Round 3 had arrived, and the stakes were higher than ever. After Aiko's elimination in the previous round, a new twist was revealed: this time, the contestants would be split into two large groups of six. Rina, who had been safe, was now brought back into the spotlight to fill the vacant spot. And in a shocking announcement, it was revealed that the losing group would face a double elimination. The girls stood in stunned silence.
The producers didn't hold back this round as each group would have to cover songs by popular boy groups, with complex choreography and powerful energy. Group One was assigned Block M's "Burn," a high-energy hip hop-pop hybrid that required vocal stamina, precise timing, and charisma. Group Two was given LYO's "Under Cover," a darker, more intense track known for its explosive transitions and intense formations.
The groupings were soon announced.
Group One (Burn): Chaelin, Yurina, Yumi, Sohee, Jieun, and Rina.
Group Two (Under Cover): Mizuha, Haerin, Minae, Eunbi, Jisoo, and Lani.
Both groups were given only four days to prepare. The training was intense, bordering on brutal. Mitsunari personally dropped by rehearsals to coach the girls performing "Burn," given it was his own song for Block M. "This song is not just about fire," he told them, "it's about fight. It's about what you do when the world's stacked against you."
Jun assisted Group Two, knowing the difficulty of "Under Cover." He pushed them to embrace the song's aggressive undertone. "LYO wasn't just performing when they did this," he said, "they were baring their teeth."
The night of the performances arrived. First up was Group One. The lights dimmed, and the electrifying intro of "Burn" filled the arena. Yurina took the opening lines, her vocals surprisingly gritty. Chaelin followed with a hard-hitting rap, commanding the center.
Yumi and Sohee delivered their parts in perfect synchronicity, dancing with an intensity that caught the attention of every judge. Rina's entrance was a bit stiff, but her vocals held strong. Jieun closed the bridge with elegant runs, blending the raw energy of the track with smooth control.
The final chorus was a synchronized explosion. Each member hit their mark, sweat gleaming under the lights. The crowd roared in approval. When the final pose hit, they stood breathing heavily but proud.
Luna was the first to react. "Honestly? That felt like a performance Block M would be proud of," she said. Bella agreed, complimenting Yumi's adaptability across styles. Yeonho was especially impressed by Chaelin and Sohee's rap synergy.
But it wasn't perfect as Jessi pointed out Rina's stiffness, saying, "You hit the notes, but you were thinking too hard." Mitsunari nodded. "You're not supposed to just do the steps; you got to feel the burn."
Next up was Group Two. From the moment the first beat dropped, the mood shifted. The stage turned moody and dramatic. Mizuha opened with a haunting expression and slick footwork, drawing the eye immediately.
Haerin followed with a mesmerizing pre-chorus, her voice rich and evocative. Eunbi surprised many with her power vocals, a complete turnaround from her nervous Round 1. Minae and Lani powered through with explosive dance lines, and Jisoo's gaze was sharp as a blade during her solo part.
The second chorus showcased a formation flip which was dangerous in its complexity however they nailed it. The audience was on the edge of their seats. LYO's "Under Cover" was no easy feat, yet these six girls gave it everything they had.
The crowd erupted at the end. Yeonho raised his eyebrows, impressed. "That was beastly," he said. Seunghee, always composed, smiled. "This was a group that refused to lose."
Jessi leaned in. "Haerin? You came out like a different person." Luna agreed, highlighting Eunbi's growth. Bella praised Mizuha's stage presence, saying she "anchored the group emotionally."
Still, not every critique was glowing. Jun noticed some inconsistencies in timing during the bridge, particularly with Minae and Lani. Mitsunari admitted, "As good as this was, there were a few cracks."
The judges took a moment to deliberate. It was a heated discussion, each judge fiercely defending the girls they believed deserved to move forward. But in the end, a decision had to be made.
Tao returned to the stage and announced, "The group moving on in full is… Group One, performing 'Burn.'" The girls onstage burst into tears of relief. Chaelin hugged Yurina, while Yumi held Jieun tightly.
Group Two stood still. The expressions ranged from shocked to solemn. They had performed well but not well enough.
The judges now faced the hard task of choosing two girls to eliminate from the losing team. They retreated backstage once more, this time with a weight that pressed heavy on their shoulders.
Mitsunari was adamant that Haerin and Mizuha had done enough to prove themselves. Luna agreed, saying both brought a new energy to their performances.
Jessi pushed for Eunbi's survival. "She stepped up. Finally. You can't cut someone who just bloomed."
Seunghee brought up Jisoo's sharp stage presence, but Jun raised concerns about her consistency. "She disappears in ensemble moments," he noted.
Lani and Minae were at the center of the debate. Their technique had faltered more than the others. Bella said, "They gave it heart but that may not be enough this round."
After long deliberation, Tao returned to the stage with a heavy heart. The crowd fell silent. The six girls of Group Two stood holding hands, bracing themselves.
"The following girls will move on to the next round," Tao said. "Haerin." She exhaled sharply, eyes wet with tears.
"Mizuha." She gave a small nod and reached to squeeze Eunbi's hand.
"Eunbi." She broke down in tears, overwhelmed with emotion.
"Jisoo." Her stoic mask cracked into relief.
That left Minae and Lani.
Tao spoke again. "We regret to announce… that Minae and Lani will be eliminated."
Both girls bowed deeply, tears flowing freely. Lani whispered, "Thank you," into the mic. Minae smiled bravely. "I learned more here than I ever have. This won't be my last stage."
Backstage, Group One waited for the others, ready with hugs. Rina, still recovering from the stress of re-entering, pulled Jisoo into an embrace. "We made it," she whispered.
Mizuha spotted Mitsunari in the wings. He gave her a thumbs-up and mouthed, you earned it. She gave him a subtle bow, eyes misting.
Eunbi wiped her tears and looked at the rest of the girls. "We have to go even harder now," she said. And everyone nodded.
Chaelin and Yurina shared a moment of reflection. "If this is what Round 3 felt like," Yurina muttered, "what's next?"
Sohee, ever confident, said, "Whatever it is, we'll crush it."
The judges returned to give final comments. Jessi spoke honestly: "From this point on, y'all are not trainees. You're artists in training. Treat every stage like your debut."
Bella added, "This was the hardest round yet and it's only going to get tougher."
Mitsunari took a step forward. "You're not just fighting for a spot in a group. You're fighting to change your life."
Tao walked on and smiled. "And next round… will be something new entirely."
The screen behind the girls flickered and revealed a teaser: silhouettes of mystery collaborators for the next round.
The remaining ten girls stood on stage, scarred but standing. Stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever. Only a few would debut but all of them were ready to fight for it.