Slow, immersive pacing
New York City smelled like movement.
Even at dawn, the streets buzzed with restless energy — taxis honking, subway grates exhaling steam, voices blending into a chaotic harmony. John stepped out of JFK Airport with a single suitcase and a heart beating fast enough to shake loose his ribs.
His aunt waved him over, hugging him tightly.
"Bienvenido, mijo. You're going to love it here," she said, guiding him toward the car.
John nodded, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.
Ever since the plane descended toward the skyline, the system had been humming inside him — stronger, sharper, waking up like a machine long dormant.
By the time they reached his aunt's apartment in Washington Heights and he was alone in the guest room, the hum turned into a chime.
A perfect, crisp ding.
John sat on the edge of the bed.
The air shifted.
A transparent screen burst to life before his eyes, clearer than ever before.
[Celebrity System: FULL ACTIVATION COMPLETE]
[Region: United States — Global Media Hub Recognized]
[User Potential: 27% → 84%]
[Congratulations, John.]
His heartbeat stopped for a moment.
Then another window unfolded, letters shimmering like gold dust.
[Guidance Protocol Online]
[Primary Path Chosen: Music]
He blinked.
"Music…?" he whispered.
A calm, robotic voice filled his mind:
[Primary Path Recommendation: Music]
[Reason: User charisma profile, vocal potential, and emotional resonance align with maximum fame-growth trajectory.]
[Probability of rapid global recognition: 92.4%]
John exhaled sharply.
Music.
He hadn't expected that.
Singing was something he enjoyed privately — humming on rooftops, mumbling lyrics under his breath. But pursuing it? Becoming famous? That felt like something that happened only to people touched by destiny.
He opened his mouth to respond—
But suddenly… the system chimed again.
[Notice: Inconsistent Cultural Database Detected]
[Rebuilding World Music Records…]
[Scanning Latin American Influence…]
[Error: Missing Entries Identified]
John frowned.
"Missing?" he whispered.
The system projected names he immediately recognized — or he thought he did:
Bad Bunny — Error: No record found.
Karol G — Status: Local performer, no recognition.
Romeo Santos — Status: Unreleased talent. Zero fame.
Ozuna — Nonexistent.
Natti Natasha — Unknown.
Prince Royce — Random high school student.
John's breath hitched.
"What…? No. No, that's impossible."
These weren't just musicians.
They were the soundtrack of his childhood, the voices of home, the artists who shaped an entire generation.
But here — in this Marvel-shaped universe — they didn't exist.
Or they lived completely different lives, never discovering music, never touching a microphone, never stepping into the spotlight.
His chest tightened painfully.
He sat back, staring at the glowing names that meant everything to him… but nothing to this world.
"This universe…" he murmured, voice shaky, "is missing music."
The system responded immediately.
[Correct.]
[The absence of key cultural figures has reduced global musical diversity by 43%.]
[User is positioned to become the spark that restores cultural development.]
John stared at the screen as the words sank in.
He wasn't just being asked to make music.
He was being asked to fill the void left by the disappearance of the artists he loved—
to recreate the sounds of a world that was never allowed to exist in this reality.
He whispered to himself:
"…I have to bring Latin music back."
It felt like a responsibility.
A mission.
A calling.
And somewhere outside, the city pulsed with energy — unaware that its newest resident might soon change its music forever.