Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Julian, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow. "He looks so... fragile," he whispered, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "How could someone like him be related to her?"

The envoy, who had been silently observing, couldn't help but feel a similar doubt creeping into his mind. "What kind of power could this boy possibly have?" he wondered, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Without exchanging a word, the three men reached an unspoken agreement. They subtly directed their auras toward Lucas, a test to gauge his strength—or perhaps to intimidate him. Cedric's aura was cold and oppressive, Julian's sharp and invasive, and the envoy's heavy with authority.

The effect was immediate. Lucas's eyes widened as an invisible force seemed to crush down on him. He gasped for air, his small body trembling violently under the oppressive weight of their combined auras. His face drained of color, and his knees buckled as he struggled to remain standing.

Lucy, attuned to her brother's distress, immediately sensed the malicious intent behind the sudden pressure. Her eyes flashed with fury as she realized what was happening.

Without a moment's hesitation, she unleashed her own aura—an overwhelming wave of power that swept through the Colosseum like a storm, completely eclipsing the combined force of the three men.

The envoy's confidence shattered in an instant. As Lucy's aura washed over him, a cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and a chill ran down his spine.

He couldn't believe what he was feeling—this was an aura so potent, so terrifying, that even he, a seasoned four-star warrior, was shaken to his core.

Julian and Cedric fared even worse. They both gasped for air, their bravado crumbling as their faces paled. Cedric clutched his chest, his breath coming in short, desperate gulps, while Julian's hands trembled uncontrollably, his earlier arrogance replaced by sheer panic.

"What do you think you are doing to my brother?" Lucy's voice cut through the air like a blade, dripping with venomous anger. Her eyes blazed as she glared at the three men, daring them to justify their actions.

The envoy quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture, his voice wavering. "Please, stop! We didn't mean any harm," he stammered, trying to keep his composure. "We were simply... curious."

"Curious?" Lucy's voice sharpened, her anger intensifying. Her aura surged once more, growing even more menacing, pressing down on them with relentless force. "You call this curiosity? You think you can toy with my brother and get away with it?"

The envoy's frown deepened as the weight of his mistake settled in. "I've forgotten the most basic rule: never offend someone you don't fully understand," he berated himself, cursing his own curiosity for leading him into this mess. Desperate to deescalate the situation, he quickly said, "I… I will offer a two-star potion to Lucas as an apology."

Lucy's fiery gaze then shifted to Julian and Cedric, who were still struggling under the oppressive weight of her aura. They felt the full brunt of her wrath, and it was clear there was no room for defiance. "We… we'll each give a two-star potion as well," they stammered in unison, their voices trembling as they desperately sought to appease her.

Only after their reluctant offers did Lucy slowly retract her aura, the suffocating pressure easing from the air. The three men gasped for breath, visibly relieved as the crushing force lifted from their chests. Without hesitation, they scrambled to hand over the potions, their hands shaking as they presented them to her—one from each of them.

Lucy accepted the potions with a cold, calculating stare. Her voice was steady, but the underlying threat was unmistakable. "Good. Remember, don't you dare offend me or my brother again."

Cedric and Julian's faces contorted into deep frowns, their pride stinging from the humiliating exchange. The bitterness in their eyes was unmistakable as they exchanged quick, resentful glances.

Though neither spoke a word, the tension between them was palpable, and their unspoken vow hung heavy in the air: "One day, we'll make you pay for this."

The envoy, desperate to move past the uncomfortable encounter and regain control of the situation, quickly reached into his pouch and produced a small, intricately crafted tool.

"This portal will take us directly to the Celestial Academy," he announced, his voice wavering slightly as he tried to mask his lingering unease with forced composure. He activated the tool, and with a flash of light, a shimmering portal materialized before them.

Lucy shot one last stern look at the two nobles, then turned her attention back to the portal. "Let's go," she said, her voice steady and commanding.

Cedric and Julian, still smarting from the confrontation, grudgingly stepped forward, each harboring thoughts of revenge. As they approached the portal, Cedric muttered under his breath, "Enjoy your victory while it lasts."

Julian nodded subtly, his expression dark. "It won't last long," he whispered back.

The envoy, eager to leave the tension behind, gestured for everyone to enter. Lucas, still feeling the weight of the earlier exchange, hesitated for a moment, but Lucy's reassuring presence beside him gave him the courage to step through.

As the group emerged from the other side of the portal, they found themselves standing on a massive stone platform perched high atop a mountain. The Celestial Academy loomed before them, a breathtaking sight that immediately commanded their attention.

Towering spires reached toward the sky, and vast courtyards sprawled out below, all bathed in the warm, golden light of the setting sun. The architecture was majestic, with intricate carvings and ethereal glow, creating an aura of ancient power and wisdom.

The group stood in silent awe, the grandeur of the academy momentarily pushing aside the tension from earlier. The sheer scale and beauty of the place left even Cedric and Julian momentarily speechless.

The envoy, sensing the shift in atmosphere, allowed himself a small smile. "Welcome to the Celestial Academy," he said, his voice more confident now as he took in the academy's splendor. "This is where your journey truly begins."