Chapter 24: Reactions
In the chaotic moments following Rocky's branding as the champion, urgent measures were taken to ensure his safety and well-being.
He was promptly rushed to the nearest medical center, his condition closely monitored by a team of specialists, who were bewildered by the phenomenon they were witnessing.
Concurrently, the Climber Association, recognizing the gravity of the event, acted swiftly, sending the test result footage to key global entities.
This distribution list included the foremost guilds and, crucially, the Church of Gemini, the bastion of faith that had long heralded the emergence of a divine champion.
The Climber Association's intent behind sharing the footage was to inform and prepare the institutions most deeply intertwined with the lore and prophecy of the Gemini for the emergence of the champion.
However, the modern world's intricate web of digital communication did not work in ways that they intended, as the critical tape that was meant to be protected as top secret was leaked to the open web for all to see.
Despite all intentions for a controlled release, with the video escaping into the wild expanse of the internet, one could only speculate that the breach was made by a devout insider who must have felt compelled to share the miraculous occurrence or the cunning work of digital activists determined to expose this groundbreaking event to the masses to promote chaos.
Naturally, The leak ignited a wildfire of public attention, sparking a massive uproar across digital platforms worldwide, buzzing with an electrifying intensity unmatched by any previous event.
News of the marked champion, the first ever to bear the divine tattoo of Gemini, cascaded through social media platforms, discussion forums, and news outlets with viral ferocity.
Within minutes of the announcement, #GeminiChampion and #Rocky'sMark surged to the top of global trending topics.
Images of the sizzling tattoo, captured in the moments following the test, were shared and re-shared, each iteration accompanied by captions ranging from awe-struck veneration to skeptical analysis.
Memes proliferated, some hailing Rocky as the messiah of the digital age, others humorously juxtaposing his situation with pop culture references, yet all contributing to the digital tapestry of a world captivated by a single event.
On one popular platform, a thread titled "The Dawn of the Gemini Champion: Fact or Fiction?" attracted thousands of comments within the first hour. "This is what we've been waiting for," wrote one user, their message echoing the sentiments of countless others who believed in the ancient prophecies.
Skeptics pushed back, questioning the authenticity of the tattoo and the circumstances surrounding its revelation. "CGI has come a long way," a doubter posted, only to be met with counter arguments detailing the credibility of the Climber Association and the integrity of the testing process.
Streaming platforms saw an unprecedented spike in viewership as influencers and content creators went live to discuss the news. Experts in mythology, religion, and science were invited to weigh in, offering their perspectives on the implications of Rocky's emergence.
Some saw it as a beacon of hope, a sign that humanity was on the cusp of a new era. Others warned of the potential for conflict, citing historical instances where divine intervention was interpreted as a call to arms.
The religious communities across the globe entered a state of fervent activity.
Services were hastily organized, with leaders of the Gemini faith leading congregations in prayers of thanks and devotion.
The symbol of Gemini, already an extremely unique emblem, found new reverence among the faithful with pilgrimages to sites deemed sacred in the lore of the Gemini brothers witnessing a sharp increase in attendees with each individual seeking to draw nearer to the divine in the wake of Rocky's branding.
Among the global reactions, perhaps the most poignant were those from the youth. Schools and universities became arenas for animated discussions, with students debating not just the implications of Rocky's marking but also what it meant for their future. For many young people, the champion's emergence was not just a religious or cultural milestone; it was a sign that their generation was destined for greatness, that they too could be part of a story far greater than themselves.
As the digital sphere continued to pulse with activity, it became clear that Rocky's awakening was more than just a singular event; it was a catalyst for a global renaissance of thought, belief, and possibility.
The world had been irrevocably changed, and at the heart of this transformation was a young man who remained unconscious under the care of the best healers of country X.
Yet, amid the celebration of digital voices, a more sinister undercurrent also began to emerge. Conspiracy theorists and doomsday predictors latched onto the narrative, spinning tales of impending disaster and manipulation by unseen forces. Their dark predictions spread through the underbelly of the internet, gaining traction among those inclined towards distrust and fear.
As the sun set on a day that would be etched in history, the world lay in anticipation. Rocky's awakening had opened the floodgates to a sea of potential futures, each more uncertain than the last.
The digital sphere, having played its part in broadcasting this moment to every corner of the Earth, now waited, along with the rest of humanity, for Rocky to awake and his story taking the next turn.
As of yet, only the video of him being branded as the champion was making the rounds, however, the news of his talent rating was still a secret.
Only Gemini knew what chaos would brew across the world, if only his SSS talent was also revealed.
Chapter 25: Important People
Rocky woke up with the most severe headache, feeling dizzy and disoriented.
He found himself in a premium medical room with some very recognisable figures sitting around him.
Across his bed, near the edge of the room where the window was, sat guildmaster Karna hunching over his knees.
To his right was Amelia, dressed as impeccably as ever and to his left was a figure one seldom ever saw outside the tower in the form of the Vice guild master of the True Elites Guild and yet another one of Earth's top 3 talents, Neatwit.
All of them were seated on the left side to his bed, however, there was an equally impressive line-up to his right as well.
On the other edge of the room, sitting in a large luxurious chair was Mr.Cole Davis, the pope of the church of Gemini and the religious leader of Earth.
He wore loose drapes that had the symbol of Gemini printed all over it again and again, as anyone could spot from a million miles away that he was a religious individual.
Beside him was the Leader of the Climber Association, Mr. Cody North, dressed impeccably in a tidy suit and between himself and the pope, there was palpable tension in the air.
*Cough*
Rocky coughed involuntarily, alerting everyone that he had woken up as immediately all eyes turned to him.
"Inform the healers, the boy has woken up" Neatwit said authoritatively, but he then took a glance across the room and realized that none of the individuals present inside were small fries that he could order around.
To save face for the vice guildmaster, Amelia got up and went out to inform the healers that Rocky had woken up as Neatwit's face flushed slightly red for having made such a silly mistake.
" Bless Gemini! The champion has awoken!
Your eminence, your lowly servant Cole is extremely pleased to meet you" The pope said, as he got up from his chair and kowtowed on the ground below, scaring the living crap out of Rocky, who did not expect such treatment at all.
" Have some semblance of pride in yourself Cole, you're a floor 54 climber yourself.
Yet you bow to a boy who has not even ascended to the first floor?
Shame-" The leader of the climber's association Cody said, as he criticized Cole for his behavior.
" Forgive his insolence, great Gemini, this man doesn't know how to differentiate apples from oranges.
He's a fool" The pope said, as he looked towards the heavens and prayed for the gods to forgive Cody.
" What's going on?" Rocky enquired as Karna got up from the lounge he was sitting on and walked calmly towards Rocky with a phone in hand.
" What happened is this mark showed up on your back while you were awakening" Karna said, as he showed Rocky a picture of the tattoo that mystically appeared on his back, jolting some memories.
Rocky remembered being in the test hall and having suffered a blackout due to intense pain on his back as he felt like it had caught on fire.
" Right…. My talent assessment-" Rocky murmured as Cody was the first one to respond.
"Your talent evaluation came back as a very high 'S', you're one in a billion, kid" Cody said, as immediately Cole argued against it.
" BLASPHEMY! YOU SHALL NOT LIE TO THE CHAMPION!
By the grace of Gemini, you great champion, have been blessed by SSS talent!
The talent to become a True God!
Don't listen to any of these liars" Cole shouted vehemently as Cody slapped his own face.
" How hard is it for you to understand you religious zealot, that if his talent is made public, not just Earthlings but the UNIVERSE will be after his life!
He will die you idiot-" Cody cursed, as Cole stood up and bashed his forehead against that of Cody and got into his face.
" The champion of Gemini cannot be targeted by anyone!
Lord Shakuni weaves his fate.
No-one, not even you, can interfere with his mandate" Cole said passionately, as the environment within the room became incredibly tense once more.
*THUD*
Thankfully, Amelia came back with the healers at the right time, as the presence of unqualified personnel prompted both Cody and Cole to back off, as they maintained the semblance of decency in front of outsiders.
"Are you okay? Do you feel any pain?" The chief healer asked Rocky, as he checked his arm for pulse, while his assistants cast a lesser heal spell on Rocky's body.
" I'm fine, just a small headache" Rocky said honestly, as the doctor nodded and checked his vitals.
" He looks to be fine, should recover his strength in a day or two. No signs of mana poisoning or his mana pathways being injured.
No internal bleeding or trauma.
He's fine" The chief healer affirmed as Karna thanked him and walked him out the door.
Uptil now, Rocky had no idea as to where exactly he was or what was going on, however, whatever it was seemed to be very serious as the most important people on Earth had gathered around him to discuss it.
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/// A/N - This chapter is sponsored by patron Allcat_Gaming, please thank him in the comments for the same ///
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
21 Power
stone 
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