---
Dark clouds gathered above the endless Silver Palace.
An unnatural silence spread throughout the hall.
Then—
BOOM!
The entire palace trembled violently.
The crystal pillars vibrated, and waves of silver energy rippled across the floor.
Yet, seated upon the magnificent Life Ocean Stone Throne, the Silver-Haired Prince didn't move an inch.
He lazily brushed a strand of silver hair away from his face and sighed.
"You're in my palace, Duckan."
His calm voice echoed through the throne room.
"Could you stop shaking the entire place?"
A deep laugh suddenly erupted from every direction.
"Hahaha..."
The sound carried enough power to make space itself distort.
The prince finally looked up.
"Is that how you welcome your benefactor?"
A figure slowly emerged from the surrounding darkness.
He wore a long black cloak that concealed every inch of his body.
Dark mist continuously flowed from beneath his feet.
His face...
Remained completely hidden.
Even light refused to reveal it.
This was the only being known throughout countless realms as...
Duckan.
The Master of the Dark.
No one had ever seen his true appearance.
No one...
Except the Silver-Haired Prince.
The prince smiled faintly.
"You enjoy making dramatic entrances."
Duckan folded his arms.
"And you enjoy pretending to be relaxed."
For a brief moment...
Silence filled the room.
Then the prince chuckled.
"You still haven't changed."
---
Fifteen Years Earlier
Rain poured endlessly.
Smoke covered the sky.
The once-beautiful kingdom had become nothing more than ruins.
Collapsed buildings.
Broken walls.
Burning homes.
Bodies...
Everywhere.
A young boy with long silver hair sat quietly among the rubble.
His clothes were stained with ash.
Tears rolled silently down his cheeks.
His family was gone.
His friends were gone.
His kingdom...
No longer existed.
He was the only survivor.
The boy stared blankly at the destroyed village.
Even crying had become difficult.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
Crunch...
Crunch...
Crunch...
Someone walked across the broken stones.
The boy slowly turned.
Standing before him was a tall man wrapped entirely in a black cloak.
His face couldn't be seen.
Only darkness.
The stranger stopped a few steps away.
For several moments...
Neither spoke.
Finally...
The cloaked man extended his hand.
"If I save you..."
His deep voice was calm.
"...will you walk beside me?"
The boy didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked around the destroyed village once more.
His lips trembled.
"Can..."
His voice cracked.
"...can you wake them up?"
Silence.
The cloaked man lowered his hand.
"I'm afraid not."
The boy's shoulders shook.
"They're gone."
"No..."
"They're dead."
Fresh tears streamed down the boy's face.
The cloaked man looked toward the burning village.
"You cannot change what has already happened."
"But..."
"You can make sure it never happens again."
The boy slowly looked up.
"How?"
The cloaked man's hidden eyes seemed to pierce through him.
"Become strong."
"Strong enough that no one will ever take away what you cherish again."
The boy clenched his fists.
Images of his family flashed through his mind.
His parents.
His people.
Their screams.
The flames.
The monsters.
Everything.
His expression slowly changed.
The sadness remained...
But beneath it...
Something new was born.
Resolve.
Hatred.
The desire for revenge.
The cloaked man extended his hand once more.
"This path will cost you everything."
"You may never live an ordinary life again."
"You may lose your smile."
"You may lose your humanity."
The boy stared at the hand.
Then...
He reached forward.
"I'll do it."
The moment their hands touched...
The world disappeared.
---
Darkness.
Endless darkness.
The boy blinked.
He now stood inside a massive palace unlike anything he had ever imagined.
Ancient pillars stretched toward an invisible ceiling.
At the center of the hall rested a breathtaking throne.
It shimmered with countless blue crystals.
The crystals pulsed softly...
As though they possessed beating hearts.
The boy unconsciously stepped closer.
"What is this place?"
"The Silver Palace."
The cloaked man walked beside him.
"And that..."
He pointed toward the throne.
"...is the Life Ocean Stone Throne."
The boy stared at it.
"It feels..."
"...alive."
Duckan nodded.
"It is."
"The kings who once ruled before you left fragments of their authority within those stones."
The boy swallowed nervously.
"What do I have to do?"
Duckan looked directly at him.
"Sit."
"That's all?"
"For now."
The boy slowly climbed the steps.
Every heartbeat echoed loudly.
When he finally reached the throne...
He hesitated.
"What if I fail?"
Duckan's answer came without hesitation.
"You won't."
The boy slowly sat.
The instant he touched the throne—
A blinding silver light exploded throughout the palace.
---
Present Day
The Silver-Haired Prince smiled faintly at the memory.
"So..."
He rested his chin on one hand.
"What brings the great Master of the Dark here today?"
Duckan remained silent for a few moments.
Then he spoke.
"Abigail sensed an aura."
The prince's smile faded.
"What aura?"
Duckan's voice became even deeper.
"Ezerus."
The atmosphere instantly froze.
The prince's silver eyes sharpened.
His gentle expression disappeared completely.
For just a moment...
An overwhelming killing intent spread through the throne room.
Even the ancient crystals embedded in the throne flickered.
Duckan continued calmly.
"She isn't certain."
"But she believes Ezerus entered the Mortal Realm."
The prince slowly stood.
His silver pendant glowed faintly beneath his cloak.
"If Abby sensed him..."
He narrowed his eyes.
"...then the veil has weakened further."
Duckan nodded.
"That is my conclusion as well."
Silence returned.
The prince walked toward one of the palace windows overlooking the endless silver sky.
"Ezerus never acts without a reason."
Duckan folded his arms.
"And neither do you."
The prince smiled faintly.
"So..."
"Do you think he's searching for her?"
Duckan didn't answer.
Instead, he asked his own question.
"Did the pendant react?"
The prince's fingers unconsciously touched the silver pendant hanging around his neck.
"...Yes."
Duckan's hidden gaze lingered on the pendant.
Then, after a long silence, he uttered a single sentence:
"Then the countdown has begun."
The prince's eyes narrowed.
Behind them...
Neither of them noticed.
Hidden within the darkness of the palace...
Two crimson eyes slowly opened.
End of Episode 2
---