MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 1115: Monumental Wish

While Bryan was engrossed in visions of his power escalating without end, Anthony turned his attention to Rider. "It is time you tell me your desire," he stated, his sky-blue eyes meeting Rider's with a calm, expectant look. "After all, I will be departing as soon as we leave this place."

Anthony's declaration caused Rider to ponder deeply. For the past eleven days, he had considered this matter incessantly, yet no concrete wish had formed in his mind, regardless of how much he contemplated it.

"Do you require assistance?" Tiara inquired, her gaze fixed upon him with a perceptible hint of curiosity.

"What precisely do you have in consideration?" Rider responded, turning to meet her gaze, evidently receptive to any suggestions she might offer.

"Why not simply request that he bestow upon you the status of an Apexus Mana Ranker? And I mean a genuine one, complete with the necessary mana control and combat experience – the entire package," she proposed. Her tone suggested she had thoroughly weighed this particular option.

Rider's eyes shifted towards Anthony, a silent query in his gaze, as if seeking confirmation of Tiara's suggestion.

"I am capable of facilitating that, of making you a true Apexus Mana Ranker. However, all I can impart is that achieving it through my means is not quite the same as achieving it independently," Anthony replied. "Naturally, I am not implying any detrimental consequences arise from my method. I am merely stating that the experiences are not identical," he added, his voice betraying indifference to whatever final choice Rider might make.

Rider once again retreated into his thoughts. He sensed Anthony subtly urging him to attain the Apexus Mana Ranker status through his own endeavors and inherent strength. It felt as though Anthony was implying that the self-reliant path was superior, better, and that there was something intangible yet invaluable to be gained from treading that solitary road.

If the natural progression wasn't the more advantageous route, Anthony wouldn't be suggesting it, would he?

Rider's gaze then moved to Bringer, seeking his counsel on what boon to request from Anthony.

Bringer offered a simple shrug before stating, "Just ask for one of those shadow soldiers." The tone of his voice made it clear to all present that if Rider were in his position, that would be the wish he would make without the slightest hesitation.

Anthony would, of course, have granted such a wish had Rider chosen it. However, it would have resulted in another shadow soldier, though not one of the caliber of Beru, Igris, Bellion, or George, as those were not entities he would easily relinquish.

Nevertheless, Rider rejected his brother's counsel. The Dragon Domain already boasted numerous Apexus Mana Rankers who could serve as bodyguards; there was no necessity to augment that already formidable force.

Perceiving that no particularly useful suggestions were forthcoming, Rider closed his eyes, momentarily shutting out the external world as he delved inward, seeking an answer within himself. Anthony remained silent, observing, as did the others. After all, only Rider had been granted the unique opportunity to make a personal wish.

After a brief interval, Rider's eyes opened, and he spoke, "What if I were to become your disciple, or perhaps a loyal soldier under your command?" His dark eyes met Anthony's sky-blue ones directly. "While you have never explicitly stated it, I am aware that Clement, Spectre, Vivian, and the others all acquired their extraordinary talents from you. It stands to reason that the Human race could not have unearthed ten inheritance grounds simultaneously five years ago without your involvement," he paused momentarily. "Therefore, I require whatever you bestowed upon them, or whatever actions you took that rendered them so outrageously talented, to a degree that their prowess appears second only to your own," he concluded with a tone of finality.

Rider's audacious request cast a hush over the forest, leaving everyone completely astonished. No one had conceived of such a possibility.

Rider's wish was indeed outrageous. One had to recognize that Vivian and the other members of the group had all reached the Apexus Mana Rank, standing at the absolute pinnacle of power.

Furthermore, he was not merely requesting innate talent. He was seeking a portion of Anthony's very essence, the same potent essence he had previously granted to Litt and the others. Beyond that, there was also the matter of the system's existence itself. Though Rider may not have fully grasped the totality of his request, it was undeniably an absurd and monumental desire.

Anthony remained silent for a moment before responding in a calm and composed manner. "Your assertions are indeed accurate. Donna and the others are indeed my subordinates. But do you comprehend the reason I selected them over all others at that particular juncture?" he inquired.

"Was it because they were Humans?" Bringer interjected, as if he had just uttered a profound revelation. All eyes turned to him, conveying unspoken skepticism – it was evident that this was far from the correct answer.

"The reason is straightforward: they were unburdened by any Guild, household name, or contract. Being unfortunate orphans with no inherent talent, they were completely unattached," Anthony continued his explanation. "Truthfully, I was instrumental in shaping their current state, but my actions necessitate their unwavering devotion to me. After all, it is intrinsically linked to one of my most profound secrets," Anthony declared with serene composure, maintaining unwavering eye contact with Rider.

"My loyalty is absolute," Rider responded without a moment's hesitation, his gaze fixed and his words imbued with deep conviction.

"If I were to command you to obliterate the Titan Domain, ensuring your father and brother met their demise last, only after witnessing their domain crumble, would you comply?" Anthony inquired, his posture relaxed as he remained seated on the ground, his tone completely unaltered.

Rider's expression contorted into a profound frown at Anthony's question, the realization dawning that he could not execute such an order. The mere contemplation of it engendered a fierce internal conflict, clashing starkly with his core principles. While he understood Anthony wasn't genuinely issuing such a command, the question itself laid bare his limitations with painful clarity.

"This is precisely why I chose Donna and the others. They are unburdened by any ties – not to the Human Domain, nor to Omni Peak Academy. Their sole connection is to what they have actively built, much like Vivian and Donna, who tirelessly construct orphanages," Anthony explained, dismissing Rider's unspoken plea without the slightest hesitation.

Although his blood essence possessed the power to compel absolute loyalty from Rider, Anthony found himself unwilling to resort to such measures. He desired Rider's loyalty to be a voluntary choice, mirroring the path taken by Spectre and the others, who had all pledged their allegiance before receiving his blood.

"I understand," Rider affirmed. Yet, despite uttering these words, a profound sense of sorrow resonated within him. After all, he had just forfeited something immeasurably valuable, something Anthony himself had alluded to being intertwined with one of his most closely guarded secrets.

'Alas... if only I possessed the ruthlessness of others,' he mused inwardly, acutely aware of his inability to ever bring himself to slay his own brother or father. His upbringing had been founded on profound love and unbreakable bonds, principles he could never abandon.