A week later, in a small town…
The full moon hung high, its hazy light spreading across the road like a thin veil, casting a pale, eerie glow that made the place seem cold and deserted.
The Rustbucket rolled slowly along the rural road. Yellowed leaves drifted through the air, mixed with a few colorful ribbons that fluttered and danced in the wind. Houses and shops on both sides had their doors tightly shut, windows pitch-black without a hint of light. Only the distant night sky shimmered now and then with bursts of color, as if a grand performance was taking place there—forming a sharp contrast to the stillness around them.
It was already 11 p.m.
Ben pressed his face to the car window, frowning. "Why's the whole town empty? And those lights... you don't think UFOs took everyone, do you?"
"Doofus, look over here." Gwen pointed at a road sign, smiling. "Zombozo's Circus is in town! That's awesome."
She hadn't seen a circus in years, and now that there was a chance, she wasn't about to miss it.
Grandpa Max's eyes lit up from the driver's seat. "I bet it'll be great. Come on, Grandpa's taking you to the show."
Ben quickly shook his head. "No way. That's kid stuff."
"Doofus, like you're not a kid," Gwen shot back, hands on her hips. "The circus is fun, and we're going tonight! Who knows when we'll get another chance..."
"Oh please, you're acting like one of the clowns yourself." Ben shrugged, then quickly changed the subject. "It's late. We should just find a place to rest!"
Gwen raised an eyebrow. "Ben, what's up with you today? You're not usually like this."
Lucian, sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly opened his eyes. A glint of cold light flashed through his dark pupils. Ben didn't want to go? That wouldn't do. Lucian knew the reason.
If Ben kept running from it, that fear would stay with him forever. The only way to overcome it was to face it head-on—to fight poison with poison.
Lucian turned his head slightly and gave a faint smile. "Ben, you're not scared, are you? A superhero afraid of a circus?"
That always worked on Ben. Without a little provocation, he'd never agree.
Sure enough, Ben froze, his face stiffening. "Who... who said I'm scared? This hero fears nothing! Fine, let's go!"
He lowered his head, clenching his fists, muttering something under his breath.
Following the bright lights, Grandpa Max, his gray hair catching the glow of the headlights, steered the Rustbucket carefully down the road. Before long, they arrived at the circus grounds.
The place was packed—brilliant lights, colorful lasers, and an ocean of excited voices filled the air. Nearly the entire town had shown up. For this quiet, remote town, a circus like this came once in a decade. Best of all... admission was free. No tickets, no fees—a free show was always irresistible.
Soon, Lucian and the others parked and joined the crowd for Zombozo's performance. After a bit of pushing and squeezing, they managed to get front-row seats. The place was overflowing, but when a child nearby suddenly felt sick and was taken home by his parents, a few spots opened up—just in time for them. Luckily, Lucian had been standing right there; otherwise, they would've been stuck at the back.
Each of them grabbed a bucket of popcorn and settled into their seats, waiting for the show to begin.
Under the dazzling lights, Ben's eyes were glued to the clown model hanging above. Its blood-red nose, jagged yellow teeth, and sly, menacing eyes made his neck tense up and his breathing quicken.
Lucian caught it from the corner of his eye. He pointed at the clown and shook his finger, signaling that it wasn't real. But Ben still looked uneasy. Seeing that, Lucian exhaled quietly. Ben had to face this himself—only then could he overcome it.
On stage, the host in a red tuxedo, with a long curled mustache, grinned and gestured animatedly as he introduced the next act.
"Ladies and gentlemen, and all our dear little friends, next up is the star attraction of our Circus of Laughs!"
Bam!
Fireworks exploded at the side of the stage, showering the area in dazzling light as a towering, muscular man slowly stepped into view.
"He is the formidable powerhouse of a man—Thumbskull!"
As the emcee finished speaking, Thumbskull pulled a steel pipe from behind his back. With a deep, guttural growl, he bent the pipe clean in half with raw strength, showing off his tremendous power.
He gave a goofy grin and casually tossed the bent pipe aside.
Suddenly, a lock of crimson hair snaked out, wrapping around the pipe and flinging it neatly into a trash can.
All eyes turned in the direction of the movement. There stood a slender young woman with long, flowing red hair that moved like living serpents, swaying even without wind.
She had used her hair to throw the pipe into the trash, and that supernatural display of power instantly drew thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd.
"This is Frightwig! Who knows what dangerous power lies beneath that beautiful exterior!" the host declared passionately, then turned to the other side. "And now, the final member of our trio!"
"He is the arrogant and treacherous Acid Breath!"
A thin, masked man staggered forward under the lights.
He removed his mask, revealing a mouthful of jagged yellow teeth, his breath so foul it seemed to taint the air itself.
Splash!
A wave of nauseating yellow gas burst from his mouth, instantly corroding the trash can before him. The steel pipe inside dissolved with it, melting into a pool of foul, bubbling sludge.
The audience erupted with excitement, clapping and cheering at the bizarre and spectacular performance. Their voices blended into a single roar of enthusiasm, the whole tent brimming with laughter and joy.
"How disgusting~" Gwen wrinkled her delicate brows. "That Acid Breath guy's mouth is worse than a hundred-year-old septic tank."
"This kind of performance is a rare treat," Grandpa said with a kind smile, completely unfazed.
Lucian nodded. "That's how circuses are—strange and full of surprises. But I think the real main act hasn't appeared yet."
"How do you know that, Cuz?" Gwen asked softly, blinking her bright eyes as she looked straight at Lucian.
"Just a hunch," Lucian replied with a faint smile, not elaborating further.
In the original story, the circus had four major oddballs. Three had already shown up, which meant the last one should be Zombozo.
After displaying their individual talents, the trio exited the stage one by one.
The host's lips curled into a mysterious smile. "Ladies and gentlemen, our next performer is the second-in-command of the Circus of Laughs—the queen of clowns herself!"
"Queen?" Lucian's eyes narrowed. That character hadn't appeared in the original storyline.
Biu~ Biu!
Amid a burst of fireworks, a graceful figure slowly stepped out from the back.
She was young and stunningly beautiful, her twin ponytails of blue and white swaying lightly as she walked. Her tall, elegant figure exuded charm and allure with every movement.
"This is the Queen of the Clown World!"
"Clown Girl, Eliza!"