Fractured Earth

Zephyr and Young-Jae continued their journey hours later after the horror they had experienced. They were relieved to find that the landscape had momentarily ceased to change.

The atmosphere began to calm, but the situation remained dire. Earthquakes of magnitudes ranging from one to seven had caused widespread damage, and the residents were struggling to cope.

Zephyr, refusing to stand by idly, decided to help the survivors as best he and Young-Jae could. He also invited the residents to join him on a voyage to the nearest shelter, the Fortress of the Divine Light, even though he had previously faced harsh rejection.

Despite the challenges, Zephyr's determination to help was a beacon of hope amid the devastation. Alas, his helping hand was not welcomed, even with Young-Jae's help.

No one believed their crazy words, and after expressing gratitude for being saved from the earthquake disaster, the residents tried to chase them away.

Young-Jae was confused as to why they needed to keep asking with such a reaction from those people, but he had promised not to question Zephyr. So, despite his upset, he kept quiet and obeyed.

In the end, Zephyr and Young-Jae arrived at Incheon Port in the middle of the night after a long and tiring walk. Along with an eccentric survival experience.

Zephyr stopped in his tracks, accompanied by Young-Jae's sigh of relief. The harbor was as gloomy as they had expected. A nationwide blackout failed to produce complete darkness, as the bright light of fires from nearby places illuminated the night. Showing that the chaos remained and would not stop anytime soon, even though everyone could rest a little.

The port was also eerily quiet due to the previous earthquakes, which struck at uncertain intervals. Everyone feared a tsunami, so the port was deserted.

But quiet didn't mean empty.

Zephyr looked left and right to assess the situation without lowering his guard despite his exhaustion in body and mind. He then saw dozens of people scattered in several spots there.

'It seems like there are already some waiting ahead. I'm sure they are gamers who will be none other than members of the Frontliners in the future. Even though I don't know all of them there personally.' He thought.

The Legions of Frontliners that Zephyr was familiar with were not present among those people. After all, he was one of those who was late to become a Legion himself. So, he didn't have many acquaintances.

His early days had been shrouded in a crippling fear, born from the carnage he'd witnessed on his journey in previous life. At that time, he was traumatized because, on his way to the shelter, the group he was following behind was massacred by rampaging and mutated animals. It haunted him for months, and it made him a complete retard because he thought the world had ended and there was no hope of continuing life.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, remembering the nasty memories but also the experiences that made him mentally strong now.

Out of nowhere, "Hyung. No. I mean, sir. What if the sea doesn't change?!" Young-Jae asked, waking Zephyr from his focus.

Zephyr didn't immediately reply but instead turned his face towards the sky, where a large translucent green hologram screen was displayed with Apexian letters on it.

======================

[Welcome to Apex World!]

Terraform has started.

Have fun y'all.

Time remaining: 58 hours and 43 minutes

======================

Zephyr lowered his face, then looked at Young-Jae and asked instead of answering, "Are you fluent in Apexian?"

Young-Jae was taken aback by the question. But he managed to answer even though he stammered a little at the beginning. "U-Uh? U-Um, I don't speak Apexian, sir. But I have the knack to understand because my memory is quite good. Hehehe." He chuckled while hiding his shortcomings by highlighting his advantages.

It was as Zephyr predicted. All the players played the game without realizing that the Apexian language was important to learn and study. Everything was translated into the respective languages chosen by the players for their playing comfort.

And that explained why no one became a Legion as soon as they got to the four shelters.

Communication with the NPCs stationed in each shelter would be limited to the Apexian language. That could pose a significant obstacle for the remaining human population, as many may not have acquired fluency in Apexian. As a result, transactions involving weapons and Exo-suits could become rather arduous, relying solely on guesswork and gestures.

It was imperative for humanity, especially players, to immediately assume their role as the first-in-line Legion to prepare for the upcoming clash with the Sentinels as the Apex Worlds unfold. As the first one tried to survive and live, while the latter wanted to devour everything.

While he pondered how to swiftly impart his Apexian knowledge, a faint electrical spark disturbed his thoughts. A chill swept through his body, mirroring the icy sensation he felt when the landscape first shifted before.

The spot Zephyr was standing on started to shake.

Beneath his feet, the ground began to tremble, sending shockwaves throughout the harbor. Panic erupted as people scattered in all directions, fearing they would be consumed by the imminent collapse. Even Young-Jae's screams echoed amidst the chaos as the vibrations intensified.

Amidst the pandemonium, Zephyr's gaze remains fixed on the placid surface of the sea, its tranquility undisturbed by the tremors. With a surge of clarity, he realized that the landscape was about to undergo a dramatic transformation, and the epicenter of this change lay within the ocean before him.

"Get away from the edge! Now!" Zephyr roared, his voice cutting through the mayhem. Gritting his teeth, he sprinted away from the harbor. His back turned towards the sea.

Young-Jae also rushed to run, following Zephyr from behind. Hearing such a shout, he did not dare to beat around the bush or even to gulp.

During more than 12 hours together, he had developed an instinct to immediately move if Zephyr spoke in a scream. It didn't matter what the context was. The important thing was to just do what he was told. That was what was engraved in his head subconsciously.

Zap, zap

The landscape was transformed in a rapid, sequential dance of creation and destruction.

Where once the placid sea held sway, now stood a verdant expansion of dense grass and towering trees, their emerald hues a stark contrast to the vibrant blue of the harbor that once occupied the area.

Fortunately, this time, no lives were lost, for the port was already sparsely populated. However, the respite was fleeting, as the earthquake's intensity continued to escalate with each passing moment.

"We must seek asylum in that new land," Zephyr instructed Young-Jae, gesturing towards the plain with dense grass and towering trees. "There, we shall be spared from the imminent danger of falling debris, collapsing structures, and terrain shifts. We only need to endure the tremors of the terraforming process for now."

As Zephyr and Young-Jae attempted to flee, the earthquake reached its devastating crescendo, sending tremors that made it almost impossible to stand. Those around there, sharing their desperate goal to reach the safety of the newly formed land, stumbled and fell, their bodies succumbing to the violent shaking of the earth.

The very structures that once provided shelter and sustenance crumbled under the relentless onslaught of the quake, their shattered remains transforming into a treacherous obstacle course. Rubble and debris rained down, further impeding the path to safety.

The sudden collapse of nearby buildings and houses unleashed a wave of destruction, leaving in its wake a trail of injured and bewildered survivors. The air was thick with the cries of the wounded, their pleas for help echoing amidst the cacophony of the collapsing scene.

Overwhelmed by an irresistible force to help those people, Zephyr made a brisk judgment without asking Young-Jae to follow him. Discarding his duffle bag filled with survival essentials, he armed himself solely with a face mask and two kitchen knives.

"Take my bag," Zephyr instructed, his voice laced with urgency. "Don't follow me or wait here. Your priority is to reach that haven as quickly as possible. Understand what I've said!!?

Young-Jae nodded repeatedly, his throat constricting as he gazed upon Zephyr's grim expression. He understood that his presence would only hinder Zephyr's intention, so he resolved to focus solely on the task at hand.