Chapter 1: The World of Torrential Rain

“Hiss…”

Half-conscious, Han Ning was roused by a fierce pang of hunger.

Opening his eyes, he found darkness.

Outside the window, a raging wind drove rain against the tightly shut glass sill, echoing with a chilling pounding sound.

A stormy night, a pitch-black room.

Under ordinary circumstances, this would have been a perfect environment for sleep.

But Han Ning felt only agitation.

For the relentless downpour had persisted for three entire days and nights.

Three days ago, he had been an ordinary office worker.

Just as he had gotten up and was heading to the bathroom to wash up—

The building suddenly shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake.

When he regained his senses, the familiar paved street outside had inexplicably transformed into a vast wasteland of swirling mud and water.

A sprawling urban cluster seemed to have suddenly descended here, massive buildings crookedly embedded in the mud, looking grotesquely out of place.

At the outset of this crossing, many had been curious about the desolate wilderness beyond.

The bravest attempted to leave the building to explore.

But a horde of hideous creatures—resembling a grotesque blend of crocodiles and lizards—lunged from the sheets of rain, dragging the curious explorers into the dense downpour.

Such scenes had repeated countless times over the past three days and still continued.

These ugly monsters not only roamed the wilds but also infiltrated the floors inside, hunting prey by scent.

The good news: they had not found his home.

The bad news: all the food was gone.

“Gurgle…”

“So hungry, so hungry.”

His stomach convulsed fiercely, as if a blazing fire raged within.

He grabbed the half-empty bottle of mineral water on his bedside table and gulped several mouthfuls, temporarily fooling his stomach with water.

“I can’t hide at home any longer!”

Han Ning wiped his mouth, silently telling himself.

Once his strength was fully depleted, death would be the only outcome.

At that moment, a flash of lightning split the sky, briefly illuminating the entire room.

In that fleeting brightness, he glanced outside.

From the seventh floor, he could overlook this strange wilderness.

Between the buildings, the rain had carved numerous gullies through the rolling yellow earth.

A low, guttural roar suddenly echoed from below.

Han Ning stiffened instantly, creeping slowly to the window and gently lifting a corner of the curtain.

On the street below, three creatures that looked like crocodiles but could stand upright on their hind legs prowled in the rain.

Their yellow-brown hides glistened with a nauseating oily sheen under the rain.

Jagged bony spikes protruded from their backs, slicing through the downpour, and their long tails dragged sinuous trails of blood through the puddles.

One abruptly stopped, lifting its grotesque head to sniff vigorously toward the nearby building.

Han Ning held his breath, not daring to exhale.

Carefully, he closed the curtain and dragged his weakened body toward the kitchen.

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