A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 2373 - 1593: Hallucination (Ben the Cat Is Already Completely Chubby)
Actually, Duanmu Huai didn’t really like acting in stage plays.
The reason is simple. Stage plays and movies are different. In movies, you can use close-up shots or small props to showcase a character’s psychological traits.
But on stage, because the audience can only see so much, emotions have to be expressed very exaggeratedly. Otherwise, people at the back wouldn’t understand what the actors on stage are doing.
Well, to put it simply, such performances kind of feel like patients from a mental hospital being let out for some air, which is somewhat—awkward.
But since he accepted it, he had to do what needed to be done.
After a week, the meeting for the stage play of "Tokyo Blade" was finally about to begin, and Duanmu Huai naturally came along with Arima Kaname and Hei Chuan Chi Yin to the venue. By this time, the venue was already crowded with people, and both sides quickly exchanged greetings. Basically, the cast this time was divided into two groups: one consisting of members of the theater troupe LALALAI and the other comprising people from outside.
Duanmu Huai and Arima Kaname belonged to this category.
Besides them, there were the theater company’s personnel, the script, the director, and...
"Teacher Jixiang Temple, long time no see!"
Seeing the woman with glasses in front of her, Arima Kaname enthusiastically greeted her. The woman with glasses was none other than Jixiangsi Laizi, the original author of "Jintian." Because the TV series "Jintian" was hugely successful, Jixiang Temple’s manga original sold out, and as the original author, Jixiang Temple obviously liked this faithful adaptation and thus had a good relationship with the leading actors.
She even invited them to her house for gatherings.
"Hello, Miss Arima!"
Jixiang Temple also smiled and clapped hands with Arima Kaname, then greeted Duanmu Huai and Hei Chuan Chi Yin.
"Miss Xiao Ai and Miss Hei Chuan, long time no see either."
"Ah, hello."
"Hello, Teacher Jixiang Temple, by the way, why are you here today?"
"Ahahaha..."
Hearing Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s puzzled inquiry, Teacher Jixiang Temple smiled wryly, then reached out and pulled over a petite woman hiding behind her.
"Actually, I’m here to accompany her. This is the author of ’Tokyo Blade,’ Teacher Abizi!"
"He-hello everyone..."
Though she was a popular manga artist, Abizi gave off more of a stay-at-home person who wasn’t good with words. Her gaze was wandering as she stared at the floor, greeting everyone with a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, then hid behind Teacher Jixiang Temple again.
".................."
How should I say, manga artists are really unique.
"Actually, Teacher Abizi has something important today."
Teacher Jixiang Temple whispered to Duanmu Huai, Arima Kaname, and the others.
"She read the script for ’Tokyo Blade’ and heard that White Ghost would appear? So she specifically came to see who would be playing White Ghost... Is someone really going to play that role?"
"Ah......"
Hearing this, Arima Kaname and Hei Chuan Chi Yin suddenly realized, then they looked at Duanmu Huai with a wry smile, while Teacher Jixiang Temple also glanced at Duanmu Huai in surprise.
"Wait, Miss Xiao Ai, you’re going to play White Ghost? Hmm, you do resemble White Ghost, but, you know, White Ghost’s weapon is quite special. Teacher Abizi is quite particular about these aspects..."
"Don’t worry, Teacher Jixiang Temple."
Duanmu Huai gave a thumbs up to Teacher Jixiang Temple.
"No problem at all, just watch."
"Ah, well... If you say so, I’ll look forward to your performance."
Although Teacher Jixiang Temple was still a bit worried, since Duanmu Huai said so, she could only wait and see.
After completing the introductions, the script was distributed to everyone and the roles were assigned, and the director gave further explanations.
"......That’s basically the situation. Any questions?"
"I have one."
At this moment, a guy with glasses, looking half-awake, raised his hand. His appearance seemed unremarkable, but as they say, you can’t judge a book by its cover. This young man, who looked like he had just pulled an all-nighter at an internet cafe and was still trying to catch up on sleep, was LALALAI’s star actor, the lead of Moon 9, and a recipient of the Imperial Drama Award for Best Actor, Jichuan Dahui.
This time, he was tasked with playing the protagonist in "Tokyo Blade."
"Hey, Dahui? What’s the question?"
"In the final scene, it’s supposed to be us against White Ghost, right? I doubt whether we can achieve that effect..."
Indeed, not only the original author, but even the actors shared the same thought. After all, White Ghost’s setting was too exaggerated for an ordinary person to pull off.
Hearing Jichuan Dahui’s question, the director chuckled.
"I knew you’d ask this... Hey, bring the stuff up!"
At the director’s shout, two staff members pushed a trolley into the venue, and placed on it was a massive, over two-meter-long Wolf Fang Club.
This was White Ghost’s weapon — Ghost Teeth.
"So this is White Ghost’s weapon."
"It really is impressive up close."
At this point, the other actors gathered around, curiously inspecting the Wolf Fang Club. Some even reached out, grabbed the handle, and tried to lift it.
"Ugh—it’s so heavy, this thing can’t be lifted!"
"Step aside, let me try."
Then a muscle-bound actor walked forward, stretching his body before reaching out to grasp the handle with force and giving it an upward lift—————!
"Ugh...... Oh oh oh oh oh!"
Everyone then saw the enormous Wolf Fang Club barely lift a few centimeters off the flatbed, and then...... once again, it fell with a "bang."
"No way, director, this thing is basically unusable!"
"Ha ha ha ha."
Seeing everyone looking at him, the director laughed heartily and turned to Duanmu Huai.
"It’s up to you."
"Oh."
Duanmu Huai nodded and came to the front of the flatbed. Everyone was somewhat surprised to see Duanmu Huai step out, after all, in this world, Duanmu Huai’s body was genuinely fragile, seemingly one of those who would be blown away by the wind. Moreover, this Wolf Fang Club was taller than her, even the strongest person in the troupe couldn’t lift it, could Duanmu Huai possibly lift it?
So they watched Duanmu Huai step out from the crowd and extend her right hand, grasping the handle of the Wolf Fang Club, and then ——— she effortlessly lifted it up.
"?????"
At this, everyone’s first instinct was to rub their eyes subconsciously, as if they were collectively hallucinating. Yet no matter how much they rubbed or blinked their eyes, they still saw Duanmu Huai easily holding the Wolf Fang Club as if it were made of plastic foam, without any weight.
"Wait, wait, how is this possible? Must be a mistake?"
The previously muscle-bound actor also stepped forward, reaching out in surprise to grasp the Wolf Fang Club.
"Ugh——— No way, can’t lift it at all, how do you have such strength?"
"I know a bit of kung fu."
"Eh? Amazing, kung fu can achieve this?"
"Of course, not just that........."
While speaking, Duanmu Huai suddenly raised his hand, and everyone watched as the Wolf Fang Club, which they couldn’t lift despite all their efforts, was thrown into the air by him. Seeing this, everyone retreated in fright, and at the same time, Duanmu Huai leaped into the air. Then, with the Wolf Fang Club, he charged straight towards the ground!
"Boom!!!"
Accompanied by a sound like ringing in the ears from the impact, the enormous Wolf Fang Club struck the ground vertically, with Duanmu Huai standing atop it.
At this moment, everyone could only see the petite girl standing atop the Wolf Fang Club slowly open her eyes, revealing those scarlet eyes.
In an instant, an indescribable tension and oppressive feeling exploded, sweeping across the entire venue!
"This......"
"Ugh.........!"
At this moment, sensing Duanmu Huai’s gaze, the actors’ expressions became grave, bodies tense, as if they were not performing on stage but truly on a battlefield filled with slaughter. What they held was no longer a script, but real swords!
Before them was the most formidable enemy they had encountered!
"Incredible........."
Feeling this terrifying pressure, Arima Kaname trembled with excitement; although she had performed opposite Duanmu Huai in "Jintian," Duanmu Huai did not exhibit such presence then. Now, she finally felt the terrifying aura exuded by Duanmu Huai, one that made her shiver!
"Is this Miss Xiao Ai’s true presence.........?"
Meanwhile, not far away, Hei Chuan Chi Yin clenched her hands, placing them before her chest. She could feel her heart racing fiercely, unlike during previous drama shoots; this time, Hei Chuan Chi Yin finally felt the violent, surging, unparalleled pressure emanating from Duanmu Huai!
The gaze flickering in those scarlet eyes fixated on everyone present as if it were tangible, even though she wasn’t specifically focusing on anyone. Hei Chuan Chi Yin could sense a desperate and fearful crisis feeling as if waiting to die before a beast’s gaping mouth.
Moreover.........
"Ugh—————!"
Suddenly, static was heard in her ears, and everything in her vision flashed in Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s eyes. Then the next moment, appearing before Hei Chuan Chi Yin was no longer the petite girl standing atop the Wolf Fang Club but a larger, armored terrifying man. Against the light, Hei Chuan Chi Yin couldn’t see his face; nevertheless, the tension coming from nowhere bound Hei Chuan Chi Yin’s body.
"Splash........."
Water sounds came from underfoot; Hei Chuan Chi Yin lowered her head, surprised to find her feet were not on a smooth floor but a mirror-like water surface. Beneath this dark water surface, something moved and circled...... Then she saw it.
Hidden within the dim water surface was a massive......
"———————!"
The pressure that almost froze even her soul suddenly dispersed, Hei Chuan Chi Yin lifted her head abruptly, gasping for breath as if she were a drowning person finally above the water. As she raised her head, she saw Duanmu Huai already descending from the Wolf Fang Club, gesturing to everyone.
"How was it? No problem, right?"
"Wonderful! Simply wonderful! Perform just like that! Decided, go with this feeling!"
The director clapped passionately, his face flushed with excitement.
"You all must remember this feeling! Understand?"
"Yes!"
"Yes........."
Hei Chuan Chi Yin also responded along, but her thoughts weren’t focused on acting right now.
That...... What exactly was it?
Was it an illusion?
Or......... Something else?
