MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 1052: Halt

Upon hearing Anthony's words, Bryan froze for a moment, a sharp realization dawning on him. Anthony had just solved his most pressing problem, the one meant to hinder him for a millennium or longer, yet here he was requesting additional aid right after obtaining such priceless assistance, filling him with embarrassment and a faint sense of shame for posing the ask so hastily.

"I'm sorry, it seems I've gone too far in my excitement over gaining freedom and dreams of enlisting in the military," Bryan quickly apologized. Still seated on the couch, he offered a slight bow, dipping his posture enough to convey true sincerity without seeming excessively servile, his voice laced with real remorse for his prior statement.

Anthony grinned while dismissing it with a casual wave of his hand; he felt no annoyance whatsoever, keeping his face relaxed and untroubled, as if the issue had never crossed his mind. "No need to apologize; you'll love the Military, it'll be a blast," he remarked with that same grin, his tone airy but assured, like he spoke from personal knowledge rather than mere guesswork.

As the top prodigy of the Golden Generation, Anthony felt certain Bryan would excel in the Military, forging his reputation effortlessly... assuming he survived any missions, naturally. Life rarely offered endless bliss and ease, after all, and harsh truths had a knack for grounding even the most exceptional talents, particularly in environments where raw power alone couldn't ensure one's safety.

"Also, I messaged the others; they ought to arrive within the hour," Anthony continued smoothly, shifting subjects without a hitch, as if the earlier exchange had already faded from his thoughts completely.

Bryan's mind raced the instant he caught that detail, darting to his phone. It had buzzed relentlessly, but with his father and older brother, dealing with crucial affairs, he couldn't divert his focus to the device despite the barrage of alerts.

From his space ring, his phone materialized in his grasp. He flicked through the messages, spotting a barrage from the Storm Brothers and Tiara, layered in growing frustration, intrigue, and light irritation over his silence.

Suddenly, Anthony tilted his head skyward, staring intently in one direction, his gaze sharpening faintly as if piercing distances invisible to normal sight. "Looks like they're here."

Bryan glanced that way too, spotting nothing. He shook his head moments later; Anthony must have sensed them from kilometers off, way past his own detection range, underscoring the lingering divide between them even with his impressive power.

Seconds ticked by before two aircraft droned near the Dragon Domain's edge, their arrival heralded by a deep, throbbing hum slicing the sky. Though the Storm Brothers and Tiara arrived via proper protocols, they still faced security checks, standard for the Dragon Domain's ironclad, unyielding barriers.

Anthony stood up while announcing, "They're at the Domain's edge; let's head there," his words steady and firm, brooking no pause or second-guessing.

Bryan boasted solid strength and keen awareness, yet the Dragon Domain's immense expanse eluded full sensory coverage, its vastness defying even his caliber's reach.

"Hold on, why not just stay and greet them here?" Bryan proposed, though Anthony brushed it off; he simply craved departure. The Imperial Dragon estate felt too stiff for him, overly formal and confining, clashing with his unbound spirit.

In a flash, he disappeared from his spot, yanking Bryan along via forceful teleportation with casual prowess, denying him any chance to respond.

Instantly, Anthony and Bryan materialized at the Dragon Domain border. Dragon soldiers patrolled vigilantly, their aura radiating disciplined fervor and steadfast vigilance. Visitors of other races underwent rigorous scrutiny before entry approval, every check executed with precise rigor and absolute command.

Their sudden arrival drew every gaze at once. The cause was obvious: all Dragons recognized Bryan instantly, the Crowned Prince, a beacon of prestige and fame across the Domain.

Spotting Bryan, the Dragons dropped their tasks and knelt, chorusing, "We greet the Crowned Imperial Prince," their unified voices echoing across earth and sky in tides of honor and awe. Outsiders, unfamiliar with Bryan since they weren't Dragons, hastily knelt too. Disrespecting a Domain's lords while seeking access was folly, especially for mighty, arrogant Dragons.

Amid the vast throng bowing low, only Anthony stood tall, unaffected by the abrupt change in vibe.

"Must be great being famous, good-looking, and a Prince," Anthony quipped telepathically to Bryan, his mental voice tinged with playful humor.

Bryan shook his head while addressing the kneelers, "Carry on as if I'm not present; I just have matters to handle," he commanded, his phrasing more directive than optional, infused with the innate command of one used to instant compliance.

The bowed crowd lifted their faces toward Bryan, but then they spied the Human beside the Dragon Prince. Shock exploded in their stares, bodies and thoughts locking up in stunned incredulity, grappling to accept the sight.

"GOD ANTHONY IS HERE!!!!" a voice bellowed from the masses at full volume. That cry shattered the daze, unleashing a frenzy of wild enthusiasm.

"Looks like you're the star here," Bryan noted with a grin, flipping Anthony's recent jab back at him now that he commanded all eyes and adoration.

Who didn't recognize Anthony? He was the Blue Planet's ultimate celebrity, his fame resounding through myriad lands and peoples. Chaos erupted next—a mad rush as order dissolved, Dragons, Vampires, Orcs, Elves all charging Anthony in frenzied zeal.

For the first time, Anthony stood just paces from them. They yearned to touch him, claim his blessing, verify his humanity, become his students, bear his offspring—their minds whirled in a storm of worship, fixation, and manic thrill.

The masses surged ahead, each driven by personal desires merging into one unstoppable surge. Even Dragon guards ditched their stations, joining the flood to Anthony. Daily drudgery paled; who knew the next live encounter after endless streams and tales?

Anthony stared at the onslaught, momentarily at a loss for words. His mouth quirked faintly before he sighed softly, blending surrender with subtle mirth. Meeting the human avalanche with his eyes, he smiled, lifting a hand in measured grace as he uttered;

His utterance etched into reality itself, erasing all clamor, turmoil, motion, and babble in a heartbeat, as if creation bent to his will. The crowd froze mid-stride, robbed of bodily control like puppets cut loose. Mid-air leapers hung suspended, time seemingly stalled. Footfall quakes ceased utterly, silence absolute.

A profound hush dominated between Anthony and his halted admirers, an oppressive quiet underscoring the supreme dominion wielded in one mere syllable from his lips.