Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

The participants, visibly shaken by Zeus's display, avoided eye contact with the envoy and each other. The sheer power Zeus had unleashed left them hesitant, unwilling to risk embarrassing themselves by attempting what they now knew they couldn't match.

The envoy observed their reactions, and with a resigned nod, he accepted their silence. "Very well," he announced, his tone final. "Since no one else wishes to continue, I declare that the ones who passed are only four."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the four who had passed—Lucy, Zeus, Cedric, and Julian—gathered together. The atmosphere among them was tense. Cedric and Julian, despite being nobles, wore expressions of thinly veiled displeasure.

Cedric's jaw was clenched, and Julian's eyes narrowed as they assessed their situation. Both were clearly unhappy that, despite their noble status and passing the test, their performances were overshadowed by those of the others.

Lucy, however, remained indifferent to their frustration. Her thoughts were elsewhere, focused on Lucas, who she believed was still at the inn waiting for her. She spared the nobles little more than a passing glance, her mind already occupied with her next steps.

Meanwhile, Lucas, still in his Zeus form, couldn't resist smirking at the two nobles. His expression was one of subtle amusement, his golden eyes gleaming with a knowing glint. Cedric and Julian noticed his look and, despite themselves, felt a shiver of unease. They exchanged uneasy glances, their confidence wavering slightly under the weight of Zeus's gaze.

Cedric's frown grew more pronounced, his brow furrowing in frustration. Julian's lips thinned into a tight line, his eyes narrowing with a mix of irritation and disbelief. The realization that they had been outdone—by not just one, but two unknowns—gnawed at them both. They were not used to being overshadowed, especially by those who weren't of noble blood. The sting of it was palpable.

The envoy, noticing the tension, cleared his throat to regain control of the situation. "Now that the four of you have passed," he began, his voice steady but carrying an edge of authority, "we will proceed to the academy. However, I will give you each one hour to prepare your items."

Julian and Cedric exchanged a quick glance before responding in unison, "We are ready." Their voices were tinged with arrogance, their confidence almost a defensive reflex. It was clear from their tone that they had expected to pass all along and had already made their preparations, unwilling to show any sign of weakness.

This left only Lucy and Zeus without their preparations complete. Lucy, stepping forward with a calm demeanor, addressed the envoy. "May I bring my brother along? He's only 13 years old, and we have no other relatives."

The envoy paused, considering her request. His eyes softened slightly as he nodded. "You may. Some disciples bring servants with them to the academy. You can bring him along as long as it's only one person."

Lucy's tense expression melted into a smile of relief. "Thank you," she said, her voice sincere as she nodded gratefully. Without wasting a moment, she turned and quickly headed back to the inn to fetch Lucas.

Meanwhile, Zeus remained standing before the envoy, his expression unreadable. "I will not join you," he said coolly, his voice firm. "I have other matters to attend to, so I will go to the academy later."

The envoy's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the unexpected declaration. "Wait," he called out, quickly reaching into his pouch. He tossed a small object toward Zeus. "Just take that to the central office later."

Zeus caught the object effortlessly, his movements smooth and precise. He glanced at the envoy, gave a brief nod, and then, in an instant, vanished from sight. The envoy stood there, momentarily stunned by the speed with which Zeus had moved.

Cedric and Julian, who had been watching closely, were equally taken aback. They exchanged glances, their earlier confidence now tinged with unease. "Who is this guy?" they both thought, their minds racing with questions they couldn't yet answer.

---

Lucy hurried back to the inn to fetch her brother. As she pushed open the door, she was surprised to see Lucas standing by the neatly packed items, which had already been stored in a spatial pouch.

"You're all set?" Lucy asked, her eyes widening slightly in surprise.

Lucas turned to her with a proud smile, his eyes shining. "Of course, sister! I knew you'd pass, so I took care of everything in advance."

Lucy's expression softened, and she gave him an approving nod. "You're always one step ahead, aren't you? Good job, brother."

Lucas beamed at the praise, the corners of his mouth lifting with satisfaction. "I just wanted to make sure we're ready for whatever comes next," he said, his voice filled with a quiet determination.

"Well, I'm glad to have you by my side," Lucy responded warmly, her voice tinged with affection. She walked over and, with an effortless motion, lifted Lucas onto her shoulder as if he weighed nothing.

"Whoa!" Lucas blurted out, caught off guard as Lucy effortlessly hoisted him onto her shoulder. He quickly composed himself, letting out a small chuckle. "You never cease to amaze me, sis."

Lucy glanced at him, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "You say that every time," she teased, adjusting her hold on him. "Ready to head out?"

"Always," Lucas responded with a grin, his tone upbeat, though a flicker of concern lingered in his eyes. He forced himself to relax, leaning into the comforting strength of his sister's grip.

As they moved toward the door, Lucas's mind began to race. "It's a good thing I got here before she did," he thought, grateful that Zeus's speed had allowed him to return to the inn unnoticed. "If anyone connects me to Zeus…" He shook off the thought, determined to stay focused.

Lucy noticed his brief silence and glanced at him with a curious look. "You okay, Lucas? You seem a bit… distracted."

Lucas quickly flashed a reassuring smile. "Just thinking about our next adventure," he replied, his tone light, though his mind was still preoccupied. "I just need to keep up the act and make sure no one realizes who I really am."

Lucy nodded, accepting his answer, and they continued on their way, Lucas silently vowing to protect his secret as they made their way back to the meeting point.