Ninjago:Rising

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Lloyd stood across from his sister, the weight of exhaustion pulling at his limbs. Every muscle screamed in protest, his breathing ragged, but he kept his stance, determined to see the fight through. Lyra, her eyes blazing with an unnatural, dark energy, smirked as she tilted her head, almost amused by his endurance.

"Still holding back, Lloyd?" she taunted, her voice echoing in the desolate, shadowed battlefield she had created. "You really think you can bring me back?"

Lloyd clenched his jaw, gripping his sword tighter. "I know you're still in there, Lyra. This darkness doesn't have to consume you."

Lyra's laugh was cold, biting. "You're a fool," she spat, taking a step forward, her hand raised. In one swift motion, she lashed out, sending a wave of dark energy his way. Lloyd barely managed to sidestep, the blast tearing into the ground beside him, leaving it scorched and cracked.

He took his chance, lunging forward, and with a well-timed strike, he managed to knock her sword out of her hand. The weapon spun through the air, landing several feet away. For a brief moment, he saw a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes, the dark energy faltering ever so slightly.

"Lyra, please," he said, lowering his sword just a fraction. "This isn't you. Remember who you were—the sister who always fought for what was right, who never gave up on anyone."

But the vulnerability vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Lyra's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a snarl. She lunged forward, reaching out, and her hand brushed against his sword. Instantly, her dark energy surged through the blade, and in seconds, the metal began to decay, crumbling to ash in his hands.

Lloyd cursed under his breath, tossing aside the remnants of his weapon. Now, it was a fistfight. He took a steadying breath, raising his fists. His resolve was unshaken, but he knew his strength was fading. Lyra, on the other hand, seemed tireless, feeding off her own dark power.

Lyra's attacks came fast and merciless, each punch and kick filled with a brutal, calculated precision. Lloyd struggled to keep up, his own blows landing with less and less force as the fight wore on. She struck him across the jaw, sending him staggering backward, his vision momentarily blurring. But he didn't falter. Each time he got back up, his resolve only hardened.

"Why won't you fight me with everything you have?" Lyra sneered, her tone dripping with contempt. She threw a punch, which he barely managed to block, his arm aching from the impact. "You think you're saving me by holding back? You're only making yourself weaker."

Lloyd grit his teeth, landing a swift punch to her side. "Because I know there's still a part of you worth saving," he said, his voice steady despite the pain. "I'm not going to lose you, Lyra. I won't let this darkness win."

Her face twisted with rage, and she threw another punch, hitting him square in the ribs. Pain exploded through his chest, but he forced himself to keep standing. Each blow she landed felt like a test of his endurance, each taunt like a blow to his heart. Yet, he held on, unwilling to fully unleash his own power.

"You're weak, Lloyd," she hissed, shoving him back, her dark energy crackling around her fists. "You're a fool to think you can save me."

She came at him again, and they grappled, her strength relentless, unyielding. Every punch, every kick left him staggering, his defenses weakening. But he could see it—the faintest flicker of emotion in her eyes, each time he spoke to her. He clung to that glimmer of hope, refusing to let go, even as his body screamed in protest.

"Lyra, I know you're still in there!" he yelled, deflecting another strike. "I know this isn't what you want!"

For a split second, her movements faltered. The darkness in her eyes wavered, just enough for him to see a glimpse of the sister he once knew. She blinked, and in that moment, he thought he saw a trace of sorrow, of regret, buried beneath the rage.