Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Zeus had finally pieced together his next move. The information he had gathered from Lucy while posing as Lucas left no doubt: to secure a better house and rack up substantial academy points, he needed to break into the top ten ranks. And the fastest way to do that? Take down one of the current top ten disciples.

[Whoa, hold your horses,] the system interjected, its tone dripping with smug superiority. [You're still just a two-star host, remember? All those top ten folks are three stars. Do you really think you're ready for that?]

"I know," Zeus replied, his voice steady with confidence. "But with my power, I should be able to take them on."

[Oh, sure, you can fight them,] the system conceded, a hint of sarcasm creeping into its tone. [If you're planning on making it a serious slugfest. But why waste energy? Why not take a page out of your sister's book? She's been killing her opponents like it's child's play, and it's done wonders for her reputation.]

Zeus paused, mulling over the system's advice. He had to admit, it had a point. "You're right," he said thoughtfully. "Charging in headfirst might not be the smartest strategy."

[Well, duh! Glad to see you're catching on,] the system quipped, clearly enjoying its role as the voice of reason. [Now, let's talk about what really matters—getting that Zeus divine mask of yours beefed up. We need to find a place bursting with thunder mana.]

The system's tone turned almost gleeful as it added, [Remember how Lucy shot up to three-star so quickly? She had a volcano's worth of mana to feast on. If you want to keep up, you'll need to find a thunderstorm or something just as juicy.]

Zeus's eyes sharpened with resolve. "Got it. Let's head to the mission center and find the right spot."

He moved swiftly through the academy grounds, his focus unbroken as he approached the mission center. Stepping up to the counter, he met the gaze of the officer on duty. "I'm looking for missions related to a thunder area," he said, his tone firm and direct.

The officer raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, and began scanning through the mission listings. "Thunder areas, you say? What level are you aiming for? We've got missions ranging from one-star to three-star."

Zeus didn't miss a beat. "I'll take the three-star missions," he replied, his voice filled with unwavering confidence.

The officer gave him a nod of approval, impressed by his boldness. "Three-star it is," he said, rifling through a stack of mission scrolls before laying a few out on the counter. "These should be right up your alley."

Zeus leaned in, examining the missions closely. His eyes lit up as he noticed a pattern. "Looks like these three are all connected to the same location—a three-star thunderstorm area," he observed, a hint of excitement in his voice.

The first mission tasked him with collecting ten stalks of Thunder Grass, the second required him to obtain ten Thunder Boar Cores, and the third was to retrieve a Thunder Python Core.

A confident smile tugged at the corners of Zeus's mouth as he looked back at the officer. "I can handle all three of these missions," he declared, his voice firm and brimming with determination. There was no hesitation, no doubt—just pure resolve.

The officer, catching the intensity in Zeus's eyes, nodded and began processing the registrations. He didn't ask any questions; it wasn't his place to caution disciples about their choices.

After all, in the Celestial Academy, the responsibility was on the disciples to take responsibility for their actions. If they wanted to advance, they had to be willing to take risks.

"You've got guts, I'll give you that," the officer remarked as he finalized the paperwork. His tone was neutral, but there was a hint of respect in his gaze. "Just remember, the higher the stakes, the greater the rewards—or the consequences."

Zeus gave a brief nod, acknowledging the officer's words without letting them deter him. "I'm aware. I'm ready for whatever comes."

With the mission scrolls in hand, Zeus turned and headed out of the mission center. His steps were purposeful, his mind laser-focused on the challenges that lay ahead.

Before leaving the academy grounds, Zeus approached one of the guards stationed at the gate. The guard inspected his mission details carefully, nodding in approval before allowing him to pass. Everything seemed routine, and Zeus was eager to begin his journey to the thunderstorm area.

But unbeknownst to him, a group of disciples was also making their way in the same direction. They kept a cautious distance, their conversation hushed, but their eyes gleaming with intent.

"So, it's true then? Zeus is the target?" one of the disciples whispered, his voice low but brimming with anticipation.

Another disciple nodded, glancing around nervously to ensure they weren't being overheard. "Yeah, it's confirmed. His face is on the bounty mission paper. The reward's a superior mana stone."

The mention of the reward made their eyes light up with greed. A superior mana stone was a prize too tempting to ignore, a resource rare and powerful enough to lure even the most cautious among them into taking a risk.

"We'd be fools to pass this up," another disciple muttered, a hint of excitement in his tone. "That kind of bounty from the Malachor family? They really want him dead."

"Can you blame them?" a third disciple added, his voice tinged with a mix of disdain and glee. "Zeus poked the hornet's nest when he messed with the Malachors. He should've known better."

The group exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them. Their thoughts were consumed by the potential reward, and they could hardly wait to claim it.

To them, Zeus had made a fatal error by crossing one of the most powerful families in the academy, and now they were eager to profit from his misstep.

As they continued on their way, the tension among them was palpable, each step bringing them closer to what they hoped would be an easy victory and a rich reward. Their expressions hardened with determination, fully prepared to capitalize on Zeus's supposed misfortune.