Chapter 99 Part 1
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Chapter 99 Part 1: The Contest Filled With Challenges (1)
The room erupted in a wave of surprise.
In most talent shows, producers balance audience engagement, program length, and contestants’ chances for a comeback by keeping eliminations low—typically removing only about a quarter of the participants in the first round. But Dazzling Stage veered sharply from tradition. Instead, it accelerated the process with an unforgiving elimination mechanism: cutting 84 contestants in one go. With the added consequence of being permanently barred from future performances, this competition felt less like a stage and more like a battlefield of shattered dreams.
The audience tuning into the live broadcast was floored. Discussions flared up:
“Grade F and Grade D contestants make up nearly half the group. Is Dream Weaver Rabbit planning to cull the ‘flawed’ ones outright?”
“Relax. With an elimination rate this high, even the Grade A and B players can’t afford to feel safe. It’s an equal playing field. Let’s wait for the next set of rules.”
While the viewers speculated, the contestants on stage wrestled with their own emotions. Even though they’d braced themselves for Dazzling Stage’s unpredictable twists, the sheer number of eliminations shook them deeply.
Tang Liuli, a green-eyed cat with perpetually drooping eyelids, snapped to attention. Her emerald eyes widened as a rare sense of urgency washed over her.
She knew herself well. Unlike Little Sakura, who pursued the royal idol archetype, or the Great Devil embracing a darker path, Tang Liuli had no clear route to accessing her Heart Flow on stage. Even if she managed to tap into it, she hadn’t yet figured out how to leverage it to enhance her performance.
Among the Grade A contestants, she was the most unbalanced. While her singing and expression management were exceptional, her other skills lagged behind—often falling short of Grade B, or even Grade C, players.
In short, if one Grade A contestant was to be eliminated, it would almost certainly be her.
Tang Liuli imagined the moment of her elimination. A pang of regret struck as she thought about her unresolved guilt toward Mother Qing. She shook her head vigorously, trying to dispel her fears.
“No, I can’t leave yet. Not without Mother Qing’s forgiveness!”
“If I’m eliminated without making things right, my life will feel like a failure full of regret!”
Resolute, she straightened her back and fixed her gaze on Dream Weaver Rabbit, intent on absorbing every word of the forthcoming rules.
Chu Wang Shu stood nearby, her expression tense. While she was a solid mid-tier Grade B contestant, her average skill level placed her at risk. If luck turned against her, this elimination round could very well mark her end.
Liang Xiaoxiao, in contrast, seemed distant—her gaze unfocused.
Ever since she decided to push boundaries, she had actively courted attention, controversy, and unpredictable moves. For her, staying in the spotlight—however divisive—was all that mattered.
Yesterday, during a break, she had made a bold move: approaching Xie Qingxuan, one of the most popular contestants, in hopes of striking up a connection.
Her efforts, however, ended in an unexpected way.
Xie Qingxuan had casually covered the dormitory camera and, with a calm and detached gaze, looked at her. There was no disdain or contempt in her expression—just genuine confusion as she softly asked:
“Why do you do this, Xiaoxiao?”
“You know you meet the standards of today’s idols—your innate qualities and cultivated skills are all sufficient.”
“Sure, your initial popularity came from novelty, and you’ve gained a lot of exposure by interacting with me, Liuli, and Little Qing. But no matter how you look at it, elimination is inevitable. Maybe not today, but in the second or third round. So why not try to leave a more favorable impression?”
Liang Xiaoxiao hadn’t replied. She knew Xie Qingxuan wasn’t mocking her—this was her straightforward nature at play. Yet, because the words were spoken without malice, they cut even deeper.
Now, as Dream Weaver Rabbit announced the brutal 84-person elimination, Xie Qingxuan’s words echoed in her mind:
“Since departure is inevitable, why not focus on leaving something positive behind?”
Liang Xiaoxiao clenched her fists. She still wanted to try—desperately so. Despite the whispers from her agent advising her to maintain her quirky persona to secure future opportunities, Liang Xiaoxiao found herself unwilling to let go of this stage. It wasn’t just about the game anymore.
For her, the upcoming rules would decide everything.
Amid this tension, Chu Yuanqing—one of the most popular contestants—stood out. Her expression was serious, yet her sparkling eyes betrayed her inner thoughts. When she heard about the 50% elimination rate, she felt a surge of joy.
“Eliminating 84 people? Incredible! With odds this steep, surely I can secure a glorious elimination spot this time!”
Unaware of her unorthodox thoughts, Dream Weaver Rabbit continued its assessment of the room. Anxiety, confusion, and despair were palpable, yet one gaze caught its attention: Chu Yuanqing’s.
The AI analyzed her expression, marveling at her resolve.
“What an exceptional Gemstone. Even under the pressure of a 50% elimination rate, her optimism shines unshaken. Truly a rare find.”
Satisfied, Dream Weaver Rabbit clapped to regain the room’s attention.
“Of course,” it began, “no need to worry too much. Before the official battles, you will have three stages to select your teammates. Here’s how it works:
Initial Pairing:
All 168 contestants will be paired into 84 teams. Each team will randomly select a duet dance and have one month to freely challenge other teams.
Team Expansion:
Winning teams can recruit members from their defeated opponents to form trios, then quartets, and finally quintets. The process repeats until all teams consist of five members.
Losing Penalties:
Losing teams will be forced to select a new dance routine and lose 10 points in the next stage. If a team is reduced to a single member, they’ll be sent to the standby area to regroup with other unpaired players.”
Dream Weaver Rabbit’s tone turned teasing as it added:
“But I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to refuse an invitation from a stronger team, right?”
The room fell silent as players absorbed the rules.
In the live broadcast room, viewers erupted with excitement.
“LOL, this feels like Blue Prison all over again!”
“The format isn’t as simple as it seems,” one viewer analyzed. “Winning challenges might offer rewards, but the risks are immense. Teams need to master multiple dances in just one month, and losing members could derail their strategy entirely.”
The stakes were clear: in this contest filled with challenges, success would demand nothing less than perfection.
