: Bros, I wasn't even laughing at first, but the thought of Stelle and Firefly laughing it up here while Welt is still getting wrecked by Sunday and the Dream Master... I couldn't help but laugh too.
: Top-tier jokesters, no doubt.
...
The contrast between scenes.
Because of Welt's earlier storyline, this already hilarious scene became even funnier.
And even a bit dark.
Unknowingly, it had already turned into an ironic comedic act.
---------------------------
On the screen, Firefly and Stelle's challenge continues.After Firefly finished reciting her lines, she looked nervously at the judges.
Could such a performance win over the judges?
"That was excellent!"
The judge praised.
"Huh?" Firefly blankly uttered a sound, not even reacting.
This passed?
But the judge gave the two no time to think and directly said:
"Next, we move on to the next scene of the story!"
"You found a railway maintenance job, but after exhausting days and nights, your strength gave out, and you collapsed deep in the desert!"
"Suddenly! Rain from the heavens moistened your lips and awakened your spirits!"
"Now, this gray-haired lady, please answer: what line best expresses your current feelings?"
After hearing the prompt.
Stelle scratched her head, then suppressed her emotions.
Then her eyes widened, putting on a dramatic face.
"Hmph! You might as well just let us die of thirst!"
Firefly quickly whispered from the side: "You, did you misunderstand something? You're supposed to express surprise, not give up!"
"Oh."
Stelle responded blankly, blinked, then held her head in disappointment: "Maybe we were just meant to fail."
"No, don't give up!"
Firefly was already panicking but didn't dare to rush Stelle. Her gentle tone carried a hint of urgency.
That look in her eyes, full of concern for her partner, made many in the audience smile knowingly.
Just when Firefly thought they were doomed—
The judge suddenly said: "Young lady, your partner's answer was excellent, but I think that line would be even more fitting coming from you."
"…Ah, um, I'm not sure about that."
Firefly stammered.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with confusion.
How did this pass?
What does 'excellent' even mean?
Could it be… that I misunderstood the prompt?
Even without any dialogue, Firefly's expression made it clear to the audience what she was thinking.
...
: Firefly later piloted SAM and destroyed a planet, yet still couldn't understand how Stelle's answer matched the requirements.
: Hahahaha, this is too funny. Their interaction is hilarious.
: Just a friendly reminder: it's already been over two minutes.
: Damn! Where's all this joy coming from! Let me be happy without guilt!
...
On the screen, though Firefly was confused, she braced herself and started acting in response to the judge's prompt.
"Ma-maybe we just can't succeed… right↓ or↑ not?"
When Firefly recited her line, her tone was very different from how she normally spoke.
In daily conversation, her words carried emotion and flowed smoothly, with the ending of one syllable linking to the next.
But during the line reading, every word had to be pronounced clearly, even keeping the tail sounds.
Her recitation couldn't have sounded more forced.
It was like she used every ounce of strength in her body.
It gave the audience the impression that fighting others while piloting SAM wasn't as terrifying as this.
To make it worse, after that stiff performance—
The judge actually started clapping and sincerely praised: "Wonderful! Your line delivery is incredibly solid! Congratulations, you've passed the line-reading round."
"Yay!"
"I knew I was a genius!"
Stelle celebrated cluelessly with a cheer.
Meanwhile, Firefly held her forehead, completely drained.
Whatever.
After that absurd performance, the two finally advanced to the second round.
This round tested their physical acting.
"You collapsed in the desert, and a heavy rain extinguished the fire in your heart. Looking at your partner who had lost all will to fight, you want to comfort her."
"At this moment, what would you do?"
The judge finished speaking and gave a heavy nod.
After the first challenge, Stelle was now full of confidence.
She smirked with confidence and answered without hesitation: "Of course I would stand up and get ready to move on. Nothing can stop me!"
"Really? This… this doesn't feel like comforting me—it feels like abandoning me."
Firefly said pitifully.
The smile on Stelle's face turned into an awkward grin. After a cough, she suddenly flopped to the ground at lightning speed, then barked like a dog.
"I can roll in the sand!"
Her voice rose and fell with the speed of her rolling...
"Pfft..."
Just a second ago, Firefly was feeling a bit down, but now she burst into laughter.
...
: No, seriously, Brother Yin really just started rolling on the bed.
: What kind of nonsensical comedy is this, damn!
: Stelle truly leaves me speechless—cool, sassy, silly, dumb, and petty. Absolutely legendary.
: Those who love Stelle are truly blessed.
: Aha, not recruiting Stelle as an Emanator back then was a huge loss.
: Friendly reminder, Welt has been roasted for three minutes now.
...
"A perfect choice!"
The judges applauded on the side.
"Next, round two. You've discovered a business opportunity in the pouring rain and started entering the umbrella industry. Just as business began to pick up, competitors began dumping products on the market. At this point, what would you do—"
Stelle had just gotten up from the ground. Her dizzy head made her stagger, and she even dry-heaved once.
But upon hearing the judge's request, Stelle immediately got into character. She turned shakily, strode away decisively as if walking toward the horizon, mumbling:
"A hero leaves their hometown behind, goes to a city to pioneer. If the city won't keep me, this lady will join the Annihilation Gang..."
This doggerel made Firefly cover her mouth, struggling with all her might to hold in laughter.
But in the end, she couldn't resist Stelle's comedic talent.
She broke out into laughter.
Even though Firefly couldn't hold it in, it didn't stop the judges from giving a perfect score.
"You, rain-treading genius! Your partner's acting is superb!"
"But in the end, she neither left Penacony nor joined the Annihilation Gang..."
The judge suddenly remembered something and muttered, "The Annihilation Gang seems to have been wiped out. That so-called Duke Inferno is apparently dead too."
"Ahem, back on topic. Your friend ultimately built a tall stage of anger, and you felt hopeless about the future. At this point, you should..."
After once again dragging the Duke Inferno out for a posthumous beating, the judge continued with the challenge.
"Then—then can I be disheartened and want to leave Penacony?"
Firefly clenched her fists, trying hard not to say that she could use SAM to beat them up, and instead chose an overly emotional response.
"Yes, absolutely yes, I'm about to cry."
The judge spread their arms and said with a cheerful smile, "Congratulations, you've passed this round too. But the next one won't be so easy. A powerful red-haired man is waiting behind for you!"
"As long as you gain his approval, you'll finally be able to reveal your true identity!"
Another strange trial was completed.
The audience, like Firefly, could no longer hold it in.
...
: I'm seriously laughing to death. I suddenly suspect these judges are undercover agents sent by Aha.
: Each performance is more ridiculous than the last, yet they still let them pass. This scoring system is clearly based on how funny it is—the funnier, the higher the score!
: Welt has now been roasted for six minutes...