Downpour in the Apocalypse: Not the End of the World’s Catastrophe

Mike was stunned the first time he saw the data of an SS-class talent. His mind was overwhelmed, and he couldn't tear himself away from the numbers. It was only after Jiang Xiaoci repeatedly reminded him that he snapped out of it, translating the data he'd just seen.

Jiang Xiaoci's face showed a mixture of surprise and awe as she listened. "This is a truly versatile genius, capable of both civil and military prowess, with the ability to shape the world!"

Mike expected this high praise for Dongfang Zhiyuan. Anyone who saw Dongfang Zhiyuan's data set would have no choice but to be amazed.

The golden light in front of them continued to swirl and rotate, refusing to take form. Mike grew increasingly puzzled. "This recruitment is taking too long... It's been five or six minutes already. Is this a unique trait of SS-class talents? Do the higher the level, the slower the recruitment process?"

He glanced at Jiang Xiaoci in his arms. She silently shook her head, signaling she had no idea either.

The process was taking longer than expected, but Mike figured that given the power of an SS-class talent, he could afford to wait however long it took.

"Lin Yue, bring me some tea. Let's wait it out. We have plenty of time."

Mike instructed, and Lin Yue quickly rushed off to prepare the tea. Just as she was about to reach the tea area, a sudden change occurred!

"Boom—!"

A deafening crack of thunder shattered the sky, followed by the crackling of lightning. A blinding flash of white lit up the surroundings, painting everything in a brilliant light. Even those inside the room felt a mild tingling sensation on their skin, as though they'd been lightly shocked.

The thunderclap was so loud and jarring that Mike jumped, rushing to the window to look outside.

A thunderstorm in broad daylight? That couldn't be a good sign.

The streets outside were deserted except for a few members of the defense team. Everyone else had already retreated into their shelters. Windows opened, and murmurs of confusion and fear began to ripple through the area.

"What happened? What was that thunder?"

"Why is it thundering in the middle of the day? There's no sign of rain!"

"Could this be a sign of the third round of the apocalypse? Why hasn't the warning message appeared yet? It's making me nervous."

As the crowd began to panic, the defenders on the street remained vigilant, scanning the area for any potential threats.

Suddenly, the guards stationed below Mike's building, Wang Shi and Zheng Xingxing (the old sorcerer), simultaneously opened their eyes. Both looked toward the distant sky, where a thick layer of dark clouds appeared out of nowhere, swiftly covering the entire city.

In just moments, the previously bright sky turned pitch black, and the air grew thick with damp, oppressive pressure—clear signs that a storm was imminent.

"An evil presence has appeared," Zheng Xingxing muttered, narrowing his eyes. Beside him, Wang Shi's expression darkened. "I can feel the Earth's magnetic field fluctuating wildly."

Inside the community, most survivors had yet to grasp the severity of the situation. Some were still surprised, murmuring:

"Is it really going to rain that hard?"

"What's going on? The third round of the apocalypse hasn't even arrived, but the storm's already here?"

"Hey, hey, what is this? It hasn't rained in two months, and now there's a sudden downpour? What about the clothes I left outside to dry?!"

"Well, just let the wind take your clothes away, and then you can trade your work credits for new ones."

A few chuckles came from the crowd, showing that the pressure wasn't too high yet. After all, Mike's presence always reassured them, so despite the uncertainty, they managed to keep their composure.

"Boom—!"

Another thunderous crack echoed, and dark, black lightning flickered within the dense clouds, crackling ominously as if threatening to break through.

Before anyone could react, the next thunderclap heralded the deluge.

"Shhhhhh! Shhhhhh!"

Raindrops like bullets pummeled down in an instant, completely soaking the city.

"Ahhh!"

Suddenly, a scream of pain cut through the air, catching everyone's attention. People looked over to see the defense team on the street, drenched by the rain, their bodies bleeding!

Some observant souls noticed that the rain was black—dark drops that zipped through the air like blades, slicing through the defense team's armor, seeping inside and quickly penetrating their defenses.

"Get inside, now!"

Mike shouted urgently from the window, but it seemed his voice was completely drowned out by the torrential rain.

Jiang Xiaoci reacted swiftly. Before Mike even finished shouting, she grabbed the communication device in the room and quickly activated the emergency channel connected to the community's loudspeakers.

"This is General Jiang Xiaoci of Jinling. I command all defense personnel to take cover immediately! No one is to go outside! Protect yourselves at all costs!"

Mike could hear the muffled announcements from the loudspeakers through the rain, but they were barely audible. It seemed the storm was blocking the sound transmission. Still, the defenders could hear the message and began rushing to the nearest buildings for safety.

However, some of the guards, stranded in the middle of the street, were too far from the shelter. The rain was falling so rapidly, and those caught in it were already collapsing, bleeding and succumbing to the onslaught.

In just a few moments, Mike witnessed several people drop to the ground, lost to the black water beneath.

"Whoosh!"

At that moment, Wang Shi dashed out from the building, moving like lightning. A faint aura surrounded him, as if some mysterious power was protecting him from the rain.

He dashed to the middle of the street, swiftly gathering a few fallen defenders and bringing them back to shelter.

"He's not enough!" people quickly realized. No matter how strong Wang Shi was, he only had two hands and couldn't save everyone.

"Zheng Xingxing!" Mike yelled, unsure if the old sorcerer could hear him over the rain. But just as he called out, a deep, resonant voice rang out, chanting in an ancient, mystic tone.

"Stars, guide my magic, reflect the power of mercy! Bless me with the light of the stars!"

It was Zheng Xingxing's voice, old yet filled with strength. Mike looked down and saw the old sorcerer, his wand held high, casting a spell that shimmered through the storm.

"Boom!"

A white magic beam shot from the tip of the wand, tearing through the black rain like a bullet. It hit the defenders still caught outside, enveloping them in a protective barrier.

"Shhhhh!"

The white magic emitted a watery vapor, forming a funnel-shaped shield over the defenders, preventing the deadly black rain from reaching them. The rain and magic clashed in a strange, steam-like interaction that created an eerie atmosphere.

Thanks to Zheng Xingxing's spell, Wang Shi was able to carry the wounded defenders back to safety.

Mike exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness the magic corps is really useful."

For a moment, his anxiety eased. He remembered the modern army stationed in the distant city's barracks. Despite the eerie storm, the presence of the starlight sorcerers gave him confidence that the military situation would remain stable.

As long as the army was stable, the situation wasn't completely lost.

"This... could this be the third round of the apocalypse?" Mike frowned. He refocused on the black rain outside, his mind racing.

Although the black rain was intense and destructive, it didn't seem to harm buildings. It only posed a threat to living beings.

Not just humans, but even the mutated, cannibalistic bacteria from the second round of the apocalypse were dissolving in the rain, rapidly decaying before his eyes.

"These raindrops... They must contain some sort of special substance, similar to acid rain during peaceful times."

"It seems to target living organisms. Even the tough cannibal bacteria can't resist it."

Jiang Xiaoci, standing beside Mike, observed the strange phenomenon. "If we're comparing this to the potential logic of the apocalypse cycles, the substance in this black rain is definitely stronger than the mutated bacteria from the second round."

Mike understood. Jiang Xiaoci was suggesting that the difficulty of each round of the apocalypse escalated monthly, with the threats growing deadlier.

In other words, while the mutated bacteria in the second round were terrifying for ordinary survivors, in the broader context of the apocalypse system, they were far from the worst.

If survivors who struggled through the second round were unlucky enough to face the third round, their chances of survival were much slimmer.

Mike observed the black rain for a moment, then turned back to Jiang Xiaoci. "But why haven't we received the official warning for the third round yet?"

Jiang Xiaoci smiled lightly. "The answer is simple—because the third round of the apocalypse hasn't officially begun."

"Not begun yet?" Mike pointed out at the storm. "The rain's already causing damage... If many of the survivors outside the shelters are exposed, they'll likely be dead already."

The black rain wasn't immediately lethal, but it was dangerous enough. Based on Mike's observations, anyone caught in the rain for too long would die unless they found shelter quickly.

"This third round... feels different."

Mike's gaze sharpened as he continued watching the scene outside. He turned to Lin Yue. "Lin Yue, contact the rescue teams, the departments, and Xin Chang City. We need to make sure the communication channels are open and get updates on the damage and current situation."

"Yes." Lin Yue nodded, immediately heading to the communication device.

Mike looked back at Jiang Xiaoci, then asked, "Xiaoci, you've been a bit lazy lately. Don't feel like taking charge?"

Jiang Xiaoci smiled sweetly. "It's because I know you can handle everything now. I just wanted to take a break and be quietly by your side."

"That's fine." Mike gently stroked her hair. "But the situation now doesn't give you the luxury to slack off."

"I understand, sir."

Jiang Xiaoci nodded with a soft smile, then headed downstairs to prepare for what was coming.

Mike watched her leave and glanced back at the golden light still swirling in the room.

"This grandfather... sure is making me wait," he muttered.