Chapter 2722: Story 2723: The Throne Beneath

Ronan fell through darkness.

He heard Lyra screaming his name somewhere above him.

Then everything became silent.

He struck cold stone and rolled across a narrow platform. His shield slipped from his arm, but his sword remained in his hand.

“Lyra!”

No answer.

“Kael!”

Nothing.

Ronan stood slowly.

The darkness around him was not empty.

Thousands of tiny red lights glowed in the distance.

Eyes.

Dead eyes.

Ronan raised his sword.

“Come closer.”

The eyes disappeared.

A moment later, footsteps echoed through the darkness.

One.

Two.

Three.

Aren stepped from the shadows.

His face was pale, and black chains wrapped around his arms.

“Ronan.”

Ronan rushed toward him.

“Where is Elias?”

Aren looked behind him.

“He went ahead.”

“Where?”

“The throne.”

Ronan’s grip tightened around his sword.

“Where is Lyra?”

Aren shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

A distant scream echoed through the tunnels.

Ronan immediately recognized it.

“Lyra!”

He started running.

Aren followed.

They entered a massive underground corridor.

The walls were covered with ancient carvings.

Three boys stood before a throne.

One held a sword.

One stood among the dead.

The third held his hands over a sealed creature beneath the ground.

Ronan stopped.

“These are us.”

Aren nodded.

“The First King carved our future before we were born.”

A deep sound suddenly came from behind them.

Footsteps.

Elias appeared at the end of the corridor.

The black crown had disappeared into his skull.

His eyes burned red.

“You finally arrived.”

Ronan raised his sword.

“Release Aren.”

Elias laughed.

“You still think I’m your enemy.”

“You kidnapped my brother.”

“I brought him where he belongs.”

Elias pointed toward the massive doors behind him.

“The throne is waiting.”

The doors slowly opened.

Beyond them stood an enormous chamber.

A black throne rested in the center.

But it was not made of stone.

It was made of bones.

Thousands of skulls formed its steps.

Behind it stood a gigantic wall covered with chains.

And beneath the throne...

Something breathed.

Ronan felt the ground move.

Aren whispered:

“That is where the First King buried the truth.”

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the chamber.

“Ronan Draven.”

Ronan froze.

The voice was ancient.

Cold.

Familiar.

A figure appeared behind the throne.

The First King.

His black armor was cracked, but his red eyes burned brighter than before.

Elias lowered his head.

“My king.”

The First King ignored him.

His gaze remained fixed on Ronan.

“You have finally returned.”

Ronan stepped forward.

“You took my family.”

The First King smiled.

“No.”

He pointed toward the throne.

“I protected your family from what you were born to become.”

Ronan’s sword began glowing red.

The First King continued.

“You believe you are the First Son.”

He looked at Aren.

“You believe he is the Third.”

Then his eyes moved toward Elias.

“And you believe the Second Son carries the curse.”

The chamber shook.

The throne began cracking.

The First King whispered:

“You are all wrong.”

A deafening roar erupted beneath the throne.

The chains snapped one after another.

Elias stepped backward.

Aren stared in horror.

Ronan raised his shield.

“What is beneath that throne?”

The First King finally smiled.

“The thing that created your bloodline.”

The throne exploded.

And something enormous opened its eyes beneath them.