The icy wind whispered through the jagged peaks of the unnamed mountains, carrying with it the faint rustle of leaves and the occasional howl of distant wolves. Shadows danced along the walls of an ancient temple nestled high among the cliffs, its architecture a blend of South Asian influences with curved rooftops and intricate carvings depicting gods and legends. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of incense, a tranquil silence broken only by the soft chants of monks in meditation.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered. A dark figure moved like a phantom, slipping through the temple's corridors. Clad in black, the intruder wore a Japanese tengu mask, its sharp nose and menacing red visage giving him the appearance of a demon. His steps were silent, his movements fluid, each one blending with the shadows around him.
The monks never saw him coming.
In the main hall, a circle of monks in saffron robes meditated around a statue of a deity. The ninja descended upon them like a storm, his twin katana flashing in the dim light. The first monk crumpled as the blade struck his staff aside and bit into his shoulder. Another leaped to his feet, striking out with a wooden staff, only for the ninja to parry and drive an elbow into the monk's chest, sending him sprawling.
"Intruder!" one of the monks shouted, rallying the others.
But the ninja was relentless. He twisted, dodged, and struck with inhuman precision. His movements were almost poetic, his katana tracing arcs of silver in the smoky air. The monks fell one by one, their discipline no match for the sheer ferocity and skill of the masked invader.
When the hall was still, the ninja sheathed his blades and moved deeper into the temple. He passed through winding corridors and intricate wooden doors until he reached a room unlike the others. It was small, unadorned, save for a single pedestal at its center. Upon it rested a box, aged and weathered, yet its surface bore two symbols: a cat and a ladybug.
The ninja stepped closer, his breath steady but his heart pounding. His gloved hands reached for the box, flipping it open with deliberate care. Inside, however, it was empty.
A voice, calm yet edged with steel, spoke behind him.
"You will not find what you seek here."
The ninja turned swiftly, his hand resting on the hilt of a kunai. An older monk stood in the doorway, his face weathered with age but his eyes sharp and unwavering. The monk held a butterfly-shaped brooch in his hand, its intricate design glinting in the torchlight.
"Who are you?" the monk demanded.
The ninja said nothing, his silence more unnerving than any threat. Instead, he tilted his head, his gaze locked on the brooch.
"Where are the Cat and Ladybug Miraculouses?" he asked, his voice low and cold, cutting through the air like the edge of a blade.
The monk narrowed his eyes. "You will never possess them. Their power is not meant for the likes of you."
The ninja's grip on the kunai tightened. "Tell me where they are, old man, or I'll—"
"You'll do nothing," the monk interrupted, raising the brooch. He whispered a chant, his voice firm and resolute. "Butterfly, wings of destiny—"
The ninja reacted in an instant. With a flick of his wrist, the kunai flew through the air, spinning end over end before embedding itself in the monk's throat. The chant died on his lips as he staggered, his eyes wide with shock. Blood seeped through his fingers as he crumpled to the ground, the brooch falling from his grasp.
The ninja stepped forward, retrieving the butterfly Miraculous with a careful hand. He examined it for a moment before slipping it into a hidden pocket.
The sound of footsteps and alarmed voices echoed down the corridors. More monks were coming.
The ninja turned, his eyes scanning the room. In one swift motion, he retrieved a smoke bomb from his belt and hurled it to the ground. The room filled with a thick, acrid fog, obscuring everything.
When the monks burst in moments later, coughing and waving their hands to clear the air, the room was empty. The demon in the tengu mask was gone, leaving only silence—and the body of their fallen elder.