Some time later,
In the original Digital World.
"Hiss... this [Nitro Rice] is quite effective. It wasn't a waste of time coming here deliberately."
Don sat cross-legged on the ground, holding a large bowl filled with gleaming white [Nitro Rice].
The numerous grains were distinct and separate, their enticing aroma filling the air for dozens of meters around.
It was dinner time, and Don and Akira chatted while eating.
Akira, of course, had his own share, while Don's [Nitro Rice] had been exchanged from him earlier.
After a simple preparation by Chef Saz, it was served to Don.
Don took bite after bite of the [Nitro Rice], the soft, glutinous grains melting into sweet nectar with each chew.
It nourished every cell in his body.
Akira, sitting close by, could more easily observe the changes in Don's appearance.
If Shaymin's healing had previously restored vitality to Don's body,
then consuming [Nitro Rice] made him look even younger, with the occasional white hairs disappearing entirely.
The fine wrinkles on his cheeks also began to fade gradually.
He was transforming from a man in his sixties or seventies into someone who appeared to be in his forties or fifties.
Based on Akira's estimation, after finishing these two servings of [Nitro Rice], the effects would likely plateau for Don.
Don ate at a leisurely pace, simply scooping a spoonful of rice, chewing slowly, then taking another spoonful.
Yet, despite the simplicity of the action, the rice in the bowl dwindled rapidly without notice.
Before long, only half remained.
Suddenly, Don set down his spoon and reached into his pocket, pulling out something in the same manner.
Akira focused his gaze and saw a smooth, glossy bottle that even reflected light.
It was unclear what material it was made of, but the bottle appeared to be crafted from some kind of jade.
Compact in size, it had a wooden stopper tightly sealing the mouth of the bottle.
The design immediately led Akira to believe it contained some kind of liquid.
Calling it a "liquid" was being overly cautious—it was most likely some type of wine.
Bottles like these almost always held alcoholic beverages.
Sure enough, with a slight tug from Don, the wooden stopper popped out with a crisp "pop."
Instantly, a refreshing fragrance wafted from the bottle, making Akira feel as though he were standing before a clear spring.
[Moon Reflection Wine]: A type of liquor crafted by a demi-human race from the Dark Continent.
They used a special spring, its bed formed from unique ore.
Every night, the spring emitted a faint glow, absorbing the bright moonlight through the water's surface.
After prolonged exposure to moonlight, the springwater underwent a peculiar transformation.
Drinking it could enhance night vision, improve physical constitution, and even heal injuries to some extent.
Most notably, it had benefits for the soul.
Long-term consumption could strengthen one's soul.
[Moon Reflection Wine] was brewed using this springwater along with some fruits, inheriting the same effects.
Though classified as wine, its alcohol content was very low, making it difficult to get drunk on.
With a flick of his wrist, as if performing a magic trick, Don produced two delicate little cups.
Judging by their appearance, the pair of cups shared the same material as the [Moon Reflection Wine] bottle.
Clearly, they were a set.
Don raised his cup slightly with a smile.
"How about it? Care to share a drink with this old man?"
It had been a long time since anyone had shared a drink with him
. Now that he had finally caught someone, how could he pass up the chance for a few sips?
Without hesitation, Akira replied, "Sure."
He was also curious about how the [Moon Reflection Wine] would taste.
As he poured, Don chuckled and explained:
"This wine is no ordinary drink—its effects will surely surprise you. It's something I..."
While speaking, Don tilted the bottle, and an exceptionally clear liquid flowed out.
Strangely, the wine was rather viscous, pouring sluggishly, its texture almost solid.
To Akira, it resembled transparent jelly.
Yet, as it moved, the aroma grew richer—though rather than the scent of alcohol, Akira felt it was more like "fruit fragrance."
Given its low alcohol content, there was hardly any alcoholic smell, and the main ingredient, the "springwater," was flavorless.
Thus, the taste of [Moon Reflection Wine] primarily came from the fruits added as supplementary ingredients.
Akira suspected the fruits were included during brewing simply to give the wine flavor.
Or perhaps to turn the springwater into wine at all.
Otherwise, in terms of color, scent, and other aspects, it would be indistinguishable from plain springwater.
Don picked up his cup first, channeling Aura around the outer surface of the vessel, then added in a cautionary tone:
"This [Moon Reflection Wine] is rather special. If you drink it directly, you'll feel an unbearable, bone-chilling cold."
Pausing, he glanced at Akira and emphasized, "This cold doesn't affect the body."
"It acts on the soul."
"That's why drinking this wine benefits the soul—it can influence the souls of living beings."
As Don reminded him, Akira noticed the Moon Reflection Wine in his glass was undergoing changes.
Originally gelatinous, resembling a small cup of jelly, the Moon Reflection Wine began to "melt," gradually transforming into a true liquid.
At the same time, a crisp fruity aroma wafted out, faintly carrying an indescribable fragrance.
Don continued, "Like this, by warming it with aura around it, you can neutralize this uncomfortable chill."
"The specific manifestation is the wine chanDon from a gelatinous texture to a completely liquid state."
With that, Don motioned for Akira to give it a try.
Akira nodded and followed Don's method, enveloping the glass with aura.
In no time, the wine transformed.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but the reflection on the wine's surface vaguely resembled moonlight at night.
"Now, you can savor it properly," Don said with a light chuckle, raising his glass to take a small sip.
Akira raised an eyebrow, carefully examining the wine's surface before brinDon it to his lips for a tentative taste.
In an instant, it was as if a clear spring had poured into his mouth, filling his palate with a refreshing sweetness.
Amid the rich fruity aroma was an extraordinary hint of wine fragrance, evoking the exhilaration of drinking an ice-cold beverage on the hottest summer day.
This sensation compelled Akira to take a few more sips.
The cool wine quickly took effect within his body.
First, his physical condition improved—most noticeably, his strength gradually increased, and an inexplicable surge of energy filled his limbs.
Then, he felt a profound coolness emanating from within, leaving his entire being exceptionally clear-headed and his mind razor-sharp.
At this moment, his thoughts were remarkably acute, processing ideas faster than usual.
Even memories buried deep in his mind became vivid, as if they had just happened yesterday.
And this was the manifestation of enhanced soul strength.
Before long, Akira had drained his glass, leaving not a single drop behind.
Strangely, despite the wine's excellent effects, he felt no desire to drink more.
Noticing Akira staring at his glass with a puzzled expression, Don stroked his stubble and chuckled.
"You can't drink too much of this Moon Reflection Wine. Normally, one glass is enough. Drinking more would only bring harm, not benefit."
"This wine has a significant impact on the soul. The stronger one's soul, the more they can drink at once."
"If the soul isn't strong enough and one forces themselves to drink, it will only damage the soul."
Akira set down his glass and couldn't help but marvel, "The effects of this wine are truly remarkable. It's something you'd never find on the Six Continents."
He had sampled the finest foods and drinks across the Six Continents, but none could compare to this Moon Reflection Wine.
Hearing this, a hint of nostalgia flashed in Don's eyes as he said in a low voice.
"The wines on the Six Continents may lack effects, but over time, you start to miss them."
"Perhaps it's the taste of homesickness?"
Occasionally, he still longed for the ordinary wines of the Six Continents.
Akira listened quietly, then, moved by a sudden thought, produced a bottle of wine in his hand.
This was the most basic and common wine from the Six Continents—high in alcohol content and intensely potent
.Akira filled two small cups to the brim and raised his hands in a gesture for Don to savor the drink.
"Try it. See if it's the taste you remember."
Don froze for a moment, not expecting Akira to casually produce exactly what he desired.
It wasn't until Akira spoke that he snapped out of his daze.
After a brief silence, Don gently picked up his cup.
Even before taking a sip, the sharp, pungent aroma of alcohol assaulted his senses.
With a light chuckle, Don downed the entire cup in one go—such strong liquor was nothing to him.
The drink was fierce, and the flavor matched his memories.
But he could no longer get drunk.
At his level of strength, alcohol affected him no more than plain water.
A satisfied smile spread across Don's face as he thanked Akira:
"Thanks to you, I got to taste something familiar again."
"Speaking of which, shouldn't we start exchanDon items now?"
Don was referring to one of Akira's earlier conditions—that the two of them trade possessions.
He intended to take this opportunity to give Akira a few gifts as a token of goodwill.
Admittedly, it was a little strange—their first meeting had begun with a fight...
No, actually, two fights.
Only now were they finally having a proper conversation.
Akira drank the strong liquor in his own cup, finding it far inferior to [Moon Reflection Wine].
Seeing Don ready to get down to business, Akira smiled faintly, curious about what Don might offer.
"Sure."
Noticing his reaction, Don smirked inwardly.
Though he couldn't match Akira in strength, he was confident his years of accumulated treasures would impress.
At this point, he wasn't expecting Akira to offer anything extraordinary in return.
Instead, he simply wanted to give Akira a few things—both as repayment and to foster goodwill.
...
"How about this? It's called… and it can…" Don began his introduction.
After listening, Akira shook his head and presented his own offer:
"No, no, that's useless to me. Take a look at this instead—it was invented by my [Aura Beast]."
Don frowned, unable to hold back his interruption.
"Wait—your Aura Beast? Your Aura Beast can invent things?"
"Yep. It's quite the inventor. Like this [Translation Device]—that's its handiwork."
Akira glanced at Don, aware that Meowth's abilities were startling enough.
But what Don didn't know was that the truly impressive part was yet to come.
"This [Translation Device] is incredible. It allows you to communicate seamlessly with other species."
"In other words, as long as you hold this, it can translate any creature's language into the common tongue of the Six Continents—and vice versa."
Don's pupils shrank as he pointed at the leaf-patterned metal box in astonishment.
"It can really achieve barrier-free communication?"
Don knew exactly how precious such a tool was.
Once you set foot in the Dark Continent, encounters with all manner of creatures were inevitable—many of which would likely possess some degree of intelligence.
In such cases, communication became crucial.
Without exaggeration, over the centuries, he had encountered countless intelligent species.
But the biggest obstacle to coexistence wasn't hostility or differing natures—it was the language barrier.
Now, with experience and accumulated knowledge, he had developed some methods to communicate with unfamiliar species.
Aside from personal experience, he also possessed some items that could lower a creature's guard or help him roughly understand emotions.
But none could match Akira's so-called "translation machine" in effectiveness.
If what Akira said was truly this impressive, then he absolutely had to obtain it.
Possessing such an item would be extremely convenient for him—far more so than anything that directly enhanced strength.
Though it didn't directly boost combat power, he had no choice but to secure it.
Don gave a bitter smile, forced to admit he'd been overly confident earlier.
Who would have thought the first item Akira presented would make him drool with envy? In comparison, his own offerings were truly lackluster.
Seeing Don's wry smile as he put away his item, Akira couldn't help but smirk slightly.
He naturally understood Don's thoughts, but wouldn't mock him for it.
After all, who could imagine he had a "super inventor" like Meowth?
Using just a psychic tool [Nature's Leaf], they could create items with stronger effects while eliminating negative side effects—even mass-producing them.
Otherwise, Akira wouldn't have offered it for trade.
Don composed himself and said solemnly:
"I must admit, this is indeed crucial for me. What would you require in exchange?"
Akira, unsurprised, replied.
"My conditions remain unchanged—plant-type items or lifespan-extending ones take priority."
"Of course, if you have anything with unique effects or that you consider particularly valuable, feel free to present it for consideration."
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