Amias stared at the laptop screen, watching the Adin Ross clip for the eighteenth time now.
Amias paused the video, leaning back in the chair at Oakley's spare desk. Morning light filtered through half-drawn curtains, casting the room in a gentle glow.
He picked up his phone, one notification standing out among the rest: a message from Zara.
"Video's in your email. Jordan just sent it. Looks FIRE. Call me when you see it."
Amias couldn't help but smile. After everything that had happened—the violence, the bloodshed, the revenge—something good was finally emerging. His first music video was ready to be released. The quest that had felt so distant just days ago was now within reach.
He opened his email, scrolled past the Official Charts notification he'd already read earlier, and found Jordan's message with the video attachment. He clicked play and watched, transfixed on it. Jordan had captured something real—something a Amias in his element.
It was perfect.
Minus the wince that elicited when Ekane appeared on screen.
As the video ended, Amias leaned back, exhaling slowly. He reached for his phone and called Zara.
"So?" she answered immediately. "What do you think?"
"It's perfect," Amias said, his voice quiet but filled with conviction. "Jordan smashed it."
"I know, right? The lighting, the angles, everything. It looks professional as hell. When are you dropping it?"
Amias glanced at the time. "Today. No point waiting."
"Perfect timing with the chart news," Zara said, enthusiasm bubbling in her voice. "So... you gonna tell me what happened at that party? You ignored my calls all day and then suddenly you're staying at your cousin's place?"
Amias hesitated, fingers tapping against the desk. How much should he tell her? How much could he tell anyone about what had transpired?
"It's... complicated," he finally said. "My apartment got broken into. Mom's staying at Uncle Desmond's until she can find a new place. Oakley wanted me here so I could focus on the music."
"Broken into?" Zara's voice rose with concern. "Are you okay? Is that why you friend is in the hospital?"
"Yeah," Amias said, the lie feeling bitter on his tongue. "Wrong place, wrong time. He tried to stop them."
A pause hung between them. He could almost hear Zara processing, deciding whether to push for more details.
"I've got a lot to tell you," he added quietly. "But not over the phone."
"Alright," she conceded. "We'll talk later. But you're okay, right? Actually okay, not just saying it?"
Amias looked down at his hands—clean now, but he could still feel the phantom weight of the gun, still see the blood pooling across concrete.
"I'm getting there," he said honestly. "Things are different now. I'm done with... everything else. It's just music and business from here on out."
"Good," Zara said firmly. "That's what I've been saying all along. You're too talented to waste it on other stuff." She paused. "Hey, did you reach out to Zel about studio time?"
"Just messaged him before I called you. Asked if tomorrow works."
"Perfect. All your equipment got messed up in the break-in?"
"Pretty much trashed everything," Amias confirmed, remembering the destruction Apannii's boys had left behind. "But it's fine. I'll figure something out."
They chatted for a few more minutes about logistics and plans for the video release before ending the call. Amias turned back to the computer, uploaded the video to YouTube, filled in the details, and hit publish. Another step complete. Another bridge crossed.
The quest notification appeared almost immediately in his peripheral vision, a soft azure glow materializing in the air:
QUEST COMPLETED
Release your first song with a music video
REWARD: 2 Chance Points
Amias leaned back, watching as the holographic interface expanded before him. Two more Chance Points. He now had enough to spin the roulette again, to potentially change his trajectory once more.
But before he could fully process this achievement, his mind drifted back to two hours ago—to Temi, to that conversation in the mall.
—
The food court buzzed with activity around them, but Amias and Temi sat in a bubble of silence at their corner table. Steam rose from their untouched cups of coffee, swirling in the artificial mall lighting.
Temi looked different here—her eyes were red-rimmed, evidence of recent tears, though she sat straight-backed and composed.
"I never thought he'd actually be gone," she said finally, breaking the silence. "After all this time... all the planning... I almost can't believe it."
Amias watched her carefully. "Are you okay?"
A single tear escaped, rolling down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away. "I should be asking you that." She didn't finish the sentence, couldn't bring herself to say it aloud in such a public place.
"What's done is done," Amias said simply.
Temi nodded, her fingers wrapping tightly around her coffee cup. "I'll remember this forever, you know. What you did... for Aisha." She looked up, meeting his eyes directly. "Thank you."
"Thank you," Amias countered. "You saved my life. If you hadn't warned called Wyge, if you hadn't told me about Ekane..."
They fell silent again, both contemplating how differently things might have ended.
"So what now?" Temi asked eventually, her voice slightly steadier.
Amias considered the question. What now, indeed? The path that had consumed him for so long—vengeance, retribution, justice—had reached its conclusion.
"Now I focus on what matters," he paused, studying her face. "And I appreciate the people who helped me get here. Anyone who saved my life is a close friend to me."
Something flickered in Temi's eyes—surprise, perhaps, or hope. "Friends?" she asked, the word carrying weight beyond its single syllable.
"Friends," Amias confirmed with a nod.
Temi's smile was small but genuine as she stood and moved around the table. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him, a gesture that felt both new and somehow familiar.
"We'll talk," she whispered against his shoulder before pulling away.
—
Back in the present, Amias shook himself from the memory and focused on the holographic interface still hovering before him. It was time to move forward, to embrace this new chapter fully.
He concentrated on the Chance Points system, willing it to activate. The interface shimmered and transformed into the familiar roulette wheel, segments of various colors and designations rotating slowly before him.
"Spin," he commanded softly.
The wheel accelerated, colors blurring together as it rotated faster and faster before gradually slowing. The marker clicked past several options—Standard Equipment Upgrade, Rare Skill Enhancement, Epic Producer Connection—before finally settling on a segment Amias had never seen or heard of before.
[SYSTEM BASED PATH: ULTIMATE LEGEND]
Amias frowned, leaning closer to the holographic display. "System-based? What does that mean?"
The interface shimmered again, expanding to reveal:
THE LEGEND MAKER: 6-MONTH CHALLENGE
For the next 6 months, the system will focus exclusively on transforming you into a dominant force in the music industry.
DAILY GUIDANCE SYSTEM
Should you accept, the Legend Maker will reshape your daily experience:
Daily Missions
Progress Tracking
Strategy Updates
Technical Drills
The system will not force you to complete these tasks, but your progress depends entirely on your execution. Each day you follow the guidance brings you closer to legend status. Each day you ignore it is momentum lost forever.
TIME COMMITMENT WARNING
If you accept this challenge, understand that free time becomes a luxury. Your social life, leisure activities, and rest periods will be significantly reduced. The system cannot force this schedule upon you, but even slight deviation severely impacts your chances of meeting the Legend requirements.
THE LEGEND REQUIREMENTS
To complete The Legend Maker challenge, you must achieve these industry milestones within 6 months:
- Place a project in the Billboard Top 3
- Chart a solo track (no features) in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 20
- 90+ in One Music Stat
- 80+ in All Core Music Stats
- Maintain streaming numbers that exceed industry average by 300%
- Establish your own record label with legal documentation
- Negotiate and secure a distribution deal
- Create a visual that exceeds 15 million views
- Receive recognition from at least three established industry icons
- Headline a venue with minimum 15,000 capacitation
QUEST INTEGRATION
All future quests will be restructured to support your Legend journey.
THE CHALLENGE BEGINS NOW
The system will provide direction, but only your relentless drive will determine if you succeed.
If you accept, the system will immediately begin the Legend Maker program. Every aspect of your artistic development will be focused on achieving these milestones.
If you decline, you'll receive a secondary spin instead.
The system awaits your decision.
[ ACCEPT ] [ DECLINE ]
-
Amias stared at the interface, mind racing. "What... is this?" he whispered. "Explain."
The System filled his mind, cool and precise.
"The Legend Maker is an accelerated development program designed to maximize your potential within a compressed timeframe. Unlike standard rewards that provide passive benefits, this path actively guides your daily activities toward specific industry achievements."
"So you'll tell me what to do every day?" Amias frowned. "I'll barely have any free time."
"Incorrect," the System responded. "The program is comprehensive but not all-consuming. Mental health maintenance is statistically proven to improve creative output by 47%. Regular social interaction increases emotional resilience by 32%. Adequate rest enhances cognitive function by 28%."
"Okay, okay, stop with the statistics," Amias interrupted, rubbing his temples. "I get it."
He stood and paced the small room, considering the offer. Six months to transform from an artist with a single charting song to someone headlining major venues? It sounded impossible. But then again surviving a Russian roulette game with Apannii had seemed impossible too.
"I accept," he said finally, returning to face the interface.
The holographic display pulsed bright blue, then red, then gold.
CONGRATULATIONS, AMIAS. YOU'VE ENTERED HELL.
Amias blinked. "Wow. What a name."
"A colloquial designation," the System responded. "More accurately, you've entered an intensive artistic development program requiring significant dedication and sacrifice."
The interface shifted again, displaying new information.
"In your current state," the System continued, "achieving the established requirements would be statistically impossible. Your development must be calibrated according to a specific artistic trajectory."
"What does that mean?" Amias asked, leaning closer to the display.
"You must select your dominant artistic essence," the System replied as new options materialized before him:
SELECT YOUR DOMINANT ESSENCE
HEART {}
Heart essence transforms you at your emotional core. The world becomes a different place - experiences hit harder, feelings cut deeper, and your ability to process and articulate emotion expands dramatically. You begin filtering all of life through an emotional lens, finding meaning in moments others might overlook. Vulnerability becomes your strength rather than weakness, as you develop an almost supernatural ability to connect with others through shared emotional experiences. The highs become higher, the lows become lower, but both feel necessary and meaningful rather than erratic.
Notable Embodiments:
2Pac, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Drake, Adele, Billie Eilish, DMX, Kid Cudi, Lauryn Hill, Weeknd, Justin Bieber
SOUL {}
Soul essence deepens your connection to something larger than yourself - whether cultural heritage, spiritual tradition, or communal identity. Your perception shifts from individual achievement to collective responsibility. You become more attuned to historical patterns and cultural rhythms that others miss. Your sense of purpose expands beyond personal success to meaningful impact on your community or tradition. You naturally incorporate ancestral wisdom into contemporary situations, finding relevance in traditions others might dismiss as outdated. Your identity becomes more fluid, sometimes feeling like a vessel for voices beyond your own. You develop heightened awareness of social dynamics and cultural undercurrents. Decision-making becomes guided by principles and values rather than immediate outcomes. Your presence carries weight beyond your words or actions, as people sense the depth of tradition and wisdom you embody.
Notable Embodiments:
Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, Bob Marley, J. Cole, John Coltrane, Al Green, Eminem
ARTISTIC{50%}
Artistic essence fundamentally alters how you perceive creative boundaries. Your mind becomes a laboratory where conventions are dismantled and reassembled. You begin seeing connections between seemingly unrelated concepts that others cannot perceive. Time itself changes for you - you become more attuned to future possibilities, often creating things that won't be fully understood immediately. Repetition becomes physically uncomfortable as your brain craves novelty and evolution. You develop an almost scientific relationship with your creative process, constantly testing new approaches and techniques. Your perception becomes more kaleidoscopic, finding inspiration in unlikely sources and unusual combinations. You naturally resist categorization, finding freedom in ambiguity and experimentation. Your relationship with feedback changes as you become more concerned with pushing boundaries than pleasing audiences.
Notable Embodiments:
Kanye West, Frank Ocean, David Bowie, Tyler The Creator, Björk, André 3000, Michael Jackson, Prince, FKA Twigs, JPEGMAFIA, Chance the Rapper, Travis Scott
WAVE
Wave essence heightens your intuition about cultural momentum and energy flows. Your perception becomes more attuned to vibes and atmospheres than technical details or logical structures. You develop an almost supernatural ability to sense emerging trends and movements before they crystallize. You naturally prioritize aesthetic cohesion and emotional impact over conventional measures of quality or correctness. Your relationship with language evolves as you understand that how something is expressed often matters more than the literal content.
Notable Embodiments:
Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, Chief Keef, Bad Bunny, Drake, Travis Scott, Cardi B, Nav, Lil Yatchy, Don Toliver
Amias studied the options, his attention drawn to the percentage beside "Artistic."
"What does the fifty percent mean?" he asked. "Am I already on the Artistic path?"
"Correct," the System confirmed. "Your natural inclinations have already aligned you partially with the Artistic essence. Selecting this option will build upon existing foundations and provide a supplementary +30 to your Creativity stat due to the synchronicity with your inherent tendencies."
Amias nodded slowly, considering each option. Soul appealed to him—the connection to something larger. Heart spoke more to emotional experiences, that emotional depth artist like Drake had. Wave seemed to offer be more like the odd one out, more of the 'hype' music line.
But Artistic... that was already part of him. And the description did resonate with him…
"Is this it? After this, we're done?" he asked.
"Negative," the System replied. "After selecting your dominant essence, you will choose a specific trait from an artist embodiment, followed by preferred song structures."
Amias noticed something curious about the lists. "Some artists appear under multiple categories," he observed. "Like Michael Jackson is both Soul and Artistic."
"Correct. The most transformative artists often embody multiple essences, though one typically dominates their creative approach."
Amias made his decision. "I choose Artistic."
The interface pulsed with confirmation, and Amias felt... nothing. No immediate change, no sudden transformation.
ARTISTIC ESSENCE SELECTED
+30 CREATIVITY AWARDED
The interface shifted again, displaying a complex web of artist connections. Amias navigated through it, exploring the different embodiments of each essence. He clicked on Michael Jackson and just as he expected:
{SOUL}
He took a slight glance through the rest of his traits, along with browsing through a few other artist beforemoving to Lauryn Hill, his mother's favorite artist, noticing that her entry glowed with a distinctive golden aura compared to the others.
"What's different about Lauryn Hill's Soul trait?" he asked.
"Each artist embodies their essence in unique ways," the System explained. "Lauryn Hill's manifestation of Soul essence represents a particularly potent integration of spiritual consciousness with social commentary and emotional vulnerability."
Amias studied the entry carefully. The more he read about her approach—how she wove personal narrative into universal themes, how she balanced technical virtuosity with raw emotional honesty—the more it resonated with him.
"This one," he said, pointing to Lauryn Hill's glowing entry. "This is what I want."
- Artistic {☒}
- Soul {☒}