"Huh? Wait, why are you smiling like that? Did you just trick me into buying this?" Cain asked, narrowing his eyes at Fifi when he noticed the sly grin on her face.
Fifi just twirled playfully in the air, her wings fluttering as she floated away, clearly enjoying herself. Cain slipped the bracelet onto his wrist, expecting something dramatic, but there was no immediate change — just the subtle sensation that his doubts were slipping away. A surge of boldness welled up within him, like he could take on the world without a second thought.
'Must be the magic at work,' he mused.
"When are you going to perform, and where?" Fifi asked, suddenly all business. She glanced at her Goddess screen and answered before Cain could. "Zone A, District 1, is the best spot. You'll get plenty of eyes on you there."
Cain nodded. He was also thinking the same.
"Alright, let's go," he said, turning to leave, but Fifi yanked him back by his hair.
"Hold it!"
"What?" Cain growled, swatting her hand away.
"Are you seriously just going to go out there like that? Without any preparation at all?" Fifi asked, her tone incredulous as she eyed Cain's outfit. He was wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt, his hair a wild mess.
"Huh? What's there to prepare? I've already got the dance moves down. I'll throw on some shirt, black pants, a cloak, gloves, and style my hair. I'll be good to go," Cain replied, brushing off her concerns.
Fifi massaged her temples, already feeling a headache coming on. "Are you sure that's all you need?"
"Oh, right," Cain said, as if remembering something important. He walked over to his portable speaker and grinned. "This, and my phone for the music. Everything's ready."
Before Fifi could say another word, Cain was already heading for the shower, his mind set on his ever first dance in public.
How hard could it be?
The [Charm Bracelet] pulsed faintly against his wrist, reminding him of the power he held. But even its magic couldn't fully shield him from the suffocating intensity of the moment.
This was a different kind of battlefield, one where every move would be scrutinized, every flaw exposed. The stakes were higher than ever before. And Cain knew that if he didn't push through this, the crowd would tear him apart without mercy.
|| SPECIAL MISSION ||
Perform in Zone A, District 1, and showcase your original dance moves to shatter the "copycat" label. Earn 100,000 new followers. [Reward: +100 Idol Points]
|| END ||
It seemed like the universe was on his side, throwing him a special mission with rewards to boot.
"Aren't you going to dance already?" Fifi asked, her voice dripping with impatience.
"Shut up. I'm still getting ready," Cain shot back, inhaling deeply to steady his nerves.
"You've been standing there like a statue for an hour now," Fifi chided, hovering near him.
Taking one last deep breath, Cain closed his eyes, forcing his mind to focus. The world around him seemed to slow down as he tapped into the core of his [Sharp Mind].
When he opened his eyes again, the fear was still there, but it was now caged behind a wall of resolve.
He wasn't going to back down. Not now. Not ever.
Cain reached for his phone, queuing up the music that would set the stage for his performance. The familiar beat filled his ears, grounding him, reminding him of why he was doing this.
And then, with the crowd's attention pulling as the beat grew louder, Cain took his first step into the unknown, ready to turn this public park into his stage.