Chapter 220


    "Bang!"


    "Thud!"


    With a tumultuous collision, the escape pod was flipped, leaving Ste and herpanions hanging


    upside down. Thankfully, it wasn''t vertical, but rather at a slight angle.


    The loose soil shifted under the weight, and it took a while to adjust itself.


    In the following two hours, a few more tremors shook the pod, wedged between two massive rocks,


    preventing it from falling further. The tremors were not as intense as the first one. These were


    obviously aftershocks.


    The escape pod was designed specifically for natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis,


    making it shock-resistant. The seats were designed to protect the body''s vital parts. Still, Ste


    could feel the powerful tremors.


    The pod was silent, and to ease the fear of herpanions, Ste yed some soothing music to


    help calm their nerves.


    It was already noon, but with aftershocks looming, she was not in a hurry to leave, "Are you guys


    hungry?"


    "Woof!" When it came to food, Cooper was always the most enthusiastic.


    Ste decided to skip any soup or liquid foods to avoid having it spill all over during an aftershock.


    She gave the dog a bread roll.


    Eating was a battle of its own, as they were still afraid of possible tremors.


    Rosie was given a jelly donut, and Ste handed her a water bottle with a straw, but warned her not


    to drink too much, in case she needed to use the bathroom.


    After taking care of the two, Jasper and Ste had their quick meal.


    The escape pod waspact but well-insted, and with the oxygen supply, it didn''t feel stuffy.


    Despite being stuck in the crevice, with her brother and sister-inw forpany, and rxing


    music on the background, Rosie, full and drowsy, unknowingly drifted off to sleep.


    Cooper left thefort of Jasper''sp, gentlynding on the floor, stretching his cramped muscles.


    Ste, feeling sleepy herself, asked, "When are we going out?"


    "Let''s wait a bit longer," Jasper suggested, recalling that aftershocks could continue into the next


    day, though they would decrease in intensity.


    Stuck in the precarious crevice, Ste was a bit worried, "Can we get out?"


    The downside of Arcadia was that you could only exit from where you entered.


    The pod''s windows didn''t offer a full view, but with Jasper''s ability, they would have a solution as


    long as the earthquake ceased.


    "You rest for a bit. I''ll keep watch," he offered.


    They had to be prepared for the possibility of not being able to return home for a while, so one of


    them had to stay awake at all times.


    Ste tried to rest but couldn''t fall asleep.


    By five in the afternoon, there hadn''t been any aftershocks for two hours, and soon it would be dark.


    They couldn''t stay stuck like this. They needed to find a way out.


    Jasper unbuckled his seat belt and surveyed the situation through the window, "The door isn''t far


    from the giant rock. I can jump onto it and then try to climb up the crevice."


    Any movement would add weight. Afraid that the rock and soil wouldn''t hold, Ste, under the


    pretense of checking the cupboards, transferred the prepared food into Arcadia, reducing the weight


    considerably.


    She then took out climbing ws, ropes, spiked shoes, ice axes, and a first aid kit for Jasper.


    Equipped and ready, Jasperforted his worried sister, "Don''t worry, and listen to Ste."


    "Okay, be careful."


    With the pod door open, Jasper surveyed his surroundings.


    The pod was stuck about ten meters deep from the surface, the door was a distance away from the


    large rock, and the soil was loose due to the earthquake.


    Jasper fired the grappling hook. It was hard to find a solid anchor in the deserted grasnd, and it


    took him about a dozen tries to seed.


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    He tied the rope around his waist and warned, "Hold on, and wait for me."


    Then, he took a leap.


    Ste''s heart was in her throat. They were suspended in mid-air, and if Jasper failed to jump, he


    would fall into the deep crevice below. Fortunately, his agility saved him, and hended on the rock


    without any mishap.


    As his bodynded on the rock, Jasper felt it shift.


    Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he calmly instructed, "Ste, the rock is unstable. Close the


    pod door."


    "Be careful and don''t push yourself."


    As Jasper steadied himself, Ste returned to her seat and fastened her seat belt, though her heart


    was pounding. She hoped he wouldn''t get hurt.


    The soil was loose, making it hard to gain a foothold. However, Jasper, with his experience in high-


    altitude climbing and rescue, carefully climbed up using his spiked shoes and ice axe.


    Halfway up, a loud noise came from beneath his feet.


    Ste''s gaze followed his movement, only to feel a sudden drop. The rock gave way, and the


    escape pod fell once more.


    "Jasper!" Rosie eximed in shock.


    The escape pod fell another ten meters before it was wedged again.


    Ste quickly reassured her, "Don''t worry, Rosie, your brother will be fine."


    Through the windows, all they could see was loose soil and rocks falling.


    Feeling the sudden shift beneath his feet, Jasper nced down to see the pod falling, but he didn''t


    slow his ascent.


    The escape pod could withstand the attack of rocks andndslides for a short while. All he needed


    to do now was to get them out.


    The climbing rope suddenly loosened, probably because the anchor couldn''t hold. In the blink of an


    eye, Jasper kicked off the ground, grabbed hold of the edge, and, using his exceptional waist


    strength, hoisted himself up.


    The edge of the crevice copsed, and soil continuously slid down into the deep pit.


    Jasper moved to a safer spot, drove a stake into the ground, tied the rope around it, and threw the


    other end of the rope down from the edge of the crevice.


    Noticing the fluctuating light, Ste looked at the pod door and saw a rope swinging. She fastened


    the climbing harness around Rosie, "Don''t be scared, don''t look down, and your brother will pull you


    up."


    "What about you?"


    "You go up first. I''ll wait."


    She opened the pod door, used a hook to catch the rope and tied it to the harness. Rosiended


    safely, and then it was Cooper''s turn. He was quickly hoisted up.


    Jasper instructed them, "You two go to the back and help pull the rope."


    Both obeyed, one pulling with her hands, the other biting with his mouth.


    The moment Ste was suspended, she transferred the escape pod into Arcadia.


    Climbing up the nearly 30-meter distance was challenging, fearing the people above wouldn''t be


    able to hold on, she used her hands and feet to climb the soil, and after some struggle, she finally


    made it to the top.


    She was greeted by Jasper''sforting embrace, "Are you okay?"


    "I''m fine."


    "Were you scared?"


    Ste wanted to say no, but then thought better of it, "I was scared, but not with you around."


    She had been reading a lot of books on rtionshipstely, trying to change how she behaved


    around Jasper.


    Sure enough, men were easy to please, and Jasper patted her back, "It''s okay, I''m here."


    It was not even six yet, but the sun was still scorching. Despite wearing a thermo-regting suit,


    they were sweating like they were on a hot tin roof.


    Ste surveyed her surroundings – the factory in ruins, the mountainside sliding, the ground


    cracking – everything was in shambles and devastation.


    Such was the destructive power of a major earthquake, tearing through everything in its path until


    nothing was recognizable from what it once was.