18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 521

The term "land" was a bit generous for the tiny speck of earth that was more accurately a cay in the vast ocean.

The Black Hawk didn't even attempt a landing, continuing its full-throttle flight. With over 1500 kilometers behind them, finding solid ground was becoming critical.

A fishing boat wouldn't be sturdy enough for the chopper, but perhaps a yacht...

As Stella pondered their options, Rosie suddenly stood up, her voice vibrant with excitement, "Bro, land!"

In the midst of the azure sea, a chain of mountains emerged, not large but dissected by the waters into a string of islands stretching beyond sight.

The helicopter began to descend, aiming for a valley amongst the mountainous islands that offered a less rugged terrain for landing. The gusts from the rotors whipped up a storm of dust as they touched down.

Stella jumped out only to be greeted by a blast of hot air. The transition from the sub-zero Arctic to the sweltering summer of the islands was a shock to the system, sweat breaking out despite shedding layers in the heat.

A swirl of sand caught her off guard, stinging her eyes. Crouching down, she examined the soil, a brown, lifeless dirt that crumbled at a touch. It was alkaline, saturated from over a year under the sea, and now sterile.

Stella sighed inwardly. The land had risen, but it was barren.

Reclamation would not be easy, but the return to terra firma was a victory for humanity.

However, Snowflake wasn't faring well. The poor thing vomited as soon as they landed, suffering from both homesickness and heatstroke.

The kids looked wilted too, but Cooper, having weathered ten years of brutal climate changes, was coping better, though worriedly tending to his family.

quickly secured the helicopter and rolled out the RV. Once inside, she cranked up

a creature of the polar regions, flopped on the floor, panting. The unfamiliar heat

anticipated this and brought snow from Arcadia, which she now dumped into

ward off the heatstroke, Stella served everyone a glass of

After a simple meal to satiate their hunger, they each took turns bathing

sun was still fierce, a reminder of the damaged atmosphere due

of the RV, the salty sea

just a

mundane after months adrift at

she donned a sun hat and ventured

they felt a surreal detachment from the

some distance away, tactfully gave them space, while Cooper watched

from their walk, Stella replaced the melted snow with a fresh batch before

"Bro, sis, are we gonna settle

land has recently surfaced.

agreed, "New land is barren; we

call this place home, despite the

gusting winds. In the morning, the world

for three days, draining the RV's power. Concerned for the solar panels, Stella hooked

the heat was oppressive, and they dared not turn off

the dust settled, but the skies opened