Chapter 163
Because everyone will arrive at different answers depending on their perspective, this reflects a difference and controversy in their idol philosophies, which cannot be conveyed in simple terms.
So...
Kiriwake Yayoi took a deep breath, her cherry blossom pink eyes shimmering, and said softly:
"Then let the stage speak for itself."
"A true idol would never resort to any means to achieve victory."
"Xie Qingxuan, didn't you tell Xiao Qing to watch your stage? I'll say the same thing to you: watch our stage. I'll prove my beliefs with the stage."
Xie Qingxuan- hsuan nodded in agreement:
"The winner is king, the loser is an outlaw—a very simple and easy-to-understand principle."
After saying this, the two stopped talking and randomly selected a game to determine the order in which their teams would appear.
First move: Xie Qingxuan.
Second move: Kiriwake Yayoi.
This is clearly an unfavorable start.
However, due to the ideological conflict, Little Sakura is now full of motivation. She has a strong will in her heart, and this disadvantage cannot shake her firm mind. She and her teammates went to the Waiting Room to put on makeup and change clothes.
Half an hour later,
Chu Yuanqing sat in the audience seat behind the mentors' seats. In a space that could hold a thousand people, the few people sitting below made it seem less empty. Her small face was serious, and she was deep in thought.
Although she didn't have much to say about the two's disagreement on their idol ideals, she still disliked Xie Qingxuan's choice to deprive others of their spotlight, and felt guilty and ashamed about it.
Because...
Xie Bao had never done anything like this when they were together. This child had clearly been suppressing her "Flow State" until she was forced to separate from her, at which point she went berserk and committed the "crime" of stealing the spotlight from 61 trainees.
"I should talk to this child later and tell him not to do this kind of thing again."
While others might not know, Chu Yuanqing understood perfectly well that Xie Qingxuan, as Magical Girl trainee, had no chance of being eliminated, so there was no need to use such underhanded methods to accumulate so-called odds of winning.
Even in terms of leveling up, the efficiency of plundering the brilliance is far less than Magic Replenishment with the Pure White Witch.
At the same time.
Dream Weaver Rabbit watched Xie Qingxuan and her group step onto the stage, she couldn't contain her excitement and smiled broadly. Then, she snapped her fingers, and within 3 seconds, multiple windows for the Live Broadcast Room appeared on various websites and channels across the country, attracting countless eager viewers.
At this moment, the Stage Battle that will determine fate has officially begun!
Volume 1: Chapter 158. Puppet Melody, Shine Return, The Continuation of the Dream. (5K2)
The official website Live Broadcast Room <FlashDance> had barely been up and running when hundreds of thousands of viewers eagerly flooded in, typing out long strings of comments with lightning-fast reflexes.
"Urgent! Tell me when episode four will air!"
"Damn, is it Xie Bao and Little Sakura facing off again this time? Is this the second round of the battle to win her heart?!"
"Even though I knew before I clicked that it would be Stage Battle between A-Class players, this development is still too exciting. Is this the final round of the teammate competition? Everyone will definitely give it their all. This is going to be a real treat for the eyes!"
"Hilarious! The final qualifying round is compounded by the rivalry buff. I can't even imagine how fierce the competition will be on this stage!"
"Didn't you guys notice a crucial point? This time, the players can sit in the audience and watch the match. This Great Demon King's first move has such a huge advantage. Little Sakura and the others in the audience also have to be wary of that [Flow State] that can dominate the stage. What a bad start."
"It's hard to say. Aren't idol and sports anime always about the first move losing? Little Sakura's background and personality are too typical, she practically has a built-in buff to turn the tide. Wasn't that the case last time? Everyone thought Qing Bao's side was safe, but her song 'Reunion World' completely reversed the situation!"
"Don't forget, Xie Qingxuan has also leveled up this time. She just won 14 consecutive stage performances a few days ago, and her current momentum is unstoppable. With the added buff of being the 'victim' and the luck of the God of Pure Love, she might not lose this round!"
Netizens began intensely calculating the odds of winning this crucial game.
It's no wonder the public opinion is so heated, after all, these two teams have gathered the top players in Sea Capital <Flash Dance>, five out of the six A-Class players are here, the outcome of this stage involves far too much.
It can be said that Chu Yuanqing, Kiriwake Yayoi, Xie Qingxuan, and others are already star contestants who guarantee the ratings of Sea Capital's "Flash Dance," and are all strong contenders for the Debut Spot and the Center position.
Therefore, putting them together to compete, especially in the final round of the teammate competition, is of great significance. To put it more seriously, the outcome of this stage competition could even involve Debut Spot or the battle for the Center position, which naturally attracts a lot of attention.
This has resulted in extremely high activity among the fans of the five A-Class players, who are almost continuously flooding into the Live Broadcast Room and engaging in discussions on various platforms while watching the live stream.
Some say that Xie Qingxuan is a strong individual player, but the team he assembled is not as good as the opposing team, and he has only recently been promoted to A1, so he has not had enough time to practice and his chances of winning are not high.
Some say that Kiriwake Yayoi's victory last time was entirely due to her song choice and Tang Liuli's exceptional vocals. If everyone's dance music is of similar quality this time, coupled with the opponent's advantage of starting first, it will be difficult to secure a sure win.
Amidst the various opinions, the stage lighting system slowly came back on, and the background music began to play. The first melody to reach the ears was mysterious and full of dark style, like looking down from a high building at the neon lights, creating a fashionable feeling, which was carried by the melody sampled from the violin.
On stage, the Virtual Projection changes the scene, the dome lighting system disappears, and the night sky stretches out like a cavern, with a dazzling neon view fixed on the wide stage. The pink-themed decorations are implemented one by one, with a pink sports car full of roses placed on the far left, creating a surreal stage backdrop.
What's most unique is that eight backup dancers suddenly appeared beside the four people on stage.
This was clearly a fabricated illusion created by the system, yet it was remarkably realistic. Combined with the background and music, it was enough to draw the audience into the world of the stage.
Xie Qingxuan had already entered [Flow State]. She was like a tyrant leading an army, the cross-shaped arc in her eyes sharp and captivating. As her gaze swept over the violin melody, it was like climbing higher and higher floors, culminating in her peak when she took her first dance step.
"(This is not a return, because we never left.)"
"(Turn your head with us, calm down, don't break your neck!)"
"Drip drip drip freeze 'em on sight (Whenever our eyes meet, they get frozen in pink ice)"
The girl's steps forward revealed her enchanting and graceful figure. Her movements were confident and poised, even exuding an air of self-righteous arrogance and madness. The four AI dancers beside her were like serving maids or soldiers following the emperor, dancing in unison with each of her movements, greatly enhancing the visual effect.
"(This isn't a game, because we've never lost.)"
"Go ahead and bark, the leash around your neck is in my hand." (Bark all you want, the leash is in my hand.)
At the same time, as the song was sung, many reactions emerged in the Live Broadcast Room:
"<Shut Down>?"
"Damn, isn't this a hip-hop diss track with everyone rapping? What a ruthless song choice."
"You know, this song actually suits Xie Bao's temperament quite well. It has that arrogant, queen-like, and domineering vibe, and it even adds a touch of the composure of an emperor on a pilgrimage. To be honest, it's perfect for a PK (player kill) match. Plus, with her going first, it's hard to imagine how terrifying the stage presence she'll create."
"Waaaaah! I'm Xie Qingxuan's little dog, hurry up and pull the leash and torture me!"
"Wow, so domineering and cool! I love it! Sister, hurry up and stomp on me with your boots!!!"
"Fundamentalists are starting to have expectations; the girls all have a sweet and cool style in their looks???"
This is an arrogant and direct diss track. Not only is the choreography arrogant, but the lyrics are also very audacious. The music is sampled from Paganini's classic piece "La Campanella," blending classical music with pop hip-hop. Opinions on this aspect are mixed.
In short, as the title track of an album by a well-known international girl group, it has considerable popularity. Coupled with Xie Qingxuan's appearance and charisma, the audience in the Live Broadcast Room was extremely excited about what kind of stage performance she would deliver.
At this moment, on the stage.
Ji Shuzhu slightly raised her eyes. The [Cocoon of the Heart] deep within her soul was initially completed. The debuff that had devoured all emotions had disappeared. She had finally broken free from the curse of only being able to be a choreographer and dancer, and was now qualified to shine with the brilliance of an idol.
That realm belonging to idols—[Flow State]—also exudes a unique brilliance amidst the sparkling of shattered diamonds, endowing it with abilities distinct from the past.
This Genius Choreographer, with the talent brought about by Hyperthymesia, created the [Choreographic Puzzle Method], and now, in the realm of Heart Tide phenomena that interfere with objective reality, he has mastered a power called [Puppet Melody].
In short, this is a supportive type of choreography, allowing teammates on stage to synchronize with the dancer's rhythm, movements, techniques, and even understanding of the dance. Combined with Ji Shuzhu's T1-level dance skills and world-class choreography, it is an unbeatable skill in group dances!
At that moment, as the Heart Tide surge surged, the two supporting performers beside her— Fan Qiuling and Chu Qiushuang —who had initially struggled to keep up and whose movements were somewhat flawed, were instantly guided by the strings of a puppet, as if divinely aided, and in an instant, they perfectly followed the group, making the performance an absolute whole.
As for Xie Qingxuan?
This Stage Tyrant's [Flow State] is too domineering and powerful. His dance skills are almost as good as Ji Shuzhu's. In addition, he is the main Center position of this dance. He doesn't need [Puppet Melody] to provide full support. He only needs to help support the limited dance posture framework and make sure that the arc is correct.
So, less than 15 seconds into the performance, multiple bursts of "Flow State" energy drew the audience into the stage atmosphere, making them involuntarily immerse themselves in and enjoy this dazzling performance.
The audience seats.
Chu Wangshu was both worried and surprised, and couldn't help but whisper:
"Such a high level of completion! Did they really only practice for a few days?"
Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment and said:
"I'm not surprised that Qingxuan and Ji Shuzhu danced like that, but normally, there's no way those two could keep up with their pace. I think... it must be the effect of [Flow State]."
Tiny shimmering gold appeared in the girl's eyes. Her Supernatural Senses perspective lifted the surface, revealing the idealistic wavelength phenomenon. She looked towards the stage and saw a surreal and beautiful scene.
Xie Qingxuan's Blacklight seemed to absorb the surrounding brilliance like a black hole, sometimes swallowing the waves of azure light. These unfamiliar bright colors surrounded everyone like threads, with the most intense colors on Fan Qiuling and Chu Qiushuang.
As for the source...
It was that choreographer.
Chu Yuanqing was speechless for a moment. Although she had known for a long time that the two Little Idol beside her were not quite normal, this was the first time she had watched the performance of the [Flow State] holders from the perspective of an audience member and with an extraordinary vision. She still felt that the concepts of idols and stage were gradually being alienated and detached.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but think of Charlotte.
If even Little Idol can create such a stage, just how much of a surprise could the former "Doomsday Diva" have given the world?
That kind of brilliance is far more legitimate and legitimate than cheating by using lanterns to amplify one's emotional aura; it's enough to compete in the idol world and easily win the highest crown.
But that was Charlotte back then.
Charlotte of the New World has no life experiences or sights from the old era, has not felt the despair born of suffering, has not lost her beloved family and friends, and has not carried the awareness and belief of sacrificing herself for the world and humanity.
Therefore, she will lose the maturity and perfection that time has bestowed upon her, and that... ultimate yearning for happiness and beauty.
The Doomsday Diva is a being that could only have been born from the soil of that era.
Charlotte of this era may still be the best idol, but she will never again be the Doomsday Diva she once knew.
Tang Liuli was greatly shocked. She carefully observed the stage and murmured:
"This level of chemistry and synchronization is off. Could that choreographer's 'Flow State' be able to synchronize with the dance moves? That's just too outrageous!"
In fact, Ji Shuzhu's "Flow State" was even more outrageous than she had imagined.
If it's just simple synchronized dance moves, it doesn't really qualify as one person leading three others.
Because not every movement in a group dance is the same, each idol is responsible for a different part, and it is normal to create different visual effects by working together. If this function is not grasped well, it will make the performance seem stiff.
The key lies in synchronized rhythm, synchronized skills, and synchronized understanding. With these three points, Ji Shuzhu can truly manage to keep four E-Class rookie trainees in check and still outperform 99% of the performances in this episode of "Flash Dance" in the second Public Performance.
The logic is simple: with this choreographer, the team doesn't even need to practice. They just need to show up on stage and wait to be directed, and they can dance gracefully under her guidance, demonstrating 100% perfection. It's a truly terrifying ability to carry three people at once.
Kiriwake Yayoi was deep in thought.
This effectively negates our time advantage.
In other words, the two teams' advantages and disadvantages are now roughly equal, or even... the former has overtaken the latter!
In terms of dance difficulty, Pandora is much more difficult than Shut Down. The former is a dance promoted by a virtual AI girl group, and its choreography was not designed for real idols to perform on stage.
Therefore, the idols' physical fitness, breathing during singing and dancing, and the demanding level of tacit understanding were completely ignored. This dance required the dancers to only dance without singing in the practice room, and filming a video was not too difficult, since they could re-dance and reshoot at any time.
But on a formal stage, it's a completely different story.
Little Sakura sighed:
"Their level of completion might be higher than ours."
Chu Yuanqing remained silent, somewhat puzzled. How was Qingxuan going to convey what she wanted to see within the strong dance style of <Shut Down>? Surely she wasn't going to be shown a cool and assertive queen-like demeanor?
While it's certainly a cute and endearing contrast to her docile and gentle demeanor in private, it probably... isn't this it?
Chu Yuanqing wasn't quite sure either, since he didn't really understand what Charlotte meant by "girlish heart." For now, he could only comfort Yayoi beside him, encouraging her:
"Don't overthink it. Let's put the outcome aside for now and focus on how to present the best version of ourselves to our fans."
Kiriwake Yayoi nodded silently, her conviction unwavering, her gaze fixed intently on the stage.
The atmosphere on stage grew increasingly enthusiastic.
"Don't trip, baby (It's raining banknotes overhead, be careful not to fall, baby)"
The lyrics evoked a dazzling rain of banknotes in the virtual reality scene, which, combined with Xie Qingxuan's powerful and beautiful dance, and even the confident smile she revealed when glancing at the camera, pushed the emotions of the song and dance to an even higher climax.
"How long... exactly are you planning to wait?"
Ji Shuzhu murmured to herself, knowing full well what this person was still hiding. The dance music had been going on for 61 seconds, and the usual dazzling formula had not yet been officially released by the other party.
It's like a Platinum Star without time-stop, beating up enemies with only its paper attributes. While its strength and speed are both A-rank, which is enough to amaze everyone, it doesn't actually use its full power.
Even as her teammate, Xie Qingxuan doesn't know when she'll unleash her own [time stop].
Time ticked by, second by second.
Xie Qingxuan faithfully plays the role of the domineering queen in the dance. She is aloof and arrogant, and takes it for granted that she enjoys the spotlight, being fawned over and living a life of extravagance that everyone dreams of. The backup dancers around her are like servants, working with her to complete most of the dance.
After another change of dance steps, bringing the four of them together to dance, the shimmering light hidden within the [Cocoon of the Heart] became increasingly difficult to suppress, like the movement of a fetus, and the 61 silk threads extending to various areas around it swayed slightly.
Clatter
That was the soft, crackling sound of a spider web breaking.
One of the threads, representing Fan Qiuling, surged upstream in an instant, bursting forth with a Heart Tide- stirring brilliance along the silk thread. It then flashed into the teammates beside her, instantly making them feel the touching return to their original aspirations.