Meow-chan, Mega Evolve!

"We're home, Meow-chan."

"Meow~"

Outside an east-facing room on the sixth floor of an old apartment building amid the South District's neon nightlife.

Yan Huan unlocked the door, revealing the forty-square-meter apartment with its one bedroom and living room.

He switched on the hallway light, revealing a somewhat cramped but tidy space.

One side of the hallway near the entrance held the stove, while the other held a bathroom with separate wet and dry areas.

It was around ten. Mainly, the bus didn't go straight to the apartment, so Yan Huan had transferred to the subway along the way, arriving late.

Meow-chan ran around the living room with its tail raised, inspecting Yan Huan's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Meanwhile, Yan Huan unpacked the things in his schoolbag, hanging up the clean clothes and tossing the dirty shirt into the laundry basket.

He took out his phone. Ye Lan had just messaged him to ask,

"Are you home, Huan?"

Yan Huan smiled helplessly. Looking at the chat with its banana-milk profile picture, he typed back,

"I'm home, Auntie."

"Good. Get some rest early, then."

"You too, Auntie."

Yan Huan put down his phone and took Meow-chan into the bedroom, packing the books, computer, and other things he would need tomorrow into his bag first.

After tidying the apartment, taking a shower, drying his hair, and changing into pajamas, he finally lay down on his bed and relaxed.

By the time he finished all that, it was past eleven.

Creak, creak.

It couldn't compare to the high-end mattress at Ye Lan's place. In comparison, the mattress in his rented apartment felt hard and didn't contour to his body very well.

Besides, the slightest movement made the bed frame creak. Any vigorous exercise would probably turn the thing into a musical instrument.

Fortunately, the soundproofing here was good.

"There's no place like your own little dump."

Lying on his own bed, Yan Huan sighed, his gaze unfocusing as he plugged in his phone and opened a video site.

Beside him, Meow-chan finished patrolling its new territory, walked over to the bed, and jumped up onto it.

Yan Huan rubbed its head and asked,

"What do you think, Meow-chan? Is the new place okay?"

"Meow~"

Meow-chan wasn't picky. Instead, it lifted its head, held its tail upright, and looked at Yan Huan excitedly.

"Yan Huan, you really are the best person to fight those modifiers."

Yan Huan blinked as he scrolled on his phone, unsure why it had suddenly said that.

"What's going on? Why the sudden praise?"

"I just swallowed some of the fragments that dropped from Ye Shiyu's modifier."

"Fragments?"

Interested, Yan Huan put down his phone and quickly asked,

"What's that about?"

"Do you remember what I told you on Friday?"

Yan Huan thought back and said,

"About otherworld modifiers invading and finding hosts, and then you giving me a modifier? You mean the rewards from your modifier will get stronger as I make progress dealing with the modifiers?"

"Exactly. The way to improve the rewards is actually for me to eat fragments dropped by other modifiers. And once midnight passes, it'll be a new week, so we'll find out what's improved right away. Are you excited?"

Looking at Meow-chan, Yan Huan didn't appear excited. Instead, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Before the rewards, tell me how this actually works. Why does Ye Shiyu's modifier drop fragments, and why does mine get stronger when you eat them?"

Meow-chan gave Yan Huan an approving look, then sat down primly and raised a paw to play the beckoning cat again as it explained,

"I said before that the way to deal with modifiers is to make them willingly give theirs up. In other words, the host's strong desire to use the modifier is the pillar supporting this castle in the air.

"Just now, you successfully made Ye Shiyu feel regret and start reflecting on whether using her modifier was right. That kind of thinking is undoubtedly harmful to her desire to use it. And once the castle in the air starts swaying because that desire has been damaged, fragments fall off.

"Modifier fragments containing otherworldly power fall within my sphere of influence. Through conversion by a deity-that's me-they can become fertilizer for your modifier, making it more effective!"

So you mega evolved, Meow-chan!

Looking at Meow-chan's now glossy black fur, Yan Huan felt rather like he was leveling up in a Pokémon game.

Yan Huan sat up straight, rubbing his hands together like a fly in anticipation.

Excellent, excellent. Let's see what surprise my consort Meow has brought her emperor.

But there was still some time before midnight, so he would have to wait a little. A question also happened to occur to Yan Huan, and he asked,

"Hold on. If my modifier gets stronger after you eat fragments, do their modifiers get weaker after dropping fragments?"

"Hmm, unfortunately, no, meow."

"Why? That doesn't obey conservation of energy!"

Meow-chan looked at him as though he were an idiot, but still explained,

"Don't forget, their modifiers come from an erotic otherworld. They don't work on the same principles as mine, meow! Their modifiers' effects are closely tied to their hosts' desires. As long as those desires don't fade, naturally, they won't get weaker."

"So even if they drop loads of fragments, those modifiers won't weaken in the slightest?"

"Exactly, meow."

"Never mind, then."

Yan Huan lay back down, speechless again, but Meow-chan meowed and nudged him with its paw pads.

"Don't get discouraged, meow. Dropping lots of fragments means the host has already reached the point of seriously questioning using her modifier. By then, she won't be far from willingly giving it up!"

That was true.

Overall, it had only been two days since this began, and Meow-chan had already received its first fragment before the first weekend was even over. That could certainly be called encouraging progress.

No wonder it had praised Yan Huan as the chosen one for dealing with modifiers.

But Yan Huan didn't care about that empty stuff. He was much more interested in the improved rewards.

He had originally planned to watch a few videos and sleep, since he had to get up early for school tomorrow. Now that his interest had been piqued, he decided to wait until after midnight, roll his rewards, and then sleep.

As he watched videos and petted the cat, midnight soon arrived.

Watching the clock on his phone tick over to midnight, he sat up and looked expectantly at Meow-chan, who had also sat up beside him.

"It's time. Come on, lemme see."

"Meow~"

Meow-chan meowed and spat out a streak of illusory golden light.

The light expanded before Yan Huan, gradually forming lines of illusory text.

[Modifier level changed: 1 → 2]

[Prize Pool level changed to 2. This means you will randomly unlock more powerful rewards.]

[Modifier evolutions +1, Random Attribute Fragment +1]

[Please choose your preferred evolution path from the following two branches.]

What was going on?

This modifier even let him choose an evolution path?

Yan Huan raised an eyebrow and read on.

[Evolution path one: Bulk Wholesale]

[Gain one additional reward per week, but two of the three reward options will come from a Prize Pool one level lower.]

[Evolution path two: Demon Contract]

[Among the three options offered once per week, one reward will come from a Prize Pool one level lower, and one from a Prize Pool one level higher. Choosing the higher-level reward will carry a mild, time-limited curse.]

Yan Huan blinked, then grabbed Meow-chan's chubby cheeks and demanded darkly,

"Seriously? Even this has gambling? What the hell is a Prize Pool? And what the hell are these evolution paths?"

"Once the modifier was created, I couldn't directly interfere with its effects anymore, meow! Whatever form it takes, it'll help you!"

Unable to get an answer out of Meow-chan, Yan Huan had no choice but to return his attention to the two options before him.

Clearly, the three rewards he had rolled on Friday had all come from the level-one Prize Pool.

Two pieces of junk, and one that was pretty useful.

That meant the level-one Prize Pool probably varied wildly in quality. Picking from it would likely mean choosing the best of a bad bunch.

The main problem was that he had no clear idea what level-two or higher rewards were like, so he couldn't make an immediate judgment.

But even high-level rewards probably wouldn't be too outrageous. Nothing on the scale of Superman or Doctor Strange would appear.

After all, Meow-chan's original intent was to keep the worldline operating properly. These rewards were meant to help him complete his task and live better afterward, not cultivate another Homelander.

Once he had thought that through, Yan Huan actually had a fair idea of where things stood.

He decided to try a little dessert before the main course.

So rather than choosing an evolution path first, he looked at the [Random Attribute Fragment] above.

The name spoke for itself. No further explanation was needed.

Then let's gamble!

[Charm Fragment-slightly increases your attractiveness to your own kind.]

[Young man, this world judges by appearances.]

[Reproduction Fragment-slightly increases your reproduction-related abilities.]

[A gentleman once used it as an excuse.]

[Stamina Fragment-slightly increases your stamina.]

[Hmm, quitting late nights might produce results faster.]

Yan Huan pressed his lips together and decided on the first.

The third went without saying. There was no need to waste his modifier on something he could get through consistent exercise.

As for the second...

How should he put it? Right now, fighting modifiers was a tightrope walk where failure would unlock an adults-only defeat CG. Taking that thing felt a little like paying to go to work.

The first and second served somewhat similar purposes, but the Charm Fragment was more suitable in terms of general usefulness.

The golden light formed by the Charm Fragment faded bit by bit, all flowing into Yan Huan's body. He brought up his front-facing camera for a look and found no major change.

Slightly...

Yan Huan recalled the Charm Fragment's description.

Wasn't this a little too slight?!

It was so slight he couldn't see any effect at all!

Yan Huan shook his head and finally turned his attention to the heavyweight choice: the evolution path.

In the end, he chose the latter.

He didn't know what high-level rewards would offer, but the low-level rewards really tried his patience. More of them didn't seem useful, so he might as well gamble.

Take a chance, turn a bicycle into a motorcycle.

Buzzz!

As Yan Huan made his choice, the golden light surged rapidly, and three golden orbs of different sizes finally emerged from Meow-chan's body.

From left to right, they grew progressively larger, corresponding to the levels of the Prize Pools they came from.

The last, slightly larger orb also had wisps of black mist clinging to it.

[Skill: Ventriloquism. Exactly what it says.]

[In the capital, there was a skilled practitioner of vocal mimicry.]

[Ability: Unrestrained Vigor. Your stamina, energy, and similar attributes will recover somewhat faster, but your food intake will also increase significantly.]

[With great power comes a great appetite.]

[Ability: Learning Conqueror. When doing something related to learning, gain one stack for every half hour of concentration, up to 10 stacks. All stacks reset after 10 minutes without concentration. Each stack increases learning efficiency by 15%. At maximum stacks, you also gain a substantial intelligence bonus.]

[I shall conquer all that is unknown, until I am naught but dry bones.]

[Curse: You will inevitably feel mildly drowsy when not concentrating. Lasts 5 days.]

Looking at the text bursting from the third golden orb, Yan Huan couldn't help marveling.

Although, as expected, none of the abilities offered were earth-shattering, the level-three Prize Pool's effects were certainly impressive.

At full stacks, his learning efficiency would be 250% of its original level, with a substantial intelligence bonus as well. It would take five hours to reach full stacks.

And mild drowsiness...

That didn't sound too hard to overcome.

Yan Huan nodded repeatedly at the rewards before him. He decided to choose Learning Conqueror, curse and all.

In everyday life, this ability would greatly improve his learning efficiency, which would be very helpful for his future development.

As for dealing with modifiers, this ability would also save him time on coursework, allowing him to put more time and energy into modifier-related matters.

All in all, it was a very useful reward.

The golden orb suddenly burst, and both its golden light and black mist flowed into Yan Huan's body.

Yan Huan blinked. Before he could experience Learning Conqueror's effects, the drowsiness hit him first.

His eyelids felt a little heavier. If he relaxed instead of forcing himself to stay alert, he would probably doze off soon.

Yan Huan would call it "the ultimate insomnia cure."

Yawning, Yan Huan could finally go to sleep after finishing all that.

But it felt rather like staying up to watch a best-of-three esports match, only for the team he supported to lose 1-2 despite giving it their all.

The match was exciting, but some disappointment was inevitable.

He set an alarm to get up early for school tomorrow, switched off the bedside lamp, and pulled Meow-chan into his arms.

"Meow~"

Meow-chan obediently tucked its paws beneath itself and lay on his chest. Yan Huan pulled the blanket over them both, leaving only its head exposed in the darkness, its wide green eyes meeting his.

"Meow-chan, I thought you were finally going to stand tall, sweep everything aside, and come into your own. But even after mega evolving, your effects still feel miles behind the other modifiers..."

Yan Huan said this with narrowed eyes and a sigh.

Bai Yi's indifference, Ye Shiyu's hypnosis, and that blonde woman's unknown superpower.

Thinking about them really did give him a bit of a headache.

"Meow?"

But Meow-chan merely tilted its head.

Looking at Yan Huan as he lay there, Meow-chan suddenly spoke to him in his mind.

"Yan Huan, do you really think those Modifiers came here to help their hosts fulfill their wishes?"

"...I know they came to invade and destroy worldlines. But those Modifiers are so powerful that helping them fulfill their wishes is probably just a trivial matter, right? Even if those desires might be a little filthy."

Meow-chan shook its head at Yan Huan and said with complete seriousness,

"I've always called those things Modifiers, rather than cheats, hacks, or systems, because they aren't cheating tools with nothing but benefits and no drawbacks. On the contrary, they're tumors that will destroy their hosts along with everything else."

In the darkness, its utterly clear green eyes fixed on Yan Huan before it as it stressed each word.

"Using those Modifiers comes at a terrible price, Yan Huan."

"..."

Yan Huan stroked Meow-chan's warm body and spoke thoughtfully.

"Don't tell me the so-called price is divine punishment, the cycle of fate, moral torment, or anything like that. I don't believe in any of that."

"No, Yan Huan. The price I'm talking about is something real. Even though I don't know exactly what it is yet, I know there will be one."

Looking at Meow-chan in the darkness, Yan Huan blinked, then let out another long breath and closed his eyes completely.

Then he smiled faintly and said,

"Well, whatever the case, hearing that made me feel better about things."

"Meow~"

Meow-chan nestled obediently in his arms and gave a little murmur.

The bedroom fell quiet, seemingly a prelude to sleep.

Yet a moment later, something suddenly occurred to Yan Huan. He hurriedly opened his eyes and looked at Meow-chan before him.

"So, does using your Modifier come at a price too? Even if it isn't as severe as theirs."

"Meow~"

Meow-chan raised its head to look at him, as if saying, "I'm a cat. How could I speak human language?"

"Well, does it or doesn't it?"

"Meow~"

Meow-chan blinked adorably, looking for all the world like the cutest little cat alive.

But Yan Huan could tell at a glance that this fellow resented him for saying earlier that it wasn't as good as those Modifiers, so now it refused to speak.

With a dark expression, Yan Huan pinched its chubby cheeks and shook them.

"Meow-chan!"

"No, no! Stop pinching my face, meow!"