Chapter 2740: Story 2741: The Son Beneath

The voice rolled through the chamber like thunder from beneath the earth.

“MY SON.”

Darian froze.

His violet eyes widened.

“No...”

Ronan stepped in front of him.

“Darian, stay behind me.”

The giant eye beneath the platform slowly opened wider.

Black veins spread through the stone.

The entire mountain trembled.

Lyra raised her bow.

“What is that thing?”

Kael stared into the darkness.

His face had turned pale.

“It is not the Bloodfather.”

Elias looked at him.

“Then what is it?”

Kael swallowed.

“Something older.”

A deep breath came from below.

The chamber shook violently.

Darian suddenly fell to his knees.

His hands pressed against his chest.

Violet energy poured from his body.

Ronan grabbed his shoulder.

“Darian!”

The boy screamed.

Images flashed through his mind.

A black ocean.

Thousands of dead bodies floating beneath its surface.

Four children standing before a gigantic throne.

And behind them...

a fifth shadow.

Darian opened his eyes.

“I remember.”

Ronan looked at him.

“What?”

“My birth.”

Everyone became silent.

Darian’s voice trembled.

“I wasn’t born in the village.”

Kael closed his eyes.

“I knew this day would come.”

Lyra turned toward him.

“You knew?”

Kael said nothing.

Ronan grabbed his arm.

“Tell us!”

Kael finally spoke.

“The village was only where Darian was hidden.”

Darian looked toward the giant eye.

“I was created here.”

The eye moved.

The massive creature beneath the platform began rising.

Stone shattered around its enormous head.

Its face was ancient, almost human, but covered with cracks filled with violet light.

Elias lifted his black energy.

“Brother...”

The creature spoke again.

“RETURN.”

Darian stood.

“No.”

The creature’s eye narrowed.

“YOU BELONG TO ME.”

Darian’s violet energy exploded outward.

“I belong to myself.”

The mountain screamed.

The creature struck the platform from below.

Ronan grabbed Lyra as the ground collapsed.

Elias pulled Aren toward the chamber wall.

Darian remained standing.

Violet light surrounded him.

The creature suddenly stopped.

Then it smiled.

Ronan saw something impossible.

Fear.

The creature was afraid of Darian.

“Why is it afraid of you?” Lyra asked.

Darian looked at his glowing hands.

“I don’t know.”

The First King appeared at the entrance.

He looked at the creature beneath the chamber.

For the first time, his confidence disappeared.

“You awakened too soon.”

Ronan raised his sword.

“You knew this thing.”

The First King ignored him.

His eyes remained fixed on Darian.

“It was supposed to sleep until the Fourth Son was ready.”

Darian stared at him.

“Ready for what?”

The First King slowly stepped backward.

“To become its heir.”

Silence filled the chamber.

Aren whispered:

“Then Darian isn’t its prisoner.”

Elias understood.

“He is its successor.”

The creature below opened its mouth.

A violet flame erupted from the darkness.

Darian raised his hands.

The flame stopped inches from his face.

He looked at Ronan.

“I think I finally understand what freedom means.”

Ronan tightened his grip.

“What?”

Darian turned toward the creature.

“It means choosing what I become.”

Behind them, the First King suddenly smiled.

“Then choose quickly.”

The giant eye opened completely.

And thousands of dead voices whispered from beneath the mountain:

“THE FOURTH KING HAS AWAKENED.”