259-261

Chapter 259: Breaking the Norm 

Sophie understood the logic. Deep down, she knew she was just deflecting her attention. But that’s the difficult part about life—knowing the right thing to do and still not being able to do it. Because emotions aren’t math problems, and humans aren’t robots. It’s those moments of hesitation and inner struggle that are truly precious. 

Even though Sophie understood everything, she still couldn’t let go of her obsession. She poured all her hopes into the arrival of One Day Kings, believing that their performance would be the turning point her life desperately needed. She counted down the days, wishing on stars and chasing the moon—and finally, that day came. 

Standing in the concert venue, Sophie felt an overwhelming sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. The joy of a dream coming true, the excitement of long-awaited anticipation—all of it softened her tense spirit. More importantly, she quickly got into the zone and began to genuinely enjoy the show. No matter what, her love for music was sincere and unwavering. And… 

The concert exceeded all expectations. 

The venue was small—only capable of holding 1,500 people. It felt tiny and a bit cramped, nothing like Bruno’s massive stadium concerts. Just a slight turn of the head and you could see the edges of the venue. A little jump and you might bump shoulders with someone. Look up, and the ceiling felt within reach—almost claustrophobic. 

But that intimacy also brought the stage closer. Just a small tilt of the head, and every movement on stage was clear. The speakers blasted sound straight into your soul, making your blood boil with excitement. The entire atmosphere was wild, intense, and electric—impossible not to get swept away. 

And Sophie did. From the very first second of the concert to the last of its three hours, she gave herself completely to the music—jumping, dancing, letting loose without a care. Even exhausted, she kept moving. Even hoarse, she kept screaming. She let go of everything. 

One Day Kings was exactly how she remembered them—technical brilliance, emotional depth, and unmatched stage presence. Even if you didn’t know the songs, you couldn’t help but be drawn in, lost in the ocean of sound. 

When life gets tough, music is the cure. 

At least for Sophie. For the first time in a month, she truly felt joy—pure, unfiltered happiness. 

And then, One Day Kings performed “Chasing the Light.” Right before the end of the concert. 

When the line “Everyone is chasing the light” rang out, Sophie broke down without warning. She started sobbing like a madwoman. She didn’t even know where all that emotion was coming from, only that it poured out—loud, messy, and unstoppable. The feelings she’d bottled up for so long finally had an outlet, and they flooded out like a dam bursting. 

The people around her looked on in confusion, not sure what was going on. 

Kane Williams, standing beside her, looked awkward. From the way people glanced over, it was clear they thought he had done something to upset her, making her cry so suddenly and uncontrollably. But Kane was completely innocent—and there was no way to explain it in the middle of a concert. 

For a split second, Kane considered stepping away to avoid the misunderstanding, but in the end, he chose to stay. He positioned himself in front of Sophie, shielding her like a safe harbor from all those prying eyes. 

Thankfully, the performance was so captivating that the crowd's attention quickly returned to the stage. Especially Ronan—he could tell a story with his voice alone. His stage presence and emotional delivery pulled everyone back in. 

“Chasing the Light” had been gaining popularity fast, and the audience’s singalong energy made it clear—it was a true hit. The atmosphere was electric; this was what a real concert felt like. 

As the song neared its climax, Ronan stepped forward, removed the mic from its stand, and sang out to the sky: 

“You know… everyone is chasing… the light…” 

His voice soared—an octave, then another, then another—each one brighter and more powerful than the last. It sliced through the air like lightning, clear and fierce. All eyes turned to him, a figure bathed in golden light, and they couldn’t look away. 

The heat was tangible—thick and humid, like even the sweat in the room was on fire. 

Sophie had stopped crying. Her gaze locked on Ronan. Tears still streaked her cheeks, but in her eyes now shone a dazzling light. The impact of the moment struck her to her core. In that daze, it was as if she finally understood the meaning behind “Chasing the Light.” 

Was she really chasing the light? Or was she just running from the darkness? 

They sound the same—but they’re completely different. 

Running from the darkness means moving without direction, aimless and afraid, hoping to escape something you can’t even see. But chasing the light means having a purpose—something to strive for, even if you never reach it. It’s the pursuit that gives life its color. 

So… what was she doing? 

Sophie turned her head and looked at the sea of people around her. Only 1,500 bodies, but it still felt vast and endless. No one had the answer—not even Kane. So she looked back to the stage again, desperate. 

But Ronan, standing in the spotlight, was backlit—his face hidden in shadow. She could only see his silhouette. She tried with all her might to catch a glimpse of the light in his eyes, but she couldn’t. That only deepened her confusion and fear. 

And just then— 

“Everyone, the show’s not over yet! We’ve still got one more song. Let’s enter another dimension together and explore the darkness of life. Oli! Give me a beat!” 

Sophie froze. Kane didn’t react either. 

In fact, neither did the rest of the audience—they were all caught off guard. 

“Chasing the Light” was clearly their most famous song, the kind of big finish that leaves a lasting impression. Just like how Shining Band always ends with “Roar, Hey!”—a surefire crowd-pleaser. 

But now… “Chasing the Light” was only the second-to-last song? 

There was still something else? 

Was that even allowed?! 

Chapter 260: The Vast Universe 

The concert was nearing its end. As the melody of "Chasing the Light" began to play, everyone assumed it was the final song of the night. The crowd released every last ounce of energy left in their bodies, throwing themselves into the music, dancing and celebrating as if there were no tomorrow. 

But then—Ronan told the audience that "Chasing the Light" was only the second-to-last performance. There was still one final song left? 

What…? 

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. 

The air inside the venue surged like a tidal wave. You could clearly hear the mix of ragged breaths, pounding heartbeats, and blood rushing through veins—all crashing together in a messy symphony. Sweat streamed down faces, chests heaved like dragons spewing fire, and the heavy humidity blurred their vision. The blinding stage lights dissolved into a sea of flickering halos. 

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz! 

Confused and dazed, eyes lost focus and scanned the stage in disbelief. There was no particular emotion on their faces—just a haze of confusion. The show wasn't over? That should be a good thing, right? But their minds were still locked in shock. Were they supposed to keep cheering now? Their lungs were already on fire. No sound came out. 

And just like that, the show resumed, pulling them back into the madness. 

Tap. Tap. The drumsticks clicked twice—then came a flood of deep, hypnotic electronic beats, washing over the venue like a dark tide. 

Dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun... dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun... 

The rapid-fire drumbeats slammed into eardrums. Waves of sound tugged at their heartbeats, dragging everyone into an endless abyss. Panic and unease wrapped around their chests like smoke. That drowning feeling crept in from all sides. 

Dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun... 

Just two sets of eight beats—and already the crowd was swallowed whole by the song’s atmosphere. No one even noticed the stage lights turning a haunting, peacock blue. The eerie, seductive colors bled into the thunderous drums like rain crashing against a beach, saturating the venue. Both eyes and ears were under siege. The crowd, utterly drained, surrendered in an instant. 

“Mayday, mayday… the ship is going down. They think I’ve lost my mind, but they don’t understand how it feels.” (Note 1: “My Demons” – Starset) 

Center stage, Ronan stood with his head lowered, gripping the mic stand tightly. His voice—barely more than a whisper—cut through the dense rhythm, the words murky and distorted like a radio transmission coming from the edge of the universe, blocked by endless darkness. 

Goosebumps broke out on every arm and back in the crowd. It felt like the darkness was closing in for real. 

Then—the voice grew clear. Every syllable sharp. Every breath steady. The “radio” seemed to zoom in, and that hushed whisper became a sonic boom aimed straight at their hearts. Ronan’s voice erupted with power, and the music thickened, heavier and louder. 

“They circle above like vultures; they want to break me down and erase my colors…” 

Sophie could feel Ronan’s eyes piercing through the shadows and the crowd, locking onto her. Those deep, bottomless eyes didn’t reflect even a speck of light—they were like the vast, infinite cosmos. Just black. Yet they stretched endlessly. That overwhelming vastness unfolded in front of her like a cosmic panorama. She felt small. Insignificant. Frozen in place. 

Buzz. Buzz. 

She could almost hear her own heartstrings vibrating. And then—the entire One Day King band joined in, shouting in unison: 

“…erase all of my colors!” 

Out of nowhere, a wave of sorrow and despair slammed into Sophie. 

She understood. Finally understood. 

A breakup—it's like a demon. Circling overhead like a vulture. Waiting to strike. It wanted to shatter her and drain her of every color. She had sunk deep into the sorrow, drowning in it. Curled up like a coward. Letting the darkness consume her. 

She had screamed. She had called for help. But no one could hear her. She floated there—alone—in a desolate, endless universe. Everyone on the other end of the line thought she was crazy. “It’s just a breakup,” they’d say. “Get over it.” But they didn’t know—she was falling apart, spiraling toward the abyss, and not even she could stop it. 

“Mayday…” The word died in her throat. She gave up. Floating in the darkness, weightless and shattered. Crying her soul out, broken beyond recognition. Even she didn’t recognize herself anymore. 

And she hated that version of herself—but could do nothing to change it. 

What was she supposed to do? 

“Soar away, sing it loud, you can do anything…” (You-Make-Everything-Okay... Okay, Okay) “Meld as one, no more pain, you can take it all away…” (You-Take-All-The-Pain-Away... Away, Away) 

Ronan’s voice was like a divine sign, lighting up a spark deep in her mind. A small glow—guiding her. She reached again into that endless dark. And there, faintly, a light. Blurry, but real. 

Even amid the thunder of starlight and cheering, Ronan’s voice carried a fierce determination. His pain. His struggle. All of it laid bare in his singing. 

He sang his heart out. 

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You could barely make out his face against the backlight, but the veins bulging from his neck and arms told the story—he was giving everything he had. All that raw energy focused into a single purpose: to unleash the darkness through the music. 

Higher. Higher still. Harder. Even harder. 

Layer after layer, waves of power rushed out from the stage. Every lonely soul in every parallel universe—every wounded heart—felt the tremors in the air. And like magnets, all eyes turned to Ronan. 

He gripped the mic tighter. Then—he pulled back. And that booming, commanding voice struck like lightning. 

In that moment—*“BZZZZ”—*the mind went blank. The heart stopped. The world fell silent. 

“Save me! If… I become my demons.” 

Despair. Agony. Power. Explosion. 

BOOM! The entire venue lit up like daylight. 

(Note 1: “My Demons” by Starset) 

Chapter 261 – Becoming the Demon 

“Save me... if I become the demon!” (Note 1) 

The suppressed power was fully woven into the music, hitting the chest like an invisible force—so intense it knocked the breath out of your lungs. Even without a groan, your soul could already feel the impact. The voice lightly grazed a high note, only to let it go instantly. One deep inhale seemed to choke off all breathing, leaving behind an echo that continued to resonate in the mind—wave after wave of ripples, making words lose their meaning and thoughts grind to a halt. 

Sophie stood there, frozen, staring blankly at the stage. Her mouth slightly open without her realizing it, her body trembling uncontrollably. A rush of emotions—indescribable and overwhelming—completely overtook her mind. It wasn’t sadness. It wasn’t even touching. Her eyes were dry, with no urge to cry. The sobbing, broken version of herself from just moments ago was gone. All that remained was pure, unfiltered shock. 

“I can’t stop the toxic spiral— It controls me, drags me into the void.” 

“I need your salvation. I can’t keep fighting alone. I know you’re there—I can feel you watching me.” 

Every single word, every note, felt brutally real. Each one struck Sophie’s heart like a hammer—blow after blow after blow. 

It was her. 

The lyrics were about her. 

She couldn't stop herself from sinking into that toxic spiral. The pain of the breakup, the despair of betrayal—it was all dragging her into a gray, lifeless void. Even though she forced herself to smile, pretending to be okay, there was a corner of her soul slowly rotting away. She could practically smell the stench. The vultures were circling. 

That sickness had gripped her mind and body. A tiny voice in her head whispered, “Resist.” But she couldn’t break free. 

She started to hate herself. To loathe herself. To hurt herself—despite her last shred of reason telling her this was wrong. He wasn’t worth it. That relationship wasn’t worth it. But she couldn’t stop. 

The overwhelming force of the music completely swallowed Sophie. Memories surged through her like a tidal wave. Her emotions tangled and clashed within, but her mind couldn’t respond. Her body couldn’t move. It felt like her soul had floated out of her body, watching from a distance as she screamed in silence through the emptiness of the universe. 

Until now. 

“Soar far away, Sing out loud— You make everything okay… OKay, Okay.” 

The music blurred. 

It should have sounded like “OKOKOK”, but somehow what she heard was “KOKOKO”, looping endlessly in her ears. 

If she could KO (knock out) the demon inside her… could she finally be OK? 

“We become one, inseparable— You take all the pain away… Away, Away.” 

Finally, the darkness cracked. 

Guided by the melody, Sophie could almost see a sliver of light, slowly sharpening into focus. Then she started to run—no, to sprint—toward it. 

Was this the way out of the darkness? If she ran fast enough, could she find herself again? 

“Save me—if I become the demon!” 

The music surged to its peak. 

But this time, it didn’t drop. It stayed there, roaring with power and emotion like a storm that wouldn’t calm. 

Ronan stood at the center of the stage. He took a step forward, pulling the mic from the stand. His voice soared even higher, exploding with raw feeling and sheer force. 

“Carry me across the abyss below. Let me fly across the skies—don’t let go! Call the hero, heal the pain. When I become… my own worst enemy!” 

The melody reached heights beyond anything imagined—beyond Everest, as if bursting into space itself. Ronan’s voice climbed, note after note, into an awe-inspiring crescendo. 

“Enemy!” An octave higher. 

“Enemy!” Another octave. 

Crystal clear, cutting through limits like a blade. The grand, sweeping sound was breathtaking, as if the universe unfolded like a canvas before them. The brilliance outshone even the stars. Sophie’s knees nearly gave out. Her mind could only think one thing: worship. 

She had found it. 

She’d finally found the light that would guide her out of the dark. It was music. But more than that—it was the band One Day King. From the determination of “Chasing the Light” to the catharsis of “My Demon,” the music had helped her find not just her direction, but her strength. 

She shouldn’t be crying. She shouldn’t be heartbroken. This breakup—it was a gift. It opened her eyes to who he truly was, who her friends really were, and—most importantly—who she was. 

She had finally found her balance again. She could finally throw away that useless piece of her past and start a new life. 

Without even realizing it, Sophie stood tall again. Her chest lifted. She felt that familiar confidence returning. Hope glimmered in her eyes. The tears and mess on her face didn’t matter anymore. That vulnerable, helpless version of her was gone. What stood in its place was a quiet but undeniable power—one so strong it made tears seem meaningless. She looked like… she was glowing. 

-- Kane, standing nearby, felt the weight of it too—though not as deeply as Sophie. But even he was shaken. 

He stared at the stage in stunned silence, completely floored by Ronan’s command over the performance. And then, as he noticed a shift in the energy beside him, he turned—and was struck again. 

Sophie’s eyes sparkled with fierce clarity. 

Kane followed her gaze back to the stage, back to Ronan—standing between them and the light. 

The spotlight from behind created a halo around Ronan’s figure. No one could see his face or his eyes, but it didn’t matter. Just standing there, he radiated a commanding presence—like a god shaping the world with nothing but emotion. 

With both hands on the mic, Ronan softly hummed like a lullaby, gently winding down from the song’s explosive peak. 

“Soar far away, Sing out loud— You make everything okay…” 

“We become one, inseparable— You take all the pain away…” 

Now, the audience could finally hear the soft whispers in the melody. But who was the “you” in the song? It meant something different to everyone. Maybe it was Ronan. Maybe it was One Day King. Maybe… it was music itself. Or maybe it was someone else entirely. 

If you really did become the demon… who would save you? 

Kane couldn’t look away from Ronan. The aura pouring off him broke through the last barrier in Kane’s mind. 

Note 1: “My Demons” by Starset. 

(End of Chapter)