MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 996: Too Ugly

Aaaninja's eyelids lifted slowly, his Eyes Of Genesis illuminating the surroundings with their captivating allure, and the initial sight that met his vision was Nyxss, gazing intently at him as if he might vanish in an instant, her face showing vulnerability in spite of her boundless strength, with her husband Zachary seated next to her.

To Aaaninja, the world appeared sharper, more vibrant, unhurried, and exquisitely detailed, as every aspect of reality revealed itself in stunning precision, yet prior to him fully grasping these sensations, Nyxss pulled him into an embrace while murmuring, "you’re awake," her tone soft, brimming with maternal affection and profound relief, her fingers quivering faintly as she embraced him, unconcerned with her appearance despite her vast might, focused solely on her child's safety and health.

Zachary offered a gentle smile as she uttered those words, his features serene and beaming with pride, "welcome back, son," he regarded Aaaninja with a paternal grin, his gaze overflowing with tenderness, ease, and wordless comfort that no speech could completely express.

"How are you feeling? Any headache? Does anything hurt? Issues with your body or soul?" Nyxss inquired rapidly, unleashing a barrage of questions without stopping, her worry shining through each syllable, even though Anthony had assured her that Aaaninja was okay and merely adapting to his new acquisitions, she preferred to confirm it straight from her son's lips instead of depending only on secondhand accounts.

"I’m fine, Mom. No need to worry," Aaaninja replied softly while shifting in midair from reclining to upright, then gracefully settled onto a close chair with precise control, "I hope I didn’t make any of you worry too much," he continued with a tender, comforting smile forming on his mouth, striving to alleviate their anxieties.

His attention turned to Altheria, positioned quietly at the edge and watching him in silence, her eyes steady and brimming with unvoiced feelings, he met her look with a soft smile and a simple nod, remaining wordless. Though silent, his grin transmitted volumes beyond language, offering comfort, closeness, and subtle comprehension.

"Welcome back," Anthony's voice resounded from nearby as he observed the revived Aaaninja, his manner steady but evidently satisfied.

In the following instant, Aaaninja's mind raced back to his final recollection and the cause of his collapse; Lucian. His sight darted straight to the spot where Lucian had been positioned since the spar commenced, and there Lucian remained, eyeing Aaaninja with a broad smile across his features, his stance casual as if no grave event had occurred.

Aaaninja released a deep breath of ease, an unnoticed strain escaping his form, before his focus moved to Anthony, who watched him back with an expansive grin.

"With the way you rushed and saved me, I would have thought you had a secret crush on me, you know," Lucian quipped as his smile stretched even wider, his voice airy and playful.

Aaaninja halted briefly at Lucian's remark, his face unchanging, then, after what felt like an eternity, he erupted into laughter for the first time, "HAHAHAHAHAH!" He grabbed his belly while chuckling freely and heartily, his amusement authentic and unrestrained, ringing out across the area.

"It’s nice to see you haven’t changed," Aaaninja said as his chuckles faded bit by bit, brushing away the tiny droplets at the edges of his eyes, "but even if I was into men, what makes you think I would have a crush on you, you are simply too ugly," he countered swiftly with his own jest, his delivery relaxed but laced with lighthearted ridicule.

Lucian Darkheart froze, caught off guard by Aaaninja's retort entirely, truthfully, he couldn't recall witnessing this Time Celestial laugh so openly before, yes, the fellow grinned and conversed ordinarily, but erupting in such unrestrained mirth? Likely never, making this instance truly special.

"Although words aren’t enough, all I can say is, thank you for saving me," Lucian eventually responded, managing only to voice his earnest thanks plainly, his typical haughtiness temporarily gone.

Aaaninja remained quiet briefly, his countenance reflective, before replying evenly, "no need to worry about it, it wasn’t like I was the only one that saved you, Anthony was among those who helped. If he hadn’t intervened, you would have been stuck at the mortal rank permanently," he explained, his voice even and straightforward.

Lucian just grinned and inclined his head, accepting the accuracy of that statement, then the instant faded, and his standard demeanor returned as he commented once more, "so, how do you feel after losing to me?" he queried offhandedly, as if his prior appreciation hadn't just happened.

Aaaninja hesitated momentarily, mildly surprised by the abrupt change, then his demeanor settled into poised tranquility, "if I was a sore loser, I would have said I would have won if it wasn’t because of that last ability you used," he started candidly, "but I’m not a sore loser, besides, if we sparred again, you would lose before you could even blink," he declared with serene assurance and unshakeable belief, his words free of boastfulness, purely rooted in total certainty.

Lucian prepared a witty comeback, his mouth opening to retort, but prior to any sound escaping, a massive torrent of mana flooded into their planet with staggering and fearsome intensity, the abrupt rush quaking the core of their environment, all eyes shot skyward at once, faces hardening as they pondered the cause.

The instant after, the mana gathered around Aaaninja, surging into his mana core and frame with vast and relentless might, its thickness warping the nearby atmosphere. Without delay, everyone disappeared in a flash, swiftly creating space from Aaaninja as if he had turned into the heart of a perilous event.

"Is it...?" Aura Nova's words emerged as she watched the spectacle developing in front of her, her look a mix of astonishment and eagerness.

"Breaking through his Mana Rank? Most definitely," Vega answered while fixating on the occurrence, her speech composed but brimming with assurance.

Zachary and Nyxss observed with eyes and faces alight with pride, their emotions surging, for how could they not take pride in their son surpassing his former bounds.

The world they occupied started to quake fiercely as the mana influx into Aaaninja’s mana core exceeded what a planetary core could hold naturally, even if the planet wasn't absorbing the mana directly since it funneled into Aaaninja’s mana core, it still bore some of the strain as the conduit because Aaaninja dwelled inside it then.

The atmosphere howled fiercely, clouds ripped away as if in retreat, the heavens shuddered while endless mana streamed into the planet ceaselessly, the entire setting responding to the colossal power surge.

Aaaninja merely hovered and savored the sensation with no alteration in his demeanor, his visage serene and steady, he appeared to slip into a meditative haze as his Mana Rank soared upward live, climbing steadily without hindrance.