MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Time blurred, and soon, the family dinner had come to an end. Collins, Mitchelle, Irene, and Michael still had their minds filled with thoughts of Anthony's unbelievable abilities and the evolution of his class. They didn't speak about it further, each could only imagine the sheer lethality such power might hold if ever unleashed fully.

Irene and Collins had already retreated into one of the many rooms within the large estate, while Michael, who was supposed to do the dishes as Mitchelle had ordered, had cleverly escaped with his parents under the pretense of discussing something "important." With Collins vouching for him, his getaway had been far too easy.

There were no maids or servants within the entire mansion; Mitchelle had long preferred to live privately without attendants. Thus, no one was around to clear the table or handle the dishes. The task naturally fell upon Mitchelle and Anthony, mother and son, who began to clean together in quiet companionship.

Inside the spacious kitchen, Mitchelle wore a pair of yellow gloves, looking almost like an ordinary housewife as she stood by the sink washing the dishes. She passed each one to Anthony, who stood beside her rinsing them with clean water before carefully wiping them with a towel and placing them neatly in the kitchen cabinet.

"I'm happy, you know," Mitchelle finally said, her tone soft but full of warmth. "Happy that you've finally found someone you love."

She moved slowly, almost deliberately, her every action carrying a quiet rhythm. Something she could have done with the mere snap of her fingers, something she could have accomplished without physically moving at all, yet at that moment, it felt strangely therapeutic. The warmth of the water, the clinking of dishes, the presence of her son, it brought her a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time.

"Mom, can you stop already?" Anthony sighed, his voice half exasperated, half amused. "Someone might think you're the one dating Vega, with the way you've been waiting eagerly ever since you found out about her."

"Oho? Already tossing your mother aside now that you've found a woman?" Mitchelle teased, turning her head slightly with a smile that betrayed no offense.

Anthony didn't respond. He simply shook his head with a faint, tired smile. To him, Mitchelle's enthusiasm was simply over the top, but he couldn't help but find it endearing.

"What do you plan to do now?" she asked after a pause, her tone shifting from playful to thoughtful.

"What do you mean?" Anthony replied, arching an eyebrow in confusion. He wasn't sure what she was referring to.

"I mean," she clarified, turning off the running water and facing him, "you don't plan to become a Supreme Monarch or take control of the power and resources that come with it. So, what do you intend to do? Do you plan on playing house with your teammates forever?"

Anthony was silent for a long moment before replying calmly, "Mom, you should know by now that I don't need anybody's resources to grow stronger. What makes you think the military's resources are suddenly different or special? If you need them, you, Dad, Grandfather, or Grandmother can simply use them in my name." His tone remained even, his expression unreadable.

Mitchelle nodded quietly. She knew her son was telling the truth. Anthony had never truly needed anyone's help, not with strength, not with resources, not even with direction. Occasionally, she would still slip him a few space rings filled with rare items and cultivation materials, but deep down she knew he probably had little use for them. Did that stop her? Not in the slightest. She would continue giving him more whenever they met. It was a mother's right, after all.

"As for my teammates," Anthony continued, "I won't suddenly build a wall between us. For now, I'll stay with them, observe, watch, and see where fate leads." His words carried a quiet conviction, a finality that left little room for argument.

Mitchelle smiled lovingly. "It seems you didn't become arrogant or prideful after stepping into the planetary level," she said softly.

In her younger years, she wouldn't have denied that she had once been proud, perhaps even arrogant. But who wouldn't be, with her level of power and talent? Even among the top races of the Blue Planet, few could stand against her in her prime. It was almost impossible not to feel a sense of pride with such overwhelming strength.

"Well…" Anthony muttered with a faint grin, "I wouldn't lie though, I'd love to be arrogant once in a while. But I fear I might die if I let it get to my head… so I try to kill any trace of arrogance before it even rises."

Mitchelle chuckled softly, amused by her son's unfiltered honesty. "I didn't know you were afraid of death," she teased as she removed her yellow gloves and set them aside.

"It's not that I'm afraid," Anthony replied calmly, wiping the countertop with the towel still in his hand. "I just love my life. Why should I throw that away so carelessly?"

Mitchelle nodded gently, her eyes filled with affection. "Just keep doing what you're doing, Anthony. You'll be fine," she said warmly, her voice carrying the tenderness only a mother could give.

Then, out of nowhere, she asked, "Does Vega have any ex-boyfriends?"

Anthony's blue eyes shifted toward his mother in surprise. He stared for a moment, wondering why she had suddenly decided to steer the conversation in such a direction, but nonetheless, he answered.

"Nope, she doesn't. Even if she had an ex-boyfriend in some alternate reality, I'm sure Klaus would have killed them before they even breathed the same oxygen as Vega," Anthony said with a gentle chuckle. His mind briefly drifted to the spar he once had with Klaus, a memory that brought both admiration and frustration.

'Such an overpowered bastard,' Anthony thought silently. 'When I master Authority of Severance and Quantum Manipulation to a higher degree, I'll come for you.' It wasn't born of malice or resentment, rather, a burning desire to challenge the man who had once made him feel utterly powerless.

"Hm… alright then," Mitchelle said with a nod. "Return to your floating island. Vega might be waiting for you already, and you wouldn't even know. Next time you come back here, bring her with you. I'll be waiting, with your grandparents."

With a graceful wave of her hand, a swirling portal opened beside her, its luminous surface rippling like liquid glass. The portal led directly to Anthony's private floating island, a landmass suspended in the sky, surrounded by serenity and isolation.

Anthony sighed softly and rose to his feet. "You'd better not tell her any of my childhood stories when you see her," he said, his tone half warning, half pleading, as he began walking toward the portal.

"I didn't plan to say anything," Mitchelle replied with feigned innocence, "but now that you've mentioned it, I just might."

Anthony gave her a long look before sighing again, though a faint smile curved his lips. "See you later, Mom," he said as he stepped into the portal, his form slowly fading into the luminous swirl.

And then he was gone.

The portal closed behind him, leaving Mitchelle alone in the kitchen. For a brief moment, silence reigned, the only sound being the faint hum of the refrigerator and the quiet echo of the life that had just filled the room.

A soft smile touched her lips. Pride, love, and a faint trace of melancholy danced within her expression. Her son had grown into a man, powerful, wise, and grounded, and though part of her wished to keep him close, she knew he was meant for greater things.

The next moment, her form shimmered, and she vanished from the kitchen entirely, leaving behind only the faint warmth of her presence, like sunlight that lingered even after the sun had set.

_____

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have an exam today, so I couldn't type the second one because I have to read. So, the second chapter will be coming after my exam, later today... (when I type it)