Chapter 3: Awakening

Chapter 3: Awakening

When the tower first selected someone to become a Climber, they underwent a painful process which was popularly known as the 'First Awakening'.

Originally, every human, animal and insect was endowed with three essential elements at birth, namely- the body, the soul, and the mana pathway.

Upon their arrival into the world, each individual received a physical form, or body, which they soon learned to master.

This early mastery of their physical form was crucial for their survival and interaction with their immediate environment, however, the time it took for various species to master their bodies varied greatly from species to species. Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Parallel to the physical network of veins and capillaries within the body, there also existed a metaphysical conduit known as the mana pathway or mana circuit.

Unlike the visible circulatory system, this mana pathway was a metaphysical network, invisible to the naked eye yet essential for channeling the mystical energy known as mana which was essential to perform extraordinary deeds and magic.

For humans, this conduit remained sealed and inactive until maturity like a dormant channel lying in wait until the tower deemed them worthy to ascend as a Climber.

Till date, the criteria for this selection by the tower remained a mystery, sparking curiosity and speculation among those who yearned to be chosen.

The act of being selected and undergoing the First Awakening was a transformative experience, as it initiated the unsealing of the mana circuit.

With the unsealing of the mana circuit, an individual encountered the world's natural mana for the very first time, often leading to their body collapsing from shock—a process that, in severe cases, could result in the awakener's death.

The dormant mana circuits of the awakeners, never before activated, suddenly surged with mana, inundating the newcomer with sensations entirely new and overwhelming, as mana flowed through their body for the first time.

Damn, the kid went from having an undefined body to a chiseled body in minutes" Cassian said, as he rubbed his cleaning cloth over Rocky's newly formed six pack abbs.

" Comeon Cassian, the kid was already in pretty good shape.

Although the awakening improved his physique, you're exaggerating its importance" Amelia said as she noticed Rocky transform before her very own eyes and noted that although it was a decent transformation, it wasn't as pronounced as Cassian made it to be.

" Alright, let's let the kid sleep for tonight. He has already been through a lot.

Cassian keep checking on him from time to time throughout the night and Amelia bring him to meet me when he wakes up tomorrow morning" Karna said, as he dispersed the group once Rocky's awakening was completed.

**********

( Meanwhile, within Rocky's subconscious )

Rocky found himself walking in a pure white space that seemed to stretch till infinity.

For as far as he could see, there was nothing but just pure white walls as he wondered if this was a dream or was it an elaborate illusion?

" Rocky Yadav...we meet at last " a deep voice said from behind Rocky as he turned and found himself staring at a handsome man with deep blue eyes and pure white angel wings.

The appearance of the man was a bit nostalgic for Rocky as he looked like the perfect copy of what his school books depicted as 'Shakuni', one of the most powerful gods of the tower, and one half of the most followed godly pair on Earth, the Gemini brothers.

"You look like Shakuni the Terrifying" Rocky blabbered without thinking as the man before him smiled as he said "I am Shakuni".