Chapter 264: #I Became a Genius Apocalypse Academy Pilot (3)

“Des...troy! Des...troy!” Sam-Shin’s eyes shone brightly.

Me too! I want to do the same! Hyaaa!

Just like the blue-haired cadet, Sam-Shin reached out his arm, which had the bracelet on.

Ruuuumble!

Then, a sputtering sound similar to the engine of an old motorbike echoed. A garbage-looking armor with the number 100101 on the chest plate flew toward Sam-Shin.

52444 ridiculed the approaching machine.

-

Hahaha!

A fool who couldn’t even repair his armor properly! Might as well abandon that piece of junk!

Baaaam!

The steel giant’s ferociously descended on Sam-Shin, about to crush him.

“You coward! 100101! Be carefuuuuul!” Eight screamed in anxiety from outside the barrier.

52444’s face crumpled.

What does 82825 like about this inferior cadet!

82825 was an elite among the elites. Not only was he known as a peerless beauty, his potential to become an S-rank pilot was also recognized by the higher-ups. Somehow, he was obsessed with 100101 for some reason, even proposing combining genetics with him to procreate. And yet, that fool dared to refuse!

The only person worthy of 82825 was him, 52444!

Don’t worry, you won’t die.

52444 grinned slyly. He had no intention of killing Sam-Shin in this training. He just wanted to scare the fool a little.

You’ll at most return with a few broken bones!

Meanwhile, Sam-Shin only stood there, without any intention of dodging the attack. What 52444 did wasn’t a foul—it would’ve been a mistake to think that the enemy would wait for both parties to be ready for battle. How quickly the cadet could merge with the armor would also be evaluated in this practical test.

Claaaang!

Hmm? What’s this feeling?

52444 was puzzled. Instead of the sensation of bones breaking that he’d expected, he felt like he’d just struck the sturdy outer wall of a battleship.

“Des...troy!” Sam-Shin pouted as if to say not to interrupt him, then grabbed the steel middle finger, sharply twisting it to the side.

Craaaaack!

-

Aaaargh!

The finger was bent like a piece of candy, and 52444 screamed. The higher one’s synchronization rate with their armor, the more the sensation of the damage inflicted on the armor would be transmitted to their pilot. And 52444’s synchronization rate was 49%. Although the pain he felt was proof of his excellent aptitude as a pilot, it was proving to become increasingly unbearable. He hurriedly cut off his connection to the armor’s middle finger.

-How dare you, Small Fry!

Craaaaack!

52444 bit down on his teeth as he glared at Sam-Shin. Seemingly tired of waiting for his slow armor, Sam-Shin frantically charged toward it on his short legs.

“Des...troy (Connect)!”

Then, Sam-Shin’s armor hatch opened, sucking him in.

Clank!

52444 growled fiercely at Sam-Shin.

-So your awakened ability is physique enhancement? That low-tier ability is suited for ground troops in close combat! It’s meaningless to an elite armored pilot!

They were using training armor, with less than a tenth the output of real combat suits. No wonder Sam-Shin could break a finger.

-Watch this, Small Fry! This is the elemental-type ability that sets elite pilots apart!

Rooooar!

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

52444’s eyes turned white, and a brilliant white aura bloomed from him. His armor then responded.

[Absorbing Pilot 52444’s elemental ability, Freeze.]

That was the true value of the Soul Mecha Armor, the pinnacle of all human technology. It could amplify a pilot’s Unique Talent in battle. Hence why, even with the same machine, one’s combat power could vary greatly depending on the pilot’s rank.

Roooooar!

As the white aura flickered, a cold aura poured out from him like a fierce blizzard.

“I-incredible! Did 52444’s ability get stronger?”

“He might be able to reach A-rank at this rate.”

The other cadets marveled at 52444, who had become a snowstorm’s incarnate. Meanwhile, his opponent, Sam-Shin, couldn’t seem to care less.

Sam-Shin was ecstatic until he hopped onto the armor.

“Des...troy?” Sam-Shin tilted his head curiously.

He didn’t know how to operate the machine. The instrument panel, buttons, and sharp needles were all foreign to him. They were too complicated. Clenching his fist tightly, he randomly punched at the buttons. Finally, the AI responded.

[Synchronization rate with Pilot No. 100101 is at 1%.]

Oh, that seemed to work.

Taptap! Taptaptap!

Sam-Shin quickly played around with all the buttons that he could reach. The machine responded accordingly.

Sam-Shin grinned. “Des...troy!”

Wow, it’s moving! This is so exciting!

Meanwhile, the instructor bellowed, “Damned brat! I don’t remember teaching you that! It’s an insult to the armor!”

“P-Partner?”

Clack! Beeeep! Thud thud! Creaaaak!

Like a robot dancing, Sam-Shin’s armor moved in a bizarre manner.

-You!

52444 interpreted Sam-Shin’s actions as a provocation toward himself.

-You small fry, you don’t know your place! Freeze! Blizzard Storm!

[52444 releases amplified ability Blizzard Storm at the enemy.]

Kwaaaa!

52444’s eyes flashed white, and an immensely frigid windstorm erupted from the nozzles on his hands. The horrifying cold engulfed Sam-Shin, freezing him in place.

52444 laughed triumphantly at the sight.

-

Hahaha!

What do you think, Small Fry! This is the ability of an elite pilot!

“Des...troy?”

Sam-Shin was flustered. No matter how hard he mashed the buttons, the armor wouldn’t move. Did it break down? But that wasn’t the only issue here. He trembled in the freezing cockpit, breath misting white as frost crept over the controls.

How cold. And boring. Sam-Shin wanted to get out of there.

He reached for what seemed to be the hatch, but it wouldn’t budge. He tried with all his might, but to no avail, probably because it was frozen shut.

Meanwhile, 52444 looked at the instructor.

-Uncle Instructor, does this mean that I win?

“Not yet. 100101 hasn’t surrendered.”

-

Kuku

. No wonder, since if 100101 surrenders, he’d be expelled for sure. Then, I’ll finish him off myself!

Tzzz!

With a flash, 52444 summoned a sword of ice. It wasn’t just any ice, but one created by amplifying his elemental abilities, sharp enough to effortlessly slice through a battleship’s outer hull.

-I’ll put you out of your misery soon, 100101.

52444 laughed menacingly.

Even if his opponent didn’t surrender, destroying their limbs rendered them invalid, which would lead to defeat.

Clunk clunk!

52444 approached Sam-Shin crunching down on the massive steel armor like a ravaging beast trying to finish off its prey. Eight shut his eyes tight, unable to bear watching what was going to happen next.

“

Uuugh!

”

Meanwhile, Sam-Shin was furious because he couldn’t escape from the frozen cockpit. Time to destroy it! So, he did what he did best.

“Des...troy!”

Pzzz!

Red sparks flew from his eyes. Just as he was about to shoot beams, the AI on the armor began responding to his actions.

[Absorbing unknown ability from Pilot No. 100101!]

[Synchronization rate with Pilot No. 100101 increases!]

[1% → 399%(↑)]

[Synchronization rate has surpassed the training armor's limit!]

Whiiiiir!

The AI made an urgent announcement.

[Warning! Warning! The training armor can no longer handle No. 100101's ability! 10 seconds to explode! Please make your escape!]

It wasn’t only Sam-Shin who noticed the change.

“W-what’s going on?”

“100101, what have you done?”

Tzzz!

Sam-Shin’s armor turned red like heated iron.

Sss!

The heat was so terrifying that even 52444's sword had melted.

-You, Small Fry! How did you melt my Blizzard Storm!

Roooooar!

Ominous laughter and eerily red aura, reminiscent of a devil, soared from Sam-Shin, and his eyes glowed a crimson red.

T-that's!

The furry instructor, who’d endured every hardship and earned the title Uncle from the omnipotent AI, was overwhelmed by fear. It felt just like when he faced the S-rank alien dragon!

“52444! Get down if you don’t wish to die!”

-W-what?

“You fool! Hurry!”

Uncle Instructor gasped and activated his ability.

Ruuuumble!

Then, a strong gravitational energy pressed down hard on 52444. At the same time, a beam of destruction shot out in all directions, as if announcing the end of the world.

Kwaaaa! Baaaam!

The base of the Human Union, which should withstand meteor showers of any scale, shook violently like a yacht caught in a storm.

“

Aaaargh!

”

52444 turned pale and looked up. The upper half of his armor was decimated, allowing him to see the training ground’s ceiling. If Uncle Instructor had been a second later, 52444’s head would’ve gone with it. Astonished, 52444 turned his head around, looking at the ruins that Sam-Shin’s destructive beam had left.

“

Eeeek!

”

Sss...

52444 peed in his pants. He couldn’t even see the end of the hole on the floor—that was how powerful those beams were.

“N-no way!”

With a mix of shock and thrill, Uncle Instructor hurried to Sam-Shin, forcing open the hatch. However, the boy was nowhere to be found. Sam-Shin had returned to Yu Il-Shin after consuming all of his divine power.

Uncle Instructor yelled in a hurry, “Quick, locate 100101 immediately! H-he is no doubt the incarnation of President Zernard, who will save humanity!”