Chapter 2723: Story 2724: The Blood Beneath

The throne exploded.

Black bones flew across the chamber like weapons.

Ronan raised his shield as something enormous rose from beneath the ruins.

The ground split open.

A gigantic head emerged from the darkness.

It had no flesh.

Only black stone, twisted horns, and burning red eyes.

Aren stumbled backward.

“No...”

Elias stared at the creature.

For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.

“What is that?”

The First King answered calmly.

“The beginning.”

The creature opened its mouth.

A sound like thousands of dead people screaming filled the chamber.

Ronan’s sword burned brighter.

The creature turned toward him.

“FIRST BLOOD.”

Ronan stepped forward.

“You know me?”

The creature lowered its enormous head.

“I REMEMBER YOU.”

Ronan tightened his grip.

“How?”

The creature’s eyes moved toward Elias.

Then Aren.

“BECAUSE I CREATED YOUR BLOOD.”

Silence filled the chamber.

Aren shook his head.

“That isn’t possible.”

The First King slowly walked down the broken steps.

“You were told that I created the First Kingdom.”

He looked at Ronan.

“That was a lie.”

He pointed toward the creature.

“This thing created the first blood.”

Ronan stared at the monster.

“What are you?”

The creature answered.

“I AM THE BLOODFATHER.”

The name echoed through the chamber.

Suddenly, the chains around Elias broke.

He screamed.

Black veins spread across his body.

The Bloodfather lifted one claw.

Elias was pulled toward it.

“SECOND SON.”

Ronan rushed forward.

“Let him go!”

The Bloodfather struck.

Ronan blocked the claw with his shield.

The impact sent him crashing into a stone pillar.

His shield cracked.

Lyra’s voice suddenly echoed from somewhere beyond the chamber.

“RONAN!”

Ronan looked up.

Lyra appeared on a broken balcony with Kael and Ronan’s father.

She fired an arrow directly toward Elias.

The arrow struck the black crown buried inside his skull.

Elias screamed.

The Bloodfather recoiled.

Kael shouted:

“Now!”

Ronan understood.

He charged.

His sword struck Elias’s crown.

Red light exploded across the chamber.

The crown cracked.

Elias fell to his knees.

“Brother...”

Ronan caught him.

Elias looked at him with normal eyes.

“Don’t let it take me.”

Ronan held him tightly.

“I won’t.”

Behind them, Aren suddenly screamed.

The Bloodfather had grabbed him.

Black fingers wrapped around his body.

The First King watched silently.

Ronan turned.

“Release Aren!”

The Bloodfather laughed.

“THIRD SON.”

Aren struggled.

“I am not your servant!”

The creature pulled him closer.

“You are not my servant.”

Its red eyes burned brighter.

“You are my prison.”

Aren froze.

“What?”

The Bloodfather opened its enormous mouth.

“You were born to contain me.”

The chamber shook violently.

Kael’s face turned pale.

“No...”

Ronan looked at him.

“You knew.”

Kael lowered his sword.

“I knew there were three bloodlines.”

He stared at Aren.

“But I never knew the Third Son was the prison.”

Aren’s eyes filled with fear.

The Bloodfather suddenly disappeared into his body.

Aren screamed.

Black veins spread across his face.

Ronan ran toward him.

“Aren!”

The First King raised one hand.

“Do not touch him.”

Ronan stopped.

“Why?”

The First King looked toward the ceiling.

“Because the prison has opened.”

Above them, thousands of dead began screaming.

Then the entire First Kingdom went silent.

Aren opened his eyes.

They were completely red.

He looked at Ronan.

And whispered:

“Run, brother.”

Something else spoke through his mouth.

“THE FIRST KINGDOM BELONGS TO ME.”