Chapter 2704: Story 2705: The Path of the Dead

Ronan entered the underground passage.

The darkness swallowed him.

Lyra followed with her bow and torch.

Kael followed with his ancient sword.

“Wait,” Kael warned. “You don’t know where this passage leads.”

Ronan kept walking.

“My brother does.”

The corridor descended deeper into the mountain.

Ancient symbols covered the walls.

Some showed armies of dead soldiers kneeling before a crowned figure.

Lyra stopped beside one carving.

“Look.”

Ronan turned.

The carving showed two brothers beneath a red sun.

One held a sword.

The other commanded an army of corpses.

Beneath them was an inscription.

Kael brushed away centuries of dust.

His expression changed.

“What does it say?” Ronan asked.

Kael read the ancient words slowly.

“When blood divides, death follows.”

Ronan stared at the carving.

“And the other line?”

Kael hesitated.

“Only one brother may carry the crown.”

A sound echoed through the tunnel.

Footsteps.

Ronan raised his shield.

“Elias.”

Kael shook his head.

“No. Something else.”

The footsteps grew louder.

Lyra extinguished her torch.

They waited in darkness.

A shadow moved at the end of the corridor.

Then a group of figures emerged.

They were not zombies.

They wore ancient armor and carried spears.

Dust covered their armor, but their eyes were alive.

Ronan raised his sword.

“Who are you?”

The tallest stepped forward.

“We are the Guardians of the First Kingdom.”

Kael stared at them.

“The First Kingdom fell centuries ago.”

The warrior looked at him.

“It fell above ground.”

He pointed deeper into the mountain.

“Below us, it still lives.”

Ronan lowered his sword.

“Where is my brother?”

The Guardian studied him.

“Elias has entered the Kingdom of the Dead.”

Lyra frowned.

“Why would he go there?”

“Because he believes the throne belongs to him.”

Ronan’s grip tightened.

“What throne?”

The Guardian looked toward the darkness.

“The throne that controls the blood of the dead.”

A violent tremor shook the tunnel.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Then a distant roar echoed beneath them.

The Guardians immediately dropped to one knee.

Kael looked frightened.

“What was that?”

The Guardian whispered:

“The First Beast.”

Ronan looked at him.

“What is the First Beast?”

The warrior stood.

“Before the infection, there was something older.”

Another roar shook the mountain.

“It sleeps beneath the First Kingdom.”

Ronan stepped forward.

“Elias is going there?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m going after him.”

The Guardian blocked his path.

“You cannot enter.”

Ronan raised his shield.

“Move.”

“The Kingdom will recognize your blood.”

Ronan stared at him.

“And if it does?”

The Guardian looked directly into his eyes.

“Then every dead thing beneath this mountain will know your name.”

Ronan stepped forward anyway.

Lyra and Kael followed.

The Guardian watched them disappear.

Deep below, thousands of voices whispered the same word.

“Ronan...”

He stopped.

The red mark on his sword began glowing.

Then a second voice joined the whispering.

“Brother...”

Ronan looked into the darkness.

Elias was waiting.

And the path to the First Kingdom had finally opened.