MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 1316: Two Factor Authentication

Jerry didn’t even have the time to gaze at the new presence as he was instantly brought to his knees, his kneecaps slamming into the ground with immense force. As for Anthony, he remained standing as though he was unbothered by the immense pressure and the killing intent that had vanished as soon as it came.

Anthony’s head shifted upwards, his sky-blue eyes landing on the new presence. It was a man. He stood eight feet tall, dressed in a blood-red robe, his hair flowing down his back as it danced to the rhythm of the wind. His eyes were tranquil and calm, as though nothing in the entire Sathor Grand Region could shake his demeanor.

Jerry, who was kneeling, trembled as blood poured from his orifices as he spoke in broken speech.

"E...Eter...Eternal... A...Apex." Although he couldn’t see the being who floated above, he didn’t need to see him. His entire existence told him so.

Jerry was truly pitiful. He had just finished suffering under Rashmore’s hand and nearly died, and now, an Eternal Apex had stepped onto the stage.

Anthony couldn’t help but grow suspicious. Yes, he knew that Eternal Apexes were very certainly within The Sleeping Hollow, the ancient Voice and the Demon Kaxrak being examples. But neither Kaxrak nor the ancient Voice showed a shred of killing intent, nor did they unleash their presence. Although Anthony knew that the being floating in the sky wasn’t exactly unleashing his presence, it was simply the difference in their existences making itself known.

The man stared down at Anthony as he spoke, "Interesting... even the difference in existence doesn’t make you kneel," his tone almost amused.

Of course, Anthony felt it; he had simply used the Authority of Severance.

Anthony remained silent for a moment. He wondered if this region of The Sleeping Hollow required battling an Eternal Apex and coming out victorious. If that was the goal, then it was impossible, as no matter the genius, not even reincarnated ten-billion-year-old monsters could achieve such a thing.

"No wonder they paid a Genesis Grade artefact for your head," the Eternal Apex continued, his eyes still on Anthony.

The moment those words left his lips, Anthony immediately understood. The man before him had been dispatched by the Vanishing Reapers. But there was something Anthony didn’t understand.

The Sleeping Hollow had a restriction of the Perfection Star Monarch rank as the limitation to enter. How had an Eternal Apex bypassed that? And not only that, even if the man managed to bypass the restrictions, how did the man manage to hide his identity from the various Eternal Apexes that were also present at The Sleeping Hollow entrance?

Anthony couldn’t help but guess that some sort of artefact was at play, or some special abilities or Unique Laws were used. It was the only way to bypass these restrictions.

"Isn’t dispatching an Eternal Apex a bit too much for a mere random cultivator from a minor sect?" Anthony asked, his voice calm and indifferent as though he didn’t fear death.

The man seemed to indulge Anthony in the discussion as he replied, "Indeed, it is too much. But once a Genesis Grade artefact or item has been received as payment, it’s our rule that an Eternal Apex must be dispatched too, even if the mission is to kill a baby," his tone amused. "And besides, I guess the head of the Asura Clan is doing this because The Sword Ruler killed his relative who came to pick you up from their Ascension Territory," the Eternal Apex gave out details about who had placed the bounty.

Anthony arched an eyebrow at the Eternal Apex’s words. ’It seems me killing that Asura was mistaken as Ancestor killing him,’ he thought to himself, but said none of that out loud.

"The mission was to kill you, but I’ve changed my mind," the Eternal Apex stated as he remained midair. "It was said you ascended about two weeks ago, but you don’t seem like someone who just ascended. After all, how can a new Ascendant be at the Perfection Star Monarch rank and also possess Embodiment Stage comprehension of various Laws?" he stated, his eyes narrowing as he added in a chilling tone, "I will be capturing you alive for your secrets, Null Anthony."

Anthony remained silent at the sudden change in mission. The Eternal Apex would capture him alive and just lie to the Vanishing Reapers Organization that he had killed him. Just like The Silent Annihilator’s corpse was going to be refined into elixirs, pills, and other exotic materials, this Eternal Apex planned to do something similar, not exactly the same. After all, refining him into a pill or whatever wouldn’t benefit the man.

"My liege, should I step forward?" Silent Annihilator’s voice echoed within Anthony’s mind.

"Not for now," Anthony replied through telepathy.

’No wonder this place felt weird from the very beginning,’ Anthony thought to himself.

He had always found it confusing that this place didn’t scream death like other regions did, and now he understood why. The Eternal Apex must have arrived here before anyone else, then changed the entire topography, as the man didn’t seem too keen on staying somewhere that gave off a feeling of death while waiting for his target.

’He couldn’t even be bothered to chase me around,’ Anthony mused with a shake of his head.

Since he learned about the Vanishing Reapers, he had been looking forward to whoever they were going to send after him, as he wanted to fight them and see what truly made the Vanishing Reapers the Vanishing Reapers. But neither Anthony nor Nathaniel, and not even the Core Elders, had ever considered the possibility that the Vanishing Reapers would deploy an Eternal Apex.

If they had, they would have immediately given up on The Sleeping Hollow as a whole, not bothering to send in the other Above disciples. After all, if Anthony didn’t show up, there was no guarantee the Eternal Apex wouldn’t wipe out the remaining Above disciples in retaliation for being outmaneuvered.

"Aren’t you guys being too cowardly?" Anthony spoke, his sky-blue eyes never leaving the Eternal Apex. "First, you use underhanded means like poison, then you even send an Eternal Apex. Is this some sort of two-factor authentication?" he joked.

The Eternal Apex shook his head as he spoke, "We just like to be thorough. Even the poison that was used against you can kill an Eternal Grade being, as it was found in the Unknown Regions," he answered truthfully. "As I said, Genesis Grade payment, Eternal Apex Grade execution," a soft smile touching his lips.

Hearing the Eternal Apex, Anthony couldn’t help but feel like this Eternal Apex wasn’t exactly an assassination expert. Weren’t they supposed to keep quiet and not spill any information to their target and whatnot?

But Anthony sort of understood that the man was simply confident and must have done this numerous times. After all, what could a Star Monarch cultivator possibly do?

Anthony’s eyes shifted towards Jerry, who remained kneeling and could only listen to their conversation as he bled endlessly. Anthony walked towards Jerry and placed a hand on Jerry’s shoulder. The moment he did, Jerry vanished from his position as Anthony sent him directly to the Divine Realm.