Dayo was sitting in his home surrounded by his family as they waited for the Global Competition to announce the theme for the Wildcard.

It would be announced at 10 pm sharp, and the clock had just hit 9:59. The whole family huddled together to view Dayo's small screen.

Dayo, who was sandwiched in the middle, shook his head silently. "Don't you all have phones?" he thought, but he just smiled and enjoyed the company.

Then his sister's sharp voice cut through his thoughts.

"It's here!!"

Everyone leaned closer as the official Global Competition page went live. A bold headline appeared:

Wildcard Theme: "A Song for Tomorrow."

Beneath it, the rules were displayed:

"Contestants may choose an original song or reinterpret an existing one; it has to show the artist's creativity. And the performance must reflect the theme — vision, hope, and the future. The judges will shortlist thirty artists. Their performances will be posted publicly, and fans worldwide will vote. The top three with the highest votes will secure the Wildcard slots into the Global Stage. Submissions start tomorrow and close in three days."

For a moment, the room went silent. The weight of the words sank in. His younger brother whistled under his breath.

"Damn… that's tough."

"Yeah, not—" Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a familiar sound.

DING!

Global Competition series

[Mission 1 → Global Wildcard Trial]

Objective → Qualify as number one out of the top three Wildcard winners (judge plus fan voting).

Reward → Fanbase Expansion Card (permanently gain loyal fans in two new countries randomly).

Bonus → Random Skill Unlock + +5% Creativity stat.

Failure Penalty → Status reduced to Local start; "Doubt" debuff (harder to gain status and votes in future rounds).

[Mission 2 → First Stage Breakthrough]

Objective → Advance past the first elimination (Top 60 into Top 40).

Reward → Random Skill Unlock + Random Stat Upgrade.

Bonus (Top 5) → International Spotlight Buff (media push, +10% popularity across regions of performance).

[Mission 3 → Quarter-Finals Push]

Objective → Secure a spot in the Top 20.

Reward → Skill Upgrade (random performance or production stat boost).

Bonus (Top 3) → Special Endorsement Buff (+5% reputation gain across all regions and endorsement 5% chance increase of top brands approaching you) + Momentum Token (temporary +7% voting power for the next round).

[Mission 4 → Semi-Finals]

Objective → Reach the Top 10.

Reward → Skill Upgrade – targeted boost to a performance or production stat.

Bonus (Top 3) → Performance Resonance Buff (audience engagement +15% in all future live shows)

(This makes his stage presence permanently stronger, giving him an edge in any crowd.)

[Mission 5 → Grand Finale Stage]

Objective → Perform an Original Song sensation that stands out.

Reward → Random Signature Ability Unlock (a high-tier unique skill) + Global Spotlight Card (doubles worldwide exposure for 7 days).

Bonus (Top 3) → Industry Favor Token (permanent prestige boost; improves negotiations and priority access to label/network opportunities).

[Mission 6 → Global Champion]

Objective → Win the #1 Global Title.

Reward → System Level Up (auto advance to Level 3) + Guaranteed Signature Skill Unlock + Permanent Passive Buff Champion's Aura (baseline exposure +10% forever).

SYSTEM NOTE → Failure to complete at least one Mission will result in all stats being reduced to F-.

Dayo stared at the glowing text almost in disbelief. His heart raced, and for a second, he thought he might black out.

His mother gently touched his shoulder. "Are you okay, Dayo?"

He smiled faintly. "I'm fine, ma… just thinking about the theme."

His little sister poked her head out, her lips pouting in playful mockery. "Or maybe the almighty JD is scared?"

Dayo gave her a long look before standing and chasing her around.

The whole family burst into laughter. After dinner, when things calmed down, Dayo finally sat alone to analyze the missions.

The first one looked simple on paper, but it was the most important. If he failed here, everything else would collapse — his stats, his chances, everything back to ground zero. He had no option but to secure first place. And now, he had just three days to recreate a song in this world and make it sound even better than the original.

The stakes were brutal, but so were the rewards. Dayo thrived on pressure. It pushed him to give more than he thought he had. With that mindset, he dove straight into writing mode he choose one of his favorite song by his favorite artist in this world Light Beyond the Horizon by Daren.

***

Two days later…

Dayo finally came out of his mini studio, more like his room, looking haggard but fulfilled. His eyes glinted with the satisfaction only creation could bring.

He quickly called Wayne and Valery, telling them to set up the equipment. After a quick shower, he drove to the studio.

Upon arrival, he was greeted first by Wayne's excitement. "So… let me see it."

Dayo chuckled at how a man in his late forties could act like a kid, but he understood — music had that effect on people, especially producers.

He handed Wayne his notebook. Wayne's eyes scanned the lyrics for over a minute before lifting his gaze. He was speechless, but his expression said everything.

"This… hmm, I—" Wayne struggled to find the right words to express how shocked he was even the artist of this sing would be shocked at the change that occurred on the song.

Dayo smirked. "And for the tone, I'm going acoustic with a modern beat. That way, it keeps its originality, but still fits me."

Wayne nodded. "As expected from JD the perfectionist. Alright, I'll get this uploaded so we can prep the shoot."

Soon, the studio buzzed with energy. Cameras flashed, lights blazed, and microphones stood ready. Dayo sat with Wayne and Valery, feeling the weight of the moment.

Wayne tapped his notebook against the table. "Okay, JD. You have one shot, make it count. The judges will screen it, and then the world will see it. So no mistakes."

Valery crossed her arms but gave him an encouraging smile. "You've worked hard for this. Now let's show them what you've got."

Dayo adjusted his mic, taking in the atmosphere. The team behind the cameras was tense but ready. He exhaled, half-joking:

"Alright. Let's do this shi—"

"Oops, sorry!"

Everyone burst out laughing. The tension was instantly gone as planned, and Dayo grinned.

A minute later, the director raised his hand. "JD, we're rolling in five… four… three…"

And just like that, the recording began.

Dayo took a deep breath and strung his guitar.

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