### Chapter 29: Bursting Out of Despair
Five Holy Knights looked on in silence at the scene before them.
The theater group leader couldn’t find his voice either.
Night Lan and Night Star also kept quiet, suppressing their emotions with all their might.
At that moment, the makeup artist, who had been protected by the troupe members, slightly opened her mouth, finally speaking out.
“Run… I don’t want to be a burden…”
Hearing this, the young man with a thousand faces turned around and smiled.
“Anyone who can say such words is someone who won’t become a so-called demon. You are still you, right?”
“No… She’s dead… I am the [Mirror Image].”
“Is that so? I don’t understand, but even if that’s the case, let us stay with you until the very end. This ridiculous performance will eventually come to an end, but I refuse to accept an ending where only you are left isolated. This isn’t the tragedy you deserve, whether on the stage or in reality. Bonds of friendship tie us together. Only a complete Rising Sun Theater Group is truly whole.”
The Enthusiastic Singer chimed in, “Exactly, if we abandon any member to reach the grandest stage alone, I won’t accept such an outcome. If we falter now, my singing will lose its passion and vigor.”
Other troupe members voiced their unshakable resolve, deeply moving everyone.
Jian Ji’an’s expression didn’t change much, remaining icy cold.
“How laughable, hiding a demon while claiming to be human. You’ve lost your right to call yourself human. I represent God and will pass judgment on you. Let’s go to hell together.”
Jian Ji’an brandished a three-meter-long beam of light in his hand, launching it with his utmost power.
Zzzwooo!
The light lance stirred up strong gusts of wind, violently whirling up dust and earth along its path. Its trail created a destructive storm, instantly shattering the ground!
BOOM!
“Divine Wrath! Punishment Lance!”
Seeing this, the theater group leader, held down by the Holy Knights, widened his eyes.
“No! No! No!!!”
Night Star Lan’s mind went blank. She wanted to do something, but she could only feel helplessness and despair.
Witnessing such powerlessness.
“NO!!!”
BOOM!
The three-meter-long beam struck the wall of troupe members, but no one moved back.
In the next instant, a massive energy storm erupted there, shaking heaven and earth!
Jian Ji’an, as a high-ranking Holy Knight of the Church, boasted formidable combat skills.
Of course, that only meant he had impressive destructive capabilities.
That’s why he couldn’t handle the theater group leader who could paralyze him.
However, in battling demons, he was a key figure.
Back to reality.
The enormous energy storm gradually calmed down.
Upon feeling that the target’s life force had vanished, Jian Ji’an exhaled a sigh.
“Phew… Cleanup done. Form ranks, bring the theater group leader back.”
Jian Ji’an glanced at the theater group leader, subdued and silent. He didn’t care about his current emotions.
The leader’s power was significant, with some utility value too.
Seeing his troupe destroyed was an unexpected twist—but who knew the lady would turn into a demon right after being killed?
Or that other troupe members would protect demons?
Under these circumstances, Jian Ji’an had to clear them out.
Watching the fallen theater leader’s dispirited state, Jian Ji’an felt immensely satisfied.
Even though it wasn’t quite proper, it really felt good.
Is this what satisfaction from revenge feels like?
“Heh heh.”
A wicked smile spread across Jian Ji’an’s lips.
Meanwhile, the silent theater leader suddenly burst forth with immense strength, shaking off the four Holy Knights holding him. He rushed to where the troupe members had been, pushing Jian Ji’an back several steps.
“Hmm?”
Jian Ji’an steadied himself, curious about what the leader would do next.
Was he going to rebel?
Even if he unleashed the full extent of his powers, he wouldn’t stand a chance against the five powerful Holy Knights.
Not even a priest in charge of a church could do it, let alone a theater leader without special divine power training.
Since he wanted to fight, well, time to clear him off too.
As Jian Ji’an thought of this, two small figures flashed past him to join the theater leader near the spot where the troupe members were last seen.
All was scorched earth, void of any life. The theater behind them lay in ruins.
The troupe members who had stood in a row earlier had vanished, perhaps nothing remained.
Here lay a weak silhouette: Night Sakura Mirror collapsed on the ground.
Night Star Lan froze as she watched an elderly gentleman slowly approach and scoop her up.
She was not completely dead, but merely lingering on by sheer willpower—a fleeting spark.
The makeup artist’s eyes slowly opened, crystal clear, resembling the original Night Sakura Mirror.
Gazing into the theater leader’s face, tears trickled from her eyes.
“I’m sorry… Our dream was to perform on the biggest stage… But I shattered that dream… In our next life, I’ll stay away from you all, not bringing tragedy upon you. Forgive me… Forgive me…”
With those final words, the makeup artist’s essence faded entirely, vanishing into the theater leader’s arms.
“…”
Once the form in his arms disappeared, he clutched a black feather tightly in his hand. A few more floated and gathered around him automatically.
“…”
The theater leader remained half-squatting on the ground, exuding an eerie aura.
Night Star Lan watched quietly beside him, lowering her head to hide her expressions.
A tear after tear fell, melding with the scorched earth.
“AHHHHHHH!!”
No one could hear her cry.
The theater leader couldn’t hear, the Holy Knights couldn’t, nor could the world itself.
She could only stand in between worlds, witnessing, enduring, and feeling helpless.
Alone.
“Ugh…”
The theater leader slowly stood up, effortlessly pulling out a top hat from behind and pressing it low over his eyes.
“You did nothing wrong, Makeup Artist. What’s unfair is this world’s injustice, the malice this era breeds. It is those who nurture such things that are at fault.”
From afar, Jian Ji’an couldn’t make out the murmurs, but he felt a foreboding sense rising within him.
He sensed the theater leader’s demonic energy intensifying!
Spotting this, Jian Ji’an immediately alerted the Holy Knights nearby.
“Quick! Get ready for battle!”
Two light lances materialized in Jian Ji’an’s hands, despite his drained power, extracting whatever little strength he had left.
The other four Holy Knights prepared as well, their aura steadily rising.
Yet, even five formidable Holy Knights couldn’t give Jian Ji’an any sense of security; only relentless fear.
Jian Ji’an sensed it.
The latent demonic presence emanating from the theater leader!
“Your obsession—the grand performance—will be realized by me. Rest in peace, my friends.”
