The entire Tavern was brought to a sudden quiet, as everyone paused their actions in absolute confusion.
It was almost like Kagero's strange response was so uncanny, that their minds were still trying to process it.
Hence, the blank expressions on all of their faces— including Gami's.
But Kagero paid them no mind.
Instead, he slowly lowered the stunned giant's fist, before walking right past him, and towards the bartender, whispering something in his ear.
Goth's eyes widened in shock, following a pleased smirk that lit his eyes up on hearing Kagero's words.
He then signaled the DJ with a head nod.
The skeleton arranged his dark sunglasses, then fiddled through his workstation, bathing the tavern in soft but melodious beats.
'It's ride or die.' Kagero pasted a cunning grin through his face, making his way to the stage.
Tap
Tap
Tap!
The audience stared at the boy noiselessly, leaving the steady stamps of his footwear to blend into the beats.
'System. Get me a cool drip.' Kagero stepped onto a single step of the stage.
'[Employing 300NP.]'
'[Fit initialized.]'
WHOOSH!
Right before everyone's eyes, Kagero shimmered under a celestial radiance, his clothes glowing as though imbued with star power itself.
And then it morphed. His outfit changed in a fraction of a second.
Kagero's traditional garments were replaced by a pop-star inspired attire.
A golden jacket was hung over his shoulders, its reflective shackles dancing from just the rhythm of his locomotion.
Buried under the outer garment stood a loose silver shirt that matched his patterned sneakers, and right above that were his favorite part of his clothing.
Golden baggy pants that completed the 90's pop style.
CLICK!
The moment Kagero stepped on stage, the entire tavern was sunk in darkness.
However, after just a second, spotlights darted through the stage and directed themselves right over Kagero.
Now perched on the stage, Kagero lifted his arms on both sides and raised up his head, shutting his eyes to bask in the glory of the dozens of spotlights.
'T-T-This guy.' Gami's eyes gleamed, her eyes locking into Kagero's gaze.
'Is just too intriguing!'
Her scarlet vision radiated with ecstasy, a wide grin spreading through her face to match Kagero's.
'[Initializing Special Technique: King of Pop!]'
'[Kagero— give me a good show.]'
At the System's orders, Kagero lowered his head to the crowd, planting his feet into the wooden stage.
'Yeah, time to shine!'
Kagero placed his hand onto his white fedora hat, bowing his head and striking a dynamic pose.
THUMP!
The drummer bashed his sticks onto the drum with a resounding crash, its membranophonic sounds marrying the wave of acoustics.
Kagero then walked forward, stamping his heel twice, to direct his legs outwards.
He then arched his right leg into a semicircle, spinning around, and ending his turn by holding onto his golden belt buckle.
His shoulders flowed like ocean waves, and his hip swayed like a rainbow, casting a rhythmic spell over the audience.
The crowd let out an elated cheer, and everyone gathered around the stage, each creature pushing against each other just to behold his captivating performance.
The formerly fuming crowd had settled down, their rage fading away into joy and excitement under Kagero's dance steps.
"H-H-Hey, hey, hey now! Are we forgetting that he's a human?!" Big buster tried to protest, but his words were drowned under the audience's loud chants.
"Those aren't any human moves." An elderly Shinigami trembled, walking forward.
The Death god observed Kagero spin on the floor, then follow it up with a corkscrew backflip.
His eyes became teary.
"This boy reminds me of the first dancing Shinigami." The elder's face sharpened with seriousness.
"The King of Beats and tunes!"
The Elder wiped his tears, grabbing Big Buster by his face and directing the giant's eyes towards the stage.
"Release your heart young Shinigami!" He yelled at Big Buster, causing him to reluctantly open his eyes.
"Can you see it? Can you see those divine dance steps?!"
Big buster's eyes glistened, his heart fluttering as though an exalted presence had descended before them.
And then he finally confessed, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Big Buster's got to confess— ain't no human be dancing like that!"
Kagero's plan was working.
With every twirl, with every pose, with every flip, with every rattle, and with every dazzle. He was converting everyone's beliefs into positives for his sake.
He just had to hit the nail on the coffin. Breach the dam, and watch the water flow out like a tsunami.
The Uchiha had to Sing!
Kagero paused his steps. He swung his arm around him, drifted his legs close, and then pulled off a graceful moon walk, until he was at the edge of the stage.
"The lights summoned me to a world of darkness."
"Floating in limbo there's no sadness!"
Kagero leaped, swinging his hands on either side and kicking forward as he sang.
"I saw a figure that prophesied of pain— I saw a picture, that told me what's to gain!"
"Tell me this is real, Tell me this is real!
"Please Don't!"
"Tell me this is real, Tell me this is real!"
"Please Don't!"
"Tell me what is real! I don't know what to feel!"
The crowd's chants tore through the air, their yells being so exuberant that more and more flocks of creatures started to come into the tavern, just to find out where the melodious tunes that teased them spawned from.
'Is this possibly a story of how he got to this world?' Gami placed a finger on her lip, watching his performance gleefully.
"I opened my eyes to a brand new world— and there were hurdles that I had to resolve!"
Kagero shook his belt buckle, swinging his neck, and pasting a smirk on his face.
"My life feels, just like a dream's come true!"
"If this isn't real, then I'd sleep for all of eternity!"
Kagero stretched his hand forward, emotion beaming through his face.
"Tell me this is real, Tell me this is real!"
"Please Do!"
"Tell me this is real, Tell me this is real!"
"Please Do!"
"I know this is real!—"
Kagero's eyes opened up just as he was about to complete his song, a joyous smirk peeking at the side of his face.
"I know how I feel."
He finished his performance with a standing bow.
The moment the final lyric of his jingle faded with the musical chords, flashes of gold and silver went into the air, coins littering the stage all around Kagero.
•••
A magnanimous palace shrouded in the arms of darkness stood in the distance.
Within this structure, its King sat atop an eerie throne. An altar conjured by a myriad of weeping souls.
The ghostly figure stroked the crystal ball before him, each step of Kagero's journey reflecting off its otherworldly surface.
"So that's where you are."
The figure played with the beads on its arm, then brought his dagger to his lips, his lengthy tongue sliding through the blade's surface.
"I expect your coming—" He pasted a wicked smile through his face.
"Kagero Uchiha."
…
…
A/N: Just so you know, I'll be posting an extra chapter for every 100 powerstones. Thanks for the support.