Chapter 93: The Path of Pain

Zeus stood among the corpses of those foolish enough to challenge him, his gaze sweeping over the lifeless bodies with a calm detachment. A slow, satisfied smile curled at the corners of his lips, a smile that spoke of a victory well earned.

[Well, well, well,] the system chimed in, its voice dripping with a shameless blend of arrogance and genuine praise. [Look at you, handling that situation like a seasoned pro. Who would've thought you'd come this far?]

Zeus couldn't help but smirk at the system's words, the satisfaction within him growing. "They were too overconfident," he said, his tone casual, almost bored, as if the whole encounter had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. "Thinking they could outsmart me? Ridiculous."

[Overconfident and underprepared—] the system interrupted with a mocking chuckle, [which, as we both know, is a deadly combination. But for you? A perfect opportunity to show off.]

There was a pause, then the system added, almost gleefully, [You've really mastered the art of turning the tables, haven't you? The way you let him think he had a chance… utterly priceless.]

Zeus's smirk deepened, a dark, predatory glint flashing in his eyes. "It was almost too easy," he mused, the arrogance in his voice undeniable. "They underestimated me, and that's always their first and last mistake."

[Underestimate you?] the system scoffed, its tone dripping with condescension. [They didn't even have a clue who they were dealing with! You're becoming quite the strategist, aren't you? Combining your natural talent with my enhancements—now that's a deadly mix.]

There was a pause, and then the system added with exaggerated admiration, [The way you handled the entire situation? Flawless. Truly, I'm almost impressed.]

Zeus shrugged, his confidence swelling with each word of praise. "It's all about understanding your opponent's weaknesses and exploiting them," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact, as if discussing the simplest of tasks. "They were too blinded by greed to see the trap I set."

[Blinded by greed, and dumb as rocks,] the system mocked, its voice laced with a gleeful malice. [And you, my dear host, are a master at setting traps.] The system's tone shifted slightly, almost affectionate, a rare moment of camaraderie between it and Zeus.

Zeus couldn't help but chuckle at the system's words. "A master, huh?" he echoed, his voice filled with a mix of pride and amusement.

[Oh, absolutely,] the system continued, not missing a beat. [You've come a long way since we first started, you know that? Every move, every decision you make—it's like watching a well-oiled machine in action. You've become the perfect blend of power and cunning. And of course, you have me to thank for that.]

Zeus chuckled again, the sound low and filled with satisfaction. "I'll give you that," he said, his tone teasing. "But let's not forget who's pulling the strings here."

[Oh, I'd never forget,] the system replied, its voice dripping with sarcasm. [After all, what would you do without my brilliant guidance? You're welcome, by the way.]

Zeus nodded, his expression turning serious. "Now, let's get back to the matter at hand. I still have some unfinished business to attend to."

[Ah, yes, back to the grind. Time to cultivate and, of course, endure the lovely pain that comes with it,] the system chimed in, its tone a mix of mockery and eagerness.

Zeus frowned, letting out a resigned sigh as he steeled himself for the inevitable agony that always accompanied his cultivation. "No pain, no gain," he muttered, bracing for what was to come.

Without wasting any time, Zeus gathered the corpses of the group he had just dispatched, along with the remains of the Thunder Boars and the Thunder Python he had slain earlier.

He carried them to a spot he had identified earlier—a place where the concentration of thunder mana was the densest, crackling with energy from the raging storm above.

Once he reached the area, Zeus began his cultivation of the Zeus Divine Mask. The air around him buzzed with electricity as he commanded the system, "Absorb all the mana around here." Sёarᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

[Sure thing,] the system responded, its tone dripping with a mix of arrogance and eagerness. [You just sit back and let me do the real work, as usual.]

With that, the system initiated its absorption, drawing in the thunder mana from the surrounding area with the force of a swirling vortex.

The air crackled as the ambient mana was pulled in, but the system's reach extended further, sinking its unseen tendrils into the very corpses of the beasts and the fallen enemies.

As the life force was ruthlessly extracted, their bodies withered, skin and flesh shriveling until they were nothing more than brittle husks.

In a final, harrowing moment, the corpses crumbled into ash, every last drop of energy converted into pure, concentrated thunder mana, ready to fuel Zeus's cultivation.

[Look at that,] the system mocked, its voice oozing with shameless pride. [Draining the very essence out of everything around here, even the corpses! You should be thanking me—this is top-tier efficiency, right here.]

The system then funneled the concentrated thunder mana into the Zeus Divine Mask, initiating the cultivation process.

As the energy surged through Zeus's body, he was immediately hit by the familiar, excruciating pain that always accompanied the cultivation of a top-rank Divine Scripture.

Every nerve in his body screamed in agony, but Zeus gritted his teeth and endured, knowing that this was the price he had to pay to advance.

[Oh, poor you,] the system taunted, its tone laced with mock sympathy. [Can't handle a little pain? You should be used to this by now. But hey, if you want to be a three-star, you've got to suck it up. No pain, no gain, right?]

Zeus could only grit his teeth in response, focusing on enduring the unbearable pain. He knew the system was right, despite its mocking tone. Reaching the level of a three-star warrior required sacrifices, and this pain was just one of many he had to endure on his path to power.