Chapter 2651: Story 2652: The City Before Kings

The bell rang again.

Its sound rolled through the upside-down city inside the Nameless King’s mouth, shaking every tower and temple. One by one, the frozen figures moved.

Kael stared upward.

“They are alive.”

Seraphine shook her head.

“No. They are waiting.”

A third bell echoed.

Thousands of ancient figures stepped from the floating streets. They wore pale armor and smooth masks. Each carried a weapon bearing the same ancient symbol.

The Nameless King smiled.

“Welcome home.”

Kael raised his sword.

“This is not my home.”

The creature’s laughter shook the fortress.

“You were born beneath those towers, Azrael. Your blood remembers what your mind forgot.”

Azael stepped closer.

“Then let us remember together.”

The city suddenly rotated around them.

The sky became the ground. Towers stretched downward while streets rose into crimson clouds. Kael felt himself falling upward, but Azael grabbed his arm.

“Do not let go!”

Lena seized Elias.

“Stay together!”

The four were pulled toward the city’s center.

Then they landed before a massive temple.

Its doors were sealed by four symbols.

AZRAEL.

AZAEL.

K-26.

K-28.

Kael approached.

The symbols vanished beneath his hand.

The doors opened.

Inside stood thousands of statues, each with Kael’s face.

Some wore crowns, some carried swords, some were children, some were old.

Azael stopped breathing.

“They are all you.”

Kael walked between them.

“No.”

He touched one statue.

A memory exploded through his mind.

A child stood inside the temple.

Not Kael. Not Azael.

A child with silver eyes.

A shadow woman held him while an ancient king watched.

Then Kael, Azael, Lena, and Elias appeared.

Four children.

But something was wrong: a fifth cradle stood empty.

“What happened to the fifth?”

The temple shook.

The Nameless King’s voice entered their minds.

“There was never supposed to be a fifth.”

Seraphine looked horrified.

“Then why is there an empty cradle?”

The shadow mother appeared behind them.

Her crimson eyes were fixed on the cradle.

“Because someone took the child.”

Kael turned.

“Who?”

She hesitated.

“For the first time, I do not know.”

The forgotten king entered the temple, trembling.

“I know.”

His crown fell from his head.

“The fifth child was not taken by a king.”

He pointed toward the ceiling.

“It was taken by the first darkness.”

The temple doors slammed shut.

The statues opened their eyes.

Every face turned toward Kael.

Then the cradle began to bleed.

A tiny heartbeat came from inside it.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Azael whispered, “Someone is still alive.”

The Nameless King screamed.

“NO!”

Its three eyes widened in terror.

Kael stepped toward the cradle.

“What are you afraid of?”

The creature answered with a voice filled with panic.

“Because the fifth child is older than you.”

The blood inside the cradle rose into the air.

It formed the shape of a small hand.

Then a voice whispered beyond the temple.

“Brother.”

Kael froze.

The same voice spoke again.

“Azrael, you finally found me.”

The temple exploded into darkness.