Chapter 418
Thank goodness we didn't bombard Rosie with too much info about natural disasters. Even so, Jasper felt a nervous twitch in his toes. "These waters are tricky, maybe another current's colliding with us. But we can't let our guard down; what if it hits again? We're sticking to the escape pod today." Stella pulled a packed lunch from her bag, "Don't stress so much. The world is vast, but nothing's more important than a good meal. Only with a full belly can we take on a storm."
Rosie, usually so vibrant, had been sheltered too much. Seeing so many survivors and their ships sink, and the overwhelming force of the storm, had rattled her deeply, leaving her with little appetite. Nature's wrath was harsh, but she had to learn to adapt.
Jasper handed her a calming drink, "Rosie, relax and get some sleep."
After sipping the drink, Rosie closed her eyes, but her grip on her brother's hand never loosened.
In the dead of night, she seemed to have a nightmare, muttering under her breath, sweat beading on her forehead, her body occasionally twitching.
Stella packed up the escape pod and transferred them to the submarine.
Though the Arcadia wasn't exactly spacious, it was at least safe.
Jasper laid his sister on a metal bunk and didn't forget to fasten the safety belt around her, just in case they hit another ocean tempest.
Stella was cautious by nature, "Ocean storms don't usually last too long, but the sea is unpredictable and dangerous. We've only got one sub; let's wait till tomorrow before venturing out." Arcadia was hers, and Jasper had no objections.
Not just Rosie, even Stella and Jasper, despite their two lifetimes, were facing such a capricious and dangerous marine disaster for the first time. To say they weren't shaken would be a lie. But with experience comes resilience, and they soon adjusted their mindset.
After securing everything, they headed to the neighboring quarters to sleep. Exhausted, they fell into a deep slumber.
Arcadia was serene and safe, but outside the storm raged on, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and the ocean, like an enraged dragon, never ceased its roaring waves, as if trying to tear the world apart. Jasper set his alarm for five in the morning.
Concerned that the storm might still be raging, Stella made sure her safety belt was tightly fastened.
As the submarine submerged, the silence was profound.
It seemed the sea had thrown its tantrum and calmed down after wreaking havoc the night before-madness!
Stella climbed the ladder and emerged from the hatch.
At five in the morning, the horizon was tinged with the pale light of dawn.
The sea was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the growing light of dawn, starting with a faint red that brightened as the sun rose...
Such was the nature of the wild, terrifying yet irresistibly captivating.
The morning dew was heavy, and Jasper, worried she might catch a cold, draped his jacket over her shoulders, "What's on your mind?"
"Do you think there's any land left?" Stella leaned against him, gazing out at the sea, "Or is it possible that some places were spared by the disaster, just undiscovered?"
The ocean was like a poppy flower, alluring yet daunting in its peril.
Still, Stella preferred the solid ground beneath her feet.
"Maybe there are places spared," Jasper sat down beside her. "Even if there aren't, we have coordinates. One day we'll find land again."
Thinking of those coordinates, a light of hope seemed to flicker again in Stella's heart.
When it came to artificial islands, there was no match for the prowess of the East.
Now, they might not have the means, but as long as they held onto the technology and equipment, returning to land might not be just a dream.
The sunrise was beautiful, the morning sun hung low, and the sea shimmered like it was sprinkled with gold.
Stella couldn't help but marvel at the sight a little longer when Cooper called from below-Rosie was awake.
After a good night's sleep, Rosie seemed much more energetic, and Jasper made sure she came up for some fresh air, to witness the ocean's beauty after its tantrum had passed. Submerging wasn't something they could do on a whim.
Rosie climbed up, astonished by the sight before her. Was this the same ocean as yesterday?
The submarine descended to the appropriate depth and stopped.
The two had no immediate plans to explore the ocean, so they didn't waste fuel wandering about.
Just as they opened the largest observation window, a shark charged from a distance.
Its gaping maw revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Rosie and Cooper were both startled, quickly stepping back.
Stella smiled, "This glass is special; the sharks outside can't see you."
Transparent glass existed, but it was at the top of the submarine, with small windows for safety reasons.
Sure enough, after charging towards them, the shark turned and swam away.
It wasn't just one, but a dozen. They were probably attracted by the current created by the submarine's descent.
With no scent of blood and no aggression, they seemed rather gentle behind the observation window, playfully swimming in groups.
Despite their menacing appearance, they seemed somewhat cute.
However, recalling their ferocious hunting in the ocean, Stella felt a wave of nausea. Cute was not a word she could associate with them. Suddenly, the sharks dispersed rapidly.
A massive, dark shape approached, causing Cooper to retreat once again...
The submarine shook, and Stella almost lost her footing.
Was this some kind of ambush from the deep?
Jasper quickly steadied her and looked out the observation window at the creature. A huge body brushed past the submarine, causing it to wobble. Considering the weight of the submarine, with its full displacement, it was no small feat.
Any respectable marine creature wouldn't dare to provoke them.
Yet, there was one thick-skinned fellow who seemed to be looking for trouble.
Just one hit wasn't enough; it kept bumping and rocking the sub.
The submarine was stationary and floating, vulnerable to a push from a cumbersome giant.
At a critical moment, this creature kept pushing, shaking the sub non-stop.
Stella was furious, eager to see which creature dared to disrespect her so.
Uh, it was pitch-black, so massive that its full body was obscured, with just a glimpse of a large tail fin, and its skin was not black, but a deep blue.
It appeared to be a blue whale!
Talk about luck-opening the door to be greeted by a whale's backside.
The largest blue whales could weigh over 200 tons, with tongues alone weighing 2 tons, and hearts the size of cars.
If it was a male, its appendage alone could measure over 3 meters.
Stella had yet to see the world, but the whale before her was so enormous she conservatively estimated it to be at least six or seven hundred tons.
After all, the mutated yellowfish and flying fish were about that size, and as the king of the ocean, it was likely even more impressive.
And it was alive, no wonder it could push the submarine aside.
The submarine continued to rock gently, its motions not particularly violent. All of the vital external components had been retracted into the safety of the inner hull, so unless it went berserk, it should remain intact. Jasper kept a watchful eye, a bemused smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It almost looks like it's scratching an itch," he commented with a chuckle.
Scratching an itch? The thought nearly made Stella choke on her own breath.
Was this a joke? She struggled to stifle a burst of laughter.