Chapter 39
“Raised on My Back, Mangdol”
♪♫ –
An explosive dubstep sound and beat consumed the stage.
― Burn it up! Bbb Burn it up
My heart is pounding as if it’s about to burst
Burn it up! Bbb Burn it up
Burn everything away
(we’re going to light it up)
It was as if all the oppression and frustration up to this moment had exploded in an instant.
Perfectly synchronized choreography,
Smooth and fluid transitions like waves,
Movements that jumped like lightning at every point.
“Waaaaa-!!!”
Cheers erupted throughout the studio, ignoring fandoms.
At this moment, it didn’t matter whose fan anyone was.
It was an overwhelming stage that everyone was drawn into.
It was a moment where everyone was captivated by Lumis.
The camera dynamically circled the stage, capturing them from every angle.
Red flames and black silhouettes filled the screen.
‘…What is this?’
Seorin was lost for words.
Shock and confusion filled her eyes.
‘Is that… the “shining face” Lumis from back then…?’
“It’s shining!”
“Who’s the most handsome~?”
The lyrics that had once drawn ridicule now sent shivers down the spine.
Lumis was no longer the Lumis from back then.
They literally shone.
It was as if all the mockery and failures up to now had been a narrative leading to this single moment.
Before she could even process her thoughts, the second chorus had already passed.
Lumis quickly broke formation and scattered to the sides.
♪♫ –
“!”
The drum rhythm changed, entering a break section.
Heart-thumping kicks, synths leading the rhythm, and pitch-down VOX matching the black costumes heightened the tension.
The members continued the group choreography while twisting and bending their bodies low to the ground.
In the middle of it, Baek Doha performed an even more intense solo dance.
“Wow… this is really something.”
Baek Seoyoon exclaimed.
Baek Doha slammed his chest with passion and, in the next moment, twisted every joint in his neck, shoulders, arms, and legs freely.
Even more impressive than during the <Position Battle>, the more you watched, the more astonishing he became.
Popping? Locking? Krumping? No—it was dance created purely from emotion and instinct, not genre.
On stage, Baek Doha appeared like a beast destroying the stage.
Grotesque yet mesmerizingly beautiful.
And at the end, when he swung his arm like a bow and struck downward quickly,
BANG!
The stage plunged into brief darkness with an explosive sound.
Smoke rose between the members, who bowed their heads and held their breath. The red lights gradually colored the space.
♪♫ –
It felt like returning to the beginning, with a pad sound filling the space and the stage lit only by red lights.
― In the cold darkness,
My flame will not go out
The five members on stage slowly formed a circle with deliberate, slow movements.
As if performing a ritual, they knelt and traced the floor with their fingertips.
At that moment, red beams spread across the stage floor like veins.
― Now, I will see the end…
Lucian murmured as he slowly stood.
SLAM!
A spotlight blazed, illuminating him alone at the center of the circle.
The other members knelt around him, and only he moved in the light.
At that moment,
“OOOOH!”
“This is insane!”
“Are they even human?”
The audience erupted.
Lucian slowly removed his mask, revealing perfect visuals. Beauty beyond description.
He lightly turned his neck and raised his thumb, whispering softly:
― Hey, Lumis. Burn it up?
All the members stood at once.
Removing their masks, they tore open their tops, revealing new outfits.
Intertwined chains and red patterns looked like veins running through their bodies or a fire demon consuming a dark mountain.
BANG!
The stage lights brightened, and the psychedelic lights began to flicker rapidly.
♪♫ –
Hi-hats and snares split the rhythm intricately.
Brass and claps pushed the tension to the extreme.
And again, another explosive chorus.
♪♫ -!
― Burn it up! Bbb Burn it up
My heart is pounding as if it’s about to burst
Burn it up! Bbb Burn it up
Burn everything away
(we’re going to light it up)
The members moved as one, performing passionate group choreography.
― Burn it up—!
In the middle of it, Cha Eun-gyeol let out a rough high note.
BANG!
Explosion effects shot up from all directions.
“…Ah, ah, ah!”
Lumis fans could no longer contain themselves.
Ignoring everyone around them, they pulled out the cheering stick they had carefully kept hidden.
“Doha! Xian! Eun-gyeol… uh, uh?”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
She hadn’t noticed her surroundings while focusing on the stage and their children.
“…Cheering stick?”
Though not many, white cheering sticks like hers were waving throughout the audience.
These had not been visible just moments ago but were now being waved everywhere.
She pressed her lips together and took a deep breath.
“Doha! Xian! Eun-gyeol! Ian! Jinwoo!”
She shouted as if the stage itself would shake.
She and Lumis were no longer alone.
Her desperate heart and the shouts of Lumis fans had surely reached Lumis.
― Burn it up! Bbb Burn it up
My heart is pounding as if it’s about to burst!
Burn it up! Bbb Burn it up
Burn everything away!
Lumis moved even more passionately.
They freely broke and rearranged formations, taking over the entire stage.
Baek Doha and Cha Eun-gyeol alternated, performing vocals more passionately than before.
― Burn everything away!
(we’re going to light it up)
The final, intense note.
Kang Ian and Ha Jinwoo knelt, pressing against the floor.
Baek Doha and Cha Eun-gyeol reached into the air, and today’s ending fairy, Lucian, stood in the center, clutching his heart and staring at the camera with blazing eyes.
Time stopped.
The final beat ended, and the stage went dark, but the studio was silent.
The production staff, judges, and audience—all were captivated, staring at the darkened stage.
SLAM!
The lights came on, signaling the end of the stage.
“Ha… ha…”
The Lumis members on stage panted heavily, hair damp with sweat flying around.
Their chests rose and fell violently, adrenaline coursing through them as their trembling legs barely supported them.
“…Yes! That was Lumis’ stage!”
Only after receiving a signal from the staff below did the MC regain composure, fumbling through the script to speak.
“Wow, really… truly an incredible stage!”
Even the veteran MC, with years of experience, sounded like just another spectator in front of this stage.
“Is this the same cute, lively Lumis from before?”
A ripple of laughter spread through the studio.
“I’m not the only one surprised. Look at the expressions of the four judges… wow, this is no ordinary performance!”
The camera quickly scanned the judges’ panel, revealing complex and subtle expressions.
“Now, let’s hear how you evaluated Lumis’ stage today!”
The first to take the mic was the vocal trainer judge.
He lowered his script, then looked up at Lumis.
“Wow… what exactly just happened?”
Genuine admiration was in his voice.
“It felt like I was watching a different group. Honestly, when I heard they chose this song, I was worried. Considering Lumis’ previous image and stages… I wondered if they could really handle such an intense song.”
He paused, smiled, and continued:
“But after seeing today’s stage… I’m embarrassed by my own prejudice. Thank you for an amazing performance. I look forward to the next one!”
He set the mic down and gave a thumbs-up.
“Th-thank you!”
Baek Doha answered in a trembling voice, and the members bowed.
“Oh, our juniors…”
Then Han Jinseo took the mic.
“It was really good.”
He smiled kindly and began a gentle review.
‘Such a fake little mosquito…’
Watching from the waiting room monitor, Luha narrowed her eyes.
A sharp gaze that didn’t match the chubby cheeks of her five-year-old face.
“A strong image we’ve never seen before, a new challenge. The stage itself was really impressive. But…”
‘As expected…’
As Luha had predicted.
Han Jinseo’s expression grew cold as he left his sentence unfinished.
As if removing a mask, his warm smile turned into a cold gaze.
“I can’t find any trace of the original song’s feel.”
He leaned back in his chair, looking over Lumis like a disappointed professor.
“Blaze Seven’s ‘Burn it up’ is known for its explosive energy and hot passion, right?”
His voice grew colder.
“Today’s stage completely deviated from that. How should I put it… too dark and aggressive?”
The camera quickly focused on the members’ faces.
Expressions of shock and dismay, biting lips, heads bowed, shoulders trembling.
“Image change? The attempt was cool. The stage was good too.”
Han Jinseo shook his head and continued:
“But at this point… didn’t they basically rewrite the song? Honestly, the arrangement was over the top, and it seemed to lack basic respect for the original artist.”
“…!”
The studio froze.
Judges, waiting room, audience—all held their breath.
‘Oh, really? Look at this guy.’
Luha’s eyebrows twitched. Her lips twisted upward.
This was a clear provocation.
Not to Lumis, but to Jin Dohyeon behind the stage, behind Lumis.
Han Jinseo smiled again as if nothing had happened.
“The attempt was good, but it’s a stage that will divide opinions strongly. Still, it showed potential. Looking forward to the next stage.”
As Han Jinseo finished and set the mic down:
“I have a slightly different opinion.”
A clear, firm voice cut through the frozen air.
It was Baek Seoyoon.
