Outbreak: Ninjago's Dark Dawn

Chapter 17: The Ultimate Sacrifice

The air inside the small bunker felt thick, heavy with worry and uncertainty. The dim light flickered, casting long shadows over the exhausted faces of the ninjas as they gathered around Zane's still form. His usually bright eyes remained dim, his body unmoving since the antidote had been administered to Cole. Zane had given everything, and now, he was caught in a silent battle for his own survival.

"Why won't he wake up?" Jay muttered, pacing back and forth, his face pale with fear. "Zane's never like this. He always bounces back."

Kai sat near Cole, who was slowly regaining some color, but still looked fragile—alive, yet not entirely himself. "At least Cole's getting better," Kai said quietly, his eyes flicking between Zane and Cole. "But this... this doesn't make sense."

Nya knelt beside Zane, her hands hovering over him as if she could somehow will him back to life. "It's like he sacrificed part of himself to save Cole," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "But why isn't he recovering?"

Lloyd stood at the back of the room, silent, watching everything unfold. His friends were in chaos—Cole, half-dead but alive; Zane, barely clinging to existence. They had survived the battles, they had defeated Nekros, but victory had come at an unimaginable cost. Ninjago was still in ruins, the zombies still roamed, and his team... his family was falling apart.

Garmadon lingered in the shadows, his presence felt more than seen. He had been unusually quiet since Zane's collapse, his dark eyes watching Lloyd carefully. There was something on his mind—something he had been holding back.

And Lloyd knew it.

Later that night, when the others had fallen into restless sleep, Lloyd slipped outside into the quiet of the ruined city. The cold night air hit his skin, but it barely registered. His mind was spinning, unable to find peace. The weight of everything—the destruction, the loss, the uncertainty of their future—pressed down on him like a boulder.

He heard footsteps behind him.

"Father," Lloyd said without turning around. "You've been watching me. What is it?"

Garmadon stepped forward, his voice low and rough. "I didn't want to say anything in front of the others. Not yet."

Lloyd turned to face him, his eyes narrowing. "What are you hiding?"

Garmadon's face was unreadable, his eyes dark with an emotion Lloyd couldn't quite place. "The parasitic infection... It's more than just a virus or a plague. It's tied to something deeper, something ancient." He paused, glancing toward the bunker where the others slept. "I've seen this before, long ago."

Lloyd's stomach twisted. "You've seen it? What do you mean?"

Garmadon sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly, as though the weight of his knowledge was too heavy to bear. "The essence of the parasite isn't just about death or reanimation. It feeds on energy—on life force. The antidote Zane created was effective because it transferred part of his own energy into Cole, enough to stave off the infection. But it wasn't enough."

Lloyd's eyes widened in realization. "That's why Zane collapsed. He gave too much."

Garmadon nodded grimly. "Yes. But there is a way to stop this plague, to save Ninjago... for good."

Lloyd's heart raced, a flicker of hope sparking in his chest. "How?"

For a long moment, Garmadon didn't answer, his gaze distant. When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy with reluctance. "There is a ritual—an ancient sacrifice. One life... one soul, given willingly, could release enough energy to eradicate the parasite entirely. But the cost—"

Lloyd felt the world tilt beneath him. He knew what Garmadon was about to say, and his blood ran cold.

"The cost is death, isn't it?" Lloyd's voice was barely a whisper.

Garmadon nodded, his expression grim. "Yes. But not just anyone can perform the ritual. It has to be someone with a powerful connection to Ninjago, someone whose energy is tied to the balance of this world."

Lloyd's throat tightened. "Me."

Garmadon's eyes flicked up, meeting Lloyd's gaze. There was pain there—genuine, raw pain. "Lloyd... I didn't want to tell you. You've already sacrificed so much. I don't want to lose you."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of Garmadon's words hung heavy in the air between them. Lloyd could feel the truth sinking in, wrapping itself around his heart. He knew what had to be done. He had always known, deep down.

His friends were suffering. Ninjago was on the brink of total collapse. Zane had tried, but his energy wasn't enough. Only Lloyd could finish what had been started.

"I have to do this," Lloyd said softly, more to himself than to Garmadon.

Garmadon took a step forward, his hands trembling at his sides. "No. There has to be another way."

"There isn't." Lloyd's voice was firm, but his heart ached. "You know there isn't. I'm the only one who can do this."

Garmadon's face twisted with anguish, a rare display of vulnerability from the once-villainous warlord. "I don't want to lose you, Lloyd. You're my son. I've already made so many mistakes, and I can't... I can't let this be another one."

Lloyd's heart squeezed painfully, but his resolve remained unshaken. "It's not a mistake. It's the only way to save everyone. Zane tried, and now he's barely alive. If I don't do this, we'll lose Ninjago... and each other."

Garmadon clenched his fists, his eyes burning with emotion. "But you'll die, Lloyd. You'll be gone forever."

"I know." The words were hard to say, but Lloyd knew they were true. "But it's what I have to do."

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Over the next few days, Lloyd kept his decision hidden. He spent his remaining time with his friends, trying to savor every moment without letting them know what he planned. He laughed with Jay, sparred with Kai, shared quiet moments with Nya, and watched over Zane as he lay unconscious. Every smile, every joke, every conversation felt bittersweet, knowing that it might be the last time.

Kai was the hardest to face. His brother had always been so protective, so quick to put himself in harm's way for Lloyd's sake. But this time, Lloyd couldn't let him intervene. This was his burden to bear.

Cole, though still weak, had begun to show signs of recovery. His strength was returning slowly, and Lloyd found some solace in that. At least Cole would live.

As the day of the ritual approached, Lloyd spent his final night sitting on the rooftop of their temporary shelter, gazing out at the ruined city below. The devastation was unimaginable, but there was still hope. If he could do this—if his sacrifice could save them all—it would be worth it.

He closed his eyes, letting the cool night air wash over him.

Tomorrow, everything would change.

Tomorrow, he would say goodbye.