MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 883: Smithereens

The First Supreme Monarch’s golden-ringed eyes shifted toward the Third Supreme Monarch. He could tell, no, he understood, what the Titan was feeling and thinking. He had known the man for centuries; it would be absurd for him not to recognize the familiar signs written so clearly in the Titan’s posture and presence.

His gaze moved again, golden rings glinting faintly as they snapped upward and settled on a particular white-haired, handsome young man floating calmly in the void, Aaaninja Chronisynth Eternos.

During the battle, the First Supreme Monarch had deliberately informed the Third Supreme Monarch of his intention to fight near Aaaninja, if possible, so that he could personally witness how the young Celestial manipulated Time. What he had seen left him utterly speechless. He still could not fully comprehend how Aaaninja slipped through Time itself so effortlessly, as though it were nothing more than a shallow stream beneath his feet.

Throughout the battle he observed, Aaaninja had not employed more than two overt Time-based abilities. Yet that detail was irrelevant. The control, the application, the manipulation, every movement carried a flawless balance between mana and element. It was refined, precise, and terrifyingly natural. The harmony between intent and execution was something the First Supreme Monarch had rarely seen in his long existence.

He couldn’t help but ask himself how such a man could exist at all. The only other person who had ever evoked such a feeling of awe within him was Anthony. Although he had not personally witnessed Anthony manipulating Time, he found it difficult to believe that even Anthony could match such an extraordinary being when it came to pure Time manipulation.

’And those eyes...’ he thought silently.

He was certain those eyes granted Aaaninja abilities tied to Time itself, though he had no idea what their true nature was. As for how he knew, the First Supreme Monarch possessed unique Dragon Eyes, ocular abilities that allowed him to perceive truths far beyond ordinary sight. There was no way someone could possess such mesmerizing, abnormal eyes and have them serve merely as organs of vision like any other.

’I have to meet him,’ he decided inwardly.

Even if Aaaninja refused to share his knowledge, the First Supreme Monarch felt compelled to try. And if that failed, he would not hesitate to seek Anthony’s help. He would ask Anthony to convince Aaaninja on his behalf. Though he wasn’t entirely certain Anthony would agree, the possibility was high enough to warrant the attempt.

’Soon... after this meeting,’ he resolved, fixing the moment firmly in his mind.

He did not wish to wait or delay. This was simply the best possible time. Who knew when he would next encounter the prodigy? Opportunities like this did not come twice, even to someone of his stature.

Age and pride held no meaning in the face of true power. Even if he were told to kneel, the Dragon would do so without hesitation if Aaaninja demanded it. Pride was temporary; enlightenment was eternal.

What the First Supreme Monarch did not know, however, was that Aaaninja had already noticed him.

Aaaninja Chronisynth Eternos was naturally sensitive to the flow of Time around him. There was no way someone could manipulate it, no matter how subtly, without entering his awareness. The moment the First Supreme Monarch exerted even the faintest influence upon Time, Aaaninja had sensed it.

Still, he did not think much of the man. From Aaaninja’s perspective, the Dragon’s control and manipulation were... lacking. Adequate, perhaps even impressive by conventional standards, but far from refined. He merely categorized the First Supreme Monarch as someone born with an innate affinity for Time, much like himself. Nothing more, nothing less.

”I personally think the most ridiculous planet would be the Dusk Planet,” an Older Generation member of the Netherborn race intoned, his gaze fixed on Aura Nova with thinly veiled fascination. It was as though he wished to peel her soul apart layer by layer, eager to uncover what lay hidden beneath that granted her such absurd power. His eyes then shifted to the small cat sitting atop her head. From the fluctuations in its soul alone, he could tell the creature was anything but ordinary.

”Even after producing someone like Charles Evander, who can literally summon the Spirit King, a being way above the Planetary level, they also have someone like Aura Nova, who is even more... ridiculous.”

His words immediately drew everyone’s attention back to Aura Nova.

The woman who had sealed Tears in reality as though they were minor inconveniences. They had watched her halt the eruption of the third Tear as casually as one might breathe, transforming the violent distortion of reality into harmless, fluttering butterflies. The more they reflected on it, the more absurd the entire situation felt.

They couldn’t help but wonder why the Dusk Planet hadn’t presented Aura Nova as their primary candidate if she possessed such overwhelming power. Yet after a moment of thought, they reached the same conclusion: the Dusk Planet had placed all their hopes on Charles Evander’s Spirit King summoning ability. Unfortunately for them, Charles had encountered Anthony, who summoned an even more outrageous existence that utterly defeated the Spirit King.

The Older Generation could feel their understanding of talent, limits, and ability being rewritten in real time. They found themselves silently questioning what exactly was wrong with Humans this time around. Was the Galaxy itself bending in their favor?

Among the younger prodigies present, only Aaaninja Chronisynth Eternos was not human, and he was unique in every conceivable way.

Aura Nova? Human.

Lucian Darkheart? Human.

Null Anthony? Human.

Sky Kingsley? Human.

Vega? Human.

Only Aaaninja stood apart, as though he existed to keep the Human race in check by his mere presence.

Some members of the Older Generation couldn’t help but begin forming plans of their own, acquiring the most talented Humans they could find, perhaps even attempting reproduction. After all, it wasn’t as though they could force the Galaxy to stop favoring Humans.

If only they knew how mistaken they were.

The Galaxy was not favoring Humans. These five were simply anomalies, Vega excluded, of course.

Rain couldn’t help but smile as he noticed the attention Aura Nova was receiving. He had always wanted this moment for her, for the Galaxy, and perhaps even existence itself, to recognize her power, her might, and her unique abilities.

Yet she had always refused such recognition, locking herself away in relentless training. When she did emerge, she spent her time reading novels on her phone or laptop, as though the world beyond those pages held little interest. Seeing Aura Nova finally receive the acknowledgment she deserved filled him with genuine joy. After all, he had known her since she was little.

’Our planet will thrive under her and Charles’ leadership,’ he mused silently.

If Aura Nova heard his thoughts, she would likely chuckle at his delusions. She had no intention of burdening herself with the responsibility of making the planet thrive. She had books to read, far too many to waste her precious time on governance. Such matters could be left to Charles.

Of course, if an enemy dared to step forward and threaten their planet, she wouldn’t hesitate for even a moment, she would reduce them to smithereens.