The more Bai Chen read, the more the Sword Master's Aura Flow fascinated him.
Riding on the back of the Zinogre, he couldn't resist testing the breathing rhythm himself. With Natural Vision active, streams of life-force and aura flowed before his eyes like faintly glowing rivers.
Same principle, different system — both relied on energy perception, and with Natural Vision, Bai Chen could see the current of power inside him.
By the time his breathing steadied, the Zinogre had carried them to the dense forest where Bai Chen had once fought the Tobi-Kadachi.
And as expected—
The shrill crackle of electricity rang through the treetops, followed by an agitated roar.
Another Tobi-Kadachi had taken over the territory.
Bai Chen only sighed.
"There's always a new squatter."
Unlike the true thunder beasts, this one's electricity came from static generated through fur friction. Its output didn't even compare to Zinogre's natural voltage.
Bai Chen ignored it completely, eyes narrowing as his Super Perception swept across the undergrowth.
Even after a week, the faint traces of the juvenile basarios remained—scrapes on stone, displaced dirt, a subtle mineral scent in the air.
"This way. North."
At his command, the Zinogre bounded forward.
Having him as a mount came with perks—
small monsters scattered at the mere sight of him; the larger ones gave wide berth unless they were suicidally territorial.
And when Bai Chen had Nergigante's Poké Ball tucked against his belt?
Only a fool or another apex predator would dare to provoke that combination.
The road ahead was clear, and as they traveled, the traces grew fresher.
By the time the sun dipped low, they reached the far western edge of Sector 9—beyond even the Commander's designated hunting zones.
There, nestled among the rocks, lay their quarry.
"Level 36," Bai Chen muttered, eyes flickering with faint system light. "Still juvenile. Needs to hit fifty before it evolves into a proper Gravios."
He dropped lightly from the Zinogre's back and turned toward his two beasts.
"I've only got one capture sphere left," he said, tone casual. "So—"
"You two know the rules."
Zinogre's ears perked up.
Rules? He knew those rules.
Don't talk. Don't hold back. Beat it until it listens.
With an eager snarl, he lunged forward, electricity crackling along his limbs.
Behind him, Nergigante stretched lazily, then pounced.
Even Tinkatuff's eyes sparkled at the sight of the rock Wyvern's mineral armor, she hoisted her heavy hammer and charged.
Bai Chen?
He found a flat boulder, stretched out, and cracked open the Aura manual again.
Warm sunlight filtered through the trees; a breeze brushed his hair.
Behind him, the soundscape was a medley of roars, booms, and the occasional thud.
"Ahh," he sighed, eyes half-lidded. "A peaceful day indeed."
Fifteen days later.
At the Starship Bar atop Astera, Ira sorted through mission ledgers.
Three reports lay on her desk:
Capture: Basarios — completed thirteen days ago.
Capture: Nargacuga — completed eight days ago.
Slay: Rathian — also completed eight days ago.
Even the Rey-DauSurvey Report had been submitted three days prior.
"It's been three days already," she murmured, frowning. "Why hasn't Lord Bai returned yet…?"
She had already processed his promotion to Five-Star Hunter and even managed to keep the Sea Dragon commission reserved for him.
But as she pondered, a shout rang from the deck.
"What is that!?"
One of the receptionists stood at the bow, broom in hand, pointing toward the horizon.
Ira turned—and froze.
From this height, the west gate of Astera was visible. There, lumbering slowly toward the settlement, was a shadow that blotted out the road.
"A monster?" one of the clerks whispered. "It's enormous!"
Felines dropped their cleaning tools. Hunters and staff crowded to the rail. Through the haze, they could barely discern a massive creature, its hide glinting like forged ore.
"That's… that's a basarios, nya!" squeaked a Felyne with a spyglass.
Gasps rippled across the deck.
A basarios wyvern—thirty meters long? Impossible. The species was supposed to max out at half that.
Ira's eyes widened. There was only one man in the entire New World connected to such a creature.
"Could it be… Lord Bai?"
She grabbed the spyglass from the startled Felyne and focused in.
There—on the creature's back—a tiny human figure waved lazily toward the settlement.
Her heart leapt.
"It's him!"
Without hesitation, she turned to the others.
"I'm heading to the west gate—cover for me!"
She took the chain elevator down to the lower levels.
Halfway there, she nearly collided with the Chief Ecologist, a wizened Wyverian scholar clutching a notebook twice his size.
"A basarios… thirty meters in length?" he exclaimed, voice trembling. "Impossible! Juveniles shouldn't even surpass ten!"
He adjusted his glasses, muttering feverishly.
"The largest adult Gravios on record was thirty-two meters… if this juvenile is already thirty—what will it become?!"
"I think I saw Sir Bai riding it," Ira added breathlessly.
"Bai Chen?" The old Wyverian's eyes gleamed with childlike wonder. "The monster tamer! Hurry, we must see this at once!"
He tucked his notebook under one arm and, with surprising speed, bolted toward the gate on his stubby legs. Ira followed close behind.
By the time they arrived, the west gate was a riot of voices. Hunters, scholars, and Felynes crowded the walls; even the Commander and Sword Master stood on the battlements, watching.
Out in the distance, the massive silhouette drew closer—its plated body gleaming like obsidian under the sun.
The Commander squinted. When he saw the rider atop the beast lift an arm in greeting, he couldn't help but sigh, lifting his own hand in return.
"That man… what hasn't he managed to pull off?"
As the creature lumbered closer, the Commander's expression shifted from disbelief to reluctant admiration.
He'd fought monsters his entire life; he knew exactly how large a Rock Dragon should be. This—this was nearly the size of a full-grown Gravios.
"So this is what he calls raising a hatchling," the Sword Master muttered under his breath.
Before anyone could stop him, the Chief Ecologist hopped straight off the rampart, landing with a thud and hurrying forward, notebook in hand, eyes shining with reverence.
Hunters rushed after him, hands on their hilts—instinct, not hostility.
No one doubted Bai Chen's skill, but… even a "tamed" monster was still a monster. Like anyone walking past a leashed predator, they couldn't help but keep their distance.
Then—
Bai Chen patted the basarios's plated back.
With a low rumble, the beast obediently sank to its belly, wings folding, eyes placid.
The tension in the air broke instantly.
The Chief Ecologist approached in awe, craning his neck to take in the living mountain before him.
The hunters lowered their weapons.
From atop the wall, the Commander exhaled and murmured to himself:
"I think I'm starting to understand why the Guild sent him to the New World…"
The legend of Bai Chen—the knight who could tame the untamable—
had only just begun to unfold.
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