Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Hades moved swiftly through the shadowed halls of the Necrovauld Academy, arriving at the central office of the inner disciples. His white hair and sharp features gave him a striking appearance, but here, amidst the dark-cloaked disciples of the academy, he blended in effortlessly.

Few paid him any mind as he approached the counter, where a weary officer sat sorting through an endless stack of reports.

The officer barely glanced up, offering a half-hearted nod of acknowledgment.

"I've been away for a bit," Hades said casually, his voice smooth and composed. "Anything new happening in the academy?"

The officer looked at him through tired eyes, rubbing his chin absentmindedly. "Not really," he muttered, rifling through the papers. "Things have been quiet, same as always. Nothing worth mentioning."

Hades nodded slightly, appearing satisfied with the response, though inwardly he was already thinking of his next move. He turned to leave, but before he could take a step, the officer suddenly leaned forward, his voice dropping as if remembering something important.

"Actually," the officer said, his eyes narrowing, "there is one thing."

Hades stopped, his face calm as ever, though his interest piqued. He raised an eyebrow, feigning only mild curiosity. "Oh? What's that?"

The officer straightened in his seat, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "The Abyss Hole... it's opening tomorrow."

Hades allowed a faint smile to form on his lips, though only for a brief moment. The Abyss Hole—exactly what he'd been waiting for. But outwardly, he kept his expression confused and curious, playing the role of a clueless disciple.

"The Abyss Hole?" Hades repeated, letting confusion lace his words. "What's that?"

The officer blinked, clearly taken aback by the question. He sat back in his chair, studying Hades for a moment before realization dawned on him. "Ah, you must be new here," he said with a nod. "No wonder you haven't heard of it."

He leaned forward again, his voice lowering as though sharing a secret. "The Abyss Hole is... well, it's the holy land of the Necrovauld Academy. It only opens once in a while, and when it does, everyone wants a piece of it."

Hades tilted his head slightly, feigning genuine curiosity. "Holy land? What makes it so special?"

The officer's eyes gleamed, clearly relishing the opportunity to share his knowledge. His voice dropped, taking on a tone of reverence. "Inside, there's pure abyss mana," he said, the words carrying a certain weight.

"It's poisonous," the officer continued, his expression darkening slightly as if warning Hades. "Dangerous to most—deadly, even—but for those of us at the Necrovauld Academy? It's a gift. Absorb even a little, and it can increase your cultivation by leaps and bounds."

He paused, leaning forward, his voice lowering as if to emphasize the danger. "But..." his eyes narrowed, "it's not for the weak. Only the strongest can survive inside. The mana's not just poison, it's hungry—it devours those who aren't prepared."

Hades nodded thoughtfully, pretending to weigh the risks. "Sounds like a challenge," he said, keeping his tone even. "But is that all there is to it? Just the mana?"

The officer's eyes flickered with something like excitement as he realized he had captured Hades's attention. "No, no. There's more." His voice picked up with renewed energy. "The Abyss Hole isn't just about the mana. There are materials in there—rare and incredibly valuable."

"Materials?" Hades asked, his tone slightly intrigued, as though this was news to him.

The officer nodded eagerly, clearly enjoying the role of a storyteller. "Oh yes. Rare herbs, precious stones—some say even ancient techniques are hidden deep inside. These aren't things you can find anywhere else. Some disciples risk everything just to get their hands on one piece."

Hades raised an eyebrow, keeping his expression neutral. "Sounds interesting. But isn't that just common knowledge here? I thought you had something... more to share."

The officer smirked, his lips curling as he leaned in closer, glancing around quickly to ensure no one else was listening. His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Ah, you're sharp. Let me tell you a little secret."

Hades leaned in just slightly, a flicker of interest crossing his features. "What secret?" he asked, his tone casual but inviting.

The officer's eyes darted around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping. His voice dropped to a low whisper, barely audible over the ambient noise of the academy's office. "There's a rumor—more of a legend, really—that deep within the Abyss Hole, there's something called the Abyss Core."

At the mention of the word "Core," Hades's body tensed ever so slightly, though he kept his expression carefully neutral. Inside, his mind was already spinning, calculating the possibilities. Still, he played his part, raising an eyebrow as though the concept was new to him.

"The Abyss Core?" he repeated, his tone curious but not overly eager. "What is it?"

The officer shrugged, his face showing that even he didn't quite know the full truth. "No one really knows," he admitted, shaking his head slowly.

"But the story goes that whoever finds it will gain unimaginable power. It's been sought after for generations. Every time the Abyss Hole opens, someone tries... but no one's ever confirmed its existence."

He leaned back, a slight smile playing on his lips. "But... the story persists. And in a place like this, legends have a funny way of being real."

Hades nodded thoughtfully, as if digesting the information. Inside, though, his mind was already racing. Unimaginable power? A Core... It was exactly the kind of thing that could change everything for him. But outwardly, he remained calm.

"I see," he murmured, as though it was just another piece of information in his day. "Sounds interesting."

The officer, sensing that he had shared enough, straightened up in his chair and cleared his throat. His voice turned formal again, like he was giving routine instructions.

"Just don't forget to come tomorrow. The gates to the Abyss Hole will open at dawn. If you want to enter, you'll need to head here." He reached over the desk and tapped a location on a large map spread across the counter. "That's the spot where they'll be allowing entry."

Hades's eyes flicked briefly to the map, committing the location to memory in an instant. He nodded, his voice steady and calm. "Thank you," he said simply, offering the officer a brief, polite nod before turning on his heel to leave.