On the way back, Aiden had already heard the rumor — the kind of story that sounded like it belonged in a children's fairy tale.
He'd known for some time that someone in the outpost was capable of taming monsters, but because he had been away on missions nonstop — and because Bai Chen rarely stayed in the outpost — he'd never gotten the chance to meet him properly.
The Commander confirmed it with a single nod.
│ "It's true."
Beside Aiden, his handler blinked, stunned by the confirmation.
│ "That… sounds absolutely ridiculous."
│ "Ridiculously amazing," Aiden corrected, eyes shining.
│ "Training monsters into hunters — that's genius! I want to know how he did it."
│ "You'll meet him during the Zorah Magdaros operation,"
The Commander replied.
Of all the young hunters in the outpost, he placed the most faith in two people: Bai Chen and the man standing before him — Aiden, a fellow member of the Sponsored Group.
Bai Chen's ability to tame monsters was irreplaceable.
Aiden, meanwhile, possessed the kind of talent that shone in both the Old and New World. He adapted to every weapon with unnatural ease. His growth was extraordinary — in just a few short months, he was approaching High Rank 7★ capability.
Ten days passed.
Finally, Bai Chen wrapped up the bulk of his outstanding quests and returned to Astera Outpost late at night.
A flash —
Little Cosmog teleported him directly home.
Bai Chen released all his partners.
After nine days of nonstop hunting, every one of them had broken through their limits, each with at least one instance of overcoming a higher-ranked opponent.
Zinogre had risen from Lv 43 → Lv 46.
Brachydios from Lv 40 → Lv 43.
Bai Chen himself, along with Nergigante, had reached Lv. 44, thanks to their absurd regeneration skill, Ultra Regeneration, allowing them to fight endlessly without prolonged rest.
The three Pokémon — being lower-leveled — had gained the most.
Indeedee: Lv.35 → Lv.40
Tinkatuff: Lv.32 → Lv.37
Cosmog: Lv.2 → Lv.22
Little Cosmog's gain was the most dramatic, but despite his level, he still only knew Teleport. His species didn't begin learning their true abilities until evolving.
Bai Chen checked his remaining 58,000 Skill Mastery Points.
It wasn't enough to push any master-level skills into Grandmaster, but it was enough to strengthen their other abilities massively.
He immediately spent 45,000 points, raising his own, Nergigante's, and Basarios's Elder Dragon Blood to Master Level.
That would greatly increase their survivability — essential for the upcoming battle.
The remaining 13,000 points he invested into his Wide-Area Quick Guard, upgrading it from Expert to Master Level.
At the Master Level, Bai Chen could now cast Guard four times with over 90% success.
The fifth attempt dropped below 40%.
The sixth fell below 1%.
Even so, it was a massive increase to his party-wide defense.
After finishing his allocations, Bai Chen walked out into the quiet night.
The outpost felt strangely empty.
Most hunters and technicians had already departed for the Great Ravine.
That was where the Commander intended to intercept Zorah Magdaros.
Bai Chen made his way to the fourth floor — the Gathering Hub.
Only Ira remained on duty. Every other receptionist had been temporarily reassigned to logistics.
│ "Welcome back, Sir Bai."
She greeted with her gentle smile.
Bai Chen nodded.
│ "I'm here for the Zorah Magdaros assignment."
│ "Everything is prepared."
She handed him the quest slip and the detailed operation briefing.
Finally — a complete map of the Great Ravine.
The location was north of the Wildspire Wastes, bordering the Coral Highlands.
│ So the logistics overhaul wasn't just to support hunters.
│ They were preparing for this operation all along.
Transporting anti-Elder Dragon artillery across that terrain was a monumental task.
Ira looked up at him, hopeful.
│ "It's finally happening.
│ If we capture Zorah Magdaros… maybe the Guild will finally uncover the secret behind the Elder Crossing."
│ "Maybe."
But Bai Chen already knew how this would most likely end.
Zorah Magdaros was nearly impossible to capture —
and that's assuming Nergigante didn't intervene for a "meal."
Ira continued with earnest optimism:
│ "With you here, I'm sure the operation will succeed."
│ "Don't expect too much. I'm not as strong as you think."
That was the truth. Bai Chen could crush normal monsters of equal rank — but against true Elder Dragons?
A fair 50/50 fight was the best he could hope for.
What he wanted most from this doomed mission…
was to extract as many benefits as possible.
Ira just smiled.
│ "Sir Bai is too humble."
Bai Chen said nothing more.
He accepted the mission documents and headed out.
Using Teleport combined with Zinogre's speed, he arrived at the Great Ravine at dawn.
The Commander summoned him to the war room immediately.
On the walk there, Bai Chen inspected the anti-Elder Dragon weapons prepared for the operation.
Massive ballista.
Cannon batteries.
Reinforced barricades were built into the Ravine walls.
The heavy ballistae were far stronger than regular bowguns — their bolts were five centimeters thick.
Hunters passing by greeted Bai Chen warmly.
Nearly all his partners followed behind him — except Nergigante.
They were the main force of this operation.
Inside the war tent, the Commander's voice echoed:
│ "Status report?"
Second Fleet Master answered confidently:
│ "All preparations complete.
│ By tomorrow morning, every weapon will be ready."
│ "Will the capture succeed?" the Commander asked.
The Second Fleet Master paused — then laughed boldly:
│ "We'll stake everything on the Flame Seal!"
At that moment—
"Tink~!"
Tinkatuff waved enthusiastically at her clan's elder.
"Oh? You're finally back."
The Second Fleet Master grinned.
"How's the training?"
Tinkatuff flexed her tiny arm muscles.
"Tink!"
"Haha! Good. I look forward to the results."
Tinkatuff should have been assigned to logistics, but Bai Chen specifically brought her for training — and for safety.
After the Second Fleet Master left, Bai Chen approached.
│ "Commander, you called for me?"
│ "Yes. Are you and your partners ready?"
│ "We've done everything we can. The rest is up to the battlefield."
Just then, three more people arrived behind Bai Chen.
Aiden jogged forward, eyes wide with excitement as he spotted mini-Zinogre.
│ "He can get that small!?
│ How did you even do that!?"
Bai Chen turned.
Aiden and his handler, Karin, had just arrived.
Beside them stood a young man resembling the Commander — his grandson, the Field Team Leader, born in the New World.
│ "Just unlocking their potential,"
Bai Chen said vaguely.
Aiden extended a hand energetically.
│ "I'm Aiden — Sponsored Group, same as you.
│ Pleasure working with you!"
He wasn't the type to be shy.
Bai Chen discreetly checked his status.
Two months ago, Aiden was Lv.56.
Now?
Lv.60.
Only five levels below the Swordmaster.
His armor was a full High Rank Rathalos set.
He was the real deal.
│ "Bai Chen. A knight. Nice to meet you."
Aiden immediately slung an arm over his shoulder.
│ "After the operation, you have to teach me how to tame monsters!"
│ "If I have time."
│ "Great! Dinner's on me!"
They bumped fists.
The Commander raised a hand.
│ "Since everyone is here, let me review the operation plan."
He tapped the map with his baton.
The Great Ravine was a long, narrow trench with towering cliffs on both sides — the perfect chokepoint.
│ "According to the Field Team Leader,
│ Zorah Magdaros will arrive tomorrow morning."
All eyes turned to the leader, who nodded.
│ "Operation begins at dawn.
│ It will be a prolonged engagement,
│ but everything must end before sunset."
Bai Chen understood.
The limit wasn't confidence.
It was resources.
They had only prepared enough supplies for one day.
If they couldn't capture Zorah by sundown…
The mission was an automatic failure.
The Commander laid out the two-phase plan:
Phase One — Fortress Defense.
Cannon fire, ballista, and barricades to weaken Zorah.
Phase Two — Boarding Operation.
Hunters would climb onto Zorah's body to destroy its heat organs and drain its stamina.
After that —
Use the newly developed Binding Weapon to attempt capture.
The plan was sound.
But only if everything went perfectly.
The Commander looked at Bai Chen and Aiden.
│ "If anything unexpected happens…
│ I'm counting on you."
"Unexpected" meant Elder Dragon interference.
Which meant Nergigante.
Bai Chen gave a noncommittal answer:
│ "I'll do what I can."
The Commander stepped closer, tone unusually serious.
│ "If a crisis truly arises…
│ Give it everything you have."
Bai Chen blinked.
Why say that specifically to him?
The Commander didn't explain.
He simply nodded and moved on.
Leaving the war tent, Bai Chen already understood.
│ So he knows…
│ Some things will have to be said openly.
Aiden caught up.
│ "Good luck tomorrow!"
│ "You too."
Only six hours remained until dawn.
Bai Chen spent them assisting the Second Fleet Master with last-minute preparations.
Time flowed steadily.
The moon sank behind the Ravine.
A violet sunrise painted the horizon.
Everything was ready.
Everyone waited — tense, silent.
Half an hour passed.
Suddenly—
The sky darkened.
Swarms of Raphinos flooded overhead.
At the same time, hunters' Scoutflies glowed violently blue, forming a streak of light toward the far end of the Ravine.
Only one kind of being triggered that reaction—
A high-tier lifeform.
The ground trembled.
Something colossal moved beneath them.
Then—
The Scoutflies turned red and vanished.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—
The earth cracked apart.
Smoke erupted.
A mountain of molten rock rose from below.
A titanic Elder Dragon — 260 meters long —
broke through the surface.
Zorah Magdaros had arrived.
From the cliffs above, the Commander roared:
│ "Operation start!!"
Hunters launched into action.
The Zorah Magdaros Capture Operation had officially begun.
If you want to read more, join my Patreon/kazama677
I will drop 1 bonus chapter for every 50 Power Stones