Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Lucas stood silently in the center of his Void Domain, the dark energy swirling around him like a protective veil. His expression was calm, almost detached, as his gaze lifted toward the sky, where a dark figure descended with ominous intent.

The air was thick with tension, so dense that even the slightest movement seemed to crackle with anticipation.

Velkar's power was palpable, his presence casting a suffocating shadow over the battlefield. As he drew closer, Lucas could feel the raw surge of energy radiating from him, and his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

"He's grown stronger," Lucas thought, his mind sharp. "Nine-star strong."

Velkar landed beside King Lionel, the ground trembling under the weight of his arrival. His lips curled into a sinister smirk, the dark glow in his eyes reflecting the malice that had been festering since their last encounter. His voice, dripping with arrogance, cut through the silence like a blade.

"Well, well, Lucas..." Velkar began, his tone almost mocking. "It seems the tables have finally turned. Now that I've reduced the Celestial Academy to nothing, I've become stronger than you could ever imagine."

Lucas remained still, watching him intently, but his face betrayed nothing.

Velkar's smirk widened as he took a step closer, his gaze locked on Lucas. "I've ascended to the ultimate—nine-star. In the past, I was forced to run from you. You made me retreat... humiliated me. But now..." His eyes gleamed with venomous satisfaction.

"Now, I've come to return the favor."

The weight of his words lingered in the air, filled with the bitterness of past defeat and the hunger for revenge. He expected to see a flicker of fear in Lucas's eyes, some sign that his newfound power was striking a chord.

But Lucas's expression remained utterly unchanged, as if Velkar's words hadn't even reached him. Then, slowly, the corners of his lips curled into a small, mocking smile.

"Is that so?" Lucas said, his voice calm, low, and eerily composed. "You've come all this way to prove yourself?" His eyes glinted with a sharp, cold amusement as he tilted his head slightly, meeting Velkar's gaze without an ounce of concern. "Let's see if you can."

His words, laced with such indifference, cut deeper than any attack. Velkar's smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by a flash of anger in his eyes. He had expected fear, hesitation—anything but this cold, dismissive response.

"You're still underestimating me?" Velkar growled, his voice rising in intensity, his fists clenching. "You won't be able to brush me aside so easily this time, Lucas!"

But Lucas's smile didn't fade. If anything, it only grew more confident, more condescending.

"Show me, then," Lucas said, his voice barely above a whisper but filled with unshakable dominance. "Show me how strong you've really become."

Without hesitation, Velkar lunged forward, his hands glowing with ominous dark energy as he activated Nether Claw.

The air crackled with the power of the underworld as his claws extended, tearing through the space between him and Lucas. His attack was swift, deadly, and brimming with the raw energy of darkness.

But Lucas didn't move. He remained perfectly still, enveloped in the swirling mass of his Void Domain, his expression calm and almost bored. As the Nether Claw closed in on him, the energy began to flicker and lose its strength.

The deadly claws, once surging with power, faltered as the void's influence took hold, weakening their potency. Before they could even touch Lucas, the attack was absorbed entirely by the swirling energy of Void Devour.

Velkar's eyes widened, just for a moment, as he watched his attack fizzle out. His surprise quickly morphed into frustration, and he gritted his teeth. "Is this it?!" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Can you only defend yourself, Lucas? Is hiding in that little void bubble all you've got?"

Lucas's calm demeanor remained unshaken. In fact, his smirk widened ever so slightly, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and condescension. "I'm not hiding," Lucas replied, his tone casual, as if this was nothing more than a simple conversation. "I'm just… testing you."

Velkar's sneer faltered. "Testing me?"

"[He thinks this is a test? Pathetic.]" The system chimed in, its voice filled with its usual arrogance. "[You've faced stronger people while you were half asleep. This guy thinks he's special. How cute.]"

Lucas chuckled lightly, seemingly agreeing with the system. "I wanted to see how much you've grown since the last time we crossed paths. That's all," he said, his voice calm but laced with a teasing undertone. "But I have to say, I'm not exactly impressed."

Velkar's face twisted with anger, his eyes blazing with fury. "You underestimate me far too much!" he growled, his voice lowering into a dangerous snarl. "This will be your death, Lucas!"

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his smirk never faltering. "My death? Are you sure about that? Do you think that a nine star warrior can kill me? Let me see if you really can do it, stupid guy."

[Pfft! Did he just say your death?] The system burst into laughter. "[This guy couldn't even scratch you if you stood there without your Void Domain. Seriously, Lucas, do you ever attract opponents that aren't delusional?]"

Velkar's anger only intensified as he felt mocked, not only by Lucas's words but also by the sheer arrogance emanating from him. His hands tightened into fists as dark energy swirled around him, his power surging with fury.

But Lucas didn't seem the least bit concerned. His eyes gleamed with amusement, like a cat toying with a mouse. "Let's see if you can actually make good on that threat," he said, his tone dripping with confidence.

The tension between them crackled in the air as Velkar's power continued to build, and the battlefield seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their impending clash.

Both sides braced for the next move, the anticipation thick as the showdown between Lucas and Velkar was about to escalate to a whole new level.