Chapter 31: Lifting the Curse

The wraiths swirled around them, their ghostly forms bolstered by the power of the cursed oak tree. Ryuto swung his sword furiously, trying to keep the creatures at bay, but they were faster now, more dangerous. Every time his blade cut through one, it reformed, more vicious than before.

"We can't keep this up!" Roland yelled, raising his shield just in time to block a wraith's clawed strike. "These things are getting stronger by the second!"

Nina, her face flushed with exertion, threw another fireball, only for it to dissipate as the wraiths absorbed the energy. "Nothing's working! We're just feeding them!"

Celeste moved closer to Ryuto, her eyes fixed on the massive tree at the center of the grove. "It's the tree. As long as it stands, these wraiths won't stop. We need to break the curse, now!"

Ryuto gritted his teeth, dodging a wraith's lunge. "You're the magic expert, Celeste. How do we do it?"