The first wave hit like wildfire.Jaylen hadn’t even opened his laptop when his phone exploded with notifications. Mentions from different people, tags, reposts with millions of eyes were suddenly on him. He frowned as he scrolled through the disturbing notification until one message appeared at the top, pinned by the trending algorithms.“The industry needs more truth-tellers like Jaylen Cruz. He inspires me.” Delilah Knox suddenly dropped a quote. She is the R&B queen. The velvet-voiced darling of the Grammys. She was the woman who could shift fashion trends with a single red-carpet glance. And now, apparently, Jaylen's biggest fan.“Bro,” Zee gasped from the couch, tossing her tablet at him. “You are trending everywhere. Twitter, Z-Circle, even ValeStream fan forums are buzzing. Delilah Knox just knighted you when she was speaking.”Jaylen didn’t smile. The moment her name hit his screen, his chest tightened. And then the system spoke.“System Warning: Hidden Sub-Quest UnlockedD

The Zenith Gala was not just an event. It was the beating heart of the industry.Expensive crystal chandeliers illuminated the whole room like stars overhead, while cameras flashed in bursts of white like fire along the luxurious velvet carpet. Moguls, politicians, movie stars, and music royalty walked across the entrance like gods.And Jaylen Cross stood outside the event centre.His hoodie didn’t match the designer cloth he put on with his perfectly tailored suit jacket. His sneakers didn’t belong on the marble steps that led into the Zenith cycle. Yet, in the glow of his wrist display, a sigil beeped brightly, System Pass Acquired.Zee pinged in, “Questline Branch Unlocked: Break the Industry’s Crown.Objective: Penetrate Zenith Gala.Penalty for failure: -10 Fame, -3 Influence.”Jaylen exhaled, tightening his fists. Tonight wasn’t just another performance. It was the lion’s den.The crowd outside erupted as a sleek black limousine pulled up. Roman Vale stepped out of it first. He

The morning sun hadn’t even cleared the skyline when Jaylen’s phone began buzzing intently. He rubbed his eyes. The groggy from the adrenaline crash of last night’s gala, and he blinked at the flood of notifications when he picked up his phone. On his feed were different news alerts and every trending tag. What amused him was the fact that they all screamed the same thing. “Karma Del Rey Breaks Silence: Jaylen Cruz Harassed Me.”He froze for a second. The words didn’t make sense to him. Then he tapped the first link. A news anchor’s voice poured from the screen.“…the beloved starlet Karma Del Rey appeared last night, alleging that rising FameArena disruptor Jaylen Cruz harassed and manipulated her during their time in Zenith’s orbit. With tears streaming, Del Rey stated: ‘I was scared to speak until now. His influence was overwhelming, and I felt trapped.’”The screen cut to Karma. Her eyes were red and her voice trembled as she dabbed her cheeks with a tissue. The headlines blaz

The ballroom was beautified with shining chrome panels, hovering holographic screens, and a thousand expectant faces that were lit in cool blue light. Overhead was a giant blue banner with the name, “VirtuCast: Redefining Reality.”And then he suddenly appeared, Elijah Drax.The man Jaylen had once dragged through the dirt and exposed as a fraud now walked onstage wearing a designer black cloth with slick hair and a smile that looked twisted like a weapon. He lifted his arms as though he was a savior returning to his flock. The crowd jeered in approval.“Ladies and gentlemen,” Elijah said in a magnitude voice into the microphone, “we stand at the dawn of a new era. With my AI platform, VirtuCast, the truth is no longer a debate. Truth is whatever we make of it. And the future belongs to those who control it.”The audience roared. Investors leaned forward. Cameras crews started taking different shots. And in the back of the room, Jaylen felt his blood turn to ice. ‘What is this?’ He

Jaylen opened his eyes only to see his screen glowing like a flare in the dark.Zova Red Clain known as the avant-garde fire goddess of the stage. She was also known for wielding flame as if she were born of it. She had sent him a direct invitation.“My next act is to co-headline on The Furnace Foundry. Let’s burn the world together.”The Furnace Foundry was an abandoned steelworks. It is now fitted into a brilliant performance arena where the singer's display gave the stage the show. To the outside world, this was a career-defining offer. It was the kind that could cement Jaylen as not just a star but a legend.But on his HUD, Zee’s system alert blinked red, “Warning: Probability of sabotage is 65%. Do you accept the Quest?”Jaylen’s thumb hovered across the screen. Every one of his instincts screamed that it was a trap. Still, he pressed Accept.“Let them try, I’ll walk through fire if I have to.” He muttered. The foundry buzzed with songs when Jaylen arrived. The tall steel bea