Deep beneath Dame's mansion…*
Dame stood alone in the dim, ancient room—walls lined with cryptic runes and forgotten relics. Before him sat a sealed obsidian box, pulsing faintly with a red glow from within. He hesitated, staring at it, conflicted.
"Should I really do this?" he muttered to himself, hands hovering just above the box. "Should I help Shine… or stand with the man who never once called me his son?"
From the shadows, Karika stepped forward, arms crossed. "But sir… this is what you've worked for your whole life. You finally have the power. Do you really want to give it all up… for *her*?"
Dame turned, eyes softer than usual. "She's the first person who's ever been kind to me without wanting anything in return. Not power. Not position. Just… me." He looked back at the box, jaw clenched. "Maybe she's right. I've spent my whole life chasing my father's shadow. But what if I was never meant to be one of them?"
With that, Dame stepped back, dropped the box gently to the pedestal, and walked away—his footsteps echoing in the silence.
Unbeknownst to him, far beyond that room, in a darkened chamber lit only by a glowing globe, *Drake* watched.
"Tch," Drake scoffed. "Father was right. He *is* weak."
His eyes narrowed on the image of the box.
"That power… it belongs to *us*, not some love-blinded half-demon."
He leaned closer to the globe, voice cold and low.
"Now… how do I get my hands on it?"
*Andre entered the Hive.*
He had been walking for days—his clothes dusty, boots worn, and every muscle in his body aching.
"They didn't say it'd be this hard," he muttered under his breath, swatting branches out of his way as he trudged deeper into the forest.
The trees grew thicker, darker, but then—suddenly—the path opened up. In the clearing ahead sat a tiny village. Not just small… *unusually* small. The houses looked like mushrooms, barely the height of his knees.
"I'm too tired to question this," Andre sighed. "If I die, at least I get to go back."
He stepped toward the village.
"Hi!" a small voice chirped.
Andre froze. "Who's there?"
"Look down," the voice replied.
Andre glanced down—and blinked.
There they were. *Tiny blue creatures.* Wide eyes. Big hats. Definitely not human. One of them stepped forward, grinning.
"Hi, I'm—"
"No need," Andre interrupted. "I'll just call you Happy."
The little creature tilted its head, amused.
"What is this place?" Andre asked, too tired to pretend he was surprised.
"It's our village," another Smurf said cheerfully.
"I have a mission," Andre said. "To protect the one chosen by the Phoenix. I just need food and directions. Then I'll be on my way."
" I like his honesty," one of the Smurfs said to the others.
"Same," another nodded.
"We'll help you," Happy said, "and we'll point you in the direction the egg went."
"They were here?" Andre asked, perking up.
"Yes," the Smurfs answered together.
"Alright then. Food first, then I'll go."
"Promise?" Happy asked, squinting.
"Promise."
Andre sat as they brought him berries, soup, and a strange but delicious bread. He wasn't surprised to see creatures like them—not after all his teacher had warned him.
"Prepare your eyes," his teacher had said.
"In the Hive, you'll see creatures from legend, myth, and dream. Keep your blade sharp—and your heart open."
Andre took a bite of the bread and smiled.
So far, the Hive was living up to the stories