Chapter 211: The Stardust Fugue

The portal closes behind Echo and Li Wei, leaving the transformed Abyssal Sonata dimension far behind. The Sonic Sanctuary greets them with a chorus of restored melodies, the crystal spires resonating in perfect harmony. The Sound Sentinels rush to their side, their faces alight with relief and gratitude.​"You've done it," the lead Sentinel says, his voice trembling with emotion. "The multiverse is safe—for now."​Echo and Li Wei exchange a weary smile, their bodies still aching from the battle. Li Wei's arm is bandaged with a strip of cloth from his tunic, and Echo's peace drum bears a new scratch, a testament to their final stand.​Nova's avatar flickers to life, her sensors pinging with a new alert. "I'm detecting a surge of cosmic energy in the 'Stardust Fugue' dimension," she reports. "It's not a threat—yet. But the balance of power there is shifting. The 'Astral Composers' who maintain the dimension's harmony are disappearing, and their music is fading."​Chen Jiuzhang's hologram materializes, his expression thoughtful. "The Stardust Fugue is the bridge between dimensions," he explains. "It's where the multiverse's melodies interweave, creating the fabric of reality. If its music fades, the barriers between worlds could collapse, leading to chaos even worse than the Abyssal Sonata."​Echo's fingers brush the surface of her drum, feeling the lingering warmth of the Primal Note. "What's causing the Composers to disappear?" she asks.​Chen shakes his head. "I'm not sure. But there are rumors of a 'Silent Requiem'—a melody that erases those who hear it. If the Composers have fallen victim to it, the Stardust Fugue could be lost forever."​Li Wei's charge pulses with a soft, purple light. "Then we go," he says simply.​The lead Sentinel steps forward, holding out a small, crystal vial. Inside, a swirling cloud of stardust glows with a gentle light. "This is 'Aether Melody'," he says. "It's a fragment of the Stardust Fugue's core music. It will guide you and protect you from the Silent Requiem—for a time."​Echo takes the vial, its warmth spreading through her fingers. "Thank you," she says.​The Sentinel nods. "May the stars sing in your favor."​Nova opens a new portal, its edges swirling with stardust and sheet music. Echo and Li Wei step through, and the air shifts around them. They find themselves standing on a vast plateau, where the ground is covered with a carpet of glowing, blue grass that hums with a soft melody. Above, the sky is a canvas of swirling galaxies, and stars fall like musical notes, leaving trails of light in their wake.​In the distance, they see towering structures made of stardust and light—grand halls where the Astral Composers once worked, their music echoing through the cosmos. But now, the halls are silent, their doors hanging open, their instruments abandoned.​"This place is beautiful," Echo whispers, her voice filled with wonder and sadness.​Li Wei nods, his eyes scanning the horizon. "But it's empty. Where are the Composers?"​As if in response, a faint, mournful melody drifts through the air. It's a haunting tune, beautiful yet tragic, and Echo feels a strange urge to follow it.​"Be careful," Li Wei warns, noticing her expression. "That could be the Silent Requiem."​Echo nods, but she can't help but be drawn to the music. "Or it could be a clue," she says. "We have to find out."​They follow the melody, their footsteps silent on the glowing grass. As they walk, they pass by abandoned instruments—harps with strings made of starlight, flutes carved from moonstone, drums covered with constellations. Each one seems to cry out for its owner, their silent notes hanging in the air.​Eventually, they reach a large, circular clearing. In the center, a pedestal made of solidified stardust stands, and on it, a single, golden lyre rests. The mournful melody is coming from it, but as Echo and Li Wei approach, the music stops, and the lyre's strings go slack.​"Strange," Li Wei says, stepping closer. "It's as if it was waiting for us."​Echo reaches out to touch the lyre, but before her fingers make contact, a figure materializes beside the pedestal. It's a tall, ethereal being, its body made of starlight and its hair a cascade of galaxies. It wears a robe woven from the constellations, and in its hands, it holds a quill and a scroll of starlight.​"I am Lirael, the last Astral Composer," the figure says, its voice a chorus of celestial voices. "You've come at last."​Echo and Li Wei exchange a look. "What happened to the others?" Echo asks.​Lirael's eyes fill with sorrow. "The Silent Requiem," it says. "A melody created by the 'Void Composer'—a former Astral Composer who fell to darkness. He believed that silence was the purest form of music, and he set out to erase all other melodies. One by one, my fellow Composers heard the Requiem, and one by one, they vanished. I've been hiding, using the last of my power to protect myself."​Li Wei's charge glows brighter. "Where is the Void Composer?" he asks.​Lirael gestures toward a dark, swirling vortex in the distance. "In the 'Chamber of Cosmic Silence'," it says. "He's there, finishing the Silent Requiem. Once it's complete, it will spread across the multiverse, erasing all music, all sound, all life."​Echo clutches the vial of Aether Melody. "We can stop him," she says, her voice determined.​Lirael smiles faintly. "I hope you're right. But be warned—the Void Composer is powerful. He can manipulate the Stardust Fugue's music, turning it against you. And the Silent Requiem grows stronger with each passing moment."​Echo and Li Wei nod, their resolve hardening. They've faced darkness before, and they've always found a way to bring back the light. The Stardust Fugue may be in peril, but they won't let it fall without a fight.​With a final glance at Lirael, they set off toward the Chamber of Cosmic Silence, their instruments ready, the Aether Melody glowing in Echo's hand. The fate of the multiverse's bridge hangs in the balance, and they're ready to play their part.