Chapter 208: All evolving

As Zafron limped off the arena floor, his body a patchwork of bruises and electrical burns, he reached out to Calista in his mind. "Any theories on what's happening to my powers?"[Oh, now you want my opinion,] Calista retorted.

'Isn't that why you are here? Come, what's your problem?!' Zafron asked, already frustrated from feeling the hurt from the lightning. Though his slime protected him for most of the part, it still hurt like hell.

[Let me consult my vast database of 'Why Is My Slime Acting strange?' Hmm, nope, coming up empty. Maybe you're just losing your touch?] S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Zafron sighed, 'Thanks for nothing. You are really growing in attitude these days,'

[Hey, I helped you win, didn't I? You're welcome, by the way.Plus, we are all evolving, it's not just you!]

Before Zafron could retort, a blur of motion caught his eye. Matilda sprinted towards him, her face a mixture of relief and concern. She threw her arms around him, and Zafron winced as she aggravated his injuries.

"You idiot," Matilda muttered into his chest, her voice muffled. "I thought you were going to die out there."

Zafron chuckled weakly, wrapping his arms around her. "Can't get rid of me that easily."

"How touching," a familiar voice drawled. Shadow and Whisper sauntered up, matching smirks on their faces. Whisper held out a small pouch that clinked with the sound of crystal units. "Your winnings, minus our cut, of course."

Zafron took the pouch, noting how light it felt. "Generous as always," he muttered.

Shadow's eyes glinted with amusement. "My, my, it seems the Undercity is welcoming you with open arms. Your powers are starting to act all wonky, right?"

Zafron's head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "How did you-"

"Word of advice," Whisper cut in, her tone deceptively casual. "Start saving up for a power crystal. You'll need it soon just to perform basic magic."

"Wait," Zafron frowned, "aren't power crystals meant to augment existing abilities? Volt was using one, but I think his lightning powers were his own"

The twins exchanged a knowing look. "Smart boy," Shadow purred. "Figuring it out already. Let's just say you're not the only one whose magic has been... misbehaving."

[Well, isn't that ominous,] Calista chimed in. [Want me to look into it? I mean, I will as long as you keep me online. No promises on actually finding anything useful, though.]

"Enough business talk," Whisper declared, clapping her hands together. "We're taking you two out for a celebratory drink. The Undercity isn't all doom and gloom, you know. We've got our own little slices of heaven."

Matilda shook her head. "Thanks, but I think we'll pass. Zafron needs rest-"

"Oh, darling," Shadow's voice dropped to a dangerous purr, "we weren't asking." With that they turned on their heels and Zafron and Matilda had no choice but to follow.

The walk to the club was tense, with Zafron and Matilda exchanging worried glances. As they descended deeper into the caverns, the oppressive atmosphere of the Undercity began to shift. Music throbbed through the stone, growing louder with each step.

They rounded a corner, and Zafron's jaw dropped. A massive cavern opened up before them, awash in a riot of color. Crystal formations pulsed with ever-changing hues, bathing the space in a psychedelic light show. Throngs of people writhed to the pounding beat, their faces a mixture of ecstasy and exhilaration.

"Welcome to the Neon Abyss," Whisper shouted over the din, a wicked grin on her face.

They pushed their way to a secluded booth, and Shadow signaled a server. Moments later, a tray of drinks arrived – unlabeled bottles filled with liquids that seemed to glow and shift in the pulsing light.

"Don't ask what's in it," Shadow advised, taking a long swig. "Trust me, you're better off not knowing."

Zafron eyed his drink warily. "Is it safe?"

Whisper laughed, the sound sharp and brittle. "Safe? Honey, nothing down here is safe. But it'll make you feel alive."

As the twins knocked back drink after drink, the conversation flowed. Zafron found himself relaxing despite his better judgment, drawn in by their charisma.

"So," Matilda ventured, sipping cautiously at her own drink, "how did you two end up down here?"

Shadow's eyes glittered. "Oh, now that's a story. Ever hear of the Crimson Cartel?"

Zafron's eyes widened. "The smuggling ring? They're infamous even in the Empire."

Whisper grinned. "We ran it."

"Bullshit," Matilda blurted out, then clapped a hand over her mouth. It wasn't in her nature to say those kind of words.

The twins roared with laughter. "Oh, we like you," Shadow chuckled. "But it's true. For five glorious years, we had half the continent in our pocket. Politicians, nobles, even a few members of the royal family – all dancing to our tune."

"So what happened?" Zafron asked, leaning in despite himself.

Whisper's smile turned razor-sharp. "We got cocky. Took a job we shouldn't have. Turns out, stealing from Lumina is a bad idea."

"The bounty on our heads could buy a small kingdom," Shadow added, a note of pride in her voice. "The body count? Let's just say we could populate a decent-sized town with our victims."

Matilda blanched, but Zafron found himself morbidly fascinated. "How did you end up here?"

The twins exchanged a look. "We had a choice," Whisper explained. "Rot in an Imperial prison or take our chances in the Wasteland. We chose the Wasteland."

"Smart move," Shadow picked up the thread. "The Empire doesn't give a damn about what happens down here. As long as we remain here, they're happy to pretend we don't exist."

"And now?" Zafron pressed. "What's your game?"

The twins' smiles turned predatory. "Now," Shadow purred, "we're aiming higher. This sector needs new management, and we intend to provide it."

"You want to be governors?" Matilda asked, incredulous.

Whisper nodded. "It's just the first step. There are rules, of course. Traditions. But we've never been good at following rules."

"The current governor is a puppet," Shadow explained, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Raxus pulls the strings, keeps everyone in line with fear and false promises."

"But fear only works for so long," Whisper continued. "The people are ready for change. They just need a push."

"And that's where you come in, Zafron," Shadow's eyes locked onto his. "Your little performance in the arena? That's just the beginning. We need a face for our revolution, someone the people can rally behind."

Zafron's mind reeled. "You want me to be your figurehead?"

"Think about it," Whisper urged. "Power, influence, a chance to shape the future of the Undercity. All you have to do is play your part."

Before Zafron could respond, the twins stood in unison. "Well, this has been delightful," Shadow drawled, "but we've got a revolution to plan. Be a dear and handle the bill, won't you?"

With a wink and a flutter of fingers, they sauntered off, leaving Zafron and Matilda staring after them in stunned silence.

"What the hell just happened?" Matilda whispered.

Zafron shook his head, trying to process everything they'd heard. "I think we just got drafted into a coup."

[Oh goody,] Calista chimed in. [Because your life wasn't complicated enough already. Should I start pricing out 'Future Dictator' business cards?]

As Zafron and Matilda sat in stunned silence, digesting the twins' ambitious plans and their own precarious position, a shadow fell across their table. They looked up to see a figure looming over them, face hidden beneath a heavy hood.

"We need to talk," the stranger said, voice low and urgent.