Chapter 52: Chapter52-Witnessing the Blessings of Deus Initium Again
The setting sun bathed the land in golden hues.
Its warm glow illuminated the Rich Soil, where Camilla was busy at work.
Ever since Thomas entrusted her with the duty of caring for the Prismatic Succulents, she had never once slacked off.
From dawn until dusk, she watched over them tirelessly, even sleeping in the nearby shed at night to ensure their safety.
Under her meticulous care, the Prismatic Succulents had grown plump and vibrant, glistening like pure crystals, brimming with elemental energy.
As Camilla gazed at the thriving succulents, her face lit up with a joyful smile.
These were no ordinary plants—they were medicinal treasures!
They could strengthen and stabilize an awakener's power.
Through her deepening understanding, she had come to realize their immense value, making her even more dedicated to their care.
"Our village's future depends on these Prismatic Succulents. They are sacred gifts from Deus Initium!"
Camilla murmured, her resolve growing even stronger.
Buzzz—
Suddenly, a gray-green beetle flew in from a distance, aiming straight for the Prismatic Succulents.
Before it could land and devour the leaves, Camilla's sharp eyes spotted it.
With a swift flick of her wrist, a bone needle shot forth, piercing the beetle's body and pinning it to the Rich Soil.
A direct kill.
This was a medicinal beetle, a pest that sought out and devoured medicinal plants—
—one of the greatest threats to spiritual herbs.
If left unchecked, these tiny insects could consume entire crops, leaving nothing behind.
"Thankfully, Thomas gave me these bone needles. Without them, taking down these swift and resilient beetles would be nearly impossible."
Camilla whispered to herself as she retrieved the needle, placing the beetle's corpse into a small wooden box.
Protecting the Prismatic Succulents wasn't just about nurturing them—
—it was also about defending them from these voracious pests.
These medicinal beetles were as tough as steel.
Even if struck with a blade, they would only bear a faint white scratch.
Before she had the bone needles, she could only chase them away, as killing them had been impossible.
But now, the situation was completely different.
"That makes the fourth one today. These beetles are actually quite valuable—according to Thomas, they fetch a hefty sum in the city!"
When she first heard this, she was shocked.
In the village, the most common currency was copper coins—
—even silver coins were rare, and as for gold coins... most villagers had never even seen one.
Yet these pesky beetles, which fed on medicinal plants, were worth a small fortune in the city.
If the beetles were this valuable, then the Prismatic Succulents must be priceless.
Just as Camilla was lost in thought, her eyes suddenly widened.
A brilliant golden light emerged from the temple statue, radiating outward.
"A blessing from Deus Initium?!"
Recognizing the familiar glow, Camilla's face filled with excitement.
She immediately bowed respectfully, expressing her reverence.
From the shimmering radiance, a unique fruit materialized.
Then, with a soft crackling sound, countless tiny golden particles burst forth, cascading onto the Prismatic Succulents like a celestial shower.
As the light merged with the succulents, their fleshy leaves swelled before her very eyes.
Camilla watched in awe.
She had cared for these plants long enough to know—
—their natural growth was incredibly slow.
In ten days, they would barely grow at all.
Yet now, under the divine light, their growth accelerated more than tenfold!
Nearby, Tommy, who had been escorted to the temple by the guards, witnessed the miracle unfold before him.
His pupils shrank, his breath hitched—
he could hardly believe what he was seeing.
Tier-2 Rich Soil...!
Prismatic Succulents...!
This humble village had access to such treasures?!
Even in Black Iron, there was only one patch of tier-1 Rich Soil.
That single tier-1 Rich Soil was strictly controlled by the city lord, regarded as the foundation of Black Iron's power.
Yet even that couldn't compare to this tier-2 Rich Soil!
The difference between tier-1 and tier-2 Rich Soil wasn't just a single level—
—it was a threefold increase in the growth speed of medicinal plants!
And the Prismatic Succulents here...
...they were superior to even the finest crystal potatoes grown in Black Iron!
But that wasn't all.
The fruit that had just appeared—
—it was the legendary fig of myth!
This was an exceedingly rare treasure.
Even after traveling with the city lord and seeing many wonders, Tommy had never once laid eyes on one.
Seeing Tommy's flushed face and rapid breathing, Frank, the temple's head guard, raised an eyebrow.
"Tommy, what's wrong?"
Since becoming a devotee of Deus Initium, Frank's life purpose had become clear—
—to protect the village, to defend the temple, and to remain absolutely loyal to Deus Initium.
He had been patrolling the temple grounds when he noticed Tommy's unusual presence.
Once he learned that Tommy had come to seek an audience with Deus Initium, he had personally escorted him.
After all, many wanderers from distant lands had been arriving lately, and their first request was always to see Deus Initium.
However, Tommy felt different.
He wasn't an ordinary refugee.
That was why Frank had personally brought him here.
Hearing Frank's question, Tommy clenched his fists, suppressing the ache in his heart.
"I'm fine... it's just that... this village is far wealthier than I ever imagined."
Frank laughed, his curiosity piqued.
"Tommy, judging by your clothes, you must be from Black Iron, right?"
"Do you really think our village is richer than the city?"
Tommy didn't answer.
Instead, he simply stared at the tier-2 Rich Soil.
He stared at the fading remnants of the fig.
His heart ached.
But as he took a few more steps toward the temple, his expression rapidly changed from shock to sheer horror.
People.
Endless crowds of people!
The temple courtyard was overflowing with worshippers.
Even though the plaza had been expanded multiple times, it was still packed with thousands of devotees.
At a glance, there had to be at least three to four thousand people!
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And every single one of them was offering incense—
—without a single trace of disrespect.
Such devotion was rare even in the grandest cities.
Scenes like this only occurred during major annual festivals.
For a village to have such faith was unbelievable.
Forcing himself to calm down, Tommy finally turned his gaze toward the temple itself.
Through the haze of incense smoke, he could vaguely see the statue of Deus Initium.
But the moment he laid eyes upon it—
—his legs nearly gave out.
An overwhelming divine presence crashed over him like a tidal wave, engulfing him completely.
A choking pressure filled his chest—
—as if he were drowning.
He dared not look any further.
Shutting his eyes, he lowered his head in absolute submission.
"What terrifying power... Could this truly be a god?"
Tommy's mind reeled with doubt and fear.
Some spellbeasts, upon reaching great heights of power, could become even more cunning than humans.
Perhaps this was all just a grand deception...?
But before he could further test his suspicions—
—a series of golden scrolls shot out from the temple.
Each scroll descended upon a villager, merging into their bodies.
Tommy's eyes widened.
He watched in stunned silence as three tier-1 peak awakeners...
...suddenly ascended to tier-2 beginner!
This... this was a miracle.
Not even the city lord could bestow such power.
Was this... truly the work of a god?!