Chapter 4 — "The Mentor and the Tiger's Secret"
Greyhaven's streets were alive with noise once more, but Mikael Grey barely noticed. His mind was consumed by the Tiger Pulse—a rhythm inside his chest, a power waiting to be mastered.
The duel with Jin Xuanhao had left a mark. Not a physical wound, but a pulse of destiny, sharp and insistent. Mikael could feel it tugging him forward. Something—or someone—was waiting to guide him.
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1. The Mysterious Mentor
That evening, Mikael wandered the backstreets, seeking the quiet of his old rooftop to meditate. A shadow moved swiftly across the walls—a man dressed in flowing dark robes, eyes glinting beneath a hood.
"You have power," the man said calmly, voice like wind over steel. "But raw strength without control is a blade that cuts its own hand."
Mikael tensed. "Who are you?"
"I am Kael Shen, a seeker of lost warriors and forgotten powers," the man replied. "You have awakened the Tiger Pulse. But that alone will not make you survive what comes next."
The phantom tiger growled softly inside Mikael's chest, as if approving.
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2. Training Begins
Kael Shen led Mikael to a secluded courtyard at the edge of the city. Moonlight spilled over ancient stones etched with runes.
"First, you must control your Tiger Pulse, or it will consume you," Kael instructed. "It is not merely power—it is instinct, memory, and spirit. Learn to channel it through your body, your mind, and your sword."
Mikael nodded, closing his eyes. His pulse throbbed. He felt the phantom tiger stirring, and for the first time, he tried to listen rather than act.
Minutes passed. Hours. Sweat dripped from his brow. The tiger pulse guided his movements, his strikes, his balance.
Finally, he opened his eyes. The glow of the Tiger Pulse was steadier, calmer, controlled.
Kael nodded. "Good. But this is only the beginning."
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3. Discovering Medicine Skills
Kael noticed Mikael's hands were scratched and rough from practice. He gestured to the herbs Mikael always carried.
"You have a healer's instinct as well," Kael said. "A true warrior can kill, but a great one can heal and manipulate life. These herbs, combined with your pulse, can awaken hidden meridians in your body—or destroy an enemy if wielded correctly."
Mikael studied the mortar and herbs. He realized for the first time: his doctor's talent was not coincidence. It was a fragment of his past life bleeding into the present.
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4. Jin Xuanhao's Shadow
Even as Mikael trained, he felt a presence—a calculating, cold energy.
Jin Xuanhao had been watching, studying his opponent. The boy's every move, every awakening, was being recorded, analyzed.
"He will strike again," Kael Shen warned, sensing the rival's aura. "And next time, it will be deadly."
Mikael's chest burned with determination. The Tiger Pulse surged. "Then I'll be ready. No matter what."
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5. Awakening Hidden Potential
Night deepened. Mikael closed his eyes again, letting the tiger pulse flow through him.
The phantom tiger appeared, more solid than ever. Its eyes glimmered.
"You are ready for the next stage," it said. "The Tiger Fang Slash was only the beginning. Learn the Lunar Pounce, the White Tiger Roar, and eventually… the Heaven-Devouring Claw. Each will awaken fragments of your soul. Each will bring you closer to who you once were."
Mikael Grey clenched his fists, feeling fragments of memory flash: a battlefield, a sword, a roar, a vow.
"Yes," he whispered. "I will remember… I will grow… and I will rise."
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6. A Glimpse of Destiny
As the moonlight bathed the courtyard, Mikael realized the scope of his path:
Enemies, like Jin Xuanhao, who would stop at nothing to destroy him.
Allies, like Lianhua, whose bond would shape his heart.
Powers, hidden deep within, waiting to be mastered.
The past life, calling him to reclaim his lost legacy.
This was no longer a boy fighting in the streets.
This was the awakening of the White Tiger, the future Great Tiger General, whose roar would shake not just Greyhaven, but the very foundations of heaven itself.
And somewhere in the distance, a storm was forming, heralding trials, battles, and secrets that would define his life—and destiny.