"Why are you smiling?" Vega asked as she noticed Anthony had grown lost in thought after she'd asked him a single question.

"Ahem… nothing," Anthony replied, clearing his throat. "Just thinking about the team's reaction when they see us. After all, they're already gathered in Reynold's room." A faint, knowing smile lingered on his lips as he spoke.

Vega arched an eyebrow and shook her head lightly. She knew Anthony was lying, but she didn't press the matter. She hadn't expected an honest answer from him anyway. "Should we go see them?" she asked.

"Of course," Anthony replied, rising gracefully from the couch. "It's been a while. What kind of friends would we be if we didn't?" He smiled as Vega stood beside him, and together, they headed for the door. Their steps were unhurried, each movement calm and deliberate, as they walked out and began making their way toward Reynold's quarters.

Since everyone had moved to Anthony's private island, there was no need for portals. The walk itself was pleasant, gentle winds swept across the lush pathways, and the faint hum of mana-infused energy filled the atmosphere. When they reached Reynold's door, Anthony didn't bother knocking. Why would he? The others never knocked before entering his room.

The door creaked open, and in that instant, the team's attention snapped toward it. A subtle frown appeared on several faces; none of them had sensed a presence approaching. Their surprise was instant and visible.

When the door finally swung open, their eyes widened. Standing at the entrance was a tall man, easily six foot six, with flowing white hair that cascaded down his back and mesmerizing sky-blue eyes that carried both serenity and strength. Beside him stood a woman of matching allure, long, purple hair framing her face, eyes of the same hue glowing faintly, and an elegance that made the room feel smaller just by her presence. Her heels clicked lightly against the polished floor, rhythmically echoing her poise.

No introduction was needed. Recognition flashed instantly.

"Anthony!" they all exclaimed in surprise, voices overlapping.

"Ehh… I'm here too, guys," Vega added dryly, her tone laced with mild frustration. She folded her arms and sighed when none of them immediately responded. She didn't take it personally, though, after all, she had told them she'd be entering seclusion, while Anthony hadn't told anyone anything at all.

"It's been a while, everyone," Anthony said warmly, his lips curving into an easy smile as he stepped forward and sank into the nearest couch. His gaze drifted casually between each of them, reading their expressions. "It seems everyone just returned from a mission," he observed, amusement still in his voice. Vega, meanwhile, moved to sit gracefully beside Seraphim.

"You do know that you could have at least told us before going into seclusion, right?" Kingsley said, his golden eyes locked on Anthony. Despite his mild rebuke, there was genuine happiness behind his words.

"Come on, don't overthink it," Anthony replied with a small chuckle. "I don't plan my seclusions, they just happen. I start them at random and stop whenever I feel like it. How can I inform anyone when even I don't know when it'll happen? Besides, I didn't inform my parents or Vega either. That's how spontaneous it was."

His eyes scanned across the group. They had clearly just returned from battle, yet none of them appeared tired or drained. In fact, they looked perfectly fine, too fine. 'Were they carried through the mission by Kingsley, Clement, and Spectre?' Anthony mused, though he quickly dismissed the thought with a faint smirk. It didn't concern him.

Hearing his explanation, the team simply nodded in quiet understanding.

"But still…" Dale began, leaning forward slightly. "You're already absurdly powerful, yet you are going into seclusion. How strong do you even want to be? You're barely twenty, and already at a level that most people can't even dream of."

"For real," Reynold added with a sigh. "You should give the rest of us a chance to catch up, you know."

Anthony chuckled softly, tilting his head. "Well… I'll be waiting for you all when I reach the peak. I'll make sure the view is nice from up there."

"Since we're seeing you for the first time in a while, we should drink," Kingsley declared suddenly, his calm smile returning. "A toast, to your progress in every area."

"I never said anything about improving in every area," Anthony said with a light laugh, though he didn't refuse. "But fine, I'll take that toast."

"You're you," Seraphim said, leaning back with a smirk. "I'm sure you improved in whatever area you focused on. If someone with your heaven-defying talent can't make progress, the rest of us might as well give up and retire early."

Kingsley reached into his space ring, pulling out an array of bottles, fine alcohols, glowing juices, and aged wines from across several planets. It was no surprise; he was notorious for carrying drinks everywhere he went. Within seconds, the table was filled. Everyone took a glass, choosing their preferred drink, and raised it high.

"To Anthony's improvement," Reynold announced with an easy grin.

"To Anthony's improvement!" the others echoed enthusiastically.

"To the peak," Anthony added, his voice steady, his expression glowing with quiet pride. With a soft clink, the glasses touched, and they began to drink. The familiar warmth spread quickly, not just from the alcohol, but from the comfort of being together again.

'It's been a while since I bought food from the system,' Anthony thought, smirking to himself before buying an assortment of dishes. In moments, the room was alive with laughter, clinking glasses, and the faint aroma of freshly served delicacies.

The reunion grew lively. The team swapped stories and shared anecdotes, details of missions completed, close calls, strange encounters, and inside jokes Anthony had missed during his six months of absence. Vega laughed softly beside Seraphim, while Dale and Reynold began arguing playfully over who had the worse sense of direction on missions. Kingsley rolled his eyes, and even Clement, usually reserved, cracked a faint smile.

Laughter and smiles filled the air, echoing off the walls. For a moment, the mission reports waiting to be written and submitted were entirely forgotten.

Anthony watched them all quietly, his blue eyes warm. A content smile curved his lips. He had spent centuries in isolation, training, meditating, pushing himself beyond human comprehension. Yet here, surrounded by friends, laughing, drinking, and eating to his heart's content, he felt something deeper.

This was the meaning of life.

Not endless cultivation. Not the blind pursuit of strength. But the fleeting, precious moments spent among those who mattered, moments that reminded him why power was worth having at all.

What was the point of godlike strength if one could never use it to protect or enjoy peace?

Using his power to crush civilizations and bend them beneath his rule? That was for others, reincarnators obsessed with domination, with proving superiority. Anthony had long since decided he wanted no part in that endless cycle.

For him, the true reward of reincarnation wasn't control, it was freedom. The freedom to live a life without constant struggle. A life where he could sit among friends, drink, and laugh without worry. That, to him, was the ultimate bliss.

He leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting across the lively room once more. The faint chatter, the bursts of laughter, the sound of glasses touching, it was perfect.

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