MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

A week had gone by since Anthony and Kingsley's spar. Kingsley had finally woken up a few hours after the match, just as Anthony had predicted. He had simply thanked Anthony and walked out of Reynold's room without another word. Dale and the rest of the team had assumed that things would become awkward or strained between the two, but they couldn't have been more wrong.

Kingsley remained exactly as he had always been, calm, silent, and almost distant. He spoke occasionally, but most of the time he preferred to stay silent, watching everyone else with those quiet sleepy golden eyes of his.

Within a dimly lit room, the morning sun filtered through the wide windows, streaks of light slicing across the dark interior. Anthony and Vega sat together on a couch, watching a movie as though they were nothing more than ordinary mortals, a couple living peacefully, oblivious to the fact that both could easily destroy planets with a single punch if they so desired.

Anthony's blue eyes shifted toward the window as the rays brightened the room, soft light brushing against his face.

"It's morning already," Vega murmured, her gaze still fixed on the television screen.

"Yeah, it is," Anthony replied, stretching slightly. "Seems it's time to leave for the so-called meeting." Today was the day he was supposed to leave with the five Supreme Monarchs, along with Vega and Kingsley.

"I'm looking forward to it," Vega replied as she rose gracefully from the couch, stretching her arms with a faint smile. She reached for the remote and hit the pause button, freezing the glowing screen.

"I'm sure you are," Anthony said with a faint chuckle. "You think it's going to be the next big event, right?"

Vega's lips curved into a knowing smile as she turned toward him. "Obviously. Do you think those arrogant big shots would waste their precious time on something trivial? Definitely not. I'm sure it's about something serious, battles, war, death, and all that glorious chaos."

Anthony shook his head in amusement, his smile lingering. He didn't reply, he simply stood from his seat, running a hand through his hair.

"Care to join me in the shower?" Vega asked teasingly, her tone dripping with mischief, her eyes glinting with that familiar lustful spark.

Anthony raised an eyebrow, smirking. "The day I say no to that question, feel free to decapitate me."

A soft chuckle escaped her lips, and without another word, the two disappeared into the bathroom.

After over an hour of their extracurricular activities, they finally stepped out, both freshly bathed and radiating energy. Their skin glowed faintly from the steam, with a mere thought, their universal clothing morphed and reshaped, adjusting perfectly to their desires.

"We'll be meeting the Supreme Monarchs at my mother's estate," Anthony said after tightening his cuffs and adjusting his attire one last time. "But before that, let me go get Kingsley."

Space rippled in front of them as a portal tore open, its edges shimmering like liquid light. Without hesitation, Anthony stepped through. The portal remained open, swirling gently until, within a few seconds, Anthony stepped back through the same portal, this time with Kingsley following behind him. The portal then sealed itself with a soft hum.

"Good morning, Vega," Kingsley greeted politely, his tone even, his posture respectful.

"Morning," Vega replied, her eyes briefly meeting his through the mirror as she fixed her hair.

"Are you both ready, or should I take a seat?" Kingsley asked, glancing between them. His golden eyes flickered calmly, taking in their appearance as though assessing whether they were done dressing.

"We're ready," Vega answered with a cute smile, turning from the mirror to face him.

"Let's get moving then," Anthony said. With another thought, he opened a new portal, this one leading straight to his mother's estate. Without hesitation, Vega and Anthony stepped through.

Kingsley lingered for a moment at the edge of the shimmering gateway. To him, this was no ordinary journey. He was about to meet a Supreme Monarch for the very first time, a being revered across the military. Though he was quietly thrilled by the idea, his face betrayed no emotion. Composure was something Kingsley had mastered long ago.

With that quiet thought, he stepped through, and the portal vanished behind him.

The trio emerged within the grand castle, where Anthony's senses immediately detected Mitchelle's presence. Without wasting a second, he teleported all three of them directly to her chambers.

"Mom, we're ready," Anthony announced the moment they appeared, skipping any formal greeting.

"Good morning, Mitchelle," Vega greeted warmly, her tone light and familiar as she crossed the room and perched gracefully beside Mitchelle on the couch.

"Morning, Vega," Mitchelle replied with a kind smile. "How are you doing?"

Her gaze softened as she studied Vega, the fondness unmistakable. Mitchelle had taken a strong liking to her son's partner. In her eyes, Vega embodied strength, grace, and fire, the perfect woman for her child.

As the two women exchanged greetings, laughter, and casual conversation, Anthony cleared his throat and turned slightly toward Kingsley. "Mom, this is Kingsley Sky. Just like Vega and me, he's also touched the Planetary Level."

Mitchelle's gaze shifted toward Kingsley, her expression gentle. Before she could speak, Kingsley stepped forward with practiced grace, a polite smile touching his lips. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Ninth Supreme Monarch."

"There's no need to be so formal," Mitchelle replied, smiling with maternal warmth. "Since you're a friend of my son, that makes you my friend as well. Just refer to me by name."

Anthony couldn't help but shake his head slightly. He was certain that no other Supreme Monarch would allow such familiarity, not even from their own descendants, let alone their descendants' friends. Yet Mitchelle, as always, was different.

Kingsley silently observed the exchange between Mitchelle and Vega, noting how effortlessly the atmosphere in the room shifted from regal to familial. He had expected to meet a woman of overwhelming dominance, someone whose mere presence would crush the air in the atmosphere. Instead, what he saw was entirely unexpected.

Mitchelle radiated serenity rather than supremacy. She was not the intimidating ruler he had envisioned, but rather a mother, calm, poised, and kind. The warmth in her eyes, the gentle cadence of her voice, and the faint laughter that occasionally escaped her lips painted a picture of humanity he hadn't thought a Supreme Monarch could possess.

But Kingsley was no fool. He understood that this gentle demeanor was not weakness; it was control. The Ninth Supreme Monarch was likely someone who knew exactly how to draw the line between duty and affection, between power and compassion. And that, more than anything, was what he found admirable.

His mind drifted for a brief moment, unbidden, to his own family. The memories surfaced like echoes from a distant, forgotten past. Cold eyes, colder words, and an endless sense of duty. But just as quickly as the memories came, Kingsley crushed them, locking them away deep within his mind.

To him, the Sky family was ancient history, a chapter long closed and buried beneath the weight of who he had become.