Chapter 2623: Story 2624: The Queen’s Awakening

Lena stood beneath the ancient throne, surrounded by red light.

The chamber continued collapsing around her.

Stone fell from the ceiling, striking the floor with deafening crashes. The enormous black hand remained buried in the broken pool, its fingers twisting through the ancient chains.

Lena raised her glowing palm.

The creature wearing ancient armor remained kneeling before her.

“Protect the Heir,” it whispered.

Lena looked toward the staircase.

“Take me to Kael.”

The guardian rose immediately.

“As you command.”

A violent roar shook the chamber.

The black hand suddenly ripped another chain from the wall.

Queen Elara’s expression changed.

“It has found another way through.”

Lena turned.

“Can we stop it?”

Elara shook her head.

“Not here.”

“Then where?”

“The throne.”

Lena looked upward.

“What does the throne do?”

“It was built to control the bloodline.”

A crack appeared across the chamber wall.

“But Veyr has corrupted its power.”

Lena clenched her fist.

“Then I’ll destroy it.”

Elara stared at her.

“If you destroy the throne, the First Origin will lose its connection to this kingdom.”

“That sounds like what we need.”

“It will also release every creature bound beneath the kingdom.”

Lena hesitated.

“How many?”

Elara’s voice became almost a whisper.

“Millions.”

A distant explosion shook the staircase.

Kael’s voice echoed from above.

“Lena!”

She looked toward the guardian.

“We’re going.”

They rushed up the stairs.

Meanwhile, inside the palace, Kael and Veyr continued fighting.

Kael’s glowing sword collided with Veyr’s mutated arm.

The impact sent sparks across the hall.

Veyr struck again.

Kael blocked with his shield, but the force drove him backward.

“You cannot defeat me,” Veyr snarled.

Kael raised his sword.

“You keep saying that.”

He charged.

Veyr suddenly grabbed his blade.

Black energy spread across the weapon.

Kael struggled to pull it free.

Then a red shockwave exploded between them.

Veyr was thrown across the hall.

Kael looked toward the staircase.

Lena emerged from the darkness.

Her eyes burned red.

“Lena.”

She walked toward him.

“I found the truth.”

Kael lowered his sword.

“What truth?”

She looked at Veyr.

“He never created us.”

Veyr’s face hardened.

Lena continued.

“He only found us.”

Adrian stared at her.

“Found you?”

Lena nodded.

“We belonged to this kingdom before Veyr ever entered the mountain.”

Kael looked at his hands.

“So our blood...”

“Was already here.”

Suddenly, the throne behind them began glowing.

A deep voice echoed throughout the palace.

“THE BLOODLINE HAS RETURNED.”

Every undead creature in the kingdom dropped to its knees.

Veyr slowly rose.

“No.”

The throne cracked open.

A column of red energy erupted into the ceiling.

Queen Elara appeared above it.

Her voice echoed like thunder.

“The kingdom remembers its heirs.”

Veyr stared upward.

“You were supposed to be dead.”

Elara looked at him.

“I was waiting.”

The palace doors exploded.

Thousands of ancient guardians entered.

But they did not attack.

They knelt before Kael and Lena.

Elias appeared behind them.

He looked at his siblings and smiled sadly.

“Now all three are together.”

Kael stared at him.

“What happens now?”

Elias looked toward the glowing throne.

“The First Origin will come for all of us.”

A terrible roar shook the kingdom.

The floor split apart.

Something enormous began climbing from beneath the palace.

Veyr backed away.

For the first time, genuine fear filled his eyes.

Lena raised her glowing hand.

Kael lifted his sword.

Elias prepared his weapon.

And from beneath the throne, the First Origin finally emerged.

The true war for the First Kingdom had begun.