Chapter 24: The Perfect Exit
The group leader and others calmly observed their surroundings.
“It seems like quite a nice stage,” he remarked, grinning at the crowd of Night Watchers standing in the distance.
“And there are also our spectators.”
Conditions set.
The group leader took off his tall top hat, gave a slight bow towards the “audience,” and placed it back on his head.
“Now, let’s get started with the theater’s grand show!”
Immediately, the people from the Research Institute launched their attack. Two Artificial Star Eclipses rushed to the front, full of bravado and ferocity.
Their star eclipses seemed to lean heavily towards combat, lacking any “tricky” elements.
To this, the Gentleman smiled slightly.
“Opening, Polite Theater!”
The Gentleman’s star eclipse effect spread out, marking everyone present with the stamp of politeness, and there was no escape.
Just as the two Artificial Star Eclipses were about to approach, the Gentleman softly declared, “Announcing, it is not polite to use violence without reason.”
As soon as he finished speaking, pain surged through the minds of the two attacking Artificial Star Eclipses, leaving them in utter agony!
Other Star Holders from the Research Institute were forced to interrupt their star usage, collapsing to the ground, shrieking in despair.
“Ahhh!!”
With just this, the first wave of weaker Star Holders was knocked out of the game.
However, the painful mental sting was brief, and some managed to withstand it.
Quickly, a few people responded.
Having reviewed the data on the Star Eclipse Gentleman through various channels, they immediately devised a counter-strategy.
“This is our declared duel against the theater!”
“A duel? Sure, the theater accepts.”
Using violence in a duel is allowed.
The group of Star Holders charged forward again.
Just then, the two Artificial Star Eclipses reached right in front of the group leader.
The Puppet Master stood by the group leader’s side, her eyes flashing red. Countless red threads descended from the sky, ensnaring the limbs of the two Artificial Star Eclipses, rendering them immobile.
The Puppet Master lifted them into the air and then slammed them down hard onto the ground, creating a resounding crash, and finally dragged them before the group leader.
The group leader gazed at the two with an unruffled expression.
“Are they similar beings? They appear so, yet not quite. The purity isn’t enough; it’s too complicated. I can sense remnants of their kind wailing and roaring. You’ve inherited their power, but have you inherited their obsessions? Who will fulfill their desires?”
With that, the group leader extended his hands and gripped the foreheads of the two, unleashing a mysterious power.
Two black feathers appeared above their heads, seemingly absorbing something.
Indeed, something surged from the two Artificial Star Eclipses into the black feathers.
Finally, the star eclipse aura surrounding the two completely vanished, gathering into the floated feathers.
The group leader tossed the two aside, their fates uncertain.
Watching this unfold, Hei Yang raised an eyebrow.
“This group leader is impressive! No wonder he could lead so many star eclipses to stir up trouble in various cities.”
In his view, the research institute’s Artificial Star Eclipses could only barely measure up to the lines of Sunlight Night Watchers, and they were merely the less competent ones. Usually, they were just staffing the cities.
As for Hei Yang, his prowess in the Night Watchers was top-notch, at least in the top ten; annihilating such more violent star eclipses was child’s play, but dealing with a regular Sunlight would be a different ball game.
To take down two with one move, the Rising Sun Theater’s group leader was indeed mysterious.
The scene shifted back.
Night Star and the Singer began to sing together.
“Ah~”
The full version of Existence Interference was activated, rendering the enemies’ stars completely hidden, turning them into ordinary people without any resistance.
The Fraudster struck last, wearing a mysterious smile as he replaced the scene these people were witnessing with the very image they most feared.
In the next moment, the group of Star Holders were screaming and scattering in all directions, their psychological defenses completely shattered, all of them in mental collapse.
Under the overwhelming star eclipse effects from the theater members, these individuals were utterly defenseless, knocked out in the duel without even having the chance to get serious.
In just a brief moment, the research institute’s side was entirely wiped out, their spirits tainted by the star eclipses.
Seeing this, Hei Yang chuckled softly.
“That’s hilarious! These people only have themselves to blame for going to war with a star eclipse organization under such severe informational deficits. Even we Night Watchers wouldn’t dare to; after all, amateurs will always be amateurs.”
The star eclipses of the Rising Sun Theater were no ordinary stars.
Individually, they might seem just okay, but collectively, they operated in harmony; when several star eclipses activated simultaneously, the chain reaction was overwhelmingly fierce.
A few star eclipses invaded the mind, and even the Sunlight Night Watchers could be considered doomed.
Mo Qianmeng suddenly became contemplative.
“Wait a minute, have I hindered them? By trapping them in this painted world, it seems like the Sunset Research Institute’s technological support can’t reach here.”
Hei Yang shot her a glance.
“Wasn’t that intentional?”
“What are you talking about? It was just a coincidence. Right, isn’t that so, Sister Lixie?”
Mo Qianmeng looked completely innocent, but to Hei Yang, she was full of holes.
This junior was always a bit devious against enemies.
By locking the Research Institute’s people in this painted world, it outwardly seemed to prevent the battle’s aftershocks from ruining the entertainment district, but in reality, it was to obstruct the technological support from the Research Institute—so cunning!
The perspective shifted again.
The Rising Sun Theater halted their “performance,” marking the end of their act.
As they looked at the group lying on the ground, Night Star, hiding behind the Singer, gently stuck out her tongue.
“Hmph~ A bunch of nasty guys.”
The group leader then stated, “Today’s performance is already over.”
“Eh? So soon?” Night Star seemed bewildered.
“Yes, our audience consists of those people. To them, everything we did just now was a performance. As long as the audience finds it entertaining, that is the expectation of us performers.”
“Oh~ I get it.”
Night Star understood, but in reality, she totally didn’t.
If it was indeed a performance, it barely lasted a few minutes and could be considered a mini-show.
A large-scale performance should be more along the lines of a grand event, but that just wasn’t the right time yet.
“Can we go back now?”
“Yes, we’ll head back and await the next theater event, but first, we need to thank the audience for watching this performance.”
“Mm hm!”
Then, all theater members bowed in gratitude towards the Night Watchers.
Hei Yang chuckled lightly and led the applause, a sign of acknowledgment for their performance.
“Just like the rumors say, once that audience performer appeared, this theater became interesting.”
Mo Qianmeng gently clapped too.
“I feel like some of those silhouettes seem familiar.”
Ice Lixie smiled gently.
“You’re probably the first to notice they came to Qi Yuan City. Think about it closely; isn’t it fate?”
“Could it be that the audience performer, the singer, and the puppet master I encountered in the art museum are among them?”
“Yep, it should be.”
“Now, that truly is a remarkable fate…”
In the next second, countless black feathers descended from the sky, concealing the members of the theater.
When the black feathers disappeared, the other theater members had vanished into the landscape painting.
A perfect exit.
