Chapter 2706: Story 2707: The Crown of the First King

The ancient Beast remained bowed before Ronan.

Its enormous body covered half the palace entrance, its armored scales rising and falling with every slow breath.

No one moved.

Not even Elias.

Ronan lowered his shield.

“Why is it bowing to me?”

Kael stared at him.

“Because you are not simply Ronan Draven.”

Ronan turned toward him.

“What does that mean?”

Kael looked toward the palace.

“The First Kingdom was ruled by a bloodline older than any kingdom above the earth. The first ruler was called the First King.”

“And my blood?”

Kael’s expression darkened.

“The First King had two sons.”

Ronan looked at Elias.

“Two sons.”

Elias slowly stepped down from the palace balcony.

“Yes.”

His voice echoed across the city.

“You and me.”

Ronan’s grip tightened around his sword.

“You knew?”

Elias stopped several steps away.

“I knew the moment I saw your eyes.”

Lyra raised her bow.

“Then why did you attack us?”

Elias looked at her.

“Because I needed to know whether the dead would obey him.”

Kael stepped forward.

“You already knew.”

Elias smiled bitterly.

“No. I suspected.”

The Beast suddenly growled.

Every dead soldier in the city dropped to one knee.

Thousands of bodies bowed toward Ronan.

The sound of armor striking stone echoed through the kingdom.

Ronan stared at them in disbelief.

Then the palace doors opened.

A red light appeared deep inside.

Something was moving beneath the floor.

Kael whispered:

“The crown.”

Elias’s expression changed.

He rushed toward the palace.

Ronan followed.

Lyra and Kael ran behind him.

Inside, enormous stone pillars surrounded a circular chamber.

At its center stood a black pedestal.

Above it floated an ancient crown.

It was made of dark metal, covered with dried blood and strange red symbols.

The crown pulsed like a living heart.

Ronan felt the same warmth spreading through his blood.

Elias stopped beneath it.

“This is mine.”

Ronan stepped forward.

“No.”

Elias turned.

“You think the Beast choosing you makes you king?”

“I don’t want to be king.”

Elias laughed.

“You don’t understand. The crown doesn’t care what you want.”

The crown suddenly rose higher.

A violent wind exploded through the chamber.

The red symbols on Ronan’s sword began glowing.

Then the crown moved.

Not toward Elias.

Toward Ronan.

Elias’s eyes widened.

“No!”

He lunged.

The Beast roared.

One enormous claw struck the floor between the brothers.

Elias stumbled backward.

The crown stopped directly above Ronan’s head.

A voice filled the chamber.

BLOOD OF THE FIRST KING.

Ronan looked upward.

The crown descended slowly.

Kael whispered:

“Ronan, don’t let it touch you.”

“Why?”

Kael’s face was filled with fear.

“Because once you wear it, every dead creature in this kingdom will become part of you.”

Ronan stared at the crown.

Then thousands of voices began whispering beneath the palace.

KING...

KING...

KING...

Suddenly, something enormous opened its eyes beneath the city.

And the Beast lowered its head again.

“MY KING.”