NOVPUBHowever, as the lead singer and captain, he didn't care. He gestured to the members behind him to get ready, and soon the music slowly began, with everyone gradually getting into the groove.
Not bad, Tilan thought, listening to the soothing yet spirited beat.
Before long, the singing started, the atmosphere at the venue also warmed up, and the audience responded to the performance by waving light sticks along with the melody.
The performance lasted for a total of one hour before gradually coming to an end. By that time, the lead singer and captain was somewhat sweat-soaked. His strength was actually quite good, possessing Sequence 4, and many of the other members were Sequence 3.
After the performance ended, familiar friends from the audience came forward to congratulate him, handing him a big bottle of water, and amidst the laughter, the group decided to go out for a meal that night to celebrate properly.
Watching them leave, the rest of the audience slowly dispersed as well.
"How do you feel?" Ailu Kelu came up to Tilan.
"Very nice." Tilan remarked.
"Told you so, hehe."
"They really enjoyed themselves and played happily. Their voices were clear and natural," Tilan commented.
While their skills and impact might not stand out, and they certainly couldn't compare to those famous stars, the process was relaxed and joyful. Isn't that great? After watching the show, Tilan wondered if her previous standards had been too high and too utilitarian.
"Music is meant to be a joyful thing. Sometimes, being too fixated on pursuing something can lead to pain," Ailu Kelu said, laying her head back and looking at the slowly emptying warehouse.
"Oh, right, I haven't told you guys how much they charged for tickets."
"How much?" Blanchi chimed in.
"Fifty Federation Coins, roughly the price of two drinks."
"That's really cheap. No wonder they're in a place like this. Just the rent for a slightly better venue would cost more than that," Tilan realized why they chose this location.
"Ahahaha, exactly."
Ailu Kelu laughed and jumped up, landing on the wall, then leaping into the air, performing a flip before landing back on the ground, with an electric sparkle spreading around her feet.
"Let's go, let's check out a few more concerts."
Ailu Kelu, inexplicably happy, pulled the trio along to attend several nearby concerts, including performances by up-and-coming new bands, experienced teams, and heavy metal rock bands that made Tilan want to cover her ears.
By 10 p.m., the four of them left an open-air plaza, where a performance had just ended.
"It's getting late, we should head back," Tilan checked the time.
"No, no, there's one last show, and this is the grand finale, a rare 'treasure' that's hard to come by," Ailu Kelu said, pulling at Tilan, not letting her leave.
Among the three, Geyin hardly ever made decisions, Blanchi always listened to her senior, so as long as Tilan was convinced, the others would follow along.
"Alright, alright, I'll accompany Ailu Kelu senior one last time," Tilan said, resignedly following Ailu Kelu toward the nearby streets.
The four of them gradually left the main street and headed towards a remote alleyway.
"Is it really here?" Tilan was doubtful.
"It should be here, no mistake," Ailu Kelu answered, though Tilan could tell she sounded less than confident.
The four continued walking and eventually stopped in front of a small alley.
"Strange, it should be here, but why isn't there any sign of life?" Ailu Kelu walked in, and then the four stopped in front of the closed entrance to an underground concert hall.
Looking at the entrance, there were signs of recent tears and rips, indicating a recent fight had taken place.
"Is there no show tonight?" Ailu Kelu approached, noticing the man leaning against the wall smoking.
"A performance?" The man glanced at the songstress with the cat ears and headphones.
"Nope, beat it, haha, and you're a beastman too, aren't you?" He made out Ailu Kelu's features by the faint light from the other shops in the alley.
"You do look quite nice, why not join me for a drink at the bar across the street tonight?" As he said this, he reached out to touch Ailu Kelu.
"Ew—" Ailu Kelu deftly jumped back, demonstrating the agility and lightness characteristic of her catkin.
"Gross." She pinched her nose and frowned.
"You've annoyed me," she said, hands on her hips, slightly angered.
"Oh, right, I've annoyed you, so what are you going to do about it?" He said mockingly as he approached.
Dark skin, a shiny bald head, and it seemed there were some deep blue tattoos on top—clearly not someone to mess with. He even looked a bit intimidating when he smiled.
Noticing Ailu Kelu stepping back to her companions, he looked over and saw they were all girls, which made him smile even more.
"Oh, you've brought your besties along." He feigned amusement, provocatively flexing his muscles as he raised an eyebrow.
"Let's not leave then, join us for a night," he said as he reached out again, trying to grab Ailu Kelu's shoulder. Instead, a streak of purple lightning surged from the ground, numbing him completely and causing him to crash to the ground.
"You..." He gritted his teeth, then his eyes hardened with vengeance as the color of his tattoos turned sinister. He broke through the electric current with a sudden surge, and lunged forward with a punch toward Ailu Kelu.
Ailu Kelu dodged the punch with ease thanks to her nimble movements, but the man's momentum didn't falter, and he continued charging towards the other three.
At that moment, Blanchi's eyes widened with panic as she raised her hand, as if trying to cast a spell. Geyin watched with an indifferent gaze, doing nothing. In those fleeting seconds, Tilan considered her options. If she deployed her swordsmanship, this man could end up severely injured or even dead. Not wanting to frighten Blanchi, she decided to opt for a gentler approach.
