Chapter 59: Lances Art Draws First Blood

Chapter 59: Lance's Art Draws First Blood

Every light in the theater was imbued with life. The moment the music ceased, they bathed the entire hall in a soft, golden glow that flowed across the black marble like a murmuring stream in the dead of night.

In the back rows of the auditorium, Lance exhaled. A confident smile played on his lips. He looked eager to step onto the stage and show his fellow classmates what he could do.

His voice held a note of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, as he said, "I thought this classroom was testing our appreciation of art, but it turns out the real test is the destruction of art. It seems that destroying art is, in itself, an art form..."

Hyperion turned her head to stare at Lance, the words catching in her throat. Apparently, this guy had gained a great deal from this demon school yet again. While others came here to challenge the Shadow Realm, Lance had truly come here to learn. Logically, his wholehearted attitude toward living life to the fullest deserved praise, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on what felt off about it.

Lance stood up and made his way towards the stage along the red-carpeted steps. As he walked past Hyperion he said, "Protect yourself."

Hyperion replied, "Will do."

Her own spell repertoire wasn't well-suited for this particular exam, but Lance had a utility support build. Given the bizarre circumstances, his unique arsenal of spells gave her a strange sense of reassurance.

In theory, he would go first. Once he passed, the two of them could briefly swap cards that were at Purple grade or lower, allowing Hyperion to reconfigure her spell set and pass the test as well.

***

More than half the time allotted for the music assessment had already passed, and the classroom was filled with an atmosphere where silence mingled with anticipation. For the most part, the students confident in their abilities had already completed their performances.

Those remaining were either students lacking in skill or the grand finale contenders. Consequently, since the earlier rounds, there had often been a lull after each performance before another student volunteered to take the stage. Thus, when the supervising teacher saw Lance stand up promptly and raise his hand to signal his intent to perform, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

The sound of calm, steady footsteps echoed through the theater. Moments later, Lance arrived on stage. His figure was striking under the stage lights, and his presence blended seamlessly with the performance environment, drawing every eye toward him.

The supervising teacher standing beside Lance asked, "Are you ready?"

Typically, before the assessment began, students could raise any legitimate requests or questions with the instructor in charge. This was a standard procedure in any examination hall. If the student had no questions, the official two minute performance timer would start, and they would be granted permission to freely use magic on stage.

Lance nodded slightly and asked with a mix of curiosity and doubt, "May I ask, if a student were to gain the approval of all four music mentors simultaneously, what the reward would be?"

The teacher looked at him and shook his head with a smile that carried a hint of unquestionable authority. "The course is designed in such a way that it is impossible to gain the approval of all four mentors at the same time."

Lance persisted, "But what if such a situation were to arise?"

The teacher's voice lowered as he said, "It isn't mentioned in the guidelines, not because the scenario was hidden or overlooked, but because the approval criteria for the four mentors contain requirements that are inherently contradictory and impossible to satisfy simultaneously."

It was impossible to create music that was intoxicating enough to lull Slumbering Spirit to sleep, while simultaneously possessing the terrifying quality required by Blighted Toxicant and the fervent atmosphere desired by Ghost Armor.

"Over the years, no student has ever managed to gain the approval of all four music mentors at once, no matter how talented they were." The teacher added this remark, hoping Lance would grasp his point: the course design was not something to be questioned.

Lance looked directly at the presiding teacher with a straightforward gaze. "Teacher, I really think I can do it."

The presiding teacher's voice carried a mocking undertone, as if ridiculing Lance for his audacity, as he intoned, "If you actually pull that off, it would indeed prove there was an oversight in our exam design and that your musical prowess transcends our comprehension. Having you serve merely as a music instructor would be an understatement of your talents."

This was a public performance watched by many high-ranking figures of the Demon Kingdom. For a student to repeatedly question the rules was tantamount to undermining the entire event.

The presiding teacher raised his voice to address the audience below before turning his gaze toward Lance, "If you gain the approval of all four music instructors, you will be immediately appointed as a special faculty member in the Music Department. Does that satisfy you?"

A ripple of hushed laughter drifted up from the crowd.

Lance then asked, "Are you certain, sir? And what if, after the performance, the music mentors lack the mental clarity to make a judgment?"

The teacher responded, "This theater was bestowed by the Demon King himself. We are under the gaze of the Demon Eye, and the nobility of the Demon Kingdom is watching. To renege on a promise here, even as the Head of the Music Department, would cost me my life. Furthermore, should an instructor be unable to judge, say, if Mr. Slumbering Spirit was to fall asleep, I would step in and evaluate based on the criteria he submitted to the academy prior to the performance. You may rest assured regarding the fairness of the process."

The presiding teacher glanced at the Demon Eye hovering in the center of the theater, then extended a microphone toward Lance with a hint of amusement. "Alright, do you have any other questions?"

"No questions. We can begin." Lance immediately took the microphone, adjusted his collar, and walked to the center of the stage.

His expression had completely transformed. He looked like a rising superstar of the Demon Kingdom. Once on stage and in performance mode, he was free to use any spell he pleased. Without a word, Lance summoned the Poet of Boundless Love.

A gray haired beauty clad in a deep crimson gown appeared on stage, accompanied by a swirling, floral fragrance. She opened her eyes as if waking from a dream. Her hair and the hem of her dress swayed gently, reminiscent of a soft, lingering summer melody or the rustling mountain breeze of autumn. She instantly captivated the demons in the audience and left them spellbound.

The Poet gazed across the theater with bright, expressive eyes, immediately grasping the situation. A hint of either wistfulness or delight played at the corners of her mouth, yet she did not speak nor use her magical voice to influence the minds of any living beings present.

Since the art of summoning was itself a form of magic, there was no issue with summoning a familiar bound by a soul contract during the performance. Lance handed the microphone to her. "You'll be the lead vocalist. It's time to show the four instructors and our classmates the fruits of our training."

She smiled radiantly and nodded gently, her eyes sparkling with immense confidence. Meanwhile, Lance approached a demonic instrument that resembled a piano. He sat down with elegant composure and lifted the lid covering the keys.

In the distance, upon seeing the Poet holding the microphone, Hyperion's instinct was to turn and run. She couldn’t even imagine what would happen in the theater if that creature were to go up there and sing at full power!