Legacy of Darkness: The Ninjago Rebirth

The streets of Ninjago City were alive with chaos as Spitta darted through the alleyways, his forked tongue flicking out anxiously. His scaled hands clutched at the walls, using every ounce of his serpentine agility to slip away. But the ninja were fast—too fast.

Just as he turned a corner, a dark figure dropped down in front of him, blocking his path. Cole stood tall, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his face.

"Going somewhere?" Cole asked, tilting his head.

Spitta barely had time to turn before Jay, Kai, and Zane landed behind him, cutting off any escape. Their weapons gleamed under the streetlights as they leveled them at the trembling Venomari.

"Thought you could joyride through town and not be noticed, huh?" Jay taunted, spinning his nunchucks. "Now, how about you tell us where the last Fangblade is?"

Spitta blinked, feigning ignorance. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered.

Kai stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "Don't play dumb. The fourth Fangblade. The one Pythor needs to awaken the Great Devourer."

At the mention of the dreaded serpent, Spitta let out a nervous chuckle. "Oh… that Fangblade," he admitted, his voice laced with amusement. "Heh… well, you're too late. Pythor's already there now. Probably digging it up as we speak." His forked tongue flicked out, sensing their frustration. "If I were you, I'd start preparing for the worst, because once the Great Devourer is awakened, there will be nothing it won't consume!"

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

Zane, ever the analytical one, tilted his head. "Won't that mean it will consume you as well?"

Spitta froze. His yellow eyes widened as the thought visibly sank in. His breath hitched. Then—

"Ahhh!" He clutched his head, pacing in frantic circles. "No, no, no! I don't wanna be Devourer food! I'm a snake, not a snack!"

Kai sheathed his sword with an exasperated sigh. "So is it really too late to stop Pythor?"

"You're days behind him!" Spitta wailed. "There's gotta be something else you can do!"

The Destiny's Bounty soared through the skies, its sails catching the wind as the ninja gathered around the map room. The situation was dire, and everyone knew it.

Nya, arms folded, was the first to break the silence. "Spitta was right. By the time we sail all the way to the other side of Ninjago, Pythor will already have the last Fangblade."

Jay groaned. "Oh, come on! This is the last one! We have to get it! There's gotta be a way!"

Cole stroked his chin, deep in thought.

Lloyd, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly perked up. "Wait…"

Kai glanced at him. "Huh?"

Lloyd leaned forward, his green eyes gleaming with an idea. "We don't need to stop him from getting the last Fangblade… not if we already have the other three."

The others exchanged glances.

"If we steal them back," Lloyd continued, "Pythor wouldn't risk carrying all of them on him at once. He must have hidden the first three somewhere while he goes after the fourth."

Cole's eyes widened as the realization hit him. "It's so simple—"

Jinx groaned and cut him off. "Not for you idiots. Even the simplest solutions go over your heads."

Jay scoffed, crossing his arms. "Oh, come on, we're not that bad."

Jinx, Nya, Sensei Wu, and even Lloyd and Garmadon turned to stare at them, unimpressed, their eyebrows raised in perfect synchronization.

Silence.

Jay shifted uncomfortably. "Okay, maybe sometimes we're that bad…"

Zane furrowed his brow as lines of code flickered across his internal processors. "My algorithms suggest that stealing the other three Fangblades would be far more dangerous than anticipated. Pythor will undoubtedly have them guarded by his top generals."

Kai smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Finally. I don't have to hold back."

Garmadon crossed his arms. "Even if you could steal them, you don't even know where they are."

Sensei Wu nodded in agreement. "He's right. For the past few weeks, there have been almost no Serpentine sightings. How are they moving around so undetected? It's as if they're ghosts."

Nya, seated at the control panel, narrowed her eyes. "Or snakes." Her fingers danced over the console. "Bridge, give me a sonar sweep of Ninjago."

The computer scanned the land, displaying a blank grid.

Kai frowned. "See? Nothing. Just like Sensei said."

Nya wasn't convinced. "But what if they aren't traveling above ground?" She turned in her seat. "They're snakes, right? Snakes burrow." She entered a new command. "Bridge, give me a sonar scan of Ninjago—but twenty feet below the surface."

The screen flickered, then lit up with a network of winding tunnels stretching across Ninjago.

Kai's eyes widened. "All the tombs… they've been connected."

Cole clenched his fist. "To make one massive underground fortress."

Jay let out a low whistle. "And all this time… right under our noses."

Zane corrected him. "Or rather, our feet."

Jinx, who had been leaning silently against the console, placed a hand on Zane's shoulder. The nindroid turned his head to meet Jinx's gaze. The teen simply shook his head.

Zane's expression fell.

Kai, oblivious to the exchange, pointed at the screen. "There. That's the most fortified location. If the Fangblades are anywhere, it's there."

Wu stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Then what are we waiting for?" He turned to Nya. "Set a course."

Nya was already flipping switches. "On it. We'll be there by sunup."

As dawn painted the horizon in golden hues, the ninja prepared for battle on the deck of the Bounty.

Wu stood before them, his expression grave. "There is no room for error. The Serpentine have shown they possess great power, and to combat them, you must turn their greatest strengths into their greatest weaknesses."

He turned to Kai. "How will you defeat the Hypnobrai?"

Kai pulled a strip of cloth from his pocket and tied it around his eyes. "Their hypnotic powers are useless if their opponent doesn't rely on sight."

Wu nodded approvingly before shifting his gaze to Jay. "The Fangpyre are fast, and their bite is sharp."

Jay smirked, tapping the reinforced plating on his arm. "But if they can't bite through my armor, they can't turn me into one of them."

"Precisely." Wu then turned to Cole. "The Constrictai are strong. Once they latch onto you, they do not let go."

In response, Wu suddenly tossed a net over Cole, entangling him. But instead of struggling, Cole took a deep breath and relaxed his body. With careful movements, he slipped free. "Instead of fighting back, one must loosen up and move with the attack," he said. "And a little soft shoe doesn't hurt."

Wu's gaze landed on Zane. "The venom of the Venomari can cloud your perception. Twist reality itself."

Zane's blue eyes glowed faintly as he activated a special mode. "Then I shall rely on my new Falcon Vision." His vision shifted, filtering out illusions and allowing him to see clearly.

Wu smiled. "Very good. I have trained you well. You are all ready."

Kai tightened the straps on his gauntlets. "What about you, Sensei? Will you fight with us?"

Wu exhaled slowly. "My concern is that my old bones cannot keep up with you young warriors… but I will be there in spirit."

Just then, Nya's voice crackled over the intercom. "We're arriving at the Mountain of a Million Steps. You all might want to see this."

The ninja gathered at the railing as the Bounty descended over the mountain. Below, the land was riddled with massive piles of dirt.

Jay leaned over. "Look at all those dirt piles. What are those snakes up to?"

Jinx yawned, stretching his arms. "Probably fighting in the Slither Pits."

Kai blinked. "The what?"

Jay raised an eyebrow. "Where did you even hear about that?"

Jinx shrugged. "Met some decent Serpentine a while back. We got along."

Garmadon narrowed his eyes. "Did they give you any information?"

"Nah," Jinx said lazily. "We kinda have this 'don't talk about business unless it happens while we're together' thing."

Jay chuckled. "They sound… interesting."

Jinx grinned. "Oh, they are. Next time I hang out with them, I'll let you know. They're hella fun."

Lloyd perked up. "Wait for me!"

Wu's expression hardened. "This is not your fight. The Green Ninja's destiny is too important to risk. You will stay with me."

A mechanical whirr interrupted them as Nya arrived in her Samurai Mech. She planted a hand on her hip, smirking. "Well, he's gonna have to look after himself, because we made room for you." She gestured toward a seat inside the mech.

Kai grinned. "You said you were worried about keeping up, so Jay and Nya modified the design so you could come along." He folded his arms. "So? What do you think?"

Wu's face lit up with childlike excitement. "I think…" He leaped into the seat. "…shotgun! Haha!"

Garmadon sighed, shaking his head. "I will stay back with Lloyd." His lips tightened before he grudgingly muttered, "I don't enjoy saying this… but… good luck."

Jinx stretched, stepping back. "Yeah, I'll stay back too. I promised Lloyd we'd beat Cole's high score."

At those words, the other ninja instinctively turned to Cole, expecting an immediate protest. But to their surprise, Cole didn't say a word. He simply looked away, his jaw tight.

For a moment, the air was heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Jay nudged Kai. "That's weird, right?"

Kai frowned. "Yeah… really weird."

Jinx just smirked, hands in his pockets, as the Bounty flew onward toward the battle ahead.

The team climbed down the rope, their descent silent as shadows.

"I thought you said this place would be heavily guarded," Jay whispered.

"Forgive me," Zane murmured back. "Even Nindroids make mistakes."

Cole, ever observant, paused in front of a wall, his gaze drawn to a carving of a ninja etched into the stone. "Hey, check this out."

Jay squinted at it. "Pfft. That doesn't even look like me."

Kai scoffed. "Ugh, they're gonna pay for that."

Cole crossed his arms, inspecting the carving more closely. "I mean, at least give me a decent mustache." He reached out, intending to rub away the imperfections, but the moment his fingers brushed the wall, a deep click echoed through the tunnel. The stone panel shifted, revealing a secret passageway.

Cole blinked. "Uh... I meant to do that."

Without hesitation, the team slipped inside, moving swiftly and silently into the inner sanctum. They crouched behind a set of pillars as voices filled the cavernous chamber.

Fangtom slithered in a slow, deliberate circle, his tone laced with curiosity. "So, what happens when the Great Devourer is unleashed? Will it really consume everything?"

Skalidor chuckled darkly. "I hope so. If only to teach the surface dwellers a lesson for locking us underground for so many years."

Acidicus scoffed. "Who knows if the legend is even true? I, for one, am curious to see what happens."

Skales slithered closer, his piercing eyes scanning the room. "Keep alert. Pythor should be back soon."

From their vantage point, Kai tightened his grip on his sword. "There's too many to deal with at once. I say we travel by shadow."

Nya nodded. "Right behind you."

Wu placed a firm hand on Kai's shoulder. "And I'll be right behind you."

Meanwhile, aboard the Bounty, Lloyd stepped onto the bridge only to freeze in his tracks. His father stood at the computer console, fingers moving deftly across the controls.

"Transferring files," the computer droned.

Lloyd's stomach twisted. "You're… stealing?" He took a step forward, his voice rising. "Dad, my friends are risking their lives to save Ninjago, and you're going behind their backs to gain an advantage?!"

Garmadon turned, his face unreadable. "I'm sorry, but I can't help it. Ever since the Devourer bit me, evil runs through my blood."

Lloyd clenched his fists. "You left me for so long. Where did you go?"

Garmadon exhaled, his gaze distant. "Son, there are places in this world void of any good. Dark places."

Lloyd's expression hardened. "Is that where Sensei found you?"

Garmadon hesitated before nodding. "You know how I always wanted the Golden Weapons… Well, this place allowed me the power to possess them."

"Then why didn't you take me with you?"

"Because every boy has a choice to grow up to be whoever they want to be." Garmadon's voice softened. "But I never had that choice. Because I was bitten, evil runs through my veins. But you still have a choice, Lloyd. You don't need to be like me. Your uncle has a plan for you, and even though it may be to stop me one day, we have to follow our own destinies. And after I help the ninja stop Pythor, I'll need to leave again."

Lloyd's heart pounded. "Then why don't you just leave now?"

Garmadon flinched. "Lloyd—"

"No, really!" Lloyd snapped, eyes burning. "Go back to whatever evil place you came from!"

The bridge fell silent.

Nya's voice suddenly crackled through the intercom. "All right, Operation Stealth was a total bust. We're gonna need reinforcements. Anyone there?"

Garmadon reached for the computer, but Lloyd slapped his hand away. "We don't want your help, and we don't need you here." His voice trembled. "Maybe it would've been better if you hadn't come at all."

For a moment, Garmadon simply stared at him. Then, with a slow nod, he turned and walked away.

Lloyd swallowed the lump in his throat and pressed a few buttons. "I'm trying to help, Nya. Just hold on."

A hand touched his shoulder, making him jolt. He spun around, instinctively raising his fists, but his balance faltered, and he stumbled backward.

Jinx stood there, sipping a milkshake through a straw.

Lloyd scowled. "You scared me!"

Jinx ignored him, taking another sip before speaking. "You know, you really shouldn't be mad at your father."

Lloyd's temper flared again. "What do you mean?! He stole files from us! He wants to destroy Ninjago! And he left me!"

Jinx sighed and put down his shake. "Lloyd, do you know what my second element is besides wind?"

Lloyd frowned. "Yeah… darkness. Why?"

Jinx's gaze turned serious. "Before I met you guys, I rarely used darkness because it comes with a side effect—it turns me evil."

Lloyd stiffened.

Jinx continued, voice steady. "Now, while my morals might be about the same as Garmadon's, I don't let it control me. I control it. It's my power—not the other way around. But your father never had that choice. He was turned evil by a power not his own. And the fact that he suppressed it for as long as he did?" He let out a low whistle. "That's something not everyone could do."

Lloyd's shoulders sagged slightly, but he still looked uncertain.

Jinx leaned forward. "Look, the main point is—you can't blame your father for what he's become. He had no choice. So now, he's playing the cards he was forced to hold—just like you have to deal with being the Green Ninja. And yeah, that means fighting your own dad."

Lloyd didn't respond right away. He stared at the ground, fists clenched.

Jinx picked up his milkshake, giving the younger boy time to think.

Lloyd exhaled heavily. "It's not fair."

Jinx smirked. "Yeah. Life rarely is." He clapped Lloyd on the back. "C'mon, let's go see if the others need help. Or, y'know, we could just go beat Cole's high score."

Lloyd hesitated, then managed a small smile. "Yeah… let's go."

The fortress walls loomed high, carved with eerie snake motifs that flickered in the dim torchlight. The ninja stood back-to-back, their weapons at the ready, but the odds were stacked against them. Snakes coiled and slithered around them, their fangs glinting with venom.

Nya pressed the communicator on her wrist. "Lloyd, can you hear me? Ugh, I'm not getting anything." She shook the device in frustration.

Wu narrowed his eyes. "Forget them. We need to fight back. Ninja, show them what you've learned."

With a guttural hiss, Skalidor lunged, his muscular arms coiling around Cole. "Always wanted to make you my main squeeze," he sneered.

Cole gritted his teeth, feeling the pressure tighten around his chest. His lungs burned. "Must... relax... Think loose," he reminded himself. Loosening his muscles, he let gravity take over, slipping free from Skalidor's crushing grip.

The Constrictai blinked in confusion. "What?"

Cole smirked. "Haha! Triple Tiger Sashay!" In a blur of movement, he struck out, sending Skalidor and two other Constrictai tumbling to the ground, groaning in defeat.

Not far away, Skales slithered toward Kai, his hypnotic eyes glowing. "You're surrounded, young firestarter. Perhaps now you can do our bidding." His forked tongue flickered as his gaze bore into Kai's.

Kai clenched his jaw, forcing himself to look away. "Ugh. Must not look. Ninja, go!" He spun into a fiery tornado, his Spinjitzu striking down the Hypnobrai surrounding him. As the dust settled, he grinned. "I wish I could see me now because you all just got Kai'd."

Meanwhile, one of Fangtom's two heads lunged at Jay, aiming to sink its fangs into his arm—but the moment his teeth met metal, he recoiled with a pained screech.

Jay chuckled, patting his armor. "What's wrong? Don't like the taste of defeat? Well, get used to it!"

From the sidelines, Nya smirked. "Looking good."

Jay winked. "Thanks. You look great too."

Zane, ever the strategist, scanned the battlefield. "Don't mean to interrupt the lovebirds, but we do have Fangblades to capture." He was mid-stride when a Venomari spat a stream of green venom at him. His vision warped and twisted—the world around him became a kaleidoscope of distorted shapes.

"Switching to Falcon Vision," he muttered, and in an instant, his mechanical link activated. The Falcon, soaring high above, transmitted real-time visuals directly into his systems, allowing him to maneuver flawlessly despite the venom's effects.

Across the room, Kai spotted the Fangblades resting on a stone pedestal. His eyes lit up. "Look, the Fangblades!"

Cole nodded. "I'll let you have the honors."

Kai hesitated. "Oh no, after you."

Cole grinned and dashed forward, his fingers mere inches from the prize—when suddenly, the floor beneath him collapsed, metal bars shooting up around him.

"Aah! It's a trap!" he shouted as the others rushed to his side, only for more cages to spring up, imprisoning them all.

From the shadows, a slow, sinister clapping echoed. Pythor emerged, his violet scales glistening under the torchlight. Flanked by his scouting party, he slithered forward, the final Fangblade gleaming in his grasp.

"Come, come," Pythor purred, amusement dripping from his voice. "Can this get any better? Seriously, they fell right into my trap."

Kai gripped the bars. "Oh, this isn't good. Where's Lloyd when you need him?"

Aboard the Bounty

Lloyd fumbled with the computer, his fingers flying over the controls as he tried to establish a stable connection. His ninja gi was snug against his frame, a stark reminder of the responsibility he carried.

"Nya? Lord Garmadon? Jinx? Is anyone there?"

A burst of static crackled before Nya's voice finally came through. "It's me, Lloyd. We're here—but we're a little held up at the moment. Our weapons have been taken, and we're locked in cages."

Cole's voice followed. "And Pythor's got the fourth Fangblade."

Zane's tone was more measured, but no less urgent. "Lloyd, where did your father go?"

Lloyd hesitated. "I... I told him to leave. He was trying to steal secrets."

Kai's scoff was audible. "Oh, big surprise there. I told you about that guy, but you guys wouldn't listen."

Lloyd's fists clenched. "My dad's going back to where he came from. But don't worry, I'll save you."

Wu's voice was grave. "You're not ready, Lloyd. Your destiny is too great to risk. Send Jinx to come save us."

Cole sighed. "I hate to break it to you, Sensei, but if we don't get out of here before Pythor unleashes the Great Devourer, I think this will be the end of all our destinies."

Lloyd gritted his teeth. "Ugh, I'll get you out of there in a jiff." He reached for a weapon from a cabinet—only for the entire shelf to come crashing down on him.

"Ouch."

Meanwhile, in the fortress, Pythor raised the Fangblade high. "Together, we have taken back the four Fangblades! When we return them to the City of Ouroboros, together, we shall unleash the Great Devourer!"

The Serpentine erupted in cheers.

Chokun chuckled. "We spent so much time digging this underground fortress, it'd be a shame not to use it a little longer."

Acidicus nodded. "At least let us celebrate capturing the ninja."

Skales, standing in the shadows, whispered, "Give them this victory, and tomorrow we will return the blades to Ouroboros."

Pythor's crimson eyes scanned the gathered Serpentine warriors, his long, forked tongue flickering. "Fine, but I don't want anyone here letting down their guard. You hear me?"

Skales gave a curt nod of understanding, his expression unreadable.

Pythor smirked. "Then tonight, we celebrate—with a Slither Pit!"

A deafening cheer erupted from the assembled snakes as warriors stepped forward, ready to engage in the brutal, time-honored Serpentine tradition. The ground shook as the combatants slammed into one another, fangs bared and tails whipping. The scent of sweat and venom filled the underground chamber.

From their cage, the ninja watched as the battle unfolded before them.

Jay leaned against the bars, eyes wide with intrigue. "You know, Jinx was right. These fights are fun to watch."

Cole nodded, arms crossed. "Yeah, I didn't expect them to be this entertaining. Now I owe Jinx an Oreo cake."

Kai, however, was less than amused. His fingers gripped the bars tightly, his knuckles white. "Ugh, so all we can do is just wait? This is killing me."

Sensei Wu, ever composed, folded his hands before him. "Patience, Kai. Lloyd will figure something out."

Kai scoffed, turning sharply to face him. "We're putting all of our trust into the son of the greatest villain Ninjago has ever seen. Uh, is anyone else having doubts about this plan?" He gestured around the cage in frustration. "Just because we don't have our weapons doesn't mean we can't use our powers. We just need to focus."

Wu shook his head. "The chamber was built from Vengestone. Our Elemental Powers are rendered useless. Patience, Kai."

Kai exhaled sharply through his nose, running a hand through his already messy hair. His eyes darted around the cage, searching for anything they could use. Then, his gaze landed on Jay and Cole's makeshift checkerboard. Without hesitation, he snatched a small metal tin from the board.

Jay's eyes widened. "Hey! That hair oil was just about to be kinged!"

Kai ignored him, prying the lid off. "Yeah? Well, I'm just about to get us out of here." He dipped his fingers into the slick substance and smeared it onto his gi.

Cole raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, greaseball. How about a little warning before you turn yourself into a slip-'n-slide?"

Kai shot him a look. "Laugh all you want, but I don't think we need our special powers to escape—just a little ingenuity." He took a deep breath, wiggled his body, and with a sharp exhale, slid between the iron bars with surprising ease.

Jay's jaw dropped. "No way. He actually did it."

Zane observed with analytical interest. "Impressive use of external lubrication to reduce friction and allow passage through a confined space."

Cole smirked. "All right, slickster. But now what?"

Kai dusted off his gi and glanced around before spotting the heavy chains that draped from the ceiling, suspending parts of the fortress in place. He grinned. "Now, we quietly do a little ball and chain."

With practiced agility, he grabbed hold of a chain and climbed down, keeping to the shadows. The clang of metal and the raucous cheers from the Serpentine masked his movements.

Below, Fang-Suei stepped forward, his voice booming. "Let's change the game, shall we?" He yanked a lever, and with a loud, mechanical clunk, a massive wheel began to spin. The audience hissed in anticipation.

The wheel clicked to a stop.

"Vat of Venom!" Fang-Suei announced.

From overhead, a large cauldron tilted, spilling thick, bubbling green venom into the pit. The liquid hissed as it met the ground, melting away chunks of stone, creating a hazardous battlefield for the fighters below. The watching Serpentine roared in delight.

Fang-Suei sneered. "Next two fighters!"

Meanwhile, Kai swung across the chains, his heart pounding. He was almost there.

From the cage above, Nya gripped the bars, her eyes locked on Kai's progress. "It's working, keep going!"

Cole turned to the others. "Come on, everyone. Let's see if we can throw our weight around."

The team nodded and began shifting their bodies in unison, making the cage sway back and forth. The movement gave Kai the final momentum he needed.

"Come on, more speed!" Jay urged.

Kai spotted the mechanism holding their cage in place. "One more swing and I've got it!" He reached out—just a little farther—

And then—

A strong, clawed grip seized his wrist.

"Uh, uh, uh," Pythor's silky voice purred. The Anacondrai general dangled Kai effortlessly in the air, his wicked smile stretching across his face. "Trying to escape, are we?"

Kai chuckled nervously. "Heh. I bet this looks kinda bad, huh?"

Pythor's smile didn't waver. With a single motion, he swung Kai back up—straight into the cage. Chains rattled as iron shackles locked around each of the ninja's wrists, binding them to the bars.

Cole sighed, shaking his head. "Great. We're in such a better place than we were before."

Zane tilted his head. "And now we can't even play checkers."

Jay groaned dramatically. "I was gonna be kinged, Kai!"

Despite their predicament, Nya remained resolute. She turned to Wu, her expression firm. "Don't worry, Sensei. I have faith in Lloyd."

The old master nodded slowly, his eyes distant. "Let us hope your faith is well-placed."

The ninja were trapped, but the night was not yet over.

Lloyd's legs burned with exhaustion as he climbed up the Mountain of a Million Steps. His breaths came in shallow gasps, and his muscles screamed for relief. He had been climbing for what felt like hours, and still, the summit was out of reach. Sweat dripped down his forehead, but he pushed on, determined to reach the top and show the world—especially his father—that he could rise to the challenge.

When he finally pulled himself over the last step, the wind hit him with an unexpected force. He looked up, expecting to see the dramatic view of Ninjago stretched out before him. Instead, he was greeted by the familiar sight of Jinx—sipping on a milkshake as though he hadn't just watched the younger ninja struggle up the mountain.

Lloyd stared at him, breathless. "How did you get up here?"

Jinx looked up lazily, swirling the milkshake in his hand. "Did you forget? I can fly." He shrugged nonchalantly. "And I have a dragon, too. Didn't use Cleo today. She wants her rest."

Lloyd, his frustration mounting, barely registered Jinx's words. He let out a quick, exasperated breath before turning away and continuing his focus.

"Whoosh," Lloyd muttered to himself, adjusting his stance. "Ninja roll. Flying drag—" But before he could finish his words, his foot caught on a stone, and he tripped forward, arms flailing. "Whoa! Ninja recover! Whoosh! Ninja roll!"

Kai's voice called from below, catching his attention. "Hey, look up there! It's Lloyd!"

Lloyd, still trying to regain his composure, muttered to himself under his breath. "Come on, Lloyd. You're the Green Ninja. You can do this..." But as he attempted to move down the stairs, his foot hit another rock, sending him tumbling. "That one hurt. Ow!" He grunted as he rolled down the mountain, his body coming to an abrupt stop at the bottom.

The Serpentine gathered in confusion, their eyes narrowing at the sight. Lloyd groaned, rubbing his sore limbs. "Well, if we don't meet again, Pythor, unhand the ninja—or suffer humiliation against the Green Ninja!"

The Serpentine burst into laughter.

Pythor, in his usual condescending manner, grinned, "Oh yeah? You and what army?"

Lloyd, wincing from the pain, picked himself up, determination flashing in his eyes. "Uh, how about my army of fists?" He swung a punch—but his footing was off, and he almost fell over again. The Serpentine laughed harder.

Just as Lloyd began to feel the weight of failure pressing on him, a new voice rang out.

"Or this army?"

Lloyd's eyes widened in surprise as his father, Lord Garmadon, stepped forward, flanked by the Skulkin army.

"Dad?" Lloyd called, his voice a mix of disbelief and relief.

Garmadon nodded. "Lloyd, you helped me realize something. I do have a choice. And if anyone is going to threaten Ninjago, it better well be me."

Pythor sneered, his gaze flicking between Garmadon and the army of Skulkin behind him. "The Skeleton army? But why would they fight beside you? You betrayed them and Samukai long ago."

Kruncha, his voice dripping with a smugness only a Serpentine could muster, grinned wide. "Because everybody hates snakes!"

The Skulkin army burst into laughter at the insult, their bony figures shaking with mirth.

Pythor hissed in fury. "Attack!"

Kruncha bellowed right back, "Attack!"

At that moment, Pythor pulled a lever, sending the cage the ninja were trapped in plummeting toward a bubbling vat of venom below. The entire scene erupted into chaos.

Jinx, witnessing the battle unfolding, felt the tug of excitement surge through him. Without missing a beat, he jumped from his perch, landing gracefully in the midst of the fighting. But as his feet touched the ground, something strange occurred—his connection to his wind element was suppressed. The mountain's energy disrupted it.

However, Jinx's other element—darkness—remained unaffected. A dark grin curled on his lips.

"This is going to be fun," he muttered under his breath. His hand slammed into the floor with enough force to crack the stone beneath him. From his palm, pitch-black liquid began to pour out, spreading like ink on water. The dark substance oozed outward, swallowing everything in its path—snakes, pillars, even parts of the ground itself.

The darkness continued to spread, a murky blanket enveloping the area within a ten-meter radius, pulling everything in like quicksand. The Serpentine warriors tried to escape, but their slithering bodies were no match for the pull of Jinx's power. One by one, snakes sank into the inky abyss, their hisses muffled as they were consumed.

Jinx clenched his fist, condensing the darkness into a ball. With a violent thrust of his arm, he launched the mass of shadow toward a nearby statue. The ball collided with it, obliterating the stone with an explosion of energy. The force of the impact sent several Serpentine flying backward, their bodies crashing into the surrounding walls.

Jinx stood tall amidst the chaos, the shadows retreating back into his hand. "Now, who's next?" he murmured, his voice like a whisper in the wind.

The cage rattled violently as it descended toward the bubbling vat of venom below. The ninja braced themselves, their chains clanking against the cold metal.

Jay's voice rang out in alarm. "Hey, uh... we're moving."

Cole shot him a look. "Yeah—the wrong way."

Meanwhile, across the arena, Nuckal was whispering something to Skales, his words an incoherent babble of excitement.

Skales blinked, clearly unimpressed. "Are you serious?"

Before Nuckal could answer, Kruncha rolled his eyes and delivered a solid punch to his partner's helmet. "He never saw that coming."

Nuckal blinked in confusion. "Uh… saw what coming?"

Kruncha groaned, sighed, and then punched him again.

Above the chaos, Lloyd sprinted toward the controls, his breath ragged but determined. His fingers moved fast as he yanked levers and smashed buttons. With a metallic clang, the cage's mechanism jammed, halting its descent.

Nya's voice rang out in relief. "Lloyd!"

The young ninja grinned as he forced open the lock, releasing his teammates and tossing them their weapons. "Told you I'd save you."

Kai twirled his sword, a confident smirk playing on his lips. "Then what are we waiting for?" He spun on his heel, raising his blade. "Go, ninja, go!"

The others followed suit.

"Ninja, go!"

With a synchronized whirl of movement, the ninja burst into Spinjitzu, spiraling through the Serpentine forces, knocking them back with raw elemental power. The room was a blur of flashing steel and surging energy as they cut a path through the enemy ranks.

Meanwhile, Garmadon found himself face to face with Pythor. Their eyes locked in a moment of mutual disdain before steel clashed against scale. Their duel was fierce but brief—Pythor, ever the schemer, saw his opportunity and slithered back, his signature sneer returning.

"So long, sucker," Pythor taunted, preparing to make his escape.

Before he could vanish, Cole stepped in his path, arms crossed. "Going somewhere?"

Pythor's confident grin wavered. "Oh… dear."

With one swift motion, Cole yanked the Fangblades from Pythor's grip. The ancient weapons gleamed ominously in his hands, their power humming through the air. But before anyone could stop him, Pythor disappeared into the shadows.

Cole groaned in frustration. "Where did he go?"

Kai shrugged, clearly unfazed. "Who cares? We have the Fangblades. Let's get out of here."

Without hesitation, the ninja leaped onto the Bounty, their mission a success.

From below, Nuckal and Kruncha watched them take off.

"Don't worry about us," Nuckal called, waving them off. "We'll keep fighting the good fight!"

Kruncha sighed dramatically. "I never thought I'd say this, but… Go, ninja, go!"

Aboard the Bounty—

As the ship soared through the sky, Lloyd stood near the edge, watching as his father packed his things below deck. His heart felt heavy.

"You're leaving?" Lloyd finally asked, breaking the silence.

Garmadon barely paused, adjusting the straps of his bag. "Now that you're safe, and the ninja have the Fangblades, there is nothing else I am needed for."

Lloyd swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. "I need you."

He sighed, his voice quieter this time. "I know you have to go, but know this—when we meet again, I'm going to do everything in my power to defeat you."

Garmadon chuckled softly and placed a hand on Lloyd's shoulder. "I wouldn't have it any other way." He turned to leave but hesitated at the doorway.

"Oh, and, son?" He glanced back, his expression softening. "You're a good boy. Soon, you'll be a great man. Although we now stand on opposite sides… I'm still very proud of you."

Lloyd's breath hitched, his throat tightening. "Wait, I can get you one of Jay's gliders," he offered. "You probably don't need it, but it—" He stopped mid-sentence as he looked up.

His father was gone.

Lloyd sighed, his voice barely above a whisper. "…Might help. So long, Dad."

On the bridge—

The air was lighter now, filled with an unspoken relief. The ninja celebrated their victory, gathered around a table filled with whatever snacks they could scavenge.

Nya handed Lloyd a cup filled with a bright red liquid. "He left, didn't he?"

Lloyd nodded.

She gave him a small smile. "Then have some Snogfruit Punch. Cole made it, and it's actually… not bad." She lifted her glass in a toast. "To Lloyd's dad."

The others raised their drinks, their voices echoing across the ship.

"Hear, hear!"

Lloyd hesitated for a brief moment, then smiled. "To Dad."

Wu watched them, a look of quiet wisdom in his eyes. "Tomorrow, we arrive at Torchfire Mountain to destroy these Fangblades once and for all. And it couldn't have been done without your father." He exhaled deeply. "I'm going to miss him."

The ship sailed forward under the golden glow of the setting sun, laughter and warmth filling its deck.

Meanwhile…

A shadow lurked outside the Bounty, crimson eyes watching from a distance. Pythor stood in silence, his mouth curling into a sinister grin as he observed the ninja celebrating their so-called victory.

"Oh, you're going to miss more than him when I get through with you," he whispered darkly. His laughter slithered into the night like a ghostly echo, vanishing into the wind.