The high school auditorium reeked of desperation and hairspray. Veyra lounged on a judge's throne crafted from shredded manuscripts, while Scion's protagonist halo backlit him like a discount angel. A neon sign flickered: THE REBOOT: CASTING COUCH OF DOOM.
System Alert:
[New Quest: "Survive the Spin-Off"]
Objective: Impress the judges (Audience Approval Rating ≥ 70%). Fail = written into a filler arc. Tools: Your trauma, a cursed mic, and this scripted drama.
Alex's Beta Reader's Glasses tagged the studio:
- Scion:Protagonist Halo (Tier 5) – Immune to plot twists.
- Veyra:Alignment: Chaotic Showrunner – 89% chance of betrayal.
- Nyx: Glitch Meter: 92% – Sacrificial Flag imminent.
Veyra smirked into a mic dripping with glitter. "Welcome, has-beens! Let's see if you're… binge-worthy."
***
Round 1: Talent Show (Genre Roulette)
A wheel spun, landing on "ROMANCE". The studio morphed into a cliché café.
Challenge: Perform a meet-cute so viral it trends.
Alex's Cybernetic Arm morphed into a Rose-Shaped Flamethrower. "Hard pass. How about I burn the trope instead?"
Scion's Move:
- Summoned Swoon Score™, serenading a NPC barista with AI-generated lyrics.
Audience Poll:
Who's your ship?
A) Scion x Barista (Pure Fluff)
B) Alex x Arson (Chaotic Neutrals)
C) Nyx x Silence (Slow Burn)
Nyx yeeted a Glitch Grenade at the set. The café pixelated into a warzone.
Veyra's Feedback: "Cute! But let's raise the stakes."
***
Round 2: Improv Horror (Jump Scare Edition)
Lights died. A CGI Ghost oozed from the ceiling, screaming "WHY DID YOU KILL MY TWEET?"
Alex's Play:
- Fourth Wall Break (Tier 3): Rewrote the ghost into a Disgruntled Beta Reader, armed with 1-star reviews.
- Heart-Eater Debuff: "Your critique's mid. Be scarier."
The ghost sobbed, dissolving into a Viral Apology Video.
Kairo's Subplot:
His scar flickered. Protocol 7.3 whispered: "Delete the cast. Restore order."
Player Choice:
Restrain Kairo with…
A) Nyx's Glitch Chains (Risk: Sync Rate Drop)
B) Finn's Hack (Risk: Override Failure)
C) Romantic Pep Talk (LOL)
Finn hacked Kairo's code, sweat dripping. "I'm rerouting his admin access! Alex—distract him!"
Alex grabbed Kairo's face. "Hey. You're not his scalpel anymore. You're… our problem."
***
Round 3: Finale (Plot Twist Karaoke)
Scion mounted the stage, halo blazing. "This is my story now." His song: "I'm the Main Character (You're Just NPCs)" – autotuned agony.
Alex's Counter:
- Author Mode + Cybernetic Arm: Forged "Chekhov's Diss Track", roasting Scion's derivative arc.
"You're a knockoff with a glow stick crown,
Your 'redemption'? Just a cop-out breakdown!"
The audience exploded into digital cheers.
Audience Approval: 95% – Trending #CancelScion.
***
Backstage, Alex found a Scripted Contract signed in the Storyweaver's ink.
Clause 7.3: "Contestants agree to forfeit all character development to the Reboot."
System Alert:
[New DM from @Beta_Reader_Prime]:"You're good. But the season finale? *Chef's kiss* tragic."
Veyra winked at Alex's contract. "Wait till you see… the next season."
Nyx's pixels flickered: [SYNC RATE: 8%]. Alex's grin faltered. "Hey. We're… sticking together, okay?"