Unholy Player

"Before that, can you check this?" Adyr asked as he pulled the Null Maggot from his belt. He wanted to get a sense of its general value.

"Hmm." The goat-man stroked his beard again, eyeing the Spark’s shell from a distance. Its color had clearly faded from hunger.

"You’re not taking good care of your Sparks, are you?" He said, raising an eyebrow with mild irritation. The Aqualith and Hollow Mimic he’d just sold had been in similar condition.

"I just don’t have the means right now," Adyr admitted. He knew it was his fault, but there wasn’t much he could do. Sparks were a practitioner’s most valuable assets, and he understood their importance. Still, in his current state, it felt like handing an expensive toy to a child and expecting it to stay intact.

"It’s not a rare Spark, and it’s easy to catch," the goat-man continued. "But its ability is quite popular among Nether Path practitioners. Also, it’s relatively cheap to maintain. Just give it a live host to inhabit—it’ll last for weeks. So I could offer crystals worth anywhere from 180 to 230 energy."

He paused, then added, "If you’re thinking of bargaining, 230 is my final offer. No more than that."

Adyr was slightly amused, though he didn’t show it. He gave a calm nod. "No, thank you. I’m not looking to sell it right now."

"Too bad," the goat-man said, turning away. As he walked off, he added, "Call me when you find something you want to buy." Then he vanished.

I wonder what kind of Spark he’s using—and what rank it is.

Adyr stared at the space where the goat had just been. He had assumed the man was Rank 2, but with teleportation this strong, it had to be something higher. Right?

He turned his attention back to the Sparks.