Chapter 177: Amplification

"Why are you here?"

"My gun… you still have it."

After 6 hours, we're already deep in the night. For her to sneak in this room, does she think I only hid it inside my clothes? Well, I still have the robe on earlier and she didn't know about the necklace. It's understandable that she would think that.

If I was sleeping, she would probably look for it on me.

"I told you I'll hold onto it. Don't sneak into a man's room deep in the night."

"… I'm not here for you."

"Did I say you are? Go back now. I'll give it back to you before I leave."

That short feeler of hers trembled and almost shrunk further to be hidden by her hair. Is that how an Anzean feels embarrassed? I haven't seen her mother yet however it's clear that she's at least attractive to produce this girl. However, is her father some kind of handsome Anzean? Are there even a handsome Anzean?

Ugh. Why am I thinking of this?

"No! I will stay here until you give it back to me."

Hearing my answer, Dannae protested by lifting her feet up to completely occupy my bed.

Is she a kid? I'm probably even younger than her…

"Look. You almost killed me with that and you never uttered an apology after all this time."

"Is that all I need to do? Apologize to you?"

"No. If it's just a half-assed apology, go back now before I throw you out."

"Wait… I know I'm wrong by pulling the trigger on you. But I will never regret it because I will probably still do it if given the chance to go back in time. I never really made an apology before, even to those who hate how different I am. That's why I don't know what kind of apology you're expecting from me. That gun is something very important so please… I'll do anything in exchange."

Instead of answering, I stared at her and looked into her eyes. To determine if that was really the truth. She could utter believable lies but looking at that unwavering eyes right now…

"Alright. I don't need your apology anymore but are you sure you're willing to do anything?"

Ah. If others heard that question, it might be misunderstood but I don't care. My voice might even be emotionless when I said that and looking at her reaction, her eyes remained unwavering. Those feelers on her head even stood up straight which was probably an expression of her determination.

If her ability is really Amplification like she mentioned, I might have a use for it for my upcoming attempt at Transcendence.

"… Yes. Just promise that you'll give the gun back to me."

"…"

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"I'm thinking of what to do with you."

"… Wait. You're not thinking of…?

Her voice trailed as she hurriedly covered herself up with the blanket on my bed.

Ugh...This girl. Does she think I'm a pervert who's thinking of taking advantage of her?

"Relax. I'm not that shameless to ask you of that."

After saying that, I took out the gun from the Necklace.

Upon seeing that, she immediately reached her hand out to grab it from me.

Before she could reach it, I stepped back and that resulted in her falling off the bed, face first.

"I told you I'll be holding onto this. Also, I'll be borrowing it for a while. I'm thinking of using this for something."

"… Eh? Are you planning on shooting me using my own gun as revenge?"

"Huh? I'm not that petty. You're now harmless to me unless you're still hiding something. You don't, do you?"

"Of course! That's all I have! And… and this spear!"

She took out the same spear I saw from the other tribe members. The tip was made from regenium but it's not pure. It was carved from a regenium ore.

Unlike the pure regenium of my Metagen's sword and the regenium plates that were mixed with steel, that spear is too crude. But it's probably sharp enough and it serves its purpose.

Did they find a small regenium deposit somewhere? Or is there an undiscovered regenium mine here?

The reason for the Special Environment was probably because of the Scorched Forest and how it stayed like this for years but there must be a catalyst somewhere. A catalyst that created this Special Environment. If that was removed, then this environment will probably cease to exist.

"Have you used your ability on that spear?"

"No… it only works on the Meta Energy I poured into that gun. It also works on the torch, letting it burn brighter but it makes the torch's life shorter due to stronger fire."

Dannae answered as she tried to get up from the ground, her green nose now had a shade of red due to her falling face-first to the ground.

It can amplify the fire as well? Then what's the real limitation of it? It cannot amplify physical objects?

That ability is something either really useless or really useful considering the time she used and the power of that gun when it was unleashed. It could stack but it will need a long time to do it.

She's already a Gold-rank. That means her ability has experienced its first evolution which gave her a new skill concerning it.

"I see. Do you have any other application of your ability?"

"Y-yes. I think so."

"You think so?"

"I have nothing to try it on!"

"I see. Then use this."

I created one clone and have it stand before her. It's a clone made from my Flux Energy, if her ability really only works with non-physical objects then my clone falls into that category.

"…What's this?"

"It's a clone made of energy. It looks like me and maybe it thinks like me. Try using your ability in it."

She observed the clone closely and even looked at me to compare. Of course, she wouldn't find anything amiss. Except, she wouldn't be able to strip that.

"The new one?"

"Both."

Dannae nodded and stood up. She then cautiously put her hand on the clones' shoulder.

"Do you need to touch it?"

"No. But the distance needs to be close."

Ah. Of course. She wouldn't touch a fire directly.

I nodded at her answer and urged her to continue. At the same time as she activated her ability, I'm using my eyes and my sensitivity to energy to observe her and the clone.

[Dannae has used Amplification(Burst) on your clone.]

[The clone's abilities have doubled for a period of time.]

[Remaining time: 3 seconds]

-

[Dannae has used Amplification(Stack) on your clone.]

[The clone's abilities received a 2% amplification.]

[Current Stack: 1]

[Stack and Burst cannot be used on the same source at the same time.]

[Amplification (Stack) has been removed.]

[Amplification(Burst) has expired.]

-

Burst amplification doubles it but for a really short period of time. Well, it's called burst for a reason. While Stack gives 2% and it can be stacked.

But she needed 50 stacks just to double the power of that gun and once it was used, it's gone forever.

Her ability is really best used on energy-based bombs and energy-based guns. If I Transformed into an Energy Incarnate, will it also work on me?

"Alright, the Burst one can be used in clutch situations. How many times can you use the Stack?"

"5 times, 3 times left."

"How long have you been using it on that gun before you fired it on me?"

"I don't know, I lost count."

"Alright. Try using this."

From the Necklace, I took out the Totem and handed it to her. It was gathering dust inside it, finally, it can now be used today.

"What's this?"

"Just run your Stack ability through that."

"… Alright."

Though a bit wary of the Totem, Dannae listened to my instruction. Using her ability on it while pointing it to the clone. Just like how that Ogre Shaman was using it, the Amplification(Stack) was enhanced before it landed on the clone.

[Dannae has used Amplification(Stack) on your clone.]

[The clone's abilities received a 20% amplification.]

[Current Stack: 1]

Eh? Her ability has been powered up by 10 times? When Yumiko used it, it allowed her to call upon two Spirits and when the Principal used it, he managed to predict what will happen clearly at the same time locate the rogue Heroes.

I guess it depends on the strength of the ability? I don't know. I'll experiment with every Skill and Ability I have on that. I might turn it into an unusually large wand.

In any case. With this result, I might really be able to make use of her ability.

When she saw my smile that was brought about the idea that I thought up, Dannae cautiously whispered to me.

"How is it?"

"Un. It's great, your ability became 10 times as strong using that. You can really be of use to me."

" Huh? What do you mean?"

"You heard it, that Totem enhances your Stack. Keep using your ability with that. Here. I already filled that gun with energy, amplify it again."

Her eyes glittered brightly when I handed her the gun but when she heard my next words, she became downcast again.

Really, her mood can go up or down in a matter of seconds.

"Huh? You're not giving it back to me?"

"Not yet. I want you to use your ability on that. I needed to use that tomorrow so… continue amplifying it."

"Eh? But I can't use my ability anymore… my reserves were used up."

"You don't need to worry about that."

I smirked and immediately used a Spirit Boost on her. Though she tried to dodge, she's slower than it. As the Spirit Boost seeped into her, her tired face seems to glow from being re-energized.

"… You. You're planning to work me like a machine."

"Oh? You're quite sharp. You said you'll do anything, right?"

Dannae took a step back when she realized what I wanted her to do. Her eyes looked like she was about to burst into tears.

"Y-yes but…"

"Did you lie to me again?"

Upon hearing my question, her eyes went back to its previous state. The one exuding her unwavering will to do anything just to get back the gun from me.

By giving it to her. I'm also testing her if she will just run away from the words she uttered earlier.

Surprisingly, she's really standing up to her words.

"No! Just promise me you'll give it back to me after your use."

"Alright. I promise. I'll even show you something amazing tomorrow."

"I don't need to see that amazing thing you're talking about. You better keep your promise."

Dannae pouted before she reluctantly used her ability on the gun. She knew what she signed up for and she's proving to me that she can do what she said to me.

With every use of her ability, the energy inside it would be amplified by 20%.

And when her Meta Energy was about to be depleted, Spirit Boost would refill her used energy.