MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

The Overseer surveyed the crowd with a gaze steeped in schadenfreude, a subtle smirk betraying the pleasure he took in the unfolding scene.

"Let us begin, shall we? Everyone is to proceed in single file, one thousand to a Prism"

The Overseer announced, their voice carrying a chilling authority.

At once, the crowd shifted into perfect order.

A dragonkin strode forward, her expression stoic and unchanging as she pressed her hand against the crystalline orb.

The orb pulsed with an ethereal glow as energy coursed through her very being, resonating with her body and soul.

Two sets of numbers materialized in shimmering light:

Soul: 915 years

Body: 915 years

Without hesitation, she stepped aside, her turn complete.

And so, the procedure continued, one after another stepping forth to be measured.

Soul: 1001 years

Body: 1001 years

When these numbers emerged from a man of the Bone Race, a palpable wave of panic overtook him.

His skeletal frame stiffened as realization dawned, he had crossed the limit by a single year.

The Overseer turned toward him, his voice like the crack of judgment itself.

"You are over the age limit. Disqualified"

In an instant, the Bone Race man vanished, his form erased by the Overseer's power.

A ripple of murmurs swept through the crowd, the weight of the moment palpable, yet the event pressed on with unrelenting efficiency.

Five hours later, the anomaly occurred.

Soul: 503,876 years

Body: 894 years

Condition: Soul Swap

The man's shock was evident, his expression betraying his disbelief.

'Why didn't the technique work?'

He thought, panic surging through him.

He had meticulously planned to deceive the Soulflux Prism, believing his method flawless.

Yet, the ancient artifact proved unyielding, exposing his secret with unnerving clarity.

For the first time, someone had been caught.

Gasps swept through the crowd as all eyes turned to the Soulflux Prism, its glowing display making the truth inescapable.

Few had known of the artifact's capacity to detect such nuanced irregularities, and its revelation sent a chill through the assembly.

The man had employed the forbidden, Soul Swap Technique.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

This technique allowed him to transfer his soul into another body, evading the ravages of age.

However, it wasn't the technique itself that had made him so dangerous, it was his ingenuity.

He had personally created a secret realm, luring victims into his trap.

Within the realm, he placed abundant treasures and resources, setting strict entry requirements for age and mana rank.

Greedy organizations, enticed by the promise of riches, would send their most talented individuals.

Once they entered, the man would bide his time, targeting the most promising candidate.

When the opportunity arose, he would transfer his soul into their youthful body, abandoning his old one and escaping with both their potential and his hidden treasures.

But now, his centuries of scheming had been laid bare.

'Shit'

The man's thoughts spiraled as he tried to make a run for it.

Yet before he could take a single step, space around him solidified, freezing him in place.

"And where do you think you're going, Your Highness?"

The Overseer's voice cut through the murmurs, laced with both mockery and authority.

With a flick of his fingers, space contorted, and the man disappeared in an instant.

For crimes like his, there would be no mercy.

Captured individuals guilty of abnormalities were subjected to ruthless interrogation.

Their memories, techniques, and knowledge were extracted, every shred of information scrutinized for value.

And with a soul aged over 500,000 years, this man would undoubtedly hold an invaluable trove of forbidden lore.

Once the authorities had claimed all they needed, his existence would end.

There was no chance of him using Soul Swap again; the technique could only be employed once.

Even if he attempted another forbidden art like Body Possession, it won't work.

His scheme, built over a century, had unraveled in mere moments.

Anthony froze, his gaze locked on the unfolding spectacle.

There was a stark difference between those disqualified for merely exceeding the age limit and those whose soul and body ages diverged.

The latter revealed secrets that went far beyond simple violations, and Anthony could already envision the chaos such revelations would bring.

The process continued, tension thick in the air, until another anomaly surfaced, this time, a woman.

Soul: 1,263,384 years

Body: 834 years

Condition: Reincarnation

The Overseer's eyes narrowed, a sharp gleam flashing as he registered the staggering numbers.

Even he, with his power, had not surpassed a million years of existence.

Before he could act, the woman vanished in an instant, her escape seamless and calculated.

It was clear she had anticipated the possibility of being exposed and had prepared accordingly.

Yet, as her presence faded, someone responded.

A radiant light erupted in the sky, and a figure emerged, moving with purpose and speed, a pursuer.

Someone who had lived for over a million years undoubtedly carried knowledge, treasures.

Such a prize was too great to let escape, and the chase had already begun.

Anthony's heart raced as he watched the scene unfold, a whirlwind of thoughts flooding his mind.

What secrets did she possess? And who was bold enough to hunt someone with a soul that ancient?

It was the turn of the human man who had earlier given Anthony a knowing smile.

With an air of quiet majesty, he approached the Soulflux Prism, his steps purposeful, almost regal, as though he ruled this arena.

Placing his hand on the Orb, the device flared to life, but something curious occurred, the process lasted two seconds longer than usual.

Then, the results appeared.

Soul: 322 years

Body: 322 years

A collective gasp swept through the crowd.

The shock was not from a discrepancy in age units but from the impossibility of the number itself.

The age limit for the tournament was one thousand years, and most participants were at least 800 years old or older, veterans of countless centuries.

Yet here stood a man barely past three centuries.

And not just any man, a Human, of all things.

Murmurs of disdain rippled through the crowd.

Some sneered openly, while others spat on the ground, disgusted by what they perceived as a mockery of their strength and legacy.

The man, however, paid them no heed.

His expression remained serene, his gaze calm and unwavering.

He simply smiled, a quiet, enigmatic gesture, and turned his attention back to Anthony.

Then, with the same composed stride, he walked away, leaving a wake of bewildered silence.

Following him, another figure stepped forward.

This man exuded an aura of quiet power. His tall, muscular frame was impossible to ignore, and his stark white hair gave him an almost otherworldly appearance.

Though his eyes remained closed, there was no covering or cloth shielding them, unlike the customary practice of the Seer.

It seemed his vision transcended the need for physical sight.

He placed his hand on the Orb, and it responded swiftly.

Soul: 346 years

Body: 346 years

A ripple of awe spread through the crowd.

"As expected of the Celestial race"

Someone murmured.

"Only 346 years old, and already their champion"

"He must be a genius"

Another added, their tone tinged with admiration.

The Celestial race was renowned across the galaxy, standing among the most powerful and revered of all races.

For their champion to be so young yet represent their kind spoke volumes of his talent.

The man remained unbothered by the whispers of reverence and curiosity.

His composure was unshaken, each step radiating dignity and calm.

The crowd's admiration followed him as he left the platform, his presence leaving an indelible impression on all who watched.

It was Anthony's turn.

He stepped forward, his movements unusually slow, each step laden with trepidation.

His thoughts spiraled uncontrollably, a whirlwind of doubts and fears.

'Will Mom and Dad still love me if I'm exposed?'

Anthony's hand trembled slightly as it reached toward the Orb, his heartbeat drumming louder with each passing second.

It felt as though the Grim Reaper himself stood beside him, his icy gaze fixed on Anthony, waiting for his moment of doom.

'If anything goes wrong, I'll escape to the Divine Realm immediately'

He resolved, bracing himself for the worst.

Finally, his hand made contact with the Orb.

A surge of energy coursed through him, a sensation so powerful that it felt as though the very universe had paused, holding its breath in anticipation of his fate.

Then, the numbers appeared.

Soul: 17 years

Body: 17 years

Anthony exhaled internally, relief flooding through him like a tidal wave.

He wanted to smile, a triumphant grin to mark his victory, but he restrained himself.

The overseer's schadenfreude laden gaze lingered on him like a predator observing its prey.

A smile might give the man the wrong idea, that Anthony had somehow tricked the Soulflux Prism, and provoke intervention.

The crowd's reaction was immediate and explosive.

Gasps of disbelief rippled through the arena.

"Seventeen?"

"A mere child entering this competition?"

They couldn't believe what they were seeing.

The participants, most of whom were between 800 and 1,000 years old, stared at the floating number with wide eyes.

Even the overseer himself faltered, his expression betraying genuine shock.

"What is the Human race thinking?"

One champion scoffed, his voice laced with contempt.

"Sending a baby to the Galaxy Championship? How dare they insult us like this?"

Another roared, fury coloring his tone.

"Which planet thought this was acceptable?"

A third demanded, their face twisted in rage.

Despite the disdain and derision, Anthony remained unshaken.

He heaved an internal sigh of relief, his expression unreadable as he walked back to his position.

But just as he returned, a voice echoed in his mind, rich with amusement.

"Hahaha! This is just too funny"

Anthony grimaced.

'Romulus'

"Tsk… What's so funny?"

Anthony shot back, irritated.

"Oh, nothing much. Watching you panic like a headless chicken was... refreshing. Now I understand why the Creator loves watching you squirm. Hahaha"

"Suit yourself"

Anthony muttered, annoyance creeping into his tone.

Romulus's laughter continued unabated.

"Why so worked up? It's not my fault you're, how do I put this?, dumb"

Anthony bristled.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, how could you forget? Your soul was personally reincarnated by the Creator himself. Do you really think something as trivial as the Soulflux Prism could detect you?"

Anthony's eyes widened as realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

He facepalmed, groaning inwardly.

"Where is my so called Divine intelligence when I need it?"

If his soul could truly be detected, then ??? was nothing more than a scammer.

"Besides"

Romulus added smugly.

"You had nothing to fear. You have me, Romulus, the Divine Flame"

Anthony rolled his eyes.

"And?"

"And I wield power beyond what you comprehend. You only use my flames, my most basic form, If that's all I had, wouldn't I be some one trick phony?"

"Get to the point"

Anthony snapped.

"The point is, I reside within your soul. Nothing can touch it without my permission. Not even the vaunted Soulflux Prism. With a single thought, I could destroy or manipulate that thing"

Anthony's patience snapped.

"Then why didn't you help? Or at least warn me?"

"Why should I?"

Romulus said nonchalantly.

"The Creator's got your back, and besides… watching you is far too entertaining"

Anthony clenched his fists, exhaling deeply to calm himself.

"I swear, one of these days…"

Romulus chuckled.

"You should thank me for the laughs. They're priceless"

Shaking his head, Anthony tried to put the ordeal behind him.

"Where's my reward for being your entertainment?"

He thought bitterly, addressing ??? directly.

[Ding...??? says you have become too greedy. You should put on a good show during this tournament, and he will reward you]

Anthony sighed when he heard this and decided to let it go.