Chapter 38: Coke

(Dante POV)

[Notice: Total amount of Aura increases by 0.01% after absorbing the Energy Orb.]

'What?' With a dumbfounded tone, I asked the Great Sage to explain further.

[Notice: Absorption of Energy Orb increases the total energy cap of the source it got absorbed on.]

'No, I mean, how? How does that work? Explain.' I asked with excitement as my voice carried a slight hint of curiosity.

[Notice: The Energy Orb is composed of 100% Pure Condensation of Positive Energies.]

[Notice: Due to the host flaring up his Aura, the Energy Orb was then attracted like a metal encountering a magnet, sticking to the Aura before ultimately being consumed.]

[Notice: This process resulted in a slight increase in the Aura reserves.]

'So the Energy Orbs that appear after hitting and killing enemies on Teyvat are pure positive energies that could be used to increase the total cap? It's like how cultivators absorb magical stones to enhance their training?' I asked for a confirmation.

[Notice: Affirmative.]

'I see, now this changes everything.' I said to myself, realizing the potential it could bring me.

'You mentioned that flaring my Aura attracted the Energy Orbs. Why is that? What connection does Aura have with the Energy Orbs?' I curiously asked before teleporting to a large boulder at the back of the Hilichurl camp.

Sitting casually on the boulder, I took out a burger and a Coke.

As I began eating, I listened attentively to the Great Sage's explanation.

[Notice: Based on host memories and understanding, regular humans of Teyvat cannot absorb Energy Orbs to enhance their capabilities.]

[Notice: Vision Holders, however, can absorb the orbs into their Vision, and when fully charged, they can release their so-called Elemental Bursts.]

[Notice: As the host Aura flared, the Energy Orbs floating around as they waited to disperse naturally ended up taking refuge into the host's Aura as they did so on Visions.]

[Notice: Unlike Vision Holders, who could only store the Energy Orbs.]

[Notice: The host's exceptional Energy-based Physique allows for the accommodation and integration of Energy Orbs into the body.]

[Notice: These orbs after fully merging with the energy source that initially attracted them (this case is the RWBY Aura), will result in a slight boost in the host's total energy capacity.]

'By flaring my Aura it merges with the Aura, so flaring my other energy sources could attract it right? Could you make it so that all my energy types receive an equal amount of increase? I want all my energy reserves on the same values even to the decimal places.' With a questioning tone, I told the Great Sage my thoughts.

[Notice: Affirmative.]

"Heh," I muttered aloud, the corner of my mouth curling into an eerie grin as I let out a subdued chuckle.

'Time for a Hilichurl massacre?' I thought to myself as I took out the phone and clicked on Aether's name to open the private chat.

[Dante: It's over Aether. We already lost, I shall come and join the Dark Side.]

I sent the message to Aether as I continued pulling out food to continue my small feast.

After a few minutes, the phone vibrated as I read the reply.

[Aether: What? What are you on about? Are you planning on joining the Fatui? Or are you joining my sister with her questionable schemes?]

Smiling at Aether's reply, I continued my nonsense as I felt bored.

'It had been a while since I last did my hobby of committing hate crimes on the Webnovel website. At the moment, messing around with Aether should be able to scratch my itch.' With a smirk, I continued typing on the phone.

[Dante: It's over Aether! I have the high ground.]

[Aether: Huh? I don't understand what you are trying to convey, but having a high ground is not always good enough. You underestimate my power!]

Spitting out the coke, I choked at Aether's reply.

'WTF? Does this guy know Star Wars?' I questioned myself.

[Dante: I don't like sand.]

[Aether: That was random, but, well, me neither. It's coarse, rough, and irritating and it gets everywhere.]

'!!!'

[Dante: I see, Aether, come to the Dark Side, we have cookies and a sister!]

[Aether: Alright, stop fooling around. Why did you message me?]

[Dante: First things first, do you know Star Wars?]

[Aether: No? What is that? Star's having wars? Celestial beings fighting? That sounds frightening.]

[Dante: Aight, never mind. I just wanted to inform you about what I discovered. I simply felt that since your body could adapt to various energies it should be possible for you to gain boosts too.]

After explaining the stuff Great Sage told me earlier to Aither, I said my goodbyes as I dismissed the phone before swiftly teleporting towards the back of the girl who had been observing me for quite a while now.

"Hello, miss? You have been gazing intently in my direction for a few minutes now. Is something wrong? Do you need help?" With an innocent smile, I questioned the girl spooking her as she jumped toward the back of the tree and peeked her head out.

"Eh! Eh! Uhm, eh…" stuttered the green-haired bespectacled girl.

Chuckling at her hesitancy, I leaned forward slightly and smiled reassuringly. "Relax, I don't bite. I couldn't help but notice you eyeing my drink for a while. Would you like to try it?"

"Uh, eh, uhm, yeah," she replied, her face flushing.

She seemed flustered, perhaps because she was really timid or simply because I was still in my Gojo skin, with my blindfold off, and my face was inches away from hers.

She then attempted to pull back but stumbled clumsily, nearly losing her balance.

Instinctively, I reached out and caught her before she could fall, which only seemed to intensify her embarrassment.

Taking out another bottle of Coke, I poured it into a clay glass I took from Aether yesterday.

"Here, have a taste, this drink is called Coke," I explained to the green-haired girl who was admiring the bubbles coming out of the fizzling drink.

Reaching out her hand, she took the drink and after a first sip, her eyes then opened wide as I could see the appreciation in her eyes.

"Wow!" She muttered out loud.

"Ahem, my name is Dante, how should I call you, miss?" I asked, even though I already knew her name from the game.

"Eh, uh, uhm, eh?" She keeps trying to talk but ultimately returns to stuttering making me chuckle inwardly.

"Deep breaths, stay calm, I won't hurt you," I replied humorously.

 "Uhm, Sucrose… My name is Sucrose." She replied after moments of deep breathing.