Chapter 2613: Story 2614: The Beast Below

The ground exploded.

A massive claw burst through the ancient stone floor, sending fragments of rock across the chamber. Kael raised his shield as debris struck him.

“Move!” Ethan shouted.

Everyone scattered.

The ancient king stepped backward for the first time.

Even the Warden lowered its weapon.

“What is that?” Mara whispered.

Adrian stared into the widening crack.

“The First Origin.”

Kael looked at him.

“You mean the first infected?”

“No.”

Adrian’s voice trembled.

“The thing that existed before the infection.”

Another claw emerged.

Then a gigantic skull pushed through the broken floor.

The creature climbed from the darkness.

It was enormous, larger than the fortress towers above them. Its body was covered in ancient bone plates and black flesh. Hundreds of red eyes opened across its shoulders and chest.

The undead army screamed.

The creature answered with a roar that shook the entire underground city.

Lena covered her ears.

“It’s calling them!”

Every infected began moving.

But they weren’t attacking Kael.

They were running toward the beast.

The creature opened its enormous mouth.

A wave of black mist exploded from it.

Hundreds of infected disappeared into the darkness.

Mara fired her crossbow.

The bolt vanished before reaching its target.

“We can’t fight that!”

Kael stared at the monster.

“We don’t have a choice.”

The ancient king stepped beside him.

“For once, we agree.”

Kael looked at him.

“You know how to kill it?”

The king shook his head.

“No.”

Veyr laughed from across the chamber.

“You cannot kill the First Origin.”

His body continued transforming.

Black armor covered his chest.

Red energy burned through his veins.

“It is the source.”

Adrian suddenly looked toward the glowing seal beneath Veyr.

“The seal is feeding it.”

Kael understood.

“Then destroy the seal.”

Veyr’s expression changed.

“Don’t.”

Kael charged.

Veyr raised both hands.

A wave of red energy struck Kael and threw him across the chamber.

Mara and Ethan fired simultaneously.

The shots forced Veyr backward.

The Warden attacked next.

Its massive blade struck Veyr’s shoulder.

Veyr screamed and released a violent shockwave.

The Warden crashed into a stone pillar.

“Kael!” Lena shouted.

Kael stood again.

His glowing sword burned brighter.

He looked at the seal.

Then at Veyr.

He understood what he had to do.

“Keep him busy.”

Mara nodded.

“Go!”

Kael sprinted toward the center.

The First Origin noticed him.

Hundreds of eyes turned toward the warrior.

Its massive claw swung.

Kael raised his shield.

The impact launched him across the chamber.

He crashed into the ancient stone floor.

His shield cracked.

Kael struggled to stand.

The beast approached.

Then the ancient king stepped between them.

The First Origin struck.

The king blocked the blow with both hands.

“Go!” he roared.

Kael ran.

He reached the seal and raised his glowing sword.

Veyr screamed.

“Don’t do it!”

Kael drove the blade into the center.

The seal shattered.

A red explosion tore through the chamber.

The First Origin screamed.

The underground city began collapsing.

Adrian grabbed Lena.

“Everyone out!”

Kael looked back.

The ancient king was still fighting the beast.

“Come with us!”

The king shook his head.

“This is my prison.”

Kael stared at him.

“Father!”

The ancient king smiled.

For the first time, his monstrous face looked peaceful.

“Now you remember.”

The floor collapsed beneath him.

Kael reached forward.

But the ancient king disappeared into the darkness with the First Origin.

Veyr vanished in the explosion.

The fortress began falling apart.

Kael grabbed Lena’s hand.

“Run!”

Behind them, the ancient kingdom collapsed.

But beneath the rubble, something was still alive.

And somewhere in the darkness, Marcus Veyr whispered,

“Phase Two has begun.”