Capítulo 3: Goodbye
With a deep breath, Arell squeezed his eyes shut, focusing all his energy on the screen hovering before him.
[Are you ready to open the pack?]
The message pulsed in a soft blue light. Without wasting anytime he began picturing the pack, a tangible weight in his mind's eye. A surge of anticipation coursed through him as he willed his hand forward. When he opened his eyes, the familiar purple light shone brightly on the screen, except this time it was mixed with a dark blue colour.
A cardboard box, unlike any he'd ever seen, materialized on the lone bed in his cell. It wasn't the standard brown cardboard; this one shimmered with a vibrant purple hue, the color so deep it seemed to almost glow. It sat atop the worn blanket he usually used, a contrast to its mundane surroundings.
Eagerness bubbled in his chest, a fizzing sensation that threatened to burst out of him. He practically lunged for the box, his hands trembling slightly as they made contact with the smooth surface. The box pulsed with a blinding white light that momentarily banished the dim cell light.
Then, with a soft click, the blinding light subsided leaving faint whisp of purple smoke that danced through the air, revealing a sight that left him starstruck. The box had clicked open, revealing its content within.
[Congratulations on Receiving The Prodigy Pack]
"If Arell don't trust you…"
Metro Boomin Production Skills (40% (Base)) (Epic) (+40 Production Attribute) (Ear for Music [Unlocked](Rare))
Flow Technique (Advanced) (Rare)
Foresight Gambit [Unlocked]
You can analyze situations from different angles, identifying risks, opportunities, and even crafting contingency plans for various scenarios. (Rare)
$50000 (Uncommon)
Voice Enhancement (Expert) (Epic) (+20)
Street Hustler (Uncommon)
"The Juice." (2024) Juice Wrld was well known for his unique sound and and flow as well along with his ability to freestyle off the top, so can you. (+20 to Voice, Freestyle and Flow Attributes) (Expansive Vocabulary [Unlocked]) (Rare)
Music Theory (Advanced) (Rare)
[The Architect, error code #014556d]
[setting status…..:Unnatural]
...
The Architect (Unnatural) A virtual mentor that can be personalized before physical creation to suit the needs of host. They possess a variety of skills that will prove useful to the host. The Architect's guidance extends to several key areas:
Legal knowledge
The Architect host a library of legal knowledge that will be suited when handling complex contracts and industry regulations. They help you identify potential pitfalls and ensure your creative and financial interests are protected.
Negotiation
The Architect is capable of adapting to almost any approach, wielding charm and reason when needed, or employing a more assertive strategy depending on the situation. However, ruthless tactics aren't its only option. The Architect can also make use of "Win-Win" negotiations, where both sides walk away satisfied, fostering long-term collaborations and building positive relationships within the industry.
Strategic Mind
The Architect acts as your personal strategist, guiding you through potential outcomes of your actions.
Street and Combat Knowledge
The Architect provides insights on navigating dangerous environments, recognizing and avoiding trouble, and potentially even utilizing streetwise tactics to gain an advantage
While not a master martial artist, The Architect Has a solid foundation in self-defense techniques.
Management
The Architect contains leadership and organizational skills needed to build and manage successful teams or operations.
Arell's eyes grew wide as he devoured the descriptions of the Prodigy Pack's contents.
A familiar warmth spread through him as he saw "Metro Boomin Production Skills." As of 2015, Metro Boomin was a household name, a great music producer with ties to other famous rappers like Future and Travis Scott. Though it was worth mentioning that the "40%" was oddly perplexing. Did it mean he got forty percent of Metro Boomin's music production knowledge?
Still, even if it were just forty percent, Metro was a great producer, and without a doubt, even half of the knowledge he had could easily turn someone into a great producer. Even so, something else also had Arell quite perplexed – the word 'Base'. It meant that either the maximum wasn't 100 or Metro's Production ability exceeded the Maximum rating. Both possibilities made his brain run in circles.
"I guess I'll find out when the Rapper Stats section unlocks." Arell stated to no one but himself as his eyes drifted over to the corner of the screen.
Rapper Stats [Locked]
Arell let out a sigh before his attention shifted back to the gift contents. "Ear for Music? Unlocked? I'm guessing this is one of those hidden status', there's Foresight Gambit and Street Hustle as well."
Hidden Stats [Locked]
"There's no description for Ear for Music, but there is one for Foresight Gambit and Street Hustle…interesting." Arell willed the first reward away, his gaze drifting to the other pack contents – "Flow Technique" and "Music Theory." These upgrades felt like essential tools. Flow Technique gave him an understanding of how to manipulate his voice for different effects and a better ability at being precise with his rhythm, along with what he'd classify as effortless rhyming. Music Theory, on the other hand, not only gave him a deep understanding of how different musical elements like melody, harmony, rhythm, and form worked together to create cohesive songs, but also chords, different notes, and progressions beyond basic formulas. He was pretty sure he'd now be able to create well-structured tracks with strong hooks, memorable bridges, and satisfying buildups.
The "Voice Enhancement" upgrade sent a familiar memory to his mind, causing a cold shiver to run down his spine at the thought of his earlier antics. "Yeah, definitely not testing this out for now…" He skimmed over the rest of the list, each new ability fueling his anticipation.
"Hey, system," he called out tentatively, as if unsure if there was anyone listening. "Juice Wrld…who is that?"
A faint blue light emanated from the screen, acknowledging his query. Then, a bar of text appeared on the screen.
[Juice Wrld, born Jarad Anthony Higgins, was a prominent American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He achieved mainstream popularity in the late 2010s with his emo rap and SoundCloud rap style, characterized by melancholic lyrics and catchy melodies, it is 2015 and he has already begun releasing music, the host has not heard of him due to his time spent in prison. His unique flow and ability to freestyle were what the Host received based off of Jarad's notable talents up until the point he passed away.]
"So, the +25 to Voice and Flow Attribute and the 'Expansive Vocabulary' unlock…that's based on Juice Wrld's style?" Excitement bubbled in his voice.
[Affirmative] the system confirmed. [Expansive Vocabulary was gifted as a result of Juice Wrld's ability to seamlessly construct bars with clever wordplay]
A grin split Arell's face. This wasn't just a gift; it was a collaboration across time, a revelation. 'So the system can give gifts based on future events,' his thoughts lingered before he focused back on the pack contents.
Fifty thousand dollars was a considerable sum, even though the system had assigned it an uncommon rating. His mind raced with possibilities. If the recording studio he envisioned wasn't up-to-par, he wasn't entirely helpless. Sure, he lacked established connections, but he could hustle. He could probably find decent studio equipment at a music store. Most importantly, though, he needed to ensure his safety and that of his friends. He wasn't sure about Georgia's gun laws, but he'd find out. Research was key after all, "And I think I found something to help me with that- research."
His attention snagged on the glitch, The Architect. "Unnatural"? It was an unsettling term.
However, the description of its skills – legal knowledge, negotiation, strategic planning – was exactly what he needed to navigate the not only the music industry, but everyday life. The inclusion of street smarts, combat training, and management felt…off-putting, a strange mismatch. Though a bodyguard and a lawyer would go a long way.
But the Architect could be personalized, tailored to his specific needs. This unexpected element was exactly what he hadn't been looking for, but desperately needed nonetheless.
A long, drawn-out yawn escaped Arell's lips as he finally gave up his fight for a comfortable position. The thin prison mattress, perpetually damp and lumpy, offered little solace. He flopped back with a thud, the worn surface sighing in response.
Saturday. The word echoed in his mind, a beacon of hope cutting through the monotony of prison life. Just three more days to endure these suffocating walls, then, freedom, sweet freedom.
A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth as he pictured it – the clanging gate swinging open, the warm sunlight washing over him, the taste of freedom on his tongue. Three glorious days. Three days of shared laughter with his crew, Kenny, Malik, and Devon. They'd planned it all out – a bus ride south to Atlanta, the open highway stretching before them like an unfurling canvas. He could practically hear the rumble of the engine, the chatter of his friends, the rhythmic whoosh of the wind against the bus windows. Earsplitting arguments about bus air conditioning, wailing children, sweet freedom.
In three days, they wouldn't be prisoners, they'd just be brothers again in all but blood roaming earth freely. He closed his eyes, a smile lingering on his lips. Saturday couldn't come soon enough.
Except… it already had.
As the sweet sound of freedom filled his ears, momentarily drowned out by the crying of the loudest child he had ever heard, Arell looked back at his once home, Chicago, receding in the mirror reflecting a image that he couldn't help but critique, himself, Arell wasn't conventionally rugged.
His face, framed by a halo of dark, springy curls, held a gentle structure that complemented his dark skin tone. No chiseled jawline graced his features, but a slightly upturned nose and a sprinkling of freckles across his bridge gave him a youthful charm. Light brown eyes, warm and expressive, often held a glint of mischief or a spark of hidden intelligence. A faint mustache, meticulously trimmed, shadowed his upper lip. Despite the time spent behind bars, his physique remained lean and wiry.
As he adjusted his eyes to his view his passing city he couldn't help but look at the fresh tire tracks marking the highway as the bus sped off into the distance.
Above them, a large sign loomed: "Welcome to Georgia."
(Scene Break)
A distorted voice sputtered through the phone, barely recognizable. "They… they're gone," the voice stammered. Static cut them off abruptly. Confusion morphed into anger as the weight of the news settled in.
"WHAT!" a wave of fury washed over the phone as the person on the other line came to terms with the news. "Where- where are they?"
"They hopped onto a bus to Georgia, but... you know how Cago' is right now," the voice rasped, a hint of desperation creeping in. "We can't afford to leave for' those four."
The anger simmered down, replaced by a cold, calculating rage. "Georgia, huh?" The person on the phone let out a loud grumble.
Silence stretched on the other end of the line, broken only by the faint hum of the city outside and the noise of a car engine roaring. Finally, the first voice spoke again, certainty replacing the earlier bravado. "They're probably heading for Atlanta, we could probably send some hitters though, they wouldn't be able to go immediately, I doubt those four would be carrying seeing as they just got out so should be a easy drill."
A chilling smile spread across the listener's face, "Let them stew down there for a while, make sure whoever you pick won't mess up."
The voice of the reporter let out a satisfied chuckle. "It's a plan then."
The phone call ended with a sharp click, a glint of malice flickering in their eyes as the drove through Chicago. They'd let those four enjoy their time in Georgia for now.
———————————————————————————————
Name: Arell Rose
Alias: N/A
Stats
Strength: 42/100
Agility: 60/100
Stamina: 43/100
Durability: 54/100
Intelligence: 72/100
Charisma: 65/100 (+15 Boost due to mild handsomeness)
Rapper Stats [ Locked]
Flow: 54/100
Voice: 58
Lyrics: 25
Production: 53
Performance: 5
Freestyle: 38
Songwriting: 32
Hidden Stats [Locked]
Business Acumen: 39/100
Marketing: 20
?
Hidden Status' [Locked]
Expansive Vocabulary (Rare)
Ear for Music (Extremely Rare)
Foresight Gambit (Rare)
Street Hustler (Uncommon)
Chicago Streets: Lyrical Inspiration (Uncommon)
Roulette [Locked]
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