MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 436: Path

An aircraft tore across the sky with astonishing velocity, its engines emitting a steady hum as it sliced through the drifting clouds.

Inside the cabin, Anthony, Seraphim, and Dale sat together, the aircraft now en route back to the military base.

”Haah… That was invigorating”

Seraphim remarked as she settled into her seat, delicately sipping tea from a lustrous golden cup.

”The tea, or the part where you executed the succubus?”

Dale asked, his gaze shifting toward her with mild curiosity.

Seraphimʼs eyes flicked from her cup to Dale, her tone calm and matter-of-fact.

”The kill, of course. Iʼm quite certain she was sent to the Bleeding Hollow Zone for one reason only, to seduce the Executioner”

”I had the same thought”

Dale added thoughtfully.

”Succubi have notoriously low combat capabilities. If she was deployed, it means her charm was the real weapon”

”But that raises a troubling question”

Reynold interjected from the side, his voice calm but laced with suspicion.

He meticulously polished his rapier, each stroke infused with quiet devotion.

”How did the demons know about the Bleeding Hollow Zone… and the Executioner? They even had knowledge of the Crown of Echoes”

”We can only assume they have someone within their ranks possessing that level of capability”

Dale replied, his tone edged with caution.

”Someone who can uncover this kind of intelligence, and more, through a unique ability”

Seraphimʼs eyes narrowed slightly as she considered his words.

”If thatʼs true”

She murmured, almost to herself.

”Then whatʼs stopping them from uncovering classified military secrets the same way?”

Anthonyʼs voice cut through the quiet, steady and assured.

”Just as there are individuals with the ability to peer into hidden truths, there are also those gifted, or equipped, to shield such truths. Whether through unique talents, protective artifacts, or specialized runes, the military has measures in place to obscure whatever must remain concealed”

The others turned toward him, their expressions thoughtful.

Then, wordlessly, they nodded.

It was a question that had gnawed at them for some time.

After all, if the demons possessed such precise knowledge of the Bleeding Hollow Zone… why wouldnʼt the military have the means to counter it?

Anthony continued, his voice shifting, softer now, more measured.

”I understand if you felt powerless against the Executioner”

He said quietly.

”But recognizing your limits isnʼt weakness, itʼs the first step toward growth. Train harder. Sharpen what you have. And above all, donʼt let a single battle define your worth. Each of you played a vital role from the moment we left the base. One moment doesnʼt erase the journey”

With that, Anthony fell silent.

He was never one for speeches, never the motivational type.

But as team leader, some things had to be said, whether they came naturally or not.

As for Kingsley, he had retreated to his room under the pretense of needing ʼrestʼ.

But Anthony could see through him as clearly as day, rest was not what he sought.

Kingsley sat in a lotus position, legs crossed with quiet discipline, arms extended and resting lightly upon each knee.

His eyes were closed, breaths measured.

He was meditating… training.

He never said much, rarely did, but Anthony could tell: something had shifted within him.

Despite the one-sided nature of their encounter with the Executioner, Kingsley had emerged with insight, an internal breakthrough.

That was the mark of true genius.

”Sigh… I have to admit”

Dale said with a small smile.

”Having you as our captain was the best thing that couldʼve happened. None of us couldʼve handled things the way you did. I just hope youʼll keep watching over us… at least until you outrank us all”

Anthony shook his head, a faint chuckle escaping.

”Stop with the cringe”

He intoned.

”And who said Iʼm climbing ranks again anytime soon? The military isnʼt a playground. I jumped from Private to Lieutenant in less than 24 hours. If I move up again this quickly, half the force will protest”

”By the way”

Reynold began, his tone hesitant.

”I know I shouldnʼt pry, but I canʼt help myself”

”Then just ask”

Anthony replied evenly.

”No need to dance around it”

Reynold exhaled lightly.

”How many abilities do you actually possess? I already suspected you were… unusually gifted when we saw your affinity for nearly every element. But even then, I had my doubts. Having affinities is one thing, mastering them is something else entirely. Most donʼt have the luxury of time to train them all”

He paused, collecting his thoughts.

”But after everything Iʼve seen this past week in the Bleeding Hollow Zone… itʼs clear your strength runs much deeper than you let on”

As Reynoldʼs words settled in the air, Seraphim spoke up, her gaze shifting toward the door behind which Kingsley was supposedly ʼrestingʼ.

”I feel the same about Kingsley”

She said quietly.

”Throughout most of our missions, he looked completely uninterested, like it was all beneath him. He ended fights with a single punch or treated enemies like they were no more than training dummies. But this mission… it revealed something else. A glimpse of what heʼs really capable of”

She turned her gaze back to Anthony.

”Honestly, it makes me wonder, how strong are the two of you, really? Are the rest of us even worthy to stand on the same team? Weʼre supposed to be the geniuses of our generation… yet both of you are younger than us, and somehow, youʼre already far ahead”

Anthony remained silent for a few seconds, his expression unreadable.

Then, with a quiet, resigned sigh, he shook his head.

”If you feel unworthy of the team”

He said calmly,

”Then train harder. But donʼt box yourself in. Donʼt be a frog in a well, always remember, thereʼs always someone better out there”

His gaze shifted from Seraphim to Reynold, voice steady but laced with quiet certainty.

”As for my abilities… itʼs far too early to be surprised. In fact, youʼd better start getting used to it”

He added with a faint, almost amused smile.

”When it comes to skills and potential… Iʼm not much different from a bottomless pit”

The smile deepened, not in arrogance, but in quiet acceptance of the path he walked.