Despite growing public unrest, Maston remains silent as pressure mounts, and a mob storms his cell in desperation for answers. Meanwhile, the colossal machine set up at Mount Kilimanjaro is finally activated with President Barbicane's fateful command to "fire," sending the Earth teetering toward disaster. Instead of progress, the world is thrust into chaos, panic spreads, and the dream of Arctic transformation dissolves into dread. Maston, consumed by regret, laments the crowd's mercy, wishing they had punished him for his part in the plan. The story concludes with the spectacular failure of a scientifically absurd ambition, highlighting the folly of unchecked human enterprise through a satirical lens.