Chapter 2741: Story 2742: The Fourth King

The chamber erupted.

Thousands of dead voices screamed beneath the mountain.

“THE FOURTH KING HAS AWAKENED.”

Violet light exploded from Darian’s body.

Ronan shielded his face.

Lyra stumbled backward as pieces of stone fell from the ceiling.

The creature beneath them began rising.

Its enormous hands broke through the platform.

Kael shouted.

“Get away from the center!”

Ronan grabbed Darian’s arm.

“Move!”

Darian didn’t move.

His eyes remained fixed on the creature.

“No.”

Ronan stared at him.

“What are you doing?”

“I need to know why it fears me.”

The creature lifted its head.

Its ancient face emerged from the darkness.

Cracks spread across its skin, glowing with violet light.

It looked directly at Darian.

Then it lowered its head.

Almost like a bow.

Everyone froze.

Aren whispered:

“It bowed.”

Elias raised his black energy.

“Nothing that powerful bows to anyone.”

Kael’s voice was barely audible.

“Unless it recognizes its king.”

Darian stepped forward.

The creature’s massive hand rested on the broken platform.

Darian placed his palm against one of its fingers.

The instant they touched, the chamber disappeared.

Darian stood inside a vast darkness.

A voice surrounded him.

“FOUR BLOODS.”

Red light appeared.

“FIRST.”

Black light followed.

“SECOND.”

Silver light emerged.

“THIRD.”

Then violet.

“FOURTH.”

Darian looked around.

“What am I?”

The darkness answered.

“THE ONE WHO CHOOSES.”

Images appeared.

Ronan wearing the First Crown.

Elias commanding armies of dead.

Aren sealing an endless gate.

Then Darian stood before a throne.

But the throne was empty.

The voice continued.

“THE FIRST RULED.”

The image of Ronan shattered.

“THE SECOND DESTROYED.”

Elias disappeared.

“THE THIRD SEALED.”

Aren vanished.

Then Darian remained alone.

“THE FOURTH INHERITS.”

Darian shook his head.

“I don’t want your throne.”

The darkness became silent.

Then something enormous appeared behind him.

A shadow larger than the mountain.

“THEN BREAK IT.”

Darian opened his eyes.

He was back in the chamber.

Ronan stood beside him.

“Darian!”

Darian looked around.

The creature had stopped moving.

The First King was staring at him.

“What did you see?” he demanded.

Darian smiled faintly.

“Your future.”

The First King’s face darkened.

“What did it show you?”

“That you were never the final king.”

Ronan raised his sword.

The First King suddenly attacked.

His blade struck the ground where Darian had been standing.

Darian vanished.

Violet light flashed behind the First King.

Darian appeared beside him and placed one hand against his armor.

The First King’s body froze.

“What have you done?”

Darian whispered:

“I inherited you.”

Violet energy spread across the ancient armor.

The First King screamed.

Ronan watched in disbelief.

The red power inside the First King began flowing into Darian.

Lyra lowered her bow.

“He’s taking his power.”

Kael shook his head.

“No.”

“What then?”

Kael stared at Darian.

“He’s taking his place.”

The First King fell to his knees.

For the first time, the ancient ruler looked afraid.

“You don’t understand what you are becoming.”

Darian released him.

“I understand enough.”

The creature beneath the chamber suddenly roared.

The mountain split apart.

Far below, millions of dead began rising.

Aren looked into the darkness.

“They’re coming.”

Elias raised his black energy.

“How many?”

Aren’s face went pale.

“All of them.”

Then a woman’s voice echoed from beneath the mountain.

Soft.

Familiar.

“My sons... run.”