Gangster to Idol

In total, Cain scored 87 points.

He exhaled, a sigh of disappointment escaping his lips as the number flashed across the screen. Too short of the 100 digits.

He was slipping further and further behind the others, and the thought gnawed at him relentlessly. If he didn't find his true voice soon, he'd have to kiss his idol dream goodbye.

The gap was widening, and with each passing performance, the competition was becoming fiercer. His heart sank a little at the realization.

As the show continued, the inevitable happened.

Just as everyone had predicted, Dylan — the golden boy — scored a flawless 127 points, rocketing him to the top of the leaderboard.

The trainees from the major corporations also broke the 100-point mark with ease, their performances polished to perfection.

But for the others? It was a bloodbath.

In this episode alone, half of the remaining contestants were eliminated, victims of Felice's merciless scoring system.

She didn't care about potential or effort — she only cared about results. And if you couldn't deliver? You were gone, no second chances.

Cain's stomach twisted as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. It wasn't looking good for him.

The gap between him and the top contenders was growing too fast. If he didn't do something drastic, him entering the idol world would slip through his fingers.

As the episode drew to a close, the host stepped onto the stage, their voice booming across the venue.

"Alright, everyone, settle down! For the next remaining episode, your votes will be one of the deciding factor!" the host announced, their words sending a ripple of excitement through the crowd.

"That's right, folks — your votes will determine the fate of our trainees! So make sure to tune in and cast your votes wisely, because their future is in your hands!"

"Alright, for our next episode, we've got a little twist!" The host's voice boomed through the venue, sending a ripple of excitement through the crowd. A massive, glowing roulette wheel descended from above, illuminated by a kaleidoscope of flashing lights. Each section displayed a different challenge in bold, vibrant letters.

The audience leaned in, eyes wide with anticipation.

"And now, let's see what fate has in store for our trainees!" The host grinned as he gave the wheel a dramatic spin. It whirled faster and faster, colors blurring together as the needle clicked across each section, building suspense with every turn.

Cain's heartbeat quickened, the air around him thick with tension. He watched the wheel spin, his mind racing. What kind of challenge would they face next?

The entire room seemed to hold its breath, all eyes glued to the roulette as it began to slow. The clicking grew louder, each sound adding to the weight of the moment.

And then, with a final stutter, the wheel came to a stop.

The audience collectively gasped, their excitement reaching a fever pitch.

Cain's gaze snapped to the word at the top of the wheel, his eyes narrowing as he read it aloud in his head.

[Mystic Melody]

A murmur spread through the crowd, followed by a chorus of shocked whispers.

"Mystic Melody?" Cain muttered under his breath, feeling a knot form in his stomach.

"Whoa . . ."

The audience whispered, the reaction spreading like wildfire. The challenge was unlike anything they'd expected.

The host's grin widened with excitement. "That's right, folks! For our next challenge, contestants will perform a song, but this time, it's all about the voice! No choreography, no flashy visuals — just pure, raw vocal talent.

"The mentors will only be judging the sound without knowing the trainees. Can our contestants captivate the judges using nothing but their voices? Let's see who can truly make their performance stand out! And . . .

to make the challenge more exciting . . . those couldn't get the mentors approval will be eliminated on the spot regardless of points!"

The audience whispered and the trainees with low scores paled.

Cain's stomach tightened as the words sank in. "S-singing . . . ? E-eliminated?" His voice wavered, barely audible.

It hit him like a punch to the gut. He wasn't ready for this — not yet.

Singing was his weakest link, and now there would be no stage presence or dance moves to hide behind. He'd be exposed, vulnerable, his voice laid bare for judgment.

The challenge had come too soon.

A quiet dread settled over him as the weight of what was to come pressed down on his chest.

"This isn't good Cain," Fifi said.

Cain nodded, looking serious.

"As for the next episode, we'll be introducing a new mentor," the host announced with a grin. "While the focus will be on your vocals, remember, your regular dance training doesn't stop. So don't slack off — you'll need both to survive in the final rounds."

With that, the trainees were dismissed, heading back to their rooms for rest.

But sleep was the last thing on Cain's mind. Even as the late hours crept in, his thoughts swirled, restless. One week — that's all they had to prepare. One week to turn his shaky vocals into something that could compete.

It wasn't enough, and he knew it.

"I wonder who our new mentor will be tomorrow?" Riku muttered, staring at the ceiling.

"You're still awake?" Cain asked, rolling over to look at him.

Riku grinned. "You're not asleep either."

Cain sighed. "Still thinking about what song to choose."

"Same. But I'm more excited to find out who our new mentor is tomorrow!"

"You guys should really sleep," Leo chimed in from the other bunk. "It's getting late."

"You're awake too," Riku shot back.

Leo chuckled. "Yeah, well . . . I've got a lot on my mind."

Cain kept quiet, but he knew Leo was rattled — just like him. The pressure of elimination loomed heavy on both of them. This next episode wasn't just a challenge; it was their lifeline.

"You idiots should all be asleep by now," Damien growled from his bed, his voice a low grumble.

"You're awake too, Damien," Leo teased.

"That's because you're all so damn loud!" Damien snapped.

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The room fell into an uneasy silence, tension hanging heavy in the air. Sleep was elusive, and the upcoming challenge weighed on everyone's minds. Even the top trainees, who usually had the luxury of resting on their points, couldn't afford to relax.

In the next round, points meant nothing — raw vocal talent would be the only thing that mattered.