As I stood in the heart of the farm, my senses still buzzing with the recent influx of power, I couldn't help but reflect on the vast difference between myself and the other Lumeras. The natural height of a Lumera was impressive by any standard—seven feet and above—but I had far surpassed that. At 8'9 feet tall, I was a giant even among giants, a towering figure who seemed to dwarf everyone around me. My sheer size wasn't the only thing that set me apart, though; it was the unmistakable aura of strength, the physical changes, and the tattoos that adorned my body.
The tattoos. They were a true reflection of the power I held within. Every Lumera bore these glowing, bioluminescent marks, representing their connection to the natural world and their rank in Lumina mastery. For most Lumeras, these tattoos graced their arms, extending further only as they climbed the ranks.
I glanced down at my own tattoos. They weren't just on my arms anymore. They had extended well beyond that, crawling across my shoulders and down to my chest, weaving intricate, glowing patterns that pulsed with a faint silver light. The designs seemed to evolve constantly, reacting to the sheer volume of power I held. The very fact that they had spread so far across my body was a testament to my strength, a clear sign that I had moved far beyond what any Lumera had ever reached.
Hestia and Eldara, the two strongest Lumeras in our family and possibly the entire village, were in the Master rank. Their tattoos, which were only slightly less intricate than mine, had grown to cover their shoulders. This was an indication of their immense power. They had been at this rank for what felt like eons, mastering their abilities and honing their connection to the world. Yet even they couldn't match what I had become.
I remembered standing beside them not too long ago. They had always been taller than me, both of them reaching an imposing 7'9 feet in height. They had exuded power and grace, their presence commanding and unshakable. But now, things were different. Now, I was the one who stood taller, who held the greater strength. I had grown to 8'9 feet, a full head taller than even the mightiest of the Lumeras. My muscles were denser, my frame broader, and my aura more intense. Where their presence once dominated, mine now overshadowed them.
I flexed my fingers, watching as my tattoos pulsed in response. I could feel the power inside me, the Sins I had absorbed from Hestia and Eldara during our Elantra sessions feeding directly into my core. They had given me strength, energy that went far beyond what I thought possible. It wasn't just the physical changes that set me apart from the rest—it was the sheer volume of Lumina energy coursing through me, mingling with the sins I absorbed.
I could feel the difference now. The average Lumera, even those who had reached the lower ranks, could harness Lumina energy and manipulate it in ways that made them powerful. But their energy paled in comparison to mine. Most Lumeras gathered Lumina units through the crops, the natural flow of energy from the world, and through honing their skills. Once they reached the Master rank, their Lumina would start to compress into liquid form—an arduous process that required constant training and focus. Even then, it took one million Lumina units to form just one Lumina liquid unit.
But for me, that process seemed almost effortless. My connection to the Sins, the constant absorption of energy from every being in existence, allowed me to convert Lumina at an astonishing rate. It was as if I were a vortex, pulling in energy and refining it into something more potent, more powerful than anything the Lumeras had ever seen. The crops themselves—imbued with the power of the Celestial Wellspring Orb—were helping the others grow, but they had already reached their limits. Beyond the Master rank, they would need to find other ways to accumulate Lumina liquid units, and that journey would take them years, if not decades.
For me, though, it was different. I had long since surpassed the Master rank, something that was made all the more clear by the extent of my tattoos and the sheer volume of power I commanded. The connection I had with the land, the natural world, and the sins that surrounded me meant I could grow exponentially faster than anyone else. Where they struggled to gather Lumina, I absorbed it with ease.
I could feel the weight of that difference whenever I stood among them. It wasn't just in the way they looked up at me—though that was part of it—it was in the way their auras seemed to shrink in comparison to mine. They were powerful, yes, but I was something else entirely. I was more than just a Lumera. I had become a force of nature, a being whose power was tied not only to the natural world but to the very fabric of existence itself.
As I worked through my exercises, feeling the strain of my muscles as I tested my limits, I couldn't help but reflect on how far I had come. The Lumeras of the village were mighty. Even the younger generations, those who were still learning to harness their Lumina, showed incredible potential. But compared to me, even the most experienced Masters seemed like children playing with the building blocks of power.
I thought back to Hestia and Eldara. Even in the throes of our most intense Elantra sessions, I could feel their strength—great, yes, but not enough to match mine. Their tattoos had spread to their shoulders, marking them as some of the most powerful Lumeras alive. Yet their power was nothing compared to the depth of mine. Their connection to the Lumina and the natural world was immense, but it was finite. Mine, however, felt limitless.
I remembered their looks of awe and curiosity, the way they glanced at me when they thought I wasn't paying attention. They knew I had surpassed them, though they might not have fully understood how or why. They had felt it in our sessions, the sheer force I commanded, the sins that flowed through me like a river of dark energy. They had sensed my growing connection to the world around us, the way the land responded to my presence, the way the crops seemed to thrive under my touch.
Still, they couldn't fully comprehend it. No one could. Not yet, anyway.
As I finished my workout, the muscles in my body tightening and relaxing with each movement, I stood tall, gazing over the farm and the village beyond. The Lumeras were strong, and they were growing stronger every day thanks to the power of the Celestial Wellspring Orb. But no matter how much they grew, they would never reach my level. I had surpassed them, transcended the limits of the Lumera race itself.
The tattoos on my body were proof of that. The power I wielded was proof of that. I was no longer just a Lumera; I was something else entirely—a being whose strength was unmatched, whose potential was infinite.