MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 577: Female Friends

As the robot’s footheel was about to connect with Vega’s forehead, Anthony vanished in a sudden flash. His figure reappeared instantly before Vega and the robot.

His right hand shot out, catching the incoming strike, while his left hand snapped forward, elbow collapsing sharply into the robot’s abdominal plating.

With a resounding boom, inertia took hold as the robot was hurled backward with incredible speed, ricocheting from one tree to another before finally stabilizing in the air with uncanny grace.

Beep.

“Unknown entity identified. Awaiting orders,” the robot stated, hovering midair, still as stone as it awaited Vega’s next command.

“Thank you, Ant,” Vega said with a sigh as she adjusted her stance and rose to a standing position.

“No problem. But wasn’t that robot taught any manners? How could it aim for a lady’s face?” Anthony responded with a light-hearted tone as his gaze narrowed toward the robot.

‘You can hit other women in the face, just not Vee,’ Anthony thought privately.

“It was programmed that way,” Vega replied casually before turning her attention toward the robot. “Shut down,” she commanded.

Beep.

“Affirmative. Goodbye, Miss Vega,” the robot intoned before powering down completely, falling silent and limp in the air.

“Where did you even find that robot?” Anthony asked, watching as Vega used mana control to draw the robot toward her. With a simple wave of her hand, the machine vanished into her space ring.

“It was a gift from my father,” she replied. “He said it was given to him by one of his friends. I use it as a sparring partner. And yes, I gave it permission to injure me during spars, as long as the injuries aren’t critical.”

Anthony nodded thoughtfully. ‘So that’s why she asked about the mechanical race earlier,’ he mused.

“Well, at the very least, your hand to hand combat is quite formidable,” Anthony remarked, genuinely impressed as he praised her combat form.

“Sigh… I’ve been training with the robot since I was a child. That’s how I’ve been able to improve so drastically,” Vega replied with a humble smile.

“How can a robot even be this strong?” Anthony asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

“Its memory chip is filled with a vast array of fighting styles and techniques. No matter what level I reach, it simply recalibrates and adapts to match me. The combat data was all provided by my father, so it’s no wonder I keep losing to it. After all, I can’t compete with him,” Vega explained in one breath.

“Well, enough about the robot for now. How are you feeling? Did you make enough progress?” Anthony asked, his expression softening as he looked at her.

Vega nodded. “I did. But… I have something to ask,” she said calmly.

“Ask away,” Anthony replied as the two of them gently floated upward toward the clouds. Using Time Magic, Anthony paused a drifting cloud in place, forming a firm, ethereal platform. Together, they sat down on it.

“Did you forget about the mission?” Vega asked as she rested her head on Anthony’s shoulder, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity.

Her words triggered a realization in Anthony’s mind. ‘I forgot to inform her…’ he thought with a frown.

“I didn’t forget. We’ll be leaving in a few hours for the mission,” Anthony replied.

“But we’ve spent ten years here instead of two. Care to explain?” Vega asked, lifting her head slightly to glance at him.

Anthony sighed. “You remember my friend, Aaaninja, right?”

Vega nodded. Anthony had mentioned him before, along with others from his past.

“Well,” Anthony continued, “I received a gift from him. I fused it with the Divine Realm, and as a result, our time limit here increased from two years to ten.”

Vega fell silent for a moment, her thoughts turning inward. She had studied Time Magic extensively for a while, and even with her knowledge, increasing time flow fivefold on this scale was extraordinary, almost unbelievable.

“It seems I should look forward to meeting your friend,” she said finally, her voice laced with intrigue.

“Oh ho… already planning to break up with me and elope with the overpowered-eyed Celestial?” Anthony teased with a grin.

“Please,” Vega replied with a smirk, “I’m sure he’s nowhere near as handsome as you.”

‘Tsk. Why does everyone think I’m going to elope? Vega thought. Veronica asked if I’d elope with Anthony, and now Anthony is asking if I’ll elope with the Celestial?’

Well, whatever, she sighed mentally, shaking her head as she admired the sky above, watching its endless horizon shift gently.

‘I wonder how Veronica is doing. I haven’t seen her in ten years… well, not exactly ten years, more like a week,’ Vega thought to herself.

“I wonder when I’ll finally get to meet your friends,” she said aloud, her eyes fixed on the horizon.

“That’s for the poor author to decide,” Anthony responded casually.

“Poor author?” Vega asked, blinking in confusion.

“I guess maybe in the next arc, whatever he’s got planned by then. After all, even I’m looking forward to meeting those two again,” Anthony said with a nostalgic smile.

‘I probably shouldn’t tap the fourth wall when Vega’s around. What if she thinks I’m insane?’ Anthony thought, cautioning himself. After all, every woman had her red flags. What if this was Vega’s?

A relationship ending just two weeks in, technically, wouldn’t that be the shortest relationship in all of history?

‘Then again, since we’ve spent ten years here, maybe our relationship is actually ten years old. After all, time is relative,’ Anthony mused.

“I’m looking forward to meeting them. If they also have girlfriends, maybe we could go on a group date,” Vega said with a soft smile.

Anthony nodded silently but chose not to reply. Aaaninja and Lucian were both single the last time he saw them.

“So, no female friends?” Vega asked casually, a smile playing at her lips.

Anthony’s mind paused. ‘Isn’t this one of those traps women set?’ he wondered.

Then, with a warm smile, he replied smoothly, “What do I need female friends for?”

Vega smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.

Anthony didn’t dare ask her if she had male friends. What if she misunderstood? That wasn’t a risk he was willing to take.

The hours passed in peaceful silence as the two admired the blue sky, content in each other’s company.

Then, in a flash, they disappeared from the Divine Realm entirely, vanishing from the timeless sky without a trace.

Let the gifts rain….