Chapter 2725: Story 2726: The Second King

The words echoed through the First Kingdom.

“THE SECOND KING HAS RISEN.”

Thousands of dead soldiers lifted their heads.

Their red eyes burned simultaneously.

Ronan stared at Elias.

His brother stood motionless in the center of the chamber.

Black veins covered his body.

But beneath them, something else moved.

Something alive.

“Elias...”

Elias slowly looked at him.

For a moment, Ronan saw his brother again.

Then Elias smiled.

“You should have left me.”

Ronan stepped forward.

“I won’t leave you.”

Elias laughed.

“You always say that.”

His voice suddenly changed.

A deeper voice spoke beneath his words.

“THE SECOND KING REMEMBERS.”

The floor shook.

Every dead warrior in the kingdom dropped to one knee.

Even the ancient guardians bowed.

Kael looked toward the First King.

“You knew this could happen.”

The First King did not answer.

Kael raised his axe.

“You knew!”

The First King finally turned.

“I feared it.”

Ronan looked between them.

“What is the Second King?”

The First King’s eyes remained fixed on Elias.

“The Second Son was never meant to rule the dead.”

Elias slowly raised one hand.

“But they remember me.”

A dead warrior stood.

Then another.

Then hundreds.

The chamber filled with the sound of armor moving across stone.

Ronan tightened his grip on his sword.

Elias looked at him.

“Do you remember the village?”

Ronan froze.

“What?”

“The night it burned.”

Elias walked forward.

“You thought I died.”

Ronan’s expression hardened.

“I remember.”

Elias pointed toward the First King.

“He was there.”

Ronan turned.

The First King remained silent.

Elias continued.

“He didn’t attack our village because of you.”

Ronan’s eyes narrowed.

“Then why?”

Elias smiled.

“Because of me.”

Silence fell.

Kael lowered his axe.

“That isn’t possible.”

Elias looked at him.

“You knew I carried the curse before Ronan ever returned.”

Kael’s face changed.

Ronan stared at the old warrior.

“Is that true?”

Kael said nothing.

Ronan stepped closer.

“Answer me.”

Before Kael could speak, the First King raised his hand.

“Enough.”

The chamber doors suddenly exploded inward.

A wave of dead soldiers poured through.

Lyra fired rapidly from the balcony.

Arrows struck skulls and armor.

“Ronan! We have company!”

Ronan turned toward the entrance.

Hundreds of corpses rushed into the chamber.

He charged.

His sword cut through the first corpse.

Another attacked from behind.

Lyra’s arrow struck it between the eyes.

Kael fought beside Ronan.

Ronan’s father raised his hands, and ancient symbols appeared across the floor.

The dead hesitated.

“Hold them!”

he shouted.

Ronan looked toward Elias.

His brother was standing completely still.

The dead were not attacking him.

They were protecting him.

Then Elias raised both hands.

Every corpse stopped.

The entire kingdom obeyed.

Elias looked toward Ronan.

“Brother.”

Ronan raised his sword.

“I can still bring you back.”

Elias smiled sadly.

“No.”

The black veins suddenly disappeared from his face.

His eyes returned to normal.

Then he whispered:

“Save yourself.”

Behind him, the Bloodfather’s enormous shadow appeared.

Its red eyes opened.

“THE SECOND KING HAS CHOSEN.”

The shadow entered Elias completely.

Elias screamed.

A wave of darkness exploded through the kingdom.

When the darkness cleared, Elias was gone.

Only his black crown remained on the throne.

Ronan stared at it.

Then the crown began to bleed.

A voice whispered from beneath the throne:

“NOW FIND THE THIRD KING.”