MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 246 Lucian Darkheart

Lucian sat alone in the dimly lit room of the cottage, his gaze fixed on the wooden surface of the desk before him.

A faint furrow appeared on his brow as his thoughts swirled.

'Such a strange coincidence'

He mused internally.

His mind lingered on the name Aaaninja, an echo of something unsettling, yet familiar.

The name tugged at the recesses of his thoughts, and he couldn't shake the curiosity that followed it.

"System"

He murmured inwardly.

"Are you certain that man didn't reincarnate?"

A cold, mechanical voice responded promptly in his mind.

[Affirmative, Host. The individual known as Aaaninja is not a reincarnated being, unlike yourself]

Lucian exhaled slowly, a weight lifting from his chest though the uncertainty remained.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

He leaned back in his chair, the creaking wood accompanying his subtle sigh.

With a final glance at the dim room, his eyes drifted to the window, the world outside seemingly untouched by the turmoil brewing within him.

His mind wandered to his first life, to distant memories that seemed both foreign and intimately his own.

Lucian had been an ordinary boy in his previous life.

He grew up in a loving home with caring parents, a stable job, and a comfortable life.

He wasn't plagued by hardships or tragedy, just the simple, unremarkable rhythm of everyday existence.

While he had a few friends, Lucian preferred the solace of novels and anime.

Yet, he wasn't the stereotypical recluse with no life outside his hobbies.

He balanced his interests with his routine, finding time for work and occasional social interactions.

After a typical day at the office, Lucian found himself sprawled on his couch, scrolling through his novel app in search of something to fill the void of boredom.

He'd already caught up on all the latest episodes of his favorite animes, and gaming never really appealed to him.

The only thing left was his usual escape, novels.

But not just any story would do.

Lucian had a particular taste: he sought tales where the protagonist was overwhelmingly powerful.

He loathed slow burn narratives with protagonists who gained strength incrementally, dragging out arcs with endless struggles.

What he craved were fast paced stories with immediate gratification, where the main character's power was unquestionable and their journey captivating.

That's when his eyes landed on a title that caught his attention: Might as Well Be OP.

It felt almost comical, as though the author hadn't put much effort into naming it, opting for the first thing that came to mind.

But for someone like Lucian, who had a soft spot for overpowered characters, it was impossible to resist.

Curiosity piqued, he clicked on the title.

He didn't expect much, perhaps a plotless power fantasy where the protagonist rampaged through worlds without rhyme or reason.

At the very least, it would keep him entertained for an evening.

But as he began to read, something unexpected happened.

The story drew him in.

With every chapter, Lucian found himself increasingly captivated, unable to tear his eyes away.

What had started as a casual distraction became a narrative that consumed his thoughts, pulling him deeper into a world far more enthralling than he'd anticipated.

Lucian couldn't stop.

Chapter after chapter, he devoured the story like a man starved, his excitement growing with every turn of the page.

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The novel exceeded all his expectations, delivering everything he had ever wanted.

An overpowered protagonist? Check.

A character free of any tedious hero complex? Check.

A fast paced and gripping plot? Double check.

And at the center of it all was the perfect main character: Null Anthony.

Lucian was so enthralled that he decided to embody the character in his own small way.

He changed his profile name on the novel app to KingNull_001, a nod to the protagonist and a declaration that he was the first of his kind, a pioneer, in case someone dared to imitate him.

And indeed some followed his footsteps.

Lucian immersed himself completely.

When Lucian opened his eyes, the familiar sights and sounds of his world were gone.

He wasn't in his room, nor was he surrounded by the glow of his laptop screen.

Instead, he was in a cradle, staring up at unfamiliar faces in a strange, vibrant world.

He was a baby.

Disoriented, Lucian tried to piece together what had happened, but before panic could set in, a soft Ding echoed in his head.

A voice followed:

[Congratulations, Host. You have been reincarnated into a new world]

The realization hit him like a thunderbolt.

He wasn't just in any new world, he was in the world of his favorite novel, Might as Well Be OP.

For a moment, he forgot about his confusion and leaped with joy at the thought of meeting Anthony, the protagonist of the story.

But his excitement was short lived.

[Clarification: The protagonist, Null Anthony, is not in this world. This is a world within the same galaxy]

Lucian's elation deflated in an instant.

The system poured cold water over his happiness by explaining that while he and Anthony weren't in the same world, their paths could cross during the Galaxy level Competition.

Lucian frowned in confusion.

He'd never heard of such a competition.

Then he remembered: he had only finished the first arc of the novel before being reincarnated.

There was an entire story he hadn't uncovered.

Still, his spirits lifted slightly when the system revealed his cheat ability: Absolute Copy.

But this wasn't your average copy ability. The Cameo System granted him the power to perfectly replicate anything, skills, techniques, abilities, or even knowledge.

There was no limit to what he could copy.

However, the system was quick to highlight the drawbacks:

1. He needed to physically touch the person or object he wanted to copy.

2. The target had to willingly allow him to copy from them.

The second condition made Lucian's heart sink.

How was he supposed to convince powerful individuals to 'let' him steal their abilities?

At first, he had a plan.

His parents, as some of the most influential figures on the planet, could easily capture those he needed and compel them to cooperate.

But just as he was formulating this idea, the system delivered another blow:

[Disclosure of the Cameo System or its abilities is strictly prohibited. Any attempts to reveal its existence will result in immediate termination of the system]

Depressed, Lucian sulked for days.

But then something remarkable happened, something that changed everything.

The first time he successfully copied an ability, he discovered the system's hidden perk.

He didn't just gain the ability itself; he also inherited all the experience and mastery that came with it.

If he copied a swordmaster's technique, he wouldn't have to learn or refine it.

It came to him fully developed, as if he'd spent years honing it himself.

If he copied a peak mage's mana control, he could wield mana at their level without any training.

The realization blew his mind.

Despite the drawbacks, the system's potential was unparalleled.

From that moment on, Lucian began his rise to power, cheating his way through life by strategically copying abilities from various individuals and race.

Yet, nothing prepared him for the moment he learned of the Celestial called Aaaninja.

When the name surfaced, Lucian was stunned.

Could it be?

Had Aaaninja, his rival from his past life, also reincarnated?

For a brief moment, he thought they shared the same fate.

But the system shattered that illusion:

[The Celestial named Aaaninja is not a reincarnated being. He has no connection to your previous world]

Even so, the name startled Lucian, a reminder of his strange rivalry that spanned lifetimes.

As for the system itself, it had one final safeguard: The Cameo System automatically protected Lucian's mind and soul from any external influence or manipulation.

This was how Lucian Darkheart was able to clear the Ascension Mirage so effortlessly.