MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 2: Arrived

Within a towering structure grand enough to be a fortress, a woman labored to bring new life into the world. Midwives urged her to continue her efforts, and as she pushed, a brilliant golden soul descended from the heavens, streaking directly toward the manor.

Once the delivery was complete, the mother gazed tiredly at the infant she had carried for nine long months.

"It is a boy," announced one of the midwives, cradling the newborn.

"Let me hold my son," the woman requested. As she took the child into her arms, a whirlwind of emotions brought a smile to her face.

Unbeknownst to those present, the moment the child entered the world, the golden soul merged with the infant. Immediately, the baby let out a loud cry.

Observing that her son shared his father’s hair color, she smiled warmly. She cast a cleaning spell to wash away the grime of birth before declaring, "His name shall be Anthony—Null Anthony, the firstborn son of the Null family."

With a satisfied smile, she laid the baby beside her, and the two drifted off into a deep slumber.

Anthony woke the following morning and scanned his surroundings. From his cradle, he noted the opulent aesthetics and walls adorned with priceless decorations. He felt a sense of relief; his family was clearly wealthy, meaning he wouldn't have to endure the hardships of being an orphan in this life.

He was filled with excitement, imagining the grand adventures and dragons he would eventually slay. However, his heroic fantasies were abruptly interrupted by a foul odor. He had soiled himself. 'How humiliating. It seems I must grow up before I can slay anything,' he thought bitterly. He began to cry until a maid arrived to change his diapers.

His early years were a repetitive cycle of eating, sleeping, and personal business. By the time he turned five, he had spent a significant amount of time attempting to draw mana into his body, failing miserably every time. These failures left him frustrated. As he grew older and learned to read, he frequented the library to discover why he couldn't harness mana. He feared he was crippled or that the being who sent him here had cheated him. Just as he felt like weeping, he discovered that people in this world could only utilize mana after their awakening at age ten.

Overjoyed to learn he wasn't defective, he silently thanked the being. His research also revealed that this world was known as Blue Planet. Mana had existed here since its formation, and the world was estimated to be over 200 times the size of Earth, though that was merely a rough calculation.

The world was partitioned into domains governed by different races. While these races coexisted, it was less about peace and more about mutual tolerance. They avoided constant infighting primarily because of a shared threat: The Demons.

Records stated that the Demons invaded Blue Planet seven million years ago. Appearing in endless numbers, they sought only to slaughter every living thing and consume the planet’s core. It was said they were a universal plague, traveling through the stars to bring destruction to every world they found, though their true motives remained a mystery.

The dominant races of Blue Planet included the Dragons, masters of magic; the Phoenixes, who rivaled the Dragons for magical supremacy; the Titans, unmatched in physical strength; and the Elves, experts in wind and spirit magic. There were also the Dwarves, legendary blacksmiths who were equally formidable in combat, and the Humans. Humans were considered jacks-of-all-trades—competent in many areas but rarely surpassing the specialized races in a single discipline, yet still a power to be feared. Additionally, demi-humans like foxkin, catkin, and werewolves occupied a single domain, while the Vampires reigned as the masters of blood.

Smaller races existed as well, but lacking the power to hold their own domains, they lived on the borders or within the territories of the major powers.

Anthony also learned about his parents. His mother, Mitchelle Crimson, hailed from the prestigious Crimson family. She had married his father, Null Michael, whom Anthony had yet to meet. His mother claimed his father would return in a few years, so Anthony stopped prying and simply waited.

He discovered that Humans awakened specific classes at the age of ten, providing them with supportive perks. Some rare individuals also awakened unique physiques or bloodlines. Anthony had hoped to begin sword training early, but his mother forbade it, fearing he might awaken as a Mechanic class—a prospect that gave him nightmares. Thus, he decided to wait for his awakening. He also learned that while many tried to measure talent to identify who to nurture, such efforts usually failed. Consequently, those born with special physiques or bloodlines were highly coveted, as were those with powerful classes and perks, though most people kept their specific abilities a closely guarded secret.

His grandparents were also absent, expected to return only a week before his tenth birthday. It appeared that the ongoing struggle against demons and beasts kept everyone occupied.

The Null family, he found, was one of the six pillars of the human domain. Alongside the Crimson, Amos, Stellar, Lionheart, and Landell families, they represented the peak of human power.

The thought of the stereotypical arrogant Young Masters he would inevitably encounter gave him a headache. However, he resolved that if anyone provoked him, he would strike them down and finish the job in secret. He was fully prepared for these cliches; if he were ever suspected of killing a Young Master, his powerful family would serve as his shield.

Even if evidence existed, few would have the strength to challenge his house. Regardless, he had no intention of leaving any evidence behind.

To his surprise, this world was technologically advanced, much like Earth. He had feared mana would make society primitive, but the existence of cars, yachts, smartphones, and modern plumbing delighted him. He wouldn't have to travel in bumpy horse-drawn carriages. He gave the supreme being another mental thumbs-up for matching his taste—a being to whom even gods were nothing more than ants.

He spent his days waiting for his tenth year to arrive so he could finally meet his father and undergo his awakening. He occupied his time with reading and studying history. He often pondered the "cheats" he was promised, frustrated that no system notification had appeared despite five years of trying. He felt like cursing the being but restrained himself, remembering how he had died shortly after cursing God in his previous life. He feared that an insult might cause the being to revoke his gifts.

This led to bouts of boredom where he wished he could just sleep until his birthday. Instead, he filled his time with library research and chatting with the maids.

Every two days, he insisted the butler drive him in a different luxury vehicle. Having never even smelled such luxury in his past life, he intended to enjoy every car in the garage before his serious training began at age ten.

Regarding the awakening, he knew his mother possessed the Elemental Magician class. This gave her mastery over various elements and several perks, though she refused to explain the details, claiming he was too young to grasp them.

Left with no other choice, he could only wait for his own moment of destiny.