Chapter 5 — "The First Trial Beyond Mortals"
Greyhaven's early morning fog clung to the city streets, wrapping the rooftops and alleyways in a muted silver haze. For most, it was just another day—but for Mikael Grey, it marked a turning point.
After nights of training with Kael Shen, his body and mind had grown sharper. The Tiger Pulse no longer surged uncontrollably—it flowed like liquid fire through his veins. His fists struck faster, his kicks more precise, and his instincts allowed him to read movements before they happened.
Yet, Kael Shen warned him:
"This is still the mortal world. True trials are coming. You will face creatures and forces beyond human comprehension. Only by mastering your Tiger Pulse and intellect will you survive."
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1. The Phantom Threat
As Mikael walked through the streets toward the herbal market to gather supplies, a chill ran down his spine. The air shifted. Shadows twisted unnaturally.
A monstrous figure emerged from the alley—a soul-eater, a ghostly beast born from residual negative energy and human suffering. Its eyes glowed like dying embers, and its presence distorted reality.
Mikael's chest throbbed with the Tiger Pulse. He didn't need to think—his instincts guided him.
The phantom tiger appeared beside him, coalescing into a visible spectral form. Its roar echoed, a deep vibration that shook the air.
The beast hissed, lunging. Mikael leaped, feeling the Tiger Pulse enhance his movements.
Tiger Fang Slash: The first strike cut through the ghostly aura.
Lunar Pounce: Mikael vanished momentarily, striking from an angle the beast hadn't anticipated.
White Tiger Roar: A blast of pure Tiger Pulse energy threw the soul-eater backward, dispersing part of its form.
The battle tested his reflexes, his control of Tiger Pulse, and the nascent martial instincts that had survived from his past life.
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2. Lianhua's Arrival
As Mikael prepared for another strike, a soft voice called his name.
"Mikael!"
Lianhua appeared, holding a small satchel of herbs. She moved with a calm, natural grace, her presence radiating a subtle aura that bolstered Mikael's strength.
"You're… not alone," she said, eyes scanning the battlefield. "Let me help."
Together, their energies intertwined. Lianhua's healing herbs enhanced the Tiger Pulse's regenerative flow, while Mikael's attacks became more precise and powerful.
The beast, overwhelmed, let out a piercing scream before disappearing into the mist.
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3. Mentor's Wisdom
After the encounter, Kael Shen appeared silently behind Mikael, as if materializing from the shadows themselves.
"Not bad," Kael said, voice calm but carrying weight. "You've begun to integrate instincts, power, and intelligence. But remember…"
He gestured to the fading smoke where the soul-eater had vanished. "The real world is full of hidden threats. Some you cannot see. Some you will never fully understand. And some… are already watching you."
Mikael clenched his fists. "I'll be ready. Whatever comes."
The phantom tiger growled softly, as if approving, its spectral eyes glowing in the dark.
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4. Hints of the Past Life
That night, Mikael sat alone in his room, the remnants of the battle still burning in his limbs. Closing his eyes, he felt flashes of memories:
Armies clashing beneath crimson skies.
A white tiger charging through flames.
Betrayal and loss, and a vow to reclaim destiny.
Names, faces, powers… fragments he didn't fully understand yet.
The tiger pulse throbbed stronger than ever, harmonizing with these fragments. Mikael realized: the past life was not gone—it was awakening alongside him.
He whispered, almost to himself:
"I will remember. I will rise. And I will never let the world—or heaven—take this from me again."
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5. Seeds of Strategy
Mikael's mind turned to strategy. He had survived this trial not just with power, but by anticipating the beast's movements, reading the battlefield, and thinking ahead.
He realized that his past life had given him more than combat instincts:
The ability to analyze situations like a general
Predict enemy movements and intentions
Apply medicine and life manipulation in real time
Kael Shen's training, Lianhua's support, and the Tiger Pulse were only part of the equation. Mikael Grey was building a mind and body capable of ruling the battlefield—and perhaps even the world.
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6. A Shadow Watches
Far above the city, a figure cloaked in golden serpentine robes observed.
Jin Xuanhao, eyes glinting with a dangerous mixture of curiosity and malice, whispered:
"Interesting… the boy awakens faster than expected. If he continues, he may surpass even his past life… I must act soon."
Somewhere in the distance, other forces stirred, sensing the pulse of a new power rising—a mortal boy awakening as the White Tiger, destined to challenge gods and men alike.