MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 902: Spotlight

Anthony had been silently observing the conversation between Kingsley and Broth-ben, his eyes lowered toward his own palm. His demeanor was detached and tranquil, treating the surrounding discussion as mere background noise. Without warning, he lifted a single finger. For a fleeting second, Savor energy swirled around it—subtle and quiet, yet possessing a weight far beyond its soft radiance. Before a single soul could react, Anthony threw a casual punch into the empty air.

While the movement appeared effortless and lacked any dramatic flair or strain, the consequences were devastating. That simple strike unleashed a monstrous explosion of power that shattered the surrounding wind barrier into pieces. The atmosphere shrieked as a violent pressure wave surged outward, striking everyone nearby. Hair was tossed wildly and garments snapped in the gale as loose debris tumbled across the earth, all while the broken fragments of the barrier evaporated into nothingness.

The entire vicinity fell into a sudden standstill.

It wasn’t only Anthony’s associates or Broth-ben who ceased their movements. Travelers wandering the Simmerium, the indigenous tribes of Planet Nodara, merchants, and casual onlookers all froze, paralyzed by a profound sense of shock. A singular, undeniable reality gripped them: a punch of such immense strength had just been thrown that it forced the wind barrier to collapse. Yet, not a single witness could identify the source of the strike.

A heavy, oppressive silence lingered for a moment before it was drowned out by a wave of frantic whispers that quickly spiraled into total pandemonium.

The native inhabitants of Planet Nodara were thrown into a state of hysteria. Excited voices clashed as people scanned the area, trading wild theories. Many were convinced that a hidden master had finally emerged—an expert whose profound Cultivation and understanding allowed them to manipulate the Laws of the Ramen Singularity Timeline through raw might. Reverent murmurs spread, with some believing a legendary figure had stepped out of the shadows for a brief instant.

Meanwhile, Aaaninja, Aura Nova, Vega, Veronica, Lucian, Altheria, and Kingsley stared at Anthony as if he were a terrifying monster disguised as a human. Their faces were masks of pure disbelief and horror. Even Broth-ben, despite his vast experience and legendary composure, was left utterly dumbfounded. At that precise moment, they were the only ones who understood the truth: this chaos wasn't the work of a local Nodara master, but the calm, white-haired human standing right in front of them.

Broth-ben, the Brothkin, felt his thoughts grind to a shuddering halt. The scene he had just witnessed defied all logic. Every certainty he had voiced just moments ago now seemed like hollow nonsense. He had initially insisted that Savor energy could only be awakened by cooking a satisfying meal for another. However, Anthony had manifested that very energy on the spot, instantly proving him wrong.

Even worse, Broth-ben had just finished stating that mastering Savor energy to the point of bending the Laws of the Ramen Singularity Timeline required millennia of focused dedication. The words were still hanging in the air when Anthony shattered them with insulting simplicity, achieving the impossible in a heartbeat.

'What is wrong with this white-haired human named Anthony?' Broth-ben’s mind raced in circles. He was unable to process how a visitor could violate two fundamental Laws of the Ramen Singularity Timeline within hours of arriving.

Although Anthony and his group had never formally introduced themselves, Broth-ben had managed to learn their names simply by eavesdropping on their banter.

'Has my entire life been based on a lie?' he pondered, inspecting Anthony from head to toe as if searching for a hidden secret. 'I need to be extremely careful with my words around this strange human.' He had tried to downplay Anthony’s previous feat as a fluke, but the list of impossible achievements was growing too long to ignore.

Broth-ben’s mind returned to Anthony’s earlier claim, which he had dismissed as arrogance. Anthony had mentioned challenging the greatest chef to a ramen cooking duel. At the time, Broth-ben hadn't given it a second thought. Foreigners were known for making such empty boasts before failing miserably against even the most mediocre local chefs.

But now...

'Could he actually pull it off?' After only a few hours in Anthony’s company, Broth-ben was beginning to doubt his own reality.

"Aren’t you showing off a bit too much?" Altheria spoke up from the side, her green eyes narrowing at Anthony. Aaaninja had previously cautioned her to expect the unexpected from him, but she still found his actions impossible to digest. Even those familiar with his power were stunned; they had all felt the crushing weight of the Laws pressing against them during the conversation.

"You’re just jealous because you don’t have the same talent as me," Anthony replied with a playful, teasing grin. Despite appearances, he wasn't trying to boast. He had simply been testing the validity of Broth-ben’s claims.

"But isn’t this ability of yours too overpowered?" Veronica asked, her eyes locked onto Anthony’s hand as if expecting another explosion.

"Yeah," Vega chimed in, looking thoroughly perplexed. "I thought your ability was to gain control over every energy, not to achieve perfect mastery over them instantly?" Even Lucian, who knew the extent of Anthony's power better than anyone, looked confused.

Anthony shook his head with a calm expression. "I’ve tapped into countless energies and developed an absurd level of control over each one," he explained, pausing for emphasis before continuing. "Given that level of experience, you surely didn't expect me to spend years practicing a new one... did you?"

His explanation left the group in stunned silence. He made it sound like a trivial task, but they knew better. Every energy source followed its own unique Laws and fundamental principles. Regardless of Anthony's casual tone, what he was doing defied all reason.

"We should really stop talking to this guy," Altheria sighed. "He’s just going to make us feel like untalented trash."

Anthony smirked. "While you aren’t trash," he said with a playful shrug, "you definitely are less talented."

Aaaninja gave Anthony a stern look, silently telling him to drop the subject before he annoyed everyone further.

"We came to this Timeline to relax and enjoy ourselves before the battle," Aura Nova reminded him, shaking her head. "Not for you to treat the world like your personal playground." Even she, despite her usual poise, had been shaken by his display.

Lucian Darkheart merely smiled from the sidelines. To him, this was the only possible outcome. Anthony was the protagonist. No matter how much he tried to remain low-key or avoid the limelight, the world itself would shift to accommodate him. The spotlight would always find the main character, whether he sought it or not.