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

Zara stood before the doors that led to the throne chamber for some time, her chest rising and falling.

Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes flickered with a myriad of emotions—happiness, longing, and hesitation.

She seemed to be fighting an inner battle within herself, unsure whether to open the doors or not. Nox, in his invisible form, was growing slightly impatient—after all, for every second his Phantom Cloak was activated, 5 mana points were deducted.

It might have seemed like a small amount, but gradually, it accumulated. Furthermore, Nox still didn't know his standing in this kingdom, and it was always smart to have enough mana at his disposal.

At that moment, Zara's chest stopped rising. A determined gleam shone in her icy blue eyes, and with a firm resolve, she brought her hand forward and pushed the door open.

With measured steps, she entered, her footsteps clinking softly against the marble floor. Zara found herself in a chamber that was over 100 meters in breadth.

The interior of the chamber was vast and regal, adorned with towering ice pillars that shimmered like crystal under the soft glow of enchanted frost lanterns. A grand, snow-white carpet stretched from the entrance to the raised platform where the throne sat, and the air was crisp, carrying an undeniable aura of majesty and power.

The chamber was already filled with several individuals who seemed to be discussing matters with a slim, lithe man who bore a striking resemblance to Zara. He had neatly combed-back blue hair and an enchanting pair of icy blue eyes.

Furthermore, his skin was flawless—free of any blemish and carrying a healthy glow. This man's presence was so majestic that his handsomeness would put many models to shame.

This man sat in the middle of three vacant, smaller thrones, resting his chin on his right hand as he listened to the reports of the individuals standing before him. Each of them had frost scales around their necks and arms.

He seemed bored of the conversation, whatever it was about, and it was evident on his face—he had already yawned more than twice in under a minute.

Suddenly, the individuals present in the chamber, as well as the handsome blue-haired man, turned toward the double doors, which had just been pushed open.

A shocked expression appeared on their faces.

"The princess! She returned!"

"Heavens, she's still alive! I thought she had died somewhere in the human domain."

While the individuals whispered among themselves in hushed voices, the young man seated on the throne broke into a wide smile.

"Everyone, the meeting is dismissed!" he declared, his voice booming across the large chamber.

After giving a low bow to the king, all the officials rushed out, bowing slightly to the princess as well.

As they walked past Zara, one of them suddenly froze in his tracks and glanced back with a dazed look on his face.

"Strange. Why does it feel like I just passed through something?"

The feeling was indescribable, and he couldn't quite put it into words, so he dismissed it as his imagination and continued walking.

Zara remained still, her expression unreadable as the officials hurried out, their footsteps echoing through the vast chamber. As the last one left, silence settled between her and the man seated on the throne.

For a brief moment, neither spoke. Then, the blue-haired man slowly rose to his feet.

"My daughter," the man rasped.

Zara's lips parted, but no words came out. She clenched her fists at her sides, her icy blue eyes wavering for a fraction of a second before she inhaled deeply and stepped forward.

"Father."

She opened her mouth to say more, but the words stuck in her throat. Before she could register what was happening, the man stepped forward and pulled her into a firm embrace.

"I missed you. Why did you leave without telling me? I thought I lost you."

"I'm sorry," Zara whispered as she hugged her father, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I had to do it. I don't want our race to go extinct. I want to be strong enough so that I won't always rely on you or Senior Brother for protection."

"Oh, my little girl… We never complained, but you left us worried." Her father pulled back slightly, placing his hands on her shoulders as he studied her. "You've been through a lot, haven't you?"

Zara didn't respond, but the flicker in her eyes was enough of an answer.

The king sighed, his expression softening. "No matter what happened, you are home now."

So he's the king.

Nox, his arms crossed over his chest, watched the interaction silently, his eyes narrowing slightly.

[King Drakos Frostpire – Legendary Tier Level 2]

'Truly worthy of a king,' Nox thought, his dark eyes gleaming with awe and reverence.

Despite being invisible, he could sense the chilling, ice-cold aura radiating from the king's body—like a frozen storm waiting to be unleashed. It wasn't just strength; it was absolute dominance over ice itself.

Nox didn't need to engage in battle to know that the man before him was countless times stronger than the Frostfang Yeti he had fought in Snowhelm.

At that moment, Nox suddenly froze.

He felt it—an overwhelming, piercing sensation washing over him, like an invisible gaze locking onto his very existence. His instincts screamed at him, every fiber of his being tensing as if an apex predator had just turned its attention toward him.

His Phantom Cloak was still active. He was sure of it. Yet…

Did he see me?

Nox's breath hitched, but the king's icy blue eyes only lingered for a brief second before shifting past him, as if dismissing whatever he had sensed.

"Was it just a coincidence? Did he actually notice me? Or was it just an illusion…?"

At that moment, Zara pulled away from the embrace and stared at her father with a serious expression.

"I have something to tell you… no, more like someone to introduce to you."

King Aldric raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

A confident expression appeared on Zara's face as she spoke with conviction.

"Someone who will be instrumental in the fight against the Corrupt Dragons."

At these words, even the king's fingers tensed, and his expression darkened slightly at the mention of Corrupt Dragons.

Without speaking further, Zara turned her head slightly and called out—

"Nox."

The name echoed in the silent chamber.

For a brief second, nothing happened. Then—

With a subtle distortion in the air, Nox deactivated his Phantom Cloak, and his figure materialized before the king.