I'll also work hard to conquer the dungeon today.

The afternoon sun was brilliant and comfortable, bathing the entire playground in a golden glow.

Mu Yin changed his clothes and arrived at the assembly point. Just as class began, he felt a large raindrop hit his forehead.

The boy tilted his head slightly, his clear glasses reflecting the golden sunlight, and a gentle breeze ruffled the stray gray hairs falling across his face.

The sun still hung high in the azure sky, and the raindrops, before the distant swirling mass of leaden dust could even arrive, eagerly fell, striking the metal of the basketball hoop with a sudden, crisp sound.

The air was thick with the earthy smell of the soil, and the scent of rain grew stronger.

The once bustling playground fell silent in an instant, rain splashed on the rubber track, and a white mist filled the empty playground.

As darkness gradually fell, the once bright and conspicuous sky was divided into dark and blurry patches of color.

Mu Yin stood in the rain, surveying the surrounding silence, and the sense of unreality that had risen within him surged up once more.

So lonely...

"Hey! Mu Yin." An impatient voice came from behind.

My thoughts were interrupted again.

"Why are you standing here getting soaked in this heavy rain instead of running for shelter? Do you have some kind of unusual fetish?"

Mu Yin turned her head slightly and saw Bertias standing there holding a transparent umbrella, her expression not exactly pleasant.

"I didn't provoke you," Mu Yin replied calmly.

“You haven’t gone so far as to provoke me.” Bertias walked in front of Mu Yin. “I’m angry because I didn’t get to have a full school day again.”

"Damn this strange phenomenon, of all places to go, it has to come to the school." Bertias said coldly, her tone very unpleasant.

Mu Yin suddenly realized, "Is this rain also due to the strange phenomenon?"

"Sun shower, then suddenly turns to overcast and rainy weather. This rain is the gateway to this strange phenomenon, and the overcast and rainy weather is the weather within the barrier of this strange phenomenon. Congratulations, you've entered another newly formed strange phenomenon."

Mu Yin: "..." This person is really sarcastic.

"You have time to mock me for getting caught in the rain, but can't you lend me half an umbrella?"

Bertias refused without hesitation, "No, I hate rainy days, and I hate getting wet even more. Rather than lending you half an umbrella and potentially getting me wet, I'd rather you keep getting wet. It's not like I'm the one getting wet."

Mu Yin thought for a moment and decided to change the subject, "Then can you tell me how the strange elephant leaves? Could you please cover it up for me? I can't ask you for help every time I encounter a strange elephant."

"Cang Shi should have told you, the best way to leave the strange phenomenon is to solve it before it merges with the strange phenomenon world. If we use the growth stages of organisms to distinguish them, the strange phenomenon is divided into four stages: incubation, juvenile, growth, and maturity."

"The strange phenomena during the incubation period are very well concealed. They have only one core and no ability to prey on animals or create barriers. All they can do is store energy in the dark to allow themselves to hatch."

"The juvenile monsters will actively hunt, but they still haven't unleashed the power of the barrier. However, they are extremely sensitive to danger and can escape very quickly. This period is still a time for them to store up power, and they have no means of resistance."

"During their growth period, these strange creatures actively hunt for prey and possess the power to create barriers. They are also adept at concealing themselves. They will find a suitable opportunity to create a barrier, then feast, and subsequently hide to digest and store energy. The environment within the barrier is directly related to their characteristics, and they possess powerful means of resistance."

"Finally, there's the mature stage. The mature stage can be seen as the maxed-out version of the growth stage of the monster. Once mature, it merges with the monster world, and its danger and concealment increase exponentially. At this point, it's no longer an individual, but a whole. Only by separating it can it be destroyed." "We are currently within the barrier of the growth stage monster. Its characteristics are related to rain. You feel no danger now because it has identified us as food, not enemies, so its defensive measures to protect itself have not yet been deployed."

Bertias listened to the sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella and continued, "This rain is like its stomach acid; it wants to melt us so that it can absorb and devour us directly."

Mu Yin looked completely bewildered. He seemed to still be getting soaked in the rain, and suddenly felt a bit disgusted by the rain.

"You're thick-skinned, so getting soaked for a while won't cause you any harm, even though it's a rain with extremely high acidity." But Mu Yin had been in the rain for so long, and he didn't seem to be feeling uncomfortable at all.

"Let's find the core first. Once we get close to it, its defense mode will activate instantly. Remember to be prepared."

"How do we find it?" Mu Yin asked.

"Just find the discordant points; that's where the core issue is hidden."

"Disharmony? No wonder Cang Shi has a habit of smashing things in sight." Mu Yin suddenly realized. If it were him, he would indeed make the same choice. After all, compared to thinking things through, this kind of chaotic approach of not letting anything go is more effective.

Bertias: "..." Can you use your brain for a second?
With a 'click,' Bertias checked the pistol's magazine again and then released the safety.

"Mu Yin, there's a frog near your right foot. That's the core. Get out of the way." His words were followed by a gunshot.

The pistol in his hand emitted wisps of smoke as the bullet flew straight at the frog's abdomen.

However, at the very instant the bullet struck, the frog shed its skin, and a huge black shadow emerged, flying towards Mu Yin with incredible speed, arriving in front of Mu Yin in almost a second, seemingly about to deliver a close-range kill.

Mu Yin frowned slightly as he dodged its attack.

"What is that?" The speed was indeed quite fast. If it weren't for the fact that a second was considered slow motion in his eyes, anyone else would have been gone by now.

"See the red gem inside? That's the core. Break it. This strange phenomenon isn't strong; it's only just entered its growth stage, and the accompanying organisms haven't formed yet."

As Bertias spoke, his pistol was already pointed at the ruby.

Before he could even press the trigger, Mu Yin drew his short sword and rushed over, shattering the gem with a simple, fluid motion. He then landed easily and sheathed his sword, ending the battle in less than three seconds.

Bertias looked at Mu Yin in surprise and slowly lowered the gun in his hand.

Suddenly, I looked at this guy with new respect.

In terms of the fight just now, the movements were concise and clear, without the slightest excess. This fighting skill deserves a score of 99.

However, I had never heard of Mu Yin having any combat experience before.

Could it be... that he's a genius?
As the ruby ​​shattered and disappeared, the clouds parted, and the golden sun shone brightly once more, dispelling the gloom and making the whole world vibrant again.

Water droplets clung to the rosemary petals, seemingly about to fall but not quite, causing the petals to droop sadly.

A rainbow-colored arc hanging in the clear sky was gradually fading away, and sparrows, shaking their wet feathers, chirped and complained about the sudden rain.

The once quiet playground has returned to its previous bustling state. (End of Chapter)