The sealed realm was steeped in darkness. A pair of enormous crimson eyes floated in the void, watching them with a cold, predatory gaze.

"So... you’ve come, little one," Thraxxis’ voice echoed, smooth and eerie. His attention shifted lazily to Idir. "And you even brought a little tagalong."

A low chuckle followed.

Perfect. He could devour the serpent and turn him against her.

"I’m here to kill you," Nina said, her voice like ice.

Thraxxis laughed softly. "Then show me what you can do."

Nina moved instinctively, but her vines didn’t come. Nothing answered her call.

Idir’s expression darkened as he tried to summon his own power.

"It’s no use," he said grimly. "Abilities don’t work here."

The seal suppressed everything—even them.

Without their powers... killing Thraxxis would be far more difficult.

Nina stilled. Then, carefully, she reached deeper, calling upon something else.

The Star Source.

In the pitch-black void, light bloomed again. Countless points of starlight flickered into existence, spreading outward like a silent galaxy. The space itself seemed to shift. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Locking.

Sealing.

Thraxxis’ presence faltered—his power could no longer seep beyond the boundary.

Nina’s eyes lit faintly.

It’s working!

Without hesitation, she attacked. Blades of light formed from starlight itself, and surged forward in a storm.

At the same time, crystalline spikes appeared in her hand. She needed to find the real eye and strike it.

The light blades tore toward the crimson gaze, but just before impact, the eyes vanished.

"An illusion," Idir said sharply. "The real one is hidden somewhere else."

Laughter echoed through the darkness––distorted, hollow.

"Can you find me, little one?"

The red eyes disappeared entirely. In their place, dark energy surged, closing in from every direction.

Thraxxis’ voice slipped into Nina’s ears, smooth and coaxing.

"Why work with that... irritating being? Work with me instead. I can give you everything you desire. Power. Dominion. Together, we could rule this world."

"I’m not interested in teaming up with a red-eyed freak," Nina said flatly.

A flicker of irritation crossed Thraxxis’ tone.

"...Red-eyed freak?" He forced it down. "Why refuse? Whatever he can give you—I can give you more. If you stand with me... I will destroy him. I will become the one true Beast God."

"At least he didn’t curse me," Nina replied coldly. "Didn’t harm those I care about."

Shi paused, then softened his tone again.

"The curse... I can apologize for that. I can compensate you—with even greater power. As for the others?" he added dismissively, "they’re just males. What do they matter? I can give you as many as you want. The curse is already gone. Let’s put the past behind us."

Nina let out a quiet, mocking laugh. "You’re sealed in here... and still talking like that?"

"If you help me, I’ll be free soon," Thraxxis said. "Then we kill him—together. And rule everything."

"I’m not interested."

This time, irritation bled through. "You don’t want to stand at the top? To have every beast kneel before you?"

"I said no."

Dark energy surged again, trying to invade her.

But it stopped, blocked completely.

Thraxxis faltered.

Why... isn’t it working?

She wasn’t affected at all.

"You’re weaker than I thought," Nina said coolly.

With a sweep of her will, the surrounding darkness shattered, scattering like smoke.

Beside her, Idir suddenly stiffened. Pain twisted across his face.

A storm of voices crashed into Idir’s mind.

Harsh. Relentless. Unforgiving.

"You cursed, filthy thing—you should never have been born."

"You and your father brought disaster to the entire Tengshe clan. You deserve to die."

"A mongrel like you... how could you ever be my child?"

"Little, useless Idir, don’t worry about me—run! Don’t let them find you—"

The past tore open.

Again, he saw it—his father’s death, right before his eyes.

Blood.

Screams.

And those faces—twisted with hatred, with disgust—striking at him, again and again.

Trying to kill him.

"Do you want revenge?" Thraxxis’ voice slipped into his mind, smooth as poison. "Do you want to kill them all? Come. Become my servant. I will give you power—true power. Enough to make them kneel before you... weeping, begging for forgiveness."

Darkness swallowed him whole.

Cold. Endless.

Yes... He wanted revenge. He wanted them dead. He wanted justice for his father.

Thraxxis smiled. "Come... offer me your soul. I will grant you everything."

Idir’s eyes darkened. Step by step, he walked toward the crimson gaze.

Nina felt it instantly. Something was wrong. She grabbed his hand, pulling him back, her power surging into him.

"Idir, wake up!" Her voice cut through the darkness. "Idir!"

Just as he was about to reach the red eyes, a voice broke through.

Soft.

Warm.

"Nina..."

The illusion shattered. The red eyes vanished. And before him, she stood, smiling gently like an angel and reaching out her hand.

Without thinking, he grasped it tightly.

She was warmth.

She was light.

Everything the darkness was not.

She chased away the cold, the hatred, the endless void.

Idir’s eyes snapped open. Reality returned.

Nina stood before him—real, solid—and his hand was still wrapped around hers.

Warm.

Soft.

Alive.

He looked down at their joined hands. Something shifted in his gaze—a quiet softness, rare and unguarded.

He tightened his grip slightly. A strange warmth spread through his chest. It was an unfamiliar feeling, yet... undeniably welcome.

"Are you alright?" Nina asked.

Idir shook his head lightly. "I’m fine... thank you."

"Good," she said. "Stay with me. Don’t fall into his illusions again."

"...Mm."

"Let’s find the real eye."

He didn’t let go. He couldn’t. Her hand in his felt right. As if he never wanted to release it.

From the darkness, Thraxxis kept watching. A flicker of cold fury passed through his gaze.

Both failures...

The girl—and even this cursed serpent—had resisted him.

Then, he smiled.

No matter. There are other ways.

Nina extended the power of the Star Source, letting its light spread through the sealed realm, searching, feeling, hunting for the true location of the hidden eye.

***

Outside, Odian finally shattered the barrier. With a surge of power from his staff, the black energy core at the altar’s center collapsed.

The blood ritual stopped completely. The spreading mist halted, then began to retract.

Thraxxis’ expression darkened.

Damn it. The ritual had been interrupted.

His gaze shifted again, locking onto Idir.

Then I’ll start with you.

Suddenly, the darkness rippled. Dozens, hundreds of crimson eyes appeared, surrounding them from every direction.

Watching. Closing in.

An ancient chant began to echo.

Low.

Unsettling.

Idir’s head throbbed violently.

Pain surged, burning from the corners of his eyes. A dark mark slowly spread across his skin.

The red in his eyes deepened, darkened, as though something buried within him... was about to awaken.