Manifest Monsters

Part 24~The Ringmaster

Letting out harsh breaths, I looked over to Charlie. Jiro was still struggling. This made no sense. Why was she trying to kill me? Charlie looked close to breaking, her eyes wide and her head buried in Jiro's shoulder. "Come on Jiro, please stop this." No matter what Charlie said, Jiro didn't snap out of it. Jiro was lost.

Taking in a deep breath, I looked up into the sky. Heavy smoke was rising, reaching the stars. I flinched when I heard someone else's voice in my head. Well, that was chilling. Apparently, the villains were here for him. It would explain why Jiro was trying to kill me. The villains must have gotten to her.

Charlie sighed, glaring into the darkness. "I'm going to kill the villain who dared do this to my Kyoka." I didn't need to look at her to know she was telling the truth.

"Stay calm Charlie. Getting angry won't help us right now."

"Calm?! How can I stay calm?! How would you feel if it was Tokoyami!"

Spinning on my feet, I glared at her. "What part of Tokoyami's sacrifice didn't you understand! He's back there fighting the villain so we can get to safety! Don't think you're the only person in this fight!"

Charlie's eyes widened as she lowered her head, guilt covered her face. "Sorry..."

Sighing, I ran a hand through my head. "Don't be... Charlie... I need to go find help. I need to find someone who can help Tokoyami. I want you to go find Mandalay, she might be able to reach Jiro." Charlie nodded as I grabbed her, forcing her to look me in the eyes. "Charlie this is serious. You've already been out for half an hour. If I let you go help Jiro, you'll likely be out past my limit. I need to know I can trust you to become real."

Gulping, Charlie glanced at Jiro. "You can trust me."

Smiling, I backed away, I watched Charlie leave as I charged towards the only people I knew who could help. I didn't know where Katsuki was or Shoto or anyone else with a fire Quirk but I did know where Kaminari was and that was the best I was going to get.

"Enjiro!"

Crashing through the trees, I came face to face with Aizawa and Katsuki. Katsuki held Kota closer, basically protecting him from the scream. Tiny spun when she heard me, breaking the trees. "Izuku!" She jumped off Katsuki's shoulders and into my arms causing Aizawa to look at me. "You're okay!"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Tokoyami and Jiro on the other hand..." I shook off the thoughts as another scream echoed out.

Dashing forward, Katsuki pushed Kota into Aizawa's arms before running into the building. Aizawa screamed for him to wait but Katsuki wasn't listening. I didn't wait either, rushing after Katsuki as he pulled open the door. Katsuki paled, stumbling back from the door. "No..."

I skidded to a halt, looking at what was wrong. "No, it can't be!"

"Well, look here boys and girls, our honoured guests have finally arrived!" Spinning in the middle of the room, the villain giggled from the top of Sero's head. The red and white striped tentacles spread out around his fluffy pink body. The villain couldn't be much bigger than a human head but we both knew not to be deceived by his size. "Isn't this exciting?! Now we can start the main performance!"

The villain hopped onto the desk, laughing as he summoned a top hat from nowhere. "My name, dearest viewers, is the Ringmaster! Welcome to my circus!" The Ringmaster did a flip as Mina did something reckless.

"Die you freaky cotton candy blob!" She leaked out acid from the tips of her fingers, almost hitting the Ringmaster who dodged the attack easily.

"Now now, that's not very nice. After all the effort I put into organising this. I'm deeply offended!" The Ringmaster whipped out with his tentacles, sending Mina into the back wall.

Kaminari hissed as he sparked. "Don't hurt her!"

"And don't test me!" The Ringmaster wrapped his tentacle around Kaminari's throat, lifting him up from the ground. Kaminari clawed at the tentacle, trying to electrocute the villain but it did nothing.

Kirishima jumped up, hardening his skin as he tried to punch the Ringmaster.

"I said don't test me!" The Ringmaster used his tentacles to pin Kirishima against the wall, stabbing through Kirishima's shoulder. Katsuki's eyes widened as he charged forward.

"Don't touch him!" He blasted the tentacle that held Kirishima but like all the other attacks, it did nothing.

"Alright, it's clear you all don't seem to understand the true severity of this situation."

Charging forward, I pushed Katsuki out of the way from The Ringmaster's attack. He wrapped the tentacles around the others, lifting them off the ground. They gasped and choked for air, unable to receive the necessary oxygen.

"How about I show you?" The Ringmaster pulled Kaminari into the middle of the room, holding him up as a demonstration. "Say goodbye, Kaminari Denki."

"No... Please... I don't want to die."

Snap!

The Ringmaster dropped Kaminari's lifeless body, his neck sticking out at an odd angle. Everyone was in shock as a blood-curdling scream echoed around the room. The bulbs above us broke and shattered, a dark shadow encasing the room. Oshken lifted up Kaminari, his blood-red eyes glaring at The Ringmaster.

"Oh, shit-" The Ringmaster let out a high pitched scream as Oshken threw him through the walls and into the forest.

Oshken's eyes softened to the usual sad yellow as he looked at Kaminari. He brushed Kaminari's cheek, small drops of swirling, shadow tears landing on the growing paler skin. "Kami...? Please wake up... Please, you can't be dead... Please... I don't want you to die..."

Shuffling to Oshken's side, I placed my hand on his shoulder, closing my eyes and letting my power fill him. Oshken had never felt so powerful. He looked at me questioningly as I nodded. His shadows covered Kaminari, growing darker and darker until a pair of glowing yellow eyes opened.

"Kami?"

"Oshy? What? I'm alive?"

"You're alive!" Oshken tackled Kaminari into a hug, crying into Kaminari's shoulder. I felt dizzy as Sero caught me. That was too close for comfort.