Chapter 107

Heroes POV

Noah watched N pour the green vial over his wound for the seventh time since he had been infected. The cool liquid numbed the overwhelming pain that had started to flare up again. As the last drop fell onto his skin, frustration bubbled inside him. How many times did they have to do this?

His gaze shifted to N, who tossed the empty bottle across the room, shattering it against the wall. N quickly stood up and stomped on the shards, ensuring they were completely hidden. The Four Generals were still hunting them, and finding a safe place was becoming increasingly difficult. Noah and N were humans who needed to eat, drink, and rest, while the Four Generals were relentless monsters who wouldn't stop until they had their heads.

The thought made Noah uneasy. N was strong, but he was just one person, and Noah couldn't even use his ability. He sighed, mentally noting how much better N looked compared to when they first met. His hair was still overgrown, but it was clean now, not greasy-looking. He had changed from his filthy clothes and now wore a light grey long-sleeve shirt and tan cargo pants.

Noah couldn't ignore how muscular N had become compared to him. Surviving the apocalypse could change a person drastically. He turned his attention away from N and started to bandage his wound, which seemed larger than the day before. Noah frowned at the sight but continued wrapping it.

As he finished, a strange thought crossed his mind. How were his old friends doing? Sure, he didn't want to be with them anymore, but were they trying to stop Morro? The dark sorcerer had unleashed chaos upon Ninjago, and Noah couldn't shake the worry that they might be in danger. What was he thinking? Of course, they were; they must be trying to save Ninjago from whatever Morro was plotting. He felt a rush of anger but knew it was truly his fault for abandoning them.

Lost in thought, Noah was startled when N pinched his cheek, drawing his attention back. "What are you doing sitting here?! Go back to training! You're the only one who can save Ninjago!"

Noah fought the urge to groan loudly. He had always wanted to be the Chosen One, but this wasn't how he expected his life to go. Fighting Lord Garmadon and the Overlord seemed easier than facing the Shadowy Being. He lay back on his blue sleeping bag, realizing he had gotten his wish to save Ninjago, but at what cost?

"N, what's the game plan here?" Noah finally asked, staring at the ceiling of the apartment they had snuck into for shelter. "All we've been doing for the last few days is training me physically. That's not going to help me in the long run."

N looked at him with narrowed eyes, struggling to keep his frustration in check. "What are you talking about? We're training you physically until I figure out how to create a permanent cure."

Noah glanced at N's metallic leg before responding, "You say that, yet you're just training me instead of working on a cure."

"Well, I apologize for being so busy trying to protect, train, and avoid the Four Generals that I don't have time to make a cure," N shot back, sarcasm dripping from his words.

"Well, we wouldn't be dealing with all this if we just went to the academy," Noah retorted, propping himself up on his arm. "Since we have a temporary cure, the school would have let us in and protected us from the Four Generals while you and Victor worked on a cure. They even have a training room with teachers who could properly teach me instead of just beating me up."

N glared at Noah, clenching his fists to avoid lashing out. Why was his past self so naive? Couldn't he see that N was doing everything he could for him? He had abandoned everyone he knew in his original timeline to help his past, idiotic self. The fact that Noah didn't understand that made the situation even more frustrating.

"Then what do you want me to do, huh?" N asked, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "I'm just a normal guy. I'm not a leader or someone important. I'm just a guy who wants the best for Ninjago."

Noah's anger dissipated as quickly as it had formed. N sounded genuinely sad and broken, and a hint of depression crept into his voice. Noah looked at the ground in shame, his ears turning red. Why was he getting mad at the one person trying to help him? He should be thanking N instead of getting annoyed that things weren't going his way. He felt pathetic on so many levels.

"I'm sorry, N," Noah said, his voice softening. "I'm just tired and maybe stressed by how much pressure is on me. I know you're trying your best, but I'm not satisfied with just training. Please try to understand where I'm coming from."

N regarded him with an unhappy expression before walking away into the kitchen. It seemed he didn't accept the apology, but who could blame him? Noah always seemed to ruin things without even trying. Wasn't that how he ruined his friendships, just because he couldn't cope with Zane's death and the fact that a robot had been created to replace him?

"That was such a heartwarming apology," an eerie voice suddenly spoke. "I wonder why my pet didn't accept it."

Noah's heart dropped as his face went pale. He frantically searched the room for the Shadowy Being, but there was no one there. Slowly getting to his feet, he pulled the pocket knife from his pocket. Even though he knew it was useless against this enemy, it felt reassuring to have something to defend himself with.

"Show yourself, you bastard!" Noah hissed through clenched teeth. "Stop playing games with us."

Even after he shouted, nothing appeared, leaving him surprised. Was it just his imagination? He sighed before folding the pocket knife closed. He must be going mad considering how long he had been stuck here. He truly hoped to get out before things got even more serious.

…

Lloyd POV

 I lay on the infirmary bed, every inch of my body screaming in agony. The Enforcer had tossed me around like a rag doll, and I was pretty sure I'd shattered my left arm, broken a few ribs, and who knows what else. The sterile smell of antiseptic burned my nostrils, a stark reminder of how close I'd come to death. If it wasn't for the Abyssal Devourer, I probably wouldn't even be alive.

My gaze drifted to the bracelet on my wrist, its gold surface glinting in the harsh light, adorned with emerald gems that sparkled like eyes watching me. Was this thing as dangerous as the Enforcer had claimed? I could still hear his agonized howl as the Devourer tore off his arm, the memory sending a chill down my spine.

Before I could ponder any longer, the door burst open. The pink and blue-haired women who guarded my dorm stormed in, with Mister Glasses trailing closely behind. The pink-haired woman looked livid, her face flushed with barely contained rage. Her blue-haired partner seemed more concerned, though I couldn't tell if it was for her co-worker or me.

"What on earth were you thinking with that pea-sized brain of yours?!" the pink-haired woman shouted, her voice reverberating off the infirmary walls. "You almost got yourself killed just because you couldn't stay put in your dorm!"

I winced, both from the volume of her voice and the realization that she must have gotten chewed out because of me. "I'm sorry I left, but I'm still alive, aren't I? Why are you so angry?"

The pink-haired woman opened her mouth to retort, but her partner cut her off with a gentle hand on her arm. "There's no point yelling at him now. Let's just let him rest."

With one last glare that could have melted steel, the pink-haired woman turned to leave. Her partner followed but paused at the door. "Sorry about my co-worker. I hope you have a speedy recovery," she said with a small smile before closing the door behind her.

I gave her a slight nod, watching the door shut. Honestly, I didn't care about those two, especially now that I'd changed my destiny. It felt good knowing the worst was over, but a nagging voice in the back of my mind whispered that things were bound to get more complicated.

"Do you know how much chaos you caused when you escaped?" Mister Glasses said, taking a seat next to my bed and grabbing a clipboard from the bed frame. "Those poor women got quite an earful because of you. I'd be angry too."

"Women?" My eyes flicked back to the door. "Wait, are they a couple?" I'd never expected those two to be in a relationship. Their personalities seemed so different, but then again, why was I surprised?

Mister Glasses scanned the list of my injuries that Victor had written down, his eyebrows rising higher with each line. "This is going to take a while to heal, even with Victor's ability. It's a miracle you're even alive after the beating you took."

I found myself staring at Koko in the bed next to mine. She looked thinner, her cheekbones more pronounced than I remembered. When was she going to wake up? It had been weeks, and she was still out cold. A wave of guilt washed over me. Did I have to abandon her for things to get easier for me? I'd sworn in this life that I'd take care of her, but instead, I'd left her behind, and she still got hurt in the end.

"Mister Glasses, can you look into the future for me?" I tore my gaze away from Koko, my voice barely above a whisper. "What will my future look like?"

He regarded me, eyes narrowing as if trying to see through me. "My ability isn't as strong as my mother's, since I focus on just one power. Do you still want me to try?"

"Of course. I want to make sure I don't repeat history," I said, glancing at the bracelet again. Its emerald gems seemed to pulse faintly as if responding to my thoughts. "Just check if I'm alive and well."

Mister Glasses nodded and closed his eyes. The air around him shimmered, filled with a mysterious energy that made the hairs on my arms stand up. I lifted my right arm, staring at the bracelet for what felt like the hundredth time. If the Enforcer was telling the truth, then the future would be destroyed. But if he was lying, there was no reason for me to get rid of it. The weight of the decision pressed down on me, heavier than any physical pain.

The energy surrounding Mister Glasses dissipated, and he looked at me with an unreadable expression. "I looked into the not-too-distant future. You'll be stronger than you are now, but..." He trailed off, a frown creasing his forehead.

"But what?" I pressed my heart racing. "What did you see?"

Mister Glasses hesitated, then leaned in closer, his voice low. "You were alone. There was nobody beside you, nothing. Are you planning on abandoning everyone just to satisfy your greed?"

I looked away from Mister Glasses, a knot forming in my stomach. Alone? That wasn't a surprise considering how I often did things by myself, but it did answer my question. The future was still intact. But should I get rid of the bracelet just to be safe? Now a new question plagued my mind: Was power worth the cost of solitude?

The weight of the bracelet seemed to increase, a constant reminder of the choices I'd made and the ones still to come. As I lay there, surrounded by the consequences of my actions, I couldn't help but wonder if I was on the right path or if I'd already strayed too far.