Thalnor was already on his way back to the Necrovauld Academy, weaving through the dense trees with a quiet confidence. A sly smirk spread across his lips, growing wider as he ventured deeper into the forest, where no one would witness what came next.
After a quick scan of his surroundings, his smirk turned into a mischievous grin. "No one's watching," he muttered under his breath, reaching up to peel the Thalnor Divine Mask from his face.
The moment the mask lifted, the imposing figure of Thalnor began to shimmer, his tall, robust body dissolving into the air like smoke caught in a breeze.
His features faded into nothingness, leaving behind a boyish figure—Lucas. His youthful face, with wide, innocent eyes, masked the immense power hidden beneath. He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if testing his own reality.
"System," Lucas called, his voice firm, sharp, "absorb all the mana from this mask. Now."
