MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Although Anthony couldn't summon the Second Supreme Monarch at the moment, he fully intended to use the captured vampire as a tether, an anchor through which he could summon the Second Supreme Monarch later, once they returned.

That would be the time to enact whatever decision his mind deemed appropriate as punishment. Whether it be vengeance, retribution, or something entirely different, it would be decided then.

Anthony's eyes once again roamed over the desolation he had wrought. A silence filled the air, one that echoed with ruin. Then, with a mere thought, his feet gently lifted off the ground, floating with grace. His eyes continued scanning the vast, scarred terrain of the planet below, just in case he had missed anything, or anyone.

Upon confirming that nothing else remained, and that there were neither survivors nor residual energy signatures, Anthony launched himself upward with hypersonic speed. His body tore through the atmosphere, cleaving the sky in a blur of blinding white. The clouds parted before him as though unwilling to obstruct his ascent.

Within mere seconds, he arrived in the silence of outer space, floating above the scorched planet. From this vantage point, he could see other celestial bodies stretching outward across the galaxy, all locked in rhythmic orbits around their respective stars, dancing in the cold vacuum of space.

Anthony's gaze shifted toward the planet where the vampires once thrived, a planet that had served as a nest for their kind for countless centuries.

Originally, he had planned to leave behind a clone, a silent observer tasked with witnessing the Second Supreme Monarch's reaction when he inevitably returned to check on his precious bloodline.

That moment of revelation would have been satisfying.

But Anthony had abandoned that plan.

There was no guarantee the Second Supreme Monarch would return to this place at all. After such a devastating battle, he might very well retreat into deep slumber, seeking recovery and solitude to heal his grievous injuries. With that possibility in mind, Anthony made a decision, one that would be absolute.

He would destroy the planet itself.

If he was going to take away everything the Second Supreme Monarch loved, then he would go all the way. Annihilation of the bloodline was one thing, but the complete erasure of their home world would leave an even deeper wound.

With that thought, Anthony descended gently, his feet touching the planet's surface for the final time.

A breath passed.

Then, brilliant blue flames erupted from beneath his soles, cascading downward like an unrelenting abyss. The flames spread fast, pulsing with a hunger that defied reason.

Temperatures soared as the planet was engulfed. The ground melted, the air ignited, and the sky itself seemed to scream in agony.

Anthony, calm and composed, knew these flames would need several minutes to completely devour a planet of this size.

After all, consuming a celestial body was not the same as incinerating a single vampire.

Accepting this, he decided to simply sit down and wait.

As he rested amidst the all-consuming fire, Anthony suddenly sensed something stirring within him. It was faint, subtle beyond measure, but unmistakable. A resonance deep in his soul. He recalled that the Divine Flames was able nourish the soul with every being it devoured.

And yet, despite his frequent use of them, Anthony had never felt any tangible benefit. It was as though his soul were an abyss without end, or perhaps the ability itself had been exaggerated.

But he understood, matters of the soul were elusive, mysterious, and often beyond even the most gifted beings. Even with all the knowledge granted to him by the Primordial Bloodline, Anthony knew he was no master of the soul.

Not yet.

Minutes passed. The planet's size continued to shrink, slowly being reduced to nothingness. And as that happened, the strange sensation in his soul intensified.

Then, without warning, something broke.

A sharp crack echoed through his consciousness, not a sound, but a fracture of understanding. Anthony felt a torrent of information flood his mind, as if a gate had been thrown open.

From deep within his being, an ability was forcibly awakened, born of transformation and experience.

[Ding]

[The Host has awakened the abilities: Soul Imprisonment and Soul Transfer]

At the system notification, Anthony's neutral expression finally broke. A wide, satisfied smile appeared on his face.

For the first time, he had gained abilities directly connected to the soul, and not just one, but two at once.

'System, give me the descriptions,' he commanded calmly.

[Affirmative, Host]

[Soul Imprisonment:

1 — The Host can now imprison souls within a separate dimension located inside his own soul, where time ceases to flow.

2 — The Host can force these souls to endlessly relive their most agonizing moments, intensifying the pain with each repetition.

3 — Imprisoned souls are rendered immortal, they cannot fade or perish from suffering. They shall remain bound and eternal unless the Host wills them destroyed]

Anthony read the information with growing satisfaction. He was, in essence, housing Hell within his own soul. His mind briefly wandered to the Second Supreme Monarch. Perhaps this would make a suitable eternal vacation for the man, an unending nightmare personalized just for him.

[Soul Transfer:

The Host can now perceive and transfer his soul, or another's, into a different body without fear of rejection or backlash, retaining innate abilities and talents while also seamlessly integrating with the new body's strengths]

Anthony stood motionless, stunned.

This was, quite literally, reincarnation, stripped of divine boons like the systems, or cheats.

If someone he cared about were to perish, and resurrection failed, he could now place their soul in another vessel. Not only would they retain their abilities and talent, but they would inherit the physical capabilities of their new form.

Although their cultivation would reset, that loss seemed insignificant compared to the potential gained. Even more, Anthony realized he didn't need to move an entire soul, fragments would suffice. A piece of consciousness could be salvaged, relocated, and preserved.

"Damn," Anthony muttered, smiling to himself. "Who would've thought the Second Supreme Monarch would be so useful? His descendants helped elevate my physique to absurd levels… and now his planet just awakened two broken soul abilities."

At this point, the Second Supreme Monarch was starting to feel more like a generous benefactor than an adversary.

'Such parting gifts,' Anthony mused.

'Should I seek out the First Supreme Monarch next? Who knows what treasures lie within his bloodline?' The temptation was real.

Eventually, Anthony shook his head, brushing the thought aside. For now, that was a future yet to be written.

He floated silently in the void of space. Behind him, the planet was no more. The blue flames had finished their feast, leaving only emptiness in their wake.

Even if the Second Supreme Monarch possessed an artifact of immense power that could revive the planet, it would be useless here. There was nothing left to revive.

Anthony wasn't concerned about any military investigation that might follow. He was shielded, cloaked by the protection of the Perfect One. No evidence would tie this planetary extinction to him.

No one could connect the deaths of the Second Supreme Monarch's descendants, scattered across various military bases, to his name.

After all, when the incident occurred, he had been on an extremely critical mission, one personally issued by the First Supreme Monarch.

Having completed everything he intended to do, Anthony activated his spatial mark ability. With a ripple of energy and a streak of radiant blue, he vanished.