Location: Fun House (Center Stage)

  Time of Day: Night

  Carnivex slid his knife into his pocket and reached behind his back, pulling out a deflated balloon. FWIP! He raised it dramatically. "Now then... time for my favorite trick~"

  He blew into the red balloon and twisted it between his fingers. SQUEEEAK! STRETCH! In seconds, it took shape... a small balloon dog.

  Slayer leaned forward, baffled. "A... balloon dog?"

  Hikari narrowed her brows. "What is he planning...?"

  Carnivex only giggled. The balloon dog floated up beside him, hovering in place. He pulled out two more deflated balloons, bright green this time, and started twisting them even faster, humming a circus tune under his breath. When he finished, he held up a balloon monkey, then snatched the floating balloon dog into his other hand. He spread his arms wide, bowing as both balloon figures squeaked in his grip. "TA-DA~! Meet todays performers!"

  Lumina's eyes narrowed. "What is the meaning of this...?"

  Carnivex grinned. "Allow me to demonstrate… the true power of my balloons~."

  He tossed both balloon figures onto the fill dirt FWUMP! and snapped his fingers. Two darts appeared between his fingers with a FWIP! "Awaken... my children!" THWIP! THWIP! Both darts shot forward and struck the balloons dead-on. POOF! POOF!

  Red and green smoke erupted outward, swirling across the arena floor in thick spirals. The smoke curled around the deflated balloons, almost like feeding them, and the rubber began to bubble. The balloons then melted into a gooey, living substance that crawled across the dirt... before slowly pulling itself upward. Two distinct shapes began to form.

  From the red balloon, the first creature formed. Its whole body was bent out of shape. Its arms hung long and uneven, its spine curved like something had twisted it on purpose. Its ribs pressed against its thin gray skin. A cracked monkey mask with dried blood on it covered part of its face, fused into the flesh underneath. One eye socket leaked black smoke, while the other held a single glass eye that rolled on its own. Its tail dragged behind it, ending in a red deflated balloon. OO-OO-OO-AHH-AAH! It gave a monkey-like sound and did a quick backflip, like it was showing off.

  From the green balloon, the second creature took shape. It walked on four legs, its patchy black fur torn in places to reveal raw flesh underneath. Thick stitches pulled its eyes shut, stretched tight across its face. Half of its muzzle was missing, leaving rows of sharp teeth exposed, and clamped between them was a severed arm dripping blood onto the dirt. Its tail ended with a green deflated balloon. It dropped the arm and let out a low, rattling growl.

  Slayer's eyes widened. "No way... it's that thing again."

  The dog creature tilted its head toward the sound of his voice, like if recognizing him.

  Carnivex clapped his hands together, laughing hysterically. "Ehehe~! You remember him, don’t you? He won’t stop sniffing about you! And look, he’s been dying to see you again!"

  Hikari narrowed her eyes. "So this is how you make your creations..."

  Carnivex spread his arms proudly. "Yes! Brilliant, isn't it?!"

  Lumina stepped forward, hand on her katana. "Brilliant or not... they'll fall all the same."

  Carnivex's grin sharpened. "Oooo~ I'd love to see you try." He snapped his fingers. The red and green deflated balloons hanging from the creatures' tails slipped off and vanished, like chains dropping away. "Now then! Go on, my masterpieces, show them some love!"

  Slayer gripped his sword and shield, "Heads up! Here they come!"

  Both creatures bolted forward, kicking up dirt as they charged.

  The monkey jumped first, launching straight at Lumina. From midair, it swung its arm at her. Lumina shifted into position and swung her katana upward in a sharp arc. SHING! Her blade cut clean through. SHK! The monkey's arm flew off - surprisingly with no blood - and the creature crashed onto the dirt, rolling before landing in a crouch. It didn't react at all to the missing limb. Instead, it let out a warped, monkey-like laugh... Krr-hee-hee-HEE! and the severed arm slid across the dirt on its own, reattaching to the shoulder with a sickening SNAP!

  Lumina rolled her eyes, stance resetting. "Of course... this is gonna be a while."

  The black dog came next, lunging at Slayer with its half-exposed muzzle snapping violently. CLANG! Slayer caught the hit on his shield, the impact rattling his arm. "Gah, man, that thing's got a bite!" He swung back. "My turn!" SLASH! His blade sliced across its shoulder, black blood spraying onto the dirt.

  The creature snarled. Even while cut open, it forced itself forward, its shoulder regenerating in seconds. It slashed at his shield, claws scraping hard, each strike sending sharp screeches and sparks flying.

  Slayer pushed back with a grunt. "Don't think your claws are enough to break my stance!" He bashed the dog with his shield BAM! then cut low across its ribs.

  For a moment, the creature staggered. Then the wound sealed over, new flesh forming where he struck. Slayer raised his shield. "Great... this is getting me nowhere."

  FWOOSH! It lunged again, biting down on the edge of his shield and shaking violently. Slayer dug his boots into the dirt. "Like I said, wont be enough!"

  With Lumina... the monkey lunged again, its mouth stretching open beneath the cracked mask as it let out another monkey-like laugh. OO-OOO-AH-AH! Lumina dashed forward and slipped past its swing, her blade flashing as she cut across its leg. She spun with a sharp twist BOOM! her heel slamming into its chest, bones cracking as it sending it flying back.

  It skidded across the dirt on all fours. Then it stood tall...and began clapping its long, stretched arms over its head while hopping in place, almost dancing like it was enjoying the fight.

  Lumina aimed her blade at it, eyes steady. "Enjoying the fight, are you?" She lowered into her stance. "Good. But one of us must fall."

  The monkey drummed its long arms against its chest, then dashed forward. It leapt, bringing its foot straight down toward Lumina. She darted aside, and the kick slammed into the dirt instead. She thrusted her blade through its back SHK! but the creature didn't fall.

  Its head twisted a full 180 degrees, the glass eye spinning wildly before it screamed right in her face. Lumina ripped her blade free and jumped back as the monkey's arms suddenly stretched toward her, long and thin like wires snapping across the air.

  "They can extend?" Lumina muttered, taken off guard as the arms whipped toward her. She swung her katana, but the stretched arms wrapped around the blade instead. The steel cut into them, but they held tight, pulling hard. She gritted her teeth. "It's trying to... disarm me."

  Carnivex twirled in the distance, watching the chaos unfold. "Yes~ yes~! That's it, my little creations! Kill for me! Oh, what a delicious performance!" He threw both arms into the air, laughter echoing through the tent.

  Hikari watched the fight, heart pounding. Slayer was getting pushed back, and Lumina's movements were sharp, but the creature kept matching her step for step.

  "I... I need to help them." Her eyes darted, then stopped on Captain's rifle lying in the dirt. She turned toward him. He was still groaning and twitching on the ground, trapped in the hallucination. "Sorry, Captain," she whispered, fists clenching. "I'll make sure to bring it back." She dashed forward, kneeling to grab the rifle, its weight heavy in her arms.

  Lumina struggled to pull free, the monkey's head still twisted backward as its stretched arms held tight to her katana, trying to rip it out of her grip. She angled the blade toward its head and stepped back, the monkey stepping back with her, like a twisted game of tug-of-war. Then Lumina suddenly let go.

  The monkey's stretched arms snapped back like a slingshot, FWOOO! and the katana launched forward, piercing straight through its head. SHK! The monkey's limbs recoiled to normal length as its head rotated back into place. It grabbed the katana, yanked it out, and dropped it onto the dirt.

  Lumina was already moving. She snatched the blade off the ground and slashed across the monkey's back SHING! sending it rolling across the dirt.

  With Slayer... he struck the dog with a hard shield bash that cracked bone and sent it skidding back. The dog didn't care, it recovered quickly and charged again. It leapt high, claws out, and dove straight down at him. Slayer dodged back as the creature dove past him. Before it could even touch the dirt, he swung twice, SLASH! SLASH! two quick, clean slashes, knocking it sideways and sending it rolling across the ground.

  A moment later, both the monkey and the dog hit the dirt and rolled together, slashed and knocked off balance.

  Slayer lowered his stance, exhaling. "Are they finished yet?"

  Lumina stepped beside him, a bead of sweat sliding down her cheek. "Definitely not."

  Then... both creatures' bodies began regenerating, flesh stitching itself back together. Within seconds, they were standing again, good as new. The monkey let out a another laugh, OO-OO-AAH-AAH! and the dog answered with a haunting howl. HWOORRRR-AAEEE!

  Slayer exhaled, raising his shield. "Not good..."

  Lumina narrowed her eyes, letting out a slow breath. "Tch... how annoying. We can't keep this up forever."

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  Carnivex clapped his hands, giggling uncontrollably. "Magnificent! Encore! Encore~! You two make the most delightful training puppets for my creations!" He snapped his fingers. Two darts appeared between them. “Let’s crank this performance… AAAALL THE WAY UP TO ONE HUNDRED!” FWIP! FWIP! The darts shot into both creatures.

  Slayer tensed. "What is he doing now?!"

  The monkey grabbed its head, shaking wildly. The dog growled and shook its body as well. Both creatures' skin slowly shifted into a bright red color. A few seconds later, their mouths began bubbling, and their bodies twitched with rage.

  Carnivex burst into laughter. "Ehehe~! Now show them what REAL hunger looks like, my children!" He pointed at Lumina and Slayer. "Dinner is served!"

  Before either of them could react, both creatures lunged, far faster and stronger than before.

  The dog slammed into Slayer. He raised his shield, but the impact was so strong it knocked him straight to the ground. At the same time, the monkey's arms shot toward Lumina like wires, so fast even she couldn't react in time. The elongated limbs wrapped around her instantly, pinning her in place. Her katana was forced out of her grip as she struggled against the tightening hold squeezing around her body.

  Slayer grunted, pushing back with his shield as the dog snapped its teeth inches from his helmet. "You wanna trade partners, Lumina?!"

  Lumina hissed, still trapped in the monkey's stretched arms. "Not the time... for games, Slayer!"

  Hikari lifted the rifle, locking both hands around the grip. She aimed toward the center of the chaos, her breath shallow but steady. "Okay... I've got this."

  Carnivex noticed instantly. "Oooh~ now this is funny!" He leaned sideways, pulling his knife from his pocket. "You still think your little toys will work on my creations?"

  Hikari ignored him, eyes narrowing. ("I've only got three shots. One for each of them, so I can't miss.")

  Lumina's voice strained from across the arena as the arms squeezed tighter. "Hikari, forget us! Just shoot him!"

  Carnivex's grin split wider. "Just shoot him~! EHEHE~!" He pointed mockingly at Lumina. "If I were in your position, I'd save my breath." Then, under his voice, he muttered with a giggle. "Then again... it'd make the process quicker. Ehehe~!" He shifted his glowing eyes toward Hikari. "Well, C'mon, little Hollow... shoot me." He lifted his knife. "I'm ready for your show."

  Hikari grit her teeth, torn on what to do.

  The monkey's bubbling mouth frothed even more, its arms squeezing Lumina tighter. "Gah-!" Lumina winced, feeling the pressure crack along her ribs.

  The dog's mouth bubbled too, and its jaws clamped down on Slayer's arm. Its teeth tore through his armor "Dammit!" Slayer groaned, blood seeping through the metal.

  Hikari's eyes widened. "I can't just ignore this!" she shouted.

  Carnivex only laughed harder, twirling his knife with wild joy. "EHEHE~! Their pain is music to my ears!"

  Hikari steadied her aim, shifting her sights away from Carnivex and toward the creatures pinning Lumina and Slayer. (“I have to shoot the creatures first. Carnivex will probably deflect anything aimed at him just to show off, so I can't take that risk. And once he realizes his creations can die, he’ll be on full guard. But if I free Slayer and Lumina, we can force him into an opening together with the last bullet. So that’s the safest play… save them first.") She then took aim at the monkey from across the arena. Her finger tightened on the trigger then BANG!

  FWOOM! The Aura-infused bullet tore through the air and pierced the monkey’s head, and this time, blood erupted in a violent spray, launching the creature backward before it hit the ground hard. Its stretched arms snapped back to normal, freeing Lumina instantly. Hikari quickly shifted her aim to the dog pinning Slayer. Her breath steadied. BANG! The shot struck true, punching through the dog’s head, blood spraying as the creature crashed across the dirt.

  Carnivex burst into laughter. "You fool! You think that'll be enough! I told you already, they'll just regenerate!"

  But then-

  Both creatures jerked violently, dark blood bursting from the wounds where their heads had been, heavy and real. They jerked once... twice... then their bodies twitched one last time and went still.

  Carnivex's laughter cut off instantly. "Hm?" His eyes narrowed at the bodies lying motionless on the arena floor. "Why aren't they regenerating?!" He stumbled a step forward, voice cracking with disbelief. "No, no, no, no, what did you do to them?!" He clutched his head with both hands. "My beautiful creations... my perfect showpieces!"

  Hikari exhaled slowly, steadying her breath as she lifted the rifle again, this time aiming at Carnivex. Only one bullet remained.

  Carnivex looked up at her, his grin gone. His eyes trembled between rage and mockery. "You're dumber than I thought if you really think I'll let you shoot me... after seeing what those bullets did to my creations, little Hollow."

  Lumina coughed, crouched on one knee. "Hikari, wait...! We have to think... of a way to distract him."

  Slayer pushed himself up, exhaling hard. "She's right, Hikari. If you miss your last shot now, we lose the only thing that can kill him!"

  Lumina shot him a glare. "Slayer, you dummy!"

  Carnivex listened, grin returning as he raised his knife. "Hm... so that confirms it. Only one shot left. EHEHE! Too bad I won't let that happen." He licked the blade slowly. "But you're free to try~!"

  Hikari steadied her aim. Then a small smile curved across her lips. She chuckled softly. "To think... we were only half correct."

  Carnivex's grin twitched. "What are you on about?"

  Hikari raised the gun, but not at him. She aimed the rifle at her own forehead, both arms steady.

  Everyone froze.

  Carnivex blinked once. Then he burst out laughing hysterically. "EHEHE- AHAHAHAHA- OHOHO~! Oh, this is rich! You've gone completely insane! The Hollow finally realized it's useless!"

  "Hikari!" Lumina's voice cracked as she stood up. "What are you doing?!"

  Slayer's visor snapped toward her, alarmed. "Hey, Hikari, don't do anything crazy now!"

  Hikari didn't lower the gun or look away. "You're nothing but a heartless being," she said quietly. "You take lives like they mean nothing. But I promise you..." She took a slow breath. "You'll be locked away again."

  Carnivex's grin twitched, fury showing behind his golden eyes. "You dare talk down to me, Hollow?!" he hissed. "When you're the one stuck in my world!"

  Hikari's thoughts raced, steady and focused. ("I hope this works... I'm trusting from what I saw in that moment. If this fails... then everything really ends here... But I see no other way.")

  Carnivex let out a laugh that echoed through the arena. "YOU WON'T ESCAPE ME!" He dashed forward, knife raised high FWOOOSH!

  Then-

  BANG! The aura-infused bullet burst out the back of Hikari's head, scattering red shards of aura behind her. The rifle slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the dirt. Her arms dropped and her shoulders sagged, her head dipping forward as if she'd given up.

  Carnivex froze mid-stride. Confusion broke across his painted face. Lumina and Slayer stared, stunned.

  Hikari slowly pressed her palm to her forehead. She pushed her fingers apart... and lifted her head. Through the gap in her hand, she stared straight at Carnivex. Her voice was small, deadly calm. "Now you're in my world... Carnivex."

  Carnivex stumbled a step. "H-How... are you still alive?"

  Hikari's brown eyes shifted, glowing, brightening, then turning pink. She extended her arm outward. "COME... EMANATION!"

  A familiar heat-like pink aura erupted from her body, and wind roared across the arena. The sound of her aura hummed around her, flowing like waves across her whole body.

  Carnivex's voice cracked in shock. "Wh-what is this intense energy?"

  Lumina whispered, half in awe, "She's using Emanation..."

  Slayer stared, just as stunned. "H-how did she manage to do that?!"

  Carnivex staggered back, eyes wide and raw. "Answer me! What is that pink energy?!"

  Hikari's mouth curled, cold and steady. "Why does it matter? You'll be dead either way, so no point on wasting my breath." She threw his own words back at him.

  Carnivex's joking tone instantly dropped, fury replacing it. "You damn little Hollow... I'll show you!"

  Hikari lifted her chin slightly, pink aura flowing around her. "Fine, fine. Relax. I'll grant you that one little wish since you're showing such interest in my color." She threw the same tone he used on her right back at him again.

  Carnivex grit his teeth.

  "You see... Emanation only exists when the mind and body are connected," Hikari said calmly. "That's why none of us could use our abilities in here since we were separated from our real bodies." Pink aura flowed gently around her as she lowered her head slightly. "When I shot your creatures... I noticed something." Her eyes narrowed. "It only lasted a moment, but it was definitely there."

  "What are you talking about?!" Carnivex snapped, pointing his knife at her.

  "When the bullets pierced your creations... the aura inside them reacted." She looked toward the fallen creatures. "Wherever the bullet hit them... that exact piece tried to go back somewhere." She met his golden, glowing eyes with her own bright pink ones. "Where you may ask?" A beat of silence. "Back to the real world. To our world."

  Carnivex narrowed his brows. "Impossible."

  Hikari gestured lightly with her hand. "And why there? Because the real world is the only place where living energy can return to." She glanced at her hand as pink aura flowed around it. "Aura contains living energy, but this place doesn't." She swept her hand around the carnival arena, mannequins still staring blankly at them. "In fact, there isn't a single trace of living energy anywhere in this dimension."

  Carnivex stiffened, knowing she was right.

  Hikari turned, her gaze locking onto him. "So the Aura-infused bullet tried to take that piece of them back to a living vessel." She stepped closer. "But since your creations don't have a real body to return to... that piece of them just simply vanished into the real world." Her voice sharpened. "That's explains why they couldn't regenerate. And why they were taking real damage instead, because a part of them was gone permanently."

  Carnivex's golden eyes glowed brighter, furious.

  Hikari placed a hand on her chin. "So for a split second, their bodies reacted like real living beings. That also explains why some of your creatures that didn’t bleed… actually bled." She added. "Like the bear Lumina and Captain fought for example." She pointed toward the fallen creations. "They weren't alive before, but the aura bullet forced them to act alive for that one moment."

  Hikari continued, calm and sure. "So you're creations aren't living beings in the real world. "They're just nothing but puppets made from rubber balloons that imitate life, creations with no soul or purpose."

  Carnivex listened in silence, unable to find a single word to throw back.

  Hikari touched her chest lightly. "But I'm different. I do have a body waiting for me out there, and a purpose to keep me going." She lifted her chin with quiet confidence. "So when I shot myself... the aura recognized my mind and knew exactly where I belonged." Her pink aura flowed gently. "It linked this version of me back to my real body in that moment."

  A pink glow flared behind her eyes. "Enough for my mind and body to reconnect." She stepped forward. "And that connection was enough to make Emanation possible right now."

  Carnivex staggered back. "B-But what if I-"

  Hikari cut him off sharply. "I don't have much time, so enough talking." Her voice was steady, unwavering. "The link will pull me out of this dimension soon." She raised her hand, aura flaring. "So I need to end this before that happens."

  Hikari then lowered her hand and extended it out. "Come!" FWOOOM! Three pink lights burst into the air around her.

  SHIIN! SHIIN! SHIIN! Her Aura Tech Link Bots materialized, hovering in a tight circle. Their cores flared with pink energy. For a moment, all three drones turned toward her... as if recognizing her again. HUMM! As if they'd missed her.

  Hikari blinked, surprised, her voice soft. "Hey little buddies... I'm glad to see you too."

  Carnivex's face twisted in disbelief. "Wh-What are those things?!"

  Hikari lowered her arm, aura swirling around her. "Fortunately for you," she said, voice steady, "I'm guessing you do have a body to return to."

  Carnivex took a step back.

  Hikari's eyes sharpened. "And when you get dragged back into it... we'll be there waiting."

  Carnivex took a another frantic step back, golden eyes shaking. "NO-NO, YOU WON'T BE TAKING ME BACK!"

  But Hikari wasn't done. She glanced over her shoulder at Captain, still twitching on the ground, trapped in agony. Her brows narrowed and her face was filled with anger. "And this is for the pain you put him through."

  The drones shifted their posture, cores brightening and pink energy charging.

  Carnivex panicked. "No-NO! Get away from me!" FWISH! His body blurred, vanishing, trying to escape into the shadows of his domain.

  Hikari didn't even flinch. She exhaled softly. "Sorry but..." Her eyes glowed brighter. "I already saw that one coming." Her cognitive acceleration kicked in, possibilities branching through her mind. She had already calculated his escape route. Without turning, she glanced to the side. "Behind me."

  The drones instantly rotated, KRRRK! TARGET LOCK! Carnivex reappeared right behind Hikari, knife raised for the slash, only to freeze when he saw three glowing cores already aimed at his face.

  Hikari didn't turn. "Dinner is served." Carnivex’s own tone thrown right back at him one last time.

  PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW-PEW!!!

  A relentless barrage of pink aura blasts tore into Carnivex. Each shot ripped a piece of him away, blood spraying as fragments of his form were yanked violently into the real world like flashes of pink lightning.

  Carnivex shrieked, his voice cracking with rage and fear. “DAAAMN YOOUUU, HOLLOW!!!”

  Smoke burst from every strike. His body was almost gone… until the last shred of him dissolved into a final puff of pink smoke. FWSSHH! and Carnivex was gone.