Supreme BeastTamer: I Can Copy and Upgrade Skills 10x! - Chapter 480

Chapter 480: Completely Overwhelmed!
Nox’s body refused to move.

His nerves burned, his limbs locked in place as if unseen chains bound him. The moment Zul’gor’s spectral energy wrapped around him, the battle had shifted in the old orc’s favor.

Damn it… I can’t move! Nox cried internally.

Zul’gor’s glowing green fingers stretched toward Nox’s chest, the eerie light pulsing like a slow-beating heart. A suffocating pressure pressed down on him, sinking deep into his bones.

“You rely too much on speed, human,” Zul’gor said calmly, his eyes gleaming with ancient knowledge. “Strength, skill, even talent—they all mean nothing if you do not understand the battlefield itself.”

His fingertips finally touched Nox’s chest.

At that moment—

A pulse of energy erupted from his hand.

BANG!

Nox’s entire body convulsed. His vision blurred, muscles spasming as an unseen force invaded him. It was as if his own mana was rebelling against him.

“What… is this?” he gritted out, forcing his voice through clenched teeth.

Zul’gor didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took a step back, observing him like a scholar studying an insect. “Mana Disruption,” he finally said. “A technique few humans understand. By disrupting the natural flow of your energy, I sever your connection to your abilities—momentarily reducing you to an ordinary man.”

Nox’s pupils shrank.

He tried to summon his Runic Dominion—nothing. His mana refused to respond.

His Divine Velocity—silent.

Even his blood weapons, which he could call upon instinctively, failed to manifest.

His entire advantage was gone.

For the first time in this battle, Nox felt vulnerable.

[Ding! For the next two minutes, the host will be unable to access his skills.]

Suddenly, Zul’gor moved.

His fist, gnarled with age but crackling with raw force, smashed into Nox’s gut.

BOOM!

The impact was thunderous.

Nox’s body arched from the force, his ribs creaking under the sheer power of the strike. The ground beneath him cracked as he was sent flying across the battlefield, tumbling across the dirt before slamming to the ground with a sickening CRUNCH.

He coughed violently. Blood.

The taste of iron filled his mouth.

His limbs trembled as he forced himself to his feet, his body screaming in protest.

But before he could even breathe—

Zul’gor was already there.

The old orc hadn’t rushed. He simply appeared in front of him, his movement so fluid, so controlled that it was like time itself bent around him.

Then, Zul’gor lifted his foot—

And stomped on Nox’s chest.

CRACK!

A sharp pain tore through his ribs as he was driven into the ground. The air was forced from his lungs.

Damn it—! I can’t—!

Zul’gor loomed over him, his presence like an immovable mountain. “You are a warrior, but you are not yet a master,” he said. “You react, but you do not control. That is why you cannot defeat me.”

Nox’s hands clenched into fists.

His mind raced, searching for anything. A weakness. A gap. An opening.

But every step of the way, Zul’gor was ahead of him. Anticipating him.

It wasn’t just experience—it was wisdom.

Just like that, Nox was thrashed around. He tried to dodge and buy himself time until the two-minute duration ended. However, the two minutes seemed to stretch forever.

But eventually, the [Skill Lock Duration] came to an end, and Nox took a shuddering breath.

“Do you understand now?” Zul’gor asked, his voice still eerily calm. “Raw power is meaningless if you do not grasp the foundations of battle. Even the greatest of beasts can be felled by a single well-placed strike.”

“You’re right,” Nox admitted, spitting blood to the side. “I do rely on skill and speed too much.”

He met Zul’gor’s eyes.

“But you know what?” His grin widened. “Sometimes… all you need is brute strength.”

[Barbarian Strength Activated!]

A surge of power erupted from his core.

His veins bulged, his muscles expanded. A roar ripped from his throat as his Strength skyrocketed.

+600 Strength!

The very air shuddered around him.

Zul’gor’s eyes widened—but only for a fraction of a second.

Then, Nox moved.

The ground exploded beneath him as he launched himself forward, his fist aimed at Zul’gor’s face.

This time, the old orc couldn’t react in time.

BOOM!

His head snapped back, a shockwave blasting outward from the sheer force of the punch. His body skidded several meters, his feet carving deep trenches into the earth.

But Nox wasn’t done.

He didn’t give the shaman a single moment to recover.

He lunged again, each step cracking the ground beneath him. His fists, now fueled by pure strength, rained down like meteor strikes.

One.

Two.

Three.

Each hit was devastating.

Zul’gor blocked one, deflected another—but the sheer force of the attacks sent shockwaves through his body.

The old orc gritted his teeth, his arms trembling from the strain. “Hmph,” he muttered. “So you abandon your mind in favor of raw power…”

He stepped back, fingers forming complex gestures.

Dark green energy surged around him, a vortex of raw magical force—

But Nox didn’t let him finish.

He grabbed Zul’gor’s wrist with a vice-like grip.

The old orc’s eyes widened.

And then—

CRACK!

Nox’s head smashed into his opponent’s face, sending the shaman reeling.

Blood sprayed into the air.

Nox exhaled sharply. His muscles burned, his stamina rapidly depleting under the skill’s overwhelming power. He had three minutes left.

No time for hesitation.

He charged, driving his knee into Zul’gor’s stomach.

BOOM!

The impact sent the old orc soaring, his body colliding with the ground in a thunderous crash.

The battlefield fell silent.

The orcs watching barely breathed, their gazes locked onto their elder, who now lay sprawled in the dirt.

Slowly, painfully, Zul’gor pushed himself up, wiping the blood from his mouth.

Then—he laughed.

A deep, rumbling chuckle.

“You truly are a savage, human,” he admitted, shaking his head. “To think you would cast aside technique and rely purely on instinct…”

His gaze met Nox’s.

“But you still have much to learn.”

The earth beneath him trembled.

Ancient runes flared to life around his body, his magic doubling in intensity.

And then—

Zul’gor vanished.

Nox’s eyes widened.

The next moment—

CRACK!

A blow collided with his side, sending him hurtling through the air.

Before he could recover—

Another.

Another.

A storm of attacks rained upon him, each strike more brutal than the last.

Nox gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay conscious.

His time under Barbarian Strength was running out.

And Zul’gor was still ahead of him.