Thane held the amulet aloft, its light now pulsing with a dark energy. A triumphant grin spread across his face. Isla lay slumped against the throne, her breath ragged, her eyes filled with despair. Kai struggled to his feet, his arm throbbing, his blade lying uselessly on the floor.
"You have failed," Thane declared, his voice booming through the chamber. "Your resistance is futile. Now, I will claim what is rightfully mine."
He raised the amulet, preparing to unleash its power. But then, he paused, his brow furrowing in confusion. The amulet, instead of responding to his will, began to flicker, its dark light wavering.
"What is this?" Thane hissed, his voice filled with anger. "Why won't you obey me?"
The amulet pulsed again, its light flickering more intensely. Then, a faint, golden glow emanated from within, pushing back against the encroaching darkness.
Thane recoiled, his eyes widening in disbelief. "No," he whispered, his voice trembling. "It cannot be."
The golden glow intensified, revealing a faint image within the amulet – a woman with fiery red hair, her eyes burning with defiance. Elara.
Isla, seeing the image, felt a surge of hope. She struggled to her feet, her voice weak but firm. "It's not over," she said. "The amulet will never belong to you."
Kai, inspired by Isla's words, reached for his blade, his grip tightening on the hilt. "We will not give up," he declared, his voice filled with newfound resolve. "We will fight you, until our last breath."