Volcanic ash filled the sky, floating in the darkness, carrying the scent of sulfur as it fell.
The volcanic ash continued to drift for five days.
During these five days, everyone was engulfed in darkness.
People, once they stay in darkness for too long, undergo psychological changes.
In the darkness, malevolent thoughts and feelings of despair begin to surface.
Initially, it’s just a small sprout, but as the darkness persists, the sprout grows larger, eventually becoming a towering tree.
The temperature drops.
It has dropped to only twenty degrees.
At the Big Camphor Tree Base, the air conditioning had long been turned off, and in this twenty-degree weather, everyone felt quite comfortable.
Not too cold, not too hot.
Occasionally, a gentle breeze would blow, and if one could ignore the falling volcanic ash and the sulfuric air, the temperature was quite pleasant.
However, when the wind picks up, it becomes the most dangerous time.
Li Yu, not on duty today, went down to the reservoir at the foot of the mountain to check on it. The reservoir was intact and, although it was hurriedly constructed, the engineering was quite acceptable.
Water diverted from the Mountain Pond filled this reservoir.
Thanks to the protection of the roof and surrounding walls, no volcanic ash drifted into the reservoir.
The beam of a flashlight revealed clear water, with the concrete walls on either side visible.
Li Yu walked around the reservoir, then squatted down, scooping up a handful of water and sniffing it; there was no smell of sulfur.
Then he took a small sip; it was okay, tasting similar to the water from the Mountain Pond.
Li Yu nodded in satisfaction as he gazed at the full reservoir, a pleased look in his eyes.
This water could be piped into the Inner City and Outer City.
However, this water was not yet being used.
Li Yu left from the base of the mountain, watching the swirling volcanic ash. Wrapped in the wind with a hint of moisture, Li Yu keenly sensed this hint of moisture.
He looked up at the sky, worry flashing in his eyes.
"It’s coming!" Li Yu murmured.
From the moist wind earlier, he felt that rain was imminent.
Acid rain was coming.
Soon, he left the base of the mountain and returned to his residence in the Inner City.
Right after he returned, a thunderous roar was heard from outside.
The wind howled. Following a loud bang, acid rain fell from the sky.
The raindrops hit the ground like bullets, making noises and splashing water everywhere.
The acid rain carried a corrosive smell, permeating the air.
Acid rain had started!
The rain poured down relentlessly.
Just after returning indoors, Li Yu’s walkie-talkie attached to his waist began to buzz.
"Director Li, Director Li, it’s raining outside. The zombies outside the wall have gone mad."
The voice of Lao Lü came through the walkie-talkie.
Li Yu’s heart chilled—Zombies!
He hurriedly put on his protective raincoat.
Then, holding the walkie-talkie, he said, "I know. Everyone, be alert, the rain is acidic and has certain corrosive properties, ensure you wear protective gear before going outside!"
Lao Lü and Uncle, who were on duty, looked at each other.
They had been outside when they felt the rain and immediately ran back into the duty room, still unaware of any difference in this rain.
They then stepped out of the duty room, caught some acid rain, and sniffed it at their fingertips!
The rain was somewhat corrosive but with a mild strength, and a strong smell of sulfur dioxide hit their noses.
The continuous acid rain kept falling.
Li Yu, fully suited in rain gear, hurriedly went to the top of the wall.
Upon reaching the top, he saw the zombies outside the wall becoming even more frenzied, seemingly stimulated by the acid rain, turning them exceptionally violent.
They did more than just roar at the base of the wall; they kept crowding and piling up against it, and with their reliance on the wall, the stack of zombies grew higher and higher.
Even though Li Yu had witnessed such scenes of zombies before, even more terrifying ones, he felt a sudden chill in his heart at this moment.
For zombies to accumulate , there needs to be a sufficient number. Additionally, they need to be in a state of frenzy, otherwise it is difficult to form a stackable pile of zombies.
Whenever it rains, the ferocity, strength, agility, and running speed of the zombies all greatly increase, as if they can derive some unknown energy from the rainwater, or perhaps the rainwater stimulates them.
At this moment, as Lao Lü saw Li Yu approaching the wall, he hastily said to him, "Director Li, these zombies are even crazier than they were in the heavy rain before. Look, in just a moment, they’ve already stacked up to a height of two to three meters."
Li Yu’s expression turned grave as he withdrew his gaze from the zombies below the wall and said to Lao Lü, "Did you relay the message I just gave you, telling everyone not to come out unless they are wearing protective rain gear?"
Lao Lü nodded and replied, "I did."
Li Yu looked towards the wind turbines on top of the mountain. Under this acid rain, the wind was also strong, blowing the turbine blades rapidly.
The sound of footsteps splashing in the water came.
Li Yu turned his head and saw Yang Tianlong and Second Uncle approaching.
Having survived so long in this apocalyptic world, everyone had already summed up their experiences: every storm is inevitably accompanied by a Zombie Tide. Thɪs chapter is updated by NoveIꜰire.net