Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

"Tell me, Roxana," he began, his words carefully measured, "have you faced any... difficulties with the other top elders since you're now at six stars? I assume most of them are still at eight stars, right?"

For a moment, Roxana was quiet. Then, unexpectedly, a burst of laughter escaped her, rich and genuine, echoing through the still air. The corners of her lips curled into a sly grin as she turned her gaze to him, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Oh, they certainly did," she said with a playful smirk. "At first, they immediately jumped to the conclusion that I'd had some kind of accident. The moment they sensed I had dropped to six stars, they thought I'd lost my touch... became vulnerable." Her tone turned mocking, filled with amusement at their arrogance.

Zeus arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what did they do next?" he asked, though the hint of a smile on his lips suggested he already knew the answer.

Roxana's smirk deepened, and she clenched her fist, raising it slightly as if reliving the moment. Her voice lowered, taking on a dangerous edge.

"They tried to overthrow me from my position as a top elder," she said, her eyes gleaming with a dark satisfaction. "Thought they could capitalize on my supposed weakness. Pathetic, really."

Her fingers flexed as she slowly uncurled her fist, and she shook her head. "But, of course, I showed them. Just because I'm at six stars doesn't mean I've lost any strength. In fact..."

Her gaze sharpened, her confidence radiating through each word. "My power is almost the same as when I was an eight-star. The fools didn't stand a chance."

Zeus chuckled softly at her defiance, his amusement evident. "I'm not surprised," he murmured under his breath, his voice laced with admiration. "Knowing you, they never had a chance."

Roxana's smile widened, and she glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "I beat every single one of them," she continued, her tone now carrying a mixture of pride and disdain for the elders who had underestimated her.

"After that, they learned quickly that rank isn't everything. They can't overthrow me now, but..." Her smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by a more thoughtful expression.

Zeus noticed the shift in her demeanor. "But what?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, sensing there was more to the story.

Roxana's expression shifted, her confident smile fading as a shadow passed over her face. Her voice dropped lower, the weight of her words filled with gravity. "Now they keep their guard up around me," she said, her tone more somber. "They've grown wary, constantly watching, waiting for me to make even the slightest mistake."

She paused, her gaze hardening as the bitterness in her voice became more pronounced. "And more than once, I've caught them trying to pry into my cultivation manual. They're desperate to figure out how I'm maintaining this much power at six stars—as if they could steal my secrets."

Zeus remained silent for a moment, watching her closely. His eyes gleamed with interest, though his expression stayed unreadable. He seemed to be weighing her words, taking in the implications of what she was revealing. Then, slowly, a knowing smirk spread across his face.

"You should be careful," he said, his voice calm but laced with a subtle warning. "They might act cautiously now, but people like that are dangerous when they're desperate."

Roxana glanced at him, her eyes narrowing slightly as a frown creased her brow. "I could say the same to you," she countered, her tone firm, though there was an edge of concern in her voice. "You should be careful too. The elders are always watching, especially now that they've seen what you're capable of. They'll be keeping their eyes on you, just waiting for the right opportunity to strike."

Her warning hung in the air, the tension between them thickening. There was an intensity in her gaze, as if she was searching for some sign that he understood the seriousness of the situation.

But Zeus only chuckled softly, the sound low and filled with amusement. His smirk deepened, and he met her gaze without a trace of concern. "Don't worry," he said confidently, his tone almost teasing. "Even if they want to target or observe me, they won't get far."

Roxana's frown deepened, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Zeus's smirk didn't waver, but there was a hint of something darker beneath his calm demeanor. "Soon enough," he whispered, his voice dropping to a near-murmur, "they won't be able to observe me at all. In fact, they'll have far bigger things to worry about."

Roxana's eyes widened slightly, the surprise in her expression breaking through her usual composed demeanor. For a moment, she looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and unease, as though trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind his cryptic words.

"What are you planning, Zeus?" she asked, her voice quieter now, a note of intrigue lacing her tone. She studied him carefully, her sharp mind already working through the possibilities.

But Zeus merely shrugged, his smile never fading. "Let's just say," he said, his voice smooth and confident, "the game is about to change. They'll be too distracted to keep their eyes on me."

Roxana's gaze lingered on him, her surprise slowly giving way to a thoughtful expression. She didn't press him for more details, sensing that he wasn't ready to reveal the full extent of his plans. Instead, she simply nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"I see," she said softly, her voice returning to its usual tone. "You always were one to keep people guessing."

Zeus chuckled again, his smirk still in place. "It's more fun that way," he said, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

As they continued walking, the tension between them eased slightly, but the weight of their conversation lingered in the air. Both knew that the path ahead would be fraught with danger, but neither seemed afraid of the challenges waiting for them.