Lloyd POV
The salty broth did little to improve my mood as I munch on the bowl of ramen. Today was shitty. What the hell am I saying- ever since I started getting special training with my father, every day has been shitty. I don't understand why my father is such a hard-ass. He always puts everything on me and expects me to be the strongest after him while leading the Outcasts at the same time. I swallowed the last of the ramen and stared at the empty bowl. I'm starting to get sick of eating ramen every single day.
The training sessions with my father were brutal. He never let up, always pushing me to my limits and beyond. Hiss expectations felt like a mountain pressing down on my shoulders. I slid the bowl across the table before laying my head down. Creating this group and working with my father didn't change my life like I had expected. It only added more responsibilities that I didn't have at Darkly. I rubbed my tired eyes, which I assumed had heavy bags under them. When was the last time I had a proper sleep without any stress?
My heavy eyes wandered over to Pluto, who sat across from me, slowly eating his ramen with his eyes closed. I raised a brow before asking, "Why are you eating so slowly? You know that we have work to do, right?"
Pluto opened one of his eyes before slurping up a piece of noodles. "I know, but I want to savor every moment."
I rolled my eyes before standing up. I don't have time for this. Pluto is surely strange, but at least he was useful and helpful. I grabbed my coat before walking out of the cafeteria. I wonder what type of reports people had sent me.
"Wait for me!" I heard Pluto calling out as he quickly finished his food. I sighed as I threw on my coat. I'm really tired in general.
"I'm going to give you ten seconds before I leave you behind," I warned him as I put on my black military cap. "The meeting is going to start, and I don't think my father is going to be pleased if I am late."
Pluto tossed the bowl over to a member who was putting her bowl away before dashing over. "I'm coming, give me a moment."
I grabbed Pluto by the arm, dragging him along. Some members saluted me as we walked by, and I nodded in return, but deep down, I had a feeling that they didn't respect me just because I was their leader. It was more about my father's influence, and that gnawed me. Soon we made it to the meeting room. I grabbed the handle and allowed us in. It looked like everyone was already there. I ignored my father's frown as I let go of Pluto and took my seat.
The room was tense. My father's presence always had that effect. His stern gaze swept over everyone, lingering on me for a moment longer. I couldn't tell if it was disappointment or expectation in his eyes. Either way, it was a burden I had grown accustomed to carrying.
Pluto quietly took his seat next to me, still looking a bit flustered from our rush. He gave me a small, reassuring smile, which I appreciated more than I'd ever admit. He had a way of grounding me, reminding me that I wasn't completely alone in this.
"Let's begin," my father said, his deep voice commanding immediate attention. "We have a lot to cover."
I straightened up, focusing on the papers in front of me. They were filled with reports on supply runs, training schedules, and recruit evaluations. I shuffled through them, trying to organize my thoughts.
I only recognized Eugene, Jacob, Stitchface, and my father. The rest were unfamiliar, probably from other departments. It's funny how I recruited them but don't know anything about them. I had a good feeling that one day, I might accidentally let a rat in.
Eugene rolled himself to the front of the room. "Our neutral alliance with the Order of Assassins is going well, but another group has been pestering us to join them."
"Well, that's new," I muttered. To be honest, I didn't like the leader of the Order of Assassins. He seemed like a creep, but it was better to have him as a friend than an enemy. As for the other group, if they kept annoying us even after we denied their offer, things wouldn't end pretty for them. "Do you know the whereabouts of my dear brother?"
Eugene snapped his fingers, and the lights dimmed, leaving the room in near darkness. The large screen at the front of the room flickered to life, casting an eerie glow over the faces of everyone present. I found Eugene's ability to manipulate technology unique and fitting for him, considering how he had manifesting how he had manifested it at his lowest point. It was a testament to his resilience and determination.
The first image on the screen was a grainy photograph of Noah, looking more determined and stronger than ever. He was mid-swing, practicing with his sword, sweat glistening on his forehead. Each subsequent photo showed his progression- his muscles more defined, his stance more confident. It was clear he hadn't neglected his training.
"He's been busy," Eugene commented, his voice breaking the silence. "But no matter how much he trains, it won't make a difference in the end."
I leaned forward, studying the images. Noah had grown stronger, but I knew better than anyone that raw strength wasn't enough. The final battle would require strategy, cunning, and a level of ruthlessness that I doubted Noah possessed.
"He's training harder than ever," Jacob noted, his eyes not leaving the screen. "But he's still just one person. What's his endgame?"
Eugene switched to another slide, this one showing a map with various locations marked. "We've tracked his movements over the past few weeks. He's been to several strategic locations around the city, including the docks. He's not just training; he's planning something."
My father leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. "Whatever he's planning, we need to be prepared. He's resourceful and determined, but we have the advantage. We know his moves before he makes them."
"Do you have any intel on his allies?" I asked, my mind racing through the possible scenarios. "He's not working alone, is he?"
"There might be someone sheltering him, which I assume is a school, just by seeing the uniform he always wears," Eugene explained as he moved to the next slide, showing multiple photos of Noah and his friends in school uniforms.
I nodded as I stared at the light grey uniforms. It looked like they had some teachers who were willing to teach them new things. But I had my father, whom I considered a genius when it came to training. He could come up with the most ruthless regimes to turn a weak punk into a natural fighter. Eugene turned off the screen, and the lights came back on. I rubbed my eyes, feeling the strain from the dim lighting, and grabbed Pluto's report. I'd rather just read it myself than have him explain it to me.
The first few pages of the report detailed recent supply runs, including what had been acquired and any notable encounters. Pluto's thoroughness was one of his best qualities. He left no stone unturned, ensuring that every detail was documented.
"Leader, I got a question for you if you don't mind?" I looked up to see Pluto smiling at me. "It's just a harmless question."
I looked at Pluto, wondering why he was asking this during the meeting. Couldn't he wait until after the meeting? I caught a silhouette standing up in the corner of my eye and had a good feeling about who this might be.
"Why are you disrupting the meeting for such a matter?" my father asked, growling at Pluto. I covered my face with my hand. Sometimes, I was glad that he was my father, but I hated it when he acted out over the smallest things. "It better be more than a harmless question if you want to leave this room alive."
I removed my hand from my face and looked at Pluto, my eyes pleading with him not to screw this up. Pluto looked quite smug, even after my father had threatened him. He looked over at me before asking the strangest question I had ever heard.
"Leader, can you create rifts with your ability?" The room fell dead silent, and we could only hear the humming of monitors. "I'm asking if you could cut through reality, considering that it should count as destruction, right?"
I never thought of it, but I am sure it was possible given that my ability was Destruction. But Pluto questioning it was strange. "I'm pretty sure I can, but what is it to you?"
Pluto rose confidently, proposing his bold strategy. "Imagine this: we strategically open rifts across Ninjago to draw out Noah and his team. The chaos caused by these rifts will force them to split up to handle the emergencies, making them vulnerable. With my assistance, you can then eliminate your twin effortlessly. This plan not only instills fear in the populace but also secures your father's rightful leadership over Ninjago." His pride in the idea was evident as he awaited approval.
I felt like my jaw dropped. When did Pluto come up with this idea? No, why did Pluto come up with such an idea? The concept was bizarre and almost sounded forbidden. If I could create rifts through reality, beings from other realms could come through, and Ninjago could be overrun. I knew I was strong, but facing beings from other realms was a whole different level of threat. I was about to shut down the idea, but my father spoke before me.
"That is such an interesting idea," he grinned menacingly, and I knew it was a bit too late to say no. "Lloyd, we will have to undergo special training. I think we can use this idea to the fullest. Why take over Ninjago when I can take over other realms as well?" He stood up abruptly, leaving no room for argument. "Meeting over. I'll see you at & o'clock, Lloyd, so that we can begin your isolation training."
I shut my mouth, feeling a sinking sensation in my stomach. I had a feeling that this was going to go wrong. Pluto must have sensed the tension because he looked at me with sorrow in his eyes before gathering his things. It looked like things were about to become even more hellish than before.
As my father left the room, I exchanged a glance with Eugene, who sat silently beside me. His expression mirrored my unease. Jacob and Stitchface exchanged uncertain looks, clearly unsure about the direction this plan was taking. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on my shoulders.
Pluto hesitated at the door, his hand on the handle. "Leader," he said softly. "I didn't mean to complicate things. I just thought…"
"It's fine, Pluto," I cut him off, my voice strained. "Just… be careful what you suggest next time. This isn't a game we're playing."
Pluto nodded solemnly, his eyes downcast. "I understand. I'll see you later, Leader."
With that, he left the room, leaving behind an uneasy silence. I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair. The implication of my father's plan weighed heavily on my mind. Controlling rights, manipulating reality- it was all too much, too dangerous.
"We have to be careful," Eugene finally spoke, breaking the silence. "This could change everything."
I nodded slowly, unable to shake the feeling of dread. "We need to tread carefully. This isn't just about defeating Noah anymore. It's about the fate of Ninjago and possibly beyond."
Jacob and Sitichface nodded in agreement, their expression grim. We all knew that the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty and peril. But with my father's ambition driving me forward, there seemed no turning back.
As I prepared to leave the meeting room, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling that our actions would have far-reaching consequences. The lines between right and wrong had blurred even further, and I feared what darkness we might unleash in our pursuit of power and revenge.