Zeus, still wearing his familiar mask, strode through the serene grounds of Roxana's private territory within the Celestial Academy. The place had an untouched stillness to it, a calm that bordered on eerie.
It was a sanctuary, known only to a select few—Zeus, Lucy, and Roxana herself. Surrounded by thick, towering trees and a sky that seed perpetually painted in twilight hues, the territory felt almost otherworldly.
Despite the calm, there was a weight in the air—a subtle tension, like the quiet before a storm. It clung to everything, making even the softest rustle of the leaves feel significant. Zeus knew that such peace could be deceiving.
He stepped out of the small training hall, his thoughts still wandering through the labyrinth of recent events—the chaos of the Abyss Hole, the surge of Abyss Mana, and the monstrous transformations he had unleashed.
The mask on his face hid the quiet storm of thoughts beneath, but anyone who knew him would recognize the way his posture stiffened, his movents deliberate and slow, as though calculating his next steps.
His return to the Celestial Academy had been ant to be silent, unnoticed by those who would eagerly seek his downfall. As far as anyone knew, Zeus was just another mask in his arsenal, a tool to hide the truth. He had hoped to pass through without stirring any waters.
But before he could take another step away from the hall, he felt it—a presence, faint at first, but growing more distinct. The air around him shifted, a familiar energy pressing in from behind, one that he recognized all too well.
He turned slowly, his hand instinctively brushing against the edge of his mask, as though preparing to react. Standing there, leaning casually against a tree, was Roxana, her arms crossed over her chest and a knowing smirk dancing on her lips. Her crimson eyes glead with amusent, yet there was a sharpness to them, a hunter's gaze locked onto its prey.
"So, you've co back, Lucas," she said, her voice steady, calm, but with an edge of certainty that sent a ripple through the still air.
The na struck him like a sharp blade, cutting through the facade he had carefully crafted. Zeus's eyes narrowed beneath his mask, his expression hidden but tense. The use of his true na caught him off guard, but he quickly recovered, though there was a coldness in his tone as he spoke.
Zeus's eyes narrowed behind the mask, his voice low and asured as he spoke. "What are you talking about?" There was a faint trace of surprise in his tone, a subtle crack in his carefully controlled deanor, though he quickly tried to hide it.
Roxana's smirk deepened as she took a step closer, her sharp eyes gleaming with sothing akin to satisfaction. She didn't rush her response, savoring the mont of having caught him off guard.
Her voice was steady, confident, but with an unmistakable undertone of triumph. "Don't be surprised, Lucas," she said smoothly, her gaze locking onto his. "I know it's you this ti."
Zeus's body tensed ever so slightly at the sound of his true na, but Roxana pressed on, her eyes never leaving his. "Your energy may feel the sa, but your aura… it's different. This ti, it feels like the real you beneath that mask."
There was no denying the certainty in her words. Zeus regarded her in silence for a beat, his mind racing through possibilities, but he quickly recovered, letting out a soft, low chuckle.
"I see," he whispered, his tone now calm and composed, though his eyes glead behind the mask. "You're pretty good, Roxana," he added, the slightest hint of amusent in his voice.
Roxana straightened at the complint, a flicker of pride flashing in her crimson eyes. She allowed herself a small, satisfied smile, her chin lifting with confidence. "Of course," she replied, her voice carrying the weight of her authority. "I am an Elder, after all."
Zeus's smirk returned, though this ti, it was colder, more calculating. His posture relaxed, but his gaze remained fixed on her, sharp and unreadable.
"Though you're good at recognizing ," he said, folding his arms across his chest in a casual yet deliberate gesture, "I have to ask... Why does your energy still feel like you're at six stars?" His words, though seemingly nonchalant, were laced with a deeper curiosity.
Roxana's confident expression flickered for a split second, though she masked it quickly. Zeus pressed on, his tone cool but probing.
"I know you fell from eight stars to one when you switched to your new cultivation manual, the Divine Scripture. You jumped to six stars in just a single day." He leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing. "But I've been gone for months. Why are you still... stuck at six stars?"
A brief silence hung between them, the question lingering in the air like a challenge. Roxana's expression softened, but her gaze remained unwavering, a glint of resolve shining through her composed exterior. She exhaled softly before speaking, her voice quieter but thoughtful, almost introspective.
"It's not that I'm stuck," she began, the weight of her words carrying a deeper aning. "I've been cultivating my Volcanic Dragon Core Divine Scripture." She paused, as if carefully considering how much to reveal. "While I could push myself further, I've made the choice not to. Not yet."
Zeus's interest piqued, though his expression remained guarded. He watched her closely, reading every subtle shift in her posture, every flicker of emotion that passed through her eyes.
Roxana continued, her tone growing more confident as she t his gaze directly, her voice steady and sure. "I can feel it in my core—this isn't my limit at the six-star stage. I'm deliberately compressing more mana, letting my body and mind adapt to the overwhelming power that cos with the Volcanic Dragon Core."
Her eyes glead with determination. "When I eventually ascend to seven stars, I'll be far stronger than if I rushed through the breakthrough. I want to ensure that when I do advance, it's... unstoppable."
Her words hung heavy in the air, laden with ambition. There was a quiet intensity in her gaze, a fire that burned just beneath the surface of her calm exterior. She wasn't just aiming for strength—she was aiming for sothing far more formidable.
Zeus's expression remained neutral, though a flicker of acknowledgnt passed through his eyes. He tilted his head slightly, as if weighing her explanation, letting her words sink in.
After a mont, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I see," he said softly, his voice thoughtful yet distant, as though he were already contemplating the implications of her strategy.
A quiet understanding passed between them, unspoken but palpable. Both of them were players in a much larger ga, each with their own plans, their own ambitions.
They stood in silence, the air thick with the weight of untold sches and the tension of their unspoken rivalry. Each was calculating their next move, but for now, the mont hung in a delicate balance.
Roxana's eyes softened, though the determination within them never wavered. "I know you're playing a long ga, Lucas," she said quietly, her voice almost gentle, as though speaking to a familiar adversary. "Just don't forget... so am I."
Zeus's smile deepened beneath the mask, though his eyes remained cold, unreadable. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Roxana," he replied, his voice low, but there was a hint of admiration hidden beneath the icy exterior.
They stood there, the silence between them heavy but not uncomfortable, both of them knowing that the real battles were yet to co. For now, they could acknowledge each other's strength, each biding their ti, waiting for the perfect mont to strike.
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