Chapter 2726: Story 2727: The Third King

The black crown continued to bleed.

One drop fell onto the stone.

Then another.

Ronan stared at it.

“Now find the Third King.”

The voice beneath the throne faded.

Aren slowly stepped forward.

His face was pale.

“I think it means me.”

Ronan turned toward him.

“You’re the Third Son.”

Aren looked at the blood-covered crown.

“But not the Third King.”

The First King suddenly moved.

He reached for Aren.

Ronan stepped between them.

“Don’t touch him.”

The First King stopped.

“You don’t understand what happens if he becomes king.”

Ronan raised his sword.

“Then tell me.”

The ancient ruler looked toward the broken throne.

“The First King commands the beginning.”

He pointed toward the bloodstained crown.

“The Second King commands the dead.”

Then he looked at Aren.

“The Third King commands what comes after death.”

A cold silence filled the chamber.

Lyra lowered her bow slightly.

“What does that mean?”

The First King answered:

“Nothing that has ever died will remain dead.”

Aren’s face tightened.

“You mean...”

“Yes.”

The First King nodded.

“The dead will rise forever.”

Suddenly, the black crown lifted from the throne.

It floated through the air.

Aren stepped backward.

“No.”

The crown moved toward him.

Ronan swung his sword.

The blade struck the crown.

A violent explosion threw him across the chamber.

Lyra ran toward him.

“Ronan!”

He pushed himself up.

“I’m fine.”

The crown continued toward Aren.

Kael raised his axe.

“Destroy it!”

Ronan charged again.

Before he could reach it, Aren raised his hand.

The crown stopped.

Aren stared at it.

“I can hear them.”

“Who?”

“Everyone.”

His eyes closed.

Thousands of voices filled his mind.

Soldiers.

Children.

Kings.

Monsters.

Every dead creature beneath the earth whispered his name.

Aren fell to his knees.

“Make them stop!”

Ronan grabbed his shoulders.

“Look at me!”

Aren opened his eyes.

The red glow was returning.

“I can’t.”

The crown touched his forehead.

A shockwave exploded outward.

Every corpse in the chamber stood.

Lyra fired.

The arrows stopped in midair.

Kael froze.

Even the First King dropped to one knee.

Aren slowly rose.

His black veins had disappeared.

His eyes were now silver.

Ronan stared at him.

“Aren?”

Aren looked at his hands.

Then he turned toward the dead army.

Every corpse bowed.

Aren whispered:

“They’re waiting.”

Ronan stepped closer.

“For what?”

Aren looked toward the ceiling.

“To come back.”

Suddenly, the entire First Kingdom shook.

Cracks spread across the walls.

Far above them, thousands of graves began opening.

The First King looked terrified.

“No...”

Ronan turned.

“What is happening?”

The First King pointed toward Aren.

“He has awakened the Third Crown.”

Aren looked at him.

“What crown?”

The First King answered:

“The crown that was never meant to exist.”

A deep roar rolled through the kingdom.

Then another.

And another.

The dead began crawling from the ground.

Not thousands.

Millions.

Lyra looked toward the distant tunnels.

“Ronan...”

Ronan followed her gaze.

A massive army was rising beneath the earth.

Kael whispered:

“They’re coming here.”

Aren suddenly looked toward Ronan.

His silver eyes filled with fear.

“Brother...”

Ronan stepped beside him.

“What?”

Aren pointed toward the darkness.

“They aren’t coming for me.”

A terrible voice echoed through the kingdom.

“THE THREE KINGS MUST STAND TOGETHER.”

Ronan raised his sword.

“But Elias is gone.”

Aren’s expression changed.

“No.”

He looked into the darkness.

“He isn’t gone.”

Then a familiar voice answered from far below.

“I’M COMING, BROTHER.”