Chloé's self-important and even cruelly gleeful expression instantly ignited Alya's fury.
"Are you crazy, Chloé!" Alya stepped forward, shielding Kim slightly behind her, her eyes behind her glasses burning with anger, "You want him to go out there? How is that any different from sending him to his death! That stone monster will stomp him into a pulp!"
"That's his own fault," Chloé pointed disdainfully with her finger at Kim behind Alya, "Who told him to be so stupid and provoke Ivan, that quiet one. Now that he's caused such a big problem, of course he has to bear the consequences himself. Are we innocent people supposed to die here with him? My father is the mayor of Paris, I can't have any mishaps!"
"You..." Alya was so angry she couldn't speak. She hadn't expected Chloé to be so selfish.
"What Chloé said... isn't entirely unreasonable." A faint voice spoke up. It was Sabrina, hiding in the back. Under Chloé's stern gaze, she had no choice but to quietly agree, "It's... it's Kim's fault..."
"Sabrina, even you!" Alya couldn't believe her ears.
Just as the students were about to start an internal conflict due to fear and accusations, Jaden's calm, almost indifferent voice spoke again, like a piece of ice dropped into boiling water, forcefully suppressing the impending heated argument.
"I didn't tell him to go to his death." He said faintly, his gaze sweeping over the agitated Alya and the arrogant Chloé, finally landing on the pale and trembling Kim. "I also didn't tell him to be a hero, nor did I expect him to hold off that monster for very long."
His words had a peculiar magic, drawing everyone's attention back to him.
Jaden took two steps forward, standing at the very front of the crowd, side by side with Kim. He didn't look at anyone, but simply analyzed the situation to himself, his voice clear and methodical, as if the current life-or-death crisis was merely an interesting math problem.
"First, as we've all seen, that stone monster, which is Ivan, His logic of action is very simple: revenge. His target, from beginning to end, has only been you, Kim." He turned his head to glance at Kim.
Kim subconsciously nodded, cold sweat already soaking his back.
"Secondly, those two heroes, they are currently in trouble. They can't find the item that turned Ivan into a monster, and any physical attack will only make the monster stronger. All they can do now is 'grapple,' but this doesn't solve the fundamental problem and will only constantly drain their stamina and time. When they can no longer hold on, we'll be the next ones out of luck. Although His target is only Kim, none of us can guarantee that His actions won't affect us."
Jaden's words were like a cold scalpel, dissecting the cruel reality that everyone dared not face. The atmosphere in the gymnasium grew even heavier.
"So, the key to breaking this deadlock still lies with you, Kim." Jaden's tone remained calm, "Stoneheart's obsession comes from that note you wrote, so only you can shake His obsession."
"I... how can I shake His obsession?" Kim asked with a sob, "He just wants to tear me to pieces right now!"
"No, you're wrong." Jaden shook his head, a barely perceptible curve forming at the corner of His lips, "He doesn't just want to tear you to pieces. What He wants even more is to prove that He's not a 'coward,' to prove that He has courage, especially in front of Mylène. Your note just pierced His most vulnerable and cherished part."
He paused, giving everyone time to digest the information, then continued: "So, you don't need to fight him, and you don't need to run for a long time. You just need to step out, to a place where He can see and hear you clearly, and say a few words. It's that simple."
"Say... say what?" Kim was dumbfounded.
Chloé, on the side, urged impatiently, "What are you trying to hide? Just say it! That Cat Noir boy looks like he's about to collapse!"
Indeed, in the short time they were discussing, another loud bang echoed from the arena. Cat Noir was once again sent flying by a massive force, crashing awkwardly against the wall with a muffled groan.
"My Lady! Are you still not done over there? I feel like one of my nine lives is about to run out!" Cat Noir panted, shouting loudly.
Ladybug deftly dodged a basketball hoop swept by Stoneheart, responding anxiously, "I can't find the Akuma Butterfly! He's completely covered in rocks!"
Time was pressing.
Jaden no longer paid attention to the others. He walked up to Kim, looked directly into his fearful eyes, and in an almost commanding, unquestionable tone, said word by word:
"Listen, Kim. You step out now. When He sees you, He will definitely stop attacking the two heroes and turn to walk towards you. You just stand still, don't run. Then, shout loudly at Him: 'Ivan! Listen to me! I lied to you! That note was fake!' He will definitely be stunned. At this point, you continue: 'Actually... actually, Mylène also wrote something on that note! She wants to be friends with you! She was just too shy, so she asked me to give it to you!'"
"Huh?" Kim was dumbfounded, "But... but Mylène didn't write anything at all!"
"Idiot! Of course, it's a lie to Him!" Even Chloé couldn't help but curse, "Can't you understand such a simple trick?"
Mylène, hiding in the back, trembled when she heard her name. Her face flushed crimson, and she wanted to say something but dared not.
Jaden ignored them and continued to speak to Kim: "When He hears this, He will definitely hesitate. Because this is what He desires most in His heart. Then you say the most crucial sentence: 'If you don't believe me, take out the note! Look at the back! Mylène's handwriting is on the back!'"
"Just... like that?" Kim still couldn't believe that a few simple words could stop that rampaging monster?
"Just like that." Jaden's eyes were as deep as an ancient well, "His reason is now covered by anger and obsession, but His inner desire is like a life raft to a drowning person. He will be unable to resist confirming it. As long as He makes the 'take out the note' action, the two heroes will know what to do. Your task will be complete, and the rest will be up to them. You just need to finish speaking and immediately run in the opposite direction."
Jaden's plan was clear and logically rigorous, every step calculated to manipulate human psychology. Alya, Marc, and others who had been hesitant and opposed were now silent. They looked at Jaden, their eyes filled not only with admiration but also a hint of awe. This new transfer student was unnervingly calm for a high schooler.
"How about it, Kim?" Jaden patted his shoulder, not heavily, but with a force that prevented him from backing away, "Are you going to be like a coward, waiting for the two heroes to be defeated, and then all of us are finished? Or are you going to be a man, step out, say a few lies, and save everyone, including yourself?"
Kim looked into Jaden's black eyes, then at the retreating Cat Noir and the struggling Ladybug in the arena, and then back at the faces of his classmates, filled with fear and hope, hiding behind him. A rush of blood surged to his head.
He had never been the center of attention like this in his life.
He gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, as if making the most important decision of his life.
"Okay! I'll go!" He puffed out his chest, trying to make his voice sound less shaky, "It's just saying a few words! Watch me!"
With that, he actually took a deep breath, pushed past the others, and strode out from behind the cover, walking towards the center of the gymnasium.
Everyone held their breath.
Kim's figure appeared exceptionally small in the empty and messy gymnasium. As soon as he appeared, he immediately attracted Stoneheart's attention.
"Kim—!!!!"
Stoneheart abandoned the Ladybug He was chasing, roaring as He turned, His orange-red gaze locking onto Kim like a searchlight. He took heavy steps, each one making the ground tremble violently, and walked towards Kim.
Kim's legs were trembling with fear. He almost relied on sheer willpower not to turn and run. He remembered Jaden's words, "Stand still, don't run." He firmly planted his feet on the ground, closed his eyes, and with all his strength, screamed at the increasingly close, massive figure:
"Ivan! Listen to me! I lied to you! That note was fake!"
Sure enough, just as Jaden had predicted, Stoneheart's forward momentum suddenly halted.
His massive, rocky body stopped less than ten meters from Kim, looking down at him, a confused, rock-grinding gurgle emanating from his throat.
A chance!
Ladybug and Cat Noir, standing in the distance, exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in the other's eyes; they silently waited, a mutual understanding passing between them.
Kim, seeing the monster stop, felt his heart settle slightly.
He mustered his courage and continued to shout, "Actually… actually, Mylène also wrote something on that note! She wants to be friends with you! She was just too shy, so she asked me to give it to you!"
"...Be... friends?" Stoneheart's indistinct mouth moved, spitting out a few stiff words.
His anger seemed to have subsided somewhat, replaced by a massive, bewildered longing.
"That's right! If you don't believe me," Kim loudly delivered his final line, "take out the note! Look at the back! Mylène's writing is on the back!"
These words, like a key, precisely inserted themselves into Stoneheart's heart, which was locked by obsession.
The note… the back… Mylène's writing… His sanity struggled.
Just then, a cold voice echoed directly in his mind—it was Hawk Moth!
"Stoneheart! Don't listen to him! He's lying! He's toying with you! They'll only mock you, deceive you! Don't be fooled by these cheap lies!"
Hawk Moth's voice was full of enticement and urgency, causing Stoneheart's recently calmed heart to once again surge with furious rage.
"Ah—!!!" He roared in pain, his massive body trembling from the intense internal conflict.
He didn't know who to believe.
On one side was a slim but tempting hope, and on the other, the command that had granted him power.
"They're all laughing at you, Stoneheart! Unleash your power! Stop being that coward everyone bullies!" Hawk Moth's voice coiled around his mind like a venomous snake.
Ultimately, his obsession with Mylène, that humble yet pure longing buried deep in his heart, overwhelmed everything else.
He had to confirm it! He absolutely had to confirm it! Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance it was true!
But where was the note?
He looked down at his own massive, rock-formed hands, then felt his hard, rocky body.
The core of his Akumatization was firmly protected within the toughest layer of rock at his waist.
He couldn't get it out at all!
What to do? What to do!
"Hurry and get it out!" Kim, seeing his state, urgently shouted.
"Ah ah ah ah—!!!"
In his extreme desire and agitation, Stoneheart made a move no one had expected.
He roared, raising his right, battering-ram-like rocky fist high, and then, without hesitation, savagely smashed it down onto the solid rock layer at his waist that protected the Akumatization core!
Boom—!!!
A tremendously dull thud!
Rock colliding with rock, sending countless fragments and sparks flying!
The violent impact caused him to stumble back a step, but the thickest rock armor at his waist also shattered under this self-destructive blow!
A crumpled, black-mist-stained ball of paper shot out from the shattered rock crevices, like a black bullet, flying into the air!
Now!
"Hold tight!" Ladybug's voice rang out.
She flicked her wrist, and her yo-yo shot out like lightning from her waist.
The red string traced a perfect arc in the air, precisely wrapping around and tightening on the black paper ball before it could fall!
"Retrieve!"
With her soft cry, the yo-yo swiftly returned with its prize, landing steadily in her palm.
"No—!!!"
Stoneheart watched his only hope being snatched away, letting out a roar of despair.
He had been tricked!
He angrily wanted to settle accounts with Kim.
However, the moment Kim saw the paper ball fly out, he had already followed Jaden's instructions, running with all his might towards his classmates without looking back, as fast as a rabbit chased by a cheetah.
He scurried back behind cover, collapsing to the ground, panting heavily.
Stoneheart lunged, missing, and became even more enraged.
But before he could make his next move, his body began to change.
"Well done, My Lady!" Cat Noir performed a backflip, landing gracefully beside Ladybug.
Ladybug ignored his compliment.
She raised the yo-yo in her hand and squeezed it hard.
"Crack!"
The originally stone-hard energy shell instantly shattered, revealing the crumpled paper ball inside.
She unhesitatingly threw the paper ball to the ground, raised her foot, and stomped down hard with her red boot!
"Bang!"
The paper ball was instantly crushed to smithereens, and a completely black butterfly, emanating an evil aura—an Akuma Butterfly—flew out from the broken remnants.
It circled once, seemingly trying to escape.
"Don't even think about it!" Ladybug skillfully opened her yo-yo, aiming it at the Akuma Butterfly.
"You won't get another chance to cause trouble, little thing!"
She flicked her wrist, and the yo-yo, like a gaping mouth, precisely swallowed the Akuma Butterfly.
"Got you!" She retrieved her yo-yo, held it in her hand for a moment, then opened it again.
"Bye-bye, little butterfly."
A pure, flawless butterfly, emitting a soft white glow, flew out from the yo-yo.
It elegantly circled once above the gymnasium, as if cleansing the lingering darkness and fury, then flew through the hole in the roof and ascended into the clear blue sky.
At the same time, Stoneheart's massive body also reached its end.
The gray rocks rapidly disintegrated and peeled away, collapsing like a sandcastle, revealing the bewildered and helpless boy in a school uniform inside—Ivan.
He knelt amidst the ruins, looking at his unharmed hands, then at the chaotic gymnasium around him, completely unaware of what had happened.
"I… where am I…?"
Ladybug watched this scene, a relieved smile on her face.
She picked up the item she had just obtained using her Lucky Charm and tossed it high into the air.
"Miraculous Restoration!"
The item in the air bloomed with a miraculous pink light, which transformed into countless shimmering, ladybug-shaped energy particles, sweeping through the entire gymnasium like a tide.
The smashed floor, broken walls, deformed basketball hoops, collapsed roof… and the damaged streets of the city—everything that Ivan had turned into a monster and destroyed or affected, visibly returned to its original state in this magical light.
In just a few seconds, the entire gymnasium was as good as new, as if the thrilling battle that had just taken place was merely an illusion.
"Wow…" The students hiding in the distance watched in awe, letting out genuine exclamations.
"Done!" Ladybug and Cat Noir exchanged smiles, then instinctively extended their fists, gently bumping them in the air.
"We succeeded!" they said in unison.
Just then, an excited, slightly trembling voice came from nearby.
"That… that was incredible! This is practically the news of the century!"
The two turned their heads to see Alya, phone in hand, rushing out of the crowd with a beaming face, aiming her camera at them.
"Excuse me! Who are you two? Are you Paris's new superheroes? What are your powers? Where do you come from? Does your duo have a name? What should the citizens call you?"
Alya, like a professional war correspondent, rattled off a barrage of questions.
Ladybug and Cat Noir exchanged glances, both somewhat exasperated.
"Uh…" Ladybug was clearly unprepared for such a scene.
Cat Noir, however, smoothly took over the conversation.
He struck a dashing pose for Alya's camera and smiled charmingly: "We're just passing by, peace-loving, enthusiastic citizens.
As for a name…"
He looked at his partner, questioning her with his eyes.
Ladybug thought for a moment.
She looked at her red-and-black spotted battle suit, then at the yo-yo in her hand that brought luck and creation…