Before she even realized it, Sylvia noticed she'd been holding Acheron's hand for a long time.
She was about to let go, but when she looked up, she was startled to find Acheron's face had somehow drifted incredibly close.
Their noses were nearly touching. The warm, damp breath from Acheron's nostrils brushed against Sylvia's skin, sending a faint, ticklish sensation through her.
This close?
Sylvia distinctly remembered they hadn't been standing that close—certainly not close enough for their faces to be almost touching.
They were practically on the verge of kissing here.
I haven't moved… so Acheron's the one who closed the distance. Did she do it while I was lost in thought?
Acheron moved closer on her own?
Then… would it be okay if I kissed her…?
Just as her thoughts began to wander, Sylvia met Acheron's gaze.
Because Acheron was looking down, her eyes—usually hidden by her bangs—were now visible through the parted strands.
When their eyes met, Acheron blinked twice, an innocent look on her face, as if this whole situation had nothing to do with her.
As though she hadn't been the one to lean in.
Before Sylvia could even muster a mental complaint, Acheron lifted her head and pulled back, acting as if nothing had happened.
Not only did she create distance—she even had the nerve to flip the script.
"Why did you suddenly want to look at the ring you gave me?"
"…Just looking."
Sylvia pursed her lips, brushing off the question vaguely.
Noticing Acheron showed no intention of pulling her hand back, Sylvia decided not to let go either.
A moment later.
A small cluster of blue-green flame flickered to life above Acheron's left hand.
It looked like fire, yet it gave off no heat. Sylvia studied the Heliobus with curiosity.
"So this is the Heliobus you caught? It doesn't look very strong. Does it have much energy stored? I asked the Master Diviner before I came—she said the size of a Heliobus's flame corresponds to its power."
"Is that so?"
Acheron tilted her head slightly, thinking back.
"When I first found it, it seemed quite a bit bigger… But after it left my body, it shrank. Still, it doesn't feel much different overall. Why don't you try it out? If it's not enough, I can catch more for you to fuse with later."
Acheron spoke so matter-of-factly, as casually as if she were talking about catching a grasshopper in the backyard, that Sylvia nervously squeezed Acheron's fingertips.
"Heliobi aren't that easy to come by, and powerful ones are even rarer. Let's not take unnecessary risks. It can grow stronger by devouring other Heliobi instead."
The notable, powerful Heliobi were often said to rival the Generals of the Xianzhou in strength. And among those known to still be at large, Phantylia—a Lord Ravager, an Emanator of Destruction—was the most infamous.
If all the players were on that level, Acheron wouldn't have such an easy time dealing with them.
Sylvia didn't want Acheron going after an Emanator just for a reason like this.
Even if she were to try, the timing would have to be just right.
Someone like Phantylia… or Phantylia… or perhaps Phantylia…
The thought of devouring an Emanator sent a thrill through her—now that would be a real power boost.
"It's not a risk."
Acheron's reply was brief and firm, brimming with confidence.
But Sylvia still felt uneasy.
Yet she knew it was hardest to persuade someone like Acheron in the field where they excelled most.
Setting the topic aside for now, Sylvia pulled a small, translucent vial from her pocket. Its material resembled crystal.
"What's this? Not using that card this time?"
Acheron curiously ran her fingers over the delicate bottle. She had expected another card like last time, not this small vial.
The two looked like they were made with completely different methods.
"That card was one of a kind. Besides, cards can't hold living things. This is a Fullbottle—better suited for containing energy sources."
"Though I'm not sure if a Heliobus can even be bottled."
As she spoke, Sylvia twisted the cap of the Fullbottle.
The moment the blank Fullbottle neared the Heliobus, it activated on its own, releasing a weak suction force that tried to draw the unresisting Heliobus inside.
Streaks of flame threaded into the Fullbottle, and soon the clear white vial began to tinge with shades of blue and green.
But the flames seemed endless, churning wildly, growing larger and more vigorous.
The pulsation of energy grew increasingly violent and intense!
Whoosh— Whoosh—
The roar of rising flames accompanied waves of air that surged between them, chaotic and unstable. Random fluctuations of heat, cold, electricity, light… all sorts of energy forms spread out wildly in visible patterns.
The blue-green fire swelled larger, at one point expanding enough to nearly engulf the entire ruins.
But soon, pulled by the Fullbottle's suction, it rapidly shrank and weakened.
Acheron watched as the Heliobus, still flickering in her palm, was drawn into the vial amid the turmoil.
The spreading energy didn't disturb her in the slightest; she only found it fascinating how Sylvia always managed to produce such curious little gadgets.
In Acheron's perception, the Heliobus's immense power seemed compressed, all funneled into that tiny bottle opening.
Even the energy that leaked out mostly condensed onto the bottle itself, forming opaque blue-green casings at the bottom, top, and mouth of the Fullbottle.
At the same time, a flame emblem appeared on the vial's surface.
The flames gradually died down until the last wisp vanished into the bottle, marking the Fullbottle's completion.
A system notification even popped up:
--+--
[Blank Fullbottle (Upgraded Replica) has been upgraded to: Heliobus Fullbottle]
['Ding, ding, ding— Item quality improved. Heliobus Fullbottle is now Green quality.']
--+--
Sylvia glanced at the system prompt without much reaction.
Still, she was a little surprised that this actually improved the item's quality.
As the Heliobus was drawn into the Fullbottle, Sylvia could clearly feel the small vial grow noticeably heavier in her hand.
Acheron picked up the bottle, examining it closely. It looked like an utterly ordinary little vial.
She couldn't even sense the Heliobus inside anymore.
"Does this one also get slotted into your greatsword, like the card did?"
Acheron handed the Fullbottle back to Sylvia, who took it and gave the cap a slight twist:
"It can go into the greatsword, but… I think it can also be used directly?"
As she spoke, Sylvia gave the Fullbottle a gentle shake.
Immediately, a strange power began to flow from the bottle through her body, blue-green flames spreading over her skin.
Her body could handle it, and this energy was indeed much more stable than a Stellaron.
The nature of the energy was wildly unpredictable—one moment emitting light, the next discharging electricity—fitting for a Heliobus.
The problem was, Sylvia couldn't control these changes. She could only embrace the randomness, like a gamble.
After experimenting for a short while, Sylvia gave up on using it directly. This method was utterly inefficient and offered no fine control.
What a waste.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.