Dawn of the 13th Era

The Ocean

Orion woke up the next morning with a groggy feeling, he felt like thousands of rocks were tied to him and his joints were aching.

'Is this a result of what happened yesterday? I overexerted myself so much yesterday, this much is expected.' he thought with cloudy eyes.

The hotel he rented for the night was located in the core area of the city and he planned to stay for a few days before deciding on his next step.

After a few hours, Orion struggled out of bed and left the hotel to satiate his hunger, he didn't eat anything for almost twenty four hours and he was feeling extremely famished.

"I need some time out, a break and some fresh air to cool down my mind and sort things out." He muttered to himself then picked his hoodie with his signature mask over his face.

'I need to buy new clothes, this won't fit well.'

He found a restaurant close to the hotel, ordered a few dishes and ate to his hearts content before leaving the restaurant.

On his way back he decided to visit the beach and catch some fresh air before returning to the city.

Arizona was a coastline city bordering the Atlantic ocean and tourists would come over for vacation occasionally.

Orion took a two hour bus to the beach and alighted then walked over to the beach taking his seat under a beach umbrella.

He looked way too conspicuous on the beach wearing a hoodie and sweatpants.

Orion could've removed the hoodie but he didn't want the extra attention his scar would bring so he decided to leave it on and enjoy the breeze for a while before leaving.

Staring at the ocean stretching out into the horizon he remembered Robert's words.

"Everything on Earth is constantly changing, humans, animals and plants mutating onto something different. If he really is correct then the oceans, what is it like right now?" Looking at the humans playing about on the beach without a care he wondered what the ocean was like, what the animals inside the ocean had become.

"The Ocean occupies seventy percent of the Earth's surface, the animals inside the ocean are way more deadly, imagine what a mutated whale would look like, or a mutated shark or octopus. The Ocean has never been fully explored, unknown beasts live beyond humans sights." The more he thought about it the more he felt the terror of what was actually going on in the planet.

'The real danger is not on the land, but they can't even deal with those in land yet, the real danger lies in the ocean.' he thought then raised his head to look at a boy about twelve years old running towards the ocean with an inflatable floater in hand.

'They don't even know what's about to happen, they're all just living their normal lives. If another surge like the previous one breaks out they'll probably die without even knowing what hit them, just like brother died....'

Orion stood up from his spot and walked towards the shore, he could feel the breeze caressing his face gently but it only added to the tension in his heart as he approached the calm ocean.

"Down beneath the ocean, what does it look like there right now? After the mutations what exactly is going on there?" Orion muttered with eyes closed.

After getting close enough to the point the flowing tides could touch his feet he stopped moving and stood on the same spot for a while then made up his mind.

'I'm curious about a thing, is another surge going to occur and if it does what are the impacts it'll bring to the Earth? What will happen to those still alive? I'm in the dark regarding everything and if a new surge catches me unprepared I might not last for long.' Orion thought and made a decision on the spot.

'I need to find them, I can't keep running, there's nowhere to run to anyways the surge won't let anyone go Scot free I might as well use this opportunity to get all the information I will need. Maybe, just maybe there's a way to keep mother, father and my sister safe.'

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Aeric and his trio returned to the capital city of the USA, Washington DC where the main base of the special force was located.

An urgent meeting was set up after Aeric returned and the higher-ups were very anxious after they heard of the incidents in the Silvermist mountains.

He took his seat after making a short salute towards the president sitting at the head of the panel.

Magnus Vale was well respected among his subordinates and had ruled over the country for over five years. "Do we really have no other choice?"

Aeric remained silent for a few seconds before replying "No matter how much I try to think of a solution, there is none other right now and if it's left unchecked we will take a huge hit when the fourth surge hits."

"So? We nuke down the Silvermist mountains spanning over thousands of kilometers and several cities of the USA? The Silvermist mountains is a steady source of income and habitat for a lot of citizens, it will have a huge impact on the nation financially, economically and even our military power will take a hit!" One of the panel members said with a disapproving tone.

The panel fell silent in an instant, everyone at the meeting knew he meant well and it was the truth but leaving the Silvermist mountains alone would have more far reaching consequences and it wouldn't end well for the nation either.

"I suggest we organize a siege against the beasts in the mountains and take them out, that way the resources will be preserved and it will remain habitable for humans. Launching nuclear warheads will make the mountains inhabitable for a long time, the resources will be destroyed and the citizens will certainly get curious." Another member of the panel said to which many others nodded making Aeric's face turn cold.

"Do you think I didn't consider this option before proposing a nuclear strike?"