Chereads / The Infinite Showman / Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: The Curtain Rises on Chaos

Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: The Curtain Rises on Chaos

The city of Musutafu was a battleground, a place where the tides of fate were no longer just decided by power, but by the choices of those caught in the crossfire.

The chaotic scenes unfolding on the streets, the flashing lights of heroes clashing against Luxor's twisted creations, were nothing more than mere acts in the grand show Luxor had meticulously orchestrated. With each passing moment, the world around him became more of a stage, one where each participant played their role, whether they liked it or not.

Luxor stood high above it all, atop the skeletal remains of a once-glorious skyscraper, watching with amusement. The sounds of battle echoed through the city like a symphony of destruction, and Luxor relished every note. He had summoned monsters, entities from forgotten realms, and powerful foes from the vast expanse of the multiverse—each one a tool to test the will and resolve of the heroes, to see if they could rise above despair, or if they would crumble under the weight of their own hubris.

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The Stage is Set: Heroes and Villains Collide

The battle raged beneath Luxor's watchful gaze. The heroes were giving their all, their quirks bursting forth in a kaleidoscope of light and energy. Midoriya's green lightning-infused fists clashed against the swirling shadows of one of Luxor's creations—a towering, armored beast that seemed to absorb every attack, its body shifting with the power of multiple realities.

"We can do this!" Midoriya shouted, sweat pouring down his face. His body trembled with the strain of using his Quirk, but his resolve was unshaken. His team, including Todoroki and Bakugo, fought with everything they had. Their abilities clashed with the monstrous beasts Luxor had summoned from other worlds, each battle testing their limits.

"Don't let up!" Todoroki commanded, ice forming under his feet as he created a wall of frost to slow the beasts' advance. His flames crackled against the cold air, adding a layer of devastation to the battlefield.

Bakugo, ever explosive, was in the thick of the action, launching himself from one destroyed building to another, his Quirk detonating in all directions. "Hah! You think you can break us? This is nothing!"

But Luxor wasn't fazed. He could see through it all. Every strike, every move the heroes made, was predictable—nothing more than the expected response. His reality-warping abilities distorted the environment, shifting the terrain beneath their feet, making every battle feel like a different world entirely. And still, the heroes persisted. Their determination, their refusal to yield in the face of overwhelming odds, was what made them more dangerous than anything Luxor had anticipated.

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As Luxor watched, the ever-growing rift above the city continued to open wider, feeding the chaos below. With a small, amused flick of his fingers, more creatures began to fall from the sky—this time, colossal serpents with eyes that shimmered with ancient power, or creatures shaped like living whirlwinds that tore apart everything in their path. The sheer scale of Luxor's control over the battlefield was staggering. He had summoned these entities to test the heroes, but more importantly, to test their ability to adapt and grow stronger.

"Interesting," Luxor murmured, watching Midoriya and Todoroki team up to try and contain one of the larger creatures. The pair, despite their exhaustion, were strategizing, using their quirks in tandem, adjusting to the increasingly impossible odds. "They're starting to understand the nature of this game," Luxor mused. "They're growing."

From the depths of the city, the League of Villains, led by Shigaraki and aided by their powerful allies, took advantage of the chaos. They fought alongside Luxor's summoned creatures, picking off heroes who strayed too far from the main group or isolating them with their strategic precision. But even then, Luxor made sure that the League had their own challenges to face—making them work for the victory they so often took for granted.

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Luxor's Game: A Test of Will

As the battle intensified, Luxor knew it was time to push the heroes further. His golden eyes flickered as he called upon yet another being from another world—this one was no ordinary villain. He conjured the form of Kaguya Ootsutsuki, a being from the world of Naruto, whose powers of manipulation, dimension-warping, and ultimate destruction were enough to throw even the most powerful heroes into disarray.

The sky above them rippled with cosmic energy, the air turning thick with the pressure of an impending storm. Kaguya descended from the rift in the sky, her imposing figure cloaked in the light of multiple moons. The heroes could feel the weight of her presence, her power, but Luxor's influence over her kept her from fully unleashing her wrath.

"You wanted a challenge," Luxor's voice echoed over the battlefield, amplifying his words through the distortions of reality. "You'll find her more than a match for your best efforts. But she won't fight you fully. Not yet, at least. You're not worthy of that challenge just yet."

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The heroes, momentarily stunned by the appearance of Kaguya, knew that they had no choice but to push forward. Midoriya's voice rang out. "All Might, we need to work together. We've fought worse—if we combine our strengths, we can do this!"

All Might nodded, his posture becoming even more resolute as he readied himself. "Let's do it, Midoriya. Together, we stand."

The heroes' combination attacks, fueled by their quirks and unshakable willpower, struck against Kaguya's barrier, but it barely made an impact. She simply looked down at them, a smirk forming on her face as she began to twist reality around them. Her ability to manipulate the dimensions around her was overwhelming, making the heroes feel as though they were caught in a never-ending loop of false victories and defeats.

But they didn't give up. No, that was not the way of heroes. As Kaguya's illusions overwhelmed them, they broke free through sheer willpower, igniting a fire within themselves that none of Luxor's summoned beasts could suppress.

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Watching this spectacle unfold, Luxor's golden eyes glimmered with delight. His lips curled into a smile of satisfaction as the heroes broke free from Kaguya's illusion. This was what he had hoped for. Their ability to keep going despite the overwhelming odds. It was nothing short of inspiring—and that, to Luxor, was the most interesting part of this entire act.

"Fascinating," Luxor whispered to himself, amused by the sight of the heroes breaking through the impossible. "You truly do grow in the face of adversity. But how long will it last? Will you break, or will you rise even higher?"

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As Kaguya retreated momentarily, Luxor knew the moment had come. The heroes had pushed past their limits—had transcended the expectations he had set for them. It was no longer just about the game. It was about something deeper, something more profound. The battle between good and evil, light and dark, hope and despair—it was all unfolding in front of him.

Luxor spread his arms wide as he watched the heroes and villains alike shift positions. He could sense it—this was only the beginning. His next move would have to be more grand, more unpredictable. But for now, he would watch the story unfold, knowing that the best part of the show had only just started.

The stage was set, the players were in position, and Luxor's game had only just begun.

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The Curtain Falls (For Now)

Luxor, satisfied with the spectacle, disappeared into the shadows. The battle would continue, but Luxor was content to leave the heroes and villains to their own devices—for now. It was his show, and he would remain the unseen director, watching with amusement as the drama played out before him.

But as Luxor faded into the night, one thought lingered in his mind: How far will you go, heroes? How much will you endure before you break? The answers, he knew, would make for the most glorious act yet.