Part 1
After the meeting, the admin corridors slowly returned to their usual hush, but the weight of what was discussed lingered in the air.
Commander Long wasted no time. While others rested, sorted supplies, or discussed crops and combat shifts, he went back to his Private Base. Then he stepped into his private communication room—an old, secure setup wired directly through military-grade encrypted lines. No AI. No satellites. Only legacy tech that didn't rely on the crumbling networks above.
He didn't call everyone.
Just one.
The screen blinked faintly, then connected with a soft click. A middle-aged man appeared, eyes sharp behind simple glasses, the lines on his face etched from years of quiet decision-making. The kind of man who preferred shadows to spotlights.
"Long," the man said. "I assume this isn't a courtesy call."
Commander Long leaned back, face unreadable. "It's a favor. And a warning."
The conversation that followed was short but loaded. The Awakening Potion was never named directly, but every word implied the gravity of something that could reshape the balance of power. The man on the screen understood immediately.
"I'll need time," he said.
"You'll have it. But you'll only get one shot," Long replied. "No second chances."
There were no promises, only understanding.
When the screen went dark, Commander Long remained seated, fingers tapping against the desk.
Elsewhere, subtle messages were prepared—an old intelligence technique: vague enough to avoid interception, but specific enough for the right people to interpret. By the time the sun rose again, two other contacts—one in the southern military council, one in a logistics faction of the internal government—had received them.
Nothing grand. Just the planting of seeds.
They weren't trying to build a coalition overnight. Just curiosity. Tension. Hints of a potential miracle that only a few could access, if they proved worthy.
Back in the main room, Shadow 3 leaned against a table, eyes following the faint lights on the distant security monitors. "He's setting bait," he murmured, almost impressed. "And I think the sharks are already circling."
Part 2: The Calm Before the Flood
A few days had passed since the internal meeting at Long Yi's war room. The strategic plans were now in motion.
The temperature outside had dropped drastically. From the unbearable 58°C just days ago, it now hovered at a deceptively cool 30°C—a clear sign that something was wrong. Han Yue, sitting by the reinforced window, watched as the sky loomed in ominous shades of gray.
Government announcements blared across social media platforms, especially Weibo. The Weather Bureau released an emergency bulletin:
"Widespread relocation to higher terrain is advised. Torrential rainfall, hailstones, and hurricanes are forecasted in the coming days. Military and police units have begun strategic withdrawal and relocation. Citizens are strongly advised to hoard drinking water."
Then came the true warning:
"Current predictions confirm: the torrent rain is not the end, but a precursor to a regional MEGAFLOOD event. All those in low-lying or coastal regions are urged to retreat to higher altitudes immediately."
Though half the population had already moved into their designated Bases, the other half remained scattered—in coastal provinces, in old homes, or simply refusing to leave familiar ground.
In these areas, desperation was setting in. News footage showed scattered mobs raiding the last few open shops, searching for water, duct tape, batteries—anything remotely useful. Most major supermarkets had already been emptied, or their remaining stock relocated to Base-controlled warehouses.
In some cities, power grids were already beginning to fail. The unrelenting heat pushed cooling systems beyond their limits, overloading transformers and triggering rolling blackouts across entire districts.
The government had received warning of the apocalypse five months in advance — just enough time to act. But instead of spreading resources thin trying to reinforce every city, they focused their efforts on the Bases: consolidating supplies, reinforcing shelter systems, and relocating essential services. Everything beyond those fortified zones was left to decay.
It was a practical choice — but one with visible, growing consequences.
Back at Commander Long's Private Base, encrypted messages were being sent.
The first phase had begun. "The Target."
Not all enemies needed to be broken with force. Some could be shaken from within.False information. Staged betrayal. Surveillance. These operations had been approved.
Whispers would soon stir in strategic enemy camps—rumors of stolen stockpiles, internal cover-ups, and fracturing alliances.
Inside the Training Site, Han Yue's figure moved fluidly through a brutal set of strength drills, her clothes soaked with sweat. The pressure outside was mounting, but this was how she prepared—for the flood, for the war, for what came after.
Shadow 3 approached from the side. "Forecasts say the torrent rain begins in three days. But it'll be more like a season than a passing shower."
"Mm." Han Yue didn't stop moving. Her mind was already on the second phase—"The Information."Who had it.Who could be bargained with.Who might need to be stolen from — if it came to that.And who might need to disappear... if they got in the way.
After that came "The Flaw."How to break it open.
The Endgame was still hazy. But every move made now was carving a path toward it.
She punched forward — sharp, focused, and fierce.
Outside, a gust of cold wind swept across the base.
The flood was coming.