When the plot-skips players into the game world

Lily lay on the sofa, watching Aiwass tidy up after the ritual for a while, before she couldn't resist coming down to help him clean up.

"What Path characteristic did you choose?"

Aiwass asked casually.

Generally speaking, he wasn't keen on prying into such matters. He was just a bit curious.

Because Path characteristics are basically selected instinctively.

They are entries given by the Nine Pillar Gods, never wrong. The instinctive choices are commonly right... or rather, all three entries suit one's self, so any selection would work.

Based on the actions during the ritual, the Path characteristics that resonate with those actions follow the same principle—without knowledge of the matter, as long as the ritual forces potential to the surface and one acts according to their true heart, the entries provided are bound to be the most suitable for oneself.

Unless, like the Iris Flower assassin and Aiwass himself, there is a special professional heritage that necessitates certain Path characteristics to complete initiation... Only then would there be a need to control the entries.

But Lily had embarked on the Path of Transcendence solely with the help of the Codex Book. In other words, she had no professional system inheritance or restrictions. It was as if she had a brand new profession, one Aiwass didn't understand... Hence, if Aiwass were to give advice, he might lead Lily to choose a Path characteristic unsuitable for her.

This was a valuable lesson from Aiwass' experience: If you have never played the profession, then when someone comes to you for advice, don't go pointing and suggesting based on intuition, but honestly admit "I really don't understand."

"Both times it was Shadow Affinity."

Lily answered softly.

"Huh?"

Aiwass paused, "You want to learn Shadow Stealth?"

Upon hearing this, a sneer that even Lily could hear came from Aiwass' shadow.

Lily glanced at Aiwass' shadow and answered seriously, "Yes. Didn't you say, Miss Assassin managed to enter the shadows only after gaining Shadow Affinity three times?

"I also want that ability."

"Do you also wish to steal the power of the shadows... Spider Miss?"

The Shadow Demon spoke in a deep, lion-like voice.

"It's not stealing, but imparting."

Lily said politely and earnestly, "I remember the young master saying those assassins actually never really came into contact with the Shadow Demon. Their skill is not imitation but rather more of a speculation... so if I were to be personally taught by the Shadow Demon how to enter the shadows, wouldn't I be stronger than them?"

"Of course, you will be."

The Shadow Demon answered without hesitation, "They have not even mastered the basics of the shadows, clumsy enough to make me laugh. The question is... why should I teach the follower of the God of Stolen Scales and Feathers?"

For some reason, Lily sensed a hint of hostility in the Shadow Demon's voice.

And Aiwass crouched down to pat his shadow, reassuringly saying, "That means it's not a problem, right, Shadow Demon?"

The idea put forth by Lily struck close to his heart.

Because Aiwass had previously pondered the matter—if the Shadow Demon were to be sealed inside the Blank Card and become his Great Beast, which was like going into a Spirit Sphere, Aiwass would need to release it actively to maintain its presence in the outside world.

This meant that he didn't need Shadow Affinity to perfectly control the Shadow Demon. But it also meant that Aiwass would lose the Shadow Demon's constant vigilance.

By then, he wouldn't need to use a wheelchair anymore, and Lily had no reason to always push his wheelchair, following behind. Her ability to lower others' awareness and keep watch on their equipment would be hardly triggered. Moreover, if Lily herself were under attack, Aiwass would find it difficult to respond immediately.

If Lily could learn Shadow Stealth, then when Aiwass entered dangerous areas, she could replace the Shadow Demon, diving into her own shadow to vigilantly guard Aiwass from an absolutely safe location!

In that case, Aiwass could even take Lily with him on archaeological expeditions and trips abroad.

He had prepared such fine equipment for Lily; if it were used only for low-tier situations, it would be somewhat wasteful.

"It's not that I don't want to teach, my respected master,"

the Shadow Demon murmured deeply, its voice softening and becoming more submissive and even slightly aggrieved, "This Spider Miss lacks the seed of shadows within her. Just like people without gills, even if they can mimic swimming like fish in water, they cannot breathe for long."

"The seed of shadows, huh..."

Aiwass pondered.

...Come to think of it, he had never used the other half of his Shepherd's Nurturing ability.

That was the [Shepherd's Nurturing (Essence)] skill belonging to "The Path of Transcendence", the ability for the nurtured Phantom Demon to grant strength to others.

After thinking for a while, Aiwass said to the Shadow Demon, "How about we make a transaction?"

"I give you my flesh and blood, you give her your strength. Of course, don't rush to refuse—after all, not today.

"Although I had an agreement with you that I would offer you flesh and blood to taste after you're out... I'll need you to wait a bit, as I currently have places where a large amount of mana must be used."

"Are you going to fight others, my master?"

The Shadow Demon perked up, "If so, perhaps you won't need your mana. Nowadays, I can exert a portion of my strength through your body."

"Of course not. I'm going to craft an Extraordinary Item—that requires a full fifty units of fire-attribute mana."

"...Are you going to make a bomb?"

The Shadow Demon hesitated.