Yumi truly deserves more cute moments with Ulrich.
Clearly. Definitely


At Kadic, the atmosphere, though seemingly calm, concealed an underlying tension. The students, preoccupied with the trivialities of school life, had no inkling of the imminent storm. For Yumi and her friends, each day without an attack was a temporary reprieve, a worrying calm before the storm. They knew XANA wouldn't wait long to strike again, more violently and cunningly than ever.

In the lab, surrounded by glowing screens and the familiar hum of machines, Jérémie scrutinized every piece of data with heightened vigilance. The tense atmosphere didn't escape him. His heart skipped a beat when the alarms suddenly blared, shattering the oppressive silence. A series of sharp beeps immediately signaled the severity of the danger.

"Oh no… XANA has activated four towers simultaneously on Lyoko!" Jérémie exclaimed, panic evident in his voice. His fingers flew frantically over the keyboard, sending alerts to his friends. Every second counted.

Without wasting a minute, he quickly dialed the numbers of his fellow warriors. "Ulrich, Odd, Aelita, Yumi, meet at the factory right away! This is a massive attack, and I fear XANA has more plans in mind." His voice, tense, betrayed the urgency of the situation.

Each of them received the call like a bolt of lightning. They knew XANA wasn't joking this time. Within moments, the group was on their way to the factory, hearts pounding in unison in a race against time. Yumi, at the forefront, felt a dark, swirling energy growing within her, a disturbing force she was desperately trying to contain. Since their last battle, this force seemed to dominate her more, threatening to break through the fragile barriers she had erected. "I must not lose control," she repeated to herself, clenching her fists to maintain the little control she still had.

Upon arriving at the lab, the urgency was palpable. Jérémie quickly explained the situation, pointing to the screens showing the activated towers, each representing a major threat. "XANA is trying to overwhelm us with these four towers. Odd and Aelita, you go to Lyoko to deactivate them. Ulrich, Yumi, you need to stay on Earth. XANA will definitely launch attacks here too." His tone was firm, but his eyes betrayed the worry he felt for his friends.

Without wasting a second, Aelita and Odd headed to the scanners to be virtualized, ready to face the danger on Lyoko. Ulrich, meanwhile, turned to Yumi. His face, usually so confident, was marked by a glint of concern. "Be careful, Yumi. I know it's hard, but we're in this fight together." His voice, gentle but resolute, tried to convey a strength he feared she might lose.

Yumi nodded, but within her, a different battle raged. The pulsating dark energy she felt inside, this ominous force ready to explode, was becoming increasingly difficult to contain. "If I can… just keep it in check…" she thought, feeling her control waver with each passing moment.


When Ulrich and Yumi left the factory, they were greeted by a scene of chaos that violently contrasted with Kadic's apparent tranquility. The usually peaceful streets were swarming with Kankrelats and Krabs, materialized on Earth via the factory's scanners. Although the monsters had appeared in perfect condition, the scanners themselves had suffered considerable damage, likely caused by the strain of simultaneously materializing the creatures.

"Looks like XANA's worn out the factory's scanners. We might need to call customer service!" Odd quipped to Jérémie through his mic, his voice laden with sarcasm that couldn't hide his worry.

Ulrich couldn't help but smile despite himself, but he knew the situation was critical. The monsters, though few in number, were causing uncontrollable panic among the students and passersby, creating absolute chaos. Screams echoed in the air, people ran in all directions, desperately trying to escape these nightmarish creatures.

"Yumi, we have to stop them before they cause more damage," Ulrich said, preparing to defend the civilians. His gaze swept over the scene, scanning for immediate threats while casting furtive glances at Yumi, worried about what he sensed in her.

Yumi, meanwhile, felt a surge of power rising within her, like a dark veil enveloping her mind. "I'm going to destroy them…" she murmured, almost to herself, her eyes gleaming with a disturbing light. Without waiting for Ulrich, she launched into battle, an unprecedented fury emerging from within her.

She attacked the monsters with a ferocity she didn't recognize in herself. Her telekinetic powers manifested with newfound violence. She lifted a Krab into the air as if it weighed nothing, hurling it violently against a wall. The impact shattered the creature into a shower of mechanical debris. Without pausing, she levitated several Kankrelats, crushing them in a burst of light, an unsettling smile forming on her lips.

At that moment, Yumi felt a thrill of exhilaration run down her spine. For the first time, she took a strange pleasure in destroying these monsters, in releasing this energy that was growing inside her. The shadow she had feared so much seemed to be guiding her, urging her to go further, to stop holding back her strength. Each attack, each explosion of power, seemed to bring her closer to the edge.

Ulrich, fighting by her side, immediately noticed the change in her. He knew Yumi, and what he saw frightened him. "Yumi, slow down… You might…" he began, but he stopped, horrified, as he saw Yumi smile while she pulverized another Krab with excessive violence. That smile, that almost ecstatic expression on her face, sent a chilling shiver through him. This wasn't the Yumi he knew.

The monsters continued to fall under Yumi's relentless assault, crushed, pulverized, as if she were unleashing all the pent-up anger within her. But as she launched one last telekinetic attack, a vision froze her in place. Not far away, her family was crossing the street, trapped in the chaos. Her father, mother, and little brother Hiroki were desperately trying to find shelter.

Suddenly, a Krab turned its cannons toward them, ready to fire. Yumi, in a surge of protection mixed with rage, unleashed a wave of energy with unimaginable power. The Krab was reduced to pieces in an explosion of light, but the uncontrolled shockwave also hit her family, hurling them violently against a wall.

"No… no… no…" Yumi stammered, horrified by what she had just done. The pleasure she had felt instantly turned into a chilling terror. Her legs gave way beneath her, leaving her to collapse to her knees, her eyes wide with horror.

Ulrich rushed over, his gaze darting from the monster debris to Yumi's family, lying on the ground, unconscious. "Yumi, what have you done?!" he cried, rushing to check on their condition, his heart pounding.

Yumi crawled over to them, tears in her eyes, guilt tearing at her heart. "I… I didn't mean to… I just wanted to protect them… I…" Her voice broke as she realized the magnitude of her actions. She had almost killed those she loved most in the world.

Ulrich placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, sensing the panic and despair in his friend. "They're alive, Yumi. Just unconscious… But we need to get them to the hospital, right away." His tone was meant to be reassuring, but concern distorted his features.

Yumi nodded, unable to speak any further. The guilt overwhelmed her, suffocating all rational thought. "This is my fault…" she thought, devastated, as Ulrich called for help.


Meanwhile, on Lyoko, Aelita and Odd were fighting desperately against XANA's forces. The monsters were more numerous and aggressive than ever. Despite the distortions in the scanners on Earth, XANA's creatures on Lyoko seemed in perfect condition, determined to prevent Aelita from deactivating the towers at all costs.

"Jérémie, these monsters are giving us a hard time. I thought XANA was all about special effects, but this is a full-blown show!" Odd quipped, his voice tinged with irony, but his short breath betraying the intense effort he was putting in to stay alive.

Aelita, focused on her mission, was trying to get closer to the first tower. "Odd, focus, we need to neutralize them and deactivate the tower before those on Earth reach the factory!" she replied, her voice firm despite the palpable tension.

"Easy for you to say, Princess!" Odd retorted, destroying a Block that had gotten too close, his laser arrows slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Thanks to their combined efforts and Jérémie's precise instructions, Aelita finally managed to enter the first tower. The familiar symbols swirled around her as she approached the interface. Moments later, she entered the code, and the tower was deactivated, its red light fading to a calming white glow.

"One tower down, but the battle is far from over," Aelita informed as she exited the tower, ready to continue the fight. Her breathing was rapid, her heart still pounding in rhythm with the danger she had just faced.

Odd looked around, a bit more serious than usual. "We'll get through this, but XANA is really pulling out all the stops this time… I don't like it one bit." His words, though light, reflected a real concern. He knew XANA was preparing something far more sinister than usual.

"Aelita, focus on the second tower. Odd, create a diversion so she can move forward," Jérémie ordered, trying to stay calm despite the tense situation. His fingers flew over the keyboard, analyzing the data at a frantic pace.

Aelita set off toward the second tower, using her energy field to shield herself from enemy fire. The Mantas and Bloks seemed to focus on her, as if XANA knew her importance in this battle. Odd, true to his role, harassed XANA's monsters, drawing them away from the tower, playing with them like a cat with a mouse, but fatigue was starting to set in.

"Jérémie, a little help here would be nice! These Mantas are worse than angry bees!" Odd exclaimed, narrowly dodging another attack, his tone still light despite the gravity of the situation.

Jérémie, tapping frantically on his keyboard, managed to temporarily disable one of the Mantas' defenses. "There, that should help a bit," he replied, a note of satisfaction in his voice.

"Well done, Einstein! Now, Aelita, go for it!" Odd shouted, his confidence restored as he watched the Manta collapse.

Aelita finally reached the second tower and dived inside. The holographic interface appeared before her, and without hesitation, she entered the code to deactivate the tower. A few seconds later, the tower's red light went out, marking another victory against XANA.

"The second tower is deactivated! Only two left!" Aelita announced with a sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

"Great job, guys! Stay focused, XANA won't give up so easily," Jérémie encouraged them, while keeping an eye on the situation on Earth, his mind already planning the next moves.


At the hospital, Yumi and Ulrich waited for news of Yumi's family in heavy silence. The waiting room, usually welcoming, felt oppressive, each second stretching painfully. Sitting on a hard, uncomfortable seat, Yumi felt completely devastated. She had wanted to protect her loved ones, but she had almost killed them. Guilt, mixed with fear of what she was becoming, overwhelmed her, making it hard to breathe.

Ulrich, unable to bear seeing her like this, knelt in front of her, searching for her gaze. "Yumi, look at me," he said softly but firmly, trying to break through the veil of despair clouding her eyes. "You couldn't have known what was going to happen. You just wanted to protect them, that's all." His voice, though calm, trembled slightly with emotion.

Yumi slowly shook her head, refusing to believe his words. "No, Ulrich… It's more than that," she murmured, her voice broken. "I took pleasure in destroying those monsters… I felt this darkness in me, and I… I let it happen." Her words, spoken in a half-whisper, resonated with heartbreaking sincerity.

Ulrich frowned, shocked by her words. He knew Yumi was going through tough times, but hearing this was far worse than he had imagined. "Yumi, you're under pressure. XANA is trying to manipulate you. But you're not alone. We're all here for you. I am here for you." His voice was gentle but firm, a mix of comfort and determination.

Yumi shook her head again, refusing to be convinced. "I've become a danger to all of you, Ulrich. To you, to my family… I can't go on like this." Her eyes, filled with tears, reflected the pain and fear eating away at her from the inside.

Seeing her drift further away, Ulrich made a bold decision. He moved closer to her and hugged her tightly, refusing to let her sink into her distress. "Yumi, your powers aren't inherently evil. And if you fight, we'll fight with you. We'll do whatever it takes to support you." His voice was determined, every word a promise he was ready to keep at any cost.

Yumi, surprised by this sudden embrace, felt her last defenses crumble. The tears she had been holding back for too long burst forth, and she allowed herself to lean into him, crying silently, her body trembling with emotion.

Ulrich tightened his embrace, determined not to let her slip away further. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what," he whispered, his voice soft but assured, like an anchor in the storm raging within her.

In this embrace, Yumi found a sliver of comfort, a glimmer of hope amid the darkness threatening to engulf her. But she knew the road ahead would be long and fraught with obstacles, and that the shadow within her was not yet defeated. For now, however, she allowed herself to rest in the arms of the one who had always provided unwavering support.


After receiving reassuring news about her family's condition, Yumi, still shaken, allowed Ulrich to persuade her to return to the factory. The weight of guilt continued to hang heavily on her shoulders, but she knew she couldn't afford to remain inactive. As they walked together in silence, Ulrich holding Yumi's hand for support, she squeezed his hand a little tighter, refusing to be overwhelmed by the loneliness that threatened to consume her.

Upon arriving at the factory, Jérémie greeted them with a concerned look. His eyes moved from Yumi to Ulrich, searching for clues about what had happened. "How are you?" he asked softly, his tone revealing his worry.

Ulrich spoke first, sensing that Yumi was still too shaken to answer. "Her family's okay, just a few bruises. But Yumi… needs some time," he replied, casting a protective glance at Yumi. He could tell she was still struggling with her inner demons.

"I'll… I'll try to focus on what's left to do," Yumi murmured, her voice trembling but determined. She knew she had to fight, even if the shadow within her was growing, threatening to consume her.

Ulrich and Yumi went up to the lab to join Jérémie. Together, they watched the screens where Odd and Aelita continued to fight on Lyoko. Two towers remained to be deactivated, and the battle promised to be long and difficult. Jérémie's fingers flew over the keyboard, desperately searching for a way to ease the pressure on his friends.

As they stood before the screens, an urgent message from Odd came through to the lab. "Jérémie, the third tower is in sight, but we need reinforcements here. It's a real monster flood!" His voice, though still tinged with his usual lightness, conveyed a sense of urgency.

Ulrich turned to Yumi, his fingers gently brushing her hair to reassure her. "Yumi, we need to go help them. Are you ready to continue?" His voice was soft, but his gaze carried a gravity that reflected the importance of this moment.

Yumi looked at him, her expression unreadable, but she nodded slowly. "I'm coming with you." Her voice, though calm, carried a new determination, a resolve not to let the darkness consume her entirely.

They headed together toward the scanners, ready to be virtualized. Jérémie watched them, a mix of concern and confidence in his eyes. "Virtualization," he said firmly, as the scanners closed around them, propelling them toward Lyoko.


As soon as they arrived on Lyoko, Ulrich and Yumi were plunged into the heart of the battle. The Mountain Sector, already dangerous under normal circumstances, had become a true war zone. XANA's monsters were waiting for them, surrounding the third tower with unwavering determination.

"Yumi, stay close to me," Ulrich said, drawing his saber, ready to defend the one he loved. His tone was protective, but he knew Yumi wasn't in a state to follow him blindly.

But Yumi had other plans. Without a word, she broke away from Ulrich and rushed alone toward the front, her eyes gleaming with cold determination. Using her telekinesis, marked by a strange red aura, she swept the monsters aside with raw, almost savage force. Every move was precise, calculated, but devoid of the calm control that usually characterized her.

"Yumi, wait!" Ulrich shouted, but she didn't listen. She was already engaged in a frenzied fight, striking the monsters with an intensity that deeply worried her friends. Her fans flew through the air, slicing through the creatures with devastating efficiency. But there was a fury in her attacks, an uncontrolled violence that didn't resemble Yumi.

"What's gotten into her?" Odd murmured as he watched her relentlessly attack a group of Bloks, destroying them with unusual ferocity. His tone, usually light, was tinged with real concern.

Aelita, while dodging enemy fire, glanced worriedly at Jérémie through the screens. "Jérémie, Yumi… She's not herself." Her voice was calm, but her concern was palpable.

"I know," Jérémie replied, watching the scene with growing anxiety. "We need to deactivate this tower and fast. Ulrich, do what you can to calm her down." His tone was firm, but uncertainty was written all over his face. He knew the situation was on the brink of spiraling out of control.

Ulrich, torn between his worry for Yumi and the need to protect Aelita, tried to reach her, but the monsters kept them apart. "Yumi, stop! You can't keep going like this!" he shouted, his voice tinged with growing fear.

Yumi didn't respond. She continued to fight, carried away by a silent rage. Her sharp fans cut through the monsters with unsettling ease, each strike fueling the shadow growing within her. But deep inside, a small voice begged her to stop. That voice, though weak, was an echo of the Yumi she had been, a reminder of the control and compassion she had once embodied.

Odd, who was observing the scene, tried to make a joke to lighten the tension, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease growing inside him. "Well, I guess we know who's wearing the pants here…" His tone was light, but the concern clearly seeped through his words.

Ulrich, sensing the situation was becoming critical, decided to take matters into his own hands. He fought his way through the monsters, synchronizing his movements with Yumi's. Every strike of Ulrich's saber complemented Yumi's attack, and together, they eliminated the last creatures blocking access to the tower. Their coordination, though imperfect, was enough to clear a path.

Once the path was clear, Ulrich approached Yumi, who continued to fight with an alarming frenzy. He took a deep breath, moved closer to her, and hugged her tightly, immobilizing her movements. "Yumi, it's over… You don't need to fight anymore. Everything's okay now." His voice was gentle but unyielding, an invitation to return to herself.

Yumi, surprised by the sudden embrace, stiffened at first, but Ulrich's soothing voice managed to pierce through the fog of rage that enveloped her. She felt her body gradually relax, the dark energy within her slowly dissipating. Ulrich's comforting warmth seemed to chase away the shadows haunting her.

"Ulrich…" she murmured, her voice trembling, as if she were emerging from a strange dream. She allowed herself to lean into his arms, her shoulders slumping, exhausted from the inner battle she had just fought. Her hands still trembled with adrenaline, but the weight on her heart seemed to lighten.

Ulrich helped her sit down on the ground, Yumi's head resting gently on his shoulder. "You did what you had to, Yumi. Now, rest. Let us take care of the rest." His voice was soft, soothing, like a lullaby after the storm.

Yumi nodded softly, her eyes closed, letting herself be comforted by Ulrich's reassuring presence. She knew the fight wasn't over, but for now, she needed this pause, this moment of respite in his arms. The shadow within her was still there, but for the first time in a long time, she no longer felt alone facing it.

Meanwhile, Aelita had deactivated the third tower. She quickly joined Odd, ready to head toward the last tower. But seeing Yumi and Ulrich, she exchanged a look with Jérémie through the screens.

"Jérémie, I think they need to stay together. Odd and I will take care of the last tower," Aelita said with unusual gentleness in her voice. She knew Yumi needed this moment to find herself.

Jérémie, observing the scene, nodded. "Alright. Ulrich, stay with Yumi. Aelita, Odd, deactivate that last tower and let's end this attack." His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed deep concern for his friends on Lyoko.

Odd, though usually quick to joke, understood the gravity of the situation. "Come on, Princess, let's finish this nightmare." His tone, though light, was filled with newfound determination.

Ulrich held Yumi a little tighter as he watched Aelita and Odd move away to complete their mission. For the first time in a long time, Yumi felt safe, even though she knew the fight against the shadow within her was far from over. But for now, she had Ulrich, and that was all she needed.