Free Web NovelChapter 113: Chapter 113: Getting Guns
Gray Tide?
Shen Feng’s eyes narrowed as a thought instantly struck him. freёwebnovel.com
’The *Nanomechanical Principles* book!’
He had actually heard the term "Gray Tide" before.
It was mainly mentioned in the hodgepodge of apocalyptic sci-fi novels he had read.
When nanotechnology first emerged, many people made pessimistic predictions, including the concept of a Gray Tide apocalypse.
Simply put, it was a scenario where the massive development of nanomechanical technology could lead to the emergence of tens of millions, hundreds of millions, or even billions of nanometer-scale robots, forming a collective swarm.
This technology could deconstruct, reassemble, and build objects at the molecular level, making it far more powerful than 3D printing.
Each tiny nanorobot was its own individual factory.
For example, when faced with a pile of raw materials like metal, wood, and plastic, one only had to input a command, and the nanomechanical robot swarm could consume the materials and directly produce finished products.
In principle, it was somewhat analogous to rapid 3D printing on a microscopic level.
If this technology could be mastered, it would bring about world-altering changes for humanity—a technological revolution on par with the previous three industrial revolutions of steam, electricity, and information.
All of human civilization would take a massive leap forward.
But with such benefits came drawbacks, namely the risk of the technology spiraling out of control.
In some dystopian sci-fi novels, because the base color of the nanomechanical robots was a metallic gray, an out-of-control swarm was called the "Gray Tide."
They would no longer obey human commands, instead acting like cancer cells—endlessly consuming raw materials and self-replicating until they had devoured the entire planet, leaving behind a world composed of nothing but gray nanomechanical robots.
’No wonder the reward I received from the True Apocalypse Game was a copy of *Nanomechanical Principles*. It was all to prepare me for the next world!’
He had already read the book countless times and, with the help of his Silicon-Based Brain, stored a massive amount of related knowledge in his mind.
The technology detailed in *Nanomechanical Principles* was far more advanced than that of modern society. His theoretical understanding of the subject was now arguably among the best in the world.
’Since the next mission is a Gray Tide apocalypse, I have even more reason to go to Eagle Country and prepare a few things...’
After all, many of the items he needed were contraband in his home country, making them difficult to acquire without arousing suspicion. (Actually, it’s still possible to get them, but I’m afraid if I write about it, the novel will get banned, and that would be a *real* apocalypse...)
Shen Feng opened the information on the Gray Tide apocalypse and saw that it was once again rated as "medium-low" intensity.
’Good. It’s still a medium-intensity world. I can handle that.’
He then asked, "Entry time?"
"Players may choose to enter at any time within seven days. After seven days, entry will be forced."
Shen Feng frowned upon hearing the time limit.
The previous nuclear apocalypse had forced entry within seventy-two hours—three days.
This Gray Tide apocalypse, however, gave him a seven-day grace period. It was clearly intended to give him enough time to prepare.
The difficulty was clearly higher than the previous nuclear apocalypse.
Shen Feng continued, "Is there any other information? Can I bring equipment?"
’I have to get this straight.’
Otherwise, if it was like the last apocalypse and he materialized inside a highly radioactive bomb crater, he’d be screwed.
This time, if he appeared directly in the middle of an out-of-control nanomechanical robot swarm, he would likely be devoured until not even a speck of dust remained.
In the face of a nanomechanical robot swarm that could deconstruct anything at the molecular level, things like cannibal fish and army ants were complete amateurs.
They weren’t even in the same league.
The giant, blood-red eye blinked, and another line of text appeared:
"Other information must be discovered by the player. Players may use the Quantum Backpack to bring equipment into the apocalyptic world."
Shen Feng frowned. This time, there was no clause stating that "worn equipment will not be stripped."
’Am I going to have to show up naked, like Schwarzenegger in *The Terminator*?’
’I should at least bring a pair of pants... ’
"So? Are we sticking to the plan?" Jingwei asked inside his mind.
Shen Feng shouldered his backpack and turned to hail a cab.
"We’re going. Of course we’re going, and we’re leaving immediately."
He slid into the car and said to the driver, "Capital Airport, please."
Jingwei cheered, "Hooray! Haha, we’re going abroad!"
Shen Feng couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "You’re acting like you’ve never been anywhere." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
"Hmph, I’m just bored out of my mind. Why don’t you let me out then?" Jingwei retorted, then added, "Let’s run a final check on the house before we go... The door is locked, the basement is welded shut, the dog is boarded at the pet store, you have your passport, I handled the visa personally... what else?"
In a matter of seconds, her Consciousness Antennae had already reached back to his house and the pet store via the internet, checking on everything through the security cameras.
"That’s everything. We can go," Shen Feng said, closing his eyes to rest.
The driver glanced at the masked, sunglasses-wearing teenager in the rearview mirror, his curiosity piqued.
The kid had been silent since he got in and seemed unusually mature for his age.
’Wonder what he’s doing, going to the airport all by himself... ’
Soon, Shen Feng arrived at the airport. With Jingwei’s help, he boarded the plane without a hitch.
He had two main objectives for this trip to Eagle Country. The first was to personally investigate the Purification Society. The second was to acquire some serious firepower to take into the Gray Tide apocalypse using his Quantum Backpack.
While he now had some defensive and combat capabilities, and his Silicon-Based Brain was powerful, he still couldn’t guarantee his own survival in an apocalypse.
After all, apocalyptic worlds generally didn’t have internet. Even if he and Jingwei were gods on the web, it wouldn’t do them any good there.
That made having enough firepower especially crucial.
If he had been able to bring a stash of guns and ammo into the nuclear apocalypse, many things would have been far simpler.
At the very least, he wouldn’t have been chased down by the Crow Tribe.
After sleeping for a while, the plane landed in Chicago in Eagle Country.
After another connecting flight, he arrived at his destination.
Lincoln City, Nebraska.
This state was practically the heartland of Eagle Country, situated right on the Central Great Plains. It spanned two hundred thousand square kilometers—twice the size of Jiangsu Province—but had a population of only about 1.7 million. It was also the home state of Warren Buffett and Marlon Brando.
As an agricultural state, also known as the "Beef State," it was vast and sparsely populated.
Shen Feng’s reason for coming here was simple.
That so-called Purification Academy of Cthulhu was originally located in a small town in this very state.
Standing on a wide avenue in Lincoln City and feeling the cool air, Shen Feng couldn’t help but chuckle.
’I never thought my first trip abroad would be to such a remote place.’
But even though the place seemed calm, Shen Feng didn’t dare let his guard down for a second.
This was Eagle Country, a place where mass shootings could happen at any moment and where tens of thousands of people died from gun-related incidents each year.
And there was no telling how the Whisperers might appear.
There was only one thing to do first.
Get guns.
