MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 879: Insufficient tactics

The Twelfth Halo exhaled softly at the weight of her next words before speaking. “Before I deployed each Angel, as well as operatives from other races, to the Acarnis Galaxy, I employed a specific form of magic on all of them. This spell allowed me to record everything they witnessed and experienced in real time. Although the Acarnis Galaxy is formidable”, she paused briefly, letting the words hang, “it is not beyond our capacity to handle.”

With a sharp snap of her fingers, golden faith energy surged violently through the air, responding instantly to her dazzling control. In an instant, a vast, luminous screen materialized at the center of the table, hovering just above the clouds.

“These are the prominent figures I have documented within the Acarnis Galaxy,” she began, her voice steady, “though there are countless others, these represent the pinnacle of power among those I observed. Each of these individuals has either defeated Eleven-Winged Angels with relative ease or managed the feat alone. Most beings in the Acarnis Galaxy require a combined force to overcome an Eleven-Winged Angel. These few, remarkably, do not.”

The screen flickered to life, displaying images of Zachary and Nyxss, the parents of Aaaninja; Riven and Vespera, the parents of Lucian; followed by Overseer, grinning with a manic, almost unsettling expression. One after another, images of Aura Nova, Aaaninja, Lucian, Kingsley, Vega, Anthony, Mitchelle, Collins, Michael, and other notable figures flashed across the screen.

To save time, the Twelfth Halo played the battle footage at an accelerated speed. Each clip revealed the raw talent, strategic acumen, and ferocity of these warriors. Minutes passed in silence as the Twelve-Winged Angels absorbed the evidence, each piece of footage leaving an unmistakable impression.

Without missing a beat, the Twelfth Halo resumed. “I have divided them into two categories: those who could potentially match a Twelve-Winged Angel, and those who cannot.” A snap of her fingers split the names into two distinct lists.

On the first list, she placed Anthony, Aaaninja, Lucian, Aura Nova, Kingsley, Vega, Collins, Mitchelle, and Michael, beings capable of challenging even the mightiest of Twelve-Winged Angels. The second list contained Zachary, Riven, Vespera, Nyxss, and a few others, still deadly, still capable of defeating Eleven-Winged Angels alone, yet beneath the threshold of true parity with the Twelve-Winged.

The Second Halo’s eyes narrowed as they settled on Anthony’s image. “That handsome one, with white hair and blue eyes… is he some kind of Demon? How can he even stand alongside them? And what is that strange ability he is using… the one that decapitates people?” he asked, incredulity lacing his divine tone.

“That should be the least of your worries,” the First Halo finally interjected, his voice calm but tinged with weight. “He likely possesses far more power than he displays. Consider, he was able to forcibly convert faith energy into another form.” His words caused several Angels to pause, eyes narrowing as the implication of that capability sank in.

Within moments, the assembly reached a silent consensus: the white-haired human was not a demon, as some had speculated. Instead, he possessed an extraordinary energy conversion ability, one that could manipulate and transmute their Faith energy itself.

The screen shifted to Kingsley, whose methods of killing were brutal, almost grotesque, yet carried out with a chillingly expressionless demeanor. The Angels debated, attempting to analyze his abilities, but there was nothing to dissect. Kingsley relied entirely on his own physical prowess and martial skill; he was a weapon incarnate.

Their focus then turned to Aaaninja, who could be seen slipping through the fabric of time itself. “He too will be exceedingly dangerous,” the Fourth Halo observed, his tone measured but serious. “He dispatched an Eleven-Winged Angel with ease, and we barely witnessed even one or two of his Time manipulation abilities.” Nods of agreement followed around the table.

Lucian’s footage played next. At first glance, there was little to analyze beyond his masterful swordsmanship. Yet the Angels were not deceived; they sensed an underlying power, a latent capability that Lucian had not deliberately concealed. ‘Besides… that Nothingness Katana technique…’ The First Halo’s thoughts lingered on the mysterious swordwork. He attempted to peer into its secrets, to understand the true extent of its potential, but no revelation came. ‘This black haired youth may well be the most dangerous among them,’ he considered silently, a thought unspoken but profoundly understood. Only time would confirm the truth.

As the meeting continued, the Angels meticulously dissected each opponent’s abilities in real time. When they reached Aura Nova, however, they were left unsure how to react. She fought in flip-flops, an unconventional, almost irreverent choice, but she had faced two Angels simultaneously and triumphed with ease. Underestimating her would be reckless. She was, in their assessment, an eccentric and extremely dangerous human.

Despite their exalted status, the Twelve-Winged Angels were far from naive. They were celebrated and feared across the Divinora Galaxy, yet they understood the stakes of this confrontation. This was not merely a skirmish; it was war, war between galaxies. Their approach was methodical: study, understand, and adapt. They would leverage every scrap of intelligence to ensure victory. Overconfidence was a luxury they could not afford.

They didn’t refrain from sharing all information among themselves. Each battlefield was dynamic, ever-changing. Any Angel could encounter any opponent upon entering the Acarnis Galaxy. They would gather intelligence, analyze it, and adjust strategies instantaneously. Conquest was their ultimate objective, and resistance, no matter how fierce, would be crushed.

However, what they did not realize was that much of the information they meticulously compiled might prove useless. Anthony, Lucian, Aaaninja, Aura Nova, and Kingsley were not opponents whose strength could be fully comprehended through observation alone. They were anomalies, entities beyond the natural order. A galaxy was never meant to produce even one such being, let alone several of them. Their existence defied conventional limits, rendering conventional tactics insufficient.

Even as the Twelve-Winged Angels studied, planned, and strategized, they were preparing to confront forces that might be fundamentally equal to their own power, a truth that would become painfully evident when the war truly began.