Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Chapter 266: Volcanic Core

Lucas watched as Lucy absorbed the volcanic energy, her body glowing with power as she ascended to seven stars.

The once tumultuous tribulation had settled, and Lucy stood amidst the fiery landscape, her expression triumphant but unaware that there was more to be done. Lucas sighed, already anticipating her thoughts.

"She's going to think that was all there is," Lucas muttered, his eyes narrowing. He turned his attention inward, addressing the system. "Tell her what to do next. She doesn't know this is just the beginning."

[Hmph, I was waiting for you to ask,] the system responded, its tone dripping with arrogance. [Don't worry, I'll guide your little sister. Can't have her thinking she's done with something as trivial as that, right?]

Lucas smirked but didn't respond. He knew the system's personality well enough by now. In an instant, the system adopted the persona of Olympus, their so-called ancestor, and its voice changed, deep and booming with an almost theatrical presence.

[Let's have some fun, shall we?] the system chuckled to itself, clearly relishing the role.

Suddenly, a powerful voice echoed in Lucy's mind, reverberating through the fiery air of the volcano.

[So, you've finally arrived at the Death Volcano.]

Lucy's head jerked up in surprise, her eyes widening. She immediately recognized the voice. Her breathing steadied, and she muttered under her breath, "Olympus..."

She then raised her voice, trying to maintain her composure. "Yes, I've arrived. I've defeated both the volcanic dragons and..." Her lips curled into a slight smile.

"I've become a seven-star cultivator." Her pride was evident, her voice carrying the weight of her recent achievement. "Is this the opportunity you spoke of?"

The system, acting as Olympus, scoffed, and the mockery in its tone was unmistakable.

[The opportunity? You think that was it?] Olympus laughed, loud and condescending. [Becoming a seven-star is impressive, I suppose... for someone of your level. But no, child. This is merely a step, not the destination.]

Lucy's brow furrowed, her expression tightening with a mix of irritation and intrigue. "Then what is the real opportunity?" she asked, her tone more guarded now, as if she suspected the answer might hold something far more complex.

The system, sensing her frustration, couldn't help but taunt her further.

[Oh, don't be so eager. You think everything is going to be handed to you after fighting a couple of dragons? No, no, the true prize lies deeper. And you will have to earn it,] the system—Olympus—purred, its voice dripping with arrogance.

Lucy's eyes narrowed, her fists clenching slightly as she held back her rising frustration. "What do I need to do?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with determination.

[First,] Olympus said, with a dismissive tone as if what he was about to say was too obvious, [take the corpses of the seven-star and eight-star dragons. They are not as useless as they look.]

Lucy blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "The corpses?"

[Yes, the corpses!] the system snapped, as though offended that she would even question its wisdom.

[I'm not telling you this for nothing, you know. Dragons of this caliber don't just leave behind bodies. They leave behind treasures. But you wouldn't know that, would you?]

It chuckled smugly. [Now, go on. Collect the corpses. You might find their remains heavier than your ego, but don't worry—you're stronger now.]

Lucy, though used to the system's condescending tone, felt her patience thinning. Still, she nodded without argument and moved toward the fallen dragons.

She tested her newfound strength, lifting the massive corpses with surprising ease. Now that she had broken through, their size and weight posed no challenge to her.

Lucas watched from a distance, a small smile on his face. He knew Lucy wouldn't back down from a challenge, no matter how much the system mocked her.

[See? Was that so hard?] Olympus teased, its tone now dripping with false sweetness. [Now, let's get to the interesting part.]

"What do I do next?" Lucy asked, her voice sharp, betraying the tension she felt after the intense battle. Determination flared in her eyes, though a hint of frustration lingered beneath.

[Impatient, are we?] Olympus responded, his voice oozing with condescension. [You've just faced a tribulation, defeated two dragons, and already you're asking for more? Very well, I'll indulge you. Open their bellies and retrieve their cores. That's where the real treasure lies,] he said, as though the task was beneath him.

Lucy's brow furrowed slightly as she considered the dragons' immense bodies. "How do I find them?" she asked, her tone controlled but curious. She had faced countless enemies, but this was new territory.

[You don't know?] Olympus scoffed, his voice dripping with mockery. [For someone as 'strong' as you, you should've figured it out by now. But fine, I'll spell it out. The core is the organ that holds the most mana. Surely you can manage that, can't you?]

Lucy clenched her fists for a brief moment, biting back a retort. The system's arrogant tone was nothing new, but it grated on her nerves, especially now. "Fine." She exhaled, closing her eyes as she extended her senses into the dragons' massive forms.

With a calm focus, Lucy searched for the telltale sign of mana—the raw, concentrated energy that fueled these beasts.

The world around her seemed to fade as she concentrated, her mind locking onto a powerful surge deep within the dragons' bellies. It was unmistakable, a pulse of energy stronger than anything else in their bodies.

Her eyes snapped open, her expression fierce with renewed determination. "Got it."

Without hesitation, Lucy summoned her Volcanic Dragon Claws. With a swift, deliberate motion, she plunged them deep into the bodies of the fallen dragons.

The sound of tearing flesh and cracking bone filled the air as she reached into the core of their being.

[There we go. Finally using that brain of yours,] Olympus mocked, clearly enjoying the moment. [I was beginning to worry you'd need help with even this simple task. Imagine, the great Lucy being stumped by two corpses.]

Lucy ignored the taunts, her concentration unwavering as she dug deeper. A few moments later, her claws brushed against something solid—something warm.

She grasped it and pulled back, revealing two identical red marbles, each glowing faintly with a deep inner fire. They radiated an ancient, powerful energy, as though the very essence of the dragons had been captured within. Explore hidden tales at m,v l'e-NovelBin.net

The cores were small, yet impossibly dense, about the same size as the Abyss Core Lucas had retrieved from the Abyss Hole. The heat they gave off was intense, but to Lucy, it was nothing more than a comforting warmth.