MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Every single being upon the Blue Planet, old or young, strong or weak, rich or poor, insane or sane, turned their eyes toward their screens.

Whether a humble villager or the mightiest warrior, whether a hermit hidden deep in the mountains or a ruler seated upon a gilded throne, all had at least a phone or some form of advanced device at their disposal.

No matter how powerful one was, technology was inescapably woven into the very fabric of their world.

It was not a convenience one could simply discard, nor a trend that could fade away.

It had become a necessity, an extension of their very lives.

And so, in unison, their gazes bore into the flickering image of the StreamGhost livestream, captivated by the sight of Anthony halting the Demon Monarch's punch as though it were no more than a harmless gust of air.

Most who watched understood the terrifying scale of strength these two beings possessed.

For the cameras of StreamGhost to even keep up with such combat was already something akin to a miracle. The presence of commentary almost heightened the impact.

But, the truth was clear enough: these were powerful entities, and if the Leader of the Titan Domain could be sent flying with a single blow, then whoever this Demon, Lilithra, was, she stood in a class entirely above the rest of them.

The chat erupted.

Comments began to flood the feed, speculation and awe mixing into a storm of words. Some argued about the true identity of this so-called Demon King. Others had already begun labeling Lilithra with ominous titles, the most chilling being World Ender.

The majority of these voices came from novel readers, veterans of countless fictional demon king tales, who could not help but draw parallels between those familiar tropes and the spectacle unfolding before their eyes.

Then came the unexpected twist: they saw Anthony address the world leaders directly, commanding them to end the ongoing war with the Forsaken Cult immediately.

For many, this was cause for celebration. The war had bled Domains, torn apart families, and swallowed countless lives. Yet, for others, the real focus lay elsewhere, not in the order itself, but in the audacity of it. Anthony had commanded the world leaders as though they were his subordinates.

It was not arrogance if it was the truth. And the truth was now undeniable to all who watched: Anthony was stronger than them.

They could see the frowns etched across the faces of the Domain Leaders, their pride wounded, their expressions tight with restrained displeasure.

The viewers reacted in turn, sending waves of mocking emojis and laughter through the chat. In this world, strength was everything; age and seniority meant nothing without power to back them.

But then, the chat went still. The comment feed vanished as Anthony and Lilithra's battle truly began. At first, all they saw was Anthony fleeing the planet's atmosphere with Lilithra in hot pursuit.

Seeing this, the chat roared back to life:

{Lolphh has gifted a Massage Chair}

{Lolphh: Is Anthony running away?}

{Leon_Georgi_8655 has gifted an Inspiration Capsule}

{Leon_Georgi_8655: Nope @Lolphh; he's leaving the planet to avoid more unnecessary damage. Who can even guess how many would die if they fought here? I, for one, still value my life.}

{Nairasecf has gifted an Ice Cola}

{Nairasecf: Looks like we won't be able to watch the rest of this battle. Time to switch over to that purple-haired battle goddess from earlier.}

Many in the chat agreed. They assumed, quite logically, that the StreamGhost cameras could never function properly in outer space. The void beyond their skies was, after all, an entirely different realm of existence, alien to their normal sense of reality.

Still, they continued watching, waiting for the inevitable moment when the screen would fade to black, ready to switch over to Vega's battle.

They were wrong.

The StreamGhost cameras didn't falter for even a second. Instead, they adjusted instantly, clinging to Anthony's figure like an obsessive, unshakable shadow.

And then, for the first time in history, the majority of the world laid eyes upon the majesty of outer space. Stars of every size glittered against the endless void, some golden and brilliant, others cold and blue.

Massive suns burned with unfathomable fury, their light washing across entire star systems. Planets of varying colors and magnitudes drifted in serene orbits, some cloaked in storms, others ringed in ice and dust.

The awe was universal. Words failed. For several long moments, the chat was utterly silent. Many had grown up believing theirs was the only world that existed. Now, faced with the boundless truth, they felt as though they had been children staring through a keyhole, only to have the entire door torn from its hinges.

But their wonder was short-lived.

The Demon Lilithra emerged into the void, her form radiant with destructive power, and the battle resumed, this time, far from the fragile safety of their home planet.

They watched these two beings clash with a force that defied all worldly logic, their movements and strikes akin to those of gods.

At one point, the pair stood upon the surface of a star. In the next instant, the star erupted in a cataclysmic explosion, swallowing them whole. When the inferno faded, both emerged without a single scratch.

A star's detonation could reduce entire planets to dust in an instant, yet these two endured it as though it were nothing more than a passing breeze.

No one could understand how the StreamGhost feed was keeping pace with such impossible speed, but no one cared anymore.

They were beyond explanation, beyond disbelief. They simply watched, transfixed, as these god-like combatants moved faster than any known unit of measurement could describe.

Not a soul dared interrupt with idle chatter. Even when a stray comment appeared, it was left to vanish unanswered. Every eye burned into the unfolding clash, as if sheer concentration could allow them to feel the shockwaves through their screens.

Then came the moment that made hearts across the world tighten, Lilithra suddenly stopped mid-battle. Her voice cut through the silence, calling their Heaven's Favourite Child an "Anomaly," before slipping into the most classic of villain declarations: she had not yet been fighting seriously.

Phones and devices everywhere lit up with screenrecording icons. Billions were now saving this battle, knowing without doubt that they were witnessing history in the making.

Some feared that Anthony had already been using his full power from the very start, and that now, he would be overwhelmed. Others argued that he too had been holding back.

The uncertainty did not last long.

The battle resumed, and the viewers watched in mute shock as a planet, one larger than their own, was struck and sent hurtling forward like a throw ball. In the next exchange, Anthony retaliated, shattering the massive world into pieces before their very eyes.

Then they moved toward a sun, the Demon kicking it forward while Anthony cleaved it neatly in two with a mere wave of his hand, as though slicing a piece of fruit.

These were celestial bodies, vast beyond comprehension, ancient beyond time, and yet they were destroyed as though they were no more than toys.

The two opponents faced each other again. This time, Anthony spoke.

The words made many doubt their hearing. A nineteen-year-old boy, standing unshaken in the void, claimed that until now, he had always fought his opponents on equal footing. Now, he was warning a Demon over a million years old to prepare herself.

It seemed too absurd to believe. And yet, none could look away.

Whether Anthony's words were pure bravado or unshakable truth, only the coming moments would reveal.

And so, the anticipation built to a fever pitch.

Eyes widened. Breaths stilled. Hearts pounded. Blood seemed to burn in their veins. Across the Blue Planet, billions of souls leaned forward toward their screens, waiting for the next move that would either crown Anthony in glory… or shatter him utterly.