Chapter 2639: Story 2640: The First King

The throne continued to bleed.

Crimson liquid flowed down the ancient bones, gathering around Kael’s boots like a living river.

Lena stepped closer.

“You said we returned,” she whispered. “Returned from where?”

The figure slowly rose.

“I was here before your kingdoms were born. Before the First Blood was named. Before your father became its prison.”

Kael tightened his fists, feeling an unfamiliar heat beneath his skin.

“Then tell us who you are.”

The figure removed the crown.

Beneath it was a face carved with ancient scars.

“I am King Arkan.”

Elias looked around.

“Why did the Blood Gate bring us here?”

Arkan smiled.

“Because the bloodline has reached its final choice.”

The crimson river suddenly rose from the floor, twisting like a serpent awakened from centuries of sleep.

It wrapped around Lena’s legs.

She gasped.

“Kael!”

Kael reached for her, but the blood threw him backward.

Elias attacked with his sword.

The blade entered the crimson liquid and stopped.

A voice whispered through the chamber.

ONE MUST DIE.

Elias froze.

“What?”

Arkan looked at the three siblings.

“The First Blood cannot live through three vessels. One must become the king. One must become the queen. The third must be sacrificed.”

Kael stared at him.

“No.”

Arkan’s eyes narrowed.

“That is the law.”

Kael stood, refusing to lower his gaze.

“Then your law ends today.”

Arkan laughed.

“Every heir says that.”

The crimson throne suddenly opened.

Inside it was a massive beating heart.

BOOM.

BOOM.

BOOM.

Lena fell to her knees.

“I can hear it.”

Elias grabbed her shoulder.

“What does it want?”

Her eyes turned crimson.

“It remembers everything.”

Images exploded across the chamber, each one striking his mind like a blade.

King Arkan stood beside a woman wearing a crown of blood.

Behind them stood the First Blood.

Then came the Sleeping King.

Young.

Human.

Holding three infants.

Kael stared in disbelief.

“Those are us.”

Arkan nodded.

“Your father did not merely imprison the First Blood. He stole its children.”

Lena shook her head.

“My father saved us.”

“He tried,” Arkan replied. “But salvation always demands a price.”

Suddenly, black smoke poured from the chamber entrance.

Veyr emerged.

Black flames surrounded him.

“You fools,” he whispered. “You thought the Blood Gate was a prison.”

Kael raised his sword, its edge glowing faintly with Origin blood.

“Veyr.”

Veyr smiled.

“It is a doorway.”

Arkan turned toward him.

“You should not have crossed.”

Veyr laughed.

“I have already crossed death.”

The crimson heart suddenly stopped beating.

Then one enormous eye opened inside the heart.

Lena screamed.

The voice that followed was deeper than anything they had ever heard.

THE FIRST KING LIED.

Arkan’s expression changed.

Kael stepped forward.

“Who are you?”

The eye focused on him.

I AM THE KING BEFORE KINGS.

The crimson throne cracked.

The chamber began collapsing around the ancient throne.

Arkan dropped his crown.

“No...”

The eye opened wider.

AND YOU, KAEL DRAVEN, ARE NOT MY DESCENDANT.

Kael’s blood froze.

YOU ARE MY SON.

The mountains above the Blood Gate exploded with thunder.