Chapter 2626: Story 2627: The Second Kingdom

The ancient voice faded into silence.

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Then the entire First Kingdom shook.

Stone towers rose from the ground as if pulled upward by invisible hands. Ancient walls split apart, revealing glowing red veins beneath the stone.

Adrian stared in horror.

“The kingdom is rebuilding itself.”

Mara looked around.

“Rebuilding?”

“Not exactly.”

Adrian swallowed.

“Transforming.”

A deep rumble rolled through the city.

The millions of awakened dead began standing.

One by one.

Then thousands at once.

Their armor clattered as they rose from the ancient streets.

Kael raised his sword.

“Everyone stay together.”

The Royal Dead did not attack.

Instead, they turned toward the palace.

Their weapons lowered.

Elias watched them carefully.

“They’re waiting for a command.”

Kael looked at him.

“From me?”

Elias shook his head.

“From all three of us.”

Lena stepped forward.

The red light around her intensified.

Suddenly, every undead creature in the city bowed.

A massive crown symbol appeared beneath their feet.

Seraphine fell to one knee.

“The bloodline has been recognized.”

Kael stared at the symbol.

“What happens now?”

Seraphine looked toward the palace.

“The Second Kingdom begins.”

A tremendous explosion erupted in the distance.

The palace towers collapsed.

Through the smoke emerged Marcus Veyr.

His body had changed again.

Black armor covered his entire body, and enormous red veins pulsed beneath his skin.

But something was different.

A dark crown-like structure had formed above his head.

Veyr smiled.

“You thought stopping the bomb would save this kingdom.”

Kael raised his sword.

“What did you do?”

“I gave the kingdom a new ruler.”

Veyr extended his hand.

The Royal Dead suddenly screamed.

Some began turning toward him.

Lena raised her palm.

“Stop!”

Red energy surged across the city.

The undead froze between the two commands.

Kael looked at Veyr.

“You’re trying to steal control.”

Veyr laughed.

“I don’t need to steal it.”

He pointed toward Lena.

“She opened the throne.”

Then he pointed toward Elias.

“He carries the corruption.”

Finally, his eyes settled on Kael.

“And you carry the King’s blood.”

Veyr’s smile widened.

“The three of you together created the perfect gateway.”

Kael’s expression hardened.

“You’re lying.”

“Am I?”

Veyr raised both hands.

The ground beneath them cracked.

A gigantic black structure began rising from beneath the palace.

It resembled a fortress made from bone and stone.

At its center stood an enormous throne.

Adrian stared.

“The Second Throne.”

Seraphine whispered,

“It hasn’t existed for thousands of years.”

Veyr looked toward it.

“Now it does.”

The First Origin suddenly roared.

The sound shook the entire kingdom.

Its countless eyes turned toward Veyr.

Then toward Kael.

Then Lena.

Elias stepped forward.

“It wants the bloodline.”

Kael tightened his grip.

“Then it will have to come through us.”

Elias looked at him.

“You still don’t understand.”

“What?”

Elias pointed toward the new throne.

“That isn’t a throne for a king.”

Lena stared at it.

“Then what is it?”

Elias’s face became pale.

“A throne for the First Origin.”

The massive creature began moving toward the structure.

Veyr laughed.

“Exactly.”

Kael raised his sword.

“Then we destroy it.”

Suddenly, the new throne opened.

A red beam shot into the sky.

Above the kingdom, the clouds turned crimson.

And from somewhere beyond the mountains, millions of undead began marching toward them.

The Second Kingdom was no longer awakening.

It was expanding.

And Kael realized they had only one night to stop it.