MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 1043: Von Bryan-4
Previously on MIGHT AS WELL BE OP...
Bryan's eyes bulged in utter disbelief upon spotting Anthony's final message. He struggled to process the words he'd just seen. The legend, the myth, the deity himself was en route to the Dragon Domain, a proclamation brimming with profound gravity that surpassed any simple phrase.
'He's truly coming to hang out,' Bryan pondered silently. He'd anticipated it somewhat, but the idea struck him as utterly preposterous given Anthony's staggering combat might. Still, Bryan overlooked the fact that Anthony remained, outwardly, nothing more than a twenty-year-old human youth, clinging to slivers of ordinary life despite his extraordinary circumstances.
Even though Anthony's mind carried the weight of over fifty years, he cherished occasional outings and savoring his environment. Particularly following massive clashes, every such ordeal warranted a respite of some kind—a fleeting interlude of tranquility amid the storm.
Thus, as others retreated into seclusion, he preferred spending time with longtime companions, opting for recreation instead of nonstop cultivation, if only temporarily.
Bryan's serene pulse suddenly quickened once more, his mind swirling with escalating possibilities, one wilder than the next. After briefly spiraling into overanalysis yet again, he leaped from his bed. The Emperor, his father, needed to know immediately. Anthony was no ordinary guest; this demanded prompt notification.
Though Anthony was merely visiting as a friend... or perhaps a mere associate or peer, the distinction was irrelevant—he had to alert his father regardless. Duties as Crown Prince weighed heavily, obligations that brooked no neglect.
Determined, he sprang from his bed and dashed toward the exit, yet halted sharply just before bursting out in frenzy. Anthony's arrival was set for an hour from now; ample time remained, rendering a mad dash through corridors and halls unnecessary. Royalty demanded poise, after all.
Exuding regal elegance, he swung open his door and strode forth with steady strides and a serene expression, even as his pounding heart exposed the inner turmoil of surging excitement. While proceeding, he glanced at his phone. Anthony's messages had ceased, yet Bryan itched to share the news with Rider, Bringer, and Tiara, urging them to rush to the Dragon Domain within that hour.
Yet he refrained. Anthony hadn't authorized it. Should their company be desired or required, Anthony would undoubtedly message them directly. Moreover, mirroring the text sent to him, the human could have already contacted the others.
Thus, his phone slipped into his space ring, vanishing without trace.
His current residence belonged solely to him. Though sharing the grand estate, the First Prince—his older sibling—the Crown Prince himself, and the Emperor each occupied distinct structures across expansive grounds. Maids, guards, and all necessities allowed full autonomy for each. Hence, he now made for his father's dwelling, located several kilometers distant.
Emerging from his building, servants curtsied deeply, but he paid them no heed. A mere intention summoned his Dragon Wings from his back—vast, enormous, gleaming gold, exuding sovereign splendor. Another thought propelled him skyward in a golden streak, cleaving the winds at tremendous velocity.
Even at S rank, where flight came instinctively, Dragons unfurled their wings regardless. Pride of their race demanded it. This practice offered benefits too: innate levitation paired with wings amplified velocity dramatically, rendering them all the more terrifying.
In mere instants, Bryan descended before his father's fortress. He touched down lightly, wings retracting into his form as he advanced inside with measured paces, regaining his poise.
"WE GREET THE CROWN PRINCE!!"
Thunderous shouts reverberated off the walls, proclaiming Bryan's presence to all, yet he brushed them aside while pressing on. Though subtly rushed, his gait and dignity stayed flawless amid universal obeisance to imperial lineage.
During his advance, a figure materialized ahead. Clad in ebony robes that clashed intriguingly yet harmonized flawlessly with his ivory scales, the man sported a pair of robust, pristine, elegant horns curving from his brow. His gaze held timeless wisdom, as if he'd endured endless ages and beheld sights beyond mortal ken.
In the Dragon Domain, he served as the Dragon Emperor's trusted butler and chief aide, but beyond that, he reigned as the wisest Dragon there, having attended no fewer than five Dragon Emperors in total.
Iserios Von Deathwrath, reigning Emperor now, marked the fifth.
No one fathomed his age, nor his authentic Dragon title. Details about him proved woefully sparse; he stood as one of the Dragon Domain's profoundest riddles, veiled in subtle mystery.
They simply named him Right.
Right, for he was invariably correct. No other moniker sufficed.
"I greet the Crown Prince," Butler Right intoned with a graceful bow, his timbre venerable, aged, and resonant, while his vigor endured as if poised to attend five additional Dragon Emperors unflinchingly.
"Good morning, Butler Right," Bryan responded politely. While dismissing other Dragons came easy, this one commanded respect. Upon ascending to rule the Dragon Domain after his father's retirement, this figure would stand as his vital confidant, utterly irreplaceable.
"Where is His Majesty?" Bryan inquired evenly, his tone firm amid inner impatience.
"He is within the Throne Room at the moment," Butler Right answered promptly.
Bryan nodded curtly and proceeded to the Throne Room wordlessly. Butler Right trailed with unwavering eyes, perceiving Bryan's concealed urgency yet opting for silence in his customary restraint.
Before the Throne Room loomed a colossal portal, daunting in stature. Even from without, Bryan's senses reeled under his father's colossal aura, a crushing force bearing down. Flanking the entrance stood twin sentinels. Spotting Bryan, they bowed low, hailing him and Butler Right alike with profound deference.
Though titled merely a butler, Butler Right wielded vast might, sway, and prestige across the Dragon Domain, eclipsing his modest station.
Silent, Bryan advanced. The guards heaved wide the enormous gates, proclaiming his arrival in resounding tones.
"Crown Prince, Von Bryan makes an entrance!"