The Commander couldn't bear to keep watching.
The "taming" before him had long since stopped looking like taming—it was pure brutality wrapped in a smile.
He turned his head away, sighing inwardly.
"Does someone this powerful really even need a monster companion?"
If he had such overwhelming strength, he would never bother to tame anything.
Behind him, the sound of crashing bodies finally ceased.
When he glanced back, Bai Chen was crouched beside the fallen Zinogre, forcing recovery potions and antidotes down the beast's throat.
The thunder wolf lay limp and unconscious—its earlier wounds reopened, its body a map of bruises and scorch marks. Considering it hadn't even recovered from the fight the night before, fainting again was almost merciful.
Once he'd emptied every vial, Bai Chen straightened, dusted his hands, and vaulted lightly onto the observation platform.
The Commander opened his mouth—then closed it again.
There was no point in asking how Bai Chen's body could contain that kind of power.
At this stage, he only needed to confirm one thing—this man was still on their side.
"How long will it take you to complete the taming?"
Bai Chen considered for a moment.
"He's a bit more stubborn and proud than I expected. Give me a day or two. I'll just… work some overtime and beat him a few more times."
The Commander blinked, struggling to process what he'd just heard.
Overtime.
Beat him a few more times.
Was this still human language?
Still, his expression remained composed.
"Very well. I'll await the good news. As for your basarios capture request—it's been approved. Once you're free, you may proceed."
"Perfect. I'll head out once this guy's finally obedient."
He still had only one Capture Ball left—wasting it on a failed attempt would be disastrous.
He'd need to have basarios to accept capture willingly.
"Do as you see fit," the Commander said. "The Ancient Forest has been restless lately—proceed with caution."
Bai Chen nodded.
After sending off the Commander and the Sword Master, he wasted no time.
His first stop was the Felyne Canteen, where he ordered an obscene amount of food. The Head Chef promised to deliver it straight to the arena.
Then Bai Chen returned home, hauled out a full-size tent, and pitched it inside the arena—barely four meters from the unconscious thunder wolf.
Once the space was clear and no one lingered within five hundred meters, Bai Chen tapped the ball at his belt.
"Alright, come on out."
A flare of crimson light—and the Elder Dragon Nergigante materialized with a snarl.
Poor thing had been stuck in the ball for an entire day and night.
If not for the comfortable interior environment, she would've clawed her way out hours ago.
"Grrroooaaar."
Her tone was full of accusation.
"Sorry, sorry," Bai Chen said quickly. "Didn't expect we'd be stuck at camp that long."
He reached into his pack and pulled out a wyvern Gem.
"Here. A snack."
The Elder Dragon blinked, then chomped it down whole. The gleam in her eyes softened.
She looked toward the slumbering thunder wolf sprawled across the arena floor.
"Grr?" she rumbled, tilting her horned head.
"Yeah," Bai Chen nodded. "That's your new partner. Bit of a wild one. I just gave him a lesson, but I'll need you to help… reinforce it later. Show him who's boss around here."
"Grr."
The growl was low and unimpressed. Her meaning was obvious.
"This idiot? Are we lowering the recruitment standards?"
Bai Chen laughed.
"Not at all. He's got potential—his kind can inherit the bloodline of Elder Dragons. Above him is the Golden Thunder Lord Zinogre—a true apex form."
He explained further.
Like Basarios evolved into Gravios, Zinogre too had an upper form—
a variant always cloaked in golden lightning, permanently in Overcharged State.
"Even if he never reaches that stage," Bai Chen said, "don't underestimate him. I've seen an alpha Zinogre stand toe-to-toe with an unsealed Amatsu before."
Nergigante blinked, not quite understanding what an Amatsu was—but she knew what came after "unsealed." That meant something on her level… or higher.
She huffed softly.
"Fine. I'll catch one of those for you next time."
Bai Chen chuckled, patting her scaled head.
"I'll hold you to that."
Most Nergigante wouldn't dare say such a thing—but his?
He had absolute confidence in her. Once she fully unleashed her latent power, she'd be an unsealed-tier Elder at minimum.
By the time they'd finished eating the massive lunch delivered by the Palicoes, it was already one in the afternoon.
Bai Chen dabbed his mouth with a napkin, glancing toward the stirring form of the Zinogre.
"Perfect timing. Time for some post-lunch exercise."
He rose, stretched, and crouched in front of the beast.
Even lying down, the thunder wolf's head was nearly as tall as half of Bai Chen's body.
"Awake? So… do you submit? If not, I don't mind another round."
Zinogre's eyes flickered open, crackling faintly with blue light. His body trembled as he rose—battle spirit fully reignited.
Still defiant, huh.
Bai Chen could read the intent in his gaze easily.
He sighed, cracking his knuckles.
"Still not convinced, huh? Fine."
He stepped closer, smiling up at the towering beast.
"Just don't cry when I start again."
And then, without warning, his leg flashed upward—
THUD!
The kick sent the Zinogre flying several meters, crashing into the dirt wall.
The arena shook.
The battle resumed.
This time, the thunder wolf tried to charge its lightning bugs, desperate to re-enter its Overcharged State.
But Bai Chen was already on him.
"Move—'Quick Attack!'"
He blurred forward, strikes landing faster than thunder itself. Every time Zinogre tried to channel power, Bai Chen's fists broke his rhythm.
Once Bai Chen managed to grab the creature's head, the outcome was sealed.
Three minutes later, the thunder wolf was once again unconscious.
Bai Chen sighed, pried open its jaws, and poured more recovery potions down its throat.
"You really can inherit Elder Dragon blood, but you can't learn Auto-Regeneration? What a waste."
He'd met countless monsters, but none—aside from himself—had ever managed to master that skill.
Even the Sword Master couldn't.
"Guess Nergigante's greatest gift isn't something others can just copy," he mused.
He was fairly sure now that both his Auto-Regeneration and Elder Dragon Bloodline came from the bond stone—and the system behind it.
By four in the afternoon, Zinogre stirred again.
Bai Chen crouched beside him, voice calm.
"Awake again? How about now—do you submit?"
The thunder wolf's eyes burned with fury and humiliation. He still refused to bow.
Bai Chen smiled faintly, rolling his shoulders.
"Still stubborn, huh?"
He stretched, muscles cracking like steel cables.
"Then let's keep going."
A dangerous grin spread across his face.
"If you won't submit…"
"…then I'll beat you until you do."
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