MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 969: Different
Previously on MIGHT AS WELL BE OP...
Anthony reached the floating area where the onlookers gathered, with Kingsley halting just behind him since they'd essentially shown up together at the same moment.
"Why all the intense stares and expressions?" Anthony remarked while locking eyes with the group using his striking sky-blue gaze. "Sure, I'm good-looking and towering, but guys aren't my thing," he continued with a grin, his self-absorbed streak emerging as his voice stayed playful and over-the-top, obviously aiming to break through the heavy atmosphere hanging after the earlier clash.
The crowd brushed off his final quip without a second thought, since no one viewed him that way anyway, and besides, he was just messing around to ease the vibe.
"I've mentioned it once, and I'll repeat it: you appear far too informed for a guy from such a basic planet—where on earth did you pick up all that info?" Aaaninja inquired, his curiosity completely real. Having devoted much of his existence to poring over his family's vast collection of tomes, devouring endless accounts, chronicles, and taboo writings, he'd never encountered the tales Anthony had shared, or even hints of the profound details he tossed out so effortlessly.
Anthony turned his sky-blue eyes to Aaaninja, ready to fib about discovering the wisdom in some lost ancient relic site, but then he reconsidered—why bother with deceit, and really, why respond to Aaaninja's query when such answers only added needless hassle and tangled things up more?
"Call me Null Anthony, that's all there is to know," he declared while settling into his seat with a serene look, one leg draped over the other and a easygoing smile playing on his lips, as if that simple reply wrapped it up perfectly with zero need for extras, his aura projecting an impenetrable assurance that shut down any deeper questions.
Kingsley stayed silent, merely dropping into his hovering chair, and instantly, cheers poured in from all sides—after all, he'd pulled off back-to-back advancements in barely any time, and anyone who could see knew how insane that feat was, turning what should've taken ages into mere moments.
Anthony lounged there with a subtle smirk as Lucian and the others prodded him about triggering their own Martial Rhythm, sparing them the hassle and work, their tones mixing jest with real hope, yet he just denied them with a shake of his head.
Indeed, pulling off what they craved would be a breeze for him, but he refused to hand it over, even for a price. Doing so would render his gift to Kingsley pointless, and he had zero desire to diminish something so invaluable.
Lucian let out a frustrated tsk, since in a standard scenario, he'd have duplicated the Martial Rhythm via his Absolute Copy without a pause, but this bunch broke all norms and rules, rendering his power potentially useless, so he figured it best to drop the idea.
He let out a breath at the notion, as encountering these folks always made his prized Absolute Copy feel less than total, a reality that bugged him deeper than he'd let on.
Anthony directed his sky-blue eyes at Klaus, who perched there with the poise and bearing of a ruler, leg over leg, lids shut like he was deep in concentration. He offered no words or reactions, which wasn't his usual style—he typically dropped some observation post-fight, be it acclaim, nitpick, or wry wit.
Amara, well-acquainted with her spouse, gave him a quick look before shaking her head, aware that this specific quiet from him signaled trouble brewing, as that hush often heralded plots or wildly bold moves. Moments ticked by, and Klaus's eyes parted gradually, his dark irises returning to the world, calm and inscrutable.
He lifted a hand, and there it was—the identical colorless shine that Anthony had first unveiled to the audience and passed to Kingsley by shoving him near the brink of oblivion, a subtle but clear light that felt empty of power yet brimmed with an elusive essence.
Klaus, the enigma surpassing all else in existence, appeared to have seized it just by observing, listening, and grasping its nature, as if the idea itself had eagerly unveiled its truths to him, yielding smoothly to his insight.
Klaus remained seated like it was everyday stuff, unveiling an accomplishment that even this era's oddities couldn't match. "Not bad at all," he said at last, gaze fixed on the Martial Rhythm. He had no clue how Anthony stumbled onto such lore, but it meant zilch to him—what counted were the outcomes alone.
All gazes turned to Klaus like he was divine among mortals. No one grasped his method, unsure of his exact actions. Hold on, had he truly acted? The guy just sat with eyes shut, then sparked the Martial Rhythm like it was natural as inhaling.
Klaus further cemented his status, proving that amid these freaks, he stood unparalleled, a being who loomed silently superior without fanfare.
"No need to dwell on it—it's within your reach too. I've just got more practice," Klaus said with a faint grin, eyeing the starers, his remark offhand but loaded with rock-solid self-assurance.
Aura Nova, Aaaninja, and Lucian felt a fierce resolve flare in their stares as they fixed on the colorless light in Klaus’s hand, their rivalry sparked, unwilling to swallow the divide without a fight.
'Typical of the novel's ultimate powerhouse,' Lucian mused inwardly while gazing at Klaus in wonder, 'Curious if the writer has dropped his backstory by now,' he pondered, since Klaus topped the overpowered ranks the author had brought in, barring enigmas like ??? and Romulus, figures still veiled in secrecy.
[Host, skip trying to grasp the Martial Rhythm—you can't awaken it. Anthony and Klaus aren't like you]
The system's robotic tone rang in his head. Lucian halted his musing briefly, then dismissed it with a head shake—the system's advice was just that, and he'd never bowed to boundaries without pushback.
"Onward with the matches—I expect even wilder spectacles," Klaus's words rang out as the colorless light on his palm faded away entirely, melting into void like it never was.
At that cue, the display lit up, showing the standard five figures, then it whirled through the numbers swiftly, ensuring no repeat pair from before, while excitement built steadily among the group.
Before long, it stopped, revealing two digits.
Two Against Three.
Lucian Darkheart Against Aaaninja Chronisynth Eternos.