Sensing the gust of power surging from behind, Four Arms twisted his massive body, unleashing a burst of terrifying energy that collided with Zombozo's fist in a thunderous crash.
Boom!
The deafening explosion echoed across the courtyard. At the center of the impact, a violent shockwave erupted outward. The howling wind tore through the air, whipping up gravel, leaves, and debris, sending them spiraling high into the night sky.
Within the raging storm, Zombozo's arm began to tremble uncontrollably, surprise flashing across his face.
"I didn't expect you to be this strong, you bastard!"
His feet skidded backward, gouging a dark trench through the grass.
"And that's not all."
Four Arms roared, his immense power surging through his clenched fists. With a single, crushing strike, he sent the clown flying, smashing him through a thick tree before Zombozo tumbled helplessly across the ground.
Seeing the clown sprawled on the grass, Four Arms seized the momentum and charged forward.
That brief clash had told him plenty—Zombozo's strength was far greater than expected. He must have absorbed the audience's joy, transforming it into raw power. Otherwise, he'd have been flattened by their first collision.
Thud, thud, thud!
The earth cracked beneath Four Arms' pounding strides as he charged like a runaway train, bearing down on Zombozo with unstoppable force.
Feeling the tremors beneath his feet, Zombozo gritted his teeth against the pain, pushed himself upright, and pulled a small, purple gift box from his pocket. Its surface gleamed beautifully under the light.
"For you!" he shouted, hurling it straight at the oncoming Four Arms.
Four Arms tensed, instantly sidestepping the throw. Then, with a powerful swing, he struck the box away with his palm, sending it spinning skyward with a shrill whistle.
Boom!
The box exploded midair, bursting into a blinding flash that lit up the entire courtyard like daylight. A scorching wave of heat swept down, mingled with a pungent chemical odor, blanketing everything within fifty meters.
Four Arms narrowed his eyes against the glare, scanning the fiery haze for Zombozo's silhouette.
"Farewell, dear Mr. Four Arms," Zombozo's mocking laughter echoed through the smoke. The battered trio stood behind him as he continued, "Once I've absorbed every ounce of joy from the crowd, we'll finish this properly."
Four Arms lunged forward, reaching for him.
Biu!
A massive burst of fireworks exploded in his face, and in an instant, Zombozo and his lackeys vanished without a trace—gone as if they'd never been there at all.
Moments later, the bright flare in the sky faded, and silence returned to the shattered courtyard. The Joker and his crew were gone, leaving behind only the wreckage of battle.
After confirming they wouldn't return, Four Arms tapped the Omnitrix on his chest, reverting to his human form.
"That guy… clown or magician?" Lucian muttered, rubbing his forehead. "I've never seen anyone slip away like that."
"Cuz!"
Ben came running up from behind.
Lucian gave him a calm glance and smiled faintly. "You finally decided to come out, huh, kid?"
"I… I didn't want to drag you down," Ben mumbled, his head hanging low.
"You're scared of that clown," Lucian said flatly.
"I'm not!" Ben protested—but under Lucian's steady gaze, he slumped and admitted, "Okay, fine. I was scared. Really scared. I don't even know why, but… clowns just freak me out."
Lucian shook his head. "I'm not going to feed you some motivational nonsense. It won't help. So… tonight, you're going to defeat that clown yourself. Understand?"
"What?!" Ben gasped, shaking his head furiously. "Cuz, come on, no way! I can't beat him—he's way too strong!"
"You've already decided you can't win before even trying?" Lucian asked calmly.
"He escaped even from your Four Arms! I don't stand a chance," Ben admitted, his voice trembling.
"Escaped?" Lucian's lips curved slightly. "That just means he was afraid. As long as you're stronger, more determined, more ruthless than he is—he'll be the one afraid of you."
"Just like right now…"
Ben froze for a moment, then slowly lifted his head. Determination began to flicker in his eyes.
...
After returning to the Rustbucket, Lucian found Gwen and Grandpa Max already fast asleep. Moving quietly, he took Ben and headed straight for the Circus of Laughs.
Midnight.
The empty streets were strewn with plastic litter—bottles, popcorn buckets, and scraps of garbage. A cold gust of wind swept through, lifting a crumpled circus poster off the ground. It drifted lazily through the air before settling on the fountain's surface, slowly sinking into the dark water below...
All around, dazed townsfolk wandered aimlessly, their eyes vacant and lifeless, as though their souls had been drained away. The once vibrant atmosphere was now dead silent, sending a chill through the night.
Passing through the dim, abandoned stage, Lucian led Ben toward the circus camp.
As soon as they arrived, they spotted the circus trio. Bandaged from head to toe, they were gritting their teeth as they hauled crates and sacks of loot. These were stolen goods from the town, and they were preparing to flee before sunrise, abandoning this place for good.
As for the townspeople? The Circus of Laughs didn't care in the slightest. They'd just leave them behind to rot...
Hidden behind a pile of debris, Lucian whispered, "Ben, don't transform yet."
"Why not? I wanna help you beat up those weirdos," Ben said, frowning.
"You'll understand soon enough." Lucian gave a faint, knowing smile. He already had a plan in mind.
Thud!
A flash of eerie green light burst out, startling the three nearby.
"Well, well... what little mouse dares to peek at the show?"
Frightwig sneered, her fiery red hair lashing out like whips. In an instant, the junk pile was shredded into splinters, sending a cloud of dust billowing through the air.
From within the haze, a towering figure slowly emerged.
Its body was made entirely of crystal, gleaming under the moonlight with a pale green sheen. Jagged spikes jutted from its chest and back, and a circular green Omnitrix emblem glowed at the center of its torso.
The trio froze, their eyes widening in shock.
First came that four-armed monster that ruined their plans, and now a stone giant? And an even stronger one at that. Were they cursed tonight?
"Uh... who are you looking for?" Thumbskull asked awkwardly, scratching his bald head with a sheepish grin.
"Zombozo. Tell him to come out," Diamondhead said, his tone cold and steady.
Realizing the intruder wasn't friendly, Acid Breath reacted instantly. He spat out a cloud of yellow, reeking gas that surged toward Diamondhead.
Diamondhead lifted his hand, forming a shimmering crystal barrier that easily absorbed the poisonous fumes. Then his forearm shifted, transforming into a row of sharp, gleaming spikes.
In the next second, he unleashed them in a blinding barrage—like a hailstorm of crystal shards, pelting toward Acid Breath with unstoppable force...