The Record of Unusual Creature

They had never intended to join the allied army, nor their baffling operation. They were just using their cover identity to get through checkpoints in Osidian Plain. Once they were in, they needn’t to stay put in one place like needle to the pole.

The allied army wasn’t just an army right from the beginning; it had massive supplies and weaponry, logistics and auxiliary units had turned the vast land of Osidian Plain into cities. Barracks and towns were scattered within the million-square-kilometre area connected by web of roads. No one would have believed that one year after the war Obsidian Plain would be developed into its present state. The large army and complex of barracks had provided an ideal cover for Hao Ren to move around.

The commanders of the allied army weren’t gods; even if they could bring the best and the brightest bureaucrats over, they couldn’t possibly govern the vast land as tightly controlled as the barracks. There were many regulatory blank spots in Osidian Plain. Though identification, communication, and interdiction could be enforced, laxness and perfunctoriness were apparent. There were stand guards everywhere Hao Ren went, but he had no issue passing through.

“There are loopholes everywhere.” Hao Ren daid after he and Lily made their round in the vicinity. “As long as you have a human face no one’s going to bother you.”

Vivian, the walking air-conditioner, said “They couldn’t possibly secure every inch of this vast land. And don’t forget we’re still on the outskirt. The way I see it, crimes are bound to happen in the remote places everyday and people at the top mightn’t know what happen on the ground. Maintaining the formation in shape is already not easy.”

“It’s not like this one year ago.” Lanina scoffed. “One year ago, the allied army was the strongest army I’d ever seen. Though I don’t like to admit it, they had really struck fear in the heart of the demons. But they had slackened to such a state in just one year. Sure enough they are just a marriage of convenience. Without a long-term goal, the coalition would crumble in no time.”

“The allied army would be dissolved sooner or later but racial alliance will live on.” Y’zaks was quite concerned for the world. “At least I’ve done something good.”

Hao Ren looked at Vivian and asked, “Have you got something?”

The bats Vivian had released out had monitored and gathered information from places such as military officer’s residences and barracks. “The allied army is searching for the treasure—the source of strength of the mad demonci king. There is intel shows that the mad demonic king had got his power and wisdom from an ancien divine relic and this relic is hidden somewhere in Osidian Plain. This is what the allied army is after. In another hand, Serathon is also interested in getting their hands on the divine relic but hasn’t been able to do so due to the overwhelming forces of the allied army.”

Hao Ren looked up at Y’zaks and asked, “Do you know all these?”

Y’zaks looked at them, seemingly confused. “How come I don’t know I have had an ancient relic? My power comes from four hours of training everyday while my wisdom comes from reading…”

“In that case, could it merely a romour?” Hao Ren scratched his head. “Could it be someone was spreading rumour after Y’zaks was ‘dead’?”

“A rumour is able to keep millions of army in the demonic plane for a year?” Nangong Wuyue lay listlessly in bed. She looked up. “Even Serathon came here based on the rumour. Are there really so many idiots?”

Hao Ren smacked the siren’s head and said, “Get back in to your bed.”

Nangong Wuyue kept sticking her tongue but looked up again after a while. “Oh ya. Water! Doesn’t your dimensional pocket have enough water to fill up a swimming pool? Take some out to sooth my thirst.”

Hao Ren took a one-metre-across basin filled with water out from the dimensional pocket. The siren maiden immediately rose up before jumping into it like doing suicide.

“Wang, just don’t give up.” Hao Ren had noticed something was wrong with Y’zaks’ expression. He patted on Y’zaks’ arm and said, “The rumour of treasure is too coincidental.”

“You don’t have to comfort me. I’m not a child.” Y’zaks said, almost half-crying and half-laughing. “I’m fine. I’m ready for any eventuality. I knew Lanina was just trying to encourage me from the beginning, I don’t expect much from it. The main purpose I come here is to see what had become of this world since I left. I was leaving in a hurry and had left behind many regrets. Now I finally have closure. And to be honest, I am curious what the allied army is looking for. Nangong Wuyue is right, not everyone is idiot, they must have secured some solid evidence for them to stay back for such a long time. Something must have happened after I left.”

“The question is where they got the intel from.” Hao Ren’s brows pulled together as he looked at Vivian. “Who was the first one to say the mad demonic king had an ancient divine relic?”

“There is a lead.” Vivian nodded. “Do you remember the people we have saved earlier said that they had found the ‘last words’ of the mad demonic king? It’s said that it’s a piece of crystal which has recorded the last image before the mad demonic king disappeared. The crystal is the command centre of the allied army.”

Things had developed rather strangely now. It was not just the rumour of an ancient divine relic appeared after Y’zaks left but he was believed to have left behind a crystal. And the key to the secret seemed to lie in the crystal.

“We must take a look at it.” Hao Ren rubbed his chin. “Is it possible to get in there?”

“Highly unlikely.” Vivian shook her head. “The command centre is unlike this barrack where we are at. It has extremely tight security, no even my bats could get in there as any unidentified flying objects more than two-centimetre-across would be immediately shot down. But I have reliable intel that the crystal is currently on the table of General Grigory of Terran who is one of the seven generals of the allied army. The crystal is watched by seven people in turn. The elven general would take over the task next month.”

“What are they doing?” Hao Ren was amazed. “Why would they want to pass around the crystal?”

“I guess they want to crack the secrets of the crystal.” Lanani smiled. “I could almost read their mind. If there were truly such a treasure which could turn people into king of the world, no races in the world would have wanted to give in. Judging from the lax situation of the allied army, they are already fighting among themselves before the treasure is even found. But people at the top have to portrait a picture of unity, the best way to achieve this is take turn guarding the crystal—whoever could crack the secret of the treasure would get the most share. At least they have seemingly made this agreement.”

Hao Ren thought for a monent before he asked, “Any map? Like map of the camp of the allied army.”

“I’ve already got it.” Vivian summoned a bank of bloody mist which quickly formed into hologram-like floating model. “Bats have ultrasonic detection ability. Even if hundred of bats couldn’t penetrate the camp, they could construct a 3D model of the place—this is their command centre.”

Hao Ren was amazed by Vivian’s capability. “You’re truly a radar in human form.”

Everyone gathered around to study the map and discovered that the command centre was located near to the former site of the demonic royal city. As the demonic royal city had turned into a crater, the command centre was actually built on the edge of the crater. Looking at the map and recalling the modus operandi of his former foes, Y’zaks began to form his thought. “I have an idea: we could create some troubles… but before that we’re best to observe for a few days and figure out their pattern of movement before we give it a go.”