The capital city

It was breathtaking. A massive city loomed before them, surrounded by towering walls and enormous watchtowers. A wide canal wrapped around it like a moat, water still dark and silent. The gate stood open, the iron doors cracked and twisted. The walls were shattered in places, craters left behind by catapults. A massive battering ram rested near the entrance, its job clearly finished.

Nathan stared, jaw slightly open.

"Whoa… it's huge," he said.

"I'm guessing this was the capital of the Empire," Lilo replied,

"Should we… go in?"

"We haven't run into anything dangerous yet. Let's hang on to that hope."

"If you say so."

They stepped forward, careful as they crossed through the rubble. Broken weapons and bones lay scattered across the path. Nathan slowed, noticing something strange, some skeletons wore different armor than the rest.

"Not one-sided," he muttered. "They fought hard."

Lilo pointed at the wooden bridge ahead.

"Careful. That wood looks ready to fall apart."

"It's alrig-f*ck!"

Nathan's foot sank through a rotted plank. He stumbled, barely catching himself before he dropped into the canal.

"Stupid."

"Sorry."

Inside the city, the destruction deepened. Crushed homes lined the roads, shattered glass and bones littering the streets. Market stalls were burned to ash. A giant statue lay toppled in the square, thick ropes still hanging from its neck like nooses. But the most chilling thing was the armor, skeletons of knights from both sides.

"Lilo, look at this."

"It's… incredible. And terrifying."

One house had been sliced clean in half, the stone scorched at the edges. Aura. No doubt it was a clash between strong knights.

As they walked deeper, it became clear the battle hadn't been ordinary. Streets were scarred by blade marks and impact craters. Fallen knights, locked in mid swing, littered the city like statues of a forgotten war.

"To think this used to be an empire…" Lilo whispered.

"Was it really that great?"

"What?"

"We don't know why it fell. Maybe they deserved it."

"Maybe… but it doesn't explain the massacres."

"Maybe the invaders lost control. Rage, hate, panic..."

"Let's just keep moving."

"Yeah. Sorry. Just thinking out loud."

They followed the main road. It curved left, leading to the palace's outer walls. But as they turned the corner, both of them stopped.

"Ugh. What the hell is this?"

"F*ck… those monsters!"

The street ahead was decorated, but not with flags or banners. Ropes stretched between the buildings, each one holding a skeleton by the neck. Dozens of them. Maybe hundreds. Blood had long dried into the stone, painting the road crimson.

"They hanged them and let the blood flood the street? What the hell kind of twisted message is that?"

"Lilo, breathe."

"How can I?! They slaughtered people just to make a point!"

"No… it was more than that. They were trying to force a surrender. The palace was still holding out."

"So they killed citizens? To scare them into giving up?!"

"I don't know who the real monsters are anymore… Look at the gate."

"What do you mea-"

She saw it. The palace gate was smaller, weaker. It hadn't been broken by siege weapons. A massive gash had torn through the center clean, sharp, precise.

"An aura slash," Nathan said. "A knight did that. A strong one."

Lilo stared, eyes narrowing.

"So the Empire didn't surrender. They knew what would happen, and still…"

She didn't finish the sentence.

Both sides were rotten. The invaders who murdered innocents for leverage, and the Empire that let them die for pride. There was no hero here just two evils crashing into each other.

"Let's move."

"Yeah…"

Their footsteps echoed in silence as they passed through the broken gate and into the palace grounds. The air felt colder. Heavy.

In front of the ruined palace entrance, a large fountain stood cracked and dry. Around it were the bodies of armored knights some fallen as if protecting it to their last breath. But one figure stood out.

A knight. Still breathing.

He sat on the fountain's edge, motionless, his white armor gleaming even in the dust. His sword rested across his knees. He stared at the gate as if he'd been waiting for someone.

Nathan called out.

"Hey, you-"

"You dare?!"

The knight stood.

"Wait! We don't mean any har-"

"You dare to wield our blades? A mere invader?"

The knight's voice echoed like steel on stone. He raised his sword. The polished white metal shimmered as he stepped forward.

"I picked this up from one of your knights. I didn't know-"

"Stealing from Empire warriors is punishable by death. Immediate execution."

"Shit."

"Nathan! Dodge!"

The knight vanished. One second he was beside the fountain, the next, his sword was slicing through the air. Nathan ducked, barely avoiding the blade. He felt a sharp tug at his hair and stumbled back, raising his own weapon.

"Not bad for an invader," the knight growled. "Let's continue!"

Nathan squared up, breath steady. His sword trembled slightly in his hand.

"…Very well."

"Nathan?!"

He didn't answer. There was no point. This knight wouldn't stop. This cursed city wouldn't stop. The only way forward was through. If there was any hope of escape. any truth left to uncover, it started with surviving this fight.