MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 1079: Space Bandits-1

Bryan, Rider, Bringer, and Tiara wasted no time fleeing their spot and racing over to Anthony's location. Unaware of these strangers' identities, drifting randomly in space was no option—staying close to Anthony remained the wisest and most secure choice right now.

Moreover, their presence here pointed to just one reality: each boasted Planetary-level battle prowess, a power none of them could dare ignore or downplay in the slightest.

Anthony, eyes closed just recently, pried them open with lazy reluctance; less than half an hour had passed, yet he was compelled to rouse again.

He fixed his gaze on Bringer and the others while remarking, "You all are panicking like little children," he teased in a serene yet subtly mocking voice, "didn’t you want to explore space? This is simply one of the things you see as you explore space," he continued as his eyes drifted toward the newcomers with a trace of apathy.

These intruders belonged to a race Anthony had never encountered before, which made perfect sense amid the galaxy's immense and virtually boundless array of species—countless ones that even formidable powerhouses might never meet across their lifetimes.

Seven in total, one sported an octopus-like head where tentacles swirled around it in a hideous but graceful dance, another mimicked a human form with wings unfurled from his back, emanating a subtle ominous aura, one displayed a sharkish body complete with jagged traits and a terrifying presence, as the remaining ones showcased their own striking and odd characteristics.

They gathered on the deck of their vessel—a true seafaring sailboat designed for oceans, bizarrely adapted for void travel now, gliding through space as if mocking every law of physics and logic.

"We might gain a few good resources if we sell this Dragon, Titans, and Vampire," one remarked with keen interest, his eyes roving over the group while he plotted to vend everyone there without a moment's pause.

"Hehehe, what of the Human?" another queried, voice tinged with playful intrigue.

"We will simply kill him. Humans are a weak race anyway; what could they possibly earn for us? It’s not worth the trouble," the octopus-headed figure answered, clearly the group's head, his manner offhand as if discussing something trivial beyond measure.

Bringer, Tiara, Rider, and Bryan scowled right away; for the first time, they heard plans to auction them as slaves, struggling to grasp the utter lunacy of it—they could hardly credit their hearing, the whole affair striking as dreamlike and deeply affronting.

Anthony merely shook his head in quiet amusement, long anticipating exactly this sort of talk and conduct. Turning to the others, he elaborated, "These people are what you call Space Bandits, or Space Pirates, whichever name suits them best," he stated steadily. "Their jobs are simply to pillage, simple and straightforward. Anyone they find, whether an aircraft or a single person, they simply kill and rob on the spot; if you are of some use, they could sell you, like they intend to do with the four of you," Anthony lectured like a veteran of the stars, his delivery almost like a lesson.

"But it doesn’t stop there; they invade budding planets that haven’t produced their own Apexus Mana Ranker, or even if the planet has, it would probably be just one to three at most. They kill them, round up the best women and men, rape them, and then sell them off later to various other races," Anthony paused for a beat to let it register before concluding, "simply put, they are the worst of the worst, and mercy isn’t a word in their language."

Rider along with his companions fell completely silent after Anthony's words. Enthralled by space's majestic wonders, they had failed to ponder its perils or fathom cruelty and chaos of this magnitude.

"But of course, these Space Bandits simply bully the weak and run away from the strong. If they see an aircraft belonging to any of the top races, they would make a break for it, not daring to even glance in their direction," Anthony pressed on, his voice even and factual.

"Just like right now, they’ve already declared they’ll kill me only because I belong to the Human race, the lowest tier. Meanwhile, you Dragons, Vampires, and Titans rank in the middle tier, which is why you’d fetch a hefty price; if you four reached Planetary level, they’d never come near. Yet since I’m Human and the sole Planetary-level presence here, they’ve shown up," Anthony gave a slight shake of his head as he wrapped up his words, seeming almost entertained by the whole affair.

Encounters with Space Bandits or Space Pirates like these weren’t new to him; he’d crossed paths with their kind previously, yet each time, they lunged at him, convinced he posed no real danger due to his apparent weakness. Even after he effortlessly took down one or two crew members, the others charged in relentlessly, completely unaware that sheer numbers held zero sway over him.

"You seem to know us too well," one Space Bandit remarked, fixing Anthony with hungry, predatory eyes while his face grew a touch sharper.

Anthony’s harsh words didn’t ruffle them—why would they? Everything he said rang true, and they embraced it without a shred of regret. The galaxy, or existence at large, offers no favors to the virtuous or penalties to the vile, cruel, or wicked. Should souls converge in some final destination, their deeds wouldn’t dictate separate paths.

"I’ve run into a few of your kind," Anthony shot back in a steady, laid-back tone, as if the encounter struck him as somewhat amusing instead of perilous.

"Hooo!!! And you survived? You seem to be quite lucky, human," another chimed in, voice laced with intrigue, surprise, and doubt.

"Indeed, I consider myself quite lucky," Anthony replied with an easy shrug, plainly relishing the exchange with the Space Pirates, his attitude steady as ever.

"Well, we are in a good mood. Just hand over the four of them, and I will spare you, what do you think?" the octopus-headed leader proposed with a serene smile, like he was extending a gracious favor, even though menace lurked beneath his offer.

Yet Anthony saw through the octopus-headed leader’s facade of generosity; a hint of wariness colored his words now. After all, Anthony’s mention of past pirate clashes and survival hinted at real power, so the leader aimed to claim his prize without losing crew or taking needless wounds.