Chapter 2729: Story 2730: The Ancient King

The darkness beneath the throne moved.

Ronan raised his shield as a massive hand emerged from the black void.

Stone cracked.

The hand was covered in ancient armor, beneath the metal, pale flesh moved like living flesh.

Aren screamed.

“Ronan!”

Ronan rushed toward him.

Black chains tightened around Aren’s body, lifting him from the ground.

Ronan grabbed one chain and pulled.

It burned his hands.

“Let him go!”

The darkness answered with a low growl.

Elias attacked.

His black blade struck the chains, but the impact threw him backward.

He crashed against the floor.

“Elias!”

Elias slowly stood.

Blood ran from his mouth.

“I can’t break them.”

The First King stepped closer.

His ancient face showed terror.

“Those chains were created before my kingdom.”

Kael looked at him.

“You knew.”

The First King was silent.

Kael raised his broken axe.

“You knew what was beneath the throne.”

The First King whispered:

“I was afraid of it.”

A second hand emerged.

Then another.

Something enormous climbed from the darkness.

Lyra raised her bow.

“Ronan...”

“I see it.”

A head emerged.

Its face was hidden behind a cracked crown of bone.

Two enormous red eyes opened.

Every dead warrior in the First Kingdom fell flat against the ground.

Even Elias dropped to one knee.

The creature looked at the three brothers.

Then it spoke with thousands of voices.

“FIRST BLOOD.”

Ronan’s red mark burned.

“SECOND BLOOD.”

Black veins spread across Elias’s armor.

“THIRD BLOOD.”

Aren’s silver eyes flashed.

“RETURNED.”

Ronan stepped forward.

“What are you?”

The creature climbed free.

Its body was larger than the throne itself.

Ancient armor covered its shoulders; black roots moved beneath its skin.

The First King whispered:

“The Ancient King.”

Ronan turned toward him.

“You called yourself the First King.”

“I was.”

“This existed before me.”

The Ancient King raised one hand.

The entire First Kingdom shook.

Cracks spread through the walls.

Far above, screams echoed from the surface.

Lyra looked upward.

“The dead are still rising.”

The Ancient King smiled.

“Not dead.”

“Awakening.”

Aren suddenly cried out.

His body lifted higher.

Silver light exploded from his eyes.

Ronan reached for him.

“Aren!”

Aren looked down.

His face was terrified.

“Brother...”

Then his voice changed.

“Don’t let me become him.”

The Ancient King laughed.

Elias rose beside Ronan.

The two brothers stood together.

Ronan looked at him.

“Can we stop it?”

Elias stared at the Ancient King.

“I don’t know.”

Ronan tightened his grip on his sword.

“Then we’ll find a way.”

Elias nodded.

“Together.”

The Ancient King suddenly raised both hands.

The dead army rose again.

But this time, they did not attack Ronan.

They turned toward the surface.

Millions of corpses began marching upward.

Kael’s face went pale.

“It’s sending them to the living world.”

Ronan watched Lyra.

“Then we have to reach the surface.”

The Ancient King spoke.

“Run, little kings.”

Its red eyes burned brighter.

“The world above will belong to the dead before you arrive.”

Then the First Kingdom exploded into darkness.