Rider was given the opportunity to make a wish. After considering suggestions, he asked Anthony to make him a disciple or a loyal soldier, seeking the source of the outrageous talent of others. Anthony revealed he chose his subordinates because they were free from attachments, and used a hypothetical to demonstrate Rider's own attachments, refusing the wish.
"Then I shall request something different," Rider declared, swiftly moving to the next item on the agenda he'd jotted down moments prior.
"I am listening," Anthony responded, clearly intrigued by what kind of outlandish or perhaps unexpected boon Rider had conceived this time.
"I desire an ability that grants manipulation over probability; ideally, I don't want it to be like the skills from skill books, which cannot be trained. I wish to be able to enhance and hone my own capability to its fullest extent," Rider explained, a confident grin spreading across his face, evidently pleased with the concept he'd settled upon after careful deliberation.
Anthony remained quiet for a beat, his eyes fixed on Rider as he pondered the true intentions behind Rider's desire for such a peculiar and potentially hazardous power. Perhaps for gambling or frequenting casinos, skewing luck in his favor for trivial gains? Yet, Anthony intuited that it wasn't for such superficial reasons.
After a brief internal pause, Anthony simply inclined his head, deciding that Rider's ultimate use of the ability was inconsequential, as it was not his affair. Thus, he readily assented to Rider's wish without a second thought.
"Certainly, no issue at all," he stated plainly.
Without any preamble or elaborate show, Anthony directly interfaced with his Omnipotent system. In mere seconds, a pristine white orb materialized in his palm, emitting a subtle yet potent energy.
Without delay, he casually propelled it towards Rider, the motion fluid and effortless. Rider lunged to catch it, almost as if he had never performed such an action before, but in reality, his haste stemmed from sheer astonishment at how readily and swiftly Anthony had granted such a complex desire.
"To think you'd have an ability like this ready to go, incredible," Bryan couldn't help but exclaim, his voice thick with awe.
Ignoring Bryan, Anthony stated, "That is an Ability Orb. Shatter it, and you will acquire the power you sought. However, only do so after I have departed."
Acknowledging Anthony's instructions, Rider nodded, cradling the orb with care. He refrained from placing it within his spatial ring, seemingly wanting to gaze upon it longer, cherishing the moment.
Anthony elegantly rose to his feet, performing a light, unhurried stretch. His gaze swept over the surrounding devastation before he snapped his fingers. Instantly, the environment appeared to freeze, as if time itself had ceased to flow. The next instant, temporal progression reversed, the forest rapidly reconstituting itself to its pristine condition prior to the conflict's wrath. Canyons vanished, fissures sealed, and scorched earth cooled and disappeared.
The landscape transformed back into verdant foliage, with fresh, invigorating air swirling gently around Anthony and his companions. They stood in silent wonder as the world reverted to its original, undisturbed state, as though no battle had ever transpired.
"I cannot simply leave the forest in this state," Anthony interjected before anyone could voice a thought.
Turning to face them, now fully revitalized and standing, he added, "I suppose it is time for us to depart." A faint smile touched his lips. "Bryan, Tiara, Bringer, Rider, it has been a pleasure reconnecting with you all after some time," he conveyed sincerely, having genuinely cherished their time together, which explained his extended stay of eleven days.
"It's an honor, man. Not everyone gets to spend a day with you, let alone eleven," Bryan replied with a broad grin, stepping forward to offer a firm handshake and a dap.
"I will miss you, man," Bringer remarked, extending his hand for a similar greeting, his tone laced with genuine sentiment.
Anthony clasped his hand, responding, "Regrettably, I cannot reciprocate that sentiment; that would be rather gay, wouldn't it?" he quipped lightly, eliciting a chorus of laughter from the group.
He then turned to Tiara. As she stepped forward for an embrace, Anthony intervened, "While you are a lady, your interactions are limited to handshakes. I have a woman, and I cannot go around hugging other females," he explained, offering his hand instead.
Tiara gave a soft laugh, shaking her head before accepting the handshake without protest.
Anthony's attention then shifted to Rider, who smiled before speaking, "Although our paths may not cross again due to your Ascension, I will forever remember this day. Also, thank you for the Ability Orb."
They exchanged a dap, their fingers snapping softly, as Anthony replied, "No need for thanks, we're friends, bruh. Besides, I suspect we might all cross paths again soon."
"Huh? Where? You aren't Ascending again?" Tiara inquired, a look of confusion on her face.
"I'm ascending, but I'm talking about my wedding with my girlfriend, who will soon be my wife. When we get engaged and set a date for the wedding, I will send you an invitation card. Even if the wedding is held in the upper Galaxy, I will personally return and escort you there, or at least dispatch someone, perhaps my shadow soldiers or Spectre and the others."
"HAHAHAHA!!! It appears we'll meet again," Bringer responded with hearty laughter.
"Indeed, it seems so," Tiara added with a gentle smile.
As Anthony began to slowly levitate, he remarked, "Of course, the wedding might not be happening anytime soon, but you guys should anticipate it. You might even find your own wives and husbands there, assuming you're still single by then. After all, it appears your single relationship status is unlikely to change in the immediate future."
Anthony offered them a final smile, but before any of them could reply, he shot into the sky. The lingering sound of sonic booms marked his departure, and his final words echoed through the air, "Goodbye, my friends. I eagerly await our next reunion."
Bryan, Rider, Tiara, and Bringer remained motionless, gazing at the sky as if they could still perceive his presence in the distance. Though the final words were unspoken, it made no difference. Smiles gradually bloomed on their faces as Anthony's departure served as a reminder that moments like these, simple, shared experiences, held a value far greater than they had ever comprehended.
"I suppose it's time to crush this," Rider declared, casting another glance at the orb before tightening his grip and shattering it without hesitation. All eyes immediately turned towards him, filled with anticipation and curiosity.
And with that, Anthony's slice-of-life adventure alongside his companions had drawn to a close, leaving behind memories destined to endure far longer than any battle ever could.
