The Record of Unusual Creatures

Panda Novel

The bottom of the elevator shaft was not a sealed space. The closer it got to the bottom, the wider the shaft became. Boulders, steel, and pipes, which made up the shaft wall gradually extended down into the buildings in the lower city. This was a transitional structure that had evolved over thousands of years.

The lower city.

At the deepest point of Twilight Capital was the foundation of the doomsday refuge. This place gave Hao Ren the impression that it was dim and messy.

Many things still remained the same as they were two thousand years ago. Large stone buildings and cast-iron columns with runes were everywhere. Back then, humans were incapable of building such a magnificent megalithic city. The cities of Midgard were constructed with the help of the Norse gods. It was for this reason that these ancient buildings were strong enough to become the foundation of Twilight Capital.

The old buildings were lined up next to each other. The lower city was like a vast and complex labyrinth. Buildings and platforms, of different ages, stacked up on top of each other. The city was as if having a massive rock sitting on its head, it felt depressing, and there was a fear that the entire city might crumble down.

Hao Ren looked up. Twilight Capital was like a bloated nest with structure crisscrossing over its head all the way into the darkness. There were lights on the city structure, but none of these lights could dispel the depressing feeling brought by night. He tried his best to perceive and finally saw a white at the end of the dark abyss. He guessed it might be the light shone from the upper city, but soon he found that he was wrong: it was just a cloud. The city was stacked so high that clouds were floating among the buildings.

Those who were natives of Twilight Capital would know that the area was where the condensing pipes of the large boiler located. There was another group of degenerated people who lived in that harsh environment. These people were known as Barnier people; the platform they lived rained all year around. The rainwater falling from the cloud near the condenser tubes contained some kind of slightly toxic substances, so the skin of the residents on the platform emitted a faint fluorescence.

“This place is more broken than imagined,” Vivian could not help but mutter after seeing at the place.

“This is the city of two thousand years old.” Wendell shook his head. “The deeper you go, the older it gets. But thanks to the blessing of the ancient sage, these things are still solid and hold-ups. At least for now, the city will not collapse due to structural overload.”

Hao Ren carefully observed the surroundings. At first, he thought there would at least be some public security forces here, but there was none. The battle that occurred on the upper city seemed not a concern down here. He felt this a little weird.

No matter how dilapidated the old city was, it was still where the ancient sage lived. No matter how noisy Lily could cause on the upper city, not all city guards would leave their posts and go to the lift platform in the upper city. There must be at least some guards remained down here, Hao Ren thought to himself.

Wendell felt the same. He watched with caution at the black stone houses around him. “There should be a Twilight security squad stationed all year round here. They will not leave the post, no matter what happens.”

In the dark alley, shadows were moving. Hao Ren saw a few ragged civilians hustled by. Two of them glanced into his direction, but there was no expression on their faces. Very quickly, they left.

The entire lower city was so quiet that it was almost creepy.

To figure out what happened, Hao Ren and Vivian followed Wendell to a Twilight Guard outpost, a standalone square building some hundred meters from the lift. It was located on higher ground with no obstruction all round. Usually, there were always two guards standing in front of the building, and the searchlight at the top of the building would remain bright and regularly sweeping around the entrance of the elevator. But now the outpost was utterly silent, no guards patrolling. Even the searchlight had been switched off.

“There are signs of life inside,” Vivian said, sniffling. “The smell of blood, they are alive but being restrained, it seems.”

Things became weirder. Hao Ren raised his guard and walked in front of the team. Yet nothing happened. Vivian followed him from behind, surrounded by a dark, bloody mist, while her bats were hidden in the clouds ready to attack.

*Bang!*

Hao Ren kicked the door open and stormed in with his spear in his hand. “Don’t move!”

Six guards in Twilight Guard uniform sat stiffly on the chair. They tried to turn their eyes and watched the plasma spear in Hao Ren’s hand, their eyes filled with horror and pleading, but they were unable to move even a finger. They had been restrained by a spell.

A mysterious woman in linen robe stood across the table. Skin pale, thin, and wearing a strange headgear that looked like a thorn, the young woman said to Hao Ren. “Hello, strange traveler, can I move?”

Hao Ren replied, “Who are you?”

“I am the servant of the ancient sage.” The young woman’s voice was very soft. It was unbelievable that she could restrain six burly guards alone. She looked at Wendell and smiled. “This old gentleman probably knows us,” she said.

“You are a caregiver?” Wendell exclaimed. “How can caregiver leave the sanctuary?”

“There is only one reason to defy the vows of the caregiver; that is it is the command of the ancient sage.” The young woman, known as the caregiver, continued to whisper, “In the world above, you should be the only one who can hear the voice of the ancient sage. So you probably should have guessed why I am here.”

She suddenly reminded Wendell of the voice he heard in his mind when he was still in the upper city.

“Are you here to pick us up?” Wendell appeared excited. “How is the ancient sage?”

“This is not the right place to talk.” The young woman bowed slightly and then turned to walk towards the door. “Please come with me, strange travelers.”

The mysterious young woman brought them to leave the square and quickly turn into a hidden trail. As they moved in between the compound buildings, Hao Ren curiously asked Wendell, “Who the hell is this woman?”

He knew Wendell knew this woman who probably a reliable guide to the Lightseekers. But he was still unable to understand the organizations of Twilight Capital.

Wendell glanced and nodded at the woman who led the way. “She is one of the caregivers who are responsible for taking care of the ancient sage. They are the only people who are in contact with the ancient sage the whole time. We need to go through them before we can meet the ancient sage. It was just that I didn’t expect the caregiver would come to fetch us as they have never left the sanctuary.”

Vivian came up beside the woman. “What is your name?”

“Angelica,” the young woman replied.

“Oh, Angelica. You seem like a Vanir bloodline.” Vivian looked at her curiously. “Looks like the condition of the ancient sage is not very good.”

“You will know when you get there,” Angelica lowered her eyes, not answering her question directly. “I don’t know who you guys are and I don’t know why you want to see the ancient sage. I am just following the order.”

There was something that Hao Ren did not understand. “Since the ancient sage wants to see us, why would the city guards stop us? You should have ordered the guards at the top to let us through. Now we still have our friends stuck up there.”

Angelica suddenly halted. “Didn’t you see the situation at the outpost? Do you still think we can command the Twilight Guards?”

Hao Ren suddenly came to his realization.

“There used to be a lot of people who could hear the voice of the ancient sage. But now, only a small number of caregivers have this ability. Since 500 years ago, the ancient sage has rarely said a word.” Angelica’s voice is very soft and almost emotionless. “Under these circumstances, the Iron Throne has become a symbol: supreme, but unable to issue orders.”

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