Chapter 141 – End of the World

Chapter 141 – End of the World

"Listen to me Marcus! I'm telling you that's not an earthquake! I'm a freaking gnom-, dwarf damn it! This is my bread and butter"

"I'm not disregarding what you're saying Garry, it's just seems a little farfetched so feel it from way over here. Are you really sure that's what it is?"

"Aye! I'm telling you, it's that!"

Having just arrived back at the town hall after experiencing the earthquake, we find Marcus and Garry arguing over something in the study. The settlement itself actually hasn't received any damage from the tremor strangely enough, was expecting at least something falling over but I guess it was a pretty small shake considering.

"What's this all about? Why are you two arguing?"

"Me and Ikarus felt the shaking as well so do we have an idea what the problem is?"

"Apologies two queens for witnessing our little spat. Garry seems to think those shakes weren't an earthquake"

"I'm telling you Marcus, it's not an earthquake! I mean, it technically is but it's not what you're thinking of. The tsunami evacuation is a bloody waste of time"

Ah, I nearly forgot about those tsunami protocols we set up just in case something bad happens. Most of the island have a cliff face aimed at the ocean but not the western sides so any sort of shaking, we'd evacuate the whole area regardless if we even know the risk or not. We have that unoccupied island in the way as well blocking it up but it still never hurts to be safe.

By the way it seems though, Garry the gnome is obviously trying to get Marcus to cancel the ongoing plan.

(Ikarus) "Context gnome, we need a little more than that. What's caused the shaking if not an earthquake?"

"It's most likely the volcano lass, it's erupted and I'm pretty sure the kid Denver has set it off"

...

(Ikarus) "What?"

"All of you don't look at me like I'm mad! I know that kid more than any of you, we should not be preparing for a massive flood heading this way. What we need to do is start to move everything underground now"

I'm not the only one looking at him like he's crazy, the kid Jarl Denver has set off the volcano? I get that volcano eruptions can sometimes cause earthquakes, or the other way around but to actually feel it from this far away?

"Hypothetically speaking gnome. If this is truly what you say, why would he set of the volcano in the first places?"

"The kid may be a dreamer Petra but he knows that volcano better than anyone else, he would've only set it off if someone else was tampering with it, damage limitations it. He said a while back that any God could fuck with it and I've felt those same exact shakes before during testing... We need to stop speculating and start working right now! I'd bet my entire life, and wife that a gigantic ash cloud is approaching as we speak"

...

Okay, now I think I believe him. The fact that the Gods have been mentioned and that kid is extremely suspicious, this seems like something that could be terrible. I swear that is like a super volcano though, wouldn't that mean we may all be screwed?

Why hasn't Dionysus sent us this message though? I know Charlotte lost contact with him before leaving but is this something even he had no idea on? Why the hell would a God even set off a volcano in the first place, or Denver?

"How do we even prepare for this volcano gnome? Last time it set off, apparently the world went into an ice age? Wouldn't we all be fucked regardless being this close?"

"Ikarus is right, I've lived through that previous eruption as well, this entire continent really didn't fare well"

Marcus is still sceptical and Petra seems a little more on the fence now, this situation is something I never thought we'd have to deal with as leaders. How do you even survive a potential ice age?

"Ah, you lot aren't dwarfs so it makes sense why you're confused. To start with, we need to start moving anything edible underground, the mines are a reasonable choice for setting up underground farms as well. Combine that lots and lots of filtration systems as well as gas masks, it's a good starting point and we can work from there. It's going to be"

Of course, the dwarf would know all that... hang on, is this why Garry even came over here? Did Denver know this could be a possibility and he's supposed to help us survive?

Ah, any speculation right now is stupid. Focus on saving as many people as possible and focus on that later, starvation could be a huge thing problem if we don't handle it now. There's still the chance he could be completely misguided but I'm not taking that chance,

"Then let's do as you say and prepare for the worst. You make it sound like surviving a literal ice age is easy though gnome"

I'm taking his advice and leading this situation if everyone else is unsure what to do. I swear a tsunami would've arrived by now and if it turns out to be nothing, then no harm done other than a little bit of setback.

"Listen up everybody! If we don't get everything down here by tonight, you'll all be working overtime for a week!"

"Yes boss!"

"Damn scrawny bastard..."

It seems Jaxon is handling the main operation getting things underground using the miners to their full capabilities. The people remaining on the surface however seem to be mainly focused around Zeki, Ariza and Ria.

The strange thing is, this is the first time I've seen Zeki and Ariza in bird from for quite the while. We did send out the order everyone has to help the preparation regardless and they look to have bags and straps attached to them so they've obviously been helping a load too.

(Zeki) "Move your fucking asses, ya lazy bastards! If this ends up being a waste of time, me and orangey are going to have words"

(Ria) "It's better to be safe rather than sorry girly boy... can you please change back in a minute?"

"Stop perving over me woman, goddamn it! I'm not your portable jug machine!"

(Ariza) "You really should stay as female Zeki, it's cool having us all like this and you kinda deserve it if I'm being honest"

"Don't you start talking about karma again brother, your potion caused this so now you also need to take some blame. To think I actually cried when you died"

...

Oh, for the love of God, why did Zeki have to say something that nasty? I'd step in and give him a kick right now if Ariza wasn't pissed off as well.

"Don't start acting like a dick again Zeki or I promise you, you'll be stuck like this longer than a month. Mr Loki himself keeps offering to send more potions if it's to cause you discomfort"

"Ah... sorry brother, you know I didn't mean it"

"Then why even say it Zeki? That was uncalled for and you know it"

Zeki really has struck a nerve on Ariza there and I can see why, hopefully he just learns to shut up sometimes but we really should avoid getting involved with those kids right now. We still have our duty to do, it's mad that the two queens are on transport duty but don't start getting snobby Ikarus. This is really one of the two tasks we do over here now, the other being council meetings.

"We should probably get a move on now. Heh, giddyap Ikarus!"

Giddyap!? Now I'm Petra's horse apparently, at least she's a breath of fresh air to the stressful aura around here. I'll drop this load off, then I'll play along with her since why the hell not? It's not like this is going to turn into some weird fetish thing, it bloody better not be...

"Yes ma'am! I'll move now-, don't you dare kick me Petra, I will throw you into a tree..."

__________

The next several days were filled with nonstop flying around everywhere in preparation and now, we're currently resting in a tree looking towards the skies while we've got a moment. It's more like I'm in the tree with Petra's camped in my back feathers but it still kinda counts as both of us.

It's a weird position but this is something we can't help doing when got a second, can't be having sexy time every break we get. Ah, the end of the world may be incoming but that's not going to stop our fun when we've got a moment. We'd normally do it most days if other things aren't going on.

"Look Ikarus... think the gnome's worries were correct"

Far off in the distance to the west, is what clearly looks to be clouds consuming the sky as dark as the void slowly heading towards us. Normally, looking at clouds wouldn't be a world ending thing but with all the scare going around at the moment, we'd be foolish to assume everything will be alright. The do seem to look a little unnatural though.

"Let's just hope it's just a simple storm approaching. That does look really ominous though..."

__________

---And volume 3 is complete! Thanks to everyone making it this far and boy, this volume has been pretty long, this was the only time I could think of that would suit an ending to it. Reckon we're halfway through the story now but don't take that as fact. There's still loads to tell and hopefully you can see the ending with me!

---There's not much to add this time around other than the usual, an interval will be out tomorrow (There's a HUGE AI update as well) and shouldn't be gone too long as well, doubtful it'll even be a week.

---What to expect from the next volume? Surviving the ice age, a lot of story/adventure driven content with party members again and the lovebirds basically becoming untouchable...

---Should finally be doing a patron advanced chapter thing as well when returning if anyone wants to know, still going to remain entirely free regardless. Thanks once again and see you soon! (Or in the comments cause they still all get read)