MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 3: Awakening-1

Morning arrived, and the birds chirping outside Anthony's window roused him from a profound slumber. He shot a brief, annoyed glare at the feathered intruders before yawning and leaping out of bed.

Approaching the mirror, he studied his exceptionally handsome reflection. He looked so perfect that he mused the Dragon King might actually kidnap him for experimentation just to study such beauty.

His white hair was flawlessly styled, and his deep blue eyes shimmered like a fusion of the vast sea, the open sky, and precious gemstones. Anyone who caught his gaze would surely be ensnared by his magnetic charm.

For a moment, he stood there in self-admiration, reflecting on his progress. He would turn ten in just one week, and today, his father and grandparents were scheduled to arrive.

He headed to the bathroom to wash up. For the past five years, he had dedicated himself to physical training. Since he wasn't permitted to practice with weapons yet, he focused on daily exercise and hand-to-hand combat drills with the guards and maids. One shouldn't be deceived by the title of "maid" here; every staff member was an elite in their own right.

Throughout these five years, he discovered the power ranking system of this world, which ranged from F- to SSS+. Each major rank was split into three sub-ranks, such as F-, F, and F+. The progression went through F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, and SSS. Higher tiers existed, but his mother insisted he would only learn of them after his awakening when the time was right. He hadn't pushed the issue further and simply dropped the subject.

The household guards were essentially living nukes, some reaching SSS+ or even higher. Even the maids held ranks of at least A+, which puzzled Anthony, as SSS was typically the peak in the novels he had read. However, he didn't dwell on it.

As people ascend in rank, their lifespans extend, making it increasingly difficult to conceive children. Though his mother appeared to be in her early twenties, she was actually over a century old. She sat at a rank above SSS, though she refused to disclose exactly which one.

Lost in thought, he exited the shower and dried himself off. He glanced down at his "little brother," jokingly encouraging it to grow so he could one day father a powerful lineage. Raising his gaze back to the mirror, he was once again captivated by his own image.

His six-pack was perfectly defined, complemented by well-developed biceps and quads. This physique was nothing like the one from his previous life, which had been ravaged by suffering and night shifts. It made him even more eager for his awakening. He was getting dressed when he heard his mother's voice—a sound so enchanting it always made him wonder if she was actually a fairy.

"Anthonyyyy, come down! Your father has arrived!" she called out. He hurried from the room and took his place at the front door of the massive castle just as the cars entered the estate.

The vehicles lined up, and guards immediately stepped out, each radiating a massive aura. They moved to open the doors of two specific cars, from which two men and a woman emerged.

Observing the newcomers and their overwhelming presence, Anthony felt the guards at the door seemed weak by comparison. He noted the two men, both appearing to be in their twenties despite their true age. They shared his white hair but had different eyes; Anthony had inherited his blue eyes from his mother. He then looked at the woman, his grandmother, who possessed fiery red hair. Despite her aggressive hair color, she had awakened as a healer and also looked no older than twenty.

The class his grandmother had awakened was 'The Everlasting One,' a role that provided numerous perks and made her a literal god on the battlefield. Known as the 'Saintess of the World,' her name was Irene Crimson. Rumors suggested she could resurrect the dead, but it was a certainty that she could heal anyone as long as they still drew breath.

Next, he looked at his grandfather, known as the 'Lightning God.' He had awakened the 'Lightning Mage' class and could incinerate foes with a mere glance. His name was Null Collins. It was said a permanent lightning force field surrounded him, automatically striking any unauthorized person who came too close. This reminded Anthony of a specific character from an anime he once watched.

Finally, he looked at his father, Null Michael. He had awakened the Swordsman class, and his blade was feared across the lands because it was said he could slice through time and space. On the battlefield, he was hailed as 'The Sword Saint.'

Anthony had pieced all this information together by gossiping with the maids and guards. He was at a loss for words regarding his overpowered family, where every member was a walking calamity.

Even the guards accompanying the cars exuded an oppressive aura. Anthony wondered that if his family was this powerful, what about the other five great families? It meant there were five other clans nearly on par with these monsters.

He sighed, shifted back into his persona as a cute ten-year-old, and offered his greetings.

While his mother and father shared an affectionate moment, Anthony went to act adorable with his grandparents to ensure they would spoil him.

During dinner, they conversed about how he had been faring in their absence. Anthony gave standard replies until Michael asked a pivotal question.

"So, my dear son, what class do you hope to awaken?"

Every eye at the table turned toward him, filled with high expectations. He knew that in a family of monsters, he couldn't settle for being average. In fact, he intended to surpass them.

He gave a cute smile and replied,

"I want to awaken as a magician like mother, or a swordsman like father. Actually, I want both. I want to be a Magic Swordsman so we can fight on the battlefield together."

The adults laughed at the child's ambition. Then, his grandfather asked,

"And how is your sword training progressing?" Anthony choked and began to cough before answering.

"Ermm... I haven't actually practiced the sword. Mother told me that if I trained with weapons now, I’d awaken as a Mechanic, so I've only been doing body tempering."

The room erupted into laughter as if they had all inhaled laughing gas. Anthony sat there silently, watching these world-renowned monsters poke fun at him.

After a few more playful jabs, everyone retired to their quarters. Six days passed in the blink of an eye as they enjoyed each other's company.

Anthony returned to his room and closed his eyes, hoping for a good night's rest before his birthday and the subsequent awakening. Suddenly, his consciousness was yanked elsewhere. He was stunned to find himself in a dark void, a place that reminded him of when he died and his soul was wandering.

He cursed internally, terrified that he had died the night before his big day after enduring so much. Just as he was about to break down, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

"You are dwelling on useless thoughts again, mortal." He turned and saw the Being. Relief washed over him, but before he could speak, the entity cut him off.

"I am not here for a chat, lest you try to add another wish to your list. I am simply here to trigger your System and cheat. The System has been with you all along, but I kept it dormant so you would have to struggle without it for a while. Watching you panic because you couldn't draw Mana was quite an entertaining show. Regardless, this is farewell, mortal. We shall not meet again unless you reach my level—or at least the level just below mine. Or, perhaps, if I simply decide to check in on a whim."

With those words, the Being vanished as if he had never existed.