Chapter 28: Barcelona's Triumph
The Barcelona night pulsed with a fiery Mediterranean warmth, the city's Gothic Quarter alive with the hum of rebellion as the tour van wound through narrow streets toward Sala Apolo, a vibrant 2,500-capacity venue steeped in indie and electronic lore. It was Monday night, six days after the Amsterdam coronation that had propelled "No Surrender" to 800,000 streams and launched Rebel Sound as a nascent indie label, cementing Sam Rivers and Mia Torres as global icons. The Hitmaker System's interface glowed on Sam's phone, its holographic text a blazing torch: "Mission Progress: 100%. Objective: Expand Rebel Sound's global presence in Barcelona to solidify indie empire. Target: 500,000 streams for 'No Surrender' post-performance. Reward: Empire Module (Level 2). Warning: Eclipse's residual influence may spark local disruption. Counter-strategy: Leverage Rebel Sound announcement and fan loyalty to dominate narrative."
Amsterdam's Paradiso had been a sacred victory—the Rebel Sound label announcement had ignited #IndieRebels, outshining Lily Voss's Melkweg flop, and Eclipse Records' silence signaled their retreat. Javier's legal win had buried their lawsuit, with no new filings since the deposition. The system's Legacy Module had unlocked distribution networks, and Soundwave Collective reported indie labels from Berlin to Tokyo pitching partnerships for Rebel Sound. Lily's latest X post—a vague "Finding peace in Barcelona. #StarlightReign"—hinted at a low-key pop-up at Razzmatazz, a rival venue, but her traction was fading, her narrative drowned by #EclipseExposed. Jake Harlan's absence—no texts, no threats—felt ominous, like a predator gone quiet before a strike.
Sam stepped onto the cobblestones, Sala Apolo's neon sign casting a red glow over fans waving #IndieRebels banners in Catalan and Spanish—"Llibertat!"—their glow sticks swirling like embers. Mia, in a black tank top scrawled with "Rebel Sound," slung her guitar case over her shoulder, her grin fierce despite the tour's grind. "Barcelona's got that fire, Rivers. Eclipse is a ghost now, but Lily's still out there. Let's make this our empire's crown."
Sam's grip tightened on his phone, the system's Security Module at maximum—encrypted backups, offline mode, secured in Tara's lockbox. "Jake's too quiet. They might try something local—disrupt the vibe, smear us. We need to push Rebel Sound hard tonight."
Mia's eyes sparkled. "Announce a Rebel Sound signing—maybe a local act. Show the world we're building something real."
The system pinged: "Empire Strategy: Announce first Rebel Sound artist signing onstage to amplify global reach. Projected impact: +75% label credibility." Sam texted the #IndieRebels European chat: "Barcelona rebels, Eclipse might stir trouble at Razzmatazz. Guard Sala Apolo—spot their moves, join our empire. #RebelRising." Replies surged: "Estem amb vosaltres!" "No Eclipse here!"
Inside, Sala Apolo was a pulsing cathedral—ornate ceilings, a stage rigged with Soundwave's pyrotechnics and LED screens flashing fan art. Tara, the stage manager, met them backstage, her clipboard steady. "Security's locked—local crew's vetted, Leo's on the board with redundancies. No Eclipse scouts yet, but Razzmatazz's buzzing with Lily's fans—maybe 400. They're pushing a 'redemption' angle on X."
Sam's jaw clenched. "They're grasping. Can we out-stream them?"
Leo, testing mics, nodded. "System's airtight—closed circuit for KXLA's 40,000 projected viewers. No disruptions." Dani set up cameras, capturing the Mediterranean chaos, while Rachel from Soundwave rushed in. "Amsterdam pushed 'No Surrender' to #1 globally. Rebel Sound's got offers from Sub Pop and Rough Trade. Announce a local signing tonight—there's a Barcelona band, Foc Viu, ready to join."
The system chimed: "Counter-strategy: Amplify live stream to eclipse competitor event. Suggested signing: Foc Viu, indie-flamenco fusion. Projected streams: +70%." Sam posted on X: "Barcelona! Eclipse is at Razzmatazz, fading fast. We're at Sala Apolo, building Rebel Sound. Stream live with KXLA—#IndieRebels #RebelRising." The post hit 70,000 likes, fans replying: "Sala Apolo's ours!" "Lily's out!"
Soundcheck was electric, the system tweaking "No Surrender" with a flamenco flourish—castanet undertones blending with punk fire: No surrender, no retreat, / We'll burn their lies with rebel heat. Mia's harmonies soared, their chemistry a blaze—her hand lingering on Sam's, a spark that felt like Barcelona's heat. Jax Windy's virtual cameo was prepped, his "Chi-Town Chains" rap infused with a Spanish guitar riff. Foc Viu, a fiery quartet, joined soundcheck, their flamenco-punk energy a perfect fit for Rebel Sound.
By 9 p.m., Sala Apolo was a furnace—2,500 fans packed in, the stream launching at 35,000 viewers. Foc Viu opened with a blistering set, their lead singer, Laia, dedicating it to "los rebeldes." Fan texts buzzed: "No suits here!" "Razzmatazz's half-empty—Lily's done!"
Lights crashed down, and Sam and Mia stormed the stage, pyrotechnics flaring like a Barcelona fiesta. Sam seized the mic, voice a thunderclap. "Barcelona! You're the fire of rebellion—city of art, fight, and soul. Eclipse is across town, clinging to lies. Tonight, we build our empire—Rebel Sound welcomes Foc Viu, our first signing!"
The crowd roared, shaking the rafters. "Rebel's Anthem" detonated, fans moshing under flashing LEDs, Mia's guitar a flamenco wail. The stream hit 40,000, comments wild: "Rebel Sound's the future!" "#EclipseExposed!"
"Faded Whispers" hushed the frenzy, its ache echoing the Gothic Quarter's shadows. Sam's voice cracked, Mia's harmonies a lifeline, their eyes locked—a moment caught on camera, trending instantly. "Unsilenced" reignited the fury, ukulele to rock explosion, fans chanting "Llibertat!"
Mid-set, Sam paused, the system urging: "Reinforce label vision." He held up a fist, screens flashing the Rebel Sound logo and Foc Viu's logo. "This is Rebel Sound—music for the free, by the free. Eclipse tried to break us—Seattle, Denver, Berlin, Paris. You stopped 'em. This is 'No Surrender'—for our empire!"
The crowd roared, and "No Surrender" erupted, pyrotechnics blazing, the system boosting the mix with a flamenco-punk pulse. A power flicker hit—Eclipse's shadow?—but the system's redundancies held, Leo countering instantly. The stream hit 45,000, "No Surrender" surging to 480,000 streams.
"Chi-Town Chains" brought Jax's virtual face on screens, his rap a global blade: Eclipse falls under rebel light. Foc Viu joined, Laia's vocals weaving with Mia's. "City Lights" glowed with Barcelona's skyline, fans singing Concrete nights like a vow. "Break the Chains" was a seismic chant, the crowd a sea of fists.
"Seven Nation Army" closed, the riff a war pulse, pyrotechnics raining gold. Encore: "Sparks in the Dark," acoustic, Sam and Mia's voices intertwining, their chemistry raw—a spark that felt like love.
Backstage, Rachel hugged them. "Razzmatazz's a ghost town—Lily's crowd bailed. 'No Surrender' at 510,000 streams. Rebel Sound's trending—Sub Pop wants a meeting!"
Javier called, voice steady: "Eclipse is silent—no new moves. Rebel Sound's got the industry buzzing."
Sam's heart raced. The system chimed: "Mission Complete: 500,000 streams achieved. Reward: Empire Module (Level 2)." It unlocked global distribution and studio partnerships. No text from Jake—silence.
Mia grabbed his arm, eyes fierce. "We're building an empire. Next stop, the world."
The system flashed: "Objective achieved: Rebel Sound rises. Next: Global expansion." As the van rolled through Barcelona's glowing streets, Sam felt the rebellion's fire eternal. Eclipse was gone, and a new dawn—with Mia—burned brighter than ever.