From Player To Npc

After noticing what Dark Shadow was doing, Shingi decided to act. He made an Earth Element MANA HAND and slapped Dark Shadow with it.

Dark Shadow was too focused on 'stealing 'the Spirit Element from Syra that he didn't see the hand being created next to him and making contact with him until it was too late.

Next, Shingi cast HASTE on himself, and with all the speed he could master, he charged on Dark Shadow. Shingi picked him up and went to the second room of the hideout, the extensive area where they mostly trained in fighting techniques.

Shingi threw Dark Shadow towards the wall across the room entrance, but Dark Shadow finally reacted, used some of his Air Element to turn his body and land.

"Red eye… why?" [Dark Shadow]

Shingi had summoned his staff and had it ready just in case since he didn't know how things would progress.

"You were consuming our companion? You better have a good explanation. "[Shingi]

Shingi could think of a couple of reasons why he did so, but he wanted to hear it from Dark Shadow himself.

"Taste… good. "[Dark Shadow]

Shingi kept staring at Dark Shadow, trying to get a read on him. It was challenging to do so for a couple of reasons. 

Firstly, Dark Shadow was the first of its species that Shingi had encountered, and even if he looked bird-like, some of its anatomy was different. 

Secondly, Shingi couldn't speak before returning, so he didn't have enough time to learn any habits he could have when lying.

The two of them were bonded like a master and pet, meaning that Dark Shadow should follow the commands of Shingi, but since Dark Shadow's INT was pretty high, there was always the chance of him deciding not to follow an order. 

So Dark Shadow could be considered a Wild Card, and Shingi had to be careful, but he never noticed trying to harm them until now.

As for him finding Syra's Spirit Element to 'taste good', it made sense to Shingi. Dark Shadow's egg had consumed a massive amount of Spirit Element to get hatch, so enjoying eating it made sense. Also, the Element of the environment and the one he 'stole 'from Syra was different. Syra's was purer.

It was like when one tried to cast a spell with any of the other Elements. So, for example, if one used Mana of the environment only, the spell would be weaker than if casting it for Mana from a Mana Pool, either of the caster or someone who willingly donated it.

Still, to get Mana from someone without them noticing wasn't easy unless they were completely off guard or their passive resistance was relatively low. But Syra was a powerful mage, and she was awake and aware of her surroundings, so the fact that she didn't notice Dark Shadow was pretty impressive.

'Could it be that he has more INT than Syra?' [Shingi]

Shingi still couldn't see the stats of Dark Shadow, as they were question marks for him, and even when asking for them, he got no answer in the past.

Syra's INT was 23, which meant that Dark Shadow's INT was 24 or more, which was over than what Shingi had assumed.

"You aren't allowed to consume her anymore. If you want to any, I can give you some." [Shingi]

Shingi was confident that Syra's slight change in size was because of that, and he didn't dare to let it continue, as it could lead to her disappearing. He couldn't have that.

He then made a ball made of Spirit Element and brought it in front of Dark Shadow.

Dark Shadow had a part of it and slowly started consuming the rest of it.

"Not… same." [Dark Shadow]

Shingi didn't know what to do, but then he had an idea. His Mana Storing ring had only Spirit Element, so he released some of it and made a new Mana Sphere for Dark Shadow.

Dark Shadow had a bite and froze in place. Shingi was afraid for a moment, but soon Dark Shadow started devouring the rest of the sphere at an incredible speed.

"MORE." [Dark Shadow]

Shingi smiled as it was a success as also found it funny that the last sentence of his was in Wild Tycoon's voice. He didn't know when she said something like that, in that tone, since Dark Shadow didn't replicate only the word but even the volume currently.

"You will have more in time, but not now. If you continuously keep having a delicacy like that, it will lose its taste. I will treat you some after you finish some tasks. "[Shingi]

Shingi started explaining to him how the training with the mana spheres worked. Then, he promised that he would get treated for reaching perfect control of 10 spheres for each Element in his Mana Pool separately. After that, he would get further treated for every two spheres after 10.

Dark Shadow started training right away, and Shingi let him be for now.

"What was that about? "[Syra]

Everybody in the room had noticed Shingi getting Dark Shadow to the other room, but they did nothing about it. Syra was the only one that made a move but didn't disturb them.

"Just a misunderstanding. All is good now. How are you feeling? "[Shingi]

Syra was curious about the question.

Shingi wanted to make sure that Dark Shadow's actions did not affect her, and he couldn't currently tell with his Skills. 

"Did that pet of your did something to me? "[Syra]

Shingi smiled at the old Spirit. She was someone quite wise and perceptive. There was no reason to hide what happened to her, so she explained briefly.

"I see. I must admit that I had noticed nothing those past days, but I will be more on guard on that pet of yours. "[Syra]

Shingi nodded at her, as he also would keep an eye just to be sure that Dark Shadow wouldn't be greedy.

At that point, Shingi saw White Biscuit entering the room, coming from the main entrance, but no sign of Price with him.

"We made a discovery. "[White Biscuit]

Shingi quickly moved at the young boy, and everyone also moved as they were in the room and heard him.

"Where is Price? Did something happen to him? "[Shingi]

"Mister Price is fine. He just stayed behind to keep an eye just in case, while I would come and get you. "[White Biscuit]

Shingi was glad that nothing happened to Price since if he died, he would respawn outside the Tower, and it would be currently impossible to get him back.

"Let's move, and you will explain me in the way. "[Shingi]

He cast INVISIBILITY on both of them as they made their way towards the area that Price was.

On the way there, White Biscuit used the party chat function to explain what they had found. Since he explained while they were close to the hideout, everyone in there also got those messages. The chat had a range of a few dozens of meters, which was why Price and White Biscuit couldn't report without coming back.

This was, of course, a limit to the party chat, as others like the messages sent by the Guild Master of someone didn't have that limitation. Also, sending messages to a friend didn't have that limitation, as long as they were in a safe area, like in a town. But while being in the Tower, even while in the hideout, it wasn't considered being in a safe area, even if no enemies or monsters were around.