Alternate title:
The False King/Dragon's Gambit
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
—————————
(3rd POV: Akira)
Akira reclined comfortably on the command center's couch within the Shift-wing, her serpentine tail gently thumping a rhythmic beat against the cushions.
Her amethyst eyes were focused intently on the vibrant screen before her, her fingers flying across the controller as she navigated the intricate melodies of Sitar Legend, a rhythm game she and Lloyd had enthusiastically played the day after their successful prank-filled morning.
Suddenly, the flow of the game stuttered, the screen freezing mid-note.
Akira's amethyst eyes narrowed slightly, a subtle twitch betraying her focus being drawn elsewhere as a small pop-up overlaid the game's interface, displaying a live exterior feed. The view was undeniably peculiar: a man wearing a traditional conical hat and carrying a large, brown mailbag pedaling a bicycle with crudely attached wings that flapped with surprising, if slightly ungainly, coordination beneath him.
"Wait up! Slow down! I have packages for Akira and Sensei Wu!" the mailman called out, his voice slightly winded as he vigorously rang the bell mounted on his handlebars.
Akira's gaze flickered a soft magenta, and as if in response to an unspoken command, the Shift-wing began to decelerate smoothly, adjusting its speed to allow the determined, if somewhat eccentric-looking, cyclist to catch up. A section of the ship's sleek hull on the port side silently shifted open, revealing an entryway for the unexpected visitor.
(Scene break)
"First, I'll stomp on his tail," Lloyd began, engaged in a friendly but earnest debate with the ninja about the most effective way to stun a Serpentine.The door slid open, and Wu walked into the kitchen, holding a small, grey box. Akira slithered in behind him, carrying a slightly smaller, identical box.
"Then when he turns, a thunderclap to his ears. Then, while he's stunned, I'll disarm him," Lloyd continued energetically, as Akira settled at his end of the table and Wu moved towards the other.
"Too late, he's already hypnotized you, and now you're under his control," Cole countered with similar enthusiasm. "Or he's already got you in a squeeze," Zane added, clenching his fist for emphasis.
"Or spit on you with his hallucinatory venom. Trust me, bad stuff," Kai said, shaking his head at the unpleasant memory.
"Ah, Uncle," Lloyd asked, slightly bewildered by the ninja's varied and alarming scenarios as Wu sat down, placing his box on the table, "what is the best way to stun a Serpentine if you don't know what kind they are?"
"Sadly, it was the Sacred Flute you four carelessly lost," Wu answered with a sigh, a hint of disappointment in his tone as he pointed out the ninja's recklessness. "Hey, no, no, no, we didn't lose it. Pythor stole it," Jay protested defensively.
"Whatever the case, without it, I fear we have nothing to effectively combat their powers," Wu continued, reaching for the tea kettle and pouring himself a cup.
"We may have prevented them from uniting in the past, but they will try again, and one day they will be stronger." He added, taking a thoughtful sip of tea.
"Don't worry, Sensei. I've almost reached my full potential," Cole began with characteristic enthusiasm. "And when I become the Green Ninja, we're not gonna need any magic flute!" He proclaimed boldly.
"You're gonna be the Green Ninja?" Kai rebutted, a sarcastic laugh escaping him. "Ha-ha-ha! Don't make me laugh."
"I thought it was decided that I was destined to become the Green Ninja," Zane stated matter-of-factly. Jay laughed, clapping a hand on Zane's shoulder. "Oh! The only thing decided about you, Zane, is that you're weird." He said, referring to Zane's often-unconventional behavior, as the ninja began to bicker amongst themselves.
Lloyd hopped up from his seat. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. What's in the box?" He walked towards Wu, his curiosity piqued.
"Your new uniforms," Wu answered with a small, somewhat weary smile.
The ninja gasped, their previous argument forgotten as excitement washed over them. "Whoa! They've got, like, armor!" Jay exclaimed, eagerly grabbing his new suit.
"I love the gold highlights," Kai said, admiring his new suit's design, picking up the neatly folded garment. "Battle claws!" Cole declared with delight. "The material feels remarkably light and breathable," Zane commented, examining the fabric of his new uniform.
Lloyd looked into the now empty box, his face falling slightly. "Oh. Nothing for me?" he asked, a hint of sadness in his voice.
Before Wu could offer an explanation, Akira spoke up, opening her package. "Here, Lloyd, I believe this is for you." She said, pulling out and unfolding a green hoodie with vibrant purple highlights, a striking golden serpent design emblazoned on the front, and the Ninjago symbol for dragon rendered in sleek silver on the back.
Lloyd's eyes glistened with pure joy as he rushed over to her, grabbing the hoodie with both hands. "Whoa! It's so cool!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. "Thanks, Akira!" He added, throwing his arms around her in a tight hug. Akira froze for a fleeting moment at the unexpected physical contact before gently returning the hug with a soft, genuine smile. "You're welcome, Lloyd."
Suddenly, the piercing wail of the ship's alarm sliced through the comfortable atmosphere of the dining room. The ninja, Wu, Lloyd, and Nya instantly reacted, a surge of urgency propelling them towards the bridge. Akira, however, moved with a more deliberate pace, pausing to retrieve a second, larger garment from the open box before following.
The bridge hummed with the low thrum of the Destiny's Bounty's engines. Cole was already at the main console, his fingers flying across the controls. "Sorry to break up the moment, boys," he announced, his voice overlaid with the urgency of the situation, "but a small faction of our slithering friends are stirring up trouble over at Mega-Monster Amusement Park." The main screen flickered to life, displaying a chaotic scene within the amusement park: serpentine figures slithering through crowds, sending panicked park-goers scattering.
Just then, Akira glided into the bridge, now adorned in a striking new outfit. A purple, tunic-like top with sharp, asymmetrical panels draped elegantly over her serpentine form. Long, slightly baggy sleeves billowed gently with her movement, and intricate gold and silver accents shimmered against the darker fabric. A bold gold dragon design coiled across the front, and a sleek black sash cinched her waist.
"Amusement park? Can I go? Can I go with you, please?" Lloyd exclaimed, his earlier disappointment instantly forgotten, replaced by unrestrained excitement. He zipped around the ninja, Wu, and Nya, his small voice filled with pleading energy. "Let me make things up! I can help!"
Wu sighed softly, a hint of regret in his voice as he looked at his nephew. "I'm sorry, nephew. You will stay here, where it's safe." Lloyd's shoulders slumped, the vibrant energy draining from him. "Ninja get all the fun," he grumbled under his breath.
Akira moved gracefully towards the dejected Lloyd, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes at her new attire. "I will take you to the amusement park later, okay?" she said softly, her amethyst eyes warm with reassurance. A spark of his previous excitement reignited in Lloyd's expression.
"What do you say, guys?" Jay chimed in, a wide, eager grin spreading across his face. "Time to try out the new merchandise?"
A short while later, the ninja emerged from the changing room, each clad in their striking new uniforms.
Zane was the first to appear, his movements fluid in the primarily white suit. The flexible material hugged his form, accentuated by the elegant gold segmented armor plates that covered his shoulders. A matching gold sash draped diagonally across his chest, adding a touch of refined protection to the otherwise minimalist design. Black gloves completed his look.
Next, Kai strode out, a vibrant flash of red. His new suit featured a high collar and a streamlined cut that spoke of agility. Like Zane, he sported segmented gold armor on his shoulders, and intricate gold patterns adorned his chest, catching the light with each movement.
Jay followed, a bolt of blue and silver. His suit, crafted from a similar flexible material, also incorporated segmented silver armor plates on his shoulders, offering a sleek and protective silhouette.
Finally, Cole's imposing figure filled the doorway. His black suit was accented with sturdy-looking gold and grey. Segmented gold armor covered his broad shoulders, and a grey sash was slung across his chest, adding a rugged touch to his powerful build.
"Well," Cole quipped, striking a pose, "Ready to rock these new threads?"
(Scene break)
With a synchronized flash of elemental light, their vehicles vanished, and the ninja landed with practiced grace on the roof of a brightly colored gift shop overlooking the amusement park. They front-flipped off the edge, landing lightly on the ground below, brandishing their weapons with practiced ease.
"Ha! Check that out. And not a scratch on me." Cole quipped, adjusting his shoulder armor as they casually walked towards the source of the commotion – a surprisingly cheerful-sounding crowd.
"Ha-ha! Ladies and gentlemen, relax, relax, we have arrived." Jay announced with a flourish of his hand as they carefully pushed through the throng of cheering onlookers, only to find a group of serpentine warriors rather ineptly tied up with thick rope, struggling ineffectively to free themselves.
"Uh, what just happened?" Kai asked, his brow furrowed in utter bewilderment.
"Oh, you totally missed it, sweetie! There were, like, these icky snakes, and then this mysterious Samurai came in and saved everyone." a woman with bright pink hair exclaimed sassily.
"He was, like, totally gorgeous," another woman sighed dreamily, clutching her chest.
"You saw his face?" Kai questioned the infatuated woman, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "No, silly! But we could totally tell," she insisted with a confident wave of her hand, as Nya approached, handing each of them a large, dripping ice cream cone.
"Nya? You're here?" Jay asked, a small amount of surprise in his tone. "Yeah, you just missed all the action. ...He just flew in, took care of business, and then... flew off." Nya explained, slightly out of breath, though the bewildered ninja were too preoccupied to notice. "It was pretty cool."
"I don't wanna be a ninja anymore! I wanna be a samurai!" a small child whined, digging their heels in as their parent dragged them past. "That Samurai is my new hero!" a man declared emphatically, walking by with a newfound admiration.
"Ha! I knew the Samurai could kick the ninja's butts!" another man commented with a smug grin.
"Ugh, who is this guy?" Kai muttered, his frustration palpable.
"Whoever he is, he's stealing our thunder," Cole added, his voice laced with equal frustration as Nya wandered off towards a brightly lit carnival game.
"And we just got these cool new ninja suits!" Jay complained, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Argh! I'm gonna say it! I hate Samurai!"
"Do I hear a hint of jealousy?" Wu asked knowingly, strolling towards the disgruntled ninja, a fluffy cloud of cotton candy in his hand. Akira and Lloyd trailed behind him, Lloyd happily licking a vibrant red lollipop and Akira calmly eating an ice cream sandwich. "Maybe this can be a lesson for you." He added sagely.
Jay groaned dramatically. "Oh. Not another lesson," he began, before quickly pivoting. "Hey, how did you all get here so fast?" he asked, placing his hands on his hips with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.
Wu, however, remained focused on his teaching moment, seemingly oblivious to Jay's question. "The lesson, is that iron sharpens iron." He said, gesturing with his cotton candy for emphasis.
"I... do not follow, sensei." Zane admitted, tilting his head slightly in confusion.
"It means," Akira interjected calmly, taking a deliberate bite of her ice cream sandwich, "that healthy competition can actually help you achieve your true potential faster, due to the inherent desire to outperform your rivals in capturing and defeating the Serpentine." Her explanation carried a surprising weight of wisdom.
Wu nodded approvingly. "Do not be jealous of this Samurai, let it inspire you." His gaze then drifted towards a brightly lit attraction. "Oh! Ferris wheel!" he gasped with childlike excitement before suddenly darting towards it, inadvertently bumping a few startled civilians out of his way in his haste.
Lloyd and Akira exchanged amused glances, a shared snort escaping them. "Come on, Lloyd," Akira said gently, extending a hand towards the young boy. "Let's go ride that roller coaster you were telling me about."
"Yes!" Lloyd exclaimed, his earlier disappointment completely forgotten as he eagerly took her hand, and they headed towards the queue for the thrilling ride.
(Scene break)
On their way towards the towering roller coaster, quite a few park-goers cast admiring glances at Akira. Several even complimented her unique appearance, mistaking her for a dedicated cosplayer or an employee fully embracing the amusement park's monster theme.
While they waited in the winding queue for the ride, Akira felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned her gaze, her amethyst eyes holding a flicker of intrigued curiosity.
"Uh, excuse me? Would it be at all possible to get a picture of you with my daughter?" a kind-faced woman with warm brown hair asked politely, gesturing towards her nine or ten-year-old daughter with bright blonde pigtails. Akira inclined her head in a gracious nod.
"Of course," Akira replied with a soft smile. She lowered her serpentine form slightly to be closer to the young girl's height, a small, playful, almost feral smile gracing her lips as the woman snapped a photo.
"Oh, thank you so much! Sorry to be a bother," the mother added apologetically. "Not at all," Akira waved off her concerns with a gentle flick of her hand.
"Harumi, say goodbye to the nice snake lady," the mother prompted. "Bye, miss snake lady!" Harumi chirped, waving enthusiastically as they moved further along the queue.
Akira turned back to Lloyd, noticing a faint but definite blush creeping up his cheeks. A mischievous smile danced on her lips. "Ooh, someone's blushing," she teased gently. "Do you like her?"
"No!" Lloyd mumbled, his gaze fixed on the approaching roller coaster cars. "We just met! She doesn't even know my name!" He grumbled, clearly flustered. "Let's just go on the roller coaster," he added, his embarrassment evident.
Akira chuckled softly, her amethyst eyes sparkling with amusement. "Læv'yn nysh. Íl'ara mæyn thol-ling," she murmured in her melodic home language, watching Lloyd's face scrunch up in confusion as he wondered at her words.
(Small montage)
A couple of hours of carefree fun at Mega-Monster Amusement Park helped to ease the earlier tension, but the respite was short-lived. An hour after their return to the Destiny's Bounty, the shrill blare of the alarm once again ripped through the ship.
"Multiple snake sightings!" Nya exclaimed, her fingers flying across the holographic console, pinpointing numerous locations. "They're everywhere!" she added, her eyes widening with concern.
(Scene break)
Zane sped across the icy plains of the Frozen Wastelands on his snowmobile, the wind whipping past his white suit. He arrived at a small igloo village, the air thick with the panicked cries of the inhabitants as serpentine slithered amongst their homes. "Huh?" He skidded to a halt, his blue eyes widening in surprise. The serpentine were already neatly bound with rope, and the imposing silhouette of the Samurai X mech loomed beside them. A synthesized laugh echoed from the mech before it powered upwards and flew away, leaving Zane standing in the frigid silence. "Metal menace! Ugh!" he muttered in frustration, kicking a nearby drift of snow.
(Scene break)
Deep within the tranquil boughs of the Forest of Tranquility, Kai stood protectively before a group of female campers, his red suit a vibrant contrast to the lush greenery as he fended off a hissing knot of serpentine. "Go, ninja, go!" the campers cheered, their voices filled with relief. Suddenly, the Samurai X mech descended from the canopy, deploying a wide net that swiftly ensnared the remaining serpentine. "Oh, Samurai! Oh!" the campers exclaimed, their admiration shifting instantly. Kai looked up at the towering mech, his jaw tight with frustration. "Ninja, go!" he yelled, spinning into a fiery vortex of Spinjitzu, rocketing towards the Samurai X mech, only for the mech to launch a second net, extinguishing his flames and capturing the bewildered fire ninja. "Hey! What's going on?!" Kai shouted, surprise and indignation lacing his tone.
(Scene break)
In a vast cavern filled with ancient stone face statues, the Samurai X mech moved with surprising agility, the blunt end of its massive sword knocking serpentine warriors aside like bowling pins. Just as the mech delivered a final blow, Cole launched himself from behind a towering statue, his black suit a shadow against the grey stone. "Now I've got you!" he declared, leaping onto the mech's left hand. "Unh! Ha-ha!" he crowed triumphantly, only for the mech's hand to detach with a powerful rocket thrust, sending Cole hurtling through the air in a comical arc before he slammed into the cavern wall with a resounding thud.
(Scene break)
Beside a lonely stretch of railroad track, Jay stood in a ridiculous ensemble: a frilly pink dress and a poorly fitting blonde wig clutched in his hands. The mournful wail of a distant train whistle grew louder. With a desperate glance down the tracks, he clumsily donned the wig and jumped onto the rails, striking a melodramatic pose. "Help! Oh, Samurai, where are you? Oh!" he shrieked, attempting a high-pitched, damsel-in-distress voice. Moments later, the Samurai X mech landed heavily on the tracks, carrying a stack of twisted train track pieces. With surprising speed, it began placing the debris, connecting them in a sharp, curved detour around the flailing blue ninja. The train roared past on the newly laid tracks, leaving Jay completely unharmed but utterly humiliated. "Ugh! Stupid Samurai!" Jay roared in unadulterated anger as the mech ascended and flew away.
(Montage end)
(Scene break)
Lloyd and Akira, the latter concealed by a simple travel cloak to avoid unwanted attention, strolled along the bustling sidewalk of Ninjago City, their destination a brightly lit arcade. As they passed a dimly lit alleyway, Akira's keen serpentine hearing picked up a hushed but urgent conversation.
"I hear he found it," a sibilant voice hissed. Intrigued, Akira's head turned, her serpentine form gliding silently back towards the alley's entrance. She cautiously peered around the corner, her amethyst eyes narrowed in curiosity. Lloyd, slightly bewildered by her sudden stop, followed suit, nearly stumbling as he leaned forward.
"And everyone is gathering again," Skales' unmistakable voice echoed from deeper within the alley, addressing a small gathering of serpentine warriors. Lloyd's eyes widened, leaning forward precariously until Akira gently but firmly tugged him closer by his hoodie.
"Impossible," a skeptical Fangpyre retorted, his fangs twitching. "The Lost City does not exist."
"Well, it isn't lost anymore, ha-ha!" Skales chuckled triumphantly. "And I hear there's gonna be a fight," he added, a glint of anticipation in his voice, before slithering further into the shadows, the other serpentine following with murmurs of excitement.
"A fight? Count me in!" the Fangpyre warrior exclaimed eagerly. Akira and Lloyd crept further into the alley, their eyes falling upon a crudely converted Fangpyre school bus. "All aboard!" Skales announced, gesturing towards the open doors. "Next stop: Ouroboros!" he declared as the serpentine began to file onto the vehicle, Skales settling into the driver's seat.
Akira noticed Lloyd beginning to step out of the alley, his attention caught by something in a nearby shop window. She glided silently towards him, her gaze following his to a costume store where a rather unconvincing fake Hypnobrai costume lay displayed on a mannequin.
Akira lowered her head, her amethyst eyes meeting his. "Are you certain about this, Lloyd?" she asked softly, her tone knowing but supportive.
He nodded resolutely, his small face determined. "Yes! I want to help fix my mistake," he exclaimed, then mumbled with a touch of childish embarrassment, "Even if it's a little... sneaky."
Akira's eyes softened with affection. She pulled him into a brief, unexpected hug, a rare gesture of comfort from her. "Okay, Vælnok. Let's do this," she said, a hint of a smile in her voice as they entered the shop and purchased the ill-fitting costume before slipping back into the alley.
Before heading towards the waiting bus, Lloyd furrowed his brow, looking up at Akira with a practical concern. "How are you going to sneak onto the bus? You don't exactly blend in with the other Serpentine," he pointed out, gesturing with his newly acquired maracas towards her impressive size and distinctive silver scales.
Akira chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. A soft purple light emanated from her chest, swirling around her like a gentle mist. Her body shimmered and contorted, her silver scales shifting and dulling as her form seamlessly morphed into that of a slender female Hypnobrai civilian, her elegant tunic and trousers dissolving into the vibrant purple light and reforming into simpler serpentine attire.
"Tada!" Akira exclaimed, striking a playful pose and giving a little rattle with her newly formed tail.
Lloyd's eyes widened in genuine amazement. "Wow!" he breathed. "I didn't know you could do that!"
"There's a great deal you don't know about me, Vælnok," she said affectionately, a warm undertone in her voice. "Okay, here's the quick plan: you're going to pretend to be my child, and I'll be the... somewhat harried mother." Akira began, thinking on her feet. "And if anyone asks for your name, it's Fang, and I'll be..." She paused, considering. "Ruby," she said with a slight, almost imperceptible hesitation.
"Fang" gave a confident thumbs-up, confirming his approval of her chosen alias, and followed "Ruby" towards the waiting bus.
Just as they stepped onto the last empty space on the crowded vehicle, Skales' voice cut through the low hiss of serpentine conversation. "Hey, you two! Hold it right there!" Lloyd instinctively flinched back with a small gasp, his hand tightening in Akira's, convinced their disguise had already failed. "Last ones in closes the door!" Skales finished with a surprisingly friendly smile.
Akira nodded smoothly, her Hypnobrai disguise holding perfectly, and reached back to close the bus doors. She and Lloyd then found two adjacent seats as the bus lurched forward, pulling out of the alley and onto the main road leading out of the city.
(Scene break)
By the time the crudely converted Fangpyre bus rattled to a halt, the sky had deepened into a star-dusted twilight over the desolate landscape. Even in the dim light, Akira could discern that much of the fabled Lost City of Ouroboros remained buried beneath shifting sands, ancient structures hinting at a grandeur long past.
"Didn't you used to live here?" Lloyd whispered, his voice hushed with a mixture of awe and apprehension as they disembarked.
Akira shook her disguised Hypnobrai head, her rattlesnake tail giving a subtle, involuntary twitch. "No. The Serpentine village I lived in before the Serpentine Wars was named in honor of the Lost City of Ouroboros. Unlike my former home, this true City of Ouroboros was once the central hub for all the Serpentine tribes, including lineages that most now believe to be extinct," she whispered back, her explanation detailed and carrying a hint of ancient knowledge. The bus doors hissed shut behind them as Skales slithered away from the vehicle, heading towards the center of a vast, sand-filled arena.
Following the other serpentine, Akira and Lloyd made their way to the tiered bleachers carved into the ancient city's edge. From their vantage point, Akira observed Skales meeting with Pythor beneath the looming, serpentine statue of the Great Devourer. Their hushed conversation, even from a distance, seemed to carry an air of scheming and veiled power.
(Author POV)
Pythor and Skales surveyed the cheering throng of serpentine tribesmen and tribeswomen, a predatory gleam in Pythor's crimson eyes. He turned his scaled head towards Skales, his voice a low, persuasive hiss. "Just do as I said, and I promise you will be my second in command..." He produced two small cotton balls, offering them to Skales. "...forever."
Skales gave a subtle bow of his hooded head as they both discreetly pushed the cotton balls into their ear canals. Skales then melted into the shadows behind the Great Devourer statue, beginning his circuitous route to the opposite end of the arena.
"I bring you together to the Lost City of Ouroboros, before the statue of our very own Great Devourer to speak of unity!" Pythor's voice boomed across the arena, amplified by the ancient stone.
"Where are the fights?" a burly Constrictai civilian bellowed, voicing the collective anticipation. "Where is the big show?" a Venomari soldier hissed from two seats away from the disguised "Fang" and "Ruby."
A wave of chanting erupted from the serpentine in the bleachers. "Slither Pit! Slither Pit! Slither Pit!" Pythor's scales rippled with barely contained fury. He vaulted over the tiered seating, landing with a thud in the sandy arena. "You want a show? You want to see a fight?" he challenged, his gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd.
"I ask for your allegiance but you will not give it." he began, his voice hardening. "So, I will take it!" he declared with sudden ferocity, splaying his arms wide before slowly, deliberately advancing towards the four serpentine generals.
"What are you saying?" Fangtom's twin heads hissed in unison, their multiple eyes narrowing. "I challenge the four tribe generals for their staffs and their allegiance. At once!" Pythor's declaration reverberated through the arena, igniting a fresh wave of excited hisses and cheers.
"I fought hard for this staff and will not give it up easily." Acidicus spat, his hood flaring as he and the other generals slithered forward to meet Pythor's challenge. Pythor, a flicker of unease in his eyes, subtly retreated.
"There's no way he can defeat the four of us at once." Skalidor hissed confidently, lunging at Pythor with a swift swing of his massive staff. Pythor, surprisingly agile, dodged the blow, spinning and lashing out with his powerful tail, slamming into Skalidor's chest and sending him stumbling backward.
Acidicus lunged, his staff aimed at Pythor's skull. Pythor ducked beneath the strike, delivering a sharp uppercut to the Venomari general's jaw before narrowly evading Fangtom's descending staff with a fluid backbend, his own tail whipping around in a counter-attack.
Fangtom sidestepped the blow, and in a coordinated assault, he, Skalidor, and Acidicus surged forward, pinning Pythor to the ground and raining blows upon him with their staffs.
In the chaos, Skales stealthily produced the gleaming Sacred Flute, sliding it across the sand towards the struggling Pythor. With a desperate grab, Pythor brought the flute to his lips and began to play its haunting melody.
(3rd POV: Akira)
Akira and Lloyd watched in stunned silence as the piercing notes of the Sacred Flute washed over the arena. Pythor used the ancient instrument not against his enemies, but against his own generals. Fangtom, Skalidor, and Acidicus clapped their hands over their ear canals, writhing in apparent agony, while Skales, with a theatrical grimace, also covered his ears, feigning the flute's debilitating effects.
"Oh. He's using the Sacred Flute against his own." Lloyd whispered, his young face etched with shock and dawning horror, his eyes wide with disbelief. Akira's amethyst gaze narrowed, a deep line of disapproval etching itself between her disguised brows. "Skhæl ør-nyn. Nokh il'thas dra-kon'ai. Ghæst." she murmured in her true tongue, her tone laced with profound disappointment and a hint of disgust.
Pythor rose to his feet, the flute still emitting its agonizing sound, as Fangtom, Skalidor, and Acidicus cried out in pain. "My ears!" Skalidor roared, his scales shimmering with distress. "It hurts!" Acidicus shrieked, clutching his head.
Pythor's crimson eyes narrowed, a cruel smile twisting his lips as Skales dramatically flung his staff down at Pythor's non-existent feet. Ceasing the flute's melody, Pythor immediately lashed out, delivering a brutal double punch to Fangtom's twin heads, knocking the multi-headed general unconscious.
He then whirled towards Acidicus, slamming the flute against the Venomari's skull before smashing his own tail into Skalidor's face, sending both dazed generals sprawling and their staffs clattering onto the sand.
With swift, predatory movements, Pythor snatched up all four fallen staffs. "Bow before your master," he hissed, his sinister smile widening. "Bow before your master, Serpentine!" he declared triumphantly, throwing the generals' staffs down with a resounding clatter.
A wave of bowing rippled through the serpentine ranks in the bleachers. However, Akira's keen eyes noted pockets of resistance, serpentine warriors and civilians alike lowering their heads with evident reluctance, their gazes flickering with resentment at Pythor's blatant treachery.
As Akira and Lloyd lowered their heads in feigned subservience, the ill-fitting headpiece of Lloyd's Hypnobrai costume slipped precariously. He instinctively reached up to secure it, but in doing so, his grip loosened on the toy maracas, which tumbled from his small hands and clattered onto the sandy arena floor.
A sudden hush fell over the assembled serpentine. "Huh?" Pythor's crimson eyes flicked upwards, his gaze sweeping across the silent crowd. "Ah!" Lloyd gasped, instinctively trying to press closer to Akira. However, the Hypnobrai soldier who had been seated beside him reacted instantly, his grip like iron as he yanked Lloyd back by his hoodie, tearing the flimsy costume completely away. "Where do you think you're going?" the soldier hissed, his serpentine eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"Lloyd?!" Pythor's voice was laced with disbelief, his shock echoing through the stunned silence.
In that instant, a primal wave of protective fury surged through Akira. Her amethyst eyes flared with a blinding, vibrant white light. A raw, untamed purple energy erupted from her chest, engulfing her disguised form as her body writhed and elongated, scales shimmering as she reverted to her magnificent, true serpentine form.
Gasps of shock and disbelief rippled through the serpentine ranks. Before anyone could react, Akira moved with lightning speed, coiling around the offending Hypnobrai soldier and slamming him against the sharp edge of the stone bleachers with a sickening thud. "Akira!" Pythor roared in utter disbelief, while the four stunned generals instinctively clutched their recovered staffs, their gazes fixed on the formidable serpentine.
Both the Hypnobrai soldier and Lloyd yelped in terror. Then, Akira's glowing white eyes began to shift, swirling with a mesmerizing, prismatic blue.
The Hypnobrai soldier began to levitate, his body outlined by an ethereal, spectral blue aura. He writhed in the air, a silent scream of shock and confusion contorting his features.
Akira's maw opened, revealing rows of sharp teeth. A tendril of that same spectral blue energy began to snake its way from the soldier's chest, drawn inexorably towards Akira's waiting jaws.
A bloodcurdling scream tore from the Hypnobrai's throat as the spectral essence was drawn from him. Simultaneously, a burly Constrictai warrior, his scales bristling with rage, charged at Akira from her left, intent on tackling her to the ground.
With a casual flick of her hand, Akira slammed the Constrictai across the face, the force of the blow sending him staggering. Her left hand, now free, shot out and clamped around his right arm. A sickly, rusty reddish-green glow began to emanate from her palm – the elemental power of Decay, a force unknown even to Wu and Garmadon.
Both the Hypnobrai soldier, suspended in the spectral blue light, and the Constrictai warrior gasped in horror as their scales touched by Akira's power began to turn a deathly white. The Hypnobrai's vibrant yellow patterns inverted into a nauseating purple, while jagged cracks spiderwebbed across the Constrictai's arm, the flesh beneath visibly crumbling.
Akira's left arm twitched violently. With a sickening squelch and tear, she ripped the Constrictai's right arm clean off at the shoulder. The severed limb flopped onto the sand, spraying a gruesome mist of blood across the horrified serpentine, several of whom recoiled, their stomachs churning.
The spectral blue energy continued to stream into Akira's open maw. Finally, a small, intensely bright yellowish orb – the very essence of the Hypnobrai – detached from his lifeless form and flew into Akira's jaws. Her teeth snapped shut around it, and for a fleeting moment, the lines between her own silver scales pulsed with a golden light before fading back to their natural sheen. All the while, Lloyd stood frozen in terror behind her, shielded by the protective embrace of her tail.
Then, with a flash of silver light, two magnificent, silver dragon wings unfurled from Akira's back, their edges catching the dim light of the arena. But the majestic display was cut short as she heard Lloyd's piercing scream, a sound that sliced through her triumph and sent a jolt of icy dread through her. His small hands clutched at her tail, his grip tight and trembling.
Lloyd's eyes were wide with pure, unadulterated fear, and that fear, Akira realized with a sickening lurch in her chest, was directed at her. Her eyes, which had been glowing with prismatic power, flickered back to their original amethyst hue, now clouded with a deep and profound sorrow.
A wave of guilt and self-loathing washed over her. She immediately tightened her protective coil around him, drawing him closer to her chest in a desperate attempt to offer comfort and reassurance. Her newly emerged wings wrapped around him, forming a fragile shield against the horrified gazes of the surrounding serpentine.
"I'm so sorry, Lloyd," Akira whispered, her voice thick with remorse. "Please... please don't be afraid of me." Her eyes squeezed shut, and a few stray tears escaped, tracing glistening paths down her scaled cheeks. The weight of her actions, the brutal display of her power, and the terror it had instilled in the one she sought to protect crashed down upon her.
Pythor, meanwhile, stared down at the empty husk that had once been the Hypnobrai soldier. Acidicus slithered forward, his hood drooping slightly as he checked for any sign of life, before shaking his head grimly. "He's dead," he stated, his voice carrying a note of unexpected mournfulness.
Pythor growled, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Throw them both into a cell. And hurry it up!" he commanded, his gaze flicking between Lloyd and the distraught Akira. "And make absolutely certain that the walls are lined with Vengestone!" he added with a malevolent glint, before turning and slithering away, leaving Akira and Lloyd to their grim fate.
(Scene break)
(Lloyd POV)
I was still trembling, wrapped securely in Akira's tight embrace, when the serpentine roughly shoved us into a cold, damp cell. The walls were covered in a strange, dull grey stone that seemed to hum with a faint, unsettling energy. Even as the heavy door clanged shut, I could still hear Akira's soft, whispered apologies for scaring me, her voice laced with genuine regret.
Slowly, painstakingly, the tremors in my small body began to subside. Twenty, maybe thirty minutes crawled by in the oppressive silence of the cell. I could feel Akira's breathing deepen, the tension gradually leaving her coiled form as she, too, began to regain a measure of composure. Finally, she gently unwrapped her massive tail and unfolded her magnificent wings, the silver scales and swirling vortex patterns now still and subdued.
She lowered her head, her amethyst eyes, still rimmed with the redness of dried tears, fixed on me. "I'm so sorry for scaring you, Vælnok," she repeated, her voice raw with honesty.
I took a deep, shaky breath, the air in the cell thick with the lingering scent of ozone and something else... something metallic and faintly unsettling. "It's... okay," I managed, my voice still a little wobbly. "What... what was that?" I asked, my gaze flicking around the cell.
Akira's gaze darted around the cell, a flicker of nervousness in her eyes before she inhaled deeply. "What I used against the Constrictai warrior... that was the elemental power of Decay. One of the... darker elemental powers," she answered grimly, the words hanging heavy in the air. "I am truly sorry you had to witness that." She gently reached out a clawed hand, her touch surprisingly soft as she wiped a stray tear from my cheek.
I sniffled, trying to push down the lingering fear. "What about... the thing you did to the Hypnobrai? Was that... an elemental power too?" She shook her head slowly. "Technically... no, but also... yes. The ability to devour a soul is usually associated with the elemental power of Chaos, or a dragon of Chaos," she explained, her voice low and thoughtful. "And as you remember... I am a dragon." She added, a hint of a sad smile touching her lips.
My gaze drifted to her wings. They were breathtakingly beautiful, even in the dim light of the cell. The primary silver was accented by a vibrant vortex design on the inner span, a swirling tapestry of almost glowing gold and deep, shimmering purple. The gold seemed solid and substantial, while the purple appeared like a constantly shifting mist, coiling and unfurling around the golden patterns.
"I... I like your wings," I blurted out, the words feeling clumsy and inadequate, but offered in a desperate attempt to distract us both from the horrific events we had just witnessed. "You... you should keep them out."
"Okay, I will," Akira whispered, a small, grateful smile gracing her lips as she gently massaged my head with her snout.
A sudden thought struck her, her gaze becoming intense. "Lloyd... do you... want to see your father?"
My head snapped up, my eyes wide with surprise. "Dad? Yes! Yes, I do want to see him more than anything," I exclaimed, the fear momentarily forgotten. "But... Uncle Wu said that he left through a portal, to go somewhere... to get strong enough to use all four Golden Weapons," I added, a familiar pang of sorrow hitting me.
"There is a way... to get him to come to you," she said softly, her amethyst eyes filled with a knowing sadness. Hope surged within me, bright and unexpected. "Really? How?" I asked breathlessly.
"We... we would have to remain in the Serpentine's captivity. Once the ninja inevitably fail to rescue us – and I have no doubt that Pythor is planning to use us as bait to lure them into a trap – Wu will most certainly look for, and retrieve your father. Because... no matter how much darkness the Great Devourer's venom has forced upon him... he will always love you," she explained, her voice filled with a quiet certainty. "As do I, Vælnok." She added, gently pushing her forehead against mine, the cool touch of her scales surprisingly comforting.
"Now... get some rest, little one. I will watch over you," Akira murmured, shifting her massive form to lie against the cold stone wall, carefully positioning her tail so that it formed a soft, cushioned bed for me.
"What does 'Vælnok' mean?" I asked sleepily, mispronouncing the word, snuggling down onto her tail and resting my head against her warm, surprisingly soft underbelly. She smiled down at me, a genuine warmth radiating from her. "It means... hatchling."
Just as I was drifting off, another question surfaced in my mind. "Akira... what kind of dragon are you?"
She tilted her head slightly, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "In terms of titles, to other dragons of the First Realm, I am known as either the Arc Dragon of Power or the Arc Dragon of Balance, whichever they prefer. The latter title arose because of the unique nature of my abilities," she answered with a soft chuckle.
"The... type of dragon I am... is a bit complicated," she began, her voice becoming more serious. "I am... both Dragon and Oni. The dragons are creatures of creation, of balance. While the Oni... they are beings of destruction, of pure chaos. Being a hybrid of the two... it is one of the primary reasons I was called the Arc Dragon of Balance. Though... I am mainly recognized as the Arc Dragon of Power." I looked up at her, my young mind trying to grasp the enormity of what she was telling me.
"But... you must not tell anyone about me being part Oni. Not yet," she added, gently placing a clawed finger over her lips, her gaze intense. I nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of her secret. "I... I don't care if you tell the ninja I'm a dragon, I suppose that would have come out sooner or later anyway." A yawn escaped me, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up. In response, Akira carefully spread her magnificent wings over me, enveloping me in a comforting warmth that emanated from within their very scales, and I finally succumbed to sleep.
(Scene break)
(3rd POV: Akira)
The passing of time within the Vengestone cell was marked only by the changing of the guards, each shift bringing a different serpentine face to their prison. First came a Venomari, his gaze distant and disinterested. Then a Fangpyre, whose nervous energy was palpable. Another Venomari followed, his movements slow and deliberate. Akira observed them all with a detached curiosity, her keen senses picking up on subtle cues that escaped the notice of others. She noted the Constrictai guard's barely perceptible discomfort, a slight shifting of his weight, a tightness in his scales. The Hypnobrai guard was even more restless, his movements jerky and his eyes darting around the cell as if searching for an escape.
As the oppressive darkness of night began to yield to the first faint glimmer of dawn, a stirring within the cell broke the heavy silence.
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the corridor, growing louder until a pink female Hypnobrai civilian appeared in the doorway. In her hands, she carried a simple tray laden with food. Without a word, she slid through the narrow opening and approached Akira, her red, hypnotic eyes fixed on the dragon. "You need to eat," she said softly, her voice hesitant.
Akira hummed in response, her gaze narrowing as she inspected the offering. Satisfied that it posed no immediate threat, she used a clawed hand to pull the tray closer, leaving it untouched beside her.
She noticed the Hypnobrai shifting awkwardly from foot to foot, her gaze flickering nervously between Akira and the sleeping Lloyd. "Ask your question, Hypnobrai," Akira said, her voice a low, monotonous rumble.
The Hypnobrai seemed to startle, her red eyes widening slightly. "Well... first, my name is Selma," she began, her voice gaining a measure of confidence. "And... I would like to know... are the stories true? That during the war, you fought most of the Elemental Masters and the Spinjitzu brothers... and won?" A hint of wonder crept into her voice, her eyes sparkling with a strange mixture of fear and admiration.
Akira raised a brow, her expression unreadable. "Yes," she answered shortly, her gaze unwavering.
Selma knelt, her posture less formal now, her curiosity clearly outweighing her apprehension. "What about that red tornado thing you did at the gathering? What was that?" she asked, tilting her head inquisitively.
"You were there?" Akira asked, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. Selma nodded eagerly. "It is a forbidden and advanced form of Spinjitzu," Akira explained, her voice softening slightly.
Selma's eyes widened, her scales seeming to shimmer with excitement. "You can do Spinjitzu?" Akira nodded, a hint of amusement touching her lips. Then, she turned the question back on Selma. "Why are you so... interested in me?"
Selma rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, a faint blush rising on her scales. "I was one of the few Hypnobrai who lived in New Ouroboros. I've heard so many stories of your battles," she answered, her voice filled with a strange reverence. "Before... before being placed with the other Hypnobrai when we were entombed."
Before Akira could respond, a soft groan broke the silence. Lloyd stirred, his small body stretching as he slowly woke. "Good morning, Akira," he mumbled sleepily, his eyes still half-closed.
A visible change washed over Akira's features. Her body relaxed, the tension melting away as her eyes softened with affection. "Good morning, Lloyd," she replied, her voice a gentle caress.
"Aw, how adorable," Selma commented, a wistful smile gracing her lips as she watched the interaction between the dragon and the boy. "I've always wondered what it'd be like... to be a mother."
"If you're not going to eat the food, Lady Akira, give it to Lloyd," Selma said softly, gesturing towards the untouched tray. Lloyd's gaze followed her gesture, his eyes widening cautiously as he stared at the unfamiliar food. "Don't worry, it's not poisoned. I wouldn't do that to a youngling," she added, waving her hand dismissively. Akira nodded in confirmation, her gaze lingering on Lloyd with a protective warmth.
With a hesitant glance at Akira, Lloyd reached for the food, mumbling a soft "thanks" as he began to eat.
The quiet of the Vengestone cell was shattered as Pythor slithered into the room, a sly smile playing on his lips. He placed a casual hand on Selma's shoulder, causing her to flinch uncomfortably. "I'm sorry to interrupt, my dear Selma, but you're needed elsewhere." Selma nodded quickly, relief evident in her red eyes as she hurried out of the cell.
Pythor turned his attention fully to Akira, his crimson eyes gleaming with a devious amusement. "So," he began, his British accent smooth and menacing, his hands clasped behind his back as he paced slowly around the cell. "The great Anacondrai princess, daughter of Arcturus, the first known Serpentine elemental master... is not a Serpentine at all, but rather... a dragon. How... remarkably intriguing."
Akira slowly rose to her full height, her serpentine tail coiling gracefully beneath her. She had to lower her head slightly to meet Pythor's gaze, her amethyst eyes filled with a mixture of disinterest and profound disappointment.
Pythor huffed, clearly irritated by Akira's lack of reaction. "I'm sure you're already aware of my intentions to use you and the boy as bait for the ninja," he stated matter-of-factly, his gaze flicking dismissively towards Lloyd, who instinctively moved to stand protectively behind Akira.
"And?" Akira asked, raising a single, elegant brow.
Pythor's crimson eyes narrowed slightly. "You, my dear, are going to fight them." His tone brooked no argument.
A low chuckle rumbled in Akira's chest, gradually escalating into full-blown laughter that echoed off the Vengestone walls. Lloyd looked up at her, a flicker of confusion in his eyes, while Pythor stared, momentarily taken aback by her unexpected reaction.
"You... you truly believe that I will listen to you?" she said between peals of laughter, the sound laced with genuine amusement.
She slowly regained her composure, a mischievous grin now playing on her lips as she observed Pythor's increasingly frustrated expression. "Okay, humor me. Just how are you planning to get me to fight the ninja?"
Pythor slithered closer to the bars of the cell, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "You are surrounded by Vengestone. If you even attempt an escape, I will—"
He was abruptly cut off as he was yanked against the cold, grey stone of the cell bars. Akira's right hand, held inches from his face, glowed with a soft, transparent purple light – the unmistakable aura of her gravitational power. A look of shock and a flicker of genuine fear crossed Pythor's features as he strained against the invisible force.
"Unlike elemental masters, Vengestone only dampens my powers, it does not nullify them entirely," Akira said, her voice dangerously soft, a sadistic smile now curving her lips. "I am a dragon, and my connection to my elemental forces runs far deeper."
After a tense moment, she released him with a flick of her wrist, sending him stumbling back slightly. "Alright, fine. I will fight the ninja. But if you harbor any illusions that I will kill them... you are sorely mistaken." Her amusement was palpable as Pythor finally turned and slithered away, his annoyance radiating from his every movement.
A beat of silence hung in the air before Akira erupted into another fit of giggles, the sound infectious. Lloyd, still slightly bewildered by the earlier display of power, began to shake with laughter as well.
"Oh! Did you see his face?" Akira gasped between giggles.
"Yeah," Lloyd choked out, tears forming in his eyes. "He looked really... scared of you!"
"He had better be," Akira added, her gaze softening as she turned to Lloyd, a genuine, heartwarming smile gracing her features. She gently ruffled his hair with a clawed hand.
After a while, their laughter subsided, leaving a comfortable warmth in the cell. "Alright, finish your food, little one," Akira urged gently, nodding towards the untouched tray. "No doubt he'll be back to take us to his little arena soon." Lloyd nodded, his earlier apprehension now replaced by a quiet confidence, and resumed eating.
(Scene break)
About an hour later, Akira was led to a designated seating area for competitors beneath one of the ancient bleachers. Meanwhile, Lloyd was placed in a small, ornate circular cage that hung precariously low to the ground from one of the towering pillars of the Great Devourer's statue.
Akira watched with a detached interest as the ninja, having somehow managed to enter the arena, made a dash from one side towards the statue. Their attempt at a swift rescue was abruptly thwarted as a large, rusty cage suddenly dropped from above, trapping them in a tangled heap. Their weapons clattered to the sandy floor just outside the bars as the ninja groaned in surprise and pain.
The serpentine in the bleachers gasped, a wave of excited hisses rippling through the crowd. "The ninja!" Lloyd exclaimed, his voice a mixture of surprise and concern.
The dazed ninja slowly began to untangle themselves as Pythor slithered towards their prison, a wide, sinister smile spreading across his face. "Looks like we've caught the main event," he chuckled darkly as several serpentine warriors began to roughly push the cage towards the center of the arena.
(Scene break)
After being forcibly removed from their cage, the ninja found themselves surrounded by a formidable contingent of serpentine warriors and soldiers. Helpless, they could only watch as their Golden Weapons were laid on the small staircase leading up to the Great Devourer's statue, while their guards brandished sharp swords.
"Main event? What do you think he meant by 'main event'?" Jay asked, his voice laced with worry.
"I have a feeling we're the main event," Kai replied grimly, his gaze fixed on the two ominous gates beneath the bleachers as the serpentine crowd roared with impatient anticipation.
"Or the main course," Cole added with a visible shudder.
"Kai... you may be right," Zane began, his analytical mind already assessing their dire situation. "Things may very well come to an end today."
"Uh, don't worry. The Samurai could still come around to save us." Jay exclaimed, clinging to a fragile thread of hope.
"You say you wanted a battle, and I give you one!" Pythor's voice echoed across the arena, amplified by the ancient acoustics beneath the statue. "I give you... ninja versus samurai!" A fresh wave of deafening cheers erupted from the serpentine ranks as the distinct whirring and clanking of the Samurai X mech powering up filled the air.
The gate beneath one of the bleachers creaked open, and Samurai X emerged in their imposing mech, its arms initially bound by heavy chains. A group of young, clearly inexperienced serpentine warriors hastily detached the chains before scrambling back to safety.
"What?! We have to fight the Samurai?!" Jay sputtered, his words tumbling over each other in disbelief. "But we don't even have our Golden Weapons a-and he has that hulking thing of armor. It's... it's not fair!" he complained vehemently.
"I want to see once and for all, who is the greatest hero!" Pythor declared, his crimson eyes gleaming with cruel anticipation. "Is it samurai or ninja? Only the victor will be allowed to leave."
The ninja and Samurai X engaged in a tense dance of combat. The ninja, disarmed and outmatched, primarily focused on agile evasions, narrowly dodging the massive swings of the Samurai's sword. The serpentine crowd roared its approval with every near miss.
After a prolonged period of defensive maneuvers, Skales, positioned strategically beside Pythor, casually flicked a lever to his right. The second gate beneath the bleachers shuddered open. "And now," Pythor announced with a sinister grin, his voice dripping with anticipation, "let us witness the real spectacle you've all come to see!"
Akira slithered through the newly opened gate, her majestic serpentine form now fully visible. The ninja stared in stunned disbelief at her sudden appearance. "Akira?! Why are you fighting us? And... since when did you have wings?!" Jay stammered, his eyes wide with shock. Akira remained silent, her amethyst gaze fixed on them before unleashing a series of low-powered shockwave blasts that Jay barely managed to evade.
"It stands to reason—whoa!" Zane interjected, narrowly avoiding a shockwave. "That Pythor is using Lloyd as leverage, blackmailing her into fighting us!"
Samurai X swung their massive sword, and with astonishing speed, Akira casually caught the blade in her hand. A surge of multi-colored energy – a vibrant fusion of blue, green, and yellow: the elemental power of Fusion – crackled around the weapon as she yanked it out of the mech's grip and slammed it into the sandy ground. The sword remained firmly embedded, the fusion energy anchoring it in place as Samurai X fruitlessly attempted to pull it free.
Kai, seizing an opportunity, swooped in from behind, aiming a powerful kick at Akira's head. With lightning-fast reflexes, she caught his leg and effortlessly flung him into Jay.
Cole charged forward, attempting a powerful strike, only to be casually swatted away by a swift flick of Akira's massive wing. Before he could recover, Akira's tail snaked out, ensnaring Zane – who had positioned himself above her – by his legs. She yanked him down with brutal force, slamming him onto the ground before dragging him across the sand and launching him towards the struggling Samurai X mech.
The battered ninja quickly regrouped. Zane, his gaze sweeping over his equally bruised teammates, made a desperate suggestion. "Tornado of Creation?" The other three nodded in grim agreement.
"Earth!"
"Fire!"
"Ice!"
"Lightning!"
They roared in unison, launching into a chaotic burst of Spinjitzu. "Ninja, go!" Their individual elemental tornadoes merged, coalescing into a colossal vortex of swirling gold, crackling with the raw power of creation and the four fundamental elements: fire, ice, earth, and lightning. The towering tornado ripped through the arena, pulling in loose stones, discarded weapons, chains, and even the snacks that the serpentine in the bleachers had been enjoying.
Samurai X struggled to maintain control of their mech as the powerful vortex threatened to pull them in. Akira, however, remained rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on the unprecedented display of advanced Spinjitzu. She subtly turned her head, noticing the Golden Weapons on the staircase of the statue pulsing with a faint golden light in response to the immense creative energy.
The Tornado of Creation gradually shrunk in size before dissipating entirely, revealing a massive, makeshift slingshot constructed from the debris it had gathered. With a coordinated effort, the ninja pulled back the thick, makeshift sling cord that held a large, spiked ball before releasing it with a powerful thwack. The projectile hurtled towards Samurai X, striking the mech with a resounding crash that sent it careening into the base of the Great Devourer statue.
The ninja immediately surged towards Skales and Pythor, intent on pressing their assumed advantage. Skales, witnessing their renewed assault, backed away nervously as Pythor calmly pulled a lever to his left. Razor-sharp spikes erupted from the edge of the arena floor, forming an impassable barrier between the ninja and their target.
"Argh! Why can't anyone just play fair?!" Jay exclaimed, his frustration boiling over.
Pythor merely smiled maliciously and yanked the lever down further. The entire arena floor began to tilt upwards at a precarious eighty-degree angle, revealing a seemingly bottomless, shadowy pit below. With horrified cries, the ninja and the pilot of Samurai X slid downwards, desperately grabbing onto the newly emerged spikes to avoid a fatal fall. "Can this get any worse?!" Cole grunted, his knuckles white as he clung to the sharp protrusions.
Akira, her serpentine body now outlined by a vivid purple aura – the unmistakable signature of her gravitational power – effortlessly slithered up the impossibly steep incline to the now-highest point of the arena. With a deliberate and powerful slam of her tail against the tilted surface, the arena floor shimmered with the same vivid purple energy. The impossible angle seemed to right itself, allowing the clinging ninja and Samurai X to stand upright as if on level ground.
"This feels... weird," Kai commented, his footing suddenly secure on the previously treacherous slope.
"She is somehow manipulating the gravity of the platform," Zane analyzed, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and understanding. "Allowing us to stand on it as if we were on normal ground."
"We must continue to make it appear as though we are fighting for real," Samurai X's synthesized voice whispered urgently to the ninja.
"Huh? We not fighting for real?" Jay asked, utterly bewildered.
Akira, her keen hearing picking up their hushed exchange, remained still, observing their interaction with an unreadable expression.
"Keep up the charade... and hold onto my exo-suit," Samurai X added. The ninja quickly clambered onto the damaged mech as it began to rise into the air. However, the strained sputtering of an engine struggling under excessive weight could be heard, and the mech failed to gain significant altitude.
"There's too much weight!" Kai exclaimed, realizing the mech's limitations. With a mechanical hiss, Samurai X pressed a control within the cockpit, and the mech's chest plate sprang open, allowing them to leap out and land back onto the now-leveled arena floor just as the damaged mech sputtered and flew erratically away from Ouroboros.
Samurai X lunged towards Pythor, but the serpentine leader was lightning-fast, snatching Lloyd from his cage in a swift motion. "Get him!" Pythor shrieked, and a wave of serpentine warriors surged forward.
"Stand the fuck down!" Akira's voice ripped through the arena, a raw command that echoed off the ancient stones. A ripple of confusion and fear spread through the charging serpentine. Some skidded to a halt, their hisses dying in their throats, while others hesitated, their eyes darting between Pythor and the imposing dragon.
Pythor's triumphant grin faltered, his crimson eyes widening in disbelief at Akira's sudden, absolute command. A flicker of something akin to fear briefly crossed his scaled face. The Golden Weapons, as if drawn by an invisible force, surged towards Akira. They spun around her in a majestic dance, their golden surfaces radiating power, making her the incandescent center of their orbit.
As Akira glided slowly towards Samurai X, the Golden Weapons hovered between them, a silent offering. With swift, practiced movements, Nya secured the weapons in a specialized bag.
Just as Nya's jetpack began to whir to life, Akira's clawed hand clamped onto her arm. Her amethyst eyes, softened with a knowing look, met Nya's hidden gaze. "I suggest that you be more careful when dealing with the serpentine alone... Nya," Akira murmured, her voice a low, conspiratorial whisper. Behind the goggles, Nya's breath hitched. "H-how did you—"
"I have a very strong sense of smell, Væl-ara," Akira purred, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she pulled Nya into a swirling vortex of silver Spinjitzu. The serpentine crowd gasped in stunned silence, Pythor and the generals frozen in shock, while Selma watched with wide-eyed wonder.
With a final surge of power, Akira launched Nya into the air, remnants of silver Spinjitzu energy spiraling around her as her jetpack roared to life, carrying her away from the chaos of Ouroboros.
"What do you think you're doing! Why did you let him get away?" Pythor hissed, his voice laced with disbelief and fury, the sound echoing off the stone walls. He released Lloyd, his crimson eyes burning with accusation as he slithered towards Akira.
Akira's amethyst eyes narrowed, the round pupils shrinking to sharp, vertical slits that glowed with an inner intensity as she fixed her gaze on Pythor. A low hiss escaped her, a sound that promised retribution. As she began to glide forward, a visible tremor ran through Pythor's scales, and he recoiled, backing away with a strangled sound.
A brilliant white outline flared around Akira's serpentine form, a visible manifestation of her elemental Speed. One moment she was gliding forward, the next she was a blur, appearing before Pythor as if the very air had shifted.
Pythor yelped, a sound of pure terror, his scales rippling as he scrambled backward. Akira's powerful hand shot out, her claws digging slightly into the scales of Pythor's long neck. She hauled him closer, forcing his wide, fearful eyes to lock with hers, a low, dominant growl rumbling in her chest.
She released him with a disdainful shove. Lloyd, his small hand trembling slightly, walked to Akira's side, his fingers lacing with hers. "You think that you can control me, but you are mistaken," Akira stated, her voice resonating with a deep conviction. "You may bear the blood of the Anacondrai, but I carry the spirit of our ancestors within me, dragon or not."
Selma's red eyes widened with admiration, a small, hopeful smile gracing her lips as she and a few other brave serpentine stepped forward, their gazes fixed on Akira with newfound respect.
Akira turned to them, her devious smile softening into genuine kindness. "Selma, if it is not too much to ask, could you please prepare a room for Lloyd and I?" Selma and her friends nodded eagerly, their movements swift as they hurried to fulfill her request.
Akira looked back at Pythor, her toothy smile sharp and knowing. "It simply illustrates, Pythor, that true leadership isn't about force, it's about earning respect." With a final, dismissive glance at the fallen leader, she slithered away, Lloyd's small hand clasped securely in hers.
———————
Every time I say that a chapter might be shorter than the last, it ends up being longer.
The ending of this chapter was very different but I felt that this was better due to the "original" ending being thought of when I was listening to epic music.
Please let me know how you like it.