Gangster to Idol

As soon as Cain finished his performance, the park buzzed with a new kind of energy. Those who had recorded the dance on their phones couldn't wait to share what they had just witnessed.

Within moments, the first video was posted, capturing Cain's fluid movements, the mesmerizing transitions of his hairstyles, and the way he owned the stage.

The video quickly caught the attention of curious scrollers, and views started to climb. Comments flooded in, with people tagging their friends and sharing it across different platforms.

[Is this the new trend? Insane!]

[Anyone else feeling inspired to dance now?]

[This guy's got something special!]

Soon, more people who had captured different angles of Cain's performance began uploading their videos. Each post added a new perspective, a unique moment of the dance that someone else had missed.

The momentum grew as more people started to take notice. Popular content creators picked up the video, adding their reactions and commentary, further amplifying the buzz. Some edited the clips, combining the best moments into short, catchy montages that were even more shareable.

Within hours, C.C.s video had been shared hundreds of times, each post gathering its own swarm of likes, comments, and shares. People who hadn't been in the park now felt as if they had, drawn in by the infectious energy of the performance.

As the night went on, the video spread like wildfire. Influencers with millions of followers shared it on their pages, adding their voices to the growing chorus of admiration and even tried to follow the catchy dance moves.

Soon, it wasn't just hundreds — it was thousands, then tens of thousands, sharing C.C.s dance.

[This guy totally ripped off Rhythmic Phantom's latest trend!]

[What a joke! He's just another wannabe copycat.]

[He's trying so hard it's almost painful to watch.]

[Honestly, it looked like he was auditioning to be Rhythmic Phantom's backup dancer or something.]

[Are you blind? That was a full three-minute dance! How could he copy Rhythmic Phantom when he only uploaded less than a minute of that video?]

[Could it be . . . he's Rhythmic Phantom himself?]

[Doubt it. C.C is way taller and bigger. Rhythmic Phantom felt like a teenager!]

[Hold up . . . did he actually improve the moves? The transitions were way smoother than Phantom's. How'd he do that?]

[Did anyone else notice he styled his hair like ten times mid-dance? Rhythmic Phantom didn't even attempt that in that single video!]

[Bro! C.C. might've just out-Phantom'd Phantom. Who the heck styles their hair live while dancing? That's insane!]

[Not gonna lie, I thought he was gonna trip over his own feet trying to look cool.]

[He's like a dollar-store version of Rhythmic Phantom, but somehow . . . better? What kind of sorcery is this?]

[This is so cringe, but also . . . why can't I stop watching?]

While the internet buzzed with enthusiasm, Cain and Fifi made their way back to District 4, the night's shadows stretching long across the deserted path they walked.

The city's neon lights flickered in the distance, but here, all was quiet — save for the crunch of gravel under their feet.

Cain flicked a lighter, the small flame casting a brief glow across his face before he lit a cigarette. He took a long drag, exhaling a plume of smoke that spiraled into the cool night air.

"You should really quit that," Fifi said, wrinkling her nose as she waved the smoke away. "It's not good for you, and it's going to mess with your image later on."

"Just let me be . . ." Cain muttered, his voice carrying a note of weariness. "It's only one stick."

He needed something to calm his nerves. Even now, hours after the performance, his body still thrummed with restless energy, like he could jump into another dance at any moment. He felt like he was on the verge of exploding, needing to release the energy still coursing through him. The adrenaline was still pumping in his veins.

Fifi's eyes narrowed as she noticed the thick gloves Cain was wearing. "What's with the gloves? You're not exactly dressed for cold weather."

"The others might recognize me from my hands," Cain replied tersely, flexing his fingers inside the gloves as if to emphasize the point.

"Huh? That's not going to happen!" Fifi shot back, hovering closer with a mix of concern and annoyance.

Cain didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the path ahead, but there was something in the way he avoided his eyes that made Fifi pause. She had a feeling there was more to it than just a simple disguise, but she decided to let it go, at least for now.

The night stretched out before them, filled with unspoken thoughts and lingering adrenaline.

Cain took another drag, feeling the tension in his body slowly ease, but the fire in his heart? That wasn't going anywhere.

"Leave us alone!"

A chilling voice echoed through the night, followed by wicked laughter.

Cain and Fifi's attention snapped toward the commotion near the side of the road, where the dim light of a flickering lamppost cast eerie shadows over a group of four men surrounding two terrified women. The passersby hurried by, heads down, too afraid to get involved, not wanting to invite trouble.

Cain couldn't blame them. In the faint glow, he caught sight of the serpent tattoos coiled around the men's arms and the gleam of silver bracelets and necklaces that marked them as members of a notorious gang. The symbols were unmistakable, and their presence was enough to make anyone think twice.

"Silver Serpents," Cain muttered, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. He'd heard the rumors — these thugs had been encroaching on his territory, testing the waters while he was preoccupied with his new life as an idol. But just because he was busy didn't mean he wasn't paying attention.

A dark grin spread across his face. "Looks like I'm going to release all this energy after all."

"Huh?" Fifi blinked in confusion, not entirely following his sudden shift in mood.

"Perfect timing." Cain shrugged off his cloak, revealing the black long sleeves underneath that hugged his lean frame. He rolled his neck, the crack of his joints echoing like a predator ready to pounce. His canines flashed in the dim light, sharp and threatening, like a beast on the prowl.

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