Unholy Player

Adyr bought 3 Cragfin Sentinels at 700 each, spending a total of 2,100 energy-value crystals to increase his overall defense and durability by 30%.

While at the same shop, he also spent some extra energy-value crystals on mineral-dense stones that would suit both the fish and his Duskrend Spark.

This was another clear advantage. The Cragfin Sentinels thrived in the same kind of habitat Duskrend needed. The cave he had already prepared with its mineral pool would work perfectly for both Sparks, and since neither species was aggressive and they consumed the same minerals, they could comfortably live together. Sharing a food source would also make their upkeep straightforward.

That left him with 3 empty slots, which he decided to fill with 3 more Sparks that had passive abilities. This time, he would look for Ignis Path Sparks to passively increase his speed and reflexes.

He had considered going for active skills first, but passive abilities made far more sense at this stage. They didn’t require energy to use, which would make him more efficient in a fight and in his daily training. On top of that, this was part of his long-term plan to reach Rank 3, so laying the groundwork with passive stat boosts was the most logical move.

The other reason was cost. Active Rank 3 Sparks were extremely expensive, and Adyr had seen their prices since gaining access to the third floor. Sparks that increased general stats passively offered far better value.

With that in mind, he browsed shops specializing in Rank 3 Ignis Path Sparks focused on speed and reflexes. It didn’t take long before he found one that met his criteria.

The shop looked like a mining tunnel dug straight into the heart of a volcanic seam. Deep crimson lines threaded the walls like glowing veins of lava, their light casting shifting red reflections across the jagged stone. Thin streams of molten rock ran along the floor, winding between soot-black boulders that steamed constantly, releasing wisps of dark smoke into the warm, dry air.

Clusters of flame flickered in shallow pits dug into the ground. Around these glowing embers scurried tiny lizards no larger than Adyr’s palm, their bodies a deep, smoldering red. Every movement left a trail of faint heat, and their scales shimmered as if they were absorbing the ambient fire. Thin plumes of gray smoke curled up from their backs, dissipating before reaching the ceiling.