Practice, Practice, Practice

Allen's days had fallen into a routine of relentless practice, pushing himself harder than he ever had before. The competition was only days away, and he knew he had to step up his game if he wanted to stand a chance against the other contestants. His guitar lessons with Doug were making a noticeable difference, but it wasn't enough. He wanted to be more than just good—he wanted to be exceptional. And with the system in his corner, that goal felt more attainable, even though it meant some hard decisions were ahead.

After the initial buzz of his song "Fading Lights" had begun to settle, Allen focused on making sure his skills were on point. His streams had steadily increased, reaching a solid 45,000, but that was still shy of the 100,000 he needed for another significant boost in Showbiz Points. Still, he wasn't discouraged. He had already accumulated a good amount from his previous streams and was sitting at a respectable 4,800 Showbiz Points.

Sitting in his room late one night, Allen opened the system interface to see his current stats. It was the familiar screen that had become a part of his daily life, and it gave him a sense of control in an otherwise chaotic time. The competition was approaching fast, and he needed to be strategic about where to invest his hard-earned points.

His stats were displayed clearly in front of him:

Vocal Talent: 5/10

Guitar: 3/10

Songwriting: 3/10

Charisma: 4/10

Appearance: 4/10

Intelligence: 5/10

He tapped his fingers against his desk, deep in thought. His vocals were decent, but his guitar playing still lagged behind. He knew that his performance at the competition would rely heavily on both his voice and his ability to play live. Without solid guitar skills, there was no way he could deliver the kind of performance that would blow people away.

After a moment of deliberation, he made his decision. He needed to upgrade his Guitar stat.

With a quick swipe, he pulled up the cost of the next upgrade:

Upgrade Guitar from 3/10 to 4/10: 1,000 Showbiz Points.

Allen nodded to himself. This was a no-brainer. He needed to play better. He confirmed the upgrade and felt the familiar warm sensation flow through his fingers as the system did its work. His hands tingled, and when the feeling faded, he flexed his fingers experimentally. He could already feel the difference, as if his fingers were lighter, faster, and more responsive.

Showbiz Points Remaining: 3,800.

He picked up his guitar and strummed a few chords, testing the new upgrade. The sound was clearer, the transitions between chords smoother. It wasn't a massive leap, but it was definitely an improvement. He could feel his confidence building. This would definitely help him during the competition, but he wasn't done yet.

He glanced at his remaining points. 3,800 wouldn't be enough to get him to the next level in guitar or any of his major skills, but it could still be useful. He knew he'd need all the charisma he could muster when he finally hit the stage. His voice and guitar would be the foundation, but charisma was what would get the crowd on his side. Without that, even the best performance could fall flat.

Upgrade Charisma from 4/10 to 5/10: 2,500 Showbiz Points.

It was a hefty cost, but worth it. Allen hit the confirmation button and felt a shift deep inside him, like a light switch being turned on in the back of his mind. It wasn't a physical change like the guitar upgrade, but he could sense a difference. His confidence felt sharper, his thoughts more focused. It was as if a layer of self-consciousness had peeled away, leaving behind a version of himself that was more sure of his place on stage. He liked the feeling.

Showbiz Points Remaining: 1,300.

Allen smiled. He was now equipped with a 5/10 Charisma stat. That meant he could stand in front of a crowd and command their attention, not just through his music, but through his presence. It was something he knew would be crucial when he was up against seasoned performers who knew how to work an audience.

He closed the system with a satisfied sigh. He wasn't maxed out by any means, but these incremental improvements were pushing him closer to his goal. For the first time in a while, he felt like he was making real progress.

The next few days were a whirlwind. His practice sessions with Doug became more intense, with Doug pushing him to play faster, cleaner, and with more precision. Allen could feel the effects of the upgrade during every lesson. His fingers moved more fluidly across the strings, and his confidence in his playing grew stronger each day.

"You're getting better, kid," Doug said one afternoon after a particularly grueling session. "You might just be ready for this competition after all."

Allen smiled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Thanks, Doug. I've been putting in the hours."

"It shows," Doug said, packing up his guitar. "But don't let it go to your head. This competition is going to be tough. You've got the talent, but talent alone isn't going to win it for you."

"I know," Allen replied. "That's why I'm working on everything—performance, presence, all of it."

Doug gave him a knowing look. "Good. Just remember to keep it balanced. Don't get so caught up in trying to impress everyone that you forget to enjoy the music. That's what really sells a performance. If you're not having fun, the audience won't either."

Allen nodded, taking Doug's words to heart. He knew the competition was going to be a mental game as much as a musical one. If he let the pressure get to him, it would show in his performance. He had to stay cool, confident, and focused.

After his lesson, Allen sat down at his desk to review his stats once again. His guitar was now at 4/10, his vocals were solid at 5/10, and his charisma was also at 5/10. His songwriting, though, still sat at 3/10, and that gnawed at him. He hadn't had much time to work on writing new material, and he knew that original songs were a big part of what the judges would be looking for.

He made a mental note to dedicate more time to songwriting in the coming weeks. As much as he wanted to pour all of his Showbiz Points into upgrading his playing and performance skills, he couldn't neglect the creative side of things. Without strong, original songs, his technical abilities wouldn't matter.

With the competition fast approaching, Allen realized he had to be strategic about how he spent his time. He couldn't afford to spread himself too thin, but he also couldn't neglect any one area. Every skill—vocals, guitar, charisma, songwriting—would have to be in top form if he wanted to make it to the finals.

The days blurred together as Allen balanced his day job, practice, and moments of rest. He was now burning the candle at both ends, but he felt alive in a way he hadn't before. His drive to improve was fueled by the system, but also by his desire to prove to himself that he belonged on that stage. The system had given him tools, but it was up to him to wield them.

As the competition date crept closer, Allen couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. He had come so far in such a short amount of time, but he knew the real test was yet to come. Would all of his hard work pay off? Would the system be enough to give him the edge he needed? He didn't have the answers, but he was ready to find out.

With just a few weeks to go, Allen knew one thing for certain: he was going to give this competition everything he had.

Vocal Talent: 5/10

Guitar: 4/10

Songwriting: 3/10

Charisma: 5/10

Appearance: 4/10

Intelligence: 5/10