Miraculous Ladybug:
The Path of Rage
Chapter 2: The Expected Villain
Chat Noir paced back and forth, whilst he bit the ends of his claws. His anxiety with the current situation was enough to make his nerves get the better of him.
Near him was Ladybug, squatted at the edge of a couch where Berserker currently lay de-transformed. She washed the skull of the unconscious fighter slowly and carefully. It was then when she noticed that there was blood that slowly seeped onto the cushion of the couch from the left side of his head, whilst the blood that ran out of his nose had finally started to dry.
Ladybug gave a quick sigh, "Another spot to clean and dress. Please let this be the last."
Chat Noir continued to pace the room and eventually spoke aloud, "How did it get to this?"
Earlier that day...
Berserker launched himself forward with a gust of adrenaline and charged into the heroes. He leaped into the air and slammed his axes into the iron floor of the platform.
"You're all going to die!" Berserker growled.
He knew this power move was never intended to actually hit any of the hereos or villain. It was merely for a show of force, just to intimidate them enough to make them drop their guard.
"Shell-ter!" Carapace called out.
At the sound of the command, Berserker leaped out of the way of the now glowing green bubble shield that engulfed the group of heroes. He lifted his view towards the protected group and gave an extremely menacing grin.
"You know what the problem with fighting in real life is?" asked Berserker, whilst he typed into a smart watch on his wrist and clipped a portable speaker to his belt.
The super-powered heroes readied themselves for another attack, but received a response that they weren't expecting.
Berserker finally answered himself, "There's NEVER any action music!"
He then pushed a play button on his smart watch and the group could instantly hear the beautiful tunes coming from the speaker.
"Rena Rouge!" Ladybug called.
"I'm on it!" came her reply.
Rena Rouge, within the safety of the shield, blew into her flute and used her special power of Mirage. Suddenly, multiple copies of each hero appeared and began to fight against Berserker. In an attempt to keep the advantage, Berserker leapt away and dodged any physical attacks.
Still and Silent, calm before the Storm.
Berserker stood still as he decided to let the mirages engulf him with attacks. He knew if they touch him, they would disappear as mirages do.
Gold and Diamond, jewels behind the throne.
Berserker spotted Chat Noir as he left the safety of the shell-ter, so it appeared that their attempt of distraction failed.
Into the night, out of the dark. Take to sky, chasing the stars.
Berserker lunged with his axe and contacted the iron floor near Chat Noir, whom only missed by mere centimeters.
All that we stand, all that we are. Waiting to fly, this is the start.
Berserker swept his leg under Chat Noir and missed, but unexpectedly threw a quick uppercut across Chat's jaw. The force caused Chat Noir to stumble and Berserker seized the moment to clothesline the hero over the safety railing.
"Chat Noir!" everyone shouted.
As he fell, Chat Noir managed to extend his staff into a beam near the bottom of the tower and safely landed on the street. Somehow, he still heard music and realized that Berserker jumped down with him, along with the others.
Hide and Seek, Reason and Ryhme, Grand and Glorious!
Berserker seemed to be lost in a trance, as if waiting for something. Ladybug and Chat Noir wondered if he was saving his strength.
"Berserker", Ladybug reasoned, "give it up, we've got you surrounded!"
Living the dream, yours and mine, Euphoria!
"That just makes it all the more satisfying!" he replied.
Hide and Seek, Reason and Ryhme, Grand and Glorious! Living the Dream, Yours and Mine, EUPHORIA!
The group readied themselves for an attack as Berserker raised his two ferocious axes. SUDDENLY, as soon as the beat dropped on the music, Berserker charged at Carapace and drop-kicked his shield to send him prone.
"Come on!" he roared.
He quickly spun around and wildly swung his axes near Rena Rouge and Mayura, who tried to approach from behind. Quickly, he sheathed his axes and swiped with his claws, whilst he lunged forward and tried to bite them. Berserker continued this onslaught as long as he could. For him, this is the only thing that mattered, that these so called "heroes" get their lives taken down a few notches. To put them at HIS level.
"They're trying to gang up on me, need an area weapon", he thought.
He loosened the leather strap on the axe and swung it within a six foot radius. Carapace, was caught on his side, but his shield saved most of the blow. Ladybug, took a gash to her arm and started to bleed heavily. This attack kept the heroes on their feet and their distance away from him.
Rena Rouge tried to attack next, but Berserker merely dodged her attacks and then sent a surprise headbutt and charged into her body, which knocked her prone.
"I gotcha Rena Rouge", Carapace shouted as he blocked Berserker's next attack toward the vixen hero.
Carapace bashed Berserker's guard off with his shield and left him open for Chat Noir to extend his staff into his ribcage. Berserker winced in pain whilst he rose his clawed fist in the sky.
"BERSERKER RAGE!"
Chat Noir connected several more hits to Berserker with his staff, but it was now as if he could no longer feel any pain. Berserker merely kept pacing toward Chat Noir with his claws at the ready and his eyes red with rage.
Hawkmoth thrust his cane sword into Berserker from behind, but even that had an effect on the warrior. He spun around and clawed at Hawkmoth's arms until Berserker felt the hands of Hawkmoth lift and throw him two feet away. The cane sword had now exited his body from the impact, however a small gash wound had now begun to spill it red contents over his costume.
Ladybug, stunned from Berserker's special ability, spoke to herself, "Can't stop him, he's nothing but rage incarnate at this point! There has to be something we're not seeing."
It was then that Ladybug felt something on her arm, goosebumps.
"It must be from the onslaught combined with the music", she thought.
"Wait a minute", she said, as she started to put the puzzle together.
She began to realize what Berserker's tactic was and admired how clever it had been. Bjorn is derived from the power of Rage and most everyone experiences some form of adrenaline from certain songs that connect to people personally.
"He's using the music as an adrenaline booster to keep him angered with rage, so he doesn't tire out. How clever indeed."
"Cat Noir, I know what we need to do!"
He was about to answer, when suddenly Berserker stopped moving entirely and his eyes were replaced with a blue mask.
"Berserker, let your inspiration help you out of this rage", Mayura commanded.
Ladybug shook her head and asked, "Are you sure you want an Amuck to come in?"
"No Ladybug", Mayura replied, "Just something to calm him down. Maybe he can be reasoned with."
Just as she spoke, a hangman's noose appeared tied to a light pole.
Mayura looked mortified, "That's neither what I was expecting, nor wanting."
Berserker stared at the noose and listened deep into his music.
Hide and Seek, Reason and Ryhme, Grand and Glorious. Living the Dream, Yours and Mine,Euphoria!
"So this is all I'm left with in life? Kill as Berserker or be killed by my own demons?" he spoke morbidly.
Berserker leapt upon the light pole and grabbed the rope all in a single motion.
As he placed it around his neck he spoke, "Guess its time to meet my end like a good soldier."
Suddenly, he de-transformed and readied himself to leap, but was interrupted by the many shouts and screams of the costumed characters telling him not to jump.
Bjorn finally spoke, "What are you doing, master?! We can end them here! Take down these corrupt characters like you've been wanting all this time!"
He cared not about any of their voices and leaned forward anyway.
As he fell, Chat Noir extended his staff to catch him, whilst Hawkmoth immediately threw his cane sword at the rope. His accuracy amazed the young heroes, for it hit its mark perfectly, but not before Berserker landed on the concrete head first.
Later that day...
"How did it get to this?" Chat Noir asked aloud.
"We let it get to this, Chat", Ladybug said, "We let it all get out of hand."
"For once the blame isn't even upon myself", Hawkmoth chippered.
"I'm sure Paris will try to find some way to pin it on you", said Rena Rouge.
Ladybug mainly stayed silent throughout their time spent in the Le Grand Paris. Everyone, unsure of what to do in their situation, took Berserker to the nearest building they could find and the Le Grand Paris was the closest. Aside from the mayor's complaints of costumed characters that barged in the hotel and the gripes of Chloe not having her Bee Miraculous to aid in the fight, it was a rather decent stay. Ladybug however, seemed to take it upon herself to take charge of Berserker. For Hawkmoth, it seemed out of pity. For Mayura, perhaps a sense of affection. For Carapace and Rena Rouge, they were sure that it was due to her being a leader. However, Chat knew why his lady was like this now. He knew that she did not want a death on her hands or for her to live with the guilt of not having done enough to save him.
"We need to get to a hospital", Mayura had mentioned for her third time.
Chat Noir had reminded her, "He de-transformed, there were cameras, I don't think the people of paris would be so glad to have him in a public hospital."
"I've seen every news article, video, and picture. It seems they just missed the minute he de-transformed", replied Hawkmoth, "He should be fine."
"You need a hospital too!" she quipped.
"Later, Mayura", answered Hawkmoth.
The group needed to get moving soon before all of Paris began to wonder why their costumed characters are all in a hotel together. They eventually decided to sneak away during the night to avoid the eyes of the public. However, before they finished their plan, Berserker began to stir on the couch.
A/N: The song is, "The Calling" by TheFatRat. It's a great tune to listen to with the fight scene.I added in the ending of the fight scene with the noose as a way to bring up the issue of Veteran suicide. It's a major problem and many vets, like myself face the issues with it every day. If you think you have a friend, especially a veteran that you haven't talked to in awhile, PLEASE check up on them. Show them you give a damn and that things are okay. Other than that, please rate review. It will help me get better as a creative writer and make better chapters for you.