MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 1172: Lost The Beckoning

Anthony fell into his thoughts as he stared at the wooden talisman in his hands. If he used the wooden talisman, what of his parents? What would they use? What of his friends, Aura Nova, Lucian, Aaaninja, and Kingsley? What would they also use?

Yes, there were different Upper Galaxies, meaning different rules. After all, it could mean that in this Old Ascendant’s Upper Galaxy, that was where the trouble was and where backing was required.

’Should I just use it and make Mom, Dad, Grandpa, and Grandma come with me?’ Anthony asked himself in thought.

Suddenly, another thought occurred to him. The Spirit King had possessed the wooden talisman for years now. He possessed the talent to ascend, so why didn’t he use it? If he did, he could have gotten the backing, resources, protection, and everything else that came with it.

Although Anthony didn’t know exactly how strong this Old Ascendant was compared to other beings of the Upper Galaxy, he should at least be strong, right?

”So, why haven’t you used the wooden talisman since it’s been in your possession for years?” Anthony decided to ask since the Spirit King was already before him rather than speculate.

The Spirit King fell silent for a moment before he answered, ”The Human told me not to use it,” he answered truthfully, then sighed as he added, ”but of course, if I really wanted to use it, I would. But the truth is that... I’ve lost the Beckoning,” he answered.

The answer left Anthony stunned. He would never have guessed that the Beckoning could simply vanish. But after thinking about it for a moment, it made sense. The Spirit King hadn’t ascended for years, so it was only normal for his potential to flicker out like a flame deprived of fuel. After all, if his parents, who didn’t receive the Beckoning before, had now received one, then certainly the inverse was also possible.

Seeing Anthony’s reaction, the Spirit King smiled as he spoke, ”It seems you didn’t expect that answer,” he mused aloud.

”I won’t lie, I didn’t,” Anthony replied with a shake of his head, as there was simply nothing to lie about.

”Isn’t the Universe funny?” the Spirit King began to speak again. ”An opportunity the Demon King sought for years, and a God from another Galaxy also sought. They fought for it and staked everything on it, even their lives. Yet, I had that opportunity but never used it or cherished it one bit,” he joked, though there was undeniable truth behind his words.

Anthony laughed a bit. The Spirit King was simply lucky that the Demon King didn’t know he had received the Beckoning. If not, the Demon King would have headed to the Spirit Realm, waged war, wiped out every spirit there, and probably refined the Spirit King into some sort of pill.

”Do you regret it?” Anthony asked, as he wanted to know if the Spirit King had ever regretted, or still regretted, not answering the Beckoning.

”Not once,” the Spirit King replied without a shred of hesitation, and his words were indeed true, as he had never once thought about what could have been if he had ascended.

”There is simply no reason for me to have regrets. I have everything I’ve always wanted and more. I’ve achieved a lot of things too. Although I don’t know what awaits me there, I remain firm in the stance that I don’t want to find out,” the Spirit King replied without missing a beat.

Anthony stayed silent for a moment before he replied, ”I see,” his words steady, as though he had come to understand something, and indeed he had.

Just because he, his family, and his friends always wanted to move forward and take another step along the next Path of cultivation and evolution didn’t mean that everyone wanted to move forward too. Some people were simply happy with their current lives. They were satisfied and content with what they already had and had no desire to chase something beyond their reach... or that seemed so faraway

And that was exactly the Spirit King.

Anthony couldn’t help but wonder if the Spirit King had children or something similar. As the question popped into his head, he immediately asked it. He wasn’t exactly crossing any known line.

”I don’t have a family,” the Spirit King replied with a smile. He paused for a moment before he added, ”Although most people don’t know this, Spirits are born with the ability to change genders until they settle on a permanent one, usually when they decide to start a family. So although you are seeing me as a man today, I could be a woman tomorrow, as throughout all my years, I haven’t settled on a permanent one,” he stated plainly.

”Hoo!!!” Anthony exclaimed as he was amazed by the ability. He had never guessed that Spirits could do such things, though he already assumed they would lose that ability the moment they chose a permanent gender.

”Anyway, since my work is done here, I should get going.” The Spirit King rose to his feet. He had delivered the wooden talisman and also chatted with Anthony. There was nothing more for him to do.

”Wanna come see my friends? They are curious about you,” the Spirit King asked as he stared at Anthony.

Anthony didn’t even think about it before he replied, ”I will pass for now. Maybe next time, prior to my ascension,” he replied, although he had no plans of visiting any of these ancient beings, as he had nothing to discuss or even talk with them about.

”No problem then. Then be off and return to the Rogue Planet to end the battle. A lot of people are dying by the minute,” the Spirit King stated with a small laugh as his body turned into scattering motes of light.

Anthony simply smiled as he replied, ”I’m sure they can hold on for much longer,” his tone playful.

The Spirit King simply smiled and replied in a fading tone, ”Goodbye, Null Anthony,” his body vanishing in totality.

Anthony once again sat within the silence of the Acarnis Galaxy’s void as he stared into space like a being who had achieved the absolute peak and was now plagued with nothing but endless boredom.

The vast emptiness stretched before him without end, silent and indifferent, while countless thoughts drifted through his mind. Yet despite the calmness around him and the stillness within the void, his journey was far from over. There were still battles to fight, people to protect, mysteries to uncover, and Paths yet to walk.

For now, however, he simply remained seated there, alone amidst the endless darkness, contemplating everything that had transpired and everything that still awaited him in the future.