The Record of Unusual Creatures

Three armored vehicles were running parallel to each other in the desolate wilderness. The distinctive emblem of Gray Fox shone on the side armor of each car. Dry winds from the plains rolled up the dust and beat on the car's body as the silhouette of the city slowly disappeared into the horizon behind the convoy.     

There were no visible signs of human life, only strange crags, and potholes in the wasteland. The dusty, grayish-yellow sky hung low, almost touching the same grayish land below. It gave the illusion that the world was a mass of yellow sand. Theoretically, the convoy was hustling across an intercontinental highway. However, the concrete surface by the roadside was barely recognizable as nature had wiped out the last traces of civilization, which once existed there. After more than 60 years of weathering, nature had reclaimed the concrete road.     

The mercenary team led by Nolan would soon reach the ruins in the north. After departing Black Street, they had been heading west to the Gray River. Hao Ren was in the convoy, which set off the afternoon before, and they had been traveling for nearly 20 hours without stopping. The ruins that just disappeared in the horizon behind them was the last district in Broken Valley. From that point onwards, they would not see any urban ruins until they reached the Gray River. The desolate wilderness would be the only landscape for the next three days.     

Hao Ren and Nolan were in the second armored vehicle, modified to carry personnel. The middle car in the convoy was the most closely guarded one because Gray Fox clients were in it.     

Two stone-faced men were sitting at the back of the carriage, wearing uniforms different from those of the mercenaries'. They were said to be researchers from White River Consortium. Another two senior guards from White Water Consortium seated on both sides were responsible for protecting the researchers and monitoring Gray Fox's work. Nolan's mission was to escort these four people safely across to Northern Ring Tower—and to ensure at least one of the researchers made it back alive.     

That last sentence was taken off the White River Consortium's Letter of Consortium word for word.     

The four "clients" hardly talked to the mercenaries. They occasionally spoke in a low voice among themselves to avoid others from hearing what they said. Paying attention to them was pointless. So Hao Ren turned around and looked at the monitor screen mounted on the carriage. He could see the scenery outside on the monitor. It was only an endless wasteland. Ulyanov whispered, "Not even the Rangers would survive in this hellish place."     

"Relax, we're now in the safest place in the world," said Nolan who was sitting across them in the carriage. With her eyes slightly shut, her hands were behind her head and her feet were resting on the steel armrest before her. "There aren't any humans in this place. The only dangers are nothing but highly toxic soil and water."     

Carl hugged his large rifle and curled up in the corner. Hearing Nolan's words, he sniffled. "Gee, that's safe."     

Hao Ren looked at the four men from White Water Consortium at the end of the carriage. He then sat down next to Nolan. "Do you know what they're going to do there?"     

"I don't know," Nolan said, appearing indifferent. "I don't poke my nose into my client's business. That's why I've lived to this day. You shouldn't know beyond what you should know."     

Shortly after, she paused, noticing the curiosity on his face. She shrugged and lowered her voice, "They're probably after the Master Computers, the pre-war Nanomachine Swarm program, and the next-generation Nanomachine Swarm technical draft inside the Northern Ring Tower. Those who can get their hands on any one of those things will be rich. Those who have gone to the North all these years were basically after those things."     

"Pre-war technology..." Hao Ren whispered. "Does it still work now?"     

"Why do you want to go there?" Nolan raised one of her eyebrows. "I heard that you buried your wife in the wilderness outside Black Street in the morning. It looks like you're not giving up your life just yet by going to the North."     

Hao Ren twisted the corner of his mouth, feeling hapless. "My mind's been sound all this while, okay. I need to confirm something in the Northern Ring Tower. I'm only taking a ride and I'm not going to ruin your interest in any way."     

Nolan suddenly stared at Hao Ren, looking dead serious. "To be honest, I always thought there was something wrong with you since we first met."     

Hao Ren smiled. "What's wrong with me?"     

"Too optimistic, too calm, and too reckless," said Nolan, turning her head away. "I thought at first, that was the cause of your insanity. But now, it doesn't seem so. You remind me of those people who grew up in a peaceful era, but those people can't keep such a state of mind for very long in this scorched land."     

"You look young, but you're very observant," Hao Ren said inadvertently.     

"I look young?" Nolan said softly and looked up at the monitor in the carriage. Then, she pressed the intercom button next to her and said to the soldier in the cab, "Kim, have we crossed the old Route 17?"     

The soldier in the cab replied, "Just passed it a few minutes ago."     

"Take a rest. Let the car run on autopilot mode. There's no need for a driver for the next two days."     

"Roger that, Boss."     

Although Black Street and Zero City were the closest human settlements to the ruins in the North, there was still a long distance from there to the Northern Ring Tower. This deadly area was impenetrable to ordinary people. Even professional mercenaries needed the support of modern equipment and the best physical as well as mental state to go there. For two days, the convoy was slowly approaching the ruins in the North under the guidance of the autopilot system. As their destination drew near, everyone became anxious. The mercenaries that Nolan brought out were the most courageous and loyal group of people from Gray Fox, but even they could not help feeling uneasy.     

"Being killed by the Nanomachine Swarm is a very horrifying experience," Ulyanov said to Hao Ren on the fourth day of their journey. "The dying feels like an eternity, and it usually begins with your internal organs. As your body dissolves, there comes the illusion of extreme burning and tearing sensations. The greater pressure is psychological. You'll feel that you're turning into some weird substance and the feeling will linger on for several minutes."     

Hao Ren was gazing at the scenery outside. Ulyanov's words gave him a strange feeling. "Are you demoralizing your fellow mercenaries?"     

Ulyanov laughed hoarsely. The laughter seemed to have a cheeky meaning in it. "I just wanted to remind those who are attracted by the seemingly dormant Nanomachine Swarm. The Nanomachine could suddenly wake up without warning."     

The two researchers from White Water Consortium glanced at Ulyanov with a disgruntled look on their faces.     

Suddenly, the voice of the driver sounded through the intercom speaker, "The Gray River! The Gray River is right in front! Boss, we've arrived at the Gray River!"     

The words "Gray River" seemed to possess magic of some sort; the mercenariexs bounced up, raised their heads, and clenched their weapons. They were anxious and excited at the same time. Nolan grabbed her equipment and got to her feet. "Everyone, bring your electromagnetic hibernator and follow me!"     

The mercenaries jumped out from the carriages as the armored vehicles ground to a halt. Before Ulyanov got up, he shoved a palm-sized device, which looked like an old radio, into Hao Ren's arms. "Take this; it's an electromagnetic hibernator."     

Hao Ren took the gadget, finding it bizarre. Hurried by those from behind, he jumped off the car.     

An endless barren land spread out in front of his eyes. A hundred meters away, he saw that the leading armored vehicle had stopped beside a river. On the riverbank, there was a neat, continuous flow of metallic luster.     

Hao Ren followed the mercenaries and ran over. He then looked at the scene in awe. "This is the Gray River?"     

All he saw was a weird, endless gray viscous liquid flowing in the river. Its texture made it look like asphalt with a bone-like color. The liquid flowed very slowly, almost like a slow-motion film. The ever surging, sticky gray "river surface" gave people a bizarre feeling. In this black-and-white-movie-like place, a layer of seemingly plated armor covered the rocks on the riverbanks at the edge of the Gray River. They appeared to be naturally formed riverbanks, holding back the dangerous "water" in the river.     

This was the Gray River.