Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Chapter 45: The Strength Test

The first test, which focused on mana purity, soon came to an end. It had successfully weeded out a large number of participants, leaving only 100 contenders for the second test. The atmosphere grew more tense as those who passed realized just how fierce the competition was.

Lucas smirked, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes as he surveyed the thinning crowd. "As expected from the Celestial Academy," he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with amusement. "The elimination rate is brutal, and this was just the first test."

Just as he was finishing his thought, a figure materialized in front of the remaining participants. The man appeared to be in his thirties, with a sharp, composed expression that exuded authority. His presence immediately commanded attention, and the murmurs in the crowd died down to a tense silence.

Without uttering a word, the man reached into his spatial pouch, his movements deliberate and measured. When he pulled out a massive stone, the crowd collectively gasped in surprise. The stone was enormous, almost impossibly so for such a small pouch, and it thudded heavily onto the ground.

"I am an envoy from the Celestial Academy, Varyn," the man declared, his voice resonating through the arena with a tone that brooked no nonsense. His gaze was piercing as it swept over the 100 participants who had managed to pass the first test.

Varyn paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing, "The Celestial Academy only accepts the best of the best."

His eyes narrowed slightly as he gauged the reactions of the participants, some of whom exchanged nervous glances while others tried to mask their anxiety with feigned confidence.

"So now," Varyn resumed, his voice taking on a slightly sharper edge, "for the second test, I will assess your strength."

He turned to the massive stone beside him, gesturing towards it with a hand. "This is a strength-testing stone that we use to evaluate candidates from the lower realms. If you can damage this stone, I will allow you to pass and enter the Celestial Academy."

As soon as Varyn finished speaking, the crowd of participants erupted into a flurry of whispers. Some voices carried tones of surprise, while others brimmed with newfound confidence. "A stone? That's all we have to damage?" one participant muttered to his companion, a smirk on his face. "This should be easy."

"Yeah, just a rock. How hard can it be?" another chimed in, his voice dripping with overconfidence. Several others nodded in agreement, their eyes gleaming with the anticipation of an easy pass.

However, not everyone shared their optimism. Lucy's expression remained serious, her eyes narrowing as she studied the stone. Unlike the others, she didn't smile. Her instincts told her that this stone was far from ordinary. The weight of its presence alone hinted at something far more challenging than it appeared.

Lucas, standing nearby, noticed his sister's intense focus and felt a similar unease. His gaze shifted to the stone, and he could almost feel the latent energy within it. "This stone isn't normal," he thought, his brows furrowing as curiosity and caution mixed in his mind.

All he could do now was wait and observe as the other participants began testing their strength against the stone. He watched closely, knowing that this test would reveal much about their capabilities—and that of the stone itself.

Soon, one of the participants, a young man with a confident smirk plastered across his face, stepped forward. "Let me go first," he declared, his voice laced with bravado.

The way he carried himself, with his chest puffed out and an air of superiority, made it clear he was ready to show off his strength.

Lucas watched him intently, quickly sizing him up. This guy was a one-star warrior, no doubt about it. He appeared to be around 20 years old, his massive build and bulging muscles barely contained by his clothes. The confidence in his stride suggested he believed his physical power alone would carry him through this challenge.

The man approached the stone with an assured grin, but before he made his move, he turned to face the envoy. His expression shifted to one of respectful humility, though his underlying arrogance still peeked through. Bowing slightly, he asked, "May I use a weapon, sir?"

The envoy met the man's gaze with a calm, neutral expression, offering a small nod of acknowledgment. "You may," he replied, his tone steady and devoid of any hint of approval or doubt, as if the outcome was already set in stone.

The young man's grin widened at the permission, and he gave a quick, almost cocky nod of gratitude. "Thank you, sir," he said, his voice dripping with confidence.

Turning back to the stone, his grin turned into a smirk. "This will be easy," he muttered under his breath, the arrogance in his tone unmistakable.

Without a moment's hesitation, he reached into his spatial pouch and pulled out a massive axe, the blade gleaming ominously in the light. The sight of the weapon drew murmurs from the crowd, but the man paid them no mind. His focus was solely on the stone before him.

Positioning himself with practiced precision, he hefted the axe high above his head, muscles tensing as he channeled his energy into the weapon. "Crushing Strike!" he roared, his voice echoing through the arena as he brought the axe down with all his might.

But as the axe made contact, something unexpected happened. The stone remained utterly unscathed, not even a scratch marring its surface.

Instead, a shockwave of immense force rippled out from the stone, catching the man completely off guard. The force sent him flying backward, slamming him into the wall of the arena with a resounding crash.

The crowd gasped in unison, their collective confidence shaken by the spectacle. Whispers of disbelief and concern rippled through the onlookers.

The envoy stepped forward, his expression calm but with a slight glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "This stone has been latched with a reflective spell," he explained, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction at the lesson taught.

"If you cannot damage it," he continued, "it will reflect the attack back at you. So, I suggest you use your full power if you intend to leave a mark—or you can choose to give up and avoid sharing his fate."

The envoy's smile widened just slightly, a subtle challenge in his gaze as he looked over the now wary participants, daring them to test their strength against the seemingly invincible stone.