THEOS

Chapter 33: Journey to Cyzicus

Status | Skills | Quests | Inventory

Journey to Cyzicus:

Cyzicus is the Capital of Sylcra. Every ten years the island is besieged by endless hordes of Gegenees. Giant creatures of the Earth. Monsters that possess six arms and thick rocklike skin. Whenever they invade, Cyzicus calls to arms all cultivators of the island, and rewards them handsomely for their aid.

Travel to Cyzicus and fight the endless hordes of the Earth Borne.

Luke read over the quest with a grin on his face.

Now this is something I can get behind. Endless monsters, means endless Stat Points. If I play my cards right, I can make some solid progress there. If it also helps the people on this island, then thats even better. No, that's great. I should be helping people. I want to be a god. Preferably a nice one. Someone who helps others. Yeah.

After reading through the quest again, and making sure he had understood everything properly, he dismissed the screen, and rolled out of his sleeping bag, pillows, and blankets. Surprisingly, the temperature that had been pleasant for most of the day, progressively got colder and colder throughout the night. Cold enough that even with all the improvements to his constitution, he still felt its bite.

I lost a lot when I came here. Everything really, but, I also gained a lot. Im free now to be who I want to be, and thats not an opportunity people get very often, and its not one Im going to let go to waste.

Theres so much to see and do. So much thats amazing and magical. The entire time Ive been here though, Ive been worried that the sky would come crashing down on me. That Arke would find me. That Nefkha would change his mind. Thats all gone now.

Im free. His grin grew even wider.

I did what I had to do to keep myself safe, but thats over and done with. Arke has no way of finding me, and nobody knows where I am, or what I look like.

Which leaves me to figure out what I want to do with my life here.

With the Seed, not trying to be a god, seems like a massive waste, and honestly, I want to be one. I want to be strong enough never to be bullied by anyone again. I dont want to die again and have my soul almost eaten. I dont want to be an ant for giants to step on as they please. The universe is a lot bigger than I ever dreamed of or even imagined it, and I want to know everything it has to offer. I want to learn about talismans and potions and magic. I want to know who made The Seed, and why it picked me. I want to go back to Earth and visit everyone.

He stepped out of his tent, and looked across the endless plain. His lips quivered before turning into a full blown smile.

And all of that is in my reach. He said out loud.

Packing away his stuff, a task made efficient with liberal use of his inventory, Luke donned his new shoes, and set off.

Running swiftly through monotonous grasslands, focusing only on putting one foot in front of the other.

His thoughts blissfully quiet as he bathed in the light of the suns, and felt the wind blowing through his hair. Every once in a while, he would channel mana to his shoes, and leap through the air. Never too high, lest he fall and injure his still healing ribs, but high enough, and long enough to grow accustomed to using what was fast becoming his favorite artifact.

Im not even flying, and its already so much fun. I wonder what that will feel like once I become a warrior.

His mind flashed back to Nefkha, when he had discovered him. He had been terrified, and in awe with the casual disregard with which the Old Man had treated gravity.

He continued like that for two whole weeks. Running all through the day, and camping at night. Alone with his thoughts as he dreamt about his place in this world, and what he wanted to do with his second life and what kind of person he wanted to be.

Im definitely not going back to a desk job, but man, pissing my days away stress free was super underrated. If a little unsatisfying.

Eventually the scenery started to change. Small copse of leafy trees became more and more frequent, and with them came birds and rabbits. Occasionally he spotted herds of giant elephant sized bull-like creatures grazing in the distance. Every time he tried to approach them though, they would scatter in every direction. So quickly, that even with all the improvements hed made with his Agility attribute over the past weeks he was nowhere near quick enough to get close.

Whatever they are, they arent at the low Mortal-tier. He thought to himself after a failed attempt to hunt one, before continuing North.

He hunted rabbits and other small game, as often as he could, while there were plenty of them around, Not knowing when else he would get the chance to stockpile to his heart's content, and fully aware that if he hadnt squirreled away the food that he had, he would have starved to death.

It would turn out however, that his cautiousness wouldnt be needed, as after a few days, when the nine suns were sinking below the horizon, he finally came face to face with the largest river he had ever seen.

Its opposite bank was so far away, that not even climbing a hundred feet into the sky was enough to see it through, and Luke regretted even attempting it. Coming down from that high up was a lot more harrowing when he knew that a mistake would cost him his life, or failing that, break a few bones.

The next morning he woke up bright and early with a plan. For the first time in weeks, deviating from his usual routine. He needed to prepare for the next part of his journey back to civilization. He needed to build a raft.

Pulling out his map, he roughly estimated where he was, before nodding to himself.

If I stuck to a mostly straight line on the way here, then I should start running into people so long as I go down stream. Thats where most of the towns and cities are supposed to be. He scratched his head as he looked at the map, then back at the river. There should be people upstream too, but there arent any boats going up or down it. Thats strange. Either the map isnt accurate anymore, or these people dont use the river for trade.

Now that I think about it, it's weird how little there actually is on the island. None of the land I passed over seemed like it had anything wrong with it, but all of its empty.

Is it the Gegenees? I guess that would make sense, depending on how they attack, and I can imagine an infinite horde of just about anything making life pretty hard. An endless horde of giants Seems like it would be impossible to deal with. On top of that they come every ten years, I cant imagine what kind of devastation they cause when they do. Then again, even Carim was mostly just woodland outside of a few cities. It could be that the people in this world just arent as obsessed with building stuff. Its not like cultivators dont keep the monsters in check.

Whatever, Ill find out soon enough I guess.

For now, I have work to do. He walked down the rivers banks, until he found a decent set of trees.

His sword wasnt the best tool for cutting them down, but he managed to get a good dozen, and in a relatively short amount of time. His swords unnaturally sharp edge, driven by his mana enhanced physique made the process relatively painless. Especially considering that the trees were just trees. With nothing magical about them.

Stripping the branches off their trunks, he laid them down side by side, and then bound them together with rope. Impressing himself with how sturdy his construction was.

All that time in woodworking class really did pay off.

Fashioning the leftover wood into a pair of oars, he called it a day, and settled in for the night. Spending the rest of the evening fishing in the river, and succeeding in pulling one fish out after another with a makeshift pole. Maxs memories guiding his actions and making the once foreign task effortless.

The next morning, he pushed his raft into the water, and began the last leg of his journey.

He had enjoyed his time by himself. It was helpful in dealing with everything he had experienced, but he was also more than ready for it to be over, and to finally have someone to talk to again.

I cant believe some people like just being alone in the wilderness. I think if I stay alone for much longer, Im going to go insane.

Letting the river carry him down, he used his oar to steer. Dodging stray logs, and keeping an eye out for any water creatures that could be a threat.

A week later, he finally saw the first traces of civilization. A collection of fishing vessels way in the middle of the river.

Angling his oar, he maneuvered himself towards them.

Let's hope they're friendly, because if they arent this is going to suck.

Hey! Luke yelled into the wind, waving his arms wildly as he did. Not that he had to, the fishermen had noticed him almost as soon as he had noticed them.

You another one of those Rising Sun brats? A fat man, wearing an apron covered in fish guts and blood asked him as soon as he was within earshot.

Rising Sun? Is that like the Luminous Sky Society?

Luke looked at him confused, Umm.

The fisherman looked back at him warily, before shaking his head and muttering, Kids these days, under his breath. Then bending down, he threw a plank, connecting his boat and Lukes raft. You're wearing the robes. I may be a fisherman, but I know a cultivator when I see one. Get on.

Thank-you! Luke looked at it, and then the fisherman hesitantly, before glancing at the other boats in the distance, and deciding it was probably safe.

He doesnt look like hes planning to kill me, and I have enough mana to make it to the shore with my boots if it comes down to it. Luke looked at the man again. Not like he looks like hell be able to put up a fight anyway.

Spreading his arms out for balance, he quickly walked onto the fishermans boat. Resisting the urge to crinkle his nose as the smell hit him, before nodding gratefully to the man.

Hi. Im

I dont care. He interrupted Luke. Ive had it, he gestured to the other boats, weve all had it, with you Sect brats going up river, and freeloading off our town, and causing a ruckus every night. How many times do we have to tell you that theres no treasure there. Theres nothing there at all, and there hasnt been for decades. He shook his head, and threw his arms up in frustration. Bah. I dont know why I bother. Its not like your type ever listens to my type, aint that right lad. Im just a dumb mortal aint I?

I have no idea whats happening, but Ill roll with it.

Uh. Im not really sure what to say. Were not supposed to say anything about what we do. Im sure you know how it is. Luke smiled at him, impressed with his own ability to bullshit so cleanly.

The man looked at him with clear disappointment before shaking his head. He handed him a broom. Make yourself useful while you're on my boat. I dont care if you're a fancy cultivator or a pig, I dont give free rides. He grunted before turning away, and lumbering to the opposite end of the vessel. Fiddling around with the nets hanging over the side of the ship.

Luke looked around and got to work. Once again letting Maxs memories guide his actions.

Still no clue whats going on, but things seem to be working out.