Chapter 2705: Story 2706: The Kingdom Beneath

The passage opened into a vast underground chamber.

Ronan stopped.

For the first time since entering the mountain, he had no words.

An enormous city stretched beneath the earth.

Stone towers rose from the darkness. Ancient bridges connected enormous buildings. Thousands of empty windows stared down from walls covered with strange symbols.

Blue flames burned along the streets.

Lyra slowly lowered her bow.

“This can’t be real.”

Kael stared at the city.

“The First Kingdom.”

Ronan stepped forward.

“So it survived.”

“Not exactly,” Kael replied.

He pointed toward the streets.

Figures were moving between the buildings.

Thousands of them.

Dead soldiers.

Their armor was ancient, their weapons covered in rust, but they marched in perfect formation.

Ronan’s sword began glowing.

The dead stopped.

Every face turned toward him.

Lyra whispered, “They know you’re here.”

A deep bell suddenly rang across the underground city.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

The blue flames along the streets changed to red.

Kael grabbed Ronan’s shoulder.

“We need to move.”

“Why?”

“Because the Kingdom has awakened.”

A horn sounded from the far side of the city.

The dead soldiers began marching.

Not toward them.

Toward the enormous palace standing at the center of the underground kingdom.

Ronan saw a figure standing on the palace balcony.

Elias.

Their eyes met across the enormous city.

Elias raised one hand.

The dead soldiers stopped.

Then he pointed directly at Ronan.

A voice echoed through the chamber.

“Come to me, brother.”

Ronan stepped forward.

Lyra caught his arm.

“It’s a trap.”

“I know.”

“Then don’t go.”

Ronan looked at her.

“He knows something about my past.”

Kael stepped between them.

“Your past isn’t the only thing waiting inside that palace.”

Ronan looked at him.

“What else?”

Kael hesitated.

“The First Crown.”

Ronan frowned.

“What is that?”

“The crown worn by the first ruler of this kingdom. According to the ancient records, whoever wears it can command every dead creature beneath the earth.”

Lyra looked toward the palace.

“And Elias wants it.”

Kael nodded.

“He believes it belongs to his bloodline.”

Ronan stared at Elias.

“Does it?”

Kael did not answer.

A sudden scream echoed through the city.

One of the dead soldiers collapsed.

Then another.

Black smoke began pouring from their bodies.

Lyra raised her bow.

“What is happening?”

Kael’s face became pale.

“The Beast.”

A gigantic shadow moved beneath the streets.

The ground cracked.

Stone buildings shook.

Something enormous passed underneath the city.

Ronan heard a deep growl.

Then two enormous red eyes appeared beneath the palace.

Elias turned toward the creature.

For the first time, fear appeared on his face.

“Ronan!” he shouted.

“Run!”

The palace exploded.

A massive black creature burst through the stone floor.

Its body was covered in ancient armor-like scales.

Its enormous jaws opened.

The dead soldiers scattered.

Ronan raised his shield.

The creature roared.

The force of the sound threw Lyra and Kael backward.

Ronan remained standing.

His sword burned brighter than ever.

The Beast suddenly stopped.

It lowered its enormous head.

And instead of attacking Ronan, it bowed.

Silence filled the kingdom.

Elias stared in disbelief.

Kael whispered:

“It recognizes him.”

Ronan looked at the Beast.

A strange warmth spread through his blood.

Then a voice echoed inside his mind.

FIRST SON.

Ronan’s eyes widened.

The Beast lifted its head.

WELCOME HOME.

And somewhere beneath the palace, an ancient crown began to glow.