The Record of Unusual Creatures

1The existence of the entire world was a result of the Nanomachine Swarm's mercy. The most frightening part was the fact that no one knew why the Nanomachine Swarm "stopped", and when it would wake up again. The world did not escape the disaster 65 years ago. The tragedy was not over, it only slowed down. Like a delayed execution, there was still a blade hanging over the head of humankind, just waiting to fall. In such circumstances, all sorts of voices, either sane or insane emerged.      1

There had been attempts to attack the ruins in the North to destroy the Nanomachine Swarm, but the Swarm was invincible. Even the use of nuclear weapons would not get rid of them. Some tried to reestablish control of the Nanomachine Swarm, but they ended up becoming part of the Gray River. Some people hoped to rebuild pre-war space technology and flee the planet to preserve the population, but their ambitions had no chance of success in the troubled world.     

The Rangers regarded the Nanomachine Swarm as a superior life that far surpassed humankind and dominated the world. They worshipped it like God, thinking that the world and the human race survived by the Nanomachine Swarm's grace. So, they were loyal to their "master" in a manic way as they only hoped to gain a place in the New World when the Nanomachine Swarm decided to revamp the world.     

But what was the response of the Nanomachine Swarm?     

It did not respond. It merely flowed quietly in the Gray River. Whether it was a personal attack or an attempt to control hostility or worship, all seemed to be meaningless to them. It just operated strictly following preset laws—non-proliferating, non-diminishing, and hostile to the outside world. However, it would not hesitate to swallow any risk-takers who trespassed into the North.     

Ulyanov looked at the opposite side of the Gray River. His visor reflected the last light of the day. "People who live on the other sides of the wasteland always forget where the world's biggest crisis is. They even forget that the world is still strapped to a bomb. Only by coming here and seeing the surging Gray River will you realize from the bottom of your heart that the world is standing on thin ice. We can live until today because of an incomprehensible and uncontrollable reason. When I was a researcher, I once did a study on exploring how two completely different life forms would come together after human exposure to alien life. But I never expected the answer to be like this. There's now an incomprehensible life form different from human beings on this planet. Their relationship to any of this is unknown."     

"Maybe it's just because they have no way to communicate." Hao Ren looked thoughtfully at the gray liquid, which was about to solidify. "I also believe that the Nanomachine Swarm has already evolved to become capable of thinking. Just that it thinks differently from humans. They stopped for a reason; maybe, they just wanted to communicate with the humans?"     

"You're not the first to put forward this idea." Ulyanov turned his head slightly. "But it's nothing more than a wild guess."     

Nolan suddenly whispered to herself, "Perhaps they stopped spreading because the world simply couldn't deal with such complicated things."     

"Huh?" Hao Ren did not hear her clearly.     

Nolan shook her head and turned to leave. "Nothing. Gray River has set. Let's roll!"     

The hazy sky made it hard to know the position of the sun. Nevertheless, the slowly fainting glow in the atmosphere meant that dusk was nearing the end. The viscous liquid in the Gray River had solidified just as Nolan said. It was as if liquid metal had cooled and solidified rapidly into a shiny metallic surface. There were even frozen ripples and busted bubbles on the surface of the solidified river.     

Such was the incomprehensible nature of the Gray River. No one knew why the Nanomachine Swarm would periodically solidify but only interpreted it as the result of program mutation.     

After the mercenaries got into the cars, the three armored vehicles began to edge carefully towards the river. Only when they were convinced that the river had completely hardened did the first car get onto it cautiously. A while ago, the Nanomachine Swarm was still liquid, but it was now as hard as steel. Running across the surface, the heavy armored vehicles did not even leave behind a single trace of scratch. Hao Ren was waiting with the team in the second car. Ulyanov noticed Hao Ren was fiddling with the electromagnetic hibernator, and quickly warned him, "Don't fiddle with that thing; it'll mess up the frequency."     

"I've heard that this stuff can hypnotize the Nanomachine Swarm?" Hao Ren asked.     

"Yes. The Naturals may not have seen it, but mercenaries in Lawless District use it." Ulyanov pointed at the little device. "It has two systems, corresponding to these two green indicator lights: one main and one spare. It'll allow you to appear as their own in the eyes of the Nanomachine Swarm so that it won't attack you. But once the hypnosis stops, the Nanomachine Swarm will surge up immediately. Even the solidified Gray River will wake up instantly."     

While he spoke, Ulyanov raised his hand and pointed at the ceiling of the carriage. "We have a bigger version in the car. When you go out and find that something's wrong with your device, run back to the armored vehicle as fast as you can. If you're fast enough, maybe you can survive."     

"So don't play with that gadget." Nolan threw Hao Ren a glance. "Report immediately if a red indicator lights up. It'll be too late if both systems are down."     

The lead vehicle sent back a message; it was safe to go. The other two cars began to drive down the riverbank onto the river cautiously. Hao Ren noticed the car jolt and the nervous expressions on the mercenaries' faces. He curiously asked, "If the Gray River is so dangerous, why don't we take the air route?"     

"There are also Nanomachine Swarm in the air," Ulyanov said, without ridiculing Hao Ren's ignorance. Most people did not study the environment of the northern ruins. "It's the atmospheric purification model, but now it has become a plague over the ruins of the North. They are symbiotic with the clouds, and occasionally, they fall to a distance of only 100 m above the ground and attack any aircraft in the air."     

A White River Consortium researcher sitting at the back of the car suddenly said, "Floating Nanomachines are in the air. When the aircraft flies, it sucks them into the combustion chambers. The Nanomachine Swarm regards this as an attack signal. They destroy the aircraft to protect their kind."     

"I thought you were all mute." Ulyanov looked up at them. "You sound like you're speaking for the Nanomachine Swarm."     

The white-haired researcher appeared unfazed. "I'm a scientist. I only share what I've discovered."     

Ulyanov shrugged. "What a coincidence. I was also a scientist before I picked up the gun."     

"That's enough. Be courteous to the clients," said Nolan, interrupting Ulyanov. She then looked at the four members of White River Consortium. "Please cooperate with us as much as possible; it would be a pity if any three of you die. My order is to make sure one of you survives."     

There was a sudden chill in the atmosphere. Hao Ren realized that Nolan was not only knowledgeable and experienced in combat, but she also possessed a sharp tongue.     

The Gray River was unusually large. Fearing that they would disturb the Nanomachine Swarm, the armored vehicles were not going very fast. However, this meant a longer time to cross the river. Outside, the dull gray world made people tired. Hao Ren yawned a couple of times and leaned back in the carriage to get some shut-eye.     

A voice, seemingly the MDT's, sounded in his head, "...What do you want to find there?"     

"Perhaps, the tentacles of the First Born," Hao Ren replied in a stunned voice. "The collapse of the world started 65 years ago, and the Nanomachine Swarm's loss of control was the root of everything. If this isn't a human-made disaster, it can only be a natural disaster. I heard that the core vessel of the Nanomachine Swarm is underground. Perhaps the vessel dug too deep, almost reaching a tentacle of the First Born..."     

"...What if you can't find it?"     

"Go somewhere else. If worse comes to worst, I'll do the digging myself," Hao Ren said.     

"What if the thing you're looking for isn't here? Will you leave?"     

"Leave? Why leave?" Hao Ren felt a little sober now. "I haven't finished my job yet."     

"Leave as soon as you can. This place won't last long..."     

Hao Ren suddenly woke up. He quickly called the MDT. "What were you talking about just now?"     

"I've been practicing my walking. Did you have a dream?"