The arena lights blazed like stars. Tens of thousands of fans were screaming, waving light sticks in a rainbow of colors, completely unaware of the danger hovering above the stage.
Equinox's new song thundered through the speakers—a sharp, addictive beat with hooks that stuck in your mind like glue. Yul moved across the stage with perfection, but something was off.
Every time he raised his hand or hit a high note, his movements trembled, just imperceptibly. His eyes flickered gold, then normal brown, as if something within him was fighting to break free.
Dara noticed first.
"Yul?" she whispered, voice tight through her headset. "Are you okay?"
He smiled, a little too sharply, and shook his head. "I'm fine," he said, but his voice carried a subtle edge that set her teeth on edge.
From the shadows behind the LED panels, small, wispy forms began slipping onto the stage—the demons from the Otherworld. They weren't massive yet, but their presence made the air heavy, charged. The faint scent of sulfur drifted past the first rows. The audience didn't notice, caught up in the spectacle.
Juno tensed. "Something's wrong," he said into the mic. He signaled to Rien and Dara, adjusting the choreography on the fly to keep the crowd engaged while subtly shielding Yul.
The crowd roared with the first chorus:
"Boom boom, 불타는 nightShine your fire, 밝게 light우릴 따라, we won't stopHearts in rhythm, never drop"
(Yul's part hit, his voice crystal clear, piercing even with Vatu tugging at his mind. But behind the flawless notes, a tension flickered in his shoulders, a slight stiffness in his stance.)
Dara and Nox carried the bridge with sharp, syncopated steps, covering for him while subtly guiding him back toward the choreography. Every spin, every leap, was a quiet battle—Yul's body moving, but his mind under siege.
From backstage, Monarch watched on the monitors, hearts thudding.
"He's not himself," Jiwon muttered, jaw tight. "Vatu's here. I can feel it."
Zayn's hand clenched. "We need to get him off the stage before it gets worse."
Kai nodded, glancing at the stage layout. "Crowd's too hyped to notice subtle things. We'll have to create a distraction."
Back on stage, Yul hit the high note of the second chorus, and for a moment, pure brilliance shone through—the Yul everyone loved. Then, Vatu's influence flickered again, subtle, whispering lies into his mind. His fingers twitched unnaturally, his eyes briefly glowing gold, and his head jerked as if resisting.
Dara sensed it. "Everyone, stick to formation! Protect him through the final drop!"
The rest of Equinox flowed like water, adjusting choreography on the fly. Juno shifted to shield Yul, using angled steps and arm gestures to guide him toward the side exit. Rien used the LED panels' flickers as cover, bending lights just enough to mask Yul's subtle, unnatural movements from the audience's view.
The crowd was oblivious, caught in the spectacle:
"Dance like a flame, 타오르는 soulSpin through the night, take full controlWe are the light, 어둠 속 shineCatch every heart, 네 마음 mine"
Monarch moved quietly through the back corridors of the arena, carefully navigating the service tunnels toward the stage ramp.
Jiwon's heart pounded. He saw Yul falter on a note, hands shaking. A whisper of gold light ran under the skin of his arm. That was enough.
He sprang forward as Zayn and Kai coordinated crowd-control distractions—flashing lights, smoke effects, a sudden instrumental drop—masking Jiwon's swift, precise approach.
He reached Yul in seconds, hand on his shoulder. "Yul. Now."
Yul blinked, confused, the gold in his eyes dimming slightly as he recognized Jiwon. But Vatu's voice hissed in the back of his mind, tugging at memories, bending his will.
Jiwon's free hand slipped under Yul's chin, tilting his head. "Trust me. Fight him. Now."
With a subtle push and expert timing, Jiwon guided Yul offstage through a hidden service door, the audience still roaring, unaware that the performer they adored had just been removed.
The rest of Equinox carried on seamlessly. Dara, Juno, Rien, and Nox finished the final chorus, choreography tight, energy high. Even without Yul in the center, the stage dazzled.
"Shine, shine, shine your lightNever falter, own the night우리 함께, together flyHearts as one, touch the sky"
The final note ended, LED confetti rained down, and the crowd erupted. Social media cameras and live feeds captured the moment—fans screaming, chanting, cheering, unaware of the narrow escape just moments before.
Backstage, Jiwon carefully guided Yul to a secure room, restraining the last whispers of Vatu's control. Yul leaned heavily against him, exhaustion and lingering fear on his face.
"I thought I could fight him," Yul admitted, voice trembling.
"You can," Jiwon said softly, brushing damp hair from Yul's forehead. "But not alone. Not against someone like Vatu."
Meanwhile, Equinox regrouped on the stage exit, rejoining Yul once it was safe. Their glances were sharp, protective. Nox tugged on Yul's sleeve. "You okay?"
Yul nodded, trying to smile, but they all sensed the lie. They all knew Vatu had just begun his game.
Monarch, waiting in their towering penthouse, watched the feeds of the performance. Jiwon exhaled, shoulders tense, hand hovering over the blade at his hip.
The stage had been saved. The fans didn't know. But the war had just escalated.