At five in the afternoon, rain poured down in sheets.
The entire Jiang City seemed to be trapped beneath a vast, murky-gray net.
Rain lashed down in torrents, weaving flowing waterfalls across the glass curtain walls of the towering buildings.
Streams of water crisscrossed and converged, then spilled from countless corners, splashing onto the streets in rippling circles.
The communicator inside the Special Investigation Team's vehicle suddenly crackled with static, followed by an urgent call from dispatch.
"Emergency! Emergency! Multiple middle schools in West City District, South City District, and Jiangbei District are reporting violent assaults at the same time! I repeat, multiple middle schools!"
"Requesting backup! A monster has appeared in the No. 1 High School cafeteria! A student has been killed!"
"There's one at No. 3 Middle School too! It's a snake! There are lots of them!"
Jiang City No. 1 High School, student cafeteria.
"My son is graduating from Martial University in the second half of this year. He says he wants to come back and find a job with the Special Investigation Team, so he asked me and his father to keep an eye out for him."
Teacher He, the senior-year director, was chatting with Aunt Zhang, who was cleaning. Her voice was full of the sweet burden of being a parent.
"Wow, you're lucky! Your child's done so well. You can't let the job hunt fall through!"
Aunt Zhang replied as she bent down to mop the floor.
Teacher He wore the proud smile of a parent. She was just about to remind a few students hurrying past to be careful and watch their step on the slippery floor.
Suddenly, Aunt Zhang, bent over with a mop in hand, felt a chill behind her. It seemed that a hissing sound was coming from close to