Come to think of it, the first time she encountered the Fantasy Manifestation ability in her previous life, her thoughts had been pretty much the same.
It all came down to the ability’s unique nature.
If abilities were innate powers players already possessed, the game’s role would be to awaken and guide mastery. But since they’re acquired later, comprehension and application demand extra effort—like the gap between a native tongue and a foreign language learned as an adult.
The game’s current guidance? A basic textbook: vocabulary, simple sentences. Master it completely, and you’re still far from fluent. True mastery requires players to understand their own ability and forge their own methods.
Xia Xinyan’s Beast Transformation was relatively straightforward—purely physical enhancement. Adapt to the new combat style, and familiarity follows. But Ling Mo’s ability was different. Fantasy Manifestation demanded creativity.
And that was the hardest part to grasp.
Think of it this way: activating the ability was like the game handing him a computer preloaded with basic software. He could use the programs, even study them—but only within those limits.
To truly apply it? He’d need to dissect the code and write his own. With the computer as a platform, possibilities were endless.
The only limit: his programming skill.
The preloaded software? The manifestable item list the game provided based on his current strength.
And his strength right now… equaled a level-1 newbie who’d just created their account.
No wonder the only thing he could manifest was a candle.
Xia Xinyan watched him stare blankly at the candle in his hand.
A flood of words surged in her mind—but she said nothing.
What could she say? Explain how powerful his ability truly was?
Then how would she justify *knowing* that?
No amount of “game research” could cover it. Too many words might raise suspicion.
But it didn’t matter. Soon, Ling Mo would realize his ability’s potential.
Until then, she’d stand before him and protect him.
After a long silence, she offered a casual comfort: “All abilities grow incredibly strong with time. Don’t underestimate your power. Maybe you just can’t manifest stronger things *yet*? If Fantasy Manifestation can create anything… once you level up, who knows? A tank someday. We’d be unstoppable in dungeons.”
Ling Mo paused. Huh. She had a point.
“Do abilities really scale with player strength?” he asked, voice tinged with curiosity. “What’s the metric? Physical stats?”
“All of it,” Xia Xinyan shook her head. “The game’s vague, but as long as you’re growing—stats, combat skills, everything—your ability strengthens too.”
Ling Mo frowned. “Combat skills… Is this game secretly training soldiers?”
“…”
She had no answer.
Thankfully, he didn’t press further. He turned to her. “So… what’s *your* ability?”
Xia Xinyan hesitated. Then—*poof*—a pair of cat ears sprouted from her head.
“…Catgirl.”
Ling Mo froze.
C-cat… *catgirl*?!
Beast ears?!
Holy crap?! Is this real?!
Does this game actually have this setting?!
His *girlfriend* turning into a catgirl?! A scene straight out of anime and light novels—happening *now*?!
This fan-service-perfect setup… as a normal guy, he had zero…
resistance.
Damn. He was actually getting interested in this game.
“U-um…” He sucked in a sharp breath, forcing calm. Eyes locked on her ears, voice trembling: “C-can I… touch them?”
“…Hm?” Xia Xinyan blinked. *Is that something you say to a girl?*
Spotting her wary look, he backpedaled fast: “Haha! Kidding! They’re… really cute.”
But they were more than cute. The ears blended seamlessly into her hair—soft fur, natural transition, nothing like cosplay headbands. Pure, organic allure.
Ling Mo had once sworn he’d never care about real-life girls. Now? His past self was an idiot.
He was *very* interested.
Interested enough for dangerous thoughts.
This restless surge felt alien. First time he’d ever felt this… keyed up.
*Must be from being single too long…*
—Though truthfully, it was just the charm passive doing its job.
【Observed behavior indicates the original body’s affinity toward the host is skyrocketing. Recommendation: seize the opportunity to press the advantage.】
Tianji’s voice echoed in Xia Xinyan’s mind. She froze, confused.
*Affinity rose?*
*Because of this form?*
—She’d forgotten her ever-active passive skill.
But she grasped the situation. Ignoring Tianji’s advice? Still her plan. Yet her own calculation aligned perfectly: minimal effort for maximum affinity gain? She wouldn’t pass it up.
“Do you want to touch them?” She stepped closer, nearly flush against his chest. Tilting her head up slightly, her ears twitched. “Go ahead.”
Even her tail swayed, pleased.
A delicate fragrance washed over him. The warmth against his chest nearly shattered his control. Heaven knew the willpower it took not to cross a line—this was the first time he’d realized his self-control ran *this* deep.
But he couldn’t hold back completely.
At 180+ cm, he towered over her. She had to tilt her head just to meet his eyes—a perspective so unfairly cute it felt like cheating.
His guilty hand finally reached out. Gently pinched one ear.
The ear twitched instantly, trying to droop away. His fingers blocked it. Feeling the faint resistance, he released it at once. Both ears drooped shyly.
Xia Xinyan’s eyes softened; a blush dusted her cheeks.
—Damn. *So* sensitive.
