MIGHT AS WELL BE OP-Chapter 541: Hello

"Damn, man. I know I’m a vampire and can regenerate without issues, but that doesn’t mean you should clean my hands off my shoulders."

Dale complained as he looked at both of his severed hands lying helplessly on the ground.

At the side, Reynold simply shook his head as he sighed and spoke.

"Honestly, I don’t know what sort of monster you are. Are we even at the same Ecliptic rank? With the way you handle us, it feels like we’re no different than ordinary mortals."

"That’s not even the worst part."

Seraphim chimed in as she stood up from the ground, her face contorted in pain. She hadn’t broken any bones, but the soreness spread through her entire body.

"We haven’t even sparred against Clement that much, and he’s supposed to be stronger than Spectre. And let’s not forget, Anthony said he has eight people under him just as strong."

She grunted and slowly dusted herself off. Lately, she’d been learning how to heal using her Spiritual Energy under the guidance of one of Anthony’s clones. Although it was painful, she pushed through. She had to. In this team filled with freaks of nature, she refused to fall behind.

They had all been sparring for a while with Spectre to sharpen their instincts and refine everything they’d learned. It was relentless, brutal, and necessary.

Spectre didn’t reply. He remained silent, staring off into the distance. They might feel like he was invincible, but in his mind, he was just a grain of sand compared to those who truly mattered in the world.

"Until the next spar."

Spectre simply stated. But before he could even take a step forward, a massive portal suddenly tore open beneath their feet. Without any resistance, they were all sucked in, vanishing from the training grounds in a blink.

They reappeared instantly, now seated on plush couches in a cozy, brightly lit living room. The shift in environment was so sudden, it took a moment to adjust. Clement and Kingsley were already there, seated comfortably.

Kingsley sat with his arms folded across his chest and one leg crossed over the other, his usual calm and confident demeanor perfectly intact.

Across from them, Anthony sat with a serene smile on his face, watching them settle in.

"How was the spar?" he asked casually.

"Meh... nothing interesting." Dale replied with a shrug, but deep down he could still remember that black blur, an instant flash, right before his hands had been cleaved clean off his body.

"So, what did you bring us here for?"

Seraphim asked, already reaching into her space ring to retrieve a book on Spiritual Energy. She wasted no time. A single second not spent learning was a second wasted.

Being in the same team as monsters like Anthony, Kingsley, Spectre, and Clement meant there was no room for complacency.

And now that Anthony had picked another girl to join the team, it only meant one thing: the girl was special. Seraphim couldn’t afford to fall behind while the others soared ahead.

Anthony leaned forward and spoke. "The Warlords have finally finished processing our military ranks. So we’re now officially recognized as a new team."

"Thank the stars," Dale said, sitting up. "What about our military points? How much did we get?"

Anthony’s smile grew as he waved his hand. Seven military cards appeared, floating mid-air along with uniforms that looked noticeably different from the ones they currently wore.

They didn’t need an explanation. The color of the uniforms alone told them everything they needed to know.

Captain rank.

A wave of joy washed over them. Smiles lit up their faces. Even though they had anticipated a promotion, there was always doubt. Climbing the military ranks was no easy feat. While they had expected a new rank, they hadn’t been entirely sure. But this, this was solid recognition.

Even Spectre and Clement, who hadn’t technically done anything in the recent operation, were instantly catapulted to the Captain rank.

Without hesitation, the team vanished and reappeared moments later in their new uniforms. Their hands ran over the fabric with admiration, their expressions gleaming with pride.

"These are your military point cards," Anthony said as he tossed the cards one by one. "Each of you got two hundred thousand military points."

His words hit like a bomb in their minds.

Two hundred thousand...

It was an insane sum.

’I can finally start forming my harem now, right?’

Dale thought with a grin as he stared at his card like it was a divine treasure.

"But," Anthony continued, "Spectre and Clement won’t be receiving any military points. The military already moving them from Corporal rank to Captain rank was a massive reward for nothing in itself."

Everyone nodded in understanding. They had no complaints. After all, Spectre and Clement hadn’t participated in the last war.

Still holding their cards, the team began to daydream and mentally list all the things they would buy.

"Anthony, what about you?" Reynold suddenly asked, glancing up from his card. "What rank were you promoted to, and how many points did you get?"

Anthony didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his clothes began to shift, his universal uniform morphing into a sleek blue design, paired with matching shoes.

Major rank.

They immediately recognized it by the color. But instead of cheering or celebrating, they frowned. Anthony had saved the entire military base. He had led them through an impossible mission. Surely he deserved more than just Major.

Before they could voice their dissatisfaction, Anthony raised a hand to stop them.

"It’s fine. It’s the price I paid for promoting everyone together. Repay me by getting stronger."

He said calmly, and with that, he vanished from the room.

His words lingered in the air, leaving behind a moment of silence.

But what Anthony had said was only partially true. He had lied to motivate them, to drive them harder.

In reality, Anthony had only received the Major rank because the ranks above, Colonel and beyond, were buried in endless paperwork. He had seen it firsthand. Colonel Vazeryth barely slept, constantly pulling all-nighters just to sign piles of documents.

It felt no different than the soul crushing corporate job Anthony had endured in his past life. Promotions sounded glamorous, but they came at a cost.

He chose to remain at the Major rank so he could continue running missions freely. What perks could higher ranks possibly give him that he couldn’t obtain on his own?

As for his military point reward?

Ten million.

But Anthony didn’t care. When you had an overpowered system that could generate wealth, resources, and skills on command, what did military points even matter?

Anthony reappeared in front of a familiar building, the cafe where he’d first seen ’her.’

Entering, he ordered a cake and paid with a casual swipe of his military card before heading to his usual seat.

It had become a daily routine for him. Sit. Wait. Watch. Just in case she returned.

His Senses Dome suddenly flared, alerting him to a familiar presence. His eyes shifted subtly toward the door, and there she was.

Walking in as elegantly as ever, she made her usual order, then turned.

Anthony prepared to rise and follow her out, like before, but faster this time, but this time she didn’t head for the exit.

No.

She walked directly toward him.

Anthony remained still, as if time itself had slowed. The moment felt suspended in amber.

With a calm smile, she sat down opposite him at the same table. Gently placing her cake on the table, her deep purple eyes met his deep blue eyes.

Then, she spoke, her voice soft and melodious.

"Hello."

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶