Mimi? I'm a Fierce Tiger!

The wound on his leg still throbbed faintly, but the sensation brought on by that strange warm current left Lin Mo even more shaken.

He mechanically lapped up what little beast milk remained in the stone trough, frantically analyzing the situation in his mind.

"Devouring can heal? After I'm injured, I can steal a trace of energy from food to mend my wounds!"

This discovery temporarily pushed aside his panic about his predicament. A cheat ability! This really was a standard perk for someone who'd crossed into another world! It seemed pitifully weak, but at least it gave him hope!

However, reality quickly dealt him a harsh blow.

The sturdy cub that had bitten him seemed to have gotten a taste for "victory"—or perhaps it simply couldn't stand the sight of this white oddball. Seeing him still lapping at the milk, it bared its teeth again, growled, and stalked closer, clearly preparing to attack.

Damn it, are you not done yet?!

Anger flared in Lin Mo's heart. His human pride made him want to fight the beast! He arched his skinny back, imitated its stance, and let out what he thought was a ferocious "Rrrr," baring his tiny milk teeth, which weren't intimidating in the slightest.

However, the difference in their size and strength was a simple fact.

The other cub only needed to lunge and bump him casually for Lin Mo to feel like he'd been hit by a little cannonball. He staggered back several steps, landed on his rump in the hay, and saw stars from the fall.

The sturdy cub swished its tail smugly, went to the stone trough, and claimed the best spot. Then it turned and gave Lin Mo a taunting growl.

"Roar... Just you wait..." Lin Mo cursed inwardly, but his body was honest. He didn't charge in for another round.

A wise tiger didn't fight at a disadvantage! Keep his head down!

He admitted defeat. His head drooped, his ears flattened, and he let out a few plaintive whimpers of submission. He even tried to wag the tip of his uncooperative tail. He'd learned the gesture from watching the other cubs interact: it meant surrender.

Sure enough, the sturdy cub's hostility faded. In its place came a haughty, superior smugness, as if to say, "At least you know your place." It paid him no further attention and focused on the milk in the trough.

Lin Mo silently added the cub to his list of grudges. Then, waiting until the strongest ones had nearly finished drinking and started play-fighting, he quietly squeezed in again through a gap at the very edge. He plunged his head into the trough and frantically lapped up the last thin layer of milk.

This time, none of the other cubs came to chase him away.

"Glug... glug..."

The warm beast milk, carrying its strange energy, flowed down his throat and into his stomach. At first, he felt nothing. But after a while, a distinct warmth rose from his lower abdomen, far stronger than the faint current he'd felt when he was injured. Like gentle sunlight, it slowly spread through every limb and bone.

He could clearly feel his weakness fading. His somewhat hollow stomach seemed fuller, and even his limbs felt a little stronger. He was still nowhere near "strong," but at least he no longer felt like a gust of wind could knock him over.

"This beast milk... isn't ordinary!" Lin Mo thought, startled. "This world really is something else."

Satisfied, he retreated to the farthest corner of the pen and curled up in a relatively clean spot. He carefully licked the wound on his foreleg and began digesting his food with half-lidded eyes, all the while observing this "Nursery."

Just as he drifted between sleep and wakefulness, wondering whether his future held dominion over the mountains or a place as a tiger-skin rug, a commotion came from outside.

Footsteps, laughter, and the caretaker's fawning, cautious voice reached him.

"Young Master Wang, Young Master Li, Miss Keke, this way, please! This litter consists of the purest-blooded Winged Tiger cubs born this year. They have tremendous potential!"

Lin Mo's ears immediately perked up. He raised his head warily and peered through the hay toward the entrance, his amber eyes wide.

The gate to the pen opened, and several people walked in. At the front were three teenage boys and two girls of about the same age, all wearing fine combat uniforms. The Base caretaker followed behind them, bowing and scraping.

One of the boys was tall and burly, with a hint of arrogance in his eyes and brows. Pointing at the cubs in the pen, he bragged to the two girls beside him.

"See? Not a bad batch, right? I told my dad a long time ago: if you're going to pick a battle pet, you have to come to a Breeding Base with military backing like this! How could the trash in pet markets ever be worthy of us?"

He thumped his chest and said smugly, "I passed the Beginner Warrior assessment last year! This time, I'm definitely picking the fiercest one. I'll take it with me to sweep through the Wilderness Zone!"

The other boy and the two girls beside him all showed varying degrees of envy and flattery.

Only the girl at the back, wearing a pale blue combat uniform and a neat ponytail, seemed a little distracted. She looked about fourteen or fifteen, with fair skin and delicate features like a porcelain doll. Yet deep in her clear eyes was a calmness and liveliness unusual for her age.

She didn't chime in with the arrogant boy's boasting. Her gaze passed lightly over the strongest, most active cubs in the pen, and she didn't seem particularly interested.

Lin Mo's heart sank.

The Wang Family? A convoy? Picking battle pets?

The late Great Nirvana era! Battle beasts! Those keywords instantly clicked together in his mind!

Damn it, the buyers are here! Am I going to be picked as a pet?!

He immediately lowered his head and tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, frantically praying. Don't pick me, don't pick me! I'm going to keep my head down, grow stronger, and become a king! How could I be somebody's pet? Pick those orange ones—yeah, pick the one that bullied me earlier!

The arrogant boy, the one they called Young Master Wang, did indeed take a fancy to the strongest cub. Pointing at it, he told the caretaker, "That one! It looks fierce!"

The caretaker hurriedly smiled and agreed.

The other boys and girls also picked cubs that looked healthy and lively.

Just then, Young Master Wang looked toward the ponytailed girl at the back, his voice turning a little ingratiating. "Little Keke, why don't you pick one too? That one looks pretty good to me. The 'king' marking on its forehead is the clearest!"

The girl called Keke shook her head gently. Her gaze still roamed the pen, then suddenly settled on the little white figure curled up in the far corner, trying its best to be invisible.

The other cubs were curiously sizing up the two-legged creatures or play-fighting with one another. Only this white one had its ears drooping and an expression that... how to put it? Unlike the other young beasts, it didn't look innocent or fierce. Instead, it seemed world-weary and dejected, with a kind of... indescribable spark?

Almost as if possessed, Wang Keke walked over, crouched down, and looked at Lin Mo through the bars.

Alarm bells rang in Lin Mo's mind! It's over, it's over! Why are you looking at me? I'm not cute! I'm lethargic! I'm dying! Go look at the orange ones!

Seeing this, the caretaker hurried to explain, "Miss Keke, this one... has a mutated coat color and a weak constitution. It doesn't get along with the others, so its potential may be limited..."

But Wang Keke seemed not to hear him. She stretched out a slender finger and gently tapped the bars.

Lin Mo instinctively raised his eyelids and glanced at her.

At that very glance, Wang Keke's eyes lit up. For just an instant, something intensely human seemed to flash in those amber eyes—helplessness and despair?

"It's so special," Wang Keke murmured, her voice clear and sweet.

She opened the gate herself. Her status was obviously high enough that the caretaker didn't dare stop her. Ignoring the other cubs as they shrank away, she went straight to Lin Mo.

Lin Mo wanted to run, but he was a little lazy after eating his fill. Besides, there was something about the girl that he didn't find all that unpleasant.

Wang Keke carefully reached out. Unlike the others, she didn't simply grab him by the scruff. She gently stroked Lin Mo's head, then slipped both hands beneath his forelegs and picked him up.

"Yow... Put me down..." Lin Mo struggled in vain, but her hold was steady.

Holding the light, fluffy white cub in her arms, Wang Keke felt how different its "quiet" temperament was from the other cubs. In truth, he was just too miserable to move. The more she looked at him, the more she liked him.

Happily, she rubbed her cheek against the soft down on top of Lin Mo's head, then announced to Young Master Wang and the others as they came over:

"I choose him!"

Then she lifted Lin Mo up and looked at his amber eyes, which seemed to say, "Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?" With a grin, she bestowed a name upon him:

"From now on, your name is 'Mimi'!"

"Mimi?!"

Lin Mo's tiger body stiffened. His inner roar surged like a tsunami, almost bursting from his throat.

"ROAR—!! Mimi my ass! I'm a fierce tiger! A Winged Fierce Tiger! I'm destined to become a king! Mimi?! You little brat, do you even know how to name things? I'll fight you!!"

But all that came out was a string of weak, desperate cries:

"Yowoo... yow, yowoo..."

They sounded more like he was acting cute.

Wang Keke was delighted. She hugged him even tighter. "See? He agreed! He's so cute!"

Lin Mo: "..."

Inner thoughts: Agreed to my ass! I'm protesting! This is a blood-and-tears condemnation!

Under the somewhat astonished looks of her companions and the caretaker's hesitant gaze, Wang Keke carried her new battle pet—"Mimi"—out of the pen, perfectly content.

All that remained was Lin Mo, hanging his head in despair in the crook of Wang Keke's arm, feeling fate's cruel mockery.

A tiger's life was hard. Not only had he started out as a pet, but now he was damn well called "Mimi"!

It was over. His lifelong reputation had been ruined by that name before it had even begun.