### Chapter 10: Total Annihilation
With Godspeed B fueling her, Night Star quickly made her way to Wan Yu Square.
The crowd was thick, yet everyone was standing still as if they were part of an art installation. Given Night Star’s petite frame and agile skills, slipping through the gaps was no challenge at all.
In no time, she reached the third level of Wan Yu Square.
And there, on the stage, is where the Rising Sun Theater Group was performing!
“Phew… Phew…”
Night Star came to a halt, catching her breath, clearly exhausted.
She had rushed over at top speed, reaching the limit of Godspeed B. Running at such a velocity was bound to take a toll on her body—normal stuff.
However, after a few deep breaths to rein in her racing heartbeat, she steeled her gaze at the distant performers and marched forward.
Upon reaching the stage, Night Star shouted, “What on earth are you doing!?”
The moment her words fell, the figures on stage halted their actions and turned to look at her.
The Group Leader spoke calmly but with a hint of fervor, “Audience Performer, you’ve come at just the right time! Please enjoy the Grand Performance from the Rising Sun Theater. We have tons of fans in attendance who love it, and I’m quite happy about that.”
“Eh…?”
Night Star froze upon hearing this.
Why did she feel like the Group Leader was different than before?
Was it just her imagination?
She turned her head stiffly to look at the other members, only to find the Gentleman gazing at her kindly, his eyes gleaming with a strange light.
“Audience Performer, interrupting the performance is rather impolite. However, since you’re an audience performer, I’ll overlook it. But please do stay in your seat and enjoy the show—it’s what you’re here for.”
“Wha…”
This was not the Gentleman Night Star knew, who would never talk to her this way.
She glanced at the Fraudster beside her, noticing he wasn’t even looking at her. He merely cast a quick glance her way before redirecting his attention to the “audience” below, still using Star Eclipses to bamboozle them, seemingly relishing the situation.
This isn’t right! The Fraudster wouldn’t use tricks to mock the audience or take pleasure in their panic.
The true Fraudster should enjoy the audience’s surprised reactions to visual deception, gaining satisfaction from their awe, which in turn, makes performing fun.
The current Fraudster was nothing like the charming, amusing performer Night Star remembered!
“How can this be…?”
Night Star stiffened as she turned her gaze to another individual—Puppet Master Lianhua.
Then she noticed Lianhua’s eyes were fixed on her, brimming with a possessive fervor, as if she regarded Night Star as a treasured prize.
“Audience Performer, become my real puppet, and I will cherish you well. Deal?”
Upon hearing this, Night Star realized Lianhua was no longer the Lianhua she used to know.
In that moment, it felt like a wire in her mind was severed, plunging her into a void.
Why did it turn out like this?
What happened?
What did she overlook?
Why, after just a few days, had everyone in the theater changed so drastically?
Everyone’s obsessions had twisted.
She had no idea why.
If she had known, she wouldn’t have stayed at home for so long; she should have been at the theater with everyone. Maybe then, things wouldn’t feel so confused now.
What should she do next?
Make a wish?
Night Star’s mind was a fog. When she snapped back to reality, she discovered she was no longer at Wan Yu Square.
The silhouettes of the Group Leader and others had vanished; everything was dim, and a familiar environment came into view.
This was…
Rising Sun Theater.
“Why did I come back here…?”
As Night Star pondered this, a small figure emerged from the shadows—none other than the Announcer, who had been waiting patiently.
Night Star slowly turned her gaze toward her, her expression a mix of confusion and unease.
“Announcer?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Are you… still the Announcer I know?”
“Yes, still the same as you remember, no changes whatsoever.”
Upon hearing this, a wave of relief washed over Night Star, but it quickly morphed into panic.
Night Star rushed up to the Announcer, grabbing her shoulders with an anxious expression.
“Announcer, what’s going on? Why has everyone turned into that? It shouldn’t be like this; something’s definitely happened that I don’t know about…”
Calmly, the Announcer replied, “This is the Grand Performance of the Rising Sun Theater.”
“Is that what you call a chaotic disaster? I refuse to accept that as a performance! It’s clearly a farce!”
As the audience performer, Night Star was all too fitting to voice such sentiments.
Yet the Announcer remained unfazed, repeating calmly, “But that’s just how it is. This is the current understanding of a Grand Performance by the Group Leader. I can’t deny it.”
“Ugh…”
Night Star clenched her fists, feeling an inexplicable rage boiling inside her. But slowly, her fists loosened and her mood sank into despair.
Everything was for nothing.
She had promised the Night Watcher that the theater wouldn’t spark Star Eclipses again, nor would they harm the citizens.
But…
Now everyone had broken that promise.
Night Star stared blankly at a corner, curling up into a ball, her mind a chaotic whirlwind.
How could she save them?
Make a wish?
Perhaps the Wish Machine could sort this out, but then what?
The Rising Sun Theater had already broken their promise. Even if the group members returned to normal, it’s unlikely the Night Watcher would allow them to perform publicly again.
Next time they went out, it might be a fight to the end.
How could she wish for this to be resolved perfectly?
She had no idea…
At that moment, the Announcer’s voice pierced through her thoughts.
“Audience Performer, step onto the stage.”
“Eh…?”
Night Star blinked, looking up at the Announcer, still processing her request.
The Announcer continued, “Get up on that stage and become the star of this Grand Performance. You need to become the executioner, delivering justice to the members who have lost their original intentions. Only through d*ath can they be reborn.”
“What?!”
“k*ll, annihilate those who have forgotten their roots.”
At this, Night Star’s pupils slightly widened, disbelief flooding her crimson eyes.
“Announcer, are you joking?”
“You will only understand once you step on that stage. By then, you’ll know what must be done.”
“I can’t… I can’t strike at them.”
“Then, treat this performance as an improv opera! It’s all just a show.”
“Eh?”
The Announcer gave a slight smile, producing a long kn*fe from seemingly nowhere, a supposed prop for their performances, and handed it to Night Star.
“It says you can go now.”
