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Curses Which Befallen Thee

Chapter 10: Abysmal Interruption

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"You gotta keep moving," the grizzled voice of Winston echoed through the metal chamber, bouncing off the cold, hard surfaces. "Don't just lay there, you're wasting my time!" His fist clenched and unclenched, knuckles cracking with the anticipation of the next blow.

Raze's eyes searched the room, desperate for anything to hold onto, but her limbs felt as if they were made of lead. The concrete floor was unforgiving, the stench of sweat and metal permeating the stale air. Her vision swam with stars, and the taste of copper filled her mouth from a split lip. But she knew she couldn't give in.

The dragon statue's hum grew more intense, resonating through her body. It was a strange, otherworldly sound, so out of place in this grimy chamber. The light around the statue grew brighter, and she felt a gentle warmth emanating from it, wrapping her in a comfort she hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity.

The presence grew closer, and she forced herself to look up. The figure that emerged from the shadows was tall, with broad shoulders and a stern gaze that bore into her soul. The man was a blur of motion as he stepped between her and Winston, the air crackling with energy. The burly brute took a step back, clearly surprised by this sudden intervention.

"This isn't your fight," Winston sneered, squinting through the light that now surrounded Raze.

The man didn't flinch, his hand still raised from where he had caught Winston's fist. "I make it my fight when you pick on those who can't defend themselves," he said firmly, his grip tightening around Winston's wrist.

Winston snarled, trying to yank his arm free, but the stranger's hold was like a vice. "Who the hell are you?"

The man's eyes narrowed. "Call me... Morro. And I don't take kindly to pests." He threw Winston aside with a strength that defied his lean frame, sending the brute crashing into a nearby bystander with a deafening clatter. Tools and mechanical parts and equipment scattered across the floor.

Raze managed to push herself up onto her elbows, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "What...what is happening?" she murmured, her voice hoarse from the pain.

"You're safe now," Morro assured her, his eyes never leaving Winston, who was now struggling to regain his footing. The dragon statue continued to hum, the light growing brighter with each passing moment.

The room grew warmer, and Raze felt the energy pulsing through her veins. It was as if the statue had imbued her with a newfound strength. Slowly, she sat up, her legs wobbly but holding. Morro offered his hand, and with a grunt, she took it, allowing him to help her stand. The crowd had gone silent, watching the unfolding events with a mix of shock and awe.

Winston, now several feet away, took in the scene with a mix of anger and fear. He rubbed his wrist, glaring at Morro with a promise of retribution in his eyes. But for now, he was cautious, not making any rash moves.

"You've made a mistake, pal," Winston growled, his voice low and menacing. "You don't know who you're messing with."

Morro's grip on Raze's hand tightened reassuringly. "And you've made a mistake, Winston, in underestimating the value of a soul." The dragon statue's light grew brighter, and the humming reached a crescendo.

The world around them blurred into a tornado of light and wind. The metal surfaces of the lair shimmered and bent, swirling in a chaotic dance. Raze's heart raced as she felt the ground disappear beneath her feet.

Morro's grip remained firm as they were swept into the maelstrom. She squeezed her eyes shut, not daring to look as the room around them melted away. The dragon statue's hum grew deafening, the warmth from it enveloping them in a comforting embrace.

Slowly, Raze's eyes open, and she gasped as she found herself in a vast, dimly-lit cavern, the air thick with the scent of earth and moss. The light from the statue had transformed into a gentle glow that surrounded them, illuminating their new surroundings. The ground beneath her was soft and slightly damp, a stark contrast to the cold concrete of the bunker.

The tornado of light had dissipated, leaving Morro and Raze standing hand in hand, the dragon statue hovering protectively between them. The cavern walls were lined with ancient carvings, depicting scenes of battles between mythical beasts and humans. The air was alive with whispers and echoes of a long-forgotten past.

Raze's legs had finally found their strength, but the sight before her was overwhelming. "Where are we?" she managed to ask, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and awe.

"Sanctuary," Morro said, his eyes still on the dragon statue. "But that is not the main reason I brought you here Raze. The Ninja are gone and their powers need new users. Will you become the Master of Ice and Water?"

The dragon statue's light faded, revealing the true size of the cavern. It was vast, stretching into the darkness, with stalactites hanging like teeth from the ceiling. The ground was uneven, littered with rocks and ancient artifacts, hinting at a civilization lost to time.

Morro released Raze's hand and stepped closer to the statue, his gaze a mix of reverence and determination. He turned to face her, his eyes gleaming with a newfound urgency. "The world is in danger, Raze. The balance is shifting, and we need guardians to keep it from falling into chaos."

Raze's eyes widened, taking in the gravity of Morro's words. The dragon statue pulsed with energy, the light casting a soft blue hue on her bruised and bloodied face. Despite her fear, she felt a strange pull towards it, an unspoken promise of power and protection.

The memory of their first encounter flooded her mind. It was during her days as an archaeologist, studying the ancient ruins of Old Ninjago City. She had stumbled upon Morro, a mysterious figure shrouded in shadow, as he guarded a chamber filled with relics of the Elemental Masters. His eyes had searched hers, and she knew in that instant that he had seen something within her that she had not.

Morro had revealed to her the truth about the Elemental Powers, how they had once been scattered and how he had contained them within a single staff. He had hoped that by doing so, he could control the chaos that would come when the time was right for the powers to be released again.

But as the years had passed, he had grown weary and the world had changed.

Now, in this cavern, Morro offered her a chance to wield the power of ice and water. A chance to become something greater than she ever thought possible.

But the path to becoming an Elemental Master was never easy, as Raze knew all too well. She had seen the ancient texts, read the tales of those who had wielded the powers before. The burden of such power was immense, and the potential for destruction was terrifying.

Her mind raced as she stared into the dragon's eyes, the glowing orbs seeming to pierce through the very fabric of reality. "I don't know if I can," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the dull throb of pain from her injuries.

Morro stepped closer, his expression softening. "You're more than you think, Raze," he assured her. "The Elemental Powers called to you once before. They chose you."

Her thoughts raced back to that fateful day in the ruins of Old Ninjago City. The dusty air had been filled with the whispers of ancient secrets, the echoes of battles long since lost to time. Morro had emerged from the shadows, his eyes alight with a fierce determination that she had never seen in another. He had revealed the truth to her, that the Elemental Powers had been seeking new masters since the original ones had been defeated.

"You're the one who sealed the powers away?" she asked, her voice shaking with a mix of disbelief and accusation.

Morro nodded solemnly. "When the last Elemental Masters fell, the world was plunged into chaos. The Elements wandered, seeking new hosts. But the time wasn't right. The people weren't ready. So I contained them within this staff, hoping that one day, I would find those worthy of their power."

Morro gestured to the dragon statue that once was in Lila’s hands. It slowly unraveled itself and formed in to the shape of staff, the dragon’s eye ever piercing, judging her.

"You've felt the call of the Elements before, Raze," Morro spoke calmly. "When you uncovered the ruins of the ancient city. It was I who felt your curiosity, your connection to the past. The Elements were searching for someone to carry on the legacy, and I knew it was you."

Raze stared at the staff, the dragon's eye seemingly staring back at her. She had felt the energy before, the pull towards the artifacts that held the Elemental Powers. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

"The Elements need a master," Morro continued, his voice echoing through the cavern. "Someone who can wield their power without succumbing to its temptations. Someone who can bring peace to this troubled world."

Raze swallowed hard, her eyes never leaving the staff. The dragon's eye glowed brighter, as if in response to her hesitation. She knew the responsibility that came with such power, but the desire to protect was stronger than her feared.

"I'll do it," she murmured, her voice barely audible in the cavern.

Morro nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Good," he said, his voice strong and steady. "Your journey begins now."

He raised the staff, and the dragon's eye shone brilliantly, a beam of light shooting out and wrapping around Raze. The chill of the ice and the coolness of the water enveloped her, and she gasped as the power surged through her veins. It was unlike anything she had ever felt—both terrifying and exhilarating, as if she had been plugged into the very essence of the elements themselves.

Her eyes snapped open, and she saw the world around her in a new light. The cavern walls glistened with a frosty sheen, and the air grew dense with mist as droplets of water danced around her. She raised her hand, and a shard of ice grew from her fingertip, catching the light and glinting menacingly.

"Feels good, doesn't it?" Morro said, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction. "The power of the Elements is now a part of you."

Raze nodded, still in shock at the sudden change within her. The pain from her earlier ordeal had faded, replaced by a buzz of energy that seemed to pulse in time with her heart. She tested her legs again, but they still refused her command. Thankfully, Morro was generous enough to leave her a cane to lean against.

"We don't have much time," Morro said, urging her forward. "The Elements are growing restless. They need to be harnessed and balanced before they fall into the wrong hands."

Raze nodded, her newfound strength propelling her forward as she leaned heavily on the cane. Perhaps now Raze can uncover more secrets hidden away throughout Ninjago?

“I know how you think, kid,” Morro quipped. “Don’t go looking for trouble as usual. I rather find it a miracle you survived this long despite your stubbornness.”

Raze couldn’t help but smirk through the pain. Despite his gruff exterior, Morro had always been the closest thing she had to a mentor. He knew her all too well—how she craved adventure and the thrill of uncovering secrets. Just like her father.

They moved deeper into the cavern, the staff in Morro's hand casting a blue-white light that danced on the walls, revealing a path forward. The air grew colder with each step, and the mist grew denser. The whispers grew louder, almost as if the very walls of the cavern were speaking to them.

Raze could feel the power of the ice and water Elements pulsing within her. It was a strange, heady sensation, one that made her feel both invincible and incredibly fragile. She had to focus to keep the shivering at bay, the cold seeping into her very bones.

Morro guide her through the cavern, his steps sure and swift despite his age. The ghostly aura around him grew stronger as they approached the heart of the chamber. The air grew colder still, and she could see her breath in the chilly mist.

"This is where the lair of Samurai X once stood," Morro said, gesturing to a large metallic door set into the rock face. "It has been dormant for years, but it is time to bring it back to life."

He closed his eyes and focused, his ghostly aura flaring around him. The air grew colder, and the whispers grew to a crescendo before dying down to an eerie silence. The door groaned and shuddered, dust and debris shaking loose as ancient gears began to turn. With a grind, the door swung open, revealing a chamber that looked like it hadn’t been touched in centuries (which it hasn’t).

Raze stepped into the chamber, her eyes wide with amazement. The room was filled with advanced tech and weapons that looked like they were straight out of a sci-fi movie. Above them, a holographic map of Ninjago City flickered to life, showing various points of interest in glowing red dots.

"This is where Samurai X operated?" she breathed.

Morro nodded, his eyes scanning the dusty consoles and dormant machinery. "Nia had a vision for this place. Even if she was thorn in my side all those years ago."

With a wave of his hand, the dust and grime lifted off the surfaces, revealing gleaming chrome and shiny screens. The lights flickered to life, casting a warm glow over the room. The holographic map above grew brighter, the dots pulsing with newfound urgency. Morro's ghostly aura grew more intense as he channeled his power into the ancient tech, bringing it back online.

Raze's eyes darted around the room, taking in the incredible sight. She had heard the legends of Samurai X, a mysterious figure who had once fought alongside the ninja, using technology and cunning to outsmart their foes. Now, she found herself in the very heart of the operation, standing in the shoes of a legend.

"What do we do now?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement and a hint of trepidation.

"Now, we prepare," Morro said, turning to face her. "The Elements are not to be wielded lightly. You must learn to control them, to understand their true nature."

He led her to a section of the chamber that resembled a dojo. "Here, you'll train," he told her, pointing to an icy platform that had formed at her feet. "You'll learn the ancient techniques of the Ice and Water Masters. It won't be easy, but I believe in you."

The platform began to rise, carrying her to the center of the room. The air grew colder, and the mist grew denser as the ice around her began to thicken. Raze took a deep breath, feeling the power of the Elements within her. It was like nothing she had ever felt before—raw, unbridled, and incredibly tempting.

“Knowing you, I assume we start soon.” Raze thought aloud.

“You assume correctly,” Morro said with a nod. “The world doesn’t wait for the unprepared. Take your place on the ice platform. I’ll start you off with basic exercises to harness the Elements. We’re going to need a lot of training if we’re going to stop the Great Devourer. And remember, the power is not yours to control, but to guide. Treat it with respect, or it will consume you. But you have been through today. Rest up, replenish your energy and we will begin once your ready.”

Raze nodded, feeling the cold embrace of the ice beneath her. Her body was still recovering from the brutal encounter with Winston, but the adrenaline of the situation kept her going. She knew the gravity of the situation.