"You will relent in the end, tree," said the dark man, horrid energy crackling around his fists. "You will not stand in my way."

And yet the tree resisted, boughs rustling as if the great storm of hellish design was nothing more than wind through its leaves. The wood-guardian's power ran deep through vast roots and the ancient spirit steadied itself upon a foundation of ages to weather the blast.

"That may be so, Evil One," it said, voice creaking from every sprout, every branch. "But I have seen a future of this world, and I will do all in my power to prevent it. Even if it means disturbing that future's destiny."

"Enough! I will have the spiritual stone!" the man said, thunder booming his words. "Relinquish it and you may yet see another sunrise!"

Still the tree endured as a pillar of resilience amidst the howling wind. The brush surrounding the clearing had been flattened, the grass had been ripped to shreds.

It spoke, and the earth rumbled. "I would let go of every sunrise for eternity before giving you the spiritual stone, Evil One!" The crack of limbs almost outshrieked the lightning. "You are not destined to keep it! Do your worst! "

The man's laugh was darker than his power. "Gladly!"

And the curse was complete. The great tree's leaves began to wither, shrivel, as if doused in acid salt. The bark cracked, shivered apart. And even when the dark bloody wood within showed, the tree stood firm.

And a root pierced the man's back. His woven net of magic shattered, the darkness dispelled, and he was left to look up at the wilting tree under the stars: cold night taking them both.

"Your destiny does not lie in Death, Evil One. A great power will come to you, whether you take it or not," rasped the tree, strength ebbing. "But may your darkness revel in oblivion, and may your mind know peace."

The clouds broke and cool rain finally poured down from above. And in those few moments before infinity, the man could feel the last of the tree's power pour into him, green and warm. It blurred his thoughts, soothed them, and sent his mind into a potent, hazy euphoria. His darkness hiccuped, screamed, was stifled, and split asunder.

"What virtues would die with me, let them pass to you. May they nourish you as your curse has ravaged this world."

The tree's spirit faded from the mortal realm. And so the man collapsed there under the stormclouds and slept.