Click...
Sheathing my sword, I took a deep breath and went to retrieve my backpack I'd dropped before the battle with the Midnight Wolf began.
I carefully picked up the leather bag and pulled out a bandage I had bought before coming here. With slightly shaking hands and while gritting my teeth, I began to wrap the bandage around my bleeding arm, trying to staunch the flow of blood.
'It fucking hurts...'
Cursing under my breath, I kept tightening the bandage even though every movement sent jolts of pain up my arm. The pain got so bad that I even began to see black before my eyes.
Luckily, I managed to patch up the wound before losing consciousness.
"Damn..."
Lying on the forest's floor I let out a guttural groan.
My body needed rest, however, my circumstances made it clear that I couldn't afford to stay idle for long.
I had to go and retrieve the Ashen Armor before the sun rose or else I'd have to wait for an entire day for another opportunity.
"Get up."
Muttering to myself, I forced myself to push off the ground and stand up despite the pain coursing through my arm.
Although the wounds were still fresh and throbbed, I didn't have the luxury of dwelling on the pain.
Tap... Tap...
Step by step, I made my way through the dense forest, keeping my injured arm as steady as possible. Fortunately, I didn't encounter any hostile creatures or obstacles along the way.
It took me around half an hour to finally reach the clearing where the trees seemed to thin out, revealing a small, secluded pond surrounded by moss-covered rocks and wildflowers.
'Found it...'
Slowly, I made my way to the edge of the pond, carefully lowering myself onto a nearby flat rock.
Silently, I gazed at the tranquil surface of the water, noticing a few ripples caused by the gentle breeze. Blue water lilies dotted the surface, adding a touch of beauty to the serene atmosphere, however, my eyes were drawn to something else.
On the other side of the pond, a Sakura tree stood tall, its delicate pink blossoms swaying gracefully in the wind. Its branches stretched out like a mesmerizing canopy, creating a surreal aura of tranquility.
If not for the pain radiating from my arm, I would have loved to sit there for hours, simply basking in the peacefulness of the scene.
"..."
Placing my backpack on the ground next to me, I began to approach the Sakura tree, my eyes scanning its thick trunk and branches for any signs or markings.
In the novel, the protagonists stumbled upon this place accidentally and were captivated by its ethereal beauty. One of the characters accidentally brushed against a specific part of the tree, revealing a hidden compartment within the hollow trunk.
With cautious anticipation, I reached out and ran my fingers along the rough bark, searching for that subtle irregularity.
I spent an hour or so molesti... searching every nook and cranny of the Sakura Tree, until my fingers finally detected a faint groove in the bark.
Click...
As soon as I applied minimal pressure to the groove, a silent sound of mechanism sliding into place reached my ears. The tree's trunk shifted slightly and opened up to reveal a hollow space within.
Inside it there lay a small, ornate wooden box, adorned with intricate carvings.
"This is it!"
I whispered to myself, feeling my heartbeat increasing with excitement. I didn't even care about the pain in my arm anymore, reaching into the hollow and retrieving the box.
Looking at it in my hands, I took a deep breath and prepared for what was about to happen next.
Oh, I have to mention that Artifacts are ranked into different tiers based on the power they can grant to the wielder.
The Ashen Armor is an Artifact of an epic tier, which is considered relatively powerful, however, not too overpowered compared to legendary or mythical artifacts. Believe me, I want to go and get my hands on one of those legendary artifacts, but for now, the Ashen Armor will have to do.
Now the main issue with the Ashen Armor is that to 'get' it, one must endure the pain of 'burning from within'.
If I were to faint from the pain, I would die and be devoured by this beautiful-looking beast of a Sakura Tree, which would be quite the ironic twist.
'It's not like I haven't noticed...'
Looking behind my shoulder, I glanced at the pond reflecting the dim moonlight and saw the twisted, sinister shape of the Sakura Tree's shadow lurking on the water's surface. Its branches seemed to writhe and contort, taking on a menacing form that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Here goes nothing..."
I muttered and slowly opened the lid of the small, ornate wooden box.
Whoosh...
As soon as the moonlight illuminated the contents of the box, the fiery-red ashes within began to swirl and dance like a little storm.
Before I could even react, the ashes flew out of the box and surrounded my body, engulfing me in a whirlwind of heat and intensity.
"Aghhh..."
Unfathomable pain seared through every nerve in my body as the Ashen Armor branded itself onto my skin.
It felt as if my veins were forcefully being filled with molten lava, each pulse sending waves of excruciating agony throughout my entire being. Every breath I took felt like inhaling flames, scorching my lungs with searing heat.
I couldn't even cry as tears that formed in my eyes evaporated before they could escape.
Somehow, I managed to find myself near the pond and out of desperation I plunged into the icy water, hoping to find relief from the searing pain.
Although I've read the novel and knew that this wouldn't help ease the pain caused by the Ashen Armor my desperation led me to try anything in the hopes of finding respite.
The last thing I saw before splashing into the water was the twisted silhouette of the Sakura Tree, still looming ominously over me, its branches reaching out as if eager to claim my soul.
Splash...