The master spy or Puss in the boot adventures

The failure of Scorpion, Part 60

Meanwhile, in the Emperor's villa, the shadowy figure of the assassin known as Scorpion climbs the outer walls under cover of night. His black robes blended seamlessly with the darkness as he slipped silently past the patrolling guards. He found an unclosed window and slipped into the upper floors of the villa.The scorpion moved like a phantom through the rich corridors, mercilessly liquidating the few guards it encountered, its twin katanas flashing silver in the moonlight. He had to find the dungeons and free the rebels before they were executed.

Deep in the subterranean cells, Mer-Mer, Latina, and Ragnar sat chained to the damp stone walls. Despite their grim situation, they did not let despair overwhelm them. 

"We have to find a way to get out of here," Latina whispered fiercely, straining against her chains.

"Easier said than done," Ragnar replied with a wry smile. "Unless you happen to have a key hidden in that outfit of yours."

Latina looked at him dryly. "This is serious! We can't let them break us. Spartacus and the others will come for us, I know it."

Mer-Mer was silent, his eyes closed in concentration as he tried to summon his shadow magic. But the chains that bound him seemed to block his abilities. He could only pray that they would be saved before the Emperor could turn their deaths into a public spectacle.

Suddenly, the sound of a scuffle broke out beyond their cell door, followed by the dull thud of a body hitting the floor. The prisoners exchanged tense looks - was this their salvation or a new threat?

The door swung open with a rusty creak, revealing a masked figure dressed all in black - Scorpion.

"I'm here to free you," the assassin said brusquely as he set to work on their shackles with a set of lockpicks. "Courtesy of Mark Anthony."

"Mark Anthony?" Mer-Mer asked in surprise. "The senator? Why would he help us?"

Scorpion shrugged. "Not my place to question the motives of senators. I go where I'm paid to go. Now hurry, we don't have much time before the alarm is raised."

Rubbing their bruised wrists, the rebels followed Scorpion, who moved as gracefully as a cat on the stairs. Soon they reached the top, where a large iron gate blocked their way.

"Wait a moment and you will hear a lot of noise and shouting. Get out as fast as you can into the commotion and then... you know where, " the assassin said and disappeared behind the door.

...The Emperor sat on his throne , covered in expensive crimson velvet and drummed impatiently on the wood. In front of him danced slave girls with transparent veils that could not hide their beautiful forms and they hardly touched the floor. The Emperor, however, paid no attention to them and only looked up , at his guards especially at a tall and muscular man with a large black helmet on his face and a mask. The other guards looked like dwarfs in front of him. If someone removed the mask from his face, they would see his black eyes, which glowed with a blood-red flame.

Unexpectedly, the secret door behind the emperor opened, and from there, like a shadow, a black figure jumped out and threw himself at the emperor.

"Die dog ," shouted at the black figure and his katana was aimed at the emperor's heart.

Suddenly, a clang was heard and the katana blade bounced off the emperor's chest.

"Is this the best assassin?" laughed the emperor and jumped up.

The next moment, the imperial guard surrounded him and the black giant stood in front of him.He took off his helmet, and everyone, even the Emperor, flinched, for before them stood a Demon from another dimension...

He glared at Scorpion, who seemed to be frozen... or so it seemed...

"I want him alive, "cried the Emperor, and felt his heart skip a beat.

Would his Praetorian guards and the demon be able to handle the assassin or would the ninja succeed... Time would tell..