Chapter 452
The Witch rambled on for a while until she realized she had been talking too much, then she stopped, coughed twice, gave a bright and lovely smile, leaned closer to the camera, and waved goodbye.
The next second, the screen went black, and the video ended.
Chu Yuanqing remained silent for a moment, then, gathering her melancholy, she opened her phone's memo app. A short sentence caught her eye. "Use the piano everyone gave you to play <God knows...> (o? o) /???!"
Turning the page down reveals seven pages of piano sheet music.
"Are you asking me to play a piece I've never practiced before? You're really putting me in a difficult position."
The girl whispered softly, her left eye, as pure as molten silver, gleaming brightly. The magic she had been saving for so long surged forth, Flowing Water Entwined, transforming into soft gauze that melted away the heavy down jacket, revealing the fiery red hem of her skirt.
The short hair flew around and grew along with the construction of the Magic Armor, swaying and covering the thin back, concealing the light gauze and lace of the dress. The silver-white prosthetic body and prosthetic eyes also returned to their original colors, as if there were no longer any defects.
A strong wind blew, magically lifting the phone and stand to the edge, and the guitar case opened on its own, releasing a stream of light that placed a piano in the center of the ice.
As concentration increases, the palace of memory opens, the seven pages of musical score frozen in the mind are disassembled, the related music theory is extracted and merged, countless string notes burst forth in an instant, and then transform into tangible memories, merging into the fingertips to form a skill honed through countless trials.
This man, who had resolved to die and had been forgotten by the world, sat alone at a piano on an ice floe on the boundless sea, his fingertips touching the black and white keys, his gentle eyes playing a song that symbolized hope.
At the same time, every country included in the human covenant officially began its tour, regardless of day or night.
Those melodies, which resonated simultaneously across the globe, were like the two hi-hat cymbals on a drum kit, officially igniting a blazing spark.
Countless emotions—joyful, sorrowful, passionate, angry, and all human emotions—are being integrated, controlled, and channeled into a tide as countless [Flow State] erupt, connect, and intertwine, flowing into the Obsidian Base beneath the stage and surging to all corners of the world.
At this moment, the entire planet seemed to be breathing. The massive magical energy reaction created a magnificent mirage. The atmosphere was refracted with many brilliant Rainbow Light. Illusory meteor showers streaked across dusk, dawn, noon, night, and rainy days, like a portrayal of all idol bands, using a strange gravitational pull to the hearts of all mankind.
At this moment, in one of the thirteen forbidden zones, in the territory belonging to the [King of Salt].
Xie Qingyu gazed at the sky, observing the increasingly ethereal, faint, and almost invisible Pure White High Wall beneath which lay a scene more magnificent than the aurora borealis, more grand than meteors, and more dazzling than the Milky Way, and sighed:
"It's... an incredible sight."
"Is this the magic that has been accumulated globally for over a decade?"
"This is just the beginning. Humanity's brilliance and glory have been swept away by the magic to the ends of the earth, and are about to penetrate into dimensions, reaching the stars."
The Little Butterfly fluttered back and forth, excitedly looking up at the sky, and said with a mixture of joy and worry:
"The first step was a success. Soon they will be able to refract the brilliance onto the planet and even into all nearby dimensions. This proves that Teacher Dream Weaver's technique is correct!"
Ji Xintong held the bass guitar, her fingertips swirling with magic as she tuned the strings, their deep, muffled notes like dark thunder. Filled with tension and anticipation, she said solemnly:
"But the real challenge is yet to come."
The final project of <Flash Dance> is divided into four steps. The first half of the program and idol training are all preparations for the first step of the global tour, which will allow the thoughts and brilliance of all mankind to encompass the whole world and reach the stars.
This is the most crucial step.
It is speculated that the swarm possesses a reserve of energy backed by boundless dimensions. This is a necessary condition for them to dominate the universe, interfere with the entire cosmos, and easily destroy civilizations. To suppress and blockade such a swarm, it is necessary to be as omnipresent as the [pure white] radiance and forcibly sever their links with these dimensions.
To achieve this, it is necessary to allow Shining to completely dominate the world it inhabits, preventing the Disaster Horde from regaining all its power and breaking free from its constraints if [Pure White] becomes too weak.
Only after completing these steps can you proceed to the second step.
That is, using the radiance constructed from those magical powers and dazzling light, they will find the calamities hidden deep within dimensions, on the surface and beneath the earth, and either annihilate them, control them, or suppress them.
The third step involves using the [Celestial Instrument] to guide the power of the stars and assist the [Lighthouse] in leading the brilliance of all humanity, flowing backwards to the location of the thirteen forbidden zones, echoing and linking with the spells set up there, to construct thirteen towering prison towers reaching to the heavens.
The fourth step involves connecting the Tower of Babel to all areas where magic spreads, using the stars and the entire world as a bondage and crucible to elevate the thoughts and emotions of all humanity into concepts, transforming them into a miraculous city, a wall of humanity, and a barrier of reason that shines eternally in the sky, the universe, and dimensions.
This project was repeatedly analyzed by [Celestial Instrument], Dream Weaver, and the Will of the Stars before it was confirmed to have the potential for implementation.
But how much magic power, how much brilliance, how much [Calamity Shell] baptism, how much [fuel] amplification, how much idol band burning... all of these are unknowns that are difficult to grasp.
The Little Butterfly fluttered its wings, still very lively, flying back and forth a few times. It then "took out" its phone, looked at the idol group Pure White on the Sky Stage, pointed to the prettiest girl with the biggest chest, and confidently said:
"It's alright, among your juniors are outstanding Magical Girl like Xuan Bao! They'll definitely perform exceptionally well and successfully Stage to Save the World!"
Xie Qingyu pursed her lips. While she was proud of Xiao Xuan, she was also somewhat worried about whether he could continue to perform at his best under such a heavy responsibility. Watching the performance on the Sky Stage, her feelings were complex, mixed with a touch of envy. She chuckled and said:
"It's a pity that if our Netherworld Butterfly had debuted a few years later, we could have also landed such exciting and handsome leading roles."
The Little Butterfly wholeheartedly agreed:
"That's right. While getting the ball in the penalty area is an important job, it's definitely not rock and roll enough."
The two idiots were completely unaware of the true story of [The Lighthouse], and were quite envious of Charlotte, who led five Magical Girl with [Calamity Shell] status, the idol band Eden that they had temporarily formed, and their younger sister's Pure White.
From the perspective of the world, these two idol bands, who won the championships of the Donghuang and Shengdi regions respectively and are now performing on the Sky Stage, are indeed deserving of the main character treatment and belong to the top-tier Center position cannot be found even once in history.
If this "celebration" is a great success, and all the buried history and truths are gradually revealed, these two idol bands will become the most dazzling presence, written into future textbooks, and become exam questions, which is indeed something to be envied.
Ji Xintong smiled, looked into Xie Qingyu's azure eyes, and said softly:
"Don't be envious. We're the seniors; it's only natural for us to pave the way for the juniors."
Currently, apart from a few Captain-Class Magical Girl stationed near the Sky Stage, almost all of the Countermeasures Bureau's Combat Power are stationed in the thirteen forbidden zones, with the aim of cooperating with the third step of the plan.
After all, if the Disaster God is allowed to leave the corresponding restricted area before preparations are made, the Obsidian Base and numerous preparations laid by the Countermeasures Bureau will be in vain, the third step of the Savior Plan will collapse, and an extremely serious chain reaction will follow.
Bai Ran sat in front of the drum set, a few strands of her dark blue hair swaying in the wind. She gazed at the sea near the aircraft carrier, skillfully twirling her drumsticks with a rather cool air. She looked at Xie Qingyu, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said:
"Sitting on an aircraft carrier waiting for the Disaster God to riot, a rock band preparing to suppress the other side with rock and roll says they're not rock and roll enough—is this some new rock and roll joke?"
Lin Yujin is a short-haired keyboardist. As the most sullen person in the Netherworld Butterfly, she usually speaks mostly lame jokes.
Now, this person silently put on headphones, listened to the latest melody composed in the software, then closed the pre-written "electronic will," looked at his teammate, and said calmly:
"Victory is just one step away; this once-in-a-lifetime [Sange] should be used here."
Looking at her teammates, Qin Yueyi's usually demure and elegant face suddenly became strained, and she couldn't help but protest:
"Hey, we're idols, we're idols, okay! Stop acting like a rock band, and can't we all at least try to survive? I don't want to die and people saying the lead singer was too hardworking."
Xie Qingyu turned to look at her teammates who had been through so much together, as if recalling their youthful days when they first formed the group. Her azure eyes softened, and a smile appeared on her lips. She said earnestly:
"Everyone, don't forget to keep your promise. If it's absolutely necessary to use [Sange], the order should be based on the level of magic power, starting with me, then Xintong, Xiaoran, Yujin, and Yueyi."
"Also, the survivors of The Netherworld Butterfly must fulfill our obligations to our fans, complete the promised rock album, and also fulfill the national tour that we were unable to complete."
"So, at crucial moments, don't let your enthusiasm get the better of you and burn out."
The group replied in unison:
"The captain is such a good wife."
"Xiaoyu is too serious!"
"Only an idiot would rush to their death; why would anyone worry about something like this?"
"How can you tour if you're the only one left? But it certainly fits the rock spirit that some idiots talk about."
"Haha, can a bassist hold a concert by himself?"
"I suggest the drummer go to C alone."
"The lead singer has a very good chance of surviving, please keep it up."
These popular idols from the Netherworld Butterfly, while using magic to tune the instruments constructed by the spell, were bickering as usual, directly silencing Xiao Yu, who was brewing her words and wanted to say something cool.
The Little Butterfly frequently flew to the drummer, lead singer, bassist, and keyboardist, snuggling up to them. It had a good relationship with all the idols in the band, and its fluttering wings were both cheerful and cute, showing no sign of nervousness whatsoever.
Xie Qingyu shifted her attention, continuing to observe the sky, occasionally glancing at the two dazzling stages that dominate the fate of all humankind through the real-time projection.
The first step of the <Flash Dance> project has been initially implemented, but the subsequent filling phase will take a long time. A single stage performance is far from enough. According to the Countermeasures Bureau's estimate, this process will be similar to a formal tour.
If everything goes smoothly, after 3 to 4 hours of uninterrupted work, all the savings will be accumulated, and the engine of salvation will be officially launched, advancing relentlessly towards the second, third, and fourth steps, ultimately completing the task in one go and building the Shining City in a shorter time.
In other words, even in the most ideal scenario, the entire Savior Plan would require these Little Idol to perform on stage almost non-stop for six hours straight, without rest, and with guaranteed quality, during which they would also have the possibility of facing attacks from disaster groups and believers.
This is an impossible task for ordinary people.
Even though Magical Girl don't have to worry about basic physical fitness, most Little Idol haven't reached the "Flower Bloom" stage yet, and it's difficult for them to maintain a "Flow State" state for 6 hours under high-intensity pressure.
However, if one were to leave out the concept of "Flow State" and rely solely on a pure stage performance, the audience would inevitably become fatigued after watching for several hours, making it difficult to maintain a sustained high level of positive emotions.
After all, unlike a normal performance, continuously providing a lot of dazzling light, while not affecting life safety, will greatly deplete one's energy.
Furthermore, if the team doesn't have a "Flow State" effect like Bi Xuansu's that can benefit the audience's physical health, most people's energy will noticeably decline after the first hour and will no longer be vigorous.
If the time is extended to nearly 10 hours, without surgical support, coma, sudden death, or even cardiovascular rupture due to emotional excitement may occur.
These various objective difficulties are precisely the reasons why the competition format of <FlashDance> was designed in the first place.
Whether it was the six months of training in the ideal country, the nationwide tour for all the debuting teams, the daily hard targets in the Simulation Battlefield, or the inhuman performance venues in the Donghuang Competition Zone, all of these were preparations for today, allowing them to adapt to the extremely high-intensity stage in advance.
However, due to the limited time available, these new generation Magical Girl did not have enough time to undergo various trials and training.
Now, the Countermeasures Bureau, the Supreme Council, Astrid, and the Magical Girl who know the inside story are not confident of winning. They can only unconditionally trust these juniors, go all out, risk everything, and gamble on the fate of all mankind.
Xie Qingyu stared at her younger sister on the stage, then suddenly froze.
As the first dance came to a close, Rainbow Light -like magical ribbons covered the venue, and the four members changed their stage outfits, making the stage lighting and scenery even more psychedelic and exciting.
Tang Liuli remained the lead singer, standing in the center.
Chu Wangshu, holding a bass guitar, looked at the camera with a determined gaze.
Kiriwake Yayoi changed into a loose hoodie, picked up her guitar, and her cherry-pink hair was styled into a single ponytail. Almost instantly, she transformed from a cute, smiling idol into a relaxed and cool guitarist.
Xie Qingxuan sat behind the drum set and was the first to move. Her platinum blonde hair shone brightly as she swung the drumsticks. Her movements were swift and skillful. When she looked up, her eyes conveyed a clear and pure, yet profound and weighty conviction.
The girl's movements were incredibly coordinated. She easily combined various notes between her hands and feet, moving smoothly to the tom-toms and hi-hats, and with dazzling speed, she played the drum prelude that Xie Qingyu knew all too well.
Bai Ran looked at the scene in surprise and said:
"This is..."
"The Netherworld Butterfly?"
Xie Qingyu was somewhat dazed.
It's amazing. Pure White has always been a pure idol, but her second performance on the Sky Stage was in the form of a rock band, and she even played "Netherworld Butterfly," which has the most special meaning for her.
Lin Yujin nodded in agreement:
"This kind of occasion is perfect for rock music. Even though we can't go on stage, it's just as good if the team leader's sister's band comes and sings."
Qin Yueyi looked over and exclaimed in surprise:
"Captain, is your sister a fan of yours?"
The Little Butterfly hovered somewhat awkwardly on the drum set in front of Bai Ran, and it lied loudly and guiltily:
"Yes, that's right, Xiaoyu and Xuan Bao have a great relationship; this is a testament to their sisterly bond!"
Ji Xintong couldn't help but laugh out loud upon hearing this. She pursed her lips and said:
"No, it's more like a declaration of war, isn't it?"
What does Xiaoyu think?
Xie Qingyu had never been able to grasp her younger sister's thoughts, but after spending those days at home with her sister and parents, she had improved somewhat.
Declaration of war? Provocation?
Perhaps it doesn't even qualify.
Xie Qingyu only knew that this could be considered a sign of reconciliation.
At least, Xiao Xuan no longer loathes, dislikes, or hates him as she used to. In the past, he would have stubbornly rejected everything related to him, let alone publicly play "Netherworld Butterfly," a piece he considered his "enemy's" music.
Perhaps.
After responding to her teammates' teasing, Xie Qingyu's clear blue eyes sparkled as she looked expectantly at the person shining brightly on stage. A smile played on her lips as she whispered to herself:
"Xiao Xuan, as long as you win this stage, you can proudly say that you are a better idol than me."
"So, we absolutely have to win."
Donghuang Federation, Sky Stage.
This magnificent venue, seemingly constructed from clouds and Liuli, is located in a high-altitude area inaccessible to the general public. However, the pre-prepared rituals, like Rainbow Light swirling in the surrounding world, refracted their brilliant light across the eight directions and ten kingdoms, creating a three-dimensional and realistic image.
The performance venues in dozens or even hundreds of allied countries nearby have been cleared out in advance, and local performers have been arranged to perform in other regions. The empty stages are now fully occupied, and billions of people are experiencing a more realistic sense of presence than any high-tech projection through the live broadcast.
On the other hand, the Sky Stage in the Holy United States receives the same treatment.
It's fair to say that the pressure these two idol bands faced was on a completely different level from that of other bands touring in their respective regions.