MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Around the world, citizens were in an uproar as they watched without blinking. Their eyes had been glued to Anthony before an unknown force suddenly made them switch to another channel, a channel where a girl... no, a beautiful, purple-haired goddess was locked in combat with a cultist Zombie.

They watched from the edge of their seats as the two exchanged attacks that should have been impossible for any camera to track, yet the StreamGhost cameras followed every motion and captured every attack flawlessly, frame by frame.

Everyone leaned forward, breath held, as they roared at the top of their lungs. Fingers danced across screens as millions typed frenzied comments in a state of shared exhilaration.

Then it happened.

Their purple-haired goddess finally landed a hit, her attack instantly destroyed the zombie's hand, and the world erupted in a thunderous uproar.

Buildings trembled under the force of the cheers, lungs expanded and screamed in euphoric excitement, windows shattered beneath the high pitch of the collective scream, and vibrations tore through every domain.

Many citizens had already broken multiple appliances in their homes in the frenzy of happiness. Debit cards were instantly uploaded to the web as viewers sent out "quark gifts" to StreamGhost as a sign of support.

Comments flooded their screens with relentless fervor.

{AlyxAtlas has gifted a Magic Castle}

{AlyxAtlas: This is a real woman in power. Who said only men can rule the world?}

{AuraNova has gifted a Golden Gachapon}

{AuraNova: Indeed, she's overshadowing every single man here. Who knows her name?}

{GoldenShoppingBag has gifted an Ice Cola}

{GoldenShoppingBag: The men are real quiet.}

{GoldenShoppingBag has donated another Ice Cola}

{GoldenShoppingBag: @AuraNova; hey queen, isn't Golden Gachapon a bit too much? After this apocalypse, aren't you going to starve?}

{AuraNova has gifted a Magic Castle}

{AuraNova: Lol, I'm just supporting a fellow woman.}

{AlyxAtlas has gifted a Massage Chair}

{AlyxAtlas: Women have to stand together.}

{Aaaninja has gifted a Magic Castle}

{Aaaninja: @AuraNova; she isn't overshadowing every man. Anthony just hasn't made a move yet, there's been no worthy opponent so far.}

{Lolphh has gifted a Massage Chair}

{Lolphh: @Aaaninja; Exactly. Even StreamGhost called Anthony the man of the event. But Aaaninja, AuraNova, why did my phone glitch when you both sent gifts? Are you guys far from the Human Domain?}

{KingNull has gifted an Inspiration Capsule}

{KingNull: I bet the Demon King's daughter is more beautiful than her.}

{Leon_Georgi_8655 has gifted an Inspiration Capsule}

{Leon_Georgi_8655: It doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman, humans shall stand at the top after this eradication.}

{Lolphh has gifted a Luxury Car}

{Lolphh: Another glitch after KingNull joined? What is going on?}

{AuraNova has gifted a Magic Castle}

{AuraNova: @Aaaninja; talk to me after you send a Golden Gachapon.}

{AuraNova has gifted a Dragon}

{AuraNova: @KingNull; I bet you're one of those with a demon fetish. Besides, watch your back, I'm coming for that Rank 2.}

{Aaaninja has gifted a Spacecraft}

{Aaaninja: @AuraNova Lol. Your goading technique needs some work. I'll only send a Golden Gachapon when Anthony makes a move. Until then, Sayonara.}

{KingNull has gifted a Pizza}

{KingNull: @AuraNova; Sorry to disappoint, but I can't be dethroned.}

{Mayurie has gifted an Ice Cola}

{Mayurie: Can y'all quiet down? The battle's resumed.}

With that, the comment section fell into silence. No more gifts, no more banter, only the battle remained.

Back at the battlefield, Vega and Judith had transitioned into hand to hand combat. Their bodies remained within the pitch-black dome, neither stepping out, as though doing so would result in instant death. Their forms sliced through the air like machetes through tall grass.

Every part of their body became a lethal weapon.

Fist. Finger. Elbow. Knee. Head. Foot. Palm.

Nothing was spared as they moved with unrelenting intensity. But Judith could feel it, she was getting suppressed.

Her once calm expression had twisted into a frown of frustration.

She couldn't comprehend how a young human, no older than thirty by her estimation, could match her blow for blow, adapt to various weapon types, and still be this skilled in hand-to-hand combat.

Her eyes narrowed. She needed a way out.

A plan already lingered in her mind.

She recalibrated, adjusting her movement into another hand to hand combat style. But Vega was already in motion. She shifted her own stance instantly, flawlessly mirroring Judith's change with the perfect counter-style.

With a loud boom, Vega's fist collided with Judith's torso. Judith's body folded like paper before crashing onto the dome. The structure groaned and instantly shattered under the force.

Her body was flung backward, slamming into a stone pillar with tremendous impact. The pillar trembled but held firm.

Before Judith could raise her head, Vega was already upon her, her speed now transcending what it had been before.

Her fists blurred.

Jab after jab struck with deadly accuracy.

Face. Shoulder. Gut. Chest. Neck. Ribs. Chin.

Vega's fists spared no part of Judith's form as they descended from above like a rain of meteors. Judith could do nothing but endure, reduced to a living punching bag.

Green blood splattered. Skin tore. Teeth cracked. Gums split.

Only two fists filled her vision, she couldn't react anymore.

And yet… her will refused to break.

She would not fall to a human. Not to someone who hadn't even lived for a full century.

Never. NEVER.

Her head snapped forward. As Vega's fist soared toward her once more, Judith twisted at the last split-second, opening her mouth and biting down on Vega's arm with the last of her teeth.

Vega instantly vanished, blurring back across several meters before halting. Her purple eyes landed on the bite mark on her arm.

"HAHAHAHA! The Zombie Virus now runs in your veins! Within minutes, you'll shed your humanity and become a zombie! You shall kneel before me! HAHAHAHA!" Judith roared with maniacal laughter as her body began to heal, slowly, but surely.

Though she couldn't feel physical pain, the psychological toll weighed heavily. Her pride had been obliterated, suppressed throughout the battle, unable to land even a single meaningful blow.

But Vega did not react. She stared at the injury, which had already begun to heal.

Then she gazed coldly at Judith.

With a thought, space around Judith froze her in place.

With calm, measured steps, Vega walked toward her immobilized opponent. Judith couldn't move, only her eyes blinked as Vega approached with an expression as cold as death.

Vega raised a hand and placed it gently atop Judith's head.

With another thought, Judith's green blood began to boil. The temperature rose with every heartbeat, every second, a slow, relentless burn from within.

She couldn't scream. She couldn't even move.

She could only watch in frozen horror as her flesh and bones melted, slowly liquefying before her own fading vision.

"I am a proud Perfect Human." Vega's icy voice echoed, Judith's final memory before the Grim Reaper embraced her soul.

As for the so-called Zombie Virus that had entered Vega's blood?

She paid it no mind.

Such trivial things were powerless against someone like her.

With her opponent vanquished, Vega's piercing purple eyes swept across the battlefield, searching for one thing...

Who was Anthony battling?