MIGHT AS WELL BE OP-Chapter 1008: Thoughts

Aura Nova’s corpse and severed head tore freely through the sky as they plummeted under the effect of gravity, then, with a resounding and almost unsettling thud, they both struck the ground as a thin veil of dust rose around the corpse from the sheer force of the impact.

Anthony stared down from above, his sky-blue eyes fixed calmly on Aura Nova’s corpse as he stood within the clouds, his thoughts could not help but wander; he wondered if perhaps one day, just maybe, he would encounter someone who could truly match him in every conceivable aspect and force him to go all out for once in his life without restraint or calculation.

Anthony could remember only once in his entire life after his reincarnation when he had genuinely gone all out, and that singular occasion was when a group of assassins had first been sent after him shortly after his rather eventful shopping experience, turning what should have been a mundane outing into a blood-soaked reminder of the world’s hostility.

Within the Acarnis Galaxy, he was no different from untouchable at his current power level, a being who existed above conventional challenge, but in the higher Galaxy, now that was an entirely different matter, as that domain remained unknown to him and was highly likely to harbor existences capable of transcending even his current understanding of strength.

His eyes rose toward the sky as though he were gazing at something far beyond it, as if attempting to peer through the veil of reality itself; he sighed softly and then shook his head, for he was not desperate to reach that realm, no, he was simply curious about it in a detached and almost curious manner.

If the Universe granted him an opponent of such calibre, then so be it, and if it did not, then it did not matter either, as he was already enjoying his life perfectly well without the constant need for adversity to challenge him.

His figure flickered subtly as he vanished from the sky in a blur of motion that distorted the air around him, and in less than a fraction of a second, he appeared beside Aura Nova’s corpse, glancing at it one final time before turning and walking away with composed indifference, fully aware that she would soon resurrect herself as she always did.

"Null Anthony wins," Klaus’ voice boomed from above in an unceremonious tone, as he had long expected this outcome and had never doubted it for even a fleeting second, for he was far more interested in the journey and the intricacies of the battle that led to this conclusion rather than the conclusion itself.

Soon, mana pulsed through the air in visible waves, then revolved and encircled Aura Nova’s corpse with deliberate precision, lifting it gently into the air as it formed a shimmering blue cocoon that pulsed faintly with restorative energy. Nobody was surprised by the sight, as this was precisely how she had resurrected herself after her previous battle with Lucian Darkheart, a method that had already become familiar to those present.

A few moments later, the mana cocoon shattered into countless luminous fragments, and Aura Nova stepped out, her head resting upon her shoulders as though it had never been severed at all. The moment she appeared, she could not help but sigh at herself, a quiet exhale that carried more weight than any outward display of emotion. She stood in silence for several seconds, her fist clenching as her fingernails dug into the flesh of her palm, yet no blood emerged, as the injuries healed far too swiftly for blood to even gather.

She raised her head toward the sky in silence, staring at the drifting white clouds and the vast, beautiful expanse that mirrored the very colour of her eyes. Although she smiled and laughed outwardly, she would never willingly admit that her pride had been wounded to some degree. After all, she had lived at the pinnacle of strength on the Dusk Planet, a realm where her name alone commanded recognition.

But now, at this moment, everything she had achieved through endless training, uncompromising hard work, and countless periods of seclusion seemed... insufficient.

Yes, she had defeated Kingsley Sky, but that victory had only been secured after she had activated her Root Access Mode Command. And what had Aaaninja done when he faced that same Kingsley Sky? He had simply ended him as though he were nothing of consequence, as though the battle itself had been beneath notice.

Not only that, she had lost to Lucian Darkheart and had also lost to Null Anthony. The more she reflected upon it, the more a subtle frustration coiled within her chest. Although it had not been a battle to the ’True Death’ and had merely been a sparring match, it had still revealed far more than she would have preferred.

Although she had improved tremendously and had achieved True Actualization, she could not help but feel that it was insufficient at this moment, for she had once again tasted defeat, and Aaaninja would be her next and final opponent in this sequence of confrontations.

The pressure felt immense, her opponents overwhelmingly powerful beings; on one side stood Null Anthony, then there was Aaaninja Chronisynth Eternos, followed by Lucian Darkheart, and even Kingsley Sky, who had learned the Martial Rhythm and evolved beyond his former limitations.

The four of them were all ridiculous existences in every sense of the word, individuals who seemed to redefine the very boundaries of strength simply by standing still.

As her thoughts spiraled within her mind, a faint smile gradually formed upon her lips. She may have lost now, but that would not necessarily be the case next time. As a stubborn woman who refused to yield to circumstance, she would rise to the top without fail, and when that moment arrived, she would silently cherish the expressions on their faces when they experienced defeat at her hands.

No sudden blaze of determination ignited in her eyes, no dramatic surge of confidence manifested outwardly; no, she simply remained as she was, composed and unwavering, as though she did not require overt declarations of resolve in order to ascend to the peak and surpass every one of them.

With that thought settled firmly in her mind, her body rose slowly into the sky, then she shot forward with controlled speed as she followed directly behind Anthony, and soon they arrived at the location where everyone else awaited them. Anthony simply took his seat without uttering a single word, as there was nothing that truly needed to be said.

"Do you need a hug?" Veronica offered the moment Aura Nova approached, her voice gentle yet tentative.

Aura Nova paused briefly, uncertain of how to respond, as she could not fully comprehend why Veronica seemed to feel sympathy for her, yet she shook her head with a faint smile as she replied, "No, thank you," her response calm, measured, and impeccably polite.

"No need to overthink it, Aura Nova, although you might stand a chance against Aaaninja and Lucian in the future when you return from your training, you still would not stand a chance against Anthony," Vega stated from the side with a subtle shake of her head, her tone practical rather than cruel.

Unlike her best friend, Veronica, Vega did not offer sentiments such as hugs, as she understood that Aura Nova was not someone who indulged in prolonged emotional reflection; if there was something that needed to be done, she would address it directly and without hesitation. Although they had not known each other for an extended period of time, Vega understood that this was the kind of woman Aura Nova was, and that very trait was one of the primary reasons she stood at her current level of formidable power.