251-255

Chapter 251: Distortion

"What?!"

Backstage, Amanda's expression instantly turned to shock when she heard Agent Zhou's report.

"When did this happen?"

She pressed a hand to her aching head, trying to steady her breathing as she asked Agent Zhou over the phone.

Here she was, going through countless difficulties to find the BSI agents who had been turned into horses by the circus ringmaster.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Spike had suddenly vanished without a trace.

"Just as we entered the circus tent. Phil and I were sitting together, and Spike was supposed to be next to me. But when I turned my head for just a second, he was gone."

Spike's disappearance was clearly beyond Amanda's expectations.

But given the current situation, there was no time for her to dwell on it.

"Forget about Spike for now. While the circus is still wrapping up the show outside, we need to get out of here."

After giving instructions to Agent Zhou over the phone, Amanda hung up and turned her attention to the horse standing silently in front of her—or rather, Mike.

"I'm sorry, but we can't rescue you just yet."

*Neigh!*

Hearing Amanda’s words, Mike pawed at the ground anxiously, his behavior growing increasingly agitated.

Placing a reassuring hand on the horse's head, Amanda tried to calm him as she promised, "Stay calm. This doesn’t mean I’ve given up on rescuing you. Just give us some more time. I swear we’ll find a way to turn you back. I promise!"

*Snort.*

Reassured by Amanda's promise, Mike lowered his head and snorted softly in response.

"Angela, we need to—"

After calming Mike, Amanda let out a sigh of relief and turned to call Angela to retreat backstage.

"..."

But when she turned, she saw Angela standing frozen in place. In front of her was a small figure holding a sharp sword, blocking their path.

"Sorry, but the ringmaster has already said—you’re not going anywhere."

Swinging the sword, the *Thumb General* let out a sharp, piercing voice.

---

"Where are the boss and Angela?"

Walking out of the circus alongside the departing audience, Agents Zhou and Phil arrived at the designated meeting spot near where they had parked earlier in the day.

But there was no sign of the other two.

Frowning, Agent Zhou dialed Angela’s number, but the long, unanswered ringing only deepened the unease in his heart.

"No answer."

After hanging up the call that went nowhere, Agent Zhou shook his head at Phil.

"Damn it!"

Hearing this, Phil cursed under his breath.

In truth, when the two hadn’t shown up at the meeting point, he’d already had a bad feeling about it.

"We have to go back. The boss and Angela must still be in the circus."

Convinced that the two were still inside, Phil turned to run back toward the tent.

"Wait!"

Seeing Phil’s rash move, Zhou grabbed him.

"Given the situation, rushing back to the circus is suicide. You heard the boss on the phone—those missing BSI agents have all been turned into horses."

"So what? You’re saying we just abandon the boss and Angela?!"

Phil’s expression turned furious at Zhou’s words.

Taking a step closer, he stared Zhou down, gritting his teeth. "Zhou, I thought better of you."

"I’m not like you—I can’t just be so cold-hearted."

Without waiting for Zhou’s response, Phil turned and ran toward the circus tent.

Zhou, watching Phil’s retreating figure, stood silently, clutching his arm with a conflicted expression.

---

"Mommy, I want to see the circus show again tomorrow!"

A child, holding their mother’s hand on the way home, spoke with excitement.

"Sorry, sweetheart, but the circus will be leaving town tomorrow. So your wish won’t come true."

Glancing back at the distant circus tent, Lisa shook her head.

Though she too was captivated by the performance, especially the beautiful final song, she knew the circus wouldn’t stay in town for long.

"Why, Mommy?"

Disappointed, the child looked up at Lisa.

"Because the circus has to travel to perform in other places. Cough, cough..."

As she gently patted the child’s head, Lisa suddenly began coughing uncontrollably.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Covering her mouth, she struggled to breathe, her coughs growing more violent.

Around her, other townsfolk who had been walking normally also started coughing.

"Mommy, what’s wrong? Why—cough, cough..."

The child’s confused expression turned to fear as they too began coughing softly.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

One by one, townsfolk collapsed, clutching their throats with pained expressions. Soon, tufts of fur began emerging from their mouths. Hair sprouted not only from their mouths but also from their pores.

Within seconds, the townsfolk were consumed by fur of various lengths and colors, transforming into grotesque half-human, half-animal creatures.

*Neigh!*

*Baa!*

*Oink!*

As they opened their mouths, the grotesque beings let out animalistic cries. Their minds seemed affected by their transformation, as they lost the ability to speak. At the sound of a lion’s roar, many of them panicked and fled toward the town.

Covered in vibrant feathers, Lisa’s body morphed into something resembling the bird-like performers from the circus.

Looking around in fright, Lisa hesitated for a moment. Then, noticing the dazed child nearby with horns on their head, she turned, grabbed the child by the collar with her beak, and quickly ran off.

Chapter 252: The Thumb General

Bang! Bang!

In the backstage of the circus tent, Amanda pulled the trigger, the gunshots ringing out crisply.

Opposite her, the small figure of *The Thumb General* blurred into motion, dodging the bullets in an instant.

Although classified as merely a *Black Iron*—the lowest grade of character card in Allen's system—he wasn't someone who could be harmed by ordinary bullets.

As a member of the circus, *The Thumb General's* diminutive frame wasn't just for comedic performances.

In the backstage chaos, *The Thumb General* darted around, swiftly evading Amanda's relentless gunfire. Bullets rained down like a storm, but he dodged them with ease.

"Do you know what I hate the most about you people?"

Amidst the movements, his voice echoed unpredictably.

"I hate your eyes—the way you look at me with that lofty pity. What gives you the right to look down on me?"

With a shrill voice, he charged forward, slashing a wound across Angela's calf.

Angela glanced down at the tear in her pants and the bloody gash beneath, pain flashing across her face.

Due to his small stature, *The Thumb General* couldn’t match the strength of an adult. His sword strikes couldn’t kill in one blow, but he was the greatest obstacle to Amanda and Angela's escape.

"I'm going to cut your legs off, piece by piece, so you can never look down on me again!"

From the shadows, *The Thumb General* emerged, licking the blood from his blade. A twisted grin spread across his childlike, gnarled face. Then, with a burst of high-pitched laughter, he dashed toward Amanda in a blur.

"I hate your eyes!"

In midair, he swung his sword viciously at Amanda's eyes, already imagining her screams as he pierced them.

"Boss!"

Beside her, Angela cried out in alarm as the shadow hurtled toward Amanda.

Yet just as the sharp blade was about to pierce her eye, the necklace around Amanda's neck emitted a faint glow.

"What?!"

Shrouded in light, *The Thumb General's* sword seemed to hit an invisible barrier, halting its advance.

The piercing laughter ceased abruptly in midair.

Bang! Bang!

Seizing the moment, Amanda fired several shots at *The Thumb General* without hesitation.

"Ah!"

With a wretched scream, *The Thumb General* scampered into the corner like a dog with its tail between its legs.

A long trail of blood on the ground bore witness to Amanda's accurate shots.

"Why? Why do you have something like that on you?"

Clutching his wounds, *The Thumb General* glared at Amanda with venomous eyes, though unease flickered in his gaze. "Who sent you? Was it... them? No... This power feels even stronger than theirs..."

His injuries and fear of the power Amanda possessed made him cautious, halting his reckless attacks.

"Angela, now's our chance. Get out of the circus, quickly!"

Amanda aimed her gun at *The Thumb General* as she called out to Angela.

"No!"

Angela shook her head firmly, ignoring Amanda’s orders.

Glancing at her injured leg, Angela took a deep breath and said, "With my injury, I won’t get far. You should go, boss. Don’t worry about me."

"I made my peace with this the day I joined BSI."

"What are you talking about?!"

Amanda's brow furrowed even deeper at Angela's refusal to retreat. "You saw it too—my necklace can block his attacks. As soon as you get out of the tent, I’ll follow right after. I’m not dumb enough to stay here and make a last stand."

Angela’s determined expression wavered slightly.

Indeed, she had seen Amanda survive *The Thumb General's* attack without a scratch.

If that attack had landed on her, she would’ve been done for.

Amanda, however, clearly had something protecting her.

"This won’t do..."

Before Amanda could act further, a sharp voice interrupted them.

The circus ringmaster appeared, his obese figure hobbling into the backstage with the aid of a cane.

"Since you’ve come to my circus..."

Under his top hat, Barnum’s face twisted into a sinister grin. He bared his sharp teeth at Amanda and Angela.

"You can’t leave without my permission."

"If you’re here for the horses, why not stay with them? I’ve been planning to expand the circus—add more acts, make it even greater. Officers, would you be so kind as to help me fulfill this grand dream?"

Though his tone feigned politeness, Barnum tapped his cane on the ground several times.

"Ugh... ugh—cough, cough!"

Angela clutched her throat, erupting into violent coughs.

At the same time, *The Thumb General*, crouched in the corner, began to notice something wrong.

He stared at his stunted, deformed arms in horror.

"Boss, there must be some mistake. Why am I affected too?"

He crawled toward Barnum’s feet, grabbing his pant leg with trembling hands. "I’ve always followed your orders faithfully. Please, take this power back!"

"But you’ve disappointed me, *Thumb General*."

Barnum casually kicked him aside. Watching as *The Thumb General's* body grew even more grotesque, his head swelling disproportionately, Barnum's sharp teeth glinted as he sneered.

"You nearly let them escape. If I hadn’t arrived in time..."

As *The Thumb General* howled in pain, his body becoming increasingly misshapen, Barnum’s expression turned satisfied.

Then he turned to Amanda. The twisted grin on his face abruptly froze.

"Hmm?!"

Chapter 253: The Return of Siren Head

Circus, backstage.

Under the faint glow of light, Amanda did not transform into a grotesque creature like Angela or the "Thumb General" under the circus ringmaster Barnum’s power.

However, the necklace’s power came with a cost.

Shielded by the light, Amanda's eyes began to grow unfocused, a dazed expression taking over her face.

"It seems I'm not the only one interested in you..."

Barnum’s gaze settled on the necklace around Amanda’s neck. The corners of his lips, once stretched into a grin, slowly straightened, his expression turning grim.

"Let me see whose power this belongs to."

Leaning on his cane, Barnum stepped in front of Amanda, reaching out to grab the necklace around her neck.

*Boom!*

A thunderous roar echoed in the next moment.

To Barnum’s astonishment, a grotesque, eerie creature appeared outside the circus tent. Its emaciated, skeletal frame had disproportionately long limbs. Its head and neck were replaced by a thin, elongated pole, atop which were two massive sirens.

*“Woo-woo—woo-woo—”*

"Warning, warning, a hazardous incident has occurred ahead..."

"Control tower, control tower, this is CI919. A flock of birds is obstructing the flight path..."

"Breaking news: Starting tomorrow, parts of Texas will experience localized power outages. Please remain calm..."

The sirens blared with disjointed broadcasts as the Siren Head swung its enormous claws toward the circus tent.

"Foolish creature!"

Seeing this, Barnum withdrew his hand from Amanda’s necklace and let out a sharp cry.

Raising his cane, he struck it forcefully against the ground.

"If you’ve come to me willingly, don’t blame me for showing no mercy, Siren Head!"

---

*Bandera Town.*

"Dammit!"

"Monsters—monsters are everywhere!"

"What’s happening? Why are so many monsters suddenly appearing?"

"This is punishment! It’s God’s punishment for us. Lord, please forgive me!"

The town descended into chaos at the sudden appearance of grotesque half-human, half-animal creatures.

Transformed by Barnum’s power, these monstrous hybrids had their wills dominated by the instincts of the animals they resembled. They rampaged through the town, destroying everything in sight.

Ordinary townsfolk, upon seeing these abominations, were paralyzed with fear.

At the circus, they had treated these creatures as objects of amusement. But when faced with hordes of them in real life, all they felt was terror.

"Dammit..."

On the street, Agent Phil fired his gun to ward off a snarling hybrid with a dog’s head. His face grew increasingly grave. As an investigator, he knew more than the panicked townspeople.

Amanda’s recent phone call had made it clear: these grotesque monsters were, in fact, the transformed residents of the town who had attended the circus show.

Just like the missing BSI agents.

Understanding this, Phil’s eyes hardened as he looked at the hybrids.

Barnum had turned so many townspeople into monsters—this was clearly part of a larger, sinister plot.

Yet, as a BSI investigator, Phil felt powerless to change the situation.

His gaze settled on a bizarre bird flying overhead, clutching a deformed lamb in its talons. Phil tightened his grip on his handgun.

Suppressing his emotions, he turned toward the direction of the circus.

Even if he couldn’t save the townsfolk, he was determined to rescue his team.

With that thought, Phil began weaving through the hybrids, making his way toward the circus.

*“Cough, cough...”*

But just as he started, a violent cough erupted from his throat.

As he coughed, Phil saw his fingers shorten, replaced by a pair of sturdy, black hooves.

"Am I... transforming too?"

Looking down at his hoofed hands, Phil’s mind raced. His once-erect posture began to bend involuntarily.

*Beep, beep!*

Suddenly, the honk of a car horn broke the moment.

"Get in, now!"

Agent Zhou’s voice rang out as he leaned out of a car window, shouting at Phil.

Without thinking, Phil climbed into the car.

As soon as he was inside, Zhou slammed on the gas, reversing the car away from the circus.

"What are you doing?"

Realizing they were heading away from the circus, Phil snapped back to his senses.

"Can’t you see? The whole town has been overrun by these hybrids. Charging in now would be suicide," Zhou replied coldly, his hands firmly on the wheel.

"I’ve already contacted the state and federal governments. They’re deploying local law enforcement and military units to contain this. Until they arrive, we need to stay outside the town to prevent things from escalating further."

"Besides, haven’t you noticed? The farther we get from the circus, the less pronounced the transformations become..."

Phil glanced down at himself and realized Zhou was right.

The farther the car got from the circus, the more his transformation seemed to halt.

"This..."

"It’s because the ringmaster’s power no longer affects you at this distance," Zhou explained.

Before Phil could respond, another voice chimed in from the back seat.

"That’s right," said Speck, the psychic medium, his presence now apparent in the car.

"Speck!"

Phil turned, surprised to see the medium who had mysteriously disappeared earlier.

"Where have you been? The boss and Angela are still trapped in the circus!"

Speck nodded, his gaze lingering briefly on Phil’s bovine nose.

"Agent Zhou has already filled me in. As for where I was, you’ll see soon enough."

*Boom!*

Before Speck could elaborate, a deafening explosion echoed from the direction of the circus.

"It seems it’s finally arrived," Speck said ominously.

---

Chapter 254: Siren Head vs. The Circus

*Boom!*

Following Spiker's direction, Agent Phil turned to look.

At the circus grounds, a towering figure—at least ten meters tall—emitted a sharp, piercing siren wail. It swung massive, bony claws, lunging toward the circus.

“This is Siren Head?!”

Seeing this colossal, skeletal figure, both Agent Phil—who had grown a bull-like nose under the influence of the circus’s powers—and Agent Zhou, who was driving, froze with shock.

Although they had learned about Siren Head from Spiker during their prior investigation, there was an immense difference between seeing a reconstruction of the creature and witnessing it firsthand.

Even the shockwaves from Siren Head's swings were terrifying.

Despite being in their car, several kilometers away, both agents could feel the faint reverberations.

“Is a creature like this really part of the same world we live in?”

Staring at Siren Head's grotesque and immense form, Agent Phil muttered to himself.

It was hard to imagine that such a massive being could exist in the real world while the majority of humanity remained oblivious.

“As I’ve said, Siren Head is extremely adept at ‘blending in,’” Spiker explained.

Sitting in the backseat, Spiker raised an eyebrow as he watched Siren Head wreak havoc on the circus. “If we hadn’t traced its movements and pinpointed its approximate location from our earlier investigation, luring it here to the circus wouldn’t have been so simple…”

Agent Zhou stopped the car at the edge of the small town. After silently observing Siren Head in front of the circus for a long moment, he turned to Spiker.

“So, this is why you disappeared?”

Spiker didn’t deny it. He shrugged, watching Siren Head relentlessly attack the circus.

“I suspected that its behavior—frequent sightings and constantly changing hunting grounds—was inconsistent with what we know of its habits. If the records aren’t wrong, then something must be forcing Siren Head to act this way…”

“So, you think it’s the circus’s presence that’s driving Siren Head to behave this way?”

Although Spiker didn’t finish his thought, Agent Zhou quickly pieced it together.

“Exactly.”

Stepping out of the car, Spiker continued to explain as he observed the battle in front of him:

“Just like how an old lion might be driven away by a younger, stronger one, the circus’s emergence poses a threat to Siren Head. As a naturally cautious creature, Siren Head’s first instinct when facing danger isn’t confrontation but fleeing from it. That’s why it keeps changing its hunting grounds—it’s avoiding the circus.”

“The fact that Siren Head fears the circus enough to avoid direct confrontation proves that the circus is far from ordinary.”

“After all, Siren Head’s fear is relative. For the average person, this creature is an apex predator—an unparalleled menace. If not for the fact that its kind went extinct long ago, leaving this one as the sole survivor, perhaps it would be Siren Head, not humans, ruling the Earth today.”

---

Meanwhile, at the circus:

The battle between Siren Head and Circus Ringmaster Barnum was growing increasingly fierce.

Beneath his top hat, Barnum’s plump face twisted in a scowl.

As he struck the ground with his cane, the once motionless circus tents emitted sharp, animalistic roars.

Hearing these sounds, Amanda snapped back to reality.

*Thump—*

*Thump, thump—*

Under her astonished gaze, the entire circus tent seemed to come alive, shaking as if pulled by some invisible force. Thick ropes, once firmly anchored to the ground, began tearing free, one by one. With a cacophony of growls, the ropes writhed like living arms, coiling around Siren Head.

The circus tent… was alive.

Even Amanda, who had seen many bizarre things, felt a chill run down her spine at the sight.

Recalling what the Bearded Lady had told them earlier, she finally understood why someone would fear the circus so deeply yet be unable to escape it.

As the ropes constricted Siren Head, the wails from the twin sirens on its neck grew shriller.

These ultrasonic attacks were more than just noise—they could rupture a person’s skull without warning.

Even Amanda and the agents, still human enough to feel the effects, showed pained expressions under the onslaught.

But Barnum, the ringmaster, remained unaffected. He looked up at the bound Siren Head, his mustache curling in delight. His expression turned euphoric.

“Excellent. I was wondering how to make the next circus act truly extraordinary. If I can capture you and add you to my show, it will become the greatest spectacle the world has ever seen!”

As Barnum laughed maniacally, the ropes tightened further. Cracks echoed from Siren Head’s body, and its form began to shift and distort. It flickered between the shapes of streetlamps and utility poles.

This was Siren Head’s shapeshifting ability, used to camouflage itself and ambush prey. However, trapped within the living ropes of the circus, its transformations were futile. The ropes clung to it like iron chains, leaving no room to escape.

“Good, good. Show me more of your unique abilities…”

Barnum’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he observed Siren Head’s struggle.

In the circus, only the extraordinary could survive.

And Siren Head was nothing if not extraordinary.

Barnum was already envisioning the grand performances that would follow its capture.

It would be the greatest circus show in history.

*Chapter 255: The Angry Circus*

"Not good!"

On the outskirts of the small town, Agent Phil watched as the circus tent came alive, ensnaring Siren Head with its massive ropes.

Phil's face darkened even further.

"It seems Siren Head is no match for the circus."

Only now did Agent Phil realize how foolish and ignorant he had been to recklessly rush toward the circus earlier.

Even a colossal supernatural entity like Siren Head was powerless against the circus's strength. If he had ventured into the circus himself, the only outcome would have been walking into a trap.

He might not have even gotten close to the circus before suffering the same fate as the townsfolk who had watched the performances, transforming into mindless, deformed beings.

"Do we have no choice but to wait for the military to arrive?"

Agent Zhou had mentioned notifying the Texas government and the Pentagon about everything happening in the town.

Given the scale of the Bandera incident, the federal government would undoubtedly dispatch troops to take over the situation.

However, as Phil looked at Siren Head, ensnared and immobilized by the circus tent, he doubted even the military could handle this.

In wars, armies could eliminate enemies.

But this time, they weren’t facing ordinary foes—they were up against terrifying entities wielding supernatural powers.

"If Siren Head could be subdued this easily, it wouldn’t have survived for so long."

Contrary to Phil’s unease, Spike remained unusually calm.

Sure enough, as his words fell, Siren Head began to change.

*"Toot, toot, toot! Warning, danger! Warning, danger! Target locked. Countdown to launch: ten, nine, eight..."*

"Help! Help!"

A piercing crackling sound came from Siren Head’s dual sirens. The noise grew increasingly distorted and ear-splitting.

As the sounds intensified, Siren Head's head underwent a grotesque transformation. The metallic speakers on its neck cracked open, revealing tendrils of flesh writhing beneath the surface.

These tentacles spun around its head, razor-sharp teeth and a serpentine tongue emerging from the shattered sirens. The monstrous tongue coiled like a snake, severing the tough ropes binding its body in an instant.

"Help! Help! Help!"

With the ropes severed, Siren Head's speakers were now fully exposed. Two crimson, bloodstained heads with spiraling, razor-sharp teeth revealed themselves.

This might be Siren Head's true form. The siren-like appearance had merely been a disguise, and now, stripped of it, the creature displayed its monstrous savagery.

*Snap! Snap!*

Large numbers of ropes snapped under Siren Head's struggle.

The broken ropes writhed on the ground like living creatures before falling still.

From inside the circus tent, Amanda could hear the sharp screams and roars emanating from within. These sounds were distinctly different from those made by Siren Head.

The entire tent shook violently with the enraged outcry.

"Calm down!"

Inside the quaking tent, the circus ringmaster, Barnum, seemed visibly flustered.

Hobbling on his cane, he reached out to touch the tent's fabric, murmuring soothing words: "This is just a minor setback. We haven’t lost yet…"

"I promise, I won’t let you get hurt again. Please don’t get angry. Trust me… trust me…"

At Barnum's coaxing, the furious tent gradually quieted. With the crisis averted, Barnum let out a relieved sigh.

"It seems the circus tent isn’t entirely under Barnum’s control. Their relationship is more complex than it appears," Amanda thought, her eyes narrowing in contemplation.

Ignoring Amanda, Barnum, having calmed the tent, hurried to the circus stage.

"You useless fools! Stop slacking off and deal with Siren Head immediately. If the circus gets angry again, I’ll feed you all to it!"

At Barnum’s shrill orders and the crack of his whip, the circus performers sprang into action.

*Moo!*

An elephant trumpeted, wrapping its trunk around Siren Head’s ankle. With immense strength, it managed to drag the creature back a few steps.

*Snap! Snap!*

A deformed figure with scissor-like hands, "Lobster Man," darted to Siren Head’s feet and lunged with its claws.

*Boom!*

A fire-breather wielding a torch unleashed a stream of flames from his mouth, engulfing Siren Head in fire.

*Thud!*

"I hate anything taller than me!" snarled the "Thumb General," a short, twisted figure. He loaded himself into a cannon, shot into the air, and slashed at Siren Head with a sword.

The "Two-Headed Sisters," dancing gracefully, showed no hesitation as they plunged sharp knives into Siren Head.

All the circus’s freakish performers joined in, attacking Siren Head with their grotesque abilities.

What once were mere circus tricks had become lethal weapons. With their combined efforts, even Siren Head struggled to break free quickly.

Swinging its skeletal claws, Siren Head swatted away an acrobatic attacker, sending the figure flying.

It then twisted its neck, lifted its foot, and prepared to crush Lobster Man beneath its massive weight.

Seeing the colossal shadow looming over him, Lobster Man’s face filled with despair.

Just then, a hauntingly beautiful song echoed through the chaos.

The "Swedish Nightingale," Jenny Lind, began to sing, her ethereal voice enchanting the battlefield.

As the melody flowed, Siren Head’s movements faltered.

*(End of Chapter)*