GIJS

Chapter 173 Who is the Master of the Throne?

It was a well-known fact by now that Gunja excelled in performances.

Whether it was performing sword dances out of the blue, plucking the geomungo, or playing the pipa... if you were to compile just the extraordinary moments he had showcased on stage, the footage would easily surpass 20 minutes.

So, it was expected that Gunja would deliver another spectacular performance this time as well.

However, Gunja's performance exceeded everyone's predictions and expectations.

Gunja moved freely between the trampoline and the rope, truly resembling a bird transformed into a human. His flawless body control, relaxed arm movements, and unwavering center of gravity made it seem as though gravity didn't exist.

Even amidst such a transcendent performance, his voice didn't falter. His incredible breath control, precise pitch, and impeccable vocal technique made it all possible.

Most online fans couldn't even type in the chat; they could only watch the stage. However, some fans were so overwhelmed with emotion that they felt they would go mad if they didn't express it in text.

[Oh my gosh, what is this???] 
[Is he really an idol???] 
[No way, this is insane!!] 
[Just world-class quality, no joke TT] 
[How can a human do that?] 
[How can he sing so perfectly while flying around like that?] 
[Look at his expression when he opens the fan TT Gunja's expressions are genius now] 
[Where did that awkward expression from the past go? LOL] 
[Look at him jump from the trampoline to the rope, doesn't it look like he's moving in zero gravity?] 
[He's setting new records with every stage TT] 
[Is he an idol or a national treasure?] 
[I can't believe that gorgeous face is being overshadowed by the performance LOL] 
[No, it's not overshadowed TT Just look at that face TT] 
[His long hair flying around every time he moves is driving me crazy...] 
[If Gunja ever stars in a historical action drama, it's going to be epic] 
[I'll be replaying this stage every day TT]

The reactions on site were just as explosive.

The cheers of more than 10,000 spectators filled the gymnastics arena. Every time Gunja soared into the air, the audience went wild. Even fans who came to see other idols couldn't take their eyes off him. In fact, their loyalty was already beginning to waver.

"Wow, wow, who is that? He's seriously insane!"

"...He's really cool..."

Even fans of Teibo and SHINO, who had previously been on bad terms with 7IN, were screaming at the top of their lungs. Since the performance united the fans of all seven teams, the cheers erupted sevenfold.

As Gunja's part, where he moved like a free bird, came to an end, all the members stepped forward to sing the final chorus together, marking the conclusion of the "Strange and Powerful" performance. With their ending pose, the cheers were so loud it seemed as if the roof of the arena would blow off.

The deafening sound ringing in their ears made the members smile.

Their bodies were drenched in sweat, and they were so exhausted that they could barely move another step, but strangely, they were filled with a sense of satisfaction.

It was the most challenging performance. One small mistake could have led to a major mishap, ruining everything.

But the boys managed to pull off a flawless stage.

WAAAAHHH—.

As the cheers continued to thunder on, Ji Hyun-su finally let out a small sigh of relief.

"Haa..."

"Hyun-su, you okay?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"Thank me for what? I'm just glad you're not hurt."

"Oh, what? Anyway, thanks."

Hyun-su lightly tapped Taewoong's shoulder in appreciation. Although they usually bickered like an old couple, today they seemed to get along exceptionally well. Gunja, seeing this, smiled contentedly.

"Hehe, I should gift you two a pair of mandarin ducks as well."

"Huh? Mandarin ducks?"

"If you two ever get married, I'll make sure to sing at your wedding."

"What the heck are you talking about, you crazy guy..."

"Hey, don't call Gunja a crazy guy! Gunja, Inhyuk, both of you, thank you so much. If it weren't for you three, the whole stage would've been a disaster."

"We only caught you when you were about to fall. You're the one who flawlessly continued with the lyrics afterward, not us."

"You sure know how to say the right things. Taewoong, you should learn from him."

"What? I just saved your life today, didn't I?"

"Oh, right. Okay. Kwon Taewoong, you're the best!"

Finally, when the cheers began to subside, the judges' evaluations started. It was as if many of the judges had been waiting eagerly for this moment.

"First of all, it was an absolutely amazing stage. From the composition, arrangement, performance, lyrics, live singing, to the expressions—there was nothing to criticize. I watched it purely as a fan. Honestly, I think all the judges here feel the same."

As if in agreement, all the judges nodded their heads.

"Everything was great, but let's talk about the concept first. In the previous stage, Veloce performed with a song titled 'Kingdom,' showcasing a very intense and overwhelming performance. It was like they were declaring, 'I am the king!' But 7IN took a completely opposite approach. It was as if they were saying, 'I don't care about thrones. We're not nobles; we're eccentrics. You guys can fight over the throne; we'll just be flying freely in the sky.' That contrast actually made you stand out even more."

"Thank you!"

Even Pael, whose expectations were somewhat subverted, clapped along, acknowledging the astute observation on the difference in concept between Veloce and 7IN. Although Pael was caught off guard, there was no trace of resentment or frustration on his face.

"Those guys are truly something else. Total respect."

The live broadcast cameras also captured the proud expressions of Pael and the Veloce members. Fans of both teams were supporting this positive relationship between them.

The evaluations continued for quite some time. Unsurprisingly, most of the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

"Choosing 'freedom' itself as the concept for the 'freedom' theme was incredibly witty. 7IN's performances always seem to have a touch of wit. However, expressing the theme of 'freedom' on stage couldn't have been easy, but you executed it beautifully."

"Thank you!"

"Especially considering that all the other teams built their stages around horizontal movement, while 7IN incorporated a lot of vertical movement, which I think deserves high marks. Due to gravity pulling us down, incorporating vertical movement on stage is very challenging. But it was essential to express 'freedom.'"

"Yes, that's correct."

"The trampoline was an excellent idea. From the second verse onward, the trampoline really brought the atmosphere to life. The quality of the movements was superb, and the idea to use lighting to create a stop-motion animation effect on stage was brilliant."

The members kept bowing their heads in response to the continuous praise. However, no matter how much praise was heaped on them, they didn't tire of it.

While the judges, with looks of admiration, showered them with compliments, fans watched them with expressions of pride.

"Ah, since we're talking about the trampoline, let's discuss the jump mistake mid-performance, Hyun-su."

"Ah, yes. That's correct."

"And then Gunja, Taewoong, and Inhyuk caught you."

"Yes."

"Wow, I honestly thought that was part of the choreography. It was such a perfect recovery. When Hyun-su slipped, my heart sank, but the way you guys caught him and continued the stage so smoothly made me question whether it was a mistake or not. But I guess it was a mistake after all. Hyun-su, are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"

"Yes, I'm fine!"

Though Hyun-su was the only one who made a mistake, he wasn't disheartened or sullen. Had the mistake remained a mistake, he might have felt demoralized, but the flawless cover by his teammates boosted his spirits.

"And lastly, we can't forget to talk about Gunja."

The judges seemed ready to deliver one last barrage of praise, picking up the microphone and looking at Gunja. Despite having delivered such an extraordinary performance, Gunja was already composed, standing tall with a poised posture.

"Today's stage was truly spine-chilling. We all knew Gunja was good at performing, but we didn't realize his performance skills were almost on par with acrobatics. Gunja, it felt like you did everything you wanted to do today. Is that right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Gunja Yu's body control ability is almost on par with that of a gymnast. Gunja, how tall are you?"

"I'm 184 cm."

"Wow, with that height and those long limbs... it must be really difficult to maintain balance, but today, you really looked like a bird. You were trying to portray a bird, right?"

"Yes."

"If that's the case, it was an outstanding performance. The intention behind the performance was perfectly conveyed to everyone. Watching the stage, I envisioned a bird flying up to the throne. In this program 'Dynasty,' which involves a class system, rankings, and competition, I found it incredibly cool and meaningful that you sang about freedom instead of power during the most crucial final moment."

After the final feedback, the audience and participants all applauded. The sight of over ten thousand spectators and all competing teams clapping filled the members with overwhelming emotion.

Now, only the final result announcement remained. Before revealing the results, the show's MC, Jeong Haejin, took the microphone once more.

"Now that all performances have concluded, it's time to reveal the winner of 'Dynasty'. The winning team will receive 300 million won in prize money and financial support for a world tour when they release a new album! Which team will claim the throne? Let's find out!"

After the voting period ended, MC Jeong Haejin received the final tally.

The rankings were announced from the bottom up.

The lower rankings saw some surprises. The 7th place went to Japan's AKIRA. Although AKIRA delivered a decent performance, the fact that many members were in their 30s and couldn't bring the same energy to the live show was likely a factor in their placement.

Next, Teibo and SHINO placed 6th and 5th, respectively. Both teams had been pushing hard to climb the ranks throughout the competition, but now they seemed to have accepted the outcome with calm expressions.

4th place went to QUAN, and 3rd place to Guardians. The Guardians delivered a non-traditional idol performance but made a significant impact with their live performance, securing many viewer votes.

"And now, only two teams remain! Korea's CHILLIN and Veloce, one of these two teams will be the final winner of 'Dynasty'!"

While the ranking from 7th to 3rd went as expected, no one could confidently predict the winner.

Veloce made it clear they weren't willing to relinquish the throne.

CHILLIN, on the other hand, chose to sing and dance about freedom rather than the throne.

The members of both teams exchanged glances.

Both teams were satisfied with their performances and respected the other's stage, but winning was still preferable to losing.

Finally, after a brief pause filled with anticipation, the MC began to announce the final result.