Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

The thunder-infused slashes cut through the air, aimed directly at Zeus with lethal precision. But Zeus's reflexes, honed by countless battles, were quicker than their attacks.

With a swift, almost effortless motion, he sidestepped the incoming strikes, the arcs of energy barely grazing his side as he moved.

Raising an eyebrow, Zeus let a smirk curl across his lips, his expression one of amused condescension. "Well, well," he remarked, his tone laced with mockery. "You actually managed to pull off a Thunder Slash. I'm impressed—really, not bad at all."

The two men, their initial confidence shaken, exchanged glances of frustration. They hadn't expected him to dodge so easily. Nearby, the leader of their group watched with growing irritation, his frown deepening as he realized his men were being toyed with.

"Kill him!" the leader barked, his voice sharp with anger. His eyes narrowed as he watched Zeus, a figure that seemed to mock them with every fluid movement.

The two warriors, now burning with fury at their failed assault, attacked again, this time with renewed ferocity. Their swords slashed through the air, each strike more desperate than the last. "You won't escape this time!" one of them growled, his voice filled with frustration.

But Zeus was unperturbed. He continued to dodge their attacks with an almost casual grace, his movements fluid and precise, as if he were merely going through the motions of a well-practiced dance. The more they tried, the more they missed, and with each missed strike, their frustration grew.

"Is that really the best you've got?" Zeus taunted, his voice dripping with amusement. He dodged another swing, his smirk never faltering. "Come on, you're making this too easy."

Finally, the leader, unable to bear the humiliation of his subordinates' failures, stepped forward, his face contorted with frustration and anger. "Enough!" he barked, his voice brimming with authority and rage. "I'll handle this myself!"

With a dramatic flourish, he drew his sword, the blade humming with concentrated thunder energy. The air around him seemed to pulse with power as he focused all his strength into the weapon. His eyes narrowed with deadly intent as he locked onto Zeus.

"Thunder Sword Wave!" the leader shouted, his voice resonating with confidence as he unleashed a powerful wave of thunder-infused energy from his sword. The attack surged forward, crackling with raw power as it raced toward Zeus at terrifying speed, tearing through the air with a deafening roar.

Zeus's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he recognized the technique. "Thunder Sword Wave?" he thought, his mind quickly assessing the situation. "That's a skill typically learned at the four-star level. But this guy's only three-star…"

Realization dawned on him. This wasn't just any opponent; this man had been trained beyond his rank, likely a disciple from a prestigious academy, someone with access to advanced techniques and resources. It explained the unexpected proficiency with which he wielded the powerful skill.

The leader, seeing Zeus's momentary pause, mistook it for fear. A twisted grin spread across his face, his confidence surging.

"Yes, that's right!" he snarled, his voice dripping with triumph. "Now you understand your place! Die!" He roared the last word with all the conviction of someone certain of their victory.

But Zeus merely smirked as the Thunder Sword Wave came hurtling toward him. With an almost casual motion, he extended his hand, allowing the powerful energy to strike his palm. Instead of the anticipated impact, the energy seemed to dissolve on contact, absorbed effortlessly by Zeus.

He tightened his grip, and the once-mighty wave crumbled within his grasp. Zeus inhaled deeply, drawing in the residual thunder energy as if it were nothing more than a refreshing breeze.

"Not bad," Zeus remarked, his voice steady and unimpressed, as if he were commenting on a minor inconvenience rather than a deadly attack. "But too bad for you—you crossed paths with the wrong person."

The leader's bravado vanished in an instant. His eyes widened in sheer terror as the full realization of his mistake hit him. This wasn't an ordinary opponent—they had gravely underestimated Zeus. A chilling wave of fear surged through him, and he felt the icy grip of panic close around his heart.

"This... this can't be!" he stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

Then, instincts took over. He knew that staying any longer would mean certain death. "Run!" he screamed, his voice cracking with desperation as he spun around, his only thought now was escape.

But Zeus wasn't about to let them go. His smirk deepened, his voice turning cold as steel. "Too late."

In one fluid motion, Zeus summoned two thunder lances, each one crackling with lethal, concentrated thunder energy.

He barely had to aim as he hurled the lances with deadly precision toward the two two-star warriors. The lances struck true, embedding themselves deep into the men's bodies.

For a brief moment, the men froze, their eyes wide with shock. They had expected pain, but what they felt was far worse. A terrifying realization dawned on them as they looked down at the glowing lances. These weren't ordinary weapons—something far more sinister was at play.

"W-what is this?" one of them gasped, his voice weak with dread.

Zeus watched them, his expression devoid of sympathy. The thunder lances he had thrown weren't meant to kill instantly. They were vessels for something far more devastating.

"Feel that?" Zeus said quietly, almost to himself. "That's what real power feels like."

At that moment, the lances detonated, the embedded thunder mines releasing a violent surge of electricity that tore through the men's bodies.

They convulsed uncontrollably, their screams of agony filling the air as the energy ripped through them, leaving behind only lifeless husks that collapsed to the ground.

The leader, now drenched in cold sweat, witnessed the gruesome fate of his subordinates. Terror overwhelmed him, and without a second thought, he activated Thunder Dash, his body becoming a blur as he fled with every ounce of speed he could muster. His only hope was to escape with his life.

But even as he fled, the haunting image of Zeus's calm, unyielding expression burned itself into his mind. He had made a grave mistake, and the only thing left to him now was the hope that he could outrun the consequences.