[Intro — Spoken] Come closer, Blade Dancer. The lantern knows your footsteps. Zaun sent a laughing flame to my door— so I opened it. Welcome to 2XKO. [Verse 1] I count the links inside the chain, Each one a name, each name a wound. You flip through sparks above the floor, I pull the ceiling from the room. Brother to the girl with powder in her grin, Brother to the bridge that learned to bruise— You carry Zaun beneath your skin, And every scar has something to lose. [Pre-Chorus] Your blades draw circles; mine draw doors. Your little bombs wake buried things. Tell me, firebrand, when you laugh, Do you hear what answers underneath? [Chorus] Welcome, welcome—step inside! Let the iron roster take your name. Ally, enemy, either side— I can make a masterpiece from flame. If that Burning Blade goes silent, If the laughter leaves your mouth, Even dragons in the heavens Should turn their golden faces south. [Verse 2] You spring from rail to shattered rail, A fuse clenched bright between your teeth. I have a hook for every leap, A patient hand beneath each feat. Fire magic blooms across your coat, Red petals climbing through the rain. I wonder what the flame would spell If I taught it how to feel your pain. [Spoken] You mistake applause for freedom. You mistake speed for escape. I have watched faster men become furniture. I have heard stronger men beg the lock to open. So dance, little inferno. Show me whether your courage burns hotter than your fear. [Chorus] Welcome, welcome—step inside! Let the iron roster take your name. Ally, enemy, either side— I can make a masterpiece from flame. If that Burning Blade goes silent, If the laughter leaves your mouth, Even dragons in the heavens Should turn their golden faces south. [Bridge — Spoken, building] As allies, we could teach the arena new ways to scream. As foes, I could drag a deeper color from your fire. One chain around the wrist. One hook through the shadow. One question: What is left of a swordsman when the joke is gone? [Bridge — Sung] Laugh for me, Zaunite king, Laugh until the furnaces sing. Laugh while every bright spark dies, Laugh with the ash behind your eyes. [Final Chorus] Welcome, welcome—step inside! The roster opens like a wound. Bring your knives and burning toys; I’ll bring the dark that follows you. When the Burning Blade stops laughing, When the last bright ember bows, Aurelion Sol may fear the heavens— But I will own what falls down now. [Outro — Spoken] Blade Dancer... ally or adversary, you are already in the lantern. And somewhere beneath your laughter, I hear the lock turn. [Outro — Sung] Welcome to the cage, Welcome to the flame, Welcome to the beautiful horror Of becoming more than your name.
