Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Chapter 199: The Missing Elder Thalnor (2)

Elder Vorn stood at the head of the gathering, his expression heavy with concern, his eyes scanning the room. His usually calm demeanor had taken on a more somber tone as he prepared to speak to the other top elders of the Necrovauld Academy.

With a slow, deliberate breath, Elder Vorn began, his voice low and measured. "I don't know exactly what's going on yet, but I have a feeling that something far deeper—and perhaps darker—is at play here."

He paused, letting his words settle into the minds of the others, each of them waiting intently for him to continue. "And it's not just about Elder Thalnor. I believe the Malachor Clan might be involved in something… more significant."

The room fell silent, the tension thickening with each passing second. The elders, usually composed and indifferent, exchanged uneasy glances. Even for them, the unknown held a certain weight of dread.

Elder Feris, who had been quietly observing, leaned forward, his brow furrowing in concern. "What do you mean? What makes you think the Malachor Clan is involved?" There was a sharpness in his tone, a demand for clarity.

Vorn sighed heavily, his shoulders dropping slightly under the burden of what he was about to reveal. "The leader of the Malachor Clan, Velkar Malachor, has arrived at the academy."

The ripple of surprise that ran through the elders was immediate. They hadn't expected someone of Velkar's stature to make an appearance so suddenly. Elder Feris's expression shifted from concern to something more guarded, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of the situation.

"Velkar Malachor?" he repeated, his voice laced with both curiosity and suspicion. "Why has he come here so suddenly? What does he want?"

Vorn met Feris's gaze, his tone growing more serious. "When I inquired about Elder Thalnor's disappearance, Velkar immediately reacted. He frowned, asking me for every detail I had."

Vorn's voice dropped lower, almost as if to emphasize the weight of his next words. "I didn't tell him much at the time… but it was clear he's growing impatient with the lack of information."

Feris clenched his jaw, leaning back slightly as he processed this new development. His mind raced, trying to connect the dots between Elder Thalnor's sudden disappearance and the Malachor Clan's recent rise to power. Velkar's involvement added a dangerous layer of complexity.

Vorn continued, sensing the growing unease in the room. "That's why Velkar is here today. He's come to speak with us. It seems he's no longer content to wait for news."

A murmur of voices spread among the other elders, each speaking in hushed tones as they shared their own concerns. One of the younger elders spoke up, his voice hesitant. "Do you think Velkar suspects something? Or is he just here to press for answers?"

Vorn shook his head. "It's hard to say. But his presence here... it feels like more than just a search for information. There's an urgency in his actions."

Feris narrowed his eyes, his mind calculating the possible outcomes of this unexpected visit. "Velkar is not a man who acts on impulse," he said quietly, his voice thoughtful. "He must have a reason for being here, and it's likely tied to the sudden rise of his clan and Thalnor's disappearance."

The room fell silent again as the other elders absorbed this, tension hanging thick in the air.

After a long pause, Feris finally spoke again, his tone decisive. "We can't ignore this. If Velkar is growing impatient, we need to find out why. And if he's here to confront us directly, we need to be prepared."

He stood up, his aura of authority filling the room. "Let's meet him. There's no point in delaying this."

With that, the five top elders made their way through the stone corridors of the Necrovauld Academy, their steps echoing with anticipation.

Their minds were sharp, calculating the reasons for Velkar Malachor's sudden visit. As they approached the meeting hall, an unspoken tension hung in the air, thicker with each step.

When they entered the hall, the presence of Velkar Malachor struck them immediately, but it wasn't just his imposing figure that caught their attention—it was the unmistakable aura radiating from him.

His cultivation had advanced, and the sheer power in the room was undeniable. Even from a distance, the elders could sense it.

Velkar had ascended to the 8-star level.

The elders, caught off guard by the realization, instinctively bowed in respect, their movements synchronized. This was not something they could overlook. Reaching 8-star was a monumental achievement.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Velkar Malachor," Elder Feris said, his voice formal but carrying a subtle weight of acknowledgment. His eyes flickered with a mix of respect and caution.

Velkar stood tall, his expression unreadable, a man of few words. He gave them a curt nod, his eyes scanning each elder before speaking, his tone as calm as it was powerful. "It was thanks to a new cultivation manual that I was able to make the breakthrough. The results speak for themselves."

The other elders exchanged glances, their faces carefully composed, though the surprise was clear in their eyes. Elder Feris, always the most perceptive of them, didn't let the silence stretch for too long. "I take it this is due to the Nether Puppet Cultivation Manual?"

Velkar, far from surprised, met Feris's gaze evenly. He nodded slowly, confirming their suspicions. "Yes. The news has spread, I see."

A ripple of unease passed through the elders, though they maintained their composure. The realization of just how much power the Nether Puppet Manual had granted the Malachor Clan was now undeniable.

This was no ordinary rise in strength. It explained the clan's sudden influence, their rapid ascent in both cultivation and political power. And now, with Velkar as an 8-star cultivator, the balance had shifted even more dramatically.

Elder Sylra couldn't hide a brief flash of concern in her eyes, though she quickly masked it. The implications of this new strength were vast, and it wasn't just the power of the manual itself that troubled them—it was the fact that Elder Thalnor had vanished soon after the manual surfaced.

Velkar, sensing the growing tension, glanced around the room, his voice cool and direct. "However, I am not here just to discuss cultivation breakthroughs." His eyes sharpened, as if cutting through the pleasantries. "I've come to speak about Elder Thalnor."

The room grew noticeably still. The unspoken questions that had been circling in their minds now had a focal point. Velkar had brought the conversation exactly where they knew it was headed, but none of them were sure how much he knew—or how much he was willing to share.

Elder Feris's expression darkened slightly, exchanging a glance with the others. His voice was calm but carried the weight of expectation. "We anticipated this, Velkar. You must know his disappearance has raised many concerns. We've been investigating."

Velkar's expression didn't change, but there was a subtle intensity in his eyes. "Good. Then let us talk in detail."

Elder Feris nodded once, the other elders silently falling into step behind him. "Let's head inside," he said, his tone shifting to something more official, as though they were preparing for a strategic discussion rather than a simple meeting.