I, the slave boy, awaken with the most potent seed!!

Zafron held Matilda's hand as they made their way through the streets, heading for an alleyway.

"We need to try something before we head to the Scrapyard," he murmured to Matilda.

She raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What do you have in mind?"

Zafron's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "You'll see. Follow me."

They weaved through the crowd, ducking into a narrow alleyway tucked between two dilapidated buildings. Shadows cloaked the passage, offering a semblance of privacy. Zafron peered around, ensuring they were alone.

"Alright, Calista," he whispered, excitement bubbling in his chest. "Let's test out this new skill."

Matilda watched, bewildered, as Zafron seemingly spoke to thin air.

Calista's voice echoed in Zafron's mind. [Before we proceed, allow me to explain the skill called 'Envelope'.]

Zafron nodded, his attention rapt.

[This skill allows you to envelop objects in slime, absorbing them into your being for safekeeping] Calista elucidated. [A menu will appear, granting you access to these items at will.]

Zafron's eyes widened, a childlike wonder spreading across his face. "That's... incredible!"

Calista continued, [However, there are limitations. The size of the object affects absorption speed. Larger items take longer, and some may be impossible to absorb until you reach higher levels. You're currently a Level 1 Enveloper.]

"How many things can I envelope right now?" Zafron inquired, his mind racing with possibilities.

[At your current level, you can envelope two items] Calista replied. [This capacity will increase as you level up]

Zafron's brow furrowed in thought. "What about the suit Hector gave me? Can it be absorbed?"

[Of course, my lord. Why else would I suggest it?] Calista confirmed.

A spark of excitement flashed in Zafron's eyes. "Let's try it out!"

[LEVEL 1 ENVELOPE ACTIVATED]

[.....]

[In progress]

[1%]

As Matilda looked on, slack-jawed, a shimmering slime materialized from Zafron's hand.

It enveloped the suit, which began to glow softly before shrinking and disappearing into Zafron's body.

Zafron noticed how slow the absorption was. "I guess the absorption speed increases as the levels go up, right?"

[Indeed, the higher the level, the faster the enveloping rate becomes.]

A translucent menu flickered into existence before him, displaying the suit's icon.

"Whenever you need the suit, simply activate the menu, and it will materialize instantly," Calista explained.

Zafron nodded, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

Matilda gaped, her eyes wide with astonishment. "That... that was amazing! Your 'system' or whatever you call it... it's truly something else!"

Zafron chuckled, a mix of pride and sheepishness coloring his cheeks. "It's still new to me too. But yeah, it's pretty incredible."

With their impromptu experiment complete, they set off towards the Scrapyard, anticipation building with each step.

They followed the path leading to the upper section, just as instructed by the Crystals seller and they were there in no time.

The Scrapyard loomed before them, a sprawling labyrinth of metal and miscellanea.

Towering piles of discarded machinery cast long shadows across the uneven ground. The air was thick with the acrid scent of oil and rust, mingling with the earthy aroma of soil and sweat.

People of all shapes and sizes bustled about.

Some lugged hefty machines, while others cradled massive crystals of varying colours in their arms. The constant clanging of metal on metal created a chaotic symphony that echoed through the yard.

Zafron and Matilda made their way inside, their eyes scanning for any sign of their cart.

They soon found themselves before a waiting box cart, perched atop a network of rails that snaked through the Scrapyard.

[I guess that's our ride to hell] Calista chimed in.

As they clambered aboard, Zafron couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement. 'This place is unlike anything I've ever seen,' he mused, drinking in the sights and sounds.

The cart lurched forward, carrying them deeper into the heart of the Scrapyard.

As they progressed, the crowd grew denser, the faces around them harder and more weathered. Zafron noticed the menacing looks some passersby cast their way, but he refused to be intimidated.

'We're here for a reason,' he reminded himself, squaring his shoulders. 'No time for fear.'

They disembarked, immediately engulfed by the throng of people. Zafron's eyes darted about, searching for any familiar faces or signs of their cart.

Finding neither Shadow nor Whisper, they pressed on, delving deeper into the chaotic maze of the Scrapyard.

Suddenly, they found themselves accosted by a horde of eager sellers and linkers, each vying for their attention.

"Best quality parts here!"

"Unbeatable prices on crystals!"

"You won't find better deals anywhere else!"

The overlapping of voices threatened to drown out Zafron's thoughts. He raised a hand, trying to fend off the overzealous merchants.

One particularly persistent seller thrust a mask into Zafron's face. "This mask is indestructible!" he proclaimed, his voice rising above the din. "You'll never need another one!"

Zafron eyed the mask skeptically, noticing a prominent crack along its upper edge.

Calista's amused voice rang in his head. [The upper part of the mask is visibly cracked, and he's calling it indestructible? Some people have no shame.]

Zafron stifled a laugh, shaking his head at the seller's audacity. 'I wonder how many people fall for these tricks,' he pondered.

As they pushed through the crowd, more and more traders made their way through.

"Zafron!"

A familiar voice cut through the noise, causing Zafron to whirl around. His eyes widened as he recognized the source.

"Shadow?" he wondered.

His heart skipped a beat as he turned to see Shadow and Whisper sauntering towards them, their matching smirks spelling trouble.

He cursed his luck as he saw the plan to find their cart crumbling before his eyes.

'Just perfect! Of all times, they show up now when we need them the least. Disappear on us at the bar—whatever that place was—and now they just pop up here. Fucking... snakes!' Zafron thought bitterly.

[Oh joy, the terrible twosome approaches. I hope you've practiced your lying face, my lord,] Calista quipped in his head.

Matilda inched closer to Zafron, her fingers brushing against his arm. It wasn't a good look if the twins found that they were trying to double cross them. He could feel the tension radiating from her body.

"Well, well, well," Shadow drawled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "What have we here? Didn't we leave you lovebirds at the bar to drown your sorrows?"

Whisper chimed in, her voice a silky purr. "My, my, how the tides have turned. One moment you're crying into your cups, the next you're taking a romantic stroll through... the Scrapyard?" She wrinkled her nose in mock disgust.

Zafron swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. "We, uh... we were just..."

"Oh, honey," Shadow interrupted, her smile razor-sharp. "It's painfully obvious what you're here for. The question is, why didn't you just ask us?"

[Now they know why we are here. Just perfect!] Calista chimed in.

Whisper nodded, her expression a perfect mirror of her twin's. "After all, we're all friends here, aren't we? Or did you think we wouldn't notice our new pets wandering off?"

[Well, this is going swimmingly. Shall I start planning our funeral now, or would you prefer to dig this hole a bit deeper first?]