Chapter 2629: Story 2630: The City Beyond the Dead

The ancient city beyond the mountains had awakened.

Its black gates stood open beneath the crimson sky, revealing endless streets carved into the mountainside. Towers rose from the darkness like enormous spears, each covered with symbols older than the First Kingdom.

Millions of undead marched through the gates.

But they did not move toward the First Kingdom.

They marched north.

Kael stared at the distant horizon.

“Where are they going?”

Lena slowly closed her eyes.

“I can feel them.”

“What do you feel?”

“Fear.”

Kael looked at her in surprise.

“Dead creatures don’t feel fear.”

“These do.”

A sudden tremor shook the palace.

The First Origin lifted its massive head.

Its countless eyes turned toward the north.

Then it growled.

“THE FORGOTTEN CITY.”

Seraphine’s face became pale.

“No...”

Isabella looked at her.

“What is it?”

Seraphine tightened her grip on her staff.

“The city was sealed before the First Kingdom fell.”

“Why?” Adrian asked.

“Because something lived there that even the ancient king feared.”

Elias stared toward the mountains.

“The king never told us about it.”

Seraphine looked at him.

“He didn’t tell anyone.”

Kael turned toward the First Origin.

“You know what is there.”

The creature remained silent.

Kael raised his sword.

“Tell me.”

Its red eyes focused on him.

“THE FIRST THRONE.”

Lena stepped forward.

“Another throne?”

Seraphine shook her head.

“No.”

Her voice trembled.

“The first throne was never built for a king.”

Adrian frowned.

“Then what was it built for?”

Seraphine looked toward Kael.

“The first human who carried the Origin blood.”

Kael’s expression hardened.

“My ancestor.”

“Yes.”

A distant horn sounded.

Then another.

The undead army had reached the outer valley.

Isabella immediately turned toward her soldiers.

“Prepare the Last March!”

Hundreds of survivors formed defensive lines along the palace walls.

Mara checked her crossbow.

Ethan loaded a fresh magazine.

Kael looked at Elias.

“You said the First Origin is inside us.”

Elias nodded.

“Part of it.”

“And the rest?”

Elias pointed toward the Forgotten City.

“That’s where Veyr is going.”

Kael froze.

“Veyr survived?”

Elias smiled bitterly.

“He always survives.”

Suddenly, Lena screamed.

She dropped to one knee, clutching her head.

Kael rushed toward her.

“What happened?”

Her eyes turned crimson.

“I saw him.”

“Veyr?”

She shook her head.

“Someone else.”

Her voice became faint.

“A man standing beside the First Throne.”

Kael knelt beside her.

“Who?”

Lena looked directly into his eyes.

“He looked like you.”

Kael went still.

Before anyone could respond, the First Origin suddenly rose.

The ancient creature bowed its enormous head toward Kael.

“THE FIRST HEIR HAS RETURNED.”

Kael stared at it.

“I don’t understand.”

The creature pointed toward the Forgotten City.

“YOUR BLOODLINE DID NOT BEGIN WITH THE KING.”

A cold silence filled the chamber.

“Then who came before him?” Kael asked.

The First Origin answered with a single word.

“YOU.”

The ground beneath the kingdom suddenly split.

Far away, the gates of the Forgotten City opened completely.

A figure stepped onto its highest tower.

Veyr.

Beside him stood another man.

He had Kael’s face.

And in his hands was an ancient black crown.

Veyr raised his voice across the mountains.

“Come home, K-27.”

The stranger lifted the crown.

“The first heir is waiting.”

Kael tightened his grip on his sword.

For the first time, he feared the truth more than the dead.

The forgotten bloodline had awakened.

And it had been waiting for him for thousands of years.