The arena seemed to hold its breath. Both Dayo and Miguel were called up on stage for judgment. At one look, you could see the tension in both their eyes.

Spotlights shifted toward Miguel as the judges leaned forward, ready to deliver their verdict.

One of the European judges spoke first, his voice calm but direct.

"Miguel Alvarez… your performance was heartfelt. You carried real emotion, and that is something we can't teach. But there were moments when your control wavered. You hit the heart, but technically, there were cracks. Still, for a raffle draw contestant… You exceeded my expectations."

The scoreboard lit up: 8.5, 8, 9, 8.5, 9, 9.

Miguel's total appeared on the screen behind: 52 out of 60.

The crowd applauded loudly. Miguel exhaled sharply, bowing in gratitude. His eyes were wet, but he smiled while giving the judges a small bow.

Then came Dayo's turn.

"Dayo Jason," Marcus Cole said, adjusting his glasses. "Remixing my song as a judge was a bold move. Risky. But you pulled it off with respect and creativity beyond what others have done. The arrangement was clean, your tone stable, and most importantly, you made us feel. For me, personally, that was flawless."

He lifted a card. 10.

The others followed with their scores: 9.5, 9, 9.5, 9, 10.

Total: 57 out of 60.

The arena erupted.

Dayo's chest rose and fell, his nerves finally loosening. He bowed deeply to the judges, then glanced at Miguel. Miguel smiled, clapped for him, and the two embraced at the center of the stage.

"You killed it, bro," Miguel whispered.

"So did you," Dayo replied firmly. "Don't let anyone tell you different."

"And I'm sure many labels will be lining up to sign you. If you haven't seen any by the end of this month, call me," Dayo added with a grin.

Hearing this, Miguel looked at him, eyes wide, and hugged him again. "Thank you, bro. That means a lot."

Dayo just smiled. Deep down, he knew other labels would sniff Miguel out soon enough. With a potential of B+, it was only a matter of time before someone noticed.

As they walked offstage, Min Jae was waiting in the corridor, arms folded, and a smile on his face. Then he stepped forward, clasped Dayo's shoulder, and said quietly, "That was amazing, bro."

Dayo smirked. "Yeah, thanks. I wish you the best."

"Thanks, bro. My turn's coming soon," Min Jae said as he shook his hand before heading off.

***

Backstage, with the noise of the arena now reducing in his ears, Dayo finally grabbed his phone. He dialed quickly. Valerie picked up on the second ring.

"Dayo?" she said. "How's it going over there? Today's the first round."

He chuckled tiredly. "Yeah… It's a lot. But I qualified."

Valerie let out a sharp laugh of relief. "I knew it! I never doubted you for a second."

"Thanks," Dayo said, rubbing his face. Then his tone shifted. "But listen, about Lois… how's the single doing? What are the numbers now?"

Valerie didn't waste time. "You'll like this. As of this morning, the single has crossed 15 million Spotify: 7.8 million streams. Apple Music: 3.2 million. Audiomack: 2.5 million. YouTube: 1.5 million. Altogether—15 million streams. And it hasn't even been two weeks since release."."

Dayo's head leaned back against the wall. "Fifteen million? In just about a week?"

"Yeah," Valerie said, almost laughing herself. "It's crazy."

"Wow… that's unreal," Dayo muttered. "For Lois, a total newcomer… this is massive. I mean, even I didn't expect numbers like that. "

"Yeah, and to think that I even doubted you on the date for the release feels weird now. I am happy we went through and followed your decision.

Dayo just laughed, "Well, all is good, that's what matters."

All credit was to be given to the system for hinting at the right date for the release.

Valerie cut in gently. "And just so you know, the industry noticed. Some labels have already started sniffing around. She's on their radar. Nothing concrete yet, but people are definitely watching."

Dayo smiled faintly. "I figured as much. She deserves the spotlight, at least she worked hard to create it."

He paused, then suddenly remembered. "Oh—before I forget. The album prep. How's that coming along?"

Valerie's voice steadied. "Don't worry about it. Wayne and I are on it. The mixes are almost done, and we'll send you updates every night. You just focus on your competition—we've got this side covered."

Dayo exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders. "Alright… I'll try. Thanks, Val."

"Always," she said warmly.

Dayo hung up, smiling faintly. The weight of the stage, the cheers, the scores—all of it pressed against his chest. But knowing his people back home were moving things forward gave him strength.

This was just round one.

And the road ahead was only getting harder.

Before heading back to his room, Dayo decided to stay to watch some of the other contestants. He wanted to see what he was really up against.

1. Sophia Zhang (China)

Singing: S

Writing: B+

Visual: S+

Instruments: Guzheng (SS), Piano (SS)

Potential: SS+

Sophia got on stage, and it was clear why people rated her so highly. Her voice was clean, sharp, and she switched between instruments like it was nothing. The visuals were crazy too, like a full-on concert.

Man… SS+ potential? Yeah, I can see that. She's scary good.

2. Min Jae Park (South Korea)

Singing: A+

Writing: B

Visual: SS+

Instruments: Guitar (B), Piano (B+)

Potential: SS

Dayo had seen Min Jae practice before, but seeing him perform live was different. The crowd screamed before he even sang a word. Everything about him was smooth, practiced, and controlled.

So this is idol-level stuff… dude's fanbase alone could carry him far. He's no joke.

3. Lucas Rivera (Brazil)

Singing: S

Writing: C

Visual: B+

Instruments: Drums (A), Guitar (S), Music Production (A)

Potential: SS

Lucas came in with a big smile and instantly had the whole crowd moving. His energy was on another level, switching between drums and guitar like it was easy.

This guy doesn't even need to be perfect vocally. His vibe alone can win people over. Dangerous type to go against.

4. Amara Diop (Senegal)

Singing: A+

Writing: B

Visual: S+

Instruments: Kora (SS), Flute (SS)

Potential: SS

Amara's performance felt different. She mixed African traditional sounds with R&B, and it stood out immediately. The instruments she brought on stage gave her a unique sound nobody else had.

Yeah… this is serious. She's not just performing, she's bringing her culture with her. That's tough to beat.

5. Matteo Rossi (Italy)

Singing: S+

Writing: A+

Visual: S

Instruments: Violin (C+), Piano (S)

Potential: SS+

Matteo walked out like he already owned the stage. His voice hit hard, powerful but also smooth. Then he sat at the piano and kept the crowd locked in.

This guy's built differently. S+ vocals, SS+ potential… He performs like he's been doing this all his life. Yeah, he's a real problem.

After watching all of them, Dayo sat back in his chair. Each one had something special. They weren't just good—they were at a level that made him second-guess himself.

I thought I was ready… but this competition is way tougher than I imagined.

10 GT = 1 Bonus chapter

1 Super Gift = 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.