In a tiny antechamber, a Fireman and an Armored Man stood silently. Although they said nothing, their gaze seemed to penetrate the walls and look into the distant Void.
The smoke and scent of cigarettes filled the air, the slightly spicy smoke paired so well with the flames.
Deathstroke looked at Olini beside him, finding nothing aesthetically pleasing about his features, which were like Halloween pumpkin faces, he shifted his gaze and said, "To save the Faltin people, please debut as an idol."
"??? "
Every word could be understood—it was Chinese from Earth—but combined together, it became unclear.
Olini's head rotated rapidly like a colorful lamp on a body formed by flames, as if thinking, and after a moment he asked, "What is an idol?"
"It's someone who makes a living off their looks, as long as they can sing, rap, and play basketball, that's all." Su Ming took a drag of his cigarette, speaking slowly, his expression suggesting he recalled some unpleasant memories.
Olini's small black bean-like eyes grew larger, his tone somewhat perplexed, "I don't understand what basketball and rap are, but it sounds like behavior called art... Isn't this something only material races enjoy?"
"Faltin has already tacitly allowed you to pursue material, from today onward, with my help, Faltin people will enter a new era, moving forward with matter and energy, which will provide a more expansive future."
Deathstroke waved his hand, indicating he should not mind these details, he attempted to put a cigarette in Olini's mouth, but the small stick ignited from the filter end and turned to ashes within seconds.
Su Ming was not disappointed, on the contrary, he was delighted; Olini naturally had a talent for reversing smoking, it seems he might consider a comedic route.
Although idol comedians follow a deviant path and aren't like the high-cool idols with the kingly image, dealing with Demon Gods requires being unconventional.
"Alright then, what should I do?" Olini hesitated no longer, having already resolved to rise up, he would take the plunge this time.
Deathstroke showed a smile of comfort, nodding, "Don't rush, first go select four men with extremely ugly looks but good voices, let's find a secluded place, it will take a few days to train you."
Olini immediately walked onto the street, either selecting from the crowd or using magic to contact, ten minutes later, he found four other pumpkins.
Su Ming looked at them, apart from thinking they looked very similar to Olini, there were no other thoughts; human perspective can hardly assess Faltin people's aesthetics.
"Great, do they all know what we're going to do?" He raised his Mask.
Olini nodded, the flames on his head moved slightly, "Yes, we're ready."
"Alright, find an open space, oh, fly there, don't teleport." Su Ming slipped away first, unwilling to experience teleportation again, "From now on you'll act as a team, a five-team setup is the royal choice, I have no way to train a 48-person team, so that's that."
"Are you going to teach us combat methods using material?" another pumpkin head asked, his voice sounded youthful, like a youngster.
"Sort of, maybe... Oh, from now on your group will be called 'Underground Street Boy.'"
.............
There was a long distance until the next time Dormammu visited Omar, but after carefully guiding the idol group for a few days, Su Ming took them early to her prison.
It was a location inaccessible by teleportation, Dormammu had blocked Faltin people from using magical means to reach the outside, but using the Magic Floating Cloak to envelop the pumpkin heads, Su Ming could still manage to fly across several Dimensions.
Olini and his companions roughly understood their mission, though they were quite worried about their chances of success.
Su Ming was not concerned, Faltin people and Earth languages are mutually intelligible, and Omar was the same; she once had real flesh and blood, capable of understanding the dual aesthetics of Earth and Faltin.
She yearned for and pursued material, and beings that exist materially have, as a key feature, dual needs for the body and mind.
Omar's daily necessities were worry-free, and her freedom was soon to be realized, hence she probably wouldn't refuse higher pursuits, such as the need to propagate offspring, or the appreciation of beauty.
She might initially refuse, but no one can escape the principle of irresistible allure.
Alright, the theory was like that, but frankly speaking, taking a male idol team to meet Omar was akin to organizing a matchmaking event for a 'rich widow', commonly known as the beauty trap.
When meeting Omar, she had proposed breeding offspring as a trade, seemingly unwilling at first, but from a psychological analysis perspective, her saying that indicated she had inherent desires to reproduce and seek companions.
Having desires means they can be used; Deathstroke's style has always been about finding weaknesses and striking a fatal blow.
Dormammu and Omar are difficult to control, but if they had offspring, this child would undoubtedly inherit the 'Regent's Fire', making it much easier to exert influence and control over a newborn.
Helping Omar find a spouse not only makes the current three-way cooperation seem more intimate, but also leaves a backup for the future. It may look a bit dark, but it's for the future of Earth.
As he pondered, Su Ming reached his destination, and five pumpkin heads floated up behind him, looking at Omar with eyes filled with curiosity and fear.
Previously, the Dark Dimension was ruled jointly by Dormammu and his sister. Later, Dormammu imprisoned Omar. The younger generation of Faltin people never experienced her rule but heard in tales that she was a tyrant no less than Dormammu.
But now that the Supreme Mage Deathstroke ensures their safety, and with Emperor Vishanti acting as a mediator, they feel much more at ease.
Omar was leaning against her bedhead, yawning with her eyes half-closed. She wasn't in a hurry; after all, she had waited for such a long time, a few more days wouldn't matter.
"What? Did you complete what you promised me?" She extended her snow-white plump jade arm, her fingers brushing her dark long hair.
Su Ming slowly walked towards her position, while Olini and the others were still huddled in the corner. Deathstroke didn't mind their initial stage fright and said to the woman:
"Yes, Faltin has agreed to help you escape. The next time Dormammu comes to visit, she will use her power to block the exit of the prison. The three of us will engage in battle with the trapped Dormammu in this sub-plane."
"She's so easygoing?" Omar laughed, her gaze sweeping over the few Faltin people in the distance: "What does she want?"
"Freedom. The Faltin Dimension will separate from the Dark Dimension after your rule, agreed?" Su Ming removed his helmet, crossed his legs, and took some drinks and food from his pouch, placing them on the bed between him and Omar.
The Dark Queen picked up a pack of snacks, glanced at it, and then put it back, her gaze calm and completely masking her inner madness: "You know I have no choice, which is why you brought those Faltin people here, right? This deal is fair, you truly are Emperor Vishanti's representative in the First Dimension."
"Hehe, as long as you understand. However, after Faltin Dimension separates from the Dark Dimension, there's no good place to go in the Broken Domain. There are too many forces in this layer of dimension, at least a hundred of them. They will likely remain your neighbors in the future. I personally suggest Faltin go to the intersection of the Dark Dimension and Sephilos Dimension."
Su Ming opened a bottle of soda, took a swig, looking very relaxed.
Omar looked at him with some confusion. That's not a good place; it's a strategic buffer zone, which would mean using Faltin people as cannon fodder for both sides. But she said nothing, mimicking him by taking a bottle of Powerful Beverage to drink: "Since you've already made up your mind, why did you come to see me?"
"It's because we don't want you to be lonely here. Your future allies, the Faltin, are here to entertain you." Su Ming clapped his hands, signaling Olini and the others to transform into Firemen and get ready to perform: "Do you know to what extent human civilization has evolved? With the help of allies, I'm more than happy to show you."
Only to see the five Faltin trainees led by Omar not only manifesting burning bodies but also transforming into very fashionable fireproof performance outfits, walking to a spot not far from the two with a unique swagger in their steps.
Omar did not hesitate to stand in the center, striking a pose like Jojo, a business smile covering his pumpkin face.
"Hello everyone, I'm Omar, a trainee who debuted not long ago. I like singing, dancing, and playing magic. We are..." At this moment, the four lackeys behind also struck poses, saying in unison: "Underground Street Boy group!"
"Cough, cough..." Omar was a bit choked by the soda, maybe not used to the taste of the beverage, or maybe not used to the Faltin people turning into this.
Deathstroke truly is toxic.
She looked at the Supreme Mage beside her as if looking at a lunatic, but Su Ming merely smiled and clapped for the trainees, giving encouragement to these people.
Noticing her gaze, Deathstroke made a gesture of invitation, indicating for her to continue watching.
With a mindset of having nothing better to do, Omar watched on, only to see Olini and the five assuming a small step position and forming a 'heart' gesture with their hands in front of their chests.
"Please enjoy our debut single, 'Grateful Heart'!"
With that, the five began to sing and dance again, their dance moves very relaxed yet slightly awkward, though the heart gestures kept flying toward Omar.
Initially, Omar refused. Music and dance meant nothing to her, especially in the language of Earth.
But as the show went on, her gaze fell upon Olini, unable to look away.
Olini himself was as handsome as Pan An, and with the four ugly men beside him as contrast, he stood out even more.
Call out "Qiu Xiang," and if she turns back alone, you might not think much of her. But call out "beauty," and when Qiu Xiang and Sister Liuxiang and the other misfits turn back together, then she looks like a celestial beauty.
Besides, Olini indeed had the goods and was flirty enough without shame. Without him, the Faltin idol scene was like an eternal night.
Listening to the song, watching the dance, Omar gradually pursed her lips, staring intently at Olini's fiery head as it danced, watching his eyes, his smile, his fiery body...
Don't ask why. If you ask, it's love.