Unholy Player-Chapter 93: Subduing Sparks

Adyr directed his consciousness toward his Sanctuary and, in the next moment, found himself standing on the small island once again—bathed not in sunlight, but in the soft, pale glow of an eternal dawn.

The grass beneath his feet was lush and cool, stretching across the gentle curve of the island. All around him, an endless sea of energy extended beyond the horizon. It was perfectly still, glass-like in its clarity, yet it shimmered faintly as it reflected the soft amber tones of the dawn sky. The light bent across its surface, giving the illusion of a vast, silent world suspended in time.

At the far edge of the island stood the lone tree. Its green leaves remained still in the windless air, quietly basking in the faint glow of dawn. The soft light gathered between its branches, as if the tree was slowly drawing it in—feeding on the silence itself. And unlike before, it no longer felt entirely alone.

Five oversized roosters now roamed the island. Bright yellow, each nearly the size of a child, they wandered with purpose—some scratching at the grass in search of worms, others dozing lightly near the tree’s roots. Even in sleep, they let out soft, melodic crows that echoed gently across the Sanctuary, bringing a strange cheer to the otherwise quiet place.

When Adyr’s energy form appeared, the roosters froze for a moment. Their crowing stopped, and their heads turned toward him, watching. But whatever curiosity they had faded quickly. A few seconds later, they returned to their usual behavior, as if his presence was already a familiar part of their world.

The 300 worms Adyr had released onto the island were nowhere to be seen. Most likely, they had already burrowed into the soil or found shelter beneath the shallow grass. That was the best thing about this species: their adaptability and rapid reproduction. In just a few days, there would likely be enough of them to sustain all five roosters without issue.

Adyr stood still for a while, silently watching his sanctuary. There was something oddly calming about it. Even a faint sense of accomplishment. For the first time in what felt like ages, he realized he was enjoying creation rather than destruction.

After letting his spirit settle, he walked toward the cushion at the center of the island, where the energy crystals still sat.

They were untouched, just as he had left them. The roosters hadn’t gone near them. Most likely, some instinct warned them—if they ever tried to consume pure energy, it would kill them. Their bodies weren’t built to handle it.

Adyr quickly counted out 220 crystals and converted them into raw energy, drawing it into his spiritual body. He left the remaining 49 untouched, saving them for emergencies. Then, with the transfer complete, he opened his eyes back in the physical world.

He sat cross-legged at the center of the bed, facing the three Sparks laid out before him.

Echo Screamer floated silently above the sheets, about the size of a clenched fist, its body never touching the bed. Aside from its wide, unnatural mouth, it had no other visible features—but Adyr could tell at a glance that it was in good condition.

Pulse Hopper looked equally well. It twitched its back legs ever so slightly, giving the impression that it might leap at any second—yet it remained still, only shifting with subtle, minimal movements. That was likely because Adyr had already let both it and Echo Screamer taste his transparent energy when he first acquired them.

This process wasn’t just for suppressing a Spark’s abilities. It also calmed them. Helped them form a faint sense of recognition toward the one who fed them. A trace of familiarity. The beginning of loyalty.

Null Maggot, however, looked like a dying old man. It lay limp and motionless, its once midnight-black shell now pale and faded. Tiny cracks had begun to spread along its surface.

Without wasting any more time, Adyr reached out and picked it up.

[You have captured a rank 2 Spark. Begin subduing process?]

– Cost: 100 Energy

He approved, and as he felt the energy being siphoned from deep within, he watched Null Maggot’s frail, dying form begin to shimmer. Its brittle body unraveled into threads of pure energy, each strand dissolving into him like mist returning to the air.

But there was more.

Something else stirred—a weightless echo, almost identical to what he had experienced during his evolution with Dawn Raven. A rush of alien instincts seeped into his mind, not through thought, but through sensation. As if they had always belonged to him. As if they had simply been... remembered.

Null Maggot’s raw will to survive—the decisions it had made, the paths it had taken, the things it had done and would do again—now pulsed within him. These were no longer foreign ideas. They felt embedded in his blood, inscribed into his very bones.

The [Sense Fade] skill didn’t feel like a power he had learned. It felt like something he had always known. Like flexing a muscle. Still, he didn’t use it. Not now. The Spark was barely alive. It wouldn’t survive another strain.

When he returned his awareness to the Dawn Land, he found Null Maggot lying motionless on the cushion beside the untouched crystals.

He reached out, picked it up, and walked to the rooster resting beneath the lone tree. The bird was curled lazily into the grass, letting out soft, rhythmical calls.

It opened one eye, watched him approach, then closed it again without concern.

Adyr didn’t trust the peaceful facade. Null Maggot was still too weak, and he couldn’t afford to fail now. He grabbed the rooster by the neck, lifting it with a sudden motion that made it squawk in alarm. Then he placed Null Maggot on its head and waited.

The rooster flailed wildly in his grasp, but Adyr’s hands were like iron. After a few seconds, Null Maggot stirred, drawn by the scent of flesh like a starving predator. It began crawling over the rooster’s head.

It reached the beak, paused, then forced itself through one of the nostrils.

The rooster screamed. It writhed and struggled, eyes bulging from pain. With [Sense Fade] inactive, the Spark’s entry was felt in full. But Adyr stood still, unaffected, watching it work its way in.

He waited in silence as Null Maggot nestled deeper into the host’s body. Roughly thirty seconds later, the rooster stopped struggling altogether.

Adyr released it, watching as the bird slumped slightly in his hands and resumed its slow, drowsy posture.

"Is it working?" He wondered, lifting an eyebrow.

Then he felt it. A faint pulse. Gentle contentment. A whisper of warmth deep inside. The Spark had found its place. It was healing. It was feeding. And it was grateful.

"Good," Adyr said, smiling as he patted the dozing rooster’s head. Another power added to his arsenal. Now, two more Sparks waited to join that strength.

He was about to withdraw his attention from the Dawn Land and move on to subduing the remaining two Sparks when a question crossed his mind. He turned to glance at the other four roosters and muttered, "Will they mutate?"

The only common trait between Null Maggot and the other Sparks was their ability to alter nearby lifeforms through prolonged exposure to their energy fields. In Null Maggot’s case, it dulled senses while increasing physical strength. It also formed energy crystals within the affected bodies.

But each of these roosters was already worth five crystals. Harvesting them just to gain a single one in return would be a complete loss.

"I think I should talk with Malrik for more information." For now, Adyr set the thought aside and returned to his main objective.