Chapter 297: Returning Home
Sometimes fate worked in mysterious ways and Rocky saving the Abyssal Dragon Egg was one such moment of fate which even Shakuni never saw coming.
The probability of him successfully saving the egg was less than 1%, however, somehow fate decided to take the unexpected route, giving Rocky an unexpected opportunity.
His friends were naturally overjoyed to see the egg being saved, however, with everyone but Kronos in dire need of immediate medical attention, the group decided to delay their discussion on what to do with the egg, until they were all healthy in mind and body.
"Alright, everyone, let's meet at my place on Earth in two days. Hopefully, by then, we can patch ourselves up a bit and shake off some of this fatigue.
This floor raid was brutal, but I'm proud of all of us for pushing through!" Rocky said, appreciating the efforts everyone had made in the raid, as he urged them to take the well-deserved rest that they had earned.
"See you in two days, then!" Buhara replied.
"I need to hit the training range," Kronos muttered.
"I almost died twice today—I think I'll head home and see my family for a bit," Erin said, as the three of them parted ways.
Rocky himself returned back to Earth, first going to the Ground Zero medical center where he paid the local healer a visit to heal his broken arm.
Thankfully, with the experienced hand of a veteran healer popping his bone fragments back in place, Rocky recovered from his injury quite quickly, however, he was still a couple days away from making a full recovery as the bone joint had not completely healed yet.
Despite this, the searing pain rushing through his arm subsided and some nominal movement returned to him as Rocky felt much more relieved than before.
Thanking the healer, Rocky tried to pay him, however, with the healer being a devout believer of the Gemini Gods, he simply refused to accept any payment.
Instead, the healer requested that Rocky bless his children, who he video called over the phone, and Rocky had to oblige awkwardly as he pretended to bless them with powers that he never really had.
On Earth, he was almost like a Demi-God now with the devotion of the common man towards him reaching almost fanatic levels.
However, he did not mind it as much now as before, as while he was nothing but a common man back when this fanaticism started, he was slowly starting to become a real climber, with abilities that actually transcended the common man.
Also with his own devotion towards the Gemini God's strengthening, he could now understand the reason behind the devotion that the common man held towards him and somehow he did not find it as repulsive as before.
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( The upside, Rocky's apartment )
Finally, after getting healed, Rocky returned to his apartment to check on his sister, however, as soon as he opened the apartment door, the scene that greeted him shocked him completely.
His eyes widened as he stood in the doorway, frozen for a moment. Across the room, his sister, Riva, was laughing—a sound he hadn't heard in what felt like ages. Her black hair flowed freely behind her, catching the light as she darted through the room with impossible speed.
Her movements were graceful yet playful, like a cat chasing its prey, but the prey was something far more unexpected: Baby Chun.
The little ice bunny, with his soft white fur and big blue eyes, was leaping from one piece of furniture to another, bouncing off the couch, darting under tables, and scampering over chairs.
His tiny paws barely touched the surfaces before he sprang again, his laughter echoing through the room as he evaded Riva's grasp.
"Catch me if you can!" Baby Chun giggled mischievously, his voice filled with the playful defiance of a toddler.
His small body blurred with movement, making it hard to follow his every leap. He scampered up the arm of the couch, then vaulted over to a nearby bookshelf, his ears flopping in the air as he expertly dodged Riva's outstretched hands.
Riva, on the other hand, was relentless. Her movements were almost a blur as well, her demi-human agility on full display.
She zigzagged around the room with remarkable ease, her feet barely making a sound as she changed direction in an instant. There was a glow in her eyes, a light that had been missing for far too long, as she chased Baby Chun with genuine laughter spilling from her lips.
She lunged forward, her fingertips just grazing Baby Chun's fur, but the nimble bunny vaulted over the coffee table, laughing all the while. Riva landed lightly on the floor, spinning around with a playful growl, clearly enjoying the chase.
Watching them, Rocky felt his chest swell with a deep, overwhelming warmth. His heart tightened, not with sorrow, but with something softer, more profound. Riva—his sister, who had been drowning in the depths of depression, who had seemed so lost—was now laughing, chasing a little ice bunny around their apartment like a child at play. It was a sight he hadn't dared to hope for.
Also, more surprisingly for him, the fact that Riva was chasing Chun at speeds that only a Tier 3 or higher warrior could show was most impressive, as after the incident her sister seemed to have completely lost her prowess as a warrior. Read new chapters at empire
As his gaze shifted momentarily, he caught the sight of Mama Chun sitting calmly atop the dining table, her serene presence a stark contrast to the chaos around her.
In her rabbit form, she was a little larger than her child, her white fur immaculate, her eyes reflecting wisdom beyond her years.
When she noticed Rocky's glance, Mama Chun gave him a knowing nod, her posture dignified as always. There was a silent understanding between them—an acknowledgment that bringing Baby Chun and Mama Chun into Riva's life had been the right decision.
Rocky exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. It wasn't just the laughter or the game—it was the lightness in Riva's expression, the life that had returned to her eyes. He felt something stir deep within him, a sense of peace that had eluded him for so long. For the first time in months, he felt like he could finally breathe.
The chase continued until Baby Chun, mid-leap from the couch to the bookshelf, froze midair as his bright blue eyes locked onto Rocky. The mischievous glint in his gaze returned as he tumbled onto the ground with a soft thud, rolling over dramatically before pointing a tiny paw toward Rocky.
"Sister Riva! Look!" Baby Chun cried out in his toddler-like voice, his expression wide with mock shock. "The evil human has returned!"
Riva, still catching her breath, glanced at Rocky with a wide grin, her cheeks flushed with the exertion of the chase. Her laugh softened as she looked at her brother, her eyes shimmering with a warmth he hadn't seen in what felt like forever. Baby Chun, still lying on the floor, kicked his little feet playfully, waiting for what he knew was an inevitable response.
Rocky couldn't help but chuckle. "Evil, huh?" he said, stepping further into the apartment. "I thought we were friends."
Baby Chun puffed out his little chest, standing up defiantly. "I'm watching you, human! You better be nice to sister Riva, or I'll—" He paused, searching for the right word, "—or I'll freeze your socks!"
Rocky laughed, feeling the tension of the past few days melt away. Even though his body still ached from the raid, this moment, this sight of Riva happy and alive again, was the kind of healing no healer could provide.