Apocalypse Forecast

The chair of the meeting was the Phoenix, representing the Explorers, and the Fox, representing the Scholars.

Various participants of the meeting all squatted in front of Huai Shi, while a few who couldn’t find a spot ran up to perch on Huai Shi’s nose bridge and antlers.

In a crisis, there was no time to organize a conference room or a doomsday strategy headquarters or any other fancy stuff. Everyone just found a spot and sat down. Not even a cup ofT tea was offered. When monsters hold a meeting, that’s how simple and direct it is.

”I assume everyone is clear about the current situation, so I won’t waste time with unnecessary words,” the Six Winged Immortal Bird began matter-of-factly. ”Uniting together, combining our wisdom and efforts to strive to last a bit longer in this doomsday... this is no longer a problem one person can solve. If anyone wants to go it alone, speak up, and I’ll show them out.”

Once these words were spoken, no one objected. Anyone still thinking of acting independently was a prime example of idiocy, and keeping such a fool around was a nuisance; it was better to just send them off for good. The world was on the brink of destruction, and anyone still plotting their petty schemes was completely oblivious to the danger.

Moreover, eighty percent of those who entered here were members of the Astronomical Society, naturally belonging to the same system. At this moment, no one opposed the Phoenix and the Fox taking over the leadership. Survival in the apocalypse depends not just on strength but on brains, right? Going solo was a dead end. You would starve to death.

Well, except for me, Huai Shi thought. The reason I stayed is simple: I merely wanted someone to talk to. In recent days, I’ve felt as if something is missing in my heart, as if I’ve forgotten something, but when I try to remember, I can’t grasp what it is. This leaves me feeling particularly lonely. I always feel that this shouldn’t be the case, but I can’t clarify how it ought to be. I think I’ve just lost something. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t articulate what has been lost. I can only attribute it to too much mental stress.

Regrettably, there’s no doctor who could prescribe me some medicine, nor is there a pill large enough to throw in my mouth and take effect. He exhaled two streams of air forcefully from his nostrils, kicking up a cloud of dust. Then he was glared at by several nearby Giant Beasts. He gave a sheepish smile and said no more.

His mind wandered elsewhere. I don’t know why, but my mood is down. Even the thought of exploring on this Night of Witches can’t arouse my interest. I’ll let it be; sometimes doing nothing is its own pleasure.

The Phoenix and the Fox had clearly made arrangements beforehand and, after everyone else made their statements, quickly and efficiently divided up responsibilities and personnel. All the Giant Beasts clearly understood their tasks ahead.

Take Hydra, for instance. As one of the few Alchemists here, he needed to maintain the city’s depth balance, ensuring all Abyss sediments were smoothly expelled through predetermined flood channels to prevent any hidden dangers that might accumulate and suddenly erupt, turning all species into Erosion species.

The immense Flying Jellyfish that hovered above the Sky Dome, Wilderness Guard, was responsible for the water supply. Other than her innate talents, people here would struggle to produce vast amounts of pure water for the city’s drinking and industrial needs in a short time.

It’s worth mentioning Taurus, who was not present. As a creation of the Creator Qinger Tai, Taurus had turned into an energy creature that looked like drifting storm clouds. But as the world grew increasingly desolate, Taurus found it hard to maintain his form, flickering like a candle in the wind, now residing only within the central reactor of the Titan Empire. As the energy supervisor responsible for managing the central reactor—with him there, at least there wouldn’t be too much worry about the energy crisis in the short term. Since radiation didn’t scare him, he had already begun fission experiments these past few days and would likely usher society into the nuclear era soon enough.

This group of cheating Scholars had already built airplanes and launched satellites in the steam era, and who knew what they might come up with next.

The Scholars were to stabilize the laws in the Abyss, trying to keep the depth of a certain area from becoming too extreme. Assisted by Alchemists, they aimed to prevent distortions and strange phenomena from occurring in densely populated areas.

And now, the tens of millions of various Evolutionary Groups in the city would be their hands and eyes. These species, created by Explorers through their unique evolutionary paths, possessed few distractions beyond their natural instincts. They were fully obedient to their leaders’ commands and thus perfectly suited for maintaining order.

Then, with water and energy figured out, food was left to another individual who had undergone a Deification transformation—the Treeman. Although wheat and other crops might be troublesome, mushrooms would suffice. It was foreseeable that for a significantly long time in the future, the Eternal Titan Empire would be overshadowed by the dominance of mushrooms. Endless stir-fried mushrooms, steamed mushrooms, mushroom stew, Abyss mushroom soup...

Caught up in the spirit of things, Huai Shi quietly exchanged cooking ideas with that Treeman. By the end of their chat, the Treeman was slapping his chest, promising, ”It’s a piece of cake! I’ll get the glowing mushrooms ready... I guarantee they’ll shine with rainbow colors once cooked, totally high-end stuff!”

If the Goblins, Dog-headed Men, and even the Dwarves knew they would be eating glowing food every day in the future, they’d surely smile happily, Huai Shi mused.

Then he realized that most of the participants had already left.

”It’s over just like that?” Huai Shi gaped at the Phoenix in disbelief.

The Phoenix nodded. ”Yes, that’s right.”

”But it’s not my turn yet!” Huai Shi leaned his great head closer to the Phoenix, eyes wide. ”What about mine? What about mine?”

The Phoenix was taken aback for a moment and looked at him strangely. ”You just continue to oversee the smelting center. Aren’t you doing well at that?”

Indeed, I am, Huai Shi thought. All I have to do is doze off, drool, and occasionally sneeze to ignite the largest steel furnace... I’m essentially a complete, giant steel assembly line. Now, with so many Scholars assisting, the efficiency is naturally astonishing. But the problem is, it’s just too boring. Every day, just squatting in one place, dozing off.

I’m already struggling to restrain this primal restlessness deep in my veins. I want to take something apart. These days, when I look up at the city not far away, I can’t help feeling a bit tempted to try something.

”I think you’re doing great, really good,” the Phoenix frantically dissuaded. ”It’s enough as it is; many big shots aren’t as good as you. No need to do more... Besides, with your size, there aren’t that many tasks for you, anyway.”

The real worry was that if Huai Shi were actually given a task, he might get up, stomp his foot, and obliterate everything—people included. Just last time, a group of Dog-headed Men who were brushing his teeth accidentally fell into his mouth, and they still haven’t crawled out of his stomach... On an ordinary day, a single sneeze from him makes the entire city shake. Every now and then, when he uses a mountain ridge to grind his teeth, the geologists from the observation station feel like hanging themselves collectively. And when he falls asleep and starts snoring, everyone wants to hang themselves. So irritating! Utterly annoying!

”Wait a minute!” A stroke of genius flashed through Huai Shi’s mind. ”I can also provide 24/7 disco services!” Fearing his words weren’t persuasive enough, he turned around and opened the colorful halo behind him. Then, amidst the changing rainbow lights, a cheerful holy disco began to play.

”...You see, even the Doomsday cannot neglect the development of spiritual civilization!” Huai Shi raised the corners of his eyes triumphantly. ”I’m not boasting, but back when I ran the Ancient Evil Spirit... cough cough, when I ran a bar, not a single customer left a bad review!”

The Phoenix’s expression twitched. Sorry, we really don’t need that kind of help. But looking at Huai Shi’s enthusiastic eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything rejecting. Thinking that Huai Shi was only seventeen, his heart couldn’t help but sigh. This kid really has it tough. Not to mention having an impressive background and solid work ethic, but the rarity is his sincerity toward the organization. Unlike my previous subordinates, who would deplete the fish pond but still refuse to work... The only issue is the loudness of his snoring. But nobody’s perfect, right? A little flaw is understandable. Moreover, if I were in his shoes, I could understand his current mood.

Unable to help himself, he leapt up to pat Huai Shi’s shoulder, empathizing, ”You’ve invested all your evolutionary directions in size. I guess that doesn’t leave much for combat capability, does it?”

”Exactly, exactly!” Huai Shi nodded feverishly.

”Don’t worry. No matter what, the Astronomical Society has no custom of abandoning the weak, and besides, we’re all from the Jurisdiction Bureau,” the Phoenix comforted him earnestly. ”Just sleep easy, eat well. If nothing else, we have enough Stone to go around. We won’t find you bothersome and send you away.”

Huai Shi was taken aback. ”That’s not what I meant...”

”I understand! I understand!” The Phoenix nodded in agreement. ”You want to do more, right? I get it; young people need a platform to showcase their abilities. But everyone has their role, right? You have to do your own irreplaceable part well. If you’re gold, you will shine. Don’t worry.”

He looked around, preparing to concoct some grand task to placate Huai Shi. But after a rather aimless and ultimately fruitless scan of the area, he truly couldn’t find anything suitable for Huai Shi.

In a flash of inspiration, he pointed towards Huai Shi’s back. ”If you really want to contribute more, how about I have someone hammer a few wedges into your back in a couple of days and set up a frame on you? How does that sound?”

”What for?” Huai Shi was bewildered.

”Of course, it’s necessary risk management.” The more the Phoenix bluffed, the smoother he got. Though he felt somewhat guilty for deceiving a young man, he couldn’t bear to disappoint Huai Shi’s expectations, so he bluffed even more outrageously. ”You see, you’re large, right? Once the frame is set up, in case of any natural disaster or such, couldn’t you just carry our base on your back and run?”

After saying that, even he himself started to believe it. You’re a genius! he couldn’t help but praise himself internally.

”Really?” Huai Shi was skeptical.

”Of course it’s true!” The Phoenix said with conviction. ”Truer than real gold! I’ll have someone set up the frame for you right away!”

After all, the steel used is produced by the smelting center, and with the recent excess in production capacity, it’s better to repurpose it than let it go to waste. Right, I’ll assign that scholar who keeps messing around with steam power every day. Give him some work, too, so he doesn’t get idle and start making dramatic scenes or sinking into despair. It’s like killing two birds with one stone!