Year 4000 - Bunker No. 11
The hum of machinery filled the dimly lit chamber, echoing through the cold, sterile corridors of the Bunker. A thousand capsules lined the walls, each holding a human figure in Cryogenic sleep, their breaths shallow and even, monitored by an array of glowing panel.
Inside the Central Control Room, Lieutenant Adrian Park a caucasian soldier in his Late 20's leaned over the console, his eyes fixed on the blinking red lights. They were blaring alarm that shouldn't exist, warning him about something. As part of the 13th Maintenance Crew, he was trained to handle periodic repairs and routine diagnostics. He knew something is wrong.
"Reactor failure?" whispered by Dr. Talia Chen, one of the chinese cryogenic engineer. She's wearing her white lab coat standing behind the monitor. Despites her young looking, she's in her 40's.
"It's not a complete failure," Lt. Adrian replied, his voice tense, "but the output's plummeting fast. We're looking at an energy loss across the entire bunker in under an hour"
The room fell silent, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone. The Bunker was designed to sustain its inhabitant indefinitely, provided routine maintenance kept the reactors running. But now, with the core beginning to destabilize, the thin line between life and death was slipping.
Dr. Talia glance at Lt. Adrian. "We have no choice, do we?"
Lt. Adrian hesitated before answering."We're waking everyone up. If we can distribute the power demands across all systems and use their help, maybe we can buy ourselves time to fix this."
Dr. Talia took a deep breath and nodded, pulling up her tablet and gave order to the other engineers. They mess with the cryogenic system's protocols, activating the emergency waking sequence sending pulses of energy towards the capsules.
Across the bunker, people began to open their eyes. Within minutes everyone are waking up, as the capsules starts to warm their bodies back. Slowly, the capsules lids slid open, releasing clouds of smoke. People blinked against the harsh light and their bodies were weak from centuries of sleep. They're disoriented and confused.
Among them was General Ryker Hale, a bearded man in his 50's. He's the one who leads the creation of bunker no. 11. He stumbled out of his pod and shakes the remnants of ice from his white fitted clothes.
"What's going on?" he asked, his voice is raspy almost inaudible but still carries dignify tone.
Lt. Adrian approached saluting towards the General. He then raise his voice explaining what happened, so loud for everyone could hear. "Sir! We're facing a critical reactor failure. We need to wake you all up to help with repairs—and to keep us alive. I know it's earlier than planned, but it's our only choice."
The words seemed to settle into silence before the crowd erupted in murmurs of disbelief, fear, and confusion. Many of these people had accepted their lives would be spent in cycles of long sleep, never having to face the uncertain, decaying world outside the bunker. But now, that world loomed closer than ever.
Gen. Ryker faced Lt. Adrian and said "Lead me towards the Command Center".
Lt. Adrian nods and help the General.
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In the Command Center
Gen. Ryker sits on his chair and looks at the huge monitor screen in his front.
"Give me the reactor's damage report." Gen. Ryker said and the engineers quickly transmitted the reactors data to Gen. Ryker monitor. Everyone was obviously tense when suddenlyEveryone was obviously tense when they were suddenly shaken by a strong earthquake.
The bunker wildly shakes as the ground beneath them seemed to tremble as if a giant hand were pressing down. Panels flickered, systems whined, and the reinforced walls cracked under the strain.
"What now?" Dr. Talia gasped as another shake hit, knocking her against her chair.
"It's an earthquake," a random office muttered, barely able to believe his own words. The bunker was designed to withstand powerful earthquakes, yet here they were, in the middle of one-and a powerful one at that. Debris clattered from the ceiling, and the bunker's foundation groaned as if ready to give in.
"Sir, we have to get out," Lt. Adrian said, his voice urgent. "If this place collapses, we're buried alive."
"All of you stand up and follow the standard safety measures, we will get out of this bunker" Gen. Ryker ordered . Everyone immediately stood up and slowly went towards the exit.
Through the tremors and falling dust, the trio led the group toward the main exit shaft. There was only one way out: through the reinforced exit hatch, sealed for centuries, and designed to withstand anything from a nuclear blast to natural disasters. Dr. Talia powered up the opening mechanism, and with a deafening hiss, the hatch slowly slid open.
A dazzling light dawned upon them as the door opened and they were surprised by what they saw, the world was transformed. Green. Vibrant. Alive.
A Lush forest.
The group stood in silence, staring at a landscape none of them could have imagined. Towering trees stretched into the sky, sunlight streamed down, filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns across the ground. Chirping of unknown types of birds can be heard as they sing with the rustle of leaves in the winds.
"Is this... Earth?" someone whispered as confusion were evident on his face. The land no longer resembles the desolate, polluted cities they left behind. No towering buildings, no smog-filled skies. Only untouched wilderness, as far as the eye could see.
Lt. Adrian took a step forward, feeling the weight of soil under his feet, the smell of fresh air filling his lungs. His heart raced with a mix of excitement and dread. How long had it been? Had the virus vanished? What happened to their world?
"Stay alert," Gen. Ryker ordered, his tone steady. "We don't know what's out here."
The group began to explore cautiously, venturing a little further from the bunker. They quickly realized they were ill-equipped to face this world without information. After ensuring the bunker hadn't sustained irreparable damage, they returned to its shelter and had a meeting.
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Back in Bunker No. 11
The humans of Bunker No. 11 sat in tense silence, gathered in the central hall. Gen. Ryker was outlining their strategy for their survival when system ai interrupted with an alert.
"Warning," it intoned. "Seismic activity approaching the vicinity. Probable cause: unknown force."
"Another earthquake? Shit!" Dr. Talia said, bracing herself.
------
Continental Calendar Year 235 - Zenithia Empire
Emperor Alexander Zenith, sovereign of the vast Zenithia Empire, sat upon his throne, his piercing eyes glinting with fury. One of the empire's mages reported a sudden strong mana disturbance near their southern border where the Veilwood Forest is located.
This is were the remnants of Demi-Humans who fled their country that was nearing its impending doom were settling.
Emperor Alexander despised the demi-humans, viewing them as lesser beings—a stain upon his vast human empire. To him, this strange event was no coincidence; it was surely some reckless demi-human ritual.
Specially the Elven Race who's adept in using magic.
"Dispatch the army," Emperor Alexander commanded, his voice cold and authoritative. "The demi-humans have grown bold. We'll investigate this strange event and eliminate these pests for good along with their tainted country."
"Yes your Majesty!" the empire's mage said and immediately went towards the army.
As soldiers prepared for their long march towards the south, Emperor Alexander's thoughts darkened with rage. His empire, bound to his will, would bend nature itself to root out those who dared disrupt his rule.