Supreme BeastTamer: I Can Copy and Upgrade Skills 10x!-Chapter 582: Where Did He Go [2]

The deeper they ventured into the ancient forest, the more oppressive the air became.

After flying for over an hour, the group had decided to move on foot to conserve stamina. Although flying was very useful, it consumed a lot of energy.

Unlike the part they'd passed through earlier, this area had no sound. No insects chirping. No breeze rustling through the trees. Just silence—a cold, unnatural silence that seemed to settle in their bones.

They had said nothing for the past five minutes—not because they didn't want to, but because none of them could find the right words.

Elise kept glancing over her shoulder, brows furrowed in frustration. She was worried for her friend Valkor, and even more concerned for Nox—a feeling she deeply despised.

To think she would be more concerned for a stranger than her childhood friend. Elise felt disgusted with herself.

Zara walked with her arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line.

Drake clutched the map tightly, pretending to focus, but his uneven steps gave him away—he could barely concentrate either.

Even Galen, usually the loudest among them, hadn't said a single word since they left Nox and the others behind.

"I can't believe we just left them behind like that…" Zara finally muttered, her voice barely audible.

Everyone paused.

"Don't say it like that," Galen snapped, though there was no real fire in his voice. "He told us to go."

"He always says things like that," Zara replied coldly. "Like his life doesn't matter as long as the mission moves forward."

"Because that's what a leader does," Drake added softly. "He knew the Champion wouldn't let us all escape. Someone had to hold it back."

Raziel clicked his tongue, breaking the silence.

"I don't care if he's the leader or a hero or whatever," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'm going back."

"No, you're not," Drake said immediately.

Raziel glared. "Who are you to tell me that?"

"The one holding the map," Drake replied. "If you go back now, you'll get lost—or worse, lure something to our trail. You'll put us all in danger."

Raziel's jaw clenched, but he didn't argue further. He had only left because he thought if he had stayed, others would've stayed too. But now that he'd left, the Lightning Prince felt slightly ashamed.

The Lightning Kingdom had always prided itself on being the strongest, and yet… when the time came to prove that strength, he had fled.

Raziel clenched his fists. A part of him wanted to head back, but he knew Drake was right. The mission was important.

Zara sighed. Although anxious and worried, she spoke in a firm and deep voice. "Kawl isn't someone who dies easily. If he said he'll meet us later, then believe in that."

"But still…" a frown appeared on her face as she recalled the mission in the Tristan Kingdom. "That bastard always acts like he's some lone wolf hero."

Zara's words seemed to have done the job. Though they didn't completely erase the worries from their hearts, they helped a little.

Then Drake suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing.

"Wait."

Everyone halted.

"What is it?" Elise asked.

He crouched and placed his palm on the soil. "The mana flow here… it's strange. Almost like it's increased tenfold."

As if to confirm his words, the faint shimmer of a barrier flickered ahead—nearly invisible, but there.

"A concealment veil," Celestis whispered. "Someone doesn't want us seeing what lies ahead."

"It's not Scourge magic," Raziel said. "It's draconic… but corrupted."

"Whatever's behind it, we avoid it. For now, we move around," Drake said.

"Don't you all get it?" Nyxirith, the eldest present, finally spoke, and everyone stared at her, confused.

"The reason for the intense mana is because we're getting closer to the marked zone. The deeper we move, the more intense the mana will be."

--- fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

Elsewhere, Valkor groaned as he opened his eyes.

Pain pulsed from his ribs, but he was alive. He still couldn't believe the irony of sustaining an injury when he was not the

one being attacked.

He glanced beside him and saw the Light Princess.

Lumi sat nearby, her expression quiet and focused, hand pressed against a glowing glyph as radiant light seeped into his body. Valkor immediately recognized it—it was the same healing skill Lumi had used during the competition.

"You're awake," she said without looking.

He grunted. "Barely."

"Good," she replied simply.

Valkor slowly sat up, wincing. His eyes darted around. "Where's he?"

Lumi didn't answer.

A frown crossed his face. "Where is he?"

She finally turned. "Still fighting. At least, that's what I think."

Valkor's jaw tightened. For a couple of minutes, he didn't speak—clearly battling inner turmoil.

"I'm going back," he said at last.

"You're in no shape to fight," she replied.

"Doesn't matter. I won't sit here while that frost half-blood steals all the spotlight again like he did during the competition."

Lumi didn't respond.

"I get it now," Valkor said after a moment. "Why everyone looks at him like that. Why they follow him."

Lumi blinked, a bit surprised.

"He's not just strong. He's terrifyingly calm. Even facing death, he doesn't shake." Valkor exhaled. "It pisses me off."

"That's because he's probably used to standing alone," Lumi murmured. She wasn't sure of what she was saying, but it was the only thing the ten-year-old could think of—not knowing that she was wrong.

The real reason for Nox's calmness was because he had fought countless battles—against opponents far stronger than him.

After about thirty minutes, Valkor stood up, wobbling slightly before regaining balance. "Let's go. If we hurry, we might still make it."

Lumi nodded without hesitation.

Together, they soared into the sky.

The place where they had fought the Champion wasn't hard to find. The destruction left behind was like a scar in the forest. Trees were uprooted, the ground was torn apart, and scorch marks stained everything.

Valkor landed first and scanned the area.

There was no sign of Kawl.

No Champion.

Just… silence.

"I don't get it," he muttered as he scanned the surroundings. He could tell he hadn't been unconscious for long—at most, an hour. What could have happened in such a short period to leave the scene looking so devastated?

Suddenly, Lumi floated down beside him. Her eyes widened as she pointed toward the distance.

"Look!"

Valkor's gaze snapped in that direction.

There, half-buried in the ground, was a single object.

Nox's greatsword.

Its blade was embedded into the cracked earth, surface scorched and stained with dark blood—most likely belonging to the Champion.

Lumi slowly approached. Her small hands brushed over the hilt.

It was still warm.

"He was just here," she said quietly.

Valkor's fists clenched. "Where the hell did they go?"

There was no blood trail. No tracks. No hint of teleportation magic.

It was as if Nox and the Champion had simply vanished from the world.