Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 717: Running late.

A collective gasp sucked the air out of the room. She could see the fear in the eyes, because the mountain base was sitting on a mountain. At the moment, they could not even recall their history or figure out if it was a volcanic mountain or not.

All they could see were flaming balls of fire, smoke and their shelter being ruined.

"The sky will go black," Sunshine continued. "Not the ’ooh, it’s night’ kind of black. I’m talking about toxic ash, thick smoke that it stings the eyes. The air will become dusty and poisonous. Fortress Four has air purifiers, so we won’t suffocate, but that’s not our biggest problem."

Dominic frowned, looking at a wall map. "Sunshine, there isn’t a volcanic mountain within hundreds of miles of us. We’re safe from the lava, at least."

Sunshine shook her head slowly. "You’re thinking about land. Think about the water. We are surrounded by rivers, Dominic. When those mountains blow, the lava will flow into the riverbeds. It will displace the water, follow the natural trenches, and ride those currents right to our front door. The rivers will become veins of fire."

The silence this time was terrifying. The logic was undeniable.

"System," Sunshine commanded. "Display the Lava Control Map." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The massive screens at the front of the room flickered to life, glowing with a neon-orange grid. It showed the topography of the surrounding lands, highlighting the low-lying areas and river paths.

"We aren’t going to sit here and wait to be cooked or give up our river. We can’t afford to lose the forest as well, so here is what we are going to do." Sunshine said, pointing to the screen. "We are going to dig. We need diversion trenches_ massive pathways to redirect the flow away from the fortress and into the uninhabited towns around us."

Sister Anna stood up, her brow furrowed with concern. "Mrs. Quinn, if we redirect the lava to ’other places,’ aren’t we just choosing who dies? If it doesn’t hit us, it hits someone else."

"That brings me to part two," Sunshine said. "I’m not just moving the problem; I’m freezing it. I’ve secured a substance called Hard Ash. The moment we pour this onto the lava; it undergoes a chemical reaction that hardens and cools the magma instantly. It turns liquid fire into solid black rock in seconds."

She looked at the group, her eyes fierce. "We dig the trenches to guide it, and we use the Hard Ash to stop it before it reaches anything vital. We need a team to monitor the digging 24/7. We don’t stop until the ground is carved out. Later, the black rocks can be used in construction."

Sunshine had done her research about the next disaster; the Hard ash came from Pyraeth. Over there, the blocks were used for construction. According to the images she had seen, the structures were firm, could withstand fires and heated up naturally in winter.

The committee began shouting out assignments, the fear transforming into frantic, productive energy. Sunshine watched them for a moment, feeling a slight sense of relief that they were moving, at least.

Suddenly, a sharp ping echoed in her mind.

[Council Hearing in 30 Minutes. Do not be late.]

Sunshine jumped. "I have to go. Hades will be in charge overall as usual. Continue the meeting. As always, I expect to see progress in my absentia."

She didn’t wait for a response. She ducked out of the command center, weaving through the hallways until she found a storage area that was blissfully half full. Making sure no prying eyes were watching, she took a deep breath.

"Alright, system," she whispered. "Take me in."

[Yes host]

By the time she finished dressing appropriately, Sunshine was two minutes late. She hadn’t just been rushing; she had been wrestling with a repairman uniform that seemed designed to personally offend her.

"How do you gain weight in an apocalypse?" Vortan asked as he pushed her forward. "Never mind, with that mega shopping mall, I know how."

As she was ushered into the massive, echoing council chamber, she was still hopping on one foot, frantically struggling to knot her left boot.

The heavy doors groaned open, and Sunshine stumbled in, nearly face-planting onto the polished floor. She caught herself at the last second, swaying unsteadily in the center of the room.

"You’re late," a voice sharp enough to cut glass rang out.

Sunshine looked up to see Zevran leaning back in her high-backed chair, her eyes rolling so hard it was a miracle they stayed in her head. "Typical. Give a human a title, and she thinks the clock stops for her. This earthling does not respect us!"

Sunshine chose to ignore the jab. She finished the knot, stood up straight, and brushed off her uniform. She didn’t look like a mess; she looked like someone who had been busy. She offered a small, apologetic smile to the row of stern faces sitting above her.

"My apologies for the delay, dear council members, earth problems ran a bit over," Sunshine said, her voice steady.

Zevran let out a low growl. "Your apologies are as useless as your presence here. This opportunity could have been given to a repairman with a serious issue.... but go ahead and state why you are here. I’m hoping you’ve finally realized that being a ’repairman’ is a job for someone with actual skill, and you’re here to announce an early retirement."

"Zevran, for the love of everything, keep your mouth shut. I am starting to think you are in charge of the council and not me." Commander Melvin interrupted, his voice booming like distant thunder.

Zevran stiffened, her face flushing. "My apologies, Commander," she muttered, though she shot a silent, venomous sneer toward Sunshine that said, I’m going to enjoy watching you fail.

Commander Melvin sighed, rubbing his temples. He looked at Sunshine with a mix of curiosity and exhaustion. "Alright, Sunshine Raine. You asked for this hearing. The floor is yours. Why are we here?"

Sunshine didn’t see the point in dancing around the issue. These people were tired, and she was even more tired. "I’m here because I want the Council to authorize the Grand Masters to repair the rifts in the earth’s sky with immediate effect if possible."