Ninjago: Amplified - [A Ninjago Fanfiction]

[22] - The Dreadful Truth

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!! WARNING !!

This chapter contains mature themes such as violence.

Read at your own risk.

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The combined group of ninja and vigilantes quickened their pace through the jungle, hearing unmistakable yelling in the distance.

"Aurora!" Akiri screamed as she led the group through the undergrowth. "Aurora, we're coming! Hold on!"

A deafening, pounding noise erupted from the trees, shaking the earth. Desperate to make it in time, they moved as fast as their legs would allow.

When they finally arrived at the scene, the group's eyes widened in horror at the destruction that littered the area. A long line of broken trees and crushed greenery sliced through the jungle across from them, leaving them speechless.

But Akiri's eyes were focused on something else entirely.

She pulled her sword from its scabbard, bolting ahead before the others could stop her. Her blade clashed against something solid, and she was kicked away faster than she could blink.

The oni held his arms in front of himself protectively, the dark limbs surrounded by an abnormal silver color. When Akiri's weapon lashed out again, he shielded his body with his arms, causing the blade to bounce back as if it had hit a hard wall. When she countered with a blow to the oni's chest, the strange color only shifted towards the area, blocking her attack.

Akiri fell back, her lip curling in hatred. She met the oni's deceptive gaze with a snarl as the rest of the group surrounded him.

"You're Manticore's own," the Oni mused, eying them one by one. "I presume?"

"Where is she?!" Akiri snapped, raising her sword. "What have you done to her?!"

When the others readied their own weapons, the oni only chuckled.

"Don't waste your time." He spat. The same, unnatural color from before reappeared along his skin, enveloping his entire body in silver. "But if it would help you to feel better, then go right on ahead. Take your best shot."

"Y-you--" Kai stammered, the rest of the ninja appearing just as shocked. "You have an elemental power?!"

"Multiple." The oni clarified, sending a shiver down Akiri's spine. "I've created a few for myself, but only those needed to kickstart my plans."

"Then what do you want?" Cole slammed his scythe into the ground, angered.

"Something that you will eventually give." The oni hummed, his expression brightening with false joy. "How have your adventures been, ninja? I enjoyed the shows from afar."

"You have no place in those matters." Lloyd growled. "Give us answers! Where is Aurora?!"

"Oh, but, green ninja, I believe I do." He sung the words merrily. "The Overlord, Chen, Morro, Harumi?"

"I managed to pull a few strings." The oni shrugged nonchalantly. "In one way or another, I pulled them in your path."

"Liar!" Cole shouted. "You're just trying to distract us!"

"Am I?" The oni's cold gaze locked on the earth ninja, and he tensed. "How do you think Pythor discovered that the Overlord was alive? Morro's escape into the mortal realm? Harumi's enforced inspiration for truly hating you ninja in the first place?"