Chapter 2749: Story 2750: The Darkness Inside Ronan

Ronan fell to his knees.

The laughter inside his chest grew louder, drowning out the screams echoing through the collapsing chamber.

Black veins crawled up his neck.

Lyra rushed toward him, but Cael blocked her path.

“Don’t touch him!”

She raised her knife.

“Get out of my way!”

“If you interrupt the awakening, you may destroy what’s left of him.”

Lyra stared at Ronan.

His red eyes had begun turning black.

“Then tell me how to save him!”

Cael looked toward the stranger.

“Kill the fifth blood before it takes control.”

The stranger smiled.

“Too late.”

Ronan screamed.

A wave of black energy erupted from his body, throwing everyone backward. His sword flew into the air and struck the ground point-first, splitting the stone beneath it.

The enormous creature beneath the mountain bowed its head.

“THE FIFTH HAS RETURNED.”

Every dead soldier dropped to its knees.

Even the ancient armored figure trembled.

Darian struggled to stand.

“Ronan! Fight it!”

Ronan lifted his head.

For one terrible moment, his face was no longer his own. Black markings covered his skin, and a fifth symbol burned above his heart.

Then he spoke in a voice that belonged to someone else.

“Who are you calling?”

Darian froze.

Ronan smiled.

“I have been here since your first breath.”

Elias unleashed black energy, striking Ronan across the chest. The attack vanished before reaching him.

Ronan slowly turned.

Elias felt the darkness inside his brother touch his mind.

He dropped to his knees, choking.

“Get out of my head!”

Ronan raised one finger.

Elias rose into the air, surrounded by twisting black chains.

Aren summoned silver bindings, wrapping them around Ronan’s arms.

“Ronan, remember who you are!”

For a moment, the black markings flickered.

Ronan’s eyes returned to red.

“Lyra...”

She ran toward him.

“I’m here!”

He reached for her.

Then the stranger struck.

A pale blade pierced Ronan’s back.

Lyra screamed as blood spilled across the stones.

The stranger leaned close to Ronan’s ear.

“You were never supposed to survive the first night.”

Ronan collapsed.

The black markings disappeared.

Silence followed.

Darian stared at the stranger with horror.

“You killed him.”

The stranger withdrew his blade.

“No. I killed the door.”

He pointed toward Ronan’s chest.

Something beneath the warrior’s skin began glowing.

A fifth symbol spread across the floor, connecting the four brothers with the enormous creature below.

Cael scrambled backward.

“The bloodline is opening!”

Kael dragged himself toward Ronan, but the ground split between them.

From the fissure came a sound like chains breaking.

The colossal creature lifted its head.

“AT LAST.”

Ronan’s body rose from the ground.

His wounds closed.

His eyes opened, entirely black.

Lyra reached for him, tears streaking her face.

“Ronan, please.”

He looked at her without recognition.

Then he turned toward his brothers.

“Four sons,” he whispered.

The stranger bowed.

Ronan’s lips curled into a terrible smile.

“And one master.”

The mountain exploded with black light.

Far above, every grave in the living world began to open.