Marinette’s bewilderment mounted. Something about Ladybug feels amiss, a sensation of relief tinged with inexpressible unease. She glances at Damian, eyes narrowed, as he protectively advances forward.

She should trust her intuition, or else things might not turn out well.

Ladybug is in the lobby’s center, one step past the attic’s exit.

”Marinette, it's me, Ladybug. Don't be shy. I'll handle the phone. Give it to me, now.”

She gripped her phone; her hasty decision was useless, with her tired desperation to get to the top floor.

She lunges forward. She kicked Ladybug in the chest, but Ladybug shimmered in orange hue and vanished like a mirage. It was only an illusion.

Damian quickly got behind her, ready for anything.

She felt it; that’s definitely the Fox miraculous. Who's using it?, it is supposed to be in the guardians miracle box. No, it had been taken. Where's her friend?

”What was that? He inquired.

”That’s not Ladybug, only an illusion, using the miraculous. But who?”

Thoughts of trouble having struck Alya, thoughts of an unadulterated wave of dread washed over her. Is she compromised, missing? swirling thoughts on her tired mind. No.

Normally, Ladybug would spring into action if there was a threat in Paris, but it’s been almost an hour since the Leviathan showed up. Ladybug was nowhere to be seen, and she had a bad feeling about it. However, she remains hopeful.

Experiencing exhaustion, her legs gave out. She makes a misstep.

Damian caught her, steadied her with his hands on her arms as she leaned on him. Everything that’s happened so far is simply too much to bear.

They proceeded past the exit, close together. However, the illusion has returned,

Now it wore a black costume, blonde hair, with a tail belt, openly swaying backward.

”Hello, my everyday ladybug! meow-miss me?”
Chat Noir dangled in the ceiling, his eyes mocking.

He can’t be. Another mirage, she's sure of it. But the sight of him using Adrien snarling.

How dare they! Using his image like that,

She felt a deep resentment knot in her stomach, a coldness in her eyes, fist clenched. As she distanced herself from Damian and stood up for herself.

But before she could speak.

Damian’s forward thrust and punch caused the illusion to vanish again. Clarity returned to her senses. Sentimentality is not an option right now. They can push through.

And whoever is using the fox miraculous. She'll be sure they'll pay.

“Dupain-Cheng, focus on my eyes. Forget these illusions—they’re distractions; we need to go.”

Damian looking at her with his green eyes burning into her. She nod.

The attic’s stairwell has only a few steps. They ran, opened the door, and then—blam! The Paris skyline at night shimmered, like a swirl of butterflies at the edge of her vision.

They walked along the terrace’s edge. Looking around for any Leviathan. Luckily, they are nowhere to be seen.

“So what now?” she asked the Wayne Heir. He must have a plan, given his background as the son of a villain.

He gestured towards the phone, and she handed it to him to dial something. A beep.

”We have to rendezvous with Maya; are you familiar with the meeting place?” he said.

He returned the phone, and she took it to inspect it.

When she laid eyes on the map, a sudden understanding dawned on her about La Plage being Lila's hideout in the catacombs, filled with countless skeletons. It was the perfect setting for her sinister alter ego, Chrysalis.

”I know how to get to La plage, but how do we get down from the top floor? “ Her eyes widen, mouth hang open.” You aren’t suggesting we’re about to jump, are you?”

Damian, with a weary, knowing smile, didn’t respond to her outburst. He looks like a villain planning something outrageous.

Then the sound of a loud bang, they looked towards the Paris skyline. The skyline was blurry, and then, as if by magic, a swirling vortex appeared, reflecting crystalline objects emerging on the skyline. An image of a blurred face emerged, almost white with a mask, and a golden shimmering crown. the crystals deformed mimicking a mouth, it declared.

”Good Evening Paris, You know Hawk Moth’s identity has been revealed—it’s Gabriel Agreste! I can’t believe a respected Parisian would do such a thing.

Yes, it’s heartbreaking, and you’re probably wondering about my identity. Well, I’m not Chrysalis, that wannabe Hawkmoth – a third-rate villain in my opinion.

The Ladybug and Chat Noir Miraculous aren’t what I’m after.

My plans need more than just a wish, so the answer is no. I allowed Ladybug to escape. I took her precious box, though, mere consolation, truly. She's fierce, unfortunately she had no back up.

Poor Chat Noir retired after Hawkmoth's defeat, didn’t even stick around when Chrysalis appeared.”

Shocked,anger, dread-that was Marinette entire being right now.

Merde,! Alya was attacked, where was her friend.

”So my name is simply Null Monarch, that All purpose is devoid, All Power is the Absolute Undoing.

I'm only here for a simple request, Give me the phone, Ms. Dupain-Cheng. and I'll let Paris Live.”

Such audacity from this madman is unbelievable!

Gripping the phone tightly, she ground her teeth and stared at Damian, whose anger was evident in his narrowed eyebrows and shaking body. He also felt the injustice of it all.

What should she do now? Give up the phone? Walk away? Track down Alya? Overwhelmed by a multitude of thoughts, she looked at Damian, pleading. As the door shuddered under a loud bang, a dozen Leviathan emerged, guns pointed at them. Putain! Looking at the skyline, Null Monarch’s smug face was clear in his crystalline appearance.

Offering his hand, Damian’s voice was serene. “Will you trust me, Marinette?” Her eyes darted from his outstretched hand to the advancing Leviathan, then to the phone clutched in her hand. There was no time left to decide.