Polaris approached the coffin and held out his hand gently, to help his empress stand up. Nerath looked at him with her white, empty, expressionless eyes and at his hand.

- Who are you to dare approach me so boldly? - she growled at him with furrowed brows.

Polaris sent her a smirk. - They call me the Basilisk. I put you out of the misery, you've been stuck in for hundreds of years, dear lady.

- Basilisk, huh? However, don't expect me to... - she began.

- Thanks. And I don't need it. - He chuckled mischievously. - However, I only want to exact my revenge in a war under your command, my lady.

Nerath looked at him slightly surprised, before hers became cold and stoic again. Reluctantly, she grabbed Polaris' hand and he helped her up and off the coffin. Destio, as soon as she had descended, quickly felt her way to the Queen.

- Your Majesty. I am truly glad to see you again in the midst of your dark power and majesty. - she announced with a mad, wide grin.

Nerath turned to Destio and a slight mischievous smile appeared on her pale face. - Destio. My court monstrous witch. I trust that everything is ready.

- Yes. Your Star of Misery awaits you, as do your men ready for war, my queen. - Destio bowed her head and moved out of the way of the scepter that was stuck in the ground. The Star of Misery was glowing now, charged with energy.

- Perfect. - Nerath sighed and moved closer to the weapon. She pulled her pale, cold hand from the sleeve of her black robe and caught the handle of the staff with it, before pulling it out of the opening.

She turned the staff in her hands, looking at it with a blank stare. She shifted her eyes to the army of skeletons, who gazed at their queen as if she were the most perfect painting in the world. She stood facing the army and raised her scepter in the air, shaking it slightly, causing the head of the staff to emanate an aura as dark red as the blackest blood.

With a gentle look and a warm, light smile, Nerath began to speak.

- It had been accomplished. After more than six hundred years, being imprisoned in Limbo, chained in slavery, I have finally been able to return. After my defeat during the war against the surface-dwelling Mortals, unfortunately.... This pathetic scourge called humans have managed to multiply like worms, spreading the light.

She said this sentence with great distaste and hatred. Her people issued hateful grunts and gnashing of teeth.

- Monsters, magnificent military men, trolls, witches, skeletons, were defeated and thrown into the Underground! Those who didn't allow themselves to be captured were killed. Burned at the stake, destroyed, hanged by cruel mortals and their leaders. For what? For being different from them and wanting to make peace!

The crowd roared angrily.

- But all is not yet lost. For I, have returned from captivity and am here to lead you towards a war for revenge and justice. No matter how long it takes, I will slaughter all surface mortals in all sixteen realms! I will not rest until at least one fruit of this plague is dead and cursed! Get ready, my comrades! LET'S GO TO WAR!!!

The army of skeletons erupted in cheers and roars of joy. Nerath's face went blank again and she slammed her scepter against the stone floor. Polaris looked around the crowd next to Destio with a satisfied smile, nodding as the monstrous witch did.

- General!

The Skeleton King looked at the queen. Nerath looked at him with her head proudly raised.

- It's time to prepare the army!

The Skeleton King's mouth formed a sinister grin and he nodded, closing his eyes. After a moment, he issued a war roar.

- Let's have a slaughter....

--------

Meanwhile in Ninjago City. Strickler, dressed in a black costume with a mask, quietly broke the lock on the door of Cyrus' villa and slowly walked inside. The entire house was dark, the only light coming from the fireplace, which smouldered with fire, serving as the house's heating.

Strickler walked quietly across the wooden floor and slowly reached into the inside pocket of his jacket for his gun. The man stood in the vestibule to the living room and looked around. Not seeing his target anywhere, his head turned towards the stairs.

- Where are you, reptile? - whispered an exasperated Strickler under his breath and slowly began to climb the stairs.

What he didn't realise, however, was that a company had invaded the property and was... Was hunting for him.

-------

The door to Cyrus's room slowly and without a sound swung open slightly. Strickler looked through the entire floor and only this room remained. The assassin's eyes shone dangerously as his eyes darted to the sleeping Anacondrai on the bed.

Cyrus was plunged into a peaceful sleep, his back turned away from the door. His chest was quietly rising and falling, and his mouth was slightly open.

Strickler opened the magazine of his pistol and removed a single, toxic arrow from the small black pack. He rotated the cartridge between his fingers without taking his eyes off his victim.

In reality. Strickler was unaware that the cartridge he was holding was not a powerful tranquilliser at all.... It was a deadly bullet. One shot, it can kill.

Strickler didn't know that. He doesn't know that the Basilisk has tricked him. That this man, will be the killer.

- Sleep tight, Cyrus. Just let me.... Add you some sleep time. - he muttered and reloaded the pistol with a quiet click.

Strickler walked two steps to the bed and pointed the gun at Cyrus' back. The man took a nervous, deep breath and....

# SHOT #

However, Strickler was horrified when Goldie appeared in front of him, out of nowhere, with a ninja sword in his hand. With the blade's edge, he deflected a bullet that struck the wooden wall of the bedroom.

Goldie was breathing heavily in anger, holding the blade ready to attack. Strickler swallowed hard and dropped the gun in shock.

- You came to kill my friend? - hissed Goldie. Then the door from behind Strickler opened with a kick.

- Deceiver? - Aspheera hissed, turning her staff in her hand. Along with Aspheera came Pythor and (Y/N) with Kai.

- I'd say assassin, but it could also be. - Goldie scoffed slightly, grinning.

- Hands to the sky, so I could see them. On your knees and surrender. - she commanded (Y/N) and walked deeper into the room.

Cyrus let out a murmur and slightly opened his eyes. He looked over his shoulder and abruptly rose with shock and fear in his eyes.

- What the hell is going on here!? - he squawked in horror.

- Well. This delinquent here has come to kill you. - said Pythor bluntly.

- But we got in his way. - added Kai.

- WHAT!!? SO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!? - Cyrus squealed in shock.

- Murderers are not secretaries, brother-in-law. They don't arrange the time of day to kill. - Aspheera told him sarcastically.

Cyrus just looked at her exasperated and looked scared at the would-be murderer. Kai pushed past Pythor and Aspheera and stood next to (Y/N).

- Did you hear, what she said? On your knees and hands behind you. - he said angrily.

- But I didn't do anything! - Strickler tried to defend himself. - I'm not a killer.

Goldie laughed falsely. - And I'm an alien. On your knees!

Kai grabbed the guy by the shoulders and forced him to kneel down and (Y/N) pulled out the handcuffs from the commissioner. The girl bent down to handcuff him when suddenly....

# SMUACK # 

(Y/N) screamed in pain and fell to the floor, when she was hit hard on the cheek. She unfortunate hit the back of her head against the wall, which stunned her. Everyone gasped in shock.

Kai was about to scream, but was also hit hard in the face. Goldie was kicked hard in the stomach until the force of the blow threw him against the wooden wall.

- Goldie! - Cyrus cried out as his friend groaned in pain and grabbed the back of his head. The white Anacondrai quickly jumped off the bed and fall beside his friend, who was in pain.

Aspheera ignited her scepter and hissed wildly. Pythor clenched his hands into fists and also hissed. In front of them there was no longer a teacher from the Academy but a winged, huge monster with eyes the colour of lava.

Strickler picked up the sword that Goldie had dropped from the floor and faced the serpents. Strickler laughed maliciously.

- Now try to fight back.

- With pleasure. Eat this!! - Aspheera roared and fired a beam of magic from her staff. Strickler blocked the projectile with his sword blade.

- Seriously? That's all you've got? - He sneered and laughed.

Aspheera hissed and started shooting magic at the monster, which only deflected her arrows with a mocking expression on its face.

- To tell you the truth, I thought you had something better. The mighty Aspheera is no longer mighty, is it?

- Silence, you fool!!

Goldie was still lying on the ground with his hands behind his head, as he curl up in pain. His head, it had always been his sensitive spot. Cyrus had his hand on his shoulder with a sympathetic expression on his face.

Kai was by (Y/N), who was dazed from the hit.

- Sister, are you all right?

- Catch... Catch him. He's the only suspect and... a clue to finding the kids. - she said weakly and groaned, placing a hand on the back of her neck.

Kai nodded quickly and pulled his katana from behind his back. - You're going to regret this.

He leapt into the air and threw himself with Aspheera at Strickler.

-------

Nerath, with Polaris, Destio and the Skeleton King at her side, walked through the Underground and watched as the skeletons prepared everything for battle.

- You can see that everything was prepared for my return. - remarked Nerath when they stopped in the middle.

- Yes, the Basilisk had thought of everything. He freed us, united us and gave us a plan and hope for you to return, my queen. - said the Skeleton King.

Polaris released a slight sneer. - You flatter me, Skeleton Ki...- he caught himself. - Commander Skeleton, but yes. It's all my idea. - He said proudly with his hands behind his back.

Nerath turned to him with a raised eyebrow. - I think I underestimated you... Even though you are mortal. - She spat out with disdain. - You made a slight impression on me.

Polaris flicked his tongue. - I'm Basilisk. It's obvious, that I surprise.

Nerath nodded briefly and moved on with her fans behind her.

- My queen, if I may interject. - Destio said.

- What is it?

- We have prisoners! Kids of the Spinjitzu Masters! - Destio squealed excitedly.

Nerath at this stopped and straightened up tightly. She looked with the side of her eye at the witch.

- Mortals? Do we have them among the prisoners?

- Yes, we stole their powers and thus got you back!

Polaris and SK felt a thrill run through them, as Nerath fully turned away from them with hidden fury in her eyes.

- What she says is true? - she demanded of them.

Polaris and SK exchanged worried glances. Polaris grunted and nodded.

- Yes. It is true. But they are completely harmless, my lady! They won't get in the way of your plan of revenge. - He assured.

Nerath sent him an icy stare that made Polaris feel the fear that this woman was about to threw herself out at him. However, she nodded her head.

- Good. I'll see them later and judge, whether they're worth keeping or kill them. - she threw over her shoulder and continued walking.

Polaris and SK sighed in relief and looked angrily at Destio. The witch only giggled mischievously and moved behind the queen.

- My queen. - announced Garrick with one of the skeleton workers. He saluted the queen, who nodded. - Your beast. Red Death, is ready.... erm... to take to the air.

Nerath looked behind him and saw the skeleton of her former dragon. She shifted her eyes over the skeleton and finally looked back at Garrick.

- I see. It needs to be revived. - she stated immediately and moved closer to the fallen dragon. Garrick gritted his teeth in embarrassment, and the worker next to him laughed lightly.

Polaris, the Commander Skeleton and Destio stopped next to Garrick and the worker, looking with interest at the queen.

Nerath placed her hand gently on the dragon's skull and sighed, closing her eyes. After a moment, she opened them sharply, now glowing with an intense white light.

- Incantation -

Red Death, it is time to rise,

Rise from the fallen and lift yourself to the skies.

Rise up and fight the unruly fate,

Let your burning vengeance and hunger be satisfied.

A mighty warrior, divided into body and soul,

Chained by chains of bondage.

May he break free and what was split in two become one again.

So that body and soul may reunite,

So that the Red Death, may join in revenge.

Dark forces, may it be so.

Red Death, please, listen and follow my voice.

When I restore your life.

Beast of legends and myths, tales of the oldest:

My prayer, gives you strength, gives you power.

Rise and re-awaken forever.

The bones of the fallen dragon began to twitch and shake. Nerath stepped back a little as the dragon's body began to shake. As the bones came together, a dark red aura began to absorb the skeleton's body.

After a moment, the skeleton began to stand up on its own and lifted its wings from the ground. The Commander Skeleton opened his jaw in shock, as did Polaris. Destio laughed and jumped up and down with twisted joy.

Nerath smiled tenderly as the aura began to penetrate the dragon's bones, covering the bones with skin and flesh. The aura disappeared completely and a huge dragon stand in front of everyone, with its tail ending in a mace.

The dragon took a deep breath and his gaze was fixed on Nerath in front of him. Red Death, in all his glory.

- Woah... Deep Magic is no small thing. - Polaris said to Destio, not taking his eyes off the powerful beast. Destio nodded her head.

The dragon bowed its head to Nerath and gave a slight murmur. Nerath placed her hand on its muzzle and stroked it.

- You have returned. Oh, how I have missed you. - she whispered and hugged the beast's muzzle. Red Death gave a murmur and closed his eyes, accepting his lady's warm gesture.

The armies of the Underground had just reclaimed their own, another powerful warrior. The Red Death, a mighty dragon that will judge the forces of the Mortals on the battlefield.