Training in the corner of the coliseum, Bai Chen's attention snapped to the field.
After a single night's growth, the Zinogre had ballooned—its frame now rivaling Nergigante's. It had grown roughly 1.6 times bigger than before.
Once averaging sixteen meters in length, it now stretched to twenty-six meters; its height reached about eight meters.
"He's already larger than even the biggest Fanged Wyvern, the Deviljho, and he still has room to grow. If the scholars see this, they'll never stop asking questions."
The size increase from Overlord's Presence differed by species.
Bai Chen himself didn't change size when he learned the skill; Nergigante had grown 1.5×, and the Zinogre 1.6×. He smiled wryly:
"This Overlord aura really suits monsters."
Bigger bodies didn't just mean more raw power; they broadcast pressure—the kind that bent wills without a word. Bai Chen stepped forward to inspect the Zinogre. The sudden growth had left the beast a little lean; it would need fattening.
"Perfect timing. Come on—breakfast," Bai Chen called.
He'd anticipated the growth and already prepared nutrient-dense food.
While the Zinogre ate, the Master Smith hauled over the saddle she'd finished the previous night.
"Yama," she chirped, clambering onto the Zinogre's back to check the fit.
Luckily, she'd sized the saddle based on Nergigante's scaling, so it fit surprisingly well. She fastened the straps, patted the beast's shoulder, and nodded in approval.
A strange seat had appeared on the Zinogre's back; at first, the beast was awkward and shook, testing the new weight. Bai Chen chuckled.
"Bear with it. Once we get other mounts, you won't have to carry us so much."
Although Zinogre couldn't fly, its speed and leaping ability made it an excellent mount—perfect for cutting travel time across rough terrain.
"By the way, I had the saddle reinforced with your fur and scales—lightning resistant and impact-damped. Don't worry about it in fights."
Pride still made the Zinogre bristle, but he grudgingly accepted the saddle.
When breakfast finished, Bai Chen slipped the Zinogre and Nergigante back into their spheres. He was about to leave on a mission—likely unable to return for weeks.
He packed the tent and supplies, then set out with the Master Smith toward the base. No sooner had they arrived than a swarm of Wyverian scholars flooded over—news of his exit had spread like wildfire.
"Fifth Fleet—may we see your Zinogre?"
His animal was the first of its kind observed in the New World; curiosity poured from the scholars. Questions tumbled out in a rush.
"How do your Knights tame monsters? How do you communicate with them?"
Bai Chen's head started to ache from the barrage.
"Uh… I'm heading out on a mission. Can we—talk about this when I return?"
He respected the scholars; they were driven by pure curiosity, always hungry for new knowledge. Yet the timing was terrible.
Thank heavens the Commander appeared like a cavalry charge.
"Hunters' missions run on deadlines. Save the questions for when he's back."
The Commander and the Sword Master strode in, and the assembled scholars fell silent—realizing today was not the day to pry.
The Commander clapped Bai Chen on the shoulder.
"I have an urgent—well, not-so-urgent—task. Come to my office."
Relief flooded Bai Chen. He apologized to the scholars and hurried after the Commander.
At the command post, the Commander teased him good-naturedly.
"You're becoming our base's legend—powerful, and you tame monsters too."
Bai Chen shrugged awkwardly.
"Hardly."
The Commander grinned and then asked seriously:
"So—taming complete?"
"He's fully enlisted."
The Commander laughed in genuine surprise.
"You do like to surprise us."
Bai Chen then asked about the "urgent" matter.
"Nothing urgent—just a pretext to get these scholars off your back. They would pester you forever if not given a reason."
Bai Chen thanked him sincerely; without the Commander's intervention, he'd still be answering questions.
"When do you plan to set out?"
"Once I gather supplies, I'm leaving immediately."
"Good. Be safe."
As Bai Chen prepared to take his leave, the Sword Master handed him a small notebook. Bai Chen caught it with practiced speed and opened the cover—two simple characters: Qi.
"What's this?" he asked.
"You mentioned learning my Breathing Flow. I had a little time and wrote down my insights. Read it while you're out. If anything's unclear, come back, and I'll teach. I'm usually at the command post."
Bai Chen's smile was bright.
"Thanks, Master. I'll come by if I need help."
He hadn't expected the Sword Master to compile his notes into a learning manual—this saved Bai Chen precious time. He vowed silently: if he developed a hunter-friendly Z-Move, the Sword Master would be the first to try it.
"Alright, I'm off."
He bade farewell to both seniors, purchased necessary provisions at the trade zone, and left with the Master Smith. This time, capturing the Basarios was the tinkatuff's most anticipated task—she fussed over packing like a child preparing for a festival.
Outside the gates, Bai Chen switched on Super Perception and ghosted past the last clusters of scholars still searching for him. He'd explain the peculiarities—capture spheres, resonance stones, and the Zinogre's transformation—when he returned with evidence.
Back in the coliseum, the Zinogre still slept, ambling through his final adaptation. Bai Chen estimated aloud:
"One more night for Overlord's Presence to settle. When he wakes, we go for the Basarios."
He worried for the hatchling in the forest—if he delayed any longer, something else might claim it. He'd prepared too long to lose it now.
That night, he trained hard; the Master Smith didn't idle either—she hammered and bent metal, fashioning a riding harness tailored to the Zinogre's massive back. The rhythmic clanging drifted into the night as plans settled.
Dawn broke. A lone howl rent the air.
"Awooooo—!"
The Zinogre had woken.
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