The Mysterious fruit

Cain dropped down to the floor, exhaustion washing over him. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, his mind replaying the brutal fight that had just transpired. He had come so close to killing Enel, but his enemy had disappointingly escaped. Cain's fists clenched in frustration, but he was too drained to do more than curse under his breath.

As his breathing slowed, he took a moment to look around, realizing that in the course of the fight, they had moved inside the temple. He was sitting directly below a crumbling altar, the eerie ambiance of the ancient structure now more apparent. Forcing his tired body to move, Cain pushed himself to his feet and slowly walked up the ruined steps of the altar.

At the top, he found a half-broken statue of a demonic creature, its menacing figure frozen in time. The statue's hand was held out, and in its palm rested an object that crackled with arcs of blue lightning.

Intrigued, Cain walked up to it, his eyes narrowing as he inspected the object. It was a peculiar fruit, unlike anything he had ever seen. The fruit had a bright yellow color with swirling patterns, and blue lightning danced across its surface, illuminating the dark chamber. Sharp, jagged outgrowths protruded from its peel, varying in length and direction, giving it a menacing appearance.

"This must be the treasure Enel was searching for," Cain muttered to himself, reaching out and picking up the fruit. He turned it over in his hands, feeling the strange energy that seemed to pulse from within it.

As he held it, an inexplicable urge to eat the fruit overcame him. Hesitating only for a moment, Cain brought it to his mouth and took a bite. Instantly, he was repulsed by the foul taste, but he forced himself to eat it all, piece by piece, until nothing was left.

"Now what?" Cain mumbled, his voice echoing in the empty chamber. "I don't feel stronger."

Frustration began to bubble up inside him, But as he held out his hands, he was startled to see arcs of electricity dancing across his palms.

Cain stared at his hands, the blue sparks crackling and jumping between his fingers. The exhaustion from the battle was momentarily forgotten as a new sense of power surged through him. He focused, willing the electricity to grow, and watched in awe as it obeyed his command, the arcs becoming more intense and vibrant.

A slow, determined smile spread across Cain's face. "This is it," he whispered to himself. "This is the power I need to make them pay."

As Cain drew out his power, he began to lose control. His body filled with the immense energy, shifting form into lightning and then back. The sensation was overwhelming, his physical form flickering between solid and pure electricity. The power coursing through him felt like it was too much to contain, as though his body was about to burst.

He was something more now. Something powerful.

Filled with this newfound strength, Cain's exhilaration was tempered by the sheer intensity of the power coursing through him. He struggled to regain control, focusing his mind and forcing the energy to stabilize within him. The arcs of lightning that had been erratic began to calm, flowing smoothly over his skin.

Cain turned away from the statue, his steps more confident now. He had a new weapon, one that could turn the tides in his quest for vengeance. The Birkans would soon learn that their actions had consequences, and that Cain was no longer a force to be underestimated.

As he left the temple, the ancient structure stood silent, bearing witness to the birth of a new power. Cain emerged into the night, the arcs of lightning illuminating his path. As he approached the edge of the temple grounds, Gear, who had been waiting worriedly, rushed over to him.

"Cain! What happened?" Gear exclaimed, his eyes widening at the sight of Cain's disheveled and bloody state.

"I'm okay," Cain assured him, though his voice was strained.

Gear hesitated, then asked, "Where's Enel? Did you... kill him?"

Cain shook his head, frustration flashing in his eyes. "That snake escaped."

Gear's face fell, but he quickly regained his composure. "Tell me what happened."

Slowly, Cain recounted the events of the battle, describing how close he had come to killing Enel and the discovery of the mysterious fruit. He explained the overwhelming sensation of power and his struggle to control it.

Gear listened intently, his expression a mix of concern and awe. "So, you ate the fruit and now you have control over lightning?" he asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"Yes," Cain replied, holding out his hand to show the arcs of electricity that still danced across his skin. "This is the power I need to make them pay."

Cain's eyes hardened with resolve. "How soon can you be ready to leave this place?"

Gear thought for a moment, then replied, "At most, a day or two. I've almost finished work on a small ship that will work for now. I can rush and have it ready by then."

Cain's lips curled into a grim smile. "Good. Once you're finished with your preparations, it will be time for the destruction of Birka."