About half an hour later, the room's lights were abruptly extinguished, followed by the illumination of two massive spotlights that converged on the center stage. Unbeknownst to the audience, three figures had already taken their positions on the stage. The lead singer, guitar in hand, boasted hair spiked to an astonishing height of thirty centimeters, seemingly held aloft by an excessive amount of hair gel.
The bassist, with sleek, shiny, black hair slicked back and donning sunglasses, and the drummer, sporting an outdated golden pompadour, presented an ensemble reminiscent of rebellious youth from bygone eras. Just their appearance alone provoked a myriad of thoughts in Zhang Fan's mind.
However, a sense of déjà vu struck him as he observed the trio; their familiar personas seemed to have been encountered somewhere before.
"Welcome to our concert. Let's get lost in the music. Our opening number is 'RUS_,'" announced the lead singer, the spiky-haired virtuoso, as he began strumming the guitar, signaling the start of the concert.
Despite their odd appearance, Zhang Fan had to admit their undeniable talent. The lead singer's vocal prowess potentially surpassed even that of Ma Mei, with impressive guitar skills to boot. Although the bassist showed slight inexperience, it was forgivable given their amateur status. The drummer's performance, filled with vigor, was incomparable to Inoue's.
Overall, the band demonstrated remarkable ability, justifying their appeal to such a fervent fanbase. It's no surprise they could captivate the NP students in this afterlife world, where only the most passionate music can temporarily liberate these souls from their predestined characters.
As the concert reached its climax, the audience fervently chanted the lead singer's name, "Ichitaro, Ichitaro." The combination of "spiky hair," "guitarist," and "Ichitaro" resonated with Zhang Fan, hinting at a realization yet to be fully formed in his mind.
The concert lasted three hours, concluding with an encore. Only when the lights dimly lit the stage once more did the room brighten.
"Usually, the members of FG would vanish after their performance. What's happening today?" Yui expressed her confusion as she scanned the stage for the band members.
Their lingering presence suggested they had more to say, especially given the Guild Faction's recent activities.
"Thank you for attending our concert. Did everyone enjoy themselves?" Ichitaro engaged the crowd with his charisma, his inquiry met with enthusiastic cheers.
"Then, mark your calendars. In three days, we, FG, will host a grand concert at the gymnasium. Will we have the honor of your attendance?"
The audience's response was overwhelmingly positive, indicating a successful engagement.
"Thank you once again. We look forward to performing for you in the future." Ichitaro's adept crowd manipulation ensured that the energy levels remained high even as the concert drew to a close.
With the concert over, Zhang Fan had gathered sufficient insight into FG's potential and their mysterious allure. The next day, the Battlefront convened to strategize their response to this newfound rival, dubbing the upcoming contest a "Fan Capture Operation."
Despite the uncertainty surrounding FG and their intentions, Xiaoyouli's resolve to counter this threat highlighted the seriousness of the situation. The Battlefront's lack of intellectual prowess had been a known weakness, but Zhang Fan's presence promised a new direction.
As plans were laid out, the conversation turned towards the enigmatic band. Zhang Fan's reconnaissance the previous night had provided valuable intelligence, challenging the Battlefront's understanding of their adversary.
Their preparations for the impending showdown underscored the gravity of the challenge FG posed. Yet, amidst the fervor to confront this rival, the Battlefront remained unaware of the full extent of FG's capabilities and the true nature of the conflict that awaited them.