"Nice diction from Xavi so far," commented Key, exchanging a glance with Drew.
"I'm impressed too," Drew replied. "It's clear he practiced a LOT and really focused on his pronunciation."
Soon, Daeho's melodious voice flowed across the stage. In the chorus, none of the lines were altered. The three others remained in place, letting their oldest member own the spotlight. While he had been nervous initially, it drew no negative reactions from the judges.
Before his turn, Jun patted Daeho on the shoulder as he moved to the back. He gripped his mic, positioning it above his mouth, ready to match Xavi's energy from the first verse.
"Days flowed like rivers I could only touch once.I spoke to my parents, who silently worried for me,and I remembered all the parents worrying for their children.Nobody wanted their kids to end up in uncertain paths,out of fear that, even in the afterlife, their hearts would still ache.I told them to trust me, knowing nothing is permanent,except a heart that never wavers, fueled by endless support.Was I too impulsive back then? Full of myself?Should I have chosen 'change'?"
Jun's expression twisted awkwardly, capturing a conflicted youth, before moving to the next lines.
Producer-Director Song leaned forward, clasping his hands. "Why didn't I know he had the potential for rap too?"
"He's done really well. Both him and Xavi," Producer Keys replied.
The three other Inhabitants Jun referenced in his lyrics weren't named, but their real-time expressions flashed on the large screen behind him.
Seth's chorus followed, with Daeho harmonizing softly as the two rappers moved in sync on one side of the stage. The high notes, sustained even through the last rap section, drew applause from the other contestants and mentors.
"The pillars in our hearts." The vocalists poured their souls into each note, holding the final chord until their veins stood out. "Yes, you! None other than you!"
I don't want to be overshadowed, Jun thought, exchanging lines passionately with Xavi, who now stepped forward for his rap section. The lights dimmed slightly, as the MR shifted to a suspenseful rhythm, hinting at the climax to come.
"I've walked paths no one else could see,carried dreams formed with you.Every stumble, every fall,taught me to rise above it all.Through doubt, through fear, I've learned to defy,turning dark into a spark of light.Now it's our time, together we claim,the stage, the fire, the hearts aflame!"
Xavi's words resonated through the hall, each line perfectly timed with subtle choreography—feet tapping, hands slicing the air, eyes locking with Jun's. His energy surged like a current, feeding Jun's resolve.
Jun absorbed that energy, nodding slightly as Xavi finished his verse. The MR grew heavier, more intense, as if holding its breath for the final explosion. The audience felt it too—the transition, the quiet before the storm.
Finally, it was Jun's turn. Stepping forward, eyes ablaze, his shadow stretched long across the rotating stage lights. Smoke curled around his ankles as the MR pulsed in sync with his heartbeat. The lights sharpened: bright white spotlight on Jun, with warm amber glows on Xavi and the others, framing them like a cinematic tableau.
"They say when you follow your heart,you can be sure you'll never regret it—no matter the risks, no matter the path,because life rarely goes according to plan.So why calculate at all?We have you anyway. We're ordinary, but together,with each other, we feel like the world is behind us!"
Jun's steps were precise, moving forward in a controlled tempo, while the smoke twisted with every stomp of the beat. His shadow danced behind him, echoing the energy of the words.
"Remember this, my dearest.Your tender hearts and your faith in usgave us the courage to take the first steps and dream.So everyone listening now,know this—the truly extraordinary ones in our heartsare none other than you!"
For the final line, Jun's chest expanded as he pointed directly at the audience. The lights converged on him. His teammates echoed the word 'you' more than five times, before he finally roared:
"YOU ARE THE WORLD BEHIND US!"
The MR cut immediately. Silence crashed over the venue. Every heartbeat seemed to echo through the empty seconds. Jun stood center stage, eyes closed, chest heaving, hands gripping the mic like a lifeline. His teammates framed him behind and beside him, perfectly in sync, creating a living portrait of unity.
Seconds stretched like hours. Then the emcee stepped forward, leading the audience in thunderous applause. Actor Lee Seo-hyuk murmured, "Wow… just wow. Honestly, mindblown."
Previous acts had impressed him, but only this performance left him genuinely speechless.
The crowd erupted. Trainees and Landers alike cheered, moved by the raw emotion. Some cried quietly, reminded of the people who had believed in them—the grandparents, siblings, and friends fueling their dreams.
"For me, it's my grandparents," said the eldest, Jinho, eyes glistening. "They believed I was the best performer in the world when I sang at their anniversary last year."
"Why is Jun hurting us like this?" another Lander laughed hollowly.
The opposing rap team stayed silent.
Sujin and the others smiled warmly, welcoming their rap team back to the Inhabitants' side.
The judges signaled the emcee to postpone commentary, and the Lander rap team took the stage next. Despite their best effort, it was impossible to match the sheer energy of Jun's performance.
When Jun's team was declared the winner, it came as no surprise. "Rap section's winner—congratulations, Greenhouse Team!"
"The score between the Greenhouse and Barren Land is 2:1 in favor of the Greenhouse. Congratulations, Inhabitants!"
No one was eliminated. The Landers bowed in regret, while the Inhabitants cheered. Jun's group was embraced by friends, laughter and tears mingling.
Before the Landers left, the emcee announced the special privileges for the winners:
"Winners of the Vocal Battle, Dance Battle, and Rap Battle gain separate privileges."
Cameras rolled as everyone anticipated the announcement. Jun shook his head, laughing at the teasing display.
The leaders of the winning groups approached the mystery boxes displayed on screen.
The vocal team received: "Letters from fans and phone calls to loved ones."
The dance team received: "Three-time unlimited buffet, exclusive menu course from Head Chef Jo."
The rap team received: "A one-day vacation outside the Greenhouse."
Envious glances swept across the non-winners, especially at the rap team's prize.
"I can go outside for a day?" Jun muttered in disbelief. In his previous life, this had never happened.
Moments later, he laughed genuinely as congratulations poured in. Nothing made him happier than the chance to step outside—just for one day, to breathe free from the suffocating confines of the survival show building.