Sole and Zetsu stay back from the herd.

Zetsu: You saw it, didnt you.

Sole: Yes. Yes I did.

--- Chapter 48 ---

Now that Hiro has returned to the land of the living. They begin to round up all the Tenyi members, restraining the live ones. They start to get carts ready for transport. They load the prisoners on board. Creit uses his eyes to neutralize Bruin’s Insignia.

Toa: Where missing one.

Zetsu: Which one?

El: There was a guy with a scythe. I'm pretty sure he died from the fall but he’s outside the city. He had a magic weapon, which I think was alive.

Zetsu: Alive?

Toa: Yah it was speaking to him, telling him what to do.

Zetsu: I see.

As the sun rises the town people start to come out, they look a bit scared but start to applaud them. Red smiles scratching the back of his head. Luna looks over and smiles.

Luna: I'm glad he's doing better now.

A man dressed like an officer comes over.

Officer: Thank you so much.

Zetsu: No problem. But I need to ask a favor.

Officer: Sure, anything.

Zetsu: Outside of the town, there should be a body with a Scythe. No one is to touch it but I want you to help search for it

Officer: Ok.

They set up a search party to go look. As they look around, one officer spots something. He walks over. It's him. He goes to grab his whistle, but his action is cut off by dissonant whispers.

Scythe: Join me, wield me, and I’ll grant you your every desire.

Officer: No, get out of my head.

Scythe: You want the power to kill your wife's murderer, is that correct.

Officer: How did you-

Scythe: You cannot hide anything from me, as I am your destiny.

The officer walks over to it and reaches down to pick it up. As soon as he grabs it, he’s filled with a floodgate of thoughts and memories. He flinches, closing his eyes. His tense stance relaxes, he opens his eyes with a smile. His iris outlined by a glowing red line. The scythe stabs into his arm, and goes inside his body. The officer brings up his whistle and blows. Later in the day, they begin to leave.

Zetsu: We didn't find the weapon which is a bit concerning but we have to get them back now.

Akiza: Right, we need to get back asap.

The load into the carts and head out, the town waving them goodbye.

Luna: Hey Sole.

Sole: Hm?

Luna: Earlier you said the only one in the group with mana like Hiros was Elias. What about you?

Sole: Oh I did? Haha, well with my insignia and stuff we have different mana types. Yup.

Luna: Right.

She could tell that wasn't much truth but she didn't want to pry. Very far from here, news travels fast.

The masked figure with teleportation abilities appears in a room with many unknown faces, but one was familiar, the girl Hiro was following. The one that looks like the leader, or highest standing begins to talk.

???: So, how did they do?

Mask: Horribly, your entire guild is incompetent, they couldnt even kill one. The Nero killed one but he didn't stay down, he was resurrected.

A man with a sword appears behind him, his sword leaning against the masked man's neck.

???: Stand down.

The man with a sword brings his sword to his side obediently.

???: So they all died?

Mask: No, somewhere captured.

???: I see.

A man with a lab coat speaks up, similar to Nero but older.

Doctor: And what of Nero, and my children?

Mask: All captured except Astra. He died.

Doctor: They killed my Astra?! His eyes, god DAMN it. He was so special. And Nero was such a prodigy, excelled above his peers.

Mask: Why so fixated on Astra and not the other two.

Doctor: The other two possessed abilities, and an affinity for dark arts, but that boy's eyes, are something of legend! Not to mention his body was very resilient from his poor living environments, it made him an EXCELLENT test subject.

Mask: I see. Maybe you should have given him combat training instead. He lost due to lack of experience.

???: Doctor, How close are they to completion.

Doctor: Very soon my lord.

???: Good. Elune, your day is coming, we never fail a contract.