Inside the castle, Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie were engrossed in a new discovery.
They had found a drone, its blinking lights and whirring propellers catching their attention. Xiao Bai batted at it playfully while Lil' Blackie observed with a mix of curiosity and caution.
"This drone must mean there are other people around," Xiao Bai said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "We should try to find them."
Lil' Blackie shook her head, her tail flicking with determination. "No, we should wait here until Xiao Xiao finds us. If we go missing, he won't be able to find us."
Xiao Bai's ears drooped, disappointed. "But what if they can help us?"
"Trust me," Lil' Blackie insisted. "Staying put is the best way for Xiao Xiao to find us."
Before Xiao Bai could argue further, they heard the creak of the castle's heavy doors opening. Both cats froze, their ears twitching as they strained to listen.
"Hide!" Lil' Blackie whispered urgently.
Xiao Bai melted into the shadows, his black fur making him nearly invisible in the dim light. Lil' Blackie darted under a piece of furniture, her white fur blending with the dusty surroundings.
...
...
Leader Zhang and his team stepped into the castle, the atmosphere immediately changing from the cool night air outside to a cold, oppressive silence within.
The interior of the castle was dark and foreboding, illuminated only by the faint light filtering through the high, narrow windows.
Shadows danced across the stone walls, making the already eerie surroundings even more unsettling.
The grand entrance hall was vast and empty, with a high, arched ceiling that seemed to disappear into the darkness above.
Dust and cobwebs covered everything, indicating the castle had been abandoned for a long time.
The walls were adorned with faded tapestries and portraits of stern-faced nobles, their eyes seemingly following the team as they moved.
The team paused, listening, but the strange cat noises they had heard earlier had abruptly stopped, leaving an eerie silence that amplified their unease.
Leader Zhang felt a chill run down his spine as he surveyed the area.
His trained eyes quickly noticed signs of a recent battle: deep gashes in the stone walls, scorch marks from energy blasts, and shattered furniture strewn across the floor.
"Everyone, stay sharp," Team Leader Zhang ordered, his voice barely more than a whisper.
As they advanced further into the castle, the team members scanned their surroundings meticulously.
They passed through a grand hall where overturned tables and broken chairs lay in disarray, as if a fierce battle had raged through the room.
The remnants of a chandelier lay shattered on the floor, its crystals glittering ominously in the dim light.
Leader Zhang knelt by a scorched mark on the ground, running his fingers over the charred stone.
He noted the precision of the damage—this wasn't caused by ordinary means. "This was done by a superpower user," he muttered to himself. "And it looks like the fight was one-sided."
The realization made him uneasy. Why had he come here? This mission was turning out to be more complicated and dangerous than he had anticipated. A feeling of dread settled over him as he tried to recall the details of his orders, but his mind was frustratingly blank.
"Why did I come here?" Zhang lamented quietly. "This is getting more complicated."
A sudden wave of confusion washed over him. He couldn't remember the reason for their mission, nor why he had agreed to it in the first place.
Panic gripped him as he turned to his team. "Does anyone remember why we're here?"
The team members exchanged silent glances, their faces blank. Zhang realized with a sinking feeling that they too had no idea—they relied on him for the mission's purpose. Only the leader was supposed to know the details.
"Someone must have used memory manipulation on me before we entered the portal," Zhang deduced aloud, the pieces slowly falling into place. "This isn't good. We need to stay vigilant."
His mind raced as he tried to piece together what little information he had. They were in a castle that showed signs of a superpower-fueled battle.
They had been sent on a mission that none of them could remember. And now, they were stuck in a place filled with unknown dangers.
"Stay close," Team Leader Zhang ordered, his voice steady despite his growing unease. "We need to find out more about what happened here and why we were sent. And be prepared for anything."
As they cautiously advanced, Zhang's mind raced with questions.
Why would Dream Desire Palace use memory manipulation on them? They had served the palace loyally for years, never betraying their trust. What could be so important or dangerous that it required such extreme measures?
...
...
Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie watched the newcomers from their hiding spots. Listening intently to their conversation, they quickly deduced that these people were from Earth.
Despite this common ground, the cats didn't feel they could trust the strangers. In their minds, only Xiao Xiao was worthy of their trust.
Xiao Bai's mind raced with possibilities. He considered using the strength-sharing skill to tap into Lin Xiao's domain, but Lil' Blackie's earlier cautionary words echoed in his head. "We need to be careful and hide ourselves."
Reluctantly, he decided against revealing themselves or using any powers.
Instead, they remained hidden, observing the team leader and his squad as they moved through the castle.
Xiao Bai and Lil' Blackie remained vigilant, their sharp eyes following every move of the intruders.
They communicated silently through their shared bond, their thoughts aligned on one goal: to stay hidden and gather information without revealing themselves.
"They don't seem trustworthy," Xiao Bai thought, glancing at Lil' Blackie.
"Agreed," Lil' Blackie replied through their bond.
As Team Leader Zhang and his team pressed deeper into the castle, the sense of unease grew.
Team Leader Zhang couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, but every time he turned, there was nothing there.