MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

"Since you are here for the mission, let's go meet the other Warlords," Warlord Raelith spoke, then lifted himself from the wall.

Turning to the side, he waved his hand, and a portal opened up before him. Anthony could tell the Warlord didn't possess the spatial affinity, it was clear he was creating the portal through an artifact.

Warlord Raelith simply stepped through the portal, with Anthony following right behind him.

As the portal sealed shut, Spectre's gaze turned to the place where Anthony and Warlord Raelith had stood. He knew Anthony was going to ask for details on the mission Raelith had spoken about earlier.

Then he sighed. He cleared his thoughts, raised his arms, then swung down with perfect posture and form. Sweat dropped to the ground with every movement, but he didn't stop. The rhythm of his training continued, unfazed.

In another location, Warlord Brontagar, the Titan, and Warlord Aerenya, the Elf, could be seen sitting with documents in hand. The next moment, a portal tore open in front of them.

From it, Warlord Raelith stepped out with Anthony right behind him.

"Raelith, you're back already? I thought you would spend at least a month in your training hall before returning," Warlord Aerenya spoke without shifting her gaze from the paper in her hand.

"I'm simply back because of Major Anthony's mission," Warlord Raelith replied as he took a seat beside Warlord Brontagar and Warlord Aerenya.

"Good afternoon, Warlord Brontagar, Warlord Aerenya," Anthony greeted without a salute, his voice calm and firm.

"It's nice to see you, Anthony," Warlord Aerenya said with a calm smile as her eyes finally lifted from the paper in her hand.

Anthony smiled and nodded without speaking further.

"Have you finished digesting your gains from the spar with Warlord Raelith? Can you spar with me now?" Warlord Brontagar spoke, his voice rumbling through the air like that of a True Titan.

Anthony could tell both of the Storm brothers paled in front of Warlord Brontagar. But at the same time, he didn't know what to say.

He had simply given the Titan Warlord an excuse the last time and ran away, thinking the Titan would forget. But it seemed that although the man looked like the all brawn and no brain type, he wasn't the type to forget so easily.

Warlord Raelith sat at the side with a smile. He knew Anthony gained nothing from the spar between them, so there was nothing to digest. But he didn't speak and simply watched to see how Anthony would dodge this time.

'Should I just send another clone?' Anthony thought with a sigh.

"Warlord Brontagar, can we discuss this another time? This doesn't seem like the appropriate moment, since we're here to discuss my team's mission," Anthony said diplomatically.

Warlord Brontagar nodded his head and replied, "I see. That's understandable. We will spar before you leave for the mission."

Anthony nodded, hiding a mental sigh of relief.

"You're so easy to deceive, Brontagar," Warlord Aerenya spoke softly, but Warlord Brontagar heard her clearly.

"How was I deceived?" Warlord Brontagar's voice rumbled once more, his tone slightly defensive.

But this time, Warlord Aerenya didn't speak. She simply shook her head and returned her attention to the papers in her hand.

"Now, for the mission," Warlord Raelith spoke. The smiles on their faces instantly vanished as though a switch had been flipped.

Opening a drawer fitted to the table in front of them, Warlord Aerenya brought out a file and passed it to Anthony to read.

Anthony accepted the file and opened it. As he read through the pages, he frowned instantly.

His eyes rose from the pages of the file and locked on the three Warlords before him. He couldn't help but ask.

"Why this mission? Isn't the entire military base Alpha-9, and all military bases, under lockdown due to the battle of the Supreme Monarchs against the Demon Monarchs?"

The mission that had been given to Anthony was set to happen outside the military base, which no one was allowed to leave for any reason whatsoever.

The Warlords from the military base Alpha-6, the three Primarchs of Reality, had been able to leave only because they had departed before the lockdown took effect.

Hearing Anthony's question, Warlord Raelith responded, "Indeed, all military bases are under lockdown, but that doesn't stop this mission from happening."

"What if something happens while we're away?" Anthony asked, his concern growing more visible.

"You didn't think of something happening when you left the military base and went on your dates. But now that you're assigned a mission outside the same base you've already left three times during the lockdown, you're suddenly worried about something happening?" Warlord Brontagar's voice rumbled across the room with undeniable force.

Anthony didn't reply. He and Vega had indeed left the military base three times for their dates. He didn't expect that to be brought up in this kind of meeting.

Personally, Anthony had no objection to the mission. To him, it was just a mission like any other. But he had hoped for one within the military base, so that if anything were to happen, he'd be close enough to respond immediately.

Seeing Anthony's silence, Warlord Aerenya spoke gently, "Is there anything wrong with the mission, Major Anthony?"

"There is nothing wrong with the mission. Personally, I love the mission. But I feel this is the wrong time for the right thing," Anthony stated plainly, his tone honest.

If it were any other soldier, they wouldn't dare even to think of saying such words to a Warlord, let alone three of them at the same time.

But Anthony wasn't just any other soldier.

"This is the mission you will be assigned. And it will be carried out, regardless of when you feel is the right time, Major Anthony," Warlord Raelith stated with finality.

"So, it's impossible to reject this mission?" Anthony asked, already sensing that they wouldn't budge.

"Your rejection will be rejected," Warlord Brontagar added with a deep, rumbling finality.

'Is that meant to be a pun or something?' Anthony thought, but he never said it out loud.

"Why?" Anthony asked.

Silence seemed to descend from above as Anthony asked that question. Then the silence stretched between them all, like an infinite rubber band pulling tighter and tighter.

Then, at the same time, the three Warlords intoned in unison:

"Because the mission comes directly from the First Supreme Monarch."