The year 2011. An idol contest in the Philippines pits 50 girls and 50 boys against each other. In the crossfire, two sudden friends find solace in one another and endure a nightmare that puts their limits to the test.

MC's based on Park Jihoon (Wanna One) and Onda (Everglow). A lot of idols cameo.

The Gauntlet - Babowa Cheonsa

Ch. 2 - Settling in

Prologue - Our Origins

Ch. 1 - The Unexpected

Angel

Boss Eddie

Jehu

Serenity

Mike

Big Zeke

Michael

Rico

Kang

Elina

David

Elli

Eddie

Bruce

Paulie

Jennifer

Nikita

Mira

Trainees

Aika

Michelle

Sanghyuk

Jordan

Sali

Hannah

Randy

Midori

Ronnie

Rat-Rat

Goeun

Sora

Gabriel

Brianna

Valerie

Tyler

Jake

Gino

Fish

Sheena

Asha

Il guanto di sfida - Babowa Cheonsa

This is unbelievable... Aren't you the one I bumped to before?

You looked like you were nervous. Did you prepare for the auditions?

We're joining an idol contest, silly! You have to prepare a song and dance number at least!

Uhh... when you say idol contest, is it like... J-pop? Like y'know, 9nine?

Who are they? I'm more familiar with K-pop.

Just recently. I haven't fully devoted to them because our internet is crap.

No worries! I can get you some songs to listen to! Let me borrow your phone.

Wow, that's old-school. You still use Nokia up to now?

We're not that well off. I don't see me using them fancy smartphones in 4 years.

Don't think like that. You'll have your own fancy phone soon!

Sandara Park's group, yeah. I only know Sandara and that "eh eh" song.

"Eh eh" song, that's so funny! It's called "Fire"!

I also know that Nobody thingy and Super Junior.

I love Super Junior! Sorry Sorry, Bonamana! Try it! I like Kangin the most!

Oh yeah, you're new to K-pop. I'll tell you more--

Alright, we're here! Team UST, get your stuff and get down, pronto! For those who did not prepare a song, proceed to the sound studio!

Your boy LD here, back with a vengeance! Sort of. So I ran into Miss Bumpy again and I fainted like a casul in front of her....

Then she told me we are in an idol contest. Like people sing and dance in a Super Junior-y way. And I was like "ohhh noooo". This is bad....

I ran to the sound studio to pick a song. There were lots of pop songs but I picked an old 90's boy band song. I hope it works....

After I picked my song, I joined the others. Michael and Rico were waiting for me and so was miss Bumpy. We went in together and then....

Orale. Sit anywhere you like. We'll explain the rules once we're complete.

Not really. This is... wait, we'll be on tv?!

Panicking won't help, so relax while we wait.

And so we waited. Wow, the place is filling up. People from the big universities are here. I even see some foreigners. Eddie's not joking.

LAWRENS DUMANDAN FROM UST! PROCEED TO THE STAGE!

So there I was, walking down the rafters and onto the stage. There 300+ eyes staring at me.

High up at the seats was her. She's hoping that I'd do well, but let's face it. I'm not good....

My son Mike Guillermo. A choreographer from Cube.

Ezekiel Cabunian. Call him Big Zeke. He's fat but he can dance. He's also our rap mentor.

Vocal trainers. We have Alaina Reynoso. She'll judge your vocals.

Lee Sanghyuk. He's a mix of vocals and dance.

And Kim Goeun. One of the finest vocal trainers from Korea.

You do well, mi vato, you'll be given a grade of either A, B, C or D. You'll then be put in a group where you will get to train with others.

If you f*ck up... you'll have a failing grade of F. Understood?

"I'll Be There For You" by The Moffatts plays

Nananana, nanana, nanana na! Nananana, nanana, nana....Tired mm this morning winat look in yurr ays...

What the f... why am I having flashbacks all of a sudden...? Not now, God, please....

"Look at your leader, she's laughing at you."

When ye call ma be there~.... *song ends* ... (the 300+ contestants are laughing at him)

You still have those scars mentally, huh....

...I don't understand why you are all laughing right now. All of you... SHUT. THE F*CK. UP.

(The contestants' laughters quickly dissipate as they realize the gravity of the moment.)

Lawrens, holmes. You need a lot of work. Vocals... I like your deep voice but the song choice. Bad, bad choice.

Your dancing is really stiff, but I can tell if you wanted to, you can do a lot of choreos easily. Just as my pops said, lots of work.

Go get your grade and gauntlet at the back. Up next....

I...I am at a loss for words.... I went to the back to get my grade. As I went around, I passed by some nice bracers on a table.

There were gold gauntlets, silver bracelets, yellow gloves with a red plate and black gloves with a green plate. Classes A to D, I figured.

Then on the last table was a rice sack full of cheap-ass clip-on white gloves. It looked really stupid, but that is class F for you.

I went back up to the rafters, dismayed. Everyone was looking at me and they kept snickering and whispering. How about you go up there?

I nearly yelled at one of the contestants but somebody grabbed my hand to stop me.

It wasn't a good choice, that song. It's too... old. And your voice, it's deep that you're more suited to intense music.

SHIN HYUN-AE FROM UST, PLEASE PREPARE FOR YOUR AUDITION.

...Why is she like... an angel everytime I see her...?

Okay, so Oppa got an F. That can't be good, but what's worse is that everyone laughed at him! That's so mean!

He looked so devastated that he almost beat up the one beside us, so I grabbed his hand so he can calm down. I was then told to get ready...

So I left LD and changed to my dance gear. I was wearing a dress so if I dance wearing that, yeeesh. I'll be viral overnight.

Annyeonghasseyo! My name is Shin Hyun-Ae! Representing South Korea by way of the University of Santo Tomas!

("Only Girl in the World" by Rihanna plays)

Miss Shin. You stumbled a bit on the dance there.

I'm so sorry. Can I do another dance? That wasn't well planned from me.

...Miss Shin. I hope you can teach the others how you do it. You'll go to class B.

Oh my God, oh my God, thank you po! Thank you!

Oppa, look. If you're in class B, you get these bracelets! What did you get?

Oh. That's a bummer. Don't worry! Whatever issues you have, I'll help too!