Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Hades wasted no time, swiftly summoning his Soul Puppet with a mere flick of his wrist. The temperature around them plummeted as the ethereal figure materialized beside him.

Its form shimmered with a ghostly, dark energy that seemed to pulse with life, moving with a fluid grace that was unnatural and unnerving.

The air itself felt heavier, charged with a menacing aura as the puppet took shape, its translucent body appearing as if it could vanish at any moment, yet held immense, untouchable power.

Vesperin, who had been watching from a safe distance, gasped audibly, his eyes widening in disbelief. His jaw dropped slightly as he struggled to process what he was witnessing. The puppet's presence sent chills down his spine, and his confident demeanor faltered.

"A Soul Puppet…" Vesperin whispered, his voice filled with awe and trepidation. "I've only ever heard of them in stories."

His gaze stayed locked on the figure, eyes darting over every detail of its ghostly appearance. He swallowed hard, the weight of the puppet's power settling in his chest.

Soul Puppets were legendary among the elite, known to be nearly invincible due to their ability to strike at the soul itself. Their very nature allowed them to bypass any physical defense, rendering most opponents helpless.

"They're said to be the strongest puppets," Vesperin murmured under his breath, his voice trembling slightly. "Nothing can touch them… and all of their attacks—"

He trailed off, shaking his head in disbelief as he continued to mutter to himself. "How did he get his hands on something like this?"

His mind raced, knowing the enormous difficulty in creating such a puppet. "To create one of these," Vesperin added, his voice louder now but still tinged with disbelief, "you'd need the soul of a strong fighter, at least an 8-star warrior…"

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He glanced at Hades, who was calmly commanding the puppet as though it were an ordinary tool. Vesperin's awe quickly turned into unease.

"But how? How did he manage to capture such a powerful soul?" His voice carried a hint of fear, realizing the man before him had capabilities far beyond what he had initially thought.

Despite his swirling thoughts, curiosity gnawed at Vesperin, his desire to know more almost overpowering his fear. His voice softened again, his eyes glued to the puppet. "Who is this guy…?"

Meanwhile, Hades stood firm, his eyes locked on the massive Abyss Dragon before him, its dark, glowing eyes glaring back with primal fury. He remained calm, unflinching, as he gave the order to his Soul Puppet. "Attack the Abyss Dragon," he commanded, his voice a steady force of control.

The Soul Puppet moved with inhuman speed, its ethereal form gliding silently through the air. It raised its blade, ready to strike at the core of the dragon's very essence—the soul.

But just as the puppet was about to unleash its deadly strike, a sharp voice rang through Hades' mind, halting him in his tracks.

[Stupid host, stop your attack!]

Hades' eyes narrowed in irritation. "What do you mean, stop?" he hissed through clenched teeth. "I'm about to finish this!"

The system's voice cut through again, this time more urgent, but with its usual arrogant tone. [Oh, brilliant one, always so hasty. You'll ruin everything if you don't listen to me. You'd think after all this time, you'd have learned to trust me more. But no, here you are, trying to kill yourself again.]

Hades' jaw tightened, his patience thinning. "Explain, now," he growled, forcing himself to stay calm.

[Glad you asked, even though I'm sure you'd mess it up without me. I've sensed something important. The source of the Abyss Mana that's flooding this entire area is coming from the dragon's core—yes, that core inside the very beast you're about to soul-punch into oblivion.]

Hades froze, his thoughts racing. "The core? So, what are you saying?"

The system's voice took on an exaggerated, mocking tone. [Let me spell it out for you since clearly you're struggling to keep up: If you attack its soul, you'll damage the core. You don't want a defective core, do you? Because I know how much you love shattered, worthless relics.]

Hades cursed under his breath, a low growl of frustration escaping his lips. "Damn it… So what do you suggest I do then?"

The system practically purred in smug satisfaction. [Finally, a decent question. You'll need to physically fight the dragon this time. Yes, your big, strong hands will have to do the work. The Abyss Core is resilient, but it's designed to handle physical blows. However, a direct hit to the soul would ruin it, and then you'll be left with nothing but dust.

And don't even try to blame me for that.]

Hades clenched his fists, his gaze shifting back to the dragon. The situation was now clearer, but no less dangerous. "So, I need to beat this thing with brute force?"

The system's tone was dripping with mockery now. [Exactly, my oh-so-sharp host. The core's been absorbing Abyss Mana for who knows how long, making it tougher than most. But lucky you, it can withstand a good old-fashioned beating—just make sure not to get too carried away with that rage of yours. Wouldn't want you to accidentally smash the prize you're after.]

A cold, dangerous smile tugged at the corners of Hades' lips as he lowered his hand, dismissing the Soul Puppet from the battle. His voice was low, filled with dark amusement. "Fine. A physical fight it is, then."

The system chuckled, pleased with itself. [Now you're talking. Try not to die, alright? I'd hate to have to find another host as entertaining as you.]

Hades ignored the jab, his focus entirely on the massive beast before him. The Abyss Dragon roared, sensing the shift in the air as Hades prepared himself for a direct confrontation. He cracked his knuckles, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the impending fight.

"Let's see just how tough you are," he muttered under his breath, his body tensing as he prepared to strike.

With renewed determination and a strategy in place, Hades charged forward, ready to take down the Abyss Dragon in a brutal, physical battle, fully aware that the Abyss Core within it was his key to victory—and the prize he wouldn't let slip through his fingers.