And so, a classroom at François Dupont High School, at this very moment, quietly transformed into an absurd, bizarre, temporary "psychological warfare laboratory" aimed at Paris's number one villain.
A strange atmosphere filled the air—a mix of excitement, tension, curiosity, and a hint of thrill from courting disaster, all blended together.
The students were no longer obedient children listening intently; they gathered in twos and threes, whispering to each other, their eyes shining like a group of mischievous kids about to embark on a grand prank.
They subtly formed a circle around the teacher's desk.
And the small jar, tightly held by Marinette's hands, containing that purplish-black butterfly, became the "eye of the storm."
Teacher Caline stood beside the desk, her face pale, her lips tightly pressed.
She felt that all the experience and common sense she had accumulated as a teacher in her life had utterly failed her today.
She looked at her students, who were as hyped up as if they'd had a shot of adrenaline, eager to try, then glanced at the jar holding the ominous butterfly that could turn people into monsters, and her temples throbbed.
She felt she wasn't supervising a classroom activity; she was clearly babysitting a group of lunatics trying to dismantle an unexploded bomb.
"Alright... alright..." She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound like a teacher's, not an observer about to faint, "Since you've decided... then... who... who wants to go first?"
Her voice carried a tremor she didn't even notice.
The classroom instantly fell silent, everyone's gaze sweeping across each other, searching for that "brave" pioneer.
"I will!"
A loud voice broke the silence.
Everyone turned to look, only to see Kim step forward, head held high, chest puffed out.
He patted his sturdy chest, his face showing a determination to prove himself and make amends: "What happened just now, that was my fault.
Now, let me lead the charge!
It's just anger, isn't it?
I'm very angry right now!"
"Oh?" Chloé, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow, and asked in her characteristic, languid tone, "What are you angry about now?
Angry that you weren't stupid enough just now?"
Kim's face instantly turned beet red.
He pointed at Chloé and retorted loudly: "I... I wasn't!
I'm angry because... because... because yesterday I was playing 'Ultimate Fighting King XII' and I was just a sliver of health away from beating Max, but he... he actually used a hidden combo I'd never seen before and instantly defeated me!
That's so unfair!
I'm clearly stronger than him!
I'm the strongest!"
The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, as if he were reliving that humiliating night when he was taken down by a single combo... "Is that all?"
Chloé rolled her eyes dramatically, wearing an expression that said, "I can't believe I'm wasting my time listening to this."
But Lino cheered him on from the side: "That's enough, that's enough!
That's the emotion!
Kim, keep it up!
Yes, that's the feeling of being technically crushed, with all that brute strength but nowhere to vent it!
Perfect!"
Jaden stood to the side, watching the scene, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips.
He walked over to Kim and said calmly: "Very good, Kim.
Remember, when you get the paper, the voice of Hawk Moth will sound in your head.
He will promise you power and fulfill your wishes.
Don't be in a hurry to refuse, and don't be in a hurry to agree.
You can try asking him one or two questions, such as 'Can your power guarantee that I will definitely win?' or something similar, to see how he answers.
When you want to end it, just... just cough loudly, as a signal."
"Understood!"
Kim nodded vigorously, his eyes resolute, as if he were a warrior about to rush into battle.
And so, under the breathless gaze of the entire class, this unprecedented "villain-teasing operation" officially began.
Kim tore a piece of paper from his notebook, clutched it tightly in his hand, his eyes closed, muttering to himself: "That hateful Max... hidden combo... unfair... I'm the strongest..." He strenuously brewed his negative emotions.
Marinette took a deep breath, carefully twisted open the jar, and tilted its opening.
The purplish-black butterfly seemed to sense this freshly brewed energy, full of "unwillingness" and "anger."
It fluttered twice in the jar, then, like iron filings drawn by a magnet, it flew out with a "whoosh!"
It circled once in the air, then unhesitatingly swooped down towards Kim, and then, amidst a suppressed gasp, merged into the paper in his hand.
Almost at the same time, Kim's body trembled violently, and his eyes became somewhat dazed and struggling.
Meanwhile, at Agreste Mansion, Hawk Moth's lair.
Gabriel had just been feeling a surge of annoyance for not finding suitable negative emotions when suddenly, a familiar, though not top-tier but pure enough, emotion of anger was transmitted through his mysterious link with the Akuma Butterfly.
"Oh? Another unwilling soul..." His spirit perked up, a cold smile playing on his lips, "It's that damned school again... Very good, it seems you haven't learned your lesson."
He immediately projected his will, and that seductive voice solemnly resonated in Kim's mind:
"invincible warlord, I am Hawk Moth."
"They defeated you with trickery and rules you don't understand, mocking the strength you pride yourself on.
This is unfair.
A world where victory relies on petty cleverness rather than true strength is wrong."
Kim felt his heart pounding; that voice seemed to articulate the deepest grievance in his heart.
"I can bestow upon you unparalleled power, granting you the absolute strength to shatter all defenses and overcome all opponents.
You will become the true King of Fighters; no one will ever be able to defeat you with despicable tactics again.
Everyone you wish to challenge will turn to dust before your overwhelming power."
Kim clenched his fists.
He remembered Jaden's instructions, and with all his might, he asked the first question in his mind: "This power... can it guarantee that I... will win in any competition?
Including... running, weightlifting, and... winning Chloé's heart?"
Hawk Moth clearly hadn't expected this "prey" to bargain.
He paused for a moment, then replied with an even more alluring tone: "Power is the guarantee to win everything!
When you become the strongest, glory, victory, and even others' admiration will naturally flock to you!
You will have everything!"
This answer was too ambiguous.
Kim wanted to ask more, but he felt his consciousness being eroded by that powerful force, and an urge to immediately accept and smash Max's game console surged within him.
He knew he couldn't wait any longer.
He suddenly lifted his head, facing the direction of the entire class,
"Cough, cough!!!"
He let out the loud, pre-arranged signal!
No sooner said than done!
An orange-red figure, like a whirlwind, sped from the other end of the classroom!
It was Alya!
She seemed to be on invisible rollerblades, her speed astonishing!
Just a split second before Kim was enveloped by the dark energy, Alya had already rushed in front of him.
Without the slightest hesitation, she extended her arm and, with an extremely precise and swift movement, snatched the paper, which was entwined with dark energy, from Kim's already stiffening hand!
"Got it!" Alya cheered.
She didn't hesitate for a second, tearing with both hands!
"Rip—!!!"
A crisp tearing sound, symbolizing the success of the plan, echoed in the quiet classroom.
The paper was cleanly torn in half.
The Akumatization state was instantly interrupted, and the Akuma Butterfly let out a silent shriek, unwillingly flying out from the torn pieces of paper, circling frantically in the air.
"Over here, over here!" Marinette once again held up her small jar, like an experienced entomologist, seizing the moment, she quickly clapped it shut and twisted!
"Done!"
The purplish-black butterfly was once again confined to its tiny plastic prison.
"Phew..." Kim let out a long breath, feeling as if he had just been pulled out of water, utterly exhausted.
He stumbled, supported by Lino and Max beside him.
Lino excitedly patted Kim's back.
"This... this feeling..." Kim was still shaken, but his face showed an unprecedented excitement, "It was so thrilling!
Did you hear him?
He called me 'invincible warlord'!
It sounds super cool!"
The classroom instantly erupted in suppressed cheers and laughter.
"Round one!
François Dupont High School, wins!" Alya excitedly typed this line into her phone's memo.
Chloé, standing to the side, still wore her usual disdainful expression, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly. The feeling of openly toying with a major villain was, she had to admit, quite amusing.
Meanwhile, Hawk Moth, far away in his lair, was utterly bewildered.
He watched with his own eyes as his 'warrior,' who was almost within his grasp, was 'snatched away' at the last moment. It felt like reeling in a big fish, only for the line to snap just as it reached the shore, and the fish even turned back to blow a bubble at him.
Wh-what's going on? He immediately realized! Then he roared at the empty room, "They... they're doing it on purpose! They're playing with me!"
He trembled with rage, being made a fool of by a bunch of snot-nosed kids—this was ten thousand times more humiliating than being directly defeated by Ladybug and Cat Noir!
Inside the classroom, the excitement of a successful prank was still spreading.
"Next! Who's next?" Lino cheered, raising his arm.
"I... I'll give it a try," a timid voice spoke up. It was Rose. Her face, usually adorned with a sweet smile, was now clouded with a hint of sadness.
"Rose? What's wrong?" Julie, standing nearby, asked with concern.
Rose pouted, extremely wronged: "My new, limited edition, strawberry-scented pink glitter pen that I bought this morning was just... accidentally sat on and broken by Kim! I queued for so long to get it!" The more she spoke, the sadder she became, her eyes welling up.
Kim, who had been immersed in his 'invincible warlord' fantasy, only then looked down at the back of his pants and indeed saw a bit of pink, glittery stuff. He scratched his head awkwardly: "Ah... this... I'm sorry, Rose, I'll buy you another one..."
"That's a limited edition that can't be bought anymore!" Rose cried, her voice choked with tears.
"Alright, alright! That's the emotion!" Alya immediately seized on the key point. "Come on, Rose, filled with your sorrow for the lost limited edition glitter pen, and your resentment towards a certain careless classmate! Begin!"
And so, the second round of the 'torment session' began.
This time, after Marinette released the butterfly, it flew without hesitation towards the sticky note in Rose's hand, which had a crying face drawn on it.
In Hawk Moth's lair, he, who had just been in a fit of rage, now sensed a new wave of negative emotions, full of 'sadness' and 'loss.'
Another one? He was full of questions, but he didn't miss the opportunity. Suppressing his anger, he projected his will once again.
"Princess of Sadness, I am Hawk Moth." This time, his voice was unusually gentle, full of sympathy. "Your beloved, unique treasure is broken, yet the culprit doesn't understand your sorrow. This world always treats beautiful and fragile things so roughly."
Rose's tears welled up in her eyes; that voice truly resonated with her.
"Come, accept my power. I will grant you the magic to mend everything and make everyone feel your sorrow. You will make all of Paris weep for your beloved treasure; they will understand how painful it is to lose something cherished."
Rose sniffled, and following Jaden's earlier eye signal, she tentatively asked in her mind: "Then... my pen... can it turn back? Become exactly like it was before?"
"Of course, my dear princess," Hawk Moth's voice was full of temptation. "You can not only fix it, but you can also have thousands of identical ones! You will possess a kingdom made of your beloved treasures!"
This offer, to Rose at that moment, held an irresistible magic. Her eyes began to glaze over.
Julie, standing beside her, felt a pang in her heart seeing her friend about to be swayed. Noticing Rose's fingers tightening around the paper, she knew she couldn't wait.
Without waiting for Rose's signal, she directly reached out and, with a decisiveness completely contrary to her usual introverted personality, snatched the sticky note!
"Sorry, Rose!" she whispered, then pulled with both hands!
"Rip!!"
Another crisp tearing sound.
The Akuma Butterfly shrieked as it flew out again, and was quickly trapped in the jar by the quick-witted Marinette.
In his lair, Hawk Moth had gone from furious to utterly stunned. He stood with his mouth agape, feeling his brain processor about to burn out.
"Again... again?!"
"Is this some new type of collective mental illness?!"
In the classroom, Rose snapped out of it and immediately hugged Julie. "Wow! Julie! You're so cool!" She had really almost agreed just now.
Julie's face flushed, and she whispered, "We're good friends, after all..."
"Round two! Victory!" Lino announced again.
The students grew bolder, and the atmosphere became more and more lively. They discovered that not only could this extract information and toy with the villain, but it was also... kind of fun!
Just then, an arrogant voice broke the celebratory mood.
"Hmph, what a boring trick." Chloé, arms crossed, stood up from her seat, her face bearing her characteristic haughtiness. "Your reasons are all too weak. Sadness? Anger? How childish. Now, it's time to show you what a truly worthy reason for Akumatization is."
She walked to the center of the classroom, surveying everyone like a queen inspecting her subjects.
"Give me that butterfly," she commanded Marinette.
"Chloé, you..." Marinette hesitated slightly.
"Hurry up! Do you dare defy me?" Chloé urged impatiently.
Jaden watched from the side, a glint flashing in his eyes. He knew the climax of the show was about to begin. He gave Marinette a reassuring look. Marinette reluctantly opened the jar again.
The butterfly flew out, seeming a bit hesitant this time. It circled twice in the air, as if asking: 'You people... are you ever going to be done?'
Chloé took out a shimmering golden promotional poster with her portrait on it from her designer bag and held it high. She closed her eyes, beginning to gather her emotions.
What was she thinking? Of her mother, far away in New York, who never remembered her name; of how no matter how hard she tried, she never received a single genuine compliment from her mother; of why, despite being the mayor's daughter, the most noble and beautiful girl in all of Paris, that high and mighty fashion queen always disdained her?
A complex negative emotion, a mixture of extreme vanity, the grievance of not being recognized, and a twisted longing for maternal love, erupted from her!
The intensity and complexity of this emotion far surpassed that of Kim and Rose before!
Hawk Moth felt it instantly! He was like a dying desert traveler seeing an oasis, his spirit suddenly invigorated.
This is it... this is truly the ultimate!"
"Miraculous Queen!" He even used the most ornate words. "I am Hawk Moth. Your radiance should have illuminated the entire world, yet it is ignored by your closest kin. Your nobility should have made multitudes bow, yet you do not receive the recognition you deserve. What a desecration! What an injustice!"
Chloé's body trembled slightly; Hawk Moth's words precisely struck the deepest, most painful spot in her heart.
"Accept my power, my noble queen!" Hawk Moth's voice was full of incitement. "I will bestow upon you the beauty and power to command all! You will become the unique focus of Paris, making all who once scorned you kneel at your feet! Your mother? She will crawl back from New York just to see you! You will become the true, undisputed queen!"
This promise, to Chloé, was an irresistible ultimate temptation.
"Oh?"
In her mind, she responded with an arrogant tone, "Is that all you can do? It doesn't sound very impressive. I want the entire fashion world to serve me; I want my mother... to personally admit that I am a greater queen than she is!"
"As you wish!" Hawk Moth was overjoyed, feeling certain of success this time. "As long as you agree, all of this will be yours!"
The corner of Chloé's mouth curved into a victorious, mischievous smile. She slowly opened her eyes and, facing Sabrina, who stood beside her looking tense, silently mouthed two words:
"Do—it."
Sabrina, who had been faithfully playing the role of 'paper-tearer' all along, sprang into action the moment she received Chloé's command! With lightning speed, she snatched the shimmering golden poster!
Hawk Moth's will roared: "No—!!"
"Rip—!!!"
The third crisp tearing sound rang out.
The Akuma Butterfly let out the most tragic, despairing, and utterly lifeless silent shriek it had ever made, flying out from the torn poster. It didn't even bother to try and escape anymore, just weakly... hovering in mid-air. As if saying: 'I'm tired, just destroy me, quickly.