Chapter 1: The Fall and Rise of a Nobody (Full Version)
The neon glow of Starhaven City pulsed through the cracked window of a run-down apartment. Below, the streets roared with life—cars honking, people shouting, music blasting from alleyway speakers. But inside this dimly lit room, Aaron Nightshade's world was silent.
He sat slumped over his battered guitar, fingers brushing against worn-out strings. Rejection emails filled his laptop screen, each subject line cutting into him like a dull knife.
[REJECTED: Not What We're Looking For]
[UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE DECIDED TO PASS]
[THANK YOU, BUT YOUR STYLE DOESN'T FIT OUR NEEDS]
Aaron clenched his jaw, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
"It's always the same."
No one cared about his music. No one believed in him. Maybe they were right.
He glanced at an unsigned contract on his desk—a pathetic backup gig at some failing nightclub. The offer was insulting. A few years ago, he dreamed of headlining stadiums. Now? He'd be lucky if anyone even recognized his name.
His bank account was nearly empty. His bandmates had moved on. The music industry had shut its doors on him.
Worst of all? He had started to believe them.
The Breaking Point
Aaron exhaled shakily and reached for his coffee cup—empty. His stomach churned with hunger, but he was used to it.
Then, it happened.
A sharp, stabbing pain shot through his chest.
His vision blurred.
His breath hitched.
"Shit…"
His fingers dug into the couch as a wave of dizziness hit him. His heartbeat thundered—faster, then slower—then suddenly...
Silence.
The world around him faded into darkness.
Then, out of nowhere—
[System Initialization…]
A mechanical voice echoed inside his head.
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A Voice in the Void
Aaron's eyes snapped open.
He wasn't in his apartment anymore.
Instead, he stood in a pitch-black void, surrounded by floating blue text. It hovered in the air like a holographic display, pulsating with an eerie glow.
What the hell is this?
His pulse raced as the text shifted.
[Welcome to the Music Industry System.]
A system? Like those overpowered cheat abilities from video games and webnovels?
He reached out instinctively, but his hand passed through the glowing text.
"Am I… dreaming?" he muttered.
More text appeared.
[Host Detected: Aaron Nightshade]
[Analyzing Potential…]
[Evaluation Complete.]
[Grade: D-List Nobody]
His stomach dropped.
Really? Even in some mysterious supernatural event, he was still being called a failure?
Aaron's jaw tightened.
"Are you kidding me?" he snapped. "D-List Nobody? You could at least sugarcoat it!"
The system ignored him.
[New Mission: Make the World Remember Your Name]
[Task: Earn 1,000 Fan Points]
[Reward: Talent Enhancement Module (Lv.1)]
Aaron squinted at the words.
"Fan Points? Talent Enhancement?"
More information flooded his mind.
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System Mechanics Unlocked!
Fan Points: A measure of public recognition and support. Earned through performances, social media, album sales, and media influence.
Talent Enhancement Module: A feature that could boost skills, improve song quality, and even unlock hidden musical abilities.
Ranking System:
D-List (Nobody) → C-List (Rising Artist) → B-List (Recognized Talent) → A-List (Superstar) → S-List (Legend).
The higher his rank, the easier it would be to dominate the industry.
Aaron inhaled sharply.
If this was real…
Then this could change EVERYTHING.
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The First Choice: Power Selection
More text appeared.
[Select Your Starting Bonus]
1️⃣ Perfect Pitch – Instantly recognize and reproduce any musical note.
2️⃣ Stage Presence +50% – Make every performance unforgettable.
3️⃣ Songwriting Boost – All lyrics and melodies become 30% catchier.
Aaron hesitated.
Each option had massive potential.
Perfect Pitch would make his musical skills insanely precise.
Stage Presence could turn even a dull show into a legendary performance.
Songwriting Boost would let him write viral hits effortlessly.
Which one should he choose?
His mind raced. What's the smartest first move?
Then, his eyes lit up.
A grin formed on his lips.
He made his choice.
[Starting Bonus Acquired.]
[Let the journey begin.]
The void shattered.
Aaron's eyes flew open—this time, back in his apartment.
His chest rose and fell, sweat dripping down his forehead. The system's text still hovered before him, confirming one thing:
This wasn't a dream.
His second chance had begun.
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