Chapter 11: The Grand m*rder Opera
In a corner.
Xiao Jin and Wang Chao, who were preparing to strike, froze.
Because something utterly unexpected had appeared on the scene.
It was a silver-haired girl in a black and purple dress, wielding a long kn*fe, radiating an aura that was completely different from before!
Night Star had reappeared at Wan Yu Square, but her outfit had changed, now resembling that of an audience performer.
She held a long kn*fe and stared fearlessly at the figures on stage.
At that moment, the electronic devices around them were hijacked by another form of Star Eclipses Power, and the scenes on screen quickly shifted to show the Rising Sun Theater Group’s emblem, displaying the words “Stage Transitioning.”
The space began to distort, and countless audience members present vanished from their spots, as if transported to another area.
Only the theater group members and audience performers remained.
The third-level square gradually rose under the influence of the strange power, elevating into the clouds, offering no escape.
Exciting, intense music erupted, elevating the atmosphere to a peak, as if a fierce battle was about to unfold.
The theater group members on stage looked at the petite girl in the dress with disbelief.
“Audience Performer?”
…
Once the Star Eclipses effect on the group leader was interrupted, those affected began to regain their original consciousness, and chaos soon ensued.
“What just happened?!”
Xiao Jin and Wang Chao took notice.
“Everyone has returned to normal! All Night Watchers, gather at Wan Yu Square and prepare to fight!”
Wang Chao grinned, his battle spirit soaring.
“I’ve been itching for this!”
But soon, they noticed a bizarre anomaly.
That is, the Tragic Shadow Theater was seemingly within arm’s reach, yet they could not approach, as if this space had been commandeered by someone; no matter how they advanced, they would only be going in circles.
Wang Chao was bewildered.
“What the heck is happening?”
Xiao Jin fell into deep thought, already guessing the cause.
“This is the Announcer’s Star Eclipses; this city has been taken over by her.”
“Whoa! She’s that strong?! What are we Night Watchers supposed to do then?”
“However, she doesn’t seem hostile; it’s as if… she’s purposefully preventing anyone from disturbing what’s happening on stage.”
“What on earth does the Tragic Shadow Theater want?”
Xiao Jin gazed at the “nearby” stage, where a silver-haired girl holding a long kn*fe was facing off against the other theater group members.
That was the Audience Performer.
Xiao Jin remembered the day she had made a promise.
“If the theater members go out of control, will you execute them personally? So this is real…”
Wang Chao, hearing Xiao Jin’s murmurs, realized something and widened his eyes in shock.
“Hey, are you kidding? Even the strongest Sunlight Night Watcher can’t take on so many Ultra Star Eclipses! If she really wants to handle these rogue Eclipses alone, she’s asking for d*ath!”
Wang Chao was genuinely concerned for that Audience Performer.
Because she was one of them—a human and a little girl.
Even if she stood with the Eclipses, it was out of kindness, restraining the theater.
Wang Chao admired her.
But now that the theater was out of control, was it truly her fault?
Wang Chao didn’t know, but he certainly didn’t want this girl to risk her life for the so-called execution!
At that very moment, the images on all the electronic screens began to shift, revealing a girl with short black hair—none other than the Announcer.
The Night Watchers and even the whole city looked at the screen in confusion, waiting for what would happen next.
Then the girl spoke: “Next, please enjoy the grand performance brought by the Rising Sun Theater Group—The Grand m*rder Revue!”
The screen quickly changed to showcase a stage filled with opera performers, accompanied by the Announcer’s passionate commentary.
“The theater members who were once close have forgotten their original intentions, breaking promises! The betrayed Audience Performer transforms into an executioner on the shining stage, becoming the star of the opera! Are you all looking forward to the development of the plot? I understand, for I too look forward to it—because like you, I am an audience, immensely excited for this grand show! I understand!”
Almost all the citizens were captivated by the Announcer’s enthusiastic speech.
Though unsure of the current situation, their eyes were irresistibly drawn to the scenes on the screen, filled with curiosity and anticipation for the opera’s plot.
Unlike this clueless crowd, the Night Watchers and the behind-the-scenes orchestrator, Xi Xia, felt utterly bewildered.
Especially Xi Xia.
She didn’t understand why things had suddenly turned into this spectacle.
According to the upcoming developments, her feathers should guide the Eclipses into chaos, then continuously weaken their powers until they were as feeble as low-grade Eclipses.
That way, she could swiftly eliminate the Tragic Shadow Theater.
But why did it suddenly evolve into a grand opera?
“Why is this…?”
…
On the opera stage.
The Audience Performer looked at everyone with an expression of calm, lightly tapping her toe in rhythm with the music, utterly unconcerned.
“This performance will eventually end, but how about the stage? Where shall we go from here?”
The Audience Performer calmly drew her long kn*fe, flicking it with a flash of red light in her eyes.
The theater group members were stunned by her words.
Meanwhile, the Announcer stood at a crossroads, smiling as she spread her arms.
“Wild Screen Baroque! The revue of unrestricted slaughter begins! Sing, dance, and compete with each other!”
In the next instant, the daylight turned to night, countless neon lights illuminating the extraordinary evening, adding a more mysterious ambiance to the scene.
On the high stage, beams of mysterious light shone upon the figure of the Audience Performer, signifying her role as the lead.
The permanent daylight lights illuminated the figures of the theater group members; the stage effects were ready.
Upon hearing a certain voice, the group leader suddenly realized and stared at the Audience Performer. “So this is it, Audience Performer, you’ve taken the stage?
Is it that as the audience, you’ve become the star of the stage?!”
The Audience Performer jumped in front of the group leader and others, lifting her eyelids with an expression of indifference.
The Puppet Master looked at her in confusion.
“Audience Performer?”
The Gentleman seemed to grasp something.
“I understand! You want to stop the performance from continuing? Such an impudent act, even if you’re the Audience Performer, I won’t allow it!”
Night Star said nothing and charged forward, starting to sing.
“【Do you understand now】”
Seeing this, the Puppet Master instinctively summoned the four main puppets.
The Village Man, Young Lady, Hero, and Butler all rushed at Night Star, launching an attack.
Night Star effortlessly parried with her kn*fe, her movements fluid and graceful as if dancing—she didn’t break a sweat, thanks to the agility granted by Speed B.
She was still singing.
“【Do you understand the rules now】”
“【Wild-ScreenBaroque】”
Night Star’s kn*fe clashed with the Hero’s sword, sparking fierce flames.
She didn’t force the clash; while redirecting and defending against the Village Man’s axe, her motions were elegant and stylish—the epitome of the star performer in this grand opera!
And still, she continued singing!
“【Dance and sing, compete with each other】”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
“【Roles have ended, scattering with the flowers】”
Ding! Ding! Ding!
“【So what’s next? What’s the next act? Where do you long to go】”
Night Star temporarily retreated to the edge of the stage.
The Gentleman gripped his cane tightly, pointing at Night Star.
“Audience Performer, are you not stopping the performance? You are joining it instead?! If so, then I can accept that!”
Night Star said nothing, seeming to wait for something.
Suddenly, something started to descend from the sky.
“Finally, it’s here.”
A beam of light descended onto the hand raised by Night Star.
It was a simple puppet, emanating the intense aura of Eclipses, utterly terrifying.
The Puppet Master stood frozen, staring at the scene.
“Little Lian? Why?”
After acquiring the puppet, Night Star hung it at her waist and continued to charge forward, long kn*fe in hand.
She was still singing.
The Puppet Master hurriedly controlled the four main puppets to block Night Star’s advance, but faint threads entangled the puppets, fixing them around Night Star.
“【What happened to your original intentions】”
After singing that line, Night Star swung her long kn*fe, sending the Hero, Village Man, Young Lady, and Butler flying out of the scene, completely eliminated.
Then, Night Star charged toward the other theater group members, weaving through them with her long kn*fe.
The Gentleman kept blocking Night Star’s assaults with his cane, but couldn’t resolve the situation in just two or three moves.
The Fraudster also drew a dagger to parry, barely surviving under Night Star’s intense onslaught.
They were all shocked inside.
They never expected this seemingly harmless little audience performer to possess such formidable combat strength—her nimble form and speed danced rather than fought, resembling a blade ballet.
“【Is this all you’ve got? How boring, utterly unimpressive】”
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
“【These can’t be excuses worth forgetting, all of this is insufficient】”
The Gentleman pressed Night Star’s kn*fe down with his cane, raising his voice passionately: “Audience Performer! You shine so bright now! Is this what it’s like to be the star?! We, who are also non-performers, can act on the same stage, superb! Let the show unfold, this is the highest tribute to performance!”
Night Star’s gaze hardened, a flash of red light appeared in her eyes, and she vanished, reappearing behind the Gentleman.
“Right now, I am not an Audience Performer.”
Thrust!
The long kn*fe pierced through the Gentleman’s back, emerging from his chest, yet without a drop of bl**d spilling.
The Gentleman’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Night Star withdrew her long kn*fe and continued singing.
“【Words alone aren’t enough; do you understand?】”
After dealing with the Gentleman, Night Star charged toward the Fraudster, darting with Speed B, catching him utterly off guard as her long kn*fe plunged into the Fraudster’s chest.
“【Show your true abilities then!】”
Thrust!
“Wh…?”
“That’s why I said, I’m not an Audience Performer right now.”
Night Star calmly extracted her kn*fe, giving it a light flick.
Then, she sped towards the dazed Puppet Master, slowing down just a few steps away.
At that moment, the Puppet Master reacted, instinctively reaching out her hands as red threads appeared from nowhere, seemingly trying to bind Night Star’s body.
However, with a flash of red light in Night Star’s eyes, the threads instead wrapped around the Puppet Master, lifting her into mid-air.
Night Star decisively stabbed downward, leaving the kn*fe embedded as she passed by her figure.
Thrust!
The light in the Puppet Master’s eyes dimmed.
“Why is this not the Audience Performer… it’s like a different person altogether.”
Night Star slowly walked to another part of the stage, facing the remaining two: the Singer and the Group Leader.
So far, the stage’s scenes were presented before all the audience, leaving them all in shock.
The music, the singing, the atmosphere, the actors, the battle—everything was awe-inspiring!
Everyone felt as if they were witnessing a live performance.
With the folding and distortion of space, everything happening on stage felt like it was right in front of the audience, elevating the shock factor.
Previously close companions now turned against one another.
No, it was the members, other than the Audience Performer, who had strayed from their original intentions, breaking promises.
Thus, the Audience Performer transformed into an executioner, punishing the theater members who had lost their way. Is this the theme of the opera?
Slaughtering all, everyone perished.
Who could survive?
How awesome! How thrilling! How astonishing!
Meanwhile, the Night Watchers, who knew some of the ins and outs, were left in a daze.
That audience performer—who was human—was single-handedly battling the other theater members?
And had already killed three?
That was incredibly ruthless—several times more than the Sunlight Night Watcher.
At least that’s what Wang Chao thought.
Wang Chao never expected that this petite girl would be even more ruthless than him, a berserker; he had just thought she was heading for certain d*ath.
“Didn’t expect she was actually executing them… What do you think, Xiao Jin?”
“Let’s watch for now; according to the developments, this Star Eclipses incident should be settled soon.”
“That Audience Performer is so ruthless; who the hell said she was a mascot?”
“You’ll have to ask Mo Tu about that.”
On the other side, Xi Xia stared blankly at everything on stage, sensing her feathers being destroyed one by one.
“What is going on?”
…
“【Lalalalalalala】”
“【Lalalalalalala】”
“【Wild-ScreenBaroque】”
“【This is the philosophy of nature】”
Night Star coldly observed the Group Leader and the Singer, stating flatly: “This performance will ultimately end, but where shall the stage go? Where do we go from here?”
The Group Leader furrowed his brows slightly.
“Huh?”
Only the Singer responded to Night Star with a serene expression.
“If the stage and the audience hold expectations, then I already find myself on the stage.”
“Is that so, Executioner?” The Singer’s lips curved into a smile, eyes glinting with nostalgia.
Night Star met her gaze with indifference and began to sing.
“【Respected actors, do you still possess your instinct to perform? Who will live to the end】”
The Singer slowly approached Night Star.
The Group Leader’s frown deepened.
“What were you just saying? This performance should be more passionate, more intense; that’s what makes it grand!”
However, the Singer and the Audience Performer ignored the derailed Group Leader, continuing to close the distance between them.
The Group Leader felt his emotions spiraling out of control, sensing the stage slipping away from him.
“Singer! Audience Performer! Why are you ignoring my words?!”
Countless dangerous Black Feathers appeared out of nowhere, floating around the Group Leader like locusts bringing calamity!
The finale is drawing near.
