---

Chapter 030 You Can Touch It

Speaking of which, the first time she encountered the ability of Fantasy Manifestation in her previous life, it seemed she had a similar train of thought.

Mainly because of the uniqueness of this ability.

If abilities are understood as innate skills possessed by players, then the purpose of the game is to awaken and guide players to proficiently use these abilities. However, since these are not innate capabilities, a sudden exposure later in life means requiring more effort to understand and apply them.

It’s akin to the difference between a mother tongue and a foreign language learned later.

The current guidance of the game is like a foreign language textbook, teaching only vocabulary and some basic sentences. Even if you thoroughly digest this textbook, it doesn’t mean you have mastered it; much more is needed for players to understand their abilities and create their own methods of use.

Xia Xinyan’s beastification ability is relatively simple, as it merely strengthens her physique. After adapting to a new combat style, she becomes reasonably familiar. But Ling Mo’s ability is different; Fantasy Manifestation requires much more of his creativity.

This is the hardest part to master.

For instance, activating the ability is like the game providing him with a computer and pre-installing some basic software to guide him in learning to use the computer. He can use these software programs on this computer and can also study them—yet only to that extent.

If he wants to apply it, he must study the code of these software to write his own necessary programs. As long as he has the computer platform, the possibilities are endless.

The only limits are his programming skills.

The software on that computer represents the manifestable items the game currently offers based on his strength.

And his current strength… equates to that of a freshly created Level 1 newbie.

So, it’s easy to infer what he can manifest right now.

Xia Xinyan watched him dazedly holding a candle he had manifested.

Though she had a heap of words to say, she ultimately said nothing.

What could she say? Explain how powerful his ability is?

How could she explain why she knows all this?

That’s not something game information could explain.

If she said too much, it might raise his suspicion.

But it didn’t matter; it wouldn’t be long before Ling Mo realized how strong his abilities were.

Until then, she could stand in front of him and protect him for now.

“Everyone’s abilities become strong in the later stages, don’t underestimate your power.” After a long silence, she casually offered some comfort, “Maybe it’s just because your strength isn’t strong enough now to create cooler stuff? Didn’t they say this ability can manifest any item? Once you get stronger, you might be able to manifest a tank someday, and we’d probably be invincible in the dungeon.”

Upon hearing this, Ling Mo reflected and realized it seemed reasonable.

“Abilities really get stronger as the player’s strength increases?” he couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly is the standard? Physical attributes?”

“Everything,” Xia Xinyan shook her head, “The game hasn’t provided a clear explanation in this regard, but as long as you’re increasing your strength, your abilities will gradually grow stronger—like your physical attributes or combat skills…”

The more Ling Mo listened, the weirder it sounded: “Combat skills… isn’t this game really for training soldiers?”

“…”

She couldn’t explain that question to him.

Fortunately, Ling Mo didn’t intend to dig deeper and turned to her, asking, “By the way, what’s your ability?”

Xia Xinyan paused, hesitating for a moment; suddenly, a pair of cat ears popped up on her head: “…Catgirl.”

Ling Mo was instantly dumbfounded.

Cat… cat… catgirl?!

Beast ears?!

What the heck?! Is this for real?!

This game has such a setting?!

My girlfriend turned into a catgirl?! This scene, which only existed in novels and anime, actually appeared in reality?!

Such a setting seemingly designed to cater to otaku, and as a normal guy, he couldn’t possibly—

—refuse it at all.

Damn, he realized he might be a little interested in this game now.

“Uh… um,” he took a deep breath to suppress his wildly racing heart, staring intently at Xia Xinyan’s cat ears, his tone shaking a bit, “Can I… touch them?”

“…Huh?” Xia Xinyan blinked in surprise.

Is that something you should say to a girl?

Noticing her strange expression, Ling Mo quickly changed his tone: “Ha… just kidding; cat ears are really cute.”

The fur on her cat ears and the transition to her hair felt perfectly natural, completely unlike those cat ear headbands worn by cosplayers. It was purely natural, exuding an indescribable allure.

It was beyond what “cute” could describe.

Ling Mo had once naively thought that he might never be interested in girls from reality, yet now, he felt that his past self holding such a notion was utterly foolish.

He was way too interested.

So interested that he felt like committing a crime.

The impulse in his heart felt somewhat unfamiliar, and it was his first time realizing he could be this stirred up.

Had he really been single for too long…?

—Actually, it was just the charm at work.

[Based on performance assessment, the host’s original form’s favorability towards the host is skyrocketing. It is advised for the host to seize the opportunity and continue the momentum.]

Tianji’s voice suddenly rang in Xia Xinyan’s mind, leaving her momentarily confused.

Increased favorability?

It couldn’t be because of her current appearance, right?

—She seemed to have forgotten about her passive skill that was always in effect.

But at least she understood the situation now.

Though she maintained a “keep quiet” attitude towards Tianji’s suggestion, her own calculations didn’t differ much.

If she could increase Ling Mo’s favorability with minimal effort, she definitely wouldn’t let the chance slip by.

“Want to touch?” She took a step closer to him, almost pressing against his chest, tilting her head slightly, and her cat ears lightly twitched, “You can touch them.”

Even her tail swayed happily.

A fragrant aroma suddenly wafted through the air, and the sensation from her chest almost made Ling Mo lose control. Heaven knows how much effort he exerted in those few seconds to refrain from making any improper moves—this was the first time he realized he had such strong self-discipline.

But standing in front of the girl, he couldn’t completely resist.

Ling Mo was just over six feet tall, while Xia Xinyan was almost an entire head shorter. At such a close distance, she had to slightly tilt her head up to meet his gaze, and the cuteness from this angle truly felt like breaking the rules.

Finally, he reached out his sinful hand and touched one of her cat ears.

The moment he made contact, the cat ear suddenly quivered, and instinctively tried to droop down to escape his grip, but his fingers restrained its movement. Nevertheless, feeling the pressure from his hand, Ling Mo quickly released it, watching the two cat ears droop down shyly.

Xia Xinyan squinted her eyes slightly, her face flushing.

—Damn, she’s so sensitive.

 

---