MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 897: The Ramen Singularity Timeline

A simple intention caused the multicolored river beneath them to ripple softly, mimicking the way a falling leaf disturbs a still pond. Suddenly, the River of Time shifted its consistency. The once ethereal fluid began to grasp at them, transforming into something akin to sentient quicksand. No one panicked. Devoid of fear or resistance, the group simply trusted the process as the River of Time pulled them downward, slowly and methodically, until their physical forms were entirely submerged and vanished from its surface.

Within moments, they exited the River of Time and emerged into the ramen timeline where Aaaninja had led them. The transition occurred with unnatural smoothness. Aaaninja immediately dispersed the temporal particles he had shielded them with, ensuring no lingering residue from a foreign timeline remained on their bodies.

"You may open your eyes," Aaaninja commanded softly once the process was complete.

Back on the Celestial Planet, Anthony and Lucian stood together, their demeanors calm and unshaken. After a brief silence, Anthony broke the quiet.

"Let’s go. They have arrived already."

Lucian gave a small shake of his head before answering, "I will join you shortly. You understand how my Reality Anchor works." He didn't bother to question how Anthony knew the others had reached their destination. He preferred not to speculate on the sheer number of broken and nonsensical abilities the man possessed.

"There is no need for that," Anthony remarked, a small smile appearing on his face. "If Aaaninja is capable of transporting people across timelines, why shouldn't I be?"

Lucian hesitated for a second, then gave a soft laugh. "I suppose that's true. Let us proceed then."

Anthony rested a hand on Lucian’s shoulder. In that heartbeat, Anthony’s view of reality flipped. Existence began to unravel into a web of infinite threads—interlocking lines representing cause, location, and conceptual gaps. Anthony identified a specific thread leading back toward Vega and, with a thought, collapsed the distance tied to it.

In a flash, Anthony and Lucian disappeared.

The moment they materialized, they heard Aaaninja’s voice. "You may open your eyes."

The rest of the group opened their eyes at the same time. They immediately noticed Anthony and Lucian standing nearby, yet they hardly gave them a second thought. Their focus was instantly captured by their surroundings.

They were suspended in the sky.

Their eyes grew wide as they took in the view. The landscape stretching out around them was staggering, possessing a beauty that defied any standard of measurement. It was a sight beyond the reach of words.

Before a word could be uttered, a steady voice resonated through the air. "Welcome to the Ramen Singularity Timeline, specifically The Nodara Planet." As the voice spoke, everyone whirled around. They had been so mesmerized by the stunning vista that they had let their guard slip. Floating before them was a figure with a calm and hospitable aura.

The being was humanoid in shape, possessing smooth, radiant skin the color of deep caramel. Beneath the surface, glowing veins flowed like simmering liquid, and a heart beat with a rhythmic pulse, reminiscent of a pot held just under a boil.

"Don't be alarmed," Aaaninja clarified. "This is a tour guide provided by the River of Time. He will be our escort during our stay."

The group nodded in casual acknowledgment.

Anthony glanced at Aaaninja, his mind racing. 'How has this man turned the River of Time into his personal servant?' he wondered. 'First, he used it as a delivery system for a Time Shard. Now, he’s summoning tour guides through it.' Anthony shook his head, deciding to stop analyzing it before his mind gave out.

Aaaninja gave a nod to the floating figure, prompting him to proceed.

Taking the cue, the being spoke again. "I am Broth-ben, of the Brothkin race from the Nodara Planet. As you are visitors, I shall act as your guide." He paused, giving the group a moment to absorb the information.

The team was immediately captivated.

It felt as though they had arrived at the ultimate timeline. Even the racial name, Brothkin, was a perfect reflection of this world. Broth-ben’s very anatomy seemed to be broth made manifest, a being perfectly aligned with his race's identity.

"Before the tour begins," Broth-ben added, "be aware that not everyone here speaks your tongue. Therefore, I will provide memory crystals so you may learn and understand our local language."

He lifted his caramel-toned hand, and eight memory crystals appeared in the air, floating toward the group. Each person took one and pressed it to their forehead. Instantly, a torrent of knowledge filled their minds—the grammar, definitions, and subtleties of the Nodara language were perfectly integrated into their memories.

Broth-ben immediately transitioned into the native tongue of the Nodara Planet. "Now that we are prepared, the tour will officially begin."

The group’s eyes sparkled with excitement. They were keen to discover what the Ramen Singularity Timeline held for them.

"Since we are currently aloft," Broth-ben said, "we shall start with the heavens."

Everyone looked up instinctively.

"The sky here does not possess the blue hue you might know from your own worlds. Instead, it is a swirling gradient of amber, dark umber, pearl-white, and umami-black. It looks like layered broth when viewed with higher perception." As he described it, the sky seemed to shift in response. "You will occasionally see steam-clouds. These are not standard clouds, but distortions in reality caused by the boiling ley-lines deep within the planet."

The group listened with rapt attention, drinking in the details.

After explaining the sky, Broth-ben pointed toward the celestial bodies above. "Now, observe the suns."

"On Planet Nodara, we have three suns known as the Trinity of Heat," he stated. "The White Sun, Shio, provides a pale, clean light. It is the master of clarity, balance, and purity. The Red Sun, Miso, emits a deep crimson glow. It rules over fermentation, complexity, and aggression. Finally, the Black Sun, Tonkotsu, is a dark orb bordered by molten gold. It governs depth, marrow, richness, and the soul."

He took a brief breath before continuing, "These three suns never fully align. However, myths say that if they ever did, the Final Broth would boil this entire timeline into a state of transcendence. The true meaning of that remains a mystery even to me."

The group gazed at the suns, their thoughts connecting the essence of ramen to the very laws of this universe. Broth-ben gave them a moment to appreciate the sight before directing their attention to the moons.

"There are nine moons in total," he explained. "Each one represents a core element of ramen: noodles, broth, oil, tare, toppings, time, memory, heat, and balance. When specific moons transit one another, new styles of ramen are born across the world. Such occurrences are the most celebrated events on Nodara."

Filled with awe, the group realized they had entered a world unlike any they had ever known.