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

The high orc swallowed hard, his grip on his staff tightening as he felt Nox's unwavering gaze settle upon him. The weight of the moment pressed down on his shoulders like an immovable boulder. The broken body of his fallen comrade lay lifeless before him, a grim reminder of the situation they found themselves in. He knew that if they acted recklessly, more would follow.

The high orc needed to be smart here and play his cards well.

Even though Nox had stated his reasons, the high orc still couldn't help but feel a bit of doubt.

Was this human truly interested in talking, or was he simply playing with them? That suffocating aura, the way he effortlessly annihilated the other beasts… this was no ordinary human. No, the way he carried himself, the overwhelming presence—he was something else entirely.

The other orcs shuffled nervously, their weapons lowered but their bodies tense, ready to react at the first sign of aggression. The silence stretched unbearably before the high orc finally took a slow, steady breath and nodded.

"Yes, we can." He looked at the corpse of his brethren. Naturally, he wanted revenge, but he couldn't. It would be foolish to fight against this human after seeing what he and his pets were capable of.

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"Great." Nox smiled. "A part of me thought I'd need to break some bones to get answers." Nox laughed lightly, causing the orcs to stare at him as if he were a rare species.

[We can still do that, though,] Solora chimed in.

"This little vermin!" all the orcs thought in unison. If stares could kill, Solora would have died over and over again.

"Okay, I'm not the type to beat around the bush, so I'll be rather straightforward with you," Nox stated. "I want you to take me to your hideout."

"No!" the high orc shouted without thinking. No matter what, he couldn't afford to let this human know their camp's location—not after his display of power.

The high orc's outburst echoed through the dense forest, his voice laced with raw defiance. The other orcs flinched at his reaction, exchanging uneasy glances. Their leader's response was understandable, yet… foolish.

Nox tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. The way the high orc had shouted—without thinking, without calculation—spoke volumes about his priorities.

"So, it's that important, huh?" Nox mused, his lips curling into a smirk.

The high orc realized his mistake almost instantly. His fists clenched, tusks grinding together. Revealing his desperation had been a big misstep.

Solora chuckled, shifting lazily as she rested her head on her coils. [Oho~? That was a quick reaction,] she teased. [It makes me even more curious now. What exactly are you hiding?]

The orcs bristled at her words, their grips tightening on their weapons once more.

"Human," the high orc growled, his voice strained. "You do not understand what you are asking."

Nox's smirk widened. "Then help me understand."

The orcs hesitated, their wariness deepening. This wasn't how they expected things to go. They had assumed this human would threaten them, demand their cooperation through brute force. Yet here he was—patient, calculating, treating their words like pieces in a game of strategy.

That made him even more dangerous.

"I refuse," the high orc finally said, standing his ground. "Even if you kill us, our village will remain hidden."

Nox exhaled softly as if contemplating his next move. Then—he took a single step forward.

Instantly, the orcs tensed. Hands clenched weapons, bodies coiled with anticipation. But Nox didn't attack. He merely looked down at the high orc, his gaze cool, assessing.

"What do you think will happen when I leave here?" Nox asked, his voice calm.

The high orc hesitated.

"Do you think I'll simply forget this encounter? That I won't be able to track you?" Nox continued, his words slow, deliberate. "No… I will find your village. And when I do, I'll take what I want. With or without your consent."

The high orc's jaw tightened.

"Or," Nox added, his voice taking on a sharp edge, "we can do this the easy way. You guide me there willingly, and no unnecessary blood is spilled. Your people remain unharmed, and I leave after taking a look."

A heavy silence followed.

The high orc wanted to refuse. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to resist. But the reality was clear—this was not a battle they could win.

The human was right. If he wanted to, he would find their village eventually. And without a doubt, more would die in the process.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but… there was only one choice.

The high orc exhaled through his nose. "If I take you there," he said, his voice low, "you do not harm my people. You do not cause chaos."

"That... depends." Nox chuckled, leaving his tone open for interpretation.

The high orc's grip on his staff tightened. He didn't like it. But at least this way, he could control the damage.

"...Fine. We will take you to our village," he said, his voice hoarse but steady. "But I warn you, if you intend harm, you will not leave unscathed."

A sharp chuckle escaped Solora's lips. Her piercing blue eyes glowed with amusement.

[Oh? You still have the guts to make threats?] she teased, her voice dripping with mockery. [After that little display, I would've thought you'd be more… humble.]

The high orc's eyes flared with anger but wisely held his tongue. His gaze flickered toward Nox, who simply tilted his head, seemingly indifferent to Solora's taunting.

"Lead the way," Nox said flatly. His dark eyes gleamed with curiosity, betraying his otherwise calm demeanor.

The high orc hesitated only for a moment, a mysterious gleam shining in his eyes before turning on his heel.

Nox gave some instructions to Zara and his pets before following the high orcs to their hideout.

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