It started with one, then two, then a pause. It then erupted to five, nine, fifteen, until it was too overwhelming to count. Some hovered in the air like low hanging rain clouds, while others elegantly splashed upon the ground. Both the planet and the Temple seemed to pulsate with an awareness of the impending devastation, mirrored by the apprehension etched on the Supreme Kai's face, as he stood frozen in awe. Goku's gaze hardened as the atmosphere became saturated with the chi of over a hundred enraged fusions. Their corrupt energy permeated the air, like the curious unsettling scent of an ocean, right before a hurricane.

The Supreme Kai nervously glanced around like a child trapped in a funhouse mirror maze, panicked that every direction led to more dead end reflections of himself. The incoming Kais all bore the same eerie resemblance to the peculiar version Hana was trapped in, adorned in sinister robes with wildly styled hair. It did not escape his notice that they bore a striking similarity to the blue-haired mortal hovering above them. Gritting his teeth, enlightenment dawned; he finally grasped the significance of Zamasu in Hana's body repeatedly referring to "us." His encounter at World Core now seemed like a distant memory, and he chastised himself for overlooking the presence of the other Zamasu alongside the one inside Hana there. This attack, at least to some degree, had warning signs, and he should have anticipated it.

The Zamasu in Hana released her grip on her ring, once satisfied with the numbers. She went to speak when she noticed one of the copies acting suspiciously. Whereas the others kept still as an ominous Terracotta Army, this one was causing a commotion next to the Kai of Universe 10. She first narrowed her eyes in scrutiny and then let them slip wide. His ears were bare, he was standing next to the Supreme Kai, and trying to get his burning ring off. It was the real Hanakotoba. Her Zamasu was the missing body. She quickly turned her head back and glared at the Saiyan before her, while shifting her eyes to the side every few moments, to keep her target in her crosshairs. Goku stood like an insurmountable wall between her and her bounty. She unconsciously fussed with her purple Potara, still clipped into her right ear.

As Goku watched the number of Kai swell, he realized he hadn't factored in that Zamasu had been here a while, and had already made the necessary preparations needed to begin his new campaign in this timeline. It didn't seem like him to operate so patiently in the shadows in such a way, after his last spectacle. He looked down at the Universe 10 Kai below. Could any of them fight? Zamasu, the Supreme Kai version, older, with more training reps under his belt, was most likely the only one who stood a remote chance of walking out of this alive. The North Kai, who was frantically pulling at her hand for some reason, only if she could tap into her fused Zamasu's cells, and draw out what latent power was still left behind in his body. He doubted it though. The others he did not know, save the South Kai, who was far too old to fight at all. The darkish purple Kai, with the teal sash, looked strong and capable, but most Kai leveled out around regular Super Saiyan, at most. And he was a lower Kai, so even that might be a stretch. The nervous looking short red-haired one looked like an adolescent, so more likely a liability than a help. Goku hefted a heavy sigh and turned back towards his old enemy.

"That's quite the trick," he remarked, acknowledging the smoldering Time Ring with a nod. Zamasu frequently executed extraordinary feats, sometimes even beyond his own comprehension. Goku was eager for any information that could aid in the upcoming fight, and Zamasu was always willing to divulge his secrets to those curious enough to ask.

"Indeed," she paused in mutual admiration between her and the clones. "We are bound by time and space. Our endless hedonic hunger for justice knits us together." She smiled as she held up her ring. "We're both one and many. Like wasps. Have you ever watched wasps protecting their hive, Goku?" She quickly scoffed at her own question. "Of course not. That would require a degree of intellectual curiosity, a guaranteed anomaly for your barbaric Saiyan brain."

Goku ignored the comment about his intellect. It would be the first of many during the long dogfight ahead, it wasn't worth dignifying Zamasu with a response so early in the game. Instead he focused on the last comment. "Alright, so how many are you now?"

Zamasu smiled and launched into a lengthy response. Goku's mind drifted to his prior encounter with the cunning Kai and his surprising multiplication technique just before the battle's end. Were those duplicates truly genuine? He never had the chance to test them in combat, leaving them shrouded in mystery, the sole unpredictable element in the current situation. It was conceivable that each one was a distinct entity, yet equally plausible that their vulnerability lay in their interconnection, hastily pieced together as Zamasu himself hinted. If this were the case, he could potentially exploit their mutual dependence, turning them into architects of their own demise. A smile played on his lips as Zamasu continued his verbose response to a simple question.

"You know what, maybe I'm not as smart as you, Zamasu," Goku suddenly cut him off mid sentence, "but I do know one thing my first Master taught me many years ago." He grinned. "Multiplying and dividing aren't the same thing. Which one are you, I wonder?"

Goku noticed just the slightest twitch of Hana's face after a long angry pause, as Zamasu answered. "Whatever implications you're entertaining, Goku, rest assured they will soon unravel as naively misguided," Zamasu asserted with an air of certainty. She glanced at the fusions, who in turn looked at her. Most of them suddenly transmitted out, leaving only a small handful behind. "This will suffice to bring about your destruction, along with the feeble gods of this timeline, leaving this Sacred Realm to be plundered to my utter satisfaction." Her energy suddenly began to swell exponentially as she gave a look of furious resolution. "Why assemble an army when one explosive can conclude the conflict?"

"Division." Goku resolved, as he powered up. He had called Zamasu's bluff, and the Kai was determined to prove him wrong, even if it was a risk. The first battle was mental, and Goku had won. "Hey Universe 10 Kai, I hope you're ready!" He yelled to the waiting gods below.

………………

The Supreme Kai craned his neck, as if hoping to eavesdrop on the private conversation between the mortal and his other self. Aware that the impending battle was imminent, he turned to his subordinate Kai. He seized Aoume and Kasai by their robes, while turning his gaze towards the North Kai. "You find cover until I call for you," he instructed firmly, well aware of Hana's poor track record with following orders. He then motioned towards the West Kai. "As for you, prepare yourself for combat." Kosu nervously rolled up his sleeves and managed a feeble thumbs-up. Hana glanced at Kosu as Zamasu disappeared. Kosu quickly averted her gaze.

"Hey….sis." Kosu said sheepishly to her.

"Hey?" Hana raised her eyebrows at her suddenly awkward sibling. "What's the matter with you Kosumosu?" She put her hands on Zamasu's hips. "We might all be dead in a few minutes!"

Kosu struggled to find the words to express how the Zamasu inhabiting her body had deeply unsettled him earlier, so he remained silent. He reasoned that he could sort out his feelings in Otherworld after their inevitable deaths. "Just be careful. Don't switch back with her unless it's absolutely necessary," he finally spoke, his gaze softening. "Zamasu is correct. You're a liability in this situation."

Hana regarded him in the corner of her eye as she felt for the red multiverse Potara she had clipped to the inside of her waistband, for safekeeping- just in case. "I'm staying here, Kosu. You won't change my mind. That mortal up there helped me a bit with my fighting. You might need me."

Kosu couldn't contain his amusement, letting out a snort followed by a hearty laugh, drawing the attention of several nearby Zamasus. In his opinion, Hanakotoba possessed many admirable qualities, but fighting wasn't one of them. "Need I remind you," his tone teasing, "that it took you three attempts to pass the technical fighting portion of the King Kai certification exam?" He suspected that inhabiting Zamasu's body was inflating her confidence. "And let's not forget that you only landed the job because the other candidate was caught being a bit too friendly with the mortal women on planet Kayf," he added with a smirk.

Hana scoffed. "That's ancient history. I've improved since then," she asserted, clenching her fists tightly, attempting to tap into the deep reserves of power she usually drew from within Zamasu's body, but finding them strangely depleted. "And let's not forget, you're the one who encouraged me to apply for this position. I didn't ask for any of this," she retorted, frustration evident in her voice. She tried once more to connect with the boiling energy that typically coursed just beneath Zamasu's skin, but came up empty-handed. "You just focus on yourself!" With that, she snapped and stormed off, leaving Kosu behind.

"Hanakotoba!" Kosu shouted after her retreating figure, but she refused to turn back. "You're going to get yourself killed," he muttered to himself, feeling the weight of the approaching fusions' gazes as Hana blended in among them. He let out a nervous puff of air from his cheeks. It had been ages since he'd engaged in a genuine fight. When was Zamasu coming back?

…………………………

"I'm not sure what you're waiting for, Goku. It's your move," Zamasu declared, wearing Hana's smirk. "I declined your offer for a more civil resolution earlier, so it seems we'll have to settle this in the more traditional, brutal fashion."

Goku flicked his eyes downward, scanning the ground in search of the Supreme Kai's return. He had sensed him leaving earlier with two others, but hadn't returned yet. He couldn't afford to stall for time any longer. "Just one more thing," he began, "I believe I've earned this request."

Hana's face fell impatiently. "What now. A god doesn't owe a mortal anything and I'm growing impatient."

"I want the first of you. The original Zamasu to be the one I get to fight in the end. Not one of these fakes. I think I've earned that much."

She smiled. "They're all authentic, as you'll soon find out. But anyway, you already have him," she remarked, pausing briefly to reflect on the complexity of her current situation. "In a manner of speaking." She chuckled lightly as she wielded her blade. "I apologize if this form disappoints you, Goku. I can't say I made the wisest choice myself, but another Kai was necessary to test the limits of the Potara. Although this outcome wasn't our intention, its implications are profound."

That's all I needed to know, Goku thought.

"I'll do my best to make this worth your while, I promise," she vowed, crossing her heart with her free hand. "But let's not prolong this any further. I've grown tired of your stalling tactics." Her gaze flicked to the side, spotting Hanakatobo concealed nearby in the shadows, simultaneously blending in with the others while attempting to remain unnoticed.

…………………………

When the Supreme Kai finally returned, it was to mayhem. Each fighter was embroiled in their own battle. Zamasu's attention was drawn to Kosu first, observing him as he mostly dodged and evaded attacks, with little chance to counterattack. The disparity in skill between him and the two fusions pursuing him seemed insurmountable. Zamasu narrowly avoided a blast that came dangerously close to where he stood, witnessing Kosu's descent to the ground before swiftly taking flight.

"Zamasu!!" Kosu yelled as he zipped by. "I can't hit them!"

Zamasu watched Kosu's pathetic fight and made a solemn vow that if they managed to survive this trial, he would meticulously review all of his younger Kai's combat records and drastically escalate their training, even if it required his personal supervision. This situation was undeniably humiliating.

He followed Kosu upwards and spotted the mortal, witnessing him entangled in mid-air with the one inhabiting Hana's body, along with another fusion. Their movements were so swift that it was challenging to discern the exact sequence of events. Zamasu felt a pang of discomfort at the sight of a mere mortal contending with two of his own kind, while he, the Supreme Kai, struggled against just one—especially as it was the one hindered by Hanakotoba's physiology. Such power shouldn't be accessible to anyone lacking divine status. Part of him was curious to meet this mortal, yet he harbored a faint hope that the mortal wouldn't survive, sparing him the need to reconcile with someone who, in Zamasu's view, had already accrued a lengthy list of transgressions.

Zamasu then scanned the chaotic scene around him, searching for any sign of Hana's fusion. He quickly realized it was challenging to distinguish her amidst the flurry of activity and myriad of identical twins. She could be blending in seamlessly, perhaps even actively engaging in the attacks alongside the other fusions in an attempt to conceal her identity; however, such cunning and aggressive behavior seemed ill suited for the typically sensitive North Kai, even with the protection of his own body. Zamasu had instructed her to leave, but refrained from forcibly relocating her in case her body could serve as leverage if needed. He was confident that she wouldn't come to harm, at least not at the hands of the other Zamasus.

Lost in his observations, Zamasu suddenly became acutely aware that the two fusions nearest to him had abandoned their pursuit of Kosu and were now closing in on him. As if sensing the impending danger to the Supreme Kai, as well as the havoc being wrecked upon the Temple and the planet itself, the Sacred World sprang into action, manifesting its own counterattack. Partly sentient in its own right, like all planets within the Kai realm, the Sacred World responded with a defense mechanism. In an act of self-preservation, it conjured an unexpected lightning storm and a torrential downpour, anticipating the potential for fire or other collateral damage resulting from the ongoing conflict. Aware of the precious secrets hidden within its depths, essential for the creation and maintenance of the universe, the planet was determined to protect them at all costs. This sudden turn of events added insult to injury for the fighters, who now had to contend with not only their opponents, but also the discomfort posed by the inclement weather, and the challenges presented by the colligative properties of water affecting the accuracy of their attacks.

Finding himself engaged hand to hand, Zamasu quickly deduced that the fused versions of him were incalculably strong, but not infallible. There was a back and forth to their fighting that curiously felt almost like level playing ground. They also preferred to slug it out with their fists, instead of taking to the sky with aerial attacks, the latter being his experience with Hana's version. He was able to dodge and parry most of what came his way, but many of his own offensive strikes were met with hard blocks followed by counters of their own. The fusions felt like brick walls to him whenever contact was made, and any damage that snuck in through sheer luck was a purple paper cut on their quickly self healing skin. They had a mischievous nature about them also, as they tag teamed in and out of the fight with others nearby tormenting the other Kai or destroying the planet.

Soaked and losing steam, the Supreme Kai finally managed to land his blade squarely in the side of one of the fused Zamasus' necks, causing a deep searing of its skin. He grinned triumphantly, only to recoil in disgust as the skin reversed in time, healing the wound even as the blade continued to sink in. In retaliation, the fused Zamasu swiftly returned the favor, causing a sharp yelp of pain to escape Zamasu's lips as the collar and left side of his tunic burned away. His green skin tore open, exposing raw flesh to the open air. An arm snaked around his neck while another locked him in place against the chest of another fused version of himself, whike he dealt with his wound. It snickered quietly and taunted him, sending shivers down the Supreme Kai's spine as he heard his own lilting cadence echoed back at him.

"Greetings, Supreme Kai."

Zamasu noted the sarcasm as he felt the fusion press on his neck and force his head and chest down.

"Bow down before the true deities of the multiverse.."

The second assailant approached from the front, swiftly wielding his blade. Zamasu, feeling frustrated, countered by launching a blast from his hand behind him, using it as a distraction. Seizing the opportunity, he landed a solid uppercut under his attacker's chin as he spun around, loosening the grip. The fusion created some distance, and paused, its cold, dead, silver eyes fixed on him. Despite their bravado, Zamasu just couldn't help but notice their lack of seriousness in this confrontation, reminiscent of the peculiar antics he had witnessed on World Core. As the ambient light fluctuated from darkness to brilliance, with each lightning strike momentarily illuminating the fusions like specters lurking in a child's closet, Zamasu seized the pause in the battle.

"If that's the pinnacle of power the true gods of the multiverse can muster, I find it rather underwhelming," Zamasu remarked with a smirk.

The Zamasus crossed their arms in unison. "You've yet to witness our full potential." One of them spoke.

The two elegantly posed their hands in a flourish, about to make good on their promise, when they suddenly stopped and looked upwards towards the sky and then their Time Rings.

…………………………

Goku found himself barely treading water against his two adversaries. The Zamasu inhabiting Hana's body surged forward with remarkable speed and agility, launching slashing attacks, and chi blasts, amidst the torrential rain. Each blast she unleashed scattered across the sky, illuminating the darkness like a dazzling array of small colored lights as they refracted through the raindrops. She executed these intricate aerial maneuvers and attacks, while the other Zamasu seized every opportunity to close in for hand-to-hand combat. At one point, he hurled a block of katchin through the darkness, narrowly missing Goku's skull as the Saiyan evaded it during a fortuitous flash of lightning, which briefly illuminated the scene; however, the projectile found an unfortunate target, crashing through the rear of the Temple and leveling a section of it to the ground.

As Goku fought, he couldn't help but notice inconsistencies in their power, just as he predicted. He noticed that Hana's Zamasu, the original Zamasu, felt almost the same in terms of amount of chi as the last time, but here, he was stunted significantly due to the limitations of the North Kai's physical attributes. While his spirit represented a vast reservoir of energy, Hana's body lacked the means to effectively channel it, akin to a massive reservoir with no outlet pipes; while the other fusion appeared to have the necessary infrastructure in place, yet it lacked the deep wellspring of chi to draw from. Goku couldn't help but wonder if other copies suffered from the same curious defect. If only he could engage more of them in combat to find out. Despite their differing issues, both versions shared the infuriating trait of immortality. Neither Hana's incarnation nor the other fusion hesitated to harm each other in their relentless pursuit of Goku, rendering them exponentially more challenging to deal with.

Goku ascended through the driving rain, glancing upward to see both Zamasus hovering ominously above him with outstretched hands. Bracing himself for an impending attack, he heard the North Kai's voice.

"Regrettably, Goku, our purpose transcends mere combat. While engaging you was an amusing diversion, our true intent lies elsewhere."

The fusion standing next to her added with a sneer. "You're in our way."

Goku wiped the water out of his eyes. He pulled his hands at his sides and began to charge a large blast. "Sorry. You'll have to go through me. No other choice."

As the Zamasu within Hana reached for her ring again, charging it just as before, a sudden shriek echoed from below as Hanakatobo flushed herself out of hiding, an ivoluntary reaction to the burning on her hand. Goku, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected sound, turned his gaze downward. In that short moment of distraction, his concentration faltered, leaving him vulnerable to a powerful seismic blast initiated from the Kai from above. The force of the explosion sent him crashing to the ground, where he landed heavily on one knee, and pounded the ground with his other hand, causing the earth to tremble beneath him. As he rose to his feet, he found himself surrounded by five more fusion copies, a consequence of his brief lapse in focus.

…………………………

Hana observed the chaotic scene unfolding near one of the dilapidated walls of the Temple. Everyone seemed deeply engrossed in their own struggles. Kosu was somehow managing to walk between the raindrops of death at every turn. Goku soared above, demonstrating the immense potential she had suspected he possessed. Zamasu appeared to be teetering on the brink of disaster as he attempted to avoid getting himself and Rumsshi killed with one misstep.

Her gaze shifted to her own body, which she finally spotted, suspended in the air and under the control of another version of Zamasu. It wielded formidable fighting power, as it fought Goku, stirring within her a twinge of jealousy for what she longed to be but knew she could never achieve. She attempted once more to channel her Zamasu's energy she had recently tapped into, but it proved futile. All she felt were the shallow remnants of her familiar meager fighting potential. In that moment, Hana realized she was truly of no use to anyone. Resentment swelled within her as she wondered why Zamasu had left her here, vulnerable, instead of taking her to safety like he had with the South and East Kai. Amidst her frustration, there was a silver lining, though: the fusions seemed to be ignoring her.

A sudden seismic blast erupted, momentarily paralyzing everything. Her Time Ring flared up again, eliciting another cry of surprise as she hurried out of her makeshift shelter, the rain steaming off the burning ring. A flurry of fusions suddenly materialized all around, particularly converging around Goku who had crashed nearby. Ignoring the growing pain in her hand, she made a motion to jump to his aid before realizing it was a laughable intention on her part. Suddenly aware of her vulnerability out in the open, she turned to leave, only to find herself flanked by her own body, and another fusion, as they dropped out of the sky.

"Hello, Hanakotoba. Leaving so soon?"

Hana backed up into the fusion behind her, finding herself trapped with no escape. Despite her new predicament, she couldn't help but be consumed by the surreal experience of seeing herself through someone else's eyes. Anger coursed through her veins; the version of Zamasu within her had subjected her body to considerable strain, evident by the state of her torn clothes, and blood stains, though strangely, there was no visible blood on her skin. She gaped at her shorn white hair. It was as bad as she thought it would be.

"The Potara, Hanakotoba. With haste, preferably."

Hana felt the fusion behind her grab her arms and hold her in place.

"I am willing to cooperate with you and perform this switch without dramatics. My next move will be by force."

Hana watched herself perform Zamasu's signature move, channeling her energy into her hand to form a blade. "You wouldn't damage your own body. Even you're not that petty," she said confidently.

"It's of little consequence. We're both immortal. You by proxy. Me by design," Zamasu remarked, his tone brimming with condescension. "Come to think of it, what a divine and generous gift I have bestowed upon you, North Kai. I had to be exceedingly clever to earn my immortality, while you merely stumbled into greatness. As you always do."

Confused, Hana asked, "Then why threaten me at all, if I can just regenerate?"

Hana watched as a wicked grin crawled across her own face. "Because there is excruciating pain before the relief; which, I'm certain, you couldn't endure.

Hana's hand shook as she reached for the Potara in her waistband. She unclipped it and held it up. She felt the hands behind her tighten in anticipation, and watched her own eyes grow wide on the face in front of her. She smiled briefly before throwing it onto the ground, and smashing her boot down. It made a sound of shattered glass. "Whoops." She badly desired to give in to the switch, but she knew its implications at this moment, and that now was not the right time.

She watched the lips curl upwards on her face into a sneer. "You waste of divinity! Procuring that wasn't easy! My threats to you remain unchanged, and it alters your destiny none."

Hana attempted to respond, but before she could utter a word, she felt the fusion's arms wrap around her in a rear naked choke, squeezing tightly. Stars danced before her eyes as she struggled to draw in a breath. She witnessed the Zamasu in her body reach for something behind her head—the fusion's Universe 10 Potara on his left ear.

"I am not entirely certain what will occur if we employ this earring instead of the one you discarded." The green Potara dangled from her fingers. "However, I believe the outcome will be comparable. Nevertheless, despite its initial curiosity, your physiology has worn out its welcome and I cannot endure another moment in your feeble body. It is a risk worth taking."

…………………………

Goku found himself in a grueling battle against the troop of Zamasu clones that had surrounded him, each exhibiting varying degrees of power. While some proved stronger than others, none matched the energy potential of the original Zamasu inhabiting the North Kai's body, as Goku predicted ealier. As the fight carried him further from the central conflict, he glanced up at one moment, after distracting his assailants with a blast, and caught sight of the North Kai's dire situation in the distance. It had to be her against the wall, why else would a fusion be threatened by the female Zamasu?

A blinding ball of energy suddenly engulfed them, momentarily obscuring them from his view. Squinting through the residual light, Goku witnessed one of the fusions, and the female Hana clutching their heads in apparent distress, then, as if awakening from a daze, they shook off the confusion; however, the female North Kai's demeanor shifted abruptly, her expression morphed into one of fear as she suddenly jumped back and managed to unleash a powerful blast. The energy tore through the air, skimming the face of one of the fusions before striking the other squarely in the chest, sending it crashing into the wall behind him. Goku felt a punch hit him in the side of the face, another consequence of his shifted focus. He desperately tried to lure his fight back towards the center of action, a bad premonition stirring in his gut.

…………………………

Zamasu seized Hana by the neck, pressing her against the crumbling Temple walls with a sickening crack as the back of her head collided with a loud smack. He tore off the 10th universe Potara still dangling from his left ear, pulverizing it into fine powder in his hand before discarding the sparkling remnants like fairy dust onto the ground. With a swift motion, he snatched the purple Potara from Hana and stowed it away for safekeeping, ensuring that switching bodies would no longer be an option for her.

A deep gash marred his face from Hana's recent attack, oozing violet blood and exposing layers of burning, sensitive tissue beneath. Lost in his fury, he failed to notice that the wound was not immediately healing itself, or that the other fusion was still knocked out. As Hana faintly opened her eyes, regaining consciousness from her brief concussion, a profound frown creased Zamasu's features.

"I'm experiencing déjà vu, Hanakotoba," he sneered. "We've been here before. Can you feel it too? Can you hear your past self, screaming in abject fear, across the ripples of time?" With a pink flash, his blade manifested around his right hand. "It wasn't simple, though, last time. You were clever enough to evade me initially, anticipating my intentions. But eventually, your fortune waned when you couldn't resist saving that mortal.." He taunted, as he prepared to strike. "Do you want to know what you said to me? Right before I killed you?"

Hana pulled at Zamasu's hand around her neck, which was wrapped just tightly enough to ensure she was uncomfortable, but conscious. She opened her eyes for a moment and peered over his shoulder, at the fight raging on in the background. The Supreme Kai was fighting off two versions of himself at once. They were taunting him, though she couldn't make out their words. Her eyes opened wide in alarm to his situation, as the sudden blistering heat of Zamasu's blade entered into her side and through her body, nailing her to the wall behind her. As every nerve in her body was abruptly taken prisoner, she turned her attention from the surrounding fight towards the exponential pain of her imminent death. She felt blood pool in her mouth and trickle out, as frightened tears streaked involuntarily down her cheeks.

"You said you knew what I really was." Zamasu said, as he released her neck and drove the blade in deeper and turned his hand sideways, preparing to cut her in half. A strained grunt escaped the North Kai as she grimaced, pressing herself against the wall behind her, her nails clawing desperately for relief from the pain. Zamasu wiped the tears clinging to her eyelashes with his thumb, pity evident in his gaze as he lifted her face upward. With a sense of finality, he gave her a deep, lingering kiss, ending her futile struggle for survival that he could no longer bear to witness. "It's regrettable I'm no longer in there with you, to share my immortality. Thank you, though, for lending me your body. It was quite enlightening," he smirked with her fresh blood smeared across his mouth before drawing his hand back like the hammer of a gun.

Hana braced herself for the inevitable. Then, in a sudden reversal, the familiar rush of euphoria surged within her, just as when she first was in Zamasu's body. Her senses, once screaming with pain, were now comfortably numb, as the sensation enveloped her from head to toe. Seizing the momentary surge of strength, she swiftly raised her hand under her captor's arm, unleashing a powerful blast of hot pink energy across the quad towards one of the Zamasus threatening the Supreme Kai. The blast struck its target, igniting upon impact and forcing him out of the fight. The Supreme Kai glanced over his shoulder in search of his savior, but saw only the backs of the nearby fusions and the blue-haired mortal engaged in battle in the near distance, exchanging blows and energy blasts. Did that mortal just save him? After a moment's hesitation and a suscipcious glare, he turned back to face his remaining assailant, resuming the fight.

Hana turned a triumphant gaze towards her own Zamasu, a satisfied smile on her lips as she observed the aftermath of her actions; however, her momentary triumph was short-lived as the wave of immortality that had briefly enveloped her dissipated as quickly as it had arrived. With an audible growl and a sneer, Zamasu launched into his final assault, a slow transverse cut across her middle, as Hana's ensuing screams were swallowed by the noise and chaos all around.

"Hold on, North Kai!" Goku exclaimed as he appeared nearby. He had been fighting his way back over since witnessing her ill-fated attempt to attack the fused Zamasu that had switched with her; he was sure that was what he witnessed. With a final instant transmission, he materialized directly behind Zamasu, swiftly wrapping his arm around his neck and pulling him, along with his blade, forcefully towards the ground. It was a risky maneuver, but any attack from the side risked the blade completing its deadly job. As Goku successfully diverted Zamasu's attention away from the North Kai and towards him, Hana crumpled to the ground in a pitiful heap, awaiting the fickle immortality to return again, if it even would.

"NO!" Kosu had helplessly witnessed much of his sister's torment from the sidelines as he struggled with his own battle. "Damnit, Hana!" He fired himself up and, to his surprise, suddenly began to land blows on the Zamasu standing between him and his dying sibling. It was as if the tide had suddenly turned, with the green Kai inexplicably becoming increasingly vulnerable to his attacks. Despite the fury he felt at witnessing his sister's death, Kosu didn't feel any stronger, yet he managed to land a few hits, causing some mild damage that was lingering on their bodies and earning some much-needed points for his team; however, his Zamasu retaliated fiercely, pushing him further away from Hana, whom the West Kai desperately tried to reach.

Kosu caught sight of the Supreme Kai in his peripheral vision, seemingly faring much better as well, as he launched a powerful blast that pushed his sole remaining assailant away, granting him a temporary respite. Was he also experiencing a stroke of luck at that moment? Kosu briefly considered calling out the Supreme Kai's name, but the thought of drawing the attention of the other Zamasus made him hesitate. Instead, he opted for a more indirect approach. "Supreme Kai!" he yelled, knowing that with the presence of the mortal, Zamasu was likely to respond. Zamasu's head snapped in his direction, and without a moment's hesitation, he flew towards the crumpled form of Hana, guided by a subtle gesture from Kosu.

Zamasu landed next to her, his pristine white boots tainted with the violet hue of her blood pooling beneath her. His stomach churned with dread as he feared she might be dead. In that moment, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions surged within him - fury towards her for once again ignoring his orders, yet a profound sense of devastation at the mere thought of her absence from their makeshift family. With a mixture of anger and tenderness, he lifted her arm over and around his neck, securing her limp form over his shoulder while gently pinning her legs to him with his other arm. Hanakotoba was a Kai, a deity deserving of a peaceful passing. He resolved to ensure she met her end in such a manner.

As he prepared to depart, a faint grab of his tunic caught his attention, causing a spark of hope to flicker within him. Glancing briefly at the Zamasu responsible for her condition - the one engaged in a viscious battle with the blue-haired mortal - Zamasu closed his eyes in concentration. With a swift transmission, he vanished from the Temple in a flash.