The ancient stone road stretched endlessly through the heart of the Necropolis.
Sam walked alone.
Behind him...
The expedition remained where they stood.
Not because they lacked the courage to follow...
But because thousands of undead warriors blocked every path.
None of them moved.
None of them raised a weapon.
They simply watched as the Commander of Base 101 walked deeper into their kingdom.
...
Minutes passed.
The silence never changed.
Broken towers lined the road.
Crumbling statues of forgotten kings stood buried beneath gray vines.
Ancient banners hung in tatters from weathered walls.
Everywhere Sam looked...
He saw the remains of a civilization that had once ruled with unimaginable power.
Inside his mind...
Rex spoke.
Commander...
Architecture analysis complete.
Estimated age...
Unable to calculate.
Sam frowned.
"Still nothing?"
Records unavailable.
This kingdom existed before the System's recorded history.
Sam looked ahead.
"So this place really is older than everything we know."
Affirmative.
...
The black castle grew larger with every step.
Its walls rose hundreds of feet into the sky.
Massive stone gargoyles overlooked the entrance.
Blue flames burned inside enormous braziers without consuming fuel.
At the foot of the castle stood two gigantic skeletal guardians.
Each was over twenty feet tall.
Each held a stone halberd larger than a tree.
As Sam approached...
Both guardians struck the ground with their weapons.
BOOM!
The castle gates slowly opened.
A cold wind flowed from the darkness beyond.
Not once did the guardians try to stop him.
They simply lowered their heads.
As if acknowledging his right to enter.
...
The great hall was vast.
Rows of ancient stone pillars stretched into the darkness.
Blue soul flames floated silently overhead, illuminating the chamber with an eerie light.
On either side of the hall...
Undead knights stood motionless in perfect formation.
Every suit of armor was immaculate.
Every weapon gleamed as though it had been forged yesterday.
At the end of the hall...
A staircase of black stone led to a colossal throne.
Upon that throne...
Sat a lone figure.
He wore a crown of black steel.
Ancient armor covered his body, etched with countless runes that pulsed with faint blue light.
A long cloak rested across the steps beneath him.
Unlike the other undead...
His eyes were not empty flames.
They looked...
Almost human.
Ancient.
Wise.
And impossibly calm.
Sam stopped several meters from the throne.
Neither man spoke.
The silence stretched between them.
Then...
The King slowly rose.
His presence swept across the throne room like an invisible tide.
Every soul flame in the castle burned brighter.
The undead knights lowered their heads.
Even the massive skeletal guardians outside knelt.
The entire Ancient Necropolis acknowledged only one ruler.
The King descended the steps.
One.
Step.
At a time.
When he finally stood before Sam...
He studied him for a long moment.
Then...
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So..."
"It has finally happened."
Sam met his gaze.
"What has?"
The King's eyes shone with quiet satisfaction.
"After all these centuries..."
"A Necromancer has returned to my kingdom."
Inside Sam's mind...
Even Rex was silent.
The Eternal King raised one hand.
"I am not your enemy, Commander."
"I invited you here because there is something only you can inherit."
Sam's eyes narrowed.
"Inherit?"
The King's smile widened ever so slightly.
"Tell me..."
"Before I entrust you with the legacy of the First King of Death..."
"Answer one question."
The throne room fell silent once more.
"What does death mean to you?"