Chương 34: Viral Victory, Hidden Struggles

Days passed, the video had gone fully viral, with the number of shares skyrocketing into the hundreds of thousands. News outlets and entertainment sites picked up the story, further propelling C.Cs rise.

What had started as a spontaneous performance in a park had transformed into a viral sensation, reaching people far beyond Zone A, District 1. C.Cs name was now on everyone's lips, his dance moves the latest craze sweeping across social media.

And with each new view, each new share, Cain's following grew, marking the beginning of his rise as a true star or at least a content creator.

The forum was buzzing with activity, a virtual battleground where opinions clashed like swords. In one corner, Rhythmic Phantom's loyal fans rallied behind their idol, hurling insults and accusations at C.C.

"This C.C. guy is just a copycat! All he did was rip off Rhythmic Phantom's moves and throw in a few tweaks. Nothing original about him at all!" one user typed furiously, the post quickly gaining likes and replies in agreement.

"Exactly!" another chimed in. "He's just riding on Rhythmic Phantom's coattails, trying to steal the spotlight with someone else's hard work. Pathetic."

But C.C.'s fans were not ones to back down easily. They fired back, defending their idol with equal passion.

"Hold up, where's the proof that Rhythmic Phantom's dance was the original? If he's so confident, why doesn't he upload the full video of his routine? Better yet, why not go live like C.C. did? Show us all that he's the original of the dance!" one of C.C.'s supporters challenged, their words sparking a wave of agreement among other fans.

"Yeah, until he proves it, all these claims are just talk. C.C. danced live, in front of everyone. That takes guts and talent! Let Rhythmic Phantom do the same if he claims to be the original of that dance! NO edits and NO cuts!" another added, their comment quickly climbing to the top of the thread.

The debate grew more heated, with posts flying back and forth in rapid succession. Amidst the chaos, some users began to dig into Rhythmic Phantom's past, unearthing old videos and articles.

"Look at this!" someone posted, attaching a link to a thread detailing Rhythmic Phantom's history of copying other content creators' dance moves. "This guy has a history of plagiarism. How can anyone trust him to be original now?"

The post quickly gained traction, with others joining in to share their findings. "Seems like Rhythmic Phantom has been 'inspired' by a lot of people over the years," one user quipped sarcastically.

Despite the mounting pressure from C.C.'s fans, Rhythmic Phantom remained silent, refusing to address the accusations directly. His supporters, growing increasingly desperate, flooded the forum with pleas for their idol to step up and prove his originality.

"Come on, Rhythmic Phantom, you can't let these haters win! Show them what you've got! Go live and dance — debunk all these baseless claims!" one fan urged, their post quickly gaining traction among others.

"Yeah, you've got to set the record straight! If you don't, they'll keep saying you copied C.C.!" another follower echoed, their words filled with a mix of frustration and anger.

As the clamor grew louder, Rhythmic Phantom's loyalists began to rally together, trying to drown out the voices of C.C.'s supporters. But no matter how many posts they made, the fact remained: their idol had yet to respond.

The silence from Rhythmic Phantom only fueled the fire, with some of his own fans beginning to question his reluctance.

"Why isn't he saying anything? If it was really his original dance, shouldn't he want to prove it?" a skeptical comment appeared, drawing a flurry of replies both defending and criticizing the dancer.

But as the days passed and the forum continued to buzz with speculation, one thing became clear — without Rhythmic Phantom's direct response, the controversy would only grow.

The demand for a live performance, for undeniable proof, hung heavy in the air, waiting for Rhythmic Phantom to take up the challenge and silence the doubters once and for all.

Cain smirked, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. "He won't answer and he won't be able to replicate it because he's not the original creator." he laughed.

He leaned back in his chair, enjoying every moment as he watched Rhythmic Phantom's follower count plummet while his own surged past a million on BuzzVid. Even his InstaPic had exploded with half a million new followers, all thanks to the success of his latest video.

"That's what you get for copying my moves, you brat!" Cain growled triumphantly, spinning in his chair, reveling in his victory.

But just as he was about to bask in his triumph a little longer, Fifi flicked him on the head, snapping him out of his reverie. Cain glared at her, annoyed.

"What?! What did I do this time?"

Fifi's usual impassive demeanor was replaced with a serious expression as she hovered in front of him. "Should you really be celebrating right now?"

Cain raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading slightly. "Why wouldn't I be? That guy got what he deserved, and I cleared my name."

Fifi didn't let up, her eyes narrowing as she continued to stare him down. "You have a problem with touching women, and you're not doing anything to fix it?"

Cain's smirk vanished completely. He turned away, facing Fifi with a dismissive wave. "It's nothing serious."

"Nothing serious?!" Fifi's voice rose with frustration, and she nearly flicked his forehead again but held back. Instead, she flew closer, forcing him to meet her gaze. "You were breaking out in a cold sweat, heaving, and puking just from touching that girl's hand! And you were even wearing gloves! Now I understand why you're always wearing them. Cain, this is serious!"

At the sound of his name, Cain knew she wasn't going to let this go easily.