Forecasting Natural Disasters for Novel Natives - Chapter 22 Part 1

This was a bustling first-tier city, on an ordinary evening.

As rush hour began, the roads filled with commuter traffic. Subways, packed carriage after carriage, rumbled through the underground tunnels. At one station, a crowd surged out.

Streetlights flickered on, and restaurants near the subway welcomed dinner customers while food stalls were surrounded by hungry people.

The night’s liveliness began with the arrival of these off-work crowds.

Right at this moment, the sky suddenly churned like rolling waves, followed by a voice that could be heard clearly even amidst the surrounding clamor.

[Ding ding ding ding! Hello, people of the Colorful Fog World!]

“What was that sound?”

“What’s wrong with the sky?”

“Wow, there’s a picture up there!”

An image appeared in the sky—a bird’s-eye view of a prosperous city at night, incredibly beautiful.

“What is this? So amazing!”

“Is it a projection from somewhere?”

Someone jumped up and grabbed at the air, as if trying to pull something down from the sky, but naturally caught nothing. Facing his friends’ laughter, he said, “What are you laughing at? There must be a screen up there.”

“How is that possible? It’s so high!”

“Don’t be fooled by the height—maybe it’s only ten meters away. It’s all black tech.”

The exhausted office workers, just off a long day, joked and laughed, not panicking over the sky screen’s appearance.

Their soul-crushing jobs had already drained them dry, leaving their mental states far from normal. Even if a plane flew right over their heads, they’d just cheer enthusiastically, treating it as a free air show.

[..Colorful Fog refers to Fog of seven colors. This is the type of disaster your world is about to face.]

“Disaster? What? A major catastrophe is coming? Wow, no work tomorrow!”

“Sounds like a pretty-looking disaster—seven-colored fog.”

“Ha ha, which company came up with this? They really get us wage slaves. Is this for a product promotion? Might consider supporting it.”

[I am a Disaster Forecaster. You can call me Weizi. Starting tomorrow, your world will experience a blanket of white fog. Well, it’s not smog, just plain fog.]

[At this stage, the Fog is still harmless to humans. It just affects visibility—beyond ten meters, you won’t be able to see anything.]

“Wow, such thick fog?”

“Ten meters isn’t too bad. I experienced worse Fog when I was a kid. The whole world was just a vast whiteness; you couldn’t go out at all.”

“If we can’t go out, does that mean no work? Great! If the Fog doesn’t show up tomorrow, I’ll be the first to protest!”

The young people suddenly grew excited. Meanwhile, business owners like restaurant proprietors and stall holders looked on speechlessly at these people, then back at the sky screen.

“If there’s going to be fog, does that mean I can’t set up my stall tomorrow?”

“I just stocked up on a batch of fruit—if it doesn’t sell, I’m finished!”

“Business is so good at night—don’t let something weird happen now!”

“Is what the voice saying true? The weather forecast didn’t mention any fog.”

The general public reacted with anticipation, resistance, skepticism, and curiosity.

Some took out their phones to call friends: “Outside XX subway station, there’s a sky screen show. Wanna come? It even says it’s going to be foggy tomorrow.”

The other end of the line was noisy, filled with many voices. Then, the caller heard the synchronized voice from the sky screen through the phone. He began to doubt, “Wait, what’s that sound on your end?”

His friend’s panicked voice came through: “You have the sky screen too? It’s here as well!”

“What? Isn’t your area all low-rise buildings, without even a five or six-story one? Where would they set up a screen?”

“Set it up? It’s across the whole sky! Super high up, and huge!”

The caller stood stunned, then looked up at the sky screen, parts of which were blocked by tall buildings and overpasses.

No way… This sky screen isn’t someone’s projected display? It’s really up in the sky?

Meanwhile, Long Kun—the number one member of Ye Bingbing’s harem, the young master of the HD Group—was furiously ordering his men to investigate the origin of the sky screen and have it shut down.

“It must be shut down! It can’t be allowed to continue broadcasting!”

It even knew about tomorrow’s fog. The people behind this probably knew just as much as Ye Bingbing.

Speaking of Ye Bingbing, he hurriedly called her.

His subordinates exchanged glances.

How were they supposed to investigate this? The entire sky was covered with the image. Could this be something humans could possibly create?

Long Kun: “What are you all standing around for?!”

The subordinates didn’t dare delay further and quickly scattered to search for any possible projection source.

Long Kun’s call went unanswered for a long time. On the second try, someone picked up—a man’s voice.

“What is it?”

Long Kun’s face instantly darkened: “Jiang Shirong? Is Bingbing with you?”

A soft, derisive laugh came from the other end: “Does Bingbing need to report her whereabouts to you?”

Long Kun suppressed his irritation. He held no fondness for the other men around Ye Bingbing, like that pretty-boy celebrity.

When Ye Bingbing hatched the first little toad, she actually gave it to that pretty boy, saying he was a celebrity, his face was important, and he should use it for beautification!

And that doctor was equally detestable. He got the second little toad, saying he wanted to conduct research!

This Jiang Shirong was the most annoying because of his red background—even Long Kun had to show him some respect. But now wasn’t the time for that.

He said, “Give the phone to Bingbing. Something’s happened.”

In a luxurious private club, the man glanced impatiently at his phone. “What happened?”

“There’s a strange image in the sky here. Someone is saying disasters are coming tomorrow, and they mentioned colorful fog.”

Jiang Shirong frowned: “How is that possible? Who else could know about this?”

“None of us would leak it. So, I need to ask Bingbing if anyone else knows about this.”

A lively, pretty girl with soft, shiny honey-brown long curls and skin so fair it seemed to glow bounced over. “What’s wrong? Whose call is it?”

Jiang Shirong immediately switched to a gentle expression and looked up at her. “Bingbing, besides you, is there anyone else who knows the apocalypse is coming?”

Ye Bingbing looked astonished: “How could there be anyone else? I only told you few.”

Before Jiang Shirong could say more, someone rushed in: “Young Master Jiang! There’s a strange image in the sky outside!”

Jiang Shirong’s face darkened. Long Kun on the phone also realized something was wrong: “You have it there too?”

Jiang Shirong hurried outside. The moment he saw the sky screen, he knew things were bad.

Unlike the arrogant and overbearing Long Kun, Jiang Shirong’s first glance at the sky screen told him this was absolutely not something achievable by any known technology.

He said gravely, “Investigate how many people can see this sky screen.”

After a pause, he corrected himself, “Check which areas can see this sky screen.”

Ye Bingbing also saw the image in the sky and covered her mouth in shock.

It was a bird’s-eye view of the entire Dragon City! And the entire city was gradually being engulfed by white fog!

[On the first day, the fog wasn’t too thick. You can still see things ten meters away. But this is just the beginning.]

[By the second day, the fog becomes much denser. The naked eye can only see about two meters ahead.]

[And by the third day, the Fog intensifies to the point where you can’t see your own hand in front of your face.]

The scene changed to a first-person perspective. The surroundings were a vast whiteness. The visible range shrank from ten meters to two meters, and finally to not being able to see one’s own hand.

There was a suffocating feeling, as if the person was being utterly swallowed alive by the white fog.

Ye Bingbing stumbled back several steps in shock.

This was exactly what she had experienced in her previous life. After half a year of living a refined, luxurious life, she had almost forgotten these unpleasant memories.

Now, the former panic and fear surged back into her heart, so vividly that she even felt she could no longer breathe!

*

Somewhere in Dragon City, at a film and television base.

“Mr. Lin, your water!”

The assistant hurriedly reminded him.

Only then did Lin Yan realize he had poured the water from his thermos onto his costume.

He quickly righted the thermos. The assistant took it: “The image in the sky is so shocking. Were you startled too, Mr. Lin?”

Lin Yan smiled: “It is quite astonishing. This sky screen says a disaster is coming. Do you believe it?”

“How could I? Even if there is a disaster, I’ve never heard of a ‘colorful fog’ disaster. Who knows what gimmick this is.” The assistant shrugged.

Lin Yan said, “I’m going inside to change. Looks like we can’t continue filming today.”

He entered the dressing room, and his expression instantly turned frantic and panicked. Through the window, he looked at the sky screen, pacing anxiously.

What’s being shown in the sky is exactly what Ye Bingbing said would happen in the apocalypse?

Seeing the oppressive scene before him, he finally understood how pale Ye Bingbing’s descriptions had been, and that he’d been underestimating the apocalypse’s terror all along.

But who put this footage up in the sky?

Is there someone in this world who knows the situation of the apocalypse better than Ye Bingbing?

Would this person also know that they had long known about the coming apocalypse and had been preparing for months?

And now, announcing the apocalypse’s arrival to everyone in this manner, brutally crushing their advantage of foreknowledge—is this a warning to them?

Fine beads of cold sweat broke out on Lin Yan’s exquisitely handsome face, praised by countless fans as divinely beautiful.

*

In a private research institute, Fang Chen, wearing a white lab coat, watched the sky screen with a calm, amused expression.

“So this is the apocalypse. How interesting.”

He looked toward a transparent incubator containing a translucent toad about the size of a child’s fist, with golden stripes on its back. “This fog looks extraordinary. I heard you can condense its essence. I’m really looking forward to it.”

His phone rang. It was Jiang Shirong’s people asking if he could also see the sky screen, their tone very anxious.

Fang Chen: “Yes, I can see it. But it’s inconsequential. Why the panic?”

In his view, even if everyone knew the apocalypse was coming, so what?

Tomorrow, this fog will envelop the entire world. Even with this advance warning, what targeted preparations can possibly be made in such a short time?

Only they possess the secret weapon to counter the fog.

The large toad could dispel the fog. The little toads absorbed the fog and condensed its essence.

Furthermore, the necklace transformed from the toad’s molt contains a spatial dimension.

Additionally, they had stockpiled enough supplies and weapons, and had been secretly recruiting and training personnel for several months.

Therefore, there was simply no need for panic.

*

In a villa, Ye Cheng stared at the images reflected in the lens, a fierce fire igniting in her eyes.

Fog! Such thick fog! Perhaps she could use this Fog to escape!

“Mom, what’s wrong? What’s that sound outside?”

Ye Cheng excitedly patted her son’s head. “It’s hope. That’s the sound of hope!”

She continued staring intently at the fragmented images transmitted through the lens, eagerly wanting to know what would happen next, and whether it could help her escape.

*

Outside the club, seeing Ye Bingbing’s condition worsening, Jiang Shirong quickly supported her. “Bingbing! Are you okay?”

Ye Bingbing gripped his hand tightly, her expression both agitated and uneasy. “Who made this video! Who is speaking! How does this person know everything so clearly!”

Could there be a second person who has been reborn in this world?

She bit her lower lip, her feelings complex. She had always harbored a secret pride in being a reborn individual—the only one in the entire world who knew what the future held.

But now, it seemed there might be someone else like her…

Jiang Shirong frowned. “So this footage is real? You mentioned before that the Fog would be thick for the first two days, but I never imagined it could be this dense.”

Ye Bingbing pouted. “Didn’t I tell you? When you open your eyes, everything’s just white, like you’ve gone blind. It’s really uncomfortable. I was hoping to give you all a good scare when it happened.”

But now the sky screen had spoiled everything!

How annoying!

Along with her annoyance came deep unease. “Brother Shirong, do you think whoever’s behind this might know about my Golden Toad?”

Jiang Shirong’s expression darkened. That toad was their biggest trump card for the apocalypse. Without it, all their other preparations would be castles in the air.

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one can take your Golden Toad. But just to be safe, why don’t you let me keep it for now?”

Ye Bingbing bit her lower lip, her expression conflicted and hesitant.

Just then, that annoying voice from the sky screen rang out again.

[Do you think this Fog is terrifying and suffocating?]

Weizi’s voice still carried a cheerful tone. [Here’s some good news—this Fog only lasts two days. Starting from the fourth day, the Fog begins to change.]

The people watching from the ground below felt inexplicably relieved.

The scene of being surrounded by white Fog was too immersive. Just watching made them feel short of breath, so hearing there would be changes eased the tension in their hearts.

“See? I told you there couldn’t be any great catastrophe.”

“Just two days of thick fog. I thought it was something serious.”

“Two days off wouldn’t be bad. I actually hope this Fog is real, or I’ll be quite disappointed.”

People chatted lightheartedly, even looking forward to the Fog starting tomorrow.

[Now for the bad news. Though the Fog changes, it doesn’t dissipate. Instead—it changes color.]

Weizi’s voice echoed throughout Dragon City, but her tone suddenly shifted from cheerful to eerily sinister.

[Starting from the fourth day, the Fog transforms from white to an eerie red.]

With these words, the white Fog in the footage gradually turned red, as if crimson blood was seeping out from deep within the fog.

The music suddenly became ominous, accompanied by two mournful, ethereal horn sounds, creating a thoroughly creepy atmosphere.

The smiles on people’s faces instantly froze.

“What the hell is this!”

“Crap! What kind of horror movie scene is this?”

“Agh, my eyes are starting to hurt!”

“Stop looking! It’s too scary!”

People instinctively shrank back, experiencing an illusion that the red color was alive, about to crawl out of the screen right before their eyes to claim their lives.

The light shining on their faces gradually changed from white to red. In the blink of an eye, the entire screen filled with red fog.

It looked like surging, scorching flames. Just one glance made their eyes burn painfully.

And this red glow cast upon the city below made it look like the realm of Asura had descended, everything bathed in bloody light.

[The red blood Fog mercilessly scorched the entire world, officially heralding the arrival of the apocalypse!]

*

「Acid Rain World.」

A group of people sat solemnly beneath a large shelter. This shelter was massive, constructed from acid-resistant building bricks and acid-resistant cement. Its ability
to withstand acid rain was beyond question.

Even under the heaviest acid rain, staying underneath posed no danger.

Yet at this moment, these people wore extremely serious expressions. Each wore a system-issued respirator mask, staring intently ahead.

Before them was a street—a set the command center’s subordinate team had meticulously constructed according to requirements.

Various “extras” were currently on this street, acting naturally while going about different activities.

Some were hurrying along, some were chatting, some sat roadside taking selfies.

And their female lead was walking briskly with a backpack.

Just looking at this elaborate set made it clear the upcoming task was anything but ordinary.

Peng Lan looked up at the sky—overcast and gloomy, the clouds like dirty cotton soaked in gray water.

Checking the time: one minute until the acid rain fell.

Just moments ago, the acid rain alarm had sounded. When that device rings, it means acid rain will arrive in ten minutes, accurately displaying the pH value and coverage area.

This task had to be completed during acid rain. The task was critically important and concerned the actors’ safety, so Peng Lan had come to the scene personally.

He held the walkie-talkie. “Medical team in position. All departments ready. Acid rain imminent.”

Within ten-plus seconds of his words, the patter of rain sounded as bean-sized raindrops began to fall.

Everyone’s hearts tightened.

On that street, people screamed and started running.

Where rainwater hit clothing, smoke immediately rose. Where it landed on skin, it directly burned through, quickly becoming a bloody mess.

People shrieked in panic and terror, fleeing in disarray.

The “female lead” also quickly began running. She moved her bag from her back to her front, hugging it tightly, hunching her back—actually using her own body to protect the package.

Acid rain fell on her back, corroding her clothes into tatters. When it hit her neck, the skin quickly became bloody.

She could only try her best to protect her face as she hurried along.

The onlookers gritted their teeth, fists clenched, wishing they could rush out and pull her to safety.

But they couldn’t. This was a task.

The girl soon ran out of their line of sight. Everyone immediately looked at the screen ahead, where cameras continued tracking her.

The acid rain’s power was too terrifying. Soon, the girl left bloody footprints with each step. Her movements grew slower and slower, her breathing heavier and heavier, blood even trickling from her nostrils.

She could only take shelter under a narrow eave by the roadside, but that eave offered little protection and was visibly corroding under the acid rain.

Gritting her teeth, the girl rushed out again.

It was as if the package in her arms was extremely important—even if it meant death, she had to deliver it to its destination.

Those monitoring the equipment hardly dared to breathe. Every second was agony.

In a room further ahead on this street, a man also stared intently at the display screen, eyes bloodshot. If not for people restraining him, he probably would have already rushed out.

“Isn’t it enough? It should be enough!” He spoke urgently in a suppressed voice into the walkie-talkie. “Commander Peng, when can I go out!”

Peng Lan also stared at the screen without blinking, occasionally glancing at the system panel floating before him. His expression beneath the mask was gravely serious, his voice calm as water. “Stay calm. If the task fails, she’ll have suffered for nothing.”

After another ten-plus seconds, just as the girl was about to collapse, he finally said, “Male actor on!”

The man instantly shot out like a hunting leopard.