The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]

Invincible.

That was the word the ragtag group of pirates, pulled from different crews, had been using to describe themselves ever since they’d been given what could only be considered the opportunity of a lifetime.

And really, who could blame them?

Not only could they feel power coursing through their bodies like never before, but this time, they’d even been given free rein to exercise their newfound strength!

”Hahaha! Damn it! This feels incredible!”

”Oi, you think they’ll let us keep taking this stuff after we’re done?”

”Why? Planning on begging for more already?”

”Begging? Ha! After this, I don’t think I can go back to how things were!”

The communication channel erupted into laughter, although even those who’d remained silent couldn’t help considering the possibility rather seriously.

Because, well...

What if they really didn’t have to go back?

See, even for the handpicked individuals who’d been receiving small amounts of Apex Black as part of the security personnel assigned to protect the operation, this was the first time they’d been allowed to take the full dosage and more.

But no wonder those pricks had been so stingy with the stuff before!

After all, with something capable of granting them this much power, who could guarantee that the very people entrusted with protecting the operation wouldn’t eventually turn around and bite the hand that fed them?

Especially when they knew exactly where that precious product was coming from!

Of course, none of them were foolish enough to voice those thoughts aloud.

At least, not yet.

Perhaps someday, once they’d grown accustomed to their newfound strength, they could even consider taking over the entire production themselves.

Who knows?

But for now, they weren’t crazy enough to entertain such ambitions when they still had the Imperials to deal with.

Besides, why bother worrying about something so far away when they were currently having the time of their lives?

When they’d first been called in as reinforcements, they’d prepared themselves for all sorts of shit, figuring that if their employers needed this many people, then surely they were about to face some ridiculously troublesome enemies.

But then they’d figured out what those blasted alerts were all about and discovered that there were actually cadets roaming around the very same planet!

And as one could imagine, the opportunity to crush the spirits of those spoiled brats had made spending several days sleeping in some decrepit tunnel more than worthwhile.

Moreover, considering how well things had been going for them, perhaps taking over the Empire itself wasn’t such an impossible ambition after all!

Just look at them!

They’d barely broken a sweat dealing with these youngsters, and every additional Imperial mecha seemed to offer another opportunity to demonstrate their newfound superiority.

Fine, fine.

Much of that probably had something to do with the new equipment they’d received.

But surely, they deserved most of the credit!

After all, how could anyone dismiss the fact that some of them had practically jumped from C-rank straight to A-rank?!

And with their vastly increased spiritual energy reserves, they could finally sustain attacks that would’ve been impossible before.

”Hah! At this rate, we’ll be done with this whole thing in no time!”

”Done? I’m just getting started!”

”Then you’d better hurry! I’m not leaving any for you!”

”HAHAHA!”

”...”

Ah.

That was about twenty minutes and sixteen mechas ago.

And suffice it to say, those triumphant snickers had turned into screams all too soon.

__

”Shit! What the hell are you all even doing?!”

The furious shout came from one of the pirate pilots just as another mecha from their group was struck squarely in the chest, sending it hurtling backward before its pilot could even react.

BOOOOM!

”Again?! Where the hell did that come from?!”

”Don’t ask me! There’s nothing on my damn radar!”

”Then someone explain what that white-and-gold bastard is doing!”

The pirate who’d shouted first gritted his teeth as he pulled his mecha sharply to the side, narrowly avoiding a collision with the damaged unit tumbling past him.

Because seriously, what was wrong with that thing?!

It wasn’t as though they couldn’t see their opponent. In fact, that damned white-and-gold mecha had been making absolutely no effort to hide itself!

Quite the opposite!

The blasted thing was practically showing off, flying around as though the entire battlefield belonged to it and occasionally stopping just long enough to point a finger at one of them.

A finger, for goodness’ sake!

And every single time it did that...

BOOOOM!

”Son of a bitch! It got another one!”

”I’m telling you, there’s nothing coming out of its hand! I’ve checked the recordings!”

”Then check them again!”

”How many times do you want me to check?! There’s no energy discharge, no projectile, nothing! Even the thermal scans aren’t picking up a damn thing!”

”Then what exactly is hitting us?!”

And wasn’t that the million-Star-Coin question?!

Tsk!

They’d originally split up because practically everyone they’d encountered had attempted to flee, and they’d figured it would be easier to hunt down the evacuating cadet battleships one by one.

A rather simple plan, really, and one that had even received approval from their superiors, despite their original orders to remain as inconspicuous as sewer beasts.

But then several unfamiliar mechas had appeared, and suddenly, the hunters had become the ones struggling to survive!

Not only were their attacks barely leaving a mark on those machines, but this particular white-and-gold bastard apparently had the audacity to toy with them while they struggled to figure out how they were getting hit.

And the worst part?

They could’ve sworn the damned thing was deliberately waiting for them to look its way before pointing that ridiculous finger again!

”Watch the white one! Don’t let it point at you!”

”Easy for you to say! It’s practically following me around!”

As if to mock their predicament, the white-and-gold mecha suddenly changed direction, extending its finger toward another unfortunate pirate.

The pilot immediately swerved, only for an explosion to erupt above him, forcing him to dive as fragments of damaged armor scattered across his path.

”Damn it! I moved!”

”Then keep moving!”

Unfortunately, they weren’t exactly the most coordinated team to begin with.

One of the unique-looking mechas had just slipped between two of theirs, effortlessly avoiding their combined attacks before sending one of them spinning away with a well-placed strike.

The other barely had time to turn around before something slammed into its side.

BANG!

The communication channel dissolved into another round of furious shouting.

”Tch! They’re probably reinforcements!” someone finally scoffed. ”Those Imperial bastards must’ve called for help!”

”...Do you live under a rock?”

”Huh?”

”Or do you seriously not recognize those mechas?”

The question came from one of the more reserved pilots, who’d spent most of the battle quietly observing their opponents rather than joining the others in their increasingly desperate complaints.

”What the fuck are you talking about?!”

”Idiot! He’s right! Even I recognize those mechas! They belong to DG! You know, that Academy guild that’s been all over Star Net!”

”!!!”

For a moment, several pilots actually forgot about their predicament.

”Wait, DG?! You’re telling me those are the same mechas from those videos?!”

”Who else do you think they are?!”

”Hey! Watch it, fucker!”

The sudden shout interrupted their conversation as one of the pirates discovered that his supposed comrade had abruptly maneuvered behind him, using his mecha as a shield against another incoming attack.

BOOOOM!

”YOU BASTARD!”

”Shut up! You were already in the way!”

”YOU’RE THE ONE WHO MOVED BEHIND ME!”

Unfortunately, neither pilot had the luxury of continuing their argument when that annoying white-and-gold mecha came sweeping toward them, forcing both to abandon their positions before they could be struck again.

”...”