MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

As Anthony followed his guide, they arrived before a modest structure, a small cottage that barely spanned a few meters, its entirety consisting of a single, confined room.

Their footsteps landed softly on the ground, their movements deliberate and precise.

The guide bowed respectfully, extending a hand to beckon Anthony forward.

Anthony paused, his gaze sweeping over the cottage's simple features.

There was nothing remarkable, no windows, no adornments, just a solitary door that stood as the cottage's only entry or exit.

With a measured stride, Anthony approached the door.

As though sensing his presence, it creaked open unbidden, granting him entry.

The moment he crossed the threshold, it closed behind him with a quiet finality, sealing him within.

Step.

Then another.

Anthony's footsteps echoed softly, resonating through the stillness as he moved forward.

Abruptly, he halted, his gaze shifting to take in the startling reality before him.

The modest room he had anticipated was anything but small.

Though the cottage's exterior had suggested a humble, confined space, the interior revealed an expanse that stretched for kilometers.

It was like a boundless realm crafted within the shell of a simple structure.

It was no ordinary room; it was a different dimension altogether.

'Impressive'

Anthony thought, his mind captivated by the intricate manipulation of spatial laws.

Above him, light poured down, warm and golden, as though the sun itself were illuminating the vast chamber.

Yet, there was no sun, only a mysterious brilliance that defied explanation, casting its glow upon the extraordinary scene.

Then, he snapped out of his reverie as he felt it.

A gaze.

No, millions of gazes descended upon him the instant his footsteps echoed through the vast chamber.

It wasn't the attention of one or two beings; it was as though an entire universe had turned its focus on him.

The weight of their collective stares bore down like an invisible, crushing force, testing his composure.

Anthony's eyes swept across the space, taking in the faces of countless beings in a single panoramic moment.

They were champions, each one a representative of their own world, standing tall as the pride and pinnacle of their realms.

Within their gazes, Anthony discerned a myriad of thoughts and emotions.

Disdain radiated from some, their contempt palpable.

To them, his humanity alone was an affront, unworthy of acknowledgment.

They didn't need to know him to harbor such feelings; being human was enough.

Amusement flickered in the eyes of a few, their expressions barely concealing a mocking smile.

Others regarded him with sheer indifference, their attention elsewhere.

Some had their eyes closed in apparent disinterest, while others, though open eyed, refused to spare him even a glance.

And then there were the curious, those who studied him intently, their eyes sharp and questioning.

Yet, buried beneath the layers of disdain, amusement, and curiosity, one unspoken thought lingered across many of their minds.

'How can a human be this handsome?'n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

It was a fleeting notion, quickly and forcibly dismissed as if its mere presence offended them.

The sheer number of people gathered here reminded Anthony of the Academy entrance exam.

Back then, the crowds had been just as overwhelming, yet only a thousand were chosen from among them.

Here, however, the stakes were even higher, only ten would be selected.

As his gaze swept over the vast assembly, he took note of the incredible diversity of races present.

Some were familiar to him, dragons, elves, mermen, vampires, but there were also many others, their forms and features entirely alien to his knowledge.

The sheer variety was staggering, their numbers stretching as far as the eye could see.

'Should I purchase information on these races from the system?'

Anthony mused as he continued to walk, his curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar faces.

What caught his attention next surprised him: humans.

Though they were a minority, their presence was undeniable.

They greeted him with warm, welcoming smiles, yet Anthony didn't approach them.

He kept his distance, his mind preoccupied.

Initially, he had assumed he would be the only human competing.

On the Blue Planet, and indeed throughout the galaxy, humans were widely looked down upon.

Yet here they were, scattered among the competitors.

His assumption hadn't been entirely wrong, though.

Among the races he recognized, many hailed from planets where they were the sole dominant species.

Some of the dragons present, for instance, came from worlds where their kind ruled unchallenged.

The same was true for certain elves, humans, and other races he knew.

Not every planet was a melting pot like the Blue Planet.

Many held just a single dominant race, their worlds shaped entirely by their kind alone.

After a few moments, the weight of the collective stares lifted as every gaze shifted away, each competitor returning to their own activities.

But one gaze remained.

Unyielding and unwavering, it lingered on Anthony.

Sensing the intensity, Anthony turned his head, his eyes locking onto the source. It was another human.

The man regarded Anthony with a smile, not the kind born of mere politeness, but one carrying a sense of familiarity, a knowing expression reserved for someone recognized by one party yet unfamiliar to the other.

Anthony's mind raced as he deciphered the intent behind that smile.

'He knows me'

Anthony thought, the realization settling uneasily.

For a few seconds, their gazes held, an unspoken exchange passing between them.

Then, without a word, Anthony turned away, his thoughts clouded with questions.

The air in the waiting room was heavy with tension, an almost suffocating stillness blanketing the room as everyone braced themselves for what was to come.

None dared to flare their auras or display their strength recklessly; conserving every ounce of energy was paramount.

Here, even a slight overstep could tip the balance in an arena where only the elite of each world's youth had gathered.

At a distance from the crowd, Anthony raised a hand with a casual wave.

In an instant, his signature parasol materialized, accompanied by a reclined chair.

With practiced ease, he leapt onto the chair, settling in with an air of complete nonchalance.

From nowhere, he produced a sleek pair of sunglasses, a bowl of fresh guava, and his phone.

A few taps later, the sound of a movie filled the air.

Anthony reclined further, chewing on the ripe fruit as he watched the screen, his demeanor relaxed and utterly carefree.

The other competitors noticed immediately.

Each of them, the pinnacle of their worlds' talent, the apex of their age brackets, glanced toward him, their sharp senses easily picking up the sound.

A wave of disdain washed over their collective expressions.

To them, Anthony's behavior was nothing short of an insult to the gravity of the situation.

Here, where the stakes were monumental, he lounged as though he were at a casual picnic.

Yet, amidst the sea of judgmental glares, one figure stood apart.

The human who had smiled at Anthony earlier now wore an even broader grin as he watched Anthony's unorthodox antics.

'This is just like you, Anthony'

The man thought to himself, his eyes glinting with familiarity.

'We finally meet'