Two days had passed since the burial of Uncle Marcus, and Dayo had been expecting some form of retaliation or action from Michael — but none came. This made him uneasy.

He had studied Michael's patterns for months and knew the man never left problems unresolved. Michael always acted immediately.

A week went by, and still, there was silence. That's when Dayo realized something — either something had taken Michael's attention away, or something was stopping him from making a move.

It didn't take long for Dayo to figure it out. When he did, a bright smile appeared on his face.

"I am indeed lucky," he said softly.

He looked at a framed picture of Marcus on his desk and muttered, "Even down below, Uncle Marcus, you still find a way to help."

He immediately called Valery and Wayne. He didn't know how long Michael would stay quiet, but he had to use this time wisely — especially now that he was still trending everywhere online. Michael hadn't tried to suppress anything yet, and Dayo knew this was an opportunity he couldn't miss.

Valery picked up the call. "Hello, Dayo."

"Valery, how's the label handling things?"

"Hmm, good so far. We're pushing to sell more albums for Lois, but it's been a bit difficult since she's not here physically."

"I understand. I'll handle that when I come over."

"Huh? You're coming over?" Valery sounded surprised — she expected Dayo to lay low because of Michael.

"Don't worry about that. What I need from you is simple. I want to finish recording my album in the next two weeks."

"Huh… two—WHAT?!" This time it was Wayne shouting.

"Yeah, two weeks."

"Dayo, according to our plan, you're featuring no less than four artists. If it were only you, maybe, but with others—that's almost impossible."

"Hehe, I like the way you said almost impossible. Keep that in mind. And tell me—have I ever failed you?"

Dayo didn't wait for an answer. He already knew. His confidence came from the reward he got after reaching Regional Artist level.

---

Achievement Unlocked: Regional Artist (Level 6)

Reward:

Creative Surge Boost + Influence Expansion

Creative focus and output speed increased by 300% for 14 days.

Expands fan reach from regional to national level; +25% media traction and chart presence.

---

It was like the system always knew exactly what he needed. He couldn't help but grin widely.

The first reward was straightforward — everything he worked on would be done at triple the normal speed. What usually took three days could now be completed in one.

He had this gift for two weeks, and he could already tell how powerful it was.

The second reward, however, took him a moment to fully understand.

Influence Expansion.

That meant his visibility, his numbers, and his reach would all increase by 25%. His media traction, followers, and song engagement would rise across every platform. It was like receiving a national spotlight — without even trying.

He hadn't activated it yet. He wanted to save it for the perfect moment — when the album dropped. That way, the impact would be massive.

Dayo leaned back in his chair, still on the call with Valery and Wayne.

"Alright, here's the plan," he said. "From tomorrow, I'll be living in the studio. I'll call in the artists one after another, but first, I want to finish my solo tracks."

Wayne sighed. "You're really not joking, are you?"

Dayo laughed. "Nope. Two weeks. That's all I need."

Valery shook her head. "You sound way too confident for someone about to lock himself in a booth."

"Confidence is free, Val. Let me use it," Dayo said with a grin.

They all laughed, the kind that mixed nerves and excitement. Then the call ended.

---

That evening, Dayo called his family to the living room. His mom and dad were there, Janet and Jeffrey too. He stood with his packed bag beside the couch.

His mother frowned. "You're leaving again? You just got back."

"I know, Mum," Dayo said softly. "But I need to finish this album. It's my first. It's… important."

His dad looked at him for a moment and nodded. "You sure you can handle this pace?"

"I'll manage," Dayo replied with a small smile. "I might not come home often, so don't worry if I don't call every day. Just know I'm okay."

Janet crossed her arms. "You better not forget to eat."

Dayo chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."

He pinched her nose, making her laugh.

Then his mom stepped forward and hugged him tight. "Do your best, son. We're proud of you."

He nodded, grabbed his bag, and waved goodbye.

---

The studio became Dayo's world for the next few days.

He barely saw daylight. Morning blended into night, and night into the hum of speakers and soft clatter of instruments.

He already had five songs done — two released, three recorded during the Global Stage days. Now, he needed to add three more to make it eight. The last four would come later, featuring other artists — making twelve tracks in total for his debut album.

Recording these new songs felt different. Everything flowed easily.

It wasn't just talent — it was the Creative Surge Boost working quietly in the background.

When he sat with his guitar, melodies came naturally.

When he opened his notepad, the words wrote themselves.

Time seemed to slow down for him — yet everything moved fast.

Even Wayne noticed.

He blinked at the screen. "Bro… what the hell? We're getting clean takes on the first try. This never happens."

Dayo smiled slightly. "That's my magic."

Wayne scoffed. "Yeah, sure. You and your mystery energy or whatever."

They both laughed, but everyone in the studio could feel it — something was different. The energy, the pace, the sound — everything was just right.

By the end of the second day, Dayo had recorded "Heavenly" by Calum Scott, his voice carrying the same raw emotion as the original. The song felt heavier now — personal — like a quiet conversation between him and his late uncle.

The second was "Jealous" by Labrinth. That one hit deeper. The studio went silent as he sang. Even Wayne, usually quick to adjust sound levels, didn't move. Every word felt like confession — heavy, honest, and raw.

The last song of the session was "Let Her Go" by Passenger, stripped down with only guitar and soft background hums. It wasn't loud or grand — it was the kind of song that made you stop whatever you were doing and just listen.

When the final playback ended, Wayne leaned back, shaking his head. "This doesn't make sense, man. We planned three days, and it's not even two. You've done all three."

Dayo chuckled. "Guess I'm just in rhythm."

But deep down, he knew it wasn't rhythm — it was the system. It was working beyond his expectations.

Wayne stood and stretched. "You're crazy, bro. These songs— they're going to be global hits. Sometimes I feel like I want to peek into your head."

Dayo laughed. "Haha, I'm sure you do. But don't forget my I.Q — so just let that go."

Wayne grinned. "Alright, alright. But I can't help it anyway."

The last note of the Passenger cover echoed softly through the studio before fading out.

Dayo leaned back, closed his eyes, and let the silence settle.

Eight songs done.

Four left.

And if things continued at this pace, he would finish the entire album long before two weeks were over.

He smiled faintly to himself and whispered,

"Let's keep going."

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