Chapter 448

Chapter 448: The Seven-Colored Puppet

In Emanas, within the central school building.

“Finally, we have reached the most thrilling moment—the finals.”

The host’s passionate voice echoed through the venue via the distributed speakers. As he finished speaking, cheers erupted throughout the venue, continuing the excitement of the ongoing competition. In particular, the battle where Darsi defeated Red Sail was considered a classic. Seizing a fleeting moment of vulnerability, despite his declining physical condition, Darsi still managed to defeat this prodigy from the Fortress Academy, advancing to the final match.

“Please welcome our last two contestants, Darsi and Bumansa!”

The lights at the center of the venue converged into two dazzling spots, illuminating the man and woman standing on either side as they entered the arena.

Prior to this competition, Bumansa was relatively unknown, with few recognizing her name. However, no one could have predicted that this second-year girl possessed such rare talent. Her swordsmanship had already reached a level of simplicity and authenticity before it even dazzled the world, and she could generally end a fight within three moves.

Would she use her fourth move against Darsi? Everyone looked forward to it.

“The match begins!”

As soon as the words were spoken, a circle of golden fireworks rose around the arena, and the battle commenced immediately.

Watching the calm girl standing before him, Darsi launched himself into a full sprint right from the start. His current state wasn’t ideal; he lacked an advantage in prolonged combat. Furthermore, after watching several previous matches, he believed that even he would struggle to withstand the elusive and pure sword light. Therefore, he decided to go all out, either winning or perishing.

With his will and focus locked onto the girl, Darsi charged at breakneck speed. A sudden sonic boom echoed, and his body left a long trail of blurred shadows in everyone’s eyes, while the snow steel spear in his hand bent slightly.

He did not charge straight but chose a circular path around the opponent, allowing him to better anticipate her evasions and techniques.

However, unlike in previous battles, the girl did not dodge. Instead, she picked up her sword and drew a perfect circle in the air, precisely cutting towards Darsi’s spear tip.

Like a needle piercing a grain of wheat, she split the spear directly, yet her fragile wooden sword remained intact.

Seeing his spear shattered, Darsi threw a punch at her, but the wooden sword deftly twisted like a swallow, slipping between his fingers and piercing into his wrist.

At this point, she released the wooden sword, letting it pass by harmlessly.

“I concede.”

Unlike before, Darsi stopped on the field, pulled out the wooden sword embedded in his wrist, and walked off the stage amidst a swirl of blood.

The tournament to determine the new champion concluded amidst countless exclamations, with the unassuming neighbor girl, Bumansa, emerging as the new strongest in Emanas, causing a sensation both on and off campus.

Half a year later, the gardener father far away in the small town on the eastern side of the Verdant Empire learned of his daughter’s remarkable achievement.

Fireworks lit up the sky, and after an intriguing match, the next day, the academy welcomed the main event of the Winter Festival—various performances organized by this year’s ‘Crown of Melody,’ Jian Di.

“At the end of the evening, the highly anticipated grand performance: the opera ‘The Birth of the Perfect Puppet.'”

As the host stepped down, the stage lights dimmed, and a distant narration began echoing throughout the venue.

“In the ancient legend of the Gray Curtain Kingdom, the world was silent and lifeless.”

“Broken bones, songs of longing.”

“People lived in endless gray.”

“Tattered flags, wheels crushing stones, moving toward an unknown direction.”

“On a bumpy carriage, a white-haired elder held a book, stroking the past words.”

“Golden fruits, emerald courtyards.”

“In legends, a beautiful world, a world we long for, unreachable.”

The narrator’s voice, like notes on a stringed instrument, told the story’s origin. A painted carriage slowly advanced across the stage, revealing an aged elder inside.

On the verge of death, the elder decided to create a beautiful puppet, inheriting his wishes and venturing into that beautiful world.

As the curtain opened on stage, a girl emerged, her silhouette shrouded in shadow by the lights behind her, her face indistinct.

She had a gentle voice, singing a song like a vow.

“All your dreams,”

“I can make them come true,”

“All you hope for,”

“I will obtain for you.”

In the ancient tale, a girl appeared before the elder, saying she could fulfill his wishes and help create a flawless puppet. But her power was limited, only capable of creating the puppet’s body, so they set off on a journey.

“Even if stars fall,”

“Even if the world darkens,”

“Even if the moon shatters,”

“You will remain safe.”

Another girl emerged from the slowly opening curtain, her voice filled with strength, joining the journey. Her long hair fell gracefully on either side of her body.

During their travels, they met another girl who agreed to their proposal, granting the puppet a protective blessing, ensuring she had a strong shell to withstand any harm.

“You don’t need to fear the darkness,”

“I will light the night with my love.”

Accompanied by a song, a third girl appeared, her voice filled with kindness. She wore elegant clothing and moved gracefully.

This third girl joined their journey, bestowing upon the puppet sight, allowing her to see the wondrous world.

“I will burn like the sun,”

“I want you to be safe and warm.”

The curtain rose again, and a fourth girl appeared, her voice warm like sunlight. She wore light clothing with a slender and graceful figure.

The fourth girl joined their journey, giving the puppet a warm heartbeat, allowing her to feel warmth.

“My fragrance like summer roses,”

“I will dispel all your fears.”

With dance shoes tapping on the ground under the lights, another girl emerged from behind the curtain, her voice like a gentle summer breeze, her figure ethereal and captivating.

A fifth girl joined their journey, bestowing upon the puppet a delicate sense of taste, allowing her to perceive the hidden wonders of the world.

“Just by reaching out,”

“I will make your life shine.”

With the flow of wind, a sixth girl joined the journey, her voice like the summer breeze, her figure enchanting. She carried a clear and moving melody, her hair tinged with a faint blue.

The sixth girl joined their journey, giving the puppet a sensitive touch, making her solid shell slightly soft and lively.

“Let us have everything,”

“There’s nothing we can’t do.”

Finally, the seventh girl emerged from behind the curtain, her voice filled with uplifting hope, childlike and beautiful. Despite her small stature, she exuded vitality.

The seventh girl joined their journey, granting the puppet her most important soul, allowing her to truly walk in the world.

“Hearts are stirring,”

“The sky is turning blue,”

“I am happy,”

“As long as you are here,”

“Troubles dissipate,”

“Day turns darker,”

Dancing puppets on the grassland, a splash of seven colors gradually spreading in the gray world, the elder slowly closed his eyes, entering a peaceful eternal sleep.

Guess who the seven performers are? (Names were mentioned earlier, this time it’s about their order)