The Shepherds Are Dense

Chapter 97: The Very Greedy Aiwass

In the current era, equipment boosting priority is monopolized by top factions. To reliably acquire such gear, one must “dig graves”—in game terms, a gacha-style treasure hunt. This is the “special channel” Aiwas seeks. In the game, “Madame Mina’s Divination Shop” offers daily clues for treasure maps, graded by rarity. These lead to tough boss fights, rewarding bound, non-tradeable gear. Purple clues guarantee light purple items, with purple to deep purple potentially yielding priority-boosting gear—purple for core set pieces, deep purple for powerful standalone items. Most drops are light purple, originating from ancient families blessed by celestials, apostles, or gods. Without modern “profession” systems, these powers often faded, and gear was buried with fallen kingdoms. Aiwas’s eagerness to join his mentor’s archeology stems from this pursuit, hoping this world’s equivalent of Madame Mina’s exists. Tomorrow, Saturday, he’ll explore the “market.”The [Stalker in the Shadows] is such an ancient relic, obtainable in-game, unlike modern items like two of Great Arbiter Meg’s gear or the Queen’s Scepter and Crown, blessed by the Silver-Crowned Dragon. Chloe’s possession of this piece suggests a higher status in Eagle Eye than Aiwas thought—typically, only fifth-tier assassin masters receive it from their leader. At 39, young but not guaranteed to advance, repeated failures could bar her from fifth-tier. Either Eagle Eye’s leader saw immense potential, or she was favored, though not related to the leader (Aiwas knows his daughter, too old to match). Her impulsive, prideful nature—unlike cold-blooded assassins—suggests a pampered upbringing, not brutal training. Entering Adaptation early with a mentor likely pushed her to fourth-tier peak, evidenced by her maxed “Shadow Affinity” at level three, a normally useless trait until fully developed. Without combat experience, she relied on level and gear, explaining her recklessness. She’s likely tied to a previous assassin master who opposed her joining Eagle Eye, assigning her easy Avalon tasks.

Her gear is “hot.” Without her signal, her superior will know she’s dead or captured, likely fleeing. Her death in Avalon will reach Eagle Eye, possibly drawing the assassin master. Aiwas doubts this superior will be as exposed as Chloe, but he’s not returning the loot. Greedy, he’d rather gift, sell, or trade it for benefits than surrender it. [It’s mine now!] He’s unafraid—Eagle Eye’s master is fifth-tier, no match for future foes like Star Antimony or Fallen Celestials. With a year’s growth, Aiwas aims for dual-path fifth-tier, and with Meg alive, any fifth-tier intruder would be monitored.

Curious, he asks the Shadow Demon if it can handle a fifth-tier assassin using shadow stealth. It replies that if they enter Aiwas’s shadow, it can kill them effortlessly, but outside, it needs Aiwas’s body, requiring third-level Shadow Affinity to avoid harming him. This trait lets Adaptation users learn shadow skills; for Aiwas’s Transcendence, it’s minor (e.g., shadow balls), but higher levels let him host more of the demon’s power. At third-level, the demon can inhabit him without hiding in his shadow, concealing its presence. At fifth-level, they’d merge, surpassing the demon’s natural power. As a non-physical upper-tier demon, it fears sunlight or light-based spells, but Aiwas’s body could shield it. Maxing Shadow Affinity would limit other traits, so Aiwas plans for third-level and a composite trait like “Vessel of Blaze and Radiance,” topping off later.

The demon confirms it can counter a fifth-tier assassin at third-level Affinity, as their shadow mastery is inferior, unable to jump discontinuous shadows. Aiwas relaxes—by third-tier Transcendence, he’ll outmatch the assassin master. He eagerly awaits more “deliveries” for Lily’s set, joking about skill books.

Noticing the Shadow Demon’s improved speech—smoother, sweeter, less like a grim empress—Aiwas teases it. Black tendrils form a half-transparent girl, mimicking Chloe, embracing him with cold, scaly touch. Aiwas praises her beauty but prefers her animal forms, citing a purer master-pet bond to avoid mental distortion. The demon morphs into a black hound, then a cat, its void-like eyes and fur invisible in corners. Aiwas, stroking it, asks for its true name, suggesting equality when it’s ready. Skeptical, it questions human limits, but Aiwas vows to kill a Fallen Celestial, exciting the demon into a puddle of black ooze. He promises a “feast” post-advancement in ten days, calling it his “lamb.”

*

(Chapter End)

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