Meanwhile, Hawk Moth, through the link, like an omniscient god, overlooked the farce unfolding in the zoo, a farce he Himself had directed.
Every image in Animan's eyes, every sound he heard, was projected in real-time into Hawk Moth's mind.
When he "saw" Adrien step forward, using a slightly clumsy but incredibly resolute method to draw away the animal horde alone, Hawk Moth's face, hidden behind his silver mask, showed a different expression.
It wasn't the smugness of a villain seeing his plan go smoothly, but the worry of a father.
"Reckless!"
He almost unconsciously reprimanded in a low voice, his voice echoing in the empty secret room, with a tremor he himself hadn't noticed.
"Utterly reckless... just like your mother!"
His hands unconsciously tightened around his staff, his knuckles turning white from the grip.
He clearly sensed that Animan's hunting desire was completely locked onto Adrien.
Although he knew Animan wouldn't harm him, for a moment, he even felt an impulse to immediately order Animan to stop the attack and revoke this Akumatization.
But he couldn't.
Every second felt like a century.
It wasn't until that familiar red figure, representing hope, descended from the sky, until Ladybug temporarily defused the crisis with her wisdom and courage,
Until he confirmed that Adrien had seized the opportunity to escape the direct threat of the animal horde, Hawk Moth's heart, which had been suspended in mid-air, finally fell heavily back into his chest.
He let out a long, silent sigh of relief, and his hands, which had been clutching the staff, slowly relaxed.
Adrien... was safe.
Immediately after, the figure in the black catsuit with cat ears also appeared in his "field of vision."
Cat Noir's appearance meant that this farce would officially enter the regular "hero vs. villain" process.
"Animan,"
Cat Noir's voice came through the link, as always, with a playful lightness.
"This party you're throwing is really 'wild.' But I don't think your guests particularly appreciate your hospitality."
Animan let out a low growl, seemingly in response to him.
"Oh? Are you inviting me to dance?"
Cat Noir deftly dodged a charging rhino. "Sorry, I prefer a one-on-one tango."
Hawk Moth watched the beginning of this uneven duel with cold eyes. He knew that Animan alone would struggle to handle two heroes simultaneously.
But this chaos had already achieved the effect he desired.
And after confirming his son was out of immediate danger, Hawk Moth finally had the leisure to deal with another pressing matter.
He calmly raised his staff, flicked it lightly with his thumb, and the cap of the purple gem at the top of the staff opened with a click.
"Nathalie,"
His voice returned to its usual coldness and calm, devoid of any emotion. "Is there something?"
An equally calm, unruffled female voice came from the staff, so clear it was as if she were standing beside him: "It's Mrs. Tsurugi. She has sent a communication request."
Gabriel frowned slightly, his mind still on the battlefield: "Can't it be delayed a little longer? It's a critical moment here."
"I'm afraid not, sir,"
Nathalie's tone was devoid of any emotion.
"As you know, the Tsurugi Corporation's intelligence network has always been monitoring the situation in Paris.
I'm afraid... the images of the 'peacock miraculous' reappearing and being used by an unknown individual have already been captured by her intelligence network through news channels."
Under Hawk Moth's mask, his eyes narrowed. He knew Nathalie was right.
That woman, though thousands of miles away, had eyes and tentacles sharper than any local Parisian media.
The appearance of the damaged peacock miraculous was, for her, an absolutely unignorable signal, enough to touch her most sensitive nerves.
"...Alright,"
He paused for a moment, finally making a decision. "I'll be right back."
With that, he cut the communication.
He last confirmed through the mental link that Cat Noir and Ladybug had completely captured Animan's attention, and only then did His heart finally settle.
"Nooroo, Akumatization off."
The purple light receded, and the shadows of the room seemed to come alive, swallowing him.
The next second, in the large, empty studio of the Agreste Mansion, the secret door leading to the underground chamber slowly closed, and Gabriel was already standing in the center of the room.
He quickly adjusted the collar of his white suit, wiped away all the emotions belonging to Hawk Moth from his face, and resumed the appearance of the stern, authoritative fashion mogul who was always in control.
He walked behind the desk and opened the embedded tablet computer on its surface.
The screen lit up, revealing a woman's face.
"Hello, Mrs. Tsurugi."
Gabriel spoke first, His tone the polite yet distant one typically used in business negotiations.
"Gabriel,"
The woman on the other end of the screen nodded slightly, her voice as calm as still water, showing no ripples of emotion.
"I hope my call hasn't interrupted your 'important business.' And it's been three weeks and four days since you last contacted me proactively."
Gabriel's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't caught the sarcasm in her words:
"Of course not. Paris had some... minor issues, which I've just finished handling.
As for contacting you... I just didn't want to waste your time with needless failures."
"Is that so? I heard more than just 'minor issues,'"
Mrs. Tsurugi's lips curved into an almost imperceptible, cold arc.
"My people tell me a new 'performer' has appeared in Paris.
And you, lately, seem a bit distracted from our agreement."
Every word she spoke was unhurried yet incisive, cutting straight to the core.
Gabriel knew that playing games in front of her was pointless.
Although the woman was blind, her senses had become sharper than the most precise instruments because of it.
She could detect whether he was lying from the slightest changes in his voice's intonation, the smallest pauses.
"You're changing the subject, Gabriel,"
Her tone suddenly became sharp. "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing of the sort,"
Gabriel denied it vehemently, his voice still steady, but his mind was rapidly constructing an impeccable lie. "The situation in Paris has always been under my control."
"Under control?"
Mrs. Tsurugi let out an almost inaudible sneer. "Then please explain why someone is using that 'forbidden' item?
That damaged peacock miraculous should be in your hands.
And the man who appeared in the news footage is neither you nor your capable assistant, Nathalie."
Her questions were like a rapid-fire sword attack, each thrust more ruthless and cunning than the last, giving Gabriel no chance to breathe.
"You know the consequences of that thing falling into someone else's hands!"
Her voice, for the first time, carried a hint of genuine emotion, a severity mixed with anger and lingering fear.
No one knew the danger of that damaged item better than her. Her daughter, Kagami, was the perfect successor she had once tried to "create" with that artifact, and the price she paid for it was losing her sight forever.
She was fortunate to have only lost her eyes, but that fear was already branded deep into her soul.
She loved her daughter deeply, but she didn't know how to express it in a normal way, only through this extreme, obsessive method of "protecting" her.
"He's just an insignificant nobody."
Gabriel finally spoke, choosing a dismissive, arrogant tone to conceal the turmoil in His heart .
He absolutely could not let Mrs. Tsurugi know of Jaden's existence, nor could he let her know about his "Rewrite" qualification.
He leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced on the table, adopting the posture of someone in control, and began his performance: "Those were just some small tests I was conducting.
You know, I've been trying to use some special materials to repair that damaged peacock miraculous.
Some time ago, I briefly thought I had succeeded, so I found a greedy and foolish unfortunate soul to test it out."
His voice was full of disdain for that "unfortunate soul."
"Unfortunately, he was too arrogant and thought he had obtained the power of a god.
After killing an irrelevant, boring person, he instead couldn't bear the backlash of that power..." He finished, His tone imbued with a perfectly measured sense of loss and vexation, as if a foolish pawn had truly caused his entire plan to fail.
"So, the user is dead?" Mrs. Tsurugi asked.
"Yes, a very ugly death,"
Gabriel's voice carried a convincing hint of disgust.
"Originally, that time, I thought I could successfully get what I wanted and finally achieve my wish... Unfortunately, that idiot's loss of control messed everything up. Of course, I've already recovered the peacock miraculous."
He spread his hands, his face showing a perfectly calculated self-mockery and disappointment.
It was a perfect lie.
It explained the appearance of the peacock miraculous's power, defined the user as a dead, insignificant nobody, which both allayed Mrs. Tsurugi's doubts and portrayed himself as a tragic collaborator who was eager for success but unfortunately failed.
Mrs. Tsurugi on the other end of the screen was silent for a long time. The air seemed to solidify.
"...You've always failed, Gabriel,"
She finally spoke slowly. "I've grown used to it."
Her tone showed neither belief nor suspicion, just a pure statement of fact.
Gabriel felt a surge of offended displeasure, but his face remained calm:
"So, that's why I need your help. Mrs. Tsurugi, about your trip to Paris..."
"I'll come. As planned,"
Mrs. Tsurugi interrupted him.
"But, Gabriel, you must remember our agreement.
I'll help you get what you want, and you... must ensure your son is a worthy and qualified husband for Kagami."
"Adrien is my son; he will be the best," Gabriel replied confidently.
"I don't need 'the best,'"
Mrs. Tsurugi's voice was as cold as ice.
"I need a partner who is strong enough, gentle enough, but most importantly... obedient enough to protect her. Don't disappoint me."
"You won't be disappointed."
The communication was abruptly cut off, and the screen returned to black.
The tablet screen went dark, and Gabriel leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh.
Dealing with that woman was more exhausting than facing Ladybug and Cat Noir simultaneously.
In distant Tomoe, within a classical mansion surrounded by a serene bamboo forest.
Mrs. Tsurugi sat in the center of the dojo, the tablet computer, which had just ended the call, still glowing faintly on the low table in front of her.
She slowly removed her sunglasses, revealing the eyes that had been replaced by precise mechanical prosthetics.
Cold white data light flickered in the prosthetic eyes, yet they were more empty than any human eyes.
"Mother."
A cool voice came from the dojo entrance.
Kagami, dressed in a pure white kendo uniform and holding a bamboo sword, stood silently there.
Her posture was like a tall, straight pine, her face devoid of any superfluous expression.
"Kagami,"
Mrs. Tsurugi didn't turn around, her voice calm. "What are your thoughts on our plan to go to Paris next week?"
The question sounded like a request for an opinion, but both mother and daughter knew it was merely a notification, a formality.
Kagami lowered her gaze, looking at the polished wooden floor beneath her feet, her voice equally calm and unruffled: "I have no objections, Mother."
She had no room to object to this.
From childhood, every step of her life had been under her mother's planning.
Where to go, what to learn, who to associate with... she only needed to follow orders.
"Very good."
Mrs. Tsurugi nodded in satisfaction. She put her sunglasses back on, covering her inhuman eyes.
Kagami didn't know what kind of agreement her mother and Mr. Agreste had reached; she only knew that her life was about to enter another pre-arranged, unresisting turning point.
She tightened her grip on the bamboo sword, as if that were the only thing she could truly hold onto in this world.
Meanwhile, in the Paris Zoo, at the center of the battle's vortex, Ladybug and Cat Noir's situation was becoming increasingly stifling.
This was not a battle of strength or skill, but a war of attrition, a tug-of-war of willpower.
Animan had no intention of confronting them head-on; he was like a tyrant on a throne,
Indifferently waving his invisible arms, driving his endless "subjects" to charge forward.
Lions, tigers, rhinos, wild wolves... these ferocious beasts, once separated by fences, now had the same purple, malevolent glint in their eyes, forming wave after wave of wild onslaught, surging towards the two heroes one after another.
For Ladybug and Cat Noir, repelling these animals in itself was not difficult.
The difficulty was that they couldn't strike hard.
"Hey, Your Majesty!"
Cat Noir deftly used one end of his staff to push away a pouncing cougar, flipped in the air, and landed on a rockery, His tone full of sarcasm,
"Didn't you just swear to fight for animal rights? But what you're doing now is using them as your human shields!"
Animan, transformed into a black panther, crouched on another rock not far away, elegantly licked His paws, His voice devoid of any emotion:
"This is a necessary sacrifice made for a great goal."
His gaze swept across the scene, carrying a chilling confidence.
"Besides,"
He added slowly, a hint of playfulness flashing in His purple eyes,
"With Ladybug's magical 'Miraculous Restoration,' no matter how severely they are injured, even... death, won't they all return good as new in the end?"
These words were like a thorn, accurately piercing the hearts of the two heroes.
Yes, Miraculous Restoration.
This ultimate ability, which should have been a symbol of hope and salvation, now became the villain's excuse for wanton destruction.
They could squander lives without hesitation because they knew that someone would always come to clean up their mess in the end.
And as the ones "cleaning up the mess," they had to bear all the moral shackles during the battle.
"This guy... is getting more and more out of line!" Cat Noir gritted His teeth.
The animals' offensive showed no signs of stopping.
Ladybug's yo-yo drew dazzling red lines in the air; each throw accurately entangled the limbs of a fierce beast, then skillfully flung it aside,
Temporarily incapacitating it. But as soon as one was dealt with, two or three immediately replaced it.
Even so, she was still looking for an opportunity. Animan's leisurely demeanor was His biggest weakness.
"Now!"
Seizing a gap in the beast pack's attack, Ladybug's wrist flicked sharply, and the yo-yo bypassed several obstacles in the air, precisely entangling Animan's body at an incredible angle.
"Got him!"
She shouted, pulling hard, and the rope instantly tightened, binding the black panther-shaped Animan securely, hog-tied.
"Game over, big kitty."
Seeing this, Cat Noir immediately jumped over, striking what He considered a cool pose, ready to declare victory.
However, the bound black panther not only showed no trace of panic on His face but instead revealed a strange smile.
Just as Cat Noir's words were about to fall, the bound black body suddenly transformed into a cloud of purplish-black smoke, dissipating through the gaps in the rope.
The smoke re-condensed in mid-air, turning into a... tiny ladybug, no bigger than a fingernail.
It flapped its wings, flying a circle in front of Ladybug, as if mocking how futile her previous attack had been.
"What?" Ladybug was stunned.
The ladybug turned into smoke again in the air, then transformed back into the agile black panther, landing steadily on the ground.
"My name is Animan."
His voice was full of triumph,
"I can transform into any animal. Your attacks... are useless."
As His words fell, a new, even larger horde of animals charged at the two heroes again from all directions.
This time, even the sky saw controlled birds of prey, circling and emitting piercing cries.
"Darn it! This guy is too difficult to deal with!"
Ladybug retrieved her yo-yo, fending off a diving vulture, her brows tightly furrowed.
"There are too many, Ladybug,"
Cat Noir's staff whirled powerfully, but He could only barely protect Himself, "We need to change positions, find a place that's disadvantageous for him!"
He was about to lead Ladybug out of the encirclement when He found their retreat route completely blocked by several massive African elephants and hippos.
"It seems our Animan doesn't want us to leave His 'kingdom' easily."
Cat Noir still found time to joke.
"Now's not the time to be joking!"
Ladybug rolled her eyes at Him.
Just as they were engaged in a fierce battle, Animan, perched high above, seemed a bit distracted.
A tiny sparrow silently landed on His shoulder, chirping to convey information from another battlefield.
He "saw" the scene in the glass greenhouse.
His daughter Alya, was still standing there like a block of wood, head down, lost in thought.
And the young man named Jaden stood to the side, seemingly contemplating something, not actively breaking the stalemate.
"Alas..."
Otis's personality sighed helplessly deep within Animan's consciousness,
"My daughter, usually so shrewd and capable as a reporter, why does she become as flustered as Marinette when it comes to matters of the heart? It seems I need to add more fuel to their fire."
He turned His head and quickly exchanged a few words with the little bird on His shoulder in animal language.
The little bird understood the command and immediately flapped its wings and flew high.
As it flew away, the birds of prey circling in the sky, and the largest animals on the ground, as if receiving some kind of retreat signal,
All turned around in unison and followed the little bird, galloping towards another part of the zoo.
This sudden scene confused both Ladybug and Cat Noir.
"He... what is He doing?" Cat Noir asked, puzzled, "Has He given up?"
"No," Ladybug's observation was more detailed; she noticed a slight tremor in Animan's black panther body after He gave the command.
"I understand,"
She whispered to Cat Noir,
"He must be bluffing! Controlling such a large group of animals simultaneously is a huge drain on Him. He can't hold on anymore, which is why He dispersed those large animals that consume the most energy!"
"So that's it!"
Cat Noir suddenly understood, "Then what do we do now..."
"Hold on a little longer,"
Ladybug's eyes became firm,
"He won't last much longer. As long as we don't use our ultimate moves, our transformation time is long. If we outlast Him, we will definitely win!"
Cat Noir nodded, and both of them regained their spirits, patiently dealing with the still numerous, but far less intimidating, beast pack before them.
Meanwhile, in that secluded glass greenhouse, time seemed to have been slowed down.
Alya was still staring at the pitiful pitcher plant on the ground, as if trying to decipher the ultimate mysteries of life from its peculiar insect-catching structure.
Her heart was a sweet mess.
It felt pretty good; every second spent alone with Jaden, the air was sweet.
But... what to do next? Just keep silent like this?
She felt like Marinette, whom she often complained about; she had a thousand plans in her head, but her body was frozen in place, unable to execute any of them.
On the other side, Jaden's consciousness, through His invisible link, reached the other end of the zoo.
The Visitor Safety Center.
This was a huge semi-circular building, constructed of reinforced glass and steel-reinforced concrete, strong enough to withstand most physical impacts.
Currently, it was crowded with panicked tourists. Nora was holding Ella and Etta tightly in her arms, vigilantly watching the entrance.
Just now, several Akumatization wild buffalo and hyenas tried to charge the glass doors here, but as they approached a certain distance,
They seemed to encounter some invisible natural enemy, suddenly tucked their tails, let out a terrified whimper, and then fled in a panic.
The tourists let out a cheer of relief, but Nora's heart sank.
She knew that after her father's Akumatization, theoretically all the animals in the zoo were His eyes and ears.
He couldn't possibly not know they were here.
"Sister, I just... I think I saw the shadow of a really, really big snake flash by!"
Ella whispered.
"I saw it too!" Etta added.
"Don't talk nonsense,"
Nora scolded, pressing her two younger sisters' heads into her embrace,
"You two rascals, you must be seeing things. Joking at a time like this."
But her heart was in turmoil.
Because just now, the surrounding scene had fallen into a strange, dead silence.
It wasn't just quiet; it was the kind of silence where even insect chirps and bird calls had disappeared, filled with the aura of death.
As a fighter, she was all too familiar with this situation.
That was the... territorial suppression that only occurred when a top predator appeared nearby.
With His thoughts withdrawn from the distant and tense Visitor Safety Center, Jaden's attention refocused on the small, secluded glass greenhouse before Him.
Alya still maintained that pose, crouching on the ground like a serious botanist, staring at the innocent pitcher plant. Sunlight filtered through the glass dome, casting a warm halo on her dark reddish-brown hair, making the light coppery red at the tips appear even brighter.
Her profile was soft, and the beauty Marc above her right eyebrow added a touch of playfulness.
But at this moment, her shoulders were slightly tensed, revealing a nervousness that was out of place with the tranquil atmosphere.
"Are you alright?"
Jaden's voice sounded softly, breaking the momentary silence, "You seem... to have something on your mind."
Alya's body trembled almost imperceptibly. She looked up, a slightly exaggerated smile quickly spreading across her face as she waved her hand:
"N-nothing! What could be wrong with me? I'm just studying... yes, studying the structure of this plant, it's quite fascinating, haha."
Her laughter sounded a bit dry, as if she was trying hard to hide something.
Both sides fell into a stalemate again.
In the air, the sweet floral scent seemed to grow richer and more ambiguous, making the atmosphere even more delicate.
Jaden looked at her light brown eyes, which were trying hard to appear nonchalant but were darting around, and understood.
He knew that continuing this silence would only make them both more awkward.
So, He decided to proactively open another topic, one that was lighter and more fitting for the current environment.
"Speaking of which, this is my first time in a botanical garden,"
He walked over to Alya, His gaze sweeping over the strange and wonderful plants in the greenhouse, His tone carrying a hint of genuine curiosity,
"I know nothing about these things. You must be very familiar with this place, right? How about... you be my guide and introduce them to me?"
This invitation was like a lifeline, instantly pulling Alya out of the quicksand of awkwardness.
"O-of course!"
She immediately stood up, her spirits seemingly returning all at once, "This is my forte! I used to spend all day here with my dad when I was little!"
She almost instinctively entered her most familiar, energetic "little reporter" mode.
She pointed to a plant nearby with huge, vibrant red flowers and began to introduce it voluminously:
"Look at that one, that's a King Protea, the national flower of South Africa. They say it has a lot of nectar, and many birds love it..."
Her voice regained its usual crispness and vitality, and her eyes became focused and sparkling.
The two of them walked side by side along the winding greenhouse path.
She meticulously introduced the name, origin, and interesting habits of each plant, from the huge air plants wrapped around dead wood to the water lilies floating in the pond with leaves like millstones, and various orchids with ever-changing colors.
Jaden quietly followed beside her, listening attentively, occasionally asking a question or two.
He didn't express surprise at her extensive knowledge like others might; instead, He watched her with an expression of pure admiration, as if she were telling the most captivating story in the world.
The light in the greenhouse was soft, the air warm and humid. As they strolled through it, talking and sharing knowledge and curiosity,
The initial awkwardness and ambiguity gradually gave way to a more natural, more comfortable sense of closeness.
At this moment, they didn't seem like trapped victims, but rather like an ordinary couple enjoying a peaceful afternoon.
This unique, slightly romantic atmosphere, belonging only to the two of them, was quietly brewing.
However, this tranquility was abruptly shattered by a sudden, piercing cry from far away, drawing closer.
Immediately after, the ground began to shake violently and rhythmically, as if thousands of troops were rushing towards them.
"What's going on?"
Alya, who was enthusiastically introducing a carnivorous plant, and Jaden, who was beside her, simultaneously looked up towards the source of the sound and tremor.
The sight they saw instantly drained the color from Alya's face.
Outside the greenhouse's massive glass curtain wall, the sky had turned black.
It wasn't the kind of black caused by storm clouds obscuring the sun, but rather a "living dark cloud" formed by thousands of black birds with purple glowing eyes, like a locust plague, covering the sky.
And on the ground, the largest animals that Animan had previously dispersed—elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, hippos—like heavy tanks pumped with berserk hormones, were forming an unstoppable torrent, launching a desperate charge towards the glass greenhouse where they were located.
"Boom—!"
The first rhino struck the glass curtain wall heavily with its horn, capable of overturning a car.
The thick bulletproof glass let out a jarring, ear-splitting crash, and the entire greenhouse shook, but only a spiderweb-like pattern of cracks appeared on the glass; it did not shatter.
But this was only the beginning.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
One giant animal after another, like machines programmed for suicide, charged violently and relentlessly at the same point, one after another.
The birds in the sky also swooped down in formation like bombers, pecking frantically at the glass dome with their beaks and claws.
"Dad... is he crazy?" Alya murmured incredulously, her voice filled with fear and despair.
She had witnessed many out-of-control Akumatized Persons, many of whom, after being completely consumed by Hawk Moth's power, would become estranged from their loved ones.
But she had never imagined that her father, who was usually gentle and kind, even careful with a small insect, would become so crazy, so reckless.
Those animals were his cherished children! How could he... how could he drive them to make such a suicidal attack?
The cracks on the glass grew more numerous and denser.
The entire greenhouse was shaking violently, as if it could fall apart at any moment.
Some smaller monkeys and raccoons had even climbed up the cracks, baring their teeth and letting out threatening snarls at them from outside the glass.
"Don't be afraid."
Just as Alya's fear reached its peak and her body began to tremble uncontrollably, a warm and firm voice sounded in her ear.
Jaden had, at some point, stepped in front of her, completely shielding her within his protective embrace. her expression remained calm, but deep within his black eyes, a cold flame ignited.
"Lost control...?"
He knew, of course, that this situation was definitely not Animan' spontaneous command.
Hawk Moth! This was clearly Hawk Moth launching a more violent attack through Animan.
He had his panther ready to burst out of his shadow at any moment.
"Once the glass breaks, immediately eliminate all threats."
The animals outside crashed into the glass one after another, as if their lives meant nothing.
In their purple eyes, there was no animal instinct, but a fanaticism driven by twisted obsession.
They didn't care if their hard bones would be shattered or if their massive bodies would be bloodied.
They just moved forward, forward, and further forward, until their assigned mission was complete.
Under this apocalyptic scene Alya's sanity completely collapsed.
But at the same time, a deep-seated, desperate courage for confession ignited like a phoenix's fire.
She didn't want to regret it! She didn't want to leave any regrets!
"If... if I'm going to die here today..." she thought,
"I can't... I can't just die like this without saying anything!"
She suddenly grabbed Jaden's arm.
Jaden turned his head, somewhat surprised, not knowing what she intended to do.
The next second Alya stood on her tiptoes, closed her eyes, and pressed her soft, warm lips firmly against his.
Jaden's eyes suddenly widened.
His mind, at that moment, also uncharacteristically went blank for a moment.
A few seconds later, she released him, her cheeks flushed as if they would bleed, but her eyes were brighter than ever before.
She gasped for breath, and with a tone almost like a confession, she poured out all the words she had suppressed in her heart.
"I, I like you! Jaden!"
"From the moment I recklessly tried to film you and was pulled back... from when you looked at me with that gentle gaze meant only for me... from when you saved me again in the mecha battle, and now you're protecting me like this again..."
"I know this isn't right! I know Marinette likes you too, and I'm her strategist, I should help her!
But I can't do it! I really can't! I'm sorry... I'm sorry!
I just wanted... if I'm going to die today, at least... at least let me say these words..."
She spoke incoherently, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
Jaden looked at her, his gaze gradually softening from initial bewilderment, becoming complex, and finally transforming into a bottomless tenderness.
He simply raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks.
"It's okay,"
His voice, like the calmest deep pool, was enough to soothe all panic and chaos,
"I understand."
He understood her fear, the courage that erupted from that fear, and even more, the long-struggling emotions deep within her heart.
At such a moment, any accusation seemed so pale and powerless.
He even read something deeper from her almost hysterical emotions—her despair for their safety, almost having concluded that Ladybug and Cat Noir had failed.
Otherwise, these animals could not be so reckless, so unconditionally destructive.
He signed inwardly, pulling Alya's body, somewhat out of control from fear and confession, tighter into his embrace.
"You're under too much mental stress..."
His chin rested on the top of her head, gently caressing her, as if comforting a startled young animal,
"Close your eyes, don't listen, don't look... It will be over soon, very soon... everything will be over."
His voice whispered in her ear, carrying a strange magic that gradually calmed Alya's heart, which had almost leaped out of her throat.
She felt the warmth and solidity of his embrace, which made her feel incredibly safe.
She tightly clutched the clothes on his chest, like grasping the last straw, burying her face in his chest, obeying his words, and tightly closing her eyes.
He understood. He understood everything.
Just then, the entire greenhouse let out one last groan, unable to bear the weight.
"Crash—!"
With a loud bang, the glass dome above them finally shattered completely, and countless glass shards poured down like hail.
The panther was ready to strike.
Alya's body tensed suddenly, but the expected sharp pain and chaos did not arrive.
She felt Jaden holding her even tighter, his body taut, as if he was fending off something.
One second... two seconds... three seconds... then, there was no movement.
The world suddenly fell silent.
A strange, absolute silence.
Alya trembled as she opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was Jaden's black eyes, as deep as an abyss; there was no fear in his eyes, only a profound calm.
She cautiously opened her eyes, lifted her head from Jaden's embrace, and then... she froze.
Those frenzied animals were gone.
Those hideous cracks covering the glass were gone.
The pouring glass shards were also gone.
The glass dome above was perfectly intact, and the sunlight still streamed down softly.
Everything in the greenhouse had returned to its initial tranquility. Only a few bewildered butterflies were still leisurely fluttering about.
Alya's body went limp, and a sense of exhaustion and post-trauma collapse instantly overwhelmed her.
She looked down and saw her soaked clothes and a messy dark watermark on Jaden's chest.
"I... I just..."
Her mind was still a bit dulled, and she began to stammer explanations incoherently,
"Those were, those were all subconscious actions! All those words were... were due to being scared, you, you shouldn't take them seriously!"
She knew she was lying, but at this moment, she couldn't bear the consequences of her true feelings being revealed.
Jaden raised his hand and gently stroked her hair again, looking at her calmly, his tenderness as serene as a deep pool, carrying an irresistible magic.
"Then,"
He said, his voice low and gentle, every word seeming to strike Alya's softest heartstrings,
"I will take responsibility for you."
"Huh?"
Alya's head buzzed, and she completely crashed.
She stared at him with wide eyes, her mind a jumbled mess.
"What... what about Marinette?" she asked subconsciously.
"I will report to her truthfully as well."
Jaden's tone was very serious, without the slightest hesitation or wavering,
"Including all the girls who have developed feelings for me, I will confess to them and tell them all my true circumstances.
I don't wish to hide anything from them; I want them to have their own choice, to choose to be with me or to choose to leave, it will all be up to them to decide."
Alya stared at him blankly.
Her rationality told her that this kind of man was an absolute scumbag!
But deep in her heart, a frantic flutter and satisfaction arose from this honesty.
This acknowledged specialness and ambiguity, brought out into the open, made her whole body go soft.
She couldn't help but smile, yet tears welled up again.
The smile carried an unprecedented sweetness, tinged with a wild and cunning hint she had never shown before.
"You... you're a scumbag, irresponsible!"
Her eyes sparkled, with her characteristic straightforwardness and sharpness, yet tinged with a hint of seduction,
"Be careful not to play with fire and get a cleaver!"
As she spoke, she made a 'chopping' gesture with her hand, but there was no threat in her eyes; instead, they were filled with complex emotions.
The corner of Jaden's mouth curved into a meaningful smile. He leaned down, close to her ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Then... would you be willing to be the first to 'chop' me?"
The warm breath brushed her ear, instantly stiffening Alya's body.
"I... I just..."
She wanted to retort, but facing those smiling eyes, all words got stuck in her throat.
A few seconds later, as if throwing caution to the wind, her face flushed red, and she said fiercely (but her voice was soft): "I'll chop you to death, you... heart-stealing guy!"
After saying that, she again stood on her tiptoes and kissed him actively.
This time, Jaden was no longer passive but accepted it frankly, even giving a gentle response.
Just at this tender moment, a "click" sound came from outside the greenhouse door.
Alya shivered in fright and immediately separated from Jaden.
Her cheeks were flushed red like cooked shrimp, and her eyes frantically darted towards the door.
"Jaden! Alya! Are you two okay?"
Ladybug's anxious voice came from outside the door, "Animan has been purified! I'm opening the door!"
The door lock was disengaged by the yo-yo.
The door was pushed open.
Ladybug appeared at the doorway, her blue eyes filled with worry, her gaze sweeping across the interior of the greenhouse, then landing on Jaden and Alya standing in the center.
Jaden and Alya had already separated, returning to a normal distance.
Ladybug's gaze swept over both their faces, as if searching for something.
She saw Alya's cheeks were flushed red, and her eyes were darting away. As for Jaden... "We're fine, Ladybug."
He spoke in a gentle tone and composed manner, as if everything that had just happened had never occurred.
As if the two of them had simply been waiting quietly for her rescue.