Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Roxana stood before Lucas, her fiery aura radiating around her, giving off the unmistakable intensity of her newfound power. A playful smirk curled at the edges of her lips as she tilted her head, locking eyes with him.

"So," she began, her voice teasing, "now that I'm stronger, is there anything fun lined up for us? Or are we just going to stand around?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow, momentarily caught off guard. "You're a top elder at Celestial Academy now, aren't you?" he asked, his tone laced with confusion. "Shouldn't you be… I don't know, handling important business? Leading?"

Roxana rolled her eyes and shrugged, her expression shifting to one of utter boredom. "Please. I'm not really cut out for the whole 'dutiful elder' routine. Besides, there are already plenty of other elders there who can handle all that."

Lucas's smirk slowly returned, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Plenty of elders?" he repeated, his voice carrying a hint of mockery. "You might want to rethink that."

Roxana's brow furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

Lucas gestured casually to the desolate battlefield surrounding them, the aftermath of the vicious battle still lingering in the air. "The top elders of Celestial Academy… they're dead. You can see it for yourself. They didn't make it out of their fight with Necrovauld's elders."

For a brief moment, Roxana's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Wait… what?" She looked around, now noticing the remnants of the battle more carefully. Her arms crossed over her chest as she processed the information.

"So, this was part of your plan, wasn't it?" she asked, her tone accusatory but tinged with intrigue.

Lucas's smirk deepened, and he gave a subtle nod, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You could say that. They were useful pawns for setting things in motion."

Roxana let out a low, amused chuckle, shaking her head as if Lucas had just confirmed something she already suspected.

"I should've known," she muttered, her grin widening into a wry smirk. Her fiery gaze settled on him, brimming with mischief. "But honestly? I don't feel like going back there, you know?"

Lucas's confusion was evident as his brow furrowed. "Why not?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. "There's still Velkar from Necrovauld. He'll attack Celestial Academy sooner or later. You could be a key factor in stopping that."

But Roxana only laughed, the sound light and dismissive. She waved her hand as if brushing aside a trivial matter. "You think I care about that place?" she asked, her tone playful yet tinged with something darker. "I've only been there for two years. Two long, tedious years."

Lucas studied her, still not fully understanding. "Two years...?"

"Yeah," Roxana interrupted, her tone sharp, though not directed at him. "And trust me, those other elders? I don't get along with them. At all."

Her eyes narrowed slightly as if recalling unpleasant memories. "They're all self-righteous and stiff. And don't even get me started on how they run the place."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, intrigued now. "What do you mean?"

She leaned in a bit, her voice lowering conspiratorially. "Celestial Academy? It's not as noble or clean as they like to make it out to be," she said, the disdain clear in her voice.

"There are hidden agendas, corruption... All the dirty little secrets people like to keep buried," Roxana said, her voice dripping with disdain. Her lips curled into a devilish smirk, her eyes flashing with amusement. "So, if Celestial Academy falls? I wouldn't shed a tear."

Lucas's smirk widened, his expression showing he fully understood her point. "I see... You're not one for loyalty to a crumbling institution, then."

Roxana chuckled, shrugging nonchalantly. "Loyalty's overrated when it's to something rotten. I prefer to align myself with things more... worthwhile."

"Good," Lucas replied, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue. "In that case, why not follow me instead?"

Roxana raised an eyebrow, curious now. "Follow you? Why, what exactly are you up to?"

Lucas's eyes glinted with mischievous intent as he met her gaze. "Let's just say I suddenly remembered something important. Something... entertaining."

Roxana's grin widened, excitement building in her chest. She leaned in slightly, her tone playful. "Entertaining, huh? You've piqued my interest. What kind of trouble are we getting into this time?"

Lucas gave her a sly smile, his voice soft but filled with promise. "Oh, you'll see. Trust me, it'll be worth your time."

Roxana's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Alright then," she said, her voice laced with excitement. "Let's go and stir up some chaos."

As Lucas and Roxana prepared to leave, the system's familiar, arrogant voice chimed in, its tone laced with curiosity and mockery. [What now, Lucas? Let me guess—you're going to stroll off aimlessly until something falls into your lap?]

Lucas's eyes narrowed slightly, a shadow passing over his features as memories of his past lives resurfaced.

The weight of his history pressed down on him, and with it, the lingering rage. "No... I just remembered something important. There are still enemies from my past life that I haven't dealt with."

The system paused for a moment, and then its voice took on a tone of gleeful intrigue. [Enemies, huh?] It let out a shameless chuckle. [Didn't you already lose to them once? Who could it be this time?]

Lucas's jaw clenched, his expression darkening as a specific memory burned in his mind—one filled with pain and regret. "The ones responsible for Lucy's death."

The system went silent for a beat, its playful tone fading into something more contemplative before it came back, full of mockery. [Ohhh, that. Took you long enough to remember. You let those fools run free for how long now? What were you waiting for, an invitation?] Read latest stories on mvl

Lucas's lips curled into a cold, calculated smile. "I didn't forget. I just wanted the right moment."

The system's arrogant laughter echoed in his mind. [Right moment? Don't kid yourself! You didn't have the power before, and you know it. But now... Now it's different.]

The system's tone shifted, growing more satisfied. [You're stronger. They don't stand a chance against you now. Honestly, I'd say it's about time you finished what you couldn't before.]

Lucas's expression tightened, the smirk lingering on his face as he stared off into the distance. "You're right. It's time to finish this... once and for all."

The system, shameless as ever, couldn't resist one final jab. [That's the spirit! Just make sure you don't mess it up like last time. I can't handle a repeat of that embarrassment.]

Lucas rolled his eyes but said nothing, his mind already focused on the upcoming confrontation.

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