Chapter 19 - C:19

The rain poured steadily as I stepped out of Aunt Nadia's house, my skin still tingling from the intense Elantra session. The world around me felt sharper, more vivid. Each raindrop seemed to hum with energy, and the sensation of power coursing through my veins was intoxicating. It wasn't just any power—it was the result of something ancient, something primal.

My innate ability—**Sin Absorption**—was unlike anything I had ever encountered. I had realized early on that my strength wasn't gained through mere physical training or practice. My power stemmed from absorbing the raw energy of others through their emotions, their desires, and their sins. Engaging in their deepest indulgences, connecting with their rawest emotions, brought me immense power. And there was no better way to harness those emotions than through **Elantra**—an ancient ritual where the intensity of emotions, desires, and raw energy were at their peak.

The aftermath of Elantra always left me feeling more powerful, more attuned to the forces of the world around me. Each session wasn't just an exchange of intimacy; it was an exchange of energy, a way for me to pull in the deepest parts of someone else's essence. The desires, the sins they bore, flowed into me during the ritual. And in return, I grew stronger, faster, more resilient.

As the rain soaked through my clothes, I stretched out my hands, relishing the feeling of my enhanced strength. Before the Elantra, my power was formidable—but now, I felt unstoppable. Every muscle in my body buzzed with newfound energy, and it wasn't just physical power. My mind was sharper, my senses heightened. I could hear the gentle hum of the wind in the trees, the tiny shifts of creatures scurrying beneath the undergrowth, and the rhythmic patter of raindrops on the thick wooden wall that surrounded our family's farm.

I turned my gaze toward that wall, towering and imposing, draped in thick vines and plant life. It had always represented protection, a barrier between the farm and the dangers of the wild Zesty Rainforest beyond. But now, it looked like nothing more than a minor obstacle. My newfound strength urged me to push beyond my limits, to test how far I could truly go.

With a deep breath, I focused the energy swirling inside me. My body felt lighter, quicker, and without hesitation, I leaped. My feet left the ground, and in one smooth, effortless motion, I soared over the wall. The vines blurred past me as I cleared the structure with ease, landing softly on the other side.

The rainforest loomed ahead, vast and untamed, its dense canopy sheltering the wild magic that permeated the air. The trees here were ancient, their thick trunks rising like sentinels into the sky. The air was humid and thick with the scent of wet earth and foliage. This was the perfect place to test my abilities—far from the eyes of my family, where I could push myself to the brink.

Moving deeper into the forest, I felt the energy of the place humming beneath my feet. Everything here was alive with raw vitality. The creatures of the forest sensed my presence, and I could feel their eyes on me, watching from the shadows. But they kept their distance, wary of the power I exuded.

I came upon a clearing, dominated by a massive tree that dwarfed everything around it. Its trunk was thicker than anything I had ever seen, its bark gnarled and twisted like the veins of an ancient titan. It stood there, a symbol of the unyielding power of nature, and I knew that before the Elantra, this tree would have been far beyond my ability to challenge. But now, I wanted to see just how far I had come.

I approached the tree, my hand brushing against the rough bark. Closing my eyes, I reached deep within myself, tapping into the sin I had absorbed during the Elantra. The desires, the indulgences, the raw emotional energy I had taken in surged to the surface, amplifying my strength tenfold. The tree wasn't just a physical obstacle anymore—it became a test of how much power I could channel at once.

With a single, focused thought, I clenched my fist and drove it into the tree. The impact was explosive. The bark shattered like glass, splinters flying in all directions. But it wasn't just the bark—my fist punched through the thick wood itself, sending tremors through the entire tree. The ancient titan groaned under the force, and with a deafening crack, the tree began to fall.

As it collapsed, crashing into the undergrowth, I pulled my hand back and looked at the damage. My hand had gone straight through the tree's trunk as though it were nothing more than brittle clay. The raw force I had channeled during the strike was beyond anything I could have achieved before. The strength I had gained through Elantra was staggering, and the sin I had absorbed had only just begun to manifest its potential.

I stood there for a moment, relishing the feeling of my power. This wasn't just about physical strength—my mind was clearer, sharper, and I could feel the emotional energy I had absorbed continuing to pulse within me, waiting to be used. I wasn't even close to tapping into the full extent of my abilities, and that realization sent a thrill through me.

Sin Absorption wasn't just a passive ability—it was a constantly evolving force. The more I engaged with others, the more I indulged in their desires, the stronger I would become. Each Elantra was an opportunity to not only connect but to draw in the deepest parts of someone else's essence. The sins of others were my power, and the more I absorbed, the further I could push the limits of my abilities.