Chapter 828

Ryan immediately covered his face, thinking about how Nina had played a prank on him. The so-called gift was clearly more for her amusement than his. He could already imagine the others laughing when they saw the sculpture. However, his annoyance quickly faded. He considered it from another perspective. If that made the women happy, then a little embarrassment was worth it. After testing the water temperature with his hand, he muttered, "Perfect. It's time for a hot bath." He jumped into the bathtub, letting the warmth wash away his irritation. Closing his eyes, he relaxed, and before long, he drifted off to sleep. A sudden, loud rumble accompanied by a bright flash of light jolted him awake. The sound was so intense that it nearly ruptured his eardrums. He got out of the bathtub hurriedly, and the first thing that came to his mind was an erupting volcano. However, there was no volcano around them. Next, he considered an earthquake, but the lack of aftershocks made that unlikely. What in the world was happening? As he quickly dressed, Ryan glanced around and noticed a massive plume of dust rising from deep within the jungle, accompanied by a spreading fire at its center. He wondered if lightning had struck, but the sky was clear, with not a cloud in sight. After observing the sky, he exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my!" A crimson streak stretched across the heavens, as if the sky had been cleaved in two. Ryan recalled the deep rumble that preceded the deafening noise. Initially, he thought another storm was brewing. Then, he pondered the sequence of events, trying to make sense of it all. His eyes widened as a realization hit him. "Don't tell me it was a meteorite!" he shouted. "A meteorite?" Sherry's voice startled him, causing his heart to race. He was already on edge, and the unexpected sound made him break into a cold sweat. Ryan placed a hand on his chest to steady himself as the five women approached. "Why are you all here?" he asked, still trying to calm down. Sherry glanced nervously at the fire in the jungle. "The noise was so loud, I felt the whole mountain shake!" Eloise kept her eyes on the woods. "I've heard that even a brain-sized meteorite can pack a punch when it hits Earth—like a dozen nuclear bombs!" Nina scoffed. "Nonsense! One nuclear bomb would be enough to destroy all life forms on the island. If it really is as powerful as a dozen nuclear bombs, why are we still standing here?" Eloise blushed brightly and explained, "I was referring to the force of its explosion! A nuclear bomb doesn't just destroy life forms because of how powerful its explosives are. It also has to do with its radiation!" Camelia remained quiet, arms crossed, her thoughts disrupted by the argument between the two women.