The throne room burned.

  The very kingdom Adexander once ruled with iron and blood crumbled around him.

  Steel flashed in the torchlight —

  once-trusted generals, now traitors, driving their blades through his heart.

  > "You were too powerful, Adexander,"

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  sneered one of them, twisting the dagger deeper.

  "You forgot you were mortal."

  He collapsed.

  Crimson blood poured from his chest, pooling at the feet of the betrayers.

  The last thing he saw was the shattered crimson crown rolling across the floor.

  And then— darkness.

  ---

  But death was not the end.

  When he opened his eyes again, it was not the throne room he saw.

  It was a cold stone cave.

  A broken body, weak and thin.

  A searing pain in his veins.

  And a voice whispering in the darkness:

  > [System Awakening…]

  [Crimson Sovereign Detected.]

  Adexander clenched his fists.

  His body was broken.

  But his spirit burned fiercer than ever.

  He would rise.

  He would reclaim everything.

  Even if he had to drown the world in crimson