Galatic Overlord:I Can Copy Other's Ability

The heat was unbearable. Even though Hex's body was hardened and flames couldn't burn him directly, the rising temperature around him made it hard to breathe.

It felt like he was trapped inside a furnace, with no air and pressure building up inside his chest. His blood felt like it was boiling, and sweat poured down his face, mixing with the smoke and dust swirling around him.

His eyes stung. Every breath he took felt like swallowing hot iron. "Damn... I can't keep up," he muttered through clenched teeth.

"I need to finish this." His vision blurred, but his fists clenched tighter. He rotated his body, gritting his teeth, then unleashed a powerful Punch Blast straight at the hound's face.

The hound let out a loud, piercing cry and writhed in pain. Its body twisted violently from the impact.

But as Hex struggled to keep hold of its head, his grip slipped for a moment. That tiny gap was all the beast needed. A sudden blast of flames shot out from its mouth, pushing Hex back a few steps.

The hound didn't stop. It kicked with its hind legs, sharp nails slashing forward, trying to pierce Hex. The claws scraped across his hardened body, leaving white scratch marks like lines on stone.

"GRRRRR!"

It didn't hurt him, but the force of the hits made his stance falter. He dodged to the side quickly, using his agility boost to twist mid-air and escape another direct hit.

Without stopping, Hex reached for the hound's tail. He grabbed it tightly and let out a loud shout, his muscles flexing as he yanked it with everything he had.

"AWOOOOO!"

The hound screamed, its body thrown into the air. Before it could recover, Hex leapt forward and slammed the creature to the ground with full force. The earth shook beneath them, and a dull crack rang out as the forest floor dented under the pressure.

Hex didn't give it time to react. He threw punch after punch, each one backed by raw force and rage. He used another Punch Blast, then another, then kicked the beast in the side before smashing both fists down. The hound's body jerked, its cries weaker now, but it still fought.

Hex's eyes burned. He kept going. His fists were a blur, slamming again and again into the monster's skull. Blood splashed with each hit.

Then finally, with one last brutal punch, the hound's head burst like a crushed watermelon. Bits of bone and flesh flew across the scorched ground, painting the dirt red.

Hex stood over the fallen body, breathing heavily. He swayed slightly, his head dizzy and legs trembling. His body felt like it was giving out. The air was thick with smoke and ash. He tried to take a breath, but it felt like breathing fire. He coughed hard, hand pressed against his knee as he looked at the destroyed hound.

He had won, but he could barely stand.

While everyone was busy, Hex moved quietly, slipping through the shadows. He activated his invisibility and disappeared from sight. Using the moment, he got close to the hound. But as soon as the real fight began, he realized something troubling — he couldn't stay invisible while fighting hard. The power faded the more he strained himself.

Even he wasn't sure how it worked. It clearly needed more training and testing. "I now understand why people were saddened by the copy," Hex murmured to himself.

"Each power needs to be trained and mastered. With limited uses, by the time you figure it out, you might lose the chance to use it again." Either he would have to copy the power again or replace it with something else. It really was troublesome.

He looked at the scattered remains of the hound. Flesh was torn and thrown all over, bits of bone and blood soaked deep into the ground.

The beast's body was smashed beyond shape, like it had been trampled under a giant hammer.

Its skull had split open, one eye burst and jaw dislocated. Hex tried to stay calm, but his face turned pale. He ran his hands over the flesh and bones, holding back the urge to throw up.

Finally, he found the crystal. The moment he touched it, he used his own crystal and focused. A cold sensation ran through his body, washing away the burning heat.

A strange euphoria jolted inside him, numbing the pain and clearing his mind. He took a deep breath, knowing it was over. Without wasting another second, Hex got up and ran, following the direction the others had gone.

Fires were flaring up around the forest, smoke rising like black walls. Trees were catching fire, their leaves curling and falling like burning feathers. From Hex's eyes, the whole place looked like it was falling apart. "Staying in a group sure is a good way," he muttered, remembering how the others had gone ahead together.

With swift movements, Hex used his power to dodge the flames and dashed through the burning forest. He didn't stop. He just kept moving forward.

...…

The group stumbled out from the burning stretch of forest, coughing and panting as smoke clung to their clothes and lungs. Ash rained from the sky like gray snow. Their faces were darkened by soot, eyes wide with exhaustion and fear. Trees behind them crackled and fell, the fire still roaring as if chasing them.

As Brook's group appeared they met with others.

Up ahead, they spotted several others — scattered groups and loners — running in panic. Some tripped over roots, others shouted to people they had gotten separated from. No one looked calm.

"What the hell happened?" one man shouted as he nearly ran into the group. His clothes were singed, and he held a broken branch like a weapon. "The fire— It just spread out of nowhere!"

"We saw it too!" another girl cried. "It was calm a moment ago and then everything just... lit up!"

A teenage boy clutched his arm, bleeding. "I saw something... it wasn't natural fire. It moved too fast. I swear I saw something flying above it..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" barked a bulky guy, trying to stay calm. "We need to find shelter first. This place is hell."

"There's a clearing up north. I think some people went that way," one of Hex's group members suggested, voice trembling.

Everyone was speaking at once. Confusion filled the air as thick as the smoke. Some cried.

Others just stared back at the burning forest in silence, too shaken to speak.

At that moment Brook was about to step up when Brookly and Cory pulled him back.

"WHAAAT!"He chided.

"No matter what, don't you dare to speak about what happened inside lest we might be beaten."

Thinking about the possibility,Brook expression changed and he nodded vigorously.