Sheng Tianze had just stepped out of the official residence when a piercing broadcast blared across the sky of the interstellar prison town:
[Massive sandstorm detected! All entrances and exits of the interstellar prison town are now closed!]
[Activating Level One alert! All on-duty soldiers and Prison Guard Robots, to your posts!]
[To minimize casualties, all civilians must return home immediately or seek the nearest indoor shelter!]
As the broadcast sounded, the gates at the entry-exit checkpoint crashed down. A transparent, semi-circular dome shimmering with light instantly rose, sealing the entire town securely within.
Outside the town, the crowd waiting to enter erupted into chaos:
"My god, is that a black sandstorm? It's practically touching the sky!"
"It's a dark tempest!"
"That Earth Ability is terrifying!"
"Officer, please, I'm begging you, let us in!"
"What's there to be afraid of? This sandstorm is moving slowly; it can't hurt anyone!"
