Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Chapter 99: Caius's Ultimate, Storm Slash

Caius teetered on the brink of collapse, his mana nearly drained. Sweat dripped down his face as he looked across the arena at Zeus, who stood there seemingly untouched by their battle, still fresh and composed.

The stark contrast between them fueled Caius's frustration, and he clenched his teeth in bitter resignation. "I admit, you're strong," he said, his voice strained with exhaustion, "but don't think for a second that you can underestimate me."

Zeus responded with a smirk, his confidence radiating from every pore. "Underestimate you?" he repeated, his tone sharp and cutting through the tension like a blade.

"No, Caius , you're the one who underestimated me." His eyes bore into Caius's, a glint of satisfaction in them. "You've been far too arrogant."

Caius let out a heavy sigh, the weight of Zeus's words sinking in. The truth stung, and he couldn't deny it. "Maybe you're right," he conceded, his voice tinged with reluctant acceptance.

His pride took a hit, but he wasn't ready to admit defeat just yet. "But don't think for a moment that you've won."

Despite the exhaustion weighing him down, Caius's eyes hardened with renewed determination. He knew he had only two minutes left in his Storm Aura form, and he intended to make every second count. With a fierce resolve, he straightened himself, locking eyes with Zeus.

"I've got one last trick up my sleeve," Caius declared, his voice steady and filled with purpose. "I'm going to release my ultimate skill. If you can withstand it, then—only then—will you have truly earned your victory."

Zeus's smirk grew wider, a spark of excitement flickering in his eyes. The challenge ignited something within him. "By all means," he said, his voice low and confident, "let it all out. I'm ready."

Caius took a deep breath and nodded to himself, resolving to give everything he had left. With deliberate slowness, he raised one of his swords high above his head, gripping the hilt tightly with both hands. His knuckles turned white with the strain, but his focus remained unshaken.

He poured every last drop of his remaining mana into the blade, the energy surging through the metal until it glowed with an intense, crackling thunder aura. The sword trembled under the immense power, and so did Caius , his body barely able to contain the force he was channeling.

"Now… take this!" Caius shouted, his voice strained but filled with fierce determination. With a final, desperate effort, he brought the sword down in a powerful, sweeping slash.

The air around him seemed to ignite as the energy was released, the atmosphere crackling with electricity. Caius's ultimate attack—Storm Slash—unleashed a massive shockwave of thunder energy that erupted from the blade, barreling toward Zeus with a force that shook the arena.

As the devastating wave of energy hurtled toward his opponent, Caius managed a smirk of satisfaction. He could see the sheer power of his attack, the way it tore through the air with unstoppable force. "Let's see you handle that…" he muttered, his voice tinged with a weary triumph.

But the effort had taken everything out of him. The world around him began to blur, and his legs gave way. Caius's smirk faltered as darkness edged into his vision.

His strength failed him, and with a final, exhausted breath, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious from sheer exhaustion, leaving his fate in the hands of his final attack.

The referee, who had been closely observing the battle, remained silent. Despite Caius's unconscious state, he knew he couldn't interfere yet.

Caius had declared that if Zeus could withstand this attack, he would win. Stopping the battle now would tarnish the honor of the fight, so the referee held his position, ready to step in only if Zeus was truly in danger.

Zeus stood firm, his eyes locked on the incoming shockwave of thunder energy. His expression remained calm, almost indifferent, as the destructive force barreled toward him. The air around him crackled with anticipation, but Zeus remained unmoved.

"You're pretty good, Caius," he murmured, almost as if speaking to himself. There was a hint of genuine admiration in his voice. "To unleash an attack like this in your condition… I have to say, I'm impressed."

As the shockwave drew closer, Zeus's eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening. Without a moment's hesitation, he unleashed his own thunder energy, letting it course through his body and gather in his fists. The energy crackled and sparked, wrapping his knuckles in a fierce, electric aura.

Zeus brought his fists together with a resounding crack, the thunderous impact echoing across the arena. The sheer force of the blow met the oncoming shockwave head-on, creating a collision of raw power that sent vibrations through the ground.

The moment his fists connected with the shockwave, Zeus felt the intense energy of Caius's Storm Slash. The power behind it was undeniable, a testament to Caius's strength.

But Zeus wasn't intimidated. Instead of letting the force overwhelm him, he channeled his own thunder energy into the shockwave, infusing it with his own might.

With a fierce cry that reverberated through the air, Zeus took control of the energy. His expression was one of pure determination, his eyes burning with resolve as he bent the wild power to his will.

The shockwave, now infused with Zeus's energy, began to destabilize, the once-coherent wave of thunder energy breaking apart under the strain.

"Not bad, Caius ," Zeus muttered under his breath, his voice filled with a quiet confidence as he poured everything he had into his final move.

With a final surge of effort, Zeus caused the energy to erupt, triggering a massive explosion that shattered the shockwave into countless shards of crackling lightning. The arena was engulfed in a blinding light, the sheer power of the explosion momentarily obscuring everything from view.

When the dust finally settled, Zeus stood tall, completely unscathed. The remnants of the explosion crackled harmlessly around him as he surveyed the now-silent arena.

Zeus smiled, a satisfied expression on his face. "It seems I've won," he declared, his voice carrying across the stillness, firm and unyielding.

He turned his gaze to the referee, who had watched the entire spectacle with wide eyes, his breath caught in his throat. "You'd better get him to the doctor," Zeus added, nodding toward Caius's unconscious form with a casual air.

The referee, snapping out of his stunned silence, quickly nodded. "Right away," he replied, his voice shaky as he rushed to Caius's side, his concern evident.

Zeus, his victory secure, allowed himself one last smirk before turning on his heel and leaving the arena. Each step echoed with the certainty of his triumph, the weight of his victory trailing behind him as he exited, leaving the spectators in awe.