Chapter 27: Choice
Rocky was presented with two choices.
A)To go to the university for nourishment of young talents with his real talent hidden and his profile as the champion of Gemini suppressed.
Going down this route would see him have his image on Earth tarnished, with the viral video of his branding being deemed a deep-fake and his status as a champion being denied.
If he decided to go down this road, He was to be given membership of the True Elites Guild and protected as a high priority individual on Earth and within the tower.
A core team would always be assigned to his protection detail and the truth about his true talent and status was to remain hidden until Rocky felt that he was prepared for the responsibility it brought and was strong enough to fend for himself on the universal stage.
This was the road Karna and Cody suggested that Rocky take as in their opinion it was the most practical approach.
While Cody also wanted to change Rocky's identity entirely and bury him in debt to exert more control, Karna convinced him to ditch the more extreme points, as he convinced him to take a more moderate approach.
B) The second choice for Rocky was to align with the church and reveal himself as the champion.
If he chose this path, Karna warned Rocky that his life would be fraught with needless challenges, the likes of which Rocky would not even have imagined.
Of Course the threat to his life was the most obvious drawback. Nefarious factions would always be after his life and Rocky would face a perpetual struggle for survival.
However, even if he ignored that, Karna warned Rocky from personal experience that once his talent and status was revealed he would be a target for various social conspiracies that he was not prepared for.
Karna explained how once his talent was revealed, men and women tried their hardest to genuinely please him and get closer to him, however, all of them did so with the hopes of getting closer to a rising star and how Karna could trust no-one because of his status.
He explained to Rocky how living a normal life would no longer be possible for him and how overnight his life would observe a drastic shift, however, after explaining all this, he finally let Rocky choose between the two choices, as in the end it was his own life at stake and nobody had the right to coerce him into doing something that he did not wish to do himself.
"So what will it be? Will you be sensible and patient? Or vain and dead?" Cody asked, as Rocky was tempted to say that he chose the first path.
Rocky was not a glory chaser. He wanted to make a big name for himself as a successful climber, but he wanted to do it for 'Himself' and not as the champion of anyone.
He did not care about the prestige that his position as the champion brought and he did not wish to tackle more trouble than he could handle, however, before he could mutter the words "I choose the first choice", the system screen lit up.
[ Strongest System Notification:- Lord Shakuni wishes to inform you that choosing the second path will help you rescue your sister faster- ]
A system notification popped up out of nowhere and informed Rocky that choosing the second path would help him save Riva faster, as the moment he read it, all other hesitation was removed from his mind as he answered confidently "I choose the second option-"
Karna and Neatwit let out and audible sigh together, while Cody bit his finger in frustration.
" CHILDISH CHOICE. FOOL! THE CHAMPION OF THE GODS IS AN IMMATURE FOOL" Cody shouted in anger as he stomped his feet, causing the entire medical facility to tremble because of his power.
" That's enough Cody, the champion has spoken.
The will of the champion is the will of the gods and I will not see the will of Gemini be disrespected.
You've done all you can. From here on out, let us handle the upbringing of the champion" Pope Cole said as he escorted everyone else out of Rocky's room.
While just a few days ago, the Bishop of the Church of Gemini wished to interrogate Rocky for being a heretic, now it's leader became a puppet in Rocky's hands.
Life was truly a mystery that way, as never in his wildest dreams could Rocky have ever imagined that his biggest backing would someday be the Church of Gemini.
" Please rest well, Champion, I will handle the imbeciles from here on out.
Also don't worry about the fees for your university education.
Everything shall be arranged" The pope assured Rocky as he closed the door to Rocky's room to give him some space.
**********
A few hours later, the church of Gemini made the earth shattering announcement regarding the verification of the champion and his connection to the divine and revealed Rocky to be a SSS talent that has never been seen in the history of mankind before.
This news was like petrol on fire for the media that was already ablaze with Rocky's content, as within hours a new sensation was born.
A picture of Rocky working out with the text
"Earth's First son.
Gemini's Champion.
Rocky Yadav"
Went viral on social media, as the name "First Son Of Earth" stuck alongside Rocky forever.
Chapter 28: Faith
Karna had warned Rocky that if he chose to come out as the champion, his entire life would turn upside down, however, Rocky could have never anticipated just how much it was going to change, until he experienced it himself.
He was kept in observation for one full day after he woke up at the medical facility before being granted discharge, however, in this past one day, after the pope Sir Cole confirmed him to be the champion of Gemini, his life was altered forever.
He had already experienced fame as an influencer, so initially Rocky questioned just how much of a change could it be?
While at the influencer stage he had millions of followers who shared a love-hate relationship with him, the biggest reaction he saw to someone seeing him in public was to approach him with their face turning euphoric as they rushed to click a selfie.
' I like your content-'
Or
' You motivate me to become better'
Was the best compliments that Rocky received, while
' I hate you-, you're a phony' were the worst sort of comments someone had said to his face.
After being declared as the champion, Rocky expected that all this would be amplified by ten times or maybe even a hundred times, however, never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined the sheer magnitude of emotions that his mere presence stirred in the eyes of believers.
*AUDIBLE HYMNS*
The glass of his medical room reverberated by the hymns of the believers who sang the praises of Gemini outside the facility.
Verse 1:
In the shadow of fate, under the gaze of the night,
Shakuni plots our path, with wisdom and might.
His strategies woven in the stars above,
Guiding us forth with his foresight and love.
Chorus:
Hail, Gemini, two faces of the divine,
In your balance, our destinies entwine.
Shakuni the planner, Ravan the brave,
Lead us from cradle, to triumph, to grave.
Verse 2:
Ravan, fierce warrior, in the moon's pale light,
Your prowess unmatched, your spirit takes flight.
Blood is your domain, the battlefield your shrine,
In your strength, we find the courage to fight, to shine.
Chorus:
Hail, Gemini, two faces of the divine,
In your balance, our destinies entwine.
Shakuni the planner, Ravan the brave,
Lead us from cradle, to triumph, to grave.
Bridge:
Together as one, yet distinct as the day,
In your duality, our faith shall stay.
From Shakuni's mind to Ravan's fierce hand,
Under your guidance, united we stand.
Final Chorus:
Hail, Gemini, two faces of the divine,
In your balance, our destinies entwine.
From the heavens above to the earth we crave,
Guide us, protect us, mighty and brave.
The religious men and women sang the hymn of Gemini non-stop outside the medical facility, their voices laced with hope and their eyes full of tears of joy.
Initially Rocky questioned whether this had anything to do with him, as similar chants could be heard inside the church of Gemini at any day of the year, however, the moment he took a single step outside the medical facility and appeared in public sight, all his illusions were broken.
As Rocky stepped out, he was immediately enveloped by an entirely different world than the one he left behind in the medical facility.
Before him stretched a meticulously enforced quarantine zone, a clear buffer of several dozen meters that separated him and the amassed crowd by at least a few dozen feet and there being countless high level climbers enforcing the distance and keeping the crowd at bay.
However, while Rocky could notice the start of the crowd, he could literally see no end, as for as long as the eye could see, humans had gathered to catch a glimpse of the champion emerging, as the second he walked out of the medical facility, the hymn chanting stopped and an unprecedented roar erupted from the crowd.
"He's here- Rocky's here! THE CHAMPION HAS EMERGED"
The crowd shouted as Rocky could feel the energy behind their voices which prompted those at the back to shout as well, as soon the entire crowd erupted into cheers.
This was no ordinary gathering; it was a melting pot of humanity, drawn together by a singular, momentous occasion.
Among the sea of faces were individuals from all walks of life—commoners, believers, skeptics, and clergy alike, all united in their desire to witness the emergence of the champion of Gemini.
" MY SON! HE IS FIVE AND COULD NOT WALK, YESTERDAY HE TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS WHEN HE SAW YOU BEING DISPLAYED ON THE TELEVISION.
HAIL GEMINI!
HAIL THE CHAMPION ROCKY" Rocky heard a particularly loud fanatic shouting this over the voice of the crowd, as Rocky felt goosebumps all over his spine when he heard him say this.
Rocky was sure that he had absolutely no role in helping his son whatsoever, however, the tears in the eyes of that man and his fervent passion told Rocky that he was a firm believer that this miracle was performed by him and that even if Rocky asked him to take his own life for salvation, he would do it without a second doubt.
Camera's flashed, security officials escorted him to the chopper that was pre-arranged to take him out of this place, as it was only at this moment that Rocky began to realize the magnitude of the situation he was in.
As he looked at the crowd, he could see their hands reaching out to him, not in demand but in supplication, as if merely touching the hem of his garment would bring blessing, healing, or even a fragment of the divine favor that rested upon him.
Faces, young and old, were lifted to him, eyes shining with a mixture of awe, hope, and unspoken prayers.
The sheer depth of belief, the unfiltered emotion directed at him, was unlike anything he had experienced. This was not the adulation of fans; it was devotion, a collective outpouring of faith in what he represented.
'Just what have I gotten myself into?' was what Rocky thought as he sat inside the chopper and it took off.
As he went airborne, he saw the full size of the crowd that had gathered below and the sheer scale of people that had came to see him walk out of the medical facility made him feel dizzy as there were hundreds of thousands, if not a million people who had gathered outside his medical facility, as a sea of humans stretched for at least a few miles on all directions.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
21 Power
stone 
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