Ethan's name was now being whispered across street corners, online forums, and in dark alleyways. Some called him a genius. Others called him a fluke. Either way, he was trending.
And someone didn't like that.
"So you're the new hotshot?"
Ethan paused mid-bite in a food stall near Eastblock Plaza. A tall, lean guy in a crisp white blazer stood in front of him, sunglasses on despite the cloudy sky. His expression was smug, the kind that made Ethan's fists itch.
"Depends. You a fan or a stalker?"
"Neither. The name's Brandon Shaw. Heard you've been stealing some spotlight."
Ethan sipped his broth, unfazed. "Oh, are you from the Council of Washed-Up Writers or the Association of Jealous Wannabes?"
Brandon's smile didn't reach his eyes. "You're clever. That won't save you. In this city, fame is a limited resource. And I've spent years earning mine. You? You're just a parasite."
"Funny," Ethan said, standing up. "I didn't realize parasites got publishing deals and fan mail."
Brandon stepped closer. "Careful, Cross. You're not the only one with connections."
Ethan's system dinged.
[Prestige Gained: +2 – Public Confrontation with Notable Author]
He grinned. "Thanks for the free points, Brandon."
Later that night, Ethan opened the system's Quest Log. A new prompt blinked at the top:
[Side Mission: Crush the Critics]
Objective: Dismantle Brandon Shaw's reputation and claim the top trending slot.
Reward: Random Epic Draw + 50 Prestige.
Penalty: Negative Fame if you lose public interest.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Alright then. Let's start the show."
He immediately began planning. First, he wrote three chapters of Dragon Chronicles so intense, even he had to pause and admire them. Then he commissioned a minimalist but sleek new cover design.
But the masterstroke came the next morning.
On a livestream hosted by FireVerse, Ethan went live.
"Good morning, citizens of Aquamarine. I've been accused of being a fake. A hack. A plagiarist. So here's a deal. I'll write a full chapter live—right here, right now. No edits. No breaks."
Comments exploded.
— "No way he pulls that off."
—"That's insane. No one writes clean prose on stream!"
— "This dude has balls."
With a deep breath, Ethan cracked his knuckles.
He wrote. Word by word, line by line. The story unfolded like magic. A prince battling inner demons. A kingdom teetering on civil war. Dialogue that punched, pacing that sprinted.
One hour later, he posted the chapter live.
The server nearly crashed from the traffic.
[Prestige Gained: +40 – Live Writing Challenge Completed]
[Side Mission Objective 1 Complete]
Brandon tried to respond—releasing a critique video—but his voice cracked, and his points fell flat.
[Prestige Gained: +5 – Rival Humiliated]
Ethan smirked at the screen.
"Guess I write better under pressure."
That night, Mike Carter messaged him.
Mike: You're trending in six districts. Even the media guild is watching.
Ethan: Do I get a trophy?
Mike: You might get something better. Ever heard of the Apex Film House?
Ethan's fingers paused.
Apex Film House. The biggest entertainment syndicate in Aquamarine. They adapted top novels into visual epics—and made stars out of nobodies.
Mike: They want to talk.
[Quest Updated: Unlock Film Adaptation Rights]
Ethan leaned back in his chair, a smirk spreading across his face.
"Bring it on."