2.1 The Apocalypse Appears
At first, the signs of the apocalypse were so subtle, like ghosts hiding in the dark, difficult to detect.
The sun, as if wantonly tossed by a pair of invisible large hands, dimmed without warning, like a critically ill patient, gasping for breath. After several minutes, it returned to its normal state, leaving people utterly bewildered.
The moon, as if stained with blood, shone with an eerie crimson in the night sky, casting a sinister gaze over the land, as if proclaiming the arrival of disaster.
"Hey, I say, what sorcery has befallen the sun and moon? How could they become so absurd!" Lín Xuān stood at the entrance of the base, gazing at the sky, his brow furrowed into a deep 'river' shape, a strong sense of unease welling up in his heart.
It was like the instinctive premonition of danger birds feel before a storm, flapping their wings but having nowhere to escape.
He couldn't help but mutter again, "What kind of nonsense are they pulling day by day? I hope nothing truly major happens."
2.2 Climate Chaos
Following this, the climate descended into chaotic madness.
September, a time that should have been a gentle transition between summer and autumn, with cool autumn breezes dispersing the lingering heat of summer, saw snowflakes falling without warning, as if winter had gone mad ahead of schedule.
Crops were frozen to death in large swathes; they, who had been vibrant in the fields, now lay fallen in masses, like soldiers who had lost their vitality.
A fierce wind swept in with a roar, transforming into a rampaging demon that wreaked havoc in the city.
Trees were uprooted, as if easily plucked blades of grass by a giant; billboards were blown to pieces, flying helplessly in the air; window panes shattered with crackling sounds, the sharp noises weaving together to compose a chilling 'apocalypse symphony'.
Rain poured down like a deluge, instantly overwhelming the city's drainage system. It was like a cloth bag that had burst at the seams, and the city became a vast ocean.
Vehicles stalled in the accumulated water, like trapped iron turtles unable to move; pedestrians struggled in waist-deep water, each step a monumental effort, as if every step might be their last.
"This weather has gone completely insane! If this continues, how are we supposed to live?" Lín Xuān stood at the base entrance, looking at the chaotic world outside, his face filled with terror. His hands were clenched tightly into fists, his knuckles white from the strain, as if this posture could grasp some sense of security, but that security was like a candle flame in the wind, flickering precariously.
He raised his voice again, shouting, "Heavens above, are you picking a fight with us!"
2.3 Societal Collapse
Social order also began to collapse like a decaying building, crumbling to the ground.
Prices soared like rockets; food prices more than quadrupled overnight. Staples like bread and rice instantly became treasures in people's eyes, leading to frantic buying.
Supermarkets were crammed with people, like a pack of hungry wolves with red eyes, madly stuffing their shopping carts. For the last bag of flour or the last bottle of cooking oil, they would fight, exchanging blows and kicks.
Shelves were knocked over, merchandise scattered everywhere, the scene a mess, as if it had just experienced a brutal war. Though no smoke of gunpowder filled the air, despair permeated every corner.
Localized unrest intensified. In the outskirts of some cities, robberies became frequent. Opportunists took advantage of the chaos, armed with weapons, breaking into shops and homes to loot. People lived in fear, reluctant to go out. Doors and windows were shut tight, curtains drawn, as if this could shield them from the dangers outside. Yet, the aura of danger, like an all-pervasive virus, seeped into every nook and cranny.
The police were overwhelmed, their forces stretched thin under the chaotic situation, unable to maintain order effectively. The entire world plunged into anarchic chaos, like a pile of scattered sand that could no longer be gathered, the future cloaked in darkness.
"This world has completely fallen apart, we must find a way to survive." Lín Xuān gritted his teeth, his eyes revealing a firm resolve, a gaze that seemed to penetrate the darkness, searching for a sliver of hope.
He turned and returned to the base, beginning to discuss countermeasures with the Quantum Spirit. A desperate plan for survival was about to unfold, like the last straw people grasp in the dark, slender yet carrying all their hope.
As he walked, he murmured, "No matter what, we can't just sit here and wait for death. We have to fight for it, one way or another."