System's POV
chapter-223

After traveling for nearly a week, Percival stared at the entrance of the cave where the seven-year-old boy's secret base was located.

But, just as he was about to enter, he saw something big walk out of the cave, making him flinch.

"You could not live with your own failure. Where did that bring you? Back to me," Thirteen said with a smug look on his face. "Welcome back, Taiga. Have you prepared yourself to venture to hell and back?"

Percival didn't reply right away. Instead he eyed the younger boy, who was sitting on the back of the Chad Skunk, Giga Chad.

No matter how much he tried to gauge Zion's strength, the only thing he could see was a powerless Human boy, whose neck he could easily snap if he wished for it.

But, this same powerless boy was the person who made him understand that strength wasn't the only way to win battles.

A minute later, Percival dismounted from the Saber Tooth Tiger and walked towards Zion with a determined expression on his face.

When he was only three meters away from the Chad Skunk, he knelt on the ground and looked at the younger boy with a steady gaze.

"Can you make me strong?" Percival asked.

"I can," Thirteen replied with confidence.

"Then, will you accept me as your disciple?"

"A disciple?"

Thirteen arched an eyebrow as he looked at the kneeling Tigerkin in front of him.

"You mean to say you want to learn things from me for free without giving anything in return?" Thirteen smirked. "I'm not a very charitable person, so I'll have to decline your request."

"Then, what do you want?" Percival asked. "Do you want to enslave me again?"

"No," Thirteen shook his head. "What I want from you is a promise. If you survive this war, you will become my subordinate for two years."

"Only two years?" Percival asked back.

"Only two years?" Thirteen chuckled. "Fine. Since you sound so disappointed, let's make it three years."

"Wait! I didn't say that you could increase it."

"You have a problem, Brah?"

A sigh escaped Percival's lips because he knew the kind of look that Zion was giving him. It was the kind of look where he wouldn't take No for an answer, making him have no choice but to nod his head in agreement.

"Three years then," Percival stated. "I will serve you faithfully as your subordinate for three years."

Thirteen nodded. "Good. Since I'm investing in you, you better not die."

"I don't plan to die," Percival replied firmly.

"Come inside," Thirteen ordered. "We don't have much time left, so I'll make you strong before this day is over."

Percival became confused after hearing Zion's words.

He was expecting that the boy would use the remaining days to train him, but from the way he worded his statement, the seven-year-old only intended to train him for a day, which made him wonder if he was joking or not.

Dixon watched the exchange with amusement because he thought that Thirteen was just teasing the General's son.

There was no way that he could train Percival to become strong in a day.

But, this was why he was wrong as well.

Thirteen wasn't an ordinary boy, and since he lacked time, he intended to use a special method to train Taiga.

As the Tigerkin entered the interior of the cave, he was pleasantly surprised to see that there were already two Steel Reinforced Bolts that the Grand Ballista could use as ammunition.

Zion had hailed the Grand Ballista as their Trump Card during the war, and he had to admit that it looked imposing enough to be called one.

It didn't take long before Thirteen and Percival arrived in his room.

Just like always, he had asked Cristopher and Giga Chad to guard the door, so that no one would disturb them.

"Last time, I knocked you out," Thirteen stated. "But, this time, I will not do such a thing. So, sit cross legged and close your eyes."

Percival did as he was told, and closed his eyes obediently.

The only way for him to train Percival was to allow him to inherit the battle experience of a fighter that specialized in using Emperor's Might.

Fortunately, he had that kind of experience because one of his Hosts was a candidate to become the next Beast King, who was an expert in using that same Martial Technique.

What Zion planned to do was let Percival gain the accumulation of that experience, allowing him to better understand how to use the skill, as if he had used it for an entire lifetime.

He planned to do the same thing for Anwir, and had already sent a letter to him, asking him to come and see him after a week.

Thirteen needed his Hero and his Villain to be at the peak of their strength before the fight against the Majin Prince started.

'Leon, I'll borrow your power once more,' Thirteen said softly as he remembered his Host, who had failed to become the next Beast King due to the scheme that was devised by one of the Villains, who wanted to get the position as well.

Taking a deep breath, he placed his finger on his forehead, and activated the rune magic that he had prepared for Taiga's arrival.

The Cores that he had placed around his body glowed one by one, allowing Zion to channel their power to his Soul Core, and copy the memories of his Host, Leon.

A few minutes later, he tapped Taiga's forehead, allowing the Tigerkin to absorb the battle experience that his previous Host had accumulated during his lifetime.

Of course, he didn't add the part where Leon was ambushed by over two hundred Beastkins, which led to his death.

Thirteen sat cross-legged in front of Percival, and monitored his condition.

Although he believed that the transfer of memories was going to be smooth, he decided to stay just in case there were any complications.

Fortunately, nothing of the sort happened, and after six hours, Percival opened his eyes.

His gaze was no longer the gaze of an insecure brat, who still didn't know what he wanted to do in life.

"It will take you a few days to consolidate everything that you have learned," Thirteen stated. "You are free to train, and hunt wherever you please. But, make sure that you don't venture too far from this base. I don't want you dying due to overconfidence. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Master," Percival bowed his head respectfully, showing his sincerity.

What Zion gave him was something precious, and although he didn't know that Leon had a special relationship with Thirteen, he believed that the person whom he had received memories from, was someone who never gave up until the bitter end.

"Do your best, Taiga," Thirteen said as he patted the Tigerkin's shoulder. "You need to work hard for me for the next three years."

Instead of being angry, Percival only smiled and nodded his head.

For some reason, the name Taiga now had a special meaning in his heart.

For it was the name that was given to him by his Master, who despite his powerless appearance, was someone who had taught him something that he could have only learned after living for more than a hundred years.