MIGHT AS WELL BE OP - Chapter 365

Chapter 365: Twenty fifth minute
Anthony reclined effortlessly in midair, his gaze drifting into the void as his thoughts meandered aimlessly.

‘Should I just teleport back now that I’m done?’

The idea surfaced in his mind, lingering for a moment before doubt crept in.

‘No… what if that gets me disqualified?’

With a faint shake of his head, he dismissed the notion, resigning himself to wait.

His gaze flickered to the timer on the restriction bracelets.

‘Seven minutes left. It should be over soon’

With that thought, Anthony closed his eyes, settling into patient anticipation as time trickled by.

Seconds stretched into minutes, the steady ticking marking their passage.

Then, precisely two minutes later, the bracelet emitted another beep, accompanied by a new notification.

Beep.

“Twenty five minutes have passed”

[Ding]

[The Host has been cursed. The Host’s senses have been halved. All physical abilities have been halved. Mana core capacity has been halved]

Anthony’s eyes widened in shock as the system notification flashed before him.

He had assumed that, following the pattern of the previous curses, the next one would only activate at the thirty minute mark.

But with the test concluding at that exact moment, he had believed there would be no further restrictions.

Yet, here it was, proof that his assumption had been wrong.

‘I was wrong’

The realization settled in as Anthony felt his physical strength diminish once more, another perfect half stripped away.

The force suppressing his mana tightened its grip, sealing away yet another portion of his power.

Even his senses dulled, his perception of the world around him growing fainter.

Yet, despite it all, Anthony remained unfazed.

These restrictions, meant to cripple him, barely registered as a concern.

Anthony’s mind remained sharp, analyzing the situation despite the mounting restrictions.

‘How are the other recruits supposed to survive under these conditions?’

The question lingered for only a moment before the answer struck him with clarity.

‘It seems the level or severity of the curses depends on performance. The better one’s results, the harsher the restrictions imposed’

With that realization, Anthony solidified his conclusion, this test wasn’t just about endurance; it was a trial that scaled its difficulty in direct response to strength.

If every recruit had been subjected to the same curse as him, Anthony was certain that over ninety nine percent of them would have been eliminated.

At that rate, the military itself would be left nearly vacant, only those who could be considered the absolute elite, the best of the best in every conceivable aspect, would make it through.

These realizations unfolded in less than a second, his Thought Acceleration skill allowing his mind to process information at an extreme speed, racing through possibilities with unparalleled efficiency.

But then, Anthony’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt.

He felt it—space twisting.

Not just space.

Something else.

With the distortion came a presence, vast and oppressive, flooding the cavern like an unstoppable tide.

It was heavier, far more suffocating than any aura he had encountered among the demon horde earlier.

Yet, Anthony didn’t flinch.

He remained exactly where he was, unmoving, waiting.

‘Another challenge at the twenty fifth minute?’

The thought barely settled before he felt the presence drawing closer.

Footsteps echoed through the cavern, yet paradoxically, they were faint, almost as if they existed between sound and silence.

Anthony’s gaze sharpened as it landed on the source of the disturbance.

Another demon.

But this one was different.

Its power was leagues above the others.

An S+ rank.

A being teetering at the very peak of the S rank threshold, a step away from something far greater.

Anthony couldn’t believe his eyes.

The military expected him to battle a peak S-rank demon, while being restricted to D+ rank and further crippled to a mere quarter of his original strength.

If there had been any doubt before, this confirmed it.

‘This proves my theory. The better your performance, the harsher the restrictions and curses’

Anthony’s thoughts settled as his feet touched the cavern floor, his stance steady and carefree.

Anthony assessed his opponent with a single, careful glance.

Wide, expansive wings were attached to the demon’s back, their span immense, hinting at its flight capability.

A long, serpentine tail swayed menacingly behind it, and from its forehead, a single, sharp horn protruded, adding to its imposing form.

Bulging muscles rippled beneath its dark skin, radiating raw power.

The demon’s aura was as menacing as it was oppressive, and a sword rested ominously at its side.

From this brief inspection, Anthony could tell one undeniable truth.

The demon was exceptionally talented.

Just as other races produced individuals of remarkable talent, so too did the demon clans.

The demon before him was undeniably gifted, a specimen of true potential.

However, this demon would never reach its full potential, for it had been captured by the military, its path to ascension cut short.

Despite its S+ rank, Anthony could clearly perceive the demon’s battle prowess was already approaching the SS+ rank, a testament to its raw strength and skill and talent.

A smile crept across Anthony’s face as he considered the challenge ahead.

The thought of facing a demon with SS rank capabilities while in his current, restricted state… it was a tantalizing prospect.

As Anthony studied the demon, the creature did the same in return.

It felt Anthony’s presence, a calm yet undeniable aura of strength.

The demon’s eyes scanned the scattered corpses that littered the cavern floor, evidence of Anthony’s recent battle.

The demon’s instincts honed in on the fact that this human was no mere target.

The sheer number of fallen foes indicated something remarkable.

Anthony had the strength to wipe out an entire horde, while being restricted,a feat not easily accomplished.

The demon’s voice broke the tense silence, gravelly and harsh, as if two jagged metals were being scraped together.

“I hope you are able to kill me, Human”

Anthony’s expression remained unreadable, the hint of surprise flickering for only a moment before he masked it.

“A demon that wants to die… That’s new”

He responded, his tone steady, though his mind was momentarily taken aback by the demon’s sudden words.

“Death would be a welcome respite compared to the torment I endure now”

Anthony muttered, his voice thick with despair.

The demon responded with chilling calmness, its tone mocking yet deliberate.

“Then why not take the opportunity? The means to end your suffering lie before you now.”

Anthony’s gaze never wavered, his words steady despite the gravity of the moment.

“I am bound by certain constraints. My only recourse is to face you in this battle, hoping that, in the end, you will be the one to release me from this agony”

The demon’s voice shifted slightly, a note of something approaching determination breaking through the cold.

“I must admit, it is curious to hear a demon speak of misery. But alas, if it must be done, I will be the one to see you off. Time is fleeting, we have but four minutes left. Shall we proceed?”

At Anthony’s final words, the air grew unnervingly still, as if the very world had held its breath.

And then, without a sound, both blurred into motion.