Chapter 2743: Story 2744: The Gate of the Dead

The knocking beneath the mountain grew louder.

BOOM.

The chamber shook.

BOOM.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

BOOM.

The Fourth Crown stopped above Darian’s head.

Ronan stepped forward.

“Darian! Don’t let it touch you!”

Darian looked at him.

“I don’t know if I can stop it.”

Lyra raised her bow.

“Then we’ll stop it together.”

She fired.

The arrow struck the violet crown.

Instead of breaking, the crown released a shockwave.

Lyra was thrown backward.

Ronan caught her before she hit the ground.

“Are you hurt?”

She shook her head.

“I’m fine.”

Kael stared at the crown.

“That crown isn’t choosing Darian.”

Aren looked at him.

“Then what is it doing?”

“Calling something.”

The knocking stopped.

Silence filled the chamber.

Darian suddenly looked toward the darkness.

“It’s here.”

Ronan raised his sword.

“What?”

Darian whispered:

“The thing behind the gate.”

A massive crack appeared across the floor.

Black mist poured through it.

The dead army immediately lowered their heads.

Even the creature beneath the mountain became still.

The First King slowly stood.

For the first time, he looked terrified.

“No...”

Elias noticed.

“You’re afraid.”

The First King backed away.

“I have seen what lies beyond that gate.”

Ronan pointed his sword at him.

“Then tell us.”

The First King shook his head.

“It cannot be stopped.”

Darian stepped toward the crack.

Violet energy flowed from his body.

The crown descended another inch.

Kael grabbed him.

“Don’t go near it!”

Darian looked at him.

“Why?”

“Because that gate was built for you.”

Everyone became silent.

Ronan turned toward Kael.

“What does that mean?”

Kael’s voice trembled.

“The ancient blood was divided into four parts. Three became your brothers.”

He looked at Darian.

“And the fourth was never meant to remain in this world.”

Darian stared at his hands.

“Then why did it?”

Kael looked toward the gate.

“Because someone wanted an heir.”

The First King suddenly shouted.

“Enough!”

He charged toward Darian.

Ronan intercepted him.

Their swords collided.

The impact sent sparks across the chamber.

The First King attacked again.

Ronan blocked.

“You lied to us.”

“I protected you!”

“You destroyed our family!”

The First King pushed Ronan backward.

“I built the family!”

Ronan’s eyes burned.

“And you buried it.”

Their blades struck again.

Meanwhile, the crown finally touched Darian’s head.

Violet fire exploded around him.

Darian screamed.

The dead army rose.

Every corpse turned toward the gate.

Aren suddenly grabbed Elias.

“Look!”

The black mist was forming a shape.

A tall figure emerged from the darkness.

It had no face.

Only a crown of twisted bone.

Darian stared at it.

The figure raised one hand.

The Fourth Crown answered.

Violet lightning struck the gate.

A huge crack opened.

Something enormous moved behind it.

Lyra drew another arrow.

“What is that?”

Aren’s voice trembled.

“I don’t know.”

Elias stepped beside him.

“But it’s coming.”

The faceless figure spoke.

Its voice sounded like thousands of dead voices together.

“FOURTH SON.”

Darian lifted his head.

The figure continued.

“OPEN THE GATE.”

Darian’s eyes filled with violet fire.

Ronan broke away from the First King.

“Darian, don’t!”

But Darian slowly raised his hand toward the gate.

Then he whispered:

“I want to know what is on the other side.”

The gate began opening.