Chapter 14: Mutant Rain
Sam was resting in one of the rooms in the girls' dormitory. The weather outside was dark and gloomy, with heavy clouds covering the moon and stars.
A sudden crack of thunder jolted Sam awake. The usual noises of zombies and mutant creatures outside were drowned out by the sound of rain and the rolling thunder. He got up and walked to the window, sliding the curtain aside. Heavy raindrops pelted the ground, illuminated briefly by flashes of lightning.
A strange sense of unease crept over him. Something about the storm felt off. Reaching his hand out of the window, he felt nothing at first, but then a faint itch crawled across his skin. Pulling his hand back, his eyes narrowed.
"This rain... something's wrong with it."
After washing up, Sam made his way to the mess hall, where many of the female students were already gathered, eating breakfast. He took his portion and sat at an empty table. Max and Ian were still in their rooms, likely resting after yesterday's intense battles.
From across the room, Emmy noticed him and hesitated for a moment before walking over. Sitting opposite him, she struggled to find the right words to start the conversation.
"Did you study the PDF I sent you?" Sam asked, breaking the silence.
Emmy's eyes brightened. "Yes! I started practicing it, and I think I'll be able to summon my pet soon."
Sam nodded approvingly. "Good. It sounds like you're close to Rank 2."
She had fought on the front lines alongside him the previous day, wielding a sword Sam had given her. He remembered how, just like him in the beginning, she had no weapon of her own.
"I reached level 8 yesterday, thanks to you," she said, then leaned forward with curiosity. "By the way, where's that metal slime you told me about?"
Sam smirked and handed her his sword. Emmy grasped it but immediately flinched, feeling something squirm beneath her fingers.
"Eek!" She yelped, dropping the sword in shock.
A smile formed on Sam's face as he picked up the sword again. Emmy, realizing what had happened, glared at him before sitting back in her seat.
"It can change shape?!" she asked in a hushed voice.
"Yeah. Cool, right?"
She huffed. "Hmph! My pet will be way cooler—and cuter—than that wiggling slime!"
Some of the other girls in the mess hall whispered among themselves, speculating about Sam and Emmy's relationship. A few wanted to join them but hesitated, unsure how to approach Sam.
"Did you distribute the other PDF to the girls?" Sam asked.
"Yes, I shared the Supreme Rank technique with them. Some already knew about it from the internet, but most were clueless."
She hesitated before continuing. "Sam, I also sent both techniques to my parents and sister. They're trapped too."
Sam wasn't upset by her decision. "That's fine, Emmy, but make sure they don't share it with anyone else. These techniques don't belong to me. Blake gave them to me, and I don't want to spread them without his permission. You were an exception because of our friendship."
Emmy looked guilty. "Don't worry, they won't share it. And only my sister can practice it—my parents already cultivate a Supreme Rank technique."
"That's good. Don't stress over it."
After a moment of silence, Emmy looked at him seriously. "Sam, do you have any plans for after we secure the university?"
Sam exhaled and leaned back slightly. "I don't know yet. I haven't thought that far ahead."
She bit her lip, knowing about his past—his late parents and grandfather. Sometimes, she pitied him, but other times, she admired how he remained strong and focused despite having no family to support him. She had seen how deeply he mourned his grandfather's passing, yet he never let it break him. Instead, he channeled his grief into preparing for the future.
Taking a deep breath, Emmy made up her mind. "Sam, I have a request. Can you help me become stronger?"
Sam raised an eyebrow, surprised by her directness. But he wasn't against the idea.
"Emmy, I know most students want to reunite with their families as soon as possible, but don't rush."
"I understand your concerns. But I still want to get stronger. Will you help me?"
Sam nodded. "We have to clear the university first. Once that's done, I'll help you."
She smiled in relief. "Thank you, Sam."
As they spoke, Shangguan Binger approached their table. Sitting down next to Emmy, she directed a serious gaze at Sam.
"Did you notice the rain last night?" she asked.
"Yeah," Sam replied. "I have a bad feeling about it. The water did something weird to my skin. We need to be careful."
Shangguan nodded. "I heard your group cleared three buildings yesterday. If we keep this up, we'll clear the whole campus in no time."
Sam's expression darkened. "I doubt that."
Both Shangguan and Emmy looked at him in surprise. "Why do you think that?" Shangguan asked.
Sam sighed. "Did you forget about the animals in the university? The mutant we killed yesterday—it wasn't alone. There were guard dogs here, and even worse, rats and insects. We haven't encountered them yet."
A tense silence settled over the table as his words sank in. Shangguan and Emmy exchanged uneasy glances.
Gulping, Emmy spoke first. "So… you're saying the worst is yet to come?"
Sam nodded. "We need to be ready. Because once those creatures start showing up, things are going to get a lot harder."