"And that Rocky...is how Heroes are made" That''s what Ravan said before disappearing, however, all Rocky saw were the God''s lips moving as his sense of hearing was still in shambles.


    For a moment he kept staring at his hands and the spot where his opponent had stood just moments ago as even he himself could not believe what had just transpired?


    Did he, a tier-less fighter who had not even ascended past the floor 10 of the tower, just kill a lesser god?


    Rocky could absolutely not believe it, as he kept blinking in disbelief.


    "My lord! My lord! My lord!" Pope Cole said like a broken tape recorder as he jumped on to Rocky''s feet, kissing them as if they were the most divine thing in the universe.


    The Lich had been vanquished! Not by the great mage god Cassius. Not by the supposed strongest fighters of Earth, but by the Champion Of Gemini, the same guy whose role people questioned within the war council just a few days ago.


    In this universe, everytime as one killed a beast or an opponent they umted corresponding Karma for that kill that strengthened one''s soul.


    To keep progressing through floors, it was rmended for a climber to kill as many beasts as they could, as often killing more beasts even if they were lower leveled, helped one gain more soul strength and eventually be strong enough to clear higher floors.


    It was said that the greater the distance was between the strength of the individual being killed and the individual killing them, the more benefits one received, however, Rocky never experienced this phenomenon as profoundly as he did today.


    After killing the Lich, Rocky felt something intangible within him change.


    It was like energy was rapidly being delivered to every single cell in his body as his wounds and burns regenerated at an frightening pace.


    [ Strongest System Notification - Warning! Warning! Warning!


    EXP absorb patch is a system level 2 feature! The hosts current level is insufficient to absorb this volume of soul energy ]


    [ Strongest System Notification - Quest cleared ''Birth Of A Hero'', distributing one time additional rewards-


    Single Use EXP Absorption token ]


    [ Strongest System Notification - Single Use EXP Absorption token is automatically used to absorb as much of the Lich''s soul energy as possible before dissipation ]


    A slew of notifications filled Rocky''s visions, as he read them with utmost curiosity.


    Just as he read the third notification, he felt his entire body being enveloped in a bright golden light, as the rate of soul energy absorption increased rapidly.


    Suddenly, Rocky felt as if warm currents of energy were flowing through every corner of his body as he felt his muscles and his bones being refined and improved in real time.


    Instead of the 40-60% soul energy that would have gone to waste without the system helping him properly absorb it, Rocky could now absorb all of the Lich''s dissipating soul energy as he gained immense benefits from the same.


    By the time the glow around him faded and he could notice the battlefield around him again.


    His hearing seemed to have returned, burn marks gone and his staminapletely replenished.


    He felt like he was at-least thrice as strong as he felt before starting this war as his body seemed to have undergone a huge qualitative improvement.


    But apart from the internal changes in his body, there were also many big external changes around him as well.


    Pdin Patrik had also joined Pope Cole in his embarrassing worship and was now kissing his left foot while Pope Cole kissed his right.


    Both were crying as if their wives had just died, however, instead of painful sobs between their tears they experienced joyousughs.


    On the other side, over a quarter of the undead army that was directly resurrected/ created by the Lich vanished on the spot, while all other undead troops experienced a heavy strength debuff of 20-50% for their leader dying.


    Suddenly, the climbers of Earth that were struggling to hold their lines before, finally felt like they could push their opponents back instead, as a genuine counterattack, started to organically take ce, turning the tide of the war on its head.


    ***********


    ( Meanwhile Cody )


    Cody harbored doubts about Rocky''s intentions as he watched him charge through the undead army with the Church of Gemini and the True Elites at his side.


    Though Codycked faith in Rocky himself, he had faith in the discerning judgment of Pope Cole and Neatwit. As he called for a ceasefire in the st zone, hoping fervently that they sessfully achieved whatever they were nning.


    Seeing God Cassius retreat from the battlefield twisted Cody''s stomach with despair, convincing him that humanity''sst chance had evaporated.


    Yet, when Rocky achieved the impossible by defeating the Lich—a feat even Cassius had failed to aplish—Cody felt as though he was witnessing a true miracle unfolding.


    At that moment, Cody gripped his own grey hair and shook his head in disbelief as he had to rub his eyes thrice and pinch his own skin just to make sure he was not hallucinating.


    "He did it….. Rocky…. No! The champion of Gemini really did it….. HAHAHAHA" Codyughed like a madman, as that moment he too felt an intense urge to jump towards Rocky''s feet and kiss them just like Pdin Patrik and Pope Cole were doing.


    He was by no means a religious man who believed in miracles, yet as he saw Rocky killing the Lich with his own eyes, he suddenly felt as if the Gemini gods were truly looking over Earth.


    While Cassius betrayed them, the Gemini Gods refused to abandon their devout believers in their time of need, sending their champion to vanquish a foe that could have destroyed their.


    "Praise Gemini….. Praise Lord Ravan, Praise Lord Shakuni!..... I will never doubt your grace again-" Cody said as genuine tears of joy flowed down his cheeks.


    —------


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