Next, the Illusion Sound Choir took the stage.
The performance continued with Russia's Swan Dance.
Then, India's Bharatanatyam.
Followed by a musical theater performance from America.
And the English Waltz.
This was a fusion of Earth's cultures, a true pinnacle of human artistry.
After the French performance, the host reappeared on stage.
"Next, we have the Illusion Sound Choir, and their piece is called 'Dream Journey.'"
The Illusion Sound Choir.
Kino showed an interested expression.
This was a choir made up of mutants, and Kino had heard some of their songs before. They performed illusionary acts through their voices.
On stage, a group of handsome men and beautiful women dressed in white suits stood. Just looking at them made one feel entranced.
The violinist, elegant in her movements, gently raised her hand. The bow touched the strings, creating a sound as light as a breeze over a lake, producing a series of lively notes.
Soon, the sounds of the piano, cello, flute, and violin intertwined, sometimes like a babbling stream, other times like surging waves.
"Ah—"
The beautiful singing voices of the ten-member choir rang out.
There was no singing in the traditional sense, just pure voice and instrumental music that created a purely musical experience.
The audience couldn't help but close their eyes.
Listening to the music.
For the women, it felt as though they were seeing forests, oceans, and white clouds, making them relax and enjoy the moment of peace.
For the men, it was as though they had entered ancient legends, beginning an exciting adventure.
The children flew through the cosmos, touching stars, playing in space.
The entire venue became quiet, everyone immersed in the song.
Kino opened his eyes and listened carefully.
The illusions seemed a little dull to him.
The Illusion Sound Choir finished their ten-minute performance.
The audience slowly began to wake up and gave enthusiastic applause. It was truly an unprecedented experience.
It was like a lucid dream, where you know what you're doing in the dream, but once you wake up, the memory becomes blurry, preventing you from becoming too immersed in it.
"Next, we have the Succubus Dance Troupe, and their performance is called 'Love.'"
The music began.
Two dancers, wearing masks, started moving gracefully across the stage.
At times they touched, at other times they moved apart, their gazes meeting with shyness. At this moment, no words were needed.
Everyone understood this was the beginning of acquaintance.
Innocent and curious.
Many in the audience saw in them their own past selves.
The music changed.
The dancers' movements changed as well.
Suddenly, they closed the gap between them, almost pressed together, hand in hand, their gazes locked and unwilling to part.
This was love.
Some of the audience showed nostalgic expressions.
Two more dancers appeared on stage. One danced joyfully in front of the audience, her face filled with a happy smile.
The other stayed behind her, matching her every movement, but never appearing in front.
This was unrequited love.
Some in the audience wore melancholic expressions, having never confessed their feelings.
The movements of the two couples synchronized.
Their dance turned synchronized, including gestures with rings.
One dancer's face beamed with happiness.
"I'll be happy if I marry him."
The other, however, seemed uncertain.
"Will I truly be happy if I marry him?"
This was marriage.
The music's tone shifted, becoming more intense.
The dancers' movements became more passionate. They spun and leapt, intertwining, as if they were arguing.
The two dancers decided to flee, racing across the stage.
One moved with determination, never looking back.
The other hesitated, glancing back every now and then.
The dancers were relentlessly pursued by their partners.
Behind the scenes, many dancers appeared, blocking their way.
Some wore expressions of shyness, others were bold, some even coquettish. They spun and raised their legs, or gracefully turned sideways. Each movement was perfectly timed.
Their actions carried an air of temptation.
The audience watched, transfixed, knowing that new choices were being made.
Behind the scenes, the members of the Illusion Sound Choir watched the performance on the screen, knowing they had lost.
"It's okay, there will be other chances. After we're done, we'll perform all over the world and gain more experience."
The choir leader, Smith, said.
On stage.
The first dancer was trapped among the performers, each time she tried to leave, she was pulled back. She couldn't break free, no matter how many times she tried.
The second dancer struggled to break free from the performers around her, her clothes stained with red paint, as she continued to chase after the dancer who had fled.
This was rejection.
The first dancer, having danced around the stage, returned to the starting point.
She looked at her partner's outstretched hand, struggling to pull her back.
The two embraced tightly, while the surrounding dancers continued to dance, seemingly unwilling to let go.
The second dancer, after escaping, found her partner, who was still running.
Her partner was about to be caught, reaching out to her, waiting.
The dancer, however, did not look back and kept running, her movements disordered.
The dancer stopped, watching her partner's retreating form, dropping her hand and thinking for a moment.
She began dancing alone, light, free, and unrestrained. No longer someone's partner, she was the dancer.
The fleeing dancer returned, dancing in front of her former partner, trying to attract attention once again.
But this time, the partner did not respond.
One dancer after another appeared, joining in the rhythm.
At that moment, the stage lights seemed to shine only for her. She danced with her unique style, interpreting the rebirth and independence of the self.
The first couple, still embracing, continued to dance joyfully.
The surrounding dancers saw that there was no chance to leave the stage.
The music slowly softened, bringing a sense of peaceful release.
The audience, immersed in this visual feast, felt their emotions ebb and flow with the dancers' movements.
Some people's eyes were misty, recalling their own experiences of love, loss, growth, and letting go.
Two different endings.
Tony raised an eyebrow and asked Pepper, "Pepper, what would you have done if I had rejected you?"
"I would have applied to be your nanny. If you rejected me again, I wouldn't have come back," Pepper replied.
Tony said nothing but just hugged Pepper.
Many people, having watched the performance "Love is a Dance," began to reflect on their own lives.
In a private room, Banner held Betty's hand.
"I don't have anything else to do now. Let's go visit Ross tomorrow," Banner said.
Betty's face lit up, then she hesitated.
"But since Dad retired, he's been brooding. If he sees you, there might be an argument."
"I'll bring a gift. What do you think of me as the captain of a starship?" Banner said.
Although Ross was stubborn and tough, his military ability and strategic vision were impressive. Being the commander of a starship would be no problem.
"Do you think this will affect your position in the demon lord's eyes?" Betty asked, concerned.
Her man had worked hard to reach this position, and if it backfired due to favoritism, it would be better to just let her father enjoy his retirement.
After all, her father had nearly attacked the demon lord in the past, and it was a miracle he was still alive.
"If anything happens, Earth will organize fleets. The initial scale will be in the thousands, but I can only give him one starship's management. Whether he gets more depends on Ross himself.
As for the leader, don't worry. I'll request it personally. As long as I don't recommend useless people, the leader won't mind."
Banner continued.
"I love you, Banner."
"I love you too, Betty."
They embraced and kissed in the private room.
Quote for the chapter:
"Love, like a dance, we find ourselves in a series of movements—sometimes pulling away, sometimes drawing closer, but always discovering new ways to move together."
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