Ninjago:Rising

CHAPTER SEVEN

After Zane's impressive display of his ability to control ice, everyone was buzzing with excitement. Jay's lab felt like a playground for the extraordinary, each of them uncovering new layers of themselves they never knew existed. As they regrouped around Jay's computers to review the data collected so far, one couldn't help but glance at Lyra and Cole, who were standing off to the side.

Cole had been quiet for most of the day, observing each test with a furrowed brow, his thoughts clearly turning over the implications of their powers. Lyra, on the other hand, was fiddling with her gloves, flexing her fingers as if testing the limits of her abilities in her mind.

Jay looked up from his monitors, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Alright, Lyra and Cole, you're up next. We've seen fire, water, lightning, and ice... Let's see what earth and disintegration can do."

Cole nodded, stepping forward with his usual confidence. "Sure thing. Let's see what kind of earth-shattering powers I've got," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Jay led them over to another part of the lab where he had set up a large reinforced sandbox filled with dirt and rocks of varying sizes. "I figured since your element is earth, this would be the best place to start," Jay explained.

Cole took a deep breath and stepped into the sandbox, looking down at his feet as he shifted them in the dirt. He closed his eyes, concentrating. At first, nothing happened, but then the ground beneath him began to tremble slightly.

The sand started to shift, moving as if it were alive. Small rocks levitated, vibrating with energy. Everyone watched in amazement as the dirt and rocks began to swirl around Cole's feet, forming a spiral that grew larger and more intense. He opened his eyes, and with a grunt of effort, lifted his hands.

The earth responded immediately. Larger rocks rose from the sand, floating up around him like planets orbiting a sun. Cole's eyes widened as he realized he was controlling them. "Whoa... this is... weird," he muttered, but a smile broke through his concentration.

Jay was typing furiously on his keyboard, collecting data from the sensors embedded in the sandbox. "This is incredible, Cole! You're actually manipulating the earth. Try to see how much you can control."

Cole nodded, lifting his arms higher. The rocks responded, moving up and down, swirling in intricate patterns. He clenched his fists, and the rocks instantly stopped, hanging motionless in the air. Then, with a swift motion, he spread his arms wide, sending the rocks flying in all directions. They landed with a series of heavy thuds, embedding themselves back into the dirt.

"Nice one, Cole!" Kai cheered, impressed. "You're like a walking earthquake!"

Cole laughed, stepping out of the sandbox, dusting his hands off. "Thanks. It's definitely a workout, though. Feels like I'm moving a mountain with my mind."

Jay nodded, still typing away. "The amount of control you have is impressive. With more practice, you could probably do even more. Maybe even manipulate larger structures."

Lyra stepped forward, looking a bit nervous but also eager to test her abilities. "Guess it's my turn now," she said, flexing her gloved hands.

Jay nodded, guiding her over to a different part of the lab that was set up with various metal targets. "For you, we're going to test a few things," he explained. "We've seen what you can do with disintegration, but I want to see if there's more to it. Maybe some form of energy manipulation or increased strength."

Lyra took a deep breath and nodded, focusing on one of the metal targets. She removed her gloves slowly, revealing her hands, which seemed to glow faintly with a dark purple energy. "Here goes nothing," she muttered to herself, reaching out toward the target.