Galatic Overlord:I Can Copy Other's Ability

Hex's eyes fluttered open, only to shut tight again as a flickering white light above pierced his vision.

"Gahhh!" he groaned, his throat dry and his voice hoarse.

It took a few seconds for his senses to return, and when they did, he cursed under his breath.

"Damn it… ever since I awakened, I've been knocked out every other day."

"What the hell?"

It's as if God Of Misfortune had blessed him.

He tried to move but froze when he noticed something was off,no it was very off.

Around him were bodies. Not dead at least not yet. People were groaning, shifting, struggling.

Every single one of them had their hands tied behind their backs and their legs bound together. From a distance, they looked like giant wriggling caterpillars, helpless and panicked.

Hex looked down. His own feet were bound tight with thick cord, and his arms were painfully secured behind his back. A rough rope chafed his wrists.

He didn't struggle immediately. Instead, he took a deep breath and looked around carefully.

Thick trees, moss-covered trunks, and scattered roots surrounded them. The ground beneath was damp, covered in rotting leaves and the sharp scent of sweat and blood.

Something in the air made his stomach twist.This place felt dangerous.

Suddenly, loud shouting erupted nearby as others started to wake up.

"What the hell is this?!"

"Weren't we headed to Federation headquarters?! Where the hell are we?!"

"What's going on?! Who tied us up?!"

"This has to be a mistake! Someone call for help!"

Hex stayed quiet, watching as panic took over. Some were yelling, others were crying. A few began to thrash and roll, desperate to get free.

Then, a voice echoed from the sky, amplified by speakers hidden somewhere among the trees.

"My dear soldiers…" the voice drawled, dark amusement dripping from every word. "It's nice to see so many fresh seedlings out there."

Hex's eyes shot upward, scanning the canopy but found nothing.

The sound was emotionless and cold.

"As you can see, you're all in quite a... difficult situation," the voice went on, now laced with mocking glee. "No—let's be honest. You're all in a deadly one."

A pause. Then a laugh—high-pitched, drawn out, and deranged.

"Hahahaha! You might be wondering why that is, huh?"

The voice shifted into something harsher, more commanding.

"Because we don't take everyone. We don't care about your background, your family, your power. We only take the best."

Another pause, then the tone dropped into something chilling.

"So if you want to join the Federation… just do one thing."

A crackle, followed by a whisper: "Just survive, my dear kids. Just survive."

The voice cut off, leaving behind a thick air of dread.

Almost immediately, the jungle filled with noise.

"What the hell?!"

"This is crazy! I didn't sign up for this!"

"This is some Hunger Games bullshit!"

"Let me out of this!"

Hex didn't react outwardly, but his heart was pounding. He took a breath, shifting up onto his knees, trying to get a better view.

All around, people were writhing, panicking. Some were sobbing. But not everyone was frozen. Already, a few had begun using their abilities. A boy nearby activated a spark between his fingers and burned through the rope. Another girl seemed to phase partially out of reality, snapping her bindings with a flicker.

Hex narrowed his eyes. He was too far to ask for help quickly, and even if he did, there was no guarantee anyone would listen. In fact, asking first might make him a target later.

Better to wait. Let them take the lead.

He turned his wrists slightly, feeling the strain in the rope. With the right angle, a single explosive punch focused through his muscle index could snap the cord.

'Yeah… if I time this right, I can blast the rope open with one shot of punch blast.'

He didn't move yet. He watched and observed.

This wasn't a game anymore. This was survival. And Hex wasn't planning on being the first one down.

Just then, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air.

"AHHH—!"

Heads snapped toward the sound. Fear crawled up everyone's spines like icy fingers.

"What the hell was that?"

"Is that… is that a beast?!"

The screams were followed by crashing through the underbrush—then five students burst out from the forest, eyes wide, faces pale, running like death itself was on their heels.

"RUNNNNNNN!"

"IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DIE, RUN!"

"WHAT?!"

A moment of stunned silence passed and then chaos exploded.

From the narrow passage between the trees, something emerged.

It wasn't just big,it was monstrous. A massive tiger-like creature, its striped fur spiked and jagged like razors, muscles bulging beneath its gleaming hide. But that wasn't the worst part.

Clenched between its jaws… was a human hand.

For a second, no one moved. No one breathed.

Their minds short circuited.

"AHHHHHH!"

Panic erupted. Those who could stand leapt to their feet and limped, stumbled, or crawled away. Some were still bound, struggling to escape. Others screamed blindly.

The beast let out a guttural growl and then pounced.

A man with glowing blue veins fired a barrage of sharp nails, trying to pierce the beast's eyes. Another student, lightning crackling across his skin, hurled a bolt of thunder straight at it.

The tiger twisted in the air mid-leap, easily dodging the attacks. Its claws slashed through the first man's chest, sending blood splattering across nearby students.

Hex's eyes widened.

This wasn't just a scare tactic. This was real. It was a slaughter.

"We're surrounded…"

His muscles tensed. He couldn't wait anymore.

Hex planted the balls of his feet into the soft ground and launched himself into the air, channeling raw power into his body. At the peak of his jump, he twisted midair, pulling his arms forward despite the strain.

With a deep breath, he summoned everything he had and clenched his fists.

BOOOM!

A deafening shockwave burst from his fists. The ropes binding his wrists tore apart like paper. In the same instant, he reached down and grabbed the cords around his ankles ripped.

He spun in the air and landed in a crouch, the ground shifted under the pressure of his MI 30-enhanced strength.

"What the fuck?!"

"How'd he break free like that?!"

"That was insane!"

Gasps and cries rang out from those still bound. Some stared in awe. A few, inspired, began to struggle harder, trying to mimic what he did only to fail miserably.

Hex turned to run only to crash into bodies on all sides. There were far too many people. Maybe hundreds. Everyone was pushing, shoving, screaming, trying to flee.

He turned back toward the forest.

Dozens of glowing, predatory eyes.

Watching. Waiting. Hunting.

"Damn it!"

No time to hesitate.

Hex crouched and jumped again, this time landing on someone's back and leaping off them like a springboard.

"HEY!"

"BASTARD!"

"USE YOUR OWN FEET!"

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

"YOU USED ME AS A STEP, YOU PSYCHO!"

Hex ignored the angry voices. He didn't care. Survival came first. His body twisted through the air, flipping, pushing off shoulders and backs. He was like a blur—fast, slippery, unstoppable.

In that rush, as he moved between the bodies, he suddenly felt something.

A gaze.

He turned slightly and locked eyes with someone standing at the edge of the crowd.

A boy with white hair and pale skin. Eyes so sharp and lifeless they felt inhuman. The moment their eyes met, Hex's heart skipped a beat.

A chill climbed up his spine.

He looked away quickly, sweat clinging to his skin, and focused on moving again.

He had to get out of here.