Chapter 88
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 88
Chapter Title Debut Showcase
After the third ranking announcement ceremony ended, during the rest period.
The trainees, having endured over two months of grueling schedules, diligently stockpiled their stamina to burn their final spark.
Everyone exchanged smiles and silly jokes, enjoying a peaceful time, but the air inside the dorms was always tinged with a faint tension.
It felt just like the calm before the storm.
Just one final hurdle left now.
Even I, lying alone in an empty cell to rest, couldnt let my guard down.
With the finale approaching, I had to prepare as much as possible.
First, I pulled up the Status Window to check my current stats and proficiencies.
Name Karis von Walden Han Jihyuk
Age 20 28
Vocal B 1630
Dance B 130
Stamina A 5560
Looks SSS Nonadjustable
Charisma B 2730
Traits Prince of the Kingdom, Surpasser of the Demon King
Status Ailment Otherworldly Being Possessor
My proficiencies had risen quite a bit while preparing for the third round performance.
Thanks to that, my Dance stat, which had been B, upgraded to B, and my Charisma stat wouldnt be far behind.
Id used up almost all the points Id been saving to recover my Vocal stat, which had dropped due to the penalty, so I couldnt invest excessively right now. But at this rate, my Stamina and Charisma stats would rise a level after debut.
There are plenty of achievements I can unlock after debuting, so no need to get impatient about stats.
I sorted through the blacklocked achievements, picking out the ones I could soon claim.
Skill points from repeated practice were already tapering off like a depleted mine.
The live broadcast appearance achievements target had risen to 10 times, impossible for a trainee to reach.
That left only meet a certain number of audience members and the systems final quest, Debut within 365 days.
Judging by the game system, the final quest clear reward wont end with just skill points or Lucky Draw coins.
The sweet rewards awaiting after debut sounded great, but first, wasnt there something I could use right in the final round?
My gaze returned to the Lucky Draw shop at the bottom of the system window.
The random gachastyle Lucky Draw shop.
The first use had been a huge win, the second a disaster worse than not using it.
Gritting my teeth, I thought of the physical pain and stat drops that had followed the hidden quest failure.
Nows the time for boldness over caution. Especially if a penalty hits during the live broadcastitd be a total catastrophe.
Until now, Lucky Draw coins were too scarce to waste, so saving them made sense.
But for the final round, bold investment beat another failure like last time.
Depending on the situation, I might even use both coins in this final round.
I closed my eyes, recalling the final round missions.
The producers always stirred mind games among trainees each round, but the final was toptier difficulty.
One misstep, and you could mentally collapse before even going live.
Based on the final round format, my position wasnt bad.
But it wasnt safe enough to relax eitheran ambiguous spot.
...Might have to go allin at some point.
Something feels off.
Feels off?
Yeah.
Filming for the Idol Training Simulation final round had officially begun.
As always, we gathered in the grand hall, but the scene before us was vastly different from usual.
That mustve been the source of Kang Siyoons weird vibe.
Always staring at wooden floors, and now this full LED setits definitely strange.
Uh, yeah... Looking again after you say that, it kinda is.
Heo Yubin tugged at the bottom of his outfit, glancing down at his chest.
And today, doesnt the ranking seem written way bigger? Or is that just me?
Thats not just you, Yubin.
Right, Brother! The fonts definitely bigger!
I nodded quietly to Heo Yubin.
The producers always stuck our current rankings on our training uniforms.
But todays third ranking results were in much larger font than before.
Everyone rest well?
Choi Sia stepped forward in front of the LED set, flashing a bright smile.
This is the last time well be giving you missions like this. Time flies, huh? Already the finals. How do you feel about meeting the national producers live?
So nervewracking!
Hope I dont mess up!
Im tense!
Were all thinking the samenervous, anxious, scared. But.
Choi Sia paused, scanning us.
...Dont forget, youre the trainees who survived out of 96 to the very end. You got here by proving your skills. So hold your heads high and give it your all to the finish.
Her words rang with sincerity.
Scattered applause rippled naturally through the trainees.
Anyway, time to reveal the Idol Training Simulation final round mission. You cant see the top from down here, right?
Yes!
Not at all!
With stairs on both sides, the set was massive in size and height.
The final round mission is Debut Showcase. There are 14 surviving trainees, and 7 will achieve their debut dreams. Youll climb up there and choose one of two songs crafted by Koreas top composers. But unlike before, its not just picking a song.
Ah, no way.
Kang Siyoon sharply inhaled beside me at Choi Sias words.
He clutched his chest, lips pressed tight.
Not doing something by ranking again, are they?
Bby ranking?
If its not just picking songs, then theyre dividing parts up there too.
Kang Siyoons instincts were spot on.
Youll choose a song and stand on the part you want. Up top are key positions center, main vocal, main dancer, main rapper, etc. Order of choice starts from the lowest rank in the third announcement. And theres a special rule this round.
Oh, please no.
This feels ominous
Pushout.
Most trainees probably caught on.
Starting from lowest rank for songs and positions implied one thing.
In a survival of the fittest, no benefits for low rankshigher ranks would naturally push them out.
The choosing trainee can push out the one who picked first. The pusher decides which position to send the pushee to. But with a condition only to an empty position.
Wow...
You could get pushed to the other song entirely.
The first picker could get shoved around endlessly...
Idol Training Simulation always gave perks to high ranks.
Now, in the final round, the intensity ramped up massively.
Before we start, lets preview the songs. Play the video.
We turned to the projector screen at the front of the hall.
1. Urban Pop
The first song was an Urban Pop track.
Packed with sexy, dreamy vibes, it featured an addictive chorus and groovy bass that stood out.
The laidback yet intense choreography syncing with the melody was the key.
Damn, that choreos intense.
Songs sleek and stylish.
Im going for this no matter what. Totally my style.
Looks good, but... can we pull it off?
Urban Pop had a fresh concept and high addictiveness. Strong performance potential to leave an impression.
But the choreographys difficulty was obvious at a glance, giving trainees pause.
Next, the second song.
2. Future House
A Future House track.
If Urban Pop felt refined and unique, this was straight textbook.
Bright, upbeat mood with a killer hook melody.
Easylistening, highly mainstreamperfect for singing along.
Songs clean.
This ones good too?
I prefer this over the first. More mainstream vibe.
Wow, but the choreo heres super fastpaced too.
Choreo difficulty was similar for both.
But atmospheres differed.
Urban Pop demanded sexy flair matching its melody, highlighting individual lines.
Especially with waves and bodyrhythm hits galore.
Future House, conversely, built on upbeat backing with sharp group formations.
Clean paths, balanced moves syncing precisely for energetic vibes.
For the next 30 minutes, watch the videos and pick your song.
At Choi Sias cue, we hurriedly powered on the tablets provided by staff.
We clustered in groups, blasting the mission tracks.
Questions poured from both sides of me.
Karis, which ones better? They feel so different.
Brother, I think Im screwed! Choreos all too hard!
Karis Brother! Karis Brother! Sexy vibecould show a fresh charm, right!
Super tough. Honestly, I like both.
You too, Brother?
But honestly, the pushout seems like the real issue.
Kang Siyoon, Heo Yubin, Yu Minha, Song Hyeongbin, Chae Eungyuall huddled, debating song choices and pushout strategies.
I was deep in simulations of scenarios when
An unwelcome red text flashed.
Status Ailment Otherworldly Being Possessor Activated
Emergency Mission generated. Emergency Mission generated.
Emergent Mission Nothing is more important than seizing a superior position in war. Doesnt matter which song. Unconditionally claim the center and assert your presence. No time limit
...Damn it all.