Ambiguous Atmosphere, Further Development, and the Ill-Timed Appearance of the Green Snake.

After getting dressed, Chang Yuan found a mirror that was clear enough to see himself, just like Airi had done before.

"Oh, not bad. I don't have any Honkai Beast characteristics."

Seeing that he didn't have any Honkai Beast traits, Chang Yuan felt a strange sense of regret.

After all, it would have been cool to have some distinctive features.

"You don't, but Airi does. She's actually quite afraid of you seeing that side of her right now."

As Chang Yuan was marveling at his own appearance, Velvie chimed in at the opportune moment.

Hearing this, Chang Yuan turned to look at Velvie.

"Big V Teacher, does Airi have elf ears?"

"Oh? You noticed? Or is this also one of the futures you foresaw?"

Velvie looked at him with great interest upon hearing his question.

"One of the futures, and I just noticed it. It's hard not to notice those elf ears."

Chang Yuan recalled the scene just now.

Those long, pointed elf ears. Airi hadn't made any effort to hide them at the time, so it was difficult for him not to notice.

However, it was precisely this kind of Airi that felt right to him.

"So, what's your opinion? Do you think they're ugly?"

Seeing Chang Yuan lost in thought, Velvie seized the opportunity to ask.

After all, this somewhat involved her. If it ruined their relationship, she would truly be committing a grave sin.

"Ugly? Who said that? They're beautiful, honestly. And I'm a bit curious, are elf ears soft, or do they have bones like human ears?"

"...You'll have to ask Airi yourself about that. I don't know."

Velvie rolled her eyes at Chang Yuan and felt a sense of relief in her heart.

It seemed the couple she was rooting for wouldn't break up.

That's right, our Big V Teacher was also a shipper.

Having witnessed a period of their travels, Velvie was very optimistic about their relationship.

"Alright, Big V Teacher, I'm leaving now. I need to go test how much my strength has increased."

"Go on, go on. How unlucky, I still haven't found suitable Honkai Beast factors for myself."

Velvie felt a bit helpless about this.

After all, such things really depended on fate. Just like Airi, there were no matching genes in the gene bank for her initially.

But who knew that on her way back, she accidentally picked up the remains of an unknown Honkai Beast, and those remains were a perfect match.

While Airi and Chang Yuan were in the nutrition pods, Mebius had visited. Velvie learned from her where Airi's gene came from.

Every time she thought about it, she couldn't help but sigh at how lucky Airi was.

"Airi, what are you doing here alone? Or are you waiting for me?"

Seeing Airi wandering around the Spiral Workshop alone, Chang Yuan immediately went up and patted her fair, tender shoulder.

"N-nothing, A-yuan. Are, are you okay?"

Startled by the sudden address, Airi instinctively covered her ears and replied to Chang Yuan with a slight stammer.

Seeing her cautious demeanor, Chang Yuan found it a little amusing.

He then reached out and placed his hands over Airi's.

Gently, he took her hands away.

"It's okay. These elf ears are very cute, and you are very cute too, Airi."

"Mmm, A-yuan, you're bad."

With her hands still held by Chang Yuan, Airi could only stare into his eyes with a blushing face and say softly.

At such close proximity, both could feel each other's warm breaths.

Sensing that his actions were a bit inappropriate, Chang Yuan immediately released Airi's hands.

"Cough, cough, sorry Airi. It was mainly to let you know I'm not afraid of your elf ears, so I did it subconsciously."

"It's, it's okay. If it's A-yuan..."

As she spoke, Airi's voice grew softer.

However, Chang Yuan, who had undergone comprehensive enhancements, wouldn't miss a single word this time.

Hearing Airi's words, Chang Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

It seemed he had succeeded?

But Chang Yuan was still a little unsure, so he cautiously asked, "Airi, can I, can I touch your ears?"

"...O-of course, if it's A-yuan."

Airi's face flushed as she quietly agreed.

Receiving a confirmed answer once more, Chang Yuan could clearly feel his heart rate accelerating.

This was what he had been seeking, and it was also an opportunity for him and Airi to take a step further.

Just as Chang Yuan was about to reach out and touch her, a voice rang out.

"Velvie, perform the Fusion Warrior surgery on me."

Pushing open the door to the Spiral Workshop, a certain green-haired Dr. Mobius shouted into the interior.

And with that shout, the already timid pair instantly separated.

Learning that he had missed a good opportunity to deepen his relationship with Airi.

At this moment, Chang Yuan wished he could cut off all of Mobius's funding.

She couldn't have come any earlier or any later, but chose to arrive just when they were one step away.

He felt utterly stifled.

"Oh? You two are together now? But why are both of your faces a little red? Is it a side effect of the Fusion Warrior surgery?"

Mobius naturally didn't consider the possibility of shyness.

After all, she herself didn't possess such emotions, or rather, no one had yet been able to make her feel them.

"No, I don't have any side effects, but Airi's ears are the side effect."

Although he regretted missing this opportunity, Chang Yuan couldn't say anything.

He could only pray for the next chance to come quickly.

"Only this kind of side effect? Then did you gain any new abilities?"

Hearing Mobius's question, Chang Yuan immediately froze.

Right, Fusion Warriors usually gained a special ability.

Kevin's ice creation, Airi's pink crystal generation, Velvie's personality splitting, Mobius's resurrection, Sakura's extreme speed, and so on.

And it felt like instinct when they used their abilities.

Immediately, Chang Yuan began to ponder what his ability was.

After experiencing it for half a day, he was stunned to find no ability.

Suddenly, he thought of a possibility: he hadn't gained any special abilities; all he had was greatly enhanced Honkai resistance and physique.

"This, alas."

Helplessly, Chang Yuan could only accept the arrangement of fate.

Being able to survive the Fusion Warrior surgery was already a great stroke of luck. Even though the success rate had been stated as very high by Velvie.

But there was still a possibility of failure. He had almost failed before; if it weren't for that voice pulling him back, he might have slept forever, never to wake up again.