Unholy Player-Chapter 91: Could that be...?

[Name] Pulse Hopper

[Path] Astra

[Rank] 1

[Ability] Burst Hop

Description: Pulse Hoppers dwell in wide, grassy fields, feeding on fresh vegetation. They are harmless and generally weak Sparks, but their lack of natural offense has led to the evolution of a remarkable escape mechanism: an unparalleled leaping ability.

Ability—Burst Hop: In addition to their agility, Pulse Hoppers possess powerful hind legs packed with dense, coiled muscle. Through the Burst Hop skill, they contract and release these muscles in perfect synchronization, kicking against the air itself to generate a shockwave and launch their bodies forward at extreme speeds. This sudden acceleration allows for rapid repositioning, short-distance evasion, or aggressive lunges—all with minimal energy cost.

With this, my movement repertoire will be complete for now.

Adyr thought it would pair well with his wings and glanced at the price tag—90 energy—before reading the shop’s brief ability summary beside it.

The first thing he noticed was the low energy cost. Even at full output, each burst only consumed 0.1 energy. More importantly, the effect wasn’t limited to movement. That same kinetic force could be redirected through his legs, turning simple kicks into devastating strikes.

It reminded him of Aqualith’s speed bursts—sudden, explosive acceleration. But unlike Aqualith, this Spark focused solely on muscle motion. And considering its energy efficiency and easy upkeep, the price comparison made sense. Despite the rank difference, their costs were surprisingly close.

"I want to buy this," Adyr said, and the goat-man appeared beside him almost instantly.

"Hmm." The goat glanced first at the Spark, then at Adyr, stroking his beard. "Ninety energy in crystals. No discounts."

Adyr noticed the way the goat was eyeing him differently than before, but ignored it and completed the transaction. He now had 168 energy worth of crystals remaining.

"I want to buy some live livestock," he said.

The shop sold more than just Sparks. It also offered a variety of materials, including live and dead animals.

"Sure," the goat replied. In the blink of an eye, Adyr found himself in another section of the shop. The sudden relocation still unsettled him slightly, but he was getting used to it.

He browsed for a while, scanning the animals—until one caught his eye.

It looked like a rooster, but much larger—about three times the size of a normal one. Its feathers were bright yellow, and its long, trumpet-like beak stood out sharply. The price listed below it was 5 energy, and the description noted that these birds crowed constantly, day and night, with loud, melodic calls.

Exactly what he needed. The constant noise would keep Echo Screamer well-fed.

And since it was a living creature, Null Maggot could be embedded into it to feed on its senses. After all, the bird probably didn’t need them to crow.

Two birds with one stone.

As for Pulse Hopper, there wasn’t much to think about. It only needed fresh grass, and Dawn Land was full of it.

Adyr bought five of the roosters for 25 energy. Naturally, they would need feeding too, so he found a compatible species of worm that could live and reproduce naturally in Dawn Land. He purchased 300 of them for 20 energy and transferred everything directly to his realm with a small additional cost.

I feel like I’m becoming a gardener, Adyr thought with faint amusement.

He had just taken the first step in shaping Dawn Land’s new ecosystem.

By the time he was done, he had 119 energy left—even after covering the costs of transferring the animals.

In total, he now had two Rank 2 Sparks and one Rank 1 Spark, all requiring 220 energy to subdue. He turned back to the goat-man, pulled a grenade from his belt, and asked, "Do you buy things like these?"

The goat didn’t touch it—he just looked. "Is it an explosive?"

Clearly, these things weren’t unfamiliar to him.

"Yes. I also have one that releases smoke and another with a flash burst," Adyr added, showing the other two types.

"Hmm. Not much use to high-rank practitioners, but maybe useful for low-rankers," the goat said, hands on his hips. "I’ll give you 1 energy for every ten."

Adyr paused. He’d paid 2 merits for each grenade. Ten cost him 20 merit, and now he’d be getting only 1 energy in return. Not exactly worth it.

His total merit count was only 100 at the moment. Even if he spent all of it on grenades, he’d gain just 5 energy in return. Hardly a worthwhile trade.

I’ll just borrow from Malrik, Adyr thought. Considering the favor Malrik had asked to help stop a Rank 4 Spark, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for him to lend 100 energy in return. Besides, he was an Astra Path practitioner, and Adyr had come to understand their personality traits quite well.

"Okay, thanks. I’m very satisfied with the purchase," Adyr said. After giving a quick nod, he left the shop.

The goat watched him for a while, eyes narrowed, fingers slowly stroking his beard.

"First Ignis Path, then Astra... and with the Null Maggot from Nether..." he muttered. "Could that be...?"

A brief light flickered in his eyes.

"Nah... I’m overthinking it." He disappeared, chuckling to himself. freewebnøvel.com

—

"Hey Adyr. How was it? Did you get what you needed?" Malrik greeted him as he arrived at the meeting point. He looked satisfied too—clearly, whatever he’d come for had gone well.

"Yeah, it was a productive shopping trip," Adyr replied. Then he paused, showing a slightly troubled expression. "Just realized I’m a little too poor," he added, chuckling bitterly.

Malrik narrowed his eyes and understood what he meant right away. "Helping a brother is what I’m famous for. Just tell me how much you need," he said, lifting his head to meet Adyr’s eyes with a warm laugh, patting him on the arm.

It was yet another reminder of how soft-hearted Astra Path practitioners tended to be.

"Just 101 is enough," Adyr said.

He had only asked for what he needed, nothing more. His goal was simply to borrow energy, not to explain the Sparks he’d bought. Each of them belonged to a different path, and letting that information slip could cause trouble later.

From the goat-man’s expression, Adyr had already sensed some suspicion. But for now, it was just that—a suspicion. And since he hadn’t subdued the Sparks yet, there was nothing concrete to worry about.

Malrik hesitated for a moment. Clearly, that wasn’t a small amount even for him, but then he smiled, produced a pouch out of nowhere, and held it out. "Here, there’s 150. Don’t even think about paying it back. Just take it from big brother to little brother."

Adyr was almost touched by the generosity. Almost.

He took the pouch and replied, his voice calm but sincere. "Thank you, brother. I’ll remember this."

"Haha, don’t worry about it. If you’re ready, we should head back. It’s not good for me to stay away from the capital for too long."

The threat of Rank 4 Spark still loomed over the kingdom, and as one of its practitioners, Malrik had to remain ready at all times.

The two followed the path they had come from, stepping outside. Malrik summoned his Frost Wyvern a short distance from the main tent, then mounted it, and together they began the journey back.

Adyr watched the scenery below pass by, satisfied with his new life, one filled with countless changes and unfamiliar experiences.