Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Lucy stirred awake, her eyelids fluttering as the remnants of sleep slowly left her. She blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the dim light filtering through the window.

As her vision cleared, she was surprised to find Lucas lying beside her, fast asleep. Confused, she reached out and gently shook his shoulder. "Lucas, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice soft and laced with confusion.

Lucas jolted awake, his eyes widening as he quickly realized where he was. Without a moment's hesitation, he pulled her into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around her protectively.

"Lucy, you're okay," he whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of relief and lingering fear. "I was so scared... I thought I'd lost you."

Lucy, still groggy and disoriented, gently pushed him back enough to look into his eyes. "What do you mean? What happened?" she asked, her brow furrowing in concern.

Before Lucas could respond, she absentmindedly moved her hand, only to feel an odd sensation. The sound of wood splintering filled the room, and to her shock, she saw that she had accidentally destroyed the bedpost with a mere touch.

She gasped, yanking her hand back as if it had been burned. "Lucas, what's going on? What happened to me?" she asked, her voice rising with panic as she stared at the broken wood.

Seeing her distress, Lucas quickly took her hand in his, squeezing it gently to calm her down. "Lucy, it's okay. You're safe now," he reassured her, his voice steady. "But there's something I need to explain."

Lucy's heart pounded in her chest as she looked at him, searching his eyes for answers. "Explain what? Lucas, what happened to me?"

Taking a deep breath, Lucas began to recount the events. "You were kidnapped by the Black Claw gang," he started, his tone filled with a mix of anger and concern.

"They took you because of what happened to their young master in the village center. I went to their base to rescue you, but by the time I got there, everyone was already dead, and you were lying there, alone."

Lucy's eyes widened, the gravity of his words sinking in. "But... how did they die? And what about me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she was afraid of the answer.

Lucas hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing his words. "Lucy, I think you've awakened some kind of special power," he said slowly, his eyes watching her closely for her reaction. "When I found you, there were signs—volcanic rocks, intense heat—I think it might be related to flames."

"Special power?" Lucy echoed, trying to wrap her mind around what he was saying. "But... I've never been able to cultivate. How could I suddenly have power?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Lucas admitted, his tone thoughtful. "But it seems like whatever happened, it triggered something deep inside you. Something powerful. I've read about things like this—rare physiques that grant extraordinary abilities. Maybe that's what you have."

Lucy stared at her hand, still trembling from the shock of what she had done. She could feel it now—the raw, untamed power coursing through her veins.

After years of being unable to cultivate, of feeling weak and helpless, she now had something real, something tangible. Her eyes welled up with tears, a mix of overwhelming emotions crashing over her.

"Lucas," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion as she looked up at him, "I can finally protect you." She threw her arms around him, holding him tightly as if she feared she might lose him again.

Lucas returned the embrace, his heart swelling with a mix of pride and sorrow. "Lucy," he said softly, his voice gentle yet firm, "with this power and everything that happened last night, we can't stay here anymore. It's not safe."

Lucy pulled back slightly, nodding as she wiped away her tears. Her expression had shifted to one of determination. "You're right," she agreed, her voice resolute. "We can't stay. I'll start preparing right away."

As Lucy began packing, Lucas returned to his room, his mind racing with thoughts. The events of the past hours left him unsettled, and the system's voice interrupted his contemplation.

[Do you really think she bought all that nonsense you fed her?] the system asked, its tone laced with arrogance and skepticism.

Lucas paused, a frown creasing his brow. "I don't know," he admitted, a twinge of doubt creeping into his voice. "But she smiled, so either she believes it, or she's willing to play along."

[Hmph, she's probably just humoring you,] the system sneered. [But listen carefully, you need to train her—properly—and under no circumstances should she ever find out about me. Got it?]

Lucas clenched his fists, trying to keep his frustration in check. The system's condescending tone was grating on his nerves.

"Yeah, I know," he replied curtly, his voice tight with suppressed annoyance. He didn't need the reminder; he knew how important it was to keep the system a secret. But that didn't make it any easier to lie to his sister.

The conversation left him feeling uneasy, but there was no time to dwell on it. Soon, their preparations were complete.

Lucas and Lucy stood at the edge of their home, ready to leave the place they had known all their lives. But something caught Lucas's attention—Lucy wasn't carrying much of anything.

"Where's all your stuff?" Lucas asked, puzzled as he looked around for the usual bundle of belongings.

Lucy turned to him with a playful smile, holding up a small, elegant pouch. "I put everything in here, in my spatial pouch."

Lucas blinked in surprise. "You have that?" he asked, his voice filled with astonishment.

Lucy's smile widened into a mischievous grin. "I was planning to give it to you for your birthday," she explained, her eyes twinkling with a mix of pride and affection, "but it seems better to use it now."

Lucas chuckled softly, shaking his head in disbelief. "You never cease to surprise me," he said, warmth filling his voice as he looked at his sister with newfound respect. "Let's go."

Lucy nodded, but as they turned to leave, she suddenly paused, her expression shifting to one of seriousness. "Before we go, there's something I need to handle first."

Lucas tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked, his brow furrowing.

"This," Lucy replied, her voice firm and unwavering. She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing with determination as she raised her fist. Without warning, she punched the ground and shouted, "Eruption!"

In an instant, a surge of molten energy erupted from the ground, obliterating their former house. The structure was reduced to nothing but smoldering rubble, the air thick with the acrid scent of burning wood and ash. The sheer force of the destruction left Lucas speechless.

As the dust settled, Lucy turned back to Lucas with a triumphant smile, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Now we can go," she said, her tone light but with an undercurrent of finality.

Lucas stared at the ruins of their home, his mouth slightly agape. "How... how can you already do something like this?" he muttered, half to himself. The display of raw power was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

[Heh, I take back everything I said before,] the system chimed in, clearly impressed, its usual arrogance replaced with a tone of grudging respect. [Forget about training her—just try to keep up. She's a damn genius, and you're lucky to be in her presence.]

Lucas could only nod, his mind reeling from everything that had happened. "I think so too," he finally said, his voice tinged with a mix of pride, awe, and a hint of nervousness.