Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

The crowd in the arena fell silent as Elder Darius Armist stood at the center, his imposing figure casting a long shadow. His aura alone commanded respect, and the audience watched in anticipation as he prepared to speak.

"Today marks the beginning of the inner disciple test," Darius's voice boomed across the arena, clear and authoritative.

"The top ten outer disciples will have the chance to prove themselves worthy of becoming inner disciples. This is not merely a test of strength but one of your future potential."

The elder gestured toward the middle of the arena, where a large, solid testing stone stood. Its surface gleamed under the sunlight, a testament to its resilience.

"This stone," Darius continued, "is capable of withstanding attacks from a three-star warrior mage. Your task is simple—make a crack on it. If you succeed, you will be promoted to an inner disciple."

The crowd buzzed with excitement and tension as the top ten outer disciples, including Zeus and Lucy, turned their attention to the stone. It seemed indestructible to the untrained eye, and the challenge ahead was clear.

Zeus eyed the stone with a smirk. "So, just a crack? Interesting..." he thought. But his focus was soon interrupted as the first few disciples made their attempts.

The seventh through tenth-ranked outer disciples stepped forward one by one, each determined to pass the test. But despite their efforts—fists, swords, and various spells—all of them failed. Not a single crack appeared on the stone, and they left the arena in disappointment.

Then, it was the sixth-ranked disciple's turn.

Zeus's eyes narrowed as he recognized the next competitor stepping forward. "Wait... I know him."

[Name: Cedric Valen]

[Race: Human]

[Physique: None]

[Tier: 4 Star]

[Cultivation Manual: Titan's Endurance]

Following close behind was the fifth-ranked disciple.

[Name: Julian Margrave]

[Race: Human]

[Physique: None]

[Tier: 4 Star]

[Cultivation Manual: Tempest's Grace]

Zeus's eyes narrowed as he observed the fifth and sixth-ranked disciples step forward. "Wait a minute… Valen and Margrave?" His gaze flickered toward Elder Aric Valen and Elder Sylph Margrave, two of the top-ranking elders watching from their high seats.

"So that's how they reached four-star so quickly... family connections," he muttered, a smirk creeping onto his face as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

The system chimed in immediately, its tone dripping with mockery. [Oh, look, Captain Obvious figured it out.] It scoffed.

[Of course, they didn't do it on their own. Their family elders probably handed them everything on a silver platter. Connections, power... in a place like this, that's all it takes.] The system's arrogant tone was unmistakable.

Zeus chuckled under his breath. "Yeah, typical. But it won't matter once they see what I can do."

[Keep telling yourself that, champ,] the system retorted, clearly enjoying itself. [But hey, let's see what these 'prodigies' do with their spoon-fed power.]

Cedric Valen confidently approached the testing stone first, his broad shoulders squared and his fists clenched. His expression was full of arrogance, the kind of smug confidence that only someone born into power could muster.

With a deep breath, he gathered his energy, the aura of Titan's Endurance cultivation pulsing around him like a heavy shield.

With a roar that seemed more for show than necessity, Cedric swung his fist, aiming it at the stone with brute force. The impact was solid, reverberating through the arena, and a small fissure appeared on the stone's surface.

Cedric grinned, a cocky, self-satisfied smirk as if the entire arena had just witnessed something awe-inspiring. He turned to the crowd, puffing out his chest, already soaking in what he believed was their admiration. "Not bad, huh?" he muttered, as if expecting applause.

Zeus raised an eyebrow. "Predictable."

[Wow, look at him go,] the system mocked. [I bet his granddaddy is proud. A tiny crack. Maybe next time he'll break a pebble.] The arrogance in its tone was palpable, clearly unimpressed.

Next, Julian Margrave stepped forward, exuding a different kind of arrogance. His movements were fluid, his face a mask of calm confidence, but his eyes gleamed with a quiet, superior smirk. As he raised his sword, wind mana swirled around him, making the air hum with energy.

With a swift, graceful motion, Julian unleashed a powerful wind slash, the blade of energy cutting through the air toward the stone. The slash collided with the stone, and, just as Cedric had, Julian managed to create a crack—though his was noticeably larger.

Julian shot Cedric a smug glance before turning back to the crowd, his lips curling into a small, self-satisfied smile. "I think that should do it," he said, his voice dripping with casual arrogance, as if this was nothing more than a routine task.

Cedric, not to be outdone, nodded in approval, but there was a glimmer of competitive jealousy in his eyes. The two exchanged looks, clearly enjoying their moment.

Zeus stood on the sidelines, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with a look of utter disinterest. His sharp eyes flickered between Cedric and Julian, both of whom were basking in their small victories.

"So predictable," he muttered, his voice low and filled with disdain. "Even with all that arrogance, it's obvious they've been carried by their family's resources. Without those connections, they wouldn't have even sniffed four-star."

The system chimed in, its voice dripping with condescending amusement. [Oh, absolutely! Look at them, strutting around like they actually did something impressive. Without their rich daddies and fancy family names, they'd still be scrubbing floors. It's almost cute how much they think they've achieved.]

Zeus chuckled, his lips curling into a smirk. "Let them have their moment. It's all they've got." His tone was laced with confidence, as if he already knew how things would play out.

[Oh, you're so generous, letting them bask in the glow of mediocrity,] the system teased, its arrogance blatant. [But don't worry, their little victory parade won't last long. Their pride is already writing checks their weak little fists can't cash.]

Zeus's eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity as he shifted his gaze to the fourth-ranked disciple. "Yeah... it's only a matter of time before they realize how outmatched they are."

[Exactly,] the system crowed, thoroughly enjoying itself. [They'll be crying for their mommies by the time you're done. And when that happens, don't forget to smile—just to rub it in a little more.]

Zeus's smirk widened, his confidence radiating as he prepared to watch the next competitor.