Outbreak: Ninjago's Dark Dawn

Chapter 16: Victory at What Cost?

The battlefield lay still.

The sun, weak and barely rising over the horizon, cast a haunting glow across the ruins of Ninjago City. Smoke continued to billow from destroyed buildings, and the ground was littered with the remains of a brutal war. The only sound now was the wind, whispering through the cracks in the earth and the crumbling ruins.

Lloyd stood in the center of it all, breathing heavily. His sword hung limply at his side, his body shaking from exhaustion and the emotional toll of the battle. Nekros was gone—defeated, dissolved into nothingness—but the victory felt hollow.

They had won, but at what cost?

Lloyd's eyes scanned the battlefield, seeing the faces of his teammates. Jay, Nya, Kai, and Zane were all nearby, worn but still standing. Their faces reflected the same disbelief, the same lingering shock. They had fought valiantly, but the weight of their losses pressed on their souls.

Then his gaze fell on Cole.

Cole, who had sacrificed everything to help them win. His body was twisted, pale, and cold to the touch, lying motionless on the ground. He had used too much of his power, pushed himself far beyond his limits to fight alongside his friends. And now, he was paying the price.

Kai knelt beside him, a look of sheer panic in his eyes. He shook Cole gently, his voice strained. "Come on, Cole. Wake up. We're not done yet. You're not done."

But Cole didn't respond. His chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, his pulse weak. He hovered somewhere between life and death, clinging to the last threads of consciousness.

Lloyd approached, his heart heavy with dread. "He saved us," Lloyd whispered, his voice hoarse from the battle. "But at what cost?"

Kai's fists clenched, his knuckles white. "We have to do something," he said, his voice laced with desperation. "We can't let him... we can't lose him."

The rest of the ninjas gathered around, their expressions a mix of fear and helplessness. Zane's sensors scanned Cole, his icy blue eyes flickering with calculation, but even he was silent, unsure of what to say. They had won the battle, but now, they faced an even more daunting task—saving their friend from the brink of death.

But that wasn't the only problem.

Despite Nekros's defeat, the zombies had not vanished. Instead, they had retreated, scattering into the distance as if afraid. The hordes of undead still lurked in the shadows, a lingering threat. Though Nekros had controlled them, he was not the sole reason for their existence.

"The dead never truly die," Zane muttered, his voice devoid of emotion. "They remain, even without their master."

Lloyd's stomach twisted. The thought had occurred to him as well. They had been so focused on defeating Nekros, but even his death hadn't ended the nightmare. The zombies were still out there—waiting, watching, a constant reminder that their fight wasn't truly over.

Jay kicked a loose piece of rubble in frustration. "So, what now? We beat the big bad, but the zombies are still running around. What's the point?"

Nya placed a hand on Jay's shoulder, her own expression somber. "We'll figure something out. We have to."

It was Zane who finally broke the silence, his voice steady and calculating. "We need an antidote," he said, his eyes locked on Cole's frail form. "Cole's condition is proof that the parasitic infection can be resisted—at least partially. If we can harness that, we might be able to create a cure."

Kai's head snapped up, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "You think we can save him?"

Zane nodded, his expression firm. "There's a chance. But we'll need time."