294. The Storm Approaches

Pohnpei Island is located in the Western Pacific, close to the equator, and it is normally difficult for typhoons to form there.

Because the formation of typhoons includes the Coriolis Force, which is the force that causes vortices to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

The higher the latitude, the stronger the Coriolis force, while the Coriolis force is the smallest at the equator.

Under normal circumstances, typhoons do not form in areas within five degrees of latitude of the equator. Pohnpei Island is located at around six degrees north latitude, and historically, it has only experienced a handful of typhoons. Instead, it has been hit by equatorial tropical cyclones. Although these cyclones also cause heavy rain, they are less likely to form a distinct eye compared to typhoons, and their pressure and temperature changes are less significant, resulting in much less destructive power.

However, in October and November of last year, a rare and massive typhoon appeared in the Western Pacific. Satellite cloud images showed a huge cyclone stretching across a vast area of sea between the Solomon Islands and Hawaii, bringing a once-in-a-millennium storm to this region.

At that time, even the largest cargo ships could not withstand the onslaught of the Gale. More than 90% of shipping routes in the Pacific Ocean were shut down, and the number of ships that suffered maritime disasters far exceeded the total number of ships in the past ten years. In comparison, the Starship accident was considered relatively minor.

"A typhoon is coming, make sure to close the windows."

The hotel owner remarked that he had probably learned from last year's events and wouldn't be so easily surprised.

Lu Ban first called Qin Tiantian in China and told her about the situation here, asking her to continue to keep an eye on the employees. Although Qin Tiantian made a good promise, Lu Ban turned on the live stream just in case. She saw that Qin Tiantian was broadcasting Participation APEX, and several of the IDs in the stream looked quite familiar to Lu Ban.

"Never mind, as long as the work is done, that's fine."

Based on the current progress, the final production work will definitely be completed before September, which will be just in time to bring a great gift to people all over the world around Christmas. Lu Ban is not in a hurry.

The call signal was getting worse and worse. Lu Ban checked the news and saw that the eye of the typhoon was clearly visible. The huge storm was even worse than last year. Before noon, the rainstorm arrived.

Lu Ban had never seen such a torrential downpour.

Large raindrops pelted the glass like bullets, making a clanging sound. Even with the windows tightly shut, the wind would still seep in through the few gaps, howling sharply. The air was filled with the damp, fishy smell of the sea, and every now and then you could see something being blown into the sky, soaring into the infinitely high heavens.

Further away, the rain had obscured most of the view. The rain fell like a waterfall, isolating the entire island. Occasionally, a loud crash could be heard, the sound of trees being uprooted and blown down.

Lu Ban's [True Sight] allows for a clearer view.

On the distant beach, all the tourist facilities had been destroyed, the wooden houses had been blown down, the golden sand was covered with a deep black layer, the seawater had become murky as ink, and the huge waves were towering, making people feel the powerful pressure of nature.

When Lu Ban was in school, he used to look forward to typhoon days, because if a typhoon made landfall, classes might be suspended and holidays might be in effect.

But if he had actually faced a typhoon like this before, he certainly wouldn't have found typhoon days enjoyable.

In the distance, the speed at which the clouds moved was visible to the naked eye. Dark clouds carrying bright silver lightning disappeared in an instant, and torrential rain fell from the clouds, dyeing the sea and sky the same color along with the surging tide.

In such a storm, wanting to leave the house and go outside is practically insane.

Lu Ban looked at the port. Most of the ships had been moved ashore, while a few larger ships were anchored in the port. However, the waves were too big, and the ships were bobbing up and down, occasionally hitting the pier, as if they would sink at any moment.

As for the Nan Madol ruins on the mountain, they radiated a greenish glow in this dark and secluded world.

The Eerie Green Light was so striking in the storm, like an ancient city that had come back to life.

No, that's not an illusion.

Lu Ban carefully observed the buildings and immediately noticed that their density seemed to have increased compared to before, as if the buildings had split, grown, and replicated under the baptism of a storm.

"Time is up."

Feng Yu stood beside Lu Ban, looking out the window at the dark green buildings.

Whether it was Lu Ban's imagination or not, Feng Yu seemed Pale and vulnerable than usual.

Did you hear that?

Feng Yu looked at Lu Ban. Her originally dark eyes now showed a hint of crimson, like blood that had not yet congealed. The shape of her pupils was not human, but more like some Old Ones with an ancient history and a long life.

Lu Ban was taken aback, then listened carefully.

Amidst the whimpering, baby-like sobs caused by the storm pounding against the windows, a soft murmur could be heard.

It was like a prayer from a primitive tribe, faint and indistinct, carrying a sense of sublimity yet exuding an eeriness.

Lu Ban quickly realized that the sound was not a hallucination, but came from downstairs.

He immediately took Laika downstairs. The short-legged dog scurried down the steps, and Lu Ban followed behind it, soon witnessing the strange event that occurred.

The hotel owner, who was working normally, was now in a distorted posture. He stood at the hotel entrance, facing the direction of the ruins in the midst of the Gale and rain, bowing his head to the ground, blood and rainwater mingling. He was muttering the same murmur that Lu Ban had heard.

"■■■■■!"

The murmurs that no one could hear now took on a solemn and sacred quality in a world with the storm as the background noise.

Lu Ban pressed down on the hotel owner's shoulder, and the man turned around.

His face, ashen from the cold, revealed two dark, empty eyes that reflected Lu Ban's figure. He didn't open his mouth, yet a constant murmur emanated from his throat, making one wonder if, even if his throat were slit and he were killed, becoming a corpse, he would probably continue to pray.

"The people on this island are normal human beings most of the time, but it is only at this time that the marks left by their ancestors are revealed."

Feng Yu appeared behind Lu Ban at some point. Her voice was soft, but it masked the rhythm of the storm, allowing Lu Ban to hear it clearly.

Looking over the hotel owner's shoulder, Lu Ban saw the people on the island standing in the storm, letting the wind and rain beat against their bodies. They did not react at all, but continued to worship the ruins of the building in the center of the island.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky and hit the building in the very center of the island.

However, the broken walls and ruins were not damaged at all. Instead, Lu Ban saw that the Eerie Green Light had become even stronger. In addition, he also saw something else.

No, it's some people.

Three people appeared at the spot where the lightning had struck.

They appeared in the ruins accompanied by lightning!

Is this what you wanted to show me?

Lu Ban turned to Feng Yu and asked.

"Let's go."

Feng Yu did not answer, but pointed to the ruins.