Monarch Dorm – Evening
The dorm felt alive in a different way than the arena had. No flashing cameras, no screaming fans—just the five of them and the weight of what they had seen earlier. The Equinox performance still hummed in their minds, like a ghost echoing every note, every movement.
Jiwon stood in the center of the practice room, arms crossed, watching the LED panels reflect faint light onto the polished floor. The room smelled faintly of sweat, coffee, and determination.
"This isn't just another track," Jiwon said, voice low but firm. "We're not just performing. We're showing what Monarch is."
Kai twirled a pen like a baton. "I've already got some ideas. Aggressive synth, heavy bass drops—think Takedown level energy but… sharper. Angrier. Controlled chaos."
Zayn nodded, pacing along the mirrored wall. "And the choreography has to match. Every hit, every step, every slide has to cut through the stage, not just decorate it."
Min remained quiet at first, then finally spoke, "It has to have weight. Not just moves, but presence. We need to feel it in our bones, not just our limbs."
EO, scribbling notes, added softly, "And the vocals—layered. Power in the chorus, texture in the verses. Harmonies that catch each other mid-flight. That's what will make it feel alive."
Songwriting – Building the Track
They huddled around the digital board as Kai played a rough beat: aggressive 120 BPM, sharp hi-hats slicing through a dark synth backdrop.
Jiwon hummed a melody, low and controlled, testing resonance. "Start with a verse like this—steady, grounded. Lead into a chorus that hits like a punch."
Min added a counter-melody on the keyboard, soft but insistent, threading tension beneath Jiwon's commanding tone. "And the bridge—let's make it almost dissonant. Something that unsettles and excites at the same time."
Zayn tapped his tablet. "I've choreographed some initial patterns. Hand-offs, slides, floor rolls, group spins. Each one timed to accentuate the bass drop and the staccato vocal hits."
Kai smirked. "Floor rolls? Nice. I'm imagining crowd reaction—'oh, they just went there'."
EO laughed quietly. "Don't underestimate the emotional punch. We can hit hard and still make it beautiful."
Initial Rehearsal – Choreography in Motion
The five of them moved in a circle, testing the formations. The song's skeleton was still rough, but energy flowed through them like electricity.
Verse 1: Jiwon grounded in center, mic low, voice commanding, minimal movement.
Pre-Chorus: Kai sliding across the floor, sharp arm angles, eyes burning toward Jiwon.
Chorus: Full rotation, spins and leaps timed to bass hits, Min and EO mirroring hand-offs with precision.
Bridge: Zayn lifts into a controlled aerial spin, followed by Jiwon and Kai in staggered timing, the group forming a jagged star across the studio.
Every move was deliberate. Every vocal hit synchronized. Every beat carried weight.
Internal Reactions – Monarch's Focus
Jiwon's gaze never left the mirrored wall. He could see himself, but more importantly, he could see them. His brothers. Their strength. Their potential.
Zayn's fingers ached from repeating complex slides, but he pushed through, grinning. "If Equinox's fire lit us up, we're about to burn the stage down ourselves."
Kai's grin was wild, electric. "This is going to hurt the ears and excite the soul. I love it."
Min closed his eyes mid-rotation. "I can feel the floor vibrating through me. The song… it's alive."
EO, usually reserved, raised his voice to harmonize with Jiwon. "And when we hit the chorus together? It's like… it's like we become the song."
Late Night – Refining the Vocals
Hours passed. Voices cracked, muscles burned, sweat ran down temples. But each time they tried a line, they refined it:
Jiwon's vocals: deep, controlled, commanding.
Min: subtle harmonics threading tension.
EO: falsettos cutting through, adding brightness.
Kai: rap lines sharp and textured, punctuating verses.
Zayn: grounding anchors in melody and movement, making chaos coherent.
By 2 a.m., the skeleton of their new track — tentatively titled "Bloodline Takedown" — was solid. The chorus, when sung together, shook the room:
(Chorus – All)"Strike the line, we rise, we fall,Echoes of power in every call.Chains break, shadows bend,The hunter and his fire ascend."
Each word reverberated in their chests, in the polished studio floor, and in their minds. They weren't just rehearsing—they were asserting dominance.
Reflection – The Drive Ahead
As they collapsed against the mirrors, drenched in sweat, Jiwon's gaze lingered on his reflection. "Equinox set the bar. But this… this is us. Our fire. And we're not just catching up. We're surpassing it."
Kai tossed a towel at him, laughing. "Then let's not stop. Ever. Every beat, every step, every note—make it ours."
Min smiled faintly, tired but alive. "It's terrifying… and beautiful. Just like it should be."
EO, still humming a falsetto from the chorus, added softly, "Let them see us. Let them feel us."
Zayn simply nodded. "Then it's settled. We rise from ashes, stronger, faster, sharper. The stage is ours next."