Lord Of The Lost

Quill Also known as the Writer's Pen, this quill is a tool of absolute narrative control.

It allows the wielder to lock a specific future into reality.

Then, no matter what happens—war, disease, betrayal, natural disasters, assassins; none of it will matter.

The inked prophecy will bend fate itself, ensuring that Zhu Yuanzhang survives and succeeds.

However, such a power has limits.

The future written must align with the natural flow of history.

The greater the deviation, the higher the cost.

Even the quill's wielder cannot simply write, "A meteor will fall and destroy the enemy."

Because without precedent, without a chain of cause and effect, fate will resist.

Only those with deep foresight can truly wield this power.

This is why Metatron, as a prophet, understands it better than anyone.

He does not simply observe the future, he intervenes.

His mere presence tilts the scales.

That is why the Black Swan warned him:

"The future is not something you see, it is something you create."

And if someone rewrites fate with the Anchoring Quill…

Then what is "destined" becomes inevitable.

While the Anchoring Quill bends fate through words, the Cursed Sonata manipulates fate through melody.

This infamous artifact consists of six distinct movements, each carrying a unique cursed melody:

1. Darkness Movement – The overture, creating an unseen stage in the void.

2. Nightmare Movement – A hypnotic tune that immerses the listener, bending their perception.

3. Silence Movement – A quiet, creeping melody that prepares the tragedy to unfold.

4. Blood Movement – A violent crescendo, turning pain into an unavoidable performance.

5. Abyss Movement – The song of descent and corruption, driving characters toward self-destruction.

6. Death Movement – The final act, where fate collapses into chaos.

Each movement is powerful on its own.

But when all six are played together…

Even legendary creatures are forced to dance like puppets on invisible strings.

This is not a direct mind control spell.

Rather, it is something far more terrifying.

The Sonata's influence does not manifest as an obvious spell; instead, it seeps into the very fabric of fate.

Characters inside the "performance" cannot hear the music.

But just like how a movie character cannot hear the soundtrack playing behind them…

Their actions, thoughts, and emotions will still align perfectly with the melody.

And when the music rises to a climax…

They will play their part, whether they want to or not.

Even a mighty dragon cannot resist.

The Scarlet Troupe used this power to stage their "performances."

And now, a new act is unfolding.

William and his team have stepped onto the stage.

Whether they want to or not…

The script is already being written.

The Cursed Sonata is not just music, it's a spell woven into fate itself.

Long ago, the Sonata of the Damned was broken apart, ensuring it could never be used in its full form again.

The ancient forces of the world understood its terrifying power.

If someone were to combine the Cursed Sonata with the Anchor Pen, they could rewrite reality without anyone realizing it.

A single movement alone cannot accomplish this.

But now, William and his team have traveled 1,800 years into the past.

If nothing goes wrong, they will come face to face with the Scarlet Troupe at the height of its power.

Fortunately, the troupe does not casually unleash these legendary artifacts.

Low-level transcendents, even members of the troupe themselves, lack the power to activate them.

The only reason the Scarlet Troupe's performances shape destiny is because their stories please the God of Prophecy and Dreams.

Only when the god approves does the power flow through them.

The full Cursed Sonata is not in the hands of the troupe leader.

If it were, the Sonata would have vanished along with him when the troupe was wiped out.

Instead, it rests with the "Sound Engineer."

The Scarlet Troupe is made up of thirteen key members, each with a specific role:

Theater Director – Oversees the performance.

Playwright – The one who writes fate itself.

Announcer – Narrates the story and sets the mood.

Coach Driver – The one who leads them from stage to stage.

Prop Master – Keeper of the cursed artifacts.

Makeup Artist – Shapes the performers into their tragic roles.

Puppeteer – Controls more than just marionettes.

Singer – Their voice can weave magic into reality.

Lighting Technician – Manipulates shadows to hide the truth.

Sound Engineer – The guardian of the Cursed Sonata.

And finally…

The Three Lead Actors – The ones who take center stage, playing their roles until the very end.

Most of them are Sequence 9, making them seem unremarkable.

Some have deviated from the God of Prophecy and Dreams' divine path, further lowering their rank.

This is intentional.

If every member of the troupe had reached Sequence 8, their activities would have drawn too much attention.

Instead, they moved in the shadows for years, their influence only becoming known long after their final curtain fell.

Armed with this knowledge, William and his team set off.

The night had fallen over Changhu Town.

Despite the hour, the streets were alive, bustling with activity like a modern city.

Carriages rattled down the stone-paved roads. Dwarves filled the streets, drinking, laughing, and celebrating.

William and the others stood out instantly.

As humans, they were taller than any dwarf, making them easy to spot.

The Dwarf Kingdom was a feudal empire, with different royal families ruling over different territories.

The Lonely Mountain was one of the strongest dwarf lords.

Changhu Town, resting at the base of the Lonely Mountain, was its gateway to the outside world.

From here, William could see the towering peak.

It stood alone against the sky, unshakable, proud, and eternal.

It was no wonder the dwarven guards were so on edge.

With the Crown Prince of Lonely Mountain in town for the Scarlet Troupe's performance, security was at its highest.

No unfamiliar faces would go unchecked.

And right now, William and his team were very unfamiliar.

The fourth act of the play was already in full swing.

The Scarlet Troupe had erected a massive five-story tent in the heart of Changhu Town.

From the outside, it resembled a circus tent.

Its bright red and gold banners fluttered in the wind, drawing the eyes of every passerby.

But unlike modern circuses, this was no act of mere entertainment.

The Scarlet Troupe predates all circuses.

The modern troupes of William's time, performing comedic acts and acrobatics, were nothing but imitations.

The Scarlet Troupe's art was real.

Even the Black Swan, who despised them, had to admit—

Their tragedies were masterpieces.

William and the others approached the entrance.

Dwarven guards blocked the way.

The venue was already at full capacity.

Forcing their way in would only raise suspicion and put them at risk of arrest.

But they had to get inside.

Because tomorrow…

The final act begins.

William wasn't arrogant enough to assume he could survive an open fight against Changhu Town's guards.

Especially now.

They were in their true bodies.

If they died here, it would be permanent.

The pressure was immense, making every decision even more critical.

"I'll go in and look for an opportunity," William said.

The Forum Master and the others nodded without hesitation.

William's ability, [Secret], was so potent that even his own teammates often forgot he was standing right next to them.

When he actively used it, even a Level 10 Seer like the Forum Master couldn't track his attributes or presence.

More importantly, William was the strongest among them.

If things went south, he was the only one with the speed and skill to escape unscathed.

If he failed… well, the rest of the team could just surrender and find another way in.

Sophia, of course, was not happy.

She wanted to sneak in with him but was stopped by Black Swan.

"Stay away from the troupe," she warned. "It is cursed."

Sophia crossed her arms, sulking.

William didn't wait.

With his invisibility cloak drawn over him, he used its full stealth power.

Silently, he stepped onto the shoulders of a dwarf guard and leaped over the entrance.

The dwarf only felt a faint breeze brush over his head.

The inside of the massive tent was even grander than expected.

The stage was in the center, surrounded by packed seats on all five floors.

Roughly two to three thousand dwarves sat in attendance.

The performance was already in full swing.

William observed the play.

The storyline was simple— dragons destroyed a dwarven kingdom, the dwarves fought back, and in the end, they slew the dragon.

On the surface, there was nothing that suggested this play was predicting the future.

At least, not yet.

William moved through the shadows, scanning the troupe members.

On the stage, he spotted:

Two "actors" performing.

The "Sound Engineer" manipulating music to enhance the atmosphere.

The "Prop Master" and "Puppeteer" making a giant, fire-breathing dragon model soar over the stage.

The "Singer" narrating in a poetic, melodic voice.

The "Lighting Technician" adjusting the brightness and shadows to shift the mood.

It was a complex, highly coordinated effort.

For all their dark reputation, the Scarlet Troupe were true artists.

William moved behind the curtains.

The bright, colorful stage lights faded, and he stepped into a world of dim corridors and scattered props.

Moving silently, William began to explore.

He passed by the "Announcer," who was preparing the next scene.