Things at Ashford were hectic to say the least, with Lelouch's disappearance Nunnally had been distraught and Vivian has done everything in her power to soothe the poor girl's anguish. Milly and her family have had it hard too as they were trying to keep things under wraps but soon they had no choice but to file in a missing person's report to the police.

That was a week ago, and there was still no sign of Lelouch anywhere and it was hurting both Nunnally and Vivian the most. The Undine couldn't find herself capable of singing without her friend and it brought her even more despair at such notion of losing herself to madness...until a boy under the name of Rivalz gave clue to Lelouch's whereabouts without even knowing it.

"Hey Vivian, sorry about Lelouch's disappearnce. But I was wondering, ever heard of Deadlock? It's popular in Britannia Undernetwork featuring the Knight of Ten's selected prisoners. This new guy that just appeared a week ago is off the charts with his kills!" Rivalz told her in a rather hopeless attempt of cheering her up.

...Wait a minute.

Did he just say a week ago?

"Did you say a week ago Rivalz?" Vivian asked as the boy nodded his head and showed her his portible television. "Yup, this Zero guy is on the rage! Despite having one arm due to an accident before coming back to the homeland from Area 11 he kicks some serious butt! He's wearing some wierd armor so no one knows what he looks like." the boy explained as the screen turned on and the girl's eyes widened. It was crude in design, but it was close enough to bear resemblance to the rough sketches of the armor Lelouch showed her back then.

"AAAAAAAANNNNNNNND that's a heart stealer in the most literal sense! Zero has done it once again in ending the life of another opponent. With his entire week of undefeated win streak, will he face Luciano Bradley himself at the month's end. So tell us Zero, what drives you to survive this long?" the announcer Chet asked from his seat as the armored boy named Zero looked at the camera.

"The Song of the Lady of the Lake inspires me to do so. Her voice soothes the pains of my heart and I long to hear her melodies once again. If she's listening to this do not worry, I'll be home soon. Keep singing for me, and I shall find my way back to you." the synthetic voice spoke, it may fool many but Vivian recognized the faint familiarty of Lelouch's voice from behind the helmet and she felt a great ease surge through her. Lelouch was alive and he was coming home to them.

Now for the hard part, explaining to Nunnally of what kind of trouble her brother has been dragged into without revealing that he plans to rebel against Britannia.

*Lelouch*

"So how is that arm going?" Lelouch asked with his helm removed as Leon was at his makeshift workbench working with welding torches and various gears. "Easy there Your Highness, we might have gained a small favor with that lunatic but all we got were third rated junk. But you should be able to at least grab and eat with both hands once this damn thing is done." Leon answered as he lifted his protective mask up and turnd off the equipment and began examining his creation.

"Hmm...This will have to suffice. To give you a heads up, this is based on my very first kitbashed prosthetic arm during a major world war. Means it has a concealed knife in the wrist joint so if you ever get up and close with that bastard, gut him like a fish." Leon told him as he handed the prosthetic arm to Lelouch.

The prosthetic arm was bare, resembling more of a robot's bare skeleton arm as his suit crafted a socket to connect the new limb. As soon as it connected with him he flexed the hand and noted the timing was off a bit and the amount of force he could exert was rather limited. Given their resources at the current moment which wasn't much, this was a small blessing and it helped him out in the long run. Looks like he owed the Rouge Cypher a debt for this if they ever-no when they get out of here alive.

Clenching it into a fist and mentally calling out 'knife' in his mind, the blade extended itself from his new arm's wrist. Willing it, the blade retracted as if it never appeared in the first place as he placed his helmet back on and the visor lit up again just in time for the footsteps to echo the hallway.

"Zero, your next opponents are ready." one of the guards spoke formally as Zero turned his 'gaze' towards the guards. They broke out in a light sweat, seeing how he demolished many brutal fighters Luciano himself brought into that fighting pit of an arena with only one arm. Now they were worried what would happen if this Zero was angry with them and decided to teach them a lesson, even if armed with guns.

"Very well then." Zero replied as he adjusted his suit's collar as Leon took note of it before they left. Once he was sure that they were gone, Leon began digging in a corner of the cell. They both agreed that they'll need weapons to combat any armed guards in the future when they make their breakout. Leon hated to admit it, Lelouch was quite skilled hand to hand despite his handicap and he hasn't even used any of his powers yet. That alone was impressive in his eyes and he saw great potential inside of the prince.

Perhaps one of these days he'd craft something special for Lelouch alone but that could wait another day.

*Arena*

"I'm Chet Ubetcha, and welcome back! Today Zero is going to face five enemies at once! Will Zero become a hero or will he be like his namesake as a zero? Let's get it on!" the announcer screamed into his mike as the audience cheered for the masked champion.

Zero gauged his opponents and noticed that they were armed with knives as he flexed his new appendage while experimentally channeling his lightning through it and waited. Didn't take long before all five charged at him before he pulled his right arm back and threw his palm out, unleashing the built up energy as a giant claw of lightning bursted forth and slammed into his opponents. They were sent flying with burn marks and spasming bodies as they were hit with over a 1000 volts of electricity. They would be lucky to live past that as the entire arena was silent at the sight of Zero unleashing a power no human has ever seen, even worse was that it was televised all across Britannia's network channels to those that loved the show.

This was a reckless move that without pause caught the interest of several members of royalty that have developed a sudden interest in the man named Zero.

"...What in the world was that?" Chet asked to himself that was the million dollar question to those watching the fight there as Zero made a dramatic turn and walked away from the arena in victory.

*Various Locations in Britannia*

"Did you see that Cecile? That Zero fellow just zapped five people at once with electricity!" a scientist exclaimed with giddy excitement as his partner, a female in an officer's uniform looked at the television screen with disbelief. "That's shouldn't be possible for a prosthetic arm like that to unleash that kind of power Lloyd. That would take years of-!"

"It's not the arm my dear Cecile, but the man himself who generated that electricity. He's using his prosthetic arm as a channel to focus the electricity to wherever he desires it. I must have him, he's a superhuman that's one of a kind! Imagine if he can be the key to solving energy problems to the Knightmare Frames once we discover his biological secrets!" the scientist told her as his glasses reflected light even though they were indoors and shouldn't be possible.

"So an Eleven pulled up a surprise...that is, if this Zero was an Eleven. The way he walked was without a doubt a Britannian that was unfortunate enough to be dragged into the Knight of Ten's sick games." Cornelia noted with a frown from her seat. She usually avoids involving herself with Luciano's twisted antics but Darlton suggested watching it due to Zero surviving the arena games the Vampire conducted for an entire week.

She picked up his mannerisms and noticed his taste for theatrical performances when battling, given how this was a gladitorial show Zero must want the audience drawn to him and it works wonders. Perhaps this Britannian can be trained into a fine soldier if she recruited him first because she knew her brother Schneizel would want him do to being an 'unusual' person. It was going to be a race against the clock to see who grabbed Zero first. Now she had to deal with Lucanio first and even she knew that was going to be a problem.

From his throne, he saw the nobles look at the screen of Luciano's twisted games go on as this Zero unleashed something no human could wield and narrowed his eyes. It had to be Lelouch, his foolish son that he and Marianne had concieved years ago that held promise in his eyes. When he sent both him and Nunally to Japan, it was to keep them from him and to teach his arrogant son some humility.

Now, his son has been captured and used as entertainment by his own Knight of Ten and it showed the results of his years out of Britannia has made him stronger if handling five people at once with one attack. It seems his son has gained a power that was not that of the kings, perhaps one of those that was out of the natural cycle of human talent. No matter, it seems his son is making the mudane somewhat interesting. It made the Emperor ponder something he realized for some time now.

With Schneizel pretty much running Britannia, there was no one to contest him. What if Lelouch returned? "Bismark, we're going to see this Zero in person." Charles zi Britannia ordered as his Knight of One bowed his head in obedience of his liege's command.

This was the nature of a human who became a Cypher-the power to craft infinite pathways (routes) to reach their journey's end. Lelouch vi Britannia, Eleventh Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire has diverged from the normal timeline as a Cypher, but the question now haunts him as his potential grows. Which side is he on? What path will he choose? Is he a hero or a villian?

The Tree of Possibilites continue to grow new and lose branches as the next pathway towards his destiny as Cypher continues.

*Prison Cell*

"Well now if it isn't my favorite warrior." Luciano grinned from the doorway as Zero and Leon eyed the Vampire of Britannia with distaste as the cell door opened. "I'm moving you out of here, but don't relax just yet. Next home for you lot is a shanty town, bunch of backstabbing and thefts there." the man grinned as Zero narrowed his eyes behind his helm. "Why tell us this? You must have an ulterior motive doing so." Zero stated as Luciano laughed at that.

"Correct! Because I want you, Zero to live so I can face you at the end! Your life will end at my hands!" the Knight of Ten grinned as his licked his lips hungrily as the guards came in with guns aimed at the two prisoners.

[Location Change: Shanty Town]

"Well I'll be...been a while since I've seen such a community this friendly." Leon mused with a wry smile and dry tone as Zero was silent at the sight. For a shanty town it was chaotic, people were brawling with each other, stealing food from another, and shamelessly having sex out in the open. The future rebel took a step forward and emitted his killing intent slightly and everyone felt it and stopped at what they were doing as they turned to see the new faces. They instantly backed up several yards with fear etched to their faces as they pointed at Zero with trembling fingers.

"The Heartless Zero..."

"Demon of the Arena."

"Vampire's Butcher."

"The Nightmare..."

Behind his helm, Lelouch raised a brow at the epithets given to him as he saw how terrified they were of his mere presence. It was as if he was the Emperor himself deciding to give his judgment on these people. "I'm moving in starting today. Stealing from me or hurting my companion will make you fair game to my usual methods in the arena." he told them flat out coldly as everyone nodded their heads rapidly as Zero and Leon made way to a 'house' that formerly belonged to one of the participants in the arena that Zero had personally disposed of as their base of operations.

The night settled in and Leon was working on the new prosthetic arm as the sparks from the tools against metal lit the dim room with each movement. "Welp Zero, this shanty town has better luck with treasures for sure. A scrapyard nearby just ripe with treasure! Can you believe that? And the fact I'm with you makes it easier to bargain with some of these folks for the parts I need. If we're lucky we might be able to make a weapon or two for us when we escape." Leon laughed as Lelouch sat on the bed, gently removing his suit as he was now in his dirty casual clothes and they were starting to smell like sweat.

"Even here in a shanty town they still don't have the means to do laundry." Lelouch grumbled with annoyanace as he inspected his amputated arm with annoyance. He longed to feel something with his right hand but that one was gone forever, crippled and set back a bit he's got no choice but to make due with artificial replacements.

Wordlessly, Leon tossed the new arm as Lelouch caught it and put it on, feeling his power flow through it as he flexed the fingers and had the knife come out and then retract it to test the response time. Faster and more flexible, something he approved despite it all came from a junkyard.

"By the way, we can go into the town nearby without consequences since this area is run by that freak. If we had the money get something to eat, maybe some new clothes?" Leon mused as Lelouch smirked and pulled out a card to one of the prince's numerous bank accounts. "How about we sneak out, eat like kings and then get some new clothes?" he asked as Leon instantly agreed to that one.

*Luciano*

"Greetings Your Majesty, what do I owe the pleasure?" the Vampire of Britannia inquired as he bowed to the Emperor, Knight of One Bismark and his two children Schneizel and Cornelia as they stood before him.

"It's about Zero, I want to see him in person and in action." Charles practically ordered him as the Vampire didn't budge at the command given to him. He didn't react terrified, instead he was excited that Zero will be given more action, perhaps skipping to the finale against himself would be an appropriate way to entertain the Emperor?

*?*

"Sister, a word please?" Cypher Nunnally spoke as they neared the portal as Cypher Marrybell looked at her younger half-sister in confusion. "What's wrong Nunna? Aren't you excited to find Lelouch again?" she asked as the younger girl had a troubled expression in her eyes. "My Geass activated and I'm worried about the new timeline..."

Now this had the older princess alerted because whenever Cypher Nunnally's Geass activates there's trouble up ahead. "What's the problem?" she asked. Cypher Nunnally looked at her sister dead in the eye and spoke at what she saw. "The Elemental Beasts have awoken, and will wreak devastation until they are tamed by their King."