MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Above, the Third Supreme clashed with the Fifth Supreme. Lightning and decaying energy tore into each other with destructive waves of annihilation, their colliding powers igniting the skies with fury.

They moved, no, they streaked, at speeds far surpassing that of sound. Sonic booms echoed across the void as they shattered sound barriers, moving so swiftly it was as if they could cross light years in mere meters. Every step, every motion, every clash distorted space itself.

The heavens churned with a wrathful fury, and a world ending charge erupted above in sheer devastation. The skies roared in wild power, echoing the might of gods in battle.

Then it descended, like a beast without conscience or mercy. A creature of pure devastation. With no trace of reprieve, space and void were dyed in white hot incandescent lightning, as though the very concept of calm had been burned away.

A storm of apocalypse rained down in ridiculous succession, an unrelenting barrage that cracked through the cosmos like divine judgment.

The Third Supreme moved, his decaying energy spreading out like a living tide, hungrily devouring every bolt of lightning that tore through the fabric of reality. His form shot forward, eyes narrowed, face twisted in a deep frown.

He couldn't believe what was happening right before his very eyes. This shouldn't be possible, he had gotten injured far too many times since this battle had started. The thought clawed at his pride. He couldn't believe it. He dared not believe it.

He was the Third Supreme Monarch, for fuck's sake.

Another bolt of lightning struck him with pinpoint accuracy. His body charred under the impact, seared and smoking. But he regenerated instantly and continued moving. His decay energy surged outward in a retaliatory strike, trying to engulf Collins.

Yet in a streak of thunder and light, Collins vanished — gone again.

The Third Supreme's mind raced in a flurry of chaos and disbelief.

What he was witnessing should not be possible.

What was happening should be impossible.

At the rank of Supreme Monarchs, it was no longer merely about cultivation or brute force. It had long surpassed that. It became about control, refinement, authority, and commandment over one's power.

At the level of Supreme Monarchs, strength was determined by the precision of one's control. It was about how deeply one had become one with their power, how refined their essence had become through sheer discipline and comprehension.

They existed on a different plane entirely, far above any other being beneath them, which was why they stood as absolute rulers. They could cleave through stars like they were mere stone. They could fell suns as if they were ordinary flames. They could shatter planets as easily as cracking an egg.

They were simply different — transcendent. A whole new tier of power. A level of existence that others could not even begin to fathom.

In the military, the ranking of the Supremes ranged from First to Ninth. The numbers did not just signify order of ascension, but also represented current power and supremacy. Each number was both a historical mark and a testament of strength.

Just like how the First Supreme Monarch was the very first to ascend, and Mitchelle, the Ninth Supreme, was the last. But more importantly, the numbers reflected power.

The First Supreme was known with absolute certainty as the strongest among them all, the Absolute Ruler of the military, because his strength dwarfed everyone else's.

The ranking followed that logic: the Second Supreme was more powerful than the Third, the Third more powerful than the Fourth, and so on. Each higher ranked Supreme possessed greater control, higher comprehension, and deeper mastery than the one below.

Which was why the Third Supreme now stood in utter disbelief. He knew he was supposed to be stronger than the Fifth Supreme. He had even defeated the Fifth Supreme decades ago in a widely witnessed battle.

But now... it seemed all of that was meaningless. The Fifth Supreme Monarch had become something else entirely, faster, stronger, with better control, more refined essence. His power eclipsed everything the Third Supreme hurled at him, as if every attack was child's play.

'How?'

The Third Supreme couldn't help but think as his energy rippled outward in shockwaves. His skin began knitting itself back together, wounds vanishing like smoke in the wind.

'Since when?'

The thought spiraled in his mind, refusing to leave. Another barrage of lightning crashed into his energy dome, shattering it like dragon's breath against a paper wall.

Even the Second Supreme hadn't ever suppressed him this badly. At least with the Second Supreme, he could fight back. He could land a few blows.

But here? His ears registered only deafening thunder. His eyes caught only flashes of blinding white light, even with his transcendent senses. And then came the impact, always the impact, brutal and crushing.

Regret began to worm its way into his thoughts. He should never have interfered. He should have kept his silence from the very beginning.

This was never his battle to begin with. This was a conflict between the Null family and the Second Supreme.

'Did the First Supreme know?'

His thoughts were interrupted as another lightning bolt exploded into his chest like a war hammer against a temple bell. The sheer force hurled him backward like a torn kite in a storm, spiraling through the void.

The stench of burnt flesh filled the air as his body collided violently with a sun. The star trembled from the impact, light flaring wildly before stabilizing once again.

But the Third Supreme rose immediately, surging upward. His figure blurred into motion, crossing incomprehensible distances in nanoseconds.

'Normally, the First Supreme would have stopped this entire fiasco with just a word.'

The thought hit him like a slap. The First Supreme hadn't spoken. He had stepped back.

'He's using us to test their new power.'

The realization sent chills through the Third Supreme's being.

But he wasn't the only one doubting his existence at this moment.

The Second Supreme and the Seventh Supreme were experiencing the same spiral of doubt. Everything they believed about power, status, and hierarchy was crumbling beneath their feet.

Those they once looked down upon had now risen far above them. The Fifth, Eighth, and Ninth Supremes, once lesser, now stood dominant.

Still, they noticed something. Despite the overwhelming suppression, the Fifth, Eighth, and Ninth had not moved to kill.

Though the Second, Third, and Seventh were being injured, the wounds remained superficial. Flesh regenerated. Bones reformed. There was no lasting damage to their essence. No fatal intent in their attacks.

If the Null family had truly wanted to destroy them, they would have targeted their cores, their essence, the very foundation of their being. But that didn't make the humiliation any less agonizing. Their pride, their image, their authority, crushed beneath absolute might.

Sure, they had skills, techniques and devastating abilities meant only for life or death situations. But this wasn't one of those moments. They couldn't justify unleashing those arts.

And even if they did, there was no guarantee they would win. After all, the Null family hadn't used theirs either.