Chapter 24 – Torrential Rain 暴雨

After the earthquake near Mexico, strange phenomena around the world became more and more frequent. The temperature rose abnormally or dropped sharply. The power grid systems in some areas malfunctioned for no apparent reason, and even livestock died in groups without an obvious cause. At the same time, various "doomsday theories" quickly spread both online and in reality. The shelves in supermarkets were emptied by shoppers, the prices of supplies soared. Many people chose to hoard food and water, but lots of people still hoped it was just ordinary natural disasters.

Lin Yuan paid attention to the news with a calm gaze. He knew that the countdown to the doomsday had already started, and he had to make more preparations. He used his break time after class to continue hoarding supplies, hiding daily necessities in various corners of the house as much as possible. But he was still careful to hide his intentions, avoiding arousing the suspicion of his aunt, Cao Yuwei, or the neighbors.

Meanwhile, in another city, Jiang Tianming, as a construction site foreman, had keenly noticed some unusual signs. All along, he had a vague sense of vigilance about the future and had been preparing and stockpiling resources in advance. He didn't have much sources of information, but his years in society, instinct told him danger might be near.

One day, when one of his workers proposed to resign, he said to Jiang Tianming, "Boss, I think the world is getting more and more chaotic. I've also heard the rumors about the doomsday. Look, should we also..."

Jiang Tianming interrupted him and said firmly, "Have you made up your mind? I won't try to persuade you either, but you have to finish today's work first. Go to the finance department to settle your salary after work."

"Boss, thank you. I've really made up my mind." The resigning worker nodded.

[Countdown to the Doomsday: 1 day, 3 hours, 22 minutes]

Lin Yuan opened the Jiuchong Ring and communicated with it in a low voice, "I've done my best to hoard everything I can. Should I tell my aunt in advance? After all, she's the only family member of this body."

The Jiuchong Ring was silent for a moment and then said coldly, "The time is not right. If you tell her the truth now, she'll just think you're crazy. Don't forget, you're not ready to face more troubles yet."

Lin Yuan sighed and thought, "This rule is really suffocating."

The next day, the morning sun shone into the bedroom, but Lin Yuan felt a sense of unease. He received a prompt from the Jiuchong Ring: "Host, at 12 noon today, the mutation will break out completely. It is recommended that you stay at home and don't expose yourself."

Lin Yuan nodded and immediately called the school to ask for leave. He walked into his aunt Cao Yuwei's room and found that she still had a high fever and looked pale.

"Don't go to work. Stay home and rest." Lin Yuan handed her hot water, saying softly.

Cao Yuwei nodded weakly and forced a smile, "Okay, I'll listen to you today."

As the time approached noon, the sky suddenly turned gloomy. The dark clouds were like a torn curtain, quickly covering the entire city. Then, the first low rumble of thunder sounded, like some kind of omen. Immediately after, raindrops as big as soybeans hit the windows, and in the blink of an eye, it was pouring down. Lin Yuan stood by the window, looking at the scene outside, and clenched his fists.

"It's starting..." he murmured in a low voice.

The thunderstorm was unusually dense and chaotic. The rain washed the streets, and Lin Yuan noticed some strange details: when the raindrops fell on the ground, they actually gave off a thin wisp of black smoke, as if something was being corroded.

He quickly packed the supplies he had prepared in advance. His backpack contained compressed biscuits, bottled water, and first aid medicines. He walked to the door of the room and looked at his aunt, who was still sleeping. Lin Yuan secretly vowed, "I'll protect her. It's the price for using this body."

As the thunderstorm continued, the city's communication began to break down. Lin Yuan vaguely felt that this was just the beginning of the doomsday, and the real disaster was still brewing. At this moment, the Jiuchong Ring suddenly interjected, "The energy fluctuations in the rain... are very close to the time when the mission target will be activated. Host, you have to adapt to this world as soon as possible. Please try your best to survive."

Lin Yuan frowned and said coldly, "The target? Where exactly is it?"

Jiuchong Ring didn't reply, just saying, "It's not the time to know the answer."

Lin Yuan clenched his fists and thought, "Guess I'll have to find the answer myself."

===================

随着墨西哥附近的强震发生,全球的异象越来越频繁.温度异常升高或骤降,部分地区的电网系统莫名瘫痪,甚至出现了不明原因的牲畜集体暴毙.与此同时,各种 "末世论" 迅速在网络和现实中蔓延开来.超市的货架被抢购一空,物资价格飞涨,许多人选择囤积粮食和水,但更多人仍然抱着侥幸心理,认为一切只是普通的自然灾害.

林远关注着新闻,目光冷静.他知道末世的倒计时已经开始了,他必须做更多准备.他利用下课时间继续囤积物资,将日常用品尽可能分散藏在家中的各个角落.但他仍旧小心翼翼地隐藏自己的意图,避免引起小姨曹雨薇或邻居们的怀疑.

与此同时,在另一边的城市,江天明作为工地包工头,已经敏锐地察觉到某些不寻常的迹象.一直以来,他对未来存有一种模糊的警惕,未雨绸缪地储备资源.他没有太多的情报来源,但凭借多年社会摸爬滚打的经验,他知道危险可能就在眼前.

某天,他的一名工人提出辞职时对他说:"头儿,我觉得这世道越来越乱了,我也听说过末日的传言,你看,我们是不是也要..."

江天明打断了他的话,语气坚定:"你想好了?我也不劝你了,但你今天的工作得先做完了.下班前去财务部结算工资吧."

"头儿,谢谢,我确实想好了." ,辞职工人点点头.

[末日倒数:1天3小时22分钟]

林远打开九重戒,与它低声交流着:"我已经尽力把能囤的都囤了.要不要提前告诉小姨?她毕竟是我这身体唯一的亲人."

九重戒沉默片刻,冷冷道:"时机未到.如果你现在告诉她真相,她只会把你当疯子.别忘了,你还没准备好面对更多麻烦."

林远叹了口气,暗道:"这该死的规则真让人喘不过气."

第二天,清晨的阳光照进卧室,林远却感到一股不安.他收到九重戒的提示:"宿主,今天的中午12点,异变将彻底爆发.建议你待在家中,不要暴露自己."

林远点头,随即拨打了学校的电话请假.他走到小姨曹雨薇的房间,发现她高烧未退,脸色苍白.

"你今天别去上班了,就在家好好休息." 林远递上一杯热水,语气柔和地说道.

曹雨薇虚弱地点点头,挤出一丝笑容:"好吧,今天就听你的了."

随着时间接近中午,天空突然变得阴沉,乌云像被撕裂的幕布,迅速笼罩了整个城市.随后,第一声低沉的雷鸣响起,像是某种预兆.紧接着,豆大的雨点砸在窗户上,转眼间暴雨倾盆.林远站在窗边,望着外面的景象,握紧了拳头.

"开始了..." 他低声喃喃道.

雷阵雨异常地密集且混乱,雨水冲刷着街道,而林远注意到一些诡异的细节:那些雨点落在地面后,竟然发出一丝丝轻微的黑烟,仿佛有什么东西被腐蚀了一般.

他迅速收拾好提前准备的物资,背包中放着压缩饼干,瓶装水和急救药品.他走到房间门口,看了看仍在昏睡中的小姨,心里暗暗发誓:"我一定会保护她.算是占领这身躯的费用了.

随着雷阵雨持续下着,城市的通讯开始紊乱.林远隐隐感觉到,这不过是末日的开端,真正的灾难还在酝酿.而此时,九重戒突然冷不丁地冒出一句:"雨中的能量波动...很接近任务目标开启时间了.宿主,你要尽快适应这个世界,请努力活下去."

林远皱了皱眉,冷声道:"目标?具体在哪儿?"

九重戒没有回答,只留下一句:"现在不是知道答案的时候."

林远攥紧拳头,咬牙道:"看来,我只能自己找出答案了."