Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Lucy wasted no time; she immediately began to absorb the energy from the two-star tiger corpses. Sitting down, she closed her eyes and entered a state of deep cultivation. The energy flowed into her smoothly, and for a moment, everything seemed calm.

Lucas watched closely, expecting to see signs of strain or pain as she absorbed the powerful energy. But instead, all he saw was a slight frown on her face. That was it—no grimace, no gasping, no signs of struggle. It was almost as if the process was effortless for her.

Confused, Lucas couldn't help but ask the system, "Why isn't she in pain like I was? I remember barely being able to endure it."

The system responded almost instantly, and its tone was dripping with arrogance. [Ha! Of course, she isn't in pain,] it said, almost laughing at the question.

Lucas frowned at the system's dismissive attitude, but before he could say anything, the system continued, its tone now almost patronizing. [Your sister's special physique is top-tier, perfectly awakened, and her divine scripture? It's practically made for her. Why would she feel pain? Everything's aligned perfectly for her, unlike you.]

The way the system spoke, it was as if it were pointing out some glaring flaw in Lucas himself. Lucas narrowed his eyes, feeling a twinge of irritation. "So, what's different about me?"

The system seemed to relish in the opportunity to explain, its voice taking on a condescending tone. [Ah, you see, Lucas, your situation is a bit... complicated. Sure, your Void Physique is powerful—no one's denying that—but it's designed to absorb all kinds of energy, making you nearly invincible. And what does that mean?] The system paused for dramatic effect, almost as if it were smirking.

[Yep, more pain! But hey, power comes with a price, doesn't it?]

Lucas couldn't help but feel a bit indignant. "So I'm just supposed to endure this pain every time? While she gets off easy?"

The system's tone turned almost gleeful, as if it were enjoying his frustration. [Absolutely! But don't take it so hard, kid. Think of it as a character-building experience. Besides, if it were easy, everyone would do it, right? But not everyone gets to be as strong as you'll be—if you can handle it.]

Lucas clenched his fists, a mixture of frustration and resignation tightening in his chest. "And what about the divine mask?" he asked, his voice edged with irritation. "Why is it so painful to cultivate with?"

The system responded almost instantly, its tone positively gleeful. [Oh, that?] It paused, as if savoring the moment. [It's really quite simple, Lucas. The divine scripture within the mask isn't exactly a perfect match for you. So, every time you cultivate with it, you get the lovely bonus of a nice, sharp dose of pain. Isn't that just delightful?]

Lucas's eyes widened in disbelief. "So you're saying all my cultivation will always be painful? Every single time?"

The system practically oozed smugness as it replied. [Absolutely! Isn't it wonderful? But hey, look on the bright side—you'll be stronger for it! What's a little pain when you consider the power you'll wield? Honestly, you should be thanking me!] The system's voice dripped with shameless pride, as if it genuinely expected gratitude.

Lucas felt his stomach drop. The idea of enduring endless pain for every bit of progress weighed heavily on him. He sighed deeply, the weight of it all pressing down on his shoulders. "Great," he muttered, his voice thick with sarcasm, "eternal pain in exchange for power. What a deal."

After some time, Lucy finally finished her cultivation and slowly opened her eyes. The intensity in her gaze had deepened, and there was a newfound strength in the way she held herself. Lucas, who had been watching her closely, immediately leaned in, his voice filled with anticipation. "Did you reach the two-star tier?"

Lucy looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with confidence. A slow, satisfied smile spread across her face as she nodded. "Yes, I did. I can feel it, Lucas—my power has grown so much stronger than before."

Lucas felt a wave of relief and pride wash over him. He returned her smile, his own expression warm and full of admiration. "That's amazing, Lucy. I knew you could do it." His voice was steady, but there was a hint of awe in it as well, recognizing just how far his sister had come.

Lucy's smile widened, and she stood up, stretching slightly as if testing her newfound strength. "I'm ready for whatever comes next, Lucas."

Lucas nodded, his heart swelling with pride. "Good," he said with a grin. "Let's continue to our destination, then. We've got a lot more ahead of us, and I know you're more than ready for it."

As they gathered their things and prepared to move on, Lucas's eyes were drawn to the faint glow in the air around them. He quickly realized that it was the excess mana left behind from Lucy's cultivation, swirling gently in the atmosphere, untouched and waiting to be absorbed.

[Mana Storage: 10], the system's familiar prompt flashed before his eyes, its tone almost smug, as if it were proud of the surplus it had detected.

A slow, satisfied smile crept across Lucas's face. He knew that the 10 units of mana would be more than enough to boost the power of his Divine Mask - Zeus by another 10%. The prospect of growing even stronger was a tempting one, and the thought of enhancing his mask filled him with anticipation.

But as he glanced over at Lucy, who was adjusting her gear with newfound confidence, Lucas quickly made up his mind. He couldn't risk her discovering the true nature of his cheat just yet. The Divine Mask was his secret weapon, something he needed to keep hidden until the right time.

"I'll cultivate later," Lucas thought, his resolve firm. "When she's not around, I'll use the mana to strengthen the mask."

He mentally tucked away the plan, the smile on his face widening slightly. The power was there, waiting for him, and soon he'd tap into it. But for now, he'd keep his secret safe, playing the role of the supportive brother while quietly building his strength in the shadows.