Omniscient POV
David opened his Mobi to check the message, his brows furrowed.
"There was a small eruption of magma from the fountain at the central square. Thankfully, no one was hurt."
Deborah's face paled at the news. "I can feel it—Murias' end is approaching."
Matthew's expression turned somber as well. "Then we have to be ready at any moment."
David quickly put his Mobi away, urgency in his voice. "I need to get to the square now."
Without waiting for a response, he rushed out of NO.7, heading straight for the central square.
Deborah and Matthew exchanged a worried glance as tension filled the room.
"Let's speed up," Matthew murmured, his hands never pausing as he cut through another piece of Falshi stone. "Even if we don't have time to polish these into proper pendants, we need to cut them into pieces small enough for people to carry. They need to be ready for emergencies."
Deborah nodded, her focus returning to the Falshi shards in front of her.
Each piece represented another potential life saved in the coming chaos.
Each second counted.
Meanwhile, David had arrived at the central square.
A thin stream of magma trickled out of a crack near the fountain, slowly spreading across the pavement.
Around it, people gathered in uneasy clusters, their faces marked by fear and confusion.
Though the flow was relatively minor, the sight of molten rock bubbling up from the ground was enough to send chills down everyone's spine.
David knew this was a crucial moment.
As one of the leading figures in Murias' FDB, his words carried weight.
He needed to turn this fear into action.
He stepped up to a higher platform, raising his voice to cut through the panicked murmurs. "Everyone, please remain calm!"
His voice echoed across the square, sharp and commanding, demanding attention.
Gradually, the crowd's murmurings died down, and hundreds of eyes turned toward him, hopeful and afraid.
"I understand your fear and confusion," David began, his gaze steady as it swept over the sea of anxious faces.
"But I must tell you the truth—a truth you all deserve to know. Two days ago, there was a severe magma outbreak at the Falshi Quarry. It happened without warning, engulfing the entire mine. Nearly five hundred miners were trapped and swallowed by the magma in an instant."
The news hit the crowd like a shockwave.
"What?!"
"No, that's impossible!"
"My husband works at the Falshi Quarry—where is he? What happened to him?!"
Cries of shock and anguish rang out, and tension in the square soared.
David raised a hand, urging the crowd to stay calm. "I know it's hard to believe, but this is the reality we're facing. And the magma is still moving. It's creeping closer to Murias every second. We can't afford to ignore this threat any longer."
"But where are we supposed to go?!" someone shouted desperately.
"Isn't the surface even more dangerous?"
"What are we supposed to do?!"
The crowd's voices overlapped, a chaotic mixture of confusion and rising panic.
David took a deep breath, raised both hands, his posture radiating authority.
"Murias is no longer safe," he said, his voice firm. "The magma is just the beginning. We can't rely on the underground to protect us any longer. We need to evacuate."
At that moment, Cora stepped forward.
As the daughter of Colonel Peter Cox, the highest-ranking official in Murias, her presence alone commanded attention.
The crowd quieted slightly as she took her place beside David, her expression calm yet resolute.
"Listen to me, everyone," she said clearly, her voice carrying through the square. "Murias will soon be overrun by magma. We have to leave."
"Leave?!" A woman's voice rang out. "But where would we go?"
"Go home now and gather your belongings," Cora continued. "Each of you needs to prepare the following items: artificial protein rations, drinking water, warm clothing, flashlights, and weapons."
The square erupted into chaos.
"Warm clothing? We've never needed anything like that here!"
"Yeah! Where are we supposed to find weapons?"
"Why do we need all this stuff?"
The questions piled up, anger and confusion rising like the temperature of the molten rock at their feet.
"Everyone, calm down!" Cora shouted, trying to project confidence.
"We've found a new safe haven for all of you. But to get there, you'll need to be prepared for the surface conditions. These items are necessary for your survival!"
But people's anxiety and doubts were hard to dispel.
The prospect of abandoning the underground safety of Murias for the unknown dangers of the surface was terrifying.
"Cora, what about the radiation?" someone demanded loudly. "Enigma radiation is lethal—no one can survive on the surface!"
At this, Cora hesitated, then turned to Mark.
Mark, who had been observing silently, knew it was his turn. He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"I understand your concerns," he said slowly. "But we have good news. We've discovered a mineral that can protect you from Enigma radiation. We call it the 'Amulet.'"
"Amulet?" A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd.
"Yes, the Amulet can absorb and neutralize radiation. As long as each of you carries a small piece, it will shield you from harmful exposure."
"Is this true?" someone asked hesitantly. "Where can we get one?"
"Will it really work?"
Mark held up his hand to quell the rising questions.
"Don't worry. We've already prepared enough Amulets for every resident of Murias. There's no need to fight over them. They'll be distributed at the exit points before the evacuation."
A flicker of hope appeared in some of the residents' eyes, but suspicion and fear still lingered in the air.
"However, there's one thing you must remember." Mark's tone grew serious. "The Amulet is powerful, but it also emits its own low level of radiation. You cannot carry too much of it at once. Think of it like an MRI—you can do one safely, but repeated exposure can be dangerous."
A ripple of unease spread through the crowd.
"But don't worry," Mark assured them. "We've carefully measured the safe dosage for each person. Just follow our instructions, and you'll be fine."
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble violently.
"An earthquake!"
Screams erupted as the earth shuddered. The magma near the fountain bubbled furiously, threatening to spill over the edge.
Panic seized the square.
"Run! Run for your lives!"
"Help! Somebody help us!"
The square descended into chaos as people pushed and shoved, desperately trying to flee.
Terrified cries filled the air, mingling with the rumble of the shifting earth.
And above it all, the sinister glow of the magma crept closer, a fiery reminder that time was running out.