Chapter 2734: Story 2735: The Mother of the Dead

The battlefield became silent.

Millions of corpses remained frozen, their heads bowed toward the woman beyond the black gate.

Ronan could barely breathe.

His mother stood in the darkness.

But she was not the mother he remembered.

Her pale face was marked with ancient scars. Her white hair moved in a wind that did not exist. Red light burned inside her eyes.

“Mother...” Ronan whispered.

She looked at him.

For one moment, the red vanished.

Her eyes became human.

“Ronan.”

The single word shook him more than any scream.

He stepped forward.

The Father of the Ancient King immediately raised his hand.

“Do not cross that gate.”

Ronan ignored him.

The Father attacked.

A wave of black energy tore across the battlefield.

Elias stepped between them.

His black armor absorbed the attack, but he was thrown backward.

“Go!” Elias shouted. “Find her!”

Ronan ran toward the gate.

Lyra followed.

Kael grabbed Aren before he could move.

“No.”

Aren looked at him.

“She is our mother.”

Kael’s face was pale.

“That is exactly why you must not follow.”

Aren pulled free.

“What are you hiding?”

Kael looked toward the woman.

“The first prison had a guardian.”

Aren stared.

“My mother?”

Kael nodded slowly.

“But she was not only a guardian.”

The ground trembled.

The Mother of the Dead raised her hand.

Every corpse on the battlefield stood.

Then, as one, they turned toward the Father.

He stepped backward.

“No...”

The dead began marching.

The Father unleashed another wave of darkness.

The corpses did not stop.

His power struck them and disappeared.

For the first time, fear filled his eyes.

“She cannot command them,” he whispered.

The Mother looked directly at him.

“I never commanded them.”

Her voice came from everywhere.

“They remember me.”

The Father shook his head.

“You died centuries ago.”

The Mother smiled sadly.

“I did.”

She touched the black gate.

“I died protecting my sons.”

Ronan reached the gate.

“Then come back with us.”

Her expression changed.

Pain filled her eyes.

“I cannot.”

“Why?”

“Because I am the lock.”

Behind her, enormous shadows moved.

The Father suddenly screamed.

“Kill her!”

Millions of dead creatures charged him.

He raised both hands, unleashing a storm of black fire.

The battlefield disappeared beneath darkness.

Then a red light exploded from the gate.

The darkness vanished.

The Father was on his knees.

The Mother stood behind him.

She placed one hand on his shoulder.

“You should have stayed away from my children.”

He turned slowly.

“You cannot stop what is coming.”

“I know.”

Her eyes moved toward Ronan, Elias, and Aren.

“That is why you must leave.”

Ronan stepped closer.

“Leave where?”

She pointed beyond the mountains.

“To the place where the First King began the bloodline.”

Kael suddenly understood.

“The birthplace.”

The Mother nodded.

“There you will find the truth.”

A deep roar came from beneath the earth.

The dead began screaming again.

The Mother looked terrified.

“Too late.”

The Father smiled.

“What is it?”

The Mother looked toward the horizon.

“The First King has awakened.”

And far beyond the battlefield, a gigantic black crown rose from the earth.