Far away from the peaceful lands where Ak and Mike continued their journey, deep within a realm consumed by endless darkness, stood an enormous chamber unlike anything found in the human world. The walls were carved from black stone covered with ancient crimson runes that pulsed faintly like beating hearts. A suffocating aura filled the room, making even the air itself feel unbearably heavy. At the far end of the chamber stood two gigantic white rectangular monoliths, glowing faintly against the darkness surrounding them. They were perfectly smooth, ancient beyond imagination, and radiated an overwhelming presence that made every living being instinctively lower their head. Standing before the mysterious monoliths was the red-haired warrior who had once crossed paths with Ak. Unlike the fearless fighter he had appeared to be before, he now stood with his head lowered respectfully, his expression filled with guilt. Breaking the heavy silence, he spoke in a calm but apologetic voice. "My deepest apologies... Lord White Eyes."
For several long moments, nothing happened. Then the entire chamber trembled as two brilliant white eyes slowly opened within the darkness between the towering monoliths. Their glow alone was enough to fill the chamber with unbearable pressure. Every shadow bent toward them as though acknowledging the authority of their owner. A deep voice echoed throughout the hall, carrying enough power to shake the souls of everyone present. "Malrik..." the voice called coldly. "You have disappointed the Entities."
The red-haired man, whose true name was Malrik, lowered his head even further, unable to answer. Before another word could be spoken, three figures suddenly emerged from the darkness behind him. Their appearance surprised even Malrik himself. The first among them stepped forward immediately and knelt respectfully before the glowing eyes. "My Lord," he said humbly, "please forgive my brother. His failure was never intentional." The chamber remained silent for a moment before White Eyes slowly turned his attention toward the speaker. "Be quiet, Noxis," he replied in a cold and emotionless voice. "Azrael never disappointed me the way your brother has. After all... he was an Octa."
Silence spread throughout the chamber until another figure standing nearby folded his arms with a faint smirk across his face. Unlike the others, he carried himself with remarkable confidence. "It seems the Darken brothers are in trouble after all," he remarked mockingly. "Perhaps they were never as powerful as everyone believed." White Eyes slowly shifted his glowing gaze toward him. "Kraven," he said quietly, "are you suggesting that you could defeat an Octa?" The confidence instantly disappeared from Kraven's expression. He immediately lowered his head in respect. "Never, Lord White Eyes," he answered without hesitation. "I would never dare compare myself to an Octa."
"Then keep your opinions to yourself," White Eyes replied sharply. The atmosphere once again became silent before his attention returned to Noxis. "I sent you to observe them," he continued. "Tell me... did you notice anything unusual?" Noxis nodded respectfully before answering. "Yes, my Lord. There was one thing that seemed different." White Eyes remained silent, waiting for him to continue. "They entered the Vampire Castle."
For the first time during the conversation, the glowing white eyes narrowed slightly. The pressure within the chamber noticeably increased. "The Vampire Castle..." White Eyes repeated slowly, almost speaking to himself. "That is... interesting." Every person present remained completely silent. None of them dared interrupt his thoughts. After several moments, White Eyes finally spoke again. "If they entered the Vampire Castle... then there is only one possible explanation." His voice became even deeper than before. "They are a Pure Source."
Noxis immediately nodded. "I felt the same thing, my Lord. The moment they entered the castle, something about their presence changed completely. It was unlike anything I have sensed before."
A faint smile slowly appeared beneath the glowing white eyes hidden within the darkness. "Excellent," White Eyes whispered. "So the Pure Source has finally appeared." The chamber fell silent once again as an invisible tension spread through the air. Every person present understood that those words carried enormous significance. Whatever a Pure Source truly was, even the mysterious ruler of the Entities considered it important. White Eyes slowly closed his glowing eyes once more before speaking one final sentence. "The game has finally begun." His words echoed throughout the endless darkness while, far away and completely unaware, Ak continued his journey, never realizing that his actions had already attracted the attention of beings capable of threatening the fate of the entire world.