From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

"We got this," Jaeyong said from behind June, causing a small smile to erupt on his face.

Yeah, they got this.

As the fifth performer of the night, it couldn't be denied that the audience was less energetic than the previous performances. The order of their performance wasn't really ideal.

June had been performing last on Rising Stars for a good reason—and this was one of them.

However, June thought this was the perfect time to have their performance. They had the honor of performing during the sunset. It was similar to the scene in their music video—hues of pink and orange across the sky.

The LED screen illuminated, transforming the stage into a virtual beach paradise, complete with palm trees swaying in the breeze.

The audience, who continued fanning themselves because of the relentless heat, was refreshed with the visuals presented to them.

Jia watched silently, her eyes sparkling underneath the darkening skies.

"Let everything go smoothly," she whispered, hoping the best for her favorite group and idol.

The light beat of their debut song echoed through the venue, and smiles adorned the members' faces.

As the first note of their debut song filled the air, EVE moved in perfect unison.

Then, June, their main vocalist, stepped forward, his face now shown on the large screen.

"Ooh."

It was the first time during the festival that the audience reacted in such a way for a boy group member. His face was practically glowing under the setting sun. Those who have seen him only on television were shocked by his real-life visuals.

Actually, it was already shocking to have a group filled with visuals.

"In the embrace of waves, where the sun meets the shore,

A life lived in water, forever wanting more."

June's voice resonated in the open field. Despite it not being the ideal venue to showcase their vocals due to its lack of natural reverb, June's voice still managed to fill the entirety of the field.

Some of the audience members who didn't watch Rising Stars and were originally not paying attention found themselves looking up from their phones to see the person who just sang.

"Was that live just now?"

"I think so."

"No, I don't think it's live. It was too stable that it sounded like a recording."

Jia turned around to a group of skeptical freshmen and smiled.

"It's live. It's most definitely live," she said with resolution.

Although Jia also found it hard to believe in the beginning, she caught a subtle breath in June's voice.

It was her indication that this performance was indeed live.

The tedious practice and the S-tier upgrade for his vocals did June a really good favor.

"Rise like the sun. Rise with the tides.

Hold on tight for this hot, wild ride."

Casper took the center and rapped in an equally stable voice. He rallied back and forth with Zeth, none of their voices faltering despite the jumpy choreography.

Ren and Akira harmonized during the pre-chorus, and it sent chills down the audience's spine.

"Hey, I don't think they have a backtrack," Soo-min said, amazed by their performance. "The other artists have one, and the second group who performed was even lip-syncing."

"I think you're right," Wei said. "How good are these rookies? They're giving everyone a run for their money."

Na-ri nodded, not speaking since she was recording a fancam to upload after the event was over.

"Oh, oh, oasis

Oh, oh, my life is

Where the waters intertwine...

Where love is deep, like the ocean's endless line.

With friends by my side, beneath the azure dome,

In this haven, I've found my true home."

As the chorus hit, confetti cannons exploded, surprising the audience and showering them in a cascade of colorful paper.

The students, momentarily forgetting the heat, cheered with enthusiasm.

The other members joined June at the front, and then they broke out in a synchronized dance.

However, despite the synchronization, their individual styles couldn't be hidden.

Oasis was the type of song that didn't require robotic movements, so the fact they could incorporate each individual style into a synchronized dance was definitely impressive.

Sehun's grin spread as he led the group in the dance break section, his movements showing joy and exhilaration.

Those feelings didn't go past the audience, and they slowly started getting more into the song.

"I saw the music video yesterday. Is this really the same song?"

"I feel so happy right now. I can't describe it."

"The song definitely deserves its achievements."

The second verse brought a change in excitement, the members slowly busting out a more intricate dance sequence.

Despite the complexity of the moves, they maintained an air of effortlessness.

"But a home becomes a stranger at one point.

Love leaves, and friendships disappoint.

Life gets in the way; there's nothing we can do.

But accept the bitter truth that we all grew."

Jaeyong rapped with his heart, making the audience feel the weight of his words.

It was the perfect lyrics for university students—especially those away from their homes.

It took them back to the times when they were mere teenagers, wanting to become more independent and live on their own.

However, despite the initial fun they had being alone, they also missed their home—where they could eat homemade food for their meals and not gummy bears and some kind of instant soup.

Their nostalgia increased as the chorus played once more, having an entirely different meaning compared to the first one despite having the same lyrics.

The choreography continued with a playful mix of spins, jumps, and rhythmic footwork. It was the most dreaded part for the group since it sucked out their energy.

However, they pushed through their fatigue and continued dancing with smiles on their faces.

Their breaths could be slightly heard over the speakers, which only strengthened the allegations that they were, indeed, singing live.

Jisung took the center for the next dance break, and June was right behind him.

As he was not as seen in his current location, he took the time to activate the Breath of Eternity as the high note for the bridge was fast approaching.

June was already out of breath, but he tried to pace himself for the upcoming high note.

His part came faster than expected, and before he knew it, he was back to the center.

Ren had just finished his part of the bridge, and now, it was June's turn to show off what he had practiced.

'Activate Breath of Eternity.'

Meanwhile, the technical team was having a great time listening to EVE's song.

"This seems like an entirely different performance than the one they had during their rehearsals," one member said.

"Yeah," the other agreed. "They must have not warmed up during that time."

"I'm dreading this part, though. We added a very light backtrack, but the pressure is still on for June."

Daniel carefully listened to their conversation.

Being the head of the technical team, he had the important task of controlling the music for the artists.

He knew just how important his role was.

However, Daniel was the type of person who couldn't handle being rejected.

And Jia, the girl he had liked for six months, liked the guy who was currently centerstage.

Daniel stared at the control panel and felt an evil thought evade his mind.

"Just for a second," he muttered under his breath.

And with that, he placed his hand on the music volume control and brought it down.