However, their joy was short-lived. Like a fleeting burst of fireworks in the night sky, the dazzling brilliance was followed by endless darkness. The smiles that had graced their faces only moments before fully blossomed began to falter. An air of unease, like a quietly creeping fog, silently enveloped the entire camp. At first, there were only subtle disturbances. The calm wind suddenly grew frantic, shaking the newly erected makeshift tents precariously. Then, a low, muffled rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, like a warning from deep within the earth. An inexplicable panic surged through everyone's hearts, and the glimmer of hope that had just ignited in their eyes began to flicker. Xiao Yi frowned, his unease growing stronger. Soon, the situation worsened. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, instantly obscuring the once warm sunlight, plunging the world into darkness. Without warning, large raindrops fell, striking everyone's bodies and faces with a cold, stinging tingle. The little food they had just found began to spoil under the rain. The water they had painstakingly collected was also mixed with mud and water, becoming murky. Everyone looked at this sudden change with helplessness and despair in their eyes, and the joy they had previously felt vanished without a trace.
As he explored the land, Xiao Yi took every step cautiously. His eyes, like those of a hawk, took in every detail. The ground beneath his feet was sometimes soft, sometimes hard, as if hiding some unknown secret. As he passed through a sparse forest, he suddenly noticed something strange. Several large trees bore deep scratches. Those marks didn't look like the marks of ordinary beasts, but rather the marks left by some massive, sharp weapon. Xiao Yi leaned in for a closer look, his suspicion growing. Continuing forward, he discovered a series of scraggly footprints near a boulder. These footprints varied in size and shape, clearly not human. Xiao Yi squatted down and measured the footprints with his fingers, his brow furrowed as he tried to deduce the characteristics of the creature that left them. In a patch of grass, he spotted crystals gleaming with a strange light. These crystals were irregular in shape, exuding a mysterious aura. Xiao Yi gently picked up a piece and placed it in his palm, feeling its temperature and texture. His heart was filled with curiosity and vigilance about this land. The sound of the wind around him seemed to become strange, as if whispering unknown stories. Xiao Yi's eyes became more determined. He knew that behind these strange signs, there must be a great secret hidden in this land.
This land was permeated with an indescribable sense of desolation and desolation, as if it had once suffered an attack by mutant creatures. Ruins and broken walls lay scattered everywhere, like silent witnesses of a brutal battle. Deep scratches covered the walls, each horrifying mark etched with the gruesomeness of the mutants in their frenzied attack. The ground was pockmarked with the marks of massive footprints, testifying to the monsters' incredible power. Several houses had collapsed, with broken tiles and wood scattered everywhere, as if they had been ravaged by a powerful force. The surrounding trees were mostly broken, some trunks snapped in half, others branches scattered, as if they had been through a brutal storm. Even more unsettling was the feeling that some unknown danger lurked in the shadows. From the silent corners, faint sounds could be heard from time to time, as if something was watching from the shadows. The wind rustled through the grass, creating a rustling sound, as if hidden dangers were brewing. With every step, they could feel an invisible pressure, as if pairs of eyes were watching their every move in the darkness. Xiao Yi's heartbeat involuntarily accelerated, and every slight movement could instantly make his nerves tense. This seemingly peaceful land was actually full of dangers. Those unknown dangers, like beasts hiding in the shadows, could pounce at any time and deal them a fatal blow.
Sure enough, not long after, a sudden disaster struck. The once calm sky was instantly enveloped by thick, dark clouds, like a vast black curtain, suffocating the air. A howling wind swept in, sending whirring sand and rocks caressing cheeks. Branches swayed violently in the gusts, seemingly ready to snap. Then, raindrops as large as beans lashed down like bullets, splashing the ground with a shower of water. The earth began to tremble, as if a giant hand were stirring furiously beneath the surface. Cracks appeared in the ground, spreading rapidly. Those who were unable to escape instantly fell into the bottomless chasms, crying out in despair. A landslide struck nearby, sending boulders and mud tumbling down with a deafening roar. The torrent tore down the mountain with unstoppable force, leaving devastation in its wake. Houses collapsed under the impact of the strong wind and flood, and people fled in all directions. Screams and cries mixed together in the chaotic scene. Xiao Yi struggled to maintain his balance in this chaos, trying to find a safe place, but the power of the disaster was too strong, making it difficult for him to move. This disaster was like the judgment of Doomsday, ruthlessly destroying everything and plunging people into deep fear and despair.
A powerful sandstorm, like a roaring beast, surged from the distant horizon. At first, it was just a faint yellow hue on the horizon, then it rapidly expanded and swelled, bearing down on them at astonishing speed. The wind howled, a shrill whistle that threatened to tear the world apart. Sand and dust, carried by the wind, formed a wall of sand that obscured the sun and crushed them. Their newly established camp proved vulnerable to this overwhelming force. The makeshift tents were instantly uprooted, tumbling through the air and disappearing. The hearths, constructed of branches and stones, were overturned by the wind, scattering burning firewood. Stored food and water were buried in the dust, and carefully gathered supplies were scattered by the wind. The once sturdy fences were blown to pieces, their broken wood flying in the wind, becoming dangerous weapons. The people watched in horror, unable to resist. The roar of the sandstorm drowned out their cries. Sand blinded their eyes and choked their throats, making it difficult to breathe. The entire camp was reduced to ruins in an instant, leaving only chaos and despair. The wind continued to rage, seemingly showing no sign of abating. They felt so small and helpless in the face of this sudden disaster.
People fled like headless flies in the raging sandstorm, their screams of terror ripped apart by the wind. Some, disoriented and desperate, ran in an unknown direction, only to be struck by flying debris and thrown to the ground. They tried to rise and continue their escape from this horrific disaster, but the relentless wind and sand struck them down again. A young woman, knocked down by the fierce wind, tried to shield her head with her hands, but a sharp stone still struck her leg, staining her clothes with blood. She gritted her teeth and struggled to crawl.
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