Solar System, Earth.
"Professor, it's time." A soft glow lit up the dim office.
Zero's virtual avatar gradually appeared beside the desk. "Most of the research staff have already evacuated. It's your turn, along with the Head Councillor and the others."
Lü Yongchang nodded silently, picked up the white lab coat hanging nearby, and slipped it on.
Then he walked toward the office door.
As his hand settled on the handle, Lü Yongchang turned to look back into the darkened room.
His gaze went straight to the window.
Beyond the thick reinforced glass lay a scene straight out of hell.
Clouds stretching for countless kilometers, wildly dancing bolts of golden lightning, and an unprecedented storm filled the world outside.
"Ah..."
Lü Yongchang turned the handle and left the room.
As the door clicked shut, the hologram dissolved into motes of light, leaving the already dim room even darker.
The [Jianmu] underground base.
Given the atrocious weather outside, they had chosen to take the Space Elevator to the Spaceport as a precaution.
"Head Councillor." Upon reaching the underground base, Lü Yongchang spotted Senator Li standing before a screen in the distance.
"Yongchang." Senator Li turned toward Lü Yongchang. "You're here."
"Look at Earth."
As he spoke, Senator Li turned his gaze back to the screen beside him. "It's hard to imagine our Earth becoming like this in just a few short years!"
Seeing the pain in Senator Li's eyes, Lü Yongchang fell silent.
After a long while, he sighed softly. "Head Councillor, we'll have a chance to return."
"The Solar System will always be humanity's home."
Senator Li nodded gently. Without saying another word, he stepped into the Space Elevator.
Lü Yongchang looked back at the underground base once more.
The vast underground base was deserted.
"Zero, begin the data