Chapter 2717: Story 2718: The Death of the First Kingdom

The First Kingdom began to die.

A deep crack tore across the floor beneath Ronan.

Red light erupted from every wall.

The dead soldiers screamed.

Their ancient armor shattered as black smoke poured from their bodies.

Ronan remained trapped inside the Beast’s claws.

“RONAN!”

Lyra ran toward him.

Kael grabbed her arm.

“You can’t reach him!”

“Let go!”

The Beast lifted Ronan toward its enormous mouth.

“BLOOD OF THE FIRST SON...”

Its voice shook the chamber.

“FREE ME.”

Ronan struggled against its grip.

“You’ll never be human.”

The Beast’s red eyes narrowed.

“Then you will become my vessel.”

Ronan’s blood began glowing.

The wound in his palm suddenly opened wider.

Blood flowed toward the black crown.

Elias screamed.

“No!”

The crown cracked.

A thin line appeared across its surface.

Then another.

Ronan’s father stared in disbelief.

“It is working.”

The Beast roared.

Its grip tightened around Ronan.

Bones cracked.

Ronan cried out.

“Ronan!”

Lyra raised her bow.

She fired.

The arrow struck the Beast’s eye.

Black blood exploded across its face.

The creature released Ronan.

He fell.

Lyra caught him before he hit the ground.

“You idiot!”

Ronan struggled to breathe.

“You caught me.”

“Don’t make me regret it.”

Behind them, Elias crawled toward the crown.

“Give it to me...”

Ronan looked at him.

“Elias, stop!”

Elias reached for the crown.

The moment his fingers touched it, the cracks spread.

The crown exploded.

BOOM!

A wave of black fire consumed the chamber.

Elias screamed.

The Beast roared.

And every dead soldier collapsed simultaneously.

Silence followed.

Ronan slowly opened his eyes.

The chamber was almost destroyed.

The throne had split in half.

The Beast was gone.

Elias lay motionless beside the broken crown.

Lyra helped Ronan stand.

“Is it over?”

Ronan looked around.

“No.”

Kael pointed toward the floor.

A massive crack had opened beneath the throne.

Something was moving below.

Ronan’s father approached slowly.

His face was pale.

“The crown was never the prison.”

Ronan stared at him.

“Then what was it?”

His father looked into the darkness.

“A key.”

The crack widened.

Cold air rushed upward.

From somewhere deep below came a familiar voice.

Not the Beast.

Not Elias.

Not the First King.

A woman’s voice.

Soft.

Broken.

“Ronan...”

He froze.

His mother’s voice.

Lyra looked at him.

“Who was that?”

Ronan stepped toward the crack.

“Mother.”

His father grabbed him.

“Don’t go down there.”

Ronan turned.

“You said she was taken by the Beast.”

“I was wrong.”

Kael’s expression changed.

“What do you mean?”

The old man stared into the darkness.

“The Beast didn’t take your mother.”

Ronan’s heart stopped.

“Then where is she?”

A pale hand slowly emerged from the crack.

Then another.

A woman’s face appeared beneath the broken throne.

Her eyes opened.

They glowed red.

She whispered:

“My son...”

Ronan stepped forward.

And behind her, thousands of dead voices began chanting one word.

“MOTHER.”