Lloyd POV
Heading to my dorm room, I noticed Pluto looked much better after recovering from being stabbed in the side. I hadn't found the time to visit him even once, and that was entirely on me. I'd been so absorbed in my affairs that I'd neglected everything else. It was a familiar pattern from my past life- I tended to focus solely on my concerns, ignoring everything else. While it made life simpler in some ways, it often led to significant issues down the line.
Approaching Pluto and Stephanie, who seemed engrossed in conversation, I greeted them warmly. "Hey, Pluto and Stephanie. Apologies for not visiting you during your recovery, Pluto."
Pluto, ever understanding, waved off my concerns with a self-conscious rub of his neck. "No worries, Lloyd. I understand how busy you've been."
Grateful for his understanding, I turned to Stephanie, noting her well-being. "Looks like they didn't throw you in prison, Stephanie."
She met my gaze with an unfazed expression. "Nope, they assigned me as a teacher for Ms. Lily."
Nodding at her response, I redirected my attention to Pluto. "Do you happen to know where Melony is?"
Pluto nodded in response. "She's with the Headmaster. Heard he got injured by some broken glass."
With a quick farewell wave, I thanked them and made my way off, eager to track down Melony. "Thanks, catch you later!"
Approaching the Headmaster's office, I knocked on the sliding door, unsure of what to expect. Despite being Mister Glasses' father, the Headmaster seemed to be a more ordinary man, quite unlike his eccentric son. After a brief pause, I decided to push open the door open.
Inside, I found the Headmaster deep in meditation, while Melony attended to his injured hand. Catching sight of me, Melony offered a small wave, which I returned with a gentle smile before stepping further into the office. I intended to retrieve the flute I had seen during my last visit, but someone beat me to it.
With a swift motion, the Headmaster snatched the flute from my reach, his expression tingled with irritation. "You're starting to remind me of a certain student who used to attend this school," he remarked pointedly.
I shrugged nonchalantly. "Sir, I hope you don't mind if I enlist Melony's help as bait to solve a very pressing case."
The Headmaster regarded me with a serious gaze. "Your internship is over, if I recall correctly. What exactly are you up to?"
Facing the man before me, I stated firmly, "I'm assisting a fellow student with his internship, and Melony's help is crucial if we're to succeed."
The Headmaster merely grunted in response, prompting my gaze to wander to a photograph resting on his desk. In it, he stood beside a woman of striking beauty. They seemed intimately connected. Turning back to the Headmaster, I inquired, "Who is the woman in the photo?"
Picking up the frame, the Headmaster regarded it with a touch of melancholy before replying, "That's my late wife. She passed away many years ago."
Expressing sympathy, I murmured, "I'm sorry for your loss," though the sentiment felt somewhat hollow.
Taking Melony's hand, I prepared to depart, "Well then, I'll be on my way. Farewell."
Exiting the office, I couldn't shake the odd feeling stirred by the photograph, but I brushed it aside- it was just a picture, after all. Liam awaited us outside in a police car.
"Do you think it's wise to use a young girl as bait?" he voiced his concern. "If anything goes wrong, it'll be on your shoulders."
His questioning irked me. "I won't let anything go wrong," I assured him firmly.
Despite his worry, Liam seemed to reluctantly accept my assurance. He has to trust me. Guiding Melony to the back seat of the police car, I made sure she was securely buckled in.
"Melony, we're going to use you to lure out something dangerous," I explained gently. "There's a risk involved- do you trust me?"
She nodded solemnly, her trust in me unwavering. "You helped me back at that horrible laboratory, so I'm happy to help you in return."
Her words warmed my heart, affirming our bond. With a gentle pat on her head, I closed the door behind her. Turning to Liam, who was engaged in conversation with the driver, I felt a surge of determination.
"Let's hunt ourselves a monster," I declared with a grin, excitement coursing through me.
…
I watched Melony from the shadows, two long hours ticking by. My legs were going numb, and annoyance crept in. Despite Liam's assurance that this area had the highest kidnapping rate, it was becoming absurd. Exhaustion gnawed at me, and my patience wore thin. Glancing at Liam, I could tell he shared my sentiment.
Leaning closer, I whisper with a harsh edge, "Are you sure this area is the right choice? The monster could be striking elsewhere in Ninjago."
Liam, weary and worn, rubbed his face, clearly wrestling with the same doubts. Perhaps this plan wasn't as foolproof as we'd hoped. His gaze met mine, and I could sense his frustration.
"It seems the owner isn't keen on sending out her pet," I muttered, my tone laced with disappointment.
Liam's eyes widened as he turned to face me, his tone urgent, "What did you just say?"
Meeting his gaze evenly, I replied, "What are you babbling about?"
"No, I heard you," he insisted, gripping my arm tightly. "You said, 'It seems the owner isn't keen on sending out her pet.' I heard you."
I gently freed my arm from his grasp, maintaining composure. "Think about it, Liam," I urged. "What purpose would a monster have with children?"
His brow furrowed in contemplation. "Not much, except maybe consumption."
"Exactly," I affirmed. "But it would be different if it was a person."
His expression shifted with realization. "Are you saying that a person is behind this?"
"Yeah," I confirmed. "The monster was just doing the person's dirty work. We just need to capture the monster, and you can do the rest."
Liam's mind raced to piece together the puzzle I presented. It all began to make sense. Knowing that creatures could be befriended or tamed, he understood that someone must have tamed a Terrastryke and commanded it to kidnap children. But for what reason? He opened his mouth to ask another question, but I sprung into another question, but I sprung into action, and it finally showed itself.
Right in front of Melony loomed the Terrastryke, its massive form casting a shadow over her small figure. I can't let it take her. Activating my ability, I conjured an energy ball and unleashed it at the creature. The impact cracked its armor, but it wasn't enough to deter the Terrastryke from seizing Melony. She gazed at me with wide-eyed horror as the creature swiftly burrowed underground, escaping my grasp.
"Curses!" I exclaimed, frustration boiling within me. I slammed my fist against the ground in anger, cursing my inability to protect Melony.
I couldn't believe I had let it slip away. The disparity between Energy Manipulation and Destruction beca,e painfully apparent at that moment. As I rose to my feet, a sense of determination washed over to me. Hastily retrieving my phone, I rushed over to Liam and thrust it into his hand.
"What's this?" he asked, still reeling from the recent events.
"It's a tracking device," I explained urgently. "The monster is returning to its owner. We need to act fast and inform the school instead of the police. They'll know what to do."
I didn't wait for a response as I dashed off, leaving Liam behind. His voice trailed after me as he called out, "Don't you need this?"
"I have a good idea where that creature is headed!" I shouted back over my shoulder.
Out of his sight, I activated my Destruction ability and levitated into the air. It seemed I had an appointment to keep with an old acquaintance.
…
Standing in front of the old apartment complex, I couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu. It seemed she hadn't changed much in this life. Stepping into the building, I bypassed the upper floors and made my way to the basement. The dim glow of candles pierced the darkness, casting eerie shadows across the space. The air was thick with tension as I scanned the room filled with cages, searching for her presence. Yet, she was nowhere to be found.
Approaching one of the cages, I peered inside and spotted a familiar face among the frightened children. "Little Nelson, is that you?" I inquired, seeking confirmation of his identity.
Little Nelson regarded me with a mixture of fear and defiance. "How do you know my name?" he questioned, attempting to mask his apprehension.
I couldn't help but chuckle at his bravado. "Let's just say I'm working with the police to get you guys out of here," I reassured him.
A sudden burst of laughter echoed from the other side of the room, drawing my attention. The source of the laughter emerged from the shadows- a woman with raven-colored hair and crimson lips, clad in a sleek black pantsuit. Her gaze bore into mine with a mix of amusement and malice
"Laura, nice to meet you," I greeted her, though my expression betrayed a hint of disdain. "Look like life's been treating you well."
Her smile faltered, replaced by a scowl of irritation. "How do you know my name?" she demanded, her tone laced with suspicion.
"I know more about you than you think," I replied cryptically, a smirk playing on my lips. "But you? You know nothing about me."
Her visage was covered in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, her attempts at composure failing as anger bubbled to the surface. With a snap of her fingers, the ground began to tremble beneath me. Reacting swiftly, I leaped from the floor, seeking refuge on a nearby ceiling beam, just as the Terrastryke burst forth from the ground below.
"It matters not whether you know my name," she spat, a manic grin twisting her features. "For you shall meet your end here regardless."
Meeting her gaze with unwavering resolve, I turned my attention to the menacing creature at her side. "Well, that's assuming your little pet manages to do the job," I retorted, a smirk dancing across my lips.
Enraged by my defiance, she clenched her fists, her fury palpable. "Kill him," she commanded, her voice dripping with venom, "and bring me his head."
The resounding roar of the Terrastryke reverberated throughout the basement, causing the very ground to tremble beneath me. Struggling to maintain my balance on the ceiling beam, I clung on desperately as the deafening sound assaulted my ears. With a thunderous leap, the creature launched itself at me, its massive form hurtling through the air, forcing me to spring agilely to another beam to avoid its deadly strike.
Surveying the shredded remnants of the beam I had just vacated, I realized the precariousness of my situation. A single blow from the creature would spell certain doom. Reluctantly, I descended to the ground below, wary of the potential for the ceiling to collapse upon us all.
Facing off against the Terrastryke, its wild eyes fixed upon me, I grappled with the limitations of my abilities. With too many eyes upon me, utilizing Destruction was out of the question. Energy Manipulation seemed futile against this formidable foe. I needed to devise a strategy to defeat the creature and put an end to Laura's nefarious schemes.
"Hey, kids, can you cover your ears and shut your eyes tight?" I urged, addressing the terrified children huddled in the cages. "I'm about to do something that might leave you traumatized."
With trepidation, the children complied, casting fearful glances at the menacing form of the Terrastryke. It was clear I couldn't afford to hold back any longer.
"How thoughtful of you," Laura sneered, her grin dripping with malice. "Sparing those children from witnessing your demise."
I shot her a disdainful look, struggling to comprehend how I had ever been associated with someone so unhinged. "Nah, just concealing my true strength."
As my eyes flared with crimson intensity, Laura's expression morphed into one of dread realization. "Get back," she cried out, but it was too late.
Unleashing the full force of my power, I enveloped the Terrastryke in searing Hellfire. Even its formidable armor proved no match for the infernal heat, and I watched with grim satisfaction as the creature writhed and screamed, futilely attempting to extinguish the flames consuming it from within.
I gazed intently at the exposed, vulnerable flesh beneath the Terrastryke's once-imposing armor, satisfied that my Hellfire had indeed proven effective.
"What have you done to my baby!" Laura's shriek pierced the air, her horror palpable as she beheld the mangled form of the Terrastryke.
"I'm not one for overcooked meat, but sometimes it's necessary," I remarked nonchalantly, observing the Terrastryke's feeble attempts to escape.
As the creature sought refuge underground, I exerted my power, preventing its retreat and subjecting it to a relentless barrage against the ceiling, walls, and floor. I approached, allowing the Abyssal Devourer to revert to its original state, which I callously dropped onto the writhing Terrastryke, watching as it slowly devoured it.
Turning my attention to Laura, who knelt before me, I recognized the inevitability of our confrontation, just as in my past life.
"I suppose I must attend to you as well," I mused, forming a small, ominous purple energy ball in my palm. "But don't fret- I'll make it quick. A fitting end for an old friend."
Amid my attempt to blow Laura's head off, I suddenly felt claws jabbing into my chest, and I spat out blood as pain shot through me. I glanced down to see the Terrastryke, half-devoured yet still fighting, latching onto me for one last defense. The Abyssal Devourer, swooped in to gobble up its meal, leaving me stunned.
Despite the agony, I refused to crumble. Using the Experiment Weilder, I patched up my wounds, though it drained me with each mending. But I couldn't let that stop me. With gritted teeth, I rose, muscles screaming with effort, and pursued Laura as she bolted, her panicked footsteps echoing.
Ignoring the ache in my chest, I chased her through the basement's shadows. She darted up the stairs, but I wasn't about to let her slip away. As I ascended the last few steps, my heart raced, anticipating the confrontation awaiting me. But what greeted me halted me in my tracks.
"Laura, please," I implored, my voice tinged with desperation.
Laura's grip on Melony's hair was fierce as she brandished a glass shard, pressing it threateningly against the little girl's throat. Her eyes bore into mine, a mix of madness and fury swirling within them.
"You care about this girl, don't you?" Her words were laced with venom, a manifestation of her shattered psyche after losing her Terrastryke. "I'm going to end her, just like you ended my pet."
"Laura, think about what you are doing," I urged, my voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Killing Melony won't solve anything. You're better than this."
She hesitated, her grip on the shard faltered slightly as she glanced between Melony and me. "But you don't understand," she protested, her voice wavering. "I have nothing left to lose."
"You have everything to lose," I countered softly. "Your humanity, your soul. Don't let this consume you."
Tears welled up in Laura's eyes as she struggled with her inner turmoil. "I just wanted to make them pay," she whispered, her voice filled with desperation.
"And you will," I assured her. "But there's still a chance to make things right. Let Melony go, and we can find a way to fix this together."
I extended my hand, hoping to appeal to whatever humanity was left in her. "Laura, listen to reason. Surrender now, and we can work this out. You'll face justice, but there's still a chance for redemption."
It appeared my words were getting through to her, but before I could react, Laura lashed out with the shard, aiming for Melony's throat. Instinct took over, and I pushed Melony out of harm's way just in time, feeling the sharp pain of the shard piercing my back.
"Why does it always come to this?!" I shouted as I stumbled forward, gritting my teeth against the pain.
With a swift motion, I kicked Laura away from me, creating some distance between us. Laura scrambled to her feet, desperation etched across her face as she made another attempt to attack me.
"I wouldn't recommend that," I said calmly, through the pain in my back threatened to overwhelm me. "Because if you do, you won't live to regret it."
Summoning all my strength, I conjured a barrier of pulsing energy, enclosing Laura within its shimmering confines. She pounded against it fruitlessly, realization dawning that she was now at my mercy.
"You can't do this!" she shrieked, her voice laced with fear and defiance.
Approaching her slowly, every step a struggle against the exhaustion weighing heavy on my limbs, I met her gaze with steely resolve. "I can and I will," I declared firmly.
Mister Glasses and the Blood Hounds burst into the room, their eyes widening as they took in the scene before them. Laura was trapped within my energy barrier, her fate now in my hands.
"It looks like you handled this single-handedly," Mister Glasses remarked, his tone tinged with surprise.
"Yeah, almost, but it's all good," I replied through gritted teeth, the pain still throbbing in my back.
Melony rushed into my arms, her tears soaking my shirt as she clung to me in fear and relief.
"I'm so sorry, Lloyd," she apologized, her voice trembling with guilt. "You got hurt because of me."
I gently rubbed her back, offering what comfort I could muster. "It's okay, Melony. You can just heal me, and then everything will be okay."