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The Paladins started their investigation around Laventon. Laventon was a small town and it would have been easy to find the Ceronites. The strangers decided to help them look for the Ceronites. The group started asking around town if something strange happen in the past few days or years. Hitting up every street, stores, homes and civilians that are out of the public. The civilians didn't understand the question they were given.
"Have you see anything strange as of late," Colten ask a civilian.
"No."
"Thank you for your time," Colten said and continue walking, "this is going to be a long day."
This went on all day and they weren't getting any answers. Everyone regroup and they reported that they didn't get a single answer from no one. They felt like they wasted the entire time. They didn't know if they were on a wild goose chase and if it was a complete waste.
They went to get something to eat and try collect their thoughts. Arriving at the restaurant and order their meal. While they wait till there food is ready. In the meantime, they discuss what they learn through their ordeal. All that they could get from the citizens is that they didn't see a thing. Their food arrives and ate till they were finish. They thought about head out of town, but Colten got a glimpse in his eye and it was blurred. He paid for the meal and went after that blurred.
"Colten," Chylo said in confusion when she notices her brother leaving.
Everyone follow Colten to the same direction where he was running too. They manage to catch up to Colten near a corner of the ally way. Colten told them that he saw something in his line of sight and follow the it. He told them that he may have found the Ceronites and told the strangers to stay where they were.
The Paladins pulled out their weapons and sneak into the alley to only find a stairway leading down to a cellar. With hesitates they enter the cellar and found a tunnel that leads down deeper into the earth. As they went deeper in the tunnel the air was getting a little thick and light fading. Colten made a fist and open his hand releasing a small fire in his hand as a torch. They kept walking till heard some voices and extinguish the fire. The voices were getting louder as they approach the light. They approach the entrances and they saw them. Not's not all a statue that is only missing its head.
"Finally, after years of retrieving all pieces," Mata said.
"Yes, Mata," Slauter compliment to his ally, "when Zero is brought back and his powers restore then we'll go on a massive genocide."
"Yes, we can't do that without his head," Phantasma said holding the head of the fallen Paladin and was approaching the statue. "Soon Zero will return and death to all shall be approach"
Phantasma slowly walk to the statue holding the head of Zero. Colten nudge Chylo to used her earth abilities to strike Phantasma. Chylo got the point and lift her foot to slam it to the ground. This cause a minor shift in the tectonic plates and moving towards Phantasma. A pillar of the earth came out to ground striking the head of Zero out of Phantasma's hands. The head flew a couple of feet in the air and Colten used another ability as a shifter and shot out his tongue like a frog to grab the head.
"What the..." Phantasma said in shock and turned around to see Colten and Chylo, "who are...wait a minute!? Are you two those brats that escape the Hidden Kingdom ten years ago?"
"Surprising that you remember use," Chylo said while Kody, Leon and Alli appear out of the shadows. Colten remove the head off his tongue.
"So, you brats did defeat 10 years ago, Demo," Mata said while the Paladins didn't say word, "well that is no surprise for Paladins, plus his ignorant would get in him killed in the end. But more importantly give use back that head."
"Now why would do that," Colten said handing Chylo the head, "is that head important enough to cause a mass genocide on the Hidden Kingdom and/or other countless inhabitants to retrieve these pieces."
"This got annoying pretty quick," Neverend said in annoyance in her voice.
"Chylo crush the head," Colten whisper to his sister, but something amiss.
"I can't crush the head," Chylo said in distress in her voice, "it's impossible to..."
Phantasma rush over and punch Chylo in the gut. Chylo grasp for air and let go of the head. Faultout used her earthily abilities to open a hole to catch the head and it travel back to Faultout. The Paladins were about to attack Faultout, but the other Ceronites defend Faultout so she can rush over to connect the head to Zero's body.
Faultout attach the head to the body and the earth started to shake. The statue started to crack and a blinding light started to come out of the statue. The right arm started to move and the coating of rock shattered off him. The curse was weakening and in seconds the coating shattered off the body. The body was moving and slowly breathing in fresh air. He was reborn. Zero is alive again, but extremely weak.
The Ceronites stop and kneel to Zero, but he told them that they will retreat for now. They didn't question his logic on leaving knowing that he needs to recover his strength, but the Paladins weren't going to have it. The Paladins lunged an attack at Zero, but Phantasma and Slauter strike the Paladins out cold. When the Paladins are out cold the Ceronites and Zero left. The Paladins hear a faint voice trying to get the Paladins up. When the Paladins came around they only saw the strangers.
Colten ask them if they saw the Ceronites, but the gave them the solid answer no. Colten and the others felt ashamed that they let the ones who killed their parents and the destruction of the Hidden Kingdom get away. They got up and told them that they are heading back to the Celes Kingdom to come up a game plan. The walk out of the caverns with their heads downs in shame.
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