Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Elder Feris stood silently, observing Leader Velkar as grief and fury twisted the man's face into something almost unrecognizable. The head of the Malachor clan, usually so composed, was shaking, still clutching the identification card he had found on what remained of his son, Vesperin.

Velkar's loss was profound, but Feris knew that in times like these, lamenting over tragedy would bring no results. Action, not despair, was what the situation demanded.

After a moment of tense silence, Feris spoke, his voice low yet sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. "You believe this... catastrophe is the work of that Celestial Academy disciple, Zeus, don't you?"

Velkar didn't answer with words, only nodded stiffly. His jaw was clenched so tightly it seemed as if it might crack, and his hand gripped the card harder, the knuckles turning white. The name of the disciple responsible for his son's downfall burned in his mind like a brand.

Feris' gaze darkened, his voice dropping as if it carried the weight of something sinister. "If that's true, then this only strengthens our resolve. Another reason to wage war against the Celestial Academy. But..." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "For now, we must focus on growing stronger. Without power, there will be no revenge."

Velkar's expression twisted with a mix of frustration and burning anger. His rage was palpable, but so was his helplessness in the face of what had just transpired.

"But how?" Velkar's voice was thick with barely controlled fury. "The sudden spike in Abyss Mana has made it impossible for disciples to enter safely. The entire entrance is a deathtrap! It's become too dangerous for anyone."

Elder Feris nodded thoughtfully, his expression serious but with a glint of something deeper in his eyes. "That's true. The Abyss Mana surge has made the entrance far too volatile. Sending disciples in now would be a death sentence."

Velkar, still fuming with anger and frustration, raised an eyebrow, his skepticism evident. "And yet you speak of a positive side? How can there possibly be anything good to come from this?"

Feris folded his arms across his chest, his voice calm and calculating. "Yes, there is a positive side. The surge of Abyss Mana at the gate may have made it too dangerous to enter the Abyss Hole, but it has also infused the entire surrounding area with Abyss Energy. That's not something to overlook."

Velkar's eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced. "So what? We can't send anyone near that place now without them being consumed by the surge. How is that supposed to help us?"

Feris' lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "You're looking at this all wrong. While it's true we can't send disciples deep into the Abyss Hole at the moment, we can control the Abyss Energy near the gate. If we act swiftly and carefully, we can harness that energy and put it to good use."

Velkar, still guarded, crossed his arms. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

Feris stepped closer, his voice lowering as if revealing a secret. "We can use the Abyss Energy to accelerate the growth of Abyss Herbs in the surrounding area. Herbs that would normally take years to cultivate could grow in a matter of weeks with the right control. But that's just the beginning."

Velkar's skepticism began to wane, replaced with a glimmer of interest. "Go on."

Feris continued, his tone now filled with confidence. "With the right setup, we could establish cultivation grounds around the energy spike. These grounds would be perfect for training disciples in a controlled environment. The Abyss Energy would allow them to grow stronger far faster than they could under normal circumstances."

Velkar's expression shifted, his eyes flickering with a mix of realization and determination. His voice, once filled with doubt, now carried the weight of someone seeing a path forward. "So, you're saying that what looks like a catastrophe could actually be an opportunity?"

Feris nodded, his eyes gleaming with purpose. "Exactly. It's both a misfortune and a fortune. If we act quickly and harness the Abyss Mana properly, we can turn this disaster into an advantage. Our disciples, our academy, could become stronger than we ever imagined."

Velkar, slowly regaining control over his turbulent emotions, turned to Elder Feris, his face still hardened with grief but now laced with a fierce determination.

His voice, though quieter than before, carried the weight of a man who had lost everything. "Then I want half of the cultivation area for my Malachor Clan. We've suffered the most from this surge—my son's death... it will not go unanswered."

There was an undeniable edge to his words, his fists clenching at his sides as he struggled to keep his anger in check. His son, Vesperin, had been turned into one of those grotesque monsters, and he would not rest until those responsible paid with their lives.

Elder Feris, his expression unreadable, nodded solemnly. "Agreed," he replied, his voice calm but firm. "Half of the cultivation grounds will be for the Malachor Clan. The other half will be allocated to the Necrovauld Academy disciples."

Feris met Velkar's eyes, understanding the depth of his pain but also recognizing the need for balance. "It's only fair, Velkar. Your clan has suffered greatly, and you will have the resources you need to rebuild and strengthen. But make no mistake, this opportunity will benefit both of us."

Velkar nodded, but his mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of vengeance. His voice dropped to a low, bitter growl. "Just wait, Vesperin," he muttered, almost as if speaking to his son's spirit. "I will avenge you. Zeus will pay for what he's done to our family."

The mention of Zeus made his eyes flare with raw hatred, his body trembling slightly as the anger surged through him again. The pain of losing Vesperin mixed with the rage of knowing who was responsible.

Elder Feris, always more measured, allowed a brief moment of silence to settle between them before speaking again.

"Vesperin's death was a tragedy, Velkar, but we must be patient. Zeus will be dealt with, but only when the time is right. First, we grow stronger—strong enough to ensure that when we strike, there will be no escape for him."

Velkar's lips curled into a grim smile, though his eyes remained cold. "Yes. When we strike, there will be no escape," he repeated, as if the words brought him some measure of comfort.

The two leaders stood in grim silence, staring into the dark abyss that had claimed so much from them. It was a place of loss, yes—but now, it promised power. Power that could be harnessed, controlled, and used to exact their vengeance.

Velkar clenched his fists again, feeling the surge of determination coursing through him. "We will use this disaster. We will make sure that it becomes the source of our rise, not our downfall."

Feris nodded, his eyes never leaving the swirling darkness of the Abyss Hole. "Yes, Velkar. The Abyss may have taken much from us, but it will also give us what we need to strike back."

They stood together, two men bound by grief, rage, and ambition. What had been a catastrophe was now an opportunity, and neither would allow it to slip away.