Galatic Overlord:I Can Copy Other's Ability

The forest burned behind them, crackling and roaring as flames climbed from tree to tree.

Smoke twisted into the sky, dark and heavy, turning the air hot and hard to breathe.

Hex stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest as a figure stepped through the fire. The orange light reflected off white hair, giving the boy a ghost-like presence. His sharp features, calm expression, and the number glowing above his head,550,made Hex's blood run cold.

"It's him," Hex muttered, eyes narrowing.

The same boy who had stared at him coldly when they first landed. And now, seeing him up close in the middle of this chaos, Hex felt a chill run down his spine.

His instincts were screaming that this person was dangerous. He turned himself invisible again.

Without making a sound, he began to inch away, careful with every step, hoping to slip out without being noticed. But just as he shifted his weight, the boy vanished.

Hex barely had time to react.

BANG.

A knee shot at his face. Hex quickly raised his hand, forming a protective layer just in time. The blow still sent him staggering backward breaking out of his invisibility.

Before he could recover, the boy spun in mid-air and aimed another kick.

BANG.

Hex lifted his wrist again, blocking the hit, but the force sent him rolling across the ground. He scrambled to his feet, only to feel a sudden weight crush down on his chest. The white-haired boy appeared raising his feet to step on him, pinning him with ease.

"You think I couldn't see you?" the boy said coldly.

Hex gritted his teeth, kicked off the ground, and threw himself back and used invisibility. "How is he tracking me while I'm invisible?" he wondered in panic.

The moment he moved, the white-haired boy stepped down, his foot smashing the spot Hex had just been in, leaving a deep dent in the dirt.

His face remained expressionless, his movements sharp and precise. He was preparing to attack again. Hex knew he had to try something else.

"It's a misunderstanding. I didn't kill them," Hex said quickly, trying to calm the situation.

"Shut up. That's what every criminal says," the boy replied, charging forward without hesitation.

His speed was too fast. Hex raised his arms to block, but punches landed anyway.

BANG.

BANG.

Each hit sent waves of pain through his body. The boy spun once more, fist aiming for Hex's face. But Hex pushed himself to his limit, using his last charge of agility boost.

SWISH.

He tilted his head just in time. The punch missed. Taking advantage of the moment, Hex struck the boy's knee, throwing off his balance, then aimed a punch. But the white-haired boy didn't take the hit. Instead, he flipped backward in a clean somersault, landing lightly a few feet away.

"A speed ability," he said, eyes studying Hex.

Hex blinked. "How did you know?"

"You couldn't follow my movements earlier, but now you suddenly could."

Hex's breath was heavy. The other boy was too sharp. Not just fast,he could think and fight at the same time. Hex realized this wasn't someone he could trick or intimidate easily.

"So, all that movement... it was pure physical strength," Hex said, circling slowly.

"You can say so."

Hex's mind was racing. He guessed the boy's mutation index must be at least 50. That kind of raw speed and power didn't come from training alone.

"You must be over 50," he said carefully.

The boy didn't reply, but his silence was enough of an answer.

"Yours must be 40."

"You... you think mine is 40?" Hex asked, watching him as he circled around.

They paced in a slow circle now, keeping their distance but never looking away. The flames behind them raged louder, throwing shadows over their faces. The firelight danced between the trees, and ash floated through the air like falling snow.

"I didn't kill them," Hex said again, more firmly this time. His voice dropped as his eyes focused on the other boy. "But did you?"

The question made the white-haired boy freeze. His calm expression shifted ever so slightly. Then, his eyes hardened.

"Are you trying to blame me for your mess? I saw you burning those bodies."

Hex didn't speak for a moment. The fire behind them was spreading fast, sending waves of heat across the field. Somewhere in the distance, a beast screamed,a deep, guttural roar that echoed between the trees but it didn't draw their attention.

The tension between the two boys stayed unbroken. Hex wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up. One wrong word or move could trigger another fight. And this time, he wasn't sure if he'd walk away in one piece.

Hex's eyes narrowed as he spotted the white-haired boy standing silently near the tree. His expression was calm, but there was something sharp in his presence, something dangerous.

Without a word, the boy dashed forward. Hex barely had time to react before a fist slammed into his ribs, knocking the breath from his lungs.

Hex staggered back, instinct kicking in. He swung his arm in a wide arc, but the boy ducked low and drove his shoulder into Hex's stomach, slamming him into the ground.

The impact raised a cloud of dust as they rolled over each other, fists and elbows flying in tight, brutal exchanges. Hex clenched his jaw and blocked a sharp jab, then leaned forward and cracked his forehead against the boy's nose.

BANG!

The boy gave a short growl,closing his eyes as his expression distorted in pain.

He twisted suddenly, catching Hex's arm and flipping him over with a sharp thud. Hex hit the ground hard, coughing as pain shot through his back. But he didn't hesitate. He kicked out with force, catching the boy's leg and sending him stumbling.

Both scrambled to their feet, blood dripping from their lips, breaths heavy. Their eyes stayed locked, not a word exchanged. This first clash had told them one thing clearly,neither of them was weak.

The two were testing the other, feeling out their strength, their timing, their will.