Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Roxana smirked, clearly amused by the stunned expression that crossed Zeus's face. She crossed her arms, her posture relaxed yet exuding confidence. "Surprised, aren't you?"

Zeus blinked, still processing the incredible power Lucy was displaying in the arena. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing.

"Of course I'm surprised," he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. "She's reached six stars… What the hell did you do to her that made her grow so fast?"

Roxana chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "I didn't do much," she said, her tone nonchalant, as if it were the most casual thing in the world.

"I just gave her what I usually eat. You know... Lava Fruit, Magma Beast Soup, Lava Dragon Meat, Lava Fish Meat... nothing too special." She waved a hand as if listing a common grocery run.

Zeus's jaw dropped slightly, his eyes widening. "What?!" he thought, shocked beyond words. His mind reeled as he tried to comprehend what Roxana had just revealed.

[Oh, look at you, Host, all wide-eyed and clueless again,] the system chimed in, dripping with its usual arrogance. [Let me do the heavy lifting for that tiny brain of yours. I know exactly why she's grown so strong so quickly.]

Zeus rolled his eyes inwardly, Yeah, I figured that out too.

[Sure you did,] the system shot back with a mocking scoff. [The materials Roxana gave her are loaded with potent volcanic mana. You'd know that if you weren't so busy gawking.]

There was a pause, then it added smugly, [But, as always, it's me who connects the dots for you. With the Divine Mask system embedded in Lucy, it converts all that lovely volcanic mana into pure, refined power faster than your weak brain could process.]

Zeus let out a soft sigh, ignoring the system's arrogant tone as he focused on what it was saying. "Because of that, she's been able to grow this fast," he thought, his mind whirring as he pieced together the implications.

[Oh, and don't forget her special physique and Divine Scripture,] the system added, its tone dripping with superiority. [With a setup like hers, it's no wonder she's flying through cultivation levels. Unlike you, who had to crawl through the mud to get stronger.]

Zeus couldn't help but smirk at the system's typical mockery. Yeah, yeah, I know. She's got everything going for her.

The system let out a haughty laugh. [Finally, something we agree on. But don't get too excited, Host. She'll start slowing down soon enough. Going from six to seven stars? That's a different beast entirely.

Much harder. More pain, more struggle—just how you like it.]

Zeus sighed internally. "Yeah, I know," he replied in his mind, as he watched Lucy's every movement with a renewed sense of awe and respect. Her growth had been rapid, almost unnatural, but he knew the road ahead would be more difficult.

Zeus turned to Roxana, shaking his head slightly, a look of disbelief still lingering on his face. "To think you actually gave her those foods," he said, his voice carrying a mixture of astonishment and mild amusement.

Roxana's lips curled into a proud, almost smug smile, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. "Well, of course," she replied, her tone filled with an air of certainty. "She's my disciple, after all. And with her physique and power being so similar to mine, it only made sense that our diets should match."

She crossed her arms and cast a sidelong glance at Zeus, her expression both playful and confident. "Did you really think I'd let her go through ordinary training? She has too much potential for that."

Zeus raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued further. "So you really believe her physique is that close to yours?" he asked, a note of intrigue in his voice.

Roxana nodded, her gaze firm. "It's not just belief. I've seen it with my own eyes, felt it in her aura. The way she absorbs volcanic mana... it's almost identical to mine. Her progression is rapid, but it's controlled.

She's not just getting stronger; she's refining her power."

She tilted her head slightly, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "If anything, I'd say she might even surpass me in some areas if she keeps this up."

Zeus chuckled softly, a sense of pride swelling in his chest as he glanced back at the arena. "Surpassing you, huh? Well, that's certainly something to look forward to."

Roxana laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Don't get too ahead of yourself. She's still got a long way to go, especially if she plans to reach the higher stars. But with the right guidance..." Her voice trailed off, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she watched Lucy fight. "She'll get there."

Zeus exhaled slowly, finally piecing everything together. "I see," he murmured, his tone soft yet thoughtful.

His gaze returned to the battlefield, where Lucy's movements were precise, her energy rippling through the air like a storm contained within her form. There was no hesitation in her strikes, no wasted effort—just raw, refined power.

Zeus's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched, his mind racing with both admiration and curiosity. "Now... let's see just how strong she really is."

---

In the arena, Varyn Steelwind faced off against Lucy, his mind struggling to keep pace with the battle. Each clash of their blades reverberated through the air, the impact sending shockwaves across the arena floor. Varyn's breathing grew ragged, his chest rising and falling heavily as sweat trickled down his face. He gritted his teeth, his muscles aching under the strain of every exchange.

"What the hell is wrong with her?" he thought, barely managing to block another of Lucy's strikes. His grip tightened on his weapon, but his hands trembled slightly. "It's only been a year, and her power has grown this much?"

He had known Lucy was strong—her reputation as both beautiful and powerful had drawn countless suitors. But none of them had truly understood the depth of her strength, and now, as Varyn fought her, he was starting to realize just how outmatched he was.