Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Chapter 160: Zeus and Roxana's Meeting (2)

Zeus took a slow sip of the tea, using the moment to calm his thoughts. Roxana had seen through both him and Lucas, and while his mind raced, he kept his outward composure intact.

"I'm impressed," Zeus began, his voice steady but with an edge of curiosity. "You figured out that neither I nor Lucas are the real me. But before we go any further… care to explain how you knew?"

Roxana smirked, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she took another casual sip of her tea. "Oh, it was more of a lucky guess than anything else," she said, leaning back comfortably. "I was testing you earlier. But honestly? I never expected to hit the mark. Who would've thought—both of you are clones."

Zeus chuckled, though there was a hint of frustration in his eyes. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "To think I got caught like this…"

[Hah! Look at you, all confident, only to get exposed like a cheap trick!] The system's voice chimed in, oozing with arrogance. [The mighty Zeus brought down by a simple test? Pathetic. I told you, you can't hide forever.]

Zeus rolled his eyes, masking the irritation that flared up inside him. "Of course you'd enjoy this." He sighed, shaking his head slightly before muttering, "I guess I've been too cautious."

Roxana raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by his moment of reflection. "Too cautious?" she repeated, her tone teasing. "That's an odd thing to admit in front of your new master."

Zeus smirked, regaining some of his usual confidence. "I've been careful, maybe too careful. But I have to ask," he continued, leaning forward slightly, "why did you even assume I was a clone in the first place? What gave it away?"

Roxana set her cup down on the table, the sound of porcelain meeting wood echoing softly in the quiet room.

She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a playful smile dancing across her lips. "It's actually quite simple," she replied, her tone casual but with a sharp edge of knowing. "My Volcanic Dragon Physique grants me more than just raw power."

Zeus raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to her explanation. He waited for her to continue, curiosity piqued.

"One of the gifts it provides me is the Dragon Eye—a little something that allows me to see the flow of mana in others," Roxana said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied his reaction. "And your mana flow? It's different. Too pure. Too controlled. Like it was… manufactured."

Zeus tilted his head, intrigued. "Too pure?" he echoed, clearly interested in her insight.

Roxana nodded, leaning forward now, her voice dropping slightly, almost conspiratorially. "Exactly. It wasn't natural. People's mana usually fluctuates, pulses with life. Yours, though, was steady. Too steady.

That's what first tipped me off."

Zeus's smirk widened, his mind racing. "I see," he said, tapping his fingers lightly against the armrest. "And I assume that's not all?"

Roxana chuckled softly. "Of course not," she said. "Your body—while perfectly human in appearance—felt... off. There was no warmth, no sense of life force radiating from it. It was as if it was missing something.

It felt... incomplete, hollow even. That's when I knew this wasn't the real you standing in front of me."

Zeus nodded slowly, letting Roxana's words sink in. "So, based on my unnatural mana flow and the lack of life from my body, you figured out I wasn't... truly alive?"

Roxana gave a small, almost casual nod, her expression calm but sharp. "Exactly. But it wasn't just you." She leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering.

"When I saw Lucas earlier, I was surprised. His body felt the same as yours—externally different, of course, but internally, there was no mistaking it. The mana flow, the essence… it was nearly identical. That's when I started putting it all together. Both of you had to be clones."

Zeus chuckled, a smile creeping onto his face despite the situation. "You're sharper than I gave you credit for, Roxana."

Roxana smirked, a glint of amusement flashing in her eyes. "Don't worry. I'm not the type to broadcast my findings. I don't need to reveal this to anyone." She paused, her gaze locking onto Zeus's with a sly smile. "Besides, I'm more interested in you... personally."

Zeus raised an eyebrow, his curiosity deepening at her words. "Personally?" He leaned forward slightly, still cautious but intrigued. "I can't give you every detail about my identity," he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. "It's too complicated."

Roxana's smirk only grew, her arms crossing casually over her chest. She leaned back in her chair, completely unbothered by his hesitation. "You don't need to tell me anything," she said, a playful glint in her eyes. "I already know who you are."

Zeus frowned, a sudden sharpness in his gaze. His mind raced as he weighed her words. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice low but edged with caution.

Roxana leaned forward, her face now just inches from Zeus's, her piercing gaze locked onto his. Her voice was soft but carried a weight that cut through the air like a blade. "Your real identity... is Lucas Luxoria, the true brother of that girl, Lucy Luxoria."

Zeus's eyes narrowed, suspicion lacing his every word. He let out a low, skeptical chuckle, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "So, is this just another one of your tricks, Roxana?" His voice carried a challenge, daring her to prove him wrong.

Roxana didn't flinch. Her expression remained calm, almost amused, as if she had been expecting his response. She leaned in a little closer, her gaze unyielding. "Tricks?" she echoed softly, her tone calm but with an edge of certainty. "No, Zeus. This isn't a game, and I don't make claims lightly.

You are Lucas Luxoria."

Zeus's smirk faded as his frown deepened. His mind raced, analyzing every word, every detail of her expression. This wasn't the Roxana who toyed with him in the arena—this was a Roxana who knew something. But how?

He crossed his arms and leaned back slightly, his voice hardening. "Then explain this to me," he said, his tone more serious now. "If I'm Lucas, how do you figure that, when the Lucas you saw is just a clone?"