Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Black Claw, the notorious gang behind the short man's activities, was now in a state of utter chaos. Their hideout, usually a place of grim order and intimidation, buzzed with uneasy whispers and fearful glances.

In the dimly lit center of the hideout, Voss, the formidable leader of Black Claw, stood glaring at the severed head impaled on the pike before him.

The head was unmistakably his son's. A torrent of rage and grief swirled in his dark eyes as he clenched his fists tightly, the muscles in his jaw twitching with barely restrained fury.

"Who did this?" Voss roared, his voice echoing through the room. The gang members flinched, their eyes darting away from his furious gaze. "I want names! Now!"

One of his henchmen, a lanky man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward, trembling. "W-we don't know, boss," he stammered. "We only found this... this note." He held out a blood-stained piece of paper with shaking hands.

Voss snatched the note from his henchman, his eyes scanning the blood-written words:

"Within 7 days, come to the goblin village if you want to find me."

A low growl rumbled in his throat, and he crushed the note in his fist. "Search the goblin village!" he roared, his voice thick with fury and a promise of violence.

The henchmen scrambled to obey, their faces pale with fear. They knew the consequences of failing Voss's orders. The hideout was a flurry of activity as the men armed themselves and prepared to leave. Voss's second-in-command, a wiry man with a nervous twitch, approached cautiously.

"Boss, what if it's a trap? We should be prepared," he suggested, his voice wavering.

Voss shot him a deadly glare, his eyes burning with anger. "I don't care if it's a trap. I want them found and brought to me. No one makes a fool out of me and my life."

The men nodded and hurried out, weapons clinking as they mounted their horses and rode toward the goblin village. The journey was tense, and the atmosphere was charged with a mix of dread and determination. They arrived at the village, their eyes scanning every shadow and corner.

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But the village was completely deserted. No goblins, no signs of recent activity—only an eerie silence that seemed to mock their efforts. One of the henchmen dismounted and kicked over a rotting log in frustration. "Nothing," he muttered. "It's like they vanished into thin air."

Another henchman, younger and visibly shaken, looked around nervously. "What do we tell the boss? He's not going to be happy."

Back at the hideout, Voss paced furiously, his mind racing with thoughts of revenge. The doors burst open as his men returned, their faces a mixture of fear and apprehension.

"Well?" Voss demanded, his eyes narrowing.

The second-in-command stepped forward, swallowing hard. "Boss, the village... it was deserted. No clues, no sign of anyone. Just silence."

Voss's face turned a shade of crimson, and he slammed his fist onto the table, splintering the wood. "Deserted?" he spat. "Do they think they can play games with me?"

His men stood silent, their eyes downcast, not daring to meet his gaze. Voss took a deep breath, his anger simmering just below the surface.

"We wait," he said finally, his voice a deadly whisper. "We wait for seven days, and then we hunt them down. I will tear apart the person who dared to kill my son."

The hideout fell into an uneasy silence as Voss's declaration hung in the air. His thoughts were consumed with revenge, his mind replaying the sight of his son's severed head over and over.

Seven days seemed like an eternity, but he would wait. And when the time came, he would unleash his fury on those responsible.

---

Lucas, the mastermind behind the recent chaos in the town, now found himself deep within the forest, a world away from the turmoil he had unleashed.

His goal was clear: kill beasts and absorb their mana to grow stronger in preparation for the inevitable showdown with Black Claw. With seven days until the confrontation, every moment was precious.

Venturing deeper from the goblin village, Lucas entered a part of the forest that was notably darker and more treacherous. This was an area few dared to enter, known for its dangerous and aggressive wildlife. For Lucas, it was the perfect hunting ground.

As he moved silently through the underbrush, his senses were on high alert. Suddenly, a growl pierced the air. Lucas turned to see a pack of wolves emerging from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent.

The wolves circled him, snarling and baring their teeth. Lucas smirked, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.

With swift, calculated movements, he struck. His blade, charged with crackling thunder mana, sliced through the wolves with ease.

The air was filled with the sharp smell of ozone and the sound of thunderous impacts. Each strike was precise, felling a wolf in a single blow. As the last wolf fell, Lucas knelt to absorb their mana, feeling the energy surge through him.

He continued deeper into the forest, the foliage growing thicker and the atmosphere more oppressive. The sounds of smaller creatures faded, replaced by the eerie silence that heralded the presence of something more formidable.

It wasn't long before Lucas found what he was looking for—a peak one-star beast, a massive bear with fur as dark as the night and eyes that glowed with primal fury.

The bear roared, its powerful voice echoing through the forest. Lucas felt the ground tremble beneath his feet as the beast charged.

He met the bear head-on, his movements a blur of speed and agility. The bear swung its massive paws, but Lucas dodged with ease, countering with lightning-fast slashes that left trails of crackling energy in the air.

The battle was intense and prolonged, the bear's strength and resilience proving to be a formidable challenge. Lucas's heart pounded as he ducked and weaved, his blade dancing in the dim light.

With a final, powerful slash imbued with thunder mana, he struck the bear's neck. The beast let out a final, mournful roar before collapsing to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Lucas stood over the fallen bear, its lifeless body a testament to his growing power. He knelt once more, placing a hand on the bear's thick fur and closing his eyes as he absorbed its mana. The energy flowed into him, invigorating his body and sharpening his senses.

By the end of the day, Lucas had killed numerous beasts, steadily increasing the power of his Zeus Mask.

[Zeus: One Star Magic Warrior (15%)]

He stood in a clearing, the setting sun casting an orange glow across the forest floor. Sweat dripped from his brow as he surveyed the aftermath of his hunt. Despite his efforts, Lucas realized that reaching Two Star would take a considerable amount of time and effort.

As night began to fall, Lucas finally decided to head back home. The forest was silent again, the echoes of his battles lingering in the air. With each step, he felt more prepared for the coming days, ready