Chapter 2518: Story 2519: The Forge of Fallen Stars

The earth beneath Blackstone Ridge groaned like a living beast.

Golden fire poured from the opening doors of the Heart Forge, flooding the ancient tunnels with blinding light. The hooded traitor stood motionless before the entrance, the crimson glow in one eye reflecting across the polished stone floor.

A low voice echoed from deep within the chamber.

"So... another seeker has arrived."

The stranger smiled.

"I have waited years for this moment."

Without another word, the hooded figure stepped inside.

The enormous stone doors slowly began closing behind them.

Far above, the battle for the fortress raged on.

Victoria Kane struggled to regain her footing after the violent explosion from the Corrupted Heart. Dust and smoke covered the battlefield while crimson lightning split the heavens again and again.

The towering undead giants continued rising from the fallen.

Their bodies fused together from shattered bones, broken armor, and molten crimson energy.

Each giant stood nearly forty feet tall.

Each carried weapons forged from blackened skeletons.

Cole Mercer stared through the smoke.

"We can’t fight those things."

Gideon Black drew a deep breath.

"Not like ordinary enemies."

"Their power comes from the Corrupted Heart."

Victoria looked toward the floating crystal.

Its massive crack glowed with alternating crimson and golden light.

"It can still be destroyed."

Elias Crow rode beside her, blood continuing to drip from his wounded shoulder.

"Yes."

"But not by the sword alone."

Victoria turned toward him.

"What aren’t you telling us?"

The Crimson Rider removed the broken silver mask from his face completely.

For the first time, everyone saw him clearly.

Though scars marked his pale face, there was still honor in his weary eyes.

"When we imprisoned the Hollow King, we separated three ancient relics."

"The Sword."

"The Badge."

"And the Flame."

Father Gabriel’s expression changed instantly.

"The Eternal Flame..."

Gideon slowly nodded.

"I thought it had been lost."

Elias looked toward the heart of the fortress.

"It wasn’t lost."

"It was hidden."

"In the Heart Forge."

Dr. Evelyn Brooks suddenly remembered the map she had found.

"The Forge doesn’t create weapons."

"It protects the Flame."

Before anyone could continue, Lucas Reed came galloping across the battlefield.

"Victoria!"

He barely managed to stop his horse.

"I found another tunnel."

"It leads beneath the fortress."

Gideon’s face became grim.

"The traitor."

Victoria understood immediately.

"The Heart Forge."

She looked toward Cole.

"You take command of the walls."

Cole nodded without hesitation.

"We’ll hold them."

Victoria turned to Elias.

"Can you ride?"

He smiled faintly despite the pain.

"I’ve survived one hundred years."

"I can survive one more battle."

Together, Victoria, Elias, Lucas, Dr. Evelyn, Father Gabriel, and Gideon raced toward the hidden entrance beneath the fortress.

Behind them, Cole rallied the defenders.

"Reload!"

Ancient cannons thundered once more.

The Abyss Walkers answered by advancing with their massive shields while the undead giants smashed against the fortress walls with crushing fists.

Stone towers trembled.

Ancient masonry collapsed into the valley below.

Blackstone Ridge was beginning to fall.

Deep beneath the fortress, the group reached the hidden tunnel discovered by Lucas.

The walls shimmered with veins of golden crystal.

Unlike the cold passages above, warm air flowed through these forgotten corridors.

Ancient symbols glowed beneath their feet, guiding them forward.

Father Gabriel quietly whispered,

"This place was built before the fortress itself."

After several minutes, they reached a pair of colossal doors forged from black steel and pure gold.

At their center burned the symbol of the Black Star.

The doors stood open.

Victoria frowned.

"We’re too late."

Inside the Heart Forge, rivers of molten golden fire flowed around an enormous circular platform.

The hooded traitor stood before a blazing pillar of light with both hands raised.

The cloak slowly fell away.

Everyone stared in stunned silence.

The stranger wore ancient Marshal armor stained with crimson markings.

Across the weathered breastplate was the crest of the Black Star.

Gideon Black’s face turned pale.

His voice was barely a whisper.

"No..."

"That armor belongs to Marshal Roland Thorne."

The mysterious figure slowly turned, revealing a scarred face and one crimson eye burning with unnatural power.

A cold smile crossed his lips.

"You buried my name..."

"...but you never buried my ambition."

The forgotten Fourteenth Marshal had returned.