Victor sat in the quiet of his apartment, staring at the holographic screen that floated in front of him. His new rank of 712/10,000 flickered in the corner, a reminder of his recent victory. But there was no sense of triumph, no satisfaction from defeating Leo Andros. His eyes scanned the numbers again, his mind already calculating the next steps.
Aria had left shortly after the duel, her excitement over his rise in the ranks palpable. But Victor didn't share her enthusiasm. He knew this world's obsession with entertainment, with idols, was shallow. He didn't care for the adoration of fans or the praise from the system. He cared only for what the system could give him—power, influence, control.
Another notification blinked to life on the screen, pulling him from his thoughts.
Idol System Alert: New Challenge Available
Victor sighed, leaning back in his chair. These "challenges" seemed endless, designed to keep idols busy, constantly striving for higher ranks. He supposed that was the point—to make sure no one ever stopped climbing, no one ever grew complacent. The system thrived on ambition.
He tapped the notification, bringing up the details.
New Challenge: Group Performance
Objective: Collaborate with two other idols to perform a piece together.
Reward: +5 stat boost.
Victor's lip curled. A group performance. He didn't need others to drag him down. He thrived on precision, control, and the ability to dictate the outcome of every situation. Collaborating meant dealing with potential weakness, incompetence, or worse—egos. But the stat boost was tempting, and the system clearly favored teamwork.
Before he could make a decision, the screen blinked again with the names of his assigned collaborators.
Assigned Idols:
Zara Lei Jonah Seris
Victor narrowed his eyes. He had heard of Zara Lei. She was ranked just above him at 698, known for her vocal range and showmanship. Jonah Seris, on the other hand, was an unknown to him. Likely a lower-ranked idol. His profile flashed briefly on the screen—ranked 900 and primarily focused on dance.
"Interesting," Victor muttered to himself. A mix of talents. He couldn't ignore the potential benefits of the challenge, but it was clear he would have to carry most of the weight in this performance if he wanted to succeed.
---
The next day, Victor found himself in a small rehearsal studio. Zara was already there, her posture rigid as she scrolled through a holographic song list. She looked up as Victor entered, her gaze sharp and assessing.
"So, you're the one everyone's talking about," she said, her voice clipped. "Victor Nightshade, the guy who jumped over a hundred spots after one duel."
Victor said nothing, his expression neutral. Zara had an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance, but he wasn't interested in her opinion.
"Let's just get this over with," he replied, walking past her to examine the performance schedule. "Where's the other one?"
"Jonah?" Zara scoffed, crossing her arms. "He's late, obviously. Not surprising. I've worked with him before. All flash, no substance. This isn't going to be easy."
Victor glanced at her, noting the irritation in her tone. "I don't need easy. I need effective."
Zara raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The tension in the room was palpable, but Victor didn't care. He wasn't here to make friends or build camaraderie. He was here to rise.
The door slid open, and a tall, athletic young man with short blond hair entered. He moved with a dancer's grace, his steps fluid, though there was a casualness to his demeanor that immediately irritated Victor.
"Sorry I'm late," Jonah said, flashing a wide grin. "Got caught up with some fan engagements. You know how it is."
Victor's jaw tightened, but he kept his voice even. "We don't have time for distractions. Let's get started."
Zara sighed, clearly sharing Victor's frustration, but they both stepped onto the stage, Jonah following behind.
---
The rehearsal was rough. Jonah's dancing was impressive, but his vocals lacked precision, and Zara, while talented, seemed more focused on outshining everyone than on working as a team. Victor felt the familiar sting of annoyance rising in him. Every misstep, every missed note grated on his nerves.
He stopped in the middle of a run-through, his patience fraying. "This isn't working."
Zara threw him an irritated glance. "And whose fault is that?"
Victor ignored her. His mind was racing, searching for a way to salvage this disaster. They had one day left before the performance, and if they didn't find some way to pull it together, they would all suffer.
"Listen," he said, his voice cold and commanding, "we're not going to win by outshining each other. We need to focus on our strengths and make them complement each other."
Jonah raised an eyebrow. "You mean teamwork? Never pegged you for the type."
Victor shot him a glare. "I'm not. But if we want to get through this, we don't have a choice. Zara, your vocals are powerful, but you're drowning out the harmony. Pull back in the chorus. Jonah, stick to what you're good at—movement. We'll rely on your choreography to drive the energy of the performance."
Both idols stared at him, clearly not used to taking orders. But Victor wasn't here to indulge their egos. He needed them to fall in line.
Zara's eyes narrowed, but after a moment, she nodded. Jonah shrugged, his casual demeanor never faltering. "Fine by me. Let's see what you've got, boss."
---
The final rehearsal was smoother, though far from perfect. Victor's strategy was to blend their strengths—Zara's powerful voice, Jonah's fluid movements, and his own emotional resonance. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than the chaotic mess they'd started with.
As they prepared to leave the studio, Victor checked his Idol System for updates.
Idol System Alert: Performance scheduled for tomorrow at 14:00 hours. Venue: Regional Stage 3. Audience capacity: 2,000.
A small crowd compared to the larger competitions, but enough to affect their ranking if they failed.
Victor turned to Zara and Jonah. "Be ready. We're going to need to be perfect."
Zara gave a slight nod, her confidence returning. "We will be. I don't plan on losing any more rank."
Jonah grinned. "No pressure, right?"
Victor said nothing, his mind already racing with strategies. This group performance was just another obstacle, and if he had to rely on others, so be it. But one thing was certain: he wouldn't let anyone drag him down.
Tomorrow, they would either rise—or fall.