At the same moment, far downstream, the river surged unnaturally.
A massive green shadow broke through the murky brown water. Waves rippled outward as a mutant toad hauled its swollen body onto a slab of broken concrete, its slick skin coated with river slime.
Its blood-red eyes flicked toward the water.
Mutant fish as large as an adult man thrashed beneath the surface, yet none stood a chance.
With a single snap of its enormous mouth, several mutant fish vanished. Its throat bulged as it swallowed, releasing a low, heavy croak that vibrated through the riverbed itself.
After feeding its fill, the toad caught more fish and stored them inside its mouth. Only then did it turn upstream.
Its massive body slid back into the river, water parting as it moved toward the Crystal Water facility.
Toward the three pools where its eggs had been laid.
But when the pools came into view, what greeted it was emptiness.
All three pools were bare.
Its eggs were gone.
