MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 844: Being Targeted

Anthony’s sky-blue eyes shifted toward Aura Nova, who was now floating gracefully beside him, her presence soft yet distinct within the cosmic stillness. As he spoke, his voice carried a calm intrigue. ”It seems Charles wasn’t merely making casual jokes when he said I might not have won if you were present during the Starborn Tournament.” A faint smile appeared on his lips as he uttered those words, the kind of smile that conveyed amusement rather than doubt.

Yet despite Anthony admitting such a possibility aloud, he held no real belief that the outcome would have changed. He knew, with unchangeable confidence, that Aura would still have lost to him had she participated in the Starborn Tournament. He had only acknowledged that Charles was not entirely joking, nothing beyond that.

Should Aura Nova ever challenge him directly, Anthony understood fully that she would lose. Even with her startling talent, one that allowed her to affect reality itself, he possessed numerous methods to counter such abilities. In truth, he would not even need to fight back. Unless Aura Nova carried within her a Perfect rank Human Bloodline or, even rarer, a Primordial rank Human Bloodline, any offensive ability she unleashed would be rendered completely useless against him.

Aura Nova’s eyes lifted toward Anthony, a soft smile forming on her lips as she responded with her characteristic composure. ”Charles says a lot of things. As for his words from earlier, I’m sure he wasn’t joking. I look forward to seeing how powerful you truly are, Anthony.” Her voice held a calm warmth, carrying both invitation and challenge without any hostility.

Anthony’s All Seeing Eyes drifted toward Akira, who was seated comfortably upon Aura Nova’s head. Just like Lucian, he had reached the unmistakable conclusion that Aura Nova had fed her cat countless ’odd’ things, unique, peculiar substances that somehow became ”cat food,” allowing Akira to evolve into a special being entirely her own, separate from conventional classifications.

At this moment, Anthony could perceive subtle alterations taking place within Akira’s body. These changes, almost imperceptible to any observers, could not escape Anthony’s vision.

The older generation watched Aura Nova as she conversed with Anthony, maintaining a serenity that sharply contrasted with the overwhelming feat she had just performed, something none among them had ever been capable of achieving. Their minds struggled to process everything they had witnessed, running through possibilities, explanations, and impossibilities at a frightening speed.

Even as beings who stood at the very peak of the Galaxy, those who had seen, heard, and experienced phenomena far beyond ordinary comprehension, this, they had never seen.

None of them knew how to proceed. They simply stood there, silent and dumbfounded, frozen within the cosmic expanse. Rain floated nearby with a calm smile on his face. Everyone on Dusk Planet had always known Aura Nova was special; even the Spirit King had once praised her, a compliment the being had never bestowed upon Charles.

”Human chil—” a man from the older generation of the Netherborn race began to speak, but his words were abruptly cut short by Aura Nova’s voice.

”Aura,” she interjected with gentle firmness. ”My name is Aura Nova, not ’human child.’”

The man’s black eyes narrowed sharply, the intensity within them darkening. Killing intent threatened to erupt from his body at the disrespect he believed he had just suffered. To him, even if Aura Nova had managed to close the Tear in reality, that achievement alone did not place her above him, nor did it mean she could win all members of the older generation combined.

Before his killing intent could flood the cosmic sky, a hand rested on his shoulder. His sharp gaze shifted instantly, his head snapping to the side to see who dared touch him.

’Endure it for now. We still need to close the remaining two Tears in reality. After that, we can simply capture her, uncover her methods, and then kill her. Once we learn how she did it, the other races will no longer need her.’

The voice echoed telepathically within the Netherborn man’s mind. It came from the one who had laid a hand on his shoulder, speaking with unnerving calm.

The Netherborn man exhaled deeply, then gave a subtle nod, holding back the killing intent that simmered within him. The Netherborn race were masters of soul manipulation and control; he eagerly anticipated the sight of Aura Nova struggling against their soul based abilities.

”It seems you are being targeted,” Aaaninja intoned from the side, his rainbow-colored, clock-like eyes shifting toward Aura Nova. She did not respond immediately. Her sky-blue eyes slid towards the Netherborn race for a brief moment before she looked back at Aaaninja. With her abilities, she had already listened in on the telepathic exchange between the older Netherborns.

Still, she did not react. Even within Dusk, though she stood as the most powerful there, people constantly sought to challenge her or take advantage of her one way or another. But Aura Nova rarely bothered to act, until the moment someone crossed the line. Just like now, she knew the Netherborn race had already decided to come after her once she closed the final Tears, but she felt no need to respond.

She would wait. When they made their move, she would erase them, not merely the older generation, but the younger generation as well. And if anyone intervened in an attempt to save them... well, they too could join the Netherborn race in the cycle of reincarnation.

”If I had a dollar for every time someone held ill intentions toward me, I would possess an unlimited amount of cash,” Aura Nova replied to Aaaninja with a calm expression, though the faint hint of a smile threatened to rise at the corners of her lips.

The Netherborn race making a move against her would mark the first official Galactic battle and battlefield. How could she not feel the subtle excitement rising within her?

Aaaninja arched an eyebrow, momentarily confused by the unfamiliar word ”dollar,” though his remarkable intelligence quickly led him to deduce that it referred to some form of currency. With that conclusion reached, he simply nodded.

”You’ve always wanted to see my ability,” Aura Nova said. ”Now that you have seen it, what do you think?”

Aaaninja paused briefly before responding. ”I can say it is unique, remarkably so. I look forward to seeing how you apply it in battle.”

Aura finally allowed her smile to bloom. ”Already anticipating my battle with the Netherborns?”

Aaaninja returned the smile. ”You shall know in time.”

Aura gazed at him with her clear sky-blue eyes, then gave a quiet nod and said nothing more.