Anazitis wake up on the first Sun light of the city beyond his modest hotel room. The air inside was still, carrying the musty scent of old wood and . Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, painting stripes of golden light across the worn floorboards. Stretching, he muttered to himself, "Time to get the materials for the black fire and get the job done."
After he quickly preparing, he stepped outside, greeted by the bustling energy of the city streets. Vendors shouted over one another, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony. The rich aroma of baked bread and spices drifted through the air, every merchant screaming in louder voice than another to get the audience attention,and the air mingling with the metallic tang of nearby children playing there games . Anazitis wove through the crowd effortlessly, his sharp eyes just fixed on the path ahead.
As he moved away from the lively city center, the environment shifted. Paved roads gave way to uneven cobblestones, and the cheerful chatter of merchants faded into an uneasy silence like how light desaper in the darkness. The buildings became less refined, some little more than skeletal structures of wood and stone. It was as though the very air here was heavier, laced with grime and neglect and full of angers.
Anazitis stopped as he entered a narrow, grimy street. The stench of mildew and rotting garbage filled his nostrils, and water dripped from broken gutters, forming stagnant puddles on the cracked ground. The shadows cast by the half-built structures seemed to stretch unnaturally, enveloping the alley in a sense of foreboding.
A strange mans emerged from those shadows, and old building that was looking like a random rock. their eyes glinting with greed and malice. The weight of their stares was palpable, a silent declaration of their intentions.
A gaunt man stepped forward, his face twisted into a mocking grin. He held a dagger loosely in his hand, its jagged edge catching the dim light. "Well, look at this," he sneered, his voice sharp and grating. "Fresh meat. And easy money our breakfast is here boys,Hand over your money, and maybe we won't make your face more different than it was looking but you need sometimes to recover . What do you boys think?"
Snickers erupted from the other shadowy Mans, their confidence bolstered by their leader's bravado.
Anazitis didn't respond. His expression remained calm and a smile in his face, his gaze distant. He looked past the man, as if the gang didn't exist-his eyes fixed instead on the crumbling wall behind them he just didn't Care much about them.
The man's grin faltered, replaced by a flicker of unease. "What's the matter, huh? Cat got your tongue?" His voice wavered slightly, but he raised the dagger higher and lunged forward Ready to do it.
The blade struck Anazitis's chest with a metallic clang, the sound reverberating through the alley. The man stumbled back, his eyes wide. "What the...?" he muttered, examining his blade as though it had betrayed him.
He lashed out again, his strikes growing faster and more desperate. Each time, the dagger met the same resistance, as if Anazitis's body were forged of unmoving steel. The man's breathing grew ragged, his attacks faltering. "What are you?" Your one of them souls user, you people are... and before he can finish his sentence , his voice whispered hoarsely, his voice trembling until it's vanished into silence.
Anazitis finally broke his silence, his voice low and cold. "Are you done venting your anger? It's strange, isn't it, what life does to people? That's why you're here, you lost everything didn't you,he said, his tone laced with a mix of pity and disdain.
The man's dagger slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground. He staggered back, tears of frustration brimming in his eyes. His gang dissolved into the shadows, leaving their members alone in the alley.
Anazitis turned to a nearby wall, his gaze narrowing on a faint shimmer where the bricks seemed to ripple like water. "Still keeping yourself amused with these games, aren't you?" he said, his tone sharp with irritation.
A deep, amused chuckle echoed from the wall. "Anazitis," a disembodied voice replied, dripping with mockery. "It's been a while friend."
"Not long enough," Anazitis muttered. "Stop wasting my time and hand over the materials. I have more important things to do that chatting with you."
"Always so serious," the voice teased. A small bag emerged from the shimmering bricks, landing at Anazitis's feet. "Don't forget to visit, my friend. We have much to discuss."
"Sure," Anazitis replied flatly, picking up the bag. Without another word, he turned and left, heading toward the forest.
As soon as he exited the narrow alley and reached the edge of the city, Anazitis activated his Aura. A soft, ethereal glow enveloped him, shaping itself into the form of a fox. The outline shimmered, its translucent tails flicking behind him. In an instant, his speed increased twentyfold, the world around him becoming a blur as he darted toward the forest.
---
The forest greeted him with a stark contrast to the city. The air was damp and cool, carrying the earthy scent of moss and wet leaves. Towering trees formed a dense canopy overhead, their branches weaving together to block out most of the sunlight. Shadows danced across the ground, shifting with the faint breeze.
As Anazitis ventured deeper, the silence became almost oppressive. The sounds of distant birds faded away, replaced by the faint rustling of unseen creatures. The ground beneath his boots was uneven, covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves and tangled roots.
Eventually, he reached a clearing where the screaming mushrooms grew. They were grotesque, their bulbous caps a pale gray marred by thin, vein-like patterns that pulsed faintly. Each mushroom trembled as though alive, emitting soft, almost imperceptible whimpers.
Kneeling beside them, Anazitis inspected their delicate structures. "Thanks to the academy books, I know exactly what to do," he murmured, pulling the bag of materials from his side.
With careful precision, he coated the mushrooms in shimmering powders and viscous liquids, the substances seeping into the fungi's porous surfaces. As he worked, the mushrooms began to emit low, guttural sounds, their faint tremors intensifying.
The moment he lit the first mushroom, a high-pitched wail tore through the air. It wasn't just a sound-it was a visceral force, rattling his bones and reverberating through the clearing. The mushroom shriveled in the flames, its spores bursting in a cloud of dark, shimmering particles.
The fire that erupted was otherworldly. Black as the void, it twisted and writhed as though alive, devouring the light around it. The clearing darkened, the cold flames casting an eerie, lifeless glow.
"These things are remarkable," Anazitis muttered, watching the black fire spread from mushroom to mushroom. The flames crawled across the ground, licking at tree trunks and branches, setting the forest ablaze in a wave of black.
The screaming intensified as the fire consumed more mushrooms. Their cries were a mixture of agony and fury, reverberating through the forest. The once tranquil space became a chaotic symphony of destruction, the black flames spreading like a living entity.
In the midst of the chaos, a figure emerged from the shadows of the burning forest. Dressed in black armor that gleamed faintly in the cold light, the Chaos Seeker moved with an unearthly grace. His helmet bore sharp, jagged edges, and his gauntlets were etched with runes that pulsed with dark energy.
Anazitis froze, his eyes narrowing as he took in the knight's deliberate movements. The Chaos Seeker appeared unaffected by the flames, his presence radiating an aura of command. He seemed to be searching for something-or someone.
"So, what both a Chaos seeker here thing are getting more complicated than it needs ," Anazitis murmured, his tone a mix of curiosity and unease. He reached into his bag, retrieving another screaming mushroom.
"If you're here, at least enjoy your meeting with the forest's guardians," he said, hurling the mushroom toward the knight and one towards the Chaos seeker to make them notice each other.
The mushroom exploded midair, releasing a deafening screech and a thick cloud of spores. The knight hesitated, momentarily disoriented, as the forest seemed to awaken around him.
Using the distraction, Anazitis activated his fox aura and said time to get out of here before the beginning of the fight.A shimmering outline of a fox enveloped him, and his speed multiplied as he darted deeper into the forest.
A faint smile played on his lips as he whispered, "Let's hope that knight enjoys his little detour. I've got more important things to do i will say hi to him after i ended my planes."
The black flames roared behind them, their light and darkness slowly swallowed by the black flames that surrender the forest the Battle between them lickly not going to be without cost