A pretty teenage woman with blue hair sat on the bridge of their starship, gazing forward into the green clouds marking the Forbidden Zone.

"This is the last Zone in the universe. If there is nothing here..." she spoke out loud, sounding a bit bored. The last four Forbidden Zones were mere deserted galaxies, filled with chi zombies and hungry ghosts, possibly the results of an old war or some other cataclysm.

To her side a winged Goddess softly caressed the strings of her harp, sending a qi echo to scan the green haze in front.

"There is...a metal moon..." the glove Avatar's began to speak, then faltered. The glow of life that animated the clay statue vanished, leaving only a frozen angel in its place.

'What is it? Something that can hurt even you?' the Heart Ruler asked with worry.

'No. Pef's second self was called back. We have found the way home.' the glove answered as it tracked the soul streaking out of the universe in straight line.

Computing the destination vector was amazingly simple now.

"Elder Sister? Did that moon hurt you?" Lara asked while poking the marble angel with a finger.

'I'm in huge pain, lil sis. I have wrapped myself around your hand, but I will not last long. Whatever is on that moon, help...' the glove answered inside her mind, making her voice sound tired and hurt.

"They messed with the wrong Legion!" Lara proclaimed, hand clenching on the pommel of the Ruler.

'Something to fight! Yay!' the Ruler exclaimed with joy, not really bothering to care about the glove's new ploy. Its mind was quite simple and straight forward, as a proper weapon should be.

'Hmmm. Also, there actually is something on that moon. A temple or some kind of Sect palace. Highly warded as well.' the glove mused mostly to itself.

It seemed the Mirror didn't send Lara here without another purpose. Might as well profit from the encounter, before they left.

Powering the ship and folding the Void, Lara accelerated towards the metal moon inside the Zone, her core senses extended to the maximum. At her current Tier 4 Realm, she could navigate even the opaque green mist without worry.

In less than a minute, the ship landed on the metal moon, right in front of a sculpted gate that blocked the entrance into a giant metal mountain.

She stored the ship and walked towards the gate, touching the metal with caution. Bright runes lit up on the gate at her touch. 'Adamantium. Very thick as well, at least one li. And these rune wards...' she spoke inward, as the Ruler began glowing with Sword qi.

Lara struck forward, denting the gate a few meters inward, but failing to demolish the gate. As she observed the gate for damage, she noticed the metal flow back into shape, and in a few seconds the gate had repaired itself.

Then, just as she prepared to strike again, the gates opened by themselves.

'It's a simple trap, sister. The gate will close behind us.' the glove spoke in advice.

'I can demolish it anyway, if I have to.' Lara said confidently as she flew inside.

The glove chuckled inward, not really caring about the first trap. It was one rune which interested it, depicting a White Tiger with wings.

'Perhaps there will be something strong to fight inside. Similar to that spirit Taotie.' the glove advised the Heart Ruler, letting it know to be prepared.

'Oh! That would be fun indeed. But our user...she is only a Galaxy Goddess.' the Ruler said with trepidation.

'Is she though?' the glove asked jokingly.

Just as Lara landed inside the main room, glowing spirit stone lit up all around, and a holographic beast appeared in the middle of the room, now proven to be some type of arena.

"Another challenger has arrived, after a dozen Chaos Cycles. Do you seek my power, little girl?" the spirit beast asked with faint derision.

"Are you strong enough for me to want you, old tiger?" Lara asked while readying her weapon in front.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Oh! You have the right spirit. But..." the beast exclaimed while swiping a ghostly claw and scratching Lara's arm. With curious eyes, the beast licked its claw as if pondering something. "Only 17 years and already a Galaxy God Realm? And that golden soul...you have reincarnated."

"What is your point, old tiger?" the blue-haired Soldier asked loudly.

"My old Master had a golden soul too. He died sealing the Breach and saving the universe from the Many Eyes. You would make a great successor, if you survive the trials." the spirit beast explained with kinder eyes.

With a glowing paw, the beast attacked seriously, tearing through Lara's Wind Domain and crushing her ribs.

She was thrown into the far wall, and laid there breathless for a moment, before her flesh knitted back and her qi flared stronger, already in Tier 5.

"It seems I will have to beat your ass, old tiger" she murmured as she launched herself at sped, powering her Skill at the same time.

For three days and nights the two monsters fought constantly, until Lara had another breakthrough and entered Elder God Realm.

This gave even the White Tiger pause for a second. "Curious indeed. I wonder if you can Ascend once more, challenger. Reach Dian Realm and I will follow you willingly." the beast proclaimed while powering itself even more.

"Make me, old tiger! I bet you would make a fine warbeast for me to ride." Lara shouted and launched herself at the White Tiger.

'This beast is a Tier 7 as well?' the Ruler wondered on the network.

'At least Tier 7, my friend. More probably, it has reached Tier 8 since. Quite the gift she got, our little Soldier.' the glove mused inward, watching the duel with excitement.

For another week, Lara got pushed to the limit by the attacking beast, yet never to the point of losing limb or life. It seemed the White Tiger was truthful to its words, and only fought her just enough to help her Ascend.

"Too bad. I hoped I can leave this moon already, but it seems you're not strong enough. Time to die..." the White Tiger spoke in a sad voice, and opened its mouth wide, as if preparing to devour the young woman.

"Got you!" Lara yelled and pushed through, flaring her qi into Tier 7 levels then launching at the tiger with a desperate strike.

With a smirk, the beast drew back and held a single claw, blocking the powerful sword strike with ease. "Good. You pass, little one. I guess I will follow you now..."

Blue and white lights flashed into the arena, as a pedestal rose from the floor. On it there was a tiny white tiger cub, still asleep and a jade bracelet with a dozen white crystals glowing on it. The spirit beast transformed into a stream of light and entered the bracelet, leaving Lara to fall on her butt, exhausted and bewildered.

'Focus on remembering, Soldier Lara Xi. This quest was interesting, but we do have our mission.' the glove urged her, while revealing itself for the first time.

Lara nodded and closed her eyes to meditate, as memories of her older life flew into her soul.

'Oh, my sweet Pef. Did you win, in the end? Is that worm still around?' she wondered as tears began to form in her eyes.

'He is alive. And about same age as you are now, Lara. It's time to go home, now that you have recovered your cultivation.' the glove said while projecting her inner screen.

'I see. That pill you gave me...I had already Ascended to Tier 7. I just had to grow up.' Lara whispered inward, as she walked towards the small tiger and took it in her arms.

'The tiger pup is only a Tier 1 Divine Beast...check the bracelet' the glove demanded as it scanned the tiger.

Picking up the jade bracelet, Lara slipped it on her left hand, then focused her senses. Much like a storage ring, the white crystals contained a trove of artifacts and cultivation aids,

everything from weapons and armor, to talismans and amulets, pills and potions, jade tablets and lots of other items.

Only one crystal was empty, except for a painting depicting the spirit beast from before, a White Tiger soaring over some mountains.