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

The Scourge Champion was over three meters tall. Its build was far more muscular than the normal corrupted dragons.

Nox stared at the beast for a full minute before shouting in a deep voice, "Run!"

As he spoke, he dashed in the opposite direction from where the others had gone. Because of the sheer strength he channeled into his legs, a small crack formed at the spot where he had previously stood, and his body practically shot forward.

Behind him, Valkor cursed loudly, "Damn it!"

Lumi didn't say a word. She followed in silence, her petite figure darting between the frozen trees. Her radiant sword flickered with light as she glanced back once, eyes wide with something close to fear.

With a powerful flap of its wings, the Champion launched forward. Its jaws opened wide, and a bolt of corrupted flames erupted from its mouth.

Even without looking back, the three could feel the intense heat of the flames licking at their backs. Lumi quickly summoned a radiant barrier between them, but it couldn't withstand the onslaught. It shattered into fragments.

The beast burst through the broken barrier and dove straight at them like a meteor, claws extended.

"Scatter!" Nox shouted at the top of his voice, twisting mid-run and diving to the left.

Valkor veered right, while Lumi leapt high into the trees. Mid-air, a pair of radiant wings burst from her back, allowing her to soar even higher.

BOOM!

The Champion slammed into the ground where they had just stood, creating a crater with a deafening impact. The ground shattered, and trees toppled from the shockwave.

Nox used the blast to propel himself further. His eyes flicked up—he saw the beast turning its head from side to side, calculating which target to pursue.

Just seconds later, the Champion made its decision.

It was thinking on its feet, something Nox didn't expect from a monster.

Wrong... the Scourge beasts weren't monsters. They had once been dragons, just like the denizens of the Dragon Realm, before being infected by the Alpha.

"Damn it," he cursed. "It's too smart."

Despite the group splitting up, the Champion didn't chase blindly. It focused on the greatest threat—Nox. That was understandable, as the Scourge dragons could sense the scent of several corrupted dragons on him.

It automatically deemed him the biggest threat.

Valkor came to a stop mid-run when he no longer felt the overwhelming presence behind him. He glanced back, and his eyes flashed as he saw the Champion chasing Nox.

A thick vein throbbed on his forehead. He clenched his fists. "So even the Champion thinks he's more dangerous."

"Keep running, I'll slow it down!" Valkor shouted, lunging toward the Scourge beast.

"You fool, focus on yourself!" Nox exclaimed. His voice carried a trace of anger as he saw through Valkor's intention. Even in such a dire situation, the Inferno Dragon Prince was trying to prove his worth—something Nox considered sheer stupidity.

"You might be the leader of the others, but not me! I do what I want!" Valkor shouted back.

"Me too!" Lumi added, already preparing a technique.

The corrupted beast leapt again, claws tearing through the air. This time, Valkor charged from the side, his body engulfed in pale blue flames. With a war cry, he threw a punch infused with his draconic bloodline.

Boom!

The impact sent the Champion skidding several meters, but not without cost. Valkor was thrown backward, crashing through a tree and landing with a grunt. His armor cracked, but he forced himself up.

Lumi appeared in midair, her tiny frame glowing with radiant light. Her sword gleamed like a miniature sun.

"Divine Slash!"

She dove like a comet, slashing across the Champion's face. Sparks flew. The beast roared in pain and rage, recoiling for just a second.

Nox shook his head. He had no choice but to charge in as well. He leapt, his body soaring through the air. Time seemed to slow, as though he were hovering. As he descended, he slammed his blade into the Champion's head!

The beast recoiled and roared, but it didn't fall. Instead, Nox was the one sent skidding several meters despite initiating the strike.

His feet carved deep trenches in the ground as he slid to a stop. His eyes flashed sharply.

"As long as we don't kill it, the Scourge Alpha won't appear," he muttered under his breath. From others' perspectives, Lumi and Valkor's attacks looked powerful, but Nox—who had fought a legendary-tier beast before—knew they would at best only weaken the creature.

The Champion snarled, then beat its wings again, preparing to pursue.

But Lumi wasn't done.

With surprising agility, she landed and waved her hand. "Sanctum Chains!"

A glowing circle formed beneath the beast's feet. Radiant chains erupted, binding its limbs for a brief second. It screamed, struggling violently.

"Now!" she shouted again.

Valkor, recovering fast, lunged forward. His dragon form flared behind him like an aura as he slammed into the Champion's side with full force. The chains shattered on impact—but that was all. Nothing else happened, which stunned him.

If anything—

Crack! Crack!

The Inferno Dragon Prince stumbled backward as he felt his ribs break. He fell to the ground, coughing up blood.

The Champion's eyes glowed fiercely. The aura surrounding it grew even more oppressive.

"It's mad!" Lumi warned, though the reality was already painfully clear.

"Both of you, go!!!" Nox shouted. If it were up to him, he'd have left Valkor here to die. But that wasn't something he could do—not now.

He needed every bit of help for this mission. The ancient forest was unpredictable.

Lumi didn't argue this time. She swiftly flew toward Valkor. Despite her small frame, the ten-year-old picked up the Inferno Prince with ease. After one last glance, she flew deeper into the forest.

"Even though they're the strongest of their generation, they're still too weak," Nox muttered as he held the gaze of the Champion, whose eyes were flaring with rage.

"Let's see how far I'll go against a Champion without using my skills." He smirked as he stepped forward. "Everyone… come out!"