"Bravery isn't just about not being afraid, Marinette. True bravery is choosing to stand up even when you're scared to death!"
Tikki, with its tiny body, conveyed immense energy. It flew in front of Marinette, its large eyes fixed intently on her: "Right now, Paris needs you, your Cat Noir partner needs you, and Ivan needs you! Only your power of creation can fix all of this, can save your classmate who has been consumed by negative emotions!"
Marinette's breathing was ragged, and tears still welled in her eyes, but Tikki's words were like a pebble, stirring ripples in the chaotic lake of her heart.
Yes... fear. Of course, she was afraid. She was trembling all over, her teeth chattering. But, looking at her pale face in the mirror, she remembered Alya, and how she had unhesitatingly stood up to rescue her from Chloé's bullying. She also remembered Jaden, and how, while hiding on the playground, he had protected Alya from harm at the most dangerous moment, and his calm, almost cold words, "You can only write news if you survive."
They... they didn't back down.
And what about her? Was she to forever hide behind others, forever be a little girl who needed protection?
No.
She couldn't.
A never-before-felt resolve surged from deep within her trembling body. That power overwhelmed her fear, burning in her blood. She wasn't doing it to be a hero, not to bask in the spotlight, but simply to... protect the people she wanted to protect, to be able to extend her hand at crucial moments, just like Alya and Jaden.
"You... you're right, Tikki." Marinette took a deep breath, forcefully wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. In a matter of seconds, her eyes transformed from confusion and fear to an unprecedented determination.
"I can't run away anymore."
She lifted her head, and a fire ignited in her eyes.
"Tikki, spots on!"
A blinding fuchsia light instantly erupted from her earrings, illuminating the entire changing room with a magnificent glow. In the light, Tikki transformed into a streak of light, flying into the stud of her left ear. Magical energy enveloped her body; black spots appeared and flowed around her, rapidly forming a red and black-spotted, form-fitting battle suit. A red mask covered the upper half of her face, as if adorning her with a mask of courage, perfectly hiding the insecure Marinette. Red hair ties bound her pigtails even higher, making her appear capable and energetic.
When the light faded, a new figure appeared before the mirror. She was no longer the stammering, hesitant Marinette, but Ladybug, filled with the power of creation and luck!
She looked at herself in the mirror, both a stranger and familiar. She moved her fingers, feeling the unprecedented power surging within her, and a sense of confidence spontaneously arose. She gripped the yo-yo at her waist; its cool, solid touch made her feel even more secure.
"Time to go." She whispered to herself, her voice devoid of any trace of timidity... Inside the gymnasium, the battle was deadlocked.
"Whoa!"
With a shriek, Cat Noir's figure was once again swept by Stoneheart's massive rock arm, flying like a black cannonball and crashing heavily into a metal railing of the spectator stands, emitting a teeth-grinding roar. The railing was severely deformed by the impact.
"Cough... cough..." Cat Noir slid to the ground along the railing, feeling as if all the bones in his body were about to fall apart. He propped himself up with his metal staff, swaying as he stood, rubbing his aching lower back where he'd been hit, and didn't forget to quip: "Hey, big guy, can't you be a little gentler? Be nice to new friends, that's Parisian hospitality."
Stoneheart completely ignored his playful remarks, his orange-red eyes fixed on Kim, who had taken advantage of the chaos to run towards the gymnasium exit, and he let out a low growl: "Coward... Kim... don't run!"
He took a heavy step, about to chase after him again.
"I'm your opponent!" Cat Noir endured the pain, swung his staff, and it suddenly extended, precisely hooking Stoneheart's ankle.
Stoneheart stumbled from the sudden obstruction, his massive body losing balance and crashing forward, his huge rock palm smashing a deeper crater into the floor.
"Ha! Score!" Cat Noir whistled triumphantly, but the next second, his smile froze.
The rock material around Stoneheart's hand, which was propped on the ground, and his foot, which was tripped by the staff, began to writhe, and they actually grew another size larger. His massive body visibly increased in size again, and the sense of oppression became even stronger.
"Oh... looks like that trick didn't work." Cat Noir clicked his tongue, a little exasperated.
Just then, a red figure descended from the sky, landing lightly not far in front of him.
It was a girl in a red and black-spotted bodysuit, agile and full of vitality. She held a yo-yo, also red with black spots, and her eyes vigilantly watched the recently risen Stoneheart, full of caution.
Cat Noir's eyes went wide. He had never seen such... such a stunning girl. That posture, that confidence, especially those large, clear blue eyes that were still bright beneath her mask, were like the most beautiful night sky in Paris.
"Whoa..." He instinctively gasped, the pain in his body seeming to lessen considerably, "Looks like... today's my lucky day. Hello there, m'lady." He habitually struck what he thought was a cool pose, bowing slightly, "You must be sent from heaven to save this lost little cat, right?"
Ladybug glanced back at him. At this kind of frivolous flirtation, she merely frowned slightly, but the situation was urgent, and she had no time for such things.
"You're my partner?" Her voice was clear and steady, completely lacking Marinette's usual gentleness.
"Cat Noir, at your service, m'lady." Cat Noir winked at her, "Looks like we're a match made in heaven."
"Now is not the time for chitchat!" Ladybug immediately interrupted him, her gaze refocusing on Stoneheart, "We need to find a way to stop him!"
"Kim—!!!!"
Stoneheart had already gotten up from the ground. He was completely enraged, no longer paying attention to Cat Noir, and instead venting all his fury on the entire gymnasium. He swung his massive arms, smashing spectator seats, basketball hoops, and scoreboards like toys. The entire venue shook violently under his furious attack, and rubble and dust filled the air.
"Hey! Watch out!" Cat Noir pulled Ladybug behind him, and at the same time quickly spun his staff, deflecting a large chunk of concrete flying towards them.
"Thanks." Ladybug steadied herself and immediately began to analyze, "I saw you attack him just now, and he just got bigger. So we can't use brute force."
"I'm glad we're on the same page, m'lady." Cat Noir's tone became serious, "His body is as hard as rock, and any attack he absorbs turns into energy that makes him grow. We can't touch his body."
"Then... then how do we defeat him?" Ladybug swung the yo-yo in her hand, her brain working at top speed, "An Akumatized person must have an item possessed by an Akuma Butterfly. We just need to find and destroy it. But right now... his whole body is made of stone, how do we find it?"
"Good question," Cat Noir shrugged, "Maybe we can play with him for a bit, and see if there's anything out of place on him?"
"That's the only way!" Ladybug made up her mind, "Let's split up, engage him, and look for an opportunity!"
Before her words finished, the two rushed out in different directions with a tacit understanding. Ladybug flung her yo-yo, its rope precisely wrapping around a steel beam on the roof, using the momentum to arc gracefully through the air, attracting Stoneheart's attention. Cat Noir, using his agility, swiftly weaved through scattered obstacles, constantly tapping his staff on the ground to create noise and distraction.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the gymnasium, the students protected by Jaden cautiously peeked out from behind their cover, watching the god-like battle unfolding in the arena.
"Oh my god... who... who are those two? Superheroes?" Rose covered her mouth, her face full of disbelief.
"So... so amazing..." Julie whispered in agreement.
"This... this is too cool!" Lino's eyes sparkled with excitement, "This is even more thrilling than the hottest rap concert!"
Kim looked at the monster that had been born because of him, and the two heroes fighting desperately in the arena, his face alternating between red and white, a mix of embarrassment, fear, and guilt. He opened his mouth and said to his classmates beside him: "I... I really... I didn't expect things to turn out this way... I just wanted to..."
"What's the use of saying that now!" Chloé folded her arms, her face full of impatience and disdain, "If it weren't for you, you idiot, we would have been dismissed and gone home by now! But it's okay, my dad must have already sent the police, and when they arrive, they'll definitely take down this big guy with tear gas or something."
"I'm afraid not." Alya held up her phone, the screen showing a live news broadcast. In the footage, several police cars were overturned like toys by Stoneheart, and police bullets left no mark on him. "Look, the police are useless against him."
Everyone looked at the chaotic scene on the phone, and the equally chaotic scene inside the gymnasium, and the glimmer of hope that had just ignited was extinguished. Despair was written on everyone's faces.
"Then... then what should we do?" Mylène asked with a sob. She felt the most guilt, if it weren't for her, Ivan wouldn't have... "We can only wait or choose to leave, but the chances of leaving are slim, after all, because of that monster, he blocked all the exits," a calm voice spoke, and everyone instinctively looked at Jaden.
Jaden was still leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, his expression terrifyingly calm, as if everything before him had nothing to do with him. He leaned out, glanced at the two figures grappling with Stoneheart in the arena, then slowly withdrew his gaze.
"There are two plans now." His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, miraculously calming the panicking crowd.
"The first plan is simple. It's to wait." He pointed to the center of the arena, "Wait for the hero in the red and black-spotted bodysuit, and the hero in the Cat Noir bodysuit, to deal with that stone monster. Then, everyone will be happy, and we'll pretend nothing ever happened."
This plan sounded beautiful, and very passive.
"Then... what if they... can't deal with it?" Max asked, somewhat worried, posing the question in everyone's hearts.
Jaden's gaze swept over Max, who had asked the question, but he didn't answer immediately. Just then, a red figure suddenly landed in front of their group. It was Ladybug! She had swung over briefly during a lull in the fighting.
"You're his classmates, right?" Her voice was a little hurried, clearly indicating time was short, "Quick, tell me, what made him lose control of his emotions? Is there anything special about him?"
Everyone looked bewildered.
"Something?" Alya was the first to react, "It seems... it seems there's nothing special..."
"What caused such immense anger in him!" Ladybug emphasized again.
Everyone's gaze, with a "whoosh," all focused on Kim.
Kim squirmed under their scrutiny, stammering, "It... it was a note I wrote... a note..."
"A note!" Ladybug's eyes lit up, "Where is that note?"
"It... it should be in his pocket..."
"No, he doesn't have a note on him!" Ladybug immediately denied, "I just used my yo-yo to scan him, his whole body is uniformly energetic rock, only one place has a particularly concentrated energy reaction, but that's not made of paper. He doesn't have a note on him!"
Having said that, she glanced at Stoneheart, who was once again charging towards her in the distance, "I have to go! Think harder!" Before her words finished, she flung her yo-yo again, swinging back into the battle.
Leaving behind a group of students looking at each other, even more desperate.
"Even... even she can't find it..." Max's voice trembled slightly.
Jaden watched Ladybug's departing figure, but a ripple stirred within him. He leaned out again, carefully observing Stoneheart. Cat Noir skillfully parried Stoneheart's heavy punch with his staff, and after Stoneheart threw the punch, his huge rock hand slowly opened.
Jaden's pupils suddenly constricted.
He clearly remembered that in the "original story," after Ivan's Akumatization, one hand was a tightly clenched fist, and the crumpled note was hidden inside. But this Stoneheart's hands could both open and close freely, clearly, the note wasn't in his hand.
This... didn't conform to the original story.
This thought flashed through his mind, then he scoffed at himself and pushed it down.
What a joke, he himself had already transmigrated here, and he was still worried about such minor details? This world had already become a brand new instance because of his arrival. Still using old strategies would only lead to elimination.
The corner of his mouth curved into a confident arc, and his gaze once again became deep and sharp.
"It seems the first plan won't work." He withdrew his gaze and looked around at everyone, "Then, there's only the second plan left."
His gaze finally fell on Kim.
"Then... may we ask our classmate Kim for a small favor."
"Me?" Kim pointed at his nose, incredulously. Although he was usually carefree and liked to play pranks, he clearly saw the situation before him. Asking him to face that four-to-five-meter-tall stone monster? That wasn't helping, that was suicide!
"That's right, it's you." Jaden's tone was flat, yet undeniable.
"No!" Alya was the first to object, "That's too dangerous! He's just an ordinary student!"
"That's right, Jaden, this... this won't do..." Max also rushed to dissuade him.
"I agree!" A voice suddenly spoke up, it was Chloé. She folded her arms, her face full of schadenfreude, "Whoever causes the trouble should be the one to solve it. We can't all suffer because of him, can we?"