Chapter 211

Chapter 211

The glaring sunlight scorched everything, only to be instantly veiled by dark clouds. The thin air grew increasingly stifling, and in the distance, rising steam distorted the space as bubbling, boiling water inexplicably erupted across the rolling sea. The affected area expanded rapidly, spreading across the entire ocean surface. Thick, sweltering mist gradually gathered into towering storm clouds overhead, pressing lower and heavier, as though the sky might collapse at any moment.

The dense clouds obscured most of the daylight until a bolt of lightning split the heavens. The sudden flash illuminated everything, revealing the distant sea surface trembling faintly. A muffled roar, like that of a waking dragon, echoed as the seabed—buried for centuries—was torn apart by an invisible force, exposing rivers of scorching crimson light. In mere moments, a sea of blood formed within the abyss.

Bubbles churned violently, stirring waves mixed with shattered rocks. Countless mutated marine life fled in panic, desperate to escape the deep-sea inferno. Chased by towering orange flames, they drew closer to the human base.

The alarm signaling imminent danger blared instantly. All off-duty guards swiftly returned to the lighthouse, preparing for battle. Beneath the apocalyptic thunder and lightning stood the resolute faces of those defending humanity’s last refuge.

“I thought we still had some time?” Huo Feng gazed down at the approaching tide of mutants and quickly deployed personnel to open fire.

Wei Pan glanced at the untriggered countdown on the screen beside him. There was no time to debate now. “The base’s defense systems are fully activated, and the perimeter traps have been deployed. According to intel from the logistics team, the lighthouse’s armory is fully stocked, and reinforcements are on standby at the underground city’s exit.”

“How much longer until the underwater purifiers finish calibration?” Su Xu’s voice came through the comms, mixed with the sound of rushing wind.

During the design phase, the R&D and Engineering Departments had considered that the purifiers would need to operate for over a century before showing results. Given the uncertainty of their own lifespans, they had accounted for potential disasters during production to minimize future maintenance. Waterproofing the high-speed particle purifiers was just the baseline.

When Su Xu left Wei Pan’s command center, he passed the engineering team. Upon hearing the alarm, Ma Qian had already begun leading efforts to raise the heat-resistant purifiers via satellite control, preventing them from being buried under scorching magma.

However, the purifiers near the human base had been the last to be installed and were still in the calibration phase. Survival was a biological instinct, and the mutants’ never-before-seen aggression raised the question: Could the base’s defenses hold until all 248 purifiers finished calibration and suppressed the mutants’ offensive capabilities?

Wei Pan: “Thirty more minutes.”

“Thirty minutes.” Su Xu slowed his sprint up the lighthouse steps, his face grim as he stared at the remaining stairs. He abruptly turned and descended, moving against the stream of reinforcements rushing upward.

“A roar!”

The monsters’ shrieks merged with the thunder, their grotesque forms illuminated by pale lightning. Their hides, slick with scalding seawater, glistened as their eerie green eyes fixated on the human fortress, making a final desperate charge under the drive for survival.

Violent waves crashed forth, and the barricades collapsed under the mutants’ relentless assault, falling within minutes amidst howling impacts.

As the dark tide pressed closer, Huo Feng barked the order to fire. If they could hold out until the purifiers finished calibration, the guards could retreat underground and wait out the mantle plume’s eruption.

These last thirty minutes—they had to endure, no matter what.

Muzzle flashes flickered rapidly against nature’s wrath. Humanity’s final struggle seemed futile, yet it was an instinctive plea.

They just wanted to live!

Another thunderclap shook the heavens. Amid the chaos, a bluish-black figure shot out from the lighthouse, standing alone on the sea’s surface, facing the monstrous tide without fear. His powerful tail slammed down, cleaving the ocean with a deep trench, halting the advancing threat.

Torrential rain poured from the storm clouds, hissing as it struck the sea, releasing a scorched, salty stench. Su Xu pushed back his wet hair and suddenly plunged into the mutant horde, joining the suppressing gunfire to defend humanity’s last home.

“Oliver?”

Liang Zhan’s calm voice over the comms caught Oliver off guard. “What is it?”

Liang Zhan led his team out of the lighthouse, manually securing the heavy doors behind him. He looked up and said, “Nothing. Just wanted to bother you one last time.”

With that, he slung his cannon over his shoulder and leaped onto a boat, rallying all combat-ready modified humans from Zone 3 to support Su Xu. “Everyone! We’re alive today because of Director Finn and the others. Now it’s our turn to repay them! Charge!”

Su Xu glanced back slightly, the sea’s ripples glowing red, mirroring the magma spreading beneath. His breath came scorching hot, his blood searing through his veins as if evaporating like the scalding seawater around him.

Despite their efforts, centuries of evolution had transformed the polluted marine life into a terrifying force. Their sheer numbers and biochemical advancements overwhelmed the suppression, driving them toward the fortress walls.

“BANG! BANG!”

The sudden barrage from above made Huo Feng and the others instinctively raise their guns. The lighthouse’s battleship had taken off, providing aerial support.

“Command, who’s on that ship? It’s too dangerous! If the mantle plume erupts, the flying debris will be like artillery fire!”

“Where’s Director Wei? Why isn’t anyone responding?”

After a long pause, Lu Fangqing’s voice replied, “Director Wei is leading the reinforcements.”

“We’re all in this together—either we hold these monsters off at sea today or we all retreat underground. No sense in you taking all the pressure.” Oliver maneuvered the ship, dodging debris as he fired at the mutants climbing the lighthouse. His eyes locked onto Liang Zhan among the Zone 3 fighters.

Liang Zhan’s lean frame was riddled with wounds, his protective suit saturated with blood. Su Xu, noticing the danger, rushed to aid him, but the aerial bombardment arrived first.

Wei Pan’s eyes remained locked on Su Xu’s screen, relieved he was unharmed. To Liang Zhan, he said, “You’ve done well, buying us time. But the Old Director is furious. Get back now before he tans your hide.”

Liang Zhan’s strained voice protested, “We want to help. You always treat us like kids, but if it weren’t for the marine camp and the institute, we wouldn’t be alive. Even if we die here, it’s worth it.”

“Thank you… all of you.”

“No pointless sacrifices. Save the heroics for after the disaster.” Su Xu finally fought his way through the currents, his tail curling around Liang Zhan to hurl him back. “Take the strong ones and guard the underground entrance. Everyone, prepare to evacuate.”

“But—!” Liang Zhan’s arms quivered under the burden of his cannon, unwilling to leave.

Su Xu’s tail lashed up a massive wave, creating a watery barrier to buy time. His words ran counter to Oliver’s earlier statement, but the intent was the same: “Not everyone needs to fight on the front lines. Guarding the gates so we can fight without worry—that’s maturity too.”

Liang Zhan clenched his teeth. “If we leave, what about you? You can’t hold the sea alone!”

The water grew hotter, each droplet searing the skin. The approaching magma tendrils crept toward the lighthouse. Su Xu, half-submerged, endured far worse—how could they abandon him?

“GO!” Su Xu sidestepped the question, his voice took on an uncharacteristic edge.

He then looked up at Wei Pan’s ship. “How much longer?”

Wei Pan understood. “Ten minutes until calibration finishes.”

His voice tight as he added, “Su Xu, you can retreat too. We’ll hold the last ten minutes.”

“The magma’s coming. You’re the ones who need to leave.” The superheated debris could tear through the airborne ships. Wei Pan’s team had clearly chosen to share the lighthouse’s burden, with no intention of returning.

Su Xu turned to the mutants overwhelming the lighthouse, inching toward the top. Huo Feng and Mo Le’s efforts were barely slowing them. Wei Pan’s team dodged debris while supporting both the lighthouse and Su Xu at sea. Even if the purifiers activated in time, clearing the mutants from the walls would take too long.

Su Xu lowered his gaze to the magma flowing beneath him. The scene overlapped with his dreams—he knew his fate. Glancing at the purifier’s control panel in his hand, he said, “Wei Pan, just clear the lighthouse walls and retreat. Leave the sea to me.”

“What are you planning?” Wei Pan’s voice turned urgent. “Su Xu, I’ve never asked anything of you. Now, I’m begging—don’t do anything reckless.”

Su Xu switched to a private channel. Calm settled over him as he surveyed the boiling sea. “Wei Pan, fate led me to stand with humanity. Having made that choice, I’ll honor my promise to the ocean. I once thought my existence meant nothing. But knowing my decisions can change countless lives… suddenly, the world doesn’t seem so hateful.”

“I don’t understand.” Wei Pan steered the ship toward Su Xu, desperate to pull him from the water.

Su Xu smiled up at the approaching ship. Though distant, he could almost see Wei Pan’s worried face. With a wistful sigh, he whispered, “Wei Pan, thank you for existing in this world. Promise me something, okay?”

“Tell me when you’re back.” Wei Pan’s reply was instant. When Su Xu stayed silent, he relented. “...Go on.”

Su Xu’s expression softened, warmth surging stronger than the heat around him. “Wei Pan, when this is over, never forget your ideals. Build the world you’ve dreamed of.”

He paused, standing amidst the flames, his gaze alight with newfound love—timid yet solemn. “And… Wei Pan, I love you.”

Thunder and lightning tore through the storm, while crimson fire pillars erupted from the depths. Molten debris clashed with rain, leaving no escape.

Ignoring the ship’s damage alerts, Wei Pan charged toward Su Xu, surrounded by mutants. He couldn’t guess Su Xu’s plan, but dread twisted in his chest.

The moment Su Xu finished speaking, he dove beneath the waves. His dark aquatic form was swallowed by the horde, leaving no trace behind.

Not long after, the marine purifier’s monitoring system suddenly sent out an alarm. The flashing red light dyed Wei Pan's eyes red as he instantly understood Su Xu's intention. Gripping the communicator, he shouted, "Su Xu, where are you going?"

But there was no response from the other end. In the prolonged silence, Wei Pan rushed toward the nearest purifier marker near the Taoyuan Base, still clutching at a wisp of hope. The mutated creatures couldn’t harm Su Xu. Maybe after shutting down the purifier, the unpurified seawater would divert some of the monsters' attention, easing the pressure on the underground city base, and he could find a way to escape.

It didn’t matter. The seawater purification plan could resume once the magma cooled. As long as the human base remained intact, they would surely atone for the sins of the past.

All he wished for now was Su Xu’s safe return.

Countless monsters swarmed in, and Wei Pan’s ship cleared the mutated creatures near the marker from above, ensuring Su Xu would have a chance to be rescued the moment he surfaced. But he waited in vain.

The scorching heat from the depths burned everything underwater, melting flesh like flowing water, making even breathing a luxury. All marine life shrieked as they struggled, with nowhere to hide.

Su Xu, barely holding onto his fading consciousness, dove deeper into the deep sea. He waved away the currents mixed with sparks, his scorched eyes bloodshot. The deeper he went, the more despair and helplessness he felt. He could sense that the ocean that had birthed him seemed ready to abandon its last struggle.

"You left the choice to me—doesn’t that mean you still hold hope for this world? If you want to live, the outcome isn’t set until the very last moment." Blinded by the scalding water, Su Xu relied on memory to find the purifier’s deployment site.

"Su Xu, look here. The shutdown button is at the very bottom."

Ma Qian’s teachings echoed in Su Xu’s ears. He felt his way down the purifier’s scalding shell, ignoring how the metal seared the skin from his hands. Calculating the final moments of calibration, he manually shut down the purifier in his sector just before the purification plan officially launched.

Submerged in the deep sea, Su Xu could sense purifiers in other sectors activating at high speed as programmed, while his remained inert. Instantly, the lost and confused monsters detected the nearest habitable zone. The mindless mutated creatures couldn’t discern which area was truly safe, instinctively converging upon the soothing waters.

The seismic tremors grew fiercer. Su Xu’s awareness dimmed, unable to distinguish whether the currents around him were seawater or magma. In his final moments of consciousness, he rebooted the purifier by inserting the control panel.

The purifier needed time to establish satellite linkage, but he had none left. To ensure the safety of the underground city and the remaining humans, Su Xu clung to his final vestige of hope even as his mind faded.

He was born from the ocean’s hope, emerging before the apocalypse, reared upon the land that would become the Taoyuan Base. No one was more suited to serve as this sea’s parameter than him.

Just a body—once lost, with no place to call home. Now, having found meaning in this world, he still felt sorrow and regret.

Wei Pan, I wonder if you’ve safely returned to the human base. When this disaster passes, will you, as you once promised, bring a radiant future for the remaining humans and build a home as beautiful as the research facility?

Perhaps we’ll meet again in a thousand years. But will they remember this world in the next era? Probably not.

Su Xu could no longer shed tears. In his desolation, he dove deeper, toward his final resting place.

"The purifier… the purifier has been reactivated!"

Ma Qian stared in disbelief at the connection request on the control panel. He had been regretting not questioning Su Xu further when he asked for the external control panel—he could have stopped him.

Qiu Jiexi wept silently, wordlessly polishing the machines Su Xu had repaired. Only when the screen showed the nearest sea sector reaching peak purification efficiency did shock overwhelm him. "No… what did Su Xu do?"

Even if that purifier hadn’t synced with the satellite, the baseline purification levels meant the waters outside Taoyuan Base had just undergone a cleanse. The mutated creatures, unable to adapt to the purified concentration, couldn’t approach for a while. Before the pollution balanced with other sectors, the central purifier had ample time to sync and activate at full capacity.

But no matter how the human base called for Su Xu, there was no answer.

Finn watched Wei Pan, who had been mechanically dialing Su Xu’s number since their return, and gently patted his shoulder. "Child, we still have more important work to do."

"Rebuilding human society. I know." Wei Pan replied tonelessly, unable to suppress his grief.

Su Xu had been too astute, too perceptive. He must have guessed Wei Pan would be devastated, so he tethered his faltering resolve with a promise, carrying hope for a brighter future forward.

But the clearer he saw it, the more it hurt—as if he, too, had sunk into the scorching currents, leaving only a shell filled with conviction.

Months of storms and thunder scoured the molten flows. The earth-shattering tremors finally ceased, leaving behind an endless black sea, undulating heavily as it waited to cool and settle into land.

Ash fell like snow, obscuring the sky. The stench of sulfur and rotting seawater lingered. The human base’s lighthouse defenses crumbled at the magma’s final approach, sealing all entrances and cutting off the outside world. The planet seemed devoid of life, steeped in deathly silence.

"Cough, cough, cough."

A human’s cough broke the stillness. Several figures in heat-resistant suits emerged from underground, exploring the post-disaster Earth.

"Oliver, you’re wearing an oxygen mask—what are you coughing for? Stop pretending!"

"Liang Zhan, don’t think I didn’t see you testing if the ground was hot when we first came out!"

Ma Qian shook his head helplessly as the two bickered, walking over to Wei Pan, the team leader. "Just as you predicted. The pyroclastic deposits will form new land. The machines we’ve developed can accelerate cooling. The Engineering Department adjusted the blueprints overnight—see if any further changes are needed."

Wei Pan took them with a nod. While reviewing, he instructed, "Take a team to check if all purifiers are operational. Rebuilding the human base will take time, but the ocean purification plan can’t stop."

"Understood."

Ma Qian nodded, noting how the once-affable Wei Pan had grown even more reticent after the incident.

As he prepared to deploy drones to survey the unstable terrain, he passed Liang Zhan and Oliver, now crouched by a puddle, fiddling with something. Drawing closer, he saw them setting tiny origami boats afloat.

"What are these?" he asked curiously.

Liang Zhan blinked up at him before lowering his head again, hoping the boats would drift far enough for the soul buried deep below to hear their thoughts.

"Everyone folded these. Some have messages for Su Xu, some are thanks, and… well, I peeked at a few. There are hopes for the future too—that Earth can regain its vitality, verdant and thriving, worthy of Su Xu’s sacrifice. Some even vowed never to harm nature again."

He pointed at the boats. "They’re made of biodegradable polymer. Lu Fangqing specially prepared it."

Ma Qian crossed his arms indignantly. "You did all this without including me?"

Liang Zhan shrank back. "You and the Engineering Department have been working nonstop on reconstruction. I’ve been recovering, so I had time."

Ma Qian wasn’t truly upset. He patted Liang Zhan’s helmet, then bent to set a boat adrift, watching it drift away. "I hope he hears. I hope the world’s future transformation lives up to his dreams."

The rain left shallow puddles on the cooled lava. The tiny boats, so out of place in this desolated world, floated with the current, carrying humanity’s profound remembrance and longing into the wind.

"You’re here."

Su Xu wandered in the darkness. If not for the faint glimmer ahead, he might have thought himself truly blind. "I feel like I’ve been here before."

The light let out a mocking chuckle. "Familiar, isn’t it? At the end of every timeline, you always come here to see me."

Su Xu understood—this apparition was the source of the mysterious voice he’d heard before. "So who are you, really?"

It floated, amorphous yet capable of taking any shape, as if anticipating his questions. "You could say I’m the world’s origin. The ocean is just a part of me, and by all rights, you should obey me. But you never have. After humanity’s repeated destruction, I’ve reached my limit. Yet the ocean still wanted to wait. So when she birthed you, I cut her off."

"But neither of us expected you to become an independent entity—an exception in a world headed for ruin. Sometimes I wonder, who truly governs this place?"

Su Xu felt no triumph. His rationality laid bare the reality. "If you’re the world’s origin and truly wanted it gone, a single act would suffice. Yet you haven’t. Doesn’t that mean you still hold hope?"

"Tch." It scoffed irritably, turning away. "Just leave already. I’m sick of your insipid soul. I’m not looking forward to our next meeting."

"But I have a feeling we’ll meet again." Su Xu shrugged, completely unfazed by the dismissal.

Alone in the infinite darkness, the sudden silence brought an uncanny loneliness. As if sensing something peculiar, it turned back to where Su Xu had stood—only to find a small, blossoming flower left behind.

"This is a flower humans cultivated in the lightless depths."

Reading the note Su Xu had left by the pot, though it had no face, it seemed to smile. "Fine. Since this world can still bloom, I’ll stay a little longer."

On the boundless charred earth, Wei Pan stood silently, blueprints in hand, utterly absorbed in reconstruction. His chilled heart held only the lingering warmth of Su Xu’s last wish.

A breeze carried heat from below, scattering the ash-choked haze. A figure emerged from the water’s surface, striding steadily toward him.

Wei Pan's grip on the blueprint stiffened, uncertain whether it was a figment of his longing or a real apparition. As if in a trance, he stepped forward, unheeding of his companions' calls behind him. The figure before him grew clearer—it bore the exact likeness of the person he had yearned for day and night.

Su Xu stood opposite Wei Pan, slowly spreading his arms. The overwhelming longing and post-survival relief culminated in just one phrase: "Wei Pan, it's me. I've come back."

Born from the ocean's prayer, he could never truly disappear so long as hope remained in humanity.

Perhaps, in the distant future, human greed would still push people to make reckless choices. But as long as the world had not reached its absolute end, as long as there were those who clung to principles and fought for redemption in this barren wasteland, the ocean would keep granting humanity one final chance to repent.

*Su*, the grain of abundance; where people endure, continuity thrives.

—The End—

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