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

Chapter 211: Trapped in a domain

Hector's mismatched eyes gleamed with an unsettling mixture of excitement and madness. "You see, Zafron," he began, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone, "I found you quite intriguing from the moment you and your charming companion... Matilda, was it? Yes, when you both passed through the barrier and landed safely. Quite unorthodox, I must say."

Zafron's brow furrowed. 'How does he know about our arrival?' he wondered, a chill running down his spine.

[Oh great,] Calista chimed in, [we've got a stalker. And here I thought the Undercity couldn't get any creepier.]

"You're wondering how I know this," Hector continued, as if reading Zafron's thoughts. He limped over to a cluttered workbench, his mechanical parts whirring softly. "You see, my boy, we're all trapped here. Trapped in a magical barrier forged by some of the strongest magic wielders in the whole empire."

Zafron's eyes widened. "Trapped? What do you mean?"

Hector's laugh was a discordant mixture of mirth and bitterness. "The Gatekeepers, they call themselves. Magic users strong enough to create an almost endless domain to trap the worst of the worst criminals." He spread his arms wide, encompassing the cluttered laboratory. "Welcome to our gilded cage, Zafron."

'Gatekeepers? Domain?' Zafron's mind raced, trying to piece together this new information.

Hector moved from invention to invention, explaining each with feverish enthusiasm. "This," he said, gesturing to a contraption that looked like a cross between a telescope and a blender, "was my first attempt at piercing the barrier. And this," he pointed to what appeared to be a suit made of crystal shards, "was meant to resonate with the barrier's frequency."

Zafron's head spun as Hector rattled off invention after invention, each more bizarre than the last. 'He's been trying to escape for years,' Zafron realized. '

"Wait," Zafron interrupted, a thought striking him. "The domain... do you mean the dark blue sky we can see from the landing platform?"

Hector's face lit up. "Precisely! You're a sharp one, aren't you?" He nodded vigorously. "Yes, that 'sky' is our prison wall. It keeps everything in, but nothing gets out without the Gatekeepers' say-so."

"But all your inventions," Zafron gestured around the lab, "they failed?"

Hector's excitement dimmed slightly. "Ah, yes. They all lacked the proper fuel source, you see. Without it, they're just fancy paperweights."

Zafron looked at him incredulously. "Fuel source? But that's impossible. We have crystals for food, air purification, magical amplification... surely a fuel source would be easy."

[Oh, honey,] Calista drawled, [when has anything in this nightmare of a city been easy?]

Hector's laugh was hollow. "If only it were that simple, my boy. You see, if you know anything about the Undercity, you know that Raxus controls everything. To get a crystal strong enough for something of this magnitude, Raxus himself would have to activate it for that exact purpose."

Zafron paused, a thought striking him. "Couldn't anyone else activate it? Does it have to be Raxus? Is his ability unique to him?"

Hector's eyes gleamed with approval. "Excellent questions! You're catching on quickly." He settled into a chair that looked more machine than furniture. "Let me explain how our dear Raxus rose to power."

As Hector launched into his tale, Zafron found himself drawn in despite his reservations. The story unfolded like a twisted fairy tale - Raxus, discovering his unique ability to activate crystals, slowly consolidating power until he became the undisputed ruler of the Undercity.

'So that's why the twins want to overthrow him,' Zafron realized. 'He's the linchpin holding this whole system together.'

[Great,] Calista muttered, [so we're stuck in a magical prison run by a crystal-powered dictator. Just another day in paradise.]

As Hector's story wound down, a thought occurred to Zafron. "If Raxus is the only one who can activate the crystals, why not pitch your escape plan to him? Surely he'd want a way out too?"

Hector's laughter filled the lab, a sound that sent shivers down Zafron's spine. "Oh, my dear boy," he wheezed, wiping a tear from his human eye, "Raxus can't help me. He wouldn't even if he could."

"Why not?" Zafron pressed.

Hector's smile turned bitter. "Because Raxus hates me."

Zafron arched an eyebrow, pausing to consider. 'I mean, there isn't much to hate... but why?'

[Oh, I don't know,] Calista chimed in sarcastically, [maybe it's the whole 'mad scientist' vibe? Or perhaps the collection of failed doomsday devices?]

"You're wondering why," Hector said, his voice softening. "It's simple, really. Raxus hates me because I was originally the big boss of the Undercity."

Zafron's jaw dropped. "You? But how...?"

Hector sighed, suddenly looking every bit his age - whatever that might be. "It's a long story, my boy. One filled with betrayal, ambition, and a fair bit of hubris on my part." He gestured to his cybernetic parts. "Let's just say Raxus's rise to power wasn't entirely... peaceful."

As Hector delved deeper into his past, Zafron found his mind reeling. The history of the Undercity was far more complex than he'd imagined. Power struggles, hidden technologies, and the constant shadow of the barrier above - it was a lot to take in.

[You know,] Calista mused, [for a hellhole designed to contain the worst criminals, this place has a surprisingly intricate political system. Who knew evil had so much paperwork?]

Hector moved to a large, covered object in the corner of the lab. With a flourish, he pulled off the sheet, revealing a massive, intricate machine. "This," he announced proudly, "is my magnum opus. The key to our freedom."

Zafron stared at the contraption, a mess of gears, crystals, and what looked suspiciously like kitchen appliances. "What does it do?" he asked, not entirely sure he wanted to know the answer.

"It's a resonance amplifier," Hector explained, his excitement palpable. "In theory, it should be able to match the frequency of the barrier and create a temporary weakness - a door, if you will."

'In theory?' Zafron thought skeptically. 'That's not exactly reassuring.'

[Oh great,] Calista drawled, [we're pinning our hopes on a science project. What could possibly go wrong?]

As Hector launched into a technical explanation that went way over Zafron's head, the young man found himself wondering how he'd ended up in this situation. Just days ago, he'd been a normal guy with some weird slime powers. Now he was standing in a mad scientist's lab, contemplating a prison break from a magical city of criminals.

"...and that's where you come in, my boy," Hector's voice cut through Zafron's reverie.

"Wait, what?" Zafron blinked, realizing he'd missed a crucial part of the conversation.

Hector's grin was almost predatory. "Your powers, Zafron. They're unlike anything I've seen before. With your unique abilities and my inventions, we might just have a chance at freedom."

Zafron's mind raced. 'Is that why my powers have been acting up? Because of this barrier?'

[Oh joy,] Calista sighed, [looks like we've been drafted into the Undercity Escapee Club. Do we get t-shirts?]

"I know it's a lot to take in," Hector said, his tone suddenly gentle. "But think about it, Zafron. Freedom. A chance to return to the world above. Isn't that worth the risk?"

As Zafron stood there, surrounded by the mad inventor's creations, he felt the weight of the decision pressing down on him. On one side, the twins and their plans for revolution. On the other, Hector and his wild scheme for escape. And somewhere in the middle, Zafron and Matilda, just trying to survive.

'What have we gotten ourselves into?' Zafron wondered, the enormity of the situation finally hitting him.]