The throne room remained silent.
Every undead knight was still kneeling.
Not one dared to rise.
Aldric remained on one knee, his head lowered.
"The King's will has been fulfilled."
Sam looked toward the empty throne.
The Eternal King was gone.
Only the ancient crown resting upon the throne remained.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
The Hidden Legacy has been successfully integrated.
New authority detected.
Sam frowned.
"Authority?"
Confirmed.
The Ancient Necropolis now recognizes you as a Royal Ally.
Before Sam could ask another question...
Aldric slowly stood.
He turned toward the enormous doors of the throne room.
"They are waiting for you."
The massive doors opened.
RUMBLE...
Sunlight poured into the castle.
Sam walked through the entrance.
Outside...
Ben, Zora, Leon, George, Kael, Dennis, and the rest of the expedition immediately looked toward him.
The moment Ben saw Sam...
He let out a long breath.
"You took long enough."
Sam laughed.
"I was a little busy."
George hurried over.
"Commander!"
"What happened in there?"
"Did you fight him?"
"Were there treasures?"
"Were there monsters?"
Ben rubbed his forehead.
"George..."
"One question at a time."
George scratched the back of his head.
"Right..."
Sam smiled.
"It wasn't what I expected."
Zora looked closely at him.
Then her eyes widened.
"...Your mana."
Everyone turned toward her.
"What about it?" Ben asked.
She couldn't take her eyes off Sam.
"It's changed."
"It feels..."
She searched for the right words.
"...older."
Inside his mind...
Rex calmly explained.
The Eternal King's Legacy has slightly altered your mana signature.
Individuals sensitive to mana may notice the difference.
Before anyone could ask another question...
Aldric stepped out of the castle.
The First Marshal descended the stone stairs with slow, measured steps.
He stopped before Sam.
Then...
He placed his fist over his chest.
"The Ancient Necropolis owes you a debt."
Sam shook his head.
"I didn't come here expecting one."
Aldric nodded.
"That is precisely why you were worthy."
He reached into his armor and removed a weathered stone medallion.
An ancient crest was carved into its surface.
A crown...
Surrounded by blue flames.
"This is the Royal Seal of Passage."
"As long as you carry it..."
"No undead of the Ancient Necropolis will attack you or those who travel under your command."
George's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"...Seriously?"
Dennis let out a low whistle.
"That'll make future expeditions a lot easier."
Sam accepted the medallion.
The moment it touched his hand...
A System notification appeared.
DING!
---
Item Acquired
Royal Seal of Passage
Rank: Unique
Effect:
- The undead of the Ancient Necropolis recognize the bearer as a trusted ally.
- Safe passage granted within the Ancient Necropolis unless the bearer commits an act of hostility.
---
The notification faded.
Aldric stepped aside.
"The gates of our kingdom will always remain open to you, Commander Sam."
Sam nodded respectfully.
"Thank you."
Aldric turned toward the endless ranks of undead surrounding the castle.
He raised his greatsword high into the air.
"Open the road."
BOOM!
Millions of undead moved at once.
The sea of skeletons, zombies, and ghostly warriors parted in perfect formation.
A road stretched from the castle gates all the way to the edge of the Ancient Necropolis.
Ben stared in amazement.
"I've never seen anything like this."
Kael rested his Frost Spear across his shoulder.
"They're saluting us."
"No," Dennis said quietly.
"They're saluting him."
Sam looked back one last time.
The black castle stood proudly in the distance.
The empty throne awaited the return of no king.
Its era had come to an end.
As the expedition began the journey back toward Base 101...
None of them noticed the faint blue light that briefly flickered above the ancient crown.
For only an instant...
A familiar voice echoed through the empty throne room.
"Humanity still has hope."
Then...
The light disappeared.
Once more.
The Ancient Necropolis fell silent.