Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

His eyes gleamed with fascination, his mind racing as he thought of the possibilities. This core, this rare, potent artifact, was more than just a trophy—it was a key to unlocking a new level of strength, one that could elevate him far beyond his current limits.

But before Hades could relish in his victory, a sharp, searing pain erupted in his back.

His eyes snapped open in shock. The world around him blurred for a split second as his body registered the betrayal.

Instinctively, Hades turned his head, and there, standing behind him with a malicious grin, was Vesperin. His hand gripped a sword, its blade buried deep into Hades\' back, glowing with the remnants of dark magic.

"Surprised?" Vesperin sneered, his voice dripping with triumph. He twisted the sword slightly, causing another jolt of pain to ripple through Hades\' body. "I should be thanking you, really. For killing the Abyss Dragon, for retrieving this precious core… and soon, for giving me your Soul Puppet."

Vesperin\'s eyes sparkled with glee, his satisfaction almost sickening. He stepped closer, his tone condescending as he admired his handiwork. "You were so focused on the core, you didn\'t even notice me, did you? Pathetic."

Hades winced, but his expression remained eerily calm, watching Vesperin\'s smugness unfold.

Vesperin, mistaking his calm for fear, chuckled darkly. "Oh, I see. You don\'t understand yet, do you?" He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"The sword I used… it\'s no ordinary blade. It\'s a one-time-use artifact, imbued with a curse that instantly kills the soul of its victim." He smirked wider. "It bypasses all defenses—even your precious Soul Puppet."

As if to emphasize his words, the sword in his hand began to crumble, its magical properties used up. The blade turned to ash, the particles floating away and disappearing into the air. "A shame it can only be used once, but for someone like you, it was worth it."

Vesperin took a step back, crossing his arms as he watched Hades with a look of cold finality. "This is it for you. The moment your soul collapses, I\'ll claim everything that was yours. Your puppet, the Abyss Core… all of it."

But then, something unexpected happened.

Hades didn\'t collapse. He didn\'t stagger, he didn\'t fall, and there was no sign of agony or desperation. Instead, a soft, low chuckle escaped his lips, growing louder with each passing second.

His shoulders shook slightly, and the chuckle turned into a full, almost maniacal laughter that echoed through the Abyss Hole.

Vesperin froze in place, his smirk faltering as Hades\' eyes locked onto him. But it wasn\'t fear or pain that gleamed in those eyes—it was amusement.

Dark, twisted amusement. The cracks spreading across Hades\' body glowed faintly, but rather than signaling his end, they only seemed to enhance the power in his gaze.

"Do you really think it\'s over?" Hades asked, his voice laced with mockery, his tone calm yet dripping with malicious glee.

Vesperin\'s confidence wavered as he took a step back. "W-what\'s going on? You… you should be dead!" His voice cracked slightly, betraying the panic slowly creeping into his chest.

Hades tilted his head, his smile widening. "Dead?" he repeated mockingly, his laughter rising again. "You poor, deluded fool." He took a slow, deliberate step forward, the cracks on his body continuing to spread, but they didn\'t seem to weaken him. If anything, they made him more imposing.

Vesperin swallowed hard, his earlier arrogance melting away. His mind raced to understand why Hades was still standing, why the cursed sword hadn\'t worked. "No… This can\'t be… That sword was supposed to—"

"—Kill me?" Hades finished the sentence for him, his voice sharp. "End my soul? Is that what you thought? That a one-time-use artifact could take me down?" His eyes gleamed, and he let out another chuckle, this one colder and more sinister. "You have no idea who you\'re dealing with."

Vesperin\'s heart pounded as he stared at Hades. His earlier smirk had disappeared, replaced by a creeping sense of dread. He tried to speak, but the words wouldn\'t come out. "But… the sword… it destroys the soul… How are you…"

Hades took another step closer, his presence becoming overwhelming, suffocating. "You really think it\'s that easy to kill me?" he asked, his voice lowering to a near whisper, dripping with menace. "You think a single cursed sword is enough to break me?"

Vesperin\'s breath hitched as he took another step back, the reality of the situation beginning to sink in. Hades was no ordinary opponent. His confidence, the way he stood there laughing at the very sword that was meant to kill him—it was all wrong.

"You\'ve made a grave mistake, Vesperin," Hades continued, his voice now a soft, dangerous hum. "You thought you could outsmart me, stab me in the back, and walk away with the spoils of my victory. But you\'ve only unleashed something far worse."

Vesperin\'s face paled, the creeping dread now settling fully into his bones. "W-what are you saying?" His voice wavered, fear seeping into every word.

Hades\' smile grew even wider, his eyes glowing with a malevolent light. "You thought you were taking my life," he said, his voice rising again, the mockery thickening with every word. "But all you\'ve done is give me more power. And now… you\'ll pay for your arrogance."

The cracks on Hades\' body deepened, glowing with an unearthly energy, but there was no pain, no sign of weakness. Instead, his aura seemed to expand, filling the space between them, swallowing the air around Vesperin in oppressive darkness.

Vesperin stumbled back, his hands shaking as he realized he was utterly outmatched. The arrogance he had held just moments ago evaporated completely, replaced by sheer terror. His voice trembled as he stammered, "This… this can\'t be happening. You should be dead!"

Hades laughed again, a deep, echoing sound that seemed to shake the ground beneath them. "Oh, Vesperin," he whispered, leaning in ever so slightly. "You have no idea what you\'ve just unleashed."