Gun of Ashes

Currently, this kind of ”distortion” only exists within the protected Mutated Area. We are uncertain whether it will spread outward, but it is indeed a fascinating research project. Here you can experience warm fire, scorching water, and rock growing like vines...

In any case, the material reality of human common sense no longer exists here, like primordial chaos.

It’s truly wondrous, and because of these wondrous phenomena, I am willing to stay here forever.

I asked Johnny, and according to the current research report, these phenomena are more like ”overlaps.”

A chaotic world is overlapping with the reality constrained by various physical laws, and the Mutated Area is where the overlap occurs, an open ”door” where numerous magnificent and splendid things burst forth.

Our research is based on these as a cornerstone; today will be key to further advancing the experiment as we attempt to conduct observations within the Mutated Area.

If it is part of the overlap, there should be a way to extend into another ”chaotic” ”reality.”

[Log Number-161]

As I spend more time working here, I gradually earned everyone’s trust, and as a result, more permissions have been granted to me.

I reviewed the past research records and found that initially, the range of the Mutated Area was only ten cubic meters, but over time and due to some unknown factors, the ”distortion” range of the Mutated Area has been gradually expanding.

I felt a sense of crisis for the first time. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like if such ”distortion” spread globally; even the most basic numerical scale of ”distortion” would instantly bring human civilization to the brink of collapse.

I began to understand why the security guards reacted so strongly when Becky tried to escape, and by regulation, shooting this guy on the spot wouldn’t be excessive.

There’s some tension, yet there’s an inexplicable epic feeling. If we succeed in completing this research, our names will be etched into human history.

[Log Number-201]

The Mutated Area is changing, and observations within the Mutated Area have made new progress. Led by Dr. Field, we’ve speculated the changes in the Mutated Area’s activities, namely the pattern of ”reality” starting to ”distort.” In memory of Becky, we will name this value the ”Melward Distortion Value”...

Yes, unfortunately, Becky Melward is no more.

He was an observer deeply within the Mutated Area, and before his sacrifice, he transmitted these crucial pieces of data.

I feel a bit upset, so let’s end today’s log here.

[Log Number-211]

The second deep exploration has begun, and I am one of the members, having volunteered to join.

I haven’t slept well these past few days; my mind keeps recalling that guy Becky. He was one of the few friends I had here, and his clothes that he lent me still hang in my closet. I’ve always wanted to return them to him, but this guy always made excuses about me needing them for a date, leaving them with me.

Now I’ve kept them ironed and preserved. I think I’ll wear this outfit when I finally leave here.

[Log Number-212]

The second exploration has ended.

Actually, there’s not much area we need to explore. Despite years of expansion, the Mutated Area has only ”distorted” fifty cubic meters of space, and it takes just a few minutes for us to walk through the whole area.

What truly restricts us is the reality within the Mutated Area being ”distorted.” Each time we delve inside, we need to conduct numerous experiments to estimate the extent to which the internal ”reality” has been ”distorted.” Then we put on Protective Clothing to go deeper.

Inside, I found Becky’s corpse... if it can still be considered a corpse.

The ”distortion” within the Mutated Area constantly changes with the Melward Distortion Value, and I witnessed concrete turning into dense, tender grass.

Initially, I didn’t hold much hope in finding Becky’s corpse. So much time has passed, and the Melward Distortion Value within the Mutated Area has changed countless times. Based on projections, Becky’s corpse would transform between various forms of matter.

Fortunately, I found him at last; it was a large, roughly human-shaped chunk of gold with flowers blooming on it.

[Log Number-271]

I’ve been here for more than half a year; there are plenty of sad moments, but also lots of joyous ones.

I am now with Johnny.

We’ve agreed to get married once we leave here, with Reza as our witness. The guy was rather excited at the time, saying that he was right about us.

We drank most of the night, discussing everything from what we’d do in the future to what we would name our child.

I originally wanted my child to inherit the name Becky, to commemorate my unlucky friend, but Johnny disagreed. Perhaps the name Becky is too deeply ingrained in her heart; she said that when she hears Becky, she thinks of Becky’s awful face rather than her own child.

But after heated discussion, she allowed me to name the first cat we have at home Becky.

[Log Number-374]

It’s the first anniversary of my joining the research project. Everyone originally planned to celebrate for me, but an anomaly occurred in the Mutated Area. The Melward Distortion Value fluctuated violently; such fluctuations are common, and using Dr. Field’s words, it’s like the tide.

But clearly, this time we are facing not a tide but a tsunami.

The interior has entirely turned into chaotic disorder; I personally witnessed a bottle I threw in undergo several forms of material transformation in an instant before it shattered into countless dust particles.