Supreme BeastTamer: I Can Copy and Upgrade Skills 10x! - Chapter 481

Chapter 481: Completely Overwhelmed [2]
Nox barely had time to react before another crushing blow slammed into his ribs with devastating force, making him yelp in pain.

CRACK!

He skidded across the battlefield, blood trailing in his wake as the oppressive force of Zul’gor’s attacks overwhelmed him. His muscles, still swollen with Barbarian Strength, ached under the sheer brutality of the old orc’s counterattacks.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The moment he thought he had gained the advantage—Zul’gor had taken it away again.

This strength… he should be very close to an Expert-Ranked Awakened! Nox thought, a frown on his face.

At first, he had assumed his struggle was due to the mana disruption technique the old orc shaman had used on him, but now…

Now he realized that the orc was simply several steps ahead of him.

Nox’s eyes glowed. No matter what—I must win this fight! Someone as formidable as this needs to be under me!

He would be very useful on the battlefield!

At that precise moment, the elder orc’s voice echoed through the dust-filled air.

“I commend your adaptation,” Zul’gor said, his glowing green eyes narrowing. “But brute force alone cannot grant you victory. Even savagery must be wielded with wisdom.”

Nox wiped the blood from his lips, his breathing ragged.

But before he could regain his composure, the old orc moved again—his speed lightning-fast.

Damn it… he’s too fast.

With each passing second, Nox’s Barbarian Strength dwindled, and the skill’s duration was approaching its end.

One minute left. Nox groaned, bringing his arms forward and parrying his opponent’s barrage of attacks, which sent vibrations surging through his body.

If not for Barbarian Strength, all his bones would have been crushed into fine dust.

Nox needed a way to turn this around—fast.

But how?

Nothing. Nothing came to mind.

At such a critical moment, Nox found it hard to think properly. His brain was practically blank.

Zul’gor was ahead of him in every aspect—power, technique, experience.

What level was he? Nox had no idea. Unlike traditional beasts, orcs could acquire classes like any Awakened, and they could also conceal their power level.

Think! Brain, think! Nox’s thoughts were chaotic.

Even his attempts at unpredictable brute force had failed.

So then…

What if he made Zul’gor predict the wrong thing?

A wild thought sparked in his mind, and Nox’s eyes gleamed. It was reckless. Insane, even.

But it was his only shot.

A smirk slowly curled across his lips—but he wiped it away just as fast, not giving the old orc any chance to catch a glimpse of it.

Purposely making a misstep in his footing, the orc shaman’s fist slammed into Nox’s stomach, lifting him off the ground and sending him tumbling backward like a ragdoll.

Nox’s body slammed into the ground, but he didn’t just stop there…

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

His body bounced repeatedly before he skidded to a stop.

Nox winced, feeling the pain spike through his body.

“You’re right,” he admitted, forcing himself to his feet. His legs trembled, his chest heaving with effort.

Zul’gor tilted his head slightly, watching him with scrutiny.

“But you made one mistake, old man,” Nox continued, rolling his shoulders.

Zul’gor frowned and asked in a curious voice, “And what is that?”

Nox’s smirk widened.

“You assumed I was still fighting to win.”

Then—

He did something unexpected.

He charged straight at Zul’gor.

A direct, full-force attack. No tricks. No deception.

Just pure aggression.

Zul’gor sighed, already preparing to counter.

Foolish. How many times will he do the same thing again?

Nox had already proven that brute strength alone wasn’t enough—so why attempt the same thing again?

The orc shaman twisted his body, preparing a devastating counter-strike. His palm glowed, crackling with destructive green energy again.

But just as their attacks were about to collide—

Nox suddenly canceled his charge.

His entire momentum shifted.

Instead of attacking, he dropped to the ground, sliding beneath Zul’gor’s reach in a reckless maneuver.

The old orc’s eyes widened.

He dodged?

Before he could adjust—

Nox grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and hurled it into Zul’gor’s face.

POOF!

A cloud of dust and grit exploded over the orc’s vision.

Zul’gor recoiled, momentarily blinded.

Now!

Nox didn’t hesitate.

With a final surge of strength, he lunged, wrapping his arms around Zul’gor’s massive torso in an unbreakable grip.

A bear hug.

But not just any bear hug.

Using the last seconds of his Barbarian Strength—

He lifted the elder orc off the ground.

Zul’gor, despite his immense power, wasn’t expecting it. He was still trying to recover from the shock.

Nox’s muscles strained—his arms felt like they were tearing apart—but he held on.

“You may be smarter than me—” Nox grunted, feeling the orc’s thrashing resistance.

His grip tightened.

“But even the wisest man is helpless when he’s off the ground!”

Then—he jumped.

With his remaining strength, he flipped backward, suplexing the old orc headfirst into the solid ground violently.

BOOOOM!

A crater erupted from the impact, dust and rock flying in every direction. The battlefield shook.

The watching orcs staggered, eyes wide in disbelief.

Nox gasped for air, his entire body screaming in exhaustion. His Barbarian Strength flickered—then vanished.

And in the center of the impact crater—

Zul’gor lay motionless.

For several long seconds, no one moved.

Then, slowly…

The old orc groaned. His limbs trembled as he attempted to push himself up.

But—he couldn’t.

His body refused to obey him.

His breathing was steady, and he was still very conscious—but his body was done.

Even the other orcs stared in shock and started whispering among themselves.

“He really did it.”

“Punch me this much? He’s a joke!”

“It can’t be…”

Chieftain Borok seemed to be the one most shocked. His entire body was literally trembling.

The silence stretched for some time.

Then—

Zul’gor let out a deep, rumbling laugh.

It wasn’t bitter.

It wasn’t angry.

It was a genuine laugh.

“Ha… HAHAHAHA!” His laughter echoed across the battlefield, causing the other orcs to stiffen.

He grinned, looking up at the sky.

“To think… a mere human would best me—not through strength or wisdom… but through cunning.”

He turned his gaze toward Nox, his eyes filled with respect.

“You are a monster, boy,” Zul’gor admitted. “But an interesting one.”

“You’re not too shabby yourself,” Nox said as he got up and extended a hand to the orc chieftain, who hesitated.

Nox’s eyes narrowed.

‘Don’t tell me he wants to go back on his words.’