The spotlight suddenly went out.
The announcer’s voice faded, a switch was flipped, and the lights that had been illuminating the stage went dark in an instant.
The audience fell into silence.
Behind the curtain, various audio equipment let out a crackling electrical hum.
Darkness flooded the stage like a tide.
The pitch-black stage that had just been bustling with noise remained completely still, with no movement at all.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Murmurs of discussion rose and fell, the volume gradually swelling and spreading outward.
Restlessness stirred—nothing piqued a witch’s curiosity more than an inexplicable sense of suspense.
After a long wait, the expectant audience couldn’t help but start talking.
“What’s going on? Did it jam?”
Just as the chatter began to turn into noise, and some troublemakers were even itching to climb onto the stage—
“An accident during the finale? Equipment failure?”
“What the hell? Don’t leave us hanging!”
Boom!
Boom-boom!
Boom-boom-boom!
A thunderous drumbeat exploded from the depths of the dark stage without warning!
The vibrating sound waves shook everyone’s hearts, announcing the start of the performance to all the witches.
Immediately after, the distorted roar of an electric guitar, the grooving bass notes, and the soaring keyboard chords joined the drumbeat, filling the entire stage with music.
Along with the vibrant flood of melody, the main stage lights blazed to life.
Dozens of dazzling beams of light split the darkness like swords, kicking off the show.
Without hesitation, without delay, a song of youth rang out from the stage, its melody carrying the boldness of a newborn calf unafraid of tigers.
The music echoed through Han Hai Cheng, spreading across the entire Duonayongla.
Focused and beautiful, the singing wove a lovely tune, stirring the night sky that had only just fallen silent.
Hai Lanyue stood at the very center of the stage, the microphone close to her lips, her expression serious.
【Facing the sudden downpour, I realize I forgot my umbrella】
【I can’t be bothered with the sky’s mood】
The colorful lights flickered in time with the rhythm, illuminating the five witches on stage, making them shine like brilliant stars.
“Here they come!”
“Ah! It’s Lady Olivia!”
“Woo! Let’s get fired up!”
The sudden start of the performance instantly captured everyone’s attention and ignited the crowd’s enthusiasm.
However, amidst the deafening cheers, Tunzuo felt a little annoyed to notice that most of the witches’ passion was for Olivia’s fervent adoration and praise.
The fanatical screams of the fans nearly tore off the roof, as if Olivia were the absolute center of the world even if she just stood on stage doing nothing.
Sitting behind the drum kit, controlling the rhythm of the song, Tunzuo could naturally hear the intense emotions the audience directed at Olivia.
Olivia’s blinding star power made Tunzuo feel somewhat uncomfortable, and even stirred a faint tinge of jealousy in her heart.
Tunzuo instinctively glanced toward Olivia through the gap in her bangs.
As if by telepathy, the moment Tunzuo looked at her, Olivia, who was playing the keyboard, turned her head and met Tunzuo’s eyes.
Their gazes collided without reservation.
Seeing Tunzuo’s somewhat unfriendly look, a puzzled Olivia appeared innocent.
Still, she tilted her head slightly, moved the microphone aside, and mouthed clearly but silently to Tunzuo.
“I love you.”
Olivia’s almost sneak-attack confession made Tunzuo’s face turn bright red in an instant.
The heat burned from her neck all the way to her ears, scalding hot.
Tunzuo quickly turned away, breaking eye contact with Olivia.
The steady drumbeat she had been keeping almost missed a beat from the panic in her heart.
“Geez… you perverted dragon! We’re performing here! All that romance—no sense of the occasion!”
Embarrassed, Tunzuo cursed Olivia out in her mind.
She swung her drumsticks even harder, as if to vent all the turbulent emotions that had just surged up.
But precisely because of Olivia’s direct confession, when Tunzuo looked back at the audience cheering only for Olivia, she couldn’t help but feel a smug sense of superiority.
Tunzuo lifted her chin slightly, raising it to a proud angle, silently asserting her claim.
Shout all you want.
See that big star you’re all so crazy about?
She’s mine!
Amid the fervent cheers, Hai Lanyue gradually got into the groove of the performance.
Watching the audience swaying wildly to the melody, turning into a sea of glow sticks, Hai Lanyue felt a strange emotion well up inside her.
Nervousness, excitement, gratitude—all kinds of feelings fermented in her heart, brewing into a complex soup of emotions.
【Outside pressure, blocked breath】
【Falling into a dizzying spiral, where am I】
I used to think I’d always stay in a quiet corner, until the little joke fate played on me ended—or never changed at all.
【Such, such heavy breathing】
But after that joint class, everything changed.
I gained a lazy ghost, an elegant dragon, a playful cat, and a quiet fox.
I was no longer a lonely little jellyfish under the raven’s wing.
I had friends.
And now, I’m standing with them on the academy festival stage, in front of everyone.
【How strange, the whole world seems】
At least this time, I don’t want to let my friends down!
【Dead silent!!!】
Hai Lanyue stomped hard on the floor, her heel making a dull thud on the stage boards.
The guitar roared, and a passionate melody swept in like a tidal wave.
Hai Lanyue lifted her head high, revealing her azure pearl-like eyes beneath her bangs.
A dawn-like melody tore through the lonely heart.
The blue waves of Han Hai Cheng surged in the distance, as if cheering for Hai Lanyue.
【Not enough, not enough, still unnoticed by anyone!】
【The silent cry inside my heart, like graffiti sounds!】
【Who is this “be yourself” talk even for?!】
【Only the foolish me keeps singing!】
【Might as well shout it out to the stars—!】
At that moment, all music theory and technique stepped back.
What sang on the stage was only the girl’s unyielding heart.
Sensing the emotions Hai Lanyue was pouring out, the other four members of the band exchanged glances without a word.
Their movements accelerated, and their instruments roared deafeningly.
They harmonized with Hai Lanyue, pushing the music to its climax, drawing wild cheers from the audience.
【So dazzling, so dazzling, don’t shine that bright!】
【Wouldn’t that make my dim shadow even darker?!】
【Right now, I’m so hot-headed I can’t stop!】
【Only the foolish me keeps singing!】
【So noisy, my heart—】
As Hai Lanyue sang freely, dense Fate Threads spread out from her body, trying to reach for the audience, searching for wish power to draw from.
But at that moment, a pair of slender silver needles emerged from the void, deftly and precisely lifting those spreading Fate Threads and guiding them upward.
Antuxi floated in midair, her form hidden in a shadow.
She watched Tunzuo sweating on stage with determined eyes, a smile on her lips.
Using the silver needles to hook and pull the Fate Threads, as if knitting an invisible sweater, she shook her head gently and murmured.
“No, no. I don’t care about that little girl, but I really want to see my silly daughter’s performance to the end. So, you’ll have to go hungry this time.”
【The azure planet stands alone, it has heard all kinds of voices】
【Spinning for eons, just for a moment】
【Listen, listen—】
Strings were plucked, keys were pressed, drumsticks were raised. The final notes had arrived.
Hai Lanyue roared, using all her strength to sing the last melody.
【The silent cry inside my heart, like graffiti sounds!】
【I, I, please, I’m right here!】
【Want to become, want to become anyone—anyone but myself!】
【In the end, only the foolish me keeps singing!】
【Might as well shout it out to the stars—!】
The last lyric rang out, and the music came to an abrupt stop.
“Yay ヽ(•ω•)ﾉ——!!!”
After a brief silence, cheers that nearly shook the entire stage erupted.
Seeing the audience shouting “Encore!”, Hai Lanyue shyly lowered her head.
Sally and Huli excitedly raised their fists together to celebrate, while Tunzuo, drenched in sweat, exchanged a knowing smile with Olivia.
But amidst the thunderous cheers, Tunzuo weighed her drumsticks and looked around, feeling puzzled.
Just a moment ago during the performance, Teacher Sherry and the others should have come on stage with their instruments.
But even now, I can’t even see a single witch’s shadow.
Just as Tunzuo was confused, a sharp, cold wind suddenly swept from the back of the stage.
The bitter wind chilled the air, instantly cooling the heated venue.
Then, thick icy mist spread across the stage.
The sudden change made the still-cheering audience hold their breath.
Five figures slowly walked out of the icy mist.
When Tunzuo saw the teacher band’s outfits, her jaw dropped, and her green eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
The teacher band’s witches were all in full rock-punk style!
Tight, spiky black leather jackets hugged their bodies.
Paired with heavy smoky makeup that almost obscured their original skin tones, they gave every witch present an extremely powerful visual impact.
The gentleness on Sherry’s face had completely disappeared, replaced by unparalleled wild arrogance.
She stuck out her tongue, the gold tongue piercing glittering under the lights, and grinned at Tunzuo and the others.
“Yo, kids, your performance just now was pretty hype.”
Sherry’s practiced tongue roll made Tunzuo, Sally, Huli, and Hai Lanyue all press their hands to their cheeks, making the face from the famous painting The Scream.
Seriously, Teacher Sherry, how are you so good at this?!
And your whole face changed, you know that?!
Olivia standing nearby twitched the corner of her mouth, digging up some dusty memories from her mind.
Ah, the delinquent version of Teacher Sherry.
Long time no see.
Kind of nostalgic now.
“Kids, your performance was great.”
Sherry’s voice came through the microphone, laced with a low, husky rasp.
“But as the finale of the academy festival, it’s not wild enough. Let me show you what really blows the roof off!”
With that, Sherry ripped off her gold-rimmed glasses and crushed them in her hand.
The sound of shattering lenses was amplified by the speakers, sharp and harsh.
Then an extremely high-pitched guitar note tore through the night sky.
“Ah——!!!”
Sherry bent her waist deeply, her shoulder-length hair hanging low, putting all her strength into it.
A pure gutteral singing style made Sherry’s voice as rough as a beast’s.
The death metal rock melody slammed into the audience.
The violent sound waves were even crazier and more destructive than Tunzuo’s group’s performance just now.
“Woo ヽ(≧ω≦)ﾉ——!!!”
The teacher band’s performance blew the venue apart.
The festival atmosphere soared to a new height.
Watching the teacher band’s witches, who were already completely letting loose on stage, Tunzuo scratched her head in a bit of a daze, feeling deeply impressed.
“Whew… we can’t compete with that. That contrast play was ruthless. And it’s obvious they’re venting all the frustration they’ve been bottling up. No wonder they didn’t show us—they were holding back. So sneaky, adult witches backstabbing little witches.”
Tunzuo rested her chin on her hands, watching Sherry and the others’ passionate performance.
Then a teasing voice came from behind her.
“What, my silly daughter, already ready to give up?”
Tunzuo turned her head and saw Antuxi standing behind her with a smile, a shrewd glint in her eyes as if she was plotting something.
To that, Tunzuo sighed helplessly and said, “I don’t wanna just give up like this, Mom, but the teachers have better energy and technique. Feels like winning is still pretty hard.”
Hearing that, Antuxi’s eyes spun, and the corner of her mouth curled into a mischievous arc.
“If you don’t want to give up, how about adding a little extra performance?”
Tunzuo was taken aback, looking at Antuxi with some confusion.
“But we don’t have another song prepared. We can’t whip one up on the spot… Also, is adding a performance allowed?”
Seeing Tunzuo take the bait, Antuxi nodded in satisfaction, then smiled and said, “No, no, my silly daughter. This bonus performance isn’t for you and your band. It’s for you and me. Also, do you remember the motto of the academy festival?”
Tunzuo closed her eyes and thought for a moment, then opened them and said, “Do as you please?”
“Right. Do as you please. Have fun—that’s what that old man Andersen hoped for. So just go ahead and do it.”
As she said this, Antuxi pressed against Tunzuo’s back, interlacing her right hand with Tunzuo’s, letting her feel the warmth of her palm and the vast magic hidden beneath the skin.
“So, ready to be the orchestra conductor, my dear daughter?”
“Ready, Mom! But who am I going to conduct? You?”
Antuxi’s proposal excited Tunzuo, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at Antuxi.
“Hehe, bold idea. But unfortunately, no.”
Antuxi chuckled softly and shook her head.
Then she shifted her gaze to the Pale Mask hanging on Tunzuo’s face.
“Naiya.”
Hearing Antuxi call her, Naiya’s light voice sounded, tinged with a bit of puzzlement.
“Hmm? What’s up, Fox Sis? Any orders?”
“Ready to go wild? Consider this my compensation to you lot. I’ll let you all out. Have fun—make a big scene!”
As soon as Antuxi finished speaking, the back of her and Tunzuo’s interlaced right hand suddenly glowed with dazzling red light, sending a mysterious and wild rhythm through the air.
Meanwhile, in the dark space of the Spirit World, the Fox Rune and the Ouroboros Rune atop the Spiral Tower also burst into radiant light.