Cursed Destiny: The last of humanity

The vastness of the palace grew more oppressive as Amon, Star, and Skolo moved through its halls. The ornate architecture that once might have spoken of grandeur now felt hollow and decayed. Red carpets stretched endlessly along the corridors, faded and frayed, as if countless footsteps had worn them down over time. Paintings hung askew on the walls, their subjects too weathered to decipher, while shattered glassware and toppled furniture littered the floor.

Amon scanned the disarray as they walked. More people have been here recently. The thought sent an uncomfortable shiver down his spine. "It's like they've been gathering," he murmured, his voice low.

"Or partying," Star quipped, stepping over a broken goblet. "Wouldn't surprise me if Valen's enforcers were throwing themselves a victory celebration."

Skolo gave a quiet grunt of disapproval. "If they're celebrating, where are they now? It's too quiet."

Amon stopped, turning to face the others. "Did we lose them?"

Star sighed, leaning against the wall. "Yeah, seems like it. They vanished faster than I thought they could. We've been through half this place and there's no sign of them." He looked down the corridor ahead, his gaze narrowing. "I don't like this."

Neither did Amon. Something about the atmosphere gnawed at him—a creeping unease he couldn't shake. His thoughts returned to the enforcer he'd killed. The memory of that fight, of ending a life, haunted him in brief flashes. Did that set all this in motion? Did they know? Were they waiting for us to fall into a trap?

"We should've found them by now," Skolo muttered, crossing his arms. "They couldn't have just disappeared."

Amon shook his head. "No, they're here somewhere. I can feel it."

The three stood in tense silence, the dim light from cracked chandeliers casting elongated shadows across the corridor. Amon could hear his own breathing, steady but shallow, as if his body was preparing for a fight even when his mind wasn't sure there'd be one.

"This place feels wrong," Star said abruptly, his usual confidence replaced by something quieter. "Like...like it's watching us."

Amon glanced at him, surprised by the admission. Star wasn't one to show vulnerability, but his expression was serious. For once, the smirk was gone.

"You're not wrong," Skolo said grimly. "Every step we take feels like we're getting closer to something bad."

"Or further from something we need," Amon added, his tone sharper than intended. He took a deep breath to calm himself. "We can't let them scare us off. We've come this far, and we're not leaving empty-handed."

They pressed forward, each step heavier than the last. The farther they walked, the more the signs of recent activity grew. The scuff marks on the walls, the uneven stacks of discarded supplies, the faint smell of smoke—all pointed to movement, chaos, and purpose.

"Do you think they're regrouping?" Star asked, his voice quieter now.

"Maybe," Amon replied, though the word felt hollow. His instincts told him there was more to this than simple retreat. The enforcers weren't ones to run away, especially not when they outnumbered their opponents.

"They're planning something," Skolo said with certainty. "And we're wandering straight into it."

Despite the warning, none of them stopped. The corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, the air growing colder as they went. Every creak of the wooden floorboards beneath their feet, every faint gust of wind from unseen cracks in the walls, seemed amplified in the silence.

Amon's mind raced as they walked. What are they waiting for? Why haven't we found anything yet? And why does it feel like we're being herded? He looked at his companions, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Skolo's jaw was set, his eyes scanning every corner with sharp precision. Star's hands hovered near his weapons, ready to draw at the first sign of danger.

"We keep going," Amon said finally, his voice breaking the silence.

"And if we don't find anything?" Star asked.

Amon didn't answer right away. The weight of their mission felt heavier than ever, and for the first time, he wondered if they'd underestimated Valen. "We will," he said eventually, though his tone betrayed the uncertainty he tried to hide.

Star raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Skolo nodded, trusting Amon's judgment as always.

They reached the end of the corridor, where a single door stood slightly ajar. A faint light flickered from within, casting a thin beam across the floor. Amon raised a hand to signal silence, and they all froze, listening.

No sound came from the room.

"Let's check it out," Amon whispered.

They moved as one, silent and precise, their unease giving way to focused determination. Whatever lay ahead, they had no choice but to face it.

For better or worse, they were committed now.