MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

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.

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.

He commented on every chapter, ensuring his voice was heard.

He liked every reply the author made, an active participant in the growing community of fans.

His profile stood out as a beacon of devotion.

Then came the fateful moment.

The app offered a feature allowing readers to gift coins to their favorite authors and books as a show of appreciation.

Lucian had never indulged in this feature before.

Not because he was stingy, but because no book had ever earned such devotion from him.

Nothing had struck him as truly 'ideal'.

Until now.

Might as Well Be OP became his benchmark for perfection, the novel he would have written if he'd ever put pen to paper.

For the first time, Lucian felt compelled to show his appreciation in a tangible way.

But there was a catch.

The author, as brilliant as their work was, had an unrelenting thirst for gifts and donations.

They peppered every update with requests for support, their greed apparent.

Even the privileged chapters, early releases for paying readers, were exorbitantly priced, costing twice as much as similar books.

Lucian didn't care.

Money had never been an issue for him, and the allure of privileged chapters was irresistible.

He paid for them without a second thought.

Yet, even with his unwavering support, something began to bother him.

No matter how much he gifted, his fan rank, the leaderboard showcasing top supporters, remained static.

He was locked in second place, unable to ascend.

It was as though his efforts were meaningless in the face of an insurmountable wall.

And the one occupying first place?

A mysterious user with the name Aaaninja.

Lucian couldn't help but feel an irrational sense of rivalry toward this stranger.

Someone else, equally captivated by the story, was consistently outpacing him, holding the coveted top spot with an iron grip.

Who was this Aaaninja, and how could they possibly outdo him?

Since adopting the name KingNull_001, Lucian had resolved to claim the coveted first spot on the fan ranking.

It wasn't just about admiration for the story anymore, it had become a battle of pride.

Determined, he began pouring hundreds of dollars into gifts for the author, his points on the fan leaderboard steadily climbing.

Yet, no matter how much he gave, he remained stubbornly stuck in second place.

To his frustration, the author frequently referred to Aaaninja in the comments as 'My Emperor, a title that only deepened Lucian's resolve.

It was clear that Aaaninja was donating even more than him, effortlessly maintaining their reign at the top.

Lucian refused to admit defeat.

Fueled by an unshakable determination to dethrone his rival, he made an impulsive decision, he emptied his entire bank account, converting every last dollar into gifts for the author.

The points surged, and for a brief moment, hope flickered in Lucian's chest.

But fate, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor.

Even after his desperate gambit, he remained in second place.

His points were now a mere decimal point shy of first rank.

A single decimal point.

Lucian's frustration boiled over.

He cursed loudly, his fists trembling with fury as he nearly smashed his laptop in a fit of rage.

But the nightmare wasn't over.

After taking a moment to cool down, Lucian refreshed the leaderboard.

What he saw next nearly made his heart stop.

Aaaninja's points had skyrocketed once again.

Not only had they maintained their lead, but they had widened the gap, leaving Lucian's efforts utterly futile.

It was the final blow.

The realization hit him like a freight train, and his vision blurred.

Before he could process the crushing defeat, his body gave in to the overwhelming frustration.

Lucian fainted, the screen still glowing faintly with Aaaninja's untouchable name at the top.

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.Nôv(el)B\\jnn