A year might not be a long time, but a lot can happen within it. For many Americans, this past year has been particularly difficult, marked as a year shrouded in nightmares.
Rumors of a demon descending upon America started to circulate. Despite the authorities' best efforts to conceal the truth, a series of village massacres left them increasingly on the defensive. In California, fear spread rapidly. Many people began moving en masse, especially those living in the suburbs, as living in such areas offered no sense of security.
Although the government deployed a large number of troops to hunt down the threat, their efforts were ultimately fruitless. They failed to achieve any significant results. Whenever they spotted the giant serpent, it would vanish quickly into the dense forests. Technology seemed powerless in such a vast and wild landscape. The serpent was extremely fast, often disappearing before armed helicopters could even take off.
Days later, the serpent would reappear in a different area. They discovered that the serpent's territory spanned tens of thousands of square kilometers. Its appetite was growing; each feeding left hundreds of people missing, turning entire villages into ghost towns. Those who remained would often flee the next day in a panic.
Fortunately for the authorities, the serpent's feedings were not very frequent, occurring roughly once every two weeks with a predictable pattern. After each feeding, the serpent would go into hiding, giving the military ample time to prepare traps and conduct capture operations. This also provided the authorities with enough time to dispel rumors and calm the public.
To their astonishment, the serpent proved to be incredibly intelligent and cunning, never falling for the same trick twice. On one occasion, the military placed a large amount of beef in an open field, dousing the area with cow blood to create a strong scent. They waited for two hours before a massive serpent came speeding towards them from afar, kicking up clouds of dust. Its speed made it hard for weapons to lock on.
As the serpent approached, it suddenly stopped, raising its massive head to survey the surroundings. Its scarlet tongue flickered in and out, but unlike a typical snake's forked tongue, this one was round and covered in barbs.
The serpent's large, emerald-green scales gleamed like jade in the sunlight, with large drops of saliva continuously dripping from its gaping mouth, giving it a menacing appearance.
A soldier, hiding nervously in a trench, accidentally pulled the trigger in his anxiety, launching a grenade. The serpent's pupils contracted, its tail whipped violently, and it sped away, leaving only afterimages. The grenade exploded over a kilometer behind the serpent, which had already moved out of range. Within moments, it disappeared into the mountains, leaving no trace.
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After this incident, the serpent no longer fell for such rudimentary traps. Its movements became increasingly unpredictable, and its range of activity expanded significantly.
Though satellites have advanced to the point of centimeter-level precision, they can only track specific objects. A giant serpent can easily evade detection by slipping into the mountains and reappearing elsewhere, making it extremely difficult to locate. Additionally, satellite tracking has many limitations, such as being highly dependent on weather conditions. The serpent's nocturnal activity further complicates efforts to capture it.
The White House
The President sat at his enormous desk, brows furrowed. In just one year, he had visibly aged. The immense pressure had led to his recent bouts of insomnia.
The serpent's escape was a catastrophe for the United States, far more severe than the previous dragon attack. The economic damage it caused was incomparable to the destruction of a small, insignificant city. All of California was gripped by fear, with large populations relocating to other states. Factories shut down, lands lay barren, and unemployment soared, especially in the hardest-hit areas, which had become almost deserted.
For those unable to leave, faith in God became their only solace. Oh, and that cursed dragon. Several neighboring villages had suffered attacks, except for one, which remained untouched due to a large dragon statue at its entrance.
A farmer in that village, a fervent dragon believer, had funded the statue's construction. He believed that no matter how powerful the demon was, it couldn't surpass the dragon. Since the dragon was real, it was more reliable than a distant deity. He trusted that the demon would be scared away at the sight of the dragon.
After this incident, many other villages followed suit. They noticed that since erecting dragon statues, no attacks had occurred in those areas. Consequently, many residents began to worship the dragon.
Thinking of this, the President couldn’t help but smile bitterly. The serpent was, after all, the dragon's subordinate. Of course, it wouldn't attack upon seeing a dragon statue. But how could this be explained to the public? To admit that the military had invaded the dragon's lair, captured the demon, and then accidentally let it escape?
He would likely be ousted by an enraged public before he could finish his explanation. His approval rating was already plummeting.
Rubbing his furrowed brow, the President realized the next election was approaching. It was time to take action.
A gentle knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in," the President rasped.
A middle-aged man entered, carrying a folder.
"John, still no news on the serpent?"
"None yet, Mr. President. You haven't taken a break this year. Maybe you should take some time off; you haven't rested in days," the man suggested with concern.
"No need," the President waved dismissively.
"Notify the generals of all military districts about a video conference at 2 PM."
"Yes, sir," the man quietly left, closing the door softly behind him, and the office fell silent once more.