Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Chapter 204: Abyss Hole's Beasts (2)

Hades stood firm, unmoving, as the Abyss Wolf Beast charged toward him. The creature's claws gleamed with a sinister, dark light, trailing a faint mist of abyssal energy with each swipe.

Its ferocity was undeniable, and the malice emanating from its aura thickened the air around them. Yet, Hades remained calm, his cold, calculating eyes locking onto the beast.

"Let's see just how strong you are," Hades muttered under his breath, his voice low but filled with anticipation. His lips curled into a slight smirk, betraying the excitement bubbling within him.

With a swift flick of his wrist, he summoned one of his Soul Puppets. This wasn't just any puppet; it was ethereal, a spectral figure that hovered beside him, translucent yet brimming with unseen power. Its form shimmered in the dim light of the Abyss Hole, like a ghostly warrior awaiting its command.

The Abyss Wolf, undeterred by the new threat, snarled viciously and lunged forward, its glowing claws aiming to tear through the puppet.

But as the beast's deadly claws connected with the puppet's form, they passed through without resistance, as if slashing through mist. The wolf's red eyes flickered with confusion, its momentum faltering for a split second.

The beast hesitated, and Hades chuckled softly, the sound cold and mocking. "You can't touch it," he said, his tone dripping with amusement. "It's beyond your reach."

The wolf, momentarily stunned, let out a growl of frustration and prepared to attack again. But it was too late.

The Soul Puppet countered, moving swiftly and gracefully. Its sword, forged from pure dark energy, sliced through the air with a hiss, striking the Abyss Wolf directly—not at its body, but at its soul. The creature let out an anguished howl, the sharp sound echoing through the cavern. Though its physical form remained unharmed, its movements slowed as if something vital had been ripped away.

The wolf staggered, its glowing red eyes now clouded with weakness. It snarled, trying to regain its balance, but its strength was fading fast.

Each strike from the Soul Puppet's sword wasn't aimed at flesh or bone but at the essence of the beast itself—its very soul. The puppet's attacks were relentless, each slash draining the wolf's spirit, making it slower, more vulnerable.

Hades watched with an amused gleam in his eyes, his arms crossed over his chest. He took a step forward, speaking in a mocking tone. "Weakening already?" he taunted, his voice dripping with condescension.

The Abyss Wolf, desperate, lunged once more, but its movements were sluggish, uncoordinated. The Soul Puppet effortlessly sidestepped the attack, raising its sword for another strike.

This time, the blow was final. The beast let out a soft whimper, collapsing to the ground as the last remnants of its soul flickered and dimmed.

Hades knelt beside the fallen Abyss Wolf, its body twitching with the last remnants of life. His hand hovered just above the creature's head, his eyes gleaming with dark intent.

Slowly, a swirling vortex of energy began to form in his palm, black tendrils of power snaking toward the wolf's fading essence.

"Your soul belongs to me now," he muttered softly, his voice a chilling whisper.

The wolf's red eyes flickered weakly, its life force draining rapidly as Hades drew in the remnants of its soul.

The vortex intensified, spinning faster and faster as the dark energy of the Abyss Beast was consumed and merged into Hades' own power. The sensation was exhilarating, like a surge of cold fire rushing through his veins.

In one swift motion, Hades absorbed the wolf's damaged soul completely. He stood up, feeling the newfound strength settle within him. His body pulsed with the abyssal energy, every inch of him brimming with dark vitality.

He flexed his fingers, smirking as the power coursed through him. "Not bad," he said, his voice low, filled with satisfaction. "But if that's the best this Abyss Hole can offer, I'll be sorely disappointed."

He glanced around, the eerie silence of the abyss stretching out in all directions. Shadows flickered and shifted at the edge of his vision, and Hades' smirk grew wider. His cold anticipation was palpable as he spoke aloud, "Let's see if there are any other Abyss Beasts lurking in the shadows."

With his Soul Puppet gliding silently beside him, Hades ventured deeper into the Abyss Hole. The air grew colder, and the dark energy thickened with every step. As he pressed forward, the distant growl of another creature echoed through the cavernous tunnels.

From the shadows, another Abyss Beast emerged—a twisted, monstrous creature resembling a serpent with jagged black scales and glowing red eyes.

Its body coiled as it hissed, dark venom dripping from its fangs. The beast, powerful and menacing, slithered toward Hades with deadly intent.

Hades raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "A five-star Abyss Serpent? Is that all?"

The serpent lunged, but Hades didn't flinch. With a simple flick of his hand, his Soul Puppet moved in, blocking the creature's attack effortlessly.

The puppet's ethereal blade sliced through the serpent's soul, just as it had with the wolf, bypassing its physical form and attacking its essence directly. The serpent writhed in agony, its body convulsing as its soul was torn apart.

"Pathetic," Hades said with a mocking laugh, watching as the serpent weakened rapidly. With a quick command, his Soul Puppet delivered the final blow, and the serpent's soul was absorbed just as easily as the wolf's.

As the serpent crumpled to the ground, another beast appeared from the shadows—a massive abyssal boar, its tusks covered in dark flames. The beast charged at Hades, its hooves thundering against the ground.

But Hades didn't even bother summoning the Soul Puppet this time. With a snap of his fingers, dark tendrils of energy erupted from the ground, ensnaring the boar and pulling it down with immense force.

"Another five-star creature," Hades muttered, his tone filled with disappointment. The boar struggled, but it was no match for Hades' power.

He waved his hand lazily, and the tendrils tightened, crushing the beast's body and soul simultaneously. The boar's dark energy was absorbed in an instant, further feeding Hades' growing strength.

With each defeated beast, Hades' smirk grew wider. He looked around the dark, twisted landscape, his eyes gleaming with hunger for more. The Abyss Hole had thrown creatures at him, but none posed a true challenge.

"Is this all?" Hades asked, his voice cold and mocking as he stepped over the defeated bodies. "Surely, there's more than just these weaklings."

With a final glance at the carnage behind him, Hades continued deeper into the Abyss Hole, his Soul Puppet silently following by his side. There was no fear in his steps, only cold anticipation for whatever lay ahead. He was ready for whatever awaited him—no matter how powerful.