MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Anthony's unwavering quest for unparalleled mastery remained steadfast, yet a sudden flicker of azure light disrupted his focus.

The Divine Flame, a being of raw, unbridled power, had awakened, its energy pulsing like a heartbeat within the sanctum of his realm.

Decades had slipped by in the temporal torrent of his Divine Realm, where time's grip loosened, and progress unfolded at a pace unimaginable to the outside world.

His training had been relentless, a symphony of discipline, precision, and boundless ambition.

Yet, amidst this ceaseless pursuit, the ethereal presence of Romulus, his Divine Flame, pierced through the veil of his concentration, demanding acknowledgment.

Anthony lowered his weapon with deliberate poise, its blade gleaming faintly from his exhaustive training.

His surroundings, soaked in the sweat of his effort, seemed to shimmer under the brilliant blue radiance emanating from his companion.

The ground, scorched and marred by countless hours of weapon drills and elemental mastery, now basked in the soothing, otherworldly light of the flame's manifestation.

As the azure glow intensified, the humanoid form of Romulus materialized fully, a figure of pure energy and authority.

Its mere presence commanded reverence, an embodiment of primordial strength that seemed to vibrate through the air itself.

Its aura was enough to fill the space with an undeniable gravitas, as though the cosmos itself bowed to its power.

"Anthony"

Romulus's voice resonated with the depth of countless millennia, a tone that carried neither reverence nor disdain but an intrinsic understanding of its wielder.

Anthony turned, acknowledging the being with a respectful nod.

"Romulus, it's rare for you to speak unprompted. What brings you forth today?"

Romulus's flames surged, casting elongated shadows across the ground.

"You've summoned me in spirit, though not directly in words. Your determination ripples through the realm. Speak, Anthony, what do you require of me?"

Anthony straightened, the weight of the conversation settling over him.

"The Galaxy Competition looms near, and though I've honed my skills, I cannot afford complacency. I need you, Romulus, to train as I do. To become stronger"

Romulus laughed, a deep, resonant sound that reverberated across the vast expanse of the Divine Realm.

"Stronger? You speak as though I am some fledgling force to be tempered. Do you not grasp the magnitude of my existence? I am Romulus, the Divine Flame. My power eclipses that of any being, mortal or immortal. What you wield is but a fraction of my might"

Anthony's expression remained calm, unshaken by Romulus's assertion.

"Perhaps. But even the greatest power, unchallenged, can stagnate. You may possess unparalleled strength, but without refinement, you risk being outmatched by those who have mastered their limits"

The flame pulsed, its intensity rising as if to challenge Anthony's words.

"You dare question my supremacy?"

Anthony's tone remained even, his conviction unyielding.

"I do not question your power, Romulus. I question your willingness to grow. The Galaxy Competition is no ordinary event. The worlds we face will bring forces beyond imagination. If you truly wish to prove your dominance, then temper your flames in the fires of adversity"

Romulus flickered, its form wavering for the briefest moment.

It was a gesture of contemplation, a rare acknowledgment of Anthony's wisdom.

"You suggest I leave the sanctuary of the Divine Realm?"

Romulus asked, its voice quieter but no less commanding.

Anthony nodded.

"The Demon Domain is a crucible of chaos. Its volatile energies will challenge you in ways this realm cannot. Your potential, vast as it is, remains untested in the real world. What better place to push your limits?"

Romulus flared again, its brilliance illuminating the space around them.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"You are bold, Anthony. To suggest that I, a being of creation in itself, must prove myself among the rabble of the Demon Domain"

Anthony allowed himself a faint smirk.

"Even gods must be forged in fire. Go, Romulus. Show the Demon Domain why you are unparalleled"

There was a long pause, the air charged with unspoken tension.

Finally, Romulus spoke, its tone imbued with a mixture of amusement and resolve.

"Very well. I shall descend into the Demon Domain, but not for your benefit. I do this because I tire of lazing around. And do not presume to command me, Anthony. I am my own master"

"As you always have been"

Anthony replied.

"But remember, Romulus, what you learn there will serve us both in the trials to come"

"There is nothing to learn"

Romulus declared, his voice resonating with an ancient authority that seemed to echo through the very fabric of the Divine Realm.

"I am the first flame, the primordial spark from which all others were born. I have witnessed the rise and fall of countless universes, the birth of stars, and the extinguishing of galaxies. There is no knowledge left for mortals to impart to me, no skill I have not already mastered"

His tone carried a mixture of disdain and weariness, the weight of eternity pressing upon every syllable.

"But"

He continued after a moment, the faintest hint of amusement slipping into his words.

"I suppose I shall make a move. Not out of necessity, but because the monotony of existence has grown tiresome"

The blue flames surrounding him flared briefly, as if punctuating his statement, casting flickering shadows that danced with an almost sentient awareness.

The air grew heavy with his presence, a stark reminder of the power he wielded, a force that transcended mortal comprehension.

With a final, searing burst of light, Romulus shot skyward, its form piercing the barrier of the Divine Realm and vanishing into the void beyond.

Anthony watched the aftermath of its departure, a faint warmth lingering in the space it had vacated.

He flexed his fingers, the cerulean flames still flickering at his command.

Despite Romulus's absence, the bond between them remained intact, the Divine Flame's essence forever imprinted upon his soul.

"Even without you here"

Anthony murmured to himself.

"Your power is mine to wield. Let's see what havoc you'll wreak in the Demon Domain"

In the weeks that followed, Anthony's training resumed with unyielding intensity.

His blades carved through the air with precision, his cultivation cycles filled the realm with a resonant hum, and his focus remained sharp.

Yet, in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder how Romulus fared in the Demon Domain.

Far beyond the boundaries of the Divine Realm, the Demon Domain reeled.

A cerulean blaze tore through its skies, announcing the arrival of a force unlike any other.

Romulus, untethered and unrestrained, descended upon the chaotic lands with a fury that sent tremors through its denizens.

The azure flames burned with a voracious hunger, consuming everything in their path.

Demons of all ranks, from the weakest to the mightiest, found themselves fleeing before the might of the Divine Flame.

Romulus's laughter echoed across the lands, a declaration of its dominance.

Meanwhile, Anthony remained within his realm, his focus unwavering.

The absence of Romulus did not hinder his training.

If anything, it spurred him on, the knowledge of his companion's rampage serving as a reminder of the stakes ahead.

Time passed, decades blending into a century within the accelerated flow of the Divine Realm.

Anthony's strength grew with each passing day, his bond with the Divine Flame unbroken despite the distance between them.

And as the Galaxy Competition loomed ever closer, Anthony knew that both he and Romulus would emerge from their respective paths stronger than ever before.