A sudden, violent crack of thunder echoed across the island as the humid morning skies darkened into a deep, bruise-like purple. Within minutes, the heavy, oppressive tropical air gave way to a punishing squall.
Torrential rain lashed mercilessly against the dense ironwood canopy, turning the forest floor into a churning maze of knee-deep mud channels and reducing visibility across all sectors to mere yards. The wind whipped through the broad leaves with a deafening roar, signaling a dramatic shift in the island's local climate.
In Sector Two, Gu Yanzhou wiped the driving rain from his eyes as he navigated his designated border path toward Cache A. The icy downpour stung against his bare skin, and his breathing was heavy and ragged, but his movements remained carefully controlled.
