The circus camp had descended into chaos.
Makoto could barely keep up with the destruction unfolding around him. The Akuma were relentless, their metallic bodies glinting in the firelight as they tore through tents and wagons. Screams filled the air, mingling with the sickening sounds of tearing fabric, shattering wood, and heavy, unnatural laughter.
Makoto's hands trembled as his Innocence flickered weakly in his grip, the glowing wheel spinning sluggishly. He felt drained—physically, emotionally, and mentally—but there was no time to rest. Another Akuma lunged toward him, its jagged claws gleaming.
"Makoto!" Lily's voice screamed from behind him. "Duck!"
He dropped instinctively, the Akuma's claws slashing through empty air just above his head. The creature snarled, turning back toward him, but before it could strike again, Lily appeared at his side, hurling a knife into its exposed chest. The Akuma screeched, stumbling backward.
"Get up!" Lily yelled, grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet. "We need to find Mana!"
Makoto nodded, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps. His entire body felt heavy, but the thought of Mana gave him strength. He couldn't stop now. Not when Mana was still fighting.
They found Mana at the heart of the camp.
The older man stood in a ring of firelight, his staff gripped tightly in his hands. He moved with practiced precision, each strike aimed to drive the Akuma back. Around him, the remaining performers fought valiantly, though it was clear they were losing ground.
"Makoto!" Mana's voice cut through the chaos as his gaze locked onto the boy. Relief flickered across his face, but it was brief. "What are you doing here? You should be with Lila!"
"We couldn't leave you!" Makoto shouted, his voice breaking. "I can help!"
Mana's expression hardened. "This isn't your fight, Makoto. Get out of here!"
Before Makoto could respond, the ground beneath them trembled. A massive Akuma, its grotesque body twisting unnaturally, emerged from the shadows. It was unlike any of the others—a hulking monstrosity with long, blade-like arms and a face twisted into a permanent grin.
Mana stepped forward, his stance protective. "Stay behind me," he ordered.
Makoto hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't want to leave Mana, but the sheer size of the Akuma filled him with paralyzing fear.
The creature lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Mana deflected the blow with his staff, the impact sending a shockwave through the clearing. The force of it knocked Makoto and Lily to the ground.
"Go!" Mana shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "Now!"
Makoto scrambled to his feet, his Innocence sparking weakly in his hands. "I can't just leave you!"
"You have to!" Mana yelled, his movements growing more frantic as he fended off the Akuma's relentless attacks. "You're not ready for this fight!"
"But I—"
"Makoto!" Mana turned to him, his voice softer but firm. "Please. Trust me."
The plea in Mana's eyes froze Makoto in place. He wanted to argue, to insist that he could help, but the words died in his throat. Instead, he nodded, tears streaming down his face.
"I'll come back," Makoto whispered. "I promise."
Mana smiled, though it was faint. "I know you will."
Makoto grabbed Lily's hand, his legs feeling like lead as he began to move away. Each step felt heavier than the last, the distance between him and Mana growing with every second.
But then it happened.
The massive Akuma let out an ear-splitting roar, its blade-like arms slicing through the air with devastating speed. Mana blocked the first strike, but the second caught him off guard. The blade tore through his side, blood spraying across the ground in a gruesome arc.
Makoto froze, his entire body trembling. "No..."
Mana staggered, his staff falling from his hands as he clutched his side. Blood seeped through his fingers, staining the ground beneath him. The Akuma loomed over him, its grin widening as it prepared for the final blow.
"Mana!" Makoto screamed, breaking free from Lily's grip and running toward him.
"Makoto, stop!" Lily cried, her voice desperate.
Makoto didn't listen. His Innocence flared to life, the wheel spinning furiously as he hurled it toward the Akuma. The weapon struck the creature, but the impact only seemed to enrage it. It turned its glowing red eyes on Makoto, its grin twisting into something even more grotesque.
Mana, coughing and pale, managed to push himself to his knees. "No..." he rasped. "Not him."
With the last of his strength, Mana lunged forward, grabbing his staff and driving it into the Akuma's chest. The creature let out a deafening shriek as it staggered backward, smoke rising from the wound.
But the effort cost Mana everything.
As the Akuma disintegrated into ash, Mana collapsed to the ground, his body motionless. Makoto reached him just in time, dropping to his knees and grabbing his hand.
"Mana," Makoto sobbed, his voice breaking. "Please... please don't go."
Mana's eyes fluttered open, and he gave Makoto a faint, bloodstained smile. "It's okay," he whispered. "You'll be okay."
"No, I won't!" Makoto cried, his tears falling freely. "I can't do this without you!"
"You can," Mana said, his voice growing weaker. "You're stronger than you think... stronger than me."
Makoto shook his head, his chest tightening with despair. "I don't want to be strong. I just want you to stay."
Mana's hand trembled as he reached up, brushing a tear from Makoto's cheek. "Keep moving forward," he murmured. "No matter what."
And with those final words, Mana's hand fell limp, his eyes closing for the last time.
The world seemed to stop.
Makoto sat there, clutching Mana's lifeless body, his sobs echoing into the night. Around him, the camp was eerily silent, the surviving performers staring in stunned disbelief. Lily approached slowly, tears streaming down her face as she knelt beside him.
"Makoto..." she whispered, her voice breaking. "We have to go."
"I can't," Makoto said, his voice hollow. "I can't leave him."
Lily placed a trembling hand on his shoulder. "He wouldn't want you to stay here. He'd want you to keep going."
Makoto didn't respond. He felt as though his heart had been ripped from his chest, the weight of his grief threatening to crush him. But deep down, he knew Lily was right.
Mana was gone.
To Be Continued...