Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Velkar's eyes blazed with fury, his fists trembling as he glared at Lucas. The failure of his previous attack only deepened the hatred burning inside him, and his dark energy pulsed in response, swirling around him like a storm. His breathing was heavy, his jaw clenched tightly as he struggled to keep his rage in check.

Meanwhile, King Lionel, having regained some strength after their earlier clash, stood tall once more. His royal aura crackled with power, his face cold and regal, though a flicker of irritation crossed his eyes. He had never expected to be pushed this far, but he wouldn't back down now.

Both men stepped forward in unison, their combined auras suffocating, making the air around them feel thick and heavy. The ground beneath them trembled as if it, too, feared what was about to come.

Velkar's voice was dripping with venom as he finally spoke, his words biting. "You won't mock me any longer, Lucas. You'll die here—this time, for real."

Lionel's voice, in contrast, was colder, more composed, though no less dangerous. "You wanted to test our power?" he said, his eyes narrowing. "Let's see how well you fare when we fight together."

But Lucas, despite the overwhelming pressure closing in on him, stood there with a calm, almost lazy smirk. He looked like he was watching something mildly amusing, not facing two enraged nine-star powerhouses. His voice, when he spoke, was casual, almost bored. "Oh? Together? Now that might actually make this interesting," he said, his smirk deepening, eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Come on, then. Show me what you've got."

Velkar's face twisted in fury at Lucas's mockery, and Lionel's eyes darkened as they both moved to strike. But before they could reach him, Lucas froze. His smirk faltered, his body trembling unexpectedly. His eyes narrowed, confusion crossing his face as an odd sensation washed over him.

"What... what is this?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else, his brows furrowing as a tremor ran through his limbs. He wasn't used to being caught off guard, but this was different—something inside him had shifted.

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Just then, the familiar, condescending voice of the system rang out in his mind. [Heh, looks like your main body's almost done with the core, genius. Better hurry up and shift back, or you'll miss the big show.]

Lucas's frown deepened. "Now?" he muttered under his breath, the annoyance clear in his voice. His fists clenched as he felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Two nine-star opponents in front of him, and now this. Timing, as usual, couldn't be worse.

The system, of course, wasn't done. [What? You expected perfect timing? You're lucky I'm even telling you! If it were up to me, I'd just sit back and watch you squirm. But no, you need to 'handle things.' Honestly, you rely on me too much.]

Lucas rolled his eyes at the mocking tone, biting back the irritation bubbling inside. "Shut up," he muttered in response. "I've got two powerhouses trying to kill me here."

[Oh please,] the system continued with an arrogant drawl. [You'll be fine. It's not like they're that strong anyway. Sure, they're nine-star, but compared to you? Hah! They couldn't kill you even if they tried.

Still, I'd love to see them break a sweat.]

Lucas's lips twitched into a smirk again, but a coldness lingered in his eyes. "Fine. I'll deal with it."

He knew what needed to be done—he had to return to his main body. But with Velkar and Lionel in front of him, both fully powered and ready to strike, leaving now could spell disaster.

He couldn't afford to leave the fight unresolved, but the system's arrogant, taunting tone made it clear: [You don't really have a choice, do you?]

Suddenly, the ground beneath them rumbled violently, cracks splitting through the earth as a massive volcanic eruption tore through the surface. Molten lava surged upward, accompanied by plumes of thick, black ash. The air became unbearably hot, waves of heat radiating across the battlefield, causing the very air to shimmer.

From the heart of the eruption, Roxana emerged. Her form, once injured, was now fully healed—her molten skin glowing brighter, more intense than ever. The flames surrounding her crackled with newfound energy, her power unmistakably stronger.

A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips as she landed beside Lucas, her eyes gleaming with confidence.

"Step aside," she said, her voice steady but dripping with determination. "I've got this." Her tone held no room for argument, the kind of quiet authority that came from knowing exactly how powerful she had become.

She glanced at Lucas, her expression softening slightly as she continued. "I know you need to be somewhere else. I can feel it—through the Divine Mask inside me."

Lucas's frown, one of lingering concern, eased at her words. He met her gaze, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "You've always been sharp," he said, his voice carrying a note of pride. "I'll leave them in your hands."

Without hesitation, Lucas turned, his body gradually fading into nothingness as he shifted his consciousness back to his main body. His presence disappeared entirely, leaving Roxana standing alone to face the two powerhouses before her.

As soon as Lucas vanished, King Lionel's sharp gaze fell upon Roxana. His eyes, narrowed and cold, betrayed no emotion beyond pure focus. "You think you can defeat me?" he asked, his voice laced with disdain. "I've already beaten you once, Roxana."

The tension in the air thickened with Lionel's words, but Velkar—who stood beside him—let out a dark, mocking laugh. His twisted grin spread wider, his voice filled with arrogance as he addressed her.

"Roxana, the former top elder of the Celestial Academy…" He paused, relishing the words before continuing, "Today, by killing you, I will erase that academy from existence entirely. Once and for all."

His eyes flashed with malice, but Roxana didn't falter. Instead, she chuckled softly—a low, almost teasing sound that echoed across the heated battlefield.

"Erase me?" she repeated, her voice laced with dark amusement. "You two might've had a chance before," she said, her molten eyes burning into them, "but I'm not the same as I was back then."

The air around her seemed to pulse with energy as her molten form shifted, the raw heat she emitted warping the very space around them. Roxana's expression, still smirking, reflected not only confidence but a dangerous edge—an unspoken promise that this time, she wouldn't hold back.

King Lionel's eyes narrowed further, his fists tightening around the hilt of his sword as his aura flared. His expression was cold, calculating. "We'll see," he muttered darkly.

Velkar's smirk only grew, his voice filled with venomous glee. "I've waited a long time for this," he sneered. "You won't walk away from this fight, Roxana."

The battlefield hummed with anticipation as the three combatants stood their ground, all fully aware of the battle that was about to unfold.