Alex Packer woke with a throbbing headache. The last thing he remembered was taking his final breath as the stone necklace burst into a red, flaming light and wrapped around him. After that, he had lost consciousness.

"What's happening? Am I dead? Is this the soul realm?"

His eyes were unfocused as he tried to take in his surroundings. After a moment, his vision gradually cleared. He found himself lying in a deserted, dark alley.

"I'm not dead? Then why wasn't I sent to a hospital? Who left me in this strange alley?" None of it made sense. His entire body ached, and bruises covered his skin. Yet there was no way a direct hit from a truck would leave him with only these relatively minor injuries.

In the best-case scenario, surviving such an accident would have meant spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Something was clearly wrong.

Without warning, his headache intensified. He clutched his head as his body twitched violently. He remained like that for several minutes until the pain finally subsided. When he lifted his head again, his expression was no longer the same.

He understood what had happened.

He had reincarnated.

Just moments ago, he had received the memories of this body's previous owner, right up to the instant of death.

A surge of rage and regret burned through him. The intensity of it startled him, because those emotions were not entirely his own. They had to be remnants of the previous owner's consciousness. That owner had also been named Alex and, like him, had been an orphan. The difference was that this Alex had never been adopted. Once he turned sixteen, he had been forced to fend for himself.

It felt as though that lingering consciousness had not fully dissipated and had instead merged with his soul. He could not explain how, but he could sense it with unsettling clarity.

"So I died and was reincarnated into another world similar to Earth?" he murmured. "Well, that's still better than ceasing to exist. Even if I had lived, there was no way I would have survived that truck."

He sighed softly and accepted his fate.

His only regret was that he would not be with Adolf for his next birthday. He would never see him again. Back on Earth, he had only a handful of friends, most of whom were regular customers. He had spent most of his life driving his taxi and taking care of Adolf, until Adolf had been moved to an old people's home the year before.

"This kid died in such a pitiful way," he muttered. "He did nothing wrong. He just fell in love like any other youth. Those bastards beat him to death. And his girlfriend could have simply broken up with him instead of cheating behind his back with his so-called best friend."

He paused, then let out a short, humorless laugh.

"The funny thing is, he had the same dream I did when I was younger."

The deceased Alex had wanted to become a superstar as well. He had been passionate about it and had even registered for a hugely popular reality competition show, Super Stars of Tomorrow.

But just like him, his talent had only been average.

"I promise I'll take revenge for you," he said quietly. "And I'll chase the dream we both shared, the dream I thought I'd already lost my chance to pursue."

His eyes stung as he spoke.

What he could not achieve in his past life, he would achieve in this one. Even if his talent was only average, he would work harder than anyone else and make it real.

(Ding! The Wish Stone has scanned your memory and determined your path based on your deepest wish. Based on the result, you have been awarded the Superstar System!)

A robotic voice rang out in his mind, startling him badly.

"System? Wish Stone?" He froze as the pieces began to click into place.

The red stone.

He had been so absorbed in the memory transfer that he had temporarily forgotten about it. How had he arrived in this world in the first place? His soul must have been carried here by that mysterious red stone his adoptive father had given him.

He remembered the stone bursting into red light at the final moment. It had to be the last Wish Stone. What was the true story behind it? Did his adoptive father know about its power? Was it really just a coincidence that he had given Alex the stone on the very day he died?

Sadly, those questions would never be answered.

He was in another world now.

"First, I need to get out of this alley." As much as he wanted to rest longer, he could not afford to. The place was dark and deserted, and he could easily be attacked by robbers. He had no intention of dying a second time.

He pushed himself to his feet and winced, almost forgetting how badly he had been beaten. Step by step, he made his way home.

After ten minutes of walking, he reached his apartment. He rented a single room in an old, three-story building.

The landlady was outside, smoking. She paused when she noticed him limping toward her.

"What is this? Why are you walking like that? Wait, why are there bruises all over your body?" Her eyes widened in shock.

"It's nothing serious," he said, trying to reassure her. "I got into a small fight. I'm fine now. I just need a good rest."

He lied without hesitation.

He did not want to explain what had happened. She nodded and said nothing more, though worry still lingered in her expression.

Alex took a proper look at her, since this was the first time he had seen her with his own eyes rather than through the memories of the other Alex.

She was stunningly beautiful and appeared to be in her late twenties. She had a sharp tongue, but all her tenants knew she was a good person at heart. He had owed her money many times in the past, and she had always allowed him to pay at his own pace. Of course, she never failed to give a firm lecture afterward.

He sighed and dragged himself into his small room.

The place was a mess. The previous Alex had never been a tidy person. He would have cleaned it up, but he had no strength left.

More than anything, he wanted to sleep. Still, before that, he needed to see the face of the body he now inhabited.

He stepped in front of the mirror...

"Wow, this guy is very handsome. No wonder Christina didn't want to break up," Alex muttered, stunned by his own reflection.

Back on Earth, he had looked ordinary, the kind of face that never stood out in a crowd. Now, however, he was striking. Even so, he appeared a little unkempt. The previous Alex had never cared much about his appearance.

His hair was overgrown and clearly needed styling. His skin showed signs of neglect, as if it had been a long time since he last used any skincare products. Despite the disarray, his good looks were impossible to ignore.

His eyelids drooped heavily. He was exhausted and could no longer think about the system or reincarnation. Dragging himself to the bed, he collapsed onto it. The moment his body touched the mattress, he fell asleep.

Alex woke up early for work as usual. He had always risen early to pick up Annie from school. Blinking groggily, he realized he was in an unfamiliar room. Shock flickered through him before yesterday's events rushed back into his mind.

He let out a sigh. Normally, the Alex of this world should have been getting ready for school, but there was no way he could attend class with all these bruises, at least not for the next three days.

He lay back on the bed, sighed once more, and called out to the mysterious system. It had only spoken a single sentence yesterday, and he still had no idea how it was supposed to help him.

"System, hello? System, are you there?"

(Ding! The Superstar System is at your service.)

"Yes," he said, delighted. Just like the protagonists in those popular novels, he had his own cheat. Another notification sounded.

(System scanning host... Scan complete.)

Host level:

Entertainment skills:

Star points: 0

Singing: level 4

Dancing: level 3

Composing and songwriting: level 5

Acting: level 3

Music production: level 5

Instruments:

Guitar: level 7

Charisma: 6

Special skills: none

Intelligence: 9

Handsomeness: 8

Physical points: 7 (This includes all physical stats like speed and strength. An average grown man has 10 points.)

Fighting skills: none

Weapon skills: none

Special technique: none

Other skills: none

A translucent panel appeared before him, clearly displaying all his stats.

"Wow, are these really all my stats? They're pretty poor, I must say."

(System notice: Host physical stats are weak. A superstar must be fit. The host has been issued daily missions.)

Daily Mission One: Do 100 push-ups every day for one week.

Reward: Random increase in physical points.

Punishment for failure: One of the host's stats will randomly decrease by one point.

Duration: One week.

Daily Mission Two: Two hours of singing and an additional two hours of composing every day.

Reward: Random level increases in singing and composing. Rewards will be given after one week.

Punishment: Random stat deduction.

Duration: One week.

The system quickly issued its first set of missions.

"What the hell! Why don't you just tell me to go die, system? Can't you see how injured I am?" Alex nearly cursed at the floating display.

(As a first-time gift, the system will give the host a high-grade healing potion. Do you want me to use it on you now?)

"Yes," he replied without hesitation.

Immediately, a warm energy surged through his body. It was gentle and soothing. He closed his eyes as a satisfied smile formed on his lips. About a minute later, the sensation faded. When he looked down at himself, his eyes widened in shock. Every bruise had vanished.

"First, it's time to complete my first mission." He dropped into a push-up position and began. He finished all one hundred before collapsing, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

(First daily mission completed. Reward: +1 physical point.)

As he focused on his body, he could clearly feel that he was stronger than before.

He went to the bathroom and took a shower. He decided not to go to school, as the change would have been too abrupt. After bathing, he cooked a pack of noodles and ate before attempting his second mission.

For the next week, Alex lived the same routine. Every morning, he did one hundred push-ups. He then spent four hours composing and singing. In the evenings, he went to the eatery where he worked part-time.

Contrary to his expectations, the daily stat increases ranged from only 0.1 to 0.5 points instead of a full point like on the first day. Even so, over the past few days, he managed to raise his physical stat to 9.

Finally, it was time to receive the increases for his composing and singing levels.

(Mission complete. Reward: Singing level 5; Composing and songwriting level 7.)

"System, can you be any less reliable? Composing and songwriting went up two levels, but singing only increased by one?" He felt like crying, but no tears came. His first screening for Superstars of Tomorrow was the next day, and a larger boost to singing would have greatly improved his chances.

(Ding! New mission: Compose a song now, then go to a public place and perform it.

Reward: Special skill - Resonance.

Resonance enhances the emotional impact of the host's voice, making his tone naturally draw attention on a deeper level and subtly influence the audience's mood. Effect depends on level.

Mission duration: Seven hours.)

"Seven hours? I'm supposed to be at the eatery in an hour. It'll take me two or three hours just to compose a decent song. Shit, I'll have to skip work today. Hopefully Madam Eudora won't be angry. This is already my second time this month." He sighed helplessly.

The first time had been on the day he was reincarnated, when the previous Alex had left work without notice after receiving that text.

Alex made his decision quickly and wasted no time. He immediately began working on the song. At the same time, he felt a surge of excitement at the promise of a special skill. He had not gained any special skills yet, and this one sounded particularly useful.

It took him four hours to finish the song. Completely exhausted, he went to the washroom and poured himself a glass of water.

When he came out, he reached for the guitar hanging on the wall beside his small bed. The previous Alex had loved the guitar, and his skill with it was above average.

He had bought it for 500 credits (one credit equal to one US dollar.)

It was a high-quality acoustic guitar. He played for forty minutes before finally stopping.

Putting on a black coat, he slung the guitar over his back and left his apartment.

"You mean you want to leave me and join a bigger label? Hah! Where was that label when you were nothing? Where was it when you were jumping from one talent show to another?" A tall, beautiful, mature woman shouted angrily at a girl dressed in purple.

The girl in purple looked younger and was also beautiful, but her beauty paled in comparison to that of the mature woman.

She bowed her head in shame.

"I'm sorry, Anna, but as you can see, my career has grown immensely. You can no longer handle it. Be honest with yourself. I need a better label for better marketing and better deals," she explained.

"I can't handle you?" The mature woman slammed her hand against her chest. "Do you even know how much I've sacrificed, and how much more I'm still willing to sacrifice for you? Do you know how long I've been in this industry? Eight years. Eight good years.

"The connections and experience I've gathered during those years are more than enough to take you even further."

"Let's stop lying to ourselves, Anna," the younger beauty said. "No agent could take you that far. You've already outdone most of them by taking me this far, and I truly appreciate it. But growing my talent is far more important than the gratitude I feel toward you."

"Is that really what you want?" the mature woman asked, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Yes, Anna. I'm sorry." The girl with purple hair looked as though she were making an incredibly difficult decision.

"No need to be sorry. This has been the pattern every time. You're not the first, and you won't be the last. As a private agent, all I do is scout talent, nurture it, and wait for top industry players, who didn't even know these talents existed, to offer them contracts. You can leave my house now, Percy." Her tone was icy, cold, and commanding.

The girl in purple knew there was no point in staying. Her presence would only make Anna angrier. She decided it would be better to return later, once Anna had calmed down.

"Alright, I'll go now. I'll come back later when you've calmed down," she said softly.

"No need to come back, Percy. I understand you, and I forgive you. It's not your fault. The deal they offered was simply too good for you to resist. But I should warn you in good faith. The moment you join them, you completely lose your freedom."

****

After a few minutes of walking, Alex arrived at Newar Square. It was not a particularly popular square, but it still held a decent crowd. Night had already fallen, yet a surprising number of people lingered.

Alex sat beside an old waterfall at the center of the square and took out his guitar. People noticed him, whispered among themselves, and some even laughed quietly.

Alex ignored the commotion and began strumming his guitar, searching for the right tune. His eyes closed as he immersed himself in the emotions of the song he was about to sing. Soon, his voice rose, steady and confident.

🎶🎶🎶

Verse 1

When the world fell apart

Darkness found its stride

But you remember what I promised

One day, I'll lean on you to hide

From moments that slip away

I hate to say goodnight

Yet I'll see you with the sunrise

Still know your heart, still know your eyes

🎶🎶🎶

His voice carried slowly but confidently through the square. Some passersby stopped and listened. His voice was not exceptional, but the lyrics were flawless.

🎶🎶🎶

Pre-Chorus

I could tell you of restless nights

How no one cheers for the birds that don't take flight

So let the heroes fade and hide

My wonder's weary, just a little tired

🎶🎶🎶

🎶🎶🎶

Chorus

If only you could see yourself the way I do

You'd see your glow, your glow

I know you'd never leave me behind

But right now, I'm lost, I know

Are we meant to burn, or will we make it through the night?

I'll hold you close until it feels right

If only you could see yourself the way I do

You'd see your glow, your glow

🎶🎶🎶

Alex became so absorbed in the performance that he poured his heart into the second verse. The crowd felt it. Even though his voice was not perfect, the emotion behind it was undeniable, and people genuinely connected with the lyrics.

He strummed the final note. A brief silence followed before it shattered, and the small audience burst into applause. Some even tossed money toward him. Alex felt embarrassed. He was not a beggar. Still, he bent down and picked up the few dollar bills.

Among the crowd stood a tall, beautiful, mature woman. She held her phone and frowned slightly. "Strange," she murmured. "I recorded the lyrics and searched online. They don't seem to belong to any known artist. It's highly likely he wrote them himself."

"Very talented composer," Anna thought, "but his voice isn't strong enough to become a musician. He'd be better off composing and selling his songs."

She had stepped out for some fresh air from one of her favorite restaurants in Newar Square when she happened upon Alex singing. Curiosity had kept her there.

Alex was packing up his guitar when a sharp scent of lavender reached him. It was lovely and refreshing. He looked up and saw the mature beauty standing before him.

"Excuse me, are you the one who composed these lyrics?" Her voice was soft, pleasant, and soothing. Alex froze, momentarily stunned.

He was struck by the beauty before him. She wore a blue blouse and black trousers, her eyes hazel and captivating, and she carried a seductive aura. At the same time, the confidence etched into her expression made it clear she was no ordinary person.