Chapter 2697: Story 2698: The Dead World

The dead world opened its eyes.

Kael turned.

The crimson sky pulsed like a living heart.

Lena stepped backward.

“What is happening?”

“The world is remembering its death.”

The child smiled.

“No. It is remembering him.”

Kael tightened his grip on the black blade.

“Me?”

“Elarion.”

Kael closed his eyes.

“I hear them.”

Azael stepped beside him.

“Then listen.”

“You promised us.”

Kael opened his eyes.

“What did I promise?”

The ancient Elarion looked toward the King Before Kings.

“That you would return.”

The King lowered his sword.

“You were never supposed to remember that promise.”

Kael turned.

“You knew?”

“I knew what would happen if you returned.”

The child walked toward Kael.

“You promised to destroy the throne.”

“The throne?”

At its center appeared the ancient throne of the King Before Kings.

Lena grabbed his arm.

“Do not go.”

“Why?”

“Because that throne remembers you.”

Kael looked at her.

“What does it remember?”

Her eyes filled with fear.

“The last time you sat upon it.”

Kael stepped forward.

The throne suddenly spoke.

“Welcome home.”

The King Before Kings raised his weapon.

“Do not sit.”

Kael stopped.

“Why?”

“Because you will remember everything.”

“Maybe I should.”

The King shouted,

“You will become him again!”

“Who?”

The King pointed toward the throne.

“You.”

A vision appeared.

Elarion sitting upon the throne.

Around him stood the eight children.

They were kneeling.

Kael whispered,

“I ruled them.”

The ancient Elarion shook his head.

“You protected them.”

The child laughed.

“You did both.”

Kael looked at him.

“Then why did they kneel?”

“Because they were afraid.”

The first enemy appeared behind them.

Its six crimson eyes burned.

“I remember.”

Kael turned.

“What do you remember?”

The creature answered,

“The moment you killed me.”

Kael raised his blade.

“You survived.”

“I became you.”

The ninth heart inside Kael pulsed.

Black fire erupted from his chest.

Lena shouted,

“Kael!”

He fell to one knee.

The black blade.

The throne.

The children.

The King.

The first enemy.

Kael stood before the dying world.

The children were behind him.

He held the black blade against his chest.

Azael screamed,

“Brother, don’t!”

Kael whispered,

“If I cannot destroy it, I will imprison it inside myself.”

Kael opened his eyes.

The enemy smiled.

“You finally remember.”

Kael stood.

“You were never inside me.”

The creature froze.

Kael raised the black blade.

“You were beneath me.”

The dead world shook.

The throne cracked.

And beneath the throne, something older than the first enemy opened its eyes.

The ancient silence returned.