Chapter 214: The Crystal Resonance
The portal deposits Echo and Li Wei onto a landscape that glimmers like a field of polished gemstones. The "Crystal Resonance" dimension is a world of breathtaking beauty—towering spires of quartz, amethyst valleys that stretch to the horizon, and rivers of liquid mercury that reflect the light in a thousand different colors. But what truly sets this place apart is the music: every crystal hums with a unique tone, and together they create a symphony that vibrates in the very air.Nova's avatar materializes beside them, her sensors pinging with fascination. "Incredible," she says. "These crystals are piezoelectric—they generate electricity when subjected to mechanical stress, but here, they convert sound into light. The entire dimension is a living amplifier."Chen Jiuzhang's hologram appears, his expression serious. "But that's precisely why it's in danger," he says. "The 'Harmony Harvesters' have arrived. They're a group of beings who feed on musical energy, and they've discovered that the crystals here can be forced to produce a 'Resonance Overload'—a blast of sound that would strip every dimension within a hundred light-years of their harmonies."Echo reaches out to touch a nearby crystal, and it lights up under her fingers, emitting a soft, melodic note. "How do they force an overload?" she asks."By playing a 'Forced Frequence'," Chen explains. "A melody that's so intense, so dissonant, it causes the crystals to vibrate beyond their breaking point. The first signs are already appearing—look."He gestures toward a distant spire, and Echo and Li Wei watch as a crack spreads through its surface. A moment later, the spire shatters, sending a shower of crystal shards into the air. The symphony stutters, then continues, but there's a note of fear in it now.Li Wei's charge pulses with a purple glow. "Then we stop them before they can play this Forced Frequence," he says.They set off across the crystal landscape, their footsteps creating ripples of light that spread outward. The further they go, the more signs of the Harmony Harvesters they see: shattered crystals, valleys where the music has gone silent, and strange, metallic devices attached to the largest spires—devices that hum with a dissonant energy.As they approach a particularly large amethyst valley, they hear voices. Hiding behind a crystal outcropping, they peer into the valley and see the Harmony Harvesters. They're tall, slender beings with skin that shimmers like mother-of-pearl, and their heads are crowned with antennae that twitch in time with the music. In their hands, they hold instruments made of black metal—devices that look like a cross between a violin and a drill.One of the Harvesters steps forward, raising its instrument. It begins to play, and the sound is unlike anything Echo and Li Wei have ever heard— a shrill, piercing melody that makes the crystals in the valley vibrate violently. The amethyst walls start to glow red, and cracks spread through their surface."That's it—the Forced Frequence," Chen says, his voice tight. "If they finish that melody, the entire valley will detonate."Echo nods, raising her peace drum. "Then we counter it," she says.She steps out from behind the outcropping, Li Wei at her side, and starts to play. Her drumbeat is steady, calm, a counterpoint to the Harvester's shrill melody. The crystals in the valley respond, their red glow fading slightly as they resonate with her rhythm.The Harvesters turn, their antennae twitching with surprise. "Intruders," one hisses, its voice like a blade being sharpened. "Destroy them."Two of the Harvesters break off from the group, raising their instruments. They play a dissonant chord that sends a shockwave through the valley, and Echo and Li Wei are thrown backward. Li Wei quickly recovers, sending a blast of purple energy at one of the Harvesters. The creature dodges, but the energy hits its instrument, causing it to emit a high-pitched whine and fall silent.Echo uses the distraction to continue playing, her drumbeat growing stronger. She weaves in the melodies of the dimensions they've saved—the steady rhythm of the Mechanical Melody, the ethereal notes of the Stardust Fugue, the harmonious hum of the Resonant Maze. The crystals in the valley glow brighter, their red hue fading completely as they respond to her music.The lead Harvester lets out a roar of frustration. "Foolish girl," it snarls. "Your petty harmonies can't stop what's already begun." It plays a series of rapid, discordant notes, and the valley shakes. The largest crystal in the center—a spire as tall as a mountain—begins to glow red, its surface cracking.Li Wei realizes what's about to happen. "Echo, the core!" he shouts. "We need to take out the lead Harvester!"Echo nods, and they charge forward together. Echo's drumbeat creates a barrier of sound that pushes the other Harvesters back, while Li Wei targets the lead creature with a concentrated blast of energy. The Harvester tries to dodge, but Echo's drumbeat throws it off balance, and the energy hits it square in the chest.The Harvester lets out a shriek, its body dissolving into a cloud of black smoke. Its instrument clatters to the ground, and the Forced Frequence comes to an abrupt end. The central spire's red glow fades, and the cracks in its surface begin to heal.The remaining Harvesters, seeing their leader defeated, let out a chorus of rage. They play a final, dissonant chord, then turn and flee, disappearing into the crystal landscape.Echo and Li Wei collapse onto the ground, exhausted but relieved. The valley's symphony returns to its natural rhythm, the crystals glowing with a warm, golden light."We did it," Echo says, smiling.Li Wei nods, but his gaze is already turning toward the horizon. "For now," he says. "But there's always another dimension, another threat."Echo follows his gaze, and she sees it—a faint, purple glow on the horizon, a sign that another dimension is in trouble. She stands, brushing the crystal dust from her clothes, and picks up her drum."Then let's go," she says. "The multiverse is counting on us."They step through the portal Nova opens, leaving the Crystal Resonance dimension behind. The next adventure awaits, and with it, a new melody to protect.