MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 912: Old Stars

Amara’s golden eyes lingered on Lucian for a fleeting second, her stare tranquil yet sharp, as if she were peering into depths far beneath his skin. Without uttering a word, she began to approach him. Her pace was relaxed and her expression serene, a soft smile playing on her lips. Although her posture lacked hostility and she exerted no overt pressure, her mere presence seemed to make the air around them grow heavy.

"Such a handsome young man," she murmured, her voice flowing with a warm, velvet smoothness. "What is your name?" She inquired with a calm demeanor, her tone devoid of any threat or accusation, projecting only a sense of mild interest.

"I’m Lucian. Lucian Darkheart," he answered, meeting Amara’s gaze directly. Despite his efforts to remain composed, he could feel his pulse quickening as he looked into those golden irises.

"I will grant you a reprieve this time, Lucian," Amara spoke softly. She reached out and patted his shoulder with a casual, almost motherly familiarity. "Try not to show such disrespect to your elders in the future."

"My apologies," Lucian replied instantly, a touch of shame coloring his face as he bowed his head slightly.

"I am eager to see your upcoming match. It seems you harbor some quite fascinating talents," Amara added, her golden eyes glinting as she watched him a moment longer. Suddenly, Riven and Vespera materialized at Lucian’s sides. Their movements were sharp and protective, their gazes locked onto Amara with stern intensity, serving as a silent warning for her not to push her luck.

Amara simply shook her head in amusement, a faint smirk touching her lips. She turned and strolled away, entirely unperturbed by their defensive stance. She had never harbored any intention of harming Lucian. After all, why would she hurt a friend of her daughter? Her approach was merely intended as a reprimand for his spying. That act alone had piqued her curiosity, but it hadn't sparked any genuine malice.

Klaus remained silent. He briefly studied Lucian with an indecipherable look before shifting his attention away, offering a small smile to Vega.

Lucian exhaled a long, slow breath, wondering how Amara had detected his surveillance so effortlessly. In hindsight, it shouldn't have been a shock. It was impossible for her to miss him. This was a woman who had once caught Anthony trying to gather intel on her using the Authority of Information itself. If Anthony couldn't hide from her, Lucian had no hope of evading her senses.

'Sigh... for a second there, I truly believed my life was over,' Lucian thought, feeling a wave of internal relief wash over him.

[I also suspected we might not witness the conclusion of this tale, Host]

The mechanical voice of the system resonated in his mind.

'You and me both,' Lucian replied internally, a weary smile appearing on his face. He didn't need a breakdown of the situation. The instant Amara's eyes fixed on him, he understood everything. She had seen right through the various abilities he had mimicked over the years. However, he felt confident she hadn't sensed his Absolute Copy ability; the system always ensured that remained hidden.

"I'm alright, Dad. Mom," Lucian said aloud, turning toward his father, Riven, and his mother, Vespera.

They didn't respond at once, simply nodding after a short silence. While they recognized that Klaus and Amara existed on a level of power far beyond anyone else in the room, that realization wouldn't stop them from intervening if someone tried to intimidate their son.

'I just hope Klaus doesn't decide to kill me in my sleep,' Lucian thought to himself. He hadn't missed the way Klaus had eyed him earlier before their brief eye contact was broken.

"So," Klaus spoke up suddenly, shifting the focus of the conversation. "Why are you staying out of the competition?" His gaze fell upon his daughter. "You're at a young age. This is the perfect time to test yourself against your peers, to fight and evolve together."

"Dad, I'm just not interested," Vega answered with a sigh, giving a light shake of her head.

Klaus hesitated before asking, "Are you worried about losing?"

The question caught Vega by surprise for a moment. She looked at him before shaking her head again. "I'm not. If you're so worried about it, why don't you go down there and fight them yourself?"

Klaus went quiet again, eventually sighing as he struggled to grasp his daughter's perspective. Had he been in her shoes, he would have jumped into the fray without a second thought. During his youth, he was driven by nothing but spirit and a relentless urge to measure his strength against others.

"Leave her be," Amara intervened from the side, her voice soft but resolute. "If she doesn't wish to join in, don't force the issue. I'm certain she had her fill of combat while fighting the Angel."

"Dad, you know it's not too late to have a son you can raise to be a battle-hungry maniac," Vega teased with a smirk, her boldness returning now that her mother had stepped in.

Klaus smiled thinly. "I actually like that idea," he said, looking thoughtful as if he were seriously weighing the option.

"See? Now you have a solu—" Vega started, but Klaus interrupted her immediately.

"Why don't you just provide me with a grandson I can train?" he asked nonchalantly, a grin spreading across his face as he looked at her.

Vega nearly choked on her own breath. She had suggested a brother, and now her father was talking about grandchildren. Amara stayed silent, merely smiling to herself. Though she didn't speak, she secretly wouldn't have minded having a grandson either.

"Mom, aren't you going to help me out here?" Vega turned to Amara, but her mother had already foreseen this and turned her attention elsewhere.

"It has been a long time, Anthony," Amara said smoothly, changing the subject as she greeted him.

"Whatever," Vega grumbled. "I'm not even married. Aren't you all jumping the gun a bit?"

"Well... you can just hand over the baby first," Klaus replied evenly. "If Anthony refuses to marry you, I'll simply break his legs."

Vega let out a deep sigh and decided to stop talking. She had learned long ago that arguing with her father was a losing battle. Seeing that she had gone quiet, Klaus smiled and shook his head before addressing the other parents.

"My daughter's words gave me a spark of inspiration," he announced. "After these young stars finish their duels, how about us old stars have a match of our own?" A wide grin broke across his face at the suggestion.

The corridor went silent the moment he spoke. Everyone stared at Klaus in disbelief. They had only just survived a war against an invading Galaxy, and many were still wounded. Yet, this man was suggesting another fight as if it were nothing.

While no one spoke, Michael reacted. The Sword Intent simmering within him erupted, becoming sharper and more potent as he looked at Klaus with a broad smile. He didn't need words; his surging presence was all the confirmation needed.

He had taken another stride forward on his path. His strength had increased following his clash with the Sword Origin, and he knew there was no better opponent than Klaus to test his new boundaries.