MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Everyone stepped forward, their gazes fixed intently downward, their expressions a mixture of excitement and curiosity.

Anthony's eyes roamed his surroundings, a glimmer of intrigue lighting his features.

Below them, the planet hovered in the vast expanse, seemingly suspended by an unseen, enigmatic force.

Its immense size was breathtaking, far surpassing that of the Blue Planet, his home.

The sheer scale left no doubt in Anthony's mind that this world was unlike any he had encountered before.

As the spacecraft began its descent, it pierced through the shimmering veil of the planet's atmosphere with precision and grace.

The moment it breached the planetary boundary, an overwhelming wave of mana erupted, radiating with such intensity that it reverberated through the air, palpable to all who stood aboard.

'This amount of mana...'

Anthony mused as the ship glided forward.

His eyes darted around, taking in the vastness of the landscape with an almost insatiable curiosity.

He pushed his vision to its limits, scanning the highest peaks and the farthest horizons.

Mountains loomed majestically in the distance, rivers carved serpentine paths through the valleys, canyons yawned wide and deep, and trees stretched skyward amidst expanses of lush, verdant grass.

Every detail spoke of untouched beauty and primal vitality.

This was only Anthony's second time stepping onto an entirely new planet, and his fascination was impossible to mask.

His head turned this way and that, his gaze flitting about like a bird foraging for grain.

Yet, something gnawed at his mind.

Despite the planet's overwhelming mana, both in quantity and quality, there was a peculiar absence.

'Why hasn't at least one of the galaxy's forces claimed this world?'

He wondered.

'The mana here is absurdly abundant, its quality far beyond anything I've seen in my world. And yet... it lies empty'

"I know what you're thinking"

Gorath's deep voice broke the silence.

Anthony turned toward him, intrigued.

"But the world doesn't revolve around mana alone"

Gorath continued.

"Resources are just as vital. This planet offers only one thing: an abundant quality and purity of mana, and nothing else"

Anthony listened intently as Gorath's words sank in.

"This is why it's called the Barren Planet"

He explained.

"It holds immense mana, yes, but nothing else of value. Even if it did have additional resources, no one would abandon their home planet, a place that has nurtured and protected them for eons, just to relocate. Instead, they would mine the resources and transport them back to their own world"

Baldor, whose gaze lingered thoughtfully over the horizon, added.

"All planets devoid of resources are collectively labeled as barren. The only time a civilization completely abandons its home world is when it faces unavoidable or irreversible destruction"

Michael, staring forward with a contemplative expression, finally spoke.

"It's a universal truth. No matter how rich the mana or abundant the energy, without essential resources, a planet remains uninhabited"

Anthony nodded, absorbing their words as he continued to survey the boundless, untouched landscape.

The ship accelerated abruptly, and within mere seconds, it arrived at a new location.

Anthony's gaze shifted as a cluster of buildings came into view.

Their purpose was unclear, but he dismissed any need to analyze them further, they were, after all, just buildings.

Suddenly, a holographic projection flared to life, casting a faint glow across the cabin.

A message scrolled across its surface as a mechanical voice announced:

"The location of the parking area has been received from a third party. Authorization to proceed"

"Proceed"

Collins commanded without hesitation, his tone calm yet authoritative.

Instantly, the ship adjusted its course, its movements precise and fluid.

Moments later, they arrived at a vast zone filled with ships of every conceivable size, design, and configuration.

Thousands of them hovered in perfect formation, suspended in mid air like a fleet frozen in time.

The Eternal Voyage seamlessly joined the assembly, aligning itself with the fleet before settling into suspension.

With a hiss, the hatch of the ship opened, and one by one, the passengers disembarked.

Rather than stepping onto solid ground, they floated out gracefully, their movements as smooth and natural as if walking on air.

Two streaks of light shot upward with blinding speed, halting abruptly in midair before them.

The figures emerged from the brilliance, hovering briefly before they bowed in unison.

"Greetings, my lord. I trust the journey was not too taxing"

One of them spoke, his tone formal yet unwavering, imbued with the highest degree of respect.

Anthony's gaze lingered on the pair, his curiosity piqued.

They belonged to a race entirely unfamiliar to him, neither from his experiences nor the fantasy novels he had read in his previous life

"I will escort the representative of the Blue Planet to the gathering of the delegates"

The first figure announced, his tone calm but resolute.

The second one followed, inclining his head.

"And I shall guide my lordships to their designated destination"

There was no verbal response from the group.

Collins, his expression calm and unreadable, nodded slightly at the figures in acknowledgment.

The silence that followed was thick with understanding.

He then turned to Anthony, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

His eyes gleamed with an unreadable expression, both proud and amused.

"Put on a show for us"

He said, his words laced with playful challenge, yet wrapped in the pride of a mentor.

Before Anthony could respond, they were swallowed by a brilliant flash of light.

Their forms streaked toward one of the distant buildings Anthony had seen earlier, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.

The air crackled with the remnants of their departure, the energy palpable in the stillness that followed.

Anthony chuckled at his grandfather's parting words, a grin spreading across his face.

'I fully intend to'

He thought to himself, his determination unwavering.

Turning to his guide, he said confidently,

"Let's move"

With a quick nod, the guide surged forward in a blur, and Anthony followed close behind, his anticipation growing with every step, or rather, every flight, closer to his destination.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

'I hope this competition doesn't disappoint me after a century of isolation and hard work'

Anthony thought to himself as he moved.