Chapter 2738: Story 2739: The Brother in the Shadows

Darian’s smile remained.

Ronan kept his sword raised.

“You will not replace anyone.”

Darian tilted his head.

“You still don’t understand, First Son.”

Elias stepped forward.

“Don’t call him that.”

Darian looked at Elias.

“Second Son.”

Black veins suddenly appeared across Elias’s neck.

“You were always angry,” Darian continued. “Even when we were children.”

Elias’s eyes narrowed.

“You weren’t there.”

Darian smiled.

“I was.”

The chamber fell silent.

“I watched.”

Ronan lowered his sword slightly.

“Watched what?”

Darian walked toward the ancient wall.

“The night our village burned.”

Elias froze.

“You saw it?”

Darian touched the wall.

“I saw everything.”

Images appeared across the stone.

The village.

Flames.

Screaming people.

Three young children being carried away.

Ronan stared in horror.

“I remember this.”

Darian shook his head.

“No. You remember what they allowed you to remember.”

The image changed.

A fourth child stood inside the burning village.

Darian.

Behind him stood the First King.

But the First King was younger.

He reached toward Darian.

Darian’s mother screamed.

“Take my life, not his!”

The image vanished.

Kael closed his eyes.

Ronan turned toward him.

“You knew.”

Kael said nothing.

“You knew he survived.”

Kael finally spoke.

“The First King took Darian because his blood was different.”

Aren stepped closer.

“Different how?”

Kael looked at Darian.

“Ronan’s blood can command.”

“Elias’s blood can destroy.”

“Aren’s blood can seal.”

His voice dropped.

“And Darian’s blood can inherit.”

Ronan frowned.

“Inherit what?”

Darian answered.

“Everything.”

The mountain shook.

A huge crack appeared across the ceiling.

Dust fell around them.

The First King’s voice thundered outside.

“Darian!”

The boy smiled.

“He is afraid.”

Elias drew his blade.

“Then we kill him.”

Darian laughed.

“You cannot.”

“Why?”

“Because he isn’t the real enemy.”

Ronan stared at him.

“Then who is?”

Darian’s expression became serious.

“The thing beneath the blood.”

Aren suddenly stepped backward.

He could hear something.

“It’s coming.”

Lyra raised her bow.

“What?”

Aren pointed toward the floor.

“The First King.”

The stone beneath them exploded.

A massive black hand burst through.

Ronan attacked immediately.

His sword struck the hand.

Red energy spread across its armor.

The hand withdrew.

A roar shook the chamber.

Darian smiled.

“He found us.”

Kael shouted:

“Everyone move!”

The wall behind them collapsed.

Beyond it was a hidden passage.

Darian ran inside.

Ronan followed.

Elias grabbed Aren and pulled him forward.

Lyra and Kael followed close behind.

Behind them, the chamber filled with darkness.

The First King entered.

His red eyes searched the room.

He saw the fourth cradle.

For the first time, rage crossed his face.

“Darian.”

Far inside the passage, Darian stopped.

He looked back.

“I waited centuries for you to say my name.”

The First King roared.

Darian’s black eyes began glowing.

Then he whispered:

“Now come and watch your kingdom die.”

The passage doors slammed shut.

And somewhere beneath the mountain, something ancient began laughing.