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

Cassandra and Sakura slipped out through the window under the dim lights of the under city, their movements fluid and silent. Each carried a small pack containing only the essentials—medical supplies, rope, and a few specialized tools. Their black attire seemed to absorb what little light touched them, making them nearly invisible in the shadows.

Sakura adjusted the strap of her pack, keeping it close to prevent any noise. "This way," she whispered, barely audible. "Stay low."

They moved like shadows through the empty streets, taking advantage of every dark corner and abandoned alley. The weight of their mission hung heavy in the air between them.

Neither spoke unless necessary, communicating mostly through subtle gestures and meaningful glances.

As they approached Raxus's compound, Cassandra held up a hand, signaling Sakura to stop. They crouched behind a low wall, observing the patrol patterns of the guards. The compound's security was exactly as they'd expected—pairs of guards stationed at various points, moving in coordinated patterns.

"Look there," Sakura breathed, pointing to a seemingly unguarded path that led to a rear entrance. "We could slip in through—"

"No," Cassandra cut her off, her voice barely a whisper. "That's exactly what they want us to think."

Sakura frowned, turning to face her companion. "What do you mean? There's no one there."

"Exactly." Cassandra's eyes narrowed as she studied the layout. "See those three guards at the main gate? They're not particularly strong—average builds, standard weapons. But that empty path?" She gestured to the unguarded area. "They're confident enough to leave it completely unprotected. Why?"

"Because..." Sakura's eyes widened with understanding. "Because whatever's guarding it doesn't need backup."

Cassandra nodded. "They've scaled their defenses based on strength. The more guards you see, the weaker the actual defense. It's reverse psychology—they're hoping intruders will avoid the heavily guarded areas and choose what looks like an easy path."

"So we should go where there are more guards?" Sakura sounded skeptical. "That seems..."

"Counterintuitive, I know. But trust me on this. I've seen this tactic before." Cassandra's eyes scanned the area, taking in every detail. "Three guards mean they're not confident about that section's security. They're compensating with numbers."

They watched as the guards made their rounds, noting their movements and timing. Cassandra's mind worked quickly, formulating a plan. She reached down, letting her hand brush against the ground. Green slime began to form around her fingers, thick and viscous.

"What are you thinking?" Sakura asked, recognizing the look in Cassandra's eyes.

"We need a distraction, but nothing too obvious." Cassandra moved carefully toward a nearby structural support, keeping to the shadows. "Something that'll draw their attention without raising alarms."

She pressed her slime-covered hand against the structure, then began to move away slowly. The slime stretched between her hand and the surface, maintaining its connection.

Sakura watched in fascination as Cassandra manipulated the substance with practiced precision.

"When I pull," Cassandra explained in a whisper, "the structure will fall. Not hard enough to cause real damage, but enough to make noise. The guards will have to investigate."

Sakura nodded, positioning herself for their next move. "And while they're distracted..."

"We slip past them." Cassandra led them to a better position, the slime stretching invisibly behind them. "Ready?"

At Sakura's nod, Cassandra gave a careful pull. The structure toppled with a controlled crash, loud enough to draw attention but not so loud as to suggest an attack. The guards reacted exactly as predicted.

"What was that?" one called out, already moving toward the noise.

"Check it out," another responded. "Might be those cats again."

They watched as the guards congregated around the fallen structure, discussing how to right it. Cassandra counted under her breath, waiting for the perfect moment. "Now," she breathed, and they moved.

Their footsteps were silent as they slipped through the gate, keeping to the deepest shadows. Once inside, Sakura took the lead, her knowledge of the compound's layout guiding them through the maze-like corridors.

Stay connected through empire

The interior was dimly lit, with long shadows stretching across polished floors. Every few steps, they would freeze at the slightest sound—a distant conversation, the creak of a floorboard, the whisper of wind through the halls.

Each pause was accompanied by held breath and racing hearts, waiting to see if they'd been discovered.

"The dungeon's this way," Sakura indicated, pointing toward a descending staircase. "But we need to be careful. The acoustics down there are tricky—sound carries strangely."

They descended slowly, testing each step before putting their full weight down. The air grew cooler as they went deeper, carrying the faint smell of moisture and stone. The lighting became even dimmer, with long stretches of shadow between widely spaced lamps.

At the bottom of the stairs, they found their first real obstacle—a guard slumped in a chair, a drink bottle dangling from his fingertips. His head was tilted back with his cap hanging loosely, and occasional mumbles escaped his lips.

Cassandra and Sakura exchanged glances, assessing the situation. The guard's position made it impossible to slip past him unnoticed, but his inebriated state might work to their advantage.

"I can take him," Sakura mouthed, making a quick striking motion with her hand. Cassandra nodded, moving to cover her.

Sakura crept forward, her movements precise and controlled. The guard continued his drunken mumbling, oblivious to the danger. As she approached, his words became clearer—nonsensical complaints about shift schedules and patrol duties.

With practiced efficiency, Sakura struck. Her hand found the pressure point at the base of his skull, and his body went limp. She caught him before he could fall, but his cap slipped off, striking the metal floor with a sharp, clear clang.

The sound seemed to echo through the corridor, impossibly loud in the silence. Cassandra and Sakura froze, their muscles tense, waiting.

"Everything okay down there?" a voice called from around the corner.

The sound of approaching footsteps followed immediately after. "Hey, Marcus, you better not be sleeping again..."

Cassandra's mind raced, calculating options. The approaching guard would be there in seconds, and they were exposed in the middle of the corridor.

The unconscious guard was dead weight in Sakura's arms, and there wasn't time to hide him properly.

The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by the subtle jingling of keys and weapons. Cassandra's hand began to produce slime again, while Sakura tried to shift the unconscious guard's weight without making more noise.

They had seconds to decide: fight or hide? Either choice could compromise their entire mission.

If they were discovered now, Matilda's chances of rescue would drop dramatically. But if they engaged in combat, the noise would surely alert others.

The footsteps rounded the corner...