Hunt 29: The Fall of Xross Blades?

It's been 2 days since Icajuinawe's guild leader told Xross Blades about Zedept's ancestry. Everyone has been trying to talk with Zedept about it but Zedept remains distant. Lyra's injuries are healed enough for her to move about but not enough to hunt.

Icajuinawe: Market – Mid-Day

Zedept is walking around in his newly fixed Tigrex armor with a distant look on his face. "What am I going to do? Will whatever is in me take control or will I be able to master it? What if I hurt everyone? Lyra, Raylin and Link have stuck by me all this time." Zedept says in his head and then flashbacks from all the hunts they've done until now. Zedept walks into a back alley unconsciously. "Hey, you in the Tigrex armor." A male voice said. Zedept turns around and his eyes widened.

Icajuinawe Guild: Main Hall – 2 Hours Later

Lyra is sitting at a table with her new Jinouga chest armor but with her entire chest and stomach areas still wrapped up. She chugs down her drink. "That damn Zedept, why does he act like this at such a crucial time? That damn IDIOT!" She thinks as she chugs another drink. Raylin walks up to her. "I think you've had enough there." She said. Lyra looks at her with an angry glare. Raylin sighs. "I know how you feel." She says as she sits down across from Lyra.

"But he needs some time alone to figure things out." She continued as he places her hands together and then places her chin on them. "I know but I wish that he would talk to us about it." Lyra says as she slams her cup onto the table. Lyra then notices that Link isn't with her. "Where's Link?" Lyra asks. "He went to find Zedept." Raylin responds as she waves to a guild waitress.

Icajuinawe Market

As Lyra and Raylin were talking, Link is walking around the market for Zedept. "Where is he?" Links asks himself. After talking to some people, one of them saw someone matching Zedept's description walking into a back alley and pointed the way. Link walked into the alley. "Is this where he went to?" He asks himself. Link looks around the corners and when he looked to the right, he saw that some type of fight happened.

After looking around, he found Zedept's helmet cut in half. Link picks up the left half. "This is." He said and his eyes widened and looked at the other piece and found blood and silver hair stands on it. "Damn. I better get back." Link said as he takes the helmet pieces and the hair strands with him.

Unknown Place: Unknown Time

Zedept weakly opens his eyes. "Where… am I?" He ask. He goes to move but his movements are restricted. He looks over and up and sees that both of his wrists are chained to a wall. "Why am I chained?" He asks in his head. He then looks down and sees that he's on his knees and a small pool of blood. "Blood? What's going on?" He asks himself.

He then notices that his armor is cracked and that his helmet isn't on. He then looks around him and sees that he's in some kind a jail. The sound of a heavy metal door opening happens and he looks to his right a bit and he sees a male figure walk in.

"So you're up." The male says. "Who are you and where am I?" Zedept asks. "Oh? You don't recognize my voice?" The male asks. Zedept tries to think but gets hit with pain from his head. The male walks closer to the jail cell. "Recognize me now?" The male asks. Zedept looks and his eyes widened. "Dr. Floss." Zedept said in a somewhat angry tone.

"Don't get mad at me. All I wanted was Karusai's greatsword." Dr. Floss said. Zedept stands up and tries to break free but to no avail. Suddenly the sound of a weapon going through concrete happens and Zedept looks and sees Dr. Floss holding Shikaiza.

"Give that back!" Zedept yells as he continues to try to break free. Dr. Floss pulls Shikaiza out. "This weapon is very rare and it will fetch me a lot of money." Dr. Floss said and then laughs evilly. Zedept continues trying to break free while glaring angrily at Dr. Floss. "Don't worry, without you, your little group 'Xross Blades' with fall." Dr. Floss says and laughs as he leaves. "Damn you Floss! I'll get you!" Zedept yells as he still tries to break free.

Icajuinawe Guild: Main Hall

Lyra and Raylin are having a drink when Link comes busting in. "Lyra, Raylin!" Link says loudly. They both turn around. "What?" Raylin asks. Link rushes over to them and places both of Zedept's helmet pieces. Both of their eyes widened. "Where did you find these?" Lyra asks quickly. "That's not all." Link said and then flipped over the right one to reveal Zedept's blood. Lyra and Raylin are shocked. Link then places the hair strands he found.

They both quickly look at Link. "There was sign of a fight where I found these." Link said. Lyra slams her right fist down onto the table hard enough to get the entire hall's attention. Lyra then quickly goes over to the counter.

"I need to send a message to Garetaten now!" She says loudly. "Understood." The guild member said. Lyra quickly writes a letter before the guild member comes back with a Felyne messenger. "Take this to Garetaten's leader. He knows who I am and then take these to Novastag's leader and Abagret's informant." Lyra said handing identical letters to the Felyne. "Understood, nya." It said before leaving.

"What's going on?" Raylin asks. "I've sent letters explaining what Link just told us and asking for their help." Lyra said. "By "their help" you mean?" Link asks. "Moke, Creators, Kristia and even his old team in Novastag and I hate to say this but Kana's group as well." Lyra said.

"If you're asking for her help then." Link said. "We need to find him." Raylin said. Lyra nods and as they were about to leave, a black Felyne appeared before them. "Are you Xross Blades? Nya." It asks. "Yes." Raylin said. It pulls out a letter and hands it to them and then leaves.

Lyra opens it. "I have Zedept as well as Karusai's greatsword. You'll never be able to find me and without Zedept, you guys are weak. Don't worry about Zedept, I'll return him to you after he's dead. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! –Dr. Floss" the letter read. "Dr. Floss." Lyra said angrily. "He was the guy that tricked me into stealing Shikaiza back in Tavenbast." Link said. Lyra crumbles up the letter. "Let's go." Lyra said angrily. Raylin and Link nod and they run out of the guild to find Zedept.