From above, in the direction Aaaninja was observing, an aircraft descended with a gentle, almost imperceptible hum. It gradually came to a stop, levitating at the same level as the other aircraft, hovering just a few meters above the ground. Through the aircraft's open hatch, three men and two women stepped out with a calm, unhurried ease, their movements smooth and graceful.

Among them, one man and one woman immediately drew attention, standing out distinctly from the rest.

They were Riven Darkheart and Vespera Darkheart, the parents of Lucian Darkheart, two of the very few human powerhouses capable of rivaling the elite of the top races. The weight of their presence was immense; the very air seemed to tremble under their combined existence, pressing down on anyone nearby with subtle but undeniable force.

Many powerhouses who had been gathered there instinctively frowned as they perceived the arrival of Riven and Vespera. No questions were necessary, everyone understood. The warriors present had indeed grown stronger than they had been three years prior, bolstered by the immense resources and reward gained from the Starborn Tournament.

The echo of footsteps reverberated against the metallic surface of the aircraft as three more beings emerged into view. One stood taller than the rest, his posture calm, controlled, and unnervingly confident. His black eyes were deeper and calmer than the stillest of lakes, reflecting a focus and precision that seemed almost unnatural.

His black hair was flawless, perfectly framing his stoic expression. At his waist, a katana hung with deliberate menace, as if it could slice through anything and everything in its path. This was Lucian Darkheart.

To Lucian's right stood a woman whose beauty defied description, the very embodiment of the word "bombshell." Long, flowing white hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes, equally white, lacked pupils, lending them an otherworldly, mesmerizing quality that drew the gaze and refused to release it. This was Veronica.

To Lucian's left was the third member of the team, handpicked by his mother, Valak. He observed the scene before him with calm indifference, his expression unreadable, exuding a quiet but apathetic composure.

Veronica allowed herself a subtle admiration of the scene before her, though she tried to keep her emotions carefully controlled. She was acutely aware of countless eyes scrutinizing not just her, but the group as a whole. Each glance assessed, measured, and weighed their potential, a silent evaluation that could not be ignored. Despite her best efforts to maintain composure, she knew her attempts were minimal compared to the mastery of the experts and powerhouses who had reached the Planetary level.

She exhaled silently and mentally reassessed her teammates. Lucian and Valak's poise eclipsed hers entirely. Yet, this did not diminish her confidence; rather, she found herself subtly emulating their composure, drawing inspiration from their presence.

The arrival of Riven and Vespera stirred action among many human powerhouses who had been waiting nearby. In the blink of an eye, several of them surged forward, moving faster than the eye could follow, arriving before the two elder figures and offering their formal greetings.

However, their attention quickly shifted to Lucian. He met their acknowledgment with a simple, disinterested glance, choosing to ignore them entirely. There was no patience for idle social interaction, especially with these older veterans, no matter how respected they were.

"Calamity Demon, it's been a while," Zachary's voice resonated clearly, a soft smile curving his lips as his gaze met Riven's. In that moment, the two men exchanged greetings steeped in centuries of familiarity. Aaaninja and Lucian's mothers, too, acknowledged one another with a smile, their history spanning centuries of mutual acquaintance and unspoken understanding.

Even amid lingering racial discrimination in some corners of the galaxy, no such prejudice dared manifest in the presence of true, unparalleled power. After all, who could look down upon the Calamity Demon, the Annihilator himself, without risking their own annihilation?

Lucian's black eyes shifted as he sensed a familiar presence. They met Aaaninja's gaze, whose eyes shimmered with the same rainbow-colored, clock-like brilliance. At that instant, a subtle smile appeared on both of their faces. Without uttering a word to their parents, they vanished from their positions, tearing into the sky at a speed so extraordinary that the very air itself seemed to quiver. Their teammates, caught off guard for only a heartbeat, followed, streaking upward with astonishing speed.

Once millions of meters above the ground, Aaaninja and Lucian hovered, their teammates arriving shortly thereafter. Elyndra and Altheria appeared alongside Aaaninja, while Valak and Veronica positioned themselves beside Lucian. The atmosphere around them bent under the weight of their combined power, sealing off every conceivable escape route of sound.

"I was wondering why my Event Anchor ability hadn't worked," Lucian said finally, his calm voice cutting through the air. "It seems you haven't met Anthony yet."

Aaaninja's mind flashed back to six months prior, to the moment he had crossed the River of Time to meet Anthony during the battle against the Demon King's clone. Back then, he understood Lucian's interference, he had anchored a condition into reality using his Event Anchor ability, ensuring his timely arrival.

"It seems he arrived before the both of us," Aaaninja replied with a gentle smile on his face.

"It seems so," Lucian agreed with a slight nod, his gaze shifting toward the two women floating gracefully at Aaaninja's side. With a teasing grin, he remarked, "I didn't realize you were forming a harem. Are you planning to marry every female Celestial in your race?"

Aaaninja's lips twitched at the unexpected jest. Smiling, he calmly introduced his teammates. "This is Altheria, my girlfriend, and this is Elyndra. They are both my teammates."

Lucian's gaze remained steady as he responded, "Nice to meet you both," his tone polite yet flat. Without waiting for a reply, he gestured to Veronica, standing elegantly at his side. "This is Veronica, my girlfriend, and this is Valak," he stated matter-of-factly.

Veronica and Valak regarded Aaaninja, Elyndra, and Altheria with quiet scrutiny before nodding in acknowledgment.

'So this is the Aaaninja Lucian spoke of,' Veronica thought, her mind absorbing the mesmerizing uniqueness of his eyes. Though she longed to converse, she recognized that now was neither the appropriate time nor place.

'He seems strong,' Elyndra and Altheria thought simultaneously, observing Lucian's composed, effortless floating. Unlike many elite beings, they did not carry the inflated pride or arrogance often seen in top-race warriors. To them, people were simply people, nothing more, nothing less.

"It seems we will be waiting for some time," Lucian said, his calm smile ever present.

"It seems so," Aaaninja responded, sensing the conversation was poised to shift in focus.

"How about we commence our long-awaited rematch?" Lucian suggested, a grin spreading across his face. With nothing better to do, why wait any longer?

"Correction, you mean your long-awaited rematch," Aaaninja countered smoothly, adjusting and correcting the narrative. "But, sure, why not," he concluded with quiet confidence.

Immediately, the sky seemed to grow heavier, as if ready to collapse under the immense tension building between them. The pressure mounted, stretching taut like a bowstring. Lucian's hand blurred toward the hilt of his katana, while Aaaninja's own hand instinctively moved to the sword hanging at his waist, both warriors frozen for an instant as if time itself had paused.

Without hesitation, Veronica, Valak, Elyndra, and Altheria vanished from their hovering positions. They streaked downward, their trajectories aimed at the older generations of their respective teams. Each moved with precise intent, fully aware of their captains' overwhelming power and carefully maintaining a safe distance, knowing better than to interfere with the impending clash.

Those below instinctively tilted their gaze skyward, feeling the drastic shift in atmospheric pressure.

"It seems our sons are about to clash at first sight," Zachary remarked, his calm smile betraying nothing of the anticipation rising within him.

"My son will not lose this time," Riven, the Calamity Demon, replied confidently.

"I am not so certain of that, Riven," Zachary's wife responded with a wry smile.

Aaaninja and Lucian prepared to surge forward when, suddenly, far in the distance, multiple sound barriers shattered. Guides were dispatched to escort the waiting races smoothly. The sudden movement diffused the mounting tension in the air.

"It seems we will have to delay our battle," Aaaninja murmured, relaxing his grip slightly as his hand left the hilt of his blade.

"I suspect the author is about to end the chapter on a cliffhanger," Lucian replied with a sigh, a playful note underlying his calm demeanor.

Aaaninja did not respond; he still could not comprehend Lucian and Anthony's enigmatic references to "author" and "chapter." Shaking off the confusion, he descended swiftly, appearing between Elyndra and Altheria. Lucian mirrored the action with equal grace, positioning himself calmly between Valak and Veronica.

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