MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

A dense cloud of dust veiled the battlefield, swirling ominously as if the earth itself recoiled from the force of the impact.

All eyes fixed on the epicenter, anticipation hanging thick in the air.

The spectators, frozen in awe and dread, waited for the dust to settle, their breaths caught in their throats.

As the veil of debris slowly lifted, the scene revealed itself.

There she lay, Zephyra's body battered and broken.

Her once formidable presence now bore the unmistakable marks of devastation.

Though Aaaninja had struck her only four times, the damage was catastrophic.

The sheer force of the final blow had left her body trembling on the brink of collapse, her figure etched with the echoes of his overwhelming might.

Her teeth had been knocked loose, many scattered across the ground like broken shards of porcelain.

Blood streamed freely from every orifice, painting a grim picture of her injuries.

Bones lay shattered within her body, reduced to little more than splinters from the sheer force of the impact.

Her severed arm, still bleeding profusely, left a crimson trail as life ebbed from the wound.

The back of her skull, the occipital bone, had partially caved in, a chilling indication that even her brain might have suffered trauma.

Bruises bloomed like dark flowers across her skin, accompanied by countless minor cuts that crisscrossed her battered frame, each a testament to the overwhelming power of Aaaninja's final blow.

The force of that last attack was not just immense; it was cataclysmic, leaving her body a fragile shadow of the warrior she once was.

The other champions watched intently, their eyes fixed on the brutal scene unfolding before them.

Each of them admired the sheer display of power, a mixture of awe and apprehension rippling through their ranks.

They had just witnessed the Celestial Champion toying with Zephyra, a prodigy renowned for her unparalleled speed.

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For some, this was a sight that brought a twisted sense of relief.

Zephyra's blinding speed had always been a source of dread.

If the screen had ever fixed a match against her, they knew they wouldn't even see her attacks coming.

They wouldn't even comprehend how they had lost.

But now, it seemed this prodigy had met her match, her nemesis.

To them, this was a match made in heaven. After all, how could anyone defend against an attack they couldn't see?

Lucian watched intently, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

Unlike the others, he didn't need to speculate about Aaaninja's abilities.

Every being he encountered had their powers and skills laid bare before him, a gift that allowed him to choose which to copy.

Aaaninja was no exception.

What Lucian saw made him frown deeply.

Aaaninja was, without a doubt, a being beyond reason, a 'broken' force of nature with an overwhelming arsenal of skills and abilities.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The sheer magnitude of his power was staggering.

Lucian knew that if Aaaninja truly wanted to, he could end this match in less than a second.

That was the level of strength he wielded.

A flicker of jealousy burned within Lucian as he studied Aaaninja's abilities.

Yet, he reminded himself that the powers he had already copied were anything but weak.

If his own abilities were inferior, he wouldn't be looking forward to his inevitable match with Aaaninja.

And he was, his ambition driving him to see which of them would emerge victorious.

Of course, Lucian had tried to glimpse into Anthony's abilities before, but all he encountered were question marks and incomprehensible gibberish.

Lucian could only speculate.

Perhaps Anthony's system was shielding him, or maybe ??? had intervened.

Undeterred, Lucian turned his attention to Aaaninja during this match.

He studied every nuance of his swordsmanship and any fragment of power Aaaninja revealed.

While he knew this wasn't Aaaninja's full strength, it was still valuable insight, pieces of a puzzle Lucian intended to solve.

Above them all, Anthony remained perched, casually munching on popcorn as he watched the battle unfold.

'Time'

Anthony mused, tossing another handful of popcorn into his mouth.

'Sometimes I wonder… am I really the protagonist here? Or are these supporting characters stealing my spotlight? My protagonist halo seems nonexistent'

Anthony's eyes flickered toward Aaaninja, a bemused smirk playing on his lips.

Aaaninja stood over Zephyra's unconscious body for a few moments, his gaze steady and unreadable.

Then, with a subtle ripple, space bent around her battered form, and she vanished.

Without a glance back, Aaaninja turned and ascended to his seat.

His movements exuded an aura of dominance, like a king returning to his throne after disciplining a wayward subject.

Lucian was the first to break the silence as Aaaninja settled into his seat.

"Wow… look at you. You're just showing off now, aren't you?"

Anthony chimed in with a teasing grin.

"Right? Always so aloof, but here you are, putting on a spectacle. Is this some hidden hobby of yours, Aaaninja?"

For the first time, Aaaninja's indifferent mask cracked ever so slightly under their words.

"I wasn't showing off"

He finally replied, his tone calm yet laced with faint irritation.

"Don't you understand the concept of respecting your opponent?"

Lucian shook his head dramatically, his voice dripping with mock sympathy.

"If this is how you show respect, then you'd better prepare to be single until the end of your lifespan"

Anthony leaned forward, smirking.

"Seriously, man. How can you slam a beauty into the ground like that and leave her completely wrecked? Have you no appreciation for aesthetics?"

Aaaninja sighed, visibly exasperated.

"We're here for the competition and the fate of our worlds, not for women"

Lucian let out an exaggerated sigh of his own.

"Only with those words can I confirm that you've been single since birth"

Aaaninja closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

'How did this conversation suddenly become about women? Are these two brain damaged or something?'

He thought, resisting the urge to let his irritation show.

"Hahahaha! What a match!"

A booming voice echoed from above, its tone filled with sadistic glee.

It was the Overseer, a figure notorious for his ruthless nature and insatiable appetite for bloodshed.

"Now this is a match! Live it. Love it!"

The Overseer declared with another manic laugh that sent chills through the arena.

Aaaninja's gaze shifted to the Overseer, his expression remaining calm, though his thoughts were anything but.

'Such a bloodthirsty man'

He thought, a flicker of disdain crossing his mind.

When a champion was defeated and rendered unconscious, protocol dictated that their body would be teleported out of the arena immediately.

The match was over the moment they lost consciousness.

But this time, during Aaaninja's victory, the rules seemed to bend under the Overseer's influence.

Zephyra's broken body had remained for a few long, agonizing seconds before finally being removed.

It was deliberate, Aaaninja could see it clearly.

The Overseer had left her there, as though urging him to take her life or at least cripple her further, to cross a line that they had agreed not to cross.

It was an unspoken challenge, a silent demand to break the agreement between the champions.

After all, Zephyra was already unconscious, defenseless, and incapable of resisting.

'Such a vicious man'

Aaaninja thought as he shook his head.

He couldn't do anything about it.

Although his Time abilities made him powerful, in front of the Overseerer he remains an ant.