Enter The Ninjaverse

CHAPTER 36

After the four shared a moment to compose themselves, Lloyd began with the explanation. The four rotated one after the other, going in order in which they'd met Lloyd and explaining as briefly as they could their journey, showing their shards of the Realm Crystal as proof. They did their best not to mention Monty's Chi, and to explain Mage and Lulloyd's worlds as best they could. Lloyd could tell by looking at Sun their tale was hard to buy.

"This... is rather hard for us to grasp," Sun rubbed his head, "While the idea of other worlds beyond our own is not out of the question, it is certainly... hard to comprehend, even when they claim to be right in front of you."

"Indeed it is," Garmadon shook his head, "This must mean you have no knowledge of our world, do you?"

"No," Lloyd shook his head, "It would help if you could give us a brief history of how this all came to be."

"I... suppose that we should discuss the day that the Emperor rose to power then, yes?" Sun looked to Garmadon. Garmadon nodded his approval, and Sun began to speak.

"None of us know where the Emperor came from, nor what his goal was," Sun shook his head, "When I was just a child, my father had a vision in the Spirit Smoke. He saw a dark figure, rising to power from a place none could reach. Months before the day that the Emperor rose to his power, he had yet another vision, this one showing him that the date of the approach was soon. He assembled myself and my team, and together we collected the Golden Weapons for the day that they would be needed. It was four years ago to month's last that he rose to his power he stands at today. That was the day that the Dark Matter consumed the land."

"Dark matter?" Lloyd sat up, "That's what the Overlord used to corrupt Ninjago."

"Indeed," Garmadon affirmed, "But the Emperor wishes not to enslave by that force. The rocks you see grow in concentration at the tower, his palace. As they are in the city, they merely make citizens stay away from them. Direct contact with those out in the streets is kept to low levels to keep the people pure... if submissive by the haze it puts on their mind."

"So the Dark Matter is an intimidation factor," Monty sighed, "Instead of just using it to corrupt everyone outright."

"Tell us about the Emperor," Harumi leaned in, "What happened when he invaded Ninjago?"

"The day he rose... it was a dark day," Sun gripped his sword hilt, "Father gathered myself and my friends together to help train to protect Ninjago. Yet... we were unable to do anything. He batted us aside like we were mere insects to him. And we learned of a truth that is more horrifying than anything else..."

"Yes?" Monty groaned, leaning his head back, "Just tell us, don't pause for dramatic effect. You're telling a story, not writing a novel."

"That thing, that Emperor... you called him Overlord," Sun gripped his sword tight enough he had to let go to stop hurting his hand, "His powers and armies evoke the image of the Overlord in legend, yet he refused that title and declared himself the Emperor instead. Speaking to him... he did not seem to be as the legends described the Overlord. Yet he is undoubtedly what the legends describe. Somehow, the Overlord was able to leave the Dark Island prison and bring with him this... this infusion of Dark Matter into our land."

"I.... I felt the Dark Matter as soon as we arrived... I was hoping I was wrong," Harumi spoke up, her voice low as she gripped her arm to stop it from shaking, "There's no doubt... the Emperor has to be the Overlord."

"Someone other than Garmadon let him walk around in his body though," Lloyd pointed out, "Who would do that?"

"We do not know," Sun looked down, "Yet that question is one we have sought to answer."