Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Hades stirred, slowly opening his eyes. His body felt weak, the toll of the soul fusion still fresh, but his mind was sharper than ever, buzzing with an energy he hadn't experienced before. It had been five hours since he passed out from the excruciating process. As he sat up, stretching his stiff muscles, a familiar, mocking voice echoed in his mind.

[How do you feel, Host? Or should I ask how it feels to wake up after playing with your soul like a reckless fool?]

A smirk crept across Hades' face, though the lingering ache from the experiment remained. "I got something... something amazing," he said, ignoring the system's tone.

[Amazing, huh? Care to enlighten me, or are you going to keep playing the mysterious act?] The system's arrogance seeped into every word, its curiosity poorly hidden beneath the mockery.

Hades chuckled, rubbing his temples as he recalled the experience. "Oh? So now you want to know? I thought the 'all-knowing, genius system' already had all the answers." His voice carried a playful sarcasm, baiting the system.

The system scoffed, clearly annoyed. [Please, Host, I don't have time for your weak attempts at wit. Just get to the point before I decide to withhold my wisdom next time you need it.]

Hades' smirk deepened, enjoying the system's frustration. "Alright, alright," he said, taking his time before finally continuing. He could feel the system's impatience, and it only made his satisfaction greater. "The effect was... incredible. My soul feels significantly stronger now, almost as if it's been fortified beyond what I thought possible."

The system gave an exaggerated, dismissive laugh. [Of course your soul is stronger. What did you expect when you went and fed all those souls directly into it? Did you think you'd come out weaker? Please.] It continued, voice dripping with arrogance. [And by the way, because your soul is scattered across all your Divine Masks, every one of your precious little fragments has been strengthened too.

So, congratulations—your other versions just got a free upgrade. You're welcome.]

Hades chuckled softly, nodding in approval. "Good to know. But I have to admit, the pain was almost unbearable. It was far worse than anything I've experienced before." His voice lowered, still recalling the sharp, tearing agony that had racked him during the fusion.

The system, ever shameless, responded with its usual mocking tone. [Well, obviously. You're not messing around with just your body anymore, Host. This is your soul we're talking about. Did you expect it to feel like a warm bath? If you're going to dance with fire, don't act surprised when you get burned.] It let out a smug chuckle, thoroughly enjoying its own analogy.

Hades rolled his eyes, though he couldn't deny the truth behind the system's words. "Fair enough," he conceded, though his smirk remained intact. "But there's something else. Something even more important."

The system's usual condescending tone shifted slightly, its curiosity piqued beneath layers of smugness. [Oh? Now this should be entertaining. What else could possibly be more 'important'? Out with it, Host. Or are you going to make me guess?] Its voice was dripping with mock impatience.

Hades leaned back, deliberately taking his time. He enjoyed moments like this—teasing the system just enough to push it. "I didn't just absorb their souls, system. I got something else… something far more valuable. Their memories."

The system fell silent. For a brief second, the ever-arrogant presence in Hades' mind seemed to falter. It clearly hadn't expected this. Then, after a beat, it responded, its tone skeptical but layered with intrigue. [Wait… memories? You mean you've absorbed all their memories?]

Hades' grin widened as he soaked in the system's disbelief. "Not exactly all of them, but fragments. I can recall pieces of their knowledge. It's not complete for each soul, but I've gained a massive trove of information."

[Hah! You're telling me you've become a walking encyclopedia of dead souls?] The system's arrogance wavered slightly, its mocking tone now mixed with something else—perhaps awe, but it would never admit that. [Let me check your mind, Host. I want to see this for myself.]

Hades felt a familiar presence digging through his consciousness, sifting through the vast array of new memories now embedded in his soul. The system was silent for a moment, the usual mockery absent as it processed what it was seeing. Then, it spoke again, this time in pure shock.

[Damn… you really did it. You've absorbed a huge repository of memories! It's incomplete, sure, but this is still…] The system trailed off, its words loaded with realization.

Hades leaned forward, grinning like a predator that had just caught its prey. "Now you understand. We can use this, system. This is far more valuable than I could've imagined."

The system, for once, didn't immediately mock him. Its voice returned, now filled with its usual smugness, but the underlying respect was unmistakable. [Of course, I see the potential. You've stumbled upon something that could be incredibly valuable, Host. Though, let's be honest, you probably didn't even plan for this to happen.]

Hades let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "Luck or not, the result is the same. We now have access to knowledge and memories that no one else could ever hope to obtain. You know what that means, right?"

The system's arrogance returned full force. [I know exactly what it means. You might've just accidentally given us the upper hand. But let's not pretend this was all some grand plan of yours, Host. You were just experimenting. That's what you do best, after all—dabbling in the unknown and hoping it doesn't kill you.]

Hades' smirk didn't waver. "True. But I'll take whatever advantages I can get." He paused for a moment, enjoying the victory. "This power, these memories—they'll serve us well. We can unlock things even the Malachor family can't dream of. And that's only the beginning."

The system chuckled, its voice smug yet pleased. [Well, aren't we ambitious today? But fine, I'll admit—this could turn into something monumental if played right. And, as always, you've got me here to guide you. After all, without me, you'd probably still be wandering around like a clueless fool.]

Hades shook his head, still smiling as he leaned back, savoring the moment. "Whatever you say, system. But you and I both know—this changes everything."

The system gave a final mocking laugh, clearly enjoying the rare acknowledgment of Hades' success. [Oh, this will be fun. Let's see how far you can go with this newfound knowledge, Host. Just don't let it get to your head. After all, you're still far from the top.]

Hades didn't respond immediately, his mind already turning toward the possibilities ahead. He knew that what he had gained was a step forward, a significant one. His smirk never faded as he imagined the new path unfolding before him, with the memories of countless souls to guide him.