The roaring crowd outside O2 Arena in London had been gathering since sunrise. Word had spread like wildfire: Obsidian Saints were in town. The UK leg of the tour was the band's first official international performance—and their debut sold out in hours. Londoners hadn't seen a rock phenomenon explode this fast since… well, ever.
Backstage, Rex Kade stood in front of the mirror, tuning his newly upgraded guitar—a sleek black beast imbued with subtle crimson veins pulsing like blood. The Legendary Rockstar System had enhanced the instrument's clarity, sustain, and distortion beyond anything he'd ever known. Every note now felt like it carried weight—like it meant something.
Kai adjusted the strap of his bass while nodding to the beat of an imaginary groove. Silas, as usual, sat twirling a drumstick between his fingers, unusually silent. Ash was pacing, muttering to himself.
"You okay?" Rex asked.
"Yeah," Ash replied. "Just… London. It's a lot."
Rex grinned. "It's just another city, man."
"No, it's not," Kai said, slapping his bass gently. "It's the home of heavy history. The fact we're even playing here… it's surreal."
Rex didn't answer. He couldn't. Instead, he stared at his reflection and thought back to the cramped garage where it all began. The Four Horsemen. One song had changed their lives. Now they were riding a storm into global fame.
---
Earlier That Day – Camden Street, London
Before soundcheck, the band had decided to explore. No bodyguards, no disguises—just a regular walk.
They ended up in Camden, the vibrant neighborhood buzzing with music, art, and life. They passed a few local bands performing on the streets, vendors shouting prices, and walls painted with murals of long-gone legends.
A scrappy teenager was playing a beat-up guitar by a tube station, fumbling through chords. His amp was barely audible over the traffic.
Rex stopped.
He walked over, crouched, and said, "Need a hand?"
The boy looked up, eyes wide. "Wait… you're…"
"Rex," he said, offering a hand. "What's your name?"
"Luke."
Rex took the guitar from Luke, checked the tuning, then strummed a riff from Seek and Destroy. A few people turned. Then more. Within seconds, a full crowd had gathered.
Ash pulled out his phone and started recording. Silas and Kai watched from a distance, grinning.
When Rex handed the guitar back, Luke was speechless. "You just made my life."
"Keep playing," Rex said, patting his shoulder. "It's all about the grind."
They left quietly, but Ash uploaded the video immediately. Within hours, it exploded online. "Rex Rocks with Random Kid in Camden" read headlines everywhere.
---
O2 Arena – Later That Night
The house lights dropped.
The crowd screamed.
A single spotlight cut through the smoke and landed on Rex.
He stepped forward. "London… are you ready to be destroyed?"
The audience responded with a thunder that shook the walls.
They launched into Spit Out the Bone, followed by Ace of Spades and Ride the Lightning. Each song hit harder than the last. The band had never played tighter.
But when they reached Fade to Black, something changed. The lights dimmed low, and the air grew still. Rex's voice rang out over the melancholy intro, and for the first time that night, the crowd wasn't moshing—they were listening.
And then came the final solo. Raw. Emotional. Perfect.
---
Backstage – After the Show
The band collapsed onto the couches in their dressing room, drenched in sweat, euphoric.
"We killed it," Ash said.
Silas nodded. "That was the cleanest set we've ever played."
Kai was scrolling his phone. "Dude, the Camden video? Already five million views."
Rex's phone buzzed.
[Legendary Rockstar System – Cumulative Reward Unlocked]
He opened the menu.
Reward:
Skill Boost: Songwriting +3
New Feature Unlocked: Crowd Control – Passive Ability
Bonus Funds: $15,000 added to band account
Rex whistled. "Guess we're not starving anytime soon."
"What's up?" Silas asked.
"Just... good news," Rex replied with a grin. He never explained the System. Some things were meant to stay private.
At that moment, Samuel Owen entered the room, holding his phone with a smirk.
"Boys, not to ruin your high, but we need to talk money."
"Oh?" Kai perked up.
"You've grossed over $800,000 from digital sales, merch, and licensing. That's this week alone. And that's before tonight."
The room went silent.
Then: "Holy shit," Silas said, voice cracking.
Samuel chuckled. "This is just the beginning. Every label in the world is either cursing or copying us right now."
Rex leaned back, eyes drifting toward the ceiling.
From Camden's alleys to the world stage, they were making history.
And London?
London was just the beginning.
---