Galatic Overlord:I Can Copy Other's Ability

Hex looked at Brook in shock.

"Airblade..." Brook muttered, and Hex nodded silently.

KHWOOO!

A loud, beast-like roar echoed as the hound lunged straight at them. Cory quickly summoned an earthen shield, but before it could fully rise, the hound opened its jaws and let out a massive burst of fire that blasted through the wall like it was paper.

"Shit... Shit... Shit..." Cory panicked.

"Stop shouting!" Brooklyn snapped and hurled multiple small flame orbs at the incoming fire.

Hex watched her and muttered under his breath, "She can only throw small flame orbs, not a full flame blast... But can these even deal any real damage?"

Then he glanced at the forest around them. Flames had already started to catch on the dried leaves and bark.

"This is bad... We're in a forest. If this keeps going, the fire's gonna spread fast."

He wanted to tell them to stop, but then a strange thought crossed his mind. No one had died yet. What if this wasn't real? Maybe they were inside some illusion or trapped in a virtual world. If that was true, what did it matter if everything burned?

'Cause havoc. Survive whatever danger comes next.'

Hex wasn't sure what was real, but one thing was clear,he needed to end this fast. While the others were distracted, he slipped away silently and moved quickly through the trees, watching from a better angle.

Meanwhile, the flame orbs Brooklyn threw burst on contact, releasing small explosions. Sparks flew, lighting up the area. Dry grass and leaves caught fire instantly, and soon the flames spread out along the ground and up nearby trees.

From the back, Harry and Lia watched with panic.

"Hey! Stop, you idiot!" Harry shouted, horrified.

"Stop using fire! You're gonna burn the whole place down!" Lia's worried voice cut through the chaos.

Brooklyn froze for a moment, startled by their screams. That hesitation gave the hound just enough time to launch another wave of fire.

SWISSHHH!

The scorching blast shot toward her, but Brook stepped forward and raised both hands.

"Airblade! Airblade!" He shouted.

With a high-pitched screech, the blast was suddenly sliced apart in mid-air. The flames split, diverted by invisible blades of air that slashed through the fire like knives.

"Airblade! Airblade!" Brook kept shouting, sending one after another.

The wind blades spun and roared, keeping the flames at bay. His face had turned pale, sweat running down his temples, but he didn't stop. He clenched his teeth and forced herself to keep going.

The flamethrower attack from the hound slowed down for a moment. Everyone gasped in relief, thinking the worst was over. But before they could even start to relax, the creature picked up speed. Flames erupted again, only this time, it was moving while breathing fire, making the situation worse.

Brook's condition was clearly deteriorating. His breathing had become uneven, and the sharpness of his Airblade was weakening with every swing. He tried to keep going but it was obvious he couldn't hold on much longer. "Damn… someone do something," he muttered under his breath.

Cory stepped forward and summoned an earth wall, trying to block or at least slow down the beast. But the hound simply jumped over the flames and the wall, its eyes glowing as it charged straight at them. The team had reached their limits. Fear and exhaustion were written all over their faces. Just when it seemed they were out of options, a loud noise rang out.

BANG!

A solid impact hit the hound's jaw, cutting off its flames instantly. Smoke puffed out from its mouth as if it were choking. It staggered, dark smoke pouring from its nostrils like it had been hit in the throat. Its head whipped to the side in pain. The sudden blow had stunned it.

"HEXXXXX!" the team shouted together, their voices full of joy and relief. Hex had appeared at the perfect moment and landed a powerful punch that gave them just enough time to breathe. They almost laughed in their relief, but Hex's next words snapped them back to reality.

"Stop watching and run! The forest's caught fire!" he yelled over the crackling flames.

"But what about you?" the team shouted back, all of them concerned.

"I'll be alright! Just go! Staying here would only hold me back," Hex responded, not looking back.

The group looked at each other quickly and nodded. Harry called out, pointing through the trees. "We're going in that direction! Remember to come there after you escape!"

"Roger that," Hex answered, his tone steady.

The hound, recovering from the blow, turned and kicked hard at Hex. Hex dodged quickly and counterattacked with a punch to its side, but the hit didn't do much. His eyes widened as he realized something. The skin around the hound's back and sides was much thicker than the front. It was like armor.

Hex gritted his teeth and activated both hardening and agility. His muscles tensed, and his body moved faster than before. He charged in, going all out. The hound snarled and met him head-on. The two clashed in a violent close-quarters battle.

The beast tried to pin him down, lunging and swiping with its claws. Hex moved fast, slipping under its body and grabbing hold tightly. They rolled across the ground, kicking up dirt and leaves as fire burned around them. The heat was suffocating, but neither backed down.

The hound snarled and tried to shake him off, but Hex clung to its back, using every ounce of strength. Then the creature tried to swing its head and use its recovering jaw to attack again. But Hex was faster. He caught the beast's jaw with both hands, holding it firmly in place.

They struggled like that, muscles locked, eyes filled with fury. Hex's arms trembled from the pressure, but he didn't let go. The hound growled louder, thrashing around, trying to throw him off. Trees cracked and fell as the two wrestled through the burning forest, their fight leaving destruction in their path.

It was a brutal test of strength and endurance. Neither side gave in. The flames around them rose higher, lighting up the smoke-filled sky as the battle raged on in the heart of the burning forest.