Unholy Player Chapter 492 Upgrading the Rank 4 Spark

Adyr chose to leave his family behind as they sat at the table, a frozen image in his mind—a quiet, preserved memory of his Human side, provided any shred of it still lingered within him.

Standing solitary in the middle of the silent street, the back of his uniform tore along the shoulders in two vertical slits; the fabric gave way, parting like a deliberate rip along the seams.

With a wet and gruesome sound, bones erupted from his back, tearing through flesh and cloth alike. They extended outward with a fluid, organic grace, resembling massive deer antlers until their span was blanketed in thick feathers. One wing was a void of black and the other a stark white, manifesting as a pair of monstrously beautiful and perfectly balanced wings.

A light leap off the pavement sent him upward, his body becoming weightless for a fleeting second, as if gravity had surrendered its hold. His wings beat once, then twice, propelling him into the heavens like a bolt of shadow and light piercing the sky.

As he ascended, the air rushed past him in violent, freezing gusts.

Once he reached an altitude high enough to evade prying eyes and the specialized sensors of air defense networks, he leveled out his flight. His climb transitioned into a rhythmic glide, his wings spanning wide to catch invisible thermals with the ease of a migratory bird.

The city behind him dwindled into a miniature model, its skyscrapers becoming mere specks and faint outlines, while he soared toward a desolate, mountainous region, far from any civilization or observant gaze.

He permitted no witnesses for the task ahead. To utilize the Heart of the Blood Palace and transform one of his Rank 4 Sparks into a blood variant, he needed absolute isolation—even from Humans.

Scanning the landscape below, he identified a secluded clearing hidden by towering trees where the dense canopy formed a natural roof, shielding the ground from above. He descended, touching down softly on the forest floor, the landing barely rustling the carpet of leaves and dirt beneath his boots.

He tucked his wings neatly against his spine, the feathers smoothing into place, and lifted his hand. The dark, blood-red cube materialized upon his palm.

"Now is the moment to decide which of you shall receive this."

He became lost in thought, weighing his choices amidst the stillness of the woods. The faint rustling of foliage and the distant echoes of the forest receded as he deliberated between his two Rank 4 Sparks.

Citadelith belonged to the Nether Path, a purely defensive Spark. Selecting it for evolution would directly fortify his physical resilience to extreme levels.

Sszhar, conversely, was an Aether Path Spark. With its capabilities for creating and traversing space, it offered greater utility and versatility, allowing him to forge paths where none existed and manipulate the geometry of the battlefield.

The specific skill Adyr had claimed from the serpent after its subjugation was Riftwalk. This allowed him to step through the cracks of reality, moving between different dimensional layers.

Its primary flaw was its dependency; he could not utilize it if a dimension did not already exist on his intended path. Thus, it was effectively useless without its counterpart, Rift Maw, which permitted the creation of dimensions—though at a staggering cost.

He was aware that evolving with Sszhar would only grant him a single innate ability. If that ability happened to be Riftwalk, it would be a redundant and ultimately worthless acquisition.

The core issue was that Adyr had no certainty regarding what these Sparks would become once they transformed into blood variants.

Would their current skills be enhanced with new properties, or would they be replaced by entirely different powers? Would only their physical attributes improve? These were mysteries he could not yet solve.

"I must also consider the traits I will inherit after the evolution," he whispered to the shadows. His gaze traced the swaying branches above, letting the dancing patterns of the leaves steady his focus and quiet his mind.

The requirement of gaining one physical trait and one innate talent from the Spark was a double-edged sword. It felt as though he were choosing which specific burden to carry in exchange for power.

If he inherited Citadelith’s rugged, stone-like hide, his defensive power would skyrocket, turning his flesh into living bulwark. However, the drawback was that he would become a lumbering statue, his mobility severely hampered by the weight of the stone.

As for Sszhar, its ophidian scales were also remarkably tough, a physical trait Adyr found appealing. His entire form could be encased in durable scales capable of turning aside both blades and claws.

While the protection wouldn't match the absolute defense of the former, he would at least maintain his agility, remaining swift and limber during combat.

Standing there in contemplation, he mentally cataloged the potential innate talents he might receive from both Sparks, running through them like a list.

Citadelith possessed four skills that could manifest as innate talents:

Hospitality was a type of aura, not unlike Adyr’s own positive Presence. It projected an influence that soothed rational minds and instilled a false sense of security, a deceptive tool used to lure targets into lowering their guard.

Fear Drain was a skill that consumed the terror of an opponent, stripping them of their fright. This was entirely useless for Adyr, who preferred to exploit fear rather than eradicate it.

Stronghold was a highly beneficial option. It granted the power to manifest reinforced stone walls, which served as both defensive shields and offensive traps or barriers.

The Exchange ability was another useless prospect. It merely redirected damage dealt to a target onto the user, making it a selfless skill for a guardian but a waste for an individual like himself. Regarding Sszhar’s four potential innate abilities: Dread Shackle acted as a lesser version of Adyr’s Malice, designed to paralyze a target's mind with overwhelming terror.

Rift Maw was exceptionally potent. Should Adyr acquire it, he could manifest dimensions freely without any energy expenditure, opening and sealing them at his whim. Its applications were endless, serving as a lifesaver in everything from tactical ambushes to desperate retreats.

Yet, he still couldn't fully depend on it without Riftwalk, the very skill required to navigate those dimensions.

Finally, there was Mirror Body, a technique that produced a clone of himself, albeit a significantly weaker one. It was perfect for misdirection, reconnaissance, or acting as a decoy, though its effectiveness in a direct clash remained dubious. Naturally, all these skills were evaluated in their current state; there was no telling how the corruption and power of the Heart of the Blood Palace would alter them.

Both Sparks offered balanced pros and cons for his Rank 4 evolution. The decision was grueling, like comparing two masterwork blades that each cut with a different edge.

Eventually, after further deliberation, Adyr reached his conclusion.

He gestured with his hand, and the massive, shimmering black form of the serpent suddenly materialized. Its immense weight slammed into the physical world, splintering nearby trees and kicking up a violent storm of dust and splinters.

Adyr’s choice was Sszhar. He preferred to keep Citadelith within his Sanctuary, as its damage-sharing capability acted as a vital secondary armor that he wasn't ready to sacrifice.

"I trust you will gain some formidable strength from this," Adyr remarked with anticipation, staring at the gargantuan serpent as he gripped the blood cube.

The moment Sszhar glimpsed the crimson artifact, it emitted a low, vibrating hiss that rolled through the woods like distant thunder. Its slitted eyes fixed on the object, pupils tightening with a primal, starving intensity.

"Oh? You wish to consume it?" Adyr raised an eyebrow, observing the creature's hunger with genuine curiosity.

He was actually uncertain about the proper usage of the treasure.

The item's description had provided no manual for its activation.

When he had discovered the artifact in Sevrak’s Mansion, nestled among the rubble and dust, the idea of it being food had never occurred to him; after all, if the Blood Dragon had consumed it, there would have been nothing left to find.

But seeing Sszhar’s avaricious gaze and the way its muscles coiled toward the cube, he surmised that ingestion might be the intended method.

"Go on then, enjoy your meal." He held the treasure out toward the Rank 4 Spark. In a flash, the serpent's long tongue lashed out, snatched the cube from his palm with whip-like speed, and swallowed it whole without hesitation.