MIGHT AS WELL BE OP - Chapter 359

Chapter 359: Colonel Vazeryth
As the ship neared a certain distance, the AI’s voice blared once again.

“Identification confirmation required to proceed further”

A two-second countdown flashed on the screen, ticking down relentlessly.

Without a word, Darren stood and approached a palm-print-like scanner embedded in the console.

Anthony’s gaze followed, curiosity piqued.

‘Mana signature’

Anthony thought, his mind working quickly.

In this world, it wasn’t fingerprints that identified someone, it was their unique mana signature.

Each person’s signature was as distinct as their very soul, impossible to replicate.

Even Mana Contracts were bound by these signatures, each one an unbreakable mark of identity.

‘A two second countdown?’

Anthony wondered, his mind briefly wandering.

‘Would the ship be shot down if he doesn’t verify his identity in time?’

Once the identity verification was completed, the ship’s engines hummed with increased power, surging forward at an even greater speed.

A few minutes later, they arrived at what appeared to look like a helipad, the ship descending gently and touching down with a soft thud.

“We’re here”

Darren stated, his voice steady as he rose from his seat.

Anthony followed without a word, his thoughts still swirling.

With a quiet hiss, the hatch opened, and they both stepped out into the unfamiliar surroundings.

Anthony’s eyes fell on the ten individuals standing before them, each one saluting in perfect unison.

“Lieutenant”

They greeted together, their voices synchronized.

The group before him was a mix of various races, each one distinct in appearance.

Darren gave a simple nod in acknowledgment, his expression unchanged.

Anthony, however, kept his gaze on the group, observing them silently.

After a moment, his eyes shifted, and he turned to the side.

One by one, more ships began to land.

From each, individuals of every conceivable race disembarked, their auras and presences stable.

‘Hmm’

Anthony mused inwardly.

‘There were about a hundred people on each ship, but I’m the only one on mine. Special privileges? Well, whatever’

His thoughts trailed off as he continued to watch the influx of new arrivals.

Anthony observed the others leading the recruits, noting that none of them exuded the same imposing presence as Darren.

Darren turned to Anthony, his expression unreadable.

“My duty ends here. Follow the rest of them”

With that, he gave no further acknowledgment and simply turned, walking away.

‘A man of few words’

Anthony thought, his gaze lingering on Darren’s retreating figure.

Moments later, the pads began to glow, and the ships disappeared one by one, fading into space.

A tall man then stepped forward, his stature towering over the rest.

“Follow me”

His voice resonated, vibrating through the air with an undeniable authority.

The words landed on the ears of the five thousand recruits gathered around, their collective attention drawn instantly.

With a steady, purposeful stride, the man began walking toward a nearby building, the recruits falling into formation and following him in a disciplined line.

Anthony moved with graceful ease, his steps steady and confident.

A few eyes flickered toward him, their gazes sharp as they swept over him from head to toe.

‘It seems my handsome face and charm won’t let me stay low-key on this journey to the top’

Anthony mused inwardly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

His words were more self assured than troubled.

After passing through various facilities, they arrived at a large, open space.

The man leading them turned, his posture commanding as he addressed the recruits.

“Form up. Five hundred per line”

His voice rang out with authority, unmistakably powerful.

Without hesitation, the recruits moved into position, their movements swift and synchronized, as though they had been drilled into perfect formation long before now.

Anthony stood quietly, his gaze sweeping over the gathered recruits.

From what he could tell, the weakest among them appeared to be at the Grandmaster Level 1 rank.

As his mind lingered on his observations, an immense pressure suddenly descended from above.

It struck with the force of a storm, slamming down upon every recruit standing in line.

Knees buckled instantly, crashing into the earth with a collective thud.

Lungs constricted, the weight of the pressure making every breath feel like a struggle.

Sweat poured from every recruit’s body as their muscles trembled, fighting to remain standing.

Some were already coughing up blood, others fainting, their bodies unable to bear the overwhelming force.

A few lost control, vomiting in the face of the crushing weight.

Yet, amidst the chaos, one figure remained standing.

One figure stood tall.

Untouched.

Unbothered.

Indifferent to the crushing weight that fell upon everyone else.

It was Anthony.

With a quiet ease, he had manipulated the time element, cloaking himself in its depths.

By bending the flow of time around him, he rendered himself absent from that very moment, a specter untouched by the pressure that ravaged the others.

This was one of the many skills he had developed after observing and ‘learning’ from Aaaninja, mastering the finer points of manipulating time particles to such an extent.

The man who had led them through the facilities remained unaffected by the immense pressure.

It wasn’t because he was stronger than the others, but because the presence itself had spared him.

The man turned his gaze upward, his posture unwavering as he addressed the source of the force.

“Colonel Vazeryth”

Hovering in the air above them, a figure stood with an air of indifference.

A dragon.

Anthony’s sharp eyes assessed the being in the sky.

‘Exarch Rank’

He thought, recognition flickering in his mind as he took in the dragon’s imposing presence.

Suddenly, the pressure lifted.

It was as though the weight of the world had been removed from their shoulders.

The recruits gasped for breath, their throats raw, their blood still searing with the remnants of the crushing force.

Yet Colonel Vazeryth was not done.

He turned his gaze to the man who had led the recruits, his expression unchanged.

“Heal everyone. Those who have fainted should be sent back to their origins. Show the rest to their lodging. The trial begins tomorrow”

With those final words, Colonel Vazeryth vanished, just as swiftly and silently as he had arrived.

Anthony gazed at the recruits who had fainted, a flicker of pity crossing his features.

They had come here with the intent to join the military, only to be eliminated before they could even take their first step.

From the moment they had entered the base, Anthony had suspected that the test had already begun.

He didn’t know exactly what the outcome would be, but he had deduced that much.

His thoughts shifted, remembering how his Sense Dome had immediately alerted him to Vazeryth’s arrival.

‘Ridiculous presence control’

Anthony mused inwardly.

‘Increasing the pressure for the stronger ones, reducing it for the weaker, and completely shielding others from it entirely’

The recruits here came from various backgrounds, their strengths differing vastly.

Naturally, they couldn’t all withstand the same pressure.

Vazeryth had expertly manipulated his aura to match each individual’s strength.

The stronger the recruit, the heavier the pressure placed upon them.

And the man who had led them?

He had been entirely untouched, despite being within range, as Vazeryth had deliberately spared him from the weight of his presence.