Chapter 229: Nine lives

The alley erupted into chaos as Sakura's transformation completed. Where once stood a fierce but human fighter, now crouched a feral creature, her eyes glowing with predatory intensity. Zafron could only gape, his mind struggling to process the sight before him."Holy shi-" he began, but his exclamation was cut short as Sakura launched herself at her opponent with inhuman speed.

Her claws flashed in the dim light, leaving trails of energy in their wake. With a primal roar, she slashed at the air, and to Zafron's astonishment, four beams of pure energy shot forth, carving deep gouges into the alley wall.

'Well,' Zafron thought, his eyes wide, 'I guess cats really do have nine lives. And apparently, energy beams.'

[Perhaps we should consider investing in a scratching post, my lord,] Calista quipped. [It might prove a safer outlet for your new friend's... talents.]

Sakura paid no heed to their stunned reactions. She was lost in a whirlwind of slashes, kicks, and acrobatic leaps. Her opponent, initially cocky, now looked terrified as he frantically tried to fend off her relentless assault.

Zafron might have spent the entire fight staring in awe at Sakura's ferocious display, but the whistling sound of an incoming wrench reminded him that he had his own battle to fight.

'Right,' he thought, narrowly dodging the glowing projectile, 'time to put Hector's gift to use.'

With a thought, Zafron activated his envelope skill. The slime suit materialized before him, hovering for just a moment before he absorbed it into his body. The sensation was oddly familiar, not unlike his usual slime powers.

'Huh,' Zafron mused, flexing his fingers experimentally, 'the old man really did know what he was talking about.'

[A rare occurrence, I'm sure,] Calista chimed in. [Now, perhaps we could focus on not getting bludgeoned by the angry man with the magic wrench?]

As if on cue, Zafron's opponent charged, swinging his weapon with murderous intent. But Zafron was ready. A cruel smile spread across his face as he sidestepped the attack.

"Sorry, buddy," Zafron taunted, his voice dripping with mock sympathy, "but I'm afraid you brought a wrench to a slime fight."

With that, Zafron unleashed a barrage of slime projectiles, each one hitting its mark with pinpoint accuracy. His opponent staggered back, momentarily blinded by the viscous substance covering his face.

Zafron pressed his advantage, closing the distance in an instant. His fists, now encased in hardened slime, connected with satisfying thuds against his attacker's body.

Meanwhile, Sakura was putting on a show of her own. She bounded off walls, her claws leaving deep scratches in the brickwork as she used every surface to launch herself at her increasingly desperate opponent.

"What's the matter?" she growled, her voice a feral mix of human and beast. "Can't keep up with a little kitty?"

Her taunts were punctuated by vicious swipes of her claws, each one finding its mark. Her opponent's weapon, which had seemed so threatening earlier, now lay forgotten on the ground as he focused solely on survival.

Both Zafron and Sakura were so caught up in their respective battles that they barely registered the few hits their opponents managed to land. Adrenaline and the thrill of combat dulled any pain, driving them to fight harder, faster, more ferociously.

As the fight wore on, it became clear that Zafron and Sakura were not just winning – they were dominating. Zafron's opponent, now more slime than man, stumbled about blindly, swinging his wrench in desperate, uncoordinated arcs.

Sakura, for her part, seemed to be toying with her attacker. She darted in and out of his reach, leaving shallow cuts with each pass, wearing him down both physically and mentally.

The end came swiftly for both battles. With a final, powerful leap, Sakura landed squarely on her opponent's chest, driving him to the ground with bone-crushing force. Before he could even think of getting up, she unleashed a flurry of punches, each one punctuated by a feral growl.

Zafron, not to be outdone, had fully encased his opponent in a cocoon of slime, leaving only the man's face exposed. He approached slowly, savoring the look of panic in his attacker's eyes.

"Now then," Zafron began, crouching down to eye level with his captive, "let's have a little chat about why you and your friend decided to ruin our evening, shall we?"

But before the man could answer, Sakura appeared beside them. In the blink of an eye, she had transformed back into her human form, looking for all the world like she hadn't just been part cat-woman mere moments ago.

Without a word, she reached out and delivered a knockout punch to Zafron's prisoner.

"Hey!" Zafron protested, jumping to his feet. "What gives? I was just about to get some answers!"

Sakura merely shrugged, already turning away. "It's late. I'm going home. You should do the same."

"Oh no," Zafron said, falling into step behind her as she walked away. "You don't get to drop a bombshell like... whatever that was, and just walk away. I want answers. The full story, no omissions, no lies."

Sakura stopped, her shoulders sagging slightly. When she turned to face Zafron, there was a mix of exhaustion and resignation in her eyes.

"Fine," she said with a sigh. "But not here. Follow me."

She led Zafron through a maze of back alleys and hidden passages, finally stopping at an unassuming door tucked away in a quiet corner of the Undercity. As they stepped inside, Zafron couldn't help but let out a low whistle of appreciation.

'Well, well,' he thought, taking in the surprisingly comfortable and well-furnished living space. 'Looks like someone's been holding out on us, Calista.'

[Indeed, my lord. Perhaps we should consider a change in real estate agents. Whisper and Shadow's taste in accommodations leaves much to be desired.]

Zafron watched as Sakura settled into a plush armchair, gesturing for him to take a seat across from her. As he sat, he noticed a wound on her cheek slowly closing before his eyes, reminding him of his own healing abilities.

"So," Sakura began, her voice tinged with a weariness that seemed to go beyond physical exhaustion, "where should I start?"

"How about the beginning?" Zafron suggested, leaning forward with interest. "And don't skimp on the details. I want to know everything."

Sakura took a deep breath, her eyes focusing on some distant point as she began her tale.

"Once upon a time, there were two young troublemakers who thought they owned Lumina," she said, a hint of nostalgia coloring her voice. "Me and Draco. We were just street kids, really. Orphans trying to survive in a city that didn't care if we lived or died." seaʀᴄh thё nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Wait," Zafron interrupted, "Draco? As in, the guy who sent those goons after you tonight?"

Sakura nodded, a bitter smile twisting her lips. "The very same. But back then, he wasn't my enemy. He was... everything."

She went on to describe their life on the streets - two kids against the world, stealing to survive, watching each other's backs. As she spoke, Zafron could almost see the young Sakura and Draco, running through Lumina's shadowy alleys, laughing in the face of danger.

"We were unstoppable," Sakura continued, her eyes taking on a faraway look. "Or at least, we thought we were. We pulled bigger and bigger jobs, made a name for ourselves. And somewhere along the way, we fell in love."

"Ah," Zafron nodded sagely, "the classic tale of two young criminals in love. I'm sure that ended well."

[Smooth, my lord. Perhaps sarcasm isn't the best approach when discussing matters of the heart?]