Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Chapter 297: A New Power Emerges

Lucas stood quietly at the site where the battle with the elders had unfolded, his eyes scanning the desolate battlefield.

The ground was scorched, littered with broken fragments of the nether puppets, but now, all was still. The fierce energy that had once crackled through the air had dissipated, leaving behind an eerie silence.

His expression was calm, but his mind was already running through possible next steps when the familiar voice of the system chimed in, cutting through the quiet.

[What should we do next?] The system's tone was neutral, almost curious, as if it, too, was wondering what the next move would be.

Lucas remained silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he contemplated. A faint breeze blew past him, stirring the ashes around his feet.

"Honestly," he said slowly, "there's not much left to do right now. The only thing that remains is to wait… for Velkar to make his move and attack Celestial Academy." Discover stories at mvl

The system paused briefly, then responded with a faint hint of amusement. [I see. So, now we wait.]

Lucas gave a small, thoughtful nod, his eyes still fixed on the horizon. He knew what Velkar's next steps would be—he didn't need to chase after him. It was just a matter of time before Velkar acted.

But before Lucas could settle into the waiting game, the system's voice returned, this time sharper, with a more alert edge. [By the way, someone is approaching. And her power…] The system hesitated for just a moment before adding, [It's far stronger than Velkar's.]

Lucas's eyes widened slightly, his usual calm demeanor shifting into focused alertness. His posture straightened, and his gaze swept across the horizon. "Who?" he asked, his voice low but cautious. A hint of tension flickered in his tone.

[You'll know soon enough,] the system replied, teasingly vague, its tone almost playful despite the seriousness of the situation.

Moments later, the air shifted, heavy with an overwhelming presence. Lucas tensed, his gaze snapping toward the source of the approaching power.

He didn't need to see her to know who it was—the energy was unmistakable, blazing with fiery intensity. A figure emerged from the distant haze, the heat radiating off her in waves.

It was Roxana Volcaria.

As she drew closer, the force of her aura was undeniable. Lucas felt the surge in her mana, far stronger than before. His eyes widened, the calm mask slipping for a fraction of a second as he registered the sheer magnitude of her growth.

"Wait... you're already eight-star?" His voice held a note of incredulity, his usual composed demeanor giving way to genuine surprise. He had anticipated her advancement, but not at this pace.

Roxana smirked, a confident gleam in her eyes. She seemed to enjoy his reaction. "Yeah," she replied, her tone laced with self-assurance. "The Volcanic Dragon Core pushed me through the final barrier. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his surprise shifting into intrigue. "So, the core did all that?" His voice was quieter now, as if speaking more to himself. There was a hint of curiosity, almost admiration, in his tone.

Roxana's smirk widened. "Well," she shrugged, her eyes glowing with the satisfaction of her newfound strength, "it didn't hurt that I was already prepared. The core just... perfected everything."

Lucas stared at her for a moment, still trying to comprehend how quickly she had advanced. His gaze flicked up toward the sky, as if searching for answers, then back to her. "That was… fast," he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Lucas turned inward, his voice dropping to a low whisper as he addressed the system, suspicion coloring his words. "It seems like her fusion was a bit too fast, don't you think?"

The system's reply came swiftly, its tone filled with its usual smugness. [Fast? Oh, please. She didn't just stumble into power like you, Lucas.]

There was a playful jab in its voice. [She was already prepared for this breakthrough. The second you handed over the Volcanic Dragon Core, it was like handing her the key to the door she'd already unlocked.]

Lucas's brow twitched slightly at the mockery, but the system continued without missing a beat.

[With her physique, core, and divine scripture all perfectly aligned with the Volcanic Dragon, her body was more than ready. She didn't have to crawl through the mud like some people I know...]

The system's arrogance was palpable as it spoke. [Her body became stable and powerful enough to ascend quickly—like a dragon soaring effortlessly through the sky.]

It paused for dramatic effect, then added, [And let's not forget, she was already an eight-star before. Returning to her peak? Easy. Unlike certain someone who's still stuck playing catch-up.]

Lucas sighed, a hint of amusement crossing his face despite the system's shameless arrogance. "And what about my main body and Lucy?"

The system's tone shifted into a more condescending mockery. [Oh, you and Lucy? Still crawling, my dear Lucas.] It let out a dramatic sigh. [Your main body and Lucy are still absorbing the cores like they're sipping tea, taking their sweet time.]

Lucas rolled his eyes as the system continued its monologue.

[Since it's your first time fusing with a core, it's going to take longer. Plus, let's be honest, you need more mana, more preparation, more everything, really.]

The system's laugh echoed in his mind, shamelessly rubbing salt in the wound. [You're not Roxana, who practically had a shortcut laid out for her.]

Lucas's faint smile returned as he processed the system's explanation. As arrogant and mocking as it was, it made sense. Roxana had everything in place for a swift ascent, whereas his own journey would naturally take longer.

"Fine," Lucas muttered, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Patience... always the price to pay."

He turned his gaze toward Roxana, his expression softening slightly as he prepared to speak. Roxana met his eyes, her fiery presence tempered by curiosity, waiting silently for him to reveal their next move.