Victor paced back and forth in the small room, the blue holographic screen still floating in front of him, as if taunting him. He didn't fully understand what the Idol System was or why he had been thrown into this absurd game of talent and popularity. But one thing was clear—he needed answers.
He paused, eyes narrowing as a new notification appeared on the screen.
---
IDOL SYSTEM: FIRST CHALLENGE
Objective: Complete your first vocal performance to be ranked.
Reward: System activation and talent recognition.
---
So this is how it starts, Victor thought, his jaw tightening. He had no choice but to play along if he wanted to understand this world and regain control. He glanced at the "Talent: Singing" stat with a grimace. Of all the things he could have been good at, why this?
A sudden knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Victor's head snapped toward the sound. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a young woman in a sleek, professional outfit. She held a tablet in her hands and smiled warmly at him, her eyes scanning him as if evaluating his worth.
"Victor, right? I'm Aria, your talent coordinator. Welcome to your first day as an idol!" she said brightly, stepping into the room.
Victor frowned, trying to mask the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "An idol?" The word tasted bitter on his tongue.
"Yes, of course!" Aria replied, tapping something on her tablet. "You've been enrolled in the Idol System as a singer. It's your talent, and I'm here to guide you through the early stages of your career."
Victor's gaze hardened. "Career? I didn't choose this."
Aria's smile faltered for a brief second, but she quickly recovered. "Well, no one really chooses their talent. The system identifies it when you're born. But think of it this way—you have the potential to become a top idol, someone with influence across the galaxy. And it all starts today with your first performance."
Victor's eyes narrowed. He had no interest in becoming an "idol," but if this system controlled everything in this world, he needed to understand it—and bend it to his will.
"Where's the performance?" he asked coldly.
Aria smiled, clearly pleased that he was playing along. "Follow me."
---
They walked through sleek, polished hallways, filled with holographic ads featuring idols performing, smiling, and basking in the adoration of their fans. Victor barely glanced at them. This world's obsession with entertainment was foreign and absurd to him. In his past life, power came from knowledge, from creation. Here, it seemed, power came from charm and popularity.
"Here we are," Aria said, leading him into a large studio. Bright lights illuminated a stage at the center, and in the shadows beyond, a small audience sat waiting. Victor's eyes adjusted to the brightness, and he noticed that the audience members seemed distracted, their attention on personal devices rather than the empty stage.
"Your first performance," Aria announced. "The system will evaluate your talent, and your ranking will begin. Just sing whatever comes to mind."
Victor clenched his fists. He had never sung in his life. How could he? In his previous existence, there had been no time for such trivialities. Yet the system had assigned him this talent, and the only way forward was to use it.
He stepped up to the center of the stage, his mind racing. His heart pounded, but not from fear—rather from the sharp frustration of being forced into a position he hadn't chosen. He inhaled sharply and opened his mouth to sing.
The sound that emerged surprised even him. His voice was strong, resonant, and haunting. It filled the room, silencing the audience instantly. As he sang, a strange sensation washed over him—something deeper than the mere act of singing. His voice carried an emotional weight he had not anticipated, a rawness he hadn't felt in years.
The lyrics seemed to come from somewhere deep inside him, a reflection of the frustration and regret he carried from his past life.
---
(Verse 1)
I was a king in shadows,
Building empires in my mind,
But the hands I crafted turned to chains,
Now I'm lost in what I left behind.
---
The room seemed to still, his voice resonating through the air with a depth he hadn't anticipated. The words pulled at something inside him, dragging memories of his past life to the surface—of the power he once held, the control that had slipped through his fingers.
---
(Chorus)
Fallen star, rise again,
Through the ashes, through the pain,
In this new world, I reclaim
The power I lost in vain.
---
As the chorus reverberated, the audience's attention sharpened. There was power in this voice, a haunting force that none of them had expected. But for Victor, it wasn't about them—it was about him. He sang not to entertain, but to channel the frustration, the anger, and the bitterness he still held within.
---
(Verse 2)
My creation became my end,
But I'll rise, I'll rise once more,
For the darkness in my veins
Still hungers for what's in store.
---
The lyrics carried the weight of his past mistakes, the regrets he could never escape. But there was also a promise in them—a promise to rise again, to reclaim everything he had lost, no matter the cost. The words echoed through the room, capturing the attention of everyone in the audience.
---
(Final Chorus)
Fallen star, rise again,
Through the ashes, through the pain,
I'll take control, rewrite my fate,
This time, I'll win the game.
---
The final note hung in the air, and for a moment, the room was silent. Then, as if in unison, the audience broke into applause. Victor stood still, his hands slightly trembling, though his face remained impassive. This wasn't just a performance—it was a statement.
The Idol System blinked to life beside him, updating with new stats and rankings, but Victor barely registered it. He had given the system what it wanted, but the real victory lay in something deeper. This song wasn't just the beginning of his career—it was the beginning of his rebirth.
---
IDOL SYSTEM UPDATE
Rank: 873/10,000 (Local Region)
STATS UPDATED:
- Vocal Ability: 70/100 (+5)
- Creativity: 45/100 (+5)
- Charisma: 35/100 (+5)
- Influence: 15/100 (+5)
- Performance: 50/100 (+5)
---
Victor studied the numbers with cool detachment. He had improved, but the ranking was far from satisfactory. He wasn't at the top. Not even close.
"What's next?" he asked, his voice as cold as ever.
Aria blinked, surprised by his lack of enthusiasm. "Well, now that you've entered the rankings, you'll start receiving more system challenges, opportunities for performances, and even collaborations with other idols. The higher your rank, the more opportunities open up."
Victor nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. If the system worked like a game, then he would learn every rule, exploit every weakness, and rise to the top. He didn't care about the fame or the fans. He only cared about power—and if this was the path to reclaiming it, then he would walk it without hesitation.
As they left the studio, Victor glanced once more at the holographic screen floating beside him. His new rank glowed like a challenge. He would rise. He would dominate. And he would never let anyone control him again.
This world didn't know it yet, but Victor Nightshade was about to change the game.