The dinner had ended on a good note. Laughter and chatter carried deep into the night as contestants slowly drifted back to their rooms.

Dayo stayed a little longer, moving from table to table, shaking hands, listening to stories, offering small words that seemed to lift spirits. His calm way of talking and the steady smile on his face drew people in, and one thing that couldn't be ignored was his striking deep blue sea eyes. They caught attention almost as much as his words.

But not everyone enjoyed it.

Frank sat back in his chair, arms folded, watching closely. His jaw tightened as he saw how naturally everyone gathered around Dayo.

He muttered to himself, "Why's he acting like a leader? It's just the first round. He's not even that special. Everyone's treating him like some boss already."

Dayo, sharp as always, noticed the stiffness in Frank's expression when their eyes briefly met. Instead of reacting, he simply gave a small nod and carried on, as if it didn't matter. Inside, he chuckled. He never understood why Frank hated him so much, and honestly, he didn't care.

He believed that some people would never understand—this wasn't about acting like a boss. It was just about being real with people. And if you were real enough, you could win hearts without trying.

Frank looked away, irritated, clenching his fists under the table.

And as usual, Brandon, the bootlicker, was still glued to Frank's side. It seemed he had also managed to scrape through to the next stage.

***

The next morning, the hotel lobby buzzed with movement. Contestants leaving the show hugged their friends, some fighting back tears, others putting on brave smiles. The ones moving on kept their goodbyes short, dragging suitcases toward the waiting buses.

Dayo stood near the entrance, hands in his pockets, quietly watching it all unfold. A few contestants came up to him, shaking hands one last time.

"Good luck out there," one said.

"Keep doing your thing," another added.

The director soon appeared, gathering the remaining contestants together. His voice was firm, but there was warmth behind it.

"First of all, congratulations to each of you," he began. "You've passed the first stage. I want you to understand something—every single person who stood on that stage yesterday earned the right to be here. Not because of luck, not because of chance, but because you worked for it."

He looked around at them, his tone encouraging.

"Now, I'll remind you: we only need one winner at the end of this road. But that doesn't mean the rest of you are failures. Far from it. Every round you pass, every song you perform, it builds you. It shapes your career. Whether you go all the way or not, the whole world is watching you now. Don't forget that."

The murmurs in the hall grew softer, some heads nodding slowly as the weight of his words sank in.

The director's voice rose again. "So—decide who you want to be. Decide what mark you want to leave. Because this stage is not just about competition—it's about showing the world what you can do."

He paused, then gave them the news:

"Pack your bags. Your next destination is South Korea."

This time, the reaction was louder—gasps, cheers, even a few nervous laughs.

Dayo's eyes widened for a moment, then a smile crept across his face. South Korea? He almost laughed at the coincidence. Just last night, the Expansion Card had landed him with South Korean fans. And now, fate was putting him right in their country.

Inside, he felt a spark of excitement. "Guess the system really knows what it's doing," he muttered under his breath.

He turned to Min Jae. "Looks like we're heading to your hometown."

Min Jae smiled and nodded. "Yeah, it seems so."

"Haha, look at that smile. Anyway, you'd better show me around when we get there."

"Yeah, sure, I will," Min Jae replied.

They were given a day to explore and rest, since the next day they would be traveling to South Korea for the next round. Dayo pulled a few of his new friends together, and they went out to visit some spots around the area. It wasn't anything fancy—just walking, trying food, and cooling off before the real pressure of Stage Two began.

****

The following day rolled in with less of the buzz that had greeted them when they first arrived. The contestants boarded the buses quietly, carrying their luggage and thoughts. Cameras followed them closely, catching every moment for the upcoming broadcast.

At the airport, fans had already gathered. The show's social media handle had announced the contestants' departure, so supporters came to wave them off. Some held up cardboard signs with names scribbled across them, and others shouted encouragement.

A few lucky fans managed to grab quick autographs before security directed the contestants toward the gate.

That evening, while the contestants were mid-flight, the first official broadcast of the Global Competition aired across the world. Hundreds of millions tuned in, eager to see what had happened in Tokyo.

The opening shot flashed with bright graphics, the logo of the competition spinning before cutting into highlights.

The male anchor's voice carried a sharp professionalism:

"Good evening. The Global Competition has officially begun. Tonight, we bring you highlights from the first stage in Tokyo, Japan, where sixty contestants fought for their place in the Top 30."

The screen switched to clips—contestants stepping on stage, nervous faces in the crowd, and powerful notes echoing under the spotlights. Miguel's emotional performance played for a few seconds, his voice cracking but his passion shining through.

The anchor continued, "The surprises started early. From raffle draw contestants whose many thoughts wouldn't last, to polished international performers, the stage was filled with emotion, risk, and unforgettable moments."

Then the footage cut to Amelia Wright, a young woman wiping tears after her score appeared. The overlay text read: First raffle draw contestant in history to pass the opening stage.

The anchor's tone shifted slightly, keeping neutral but firm. "For the first time since the Global Competition began, a raffle draw contestant has advanced past the first stage. Amelia Wright's achievement has already been described as historic."

The screen then shifted to Dayo—first in his short backstage interview, where he admitted being nervous, then his performance clip, the remix of the judge's own song. The audience reaction was shown clearly. They watched silently as he sang, then burst into applause when he finished.

On screen, the judges' scores flashed one by one: 10, 9.5, 9, 9.5, 9, 10. His total froze across the screen: 57 out of 60.

The anchor stated plainly, "Jason Dayo of the United States advanced to the next round with one of the highest scores of the night."

The segment didn't linger too long. It cut to behind-the-scenes clips: Dayo encouraging Miguel backstage, clapping him on the back after his score. A shot of him and Min Jae laughing in the studio late at night, Dayo leaning over to help him with arranging his music and editing. Then quick flashes of other contestants' highs and lows—some celebrating, some crying, some showing arrogance. It was already clear that the production team was framing rivalries and bonds for the audience at home.

Finally, the dinner cut appeared—Dayo standing up, giving a short but impactful speech to the eliminated contestants.

The anchor's voice remained neutral: "Offstage, contestants found ways to encourage one another as eliminations set in. For many, it was a reminder that the Global Competition is more than just about reaching the top—it is about the journey shared along the way."

The montage ended on the dinner scene, where laughter broke out, contestants smiled despite their eliminations, and Dayo sat back with his calm expression.

The anchor concluded: "Thirty contestants now move on. Their next stop: South Korea. Stay tuned, and don't forget to vote for your favorite performance."

The broadcast closed, showing the thirty contestants boarding buses toward the airport. It faded out on the Global Competition logo shining across the screen.

10 GT = 1 Bonus chapter

1 Capsule = 1 Bonus Chapter

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.