The terrifying black shadow of Cloudpan City

The journey to Cloudpan City was unusually smooth. In fact, nothing unexpected happened at all.

The convoy had lost over six hundred people, but that loss had also made it safer.

At least, according to Liu Chuan's senses, the Aberration that had been following them was no longer on their trail. That was definitely good news.

Although the rain outside showed no sign of stopping, the convoy finally reached the outskirts of Cloudpan City without further mishap.

Cloudpan City had a distinctive landscape, with mountains on three sides and a highway running along the remaining edge, like a prisoner confined by mountains and asphalt.

The Survival Rules Convoy had stopped on the highway overlooking Cloudpan City, where they could take in the entire city below.

Yet as they looked at Cloudpan City right before them, everyone in the convoy wore an expression of shock and horror.

"Y-you've got to be kidding. This is Cloudpan City!"

"It's only been raining for two days. How did it end up like this? Cloudpan City has practically disappeared!"

"All the surrounding mountainsides slid down and buried the entire city. Cloudpan City is basically one huge puddle now, isn't it?"

"There's a flood-control dam behind Cloudpan City. The rain must have caused something to go wrong."

"..."

Cloudpan City lay completely submerged in muddy water. In many places, the water had pooled into expanses of various sizes.

Apart from a few high-rises still standing in the muddy water, almost all the shorter buildings had been swallowed up.

Just like that, an entire city had vanished.

Lin Yi sat in the car and lit a cigarette, his eyes heavy with concern.

In an apocalypse like this, humanity's chances of survival seemed to be growing ever slimmer.

Up by the lead vehicle, Liu Chuan got out with a pair of binoculars and a folding umbrella, looking anxious.

"Lin, take a look at Cloudpan City. There are Aberrations!"

"Aberrations?"

Lin Yi took the binoculars and looked toward Cloudpan City. Immediately, he spotted trails of movement writhing beneath the muddy water.

On closer inspection, they were loach-like creatures, constantly circling and swimming through the muck.

Lin Yi couldn't make out exactly what they were. These Aberrations hid beneath the muddy water, making it impossible to spot anything amiss.

But...

The creatures seemed to be gathering together, as though some danger had appeared and forced them to flee.

Anything capable of making Aberrations flee could only be an even stronger Aberration.

Lin Yi's expression darkened slightly. As he raised his gaze, a terrifying silhouette quietly emerged between the mountains behind Cloudpan City.

Even after lowering the binoculars, he could still see that enormous figure.

One look made Lin Yi suck in a sharp breath. "That thing... it's an Aberration, right?" he asked in horror.

"Probably...?"

At that moment, even Liu Chuan couldn't be sure.

Before them stood a terrifying black shadow as massive as a mountain. Even through the binoculars, all they could see was an enormous silhouette shrouded in black mist.

No one knew what kind of Aberration it was, but the black shadow seemed merely to roll over, and its terrifying presence was already washing over them.

"Y-you've got to be kidding!"

"Is that a flood? It only moved a little, and the floodwater is already pouring down!"

"Run! Hurry! Captain Liu, don't just stand there!"

"That Aberration was holding back the flood, but now it's letting the water rush down! We need to get out of here!"

"..."

Liu Chuan immediately returned to the lead vehicle. Without even picking up the Amplifying Megaphone, he told Wang Gui to drive for their lives.

He feared that a loud announcement would carry too far and alert the Aberrations in Cloudpan City.

Everyone else in the convoy was already prepared. The moment they saw the flood, they had climbed back into their vehicles to escape, terrified that even a moment's delay would leave them swept away.

The Survival Rules Convoy immediately drove off, afraid that the slightest delay would let the flood catch them.

This time, the convoy picked up speed, not daring to slow down at all.

Only once they were well away from Cloudpan City did Lin Yi find a chance to look toward the distant mountains. That enormous black shadow was still crouched against them.

More precisely, it stood beside the mountain, holding back the floodwater as though it were taking a bath.

At the sight, Lin Yi felt his hands and feet turn icy cold.

This was an Aberration truly capable of destroying an entire country. Just what level was it?

Once the convoy had fled to a place with little danger, Liu Chuan finally raised the Amplifying Megaphone and called, "Everyone can take a break. We'll spend the night here."

He had checked with his senses. There were no traces of Aberrations nearby, so this place was safe.

Lin Yi climbed out under his umbrella and saw Ji Qingcang getting out as well, his expression utterly grim.

Clearly, this was also his first time seeing such a terrifying Aberration.

"For a moment there, I really thought I was going to die."

Ji Qingcang took a deep breath and walked over. "That Aberration outside Cloudpan City must be level five, right?"

"Good thing we're just ants in its eyes. Otherwise, we probably would've all died back in Cloudpan City."

Lin Yi shook his head helplessly.

The farther they traveled toward the North, the more terrifying the Aberrations they encountered became. Who knew what kinds of beings still lurked in the major cities?

Liu Chuan came over just then, his face pale. He had clearly been badly frightened. "Everyone in the convoy is fine. Nothing seems to have targeted us."

"It's fine. That big thing wasn't interested in us anyway."

Lin Yi took a deep breath and said, "The road ahead will probably be even harder. You need to advance as soon as possible. Ji and I are still waiting for your good news."

"Don't worry. I'll do it as soon as I can."

The moment Liu Chuan finished speaking, he sensed something and hurriedly looked toward Cloudpan City.

His expression turned grim.

Lin Yi and Ji Qingcang exchanged a glance, then instinctively looked toward the mountains. The black figure hadn't moved at all.

It wasn't that Aberration?

Could it be the creatures they'd seen beneath the muddy water?

"Get in!"

Liu Chuan shouted through the Amplifying Megaphone, "Get in your vehicles and prepare to leave immediately! Aberrations are catching up, and they're fast! Everyone, get in and move now! Don't stop!"

With that, he rushed straight back to the lead vehicle, and Wang Gui climbed in at once.

Lin Yi and Ji Qingcang also spotted the streak of yellow appearing on a distant mountaintop...

Across the entire mountaintop, something yellow spread downward like muddy water, rapidly flowing toward the highway.

"Liu Chuan, damn you! Didn't you say this area was safe?"