Chapter 3: Extinct?
In the entirety of human history, no matter the magnitude, place, or condition, no earthquake lasted more than 11 minutes.
It was a known fact, proven by the data and past occurrences. But then Kael begs a question.
WHY THE HELL IS THIS ONE GOING ON FOR HOURS?!
It has been over an hour since the earthquake began, 1 hour 34 minutes to be precise. And the magnitude of the quake had yet to change. It neither decreased nor increased. It kept shaking their weak building over and over again at the intensity of 5.4 magnitude.
It was a weird comparison, but this earthquake reminded Felix of an elevator. Not the expensive rich ones, but the turbulent construction lifts. It gave them a bumpy ride as it carried them upwards… or maybe downwards?
Felix sensed the environment getting dryer and warmer, not unbearable, but not comfortable either.
His lips quivered and he checked the time, 5 more minutes went by but the earthquake had no sign of stopping. At least their city will win a World Record. Yay!
He had heard some buildings falling in the distance, but apparently, Kael and Cathy weren't able to hear something like that.
"It's finally decreasing!!!" Kael clapped his hand and prepared to stretch out of the small space under the couch, but Cathy pulled him back under it.
"Don't jinx it bastard! And wait for it to finish first," she ordered like a big sister who wouldn't here a no for an answer.
Kael pouted but didn't dare refute.
Felix kept his head down and listened to music instead of their annoying bickering.
Finally, after more excruciatingly long 10 minutes, Earth had stopped shaking. Kael hurriedly tossed the couch away and yawned dramatically as if he were a creaky mummy who crept out of his coffin.
Felix also stood up, stretching his limbs and cracking his stiff bones.
Cathy did a few jumping jacks to warm up, but her huge melons bounced, defying gravity when she did so. While Kael stared at it blatantly, Felix was more subtle in his peeking.
"Haa~ Let's see if there are some unlucky neighbors whose walls caved!" Kael offered excitedly as he pulled the door open and wore his favorite Crocs.
"Hey, that's a really bad thing to say!" Cathy complained to Kael while following behind him, equally excited.
"Dumbfucks." Felix murmured under his breath and slowly put on his flip-flops, yawning as he walked out of his apartment, but the sight in front of his eyes froze him in the place.
He had expected to see a bright sun shining overhead, and it was, but not as he had imagined.
The sun hung millions of kilometers away, yet today, it seemed an extra few kilometers farther. The sky, usually infinite, was now a vivid circle, encompassing the entire perimeter of Astradom city.
Standing by the window, Felix couldn't see everything, but one thing was certain: they were underground. Yet, this underground world looked more like the Underworld.
The cave-like cavity stretched for kilometers, reaching the horizon, dotted with strange, patchy vegetation. The sky formed a barely visible circle, with the rest hidden by jagged, rocky ceiling miles above.
Felix knew it was unrealistic for such a huge cavity to exist within Earth, yet here he was, staring at the impossible sight with wide eyes.
"W-What the hell?" Kael's voice came out cracked and trembling.
"I-I don't know… Is this real?" Cathy murmured in disbelief, "Pinch me…"
Felix came beside her and expressionlessly pinched her waist, causing her to shriek.
"Bastard!" she slapped his hand away, "I am still not awake tho…"
"Should I pinch instead?," Kael forced a smile.
Cathy glared at him unamused,
"Felix, what is this?" Kael sighed, turning to his smart brother.
"Underground."
"No shit Sherlock." Kael pursed his lips and turned away.
Truth be told, Felix was baffled by their whereabouts. He was an avid fan of geography, science, and all things universal, but never in his studies did he imagine finding himself in a hidden world within the Earth.
'Even if there is a cavity this big inside the Earth, how did we survive such a huge fall? And with all the buildings and structures intact?' Felix scratched his head in thought, but then a building opposite theirs, made of cheap cement and low-quality bricks, collapsed.
'Uhh, most of the structures intact,' he corrected himself.
Maybe his theory of a construction elevator was true. The Earth worked like a lift, slowly pulling him and the entire city into this subterranean world. That would explain why the earthquake, barely 5.4 in magnitude, had lasted for nearly two hours.
"I will check if Rosy is fine, guys!" Kael waved in a hurry before dashing up the staircase, heading to an apartment two floors above. He sounded genuinely worried, considering some loud bangs they heard from above.
"New girlfriend?" Felix turned to Cathy.
"Meh, he saved her as Milf#69." Cathy shook her head.
"Atrocious naming sense," Felix murmured, walking to the apartment opposite their own, and then he rang the doorbell.
After a brief moment, a few footsteps were heard and then an old lady opened the door with a smile, "Ah dear Kael, glad to see you are okay." she patted Felix's head.
"It's me, granny." Felix shook his head and said, "Glad to see you are fine too. I was worried you fell off the bed and broke your back."
The granny narrowed her eyes, "As rude as ever, huh Felix?"
"And you still favor my brother more." Felix yawned, barging into the house, "Where is Gramps?"
"Balcony." Granny gently slapped Felix with the butt of her walking stick and smiled at Cathy, gesturing her to come inside as well.
"Thank you, grandma." Cathy grinned, coming inside the house.
While Cathy and Grandma began to chat about the recent earthquake and underground issues, Felix ran to the balcony and found an old man sitting in his wheelchair, looking out of the balcony with a sad glint in his eyes.
A binocular was kept on his lap as his long white hair was swayed by the air, "This old man is fine, young man." he smiled.
"I know." Felix scoffed, standing beside the old man and looking out of the balcony, finally glancing at the view unrestrained.
Half of his vision was still blocked by the tall buildings in their city, but in the distance, he could see this wonder of nature. The world was built within the Earth, covered with rocks and patchy vegetation where no sunlight fell, except from the circular spot in the ceiling.
Felix picked up the binoculars from the old man's lap and carefully adjusted them for a clearer view. The terrain below was scattered with strange, moss-like vegetation thriving in the shadowy environment.
As he scanned the landscape, his attention was drawn to a sudden movement in the dense undergrowth, causing his eyes to widen in shock.
The creature was on all fours, its body lean and its canines long and sharp. It was gnawing on the flesh of another creature that resembled an ugly duck-like bird—a dodo.
"S-Sabre-tooth…? Aren't they extinct?!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone