MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 996: Too Ugly
Previously on MIGHT AS WELL BE OP...
Aaaninja's eyelids lifted slowly, his Eyes Of Genesis gracing the surroundings with their enchanting splendor, and the initial sight that met his view was Nyxss, gazing straight at him like he might vanish in an instant, her face showing delicacy amid her boundless might, with her spouse Zachary positioned right beside her.
To Aaaninja, the entire scene felt sharper, more vivid, unhurried, and captivating, as each element of reality revealed itself in breathtaking precision, yet prior to him fully absorbing these sensations, Nyxss swiftly pulled him into an embrace while murmuring, "you’re awake," her words soft, overflowing with tender maternal warmth and deep-seated relief, her fingers quivering faintly as she embraced him, unconcerned with her own dignity despite her tremendous strength, her sole focus resting on her child and his safety.
Zachary offered a gentle smile while she uttered those words, his demeanor serene and beaming with pride, "welcome back, son," he regarded Aaaninja with a paternal grin, his gaze brimming with affection, solace, and wordless comfort that mere speech could scarcely capture.
"How are you feeling? Any headache? Does anything hurt? Issues with your body or soul?" Nyxss inquired, unleashing a barrage of questions in quick succession, her worry shining through in each syllable, even though Anthony had assured her that Aaaninja was okay and merely adapting to his new acquisition, she preferred to confirm it straight from her son's lips over depending entirely on someone else's account.
"I'm fine, Mom. Don't worry," Aaaninja replied softly as he shifted smoothly in midair from reclining to upright, then glided over to settle into a close chair with effortless poise, "I hope I didn't cause too much concern for you all," he continued, a mild and comforting grin forming on his mouth, aiming to soothe their anxieties.
His attention turned toward Altheria, seated nearby and watching him quietly, her eyes steady and laden with unvoiced feelings, he met her look with a soft smile and a simple nod, staying silent. Though unspoken, that grin transmitted volumes beyond language, offering comfort, closeness, and subtle empathy.
"Welcome back," Anthony's voice rang out from nearby as he observed the revived Aaaninja, his manner steady but evidently satisfied.
In the following instant, Aaaninja's mind raced back to his final recollection and the cause of his collapse; Lucian. His sight darted right to the spot where Lucian had been positioned since the bout started, and there he remained, eyeing Aaaninja with a broad smile across his features, his stance casual as if no grave event had occurred.
Aaaninja let out a breath of ease, an unnoticed strain easing from his frame, before his focus moved to Anthony, who likewise watched him with an expansive grin.
"The way you dashed in and rescued me, I'd swear you were hiding a crush on me," Lucian quipped as his smile stretched even wider, his voice airy and jesting.
Aaaninja halted briefly at Lucian's remark, his face unchanging, then, after what felt like an eternity, he erupted into laughter for the first time, "HAHAHAHAHAH!" He gripped his abdomen while guffawing freely and heartily, his chuckles authentic and unrestrained, resounding across the area.
"Good to know you remain the same," Aaaninja said as his mirth faded bit by bit, dabbing at the tiny droplets gathering at his eye edges, "but even if I liked guys, why would I crush on you? You're just too plain-looking," he countered swiftly with his own jest, his delivery even yet laced with lighthearted ribbing.
Lucian Darkheart froze, caught off guard by Aaaninja's comeback entirely, truth be told, he couldn't recall witnessing this Time Celestial laugh so openly before, yes, the fellow would smile and converse ordinarily, but cackling like that, bold and unbound? Unlikely, making this instance feel truly exceptional.
"Though words fall short, the only thing I can offer is, thanks for pulling me through," Lucian eventually said, managing only to voice his honest appreciation in basic terms, his typical haughtiness briefly set aside.
Aaaninja remained quiet briefly, his look reflective, before replying evenly, "don't mention it, I wasn't the sole savior anyway, Anthony pitched in too. Without his move, you'd be locked at mortal rank forever," he explained, his voice even and straightforward.
Lucian just grinned and inclined his head, accepting the accuracy of that statement, then the exchange ended, and his standard flair returned as he added, "so, what's it like after getting beaten by me?" he queried offhandedly, as if his prior thanks hadn't just happened.
Aaaninja hesitated momentarily, mildly surprised by the abrupt turn, then regained his poised serenity, "if I were a bad sport, I'd claim victory was mine without that final trick you pulled," he admitted candidly, "but I'm no bad sport, plus, in a rematch, you'd drop before you could react," he asserted with steady assurance and assurance, his words free of boastfulness, just pure belief.
Lucian prepared a snarky retort, his mouth opening to respond, yet before a sound escaped, a colossal wave of mana flooded into their planet with staggering and fearsome intensity, the abrupt rush quaking the ground beneath them, all eyes shot skyward at once, faces hardening as they pondered the disturbance.
The following instant saw the mana gather around Aaaninja, surging into his mana core and form with vast and unrelenting might, its thickness warping the nearby atmosphere. No one delayed; they all blinked away instantly, creating space from Aaaninja like he had turned into the heart of a hazardous event.
"Is that...?" Aura Nova's voice emerged as she beheld the spectacle before her, her features etched with astonishment and eagerness.
"His Mana Rank breakthrough? Without a doubt," Vega answered, fixing her gaze on the display, her tone composed but brimming with confidence.
Zachary and Nyxss watched with eyes and countenances alight with pride, their emotions surging, for how could they not rejoice in their son's rise past former bounds.
The world they occupied started quaking fiercely as the mana influx into Aaaninja's mana core exceeded what any planetary core could hold naturally, even if the planet avoided direct mana intake since it funneled into Aaaninja's core, it still bore some of the strain as the conduit with him present inside it then.
The atmosphere howled fiercely, clouds ripped rearward in retreat, the heavens shuddered as endless mana streamed into the planet ceaselessly, the whole setting responding to the torrent of might.
Aaaninja merely hovered, savoring the sensation with no shift in his features, his visage serene and steady, slipping into a meditative haze as his Mana Rank soared upward live, climbing steadily without hindrance.