"Please, Introduce your team," Kielben said.
"Good morning, judges," Bryce stepped forward with confident poise. "We are Team Kings."
Anos arched a brow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Kings, huh? That's a bold name to wear. I hope your performance wears the crown too."
"You may start," Kitty said, leaning forward in her seat, the picture of intrigue behind her oversized sunglasses.
Prince exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as they entered the adjacent studio. The lights dimmed into a moody violet glow. The sound system was already humming, ready to ignite.
As soon as the music played, the trainees exclaimed with nostalgia—the intro felt like music typically heard at weddings.
Everyone watched intently as Bryce started with a flowy, contemporary dance intro.
"Please, I got down on my knees
Said, 'Will you marry me?'"
he began, his voice riding the rhythm with ease, his eyes locked on the judges.
"I'm hoping that this love will always last"
"I'm walking down the aisle"
His vocals filled the room, capturing the audience's attention instantly. It was a well-known fact that Bryce was a strong vocalist, one of the best among the contestants.
Rocky followed, his husky voice providing a bold contrast to Bryce's.
"Can't help but crack a smile"
"'Cause just like that, I'm married to the bag"
With a slight fumble, CJ emerged at the center during the chorus.
"What you know 'bout this, 'bout that?"
"What you know 'bout a bitch so bad?"
Prince sang the first part of the second verse, already feeling the fatigue from the intense choreography—countless jumps and pop-inspired movements had taken their toll. There was no doubt the choreography was demanding, and by the second verse, their vocals were noticeably shakier.
At first glance, the performance seemed flawless. But as the bridge approached and Rocky reached for the mid-range notes, a quiet unease began to ripple through the room.
While their performance was technically impressive, there was a lack of genuine connection to the emotions behind the song.
Despite their powerful movements, the mentors' expressions remained somewhat unimpressed.
As Bryce sang the final notes, CJ took center stage and did a backflip, prompting gasps from the trainees. The audience applauded but it quickly faded when they noticed the somber expressions on the mentors' faces.
"I thought it was good… but why do the mentors look so disappointed?"
"Yeah, it was good, but it wasn't anything special. It felt like chaos."
"Now that you mention it..."
"Yeah. It was disappointing."
Team Kings once the object of high expectations now found themselves at the center of doubt and uncertainty.
Anos was the first to speak. He sighed into the microphone, making the atmosphere even heavier.
While practicing, Prince hadn't been able to pinpoint what their team lacked.
They were definitely good... but something was missing.
And now, Prince finally understood what the real problem was.
They weren't a team.
They were just individuals performing their respective parts, without emotional cohesion.
"Let me critique the dance," Anos said. "The choreography… isn't bad. There are some good elements, but how do I say this? It feels somewhat repetitive."
Team Kings nodded.
"And at some parts, it felt like the moves were forced. They didn't flow seamlessly. There was too much going on during the chorus. Instead of being impressed, I was just… distracted."
"I had high expectations for this group," Dexter added. "Especially with you here, Bryce. But maybe I should've dialed that back. Your singing was dissonant. Have you ever actually practiced as a group before?"
Bryce pursed his lips.
"No, sir," he admitted quietly.
Dexter chuckled in disbelief. "I rest my case. So you just dance, huh? I get it. You don't want to focus on singing that much."
"But they didn't even do a great job dancing," Charlie cut in, chuckling bitterly. "If you jump around and show off your dancing moves, do you think that's enough to win? This is a singing survival show, not a dancing competition."
"Anyway," he continued, "I suggest you revisit the choreography. It's confusing, and it doesn't connect with the lyrics."
"Yes, mentor," the team muttered.
The other contestants looked on as Team Kings bowed their heads in regret. Some felt a twinge of satisfaction.
But just as Prince thought things couldn't get any worse… they did.
Shotgun Willy took the mic, and the room went dead silent.
He cleared his throat and looked at the trainees, his dark sunglasses concealing his true expression.
This was the first time he had spoken during the entire interim evaluations. Even the mentors seemed tense.
"I think you've just ruined it, tainted it with half-hearted effort and empty execution," Shotgun Willy said, his voice cutting through the air like a knife.
His words hung heavy in the room a bitter truth that couldn't be denied. Willy's eyes locked onto each of them, his gaze unrelenting.
"You think this is enough? You think you can skate by with mediocrity? If so, then you don't understand the weight of the responsibility you've been given. My song deserves more than what you gave it."
A heavy silence followed. This was the harshest critique anyone had received during evaluations. Even trainees not in Team Kings felt the sting.
"I expect nothing less than the best."
"So I suggest you start all over again."