Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Zeus was on the verge of instructing the system to begin absorbing the potent thunder mana from the corpses of the Thunder Eagle and Thunder Python when a sudden disturbance pricked at the edges of his awareness.

The serene stillness of the mountainside, previously filled only with the soft hum of residual energy from the fallen beasts, was now broken by the subtle but unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching—rapidly and with purpose.

His battle-honed instincts flared to life, warning him of an imminent threat. Zeus's eyes snapped open, his gaze sharp as lightning as he turned his head toward the source of the disturbance.

Emerging from the shadowed trees at the base of the mountain, three figures came into view, their movements deliberate and full of intent.

The men stopped a short distance away, their expressions twisted with a mix of contempt and anger. The tension in the air was palpable, crackling like the remnants of a storm.

Each man's face was a mask of barely contained fury, their eyes fixed not on Zeus but on the two massive corpses that lay behind him.

Zeus noticed the approaching figures and turned to face them, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge of irritation.

The men didn't answer immediately, their eyes locked on the fallen thunder beasts. One of them, a burly figure with a twisted scowl, finally stepped forward, his anger barely contained.

"How dare you steal our target!" he spat, his tone brimming with venomous fury, his eyes blazing with a mix of entitlement and rage.

Zeus arched an eyebrow, his expression remaining composed and unbothered, though his patience was clearly wearing thin.

"Your target?" he echoed, the faintest hint of mockery playing on his lips. "I was the one who killed them. I didn't see any of you around earlier. As far as I'm concerned, they're my target and my loot."

The man's face contorted further, his fists clenching tightly at his sides as his anger bubbled over. "You arrogant fool!" he snarled, his voice rising with frustration. "Don't you realize where you are? This is Lightning Fang Guild territory!"

Zeus's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze scrutinizing the group before him. The way they carried themselves, the arrogance in their demeanor—it was clear they were used to getting their way. \\

His voice was cold and dismissive as he responded, "Lightning Fang Guild? Never heard of it. So unless you want to lose more than just your pride, I suggest you get lost."

The three men exchanged incredulous looks, disbelief and outrage etched across their faces. Their leader, a three-star warrior with an air of superiority, stepped forward, his sneer deepening.

"How dare you insult our guild!" he hissed, his tone dripping with disdain. "Do you have any idea who you're dealing with? The Lightning Fang Guild is led by a four-star warrior!"

Zeus's lips curled into a slow, mocking smile, his eyes narrowing with amusement as he observed the man's bravado. "Oh, really? So, your leader is a four-star warrior?" he asked, his tone deceptively mild, as if he were discussing something trivial.

The man's sneer grew more pronounced, mistaking Zeus's words for acknowledgment of the threat. "That's right," he said, his voice thick with condescension. "So, you finally understand the gravity of your situation—"

But before he could finish, Zeus cut him off, his voice suddenly cold and sharp like a blade slicing through the air. "Do you think I care?"

The leader's smirk faltered, his expression freezing in disbelief. The shock of the insult slowly gave way to a dark, seething fury, his eyes narrowing into slits as the weight of Zeus's words sank in. His pride wounded, he could barely contain the rage that boiled within him.

"How dare you mock our guild!" he roared, his voice trembling with barely restrained anger. He glanced at his subordinates, his command snapping like a whip. "Men, kill him!"

The two other men, both two-star warriors, immediately rushed toward Zeus, their weapons drawn and eyes filled with murderous intent. The leader of the group hung back slightly, clearly confident that his subordinates could handle what he perceived as an arrogant upstart.

Zeus stood his ground, unflinching as the three men advanced toward him. His eyes, cold and calculating, flicked over each of them, quickly assessing their strength—two of them were two-star warriors, while the one leading them was a three-star. It didn't take long for Zeus to piece together what had likely transpired.

These men must have driven the Thunder Python into the Thunder Eagle's territory, intending for the two beasts to weaken each other before swooping in to claim the spoils.

But their plan had been disrupted by Zeus's timely arrival, and now they were seething with anger, their eyes burning with frustration at the unexpected turn of events.

Zeus's smirk widened, his lips curling into a taunting grin as he watched their approach. The tension in the air was palpable, thick with the anticipation of the inevitable clash. He could sense their desperation, their need to reclaim what they believed was rightfully theirs.

The leader of the group, his expression twisted with contempt, sneered at Zeus. "You should have walked away when you had the chance," he growled, his voice dripping with menace. "Now, we'll make sure you regret crossing the Lightning Fang Guild."

Zeus's eyes gleamed with dark amusement as he met the man's gaze, completely unbothered by the threat. "Regret?" he echoed, his tone mocking. "I think the only regret here is yours—for underestimating me."

The leader's sneer deepened into a scowl, his eyes narrowing in fury. "Kill him!" he barked, his command sharp and filled with venom.

The two-star warriors immediately surged forward, their weapons gleaming as they closed in on Zeus, their faces set in grim determination.

But there was a flicker of uncertainty in their eyes, a hesitation that betrayed their fear. They knew, deep down, that this wasn't going to be as easy as their leader made it out to be.

Zeus's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He could feel the tension in the air, the inevitability of the clash that was about to unfold. "So, you want to kill me?" he taunted, his voice laced with dark amusement. "I'll gladly play with you."

The three men closed in, their faces set with grim determination, but Zeus was already preparing his counterattack, his eyes glinting with the thrill of the impending battle.