Equinox's Rehearsal – Afternoon
The studio was alive with motion. The mirrored walls reflected the sharp, synchronized movements of the five members as they ran through Obedience for the first full rehearsal. Each step was precise, calculated, yet fluid, like liquid steel in motion.
Yul's voice rang out over the speakers, smooth, commanding, seductive. Each note carried a magnetic weight, subtly bending the energy in the room. His golden eyes glinted as he hit the high phrases, Korean and English words flowing seamlessly:
🎵 Obedience, 순종해 (Obey)🎵 Hands in the sky, 손을 올려 (Raise your hands)🎵 Follow me, 날 따라와 (Follow me)🎵 Don't fight the fire, 불길을 거부하지 마 (Don't resist the flame)
Dara's sharp, flirty rap cuts through the chorus, punctuated by synchronized arm flicks and spins, weaving in and out of Yul's orbit like a predator and prey choreography.
Juno and Rien moved like shadows and light—Juno's fierce, possessive body rolls paired with Rien's soft, hypnotic gestures, creating tension in every formation. Nox bounded into jumps and spins, chaos made graceful, adding an undercurrent of unpredictability.
The camera angles had been rehearsed meticulously. Each fan-facing shot captured just enough—Yul's hypnotic stare, Dara's sharp flare, Nox's infectious energy. Every fan reaction could be amplified online.
Fans – Social Media Storm
As snippets of rehearsal footage leaked, the fandom erupted. The hashtags #Obedience #EquinoxHypnotic #YulGoldenEyes were trending within minutes.
Fan accounts exploded with comments:
"His voice… it's… I can't breathe 😭"
"Nox literally just jumped through the screen and stole my soul 😩"
"Yul… he's staring at me like he knows me 🫶"
"Rien's gestures… hypnotic. Someone please hold me."
Fan edits started appearing with overlaid subtitles of the Korean lyrics, choreography breakdowns, and slow-motion replays of the gestures that captivated their hearts. The energy wasn't just online—it was infectious, cascading through fan communities globally.
Monarch Penthouse – Planning the Counter
High above the city, the Monarch penthouse buzzed quietly with urgency. Jiwon stood in the command room, Zayn and Min beside him, analyzing real-time social engagement metrics from Equinox's snippet. Screens flickered with live comments, fan reactions, and streaming data.
"This isn't normal," Jiwon said, jaw tight. "Fans aren't just excited—they're being influenced. Vatu's embedding something into the song. The rhythm, the phrasing, even the choreography—it's subtle mind control."
Zayn crossed his arms. "We can't just wait. We need to counteract it before the performance tonight."
Kai, sprawled on the floor with his tablet, muttered, "So… we crash their stage?"
"No," Jiwon replied coldly. "We observe, we prepare, and we intervene if it gets out of hand. First, we need to understand the choreography. Every hand movement, every beat—Vatu's plan is in the motion as much as in the voice."
Min's fingers hovered over a small charm embedded in the console. "I can feel it too. That energy. It's like… a pull. Harder than before. And Yul… he's resisting, but it's faint."
Jiwon's eyes darkened. "We watch him tonight. And if Vatu tries to push him too far, we step in."
Equinox – Final Prep for Performance
Back at the studio, Equinox ran through the performance one last time before the cameras went live. The choreography was tight, each member mirroring the hypnotic intensity of the song.
The central piece was Yul's commanding stage presence: a slow, deliberate walk to center stage, the chorus erupting behind him with precise formations. Fans online were already live-streaming rehearsal clips, hearts flooding in the chat, emojis flying faster than the moderators could manage.
🎵 Obedience, 순종해 (Obey)🎵 Raise your hands, 손을 올려 (Hands to the sky)🎵 Follow me, 날 따라와 (Follow me)🎵 Feel the flame, 불길을 느껴 (Feel the flame)
Dara twirled, flicking her hair in sync with the beat while pointing sharply at the camera, eyes daring the audience to follow. Juno moved closer to Yul, a protective shadow, circling with precise footwork designed to anchor his presence.
Nox's chaotic flips and jumps added unpredictable energy, keeping the performance alive with danger and charm. Rien's subtle gestures pulled viewers in, fingers tracing invisible lines in the air that hypnotically echoed the lyrics.
The snippet that had been posted earlier now exploded as a full-blown frenzy. Fans posted slow-motion breakdowns, cosplay choreography attempts, and reaction videos, all dissecting every detail of the movements and lyrics.
Monarch – Watching Live
From the penthouse tower, Monarch watched the live feed. Jiwon's grip on the console tightened as Yul's voice hit the first high note, commanding yet intoxicating. Min shivered, feeling the pull of the song through the screen.
"This is dangerous," Jiwon said quietly. "The energy is stronger than the snippet. We need to track every beat, every gesture."
Zayn nodded. "And Yul… he's holding. For now. But the moment Vatu pushes him—"
Jiwon's eyes narrowed. "We'll be ready. This performance isn't just entertainment. It's a battlefield. And tonight, we're observing every move."
The camera panned across Equinox's synchronized choreography. Each step, each gesture was meticulous. The fans online were practically holding their breath, mesmerized, sharing reactions across continents.
🎵 Obedience, 순종해 (Obey)🎵 Hands in the sky, 손을 올려 (Raise your hands)🎵 Follow me, 날 따라와 (Follow me)🎵 Don't fight the fire, 불길을 거부하지 마 (Don't resist the flame)
The moment the chorus hit, the penthouse was silent. Monarch wasn't just watching—they were calculating, anticipating, and readying themselves for the moment they would have to act.