Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Chapter 232: Lucy's Spectacular Growth

Zeus and Roxana stepped into the arena, the loud buzz of excitement and chatter hitting them instantly like a wave.

The air was electric with anticipation, and Zeus couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise as he took in the scene. Hundreds of people had gathered, all with their eyes locked onto the fight happening below.

The arena was filled with murmurs, whispers, and occasional bursts of laughter. Zeus picked up on a few conversations as they passed by groups of spectators.

"How long do you think this one will last?" a young man said, leaning toward his friend with a smirk.

His friend chuckled, shaking his head. "I give him three minutes, maybe five if he's lucky. He's no match for her."

Another voice, more doubtful, piped up from somewhere in the crowd. "He's a five-star cultivator, though! He should be able to put up a fight, right?"

"Not against Lucy," someone else chimed in with a scoff. "She's on a whole different level. I've seen her break stronger men in less time."

Zeus listened to the murmurs, his eyebrows lifting as he realized just how intense the attention on Lucy had become. The crowd wasn't just here to watch a casual match—this was a spectacle, and Lucy was the star.

Beside him, Roxana observed his reaction with a soft smile playing on her lips. Her arms crossed casually, and her tone was amused yet proud. "Your sister is really famous now, isn't she?"

Zeus tore his gaze away from the crowd to glance at Roxana. "Seems like it," he replied, his voice tinged with surprise. "I didn't realize she had garnered this much attention."

Roxana chuckled lightly, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Oh, trust me, Zeus. These people aren't just here for a fight. They're here to see how quickly she can crush the poor fool who dared challenge her." She nodded toward the arena with a knowing smirk. "It's become a bit of an entertainment for them."

Zeus let out a small breath, shaking his head. "She's made quite the impression, it seems."

Roxana grinned. "She has, and it's not just because she's strong. Her beauty, her skills… The suitors line up, but they all fall the same. It's almost comical how they think they have a chance."

Zeus raised an eyebrow. "And none of them ever learn?"

Roxana laughed, the sound rich and full of amusement. "No, they never do. But that's what makes it so fun to watch, don't you think?"

Zeus shook his head again, a small smile forming on his lips as he absorbed the scene. "I suppose so."

Zeus's gaze snapped sharply to the center of the arena, where the heat of the battle was most intense. His eyes narrowed in focus as he scanned the fighters below, locking onto the familiar figure at the heart of it all.

There, standing tall with unwavering confidence, was Lucy. Her expression was cold and fierce, a stark contrast to the playful demeanor she often had around him. Now, her eyes were sharp, calculating every movement of her opponent with lethal precision.

Zeus studied her for a moment, impressed by how she commanded the battlefield with nothing more than her presence. But soon, his attention shifted to the young man facing off against her.

He narrowed his eyes as recognition struck him. "Varyn Steelwind," he thought, his mind quickly racing back to their first encounter. Zeus's jaw tightened slightly, recalling the man who had been the entrance officer during their initial trials at the Celestial Academy.

Varyn had been the one to test both him and Lucy, a figure of authority and strength at the academy. But to see him now, not as an examiner, but as one of Lucy's suitors, struck Zeus as unexpected.

Zeus's gaze flickered with interest as he watched Varyn. His movements were precise, calculated, and his energy radiated raw power. It was clear that Varyn had reached at least the five-star cultivation level, a significant leap from their earlier encounter.

He's strong, Zeus admitted to himself, feeling the weight of Varyn's power even from the sidelines. But then, his eyes returned to Lucy—and his breath caught in his throat.

It wasn't Varyn's strength that shocked him—it was Lucy's.

What the hell... Zeus's thoughts spiraled as his eyes widened in disbelief. He could hardly process what he was sensing. Lucy's energy was a storm—wild, uncontrollable, and overwhelming. The sheer force of her aura hit him like a tidal wave, leaving him frozen in place.

Her power was far beyond anything he had anticipated. This... this can't be right... he thought, his heart racing as he tried to make sense of the crushing pressure radiating from his sister. Every fiber of his being was caught off guard by the magnitude of her strength.

Suddenly, the system chimed in, its usual mocking tone layered with shock.

[What in the name of every god out there is wrong with your big sister?!] The system practically shouted, the words dripping with incredulity. [Six stars already?!] It scoffed, clearly irritated. [Are you seriously telling me she jumped this far ahead while you were off having fun? This is just ridiculous!]

Zeus clenched his jaw, his eyes still fixed on Lucy, trying to process both his own thoughts and the system's usual arrogance. Six stars... already?

[I mean, come on,] the system continued, not giving him a moment of peace. [You, the one who's supposed to be the genius around here, are getting left in the dust by your sister! What have you been doing all this time? Napping?!]

Zeus's lip twitched, irritation bubbling up as he tried to focus on the fight below. "Would you shut up for one second?" he muttered under his breath, though the system's mocking voice echoed louder in his mind.

[Shut up? Oh, no, no, no, hero! This is gold! Your sister is out here breaking through to six stars like it's nothing, while you're over here gawking like a wide-eyed idiot!] The system's tone dripped with mockery. [What's next? Is she going to be eight stars by tomorrow?

Or maybe she'll take over the Celestial Academy while you're still playing catch-up?]

Zeus groaned inwardly. "I get it," he growled under his breath, though a part of him couldn't deny the shock still coursing through him. How did she grow so fast?

The system, never one to let a good opportunity pass, chuckled darkly. [I have to hand it to her though—Lucy's making you look like an amateur. Seriously, six stars? In such a short time? You might want to start taking notes from your big sis. Who knows, maybe she'll let you borrow some of that talent.]

Zeus clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Lucy again, watching as she effortlessly held her own in the arena. Despite the system's relentless taunts, there was a fierce pride swelling in his chest.

"She's always been ahead of the curve," he murmured, his voice low but filled with grudging admiration. "But this... even I didn't expect this."

The system laughed, its tone both mocking and gleeful. [Oh, believe me, neither did I. But hey, at least it's entertaining. I can't wait to see how much further she'll outpace you.]

Zeus remained silent, his attention fully locked onto the battle. No matter how much the system teased him, one thing was clear—Lucy had become far stronger than anyone could have predicted.