Time was like the scraps of monster meat slipping through Lin Mo's claws: there seemed to be plenty, but it was gone in the blink of an eye.
Over the past three months, Lin Mo had learned firsthand what it meant to be a tiger in a tough spot, relying entirely on his acting skills. He was a Winged Fierce Tiger with the soul of a master of playing it safe inside him. By day, he was a "working tiger," dashing between lights, reflectors, and a director's roars. Only at night did he become the "chow-down tiger," devouring everything in sight in his desperate quest to grow stronger.
His filming career had been a saga of blood, sweat, and tears. At first, he'd endorsed some brand of monster jerky, which required him to stare into the camera with an ecstatic expression as if he'd just tasted the most delicious food in the world. Heaven knew how hard he'd worked to make that face—he'd nearly given himself muscle spasms. Later, he'd landed a gig for a high-end "battle pet vitality collar." He had to wear the uncomfortable thing, which was covered in fake diamonds, and run and spread his wings in front of a green screen, creating a contradictory vibe of freedom and luxury. The most ridiculous job had been for a shower gel commercial. They'd wanted him and Wang Keke to "play" in a luxurious bathtub full of bubbles. He'd firmly held the line at the last possible moment—he hadn't gotten into the water, only batting at the bubbles with one paw and putting on an expression that said, "This tiger hates this, but he's a professional." Even so, the footage had been turned into an animated meme with the caption "Fierce Tiger Refuses to Bathe," and it had gone viral.
"Mimi, look this way! Good, spread your wings a little more! Your eyes—your eyes need to look fierce, but with a hint of approval for the product!" The photographer's voice had become the soundtrack to Lin Mo's nightmares.
(Inner thoughts): "Approval, my ass! Could this thing possibly taste better than a freshly torn-off monster leg? My fearsome aura is for approving of this dog-plaster collar?" As he grumbled inwardly, Lin Mo deftly adjusted the angle of his wings. Under the blazing lights, his golden tiger eyes struggled to focus, trying to convey the lie that "wearing this collar will give you the same imposing aura as this king."
Though the process had been humiliating and mortifying, the name "Mimi," along with his mighty yet unexpectedly adorable image, had truly become famous across the country. His "selling-himself money"—no, his share of the profits—had snowballed. Wang Keke was so delighted that she hugged and kissed him every day, saying, "Mimi! You're my lucky money tiger! From now on, you'll have all the monster meat you want!"
That was probably the only comfort Lin Mo had gotten from his working life. A solid financial foundation made everything else possible. With money, he could order whatever he wanted and grow stronger faster.
Eating and drinking every day was the one unshakable priority. After splurging his "hard-earned money" on one lavish meal after another, Lin Mo finally felt the long-dormant [Combat Devour] talent stir again one stormy night—though there wasn't actually any thunder or lightning; the kitchen had simply delivered its freshest batch yet. It happened after he'd polished off his Nth Lightning Marten.
A tingling current surged through his body. Unlike the steadying effect of [Tough Skin] or the restless energy of [Power Burst], this power focused more on speed and explosive force. It was as if an invisible force were combing through and strengthening his muscle fibers, while his neural response speed improved ever so slightly.
[ Ding! After devouring a large quantity of "Lightning Martens," successfully analyzed and inherited their core talent—Lightning Strike! ]
Success! Lin Mo nearly burst into tears. Lightning Marten might not have been the tastiest meat, but it was outrageously expensive. He'd practically been living on it for the past three months, all for the sake of that tiny, uncertain chance. He'd eaten so much that he'd started to think he might turn into a giant cat that could shoot lightning.
[Lightning Strike]: When activated, it instantly stimulates every cell and muscle in the body, unleashing speed and strength far beyond normal levels. The user moves with the ferocity of lightning, making the skill suitable for short-range ambushes and bursts of power. Side effect: It places considerable strain on the muscles for a short time. Use with caution.
"Short-range ambushes? Bursts of power?" Lin Mo licked his lips, feeling the power itching to burst out from within him. "Isn't this tailor-made for stealing kills... I mean, for delivering righteous finishing blows?"
With his new talent and his continuous, spend-to-win devouring spree, Lin Mo naturally broke through to Advanced Beast Soldier. He had grown even more imposing and powerfully built, with a shoulder height nearly matching that of an adult Siberian Tiger. His coat shone, his muscles were sleek and defined, and when he crouched, he looked like a small fortress. The most striking change was the pair of wings on his back. They were no longer mere "decorations" that let him glide and conserve energy. Their span had grown, their feathers—or rather, their wing membranes covered in featherlike scales—had become tougher, and their bones were now strong and powerful.
He'd secretly tested them, and he could now fly low over short distances! He couldn't stay airborne for long, and he couldn't fly very high. As for his posture... in Wang Keke's words, "He looks like a huge Golden British Shorthair who got drunk and is desperately flapping around." But for a creature with a tiger's body, it was undoubtedly a milestone!
That meant his mobility had improved by leaps and bounds. If he couldn't win, he could fly away—though he couldn't fly high or far just yet. He could ignore some terrain when giving chase, and perhaps, someday... he could even attack from the air. The very thought thrilled him.
Of course, his "embarrassing flight" was still a secret. He only practiced in the enormous training room specially built by the Wang Family to block outside observers, with Wang Keke watching.
Every time he flapped his wings with all his might, lifted all four paws off the ground, and wobbled through the air, Wang Keke laughed until she nearly fell over. She showed no mercy as she recorded this moment of his "tiger image collapsing."
"Mimi! Keep it up! Put more strength into your left wing! That's it! Keep your balance! Oh no, you're about to hit the wall!"
(Inner thoughts): "Shut up, woman! Once I master aerial hunting, you'll be the first one I carry into the sky for a ride!" Lin Mo gritted his teeth as he adjusted his posture, swearing to master stylish flight as soon as possible and get his revenge.
Wang Keke hadn't been idle over the past three months, either. Perhaps inspired by Lin Mo's rapid growth, she had trained even harder in the Spirit-Rhino Resonance Chapter. Her results had been remarkable. She could now precisely control four Flying Daggers at once, tracing tricky paths through the air to hit targets moving at high speed.
Her growing mental strength had also made the link between her and Lin Mo clearer and more stable. Now, she could even vaguely sense some of Lin Mo's stronger intentions, such as "I'm hungry," "I don't want to film," and "I want to try my new ability."
"Mimi, I feel like you've gotten so much faster lately," Wang Keke said, stroking his increasingly thick coat, her eyes shining. "And your wings have gotten strong—you've even started flying in secret."
Lin Mo rolled his eyes and rubbed his head against her palm, sending her the thought, "You know it, so hurry up and get more good food for your king."
Lin Mo raised his head, a sharp glint flashing in his golden tiger eyes.
He stood up and stretched his powerful limbs. His wings flapped instinctively, stirring up a breeze. In just three months, he had quietly grown from a "viral Mimi" forced to earn a living into an Advanced Beast Soldier with lightning speed, a fledgling ability to fly, and a bulging wallet.
His life as a working tiger might continue for a while yet, but he knew that every bit of patience and "sacrifice" was building up his strength. Once his wings were hard enough and his claws sharp enough, the day would come when he could roar through the mountains and soar into the sky.
For now, though... He glanced at the new script his agent had just sent to the tablet beside him. It was an endorsement for an energy drink called Tiger's Might. He was supposed to take a sip on camera and then excitedly throw back his head and roar.
(Inner thoughts): "...Fine. For the money, I can put up with it a little longer. A sip shouldn't kill a tiger. I just hope this stuff doesn't taste like Iron-Wire Snake."
He resigned himself to lying back down, flicking his tail as he began working up an over-the-top expression that said, "One sip and I can sweep across a thousand armies." Life was hard. Even a fierce tiger had to perform for a living. It was all for the sake of evolution!
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