Cursed Conviction

The world erupted in a blinding flash of light as Azare's blade struck the crimson flower. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, the force of it throwing him backward. He hit the ground hard, his body skidding across the splintered wooden floor. The room trembled, the walls groaning as if the very structure of the house was protesting the disruption of the amrita energy.

The Death Knight let out a deafening roar, its skeletal form convulsing as the amrita binding it to the flower began to unravel. The runes on its rusted blade flickered and dimmed, the energy that had sustained it dissipating into the air like smoke. Its massive frame staggered, the obsidian-reinforced bones creaking under the strain of its own weight. The crimson light in its hollow eyes flared one last time before extinguishing, leaving behind only darkness.

Azare struggled to his feet, his body screaming in protest. His vision swam, but he forced himself to focus on the Death Knight. The creature's movements grew slower, more erratic, until finally, it collapsed to its knees. Its blade slipped from its bony grasp, clattering to the ground with a dull thud. The skeleton's head tilted forward, and with a final, shuddering breath, it crumbled into a heap of blackened bones and ash.

The room fell silent, the oppressive malice that had filled the air now gone. The only sound was Azare's labored breathing as he stood amidst the wreckage, his body trembling from exhaustion and pain. The crimson flower, now shattered and lifeless, lay in pieces on the floor, its glow extinguished.

His Anima's voice broke the silence, its tone softer now, almost relieved. "You did it."

Azare didn't respond immediately. He stared at the remains of the Death Knight, his mind still reeling from the encounter. His side burned where the creature's blade had grazed him, and his wrist throbbed from the wound inflicted by the flower. He was battered, bruised, and on the verge of collapse, but he had survived.

"Lucky," he muttered under his breath, echoing his Anima's earlier words. He wasn't sure if he believed it.

He took a shaky step forward, his legs threatening to give out beneath him. The house around him was in ruins, the walls cracked and the floor splintered from the battle. The fog outside seemed to have thinned slightly, the blood-red moon casting its eerie glow through the broken windows.

"You need to rest," his Anima said, its voice tinged with concern. "You're in no condition to keep going."

Azare nodded weakly, though he knew rest was a luxury he couldn't afford for long. This place—whatever it was—was unforgiving. The Blood Forest, the Death Knight, the crimson flower... it was all part of something far larger, something he didn't yet understand.

He limped toward the corner of the room, where the skeleton had been slumped against the wall. The rusted blade it had wielded lay nearby, its runes now dark and lifeless. Azare hesitated for a moment before picking it up. The weapon was heavy, its edge jagged and worn, but it felt... significant. He couldn't explain why, but he felt compelled to take it with him.

As he slung the blade over his shoulder, his Anima spoke again, its tone cautious. "Be careful with that. Weapons like that... they have a way of influencing their wielders."

Azare didn't respond. He was too tired to argue, too tired to think. He needed to find a place to rest, to recover his strength. But even as he stumbled out of the ruined house and into the fog-shrouded night, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

"I have to find the Blood Forest, where do you think it could be?"

"You are pushing yourself too hard, you need to rest. If you were to encounter anything on the death knights level or higher you won't survive."

"I can't rest, i have to keep moving forward. I have to get stronger and get out of here."

"The only way for you to get stronger, is for your body to function in optimal condition. Your body is severely injured."

Azare ignored his Anima and kept moving forward.

The fog clung to Azare loke a shroud as he limped through the desolate landscape, the rusted blade heavy on his shoulder-His body ached from the fight with the Death Knight, and the wound on his side burned with every step. For a moment he was filled with ecstasy after he saw it-Crimson mist with giant red trees and bushes ahead.

The air was thick with the scent of iron and decay and the faint whispers of the forest seemed to echo in his mind.

The Blood Forest felt different. It felt alive, as if it were watching him, waiting for him to make a mistake.

As he stepped into the shadow of the trees, the fog thickened, obscuring his vision. The ground beneath his feet was soft and wet, the soil saturated with something that felt too much like blood. The trees gnarled branches twisting in grotesque shapes. The trees seemed to have waht seemed to be veins on them. He felt the amrita in the air thick and oppresive like a weight press down on his chest.

When he looked around he saw an eerie bird that seemed oddly like a raven. It had 6 red eyes and each of them was staring directly at him.

It flew away after a few seconds.

Azare kept going deeper into the forest. Walking through the pain his body has recieved. He kept walking until the crimson thorned vines started to entangle his arms. He released short bursts of flames to roast the vines and kept moving forward.

"Your proficiency in my flames has improved." Said the Anima in his mind.

Azare kept walking.

"Who goes there?!" A voice bellowed from the forest.

"You dare enter my domain human?" The voice growled out.

"You dare stand in my way?" Azare spat.

Out of the mist it appeared.

A muscular figure. One long white horn on it's left side of it's head. It's skin dark red. It's eyes black. It stood there towering Azare.

It was around 2 meters tall. In its right hand a cleaver.

"Azare you can't fight it. Its too strong for you and your already injured. Your best option is to run." Said his Anima in his mind.

"Run? No. I am done running. If i die so be it, but i won't run anymore."