Back To The Golden Lands: Part 1

Still dark outside, the sound of waves crashing on the shore and the hums of insects in the forest are prevalent. We woke up from our slumber slowly collecting our things. We will set out early to the Nonoria Town.

Marco and Sheen were planning to collect some materials and also try to find some opportunities. Meanwhile, I plan on searching for some idols or statues that we might use for the sacrifice. Marco taught me about how to perform a sacrifice.

Based on his memories, he wrote a circle with an arcane text inscription. The circle also has two circular spaces inside one at the center where you will place the idol or statue, and the other one where the sacrifice would be placed.

He explained to me how the cultivation of an Avatar works. Marco said that Avatars are the gods' hands in the mortal plane. They will ask their Avatar to either sacrifice something, gather followers, convert other people, accomplish certain tasks, or sometimes a combination. If they accomplished the said request their gods will bestow them a technique or even let them raise a rank. You don't need to cultivate, you only need to work hard.

This really is heaven-sent cultivation. But there is a catch. Avatar's who disobey their god's orders will be ripped off their cultivation, making them back to their normal self or even harming them.

Conditions won't matter to me. All I need is to exact my revenge and I'm willing to be other people's dog just to achieve it.

When the sun rose above the horizon and the fog that spews out of the forest looks like clouds on the ground. We saw a bustling town full of people. Some are carrying sacks, others pushing their carts, donkeys and horses pulling wagons going in and out of the town, and the noise of some vendors selling their freshly caught fishes.

We have arrived at the Town of Nonoria. Even though it was without any walls it was still packed with a lot of people. You can even see that a part of the Nonoria Forest was cut down so that the town was able to further expand.

We separated so that we can gather information faster. Marco was to materials, Sheen went to find the Adventurer guilds, and I'm searching for the things I need to cultivate being an Avatar.

I started going around looking at some stands that sold food and ingredients. Marco gave me some gold pieces so that I can buy the things I need. He said that Mr. Fred gave them gold too and also some Ether stones.

"Boss, what's your best delicacy here?" I asked the vendor.

"You asked the right stall. We have the tastiest treats here. The freshly baked pumpkin pie, Bitter gourd, and eggplant concoction, and our best-selling Peanut bread, this Peanut bread was made out of seedless peanuts." the vendor presented.

Me and my anxious self don't know what to do. I already asked this vendor and I would like to go to another stall. But he might feel bad, yet again he also sells some shady food. Another thing is I'm afraid to ask to another stall because I came here first and not to them so they might think of me as a rude person. I'm in a dilemma.

I can only surrender to myself. I bought the food that I think is less shady than the other. I bought two Bitter gourds and eggplant concoctions. Fortunately, he didn't scam me and only sold both of them at the total cost of 500 silver coins.

After the delicacy, I went to find some idols or statues of gods. They were hard to find. So I decided to buy 5 live ducks. I have plans for this five if ever my plans failed. Now what I only need is the idol.

I saw a vendor who sat on the ground. Small stone sculptures and wooden idols lined up over the blanket that was laid down. I looked at some of his displays. Some are of great quality and there are also strange ugly looking humans, like this one with a square head big teeth statue.

"Boss, are these statues of gods?" I asked the vendor.

"Yes, they are gods among men. That one with a square head is the great god of healing. That good-looking sculpture is the god of knighthood." the vendor proudly describes.

"Okay, so how much for these 2?"

"1 gold for the two. But because you're my first buyer I'll sell it to you in 750 silver."

"Here." I gave him 1 gold coin and he gave me my change.

I thanked him and went my way out of the town. Marco instructed me to perform it out because it will cause a disturbance. The Town is a busy place so I might get captured if I'll cause heavy traffic.

Bringing my materials, I entered the forest searching for a place where there is a wide free space. I picked up a stick and started drawing the circle and arcane text. I wrote this in my diary because I don't want to forget about it. And also I wrote my own circle if ever I failed then I'll try this out.

The circle that Marco made and the arcane text translate to, "Oh god _O_ I asked of your help and mercy. Please bestow this mortal your blessing. Accept my humble sacrifice of _O_." Each arcane text creates a perfect loop and whatever you place in the two small circles will complete the message you wanted to convey.

With that, I placed the ugly-looking statue and the Bitter gourd and eggplant concoction. After I finished placing the two I also placed one ether stone. Then I recited the arcane text over and over.

Puff

A cloud of smoke appeared over the circle. The statue and the concoction vanished inside the circle.

A square-faced man appeared inside the smoke. "I am the god who heals. I shall receive your sacrifice and see what blessing I shall bestow."

The god who heals opened the bottle of the Bitter gourd and eggplant concoction and chugged it down in one single drink.

Blurgh!

The god who heals puked.

"Argh! Fucking hell! Help me. Somebody's trying to poison me. Please get me some healing potions and 5 bottles of antidote." The god who heals commanded his servant. He then slammed his hand on his table. "That's it I'll quit this gimmick. This isn't even easy or any way laid back."

With a wave of his hands, the connection was cut off. The ground exploded destroying the circle I made.

I looked at what happened in awe. Did I just make the god who heals retire?

Thankfully he did not harm me. I would have died a thousand deaths if he did.

I picked up another stick and did the circle again. Now I'm using the god of knighthood something to place at the center circle. I started to hesitate about placing the concoction but I did it anyways. This is all I have maybe gods have different types of taste.

And with that, I placed another ether stone and recited the arcane text once again.

The statue loudly cracked breaking down into pieces. Another smoke appeared over the circle. Then I was shocked by what happened next.

The smoke appeared then a static sound loudly echoed out of the smoke.

"I won't accept any sacrifices for the time being. I'm at the beach. This is a pre-recorded message. Thank you."

The static sound slowly faded along with the thinning smoke.

"Do gods take vacations?" I seriously ponder.