The ground was still shaking. Chen Hao lay on the ground, his ears pressed against the dirt, as if listening to someone snoring. He raised his hand to gesture, three fingers about a fist's height off the ground, swaying violently.

“It’s not over yet,” he said.

Susan leaned against the concrete block, blood from her shoulder seeping to the edge of her sleeve, dripping down in a string of small red dots. She didn't wipe it away, only staring at the collapsed alleyway in the distance, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Carl sat on the ground, hands on his knees, panting as if he had just run three kilometers. He looked up at the sky; dark clouds pressed down on the mountains, and the wind grew stronger with each gust.

Nana stood still, the ball of light in her palm shining brightly, casting a pale yellow halo. Her gaze swept across the surroundings, data streams flashing incessantly in her eyes.

"The main shock has ended, but aftershocks will continue for at least forty minutes," she said. "The most likely time is seven to twelve minutes from now."

Chen Hao rolled over, sat up, and dusted off his pants. "So you finally survived? I wouldn't dare say that."

"I almost got hit by it just now." Carl wiped his face. "That building collapsed like it was being sliced ​​into tofu."

"You're too slow to react," Chen Hao grinned. "If I hadn't yelled, you'd be a pickled radish by now."

"You still went after Susan, didn't you?" Carl rolled his eyes at him. "You don't even care about your own life?"

"I'm sacrificing myself for others," Chen Hao patted his chest. "Besides, fat people don't get hurt when they fall; it cushions the fall better."

Susan didn't speak, but looked down at her arm, where the newly scraped area was already turning red. She tore off a strip of cloth and wrapped it around her arm, her movements slightly trembling.

Nana came over and knelt down to examine her wound. "It's a superficial abrasion, no tendon damage. I suggest avoiding further friction."

"We'll do it later." Susan withdrew her hand. "I can't move it now."

The ground jolted violently as soon as he finished speaking.

This time it was different. It wasn't up and down, it was swaying from side to side, like someone had pushed the earth from below. All four of them lost their balance and swayed from side to side.

"They're here!" Chen Hao roared.

An old tree in the distance began to sway. The tree grew on the edge of a slope, and its roots had long been loosened by the rain. When it was shaken, clods of soil tumbled down.

Nana immediately pointed to the tree: "Danger zone! It's 30 meters away from us in a straight line, with an 86% chance of it falling over!"

"Where can we hide?" Karl clutched his head.

"The open space in the middle is the safest!" Chen Hao jumped up and backed away. "Don't stick to the buildings, don't lean against the walls!"

They had only run a few steps when a loud "crack" came from behind them. The tree fell over and crashed into the spot where they had just been sitting, sending dust flying.

A thick branch sprang up, grazing Chen Hao's back, and his clothes ripped open with a "rip".

"My new clothes!" He glanced back. "This damn tree is deliberately trying to mess with me."

"You're still concerned about clothes?" Susan gasped. "They almost got lost just now."

"Even a near miss is still a miss," Chen Hao waved his hand. "As long as you don't hit the target, you win."

Karl slumped to the ground, staring at the fallen tree, speechless for a long time. "Even trees can be used as hidden weapons in this place."

“A chain reaction in the natural environment,” Nana explained. “The vibration caused the soil to liquefy, and the trees lost their support.”

"Can't you just stop using technical terms?" Chen Hao scratched his head. "It sounds like a eulogy."

“I’m stating the facts,” Nana said, turning to him. “And there are three other similar risk points that are currently being monitored.”

"What?" Chen Hao's eyes widened. "How many more trees are going to fall?"

“It may not collapse, but the conditions for it to tip over exist.” She pointed to the hillside on the left, “The two trees over there are too close together, and the resonance effect will accelerate the structural damage.”

"Should we move?" Karl looked up.

"Don't move around." Chen Hao plopped down. "There are minefields everywhere. Running around is suicide."

"Then why did you let me run away just now?" Karl rolled his eyes.

“That was an emergency evasive maneuver!” Chen Hao stated confidently. “Now we’re in the stage of calm analysis.”

Susan leaned against a concrete block, digging her fingers into the cracks in the bricks to steady herself. Another small tremor came, and she bit her lip, remaining silent.

Nana walked over to her and turned the flashlight beam down a bit. "Your injury needs treatment."

“We don’t have any tools.” Susan shook her head. “The first aid kit just fell open, and the contents are scattered all over the floor.”

“I can help you clean it.” Nana pulled a thin metal wire from her wrist. “It can be used as an aid in wound cleaning after being sterilized at high temperature.”

"You can do this too?" Chen Hao leaned closer. "Just how many functions haven't you told us?"

“Basic medical support is standard,” she said. “It’s just that you’ve never asked for it.”

"Why do I feel like you're deliberately holding back?" Chen Hao squinted.

“I have no motive,” she said expressionlessly. “Saving energy is a priority.”

"This is Versailles," Chen Hao sighed. "Even robots can feign innocence."

Karl suddenly raised his hand and gestured, "Wait."

Everyone quieted down.

There was movement on the ground again, this time a tremor that rose from the soles of my feet, like something crawling underground.

Nana's eyes flashed rapidly, and the data stream accelerated. "Shallow ground fissures have been detected, moving from west to east at a speed of 1.2 meters per second."

"How far?" Chen Hao asked.

"Current distance is 150 meters. Expected to reach the edge of the current location in nine seconds."

"Nine seconds?" Chen Hao jumped up. "Retreat! Roll east!"

The four immediately split up and moved. Chen Hao pulled Susan and ran diagonally forward, while Karl followed closely behind Nana, rushing forward over the gravel.

I had only run halfway when there was a loud "boom" behind me. The ground cracked open, and rocks and soil spewed out, like a miniature version of a volcanic eruption.

The crack ran right through the spot where they had just been standing, was more than half a meter wide, and was bottomless.

"My backpack!" Carl looked back and saw that the tool bag he had just dropped was now half-swallowed.

"Never mind that!" Chen Hao grabbed his arm. "Life is more important than tools."

“That’s the wrench I use to fix motors!” Carl struggled.

"Do you want a wrench or your life?" Chen Hao roared. "After the earthquake, I'll pick up rocks and throw them at you!"

The crack was still extending, but at a slower pace. Nana stood at the edge, shining her beam of light down, and watched for a few seconds.

“The depth is over five meters, and it’s impossible to cross in the short term,” she said. “We have been divided into two areas.”

"What do you mean?" Chen Hao asked.

“The route was cut off.” She pointed to the crack. “There’s no way back.”

"Then don't go back." Chen Hao shrugged. "Anyway, the base is pretty much destroyed."

“The problem is, what do we do next?” Susan leaned against another concrete block. “How long do we have to wait here?”

"Let's wait for the earthquake to stop," Chen Hao said, sitting on the ground. "Then we'll see if there's anything we can still salvage."

“You really think it can be salvaged?” Carl sneered. “The house collapsed, the road was cut off, even a tree can kill.”

"Why don't you be more optimistic? Are you going to cry?" Chen Hao retorted. "Will crying stop the earthquake?"

“I’m not crying,” Carl raised his voice. “I’m saying, let’s be realistic! We haven’t even brought enough food!”

"There's still half a kettle of water left." Chen Hao patted his backpack. "Two packs of biscuits and a small bag of beef jerky, enough for two days."

"Have you calculated your calorie expenditure?" Carl glared at him. "In this environment, your basal metabolic rate doubles!"

"Then what do you suggest?" Chen Hao stood up. "Write a will? Or just lie down?"

No one responded.

The wind picked up, making it hard to open one's eyes. Another small landslide occurred in the distance, its sound muffled, like thunder.

Nana suddenly turned around, facing north. "A new source of vibration is approaching."

"Again?" Chen Hao looked up.

“It wasn’t an earthquake,” she said. “It was objects moving.”

Following her gaze, everyone saw a large rock on the north slope that had become loose and was slowly sliding down.

"What if it falls on us?" Susan asked.

“The probability is low.” Nana calculated for a few seconds, “but it would block potential evacuation routes.”

"Then let it get blocked." Chen Hao waved his hand. "Anyway, we can't go anywhere right now."

“But it will affect the efficiency of subsequent operations,” Nana insisted.

"All I want right now is to live," Chen Hao said, rubbing his temples. "Could you please refrain from giving me any more 'aftermath'?"

"My job is to warn of risks."

"Your job is not to drive me crazy," Chen Hao rolled his eyes.

Susan suddenly coughed twice, her body swayed, and she almost fell. Chen Hao quickly caught her.

"How are you?" he asked.

"It's nothing," she shook her head. "It's just a little cold."

Chen Hao took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. "You don't look well."

“I can manage,” she said.

“You always say you can manage.” Chen Hao frowned. “Last time you had a fever, you said you were fine, but you ended up sleeping all day.”

"That was an accident."

“You’re now in reserve for any eventuality.” Chen Hao looked at Nana. “What’s her temperature?”

"37.8 degrees Celsius," Nana replied after the scan. "Mild fever, possibly related to blood loss and fatigue."

"Look!" Chen Hao pointed at her, "She's still being stubborn even though she's burned."

“I didn’t…” Susan tried to retort, but coughed before she could finish her sentence.

"Stop talking," Chen Hao interrupted. "Once this wave passes, we need to treat the wounds."

"You should take care of yourself first," Karl suddenly said.

Chen Hao turned to look at him: "What did I do now?"

“Your back is covered in dust, your clothes are torn, and you're limping,” Carl said. “Do you remember when you were injured?”

"Those are medals for saving lives," Chen Hao said, touching his back. "I don't even feel the pain."

“You’re just putting on a brave face,” Karl sneered.

“If I don’t show off, who will take the lead?” Chen Hao looked around at the three of them. “Nana is a machine, you are a technician, and she is a wounded person. If I don’t step up, the four of us will have already been forced to our knees.”

No one spoke.

There was another tremor, not strong, but it lasted a long time. Everyone instinctively lay down, hands on the ground for support.

Nana's light was still shining, casting their shadows crookedly on the ground.

“The seventh aftershock,” she reported. “It was weaker than the previous two, but still within the warning range.”

"How many more times?" Chen Hao asked.

“It’s impossible to predict precisely,” she said, “but the system indicates that there is still a high probability of activity in the next ten minutes.”

“Then let’s keep squatting here,” Chen Hao sighed, “until it finishes its fireworks.”

Susan leaned against the stool, her eyes closed, her breathing a little rapid. Chen Hao glanced at her but didn't say anything more.

Carl hugged his knees, staring at the crack. The wind whipped dust onto his face, but he didn't wipe it away.

Nana stood still, her mechanical legs slightly adjusting their balance, while the light source in her palm remained as stable as ever.

In the distance, the rocks on the hillside finally rolled to the bottom, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Chen Hao stared at the gray fog and muttered, "This godforsaken place, you have to pay a tax even for breathing."