Galatic Overlord:I Can Copy Other's Ability

Hex watched the two boys crash into the ground, their bodies hitting the dirt with a heavy thud. His eyes lifted slowly, landing on the man who now stood between them. The man's sharp gaze swept across the field before his voice rang out, strong and commanding.

"What is this nonsense? Fighting in the premises and even using super powers?"

The crowd that had gathered moments ago fell into silence. The man's voice carried weight, making many cadets shrink back. His tone was firm and cold.

"Detain them first," he ordered.

Several guards rushed forward. Their boots struck the ground in quick steps as they moved through the crowd.

One of them caught Hex by the arm, steadying him when he staggered. His ribs screamed in pain with each breath, but he did not resist. The guards supported him as they led him away.

....

Moments later, Hex found himself inside a prison-like room. The air was cold and still.

Metal bars stood between him and the corridor outside. He lowered himself onto the hard bed, back leaning against the wall. His body ached with every small movement.

From the side, he heard a noise. In the next room, behind another set of bars, were the brats who had started the fight in the first place. Hex glanced at him once, then turned away. Initially, they had planned to put all four of them into the same room.

Hex had requested to be separated, knowing well that the boys might go crazy again.

He looked down at his battered body, his hand pressing against his side. Pain pulsed with each beat of his heart. His jaw tightened.

"I hope this is enough for my act," he muttered under his breath.

He had allowed himself to get injured and given the others a chance to appear stronger. It was a calculated risk.

The whole fight had been under surveillance, but his punch blast and agility boost were hard to identify through the cameras. With this, he could argue that he never used any power at all.

The Army Centre did not have endless rules, but the few that existed were strict.

A curfew after ten at night. No use of super powers inside the camp. Anyone who broke them risked expulsion or losing points. Points mattered.

Every class attended gave five points, and other tasks or training offered more. They seemed useless now, but later they could be traded for weapons, martial arts lessons, or other resources.

As he thought about this, a loud cry came from the corridor.

"Hex! Damned man… How did you get yourself in this state?"

Hex turned, his eyes falling on two familiar figures rushing toward the bars.

"Dein… Lia?"

Both stopped before him, their faces marked with worry.

"What are you two doing here?" Hex asked.

"I came after hearing about the fight and ran into this girl halfway," Dein replied, his tone flat.

Hex glanced at Lia. Her eyes held nothing but concern as she stared at his bruised body. Then he looked back at Dein.

"What's with that look?" Dein asked, frowning.

"I didn't think you'd visit me," Hex admitted quietly.

"I wouldn't have," Dein said sharply, then paused. "But after thinking, I realized I've already grown used to you. I don't want some random fool showing up in your place if you get expelled." He snorted, though his words carried a strange weight.

Lia stepped forward quickly, her hands curling around the bars. Her eyes shone with worry.

"Hex, can you come here? I can heal you."

Her voice trembled as she looked at his battered state.

Hex shook his head slowly. "We can't do that without permission. If we do, it could get me into more trouble." His words stopped her.

"But you need treatment," Lia protested, her voice breaking.

"The army will treat him," Dein cut in. "Let's leave that aside. First, tell us why you fought." His eyes were sharp, frustration clear in his tone.

Hex leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes for a moment. "I didn't. They came looking for me."

Dein's brows furrowed deeper. "Did you offend someone?"

"No. I haven't met anyone here. But…" Hex hesitated. "I did offend someone back at the college."

"Who?" Dein pressed.

"His name is John."

"Full name. And if you know his power, say it."

"John Bairstrow."

The moment the name left his mouth, Lia's eyes widened.

"You offended someone from the Bairstrow family?" she asked in shock.

Hex's brow arched slightly. "Are they really that big?"

"Not the largest, but they have connections," Dein replied. His voice was calm, but there was a hint of caution in it.

Hex let out a breath.

"A third generation mongrel trying to squeeze his way inside," Dein muttered.

Lia's gaze shifted to Dein. For the first time, she seemed to see him differently. His posture, his words, the way he carried himself,it was not ordinary.

"Which family are you from?" Lia asked quietly.

Dein looked at her, his expression unchanging. "Sorry, girl. I don't like throwing names around to bully others, and I don't want people to use my family's name either. I won't say it unless I must."

The room fell into silence. The only sounds were the faint buzz of the lights above and the distant echo of boots walking the corridors.

Then suddenly, a loud clanking noise filled the prison.

CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.

The sound of heavy metal striking echoed again and again, bouncing off the walls. It grew louder with each strike, as if something or someone was approaching.

The sound of metal striking against bars echoed through the prison block.

CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.

Lia and Dein turned sharply toward the noise. A man in a military uniform stood there, his hand gripping a heavy baton as he slammed it against the bars of one cell. His voice exploded through the corridor.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" he roared. "You think this is your home backyard where you can do whatever you want? You worthless pieces of trash!"

The cell door of the Hex room creaked open. Hex shifted as if to step forward, but his body was weak, his injuries pulling him down. He nearly slipped, only for Dein to quickly catch him through the bars and steady him.