Chapter 2755: Story 2756: The Brother Who Hated Life

The creature lunged.

Ronan raised his sword just in time, but the enormous bone-covered fist struck him with terrible force. He crashed through a stone pillar, sending fragments scattering across the chamber.

“RONAN!” Lyra screamed.

She fired three arrows into the creature’s chest. Each vanished into the black roots surrounding the tiny skeleton.

The monster turned toward her.

“Another friend. Another memory he will lose.”

A black tendril whipped toward Lyra. Elias intercepted it with a wall of dark energy, but the impact hurled him against the coffin. Aren summoned silver chains around the creature’s legs, while Darian unleashed violet flames against its armored back.

For a moment, the monster stopped moving.

Then it laughed.

“Your crowns are borrowed power. Your blood belongs to me!”

It raised both arms, and every dead warrior in the chamber surged forward.

Kael charged through the chaos, striking the creature’s knee with his ancient weapon. Red sparks erupted, but the monster kicked him aside.

Cael caught Kael before he struck the wall.

“Your weapon cannot kill it!”

“Then help me find something that can!”

Cael stared at the skeleton suspended inside the monster.

“The child must be separated from the hunger.”

The mother stepped forward, her red eyes blazing.

“No! Separate them, and the child’s soul will disappear forever!”

“And if we do nothing,” Cael replied, “the hunger will consume every living thing.”

The creature seized Ronan by the throat and lifted him from the ground.

“Look at me, brother.”

Ronan struggled against its grip.

“I never stole your life!”

“You took the breath I was denied. You received her arms, her songs, her love. I received darkness.”

Its fingers tightened.

“I heard you dreaming while I screamed inside that coffin.”

Ronan’s sword slipped from his hand.

Beneath the hatred, he sensed something else: the terror of a forgotten child who had waited alone for centuries.

“I’m sorry,” Ronan whispered.

The creature froze.

Its hollow eyes flickered.

“You cannot be sorry for something you cannot remember.”

“Then let me remember.”

Ronan pressed his palm against the monster’s chest.

Black energy flowed between them.

Suddenly, the chamber disappeared.

Ronan stood inside a burning nursery. Five cradles surrounded him, and a little boy with familiar eyes reached through the flames.

“Brother,” the child pleaded, “don’t let Mother close the door.”

Ronan reached for him.

A pale hand dragged the child backward.

The vision shattered.

Ronan screamed as the creature released him.

Across the chamber, his mother collapsed, clutching her chest.

The child’s voice emerged from every grave.

“She lied to us both.”

The creature’s armor cracked, revealing a glowing red heart.

The mother looked up at Ronan, tears streaking her pale face.

“Because one of you was never meant to be born.”

Darian stepped between her and Ronan.

“Which one?”

She opened her mouth, but before she could answer, the red heart split.

A second voice emerged from within the creature.

“Neither.”

The mountain fell silent.

Then every crown in the chamber shattered.