Chapter 262: #I Became a Genius Apocalypse Academy Pilot

A gust of wind blew, traveling across the world. It climbed snow-capped mountains, over the humans working hard on the fields, smiling joyfully over the abundant harvests. Then, the wind raced toward the vast ocean—free and strong, beyond even the great eagle that ruled the skies.

Finally, the wind arrived at the splendid palace of the Eunju Empire, gently pushing through the window to the emperor’s office, which was left ajar. The owner was a young woman who seemed to be in her mid-twenties.

The wind was in awe. She was much more beautiful than any landscape or jewel that it had ever seen in its entire journey. Aside from her beauty, she also had a mysterious allure that it wouldn’t trade for anything else in this world. The wind felt proud of itself for discovering such treasure, one of the greatest in the world—perhaps in the whole universe.

However, seeing her asleep, slumped over the table, felt out of place. Her slightly thin nightgown made it worry that she’d catch a cold.

Tsk, tsk, how could a grown maiden be so careless?

The wind ruffled her hair.

Shaa—

Her delicate eyelids fluttered open, revealing pupils more lustrous than black pearls. She was Zhu Alin, emperor of the Eunju Empire.

She sighed softly as she looked at her desk, cluttered with documents. She’d fallen asleep without realizing it. She’d probably overexerted herself. Still, for the sake of the people and the world, she had to work harder. After all, this was the only thing she could do to repay him for raising her...

Zhu Alin’s eyes widened momentarily. Her parents had passed away when she was still an infant, and the only person who took care of her was her nanny, who’d unfortunately passed as well.

Strange, somehow... I feel like there was someone else important to me besides my nanny...

However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall who that person was. Just then, the wind blew the window wide open, vanishing into the sky.

Clunk clunk!

Zhu Alin looked outside the window to see a clear and cloudless sky.

Knock knock!

The minister then stepped into her office.

“Your Majesty, Yang Il-Shin, the top scholar of this round’s national examination has arriv—

Huh?!

Your Majesty? Why are you crying? Are you ill?” exclaimed the man in astonishment.

“Don’t worry. It’s... nothing. I think I just had a sad dream,” replied Zhu Alin.

Yet, she couldn’t recall what dream it was. It could have just been a daydream, but her tears didn’t stop flowing for a while.

***

Ding!

[Congratulations! The Second Floor of the Tower of Gods: Trial of Wind has been cleared.]

[You have been rewarded with Martial God Demon Lord’s Faith and 1 Fate Alteration point.]

[Current Fate Alteration points accrued: 2/100]

Ding!

[You have challenged the next floor of the Tower of Gods.]

[The Third Floor of the Tower of Gods: Trial of Steel and Fire]

[Clear Conditions: Overcome the trial of destruction and attain Yu Il-Shin’s unique divine power.]

However, I registered none of it. Only Demon Lord’s last moments filled my mind.

As if to accede to Zhu Alin’s request, he used a brush to carve the word

Demon Lord

like he did in his previous life. He brandished it at God of Destroyer.

“The true Demon Lord’s Disintegration!”

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

I wasn’t sure how he did it then, but with a stroke of his brush, he changed the past, reversed the world’s destruction, along with the corruption and death of Zhu Alin. It came at a high price. Demon Lord sank to the ground, crumbling into dust and dissipating.

Ah, no! Healing Ring Finger of God! Please heal him!

I used every bit of my remaining divine power, but it was useless.

Hic! Please! Please don’t die, Elder! Hic!

As I turned into a sobbing mess, Demon Lord laughed maniacally. “

Bwahaha!

Don’t be such a crybaby, you fool! Where there are meetings, partings are bound to follow. Even if we part now, we’ll definitely—”

Psss...

His enigmatic words were cut off as he disappeared completely.

Swoosh!

Afterward, I was transported to an unidentified house. However, my mentor and partner, the dagger Demon Lord, was nowhere to be found.

“

Waaah! Waaah!

” I burst into hot tears.

Not only did his true Demon Lord’s Disintegration change fate, it had also erased all traces of the man who had caused Zhu Alin’s corruption from her memories. The only person left in this world who remembers Demon Lord would be just me. That was just tragic.

“Stop acting like a badass! Damn you, Master!

Waaah!

”

Baaam!

“No. 100101! Stop crying like a girl and get out here now!”

Huh? Wha—what’s that monster?

A furry, red-headed man, resembling a grizzly bear in military uniform, strode toward me.

Thud thud!

“Class started a while ago, yet you’re still dazing over here?! Have you forgotten your mission to defend humanity?!” The man grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and dragged me out of the room.

“

Keugh!

Let me go!” I struggled to break free of his grip, but I couldn’t move. I felt like a rabbit before a tiger.

What the hell is going on?!

I didn’t even have time to grieve. The sudden change in environment and situation overwhelmed me.

Then, I noticed that the bear wasn’t the only one in a military uniform. I was, as well. I had a bad feeling about this...

I... I’m not going to be a soldier in this trial, am I?

Color drained from my face, the same way as any other young man in South Korea would.

***

Thankfully, I wasn’t joining the military. That would be silly. I was in a place similar to a military academy or an officer training school on Earth. I looked into the mirror I’d borrowed from the cadet beside me. I was a freckled, scrawny-looking young boy with frizzy blond hair.

Ding!

-----

[100101]

A human male created by genetics. Around for 18 years.

Special note: A cadet at the Pilot Academy. Committed suicide out of his fear of war. Currently possessed by Yu Il-Shin through the skill Young Parasitic God.

-----

I concluded that I was put in a world of a terrifying dystopian future. Moreover, we weren’t warring against humans. The furry instructor glared at the monster hologram as if facing his nemesis.

“This is humanity’s greatest enemy! Although President Zenard, the hero and savior of mankind, had risked his life and slain their queen, the remnants of these tenacious roaches are still targeting the union! Always remember that a hundred million lives rested on the shoulders of our noble officials! Let me explain the aliens’ hierarchy and how to defeat them! If you want to live, engrave this information in your head!”

The hologram of the lowest-ranked aliens resembled Berserker on the Space Craft. However, as their ranks rose, saying that their appearances evolved from that of rats into dinosaurs wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

“...Remember! If the frontlines say we encounter an S-rank Dragon on the battlefield, don’t think twice and act immediately! Even President Zenard, who nearly reached the level of Machine God, has successfully overcome the coordinated attacks of seven of those dragons!”

Saliva rained from the furry instructor as he went on explaining about the S-rank alien dragon. Although resembling dragons in legends, its appearance was hideous, sprouting black tentacles that oozed rancid pus. Watching that made me change my opinion on Akdol. Compared to this guy, Akdol was beautiful.

I handed the pocket mirror back to its owner. “Here, thank you.”

“

Hehe

, don’t worry about it.” The beautiful cadet with long red hair smiled brightly at me, taking back her mirror.

She was cadet No. 82825, the partner assigned to me.

Careful not to get caught by our instructor, she whispered, “But No.100101, have you considered my proposal? They said it’s unclear when the northern frontlines will come down, and there’s no saying when they will assign us cadets too.”

With a silky soft touch, she grabbed my hand tightly, staring passionately into my eyes. “Please No. 100101. Combine genetics with me.”

That line was equivalent to a proposal in this world. Although she was clearly one of the top ten beauties I’ve met so far, I mustn’t be fooled, for she actually was... a

he.

“My name is Yu Il-Shin. You’re also a man, I’m rejecting your offer.”

As I gestured my refusal coldly, No. 82...

gosh

, what a mouthful—I was just going to call him Eight—leaned in, cutting me off.

“Names are only given by the Omnipotent Sir AI to those with majors... Also, it’s too conservative of a mindset to reject the combining of genetics just because we’re of the same gender. We are all genetically engineered anyway, so gender doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, but I don’t wanna.”

Indeed, all joy had been stripped from this dystopian world, and only responsibility remained. I didn’t feel like

mixing

with the opposite gender, let alone those of the same genders.

The instructor went on for a good while before he glanced at the time, shouting at us, “Let’s begin testing your pilot aptitude.”

...Out of the fifty cadets in the room, he specifically pointed at me.

“Especially No. 100101! If your results still show the lowest G-rank, you’ll be expelled immediately! You got that?!”

Giggles erupted all across the room.

“Shut it!”

Eight glared at our fellow cadets, then patted me on my shoulder, consoling me, “Don’t worry, No. 100101. Your potential may just be dormant. I believe in you. You’re the partner I chose, after all.”

For your reference, Eight received an A-rank, and the other cadets were at least a C-rank. I was even told that it was extremely rare to meet someone with a G-rank. I guess that was the reason the owner of this body had committed suicide, but I didn’t really care.

It had been three days since I arrived in this world, and I began to understand my mission.

I’m sure that this place is...

I recalled the events I encountered with Gal Joong-Hyuk—more accurately speaking, the events with his Soul Mecha Armor.

“Please choose your words carefully, Mr. Gal Joong-Hyuk. He’s my new pilot, Il-Ho. In the brief time he equipped me, his combat power increased by 7.25%. His indomitable will and limitless potential is comparable to the great hero, President Zenard.”

I’d definitely heard the name President Zenard in my previous life. Yep, this was Soul Mecha Armor Lazenca’s world, before destruction hit them.