[ACTIVATE SELF]

Etherwave
I had to read your story a couple of times to really get a handle on what it was about. If I’m interpreting it right, it’s a post-apocalyptic narrative where a war between humans and aliens destroys the surface world. I’m guessing the bombs poisoned or irradiated the atmosphere so badly that the survivors were forced to build a refuge underwater. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that was the takeaway I got.

That said, I found some parts a little confusing because there seems to be a dual explanation for humanity’s downfall. On one hand, you focus on alien intervention, but on the other, you hint at humanity being its own worst enemy. For instance, lines like:

“But the selfishness and consumption that led to this moment”

Or:

“But this is the hell we built. This is our tomb where we sit in the purgatory of our mental filth. The way we cut and filled and drilled, buildings to enjoy our tech and food and pills. We watched screens until we could barely feel, until we didn't even know what was actually real.”

These are nicely written and packed with hard-hitting commentary on modern society. However, I wasn’t entirely sure how they fit within the larger context. If humanity’s underwater exile is primarily due to alien attacks, how much of our fate is really on us? Or is the story implying a mix of external destruction and self-inflicted consequences? Either way, I think clarifying that connection would make the narrative even stronger.

That said, I genuinely enjoyed the piece. The imagery is powerful, and your writing voice is smooth and engaging. The final line, in particular, was brilliant—it really captured the despair and claustrophobia of being trapped in what feels like an underwater tomb. You did a dope job building a vivid, thought-provoking world, and the somber tone stayed with me long after reading.

Faze
I’ll be honest—at first, I had no idea what your piece was about. I couldn’t tell if it was a song or a story. Then I went back, reread it, and paid more attention to the words in brackets. That’s when it clicked—this is structured like a song, but it’s really more of a screenplay, with each verse acting as narration or dialogue for different characters. Once I got that, the plot progression made way more sense.

I think you did a great job creating a fast-paced, high-energy atmosphere. The prehistoric scene read by Morgan Freeman; that was a standout moment—super creative and fun. The overall story, about a megalodon terrorizing the seas and even chomping on some newlyweds, was a solid concept. It had a playful, action-packed vibe, and I enjoyed the thematic wordplay sprinkled throughout. You had some clever references that landed really well, and your punchy writing style kept things entertaining.

Vote
This was a tough battle to judge because your styles were so different. Faze’s piece had a more traditional hip-hop structure, with a clean flow from start to finish. While I couldn’t fully sync it to a beat beyond the first few bars (probably a cadence thing), it was smooth overall. Etherwave, on the other hand, started with a solid scheme, though the second half leaned more into philosophical reflection than intricate rhyme patterns.

In the end, I’m giving it to Etherwave by a hair. Both pieces were strong, and I could see this going either way depending on the reader’s mood. Faze’s verse was playful, energetic, and packed with creativity, but I found myself more engaged with Etherwave’s somber, philosophical tone. Admittedly, that might just be because I’m reading this at night, and the mood really resonated with me. If I read Faze’s piece in the daylight, I might feel differently.

Either way, great job to both of you. This was a close and competitive battle, and you both brought something unique to the table.