CHAPTER 11
As NOVA came face to face with the haunting curse that had tormented him in the past, the atmosphere grew tense with a palpable sense of impending conflict.
The air crackled with dark energy as the curse began chanting ancient incantations, its malevolent intent clear in its vengeful eyes.
But just as the curse's words reached a crescendo, an unexpected quake shook the very foundation of the earth.
From the gaping cracks that split the ground, grotesque monsters emerged, their twisted forms a manifestation of the curse's dark power.
NOVA couldn't help but sense a flicker of humanity within these abominations.
He hesitated for a moment, pondering the curse's claim that they were once human, before a surge of courage propelled him forward.
"Are they still people trapped within those monstrous shells?" NOVA's voice cut through the chaos, challenging the curse's twisted creation.
The curse sneered, its voice laced with malice. "Not people, but mere remnants of what once was."
As the monsters mindlessly lunged at NOVA, he felt the echoes of their anguish and heard their desperate cries for help.
Overwhelmed by a surge of empathy, he couldn't bear to harm them.
"Enough!" NOVA's voice thundered with a mix of frustration and desperation. "Cease this mindless violence!"
The strain of the battle took its toll on NOVA, his body weakened and trembling.
In the midst of his exhaustion, a vision flooded his senses—a chilling glimpse of an unknown figure commanding an army, relentlessly pursuing the annihilation of all life.
The vision abruptly faded, and NOVA found himself back in the room where he had first confronted the curse.
Bound by an unyielding seal, he could not move, trapped in the grasp of his enemy.
"One last time, curse," NOVA pleaded, his voice tinged with a tinge of hopelessness. "What do you truly want from me?"
A cruel smirk played upon the curse's lips as it delivered its venomous response. "You, NOVA, are nothing more than a worthless pawn in the grand design of this curse."
Through his fading vision, NOVA caught a glimpse of another figure lurking in the shadows of the room. However, his failing sight prevented him from discerning any details.
A surge of frustration coursed through his veins as he voiced his perplexity.
"Why am I being drained of my energy?" NOVA's words held a note of desperation.
"The seal, designed to siphon every ounce of cursed energy from your being and channel it back into the earth," the curse replied with a twisted satisfaction.
The strain of the seal intensified, draining NOVA's energy at an alarming rate.
Hunger gnawed at his insides, exhaustion weighed him down, and pain seared through every fiber of his being. But these were sensations that only a human could experience, not a curse.
"You see, NOVA," the curse hissed, reveling in its sadistic power. "The curse thrives on human suffering, on the hunger, fatigue, and pain that afflict mortals."
A glimmer of understanding flickered within NOVA's eyes.
If the curse were to exhaust all its energy, it would fade away into oblivion. And yet, NOVA's continued existence was a testament to the remnants of humanity within him.
"I will extract the curse from you, NOVA," the curse declared, its voice laced with a wicked blend of anticipation and uncertainty. "Whether it transforms you into a human or leads to your demise, only time will tell."
Resolute, NOVA accepted his fate, realizing that his only desire was to attain a peaceful life or embrace death, whichever awaited him at the end of this trial.
In a twisted corner of its mind, the curse sneered at NOVA's choice, deeming it pathetic and weak.
And so, the extraction process began, an agonizing ordeal that caused every fiber of NOVA's being to scream in protest.
"Just stop it!" NOVA's anguished cry pierced the air, a desperate plea for an end to the torment.
As consciousness slipped away, NOVA caught fleeting glimpses of the mysterious figure, their presence an enigma that danced at the edges of his perception.
Finally, he descended into a state between life and death, teetering on the edge of oblivion.
Yet, with a surge of otherworldly strength, NOVA's eyes snapped open, blazing with an aura that mirrored the fury of a thousand flames.
The seal, unable to withstand the sheer force of his unleashed power, shattered into fragments, freeing him from its confining grip.
Even the curse itself, once so arrogant and invincible, knelt before NOVA, defeated by his newfound might.
In the midst of the chaos, the mysterious figure observed the unfolding events with a mixture of fascination and intrigue. When the curse implored for assistance, the figure's response was cryptic yet laced with mixed voices.
"That is your burden to bear," the figure whispered, its words hanging in the air like an unsolved riddle.
NOVA's hand clenched around the curse's grotesque visage, his movements slow and deliberate.
But suddenly, a primal growl erupted from his throat, accompanied by a lightning-fast strike. The curse lay dead at his feet, defeated by NOVA's unwavering determination.
"How... How did this happen? Did you...?" NOVA's words trailed off, his eyes searching the now-vanished figure for answers.
With a solemn nod, the figure closed its eyes, silently retreating into the shadows, leaving NOVA to ponder the enigma of their encounter.
Overwhelmed by the ordeal, NOVA succumbed to unconsciousness, his body weary from the battle.
When he finally regained awareness, he found himself within the comforting confines of the village elder's house, his wounds tended to and bandaged.
"You have proven your innocence, NOVA," the elder spoke with a mix of relief and pride.
Smiling, NOVA replied, "I knew you wouldn't condemn me without cause, Elder."
"I have always said to keep personal matters aside," the elder responded, emphasizing the importance of impartiality.
Meanwhile, the mysterious figure lingered in the shadows, its cryptic words serving as a reminder that NOVA's destiny was yet unwritten.
"I have granted you this chance at freedom," the figure whispered ominously. "But know that the next time our paths cross, I shall determine your fate."