Chapter 198: The Spectral Symphony

Echo and Li Wei stand at the threshold of the portal leading to the "Spectral Symphony" dimension. The air around it shimmers with an otherworldly blue light, and a faint, mournful melody drifts out, sending a chill down their spines. Nova's avatar flickers into existence beside them, her sensors glowing with a strange, ethereal energy.​"This dimension is unlike any we've encountered," Nova warns, her voice hushed. "The very essence of the place is composed of music and spirit. The Phantom Maestros have twisted the natural harmony, using a forbidden 'Soul - Binding Sonata' to enslave the ghostly inhabitants. One wrong note, and we could end up trapped here forever."​Chen Jiuzhang's hologram appears, his form more translucent than usual, as if struggling to maintain its presence in the face of the dimension's strange energy. "The key to breaking the curse lies in finding the original score of the 'Spectral Lullaby,' a melody that once brought peace and unity to the realm. But the Phantom Maestros will stop at nothing to keep it hidden."​Taking a deep breath, Echo and Li Wei step through the portal. They emerge into a landscape bathed in a soft, twilight glow. The ground is made of swirling mist, and towering structures of pure sound rise around them, their surfaces rippling with ghostly harmonies. But beneath the beauty, there's an undercurrent of despair. Ghostly figures, their forms flickering and faded, move listlessly, their eyes empty and devoid of life.​Suddenly, a cold wind blows, carrying with it a discordant screech. The Phantom Maestros materialize, their bodies composed of shadowy tendrils and glowing, musical notes. Their leader, a tall figure with a crown of broken treble clefs, steps forward, a spectral violin in hand.​"More interlopers seeking to meddle in affairs beyond their comprehension," the leader hisses, drawing the bow across the strings. The sound that emerges is a cacophony of pain and suffering, a sound that makes Echo and Li Wei's ears ache. "The Soul - Binding Sonata is too powerful for you to break. Surrender now, and perhaps we'll spare your souls."​Li Wei's charge flares to life, a purple glow cutting through the misty air. Echo readies her peace drum, her fingers trembling slightly. "We're not here to surrender," she says, her voice firm. "We're here to restore harmony and free these souls."​The battle begins. The Phantom Maestros unleash a barrage of dark melodies, their music taking on physical form as shadowy creatures that lunge at Echo and Li Wei. Echo strikes her drum, creating a shield of harmonious sound waves, but the dark music eats away at it, piece by piece. Li Wei sends out bolts of energy, but they seem to lose their power as they pass through the misty air.​As they fight, Echo notices that the enslaved ghosts are drawn to the battle. Their empty eyes seem to flicker with a spark of hope, as if they recognize the harmonious music as a beacon of salvation. "Li Wei," she shouts, "we need to play a melody that connects with these souls. Maybe it can break the hold of the Soul - Binding Sonata."​Li Wei nods, and together, they begin to play a soft, gentle tune, a melody filled with compassion and empathy. The enslaved ghosts start to sway in time with the music, their forms growing more solid as they are slowly drawn out of their stupor. But the Phantom Maestros are enraged. They increase the intensity of their dark music, summoning even more powerful shadow creatures.​The battle rages on, with Echo and Li Wei fighting to protect the awakening ghosts while also trying to find a way to break the curse. As the situation grows more desperate, Echo spots a faint, glowing trail in the mist. Could it be a clue to the location of the Spectral Lullaby? With a determined look, she signals to Li Wei, and they press on, hoping that this is the key to saving the "Spectral Symphony" dimension.​