Back to the underground stage, the tremors had given life to the convulsing beam in the night sky.

……..

[BOTH OPPONENTS HAD CHOSEN TO BATTLE WITH AN IMPROMPTU PROGRESSION! ERICO TAKES THE LEAD BY PUTTING ORNAMENT NOTES TO HIS MUSIC! OH MY GOD ARE WE GOING TO HEAR AN EXCLUSIVE REMIX FROM?]

The red stage erupts as the two guitars battle for dominance, both playing the same music but the goal is to overpower your opponent’s melody and become the lead or if you shift the music and and control the flow of the song into your own, that's the testament of victory in this competition.

Chiyou struggles to follow Talia's lead, its intensity is genuine from the soul that she could not imagine how he is able to express such emotions coursing through his strings.

The hoarseness and vocal of this painful love song by Erico was the opposite of melancholy, it sounds as the most genuine distress of a desperate man grinding his sadness and pitying anger to his burning guitar. The once fierce dragon constructs are no longer as they've become veins of bleeding flames.

[SO SET THE FIRE! IN MY HEART THAT I HAD NEVER DESIRED!]

It still sounds as gentle hope before the hard drums and dramatic riff encapsulates the desperation for answers that will never be given, the crowds can't help but to sing along, burning their throats.

This is one of the songs from Erico's 3rd album, Night Sets, Fire Breaks, Take a Step. It is his most unique song since most of his vocals are close to metal with all of his exaggerated roars yet this music is also his 3rd most popular during autumn.

In an interview with a fan he said that this song was dedicated to his friend who's also part of the band, the song is a bitter eulogy to his partner who passed away after a betrayal from his life partner, and with that he gave up in life betraying his friends with an unacceptable goodbye and he was able to cope by making this song.

……….

[A 25 year old man was found dead right after the opening of Forsce Bridge!] -7Night News -1/4/4072

[The authorities had no idea that someone snuck in to commit suicide and is now trying to trace the relative of the said suspect for trying to sabotage the celebration of the Department of Roads and Construction Association between the two seaside district managers of C-6 and D-4 Stelaris districts.] -The follow up news from the same outlet.

[The suspect who committed suicide 1 day before the Forsce Bridge grand opening was identified as Qruire Herron. The intention behind his death was out of spiteful revenge against his wife who committed adultery.] -7Night News -1/5/4072

[Now we condemn such action and we are sorry for such unfortunate experience. But here's the thing… You do not commit suicide on a important bridge before it even opened! What is he trying to accomplish here!? If he wanted to screw over his wife, there are a lot of ways than this! What are the drivers going to say in the future if they passed this? Instead of praising the great collaborative effort to connect the people of two districts far away thanks to us two district managers and the DRCA, this man will be this bridge’ notorious reputation! Is that the publicity he wants? Does he think his death is a stunt!?” -The district manager of Stelaris C-6, 7Night News -1/14/4072

_____________________

[...The incident had also affected the rock star from Stelaris A-3 district Erico Talia because the suspect belonged to his band and now they are breaking up due to this incident. Talia had been recognized by the district as the most popular star but… He's no longer pursuing greater fame. In an interview he said that he would stay in the underground music….]

……….

Looking back at those times is why Erico decided to use this song for his opponent.

'Despite those bitter times, this song we made is remembering the good memories we have with him. It is a bitter eulogy representing the pain he had experienced, and the pain he had given to us for saying farewell without considering us. The nostalgic days of summer breeze and night gazing in the lightless times, it is a refreshing capsule of the past, that's why I am so angry at myself and at him, questioning why… Why was he so selfish and never told us? Did he not remember us at all or was he afraid? He was blinded by vengeance that he forgot the love that was still within him.'

As Erico immersed himself with the nostalgia and memories, the red arcs of Aether thunder slowly turned to the embers of orange fire, flickering its last gentle flow, threatening to perish into the void.

His tempo had become slower, the once raw hatred of harsh playing of the guitar was replaced by still fast yet more upbeat tones brought by nostalgia.

He glanced at Chiyou who is still trying to keep up playing his melody with confidence, there's still tremors in her hands yet her fingers moves to keep respecting his flow, riding the original melody yet does not follow his ornament notes, she rather tries to do her unique ornaments but finding it hard to alter his original rhythm. She cannot shift this battle into hers as long as she doesn't understand what Talia is trying to send to her. She will continue following him until the song ends without her own melody being recognized. She will lose this battle.

Erico has really no reason to beat Chiyou to sustain his title as the Maza underground champion. He accepts the challenges of the new musicians trying to fight him, each with different songs from his albums with different messages conveyed towards them based on their character. Yet none could've understand the language of his music, they are too immersed on trying to find the proper rest to transition their own melody into his music but out of luck, they could never as Talia will alter it to his own liking, preventing shallow moves like this just to appeal to the taste of the audience.

Of course the audience doesn't know what he is trying to convey as well, after all they only come for the admiration of his skills and the melody that captures their hearts for their own specific reasons to relate it to his music.

But this time, this innocent sweet girl doesn't even know if she should try to wrestle her melody against him. She lack the intention of the past competitors to find the flaw or the perfect stops in his meter to transition her own music. Even when Erico had changed his intentions from that raw emotion to this upbeat nostalgia, she is still following his drift, trying out her own flairs but out shadowed by Talia nonetheless.

She's trying to express her own, yet cannot be heard by a monolith note. She lacks a resolute heart to fight against him and would rather enjoy accompanying his tune, struggling and confused when she should take the spotlight.

The verse and first chorus was done, they are in the instrumental phase before his song’s bridge, final pre-chorus and repeated chorus.

With her own expression, Erico could’ve guessed what kind of life Chiyou has.

Sure, she is a rebel in a sense of fashion and musical tune against traditional rock. She won her previous competitions probably because they are just obsessed with a “sound good” music for the audience turning it to a back n forth battle of who's progression the audience cheers better instead of the intent. Now Chiyou here is clearly aware of how to express herself in her own style yet also wants a superficial relatability to the audience through the simple beats. His style and hers differ after all so if she tries to switch her own forcefully, it will sound bad no matter what.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

It's just that facing extreme, stronger emotions and intent that she can't help but to be swayed by it. Fearing to break this melody and cause a dysfunction that is unpleasant for the audience.

Erico smiled. He can see her potential, such a youthful talent yet constrained by her own young mind fearing his governing voice, cannot fully bloom until she has the heart to break him apart.

‘Your music, despite its unique approach to the world, tells me your expression for freedom. No matter how upbeat you try to be, you fear voices that hold greater power than what you can express, you are blinded by the strength behind their constraints that you could not even realize any intentions behind them. There's a self rebellion between expression and restraint inside her.’

‘I get it. Self conflicts and fear from their parents huh… Very popular problem for the youths, afraid of judgment and thus must keep up with my pace to console themselves from embarrassment.’

‘But Miss Lemon you're trying so hard to let yourself know yet also afraid of their eyes. You know that no one's looking at you right now so what are you afraid of? Isn't this the time you do everything you can?’

[Oh? LADIES AND GENTS, SOMETHING'S HAPPENING….]

It is still the instrumental phase, Erico decided that he will change the melody, chords that are closer to a refreshing summer afternoon pop instead of rock. The orange fire no longer flickers and instead becomes softer in tone, they can see his dancing shoulders.

‘Haha, pop is very electrifying! Well Miss Lemon, I am changing my genre just for you. I hope you can understand, I'm playing a pop melody of my song to fully embrace my nostalgia! This time, I'm forcing the stage light on you. Show me your own rebellious rock! Please, let's bring the afternoon breeze tonight, I badly need one!’

As the music genre changes, the feelings inside the audience shifts as well. Talia’s transition from another design perfectly worked well but it's weird why he changed?

Maybe because he wants to beat Chiyou in her own game? That's the answer they have, but Talia had already read Chiyou, this time as a senior, it's time to give the youths some advice.

'It's feeling like a summer song now… I can see the sunset, the cold breeze, the crunch of the sands and shores… I just need to feel it… Miss Lemon... What will you do? Will you fight me now or still play along with my drift? I am inviting you to let me hear what a summer should be!'

…….

[THIS IS SO UNBELIEVABLE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ERICO TALIA HAD SHIFTED HIS SONG TO LIKE A SUMMER POP AND IT WORKS WITH THE LYRICS! OH MY GOD I HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED THIS…! SUMMER ALBUM GONNA GO CRAZY TODAY! HOW IS MISS LEMON GOING TO RESPOND BACK TO HIM?]

………

[.....Into the summer, I'll never hear the laughter and choirs together! Hopeful but it's already too late….!]

The bridge was about to arrive, Erico’s long sustained voice and refrain chords builds up the upcoming rest before chorus, this is the chance he gave just for her.

………..

Chiyou knows that this is the time to seize the moment, she needs to make her move with the sudden change and moment that Talia had given to her.

In this moment, everything had begun silent, all the lights looking at her, eyes that were waiting for her. It was tense and burdening. Regrets and fear of judgment was there in her stomach, the torturing humiliation from the scale of the audience that came for Talia… If she does not seize this moment…

It is sick, her mind is. She is tired from following the rapid pace of Erico, she already felt so bad about herself not being able to consistently follow him, feeling that her melody is just ruining Talia's stage and that she is just standing here embarrassing herself. Her nails, her knees and her stomach. Is it really worth it?

She’s afraid to gain any recognition from the above, she already knows that they are judging her.

‘Just struggle, struggle to the end, you've already started, just follow to the end, he's even changing his melody like it's nothing, I am no match for him.’

The tension of Erico’s final notes inch reached its peak and towards that silence, it was dropped.

But in the silhouettes where the background supporting bands are replaying the version of Erico's music, there was a bouncy bass coming in and a figure from the shadows appeared wearing an orange airy jacket, blue shirt and baggy gray pants and has a full face orange visor.

Everyone's eyes were on him including the two players on the stage.

Chiyou and him had looked into each other, he played his bass dramatically to provoke her.

[It is your time. Seize this moment. Let's rock.] The text on Chiyou's gloved appeared.

His bass had extended the time for Chiyou for 1.6 seconds and with that time, it was enough time for her to drop her own fresh chord solo.

The crowd jumps in shock once again by the sudden appearance of the boy but most importantly, the melody that seeps into their minds. Such a violent reaction that the Aether in the stage and in the audience’s surroundings blow a cold gale of wind that permeates and soothes their eyes and nostrils.

They feel their cold refreshing breath not in their lungs but inside their minds, their body, the color of the stage had turned into blue and sunset tone, the pure white lights radiated evenly to the floors that the night sky above perished and replaced by the afternoon sea.

It was a sensory overload that they just screamed in absolute joy rather than the spectacle shock he did earlier.

[OH MY GOD OH MY GOD! THE GROOVY BASS... OH MY GOD GUYS! WHAT IS THIS? AND THE AETHER! THE AETHER TURNED THE PLACE INTO- INTO-]

The DJ was lost to even describe the literal atmosphere right now. He just smiled and inhaled the air, he couldn't contain his smile at all, there was nothing to say to a music that is so unique and novel that it transformed the very sad abandoned venue to this beach afternoon place. The wind yes… when was the last time a wind that was cold yet soothing like this had been inhaled?

The tempo once again amped up, the feelings behind the song changed, from its raw bitter eulogy and nostalgic reminisce to this hopeful and respectful farewell for the past. Talia who had challenged Chiyou’s true nature to shine, the game he wanted her to play and she indeed showed it.

This music is unique, it is pop yet it feels like it belongs to a certain style that Talia who's pretty influential in his prime had never heard of, it's not traditional, it sounds like a very city music but its components…

The bass gave the upbeat song a groovier and electrifying feeling that perfectly encapsulates the summer feel he wanted.

He was so surprised as well with how powerful the music is to completely alter the Aether energy in the surroundings that it created a natural sensory phenomena instead of constructing a physical object. This is the first time in history of Aether discovery that this happened, the smile of positivity infected him.

The bands that accompanied him earlier were playing a new beat from a sheet, the drummer, the pianist and synths. Then the cherry of the desert, the leading melody...

[WHAT IS THIS BASELINE!? IT'S RUNNING A MARATHON ACROSS THE FRETS AND MAKING LAPS OH MY GOD AND AND MISS LEMON-]

Chiyou had also shocked them with unique chord patterns yet it is not the main melody, she sang but it felt incomplete, and the young man behind continued to keep adding more instruments.

[We're at night...! The popping star has crossed our eyes, we've never seen such light so bright!]

Chiyou didn't sing the song in the same language as Eric did, the language contained pairing conso-vowel syllables instead of closing consonants. Composing words that if you listen to, it sounds smoother and rhymes better in the tongue. This is the language of the Eastern City Mugen.

Erico was in awe and smile from amusement escapes from the side of his cheeks, she exceeded his expectations and a sense of pride took him. Feeling proud of what he did.

[GOOD LORD WHAT IS THIS... WHAT IS THIS! MR. ORANGE IS DOING MAGIC AGAIN!]

After that stanza he added another punchy beat that made the other drummer follow his flow completely reconstructing the framework of Erico's song yet still sounding similar but with more excitement that jolted the serotonins of the audiences.

Out of nowhere, the boy had snapped his fingers, a bunch of cubes with the same aether construction, the drum, pianos and synths was altered in appearance, the melancholic melody of minor pentatonic scales returned from earlier representing the theme of the song, yet it was just in the back seat that weirdly enough it compliments this contrasting beat.

[We were having fun...! But never realized that, the memories will last far, forever it will be my guiding star...]

The song was being redefined as the young man added more and more layers of harmonics following the music closely.

Chiyou strummed the guitar yet it still is not the main melody, the second chorus of the remixed song is about to be played.

Chiyou glanced at Erico, he understood why the song has no leading melody.

She is waiting for him.

Talia closed his eyes, reminiscing about that summer.

……

‘A little bit of tear, a little bit of laugh, come on Talia, tell me that if this isn't the best sunset you've seen in your life, you're lying your ass!’

‘Yeah it's not. What're you gonna do about it?’

‘Well this is what I'm gonna do!’

‘Hey stop it you two! The sands getting to my guitar you fuckers!’

‘Let them be, why don't I pop this water gun on you huh!’

‘I’ll record this, gonna be good for a music video someday.’

………..

The faces are blurry and the old times are fleeting. The moment today wasn't as beautiful as he remembered before, but the feeling is enough. He had long moved on and reflected. But now that he feels like he has gone back to the past, why not sing a new song. For his true eternal farewell.

He inhaled that same cold air he remembered 14 years ago. It cradles you in that cold soothing touch hinting the salt of the ocean in the air.

He opened his eyes, ready to take on the challenge they threw back at him.

'Come on young lads, show me what you can do!'

Erico played his guitar once again with the louder roaring and dominant sound, still going with the beat, daring to devour the song but Chiyou just glanced and winked at Reika.

[Ladies and Gents, I am so elated right now with the peak I'm experiencing tonight I cannot hype it anymore than it is!]

With the signal of Chiyou pointing to the sky, they transitioned to refrain, slowing down the tempo and making a smooth progression which forced Erico to lay down his guitar style to not ruin the sudden change, he don't want to mess up this music as well right?

'Smart lads...' He smiled at their cheeky move.

'They changed the language that rhymes better and flows well, an upbeat and groovy chord progressions and percussion then the pianos that compliments the theme of the song yet also supports the synth... I can feel it... After this refrain, we are going all out!’

The chord progression has changed to a mellow descending chroma, the chorus is here and Erico knows that they are daring him to enter the stage they set up for him. Just like what he did at them.

"ALRIGHT... DON'T MIND IF I DO!"

[Ladies and Gentlemen... It's so over... Damn you Li Xiyun, this is the true peak music right here...] The DJ host had shed a tear, and the crowd's applause had been maxed out, the climax had arrived and everything was back in this final chorus!

The two contrast styles of Chiyou and Erico had clashed mixing unruly yet explosive emotions. The music that follows makes them feel like they are blinded by the sun, the summer dew drops. A refreshing and filled nothing but joyful memories envelopes the stage. The red lightning arcs had vanished and the orange fire had spread to be the sky that evokes everyone's hopes and tranquility, everytime they looked at the sunset.

Chiyou and Erico became the lead as they sung the song back to its original language chorus.

[SO SET THE FIRE! IN MY HEART THAT I HAD NEVER DESIRED!] -Night Set, Fires Breaks, Take a Step!, Erico Talia [04:36] - [06:07]