Chapter 416 Colossus
Thankfully, Jia and her friends were able to secure the barricade. The older group was two rows behind them, causing Bora to snicker. Although Jia was forgiving, Bora wasn't. In the end, she resorted to physical means and tripped one of the girls so they weren't able to run to the barricade. As the crowd began to settle, Jee Haemin emerged with a charismatic smile, his eyes twinkling with confidence. The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting his name in unison. Jee Haemin raised his hands, signaling for the crowd to quiet down.
"Hello, amazing fans!" he exclaimed. "Are you ready for the ultimate showdown, where idols will battle it out to be crowned the King of Kings?"
The crowd's roar intensified, affirming their enthusiasm. Jee Haemin chuckled, enjoying the energy in the studio.
"Fantastic! But before we jump into the performances, let's welcome our esteemed judges for this week. Three legends from different generations in the idol world!" Jee Haemin gestured towards the panel of judges, each seated on a sleek, modern-looking bench.
Contrary to Rising Stars, which had a fixed set of judges, King of Kings will invite different judges every week. "First up, we have Kang from C.O.L.D!" The crowd cheered as Kang acknowledged them with a nod and a confident smile.
"Next, the dazzling Sunggi from Finite!" Jee Haemin announced, prompting another wave of cheers as Sunggi gracefully waved at the crowd.
"And last but not least, the charismatic Baek from XO!" The crowd's excitement reached a new height as Baek waved with a smirk, embodying the aura of a seasoned idol.
"For this season, the rules are simple—the judges would pick their favorite performances, but the ultimate decision lay in the hands of the audience." "There would be no onsite voting," Haemin continued. "After the performances are revealed to the public tomorrow, you will all have three days to vote for your favorite performances."
"Tonight, we have four exciting performances for you!" Haemin exclaimed. The audience murmured in confusion, wondering why there were only four performances when there were seven participants. Jee Haemin continued, "In this mission, our talented performers had teamed up for a duo group performance, bringing back the magic of the first to third generations of K-pop! It's to test their ability to make these songs their own and to work with idols who aren't familiar to them." Exclaims of understanding filled the studio. Some others were excited about the collaboration stages, while others were hesitant to see their favorite idols sharing the spotlight with another group. "I wonder who EVE teamed up with," Soomin whispered. "I want it to be OCTA," Nari chuckled. "They appear like rivals, but I feel like they're pretty good friends." Haemin cleared his throat, causing the audience to dial down.
"But, CHAOS, our reigning champions from last week, have decided to take on the mission solo. And not only that, they've chosen their own song."
With the mere mention of CHAOS' name, the studio was filled with loud cheers. Jia and her friends were amazed by the sound of their cheers, wondering how many chaotics were inside the venue. Even now, they could see their blue lightstick dominating the studio. "Now, let the games begin!" Haemin exclaimed, eliciting a louder cheer from the audience. "Our first performer for the day is someone most of you are anticipating to watch," he started off. "It's CHAOS," Jia muttered. "Proclaimed as the fourth-generation kings, let us welcome CHAOS to the stage!" Haemin announced. The members of CHAOS confidently strutted onto the stage, their presence commanding attention. Each member acknowledged the crowd with a wave, a gesture that sent their fans squealing in excitement. Jee Haemin joined them at the center of the stage, a microphone in hand. "CHAOS, you guys are turning the tables on us this week. Why the solo performance?"
Xion smirked. "Last week was just a taste. We're here to prove that CHAOS doesn't need a partner to dominate the stage."
The crowd cheered even louder at Xion's bold statement. Jee Haemin chuckled, "Confident as always! Alright, let's see what CHAOS has in store for us. Take it away!"
The anticipation reached its peak as the lights dimmed. The opening notes of XO's iconic song 'Colossus' echoed through the venue, making the others gasp in surprise.
Baek, who didn't expect their song to be sung, leaned against the table to take a closer look at their performance. Despite their many hits, 'Colossus' was definitely a stand-out song. It may have even started the fierce EDM sound that quickly became a staple in the K-pop industry. The spotlight focused on Haruki, and muffled screams echoed in the studio. Zeth pursed his lips in defeat. "He's so handsome," he muttered. The crowd gasped when Haruki finally opened his eyes, showing off the piercing red lenses that weren't there during their introduction. As the beat intensified, a mad glint was seen in his eyes. He grinned—a mischievous smile that hinted at the madness that was about to unfold. The crowd fell into an awed hush, captivated by the charisma Haruki exuded.
"I stumbled closer, captivated by her gaze.
A predator masked by a delicate face."
The music swirled around them, and with the precision of a well-oiled machine, CHAOS broke into a choreography that seemed to defy the laws of physics. Gideon, the main dancer, took the center and moved like a creature straight out of a zombie movie—breaking bones and all. "As the night surrenders to the dawn's cold breath,
They vanish in the shadows, leaving nothing but death."
The stage came alive with dark energy as the members of CHAOS embodied the colossus that XO's song portrayed. Each step, each twist, and each turn were executed with a bone-chilling intensity that left the audience in awe. Even Jia, who vowed not to love any other group aside from EVE, was impressed with their performance. No wonder they were called the kings of the fourth generation. As the chorus hit, the explosive choreography matched the intensity of the music. Haruki's vocals soared, cutting through the intense beats like a sharp blade. "A monstrous ballet, a cruel masquerade,
Where the colossus and the creature find their shade.
He's a creature of the dark, a savage at her side,
In the dance of damnation, their souls are tied." The members of EVE and SPADES silently watched their performance, finding themselves enthralled by it. As expected, CHAOS didn't disappoint. "Ah, they're so good," Ren sighed. "Maybe we should have gone first." June continued to watch with furrowed eyebrows, a thought brewing in his mind. There was no doubt—CHAOS brought the heat to the stage. However, since they were covering such an iconic song, there was one thing they couldn't escape—comparison. June smirked, finally relaxing as CHAOS ended their performance. It wasn't better than the original. Colossus is inspired by 'Monster by EXO!'
