From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

There was an undeniable air of supremacy surrounding CHAOS. It was amazing how BOYMYSTIC, despite debuting around the same time as them, bowed their heads like CHAOS were their seniors. It seemed like they had acknowledged a hierarchical order that had naturally formed because of CHAOS' popularity. Debuting in early 2021 under Phoenix Entertainment, one of the 'four giants' in the entertainment industry, CHAOS quickly made a name for themselves in the industry. In the early 2010s, Phoenix was more known for its actors and actresses, but that all changed when it debuted one of the most prominent girl groups in the industry—PURPLE21. They were their money bags for more than seven years, but as the girl group became the biggest girl group not only in Korea but also in the entire world, they didn't renew their contract, which put Phoenix in a bind. However, in their struggle, the boy group CHAOS emerged—a gamble that paid off handsomely.

Unlike the gradual ascents of other groups, CHAOS catapulted to stardom with unbeatable speed. Their debut single, 'Chaos,' swiftly climbed the Durian charts, securing a spot in the top four. Their debut album also had a whopping 2 million sales, the highest-ever sales for an idol's debut. Aside from these, they won the 'Rookie of the Year' award from all the major Korean music award shows, making them a household name in their second year as idols.

Phoenix was definitely smart for debuting them right when the biggest third-generation boy groups were occupied with their military service. In the end, CHAOS filled the voids in the hearts of third-generation fans, making them dominate both Domestic and Western markets.

In simpler terms, CHAOS stood as the reigning kings of the present generation, even boasting an impressive collection of local and international awards.

Without a doubt, they were definitely the most popular artists out of everyone present in the room. That is why it was almost impossible to believe they were even competing in a survival show. How does June know all of this? Of course, it's from none other than the prince of information himself—Jay. June wasn't originally curious about the group since he wanted to put them in the past. Choi Joon-ho was supposed to debut in the group, after all. However, he mistakenly heard Jay's and Zeth's conversation about them, so he got a gist of how they were created. CHAOS was designated to sit next to them, so the members of EVE stiffened in the presence of a very popular senior group. It was a good thing June was sitting at the other edge of the seats, so he was far from the members of CHAOS. With CHAOS settling down, the seven competitors of King of Kings had finally been completed.

June looked around and observed everyone's determined faces. He now felt the intensity of the competition. He wasn't battling with mere amateurs. Some of his competitors were considered veterans, while the others were monsters in the industry. Just then, the lights all turned on, and a glowing pathway was made with the LED screens. They gasped at the spectacle before them, and their gasps only became louder when two familiar faces emerged from the entrance. Kim Wonbin, the charismatic comedian and the face of the show's trailer, entered with a charming smile. Beside him was Jee Haemin, the revered idol dancer of the second generation, who brought an aura of unmatched greatness that captivated the idols in attendance. Jisung covered his mouth in shock, pointing at the artist with shaky hands. "Jee Haemin?" he quietly exclaimed. "He's the reason why I became an idol in the first place!"

"I can't believe my idol is in front of me." "Pinch me, please. I'm definitely dreaming." "This is my first time seeing him, and he's truly blessed by the deities." Praises for Jee Haemin were heard in the room, causing the seasoned idol to smile. As the crowd hushed, the hosts began to unravel the rules of the thrilling TV show.

Kim Wonbin smirked, looking straight into the camera. Just in time, epic music started playing, setting the idols' competitive spirits. "Gentlemen, welcome to the show of a lifetime! I'm Kim Wonbin, and this here is the legendary Jee Haemin." The idols all burst into cheers. "Aren't we lucky to be in the presence of such greatness, Haemin?" Wonbin asked.

Jee Haemin nodded. "Absolutely, Wonbin. It's an honor to be here, witnessing the incredible talents gathered in this room. Now, let's get down to business."

"I'm sure you've heard of Queen of Queens," Wonbin started off. "In that manner, you'll know that this survival show does not have any eliminations." Indeed, it was one of the merits of the show.

"However, we've also employed twists that will keep you on the edge of your seats. For the next four weeks, all of you will be given a theme, and you will curate your performance based on that theme. It's like a musical adventure, and I can't wait to see what you, talented folks, come up with!" Haemin smiled. "And that's not all!" Wonbin added. "Brace yourselves for some heart-pounding missions—exciting ones with rewards that might just change the game."

The crowd erupted into whispers, curious about these missions. As far as they know, the girl version of the show merely had performances.

The hosts exchanged knowing looks before continuing.

"For the first three performances, there won't be any special judges. Nope, we're leaving it all in the hands of the people. The audience gets to decide the fate of the performers. Their votes will determine the points, and we all know points make prizes, right?" Haemin grinned. "Absolutely, Haemin! Points, points, points! And by the end of it all, we'll tally those points up, and the artist with the highest score will be crowned the king of kings. A title that's not just for show, but a ticket to K-pop glory! We also have an exciting prize for the winner—one you don't want to miss out on!"

The hosts exchanged a dramatic pause, letting the weight of their words sink in. "Step into the melodic arena, where dreams are sung, skills are waged, and only one will rise as the undisputed King of Kings! Are you ready for the battle?"