Watching both the livestream and the venue descend into chaos, valerius laughed so hard he nearly lost control.
Serves you right for being curious.
Now you understand just how lethal that dragon girl really is.
What surprised him, though, was that even after all that…
The three people in the front row still hadn't dropped their cheering signs.
They were still waving them.
Just… very weakly.
"AHHHHH——!"
After finishing her song, Elizabeth finally stopped, thoroughly satisfied.
With pride, she asked,
"So? How was my singing compared to Nero's?"
"G-Great. Way better."
Luocha scrambled to his feet and answered firmly.
Inside, he was screaming:
Way worse than Nero!
At least Nero didn't try to kill us!
Hers might be off-key, but yours takes half your life bar in one hit!
"Nero can't compare to you at all."
Clorinde quickly backed him up.
At this point, she'd say anything as long as this woman would leave the stage.
"Of course."
Elizabeth nodded smugly.
"Then I'll be going now. I'll sing for you again next time."
All three screamed in their hearts:
Please don't ever come back.
After Elizabeth left, they finally relaxed and slumped back into their seats.
"If the second one was already this bad… what about the third?"
Bronya was genuinely scared now.
If another Elizabeth showed up, she might actually pass out.
Her ears were still ringing.
"Sigh… Luocha, who's next?"
Since the last performer was his pick, Clorinde planned to memorize every name.
So she could avoid them forever.
"Uh…"
Luocha covered his face.
"I… I picked a group."
Bronya: "..."
Clorinde: "..."
Are you insane?!
We can't even survive one person!
And you picked a group?!
Are you trying to kill us?!
"How was I supposed to know it'd be this terrifying?"
Luocha was full of regret.
At first, he'd thought:
If it's a group, at least one of them must be decent.
Now?
After those first two performances?
His heart was hanging by a thread.
The lights came down again.
This time, they didn't focus on a single spot.
Multiple beams swept across the stage.
Amid colorful lights, several girls walked out together.
They raised their hands in unison, forming a W-shape.
"Dun dun dun dun, dun dun dun dun—"
The music started.
The trio stiffened, like soldiers facing an execution.
Then—
The purple-haired girl in the center began singing.
"…Huh?"
They froze.
Wait.
This… actually sounded good?
Not only was it not awful—
It was pleasant.
Melodic.
Clear.
For a moment, the three were completely confused.
Was this another trap?
Was valerius planning to lull them first before unleashing hell?
"Stay alert."
They immediately raised their guard.
But when the others joined in—
They were stunned.
It really was good.
Beautiful voices.
Smooth harmony.
After surviving Elizabeth's sonic torture, this felt like hearing heavenly music.
It was pure salvation.
Without realizing it, they lifted their glow sticks.
Their feet started moving.
Then came the chorus.
"Giri giri ai~~~~~!"
In an instant, all three jumped to their feet.
They started swaying uncontrollably.
Glow sticks blurred into afterimages.
They were waving so fast it looked like special effects.
valerius burst out laughing.
There it is.
The legendary support move—
Starburst Abandon-Healing Slash.
[Robin: Oh? I thought they'd all be like before.]
[Paimon: It's good! It's so catchy!]
[Jing Yuan: Damn, this song's dangerous. My legs are moving on their own.]
[Kaeya: Same! I can't stop!]
[Herta: Wait… me too?!]
[Yukong: Me as well!]
At a tea stall in Liyue Harbor.
Tian Tiezui was passionately telling stories of Rex Lapis.
Suddenly, his gaze locked onto a familiar figure.
Zhongli.
His regular customer.
But today, Zhongli was nodding along…
And tapping his foot rhythmically.
Perfectly in time.
"…Am I that good today?"
Tian Tiezui was shocked.
Zhongli was notoriously picky.
If even he was this immersed…
Then his storytelling must've reached a new level.
No choice.
He had to go even harder today.
In the Jade Chamber.
"Giri giri ai~~~~~"
Baishi froze.
What was wrong with Lady Ningguang lately?
First strange muttering.
Now singing?
And it wasn't even Liyue-style music!
"What kind of song is this…?"
She crept closer and pressed her ear to the door.
Sure enough—
Ningguang's voice drifted out intermittently.
Click.
The door wasn't fully closed.
Baishi stumbled inside.
And witnessed a worldview-shattering scene.
Ningguang was humming.
Standing.
And shaking her leg in rhythm.
"This… Lady Ningguang?"
"Hm?"
Ningguang turned around and met Baishi's stunned expression.
"…Leave. And don't tell anyone."
"Y-Yes!"
Baishi fled and shut the door.
Inside:
"Qi si ou nei er~~~~~"
On the Xianzhou Luofu.
Divination Commission.
"Is everyone gone?"
"Yes, Lady Fu Xuan. They've all left."
"Then you may go as well."
"…Understood."
Outside, the diviner felt uneasy.
Something was strange today.
Lady Fu Xuan had actually given everyone time off.
Even refused overtime.
That wasn't normal.
"Maybe I should check on her…"
He turned back.
Then—
"Giri giri ai~~~~~!"
Fu Xuan's unmistakable voice echoed out.
"…Nope. Not going in."
His survival instinct activated instantly.
He had a feeling that entering now would get him killed.
The infection had spread.
Everyone had entered involuntary leg-shaking mode.
[Asta: I don't want to move, but I can't stop!]
[Topaz: Ms. Jade, calm down! Your movements are too big—staff can see you!]
[Jade: You think I want this?! Write down their names. Reassign all of them later.]
[Aventurine: A moment of silence for our coworkers.]
[Lisa: I don't even dare leave the library right now.]
[Kaeya: Come look! Diluc's shaking like crazy! Diluc.JPG]
[Diluc: Get lost! Qi si ou nei er~~~~]
[Boothill: Damn it! Call back the people chasing me! I just danced in front of them!]
[Topaz: Hahahaha!]
[Gepard: I'm done. How am I supposed to command soldiers now?]
[Huahuo: Giri giri ai~~~~]
[Hu Tao: Yi gei nai bo de lai~~~]
[Beidou: Nan yi du ji de mo~~~]
[Raiden Ei: Su mai de kou wo ji da yi shi lu~~~]
[valerius: Are you all insane?! You're singing AND mishearing the lyrics?!]
He was speechless.
You're singing, fine.
But why are you all doing mondegreens too?!
How are you this talented?!
[Beidou: I don't want to! I really can't help it!]
[Herta: When does this end?! I'm losing my mind!]
Wails filled the chat.
Only now did everyone realize—
This song was truly terrifying.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't painful.
It simply lodged itself into your brain…
And refused to leave.
At this moment, everyone shared the same thought:
When will this song finally end?!
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