Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)

Since the release of Fantasy Impact in 2020, gacha games have steadily gained traction, eventually taking the world by storm. Fantasy Impact itself stood out as a breathtaking open-world experience, capturing the hearts of millions with its stunning visuals, captivating soundtrack, and—perhaps most notably—its beautifully designed characters.

The game offered an impressive array of waifus to summon, catering to a wide range of tastes. From the cutest anime lolies to the hottest mommy milkers, from the most sexy, unholy succubi to the most divine priestess—it truly has them all.

Thus, it wasn't just diehard otakus who fell under its spell; people from all walks of life found themselves unexpectedly drawn into it, finding themselves collecting waifus and stuck in the hell of artifact grind.

Now, in 2024—four years later—Fantasy Impact remains untouchable at the top, despite the flood of so-called "Fantasy Impact killers." It boasts the highest concurrent player count, generates the most revenue, and continues to dominate the competition.

For players like me, the magic still hasn't faded.

Even though I've long since stopped spending money—thanks to the ongoing global recession—my love for the game remains. There's something timeless about it, a thrill that keeps me logging in day after day, keeps me coming back, like a moth to a flame…

Or—

A cat to a laser pointer.

——————————————————

"Whoa, dude, how many Fate Gems do you even have? You're not rolling for LingXi?!"

Mark stares at the screen of my ancient, battle-scarred smartphone, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Mark—my 25-year-old gym buddy and fellow gacha addict—is the guy I once convinced to try Fantasy Impact. Big mistake.

Now, he's more obsessed than I am.

Today, after our usual post-workout walk home, the conversation—as always—turns to the game. Turns out, Mark just obliterated half his paycheck on LingXi, the game's newest character. Not only did he max her out, but he also snagged her exclusive weapon.

That's right.

Half his salary, gone in a flash.

But does he look regretful? Nope. He's grinning like he just won the lottery.

And honestly? I get it.

LingXi is chef's kiss perfection—a dragon goddess with, uh, generous proportions, a silky, seductive voice, and DPS numbers that make other units look like tutorial mobs. She's the kind of character who can solo entire boss fights while looking fabulous doing it.

If it were me a few years ago, back when I still had money to throw around, I'd have rolled for one or two copies, maybe even grabbed her weapon.

But times have changed.

Now, as a proud, disciplined, free-to-play player, I have to be smart with my resources. That means saving every last Fate Gem for the one waifu who truly matters.

Purraphina.

"Nope!" I shake my head with a grin. "I told you, I'm saving for my wife, Purraphina."

Mark sighs, shaking his head. "Catgirls over meta, huh?"

"Yup!" I puff out my chest like a man of conviction.

Purraphina is a limited S-rank character, and while she's not meta-breaking, I don't care.

She's adorable, sassy, and has a backstory that can emotionally wreck anyone in three sentences. Sure, she's a little noisy and constantly picking fights, but that's just part of her charm. She's impossible not to love.

And of course, she's a catgirl.

A tiny, loli catgirl who swings a giant iron sword like it's a toothpick.

And if that wasn't enough?

She purrs when you pat her head.

Come on. How am I supposed to resist that?!

Not to mention, from the moment I started playing, I made a sacred vow—I would collect every catgirl in the game, no matter what. Because I'm a catgirl connoisseur, the collector of catgirls!

I lost the 50/50 on her last banner, though. And it hurt. Like, soul-crushingly hurt.

But this time?

I'm ready.

I'm freaking ready.

I've saved up enough Fate Gems to guarantee a copy of her and her signature weapon. I haven't spent a single pull in two whole patches. Now, I'm fully prepared.

Two more weeks. That's all I have to wait.

Soon, Purraphina will finally be mine.

——————————-

As we continue walking, our conversation drifts to other topics while the city buzzes around us in the fading light. The sun sets, casting long shadows across the pavement and bathing the world in a soft, orange glow. A gentle hum of traffic and distant chatter fills the air.

But just as we approach an intersection, something suddenly catches my eye.

"…Wait… what? A cosplayer?"

Across the street, I see her—a lone cosplayer standing on the other side of the road.

Oh my… she's gorgeous.

She's wearing a sleek black dress, and her short white hair frames a striking face. Her costume is absolutely breathtaking—and the best part? She's a catgirl. My heart skips a beat, then another, as if it's pounding in time with my shock.

Yet something feels… off.

I don't recognize her.

How can that be? A catgirl I don't know? Impossible!

Is she from a new game? A character I haven't heard of? How could I have missed something like this?

I turn to my friend Mark, who stands beside me.

"Mark, do you know who that catgirl is? What game or anime is she from?" I ask.

Mark tilts his head, a confused look on his face.

"Huh? What catgirl? What are you talking about?"

"Her! The catgirl! Don't you see the cosplayer standing right there?" I point directly at her, but Mark just shakes his head, his brow furrowing in bewilderment.

"What? I don't see anyone." He squints in the direction I'm indicating. "Hey, are you messing with me? There's no one there."

"What?!" I exclaim, blinking rapidly as my gaze darts back to where she stands. How can he not see her? There's no one else on that side of the road—just her, unmistakably present.

My mind reels.

Am I going crazy?

"Bro, are you okay? You're not hallucinating or something, right? Did you eat something weird?" Mark asks, his voice now laced with concern.

I turn back to the figure, blinking repeatedly as I try to clear my head. No matter how many times I look, she remains—real, tangible, and undeniable.

Could it be… a hallucination?

Sure, we're in Canada, and yes, I used to be a stoner back in the day, but I quit long ago. I haven't touched anything since graduating college and landing my first job. There's no way this is a hallucination, right?

My heart begins to race, pounding in my chest like a relentless drum. I see her clearly, yet Mark insists he sees nothing.

Is he the crazy one? Or am I?

"Bro," Mark begins again, "I really think you should see a doctor. I know a good psychiatrist I can refer you to if—"

Before he can finish, my attention snaps back to the cosplaying catgirl. She's crossing the road.

My blood runs cold.

Why is she crossing right now? And why isn't she watching for oncoming cars? It's as if she's oblivious to her surroundings, as if the world around her doesn't exist.

And then…

A truck speeds straight toward her!!!

Without thinking, my body reacts on pure instinct. Something inside me snaps, and I run as fast as I can. Hallucination? Schizophrenia? None of that matters now.

There's a real person in front of me, about to be hit by a truck!

I have to do something!

But… I'm not fast enough.

The truck barrels forward, colliding with both me and the catgirl. A shattering pain rips through me—a blinding, all-consuming agony—and then… nothing.

A deep, suffocating void engulfs me.