MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Anthony's head shifted slightly to the side, his gaze piercing through the sky, his sight stretching across millions of kilometers as though the very fabric of space bent to his will. In that moment, he felt it, distant beaconing, faint but distinct, calling him.

Not one, but many, echoing in subtle resonance, as though calling him to a gathering he would rather ignore. Anthony exhaled a heavy sigh, the weight of his reluctance pressing against his chest.

Personally, he had no desire to meet a group of old men and women. If given the choice, he would rather remain where he was, here, with Vega, her head resting sweetly upon his chest, her warmth grounding him more than anything else in existence.

"I have to go, Vee," Anthony murmured with a soft smile. His eyes, overflowing with unspoken love, never strayed from hers. His hand, almost on instinct, continued to caress her silken hair, each strand a tether to the peace he found in her.

"Where to?" Vega's voice chimed, tender and melodic, carrying the sort of sweetness that could melt away the heaviest of burdens. "You've been running around endlessly. The world won't crumble if you allow yourself a breath, Ant. Just one moment to rest."

Anthony's thoughts swirled. 'Such an angelic voice… and those eyes. How did I end up with the bestest girlfriend anyone could ever dream of?' His lips curled in a hidden smile. 'I wonder when I should propose…'

But as quickly as that thought surfaced, another followed, heavier, sharper, and far more dangerous. 'Should I tell her about the system? Should I tell her about my reincarnation? It goes against every sacred law of rebirth to reveal such truths. But… Vega is different. She deserves to know.'

Shaking the thoughts away for now, Anthony offered her a calm reply. "You make it sound like I'm heading into another battle. I'm not. I'm just meeting a group of old men and women. Nothing more than a discussion. No fights, no wars, nothing worth worrying about." His voice was steady, meant to reassure.

Vega's lips curved into a smile, though her eyes betrayed her reluctance to let him go. "Then I'll wait for you." She lifted her head softly from his chest, closing the distance between them with an unhurried grace, and pressed her lips to his.

For Anthony, the sensation was overwhelming. It felt as if all the fatigue, all the invisible weight of his battles, his clash against Lilithra, his confrontation with the Demon King, every trial that had carved itself into his soul, simply dissolved in that single moment.

But the irony was clear: he had never truly felt tired, not before, not during, not after those fights. But when Vega kissed him, even the fatigue he did not have was erased.

Every kiss with her felt like the first. It was a mystery, an infinite loop he never wanted to end. Each time, his heart burned anew, his love growing impossibly deeper despite already reaching its peak. To him, she was his eternity, his sanctuary, his most beautiful truth.

While the two lovers shared their kiss, their teammates, Kingsley, Vivian, Donna, Reynold, Clement, Spectre, and Seraphim, sat awkwardly nearby. Watching. Silent. And in that silence, an uncomfortable truth struck each of them: they were all hopelessly single.

They had overheard the gentle exchange between Anthony and Vega, had witnessed how effortlessly they drowned in each other's presence, as though neither could exist without the other. A part of them admired it. Another part longed for it.

'Why not me?' they each thought. 'Why can't I have that?'

They were powerful, attractive, accomplished beyond measure. Men and women of their caliber could command admiration with a glance, captivate hearts with a word.

But here they were, outsiders staring into a bond that seemed so natural, so blessed, it was as if the universe itself had conspired to create it.

Anthony had achieved what so many of them had failed to grasp: the perfect balance between duty and love. His life was a symphony of battle and affection, woven together in harmony. It was enviable, almost painfully so.

And now, they wanted it.

But wanting something and being able to grasp it were two different matters. The question hung silently in their minds: What is stopping us?

For Kingsley, the answer was all too clear. He could not love, not anymore. The burden he carried was a cruel anchor, dragging him deeper into the abyss of guilt. He had wiped out his entire bloodline with his own hands.

Though others might argue that they deserved their end, it did not erase what he had done. Redemption was not so simple. If given the chance again, he admitted bitterly, he would make the same choice.

But the knowledge did not lessen the weight on his soul. Still… with Anthony and the team by his side, that crushing burden had begun to ease, little by little.

'Could I ever be permitted to love again?' he wondered silently. 'Am I allowed such a blessing after committing such a sin?'

For Seraphim, love was little more than a distraction. Her path was carved in steel and fire, driven solely by her thirst for power.

Nothing held her back, nothing slowed her. To her, love was time wasted, at least until she found someone her heart could truly beat for.

Until then, she had no interest.

Spectre and Clement, meanwhile, had immersed themselves fully in training. Their sole aim was to reach even a the level Anthony had achieved.

But, no matter how much they bled, no matter how many hours they sacrificed, they knew the gap between them and their master was insurmountable.

Still, watching Anthony and Vega stirred something in them. For the first time, their thoughts wandered beyond blade and battle.

For the first time, they entertained the possibility of love.

Dale, unlike the rest, already had wives and children, an abundance of affection that filled his days. But, sitting here, he almost laughed bitterly at himself. Compared to Anthony and Vega, his own love life felt pale, almost trivial, as though theirs was crafted by the hands of gods themselves.

Donna had never considered it. Love was simply not on her list of concerns.

Vivian, on the other hand, had long devoted herself to her goals, pushing aside all thoughts of romance. But now, with her ambitions achieved, a sliver of thought entered her heart.

But her new path, resurrecting her parents, loomed before her.

Could she afford a partner, or would such a bond slow her down? Watching Vega, however, proved otherwise. Anthony was proof that love did not chain, it strengthened.

Then there was Reynold. Love was foreign to him, perhaps impossible. He lived recklessly, indulging in fleeting pleasures, bedding whoever caught his eye only to vanish by morning.

To others, it seemed as though he was on a mission to break the record for the highest body count in Blue Planet's history.

For him, love was nothing but a word.

And so, in that stillness, each was forced to face themselves. The atmosphere thickened, filled with unspoken longing, jealousy, and reflection.

But Anthony and Vega remained oblivious. They existed only for each other in that moment, the world and its burdens fading away. Their kiss broke softly, lips parting as their eyes locked, eyes filled with nothing but love, devotion, and eternity.

"I'll be back soon. Give me a few minutes," Anthony whispered as he rose gently, careful not to disturb her comfort. Vega shifted, adjusting herself onto the recliner he had left behind, her expression serene, her smile tender.

She didn't reply with words, only with a nod and a smile that carried more weight than speech ever could.

Anthony's heart swelled. He smiled once more, then with a mere thought, space itself cracked open before him. Without hesitation, he stepped into the fracture, his figure vanishing into the rift.