262-264

Chapter 262: A Revelation 

Loneliness. Despair. Isolation. Cold. Madness. And… vulnerability. 

As Ronan’s soft murmurs echoed through the air, it felt like falling into an icy abyss. Even surrounded by a sea of people, it was as if the entire world had faded, leaving only one’s self in a void of darkness. From all directions, the shadows surged, consuming everything. They slipped through pores, invaded the bloodstream, and slowly drained away the warmth. That chilling sensation crept steadily toward the heart, leaving the mind blank—incapable of a single coherent thought. 

Her eyes locked on the figure standing at the center of the stage—like he was the last ray of light in a darkened world. 

Then— 

The melody exploded. The voice was unleashed. 

“Soar away, sing out loud, and you’ll be unstoppable!” 

“Together as one, no more divide, you can take the pain away!” 

“Save me—if I become a demon!” 

What began as a soft chant erupted into sheer energy. Ronan’s cool, soaring voice sliced through the air with a piercing strength that felt like it could split the sky. It burst forth seemingly without effort, each line infused with an emotional weight that captivated the soul. In the roaring wave of sound that filled the venue, something deep inside began to tremble. 

That vulnerability—it vanished. In its place was something resolute. Determination. Grit. A fierce conviction radiated from every syllable, clashing like steel behind his teeth. 

Bzzzz. BZZZZ! 

Sophie’s body trembled uncontrollably. Goosebumps rose from her toes to the crown of her head. Every stray thought scattered like dust. All that remained was a swelling urge to kneel before the music in awe. Tears welled in her eyes—not from sadness, but from hope. 

She wasn't alone. 

Everyone in the crowd felt it too. They stared at the stage, each of them certain they stood alone in a vast universe—yet bound together by that single thread of light emanating from Ronan. It reached from the farthest corners of space and pulled them out of the darkness. The emotions storming through their minds were deeply personal, untouchable by anyone else. 

At that moment, the other three members of One Day King stepped forward to the microphones and joined the chorus, unleashing their own voices into the storm of music. 

“Soar away, sing out loud, and you’ll be unstoppable!” 

Ronan took a single bold step forward, gripping the mic in one hand. A new surge of power burst from his throat, as if all the cold and darkness had been transformed into something luminous and alive. 

“My demon!” 

His high note soared above the band’s rich harmonies like an angel spreading its wings. Layers upon layers of raw emotion spilled into the atmosphere. 

“My demon!” 

Sophie barely noticed her head turning, drawn by the thundering sound. She saw Kain, eyes blazing with wild devotion. 

This wasn’t like Bruno’s warm-up set. This wasn’t like Chasing the Light. 

This song was something else entirely—a melody forged in the crucible of despair, where defiance grew sharp like a blade. There was pain in it, yes, but it was the kind of pain you scream through, laugh through, fight through. It danced on the edge of death, defiantly singing into the void, refusing to fade. 

The blood in her veins boiled, setting her whole body aflame. 

Kain was screaming along, his voice crashing into each “OKOKOK” like knockout punches—KO-style “OKs” detonating in rhythm. 

“Together as one, no more divide, you can take the pain away!” 

Sophie didn’t think. The words simply spilled out of her mind: 

“Away-Away-Away!” 

She screamed until her throat burned, letting her soul’s anguish pour out in each cry. The louder she screamed, the more her chest ached, but it felt good—cleansing. The pain sharpened her senses, gave her clarity. She was standing at the edge of a volcano, letting the eruption purify her. 

Then she saw it— 

“My demon!” 

Her inner demon—twisted and snarling—emerged in the spotlight. Its contorted face dripped saliva, its blood-red eyes glowed with menace, and it lunged straight at her. 

“My demon!” 

But she didn’t flinch. 

She stood tall. Opened her arms. Faced it head-on. 

Her fierce gaze didn’t waver. She refused to run anymore. 

Whoosh! The demon shattered. A blinding beam of light broke through the darkness. Sophie forced her eyes open wide, staring into it. And there, within the hazy glow, Ronan’s face appeared—sweaty, flushed, and completely disheveled—yet still unmistakably radiant. His sharp features and bright eyes sparkled like galaxies. 

He was singing. 

“My demon!” 

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Each note climbed higher, pierced through the harmonies like a rocket to the heavens. His voice turned hoarse but never wavered from the beat. The timbre of it—the grit, the purity—was so powerful it felt like the stars were falling, bringing salvation to every shattered soul below. 

“Save me!” 

Then—silence. The music cut off. The chorus vanished. 

The abrupt change magnified Ronan’s voice. You could hear even his rough breathing brushing the edge of the mic. Every spotlight snapped off but one, leaving him alone in a tunnel of light. His face, once shrouded in shadows, came back into focus. 

The fury faded. Strength turned to stillness. 

Ronan’s voice slipped back into a gentle whisper, a tender caress like black velvet. 

“If… I become a demon.” 

The roaring waves stilled. Peace fell like a blanket. His final lines were tinged with sorrow—like music was the only lifeline left. And if it were to vanish, the darkness would consume everything. 

Sophie’s thoughts raced. The whole concert—its heat, its frenzy—was distilled into this last song. Her heart beat faster, then faltered, and trembled violently. It was like dancing on the edge of death. 

She stared at Ronan. Her eyes widened, searching his face. 

He didn’t wear any particular expression. But still, she leaned in, one foot shifting forward unconsciously, needing to get just a little closer. 

But there was nothing. 

She saw nothing. No secrets, no hidden meaning. Until… 

He smiled. 

Just the slightest curve of his lips. That familiar, sunny smile—bright enough to pierce any darkness. A single spark lighting up the ends of the universe. 

And she smiled too. 

Joy stirred inside her, warm and overwhelming. 

Then—darkness. All the lights went out. The stage went black. 

Chapter 263: Falling Into the Stars

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump-thump-thump-thump! 

Sophie’s heart was pounding wildly in her chest, each beat hitting harder and faster, like it might burst free at any moment and race toward the light— 

Only now did she truly understand what "Chasing the Light" meant. It wasn’t just about chasing hope or chasing success—it was about chasing life. 

That so-called light couldn’t be simplified into just “hope” or “victory.” It was about the innocent heart that loved, cherished, and lived life to the fullest. If you lived only to survive, or chased success just for its own sake, forgetting the reasons why you began in the first place—then life would lose its color. 

Not that it would be wrong, but it would be monochrome. Maybe just red. Or black. Or green. A single shade. And sure, if someone found joy in that, it was still their life’s color. But shouldn’t life have more colors? Just like how beyond money and fame, there should be love, family, friendship. Otherwise, what’s the point of gaining the world but losing everyone who mattered? What do you do in the silence of the night when you're left all alone? 

“Chasing the Light” was actually chasing the meaning of life itself. 

And tonight—right here, right now—Sophie finally understood the depth behind it. For the first time, she really heard the colors in One Day King’s music. 

Just like the last song: Grasping onto a sliver of hope in the midst of despair— Even if she became a demon, she’d still cling to the faint glimmer of life. 

Just like her own experience— Wading through pain to find an emotional anchor, and then recklessly chasing after that fleeting shimmer of light. 

To interpret light while surrounded by darkness. Wasn’t that fascinating in itself? 

Thinking back, it all started to make sense now—why One Day King chose that particular song as their finale instead of “Chasing the Light.” Sophie could feel there was a deeper message beneath the surface. And now she was curious— If “Chasing the Light” was just the beginning, how many more treasures were hidden in their albums? 

“Encore!” Before she could even fully organize her thoughts, the word burst out of her mouth, carried on an unstoppable wave of excitement. 

Before tonight, Sophie had just been clinging to music like a life raft, trying to distract herself from the pain—as if losing herself in the songs could make it all go away. 

But now, she realized how foolish that thinking was. Pain didn’t need to be forgotten. It needed time to heal. And more importantly, she didn’t need to feel bad about it anymore. The world was huge. She should be grateful that a scumbag wasn’t holding her back anymore. 

More than that—she realized that her so-called lifeline was starting to shift into something else… A beam of light. One that warmed her heart, lit up her world, and pointed her toward a brand-new beginning. 

“Soar high, sing loud, you can do anything.” 

That was the answer. It was music. It was life. It was One Day King. 

And then, her smile bloomed. Even though the tear tracks on her cheeks were still there, even though she still looked like a mess— The brilliance in her eyes outshone it all. That joy was real, and it was beautiful. 

Laughter bubbled up in her chest. 

“Encore!” 

She shouted again, louder and stronger this time, even lifting her right hand and waving it high in the air. 

She had fallen, completely and utterly, into the river of stars— Falling in love with One Day King, with Ronan Cooper, with music itself. It felt like her bloodstream was flowing with golden notes, a melody she could no longer live without. 

Life was complicated—but also very simple. Most of the time, it was us who made it hard on ourselves. But if you could learn to let go, to ease up, Even the tangled messes could become simple. Happiness and joy—they were everywhere, just waiting to be found. Most people simply lacked the eyes—or the patience—to see it. 

Now, Sophie had found it. And she wouldn’t miss it again. 

“Encore!” 

She cheered passionately. 

People around her turned to look, eyes filled with confusion and even a little alarm— The concert was over, and only now was she getting hyped? Was this some kind of delayed reaction? And wasn’t this the same girl who was sobbing earlier? Now she was all excited? Was she on a rollercoaster or something? 

Their expressions were full of judgment. 

But Sophie didn’t care. Not even a little. She jumped on the spot and turned to Kain, beaming with excitement. 

“Encore! Encore!” she called, not needing to explain—her eyes said it all. She wanted Kain to cheer with her. 

Kain was baffled—women were such mysteries. Still, he could sense something had shifted in her. So he didn’t ask. He just followed her lead, jumped up, and shouted from the heart: 

“Encore!” 

One voice, Then another— Until it became a rising wave. 

It wasn’t just Sophie and Kain. Everyone could feel the fiery heat burning in the air. One Day King had truly ignited the stage. Passion and exhilaration flowed through every single audience member. No one was immune. 

That chant—Encore!— It was like a spark deep in their minds. 

Once Sophie lit the torch, it spread like wildfire. And even though there were only 1,500 people in the venue, the energy they unleashed was overwhelming. The entire stadium shook under the sheer force of their cries. 

BOOM! BOOM BOOM BOOM! 

Waves of sound rolled across the air. The roar pounded against their eardrums. 

“Encore! Encore! Encore!” 

Backstage, Wesley joined the ruckus, grinning from ear to ear, fist raised as he shouted with all his might. Then he sprinted straight for Ronan like a wild animal. 

Ronan blinked in surprise—before he could react, Wesley leapt onto him like a koala. 

Instinctively, Ronan caught him. He hadn’t fully come back to reality from the stage yet, so his reflexes were a little slower than usual. Once he realized what was happening, he couldn’t help but laugh softly. 

Wesley didn’t stop there. He stood up tall on Ronan’s arms, raised both fists high, and rallied all the backstage crew to join the encore chant. 

“Encore!” 

The sound thundered in their ears, joy and happiness boiled in their chests. The emotion was so intense it felt like it might overflow. Their lips curved into wide, genuine smiles. This wasn’t just music. It was a dream. 

If happiness had a shape— Then it would look exactly like this. 

Chapter 264: Encore Performance 

“Encore!” 

It’s the highest praise and most enthusiastic response any performance can receive. It means the audience hasn’t had enough. It means they were fully immersed. It means their passion is still burning. It means the show was so good, they just can’t let it end. So, even after the final note, the crowd calls for more, hoping to keep the celebration going just a little longer. 

Over the course of their seven-year journey as a band, One-Day Kings had experienced encores before. But encores at commercial gigs often felt more like polite gestures, and smaller venues never carried that earth-shaking energy. This—this was different. For the first time, at a professional concert, they were getting a real encore. And it was overwhelming. 

In a venue packed with 1,500 people, voices layered and unified into a thunderous roar, so powerful it felt like the very air was catching fire. 

The joy. The euphoria. The freedom. The raw emotion—it was all so intense that words couldn’t do it justice. 

“Encore!” 

Backstage exploded with noise too. Wesley literally leapt into the air, spinning a full 360 degrees as he hyped up the crew, using his eyes and voice to get everyone involved in the moment. The energy wasn’t just staying in the crowd—it was spilling everywhere, raising the temperature in every corner of the venue. 

One wave of excitement hadn’t even settled before another one rose. 

Ronan couldn’t quite keep up. 

Even before he lost his hearing, Ronan had never experienced something like this. Back then, he was still climbing, not quite at the point of earning standing ovations. Then everything collapsed. He hit a wall—hard—and for a long time, he thought he’d never witness this kind of moment again. 

Sure, he made a comeback as a songwriter. But being behind the scenes meant staying out of the spotlight. It meant that, no matter how good he was, he might never again hear an encore meant just for him. That thought alone had been a quiet, cruel torment. 

But now— Here he was. Right here. Right now. He could actually hear it. 

That overwhelming cry of “Encore!” was surging through the tight space like a tidal wave, making his blood boil with life again. 

His slightly teary gaze shifted from Wesley to Jeremiah, and then to Ollie. In the dim lighting, Ronan could see Ollie’s tear-soaked eyes sparkling with a mess of emotions too complex to name. 

"My Demons." 

That was the name of the song they’d just performed. 

It started on a flight from Las Vegas to Washington—Ollie wrote the lyrics, and Ronan worked to break them down and shape them. But the song had stalled due to a lack of inspiration. It wasn't completed until Bruno's celebration party. 

It was the first true collaboration between Ronan and Ollie. 

But more than that, the song carried deep, personal meaning—for Ollie, for Ronan, for the whole One-Day Kings band. 

They had all been through darkness. Beaten down and wounded, they lost their way. Their inner demons crept in, tearing them apart from within. Not only did they start falling out with each other, but every member faced their own internal pain and doubts, on the edge of giving up entirely. 

But standing on that edge, it was Ronan’s voice that brought them back together. From “Born This Way” to “Chasing the Light”, the band rediscovered their purpose, battled their demons one step at a time, and rekindled their love for music. 

They held on. And now—they were here. 

They weren’t consumed by their demons. They found redemption in the darkest place. 

They performed My Demons, earned the applause, and now—an encore. They were finally glowing with the light they had chased for seven long years. It was everything they’d dreamed of, a moment so beautiful it felt unreal—like a dream you never want to wake up from. 

Ollie couldn’t hold back his tears. 

Ronan’s nose stung too, but he managed to hold it together, flashing Ollie a big smile. He lifted his chin slightly and called out, “So, you ready?” 

Of course, his voice was instantly drowned by the roaring crowd, but Ollie could read his lips. His own smile lit up as he nodded hard, then raised his fist high and shouted to Maxime and Cliff— 

“Encore!” 

“Encore!” 

The members of One-Day Kings moved toward the stage once more, surrounded by the crowd’s wild cheers. Behind them, Shining Band cheered them on, matching the front-row’s passion note for note. 

In truth, the band wasn’t quite ready. 

During this tour, One-Day Kings and Shining Band had taken turns closing the shows. Shining Band had already received three encores. One-Day Kings hadn’t yet had their moment. 

They used to joke about it on the road, teasing each other without a hint of jealousy. For One-Day Kings, no encore didn’t mean failure—it just meant there was still room to grow. They believed that if they were good enough, they’d win the audience over eventually. 

They’d waited, hoping for their moment. But they were cautious with their hopes—too many times, hopes had been raised high only to come crashing down. 

And now, the encore had arrived. 

They weren’t emotionally prepared, and yet the joy, the excitement, the sheer adrenaline—it all rushed in at once. 

As their feet stepped back onto the stage, even though it was the same stage they’d been on sixty seconds ago, everything suddenly felt different. 

“AHHHHHH!” 

“AAAHHHHHH!” 

The chants of “Encore!” turned into pure screams and howls. No words, just raw noise. But within that chaos was a power so immense, it felt like a physical force, shaking the ground beneath their feet. 

It was awe-inspiring. It was humbling. 

Their hearts surged with emotion, and for a moment, their minds went blank. The band members exchanged looks—then all eyes turned to Ronan. 

“What now?” 

Ronan’s eyes, shining even in the dark, held them steady. Without saying a word, he nodded slightly. No speech needed. They all knew exactly what it meant— 

Stick to the plan. 

They’d imagined this moment countless times. They had played it out in their minds a thousand different ways. And now, it was real. 

The blood was pumping. The energy was electric. 

Each member returned to their instrument with renewed resolve. 

This was the moment they had been waiting for all along. 

(End of Chapter)