Chapter 442: Battle of Sounds

The stage was ablaze with a neon green glow, making it appear like the audience was in some kind of alien simulation. OCTA was the first one to perform, arising from the stage with futuristic visuals. Their arrangement was characterized by an energetic synth beat, and their dance was intensely executed. The bass of the song thumped with power, mirroring OCTA's signature style.

Meanwhile, MORPH3D unleashed a rock-infused energy with their arrangement. Guitars wailed, drums thundered, and Rex, the group's main vocalist, belted out the lyrics like a true rock artist. Nonetheless, their lyrics had a similar vibe to OCTA's— focused on the flashy life of an idol and how being on stage was the greatest feeling in the world. SPADES chose a different path, focusing on their vocal prowess, almost similar to a choir. Their stage was bathed in softer hues with a more angelic quality. The beat, though still upbeat, incorporated softer rock elements that complemented the vocal-centric performance. However, the similarity to MORPH3D's arrangement didn't go unnoticed. They essentially used the same rock-infused instruments, with SPADES just going for the softer route. CHAOS also didn't stray away from their usual concept. As always, their concept was enigmatic and dark. Their name, CHAOS, was truly represented well in every performance they gave out. The performance had a lot of electronic beats and ominous melodies that the audience loved. Their lyrics, too, were quite arrogant in nature, as they portrayed an idol as being the 'best' on the stage. On the other hand, BOYMYSTIC took a bubblier route, almost the opposite of what CHAOS had done. Their stage had a lot of bright colors and upbeat choreography that had the audience clapping along. The melody was light and carefree, and the lyrics spoke of the love they had for their fans. It was a performance that radiated positivity, uplifting the crowd.

Arin was startled for the hundredth time in the night as the audience erupted into cheers once again. She couldn't deny that these idols were very talented and that she had a newfound respect for their work. Dancing, singing, and entertaining an audience truly wasn't an easy job. However, she wanted nothing more than to finish the other performances so she could watch EVE's performance. Arin had held herself back from watching their performances online since she didn't want to come off as crazy as she already was. So, their performance today would be the very first performance she would watch from their team—and she didn't know what to expect. Backstage, the members of EVE were getting ready as they waited for BOYMYSTIC's performance to end. As expected, all of their rivals performed a concept that they were comfortable with. It definitely wasn't unpleasant. A group needed a certain level of comfort with a concept so they could execute it properly. The concept they had chosen was also something they were very comfortable with. However, it was definitely still unexpected—especially for a mission where 'idol' is the central theme. The members of EVE were in a circle, pumping themselves up for yet another performance.

"It's our second to the last performance," Ren smiled, looking at his members. "Stop, you're making this cheesy," Akira teased. However, deep inside his mind, he liked moments like these with his members. "Yeah, you better stop, or Jaeyong will start crying," Jisung teased, nudging their leader. Jaeyong clicked his tongue and shook his head as the others began to tease him. "I didn't want to say this because I want Jaeyong to keep his pride, but he was crying secretly after watching the video you edited," Akira said to Jisung. "I think Sehun teared up a little too," Zeth chimed. "Our oldies are very emotional." "Yeah, those two cried when June sang the bridge to us too," Ren teased. Sehun rolled his eyes while Jaeyong just accepted his fate.

Casper, on the other hand, has still been acting weird after seeing the lipstick on June's polo. June clicked his tongue and nudged his shoulder. "Whatever it is that you're thinking about, set it aside for the performance," June whispered. Casper sighed but nodded nonetheless. "Umm, can we have a group hug?" Jisung shyly asked, making the others coo. "Aww, does our baby chick want a hug?" Akira asked in a baby tone. "Shut up," Ren said, nudging Akira's shoulder. "I'm sure you'd like one too." Akira shook his head but opened his arms nonetheless. "Come on, guys. Let's hug it out like real bros. Are you all wearing socks?" he asked. "I'm not," Casper chimed. Akira shook his head and wrapped his arms around Jaeyong and Ren, who were next to him.

The others quickly followed, bringing themselves closer to each other. The warmth of their hug spread to their hearts, and despite the 'fake' displeased looks on their faces, they actually enjoyed each other's company. Even June, who wasn't a huge fan of skinship, felt comforted by his teammates. He felt like that certain hug lifted their spirits up, setting the perfect tone for their performance. They broke away seconds later when BOYMYSTIC went down the stage. At first, the senior groups were confused when they saw EVE huddled together like a bunch of little ducklings, but when they realized they were hugging, they silently made their way back to their waiting room.

The group of eight now turned to the entrance of the stage, where the light entered the dark waiting area. "Standby," one of the crew members said.

They shook their hands and warmed up their voices as Kim Wonbin laid out their introduction. June was at the very end of the line, and a small smile emerged from his face. "Please welcome the final performers of the night—EVE!" The crowd erupted into cheers as the eight attractive members of the rookie group made their way to the stage. Arin craned her neck to get a better look at them, but in reality, she was only looking for one person in the group. The audience was in a frenzy as the cameraman zoomed in on their faces, showcasing their handsome looks on the screen. However, that wasn't really the main reason for their screams. There was something else that set their hearts ablaze. Jia and her friends turned to each other with wide eyes as they realized the outfits EVE was wearing. "Bora," Jia mindlessly pulled on her friend's sleeve. "Is it just me, or are they wearing the uniforms from Rising Stars?"