In the skies of Antarctica, a plane was currently experiencing extreme turbulence. Gui Bin wore his oxygen mask and color began to return to his face.
The turbulence was so intense that it felt like being on a roller coaster. It made everyone wonder if the plane would disintegrate in the next second and turn into fragments in the sky.
Gui Bin looked at the people around him. He saw that the soldiers were in a comparably better state while those scholarly experts were running back and forth from the toilet. They each looked like they were dead. Some experts who had relied on their willpower even fainted the moment they got on the plane.
Gui Bin saw that Oshima was currently lying on the stretcher and was being quickly resuscitated by medical staff. Fortunately, the enigmatic Japanese supernatural investigator had survived without any life-threatening injuries.
On the other hand, the Major and the American investigator Smith were standing near the aircraft’s door, discussing something with concerned expressions.
Gui Bin sighed at the difference in their physiology. These people had grown up healthy and even trained their bodies properly unlike him.
Gui Bin got up from the stretcher and walked toward them, “What’s going on? Did something happen?”
“Gui, go take a look outside but be careful. Do not look towards Antarctica too much. It’s too dangerous there. If you aren’t careful and go crazy from seeing something that should not be seen, then we might have to gun you down.”
Smith looked at Gui Bin and happily joked.
Gui Bin furrowed his brows and asked tentatively, “Could it be that Cthulhu has appeared in the Antarctic?”
Due to his poor condition earlier, Gui Bin was not aware of the events in Antarctica.
“Sigh, you’re pretty sharp. That’s right. While you were receiving aid from the medical personnel, something big happened in Antarctica. Cthulhu, who had appeared in the Pacific, has come to Antarctica. Then the fire giant trapped in ice that we saw in the underground had also broken free.”
“As we had guessed, that fire giant was indeed Surtur. You should have seen how it pulled out a sword and annihilated the Shoggoths that were chasing us with one swing. It was very pleasant to see. When the government told me this news, I nearly burst out laughing.”
Smith strongly patted Gui Bin’s shoulder.
"Previously, we heard the deep ones chanting Cthulhu's summoning incantations underground. I could guess that Cthulhu's appearance in Antarctica wasn't unexpected. However, I didn't expect Surtur to be resurrected. Right now, Surtur and Cthulhu are having a massive showdown in Antarctica."
Gui Bin continued asking questions as he walked over to the window and gazed at the sky outside. The clouds beneath the plane were burning, but they couldn't tell if it was a real fire or an illusion. If it was real, why hadn't the clouds burned away? If it was fake, why could they feel the heat?
"Yes, this is like a scene out of mythology. But it's unfortunate we won't get to witness the battle of gods firsthand. Who knows if there would be any side effects if we saw Cthulhu's true form with our own eyes... But what worries me more right now is the issue of the Antarctic glaciers. If they melt, it could spell a crisis for all of humanity."
The major chimed in his concerns.
"That's not something we should be worrying about. There's an old saying in the East: when the sky falls, there's a tall person to hold it up. Let those in charge deal with this issue. No matter how concerned we are, we won't be able to change anything."
Smith, sitting in his chair, was in a contemplative mood. For him, surviving the previous harrowing escape was enough to change his perspective on life and death. After all, how terrifying could it be to be chased by thousands of shoggoths in a marathon?
“I agree. It’s not our problem.”
The major and Smith could not help but bitterly smile.
Just then, the sky outside suddenly lit up with a brilliant light, akin to a solar flare, illuminating the entire sky in a golden hue.
People on the plane instinctively closed their eyes to shield themselves from the blinding light. However, before closing their eyes, they caught a glimpse of a lightning-like streak that descended from the higher reaches of space and struck Antarctica.
“What’s going on?!”
“AHH, my eyes!!”
“What was that? Did the sun just explode?”
“......”
The people on the plane shouted with different voices.
After a few moments, as their eyes adjusted to the light, tears streaming down their faces, they cautiously opened their eyes and looked out of the cabin window. What they saw left them gasping in awe.
“My god, how beautiful!”
“It’s truly beautiful!”
“Is that a rainbow?? A rainbow that came from space?!”
Outside the cabin window, a massive rainbow spanned the sky, not curving down to touch the Earth at both ends as a typical rainbow would, but with one end extending directly into the cosmic void, resembling a tower to the heavens!
……
"Everyone, please pray in silence. Our researchers' estimate of fifteen minutes was just a rough calculation; it's not definite. So, during this final time, let's all pray together. Pray for the chance to ascend to heaven..."
Inside the United Nations summit hall, leaders of numerous nations fell silent, closing their eyes and offering prayers to the deities they believed in.
As the leaders prayed for themselves, their families, humanity, and the Earth, some staff members continued to work tirelessly, recording everything. They were determined to document the moment of Earth's destruction, using all means at their disposal.
Time passed, one minute at a time. Fifteen minutes quickly elapsed, but the Earth did not crumble as expected. However, the leaders paid little heed to this. As previously mentioned, fifteen minutes was merely an estimate, not a certainty.
Another two minutes passed, and the atmosphere inside the UN summit hall grew tense. It was the kind of fear and restlessness one feels when they know death is imminent, yet it eludes them, making it unbearable.
Suddenly, a staff member inside the hall, his voice trembling with tears, cried out, "That cosmic light has reached Earth. It... It landed directly in Antarctica! It's unbelievable, truly unbelievable. That terrifying energy, capable of shattering the Earth, didn't disperse at all. It struck Surtur!!"
“We aren’t dead! The Earth hasn’t been destroyed yet! The streak of light was not directed toward Earth, but toward Surtur!”
The leaders of various nations in the hall, upon hearing this, opened their eyes wide, their faces filled with excitement. The President of the United States, in particular, jumped up in excitement, shouting, "Quick, send the photos from Antarctica!"
The leaders of various nations in the hall, upon hearing this, opened their eyes wide, their faces filled with excitement. The President of the United States, in particular, jumped up in excitement, shouting, "Quick, send the photos from Antarctica!"
They hadn't died. Could there be any news more joyful than this?
The staff immediately displayed the real-time photos of Antarctica on the public screen. When the people saw the true nature of the cosmic light, their jaws dropped in astonishment.
“That’s……”
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