Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Hades followed closely behind Elder Thalnor, his dark robes gliding silently over the ground as they made their way deeper into the forest. The dense trees around them seemed to bend inward, and the air itself grew heavier, thick with the weight of hidden intentions. Each step felt like moving through a veil of deceit, but Hades remained calm, his expression unreadable.

[Don't tell me you actually believe that old fool,] the system's voice cut in, dripping with its usual arrogance. [Because if you do, Host, then maybe you've finally lost it.]

Hades' lips curled into a sly smirk. "Believe him? Don't be ridiculous. The Abyss Hole might be real, and yes, the idea of a holy land for dark cultivators holds some truth. But that nonsense about him wanting to train me? Pure garbage." His tone was cold, yet amused.

The system gave a mocking laugh, echoing in Hades' mind. [Oh, so you're not completely brain-dead. I was starting to worry. You should know by now, anyone from the Malachor family saying they want to help is as believable as a pig learning to fly.] The system's voice was filled with shameless mockery.

"Of course," Hades replied, his smirk widening. "He's from the same family as Vesperin, after all. I haven't even settled my score with that one yet." His eyes gleamed with dark amusement, thinking of the Malachor family's corpse puppets and twisted practices.

[Oh, Vesperin? That worm is still crawling around? Tch. Typical Malachor—filthy, desperate, and absolutely full of themselves.] The system's tone was dripping with mockery.

[Not that they're any real threat, but it's adorable how they think they can manipulate everyone around them. Let me guess—Thalnor probably thinks you'll become his prized puppet, doesn't he? How quaint.]

Hades chuckled under his breath, his amusement growing. "Exactly. But I'm not worried about that. The Malachor family doesn't have an ounce of sincerity. It's all deceit, just like Vesperin. And now Thalnor thinks he can 'train' me?" His voice oozed sarcasm.

"I'm curious to see what his real plan is. Given their obsession with corpse puppets, it's not hard to figure out what he wants from me."

The system let out a smug laugh, the sound echoing mockingly in Hades' mind. [Oh, please! He's probably hoping you'll hand over your body willingly! The desperation must be oozing from his pores. 'Oh, Hades, let me train you, let me help you,' he says, all the while thinking, 'How fast can I turn him into a corpse puppet?' Pathetic.]

"I know," Hades agreed, his smirk deepening. "It's amusing, really. I'm almost tempted to play along just to see how far he'll take it. And when the time comes, I'll turn the tables."

The system practically purred in satisfaction. [Oh, I do love it when you get crafty. Let him dance on the edge, then knock him off when he least expects it. These fools are always so confident right before they fall.]

"Let's see how this little game unfolds," Hades whispered inwardly, his dark amusement intensifying as they continued their journey. Each step brought them closer to the inevitable confrontation, and Hades relished the thought of what would come next.

Soon, they arrived at a secluded area, far from the bustling academy but close enough to a shadowy, quiet town nestled in the distance.

The atmosphere felt thick with malice, the eerie silence pressing down like a weight. The town itself seemed to be in a permanent state of twilight, its buildings worn and lifeless, much like the grim presence the Malachor family always exuded.

Hades glanced toward the town, his eyes narrowing. "This place…" he muttered under his breath, the tension around them growing with each step.

Thalnor noticed his hesitation and flashed a seemingly reassuring smile, though it held a hint of something darker. "No need to worry, Hades. This town is under my control. My clansmen live here, and they're loyal to me."

Hades raised an eyebrow, suspicion clear in his expression. Thalnor continued, his voice almost too smooth, "If you're concerned about keeping your training a secret, rest assured—no one outside will ever know. In fact," his smile widened, "I plan to keep you as a secret myself."

"Naturally," Hades thought, the corners of his lips curling into a knowing smirk. "Of course you plan to keep me a secret. After all, in your perfect little scenario, I'll be nothing more than another puppet by the time you're finished with me." The amusement in his eyes grew darker, but he kept it well hidden beneath his calm exterior.

[Oh, this is too good!] The system chimed in with a mocking laugh. ['Keep you a secret,' huh? That's rich. Translation: 'I'm going to turn you into a lifeless corpse puppet, and no one will be the wiser.' How pathetic. This guy must think you're blind.] The system's voice was dripping with contemptuous amusement.

"He's underestimating me, like they all do," Hades mused inwardly, his tone laced with calm indifference. "But that only plays into my hands. Let him think he's got control. It'll be his undoing."

Elder Thalnor's voice broke through his thoughts, smooth and almost patronizing. "You seem a bit tense, Hades. Relax. I told you, there's nothing to fear here."

Hades looked up, eyes cool and unreadable, masking the dark amusement bubbling inside him. He nodded slowly, giving just the right amount of hesitation to seem believable. "I'm just... absorbing it all, Elder Thalnor. It's not every day someone's invited into the heart of the Malachor family's territory."

Thalnor chuckled softly, clearly pleased with himself, as though Hades' words were a validation of his supposed authority. "Indeed. Consider yourself fortunate, Hades. Many would give anything to be where you are now... some would even kill for it."

"Or be killed by it," Hades thought with a silent smirk, his expression still one of feigned respect.

[Oh, I like that. 'Kill for this opportunity.' More like 'kill to get out of this place alive,'] the system snickered, clearly entertained. [I'll give him one thing: he's got guts. Let's see how long that lasts when he realizes he's not the one in control.]

"Exactly," Hades whispered inwardly. "Let's see what he's really planning."

Elder Thalnor, oblivious to the sinister amusement behind Hades' eyes, clapped him on the shoulder with an air of superiority. "Exactly. You're one of the lucky few. Remember that."

Hades' smirk deepened, just for a moment. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind, Elder."

The moment passed unnoticed by Thalnor, who continued walking ahead, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "Trust me, Hades. This is an opportunity that will change your life."

"It might change yours too, old man," Hades thought darkly, watching Thalnor's back as they moved deeper into the secluded area. "But not in the way you expect."