Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Zeus had made up his mind--creating a golem as his body double was the next step. But first, he needed to focus on cultivating the remaining mana in his storage. His gaze fell on the status of his Zeus Divine Mask.

[One Star (71%)]

"Only 29% left to reach 100% and advance to Two Star," Zeus mused aloud, calculating the progress in his head. With the 30 mana points he had just absorbed, he was more than ready to push forward.

[Feeling confident, are we?] the system chimed in, its tone carrying an edge of arrogance. [Let's see if you can handle what comes next.]

Zeus rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Just flow the mana from the storage into me," he commanded, settling into a comfortable position.

[As you wish, oh mighty one,] the system mocked, but there was an undercurrent of pride in its voice. [Brace yourself, though--this isn't going to be a walk in the park.]

Zeus took a deep breath as he began cultivating his Heavenly Thunder Core Divine Scripture. The moment the mana surged into him, the familiar, excruciating pain struck, coursing through his body like lightning. No matter how many times he had experienced this, the intensity of the agony never seemed to dull.

"Still hurts like hell," Zeus muttered through gritted teeth, his face contorting with the strain.

[You should be used to it by now,] the system responded with a shameless snicker. [But then again, not everyone can handle what you're going through. Consider yourself special.]

Time seemed to crawl as Zeus endured the relentless torment, every second stretching into what felt like an eternity.

The pain was overwhelming, each wave threatening to break his resolve. But Zeus gritted his teeth, forcing himself to push through. He knew this agony was the price for power, and he wasn't about to let it defeat him.

Eventually, a subtle shift caught his attention--the unmistakable increase in strength as his mana grew more potent, more refined. The sensation was like a storm calming, the fierce energy within him settling into something more controlled, more powerful.

When the cultivation session finally ended, Zeus exhaled heavily, his body trembling from the ordeal. His muscles ached, and exhaustion weighed on him, but that weariness was quickly overshadowed by a profound sense of accomplishment. He had done it--he had advanced.

"Finally," Zeus muttered, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as the pain began to ebb away. He could feel the power coursing through him, more intense and focused than before.

He quickly checked the status of his Divine Mask.

[Name: Zeus]

[Tier: Two Star (1%)]

[Divine Scripture: Heavenly Thunder Core Divine Scripture]

A wave of accomplishment washed over him. "Finally," he murmured, the word heavy with satisfaction. "I've reached the two-star tier".

His eyes then shifted to his mana storage, curious about what remained.

[Mana Storage: 1]

"Still a bit left?" Zeus noted, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

[Of course there is,] the system chimed in with a haughty tone. [Don't forget that your dear sister is currently cultivating. You didn't think you'd use it all, did you?]

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Zeus admitted, a hint of sheepishness in his voice. "Let her cultivate more, then," he thought, brushing off his earlier oversight.

[Typical,] the system scoffed, its tone dripping with mockery. [Always thinking you're the center of everything. But don't worry, I've got everything under control--as usual.]

Zeus chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Fine, fine. I'll let you have your moment. Just keep up the good work," he replied with a hint of sarcasm, knowing the system thrived on its own sense of superiority.

As the initial rush of power from his advancement settled, Zeus couldn't help but marvel at how much stronger he felt compared to a typical Two Star cultivator. The difference was palpable, and he knew he was far from ordinary.

[Naturally,] the system chimed in, its tone smug. [You're not just some run-of-the-mill cultivator. With your Divine Mask, special physique, and Divine Scripture, you're leagues above the rest.]

Zeus smiled, acknowledging the truth in the system's words. "Yeah, that's right. But there's one thing I wish wasn't part of the package--the pain is unreal."

[Ah, the agony of power,] the system responded with mock indifference. [Consider it a small price to pay for being extraordinary. After all, not everyone can handle what you do.]

Zeus smirked at the system's shamelessness, but deep down, he knew it was right. "I suppose you're right. No pain, no gain, as they say."

[Exactly,] the system replied, its tone oozing with pride. [And you, my dear host, are paying the price for greatness.]

Zeus simply smiled at the system's words, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie with the entity that had guided him so far.

After a moment of silent contemplation, Zeus shifted his focus. "By the way, can you sense how long Lucy will need to absorb all that mana? You've got a connection through the Divine Mask that's fused with her, right?"

The system's response was laced with a tone of smug confidence. [Of course, I can. From what I'm sensing, your sister Lucy is currently lounging in magma and soaking up a massive amount of mana,] it replied, almost as if it were boasting.

[She's really making the most of it. I'd say it'll take her about 3 to 4 hours to fully satisfy her appetite, given that the volcanic mana will start to thin out as she absorbs more.]

Zeus raised an eyebrow, impressed but not entirely surprised. "So, she's directly soaking in magma, huh? Didn't think she'd dive in like that."

The system chuckled, dripping with a mix of arrogance and mockery. [Well, obviously. She has a volcanic-related body, and not just any--it's top-tier. Soaking in magma from a low-tier volcano like this one is a piece of cake for her.]

Zeus nodded thoughtfully, a small smirk playing on his lips. "I see... She's going to be busy absorbing that mana for a while. Perfect time for me to get to work on creating another Divine Mask."

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