Lloyd POV
As I stood in front of the imposing facade of Foresight Industries, the sleek glass walls reflected the bustling city like a modern fortress hiding untold secrets. The sunlight danced across the surface, casting intricate patterns on the pavement, almost teasing me with the mysteries within. Knowing what lurked behind those walls, a mix of anticipation and unease coursed through me. Workers moved like clockwork, each one a cog in the machine, completely oblivious to the hidden cult operating right under their noses.
I glanced down at my outfit—a black turtleneck that felt out of place in this sea of corporate sophistication. With a deep breath, I focused my energy, feeling a familiar warmth spread through my fingertips. The air around me shimmered, and in an instant, my clothes began to morph. The fabric rippled like water, shifting and reforming with a life of its own. The turtleneck transformed into a light tan suit, flowing over my skin like liquid silk. A green tie appeared at my collar, completing the look. The transformation was seamless, yet it felt theatrical, sending a shiver down my spine. Now, I looked the part—an illusion of authority and control.
"This is the second time I'm dealing with a cult, and the time gap isn't that far apart," I muttered to myself, watching people stream in and out of the building. "With villains everywhere, it's no surprise they've infiltrated the system." I sighed, steeling myself as I stepped inside.
My eyes scanned the crowd, catching sight of small cuff pins on several suits—symbols of a golden clock. At least seven people wore them, a subtle but telling sign of their allegiance. My efforts over the last three days hadn't been in vain.
As I approached the receptionist, a young woman typing away at her desktop, I noticed her pause, her gaze drawn to my red eyes. They glowed like embers, a stark contrast to my newly transformed attire. Her eyes traveled down to my suit, and I could see the recognition flicker across her face. I must look important, I thought.
"Hello and welcome to Foresight Industries," she greeted me with a practiced smile. "What brings you here today?"
"I have an appointment with Mr. Whitlock at four o'clock," I replied smoothly, my voice carrying an air of authority.
She nodded, processing the information. "May I know your name, sir?"
"Abaddon," I answered simply. The name rolled off my tongue with a sense of finality, a reminder of the power I wielded.
The woman's fingers danced over the keys, then paused. "Abaddon… doesn't that mean…?"
"Destruction or 'baby of the devil,'" I finished for her. "My father named me that. He's quite the jokester."
She resumed typing, her curiosity piqued. "I see… Your name is here. I'll have someone escort you to his office."
I nodded, watching as a cold-looking man approached. He wore the cuff pin, marking him as a cult member. Intrigue simmered beneath the surface, and I braced myself for whatever lay ahead.
He led me through the building, which buzzed with staff engaged in all sorts of work. As I scanned them, I wondered what would happen to this place once I dealt with the cult. Would it be shut down and abandoned, or perhaps demolished? More likely, someone would step in as the new CEO and keep things running.
We entered an elevator, and my gaze drifted to the cult member in front of me. There was something about him—an air of authority—that suggested he might be second in command. It was an intuition I couldn't quite shake. I had no problem eliminating obstacles, but doing it cleanly was always a hassle. There was a chance I might die today, yet here I was, about to confront a cult leader. If I weren't part of the EAA, I might have destroyed the entire company and hunted down any survivors.
One question lingered in my mind: Who was the future figure they worshiped? I didn't know, and it bothered me. I was from the future, brought back by something powerful. These people seemed to worship something else, and based on what Laura had said when she was arrested, it seemed they intended to bring it to the past, just like me.
Lost in thought, I was jolted back to reality when the cold-looking man finally spoke. "May I know why you want to see our CEO?"
I looked at him, noting his interest in me, which wasn't a good sign. "I'm a stockholder in this company. I'm here to check on his plans to ensure my investment is secure. After all, I want to know where my money is going." This was true. Over the last three days, I had invested a significant amount to secure a meeting with the CEO. As an influential figure, he would be eager to meet me.
The man nodded slowly, ending the brief conversation. I was relieved he didn't press further; I hadn't come to chat with nobodies.
The elevator finally reached the top floor, and we both stepped out. At last, I would meet this so-called leader. At the end of the short hallway was a single door, that exuded an ominous energy. I didn't wait for the man and started walking toward it. The energy intensified with each step, something unlike anything I'd felt from ability users—something that shouldn't be here.
I knocked sharply three times, the sound echoing in the silence. Was the guy not here? I turned to the man who brought me, noticing him fidgeting with his cuff, as confused as I was.
"Hello, Mr. Whitlock, I'm a stockholder. Are you there?" I called out, but only silence answered. I turned to the man, meeting his eyes. "You don't mind if I kick down the door?"
"Excuse me?" His eyes widened, losing their coldness. "I don't think the CEO would appreciate that."
I nodded, considering his words before asking, "What if your CEO is dead or suffering behind that door? Wouldn't you want to check?"
The cult member flinched, then looked away, granting me the permission I needed. I kicked the door hard by the handle, busting it open on the first try. Splinters flew as the door swung wide. Our eyes landed on the CEO, lying on the ground. The cult member rushed to his leader, while I casually poured a cup of water from the dispenser. An interesting way to greet someone.
As I tried to sip from the paper cup, the room dimmed, and the temperature dropped rapidly. I raised an eyebrow, watching Mr. Whitlock stir from unconsciousness. Did he do that in broad daylight?
Mr. Whitlock scanned the room before his eyes settled on me. I waved, offering him the cup meant for me. "You gave quite a fright earlier."
"Oh, did I?" he replied with a smile, then scowled at the man. "Seems I've been overworking myself."
I helped him into his chair, positioned in front of a glass wall overlooking Ninjago City. "You should focus on your health. This company needs a healthy CEO."
Mr. Whitlock waved the man away, leaving just the two of us. "Wise advice, young man. May I know who you are?"
"I'm Abaddon, a stockholder," I introduced myself, adding, "I had an appointment with you."
Mr. Whitlock nodded, leaning back in his seat. He'd forgotten about the appointment but seemed relieved things were going smoothly. "I see. My apologies. What brings you here?"
My smile faded as quickly as he had woken up. "I'm here to warn you—I'm going to dismantle your cult tonight."
Mr. Whitlock froze. "Excuse me? I think you're mistaken."
"I don't think so. All the people I've interrogated said the same thing," I replied, reaching into my suit for the item I brought. "Don't take it personally. My survival is more important than you and your cult."
Mr. Whitlock processed this revelation. That explained the disappearance of many cult members. This bastard had been capturing and torturing them. He wanted to kill me.
Before he could act, I pulled out a dark green blade, almost stabbing him. He'd faced death before, but this time felt different—this guy could kill him.
"If you call for backup, I'll stab you with this blade," I warned, ripping it from the desk. "You sense it, right? This blade can kill you."
Mr. Whitlock gripped the armrest, sweat forming on his brow. "What is that blade?"
"Oh, this?" I showed him the blade. "I bought it for a hefty price. It can kill a ghost, just like water."
Mr. Whitlock stared at the blade, then back at me. "What do you want? Why are you doing this?"
I sensed his emotions but felt no pity. My survival mattered more than anything, even if it meant ruining lives. "Nothing. I'm just warning you so you're not surprised when your doom comes."
I stood, smoothing my suit. "Best of luck, Mr. Whitlock—or should I say, Eddie the ghost." I turned, leaving the man possessed by a ghost behind in the office he built. Everything was going according to plan. I needed to prepare the Outcast; it seemed a war between the two groups was inevitable. I wondered who would emerge victorious.
I exited the office and made my way to the elevator, realizing that Morro wasn't the only ghost around. Entering the elevator, I pressed the button for the ground floor. My work here was done.
"Why did you tell him that?" I glanced at Eclipse, who had revealed himself. "We had the element of surprise."
I looked at the baby dragon perched on my shoulder. Despite myths claiming dragons are wise and intelligent, this one didn't seem particularly so. I scoffed and patted him on the head.
"I'm going to die today, aren't I?" I said, voicing the dread gnawing at me. "Something in my gut tells me it has to do with this cult." I turned away from Eclipse to face my reflection. "I want them to panic and start the ritual soon so I can kill them and maybe change my destiny."
"But how do you know it will be this cult that's your downfall?" Eclipse asked, climbing onto my head. "It could be something else."
"I've done things in this life I never did in my past life—joining the EAA, becoming the Chosen One, saving the world, destroying the Order of Assassins, changing Elijah's fate. The list goes on." I recalled my memories. "I stopped Laura and her mass slaughter. Why would the cult leave me unharmed? It's the only answer that makes sense."
Eclipse looked at me with his large green eyes. "I only have one shot, so I have to make this work."
We reached the ground floor and walked through the front door, untouched. It seemed the cult would be very busy today.
…
It was time for the takedown. I straightened my military cap and faced the Outcasts, who were waiting for my command. The night breeze carried a hint of damp earth and rustling leaves, while the moonlight cast long, eerie shadows, making everything feel chillier than it should. The cool air nipped at my skin, but it only fueled my determination. I knew time was running out, but I was set on putting up one last fight before the end.
"Listen up," I called out, my voice cutting through the night. "Today, we're taking down a group that will soon be a threat to us." I paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in. "They're weak bastards who brought a threat from the future just to get what they want." I could see the disgust forming on the Outcasts' faces, their eyes narrowing in shared resolve. "They're going to perform the ritual, and we're going to stop them at all costs to prove we're not pushovers. Who's with me?"
A chorus of voices shouted back, "We are!" Every Outcast raised their hand, ready to risk their lives. A smile crept onto my face. This was what I wanted. It felt good to have things go my way. In the past, I dreaded leading the Outcasts because of my father's influence. But now, there was no father to torture me anymore.
I turned away and faced a crumbling brick wall that had seen better days. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the energy surge through me, crackling like static electricity. My hands tingled as I channeled the energy, the air around me humming with power. It was time to create another rift, but this time not to another world.
I replicated what I had done at the gymnasium, my hands moving with practiced precision as I tore open a rift that led directly to the base of the Chrono Ascendants. Strange name, but who am I to judge? I peered through the shimmering portal and saw they had already started the ritual. The smell of blood was putrid, assaulting my senses, but I wasn't there for that. I stepped into the rift, the air shifting around me as I locked eyes with Eddie, who looked terrified.
"Finish the ritual quickly! The rest of you, go kill them!" he shouted, his voice tinged with desperation.
I found myself smiling again. It felt good to be in a fight where success seemed guaranteed. "I guess we do the same. Let's dance, Eddie," I taunted, my voice dripping with confidence.
Before we could start fighting, an explosion rocked the room, almost sending me flying back through the rift. I stumbled, bracing myself against the wall as debris rained down. What just happened? As the dust settled, a giant portal appeared, its edges crackling with energy, and a lean, muscular man with black hair stepped out. I stared at him, my mind racing. Why did the ritual end so quickly? Didn't it usually take longer?
The man scanned the room, his intense gaze finally landing on me. His eyes were cold, filled with a menacing recognition. "There you are, you rat," he said, his voice low and threatening. "I'm here to take your life."