Zander and the group finally arrived at the summit of the Mountain of Heart and Soul. The sun's rays bore down on them, almost as if the sun itself hovered just above, its warmth sinking deep into their skin. At the center stood a majestic tree, its branches reaching skyward, with a single golden apple gleaming from its highest bough. Zander’s eyes gleamed with excitement—after all their struggles, he was finally one step closer to returning to his master and unlocking even greater wisdom.

"Here it is," Zander murmured, his voice filled with satisfaction.

Yí Yù and the little girl stood in awe, their eyes wide as they took in the sight of the shimmering golden apple.

"Alright, I'll pick this apple," Zander said with a small smile. "After that, I'll take you both to the master."

The little girl stepped closer, looking up at him. "Oh, but I'm supposed to go to a village..."

Zander shook his head. "I know. I'll take you somewhere much safer than any village”.

“ Really?” said Yí Yù

Zander nodded and began walking toward the tree, his focus on the golden apple. As he moved, the little girl’s eyes caught something unusual in the sky—a fiery object hurtling down like a meteor. Alarmed, she shouted, “Zander, look up!”

Reacting instantly, Zander glanced up and, without hesitation, summoned his sword just in time to block a sudden, powerful strike. The impact was so fierce that a shockwave rippled through the air, sending the little girl and Yí Yù stumbling backward.

A huge white tiger, wielding a massive sword, stood before Zander. The force of its strike reverberated through Zander's blade, but he pushed back with a swift swing. The tiger, with catlike reflexes, dodged backward, its eyes locked onto Zander.

"Woah, man! What the hell?" Zander shouted as the tiger charged at him again, unleashing a flurry of rapid strikes while roaring, "Die!" Zander dodged each attack with swift precision, but the tiger caught him off guard, landing a powerful uppercut. In an instant, it grabbed Zander's left leg and slammed him hard into the ground.

The tiger raised its massive sword and swung down, but Zander blocked it just in time. Their eyes locked in a tense standoff.

"Calm down, big guy. Where did you even come from? What's your problem?" Zander asked, trying to catch his breath.

"Just hurry up and die!" the tiger growled, pressing harder, determined to break through Zander's defense. With a swift kick, Zander sent the massive sword flying from the tiger's grasp. Seizing the moment, he sprang to his feet, positioning his own sword at the tiger's neck.

"Checkmate. Now tell me where you came from," Zander demanded.

The tiger remained silent, a fierce glint in his eyes. In an instant, he kicked Zander in the face, then grabbed him and hurled him toward the tree. Zander crashed against the trunk, pain shooting through his body. He tries to get up but stumbles.

The little girl watched anxiously, thinking, “Zander doesn’t look so good. That tiger must be incredibly strong”.

Zander rose to his feet and swung at the tiger once more, but the beast expertly blocked the attack with a swift motion of his arms. In a sudden burst of strength, the tiger seized Zander's face and slammed him down again. As the massive sword fell into the tiger's grip, he prepared to strike again, but Zander intercepted the blow with a determined block.

Feeling cornered, Zander shouted, “Replica!” and transformed into the tiger himself, delivering a powerful punch that sent his opponent staggering back. The tiger roared in fury, his eyes blazing with frustration. “Why won’t you just die already? I need to meet them again!”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Now fully transformed, Zander stood as a perfect replica of the tiger. They locked eyes, and in an instant, both charged at each other, unleashing a flurry of punches, kicks, and claw strikes. The air crackled with energy as the two fierce opponents clashed.

Yí Yù watched the intense clash unfold, worry etched on his face. “Zander can’t keep this up much longer. There has to be a way to turn the tide.”

Suddenly, the little girl, with fierce determination, shouted hurtful things at the tiger, trying to distract it. At first, the tiger ignored her taunts, his focus solely on Zander. But then she struck a nerve, saying something that cut deep, and the tiger’s eyes flared with rage.

“Big lion!” the little girl shouted, her voice sharp and unyielding. “Your family never loved you! They abandoned you! You’re nothing but a forgotten beast, wandering alone while they’ve moved on, probably celebrating your death! How pathetic!”

The tiger halted, glaring at the girl with fierce intensity. With his full attention now on her, Zander seized the moment and slashed at the tiger with all his strength. The tiger whirled around, attempting to retaliate, but Zander deftly dodged, breaking his arm in the process.

Seizing the opportunity, Zander executed a swift leg sweep, sending the tiger crashing to the ground. He followed up with a barrage of punches, each strike weakening the beast further, pushing him to the brink of defeat. Zander paused, stepping back as the tiger lay on the ground, gasping for breath. The fierce glint in the tiger's eyes softened, revealing a glimmer of vulnerability.

“I just wanted to meet my family again... that’s all,” the tiger admitted, his voice heavy with sorrow.

Zander swiftly snatched the apple and approached Yí Yù and the little girl, contemplating the tiger’s true nature.

“Zander, I don’t think he’s bad at all. He might be fighting for something,” Yí Yù suggested, taking a cautious step toward the tiger.

“Yí Yù, stay back!” Zander warned.

“Zander, he’s hurt,” Yí Yù pleaded, concerned lacing his voice.

“Yeah, but he tried to kill me! He would’ve probably killed all of us. Are you really sure you want to help him?” Zander replied, his brows furrowed in frustration.

“Yes, I do,” he insisted, his resolve unwavering. “I’m a priest, after all. It’s my duty to heal all life, even for misguided creatures like him.”

Yí Yù pulled out a small pouch of shimmering purple powder and sprinkled it over the tiger’s wounds. Almost instantly, the gashes and bruises began to close, the healing magic coursing through his body. The tiger blinked in confusion, looking at him with a mix of gratitude and disbelief.

“Why did you do that? I didn’t ask for your pity,” the tiger growled, his voice low and laced with confusion.

Yí Yù looked him in the eyes, unwavering. “I can see you’re not truly a bad person. You must want something, something important.”

“Not at all! I don’t want anything!” the tiger snapped, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

“Yes, you do,” Yí Yù pressed gently. “Anyone who fights as fiercely as you did must be driven by something deeper. You’re searching for something you’ve lost.”

The tiger rose to his feet, but before he could utter a word, the necklace around his neck unleashed a jolt of pain, causing him to growl in agony. Zander quickly pulled Yí Yù back, his eyes darting between her and the wounded beast.

“What’s happening to him?” Zander asked, concern edging his voice.

“I don’t know,” Yí Yù replied, her brow furrowed in worry.

The tiger growled again, this time more desperate. “The necklace! The necklace!”

Hearing those words, Zander's resolve hardened. He summoned his sword, its blade shimmering in the sunlight as he approached the tiger. With a swift, decisive motion, he sliced through the chain, severing the cursed necklace from the tiger's neck.

The tiger calmed down, the pain subsiding as he took a deep, shuddering breath. He looked at Zander, who stood before him, sword poised inches from his face, the tension in the air thick.

“Zander, no. Let him go,” Yí Yù pleaded, stepping forward with an urgent look in her eyes.

Zander hesitated, the weight of his words hanging in the air. He glanced at the tiger, whose fierce exterior had faded to reveal a more vulnerable side.

“Fine,” he finally relented, his sword disappearing. “But if he comes back, I will kill him.” His voice was steady.

The tiger rose, stretching his powerful limbs as he walked away, a sense of liberation coursing through him. Grateful to the priest, his heart swelled with appreciation for the newfound freedom from mercury's suffocating grip. He turned back, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes.

With that, the group began their descent down the mountain, Leo going down the other way.

Finally, after the tough battle, the group reached Zander's master's home. Zander opened the door and saw a calm room bathed in warm light. His master was kneeling in front of a statue, hands together in prayer, looking peaceful and focused. Zander felt excited to share everything he had experienced.