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Chapter 12 - 12-The Torment of Lust and the Triumph of Resistance

The city outside roared with the sounds of monsters and survivors, but within his mind, a different battle began to intensify.

The Curse of Lust, obtained after opening the chest in the Theatro Municipal dungeon, had remained dormant until that moment — a subtle whisper he had managed to suppress with Divine Resistance. However, as if responding to the rising divine energy within his body, the curse awoke with full force.

A scorching wave of heat surged up his spine, centering in his lower abdomen with overwhelming intensity. His senses sharpened in unwanted ways, catching every detail — the scent of the air, the distant rhythm of breathing, the texture of fabric against his skin — all amplified by a sexual desire that threatened to consume him.

Klaus fell to his knees, his hands clutching the floor as he fought the mental invasion. Vivid images flooded his mind — entwined bodies, the faces of survivors he had seen while flying over the city, sensations that made him flush despite his strength. The curse was not mere desire; it was an active force, manipulating his instincts like a sweet poison. The system confirmed the escalation:

[Curse of Lust (Rank AA) – Heavy Mode Activated]

Effect 1: Sexual desire increased by 300%, affecting the user and partners during intimate acts, raising arousal to extreme levels.

Effect 2: Permanent attribute increases (1 to 40 points per act, depending on partner satisfaction) now require conscious control to direct the gain.

Side Effect: 20% reduction in focus and mental resistance until the curse is mitigated or accepted.

Klaus gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his face. He tried to stand, but his legs trembled, and his breathing was erratic. The curse forced him to imagine shameful scenarios, testing the limits of his willpower.

"I won't surrender," he growled, activating Divine Resistance to suppress the effect — but even that Rank E skill seemed insufficient against the intensity of a Rank AA curse.

For hours, he fought in silence, isolated in his apartment. Time crawled — 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM — while the curse attacked him in waves. In a moment of clarity, he realized pure resistance wouldn't be enough. He had to evolve — to adapt. Closing his eyes, he focused on the flow of Divine Power through Divine Mana Control, trying to channel it to stabilize his mind.

The effort was agonizing, but gradually, he felt a change. His body began to respond, and two new abilities naturally emerged from his inner struggle.

[Skill Acquired: Curse Resistance (Rank C)]

Description: Increases resistance to curse effects, reducing their intensity by 15%.

Effect: Mitigates 15% of the effects of the Curse of Lust, granting greater mental control.

[Skill Acquired: Mental Resistance (Rank C)]

Description: Strengthens the mind against psychic and emotional influence, improving focus under stress.

Effect: Increases mental resistance by 15%, reducing focus loss to 5%.

Klaus opened his eyes, relieved. The pressure had eased, though the curse still lingered — a constant background of desire he could now manage. "It's a start," he muttered, realizing that control was possible. Yet he knew he needed to strengthen these abilities to fully handle a Rank AA curse.

He checked his status:

Name: Klaus

Race: Celestial Dragon Hatchling (Rank S)

Level: 22

Rank: S+

XP: 0/260

Attributes:

Strength: 136

Agility: 136

Vitality: 137

Intelligence: 136

Dexterity: 136

Luck: 69

Divine Power: 138

Vital Essence Accumulated: 10,630 units

Evolution Points (EP): 10

Titles: Legendary Pioneer, Primordial Hunter, Celestial Heir, Initiate Devourer

Skills:

Essence Devourer (Rank SS)

Player Appraisal (Rank D)

Weapon Mastery: Sword (Rank B)

Death Weaver (Rank S)

Threads of Death (Rank C)

Voracious Web (Rank C)

Woven Strike (Rank C)

Celestial Aura (Rank D)

Draconic Vision (Rank C)

Divine Resistance (Rank E)

Golden Flame (Rank B)

Emergent Wings (Rank E)

Celestial Wings (Rank C)

Woven Wings (Rank B)

Dual Casting (Rank A)

Draconic Tongue (Rank S)

Skill Synthesis (Rank B)

Divine Mana Control (Rank C)

Divine Circuit (Rank C)

Organic Fortification (Rank C)

Sensory Expansion (Rank C)

Curse Resistance (Rank C)

Mental Resistance (Rank C)

Determined to evolve, he decided to use his Vital Essence reserve. With 10,630 units, he converted 10,000 into 100 EP, leaving 630 VE for emergencies. He spent 50 EP to raise Curse Resistance to Rank B (+25% mitigation, advanced control) and 50 EP to raise Mental Resistance to Rank B (+25% resistance, total focus under stress).

The strengthened abilities reduced the curse's influence to a mild tingling he could easily ignore.

As night advanced, Klaus felt the weight of the day — battles, dungeons, and now this internal trial. He decided to rest, but not before reflecting on what the curse meant. The promise of attribute gain was tempting, but the moral cost worried him. "I'll find balance," he vowed to himself, knowing that his divine power and newfound resistances would keep him from falling into excess.

Expansion of the Inner Struggle

The following hours tested his endurance. The curse struck in waves, sometimes bringing visions so vivid he could feel the heat of imagined bodies against his own. At one particularly intense moment — around 10:00 PM — Klaus almost faltered, imagining a survivor he had seen during flight: a dark-haired woman fighting with a knife.

He forced himself to stand, pacing through the apartment to distract his mind. Activating Organic Fortification, he accelerated his recovery, feeling his organs pulse with renewed vitality.

Gradually, Curse Resistance and Mental Resistance began to harmonize. He channeled Divine Power through Divine Mana Control, forming an internal circuit that stabilized his emotions. Divine Circuit amplified that stability, reducing the consumption of mental energy. By midnight, the curse had receded to a manageable level — a latent desire he could suppress or, if needed, harness with control.

Reflection and Planning

Seated once again in meditation, Klaus reflected on his journey. The apocalypse had turned São Paulo into a battlefield, but it had also forged him into something beyond human. The Curse of Lust, though dangerous, was a tool — a means of growth if used wisely.

He decided that, in the future, he would only activate it under strategic conditions — with consent and purpose — to strengthen himself without losing his essence.

The city outside still pulsed with danger and life. The curse, now tamed for the moment, had become a part of him — a test he had overcome, fortifying his soul as much as his body.

Klaus looked out the window, his golden eyes gleaming in the darkness. Dawn was approaching, bringing new battles and, perhaps, new alliances. With his resistance strengthened and his divine power rising, he was ready to face whatever came — not just as a warrior, but as a symbol of hope amid chaos.

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