MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

In a hidden space, the First Supreme watched. His golden-ringed eyes shone as he tracked every single ability and power being unleashed at this very moment. Within the haze covering his face, a deep frown could be seen.

This battle had a way of confirming his suspicions, to assess and understand their new power and what had brought about it. Why had this sudden change occurred?

He sat back. He intended to interfere only after gathering enough information and data in order to prepare for anything that may arise. There was no rush. He wanted to ensure that every piece of the puzzle was firmly in place before acting.

Beside him, the smile on the Fourth Supreme Monarch's face had instantly vanished.

He hadn't wanted to interfere from the beginning because he genuinely wanted to watch the show unfold. But now, this was no longer just a show. He watched as the three people he could easily handle before flipped the entire table upside down.

At this moment, he no longer watched for fun. He watched because he needed to understand what was happening, because not understanding was more dangerous than anything else.

Hours went by as the Null family continued their chaotic display. The First Supreme Monarch, feeling it was getting repetitive, decided to intervene.

The Null family no longer used any new moves, only Mitchelle, who seemed to cast different spells each time as her Aetheris Codex shuffled endlessly through its enchanted pages.

The Fourth Supreme watched as the haze covering the First Supreme swirled and twisted. Then, without warning, he vanished from the hidden space.

Appearing above the ongoing battle, the First Supreme stood like a god, like a father about to reprimand his rebellious children.

Although the Fifth, Eighth, and Ninth Supreme Monarchs had made great strides in power, he was still the First Supreme Monarch. His title hadn't changed. Neither had his pride.

His golden-ringed eyes glowed gently. Then, behind him, space rippled as a large, bright golden halo appeared behind his back, glorious and imposing.

He stood like an archangel descending from the heavens, but even the radiant halo couldn't dissipate the mysterious haze covering his face and body.

Then his voice came, ancient, commanding, prideful, and authoritative.

It sounded like Law itself. Like a divine decree from a god.

Epoch Silence.

Invisible energy waves rippled calmly across the void, as if the universe itself recognized the authority behind them.

Then suddenly, everything started slowing down rapidly until it came to a complete and perfect halt, and silence blanketed all creation.

The stars no longer blinked. Space froze. Sun rays became still, suspended in time. Planets stopped orbiting. Mana and all forms of energy pulsed once, then obeyed, as if the creator of the universe had issued a command.

Every Supreme Monarch felt their bodies come to an instant halt. Their attacks, weapons, and movements froze mid-motion. But their consciousness and thoughts remained fully active.

Their senses and perception shifted, then locked onto the First Supreme Monarch like compasses pulled toward true north.

"Fifth, Eighth, and Ninth Supreme Monarchs," the First Supreme began. "I understand your wrath. Your son shouldn't be attacked after the Second Supreme failed at his own proposal."

The First Supreme Monarch's visage intensified. At this moment, it became undeniably clear why he had stood unchallenged for ages.

"But we are supposed to be attacking the Demons in two days' time. We shouldn't be attacking one another at this moment."

Michael, Mitchelle, and Collins didn't object. They had never been fighting to kill the Supreme Monarchs in the first place. This was the military after all, and every single Supreme Monarch was needed for the upcoming war. Besides, ending a Supreme would do more harm than good.

This battle was merely to make a statement to the other Supremes. A warning. A show of strength.

But make no mistake, if another Supreme tried attacking Anthony again, then the Null family wouldn't hesitate to throw the military into chaos, instead of throwing the demons into chaos.

This was a one-time "back off" offer, and it wouldn't be extended again.

The First Supreme Monarch continued speaking, his tone unmoved:

"Second Supreme, this mess started with you. You shall pay ten percent of all your personal wealth within your spatial ring."

If time wasn't frozen, the Second Supreme Monarch's face would have twisted into a frown of absolute despair. Ten percent of his personal wealth was simply too much.

As a Supreme Monarch, he was excessively wealthy. To part with even a fraction of the treasures he had gathered over the centuries was painful beyond measure.

But could he object? No.

He understood full well, the difference in power between himself and the First Supreme was no different from the gap between the Sun and the Moon.

Distant, overwhelming, and utterly impossible to bridge.

The First Supreme's gaze shifted from the Second Supreme to the Ninth Supreme, and he continued.

"Ninth Supreme, ask your son about the favor. Whatever it is, I will grant it, as long as it isn't something outrageous, like naming him a Supreme Monarch simply because he injured one."

He paused briefly, then spoke again with finality.

"Tomorrow, we discuss our attack plans and the route we shall take. The day after that, the carnage begins. Be at my domain by midday tomorrow."

With those last words, the haze surrounding the First Supreme swirled like mist caught in a storm, and then he vanished into nothingness.

Time resumed the moment he left, and everything snapped back into motion.

The already-sent-out attacks collapsed into one another, clashing without purpose. The fighting Supreme Monarchs stared at one another in silence for a long moment.

Questions burned within the minds of the Second, Third, Fourth, and Seventh Supreme Monarchs, but they didn't speak.

They knew they wouldn't get answers, not now, not ever. It would be up to them to discover the truth through their own means.

With that, they too vanished, leaving only the Fifth, Eighth, and Ninth Supremes within the void of absolute destruction.

But they didn't speak. There was nothing more to be said.

Mitchelle's Aetheris Codex simply shuffled its pages as a portal opened before her. Without another word, she stepped through it, her form vanishing into the light. Michael and Collins followed right behind her, their expressions unreadable.