Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Chapter 280: Roxana’s Instincts

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In the Celestial Academy, just after the three top elders—Darius, Sylph, and Aric—hurried off in secret, Roxana felt something stir within her. Her senses, honed over years of cultivation, flared with unease. She immediately halted her meditation, her instincts screaming that something was wrong.

She rose swiftly from her seated position, her eyes narrowing as she traced the subtle disturbance in the air. "What are they up to?" she muttered, her gaze hardening as she sensed the direction the elders had taken. They were moving fast, too fast for it to be a mere routine matter.

"I need to see where they're going," Roxana thought, already making her way toward the exit. Her curiosity was piqued, but more than that, her instincts warned her not to ignore this.

Just as she was about to follow their trail, a shadow moved in front of her, blocking her path. Roxana's sharp gaze lifted to meet the figure standing in her way—Zeus, the clone of Lucas. His calm, commanding presence instantly gave away that his appearance was no coincidence.

"Why are you stopping me?" Roxana's voice was cool, but there was an edge to it, her suspicion clear as she studied Zeus. Her posture was tense, ready for confrontation if needed.

Zeus's lips curled into a smirk, his amusement clear. "The place they're going," he said casually, his tone almost dismissive, "won't be profitable for you." His eyes gleamed with knowing confidence, as if he held a secret she wasn't yet privy to.

Roxana's brows furrowed, and her eyes narrowed. She tilted her head slightly, assessing him. "So, this is part of your plan, isn't it?"

Her voice was sharp now, tinged with suspicion, but also with the clarity of someone piecing together a puzzle. She wasn't a fool, and she could sense Lucas's fingerprints all over this situation.

Zeus shrugged lightly, completely unfazed by her suspicion. The smirk remained, unbothered by her directness.

"You could say that," he replied smoothly, his tone relaxed, as though they were discussing something trivial. His calmness only added to her irritation, though she was careful not to show it.

Roxana's gaze remained locked on Zeus, her mind racing through possibilities. She didn't like being kept in the dark, especially not by Lucas or his clones.

"So," she said, her tone cooling as her eyes flicked back to the direction the elders had gone, "what exactly do you want from me?" Her voice was more calculated now, trying to gauge his intentions.

Zeus's response came in the form of a low, confident chuckle that echoed through the air between them. The amusement in his voice seemed effortless, like he was two steps ahead of her in this conversation.

"You'll know soon enough," he said, his smirk widening as he regarded her with a casual, almost playful expression. His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, appraising her. "But I see you've reached seven stars."

There was a pause as he studied her aura, his eyes flickering with faint approval. He could sense her newfound strength, and the power radiating from her was unmistakable.

Roxana's lips curved slightly, her expression a mixture of pride and caution. "Of course," she said, her voice laced with a quiet confidence. But even as she spoke, the memory of the tribulation was still fresh in her mind.

"But that thunder tribulation..." Her words trailed off for a moment, her eyes narrowing in thought. "It was no joke. Far stronger than the one I faced years ago." She said this with a hint of disbelief, as if still trying to reconcile how much more intense it had been.

Zeus's smirk deepened, his eyes gleaming with understanding. "Naturally," he replied, as if the answer was obvious. "You're cultivating a Divine Scripture now." He leaned in slightly, his tone dropping to something more serious, more dangerous. "That changes everything."

Roxana tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Divine Scripture or not, it felt like the heavens were trying to tear me apart." There was a flash of irritation in her voice, a lingering frustration at how close she had come to being overwhelmed.

Zeus chuckled again, softer this time, as if genuinely entertained by her words. "That's how it's meant to be," he said, his tone light but carrying a subtle, dangerous edge. His gaze sharpened as he added, "The stronger the tribulation, the greater the power that follows."

Roxana's expression didn't waver, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—curiosity mixed with wariness. Before she could respond, Zeus reached into his robes, the movement deliberate.

He produced a small, glowing object—the Volcanic Dragon Core, the one Lucas had obtained after Thorne's clone secured it. The core pulsated with power, a faint red light illuminating the space between them.

Zeus extended the core toward her, his eyes gleaming with intent. The air around him seemed to hum with the weight of the moment.

Roxana's eyes locked onto the core, and immediately, her instincts roared to life. Her body reacted almost violently, the pull of the core undeniable. The surge of energy it emitted called to her on a primal level, making her muscles tense and her pulse quicken.

"What... is this?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, filled with awe. Her eyes widened as she stared at the core, her hands itching to grasp it. "My instincts... my body... it's telling me this will benefit me immensely."

Zeus's expression shifted to one of calm authority, though the urgency in his eyes remained. "Take it," he said, his voice low but commanding. "Absorb it as quickly as you can." He paused, letting the weight of his next words sink in. "There's a war coming, and you're going to need this power."

Roxana glanced up at him, her usual composed demeanor replaced by an uncharacteristic flicker of eagerness. The core's energy was overwhelming her senses, and she knew, deep down, that it was exactly what she needed.

Her hand closed around the core as she nodded slowly, her mind still buzzing with the possibilities. "I see..." she murmured, her voice distant, as if already halfway lost to the core's pull.

Clutching the core tightly, she didn't waste any time. Without another word, she turned on her heel and began heading back to her chambers, her steps purposeful and her focus laser-sharp.

The sooner she could absorb the Volcanic Dragon Core, the stronger she would become. And she knew, just as Zeus had warned, that strength would be needed soon.

Zeus stood still, watching her retreating form with a satisfied smirk. His eyes lingered for a moment longer, pleased with how things were progressing. Then, without a sound, he slipped back into the shadows, vanishing from sight.