Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 433 - 373 Torch_1

"That's outrageous!"

What in the world are you thinking, Phoenix? That was Huai Shi's first reaction.

But then, he felt it wasn't entirely unreasonable, but… wasn't this a bit too tragic?

Huai Shi asked bluntly, "How is this different from burning people as firewood?"

"The difference is that we at least have firewood to burn," the Phoenix replied calmly. "Otherwise, we'll freeze to death."

"I object," Huai Shi stated directly. "We haven't reached that point yet."

"Does your objection matter, Huai Shi?" The Phoenix glanced at him indifferently. "You've already been urgently conscripted. I am your direct superior. I command, you execute. Don't talk nonsense."

Now, he finally resembled a soldier, speaking calmly and coldly, allowing no argument.

His gaze was domineering and brutal.

Huai Shi said no more.

"Is it feasible?" Taurus asked again. "We haven't made any technological preparations in this regard."

"Although there are some challenges, they aren't insurmountable."

The pale-faced Fox handed a report to everyone present; each person received a copy. "Next, the Phoenix will become the kindling and begin to burn. Conservatively estimated, if heat is released stably at the minimum level, our current thermodynamic equipment can probably ensure stable burning for about four thousand years."

Someone asked, "What about after four thousand years?"

"After four thousand years, someone else will take over."

The Phoenix said, "It will be based on species and attributes. I'm first, Green Bird is second, the third is… The specific list is here. If anyone has objections, bring them up now."

No one spoke.

Phoenix is taking the lead to sacrifice himself; anyone else further down the list who dares to complain would be a complete scumbag. It's utterly shameful.

There weren't many among the Explorers who feared death, and besides, it wasn't truly death.

"Then it's settled."

The Phoenix made the decision. "Next, Huai Shi will assist the engineering team with mineral excavation and will also be responsible for manufacturing the giant framework for the metallurgy center. Fox, you lead a team to resolve the technical issues. We start in one month."

"After I'm gone, Fox will continue to manage the city with her existing authority. My authority will be handed over to Huai Shi. Any objections? No objections, meeting adjourned."

"Hold on a second."

Huai Shi, shocked, pressed his dog-like head close to the conference room window. "Why me? And why am I last on the list?"

"You're last because you're only seventeen. If possible, I'd rather you not die before them. If you're unwilling to accept that, I can give you another reason: you have the largest mass, so you can burn the longest."

The Phoenix answered unhurriedly, "Leadership is given to you because you can control the situation. To put it bluntly, if worst comes to worst, you can even shove those unwilling to enter the furnace… Are you satisfied now?"

Huai Shi was speechless.

The matter was decided, whether Huai Shi was willing or not.

Although there were some issues during the process, the Central Furnace was finally completed two months later. After calculations, its performance was slightly worse than the original design's projected effectiveness but still within tolerable limits.

"Well, everyone, goodbye."

Before stepping into the silent furnace, the Phoenix looked around at everyone one last time. "It has truly been a pleasure working with all of you."

He paused, then said sincerely, "I hope you all will continue to strive and never give up."

He didn't wait for their replies.

He slowly folded his six wings and plunged into the darkness at the heart of the furnace.

As the heavy furnace core doors closed one by one, his figure vanished. Only a warm breeze drifted slowly from the furnace, and a dazzling solar orb was once again suspended in the sky within the city's Sky Dome.

It was as if the sun had returned to this forsaken land.

Not a swift, clean death, but a slow end over four thousand years of agonizing burning… If the sacrifice of one person could allow the entire world to continue, it was an incredibly worthwhile trade.

"He volunteered. You don't need to be sad."

The Fox said, "Isn't this the duty of the Astronomical Society? Even if this is just a drill, it's no excuse to shirk responsibility."

"Is there no other way?" Huai Shi asked.

"Of course, there is."

The Fox told him calmly, "It's just that those methods aren't as effective as this one, nor do they offer such a favorable cost-benefit ratio."

Huai Shi said nothing more, just silently gnawed on the stone pillar by his mouth, the CRUNCH, CRUNCH sound spreading.

The Phoenix's light shone on him, and it felt as if the marrow-deep cold was dispelled, warming Huai Shi.

He quietly finished this lunch, then rose, carefully lifting the city within its frame onto his back.

He said, "Let's keep going."

"Where to?" the Fox asked.

"Everywhere is the same as here, so why not go for a walk?" Huai Shi asked. "Maybe we can find a place that still has some heat."

The Fox shook its head. "The probability is too low."

"We're idle anyway, right?"

Huai Shi smiled, tightening the straps that secured the frame, feeling waves of warmth from his back. "Whether there are geothermal zones or not, we at least have to keep moving forward."

The Fox no longer objected, merely sighed. "Then, as you wish, Mr. Atlas."

Atlas, the Giant from the ancient myths of the Rome Region who held up the world.

That title isn't bad at all.

Huai Shi gazed at the endless darkness ahead and took another step.

"Big brother who looks like a dog, keep it up!"

In the silence, a distant call, like an auditory hallucination, reached him again. Huai Shi paused, then couldn't help but smile.

Alright, I'll keep it up.

Be a good sled dog.

Carrying the last vestiges of the world, Huai Shi's journey began anew.

He walked into deeper darkness.

...

「Time sped up once again.」

Huai Shi continued onward. A thousand years, two thousand years, three thousand years passed as if in a fleeting nap. Along the way, he witnessed numerous solemn and wondrous sights.

There were terrifying fortresses steeped in the deepest darkness, radiating lethal malice, and desiccated stars hanging high in the sky, fallen into deathly silence.

More common were expanses of ruins and colossal statues.

In their final moments, those dead civilizations had, by unspoken agreement, chosen to carve their images in stone, hoping to leave a record for posterity.

Others had simply annihilated themselves in internal strife and wars.

Behind Huai Shi, the Titan Empire continued to develop. After its population stabilized at several million for many years, its volume once swelled to three times its original size before it began to shrink, sometimes to only half its original size.

The pace of evolution slowed, yet the span of each evolutionary leap grew larger. In the end, compared to their original forms, they had shrunk to one-third of their size, their pupils shining like flames with the Light of Source.

"This is normal."

The Fox, now completely bald and lying on a sickbed, said, "The trend of evolution isn't about becoming stronger, but more suitable. In the current situation, shrinking in size to reduce consumption is the most sensible path for growth."

"You look like you're about to die."

"Just old age. After all, I haven't undergone a Deification transformation, and all my evolution points were invested in computational simulations."

Still calm, the Fox said, "After I die, leave the city's management to Taurus."

Taurus was the only one not on the list because it had very little to burn. It was already burning continuously, controlling the city's energy supply.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the heart of the city.

"You all can decide on matters within the city."

Huai Shi felt he had walked enough. He stopped and lay down on the ground. "I'm tired. I'll sleep for a while."

"And after you wake up?"

"Keep walking," Huai Shi said. "It's not like there's anything else to do."

The Fox was amused by his persistence. "Still not giving up hope?"

"I haven't really thought about hope. I just don't want to admit defeat," Huai Shi said. "At least I'm still alive."

I'm still alive, so I must keep walking on.

This wasn't some admirable determination to be marveled at by others. For Huai Shi, it was just the simplest instinct.

"Then, I wish you a pleasant journey." The Fox added, "Good night."

"Good night."

Huai Shi closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

In his dreams, he saw a lake.

When he opened his eyes again, Taurus had awakened him.

"Where's the Fox?"

"Died two hundred years ago," Taurus said. "You've been asleep for about eight hundred years, give or take."

"Time is really unreliable," Huai Shi mused with a smile. "It felt like I only slept for two or three minutes, and that we'd only been on the road for half an hour. What's up?"

"The flames are about to die down. It's Green Bird's turn this time," Taurus said. "I wanted to wake you to see."

Huai Shi nodded.

After so many years, many of the Giant Beasts had given up, entering a state of Deep Sleep, awaiting their turn.

Green Bird seemed a little uneasy. After forcing a smile at everyone, she walked into the furnace.

As layers of gates opened, the firelight illuminated Huai Shi's eyes.

He saw the Phoenix once more.

He no longer looked as he once did.

Within the flames sat a somewhat aged middle-aged man. Sensing the furnace door open, he looked up, paused for a moment, then smiled at Green Bird.

"Is it your turn?"

Green Bird nodded. "I'm a little scared."

"It's normal to be scared, but it's not as lonely as you imagine. It just hurts a bit."

The Phoenix reached out, gently stroking her head. "You'll get used to it. Just think of it as a nightmare. One day, someone will come in and wake you. When that time comes, you must smile, just like me. Understand?"

His touch was gentle, but tears streamed down Green Bird's face as she nodded vigorously.

"Okay."

And so, the Phoenix smiled, as if in relief, then turned into Ashes and dissipated.

Bathed in flames, Green Bird looked back, waving goodbye to her companions outside the furnace core.

The furnace door closed.

In the silence, Huai Shi looked away, simply rose from the ground, and resumed his journey forward.

The earth rumbled, playing the final, defiant melody in this dead world.

I have to keep moving forward. We're still alive. We still exist.

...