Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Hades slowly stirred from his deep cultivation in the heart of the Necrovauld Graveyard. The thick, oppressive air hummed with death mana, a tangible force swirling around him, seeping into every pore.

His body was drenched in dark power, an almost intoxicating sensation. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips—his efforts had not been in vain.

As he stretched, cracking his neck, a sudden shift rippled through his consciousness. The connection to his main body pulsed, a surge of energy washing over him.

"It seems... my main body has broken through," Hades muttered to himself, his smirk deepening as he sensed the raw power from his original form, Lucas. The breakthrough to Two-Star had finally happened, the suppression no longer holding.

"Naturally, of course." He chuckled darkly, as if the result had been inevitable.

Turning his focus inward, he mentally called out to the system. Almost immediately, its familiar, arrogant tone filled his mind.

[Oh, look at you, noticing something for once. Yes, your main body couldn't suppress the breakthrough any longer, genius. Took you long enough.]

Hades ignored the jab, pulling up the status of his Divine Masks. His eyes scanned the familiar display:

[Zeus: Five Star (100%)]

[Hades: Four Star (100%)]

[Hephaestus: Five Star (100%)]

[Lucas: Five Star (100%)]

"Hmm... Zeus, Hephaestus, and Lucas have all reached Five Star, but Hades is still stuck at Four Star." Hades's fingers tapped rhythmically against his thigh as he mused, his gaze narrowing. "I can't have that."

The system's voice chimed in, dripping with mockery.

[Well, isn't that an obvious observation. Maybe if you stopped brooding in graveyards and actually did something about it, Hades would catch up.]

Hades's lips twisted in a smirk. "There's still plenty of mana stored in the Mana Storage. It should be more than enough to elevate the Hades Mask to Five Star."

The system snorted, its arrogance unmistakable.

[Oh, so you finally figured it out? Took you long enough. Should I applaud? Or would you like me to spell it out for you—again?]

"Enough with the theatrics. Start the process." Hades's tone was calm, but there was an edge to it.

[As you command, oh wise master. Initiating cultivation... try not to pass out from the pain.]

The system began its process, converting the vast reserves of pure mana from the Mana Storage into the specialized mana compatible with Hades's Divine Mask.

As the conversion began, the familiar surge of power flooded through his body, bringing with it a discomfort that was all too familiar.

"Grit your teeth and bear it, like always," Hades muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening as the energy coursed through him.

[Oh please, spare me the bravado. You know you love this part, the pain, the power—don't act like you're some martyr for the cause,] the system chimed in, its tone dripping with mockery. [Besides, you're the one who begged for this. Should I remind you how desperate you sounded?]

Hades's lips curled into a thin smile, even as the oppressive force of the death mana swirled violently around him. "You never shut up, do you?" he growled through gritted teeth.

[Not when you give me so much to work with. You'd think after all this time, you'd have built a better tolerance. Guess even gods have their limits, huh?] The system's voice held a smug satisfaction, as though it enjoyed watching Hades struggle.

The minutes dragged on, the relentless flood of dark energy testing Hades's endurance. His body trembled under the pressure, but he remained unmoving, eyes focused.

Power had a price, and Hades had paid it more times than he could count. The pain was just a reminder of the strength he was about to gain.

Finally, with a sudden jolt, the discomfort faded. The death mana settled, and in its place came a rush of dark, potent energy. Hades slowly opened his eyes, feeling the surge of power that now coursed through every fiber of his being.

[Hades: Five Star (100%)]

"Good," Hades muttered, his voice a low growl of satisfaction. "All my masks have now reached the Five Star peak."

[Bravo, Host. Another badge for your collection. Shall I polish it for you? Or perhaps you'd like a crown to go with it?] the system jeered, its voice laced with arrogant amusement.

"I'll take the crown later," Hades shot back, stretching as he stood from his spot in the graveyard. The time had come to return to the Necrovauld Academy.

He could already feel the stirrings of what came next—the souls he had collected, the dark plans forming in his mind. As he began his walk, his gaze flicked to the Soul Vault.

Inside, innumerable souls swirled and twisted in a chaotic dance of energy, restless and full of potential. Hades's smile turned wicked, his mind buzzing with possibilities.

"What to do with all these souls?" he mused aloud, his voice dripping with anticipation. The system, ever the jester, couldn't resist chiming in.

[Oh, I'm sure you'll find something deliciously wicked. You always do. Maybe a soul stew? Or perhaps an army of undead?]

Hades chuckled, a low, sinister sound. "I'll find a use for them soon enough."

With his newfound strength surging through him and dark plans weaving in his mind, Hades began his walk back to the Necrovauld Academy.

"I've been away for too long," Hades muttered under his breath, his voice laced with anticipation. His crimson eyes gleamed with a malevolent light as he contemplated his return.

[Oh, they'll know you're back soon enough. I'd say your entrance will be... unforgettable,] the system purred, its tone dripping with amusement. [After all, you've been down here brooding in your little graveyard for quite some time. Time to remind them who they're dealing with.]

Hades's smile grew colder. "Indeed. The academy has grown complacent in my absence." His voice was a low growl, filled with the promise of reckoning.

As he continued his walk, the dark aura trailing behind him intensified, thickening like an approaching storm. Every soul in his vault twisted and writhed in response, their restless energy a reflection of his own rising power.