As I contemplated my next move, a different celestial being appeared before me. This one had a more intense aura, almost as if he carried a hidden edge. Again, featureless, no hint of an eye or a mouth, but this one was far more energetic and quick in their movement, "Impressive!" the new celestial being remarked, his tone smooth yet carrying a subtle undertone. "I see you have close to 200,000 Karma left, 197,395 to be exact. Quite a fortune, even the most devout monks don't even get close to that in a lifetime"

"Thanks, I guess" I replied, feeling slightly uneasy under their gaze, yet I was a bit curious, him just chiming in and mentioning my remaining karma must mean he has something for me to spend my remaining Karma on, and so curiousity got the better of me, despite my unease "So, what can I do with it?"

I saw a mouth, and a hint of an eye; he smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "You see, ancient spirits like yourself have the unique ability to govern territories. Normally, you’d have to build your grove from scratch, but with your substantial Karma, you can buy an existing one. And I happen to know of a perfect grove for you!" He said clapping his hands. I'm starting to like this one; they don't just rudely stare at me the whole time like a certain someone.

Speaking of the certain someone, they remained silent, merely staring blankly at us. I couldn't tell if this was approval, disapproval, or indifference, "So damn hard to read" I thought to myself, but I got no response, I got the hint that they could read my thoughts, but maybe I was wrong, again, they could just be sleeping again and I'm just overthinking this.

The other celestial being waved his hand, and an animated image materialized before us. It was a breathtakingly beautiful grove, sprawling over a vast forest. The trees were lush and verdant, and the air seemed to shimmer with magic. It was majestic, almost too perfect, the flora was too vibrant and diverse, the trees were really large and I could see beautiful almost majestic critters roaming around everywhere.

"This" the celestial being said, "is the Grove of Eternal Blossoms. It's a place of unparalleled beauty, surrounded by the lands of the elves, who are a spirit's best friend! With your remaining Karma, it could be yours right off the bat, saving you the effort of building one from scratch"

I looked at the first celestial being, hoping for some reaction or advice, but they continued to stare blankly, offering no guidance.

The image of the grove was mesmerizing, and the idea of having such a magnificent place as my own was tempting. But something about the second celestial being's demeanor made me hesitant. Should I trust him and use my remaining Karma to claim this grove? I asked myself that question multiple times as the celestial being eagerly waited. His smile was unsettling, and the more I looked at him, the creepier he felt. Still, there seemed to be no harm in the offer. I had nothing to lose, and it wasn't like I could spend my remaining Karma on anything else.

I turned back to the image, studying it more closely. The Grove of Eternal Blossoms was indeed beautiful, a place that seemed to pulse with life. The trees had blossoms of every conceivable color, and a gentle mist hung in the air, giving the grove an almost otherworldly glow. It was everything I could dream of as an artist and a lover of nature. If this was where I could spend my next life painting and tending to my flowers, it would be paradise wouldn't it?

The other celestial being's voice cut through my thoughts. "Imagine the beauty at your fingertips. You'd have a ready-made sanctuary, a place where you could nurture life and weave your magic without the initial struggle of creating it from the ground up" He started to sound like a salesman. Was this like an expensive grove that nobody could afford, and its value was starting to drop? I was never rude to real estate salesmen when they approached me offering me a property or a summer house, but this guy was trying way too hard.

Despite that, I couldn't really deny the allure. Living in such a territory would provide a perfect canvas for my next life. The prospect of starting my new existence in a place already brimming with potential was incredibly tempting.

"What's the catch?" I asked. I loved to bargain, and maybe I could get it for cheaper if I managed to make up a thing or two about it. Did I even know what to make up? It wasn't like I was a grand wizard or an archmage who could notice magical fallacies in an animated image of a property, hell do I even know how this animated image works?

The celestial being's smile widened, but it still didn't reach his eyes. "No catch, really. It's just a rare opportunity. Groves like this don't become available often. It's a shortcut, a head start. Why spend decades building something when you can begin your journey with this masterpiece?"

I glanced at the first celestial being again, still met with that blank stare. It was frustrating not to receive any sign or hint of approval or warning from them, I kind of trust them more than the other guy, they've been with me longer after all.

Taking a deep breath, I made my decision. "Alright, I'll use my remaining Karma to acquire the Grove of Eternal Blossoms"

The celestial being's smile turned into a grin, finally reaching his eyes. "Excellent choice!"

The screen shimmered again, and the words "Grove of Eternal Blossoms Purchased" appeared, along with the updated Karma balance: 0. I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. The grove was mine, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just walked into something more complex than it seemed.

"Well then" the celestial being said, "Off you go!" they waved their hand, and I started to feel myself being sucked into something from behind, the world was starting to get blurry and I was starting to feel myself being lifted off my feet.

Just before I lost sight of everything, the first celestial being's aura shimmered back to life. In a split second, they leaped toward the one who sold me the grove. The last thing I saw was the two celestial beings clashing in a burst of light before everything went dark.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself lying on the ground in a forest. But it wasn't the beautiful, thriving grove I'd seen in the image. This forest was in ruins. Trees were half-burnt, their leaves scattered and charred. A sickly squirrel lay on a nearby branch, barely clinging to life. Vines ensnared my limbs, but I easily removed them and stood up, surveying the area.

The scene was disheartening. The majestic grove that I saw in the image was just a ruined forest. The vibrant colors and serene atmosphere had been replaced by devastation and decay.

Before I could say anything, my status window suddenly popped into view:

Grove of Eternal Blossoms - Status

* Overall Health: 15%

* Tree Vitality: 20%

* Flora Diversity: 10 Species

* Fauna Health: 12%

* Purity Level: 5% (Highly Corrupted)

* Magic Flow: Severely Disrupted

* Overall Level: 1

Tasks to Restore Grove:

1. Purify Corrupted Areas (0/5)

2. Heal Core Fauna (0/50)

3. Revitalize Trees (0/100)

4. Reintroduce Flora (0/200)

5. Stabilize Magic Flow (0/3)

Available Resources:

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

* Karma Points: 0

* Nature's Blessing: 0

"I could have used Karma to heal the grove! Fuck! You piece of shit scammer!" I yelled in frustration, clenching my fists at the sky, or at least tried to yell, but I wasn't actually talking, I was thinking, no matter how many times I tried to open my mouth and say anything, nothing came out, It was weird, but I let it go for now.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. There was no point in dwelling on it now. Instead, I needed to focus on what I could do to fix this mess. I closed my eyes and activated my Spirit Vision, I didn't know exactly how spells worked, but thinking about them or mentally willing them to activate seems to be the catch.

When I opened my eyes, the world around me transformed. Everything appeared semi-transparent, revealing intricate networks of veins and meridians within the trees, plants, and animals. It was as if I could see the lifeblood of the grove, the very essence that sustained it. However, instead of vibrant, flowing energy, I saw dark, corrupted veins running through everything, dark red with a hint of black flowing through these channels that looked like blood vessels, I mean blood was dark red wasn't it? But this just didn't feel right at all.

The trees' spirits were withered and blackened, their roots choked with corruption. The flowers' essence was dull and lifeless, their beauty overshadowed by the taint that clung to them. The critters, including the squirrel, showed signs of corruption within their spirits. The veins and meridians that should have pulsed with life were darkened and sluggish.

"Everything is corrupted" I thought, feeling a deep sense of sadness. Not because I was scammed, but mainly because If the Image that scammer showed me was really this grove, It's just miserable how it looks now.

I knelt down and picked up a charred leaf. The moment my fingers touched it, the leaf disintegrated into ash, carried away by the wind. I glanced back at the sickly squirrel, which seemed to lock eyes with me. For a brief moment, I felt as if it were pleading for help. But then, the squirrel's demeanor changed abruptly. It bared its teeth and leaped onto my head.

I could feel its frantic gnawing, not on my hair or skin, but on my ears. It was an uncomfortable sensation, and I was almost certain my ears weren’t supposed to be on top of my head. Quickly, I grabbed the squirrel by the scruff and tried holding it. Its tiny claws scratched at my hand, its teeth attempting to bite through. Fortunately, my Kimono's passive resistance to physical attacks prevented any real damage.

The squirrel thrashed violently, but it didn’t break through the protective layer of my Kimono. I gently but firmly pried the squirrel away from my head and set it down on the ground. The creature continued to snarl and twitch, but at this point it was too exhausted and fell to the ground with a thud.

With a deep breath, I focused on the celestial flames, one of the abilities I had chosen, It mentioned that it could purify corrupted souls, or kill them if they can't be purified. I raised my hand, summoning a fire that flickered to life at my command. The flames had a soothing aura, as it danced on my palm, I mentally willed it to move to the tip of my index finger, and it obliged, I could make it larger or smaller, or move it at will, which meant I had great control over it. It didn't feel hot, and It certainly didn't burn. I directed the flames towards the squirrel, careful not to cause any harm.

As the flames enveloped the squirrel, it began to seep into its tiny, trembling form. The effects were almost immediate. The squirrel's frantic movements slowed, its fur losing some of its filth and the sickly pallor fading. The once-crazed creature seemed to relax as the celestial flames worked their magic.

When the celestial flames touched the squirrel, I saw the effect in vivid detail. The corruption surrounding the creature was like a dark, swirling miasma, the squirrel's spirit was struggling, I saw what looked like an orb, right at the center of mass, the corruption inside was fighting the celestial flames back, but It quickly overpowered and broke through.

As it breached into the orb, it began to interact with the corrupted aura, or should I call it mana? I don't know what it is yet, and the flames didn’t burn in the traditional sense; instead, they seemed to dissolve the corruption, much like a chemical reaction. The miasma slowly started to lift, breaking apart into particles of blackened energy that were gradually absorbed by the flames as they moved further into the squirrel's body.

After a few moments, the squirrel’s condition improved significantly. It stopped thrashing and looked up at me with clearer, more alert eyes. The fire’s glow around it dimmed, and I could see its spirit becoming healthier, more vibrant. The squirrel still looked weak but seemed far better than before.

As the celestial flames' residual glow faded, the squirrel’s physical form underwent a remarkable transformation. Its body became semi-transparent, now shimmering with a faint, golden hue. It chirped softly, a sound that seemed lighter and more melodious than before, and in a swift motion, it scampered up to my shoulder.

The squirrel nuzzled against my cheek, as if thanking me for purifying it. I couldn’t help but laugh, the gentle gesture was indeed comforting, and I always loved animals. As I reached up to pet the creature, my hand brushed against something furry and long atop my head.

Curious, I felt it out more deliberately. It was very familiar—soft and supple, yet distinctly different from the rest of the squirrel’s form. My fingers traced the edges, and it became clear that these were some sort of ears—canine or feline, judging by their shape and texture. did I turn into one of those cat boys I was seeing over the internet in my past life? I sure hope not.

The squirrel, now seemingly reinvigorated, hopped off my shoulder and began to scurry away. It glanced back frequently, as if urging me to follow. I decided to trust this small, seemingly grateful creature and followed its lead through the devastated forest.

I tried to move, but I stumbled on my feet, falling awkwardly onto the ground. Looking around, I realized that the squirrel was noticeably larger than the ones I was used to back on Earth, and so were the trees. Everything around me seemed enormous. Either I had shrunk, or the world had grown. I struggled to stand, maybe I'm just not used to that new body. I attempted to walk again, but my movements were still unsteady, and I stumbled once more. Frustrated, I remembered that I had some sort of feline or canine ears, which must indicate something, and so I decided to try moving on all fours. To my surprise, this method proved to be much more effective. I could maneuver around with surprising agility and speed, my hands and feet—now adapted to the terrain—gripping the ground securely.

The squirrel watched me with an approving nod, darting through the forest at an impressive pace. I followed suit, moving on all fours. The speed and ease of movement felt natural, as though my new form came with built in instructions, I think this was just natural instinct.

As I followed the squirrel through the forest, I eventually arrived at a large pond nestled in the center of the grove. The water was dark and murky, but even in its state, there was something undeniably vital about it. I approached the edge of the pond, using my spirit vision to see beyond its physical form.

Through my spirit vision, the pond appeared as a swirling, dynamic field of energy. The central meridian, a radiant, pulsating orb, was suspended just beneath the water’s surface. It was connected through a large system of vessels to the rest of the trees and the patches of grass around the pond, trying to push it's energy out towards them. However, it was in a fierce struggle. Streams of pure, vibrant mana attempted to radiate outwards, connecting with the trees and patches of unburned grass. Yet, their efforts were met with a relentless resistance from the corrupt mana that had ravaged the grove. The two forces were locked in a stalemate. The corrupt mana, a swirling mass of dark red miasma, pushed against the pure mana, preventing it from spreading towards the rest of the trees.

The pond's meridian was desperately trying to push its cleansing energy outward, but it was thwarted by the corrupting force that seemed to be overpowering it. The battle between the two types of mana created a tense, almost palpable struggle, with neither side gaining the upper hand.

I tried summoning the largest celestial flame I could muster. With a concentrated effort, I conjured a brilliant, roaring flame of divine energy and hurled it into the pond. The flame sizzled as it made contact with the water, its vibrant light cutting through the murkiness.

As the celestial flame touched the pond’s surface, it began to seep into the water. The pure, radiant energy of the flame seemed to invigorate the pond’s central meridian, amplifying its efforts to push back the corrupt mana. The dark red miasma started to recede slightly, pushed back by the purifying fire.

For a moment, it seemed like the celestial flame was making a significant impact. The pond’s core pulsed with renewed vigor, and the clean mana flowed more freely, pushing against the corrupted one. The darkness began to thin, revealing glimpses of the pond’s former brilliance.

But then, just as quickly as the progress had begun, the flame's power started to wane. The divine light flickered and dimmed, unable to maintain its intensity. The dark red miasma, though pushed back temporarily, surged forward once more, regaining its dominance. The struggle between the pure and corrupt mana resumed, with both forces locked in an unyielding stalemate once more.

It was clear that a single burst of celestial flame, while helpful, wasn’t enough to fully cleanse the pond or the grove. The conflict continued unabated, with the divine energy fading in its battle against the overwhelming corruption.