MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 900: Explode

The team continued their tour as they passed through various buildings, each one uniquely shaped like ramen bowls, towers of noodles, or spiraling structures resembling coiled strands. At this point, such sights no longer surprised them. What once would have seemed absurd now felt perfectly natural within the logic of this Timeline, as though reality itself had agreed that ramen was the foundation upon which everything should be built.

Along the way, they encountered people of numerous races, each distinct in appearance and presence. Anthony had never seen before. Despite his vast experience traveling across planets, Anthony could not identify a single one of them. They were clearly not from the Acarnis Galaxy, which was dominated by Dragons, Humans, Celestials, and other familiar races.

Anthony already came to the conclusion that they were foreigners like him who came visiting.

”I think I will just move here,” Aura Nova spoke casually as she walked, her steps calm and light, her expression filled with genuine fascination.

”I think Rain will be sad,” Altheria replied with a teasing smile, ”or better still, Valak, the one in love with you, will cry endlessly or just decide to move here with you.”

Aura Nova simply smiled at the joke and said nothing further, her silence speaking louder than any response.

Anthony’s gaze shifted toward Vega as he spoke, his tone gentle and sincere. ”If you want, we can come somewhere like this for a date.”

Vega’s eyes brightened instantly at his words, lighting up like twin stars. ”Yes... yes!” she agreed immediately, her excitement impossible to hide. ”And if possible, can you make it about cake? Like a cake Timeline, or an ice cream Timeline!” she added, her voice rising slightly as enthusiasm overtook her.

Anthony chuckled softly, lifting a hand to gently play with her cheeks as his smile deepened. ”Sure. I don’t see why not.”

Aaaninja Chronisynth Eternos, who had been listening to their conversation with increasing confusion, finally spoke. ”How are you going to get the Timeline coordinates for that?” he asked, his curiosity genuine. ”Even I only obtained mine from the River of Time.”

Anthony’s sky-blue eyes shifted away from Vega as he replied in a calm, mysterious tone. ”Just like how you have the River of Time, I also have my own ways.” A faint smirk curved his lips as he spoke.

Lucian simply stared at Anthony for a moment before shaking his head. He didn’t need to think deeply or speculate to understand how Anthony planned to obtain the coordinates. Lucian already knew that Anthony’s absurdly overpowered system possessed a shop function. Buying a Timeline coordinate from it would be trivial.

Aaaninja’s rainbow, clock-like eyes turned toward Lucian, who remained quiet. ”You seem to know how Anthony is going to achieve this,” Aaaninja said, his words a statement of fact rather than a question.

Lucian Darkheart paused. For a brief moment, he considered denying it, but ultimately decided there was no reason to lie. ”I do know such a detail,” he replied confidently, a smirk appearing on his face.

Aaaninja continued staring at him, clearly expecting him to elaborate, but Lucian merely shook his head. ”Unfortunately, I can’t tell you, or anyone else.”

Aaaninja paused before nodding. He didn’t press further. It truly didn’t matter to him; if he wished, he could simply ask the River of Time for another Timeline, and it would answer without hesitation.

Anthony’s eyes shifted toward Lucian. He had heard their conversation clearly, and through his All Seeing Eyes, he could tell that Lucian was telling the truth. Yet this realization confused him deeply.

’Does he know about the system?’ Anthony wondered.

He lingered on the thought briefly before shaking his head and dismissing it. He had never told anyone about the system or his reincarnation, not Vega, not his parents, not even his grandparents. There was no conceivable way Lucian could know.

At that moment, a golden light flashed above Vega’s head. A small figure with a regal and authoritative presence appeared, descending gently before seating himself atop Vega’s head as though it were the perfect throne. He possessed golden hair and radiant golden eyes, his presence alone exuding dignity and power.

”It’s been a while, Vega,” Romulus, the Divine Flame, spoke calmly.

”Romulus! You finally came out!” Vega exclaimed excitedly. She had always been close to Romulus, but he had vanished for quite some time. Romulus’s golden eyes briefly turned toward Akira, who sat atop Aura Nova’s head, before he looked away without comment.

”Who is this handsome spirit?” Aura Nova asked, her eyes shimmering with curiosity. As usual, curiosity got the better of her. Almost instinctively, she activated Omniedit.

The moment she did, her eyes exploded outward. Blood and tissue tore violently into the air, splattering across the ground below. The sound alone was horrifying.

Silence gripped the surroundings as everyone processed what had just happened. Akira’s black and white fur bristled as her hair rose sharply, a hiss escaping her mouth. Her fangs bared as she glared at Romulus, her body tensed as though ready to pounce.

Aura Nova slowly raised her hand and gently patted Akira’s small, soft head. ”It’s fine, Akira... it wasn’t the spirit’s fault.”

Despite her reassurance, Akira’s black eyes continued to glare at Romulus with undisguised hostility, as though she wanted to tear him apart. Romulus, however, did not even glance at the cat. His earlier look had been born of mild curiosity, nothing more. Now that he had seen through Akira’s entire existence, she no longer interested him.

”Sigh... I knew that one day your curiosity would get the best of you, Aura Nova,” Veronica said, shaking her head.

Aura Nova didn’t reply. She simply smiled as a new pair of eyes formed where the old ones had once been. The blood and tissue on the ground vanished instantly, erased from existence as though they had never been there.

”Aura Nova,” Anthony spoke from the side, ”this is Romulus, the Divine Flame. He’s the being I summoned who fought against the Spirit King during the Starborn Tournament.”

Anthony’s introduction wasn’t just for Aura Nova. Kingsley and Altheria had also been curious, and now their questions were answered.

Aura Nova already understood why her eyes had exploded moments earlier. She had attempted to gaze upon something she was never meant to analyze. Romulus hadn’t attacked her, if anything, he had helped her. The moment she tried to analyze him, she had felt death wash over her completely, yet that death never arrived. She didn’t need anyone to tell her the truth. Romulus had saved her despite her reckless behavior.

Even Aaaninja had once warned her never to analyze the River of Time, and yet she had just attempted to analyze a being that stood far above even that.