Supreme BeastTamer: I Can Copy and Upgrade Skills 10x!-Chapter 494: King Drakos Frostpire [2]

Several scenarios of how the king would act played through his mind. Nox imagined the king attacking him outright, calling the guards to apprehend him, and throwing him into a fortified dungeon.

Even though he was nervous, Nox didn't show it in his expression and simply looked at King Drakos Frostpire. The latter stared back at him in return, his expression unreadable. It was difficult for Nox to tell if he was shocked or surprised.

This made his thoughts drift back to a few minutes ago. Had King Drakos really seen through his Phantom Cloak, or was he just an expert at hiding his expression? It was difficult to tell, but a part of him leaned more toward the latter.

At the side, Zara held her breath, her gaze never leaving her father's. She was anxious, and her palms felt sweaty. The air was thick with tension, and the silence was excruciating. Every fiber of her body was on high alert.

Zara's father had only told her once that he didn't hold any sentiment against the humans. That was before her journey to the human domain—the period she was gathering and accumulating the necessary information before setting out.

This was actually the first time she had seen her father in the presence of a human. At such a crucial moment, anything could go wrong, and she made a mental note to step in front of Nox if King Drakos so much as moved a muscle.

Of course, she didn't stand a chance either, but Zara was smart enough to know that her father wouldn't hurt her no matter what. It was a weakness she didn't like exploiting; however, it was the only thing she could do in this situation.

Why is he just keeping quiet? Zara's anxiety grew, and her temples glistened with sweat.

"A human. Impressive. How long have you been standing here?"

After what felt like a thousand years, King Drakos' voice echoed in the chambers, tinged with curiosity and something else.

…Awe.

This didn't go unnoticed by both Zara and Nox, and the dragon actually thought it was progress.

"Since the beginning." Nox said smoothly, confidently, as he bowed slightly, showing his respect. However, it was noticeable in his posture that he didn't bend as much as the officials who had been here a few minutes ago.

The king's eyes flickered strangely as he noticed this, and a subtle smile appeared. One couldn't really tell if this smile was out of fondness or one that promised disaster.

As for Nox, the reason he hadn't bowed completely was rather simple. Even though King Drakos was a powerful ruler, he was not his citizen or subordinate. There was no need to go any further than this.

Call it arrogance or whatever, but he didn't really give a damn.

"I've heard so much about you. Zara couldn't stop talking about you." Nox said while winking at Zara from the side.

Did I? Zara had a dumb expression on her face as she tilted her head. On their journey, she had not spoken much about her father. The only time she mentioned him was when they were already near Frostpire, which wasn't much.

It took a while, but she eventually realized what Nox was trying to do and began to play along. A fake blush crept onto her face as she tried to look away.

"I see," King Drakos muttered as his gaze flickered between his daughter and the human. He then outstretched his arm—a gesture Nox was too familiar with. His eyes glinted as he quickly activated one of his skills.

"During my travels, I learned that the universal greeting gesture of humans is the handshake. If you don't mind." King Drakos smiled warmly.

Without hesitation, Nox grabbed the king's hand in a firm handshake. "It is." He smiled. "My name is Nox Ainsworth Cromwell. I hope Your Majesty will give me good accommodation."

"Of course, of course. Unlike the grumpy old men, I'm not one to treat my guests wrongly just because of their race." Drakos chuckled, his voice booming across the throne chamber.

"Thank you, that's a huge weight off my shoulders." Nox replied, his expression neutral, though on the inside, he felt the bones in his arm being crushed slowly.

Bastard! I knew it! Nox shouted internally as he felt the iron grip of King Drakos, who was hellbent on shattering his arm. What was worse, the wide smile never left the king's face. Whenever the smile widened, the pressure in Nox's arm also increased.

The only reason his arm had yet to dislocate was because of the skill he had activated—[Barbarian Strength].

[Barbarain Strength (Ultimate)

An enhancement-type skill that temporarily elevates the user's physical strength to unprecedented heights. Upon activation, the user's Strength stat is increased +600 transforming their physical power into an unstoppable force. Consume MP 300 point per activate and last for 5 Minutes. Cool down 30 second.]

If not for this skill, this sadistic king might have ripped his arm out. Nox imagined him apologizing to both him and Zara, claiming it was an accident.

He hadn't known this king for long, but he was beginning to get a good grasp of his character.

Zara's gaze flickered between her father and Nox, and her brows furrowed together. An annoyed expression crossed her features as she saw through her father.

"Stop it, Father." She scolded.

"Oh, sorry." King Drakos snapped out of his thoughts and retrieved his arm.

"You're quite the strong one, young man," he acknowledged, casually patting Nox's shoulder.

"Thank you," Nox responded, feeling his arm sore. If possible, he just wanted to dip it into cold water to alleviate the agonizing pain.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

"My daughter told me about you." He said, walking back to his throne and sitting down gracefully. "She claims that you can contribute significantly to our fight against the Corrupt Dragons. Is that true?"

"That is true." Nox nodded, his voice firm.

"Hahahaha." King Drakos burst into a flurry of laughter. "I like your confidence, kid. And your bravery. I wonder if you'll give the same answer after witnessing the power of a Corrupted Dragon."

Nox remained silent, choosing not to speak.

Zara tried to speak up on his behalf. "Father, he's—"

"Silence." Drakos lifted a hand, shutting down his daughter without even looking at her.

"I like your courage and confidence, human. And as much as I want to test your strength, I can tell your body requires rest." He then turned to his daughter. "Take care of our guest very well."

Zara hid a smile, bowing slightly. "Yes, Father."

As they left the chamber, Nox felt King Drakos' piercing gaze on his back until he passed through the doors.

The king placed his hand on his chin.

"If not for my honed instincts, it would have been impossible for me to sense his presence just now."

A few minutes ago, while hugging his daughter, King Drakos had sensed a gaze on him. Though he couldn't see the owner of the gaze, he had sensed it. Despite sensing it, though, he still had his doubts. It was only after Nox materialized before him that those doubts were cleared.

He rested his arm while staring at the door Nox had passed through. "His strength is not bad at all. Although I had not gone all out, he's still plenty strong." King Drakos Frostpire's eyes gleamed. "Let's see how this plays out. If he shows enough potential, I'll have him participate in the competition for the kingdom. If he can demonstrate his prowess, there will be no need for me to convince the other kingdoms."

He paused, already calculating far into the future. "But first of all, let's test out his strength. And what better way to do that than against the best prodigy in Frostpire—my very own son."