MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

The family stood motionless, their eyes wide in stunned silence.

The impossibility of what they had just witnessed replayed in their minds, a relentless loop that refused to fade.

Time.

Their descendant had touched time itself.

A torrent of emotions surged through them, thoughts racing at an overwhelming pace.

Anthony had awakened at the age of ten.

And in just six years, he had ascended from the F-rank to the pinnacle of the Grandmaster rank.

Eleven ranks, achieved within the span of a mere six years.

Such a feat was, by all accounts, an impossibility.

Now, Anthony had bypassed even more realms in the span of a single year.

It was an established truth that the higher one's cultivation, the more arduous the path became.

This was why every practitioner fought tooth and nail for resources, seeking to accelerate their progress.

Yet, for Anthony, this fundamental reality seemed to hold no sway.

He had ascended from the peak of the Grandmaster rank to the pinnacle of the Ecliptic rank in just one year.

Five monumental realms, each more difficult than the last, had been effortlessly skipped, and he had stepped directly into the Ecliptic rank.

Their minds struggled to fathom such a rate of cultivation.

The very resources required to achieve such a feat simply did not exist.

Collins' mind spiraled back to Michael's words.

Even if they had personally trained Anthony, such a result would have been impossible.

And even if, by some miracle, they had achieved similar progress, the person would have been no more than an empty husk, a being without skill to back their mana rank.

From the aura emanating from Anthony, it was clear that his journey had not been one of mere cultivation.

He had trained in realms beyond their understanding, honing skills that defied expectations.

Mitchelle's thoughts spiraled around Anthony's mastery of Time Magic.

None of them had ever known he possessed such an ability.

No being on this planet had ever been known to wield an affinity for the Time element.

The shock was simply too great for them to process.

Michael, who had always affectionately referred to Anthony as his 'monster baby' now understood the true depth of the term.

Even monsters could not achieve feats like this.

Irene, on the other hand, found herself absorbed by her grandson's ability to heal, a power she herself shared.

It was a rare gift, and to see it manifest in Anthony stirred something deep within her.

As they stood, each lost in their thoughts, Anthony rose from his seat without a word and silently left the room.

And just like that, the family dinner concluded in a stunned silence, leaving behind nothing but shock and unanswered questions.

The night passed swiftly, though not in peace.

Only Anthony's family and the butler knew what transpired, while the rest of the estate remained oblivious to who caused the extraordinary events that had unfolded.

The next morning, Anthony awoke feeling fully refreshed.

The warm embrace of the sun bathed his face, casting a gentle glow upon him.

Without hesitation, he made his way to the shower.

He savored the sensation of water cascading down his body, a luxury he hadn't experienced in a century.

Mana had been his sole means of maintaining his physical form, leaving him disconnected from such mundane comforts.

Anthony had always prioritized his training, never allowing the trivialities of daily life to interrupt his focus.

After the shower, his universal clothing shifted and morphed seamlessly into a new design, its fabric adapting to his will.

Reaching for his katana, he paused, his fingers hovering over the hilt.

After a moment's thought, he altered the blade's form, transmuting it into a ring.

He slipped the ring onto his finger, the katana's presence now concealed but ever with him.

With that, he stepped out of his room, his movements purposeful, ready to face whatever came next.

"Good morning, Uncle"

Anthony greeted the butler, his voice steady and polite.

"Good morning, young master. I wish you a safe journey and much success in your battle"

The butler replied, his tone warm yet respectful.

"There is no need to wish me luck, Uncle. Even fate and destiny cannot stand in my way"

Anthony said confidently, walking past him without a second glance.

Upon entering the hall, he found his parents already waiting for him.

"Good morning"

Anthony greeted them, his eyes scanning the room.

The weight of yesterday's revelation lingered in their minds, but they all wore stoic expressions, masking the shock they had felt.

"Good morning, son. I trust you slept well?"

Mitchelle asked, her voice soft yet carrying a hint of concern.

"I did, Mom. When do the others arrive?"

Anthony responded, his tone casual but with a flicker of anticipation.

"They will be here shortly"

Michael replied, his gaze steady.

"They had better be punctual if we are to depart early"

Irene added, her steps purposeful as she moved toward the door.

"About that... you won't be accompanying us"

Collins said, his steps faltering as he came to a sudden halt.

"What do you mean by that?"

Irene's voice tightened, her expression shifting instantly.

"Darling, you have to understand"

Collins continued, his tone measured but heavy.

"We're stepping out of our safety net. If anything were to go awry, the healer would be the first target. I can't risk putting you in such danger"

Irene's face darkened, a storm brewing behind her eyes.

"So now I'm a burden, is that it?"

Collins' brow furrowed, pained by the words.

"That's not what I meant at all. What I'm saying is that I can't protect you and fight at the same time. We don't know what we'll face out there"

He sighed deeply, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

Even he hated what he was saying, but he knew it was necessary.

Irene, usually calm and composed, felt the sting of anger flare within her.

It was rare for her to feel such emotion, but the words struck a chord.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as the fury ebbed away, replaced by quiet acceptance.

She knew, deep down, that Collins spoke the truth.

Though powerful, she was still a healer at heart, far too vulnerable in the face of the battle hardened warriors they might encounter.

With a long, measured exhale, Irene opened her eyes again.

Her expression had softened.

"Fine. I understand"

She said, her voice steady, though tinged with a quiet resolve.

"I'll stay with the Crimson family"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Without another word, she turned and continued walking, her steps deliberate.

Michael and Mitchelle watched the exchange in silence, a shared sigh passing between them.

Though they both loved Irene dearly, they knew Collins' decision was the wisest choice for her safety.

A soft humming sound resonated from above, drawing everyone's attention.

Slowly, a sleek black ship descended from the sky, its descent smooth and graceful.

The name 'Eternal Voyage' was emblazoned across its hull, gleaming in the sunlight.

Anthony watched in admiration.

This ship was their mode of transport, a symbol of their upcoming journey.

Moments after the ship touched down with barely a whisper of impact, a series of powerful presences descended from the sky, each radiating an aura that seemed to warp reality itself.

The leaders of the races who were to accompany them had arrived.

Anthony observed them as they landed, each presence suffused with overwhelming power.

"You can stop showing off now"

Collins' voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade.

At his words, the heavy atmosphere lifted, the oppressive energy dissipating.

The presence of the leaders seemed to settle as everything returned to normal.

Their gazes shifted to Anthony, their eyes sharp with curiosity.

They scrutinized him, no doubt searching for any signs of progress.

Gorath, the leader of one of the factions, opened his mouth to speak, but Michael beat him to it.

"No need to ask about his strength or anything"

Michael said, his tone casual but tinged with amusement.

"All I'll say is, you're in for a surprise"

Anthony cast a thoughtful glance at his father, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.

'Aren't you the ones who said the world wouldn't hinge on my surprise?'

"No need to spoil the fun"

Michael continued, his smile widening.

"You'll understand soon enough"

Even Collins, usually the quiet one, couldn't resist adding his voice.

With a light smile, he spoke.

"You'll see"

Their eyes turned back to Anthony, the weight of their gazes a mixture of curiosity and expectation.

However, with Michael's words, they refrained from pressing further for now.

There was little they could do, after all.

Even if Anthony had made no progress in his cultivation, they had no choice but to allow him to represent them

Just as they were about to board the ship, a sudden burst of flames erupted, and a figure appeared, riding the inferno like a storm.

________________________________________

AUTHOR'S NOTE

An update on the cultivation ranks:

1] Mortal Rank {F- to SSS+}

2] Master Rank

3] Grandmaster Rank

4] Paragon Rank

5] King Rank

6] Emperor Rank

7] Sovereign Rank

8] Mythic Rank

9] Ecliptic Rank

Note: Except for the Mortal Rank, each rank is subdivided into levels, ranging from level 1 to level 9 minor ranks.