"Greetings, Eli Shane. I see my gift to your father made its way to you."

"You're lying."

"I have no reason to. I want us to work together. But let's not talk here."

"Too bad. I'm not interested."

"I already see my slug on your shoulder. Give me your slugs, and I'll return them at the same level of power as him."

"No. Way. You were the last one to see my father. You could answer where he is, but I doubt you'd be willing."

A burst of silence flooded the space between the two groups, with everyone around them blocking out the conversation. Staring at Eli and his slug, he slightly nodded and left, but not before answering in a whisper.

"If you're not careful, your little slug will destroy you. And everyone around you."

Pulling a repeat performance against John Bull, he gained a Frostcrawler whom he called Chiller. Heading back to the Hideout, Eli was intercepted by the trio he fought and bonded with earlier, with Trixie the first to speak up.

"So, let me get this straight, Eli Shane. You have a slug filled with, Darkness, that can one-shot nearly every other slinger and their slugs. Dr. Blakk offered to… upgrade those you won to the same level. When you add that on top of your natural skill as a Shane, you would have had a Dark arsenal that would've blown every other slinger out there out of the water.

"And you rejected this, why, again?"

His eyes flared brightly as Burpy did the same.

"He either killed my father or knows where he is. I won't stop until it's confirmed either way."

"If you want to find your father, you're going to need the best tracker anywhere!"

"You're also going to need someone to keep all your gear running and replace them with the top-of-the-line while you're looking."

"Add that to the fact that Dr. Blakk offered you those Dark Slugs, when you already know he's behind your dad's disappearance… He's up to something. And you're gonna need someone to tell Slugterra when we get that proof!"

"Are you three sure about this?"

"We're not getting anywhere at this speed, my good sir! Last one to the Hideout is a Flopper!"

With a scream, he charged off, Eli looking on amusedly before glancing at Burpy.

Shall I tell the fool he's going the wrong way?*

Nah. Let him run around like a headless chicken.*

During a practice duel with Kord, Eli's blaster exploded.

Literally.

Only Eli hurling it away and Burpy being the tough bastard he was prevented the explosion from being lethal.

"Well, that's that."

"Eli! I told you it was time to replace it!"

"Sorry! I should've trusted you. Where do you buy new ones?"

"Redhook in Quiet Lawn Cavern. He's the best of the best."

Mounting their mecha beasts, they made their way to the above Cavern, with the first words in Eli's head being Burpy's.

It's too quiet, my friend. I suspect rival Slingers. And Pronto? SHUT THE FUCK UP.*

The mole clammed up at the quip he was about to say. Simultaneously, another group of Slingers entered the scene with their mechas, blasters blasting and making a mess of the place. As the head of the gang began talking, Eli tuned his annoying voice out.

Any idea on how to humiliate this jerk, buddy?*

Well, he's 'suggesting' a trick shot duel, but I suspect strongly you'll repeatedly win 'despite' him using inferior Dark Slugs, he'll whine his ass off, then we'll all duel while keeping those Grenuke slugs from falling, which these assholes wouldn't care less about. Afterward, he and his gang will run away, only for us to run into each other in the future, rinse and repeat.*

Eli couldn't help but grin at the unspoken implication.

You're suggesting we deal with them right here and now.*

Not kill them, but somewhat close to it, if you want.*

He raises an eyebrow at his Slinger's narrowing eyes.

You want them in the hospital regardless.*

"Yup."

Not noticing how everyone had become unnervingly quiet, Eli held up a container for Burpy to hop into, loaded his blaster, and fired.

The terrified trio fired Hop Jacks, which Burpy easily defeated by blasting the center one, grabbing the right one and flinging it behind him into Trixie's Aquabeek, and looping around Kord's and Pronto's slugs. Literally biting the remaining Hop Jack's tail, he spun around the terrified and painfully screaming Dark Slug before hurling it out of town. Before the trio could reload, Burpy vaporized their mechas' heads and threw them off. They tried running, only to become surrounded by a ring of flame. Burpy then hovered in front of them, grinning malevolently.

As Eli dismounted his mecha, the rest of the Gang did the same.

"Wh-wha-what the hell just happened, bro?! I'm no stranger to violence when the situation calls for it, but that was going to be excessive!"

"Yeah! While your slug didn't kill them, I'm shocked that he could do any of that!"

"As am I! You must tell Pronto the Magnificent how you did it! Then maybe these lazy Floppers will give Pronto the Respectful the RESPECT that he deserves!"

With a flap, Burpy transforms back into his protoform and lands on Pronto's nose.

I will say this one time, and I'll tell it to you straight, you arrogant, thoughtless, prideful little shit. Slugs aren't creatures you should just use and discard, like clothing. We're living, thinking, sensitive beings.

*We have opinions on shows and movies. We have opinions on our Slingers, even if we don't always get the chance to choose or be called by an actual name. We have dreams and desires that don't always revolve around you. YOU ARE NOT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, KING PRONTO!*

Leaning in, his red pupils held no mercy or compassion for the weeping and shocked molenoid.

Be fucking graceful I'm telling the truth because from where I'm standing, I can see that your world is going to explode, and you're going to need every slug you can get to be loyal to you.

Utterly and completely.

Do. You. Understand?

Molenoid?*

He meekly nodded, and with a painful flick, Burpy hopped off and landed on Eli's shoulder. Meanwhile, two of the opposing gang members had gotten on their knees, placing their blasters in front of them and hands on their heads. Their leader didn't, mocked them, and blasted as many Dark Slugs as he could while retreating. Diving out of the way, the Shane Gang returned fire. The sole exception was Eli, who was mysteriously missing. As the fleeing boy barely missed a Tazerling, Eli grabbed him by the front of his shirt and lifted him, eyes blazing.

"You think I'll let you get away after threatening my friends and an innocent town? Think again."

What followed was a mental assault that left the boy screaming for his parents and help, rolling around as he tried to extinguish imaginary flames. The closer they were to their friends, the more visible their doubtful faces were and the slower they walked.

… I'm sorry for pushing you.*

"I'm sorry for suggesting it."

"I'm sorry for making myself look like a fool. I promise to do better."

Glancing between Slug and Slinger, Trixie spoke next while rubbing the back of her neck.

"I'd be sorry for joining, but… I'd be a hypocrite, as I have anger issues as well. Wanna join me in my daily meditation?"

"That would be great. Thanks."

Burpy nodded in agreement as Kord spoke up.

"I'd join you, but I'm-."

"A brave Cave Troll who can't focus on anything other than technology for more than three seconds."

Freezing up, the cave troll slowly turned toward the nervous, backing away molenoid.

"Wanna try that again, Tracker Molenoid?"

"U-Um-I-I-I meant-."

"I'm just playing, Pronto, there's nothing dangerous to worry about!"

The look in his eyes told Pronto that yes, there was something to be worried about during the next couple of days.