( A few hours before the monster wave )


    The entire Earth waited with bated breaths when the sun shone over the horizon, marking the start of a new day.


    Today was the day where the monster wave was expected to start, however, since the start time wasn''t definite, there was a possibility of the raid starting anytime in the next 48 hours, however, the defending forces had to be alert nheless.


    The bonfires from the night before were extinguished, the morning meals eaten quickly and battle armor equipped.


    The atmosphere was tense, war songs were being sung to keep morale high, while authorized personnel from the ground zero media began their live coverage of the monster raid.


    Schools, Colleges, Offices, shops, etc were shut across the world, as on this day, all non-climbers gathered in eithermunity shelters or the safety of their homes, praying to Gemini Gods for an easy wave.


    With the TV screen on, they watched the raid develop live, cheering for the heroes that defended them from afar.


    *******


    "Forgive me for meddling my Lord, but that''s not how you tighten your armor" Pdin Patrik said, as he saw Rocky struggling with putting on a full body armor and could not help but meddle.


    "Oh? I have never actually fought in full gear before, even at the university….. I actually have no idea what I''m doing here" Rocky admitted candidly as Pdin Patrik moved over to him and started to tighten the armor straps around him.


    While the majority of fighters were given standard issue armors, Rocky was given an (Epic) grade piece of equipment that was usually reserved for pdins of the Church.


    Initially, Pope Cole was insistent on giving Rocky his own semi-legendary armor, however, it was a custom fitted piece that was too small for Rocky''s frame.


    Thankfully, they had a standard issue piece of enchanted armor for the pdins that did fit Rocky as that was the armor Rocky tried wearing today.


    The armor had 7 distinct enchantedponents that greatly helped protect one against both magical and physical attacks.


    The mainponent was the chest piece, which was tightened using straps around the back such that it fit one''s frame perfectly without leaving any gaps.


    While there were strapless variants of chestpiece avable, unless it was a custom fitting, they usually fitted one like a rattling box and were not optimal gear choices.


    Rocky, who had never worn a full armor before, let alone a strapped armor, had no idea on how to equip it and hence, Pdin Patrik helped prepare him.


    Putting on the chest piece first, he then put on the shoulder pads, the neck guard and the helmet.


    Then he ced arm guard around Rocky''s arms, shin guard around his feet and helpedce Rocky''s boots.


    A total of 7 distinct defense equipment were tightened and secured against his body, as Rocky felt the armor to be stuffy and suffocating once he was fully geared up.


    "Wow, this thing weighs like 15 kilograms on its own," Rockymented, as Pdin Patrik chuckled at hisment.


    "Well it''s designed for us pdins. It''s a piece of equipment for floor 40 climbers and above, so yeah, it will feel heavy for you. But at our level we don''t feel this much weight at all" Pdin Patrik said, as Rocky nodded at his words.


    It wasn''t that the equipment was heavy, it was just that he wasn''t strong enough yet to wear such powerful equipment, however, he did not have the option not to wear it.


    Pope Cole insisted that he must wear it for self protection and hence although it restricted his movements and felt heavy, Rocky was forced to equip the heavy armor.


    Shuffling his feet and trying some jabs, Rocky tried to get a feel for the gear and his movement within it. novel hosted m,vle mpyr


    He felt like his peak speed was reduced by around 10% because of the added weight, but he wasn''tpletely incapacitated either and was able to move his joints pretty freely and perform all the moves that he wanted to.


    ''Sacrificing a bit of speed for improved defense? I''d say that''s a fair trade-'' Rocky thought, as the armor grew on him as time passed.


    Rocky''s unit consisted of mostly experienced pdins from the church.


    Apart from Sir Patrik and another Pdin named Neesham, who were actually pdin ss fighters, all others were either holy mages, archers or ranged fighters that were given the honorary post of a ''Pdin''.


    Being from the Church, they all adored and loved Rocky thoroughly and there seemed to be an unspoken understanding amongst all members that regardless of what happened in the war, they were going to protect Rocky at all costs.


    With Rocky, they were a total of 12 members and they were directly answerable to Pope Cole and him only in military hierarchy.


    Apart from Pope Cole, nobody had the authority to order their unit around, with Pdin Patrik having the final say, which was unlike all other units that were answerable to the Climbers Association in the chain ofmand regardless of their guild affiliation.


    Since Rocky was a part of the group, The cameras from reporters often focused on their party and especially Rocky, who seemedposed and ready for the fight, with two gleaming swords around his waist.


    Despite the serious atmosphere, there were many viewers back at home who hoped to see a glimpse of Rocky in action, to see what the skills of the Champion of Gemini and a SSS talent looked like.


    For now however, Rocky was only patiently waiting, just like the rest of Earth''s climbers, holding his nerves until the enemies emerged.


    A few hours passed, and the sun reached its peak height above everyone''s head, when Rocky finally understood the mental fatigue of an impending war.


    Since he was focused and at the ready since morning, although he had not made any physical movements, he felt fatigued because of the mental pressure building.


    In such an environment, it was important to keep one''s nerves calm and joke around, as if one got tired before the fight even began, then it was sure to be a disaster.


    Rocky noticed that the groups of the front lines were constantly singing songs and engaging in small fun games, however, his group was eerily silent and hence he decided to lighten the mood by cracking a joke.


    "Pdin Patrik…..guys-" Rocky said, scratching his nose as he felt embarrassed to make such a silly joke.


    "Yes my lord?" The pdin replied, wondering why Rocky called him.


    "Why do dwarves not y football?" Rocky asked in all seriousness, as Pdin Patrik frowned at the question.


    "Why do dwarves not y football?" He wondered, as Rocky smiled and said "Because the grass tickles their balls"


    For a moment, Sir Patrik looked at Rocky in confusion, before he and everyone else in the party burst outughing.


    "Hahahahaha….. balls-"


    Everyone chuckled at the impromptu joke, as Rocky felt proud of having lightened the tense atmosphere.


    However, little did he know that this small joke that he made was caught by the cameras and had made not only his team, but everyone across the globe crack a smile.


    —-----


    /// A/N - Bonus chapter for hitting the GT Target, good job everyone! ///