A bright arc of electricity leaped from the shell of the Central Control Station and rapidly spread outward along the enormous, mountain-like pipes, looking like a rift of light suddenly tearing across the night sky. The flash was far away, so at first no one besides a few sharp-eyed people on Hao Ren's side noticed it. But soon, unrest began to spread. After the electrical arcs faded, billowing smoke rose from deep within the Central Control Station, while larger flashes kept lighting up around several buildings surrounding the station. Even ordinary people could see what was happening in the distance.
To the residents of the city inside the ship, it was as terrifying as if the end of the world were burning fiercely.
Screams and shouts came from a tower on the city wall, and the panic quickly spread throughout Hearth City. Residents inside and outside the castle ran outdoors, staring in terror at the distant flashes and smoke. Children bawled in fright, while adults fell to their knees and prayed for the world's safety. Accompanying the unrest was the great blackout that descended upon them.
The city inside the ship, which had originally been lit by lamps, seemed to have ink splashed over it. Darkness spread outward in patches from the Central Control Station, while bright snakes of electricity leaped across the blackened ground. Each leap caused power failures over an even wider area. Deep, muffled thuds came from the ancient devices hidden in the depths of the city. In the face of the power surge, old relays and safety devices began burning out in droves. Soon, the blackout reached Hearth City. Hao Ren saw the square outside plunge into darkness, and the city's residents began to be overwhelmed by immense fear.
A voice filled with extreme terror shouted