The First Gig
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Aaron stared at his phone screen.
[Fan Points: 120]
It wasn't much, but it proved something important—his music had potential.
And now, he had his first real opportunity.
One of the comments stood out among the rest.
[Local Venue: "You should perform this live."]
His stomach twisted. Live? It had been years since he stepped on a stage.
But hesitation meant nothing now. If he wanted to climb, he had to move fast.
Aaron tapped the message and typed:
[Aaron: When's the next open mic night?]
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Preparing for the Performance
The response came almost instantly.
[Local Venue: "Tonight at 8 PM. Can you make it?"]
Aaron clenched his jaw. No time to hesitate.
[Aaron: I'll be there.]
The venue sent the details—a small underground bar downtown. Nothing huge, but a perfect first step.
As soon as he confirmed, his system responded.
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[New Mission: First Live Performance]
Objective: Perform a live gig and impress the crowd
Reward: System Performance Evaluation Unlocked
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Aaron exhaled. No turning back now.
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The Venue: A Step Into the Unknown
By 7:45 PM, Aaron stood outside the dimly lit bar.
Through the window, he saw a small stage, a cheap microphone, and a dozen scattered tables.
A few musicians tuned their instruments, chatting casually. The crowd was light, maybe 30 people.
Not exactly Madison Square Garden. But to Aaron, it was everything.
He walked inside. The bartender glanced at him.
"You the new guy?"
Aaron nodded. "Yeah. Aaron Nightshade."
The bartender smirked. "First time?"
Aaron hesitated, then nodded.
The bartender chuckled. "Hope you don't choke."
Aaron forced a grin. "Me too."
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Game Time: Stepping Onto the Stage
By 8:15 PM, Aaron was up.
The moment he stepped onto the stage, a familiar weight settled onto his shoulders.
The dim lights. The low murmur of the crowd. The quiet anticipation.
It was exactly how he remembered it.
But this time, he wasn't just a kid playing covers.
This time, he had something to prove.
He grabbed the mic and exhaled.
"Hey, everyone. My name's Aaron Nightshade."
A few scattered nods. One person clapped.
"I wrote this song last night. Hope you like it."
Silence.
Aaron strummed the first chord.
His fingers moved instinctively, the system's Inspiration Boost still fresh in his mind.
Then, he started singing.
"Falling through the cracks of fame… A name lost in the crowd…"
As the melody poured out, something shifted.
People looked up from their drinks. Heads turned. Conversations faded.
The moment he hit the chorus, he felt it—the room was his.
The bartender, who had been indifferent minutes ago, leaned in. A group near the bar started nodding along.
By the final verse, even the toughest critics were watching.
Aaron strummed the last note, letting it ring out.
Silence.
Then—applause.
Not thunderous, but real.
A couple of cheers. Someone whistled.
And then—
[Congratulations! You have gained 300 Fan Points.]
Aaron's chest tightened. It was working.
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Aftermath: A Taste of Fame
After the set, a few people approached.
"That was solid, man."
"You got Spotify?"
"You play here often?"
Aaron barely processed the words. His mind was locked on the notification.
[Fan Points: 420]
In one night, he had tripled his following.
And the night wasn't over.
A man in a suit approached. Not a regular bar-goer.
"Good performance," he said. "You got a manager?"
Aaron froze.
This was just the beginning.
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