Chapter 2513: Story 2514: The Legacy of the Thirteen

The Hidden Chamber fell silent.

The glowing spirit of Marshal Isabella Ashcroft hovered above the crystal pedestal, her silver armor shimmering like moonlight upon still water.

Victoria Kane stared at the ghostly figure in amazement.

"You’ve been waiting here all this time?"

Isabella smiled gently.

"Not I alone."

She raised one graceful hand.

The chamber suddenly filled with golden light.

Around the circular hall, twelve more transparent figures slowly appeared beside the towering stone pillars.

Each wore different armor.

Each carried a unique weapon.

The Thirteen Marshals had returned.

Cole Mercer instinctively removed his hat.

Lucas Reed stood speechless.

Even Gideon Black lowered his head respectfully.

"My brothers..."

Gideon whispered.

"My sisters..."

"It has been far too long."

One by one, the spirits nodded toward him.

The tallest among them, a broad-shouldered marshal carrying a massive war hammer, stepped forward.

"You kept your promise, Gideon."

His voice echoed through the chamber like distant thunder.

"You guarded the seal."

Another spirit—a graceful archer wearing a dark green cloak—smiled warmly.

"And now the final bearer has come."

Victoria looked around the chamber.

"I don’t understand."

"If all of you are here..."

"...why can’t you stop the Hollow King yourselves?"

Marshal Isabella’s expression became solemn.

"Our duty ended long ago."

"Our souls remained only to guide the one who would finish what we could not."

She turned toward the ancient chest resting upon the pedestal.

"The Legacy Chest cannot be opened by strength."

"It recognizes sacrifice."

"It recognizes courage."

"It recognizes hope."

As she spoke, the first iron lock clicked open by itself.

Everyone watched in astonishment.

Father Gabriel stepped closer.

"There are thirteen locks."

"One for each Marshal."

Isabella nodded.

"Each lock will open only when the bearer proves worthy of the virtue it protects."

"The first lock accepted Victoria the moment she chose to defend strangers instead of saving herself."

A second lock suddenly released with a sharp metallic click.

Golden light escaped through the edges of the wooden chest.

Dr. Evelyn Brooks stared at the ancient mechanisms.

"It’s responding to her actions."

Gideon smiled proudly.

"The Order chose wisely."

Suddenly the chamber trembled violently.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

The crystal pedestal flickered.

One of the ghostly marshals turned toward the eastern wall.

"They have found us."

Above them, alarm bells rang throughout Blackstone Ridge.

Lucas rushed toward the staircase.

"The fortress!"

The group hurried back to the surface.

As they emerged into the chapel, frightened defenders raced across the courtyard.

Cole climbed the nearest watchtower.

His expression darkened immediately.

"It’s impossible..."

Victoria joined him.

Far across the western plains, the retreating undead army had vanished.

In its place stood something far worse.

The earth itself was moving.

Gigantic cracks stretched for miles across the desert.

Entire hills collapsed into darkness.

From those enormous fissures climbed thousands of new creatures unlike ordinary zombies.

Their bodies were covered in black stone-like armor.

Crimson fire burned beneath cracks in their skin.

Some possessed four powerful arms.

Others carried enormous blades formed from bone.

Dr. Evelyn looked through her field glasses.

"They’re mutations."

Father Gabriel slowly shook his head.

"No."

"They’re older than the infection."

Gideon Black’s face became pale.

"The Abyss Walkers."

Victoria looked toward him.

"You’ve fought them before?"

He nodded.

"Only once."

"And we barely survived."

Far beyond the advancing monsters, crimson lightning illuminated a towering silhouette beneath the storm clouds.

The Hollow King’s prison continued to fracture.

His voice rolled across the mountains like distant thunder.

"My first army has failed..."

"...now witness the warriors who conquered kingdoms before your ancestors learned to write."

The Abyss Walkers raised their enormous weapons.

A deafening roar shook the frontier.

The defenders of Blackstone Ridge watched in horror as an entirely new legion began marching toward the fortress.

Victoria tightened her grip on the Marshal’s sword.

The golden blade shone brighter than ever before.

She knew the next battle would not be fought against mindless undead.

It would be fought against the Hollow King’s ancient champions, warriors born long before the zombie apocalypse began.