“Hanse, hold on!”

The ice cap suddenly cracked open, and dozens of people fell in.

If the fall was high enough, the water wouldn’t be much different than a cement floor. The impact would knock one out or cause internal bleeding. From this height, the fall would definitely kill them.

Handus, the older brother, caught his brother, Hanse’s, hand. They were hanging on the side of the cliff. If Handus hadn’t stuck his dagger into the ice, they would have fallen into the crack.

All Uraphonians had to learn to climb icebergs. However, they couldn’t do it without tools like daggers, chisels, and iron sticks. The ice was just too hard.

The brothers weren’t alone. Thousands of people were hanging from the side of the cliff and looked like vines from afar.

It all happened so suddenly, and the crack happened to be along the evacuation route. The people had no time to react. Some had already fallen into the water. Those that reacted faster managed to stop the fall.

The people hanging on the side of the cliff were among those that had reacted in time. If not, they wouldn’t have time to take out their dagger, let alone stick it into the ice.

The ice made a crackling noise. The dagger might be able to sustain the weight of one person, but two people were too much.

Hanse shouted, “No! Both of us are going to fall! Let go!”

“What are you talking about? I’ll never let go! If someone must die, we’ll die together!”

“Handus, it’s not going to work! You have to stay alive! Think about your wife and your lovely daughter!” Hanse was in tears. “Even if you pull me up, how do you know we’ll survive? How many Uraphonians will there be after this is over?”

“Hanse, you must believe in miracles! We’re going to live! I promise!”

“I don’t need your promise! It’s like you said. We have to believe in miracles! Trust me! We’ll get back on the ground!”

The ice cracked again, and some chunks fell onto Handus’s head. The brothers slid down a few centimeters.

“Handus, the ice is falling apart! Let go! We’re too heavy!”

“No…”

Similar conversions could be heard all over the cliff.

“Son, you need to let me go!”

“No! Dad, I can hold onto you!”

“You can’t do this forever! We’ll fall eventually!”

“I won’t let go of you! Dad, hold on! Someone will come for us soon!”

…

“Blake, I saved your life before! You can’t let go of my hand! I don’t want to die!”

“Bull**! I can’t hold on for much longer! We used to be neighbors. If you want to die, don’t take me down with you! Let go, or we’re both going to fall! If you let go now, I can still live!”

“Blake, I’m so disappointed in you. I chased off a polar bear when it was on your heels!”

“I know that! I’ll remember what you did for me! After you’re gone, I’ll look after your wife and children!”

“Shut the ** up! If I’m going to die, you’re coming down with you!”

“You’re out of your mind! Let go!”

…

“Hold on! I’m sure someone will come down for us!”

“No, they won’t! They’ve all run for their lives! The icebergs can collapse at any moment. No one will stay up there. Don’t let go! See if you can climb onto my shoulders and reach ground level. We’re only half a meter away. I’m sure you can do it!”

“I can’t! It’s so cold! I’m not strong enough!”

“Yes, you can! Just keep going! You’re our only hope now! I’m exhausted, too. If I lose my grip, both of us will fall! Climb now! At least you’ll live!”

“I can’t… I’m not strong enough…”

…

“Honey, I love you. Goodbye!”

“No! Don’t let go! No—”

A man pried his wife’s finger open and fell into the sea because he didn’t want to drag her wife down. Devastated, she also let go and jumped in after him.

Many people couldn’t hold on anymore. One after another, they fell off the cliff.

It was one of the saddest days in Uraphonian history.

“Son!”

“Dad!”

“No—”

“Is anybody there? Hello? Help us!”

“Throw us some ropes! Help us! Where is everybody?”

“I can’t hold on for much longer! My child, take care of yourself!”

Countless people fell off the cliff, and many more were crying and ridden with sorrow. They had lost all hope.

Suddenly, soldiers in flying armors rapidly moved toward them, catching all the falling people.

“Save them!”

“Yes, sir!”

Handus was the first to notice them. Pleasantly surprised, he said, “Hanse, look! What are those?”

Hanse turned around and saw the Moonian flag on their chest.

“That flag… They’re Moonian! They’re the Moonian flying soldiers!”

“What? Moonians? Their country is a long way from here! I didn’t know they were coming!”

“Who cares? I’m glad they’re here! The Moonians are here to save us! The Moonians are here to save us!”

Hanse’s voice caught the others’ attention. They all turned around and saw the flying soldiers. Each soldier was holding onto one or two people that had fallen off the cliff. It took a few seconds to fall into the sea, and the soldiers were able to catch them halfway down.

“The Moonians!”

“We’re going to live! I saw online that Moon had sent out all their soldiers! I didn’t know they were coming to the arctic, too!”

“Help me! I can’t hold on for much longer!”

“Thank you, Moonians!”

“Please help my son! He’s going to fall! Please take him to the surface!”