Chapter 2716: Story 2717: The Crown of Blood

Ronan charged through the red light.

His sword struck the black crown.

CLANG!

The impact shook his entire body.

The crown did not break.

Instead, a wave of darkness exploded outward.

Ronan was thrown across the chamber.

He crashed against the stone floor.

“RONAN!”

Lyra ran toward him.

“Stay back!” Kael shouted.

The Beast’s enormous claw tightened around Elias.

Elias screamed.

Black veins spread across his face again.

The crown was sinking deeper into his skull.

“Brother!” Elias shouted.

Ronan struggled to stand.

“What?”

Elias looked at him.

For one brief moment, the red disappeared from his eyes.

His face became the face Ronan remembered from childhood.

“Don’t let it take me.”

Ronan froze.

Then the Beast roared.

Elias’s eyes turned red again.

The crown pulsed.

A massive shockwave knocked everyone backward.

Ronan’s father slammed against the throne.

Kael fell to one knee.

Lyra dropped her bow.

The dead army began screaming.

Thousands of voices cried out together.

“THE CROWN HAS FOUND ITS KING!”

Elias slowly rose.

The Beast released him.

Black energy surrounded his body.

He looked toward Ronan.

“You should have killed me.”

Ronan tightened his grip on the sword.

“You’re still my brother.”

Elias laughed bitterly.

“That is exactly why you will lose.”

He raised his hand.

Every dead warrior lifted its weapon.

Kael looked at Ronan.

“We have seconds.”

Ronan stared at the crown.

“There must be another way.”

His father shouted from beside the throne.

“There is!”

Ronan turned.

His father pointed toward the floor.

“Your blood!”

Ronan looked confused.

“The crown was forged from the blood of the First King. Only the blood of his first son can destroy it.”

Ronan looked at his sword.

The red symbol was glowing brighter than ever.

“So I need to bleed onto it?”

His father shook his head.

“No.”

He looked toward the Beast.

“You need to make the crown drink your blood.”

Ronan’s expression hardened.

“How?”

His father answered:

“Let it take you.”

Lyra stared at him.

“That’s suicide.”

His father looked at her.

“Perhaps.”

Ronan stepped forward.

Lyra grabbed his arm.

“Don’t.”

Ronan looked at her.

“If I don’t, Elias dies.”

“And you might die with him.”

Ronan gave a faint smile.

“Then don’t let me.”

Lyra’s eyes filled with anger.

“You always make everything sound simple.”

Ronan turned toward Elias.

The Beast suddenly opened its mouth.

Hundreds of dead faces appeared inside it.

The same voices whispered:

“BLOOD.”

Ronan lowered his shield.

He walked forward.

Elias watched him carefully.

“What are you doing?”

“Ending this.”

Ronan dropped his sword.

Then he raised his arm.

The Beast’s eyes widened.

Ronan drew the blade across his palm.

Blood fell onto the stone.

The crown screamed.

Elias collapsed.

The Beast lunged.

Ronan stood his ground.

The creature’s claws wrapped around him.

And the moment his blood touched the crown—

the entire First Kingdom began to die.