MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Lucian, observing the scene with a calm detachment, simply smiled as he shook his head. Much like Anthony, Vega, Kingsley, and Aura, he remained entirely unaffected by Aaaninja's Time halt. Unbothered, he began walking forward, a quiet confidence in every step, while Veronica and Valak, still captivated by the display, trailed behind him at a measured pace, their gazes lingering on the spectacle with awe and subtle trepidation.

Lucian's parents, Riven Darkheart and Vespera Darkheart, were themselves figures of renown, celebrated across galaxy as two of the few humans capable of standing on equal footing with the top tier races in terms of combat prowess. Lucian might have easily inherited the same widespread recognition as Aaaninja, yet there existed a singular reason why he remained comparatively obscure: he had chosen to leave home.

His unique ability, Absolutely Copy, demanded exposure, experience, and constant growth. Lucian could not remain confined to his home planet, a haven where humans predominated. To truly develop and refine his powers, he needed to traverse the galaxy, encounter diverse civilizations, discover alien abilities to copy.

Remaining tied to his planet would have guaranteed him safety and perhaps even fame akin to Aaaninja's, yet it would have stunted his growth. As a result, the galaxy's elite had long underestimated him. They assumed that the celebrated Riven and Vespera had produced a son of modest talent, unaware that Lucian's constant absences were deliberate, a pursuit of power rather than attention.

Their assumptions had been spectacularly disproven during the Starborn Tournament, where his combat proficiency and prowess had left competitors and spectators alike in awe, losing only to Aaaninja.

Had Lucian remained confined to his home world, he might have achieved the same popularity Aaaninja Chronisynth Eternos had, but never the unparalleled power and skill that defined him today. And yet, Lucian never cared for such recognition. What utility did fame hold? Could it augment strength? Could it bestow new abilities? To him, the answer was self evident.

Were there other humans present besides Anthony, Vega, Kingsley, Charles, Bill, and Aura, they might have rushed forward to establish a connection, drawn by instinctive familiarity. But most humans and numerous other races remained in hiding, cautious and fearful of the dangers that lurked in the building . Few dared to risk exposure, and those who did did so only when necessary.

Aaaninja's eyes remained fixed on those he had momentarily frozen. With deliberate clarity, he spoke, his voice measured yet carrying weight: "I don't have time to speak with all and any of you. Just act as though I'm not here." His words were neither arrogant nor condescending, neither commanding nor theatrical, they were blunt, matter of fact, and entirely straightforward.

But there was a certain irony in hearing a Time Celestial, a being capable of bending the very fabric of reality, declare he has no time for them.

With another simple thought, Aaaninja released his grip over the halted temporal flow. Time particles shimmered, reluctantly retreating as if saddened by the loss of their mastery. Movement returned to the frozen crowd, each individual regaining control over their bodies. Eyes flicked nervously toward Aaaninja, a mixture of awe and caution evident on every face, and then gradually, one by one, they stepped back, offering glances of hesitant respect from various directions.

With purpose, Aaaninja walked toward Anthony, Lucian already positioned by his side, a silent acknowledgment of their mutual understanding.

"It's been a while, Anthony," Lucian said, his voice warm, accompanied by a wide, genuine smile.

"Six months, to be precise," Anthony replied casually. Behind Lucian, Veronica, who had been captivated by Aaaninja's manipulation of time, froze instinctively at the sound of Anthony's name. Before she could react or even process the moment, she recognized the voice: it was unmistakably him, the Anthony she had known. Recognition surged through her like a shockwave, leaving her momentarily disoriented.

Suddenly, she sensed it, a gaze directed at her. Her white eyes tore away from the spectacle of Aaaninja's display, instinctively tracking the source of the scrutiny. There, in the midst of the crowd, her eyes met a pair of familiar purple ones. Veronica's pupils dilated in unrestrained shock, her mind momentarily silenced by disbelief. She had never anticipated encountering not only Anthony but also Vega in this place.

As her gaze locked with Vega's, the world seemed to dissolve. All peripheral sensations vanished, leaving only a torrent of remorse flooding her mind. Thoughts of past mistakes, the unexplained disappearance, the prolonged silence, the unspoken words, raced relentlessly. Guilt manifested visibly in her eyes, forcing her to break the stare. She could not bear to meet her best friend, Vega, directly; the weight of shame proved too great.

Meanwhile, Aaaninja had arrived, standing alongside Lucian. His gaze swept over the assembly as he observed the newcomers, the vibrant, numerically colored irises of his clock-like eyes dancing across the crowd. "It seems the entire team is complete then... although there are quite a few new faces this time," he remarked, his voice smooth yet observant, registering details that few could comprehend.

Lucian exhaled with a faint sigh, yet a smile brightened his expression. "Yeah, seems like a pain to introduce everyone," he said lightly, then gestured with deliberate clarity. "This is my girlfriend, Veronica, and my teammate, Valak." His words were concise and direct, leaving no room for prolonged introduction.

Anthony's sky-blue eyes shifted toward Veronica, having sensed her presence from the moment she entered. But he had remained silent, recognizing that Vega had already perceived her arrival as well. Observing Vega, Anthony's sky blue eyes sought to unravel her emotions. He found no anger, no resentment, only a subtle, almost imperceptible disappointment. Though he did not yet understand its cause, he refrained from inquiry; the timing and setting were not appropriate for such matters.

Anthony turned to Lucian, his expression shifting into a playful, inquisitive tone. "I thought you were dating a demon the last time we met," he asked casually, though his words carried a sharp, teasing edge.

"Half demon," Lucian corrected instantly, as if to prevent misinterpretation or speculation about the nature of his relationships.

Anthony's smile widened knowingly, a silent acknowledgment of Lucian's 'correction'.

"Half-demon," he repeated, voice tinged with amusement. "So, what happened between you two? I thought you were happy together, in love or something of that sort," he inquired, genuinely curious for the gist into the developments that had occurred during his absence.