Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Lucas stood at a distance and began observing the chaos with an unwavering gaze. His eyes followed Lucy's every movement—each strike, each parry.

She was a force of nature, her Volcanic Dragon Claws burning through the battlefield, while her Volcanic Aura scorched the ground around her, making it nearly unbearable for her opponents to stand close.

Lucas crossed his arms, a thoughtful expression settling on his face. He watched as Lucy easily dominated the group, her strength far exceeding their attempts to fight back.

The heat radiating from her was overwhelming, and even from where he stood, Lucas could feel the intensity of her power.

"It seems that her volcanic power has increased significantly," Lucas murmured, his voice tinged with admiration and a touch of surprise.

[Hah! Of course, it has!] the system chimed in, its tone dripping with arrogance. [She was trained by none other than the strongest volcanic cultivator, Roxana. Did you expect anything less from my advice and her superior talent?]

Lucas smirked, used to the system's shameless pride. "I have to admit, she's grown even faster than I thought," he replied, his voice soft but impressed. He couldn't help but admire the ease with which Lucy was dismantling her opponents. "Roxana really put her through some intense training."

As Lucas continued his conversation with the system, his focus remained on the battle ahead. Lucy's fierce combat was captivating, her volcanic power dominating the battlefield, and it seemed nothing could break his attention. But in the midst of it all, a shadow moved behind him—unnoticed at first.

One of Caius's subordinates, an opportunistic man with a sly grin etched across his face, had quietly slipped away from the chaos of the fight.

His eyes gleamed with malice as they locked onto Lucas. His thoughts raced with excitement, and he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for himself to hear.

"She's distracted with the boss. Her brother... he's defenseless. If I can grab him... use him as a hostage... oh, Caius will reward me for sure." The man's lips twisted into a smirk, greed written all over his face.

He moved stealthily, each step calculated and silent. As he approached, he summoned his mana, coating his hands with a shimmering wind aura, the energy swirling around his palms like a faint breeze.

He was fully confident that one quick strike would render Lucas unconscious. His movements became quicker, more aggressive as he closed the distance between them.

The man's smirk widened as he inched closer. "Easy prey," he whispered, excitement tingling in his chest. The closer he got, the more convinced he became that victory was his.

But unknown to him, Lucas wasn't as oblivious as he appeared. Despite his calm exterior and the conversation with the system, he had sensed the subtle disturbance in the air the moment the man approached. Lucas could feel the faint shift in the wind, the soft rustle of footsteps that were far too close for comfort.

[Looks like you've got a rat sneaking up on you,] the system said, its tone mocking and amused. [You going to let him catch you, or are you going to remind him who he's dealing with?]

Lucas smirked, his eyes still focused ahead as though unaware of the looming danger. "Let's play along for a second," he whispered, keeping his voice low.

The man, now just a step away, raised his wind-infused hand, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Got you now, kid," he muttered triumphantly, convinced that Lucas hadn't noticed him. His hand shot forward, aiming for the back of Lucas's neck to knock him out cold.

But before he could even make contact, Lucas moved.

In a blur of motion, faster than the man could react, Lucas spun around with effortless grace. His hand shot out like lightning, striking the man squarely at a pressure point just below his shoulder blade. The speed and precision of the hit left the man no time to defend himself.

"Wait—!" was all the man could gasp before his body went limp, collapsing to the ground in an unconscious heap.

Lucas stood over him, dusting off his hands as if the encounter had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience. "Pathetic," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in mild annoyance.

[Hah! You didn't even break a sweat!] the system chimed in, its tone filled with mocking laughter. [He really thought he had you. What an idiot.]

"Overconfident," Lucas replied, glancing down at the unconscious man. "He thought he could take me out just because I was standing back."

The system chuckled again, its voice dripping with amusement. [Well, you know how it is. When people see the little brother of the big, strong fighter, they think he's the weak link. It's always fun to see their surprise.]

Lucas gave a faint smile. "Surprise is the best weapon, isn't it?" he said, his eyes glinting with the thrill of the unexpected.

The man lay motionless on the ground, his failed plan nothing more than a fleeting thought now. Lucas stood over him for a moment, his sharp gaze scanning the unconscious figure.

As his eyes drifted down to the sword strapped to the man's waist, his fingers lightly brushed the handle. A thoughtful expression crossed his face, his mind already spinning with ideas.

"Hmm... this could come in handy," Lucas murmured to himself, his voice low and contemplative. His fingers wrapped around the hilt for a moment, testing the weight of the sword without drawing it fully from its sheath. There was something about this situation that made the corners of his mouth twitch into a faint smirk.

[Oh-ho! Look at you, thinking ahead,] the system chimed in, its tone dripping with arrogance and amusement. [Already plotting something, aren't you? I have to admit, this is a good idea. You're finally catching on to how we should be handling things. I like it.]

Lucas straightened up, his fingers still lingering on the sword's hilt. "It seems useful," he replied, his tone casual but thoughtful. His smirk deepened as the possibilities began to form in his mind, each step of his plan starting to unfold. "Let's see where this goes."

[Now you're talking!] the system laughed, its voice laced with mockery. [And here I was, thinking you were just going to stand around and watch like a useless bystander. But no, you've got schemes brewing, don't you? I'm impressed... well, sort of.]

Lucas rolled his eyes at the system's tone, but the smirk never left his lips. "I'm always thinking ahead. You know that," he muttered, his voice calm but with a hint of challenge. "And this..."—he glanced down at the unconscious man once more—"this is just the beginning."

[Ah, finally! A little ambition! I was starting to worry you'd forgotten who you are. I knew you had it in you! After all, with me guiding you, how could you not?] The system's voice was thick with shameless pride, reveling in the moment as if it had orchestrated everything.

Lucas chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You take credit for everything, don't you?" he asked, his tone light but laced with amusement.

[Well, of course! When you're as brilliant as I am, why wouldn't you? You wouldn't have half these ideas if it weren't for me inspiring you. Admit it—you love having me around.] The system's voice turned almost smug, as if daring Lucas to disagree.

"You certainly make things interesting," Lucas replied dryly, his gaze shifting back to the ongoing battle. His eyes flickered with both anticipation and calculation as he watched Lucy continue to tear through her opponents.

[Interesting? Oh, please. I'm the reason you're winning. You'd be lost without me.]

"Let's see how this plays out," Lucas whispered, his smirk widening as his mind raced with possibilities. His eyes remained on Lucy, but his thoughts were just as focused on his growing schemes. The fallen enemy's sword would only be the beginning of what he had in store. Exclusive tales from m v lem|p-yr