Chapter 58: New Entrance
Every worker in the bay stopped what they were doing, staring up at the dazzling display with their mouths hanging open.
"WOAHHHHH!" Dylan screamed, jumping up and down while waving his arms. "THAT WAS SO COOL! IT LOOKED LIKE A METEOR IN THE SKY"
I chuckled, ruffling his soft, dark hair as I watched him beam.
The crew chief hurried over, still staring at the lingering confetti in amazement. "Holy crap... sir, how did you calculate that air-friction layering? That burst trajectory was incredible! Would you be willing to help us configure the rest of the main stage launchers?"
I looked down at Dylan, who was already looking up at me with hopeful eyes. "What do you think, tour guide? Want to make a few more meteor?"
"YES! YES! YES!" Dylan cheered.
For the next half hour, Dylan and I worked with the pyrotechnic team, overhauling the concert’s confetti configurations. I let Dylan take the lead on the themes while I used my system-boosted calculations to make his wild ideas physically possible. The kid was surprisingly creative, coming up with names like "Dragonfire Gold" and "Cosmic Starfall" that looked incredible when we tested them.
By the time we finished, the technicians were looking at the two of us as though we were special-effects prodigies.
"Alright, Dylan," I said as we stepped out of the assembly bay and back into the main corridor. "That was a blast. Where to next?"
Dylan wiped a speck of glitter off his nose and pointed proudly toward the giant reinforced double doors at the far end of the facility. "To the main stadium! That’s where they’re building Nova’s mega stage!"
We headed down the long glass hallway toward the central arena complex.
As we approached the grand double doors leading to the open-air stadium, the atmosphere shifted noticeably. The casual venue staff gave way to heavily armed security teams in dark tactical uniforms patrolling the perimeter.
I could even sense subtle magical wards humming beneath the concrete floor.
’Looks like Val’s already running an airtight operation out here,’ I thought with a smile as Dylan and I presented Sarah’s Master Command Card and stepped through the heavy security checkpoint toward the main arena.
Stepping onto the main stadium floor, the sheer scale of the construction hit me all over again.
The main stage was being erected at the northern end of the vast open arena, towering high enough that even spectators in the furthest seats would have a clear view. Massive LED display screens hung behind the main platform, while swarms of technicians, stagehands, and engineers worked beneath the scaffolding, setting up complex hydraulic lifts, wiring arrays, and mechanical rigs crucial for Nova’s grand performance.
Dylan stood beside me, his hands resting on his hips as he stared up at the towering stage with thoughtful eyes.
"Hey, Big Brother Seth.." Dylan murmured, tilting his head up. "I just had a thought."
"What’s on your mind, little man?" I asked, looking down at him.
"Wouldn’t it be super cool if Nova didn’t just walk out from the side of the stage?" Dylan asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "What if she suddenly rose up from the center of the floor in a cloud of smoke and light?! That would be so awesome!"
I tapped my chin, looking at the center platform. "You know what? That actually sounds insanely cool."
’Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I shot a quick text to Yerin:
’Hey, a tiny fan guide suggested you make your grand entrance by rising straight up from the center floor on a hydraulic lift. What do you think?’
"Not even three seconds later, my phone buzzed with an instant reply:
’OMG YES!! WHY DIDN’T WE THINK OF THAT?! TELL HIM HE’S A GENIUS! I’m texting the stage designers to modify the center lift right now!!’
I chuckled, slipping my phone back into my pocket before looking down at Dylan with a mysterious smile. "Well, Captain Dylan... let’s just say you might be in for a very cool surprise on the night of the concert."
Dylan blinked in confusion, but a wide grin quickly spread across his face anyway.
For the next twenty minutes, the two of us strolled around the stadium perimeter. We stayed out of the workers’ way, simply enjoying the chaotic energy of a mega-concert coming to life. Dylan had an endless stream of stories to share about his school, his favorite snacks, and his daily adventures with the crew, and I genuinely enjoyed his company.
As we walked near the western spectator stands, I couldn’t help noticing the security presence. While dozens of heavily armed tactical guards patrolled openly, there were far more hidden in the shadows.
Deep down, I sensed eyes watching us from high vantage points.
’Hey, Paige,’ I asked mentally. ’Are those snipers on the high beams?’
[Yep!] Paige answered casually. [There are eighteen high-tier snipers posted along the upper rim of the stadium, plus a few hidden combat mages tracking the perimeter! Your stoic bodyguard really isn’t playing around!]
’Good to know,’ I thought with a faint smile.
Just as we rounded the corner near the VIP entrance tunnel, I spotted Val.
She was standing in the center of the walkway, giving crisp, authoritative instructions to a squad of six massive security guards. These guys were absolute monsters, each standing over six-foot-six, with thick, rugged beards, scarred faces, and muscular frames that made them look like ancient Norse Vikings brought straight back to life in modern tactical suits. Yet these terrifying giants stood at rigid, respectful attention, listening intently to every word spoken by the young blonde woman before.
[Woah! She’s really hot, ain’t she?]
I was speechless, ’Paige, you’re a system, so how are you more horny than humans?’
[That’s a talent. Also, she is hot. You can’t argue against that.]
I looked down at Dylan with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Dylan. Want to meet someone super interesting?"
"Who?" Dylan asked curiously.
"Follow me," I chuckled, walking straight toward the intimidating group. "Hey, Val!"
The moment my casual voice echoed down the tunnel, Val and the six Viking guards snapped their heads toward us.