NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: "Origins of Competence"
Hawkmoth POV
Hawkmoth clenched his cane, his eyes narrowing in concentration as the familiar feeling of an impending Akuma filled the air. His butterfly-shaped Miraculous pulsed, and he could feel the dark energy building within him. There was someone, somewhere in Paris, whose pain would be the perfect catalyst.
Yes, I can feel it. A new weakness. A new chance to use my powers to their fullest.
He leaned forward, his expression hardening. One more Akuma... and this time, I'll make sure they fail to stop me.
Hawkmoth's fingers hovered over the butterfly Miraculous as he focused his thoughts on the target. I'll strike at the heart of their pride. At their weakness.
He saw the victim in his mind's eye—a person overwhelmed by anger, humiliation, someone ripe for his corruption. With a sharp, determined motion, he activated his powers. A pulse of purple light erupted from his Miraculous, swirling into the air and dissipating in the form of an Akuma.
"Fly away my Akuma, and EVILIZE him!!"
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Luka Pov
Luka's feet barely touched the ground as he made his way across the rooftop, eyes scanning the horizon. His mind was on the task at hand—the Akuma he knew would appear today.
It wasn't a question of if the villain would strike. It was only a matter of when. And after what felt like an eternity of watching the city's heroes fumble through their missions, Luka had a clear idea of how things would go.
Ladybug and Chat Noir. They were heroes, sure, but Luka could already see their weaknesses. Ladybug's determination, Chat Noir's impulsive nature. Both would fall short of truly understanding the magnitude of their powers.
Luka wasn't here to be a bystander. He wasn't going to sit by and watch while they stumbled through the mess of Hawkmoth's endless schemes. I'll show them what it means to be truly powerful, he thought, a smirk playing on his lips as he adjusted the strap of his guitar. And I'll do it on my terms.
His mind wandered for a moment, his thoughts going to Marinette, the girl who was Ladybug, and Adrien, the boy who would become Chat Noir. The fates of these two had already been set in motion, but Luka's place in all of this was still unfolding. He didn't know exactly how it would play out, but he was no fool. He had a role to play.
The perfect time to strike is coming. I just need to wait for the right moment.
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Hours went by
The Akuma was attacking with relentless force, but the heroes—Ladybug and Chat Noir—were struggling. Their movements were too erratic, their coordination lacking. He had seen it all before, the predictable mistakes, the way Ladybug would try to fight with precision, only for Chat Noir to rush in and cause an accident. It was almost painful to watch.
Luka let out a sigh, stepping out from the shadows. It wasn't his fight, not really. But watching the two heroes bumble through their mission was almost... unbearable.
He knew something needed to change.
As Ladybug and Chat Noir squared off with the Akuma, Luka moved quickly but quietly, positioning himself in the background. He wasn't there to fight; he was there to guide—to fix the mistakes they were too caught up in to see.
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Ladybug's Perspective
"Chat, get back!" Ladybug yelled, her voice strained as she swung her yo-yo to knock back the Akuma's latest blast. Chat Noir was charging forward, unhinged, his claws extended, ready to attack.
"Got it, my lady!" Chat Noir grinned and leaped into the air, aiming for a direct strike. But just as he reached the Akuma, his landing was awkward—he missed his target entirely, crashing into a nearby lamppost instead.
Ladybug groaned in frustration. This is getting ridiculous.
The Akuma smirked as it took advantage of the distraction. Another powerful blast shot toward Ladybug, but she barely managed to dodge in time. She landed on her feet, trying to steady herself, but it was clear they were losing control. They can't keep doing this...
Suddenly, something unusual happened.
"Stop!" came a calm, clear voice from the sidelines.
Ladybug's eyes darted to the edge of the rooftop. Luka, of all people, was standing there, watching them with an almost detached gaze.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, still fending off the Akuma.
Luka raised a hand, stepping closer. "You're doing it wrong."
Ladybug froze for a moment, confusion crossing her face. "What? Excuse me?"
"I said, you're doing it wrong," Luka repeated, his tone much too calm for the situation. "You're reacting instead of anticipating. Chat, stop charging in without a plan. Ladybug, use your surroundings to set a trap instead of just attacking head-on. You're both too predictable."
Ladybug and Chat Noir exchanged a brief glance. Chat Noir, still recovering from his crash, seemed frustrated but intrigued.
"You think you can do better?" Chat Noir called out.
Luka gave a small, knowing smile. "No, but I know how to help you do better. If you trust me for just a second, you'll win this. You have to stop playing their game and start playing yours."
Ladybug glanced at Chat Noir, her brow furrowed. He's right... she thought. Their usual tactics weren't working. Why not take a moment to regroup?
"Fine," she said, taking a deep breath. "What do you suggest?"
Luka stepped into the action, not as a hero, but as a guide. "Chat, you need to stop going for the flashy moves and aim for precision. You're rushing in when you should be waiting for the perfect opening. Ladybug, don't just try to out-fight the Akuma. Set a trap—draw it into the open and catch it off guard."
Ladybug and Chat Noir exchanged another glance.
"Alright," Ladybug said, her confidence growing as she heard Luka's calm instructions. "Chat, follow my lead. I'll create an opening. You make sure you don't miss it this time."
Chat Noir nodded, cracking his knuckles with a grin. "Got it!"
As Ladybug moved forward, she swung her yo-yo and drew the Akuma's attention, leading it toward a narrow alleyway. She could hear Luka's voice in the background, offering quiet, sharp advice on where to position themselves next.
"Now, Chat, get ready!" Luka's voice rang out, his calm tone cutting through the chaos.
Chat Noir nodded, taking his position. When the Akuma shot forward, distracted by Ladybug's movement, Chat Noir sprung into action—this time, with precision. He landed a perfect hit, knocking the Akuma off balance.
Ladybug took advantage of the opening, swinging her yo-yo with perfect timing to trap the Akuma and purify it.
"Got it!" she exclaimed, as the butterfly fluttered away, purified.
Luka's Perspective
Luka stepped back into the shadows, watching the heroes as they celebrated their small victory. He wasn't one to relish in the spotlight. Just kidding he'd guided them them out of a jam, but that wasn't his goal.
Ladybug and Chat Noir didn't realize it yet, but this was just the beginning of the bigger game. Luka wasn't here to be a hero in their world—he was here to change the rules.
He turned and disappeared into the night, his thoughts already racing toward his next move. He had just proven something important to himself: he didn't need powers to control this city. He had something far more powerful. He had strategy.