Finally, after absorbing enough 'experience,' the voice emitted a triumphant sound like a game leveling up: "Ding! — Level 2 achieved!"
With the prompt, countless silver-gray cube modules spontaneously emerged from beneath the giant floating tetrahedron. Like living building blocks, they rapidly pieced together, extended, and rose, eventually locking perfectly into place to form a colossal metal arch, dozens of meters high, spanning the entire street.
The triangular cockpit, as the core, stood at the central peak of the arch, like a high throne.
His single eye emitted an even more intense, unsettling green light.
"System status: good. Pre-archiving."
The 'player's' voice became increasingly steady and arrogant.
After the transformation was complete, two giant cube-constructed feet extended from beneath the metal arch. It took a step — "Rumble — Rumble —" — each step making the ground tremble.
It stopped in front of Jaden Alya, and Marinette, its colossal shadow, like solidified despair, completely engulfing the three.
"Jaden."
From the throne above came Max's voice, both familiar and strange.
"Come. We shall have a battle to decide who is the 'strongest player.'"
His words lacked his usual calmness and analytical tone, replaced by the unquestionable arrogance of a top-tier player.
Before he finished speaking, his single eye shot out a solid green beam — not at the three, but at the empty space nearby.
The beam caused no destruction; instead, it constructed a complex magic array like a 3D printer.
As the light faded, a basketball-sized, fiery red metal sphere, covered in intricate circuitry, floated silently in the center of the array.
"Buzz —"
The lingering afterglow of the beam made Alya and Marinette close their eyes; the dazzling light prevented them from seeing anything.
When they reopened their eyes, they heard Max's explanation, imbued with 'game rules': "This is an identical 'Battle Mech Module.'
Enter it, and you will also gain a mech with the same performance as mine.
I won't bully you, a 'newbie.' Come on, let's have an absolutely fair 1v1 battle!"
His voice grew increasingly excited, full of a craving for the duel: "As long as I defeat you, I can upgrade to Level 3!
And gain the glory I deserve!
Then, I will defeat Ladybug, defeat Cat Noir, and become the unique, strongest player in this world!"
His arrogant and conceited demeanor was completely unlike the usually quiet and introverted Max.
Jaden gazed at the mountain-like mech, his eyes devoid of fear, instead showing pity.
He raised his hand, as if to touch the red metal sphere.
"Don't go! Jaden!"
Alya rushed forward and grabbed his wrist, her face filled with anxiety and fear.
"Are you crazy? You actually believe what someone who has undergone Akumatization says? This must be a trap!"
"What if I don't go?" Jaden calmly countered.
"What?"
"If we don't do as he says,"
Jaden's gaze locked onto Max above,
"we'll become 'experience orbs' for his upgrade, just like those passersby. Do you think we can outrun his light beam?"
Alya's face turned pale. She glanced at the blinking green eye, then at the distant, empty street, a chill running down her spine.
"If I go now, at least... I can buy some time."
Jaden's voice was soft, yet carried a comforting power.
"Alya, listen. Take Marinette and leave immediately. Then, find a way to contact Ladybug and Cat Noir."
"But you..." Marinette looked at him worriedly, her voice trembling, "Can you... do it alone?"
"Heh,"
Jaden turned around, a confident smile on his face,
"Don't underestimate the value of me defeating Adrien just now."
With that, he pulled his hand free from Alya's grasp and resolutely stepped forward, placing his palm over the floating red sphere.
"Buzz —!"
Blinding red light erupted! Countless crimson data streams surged from the metal sphere, enveloping Jaden's body layer by layer.
In the light, a black and red patterned battle suit quickly formed, and more mechanical components rapidly assembled — leg armor, chest plate, arm gauntlets... Finally, a helmet with red goggles covered his head.
At the same time, the ground beneath his feet rose, and cube modules broke through the earth, combining in an even swifter and smoother manner to form a giant mech similar in appearance to the 'player's,' but with sharper details!
"Boom!"
Jaden's consciousness instantly connected with the war machine. He stood inside the cockpit, looking down at the tiny figures below through the holographic screen: "Hurry and go!"
Alya knew she couldn't hesitate. She pulled the stunned Marinette and turned to run: "Marinette! Quick! We need to find a safe place!"
However, she hadn't run many steps before her hand felt empty. Startled, she looked back; Marinette's figure had disappeared.
"Marinette?! Marinette, where did you run off to again?!" Alya shouted at the empty street.
In the shadow of another street corner, Marinette stomped her foot angrily, venting to Tikki in front of her: "Argh! Can't Jaden and I just have a few quiet hours?!
We finally had some 'partner' intimate time! It's all ruined by that hateful Max!!"
"Marinette! This isn't the time for that!"
Tikki flew around anxiously,
"Transform quickly! Only you can defeat him! After you defeat him, you'll still have plenty of time to be with Jaden!"
"Oh... you're... you're right!"
Marinette's eyes instantly lit up — as long as she defeated Max, she could appear before Jaden as a hero, 'saving her partner'!
She no longer hesitated: "Tikki, spots on!"
Transformed into Ladybug, she first sent an emergency signal to Cat Noir with her yo-yo, then arrived beside Alya in a few swings: "Hello!"
"Ladybug!"
Alya was both surprised and delighted, "Where's Marinette? Did you see Marinette?"
"I just saw her running to a safe place, don't worry!"
Ladybug lied, then took Alya's hand, "It's too dangerous here, I'll take you away first!"
"No!"
Alya pulled her hand free, took out her phone, and opened recording mode, her face showing the fervent dedication of a 'war correspondent'.
"Such an explosive mech battle! I absolutely cannot miss this! This is headline news!"
Ladybug sighed helplessly: "Alright... but please be very careful!"
With that, she swung her yo-yo to the rooftop to observe the battlefield situation.
On the street, hidden passersby pulled out their phones to live-stream the two confronting mechs — for them, with Ladybug present, the disaster would eventually be subjected to a 'Miraculous Restoration,' and what they saw was merely a free sci-fi blockbuster.
However, when one of the mechs lifted its foot, and the strong wind blew a car away, these 'war correspondents' screamed and retreated hundreds of meters.
The battlefield was finally cleared.
From the throne above, 'Gamer' Max issued an order: "Marc, begin analyzing opponent data."
A small blue-gray robot flew out of a groove in the cockpit — it was Max's intelligent robot, Marc:
"Analysis starting... Beep... Warning, Max, you are currently in an abnormal emotional state. Attacking citizens and classmates is wrong. It is recommended to immediately break free from the Akumatization state."
"Shut up!" Max rudely interrupted, "This is player time! You should listen to me! I am your master! Analyze immediately!"
"...Yes, Master."
Marc's electronic eye flickered once, then executed the command: "Opponent mech... 'Shadow Hunter' modified, with the same basic performance as 'Gamer.' Driver: Jaden. Combat style: unknown. Weakness... analyzing..."
While Marc was analyzing, Max launched an attack: the mech's arms lifted, and countless cube modules separated, combining in the air to form dozens of missiles, which bombarded Jaden's mech in an overwhelming barrage!
Jaden reacted extremely quickly, controlling his mech to dodge at high speed through the rain of projectiles.
Explosions erupted one after another, creating deep craters in the ground, and smoke and dust obscured half the street.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
"Too weak! Jaden! Your evasion is meaningless in the face of my trajectory calculations!"
Max laughed maniacally, his hands a blur on the control panel, "Marc, lock onto his movement trajectory and perform a pre-emptive strike!"
More missiles were launched, blocking all evasion routes!
Just as he was about to be hit, Jaden's mech suddenly squatted down, crossing its arms in front of its chest.
Countless black modules extended from his arms, instantly combining to form a giant rhomboid shield covered in red energy patterns!
"Rumble —!"
All the missiles struck the shield, erupting into a fireball as dazzling as the sun!
As the smoke cleared, Jaden's mech was completely unharmed.
"A bit interesting." Jaden's voice came from inside the mech, still calm.
"A bit interesting? It's going to get even more interesting!"
Max seemed provoked, controlling his mech to charge forward,
"I'll show you that a year of effort is a height that talent can never reach!"
Two giant mechs engaged in a fierce god-like battle on the streets of Paris — the clang of metal, the whoosh of energy beams, the roar of explosions, echoing through the sky!
Just then, a black figure leaped like a leopard, landing on the same rooftop as Ladybug.
"Woah,"
Cat Noir looked down at the robots fighting with earth-shattering intensity, whistling, his face full of excitement and surprise, "What did I miss? Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla?"
On the rooftop, Cat Noir's green eyes, like those of a feline, reflected the dazzling sparks that erupted as the two giant mechs violently collided below.
For the first time, an expression named "tricky" appeared on his usually somewhat flippant face.
"Ladybug,"
He turned to look at Ladybug beside him, shrugging his shoulders, a hint of exaggerated helplessness in His tone,
"Are you sure you want me to go down now? Look at the scene below: metal storms, energy beams, and missiles flying around randomly... The legend of a cat having nine lives is certainly true, but the key is, if I just rush in like this, I'm afraid my nine lives will be instantly riddled with holes in a second!"
On the battlefield, the fight had already reached a fever pitch.
The two giant arch-like mechs, originally resembling triumphal arches, had both separated and reassembled from their massive main structures, generating thick and powerful arms for themselves.
Now, they were no longer fixed turrets, but had transformed into two true combat robots, full of violent aesthetics.
"Boom —!"
Max's 'Gamer,' wielding an iron fist composed of countless cubes, smashed fiercely towards Jaden's 'Shadow Hunter.'
Jaden, in turn, controlled his mech to narrowly dodge with a nimble side-slide. At the same time, the modules on his arm transformed, combining to form a giant high-frequency battle blade, which he swung back towards the waist joint of 'Gamer'!
Every clash between the two steel behemoths made the earth tremble.
The strong winds generated by their swinging arms were enough to overturn cars on the roadside;
The ground beneath their feet had long been trampled to pieces; the surrounding buildings, caught in their indiscriminate, fierce battle, had cracked walls, shattered glass, and concrete blocks falling like rain.
The entire street had been completely reduced to rubble.
Ladybug ignored Cat Noir's banter. Her gaze was fixed on the battle below, her brain rapidly processing information.
"Cataclysm."
She spoke calmly, her voice devoid of emotion, "As long as your 'Cataclysm' can touch his mech, no matter how sturdy it is, it will turn to dust instantly."
"Oh, I know that, of course, Ladybug."
Cat Noir dropped his joking expression and became serious,
"The problem is... which one is our target? Those two big guys down there look like twins. What if I hit the wrong one...?"
"You won't make a mistake." Ladybug's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, "Look at their cockpit cores."
She extended her finger, pointing downwards: "Max's is dark green.
And Jaden's is fiery red.
Remember, the target is the green one!"
"Received!"
Cat Noir made an OK gesture, "No problem! Watch me defeat him in one move!"
He was about to leap high, striking his classic pose for activating his special move.
"Wait!" Ladybug suddenly spoke, stopping him.
"What now, Ladybug?" Cat Noir stopped, looking at her in confusion.
"It's not time yet."
Ladybug's brows furrowed tightly, "If you rush down now, how can you ensure your 'Cataclysm,' while hitting the green mech, won't affect the red one next to it?
They're too entangled right now! A slight misstep, if you touch the wrong one, that would be disastrous!"
Cat Noir's movements stiffened at her words. He looked at the scene below, two mechs locked in a frantic close-quarters brawl like conjoined twins, and couldn't help but shiver.
Yes, at this distance, at this speed, if his claw was even slightly off... the consequences, he dared not imagine.
"Alright," he shrugged helplessly, crouching back down, "Then we can only... wait for now."
...Inside the cockpit of 'Gamer,' alarm bells and Marc's analysis reports intertwined, the atmosphere tense to the extreme.
"Marc! Have you analyzed the weakness yet?!"
Max frantically operated the controls while shouting at the robot beside him.
He found that although he had an advantage in strength and firepower, Jaden's operations... were too slippery! Every one of his attacks would be neutralized by the opponent's incredibly precise micro-management.
He felt like a strong man with a sledgehammer, chasing an incredibly agile hummingbird, having strength but unable to use it.
"Beep... Analyzing... opponent... Jaden... behavior pattern... unpredictable... weakness... beep... beep..."
Marc's electronic voice, for the first time, showed hesitation, a phenomenon akin to 'lagging.'
It had actually, through its analysis of Jaden, located a possible 'weakness' — the girl Alya, who was holding her phone and filming the battlefield at close range.
But its core logic, the fundamental instruction 'do not harm innocent people' personally coded by Max, was fiercely resisting uttering this 'weakness.'
"But... but what! Speak up!"
Max grew impatient. He once again increased the intensity of his attack, attempting to completely overwhelm Jaden with a storm of punches.
Jaden, on his side, also gradually felt the pressure. Although his operating skills were superior, with the mechs having completely identical basic performance, the opponent's reckless, energy-consuming fighting style made it increasingly difficult for him to cope.
During a brief pause in a block, he controlled his mech to back-hop, creating some distance, and subconsciously looked up at the rooftop.
Ladybug and Cat Noir... those two were crouching up there, like two spectators, completely still.
What are they doing?! Why are they observing at a time like this? Come down and help! he couldn't help but grumble internally.
However, Max gave him no chance to catch his breath.
He seized the gap created by Jaden's back-hop, immediately controlled 'Gamer' to follow up, and a new, even more ferocious engagement began again!
Max, though seemingly red-eyed with rage, maintained a sliver of absolute calm belonging to a top-tier player.
He had already seen the two red and black figures, symbolizing 'trouble,' through his observation window.
He knew how fatal Cat Noir's 'Cataclysm' was to his seemingly indestructible mech.
Therefore, early in the battle, he had already secretly dispatched a miniature high-altitude drone, circling above the battlefield, transmitting every move of the heroes back to his cockpit in real-time, to prevent being ambushed.
He had to act fast!
"Marc! One last time! Tell me His weakness!"
He roared at the robot in a commanding tone.
"...Yes...Alya."
Under His master's absolute and coercive command, the "Obedience Protocol" in Marc's core program finally overrode the "Moral Protocol."
"According to daily analysis, Jaden's attention to Alya is...'high'.
Attacking her has a 97.3% chance of effectively interfering with Jaden's actions."
"Alya..."
Max's goggles instantly locked onto the girl who was hiding behind a broken wall, peeking out half her body, and holding up her phone to film.
A despicable but absolutely effective plan instantly formed in His mind, which was already distorted by the desire for victory.
"What's there to be afraid of? Now, it's my game time!"
He declared wildly to Marc, who was still trying to persuade him,
"Besides, with Ladybug's Miraculous Restoration! Whether it's a success or a failure, wouldn't it be fine to just restore everything in the end?!
The process...doesn't matter at all!"
He manipulated the mech, launching a feint attack at Jaden. The giant iron fist brought up a gust of wind, seemingly intending to crush Jaden's cockpit directly!
And just as Jaden concentrated, preparing to fully defend against this fatal blow, "Gamer's" massive body suddenly moved with a strange, inertia-defying posture, a crisscrossing dodge, brushing past Jaden's mech!
At the same time, a small launch port on its shoulder opened with a "click."
A small tracking missile, trailing a white exhaust, shot out with lightning speed,
Precisely targeting the street corner—targeting Alya, who was holding her phone and watching intently!
Alya was completely terrified when she saw the missile, trailing a long exhaust, rapidly enlarging in her pupils.
Her legs felt like lead, completely unresponsive, her mind blank, she even forgot to scream.
She could only watch death rush towards her.
On the rooftop, Ladybug's pupils also instantly constricted to the extreme!
She didn't even think, her yoyo was already thrown out, but she knew it was too late! The distance was too far! She wouldn't make it in time!
Just at this critical moment!
A huge black and red figure, as if teleporting, crossed hundreds of meters, and with a resolute, fearless posture, blocked in front of Alya!
It was Jaden!
He didn't even have time to activate the huge shield he had just used!
In such a short time, the only thing he could do was use the flesh and blood of his mech to withstand this fatal blow!
"Boom—!!!"
A violent explosion, close at hand.
Alya was thrown back by the shockwave, falling to the ground, but she didn't suffer much harm.
Jaden's mech, which bore the full force of the impact, let out a painful, metal-twisting wail.
Its huge body was blasted back several steps, the entire left side of its chest armor was blown open with a huge hole, countless cables, like severed blood vessels, were exposed, wildly spewing electrical sparks.
The alarm in the cockpit was so shrill it almost pierced the eardrums.
Jaden felt a sweetness in his throat, and a mouthful of blood almost gushed out.
The violent impact, even through the mech's buffering system, still shook his internal organs as if they had shifted.
"Did you see that?"
Max's mocking voice sounded in the communication channel,
"This is your 'sympathy,' now, it has become the reason for your defeat."
He controlled His almost intact mech, approaching step by step, His huge iron fist raised high, preparing to deliver the final, fatal blow to Jaden.
"Cat Noir! Now! Go!"
On the rooftop, Ladybug, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, immediately issued the most urgent command to her partner beside her!
"Received!"
Cat Noir was already poised, he looked at the figure below who was in despair to protect others, and then looked at "Gamer" who was about to deliver a fatal blow, the anger in Her heart was completely ignited!
"Cataclysm!"
He roared, and the black power of destruction on His right hand suddenly expanded!
He leaped from the rooftop like an arrow from a bow, transforming into a black lightning bolt, directly striking the huge back of "Gamer"!
However, just as His claws were about to touch the mech, "Gamer" suddenly seemed to have eyes in the back of its head, its massive body shifting sideways with an extremely agile movement!
Cat Noir's attack missed!
His claws, capable of destroying everything, heavily struck another abandoned building.
The wall of that building, as if time had fast-forwarded thousands of years, instantly weathered, decayed, collapsed, turning into a pile of flying dust.
"What?!"
Cat Noir watched in disbelief as his attack missed.
"You were observing your surroundings when you were about to win?!"
He questioned the huge mech in astonishment.
"Hehehe..." Inside the cockpit, Max let out a smug, cold laugh.
A small module on His shoulder opened, revealing a working miniature drone inside, which had clearly seen Cat Noir's sneak attack.
"You wouldn't understand, little kitty."
His voice, amplified through the loudspeaker, echoed across the entire battlefield, filled with contempt for the heroes of the old era.
"Because the power of technology is infinite."
Cat Noir looked at the small drone, then at His ring which was counting down, so angry he almost stamped his feet.
He remembered Gabriel, and the omnipresent cameras monitoring his every move.
He looked up at the sky and let out a helpless, heartfelt wail:
"Ah—! The thing I hate most is being watched!"
Just as "Gamer" was getting carried away with His ingenious and foolproof tactics, an unforeseen crisis, from a blind spot in His monitoring, quietly struck.
A harsh, crackling sound of electricity being forcibly cut off suddenly exploded in Gamer's ears!
Immediately after, a small window in the corner of His cockpit screen, which displayed the drone's real-time footage, went "snap" and turned into a black static screen!
"What?!" The smile on His face instantly froze.
A crisp and powerful voice, like a trumpet of victory, clearly came from outside His mech:
"You anticipated Cat Noir's sneak attack, but...did you anticipate me?"
It was Ladybug!
It turned out that just as everyone's attention was drawn to the missile fired at Alya, Ladybug also caught sight of the miniature drone, and her yoyo, like a living spirit snake,
Shot out like lightning, and with a "snap," neatly pulled the drone out of the air, smashing it heavily to the ground, breaking it into a pile of smoking parts!
And "Gamer" was completely focused on mocking Cat Noir and enjoying Jaden's plight, creating an opening!
Ladybug seized this moment!
"Now!"
She stood on the rooftop of a building, her yoyo drawing a brilliant red light, swinging out at an astonishing speed!
The seemingly slender rope extended infinitely in mid-air, like a hunting spider web, wrapping tightly around "Gamer's" massive and clumsy legs, circle after circle!
"Hmph!"
Ladybug gave a soft cry, pushing off the edge of the rooftop with her feet, her entire body falling backward, transforming all her weight and centrifugal force into an irresistible immense power!
"Boom—!!!"
"Gamer's" huge body, as stable as a mountain, instantly lost its balance under the pull of this clever force.
It let out an unwilling, metal-grinding wail, its massive body, like a felled giant tree, crashed backward, heavily smashing onto the devastated street, stirring up a sky full of dust and rubble!
"Cat Noir, you did very well too." Ladybug stabilized herself, while vigilantly staring at the fallen mech, she replied, "Successfully distracted him."
Cat Noir's cheeks inexplicably flushed upon hearing Ladybug's praise, and he scratched the back of his head, a little flustered.
He couldn't exactly say that his helpless wail just now was completely genuine emotion, and not some clever tactic, could he?
He could only clear his throat and forcefully bring the conversation back on track: "Ha, haha, yeah! Of course! So now...should we finish it off completely?"
"Yes." Ladybug's eyes sharpened again, "We need to finish this quickly."
She glanced at the street corner in the distance; the dangerous scene just now still made her heart pound.
She knew that they had to defeat "Gamer" as soon as possible, and then use Miraculous Restoration to fix everything.
Otherwise, whether it was Alya, who was affected by the explosion, or Jaden, who took a direct hit for her, both could be in danger.
However, just as they thought victory was in their grasp, a more rampant, more unbridled laughter from Max came from inside the fallen mech's cockpit.
"Hahahaha! Finish me? Just now, maybe. But now...it's too late!"
"What are you talking about?"
Cat Noir looked puzzled, "Even now, you're still being stubborn! You've clearly lost! As long as we smash your triangular head, you'll have nowhere to hide!"
"Lost?" Gamer's voice was full of mockery, "No, no, no. Look over there, and you'll know."
Ladybug and Cat Noir subconsciously followed the direction he pointed, looking towards Jaden's mech.
The black and red "Shadow Hunter" Mech, already scarred and battered, was now emitting ominous "buzzing" sounds.
The armor on the mech's surface began to flicker and digitize like a TV screen with bad reception.
Cracks, like a spider web, rapidly spread across its massive body.
Clearly, after a series of fierce battles and enduring the close-range missile explosion, this mech had reached its absolute limit.
To their astonishment, with a "boom," Jaden's mech completely disintegrated! It didn't explode, but transformed into a sky full of red and black data streams, like brilliant stardust, dissipating into the air.
And at the center of that data stream, a figure fell from mid-air—it was Jaden.
His handsome combat suit, along with the destruction of the mech, also turned into specks of light and disappeared, reverting to his original school uniform appearance.
But the story didn't end there.
The massive energy data from the "Shadow Hunter" that had just disintegrated did not completely dissipate.
Instead, as if guided by some invisible force, they converged into a huge, dazzling golden-red giant experience orb, like the sun!
"Whoosh—!"
This experience orb, containing the energy of a complete mech, trailing a long exhaust, like iron filings attracted by a magnet, rushed unhesitatingly and directly towards the fallen "Gamer"!
"No!" Ladybug wanted to stop it, but it was already too late.
"Gamer's" huge single eye opened a circular hole like a black hole, devouring the massive experience orb in one gulp!
"Ding! —Experience absorbed! Upgrade conditions met! Evolving to Level 3!"
"Rumble—!"
The deafening roar sounded again! The fallen "Gamer" mech began to undergo even more violent, earth-shattering changes than before!
Its size became even larger, and a new, heavier shell, shimmering with dark golden luster, appeared on its original silver-gray armor!
Its arms became thicker, and its shoulders were even equipped with ferocious ramming horns and missile launchers! The triangular throne at the top of the arch even rose higher, becoming like a spire, towering above, exuding a terrifying aura of dominance!
The upgraded "Gamer" slowly stood up from the ground. Its huge body, over thirty meters tall, cast a shadow that almost enveloped the entire block in darkness.
"Level 3...achieved."
Max's voice became deeper and more powerful.
He looked down at the two figures, tiny as ants, and declared in a tone almost like judgment:
"Ladybug, Cat Noir...are you ready to accept your defeat?"
"...This is bad." Ladybug looked at the giant monster before her, like a final BOSS, and felt her scalp tingle.
"What do we do now?"
Cat Noir couldn't smile anymore either; the last paw pad on His ring was constantly flashing, reminding him of his dwindling transformation time.
"Let's get out of here first!" Ladybug made a decisive decision, "He's definitely going to chase us now! Let's lure him away first!"
With that, the two stopped fighting, immediately turned around, and swiftly retreated.
"Don't think you can run!"
"Gamer" let out a roar, taking heavy steps, like a moving mountain, following their footsteps, rumbling away from the battlefield that had already become ruins.
As the huge roar gradually faded, the messy street finally returned to a deathly silence.
Jaden slowly stood up from the ground, patting the dust off his body.
The impact from the mech's collapse had rattled him a bit, but he was fine.
He looked up at the empty street in the distance, his gaze finally falling on the figure lying on the ground due to the shockwave.
It was Alya.
He went over and squatted beside her.
The girl's eyes were tightly closed, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, as if she had fallen into a coma.
He checked her; fortunately, she had only fainted and had no obvious external injuries.
Perhaps sensing someone nearby Alya's eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.
When she saw Jaden squatting beside her, a trace of confusion flashed in her clear, light brown eyes, which was then immediately replaced by anxiety.
"Jaden! Are you...are you alright?"
She struggled to sit up, but found her body weak and unable to exert any strength,
"Ladybug and Cat Noir...did they...deal with that bad guy?"
"No."
Jaden shook his head, his voice calm,
"They lured that Gamer away."
"Then...what about us now..."
"Now, this battlefield, only the two of us are left."
Jaden looked at her and asked softly, "How about you? How do you feel? Are you alright?"
"I..." Alya tried to move her body, but immediately gasped, "I feel...I feel a bit numb, as if...as if I can't move..."
"Don't move around." Jaden said, reaching out, seemingly wanting to help her check, "Let me take a look. Is that okay?"
His voice was very gentle. Alya looked at his sincere and concerned eyes, her cheeks inexplicably flushing, and she shyly hummed a "hmm."
Jaden carefully helped her move her limbs, confirming that it was only temporary muscle paralysis due to the shockwave, and there were no serious injuries like fractures, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.
"It should just be the effect of the shockwave, you'll be fine after some rest."
He withdrew his hand and said.
"Are you alright, Jaden? Your face...looks a bit pale."
Alya also looked at him worriedly; his lips seemed paler than usual.
"Me?" Jaden smiled, changing the subject. "I have giant mech protection; what could happen to me?"
He stood up and looked down at her, his smile fading, His tone becoming more serious: "It's you, though. Why were you holding your phone and filming so close? Why didn't you listen to me and leave immediately?"
His questioning instantly left Alya speechless. She lowered her head, like a child who had done something wrong, stammering, unable to utter a single word.
Yes, why? For the so-called news buzz? For that ridiculous bit of vanity? She almost lost her life for it. If not for Jaden… Seeing her guilty expression, Jaden didn't scold her further. She signed and squatted down in front of her again.
"Can you still walk?" he asked.
Alya shook her head, looking disheartened: "I can't… My legs are still numb."
Jaden was silent for a moment, then turned around, presenting his back to her.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Alya looked at his back, puzzled.
Jaden looked back at her and said in a matter-of-fact tone, with a hint of helplessness:
"What else? Taking you home, Miss Injured."
He paused, then added, with a hint of imperceptible tenderness in his voice:
"Consider it… a 'reward' for your 'heroic act' this time."
Alya looked at his profile; in the afterglow of the sunset, his features were as distinct as a sculpture.
Her heart, once again, began to pound uncontrollably.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally reached out her arms, gently wrapped them around his neck, and carefully leaned her body against his back.
Jaden felt the softness and warmth from his back. He took a deep breath, cupped his hands behind her, steadily supported her bent legs, and then slowly stood up.
Alya's body was very light; carrying her, he barely felt any weight.
"I'm sorry…"
Her cheek was pressed against the back of his neck, her voice muffled and full of apology. "If it weren't for me… you wouldn't have…"
"It's alright," Jaden interrupted her, taking a step and walking towards her home.
"Now you know fear, now you regret it? Consider it a lesson learned.
I believe next time, you won't be so reckless."
His attitude remained gentle, yet without any hint of blame, instead sounding like he was comforting a younger sister who had made a mistake.
The setting sun cast their shadows, long and drawn out, on the empty street.
All the way Alya quietly lay on his back, not speaking again.
She just quietly felt his steady heartbeat and warm body temperature. She felt her face was constantly burning hot.
When Jaden carried her to the apartment building where she lived, he could already feel that the girl's breathing had become much steadier.
He found her door. Alya, a little embarrassed, fumbled in her pocket for the key and opened the door.
The living room was empty.
Jaden carried her inside, carefully and gently placed her on the living room sofa, and even thoughtfully took a cushion to place behind her waist.
"Where's your first-aid kit?"
He asked, his gaze sweeping across the lived-in living room.
The walls were covered with family photos: funny faces made by the twin sisters, the proud moment when elder sister Nora lifted her boxing champion trophy, and a warm family photo at the zoo.
"In… in the second drawer under the TV cabinet." Alya pointed, her voice still a bit weak.
Jaden found the white plastic box as instructed. He opened it to reveal neatly arranged cotton swabs, disinfectant, bandages, and band-aids.
Just as he was about to start Alya propped herself up and sat, reaching out to take the first-aid kit.
"I can do this little thing myself," she said, a blush of stubbornness on her face.
She took out a cotton swab dipped in disinfectant and carefully wiped the small scrapes on her knees caused by her fall. Her movements were a bit clumsy, clearly unaccustomed to such tasks. When the disinfectant touched the wound, she winced softly, her brows furrowed.
Jaden did not insist further, merely sitting quietly on the sofa beside her, watching her silently.
"Wh-why are you still staring at me?"
After being watched by his gentle gaze for a while Alya felt her cheeks grow warm. She puffed out her cheeks and protested softly, "I, I already know I was wrong!"
Upon hearing this, Jaden's face broke into a gentle, slightly teasing smile.
He leaned back against the sofa and, in a relaxed tone, as if narrating someone else's story, joked, "Don't you think that scene just now was particularly like a classic trope from those third-rate TV dramas and shoddy novels?"
"What trope?" Alya asked subconsciously.
"A female lead or supporting character who usually has no brains, only rushing forward with a burst of passion,"
He continued, observing the increasingly expressive look on Alya's face,
"puts herself in danger by foolishly seeking trouble. Then, a male supporting character, also somewhat brainless but with a bit of combat power, rushes up recklessly and uses his body to block a fatal blow for her.
Finally, the true hero protagonists make a grand entrance to clean up the mess… How about it, isn't it a very melodramatic plot?"
"I'm not brainless! I just…"
Alya immediately reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, excitedly wanting to retort.
But when she looked up and saw Jaden's playful expression, her momentum deflated like a punctured balloon. Her cheeks grew redder, and she lowered her head, continuing to apply medicine to herself, muttering:
"…Stop joking. And speaking of which, you got hurt too, didn't you?"
She looked up, her gaze scanning him worriedly.
"Me, hurt?" Jaden feigned surprise, pointing to himself, then shrugged casually, "How could I be? I told you, I'm a man protected by a steel mech."
Just as the two were playfully teasing each other, and the tension in the living room was gradually dissipating, a "click" of a key inserting into a lock suddenly came from the door.
Immediately after, a lively, cacophonous symphony of voices erupted from outside the door, interspersed with two clear childish voices, a cheerful and capable female voice, and a warm and steady male voice.
"Oh my goodness!" Alya's face changed. "It's, it's my family coming home!"
Her first reaction was to look at Jaden, a hint of panic in her eyes: "Should… should you hide first?"
"Hide?"
Jaden looked at her, shaking his head with amusement. "Why should I hide? Hiding at a time like this, isn't that like 'protesting too much' in those third-rate plots, an unspoken confession?"
He stood up, straightened his collar, and said calmly, "Don't worry, I'm upright and honest. Just leave it to me."
"Ah… y-you're right."
After he said that Alya also felt her reaction was a bit excessive.
Just then, the door was pushed open.
The family, carrying their fatigue and laughter, walked in.
However, when they saw Alya on the living room sofa, slightly injured but clearly not seriously, and the unfamiliar black-haired teenager standing beside her, all sounds ceased abruptly.
The air in the living room instantly froze.
"Who are you?!"
The first to react was the tall, athletic young woman with an orange-red high ponytail and a faint scar on her left eyebrow—Alya's elder sister, Nora.
Her gaze was as sharp as an eagle's. In an instant, she darted in front of Alya, shielding her sister behind her, and assumed a professional kickboxer's defensive stance.
Her bronzed, explosively powerful muscles were tensed, like a female leopard ready to attack at any moment.
"Stay away from my sister!" Her voice was low and full of warning.
Following closely behind were Alya's parents.
Alya's mother, Marlena, had worry etched on her face; while Alya's father, Otis, scrutinized Jaden from head to toe.
The twins, Ella and Etta, dressed in contrasting sister outfits, curiously peered from behind their parents, looking at the unfamiliar "intruder" with identical wide, puzzled eyes.
Fortunately, this potentially melodramatic family drama did not unfold.
"Nora! Dad! Mom!"
Alya quickly stood up from the sofa and pulled back her overly vigilant sister. "Don't be like that! Things aren't what you think!"
In the next few minutes Alya displayed all her talents as a future journalist, recounting everything that happened that afternoon in a rapid yet clear manner, like a news report—from the game competition to Max's Akumatization, then the thrilling mech battle, and finally, the fatal missile and Jaden's selfless rescue.
After listening to this narrative, which rivaled a Hollywood blockbuster, the family's expressions shifted from vigilance to shock, then to lingering fear, and finally, all transformed into deep gratitude for the young man before them.
"Oh, my goodness…"
Marlena was the first to step forward. She hugged Alya tightly, then released her, turning to look at Jaden with a grateful, loving gaze. "Child, thank you so much… If it weren't for you, I can't imagine what would have happened…"
Otis also stepped forward, his rough hands patting Jaden's shoulder.
"Young man, thank you for protecting my daughter." His voice was deep and sincere.
Nora still stood by, arms crossed.
Her suspicious gaze had softened considerably, but her words were still unsparing: "Hmph, who knows if he was just lucky. With his small build, how could he protect Alya?"
But despite her words, her slightly averted gaze and no longer tensed muscles implicitly conveyed her gratitude.
And the twins, Ella and Etta, were completely captivated by the "giant robot" plot in the story.
They ran to Jaden, looking up with their small faces, asking in a flurry of questions:
"Big brother, did you really sit inside such a big robot?"
"Does that robot have missiles? Does it breathe fire?"
Facing this sudden, lively, and warm family atmosphere, Jaden just smiled gently, patiently answering everyone's questions.
Just then, a soft ripple, like an invisible wave, swept through the window.
The light penetrated the wall, gently brushing over Jaden and Alya's bodies.
"Hmm?" Jaden felt that the slight tremors remaining in his body from the mech's collapse instantly vanished without a trace, and his body returned to its optimal state.
And Alya, too, was surprised to find that the scrapes on her knees, which she had just medicated, had healed as good as new, her skin smooth with no visible marks. Even the numbness in her muscles had completely disappeared.
"It's Ladybug…" Alya whispered.
"Yes, big sister!"
Ella and Etta shouted excitedly, "The heroes won again!"
As soon as she finished speaking Alya's phone rang. She picked it up and saw it was Marinette.
"Hello, Marinette? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Alya! How about you? How are you and Jaden?"
Marinette's extremely anxious voice came from the other end of the line.
"We're fine too! Perfectly fine!"
Alya said, glancing at Jaden beside her, a mischievous smile on her face,
"And, I have good news for you, Jaden is at my house right now."
On the other end of the phone, there was a brief, strange silence.
A few seconds later, Marinette's voice rang out again, but with an indescribable, hurried tone: "Th-that's great! I… I'll be right over!"
With that, without waiting for Alya to say anything more, she hung up with a "snap."
Half an hour later, when Marinette breathlessly rang Alya's doorbell, she was greeted by a house full of steaming, fragrant dinner.
Marlena had already showcased her skills as a top chef, with a long dining table laden with a lavish spread.
"Marinette's here! Come in quickly, we were just waiting for you!"
As Alya's best friend, Marinette had clearly been here before, and Alya's family treated her like another one of their own daughters.
Marinette greeted everyone, but her gaze unconsciously searched the living room.
Then, she saw the figure who was being pestered by Ella and Etta, being asked for details about the mech battle.
Seeing him safe and sound, her heart, which had been suspended all the way, finally returned to its place.
The lavish dinner began.
The atmosphere at the dining table was lively and harmonious.
Everyone was discussing the thrilling battle that afternoon. Otis kept toasting Jaden with juice, expressing their gratitude, while Marlena kept piling food onto Jaden and Marinette's plates, afraid they wouldn't eat enough.
Just as this warm atmosphere reached its peak, two almost simultaneous phone rings broke the harmony.
It was Jaden's and Marinette's phones.
Both picked up their phones at the same time and saw the caller ID.
The call for Jaden was from Adrien.
The call for Marinette was from Teacher Caline.
They answered their phones, and from the receivers came almost identical, but completely different in tone, anxious questions.
"Jaden! Where are you? The city-level 'Ultimate Fighting Championship' is about to begin! All the teams from Paris are here, only you guys are missing!"
Adrien's voice was full of urgent prodding.
"Marinette, this is Teacher Caline. Where are you and Jaden now? The competition is about to start, why haven't you arrived at the venue yet?"
Teacher Caline's voice was full of worried inquiry.
Jaden and Marinette looked at each other across the lively dinner table.
Both saw the exact same expression in the other's eyes.
—The competition! They had completely forgotten about the "most important" competition!