Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Zeus had barely returned to his spot after his explosive display when the arena buzzed with murmurs of disbelief and awe. The crowd hadn't quite processed what they had just witnessed, and even the top elders were whispering amongst themselves. Yet, as the next name was called, the excitement quickly quieted down, and all eyes turned toward the second-ranked disciple.

Zeus, still basking in the afterglow of his performance, folded his arms and leaned back casually, fully expecting to see his sister, Lucy, step forward.

"Finally," he thought, a smug grin creeping across his face, "let's see just how far she's come."

But instead of Lucy, a man emerged from the shadows. Zeus's smirk faltered for a split second, his eyebrows rising in mild surprise. "Wait... that's not Lucy."

[Heh, looks like your dear sister's taken the top spot,] the system chimed in with a shamelessly mocking tone. [Guess she's leaving her 'all-powerful big brother' in the dust, huh?]

Zeus's smirk returned, sharper than before. "So Lucy's number one now?" he whispered under his breath, feeling a mixture of pride and amusement. "She's really grown."

[Of course, she has. Unlike someone, she doesn't waste time standing around smirking at her enemies.] The system's voice was dripping with sarcasm. [But hey, don't worry, I'm sure you'll catch up eventually... maybe in a decade or two.]

Zeus let out a soft chuckle, ignoring the system's jabs as his eyes refocused on the second-ranked disciple now walking toward the center of the arena. His curiosity piqued, Zeus narrowed his gaze, studying the man carefully as the name was announced.

[Name: Kael Drakthorn]

[Race: Human]

[Physique: Dragon Claw]

[Tier: 4 Star]

[Cultivation Manual: Earth Dragon Claw]

Zeus raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "A special physique?" he thought, his eyes narrowing with renewed interest. "And it's a body-type one too. Interesting..."

[Well, well, look at that! Another one with some fancy powers,] the system chimed in, dripping with sarcasm. [Bet he's one of those 'I was born for greatness' types. You know, like the ones who think the world owes them something.]

Zeus chuckled softly, his gaze shifting toward Kael. "It makes sense why he held the top spot before Lucy knocked him down," he mused, crossing his arms. "That kind of physique isn't something you see every day among the outer disciples."

He glanced toward the elder seats, quickly scanning for any familiar surnames. None of the elders had the name "Drakthorn," which caused Zeus to raise his brow again.

"No family backing among the top elders..." he thought, smirking slightly. "So he's not riding on family connections. Must be a noble from somewhere, then."

[A noble without family strings to pull? Impressive. Or maybe he's just compensating for something,] the system added with an exaggerated sigh. [Still, with that physique, it's no wonder he's up there. But hey, maybe he's just lucky. Not like he's got your level of brilliance, right?]

Zeus rolled his eyes, ignoring the system's jabs. "That Dragon Claw physique of his is intriguing. Let's see what he can really do."

The smirk on Zeus's face deepened, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and challenge. "This might be worth watching after all."

Kael Drakthorn strode toward the testing stone with an air of unshakable confidence, his every step radiating strength. The crowd grew quiet, sensing the power building around him. As he neared the stone, the air itself seemed to hum, his right arm glowing with a faint, earthen aura.

Then, without warning, his hand began to change. Scales, thick and rugged, erupted along his forearm, stretching down to his fingers, which morphed into massive, razor-sharp claws. His arm had become a fearsome dragon claw, the earthy tones of brown and gold shimmering with raw, untamed power.

Kael didn't hesitate. His eyes focused with deadly precision as he drew his arm back. "Dragon Claw Strike!" he roared, his voice booming through the arena.

In one swift, brutal motion, Kael brought his transformed hand crashing down onto the stone. The impact sent a shockwave through the arena as the crowd collectively gasped. A loud crack echoed, and a large chunk of the stone shattered under the force of his blow, dust rising from the destruction.

Zeus, watching from the sidelines, kept his face neutral but couldn't help but smirk internally. "Not bad... but not enough."

The damage Kael had inflicted was nearly identical to the destruction Zeus had caused moments earlier. The crowd murmured in awe, clearly impressed by the display, but Zeus remained unimpressed.

Kael straightened up, watching as his dragon claw slowly shrank back to its normal, human form. He stood tall, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as he soaked in the awe of the crowd. But his focus wasn't on them. It was on Zeus.

Without missing a beat, Kael's eyes locked onto Zeus, filled with fierce determination and an unmistakable challenge. His stare was sharp, unyielding, as if to say, "You're next. Watch yourself."

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Zeus, ever calm and composed, didn't flinch. Instead, he met Kael's glare with a slow, confident smile. His eyes gleamed with amusement, and his lips curled into a taunting smirk.

"Oh? So, you really want to go there, huh?" Zeus thought, his tone dripping with mockery. His smirk only widened, daring Kael to do something.

[Look at him, all fired up,] the system chimed in, its voice smug and dripping with sarcasm. [He thinks he's got a shot! I bet he's been practicing in front of a mirror, imagining the day he'd face you. How cute.]

Zeus chuckled inwardly, ignoring the system's relentless teasing. "He's certainly got the spirit... but spirit alone won't be enough." His gaze remained steady, holding Kael's without a hint of concern.

Kael's jaw tightened, his muscles visibly tensing as if he was restraining himself from acting on the challenge that hung in the air. His glare never wavered, but words escaped him.

Instead, he turned sharply on his heel, walking back to his place among the disciples. The tension between them was palpable, thick like a storm brewing on the horizon.

[Oh, he's angry. You really got under his skin, didn't you?] the system taunted with a laugh. [He's probably imagining a hundred ways to take you down right now.]

Zeus smirked again, satisfied with the reaction. "Let him try," he thought, his confidence unwavering. "He won't even come close."