[WSA 2025 ENTRY] - This Novel is participating in the 2025 WebNovel Spirity Awards ^^

Due to unfortunate circumstances, "Ari" Ariel Matisse lived in the slums of Los Angeles, also known as Skid Row.

One night, on his way home, he was killed while witnessing an old man getting beaten.

When he woke up, he had been thrown into a dumpster, and a strange screen flashed across his eyes, and no matter how he looked at it, it reminded him of a status window in a game.

[System Integration Complete!]
[Become a Global Music Superstar!]

For some reason, he gained a system that wanted him to join a survival show and become a globally famous idol.

If he refused to complete his given tasks, he would die.

But if he succeeded, he would have the money and power to change his life as well as get revenge against the person who killed him.

P.s. this story is kind of a love letter to LA and the amazing blend of cultures (American, Asian, Hispanic, African, etc) that can be found there. I hope you all fall in love with the area as much as I love it.

- You are eliminated, Contestant Caleb.


"No! No! No! No! It's not fair! It should have been him, not me!" Caleb screamed as he woke up from a nightmare where MC Ryan Leary had morphed into a gigantic head that was circling him and yelling 'Eliminated', while an ugly monkey with green eyes and a strange green mask pointed and laughed at him.


"Huff huff huff, it should have been him!" panting while covered in cold sweat, Caleb climbed out of his bed and instinctively grabbed his phone to browse Twitter and Readdit about Pops Star Academy.


Ever since he was eliminated and came home several days ago, it had become his habit to obsessively search for news about himself and other contestants in the different communities online with his burner accounts.


Chapter 127 - Black Swan (4)