Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

Several minutes later.

Shen Ye arrived at the Eternal Night City Opera House.

With that badge, two Undead Guards pulled open the doors, allowing him to enter.

Shen Ye ascended the grand staircase into the opera house, and continued deeper until he stood before the brightly lit stage.

There was no official performance today, so the audience seats were empty except for a few scattered individuals.

Madame Daisy, wearing a gorgeous fiery red dance dress, stood at the center of the stage, making dance moves while speaking to the men and women on stage:

"These few movements must be clean and sharp, no dragging, and certainly not limp. Let's go again."

Shen Ye glanced around and understood.

—They were apparently rehearsing.

But below the stage, there were several Undead emitting a powerful aura.

The leader, whose race was indiscernible, merely glanced back, giving Shen Ye a spine-chilling sensation.

The two guards beside him quickly approached Shen Ye, first inspecting his badge, then asked:

"A new face, who are you?"

"Baxter—Madame Daisy asked me to come to her."

"Your profession?"

"I've just been employed as a Male Singer."

Upon hearing the words "Male Singer," the stern aura from the other party dissipated.

"You're the newcomer then. Wait here for now." The two guards smiled at him and returned to the man's side.

They reported to the man.

The man nodded slightly, no longer concerning himself with Shen Ye.

On stage.

Madame Daisy gave a bow to the man in the audience below and said with a smile:

"Please."

"Then I'll be in your care."

The man extended his hand, and instantly, a dark green flame appeared in his palm.

He said solemnly:

"This flame is not something ordinary people can handle. Please be careful, Madame."

"Thank you for the warning. Come on," responded Madame Daisy, extending her hand in a graceful gesture of invitation.

The man slightly curled his fingers and flicked out a wisp of dark green flame.

The flame hovered motionless in midair.

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Daisy inhaled deeply and sang loudly:

"Flames ablaze, scorch the wilderness!"

Her voice was filled with passion and incredibly infectious, making even Shen Ye below the stage feel the imagery of a wildfire spreading across plains.

Accompanying her singing, Madame Daisy mimicked the man's movements exactly.

With a wave of her hand, she, too, flicked out a wisp of dark green flame.

Shen Ye was stunned.

Wasn't that the man's Professional Skill?

How did she release it?

"Ready—"

Madame Daisy called out.

The men and women around her tensed up, prepared for action.

Madame Daisy, with elegant steps, made a circle around the stage, finally flicking the wisp of dark green flame to a tall and enchanting girl.

The girl caught the flame and twisted her physique, playing with the flame like juggling, balancing it on her hands, feet, shoulders, waist, and hips, performing an enrapturing dance.

This was a Dancer!

—The flame was like her pet, and also like her shawl and dance dress, twirling around her non-stop.

"Bravo!"

The man below the stage cheered.

The girl danced for a few moments before her expression slightly changed.

Perhaps due to a misjudgment in strength, the flame was launched from her shoulder, and it looked like it was about to land on the stage.

A mistake had been made!

Everyone's faces changed color.

However, Madame Daisy didn't panic in the least; she sang out again "Flames ablaze, light up the night," and with a beckoning hand, she drew the flame back to herself.

Her physique spun several times, then she flicked the flame to a handsome Male Singer on stage.

The Male Singer, holding the flame in both hands, sang:

"In my hands, everything becomes more glorious—"

The flame instantly expanded, transforming into a two-meter-high torch that fell upon him.

The Male Singer let out a scream, consumed entirely by the flames.

Dead silence fell upon the stage.

The man watching below extended his hand, and the dark green flame was immediately retracted by him.

"Sorry, it seems we still need to continue with the choreography," said Madame Daisy, full of apology.

"My skill has reached this stage, and wanting to go further is already a tall order; it's not your fault," the man said with a hint of disappointment.

"Let's try again," Madame Daisy said through gritted teeth.

"Very well," said the man.

At that moment, Shen Ye began to see what was happening.

Having become a Diva myself, I quickly sensed that everyone on stage was either a Diva or Dancer.

Without a doubt, the Male Singer could make his Skills expand, while the female Dancer appeared to have a relationship with her Skills akin to "playing".

The dead Male Singer had made a mistake in using his Skills.

As for the current situation—

The last time I saw Madame Daisy, she said,

"People long to gain strength and Inspiration from you, and any performance of yours will be richly rewarded."

It looked like the Dark Night Rose Dance Troupe was rallying all Divas to help that man gain Inspiration for enhancing his dark green fire flame Skill.

Shen Ye fell into deep thought.

Madame Daisy seemed to possess a Diva Skill of the "imitation" category.

Once she imitated the man, she immediately obtained a dark green flame.

So it was her who was managing the affairs of this dance troupe.

She was the core!

At that moment, Madame Daisy waved her hand and yet another dark green flame emerged from the void.

She caught the flame and looked around at the surrounding dancers.

Many dancers, meeting her expectant gaze, hurriedly lowered their heads.

Only the girl who had stepped forward at the beginning once more stood out, adopting an elegant dance pose—

She wanted to try again!

Madame Daisy gave her a look of approval and tossed the flame to her.

The girl caught the flame and continued to dance.

This time, her coordination with the flame grew even closer, her movements flowing like the drifting clouds and flowing water, leading the flame to leap about her body ceaselessly, never once faltering.

As her dance went on, the flame began to change.

The flame took flight, transforming into a hazy red mist that seemed to possess life, dancing non-stop in midair.

The entire theater, under the flickering glow of this red mist, appeared like a world where firelight bloomed.

"I've got the Inspiration!"

the man below the stage yelled, leaping up to fly in midair and instantly teleporting away.

On the stage.

Cheers erupted.

The girl also revealed an excited smile.

Madame Daisy, while clapping, shouted loudly, "Well done, but don't be complacent, I'm going to take back the fire now, be careful not to hurt yourself."

The girl nodded her head.

Madame Daisy sang aloud, "The firelight never dies, forever gleaming in my heart."

In an instant.

The spreading fire mist fell down, gathered into a clump, and extinguished in her hand.

Everyone began to applaud.

"Jack's remains should be properly buried, see if he has any family left and give them some money."

"The rest of you go back and reflect on the movements just now, think about how your Skills can manipulate that fire without getting injured."

"Lily, stay behind."

"That's all for today!"

Madame Daisy quickly arranged everything, then turned and beckoned to the audience,

"Baxter, come up."

Everyone dispersed.

The stage lights dimmed down.

Only Madame Daisy and the girl who had successfully manipulated the flame remained.

Her name appeared to be Lily.

—Shen Ye walked up the stairs onto the stage, quietly waiting on the side.

Madame Daisy exchanged a few words about the flame with Lily, explaining some techniques before allowing her to rest as well.

Now.

It was Shen Ye's turn.

"Baxter, did you want to see me for something?" Madame Daisy asked, her eyes smiling at the Rose Badge on his chest.

"I want to know if the Diva Skill is fixed or randomly acquired, are we all different?" Shen Ye inquired.

"Of course you're different. The generation of Skills is linked to your knowledge and experiences, even stemming from the most thrilling song and dance moments in your memory," Madame Daisy explained.

Shen Ye sighed.

It was just as he thought.

In his previous life, he was very fond of attending concerts, always scrambling online for tickets whenever a favorite singer performed.

So...

"Handsome young man, would you like to join the Dark Night Rose Dance Troupe?" Madame Daisy sized him up once again, speaking in a relaxed tone.

"I would," Shen Ye replied.

"Our assessment is very strict; any newcomer can only join the reserve troupe. After a period of guidance and training, one may attempt to participate in formal performances," Madame Daisy said.

"I understand," Shen Ye concurred assentingly, "in matters of performance, even one single mistake can ruin everything that's been meticulously prepared; it has to be flawless."

He seemed knowledgeable!

...He could be mentored; perhaps the troupe would gain another fine talent.

Madame Daisy's lips curved slightly upward, her voice becoming even more pleasant:

"Welcome to the troupe, young man."