MIGHT AS WELL BE OP-Chapter 342: What could they possibly give [Ko-Fi Bonus - ]

In an instant, Anthony and Michael materialized within the sanctuary.

At the heart of the vast chamber stood a grand, circular table, its polished surface reflecting the ethereal glow that bathed the room.

Ornate chairs encircled it, each occupied by Kings, Queens, and Patriarchs who commanded their own domain.

Anthony stood motionless, his mind reeling as his gaze swept across the surreal expanse.

The very air vibrated with an energy so profound it seemed to transcend reality itself.

Space twisted and pulsed in hypnotic waves, as if struggling to contain the immeasurable forces converging here.

Shadows shifted of their own accord, flickering in unnatural patterns, untethered from any discernible source.

His breath caught in his throat.

This place, this sanctum, was beyond understanding, a domain where the fabric of existence trembled beneath unseen authority.

'How did they even find this place?'

The thought echoed through his mind as he remained mesmerized, his senses overwhelmed by the sanctuary's indescribable beauty.

"Stop drifting off, take your seat"

Aeltharion's voice cut through Anthony's thoughts like a blade, jolting him back to reality.

Anthony turned, his eyes landing on his father, who was already seated, composed and unbothered by the weight of the gathering.

With a silent nod, he stepped toward the table.

But before he could lower himself into a chair, he felt it, an unspoken force pressing down on him.

Dozens of gazes settled upon him, heavy with silent judgment.

The weight of their scrutiny rooted him in place, his movement halting mid-motion.

He understood their message.

He had not earned the right to sit among them.

Or rather, he simply wasn't strong enough.

The Null family remained silent, offering no defense on Anthony's behalf.

There was no need, this was an undeniable truth. He had not yet earned his place among them.

"Ahem"

With an awkward cough, Anthony shifted his gaze toward another corner of the room, then simply allowed himself to drift, weightless in the vast, ethereal space.

"Let us begin"

Elara, the Vampire Queen, spoke with an air of regal authority, her blood-red eyes settling on the newest arrivals.

But before anyone could respond, Michael's voice rang out, breaking through the tense atmosphere with a wide, mischievous grin.

"Why the heavy mood?"

He chuckled, his voice carrying effortlessly through the chamber.

"We won the Starborn Tournament!"

His laughter echoed, rich and unrestrained, shattering the solemn stillness.

"This is no time for jokes, Sword Saint"

Kaelen Wildhart's voice carried a weight that cut through Michael's laughter, his expression severe.

Elara and Aeltharion merely nodded in silent agreement.

They didn't believe him.

To claim victory against those races was an impossibility, one they dared not entertain.

Twice before, they had clawed their way into the top ten, but the cost had been staggering.

Lives lost, warriors crippled, legacies shattered. And yet, this time, they had all returned unscathed.

No blood, no sacrifice.

It was unthinkable.

"The Sword Saint isn't joking"

Iserios' voice rang with quiet certainty, each word deliberate.

But at the corner of his lips, a faint smile threatened to break through.

Elara, Irene, Kaelen, and Aeltharion instantly turned their sharp gazes toward the others, seeking confirmation.

One by one, the gathered figures gave silent nods.

And in that moment, it was as if a bomb had gone off in their minds.

They couldn't believe it.

They dared not believe it.

Yet the truth was undeniable.

They had won.

They had triumphed over the impossible.

For the first time, they stood at the pinnacle.

A myriad of emotions flickered through their eyes, shock, exhilaration, disbelief.

And then, as the weight of their victory sank in, another thought took hold.

The reward.

Their gazes gleamed with newfound intensity, the implications of their triumph settling deep within their souls.

Then, as the weight of realization settled, Elara and Aeltharion's eyes slowly shifted to Anthony.

Even Kaelen, despite his usual restraint, stole a glance in his direction.

After all, he, a mere human, had done the impossible.

Mitchelle, watching their unspoken astonishment, simply smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Tell us everything"

Elara's voice cut through the lingering silence, her tone leaving no room for evasion.

They needed answers.

How had the boy won?

How had they all survived unscathed?

How was it that not a single one bore so much as a scratch?

How good were the rewards?

And more importantly, where were they?

She—no, they, needed answers.

"You're in for a great story, then"

Michael said with a grin.

"After all, the Null bloodline remains the best"

Before he could continue his boasting, Aeltharion cut him off with a sharp look.

"We need to hear the explanation from someone outside the Null family"

He stated firmly.

"You might... embellish things, given that this is your son"

His tone left no room for argument, and the weight of his words was acknowledged by all.

Michael, however, merely smiled and shrugged.

"Sure"

With that, Aurelius stepped forward and began recounting the events in detail.

From the very beginning.

Their departure.

Anthony's enlightenment.

Their arrival at the tournament grounds.

Then came the trials, the various tests that had culled the champions' numbers, leaving only the strongest to advance.

The battles.

Anthony's luck, if it could even be called that, as he remained untouched, not even stepping onto the battlefield until the final eleven.

Then the duels began, Anthony's clash with Orion.

His battle against Charles.

The moment that shook the tournament, the summoning of ancient beings by both Anthony and Charles.

The relentless fights that followed, Anthony against Aaaninja, then Lucian, before facing Aaaninja once more in the final.

And then, the impossible moment, Anthony defeating Aaaninja in a single second.

Aurelius paused after recounting the tournament, allowing the weight of his words to settle over the room.

Silence reigned.

It was absolute, stilling the very air.

Everything they had just heard felt exaggerated, a tale spun too grand to be true.

Yet the words had come from Aurelius, the Phoenix himself.

There was no falsehood in them.

And if that wasn't enough, the patriarchs of other domains stepped forward to confirm it.

No embellishments.

No distortions.

The truth stood before them.

Slowly, their gazes shifted back to Anthony.

Shock rippled through their eyes, thoughts storming within their minds, each struggling to reconcile what they knew with what they had just learned.

They had always known he was talented.

But this?

This was beyond talent.

It was madness.

And he was just seventeen.

A monster.

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But Aurelius wasn't finished.

His voice carried on, weaving through the stunned silence.

He spoke of the ambush, how they had barely escaped death's grasp.

How, at the very last second, Klaus had intervened.

How the Null family hadn't needed Klaus help, how each of them had overwhelmed their opponents with terrifying power.

How Klaus had healed them afterward, ensuring their return without a single lasting wound.

And then, their arrival here.

Slowly, the gazes that had been locked onto Anthony shifted.

Now, they fell upon Michael. Irene. Collins. Mitchelle.

The Null family.

A sudden tension spread through the chamber, thick and stifling.

Something was off.

Something was undeniably wrong with the Null family.

But none of them could quite grasp what.

Aurelius didn't need to say it aloud.

Kaelen, Elara, and Aeltharion had already reached the same unsettling conclusion he had.

The Null family was hiding something.

Their minds didn't even consider Klaus.

He had always remained beyond them, above them, since the very beginning.

No one knew the limits of his strength.

Those who had dared to probe or investigate had all met the same fate, an involuntary vacation to the Death Realm.

A clear warning.

A permanent one.

And so, none of them even dared to speculate about him.

After a few seconds, the tension that had gripped the chamber eased, dissipating like mist in the morning sun.

The Null family remained utterly composed, unmoved by the silent scrutiny.

They did not explain.

They did not justify.

They did not care for the thoughts of others.

If anyone overstepped their bounds,

Then they would simply be stretched.

"Let's discuss how to divide the rewards"

Gorath said with a grin.

He had no intention of wasting time.

The sooner they settled this, the sooner he could enter seclusion.

His battle with the Eclipsian martial artist had given him much to reflect on, insights that needed to be refined, perfected.

And with the vast resources they had just acquired, his path forward was clearer than ever.

And at the mere mention of the reward, a subtle shift spread through the room.

Smiles.

Smirks.

Even Collins, ever composed, allowed the corners of his lips to lift.

"Since the humans contributed the most, they will receive the largest share of the rewards"

Aeltharion declared, his piercing gaze sweeping across the chamber.

His voice was firm. Unyielding.

"Who opposes?"

Silence.

No one objected.

Because there was nothing to object to.

Anthony had made this victory possible.

And Klaus…

Klaus had saved them from certain death.

Collins pulled a space ring from his finger, its surface glimmering faintly as he placed it on the table.

With that simple action, the discussion began.

This wasn't just about dividing resources among races, even powerful organizations would receive a share.

The Military. The Academy. The Adventurer's Guild. And many others.

This was a worldwide distribution, a decision that would shape the balance of power across the entire realm.

Naturally, the strongest beings and factions would claim the largest portions, securing the best resources.

Hours passed.

Every minor detail was debated, refined, and settled.

But then—

A problem arose.

What could they possibly give to Klaus?