then let out a gentle sigh. "Suppose you're right. Your guy's even more over-the-top than you," she remarked evenly, her face showing no shock or real disturbance.

She felt no sorrow over Lucian's setback. In the bigger picture, it hardly signified anything. But one defeat didn't shake her faith in him. A lone loss changed nothing. She remained convinced he'd triumph over Aaaninja, Aura Nova, and Kingsley in time.

"You seem happy." Romulus's voice floated down from overhead. He'd settled atop Vega's head, idling there after viewing the match as well. He felt a touch restless, unable to drop by the Spirit King, who was tied up with its personal affairs.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Vega shot back with a grin. She hesitated a moment before tacking on, "Thanks for the assist."

"No trouble," Romulus answered evenly. Regarding the aid, he'd amplified the awareness of certain onlookers, letting them follow the insane velocity and rhythm of Anthony and Lucian's movements. Absent that boost, the action would've blurred into indistinct streaks overwhelming their sight.

Romulus fell quiet after that, keeping his watch. Similar to Klaus, he found himself mildly entertained, discovering unforeseen delight in tracking these gifted youths' development.

Altheria and Veronica glanced at Romulus perched so nonchalantly on Vega's head, then swiftly averted their eyes. By now, they had some grasp of his true nature as a being. Though his petite golden shape appeared adorable, almost innocuous, they refrained from voicing it, wary of vanishing for showing undue familiarity.