Chapter 131: New Year’s Worship
Despite their physical resilience making the cold almost imperceptible, they still enjoyed the warmth of the fire—an element of seasonal tradition and ceremonial charm.
After Tony shared his plan to leave for a while, he was met with understanding and a hint of regret.
"December 20th, just five days from now, we're planning to hold a grand feast," Tony said. "But it's only natural for you to want to visit your wife after being away for so long."
"Everyone is living longer now, so we can always meet up again later," Reno responded, clapping Tony on the shoulder with a smile.
"Five days from now is the New Year for Xandar?" Tony asked, surprised.
"Yes, indeed. The islanders have organized some events for the New Year, including a visit to the temple," Layci explained, noting Tony's reaction with amusement.
"You could have told me about such a lively event sooner," Tony exclaimed.
"Ha ha ha, you've been busy in the lab for over a month, so we couldn't inform you," Kael explained with a laugh. "But since you've treated everyone to so many grand meals, we figured your presence would be enough. If you're heading home, we'll just celebrate together another time."
"That's not an issue," Tony replied. "Now that I know, I'll follow local customs and stay here for the New Year before leaving."
He decided to stay, realizing that he could enjoy the festivities without the usual constraints of his armor.
"You're not going to be with your wife for the New Year?" the Seer inquired.
"Our New Year is on December 24th, known as Christmas, and the journey back takes only two days," Tony said. "So if I leave on the 21st, I'll make it back in time."
"Enough about that. Since we're celebrating New Year's, you should have enough drinks ready, right?"
"Of course, there will be plenty of drinks," Kael assured him.
Satisfied, Tony decided to stay a few more days before departing.
The days passed quietly, and December 20th, the New Year's Day for Xandar, arrived.
At 5 a.m., before dawn, when the cold was biting and most would be wrapped in their warm beds, the members of Void Island were up and about. They lit candles and carried a plethora of delicious food and wine, heading in a grand procession toward the temple.
As believers of the Void Church, their appetites were substantial, and offerings to Lord Kassadin naturally included a variety of fine foods and wines.
Amid the lively chatter and laughter, Tony, clad in his Iron Man suit, set off an array of fireworks. The dazzling display, accompanied by cheers, added to the festive atmosphere.
"What are these called, fireworks?" asked Layci.
"Yes, they're used for celebrations on Earth," Tony explained. "They're quite spectacular, aren't they?"
"It's said that Earth has different customs for celebrating the New Year in various places," Layci added. "Tony, it seems you only learned about this recently, so some preparations were missed."
Tony, whose reputation on Void Island was only second to Lady Sonya's, was now the focus of much admiration and respect. His high status was attributed to his intelligence, cutting-edge technology, and generosity, as he often hosted grand feasts for the island's inhabitants.
As the procession reached the temple, which was brilliantly illuminated and decorated, it resembled a beacon in the night. The temple's grandeur was impressive.
In front of Kassadin's statue, there were several large floating platforms capable of holding many people. Each person carefully carried their offerings up the stone steps, and with coordinated effort, they leaped ten meters high to place their food on the platforms.
The offerings were arranged on a stone altar, and monetary contributions were also left behind.
"Thank you for the blessings of the great Void God," they intoned. "My strength is limited now, but this humble tribute is my way of showing respect."
"May I, when my strength improves, repay the Void God's gift of new life," Darm said, placing fifty thousand in cash and specially prepared food on the altar.
Previously, it would have been difficult for him to gather such a sum, but joining the Void had significantly altered his circumstances.
Others followed suit, offering food and praying with sincere devotion. Most contributed at least fifty thousand, while the more prominent figures like Reno, Kael, the Seer, and Layci contributed thirty million each.
Their collective contributions amounted to three hundred million, forming a small mountain of offerings.
Tony, however, felt awkward seeing the abundance of contributions. The promise had been that merely showing up would suffice, but now he faced a mountain of offerings and felt unprepared.
He could transfer tens of millions or even over a hundred million, but gathering such a large sum of cash on short notice was challenging.
Despite the vast amounts of money he had earned from helping Harvey, the lack of preparation left him feeling uneasy.
As everyone completed their worship, Tony pondered how to address the awkward situation.
A melodious voice cut through the night, resonating in everyone's ears:
"Great Void God Kassadin has heard your prayers and will soon descend here."