Plus Magazine

| Written by Kim Tae Hoon (Editor for the music webzine IZM)

Seven vampires find themselves irresistibly drawn to one girl. They reunite in the future at Riverfield Decelis Academy, having forgotten their past lives in the ancient Varg kingdom. Together with werewolf boys from Sunshine City School, they seek out enemies and unravel mysterious events. This is the vast universe of 'DARK MOON' surrounding ENHYPEN. Focus on the story of boys fighting for one person across two worlds.

Students at Decelis Academy and members of the nightball sports team, the seven vampires feel a fateful attraction to a girl named Sooha. In her previous life, Sooha was Princess Selen of the Varg kingdom. She worshiped the wolf god Varg and gained immense power by drinking his blood. After drinking the remaining blood, Chancellor Dardan becomes an incomplete vampire and names himself 'Taejo'. Gathering loyal Taejo vampires, Varg leads a rebellion to seize the kingdom. The princess shares her power with her seven knights and vows to meet again in the distant future.

The knights are transported to the future with no memories. Selen reincarnates as Sooha and reunites with them. Despite having forgotten the past involving the Varg kingdom, mysterious incidents draw them together. This marks the beginning of 'DARK MOON' and introduces the central emotions of the story, as vividly expressed through the first OST 'One In A Billion' from the webtoon 'DARK MOON: The Altar of the Moon'. The song captures the knights' unknown feeling and their pledge to find each other despite being trapped in eternal cycles, while a solemn atmosphere pervades the entire piece.

The vampire boys drink blood on their birthdays. Invited to their birthday party, Sooha accidentally witnesses their blood-drinking. They honestly reveal their identities and lives, and Sooha accepts them. Later, Marge, the director of Nightfield House where the boys grew up, finds Sooha following the aura of reincarnation and warns her that Dardan and the Taejo vampires are coming.

On the day of the nightball finals, Sooha is kidnapped by the Taejo vampires. The vampire boys chase across various places, including Nightfield House, to rescue her. They finally arrive at the Altar of the Moon and engage in a battle to stop Dardan’s ritual aimed at seizing Sooha's power. Following the thwarting of Dardan's ritual, the boys and Sooha decide to live as ordinary students in Riverfield.
 

The second OST 'Criminal Love' from 'DARK MOON: The Altar of the Moon' heightens the tragic and poignant emotions, perfectly fitting the climax of the narrative. The lyrics express the earnest desire to overcome unwanted separations and reunite, enhancing the immersion in the tragic tale of the boys and Sooha.

Though the webtoon 'DARK MOON: The Altar of the Moon' concluded on October 14, 2023, the 'DARK MOON' universe continues. Despite choosing an ordinary life, the unbreakable ties to their past lives persist. The diverse stories surrounding the vampires are further revealed through audio dramas, prequel webtoons, web novels, and more.

Released on May 13, the special album [MEMORABILIA] revisits the touching story of the seven vampires and Sooha. The album features six tracks, including 'One In A Billion' and 'Criminal Love', exploring themes such as vampire identity, feelings for Sooha, and hope and despair in the face of a grand narrative. It expands the 'DARK MOON' universe in a multi-dimensional way.

The title track 'Fatal Trouble', characterized by its intense rock style, captures the confused and solemn emotions of the vampires meeting Sooha. Despite being confused by memories spanning two worlds, the lyrics convey their steadfast love and faith toward one soul, showcasing the vampires' passionate nature. The animated music video reveals the characters' unique personalities through everyday train scenes crossing two worlds.

They are cheerful and lively, yet also haunted by the emptiness of being vampires. 'Teeth' is a cynical and sensual song portraying this dual life. The power to easily obtain what they desire becomes numbness and leaves a thirst for greater longing. The subsequent song, 'Lucifer', nurtures feelings of despair from being hurt in the human world, symbolizing their anger towards Dardan, who threatened Sooha.
 

The seven boys must live with various identities: knights protecting Selen, vampires guarding Sooha, students of Decelis Academy, and nightball players. Accepting their turbulent lives, they express their unyielding determination to keep moving forward despite falling and getting hurt in the final track 'Scream'. They vow to always be together with 'you', the one who will always hold their hand.

Ultimately, this signifies the seven vampires advancing hand in hand and their beloved Sooha. It also refers to the fandom 'ENGENE' who will join and support the ongoing stories of 'DARK MOON' and ENHYPEN. Despite more trials lying ahead for the vampire boys and ENHYPEN, they will continue to navigate the fantasy together with strength, just as they have done so far.
 

※ Manuscripts from outside writers may not reflect the editorial direction of this magazine.