Lighthouse

The storm's warning signs arrived far too quickly and far too violently.

The reporter hiding behind a makeshift partition to broadcast live could barely speak clearly.

Holding up his microphone, he said with difficulty:

"You should be able to see that Coastal Port is not far from where I am. The entire port has now entered a complete lockdown, and visibility along the coast is extremely low."

The gale whipped the raincoat draped over him back and forth. Its water-repellent plastic hood could not stop the rain from pouring in, soaking him from head to toe and leaving him looking utterly bedraggled.

In the distance.

The live broadcast's backdrop had already turned into a black stormscape with near-zero visibility.

"Something seems to be getting blown over from the sky."

The reporter could barely make it out through the pounding rain.

Then he shouted,

"Get out of the way!"

The reporter screamed.

At the same time.

The cameraman carrying the hurricane broadcast camera turned and ran.

The camera shook violently, its lens blurred by the rain.

The next second.

The cameraman fell to the ground.

Fortunately, the camera in his hands was not completely damaged.

It faithfully recorded an extremely dangerous scene:

Not far away.

A massive steel plate plunged straight into the ground against the thick, ink-black backdrop of the storm, like a blade fallen from the heavens.

If the cameraman and reporter had run any slower.

They would probably have been sliced in half.

That immersive brush with terror left many viewers watching the broadcast drenched in cold sweat.

Countless residents living along the coast of BHX District began stepping up their disaster response efforts.

Even more people remained in front of their televisions.

Praying for the scientists who could not return to Coastal Port and were about to face a maritime disaster.

Every television station began rebroadcasting the same footage.

It was live hurricane coverage divided into several sections.

Aside from the torrential rain where the reporters were located, the most eye-catching footage came from the Globetrotter.

The bearded captain, Spring Fal, shouted:

"Faster! Push the propulsion to maximum! We don't have time to wait!"

"Everyone get back! Anyone with nothing to do, check and reinforce the windows!

"Kevin, make sure the ship's power unit doesn't malfunction from overload.

"Qian Yang, monitor the storm's path in real time and build a preliminary disaster model."

While issuing orders, the Tier 3 Transcendent navigator forcibly increased the operating efficiency of the Spiritual Energy Vortex within his body, forming a transparent windbreak barrier around the entire vessel.

Without that transparent barrier cutting through the airflow.

Under the influence of the hurricane's circulating wind field.

Their research vessel's power would never have been enough to right the ship and move along the escape route.

Black blood sprayed from Spring's mouth.

He dropped to one knee.

Yet he did not stop channeling spiritual energy.

When it came to facing natural disasters, perhaps those madmen from the Dragon Research Society were the most skilled.

After all, they had only recently trapped the reflection of Jörmungandr, the World Devouring Snake, at the border, at the cost of two Tier 4 Transcendents.

And Spring Fal.

He was merely a retired captain.

Just an old Norwegian man who liked to lean against the deck, drink some ale, and brag.

But as long as he wore this uniform, he had already prepared himself to die at sea.

In front of the television.

Jiang Menghan bit her lip hard.

She was afraid that, after losing her mother, she would lose her father too.

But she was also afraid that her bad luck had affected her family.

Unlike the others who were afraid, the already cold girl remained silent.

She did not say a word.

Yet the slight trembling of her body was enough for the boy beside her to see the fear in her heart.

"It's getting dark."

Su Wen spoke calmly.

He stood up, walked to the door, and pressed the switch for the hanging lamp in the living room.

"The lights should come on at night."

As soon as Su Wen finished speaking.

The lights inside the house came on.

In an instant.

A beam of light capable of piercing the heavy black curtain of the coastal storm lit up at the same time.

Like the dawn of Daybreak erasing the night.

Professor Jiang Xiuyuan, huddled in the cabin and desperately protecting the artifacts unearthed during this ruin excavation, was drafting his will.

After thinking it over.

All he felt was regret and self-reproach. He had not kept the promise he made to his wife at her bedside, nor had he made his already withdrawn daughter any more cheerful.

Jiang Xiuyuan searched his conscience. He had lived up to his identity as a scientist, but he had not been a qualified father or husband.

That was why he had suggested that Lü Shengkang, who was much younger than him, find a safer job as a researcher.

At that moment.

He saw that powerful beam of light piercing through the curtain of disaster.

He also heard Spring Fal's voice, hoarse from vomiting blood but still forcing itself onward:

"All crew members, lock onto the direction and advance toward the light source! That is our only hope!"

The next moment.

Every Transcendent gave everything they had.

At this moment.

There was no distinction between ordinary people and Transcendents.

There was only the boundary between life and death.

Everyone in front of their televisions held their breath, not daring to say a word.

The Globetrotter unleashed its greatest potential.

Guided by Lighthouse 43.

It charged forward like an arrow piercing the darkness.

Disaster-stricken vessel detected

Third water-repellent layer sealed

Second water-repellent layer maintaining dynamic pressure balance

External gate opening. Storm pressure index has not exceeded the design limit.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

The heavy mechanical sounds accompanied the opening of the massive steel gate, like a colossal war beast prepared to face an enemy.

Senior Academician Qi Ming watched the scene illuminated by the searchlights through the rain curtain.

It was a massive, magnificent high-tech alloy shelter.

With the pouring rain and hazy beams of light.

It made him.

Even everyone watching the live broadcast.

Feel.

The ultimate romance of steel aesthetics!

Before an irresistible natural disaster.

There appeared the ultimate shelter of human civilization.

No one could probably deny it.

This was a miracle!

"We're safe."

He lowered his head and wiped away the tears that had not yet fully fallen.

Senior Academician Qi Ming did not care for himself, but he did not want any more outstanding scientists to die meaninglessly.

Disaster-stricken vessel detected

Please proceed promptly

External gate closed

To prevent excessive storm pressure in one hour, the water-repellent system is undergoing negative-feedback self-balancing. Pressure is being distributed outside the second water-repellent layer.

All shelter occupants, please do not worry. If you feel any jolting, it is a normal phenomenon caused by pressure balancing in the water layer.

Second water-repellent layer sealed

Third water-repellent layer opening

Adjusting water level

All shelter occupants, Lighthouse 43—Uninhabited Sea Island Shelter welcomes you.

Under the mechanical voice prompts of the safe harbor.

Everyone watching the live broadcast could finally truly believe it.

They had survived!