MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

The atmosphere within the cottage was serene, an ironic juxtaposition to the carnage that had unfolded mere moments ago.

The soft hum of ambient magic in the air provided a soothing backdrop as Anthony reclined on a plush chair, his expression one of utter indifference.

Across from him, Lucian leaned casually against the wall, his arms folded, his sharp eyes fixed on Anthony.

Meanwhile, Aaaninja sat cross-legged on the floor, his ever closed eyes betraying nothing of his thoughts.

For a time, the room was silent save for the faint crackling of energy that lingered from the creation of the cottage.

It was Lucian who finally broke the quiet, his tone laced with an almost teasing curiosity.

"So"

He began, his voice smooth yet edged with challenge.

"I assume your 'boring' battle was as uneventful as you claim?"

Anthony tilted his head slightly, as though pondering the question, before responding with the same disinterest that had characterized him throughout the tournament.

"Uneventful is putting it mildly. The monsters were predictable, their patterns repetitive. It was like playing a game I'd already mastered"

He waved a hand dismissively, leaning back further into his chair.

"Hardly worth mentioning" Enjoy new chapters from empire

Lucian let out a low chuckle, his lips curving into a faint smirk.

"And yet, I don't recall seeing you among the injured. Not even a scratch. Care to elaborate on how you managed that, or shall I assume it was another one of your illusions doing all the heavy lifting?"

Anthony's eyes flickered toward Lucian, the faintest hint of amusement dancing within them.

"What can I say? When one is as proficient as I am, such measures become second nature. Besides, it's not as though those creatures warranted my direct involvement. They were nothing more than fodder"

At this, Aaaninja spoke for the first time, his voice low and measured, carrying a weight that seemed to silence even the ambient energy in the room.

"Fodder they may have been, but their purpose was never to defeat us outright. It was to whittle us down, to drain our resources and test our limits"

He paused, his tone shifting ever so slightly.

"The weak fell because they lacked the foresight to see the larger design. The strong endured because we are beyond such trivialities"

Lucian raised an eyebrow at Aaaninja's statement, though his smirk remained intact.

"True enough"

He conceded.

"But tell me, did you find it as laughably easy as our friend here, or was there at least some semblance of a challenge?"

Aaaninja's lips curled into the faintest of smiles, though his closed eyes gave no hint of his thoughts.

"Challenge is a matter of perspective. I found the exercise… enlightening, in its own way. It allowed me to refine certain techniques, to hone my precision. But no, I would not call it difficult"

Anthony's gaze shifted to Aaaninja, his expression neutral but his tone carrying a subtle edge.

"Refinement, is it? Funny. I didn't think someone of your caliber required such trivial exercises to 'hone' anything"

Aaaninja's smile widened ever so slightly, though he made no effort to respond directly.

Instead, he posed a question of his own.

"And you, Anthony? If it was as 'boring' as you claim, does that mean you learned nothing from it? Or have you already reached the pinnacle of your abilities?"

Anthony leaned forward slightly, his expression sharpening as his tone turned cold.

"There's nothing to learn from mediocrity. The creatures were beneath me, and wasting time on them would have been an insult to my abilities. My pinnacle, as you call it, is far beyond anything this tournament can offer"

Lucian let out a bark of laughter, his smirk broadening.

"Such confidence. I suppose that means you're ready for what comes next, assuming, of course, you don't crumble when faced with someone who isn't 'fodder'"

Anthony's gaze met Lucian's, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Crumble? Hardly. I don't think you understand the scope of my power, Lucian. Illusion is just the surface. What lies beneath would leave even you questioning your strength"

Lucian's smirk turned into a full grin, his posture shifting as he pushed off the wall and took a step closer.

"Oh? Is that a challenge I hear? Because if it is, I'm more than willing to test that claim. Sand, steel, or whatever else I choose to wield, none of it will falter against you"

Anthony stood, his movements deliberate, his gaze unwavering.

"A test, you say? Don't tempt me, Lucian. I've already seen your limits, and trust me, they're not as vast as you think"

The tension in the room grew palpable, the air heavy with the unspoken challenge between the two.

Aaaninja, however, remained seated, his voice cutting through the charged atmosphere with the same measured calm as before.

"Careful, the both of you"

He said, his tone carrying an almost imperceptible hint of amusement.

"You speak as though your victories are assured. Yet here we sit, three champions, each believing ourselves invincible. Tell me, who among us is truly prepared to claim dominance?"

Lucian turned to Aaaninja, his grin fading into something more calculating.

"And what about you, Aaaninja? Do you think you can stand against us? Or are you content to sit there in silence, imagining victories that will never come?"

Aaaninja's smile returned, subtle and enigmatic.

"I do not imagine victories, Lucian. I calculate them. And unlike the two of you, I do not waste time boasting of what has yet to occur. When we meet on the battlefield, my actions will speak for themselves"

Anthony crossed his arms, his expression unreadable.

"Calculated or not, you'll find that reality doesn't always align with your expectations. Your calm demeanor won't save you when the time comes"

Aaaninja tilted his head slightly, his smile unchanging.

"Perhaps. But then again, perhaps it will"

The room fell into silence once more, the weight of their words lingering in the air.

Each of them radiated an unshakable confidence, their belief in their own superiority unyielding.

It was a clash of egos, a battle fought not with weapons but with words and unspoken promises of future conflict.

Finally, Lucian broke the silence, his tone lighter but no less challenging.

"Well, this is going to be fun. Three unbreakable forces, each convinced of their own supremacy. I almost feel sorry for whoever has to watch us tear each other apart"

Anthony let out a soft chuckle, the sound devoid of humor.

"Fun, indeed. Just don't be too disappointed when you realize you're not as 'unbreakable' as you think"

Aaaninja rose to his feet with fluid grace, his closed eyes giving him an air of detachment even as his presence filled the room.

"We shall see"

He said simply, his voice carrying the weight of inevitability.

With that, the conversation ended, the three champions retreating into their own thoughts.

The air in the cottage remained thick with tension, a quiet prelude to the storm that would inevitably come.