Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

"You… you\'re back!" the officer blurted out, his tone filled with both shock and relief. "I didn\'t think anyone would return from the Necrovauld Graveyard so quickly. It\'s… incredibly dangerous."

Hades gave a slow, cold smile, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Dangerous?" he repeated, his voice a smooth, dark hum. "There\'s nothing in that graveyard that could even scratch me."

The officer swallowed hard, clearly unnerved by Hades\' unshaken confidence, and nodded quickly. "Of course… of course, sir." He fumbled with the paperwork, trying to avoid Hades\' gaze as if the air around him was suffocating.

Without a word or further acknowledgment, Hades turned and strode out of the mission center, his confident smirk fading into a more contemplative expression as his focus shifted.

The shadows of the Necrovauld Academy stretched long over the stone pathways as he made his way through the familiar grounds, taking in the dark, oppressive aura of the place.

His eyes scanned the surroundings out of habit, but his mind was already on his next objective—until his steps slowed.

As Hades neared his home, an unexpected figure blocked his path.

The old man from months ago—the one who had brought him into the academy—stood there with a faint smile playing on his wrinkled face.

His posture seemed relaxed, almost friendly, but Hades didn\'t miss the sharpness in his gaze, the way his eyes gleamed with something hidden… something calculating.

Hades\' brow lifted slightly as he assessed the situation. His voice, smooth yet laced with caution, cut through the tension. "Hello, Elder. I wasn\'t expecting to see you."

The old man\'s smile widened slightly, though it didn\'t quite reach his eyes. "No need for such formalities, Hades," he said in a slow, deliberate tone. "Just call me Elder Thalnor."

Hades kept his expression neutral, but his mind was already racing. He\'s planning something, he thought, though his voice remained calm and respectful. "Very well, Elder Thalnor." He gave a slight bow, one that hinted at politeness but lacked genuine deference. "Nice to meet you again."

He extended his hand in a gesture of respect, watching the elder\'s every move.

Elder Thalnor\'s eyes flickered as he looked at Hades\' outstretched hand, the faintest hesitation crossing his features before he clasped it.

Hades felt the subtle shift in the old man\'s demeanor the moment their hands connected. The slightest spark of surprise crossed Thalnor\'s face—barely noticeable but there.

"Is there something wrong, Elder?" Hades asked, his voice calm and neutral, but the intensity in his sharp gaze spoke volumes. He didn\'t miss the flicker of surprise in Elder Thalnor\'s eyes—the reaction had been brief, but it was enough to confirm Hades\' suspicions.

Elder Thalnor let out a soft, almost amused chuckle, though it carried a hint of something deeper, something less innocent.

He shook his head, the smile on his wrinkled face tight, controlled. "Nothing at all, Hades," he replied, his tone smooth, though there was an undertone of secrecy in his words. "I just wanted to tell you something."

Hades tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly, though his smile remained polite. "And what might that be?" he asked, his voice still calm but edged with curiosity and suspicion.

The old man\'s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. It was the kind of smile that never touched the eyes. "Come to my house tomorrow," Thalnor said, his voice low and almost conspiratorial. "There\'s something… important I need to discuss with you."

Hades studied the elder for a long moment, his mind already working through the possibilities, calculating every word. Still, he kept his expression neutral, returning the elder\'s false warmth with a practiced, polite smile. "Of course, Elder," he said, inclining his head slightly. "I\'ll see you tomorrow."

Thalnor\'s eyes lingered on Hades for a beat longer before he turned away, his steps slow and measured. "See you then," he murmured, his voice just loud enough to be heard, but the real meaning was hidden behind the words, buried deep in his thoughts.

As he walked away, his calm exterior masked a darker intent. His lips barely moved, but his thoughts echoed with sinister satisfaction. "He\'s ripe… It seems the time has come."

Hades watched as Elder Thalnor slowly disappeared into the distance, his back fading into the shadows of the academy. His expression remained carefully neutral, giving nothing away, but behind that mask, his mind was already dissecting every word and every movement the old man had made.

The moment he was alone, the system\'s voice cut through his thoughts with its usual arrogance.

[Ha! You catch that, Host? That old geezer\'s up to something. You\'d have to be blind not to notice.] The system\'s tone was dripping with mockery, as if Hades had almost missed something obvious.

Hades\' eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. "Of course I noticed. I\'m not a fool," he muttered under his breath, his tone cold but controlled.

[Not a fool? Debatable, but at least you\'ve got a shred of awareness this time. Lucky me, right? Having a host who finally knows when he\'s being played.] The system\'s voice oozed with sarcasm, as though it was taking great pleasure in belittling him.

Hades smirked, his lips curling into a dark grin as he continued walking. "Let\'s see what he\'s planning tomorrow. I\'m curious how far this game of his will go."

The system snorted, clearly amused by Hades\' confidence. [Oh, now you\'re curious? Please, Host, don\'t pretend like you\'re some grand strategist. You\'re just hoping for a good fight. I bet you\'re already fantasizing about how you\'ll deal with him, aren\'t you?]

Hades didn\'t bother denying it. His smile deepened, a shadow of anticipation flickering in his eyes. "Maybe. But it\'s not just about the fight. It\'s about control."

[Control, huh? Big words from the guy who lets me do half the thinking. Face it, Host, without me, you\'d be—]

"—nothing?" Hades cut in, his voice sharp and tinged with amusement. "Keep telling yourself that, system. You might actually start believing it."

The system\'s laughter echoed in his mind, bold and shameless. [Oh, I already do. But let\'s not argue, Host. Tomorrow\'s going to be… interesting. Try not to embarrass me.]

A low chuckle escaped Hades as he continued toward his home, his mind already piecing together the possibilities for his meeting with Thalnor. Whatever the elder had in store, Hades was ready—eager, even—to see how it would all play out.

"Let\'s see who\'s really pulling the strings, Elder Thalnor," Hades whispered to himself, his smile darkening.