MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 913: Four Versus Five

"Mr. Klaus, given the present state of the Acarnis Galaxy, hosting such a spectacle is impossible," Zachary clarified with a composed tone. "A duel can be arranged at any moment, but the timing of the Divinora Galaxy's strike remains a dangerous mystery."

Conflict did not intimidate him; quite the opposite. Yet, unlike many of his peers, he bore the weight of significant obligations. Certain priorities demanded his attention, tasks that far outweighed personal thrills or the craving to test his strength against elite rivals.

Zachary was certain that Klaus and Amara were fully briefed on the situation, even if they hadn't attended the galaxy-wide summit. Amara’s casual remark about the encounter with the Angel just moments prior was a blatant indication that they were well-versed in the larger conflict.

Klaus shifted his attention toward Zachary, observing him silently for a beat before exhaling a quiet sigh. To someone of Klaus’s stature, the impending war felt like a trivial game, hardly worth his concern. Nevertheless, he recognized the burden felt by those tied down by duty.

’Perhaps I should simply travel to the Divinora Galaxy and eradicate every soul there,’ Klaus mused with a lazy detachment. ’Destroying the entire Galaxy and their pathetic God... that would settle the matter, wouldn’t it?’

A solution crystallized in his mind, characterized by its terrifying simplicity and ruthless efficiency.

"I am well aware of what you are contemplating," Amara’s voice cut through the air, steady and resolute as her golden gaze locked onto Klaus. "Do not even consider it."

Klaus froze momentarily, then offered a slight grin while shaking his head. "I suppose I won't," he remarked airily. "It appears you truly understand me far too well."

His assessment was accurate. Having been his wife for thousands of years, it would be more surprising if Amara couldn't read his thoughts in such moments. Had any bystander understood the gravity of their exchange, they likely would have been stunned by the sheer madness of his casual intent.

Klaus then turned his focus toward Michael. "Your power has surged once again," he noted, a spark of genuine curiosity in his eyes. "I anticipate our next clash."

Michael offered only a nod, a faint smile touching his lips. Further conversation was redundant. Between warriors of their caliber, words were secondary. When the moment arrived, they would meet on the field of battle.

"Let us depart, Father. We have lingered here long enough," Vega interrupted with a weary sigh.

Klaus gave a nod of agreement. Vega had already mentioned their plan to utilize one of his private planes. Without further ceremony, he swept his hand through the air. Space and reality rippled like a disturbed pond, tearing open a portal. Gripping Amara’s hand, Klaus stepped into the rift without a second thought, with Amara following silently at his side.

"Tsk... leaving their own daughter behind without a word," Vega grumbled, clicking her tongue.

"Why the irritation, especially when you are the one holding my hand?" Anthony asked from beside her.

Vega glanced at him and let out a soft smile. Wordlessly, she took his hand in hers. Together, they crossed through the gateway. One after another, the rest of the group followed, vanishing into the spatial distortion as they made their way to the training grounds.

Aura Nova materialized in the sky as she emerged from the rift. Surrounded by drifting white clouds, she and the others gazed down at the unfamiliar realm they had entered.

"So, this is the separate plane," Aura Nova whispered, scanning the horizon.

The landscape before her was vast and seemingly infinite. No matter how far she looked, the boundaries remained hidden. Below, massive trees soared hundreds of meters high, as if trying to pierce the heavens. Mountains rose with impossible height, their summits carving into the firmament. Boundless oceans and meandering rivers stretched toward the edge of the world, while harsh deserts baked under a relentless sun.

The world was devoid of anything else—no cities, no monuments, and no life other than the wild nature itself.

"They have the same durability as planets and Astra bodies, don't they?" she noted to herself.

Lifting her hand, Aura Nova performed a simple flick of her finger. That minor gesture caused the atmosphere to detonate. Space trembled as a wave of pure annihilation was released—a force capable of wiping nations off the map in a heartbeat.

Yet, when the shockwave hit the mountains and forests below, there was no reaction. Nothing shattered. Nothing crumbled. Not even a single leaf was disturbed. The environment remained perfectly still, as if the cataclysmic energy had never touched it.

"...Fascinating," Aura Nova murmured.

Her eyes ignited with a blue glow as she began a deep analysis of the plane's structure, already plotting how to replicate such a pocket dimension.

With a snap of Klaus’s fingers, chairs formed from solidified cosmic energy appeared for the group. They all sat down immediately, accepting the miracle as if it were a common occurrence.

"So, how shall we determine the first match?" Rain inquired while taking his seat. Despite being the least powerful among the veterans present, he did not hesitate to participate.

A brief silence fell over the group as they considered the options.

"Rather than complicating things," Klaus spoke smoothly, "we will draw numbers. When two numbers match, those individuals will duel. Once a pair has fought, that specific matchup won't be repeated."

"I will take number one," Anthony announced with a relaxed grin.

"I am number two," Aaaninja added, his face remaining a mask of indifference.

"Three," Lucian declared, leaning back with a quiet hunger for the coming combat.

"Four," Aura Nova said, though her focus was still tethered to the secrets of the plane's construction.

"Number five," Kingsley concluded, maintaining his usual stoic poise.

The order was set without any disputes. In the end, the sequence of the fights was irrelevant.

Klaus snapped his fingers once more. Cosmic energy coalesced into a massive floating screen showing the numbers one through five. The display began to cycle through the digits at a dizzying pace.

It stopped abruptly.

Two digits shone with intensity.

Four versus five.

The group’s attention shifted instantly to Aura Nova and Kingsley. In a flash, both warriors vanished from their seats and reappeared in the center of the desert. The overhead sun was punishing, yet neither showed the slightest discomfort.

"The guidelines are straightforward," Klaus’s voice boomed across the dimension. "Hold nothing back. Fight with every ounce of your power. Maim or cripple your opponent if necessary. If victory requires taking a life, then kill. I shall personally resurrect the fallen."

The casual mention of lethal force and revival drew no reaction from the crowd. It wasn't a matter of trusting Klaus; trust wasn't part of the equation. Each of the five had their own means of returning from death. While Klaus had proven his superior strength, raw power did not automatically earn their confidence.

"Start."

Klaus’s command crashed like a thunderclap. With that word, the world became a blur of motion for Aura Nova and Kingsley.