A Masked Game

Level 21: Part I and Part II

"Nooroo, we need your help," Gabriel began. "Adrien could be in trouble..."

As Gabriel continued explaining to the kwami what had happened, Ladybug felt her own transformation faltering, along with her legs. The whole situation dampened as her vision started to cloud... the added noise of a ringtone, fighting against the buzz in her ears and pounding in her heart.

As she heard the words, "it's Adrien", everything went black.

*****

Level 21 Part 2: Boss Fight

Unsure what to do, Chat Noir edged his way to the door. There were very few options, and even less time. He needed to move before...

"Sass, scales slither."

As Luka's transformation washed over him, the two men eyed each other. What was once a good friendship crumbled as they both knew exactly what this was. This was it. The end.

What had happened to them all? How had they not noticed this about Luka sooner, and maybe even helped him. Ladybug had mentioned the Guardians had tried to turn him, to make him into their tool. They only relented when they realised they had gone too far, had pushed him to the point of no return, almost breaking him... but it seemed like he'd made it there himself anyway. Had they all been that caught up in their own day to day lives that they'd failed to notice the downfall of their friend. The cries for help as the Guardian manipulated and groomed him.

Standing practically chest to chest, the tension mounted as each waited for the other to make their first move.

Then, as if on cue, they both acted. Viperion brought the blade up in a lightning fast slashing attack, aimed at Chat Noir's throat.

Moving even faster, Chat Noir danced out the way, reaching for his baton in preparation of the next attack. It seemed Viperion had upgraded his lyre.

Viperion went to attack again, his rage was evident in every swing of the dagger — a clear aim to cause injury to Chat Noir. Chat Noir ducked under the incoming blade, removing himself from harm's way before the slash could reach him, simultaneously sweeping his right foot through Viperion's ankles.

Unaware of the cunning moves of the cat, Viperion found himself tumbling forward as Chat Noir took his legs from underneath him, catching himself quickly before attempting to respond back. The stumble stole Viperion's concentration, giving Chat Noir another opportunity, slamming his left foot into Viperion's chest and sending him sailing backwards into the opposite wall; the exertion knocked Chat down, his eyes never leaving his ex-friend in front of him as he straightened and levelled off his balance.

The sickening echoes of metal versus metal rang through the cabin — each more pronounced than the last. One a fight to save, the other a fight to kill. They pushed back away from each other. The two men staring the other down, as they each recovered.

"Cataclysm," Chat Noir spoke softly, calling for the power of destruction for the first time in over a decade. A crackling energy took over his right hand and Chat Noir suddenly realising he'd missed this. The feel. The Power. What it stood for. Though destruction could be seen as an annihilation of all things good, in the hands of Adrien Agreste it was the obliteration of evil, of villains... he was good, and good always conquered over evil.

"Second chance." Viperion grabbed ahold of his wrist, flicking the snake head and activating the countdown. A smile formed on his lips, one dripping with malice. "I've got you this time," he declared.

Then they charged forward.

*****

Chat Noir was surprised. The fight with Viperion had been intense, but barely lasted a minute. For someone who'd been such a strategic murderer, for this to be over so soon just didn't make sense.