MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

"It seems they are here," Mitchelle spoke calmly, her gaze turning to the side where she sensed four distinct auras approaching. Her expression did not shift, but her eyes grew slightly sharper, revealing the shift in her perception. Anthony, however, did not react; his Sense Dome was always active, mapping every energy fluctuation within his range, rendering surprises almost impossible.

"Let's move. I'm sure they wouldn't want to sit around and engage in idle chatter," Mitchelle said, rising gracefully from her seat. Vega stood beside her at once, her demeanor transforming instantly, from that of a serene mother to the commanding presence of a Monarch.

The shift was so absolute that even the atmosphere around her seemed to tighten. Kingsley, observing this sudden transformation, simply smiled faintly and said nothing; he was already expected such changes from her.

With a wave of Mitchelle's hand, a shimmering portal appeared before them, swirling with golden-blue energy. Without hesitation, everyone stepped through one after another, their figures vanishing into the vortex. Anthony was the last to enter, his calm gaze sweeping across the room once more before he disappeared.

When they emerged on the other side, Anthony found himself standing outside in an open expanse, the air charged with heavy energy. Before him stood the First, Third, Fifth, and Eighth Supreme Monarchs, each radiating immense power that seemed to distort the air itself.

"I greet the Supreme Monarchs," Kingsley said respectfully, bowing his head slightly. His tone was formal, yet his posture remained relaxed, a delicate balance between deference and confidence. The four Monarchs turned toward him, each giving a subtle nod of acknowledgment, their expressions unreadable.

Vega, however, remained silent. She stood beside Anthony without uttering a single word, her arms loosely crossed as she regarded the Monarchs with cool indifference. Titles meant little to her now. Perhaps once, before her combat abilities had touched the Planetary Level Realm, she might have greeted them as Kingsley had. But now? In this galaxy, power was the true measure of respect, and she possessed enough of it not to bow before anyone.

Anthony, on his part, gave a simple nod in greeting, his expression indifferent and composed. Today, he was moving alongside the younger generation, and he intended to play that role convincingly.

'I wonder if Klaus will be there,' he mused inwardly, recalling powerful figure who had once disrupted a similar gathering years ago after the Starborn Tournament. The memory brought a faint smirk to his lips; chaos followed Klaus wherever he went.

As Anthony's thoughts drifted, he caught Kingsley staring rather intently at the Supreme Monarchs. Anthony's brow twitched, and he gave Kingsley a look that seemed to ask silently, Are you gay?

Why else, he wondered teasingly, would another man stare at a group of men with such fascination? Of course, Anthony knew perfectly well that Kingsley wasn't gay, he was simply making fun of him in his mind. A year ago, Anthony had used his Authority of Information on him and discovered a rather extensive list of one-night stands with countless women throughout Kingsley's century-long life. The knowledge made the thought even more amusing.

"We should get going," the First Supreme Monarch stated in his calm, commanding voice. The faint gray haze that perpetually surrounded his figure made it impossible to see his face clearly.

Anthony nodded wordlessly. Vega and Kingsley remained equally silent, which was expected. The air between them and the Monarchs carried a strange mixture of tension and mutual acknowledgment.

Using his All Seeing Eyes, Anthony glanced once more at the First and Third Monarchs. Within seconds, he could perceive the subtle currents of emotion pulsing through their hearts and veins, happiness, curiosity, expectation, even a trace of hope. He understood what it meant immediately.

This was their first time attending such a high-level meeting. It was only natural that they felt a rush of anticipation, perhaps hoping to gain something, some opportunity, some hidden knowledge, to elevate their strength further. Yet Anthony already knew that such expectations would likely end in disappointment. In gatherings of this magnitude, no one ever gave anything of true value for free. Everything came at a cost.

The Fifth, Eighth, and Ninth Supreme Monarchs, however, seemed far less concerned. Especially the Eighth, Michael, whose only interest, as always, was to cross swords with a worthy opponent. He sought not wealth or wisdom, but challenge and battle.

Without another word, the First Supreme Monarch lifted his hand, and in an instant, a colossal ship materialized before them. Its sheer size dwarfed even the legendary "Last Stand" aircraft, making it look like a child's toy in comparison. The ship's sleek metallic surface gleamed under the twin suns, runes of power glowing faintly along its hull.

No one appeared surprised. They all simply stepped aboard as the hatch opened with a mechanical hiss.

Though it was Kingsley's first time on a vessel of this magnitude, he kept his face utterly composed. Only the faint gleam of curiosity in his eyes betrayed his inner awe. Vega, on the other hand, looked entirely unimpressed. Having been surrounded by wealth and power since infancy and having traveled across the galaxy since she was a toddler, sights like these had long ceased to amaze her.

Inside the control room, the five Supreme Monarchs sat together around a massive crystalline table that projected holographic maps of the galaxy. Anthony, Vega, and Kingsley sat separately at another table, a respectful distance away.

"At maximum speed, we are expected to arrive at the destination mentioned in the invitation within five days," the First Supreme Monarch announced evenly.

The ship's AI responded with a low, resonant hum as energy began to surge through its systems. The floor vibrated slightly beneath their feet as mana and electricity intertwined to power the engines. A deep hum filled the air before the ship lifted gently off the ground, hovering for a moment. Then, in a thunderous sonic boom, it shot forward, vanishing into the void of space within the span of a heartbeat. In less than a second, the Alpha-9 Military Base was nothing but a speck behind them.

Anthony exhaled softly and rose from his seat. "I can't sit in the same room with these old fogies pretending to be humble while dripping with self-importance," he muttered under his breath as he walked out.

"Where are you going?" Vega asked, matching his pace as she fell in beside him.

Anthony was silent for a moment before replying casually, "I don't know. Anywhere, really. Maybe explore the ship?"

"Well," Vega said thoughtfully, "since we'll be on this journey for five days, we might as well finish the series we were watching before, after exploring the ship, of course."

Behind them, Kingsley followed quietly, his hands tucked into his pockets. His mind seemed distant, lost in its own contemplations.

"Don't you have something to do?" Anthony asked over his shoulder. "Training, maybe?"

Kingsley simply shook his head and replied, "Nah. I think I'll just let the journey take its course and see whatever happens at this… event, or meeting, as they call it."

Anthony shrugged at his reply, the corners of his mouth curling faintly upward. The trio continued their walk through the ship's gleaming corridors, the hum of its engines a steady background rhythm.

Time passed quietly as the enormous vessel sliced through the void, leaving streaks of light in its wake. Days blurred together in the vast emptiness of space. And just like that, in what felt like the blink of an eye, five days had passed.