Chapter 2714: Story 2715: The King of the Dead

The laughter beneath the kingdom continued.

Deep.

Ancient.

Hungry.

Ronan stared at the kneeling dead, unable to understand what he was seeing.

Thousands of corpses surrounded the chamber, yet none moved without permission.

Lyra stepped closer to him.

“Ronan, what are they waiting for?”

Before he could answer, Kael spoke.

“For you.”

Ronan turned sharply.

“I am not their king.”

His father looked at him.

“You may not want the crown, but the blood has already chosen.”

Ronan looked at the glowing sword in his hand.

The red symbol along its blade pulsed like a heartbeat.

Then the corpses began whispering.

“King...”

“First Son...”

“Blood...”

The whispers grew louder until the entire chamber trembled.

Suddenly, one corpse stood.

It wore ancient black armor covered with dust and dried blood.

Unlike the others, its eyes were not red.

They were blue.

The warrior walked toward Ronan and stopped before him.

Then it removed its helmet.

Its face was ancient, but strangely human.

“I served your grandfather,” it said.

Ronan lowered his sword slightly.

“My grandfather?”

The dead warrior nodded.

“The First King was your ancestor.”

Kael stepped forward.

“That is impossible.”

The warrior looked at him.

“You knew.”

Kael said nothing.

Ronan’s expression hardened.

“Everyone knew except me.”

His father lowered his eyes.

“Because we were trying to protect you.”

“By lying?”

Before anyone could answer, the dead warrior suddenly dropped to one knee.

Then every corpse in the chamber bowed.

The warrior raised its head.

“The First King is coming.”

A cold wind swept through the chamber.

The flames surrounding the throne turned black.

Lyra raised her bow.

Kael drew his sword.

Ronan’s father grabbed Ronan’s arm.

“Whatever happens, do not let him place the crown upon your head.”

Ronan stared at him.

“What crown?”

His father looked toward the darkness.

“The crown you destroyed was only a fragment.”

Ronan’s blood ran cold.

“Then where is the real crown?”

A deep voice answered from behind them.

“Here.”

Everyone turned.

Elias stood at the chamber entrance.

But he was no longer alone.

Black smoke surrounded his body.

The veins covering his face had vanished.

His eyes burned red.

In his hands he carried a crown made from black bone.

Lyra whispered, “Elias...”

Elias smiled.

“The First King gave me what I was promised.”

Ronan raised his sword.

“Put it down.”

Elias laughed.

“You still don’t understand, brother.”

He placed the crown on his head.

The entire First Kingdom screamed.

Every dead soldier rose simultaneously.

The walls cracked.

The throne erupted with red fire.

And beneath the kingdom, the Beast roared:

“SECOND SON.”

Elias opened his arms.

The dead army turned toward Ronan.

Ronan raised his shield as the first wave thundered toward him. Lyra released three arrows in succession, striking the nearest corpses. Kael shouted a command, but the army ignored him. Ronan’s father stepped forward, and for the first time, his eyes burned with the same red light.

Then Elias gave a single command.

“Kill my brother.”

The army charged.