Flames surged across the Parisian rooftop as Kai emerged from the swirl of crimson and gold. His form was unrecognizable—transformed from quiet student to a blazing warrior of light and heat. The Phoenix Miraculous had awakened at last.
His wings stretched outward, trailing embers as they flared. The black and gold armor shimmered with heat, the chestplate glowing softly as if alive with ancient energy. The mask over his eyes melded seamlessly with his skin, crafted of hardened flame and etched with curling marks reminiscent of a bird's talons.
Fiero circled his head, his small body a flickering spark.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" the Kwami cried with glee. "First flight incoming!"
Below, the mechanical villain—GigaTitan—crushed another bench with a single step, his massive metallic fists swinging like wrecking balls. Sparks shot from his back where steam vents hissed, and his voice rang out in a deep, modulated bellow.
"You all laughed at my designs! Mocked me! But who's laughing now, huh?! WHO'S LAUGHING NOW?!"
People scattered as one of his arms extended outward like a jackhammer, smashing the edge of a fountain and sending debris flying.
Kai stared down at the chaos, eyes narrowing behind his mask. He had no plan. No practice. And no backup.
But that didn't matter.
He wasn't going to let anyone get hurt.
With a single push from his fiery wings, Kai launched into the sky.
In the plaza, Marinette—still in civilian form—ducked behind a food cart as she watched the chaos unfold. Her hand was already in her bag, fingers wrapped around her earrings. Tikki's tiny voice whispered to her from within.
"Should we transform?"
Marinette hesitated.
That presence again. The one from this morning. It was stronger now. Like a wildfire had bloomed in the middle of the city.
Suddenly, the sky above burst into gold.
A streak of fire descended like a meteor from the clouds, slamming into the pavement right in front of GigaTitan.
A figure rose from the crater, steam rising off his armor. His wings curled like protective walls of heat, embers falling around him like snow.
"What… the heck is that?" Alya whispered from behind a van, phone already recording.
Kai—now Blazewing—stood tall. "I'm not here to laugh," he said, voice deeper through the mask, distorted just enough to sound otherworldly. "But I will stop you."
GigaTitan roared and slammed his hammer-fist toward him.
Kai's wings flared—he moved with inhuman speed, launching himself over the attack with a blast of heat. Flames trailed behind him as he shot into the air and came down in a spinning kick, knocking the villain back several feet.
Around them, steam hissed and metal groaned.
"Let's try one of your tools, shall we?" Fiero said in his mind. "You've got access to Phoenix Talons."
Kai focused, and in his hands appeared twin curved daggers glowing with searing orange light. He lunged forward, slicing across GigaTitan's knee joint.
The villain stumbled. "You think your fire will stop me?! I built my armor to withstand temperatures up to—AAARGH!"
The flames had reached his shoulder, where part of his reinforced plating melted under the heat.
Kai didn't stop.
He slashed again and again, using flight bursts for agility. He wasn't trying to destroy—just to disarm. A weak point. That's what he needed.
"Fiero, where's the Akuma?"
The Kwami blinked. "Smart boy. Look for something that doesn't belong. His armor's not the source."
Kai narrowed his eyes.
Then he saw it—a cracked pendant, hanging from GigaTitan's neck beneath his steel chestplate. A small, silver locket.
"That has to be it."
He flew low and fast, wings curled in to reduce drag. GigaTitan roared, launching a rocket punch—but Kai twirled in midair, catching the heatstream and spinning behind him.
With a precise slash, he severed the locket.
It hit the ground, clinking softly.
Before the Akuma could escape, Kai clenched his palm and shouted, "Phoenix Seal!"
A ring of golden fire surrounded the Akuma, trapping it mid-flight. The flames pulsed once, purifying it in a flash of light.
"Got it," Fiero confirmed. "Nice work, flame-boy."
Kai grabbed the broken locket and crushed it in his hand. Then, just like Ladybug had done so many times before, he opened his wings wide and whispered, "Miraculous Restoration."
His wings expanded outward, and a wave of cleansing fire erupted from him, washing over the square. Broken pavement repaired itself. Burnt signs regrew paint. Smoke cleared, and warmth remained like the sun had come early.
The crowd, stunned into silence, finally burst into applause.
Phones were raised.
"Who is that?" a girl asked.
"Is it a new hero?"
"He's… on fire!"
Kai landed softly and took one final glance around. Marinette, hiding nearby, met his gaze for just a heartbeat—and felt something ancient. Raw. And strangely kind.
Then he flew off, flames trailing behind like a comet across the sky.
Back on the rooftop, the flames died down. The armor receded, and Kai fell to one knee, panting.
Fiero floated beside him. "You did good."
Kai didn't reply at first.
His body still burned with leftover adrenaline.
He had fought. Won.
And Juleka had been safe.
He exhaled, lowering his head. "It's starting, isn't it?"
Fiero nodded. "Paris will need you. Whether you like it or not."
In the depths of an ancient underground chamber, Hawk Moth stood before his butterfly dome, one hand clutching his cane tightly.
He had watched the fight.
A new player. A Miraculous he didn't recognize.
"…Phoenix," he muttered. "A fire wielder. Not one of the known Miraculous…"
He turned away from the screen, his face grim.
"Which means the Miracle Box has created a new one… or someone else has intervened."
He stepped toward the glowing chrysalis of light.
"No matter. All flames burn out eventually."
He closed his eyes.
"A stronger Akuma next time. One to test this... Blazewing."
The bell rang.
Kai entered just before the final minute, slipping into his seat with his hood back on, hoodie slightly singed at the edges. No one questioned it.
No one except Marinette.
She stared at him.
And Juleka smiled quietly from the side.
Whatever had happened in the plaza, it had left a mark—and it wasn't going to fade anytime soon.