Chapter 85

Heroes POV

Noah couldn't believe it. Had Lloyd just betrayed him like that? He knew that Lloyd was a lone wolf, but to betray his flesh and blood over a fake competition was beyond comprehension. Despite winning in the end, all their abilities were stripped away. Noah couldn't help but curse Lloyd, and himself, for even thinking Lloyd was a decent person. He had always been an asshole who only cared about himself.

"Noah?" came a voice, pulling him from his thoughts.

Noah turned to face Kai, who looked both concerned and disappointed. "It looks like you too," Kai said, acknowledging the shared defeat.

"Yeah," Noah sighed, the frustration evident in his voice. "Lloyd fucking took me out with his fight with Elijah. Elijah lost as well and he's unconscious."

They both just stared at Elijah, who someone had kindly propped up against a wall. Elijah had taken out almost every single person here, yet Lloyd had dispatched him with such ease. It reminded them of a certain someone they of a certain someone they knew in the past.

"Well, we did find Zane," Kai said, trying to lift the mood. "So does that make you feel better?"

Noah looked away from the giant hole that was far too high for anyone to climb. "Really! Zane was down here the entire time?"

"Yeah," Kai confirmed, though his tone was hesitant. "It's just that he looks a little… different than you remember him."

Noah wasn't interested in the details. "I don't care about that. Where is he?" he demanded, shaking Kai. "It has been such a long time since we last him."

Kai didn't say anything but pointed to his left where Cole and Jay were talking to someone. Noah didn't waste a moment and started to run over there. When he made it over, he stopped in his tracks. This wasn't the Zane he knew. Right before him was a machine made out of titanium that looked like Zane. The machine noticed him before speaking.

"Noah," it called out in its robotic voice. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Because you are not the Zane I lost, Noah wanted to say, but he couldn't bring himself to voice those words. Instead, he forced a smile. "It's nothing. How have you been doing?"

"I feel strange," it replied, its mechanical eyes analyzing Noah. "But my data indicates that you are lying due to the change of tone, volume, pace, and pitch in your sentence."

Noah felt a lump in his throat. This was Zane, yet it wasn't. The familiar warmth and compassion seemed replaced by cold, analytical precision. "I just… missed you, Zane. We all did."

The titanium figure tilted its head slightly, the gesture was eerily reminiscent of Zane. "I have missed you all as well. My systems have been recovering, but I am still adjusting to my new form."

Jay stepped forward, placing a hand on Noah's shoulder. "He's still our Zane, Noah. Just… different."

Noah nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah, I can see that. It's just… a lot to take in."

Noah couldn't help but stare at the robot before him. Of course, there was no way Zane could have survived his battle with the Overlord. No one could survive an explosion like that, not even a cyborg. This is just a machine with his memory and personality thinking that it is the real Zane. "I'm sorry, it's just that it is the expecting you to be a bit different."

The machine must have understood what Noah was implying because it looked hurt, its mechanical eyes dimming slightly. "Oh, I see."

Jay noticing the tension, quickly interjected. "Noah, Zane saved our lives more times than we can count. He's still the same friend who fought by our side. He might look different, but he's still Zane."

Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, Jay. It's just… hard to accept."

Zane's robotic face tried to mimic a reassuring smile. "I understand, Noah. This form is unfamiliar to all of us. But I assure you, my core remains the same. My purpose, my memories, and my feelings towards all of you are unchanged."

Cole stepped forward, his voice gentle yet firm. "Zane, we know it's you. It's just going to take some time to get used to. Right, Noah?"

Noah nodded slowly, his gaze softening as he looked at Zane. "Yeah, you're right. It's just… a lot to process."

Noah couldn't bring himself to apologize. He had worked tirelessly, believing he was doing it for his friend, but now stood before a robot that wasn't even the real Zane. The weight of the realization bore down on him, making him feel a rush of emotions he couldn't control. All he could do was walk away, his vision blurring with unbidden tears.

As he pushed through the crowd, his thoughts swirled chaotically. He longed for things to be like they were before he met Lloyd or Abaddon- back when everyone was together and happy, and he believed he was the Chosen One. Why does nothing ever go his way?

Kai joined the group as Noah walked past him noticing his friend's emotional turmoil. Approaching Zane, who looked visibly hurt by Noah's reaction, Kai tried to console him. "Don't take it personally, buddy. He's just having a hard time. You know how tough it can be."

Zane couldn't help but stare after Noah, who had disappeared into the crowd. "He looked disappointed like he didn't like what he just saw."

Cole placed a comforting hand on Zane's shoulder. "He was just surprised, Zane. He'll come around. Noah cares deeply for all of us. He just needs some time to adjust."

"Yeah," Jay agreed, trying to lift the mood. "Noah is the kind-hearted one out of all of us. He'll be back to his normal self once we somehow defeat Master Chen."

Zane nodded, his mechanical eyes still reflecting a hint of sadness. "I hope you're right. We need to stay united now more than ever."

…

Lloyd POV

I couldn't help but clench the podium a bit too hard, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on me. Public speaking had never been my forte, and now I found myself in front of an audience that included every citizen of Ninjago. I glared at Master Chen, who stood not far from me, smirking as if he could sense my discomfort. It seemed like I had beef with everyone these days.

The cult member holding the camera gave me a nod. "It's rolling. We're live right now."

I forced a flashy smile, reminding myself that the entire people of Ninjago were watching. "I can't say how glad I am to be part of this year's Tournament of Elements," I began. "Things were stressful, but the results were amazing. I'm grateful to have received an invitation from Master Chen for such an interesting event."

I glanced at Master Chen, giving him a tight smile that barely concealed my contempt. "I hope there will be more opportunities for me in the future."

With that, I stepped away from the podium, eager to be done with the spectacle. There was one last thing I wanted to address before we left this island.

As I walked away, I felt a presence behind me. "You were planning on sneaking up behind me and taking my power, weren't you?" I said, turning to find Clouse.

Clouse smirked, his eyes dark with malice. "How could I, when I saw what you could do? Besides, you have your father's ability."

I stared into Clouse's dimly purple eyes, noting the toll that dark magic had taken on him. It was strange, considering he once had pale green eyes. My father had warned me about this guy.

"I'm interested in your wannabe cult," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "It sounds fun."

Clouse's brow furrowed in annoyance. "I don't think you're qualified enough."

"Sure I am," I replied confidently. "I can prove myself."

Clouse narrowed his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

I leaned in, lowering my voice. "By showing you that I can surpass even Master Chen."

Couse snorted his expression one of skepticism. "Big talk for someone who hadn't proven anything yet."

I took a step closer, my tone turning serious. "Then let me show you. Give me a task, any task, and I'll prove I'm more than capable."

Clouse studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well. Let's see if you can back up your words. Follow me"

We moved away from the podium, leaving the main hall behind as Clouse led me through a series of darkened corridors. The air grew colder, the atmosphere more oppressive. Finally, we reached a chamber filled with ancient artifacts and dark magic symbols.

I observed every artifact in the chamber, my mind racing with possibilities. I wondered if these relics would be useful if fed to the Abyssal Devourer, a thought that made me feel a mix of curiosity and apprehension. As I turned my attention to the magic circle etched into the floor, I couldn't help but feel uneasy. Dark magic was not my forte, and I hoped Clouse wouldn't ask me to perform some intricate spell.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm not a magician, you know."

Clouse frowned at me, his expression one of irritation. "I want you to break into Kryptarium Prison and kidnap Pythor."

I looked at him in confusion, trying to make sense of his request. Why would he want Pythor? Clearing my throat, I asked, "May I know the reason before I commit a crime?"

Clouse sighed heavily, the sound filled with the weight of numerous dark intentions, as he walked over to the adjustable podium. The podium, covered in intricate carvings and symbols, held a sense of foreboding. Clouse picked up a worn, ancient spell book, its cover adorned with glyphs and runes that seemed to pulsate with a dark energy. I stared at it, my curiosity piqued. This must be the book that is intended to be used for the spell.

"We need a true Anacondrai to complete a spell of mine and make it permanent," he explained, his voice calm but filled with an underlying urgency. "I want you to kidnap Pythor so I can use him in the ritual, and to prove if you are truly qualified for our cause."

I nodded, processing the information. Kidnapping Pythor would be a challenge, but not an insurmountable one. I had already broken out of Krytarium Prison once, and this time, I had my abilities fully at my disposal. It wouldn't be so hard.

"I understand," I replied, my mind already formulating a plan. "I'll get it done."

Clouse eyes narrowed, scrutinizing me as if assessing my worth. "Good. Make sure you don't fail. Pythor is crucial for the spell. Without him, everything we've planned falls apart."

I gave a curt nod, acknowledging Clouse's instructions, but my mind was already plotting the next move. I should start making my way to Ninjago City to execute the task, but first, I wanted something in return for completing it. I stepped closer to Clouse, grabbing his shirt and pulling him towards me until our faces were inches apart.

"If I do this, then I want you to do one thing for me," I demanded, my voice low and firm. "I want to add one final challenge for the eliminated contestants."

Clouse's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he didn't pull away. I leaned in and whispered the details of my plans in his ear. This idea came to me when I realized that Master Chen had skipped a challenge that I found boring and annoying in my past life. It was called Deadly Riddle, where contestants had to answer difficult riddles or face deadly consequences. I hated that challenge, but it felt wrong to complete the tournament with only five challenges. So, I devised a challenge that would benefit me and bring some twisted satisfaction.

"You are quite evil for a Garmadon," Clouse remarked with a smirk as he pulled back. "What an interesting idea."

I gave him a nonchalant shrug before turning on my heel to leave. "I know. Make sure it happens."

As I walked away from Clouse and the dimly chamber, I felt a wave of revulsion wash over me. I needed to take a shower, the dark magic and the ominous atmosphere of that room made me feel filthy.

I made my way to my quarters, the tension of the day's events slowly ebbing away. The dimly lit halls of the hideout seemed endless, filled with shadows on the stone walls that whispered secrets of their own. The flicker lights cast eerie, dancing shadows on the stone walls, giving the place an even more sinister feel. As I reached my room, I pushed the heavy wooden door open and stepped inside, closing it behind me with a sense of relief.

I slid myself to the ground, exhaustion washing over me like a relentless tide. The weight of recent events was heavy on my shoulders. I had wanted to change my fate, to rewrite the story that seemed so inevitable, but the constant interactions and emotional strain were taking their toll. I needed to fix myself. I couldn't be a good villain if I allowed myself to become mentally weak.

Suddenly, I felt a familiar weight on my lap. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a can of sardines. With a quirk flick of my fingers, I opened it and placed it on the ground beside me. Eclipse, my contestant companion, finally revealed himself and leaped off my lap to devour the sardines with a voracious appetite.

"Thank you for helping me understand my ability, Eclipse," I said, watching him eat. "Thanks to you, I beat Elijah and realized just how overpowered this ability is."

Eclipse paused his munching to glance up at me, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of pride and disdain. "Of course. How could I deny the grandson of the First Spinjitzu Master?" he replied, his voice dripping with a mixture of sarcasm and loyalty. "Besides, why would I stay with such a weak human?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at his comment, even if it stung a bit. "Well, I'm not that weak. Did you forget that I have duel abilities and an artificial ability?" I reminded him. "If you'd seen me in my prime, you wouldn't be saying that."

Eclipse snorted, a sardine tall hanging from his mouth. "But you still died by your twin, and he's a fucking weakling," he spat, his words laced with disdain. "That means you're pretty weak."

I couldn't prevent the veins from bulging out on my face, anger and frustration bubbling to the surface. "The Noah in my past life was so much stronger and better than this one," I explained, my voice tinged with bitterness. "It might be because I accidentally killed our mother and he wanted revenge, but this one doesn't have any goals."

I added, almost as an afterthought, "Besides, the only reason I died was because Noah and his friends used an ultimate technique, causing a huge large-scale attack that killed me and my comrades."

Eclipse, ever the blunt companion, muttered as he slurped up the last sardine, "Well, I guess you did a good thing by not killing your biological mother in this life."

"Yeah," I conceded, my tone softening a fraction. "But I do miss past Noah. It's a shame we won't be able to have a rivalry like before."

I stood up, feeling the weight of my responsibilities settle on my shoulders. "I've got a lot of work to do today, and it's going to be insane," I said, heading towards the shower.