《Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train》 Chapter 1: The Infinite Train Project Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train BOTI Translation 4.5 Ratings 0 Reads 434288 Words Tags Synopsis: When natural disasters ran rampant, with extreme cold and storms spreading endlessly... When the world mutated, zombies surged like tides, and eerie horrors emerged... When the apocalypse descended, massive Devouring Abysses hundreds of kilometers in diameter began appearing around the globe... When people looked up at the atmospheric cloud layers and saw the slowly emerging corpse of a colossal evil god... From that day, people began to notice that daylight was arriving later and later, until the sun no longer rose, plunging the world into an unending polar night. For survival, on that day, the Apocalypse Radio made its final broadcast to the world: "Everyone, flee eastward¡ªescape to dawn!" ... Lin Xian awakened the [Mechanical Heart] ability. He could devour machinery to gain various mysterious skills, scan machines to obtain blueprints for manufacturing, and even use his thoughts to achieve unified control of different machines. Thus, he found a 200-ton heavy gas-powered locomotive, towing specially modified storage, planting, production, medical, and living carriages, and embarked on a 320,000-kilometer journey along the planetary orbital rail¡ªcharging eastward toward the dawn! Chapter 1: The Infinite Train Project In Jiang City, the afternoon sun shone softly, accompanied by a gentle breeze. On the balcony of a high-rise apartment, a faint glimmer flickered briefly. A man raised his head to glance toward the sun, then checked the time on his watch before closing the sunshade of his astronomical telescope. In the far distance, beneath the clouds, the city lay eerily silent. Above the skyline, a massive cluster of clouds loomed like a mountain, towering and unmoving. Beep, beep. The sound of an alert came from his watch. 5:00 PM¡ªthere was still an hour and a half until nightfall. The man pulled on an iron chain, causing a specially designed alloy shutter to rise outside what was originally a floor-to-ceiling window. The room darkened as the sunlight filtered through the gaps between the alloy panels, casting linear streaks of light over a living room packed with supplies. Buzz... buzz... A strange sound echoed, and the man paused what he was doing, tilting his head to listen. In an instant, his expression changed. He grabbed a short dagger for self-defense, fastening it to his waist, and carefully stepped out of the apartment, climbing the stairs to the rooftop. A helicopter flew low from the distance, the roar of its massive rotor blades growing increasingly deafening. Whoosh! The man retrieved a long water pipe from who-knows-where, tying an orange tattered cloth to one end and waving it rapidly at the helicopter. Inside the helicopter, a girl wearing headphones noticed the flash of orange and silently traced her finger across the window. ¡°Mr. Wen?¡± The pilot, seated in the front, also spotted the orange signal on the rooftop and turned to ask tentatively. The man referred to as Mr. Wen was a middle-aged man in a sharp suit. Glancing out the window briefly, he shut his eyes with an indifferent expression and said coldly, ¡°Dream on. Who cares about the lives of these paupers!¡± The pilot fell silent. Noticing the girl¡¯s gaze, the middle-aged man raised his voice, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Feeling sympathetic?¡± ¡°Remember this: they¡¯re not the same as us. If tomorrow were the end of the world, we¡¯d still be the last ones to die. Got it?¡± ¡°Tch.¡± The girl¡¯s expression turned icy, her gaze fixed on the scene outside. She clearly held no regard for the man¡¯s words. Whoosh~ The helicopter roared past the sky above. The man on the distant rooftop, watching the scene unfold, slowly lowered his pole and gazed thoughtfully into the distance. ¡°D*** it, what a good aircraft... such a waste...¡± ... Woooo! A few minutes later, an urgent alarm blared inside the helicopter. ¡°Stall warning¡ªstall warning!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve suddenly lost lift! It might be an unknown air vortex!¡± The young co-pilot¡¯s expression changed drastically as he scrambled to stabilize the flight. The sudden crisis threw everyone into chaos. ¡°We¡¯re in the air! In broad daylight! Could we have encountered some kind of ghost?!¡± shouted the once-calm middle-aged man in the back. The pilot glanced at the onboard radar but found nothing unusual. Suddenly, the light inside the cockpit shifted, as if covered by a shadow. Alarmed, he craned his neck to look upward through the windshield. What he saw made his pupils contract, his face turning deathly pale in an instant. Above them, hidden within the massive cloud formation, a grotesque black shadow flickered faintly, blotting out the sky and sun! The clouds churned violently, and the wind surged with ferocity. The helicopter was caught in a tremendous suction force, rising uncontrollably higher into the sky. ¡°Warning! Warning!¡± ¡°D*** it! Captain, what do we do?!¡± Panicked, the young co-pilot turned to look at the pilot, only to find him transfixed. Following his gaze, the co-pilot looked up as well. The thin layers of clouds dispersed as their altitude increased. Finally, the two men in the cockpit saw the black shadow within the clouds clearly. It was... a massive humanoid corpse! The colossal humanoid corpse floated face-down within the cloud layers, its shadow blocking out the sky and sun. The portion of its torso visible beyond the clouds spanned at least ten kilometers in length! The giant corpse hung motionless, resembling a floating continent at first glance. Its body was entirely gray-black, with withered, canyon-like wrinkles etched into its dried skin. Its pitch-black, hollow eyes exuded no trace of life but carried an eerie sense of dread as it floated high above the city. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Terrified screams erupted within the now-helpless helicopter. In the back, the girl¡¯s face turned ghostly pale, her pupils consumed by an encroaching darkness. The hurricane winds tore mercilessly at the helicopter¡¯s fuselage. The industrial machine, weighing several tons, was reduced to nothing more than a speck of dust in the air. The invisible suction force instantly dragged it upward, swallowing it into the clouds. Moments later, it disappeared without a trace. Back on the rooftop, Lin Xian watched the entire scene unfold, his expression dark. Buzz! At that moment, a flicker of light flashed across the horizon. Realizing something, Lin Xian cursed under his breath, ¡°Sh*t!¡± and quickly headed back to his apartment. He shut the window shutters, sprayed deodorizer in the stairwell, and locked the iron doors. All he could do now was wait for night to fall. Beep, beep. 6:45 PM. For the second time, the horizon flickered with light. The sun had set, and the city was swallowed by darkness. In the pitch-black city, sinister whispers echoed through the alleys, while piercing howls reverberated in the shadows. Terror loomed. The eerie had arrived. Inside the room... The record player spun softly, filling the dim room with the gentle rhythm of jazz. Lin Xian, donning an apron, stood calmly in the kitchen, leisurely opening a can of beans. On the electric stove, a pot of tomato and beef brisket soup simmered, releasing a tantalizing aroma. On the cutting board lay a sprig of vibrant green cilantro, a rare harvest from the rooftop garden. In times like these, even a touch of green could bring a fleeting sense of joy. He chopped the cilantro finely, sprinkling it into the pot with care. Not a single piece escaped his attention, even the tiny fragment sticking to the knife was added. Outside, the night loomed, deep and hollow with despair. From below the floorboards, faint, deliberate footsteps echoed. Somewhere in the pitch-black corridors, an eerie, raspy breathing could be heard... But Lin Xian remained unbothered. As if accustomed to the unnatural surroundings, he set the table with practiced ease, eating his dinner in the glow of a flickering candle. ¡°The sunrise now lasts until noon. The next polar night is less than five days away,¡± he murmured. At the table, while eating, Lin Xian jotted notes into a small journal. The batteries and generator in his storage room were primarily used to keep the refrigerator running and power the alarm system. Lighting, however, was avoided entirely¡ªit would turn his shelter into a glowing beacon in a city drenched in darkness. After finishing his meal, he began sorting through the day¡¯s haul. ¡°Two cans, two bottles of water... oh, and a pack of expired chips.¡± Strangely, the large backpack wasn¡¯t filled with food and water but instead held a collection of miscellaneous junk: a few broken phones, an old speaker, a busted shaver, and a hairdryer. To Lin Xian, these ¡°useless¡± items were treasures. With a faint smile, he placed his hand on the old speaker. In an instant, a faint phosphorescent glow appeared around his hand and in his pupils. His hair fluttered gently, even though there was no wind, as an unusual force seemed to awaken. Moments later, the glow disappeared, and the speaker he had touched suddenly decayed into a small pile of brownish ash that scattered onto the floor. ¡¾Devouring successful: +1 Mechanical Source Point, +1 Mechanical Devour skill proficiency. Bonus: Strength +1¡¿ ¡¾Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.1 176/500¡¿ ¡¾Note: Upgrading the Mechanical Heart grants special skill rewards. At LV3, LV6, and LV9, mysterious awakenings will be unlocked.¡¿ Attributes: Strength: LV1 22/50Speed: LV0 28/30Defense: LV0 15/30 Current Skills: Mechanical Devour: LV.1 265/300Mechanical Manufacturing: LV.1 112/300Mechanical Scan (Passive)Mechanical Repair (Passive)Mechanical Operation (Passive) The familiar system interface lit up before him. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes brightened¡ªwho would have thought that dismantling an old speaker would boost his strength by 1 point? Do not underestimate 1 point in strength. Ever since his strength leveled up from LV.0 to LV.1, Lin Xian had experienced a transformation. He used to be a scrawny college student who struggled to carry a bucket of water. But now, he could easily perform a hundred one-armed push-ups in a single go. The change was astonishing. At first, he thought his ability was weak, but over time, he realized its vast potential. If he could continue upgrading his strength and speed, his combat abilities might one day rival those of the mutated ability users with enhanced physiques. ¡¾Devouring successful: +1 Mechanical Source Point¡¿ ¡¾Devouring successful: +1 Mechanical Source Point¡¿ The next few broken phones didn¡¯t provide any attribute boosts, much to his disappointment. ¡°It seems larger, more powerful devices yield better results...¡± he muttered, recalling a past attempt to devour a car engine. That single effort had boosted his Mechanical Source Points by 20 and granted 5 attribute points. However, the reason he now chose smaller objects and insisted on bringing them back to his apartment was simple: larger mechanical structures took significantly more time and energy to devour. When he devoured the car engine, it had taken him over an hour and left him completely drained, as though he¡¯d been through a horrifying ordeal. He was lucky to have escaped that situation without being attacked by zombies or ghouls¡ªhis survival was nothing short of miraculous. Since then, Lin Xian had learned his lesson: patience was key. Rushing only led to danger. He adhered strictly to the principle of survival first. But what he didn¡¯t expect was that when he devoured the hairdryer, the interface in front of him suddenly flashed gold. ¡¾Devouring successful: +1 Mechanical Source Point, +1 Mechanical Devour skill proficiency. Bonus: You¡¯ve acquired the Wind Cannon skill!¡¿ Wind Cannon LV.1: Focus air at your fingertips and release it instantly to cause destructive force. ¡°A skill?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted. This was the first time he had gained a skill from his Mechanical Devour ability. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that consuming ordinary items could unlock skills?¡± A hairdryer... and now a Wind Cannon? What kind of logic was this? Suppressing his excitement, Lin Xian focused his thoughts. He raised his finger and pointed toward the sofa in the distance. Whoosh! A faint sound of air slicing through the room followed. The cushion on the sofa suddenly burst as if struck by something invisible. The cotton stuffing inside scattered like snowflakes. ¡°Holy s***!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s heartbeat accelerated. He had deliberately restrained the power of the Wind Cannon to avoid making too much noise, but even this small test demonstrated its destructive potential. If he unleashed it at full strength, it could undoubtedly become a deadly weapon. In the year 2069, Apocalypse Day arrived. Across the globe, 13 massive ¡°Devouring Zones,¡± each with a diameter of hundreds of kilometers, emerged. Officially named the "Abysses," these zones behaved like mysterious living entities, radiating waves of darkness that spread outward. These waves of darkness, known as the Dark Tides, engulfed new areas every two days, expanding by several hundred kilometers at a time. Daylight grew shorter, and once a certain cycle was reached, the affected areas would enter a polar night. During the polar night, extreme weather events, biological infections, zombie hordes, and unspeakable horrors from the abyss descended upon the world. Humanity was forced to embark on a mass migration to escape the advancing darkness. After the apocalypse began, a small portion of the population mutated under the radiation from the Abyss, gaining various supernatural abilities. This gave them a significant edge in the struggle for survival. Lin Xian was one such individual. Soon, survival groups led by ability users began to emerge like sparks in the dark. ¡°Jiang City Emergency Report: All six monitoring teams from the northwest and southwest sectors have gone missing. Attention survivors: Flee eastward!¡± ¡°Founded by the ability-user Liu Wei, the [Oasis] Convoy will depart tomorrow at 4:00 PM from the Walmart in White District. Only individuals aged 16-50 in good physical condition will be accepted. The elderly, children, and women will not be taken, but if you have firearms, weapons, or large amounts of supplies, you may bring one additional family member...¡± ¡°[Jiang City Bunker] welcomes all ability-users and beautiful women. We are based in a military-grade nuclear shelter in Jiang City, with over 300 members, clear division of labor, and the capacity to withstand the polar night...¡± ¡°I¡¯m at Block A, Apartment 1304 in Mingwang Community. I have plenty of supplies and a house specially modified for survival. I only accept women aged 16-30, no ugly ones...¡± ¡°Ananda is a messenger sent by the Creator to cleanse the evil thoughts of humanity. As long as you feel sincere remorse, you can join our Paradise Faith. Free yourself from calamity by devoutly offering water, food, and pure young maidens. The Savior will spare the innocent. For those seeking redemption in hardship, contact 139...¡± ¡°I am Professor Wang from the Jiang City Research Institute. According to my calculations, Jiang City will be swallowed by the polar night again in five days. This time, there will be no sunrise... Hahaha, it¡¯s over. Physics... how ridiculous. There¡¯s no escape. No one can escape... Hahahahaha!¡± In the darkness, Lin Xian slowly adjusted the radio dial, tuning through one extreme message after another. It seemed that after experiencing the first polar night, most of the survivors in Jiang City had already fled. The last polar night, which lasted for a full 21 days, had turned the once-million-strong Jiang City into a hellscape. And who knew how long the next polar night would last? Would his supplies hold out until dawn finally returned? "Infinite Train Recruitment Project¡ªAssemble a fully armed heavy train to race along the 320,000-kilometer planetary orbital rail!" Lin Xian unlocked his phone and opened a post he had made on a local forum before the last polar night began. The responses were sparse, and most of them were dripping with sarcasm: ¡°You¡¯ve watched too much Snowpiercer, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Bro, the global power grid has collapsed. How are you gonna run it without electricity?¡± ¡°Even with a gas-powered locomotive, it burns at least 50 liters of fuel an hour. If I had that much fuel, I¡¯d just drive an off-road truck instead!¡± ¡°Post-apocalyptic clown. Wait till you hit a broken track and get a reality check...¡± ¡°Sounds great in theory: a mobile fortress made of steel. Not even a zombie horde could break through. But dreams are dreams. It¡¯s just not realistic.¡± ¡°Idiot.¡± In the post, Lin Xian had outlined his plan to build a fortress train equipped with various functional carriages: living quarters, supply storage, medical facilities, planting areas, energy generation, and production units. He was actively recruiting members, but the requirements were strict¡ªeach member had to either possess supernatural abilities or specialized skills relevant to the train¡¯s operations. A fully armed, unstoppable heavy train racing eastward along the planetary rail to escape the polar night. Even if it had to stop along the way, its fortress-like armored carriages would be able to withstand zombie hordes and the assaults of eerie anomalies lurking in the dark. It was both wildly romantic and utterly insane. But after the polar night, most of the internet and power infrastructure had collapsed. The post hadn¡¯t received any new responses in a long time. Now, aside from the scattered voices of survivors broadcasting over the radio, the entire Jiang City was eerily silent. Chapter 2: The Apocalypse Help Call The next day, when the sky finally brightened, it was already 1:00 PM. The black shroud of night receded without the gradual appearance of a sunrise, leaving the sky clear and slightly angled toward the afternoon sun. Daylight now arrived an hour later than the day before. Based on Jiang City¡¯s location and its summer time zone, with sunset still around 6:45 PM, it meant that in just five more days, dawn would no longer come to this place. Inside the apartment, Lin Xian strapped his short dagger onto his backpack. Jumping from his balcony into the neighboring unit, he followed his established route, weaving downward through the building until he reached the access point to an underground civil defense tunnel. This led him into a section of the subway system, specifically a maintenance zone at the former University Town Station. Since the apocalypse began, the station had fallen into complete disrepair. The zombies on the platform had already been cleared out by Lin Xian, turning this area into his designated train assembly site. Walking deeper into the tunnel, Lin Xian approached the rusted and neglected tracks. Sitting there in the shadows was a massive steel behemoth: the Whale 03E heavy gas turbine locomotive. This 200-ton mechanical monstrosity was Lin Xian¡¯s secret weapon for escaping the polar night! Click. He turned on a flashlight, and its white beam cut through the pitch-black tunnel. Staring at the massive locomotive in front of him, Lin Xian¡¯s nerves tingled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The Whale 03E was a masterpiece from 30 years ago, jointly developed by Alstom Transport and China¡¯s CRRC Corporation. Based on Alstom¡¯s ¡°Prima¡± locomotive technology platform, it was meticulously designed as a high-powered, ten-cylinder gas turbine freight engine. The locomotive spanned over 36 meters in length and had a width of 3.2 meters. Beneath its imposing frame lay staggering energy potential: a traction power of 18,500 horsepower, equivalent to the combined output of dozens of supercars. It could haul tens of thousands of tons of cargo with ease! For Lin Xian, this locomotive was the perfect platform for his mechanical abilities. Its discovery had sparked the vision for the Infinite Train Project! ¡°Check the transmission shaft, brake pads, and power turbines...¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself. His Mechanical Heart ability came with three foundational skills: Mechanical Scan, Mechanical Repair, and Mechanical Operation. Simply put, as long as Lin Xian understood the principles of a machine he touched, he could perform basic controls, repairs, and even generate holographic blueprints of the device via scanning. These three passive skills, however, were not upgradable. The Whale 03E required fuel for primary propulsion and electricity for auxiliary functions. While fuel was one of the scarcest resources in the post-apocalyptic world, Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart could directly power the locomotive using his ability¡ªcompletely bypassing the need for conventional energy sources. This capability was nothing short of miraculous. However, the output power depended on his personal stamina. At his current limits, the range of operation was still restricted. That said, with Lin Xian acting as a human battery, scavenging additional resources along the way, and possibly acquiring power generation systems or small nuclear reactors, the energy issue could eventually be resolved completely. Beyond the locomotive itself, Lin Xian had modified three additional carriages to serve specific functions. These were repurposed from old passenger cars: Living Carriage: Used for storing supplies and serving as living quarters.Empty Carriage: Reserved for future use, intended as a farming zone to grow green plants. Ideally, it would house a water-oxygen circulation system for plant cultivation. However, lacking expertise in this area, Lin Xian had left it temporarily empty.Tool Carriage: A storage area for tools, a motorcycle, a crane, a welding machine, and any materials scavenged along the way. Lin Xian walked to the fourth carriage and placed his hand on the vehicle''s exterior. Activating his Mechanical Heart, a custom hydraulic lift descended. Inside the carriage was a motorcycle designed to help him collect resources during stops. Climbing onto the lift, he brought down a welding machine. By the tracks lay a pile of materials¡ªmostly rolled steel plates, high-strength tungsten steel, and manganese steel¡ªall scavenged from Jiang City¡¯s specialized steel factory. These were ideal materials for crafting the armored fortress he envisioned. Buzz. A glowing interface appeared before Lin Xian, displaying blueprints he had drawn himself. Among them was a design for composite armor plating. There were also firearm blueprints, such as the Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun¡ªblueprints he had extracted using his Mechanical Scan skill after disarming a group of raiders. The problem, however, was the resource requirements: ¡°High-alloy chromium-molybdenum steel: 120 grams. Basic steel: 300 grams. Plastic: 195 grams...¡± Lin Xian groaned in frustration. Compared to standardized items like this, he found it much easier to rely on his Mechanical Manufacturing skill and existing materials to DIY custom parts. Clang! Lin Xian¡¯s eyes glowed faintly as the steel in front of him began to levitate, seemingly of its own accord. Under immense pressure, the metal quickly reshaped and fused into a single composite structure. In just ten minutes, a 1.5 x 0.9-meter piece of composite armor was complete. Manufacturing and assembling parts required intense focus, and with no one else to assist him, Lin Xian had to work as efficiently as possible during daylight hours. Several hours passed, and Lin Xian managed to assemble several sets of gridded, double-layered composite armor ¡°windows.¡± Using a small mobile crane from the tool carriage, he carefully hoisted the heavy armor panels into position along the carriage edges, welding them securely in place. The Whale 03E¡¯s driver compartment was fully connected to the rest of the train via isolation doors, ensuring that the entire train could function as a single fortress. Lin Xian had named the train Infinite, and it embodied his dream of survival. The first carriage served as his living quarters and storage for most of his supplies. The second carriage, as mentioned, would eventually become a planting area. For now, though, it remained empty. The third carriage housed tools, machinery, and the materials he was gathering to expand his project. As Lin Xian was engrossed in building his mobile fortress, his phone suddenly vibrated. Startled, he froze. Most satellites were now defunct, and satellite communications were nearly nonexistent. He had kept his phone charged primarily for storing data, maps, and emergencies. He hadn¡¯t expected a call. Answering cautiously, he heard a nervous female voice on the other end. ¡°Lin Xian, are you still in Jiang City? I... I want to join your Infinite Train project.¡± The caller was Chen Sixuan, Lin Xian¡¯s former university lecturer. She was the only person from his contact list he had managed to reach in the early days of the apocalypse. Chen Sixuan was 27, a stunningly beautiful woman without a boyfriend¡ªpractically an anomaly in Jiang City¡¯s pre-apocalyptic culture, which encouraged early marriage and childbirth. Tall and elegant, born into an intellectual family, she was the quintessential urban ¡°rich and beautiful.¡± At the university, she was a figure admired by all. At the start, when Lin Xian had mentioned his train project to Chen Sixuan, she had outright rejected the idea. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t disclosed his ability to her, and the plan sounded too far-fetched. Back then, Chen Sixuan still clung to the naive belief that a rescue team would come for her. But after Jiang City experienced its first polar night, countless people perished in despair, and the eerie horrors of the night consumed the last shreds of survivors¡¯ sanity. Lin Xian had witnessed the grim atrocities that emerged from the collapse of social order. In this brutal world, a woman without abilities had less value in survival teams than a barrel of gasoline. He had assumed Chen Sixuan had either left with some group or met her end. Receiving her call now left him surprised. If she hadn¡¯t escaped, how had she managed to survive for so long? In an apartment, the door was tightly locked, and the curtains drawn shut. Chen Sixuan, disheveled and dressed in loungewear, sat curled up in the corner of a sofa. Her expression was tense as she stared at her phone¡¯s nearly depleted battery. Her once soft, full lips were pale, and her body trembled involuntarily. For two months, she had endured the darkest period of her life: scarce food, endless nights, and unrelenting fear. Each night, the terrifying sounds from the darkness jolted her awake. She was frail, thinner than ever, and her mind teetered on the edge of collapse. At first, she had waited for the arrival of an official rescue team. Some of her old admirers even brought supplies to her door. But when she realized the entire world¡¯s order had crumbled, and the polar night had come, she understood she was trapped in a nightmare. Desperation set in, and she began reaching out for help. But after the polar night passed, most of Jiang City¡¯s population seemed to vanish. Those who remained were either migrating eastward or had descended into madness. The survival teams that were willing to take her in had only one request: send a nude photo to prove her worth. It was then that Chen Sixuan fully grasped the reality. She was no longer the adored university teacher or the woman who once captured the hearts of Jiang City¡¯s elite. She was now a liability. In this apocalypse, even a trace of beauty required her to offer herself up in exchange for a mere glance from others. Just as she was about to lose all hope, she suddenly remembered Lin Xian. Her power banks had long been drained, and her phone had only a sliver of battery left. At this moment, no matter how crazy his plan seemed, even just hearing someone¡¯s voice gave her hope. ¡°Ms. Chen, are you okay?¡± On the other end, Lin Xian¡¯s calm and steady tone instantly eased her nerves. ¡°Lin... Lin Xian, I¡¯m... I¡¯m still alive. Are you still in Jiang City?¡± Her voice trembled as she bit her finger nervously. After a long silence, Lin Xian¡¯s voice finally came through again. ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s entire body shook as relief washed over her. Her eyes lit up with hope, and she hurriedly spoke into the phone, ¡°Where are you? Can you come pick me up...¡± She regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth. The request sounded absurd. She recalled how, just days ago, she had reached out to a team planning to escape east. When she asked them the same question, they had ridiculed her mercilessly. Their mocking tone implied, ¡°Who do you think you are? A princess?¡± Quickly, she corrected herself, ¡°No, no, I mean... where are you? Can I come to you?¡± Desperation left her with no choice. If her phone died, she would be left with only two options: continue hiding in her apartment, waiting for death, or wander aimlessly outside until the zombies tore her to shreds. ¡°Ms. Chen,¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice came through again, calm and detached. ¡°Do you have supplies? Or have you awakened an ability?¡± Hearing this, Chen Sixuan¡¯s heart sank. She glanced at her barren apartment. Her lips trembled as she answered in a voice that was almost a sob, ¡°N-No... I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°If... if you need me to...¡± She never thought she¡¯d stoop so low as to plead with one of her former students, but before she could finish, Lin Xian cut her off. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Chen. My supplies are limited. If you want to join my plan, you need to bring some value. Physical needs mean nothing to me.¡± Lin Xian had no interest in charity. No one believed in his train project, so he was building it for himself. Every step he took was to escape the polar night, not to play the hero. His calm yet firm tone carried an odd sense of security, but it also plunged Chen Sixuan into utter despair. ¡°Alright then...¡± ¡°Good luck, Ms. Chen.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was indifferent. With a sigh, he prepared to hang up. On the other end of the call, Chen Sixuan¡¯s body went cold. Just as Lin Xian was about to disconnect, she suddenly snapped, clutching the phone tightly and shouting, ¡°Wait!¡± Her eyes widened, and her chest heaved with rapid breaths as she yelled, ¡°The planetary orbital rail was constructed starting in 2039, spanning 126 countries and 34 regions, crossing nine continents and four oceans, and passing through all 13 current Abyss Devouring Zones. The rail¡¯s total length exceeds 320,000 kilometers! My father was a Level-1 maintenance engineer for the planetary rail, and I know the locations of all 1,266 stations and 625 maintenance segments along the line!¡± ¡°Also, I¡¯m fluent in multiple languages. I can be your translator. I eat very little, and I know how to cook. As long as you take me with you, I¡¯ll do anything you ask!¡± She screamed the last sentence with every ounce of strength she had. A long silence followed on the other end. Chen Sixuan sat frozen, her body trembling. Her nails dug into her thighs so deeply that blood began to bead at the surface. ¡°Your location. I¡¯ll come get you.¡± Six simple words. Chen Sixuan felt dizzy, her mind spinning. Snapping back to reality, she frantically blurted out, ¡°I-I¡¯m at Building 3, Unit 901, Yushui Gardens, Jiangzhou Road!¡± Beep. Before she could repeat her address, her phone screen went black¡ªit had shut down completely. Panicking, she pressed the power button repeatedly, but there was no response. She wasn¡¯t even sure if Lin Xian had caught her address. Frustration overwhelmed her, and she bit her lip so hard it bled. ¡°Ah!¡± She let out a furious scream and hurled the phone at the wall, shattering it into pieces. ¡°He heard it. He definitely heard it...¡± Muttering to herself, Chen Sixuan tried to calm her fraying nerves. To distract herself from despair, she immediately began rummaging through her apartment for any books or materials related to the planetary orbital rail. On the other end, Lin Xian stared at the phone in his hand, letting out a sigh. The once-admired and respected Ms. Chen Sixuan, now speaking to him with a pleading tone, even going as far as to offer sexual favors¡ªit was a grim reminder of how this hellish apocalypse could twist people into monsters, turning human dignity into a mockery. Still, her words had struck a chord with him. The planetary orbital rail circled the entire globe, a route filled with unknown dangers. Having someone familiar with its intricacies would be far better than relying on a "dead map" stripped of its GPS and navigational functions. After all, maps couldn¡¯t indicate maintenance segments or special connection routes. Of course, there was another reason¡ªChen Sixuan was someone Lin Xian knew personally. In the apocalypse, people instinctively sought out the security of groups, and familiar faces were the easiest to trust. Setting aside the phone, Lin Xian glanced at the time before returning to his welding work. There wasn¡¯t enough time left in the day, and the progress of preparing the train couldn¡¯t afford to stall. Beep, beep. 6:00 PM. There were 45 minutes left until nightfall. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Lin Xian gazed at the thick, tank-like armored windows he had just installed on both sides of the third carriage. A sense of accomplishment welled up in his chest. ¡°Next on the list: a generator, heating equipment, water purification, a fridge, and an advanced monitoring system...¡± he murmured to himself. ¡°And then there¡¯s the defensive gear: automated weapon systems, a radar system, and other protective measures...¡± ¡°Right, the living quarters¡ªI need a big bed, a bathtub. Might as well add a recreation area, maybe a gaming zone or something. How about storing a few thousand movies, TV shows, and games?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as he rattled off his ideas. At that moment, he realized something profound: In this apocalypse, life was becoming something to look forward to again. Chapter 3: Eerie Horror in the Dead of Night Back at his apartment, Lin Xian took out a bottle of disinfectant mixed with bleach from behind the door. He carefully sprayed the solution around the entrance and the hallway outside. Only after completing this ritual did he step inside, lock the anti-theft door, and secure the iron chain. The first thing he did was pull out his phone and open the map to locate Chen Sixuan''s position. The First Rule of the Apocalypse: Be cautious of the night. The Second Rule of the Apocalypse: Never act recklessly. Lin Xian never fought an unprepared battle. Jiang City had completely fallen¡ªthose who remained were either survivors huddled in shelters, marauding raiders prowling the streets, or hordes of zombies. Nighttime, however, was even more terrifying. To this day, no one truly understood how many bizarre horrors roamed the darkness. From the accounts of survivors on various radio frequencies, the "things" encountered in the night were indescribable, unexplainable, and deadly. Few who came across them lived to tell the tale. ¡°7.2 kilometers... not exactly close,¡± Lin Xian murmured as he studied the map. Before the apocalypse, such a distance would take no more than a 15-minute cab ride. But now, with the transportation system collapsed and bridges damaged, even using his motorcycle would take at least half an hour. And he had no idea what the situation over there was like. In the apocalypse, risking your life to save someone was only worth it for family¡ªor maybe your mother. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze flickered as he sighed inwardly. ¡°Ms. Chen, I hope you¡¯re worth the risk.¡± At 6:45 PM, the darkness began to descend. Lin Xian pulled down the iron shutters on his windows and started preparing dinner. He hadn¡¯t gone scavenging for supplies today. By now, the supermarkets and convenience stores in Jiang City had been ransacked countless times by fleeing survivors. Even finding a single packet of ketchup was a near-impossible task. Fortunately, Lin Xian¡¯s scavenging extended beyond food and water¡ªhe hunted for mechanical items that most survivors wouldn¡¯t even glance at. 2:42 AM A faint sound jolted Lin Xian awake from his shallow sleep. He sat up instantly, his eyes locking on the door in the dim darkness. The sound seemed to come from the hallway outside. He grabbed his short dagger for defense and quietly moved to the door. The door had been reinforced with steel plates several times and was much sturdier than a standard anti-theft door. Still, against "those things," Lin Xian wasn¡¯t entirely confident. Living in a high-rise, his only escape route was the staircase in the hallway. Lin Xian pressed his eye to the peephole, scanning the corridor. The hallway was pitch black, with only the faint green glow of the emergency lights faintly outlining the walls and floor. After observing for a while and seeing nothing, Lin Xian turned to go back to bed. But just as he took two steps away, a strange knocking sound came from the iron door behind him. Knock... knock. The two slow, deliberate knocks sent a chill racing up Lin Xian¡¯s spine. Someone was really there? Or had those things discovered his hiding spot? His expression turned grim as he stepped back to the door. After a moment of hesitation, he tightened his grip on the short dagger, held his breath, and cautiously peered through the peephole again. Hiss! What he saw made Lin Xian suck in a sharp breath. Under the eerie green glow of the emergency lights, a figure stood in the hallway¡ªa frail old man wearing a black funeral robe. The man¡¯s face was pale and gaunt, his sunken features resembling that of a corpse. His eyes, decayed and lifeless, were a ghastly gray-black hue, exuding a suffocating aura of death. Most horrifying of all, the corpse-like old man¡¯s dead eyes seemed to be staring directly at Lin Xian through the peephole! Lin Xian instinctively staggered back two steps, his face pale with shock. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Grandpa Li from downstairs?¡± But Grandpa Li had died long ago... Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew solemn as he stepped back further. There was no need to think twice¡ªwhatever stood outside his door was no longer human. A zombie? But zombies didn¡¯t knock on doors... Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. If this was one of the bizarre entities from the night, then he was in deep trouble. ¡°Grandpa Li,¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath, ¡°couldn¡¯t you just enjoy your peace in the coffin? What are you doing back here to suffer?¡± Time dragged on, and Lin Xian¡¯s sleep was entirely gone. He leaned against the wall by the door, gripping his dagger tightly. The knocking didn¡¯t come again. But then, something even more unnerving happened. From the other side of the wall he was leaning on, faint scratching sounds began to emerge. The sound of nails scraping against the wall. It wasn¡¯t loud, but it was enough to make Lin Xian¡¯s scalp tingle. It felt as if something was just on the other side of the wall, clawing incessantly. ¡°Sh*t!¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath as he jumped back, staring at the wall in front of him. ¡°Is this thing trying to dig its way in?¡± He felt a wave of confusion and unease. Whatever was outside seemed to sense his presence. It was now separated from him by nothing more than the thin layer of the wall. At this moment, Lin Xian''s best option was to hold his breath, remain perfectly still, and avoid making any noise. As long as the door to his apartment remained unbreached, he was temporarily safe. Simultaneously, he mentally prepared his escape route. Most of his supplies had already been moved to the Infinite train. In the apartment, he only had a few days¡¯ worth of food and water left, along with the generator and batteries. Time dragged on, second by second, as the eerie scratching sounds from the other side of the wall tormented Lin Xian like a haunting melody, burrowing into his mind. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the sound ceased. Lin Xian exhaled in relief and cautiously moved to check through the peephole again. However, the sight before him made every hair on his body stand on end. Somehow, a young girl had appeared in the hallway. She was lying on the ground, covered in blood, her body weakly trembling as she struggled to sit up. Reaching her hand toward the door, she whispered faintly, ¡°Help me... help me...¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp. The girl looked no older than fifteen or sixteen. Her outfit was completely out of place for the post-apocalyptic world: short shorts, a low-rise crop top, and a bright-colored baseball jacket. Around her neck hung a pair of wireless earphones. She looked youthful and trendy, like someone plucked straight from a pre-apocalyptic high school. If not for the blood covering her face, Lin Xian might¡¯ve thought she was just the neighbor¡¯s little sister stopping by late at night. But Lin Xian stayed silent. Just moments ago, he had seen the corpse of ¡°Grandpa Li¡± standing eerily outside. Now, suddenly, there was a bloodied teenage girl begging for help? It was beyond suspicious. These entities that emerged in the night were unpredictable and sinister. Besides, Lin Xian had no relationship with this girl. Opening the door would be risking his own life. Time ticked by, and it was now 5:00 AM. There were still at least nine hours until daylight. Through the peephole, Lin Xian saw that the girl¡¯s face had turned pale. She was slumped on the ground, unconscious. ¡°Damn it, is this some kind of monster setting a trap to trick me into opening the door?¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath, rubbing his temples. This was far more unsettling than any zombie encounter he¡¯d ever had. Unable to resist his curiosity, he looked through the peephole again. What he saw this time made his pupils contract sharply. ¡°Grandpa Li¡± had reappeared, standing stiffly beside the unconscious girl. His head was lowered, as though sniffing at her. Moments later, ¡°Grandpa Li¡± moved with a stiff, awkward shuffle, positioning himself directly in front of the girl. Then, slowly, he began to bend down toward her. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he noticed something horrifying: Clinging to the back of ¡°Grandpa Li¡¯s¡± corpse was a monstrous, centipede-like creature with long, slender legs and a shiny black body. The creature was enormous, covering almost the entirety of the old man¡¯s back! ¡°What the f*** is that?!¡± Lin Xian gasped, cold sweat breaking out across his body. The creature¡¯s legs moved in slow, deliberate motions, manipulating ¡°Grandpa Li¡¯s¡± body like a grotesque puppet. Then, as its many legs twitched and scratched at the corpse¡¯s back, ¡°Grandpa Li¡± raised his arms stiffly and lunged toward the unconscious girl. Chapter 4: The Mysterious Girl "Ugh¡ªah!" A spine-chilling shriek echoed. Watching the scene unfold, Lin Xian''s expression darkened. The girl was still so young. Even though he had witnessed countless tragedies over the past few days, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of pity. Just as Lin Xian thought the girl was about to be devoured by the zombie and the monstrous insect, an invisible shockwave suddenly erupted from her body. It roared outward with a deafening boom. Before Lin Xian could react, the door in front of him, along with himself, was blasted away by a powerful gust! Boom! In an instant, all the glass in the room shattered, and the furniture splintered into pieces. Lin Xian was thrown into a state of shock as he was flung by the shockwave and crashed hard against the iron grilles of the living room window. His ears buzzed loudly, rendering him momentarily disoriented. Thankfully, his body had been enhanced;otherwise, he would have passed out on the spot. The sudden upheaval shook the entire apartment building. Almost immediately, a cacophony of howls erupted, and swarms of zombies began flooding the hallway. "Damn it!" Struggling to his feet, Lin Xian cursed silently. At that moment, the zombified Uncle Li, controlled by the monstrous insect, had already stumbled into the living room without him noticing. Switching on his flashlight, Lin Xian was horrified to see "Uncle Li" crawling on all fours. The zombie suddenly leapt from the floor with a strange, guttural cry and hurled its foul, putrid body straight at him. Lin Xian gasped sharply, his blood pumping wildly. He instinctively retreated a few steps and raised his hand to unleash a Wind Cannon! Whoosh! Fueled by panic and rage, Lin Xian poured every ounce of strength into the attack. A rapid wind spear shot out with explosive force! "Argh!!!" In an instant, black blood splattered everywhere. The grotesque corpse took a direct hit to the face. Half of its head was blown apart as it rolled to the side, scattering chunks of rotten flesh on the ground. Shaken but not hesitating, Lin Xian grabbed his short blade and charged forward decisively. He plunged the blade straight through the black insect! Squelch! Screech¡ª!! The black insect let out an eerie shriek, its numerous legs convulsing madly. Lin Xian gripped the short blade tightly, not daring to let his guard down. Unexpectedly, the black insect twisted its body and severed itself from the blade. It then quickly scurried into the shadows. "Are you kidding me? This thing is that smart?!" Lin Xian cursed under his breath. The commotion had drawn a horde of zombies charging toward his once-safe haven. With no time to lose, he grabbed his backpack, stuffed it with whatever supplies he could, and looked toward the corridor. The girl was lying motionless on the ground. Even after causing such a massive disturbance, she was still unconscious? Lin Xian''s mind raced. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess¡ªthis girl was likely an Ability User. But why had she sought him out? Unable to figure it out, he gritted his teeth, deciding to save her first and deal with the questions later. Scooping the girl into his arms, Lin Xian bolted down the emergency stairs. With his shelter destroyed, he had no choice but to charge into the underground tunnels. Behind him, countless zombies swarmed the stairwell, relentlessly pursuing him as he ran. Splat! Splat! Along the way, Lin Xian repeatedly used his Wind Cannon to take out several zombies. Finally, he reached the Infinite Train. Placing his hand on the train¡¯s body, the Mechanical Heart activated, opening the cockpit door. Lin Xian quickly shoved the girl inside before climbing in himself. Bang! The heavy cabin door shut, and the corridor lights flickered on. Leaning against the steel wall, Lin Xian let out a long sigh of relief. "Ugh¡ªah! Ugh!" The zombie horde surged forward, surrounding the train in mere minutes. Countless claws scratched against the train, producing ear-piercing screeches. What the zombies didn¡¯t understand was that the massive steel behemoth in front of them weighed several hundred tons. Even its thinnest armor plate was at least 40 millimeters thick. Regular bullets couldn¡¯t even leave a dent, let alone the rotting claws of zombies. Wiping sweat from his brow, Lin Xian moved to the first carriage and pulled up one of the blackout shades. The train''s interior lights illuminated the grotesque, rotting faces of the zombies outside. Snap. He pulled the shade back down. Fortunately, he had managed to complete the train¡¯s armor installation earlier that day. Just to be sure, he performed a quick inspection before turning off all the lights inside the train. Afterward, he headed to the cockpit and retrieved a black remote control. On the other side of the tunnel, he had set up a large remote-controlled speaker as a decoy, just in case he was ever besieged by a zombie horde while trying to start the train. Beep¡ª A booming sound echoed from afar, immediately drawing the zombies away in a frenzied rush. Within moments, the sound of scratching against the train¡¯s exterior gradually faded into silence. Inside the train, Lin Xian let out a breath of relief. Turning on his phone flashlight, he began examining the girl¡¯s condition. To his surprise, the girl didn¡¯t have a single external injury. The blood on her body didn¡¯t even seem to be hers... This girl... there was definitely something strange about her. Lin Xian gazed at the sleeping little girl, feeling a sense of helplessness. Her sudden appearance had completely disrupted his plans. The most critical issue was his gut feeling¡ªthis girl definitely possessed some kind of special Ability. Otherwise, there was no way she could have survived unscathed, running through the perilous night and ending up outside his door without so much as a scratch. Taking a girl like this with him was undoubtedly a potential liability¡ªa ticking time bomb. After a moment of deliberation, Lin Xian grabbed some rope and securely tied the sleeping girl¡¯s hands and feet. Then, he carried her to the No. 2 Carriage, placed her on a blanket, and let her lie down. After finishing everything, he returned to the No. 1 Carriage to figure out his next steps. Furrowing his brow, Lin Xian reopened the map and began searching again. "If I start the train tomorrow and head along Line 3 to find Teacher Chen, wouldn¡¯t that be a shorter route?" The idea was bold. If it worked, he could reduce much of the danger along the way and simultaneously test the locomotive¡¯s capabilities. Sure enough, after checking the map, Lin Xian realized that the residential complex where Chen Sixuan lived was less than 300 meters from the nearest subway station. "Heh~" He smirked and said, "What a prime location, Teacher Chen. You really nailed it with this property..." It was a sleepless night. For the first time, Lin Xian spent the night on the Infinite Train. Although the steel fortress he had built with his own hands provided him with significant security, the night¡¯s upheavals still left him unsettled. This was his first encounter with the ¡°Eerie¡± of the night. Although it had been just a single monstrous insect, the thing was utterly disgusting. Not only that, but it was clearly much smarter than the zombies. On top of that, now there was a mysterious girl lying in his train carriage¡ªhow could he possibly sleep soundly under these circumstances? At 2:00 PM, daylight came an hour later than expected. Lin Xian remained in the subway tunnel, surrounded by pitch-black darkness, but his watch indicated that it was already daytime outside. Sitting in the Infinite Train''s driver¡¯s seat, a faint glow flickered in his eyes as he seemed to connect with the enormous machine''s aura. Vroom¡ª The turbocharger roared to life. The crankshaft and connecting rods emitted sharp metallic clinks as the horizon gate system opened. Clack! The amber-orange headlights instantly illuminated the dark subway tunnel, making it as bright as daylight. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened. "It¡¯s time to go, my friend." Clang! Clang! The steel colossus, dormant for decades, roared back to life. Dust and iron filings slid off its frame as the Infinite Train, dragging three armored carriages behind it, slowly merged from the maintenance track onto the main subway line. Devouring the black mist ahead, it charged forward with an earth-shaking roar! Chapter 5: A Former Colleague "This is the feeling!" Lin Xian¡¯s heart raced with excitement. Feeling the roaring power of the train beneath him, the shadows of the previous night were quickly swept away. At this moment, he felt as if he and the entire train had become one¡ªa surge of invincibility coursed through him! Clang-clang-clang, clang-clang-clang... Outside the elevated tracks near University City Station, a few zombies in tattered uniforms wandered aimlessly. Suddenly, these creatures simultaneously noticed the rumbling noise from the tunnel. The tracks beneath their feet began to tremble. "Ugh¡ªah..." "Grkk¡ªgrrrkk..." The sound escaped from their rotting throats, like the dying breath of ancient wood. As if drawn by an invisible string, the zombies turned their heads in unison. Their clouded, lifeless eyes locked onto the dark entrance of the tunnel. Woooooo! A deafening horn blast, like a roar from the abyss, broke the silence. The blood-red mechanical beast surged forth from the tunnel like a war god awakening from its ancient slumber, carrying boundless rage and the dormant power of countless years. "Argh! Aaah!" The zombies howled and lunged forward like crazed beasts. But their decayed brains couldn¡¯t comprehend that the deafening sound was not prey but a steel monster with a terrifying 18,500 horsepower! Crunch, crunch! The accelerating Infinite Train barreled through them like an unstoppable force, instantly creating a rain of blood and a tide of shredded flesh. Severed limbs flew everywhere. In the cockpit, Lin Xian''s gaze flickered as the pent-up tension of the past ten days was finally unleashed in full force. "Yes!!!" Lin Xian shouted in exhilaration. In this moment, he felt an unparalleled euphoria, as if breaking through the darkness and stepping into the light of dawn. It was a clear sign¡ªhis plan had taken its first successful step. Clang-clang, clang-clang! With excitement coursing through him, the heavy locomotive raced along the tracks. Lin Xian observed the city outside, now reduced to a desolate wasteland, while continuously searching for any useful information. The zombies wandering the streets posed relatively less of a threat to ordinary people unless they triggered a massive zombie tide. Of course, zombies that were once animals¡ªlike dogs or wolves¡ªwere often far more troublesome than their human counterparts. Buzz, buzz¡ª Lin Xian tried calling Chen Sixuan again, but her phone was still unreachable. When the call failed, he put away his phone and prepared to pick her up in person. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t someone who second-guessed himself. Once he made a plan, he wouldn¡¯t waver. Unless Chen Sixuan was already dead, he wouldn¡¯t change his course. The subway tracks were far more navigable than he had anticipated. Perhaps because they were usually enclosed, or maybe because no one had been foolish enough to drive cars onto the tracks, there were no significant obstacles along the way. The station nearest Yushui Gardens was Tiyu Xi Station, which used to be a bustling subway hub packed with people. As the train entered the underground tunnel, Lin Xian gradually reduced its speed. After all, he would soon have to get off the train to search for Chen Sixuan. If he made too much noise and drew the attention of too many zombies, it would make his task far more difficult. Screech¡ª Instead of pulling into the station, Lin Xian stopped the train some distance away. He first went to the No. 2 Carriage, where he saw that the girl was still asleep. This surprised him. "How could anyone sleep for this long?" "Hey!" Lin Xian lightly patted her cheek, but there was no response. So he reached out and pinched her face. Her tender skin was soft and elastic. Despite the bloodstains, her delicate features were impossible to hide. She was clearly a beauty in the making¡ªlikely a girl from some wealthy family. "Forget it, let her sleep," Lin Xian muttered to himself. To be safe, he sealed off the passageways between the No. 3 Carriage and the No. 1 Carriage. Then, grabbing his short blade, he carefully surveyed the surroundings before disembarking. Following the path along the tracks, Lin Xian ran into the station. Yushui Gardens, Building 3, Unit 901 Chen Sixuan hadn¡¯t slept all night. The immense mental pressure had left her pale and drained. Her once-beautiful face was devoid of any color. At the moment, she was curled up in the corner of her couch, her head buried against her knees. Scattered around her were books on Planetary Orbital Rails. Her eyes were hollow, her dry lips moving incessantly as she murmured to herself: "Jiangyu Line... Code HX05681... Total length, 1,256 kilometers... Stops at primary stations: Jiangning Station, Yubei Station... Secondary stations: Yushan Station, Beiwang Station..." Since her last call had gone through yesterday, Chen Sixuan had placed all her hopes on the arrival of a speeding train. But as time passed, despair began to creep in, slowly eroding the last shreds of her sanity. "Beiwang Station... maintenance section..." Her muttering abruptly stopped, and a slight tremor flickered in her eyes. A memory surfaced of a student she had barely paid attention to back then. From a regular family, always wearing a warm smile, quiet by nature, not very social, and not particularly athletic... Everything about him had seemed... ordinary. Then she recalled his talk about a ¡°Railroad Train¡± Project¡ªhis plan to operate a heavy locomotive and escape along the Planetary Orbital Rail. Thinking about it now... wasn¡¯t that idea a bit too far-fetched? "Does he even know how to drive a train? If he has that much fuel or energy, wouldn¡¯t it be easier to just drive a car?" Chen Sixuan muttered to herself. Every question felt like a sharp blade, slicing through the fragile hope she clung to. What if the track is broken? Would her former student be able to fix it? Or would she, a foreign language teacher, have to? One question after another, too overwhelming to confront, bubbled up in her mind, gradually consuming her. The slim strand of hope she had seemed increasingly ridiculous. Tears the size of beans welled up in her eyes and dripped down, one by one. But Chen Sixuan didn¡¯t dare to give up just yet. She bit her lip hard, refusing to let her tears overflow, and silently repeated to herself: He promised... He said he¡¯d come... "Beiwang Station... One main track, two arrival and departure tracks..." Her muttering filled the empty living room once again. Knock, knock, knock¡ª A sudden knocking broke the silence, like a stone tossed into a calm lake, sending ripples through the air. In the stillness of the room, the sound was deafening. Chen Sixuan lifted her head, her eyes lighting up with a glimmer of hope. Was it him? Barefoot, she ran to the door from the couch. But instead of looking through the peephole, she stood nervously and asked in a trembling voice, "Who... who is it?" The response from the other side, however, was not the voice she longed to hear. Instead, it was the voice of a middle-aged man. "Teacher Chen, it¡¯s me, Liang Wei! I¡¯ve been trying to call you for two days, but you didn¡¯t answer. I got worried, so I came to check on you." At that moment, Chen Sixuan¡¯s hope plummeted into the abyss. Liang Wei was a former colleague of hers. Back when they worked at the university, he had been a sleazy man who hid behind a respectable facade. His eyes often wandered inappropriately over Chen Sixuan, and she had even heard rumors that he had preyed on several female students before. He was a true predator disguised as a professional. For reasons unknown¡ªperhaps due to having connections¡ªthis man had managed to rise to the position of office director at the university. Chen Sixuan had always despised him and kept her interactions with him to a minimum. Unfortunately, in the apocalypse, it turned out Liang Wei lived in the same residential complex and even in the same unit. Since the world had fallen apart, Liang Wei had called her repeatedly. At first, he pretended to be serious, saying that during a crisis, everyone needed to stick together. He claimed to have plenty of supplies and even offered to share them if she needed anything. But gradually, his true nature surfaced. Especially after learning that Chen Sixuan was running low on supplies, he became increasingly impatient, frequently suggesting she move in with him. Now, hearing Liang Wei¡¯s voice at the door, Chen Sixuan couldn¡¯t tell if her nausea was from disappointment or pure disgust. Clenching her stomach, she responded coldly, "I¡¯m fine." Bang, bang, bang! The knocking grew heavier. "Fine? Didn¡¯t you tell me before that you were running out of food?!" When Chen Sixuan still didn¡¯t open the door, Liang Wei pressed his face against the peephole to try and look inside. Seeing his shadow against the door, Chen Sixuan instinctively stepped back with a frown. Liang Wei¡¯s eyes lit up the moment he spotted her silhouette. "Teacher Chen! Are you hungry? I still have plenty of bread, cookies, canned beef, and bottled water! If you want, I¡¯ll bring it down for you right now." Bread, cookies, canned beef, bottled water... The names of these foods sounded almost intoxicating as they reached Chen Sixuan¡¯s ears, tempting her reason to crumble. She... hadn¡¯t eaten for two days. But deep down, she knew. Whether Liang Wei really had those supplies or not, opening the door would mean turning herself into his personal plaything in this post-apocalyptic hell. Shame or survival¡ªwhich one was more important? After receiving no response for some time, Liang Wei¡¯s last ounce of patience snapped. His expression darkened, and he suddenly slapped the door hard with his hand. Bang! "Chen Sixuan, you f**ing btch! Stop pretending to be so high and mighty! The world¡¯s already gone to hell, and most people are dead. At least if you stick with me, you¡¯ll survive a few more days! I¡¯m not going to eat you or anything¡ªwhat the hell are you afraid of?!" "Open the damn door!" Bang, bang, bang! The knocking escalated to kicking, and the loud thuds reverberated through the room. Chen Sixuan¡¯s face turned deathly pale. She spun around, grabbing a fruit knife from the shoe cabinet for self-defense. Holding it close to her chest, her eyes filled with panic and turmoil. Chapter 6: Don’t Insult Animals Director Liang clearly overestimated his strength. There was no way his fifty-something, depraved self could break through a heavy steel security door. Eventually, he calmed down and stopped kicking the door, realizing that too much noise might attract unwanted monsters, which would be like shooting himself in the foot. His eyes flickered with calculation, and he spoke to the person inside in a sinister tone: "That¡¯s fine, Teacher Chen. I just happen to have some leftover canned meat. To show my sincerity, I¡¯ll leave it at your door. After all, it¡¯ll be dark soon. You can either open the door and eat it yourself, or... let the monsters eat you instead." "Who knows? Maybe after you die tonight, I¡¯ll find your body while it¡¯s still warm and¡ª" Before he could finish his vile threat, a muffled squelch echoed from outside the door. The foul-mouthed Liang Wei suddenly fell silent. Thud. A sound of something heavy collapsing followed. Chen Sixuan trembled in shock. Slowly, she crept toward the peephole, pressing her eye against it. The sight outside the door made her pupils contract violently. Outside, a familiar young man was pulling a blade from Liang Wei¡¯s head. Lin Xian! Director Liang had been taken down in a single strike! Chen Sixuan gasped in disbelief. She hadn¡¯t fully processed what she was seeing when Lin Xian¡¯s voice came from outside. "Teacher Chen, if you¡¯re still alive, I suggest we don¡¯t waste time." His voice sent a shiver down her spine. He came. He came to take her away! A visible wave of emotion washed over Chen Sixuan¡¯s face. The sight of Liang Wei¡¯s lifeless body filled her with a sense of cathartic relief. Summoning a courage she didn¡¯t know she had, she opened the door without hesitation. "Lin... Lin Xian," she stammered instinctively, glancing at the blood-covered short blade in his hand. She couldn¡¯t help but take two steps back, unsure if her feelings were closer to relief or fear. Her gaze fell on Liang Wei¡¯s corpse. His head was nearly split open to the eyebrows. He lay on the ground, his eyes wide open, red and white fluids oozing out in a gruesome mess. Ugh¡ª Chen Sixuan couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and bent over, retching. But with nothing in her stomach after two days without food, only stomach acid came up. Lin Xian looked at the frail and disheveled Chen Sixuan standing before him. She was a far cry from the vibrant and confident "Teacher Chen" he remembered, who even exuded a commanding elegance during her classes. A pang of pity rose in his chest. Today, Chen Sixuan wore a pair of denim jeans paired with a sporty top and a lightweight windbreaker¡ªlikely her idea of appropriate attire for escaping. "Scum like him is no different from an animal. Don¡¯t burden yourself with guilt. Are your belongings packed?" Lin Xian¡¯s gaze swept over the rows of high heels by the shoe cabinet before landing on her bare feet. "Yes... I¡¯m ready!" Forcing herself to suppress the turmoil in her heart, Chen Sixuan quickly regained her composure. She didn¡¯t want to appear weak in front of Lin Xian. She bent down to put on her shoes, deliberately avoiding looking at Liang Wei¡¯s body. Without saying much, Lin Xian stepped inside, scouring the apartment. He grabbed a cardboard box and stuffed several small appliances from her kitchen, including a coffee maker and a juicer, into it before shoving it into her arms. "Hold this." "Huh? Why are you taking these?" Chen Sixuan instinctively asked as she took the box. Her voice was a mix of nervousness and curiosity. She couldn¡¯t understand why Lin Xian was grabbing random appliances. But Lin Xian, her rescuer, didn¡¯t answer, and she quickly swallowed her questions. She obediently held the box and followed him. Chen Sixuan¡¯s "luggage" consisted of just a small travel bag containing a few changes of clothes and barely anything else of significance. Except for one box of condoms. Though she had never been with anyone, as an educated and independent woman, she had always believed in protecting herself. It was a habit she developed after adulthood. Now, in the apocalypse, in this harsh environment, pregnancy was equivalent to a death sentence. No matter what lay ahead, this was her last line of self-protection. Beyond that, she had no food or water left. Upstairs, in apartment 1203, Liang Wei¡¯s home. The door was locked, but Lin Xian placed his hand on it, fiddled for a moment, and the lock clicked open. Liang Wei had claimed to have plenty of food and water, and Lin Xian wasn¡¯t about to let such supplies go to waste while preparing for their journey. But as soon as the door opened, a revolting stench wafted out. Chen Sixuan peeked over Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder, and the sight inside nearly made her faint. Ugh¡ª She gagged again, her stomach churning violently. Even Lin Xian¡¯s face turned pale. His brows furrowed deeply as he surveyed the scene. There wasn¡¯t a trace of food or water in the house. Instead, the apartment was splattered with blood and gore. In the kitchen lay half a mutilated corpse, likely that of a middle-aged woman, clearly butchered. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened further as a wave of nausea hit him. Liang Wei hadn¡¯t been hoarding food. He had been killing people. It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out¡ªthe unfortunate woman in the kitchen was likely the original owner of the apartment, Director Liang¡¯s wife. "I owe animals an apology. Calling him a beast is a massive insult to beasts," Lin Xian muttered coldly. "Let¡¯s go. Stay close to me, and try not to make any noise." Realizing there was nothing of value left to scavenge, he turned decisively and walked out. "Okay!" Chen Sixuan¡¯s face was pale as she nodded. She was completely in shock. "There are a lot of dead out there. Don¡¯t scream." "Okay!" "At all times, watch your step. Don¡¯t trip." "Okay!" After witnessing such horrors, Chen Sixuan now resembled a compliant student, listening intently to everything Lin Xian said. Her instincts told her that following Lin Xian was the right decision. Squelch! Inside the station, Lin Xian casually cleaved through a few zombies¡¯ heads as he led Chen Sixuan down the narrow maintenance path alongside the platform. Chen Sixuan followed closely behind, her face ashen, struggling to suppress the nausea bubbling in her stomach. She hadn¡¯t imagined the outside world had become such a living hell. It was as if the entire city had turned into a scene from the worst nightmares imaginable. The grotesque sight of Liang Wei¡¯s apartment would undoubtedly haunt her dreams forever. In the dark subway tunnel, the only sounds were their hurried footsteps and strained breathing. Before long, a faint light illuminated a massive shadow in the distance. As the dim track lights revealed the enormous train, Chen Sixuan¡¯s mouth parted slightly in astonishment. The sheer size of the train left her stunned. But as Lin Xian approached it, the heavy locomotive roared to life. Its headlights blazed forth, bathing her in their light. "Stop gawking¡ªget on," Lin Xian called. "Okay." Lin Xian reached out, took the small appliances from her arms, and then firmly grabbed her hand, pulling her onto the train. They entered the driver¡¯s cabin, and Lin Xian shut the thick iron door behind them. Inside, the bright lighting and the enclosed steel walls instantly gave Chen Sixuan an overwhelming sense of security. "Lin... Lin Xian... you really know how to drive a train?" she asked hesitantly. "Do you think I pushed this thing all the way here?" Lin Xian replied with a faint smile, his demeanor relaxing slightly after locking the door. Placing his hand on the floor, he activated the Mechanical Heart, turning off the train¡¯s headlights. He then guided her to the No. 1 Carriage, where he rummaged through the supplies, eventually pulling out a loaf of bread and a bottle of water. He tossed them to her. "You look like you haven¡¯t eaten in days. Here, eat." Tears welled up in Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes as she gratefully accepted the food. Silent tears streamed down her face as she bit her lip, trembling on the verge of an emotional breakdown. In a choked voice, she said, "Th-thank you..." She was truly starving. Without even taking off her backpack, she tore open the bread packaging and began devouring it in large bites, tears continuing to roll down her face. Lin Xian sat across from her, recovering his energy while observing her. Seeing a familiar face brought him a sense of solace. In this post-apocalyptic world, where death and despair loomed at every turn, no one was immune to the crushing fear of loneliness¡ªnot even Lin Xian. Humans are social creatures. And after the collapse of the internet, that isolation became almost unbearable. Operating the Infinite Train and using his Wind Cannon skill both consumed a significant amount of energy. It was hard to describe, but using such powers placed a distinct burden on his body. "Chen Si..." Lin Xian began to say, his gaze flickering, before deciding, "Forget it. I¡¯ll just keep calling you Teacher Chen." Watching her wolf down the bread, Lin Xian decided it was time to set some ground rules. "First off," he began seriously, "I¡¯m an Ability User. This train can only be operated by me. If I die, you die too. Since I brought you onboard, it means that from today onward, we¡¯re allies¡ªwe¡¯re teammates. You must trust me unconditionally and follow my orders. Otherwise, your fate will be very grim." Chen Sixuan swallowed a mouthful of bread, her eyes red as she stared at Lin Xian. She nodded firmly and said, "I understand. From now on, I¡¯ll listen to you." Lin Xian nodded in satisfaction. "As for what my ability is, you don¡¯t need to know. This train is our fortress¡ªvery sturdy, but it won¡¯t necessarily hold up against some of the monsters out there. And of course, there will be people who covet our supplies. When pushed to the brink, human greed can sometimes be more terrifying than any demon." "That means there will be times when I¡¯ll need your help to solve problems, search for supplies, and even guard the train." "Understood." Perhaps because she had eaten, Chen Sixuan seemed to have regained some strength. "And one more thing, Teacher Chen." Lin Xian stood up slowly, his gaze serious as it bore into hers. "You¡¯d better prepare yourself¡ªI will definitely sleep with you." Chen Sixuan¡¯s body visibly trembled at his words. She instinctively gripped the bread in her hands tighter, her disheveled hair falling over her face, hiding her conflicted expression. Hearing such blunt words from Lin Xian, the student she once taught, sent a jolt through her heart. Lowering her head, she let out a faint "Mm" in acknowledgment, considering it a response. She continued eating her bread in silence, but her heart pounded furiously in her chest. Chapter 7: I’m Not a Kidnapper Clang, clang. Since the polar night ended, this was the first time the sound of a locomotive on the tracks had been heard in Jiang City. Naturally, the noise of this mechanical beast drew the attention of some survivors who had been staying low in their homes near the railway. Curious eyes followed the massive locomotive in surprise as it rumbled past. Chen Sixuan wolfed down a piece of bread and gulped down more than half a bottle of water before finally feeling like she had pulled herself back from the icy grip of death. Sitting quietly for a moment, she let herself feel the slow and steady motion of the train. A sense of bittersweet relief washed over her¡ªit felt like she¡¯d narrowly escaped disaster. Snapping out of her daze, Chen Sixuan began observing the steel carriage that gave her such a strong sense of security. The windows were welded shut with thick steel plates, leaving only small grated holes through which the outside scenery blurred by in retreat. The original seating in the passenger car had been completely removed, transformed into a living area. There was a mat and a tent on the floor, and most of the space was taken up by supplies. Beyond that, there was still the restroom from the old passenger car. Though cramped and somewhat chaotic, the setup gave off a sense of completeness and a strange, comforting safety. Turning to look at the second carriage, she noticed it was mostly empty, with waterproof bags holding unknown supplies. Then, her mouth suddenly fell open in shock. In the corner of the second carriage lay a girl, her hands and feet tied. Her eyes were closed, and it was unclear whether she was alive or dead. Startled, Chen Sixuan quickly covered her mouth, unsure of what to make of the situation. Could this girl have been kidnapped by Lin Xian? But the thought didn¡¯t make sense. In this kind of apocalyptic environment, what value could there be in kidnapping a little girl? Unless... As her thoughts ran wild, she failed to notice that Lin Xian had already entered the carriage. ¡°Miss Chen.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Chen Sixuan, lost in her thoughts, was startled by his voice. Turning around with a panicked look, she saw Lin Xian standing there, his expression calm. ¡°Feeling better?¡± he asked. ¡°Who... who is she?¡± Chen Sixuan asked hesitantly, her heart uneasy as she pointed towards the second carriage. Lin Xian followed her gaze to the tied-up girl and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know who she is. She suddenly appeared outside my home and begged me to save her. She¡¯s been unconscious ever since. For safety reasons, I had no choice but to tie her up.¡± Hearing this, Chen Sixuan let out a long sigh of relief and even gave herself a self-deprecating smile. She had willingly asked to join Lin Xian¡¯s train. No matter what her fate turned out to be, it had been her own choice. What was there to worry about? ¡°So, are we leaving the city now?¡± she asked. ¡°Not yet,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°There are still some essential supplies I need to gather. Plus, I want to test the train¡¯s performance. We have four days left until the polar night¡ªit should be enough time.¡± Chen Sixuan looked at him, her eyes filled with determination. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± Since she was now in this together with him, she felt she had to prove her value and not just be a pretty face. ¡°There are a few things,¡± Lin Xian said. He pulled out a travel log from the cockpit and handed it to her. ¡°I¡¯ll handle driving. Your job will be to record the daily route, mileage, stops, and the train¡¯s condition. Since we still don¡¯t know the patterns and coverage of the Dark Tides, we¡¯ll also need to track the changing sunrise times during our escape. This is critical¡ªif we head in the wrong direction, we might never escape the polar night.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded solemnly. ¡°Got it. I can handle this.¡± ¡°And...¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze swept over the carriage, ¡°for now, it¡¯s just the two of us. I need you to inventory and manage the supplies. Also, keep an eye on that girl.¡± Chen Sixuan glanced back at the sleeping girl, surprised. ¡°You don¡¯t need me to go with you when you¡¯re looking for supplies?¡± The unspoken question was clear: Do you trust me enough to leave me alone on the train? Lin Xian chuckled faintly. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say it¡¯s just the two of us? If we both leave the train, who¡¯s going to guard it?¡± He had picked up on the underlying question but didn¡¯t explicitly address it. In reality, the train¡¯s fuel tank was completely empty¡ªno one could drive it away, even the most experienced driver. Lin Xian also wasn¡¯t worried about being locked out. He was confident in his precautions, though he deliberately kept his cards close to his chest. In the apocalypse, even someone like Chen Sixuan, who had seemed so kind and gentle before, couldn¡¯t be trusted completely. Still, for now, he had to show some measure of trust, at least on the surface. ¡°Understood.¡± Chen Sixuan hadn¡¯t expected Lin Xian to trust her this much. A strange warmth welled up in her heart, leaving her oddly touched. For a moment, she even felt a dynamic akin to ¡°the man handles the outside, and the woman takes care of the inside.¡± And when she remembered that he was her student, a faintly awkward feeling bubbled up within her. Clang, clang. The "Infinite Train" crept forward at an extremely slow speed on Jiang City''s urban light rail. Lin Xian followed the map¡¯s planned route, aiming to proceed along Line 3 while staying alert to any developments on the road ahead. ¡¾Devour successful, Mechanical Source Points +1, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +1, Bonus Reward: Your Defense +1¡¿ ¡¾Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.1 177/500¡¿ ¡¾Note: Upgrading the Mechanical Heart unlocks special skill rewards. When the Mechanical Heart reaches LV3, LV6, and LV9, a mysterious awakening will occur.¡¿ ¡¾Basic Attributes¡¿ Strength: LV1 22/50Speed: LV0 28/30Defense: LV0 16/30 ¡¾Current Basic Skills¡¿ Mechanical Devour LV.1 266/300Mechanical Manufacturing LV.1 112/300Mechanical Scan (Passive)Mechanical Repair (Passive)Mechanical Operation (Passive) ¡¾Special Skills¡¿ Wind Cannon LV.1 3/100 Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian began systematically devouring a few small home appliances he had brought from Chen Sixuan¡¯s home. With the journey ahead, he needed to remain constantly focused and seize every opportunity to enhance his strength. ¡¾Devour successful, Mechanical Source Points +1, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +1¡¿ ¡¾Devour successful, Mechanical Source Points +2, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +1¡¿ ¡¾Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.1 180/500¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Devour LV.1 268/300¡¿ ¡°It¡¯s still too slow...¡± Lin Xian sighed as he watched the pink teddy bear blender in his hands crumble to ash. If he had enough time, devouring cars¡ªor even trains¡ªcould probably grant him dozens or even hundreds of Mechanical Source Points in one go. Moreover, based on his earlier experience with the hairdryer, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if other special skills might emerge from devouring different items. The thought filled him with excitement. This ability was truly game-changing. His Mechanical Heart system didn¡¯t just allow him to control machinery and drive the train¡ªit could also create machinery. It was essentially a creative mode. In this post-apocalyptic world where the industrial systems of humanity had collapsed, this was practically an unbeatable advantage. The most critical aspect was that this ability could also enhance his attributes and grant him new skills. Compared to other abilities, its versatility was on a completely different level. Chapter 8: Major Shopping Trip at the Furniture Store According to Lin Xian¡¯s plan, achieving a sustainable survival loop for the train hinged first and foremost on the issue of energy. His special ability solved most of the energy problem, but its major drawback was that it consumed his physical strength and required constant focus. This made it difficult for him to multitask with other complex tasks. Next on the list were defense and food for survival. However, Lin Xian knew these goals couldn¡¯t be achieved overnight. The 1st carriage alone, along with its exterior armor, had already consumed several months of his effort. Hoping to accomplish everything immediately was nothing but wishful thinking. Moreover, he was working alone. Chen Sixuan, while helpful in other areas, couldn¡¯t contribute much in terms of technical expertise. ¡°I¡¯ll need to find a few teammates eventually,¡± Lin Xian thought to himself. ¡°First, I¡¯ll need an engine crew to handle the mechanical maintenance of the entire train and help with driving. I¡¯ll also need someone who knows about planting...¡± ¡°For example, a botanist or a hydroponics expert¡ªsomeone who can grow fresh vegetables and fruits, and maybe even provide water and oxygen purification.¡± ¡°Right, speaking of food, I¡¯ll also need a chef...¡± ¡°And a doctor, obviously. You never know when someone might fall seriously ill...¡± ¡°And we can¡¯t just rely on specialists;I¡¯ll need fighters too¡ªideally, some ability users.¡± ¡°Oh, and I¡¯ll need a sentinel team...¡± As Lin Xian continued down his train of thought, his plans became increasingly ambitious. Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and refocused on driving the train. "Os Furniture City..." Spotting a massive building in the distance, Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°This place is usually a furniture and home goods store with very little foot traffic. There shouldn¡¯t be many supplies here, but I could grab some cold-weather gear¡ªbedding and the like.¡± He wasn¡¯t thinking about frivolous things between men and women but rather about the significant drop in temperatures worldwide since the apocalypse. Areas affected by the Abyss phenomenon had seen dramatic cooling. Despite it being August, summer in Jiang City, daytime temperatures had dropped to around 12 or 13 degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures were only a few degrees above freezing. And it was still getting colder each day. Lin Xian speculated that the Dark Tides, caused by the Abyss blotting out the sky, had severely impacted the climate. It was possible that an ice age or a prolonged cold period was approaching. In such times, preparing cold-weather gear in advance was undoubtedly the smart move. Creaaak. Lin Xian brought the train to a halt on an exposed section of the tracks. The railway was surrounded by a tall chain-link fence, with a city avenue running alongside it. The road was littered with abandoned vehicles, but the area itself was sparsely populated. Even zombies were few and far between, making the surroundings eerily quiet. The flat terrain, lack of tunnels or elevated tracks, and the presence of the fence made this spot relatively safe for unloading items. ¡°Miss Chen, wait on the train for me. I¡¯ll go check it out inside,¡± Lin Xian said as he strapped on his backpack and picked up his short blade. ¡°Also, don¡¯t open the door for anyone other than me.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Chen Sixuan replied, though her expression was a little tense. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better if I helped you? If there¡¯s a lot to carry, it might go faster.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary for now,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°This place has clearly already been looted once. There might not be anything useful. Let me scout first, and if there¡¯s something worth taking, you can come down and help move it.¡± As he spoke, he tossed her a walkie-talkie. ¡°Let¡¯s use this to stay in touch. Cell signals aren¡¯t reliable.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Chen Sixuan said, gripping the walkie-talkie tightly. Lin Xian opened the cabin door and leapt down from the train, scanning his surroundings. After confirming it was safe, he climbed over the chain-link fence and dropped into the greenery on the other side. From there, he crossed the street toward the furniture store. The front of the store had a vast parking lot that was now in complete disarray. Scattered around were several cars, all clearly out of commission. Devouring these cars with his ability would be an excellent option¡ªthey were one of the most common mechanical items in the apocalypse. However, the problem lay in the time it took to devour them. Lin Xian guessed that leveling up his Mechanical Devour skill would improve its efficiency, so for now, he played it safe. Instead of devouring items in risky environments, he planned to bring them back to the train and process them in safety. At the store¡¯s main entrance, the ground was covered with dried, dark red blood. Shards of what looked like brand-new merchandise were scattered everywhere. The cold wind swept through the scene, giving it a bleak and desolate atmosphere. Cautiously, Lin Xian stepped inside. The space immediately opened up, feeling vast and empty. He¡¯d visited this store before¡ªit had been lavishly decorated, with wide, quiet aisles and little foot traffic. Now, after the apocalypse, it was completely deserted. He didn¡¯t even see many corpses here. Lin Xian wandered through the branded furniture stores inside the mall. Other than the lights being off, most of the shops were still clean and orderly, with sofas, mattresses, and other furnishings neatly displayed. The second floor housed bathroom fixtures. The vast, empty building gave off an eerie vibe as he walked through it alone. ¡°This Simmons mattress is pretty good, firm yet soft...¡± ¡°Latex mattresses, thick comforters...¡± These types of supplies seemed to hold little value in the apocalypse, which was why the majority of the stores here hadn¡¯t been looted. It made sense¡ªwhen survival is on the line, the first places people think to raid are supermarkets and convenience stores, not a furniture mall to grab pillows. Lin Xian browsed for a while before realizing a headache-inducing issue: these items were bulky. Taking them back wouldn¡¯t be easy. After scouting the area, he eventually reached the loading dock via the fourth exit. There, he spotted a few forklifts and a flatbed truck. His eyes lit up instantly. However, just as he approached, a rotting zombie suddenly burst out of the nearby freight elevator and lunged at him! ¡°Urghhh!!!¡± The stench of decay hit him full force, and Lin Xian reflexively took a quick step back. Once he got a clear look, he immediately raised his hand and aimed. Boom! A blast of air shot out like a cannon, instantly creating a gaping hole in the zombie¡¯s skull. Thud. The zombie collapsed to the ground, twitched a couple of times, and went still. The zombie was still wearing an orange-yellow worker''s uniform¡ªit had likely been a dockworker seeking refuge in the building before things went south. ¡¾Wind Cannon LV.1 4/100¡¿ Every time Lin Xian used this ability, his skill proficiency increased by one point. However, he noticed the move consumed a significant amount of his energy. He needed to use it sparingly. With this in mind, he drew the short blade from his back. Against ordinary zombies, he didn¡¯t feel much pressure as an ability user. As long as he didn¡¯t trigger a zombie horde or provoke some other monstrosities, things would be manageable. Lin Xian climbed into the flatbed truck¡¯s cab. The door was already open, and the fuel cap had been removed, clearly indicating someone had beaten him to it. As expected, when he activated his Mechanical Heart, he quickly discovered that the reserve battery was completely dead, making it impossible to start the engine. It wasn¡¯t surprising that others had siphoned the fuel and abandoned the truck. This kind of small flatbed, with its simplistic design and low horsepower, wasn¡¯t a desirable vehicle for most survivors. But for Lin Xian, this was a treasure delivered right to his doorstep. He got out of the truck and went over to one of the forklifts. Activating his ability, he started the machine without any trouble. Then, with a bold and confident air, he drove the forklift straight through the rear entrance of the furniture mall. His plan was simple: make his living space in the 1st carriage as comfortable as possible. In the apocalypse, having a cozy living environment could significantly improve morale. With his unique ability, Lin Xian had no intention of living like a sewer rat, barely scraping by in dark and filthy shelters. Chapter 9: Nighttime Car Devouring Os Furniture City was located on Jiang City''s outer ring road, an area typically sparsely populated. With no survivors randomly seeking refuge in the furniture mall, Lin Xian had free rein to go about his business without interruption. He checked the time: 4:30 PM. There were still over two hours until sunset. Without hesitation, Lin Xian started his haul by selecting a high-quality, understated sectional leather sofa. He used the forklift to load it onto the flatbed truck, then moved on to grab a foldable steel-framed bed. While the 3rd carriage doors were relatively large, fitting a wooden bed frame inside was clearly impractical, so he decided to weld the steel frame directly into the carriage. With a foldable Simmons mattress and latex topper, it would still be quite comfortable. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t forget pillows and blankets. The more Lin Xian scavenged, the happier he became. Then, he spotted a 60-inch flat-screen TV hanging on the wall of one of the branded stores, and his eyes lit up. "Hmm, an entertainment area could be nice. Playing some games or watching movies during downtime doesn¡¯t sound bad," he muttered to himself. "Take it!" Without a second thought, Lin Xian dismantled the TV and soon had the flatbed truck packed to the brim. If it weren¡¯t for the limited space in the bathroom of the 1st carriage, he might have taken an entire set of toilets and bathtubs from the showroom. Vroom~ The small truck¡¯s engine roared to life as Lin Xian activated his Mechanical Heart, causing his eyes to glow faintly. He drove the truck, now fully loaded with loot, down the mall parking lot¡¯s main road and onto the greenery next to the tracks. With a stomp on the gas pedal, he smashed through the chain-link fence separating the railway and bumped the truck onto the gravel slope beside the tracks. Chen Sixuan had been waiting on the train for over an hour when she suddenly saw Lin Xian driving a truck towards them. Her eyes widened in disbelief. When she noticed the truck was loaded with sofas, mattresses, and even a TV, her shock turned into confusion. Is this even considered ¡°supplies¡±? In the apocalypse, wasn¡¯t it more critical to look for water, food, or even weapons? She felt a little dazed, but when Lin Xian parked the truck behind the 3rd carriage, she quickly ran over to help. Clang~ Whirr~ The 3rd carriage¡¯s rear liftgate slowly lowered. Lin Xian, carrying his short blade on his back, climbed aboard and moved the motorcycle and crane aside. Together, the two began transferring the sofa, bed frame, mattress, pillows, blankets, rug, and TV into the 1st carriage. By the time everything was finished, the sun had set, leaving the sky awash with the last hues of twilight. Both of them were drenched in sweat. Beep-beep, beep-beep~ The alarm on Lin Xian¡¯s watch went off. His expression turned serious as he said to Chen Sixuan, ¡°Go over there, eat something, and get yourself organized. I need to deal with this truck.¡± He had a bold idea. Since the truck was already here, why not take the chance to devour it? Even though it was risky¡ªnighttime brought dangers far greater than ordinary zombies¡ªLin Xian didn¡¯t want to miss this rare opportunity to upgrade himself. He decided to take the gamble. ¡°Oh, okay,¡± Chen Sixuan replied, obedient as ever. She now seemed like a compliant and supportive partner, immediately following through on Lin Xian¡¯s instructions. Once Chen Sixuan left the 3rd carriage, Lin Xian took out a special tow hook he had crafted and attached it to the train. He looped the metal cable around his waist and, as the last light of day faded, climbed down from the train. Resting a hand on the small truck, he activated Mechanical Devour without hesitation. ¡¾Devour Progress: 1%¡¿ The familiar sensation of devouring a vehicle returned. Lin Xian could feel his energy rapidly draining, while the progress bar for the devouring process moved painfully slowly compared to smaller items like appliances. With one hand pressed firmly on the truck, his other gripped the metal tow hook tightly. He had attached the hook to ensure he could maintain a physical connection to the Infinite Train for emergency control. His ability could only manipulate machines he was in direct contact with, and even a slight distance¡ªlike this one, connected by a metal cable¡ªwould disable his control. ¡¾Devour Progress: 2%¡¿ ¡¾Devour Progress: 3%¡¿ Time ticked by, second by second. The surroundings were eerily silent. With no light sources around, the world grew increasingly dark as the sun fully disappeared below the horizon. Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew tense as the devouring process continued at its sluggish pace. In his dazed state, Lin Xian inexplicably felt as though the earth itself was breathing... Is this the Dark Tides? 6:45 PM The sky suddenly plunged into darkness. It wasn¡¯t a gradual shift¡ªit was as if someone had flipped a switch, leaving an eerie, unnatural blackness. For more than two months now, survivors had grown somewhat accustomed to this abrupt transition. All they could do was pray for the night to pass quickly. Only at dawn would they dare to leave their shelters to scavenge for life-sustaining supplies. But deep down, everyone knew the grim reality: after the polar night, food and water would eventually run out. Would dawn still come then? No one could say for certain. Hiding in a shelter was akin to waiting for a slow death, but migrating or fleeing was a high-stakes gamble. Reinforced concrete and steel doors couldn¡¯t always fend off the horrors lurking in the night. And in the wilderness or inside a car? Survival odds were even slimmer. No choice was truly safe. This was why ability users had become the leaders of survival teams. With powers beyond human capability, they offered a security greater than any steel and cement could provide. Before the network completely collapsed during the polar night, Lin Xian had seen many ability users showing off their strange powers online. They quickly became viral sensations, garnering admiration and envy. People flocked to them, and they soon emerged as apocalyptic leaders. Governments also focused on studying and cooperating with these individuals. When Lin Xian first posted about the Infinite Train Recruitment Project on forums, he had toyed with the idea of revealing his ability. He thought it might attract a wave of followers. But he quickly dismissed the idea. He realized he didn¡¯t have the capacity to manage hundreds, let alone thousands, of survivors in an apocalyptic world. While his ability was remarkable, it wasn¡¯t enough for even consistent self-preservation yet. If he became a leader, his most valuable contribution would likely be driving the train and repairing machinery. But what if, instead of being their leader, he ended up being treated as a "human battery"? That would be a nightmare. In hindsight, his concerns were completely justified. In just two months, stories of atrocities committed over supplies had become all too common¡ªbetrayals, murders, and even massacres among survivors. And the powerful ability users? They wielded powers that defied logic and comprehension. Compared to them, Lin Xian¡¯s abilities seemed rather unremarkable in the early stages of the apocalypse. ¡¾Devour Progress: 63%¡¿ An hour into the night, the devouring process had finally passed the halfway mark. Lin Xian maintained absolute focus, keeping his senses sharp as he monitored the pitch-black surroundings. He had turned off all the train¡¯s lights, blending seamlessly into the darkness. Even his breathing was slow and steady. With one hand resting on the small truck, he silently continued the devouring process. To avoid exposing the faint glow in his eyes caused by the Mechanical Heart, Lin Xian even kept his eyes shut, relying entirely on his ears to detect any movement. The chain-link fences along the railway should produce noise if something approached, and if anything moved along the tracks, it ought to make a sound as well. ¡¾Devour Progress: 77%¡¿ Almost there. It¡¯s almost done... Crack. A faint sound of gravel shifting suddenly broke the silence. Lin Xian froze. Chapter 10: The White Aberration Lin Xian furrowed his brow and held his breath. Crack... crack... The sound grew closer, heavy and deliberate. His heart skipped a beat¡ªit didn¡¯t sound like the movements of any zombie. Instead, it resembled the sound of a wooden cane tapping against gravel. Slowly, he opened his eyes, unsure if the faint glow from his Mechanical Heart could be detected. Yet when he looked around, there was nothing unusual. The only thing in sight was the vague, dark silhouette of the small truck before him. He turned to glance behind him. The Infinite Train stood silently on the tracks, with no sound coming from inside the carriages. Even Chen Sixuan, likely due to the arrival of nightfall, had remained quiet. Perhaps she¡¯d fallen asleep. Everything was unnervingly silent. Despite the stillness, Lin Xian¡¯s heart was gripped with unease. He was certain he¡¯d heard something, and his keen sixth sense told him that he was being watched by some unknown presence. His heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm, pushing his Mechanical Devour ability with all his might. Faster! Faster! Gone was the relaxed mood he had felt while hauling furniture in the afternoon. The memory of the terrifying encounter with "Grandpa Li" last night made his entire body run cold. He desperately wished to retreat to the safety of the train as soon as possible. ¡¾Devour Progress: 98%¡¿ Almost there. Almost done! It had taken nearly an hour and a half, but the results would undoubtedly be worth it if he succeeded. ¡¾Devour Successful: Mechanical Source Points +30, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +10. Bonus Reward: Strength +5, Speed +5, Defense +2.¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! Your Speed Attribute has been upgraded to LV.1 3/50.¡¿ As a faint glow flashed across his vision, Lin Xian finally breathed a sigh of relief. His Mechanical Source Points had skyrocketed, and with the upgrade in speed, his vision began to sharpen. Whoosh¡ª As the devouring process concluded, the small truck disintegrated into ash. Loose items clattered to the ground, the noise shattering the stillness of the night. But just as Lin Xian was beginning to relax, he heard it¡ªa low, resonant hum above him. Hoooonnnngg~ The sound was chillingly strange, like a ship¡¯s broken horn echoing through a rusted metal pipe. It didn¡¯t sound human. Nor did it sound like any machine he had ever encountered. A cold shiver ran down Lin Xian¡¯s back. He snapped his head upwards, and what he saw nearly made his soul leave his body. Standing beside him was a humanoid creature, nearly three meters tall, with pale, ashen skin. Its lanky frame seemed grotesquely elongated, with arms that dangled past its knees. Atop its misshapen head sat a gaping crimson maw, grotesquely large and filled with sharp, glistening teeth. Its two round, glowing red eyes burned like embers as they stared down at Lin Xian with an unsettling intensity. It had been standing there silently for who knew how long, unnoticed until the noise from the truck¡¯s disintegration drew its attention. The realization sent chills down Lin Xian¡¯s spine. His scalp tingled, and his entire body screamed in alarm. Hoooonnnngg~ The creature emitted the eerie, low growl once again. Its long arm slowly raised, and its five razor-sharp fingers¡ªlike steel claws¡ªreached viciously toward Lin Xian. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted as he sucked in a sharp breath. If that thing grabs me, I¡¯ll be skewered into a human kebab! Luckily, his speed attribute had just leveled up. His reflexes had become far sharper than even he expected. Before the creature¡¯s claws could reach him, his body instinctively darted a step backward. Clang! A harsh screech of metal echoed as the creature¡¯s claws struck the railway tracks, sending a spray of sparks flying. The shrill sound of steel grinding against steel made Lin Xian¡¯s heart pound wildly. He didn¡¯t hesitate. Raising his hand, he aimed directly at the creature¡¯s head and unleashed a Wind Cannon. Boom! A muffled blast resounded, and the creature staggered back several steps as its grotesquely high-set head snapped to the side, as though struck by a heavy blow. However, Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. The Wind Cannon hadn¡¯t pierced through its thick hide. Realizing how dire the situation was, Lin Xian didn¡¯t dare waste another second. He sprinted toward the Infinite Train and climbed aboard in one fluid motion. Activating his Mechanical Heart, he simultaneously raised the rear liftgate and started the train. Lights flickered on. The commotion startled Chen Sixuan, who appeared from the 1st carriage and shouted toward him, ¡°Lin, what¡¯s going on!?¡± ¡°Quick! Go to the cockpit and help me watch the road!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Sensing the urgency in his voice, Chen Sixuan immediately turned and bolted toward the cockpit without hesitation. Whirr~ The hydraulic liftgate began to rise slowly. For the first time, Lin Xian felt like it was moving at an unbearably sluggish pace. His fear was soon confirmed. Before the gate could fully close, a massive, pale hand suddenly reached in and grabbed hold of the liftgate. Its sinister black claws gouged deep into the steel, leaving several jagged grooves. ¡°What incredible strength!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened as the interior lights of the carriage illuminated the creature outside. The grotesque head bore only two blood-red holes for eyes, like bottomless abysses, and most of its face was dominated by a massive, gaping mouth filled with rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. The sight of those jagged fangs made Lin Xian¡¯s scalp tingle. This thing was definitely not a zombie! His immediate thought was clear¡ªthis creature wasn¡¯t some mutated human or infected corpse. It wasn¡¯t even from this world! ¡°D**n you!¡± In his panic, Lin Xian shoved his fear aside, gritted his teeth, and sprang into action. He grabbed his short blade, leapt forward, and slashed down with all his might at the massive, pale hand gripping the liftgate. Clang! The strike did not meet flesh, but something as hard as steel. The force of the impact jolted his hand so hard that his palm went numb. Seeing a chip form on the edge of his blade, Lin Xian sucked in a cold breath. What the hell?! It¡¯s that tough?! Hoooonnnngg~ The pale giant let out its eerie, resonant growl once more. Though its movements seemed sluggish, its monstrous strength was undeniable. One hand remained clamped onto the liftgate, and as the Infinite Train dragged it along the tracks, it toppled over, but it didn¡¯t let go. Sparks flew as its massive body was hauled forward. Seemingly enraged, the creature raised its other hand and reached for the entire carriage, as if intending to tear it apart. Zzzzzzzzzzzz!! The screech of metal against metal rang out as the sheer force of the creature¡¯s grip caused the wheels of the 3rd carriage to grind against the tracks, spraying sparks in every direction. Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded wildly. The giant¡¯s strength was overwhelming, and its body impervious to blades or bullets. If it managed to derail the train, this night would surely spell his end. Acting decisively, Lin Xian raised his hand, channeled all his energy, and unleashed another Wind Cannon¡ªthis time aiming directly at the creature¡¯s blood-red left eye. Boom! With the added benefit of the train¡¯s lights, his attack landed with pinpoint accuracy. A spray of dark red blood gushed from the giant¡¯s left eye, staining its pale face crimson. The thick blood slowly dripped into its gaping maw, and the creature let out an ear-piercing screech of pain. ¡°AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!¡± The deafening howl was so sharp and shrill that Lin Xian felt every hair on his body stand on end, and his eardrums throbbed in pain. But his attack achieved its goal. The creature¡¯s massive hand released its grip on the liftgate. Finally, the hydraulic liftgate, smoking under the strain, managed to seal shut. Clang! Clang! The train¡¯s speed began to pick up, the rhythmic sound of wheels clattering against the tracks filling the air. Lin Xian immediately got to his feet and looked out, but with no exterior lights, the pale giant disappeared into the inky blackness in the blink of an eye. Phew... Lin Xian let out a long sigh of relief, collapsing onto the floor in exhaustion. His gaze fell on the rear liftgate, now marred with three deep, jagged claw marks. His hands trembled as he stared at the evidence of how close he had come to death. This was the first time in months that he had encountered something this terrifying! ¡°If the polar night is filled with things like that... D**n it...¡± he muttered to himself, his voice trembling. At that moment, he truly understood the horror of the night. Escape! There was no other choice. They had to escape the Abyss and the Dark Tides. Last night, it had been the insect-like creatures controlling corpses. Tonight, it was this pale giant. Who knew what other horrors might lurk in the blackness? Anyone who thought they could survive in the night was hopelessly deluded. The only path left for humanity was to flee the tides, to flee the polar night! Chapter 11: Chen Sixuan’s Thoughts Clang, clang. Driving through the dark night on an unfamiliar road was clearly an unwise decision. The loud noise of the train had already attracted the howls of zombies outside. Realizing the situation couldn¡¯t go on like this, Lin Xian hurriedly ran to the control cabin. ¡°We¡¯re about to reach the elevated rail line on the Third Ring Road. Maybe we can stop there for a bit,¡± Chen Sixuan suggested, seemingly picking up on Lin Xian¡¯s worries and immediately providing a feasible solution. ¡°That works!¡± Lin Xian nodded. Stopping on the elevated bridge would be much safer¡ªit would put them far from the ground, where most zombies wouldn¡¯t be able to reach. However, what Lin Xian worried about most at this moment was that white giant they had encountered earlier. Screech¡ª After stopping the train on the elevated rail, Lin Xian immediately turned off all the interior lights. At the same time, he kept an eye on the movements outside. ¡°What was that thing earlier?¡± Chen Sixuan asked, her face pale. Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Who knows? If that thing decides to target us, we¡¯ll be lucky to survive with just a layer of skin intact.¡± ¡°So what do we do now? Wait until daylight to leave the city?¡± Chen Sixuan pressed. ¡°That¡¯s the plan. There¡¯s a freight warehouse near Jiang City Station. We¡¯ll check it out tomorrow, and we should be able to leave the city after that.¡± Lin Xian actually had another objective in mind. He wanted to see if he could find an electric locomotive at Jiang City Station. In this era, the industrial base was almost entirely electrified. However, electric locomotives didn¡¯t have their own engines and relied on electricity from the catenary system to power their traction motors. Once the railway power grid shut down, these mechanical beasts became nothing more than dead weight, lying idle on the tracks with almost no value. Of course, they were worthless to most people¡ªbut not to Lin Xian. He had previously envisioned attaching an electric locomotive as a backup generator. When he used his abilities to propel the train forward, the electric locomotive could convert kinetic energy into stored electricity. Even with an efficiency rate of just 30-40%, it would still provide power for the train during his rest periods. This would enable a temporary cycle of "infinite energy" for running the train and powering other onboard systems. Jiang City Station was a large hub. If he could find what he needed there, it would save him a lot of effort later. ¡°Have you eaten anything?¡± Lin Xian asked as he turned to look at Chen Sixuan. He noticed how utterly exhausted she looked. Although she had finally managed to eat something today and regain a bit of strength, she had been struggling to survive alone in a pitch-dark home for over two months. Her mental state had long been teetering on the brink of collapse. Having witnessed the tragic death of Director Liang earlier and then facing a terrifying monster attack, she was now visibly shaken, her mind almost detached. ¡°I...¡± Chen Sixuan hesitated. Her voice was soft and timid as she replied, ¡°I just sorted through the water and food supplies. From a rough calculation, if we eat just one meal a day, we can only last about a month.¡± As she said this, her tone carried a trace of guilt. She had already calculated herself and Lin Xian into this "one meal a day" scenario without consulting him¡ªLin Xian hadn¡¯t explicitly told her she was allowed to eat at the same rate as him. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze flickered as he glanced toward the first carriage. By now, Chen Sixuan had tidied everything up. The beds and sofas were all neatly arranged, with pillows and blankets set properly. Aside from the flat-screen TV, which she didn¡¯t know how to set up, and the steel-framed bed, which hadn¡¯t been welded yet, the first carriage had been transformed from a vagabond¡¯s messy den into a cozy one-bedroom space. After months of living under the fear of the apocalypse, the sight of it made both of them yearn to lie down and sleep. Lin Xian walked over to the storage rack and grabbed a can of fruit, handing it to Chen Sixuan. ¡°Here, eat this. Then get some sleep.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Chen Sixuan exclaimed in surprise, her voice betraying both astonishment and hesitation as she stared at the can in his hand. Her eyes carried a mixture of longing and unease. The sweet, enticing fruit can immediately triggered her appetite, but Lin Xian¡¯s words, ¡°get some sleep,¡± left her momentarily dazed, her mind wandering. ¡°Th-thank you...¡± she murmured, obediently taking the can. She sat down on the sofa, opened it, and took a sip. The sweetness was overwhelming, and it seemed to awaken every cell in her body, filling her with an inexplicable sense of relief and joy. At that moment, Chen Sixuan felt lightheaded, her consciousness growing fuzzy. She ate the fruit in big bites, and a faint thought began to surface in her mind. So sweet, so delicious... I just want to sleep. Sigh... What does it matter if I¡¯m a student and he¡¯s a teacher? In this kind of world, he¡¯s just a man, and I¡¯m just a woman. Besides, he¡¯s an able user. He saved my life. Even my life is his... What else is there to think about? If he wants something, then so be it. This thought echoed in her mind like the whispers of a demon, making her shiver. Her body tensed, and she subconsciously tightened her legs. It was a terrifying yet oddly liberating sensation, as though abandoning her old principles brought her an exhilarating sense of freedom. Very quickly, Chen Sixuan finished the entire can of fruit. She stood up but paused halfway, seemingly remembering something. Turning back, she picked up her backpack and pulled out a small object, clutching it tightly in her hand before silently sitting down on the edge of the bed. At the same time, Lin Xian was in the third carriage, using his ability to repair the damaged hydraulic liftgate. When he returned to the first carriage and saw Chen Sixuan sitting on the bed with her head lowered, his brows furrowed. ¡°What are you doing sitting there? Go to sleep already. We¡¯re taking turns keeping watch tonight, so get some rest now and get up later.¡± Hearing this, Chen Sixuan looked up in surprise, her expression flashing with a mix of emotions. She hastily replied, ¡°Oh, oh¡ªokay.¡± Her face flushed with both embarrassment and frustration. Quickly, she got up, walked to the sofa, took off her shoes, and lay down. The small object she had been holding was discreetly stuffed back into her bag. Lin Xian grabbed a bottle of water, his sharp gaze not missing Chen Sixuan¡¯s flustered demeanor. Still, he wasn¡¯t the kind of person to let his thoughts be ruled by desire. They didn¡¯t even know if they¡¯d managed to shake off that white giant. At a time like this, when survival was hanging by a thread, only an idiot would waste their energy dwelling on anything less than critical. Lin Xian then headed to the second carriage. The mysterious young girl was still fast asleep, which struck him as odd. By now, she¡¯d been sleeping for nearly 20 hours¡ªsince last night until now. Was she really asleep, or just pretending? Frowning, Lin Xian bent down in front of her, reaching out to pinch her soft, chubby cheeks. ¡°Hey, if you keep pretending to sleep, I¡¯ll toss you out onto the road.¡± ¡°Wake up!¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna pull your pants off!¡± ¡°Oh, pink ones, huh...¡± Despite his antics, the girl remained peacefully asleep, her expression serene. Her long lashes trembled slightly, leaving Lin Xian feeling a little defeated. If it weren¡¯t for the mysterious and unknown ability she seemed to possess, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have even considered saving her. At best, she could turn out to be a harmless burden¡ªbut who knew whether she¡¯d become a help or a threat once she woke up? As the night deepened, the temperature plummeted. Lin Xian let out a helpless sigh and carried the girl to the first carriage. By then, Chen Sixuan had already fallen into an exhausted, deep sleep. He laid the girl down on the sofa beside Chen Sixuan and covered both women with brand-new thick blankets. ¡°Well, keeping a whole train full of beauties doesn¡¯t seem too bad,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself. He glanced at the two sleeping women¡ªone breathtakingly beautiful with a gentle and elegant demeanor, the other delicate and charming, like a budding flower. For some reason, a strange sense of roguish satisfaction welled up within him. Chapter 12: Preemptive Planning ¡¾Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.1 210/500¡¿ ¡¾Tip: Upgrading the Mechanical Heart grants special skill rewards. At LV3, LV6, and LV9, mysterious awakenings are unlocked.¡¿ ¡¾Base Attributes¡¿ ¡¾Strength: LV1 27/50¡¿ ¡¾Speed: LV1 8/50¡¿ ¡¾Defense: LV0 18/30¡¿ ¡¾Current Basic Skills¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Devour LV.1 278/300¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Manufacturing LV.1 112/300¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Scan (Passive)¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Repair (Passive)¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Operation (Passive)¡¿ ¡¾Special Skill¡¿ ¡¾Wind Cannon LV.1 12/100¡¿ "Wait, what? I used Wind Cannon twice on that white monster, so why did the skill proficiency jump up so much?" Lin Xian stared at the Wind Cannon¡¯s proficiency, now at 12, and was momentarily stunned. He had assumed each use would only increase proficiency by 1 point. Instead, it suddenly leaped forward significantly. ¡°Could it be that in critical situations, the mastery of a skill increases significantly?¡± After some thought, Lin Xian felt this hypothesis was plausible. At the same time, devouring a small cargo truck had brought him immense benefits: 30 mechanical energy points, 10 devour proficiency points, and even a 12-point increase in attributes. It was a major profit. ¡°D*mn, if someone could give me access to a parking lot, I¡¯d be working 996 without a break...¡± Lin Xian grumbled to himself. But he knew that was wishful thinking. Looking back at the earlier situation, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that pure luck had played a big part in his survival. That monster must have stood near him for a while, as he had indeed heard some movement earlier. Perhaps because he stayed focused and didn¡¯t make a sound, the monster didn¡¯t immediately attack. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve already been skewered like a kebab. As expected, high risks came with high rewards. Each vehicle took Lin Xian at least an hour and a half to devour, requiring him to maintain intense focus and expend a lot of physical energy. With Jiang City now plunged into the Dark Tides, daylight lasted less than four hours a day. There simply wasn¡¯t enough time or opportunity to devour at his leisure. And once night fell, who knew what kind of horrors might emerge? ¡°Could I tow a freight carriage and slowly devour it at night?¡± he wondered. But he quickly dismissed the thought. ¡°Wait... nah, it¡¯s not feasible!¡± ¡°An empty freight car is just a metal frame¡ªit won¡¯t provide much benefit. Unless it¡¯s a locomotive or something...¡± ¡°But a locomotive weighs hundreds of tons. Devouring that would take forever, and I¡¯m not even sure I¡¯d have the stamina for it.¡± Over the past few months, Lin Xian had brainstormed many ideas, only to find that reality was far more complex than he had imagined. At 3:00 PM, the sky suddenly brightened, and Jiang City was greeted with a fleeting dawn. The city lay in eerie silence. Lin Xian stood by the intercity line, gazing northwest. That direction remained shrouded in gray and black, as if enveloped by a massive storm. He knew that was where Lu City and Ding Prefecture were located¡ªareas that had vanished almost immediately on Apocalypse Day. Those areas were also the center of the third ¡°Abyss.¡± Compared to the fate of those regions, Jiang City, now a wasteland, was almost fortunate. At least it had given its citizens time to migrate, leaving behind a few survivors clinging to life. Lin Xian still remembered his trip to Lu City, where the rice noodles and barbecue had left a lasting impression. But now, these cultural symbols of humanity had been reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye. The light streaming through the armored gaps of the train windows fell on Chen Sixuan¡¯s face, stirring her awake. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Lin Xian welding the bed frame. She immediately flipped upright, guilt evident on her face as she apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry... Lin Xian, did I oversleep?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Lin Xian replied without turning his head. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem in great shape. Plus, last night was... unique. That monster might come back, so I didn¡¯t wake you.¡± Even now, with the daylight returning, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t shake the unease in his heart. That white giant might even be capable of breaking through his Steel Fortress. Waking Chen Sixuan to stand watch would¡¯ve been useless. His top priority was to continuously reinforce the ¡°Infinite Train¡¯s¡± defenses and boost his own strength as quickly as possible. ¡°You... stayed up all night?¡± Lin Xian finished welding the steel-framed bed and stood up, handing Chen Sixuan a bottle of water. ¡°Today, we¡¯ll pass by the freight unloading area in Jiang City. The situation there might be tricky, so prepare yourself mentally.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Chen Sixuan replied, her guilt clear as she nodded quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll follow your lead today.¡± ¡°No need. I have another task for you.¡± Lin Xian led Chen Sixuan to the control cabin. The ¡°Infinite Train¡± had already started moving slowly. As they advanced, Lin Xian explained to her, ¡°This main route merges into the Jiangyu Line, so it shouldn¡¯t deviate at any switches. If the opportunity arises, I plan to tow an electric locomotive onto the train today. When that happens, I¡¯ll need to get off to manually operate the track switch. While connecting the carriages, I need you to handle the coupling instructions.¡± Pointing to a few controls, Lin Xian patiently explained, ¡°This one disengages the lock, this one aligns the couplers, this one connects the brake systems, and this one tests the link.¡± For Chen Sixuan, these technical terms weren¡¯t entirely unfamiliar. She had grown up exposed to railway knowledge, thanks to her father¡¯s influence. She understood that this was the process for coupling train carriages. However, understanding the theory was one thing¡ªactually doing it was entirely new to her. So, she listened intently to Lin Xian¡¯s explanation, afraid to miss even a single detail. Coupling carriages was also a complicated task for Lin Xian. The biggest challenge was that he couldn¡¯t simultaneously control two carriages using the Mechanical Heart. To switch tracks, he had to manually operate the track switch himself. But once he got off the train, the ¡°Infinite Train¡± would lose its power source. The only solution was to ¡°manually push¡± the train forward while ensuring the electric locomotive¡¯s coupler and brake hook were in a released state. In this energy-deprived scenario, Lin Xian would have to run back and forth between tasks... Moreover, if he did manage to find an electric locomotive, he needed to position it behind the gas turbine locomotive and before the first carriage. The Whale 03E locomotive¡¯s front end was already armored, and compared to an electric locomotive, the gas turbine locomotive was far tougher. That meant the electric locomotive had to take the second position. All in all, the operation was incredibly complicated. If Lin Xian were working alone, it would take him an entire day. But with Chen Sixuan¡¯s help, he could save at least half a day. Clang, clang. The train slowly exited the city center, heading toward Jiang City Station. As they left the urban area, their view opened up, and several main roads leading out of the city unfolded before Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan. But in an instant, both of their expressions changed. The roads were completely jammed with tens of thousands of cars, forming an unbroken chain that rendered the routes impassable. Pools of blood, severed limbs, burning car frames, and scattered luggage and clothing littered the scene. Everything screamed of the hellish nightmare that had unfolded on the path out of the city. Not a single living soul was in sight after the darkness had passed. The hills and plains were overrun with zombies wandering aimlessly. ¡°Those who could run already ran. The ones left behind aren¡¯t getting out,¡± Lin Xian muttered. The roads out of the city were completely blocked. Unless you were driving a tank or knew some hidden backroad, the only way to escape the city was on foot. But with the polar night creeping closer and daytime reduced to just over three hours, how far could anyone get on foot? And even if they managed to get out of the city, what then? When night fell, what chance did they have? The monsters in the darkness were creatures even Lin Xian, an ability user, couldn¡¯t contend with, let alone ordinary humans. Looking at the horrific scenes on the main roads, Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes trembled slightly. She then glanced at the clear railway tracks ahead. At this moment, she felt immensely fortunate to have met Lin Xian¡ªand even more fortunate to be aboard this train. The slow-moving train caught the attention of some survivors hiding in nearby houses along the tracks. Several pairs of furtive eyes peeked out, and whispers began to spread. ¡°A train? That¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°Where did it come from?¡± ¡°Stop! Stop!¡± someone shouted loudly from inside a building. ¡°Take me with you! I have supplies!¡± ¡°Keep your voice down, or you¡¯ll bring the zombies here!¡± ¡°Quick, shut the window!¡± Clang! Someone even threw a stone at the train, screaming hysterically, ¡°Stop! Let me on the train!¡± ¡°Will they... try to rob us?¡± Chen Sixuan asked nervously as the sound of the stone hitting the train echoed around them. ¡°They¡¯re not here to offer help, that¡¯s for sure,¡± Lin Xian replied indifferently. In the apocalypse, fighting over supplies¡ªeven to the death¡ªwasn¡¯t uncommon. Survival Rule #3: Better you than me. ¡°Lin...¡± Chen Sixuan began softly. Her voice was soothing, with a pleasant cadence that Lin Xian found hard to ignore. Every time she spoke, he felt more certain about his choice to save her. Having a woman like her on this journey of life and death made everything feel just a little more bearable. Her presence often reminded him of their time at school, of how she used to wear her black-framed glasses, frowning seriously while explaining vocabulary to him. Hearing her voice, Lin Xian looked up, and his pupils contracted slightly. It was snowing. Outside the train, snowflakes drifted down, landing on the windows and melting into tiny droplets of water. ¡°Is it winter already?¡± Chen Sixuan stared blankly at the snowflakes outside, muttering to herself. By the calendar, winter was still several months away. However, Jiang City had been growing colder by the day. And now, with snow gently falling, Lin Xian felt a chill in his heart. His concerns weren¡¯t baseless after all. Aside from the darkness, zombies, and eerie occurrences, yet another disaster was quietly descending as the climate began to shift. Natural disasters! If extreme cold and snowstorms arrived, the problems wouldn¡¯t just be about enduring the cold. Humans would need more food to maintain their body temperature. The train would need significantly more energy to keep running. In the case of severe low temperatures, they might even need to install a heating system onboard the train. ¡°F***...¡± Lin Xian cursed under his breath. He had been planning to find a refrigerator to store food, but judging by the current situation, it didn¡¯t seem like that would be necessary anymore. Chapter 13: Ambush Encounter Because the train was still moving within the city limits, Lin Xian deliberately slowed its speed. The city was in chaos, and he wanted to avoid blocked tracks and reduce noise that might attract unnecessary trouble. Merging from the light rail line onto the Jiangyu main line, the surroundings began to open up. Occasionally, stray zombies or animals wandering the tracks were simply crushed under the train¡¯s wheels. Soon, the number of track switches increased, leading to a wide-open area filled with various freight trains parked on the branch lines. There were several container trains among them, but without exception, all the cargo doors were wide open. The supplies inside had long been looted by survivors, leaving behind only empty cardboard boxes and plastic bags scattered across the ground. What remained were mixed freight trains with different carriages, including boxcars, flatbeds, and tankers, but even those hadn¡¯t been spared. Some carriages had even toppled over onto the tracks. The branch line connected to a distant loading platform and hoisting workshop¡ªclearly, this was Jiang City¡¯s rail freight loading center. These facilities were typically located just before passenger stations within a city. Lin Xian stopped the Infinite Train at the entrance to the double-track railway leading into the freight station. He studied the layout, then opened the train door and stepped out toward the track switch next to the branch line. Placing his hand on it, he activated the motor. Screech! The track switch shifted. Lin Xian returned to the train and drove it onto the branch line, stopping at a platform marked "Loading Platform No. 4." ¡°Take this walkie-talkie. Even if it¡¯s me, don¡¯t open the door. I¡¯ll open it myself when I get back,¡± Lin Xian instructed Chen Sixuan as he slung his backpack over his shoulder and grabbed his short blade. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t open the door, no one can touch you.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded, understanding that Lin Xian¡¯s ability to control the train meant he could handle things on his own. She obediently committed his instructions to memory. ¡°Be careful out there,¡± she responded with genuine concern. The airlock door of the control cabin hissed open. Apart from the control cabin door and the hydraulic liftgate in the third carriage, all other doors on the Infinite Train¡¯s living carriages had been welded shut and reinforced with steel plates. As long as they didn¡¯t encounter a strange creature like last night¡¯s white giant, neither ordinary people nor zombies posed any real threat to their safety inside. Stepping out of the train, Lin Xian closed the door behind him. A bone-chilling wind greeted him immediately, cutting through his clothes and stinging his face. He glanced at the blazing sun overhead and cursed the bizarre weather. With his upgraded speed attribute, Lin Xian¡¯s movements were much more agile. Blade in hand, he crossed several tracks, glancing toward the front and rear of each train he passed, searching for a suitable locomotive. His plan was to use the daylight to secure an electric locomotive. If he couldn¡¯t find one here, he¡¯d look for supplies instead and then continue to Jiang City Station a few kilometers ahead. One by one, Lin Xian scanned the trains until he reached the front of a container train. There, he spotted a silver Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive. His eyes lit up. The Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive stretched 60 meters long, with a sleek silver body accented by blue stripes. Its aerodynamic design gave it a futuristic appearance, earning it the nickname ¡°Huanxing Hercules.¡± With a power output of 58,800 kilowatts, it was the standard freight locomotive for Huanxing Railways. This behemoth required connection to the railway power grid to operate. In the post-apocalypse, it had become a useless hulk, sitting idle on the tracks collecting dust. Without fuel or water, and with its interior cramped and impractical, no one had bothered trying to make use of it. The Huanxing 7F was twice as long as the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive and was a true electric monster. Its precision engineering included not only traction motors but also advanced kinetic energy recovery and storage systems, making it the perfect temporary battery for the Infinite Train. ¡°You¡¯re the one,¡± Lin Xian muttered, placing his hand on the locomotive. His Mechanical Heart began scanning the machine, revealing that it was in excellent condition, practically brand new. This was a jackpot. Thanks to his unique ability, what other survivors saw as useless junk was a priceless treasure to him. Just as Lin Xian prepared to activate the locomotive and disconnect it from its carriages, a faint, intermittent sound came from behind him. He immediately turned cautiously toward the source. The sound came from one of the warehouses on the platform. Crouching low, Lin Xian slipped through the gap between two freight cars, following the noise. It led him to a warehouse marked with the number 14. Thud thud thud~ Thud thud thud~ A series of rhythmic knocks echoed out. It was consistent, unlike the mindless noises made by zombies. Climbing onto the platform, Lin Xian approached the warehouse cautiously, the sound growing louder with each step. He could faintly hear someone shouting. ¡°Help! Is anyone there?!¡± The voice was muffled, as if blocked by some soundproofing material. Lin Xian arrived at the door of Warehouse 14 and peered inside through the partially ajar entrance. He discovered that it was a cold storage facility, with two large white freezers inside. However, due to Jiang City¡¯s power outage, the interior reeked of an indescribable stench of decay. The smell hit Lin Xian like a punch, and he almost threw up the canned meat he¡¯d eaten earlier. As Lin Xian ventured further into the warehouse, he finally spotted the source of the noise. Behind the isolation window of a large freezer marked "1," two women were visible. One, seemingly in her thirties, was frantically pounding on the door, her face flushed red with desperation. The other, an older woman in her fifties or sixties, was slumped on the ground, barely breathing. The moment Lin Xian stepped inside, the younger woman noticed him and immediately cried out, ¡°Please, help me open the door! My mom is dying!¡± But as soon as Lin Xian heard those words, his eyes narrowed sharply. Something felt off. Without hesitation, he leapt forward in a single swift motion. In the very next instant, the sharp crack of a gunshot rang out behind him. Bang! An ambush! Lin Xian instantly saw through their ploy. A woman locked in a freezer crying out for help? It was too strange, too coincidental. Her shouting would have drawn zombies, not saviors. It was obvious that her cries were meant to bait him. Bang! Bang! Bang! The first shot missed, and a volley of bullets followed. Lin Xian didn¡¯t stop moving for a second. His reflexes were lightning-fast as he darted into the doorway of another freezer, slamming the heavy door shut behind him. Clang! Clang! Bullets hit the freezer door, sending sparks flying. ¡°Damn, this guy¡¯s fast!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let him get away!¡± ¡°Hah, what an idiot! He¡¯s holed himself up in a freezer now!¡± Two men quickly rushed after him, both armed¡ªone with a long gun and the other with a shorter weapon. The leader, a man in his forties with a sinister expression and a large tattoo snaking up his neck, kicked the freezer door hard but found it locked tight. ¡°D*mn, that¡¯s strange!¡± The skinnier man, standing nearby, peeked through the small observation window at Lin Xian, who was inside the freezer, his posture guarded and vigilant. The skinny man tugged on the door handle, but it didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Why won¡¯t this damn door open?¡± Large industrial freezer doors were specially designed to prevent the handle from freezing up due to condensation forming and icing over. As a safety feature, the doors could only be opened from the outside, while the inside had an emergency alarm button. But something unusual had happened¡ªthe door wouldn¡¯t open from the outside at all after Lin Xian entered. ¡°F***!¡± the tattooed man cursed. He raised his gun and fired two rounds at the freezer''s observation window. The shots echoed loudly in the warehouse, but the bullets only left faint marks on the thick glass. The observation window was 200 millimeters thick, and the freezer itself was built like a fortress to ensure optimal insulation. ¡°Mom!¡± the tattooed man suddenly called out. At his shout, the freezer door marked "1" creaked open. The younger woman who had been feigning distress earlier stepped out, followed closely by the older woman who had seemed on the verge of death just moments ago. The group of people began to encircle Lin Xian¡¯s position, their faces unfriendly and hostile. ¡°This kid¡¯s got sharp instincts...¡± one of them muttered darkly. Chapter 14: Besieged "Hmph!" The old lady''s face suddenly changed, shedding her frail, half-dead demeanor. She shot a venomous glance at Lin Xian, who was trapped in the freezer. "It''s stuffy as hell in there. If he wants to die inside, let him die." "Exactly, that place stinks even worse than this one. Let¡¯s see how long he can last." Another young woman, dripping with sweat, fanned herself with her hand and complained, "It¡¯s just that this damn freezer¡¯s soundproofing is too good. My throat¡¯s practically hoarse from yelling." The old lady shot her a dissatisfied glare. "What do you know? If you don¡¯t put on a proper act, how are you going to bait the fish?" "Mom, your tricks always work." Inside the freezer, Lin Xian''s expression darkened. He could tell this family had probably done this kind of thing before. Fortunately, he was vigilant and reacted quickly. Otherwise, in just half a second, he might have lost his life at gunpoint! At the moment, his cold gaze locked onto the four outside. It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out that the old lady was the mastermind of this family, while the other two were her sons and daughter-in-law. "Of course! Haven¡¯t you heard that ¡®the older the ginger, the spicier¡¯?" The old lady cast a cold glance at Lin Xian. "Today¡¯s fish is quick, but he doesn¡¯t seem too smart¡ªran straight into a dead end." "Hey, brother, why don¡¯t you come out and hand over the train keys? I promise to let you go." A middle-aged man stepped forward, addressing Lin Xian inside the freezer. Sure enough, they had already scouted his Infinite Train pulling into the platform and set up this fishing ploy to kill him and seize the train! "You think I¡¯d believe you?" Lin Xian responded coldly. "Alright, since you won¡¯t come out, then you can rot in there for all I care." The man holding the long gun sneered at Lin Xian and grabbed an iron chain from somewhere, wrapping it around the freezer door handle to lock it from the outside. "Dad!" At this moment, a chubby boy, about eleven or twelve years old, came running in excitedly, his face full of pride as he addressed the middle-aged man. "I just checked! There¡¯s a woman on that train¡ªreally pretty!" The middle-aged man¡¯s name was Huang Zhaojian, while the one with the long gun was his younger brother, Huang Jie. "Two people dare to drive a train? Pretty gutsy!" Huang Jie laughed mockingly at the boy¡¯s words, then turned to the old lady. "Mom, what¡¯s the plan?" "What do you think?" The old lady glared at him. "You really are as dense as a brick. There¡¯s bound to be a lot of stuff on that train. If it¡¯s functional, wouldn¡¯t it be better to hide on it than in this stinky freezer?" "True!" Gong Li¡¯s eyes lit up. "That way, we could finally leave this hellhole." Huang Zhaojian scowled at his wife. "Leave with what? Do you even know how to drive a train?!" "Hmph, I can¡¯t drive, but someone else can! Didn¡¯t A-Le say there¡¯s a pretty woman on board? These two young people clearly know how. How hard can it be?" "I want to drive the train! I want to drive the train!" The chubby boy, A-Le, bounced up and down with excitement at the thought of operating the train. "Yeah, driving a train can¡¯t be that hard. Bro, don¡¯t kill the pretty lady¡ªleave her for me, hahaha." Huang Jie perked up, grinning. "Shut up!" Just as the group was getting carried away, the old lady glanced at Lin Xian in the freezer and signaled to the others with her eyes. "Huang Jie, you stay here and keep watch," she ordered. Then, pulling the rest along, she moved away, seemingly to discuss their next steps in private. "Old hag, keep dreaming!" But just as the old lady was about to leave, Lin Xian suddenly spoke up from inside the freezer. He had already guessed her intentions, so he deliberately made his move in front of everyone. Slowly, he pulled a walkie-talkie from behind his back. "Ms. Chen, there¡¯s a bit of trouble on my side. Whatever you do, don¡¯t open the train doors," he said firmly. "Huh? Are you okay?" "I¡¯m fine." "Alright, I won¡¯t open the doors, no matter what!" Chen Sixuan¡¯s tense voice came through the walkie-talkie. "F***!" Huang Zhaojian exploded with rage upon realizing Lin Xian had a walkie-talkie. He stomped furiously at the freezer door. The old lady, seeing her plan exposed, bit her lip in frustration. Still, she quickly approached the freezer and sneered at Lin Xian. "A dog locked in a cage. What, do you plan to drag this out with us? The air in there can¡¯t be too pleasant, can it?" She wasn¡¯t wrong. The freezer reeked of a putrid stench that made Lin Xian feel dizzy. He had used his Ability to lock the freezer¡¯s mechanical door from inside, buying himself some safety for now¡ªbut he was still trapped. "F*** your uncle!" Huang Zhaojian smacked the freezer window, yelling viciously. "Kid, you think you can run? Let¡¯s see how long you last. If you piss me off, I¡¯ll drag that woman out and f*** her in front of you!" The old lady¡¯s face turned even more venomous. "If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯ll cooperate. You and the woman drive the train, and we¡¯ll all escape together. I guarantee you¡¯ll live. How about it?" In her eyes, Lin Xian was nothing more than a bird trapped in a cage. Though they couldn¡¯t get to him at the moment, she knew the freezer had poor ventilation and was unbearably foul-smelling. Staying inside for long was impossible. With no other exit, she figured Lin Xian was simply putting up a futile resistance. The mother and son duo played their roles like clockwork¡ªone threatening, the other coaxing¡ªwhich almost made Lin Xian laugh. While he had his Wind Cannon Skill, taking on two armed men head-on was reckless. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t a battle-hardened soldier or a fearless ranger;he was just a college student. His combat experience wasn¡¯t exactly stellar. If not for his quick reflexes earlier, he¡¯d already be dead at the hands of the Huang brothers. Now trapped in the freezer, and with Chen Sixuan unable to assist him, Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts churned. Suddenly, a bold idea formed in his mind. He ignored the people outside and rummaged through his backpack, pulling out a flashlight to survey his surroundings. Outside, the old lady, fearing the train might escape, signaled her sons to check it out. Click. Lin Xian switched on the flashlight, illuminating the massive freezer. Shelves stood neatly arranged, but the goods had long been looted. Melted blood from frozen meats pooled on the ground, filling the air with a nauseating stench. Sweeping the light deeper into the room, Lin Xian noticed a row of large freezer cabinets on the other side. His eyes lit up as he approached them one by one. Though the cabinets were empty, they had another purpose¡ªthey could be devoured! Since he couldn¡¯t leave for the time being and the freezer served as a natural fortress, Lin Xian decided he could safely start devouring the large appliances around him. With this in mind, he picked up the walkie-talkie again. "Ms. Chen, plans have changed. I¡¯m temporarily trapped here. Stay in the train tonight¡ªdon¡¯t open the door, don¡¯t turn on the lights, and don¡¯t make a sound. Wait for my signal." On the train, Chen Sixuan¡¯s face grew visibly panicked upon hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words. Through the gap in the armored window, she could see two armed men crossing the tracks and heading in her direction. Her expression tensed as she whispered, "Lin Xian, someone¡¯s coming." "I know. Don¡¯t be afraid. As long as you don¡¯t open the door, they can¡¯t do anything to you." Biting her lower lip, Chen Sixuan nodded. "Okay." Just as she finished speaking, there came a loud bang, bang, bang on the front cab door. "Open up! Open the damn door, or I¡¯ll shoot!" "The guy is in our hands! If you don¡¯t want him to die, then open the door right now!!" Chen Sixuan gripped the walkie-talkie tightly and retreated into the No. 1 carriage. This was her first time dealing with such a situation, and there was no way she wasn¡¯t nervous. But Lin Xian¡¯s words had etched themselves into her mind. No matter what they said, she knew she absolutely couldn¡¯t open the door. Clang! At that moment, Huang Jie, holding a long gun, climbed up to the front windshield. Pressing himself against it, he cupped his hands over his eyes to peer inside. Through the glass, he immediately spotted Chen Sixuan, whose face was pale with panic. His eyes lit up instantly, and he nearly started drooling. "Bro!!! That chick¡¯s right there!!! She¡¯s f***ing gorgeous!!" "Bro, let me take her as my wife!!" Since the apocalypse had come, society had completely collapsed. Huang Jie, still single, had been bitterly holding out. Just the thought of it made him seethe with frustration. Now, seeing such a stunning woman like Chen Sixuan, a rush of heat surged straight to his head. In this lawless and chaotic environment, human savagery had been amplified to the extreme. Huang Jie could barely hold himself back and wanted to storm inside immediately. Bang, bang! Eyes practically blazing with desire, he frantically picked up the butt of his rifle and smashed it against the windshield of the Infinite Train. But no matter how hard he hit, the windshield didn¡¯t so much as crack. Chapter 15: Devouring the Large Freezers Huang Jie, his eyes bloodshot, stood up abruptly, disengaged the safety on his gun, and fired a burst directly at the windshield! Ratatatat! Sparks flew, and stray bullets ricocheted wildly, but the windshield remained completely unscathed. What Huang Jie didn¡¯t know was that the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive was the first-generation locomotive designed for the Planetary Orbital Rail. With a top speed of 450km/h, its windshield was made from a specialized composite fiber combined with high-strength glass¡ªordinary rifle bullets posed little to no threat to it. "Keep it down, for f***¡¯s sake!!" The deafening gunshots echoed throughout the freight platform, enraging his older brother, Huang Zhaojian, who barked at him, "Are you trying to get us killed? If you attract those monsters, we¡¯re all dead!" "But, bro... there¡¯s a chick in there!" Huang Jie, now desperate, kept swallowing hard as he stared into the train, unable to take his eyes off Chen Sixuan, who had ducked out of sight. His face was full of frustration. Huang Zhaojian climbed up as well, stealing a glance through the window. The sight of Chen Sixuan made his pupils contract, and a flicker of greed flashed through his eyes. Still, he quickly masked it and forced a stern expression. "Don¡¯t rush it. She can¡¯t run. Once we deal with that guy and get the train keys, everything will be ours!" "Right, right!" Huang Jie nodded repeatedly, his heated gaze once again falling on the carriage interior. When he couldn¡¯t spot Chen Sixuan, he spitefully spat at the window. "Little beauty, just you wait..." As he was about to leave, he suddenly stopped, an obscene grin spreading across his face. He unzipped his pants and shamelessly relieved himself on the train window, indulging in a twisted sense of satisfaction before finally walking off with his gun. Inside the freezer, Lin Xian listened to Chen Sixuan¡¯s updates about the situation outside, his eyes flashing with cold determination. "Ignore them. Just rest in the No. 1 carriage. If you¡¯re hungry, eat something," he instructed calmly. "Lin Xian..." Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice trembled. "You¡¯re not going to be in trouble, are you?" "I won¡¯t," Lin Xian replied evenly. Putting away the walkie-talkie, Lin Xian focused on the freezer¡¯s interior. After completing the blueprint scan of the commercial freezer, he placed his hand on it and began mechanical devouring without wasting another second. ¡¾Devouring Progress: 1%¡¿ As soon as the progress bar appeared, Lin Xian realized that devouring this large freezer was just as challenging as the small freight vehicle he¡¯d consumed earlier. And there wasn¡¯t just one of these freezers in the room. "Plenty of time today. I might as well devour them all!" To Lin Xian, this was a rare opportunity. Although escaping the Dark Tides of Jiang City was his top priority, being stuck here meant he could use the time to strengthen his abilities. "Where¡¯s that guy?" Outside the freezer, Huang Zhaojian returned with Huang Jie to find Gong Li and the boy keeping watch. The old lady scowled impatiently. "He¡¯s hiding inside. Leave him for now. What¡¯s the situation with the train?" Huang Jie¡¯s excitement was palpable. "Mom, my brother and I checked. There¡¯s definitely just one woman on board. I¡¯d bet the carriages are loaded with supplies¡ªwe¡¯ve struck gold!" The old lady nodded. "You two find some tools. While there¡¯s still daylight, see if you can pry open the freezer door. I¡¯d rather avoid complications. Who knows how many days of total darkness are coming again? I¡¯m not sure my old bones can survive another long night." "That¡¯s what I was thinking too." Huang Zhaojian was equally anxious. Running into such a golden opportunity, he wanted to take advantage of it as quickly as possible. After a brief discussion, the group set off to find steel pipes and crowbars to force open the freezer door. By now, it was 5 PM¡ªless than two hours before nightfall. If they didn¡¯t open the door before dark, they¡¯d have to wait until tomorrow. Meanwhile, in the dark corner of the freezer, Lin Xian endured the overwhelming stench as he continued devouring the large freezer. ¡¾Devouring Progress: 80%¡¿ ¡¾Devouring Progress: 95%¡¿ After nearly an hour, the massive freezer was finally almost devoured. At the same time, the sound of prying and banging echoed from the freezer door. However, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t particularly worried. He had scanned the door earlier when he locked it. The 150mm-thick low-temperature freezer door was composed of stainless steel and aluminum on the outside, with a heavy insulation core of polyurethane and fiberglass. With the lock reinforced by his ability, it was almost impossible to open using just steel pipes or crowbars. Unless they had hydraulic cutters or saws, there was no way they¡¯d make progress¡ªhence the cacophony of banging that had been going on for over an hour. Ignoring the noise, Lin Xian calmly continued devouring the freezer. Elsewhere, Chen Sixuan paced anxiously back and forth inside the train, her nerves frayed. However, she quickly realized that panicking wouldn¡¯t help. After checking on the young girl¡¯s condition, she began organizing the supplies across the three carriages while tidying up the train. ¡¾Devouring Complete. Mechanical Energy +25. Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +8. Bonus Reward: Strength +3, Defense +1.¡¿ Deep within the freezer, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up as he read the notification on the light screen before him. A big haul! Scanning the room, he saw three more identical large freezers. If he devoured them all, his rewards would multiply significantly. ¡¾Mechanical Devouring LV.1: 286/300¡¿ His devouring skill was also close to leveling up. Once upgraded, his devouring efficiency would improve even further! Energized by this thought, Lin Xian wasted no time, moving to the second freezer and beginning the devouring process. Outside, Huang Zhaojian and Huang Jie were exhausted. The two brothers, faces flushed and covered in sweat, had tossed aside a pile of bent steel pipes and crowbars. "F***! This damn door won¡¯t budge!" The old lady stood nearby, her expression shifting as she looked at the darkening sky. "Mom, over the past few nights, those monsters couldn¡¯t get in here. If even they couldn¡¯t open it, it¡¯s no surprise we can¡¯t either," Gong Li fretted. "Yeah, this door¡¯s too damn sturdy. F***!" Huang Jie cursed bitterly. Huang Jie angrily tossed the steel pipe to the ground. Though he cursed incessantly, every night he secretly prayed that the door would remain as sturdy as possible¡ªa clear case of mental contradiction. "Alright, stop it," the old lady commanded, her tone laced with finality. She knew that continuing was futile, especially with the commotion they¡¯d caused now drawing numerous footsteps toward the warehouse. "It¡¯s almost dark. Let¡¯s hide for now. Besides, we¡¯ve locked him in with that iron chain¡ªhe won¡¯t be running anywhere." "From the looks of it, without that man, the train probably can¡¯t be moved. As long as they can¡¯t escape, they¡¯ll eventually outlast themselves," she reasoned. "Mom¡¯s right!" "Alright, let¡¯s do that..." "Are we not getting on the train today?" the chubby boy asked, disappointment written all over his face. "Not today. We¡¯ll stay put one more night." Over the past few days, the family had been hiding inside the same freezer where they¡¯d staged their baiting trap. However, the lock on that freezer door was broken, so they used steel pipes to brace it from the inside, making it just secure enough for nighttime safety. Beep, beep. Beep, beep. The alarm on Lin Xian¡¯s watch went off, causing his eyes to narrow. He knew nightfall was imminent. On the train, Chen Sixuan had drawn all the blackout curtains and was anxiously waiting for Lin Xian¡¯s response. Her gaze drifted toward the unconscious girl lying in the carriage. Unable to suppress her worry, she walked over to check the girl¡¯s breathing. After confirming she was still alive, Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression turned puzzled. The girl had been asleep for two full days... At 6:45 PM, darkness descended, enveloping the entire freight platform. Low zombie groans and eerie, shuffling footsteps echoed in the night. The faint rustling noises amplified in Chen Sixuan¡¯s ears, making her heart pound. She curled up on the sofa, clutching the walkie-talkie tightly, and wrapped herself in a blanket like it was her only shield against the chaos outside. Meanwhile, the Huang family had retreated to the other freezer. They braced the door with steel pipes and crowbars and huddled in a corner deep within the freezer. As they ate, they whispered among themselves, strategizing their next move. By 7:32 PM, Lin Xian had finished devouring the second large freezer. ¡¾Devouring Complete. Mechanical Energy +25. Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +8. Bonus Reward: Strength +2, Speed +1, Defense +1.¡¿ At 9:14 PM, he completed devouring the third freezer. ¡¾Devouring Complete. Mechanical Energy +25. Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +8. Bonus Reward: Strength +1.¡¿ Although this freezer hadn¡¯t yielded as many attribute rewards, Lin Xian¡¯s excitement grew. His Mechanical Devouring Skill had finally leveled up to LV2! Chapter 16: Driving Tigers to Devour Wolves ¡¾Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.1 285/500¡¿ ¡¾Tip: Upgrading the Mechanical Heart unlocks special skill rewards. At LV.3, LV.6, and LV.9, mysterious awakenings are available.¡¿ Base Attributes: Strength: LV.1 33/50 Speed: LV.1 9/50 Defense: LV.0 20/30 Current Basic Skills: Mechanical Devouring: LV.2 2/500 Mechanical Manufacturing: LV.1 112/300 Mechanical Scanning (Passive) Mechanical Repair (Passive) Mechanical Operation (Passive) Special Skills: Wind Cannon: LV.1 12/100 Staring at the glowing screen, Lin Xian could feel the Mechanical Heart inside his body roaring furiously. A shiver ran through him, and his whole body trembled with excitement. Without hesitation, he turned his focus to the final freezer. ¡¾Devouring Progress: 2%¡¿ The progress bar began moving faster than ever, visibly accelerating before his eyes. "As I thought!" The improvement in devouring efficiency was a godsend. Not only did it save him precious time in critical moments, but it also greatly reduced the risks of devouring. Lin Xian glanced at his watch, started the timer, and focused intently on the task at hand. ¡¾Devouring Progress: 10%... 20%... 50%... 80%... 99%¡¿ "So fast!" Checking the timer on his watch, Lin Xian saw that, unlike the earlier freezers, which each took about 1 hour and 40 minutes, the last one had taken only 55 minutes¡ªless than an hour! His efficiency had nearly doubled! Just as Lin Xian was about to calm his excitement, a flash of golden light appeared in front of him. ¡¾Devouring Complete. Mechanical Energy +25. Mechanical Devouring Proficiency +6. Bonus Reward: You have obtained the Ice Shield skill!¡¿ "Ice shield? From a freezer?" Lin Xian froze for a moment. It seemed that the skills he gained were related to the type of machinery or appliance he devoured. Looking at the glowing panel, he saw ¡¾Ice Shield LV.1 0/100¡¿. Curious, he decided to test it out. He concentrated and raised his hand with a thought. Crack, crack, crack! In an instant, a small, semi-circular blue ice shield rose from the ground, enveloping him. It was just tall enough to cover his shoulders. "Holy sh**!" Lin Xian shone his flashlight on the ice shield he had created from thin air, dumbfounded. The shield wasn¡¯t very thick, about the width of a palm. Clang! He struck the shield with a short blade, producing a dull sound, much like carving into rock-hard ice that had been frozen for years. Its hardness was higher than he¡¯d anticipated. At the same time, he felt a sharp drain on his energy, leaving him slightly lightheaded. "This skill¡¯s consumption is too high, and the shield probably can¡¯t stop bullets. It¡¯s only good for emergencies... not really worth it," he muttered, disappointed. "Wait a minute." Frowning, Lin Xian carefully examined the ice shield again. After a brief silence, he stepped forward, stuck out his tongue, and licked the shield. It was odorless, tasteless, and refreshingly cold. His pupils suddenly contracted as a shocking realization struck him. "Hold on¡ªthis is pure ice, created out of thin air!" "If that¡¯s the case... wouldn¡¯t this mean I¡¯ll never run out of drinking water?" In the apocalypse, clean water was an invaluable resource. Now he could conjure it out of thin air! Though the energy consumption was high, the benefit far outweighed the cost. Lin Xian was ecstatic. He eagerly chipped off a piece of ice with his knife and popped it into his mouth. The cool sensation spread throughout his body, instantly clearing his mind, which had been muddled by the freezer¡¯s foul air. Checking the time, Lin Xian made his way to the freezer door. Activating the Mechanical Heart, he unlocked the door¡¯s locking mechanism and hinges. The door creaked open slightly, only to be stopped by the iron chain that had been fastened from the outside. "Damn old hag!" Lin Xian cursed under his breath, realizing the Huang family must have tampered with the door to prevent his escape. But escaping wasn¡¯t his goal. Click. Turning on his flashlight, Lin Xian used the crack in the door to confirm the location of the other freezer where the Huang family was hiding. He switched off the flashlight and extended his finger through the gap, focusing his energy. Puff! A silent Wind Cannon shot out. The projectile struck the stainless steel door of the Huang family¡¯s freezer with a deafening boom! BOOM! The sudden explosion echoed like thunder throughout the warehouse, shattering the quiet of the night. Inside the freezer, the Huang family jumped in fright. "Who¡¯s there?!" Caught off guard, the brothers grabbed their pistols. But outside, all they could see was pitch-black darkness. "Is it a monster?!" The chubby boy cowered behind Gong Li, his face pale with fear. "Don¡¯t be scared, don¡¯t be scared..." "Shhh! Don¡¯t make a sound," the old lady whispered anxiously, her face filled with panic. "Zhaojian, A-Jie, don¡¯t shoot. If we attract something, we¡¯re done for." The brothers nodded, nervously swallowing hard. For added caution, the old lady turned off the electronic light they had been using for dinner. The freezer was plunged into complete darkness. Uneasiness began to creep into everyone¡¯s hearts. On the other side of the freezer door, Lin Xian stood with cold resolve. "So, you like trapping people like turtles in a jar? Fine, let me teach you what the jar is¡ªand who the turtle is today." Puff! Another Wind Cannon shot silently out, slamming into the door of the Huang family¡¯s freezer. The deafening BOOM echoed again through the warehouse. BOOM! Inside, the Huang family jumped up in fright once more, no longer able to sit still. "There¡¯s something out there! There¡¯s something out there!!!" Huang Jie, holding his rifle, couldn¡¯t stop trembling. "F***! What the hell is it?!" The two massive explosions had done more than just scare the family. Outside, the faint groans of zombies quickly grew into an ear-splitting cacophony as the undead surged toward the warehouse. But it wasn¡¯t just the zombies. Another eerie rustling sound, like something massive dragging across metal, grew louder. The friction screeches from the parked train cars were ear-piercing. Lin Xian, hearing the sound, instantly thought of the pale white giant he¡¯d encountered before. His heart clenched. But he couldn¡¯t back down now. Through his limited night vision, he saw countless shadows flooding into the warehouse from outside. The grotesque howls and snarls echoed throughout the space, making his scalp tingle. Puff! Without hesitation, Lin Xian fired a third Wind Cannon. This was the most crucial and deadly shot yet. He needed to ensure the horde¡¯s target was entirely redirected¡ªif not, his own position would be compromised. Inside the freezer, the Huang family clearly heard the zombies swarming in. All five of them huddled in a corner, faces pale with terror. Huang Zhaojian and Huang Jie clutched their guns tightly, their eyes darting into the darkness. "Don¡¯t panic! Don¡¯t panic!" Huang Zhaojian tried to calm everyone, though his own voice trembled. "The door¡¯s solid as hell! Even crowbars couldn¡¯t pry it open. Those things can¡¯t get in!" BOOM! The third explosion struck the door like a thunderclap, shaking the metal structure like a drum. It was as if they were sitting inside a steel barrel, with the deafening reverberation rattling their very souls. "Ahhhhhhh!!!" The chubby boy let out a terrified wail, only to have the old lady clamp her hand over his mouth. "Shut up!!!" "What do we do?! What do we do?!" "It¡¯s fine! They can¡¯t get in..." "Damn it, we should¡¯ve taken that train during the day! We could¡¯ve run!" "What¡¯s the point of saying that now?!" Outside, the zombies had been completely riled up by the noise. They clawed and slammed into the freezer door in a frenzy. The steel pipes and crowbars bracing the door creaked and groaned under the relentless assault. Everyone inside was trembling uncontrollably, paralyzed with fear. Then, another sound emerged¡ªmore terrifying than anything before. It was the sound of chewing, like a massive beast tearing through flesh and steel alike. CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH. The noise carried immense power, accompanied by metallic screeches. The steel itself was cracking. Finally¡ª BANG. BANG. The freezer door began to buckle under the strain, slowly giving way. Inside, the Huang family could hear the metal being torn apart. Their terror boiled over, and even the women and children began screaming and crying. "AHHH!! MOM!!!" "We¡¯re doomed! What do we do?!" Sobs and wails filled the room. The snarls and growls of zombies were now inside the freezer, growing louder and closer. Something had breached the door. Huang Zhaojian and Huang Jie, faces pale and drenched in sweat, finally snapped. Unable to suppress their fear, they raised their guns and opened fire in a desperate attempt to fight back. Ratatatat! The flashes of gunfire momentarily illuminated the pitch-black freezer. And that¡¯s when they saw it. In the midst of the horde of zombies, a massive red creature emerged. It let out a piercing screech, its gigantic mandibles snapping menacingly. The creature resembled an enormous centipede, at least as thick as an adult human and over ten meters long. Its body was covered in crimson scales, and its countless legs writhed and scuttled rapidly. Just one glance was enough to chill the family to their cores. "AHHHHH!!!!" Their bloodcurdling screams echoed through Warehouse 14. But within moments, the gunfire and screams ceased. All that remained were the snarls of zombies and the grotesque crunching of the centipede-like creature devouring its prey. Meanwhile, on the other side, Lin Xian quietly sealed his own freezer door shut. Through the observation window, he caught a glimpse of the monstrous insect¡¯s shadow and didn¡¯t dare make a sound. He had initially expected the pale giant to show up¡ªbut this thing? It was far more terrifying. Cursing silently, Lin Xian muttered to himself, "What the hell is this? A parade of demons?! What kind of nightmare planet is this?!" In comparison, zombies suddenly seemed tame, even pitiable. After all, they were just mutated remnants of humanity. Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded furiously. His Driving Tigers to Devour Wolves strategy had been reckless, almost suicidal. If anything went wrong, even hiding on the Infinite Train might not guarantee his survival. "Damn it... the armor needs upgrading. The weapons need upgrading. The engine needs upgrading too!" Chapter 17: Connecting the Electric Locomotive Beep beep, beep beep. Lin Xian silenced the alarm on his watch. After two sleepless nights, his mind was already starting to feel foggy. Listening to the eerie sounds outside and smelling the stench wafting through the freezer warehouse, he endured until 16:00 the next day. It was finally daylight. However, it was already afternoon, leaving only 2 hours and 45 minutes until nightfall. Remaining vigilant, Lin Xian peered out through the observation window. The warehouse was brightly lit, and he could finally make out the scene outside. A large hole had been blasted in the door of Freezer Warehouse No. 1. The thick, custom-made freezer door, constructed of stainless steel and composite materials, was grotesquely bent. The ground was splattered with blood, and bits of flesh were scattered everywhere¡ªon the door, the floor, and other surfaces. Several zombies were still wandering outside the freezer, some gnawing on the remains of a half-eaten corpse. Lin Xian recognized a familiar tattoo on the corpse. It appeared to be the middle-aged man from earlier. A surge of satisfaction rose in his heart. Serves you right! In the apocalypse, those who set traps to fish for others deserved nothing less than their whole family perishing. His expression turned cold as he quickly grabbed his walkie-talkie to check in on the other side. ¡°Teacher Chen, are you alright?¡± On the other side, Chen Sixuan, who had endured a night of terror, finally let out a sigh of relief when she heard Lin Xian¡¯s voice. She responded quickly, ¡°I... I¡¯m fine. What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine too.¡± Reassured that Chen Sixuan was safe, Lin Xian relaxed a little. As he scanned the area outside and confirmed that the terrifying centipede-like creature was nowhere to be seen, he continued, ¡°I¡¯ll be back shortly. Stick to the plan from yesterday. There¡¯s an electric locomotive at Track 4;I¡¯ll need your help in a bit.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± After finishing the conversation, Lin Xian opened the freezer door once again. Peering through the gap, he fired a Wind Cannon to shatter the iron chain holding it shut. Hearing the noise, the zombies outside snarled and lunged toward him. Without hesitation, Lin Xian swung his blade, unleashing several Wind Cannons in quick succession. The zombies were swiftly dispatched. However, last night¡¯s commotion had attracted far too many zombies. As he stepped out of the warehouse, he saw dozens of them still wandering around outside. After a moment¡¯s thought, he quietly made his way to Warehouse No. 1, an empty building materials warehouse. Once there, he fired several Wind Cannons to create noise, successfully luring the dozens of zombies away from the platform. As long as no eerie creatures from the night were involved, Lin Xian¡¯s abilities made handling ordinary zombies relatively simple. Soon, he sprinted off the platform and reached the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive he had spotted yesterday. Activating his Mechanical Heart, he opened the automated door to the cockpit. He unhooked the locomotive¡¯s front, detached the bridge connections, and the traction motor let out a low rumble as it slowly pulled the massive electric beast away from the platform. Meanwhile, Lin Xian also disconnected the 1st carriage from the Whale 03E. After reconfiguring the sequence and with Chen Sixuan¡¯s assistance, he successfully connected the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive to the second position. Now, the ¡°Infinite Train¡± had five carriages: At the front was the heavily armored Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive, which served as the cockpit.The second carriage was the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive, repurposed for energy recovery and power storage.The third, fourth, and fifth carriages were the living compartments. The Huanxing 7F was twice as long as the Whale 03E, giving it a futuristic appearance. Both locomotives were designed with bridge connections, allowing personnel to move freely between the front and rear. However, since this was a temporary addition, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t had time to upgrade the electric locomotive¡¯s armor. After completing the connection, there was no time for further modifications. Before nightfall, he started the newly configured Infinite Train , heading eastward along the Jiangyu Line. Clang clang, clang clang. The train sped up steadily. Lin Xian increased the speed to about 80 kilometers per hour. However, with the additional load, his physical energy was depleting much faster. ¡°This section leading to Beiwang Station doesn¡¯t have any tunnels, and the terrain is relatively flat. You¡¯ll just need to watch out for fallen rocks blocking the tracks,¡± Chen Sixuan advised while jotting down the speed in her logbook. Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll stop immediately if anything happens.¡± ¡°How about that group from yesterday?¡± ¡°They¡¯re dead.¡± Lin Xian glanced at Chen Sixuan and added, ¡°That whole family was scum. Setting traps to rob and kill people¡ªthey were all eaten by zombies last night.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression changed slightly. She knew Lin Xian was capable, but hearing him casually state that an entire family was wiped out still unsettled her. In such a short time, the harmonious, safe world they had once known had turned into a brutal, kill-or-be-killed hell. For someone like Chen Sixuan, who grew up in a well-off, highly educated family, it was hard to accept such a stark reality all at once. ¡°Zzz~ This is the [Oasis] convoy. Final announcement, final announcement. If you have supplies, weapons, or special abilities, you can join our team for a chance to survive. Safety in numbers¡ªdon¡¯t cling to false hope...¡± ¡°Zzz~ The outbound Route 312 highway is completely blocked. You can only detour through Forestry Road. A massive zombie horde is gathering in the eastern district. Don¡¯t shoot unless absolutely necessary, or no one will make it out...¡± ¡°Zzz~ [Jiang City Bunker] welcomes all ability-users and beautiful women. We are based in a military-grade nuclear bunker in Jiang City, with over 300 people and clear division of labor. We can withstand the Polar Night...¡± ¡°Zzz~ This is the last day. Once again, I¡¯m in Apartment A-1304 of Mingwang Complex. Plenty of supplies and the safest survival space in the apocalypse. Only accepting women aged 16-30. Two spots left...¡± ¡°Zzz~ Patrol Camp at Yubei City reports: Yancheng and Fengcheng have fully succumbed to the Polar Night. Along the Lingshan Mountain range, from the eastern direction, Jiang City to Luolin City and then Hechi and Minjiang regions, a large-scale emergence of eerie creatures has been detected. Radiation levels are unknown...¡± Over the radio, news came that the nearby Yancheng and Fengcheng had completely fallen. Survivor reports suggested that traveling 200-300 kilometers east could grant an additional hour of daylight. This also gave a rough estimate of the dark tide engulfing the third Abyss. Two or three hundred kilometers might not seem far, but in an apocalyptic world with paralyzed transportation and zombies everywhere, entering the night meant endless fear of death. Escaping that far wasn¡¯t easy. Chen Sixuan calculated using the logbook, ¡°If the survivors¡¯ intel is correct, we should reach Beiwang Station by tomorrow, and daylight might come around 16:30.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t get that far.¡± Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Once it gets dark, we¡¯ll have to stop. I¡¯m not confident about driving at night. The road conditions, visibility, all of it¡ªit¡¯s too risky.¡± As he spoke, Lin Xian began to realize he might need radar or drones to help detect obstacles. Without them, blindly pressing forward could lead to broken tracks or massive debris blocking the way. At best, this would derail the train;at worst, it could end in total destruction. Chapter 18: Roadblock The train pulled out of Jiang City Station and left the city. Gradually, the surroundings grew quieter, with only the faint hum of the rails echoing in the air. Lin Xian looked up at the massive cloud formation looming over Jiang City. The ominous cluster hung motionless in the sky, evoking a deep sense of dread every time he saw it. Many people had seen it, and there was no doubt that some kind of atmospheric creature resided within¡ªsomething far more terrifying than zombies or eerie entities. No one knew what it was. For humans, the only choices were to cower in fortresses or flee in panic. Who would dare investigate the true form of such an apocalyptic being? Outside the city, the scenery gradually transformed into mountains and farmlands. The blood-soaked, desolate, and smoke-filled landscapes faded away, offering a fleeting illusion of having escaped the apocalypse. Lin Xian had assumed it would be rare to see any people along the way. Unexpectedly, a dirt road running parallel to the railway began to reveal scattered vehicles¡ªmostly off-road jeeps. A few sedans, caked in mud and loaded to the brim with belongings, roared down the road as their drivers floored the gas pedal. When one of the jeeps noticed the train passing by, its window rolled down. A middle-aged man stuck his head out and shouted, ¡°Holy sh*t, a train!¡± ¡°D*mn, that¡¯s amazing!¡± Another jeep, covered in makeshift paint designs, opened its roof hatch. A buzz-cut young man emerged, clutching an AK rifle. He fired a burst into the air, the gunshots echoing loudly. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Train crew! Got any food or water? Want to join our Oasis convoy?¡± the young man shouted at the train. But in the cockpit, Lin Xian ignored him entirely, staying focused on operating the locomotive. ¡°F*ck,¡± the buzz-cut youth cursed under his breath when he got no response and slumped back into his seat. ¡°Brother Yong, should we let Brother Liu Wei in the front know?¡± said a yellow-haired youth in the passenger seat, his voice slow and deep. Zhang Dayong waved it off nonchalantly. ¡°Why? So we can all hop on the train or something?¡± The yellow-haired youth¡¯s eyes widened as he responded with a peculiar expression, ¡°Brother Yong, the fuel.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Dayong suddenly realized. He slapped his thigh and spat, ¡°Sh*t, you¡¯re right!¡± A functioning train could hold thousands of liters of fuel. Even if it didn¡¯t have that much, a few hundred liters would be enough to sustain their convoy for a couple of days. He immediately grabbed his walkie-talkie. ¡°Brother Wei, Brother Wei, there¡¯s a big one heading along the Jiangyu Line¡ªit¡¯s a train. I think it¡¯s carrying a lot of fuel.¡± ¡°A train?¡± A raspy voice responded over the walkie-talkie, sounding intrigued. ¡°Yeah, I figure it¡¯ll reach Yushan Station in about ten minutes. What do you think?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll block it. Second team, circle around from behind.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Ten kilometers ahead of the convoy, a small team of vehicles was speeding along. Leading the group was a modified Raptor truck. In the backseat sat Liu Wei, with his square, stern face and a scowl that made him look menacing. A heavily made-up young woman clung to him as he surveyed the road ahead. ¡°Third Brother, take the next turnoff. That big one is headed for Yushan Station.¡± ¡°Got it, boss!¡± In this convoy, Liu Wei¡¯s word was law. Before the apocalypse, Liu Wei wasn¡¯t some crime lord. He was just a small-time vendor at a local market. But after the apocalypse, he unexpectedly awakened an ability, which instantly elevated him to a position of power. Friends and relatives, once dismissive of him, now groveled for his protection. Liu Wei, a cunning man, used his newfound abilities to recruit a group of hardened, armed survivors. Soon, others began offering him supplies and valuables in exchange for his protection. In just a few days, Liu Wei had gathered over twenty loyal followers, living like a self-proclaimed king. Even the high-class women who had once looked down on him now threw themselves at him. His nights became filled with parties and indulgence, and his confidence soared. Now, hearing his men report that a massive train had dared to operate in his territory without ¡°offering tribute¡± and was even attempting to leave Jiang City under his watch, his pride was bruised. He immediately prepared to play the role of a roadblock... after all, this was already part of his plan when leaving Jiang City. Back on the train, Lin Xian furrowed his brow at the sound of the rifle shots from earlier. Out of caution, he increased the train¡¯s speed slightly. Compared to vehicles navigating dirt roads, the train had a significant advantage in speed on its smooth rails. ¡°That Oasis convoy... I just heard them on the radio earlier. Their leader is said to be an ability user as well,¡± Chen Sixuan said, her voice tinged with worry after hearing the gunfire. ¡°I heard too,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°But they¡¯re traveling by road, and we¡¯re on the railway. We should stay out of each other¡¯s way and avoid any conflict.¡± Despite his calm words, the mention of another ability user left Lin Xian uneasy. The Infinite Train project had many advantages but also one glaring weakness: it was far too conspicuous. A massive train rumbling across the tracks was impossible to miss and bound to attract attention from survivors. ¡°We also need to recruit more teammates. If everyone starts targeting us, it¡¯ll be tough to handle,¡± Chen Sixuan remarked, giving Lin Xian a surprised look before quickly lowering her gaze. ¡°I saw the posts you shared before. I think if people don¡¯t know about your ability, they won¡¯t easily believe in your plan.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Lin Xian spoke boldly, ¡°It¡¯s quality over quantity when it comes to teammates. My ability isn¡¯t meant to make me everyone¡¯s chauffeur. I¡¯m not letting just anyone on this train. If someone isn¡¯t valuable, I¡¯d rather not create more trouble for myself.¡± He glanced at Chen Sixuan and grinned. ¡°And, of course, they need to be someone I approve of.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s face turned inexplicably red. She thought Lin Xian was flirting with her and immediately felt a bit awkward. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way,¡± Lin Xian coughed lightly. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about good looks, but things like character and personality...¡± His clarification only made Chen Sixuan¡¯s face turn even redder. She avoided his gaze entirely, keeping her head down and pretending to be busy recording something in the logbook. Clang clang, clang clang. The train sped across the flat plains. It was then that Lin Xian, with his enhanced vision, spotted something far ahead on the tracks near Yushan Station¡ªa damaged car deliberately placed across the rails. The positioning was so precise it was obvious that it had been intentionally set up to block the train. An ambush! Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned serious. He shouted to Chen Sixuan, ¡°Get to the back! Quick! Hold on tight!¡± Realizing the imminent danger, Chen Sixuan¡¯s face changed. She obeyed without hesitation, running toward the rear to Carriage No. 1. There, she saw the young girl who was still asleep and, without thinking, ran over to embrace her tightly for protection. Meanwhile, behind one of the columns on the Yushan Station platform, Liu Wei and his men were already in position, armed to the teeth. Hearing the rumble of the approaching train, Liu Wei peeked out to assess the situation. But when he saw that the train showed no signs of slowing down, his face twisted in fury. He bellowed, ¡°Open fire! Make the b*stard stop!¡± At his command, his men sprang out from behind the columns, wielding a variety of rifles and shotguns. Without a word, they unleashed a hail of bullets toward the rapidly approaching train cockpit. Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang! Bang bang! Gunfire erupted in an instant. Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian gritted his teeth and hunched down behind the control panel, gripping the handles tightly. Rather than slowing down, he willed the train to accelerate even more. F*ck you all! Lin Xian cursed in his mind. The whole reason I chose to drive a train is so I can crush bastards like you into dust! Chapter 19: The Ability User "Ahh!" With a loud roar, Lin Xian felt his blood boiling as he charged straight into the storm of gunfire. Boom! A 200-ton heavy gas turbine locomotive at high speed was unstoppable. The thin-skinned sedan placed on the tracks was obliterated in an instant, shattered into sparks and debris. Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan only felt a slight jolt before the train surged forward as if it had merely run over a cardboard box. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bullets rained down on the all-metal train body, leaving only faint white marks. However, one ricocheting bullet hit one of Liu Wei''s lackeys in the leg, piercing straight through his thigh. "Ahhh!" The lackey screamed, clutching his bleeding leg in agony. In mere moments, the train roared past the ambush point. Liu Wei, watching the scene unfold, felt his authority crumble and was furious. His eyes glowed green, and with a loud rip, his shirt tore apart as four eerie green tentacles extended from his back. Moving with the speed and precision of a spider, he rapidly climbed onto the tracks in pursuit of the train. These tentacles possessed immense strength, capable of lifting objects weighing over a ton. They also granted him extraordinary agility. Liu Wei had even trained himself to improve their strength and speed, smugly dubbing himself the "Four-Winged King." Thud! Just as Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan thought they had broken through the ambush, an eerie sound came from the roof of the train. Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned grim. He immediately reduced the train¡¯s speed slightly and grabbed his short blade. He had to slow the train;otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have the focus to deal with the impending danger. Thump! Thump! Thump! The sound of something clinging to the roof alarmed Chen Sixuan, who curled into a ball in fear. Lin Xian tensed, listening closely. Suddenly, a middle-aged man with tentacles appeared outside the cockpit window. "Well, well, you¡¯ve got guts, kid, daring to charge through my blockade!" Seeing that the driver was just a young man, Liu Wei cursed loudly. But then, his eyes caught sight of Chen Sixuan cowering in the corridor. His expression instantly changed to one of delight. ¡°Well, what do we have here? A pretty little lady!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s face went pale at the sight of Liu Wei¡¯s tentacles. His monstrous appearance, with glowing green eyes and squirming appendages, made him look no different from a creature out of a horror movie. An ability user?! Lin Xian¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He hadn¡¯t expected that the ambush would involve an ability user. This was his first encounter with one, and it was nothing like he had imagined. After all, who would have thought an ability could make someone grow tentacles? Was this an ability or nuclear radiation?! Thud! Without a word, Liu Wei smashed one of his tentacles against the windshield. The high-strength glass, 10-15 millimeters thick and capable of withstanding rifle fire, cracked in a spiderweb pattern under the impact. Lin Xian was shocked. The windshield, which could shrug off bullets with barely a scratch, was damaged with a single blow. Just how terrifying was this guy¡¯s strength?! Liu Wei, however, was equally surprised. He knew the strength of his tentacles and hadn¡¯t expected the glass to hold up. Clearly, the train¡¯s defensive capabilities were not to be underestimated. ¡°D*mn it!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned cold as he slammed on the brakes, bringing the train to a screeching halt. Caught off guard, Liu Wei, who hadn¡¯t expected the sudden stop, was thrown backward by the inertia and tumbled off the train. ¡°Lock the door!¡± Lin Xian rushed past Chen Sixuan, grabbed his short blade, and opened the cockpit¡¯s rear door. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Chen Sixuan exclaimed in shock as she watched him stop the train. ¡°Taking him out!¡± Lin Xian replied, leaping out and slamming the iron door shut behind him. He knew that an ability user like Liu Wei, who could keep up with a moving train and break through its defenses, couldn¡¯t be ignored. Hiding inside the train would only delay the inevitable. If the windshield was shattered, he would need hours to repair it¡ªtime he didn¡¯t have. Once night fell and his location was exposed, he¡¯d be an easy target for the eerie creatures like the centipede monster from last night. Liu Wei, covered in dirt, rose furiously. When he saw the young man leap from the train wielding a steel blade, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°What¡¯s this? A hero coming to save the damsel in distress?!¡± He sneered, his tentacles spreading out behind him, making him appear enormous. With an arrogant tone, he declared, ¡°Sorry, kid, but today I¡¯m taking your life, your train, and I¡¯ll take good care of your woman too!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. Without a word, he raised his hand and unleashed a charged Wind Cannon aimed directly at Liu Wei¡¯s face. Whoosh! The sharp blast of air shot forward. Liu Wei had just begun to react when he felt as though his forehead had been struck by a sledgehammer, sending him flying backward. ¡°Sh*t! Another ability user!¡± Liu Wei¡¯s heart raced in panic. He realized that Lin Xian, like himself, was an ability user. Having only recently awakened his abilities, Liu Wei lacked combat experience. Caught off guard, he had been hit hard, and cold sweat dripped down his back. Still, his enhanced body and reflexes allowed him to recover quickly. While airborne, one of his tentacles lashed out like lightning, wrapping around Lin Xian¡¯s ankle. The train tracks ran along a steep ravine. As Liu Wei tried to stabilize himself using his other tentacles, they tore through the wire fencing surrounding the tracks. Both he and Lin Xian tumbled down the slope, crashing into the depths below. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t anticipated the tentacles¡¯ speed or strength. Even after a close-range Wind Cannon, Liu Wei was merely sent flying with a shallow wound on his forehead. The defensive power of an ability user was terrifying. As Liu Wei¡¯s tentacle coiled around his ankle, Lin Xian felt an intense crushing force, making him gasp in pain. If not for his enhanced strength and defense, his ankle would have been snapped in an instant. Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! As the world spun around them, Liu Wei''s tentacles tore through several shrubs, but they failed to stop his descent. Lin Xian, meanwhile, abandoned his short blade, curled up with his hands over his head, and was dragged along by Liu Wei until both of them rolled to the bottom of the slope, landing near the riverbed. Excruciating pain! When Lin Xian finally managed to pry his eyes open, waves of searing agony radiated from every corner of his body. His first instinct was to scan his surroundings. Not far away, he spotted Liu Wei, his tentacles spread out as the man staggered to his feet. Because Liu Wei had been in front during the fall, his massive, tentacled form had absorbed most of the sharp rocks and vegetation along the way. Now, he was drenched in blood, looking utterly disheveled. ¡°Urgh! Fck this sht!¡± Though his defensive attributes had significantly increased, Liu Wei''s back was now mangled, the flesh torn to ribbons. One of his legs was dislocated, and the pain was so intense that he was grinding his molars to dust. Fueled by rage, Liu Wei glared at Lin Xian, who he had dragged down with him. For the first time, Liu Wei no longer underestimated him. This young man had managed to knock him back barehanded¡ªwhat kind of ability was this? Liu Wei couldn¡¯t make sense of it. In a situation like this, he knew he had to go all out. The only option was to strike first and decisively! But as Liu Wei focused his gaze on the fallen Lin Xian, he suddenly realized that the young man had already opened his eyes¡ªand was pointing a finger directly at his forehead. Oh, f*ck, not again! Having already suffered once, Liu Wei''s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively extended all four of his tentacles to shield his face. Yet, the anticipated attack didn¡¯t come. Instead, the sudden movement caused the wounds on Liu Wei''s back¡ªso deep that his bones were visible¡ªto tear open further. Blood gushed out like a stream, nearly causing him to faint from the pain. A feint?! Liu Wei had no time to cry out in pain. He peeled back his tentacles to find Lin Xian charging at him like a hunting dog, his hands clawing the ground for leverage. The young man closed the distance in an instant and, with a suicidal determination, delivered a devastating punch straight at Liu Wei¡¯s exposed face. Boom! The full-force blow nearly shattered Liu Wei''s nose, making his vision go black. His tentacles thrashed wildly in response, flailing at random in the air¡ªbut none of them landed a hit. He had never expected this seemingly young and inexperienced guy to be so ferocious, using a feint to create an opening and then striking with such precision and brutality. This was far beyond the reaction speed and combat instincts of someone like Liu Wei, who had spent most of his life running a vegetable stall in a marketplace. After suffering two crushing blows in quick succession, Liu Wei¡¯s confidence began to crumble. Fear crept into his heart. His convoy had only been on the road for a single day, and already, Liu Wei could feel the cold grip of death looming over him. Chapter 20: A Fight to the Death Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded wildly as he stared at Liu Wei, who was sprawled on the ground. The blood, the pain¡ªit all seemed to ignite a frenzy deep within him. I can¡¯t die. I don¡¯t want to die! The primal instinct for survival surged within him, numbing the searing pain that wracked his body. With Liu Wei momentarily knocked down, Lin Xian didn¡¯t waste even half a second. He turned and raised his hand, unleashing another Wind Cannon directly at Liu Wei¡¯s face. Whoosh! A bloody hole burst open on Liu Wei¡¯s face. ¡°AHHH!¡± Liu Wei howled in agony, his four tentacles whipping into action. They swept up the smooth pebbles from the riverbank and hurled them at Lin Xian with such force that the stones whistled through the air. Lin Xian didn¡¯t dare underestimate the attack and immediately sidestepped to evade. ¡°I¡¯ll crush you to death!¡± Liu Wei roared, his desperation driving him to madness. He furiously grabbed more rocks with his tentacles, launching them at Lin Xian with relentless force. Through the chaos, Liu Wei began to analyze the situation. The young man before him seemed to rely heavily on agility. Aside from that ranged attack, which acted like some kind of hidden weapon, the youth didn¡¯t appear to have any other threatening abilities. If he were truly powerful, Liu Wei reasoned, he would have already bombarded him non-stop like an automatic rifle. The fact that Lin Xian hadn¡¯t done so yet meant that his abilities likely consumed a significant amount of energy. Despite his brutish appearance, Liu Wei had a knack for keen observations. After all, years of running a small business had sharpened his sense of judgment. ¡°You¡¯re running out of tricks, aren¡¯t you?¡± Liu Wei sneered, trying to provoke Lin Xian. Lin Xian remained impassive, his expression unreadable. Raising his right hand, he pointed his index finger directly at Liu Wei¡¯s face. On instinct, Liu Wei raised his tentacles to shield his head. But while protecting his face, he couldn¡¯t see what Lin Xian was doing next, and that uncertainty unnerved him. Thinking quickly, Liu Wei split his focus. While two of his tentacles guarded his head, the other two scooped up more rocks and flung them at Lin Xian. Lin Xian, seeing Liu Wei¡¯s divided attention, narrowed his eyes. He tilted his head slightly to dodge a flying rock, then subtly shifted his aim downward. His finger was now pointed... at Liu Wei¡¯s crotch. Whoosh! The Wind Cannon tore through. Liu Wei¡¯s entire body shuddered violently as an explosive wave of pain overwhelmed him. He opened his mouth wide to scream, his face twisted in horror. He had spent the entire fight guarding against an attack to his head. He never imagined Lin Xian would aim for his ¡°little Liu Wei.¡± ¡°AAAAAAHHHHH!!!¡± As Liu Wei screamed, his focus shattered. In that fleeting moment of agony, Lin Xian darted forward like a ghost, closing the gap with terrifying speed. Sensing the approaching threat, Liu Wei¡¯s primal survival instincts kicked in. His four tentacles lashed out in unison, aiming to obliterate Lin Xian. ¡°Die, you bastard!¡± Boom! Liu Wei¡¯s tentacles smashed down with all their might, only to collide with a suddenly conjured ice wall. The impact shattered the wall into shards, sending icy fragments flying in all directions. Before Liu Wei could register what had happened, Lin Xian had already slipped through the gap. By the time Liu Wei turned his attention forward again, all he saw was... A single finger. A finger pointed directly at his eye. ¡°Wait!¡± In that split second, regret flooded Liu Wei¡¯s mind. Whoosh! The Wind Cannon pierced his left eye, leaving behind a bloody hole. Liu Wei¡¯s body stiffened as he collapsed backward, his once-defiant form now lifeless. He could never have imagined that despite possessing a ¡°Doctor Octopus¡±-level superpower, he would meet his end at the hands of a seemingly insignificant young man. He had ruled as a self-styled warlord for mere days, only to die so suddenly and absurdly. Cough, cough! Seeing Liu Wei fall, Lin Xian immediately spat out a few mouthfuls of clotted blood. But he didn¡¯t allow himself a moment of rest. He grabbed a large pebble from the ground, staggered over to Liu Wei¡¯s corpse, and raised the stone high. BAM! BAM! BAM! Each time the rock came down, Liu Wei¡¯s tentacles twitched in eerie, lifeless spasms. Lin Xian didn¡¯t stop until all movement ceased. Only then did he collapse onto the ground, gasping for breath. Huff... Huff... As the adrenaline subsided, waves of sharp pain coursed through Lin Xian¡¯s body. From the intensity of the battle, he was fortunate not to have fractured any bones, but he could feel internal injuries and numerous external wounds all over his body. Suddenly, a strange light flickered across the sky, catching his eye. His expression shifted. ¡°Crap!¡± Meanwhile, back on the train, Chen Sixuan was pressed deep into the corridor, her nerves stretched taut as she stared at the cockpit door that was being pounded on repeatedly. ¡°Open the door! Open it now!¡± Bang, bang, bang! A yellow-haired thug climbed onto the windshield, slamming the butt of his handgun against the glass with all his might. However, aside from the initial cracks caused by Liu Wei earlier, the windshield remained unscathed. ¡°Get the hell out of the way!¡± Another man climbed up, kicking the yellow-haired thug aside. With a cigarette in his mouth, he aimed an assault rifle at the windshield and unleashed a volley of bullets. Rat-a-tat-tat! Sparks flew, and stray rounds ricocheted off the glass. ¡°D*mn, this thing is tough! Is this bulletproof glass?!¡± ¡°Watch it, Da Fei! Bullets don¡¯t have eyes!¡± ¡°The door won¡¯t budge either¡ªunless we get a cutting tool.¡± ¡°Cutting tool? Where the f*ck am I supposed to find one right now?¡± ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s just leave for now. It¡¯s almost nightfall.¡± At the mention of nightfall, the group of thugs all froze for a moment. ¡°The guy¡¯s dead anyway, thanks to Brother Wei. The chick¡¯s as good as canned meat¡ªwe¡¯ll come back for her tomorrow with better tools.¡± ¡°Heh, don¡¯t worry, I stacked some rocks on the tracks. That train isn¡¯t going anywhere!¡± ¡°Oh, Da Fei, about the Zhao family¡¯s car that Brother Wei used to block the road... there¡¯s no space left in the convoy. What should we do? Let them squeeze in somewhere?¡± ¡°Squeeze in? Screw that! Tell them to f*ck off. They didn¡¯t bring much to the table anyway, dragging their whole damn family around.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll just leave them, then...¡± Cursing and grumbling, the group finally left. Inside the train, Chen Sixuan watched the clock in the carriage, its hands ticking away second by second. Her heart felt like it was lodged in her throat. Is he dead? Night is falling. What do I do...? Her face was tense, her body frozen as she clung tightly to the lever by the door, forcing herself to remain rational. Ten minutes later, frantic knocking suddenly echoed from outside. Startled, Chen Sixuan thought it might be Lin Xian and was about to respond when a woman¡¯s urgent voice cried out from the other side. ¡°Is anyone there? Please, is anyone inside? I¡¯m begging you, let my family in!¡± ¡°Miss!¡± A bespectacled man climbed up to the window near the cockpit. When he spotted Chen Sixuan, he immediately pleaded, ¡°Please, can you open the door and let us in to hide? It¡¯s almost nightfall!¡± ¡°I¡¯m begging you!¡± the woman outside wailed desperately. Amidst her cries, a baby¡¯s sharp wailing pierced the air, its ¡°wah, wah¡± sounds chilling to the core. ¡°Miss, please, we won¡¯t eat anything, we won¡¯t take anything. We just need a place to hide!¡± ¡°Our car is destroyed¡ªwe have nowhere else to go!¡± ¡°Sob, sob...¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you, show some kindness.¡± ¡°Here, here!¡± The woman¡¯s voice turned hysterical. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust us, can you at least save my baby? He¡¯s so little, he won¡¯t eat much¡ªplease!¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you!¡± The woman¡¯s cries, the man¡¯s pleas, the baby¡¯s screams¡ªall these voices bombarded Chen Sixuan. Curled up in a corner, she clamped her hands over her ears, tears streaming silently down her face. Inside, she was screaming, Stop it! Please, stop shouting... The clock in the cockpit continued to tick. Gradually, the cries faded. The desperate knocking ceased. Night had fallen. Chapter 21: Teacher As the light dimmed in an instant, Chen Sixuan scrambled on her knees into the cockpit. Using Lin Xian''s phone flashlight, she quickly checked the train¡¯s travel mileage. Then, she returned to the corner, pulled out her notebook, and, trembling, carefully recorded: "Day 1, departed from Jiang City, travel time: 50 minutes, distance: 54 kilometers, daylight hours: 16:00 to 18:45." Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes kept trembling, her entire being on the verge of collapse. She seemed possessed, forcing herself not to think about what was happening outside. She tried not to think about Lin Xian, not about that family of three, not about the darkness outside, and especially not about her impending death... Suddenly, the cockpit door automatically opened, and the corridor lights turned on. Startled, Chen Sixuan fell back onto the floor. The door opened, and Lin Xian, covered in blood and wielding a short blade, leapt inside. Chen Sixuan was overjoyed. She immediately got up to close and lock the door tightly. Then, to prevent the light in the hallway from leaking into the darkness outside, she shut the small door leading into the cockpit as well. ¡°Lin... Lin, are you okay?¡± Chen Sixuan knelt in the carriage, staring in shock at Lin Xian, who was now covered in wounds. ¡°I¡¯m not dead.¡± Lin Xian grabbed a bottle of water from behind, twisted it open, and downed half of it in big gulps before finally exhaling deeply. Seeing him in such a bloodied state, Chen Sixuan quickly pulled out a towel to wipe him down. But Lin Xian grabbed her wrist. ¡°Ah... what¡¯s wrong?¡± Chen Sixuan looked up in surprise, meeting Lin Xian¡¯s piercing gaze. His eyes were cold as ice, and he questioned her in a sharp tone, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you open the door earlier?¡± In truth, Lin Xian had been climbing up for a while. Although injured, he knew that Da Fei and his group would definitely leave before nightfall. So, he had hidden on the slope for a bit, looking for his short blade in the process. Chen Sixuan raised her eyes to look at him. Seeing his serious expression, she bit her lip, lowered her gaze, and, after a moment of silence, replied softly, ¡°If I had opened the door, wouldn¡¯t you have thrown me out as well?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was cold as ice. Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression darkened. Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s blunt response, she seemed deflated, leaning weakly against the wall. Her eyes filled with pain as she shut them tightly, and silent tears streamed down her face. Lin Xian let out a small sigh. Watching Chen Sixuan cry, he finally spoke. ¡°You hesitated out of kindness¡ªI understand that.¡± ¡°As humans, when we ignore the suffering of others, anyone with a shred of conscience is bound to feel pain.¡± Hearing his words, Chen Sixuan¡¯s emotions completely crumbled. She threw herself into Lin Xian¡¯s arms, her slender shoulders shaking. Her sobs turned into uncontrollable wails, full of heartbreak and regret. She cried without any restraint, like a child admitting to a terrible mistake. ¡°I really didn¡¯t know what to do...¡± Lin Xian gently held her trembling body and said in a low voice, ¡°There¡¯s a saying in Buddhism: ¡®Before saving others, save yourself. Before saving yourself, save your heart. If the heavens won¡¯t help, help yourself.¡¯ If you can¡¯t even protect yourself, there¡¯s no way you can protect anyone else. If you had opened the door, not only would those three people have died, but you would¡¯ve died too¡ªdragging me down with you.¡± ¡°I know...¡± Chen Sixuan wept, her tear-streaked face full of self-blame and guilt. ¡°But I heard the baby crying. That baby... it sounded like it was only a few months old...¡± A maternal instinct naturally surged within her. At that moment, Chen Sixuan felt like she had turned into a monster, a heartless demon. Lin Xian remained expressionless as he watched Chen Sixuan¡¯s near-breakdown. With a faint sigh, he said, ¡°If I told you it was all fake, what would you think?¡± Chen Sixuan, still buried in his arms and sobbing, froze upon hearing his words. Slowly, she looked up with teary, clouded eyes and asked, ¡°W-What... did you say?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened slightly as he explained, ¡°We¡¯re right near Yushan Station. Even without the train, the safest option would¡¯ve been to hide in the station. But as soon as that group left, that family of three came knocking on the door¡ªit was too deliberate. And... have you ever seen a mother cruel enough to pinch her baby to make it cry on purpose?¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s pupils trembled violently upon hearing this. Tears glistened in her eyes, and her face was filled with disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re saying... they were lying?¡± Lin Xian gave a helpless smile. ¡°Ms. Chen, you¡¯ve heard the story of ¡®The Boy Who Cried Wolf,¡¯ haven¡¯t you? If I¡¯m not mistaken, that ¡®family of three¡¯ was deliberately sent by the group to trick us into opening the door.¡± In the apocalypse, everyone feared for their lives. Exploiting others¡¯ sympathy had indeed proven to be an effective strategy. And as it happened, Lin Xian had just experienced a similar situation the day before... Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s explanation, Chen Sixuan covered her mouth in shock. She found it hard to believe that people could be so despicable. Then she thought of Director Liang, and a chill ran through her body. She felt she had been too nai?ve. At this moment, she truly understood the depth of human malice. Chen Sixuan felt utterly drained, her eyes blank and unfocused. Lin Xian glanced at her. He had to admit, her reaction brought him a sense of relief. He deeply understood how treacherous people could be in the apocalypse. If Chen Sixuan had been a bleeding heart, even going so far as to plead with him to open the door, he wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to abandon her entirely. He couldn¡¯t afford to trust such a teammate to guard the train. But this incident gave him a subtle shift in perspective on Chen Sixuan. In a short span of time, this woman, once a campus queen adored by all, had shown remarkable courage. It proved that she wasn¡¯t just highly intelligent but also possessed extraordinary resilience. To be honest, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel a faint sense of admiration for her. ¡°Am I just... too stupid?¡± Chen Sixuan broke the silence after a long pause. Lin Xian adjusted his posture and replied with a faint smile, ¡°Very stupid, and very nai?ve.¡± Hearing his evaluation, Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression turned self-deprecating, and she let out a silent laugh. Lin Xian, having just survived a brutal battle, was in considerable pain. He glanced toward the corner where their supplies were stored and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? Why haven¡¯t you eaten anything?¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes widened at his words, and she replied seriously, ¡°You... you didn¡¯t give me permission to eat.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze turned peculiar as he looked at her. His expression was a mix of amusement and disbelief. ¡°Ms. Chen, you¡¯re adorable.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Chen Sixuan asked, her face puzzled. ¡°I mean, Ms. Chen, right now, I feel like sleeping with you.¡± ¡°Huh...?¡± Chen Sixuan was completely caught off guard by Lin Xian¡¯s blunt statement. Before she could react, Lin Xian pulled her into his arms. She panicked instantly, squirming like a frightened rabbit and stammered, ¡°W-Wait, Lin, aren¡¯t you injured?¡± ¡°Ah, does it have to be now?¡± ¡°Hold on, you¡¯re covered in blood...¡± ¡°Lin Xian, I... I¡¯ve never done this before...¡± ¡°Wait, wait! I-I have... that... in my bag...¡± The night was as dark as ink, and snowflakes swirled gently outside. However, not far away, on a sofa, a young girl lay sleeping. Her eyes remained closed, but her delicate brows gradually furrowed... Chapter 22: The Doomed Convoy Beep, beep. Inside Carriage No. 1, Lin Xian lay on a comfortable memory foam mattress, savoring the soft warmth of the person in his arms. After two consecutive sleepless nights, he finally managed to get some decent rest. He glanced at the time. 14:00. Fortunately, the night had been peaceful and uneventful. It was still dark outside. Lin Xian had preset his watch to observe the exact time daylight would return. The night was far too long, and they had slept far too much. The woman lying on him, Chen Sixuan, had already woken up. She remained silent, but when Lin Xian stirred, she blushed furiously and quickly got dressed, pulling up her pants. In a small voice, she said to him, ¡°They seem to have blocked the tracks with rocks.¡± Lin Xian pulled her into his arms, lowered his head, and placed a light kiss on her fragrant lips. He replied, ¡°I know. I dealt with it before I got on the train.¡± Chen Sixuan, feeling shy, slipped out of his embrace. She picked up the travel logbook and started speaking to herself, ¡°Counting the distance from Yushan Station, we covered 54 kilometers yesterday. Based on the survivors¡¯ shared information, daylight should return by 17:00 today.¡± After their intimate night, she couldn¡¯t help but avoid looking directly at Lin Xian as she spoke. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Lin Xian said, glancing at his watch. ¡°This distance may not be enough to notice a significant change.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Since it was still pitch dark outside, the two kept their voices low as they took out some food and water for a quick meal. Lin Xian leaned against the corridor, pressing a hand to the floor as he probed the outside situation. He also took a moment to check his injuries, and as expected, his recovery was astonishingly fast. As an Ability User, his body was qualitatively different from an ordinary person¡¯s. Furthermore, after yesterday¡¯s life-or-death battle with Liu Wei, Lin Xian¡¯s Wind Cannon Skill had improved significantly: [Wind Cannon LV.1: 25/100] [Ice Shield LV.1: 6/100] Yesterday¡¯s fight had pushed Lin Xian to his absolute limits. For the first time, he realized just how ruthless and decisive he could be, maintaining a chilling calm in critical moments. He even found himself impressed with his own composure. Time ticked by. Lin Xian stared at his watch as the minutes passed. 15:00¡ªstill dark. 16:00¡ªstill no daylight. The later the sunrise, the faster they needed to flee. What worried Lin Xian most was the possibility of no change in daylight time. That would truly be despairing. The temperature had already dropped to around 0¡ãC. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan both put on long-sleeve clothes to keep warm. Thankfully, he had looted a bunch of new quilts and memory foam mattresses from the furniture store;otherwise, they¡¯d be stuck sleeping on cold, hard beds in this freezing weather. Finally, at 16:48, a streak of light flashed across the sky. The darkness abruptly retreated, and the setting sun hung low on the horizon! ¡°It¡¯s daytime!¡± Chen Sixuan exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with joy. Daylight had come 12 minutes earlier than the predicted time of 17:00, a small but hopeful sign that they were escaping the Polar Night. Lin Xian opened the door to the corridor, and he and Chen Sixuan stepped into the cockpit together. They stared at the sunlight outside, their eyes filled with both surprise and worry. The joy came from the fact that daylight had arrived earlier than expected, confirming that they were indeed making progress in escaping the endless night. The worry came from the realization that a mere 12-minute improvement was like a drop in the bucket. Chen Sixuan quickly regained her composure. Picking up the travel logbook, she began calculating, ¡°If daylight arrived 12 minutes earlier, and we only covered 54 kilometers yesterday, then to reach 17:00 daylight tomorrow, we¡¯d need to travel at least 270 kilometers!¡± ¡°More or less,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That matches the broadcast information we heard. But don¡¯t get too optimistic. We¡¯re not traveling in a straight line, and covering 270 kilometers would take at least three hours at our current speed¡ªunless we accelerate.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression dimmed at his words. ¡°Yeah, but we can¡¯t go too fast. There¡¯s no guarantee someone won¡¯t try to block the tracks with cars or rocks again...¡± In just two days, they had faced constant dangers, each time brushing past death. The thought weighed heavily on Chen Sixuan, filling her with anxiety. Vroom! The Infinite Train¡¯s ten-cylinder heavy gas turbine engine roared to life. Lin Xian took the driver¡¯s seat and glanced back at Chen Sixuan. ¡°Ms. Chen, hold on tight.¡± Hearing Lin Xian still call her ¡°Ms. Chen,¡± Chen Sixuan felt a surge of awkwardness and unease. After all, the two of them had already... Did he have some sort of fetish? Was he into that taboo ¡°teacher-student¡± dynamic? Unaware of Chen Sixuan¡¯s overthinking, Lin Xian drove the train into reverse. Seeing the train moving backward, Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression turned to shock. ¡°We¡¯re reversing?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian replied solemnly. ¡°We¡¯re heading back to Yushan Station to check things out.¡± With Liu Wei dead, his convoy was bound to fall into chaos without its leader, especially as night approached. Without Liu Wei, an Ability User, any remaining lackeys with guns posed little threat to Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan as long as they stayed on the train. He had already taken down their leader;it would feel like a waste not to reap some rewards. Moreover, Lin Xian now felt a faint sense of hope. If they could just keep pushing forward, they might truly escape the Polar Night. For someone who had endured months of this hellish survival, this was undoubtedly an encouraging sign. Clang, clang¡ª The sound of the train echoed steadily as it rolled along the tracks. Before long, the heavy locomotive slowly backed into Yushan Station, and the scene that greeted Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan made their expressions change drastically. The platform was in complete ruins. The ¡°Oasis¡± convoy had been entirely wiped out. The off-road vehicles and jeeps parked there were smeared with grotesque bloodstains, while the station¡¯s ground was practically soaked in crimson. Several members of the convoy had already turned into zombies, their bodies completely blackened. They stood there groaning, lifeless yet terrifying. Among them, Chen Sixuan recognized one of the zombified men¡ªit was the bespectacled, seemingly cultured middle-aged man who had pretended to be the ¡°father¡± of the fake family of three the previous day. Who could have imagined that in just one night, everyone would perish? ¡°Ah¡ª!¡± ¡°Lin Xian, look!¡± Chen Sixuan gasped, pointing toward the station¡¯s waiting hall. The relatively small waiting hall had been almost completely overrun. But what shocked the two the most was the sight of several large, insect-like legs scattered near the waiting hall¡¯s entrance! Chen Sixuan¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Oh my god... what kind of monster is this?¡± Lin Xian frowned, his thoughts flashing back to the insect-like creature he had glimpsed near Warehouse 14. A chill ran through him. He had driven over 50 kilometers yesterday. Could it have caught up to them? Lin Xian still had no clues about that strange creature or the pale giant. It was as if they appeared out of nowhere in the dark of night, only to vanish completely with the sunrise. If it weren¡¯t for the massive insect legs right before them, who would believe that such horrifying monsters could suddenly emerge in this world? Leaning against the train window, Lin Xian observed the scene carefully for a while before finally speaking, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. It¡¯s daytime now, so these things shouldn¡¯t come out.¡± Still, internally, he was cursing. He had just started to consider moving at night, and now reality slapped him right in the face. If these creatures were following him, how was he supposed to travel freely? ¡°Are we still going down there?¡± Chen Sixuan asked hesitantly. ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Xian gritted his teeth. Since they were already here, and the ¡°Oasis¡± convoy had fallen, this was a perfect opportunity to scavenge their remaining supplies. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go too.¡± Chen Sixuan clenched her fists, but Lin Xian stopped her with a raised hand. ¡°Hold on. Let me go first. I¡¯ll take care of those zombies, and then you can come down.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded obediently. Gripping his short blade, Lin Xian activated the train¡¯s cockpit door and leapt down. The moment he landed, he unleashed several Wind Cannon blasts, cleanly blowing the heads off the zombies on the platform. Although the skill consumed some energy, Lin Xian preferred not to risk alarming anything else. The Wind Cannon was quiet, making it ideal for surprise attacks. Thud. Thud. Thud. One by one, the zombies collapsed. Only then did Lin Xian notice the overwhelming stench of blood in the air. He wrinkled his brows in disgust. The platform was riddled with bullet holes and littered with severed limbs. Clearly, a brutal battle had taken place here last night. Having witnessed the monstrosity of these creatures firsthand, Lin Xian was certain that regular firearms would have done little to harm them. This scene only confirmed how futile the convoy¡¯s resistance must have been. Chapter 23: The Train’s Little Thief ¡°Ugh!¡± The overwhelmingly gruesome scene finally broke Chen Sixuan¡¯s psychological defenses. As she stepped off the train, the stench of blood hit her like a wall, and she immediately began dry heaving. Lin Xian was about to comfort her, but she raised a hand and said, ¡°No... no need. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Her face was deathly pale, but Lin Xian could tell she was making a great effort to adjust to the horrific sight before her. Understanding this, he said nothing more. ¡°Be careful. There might still be survivors... or more zombies.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded, and the two began scavenging the parked off-road vehicles on the platform. Almost immediately, they discovered a large stash of water and food originally stocked by the Oasis convoy. ¡°There¡¯s so much food!¡± Deliberately avoiding looking at the corpses on the ground, Chen Sixuan opened the car doors and started gathering supplies. Lin Xian swept his gaze around. Most of the supplies here were relatively intact, which made him frown. He surmised that the Oasis convoy¡¯s downfall wasn¡¯t caused by human attackers¡ªotherwise, the supplies would have been looted already. His eyes fell on the massive insect legs scattered nearby, and his heart sank. Vroom! Lin Xian opened the hydraulic liftgate of Carriage No. 3 and called to Chen Sixuan, ¡°Time is tight. Just toss everything inside for now;we¡¯ll sort it out on the way.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± And so, the two began working together, scavenging every bit of usable supplies from the devastated convoy. What Lin Xian didn¡¯t expect, however, was that the Chen Sixuan who had been gagging every few steps and frowning constantly was now completely consumed by the excitement of finding resources. Energized, she moved back and forth between the cars and the train, carrying supplies as if she¡¯d completely adapted to the situation. At one moment, she excitedly told Lin Xian that she had found a large box of instant noodles. In another, she let out a cheer after discovering several crates of canned food. Then, from one of the cars, she somehow managed to unearth a basket full of bottles and containers¡ªskincare and shampoo products¡ªand immediately started jumping with joy. Watching her confidently running around the corpses without hesitation, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but marvel at her adaptability, which far exceeded his expectations. ¡°Look, Lin Xian! What¡¯s this?¡± At that moment, Chen Sixuan found a black leather case inside a large Raptor truck. Opening it, she discovered a purple plastic rod, a small perforated cup, some indescribably lacy lingerie, and even a USB drive carefully preserved in a small box labeled ¡°Precious Teacher Materials.¡± ¡°¡®Teacher materials?¡¯¡± Chen Sixuan mumbled to herself, remembering that she was a teacher. Curiosity piqued, she thought it might be something important. She pulled out the purple plastic rod with a puzzled look, but as soon as she saw the strange clothing inside, realization dawned on her. ¡°Aah!¡± She let out a small cry and immediately threw everything away, sneaking a glance at Lin Xian. Her face turned bright red in embarrassment. Lin Xian found it amusing. While he understood that such "personal needs" were normal, bringing so much ¡°gear¡± on a doomsday escape was a bold choice. Clearly, someone in the Oasis convoy had been... resourceful. The Oasis convoy, having left Jiang City just two days ago, had already been completely wiped out, leaving Lin Xian to reap the benefits. For over half an hour, the two tirelessly loaded the train with supplies. Lin Xian estimated that even if they ate three full meals a day, the amount of food they had collected would last them at least two months. By any measure, it was an enormous haul! He couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Liu Wei¡¯s audacity. He¡¯d seen bandits block roads, and even vehicles, but blocking a train? That was a first. Liu Wei¡¯s overconfidence as an Ability User ultimately led to his death¡ªnot undeserved, in Lin Xian¡¯s opinion. And yet, it had left him with a windfall. However, after searching for a while, Lin Xian only found three rifles and one handgun at the scene. All were in poor condition, and there wasn¡¯t a single bullet left. ¡°To fight so viciously... what kind of monster was it?¡± Lin Xian frowned deeply. He took the guns off the corpses, but without bullets, they were practically useless. ¡°Maybe I should just devour them...¡± Still, Lin Xian felt it would be wasteful to immediately consume guns that had been so hard to find, even if they were in bad shape. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll take them for now.¡± ¡°Almost done. Let¡¯s get moving,¡± Lin Xian said, raising the hydraulic liftgate to secure the supplies. The most important task now was to get back on the road. They had gathered everything useful they could. Clang. Clang. The Infinite Train was ready to depart once more. At that moment, Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart encompassed the entire train, and he suddenly detected movement inside... His brow furrowed immediately. Turning to Chen Sixuan, he gestured for silence. Noticing the seriousness in his expression, Chen Sixuan¡¯s face also changed, her gaze shifting toward the train. ¡°Is there someone on board?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened as he remembered the unconscious girl still onboard¡ªa complete unknown to him. ¡°It¡¯s that girl!¡± Chen Sixuan finally realized. Lin Xian stood frozen for a moment, half exasperated, half amused. The girl who had been unconscious for three days had apparently been playing a sneaky game with him. Clang! The Infinite Train¡¯s cockpit door opened as Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan entered one after the other, shutting it firmly behind them. Lin Xian promptly started the train and then turned to Chen Sixuan. ¡°Ms. Chen, be careful. That girl likely has some sort of ability. Let me handle her.¡± Not wanting to waste time while on the move, and wary of the girl¡¯s potential powers, Lin Xian decided to ensure Chen Sixuan¡¯s safety by leaving her behind. ¡°Okay, be careful,¡± Chen Sixuan replied, still full of curiosity. She had been puzzled by the girl¡¯s condition¡ªhow could someone sleep for three days without waking? With time of the essence, Lin Xian had to not only drive the train but also deal with the girl. Chen Sixuan, therefore, took on the responsibility of monitoring the road ahead. As Lin Xian entered Carriage No. 1, he found the sofa empty. On the floor lay a few lengths of rope, clearly untied. Slowing his steps, Lin Xian began closing the doors between carriages as he moved, intending to trap her. When he reached Carriage No. 2, a wooden stick suddenly swung toward him from the front, accompanied by a sharp shout: ¡°Hee-yah!¡± The girl had clearly used all her strength, determined to succeed in her ambush. However, Lin Xian¡¯s speed had already surpassed that of an ordinary human, and he had been on guard. The moment the stick appeared, his hand shot out and caught it firmly in midair. Realizing her sneak attack had failed, the girl¡¯s expression changed drastically. She screamed, ¡°Ah!¡± and immediately dropped the stick, turning to run toward the next carriage, attempting to shut the door behind her. What she didn¡¯t know was that the entire train was under Lin Xian¡¯s control. If he wanted the door open, it would open. Clack! The door she had just closed swung open again. Lin Xian, his face cold, stepped forward, gripping his short blade tightly. ¡°I was wondering why you didn¡¯t wake up after so long. No hunger? No bathroom breaks? Turns out you could untie yourself this whole time,¡± Lin Xian said mockingly. ¡°Ah!¡± The girl, clutching half a piece of bread, was so frightened by Lin Xian¡¯s imposing presence that she ran while shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer! Don¡¯t come any closer!¡± She retreated as far as Carriage No. 3 without realizing it, her path now blocked. In a moment of desperation, her eyes darted around before she grabbed a cardboard box and hurled it at Lin Xian. Taking advantage of the moment he dodged, she tried to slip past him and run in the opposite direction. Lin Xian remained cautious. He suspected the girl possessed a powerful ability, so he secretly prepared his Wind Cannon and was ready to deploy his Ice Shield for defense at any moment. To his surprise, the girl merely threw a cardboard box at him. Bewildered, Lin Xian hesitated. Just as the girl attempted to dart past him, Lin Xian raised a hand, caught her wrist, and yanked her back. A quick trip of his foot sent her tumbling to the ground, where she cried out in pain. ¡°Ow¡ª! I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry! Big brother, please don¡¯t kill me!¡± Lin Xian frowned. He had subdued her far too easily, encountering none of the resistance he¡¯d expected. Yet he distinctly remembered this girl hurling Grandpa Li through the air during the night with apparent ease. His suspicions deepened as he noticed a faint trace of cunning flash in her tear-filled eyes. Instantly, his guard shot up. She¡¯s acting! Playing along, Lin Xian coldly rebuked, ¡°You stole my food, then tried to ambush me? Is this how you repay the person who saved your life?¡± Sensing that Lin Xian didn¡¯t intend to kill her, the girl doubled down on her performance, her face flushed as she pleaded even more dramatically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry! Please don¡¯t kill me!¡± Pinned beneath him, the girl flailed wildly. Her short shorts revealed two smooth, bare legs kicking with all their might, struggling to escape. Chapter 24: The Dawn Project Lin Xian firmly pinned the girl to the ground, preventing her from escaping easily. "Since you''re awake, why are you pretending to sleep? What exactly is your purpose!?" The girl struggled fiercely, stubbornly replying, "I... I..." Lin Xian''s expression turned cold as he brought the blade across her line of sight. "Do you think I''ll go easy on you just because you''re a woman?" Seeing the steel blade glinting with a chilling light, the girl''s eyes widened in shock. She immediately pleaded, "I was wrong! Please don''t kill me! Let go of me! I can barely breathe!" At this moment, her face was flushed red as she was subdued by him. Lin Xian frowned. He couldn''t help but think, Wasn''t this girl the one who blasted through my door earlier? How does she suddenly have no strength to resist now? Just as he was pondering, the girl suddenly burst into tears. "Ugh, ugh, please don''t kill me! I''ll do anything, as long as you spare me!" Before the words even fully left her lips, the girl suddenly turned her head and sank her teeth into Lin Xian''s ankle. "Hiss!" A sharp, piercing pain shot through him. Lin Xian''s expression darkened. D*** it! This girl is as cunning as I suspected, ambushing me when I let my guard down! Enduring the pain, Lin Xian raised his blade and smacked her directly on the forehead. Bang! A crisp sound echoed as the girl let out a sharp cry of pain before fainting on the spot. "Still pretending?!" Lin Xian was furious. At this point, he had no intention of showing any mercy. He went to the toolbox in the 3rd carriage and pulled out a bundle of nylon cable ties. After tying up the girl''s hands and feet securely, he finally felt a little more at ease. Leaning against the side of the carriage, he glanced at his ankle, where a bite mark stood out vividly. "F***, am I going to turn into a zombie now?" Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the girl, with her head lowered, muttered angrily, "You''re the zombie! Your whole family are zombies!" Lin Xian''s gaze turned cold. "What, not pretending to faint anymore?" "Speak up. What''s your name? What''s your purpose? Or you can choose to say nothing, and I''ll throw you off the train right now." He drew a short blade, his tone icy, leaving no doubt that he meant every word. Clank, clank. The train moved steadily forward. The walkie-talkie remained silent, and Teacher Chen hadn''t sent any updates, which meant the tracks ahead were clear. "My name is Kiki," the girl finally said. Her tone changed completely¡ªfrom the innocent and soft, cutesy voice she had used earlier to a much colder and indifferent one. Hah, so it was all an act. "How did you find me? What''s your purpose? And why were you pretending to sleep this whole time? Don''t make me keep asking questions¡ªyou should be well aware of your situation." Kiki, with her head still lowered, sighed suddenly. Tied up as she was, she struggled to sit up, glaring at Lin Xian. Despite her face being streaked with tears and her eyes still red, there wasn''t a trace of grievance in her expression. Her ability to cry and switch emotions on a dime was honestly impressive. "What else? That day, weren''t you the one waving a flag on the rooftop?" A flag? Lin Xian frowned. "Are you telling me you were in that helicopter?" "Of course," Kiki replied blankly, giving him a sidelong glance. "Go on." "Didn''t you see? The helicopter crashed." "And then?" "I had nowhere else to go." "And?" "You peeked at my underwear." "..." "What?" Lin Xian frowned deeply. Kiki bit her lip and muttered quietly, "Yes, I woke up the next day. But I didn''t know who you were or where I was. When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was you..." Lin Xian''s expression shifted. "And so?" "And so I naturally assumed you were..." "A pervert?" Lin Xian interjected. "So, the reason you pretended to be unconscious was to steal food and ambush me?" "Not exactly," Kiki said, looking aggrieved. "I just wanted to escape, but I never got the chance." Lin Xian''s expression shifted unpredictably before he finally spat out, "Fine. You think I''m some psycho holding you captive, right? Then go ahead. Leave." Lin Xian glanced at the setting sun outside and said bluntly, "Since you''re so smart, I''m sure you''ll figure out a way to survive out there. Judging by your background, why don''t you just have your father come save you?" His tone was icy, carrying a hint of probing intent. "My dad''s dead," Kiki replied flatly, her voice devoid of any sadness. The carriage fell silent for a moment. "That has nothing to do with me," Lin Xian said, standing up decisively. "Wait! I admit I initially wanted to run away, but now I realize I misunderstood you. Please, don''t throw me off the train, okay?" Kiki pleaded hurriedly. Lin Xian chuckled coldly. "You didn''t suddenly realize you misunderstood me. You just figured out you wouldn¡¯t survive out there." The girl was indeed clever, but Lin Xian remained calm and indifferent as he looked at her. "Sorry, you¡¯re of no value to me." Hearing this, Kiki panicked and quickly blurted, "Wait, take me to Jinhai! My dad was the chairman of Linglong Group and a secondary investor in the Dawn Project. He had access to the Dawn Project''s Saturated Rescue Program, and after his death, that privilege passed to me. If you take me to Jinhai, someone will come to get me. Then, I can provide you with any supplies you need¡ªor even arrange for you to become a third-class citizen under the Dawn Project, allowing you to move into the underground city." The orange glow of the setting sun filtered through the gridded armor of the 3rd carriage, retreating across their bodies as the train moved forward. Lin Xian frowned as he listened to her words. He had indeed heard of the Dawn Project. During the initial stages of the Apocalypse, countless versions of this plan had circulated online. Some claimed it was an official underground city project meant to help people survive the end times, while others said it was part of a rogue starship program designed to preserve the flame of human civilization. Speculation ran wild, accompanied by countless conspiracy theories, leaving the truth murky. "Not interested," Lin Xian said flatly, his response completely contrary to Kiki''s expectations. His tone remained as calm as water, and he directly rejected her offer. "You don''t believe me?" "Even if I did, I''m still not interested," Lin Xian replied firmly, his eyes cold as they bore into her. "Not only am I uninterested, I find this conversation boring. You might as well jump off yourself, so I don¡¯t have to do it for you." Whether Kiki''s words were true or not, Lin Xian genuinely didn''t care. Compared to the so-called third-class citizenship in some underground city, he had far more faith in his own ability. As long as he made good use of his powers, his chances of survival were high. At least higher than being buried underground, where he might lose all sense of autonomy. Kiki¡¯s eyes flickered with panic under Lin Xian''s indifferent gaze, though she quickly concealed her emotions and sneered at him. "Why aren¡¯t you interested in the Dawn Project? Are you planning to rely on this train instead?" "Let me be blunt: your plan is ridiculously naive. Have you even thought this through? The outside world is already collapsing. Without maintenance engineers, the planetary rail network won¡¯t hold. One-fifth of the 320,000-kilometer track system is over oceans. What will you do if the tracks break? What if the train is damaged? What if supplies run out? What about storms, tsunamis, or earthquakes?" Chapter 25: Pleading "Not even a hundred kilometers in, and you''ve already run into two groups trying to rob you. Do you think you''ll always have such good luck? Besides, there are only two of you. That woman with you probably can¡¯t even handle a single zombie. What are you going to do when you run into a zombie horde? Do you have heating equipment? A radar system? After stopping, don¡¯t you need a sentry system for safety? A defense system? Transporting supplies might be easy, but what about transportation machinery?" "And another thing! Humans are fragile. With the global plague running rampant, what will you do if someone gets infected or sick? You¡¯ll need doctors and antibiotics, right? Long-term vitamin deficiencies mean you¡¯ll need vegetables and fruits. Do you have a medical system? Industrial exoskeletons? A repair system? Drone reconnaissance? And what if you encounter a glacier¡ªdo you have an icebreaker shield? If you need to repair tracks, you¡¯ll need steel, small railcars, and a track-lifting system, right? Can you handle all of that? Honestly, your so-called Infinite Train Project probably wouldn¡¯t last a thousand kilometers before breaking down completely. It¡¯ll be game over, shut down, bye-bye!¡± Kiki''s voice grew more heated, her wide eyes glaring as her chest heaved in frustration. She clenched her neat little teeth over and over again. Hearing Lin Xian dismiss the Dawn Project and stubbornly focus on running his train made her visibly agitated. Perhaps feeling cornered, her expression became serious. She glanced at the blade above her head, speaking urgently. Lin Xian was dumbfounded. Instead of getting angry, his eyes lit up with increasing interest. "Wait... slow down. Sentry systems, defense systems, radar systems, transport machinery, medical systems, industrial exoskeletons, repair systems, drone reconnaissance... What else?!" His curiosity was piqued. Suddenly, he felt that her words had given him a lot of inspiration for his mechanical abilities. Kiki¡¯s mouth hung slightly open, her wide eyes filled with disbelief. She had poured cold water all over his proud plans, criticizing them from start to finish. But instead of flying into a rage, Lin Xian seemed genuinely excited, as though he were planning to follow her suggestions. "Did you even understand what I said?!" Kiki shouted, exasperated. "Of course I did. You''re saying I need to prepare these systems to make my train faster and more reliable!" Lin Xian replied with utmost seriousness. "Were you also going to suggest installing railguns and unified mecha systems on the train if necessary?" "You...!" "That''s it? Nothing more? Alright then, goodbye!" Lin Xian¡¯s face suddenly turned cold, his demeanor shifting so quickly that it was utterly unfeeling. "Hey, hey, hey!" Seeing Lin Xian rise and prepare to throw her off the train again, Kiki finally lost all composure. She looked up at him in panic, her face full of desperation. "Big Brother! Big Brother! Can¡¯t we discuss this? Fine, fine¡ªI''ll do it! I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll be like that woman and let you sleep with me!" Hearing this, Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. "What did you just say?!" Kiki¡¯s eyes darted nervously as she stammered, "But... but you¡¯d have to wait a few months until I turn 16! Otherwise, it¡¯d be... it¡¯d be harassment of a minor!" "Sorry, you¡¯ve got no chest and no ass. Not my type," Lin Xian said with a straight face. "You¡ª!?" ... The Infinite barreled down the Jiangyu Railway, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, its streamlined form exuding a sleek mechanical elegance. Inside the 3rd carriage, the air seemed to freeze for a moment. Clank! The sound of the hydraulic liftgate rang out. Fuming, Lin Xian stomped over and opened the hydraulic tailgate mid-journey. Without hesitation, he grabbed Kiki like a chick by the scruff of her neck and hauled her to the back of the carriage. "The wilderness should be safer than the city. Good luck," he said coldly, preparing to toss her off. "Wait!!" Kiki screamed in terror, completely helpless in his grip. Her face turned pale as she cried out in desperation, "Handsome guy, handsome guy... What kind of terms do you want? We can negotiate!" Lin Xian loosened his grip, his expression cold as ice as he stared at her. "You think you¡¯re valuable to my team? You stole food, ambushed me, and I didn¡¯t kill you outright¡ªthat¡¯s already more mercy than you deserve." Though he said this, throwing her off the train at this moment would essentially be sending her to her death. But that didn¡¯t concern Lin Xian in the slightest. "I am valuable!" Kiki¡¯s wide eyes sparkled with desperation. "Didn¡¯t I tell you about my identity? Keeping me around could get you lots of supplies." "I already said," Lin Xian replied with a chilling smile, his tone utterly unmoved. "I have no interest in your suggestions." "I¡¯m telling the truth!" "I don¡¯t need it." "Goodbye." Lin Xian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his patience completely gone. Activating his Mechanical Heart, he instantly commanded the Infinite to begin slowing down. Screeeech¡ª It didn¡¯t take long before the train slowly came to a halt. Lin Xian, his face dark, forced Kiki to retreat step by step toward the door. "Get off," he said coldly. Kiki froze when she realized Lin Xian had actually stopped the train. Finally scared, her big eyes filled with tears as she glared at him with resentment. She struggled internally for a moment before turning around with a stubborn expression. But as she reached the edge of the carriage, she suddenly stopped, turned back, and looked at Lin Xian with panic in her eyes. Biting her lip, she asked, "Are you testing me?" Lin Xian frowned. "What are you talking about?" Kiki¡¯s gaze turned icy. "You¡¯re testing my ability, aren¡¯t you?" Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted slightly, but he remained silent. Seeing his lack of response, Kiki¡¯s expression suddenly softened. The fear in her eyes was replaced by a sly glimmer, and she looked at him with intrigue. Despite the tears still on her face, she let out a sly laugh. "If you really wanted to kill me, you would¡¯ve done it right from the start. You¡¯re just testing me, aren¡¯t you?" The young girl, as if realizing something, perked up and walked directly in front of Lin Xian. Tilting her chin slightly, she looked at him with pride, refusing to back down. "You know I have abilities, don¡¯t you?" "Do you?" Lin Xian asked with a faint smile. "Of course I do," Kiki replied seriously. "You know I survived a helicopter crash and managed to reach your shelter unscathed in the dead of night. My ability must be powerful¡ªstrong enough to fend off the night¡¯s monsters and giant bugs. That¡¯s why you¡¯re curious about me, cautious even. You pretended to throw me off the train just to test me, right!?" Lin Xian silently observed the girl in front of him, who looked no older than fifteen or sixteen. His expression remained calm, but his mind was racing. She had guessed correctly. If it had been anyone else, he would¡¯ve killed them without hesitation. That night, when the girl had called for help, Lin Xian hadn¡¯t intended to respond at all. The fact that she had managed to survive the monster-filled night and make her way to his shelter was beyond comprehension. The shockwaves from that night had left a deep impression on him. If the girl hadn¡¯t displayed her powerful ability by breaking through his door, he never would¡¯ve risked taking her onto the train. But now, seeing that the girl hadn¡¯t immediately used her ability to fight back, Lin Xian was even more perplexed. While he had no interest in a "flat-chested little girl" or the so-called Dawn Project, Kiki¡¯s sudden display of power that night intrigued him deeply. Of course, there was also a trace of wariness. That¡¯s why he hadn¡¯t gone straight for the kill¡ªhe was deliberately testing her, trying to figure out her intentions and why she was pretending to be clueless about her own ability. At this thought, Lin Xian¡¯s tone turned cold, and the casual smile he¡¯d been wearing disappeared. "Weren¡¯t you testing me too?" "What... what do you mean?" Kiki¡¯s smile froze at his words. "You first pretended to be innocent, trying to see if I was some pervert who¡¯d take advantage of you. When that didn¡¯t work, you shifted tactics, offering benefits to negotiate with me. Let¡¯s be honest¡ªyou were testing my limits because you were afraid I¡¯d harm you." Lin Xian slowly pulled out a short knife, his face emotionless. "Well, let me tell you¡ªmy limit is right here!" With that, his expression darkened, and he suddenly lunged at Kiki with the knife, fully intending to end her life in one strike. Kiki¡¯s face turned pale, her pupils shrinking in terror. Backed into a corner with nowhere to run, she shut her eyes tightly and raised her hands to shield her face, crying out in panic, "Stop! Stop! I was wrong! I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll tell you everything!" Shhhk! The surroundings fell silent. For a moment, Kiki felt as though even her breathing had stopped. She cautiously opened her eyes and saw the cold blade hovering just inches from her face. Lin Xian¡¯s face was icy and unreadable. He had put his full strength into that strike, even secretly activating his wind cannon ability. Yet, at the brink of death, the girl hadn¡¯t used any ability to counterattack. This puzzled him deeply. Suppressing the killing intent in his heart, Lin Xian stopped his hand. "Speak!" he demanded coldly. Chapter 26: Testing Each Other "After the plane crash, I don¡¯t even know how I survived. I just kept heading toward your house. I knew I had an ability, but I didn¡¯t know how to use it. Then that day, when I woke up, I discovered... I discovered..." "Hmm!" Lin Xian shot her a sharp glare, making Kiki shiver in fright. She whimpered tearfully, "I heard you rescued that Chen lady and said something about wanting to sleep with her, then mentioned the Infinite Train Project. It all sounded so sketchy! So, I thought you were... you were one of those scumbags taking advantage of the apocalypse to deceive women, so..." Lin Xian looked at her coldly. "So you were afraid that asking for help would land you in a wolf''s den. So, you pretended to be unconscious and then tried to ambush me?" Kiki nodded, then quickly shook her head. With the cold blade before her, she averted her eyes nervously and stammered, "I-I-I wasn¡¯t trying to ambush you. I was desperate. But think about it¡ªI just survived a disaster, woke up, and saw you plotting something against me. Of course, I was scared..." In this apocalyptic world, it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry. Both Lin Xian and Kiki had that mindset. After waking up, she initially wanted to talk with Lin Xian, but ended up misinterpreting his intentions. She mistook him for a complete pervert, and in a panic, decided to keep pretending to be unconscious, searching for an opportunity to escape... But when Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan stepped off the train, before she could finish half a piece of bread, Lin Xian¡ªarmed with his Mechanical Heart ability¡ªcaught her red-handed. "Well then," Lin Xian suddenly said, "if you don¡¯t even know how to use your ability, keeping you around is pointless, isn¡¯t it?" His statement was chillingly logical. As he spoke, the short knife in his hand inched closer to Kiki¡¯s neck. Her face turned pale, and she shut her eyes tightly. "Wait, wait, wait! Don¡¯t be rash¡ªlet¡¯s talk this through!" Kiki peeked open one eye, catching a glimpse of Lin Xian¡¯s fierce expression. She immediately closed it again and blurted out, "Don¡¯t kill me! If you keep me alive, my ability could be useful in a dangerous situation. Besides, my life is already in your hands, isn¡¯t it?" Hearing this, Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened. Seeing the honesty in her eyes, he relaxed slightly. Life and death were at stake. If Kiki really understood how to use such a powerful ability, would she allow herself to be threatened like this? This realization made Lin Xian exhale deeply. "Fair point." Clang¡ª The wheels of the Infinite Train began to roll again. Kiki saw Lin Xian put away the knife, and the tension in her chest finally eased. She looked at him and asked cautiously, "So... are we good now?" Good? Lin Xian smirked to himself. This girl was truly unpredictable. He gave her a meaningful look. "I¡¯ll think about it." "Okay, okay!" Kiki¡¯s expression shifted from panic to relief. "Keep me around¡ªI can really help you!" "But..." Before Kiki could celebrate, Lin Xian suddenly grabbed her by the collar and, with a strange smile, started dragging her toward the 1st carriage. Caught off guard, Kiki panicked. "Hey... what are you doing?" "Guess." Lin Xian¡¯s tone was cryptic. Alarmed, Kiki stammered, "Hey, hey, hey! I said we¡¯re good now. I was wrong! I didn¡¯t mean to harm you¡ªdon¡¯t bully me!" "I don¡¯t think so." "Wait! I¡¯m not even an adult yet..." "Doesn¡¯t matter." "Wait, wait! Actually, I¡¯m a guy. Look, I don¡¯t even have... you know, anything. I¡¯m not your type, and you already have that other woman. Just leave me alone!" "I¡¯m not picky." "Oh right, I have an ability, remember? If I accidentally use it and hurt you, what then?" "If that happens, you should thank me for helping you unlock your power." In the 1st carriage, Lin Xian tied up Kiki¡¯s hands and feet with two extra ropes, securely binding her in a classic hogtie and tossing her onto the sofa. He declared loudly, "You reminded me¡ªif your ability activates during danger, I can just use you as a shield. And since you¡¯ve already pulled the stunt of untying yourself to attack me, I had no choice but to add extra layers to prevent any funny business." "You¡¯re despicable! You bastard!" Kiki struggled against the ropes. Lin Xian picked up a roll of smelly socks and held it up. "If you keep yapping, don¡¯t blame me for stuffing this into your mouth." Kiki was absolutely fuming, her face alternating between red and pale. While she was slightly relieved that Lin Xian didn¡¯t have any actual intent to "bully" her, the fact that he tied her up to use her as a human shield was utterly disgusting and vile! But now, she was under his roof and couldn¡¯t outmatch him. Seeing him holding those stinky socks, she decided to stay quiet. However, she glared at him with eyes burning with fury, secretly vowing to get back at him when the chance came. "If you keep glaring, you can spend the night sleeping with the zombies," Lin Xian said coldly, noticing her defiance. Hearing the word "zombies," Kiki instinctively shrank back, cowering under his imposing threat. She remained silent for a long time before finally muttering, her voice barely audible, "Why are you so mean? What if I need to go to the bathroom?" Lin Xian suddenly chuckled. "Why don¡¯t you tell me how you managed these past three days without food¡ªor bathroom breaks?" "That night, you weren¡¯t here. I waited until that lady fell asleep, then got up to eat and use the bathroom." "And last night?" Kiki shot him a glare, her eyes shifting evasively. "Last night you were so exhausted. I waited until you both fell asleep, then got up." Lin Xian frowned. "So, if I hadn¡¯t caught you, you would¡¯ve kept playing dead indefinitely?" "Not exactly," Kiki admitted hesitantly. "I was planning to confess today, but then I got hungry, and since you both were gone..." Lin Xian: ... At 6:45 p.m., the sun dipped below the horizon, and night blanketed the sky. The Infinite Train came to a slow halt on a railway bridge spanning a mountain ravine. After leaving Yushan Station, the train had been racing for nearly two hours, save for a brief stop. Now, the entire train radiated residual heat, only to have its temperature plummet under the intensifying snowfall. The temperature had dropped to minus three degrees, and frost had begun to form on the carriage windows as the snowstorm swept in. Chen Sixuan lowered all the blackout shades and closed the door to the driver¡¯s cabin. Outside the train, the dark valley stretched endlessly, with only faint mountain outlines visible against the night. Inside the 1st carriage, Chen Sixuan cast a peculiar glance at the hogtied Kiki. "She¡¯s been pretending to sleep this whole time?" "Exactly," Lin Xian replied, giving her a look. "We both let our guard down. Last night, she got a live broadcast of everything." "I did not!" Kiki¡¯s face flushed red as she retorted, "I-I-I kept my eyes shut the whole time! I didn¡¯t see anything!" ... Chen Sixuan¡¯s face instantly turned crimson. If it had just been her and Lin Xian, no matter how embarrassing, she would¡¯ve brushed it off as a bit of post-apocalyptic warmth. But with a third person there¡ªand being caught¡ªshe felt utterly mortified, even as her moral compass had been warped by the apocalypse. Biting her lip in frustration, she glared at Kiki and asked angrily, "Why did you pretend to sleep? If we hadn¡¯t taken care of you these past two days, you¡¯d already be dead." "I just..." Kiki shot Lin Xian a strange look. "I just misunderstood this bad guy, that¡¯s all." Chapter 27: Giant Centipede "Oh, really?" Lin Xian chuckled. "Feeling reassured now?" Kiki averted her gaze, muttering, "Didn¡¯t I already say we¡¯re good now..." She suddenly turned to Chen Sixuan, speaking in a soft, pleading tone, "Ms. Chen, thank you for taking care of me these past two days. Can you help untie me? It¡¯s so uncomfortable like this." "Really? I don¡¯t see how it¡¯s bothering you." Chen Sixuan snorted. "You slept quite soundly these past two days while tied up." Though gentle by nature, Chen Sixuan wasn¡¯t without her limits. Kiki¡¯s stunt had scared her, and she wasn¡¯t in the mood to indulge her. "I..." Kiki was momentarily speechless, then shot an annoyed look at Lin Xian. "Hey, you¡¯re not seriously planning to keep me tied up like this, are you? What if a monster shows up?" Lin Xian¡¯s expression remained indifferent. "This is punishment for stealing food. If you want me to untie you, show me what you can do. If your ability isn¡¯t helpful, you¡¯re off the train." Kiki huffed in frustration, stealing a nervous glance at him before curling up on the sofa. "Fine, fine, I was wrong, okay? If I have any ability, I¡¯ll use it to help. Just don¡¯t kick me off the train." "Good." Lin Xian¡¯s voice was cold. He left it at that and got up to head to the driver¡¯s cabin, leaving Chen Sixuan to keep an eye on her. Lin Xian took out the guns he had scavenged from the Oasis Convoy, shaking his head as he examined them. One of the AKs even had a bent barrel. Judging by how the group had run out of bullets and likely used their guns as firewood sticks, it was no surprise they had been completely wiped out. What kind of monster could annihilate them so thoroughly? [Devour Progress: 5%] With no bullets and a warped barrel, Lin Xian decided to feed the gun to his Mechanical Devour ability and see if there was any value to it. [Devour Successful. Mechanical Core Points +2. Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +1.] [Devour Successful. Mechanical Core Points +1. Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +1.] "...That¡¯s it? This was a gun!" Staring at the notifications on his interface, Lin Xian felt his patience wearing thin. "AKs aren¡¯t firewood! Damn it!" Suddenly, his expression shifted as he sensed something. From the quiet floor of the carriage, a faint but distinct tremor came through the tracks. Clack... clack... clack... The sound was rhythmic, like countless iron chains sliding along the rails¡ªsteady, yet heavy and deliberate. "What¡¯s wrong?" Chen Sixuan asked as Lin Xian stepped into the carriage. "Shh!" Lin Xian gestured for silence. "Something¡¯s approaching," he said in a low voice, motioning for them to stay still. He quickly turned off the lights in the carriage, plunging them into darkness. Squatting down, he pressed his hand against the train floor, activating his Mechanical Heart ability to merge with the train and assess the situation outside. Chen Sixuan frowned. She walked to the bedside window, carefully lifting the blackout shade just enough to peek outside. Her eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. From her reaction, Kiki¡¯s face grew tense as well. "Lin Xian," Chen Sixuan whispered, lightly tapping his shoulder in the dark. Lin Xian rose and joined her at the window. Peering through the gap, he froze. What he saw left him utterly stunned. By the dim light of the night, Lin Xian could make out a massive black shadow climbing the iron bridge supports near the rear carriages. Its countless legs clinked rhythmically against the bridge¡¯s pillars and tracks, producing a metallic scraping sound. Two long, slender antennae swayed ominously in the dark. That giant insect?! Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. How was this thing still following him? From Jiang City¡¯s freight hub to Yushan Station, he had driven at least one or two hundred kilometers during the day, yet this creature had kept up. Was it targeting him specifically? As the shadow drew closer to the rear of the 3rd carriage, Lin Xian¡¯s expression hardened. Without hesitation, he activated his Mechanical Heart, pushing both the Whale 03E and Huanxing 7F locomotives to roar at full power. Run! That was his only thought. This massive centipede was just as terrifying as the pale white giant they had faced earlier. Regular armor would stand no chance against it. While the Infinite Train was fortified with rolled steel and high-hardness tungsten alloy used in tank armor¡ªmuch stronger than the freezer doors from before¡ªLin Xian didn¡¯t dare gamble. Instead of waiting to be torn apart, it was better to let the train¡¯s combined power and weight charge forward. Woooom¡ª! The sudden acceleration threw both Chen Sixuan and Kiki off balance. The carriage lights flickered on as the engines roared louder than ever. "Ms. Chen, to the driver¡¯s cabin!" Lin Xian shouted, drawing his short blade. Chen Sixuan, her heart pounding, steadied herself before rushing unsteadily toward the cabin. Screeeeech¡ª!!! The abrupt motion of the Infinite Train enraged the crimson centipede. A piercing shriek echoed through the canyon before the train was slammed violently from behind. BANG! The sheer force tilted the entire 3rd carriage, causing the entire train to shudder. Sparks flew from the wheels, filling the air with a screeching wail of grinding metal. "Not good!" Lin Xian hissed, tightening his grip on his blade as he dashed toward the 3rd carriage. Meanwhile, Kiki, still tied up, screamed, "Hey!!! You bastard! Untie me already!" Clack-clack-clack-clack-clack! Following Lin Xian¡¯s commands, the blackout shades of all the carriages rolled up simultaneously, flooding the interiors with the eerie night glow. Lin Xian rushed to the 3rd carriage, where he spotted the massive crimson shadow clinging to one side of the train. Clang! Clang! Clang! The centipede was unnervingly fast, its legs functioning like mechanical claws that allowed it to scale the train with ease. The immense weight caused the roof of the 3rd carriage to creak and groan ominously. Lin Xian¡¯s scalp prickled. This thing was far quicker than he had anticipated¡ªit was impossible to shake off. Realizing it might try to reach the engine and derail the train, he decisively lowered the hydraulic tailgate at the rear of the train. But as it descended a third of the way, it jammed. Glancing outside, Lin Xian saw the centipede¡¯s segmented body sliding rapidly toward the obstruction. "Dammit!" Without hesitation, he aimed his Wind Cannon at the insect¡¯s abdomen and fired. Thump! The powerful blast struck directly, emitting a harsh metallic echo. The impact severed one of the creature¡¯s hundreds of legs, sending it flying, but caused no significant damage. The attack, however, drew the centipede¡¯s attention. It scuttled rapidly onto the roof of the carriage. As the tailgate remained stuck, the centipede curled its tail upward, revealing several massive stingers over a meter long. With a sharp motion, the stingers converged and thrust violently at the steel tailgate. Chapter 28: Chen Sixuan’s Decisiveness Bang! A tremendous force struck the steel hydraulic ramp, denting it inward with a massive bulge. Lin Xian''s heart pounded¡ªthis insect''s strength was terrifyingly immense. At this rate, the armor would be punctured sooner or later. Thump thump thump~ The front half of the giant insect had already climbed onto Car 2. Seeing this, KIKI hopped over to Car 2. With a swift kick, she uncovered a small utility knife hidden in the corner of a waterproof bag. So this was how she had secretly cut herself free earlier. Lin Xian glanced at her but had no time to bother with her right now. Keng! Keng! At the same time, a sharp gnawing sound echoed from the roof, producing a horrifying metallic tearing noise. Lin Xian was enraged, fearing the insect would chew through the carriage. Without hesitation, he unleashed a relentless barrage of Wind Cannon shots at the insect¡¯s white, soft underbelly! Puff! Puff! Puff! The rampaging Wind Cannon finally showed some effect, shattering several pieces of the insect¡¯s soft underbelly. The powerful impact even blasted open a blood-red hole, sending dark green insect blood spurting out. The insect screeched in pain, swiftly retracting its stinger, only to coil it up and aim once more at the already dented hydraulic ramp. "Run!" Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted¡ªhe knew the ramp wouldn''t hold much longer. He turned and shouted at KIKI. Boom! The massive stinger pierced straight through the ramp and into the carriage. At that moment, KIKI was crouching on the ground, anxiously cutting the nylon cable ties around her feet with the small knife. Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s shout, she looked up¡ªonly to see countless shattered steel fragments flying toward her like bullets! She froze, her pupils dilating rapidly. Lin Xian saw that she wasn¡¯t dodging and felt a sinking dread. In the blink of an eye, he suddenly appeared in KIKI¡¯s field of vision¡ªaccompanied by a rapidly forming Ice Wall! Lin Xian had already thrown himself in front of her, swinging his hand. Puff! Puff! The azure Ice Wall had barely solidified when several black steel shards embedded deeply into it, sending ice shards scattering everywhere. "Ah~" KIKI let out a soft cry as Lin Xian pulled her into his arms, dodging to the side. "Ow~" KIKI was pressed down hard. The ropes binding her hands and feet snapped apart. Looking at Lin Xian, who was sprawled over her, she seemed a little flustered. "Hey, jerk, are you okay?" Lin Xian struggled to his feet, glaring at her with a fierce expression. "If you don¡¯t help, we¡¯re all dead!" "I-I-I... I''ll try!" In her panic, KIKI quickly stood up, gritted her teeth, and waved her hands, shouting, "Hey!" However, nothing happened. Lin Xian''s eyes widened. He was about to curse when KIKI''s face suddenly changed. She pointed toward Car 3 and screamed, "Look out!" The giant insect, having pierced through the ramp, seemed to have found an entry point. After wildly thrashing inside with its stinger, it retracted. Then, with a sudden shift, two crimson tentacles reached through the hole in the ramp. At that moment, both Lin Xian and KIKI saw its gaping maw filled with massive pincers! Keng! Keng! The giant insect didn¡¯t give Lin Xian even a second to breathe, immediately gnawing at the damaged ramp. If this thing got inside, all three of them would be dead today. Without hesitation, Lin Xian got up and fired two Wind Cannons directly at the creature¡¯s maw! Boom boom! Blood and flesh erupted. The insect¡¯s mouth was blown open, dark green blood spraying everywhere as it let out an ear-splitting screech that made everyone¡¯s scalp tingle. Reeling from the pain, the insect¡¯s lower half hooked onto a row of iron fence posts beside the railway. With the immense traction force of the accelerating Infinite Train, it was almost pulled off the carriage. However, the insect¡¯s limbs clamped tightly onto Car 3, causing the train¡¯s speed to plummet sharply. The resulting inertia sent everyone stumbling. "Ah!" Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan nearly slammed into the control panel from the sudden deceleration. Looking back, she saw a massive insect clinging desperately to Car 3. She immediately shouted at Lin Xian, "Hold on! There''s a turn ahead!" Hearing this, Lin Xian grabbed KIKI by the waist and clung to the door handle of Car 3 while activating Mechanical Heart to slow the train down. If they were going too fast, the train could derail¡ªhe had to reduce speed. Clang clang clang... The insect''s lower body was getting caught on more and more iron fences. Its clawed feet left deep gouges on the carriage, sparks flying. Meanwhile, the red centipede-like creature screeched incessantly. As the train entered the curve, the centrifugal force flung the insect¡¯s lower body into more fence posts. Unable to withstand the pull of the train, it finally let out a shriek and tumbled off the roof of Car 3, rolling down the embankment. Clang! Clang! The carriage fell silent once more. "That was close..." Seeing they had shaken off the insect, Lin Xian finally exhaled. His back was drenched in cold sweat. "Are you two okay?" Chen Sixuan called out. "We¡¯re fine!" Lin Xian replied. Just as he was about to get off KIKI, a roar suddenly came from the left side of the train! KIKI immediately screamed, "Look out! It¡¯s coming again!" Boom! A red blur slammed into the side of the train with a thunderous impact, tilting the entire carriage. One of the iron wheels lifted off the tracks, letting out a piercing metallic screech. Lin Xian was caught off guard and was flung away by the shockwave, tumbling through the air. Just when he thought Car 3 was going to derail and he himself would crash into the carriage, an invisible force suddenly grabbed him mid-air, stopping his fall! Lin Xian was stunned. Turning his head, he saw KIKI sitting up, reaching a hand toward him. Her panicked expression was mixed with a faint white glow in her eyes. Then, the invisible force pulled Car 3 back onto the tracks. Clang! Clang! The wheels locked back in place. Lin Xian was shocked. This was KIKI¡¯s Ability¡ªshe could lift an entire train carriage?! Before he could process this, the giant insect climbed up the train again, its massive pincer jaw biting down onto the armored plating! "You f***ing bastard, you just won¡¯t quit!" "Lin Xian!" Ahead, Chen Sixuan''s gaze was sharp as she shouted, "Speed up! There¡¯s a 3-kilometer-long tunnel ahead at Beiwang Station!" Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded. He immediately understood Chen Sixuan¡¯s plan and activated Mechanical Heart to accelerate, lowering the hydraulic ramp even further. "That crazy girl!" "Who are you calling crazy?!" KIKI fumed. Lin Xian grabbed the tow hook and said grimly, "Use your Ability to tie that beast up!" KIKI hesitated for a moment, but seeing Lin Xian¡¯s serious expression, she knew it was life or death. She clenched her fists and said, "Got it!!" She focused, recalling the sensation from before, and lifted her hands. Whoosh... The invisible force reappeared, yanking the tow hook out of Lin Xian¡¯s grip and quickly wrapping around the insect¡¯s tail. Screech! The insect struggled fiercely, causing the winch engine to whine and spew black smoke. "Don¡¯t let it escape!" Lin Xian shouted. "Lin Xian, watch out!" A dark tunnel loomed ahead, lit by the train¡¯s orange headlights. The insect screeched in terror¡ªbut it was trapped. "Full speed ahead!" Lin Xian grabbed KIKI and leaped into Car 2 as the train charged into the tunnel¡ªdragging the monstrous centipede in with it. Boom! The gas turbine engine and electric locomotive roared in unison, accelerating forward. The front carriages surged into the tunnel, while a thunderous crash erupted from the rear! The red centipede-like creature slammed straight into the tunnel wall, causing Car 3 to derail momentarily. The impact sent the other side of the carriage smashing into the tunnel wall, sparks flying, glass shattering! Screeech!!!! The giant insect let out an agonized screech, its countless legs thrashing wildly, trying to break free. But the train''s momentum had already dragged it in. With the massive weight of the carriage pressing down, its thick, armored exoskeleton scraped against the tunnel walls, producing a horrendous grinding sound. Meanwhile, KIKI, pinned beneath Lin Xian, was clenching her teeth hard, bloodshot veins surfacing in her eyes. She lifted her hands, holding the tow hook tightly around the giant insect''s tail, refusing to let it escape! Ssssshhh! Crack! Crack! The carriage interior reverberated with a series of earth-shattering tremors and gut-wrenching screeches. Three kilometers inside a tunnel¡ªit felt like an eternity. Then, all of a sudden, the deafening noise ceased. Amidst the lingering metallic groans, Car 3 was finally pulled back onto the tracks. Chapter 29: The Insect Corpse Clang! Clang! The carriage returned to silence once again. Lin Xian gritted his teeth and looked up, only to see the massive pincers still embedded in the armored grating. His heart sank. Quickly turning around, he spotted the metal tow hook dragging the severed rear half of the giant insect along the tracks, leaving a gruesome trail. The tail was already shattered into pieces, blood and flesh strewn about. ¡°Is it dead?!¡± At that moment, Kiki finally released her hands and jerked her head upward. However, the abrupt movement caused her forehead to slam directly into Lin Xian¡¯s chin. Thud! The crisp sound echoed inside the carriage. ¡°Ouch!¡± Kiki cried out, clutching her head instinctively with both hands. ¡°D**n!¡± Lin Xian grimaced in pain, holding his jaw and groaning through gritted teeth. Neither of them had time to confirm whether the giant insect was truly dead as they both clutched their respective injuries, crying out in pain. ¡°That hurt, you jerk!¡± Kiki glared at him angrily. ¡°Is your head made of steel?!¡± Lin Xian retorted furiously. Despite the brief spat, Lin Xian forced himself to ignore her and stood up, his gaze fixed on the motionless insect corpse outside the carriage. Half his tension eased as he began slowing the train. Cautiously, he picked up a blade and moved toward the rear of the train. Peering out, he saw the insect''s body clinging to the side of the train. Its torso had been ground down to a thin layer of flesh and countless legs, with half its corpse severed and hanging from the tow hook. Eek! Lin Xian gently brought the Infinite Train to a stop. ¡°It¡¯s really dead!¡± Kiki exclaimed as Lin Xian stopped the train. Rubbing her head, she eagerly rushed over. But as soon as she saw the shattered insect remains scattered across the ground, her face turned green. Covering her mouth, she dry-heaved. ¡°Ugh, that¡¯s disgusting!¡± Lin Xian turned to look at Kiki, his gaze wary. To his surprise, blood began to trickle from Kiki¡¯s nostrils. She didn¡¯t seem to notice, wiping it away carelessly and tilting her head with a smug expression. ¡°See? I told you keeping me around would be useful!¡± ¡°You figured out how to use your ability?¡± ¡°I think so...¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°Just now, when I was saving you.¡± Kiki blinked at him. ¡°See? I told you I¡¯m a good person.¡± As she spoke, a fresh stream of blood dripped from her nose, and her face turned unnaturally pale. ¡°But it¡¯s weird. Using it makes my head hurt and feel all woozy...¡± Lin Xian realized her energy was completely drained. Growing serious, he looked around for something useful. Finding a towel, he tossed it to Kiki. ¡°Wipe the blood off your face.¡± ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± Chen Sixuan ran over with a look of lingering fear. When she saw the carnage in the third carriage, she immediately covered her mouth, gagging. The insect¡¯s corpse exuded a nauseating stench. Even the strongest-willed person couldn¡¯t help but frown. Lin Xian glanced at Chen Sixuan. He had to admit, the teacher was much sharper than he¡¯d initially thought. In the face of danger, it was her quick thinking that led to their survival. ¡°We owe you for this,¡± Lin Xian said earnestly. Chen Sixuan avoided his gaze, a little embarrassed. ¡°It wasn¡¯t really me...¡± ¡°Of course it was. Without your idea, I wouldn¡¯t have known how to handle that monster,¡± Lin Xian said bluntly. ¡°Hey!¡± Kiki placed her hands on her hips, glaring in frustration. ¡°Why isn¡¯t anyone thanking me?¡± As she spoke, another trickle of blood ran down her nose. Lin Xian frowned, noticing her unhealthy pallor. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked. ¡°I...¡± Before she could finish, Kiki¡¯s eyes fluttered shut. Her body swayed, and she collapsed toward Lin Xian. Her face pressed against his chest as she lost consciousness, her hand grabbing his arm weakly. ¡°Don¡¯t... leave me behind...¡± she murmured faintly before passing out. Lin Xian¡¯s expression softened. Looking at the unconscious Kiki, his tense heart finally eased a little. Seems like she knows her situation. When it matters, she can be reliable. With this thought, Lin Xian let go of some of his suspicions toward her. He exchanged a glance with Chen Sixuan. ¡°Watch over her. I¡¯m going to check the situation. If it¡¯s safe, we¡¯ll stay here until dawn.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded uneasily, her gaze flicking between the wreckage of the third carriage and the dark wilderness outside. Lin Xian grabbed a flashlight from the toolbox in the carriage, jumping off the train through the rear ramp. Frowning at the insect¡¯s shattered remains, he inspected the scene closely. He soon returned, hauling out a small winch. Using it, he pried the insect¡¯s massive pincers out of the armored grating. The remaining torso fell from the side of the train. Lin Xian then moved to the back, unhooked the severed tail, and reeled the hook back onto the train. ¡°This¡¯ll need some fixing.¡± Lin Xian gazed at the aftermath in the third carriage, his expression heavy. ¡°As that brat said, this train needs weapons and a defense system. Speed alone isn¡¯t enough.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for Chen Sixuan¡¯s quick thinking, Lin Xian truly wouldn¡¯t have known how to handle tonight¡¯s chaos. His wind cannon could rival the power of firearms at close range, but its effectiveness dropped drastically at a distance. Against thick-skinned monsters like the pale giant or tonight¡¯s red insect, conventional weapons were practically useless. Just as Lin Xian finished clearing the wreckage and prepared to head back to the train, he suddenly felt a tremor beneath his feet, as if something was stirring underground. In an instant, a faint rustling reached his ears. Flashlight in hand, he aimed it toward the massive insect corpse beside the train. Black smoke was pouring out of it, but instead of dissipating into the air, the smoke seemed to be drawn underground by some mysterious force. Lin Xian frowned and stepped forward cautiously. The rustling grew louder, turning into what sounded like the cries and wails of countless people, sending chills down his spine. ¡°What the hell is that?!¡± Startled, Lin Xian jumped back several steps, distancing himself from the black smoke. As he retreated, the terrifying wails faded back into a faint rustle. Within seconds, the black smoke completely disappeared, leaving only the rotting corpse of the insect, its stench hanging in the air. ¡°Did I imagine that?¡± Lin Xian stared in shock. When he had been near the black smoke, he was certain he¡¯d heard the cries of humans, as though the victims swallowed by the creature were screaming in unison. It was disturbingly eerie. Returning to the train, Lin Xian attempted to raise the rear ramp. Though the train¡¯s body was damaged in several places, the hydraulic lift for the ramp was thankfully still functional. Activating his Mechanical Heart, Lin Xian raised the ramp, then looked over the mess in the third carriage. Tools were scattered everywhere, including the welder, small winch, and even his motorcycle. These items were essential. Repairing them would be difficult and time-consuming if they were damaged. Lin Xian¡¯s mechanical repair and manufacturing abilities were intertwined, requiring both materials and significant time investment. After the intense battle, he was utterly drained. Thankfully, this remote wilderness hadn¡¯t attracted a zombie horde despite all the commotion, allowing him a moment¡¯s respite. He glanced at the time: 9:15 PM. The battle and escape from the giant insect had lasted over two hours. ¡°How is everything?¡± Chen Sixuan rose as Lin Xian closed the door behind him. ¡°For now, we¡¯re safe.¡± Lin Xian grabbed a bottle of water from the storage rack and downed a third of it in one go. As his gaze swept across the carriage, he noticed the young girl had fallen asleep on the couch, supported by Chen Sixuan. It was clear that while her newly awakened ability was powerful, it also drained her energy at an alarming rate. Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned complicated. Though he had just saved her life and they had fought side by side, he couldn¡¯t help but be wary of the girl¡¯s cunning nature. Now that she had awakened an ability, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t confident he could best her in a confrontation. The thought troubled him. ¡°Are you injured?¡± Chen Sixuan asked, noticing the blood on Lin Xian¡¯s hands and face. ¡°Just scratches.¡± Lin Xian sighed, then turned to Chen Sixuan. ¡°We¡¯ve covered a lot of ground tonight. Tomorrow, depending on the situation, I plan to stop at Beiwang Station to rest.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°Beiwang Town is small. It shouldn¡¯t be too complicated there. After Beiwang, the next major city is Yubei City. That¡¯s where we¡¯ll properly enter the Planetary Orbital Rail. The conditions...¡± She hesitated. Initially, she¡¯d intended to say the conditions might improve, but now she wasn¡¯t so sure. After all, they¡¯d been lucky not to encounter rubble or broken tracks so far. Who knew if the road ahead would be better¡ªor worse? Chapter 30: Unexpected Gains In the dark of night, the Infinite Train rested silently on the tracks in the valley, like a mechanical behemoth. Inside the third carriage, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes glowed faintly as he activated his Mechanical Repair skill, focusing on the rear ramp and side armor. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan busied herself disinfecting the wounds on Lin Xian¡¯s hands and face using a first-aid kit they had scavenged from the Oasis Convoy. ¡°Hm?¡± Lin Xian suddenly paused, his pupils filled with shock as he stared at the light screen in front of him. His attributes and skill proficiencies had made a significant leap! [Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.1 ¨C 310/500] [Note: Leveling up the Mechanical Heart grants special skill rewards. At LV.3, LV.6, and LV.9, it unlocks a mysterious awakening.] [Basic Attributes] Strength: LV.1 ¨C 47/50 Speed: LV.1 ¨C 16/50 Defense: LV.0 ¨C 28/30 [Current Basic Skills] Mechanical Devour: LV.2 ¨C 8/500Mechanical Manufacturing: LV.1 ¨C 112/300Mechanical Scan (Passive)Mechanical Repair (Passive)Mechanical Operation (Passive) [Special Skills] Wind Cannon: LV.1 ¨C 66/100Ice Shield: LV.1 ¨C 18/100 ¡°How did my attributes increase without devouring machinery?¡± Lin Xian muttered, perplexed. After the battle, his Wind Cannon had jumped from 25 to 66 proficiency, while Ice Shield, which had previously gained 5 points after his fight with Liu Wei, had now increased by 12. While it made sense that fighting stronger enemies yielded more gains, the unexpected rise in his basic attributes puzzled him. Previously, attribute increases were rewards gained exclusively through Mechanical Devour. Yet tonight, his strength had risen by 14 points, speed by 7 points, and defense by 8 points¡ªa gain equivalent to devouring four large freezers. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Both surprised and delighted, Lin Xian mulled over this anomaly. ¡°I¡¯ve killed so many zombies before, but they¡¯ve never increased my attributes.¡± He sank into deep thought. ¡°Could it be that killing these eerie entities grants ability enhancements?¡± This seemed like the most plausible explanation. He recalled the black centipede on Grandpa Li, the white humanoid giant in the furniture store, and now the massive red insect. He hadn¡¯t been the one to kill the first two but had finally dealt the killing blow tonight. Letting out a sigh, Lin Xian decided not to overthink it. Gains were better than nothing. From his current attributes, both strength and defense were close to leveling up¡ªa concrete improvement that significantly boosted his combat prowess. Far away, hundreds of kilometers from the valley, the city of Jiang was plunged into Polar Night. In the darkness, the city¡¯s streets and corners teemed with zombies and eerie entities. The radio waves had gone silent. High above, within the enormous cloud cover, a colossal floating corpse trembled. The clouds dispersed, revealing its massive form, like a mountain blotting out the stars. Suddenly, the zombies throughout the city grew agitated, and countless hidden creatures began howling. Black blood mist was forcibly drawn from their bodies, coalescing under a strange gravitational pull. As if the heavens had flipped, the zombies collapsed en masse, falling like grain in a harvested field. A suffocating deathly aura enveloped the entire city. Then, the continent-sized floating corpse slowly turned eastward and began to move. After a night of repairs, Lin Xian had restored most of the damage to the third carriage. He patched the broken sections with steel plates, rendering the carriage functional once more. Exhaustion had taken its toll, and when he finally opened his eyes again, it was to Chen Sixuan calling him awake. ¡°Lin Xian, Lin Xian!¡± Opening his eyes, he saw Chen Sixuan¡¯s bright, excited gaze. ¡°It¡¯s daylight!¡± she exclaimed, grabbing his hand and pointing to his watch. ¡°Look!¡± Lin Xian focused his gaze, feeling the sunlight streaming through the window. His watch read 16:26¡ªan hour and a half earlier than expected! His eyes widened, and the grogginess vanished instantly. ¡°How far did we travel last night?¡± he asked Chen Sixuan. ¡°Over 400 kilometers. If the odometer is accurate, we¡¯re only about 50 kilometers from Beiwang Town.¡± Lin Xian turned toward the nearby couch and noticed Kiki, already awake, sitting cross-legged with a cheerful grin. She waved at him. ¡°You¡¯re better now?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Yep! After a good night¡¯s sleep, I feel great!¡± Kiki beamed, full of energy. Lin Xian frowned and muttered, ¡°I think I forgot to tie you up.¡± Kiki¡¯s face instantly darkened, and she tensed up. ¡°Hey! I saved your life yesterday! You¡¯re still thinking of tying me up?¡± ¡°No need to tie you up,¡± Lin Xian replied seriously. ¡°Considering your performance last night, I¡¯ll let the food theft slide. But if you don¡¯t answer my questions honestly, I¡¯ll still throw you off the train.¡± Kiki¡¯s expression grew uneasy. She hesitated, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°W-what questions?¡± ¡°You said your father is the owner of Linglong Corporation and a secondary investor in the Dawn Project. Is that true?¡± Kiki tilted her head, confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t interested in that?¡± ¡°Answer me!¡± Lin Xian demanded sharply. His stern demeanor made it clear he wasn¡¯t in the mood for games. Kiki¡¯s personality was unpredictable, and her newfound ability made her a potential threat. If Lin Xian didn¡¯t set boundaries now, she¡¯d be impossible to manage. Even Chen Sixuan, standing nearby, felt a pang of nervousness. She quietly reflected that she hadn¡¯t realized Lin Xian possessed such decisiveness and intensity. In moments like this, he seemed more like a commanding leader than her peer. ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± Kiki snapped, her tone annoyed. She thought to herself, This guy is insufferable. ¡°Where were you heading in the helicopter?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know,¡± Kiki replied with a shrug. ¡°I just know it was toward Mount Daluo.¡± Lin Xian studied her closely. Her tone didn¡¯t seem deceptive, so he pressed on. ¡°Do you know why the helicopter crashed?¡± At this, Kiki¡¯s face paled slightly. She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t remember much. It lost control all of a sudden, and... there seemed to be something in the sky.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s frown deepened. As he suspected, the massive cloud formation over Jiang City harbored something truly terrifying. That oppressive presence was even more unsettling than the onset of the Polar Night. ¡°Alright, one last question.¡± Lin Xian exhaled, fixing Kiki with a scrutinizing gaze. ¡°You¡¯re young, but you seem highly knowledgeable about advanced technology. Why is that?¡± Kiki, who had been tense, relaxed slightly at the question. Her eyes lit up, and she smirked with confidence. ¡°You underestimate me! I¡¯m well-versed in cutting-edge information systems. There¡¯s nowhere online I can¡¯t access. Before all this, I could even get my hands on the specs for the Starfleet¡¯s most advanced heavy integrated armor. Ever heard of the multi-aperture phased array radar? Or the experimental I-17 multi-leaf plasma cannon? Those are fun toys, but I know much more.¡± She continued, now gesturing toward the train with enthusiasm. ¡°Take your 2028-model Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive. It¡¯s been retired for nearly a decade and struggles with the turbulence and high-salinity windstorms of transoceanic railways. You¡¯ve only driven it 1,000 kilometers, and you¡¯re far from the oceanic route. But food, water, air, information, defense, and medical supplies? Aside from the energy shortage, you¡¯re basically starting from scratch. Am I wrong?¡± Chen Sixuan looked at Kiki in sheer disbelief. It was hard to imagine that this young girl could possess such extensive knowledge. Chapter 31: The Motorcycle Rider Girl Lin Xian looked at the spirited girl in front of him with interest and smiled faintly, ¡°Hearing you say that, it sounds like you have a better idea?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Kiki replied, her face brimming with confidence. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all in the same boat, even if I don¡¯t care about helping a bad guy like you, I still have to think about my own safety. Given the current situation, how do we make it to Jinhai?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Kiki turned to him and asked, ¡°Your ability is controlling machinery, right?¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Kiki snapped her fingers, exuding confidence. ¡°I know of a nearby military outpost close to Beiwang City. There should be plenty of military supplies there. If we¡¯re lucky, you might even snag a radar system or a sentry system. At the very least, some weapons. That¡¯s got to be better than slashing bugs with a knife like you did last night, right?¡± Hearing this, Chen Sixuan, standing nearby, looked shocked. ¡°A military outpost? How do you even know about something like that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot I know.¡± Kiki looked proud as she turned her gaze to Lin Xian. ¡°So, what do you say? Shall we cooperate?¡± Lin Xian looked at her, his faint smile suddenly turning icy. ¡°I refuse.¡± ¡°Ah?!¡± Kiki froze in place, clearly stunned. Just a moment ago, Lin Xian seemed quite interested, so why had his expression suddenly gone cold? ¡°You... what do you mean?¡± she asked nervously. Lin Xian¡¯s cold eyes fell upon her as he slowly said, ¡°I¡¯m not someone who likes being manipulated. If you think that awakening your ability gives you the right to oppose me, then let¡¯s settle this here and now. Life or death¡ªit¡¯ll save us from mistrusting each other along the way.¡± Kiki looked guilty upon hearing this. ¡°Who... who said I wanted to oppose you?¡± Lin Xian smiled faintly, his tone still calm but firm. ¡°I can take you to Jinhai. It¡¯s just another city along the Planetary Orbital Rail, but I have no intention of making deals with you or going out of my way for you. Right now, it¡¯s about surviving each day as it comes. If I bring you along, it¡¯s because I can trust you and because you can contribute to this team. No one here will serve you, and food is limited. Everyone has to pull their weight. Whether taking you to Jinhai benefits me or not¡ªI don¡¯t care. Understand?¡± Others might think Lin Xian¡¯s outlook was short-sighted, but in this apocalyptic world, immediate survival took precedence over long-term promises. He had to focus on daily survival and escaping the Polar Night. Future benefits and agreements were burdensome distractions. Kiki¡¯s idea of negotiating for special treatment aboard the train¡ªdemanding others cater to her¡ªwas completely misguided. While other survivors might be motivated by promises to go all-in, Lin Xian was not that kind of person. To him, someone insincere was worthless, no matter how capable they were. Most importantly, Kiki needed to feel a sense of crisis. Otherwise, if Lin Xian compromised, she might misinterpret it as fear of her abilities. Since that was the case, he figured it was better to clarify their stance as allies or enemies right away. Kiki stared at Lin Xian, who was smiling at her. For some reason, that smile didn¡¯t feel warm at all. On the contrary, it was as if turning her back on him would reveal a terrifying demon behind that grin, ready to devour her whole. Faced with Lin Xian¡¯s strong words, Kiki¡¯s gaze began to falter. After a moment of silence, their eyes finally broke contact. Hugging her knees on the sofa, she looked up at him like a small kitten, her large eyes wide and pitiful. ¡°O-okay.¡± ¡°Okay what?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze remained intense. ¡°I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Kiki fidgeted with her fingers, clearly disgruntled but softer in tone. ¡°Just don¡¯t let me go hungry...¡± Lin Xian walked over to the storage rack, retrieved a can of fruit and a bag of snacks, and tossed them to her. His voice remained cold as he said, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you were before, but once you¡¯re on this train, it¡¯s best not to have any other ideas. Everyone only has one life. If I can¡¯t trust you, I¡¯ll throw you off no matter how useful you are.¡± Hearing this, Kiki¡¯s eyes darted around as she snuck a glance at him, her thoughts unknown. She opened the fruit can, took a bite, then broke the silence. ¡°My name is Wen Qi.¡± ¡°Is that name fake too?¡± Lin Xian asked. Kiki blushed slightly. ¡°No! I¡¯ve always gone by Kiki. Wen Qi is my real name.¡± Lin Xian nodded, recognizing her attempt to show sincerity, and his tone softened slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll take this as your way of showing goodwill.¡± ¡°Can I make a request?¡± Kiki asked. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Can I live in Carriage No. 2?¡± Kiki didn¡¯t want to stay in the same carriage with Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan. Though her personality was carefree, she was still a 16-year-old girl and somewhat sensitive about such matters. ¡°No problem,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°But Carriage No. 2 is mostly empty. It¡¯ll need some work before it¡¯s livable.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out myself.¡± ¡°Hmm?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze hardened, his tone turning unfriendly. Kiki quickly corrected herself, speaking gently, ¡°I mean, I¡¯ll get your approval first¡ªand of course, I¡¯ll need your help too~¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s better.¡± Lin Xian felt much more satisfied with Kiki¡¯s current attitude. After a somewhat ¡°friendly¡± negotiation, Lin Xian decided to temporarily accept this complicated girl into the group. Having fought alongside her last night, he acknowledged her value. ¡°Hey~¡± As Lin Xian turned to leave, Kiki pouted and called out to him. ¡°Bad guy, do you still want to check out that military outpost?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°There¡¯s no trap, right?¡± Kiki rolled her eyes and, surprisingly, softened her tone. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me, I can go with you.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened slightly. He could tell her words were sincere this time. At the same time, he reassessed his "Infinite Train" plan, realizing it still had many shortcomings. Although his ability temporarily solved their energy problems, the challenges they faced since setting out were far deadlier than any power supply issues. So when Kiki mentioned a military outpost near Beiwang City, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but feel interested. He urgently needed to upgrade the train¡¯s armor and weapons. The mobile fortress also required better reconnaissance systems. Even he needed to level up his Mechanical Heart ability or acquire more useful skills. Lin Xian once gained the powerful ¡°Wind Cannon¡± skill from something as simple as a hairdryer. If he could devour military-grade weapons, who knew what surprises might come next? With this in mind, Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I do want to upgrade the train¡¯s armor and weapons. That military outpost you mentioned¡ªwe¡¯ll check it out. We can also stock up on supplies at Beiwang Town.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Kiki¡¯s eyes lit up as she pointed toward Carriage No. 3. ¡°Shall we ride that?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°Do you even know how to ride it?¡± ¡°Tsk, who do you think you¡¯re looking down on?¡± Kiki turned slightly, revealing a small tattoo on her slim waist¡ªa black cat wearing sunglasses. Paired with her short shorts and long legs, she exuded a punkish charm. ¡°Do you know my nickname back in the day?¡± ¡°Wannabe biker girl?¡± ¡°Ugh! No, it was the ¡®Lunar Black Rider!¡¯¡± ¡°Black taxi service?¡± ¡°Ugh! You¡¯re so uncultured!¡± Chapter 32: The Foggy Station The Infinite Train roared through the mountains, speeding forward. However, before long, what should have been a gradually widening view was obscured by a dense layer of white fog. Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan kept a close eye on the situation displayed on the radar, her brows furrowed. ¡°Snowfall and fog this thick... something feels off...¡± ¡°It¡¯s also a blessing,¡± Lin Xian remarked, his gaze fixed on the fog ahead. ¡°A train this large entering the city would definitely attract the attention of survivors. This fog saves us a lot of trouble.¡± Chen Sixuan glanced uneasily toward Carriage No. 3, where Kiki was enthusiastically tuning the motorcycle. ¡°Do you trust her?¡± Compared to Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan¡¯s established relationship, Kiki was an unexpected guest. Both of them could sense a layer of inscrutable pretense around her, so Chen Sixuan was always skeptical of what she said. Lin Xian¡¯s expression remained calm and unreadable as he replied flatly, ¡°She¡¯s a smart person and knows this train can¡¯t move without me. Unless she has a better survival strategy, cooperating with us is her best option if she wants to stay alive.¡± Hearing this, Chen Sixuan nodded slightly. Just as she was about to say something, Lin Xian abruptly pulled her into his arms and kissed her firmly on the lips. The sudden move left her blushing and her heart racing. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± she stammered, her voice shy yet playful. ¡°Ms. Chen,¡± Lin Xian said, looking at her with admiration. ¡°Thank you for last night.¡± Hearing his words, Chen Sixuan, though silent, felt a surge of joy in her heart. Despite her outward gentleness, she had always been a strong-willed woman who refused to be treated as just a pretty face. In this life-or-death situation, hearing Lin Xian¡¯s acknowledgment gave her a deep sense of validation. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me. I¡¯m still your teacher, after all...¡± Her tone carried a hint of playfulness, but as soon as she said it, she realized how ambiguous the phrase sounded given their current relationship dynamic. Her face flushed deeper. Lin Xian chuckled softly. ¡°Indeed. They say teachers are the navigators of life, and now, you truly are the navigator of this train.¡± Clang, clang... The train passed over a track switch and began to slowly approach a fog-covered station. Visibility was extremely low¡ªbarely a few meters. To avoid colliding with any trains possibly parked at the station, Chen Sixuan quickly pulled the brake lever. ¡°I¡¯ll stay to guard the train, right?¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Yes. Right now, we don¡¯t have many options for defense. I feel better with you staying here.¡± While it meant one fewer person searching for supplies, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t risk leaving the Infinite Train, their only means of survival, unguarded. Everything they owned was on the train, and Chen Sixuan, being neither an ability user nor armed, was best suited for guarding it. Chen Sixuan nodded firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t open the door for anyone.¡± Lin Xian looked at her and added, ¡°If there¡¯s an emergency, go to the electric locomotive¡¯s cockpit and start the train. I taught you how to do it, remember?¡± At the same time, he handed her a white remote control. ¡°This is the emergency brake for the electric locomotive. It can be used to start or stop the train using reserve power in a critical situation.¡± ¡°Ah, this...¡± Chen Sixuan was momentarily taken aback. The idea of her driving the train surprised her, but it also warmed her heart. She knew this was a sign of Lin Xian¡¯s trust in her. Without hesitation, she took the device and looked at him with a determined expression. ¡°Got it.¡± After briefing Chen Sixuan, Lin Xian checked the time. It was 4:50 PM, leaving about two hours before nightfall. Wasting no time, he headed to Carriage No. 3. By now, Kiki was already seated on the motorcycle, wearing a pair of goggles Lin Xian had prepared for her. With her long legs and slender waist, she straddled the bike with ease. The sight of her in her short shorts and crop top, exuding a punk biker girl vibe, was striking. ¡°Just waiting on you now. But heads up, there¡¯s not much fuel in this thing.¡± Lin Xian tucked a short blade into his belt and activated his ability to lower the tailgate. He approached the motorcycle, his brow furrowing slightly at the sight of Kiki¡¯s slim figure. ¡°With fog this thick, don¡¯t ride too fast.¡± ¡°Ugh, stop nagging!¡± Kiki shot him a look of mock annoyance and patted the back seat. ¡°Hop on already.¡± Lin Xian sighed as he climbed onto the back seat. Just as he hesitated over where to place his hands, Kiki grabbed them and placed them on her slim waist. With a huff, she remarked, ¡°You were so harsh about kicking me off the train yesterday, but now you¡¯re being shy about holding my waist? Hmph, hypocrite!¡± Lin Xian: ¡°...¡± The outside temperature had already dropped below freezing, but Kiki remained in her usual outfit: shorts and a cropped top. The only warm piece of clothing she wore was a baseball jacket. Lin Xian¡¯s hands rested on her waist, feeling her smooth, supple skin. It was cold to the touch, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold dressed like this?¡± ¡°Do I look like I have other clothes to wear??¡± she retorted, rolling her eyes at him before starting the engine. With the bike in gear and the brake released, the motorcycle roared forward. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan quickly retracted the hydraulic tailgate, lowered all the blackout panels, and turned off the interior lights. The train vanished into the fog like a ghost, completely concealed. Woooooo¡ª The white beam of the motorcycle¡¯s headlight pierced through the dense fog, leading them onto a city-bound road. In the eerie silence of the mist, the only sound was the roar of the bike¡¯s engine. It triggered guttural howls from zombies lurking in the fog. The road was littered with abandoned cars, their roofs dusted with snow, and trash scattered everywhere. As Lin Xian felt the biting wind, his worry deepened. While the passenger compartments of the train had a heating system, they were decades old and had never been activated. Repairing or installing new heating equipment would be a major project. Even then, the energy consumption would significantly strain their resources. Last night¡¯s battle had already pushed Lin Xian to his limits. If not for the reserve energy of the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive, he wouldn¡¯t have had the strength to fight the giant insect while driving hundreds of kilometers. The extreme cold presented far more challenges than he had anticipated. In front of him, Kiki had mounted her phone on the handlebars, displaying a map she had set up earlier. Although the navigation system no longer worked, she seemed to have memorized the route. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why do you seem so familiar with this place?¡± ¡°Tch, I¡¯ve got a great sense of direction. This place only has a few streets¡ªhow complicated could it be? Hold tight!¡± With that, she twisted the throttle, accelerating the bike. However, after only a few hundred meters, Kiki suddenly slammed on the brakes. SCREEECH! The screech of tires echoed down the empty streets, followed by the increasingly close howls of zombies. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xian asked. Kiki frowned, staring into the dense fog ahead. ¡°There¡¯s something up ahead.¡± Chapter 33: The Fog Spider The street cloaked in dense fog felt eerily quiet, with even sunlight nearly blocked out. Lin Xian and Kiki rode into an open stretch of road, but suddenly, they stopped the motorcycle. ¡°Something''s not right,¡± Lin Xian muttered. He too felt an unsettling presence. Drawing the short blade from his back, he assumed a vigilant stance. Shhh-shhh... plap-plap... The sounds came from a distance, growing into a deafening cacophony like waves crashing ashore. Hearing the noise, their expressions shifted drastically. ¡°Zombies?¡± Lin Xian exclaimed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like it...¡± Before they could speak further, a few zombies suddenly darted out of the fog ahead. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed;these were unlike the ones he¡¯d encountered before. Their skin was a decayed, grayish white, their movements unnervingly fast. They crawled and bounded on all fours, more like beasts than humans. The sight instantly brought back memories of the "Uncle Li" incident at Jiang City¡¯s shelter, the night he had saved Kiki. In a flash, a tide of zombies surged forward behind the initial group. Kiki¡¯s face turned pale as she yelled sharply, ¡°Hold on!¡± She released the brake and twisted the throttle hard, the motorcycle¡¯s rear wheel screeching against the asphalt and emitting a plume of white smoke. ¡°Forward!¡± Without hesitation, Lin Xian raised his hand, firing a Wind Cannon toward the front. The gust shot through the air, blasting the head off a lunging zombie. Arghhh! A chorus of anguished shrieks erupted as the motorcycle shot forward, narrowly avoiding the grasp of several grotesque zombies. Lin Xian, on high alert, swung his blade with one hand while his other hand fired off bursts of Wind Cannons to carve a path through the unrelenting zombie horde. Bang! Another Wind Cannon tore a female zombie in half. As her body collapsed, a black centipede-like creature burst out from her back. Seeing this, Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°These aren¡¯t ordinary zombies!¡± He was shocked. From past experience, these eerie entities usually appeared only at night. So why were they emerging in broad daylight? ¡°Damn it!¡± Kiki, gritting her teeth as she drove, saw a dozen zombies closing in on them. In a desperate move, she waved her hand, unleashing a powerful shockwave. The force blasted the zombies ahead, clearing a path for the motorcycle to escape. However, Lin Xian noticed something was wrong. The motorcycle wobbled slightly, and when he glanced at Kiki, he saw her face had turned pale. Her hands, which gripped the handlebars, were trembling. He immediately activated his Mechanical Heart ability to take control of the motorcycle. Just as Kiki looked around in confusion, realizing the bike was no longer responding to her inputs, Lin Xian pulled her to the back seat and took over the front. ¡°Hey! What are you doing?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with this fog. Stop recklessly using your ability!¡± Every survivor knew that eerie entities emerged at night. Lin Xian had thought he and Kiki, both ability users, could easily handle any trouble. But these grotesque creatures had caught him off guard. These entities were far faster than regular zombies. For an unarmed person, there wouldn¡¯t even be time to react. This realization made Lin Xian reconsider their plan. If entities like these appeared in the fog, it was entirely possible even larger threats¡ªlike the Pale Giant or the crimson Giant Centipede¡ªcould show up. Changing his mind on the spot, he declared, ¡°We¡¯re not going to the place you mentioned. We¡¯re turning back!¡± Kiki glanced at the massive zombie tide surging behind them, her face grim as she muttered, ¡°And how exactly do we go back...?¡± Lin Xian checked the rearview mirror, then glanced at the map. Aside from retracing their path, the only alternative was to take the outer roads around the city. But with the horde on their tail, turning around wasn¡¯t an option. Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air. Lin Xian¡¯s instincts kicked in, and every hair on his body stood on end. Without hesitation, he slammed the brake and swerved the bike. The next moment, something spear-like shot down from above, slamming into the ground beside them with a loud thunk, sending shards of concrete flying. Lin Xian broke out in a cold sweat. If he hadn¡¯t swerved, he might have been skewered. ¡°What the hell is that?!¡± Kiki cried out. The motorcycle¡¯s rear wheel screeched as it accelerated again. But just a few meters ahead, the same sharp whistling sound echoed once more. ¡°Watch out!¡± Thud! Another sharp, rod-like object shot down, narrowly missing them as Lin Xian swerved again. This time, he got a better look. The "spears" were covered in tiny black hairs, resembling part of a living creature. ¡°Look up!¡± Kiki shouted in terror, patting Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. Lin Xian glanced upward. Above the fog, a massive spider-shaped silhouette loomed. It towered over the surrounding buildings, its six impossibly long and thin legs measuring at least ten meters each. The spears raining down on them were clearly the creature¡¯s spider-like limbs. ¡°What the f***...¡± Lin Xian¡¯s pupils dilated as he cursed under his breath. Sometimes, it really seemed as though speaking of a nightmare summoned it into existence. The grotesque spider, so large it made the buildings around it look like toys, was the stuff of pure nightmares. Without hesitation, Lin Xian twisted the throttle, sending the motorcycle hurtling into the fog ahead. ¡°Why is it always bugs or spiders?!¡± Kiki clung tightly to Lin Xian, burying her face in his back as she shivered and cursed. Lin Xian remained focused, his expression tense as he navigated the fog-covered road. Thud-thud! Thud! Thud! The spider clearly had its sights on them. Its elongated limbs moved with terrifying speed, stabbing down from the fog as it pursued them. ¡°Turn left!¡± Kiki shouted. Lin Xian quickly adjusted course. ¡°Above us!¡± Lin Xian hit the brakes again, narrowly avoiding another limb stabbing down from above. But the spider¡¯s legs were absurdly long, allowing it to easily traverse between the buildings. Its speed far outmatched Lin Xian¡¯s. Thud-thud! Thud! Thud! Within moments, the creature extended several limbs to block the intersection ahead, as though toying with its prey. ¡°Damn it!¡± Lin Xian saw the giant spider lowering its massive body from the fog, preparing to attack. He raised his hand, ready to fire a Wind Cannon. Just then, the roar of a car engine erupted from another direction, and blinding white headlights pierced through the fog. A heavily modified pickup truck burst onto the scene, ramming into several of the spider¡¯s limbs with immense force. The impact knocked the spider off balance, sending it tumbling to the ground. In the blink of an eye, the truck drifted to a halt in front of them. Clang! The truck¡¯s rear hatch opened, and a girl, no older than eleven or twelve, yelled, ¡°Get in, quickly!¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate. He revved the bike and drove it straight into the truck¡¯s cargo bed. The young girl slapped the side of the truck and called out, ¡°Go, bro!¡± Vroom! The modified pickup roared to life, speeding away without a moment¡¯s pause. The spider, clearly enraged at being outmaneuvered, let out an ear-splitting screech. Its six legs slammed against the ground as it began to give chase at terrifying speed. Chapter 34: Surrounded Lin Xian jumped down from the locomotive, gripping the car plate tightly as he launched a counterattack against the giant spider. He fired several wind cannon blasts in quick succession, but due to the distance, they only created faint vibrations upon hitting the shadowy figure in the dense fog. At that moment, the spider''s long legs struck again. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flashed as he quickly lunged in front of the young girl, raising an Ice Shield with a swift motion. Pssh! The spider¡¯s leg pierced through the Ice Shield but was blocked in the process, its sharp tip stopping just inches away from the young girl¡¯s face. The girl stared wide-eyed, her breath quick and shallow from shock. Looking at Lin Xian, she exclaimed, ¡°You¡¯re an Ability User?!¡± ¡°Shasha, use this!¡± At that moment, the rear window of the driver''s cabin slid open, revealing a rugged-looking man who handed over a grenade launcher. The girl, referred to as Shasha, took it without hesitation, expertly loading it, and fired directly at the giant spider. Boom! The tremendous recoil sent the young girl staggering backward, and combined with the car''s inertia, she plopped onto the ground. Yet, she didn¡¯t seem to care in the slightest. Watching as the grenade arced through the air and exploded upon hitting the spider, sending up flames, she excitedly yelled, ¡°Hit it! Got it!¡± ¡°Good! Hit it while it¡¯s down!¡± KIKI stood up at this moment, gritting her teeth as she prepared to activate her ability. But Lin Xian grabbed her arm. ¡°No need!¡± he said firmly. The giant spider let out a piercing screech after taking the grenade hit but quickly retreated into the dense fog, vanishing from sight. Everyone let out a sigh of relief. Except for KIKI, who was visibly irritated, scanning around for the black shadow. When she confirmed it had disappeared, she turned to the little girl. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your name? Not bad with that launcher.¡± The young girl, sporting ear-length short hair and wearing a black puffer jacket, had a face dirtied from long days of running. She sized up Lin Xian and KIKI without speaking before knocking on the rear cabin window like she had found treasure. ¡°Bro, this guy¡¯s also an Ability User.¡± The man driving cast a glance into the rearview mirror but said nothing, keeping his eyes on the road. He seemed the quiet type. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened. Also? Did that mean one of the two siblings was an Ability User too? ¡°I¡¯m Lou Hua, and she¡¯s Lou Shasha. My brother¡¯s a bit of a blockhead and doesn¡¯t talk much,¡± the girl introduced herself while hugging the grenade launcher and leaning against the rear cabin wall. Lin Xian forced a smile and offered his thanks. ¡°I¡¯m Lin Xian, and this is...¡± ¡°I¡¯m KIKI. You two just got here too?¡± Lou Shasha shook her head, her eyes scanning the dense fog outside. ¡°We¡¯ve been stuck here since the day before yesterday. Just like the others, trapped in this cursed fog.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re saying the fog¡¯s inescapable?¡± KIKI frowned immediately. ¡°Why? Because of that spider just now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not all...¡± The little girl pouted. ¡°There are all kinds of monsters in this fog. All phones and radios are useless. And when someone dies, they quickly turn into some kind of creature. It¡¯s creepy as hell.¡± Lin Xian asked, ¡°You mentioned ¡®others.¡¯ Are there many people trapped here?¡± Lou Shasha gestured in the direction the car was heading. ¡°There are at least a dozen convoys and hundreds of people stuck here. My brother and I wanted to take a chance and escape during daylight, but...¡± Hearing this, Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. The situation seemed far more dire than he had imagined. ¡°What kind of monsters are keeping so many people from breaking out?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± Lou Shasha shrugged, her voice youthful yet her demeanor unnervingly mature. ¡°The creatures in the fog seem to have some kind of telepathy. If everyone stays still, they don¡¯t attack. But the moment someone tries to escape, they swarm out of the fog all at once...¡± ¡°That¡¯s so bizarre,¡± KIKI muttered in confusion. ¡°Don¡¯t they attack you at night?¡± ¡°What does it matter if it¡¯s night or not?¡± Lou Shasha replied, clearly frustrated. ¡°In two days, this whole area will enter Polar Night anyway. By then, we¡¯re all done for.¡± Lin Xian studied the siblings with a grave expression. If what Lou Shasha said was true, the fog might as well already be a permanent night. And the monsters¡¯ lack of aggression toward the survivors seemed almost like they were toying with them. The thought sent chills down his spine. Click-click. Lin Xian pulled out his walkie-talkie, only to find that there was no signal at all. Unable to contact Chen Sixuan, he could only hope she could hold her ground. ¡°What do we do now?¡± KIKI sat down beside Lin Xian, tightening her jacket. She looked exhausted, her face pale from using her ability earlier. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lin Xian replied, turning to Lou Shasha. ¡°Are you heading back to that plaza then?¡± Lou Shasha nodded. ¡°Can¡¯t get out, so there¡¯s no other choice.¡± She glanced at KIKI and asked, ¡°Are you cold?¡± KIKI widened her eyes and nodded. Without a word, Lou Shasha rummaged through the piles of luggage in the truck bed. After some searching, she found a slightly oversized blue sweater and handed it over. ¡°Here, this is my biggest one.¡± ¡°Wow, thanks~¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up as she accepted it eagerly, taking off her baseball jacket and slipping the sweater on before putting her jacket back over it. ¡°I don¡¯t have long pants, though,¡± Lou Shasha said with a complicated look at KIKI¡¯s long legs, her expression almost saying, Just looking at you makes me feel cold. ¡°No worries, hehe.¡± KIKI laughed. ¡°This is much better. Thanks!¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Having anything was better than nothing. Compared to her thin cropped tank top from earlier, the thick sweater made KIKI feel much warmer instantly. The modified pickup truck weaved through wrecked cars as it made its way into a T-shaped plaza. The dense fog thinned noticeably here, and Lin Xian could see the vehicles of other survivors in the distance. The area, resembling a small town¡¯s central square, was packed with dozens of specially modified vehicles parked in a ring to form a makeshift defensive perimeter. The lineup included heavy trucks, various jeeps and off-road vehicles, and even armored cars and tankers. But as the pickup entered the plaza, a group of over a dozen armed men suddenly emerged ahead, blocking the path. The sound of guns cocking filled the air as the dark barrels of their weapons pointed at Lou Hua, Lin Xian, and KIKI. ¡°Who are you?!¡± a middle-aged man with a scarred face and a hoarse voice shouted from among them. ¡°Living people!¡± KIKI stood up and placed her hands on her hips, shouting back confidently. Lin Xian stood as well, his gaze sweeping over the group. Though their clothing varied, they all wore the same type of tactical bulletproof vests, indicating they were part of an organized armed team. ¡°Eagle,¡± a tall young man with a cold expression stepped out from the fog behind the group. He looked to be in his early thirties, wearing polished military boots and stylish tactical gear. The oddest thing, though, was his dark sunglasses, despite the thick fog. The young man removed his sunglasses as he walked forward slowly, fixing his gaze on the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°It¡¯s you two again.¡± His name was Qian Yu, the leader of the largest convoy here, the Black Jiao Convoy. Backed by over a hundred armed personnel¡ªmany of them former employees of his security firm¡ªQian Yu had taken it upon himself to assume the role of leader among the stranded survivors, given his superior resources and equipment. Click. The pickup truck door opened, and a man as tall and solid as an iron tower stepped out. He was over two meters tall, and as he exited, Lin Xian felt the entire vehicle rise slightly. Lou Hua, looking to be in his early thirties, had a square face and an intimidating aura that made it clear he was not to be trifled with. His presence caused the surrounding armed men to tense visibly. ¡°Hey!¡± The petite Lou Shasha climbed onto the truck hood, raising her grenade launcher as she glared at Qian Yu. ¡°We¡¯re not part of your convoy. What gives you the right to control where we go?¡± Chapter 35: Survivor Camp ¡°Hmph!¡± Qian Yu snorted coldly, immediately pulling out a pistol and aiming it at Lou Shasha¡¯s head. His voice was laced with venom as he said, ¡°If we were somewhere else, I wouldn¡¯t care if you got yourselves killed. But here, nobody can leave, and we¡¯re all in the same boat. If you attract trouble, I¡¯ll be the first to put a bullet through you and your brother!¡± At that moment, Lou Hua, who had been silent, suddenly reached out and grabbed Qian Yu¡¯s hand. In an instant, all of Qian Yu¡¯s men raised their guns and aimed them at Lou Hua. However, Lou Hua merely tightened his grip on Qian Yu¡¯s wrist, forcing his hand down and preventing him from pulling the trigger. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Qian Yu¡¯s eyes flashed with panic as he struggled to free himself, only to discover that Lou Hua¡¯s strength was astonishing. ¡°Brother!¡± Lou Shasha called out anxiously, clearly not wanting to escalate the situation with these men. Hearing his sister¡¯s voice, Lou Hua finally loosened his grip on Qian Yu¡¯s hand, his expression calm and unchanging as he looked at him. Qian Yu gritted his teeth, shaking his now aching hand. His eyes glinted with malice as he glared at the siblings. Just as he was about to lash out, his gaze shifted to Lin Xian and KIKI in the truck. ¡°And who are they?¡± he asked. ¡°Same as us¡ªunlucky fools who stumbled in here,¡± Lou Shasha replied. Qian Yu¡¯s expression flickered, his gaze lingering briefly on KIKI before he snorted and turned to leave, gesturing for his men to follow. ¡°Eagle, keep a close eye on those siblings. Bring extra men,¡± Qian Yu ordered in a cold voice as they walked away. ¡°Boss, that Lou Hua might be an Ability User, but he¡¯s not invincible. If you want him gone, it wouldn¡¯t be hard,¡± the scar-faced man walking beside Qian Yu said casually. ¡°No need,¡± Qian Yu replied, his tone dark. ¡°If we¡¯re going to charge through, that guy might still come in handy.¡± Qian Yu wasn¡¯t stupid. The combat power of an Ability User was far beyond that of ordinary people. While Lou Hua couldn¡¯t be recruited to his side, with the group still trapped in the fog, Qian Yu wouldn¡¯t mind having a few more disposable pawns to improve his own chances of survival. The modified pickup truck slowly drove into the plaza, parking in a corner. Many survivors from the other convoys cast curious and wary glances in their direction, though most of the attention was focused on Lin Xian and KIKI, the two unfamiliar faces. Aside from Qian Yu¡¯s Black Jiao Convoy and the Lou siblings¡¯ truck, there were over a dozen other survivor convoys stuck here. Most of these groups were made up of people fleeing eastward from nearby cities. The largest groups had over twenty people, while the smallest had only a handful. Unlike the heavily armed Black Jiao Convoy, most of the others had only a few firearms at best. The convoys were clustered in different areas of the plaza. Women and children stayed inside the vehicles, while the men patrolled the perimeter on high alert. ¡°When we first arrived two days ago, there were more people here. But yesterday, everyone banded together and tried to charge toward the edge of the city. We lost dozens of people, so we had no choice but to retreat,¡± Lou Shasha explained as she jumped out of the truck, tossing two cans of food to Lin Xian. She added, ¡°You have abilities, and so does my brother. If we work together, maybe we can make another attempt to break out...¡± Lin Xian and KIKI glanced at Lou Shasha¡¯s towering brother behind her. The stark contrast between the siblings was hard to ignore. Lou Shasha was petite like a fawn, while Lou Hua was built like a bear. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Lin Xian said seriously. ¡°Even just that spider today was tough enough. If there are more monsters out there, I don¡¯t think our chances are very high.¡± He surveyed the plaza. There were at least two or three hundred people here. Qian Yu¡¯s Black Jiao Convoy was well-equipped, and combined with the other groups, there were at least seventy or eighty firearms. If even that kind of firepower had failed to get them out, and they¡¯d lost dozens of lives in the process, adding just him and KIKI to the mix didn¡¯t seem like a game-changer. KIKI climbed onto the truck¡¯s tailgate, her legs swinging as she gazed at the foggy sky. ¡°What¡¯s up with this damn fog?¡± she muttered impatiently. ¡°Who knows? It hasn¡¯t shown any signs of clearing in days,¡± Lou Shasha said with a hint of despair. ¡°So what now?¡± Lou Shasha gestured toward the center of the plaza, where Qian Yu and the leaders of several other convoys were deep in discussion. ¡°I think they¡¯re still planning to make a break for it. If we can¡¯t get out before the Polar Night sets in, we¡¯re all doomed...¡± Time passed slowly. Lin Xian glanced at his watch¡ªit was 6:05 PM, with only forty minutes left until nightfall. But thinking about it, the current situation wasn¡¯t much different from nighttime already. ¡°Do the monsters attack more aggressively after dark?¡± Lin Xian asked Lou Shasha. ¡°They do,¡± she nodded. ¡°Any loud noise will attract those grotesque zombies, but the bigger creatures haven¡¯t shown up yet...¡± Before she could finish, the distant roar of engines and gunfire suddenly shattered the tense calm of the survivor camp. Everyone immediately stood up. The men grabbed their weapons, ready for a fight. ¡°What¡¯s that sound?!¡± ¡°Over there!¡± ¡°Be careful!¡± ¡°Is it another convoy?¡± The survivors murmured in alarm. Lin Xian and Lou Shasha exchanged wary glances. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out!¡± Lou Shasha grabbed her grenade launcher and ran toward the commotion, her brother Lou Hua retrieving a rifle from the driver¡¯s cabin to follow her. Lin Xian and KIKI cautiously trailed behind. In the northwest street, dense fog rolled in as the sound of groaning corpses and gunfire grew closer. The survivors scattered across the plaza spread out defensively. Some climbed onto vehicles, while others ducked behind roadside planters for cover. Soon, several military jeeps burst through the fog, crushing a few grotesque zombies under their wheels. The people in the jeeps fired relentlessly at the creatures swarming the streets and sidewalks behind them. Qian Yu¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw the military vehicles. Regardless of who they were, their firepower gave him a better chance of survival. ¡°Everyone, help them out!¡± he ordered. Gunfire erupted across the plaza, echoing like a small-scale modern battlefield. Under the cover of the survivors¡¯ heavy firepower, the military jeeps quickly broke through the zombie horde and entered the plaza. As the vehicles retreated to the makeshift defensive line, more gunmen from the survivor camp opened fire, joining the battle against the advancing zombie tide. At this moment, several pale zombie dogs, controlled by the black centipede-like creatures, howled as they lunged out of the horde. In a flash, they pounced on a few unfortunate survivors who couldn¡¯t dodge in time, sinking their gaping maws into flesh and tearing viciously. ¡°Ahhh!!!¡± The unlucky victims screamed in agony. ¡°Hold the line!!¡± someone shouted. The convoy¡¯s defensive perimeter began to shrink under the relentless assault, the sound of gunfire echoing as the zombie dogs rampaged, ignoring the hail of bullets and crashing straight into the crowd. ¡°Take these beasts out first!¡± Lin Xian barked decisively. To survive, they had no choice but to align with the other survivors. Thud! Thud! Thud! Lin Xian fired several wind cannon blasts, shattering the heads of multiple zombies. Meanwhile, Lou Shasha and Lou Hua also joined the fight. Lou Hua didn¡¯t bother with the rifle slung on his back. Instead, he charged forward, grabbing a roadside guardrail with one hand. With a tremendous heave, he tore off the metal pole and hurled it with all his might. Whoosh! The metal pipe screamed through the air before impaling a pale zombie dog, sending its body flying over ten meters, leaving a gruesome trail in its wake. ¡°Whoa, what incredible strength!¡± KIKI exclaimed in amazement. ¡°He¡¯s an Ability User,¡± Lin Xian said solemnly. ¡°What kind of ability? Super strength?¡± At this moment, the people in the military jeeps also disembarked to join the fight. Lin Xian had assumed the newcomers would be military personnel, but to his surprise, they were civilians dressed in a hodgepodge of clothing. Leading them was a balding middle-aged man who appeared to be in his forties. However, the weapons they wielded were unmistakably military-grade¡ªstandard-issue Xinghuo-26 automatic tactical rifles. ¡°Focus on killing those dogs first!¡± Qian Yu bellowed in fury, his rage fueled by the sight of his own men falling one after another. His rifle spat continuous streams of bullets at the zombie dogs charging through the crowd. ¡°I¡¯m getting in on this!¡± Seeing the zombie dogs rampaging through the survivors, KIKI gritted her teeth in frustration. She suddenly reached out, and to the shock of everyone around, she lifted an abandoned bus on the roadside with invisible force. With a swift motion, she hurled it forward! Boom! The immense force flattened dozens of grotesque zombies and a handful of zombie dogs, crushing them into a pile of mangled flesh and gore that smeared across the road. The sight left everyone stunned and filled with dread. The sheer magnitude of the impact drew countless astonished gazes toward her. Nobody had expected this new face to be such a powerful Ability User. KIKI¡¯s devastating move instantly eased the pressure on the group. The remaining armed survivors quickly regrouped and reestablished their defensive line. With a renewed barrage of gunfire, it didn¡¯t take long before the previously overwhelming zombie horde began to recede. The streets grew quieter as the last of the gunfire faded away. The sudden zombie tide attack left the Black Jiao Convoy with three casualties, and the entire survivor camp suffered over ten deaths. The plaza was now heavy with the stench of blood and filled with an air of tragedy. As the survivors caught their breath, Lou Shasha gaped at KIKI with wide eyes. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re amazing!¡± she exclaimed. Lou Hua, standing protectively behind Lou Shasha, also studied Lin Xian and KIKI with a curious and unreadable expression. Meanwhile, Qian Yu and Eagle from the Black Jiao Convoy exchanged complicated glances, their eyes fixed on KIKI. The atmosphere turned distinctly uneasy. Chapter 36: The Alliance In the center of the plaza, the core members of each convoy gathered for a meeting. With nightfall imminent, many armed survivors patrolled the perimeter, keeping watch. The people who had earlier stepped out of the military jeeps turned out to be local survivors from Beiwang Town. Their leader, a middle-aged man named Tang Hai, was the former stationmaster of Beiwang Station. According to him, after the apocalypse began, he had led stranded passengers and some local residents into a nearby military outpost¡¯s air-raid bunker, where they had been holding out for some time. Tang Hai explained that the dense fog surrounding Beiwang Town hadn¡¯t appeared at the onset of the apocalypse but had rolled in after the first Polar Night. Initially, many from their group had tried to escape eastward, but the fog claimed the lives of anyone who ventured into it. Gradually, they realized they were all trapped in this cursed place, where even though the sun still rose, it felt like perpetual night. ¡°This fog has been here for more than ten days?¡± A chubby man, the leader of a small convoy, asked in disbelief. His group originally had over thirty people, but in just two days, more than half were gone. ¡°Exactly,¡± Tang Hai confirmed. ¡°Then why did you risk coming out of the air-raid bunker to find us? What¡¯s your real objective?¡± Qian Yu asked bluntly, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Tang Hai. ¡°What else? Of course, we¡¯re here to save you!¡± Before Tang Hai could respond, a cocky young man beside him spoke up loudly, ¡°There¡¯s a small path in the south of the city. I¡¯ve scouted it myself. It¡¯s relatively clear. With large vehicles and armored cars leading the way, we can definitely make it out.¡± The area fell silent after his declaration. The convoy leaders exchanged skeptical glances, and some even let out disdainful snorts. Qian Yu sneered coldly, glaring at the young man. ¡°Do you think we¡¯re idiots? If there¡¯s a way out, why didn¡¯t you escape yourselves? Why come all this way to ¡®save¡¯ us?¡± His words echoed everyone¡¯s thoughts. In the apocalypse, survival instinct reigned supreme. Distrust between groups was common, and even a child like Lou Shasha wouldn¡¯t easily believe such claims. ¡°Yuming, let me handle this,¡± Tang Hai said, raising his hand to calm the group. He explained, ¡°To be honest, we all want to escape. Our goals are the same. That¡¯s why we¡¯re suggesting we join forces. The more people, guns, and vehicles we have, the better our chances of survival.¡± Hearing this, the other convoy leaders nodded in understanding. In desperate times, it was natural to band together for protection. While the idea of an alliance seemed logical, every survivor secretly thought about their own survival. For most, the goal wasn¡¯t solidarity¡ªit was to use others as cannon fodder to improve their own odds of living. Tang Hai glanced around the group and said earnestly, ¡°We know the routes well and have decent equipment. If we combine forces, our chances will be much higher. Plus, you have Ability Users here.¡± At the mention of Ability Users, the leaders exchanged glances, their gazes drifting toward the corner of the plaza. ¡°Those siblings and those two newcomers seem to be no ordinary people,¡± someone murmured. ¡°That woman... What¡¯s her background? She¡¯s insanely powerful!¡± Qian Yu stood up and looked toward Lin Xian and KIKI. ¡°I almost forgot about them.¡± With that, he strode in their direction, and the other leaders quickly followed. ¡°Uncle, what kind of ability does that woman have? She¡¯s so strong!¡± Tang Hai¡¯s nephew, Feng Yuming, asked as they trailed behind the others. ¡°Seems to be some sort of telekinesis. Quite impressive,¡± Feng Yuming replied, frowning. Tang Hai¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°With someone like her, our chances of escaping are much better!¡± Feng Yuming cast him a sideways glance and added, ¡°Uncle, she¡¯s also a major threat to us.¡± Tang Hai¡¯s expression darkened at the remark. On the other side of the plaza, Lin Xian noticed Qian Yu and the others heading toward him. He already had a sense of their intentions. ¡°That move you pulled earlier must¡¯ve drained a lot of your energy, huh?¡± Lin Xian asked quietly. KIKI quickly gestured for him to lower his voice. ¡°Shh, keep it down, you idiot!¡± Lin Xian glanced at her pale face, noting her fatigue. He was relieved that she hadn¡¯t had a nosebleed this time, which meant she hadn¡¯t overexerted herself too much. As Qian Yu and his entourage approached, Lou Shasha, who had been eating canned food, immediately jumped down from the passenger seat and stood in front of them. ¡°Hey! What do you want?¡± she demanded. Lou Hua also stood up and stepped protectively beside his sister. Qian Yu¡¯s gaze swept over the group, his tone more measured than before. ¡°Relax, we¡¯re not here to cause trouble.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± one of the convoy leaders chimed in quickly. ¡°We¡¯re here to ask if you¡¯d be willing to join us and work together.¡± ¡°With people as strong as you, we¡¯d have a real shot at breaking out of here,¡± another added, looking at Lin Xian and KIKI with newfound hope. ¡°Work together?¡± Lin Xian asked, rising to his feet. ¡°What exactly do you mean by that?¡± At this moment, Tang Hai and Feng Yuming arrived. Lin Xian¡¯s expression shifted slightly as he observed them. Unlike the other survivors, who all looked haggard and grimy from prolonged stress, Tang Hai and Feng Yuming were noticeably clean and well-fed. If it weren¡¯t for the earlier battle, Lin Xian suspected their appearance would¡¯ve been spotless. This immediately made him suspicious. Tang Hai introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯m Tang Hai, a local from Beiwang Town and the former stationmaster of Beiwang Station. The survivors in our group have been taking refuge in a military air-raid bunker at the base of the nearby mountain...¡± Hearing this, Lin Xian frowned. The stationmaster of Beiwang Station? ¡°I¡¯m Lin Xian. This is KIKI,¡± he replied evenly. Feng Yuming¡¯s gaze scrutinized the two of them, lingering on KIKI for a moment. His eyes lit up with an undisguised excitement that made Lin Xian uneasy. Tang Hai repeated the plan discussed earlier, which was straightforward: to unite the convoys and work together to escape. ¡°But it¡¯s already dark. Wouldn¡¯t trying to break out now be even more dangerous?¡± Lin Xian asked, casting a wary glance at Feng Yuming and then at Tang Hai. Qian Yu scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t think it makes much difference. The fog is far more dangerous than the darkness.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean¡ª¡± Lin Xian began, but KIKI cut him off. ¡°You¡¯re all idiots!¡± she snapped. ¡°If we try to break out during the day, at least we¡¯ll have time to catch our breath outside. If we go at night, what are we supposed to do¡ªrun blindly for twenty hours in the dark?¡± Qian Yu frowned, realizing she had a point. ¡°Then we leave at first light?¡± someone suggested. Tang Hai stepped forward with an alternative. ¡°I have a suggestion. On our way here, we cleared out a lot of zombies. Why not take this opportunity to relocate everyone to the air-raid bunker? It¡¯s safer there, and it¡¯s closer to the southern path.¡± The group murmured in agreement. The plan seemed feasible. Lin Xian glanced at KIKI, who gave him a knowing look. The air-raid bunker Tang Hai mentioned was the same military outpost KIKI had brought up earlier. ¡°I think this plan works,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding. With Lin Xian¡¯s agreement, the group became energized. Qian Yu shot Tang Hai a glance but said nothing, instead turning to his lieutenant. ¡°Eagle, gather everyone and prepare to move!¡± The survivor camp burst into activity as the convoys quickly packed up their belongings and prepared their vehicles. Engines roared to life as they readied to depart. In a heavily modified off-road vehicle, Eagle kept a close eye on the military jeeps leading the convoy. ¡°Boss, something¡¯s definitely off about Tang Hai,¡± Eagle muttered. ¡°I already noticed,¡± Qian Yu replied with a cold laugh. He grabbed his walkie-talkie and issued orders to his men. ¡°Save your ammo and switch off your safeties. Stay sharp.¡± After setting the radio down, he glanced at Eagle and added, ¡°That military outpost was already part of my plan to loot. If anything goes wrong, take out Tang Hai immediately.¡± Eagle¡¯s eyes gleamed with a predatory light. ¡°Got it, boss.¡± The convoy began moving. Tang Hai¡¯s military jeeps led the way, followed by the Black Jiao Convoy¡¯s heavily modified vehicles. The remaining dozens of smaller convoys followed at the rear, with Lou Hua¡¯s pickup truck bringing up the end along with Lin Xian and KIKI. Lou Shasha popped her head through the rear window and asked, ¡°Are you guys cold?¡± ¡°Not too bad,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°Brother Lin, be careful. They might try to set you up,¡± Lou Shasha said, her sharp instincts belying her young age. ¡°Uh...¡± Lin Xian paused, then sighed lightly. ¡°Everyone wants to get out of here. If chaos breaks out, it¡¯ll be every man for himself.¡± Lou Shasha pouted and said firmly, ¡°Then we need to stick together! I saved you earlier, remember!¡± Lin Xian smiled faintly and nodded. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re allies.¡± Chapter 37: The Outpost Beep, beep. Beep, beep. 18:45. Darkness fell. At Beiwang Station, the Infinite Train stood quietly amidst a dense fog. Onboard, Chen Sixuan paced anxiously. The walkie-talkie in her hand emitted nothing but dead silence, devoid of even the faintest signal, causing her heart to clench in her chest. She looked nervously out the window. The fog seemed alive, wrapping itself around every inch of space, amplifying the night¡¯s darkness infinitely. Condensed frost clung to the train window. Deep within the mist, it felt as though some unknown, terrifying entity was lurking. A chill ran down her spine as ominous thoughts filled her mind. Swoosh. Chen Sixuan pulled down the blackout curtain. She rummaged through the toolbox in the 3rd carriage and grabbed a trusty crowbar for self-defense. Quietly, she leaned against the sofa, remaining vigilant of her surroundings. ¡°They¡¯re both ability users. They should be able to handle whatever comes their way,¡± she muttered to herself. It wasn¡¯t her first time dealing with Lin Xian not returning on time. The only thing she could do now was hold the fort and avoid drawing the attention of any lurking monsters. Vroom... Just then, the deep, rumbling sound of an engine broke through the stillness, cutting through the fog and striking her ears like a hammer. The abrupt noise contrasted sharply with the surrounding silence, immediately putting her on high alert. She shot up and moved to the driver¡¯s cabin, peering out through the window. To her shock, she spotted the headlights of a locomotive slowly moving along a distant track. Clang, clang. Seeing this, Chen Sixuan quickly covered her mouth in disbelief. Meanwhile, progress on the other side was going smoother than expected. The convoy of dozens of vehicles navigated the main road without much trouble, encountering only a few scattered grotesque zombies along the way. To avoid attracting more monsters, the teams tacitly agreed not to fire any shots. The convoy soon emerged from a stretch of forest and spotted a sign ahead reading, ¡°Military Restricted Zone: No Entry.¡± Shortly after, a sizeable military base came into view. Once a heavily guarded outpost, the military base was now desolate, lying abandoned at the foot of the mountain. Its surroundings exuded a somber stillness. Inside the tall-walled outpost, a group of survivors who had been hiding there opened the heavy steel gates, moved aside the barriers, and allowed the convoy to drive in one by one. By now, night had fully descended. The floodlights from countless vehicles illuminated the looted outpost. In the courtyard, a few disassembled jeeps and a TFV600 twin-barrel heavy tank with a broken track and stripped targeting system lay scattered. Most eye-catching, however, was a damaged Iron Guard 3 military assault mech. ¡°Holy sh*t! Is that for real?!¡± A young man wearing glasses, clearly the convoy¡¯s tech expert, jumped out of a Black Jiao Convoy vehicle, his eyes lighting up instantly. ¡°It¡¯s already broken,¡± Tang Hai replied as he directed his men to close the gates. Walking over, he added, ¡°The Starfleet evacuated completely before the last polar night. This thing¡¯s just a heap of scrap metal now. We¡¯ve already scavenged it for all the usable parts.¡± No one doubted his words. Still, many had never seen such military-grade mechs up close before, and it didn¡¯t take long for a crowd of curious survivors to gather around it. ¡°Wu Songlin, Eagle, check if there¡¯s anything useful left. Take whatever you can,¡± Qian Yu instructed his specialized crew, confident in their expertise. Even if it was just some usable armored steel, they had high-speed cutting tools ready to prepare the convoy for repairs. ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Qian Yu asked Tang Hai, testing the waters. ¡°Not at all,¡± Tang Hai replied with a sheepish smile, acting agreeable. Tang Hai then turned his gaze to a nearby mountainside. There, a massive structure stood in plain sight¡ªa large air-raid bunker. Its entrance, sealed by thick steel doors, radiated an air of indomitable strength and durability despite years of exposure to the elements. ¡°We¡¯ve got 46 people. We¡¯ve been holed up in that bunker for nearly three months. Now, there are barely 20 of us left. The walls here are thick, and the doors are sturdy. We can rest up together for the night and head out at first light tomorrow,¡± Tang Hai said. ¡°Whoa! Lin Xian, look!¡± Kiki had climbed out of the car alongside Lin Xian and was walking toward the crowd. Her eyes lit up when she spotted the nearly three-meter-tall humanoid war mech. ¡°This is so cool! If only it worked. Although, I still prefer the Sentinel series¡ªthey¡¯re less bulky.¡± Lin Xian also eyed the towering behemoth, a glimmer of fervor flashing in his gaze. His Mechanical Heart pulsed with desire. These military-grade machines had always been on his wishlist. However, ever since the apocalypse began, he¡¯d been confined to urban areas and hadn¡¯t had the chance to come across such equipment. He¡¯d long planned to strengthen himself, not just through improving his abilities but by further developing his Mechanical Heart. For example¡ªself-armoring! Combat prosthetics, rapid weapon systems¡ªall of these seemed far more reliable than close-quarters combat with a short blade. Beyond industrial-grade and military armors, Lin Xian fantasized about incorporating tank cannons, railguns, close-in weapon systems, and various automated weapons into the Infinite Train. If he could devour or scan these blueprints and integrate them into his train, the thought alone was exhilarating. ¡°By the way, where are your other teammates? Or is it just the two of you?¡± Qian Yu suddenly asked, glancing at Lin Xian and Kiki. ¡°There aren¡¯t many of us,¡± Lin Xian replied casually, clearly uninterested in conversing further. His attention shifted back to the damaged Iron Guard 3 assault mech as he quietly activated his Mechanical Scan system. Unfortunately, he quickly discovered that many of the mech¡¯s subsystems were missing, and the core drive had long been gutted. It was impossible to scan a complete blueprint. He sighed inwardly and prepared to give up. Much like Wu Songlin from the Black Jiao Convoy, he had considered dismantling the armor plates, including parts from the TFV600 heavy tank. However, without tools or manpower, he could do nothing but rely on his Devour ability. ¡°Not many of you?¡± Qian Yu raised an eyebrow and boldly suggested, ¡°Why not join my convoy? I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re well-equipped with weapons and food. What do you think?¡± His direct offer, though brash, was reasonable given the circumstances. Even Tang Hai and the other convoy leaders cast mixed looks. Recruiting people so openly in this situation was undeniably aggressive. But the Black Jiao Convoy¡¯s confidence wasn¡¯t baseless. As a mid-sized armed team, their survival capabilities were strong¡ªevident from their gear. They had armored cars, trucks, tankers, and even dedicated technical personnel. Many smaller teams had already considered joining them for protection. After all, in the chaos of the apocalypse, who wouldn¡¯t want a strong backer? To everyone¡¯s surprise, Lin Xian rejected the offer with a faint smile, ¡°No thanks.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s refusal made Qian Yu¡¯s expression change instantly, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes. ¡°Then what about this lovely lady?¡± Qian Yu¡¯s gaze suddenly shifted to Kiki, his tone arrogant and dismissive. ¡°Would you consider joining my convoy?¡± Kiki glanced at Lin Xian with a strange expression before turning to Qian Yu. ¡°What? Are you talking to me?¡± Qian Yu looked between the two of them, a fake smile plastered across his face. ¡°What? Are you two a couple?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lin Xian replied flatly. ¡°Relatives?¡± ¡°Not that either,¡± Kiki said with a sly smile. Hearing this, Qian Yu¡¯s expression brightened as he shot Lin Xian a knowing glance before speaking loudly, ¡°Well, if you¡¯re not related, then that¡¯s no problem! My convoy always welcomes talented individuals. If you join, miss, I¡¯ll arrange a private RV just for you, fully stocked with food and supplies. You¡¯ll even have round-the-clock protection.¡± As soon as these words left his mouth, a flicker of murderous intent flashed in Lin Xian¡¯s eyes. Bang! A fierce gust of wind erupted, followed by a sharp crack. Qian Yu¡¯s sunglasses, which had been hanging on his forehead, suddenly shattered, and the sheer force sent him stumbling backward. Clack, clack, clack! In the next moment, the men behind him, including Eagle and several others, raised their guns, the tension escalating as the scent of gunpowder filled the air. ¡°Are you an idiot? Poaching my people right in front of me¡ªdid you think I wouldn¡¯t dare kill you?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze turned cold, an overwhelming pressure radiating from him. No one even saw how he had attacked! ¡°You!¡± Qian Yu staggered back into his men, a chilling sensation of near-death still lingering on his forehead. Realizing what had happened, he exploded in anger, pulling out his handgun and aiming it at Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°Oh? Go ahead, then. Shoot.¡± Facing more than a dozen guns, Lin Xian remained unperturbed. His cold eyes bore into Qian Yu. ¡°Let¡¯s see who dies first¡ªyou or me.¡± Off to the side, Tang Hai watched with a grim expression, while Feng Yuming, standing behind him, seemed to find the spectacle rather entertaining. He didn¡¯t appear to care that this fragile ¡°temporary alliance¡± was about to dissolve into infighting. At that moment, Kiki walked over, casually draping an arm around Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. Tilting her head, she looked at the line of gun barrels aimed at them and said, ¡°What¡¯s this? Planning to fight? Perfect. I¡¯ve had my eye on all the good stuff in your convoy. Hey, bad guy~¡± She glanced up at Lin Xian and continued, ¡°Why don¡¯t we just...¡± She then made a slicing motion across her neck. The moment she said this, the other convoy teams watching from the sidelines turned pale and instinctively backed away, afraid to get caught up in the conflict. The terrifying scene of Kiki annihilating an entire vehicle¡¯s worth of enemies was still fresh in their minds. None of them could imagine having any chance of victory against a woman like her. Hearing her words, the flames of anger in Qian Yu¡¯s eyes suddenly flickered out. He raised a hand, signaling his men to lower their weapons. His expression turned uncertain as he looked at the two of them, a bead of cold sweat rolling down his face. To be honest, after Lin Xian had refused his offer, Qian Yu had been somewhat humiliated and made the provocative move of targeting Kiki. What he hadn¡¯t anticipated was Lin Xian¡¯s immediate retaliation. And now, from the way they were speaking, it felt as if the two of them were the ones surrounding his convoy of over a hundred people, not the other way around. For the first time, Qian Yu felt a chilling sense of danger, though he was now stuck in a precarious position after throwing out those harsh words. Meanwhile, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes held a flicker of surprise. He glanced at Kiki¡¯s hand resting on his shoulder, a hint of confusion rising in his mind. He and Kiki hadn¡¯t known each other for long. At best, they were comrades who had weathered a few days of hardships together¡ªnot even close friends. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t done anything to earn her loyalty or convince her to stay. On the contrary, his attitude toward her had been indifferent at best. If she had chosen to leave or join another convoy, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have been surprised. But faced with Qian Yu¡¯s arrogant antics, Lin Xian had no choice but to respond. What he hadn¡¯t expected was for Kiki to stand so firmly by his side. It seemed that this little woman wasn¡¯t as simple as she looked. Chapter 38: The Armory ¡°What the hell are you trying to do?!¡± Just as tensions reached a boiling point, Luo Shasha squeezed through the crowd, wielding a grenade launcher. Behind her, the tall Luo Ye followed with a machine gun in hand. ¡°We¡¯re on the same side! Qian, if you¡¯ve got the guts, go ahead and pull the trigger!¡± Luo Shasha, though young and petite, stood resolutely in front of Lin Xian and Kiki with her oversized weapon, exuding the aura of a fierce little sister. Qian Yu¡¯s eyes swept over the group staring him down. His expression flickered uncertainly before he clenched his teeth and backed down. ¡°Brother, no hard feelings. I was just impressed by your skills and wanted to discuss cooperation. If I¡¯ve offended you, I apologize,¡± he said, swallowing his pride. ¡°Exactly, let¡¯s not make this worse,¡± Tang Hai finally chimed in, stepping in as the mediator. ¡°Everyone, calm down. Survival is the priority here. This fog has trapped us all. Let¡¯s focus on our current predicament. Any personal grudges can be settled after we make it out of here,¡± he added with a pacifying tone. Lin Xian turned his gaze toward Tang Hai. ¡°Is that really what you think?¡± The atmosphere grew tense again, and Tang Hai¡¯s eye twitched slightly at Lin Xian¡¯s sharp words. Still, he forced a smile. ¡°Of course. I know there¡¯s mutual distrust among us, and that¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t trust you either. But at the end of the day, we all have the same goal: survival,¡± Tang Hai replied, turning to gesture at his group behind him. ¡°We¡¯ve been holed up in this bunker for months. There are dozens of us, all just trying to stay alive. Bringing you in was actually a huge risk for us. Doesn¡¯t that show our willingness to cooperate?¡± ¡°The bunker?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes scanned the mountain in the distance. ¡°Can we stay there tonight?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Tang Hai nodded quickly. ¡°Everyone can rest in the bunker tonight. It¡¯s much safer in there compared to outside,¡± he said, addressing the convoy leaders to reinforce his apparent goodwill. At that, his nephew Feng Yuming interjected, ¡°Uncle, there¡¯s no way the bunker can fit so many people!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll squeeze in,¡± Tang Hai sighed. ¡°There¡¯s still plenty of room.¡± The suggestion to let everyone into the bunker did help ease some suspicions, but the convoy leaders exchanged strange looks and stayed silent. ¡°No need. My convoy stays with our vehicles. We¡¯ll keep watch through the night,¡± Qian Yu responded first. Now that the standoff had de-escalated, he shot a cold glance at Lin Xian and Kiki before turning to leave. The other convoy leaders quickly followed suit, voicing their refusals: ¡°We don¡¯t need it either.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just meet up tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Same here...¡± Seeing the unanimous rejection, Tang Hai didn¡¯t press the matter. Feng Yuming, however, sneered in disdain. ¡°Hmph, as if sleeping in your vehicles is safer than a bunker. Idiots.¡± ¡°Yuming!¡± Tang Hai scolded. ¡°Let it go. Everyone fending for themselves is fine, too.¡± In truth, the convoy leaders¡¯ reactions were completely understandable. Whether they trusted Tang Hai or not wasn¡¯t the main issue. For these people, their vehicles carried all their worldly possessions. To them, no place was safer than their convoy. If danger arose, they could escape immediately. Under such circumstances, who would abandon their vehicles to sleep in a bunker? Turning to Lin Xian, Tang Hai said, ¡°I¡¯ll have Yuming show you inside. Feel free to find a spot and rest. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll need your help again...¡± ¡°We¡¯re all in the same boat, no need to be so formal,¡± Lin Xian replied with a polite smile, though inwardly he was growing suspicious. He had already intended to check out the bunker. While there were some treasures in the courtyard, he couldn¡¯t exactly devour machinery in front of hundreds of people. Tang Hai¡¯s suggestion gave him the perfect excuse to probe his intentions. To Lin Xian¡¯s surprise, Tang Hai actually agreed to let them in. While his outward behavior seemed reasonable, even generous, it felt strangely naive for a world as ruthless as this. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t quite figure out what Tang Hai was plotting, so he decided to wait and see. As he prepared to head toward the bunker, he paused when he saw Luo Shasha nearby. Noticing his gaze, Shasha quickly waved her hand and pointed toward the pickup truck. ¡°You two go ahead. My brother and I are used to sleeping in the truck.¡± ¡°Be careful,¡± Luo Ye added tersely. Lin Xian nodded and began walking toward the bunker at the foot of the mountain, weaving through the crowd with Kiki close behind. ¡°Hey, bad guy. Our motorcycle¡¯s still on that truck,¡± Kiki said. ¡°What, you want to bring it inside the bunker?¡± Lin Xian replied, continuing forward. As they walked, he suddenly felt someone watching them. Turning his head, he saw Feng Yuming trailing behind. ¡°Hey, brother. The people inside are all our own, just ordinary folks,¡± Feng Yuming said. Kiki frowned, confused by the remark. ¡°Ordinary people... so what?¡± she blurted out. Lin Xian sighed softly and replied in a calm tone, ¡°We¡¯re just looking for a place to rest for the night. We won¡¯t disturb you.¡± Feng Yuming¡¯s eyes darted between the two of them before he fell silent and took the lead, guiding them forward. As they climbed the slope, a freight platform came into view first. A railway track extended through the fog, disappearing into the valley. Behind the platform loomed a large air-raid bunker. Above the bunker¡¯s entrance, mounted on the mountainside, was a 1130 close-in defense cannon. Even shrouded in mist, its silhouette exuded an imposing aura. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes gleamed in awe¡ªhe had only ever seen such weapons on television. This wasn¡¯t just any ordinary military outpost. Entering through the iron gates, they found themselves in a hollowed-out mountain space designed for parking military vehicles and storing supplies. The hangar inside the bunker was now completely empty. Lin Xian figured Tang Hai¡¯s group had probably salvaged their jeeps from here. Passing through the empty hangar, Feng Yuming led them down a staircase. In the underground facilities, Tang Hai¡¯s survivors were scattered in small groups, sitting and eating in the dimly lit hall. Most of them were ordinary folks from Beiwang County¡ªmen, women, and children huddled in corners with their families. According to Tang Hai, their numbers had once been far greater. But as time passed, death claimed more and more of them. The oppressive atmosphere of despair weighed heavily on everyone¡¯s hearts. ¡°There¡¯s a warehouse, dormitories, a command room, and an armory. Stay wherever you like,¡± Feng Yuming said indifferently, introducing the bunker¡¯s facilities to Lin Xian and Kiki before turning to leave. ¡°An armory?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°There¡¯s nothing left in it,¡± Feng Yuming replied, glancing back with a sarcastic sneer. ¡°If there were anything valuable, we¡¯d have taken it already. What, you think we¡¯d leave it for you?¡± With that, he scoffed and walked away dismissively. Lin Xian raised an eyebrow as he watched Feng Yuming leave. Without another word, he headed straight for the armory at the end of the hallway, Kiki trailing behind him under the watchful eyes of the other survivors. ¡°Heh, I knew you¡¯d come here,¡± Kiki said with a smug grin, looking around as they approached. ¡°But wow, this place has been picked clean. What a shame~¡± Suddenly, she asked, ¡°Hey, what did that guy mean earlier when he pointed out that everyone here is just ordinary people?¡± Lin Xian replied as he walked, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Right now, we¡¯re the biggest threat here.¡± ¡°Haha, he¡¯s worried we¡¯ll rob them, huh?¡± ¡°That¡¯s only natural. A single ability user can be the core of an entire convoy. With just the two of us, acting independently, it¡¯s hard not to come across as dangerous.¡± This bunker wasn¡¯t your run-of-the-mill air-raid shelter. Although the base above appeared to be a small-scale military outpost, the bunker below housed a fully functional underground facility. It was equipped with a command room for information warfare, an armory, storage rooms, and dormitories. ¡°What a perfect hideout,¡± Lin Xian remarked. Indeed, it was a natural apocalypse shelter. With adequate supplies, it could sustain at least 50 people for six months or more. However, judging by the state of the survivors here, their supplies seemed insufficient. While they had plenty of military vehicles, firearms, and ammunition, food shortages were clearly becoming an issue. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be attempting to flee before the polar night set in. When Lin Xian opened the armory door, he was greeted by row upon row of empty shelves. Other than some gas masks, helmets, and other equipment that were essentially useless, everything else had been stripped bare by Tang Hai¡¯s group. The air inside was suffused with the stench of urine and feces, making Lin Xian¡¯s head swim. Kiki immediately covered her nose and backed out. ¡°Let¡¯s find another spot instead.¡± Chapter 39: The Underground Elevator The other room, labeled the information command center, was relatively empty. Chairs and desks were stacked haphazardly, and there were traces of makeshift bedding on the floor. ¡°This will do,¡± Lin Xian said, dragging a chair out. He glanced at Kiki. ¡°Get some rest.¡± Kiki wrinkled her nose in disgust at the dirty floor but quickly became distracted by the command console. The table was lined with over a dozen monitors and information equipment, though they were utterly useless in the absence of power. Her eyes sparkled with interest as she walked over. ¡°Hey, bad guy, how about we move this stuff onto the train and set up an information center for me?¡± ¡°An information center?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. He had noticed earlier that the base had a sentry warning system, but the system was far too complex to disassemble and move easily. ¡°Easier said than done. How are we supposed to haul all this back?¡± Kiki pouted. ¡°Are you stupid? There¡¯s a freight rail line outside¡ªit¡¯s obviously connected to Beiwang Station!¡± ¡°I know,¡± Lin Xian replied with a wry smile. ¡°What I mean is, we¡¯re still trapped in this fog. We¡¯re lucky to even be alive, so how would we find the time to move anything?¡± ¡°Uh... fair point,¡± Kiki admitted, deflating. She stretched lazily and glanced at Lin Xian, her exhaustion plain to see. ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore. I need to rest for a bit.¡± Lin Xian found a corner and leaned back against the wall, leaving her be. He knew Kiki was utterly drained by now. Whether it was Qian Yu or Tang Hai, Lin Xian was certain they both harbored ulterior motives. In this harsh environment, everyone prioritized their own survival. Their politeness toward him and Kiki was only due to their abilities as ability users. Once they escaped the fog, Lin Xian would become their biggest threat. Some might see Lin Xian and Kiki as powerful allies, but for now, with the extreme night just two days away, everyone¡¯s survival was uncertain. ¡°This kind of place should have backup power or generators,¡± Lin Xian muttered, noticing how the survivors in the main hall were lighting candles. It was clear the ventilation system was still functional, yet the electricity was completely out. ¡°In the armory. It stinks in there,¡± Kiki mumbled, leaning against Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. Within moments, she had fallen asleep. Lin Xian turned to look at her, a complicated expression crossing his face. Yesterday, she had fainted after using her ability twice to fight off the giant bug. Yet today, she had managed to hold out without revealing any weakness. She was sharp. If the others discovered her ability¡¯s limitations, neither Qian Yu nor Tang Hai would treat them with such caution. Even though Lin Xian¡¯s display of power had been impressive, Kiki¡¯s explosive combat ability had left a much stronger impression on everyone. He recalled how she had feigned sleep for three days and began to wonder about her true identity. How could a spoiled rich girl have such resilience? Night fell, and everything inside and outside the bunker grew deathly quiet. Whether it was the convoys in the courtyard or the survivors in the underground shelter, nobody made unnecessary noise. It was a night destined to be sleepless¡ªnot only because of the looming terror of the dark but also because tomorrow¡¯s planned escape from the fog was a gamble of life and death. Lin Xian did not rest. Instead, he placed his hand on the command console and activated his Mechanical Heart to interface with the system. But he quickly realized this command system wasn¡¯t just a server or a set of information devices. It was the central hub that connected the entire outpost. The system¡¯s scale was far beyond what he had anticipated. His energy began draining rapidly, alarming him. Just as he prepared to stop his ability, something strange caught his attention. Beneath the underground facility, there was a hidden elevator. What shocked Lin Xian even more was that the elevator was currently descending! Frowning, he stood up and looked out into the main hall, but everything remained silent. Where was this elevator located? And more importantly, with the base¡¯s power completely out, how was the elevator still operational? ¡°Backup power?¡± Lin Xian muttered, glancing at the sleeping Kiki. He remembered her mentioning a backup generator in the armory. With a growing sense of caution, Lin Xian¡¯s suspicions deepened. The first person that came to mind was Tang Hai. Both Lin Xian and Qian Yu had found Tang Hai¡¯s behavior odd. While his goals seemed straightforward, his timing was too convenient. Luo Shasha had arrived two days earlier, and Qian Yu¡¯s group a day before that. By all logic, Tang Hai should have been aware of their presence much earlier. Yet he had chosen to emerge today, risking a potential zombie horde attack. However, as a local, Tang Hai had also led them to a much safer shelter than the plaza, which had temporarily eased some suspicions. Although the various groups remained wary of one another, the shared danger of the fog bound them together for now. Even with the bunker doors open, Lin Xian had put his doubts on hold. Still, his cautious nature compelled him to investigate further. After carefully laying Kiki onto a discarded sleeping bag, he left the command room and stepped into the hallway. The survivors in the main hall eyed him warily but said nothing. Since Feng Yuming had personally escorted him inside, they remained silent, though their expressions were guarded. Ignoring them, Lin Xian returned to the armory. As expected, deep inside the room, he found a large diesel generator and an energy storage system. However, when he used his ability to scan it, he discovered that the generator was damaged and out of fuel. ¡°What¡¯s going on? No power at all? Could there be another source of backup energy?¡± The realization sent a chill down his spine, sharpening his suspicions. Lin Xian searched around for a while longer before deciding to return to the hangar entrance of the bunker. The heavy iron door was already locked, but using his Mechanical Heart , he quietly unlocked it. Peering out, he saw the slope below and the courtyard of the outpost where dozens of vehicles belonging to the survivors were parked in eerie silence. From the cracks in several of the vehicles, faint beams of light leaked out¡ªproof that many people were not sleeping soundly but remaining on high alert throughout the night. Lin Xian circled the area but found no sign of the elevator entrance, nor did he spot Tang Hai or Feng Yuming. Their absence unsettled him. Feeling a growing unease, Lin Xian returned to the command room and took a deep breath. This time, he decided to push his Mechanical Heart to its limit, attempting to fully integrate with the base¡¯s command system and map out all its mechanical pathways. It wasn¡¯t long before he felt an intense drain on his energy, leaving him visibly exhausted, his face pale. But his efforts paid off. As he scanned the entire base¡¯s mechanical structures and conduits through the command hub, his eyes suddenly snapped open. A sharp, fierce glint flashed in his gaze. ¡°F***!¡± Lin Xian cursed under his breath, his expression darkening as cold sweat poured down his face. After a brief moment of deliberation, he scooped up Kiki, who was still sound asleep, and carried her into the armory. Locking the door behind him, he ignored the pervasive stench of the room and used a flashlight to find a spot near the backup generator where the air was better due to the proximity of the ventilation pipes. Placing Kiki down gently, he turned off the flashlight and listened to the faint sound of her breathing in the dark. He then placed his hand on the generator and began another scan. ¡°Just as I thought!¡± In the pitch-black room, Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew grim, his heart pounding faster. ¡°Ugh, it stinks so bad...¡± Kiki¡¯s sleepy voice murmured faintly beside him, half-conscious from the horrible smell. ¡°Little girl,¡± Lin Xian muttered, giving her cheek a quick pinch. The startled Kiki jolted awake, groggy and visibly irritated. The foul stench made her wrinkle her nose as she struggled to sit up. ¡°Hey... you¡ª¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Xian covered her mouth with his hand. Click. He turned on the flashlight again, his face solemn as he pointed toward the wall next to them. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kiki asked, her expression shifting to seriousness as she saw Lin Xian¡¯s demeanor. Forcing herself to focus despite her fatigue, she whispered, ¡°Is it a monster?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°I think it might be worse than that...¡± Chapter 40: Air Raid Alarm In a dimly lit basement room, the faint light from half-empty bottles of red wine glinted on a table scattered with high-end, empty canned food containers. Tang Hai reclined in a tactical chair, his expression grim. ¡°Yuming, those two young ability users... I can¡¯t shake the feeling they¡¯re a risk,¡± Tang Hai said. Feng Yuming, lounging with his legs crossed and casually eating a fruit can, replied dismissively, ¡°That girl¡¯s a bit tricky, sure, but I¡¯ve been observing her. She¡¯s actually very weak, just putting on a brave face. She¡¯s no real threat. Besides, now that they¡¯ve walked into the bunker, they¡¯re stuck¡ªthey can¡¯t run.¡± ¡°Is everything ready on Huang¡¯s side?¡± Tang Hai asked. ¡°Relax, Uncle,¡± Feng Yuming replied with a smug grin. ¡°With all the equipment we¡¯ve taken from the other convoys, we¡¯ll be out of this hellhole soon enough.¡± Tang Hai¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate the Black Jiao Convoy. They¡¯re not that simple. Tonight, we need to stay patient.¡± Feng Yuming nodded and added, ¡°Uncle, if there¡¯s a chance later, I¡¯ll see if we can keep a few of the women behind. The boys have been holding it in for far too long...¡± Tang Hai chuckled coldly. ¡°The prettiest one is also the most dangerous. Do you dare keep her?¡± ¡°Tch!¡± Feng Yuming scoffed. ¡°Ability users aren¡¯t gods. No matter how powerful she is, she¡¯s still just one person. When the time comes, I¡¯ll have my way.¡± ¡°By the way,¡± Tang Hai said, his tone sharpening, ¡°keep an eye out for other ability users. That big guy in the group, for instance¡ªI have a feeling he won¡¯t be easy to deal with.¡± ¡°I know. He seems like a brute-strength type. But even so, a sweep of machine gun fire will tear him apart,¡± Feng Yuming replied, shrugging as if it was no big deal. The uncle and nephew continued plotting, clearly confident in the fates they¡¯d planned for everyone else, just waiting to claim their spoils. Meanwhile, the dozens of vehicles and hundreds of survivors in the courtyard remained on high alert, unaware that a human-engineered disaster was quietly brewing. ... Back in the armory, Lin Xian explained his discovery to Kiki. ¡°Another backup energy system? What does that mean?¡± Kiki asked, rubbing her tired eyes. Lin Xian¡¯s tone was grave. ¡°This power system is independent. It supplies electricity to the base¡¯s defense systems and... a short branch railway¡¯s overhead power grid.¡± Kiki¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°A branch railway? Are you saying Tang Hai¡¯s group plans to escape by train?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s one possibility. Judging by the power configuration and load voltage, the range is limited¡ªit won¡¯t get them very far.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t need to go far,¡± Kiki said, her eyes widening as she realized something. ¡°They just need to get out of the fog... or to Beiwang Station?!¡± ¡°Then why...¡± Kiki trailed off, her expression suddenly stiffening. She gritted her teeth. ¡°Damn it, those bastards! We need to leave now!¡± She scrambled to her feet, but Lin Xian grabbed her arm, his face serious. ¡°Leave? Leave to where? If we try to leave now, the other convoys will descend into chaos, and that¡¯ll make things worse,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°But if we stay, isn¡¯t that just waiting to die?¡± Kiki said, her voice tinged with panic. Lin Xian¡¯s intense gaze locked onto hers. ¡°Do you remember something you said earlier? It was spot on.¡± ¡°What did I say?¡± Kiki asked, confused. ¡°You said that even if we escape the fog now, it¡¯s still dark outside.¡± Kiki blinked in realization. ¡°You mean... they¡¯ll probably make their move before dawn?¡± ¡°Earlier than that,¡± Lin Xian corrected. ¡°Which means we still have some time.¡± ¡°Time for what?¡± Lin Xian dragged over a dirty sleeping bag and dropped it next to her. ¡°Sleep.¡± ¡°Are you crazy?!¡± Kiki looked at him as if he had lost his mind. She reached out to touch his forehead, frowning. ¡°Has the stink in here gotten to you? You¡¯re telling me to sleep at a time like this?¡± ¡°We have to sleep,¡± Lin Xian said firmly, his expression serious. ¡°You need to rest. You¡¯ll need your strength later to help me execute my plan.¡± With that, he pulled Kiki closer and whispered his bold plan into her ear. Lin Xian was convinced Tang Hai wouldn¡¯t act too early. First, as Kiki had guessed, they¡¯d likely wait for the middle of the night when fatigue and vigilance among the survivors would wane. Second, Tang Hai would want to ensure complete control of the situation. But Lin Xian knew he had to prepare for any eventuality. For his plan to work, Kiki needed to regain some energy to maximize their chances of breaking through. Kiki listened to his plan, her expression shifting. ¡°What about Shasha and the others? Should we...?¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°We can¡¯t worry about them now. Even if we told them, they wouldn¡¯t be able to help and might tip Tang Hai off.¡± ¡°Enough talk. Go to sleep!¡± Reluctantly, Kiki furrowed her brows and obeyed, lying on the sleeping mat and forcing herself to rest despite the horrendous smell in the room. Lin Xian said nothing more. He placed his hand on the generator and activated Mechanical Devour! [Devouring Progress: 1%] Sweat began to bead on Lin Xian¡¯s forehead as he watched the slow progress on his interface. This was the first time he had attempted to devour such a massive setup¡ªa 1900KW diesel generator combined with an energy storage system. This system alone could power an entire residential block as a backup source, making it incredibly difficult to absorb. With his physical energy already significantly drained, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t even sure if he could last until the generator was fully devoured. His mind raced as he pieced together Tang Hai¡¯s true intentions, and he couldn¡¯t help but break into a cold sweat. Looking back, his initial suspicions had been far too naive... In the dead of night, the tension was palpable. The survivors, many of them exhausted after days of stress, clung to what little vigilance they could muster. Elderly men, women, and children had drifted off to sleep, while the guards fought their fatigue with splashes of cold water or sips of coffee if they were lucky enough to have it. The thick fog still blanketed the outpost, muffling sounds and casting a suffocating silence over the high walls. Only the occasional chirp of insects could be heard, interrupted by a child¡¯s soft cries quickly silenced by a protective mother afraid of drawing something sinister in the dark. Everyone shared an unspoken understanding: stay quiet and wait for dawn. Woo~ But the sudden, piercing shriek of an air raid siren shattered the fragile peace, its blaring tone growing louder and more intense with each passing second. It jolted everyone awake and sent a cold sweat down their backs. ¡°What the hell is that sound?!¡± ¡°Air raid alarm! F***!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°Who set it off?!¡± In the Black Jiao Convoy, Qian Yu, who had been dozing, snapped awake in fury. His eyes widened as he cursed loudly, ¡°Damn it, those sons of b****es!¡± He grabbed his walkie-talkie and shouted, ¡°Everyone, stay on guard!¡± ¡°What about that old bastard?!¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t seen him since last night!¡± Eagle, stationed on top of another vehicle with his gun, scanned the area for any trace of Tang Hai¡¯s group, but there was no one in sight. The deafening air raid siren reverberated through the valley, and before long, the horrific howls of zombies echoed from the surrounding fog. The dreadful sound grew closer and closer, sending chills down everyone¡¯s spines. ¡°We¡¯ve been played!¡± Qian Yu roared. ¡°No wonder that bastard insisted on inviting everyone into the bunker¡ªit was a f***ing trap!¡± ¡°Should we run to the bunker now?!¡± ¡°Run to hell! It¡¯s probably locked already!¡± Qian Yu snarled. Despite his precautions against Tang Hai, he had never expected such ruthless tactics. To set off a trap right in their own refuge? It was almost beyond comprehension. The realization dawned on the other convoys as well, and chaos erupted in the courtyard. Shouts filled the air as engines roared to life. Curses against Tang Hai echoed as survivors scrambled to figure out their next move. Some smaller teams abandoned their vehicles and rushed toward the bunker¡¯s entrance, hoping to find safety. But when the Black Jiao Convoy opened the outpost¡¯s gate, they were greeted by an unexpected sight¡ªmassive barricades and marble blocks had been set up outside without their knowledge. Seeing this, Qian Yu¡¯s face twisted with rage. ¡°Clear the obstacles! Now!¡± A modified heavy truck equipped with a steel plow lowered its blade with a mechanical whine. Revving its engine, it charged forward, crashing into the barricades with explosive force. Bang! Bang! Bang! The plow cleared a path through the debris, leaving a temporary escape route for the vehicles behind. ¡°Brother, should we go too?!¡± On another pickup truck, Luo Shasha looked nervously at the chaotic scene unfolding around them, her voice trembling. Luo Ye hesitated, his gaze drifting toward the bunker. ¡°I can go get them!¡± Shasha shouted. ¡°Wait!¡± Luo Ye grabbed her arm, his eyes focused. ¡°They... they have abilities.¡± Shasha bit her lip, nodding in agreement. ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll wait for them.¡± Meanwhile, the survivors who had rushed toward the bunker¡¯s entrance reached the iron door. But before they could even attempt to open it, a sudden flash of fire illuminated the darkness. Boom! A massive explosion rocked the courtyard, and a ball of fire engulfed the survivors, swallowing them whole. ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Kiki! Are they¡ª?!¡± The horrific sound of the zombie horde¡¯s howls grew louder and louder, echoing through the fog. Gunfire erupted as survivors fought back, but the chaos was too overwhelming. On the pickup, Shasha¡¯s face turned pale as she watched the carnage unfold. Despite waiting as long as she could, there was still no sign of Lin Xian or Kiki. ¡°Brother!!¡± ¡°We have to go!¡± Luo Ye said decisively, slamming his foot on the gas pedal. The pickup truck roared to life, speeding out of the outpost. If they hesitated any longer, neither of them would make it out alive. The scene in the courtyard had descended into utter madness. Waves of zombies, grotesque undead creatures, corpse dogs, and black centipede-like monsters surged through the fog, flooding into the outpost like a tidal wave. One van that failed to start in time was instantly swallowed by the horde, while an off-road vehicle crashed into a cement block in the chaos. Its passengers, unable to restart the vehicle, were forced to abandon it, firing their guns as they ran toward the bunker. But they didn¡¯t get far. In the darkness, a corpse dog pounced, dragging one of them to the ground. ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°Help me!¡± ¡°Run, honey! I¡¯ll hold them off!¡± Inside the bunker, the sound of the explosion and the arrival of the horde had thrown the survivors into a frenzy. The undead poured into the shelter, and the confined space erupted in horrific screams and chaos. The valley echoed with the chilling sounds of panic, gunfire, and inhuman shrieks. Outside, the fleeing vehicles formed a frantic convoy, their headlights piercing through the fog. But the monsters pursued them relentlessly, and every time a vehicle lost control, it triggered a chain of crashes, with the wreckage quickly consumed by the zombie tide. Qian Yu¡¯s armored vehicle followed closely behind the plow truck that was clearing the way. His bloodshot eyes darted nervously as he shouted into the walkie-talkie. ¡°Car 4! Car 4! Respond!¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Wu Songlin! Have you found the route yet?!¡± ¡°We have to go through the city and circle back to take the side road!¡± someone shouted back through the walkie-talkie. ¡°F***!¡± Qian Yu growled. ¡°Boss, something doesn¡¯t feel right...¡± one of his subordinates said suddenly. Chapter 41: Intense Battle ¡°Spit it out already!¡± Qian Yu was teetering on the edge of an emotional explosion. ¡°That old bastard! What does he gain by getting us all killed?¡± Qian Yu froze momentarily, clutching the walkie-talkie tightly. His first thought was that Tang Hai was employing a "drive tigers to devour wolves" strategy¡ªtriggering the air raid alarm to lure survivors to their deaths, leaving him to claim the abandoned equipment and supplies. But as he thought more, Qian Yu realized: if everyone died outside, there¡¯d be no need for Tang Hai to gather survivors at his shelter. He could simply wait for everyone to die in the fog and then scavenge at leisure. There¡¯d be no escape from the fog anyway. A more horrifying thought suddenly struck Qian Yu. Click! His body trembled, his eyes glazed over, and he shouted into the walkie-talkie, ¡°St! That b**** wants to use us all as bait to distract the monsters so he can make a run for it!¡± Everyone in the convoy froze, their hearts sinking. Gathering all the survivors to draw the fog¡¯s creatures while he escaped¡ªsuch a ruthless plan! The barricades and blockades at the entrance were just a ruse to force them to flee! ¡°F***!¡± Qian Yu cursed through gritted teeth. Now fully realizing the situation, he made a split-second decision. ¡°Turn around! We¡¯re hitting them back! Even if we die, I won¡¯t let that dog have it easy!¡± Though his words were harsh, Qian Yu was exceptionally cunning. He knew that fleeing further would only aid Tang Hai¡¯s escape plan. With nightfall and the thick fog, their survival odds were slim. But a counterattack might catch Tang Hai off guard, and the ensuing chaos could provide an opening to escape. They wouldn¡¯t let Tang Hai and his people lure the monsters away for their benefit. Screech! Screech! At his command, all vehicles began turning at the crossroads. Chaos erupted among the other convoys following behind;some scrambled to follow, while others scattered into the streets, adopting an "every man for himself" mentality. Meanwhile, the zombie horde surged toward the town, leaving the outpost a blood-soaked slaughterhouse. Suddenly, a freight electric locomotive emerged from the fog, slowly pulling into the station. Its cars were loaded with supplies. As its doors opened, over a dozen armed gunmen disembarked, eliminating any remaining zombies with precision. Bang! Bang-bang! From another direction, several military jeeps arrived. Their occupants, evidently prepared, began clearing the battlefield. Tang Hai and Feng Yuming emerged via a small elevator from an underground facility, surveying the carnage with grim expressions. ¡°Grab anything useful, load the cars¡ªhurry!¡± Tang Hai barked orders. Freight cars with flatbed platforms, equipped with tow hooks for loading vehicles, were quickly mobilized. Tang Hai, a former stationmaster at Beiwang Station, orchestrated the operation with expertise, turning the chaos into a well-oiled process. ¡°Where are those two?¡± Feng Yuming asked. ¡°They¡¯re gone,¡± replied one of the gunmen sweeping the air-raid bunker. ¡°Boss, we cleared out the useless ones inside.¡± To sell his ruse, Tang Hai had intentionally stationed some of his team¡¯s elderly and women in the bunker to quell suspicions. Meanwhile, he and Feng Yuming had hidden in another underground depot, planning to ambush the survivors amidst the fog while discreetly escaping. ¡°They¡¯re gone? Maybe they fled with the others,¡± Feng Yuming mused, eyeing the bunker¡¯s open door. ¡°I¡¯ll check.¡± ¡°Go!¡± Tang Hai nodded. But just as they prepared for their grand escape, a roaring engine echoed from the distance. Tang Hai¡¯s face paled. ¡°No! Yuming! They¡¯re coming back!¡± he shouted. His men quickly raised their weapons. A massive truck, its orange headlights cutting through the fog, burst into the outpost. Its windshield and plow were caked with zombie remains as it barreled through. Gunfire erupted from both sides. ¡°Leave none alive! Kill them all!¡± Qian Yu roared over the walkie-talkie. ¡°Yuming, watch out!¡± Tang Hai shouted, urging his men to return fire. The scattered survivors also charged into the melee. Luo Ye and Luo Shasha maneuvered their pickup truck down the slope, dodging gunfire and zombies. ¡°They have a train!¡± Shasha exclaimed, pointing. Luo Ye swerved to avoid bullets, redirecting toward the yard. Zombies and corpse dogs attacked relentlessly, but Shasha activated a modified mechanism on their truck, extending spikes to clear the creatures off. ¡°Drive! I¡¯ll look for Kiki and the others!¡± she yelled. The battlefield became utter chaos as both sides exchanged fire while hordes of zombies poured in. The Black Jiao Convoy¡¯s superior numbers soon overwhelmed Tang Hai¡¯s men. Feng Yuming fell under a hail of bullets. ¡°You thought you could fool me? I knew you were up to something!¡± Qian Yu snarled, stomping on Feng¡¯s chest before coldly executing him with a shot to the head. Qian Yu turned to see Tang Hai loading vehicles onto the train, understanding his intent immediately. ¡°Trying to escape?! Not happening! Eagle, take him out!¡± he ordered. As Qian Yu prepared to pursue, a chilling sound froze him. He turned to see Eagle impaled by a black claw, blood bubbling from his mouth. Behind Eagle stood a grotesque figure¡ªFeng Yuming, now part-insect, grinning wickedly. ¡°You?!¡± Feng, presumed dead, was an Ability User. His claw deflected bullets effortlessly. ¡°Kill him!¡± Qian Yu shouted, but his men were betrayed by one of the convoy leaders, who gunned down Qian Yu. The remaining convoy members fell quickly under the combined assault of Feng Yuming and their supposed allies. The traitorous leader divided the spoils, but with the ever-present threat of the zombie horde, he knew survival was slim. Still, he gambled on the deal he¡¯d made with Feng. And the fog consumed the night. Chapter 42: Advanced Insect Mutation Under the dense fog at Outpost T34, the Black Jiao Convoy was almost entirely wiped out. The horde of zombies and creatures, mingled with the screams of survivors, had turned the area into a living hell. Between the zombie tide, gunfights, and betrayal, the scattered convoys, confused by the chaos, were quickly annihilated by bullets and the undead. The chubby convoy leader, uninterested in prolonged conflict, seized Qian Yu¡¯s large truck after eliminating the remaining members of the Black Jiao Convoy. His team commandeered several supply vehicles, merged them with their own convoy, and sped away, engines roaring as they plowed through the zombie swarm. Meanwhile, Feng Yuming, now in his half-insect monstrous form, radiated a menacing aura. He picked up Qian Yu¡¯s handgun and casually executed two fleeing survivors before striding toward the station platform. Tang Hai, standing on the platform, had just started to relax as his men gained the upper hand. But his face abruptly changed as he pointed toward the courtyard. ¡°Watch out! It¡¯s the fog spider!¡± No sooner had he spoken than the survivors, struggling against the zombies, felt the horde part in front of them. Emerging from the fog, illuminated by dim light, was a colossal spider. In a split second, one of its towering legs skewered two survivors straight through their chests. Squelch! ¡°Aaaahh!¡± ¡°Run!¡± The courtyard erupted in panicked screams. Tang Hai, pale-faced, clambered onto the freight locomotive and shouted to his men, ¡°Yuming, hurry! Get on the train! We¡¯re leaving!¡± Bang! Bang! The chaos intensified. From the zombie tide, a modified pickup truck suddenly emerged, speeding along the slope, aiming for the tracks to make an escape. ¡°Take them out!¡± Tang Hai roared. Out of nowhere, a shadow collided with the pickup truck¡¯s side, sending it careening out of control and flipping over violently. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Shasha screamed as Luo Ye grabbed her, kicking the door open and rolling them out just before the truck tumbled down the slope. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Feng Yuming sneered, emerging from the fog. His clawed hand lunged toward Luo Ye. But Luo Ye sprang up, grabbed Feng¡¯s claw, and, with a grunt, hurled him aside. Bang! Bang-bang! Bullets rained down. Luo Ye threw himself over Shasha, taking a glancing shot to his shoulder. ¡°Brother!¡± Shasha cried, eyes red with tears, reaching for her gun to retaliate. Ignoring the pain, Luo Ye lifted her up, dodging the gunfire as he bolted toward the slope. Below them, the horde seethed like a living tide, leaving almost no survivors in its wake. Feng Yuming¡¯s gunmen were retreating toward the platform, unleashing an unrelenting hail of bullets. ¡°Impressive strength,¡± Feng sneered, stepping out of the fog. ¡°But you¡¯re still a lower-level weakling!¡± Before Luo Ye could react, a black spike shot out of the fog. He raised his arm to block it, but the spike pierced straight through, its momentum nearly knocking him off his feet. Without hesitation, he lashed out with a powerful kick that cut through the air like a blade. Thud! His kick struck something solid. Feng Yuming emerged from the fog, holding Luo Ye¡¯s leg with his unmutated hand, a mocking smile on his face. ¡°Brute strength but no brains,¡± Feng taunted. ¡°Do you even know that killing Ability Users or aberrants lets you evolve? Too bad... you¡¯ll never get the chance.¡± He twisted his wrist, and the spike embedded in Luo Ye¡¯s arm glowed with a menacing red light. ¡°Die!¡± ¡°Brother! Watch out!¡± Shasha screamed, her voice breaking with desperation. Bang! Just as Feng prepared to strike, his head jerked to the side. His left ear exploded in a spray of blood, half his face now grotesquely marred. Yet he showed no pain, merely scowling before disappearing back into the fog with a growl. Thud-thud-thud! From behind the platform, wind cannons blasted through the fog, instantly taking down several of Tang Hai¡¯s gunmen. ¡°Behind us! Watch out!¡± Tang Hai shouted. His men scrambled onto the train cars, taking cover. A searchlight cut through the mist, briefly illuminating the chaos below. Shasha, seeing the horde surging toward them and the massive spider above, wiped her tears and tugged at Luo Ye. ¡°Brother, we have to go!¡± Behind a massive slab of green stone at the rear of the platform, Lin Xian was drenched in cold sweat, panting heavily. The Mechanical Heart had been running at full capacity for nearly nine hours, leaving him utterly drained of energy and focus. ¡°I knew you two would be hiding somewhere,¡± came Feng Yuming¡¯s eerie voice, its tone shifting from near to far. ¡°Trying to play the fisherman? Hah, you think having an ability makes you untouchable?¡± The sinister presence sent a shiver through Lin Xian. Without thinking, he fired a Wind Cannon into the fog ahead. Bang! The shot hit something with a metallic clang. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted as he leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding a strike. Feng Yuming suddenly lunged out of the mist, his claw smashing the stone where Lin Xian had been hiding, shattering it into rubble. Relentless, Feng followed up with another rapid thrust toward Lin Xian¡¯s dodging figure. ¡°Interesting. You¡¯ve got both close combat and ranged abilities. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen something so unusual,¡± Feng remarked, his voice dripping with malice. Lin Xian tensed. Feng¡¯s words confirmed his suspicions¡ªthis man had killed more than one Ability User and had likely been hiding his power all along. It seemed the uncle-nephew pair had been engaged in plenty of murderous, thieving schemes. Whoosh! A hairy spider leg slammed down from above, forcing both Lin Xian and Feng Yuming to retreat. The tremor shook the ground. Simultaneously, gunfire erupted as Tang Hai¡¯s men opened fire¡ªsome targeting the Fog Spider, others aiming at Lin Xian. Surrounded on three fronts, Lin Xian rolled to the ground and dove under the train for cover. Seeing Lin Xian¡¯s weakened state, Feng grinned wickedly and pursued him. The antenna-like spikes on his head twitched constantly, as if on high alert. ¡°Where¡¯s the little girl? If she doesn¡¯t show herself soon, you¡¯re out of chances!¡± Feng sneered. He was wary of Kiki¡¯s potential intervention, knowing her capabilities far exceeded ordinary expectations. Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank¡ªFeng¡¯s power and experience far surpassed what he had anticipated. With the zombie horde drawing closer and the Fog Spider looming overhead, Feng Yuming decided the situation was spiraling out of control. He stopped holding back and lunged at full speed. His claw extended, aiming for a fatal strike at Lin Xian beneath the train. ¡°Were you looking for me?¡± A light, confident voice rang out. Feng¡¯s eyes darted to the source, sharp as lightning. Knowing Kiki¡¯s prowess, he immediately aborted his attack and leapt sideways, preparing for a counter. But no strike came. Confused, both Feng Yuming and Tang Hai turned toward the voice. What they saw made their blood run cold. The dormant 1130 Close-In Weapon System on the air-raid bunker roared to life. Its searchlights blazed, cutting through the fog, while a low hum signaled the activation of its concealed machinery. The turret¡¯s base rotated precisely, and the barrels of its eleven 30mm cannons aligned like harbingers of death. The fire-control radar and electro-optical targeting system locked on with eerie precision. This long-slumbering weapon of defense had awakened at last, silently bringing hell to the battlefield. Chapter 43: Close-In Weapon System ¡°Impossible!!!¡± Tang Hai froze at the sight, panic-stricken. ¡°How is that thing operational?!¡± Feng Yuming was equally stunned. He watched as the Close-In Weapon System¡¯s optical sensors locked onto him. A ridiculous thought crossed his mind: Is this kind of weapon even meant to target humans?! Inside the underground command center beneath the bunker, Kiki sat at the console of the fully repaired and recalibrated CIWS, courtesy of Lin Xian¡¯s painstaking efforts. Highlighting several heat signatures on the display, she leaned into the microphone, cleared her throat, and casually announced over the station¡¯s speakers: ¡°Bye-bye, losers~¡± Then, she hit the fire button. Whirrrrrr! Drrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! The deafening roar of the cannonfire tore through the night, lighting up half the platform with its blazing muzzle flash. Capable of firing 10,000 rounds per minute, the CIWS unleashed its fury on the zombie tide below, the massive Fog Spider, and... Feng Yuming. ¡°F***!¡± Feng¡¯s eyes widened in terror as the cannon barrels swung toward him. Instinctively, he raised his black claw in a futile attempt to block. But in an instant, his body was obliterated into a mist of blood and flesh, the very ground he stood on reduced to a massive crater. The relentless barrage echoed across the station. Zombies swarming the slope were shredded into pulp, the cannon¡¯s sweeping firepower wiping them out as if by a monstrous squeegee. Hundreds, if not thousands, of undead were obliterated in mere seconds, their remains scattered like rain across the battlefield. The CIWS, powered by a maintenance shaft¡¯s auxiliary energy system adjacent to the armory¡¯s generators, had been reactivated by Lin Xian and Kiki. Lin Xian had repaired the partially damaged components after consuming the generator system using his Mechanical Devour ability. The result: the weapon was back online at full capacity. Beneath the train, Lin Xian watched in awe. The sheer destructive power left him speechless. No carbon-based lifeform could withstand this kind of firepower. But the thought nagged at him: If the Starfleet had such weapons, why did the world¡¯s defense systems vanish so mysteriously after the Apocalypse began? ¡°Run!¡± Tang Hai screamed, pale with fear. Watching his nephew obliterated into nothingness, he slammed the locomotive¡¯s throttle forward. The cannon hadn¡¯t targeted the train, and Tang Hai hoped to escape while crushing Lin Xian beneath the wheels. The train began to move, and Lin Xian, still under the cars, felt the wheels rumble to life. He realized Tang Hai¡¯s plan and quickly grabbed hold of the train''s undercarriage, intending to use his Mechanical Heart to seize control. But the train was far larger than he anticipated, and his drained stamina made it impossible to establish control quickly. ¡°Damn it!¡± Lin Xian muttered. He prepared to roll out from under the wheels to regroup. But before he could act, a deafening clang echoed from the front of the train, halting it abruptly. Seizing the chance, Lin Xian scrambled out from under the train. By now, the CIWS had stopped firing. While its firepower was devastating, its ammunition capacity allowed only 15 seconds of sustained fire. Still, that was more than enough¡ªthe courtyard and slopes had been reduced to a smoking hellscape of blood and gore. Even the grass was scorched away. The Fog Spider, now visible, lay in pieces, its truck-sized body reduced to an unrecognizable heap. Curious why the train had stopped, Lin Xian glanced ahead, wondering if the electrical systems had failed. His eyes widened in shock. Emerging from the fog, blocking the tracks, was a massive red iron behemoth. The Infinite Train. The sudden collision had thrown Tang Hai off his feet, leaving him bloodied. He clambered up, confused, thinking the train had hit an invisible wall. Peering ahead, illuminated by his locomotive¡¯s headlights, he saw a crimson Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive towing a series of ominous cars. Tang Hai¡¯s face turned ashen, and his men panicked. ¡°Where the hell did this train come from?!¡± ¡°Damn it! We¡¯re cursed!¡± ¡°What the f*** is going on?!¡± From a slope nearby, Luo Ye emerged, grim-faced, wielding a grenade launcher. Without hesitation, he fired a shell into the side of Tang Hai¡¯s train car. Boom! The explosion tore through the car, killing many of Tang Hai¡¯s gunmen. The few survivors stumbled out, coughing and disoriented, only to be greeted by a young girl standing before them, smiling mischievously. ¡°Hello there. Where are you guys headed?¡± With a wave of her hand, Kiki unleashed an Invisible Force, sending the remaining men flying, lifeless, into the night. Tang Hai, frantic, leapt from the locomotive and fled into the fog, clutching a handgun. Most of the zombie horde was gone, but fear gripped him as he stumbled along the railway in darkness. Lin Xian climbed onto the platform, pursuing him. Before Tang Hai got far, a lithe figure emerged ahead, silhouetted in the faint glow. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Tang Hai shouted, his voice trembling. Just as Tang Hai raised his gun to shoot, the shadowy figure swung a crowbar directly at him. Wham! A sickening explosion of blood followed, and Tang Hai collapsed, unconscious. The shadow stepped into the light of the headlights, revealing a beautiful face. Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. As expected¡ªit was Chen Sixuan. Clutching the crowbar tightly with both hands, Chen Sixuan¡¯s gaze shifted nervously to Lin Xian, who stood on the platform. Her chest heaved as her breath came in short, panicked gasps. Clearly, this was her first time striking someone. ¡°Impressive, Ms. Chen,¡± Lin Xian said, his tone a mix of surprise and amusement. He had no idea why Chen Sixuan had shown up here, but Tang Hai lying unconscious spoke volumes. To ensure the job was done, Lin Xian raised his hand and fired a few Wind Cannons at Tang Hai. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Chen Sixuan called out, her voice trembling. She was overwhelmed by the grisly scene: rail tracks, the platform, and the slopes were all covered with mangled remains. The air reeked of smoke and blood, so thick it seemed to boil. Thud! Thud! Two more Wind Cannons echoed as Lin Xian quickly dispatched a pair of lingering zombies sneaking up behind Chen Sixuan. She screamed in fright. ¡°Relax,¡± Lin Xian said, exhaling deeply. His eyes shifted to the distance, where Luo Ye stood, seemingly lost in thought. Lin Xian called out, ¡°Where¡¯s Shasha?¡± Luo Ye snapped out of his daze and began searching frantically. Eventually, he found a mound of dirt and dug through it, uncovering a dusty, battered Luo Shasha. ¡°Brother...¡± Luo Shasha gasped, her voice weak as she panted heavily. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll... manage,¡± Luo Ye replied, his voice steady despite his injuries¡ªa bullet wound in his back and a pierced arm. The tower-like man acted as if he barely noticed the pain. Lin Xian, seeing the siblings alive, breathed a sigh of relief. But hearing the approaching moans of zombies in the fog, he quickly shouted, ¡°Hurry, get on my train to hide!¡± Luo Ye glanced up at the massive Infinite Train, quickly realizing Lin Xian¡¯s intent. Without hesitation, he nodded seriously and carried Luo Shasha aboard. ¡°Quick... get on board!¡± Kiki called out. She had just finished dealing with the remaining gunmen. Looking at the battlefield littered with carnage, she couldn¡¯t help covering her mouth in awe. Her wide eyes sparkled with curiosity. ¡°Wow, what a scene. You¡¯re amazing!¡± Lin Xian stared at her, baffled. This sixteen-year-old girl faced the gruesome aftermath of the battle without a hint of fear or disgust. Instead, she sounded... excited? Under Chen Sixuan¡¯s guidance, the group hurried aboard the Infinite Train to rest temporarily. By now, it was only 7 PM, leaving at least seven or eight hours until dawn. Chapter 44: The Luo Siblings ¡°Chen Jie, how did you manage to bring the train here?¡± Kiki asked eagerly as soon as she got on board, her face filled with astonishment. Ever since she and Lin Xian entered this fog-shrouded area, all wireless signals seemed to have been completely blocked by an invisible hand, cutting off all contact with the outside world¡ªincluding communication with Chen Sixuan. Chen Sixuan, in a flurry of activity, handed a medical kit to Luo Shasha with a sense of urgency in her voice. ¡°Here, take this and treat your wounds first.¡± ¡°Thank you, Jie,¡± Luo Shasha said, glancing at Lin Xian and Kiki. She realized that Chen Sixuan and Lin Xian were together and added gratefully, ¡°So it was you driving the big train...¡± Chen Sixuan turned to Lin Xian, her face carrying a hint of apology. ¡°Last night, I noticed this train leaving Beiwang Station via the No. 3 branch line track. It felt suspicious since that track isn¡¯t on any maps or records. I guessed it might be a special military route, and considering that was likely where you were headed¡ªand the fact I couldn¡¯t reach you¡ªI decided...¡± Before leaving, Lin Xian had informed Chen Sixuan that the electric locomotive had reserve energy. Seeing a train emerging from the fog with over a dozen armed guards, Chen Sixuan sensed trouble for Lin Xian¡¯s group. Acting decisively, she maneuvered the Infinite Train onto the military line through the switch that Tang Hai¡¯s train had prepared, blocking his escape route. At this moment, a small wave of zombies was beginning to emerge at the outpost and platform. However, with no more sounds from before, the hundred innocent survivors had all perished, leaving these monsters wandering aimlessly. With the Fog Spider gone, the Infinite Train was no longer in immediate danger. Hearing Chen Sixuan¡¯s explanation, Kiki couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Brilliant, Chen Jie! You¡¯ve been a huge help this time.¡± Chen Sixuan glanced at Lin Xian upon hearing Kiki¡¯s praise, only to see him smiling appreciatively. ¡°Yes, well done!¡± he affirmed. Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words, Chen Sixuan finally felt a sense of relief. She had worried that taking the initiative with the train might earn his scolding. Now, her heart brimmed with a bit of secret joy. ¡°Wow, that Tang guy is truly ruthless! He actually planned to use all the survivors as bait to lure monsters away so he could escape on his own!¡± Kiki fumed, her arms crossed indignantly. ¡°Luckily, this young lady is clever and exposed his scheme!¡± ¡°Was it really you who figured it out?¡± Lin Xian asked flatly. ¡°Fine, fine, you¡¯re smart too,¡± Kiki relented, sulking. After some casual banter, Lin Xian turned his attention to Luo Ye. Although the latter looked somewhat pale, it didn¡¯t seem like his injuries were too severe. As an Ability User, Luo Ye¡¯s recovery rate was significantly better than that of ordinary people. ¡°What¡¯s your plan now?¡± Lin Xian asked. Luo Ye looked out the window, searching for their pickup truck, but there was no sign of it anywhere. Shasha, carefully wrapping her brother¡¯s shoulder with gauze, glanced at Lin Xian and pleaded, ¡°Lin Ge, could your train give us a lift? Once my brother recovers, we¡¯ll find another vehicle...¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary,¡± Lin Xian said seriously. ¡°You two should just join my team and stick with us. Our chances of survival are better together.¡± Shasha¡¯s eyes lit up immediately. ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Kiki protested from the side, pouting angrily. ¡°You¡¯re so quick to let them on board, but you were mean to me and even tried to kick me off. What¡¯s that about?¡± Lin Xian snorted. ¡°You brought that on yourself.¡± ¡°I, I, I...¡± Kiki stammered, visibly upset. She knew her incident of sneaking food wasn¡¯t something Lin Xian would let slide easily. She huffed but then relented, ¡°Fine, fine, I don¡¯t mind if Shasha and her brother join. But you¡¯re the boss, so it¡¯s your call anyway.¡± Chen Sixuan, standing nearby, looked pleased to hear that two more people were joining the train. After all, strength lay in numbers. Having only Lin Xian go out to search for supplies while she stayed back guarding the train had always felt risky. ¡°Thank you,¡± Luo Ye said suddenly, breaking his usual silence. He looked at Lin Xian, his eyes brimming with gratitude. Lin Xian nodded. Truthfully, he had been hoping to recruit more teammates. The Luo siblings were good people, and they had even saved his and Kiki¡¯s lives. Luo Ye, as an Ability User with superhuman strength, made Lin Xian feel assured about the decision. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan now?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. Lin Xian looked out the window, exhaling deeply. ¡°All the supplies Tang Hai looted are on that train of his. We¡¯re going to take it.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Kiki chimed in excitedly. Kiki clapped her hands, suddenly realizing the situation. "We¡¯re gonna strike it rich! Oh, and there¡¯s all the stuff left behind by those convoys down there. Not to mention the information equipment in the command center. Oh, oh, and that close-in weapon system!" Lin Xian sighed in exasperation. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. The CIWS alone weighs tens of tons, if not more, when you include the ammo and power systems. Do you have a crane to lift it? And that ammo chain in the storage¡ªthousands of rounds would be used up in just a few seconds. Without more bullets or resupply, you think we¡¯ll stumble upon some 30mm tungsten-core armor-piercing rounds on the road?¡± Truth be told, Lin Xian had considered devouring the CIWS for parts, but he didn¡¯t have the energy to spare. Even after recovering, it might take him longer to deal with it than the generator system. Fortunately, by scanning the generator and CIWS subsystems earlier, he had obtained a full 1130 Holographic Blueprint! With that, as long as he had the necessary materials, he could eventually handcraft a new one right on the train. ¡°Oh... that¡¯s true...¡± Kiki clicked her tongue in disappointment. ¡°But we can at least strip the electro-optical targeting system and phased-array radar. We could integrate it with the train¡¯s navigation radar to build a compact targeting and observation system, right?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow and glanced at her curiously. That¡¯s actually a solid idea... ¡°Good thinking!¡± he agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll help too!¡± Luo Ye, disregarding his injuries, stood up eagerly at the mention of clearing out the base. ¡°Me too!¡± Shasha brushed the dirt off her face, looking like a little adult. ¡°Oh, and my brother and I need to find our truck¡ªthere¡¯s still plenty of stuff on it.¡± ¡°Alright, but be careful,¡± Lin Xian nodded. He then turned to Chen Sixuan. ¡°Chen Jie, come with me to reconnect the train cars. After we head back to Beiwang Station, we¡¯ll reorganize the carriages.¡± At the same time, Lin Xian handed a few guns, taken from Tang Hai¡¯s men, to Luo Ye and Shasha. ¡°We¡¯re not in a rush tonight. Let¡¯s gather as much as we can before leaving, no need to wait for daylight.¡± It wasn¡¯t greed on Lin Xian¡¯s part¡ªhe had nearly exhausted himself while dealing with the generator system and attempting to restore the CIWS subsystem. His battle with Feng Yuming had left him so drained that he couldn¡¯t even summon his Ice Shield. Without rest, he doubted he¡¯d have the strength to even stand. Moreover, the area had already been swept clean, and no major threats were likely to emerge. It made sense to thoroughly scavenge the military base while they had the chance. What excited Lin Xian the most was discovering several flatbed trailers that Tang Hai had loaded with jeeps, off-road vehicles, and Qian Yu¡¯s armored car. There was also a stockpile of firearms and ammunition¡ªdozens of weapons in total, providing a significant boost to their firepower. Chapter 45: A Big Haul Aboard the train, Lin Xian opened the Mechanical Heart interface, reviewing the data from devouring the massive generator system. [Devour Successful: Mechanical Source Points +200, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +100, Bonus: Strength +15, Speed +10, Defense +10!] [Congratulations! Your Mechanical Heart has leveled up to LV.2 and unlocked a passive skill: Dissolution Space!] [Dissolution Space (Passive): Upon completing mechanical devour, 20% of the device''s materials are recovered and stored in a dedicated 100-ton capacity space. These materials can be directly used for blueprint-based manufacturing.] [Congratulations! Strength Attribute has leveled up to Level 2 (Burst Capacity: 200kg).] [Congratulations! Defense Attribute has leveled up to Level 1 (Hard Bones, Tough Skin).] [Strength, Speed, and Defense Attributes are all activated. Detailed parameters are now available.] [Congratulations! Wind Cannon Skill has advanced to Level 2 (6%).] Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.2 (10/1000) [Hint: Leveling up the Mechanical Heart grants special skill rewards. At LV.3, LV.6, and LV.9, a mysterious awakening will occur.]Strength Level: 2 (17%) (Burst Capacity: 200kg)Speed Level: 1 (62%) (Max Speed: 10m/s)Defense Level: 1 (21%) (Hard Bones, Tough Skin)Mechanical Awakening: Not UnlockedMechanical Devour: 2 (208/500) ¨C Enhances devour efficiencyMechanical Manufacturing: 1 (112/300) ¨C Enhances construction efficiencyMechanical Passives: Scan / Repair / DissolutionSpecial Skills:Wind Cannon (Normal, Level 2, 6%)Ice Shield (Normal, Level 1, 22%) Devouring the 1,900-kilowatt generator system was Lin Xian¡¯s first time taking on such a massive device since obtaining the Mechanical Heart. Though it took seven or eight hours, the rewards were incredibly satisfying. Looking at the glowing interface, Lin Xian noted not only the upgrades to his Strength and Defense but also the leveling up of his Mechanical Heart to Level 2. Most excitingly, the newly activated Dissolution Space skill was incredibly practical. Previously, manufacturing from blueprints was cumbersome, especially when collecting materials. Now, the Dissolution Space allowed devoured machines to yield usable materials directly, which could be stored in this exclusive space. However, it was limited to materials from mechanical devours and couldn¡¯t function as general storage¡ªa slight regret. Still, it was a game-changer. He mused aloud, ¡°So Wind Cannon and Ice Shield are just basic skills? That means there are higher-tier abilities. If I could devour that CIWS or the Iron Guard 3 Military Assault Armor, who knows what surprises might await...¡± Examining his stats, he chuckled. ¡°Bursting 200 kilograms... I¡¯m stronger than a professional boxer now. Damn.¡± With two new helpers aboard, the Infinite Train was far less lonely. After eating and drinking a little to recover his energy, Lin Xian joined in the scavenging efforts. Luo Ye was assisting Kiki in hauling computers and servers out of the bunker. She planned to convert Car 2 into an information center, which would double as her private sleeping space. She even dragged out a bunk bed frame from the bunker¡¯s dormitory. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan and Shasha, equipped with gas masks from the armory, were collecting scattered weapons and supplies in the outpost courtyard. Despite the eerie surroundings¡ªzombies lurking in the darkness and black bugs covering the ground¡ªthey worked tirelessly, guns in hand, hauling bloodied supply crates without batting an eye. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but admire their fortitude, honed by the harsh environment. Lin Xian pondered how to transport both the Iron Guard 3 Military Assault Armor and the TFV600 Heavy Twin-Barrel Tank back for study. But as he took a few steps forward, a rustling sound from the distant tracks caught his attention. Frowning, he moved to investigate. Not far ahead, he spotted a limping shadow fleeing deeper into the railway. Tang Hai? Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I thought I killed him... How is he still alive?¡± Raising a finger, Lin Xian prepared to finish the job, but something peculiar stopped him. Tang Hai sidestepped through a cluster of zombies, weaving past them effortlessly. The zombies didn¡¯t react to him at all. ¡°What the...? Why aren¡¯t they attacking him?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. The zombies shuffled forward sluggishly, eventually catching a whiff of blood. Turning toward Tang Hai, they charged at him. ¡°No, no... You¡¯re not supposed to see me!¡± Tang Hai shrieked in terror. Lin Xian froze. He thought the zombies couldn¡¯t see him? That made no sense. Moments earlier, Tang Hai had moved among them confidently, not like someone gambling on luck. ¡°What¡¯s going on...¡± Lin Xian muttered, his face grim. The zombies pounced, tearing Tang Hai apart. His screams of agony were short-lived, and silence soon returned. For safety, Lin Xian unleashed several Wind Cannons to eliminate the zombies, ensuring they posed no further threat. Approaching Tang Hai¡¯s lifeless body to confirm the kill, something even stranger occurred. Tang Hai¡¯s corpse began to convulse violently. The blood mist from the slain zombies transformed into a visible fluid, surging into his body. In moments, Tang Hai¡¯s form turned blood-red. As the blood mist continued to accumulate, it formed into a pulsating blood cocoon. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils narrowed, and an ominous feeling gripped him. Could Tang Hai¡¯s ability to go unnoticed by the zombies have been some kind of special power? The thought flashed through his mind, and his instinct screamed that this was no ordinary occurrence. Without hesitation, Lin Xian unleashed several powerful Wind Cannons at the cocoon. No matter what you are, a dead Tang Hai is the best Tang Hai! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! The upgraded Wind Cannons, now more powerful than ever, tore through the cocoon with deafening force, leaving gaping holes that oozed grayish-white flesh and blood. ¡°There¡¯s definitely something off here,¡± Lin Xian muttered, his expression darkening as he prepared to fire another volley. But before he could act, the blood cocoon seemed to react to the threat. With a violent struggle, it suddenly burst open with a loud pop, and a slim, pale-gray figure shot out at lightning speed, disappearing into the dense fog. ¡°Damn it!¡± Realizing the danger, Lin Xian took a few steps to pursue the fleeing figure, but the shadow had vanished into the foggy darkness. His thoughts turned to Chen Sixuan and Shasha, who were still in the courtyard below, vulnerable without Abilities. He quickly turned back toward the train. In the enveloping night and thick fog, even zombies could easily ambush from the shadows. To stay safe, Lin Xian decided it was time for everyone to regroup on the train. With a rhythmic clatter, the Infinite Train soon returned to the platform at Beiwang Station. Without delay, Lin Xian coordinated with Chen Sixuan to reorganize the carriages. Luo Ye, proving adept with tools, joined the effort. Together, the three efficiently reconfigured the train. The Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive and the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive remained at the front as the lead engines. Cars 1 and 2 stayed unchanged, while Tang Hai¡¯s two passenger carriages, loaded with supplies, were positioned next as Cars 3 and 4. The original Car 3, outfitted with tools and a hydraulic liftgate, was moved to position 5. Behind them were four flatbed trailers, carrying two military jeeps, one heavy off-road vehicle, and Qian Yu¡¯s armored car. The short-haul electric freight locomotive from earlier was left at the tail. Since it wasn¡¯t coupled to any carriages and was cumbersome, Lin Xian planned to devour it after escaping the fog. It might yield significant rewards. To better manage the tool car, Lin Xian assigned Luo Ye to Car 5. Meanwhile, Shasha moved in with Kiki in Car 2, the two sharing a bunk bed setup. With everyone settled, Lin Xian reflected on the strange events. The escape of the pale-gray figure from the blood cocoon weighed heavily on his mind. It wasn¡¯t just about Tang Hai anymore¡ªwhatever had just emerged was unnatural, and its implications were deeply troubling. Chapter 46: The Angel Project The Infinite Train quietly departed Beiwang Station under the cover of night, heading east. Kiki glanced at Lin Xian and asked, ¡°Why the rush? There were still so many places we hadn¡¯t searched.¡± ¡°Supplies are endless, but greed can cost us dearly,¡± Lin Xian replied flatly. ¡°Besides, Tang Hai might not be dead. I¡¯m worried he could cause more trouble.¡± ¡°Not dead?!¡± Kiki¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I thought you killed him.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t...¡± Lin Xian exhaled deeply and recounted what he had witnessed earlier. ¡°I suspect Tang Hai has some kind of Ability, and what we saw might have been a mutation of it.¡± Turning to Luo Shasha and Luo Ye, Lin Xian asked, ¡°How much do you two know about Abilities?¡± Luo Ye looked startled and shook his head earnestly. ¡°Not much... I only know that one day I suddenly became much stronger.¡± ¡°Brother, don¡¯t you remember?¡± Shasha interjected, providing a key piece of information. ¡°When Feng Yuming turned into that bug to attack you, he said you were low-level. He also mentioned something about Abilities evolving when you kill an Eerie Entity or another Ability User.¡± Luo Ye scratched his head. ¡°Now that you mention it, he did say that.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Chen Sixuan gasped. ¡°Abilities can evolve?¡± ¡°They should be able to,¡± Lin Xian said thoughtfully. ¡°If there¡¯s a hierarchy, Feng Yuming likely wasn¡¯t at the lowest level. He was incredibly strong and didn¡¯t fear the three of us, even knowing we were Ability Users. That suggests he was confident in his power.¡± Noticing Kiki uncharacteristically silent, Lin Xian raised his eyes to find her smiling slyly at him, her expression strange. ¡°If you know something, spit it out!¡± he demanded, recognizing that her grin often preceded some shocking revelation. ¡°If I told you I know how Abilities evolve and that there are many categories of them, would you want to hear it?¡± Kiki teased, her voice light. The room went silent, and all eyes turned to Kiki in surprise. Lin Xian frowned. ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡± Kiki smirked, leaned in, and whispered something in his ear. Lin Xian immediately massaged his temple in exasperation. ¡°Fine, I agree.¡± ¡°Good! Remember, you promised~¡± Kiki said gleefully, before launching into her explanation. ¡°First,¡± she began, raising a finger, ¡°after the first Polar Night, over ten thousand cases of mutated humans were documented globally¡ªthough that¡¯s only a fraction of the post-disaster data. After Apocalypse Day, the Federal Government urgently established a special research bureau called the Angel Project. Its purpose was to study these mutations and possibly use their powers to uncover the secrets of the Abyss and save the world.¡± ¡°How do you know this?¡± Chen Sixuan asked, astonished. Kiki shrugged smugly. ¡°Hacking into the Federal Government¡¯s intranet isn¡¯t that hard. Besides, it¡¯s the apocalypse¡ªwho¡¯s going to stop me?¡± ¡°Continue,¡± Lin Xian said, his sharp gaze fixed on her. He suspected that Kiki¡¯s background was extraordinary¡ªwhether or not she was the heiress of the Linglong Corporation, her ability to secure a rescue helicopter after the Polar Night was no coincidence. Kiki cleared her throat. ¡°The Angel Project gathered surviving top scientists. Their research found that all survivors who didn¡¯t mutate into zombies during the Polar Night shared a common type of energy that repelled external influences. They named this energy Soul Wave Value. Even the weakest survivors¡ªfrail women or children¡ªhad a Soul Wave Value of at least 1. In contrast, zombies and Eerie Entities had negative values below zero.¡± ¡°At first, they thought it was a selection mechanism. But without any discernible pattern, it was simply labeled as the survivors¡¯ ¡®Life Energy.¡¯ ¡°What¡¯s interesting,¡± Kiki continued, ¡°is that Ability Users and physically robust individuals all had significantly higher values. The Angel Project classified 34 similar Ability Categories and evaluated them based on functionality and destructive power. They correlated these metrics with Soul Wave Values and found a positive match.¡± ¡°In essence, Soul Wave Value represents life force or the ability to resist the night¡¯s invasions. The stronger a person is, the higher their value.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the first point,¡± Kiki said, raising a second finger. ¡°The second critical discovery was that Abilities are capable of evolution. Some records even showed individuals with values exceeding Level 3 or even Level 4 from the start.¡± ¡°Level 3, Level 4?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°Are you leaving something out?¡± Kiki shrugged. ¡°I skimmed the data, but basically, the researchers used metrics like Soul Wave Value, physical strength, energy output, destructive capacity, and biological lethality to create a weighted grading system. Here¡¯s the gist: Ordinary humans and low-level Ability Users fall into the Source Level range, with Soul Wave Values from 1 to 100.Level 3, known as Adamant Level, signifies those who¡¯ve surpassed human limits. Killing them without heavy weapons becomes nearly impossible. Their Soul Wave Values range between 500 and 1,000.¡± The room was silent as Kiki finished. Everyone was digesting the information, the scale of the revelations sinking in. ¡°The Fourth Level ¨C Berserk Level is considered a massive regional threat. It requires substantial military forces, heavy tanks, and various armored weapons to suppress. Its Soul Wave Value ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 units of combat power,¡± Kiki explained. ¡°As for anything above Destruction Level, there¡¯s no detailed data yet. They only have theoretical projections based on exponential growth.¡± Luo Shasha, eyes wide with curiosity, asked, ¡°Kiki Jie, how exactly do Abilities evolve?¡± ¡°Well... it might not be what everyone expects.¡± Kiki¡¯s expression grew complicated. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen in the classified reports, it does suggest that Ability Users at Evolution Level 2 or above can increase their Soul Wave Value through combat, especially by defeating Eerie Entities or other Ability Users. However, since this comes from early-stage reports, the details are sparse.¡± ¡°Level 2 and beyond?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°What about Level 1?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Kiki looked at him with amusement. ¡°Now you¡¯re asking the right question.¡± With a serious expression, she paced the floor. ¡°Here¡¯s the strangest part. The research bureau discovered that Source-Level Abilities are inherently unstable. Ability Users at this stage seem to require a trigger¡ªan event, ritual, or emotional shift¡ªto evolve. The Angel Project theorized that true transformation or full evolution begins only at Level 2. That¡¯s why they call it the Evolution Level or Breakthrough Level.¡± ¡°Ritual?¡± The group reacted in unison, their voices laced with disbelief. The term carried an almost mystical or religious connotation. ¡°Exactly,¡± Kiki continued. ¡°Take Feng Yuming, for example. I suspect he belongs to either Type-16 Limb Mimicry or Type-21 Aberration Proliferation. In both cases, evolution occurs when they kill an Eerie Entity or an Ability User and absorb flesh and blood through mutated limbs or bodies. This process has a chance to trigger evolution.¡± She paused and turned to Luo Ye. ¡°But for someone like you, Luo Big Guy, it¡¯s different. Based on your description, you should be a Type-3 Body Enhancement Ability User¡ªa common type. However, this type requires an entirely different method to evolve to Level 2. The Angel Project reports multiple inconclusive evaluations for this pathway. Methods like Feng Yuming¡¯s are completely ineffective for you. They¡¯re considered Alternate Evolution Pathways.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Luo Shasha exclaimed, visibly unsettled. ¡°That sounds terrifying!¡± ¡°Who knows,¡± Kiki shrugged. ¡°From the perspectives of biology or physics¡ªwell, scratch that. Those fields are practically extinct now. Let¡¯s just treat it as theology.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± Kiki added. ¡°The research bureau determined that Ability evolution is a double-edged sword. In other words, Ability Users share vulnerabilities similar to zombie infections. Without specific conditions, they can succumb to the power¡¯s corruption, leading to Evolution Errors or becoming zombies themselves. When someone¡¯s Soul Wave Value drops below 1, they termed this state as Corruption.¡± ¡°Corruption?¡± ¡°What about Tang Hai?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°That situation I just witnessed¡ªhave you seen anything like it in the data?¡± Kiki nodded, her expression serious. ¡°Not only have I seen it, but I¡¯m sure Tang Hai fits into Type-32: Uncertain Infection. It¡¯s fascinating.¡± Frowning, she elaborated, ¡°This type is almost undetectable at the Source Level because there are no noticeable physical or mental changes. The only distinguishing characteristic is...¡± ¡°Not being easily detected by zombies?¡± Lin Xian interjected, recalling the earlier scene. His face darkened. ¡°Exactly!¡± Kiki confirmed. ¡°But here¡¯s the catch¡ªthis type of Ability is one of the easiest to evolve.¡± ¡°Does that mean being bitten by a zombie guarantees evolution?¡± Lin Xian pressed. ¡°Yes... and no.¡± Kiki tilted her head, her expression clouded. ¡°Based on the limited cases, evolution isn¡¯t guaranteed or tied to a specific outcome. It¡¯s also possible to experience... Evolution Errors.¡± Chapter 47: Endless Cycle ¡°No wonder Tang Hai could run rampant in the fog and darkness for so long. The monsters wouldn¡¯t even harm him...¡± Lin Xian muttered, finally piecing it together. It made sense now¡ªTang Hai¡¯s injury must have released enough blood to attract the zombies, causing him to be attacked. Yet, ironically, this led to his evolution. Thinking about it, Lin Xian felt a pang of regret. He should have just ended Tang Hai on the spot. Now, a potential threat had been left behind. Still, he felt grateful for having repaired the CIWS in time¡ªit had been the correct choice for survival. With Kiki unconscious at the time, Lin Xian alone couldn¡¯t have dealt with the Fog Spider, Feng Yuming, and the overwhelming zombie tide all at once. Luckily, Tang Hai and Feng Yuming hadn¡¯t dismantled any critical parts of the CIWS system, or tonight could have spelled certain doom. Returning to the conversation, Lin Xian turned to Kiki. ¡°So, do you know how your own Ability evolves?¡± Kiki gave a faint smile and shook her head. ¡°I have a rough idea. I might belong to the Mental or Psychic category¡ªrare types, according to the data. But I have no idea how to evolve, let alone complete any ¡®ritual.¡¯¡± Then her gaze turned to Lin Xian, her expression curious. ¡°As for you... honestly, I don¡¯t know which type you fall under. You can control machines, so you likely belong to the Functional category. While this type¡¯s Soul Wave Value may not always be high, the Angel Project classified it as having ¡®immense strategic value.¡¯ It seems similar to Type-27: Inorganic Manipulation, but how can you also use elemental Abilities?¡± Her brows furrowed as she studied him. ¡°Could it be that you have more than one Ability?¡± ¡°You tell me...¡± Lin Xian replied impassively, though an unease stirred within him. A nagging thought crossed his mind: What if this isn¡¯t an Ability at all? After all, what kind of Ability came with progress bars and level indicators? ¡°There¡¯s another thing,¡± Kiki added. ¡°It¡¯s rare, but some Ability Users have reportedly lost their Abilities entirely. This includes even those at the Adamant Level.¡± ¡°Lost completely? What do you mean?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°How would I know?¡± Kiki retorted. ¡°The reports didn¡¯t explain. They only mentioned that these cases happened without any external interference. The researchers speculated it might be related to mental or emotional states, but they couldn¡¯t pinpoint the cause.¡± Kiki¡¯s revelations gave Lin Xian a paradigm-shifting perspective on the world. Despite the collapse of civilization just months ago, Ability Users had already become a significant population, fundamentally influencing humanity¡¯s survival trajectory. Exhausted from the night¡¯s ordeals, Lin Xian ordered the train to maintain a cautious speed of 50 km/h. Chen Sixuan took the helm in the driver¡¯s cabin while Lin Xian stayed nearby, resting briefly. ¡°Kiki seems to have many secrets,¡± Chen Sixuan remarked, glancing at Lin Xian as he rested. ¡°Everyone has secrets. As long as hers are helpful to us, there¡¯s no need to dig too deep,¡± Lin Xian replied, his eyes still closed. ¡°What did she... just say to you?¡± Chen Sixuan hesitated, her curiosity getting the better of her despite herself. Lin Xian chuckled lightly. ¡°What else? She made me promise not to kiss her without her consent.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression turned complex. ¡°Oh... I see.¡± A mix of emotions stirred within her. She didn¡¯t know where she stood with Lin Xian¡ªwhether she¡¯d been willing or unwilling in their earlier encounters. She only knew she was grateful he had saved her. At this point, Lin Xian was her sole pillar of support. He wasn¡¯t bad either¡ªhis personality even aligned with her preferences. She didn¡¯t seem to mind what had happened between them. Was this what they called the suspension bridge effect? What am I even thinking... she scolded herself inwardly. ¡°Yesterday¡¯s sunrise was at 16:26. We advanced about 50 kilometers toward Beiwang Station. To reach our destination by 16:00 tomorrow, we¡¯ll need to cover at least 370 kilometers,¡± Chen Sixuan calculated aloud, flipping through the logbook. ¡°But the JY3365 section detours through Quguan and Yuchi. Factoring in the location of Abyss Zone No. 3, Lucheng, and Dingzhou, in comparison to our direct route from Jiang City...¡± ¡°Chen Jie,¡± Lin Xian interrupted, his eyes still closed. ¡°Do you think Abyss Zone No. 3 could not be the source of the Dark Tide?¡± Her calculations halted abruptly, and silence filled the cabin. ¡°I... don¡¯t know,¡± Chen Sixuan finally admitted. From a geometric perspective, if every Abyss is generating a Dark Tide and expanding at the same speed on Blue Star, it means their radii grow linearly over time. ¡°If the range of an Abyss¡¯s influence is fixed, there might still be some narrow angles of survival space left for humanity. But if the first Polar Night isn¡¯t the end and the range of the second tide continues to expand, then it¡¯s only a matter of time before the Polar Night covers the entire planet.¡± After the Polar Night, with the collapse of networks and communication, ordinary people like them had no way of knowing what was happening across the world. They could only piece together clues from radio broadcasts. Without Kiki, they wouldn¡¯t have even known that the Federal Government had classified Ability Users into categories and developed a standard system. Lin Xian nodded, a trace of unease on his face. If this were true, it meant there was nowhere left to run. Humanity¡¯s only option was to learn how to survive in the darkness. Chen Sixuan noticed Lin Xian¡¯s worried expression and suddenly said, ¡°Lin, do you remember Jiang University¡¯s motto?¡± Lin Xian looked at her, and the two spoke in unison: ¡°Striving is an unceasing act since the dawn of humanity!¡± After a long pause, they exchanged smiles. As the train wheels turned, everyone aboard was fleeing the darkness, heading toward the dawn. Even if they were to ultimately succumb to the night, they would hold onto the last spark of survival and never stop resisting. Lin Xian felt a measure of calm. If he could grow stronger, even in an environment where the night seemed endless, survival would still be possible. This conviction further solidified his resolve to build the ultimate fortress¡ªa train that could weather any storm. Hoooot! The fog ahead began to thin, and the headlights illuminated a broader field of view. Lin Xian rose, his gaze softening as he observed the distant silhouette of the mountains and fields. Gradually, he brought the train to a halt in a tunnel. ¡°Why are we stopping?¡± Chen Sixuan asked, puzzled. Turning around, she was caught off guard as Lin Xian swept her up in a princess carry, a playful grin on his face as he proclaimed, ¡°Chen Jie, there¡¯s one more thing humanity has done ¡®unceasingly¡¯ since the dawn of time.¡± ¡°......¡± Caught off guard, Chen Sixuan¡¯s face flushed crimson. She nervously averted her eyes as her fair neck and earlobes turned a vibrant pink, as beautiful as spring peach blossoms. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Lin Xian carried her to the bed in the first carriage, his energy renewed. ¡°Suddenly, I feel full of vigor.¡± With the carriage doors sealed, the first carriage had become Lin Xian¡¯s private living quarters. Chen Sixuan¡¯s face burned red as she murmured softly, ¡°Um... that...¡± ¡°Not convenient?¡± ¡°No... it¡¯s not that...¡± Her smooth, jade-like skin was irresistible. Even amidst the apocalypse, Lin Xian could still catch the faint, alluring fragrance unique to her¡ªa subtle yet intoxicating scent that made one¡¯s heart race. As his breath brushed against her skin, Chen Sixuan felt a shiver run down her spine, his cool breath seeping into her pores and sending waves of tingling sensations coursing through her. Blushing deeply, she pulled the blanket over her face and whispered, ¡°Could you... grab my bag? It has... that.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Mm... ah... a bit gentler... mm...¡± The heavy train rested silently in the dark tunnel, its armored shell shielding it from the terrifying abyss outside. Within, the warm yellow light cast a cozy glow over the plush bedding, providing a sense of safety and comfort. The two intertwined, breaking the barriers between their souls and bodies. One figure was tall and lean, the other graceful and supple. Their movements ebbed and flowed, like a racing war machine or a mighty ship breaking through the waves... The night deepened. In Car 2, Luo Shasha was sound asleep on the top bunk, while Kiki, lying below with her head buried under a pillow, blushed furiously. The strange rhythmic sounds from the next carriage were impossible to ignore. Gritting her teeth, she muttered curses under her breath, mentally drawing circles to curse a certain someone. Tomorrow, she resolved, she¡¯d install soundproofing panels in Car 2¡ªand weld on an extra layer of steel for good measure! Chapter 48: Inventorying the Spoils Clang, clang... A standard railway stretched eastward through the mountainous terrain for over a thousand miles. Since departing Jiang City, the Infinite Train reached daylight for the first time after an overnight journey. At 15:47, dawn arrived earlier than anticipated. Chen Sixuan, who had stayed up all night managing the train, hadn¡¯t yet rested. Taking advantage of the daylight, she and Luo Shasha, along with Luo Ye, began tallying the supplies they had gathered during the night. Meanwhile, Lin Xian, in the driver¡¯s cabin, gulped down an entire bottle of water, feeling significantly refreshed. Thankfully, the night¡¯s travel had been uneventful, aside from smashing a few stray zombies, which had caused no significant trouble for the train''s operation. ¡°Good thing the Mechanical Heart was upgraded. Dragging this many carriages would have been impossible otherwise,¡± Lin Xian muttered. The electric locomotive''s stored energy efficiency had been reduced due to the added load. Combined with the strain on Lin Xian¡¯s Ability, it meant he had to stop and rest every three to four hours. ¡°The energy issue is something we can¡¯t ignore anymore...¡± he thought. To address this, Lin Xian envisioned a system beyond his energy-recovery mechanism, incorporating a generator or an auxiliary fuel tank. Such equipment could ensure continuous train operation even when he was too exhausted to use his Ability. In theory, breaking the energy consumption limits imposed by increased weight would require integrating a small nuclear power unit with his upgraded Ability. Only then could they achieve perpetual motion. ¡°Lin-ge!¡± From a distance, Luo Shasha excitedly called out from one of the train carriages. ¡°Come quick!¡± With the train now stopped, Lin Xian had been considering taking a breather. Hearing her call, he walked over. The rear ramp of Car 5 had already been lowered. On the grassy slope by the tracks, all sorts of supplies were spread out, many still stained with blood due to the haste of the previous night¡¯s gathering. ¡°Look at this, Lin Xian!¡± Chen Sixuan exclaimed joyfully, wiping sweat from her brow with a towel. Not far from the tracks, a small stream allowed her to rinse the supplies while tallying them. Kiki jumped down from the train and grabbed Chen Sixuan¡¯s inventory sheet. Her eyes lit up immediately. ¡°Three Colts, two Glocks, 17 assorted automatic rifles, and even an A33K sniper rifle. Plus, look at all this ammo!¡± ¡°And this!¡± Luo Shasha chimed in, holding up their prized M36 Grenade Launcher. ¡°This thing packs a punch!¡± Lin Xian exhaled in relief. Looking at the spoils scattered everywhere, he smiled faintly. ¡°Looks like we won¡¯t need to use blades to take down giant bugs anymore.¡± ¡°Wait, there¡¯s something else¡ªsomething you won¡¯t believe!¡± Kiki grinned mischievously as she climbed into an armored vehicle¡¯s carriage. She opened the driver¡¯s door and retrieved a remote control. Pressing the button, she activated the mechanism. Whirrr... On the roof of the armored car, a drone pod opened. Two small reconnaissance drones rose smoothly into the air. ¡°With these, we can patrol a 10-kilometer radius without leaving the train,¡± Kiki announced proudly. ¡°This Qian Yu from the Black Jiao Convoy sure knew his stuff,¡± Lin Xian remarked, surprised. ¡°These are worth a fortune.¡± ¡°Too bad his heavy truck and fuel tanker got driven off...¡± Luo Shasha said with a trace of regret. ¡°Besides this,¡± Chen Sixuan added, ¡°the two cargo carriages we raided from Tang Hai yielded over 400 cans of food, 41 boxes of water, 6 boxes of cola, and 3 boxes of red wine. Not to mention perishables that filled half a container and over a thousand liters of gasoline!¡± She exhaled deeply, overwhelmed by the abundance. ¡°It¡¯s almost ridiculous. The supplies in those two carriages alone are worth more than everything we found in the other vehicles combined.¡± ¡°Well, that makes sense,¡± Lin Xian said, his tone serious. ¡°Tang Hai holed up in an air-raid bunker and looted countless survivors. This is his entire stash.¡± The sheer volume of supplies, enough to sustain 20 people for over three months, was far more than Lin Xian¡¯s group of five needed. They were flush with resources, free from immediate worries about food and water. ¡°By the way, there¡¯s something else...¡± Chen Sixuan pointed towards the rear of the train. Besides the four cars they had taken, Lin Xian noticed something at the very back he had missed earlier. There, on the last two flatbeds, sat a Steel Guard 3 Military Assault Exosuit and a TFV600 Heavy Dual-Barrel Tank¡ªboth over three meters tall. Startled, Lin Xian asked, ¡°When did you load these onto the train? Did you use the crane?¡± That seemed unlikely, as the small electric crane couldn¡¯t have handled such heavy machinery. Besides, he was the only one who could operate it. Hmph! A smug snort came from behind. Kiki, arms crossed, jumped down from the train, her face full of pride. ¡°Of course, it was me who loaded them. These things are so heavy;it took quite a bit of effort.¡± Lin Xian was delighted. He had planned to dismantle them for parts if repairs weren¡¯t feasible. But now, thanks to Kiki¡¯s Ability, they were already secured on the train. Letting her rest early the previous night had been the right call¡ªshe¡¯d proven invaluable. ¡°Well done. You¡¯ve earned yourself a can of meat today.¡± ¡°Pfft, who cares about your meat cans?¡± Kiki smirked. ¡°If you really want to thank me, fix that radar system and those computers for me today. Oh, and the heater too¡ªit was freezing last night.¡± ¡°Cold, was it?¡± Lin Xian glanced at Chen Sixuan, who blushed and avoided his gaze. ¡°Yeah... It was below freezing even during the day.¡± As if to underscore the point, a biting wind swept through, making everyone shiver. The weather was growing colder. Snowstorms loomed, and the dropping temperature posed another challenge for the survivors. Kiki and Chen Sixuan rummaged through the gathered luggage, finding a few pieces of warm clothing. Lin Xian and Luo Ye, likely thanks to their Ability-enhanced physiques, didn¡¯t feel the cold as much. ¡°Where¡¯s Da Lou?¡± Due to Luo Ye¡¯s size, everyone had agreed to nickname him ¡°Da Lou.¡± ¡°Lin-ge,¡± Luo Ye called out, standing near the supplies. He was repairing a motorcycle¡ªLin Xian¡¯s, to be exact. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? He¡¯s better at fixing things,¡± Kiki said with interest. Da Lou scratched his head sheepishly, holding a wrench. ¡°I know a little about this stuff.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Since we¡¯re all on the same side, let¡¯s get everything out in the open.¡± He stepped into Car 5, retrieved a heavy steel plate, and tossed it to the ground. With a wave of his hand, a mysterious glow enveloped the plate. It floated, rapidly reshaping itself into a perfectly molded shield before dropping back down. Everyone was stunned. Chen Sixuan covered her mouth in shock. It was the first time Lin Xian had demonstrated the full scope of his Mechanical Heart to anyone beyond operating the train. Luo Shasha gasped, ¡°Whoa, Lin-ge, what kind of Ability do you have?¡± Even Kiki¡¯s eyes widened as she watched, puffing her cheeks in disbelief. She had thought Lin Xian¡¯s Ability was limited to controlling the train or creating ice. But seeing him manipulate steel like this suggested a skill set far broader¡ªand eerily similar to her own. Despite having reviewed all the internal data from the Angel Project, she found herself utterly baffled. Chapter 49: The Information Center At that moment, everyone turned to Lin Xian. After pondering all night, he decided to explain his Abilities openly. "Yes, I have more than one Ability. Besides powering the train, I can repair and create machinery. That¡¯s precisely why I dared to launch this Infinite Train Project." He realized it would be impractical to keep secretly devouring and crafting machines. Since these were his teammates, it was better to be honest. "If I have the materials and blueprints, I can directly manufacture weapons, equipment, armor¡ªanything mechanical. I can handle it." The Luo siblings exchanged stunned glances. Luo Shasha gasped, ¡°Whoa! Lin-ge, you¡¯re amazing! I knew I saved the right person!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze shifted to Kiki, intrigued. ¡°Little girl, what I just said includes your ideas for radar systems, sentry systems, weapon systems, defense systems, drones, railcars, medical units, life-support systems, powered armor... Now, do you still think my Infinite Train Project is a pipe dream?¡± Kiki¡¯s expression wavered. She opened her mouth but quickly closed it again, unwilling to admit defeat as she met Lin Xian¡¯s smiling eyes. ¡°So what? Can you design and control all those systems by yourself?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s smile widened as he looked at her. ¡°That¡¯s why I need a genius like you. Without your Information Center, all of this would just be a hollow framework.¡± Kiki¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of delight. She glanced slyly at Lin Xian, clearly pleased, and said with exaggerated nonchalance, ¡°Oh, this is flattering. Fine. If you can get the heater working, I might consider joining.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Lin Xian took a deep breath, glancing at Chen Sixuan and the others. "At first, I just wanted to build a mobile safe haven¡ªa fortress where we could survive the cursed darkness and this apocalypse. But after this train began moving, I realized every day is a struggle against terror and danger. Like me, you¡¯ve all faced uncertainty, running and hiding just for a chance to breathe and drink some water. The Polar Night killed countless people, and those who survived are on the brink of madness." ¡°I realized something: in this freezing, apocalyptic darkness, this train needs friends¡ªpeople who can help us survive longer and go farther.¡± ¡°The planetary orbital rail is 320,000 kilometers long. We may not finish it, and we may not escape the Polar Night, but as long as there¡¯s a chance to live one more day, I won¡¯t give up. As long as I have strength, this train won¡¯t stop. I want everyone on this train to be family, facing life and death together.¡± His words were calm and casual, as if he were simply chatting. But the others¡¯ expressions changed quietly. Kiki put away her usual mischievous demeanor, her gaze fixed on Lin Xian, lost in thought. Luo Shasha bit her lip, her timid unease replaced by a hint of hope. Da Lou looked at his sister, then at Lin Xian, and nodded silently, his expression resolute. Even Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes reddened. Initially, she had followed Lin Xian purely for survival, but hearing him articulate his plan and beliefs stirred her deeply. For a fleeting moment, she thought: even though the days ahead might be filled with disaster and running, someday, the sun would rise again. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s set up some basic roles,¡± Lin Xian said with a sigh of relief. As the team grew, he felt more secure. ¡°Got it!¡± Luo Shasha raised her hand enthusiastically, her face brimming with energy. ¡°Lin-ge, I can take night watch! Don¡¯t treat me like a kid!¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°With how skilled you are with that grenade launcher, who¡¯d mistake you for a kid?¡± ¡°Hehe,¡± Luo Shasha giggled, clearly proud. ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Chen Sixuan said with a rare smile. Since the Polar Night, she hadn¡¯t felt this lighthearted. ¡°Whatever you need, Lin-ge,¡± Da Lou added. ¡°Same here.¡± Kiki smiled, her expression unusually serious. ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Xian nodded. After finishing the inventory, he assigned roles. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan would take turns driving the train. During stops, Da Lou would handle watch duty. With his mechanical skills, he¡¯d also help with inspections and maintenance, as Lin Xian couldn¡¯t handle every small repair himself as the train expanded. As for Kiki, Lin Xian planned to collaborate with her on the train¡¯s future designs. Once the radar and sentry systems were operational, they¡¯d have an extra layer of security. This major haul gave Lin Xian immense confidence in the Infinite Train Project. Beyond his growing abilities, adding the capable Luo siblings was a huge boost. Da Lou¡¯s straightforward and reliable personality, coupled with his enhanced Ability and imposing physique, provided a strong sense of safety. Whether in combat or technical work, he was a valuable teammate. Luo Shasha, though young, was mature and loyal. Lin Xian assigned her to assist Chen Sixuan and Kiki. With her own small bed and the train¡¯s protection, she seemed far less anxious and happily helped organize the train¡¯s layout. According to their route, they would soon leave the mountains and enter Yubei. As a first-tier city far from the Abyss Zone, Yubei had entered the Polar Night relatively late. Both Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan anticipated immense complications there. Yet the train had to pass through Yubei¡¯s main hub to access the planetary orbital rail. Before that, many systems still needed to be completed, making the situation highly challenging. The gas-powered locomotive had a steam heating system, and the passenger cars had warm air systems. The fastest solution was to connect the circuits and use the warm air directly. However, Cars 1-2 and Cars 3-5 were vastly different models from different eras. Given Lin Xian¡¯s plans for a water and air circulation system for the whole train, he decided to work with Kiki to design an electric-driven water-steam cycle and filtration system connected to Car 1. This system could provide heat while distilling clean water for drinking and even showers. Kiki and Lin Xian also planned to install an optical targeting system and a small phased-array radar at the front of the train for emergency alerts. The surveillance and sentry systems for the entire train, however, required considerable effort. Setting up a Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) on the train would require significant resources, including electricity, maintenance, and factory-grade ammunition supplies. These were long-term goals, as were the medical, plant cultivation, and oxygen recycling systems. For now, Lin Xian prioritized helping Kiki install the Information System salvaged from the air-raid bunker command center into Car 2, along with the optical targeting system, phased-array radar, and¡ªof course¡ªthe heater. One looming challenge remained: how to repair damaged rail tracks during travel. That would be the next major hurdle to tackle. This issue was the most troublesome for Lin Xian. No matter how powerful the train became, without a usable track, wouldn¡¯t it be reduced to a mere joke? For Lin Xian, there was still so much to do, and yet the road ahead was filled with countless challenges. In Car 2, a simple Information Center with multiple screens had been set up for Kiki. Once the optical targeting and radar systems were connected, the train could scan a 3-kilometer fan-shaped radius ahead. However, a response module still needed to be designed¡ªone that could identify potential threats during operation and issue emergency stop alerts. This was beyond Lin Xian¡¯s expertise, so he could only leave it to Kiki. "Zzzt... zzzt..." ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± Kiki muttered, fiddling with Lin Xian¡¯s radio. ¡°We¡¯re well away from the ionization effects of the Abyss Zone, and it¡¯s daytime. Why can¡¯t we pick up any longwave signals?¡± After tinkering for a while, she sighed in frustration and gave up. ¡°What about the network?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± Kiki, wearing headphones, continued working swiftly on the system. Her tone was flat. ¡°I know the Federal Government still has some operational satellites in orbit, but they¡¯ve either been damaged or deliberately jammed.¡± Lin Xian felt a twinge of unease. He had been able to receive a call from Chen Sixuan in Jiang City not long ago, but now even basic communication seemed impossible. What frustrated him most was the longwave radio he had high hopes for¡ªit was completely useless. The train, deep within the mountains, could only pick up shortwave frequencies within a 100¨C200-kilometer radius. Yet even these yielded little, as the area was sparsely populated except for a few villages and towns. Thus, Lin Xian and his group experienced their most peaceful yet busiest day since leaving Jiang City. The train ran from dawn to dusk, utilizing the reserves of the electric locomotive. However, as fatigue set in and for safety reasons, Lin Xian decided to stop for the night on a relatively flat plain. After nightfall, all blackout curtains on the train were lowered. From the outside, the enormous train emitted a faint glow, stationary on the tracks. Cars 3 and 4, now heavily armored, stood out. Unlike the original carriages, the armor here was a mix of standard steel and remnants of high-strength steel Lin Xian had previously salvaged¡ªbarely sufficient for now. After the tasks had been divided earlier, Chen Sixuan took on the role of a caring matron. She carried rations and water, distributing them among the group. When she arrived at Car 5, she noticed Lin Xian wasn¡¯t inside. Instead, he was on the last flatbed carriage, tinkering with what looked like a piece of mechanical armor. The faint moonlight illuminated his silhouette, busy at work. Chapter 50: Soaring Skyward! ¡¾Scan complete. Blueprint retrieval failed. Target lacks a core drive source, unable to generate blueprint information.¡¿ ¡°Figures...¡± Lin Xian sighed, turning off his flashlight as he gazed at the massive humanoid machine before him, disappointment evident on his face. ¡°Too bad. I¡¯ll have to devour it. At least the materials should be worthwhile.¡± Unable to repair or retrieve a blueprint, the best use for the machine was as fuel for the growth of his Mechanical Heart. After ensuring the surrounding dark fields were safe, Lin Xian sat down and began the devouring process. ¡¾Devour progress: 1%¡¿ ¡¾Devour progress: 3%¡¿ Watching the progress bar creep forward, Lin Xian estimated it would take several hours to fully process the machine. As the long night dragged on, the task was finally completed. ¡¾Devour successful. Mechanical Source Points +100, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +40. Bonus Rewards: Strength +2, Speed +1, Defense +1.¡¿ Suddenly, a flash of violet light appeared before his eyes. ¡¾Congratulations! You have acquired an additional skill reward: Backlash!¡¿ ¡¾Backlash (Rare): Perform a rapid forward thrust using wind currents. Upgrading this skill significantly enhances speed and thrust distance.¡¿ ¡°Whoa, a rare skill! But... the name sounds kinda...¡± Despite his initial thoughts, Lin Xian was ecstatic. It was his first rare skill, and it seemed to be a movement technique, greatly enhancing his mobility. ¡°I wonder how effective it is...¡± He opened his disassembly space, his excitement growing as he reviewed the materials he had acquired. ¡¾Disassembly: You have gained Tungsten-Titanium Alloy Type I ¡Á5, High-Manganese Steel ¡Á10, Forged Inner Armor Steel ¡Á3, Titanium Alloy ¡Á3...¡¿ ¡°Tungsten-Titanium Alloy Type I? That¡¯s not something you see in civilian use...¡± Lin Xian was stunned. Such military-grade materials could only be found on cutting-edge equipment like this. Regular weapons wouldn¡¯t contain anything like it. Thud, thud, thud... The crisp sound of footsteps echoed in the dark. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Kiki stepped out from behind the train, a sly grin on her face as she approached. Lin Xian, who was about to begin devouring the TFV600 Heavy Dual-Barrel Tank, paused and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Kiki hesitated, looking slightly awkward. ¡°I wanted to thank you.¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Thank you for letting me stay in Car 2 and for saving me earlier.¡± Her voice was soft. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Lin Xian placed his hand on the tank, activating Mechanical Devour as he spoke. ¡°Without your help, whether it was with that giant bug or at the military outpost, we¡¯d all be dead.¡± He hadn¡¯t expected Kiki to come and express her gratitude, and the tension he had felt toward her eased. On one hand, her Ability had been instrumental in their survival twice now. On the other, her sheer power still made him uneasy. Unaware of his thoughts, Kiki¡¯s face lit up slightly at his words. She suddenly held out her hand. ¡°Here, take this.¡± Lin Xian glanced at the small silver object in her hand. Accepting it, he realized it was a portable hard drive. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Initial data from the Angel Project. I copied it all. Plus, I found a blueprint for the GK03 Electric Blade in some old files. I noticed you¡¯re always carrying around that old knife. Since you can craft things, why not give this a try?¡± She added, ¡°But the materials might be tricky¡ªlike the high-frequency current transformer it needs...¡± Lin Xian froze for a moment. While his mechanical Ability made using a knife a necessity, hearing this name... GK03 Electric Blade?! This was incredible! He recalled reading about it on military forums. Developed by Kehua Heavy Industries for the Starfleet Iron Guard Brigade, it was a standard-issue melee weapon for close combat. Although it had limited production due to its energy demands and practicality issues, it was undeniably impressive. Moreover, with some modifications, the electric blade¡¯s principles could be adapted for use on his train. Noticing the eager glint in Lin Xian¡¯s eyes, Kiki tilted her head and asked, ¡°So... truce?¡± Lin Xian chuckled, weighing the portable drive in his hand. ¡°Are you referring to the time you stole bread?¡± ¡°And the time I attacked you,¡± Kiki replied with a cheeky grin. ¡°Also, I no longer think your project is boring. I think it¡¯s genius!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the heir of the Dawn Project¡¯s Level 2 investors? Why the sudden change of heart?¡± Kiki took a deep breath. ¡°I know you probably think I¡¯m lying again. But the Dawn Project is real, and so is my identity. My father and I traveled by helicopter to Mount Daluo, which was supposed to house Underground City No. 9 of the project. But after the first Polar Night, the Federal Government collapsed, and the project likely suffered setbacks. ¡°Honestly, if it were me, I wouldn¡¯t want to be buried underground, waiting for those monsters to come knocking every day.¡± "Sounds sincere." "It is!" Kiki looked exasperated. "This time, I¡¯m not lying, I swear." She raised three fingers to emphasize her sincerity. Lin Xian nodded. "Do you know why I designed this train project, despite all the issues you''re concerned about?" "Isn¡¯t it because of your mechanical Ability?" Kiki ventured tentatively. "That¡¯s a subjective reason, not an objective one," Lin Xian replied, tapping his fingers on the tank with a serious expression. "You might think I¡¯m delusional, but I¡¯ve listened to Apocalypse Radio¡¯s analyses of the Dark Tides by the Federal Union. My conclusion is that none of us can truly escape the encroaching darkness." After the Federal Government collapsed, the Apocalypse Union was formed¡ªa coalition of the remaining nations on Blue Planet. In those early days, survivors could still receive rescue and defense broadcasts via longwave radio. However, after the Polar Night, likely due to their proximity to Abyss Zone No. 3, such signals ceased entirely. "Can¡¯t escape? Then why build this train?" Kiki asked, puzzled. Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned steely. "The Jiang City vanguard discovered that heading east could evade the Dark Tides and bring daylight sooner. This is valuable information. But the problem is that if the source of the Polar Night isn¡¯t just normal darkness, and if the Dark Tides aren¡¯t what people imagine¡ªsomething you can simply outrun by going east¡ªthen what? "Here¡¯s an example: When we left Jiang City, every 300 kilometers we traveled east brought dawn forward by an hour. But what about 3,000 kilometers to the east? Does that mean we no longer need to run? "According to initial Polar Night observations, if the darkness originates from the Abyss, then those in Desert City, near Abyss Zone No. 4, 15,600 kilometers northeast of us¡ªshould they flee west or east?" Kiki¡¯s eyes brightened as realization dawned. "Oh! So you¡¯re taking the Planetary Orbital Rail because it skirts the Abysses¡ªor at least stays near their edges!" "Exactly," Lin Xian said bluntly. "Now let me ask you this: If Abyss Zone No. 3 spreads its Dark Tides at a rate of 300 kilometers per day, how long would it take to cover the entire planet?" Kiki frowned, thinking hard. "Let me calculate¡ª" "No need. 1,066 days." "That long?" "Long?" Lin Xian¡¯s face grew grave. "Did you forget that there are 13 Abysses on Blue Planet?" Kiki froze, her brow furrowing. Lin Xian¡¯s voice grew firm. "The Planetary Orbital Rail is fixed, and eventually, it will be overtaken by the Abysses¡¯ expansion. That¡¯s why this is only my first-stage plan. My Mechanical Ability isn¡¯t just about racing along the orbital rail. I want to free this train from the constraints of the tracks. Or one day..." His voice deepened. "I want this train to fly." Kiki¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She stared at Lin Xian, her pupils filled with disbelief. His audacious idea left her mind blank. She couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine what it would look like¡ªa fully armed heavy train soaring into the skies. Seeing her speechless, Lin Xian continued, "I don¡¯t fully understand the specifics yet, and no one knows the true cause of the Polar Night. But during our escape, we¡¯ll inevitably venture into the dark zones. "So, if we don¡¯t want to sit here waiting to die, we have two choices: "Escape to the dawn... "Or¡ª" Lin Xian¡¯s gaze burned fiercely as he finished, "Defeat the darkness!" Chapter 51: The Mutual Aid Bonfire Jiang City had already been swallowed by the Polar Night. It had lost its longwave signals over twenty days ago. To gather the latest information about the world and escape the eerie grasp of the Polar Night, Lin Xian had no choice but to flee eastward. Although his Mechanical Heart held immense potential, it was more functional than combative in its initial stages. Take that massive bug, for instance¡ªif he had been driving a car, he wouldn¡¯t have survived in the wild. ¡°Hey, I think you¡¯re a bit more capable than I imagined,¡± Kiki suddenly said. Lin Xian gave a wry smile. ¡°You should go rest. You¡¯ll need to take over the watch later tonight.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Kiki replied with a smile. She turned to leave but paused after a couple of steps. Turning back, she asked, ¡°By the way, can you control other machinery besides the train?¡± ¡°I think so. Why? What are you referring to?¡± he asked. ¡°For example, mechas! I¡¯m talking about fully functional ones, like the Sentinel 2 and Sentinel 3 series of light assault types¡ªor even the heavy-duty military Destroyer series. If you could get one of those, you wouldn¡¯t have to worry about fighting those massive bugs,¡± she said. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze flickered slightly. ¡°I¡¯d love that, but if only there were a chance...¡± Who hadn¡¯t dreamed of such things? If he could, who would want to fight bugs with a knife? Who wouldn¡¯t want to pilot a Gundam? But let alone such heavy equipment, even advanced combat machinery was rare, and blueprints for them were practically nonexistent. Buzz~ Just then, the sound of a motorcycle echoed across the silent plains. Both Lin Xian and Kiki¡¯s expressions shifted as they turned to look. In the distance, a bright light flickered unsteadily, growing louder and closer. Hearing the noise, Teacher Chen and the other two also ran over from a nearby carriage. ¡°A motorcycle? What¡¯s going on?¡± Kiki moved to stand behind the armored vehicle. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed in vigilance. Seeing that only one vehicle was approaching, he didn¡¯t immediately stop his Devouring process. With the building and Kiki here, he felt less anxious. Suddenly, the motorcycle¡¯s headlight flashed twice, paused, and flashed twice again. ¡°Two short flashes, one long,¡± Lin Xian muttered, furrowing his brows. ¡°It looks like they¡¯re signaling friendliness, but stay alert.¡± He gestured toward Teacher Chen and the others in Car 5, signaling them to stay hidden. ¡°Hey~~ Don¡¯t shoot!¡± From a few hundred meters away, the rider began shouting. In moments, the motorcycle kicked up snow and dust as it sped across the plains, entering the train¡¯s light radius. Screech~ The motorcycle skidded to a stylish stop at the bottom of the track slope. There were two riders¡ªa man and a woman. The man, appearing in his early thirties, had light stubble and vaguely handsome features. He dismounted, removed his helmet, and smiled. The woman, clad in leather pants and jacket, had a cold demeanor, with two pistols strapped to her thighs. Lin Xian eyed them warily. ¡°Who are you?¡± The man raised his hands and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t be alarmed, no hostility here. Allow me to introduce myself: Jiang Yun, captain of the Chasing Wind Convoy, and this is my deputy, Ren Huiyan. I noticed you after you left Beiwang and entered the mountains.¡± Jiang Yun¡¯s gaze swept over Lin Xian and Kiki before landing on the distant Car 5, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. ¡°It seems I was right¡ªthere¡¯s more than one Ability User here,¡± Jiang Yun said. Lin Xian and the others¡¯ expressions shifted. Who was this person, and how could he tell they were Ability Users? ¡°What do you want?¡± Kiki asked sharply, eyeing them. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s a reason I¡¯m here,¡± Jiang Yun replied, pointing toward the track ahead. ¡°About thirty kilometers forward is Qu Guan City. Over a dozen convoys are stationed there, all gathered on Frequency 7. I¡¯ve organized a Mutual Aid Bonfire there. Would you be interested?¡± ¡°Mutual Aid Bonfire? What¡¯s that?¡± Kiki asked. ¡°It¡¯s where nearby survivors gather to exchange goods, information, and more. In these times, who hasn¡¯t run into trouble?¡± Jiang Yun replied with a smile. ¡°Oh~ You can gather around a bonfire? Aren¡¯t you worried about attracting monsters?¡± Kiki asked, looking amazed. ¡°Sorry, not interested,¡± Lin Xian interjected, refusing outright. ¡°No need to be so tense, my friend,¡± Jiang Yun said calmly, scrutinizing Lin Xian. ¡°Judging by your setup, you¡¯ve faced quite a bit of trouble along the way. Train armor, huh? Well, the main rail sections are still clear due to the Federation Phoenix¡¯s ongoing military operations. If you have an Electrical or Unified Control Ability, this route could be advantageous.¡± Jiang Yun then pulled a small object from his pocket¡ªa dark red glass bead. ¡°This is what the Phoenix calls a Weird Blood Essence, but we wanderers usually just call it a ¡®Red Bean.¡¯ I¡¯m guessing your radio can¡¯t pick up signals, right? If it could, you¡¯d already be on Frequency 7 or the Phoenix¡¯s longwave channels. With this¡ªwrap copper wire around it and attach it to your radio antenna¡ªit resonates with dark energy and can receive ionized signals.¡± He paused, tossing the bead lightly in his hand. ¡°But... be cautious. Using this doesn¡¯t just pick up human signals...¡± ¡°Ah?! You can actually receive longwave signals?¡± Kiki exclaimed. ¡°Where¡¯d you get this Red Bean?¡± Finally, the cold-faced woman on the motorcycle spoke up. ¡°Kill any Eerie Entity in the dark. They all have them.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Jiang Yun nodded, his eyes sharp. ¡°The Phoenix broadcasts critical information on LW01, while wanderers use AM07 and AM09 for relatively friendly exchanges. But be careful¡ªthere are plenty of malicious folks out there in these apocalyptic times.¡± Putting his helmet back on, Jiang Yun glanced at Lin Xian again. ¡°It¡¯s just an invitation, friend. Whether you come is up to you. If you do, you might find useful information, food, water, weapons, supplies, abilities, dark artifacts¡ªjust about anything can be traded. By the way, our bonfire locations usually conduct Soul Wave Value tests, reducing the likelihood of encountering eerie entities or events. But beware of zombies¡ªit might draw them. If you come, make sure not to bring trouble.¡± Buzz~ Without further ado, Jiang Yun revved his motorcycle and sped off. ¡°Wow, survivors can actually gather like that,¡± Kiki marveled, looking at Lin Xian. ¡°It seems some people already have equipment for testing Soul Wave Values. What do you think? Interested?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Here¡¯s the continuation translated: At this moment, Lin Xian''s expression calmed. Jiang Yun wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªhe was indeed overly tense. Ever since leaving Jiang City, it had been nothing but trouble along the way, leaving little room to breathe. That was why he had instinctively rejected Jiang Yun¡¯s invitation without much thought. But now, after hearing what Jiang Yun said, Lin Xian realized that attending this Mutual Aid Bonfire might be essential. ¡°What a shame. That giant bug and spider we encountered earlier¡ªI didn¡¯t even think to look for one of those red beads,¡± Kiki said, clearly regretting it. Lin Xian glanced at her. ¡°You didn¡¯t have anything about them in your data?¡± Kiki pouted. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? My report was based on early-stage initial findings. The situation changes daily. There¡¯s a lot we know now that the authorities might not¡ªlike the strange fog we encountered in Beiwang. It wasn¡¯t in the official reports at all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°We need to figure out how to get one of those red beads. And I¡¯m particularly interested in what Jiang Yun mentioned about Soul Wave Value testing and... information on Ability Evolution.¡± Food and water weren¡¯t Lin Xian¡¯s primary concerns right now. The real problem was the lack of information¡ªstumbling forward blindly was a dangerous gamble. ¡°Teacher Chen,¡± Lin Xian called out to Chen Sixuan. ¡°Start the electric locomotive. Let¡¯s head to Qu Guan Station and take a look. Kiki, Building, Shasha¡ªyou stay on high alert.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Chen Sixuan responded with a nod, immediately heading to get things running. ¡°Yay!¡± Kiki cheered excitedly as she dashed off toward her information center. The siblings, Building and Shasha, also grabbed their guns and assumed watchful positions. Buzz! The "Infinite Train" jolted to life in the darkness of the night, slowly beginning its journey forward. Chapter 52: Stop the Train Lin Xian took a deep breath and focused on devouring the heavy TFV600 Dual-Barrel Tank. The night wind was biting, and he couldn¡¯t help but shiver. ¡°It¡¯s getting colder,¡± he muttered. Hurry up, Dead Hand, devour it! [Devouring Progress: 50%][Devouring Progress: 80%][Devour Complete: Mechanical Source Points +60, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +30, Additional Rewards: Strength +4, Speed +1, Defense +1!] There was no expected flash of golden light;the damaged tank yielded no new skills. So far, Lin Xian had gained three skills, two of which came from intact machinery. Had he not obtained a new skill from that broken mecha earlier, he would have assumed skills could only be acquired from fully functional equipment. [Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.2 (170/1000)][Reminder: Leveling up the Mechanical Heart grants special skill rewards. Upon reaching LV3, LV6, and LV9, it unlocks mysterious awakenings.]Strength Level: 2¡¾23%¡¿(Burst Output: 200kg)Speed Level: 1¡¾64%¡¿(Max Speed: 10m/s)Defense Level: 1¡¾23%¡¿(Hardened Bones, Toughened Skin)[Mechanical Awakening]: Not AwakenedMechanical Devour: LV.2 (278/500): Improves devour efficiencyMechanical Manufacturing: LV.1 (112/300): Improves construction efficiencyMechanical Passives: Scan / Repair / Disassemble[Special Skills]:Wind Cannon (Common) (LV.2, 6%)Ice Shield (Common) (LV.1, 22%)Backlash (Rare) (LV.1, 0%) The massive tank disintegrated into ashes in his hands, and Lin Xian exhaled deeply. Finally, he had a chance to devour such big machines at his leisure. He glanced at the freight electric locomotive trailing behind the train. Having teammates really made a difference¡ªit allowed him to tackle larger tasks without worry. Judging by the size of this beast, it would likely take even longer than devouring the generator system. ¡°This thing will take at least ten hours to finish. Let¡¯s check out that so-called Mutual Aid Bonfire first,¡± Lin Xian decided, exhaling deeply. The train rolled steadily forward as Lin Xian walked from Car 5 toward the cab. ¡°Lin Xian, didn¡¯t that guy mention something about electrical or unified control abilities? He didn¡¯t seem all that surprised that we¡¯re running a train,¡± Chen Sixuan noted perceptively, catching nuances in the man¡¯s tone. ¡°That¡¯s because he¡¯s definitely an Ability User too,¡± Lin Xian replied solemnly. ¡°It¡¯s possible we¡¯re not the first train he¡¯s seen. He mentioned that the authorities and the Starfleet are still conducting large-scale operations. This suggests that in major cities, basic functions may still be running. Resistance and research haven¡¯t completely stopped. It¡¯s just that we¡¯re near Abyss Zone No. 3, and information has likely been cut off from us.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes lit up with hope. ¡°For some reason, hearing that survivors are helping each other and that the authorities are still working makes everything feel a little less oppressive.¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°What I care about is whether the main rail lines are still usable...¡± The main rail routes were critical for large-scale material and military logistics. Unless intentionally sabotaged, they would be priority targets for protection. Lin Xian had thought about rail issues before¡ªunless there was significant damage, he could use rail steel and his mechanical abilities to weld and repair tracks. Kiki¡¯s abilities could also help lay tracks if needed. As long as he advanced his mechanical powers, minor track problems shouldn¡¯t be too challenging. The night deepened, the surroundings silent, as the Infinite Train rolled into a small station where multiple tracks intersected. All five aboard heightened their vigilance. As soon as the train stopped, a young man peeked out cautiously from behind a platform pillar and waved at them. ¡°Are you here for the bonfire exchange?¡± he asked, his voice wary. Lin Xian furrowed his brow and opened the cab door. ¡°Were you waiting for us?¡± The young man nodded. ¡°I¡¯m with the Chasing Wind Convoy. Brother Yun told me to wait here and ask if a train arrived whether you were coming to the bonfire. If you are, I can guide you there.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going. Wait a moment,¡± Lin Xian said, closing the cab door. ¡°How many of us are going?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. Lin Xian walked toward the rear carriages. ¡°Let¡¯s load some supplies first. Kiki and Building will come with me. Chen Sixuan, you and Shasha stay and guard the train. Use the walkie-talkie if anything happens.¡± ¡°Got it. Be careful,¡± Chen Sixuan replied. They loaded supplies and weapons onto a jeep, unhooked it from the trailer, and drove onto the platform with Building at the wheel. Building and Kiki¡¯s abilities were powerful, so Lin Xian brought them along for extra presence at the survivor gathering. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan and Shasha stayed behind to guard the train. With weapons in hand, they were reasonably secure. The young man¡¯s eyes nearly popped out as he gawked at the heavily armored train. When he saw them unload a jeep, he quickly pushed out a small dirt bike from behind the platform. ¡°Follow me, and try to keep quiet. There are a lot of zombies in the city. We¡¯re camped in an abandoned factory about ten kilometers out,¡± he explained. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding. Buzz~ The motorcycle¡¯s headlight lit up as the young man led the way. Building drove the jeep with Lin Xian and Kiki in tow. ¡°I¡¯m guessing there will be more than a few Ability Users at this gathering. If anything happens, follow my lead,¡± Lin Xian instructed. Building silently nodded, while Kiki smiled. ¡°The fact that they¡¯ve all gathered means these convoys likely have those red beads for their radios. They must not be ordinary people. We need to get some of those beads ourselves. Who knows? They might not just connect radios but satellites too.¡± Lin Xian exhaled. ¡°Those beads seem to resonate with the Dark Tides¡¯ energy, meaning the Tides are causing significant interference with our communications. Extracting them from those monsters is no small task¡ªthey¡¯re undoubtedly valuable.¡± ¡°True,¡± Kiki agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s see what happens. Worst case, we¡¯ll just kill another one of those bugs!¡± Lin Xian: ... The vehicles wound along a narrow road, avoiding the city, and sped through a forest. Before long, an open area came into view, and the silhouette of an abandoned factory loomed in the distance. Around the factory were over a dozen convoys, with at least a hundred vehicles of various sizes. Dim lights flickered from within, and shadows moved as survivors huddled in groups. Some vehicles had armed guards standing watch. Lin Xian noticed that most of the license plates came from different regions, confirming that these survivors weren¡¯t all from the same place. As their jeep approached, it attracted curious glances from several groups. Lin Xian found it strange that all the convoys kept a notable distance from the factory. Inside the factory itself, faint bonfire light flickered¡ªit must be the bonfire Jiang Yun had mentioned. ¡°Stop here,¡± the young man said, pointing to an open space nearby. ¡°Everyone parks their vehicles outside. Usually, only leaders or captains go inside to talk. Also, don¡¯t bring weapons;it¡¯s a gesture of goodwill. But you should leave someone to guard your car.¡± ¡°Wow, this is pretty organized,¡± Kiki remarked in surprise. ¡°It feels like a mob deal.¡± The young man chuckled awkwardly. ¡°People come from all over, and we don¡¯t know each other well. Sitting down peacefully means no weapons. Otherwise, it¡¯d just be chaos like with those apocalyptic bandits.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Building, stay and guard the jeep. Kiki and I will go.¡± ¡°Got it, Brother Lin,¡± Building replied with a nod. Lin Xian and Kiki climbed out of the jeep and followed the young man toward the factory. ¡°If you¡¯re an Ability User, bringing weapons doesn¡¯t matter anyway,¡± the young man chatted as they walked. ¡°It¡¯s just a gesture of goodwill.¡± He pointed at some vehicles in the distance. ¡°See those? Many are painted red or orange, or they¡¯re flying specific flags. This comes from old maritime practices where ships in pirate-infested waters marked themselves as protected or capable of armed retaliation. Now, convoys use it as a neutral symbol to show they¡¯re not bandits and to avoid misunderstandings.¡± Chapter 53: The Corpse Shepherd Lin Xian¡¯s gaze swept across the scene. Most vehicles indeed bore splashes of color, though it was unclear if the markings were paint or blood. Human civilization as a species was peculiar: when order collapses, it has a way of spontaneously generating new forms of order. In the darkness, these fragile systems of order, like flickering flames, quickly drew the scattered remnants of humanity together. In an environment full of unknowns, anyone attempting to plunder others had to be prepared to be plundered in return. Convoys like the Oasis Convoy, which immediately resorted to roadside ambushes, were quickly branded as bandits¡ªdisruptors of this fragile new order. ¡°Doesn¡¯t gathering so many people in one place attract monsters?¡± Lin Xian asked tentatively. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re talking about the Soul Wave Detectors, huh? Those things are tricky. They require the power of red beans, and they¡¯re consumables. The Phoenix Federation previously shared blueprints for a simplified harmonic detection device that survivors could build to improve their survival chances. Some skilled mechanics among the survivors managed to make a few. Our Chasing Wind Convoy has one¡ªit cost us dearly.¡± At this, Kiki turned to Lin Xian, her eyes sparkling. She nudged him with her elbow. ¡°Hey, hey~¡± Lin Xian¡¯s heart stirred as he exchanged a glance with Kiki. Of course, he understood her message. Mechanical manufacturing? That was his specialty! Why bother with makeshift, hand-crafted devices when he could achieve industrial precision with the right materials and blueprints? ¡°So, these detectors can be traded too?¡± Lin Xian inquired. ¡°Of course!¡± the young man exclaimed, his eyes wide. ¡°They¡¯re highly sought after, practically priceless. Unless you¡¯re near a large city or a major survivor hub, where are you going to find a genius mechanic building detectors in the wilderness? ¡°Plus, it¡¯s not just about the devices. Supplies are scarce, the cold is biting, and resources like heating systems, water purifiers, radios, and medicine are in high demand. Even rainwater under the Dark Tides is lethal to drink!¡± ¡°And the temperature keeps dropping. At this rate, we¡¯ll freeze to death even if the zombies don¡¯t get us.¡± The young man¡¯s chatter continued as they trudged through the snow until they arrived at the factory gates. ¡°Here we are. Brother Yun is inside. You can talk to him¡ªI need to go back on watch.¡± He pointed into the factory. The once-functional workshops were now ruins. In the center, someone had lit a bonfire, casting a warm orange glow over the wreckage. Shadows from a dozen figures danced in the firelight. The group, men and women of various ages, turned to look as Lin Xian and Kiki approached. Some stood, others sat on the ground or on rubble, while one person swigged from a bottle. Among them, Jiang Yun spotted Lin Xian and smiled. ¡°Over here. How should I address you?¡± ¡°Lin Xian, Kiki,¡± he replied. ¡°Got it. And your convoy?¡± Jiang Yun asked, seemingly referring to their convoy¡¯s name. After a moment¡¯s thought, Lin Xian answered, ¡°Infinite Convoy.¡± An Infinite Convoy that runs on a train... ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Yun gestured for Lin Xian and Kiki to join the group. ¡°Relax, there aren¡¯t many rules here. Just say what you need, and if others are interested, they¡¯ll trade with you. Of course, others might compete for the same item, but the choice is yours. ¡°Besides that, gatherings like these are rare. It¡¯s a chance to share recent events, dangers, or intel. If we cross paths in the future, it¡¯s better to be acquainted.¡± ¡°For example, if you¡¯re taking the Jiangyu Line to Yubei City, some here travel that route. Others head toward Feng City or Xing City. While we¡¯re all moving east, the routes differ.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I heard you¡¯re running a train?¡± Jiang Yun said, and before Lin Xian could respond, a short-haired woman in her thirties spoke up. ¡°Shu Qin, from the Bigfoot Convoy,¡± she introduced herself before continuing, ¡°No offense, but we saw a federal train transporting heavy equipment near Mount Daluo a few days ago. It looked like they were headed to deal with an Eerie Zone or a major Eerie Entity. If you¡¯re traveling the Jiangyu Line, you might pass through that area, so take care.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°Got it. Thanks.¡± Shu Qin¡¯s warning made him lower his guard toward the bonfire group. He also felt a touch of goodwill toward her. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue.¡± Jiang Yun¡¯s tone grew serious as he addressed Lin Xian. ¡°Since we have a new face here, I¡¯ll repeat some critical information. These updates could be the difference between life and death. They¡¯re the reason we risk gathering like this.¡± ¡°Besides Shu Qin¡¯s intel, there are two major updates. ¡°First, there¡¯s been an Eerie 1542 Frequency reported around Ping¡¯a Lake, the mountains, Beiwang, and Mount Daluo. Three convoys here received it at night, and there have been reports of people going missing. We suspect it¡¯s tied to the Eerie Zone Shu Qin mentioned.¡± ¡°Missing people?¡± ¡°You mean the radios modified with those red beans?¡± Kiki asked, her curiosity piqued. Jiang Yun nodded. ¡°Exactly. You should get one. Without it, you¡¯ll miss critical warnings and intel from other convoys or the authorities. If you want red beans, many here have them. Trade for one later.¡± ¡°And the second piece of intel?¡± Lin Xian prompted. Jiang Yun exhaled deeply, fixing Lin Xian with a grim look. ¡°There have been sightings of Corpse Shepherds in the Polar Night within Abyss Zone No. 3.¡± The temperature seemed to drop a degree as the words left his mouth. Though the other convoy leaders had already heard this, their faces darkened again. ¡°Corpse Shepherds?¡± Lin Xian frowned, an inexplicable chill running down his spine. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Are they human?¡± Kiki asked, her brows furrowed. Jiang Yun shook his head. ¡°No one knows. All reports come from the black frequency channels, transmitted from nearby areas.¡± He gestured toward a middle-aged man across the fire. ¡°Our Chasing Wind Convoy and their Black Sword Riders just escaped the Polar Night. We confirmed hearing the Federation¡¯s description of those hellish wails on the black frequency¡ªit¡¯s said to herald the arrival of a Corpse Shepherd...¡± Hellish wails?! Lin Xian¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He recalled the eerie, bone-chilling cries he¡¯d heard when they killed the crimson centipede near the black mist. He¡¯d brushed it off at the time, but Jiang Yun¡¯s words brought it flooding back. ¡°The Corpse Shepherds are said to be an eldritch spawn of the Abyss. They didn¡¯t appear during the first Polar Night but started emerging in the second. Areas near the Abyss have seen numerous reports. Once, a heavily armed Iron Guard Brigade with drones, armor, and kinetic weapons tried to scout the Abyss. They were annihilated. All that came back were those hellish wails broadcast over the black frequencies. Survivors claim the Shepherds resemble humanoid creatures, but it¡¯s unverified. The Phoenix calls them Corpse Shepherds...¡± ¡°Whoa, that terrifying? Even mechs are useless?¡± Kiki exclaimed. ¡°Little girl, if mechs worked, do you think we¡¯d still be running?¡± A burly, bearded man chuckled bitterly. ¡°The Phoenix doesn¡¯t even know what¡¯s truly out there in the Polar Night. Reports of sightings and attacks flood the frequencies daily. Ever seen a jellyfish?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so scary about a jellyfish?¡± Kiki frowned. ¡°I mean one the size of a mountain,¡± the man said gravely, pointing upward. ¡°And it¡¯s in the sky!¡± ¡°Survivors near Ping¡¯a Lake have reportedly seen it,¡± Shu Qin added, her face pale. ¡°It¡¯s horrifying...¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°A mountain-sized jellyfish? Is that what you call a Major Eerie Entity?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Yun confirmed grimly. ¡°The darkness hides all manner of horrors. Bugs and monsters are one thing¡ªthe real threat is the indescribable ones.¡± ¡°Indescribable?¡± The group¡¯s attention turned to Lin Xian, their gazes heavy with unease. Jiang Yun responded in a low voice: ¡°Like... ghosts.¡± A sudden chill swept through the area. The bonfire flickered, its flames shrinking, and the darkness pressed in around them, smothering the air with an oppressive silence. Chapter 54: Somewhat Skilled in Mechanics Crackle, crackle. The spacious abandoned factory felt desolate. Around a pile of dry wood burning in the campfire, over a dozen people gathered, the atmosphere cold and somber. The shrinking flames devoured the dry wood, crackling as they finally grew stronger again, spreading warmth through the chilly air. ¡°Phew...¡± Someone quietly exhaled a breath of frosty air. Kiki clung to Lin Xian¡¯s sleeve, her eyes filled with unease and fear. ¡°What do you mean by ''ghost''? How is it different from zombies or those eerie creatures?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s just that these events are often accompanied by supernatural phenomena, like the 1542 radio station we just mentioned.¡± Lin Xian furrowed his brows tightly. Supernatural phenomena¡ªjust hearing about them sent shivers down his spine. Sensing the silence, Jiang Yun broke the stillness. ¡°Eerie incidents¡ªeveryone who¡¯s survived the past few months has encountered plenty. Some of this information might be useful, or it might just be hearsay. Right now, survival is what matters most. Let¡¯s not waste time. If anyone has something they want or something they¡¯re willing to trade, let¡¯s go around and introduce it. Once we¡¯re done, we¡¯ll trade if needed or move on.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± said a bespectacled man in a shirt and bulletproof vest, his face shadowed with gloom. ¡°That Infinite Convoy of yours, you need red beans, right?¡± He carefully took a single red bead from his pouch and placed it in his palm, his expression numb. ¡°Trade it for anything¡ªfuel, food, weapons. We¡¯re short on everything...¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°What¡¯s the trade value of this?¡± ¡°One hundred liters of gasoline or seven days¡¯ supplies for ten people. For weapons, it depends on quality and demand,¡± Jiang Yun explained, spreading his hands. ¡°Most trades are demand-driven. Trading more for less is common. But red beans are currently used as a benchmark by the Federation Phoenix and various scavenger groups, so their value is anchored¡ªand likely to rise.¡± ¡°This valuable?¡± Kiki exclaimed. ¡°Aren¡¯t these just used as antennae? Do they have other uses?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± someone in the group exclaimed. ¡°These things significantly enhance abilities. The Phoenix believes they might promote ability evolution and are key to researching Polar Night energy. Of course, they¡¯re valuable.¡± ¡°And you can only find them on those monsters. You know how troublesome those creatures are, right?¡± said a middle-aged man, his face bloodied and hair disheveled, his voice hoarse. Others nodded in fear. ¡°Even the slightest mistake can wipe out a small convoy. I think 100 liters of gasoline is a bargain.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted as he realized the red beads¡¯ true value. The red centipedes and fog spiders were incredibly troublesome. Without heavy firepower, they were almost impossible to deal with and often caused severe losses. If these beads could indeed aid ability evolution, then 100 liters of gasoline seemed like a fair trade. ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°We¡¯ll trade for energy, food, or weapons¡ªyour choice. Come to my vehicle later to make the exchange.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± The bespectacled man nodded and put the bead back into his pouch, his face blank. Judging by his expression, he¡¯d likely just survived a grueling battle, leaving him too drained to haggle with Lin Xian. ¡°Let¡¯s stick to the usual rules,¡± Jiang Yun said, stepping up. ¡°Special requests first, then the basic supplies for exchange.¡± Everyone nodded. Energy, food, and weapons were universal needs. Anything not urgently critical could be negotiated later, starting with the most pressing requirements. ¡°Let¡¯s go in order, then,¡± Jiang Yun said, turning to a middle-aged man in a padded coat. ¡°Brother Xu, you¡¯re first. What do you need?¡± ¡°Alright,¡± said Xu Jin, seated on rubble at the outermost edge. He didn¡¯t waste words. ¡°My convoy needs a water purifier. Reverse osmosis preferred, but activated carbon will do¡ªas long as the filter membrane is fairly new. Anyone got one?¡± He scanned the group. Only Shu Qin, a woman, raised her hand. ¡°We¡¯ve got a reverse osmosis unit,¡± she said. Xu Jin¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°But...¡± Shu Qin shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s broken. Doesn¡¯t work anymore. Probably something¡¯s damaged. Anyone here know how to fix it?¡± Her words left everyone exchanging glances in silence. Broken equipment was worthless¡ªjust dead weight on the road. Shu Qin¡¯s convoy had a replacement, but they¡¯d kept the broken unit, hoping to find someone who could repair it. Trading some supplies to restore it would make it far more valuable, whether for their own use or as a high-value trade item. ¡°I know a bit,¡± Lin Xian suddenly spoke from the corner, breaking his silence. ¡°Really? You can repair things?¡± someone asked in surprise. ¡°If it¡¯s mechanical, I¡¯ve dabbled in it.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s words seemed to ignite a fuse. The oppressive atmosphere from the earlier discussion about eerie phenomena instantly lifted, replaced by a wave of curious and eager gazes. ¡°Can you fix vehicles?¡± ¡°Our heating system¡¯s broken...¡± ¡°What about infrared detectors?¡± ¡°Could you handle drones?¡± ... Lin Xian hadn''t expected that his casual remark would spark such a flurry of responses, leaving him slightly taken aback. "My teammate on the vehicle and I both know a bit about mechanics," he said, maintaining a modest tone. "If it''s just minor issues, we should be able to handle it. But some repairs might require specific tools." He refrained from overpromising and didn¡¯t reveal that his repairs were powered by his mechanical ability. With his ability, as long as the issue was with individual components, he could scan the entire system and use materials from his decomposition space to fix it. However, if core components were missing, and he lacked both the materials and blueprints, there was no way to repair them from thin air. "Really?" Jiang Yun, standing not far away, looked at him with intrigue. "Seems I invited the right person. In an apocalypse, skilled professionals are invaluable." Next to Lin Xian, Kiki rolled her eyes slightly at what she clearly considered an overstatement. She held back a laugh, finding it harder to suppress than firing an AK. Noticing the amused expression on the young woman¡¯s face, Lin Xian shot her a quick glance before clearing his throat on purpose. "I just know a little," he said humbly. "No guarantees I can fix it. Let me take a look first." Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to brand himself as a walking toolkit. "If I can repair it, then we¡¯ll discuss my price." "That¡¯s no problem," Jiang Yun agreed with a nod. "In that case, everyone can approach you privately later with equipment issues. It¡¯ll save us all some time. Let¡¯s move on to the next requests." "Alright, then I¡¯ll share mine." Lin Xian scanned the group with a serious expression. "I know some of you here might be ability users. I¡¯d like information related to ability evolution. Also..." He turned to Jiang Yun. "I¡¯m particularly interested in your Soul Wave Detector." Jiang Yun frowned slightly. "Sorry, but I¡¯ve only got one set." Lin Xian shook his head. "That¡¯s not what I mean. I didn¡¯t get access to the information released by the Phoenix. I just want to understand the principles behind its design¡ªor you could let me study it briefly." Jiang Yun¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at his words. "You¡¯re not saying you¡¯re planning to build your own, are you?" Chapter 55: Evolution Information Lin Xian maintained a calm demeanor as he replied, ¡°Not necessarily. I¡¯ll have to see it first to know.¡± Jiang Yun scrutinized him for a moment before nodding. ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. Actually, some standardized versions of this device are available at certain Federation Phoenix rescue points. But because of the Polar Night issue, these points are constantly relocating. Permanent underground cities might have them as well, but once those areas are under Polar Night, it¡¯s hard to get supplies in¡ªor people out.¡± ¡°As for the evolution information you mentioned...¡± Jiang Yun forced a faint smile, glancing around the group. ¡°I can only say this: the methods and pathways for ability evolution vary for everyone. You¡¯ll have to specify the exact ability. If it¡¯s one of the types publicly shared by Phoenix, I can tell you directly. If not, I can¡¯t guarantee anyone here knows. And even if someone does...¡± ¡°What, that kind of secret is up for trade too?¡± Kiki interjected. Jiang Yun nodded meaningfully. ¡°Yes, but not always. There are too many ability types now. Even with something seemingly simple and common, like Limb Mimicry or Aberrant Growth, the evolution process isn¡¯t as easy as just consuming blood. Some succeed;others fail. This might relate to the individual¡¯s ability progression, mental state, or the type of resources consumed. There¡¯s a lot we don¡¯t know. So, even if someone generously shares their evolution method, it might not work for you. Everything varies by person.¡± ¡°And another thing,¡± Jiang Yun added with a pointed look, ¡°even if someone tells you, how do you know if it¡¯s true?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression shifted slightly. It seemed ability evolution was far more complex than he had imagined. Even for those with the same ability, the evolution pathway could differ. Someone might succeed purely by chance but be unable to pinpoint what made it work. Unless a large organization conducted comprehensive data collection, tests, and experiments, information gathered by hearsay might be unreliable, making it hard to discern truth from falsehood. Lin Xian sighed inwardly. His Mechanical Heart ability had a clear path for upgrades, but its combat potential was relatively weak at the moment. His goal was self-armoring. If the opportunity arose, he could envision becoming something like Iron Man. After all, Longguo¡¯s Starfleet already had full-body exoskeleton technology. Unfortunately, Lin Xian had no access to such technology, only hearing about it from old media reports and Kiki¡¯s casual mentions. Let alone advanced AI systems¡ªthough if he could ever develop a combat AI... He stopped his wandering thoughts. ¡°I have a teammate who seems to have a physical enhancement ability¡ªextraordinary strength. If anyone has relevant information, I¡¯m willing to trade for it.¡± Lin Xian decided to test the waters with Big Tower¡¯s ability. As for the information¡¯s truth, he could only rely on his judgment. If it helped Big Tower or Kiki evolve their abilities, it would significantly improve their small team¡¯s survival odds. He avoided mentioning Kiki¡¯s telekinetic ability, fearing it would draw too much attention. Although everyone appeared friendly on the surface, it was wise to keep some cards close to the chest. ¡°Physical enhancement ability?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it,¡± said Shu Qin, the woman from earlier. ¡°But I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or useful. Supposedly, such an ability requires absorbing extremely dense blood energy and being in a near-death state to evolve.¡± She shrugged after speaking. ¡°I¡¯m just sharing what I¡¯ve heard. It¡¯s up to you to judge its value. I¡¯m not looking to trade for this.¡± Her cautious tone reflected the life-and-death stakes involved in such matters. Both Lin Xian and Kiki frowned. ¡°Near-death state?¡± ¡°That¡¯s still useful to know,¡± said a man in his fifties with a somber expression. ¡°Whether it¡¯s from Phoenix¡¯s announcements or rumors among wanderers, almost all abilities involve three things for evolution: a specific resource, a change in physical or mental state, and a particular set of conditions.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Jiang Yun confirmed. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, no ability evolves easily.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding and offering a grateful look to the group. He thought back to Tang Hai¡¯s case that night. It had sounded straightforward, but if evolving required letting zombies bite you to death while early-stage abilities barely manifested, who would willingly bleed themselves for such a gamble? ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move on,¡± Jiang Yun said, noticing Lin Xian deep in thought. He gestured for the next person to share their needs. Meanwhile, Lin Xian and Kiki huddled in a corner, whispering. ¡°Red beans, the Soul Wave Detector¡ªwe should be able to secure those. But ability evolution doesn¡¯t seem so simple...¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re overthinking it,¡± Kiki said with a sly grin. ¡°As long as information flow continues, secrets like this will eventually surface. Didn¡¯t I say the Angel Project is actively researching this? Give me another shot to hack into¡ªheehee.¡± Lin Xian smirked at her mischievous look. ¡°How would you hack in, through a radio broadcast?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Kiki¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Come to think of it, the Dawn Project was once a Federation asset. It must have orbital satellite links, probably tons of useful data. And isn¡¯t Underground City No. 9 near Mount Daluo? Should we... plan something?¡± Plan something. The phrase struck Lin Xian as odd, but her idea intrigued him. Kiki still held a Level 2 investor status from the Dawn Project, a title more valuable than first-class citizenship. Plus, their route through the mountainous region of Mount Daluo¡¯s northern foothills brought them close enough to consider the opportunity. An official underground city... Setting aside other treasures, its advanced electronics and communication systems alone were invaluable! ¡°Interested?¡± Kiki asked, her eager expression barely restrained. ¡°I¡¯m worth more than a first-class citizen, you know~¡± ¡°I¡¯m considering it,¡± Lin Xian said, taking a deep breath. ¡°But there¡¯s one problem.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Did you forget what they said earlier? The Mount Daluo area might have an eerie zone, a major entity, Polar Night Tides, and corpse shepherds. Do we have time for that?¡± At that, Kiki¡¯s excitement froze. Her face fell as she nervously shrank back. ¡°Uh... well, about that...¡± ¡°But I¡¯m curious about something¡ªsince the Day of Apocalypse, there¡¯s never been any official announcement about the Dawn Project. No one here seems to know that such a massive underground city project exists nearby. Don¡¯t you find that odd?¡± Kiki pouted at his question and replied, ¡°It¡¯s simple. With limited resources and tight deadlines, this project never took ordinary people¡¯s lives into consideration from the start. Everyone selected for a spot in the underground city received targeted invitations, and they had to pay a price to secure them. How could such a project ever be publicly announced?¡± Lin Xian gave a wry smile at her explanation. So that¡¯s how it is... The so-called Dawn Project was actually a refuge for the elites. No wonder every aspect of construction was carried out in secrecy. When the Polar Night first began to form, information about the Dawn Project mostly came from speculative leaks. "The world¡¯s falling apart, and they¡¯re still keeping secrets this efficiently. That¡¯s some serious competence..." Lin Xian muttered sarcastically. ¡°That¡¯s why the Federation government collapsed after the Polar Night,¡± Kiki added with a shrug. ¡°But since my dad brought me there, it means Underground City No. 9 was already operational and ready for people to move in.¡± Lin Xian nodded thoughtfully. ¡°So, by now, Underground City No. 9 isn¡¯t really an official project anymore. It¡¯s more like a remnant of the old government. And it¡¯s not open to civilians. Apart from you, none of us would be able to get in.¡± ¡°Who cares? Everyone inside could already be dead. Even if there are survivors, we¡¯re not going there to become underground citizens, are we?¡± Kiki said mischievously, her hands on her hips. ¡°Those people don¡¯t see commoners as humans, so why should we play nice with them?¡± Lin Xian raised a brow, smirking faintly as he looked at her. ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is that our little group is going to raid a massive underground city?¡± ¡°Hehe, why not?¡± Kiki grinned, arching a brow at him with a knowing smile. ¡°There¡¯s bound to be advanced tech and gear inside. A giant underground city would need heavy mechs for defense, nuclear power for energy, and maybe even a stellar propulsion system. Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to send your train into the stratosphere? This is the perfect opportunity!¡± Lin Xian stared at her eager expression, momentarily stunned. He couldn¡¯t deny it¡ªwhat she said did tempt him. For someone with Mechanical Heart, this could indeed be an excellent chance to upgrade the train before attempting to reach planetary orbit. ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian said after a deep breath. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss the details when we¡¯re back. Let¡¯s focus on wrapping things up here first.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Kiki cheered excitedly. By the campfire, the leaders of over a dozen convoys were still discussing their resource needs and issues. To facilitate trade, everyone offered items that others required. Two of the convoys even decided to merge temporarily and flee eastward together. Chapter 56: Repairs Three Xinghuo-26 semi-automatic tactical rifles with 120 rounds of ammunition could be exchanged for food to sustain a ten-person convoy for five days or 80 liters of gasoline. Yet those same weapons were only worth two boxes of antibiotics in trade. As the apocalypse dragged on, items like water filtration systems, heating equipment, and communication devices became increasingly valuable. In particular, red beans¡ªwhat the Phoenix called Eerie Blood Essence¡ªhad become a new hard currency. With the continued encroachment of the Polar Night and deeper research into its properties, the value of these red beans kept rising. They could facilitate communication in the Dark Tides, peer into the shadowed world, enhance abilities, and measure Soul Wave Value, which determined the danger level of an area. It was no wonder they were so highly prized. At the moment, Lin Xian was particularly eager to get his hands on a Soul Wave Detector. Adding such a device to the train would allow them to assess the risk of a given area during stops, greatly improving their safety during rest periods. It would also free up more of his time for exploring his Mechanical Heart ability. Before long, most convoys had settled their trades. Without lingering, people began their exchanges. ¡°Excuse me, my friend,¡± a middle-aged man named Xu Jin approached Lin Xian with an urgent expression, accompanied by the short-haired and capable-looking Shu Qin. ¡°If it¡¯s convenient, could you take a look at her water filtration system?¡± Shu Qin nodded. ¡°If you can fix it, I¡¯m willing to offer compensation.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a look first,¡± Lin Xian replied, turning to Kiki. ¡°Kiki, have Big Tower bring the agreed items to trade with that bespectacled guy for his red bean.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Kiki grinned as she left to handle the exchange. The moment Lin Xian stepped out of the abandoned factory, he was greeted by heavier wind and snow. The crunch of their boots on the snow broke the night¡¯s eerie silence. Outside, survivors from various convoys wore thick layers to fend off the cold, though a few, clad in tattered clothing, shivered miserably in the snowy night. As Lin Xian followed behind, he surveyed the convoy survivors. Their vehicles were caked in mud, with streaks of dried blood darkened under the night sky. Vehicles carrying supplies, water, and children were clustered in the center, while guards, some sharp-eyed and others hollow-faced, stood vigil on the perimeter. Shu Qin¡¯s convoy was small, with only eight vehicles. One of them, a pickup truck, towed a water tank. Its roof featured a makeshift rain collector made from sheet metal. ¡°Rainwater can¡¯t be consumed directly¡ªnot even after boiling. It needs to be filtered first. Otherwise, water heaters break down quickly, and energy usage skyrockets,¡± Shu Qin explained, her tone heavy as she tapped the tank. ¡°Drinking too much rainwater doesn¡¯t just cause fevers and diarrhea from bacterial infections¡ªit can induce terrifying hallucinations and severe mental strain.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Xu Jin added with a sigh. ¡°We¡¯ve been searching for water for two days. We used to distill rainwater after filtering it through makeshift nets, but it¡¯s too fuel-intensive...¡± Lin Xian frowned silently. On the Infinite Train, they had been relying on bottled water scavenged from earlier supply runs. Not once had he considered these issues since he hadn¡¯t received Phoenix¡¯s broadcasts. Now that he thought about it, he felt a pang of concern. The train¡¯s primary advantages¡ªcargo capacity and robust defenses¡ªmeant he could store large amounts of resources. But bottled water wouldn¡¯t last forever. Without proper water filtration systems on board, he only had a boiler and a steam generator. The Ice Shield, while useful, wasn¡¯t a solution he had fully thought through. He¡¯d assumed the ice it produced was clean, but was it truly safe? The shield might condense surrounding moisture, which could carry contaminants. Luckily, he¡¯d only licked it once experimentally... Medical supplies like iodine and antiseptics, already scarce, wouldn¡¯t be enough to manage widespread illness. And with heating systems draining power daily, his Mechanical Heart ability was already taking a toll on his stamina. ¡°Damn it,¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath. ¡°Once this is over, I¡¯m swallowing those useless carriages and that spare engine. I¡¯ll keep Qian Yu¡¯s armored car and my motorcycle as backups. Reducing the load might help boost my ability¡¯s level faster.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take a look first.¡± Lin Xian climbed onto the pickup truck, flashlight in hand, and began inspecting the water filtration system. In truth, he had already activated Mechanical Scan, quietly mapping the device¡¯s blueprint and identifying the problem areas. [Scan Complete: Acquired blueprint for Blue Sky KK-93 Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier.] Moments later, a holographic blueprint of the small water purifier materialized on his interface. ¡°So simple,¡± he murmured. ¡°But it needs PVC filter membrane material...¡± Lin Xian frowned. Most of the items he had decomposed were metallic. Ever since gaining his decomposition ability, he hadn¡¯t scavenged much civilian machinery or appliances. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll need to search for more equipment to scavenge. Even if it doesn¡¯t yield much energy, it¡¯ll provide the materials I need.¡± ¡°How is it, Captain Lin? Can you fix it?¡± Xu Jin asked anxiously, seeming more desperate than Shu Qin. He looked like he hadn¡¯t had a proper drink in days. Earlier, he had traded weapons and supplies for some clean water to deal with the immediate crisis. ¡°Seems to be an electrical issue. Can you get me a screwdriver and pliers?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s calm and confident tone lit up Xu Jin¡¯s and Shu Qin¡¯s eyes. For Shu Qin, repairing the purifier meant she could trade it for valuable resources. For Xu Jin, it was a lifeline to survive the water crisis. ¡°Right away!¡± Shu Qin called, instructing her team to fetch a toolbox. ¡°Captain Lin, if you can fix this, just tell us what you need¡ª¡± "Just give me twenty cans of food," Lin Xian said simply. When he¡¯d arrived, he had scanned Shu Qin¡¯s convoy and noted their limited resources. The dozen or so people in her group looked haggard, clearly not well-off. From the beginning, Shu Qin had shown goodwill toward him, openly sharing what she knew about abilities without expecting anything in return. Lin Xian had developed some respect for the female leader. Besides, now that he had obtained the purifier¡¯s blueprint, he didn¡¯t feel the need to exploit the situation. If repaired, this water filtration system could fetch Shu Qin goods worth at least two red beans from Xu Jin¡ªfar more valuable than the twenty cans he was requesting. His price was exceptionally fair. ¡°Really?!¡± Shu Qin¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! I¡¯ll get them for you right away!¡± Lin Xian had an additional reason for asking for canned food. During the campfire trade earlier, he had deliberately avoided listing food or water among his needs. Operating a train, this omission might lead others to assume that the Infinite Convoy had an abundance of both, which could invite trouble. By requesting canned food as payment, he subtly dispelled that notion while keeping people guessing. Next to them, Xu Jin also looked eager. From Lin Xian¡¯s expression, the problem didn¡¯t seem too complicated, which reassured him that the purifier was likely repairable. Without another word, Lin Xian got to work. Using the screwdriver, he removed the purifier¡¯s casing and furrowed his brows in mock contemplation. In reality, the repair was already done. While running his Mechanical Heart, he had quietly fixed the issues. Although the problems weren¡¯t severe, an ordinary person would have found the repairs tedious and challenging. Thanks to the abilities of his Mechanical Heart, he had easily patched up the circuit board and motor with materials from his decomposition space and resolved the clogging issue simultaneously. ¡°That should do it...¡± After a few minutes of tinkering, Lin Xian reassembled the unit, wiped a bit of sweat from his brow for effect, and turned to Shu Qin. ¡°Try turning it on.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Shu Qin eagerly knocked on the pickup truck door, signaling the driver to start the engine and switch on the purifier. Whirrrr The purifier hummed to life, its system functioning properly. Moments later, a stream of freshly filtered water began to flow steadily from the outlet. ¡°It¡¯s working!¡± Shu Qin exclaimed, her voice brimming with relief and excitement. Chapter 57: Jiang Yun ¡°It¡¯s really fixed?!¡± Xu Jin exclaimed, hastily filling a cup with the precious clean water. He sniffed it carefully, his eyes lighting up. ¡°Clean and clear¡ªno strange odors. It¡¯s definitely usable!¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Shu Qin said excitedly. ¡°We¡¯ve always relied on this purifier. If you boil the water after filtering, it¡¯s perfectly safe to drink.¡± ¡°Great, great!¡± Xu Jin nodded, immediately picking up his walkie-talkie to summon his convoy for the trade. ¡°Thank you so much,¡± Shu Qin said gratefully, handing Lin Xian a large box of canned food. ¡°You¡¯ve been a huge help.¡± Lin Xian accepted the box and replied, ¡°It was nothing. I heard you¡¯re heading to Yubei City too?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Shu Qin confirmed. ¡°Yubei City is one of the gateway cities for the planetary orbital rail. Word is that the Dazhu Mountain Tunnel is blocked, so many people are trying to pass through there and head toward Xingcheng.¡± Xingcheng? Lin Xian fell into a moment of silence. It seemed most people were choosing to flee to one of Longguo¡¯s major cities. Even if those cities were overrun, they still had more resources and infrastructure than smaller towns. As more people approached Lin Xian for help with repairs, inspired by his success with Shu Qin¡¯s purifier, he handled a few more requests selectively. He repaired an infrared detector for a large convoy, integrating its blueprint into his knowledge, and traded the work for a box of antibiotics. The earlier conversation with Shu Qin and Xu Jin had reminded him of the critical importance of medicine during their journey. However, Lin Xian declined other requests, such as repairing a vehicle with a broken steering rod and a blown engine or fixing a low-grade drone. For the car, repairing it on the spot without welding equipment would have been impossible to explain. As for the drone, it was an ordinary model and not worth the effort compared to Qian Yu¡¯s armored car-mounted drone. He intentionally downplayed his mechanical skills. Fixing the purifier was enough to establish goodwill in the camp, but he didn¡¯t want to overextend himself. If he appeared too skilled¡ªrepairing purifiers, steering systems, and drones all in one night¡ªpeople might expect him to fix a rocket engine next. ¡°Captain Lin,¡± a voice called out as the crowd dispersed and survivors prepared to leave for the night. Lin Xian and Kiki, about to return to their train, turned to see Jiang Yun approaching with a smile. One of his men followed behind, carrying two peculiar devices. ¡°Brother Yun,¡± the man addressed him, handing the devices to Lin Xian. One was a modified radio. The other resembled a clock but was, in fact, the Soul Wave Detector Lin Xian had been eager to see. ¡°This is the detector, along with its blueprints,¡± Jiang Yun said casually. Lin Xian examined the device¡ªa palm-sized hemispherical contraption made of copper sheeting, with fine iron wiring wrapped around it. A filter module hung below, and it required a portable power source to operate. ¡°This thing is handmade? Looks complicated,¡± Lin Xian muttered. ¡°There¡¯s a blueprint for it,¡± Kiki said, stepping forward to photograph the schematic. Lin Xian didn¡¯t stop her. While she captured the blueprint, he quietly activated his Mechanical Heart, instantly scanning the detector. [Blueprint Acquired: Unidentified Signal Detector, Model N01.] The design was relatively simple, though the filter posed a challenge. If he could scavenge household appliances to collect the necessary materials, building it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. However, the device required red beans for operation. Jiang Yun explained that the detector consumed the energy contained within the red beans, which were expendable resources with a finite lifespan. As Kiki photographed the blueprint, Jiang Yun¡¯s eyes flickered with curiosity. Seeing how Lin Xian¡¯s team could power and operate a massive train, he seemed to piece together a few suspicions but chose not to voice them. Instead, Jiang Yun commented, ¡°When cities had functioning industrial systems, devices like this were cheap. But now, with survivors struggling to secure even clean water, creating something like this is a rare feat.¡± Lin Xian nodded, returning the detector to Jiang Yun. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll study it further.¡± ¡°Good luck,¡± Jiang Yun replied. Lin Xian regarded him for a moment before asking directly, ¡°Captain Jiang, you organized tonight¡¯s campfire gathering. Yet, I didn¡¯t notice you expressing any urgent needs. Why did you personally invite me?¡± ¡°Are you also wondering why I made a point to invite you specifically?¡± Jiang Yun said with a knowing smile, seeing through Lin Xian¡¯s unspoken question. Lin Xian raised a brow but didn¡¯t reply. A cold gust of wind swept through the camp. Standing before Lin Xian, Jiang Yun extended his hand. The frigid air seemed to coalesce, forming a powerful vortex in his palm. A moment later, he clapped his hands, and the vortex dissipated into nothingness. ¡°Whoa!¡± Kiki exclaimed. ¡°You can control wind?¡± ¡°This ability has its perks,¡± Jiang Yun said with a faint smile. ¡°I can move quickly and reach places others can¡¯t. But I also understand your perspective, Captain Lin¡ªleading a convoy of lives through perilous conditions makes you cautious and vigilant. That¡¯s a good thing. Survival in the apocalypse is no easy feat.¡± ¡°You asked about my purpose in organizing the campfire. The reason is simple,¡± Jiang Yun continued. ¡°From a rational standpoint, I¡¯ve always admired trains. If my ability weren¡¯t Windwalker, I¡¯d want to build a mobile fortress like yours. Regardless of your abilities, it takes courage and strength to drive through the darkness. I respect that.¡± ¡°And on a personal level,¡± Jiang Yun said with disarming honesty, ¡°in a world where life and death are uncertain, it¡¯s better to gain friends than enemies.¡± Lin Xian looked surprised. ¡°All this... just to meet other survivors?¡± "Exactly. Living on the edge of life and death every day, useful information and assistance can often mean the difference between survival and death," Jiang Yun said candidly. "That¡¯s perhaps what sets us humans apart from those eerie things." He turned and pulled over one of his younger men, ruffling his hair. "These people who¡¯ve been following me didn¡¯t always survive by luck alone. Along the way, we received plenty of help too." ¡°Yeah, helping each other through tough times is the way to go!¡± the young man, barely seventeen or eighteen, said brightly, his eyes full of optimism. Lin Xian¡¯s expression softened. Jiang Yun¡¯s words struck a chord. ¡°Thank you. If I come across another campfire you organize, I¡¯ll definitely join.¡± Jiang Yun smiled, spreading his hands. ¡°See? That means I¡¯ve achieved my goal.¡± With that, he swept his gaze over the area, raised a hand in farewell, and walked away. ¡°Good luck.¡± The night¡¯s interactions had been highly productive for Lin Xian¡¯s group. They obtained the blueprint for the Soul Wave Detector, secured a red bean, and gathered a wealth of valuable information. As they prepared to leave, Jiang Yun¡¯s young cyclist suddenly rode up to Lin Xian¡¯s vehicle. ¡°Hey, Brother Yun asked me to remind you¡ªwhen using the dark radio, don¡¯t tune it to 1542!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°That¡¯s the eerie station you mentioned?¡± ¡°Exactly. Be careful.¡± With that, the young man pedaled off into the night. ¡°1542...¡± Kiki, seated in the back, looked puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s just a radio station. Could monsters really show up?¡± ¡°Better safe than sorry,¡± Lin Xian said, gesturing to Big Tower to start the vehicle. ¡°There¡¯s no need to get curious about these things.¡± ¡°Curious? I¡¯m not curious¡ªI¡¯m terrified of ghosts...¡± Kiki shuddered, hugging herself. ¡°Now I¡¯m too scared to even use the radio after hearing that.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡± Lin Xian thought for a moment. First, they needed to resume their journey. He intended to spend the night scavenging materials and consuming the train¡¯s unnecessary components. Then, he¡¯d work on building the Soul Wave Detector. With only one red bean on hand, his priority was to get the radio connected. Missing out on vital information could cost them dearly. Engines roared to life as over a hundred vehicles in the makeshift camp began moving, their headlights piercing the darkness. Some convoys split at various intersections, while others grouped together for safety, disappearing swiftly into the night. The noise stirred zombies in the nearby forest. Their howls echoed through the darkness, adding an ominous backdrop to the exodus. Jiang Yun¡¯s vehicle, a heavily modified off-road truck with oversized tires, carried his motorcycle strapped to the rear. In the driver¡¯s seat, Jiang Yun watched the taillights of Lin Xian¡¯s departing Jeep. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re also aiming to enter the planetary orbital rail through Yubei City and cross the high-altitude corridor of Wanyuan Gorge,¡± he mused. Ren Huiyan, dressed in a leather jacket and seated in the passenger seat, commented, ¡°The climbing corridor has been out of power for ages. Without a tow, survivors¡¯ vehicles can¡¯t ascend it, let alone a train as heavy as his.¡± Jiang Yun chuckled lightly. ¡°True. Ping¡¯a Lake has major eerie entities roaming, and the Dazhu Mountain Tunnel is completely blocked. To cross Wanyuan Gorge, you¡¯d have to detour over a thousand kilometers through the Dazhu Mountain range. With the Polar Night pressing in and corpse shepherds cutting off the rear, I¡¯d bet Yubei City will have a crowd of people trying for the High Orbital Corridor of Ringstar One. But I¡¯m certain that Captain Lin has a way to make it up there.¡± ¡°You¡¯re that confident?¡± Ren Huiyan asked skeptically. Slipping on his sunglasses, Jiang Yun smirked with unwavering confidence. ¡°Driving three locomotives into the night with just five people¡ªabsolute badasses. Yeah, I have high hopes for that guy.¡± With that, he floored the gas pedal, the engine roaring as his vehicle sped off into the night. Chapter 58: Preparations Back at the platform, Lin Xian and the group loaded the jeep onto the train and returned to their carriage. With a deep, rumbling roar of the engine and the clatter of wheels, the train began departing from Qu Guan Station. ¡°I thought you¡¯d stay there for a while longer,¡± Chen Sixuan remarked as she watched Lin Xian¡¯s decisive departure. ¡°There¡¯s no time to stop...¡± Lin Xian exhaled, staring at the dense blackness outside the window. He needed to make good use of the time to devour the captured vehicles and the massive locomotive. Glancing at the firearms on the ground, Lin Xian¡¯s gaze shifted curiously toward Chen Sixuan. ¡°Are you learning how to use guns from Shasha?¡± Chen Sixuan froze for a moment, then nodded nervously. ¡°Most of the time, I¡¯m not much help. Seeing how even Shasha, at her age, knows how to handle firearms, I thought I should learn too.¡± Lin Xian nodded in agreement. In the apocalypse, learning more self-defense skills was always beneficial. Now that they had acquired a good stockpile of weapons, Chen Sixuan didn¡¯t want to be a burden, so she had started learning about firearms from Shasha. Although Luo Shasha wasn¡¯t exactly an expert, the young girl was clever and precocious, far more mature than her peers. She initially learned from Luo Ye and had since grown increasingly proficient. While she wasn¡¯t fond of handguns or rifles, she often wielded a grenade launcher. However, her VOG-25 40mm grenades were down to just a few rounds. Lin Xian had scanned the blueprint for it but lacked materials for the ammunition, especially high-energy explosives like nitrogen anion salts, which were hard to procure in the short term. ¡°Bad guy, hurry up and fix that radio!¡± Kiki urged. Lin Xian nodded and retrieved his radio, opening his Mechanical Manufacturing interface to follow Jiang Yun¡¯s instructions to construct a simple framework device. Soon, Lin Xian had completed a blueprint and coated the exterior with a layer of hard plastic. With a flash of white light in his hand, copper sheets and black plastic emerged from his decomposition space and swiftly formed a radio¡¯s external frame. Then, he pulled out a peculiar dark-red blood crystal. The group watched in amazement, their eyes fixed on the crimson bead. ¡°Is this what¡¯s left behind by the night creatures?¡± Luo Shasha asked, her face full of fear. Kiki picked it up for a closer look. ¡°It¡¯s cool to the touch, and it feels like some kind of energy is flowing inside.¡± ¡°Be careful,¡± Lin Xian warned. ¡°Since this isn¡¯t something from humans, we must stay vigilant. The Phoenix Federation promotes its benefits, but who knows if there are side effects?¡± Hearing this, Kiki stuck out her tongue and quickly placed the crystal back in Lin Xian¡¯s palm. ¡°Good point. You¡¯d better focus on fixing the radio.¡± Taking it back, Lin Xian inserted the eerie blood crystal into the pre-designed slot. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, he powered on the radio. A strange energy pulse seemed to ripple through the air, sending chills down their spines. ¡°Zzz... Zzz... Federal... Federal Radio YB Region Bulletin: Intense Soul Wave fluctuations have been detected near the northern slopes of Mount Daluo. Survivors traveling along Routes G1523 and X556 toward Yubei and Maple City are advised to reroute. This alert is provided by the Phoenix Federation Rescue Organization...¡± ¡°Wow, it really works!¡± Kiki exclaimed. ¡°Zzz... Zzz... City Warning: Ring Star Port 1 in Yubei City has ceased operations, and large numbers of survivor convoys are blocked there. Survivors are advised not to gather in the city, as significant zombie hordes and eerie entities are present. It is extremely dangerous. Detours are recommended!¡± Chen Sixuan, visibly surprised, covered her mouth. ¡°Lin Xian, the JY3365 rail segment of the Jiangyu line passes through the northern slopes of Mount Daluo. There are several tunnels there.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Lin, if the Ring Star Port 1¡¯s ascending channels are out of service, doesn¡¯t that mean our train won¡¯t be able to use magnetic traction to reach the high-altitude tracks?¡± Shasha asked anxiously. Ring Star Orbit was a planetary-scale engineering marvel constructed by the Federal Government on Blue Planet. It wasn¡¯t just a railway system but a colossal project encompassing sea, land, and high-altitude passages. Routes like the High-Altitude Corridor featured not only multiple tracks but also vehicle elevators to traverse short distances, such as Wanyuan Gorge and the Dazhu Mountain Range. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes gleamed as he glanced at Chen Sixuan. ¡°I¡¯ve already considered this. What¡¯s more concerning is the potential risks at the northern slopes of Mount Daluo.¡± Shasha turned her curious gaze to Chen Sixuan, noticing her tense expression as she nodded in acknowledgment. Chen Sixuan knew exactly what Lin Xian was referring to, as the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive had been initially designed for the Ring Star Orbit. Activating his Mechanical Heart, Lin Xian started the Whale 03E. The locomotive¡¯s front-end turbine gradually spun up for a systems check. Once considered an audacious design for high-speed routes and challenging ocean conditions, this type of gas turbine was eventually phased out with the maturation of electromagnetic traction systems. As the beast-like sound roared beneath their feet, Shasha and Luo Ye exchanged looks of surprise, clearly intrigued by Lin Xian¡¯s plan. ¡°Bad guy, listen to this!¡± Kiki interrupted the chatter, tuning to the AM07 frequency Jiang Yun had mentioned¡ªthe primary channel used by the Wanderer Alliance. A man¡¯s urgent voice came through the radio. ¡°This is the Iron Fortress Convoy, warning those in Qu Guan, Yu Chi, Ping¡¯a Lake, and the eastern mountains. We¡¯ve spotted the Black Raven Quartet in Hengxi Village. They¡¯ve slaughtered all survivors here. Any nearby convoys must be cautious. Confirming again: four modified off-road vehicles with green and black graffiti, spiked wheels. These four are violent marauders, and three of them are Ability Users. Proceed with extreme caution!¡± ¡°Four people, four cars, and three Ability Users?!¡± Shasha exclaimed, her face shocked. ¡°What a bunch of scumbags!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened as he looked at Kiki. ¡°Heading to the Underground City No. 9 you mentioned won¡¯t be easy, it seems.¡± Kiki seemed to anticipate Lin Xian''s reaction as she quickly brought up a map on her phone, scrolling through it before handing it to him. "Look, this section shows a detour from Yu Chi along a branch line. It goes around the southern slope of Mount Daluo via Ping¡¯a Lake, but the map cuts off here with no further markers. Between Yu Chi Station and Yubei, there''s also a large freight terminal. A branch line extends southeast from there. Can you guess why?" Lin Xian frowned and cast an inquiring look at Chen Sixuan, seeking her insight. "This isn¡¯t unusual," Chen Sixuan replied thoughtfully. "Unmarked areas are typically military sites, like Beiwang¡¯s strategic zone, or private rail lines belonging to corporations or mines. But Mount Daluo doesn¡¯t seem to have any significant mineral resources, so maybe it¡¯s..." ¡°No need to guess,¡± Kiki interjected confidently. ¡°The No. 9 Underground City must be near Mount Daluo. The former Federal Government could have hollowed out the mountain for its construction. For such a massive project, rail transport would have been essential. If this is a newer line and isn¡¯t marked¡ªor was deliberately hidden by the Federal Government¡ªit makes perfect sense. Plus..." She turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Taking the southern slope of Mount Daluo would bypass the dangerous region mentioned in the Federal Radio report. As for whether it leads to the No. 9 Underground City, with a project of that scale, even a brief investigation would confirm it.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up, immediately grasping Kiki''s intent. Worst case scenario, if the line turned out to be a dead end, they could always turn back. The detour covered only a couple hundred kilometers. If Kiki¡¯s hunch was right, they could both investigate the No. 9 Underground City and avoid the eerie region mentioned by the Federal Radio. It was an excellent plan! Lin Xian knew that once they entered the Ring Star Orbit, they would encounter various rail zones: high-altitude corridors, deserts, primal jungles, no-man¡¯s lands, deep oceans, and Abyss regions. Simple steel tracks wouldn¡¯t suffice for all these conditions, so upgrading the train¡¯s propulsion and driving systems would be essential. To achieve this, the Mechanical Heart was crucial, but Mechanical Scanning and Manufacturing was the key. Without access to advanced technological systems to scan and blueprint, Lin Xian¡¯s capabilities would be limited to making basic firearms and household gadgets¡ªnot particularly useful. As Kiki mentioned, systems like energy sources, high-energy weaponry, autonomous armor, and propulsion mechanisms were all things Lin Xian had never seen but was desperate to scan. The Federal Government¡¯s No. 9 Underground City presented a prime opportunity to uncover such technologies, and Lin Xian was determined to investigate. ¡°I agree,¡± Chen Sixuan said. ¡°But the unknown rail conditions along that section might be complicated. It¡¯s best to travel during daylight.¡± Lin Xian nodded and gradually brought the Infinite Train to a halt on an open plain. ¡°It¡¯s settled then. Tonight, we¡¯ll rest first. Chen, as per our usual arrangement, you¡¯ll take the first half of the night shift.¡± Given that the Yu Chi detour involved an uncharted route, traveling during the day to observe road conditions was the safest option. Meanwhile, Lin Xian planned to devour the last freight electric locomotive in their possession¡ªa task that would consume a lot of time and energy. The Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive didn¡¯t have much reserve power, so instead of pushing forward in the dark, Lin Xian decided to eliminate this burden first, recover his strength, and start fresh at dawn on the unexplored southern slope of Mount Daluo. After organizing everything, the group divided tasks. Those needing rest went to sleep, while Chen Sixuan and Shasha sorted the canned goods they had retrieved and placed them in order. Soon after, the train¡¯s lights were turned off. Lin Xian, however, went to the rear of the train, opening the hydraulic liftgate of Car 5. He approached the massive freight electric locomotive at the back, ready to devour the hundred-ton behemoth. Chapter 59: Midnight Kiki had just sketched the prototype for the water-oxygen circulation system based on Lin Xian''s plan. With concerns about rainwater contamination and health, Lin Xian was preparing to clear out Car 3. He intended to connect it to the locomotive''s water tank, install a purification system, and set up protective planting cabinets. Clean water, fresh air, and the ability to grow plants and vegetables were concepts Lin Xian had prioritized even before. But after Xu Jin mentioned the contamination in nighttime rain, Lin Xian felt an even greater urgency to create such a carriage. With ice and snow descending, bacteria-laden black rain, and the looming extinction of global flora and fauna, this step was now critical. In Car 2, the faint glow of the computers in the information center illuminated the cabin. The systems were connected to the train''s radar, electro-optical targeting, and tracking systems, enabling limited monitoring ahead of the train. Outside, the night was dark and cold, with a biting wind cutting through the silence. The train¡¯s heating system hadn¡¯t been fully repaired, leaving a chill lingering in the carriages. Kiki and Shasha were already asleep, Chen Sixuan was keeping watch in the driver¡¯s cabin, and Luo Ye stood on standby at the rear of Car 5. ¡°Shasha...¡± ¡°Shasha...¡± A soft voice broke through the silence, gently calling Luo Shasha¡¯s name. Half-asleep, Luo Shasha instinctively opened her eyes, groggily searching for the source of the sound. The train was dark, the lights off. Reaching out, she lifted the blackout curtain slightly, allowing faint starlight filtered through the armored grating to faintly outline the objects inside the carriage. Was it her imagination? Luo Shasha thought she heard a man¡¯s voice calling her name. She looked around for Lin Xian but saw no one. She began to lower her hand from the curtain when she suddenly noticed a shadow outside the window. It was a figure standing still. Its upper body was shrouded in darkness, and its face was obscured. Startled, Shasha¡¯s fingers trembled. She could feel the shadow staring directly at her. ¡°Brother Lin?¡± she asked cautiously, clutching her blanket tightly with her other hand, a sense of unease creeping over her. If it were Lin Xian, why would he call her from outside? The surroundings were deathly silent, her voice echoing sharply in the quiet carriage. She reached out to tap on the edge of the bed, hoping to alert Kiki below her. ¡°Can you open the door for me...?¡± The shadow spoke softly. ¡°It¡¯s... so cold outside...¡± Scrrratch... scrrratch... The sound of nails dragging slowly across metal broke the silence. Then, the noise stopped. The shadow outside vanished. Luo Shasha¡¯s heart raced as she sensed something was amiss. She leaned forward to investigate further when suddenly¡ª A pale, grotesque face with a gaping maw slammed against the window. BANG! The train shook violently, and Shasha jumped in fright. ¡°AHHH!!!¡± Her scream jolted Kiki awake. The girl turned over in alarm, asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?!¡± ¡°There¡¯s something outside!!¡± Shasha gasped, trying to steady her breath. Though she had faced many horrors recently, the suddenness of this encounter had rattled her. The blackout curtain in Car 2 was yanked open by Kiki, and the carriage lights were switched on. Both girls peered out the window. Outside, the world was pitch-black, with no sign of anything or anyone. ¡°What happened?!¡± Chen Sixuan came rushing over from the driver¡¯s cabin. ¡°There was something outside! I saw it...¡± Shasha¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke, her face pale. Luo Ye approached, rifle in hand, as the group inspected the area, but they found nothing. ¡°Where¡¯s Lin Xian?¡± Kiki asked. ¡°He¡¯s still outside,¡± Chen Sixuan said, her face showing concern as she grabbed a walkie-talkie to check on him. But then, Kiki¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°Wait... do you hear that?¡± ¡°Hear what?¡± Everyone fell silent, straining to listen. The night was eerily quiet, broken only by the sound of the cold wind brushing against the treetops. Then the sound grew louder¡ªa rustling, like leaves in a storm, escalating into an overwhelming cacophony. Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh... It seemed to come from every direction at once, like the earth itself was trembling. Shasha pressed her face nervously against the glass. The carriage lights barely illuminated ten meters ahead, the rest swallowed by the inky darkness. She stared out, listening, her expression growing graver by the second. Suddenly, in the distance, she saw countless dark silhouettes. They moved in waves across the plain, a tide of black heads surging forward. Her pupils contracted sharply, and she shouted, ¡°It¡¯s a zombie horde!¡± Whoosh... WHOOSH! Before her words had fully settled, a deafening wave of screeches, growls, and howls erupted from all directions. The sea of shadows overwhelmed the landscape, blocking out everything in sight. ¡°Lin Xian!!¡± Chen Sixuan shuddered as the zombie horde surged toward the train, her trembling hands gripping the walkie-talkie. She called out to Lin Xian outside, her voice urgent. ¡°Start the train!¡± Kiki instinctively shouted. Before Chen Sixuan could act, the Infinite Train¡¯s engines roared to life, rumbling with power. Recognizing Lin Xian¡¯s signal, Chen Sixuan calmed herself and dashed back toward the driver¡¯s cabin. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the rear! He¡¯s still out there!¡± Kiki shouted as a sudden thought struck her. Grabbing Luo Ye, they sprinted toward Car 5. BANG BANG BANG! In mere moments, the horde of zombies slammed against the stationary train. Their relentless pounding, clawing, and howling shook the steel carriages like a drum echoing through the night. The noise was deafening, as though a landslide were battering the train. KSSSSHH! The hydraulic liftgate opened as Kiki and Luo Ye, guns in hand, stood ready. ¡°Bad guy! Are you out there?!¡± Kiki yelled. BANG BANG BANG! The sharp bursts of wind cannons tore through the zombies¡¯ skulls, echoing like thunder against the train¡¯s hull. ¡°Don¡¯t let those beasts inside!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice shouted from outside. Lin Xian leapt nimbly from car to car, dodging the zombies that surged like tidal waves. His exhausted body was drenched in cold sweat, his strength nearly drained from devouring the freight electric locomotive earlier. Now, as Chen Sixuan powered up the train, Lin Xian felt a brief moment of relief, but there was no time to rest. He dashed forward at full speed, knowing he couldn¡¯t afford to stop. The scene around him was worse than the horrors at the Mist Outpost. The sheer size of the zombie horde was staggering, and Lin Xian could only wonder what had triggered such a massive surge. With gritted teeth, he managed to lower the train''s tailgate halfway, leaving just enough room to climb inside. BANG BANG BANG! The sound of gunfire filled the air as Kiki and Luo Ye, stationed inside, fired at the zombies attempting to climb aboard. Seizing his chance, Lin Xian unleashed two bursts from his wind cannon, blasting several zombies away. With a leap, he dove through the narrow gap in the liftgate. ¡°Argh!¡± The tailgate began to close, but two zombies wedged themselves in the gap, snarling and clawing to get inside. Luo Ye dropped his gun and roared, grabbing a crowbar. With a mighty swing, he crushed the heads of both zombies. A swift kick sent their limp bodies tumbling out, and the tailgate slammed shut. ¡°Luo Ye, stay here with Shasha! Kiki, come with me to the front!¡± Lin Xian barked, not wasting a second. The moment his feet hit the floor, Lin Xian sprinted toward the locomotive, activating his Mechanical Heart to push the gas turbine to its limits. WHIRRRRRR! BOOM! BOOM! At the front of the train, the zombies had completely engulfed the locomotive. Though the horde was insignificant in strength compared to the train¡¯s mass, their sheer numbers formed a relentless barrier that slowed its acceleration. The grinding sound of the train crushing bone and bodies under its wheels was horrifying, a piercing noise that sent chills down everyone¡¯s spines. ¡°Keep accelerating!¡± Lin Xian shouted. Chen Sixuan bit her lip and shoved the throttle forward with all her strength. ¡°Kiki, clear the front!¡± With a nod, Kiki clenched her teeth and stepped into the driver¡¯s cabin. She extended her hand toward the front of the train. BOOOOM! An invisible shockwave erupted, blasting hundreds of zombies away from the locomotive. But the respite was brief. Like ants, the horde swarmed back within seconds, surging toward the train with renewed ferocity. ¡°The speed is picking up!¡± Chen Sixuan called out, her voice firm. Lin Xian slid into the driver¡¯s seat, his gaze steely. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the controls, snarling, ¡°Crush them all!¡± ROOOARRR! The engines of the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive and the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive roared in unison, unleashing tens of thousands of horsepower. With unstoppable force, the train surged forward, grinding through the endless zombie tide in a frenzy of power and destruction. Chapter 60: Broken Tracks BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The giant locomotive roared like an enraged beast in the endless darkness. The iron wheels of its carriages teetered under the impact of the zombie horde, tilting slightly before crashing back onto the tracks. Each collision with the rails sparked blinding flashes of light. This cold industrial machine was harvesting the endless wave of zombies with a frenzy bordering on madness. It was 6 a.m., and dawn was still at least ten hours away. Everyone aboard the train felt as if they were on the edge of a precipice, their terrified eyes fixed on the surging tide of zombies swarming toward them. ¡°This is so unusual! Why are there so many?¡± Chen Sixuan exclaimed in shock. Kiki frowned, her expression tense. ¡°Yeah, these things are acting like they¡¯ve gone insane.¡± BANG! BANG! BANG! Even with the train accelerating, zombies kept slamming into the front of the locomotive, smearing blood and gore across the windshield until it was almost completely obscured. Lin Xian quickly activated the sprayers to clear the blood, but when Kiki saw the worsening visibility, she hurried toward Carriage No. 2. The zombies¡¯ relentless onslaught made radar useless in detecting the track conditions ahead. The train crew had to rely on the roof-mounted electro-optical targeting system to scout the path forward. THUD. THUD. THUD... Zombies climbing onto the roof were thrown off by the train¡¯s increasing speed, their howls of rage echoing all around. CLANG! CLANG! On the vast, dark plain, the crimson train charged forward like a wild beast, shattering the zombie horde in its path as if cutting through vegetables. Behind the train, a sea of zombies surged like a tidal wave, howling as they chased. The scene was utterly apocalyptic. THUD! Suddenly, a loud impact echoed from the front of the train. Lin Xian¡¯s expression shifted as he spotted a ragged, pale, and emaciated creature clinging to the locomotive. It had a human face with sunken eye sockets and a blood-red mouth twisted into an eerie smile, staring unblinkingly at him. ¡°Ah!¡± Chen Sixuan screamed in terror at the sight of the creature. Lin Xian immediately stepped in front of her protectively, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the monster. A flicker of familiarity crossed his mind¡ªit looked like someone he knew. Tang Hai?! Realization dawned on him, and his face turned pale. The grotesque figure of Tang Hai, now a monster, locked its hollow eyes onto Lin Xian. It grinned unnervingly, baring its teeth, and rasped in a hoarse voice: ¡°Run... Run... faster... heh heh heh...¡± The sound came from its rotting windpipe, like air escaping a torn bellows. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Chen Sixuan asked nervously. ¡°It¡¯s definitely not human!¡± Lin Xian replied grimly. He didn¡¯t know what Tang Hai had become, but it was clear that its sudden appearance was no coincidence. ¡°Not good! There¡¯s a broken bridge ahead!¡± Kiki¡¯s voice rang out from behind. She had just activated the electro-optical targeting system, which blared an alarm. Lin Xian turned around and saw that Tang Hai had vanished from the train¡¯s front. The headlights illuminated the tracks ahead, revealing a railway bridge spanning a mountain valley. In the middle of the bridge was a massive gap, at least seven or eight meters wide. The rails were completely severed! ¡°D**n it!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. ¡°That old beast!¡± He quickly pieced it together¡ªTang Hai had likely sabotaged the bridge. Whatever this monster had evolved into, it possessed abilities terrifying enough to destroy infrastructure and even summon a zombie horde. ¡°Stop the train!¡± Chen Sixuan screamed in panic. Lin Xian¡¯s first instinct was to hit the brakes, but the Infinite Train had just barreled through the zombie horde at full speed. His Mechanical Heart kicked into overdrive, analyzing the situation. At their current speed, stopping in time was nearly impossible. Even if they did manage to halt, they would be trapped in the zombie tide. Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded as he weighed his options. Just then, a slender figure darted forward. Kiki¡¯s eyes glowed faintly¡ªa sign that her ability was surging. ¡°Don¡¯t stop! We¡¯ll charge through!¡± she shouted. Lin Xian¡¯s face twisted in shock. ¡°Are you insane?!¡± Kiki turned to him, her small face trembling but resolute. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say this train could soar to the skies? Let¡¯s work together¡ªwe can make it across!¡± Soar to the skies... The words ignited a spark in Lin Xian¡¯s mind. He knew there was no turning back. Clenching his teeth, he roared, ¡°Hold on, Teacher Chen!¡± He gripped the control console tightly, every nerve in his body on edge as his Mechanical Heart roared to life. WHIRR! Facing the gaping chasm, the massive industrial beast began to accelerate again. Kiki¡¯s face turned ghostly pale as she focused her glowing eyes on the dark mountain valley ahead. Her lips tightened into a determined line as blood vessels spidered across her eyes. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! 20 meters! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! 10 meters! BOOM! BOOM! 5 meters! At the last moment, Kiki let out a sharp cry and raised both hands. CLANG! CLANG! The Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive, weighing 200 tons, lifted off the tracks. Following it, the 340-ton Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive rose into the air, as if an invisible force had hoisted the entire train. The locomotives traced an audacious arc across the void. Time seemed to freeze. Chen Sixuan¡¯s terrified gaze met Lin Xian¡¯s fierce determination. Kiki¡¯s bloodshot eyes glowed with an intense light. THUMP! THUMP! The only sound was the pounding of their hearts. CRASH! The train landed with a violent impact. The screech of wheels grinding against rails echoed across the mountains. In Carriage No. 5, Luo Shasha and Luo Ye felt the tremor as a massive force rippled through the train. BANG! A jeep strapped to a flatbed car broke loose and flew into the valley below, crashing with a resounding boom. CLANG! CLANG! Despite the chaos, the train miraculously regained its footing and continued racing forward. Everyone was drenched in cold sweat. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Chen Sixuan shouted, her voice trembling. Lin Xian turned to see Kiki slumping to the ground, blood streaming from her eyes and nose. Her breathing was faint. He rushed to support her, alarmed by the severity of her condition. ¡°Quick, the medical kit!¡± ¡°Look at her eyes!¡± Chen Sixuan exclaimed in horror. Lin Xian pried Kiki¡¯s eyelids open and saw black veins spreading across her irises. Her pupils were unfocused and glassy. As he stared at her, dizziness washed over him. A powerful force seemed to drain his strength. In an instant, a wailing cry from hell erupted in his mind, filling his ears and blurring his vision. Lin Xian staggered and collapsed to the floor. Chapter 61: A Formidable Enemy Buzz¡ª Lin Xian felt a wave of dizziness overwhelm him. Clang! Clang! When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he heard was Chen Sixuan¡¯s frantic voice shouting, ¡°Lin Xian! Lin Xian!¡± His vision cleared, and the familiar rumble of the train racing along the tracks jolted him awake. Chen Sixuan¡¯s face was pale with fear as she saw him collapse. ¡°What happened to you?!¡± Rubbing his temples, Lin Xian asked urgently, ¡°How long was I out?¡± Her expression turned awkward. ¡°Just... just a moment. You suddenly fainted.¡± Lin Xian quickly turned his attention to Kiki, lying on the floor. Her eyes were now half-consumed by the inky blackness, and a sense of dread settled over him. BANG! Before he could process this, another loud impact echoed from the roof of a distant carriage. Trouble upon trouble¡ªKiki¡¯s life hung in the balance, and now something else was happening on top of the train. ¡°Take care of her for me!¡± Lin Xian instructed Chen Sixuan sharply before dashing toward the rear carriages. As he ran, his Mechanical Heart activated, and he summoned the blueprint for the GK03 Electric Blade that Kiki had given him. With a wave of his hand, he began assembling it using Type I Tungsten-Titanium Alloy. Lacking some critical materials, he quickly fashioned a prototype¡ªa sleek black longsword. At the same time, he grabbed a fully loaded automatic rifle and hurried toward the commotion. The freshly forged hilt was still warm in his hand, its heat mirroring the urgency in his chest. Kiki was in critical condition, Tang Hai was still out there, and the zombie tide loomed. He had no choice but to resolve this crisis now. He shouted ahead to Luo Shasha and Luo Ye in Carriage No. 5. ¡°Luo Ye, Shasha! Grab your weapons! That old bastard¡¯s not done with us¡ªwe¡¯re taking him out!¡± ¡°Be careful, Brother Lin!¡± Luo Shasha¡¯s terrified voice called back. She pointed toward the carriage window as she spoke. CRASH! Before she could finish, a massive, pale-gray claw smashed against the side of the train. The impact shattered the glass, and the violent force flung Luo Shasha across the carriage. Luo Ye reacted swiftly, diving to catch his sister mid-air with one arm. Lin Xian, however, was hurled into a storage cabinet. As he scrambled to his feet, his gaze snapped to the rear of the train. There, a towering white humanoid figure loomed¡ªa monster he recognized instantly. His pupils contracted in shock. The Pale Giant! It was the same creature he had encountered back in Jiang City. How did it get here?! Impossible! They had already traveled over a thousand kilometers. How could this thing have pursued them so far? ¡°Luo Ye! There¡¯s another one¡ªTang Hai!¡± Lin Xian warned, his voice grim. A tide of zombies, a broken bridge, and now the Pale Giant¡ªwas all of this a coincidence or part of some elaborate plan? If it wasn¡¯t random, the implications were terrifying. Tang Hai had to be eliminated immediately. With no time to retreat, Lin Xian prepared to fight. He flung open the train¡¯s rear platform. Luo Ye set Luo Shasha down, grabbed a machine gun, and stood ready. Whoooom¡ª The platform lowered, revealing the Pale Giant hanging upside down from the train¡¯s frame. Its sunken, terrifying eyes peered into the carriage as it opened a dark-red, gaping maw. ¡°Raaahhhh!¡± The creature let out a piercing shriek, like a woman¡¯s high-pitched scream, causing everyone¡¯s eardrums to throb in pain. In that instant, Lin Xian and Luo Ye opened fire with everything they had. RATATATATATATATAT! Bullets rained down on the monster. Although the rounds ricocheted off its steel-like face, sparks flying, a few managed to draw blood inside its gaping maw. The Pale Giant roared in rage, extending a ghastly arm into the carriage, blindly swiping at everything within reach. CRASH! Tools and supplies were scattered everywhere. ¡°Aahhh!¡± Luo Ye bellowed as he gripped a steel bar with both hands and drove it down onto the monster¡¯s claw. The force was immense, and the steel bent from the impact. THUD! The steel bar pierced through the back of the Pale Giant¡¯s hand, pinning it to the floor of the carriage. The blow was so powerful that it also punched through the carriage floor beneath. Lin Xian¡¯s shock deepened as he witnessed Luo Ye¡¯s incredible strength. But there was no time to hesitate. He raised the GK03 Electric Blade and charged forward, ready to finish the fight. Lin Xian watched Luo Ye¡¯s display of raw power, feeling an itch in his molars¡ªa sign of both astonishment and unease. How strong will he become if he evolves further? Still, Lin Xian felt a glimmer of hope. Compared to the earlier fight with the red centipede monster, he no longer experienced the same sense of helplessness. Just as he prepared to join the fray, he heard a rapid scraping sound. He whipped around and saw Tang Hai, having somehow reappeared, climbing swiftly along the side of the train toward the roof and heading toward the front carriages. Not good! Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. Meanwhile, the Pale Giant, with its hand pinned by the steel bar, yanked the embedded metal free, the sound of screeching metal filling the air. ¡°Cover me!¡± Lin Xian shouted, seizing the opportunity to dash toward the rear of the train. Realizing Lin Xian was going after Tang Hai, Luo Ye immediately swung his gun back up and unleashed another barrage at the Pale Giant, aiming for its horrifying face. Lin Xian nimbly dodged the monster¡¯s swinging arm and leapt onto the open flatbed carriage at the rear. Before he could steady himself, a gust of wind roared past his ears. Acting on instinct, he conjured an Ice Shield behind him while diving toward the rear of a damaged jeep. BANG! The Pale Giant¡¯s massive arm shattered the Ice Shield and smashed the jeep¡¯s hood. Its chains snapped, and the vehicle dangled precariously off the side of the carriage before colliding with an electrical tower and plummeting into the roadside below. ¡°D**n it!¡± Lin Xian cursed under his breath. Those jeeps were hard-won spoils, and now they were gone without even a chance to devour them for resources. ¡°Luo Ye, hold it off for me! I¡¯m going after Tang Hai!¡± Lin Xian yelled against the wind. ¡°Got it!¡± Luo Ye didn¡¯t hesitate, charging forward with his gun. Rolling to avoid the Pale Giant¡¯s grasping claws, he switched magazines and fired relentlessly at the monster¡¯s mouth and eyes. Seizing this opening, Lin Xian sprinted toward the roof of the carriage and activated a new skill: Backlash. This ability, acquired from devouring the Iron Guard 3 Military Assault Armor, had yet to be tested. What better moment than now? With a flash of gray light, Lin Xian¡¯s body blurred into a streaking shadow. Clutching his GK03 Electric Blade forged from Tungsten-Titanium Alloy, he lunged forward with a surge of energy. CRACK! A sound like a sonic boom ripped through the air. The Pale Giant swung its claw to intercept him but grasped only an afterimage. In the next instant¡ª SLASH! A deep vertical gash appeared in the creature¡¯s palm. Flesh and blood exploded outward, staining the train in crimson. Lin Xian reappeared behind the monster, his breathing heavy but his confidence surging. His first use of Backlash had surpassed his expectations. The attack drained him significantly, but its sheer destructive power was far beyond anything he¡¯d managed before. Back in Jiang City, even hacking at this monster with a short blade couldn¡¯t scratch it. Now, armed with his new skill and weapon, he¡¯d finally pierced its defenses. From below, Luo Ye watched Lin Xian¡¯s swift and deadly maneuver, his eyes wide with admiration. The Pale Giant, however, let out a frenzied roar, ripping the steel bar from its hand and pivoting to chase after Lin Xian. Its enormous weight pressed down on the carriage, causing the wheels to grind against the tracks with a deafening screech, sparks flying everywhere. ¡°Brother!¡± Luo Shasha, finally free, emerged from the carriage and tossed a steel pipe to Luo Ye. The siblings worked seamlessly. Luo Ye caught the pipe, his muscles tensing as veins bulged across his arms. With a mighty roar, he hurled the steel pipe at the Pale Giant¡¯s exposed flank. WHOOSH! The pipe cut through the air like a missile. The Pale Giant, evidently possessing some intelligence, sensed the danger and paused its pursuit of Lin Xian. It swiveled around with a snarl, raising its massive claw. CLANG! With a powerful grip, it caught the glowing-hot steel pipe in mid-air, sparks flying as it crushed the metal with its claw. The screech of tortured steel echoed as the Pale Giant roared again, its ferocity undiminished. Chapter 62: Battle on the Roof On the other side of the train, Lin Xian raced forward atop the train roof, braving the biting wind as he sprinted toward the front carriages. He knew that Tang Hai, once the stationmaster of Beiwang Station, was intimately familiar with trains. The sabotaged track had undoubtedly been his doing. THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! The rhythmic pounding of his boots on the train roof echoed as Lin Xian prepared to leap from Carriage No. 3 to No. 2. Suddenly, a flash of white darted out at the connecting point, and a chill ran down his spine. Instinctively, he conjured an Ice Shield before him. CRACK! A sharp object pierced through the shield, and Lin Xian whirled around to see a thin claw narrowly missing his chest, leaving behind shredded fabric and a spray of debris. Close call! ¡°Die!¡± A grotesque voice half-human, half-demonic erupted as Tang Hai lunged. His deceptively thin arm, brimming with terrifying strength, cleaved through the Ice Shield as if slicing butter. His claws darted toward Lin Xian¡¯s throat. ¡°Old bastard! You just don¡¯t know when to quit!¡± Lin Xian roared furiously. Memories of the zombies, the sabotaged bridge, and Kiki¡¯s precarious state stoked the flames of his rage. As Tang Hai¡¯s claw swept forward, Lin Xian leaned back and swung his blade with precision at Tang Hai¡¯s neck. CLANG! Sparks flew as the blade struck, only to bounce off with the metallic clang of steel meeting steel. Tang Hai¡¯s skin had become harder than the Pale Giant¡¯s! The force of the impact sent Tang Hai staggering back, but he remained unfazed, even with the blade at his neck. A savage grin split his face as he attacked again with his talon-like claws, mocking Lin Xian: ¡°Ha... ha... ha... Thanks to you, I¡¯ve become so much stronger!¡± RATATATATAT! Lin Xian didn¡¯t give him the chance to gloat, stepping back and unloading a volley of bullets into the monster. Tang Hai¡¯s twisted figure tumbled as several rounds struck him, punching bloody holes in weaker parts of his body. ¡°Bastard!¡± Tang Hai hissed, retreating to the side of the train with unnatural agility. Like a phantom, he vanished into the shadows along the train¡¯s edge. Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts churned as he caught his breath. How is his defense so strong? Even Luo Ye¡¯s enhanced body couldn¡¯t withstand bullets like that. Has he truly evolved? ¡°Makes you wonder if he¡¯s a failed experiment or just some mutant freak,¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath. WHOOSH! A shadow flickered at the edge of his vision as Tang Hai emerged again. This time, his clawed fingers stretched unnaturally long, whipping toward Lin Xian like snapping cables. Lin Xian reacted instantly, raising his blade to block. CLANG! The force sent him skidding backward, his palms numb from the impact. Before Lin Xian could counter, Tang Hai vanished back into the darkness. What the hell is this thing? Lin Xian thought, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The wind howled across the train as the Infinite Train, driven by the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive, hurtled through the night. Lin Xian gripped his weapon tightly, every sense on high alert. Tang Hai¡¯s grotesque, half-human, half-corpse form lingered in his mind. His hardened, pale-gray skin and sparse, devolved hair reminded Lin Xian of a twisted version of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. WHOOSH! A sharp sound sliced through the air again. Lin Xian anticipated the attack, sidestepped, and fired a stream of bullets toward the sound. RATATATATAT! Tang Hai, crafty as ever, used his elongated fingers to bait Lin Xian into wasting his limited ammunition. The magazine clicked empty, and Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. CLICK. No more bullets. ¡°Out of ammo, aren¡¯t you?¡± Tang Hai¡¯s chilling voice drifted from behind him. CLANG! Lin Xian spun and swung his blade, narrowly deflecting another strike. The force jolted his grip, nearly toppling him. Tang Hai emerged smugly from the shadows, his face twisted into a gloating sneer. ¡°Now do you see? You¡¯re lucky I wasn¡¯t evolved that night. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have lived to see today. Shouldn¡¯t you thank me?¡± he jeered. ¡°Thank your mother!¡± Lin Xian growled, wasting no time. With a flick of his hand, he launched several Wind Cannon bursts. Tang Hai sensed the attack and dodged one, but two blasts slammed into his chest. The force sent him stumbling back. ¡°Damn you!¡± Tang Hai cursed, his voice a distorted mix of male and female tones. Realizing Lin Xian had more than firearms at his disposal, Tang Hai extended his claws and anchored them into the train¡¯s roof. Using his legs to launch himself like a bullet, his speed was so great it left dents in the steel. ICE SHIELD! Lin Xian conjured another shield in an instant. ¡°Useless trash!¡± Tang Hai roared as he barreled through the shield, shattering it. But instead of striking Lin Xian, he hit nothing but shards of ice. WHOOSH! Lin Xian, now a phantom-like shadow, slipped through the cascading ice and unleashed his skill: Backlash. BOOM! A resounding sonic blast echoed as Lin Xian slashed through Tang Hai mid-air. ¡°WHAT?!¡± Tang Hai shrieked as his momentum carried him forward, claws scraping the train roof. His hand shot up to his face in disbelief¡ªhalf of it, along with one ear, was missing. ¡°AAAAHHHHH!¡± Tang Hai¡¯s scream was feral, filled with rage and agony. Blood streamed from his mutilated face as he bellowed, ¡°I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll tear you apart!¡± Lin Xian wasn¡¯t interested in banter. Before Tang Hai could recover, Lin Xian fired more Wind Cannon shots. BAM! BAM! BAM! Unable to dodge, Tang Hai took the brunt of the blasts, a gaping hole ripping through his chest. He tumbled off the train, landing among the jagged rocks beside the tracks. Meanwhile, at the rear of the train, the Pale Giant leapt from Carriage No. 5 to the flatbed car, its massive weight crushing the wooden sleepers below and nearly derailing the train again. Luo Ye, undeterred, swung a broken chain like a whip. The heavy chain lashed out with a resounding CRACK, leaving a deep, bloody welt across the monster¡¯s hardened skin. ¡°RAAAAAAHHHH!¡± The Pale Giant howled in fury, its massive arm swinging to swat Luo Ye off the train. Before it could strike, an explosion rocked its back¡ªShasha, wielding an M36 grenade launcher, had landed a direct hit. Despite her small size, she displayed incredible precision, a testament to her hardened survival skills. Luo Ye seized the chance, wrapping the chain around the Pale Giant¡¯s neck and preparing to drop the other end off the train to leverage the train¡¯s speed to decapitate the creature. But the Pale Giant grabbed the chain mid-air, swinging it¡ªand Luo Ye¡ªviolently. Luo Ye gritted his teeth and held on, using the momentum to swing back onto Carriage No. 5. He landed with a heavy THUD, determined not to let the monster win. ¡°Brother, be careful!¡± Shasha called out, reloading her grenade launcher. The Pale Giant ripped the chain from its neck and lunged forward again. Shasha fired another grenade at close range, the explosion pinning the creature between carriages. Despite the damage, it raised its enormous claw and smashed down on the roof of Carriage No. 5, crushing the air-conditioning system into twisted metal. Chapter 63: Combo Move? Lin Xian observed the white giant wreaking havoc at the position of Car No. 5. The situation was extremely tense, and his expression grew heavier. Meanwhile, in the distant darkness, the zombie horde surged like a tidal wave. If the "Infinite Train" stopped now, it would take only minutes before they were surrounded by the tide again. As he monitored the white giant, a flash of white darted rapidly along the train''s side. Lin Xian''s expression tensed, and he instinctively swung his blade in a reverse slash toward his side. Clang! The blade struck something hard mid-air, but at the same moment, a cold gust grazed his ribs. Lin Xian''s chest tightened. Looking down, he saw a massive, finger-like appendage pierce through his coat like a bullet, tearing away a layer of flesh at his side. Ssssss!!! A searing pain coursed through him as the flesh peeled. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he kicked off, retreating swiftly with his speed-enhancing abilities. So fast! It had to be said¡ªTang Hai''s evolution had turned him into something beyond human. Not only was his skin incredibly tough, but his speed was terrifyingly quick! "Hehehe... tasty, tasty meat!" On top of the train, Tang Hai''s blood-red eyes glinted maniacally. His speech had even become clearer in his crazed state. Licking the blood off the finger that had injured Lin Xian, he laughed excitedly. "Three ability users on one train? The voices in my head tell me if I eat you all, I''ll become stronger!" Thud! Thud! Thud! A stealthy wind cannon attack shot toward Tang Hai, but this time, he crouched low, one hand gripping the train''s roof while the other protected his face. He tanked the attack head-on. Clang! Clang! Clang! The enormous impact of the wind cannon only caused his body to tremble slightly, with no significant effect. Seeing this, Lin Xian''s face darkened. "Your little tricks are completely useless now. Heh... heh... Just give in and let me eat you. And those three girls on your train¡ªthey¡¯re so tender. Their meat must be even more delicious..." "Oh, right!" Tang Hai¡¯s blood-red triangular eyes widened as he stared at Lin Xian. "Did you know? After my evolution, one of my abilities has grown tremendously¡ªmy reproductive power..." "You think... those three pretty girls on your train could handle me? Hehehe..." Clang! A shadow streaked forward, and a gleam of cold light flashed. The blade of an electric knife stabbed directly at Tang Hai''s throat. His reaction was swift. With one hand, he tried to grab the knife. However, the blade, crafted from tungsten-titanium alloy, wasn¡¯t something mere flesh could stop. It sliced through his fingers'' skin and brushed past his neck. Lin Xian''s brows furrowed slightly. Seeing Tang Hai attempt to catch the knife barehanded, he flicked his wrist decisively. Slash! The blade gleamed again, instantly severing four of Tang Hai''s fingers! Tang Hai¡¯s expression twisted, his body trembling as he let out a pained scream. Clutching his hand, he frantically retreated. Lin Xian had no intention of letting him escape. Without hesitation, he charged forward, ready to unleash a "Backlash" to decapitate Tang Hai fully this time! But just as Tang Hai retreated, a sinister smile appeared on his face. The severed fingers quickly regenerated with dark flesh and shot toward Lin Xian like spears! Lin Xian¡¯s pupils shrank, cold sweat dripping down. This guy could regrow severed fingers?! Ice Shield! Acting on instinct, Lin Xian raised his hand, conjuring an Ice Shield. "Still using that weak trick?" Tang Hai sneered. To him, Lin Xian''s defenses were laughably fragile. But just as his five claw-like fingers pierced the Ice Shield, they came to an abrupt halt, as if hitting an iron plate. Clang! Behind Lin Xian''s Ice Shield, a thick steel plate had materialized out of nowhere. Mechanical Manufacturing! Thud! Tang Hai¡¯s claws pierced through the ice and embedded themselves into the steel plate. The immense force pushed the plate toward Lin Xian, who couldn¡¯t dodge in time. While the plate blocked the attack, it collided with him, sending him flying off the train. Bang! Bang! The cold wind roared in Lin Xian''s ears as he clung desperately to the edge of the armored plate, halting his fall. Boom! A loud noise came from afar. Lin Xian glanced over to see Luo Ye being struck by the white giant, sending him flying off the train as well. "Luo Ye!" Lin Xian shouted. In that moment of distraction, Tang Hai¡¯s blood-red eyes glinted with malice. His expression turned monstrous, and a surge of black blood mist erupted around him as he lunged forward with extended claws, yelling furiously. "Idiot! You still care about others?!" Sensing the danger, Lin Xian reacted immediately. A white light flashed in his palm as his Mechanical Heart activated, producing an iron chain that extended rapidly. Luo Ye, understanding the situation, grabbed the chain mid-air and pulled himself toward the train. Using the momentum, Luo Ye crashed back onto the train roof. Without hesitation, he punched toward an incoming white shadow. Tang Hai¡¯s expression froze as he felt an enormous figure descending from the sky, delivering a powerful punch straight at him! "You f***ing combo move?!" Boom!! Luo Ye''s fist, packed with immense force, crushed half of Tang Hai¡¯s face. The blow sent him flying like a cannonball, straight into the path of the charging white giant. The white giant, sensing an incoming object, roared angrily. Its gaping maw extended as it lunged forward and bit down mid-air. "Ahhhh!!!!" Tang Hai¡¯s agonized scream echoed in the night. Crunch! The sound of blood bursting and bones shattering echoed, sending chills down the spine. Tang Hai had no chance to struggle¡ªwithin seconds, the white giant chewed him into pieces! Lin Xian and Luo Ye froze in shock. They hadn''t expected that punch to literally feed Tang Hai to the monster! Crunch, crunch. The white giant gnawed frantically, devouring Tang Hai in mere moments. Its blood-red, hollow eyes glowed even fiercer, radiating malevolence. "Grab my hand!" Luo Ye climbed back onto the train roof despite his injuries. Reaching to the edge, he yanked Lin Xian back up. As Lin Xian steadied himself, he looked ahead and saw the white giant crouched on the train roof. Its sinister gaze bore down on them, blood dripping from its maw. A thick, oppressive blood mist surrounded it, and its body seemed to be undergoing a grotesque transformation after consuming Tang Hai, the evolved ability user. "This is bad!" Lin Xian immediately sensed danger. At the same time, he noticed a small head peeking out from the rear of Car No. 5¡ªit was Luo Shasha. She must¡¯ve heard the fight on the roof. Clenching her small teeth, she gripped a grenade launcher, ready to climb up and help. Seeing her, Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced. He suddenly shouted, ¡°Shasha! The remote! Hurry!¡± His voice cut through the night like an arrow. Shasha was momentarily confused, but quickly understood. Her big eyes widened in realization, and she nodded before ducking back into the car. She darted toward the front carriage, knowing someone there would know where the remote was. Thump. Thump. The white giant crouched on the train roof, crawling toward them along the slanted surface. Each step warped and tore the metal plates beneath its feet, as if it intended to rip the entire roof apart. Meanwhile, its body grew larger, sharp bone spurs protruding from its frame. In the darkness, it appeared utterly terrifying. Locking its eyes on Lin Xian and Luo Ye, the giant opened its massive maw and let out a deafening roar before leaping at them with ferocious force! ¡°Xian, look out!¡± Luo Ye tensed, ready to leap into action as the giant pounced. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Suddenly, several chain-like anchors appeared out of nowhere, wrapping tightly around the white giant¡¯s long arms. One end of the chains was held firmly by Lin Xian, while the other was attached to a heavy steel anchor he had just manufactured. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± From inside the carriage below, Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice rang out. Lin Xian knew the moment had arrived. He shouted to Luo Ye. ¡°Luo Ye, take this!¡± Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s shout, Luo Ye turned around just as Lin Xian hurled the steel anchor toward the rocky pile beside the tracks with his left hand. At the same time, his right hand emitted a glow. Materials shot forth from his palm, condensing, shaping, forging, and assembling at an astonishing speed. Clank, clank, clank! The rapid metallic clanging resembled a mechanical symphony, and within moments, Lin Xian had crafted a massive steel cleaver that gleamed in the moonlight. It looked like something out of a Transformer¡¯s arsenal. ¡°Use this to cut it!¡± At that moment, Lin Xian stood like a mechanical deity descending upon the train. With his left hand, he had anchored the chains. With his right hand, he had forged a colossal weapon. Chapter 64: Decisive Execution "Use this to cut!" Lin Xian¡¯s words carried a chilling resolve. Unlike the GK03 electric blade gifted by Kiki, the steel-slaying greatsword was Lin Xian''s own design, created during his spare time. Aside from its sharpness, it lacked complex mechanical features. However, it was exceptionally suited for Luo Ye, as Lin Xian had forged it using reinforced tungsten-titanium alloy! With Lin Xian''s current mechanical manufacturing skills, as long as the structure wasn¡¯t overly complex, his crafting speed could reach astonishing levels. Luo Ye instinctively caught the weapon. The sheer weight and overwhelming power of the sword ignited his fighting spirit. With veins bulging from his arms and a roar in his throat, he gripped the blade tightly and launched himself at the white giant! Meanwhile, Lin Xian held his tungsten-titanium GK03 electric blade, his focus razor-sharp as he awaited the perfect moment. "Raaaah!" The white giant let out a deafening screech, sensing danger. Seeing its legs ensnared by the iron chains, it bellowed angrily. With legs nearly three meters long, it kicked violently and leapt forward, claws outstretched toward Lin Xian and Luo Ye. "Go!" Lin Xian shouted, charging forward with his blade. His figure blurred into a streak of white light. Backlash! "Ahhh!" With a roar, Luo Ye summoned all his strength, propelling himself forward. His bulging muscles seemed ready to burst as he swung the greatsword with such force that the blade glowed red-hot, roaring as it cleaved through the air. Screeeech!!! Inside the carriage, Chen Sixuan held Kiki and Luo Shasha tightly. She pressed the emergency brake button on the white remote. The Huanxing 7F electric locomotive, weighing hundreds of tons and speeding forward, screeched to a halt. Metal wheels locked against the rails, emitting intense friction that instantly heated the tracks and wheels to a fiery red. The tremendous inertia caused the white giant to lose its footing, sending it hurtling forward. At the same moment, the dropped anchor caught on a pile of roadside rubble, yanking the iron chain taut and jerking the giant¡¯s neck forward. This was the moment Lin Xian and Luo Ye had been waiting for! Before the train had fully stopped, the two leapt into the air. In a flash, twin blades struck as one! Slash! Two sharp sounds rang out simultaneously. Buzz... The sword blades hummed as if singing in delight. A massive head was sent flying into the sky. Silence fell over the night. ... Only the sound of the wind and the faint hiss of the cooling rails remained on the train roof. The white giant¡¯s decapitated body collapsed onto the tracks below, while its severed head landed with a thud on the roof, its maw still clutching half of Tang Hai¡¯s arm before rolling off into the abyss. Thump, thump! Lin Xian and Luo Ye¡¯s hearts pounded fiercely, blood surging with adrenaline. Neither could believe their first joint effort had ended with such a spectacular kill! Lin Xian collapsed onto the roof, breathing heavily, while Luo Ye bent over, using the massive sword as support. The life-and-death battle had nearly claimed their lives. Huff... huff... As their adrenaline faded, exhaustion and pain took over. Lin Xian''s chest ached with a fiery intensity. He realized he had spent almost 10 hours devouring the short-haul freight locomotive earlier, followed by this grueling fight. Without the stored energy from the Huanxing 7F locomotive, he wouldn¡¯t have had the strength to execute the Backlash maneuver or complete the emergency brake. Broken rails, Tang Hai, the zombie horde, the white giant, the iron chains, the forged sword, the emergency stop... Everyone¡¯s efforts had been perfectly synchronized¡ªa level of teamwork Lin Xian had never anticipated. As his mind drifted, a realization struck him: his mechanical abilities weren¡¯t suited for hand-to-hand combat. He should focus on creating high-energy weapons, combat mechs, and defensive armaments for himself, his team, and the train. That was the true path of his power. Betting his life on a few skills day after day was a waste of his mechanical potential. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened as he stood abruptly. ¡°Luo Ye.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Lin Xian pointed at the white giant¡¯s corpse by the roadside. ¡°Check if there are any of those red beads. I¡¯m going to check on Kiki.¡± Having pushed his abilities to their limits, Kiki''s life now hung by a thread. Without pausing to catch his breath, Lin Xian rushed toward the train carriages. ¡°How is everyone?¡± The interior of the train was a mess. After jumping the broken rails, derailing, and battling the giant, the carriages were in utter disarray. Lin Xian ignored the chaos and sprinted toward Car No. 1. ¡°We¡¯re okay, but Kiki...¡± Shasha¡¯s small face was full of panic. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze shifted to Chen Sixuan, who was desperately wiping blood off Kiki¡¯s face. ¡°She¡¯s still bleeding! Her heartbeat¡¯s getting weaker. What do we do?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened as he approached to inspect. Kiki¡¯s face was pale, her features covered in blood, and she looked utterly miserable. ¡°She must have overexerted her abilities...¡± Lin Xian frowned deeply. He had no idea how to handle this. ¡°Shasha, has your brother ever experienced something like this before?¡± Shasha shook her head, then rummaged through a small medicine box and showed it to Lin Xian. ¡°No, but I have some medicine...¡± The box contained a mix of brightly colored pills, their origins unknown, with no labels. Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed at the sight. A box of antibiotics they had traded for at a communal bonfire wouldn¡¯t help in this situation either. ¡°Wait, Lin Xian,¡± Shasha said suddenly. Chen Sixuan felt Kiki¡¯s life slipping away and couldn¡¯t hide the panic on her face. ¡°The... that ability, didn¡¯t you all mention... those red beads?¡± she stammered, her words disjointed from anxiety. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils shrank. ¡°You mean the eerie blood crystal?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s lips were dry as she exclaimed nervously, ¡°Do you think it¡¯ll work?¡± Lin Xian immediately understood her implication, and it struck a chord with him. If anything on this train could help with abilities, it would be that. ¡°Luo Ye!¡± Lin Xian stood up and opened the blackout panel, only to see Luo Ye holding the greatsword and flashlight, searching the white giant¡¯s corpse. Shasha realized the urgency and sprinted outside. ¡°I¡¯ll help look!¡± ¡°No time!¡± Chen Sixuan screamed. She placed a hand under Kiki¡¯s nose and found no signs of breathing. Lin Xian made a decisive move. He grabbed the eerie blood crystal from the radio and hurried back. But as he held it, doubt crept in. How was he supposed to use it? Should it be swallowed? No time to hesitate! Lin Xian clenched his teeth, pried open Kiki¡¯s mouth, and placed the blood crystal inside. But as soon as it touched her, something extraordinary happened. A surge of crimson mist erupted from the crystal, rushing into Kiki¡¯s throat and nostrils in an instant! Witnessing this, both Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan were stunned. They stared intently at Kiki lying on the ground. The air grew eerily silent. Suddenly¡ªhissssss! A sharp inhalation broke the silence. Kiki, unconscious moments ago, took a deep breath. The inky blackness in her eyes seemed to recede slightly. ¡°It¡¯s working!¡± Chen Sixuan shouted, her voice trembling with both terror and excitement. Lin Xian quickly checked Kiki and found her breathing had resumed, albeit faintly. Relief washed over him as he exhaled heavily, glancing at his trembling arms and feeling the powerful thrum of his heart. System Notification: Devour Successful: +300 Mechanical Source Points, +150 Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency. Bonus Rewards: Strength +20, Speed +5, Defense +20! Lin Xian had just achieved his most significant upgrade yet by successfully devouring a short-haul freight electric locomotive, even though it was only a smaller model. Devouring its mass¡ªhundreds of tons¡ªhad come at a tremendous cost. ¡°The locomotive added so much strength and defense! Definitely a thick-skinned and strong machine,¡± Lin Xian muttered. ¡°Killing Tang Hai and the white giant also boosted my stats significantly...¡± ¡°And my mechanical manufacturing skill has leveled up!¡± System Update: Mechanical Manufacturing upgraded to Level 2. This upgrade greatly enhanced his crafting speed using materials from the decomposition space. While firearms remained complex due to the lack of gunpowder, simpler constructs like electromagnetic cannons were now conceivable¡ªthough he still lacked blueprints for such advanced weaponry. Reflecting on the battle, Lin Xian decided he needed to prepare more straightforward mechanical tools for emergencies, such as hooks, shields, and ground spikes. These items were simple to craft but could prove invaluable in critical moments. Opening the holographic interface of the Mechanical Heart, Lin Xian was surprised by the updates: Mechanical Heart LV.2 (420/1000) Strength Level: 2 [73%] (Capable of lifting 200kg)Speed Level: 1 [89%] (Maximum 10m/s)Defense Level: 1 [71%] (Reinforced bones, resilient skin)Mechanical Awakening: Locked Skills: Mechanical Devour: 2 (478/500) - Improves devouring efficiency.Mechanical Manufacturing: 2 (30/500) - Enhances crafting efficiency.Passive Skills: Scan / Repair / Decompose. Special Skills: Wind Cannon (Common): Level 2 (78%)Ice Shield (Common): Level 1 (69%)Backlash (Rare): Level 1 (30%) ¡°This much defense in one go?!¡± Lin Xian marveled at how his stats aligned with his enemies. Killing Tang Hai and the white giant, both known for their tough skin, had significantly bolstered his defense stats. ¡°Lin Xian,¡± Chen Sixuan called worriedly, ¡°She¡¯s still not waking up. What do we do?¡± ¡°Wait a bit longer,¡± Lin Xian replied, standing up. ¡°The white giant¡¯s body must have more of those red beads. Bring another one, and we¡¯ll try again. If it still doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll stop at Yu Chi instead of heading straight for Mount Daluo.¡± ¡°Stop?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xian nodded decisively. His gaze was sharp. ¡°Yu Chi City may not be big, but it has malls. The train is badly damaged after this fight. If Kiki doesn¡¯t wake up, I¡¯ll take Luo Ye and the others to scavenge materials to repair and upgrade the train. We¡¯ll also use the radio to check for nearby convoys.¡± ¡°If these red beads are effective, we¡¯ll trade resources for more. If one isn¡¯t enough, we¡¯ll get two. If two aren¡¯t enough, we¡¯ll get four!¡± After this battle, Lin Xian¡¯s perspective shifted subtly. With mechanical manufacturing upgraded, he needed to enhance the train¡¯s weaponry and defenses. His original goal had been to explore Underground City No. 9, but with Kiki¡¯s condition precarious, he decided it was better to redirect to Yu Chi City for now. If he could produce ammunition, he could upgrade their arsenal significantly. With his core stats nearing their next breakthroughs, mechanical devour about to hit Level 3, and the Mechanical Heart¡¯s first awakening within sight, Lin Xian knew he had to push forward with a new plan. Chapter 65: Calming the Storm As the group searched the surroundings, the sound of the zombie tide had vanished, leaving only the eerie silence of the night. Flashlights danced along the tracks, illuminating the frost-covered ground. Shasha¡¯s face was etched with urgency as she scanned every corner with her flashlight. On the other side, Lin Xian and Luo Ye were hacking furiously at the white giant¡¯s corpse, digging through its flesh for one of those red beads. Suddenly, Shasha¡¯s excited shout broke the silence. ¡°I found it!¡± Both men froze, abandoning their task to rush over to her. Shasha stood at the edge of a drainage ditch, pointing her flashlight at the grotesque, decapitated head of the white giant. The disembodied head lay amid a mix of red blood and black ichor, an ominous sight that made Shasha hesitant to approach any closer. As Lin Xian approached, Shasha pointed toward the severed neck. ¡°Look!¡± From the giant¡¯s neck, black smoke seeped out, snaking into the ground. Amid the murky ichor and blood, a bead the size of a thumb shone bright red. Strangely, this bead was significantly larger than the one Lin Xian had retrieved earlier. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He immediately signaled to Shasha. ¡°Stay back. I¡¯ll get it.¡± Cautiously, he approached. As he drew nearer to the bead, a faint rustling sound began in his ears. The closer he got, the louder the sound grew, transforming into a deafening cacophony of wails and cries. The noise became so intense it threatened to rupture his eardrums, but Lin Xian gritted his teeth and pressed on. Just as the sound became unbearable, he reached out and grabbed the red bead. The wailing abruptly ceased. ¡°So that¡¯s how it works!¡± Lin Xian exhaled deeply, his gaze sharp. He remembered hearing similar cries when he killed the red centipede-like creature but hadn¡¯t known about the existence of these beads at the time. Now it was clear¡ªthere must have been a blood crystal then as well. ¡°Different sizes, huh...¡± he mused, noting the bead''s larger form before rushing back to the train with it. On the train, Lin Xian placed the larger blood crystal near Kiki¡¯s nose. This time, before it even touched her, the crystal shattered into fine red mist. The mist surged into Kiki¡¯s nostrils and eyes, suffusing her with an eerie crimson glow. ¡°Whoa!¡± Shasha exclaimed, her curiosity piqued as Kiki¡¯s pale face began to regain color, and her breathing grew steadier. Lin Xian pried open her eyelids, watching as the dark inkiness in her eyes dissipated. Though he didn¡¯t fully understand what was happening, the bead appeared to be working. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. ¡°Why are there still so many zombies and that monster?¡± Chen Sixuan frowned. ¡°We lost them back in Jiang City, didn¡¯t we?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet,¡± Lin Xian replied, glancing at the air-conditioning unit on the train¡¯s roof. ¡°Looks like we need an extra layer of protection up there.¡± Earlier, when he and Luo Ye had inspected the train, they found Car No. 5 damaged and parts of the roof dented. However, the side armor of the Infinite Train remained intact, withstanding the zombie tide¡¯s onslaught. Lin Xian began formulating ideas: Add reactive defenses to the train exterior.Reinforce the roof and wheels.Install a sharp icebreaker shield on the front, allowing them to plow through even the densest zombie tides. ¡°Ms. Chen, what time do you think dawn will come?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°I¡¯d estimate between 2:40 PM and 3:10 PM.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Lin Xian said, glancing at the unconscious Kiki. ¡°We have enough time. Let¡¯s head to Yu Chi Station and stop there to refit the train and upgrade its defenses. After that, we¡¯ll scavenge for supplies in Yu Chi City.¡± ¡°Supplies aren¡¯t the priority,¡± Lin Xian continued, pulling out a map. ¡°Our main targets are here: the electronics mall and the city¡¯s power substation.¡± ¡°Power substation?¡± Shasha looked puzzled. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°To gather transformers and capacitors,¡± Lin Xian explained. ¡°If we find a suitable vehicle, we¡¯ll take it back with us as well. With the fuel we got from the outpost¡ªover a thousand liters¡ªwe can split into two groups. Load everything onto the flatbed trailer and save time.¡± Lin Xian also planned a large-scale collection effort. Electric and mechanical items were ideal for his devouring abilities¡ªsmall, scattered components could be absorbed efficiently without the long process required for larger machinery. Reflecting on the gains from devouring the locomotive, Lin Xian was emboldened. If another opportunity arose and the train could handle the weight, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to tow it along the tracks for devouring. He also had a bigger idea. Inspired by the GK03 electric blade¡¯s high-energy capacitor and arc discharge system, Lin Xian envisioned equipping the train with an external electric defense system. ¡°Ms. Chen, let¡¯s go,¡± he said decisively. Chen Sixuan nodded and instructed Shasha, ¡°Help them treat their wounds.¡± ¡°Leave it to me!¡± Shasha grabbed the medical kit and set to work on Lin Xian¡¯s chest wound. ¡°Brother Lin, does it hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Lin Xian replied stoically. ¡°Okay.¡± Shasha poured iodine onto his wound. ¡°Ssssssss!!!¡± Lin Xian hissed in pain. With a metallic groan, the Infinite Train rumbled back to life, its iron wheels rolling forward once more. The frigid night stretched out before them, the landscape blanketed in white snow. Lin Xian opened the tailgate of Car No. 5 and surveyed the scene. Behind the train, only one off-road vehicle and the Black Jiao Convoy¡¯s armored car remained intact. ¡°Forget it,¡± he muttered, eyeing the flatbed trailer. ¡°It¡¯s just a heap of iron¡ªbetter to use it as an open cargo platform for devouring while on the move.¡± The Mechanical Heart¡¯s new decomposition space, unlocked at Level 2, had greatly expanded his capabilities. Yet, two challenges remained: Material Types: While he could store materials like steel and plastic, their variety and complexity often hindered focused production. For instance, he had the blueprint for the 1130 CIWS but lacked the specialized materials, particularly explosives like TNT or nitramine salts.Blueprints: He needed schematics for powerful machinery and weapons, not just for himself but for upgrading the Infinite Train and his teammates. When dawn finally broke, Lin Xian was ready to rework his priorities, focusing on teamwork and bolstering their collective strength. Leaning against the tailgate, Lin Xian smiled as Luo Ye offered back the steel-slaying greatsword. ¡°Who do you think I made it for?¡± Lin Xian chuckled. Realizing the sword was meant for him, Luo Ye blushed and gratefully accepted it. ¡°Thanks, Brother Lin.¡± The sword¡¯s solid build and sharp edge made it ideal not just for combat but also as a makeshift shield. For someone like Luo Ye, it was perfect. Chapter 66: Station Maintenance "Big Luo, has your ability changed at all?" "Seems like it..." Big Luo scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "I feel like my strength''s improved, and my energy levels are higher too." Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned suspicious. "When exactly? Was it when you were on the roof of the train?" "No, it was while I was cutting up that creature¡¯s corpse looking for beads. I felt like I absorbed some nasty, stinking blood mist..." Lin Xian frowned upon hearing this. Blood mist? Both KIKI and Jiang Yun had mentioned before that certain mutant ability users could absorb the flesh and blood of other ability users or eerie entities to grow stronger. After the white creature and the red bug died, both released that black mist, forming eerie blood crystals. It seemed that both he and Big Luo, as ability users, could absorb this black mist for enhancements. Perhaps... Lin Xian recalled how the white giant had consumed Tang Hai and then began transforming rapidly. If his guess was right, Tang Hai had already reached the evolutionary level of an ability user. "Eerie entities get stronger by consuming humans, and humans can get stronger by consuming eerie entities too," Lin Xian muttered, his eyes alight. "It sounds pretty messed up, but it also feels... fair." The most pressing issue still was finding a way to evolve. Tang Hai, a source-level ability user, had shown minimal combat prowess initially. Yet after his evolution, his strength had increased exponentially. However, looking at his half-human, half-ghostly form, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this was what KIKI had warned about¡ªa failed evolution. "Big Luo, was it after the first polar night that you and your sister started fleeing?" Lin Xian, overwhelmed by his thoughts, decided to make small talk instead. Big Luo shook his head. "After the polar night arrived, our parents died. We just... ran." Using a pickup truck as their home, Big Luo, an ability user, and his sister, Shasha, small but mature beyond her years, had worked together seamlessly to escape from several zombie-infested cities. An hour later, the Infinite Train pulled into Yu Chi Station. It was a small station with only a modest waiting hall. On one of the sidetracks stood a freight train. Lin Xian surveyed the scene. "Big Luo and I will check things out first. You and Shasha stay on the train." Lin Xian had already built a Soul Wave Detector based on the blueprint from Jiang Yun¡¯s scans. However, he lacked eerie blood crystals to power it, so they still had to rely on manual searches and radar to assess danger. The cockpit door opened as Lin Xian and Big Luo disembarked, guns in hand. They flanked the freight train, using flashlights to inspect it. It turned out to be a mining car without a locomotive. The old carriages were empty, offering nothing useful. "This is perfect," Lin Xian said, eyeing the bulky train. He had been worried about not having enough steel for upgrading the rooftop armor, but here was an ample supply. "Big Luo," Lin Xian gestured toward a few zombies wandering near the platform, "clear them out." "Got it." Big Luo nodded. To avoid unnecessary noise at night, he didn¡¯t use his gun. Instead, he leaped onto the platform wielding his Steel-Slaying Greatsword, cleaning up the zombies within ten minutes. "The noise is only going to attract more," Lin Xian remarked, climbing onto Car 5. He dragged out a welding machine and crane to begin repairs, then started crafting high-manganese steel plates for the rooftop armor. Unlike the hardened tungsten-steel grilles used for the sides, Lin Xian intended the roof to be completely sealed except for designated ventilation exhaust points. High-manganese steel offered excellent toughness and shock absorption, ensuring durability even under extreme conditions. He based the design on the curved armor plates of the TFV600 Heavy Dual-Barrel Tank, which featured double-layered buffering. These plates connected seamlessly with the side grilles, channeling kinetic force down to the train body and into the tracks, preventing dents from creatures like the white giant that could otherwise crush the roof and damage the air-conditioning system. However, Lin Xian scaled up the design for the Infinite Train, crafting massive 3x6 meter panels weighing over two tons each. Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t using rolled tungsten steel, which would have been even heavier. With the materials in his disassembly space, covering all seven carriages of the train would be impossible. Each passenger carriage needed four panels, the electric locomotive required ten, and the gas locomotive six¡ª36 panels in total. Lin Xian¡¯s improved mechanical manufacturing skills allowed him to produce these relatively simple armor plates quickly. However, each panel still took ten minutes and drained his energy significantly. When materials ran out, he had to pause crafting to scavenge steel from the freight train carriages. Since the panels were so heavy, Lin Xian and Big Luo worked directly on the roof, with Lin Xian crafting the plates and Big Luo welding them into place. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan and Shasha used the water tank¡¯s spray system to clean the Infinite Train¡¯s bloodied exterior. After smashing through thousands of zombies, the train was caked in gore. Under the flashlight¡¯s beam, it resembled a scene from hell. Wearing gas masks, the two women sprayed down the train from opposite sides. The water, sourced from unpurified rain and snow, wasn¡¯t frozen since it was part of the locomotive¡¯s cooling system. Lin Xian planned to scavenge Yu Chi City for plastics, glass, and fibers to craft a water purifier, as well as household items for Car 5 and Car 2. "Lin-ge," Shasha called, her voice muffled by the gas mask as she washed the wheels. "There are bones and rocks stuck in the wheels." "Clear them out for now," Lin Xian replied, sweat dripping from his face as he continued crafting armor plates. "Once we finish the roof, we¡¯ll head to the city at daybreak. After that, I¡¯ll add wheel-wing plates to the sides." "Lin Xian," Chen Sixuan said from the other side, "if we¡¯re dealing with derailments, we could use Horizon Braking Devices. But if you¡¯re adding wheel-wing plates, leave some ground clearance." "I know," Lin Xian nodded. Wheel-wing plates were thinner and primarily served to protect the wheels. The Horizon Braking Devices, on the other hand, adhered to the tracks during high-speed sprints, but only the locomotive had this system. Cars 1-5 were too old and didn¡¯t have it, increasing their risk of derailment. Derailments, however, were a minor issue. The bigger concern was broken tracks¡ªespecially in high-speed situations like the previous night¡¯s all-out sprint. Chapter 67: Lunchtime Clang! Clang... In the deep night at Yu Chi Station, a heavy train underwent armor maintenance under several bright spotlights. After completing the welding for the roof armor of one carriage, Lin Xian had to rest for a bit. There were still at least three days left until the polar night¡¯s arrival. Once they left Yu Chi and passed Mount Daluo, they would be entering Yubei¡¯s territory. After days of relentless sprinting, the team had temporarily gained a safe distance from their pursuers. 15:05, the sky brightened. At Yu Chi Station, the Infinite Train now had half of its carriages covered with roof armor. Lin Xian had also found time to install wheel-wing plates on two of the train''s leading carriages. These plates were relatively simple to make and didn¡¯t require much steel. The heavy locomotive was now more than halfway clad in black armor, exuding a thick, unyielding aura of steel. Lin Xian and Big Luo had worked tirelessly throughout the night, nearly exhausting themselves, and still hadn¡¯t completed the work. In Car 1, Lin Xian and Big Luo entered one after the other. Shasha sat with a radio in her lap, keeping an eye on KIKI, while Chen Sixuan was cooking at the iron table Lin Xian had crafted. Using a portable stove, she had prepared a pot of soup and another of braised canned pork. The aroma inside the carriage was mouthwatering. On the table were additional food items scavenged from Tang Hai¡¯s outpost, including cola and canned fruit. Lin Xian, drenched in sweat, grabbed a can of cola, popped it open with a hiss, and gulped down half. The cool, sweet fizz gave him an instant sense of refreshment. "More zombies have gathered outside," Shasha said, pulling back the blackout curtains to peer outside. Drawn by the sounds of welding and construction, zombies were approaching the train. Shasha chuckled, "Without those bigger monsters, these zombies seem almost laughable." Scritch, scratch... The sound of claws scraping against the carriage walls grew louder. "Don¡¯t worry," Lin Xian said calmly, gazing out the window. "Once we¡¯ve got enough materials, I¡¯ll armor the entire Infinite Train with tungsten-titanium alloy. Those beasts won¡¯t stand a chance." The armored fortress was gradually taking shape. With improved mechanical manufacturing capabilities and more advanced blueprints, the train could be further perfected. Chen Sixuan, glancing nervously outside, relaxed when she saw the zombies posing no threat to the train. She turned her attention back to cooking. After last night¡¯s intense battle, Lin Xian and Big Luo had worked all night, so she took advantage of this rare pause to prepare some hot food for everyone. Whoo~ In Car 1, the hot air system kicked in, quickly warming the carriage. Though the system consumed a lot of power and caused some water loss, it was necessary to combat the cold, especially with KIKI still unconscious. "Wow, it smells amazing~" Shasha exclaimed, her eyes fixed longingly on the stove. "It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve eaten like this." "Did you and your brother start running after the first polar night?" Lin Xian asked, sipping his cola. Shasha shook her head, her expression dimming. "Even earlier than that. After it was just the two of us, we kept running... and running." "That¡¯s impressive," Chen Sixuan remarked. "For someone so young to have the courage to flee. Unlike me¡ªI hid in my house for almost two months." Lin Xian chuckled, "Your pantry must¡¯ve been well-stocked to last that long." "You¡¯re teasing me again! At first, a lot of people brought me supplies..." she muttered, glancing at Lin Xian before focusing back on stirring the soup. The topic wasn¡¯t exactly a pleasant one. Those who had fawned over her when the apocalypse began were often the same ones who later scorned her when survival took precedence. "Lin-ge, I think your ability is the best in the world!" Shasha exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration. "You can create such a massive steel fortress out of thin air¡ªyou¡¯re like a god to me!" "Sweet talk like that," Lin Xian teased, "is just your way of angling for an extra piece of meat, isn¡¯t it?" "Hehe~" Shasha giggled mischievously but then pouted. "Too bad KIKI is asleep. She won¡¯t get to eat her favorite canned fruit today." "Lin Xian, I feel like KIKI¡¯s condition is more serious this time," Chen Sixuan said, frowning as she brought over the pot of soup. She was genuinely worried about their teammate, who had gone through so much with them. "I can tell," Lin Xian nodded. "We¡¯ll need more eerie blood crystals to help her recover. Plus, the Dark Radio and Soul Wave Detector both require them too." Eerie blood crystals were proving to be invaluable resources. "Later, we¡¯ll head into Yu Chi City in two groups. Chen Sixuan and I will go to the city¡¯s power substation. Big Luo, you and your sister head to the electronics mall," Lin Xian instructed. Big Luo nodded, while Shasha asked eagerly, "Lin-ge, what exactly should we grab? I¡¯ll fill the car to the brim!" "Anything we can use," Lin Xian replied firmly. "Anything electrical or mechanical, preferably in working condition. Apart from that, focus on living supplies. We need more blankets and warm clothing, as well as utensils and cookware." He didn¡¯t expect to find weapons or a large stash of food¡ªthose would have been scavenged long ago. However, for Lin Xian, even seemingly useless appliances could be devoured to power his ability. He could even set up a proper kitchen and laundry facilities on the train¡ªluxuries unimaginable for most survivor convoys. "Got it!" Shasha replied enthusiastically. "Are we staying here tonight?" Chen Sixuan asked. Lin Xian thought for a moment. "If nothing goes wrong, we¡¯ll stay until I finish installing all the armor and the icebreaker shields. I also want to assess KIKI¡¯s condition." In truth, Lin Xian wanted to wait until nightfall. Without eerie blood crystals, the Dark Radio was useless, leaving the Infinite Train in silent isolation¡ªdangerous for their journey through Mount Daluo and Yubei City. Moreover, KIKI¡¯s recovery likely required the energy from eerie blood crystals. Lin Xian was considering taking Big Luo to actively hunt eerie entities during the night. The large blood crystal from the white giant had clearly been extraordinary¡ªeither from absorbing Tang Hai¡¯s ability or due to the giant¡¯s own level of power. If luck was on their side, they might encounter weaker entities that they could handle. However, the thought of actively seeking out such dangers sent a chill down Lin Xian¡¯s spine. What kind of survivors would dare to do such a thing? "By tomorrow morning at the latest," Lin Xian concluded. "If daylight breaks at 16:05, we¡¯ll have three hours to take the southern route through Mount Daluo. If that doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll head straight to Yubei or backtrack to the northern route." Chen Sixuan nodded, approving of Lin Xian¡¯s plan. With Kiki unconscious, an extra day of rest at Yu Chi Station would be beneficial. Since leaving Jiang City, the group had barely stopped running. Even their brief reprieve at Beiwang Station had lasted less than a day. The train still needed significant repairs. Now that Lin Xian was reinforcing the armor, the train¡¯s safety was reaching new heights. Chapter 68: The Great Search 16:00 The sun slanted gently across the clear sky, its rays illuminating the snow-covered Yu Chi Station. A heavily armored train rested on the tracks, surrounded by a dozen zombies. In the post-apocalyptic world, zombies had become an ever-present backdrop, a macabre part of the scenery. They clawed persistently at the train''s armored plates, their scritch-scratch sounds filling the air, though their efforts didn¡¯t leave even the slightest mark. Whether drawn by the activity inside the train or the tantalizing aroma of cooked meat, the zombies let out occasional groans, seemingly stirred by remnants of their human memories. Inside Car 1, an unusual afternoon calm reigned. The table was laden with braised pork, canned fruit, seaweed soup, and cola¡ªluxuries in these times. "Oh no, we¡¯re eating so well while KIKI¡¯s asleep. She¡¯s going to be mad when she wakes up," Shasha said after sipping her soup, glancing toward the unconscious KIKI. "She won¡¯t be," Lin Xian replied with a meaningful smile. "When she wakes up, I¡¯ll treat her to a special feast." "Really?" "Of course. She¡¯s done so much for us¡ªshe deserves it." Shasha nodded enthusiastically. "That¡¯s right, that was amazing yesterday! KIKI-jie made us fly!" Whoosh, whoosh Lin Xian turned to see Chen Sixuan, fully geared up in a thick coat and carrying an automatic rifle on her back. Her face betrayed a hint of excitement. "Chen-laoshi, you seem pretty eager," Lin Xian remarked. "A little," she admitted earnestly. "You¡¯ve always had me stay on the train before, but now I can join you and actually help. Of course I¡¯m excited." Lin Xian had originally planned to leave Chen Sixuan behind to guard the train again, but with the daylight hours limited and more hands needed, he decided to bring her along this time. Besides, the cockpit door locks had been replaced with mechanical structures that only he could operate, making it relatively secure. With her now armed, she could hold her own in a pinch. "Alright, just remember: don¡¯t fire your weapon unless absolutely necessary. We¡¯re here to scavenge, not fight. Let me handle any danger." "Understood," Chen Sixuan nodded firmly. After finishing their first proper hot meal since fleeing eastward, the four prepared to head into the city. Lin Xian instructed Big Luo and Shasha to take the off-road vehicle, which had more space for hauling supplies. He and Chen Sixuan opted for a motorcycle. The plan was simple: find a truck in the city and load it with supplies, then tow it back to the train. Lin Xian could even devour the vehicle for resources. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the group set off. Armed and ready, they drove off the train¡¯s flatbed trailer: one team in the off-road vehicle, the other on the motorcycle. Engines roared as they sped along the road toward Yu Chi City. The city, nestled on a plain at the foot of the mountains, lay bathed in sunlight yet shrouded in deathly silence. Along the way, they passed countless wrecked and abandoned vehicles, corpses, and scattered luggage buried under thick snow. "Ha~" Seated in the passenger seat, Shasha exhaled onto the frosted window, her small face filled with worry. "The snow¡¯s getting heavier." "Shasha," Lin Xian called out from his motorcycle as he passed the car. "Look for warm items¡ªblankets, beds, clothes¡ªwhatever you can find." With more people to care for, the need for warm supplies was growing. The items Lin Xian had scavenged from Jiang City¡¯s furniture store had made Car 1 livable, but now Car 2 housed two people, and Big Luo kept watch in Car 5. More supplies were essential. "Got it!" Shasha replied, lowering the car window to nod earnestly. Screech! Big Luo slammed on the brakes. A few cars were piled haphazardly across the street, blocking the road ahead. "Hold on." Lin Xian pulled up alongside the off-road vehicle on his motorcycle. The street was eerily quiet, the distant wails of zombies echoing from the shadows of dark alleys. Nearby, a dirt truck sat parked on the roadside, its door ajar. The rotting corpse of its driver hung limply from a seatbelt. Lin Xian climbed up, cutting the belt with his blade. The corpse tumbled out stiffly as he inspected the truck. Using his Mechanical Heart, Lin Xian quickly assessed its condition and smiled. "Big Luo, help me load the motorcycle into the truck¡¯s bed." He then pulled Chen Sixuan up into the passenger seat. "We¡¯re using this truck to haul supplies?" Chen Sixuan asked, surprised. Lin Xian grinned and nodded. A truck this size could carry a significant load and also double as a barrier-clearing vehicle. Bang! Big Luo loaded the motorcycle into the dirt truck¡¯s empty bed. Lin Xian shut the door, revved the engine, and shouted to Big Luo outside, "Hop in! I¡¯ll lead the way in this truck." "Got it!" The off-road vehicle followed as Lin Xian steered the dirt truck straight into the jumble of cars blocking the road. The powerful engine roared as it plowed through, clearing a path. Boom, crash! The truck barreled through the debris, the deafening noise echoing through the silent streets of Yu Chi City. Zombies from surrounding alleys turned at the commotion, drawn toward the chaos. Under the setting sun, the dirt truck rumbled forward, smashing through vehicles and attracting the attention of more zombies. In its wake, the streets filled with the relentless groans of the undead converging from all directions. As Lin Xian pressed the gas pedal to the floor, the Mechanical Heart went into overdrive, pushing the dirt truck¡¯s engine to its maximum RPMs. If he were fighting alone, the destructive power of his Mechanical Heart and related skills would be quite limited. However, when wielding industrial machinery, the difference was night and day¡ªtransforming him into a true force of nature. The dirt truck led the way, with the off-road vehicle following close behind. They soon roared into what used to be a bustling shopping district. The area, lined with malls and restaurants, was now a shattered ruin. Sparse groups of zombies wandered through the alleys and storefronts, their movements sluggish and uncoordinated. ¡°This is the place,¡± Lin Xian announced over the walkie-talkie. Once they cleared the road, the vehicles split up as planned. Shasha and Big Luo headed toward the malls and electronics stores, while Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan drove toward the suburban transformer station. In the truck¡¯s passenger seat, Chen Sixuan gripped the handle above her head tightly, her other hand clutching a rifle. Seeing her tense expression, Lin Xian reassured her, ¡°It¡¯s daytime. There shouldn¡¯t be any of those creatures.¡± Chen Sixuan exhaled deeply. ¡°I... I¡¯m just a little nervous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Lin Xian replied with a nod. The dirt truck barreled down the road, its roaring engine attracting a growing horde of zombies in its wake. Soon, the transformer station appeared in the distance, its perimeter marked by a chain-link fence and concrete walls. ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Lin Xian said, yanking the steering wheel to the side. The truck mounted the curb and smashed through the fence, heading straight for the station''s outer wall. Vroom! CRASH! With a deafening roar, the dirt truck rammed through the wall, sending bricks and debris flying in every direction. A massive hole now marred the station¡¯s perimeter. Lin Xian wasted no time. Stepping out of the truck, he approached the breach, raised both hands, and activated his ability. Instantly, steel bars materialized, flying into place as they formed a sturdy makeshift barrier. Clang! Thanks to the speed boost from his upgraded mechanical manufacturing ability, the simple structure took only moments to complete. In mere breaths, a reinforced steel grate wall stood where the breach had been, with steel nails anchoring it firmly into the remaining brickwork. Chen Sixuan had just climbed out of the truck when she saw the gap they had driven through was already sealed off. ¡°Uh... What?¡± she muttered, stunned by the rapid transformation. Argh! Zombies began swarming to the newly constructed barrier, clawing wildly at the steel grates. Their decayed hands scraped uselessly against the reinforced metal. Lin Xian¡¯s movements were calm and practiced, his mechanical ability now more refined than ever. "How is this even possible?" Chen Sixuan asked, still marveling at the feat. Lin Xian cast a quick glance at the pressing horde and replied indifferently, ¡°No point in killing them all¡ªit¡¯s just a waste of time.¡± Turning away from the fence, he motioned for Chen Sixuan to follow as he headed deeper into the station to begin scavenging. Chapter 69: Hunting Trap The capacitors in the transformer station primarily balanced the three-phase voltage, preventing line loss and equipment damage due to imbalance. For Lin Xian, these were of significant use. The "Infinite Train" would require massive electricity in the future, and installing capacitors could improve the power factor of the circuits, reducing reactive power losses and enhancing grid efficiency. They were essential for setting up high-powered weapons or switching driving modes. Moreover, Lin Xian could presently harvest capacitor materials like metallized polypropylene, liquid dielectric, and aluminum foil through his devouring ability. These materials were foundational for the high-energy capacitors detailed in the GK03 Electric Blade blueprint. ¡°Lin Xian... how are we supposed to dismantle these?¡± Chen Sixuan followed Lin Xian into the transformer station, gazing at the rows of neatly aligned and massive metal equipment, her face filled with confusion. ¡°That¡¯s simple. Teacher Chen, just help me keep watch.¡± Lin Xian turned, flipped open the dirt truck''s panel, and climbed on. Activating the Mechanical Heart, numerous materials floated out, and a small cantilever crane began rapidly taking shape. ¡°Ah, got it.¡± Chen Sixuan immediately raised her rifle, took a deep breath, and disengaged the safety. Though the transformer station was eerily quiet, one could never know when a zombie might suddenly leap out from a corner. She kept encouraging herself, reminding herself that as a teammate, she had the responsibility to protect Lin Xian. With a gun in hand, ordinary zombies shouldn¡¯t pose much of a threat. After about 20 minutes, Lin Xian had finished constructing a temporary vehicle-mounted crane. He jumped off the truck and summoned mechanical tools in both hands, beginning to unscrew the mounting bolts on the capacitor bank. ¡°Lin Xian, your hands...¡± Chen Sixuan noticed the redness on the backs of his hands, guessing it was from frostbite during last night¡¯s snowy armor assembly. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Lin Xian tossed one end of a steel cable to Chen Sixuan. ¡°Help me loop this around.¡± After over an hour of effort, the two of them finally hoisted a 110kV capacitor bank onto the truck. Despite their makeshift approach and lack of expertise, Lin Xian¡¯s mechanical abilities made the process relatively smooth. Vroom! The dirt truck roared to life again, plowing through the station wall and crushing howling zombies under its wheels as it sped back along its original route. ¡°When we passed by earlier, I noticed the terrain at Yuchi Pedestrian Street is spacious, with several streets connected. Once we load up, I¡¯ll head back with Luo Ye to set up some traps. Maybe we can catch something...¡± Lin Xian planned to scout the area during the daylight, lay traps, then return to the train to install armor plates and the Icebreaker Shield. Late at night, they¡¯d venture back to confront the terrors lurking in the darkness. A few days ago, Chen Sixuan would have thought Lin Xian was insane for saying such things. Now, understanding his intentions, she voiced her concern instead, ¡°How about while it¡¯s still light, Shasha and I ride along the tracks to scout ahead toward the fork? It¡¯ll help us adapt if plans change.¡± Boom! Boom! Boom! The dirt truck barreled forward. Hearing her suggestion, Lin Xian looked at Chen Sixuan seriously. ¡°You can ride?¡± ¡°Shasha can, and I can ride with her. Two of us together makes for better support.¡± Lin Xian had to prepare the train, Luo Ye¡¯s height and strength were essential, so it seemed logical for the nimble duo of Chen Sixuan and Shasha to act as scouts. Surprised, Lin Xian glanced at Chen Sixuan and smiled. ¡°Alright. But you and Shasha need to be cautious. If anything goes wrong, just retreat.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Chen Sixuan took a deep breath. ¡°We¡¯re only scouting. If there¡¯s trouble, we won¡¯t linger.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s plan to actively search for horrors in the dark was risky, especially as no one knew what lay ahead. Ensuring an escape route for the "Infinite Train" made scouting the nearby tracks a wise precaution. After last night¡¯s track-break incident, Chen Sixuan had become more vigilant. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s the plan.¡± Vroom! The dirt truck drove onto Yushan Station¡¯s platform. Lin Xian raised his hand, unleashing bursts of Wind Cannon to dispatch zombies before maneuvering the truck onto a flatbed trailer. Shortly after, Luo Ye and Shasha returned in an off-road vehicle, its trunk and backseat loaded with odd supplies. Shasha, seated in the passenger seat, clutched a large bag of colorful clothing. She hopped out excitedly upon parking and called to the duo: ¡°Brother Lin, Sister Chen, look at all the stuff we found!¡± Chen Sixuan rushed over to help. ¡°Why so many clothes?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all new! The mall was full of them!¡± Shasha opened the backseat, revealing a pile of appliances¡ªtelevisions, computers, and robotic vacuums¡ªof little use in a survival situation. In the apocalypse, with life on the line and energy scarce, such items were far less valuable than water purification or communication equipment. Aside from those, Shasha and Luo Ye had also found a microwave, an oven, and a set of cookware and utensils. ¡°Good. Load them up.¡± Lin Xian instructed Luo Ye to unload the motorcycle, and the group quickly transferred the off-road vehicle¡¯s supplies to Car No. 5. ¡°Shasha, you and Sister Chen ride the motorcycle and scout along the tracks ahead. Luo Ye and I will head into the city again.¡± Without delay, Lin Xian issued the next steps. By 17:50, less than an hour remained before nightfall. Shasha slung her grenade launcher, donned a helmet, and rode off with Chen Sixuan. The motorcycle roared away from the platform in a flash. Lin Xian climbed into Luo Ye¡¯s off-road vehicle. ¡°Shasha¡¯s so young, yet she rides like a pro.¡± Luo Ye shrugged. ¡°She picks things up fast, like a boy. She loves tinkering with stuff...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lin Xian smiled, realizing that Shasha was the brains of the pair. The off-road vehicle reached Yuchi City, stopping far from the streets to observe from a distance. ¡°That area...¡± Lin Xian pointed to a circular plaza teeming with zombies. ¡°Based on soul wave values, it¡¯s probably the lowest-index zone. Just my guess, though. Drive around to lure them away while I set up a speaker and some lights.¡± Then he indicated several alleys. ¡°There, and there. I¡¯ll set up tripwires, traps, and spike walls. From that second-floor balcony, you can cover me with your gun, and we¡¯ll keep the car parked nearby for a quick escape.¡± ¡°Got it, Brother Lin.¡± Luo Ye, a former soldier with solid combat skills, quickly grasped the plan. ¡°These are just precautions,¡± Lin Xian warned solemnly. ¡°If things go south, we retreat immediately. Shasha and Chen will meet us at the platform, and we¡¯ll leave right away.¡± The plan was simple: draw the night¡¯s horrors into the open plaza using speakers and lights. If manageable, they¡¯d engage using terrain and traps. If the situation spiraled, they¡¯d flee. For the Eerie Blood Crystal, they had to take the risk. Without the Dark Radio, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t find other convoys to trade with anyway. Chapter 70: Armor 1.0! Beep beep, beep beep~ The wristwatch¡¯s alarm went off again. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Luo Ye drove the off-road vehicle into the pedestrian street as planned, drawing a large horde of zombies. Lin Xian, meanwhile, used the now-vacant street to sprint into the plaza. There, he placed a battery on the roadside, constructing a speaker and arranging several floodlights in a circular pattern around the plaza. The speaker was connected via wires to the central spot. Following the predetermined route, Lin Xian rapidly set up tripwires and animal traps, building them almost effortlessly with a simple wave of his hand. Clatter, clatter! In a narrow alleyway, Lin Xian dashed through, using his Wind Cannon to dispatch obstructing zombies while setting up specialized traps at chokepoints and confined areas. At one exit, he installed a spiked wall¡ªa gravity-triggered contraption that would fall and trap any pursuers under its razor-sharp teeth. These devices were simple, meant not to destroy the eerie entities but to buy Lin Xian time to escape. Facing the eerie forces for the first time, he exercised extreme caution. After completing his setup, Lin Xian dashed to the roadside, spotting Luo Ye¡¯s off-road vehicle barreling toward him, zombies in tow. Screech! The vehicle screeched to a halt. Lin Xian hopped into the passenger seat as Luo Ye hit the gas, speeding toward the city outskirts. To avoid luring trouble back to the station, Luo Ye took a detour along the main road, losing the horde before circling back to Yuchi Station. Once back, they loaded the off-road vehicle onto the flatbed trailer. Chen Sixuan and Shasha, riding a motorcycle with its headlights on, returned from scouting along the railway. Chen Sixuan dismounted and removed her helmet. ¡°We didn¡¯t go too far, but we found that special branch line. It¡¯s newly built, but we didn¡¯t have the tools to change the track switch.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Lin Xian replied, nodding. ¡°If it¡¯s new, it¡¯s probably meant for the underground city. We¡¯ll adjust the switch when we reach it. For now, get on the train and rest.¡± Lin Xian and Luo Ye resumed adding armor plating to the remaining carriages. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan and Shasha sorted through the supplies gathered earlier in the day. For Carriages No. 1 and 2, Lin Xian used the Mechanical Heart to craft metal storage cabinets. Carriages No. 3 and 4, initially used by Tang Hai¡¯s convoy for material storage, were fitted with mesh partitions to prevent the supplies from scattering. Once the armor upgrades were complete, Lin Xian planned to reorganize the carriages, including upgrading the water supply system. Everything needed to be tackled step by step. System Prompts: Devour Successful! Mechanical Core Points +20, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +10. Bonus: Strength +1, Speed +1!Devour Successful! Mechanical Core Points +20, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +10. Bonus: Defense +1!Devour Successful! Mechanical Core Points +15, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +8. Bonus: Defense +1!Disassembly Results: High-Manganese Steel ¡Á50, Hot-Rolled Forged Steel ¡Á50, Cold-Rolled Dual-Phase Steel Plates ¡Á15, Ordinary Carbon Steel ¡Á100, Non-Metal Foam Materials, Non-Metal Composite Materials... While dismantling and devouring freight train carriages, Lin Xian simultaneously manufactured armored roofs. Despite each carriage weighing several tons, the mechanical core points gained were comparable to devouring a car. Fortunately, Lin Xian only needed the materials. The simple structures of these carriages made them quick to dismantle. Skill Upgrade Notification: Congratulations! Mechanical Devour Skill has advanced to Level 3! With the upgraded skill, Lin Xian¡¯s devour efficiency soared. Within half an hour, he could process an empty carriage. Current Status: Mechanical Heart Level: LV.2 (525/1000)Special Upgrades: Mysterious awakenings at LV3, LV6, and LV9.Stats:Strength: Level 2 (73%) ¨C Explosive Strength: 200kgSpeed: Level 1 (93%) ¨C Max Speed: 10m/sDefense: Level 1 (76%) ¨C Bone-Tough, Skin-DurableMechanical Skills:Mechanical Devour: Level 3 (15/1000) ¨C Enhanced EfficiencyMechanical Manufacture: Level 2 (120/500) ¨C Improved Construction SpeedPassive Abilities: Scan, Repair, DisassembleSpecial Skills: Wind Cannon (Level 2, 86%), Ice Shield (Level 1, 69%), Backlash (Rare, Level 1, 30%). Inside and outside, the team worked tirelessly. With the final armored roof panel welded into place, the Infinite Train¡ªsave for its flatbed trailer¡ªwas now entirely encased in black armor. The train exuded an imposing aura in the night, like a Steel Fortress. ¡°For the icebreaker shield, we¡¯ll use the tank¡¯s armor materials combined with tungsten-titanium alloy connectors,¡± Lin Xian said. At the front of the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive, Lin Xian and Luo Ye began installing the most critical component: the massive front shield. The harsh clangs of metal reverberated as Lin Xian¡¯s glowing hands manipulated a vast amount of metal, shaping, forging, and assembling it into a thick, solid icebreaker shield. Weighing over 5 tons, the shield required over an hour to install with the crane. ¡°Now the roof, sides, wheels, and front are all reinforced. It finally looks like an armored train,¡± Lin Xian said, wiping the sweat from his brow as he admired their achievement. The train wasn¡¯t just armored¡ªit was significantly heavier. Lin Xian estimated that even the Pale Giant they¡¯d encountered earlier wouldn¡¯t be able to budge it. However, the added weight meant Kiki¡¯s ability to lift the front carriage with her powers was now severely limited unless her abilities evolved further. ¡°Let¡¯s rest, Luo Ye,¡± Lin Xian said, noting it was past 5 a.m. They¡¯d been working through the night. In Carriage No. 1, Lin Xian found Chen Sixuan and Shasha had neatly organized the interior. The fortified train now boasted a more livable environment, inching closer to becoming a mobile fortress. ¡°How¡¯s Kiki?¡± Lin Xian asked. Chen Sixuan, wiping sweat from Kiki¡¯s face with a towel, said worriedly, ¡°She hasn¡¯t woken up. I think she¡¯s having a nightmare;she¡¯s been sweating non-stop.¡± Inspecting Kiki¡¯s eyes, Lin Xian noticed the black, inky substance creeping back. He frowned. ¡°Looks like the Eerie Blood Crystals weren¡¯t enough,¡± he muttered. ¡°But we don¡¯t know how much more we¡¯ll need,¡± Chen Sixuan replied. Lin Xian sighed. ¡°If we can collect more, we¡¯ll keep one to reactivate the Dark Radio. Maybe we can trade with someone instead of relying on trial and error.¡± Trading would be safer and might uncover additional information. ¡°When do we head out?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. ¡°Let¡¯s rest for now. I¡¯ll regain some strength and handle the capacitors and transformers before dawn. Being prepared is the safest option.¡± Chapter 71: Power Surge The night was silent, and snow fell gently from the dark sky. Lin Xian sat in the dirt truck¡¯s cargo bed, devouring the capacitor bank that had been hoisted onto the Infinite Train¡¯s flatbed trailer. System Notifications: Devour Progress: 15%Devour Progress: 60%... The 110kV capacitor bank was enormous and intricately designed. Even with his Level 3 Mechanical Devour skill, it took Lin Xian nearly four hours to fully devour it. When the progress bar hit 100%, a flash of purple light erupted in his vision. Devour Successful! Mechanical Core Points: +150Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency: +60Bonus: Strength +5, Speed +10New Skill Acquired: Power Surge! Power Surge (Rare): Accumulate a certain amount of voltage to unleash electrical energy. Disassembly Results:Metallized Polypropylene ¡Á100Liquid Dielectric ¡Á50Aluminum Foil ¡Á30Ceramic Pieces ¡Á50Polycarbonate FilmPolytetrafluoroethylene... ¡°Power Surge? A rare skill?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up as he raised his palm, channeling energy. A faint blue glow began gathering in his hand, steadily intensifying and radiating heat. He aimed his palm at the dirt truck¡¯s steel panel. Bzzt! Zap! A dazzling electric arc shot forth, piercing the truck¡¯s steel plate and leaving a tiny, glowing hole. The surrounding metal glowed red-hot, emitting wisps of heat. ¡°Generating electricity out of thin air... it¡¯s a perfect complement to my Mechanical Heart. I can now directly produce electricity,¡± Lin Xian murmured. He blew on his slightly scalded palm and frowned. ¡°It takes time to charge, though, and there¡¯s a limit to how much I can handle. Otherwise, my body might not withstand it.¡± Simultaneously, his attributes received another boost. Speed Attribute Upgraded! Level 2: Max Speed 13m/s! ¡°Amazing...¡± Lin Xian stood up, feeling the explosive speed coursing through his limbs. More importantly, his vision, reflexes, and coordination had all sharpened considerably. He blinked, noticing how quickly objects became clear after briefly blurring. Looking into the distance, his night vision seemed to have improved significantly. ¡°So speed isn¡¯t just about movement,¡± he realized, overjoyed. His enhanced speed and reactions now exceeded the limits of ordinary humans on Blue Planet. Though still not on par with monsters, the benefits were invaluable. For someone focused on Mechanical Construction, brute strength wasn¡¯t a priority. Speed, however, greatly enhanced his perception, reaction time, and survivability. ¡°Perfect. Time to finish this.¡± Lin Xian retrieved the unfinished GK03 Electric Blade and began assembling the components: high-energy capacitors, an arc discharge device, and a high-frequency generator. Before long, the GK03 Electric Blade was complete. Normally, it could be powered via rechargeable modules or disposable energy packs, but Lin Xian¡¯s Power Surge skill eliminated the need for those. Holding the blade, he charged it using his ability. Activating the switch, he watched as a faint hum arose, and the silver blade emitted a soft glow, crackling with tiny electric arcs. ¡°What a beauty...¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes gleamed. This weapon was perfect for close combat and self-defense. After admiring it briefly, he sheathed the blade and turned his attention to devouring the dirt truck and the appliances Shasha and the others had brought back. He chose to act before dawn to minimize risks. Inside the train, Luo Ye and Shasha loaded ammunition, preparing spare magazines. Chen Sixuan assisted, learning the process as they worked. The tense atmosphere suggested everyone was preparing for a major confrontation. System Notifications: Devour Successful: Mechanical Core Points +13, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +5. Bonus: Strength +2. The dirt truck took over 20 minutes to devour, yielding materials similar to a freight carriage but slightly less. Disassembly Results: High-Manganese Steel ¡Á10Hot-Rolled Forged Steel ¡Á10Cold-Rolled Dual-Phase Steel Plates ¡Á5Ordinary Carbon Steel ¡Á20Non-Metal Foam MaterialsNon-Metal Composite Materials... Appliances were devoured quickly, akin to snacking. While the gains were modest, they provided diverse materials for future projects like water purification, air circulation, and communication systems. Mechanical Core Status: Level: LV.2 (715/1000)Mechanical Devour: Level 3 (106/1000) ¨C Enhanced EfficiencyMechanical Manufacture: Level 2 (130/500) ¨C Improved Construction Speed ¡°I¡¯m close. One more large locomotive could push me to Level 3.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes shone with anticipation. Mechanical Awakening was a milestone he eagerly awaited. However, finding an intact locomotive and having uninterrupted time to devour it¡ªover ten hours¡ªwas challenging. If he relied on vehicles like the dirt truck, he¡¯d need to bring back at least 20 more, a difficult task. Additionally, higher levels of Mechanical Heart would yield fewer points from smaller machines, forcing him to target larger, more complex equipment. Beep beep! The alarm Lin Xian had set went off. It was now 2:00 PM, but the sky remained shrouded in darkness. With the flatbed trailer cleared, they had reduced the train¡¯s burden and increased their capabilities¡ªa significant advantage. Whoosh! Lin Xian opened the tailgate of Carriage No. 5. Inside, Luo Ye and Shasha were fully geared and ready. ¡°Are we heading out?¡± Chen Sixuan asked as Lin Xian entered. ¡°Yes,¡± Lin Xian replied. He instructed Chen Sixuan to stay in the driver¡¯s cabin, armed and ready to provide support. Shasha, equipped with heavy firepower, was tasked with guarding the train¡¯s surroundings and providing cover fire when needed. Lin Xian and Luo Ye, on the other hand, would drive into Yuchi City. Their goal: seek out the eerie entities. Chapter 72: Stakeout Vroom! The orange-yellow headlights of the off-road vehicle cut through the darkness as it headed toward the city. Lin Xian sat in the passenger seat, inspecting the automatic rifle in his hands. He had already scanned its blueprint; building an automatic rifle posed less challenge to him than crafting a crane. The only issue was ammunition. His firepower insufficiency syndrome was acting up again. If he could solve the problem of gunpowder and explosive materials, Lin Xian could mass-produce bullets and shells, even build vehicle-mounted turrets and machine gun platforms to combat monsters from a distance. That would eliminate the need for melee combat on the train roof. Luo Ye glanced at Lin Xian¡¯s peculiar expression and said in a low voice, ¡°Brother Xian, I can cut through any monster.¡± Lin Xian gave him a surprised look, then smiled. ¡°The monsters we can cut are fine. If we can¡¯t beat them, we can run. I¡¯m more worried about ghosts.¡± ¡°Ghosts?¡± Luo Ye pointed to the machine gun and steel-slaying greatsword in the backseat. ¡°Can¡¯t they be cut?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lin Xian replied, his tone heavy. ¡°Some people claim to have seen them¡ªsupernatural beings that can¡¯t be killed...¡± Luo Ye fell silent. Lin Xian gazed at the city silhouette cloaked in darkness and said, ¡°There are all sorts of bizarre things out here at night. Better to err on the side of caution.¡± Luo Ye nodded quietly. Before long, the off-road vehicle reached a main city road near the pedestrian street. The engine noise and headlights attracted hordes of frenzied zombies. To avoid being surrounded, they both exited the vehicle. ¡°Head upstairs. Wait for my signal,¡± Lin Xian instructed, tossing a walkie-talkie to Luo Ye. The two split up, with Luo Ye heading to the second-floor observation deck of a nearby mall, machine gun in hand. Meanwhile, Lin Xian sprinted down an alley toward the plaza. In the darkness, Lin Xian¡¯s enhanced vision allowed him to detect lurking zombies ahead. Left hand gripping his Wind Cannon and right hand wielding the Electric Blade, he moved like a shadow slicing through the night. Argh! A cold gleam flashed, and a few zombies lost their heads before they could even turn around. Woof! Woof! The barking of corpse dogs echoed in the alley. They chased after Lin Xian, only to be met with a volley of Wind Cannon shots that exploded their heads. Pausing briefly, Lin Xian took out a small remote control and pressed a button. ???? Happy Birthday to You... Happy Birthday to You... ???? A loud, eerie tune echoed across the dark plaza, shattering the silence of Yuchi City¡¯s night. Click. Bright floodlights illuminated the circular plaza, piercing the darkness. Lin Xian had cobbled together the setup with whatever materials he could find. The speaker¡¯s mechanical, distorted rendition of the song gave it an unsettling tone. Emerging from the alley, Lin Xian quickly climbed onto a hidden platform shrouded in shadow. From there, he and Luo Ye, positioned a street away, watched the plaza. ???? Happy Birthday to You... Happy Birthday to You... ???? Click. ¡°Luo Ye, any movement?¡± Lin Xian tested the walkie-talkie. ¡°Nothing yet,¡± Luo Ye¡¯s voice came through. Lin Xian felt relieved and glanced at the time: 2:45 AM. There was still an hour and a half until dawn. If they didn¡¯t encounter anything, they would leave once the sun rose. Sheathing his Electric Blade, Lin Xian took out his automatic rifle, staying alert in the shadows. As minutes passed, the loud music attracted waves of zombies from neighboring streets. Sensitive to sound, they swarmed into the plaza, their rotting eyes searching aimlessly for prey. They snarled and clawed at the air, surrounding the speaker. 2:50 AM... More zombies poured in. By 3:05 AM, the circular plaza was crammed with zombies, corpse dogs, and ghouls controlled by black centipede-like creatures. If any survivors were still hiding in the city, the commotion would surely terrify them. ¡°Luo Ye,¡± Lin Xian called. ¡°Nothing, Brother Xian. If those black centipede monsters are here, I don¡¯t see them,¡± Luo Ye replied. Lin Xian frowned. ¡°They¡¯re probably not. Those things, while eerie, don¡¯t seem to drop the red beads or emit black mist. They¡¯re not what we¡¯re looking for.¡± ¡°Should we wait a bit longer?¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s wait,¡± Lin Xian said quietly. 3:15 AM... The music continued to play in the plaza. Lin Xian remained focused, scanning the scene from the shadows. Suddenly, the speaker¡¯s music began to distort. ???? Happy... Birthday... to... You... ???? The once-clear tune slowed and deepened, becoming ominous and eerie. It sounded like a little girl¡¯s voice, stretched and distorted, chilling enough to make the hair on one¡¯s neck stand up. ¡°Luo Ye, stay alert. Something¡¯s wrong,¡± Lin Xian warned through the walkie-talkie. But after a moment, there was no response. Lin Xian frowned and pressed the button again. ¡°Luo Ye...¡± As Lin Xian looked down at the walkie-talkie, he noticed the signal light emitting a faint red glow¡ªcompletely disconnected. That¡¯s strange. It was working just a moment ago. Did something happen to Luo Ye? The realization struck Lin Xian like a bolt of lightning, sending a shiver down his spine. Immediately abandoning the stakeout, he decided to rush to Luo Ye¡¯s location. However, just as Lin Xian stood up from the shadows, a sudden chill crept over him, as though he was being watched. He instinctively looked up. Nothing. Clicking on his flashlight, he swept the beam across the alley walls and rooftops. Still, nothing. ¡°Was it just my imagination?¡± Lin Xian murmured, but his unease only grew. A cold sweat beaded on his forehead as a familiar dread crawled up his spine¡ªthe same primal fear he felt when the Pale Giant had locked its gaze on him back in Jiang City. Acting purely on instinct, he turned and fired a burst from his automatic rifle into the air, accompanied by several Wind Cannon blasts. Da-da-da-da! Boom! Boom! Gunfire and wind blasts illuminated the dark alley. And then he saw them. Three terrifying skeletal faces emerged in his view, clinging to the walls above. Moments earlier, the flashlight had revealed nothing, but now, in the muzzle flashes, the grotesque creatures became unmistakably visible. These abominations looked like melted zombies fused into a single body, with spider-like legs and ghastly grins plastered across their distorted faces. How long had they been watching him? The creatures seemed equally surprised that Lin Xian had discovered them and attacked without hesitation. Bullets tore into their flesh, splattering black blood that hissed and sizzled as it hit the ground, releasing acrid fumes. ¡°You can be hit?¡± Lin Xian muttered in surprise. When his flashlight revealed nothing earlier, he¡¯d assumed the creatures were intangible. But as the firelight revealed them, the bullets proved effective, ripping into their skin. The creatures let out a collective, deafening roar of rage. One of the heads lurched forward, its mouth opening unnaturally wide to reveal rows of jagged teeth, and spewed a jet of black blood toward Lin Xian. ¡°D**n it!¡± Sensing the deadly danger in the oncoming blood, Lin Xian reacted in an instant, activating Backlash. Instead of charging forward, he sidestepped rapidly with near-blinding speed, dodging to safety. Hisssss! The black blood splashed onto the platform where Lin Xian had just been standing. It emitted a sizzling, acrid stench as it corroded the metal, white fumes rising in waves. That stuff is no joke, Lin Xian thought, heart pounding as he crouched in the shadows, recalibrating his strategy. The situation had taken a drastic turn, but one thing was clear: the creatures weren¡¯t invincible. If he played this right, he might just make it out alive. Chapter 73: Black Blood The stench of corrosion filled the air, making Lin Xian recoil in shock. He cursed under his breath, ¡°D*mn it, is this thing an alien? It even sprays corrosive acid?¡± Bang! Bang! Bang! The three-headed monster scurried down the wall with unnerving speed, lunging at Lin Xian. Its three grotesque heads opened wide, spraying streams of black blood toward him. Lin Xian quickly darted into the corner of a narrow alley and turned around to conjure an iron fence wall behind him. Hiss! Hiss! The black blood splattered against the wall, corroding it instantly. The monster, moving like a spider, climbed over the fence effortlessly and continued its pursuit. Its speed was terrifying, and the long-range attacks made things worse. Fortunately, Lin Xian had chosen the winding alley. If it were an open space, he would have had to waste time creating defensive barriers, putting him at a significant disadvantage. Da-da-da-da! As the creature rounded a corner to pounce, Lin Xian ambushed it from the next turn, opening fire. Bullets tore into the monster, sending chunks of flesh flying. He turned and ran, glancing at his walkie-talkie. The red light was still blinking¡ªproof that the eerie phenomena had some signal-blocking effect. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll need to upgrade the walkie-talkie with an eerie blood crystal,¡± Lin Xian muttered. ¡°Da Lou!¡± he shouted suddenly, his voice echoing through the dark street. The three-headed monster was closing in rapidly. Lin Xian, without looking back, threw up steel nets and walls behind him while scattering trip wires and spike traps across the road. Clang! Bang! The traps slowed the creature down, even wounding it slightly. However, its spider-like limbs quickened in fury, and it scurried up high walls, gaining on him. Just then, Lin Xian spotted the street¡¯s exit ahead. On the second-floor balcony stood a hulking silhouette, poised and ready. ¡°Da Lou!¡± ¡°Be careful! This thing spits acid!¡± Lin Xian warned as he sprinted forward. Hisssss! The three-headed monster leapt from the high wall, black blood spewing from its mouths and sizzling through the surfaces it struck. ¡°Die!¡± As the creature lunged at Lin Xian, Da Lou leapt from the balcony, wielding a massive Steel-Slaying Greatsword. With a grunt, he swung the blade in a powerful arc. Slash! Caught off guard, the three-headed monster had no time to react. The blade cleaved through two of its heads, while the third was partially severed. Hiss! A surge of black blood gushed from the monster, spraying toward Da Lou. Anticipating this, Lin Xian quickly erected a thin iron wall to shield him and yanked Da Lou to safety with a swift roll. Hisssss! The corrosive blood burned through the thin metal wall within moments, creating large holes. ¡°That was close!¡± Lin Xian exclaimed, both he and Da Lou rising to their feet. They immediately lifted their firearms and unleashed a hail of bullets at the creature still behind the rapidly corroding wall. Da-da-da-da! The dark alley lit up from the gunfire, the muzzle flashes illuminating the scene. The last remaining head let out a wailing scream under the relentless barrage. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down! Empty the magazines!¡± Lin Xian shouted. The monster¡¯s sudden appearance had been so uncanny that he couldn¡¯t rule out further tricks. With the advantage in hand, the two continued firing, refusing to let up. Click-click-click! Lin Xian¡¯s rifle ran dry. Without hesitation, he dropped it and raised both hands¡ªone emitting a concentrated Wind Cannon, the other crackling with Electric Discharge. Zap! Zap! Wind bullets tore through the air, and arcs of electricity exploded violently. Against an eerie creature like this, Lin Xian knew hesitation was deadly. A monster with three heads? Who¡¯s to say it doesn¡¯t have three lives? For over a minute, they unleashed everything they had. Only when Da Lou¡¯s machine gun clicked empty did the gunfire cease. The echoes of their shots reverberated through the narrow alley. Panting heavily, Lin Xian shone a flashlight forward. The three-headed monster lay in a mangled heap, reduced to unrecognizable flesh. The black blood that pooled beneath it had entirely corroded the thin metal plate Lin Xian had conjured. ¡°Is it finally dead?¡± Lin Xian muttered, the blood still hissing as it devoured the ground. The gunfire had attracted the groans of nearby zombies. Without delay, Lin Xian approached cautiously, covering his nose and mouth. As he neared the remains, a wisp of black mist became visible in the flashlight¡¯s beam. Hearing faint whispers and sobs, Lin Xian smirked. ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± The black mist coalesced on the ground, forming a crimson bead. Identical in size to the one Lin Xian had traded for earlier, it emanated an eerie glow. Worried about the corrosive black blood, Lin Xian conjured a long metal clamp and a simple iron box to retrieve the bead. ¡°This thing is such a pain,¡± he muttered. The stench was overwhelming, and Lin Xian accidentally inhaled a trace of the air. His head spun, his insides churned, and he almost vomited. ¡°Get back!¡± he barked at Da Lou. Without hesitation, they climbed into the off-road vehicle and sped away from the nightmarish scene. The engine roared as the vehicle¡¯s headlights pierced the oppressive darkness ahead. ¡°These eerie creatures are too strange...¡± Lin Xian muttered from the passenger seat, staring at the crimson bead in the iron box. ¡°It¡¯s like they can sense our presence¡ªalways appearing nearby.¡± Initially, he had thought they emerged from nests hidden in the dark. But in the daylight, no nests could be found, and their appearances remained inexplicable. ¡°Could they teleport?¡± Da Lou asked, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. ¡°If they could teleport, I¡¯d be dead by now,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°But their sudden appearances are way too abnormal. No footsteps, no signs, nothing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost as if... they¡¯ve been here all along,¡± he said, his voice faltering. A chill ran down his spine. Glancing at Da Lou, Lin Xian caught a glimpse of something red out of the corner of his eye. His pupils constricted, and he turned sharply toward the rearview mirror. In the back seat sat a woman in a red dress, her hair disheveled, her face hidden in shadows. Lin Xian froze. Whipping around, he found the back seat empty. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Brother Xian?¡± Da Lou asked, noticing his reaction. Lin Xian¡¯s face was grim. ¡°Something¡¯s not right...¡± Zzz... Zzz... The crackle of static interrupted him. The walkie-talkie in Lin Xian¡¯s hand came to life, though he hadn¡¯t touched it. ¡°Zzz... Zzz...¡± ¡°Zzz... Happy... Zzz... Birthday... Zzz...¡± A raspy, haunting voice hummed through the static. Chapter 74: Disturbance At Yu Chi Station, the Infinite Train sat quietly on the tracks. Before dawn, a fierce wind began to howl through the night, carrying snow that lashed against the train¡¯s armored seams, creating a ghostly wailing sound. Inside the carriage, Luo Shasha clutched her rifle nervously. Her cheeks were flushed red from the cold, and she occasionally glanced outside the window with apprehension. Buzzzz... The lights in Carriage No. 5 dimmed briefly before flickering back to life. Shasha startled, glancing upward before shifting her gaze toward the distant carriages. In the driver¡¯s cabin, Chen Sixuan stood perfectly still, appearing just as vigilant as Shasha. To conserve energy, the train¡¯s heating system had been shut off, and the temperature inside the carriages had dropped significantly. Shasha blew warm breath onto her hands and looked toward the far end of the train again. ¡°Chen-jiejie, are you cold?¡± she asked through the walkie-talkie, her unease bubbling to the surface. Crack... ¡°A little. What about you?¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice replied, calm yet tired. Shasha glanced at her watch; dawn was close, and the thought brought her some comfort. ¡°My hands are freezing,¡± Shasha complained. Crack... ¡°I¡¯ll grab you a pair of gloves. I remember we collected some earlier,¡± Chen Sixuan replied. ¡°Okay!¡± Shasha rubbed her hands together, feeling the biting chill. Yet as she turned to check, Chen Sixuan hadn¡¯t moved. She still stood in the same spot near the driver¡¯s cabin, motionless. A chill crawled down Shasha¡¯s spine. Gritting her teeth, she spoke into the walkie-talkie again. ¡°Chen-jiejie, are you coming?¡± No response. She tried again. ¡°Chen-jiejie, are you coming?¡± A strange voice answered, not from the walkie-talkie, but from right behind her. ¡°I¡¯m already here, right behind you.¡± The unfamiliar voice froze Shasha in place. Her face went pale, and she whipped around with her gun raised. There was nothing there. The dimly lit Carriage No. 5 was filled with cold tools and storage racks, but no one else. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Shasha panted heavily, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She scanned the carriage, her wide eyes searching every shadow. Silence. Her gaze shifted down the narrow aisle. Though the carriages were only 100 to 200 meters long, the distance felt impossibly vast. At the far end, Chen Sixuan¡¯s silhouette remained, but now it was no longer side-on. It faced directly toward her. Shasha¡¯s voice trembled as she shouted, ¡°Chen-jiejie!¡± The silhouette didn¡¯t react. At that moment, headlights and the rumble of an engine outside caught Shasha¡¯s attention. Relief washed over her as she realized Lin Xian and Da Lou had returned. She turned toward the window¡ªonly to find herself staring at a horrifying ghostly face pressed against the glass. ¡°AHHH!¡± Shasha screamed, stumbling back and falling onto the floor. The train¡¯s lights abruptly went out, plunging everything into darkness. Click! Shasha scrambled for her flashlight, turning it on to sweep the beam across the window. The ghostly figure was gone. The surroundings were silent again. Heart still racing, she rose shakily to her feet. The train lights flickered back on, and a shout echoed from the far end. ¡°Shasha, they¡¯re back! Open the door!¡± Chen Sixuan yelled. Still disoriented, Shasha nodded and staggered to the control panel. She pressed the button to lower the hydraulic ramp. Whirrrrr... The steel ramp of Carriage No. 5 descended slowly. Outside, Da Lou¡¯s off-road vehicle roared onto the ramp with Lin Xian firing at the zombie horde in pursuit. Da-da-da-da-da! As soon as Lin Xian jumped out of the vehicle, he started the train¡¯s engine while continuing to fire at the encroaching zombies. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan activated the locomotive controls, and the massive train roared to life. Shasha joined in the defense, firing a grenade launcher. The explosion tore through the zombie tide, sending flaming debris and shattered bodies flying. Da Lou secured the car¡¯s tow chain and fired alongside Lin Xian as they retreated into the train. The ramp retracted, and the train began to accelerate. ¡°Brother Lin, there¡¯s something wrong with the train!¡± Shasha exclaimed as Lin Xian climbed aboard. ¡°On the train?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He handed her the iron box containing the eerie blood crystal. ¡°Check if you can pick up any official broadcasts from Mount Daluo.¡± If they accelerated too quickly, they might miss the switch to the southern line. He needed a backup plan. ¡°Got it!¡± Shasha nodded and began scanning frequencies. Lin Xian rushed toward the driver¡¯s cabin. ¡°Teacher Chen!¡± The world outside was now darker than ever, the pitch-black void pressing against the train¡¯s headlights. Lin Xian burst into the cabin, finding Chen Sixuan pale and pointing ahead. ¡°Lin Xian, look!¡± On the tracks in front of the Infinite Train stood a grotesque, white figure. Its gangly limbs and pallid flesh resembled the earlier Pale Giant. Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. The night¡¯s hunt had stirred up something they shouldn¡¯t have. ¡°Run it down!¡± With no way back, Lin Xian could only hope the train¡¯s reinforced armor would hold. He activated the Mechanical Heart to enhance its defenses. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Chen Sixuan cried out as the train surged forward. ¡°Hold on!¡± Lin Xian shoved her down and ducked low himself, letting the train charge headlong into the figure. Crash! Rumble! The Infinite Train, equipped with its Icebreaker Shield, collided with the monstrous entity, sending it tumbling beneath the wheels. A jarring screech echoed as electromagnetic interference caused the train¡¯s lights to flicker violently. Zzz... Zzz... Lin Xian looked up, relieved to see the train¡¯s armor intact. However, the headlights could barely pierce 20 meters ahead, swallowed by the oppressive darkness. The radar display was a mess of static and noise, rendering it useless. ¡°Lin Xian, we can¡¯t see anything!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice trembled as she stared at the malfunctioning radar. ¡°Should we stop?¡± The risk of derailment loomed large, and Kiki¡¯s condition in the medical bay only added to their urgency. Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced. ¡°Teacher Chen, how far is the next tunnel?¡± Chen Sixuan hesitated before replying, ¡°About 13 kilometers.¡± ¡°Then we push 10 kilometers and stop!¡± Lin Xian decided. Whatever they had provoked, staying at Yu Chi Station was no longer an option. Shasha staggered down the hallway toward Carriage No. 2, keeping an ear on Lin Xian¡¯s orders while checking on Kiki. Thump, thump, thump! The sound of claws scraping and bodies climbing echoed from outside the train. Shadows danced in the dim light, revealing numerous unknown creatures assaulting the carriages. ¡°Stay alert!¡± Lin Xian shouted to everyone. A bone-chilling cold seeped into the train as an eerie silence blanketed the night. Chapter 75: The Radio Bang, bang, bang... Outside the speeding train in the dark, the sounds of impacts grew more frequent. Inside, the flickering lights of the carriages barely held off the oppressive gloom. The chilling air seeped through every corner, leaving Luo Shasha trembling as she curled up on her bed. Beyond the windows, the blackness revealed nothing of what lay outside. The violent shaking and crashes sent waves of tension through everyone on board. Time dragged on, each second feeling like an eternity. Finally, as the train gained speed, the noises outside began to fade, and an uneasy silence settled over the surroundings. ¡°We¡¯re approaching the tunnel!¡± Chen Sixuan called out, her eyes fixed on the driver¡¯s display and the pitch-black night ahead. Anxiety laced her voice as she turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Stop the train!¡± Screeeeeech! The brakes groaned as the train screeched to a halt, the sound echoing across the desolate tracks. ¡°Could those monsters still...¡± Chen Sixuan began nervously. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s almost dawn. Charging into an unknown tunnel in the dark could bury us alive,¡± Lin Xian said grimly. His concern was valid. The train¡¯s armor had withstood the creatures so far, but entering a tunnel could lead to catastrophic collapse if the monsters triggered anything. The Infinite Train stood motionless on the tracks, snow and wind piling against its steel exterior. The quiet was unsettling, but the sounds of pursuit seemed to have ceased. The clock ticked closer to 4:00 a.m.; daylight was imminent. Even so, Lin Xian remained tense. Turning to Chen Sixuan, he asked, ¡°Teacher Chen, Shasha mentioned something strange on the train earlier. Did you see anything unusual?¡± Chen Sixuan shook her head, grabbing the nearby walkie-talkie. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. The walkie-talkie¡¯s been cutting out intermittently, like what happened in the fog.¡± ¡°Brother Lin!¡± Shasha¡¯s voice suddenly echoed from Carriage No. 1. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan immediately rushed toward her. ¡°What happened?¡± Lin Xian asked upon entering. Shasha, pale with fear, pointed at the sofa. Resting on it was the radio, with the eerie blood crystal placed atop it. The crystal emitted a faint red glow, and the radio was making strange noises. ¡°Zzz... zzz...¡± Da Lou arrived, gun in hand, as the group stared in shock at the radio. Shasha stammered, pointing with wide eyes, ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s moving!¡± The black radio on the sofa was indeed acting bizarrely. The orange frequency display numbers flashed erratically, and the tuning knobs twisted and turned as if alive¡ªbreathing. ¡°I put the red crystal on it, and it just started making noise!¡± Shasha said, her voice trembling. ¡°Lin Xian, what is this?¡± Da Lou asked, his expression grim as he stepped protectively in front of Shasha. ¡°Be careful. Our walkie-talkies started doing the same earlier,¡± Lin Xian cautioned. Shasha peeked out from behind Da Lou and added urgently, ¡°It¡¯s not just that! When I was talking to Chen-jiejie earlier, she said she¡¯d get me gloves, but then stopped responding. When I called her again, something that sounded like her voice said, ¡®I¡¯m right behind you.¡¯ I turned around, but no one was there!¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°It said that behind you?¡± Shasha nodded quickly, her fear evident. Chen Sixuan gasped, covering her mouth. ¡°I never said I¡¯d get you gloves! When did you talk to me?¡± The atmosphere in the carriage grew heavy, an icy dread spreading among them. Shasha backed away, nearly in tears. ¡°Chen-jiejie, don¡¯t scare me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡± Chen Sixuan replied anxiously. ¡°My walkie-talkie never went off!¡± Shasha¡¯s voice rose in panic. ¡°Then there¡¯s something else on this train!¡± The group turned as the static from the radio intensified. The orange frequency display flashed wildly, the knobs twisting faster. Amidst the noise, faint voices emerged. ¡°Zzz... no... zzz... don¡¯t... zzz...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t... zzz... open... zzz...¡± ¡°Zzz... don¡¯t open... 15... zzz...¡± ¡°Zzz... 1... 5... 4... 2... don¡¯t... contact... anyone... zzz...¡± The voices were filled with terror, each word drenched in fear. ¡°Is someone trying to warn us?!¡± Chen Sixuan exclaimed, horrified. Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. ¡°1542?¡± The number sparked a chilling memory in his mind. He recalled the stories shared around the campfire: ¡°A strange 1542 frequency has been reported in the Ping¡¯a Lake, Congshan, Beiwang, and Mount Daluo areas. Three convoys have received it at night, and people have gone missing. Witnesses describe it as tied to supernatural phenomena...¡± Suddenly, the warning voice stopped, replaced by a haunting melody that froze everyone in place. ¡°Zzz... Happy birthday to you... happy birthday to you...¡± The voice, initially melodic, became raspy and guttural, like a demon whispering in the dark. ¡°Happy... birthday... to... you...¡± ¡°Who¡¯s singing?!¡± Chen Sixuan cried, her voice trembling. ¡°This is insane!¡± Da Lou muttered, gripping his gun tighter. ¡°Lin Xian, look!¡± Chen Sixuan shouted. The frequency display flashed wildly before abruptly halting on a single number: 1542. At the same time, the train lights flickered ominously. The air felt heavy, as if the train itself were holding its breath. All four froze, their faces pale and drenched in cold sweat. Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts raced back to the ominous campfire stories. His voice was sharp as he barked, ¡°Everyone, stay alert. This thing is dangerous!¡± He stepped forward decisively and removed the eerie blood crystal from the radio. Click. The radio fell silent. Its lights dimmed, and the room returned to an uneasy calm. Huff... Lin Xian exhaled deeply, feeling the cold, metallic touch of the crystal in his hand. ¡°That should...¡± He turned to address the others¡ªand froze. In the darkness of Carriage No. 1, the space behind him was completely empty. Not a single person was there. Chapter 76: The Unmanned Train The night was as dark as ink. The massive train seemed completely devoured by the darkness, standing silently on the desolate tracks. Inside the hollow carriages, the cabin lights were clearly on, yet it felt as if some kind of black veil obscured them. The narrow corridor of the train was shrouded in an eerie dimness¡ª As if the entire world had darkened. Lin Xian stood frozen in place, his eyes wide with shock. At this moment, it seemed like the only sound he could hear was his own heartbeat. Everyone was gone. A chill crept from the soles of his feet straight up to the top of his head. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils slowly shifted as he scanned his surroundings, not daring to move a muscle. Just moments ago, three people had been right behind him. Now, it was as if they had vanished into thin air. His gaze swept toward the far end of the corridor leading to the cockpit¡ªit was pitch black. There should have been lights there, yet the glow was mercilessly swallowed by the darkness. Only a faint orange glimmer struggled to remain, unable to penetrate further into the void. Lin Xian turned his head toward Carriage No. 2. At the far end¡ªnothing but blackness. His spine tingled with cold. He tensed up, focused his mind, and called out: ¡°Mr. Chen?¡± No response. ¡°Shasha... Luo Ye?¡± Silence. Lin Xian¡¯s pulse quickened. The sudden shift in reality left him momentarily stunned. Hoo~ He took a deep breath, steadying himself, suppressing the fear rising in his chest, and cautiously took two steps forward. Di~~ Da-da-da A soft rolling sound echoed behind him. Lin Xian spun around abruptly. From the depths of the dark carriage, a small, delicate glass marble slowly rolled out. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± His voice rang out through the train, bouncing off the walls. No answer. He took a step closer, eyes locked onto the marble. It was crystal-clear, with swirling streaks of vibrant color inside¡ªjust like the kind children played with. Lights on! Lin Xian refused to believe this was real. He was in control of the entire train¡ªhe had already turned the lights on! For a brief moment, the overhead lights flared, as if hit by a sudden surge of electricity, but just as quickly, the darkness pressed in again, suppressing their brightness. He stepped into Carriage No. 2. In the distance, KIKI¡¯s laptop screen flickered with static, casting weak, erratic glows in the dark. Lin Xian¡¯s heart tightened. He turned sharply and strode toward the cockpit. The cockpit had large viewing windows¡ªhe should be able to see the outside more clearly. Thud~ Thud~ Thud His own footsteps echoed through the train. He quickened his pace¡ªthen suddenly stopped. Out of the corner of his eye¡ª Something was floating in the corridor ahead. Lin Xian took a step closer, narrowing his eyes. Dozens of strands¡ªthin and black¡ªswayed gently in the air, hanging eerily in the corridor. Frowning, he reached out to grab them. But the moment his fingers neared, the strands flickered like a phantom and vanished. Strange events were happening one after another. Lin Xian pulled out his flashlight. Click. A harsh, pale-white beam cut through the darkness, illuminating the complex machinery in the middle corridor of the locomotive. He quickened his pace, moving toward the front of the train. The beam of light revealed nothing¡ªno one was there. Raising the flashlight to the window, he looked outside. A vast, snowy wasteland stretched before him. The tracks ahead vanished into a seemingly endless void. Then¡ª Under the flickering glow of his light¡ª Lin Xian saw a red figure standing on the tracks ahead. His eyes widened. A dark, human-shaped silhouette stood motionless at the very center of the railway, directly in front of the train. Lin Xian frowned, immediately shining his flashlight over. The white beam swept across¡ªnothing. The shadow had disappeared. A cold dread crawled up his spine. Then¡ª That marble-rolling sound came again. Di~~ Da-da-da This time¡ª It was close. Only a few steps behind him. A frigid breath brushed against the back of his neck. Lin Xian¡¯s face twisted in alarm. He turned his head¡ªslowly. Pitch black. No one there. Yet¡ªbeneath the dim overhead lights in the narrow cockpit hallway¡ª A small shadow had appeared. ¡°What the hell?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s entire body tensed. With a flick of his wrist, a steel blade materialized in his grip. He clenched his teeth. Screw it! Who cares if it¡¯s a ghost or a demon?! Backlash! Whoosh! Suppressing the overwhelming dread, Lin Xian lashed out with a sharp, merciless strike toward the black shadow. Slash! The blade cut through something solid. A sickening sound of flesh being torn filled the air. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils shrank. He had definitely hit something. Whipping around, his breath caught in his throat. The small figure stepped out from the shadows¡ªinto the dim light. A young girl stood there, clutching her bleeding throat in horror. Her face contorted in pain. Luo Shasha. Lin Xian¡¯s expression changed dramatically. Shasha¡¯s fearful gaze met his. Blood gushed from her neck as she collapsed. ¡°Sha¡ª¡± Before he could finish¡ª A chill shot through his spine. Something was behind him. Lin Xian whirled around. A woman in a red dress stood there. Pale, decayed skin. A grotesquely twisted smile stretched across her face. She was half an inch from his own. Hiss! Lin Xian sucked in a sharp breath. Reflexively, he staggered backward, raising his left hand¡ª Wind Cannon! Bang! But before he could fire¡ª His left index finger exploded. Flesh tore apart. The nail shattered. The bone split open, hanging by a thin strip of skin. ¡°Ahh¡ª!!¡± Lin Xian gritted his teeth, stifling a pained groan. His horrified gaze dropped to his mangled hand. He looked up again¡ª The red-dressed woman was gone. Far away, in the dimly lit Carriage No. 2¡ª The red shadow stood there, unmoving. Thump-thump! Thump-thump! His heart pounded violently. Adrenaline surged through his veins. Pain and terror clawed at his sanity. His mind reeled from the relentless horror. Hiss... Lin Xian¡¯s gaze darted between his mangled hand and the pool of blood on the floor. His breath came in ragged gasps. Had he... just killed Luo Shasha?! ¡°Shasha?!¡± Pressing his wounded hand to his chest, he called out tentatively. No response. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing. He stepped forward¡ª But then¡ª From the shadows behind her body, a ghastly pale hand slowly emerged. It grabbed Shasha¡¯s ankle. And yanked. Shhhhk! Her body was dragged into the darkness. A trail of blood was all that remained. Lin Xian¡¯s scalp prickled with horror. His instincts screamed at him to stay calm, but a deep, suffocating fear gnawed at his mind. The armor, the Icebreaker Shield¡ªnone of it was working. An overwhelming sense of despair began to take root. The pain in his finger was agonizing, his cold sweat unceasing. Something was wrong. 1542 Radio Station. The mysterious disappearances. The paranormal phenomena. The Red-Dressed Ghost... A memory surfaced¡ªJiang Yun¡¯s words echoed in his ears: "Be careful... This thing doesn¡¯t just react to human sounds..." ¡°...What exactly is wrong here?¡± A chilling gust swept through the carriage. The dimming lights flickered once more. The red shadow¡ª Was getting closer. Chapter 77: The Silver Antenna The dimly lit carriage grew even darker. Light seemed unable to pierce through the overwhelming darkness, as though it, too, was being swallowed along with Lin Xian¡¯s rising fear. Cold sweat covered his forehead. He was on the verge of panic, yet he clung desperately to the last shreds of rationality. No, no, no. Something isn¡¯t right. Where? Where is the problem? What did I notice? Plap. Plap. Footsteps echoed from deep within the darkness. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Lin Xian tightened his grip on the steel blade in his hand, sweat dripping like rain. The corridor ahead grew darker and darker¡ªhe could no longer see what lay before him. No one responded. Yet Lin Xian could feel it¡ªsomeone was standing in the darkness right in front of him. A chilling presence crept closer. Hoo~ Hoo~ His heartbeat pounded wildly in his chest. He rubbed his eyes, straining to see¡ªbut nothing came into focus. ¡°Why can¡¯t I see? What¡¯s stopping me from seeing?¡± Then¡ª A pale hand suddenly emerged from the darkness, reaching toward him. Lin Xian¡¯s expression shifted drastically. His grip on the steel blade tightened, his body tensed¡ª He was about to strike¡ª But stopped. Because¡ª He saw frostbite scars on the back of that hand. Would a ghost suffer from frostbite? Lin Xian had to admire himself¡ªon the verge of losing his mind, he still managed to ask such an absurd question. Yet that very question yanked him back from the brink of insanity, snapping him into focus. He finally understood what was wrong. His eyes sharpened. Without hesitation, he grabbed his severed finger, gritted his teeth¡ª And ripped it off completely. Hiss¡ª! The searing pain nearly knocked him unconscious. Gasping for breath, he raised his left hand again. But this time, he ignored the ghostly shadows lurking in the darkness. Instead¡ª He pointed his bleeding wound directly at the radio on the couch. Wind Cannon! Bang! A powerful shockwave exploded forth. The black radio was blasted off the couch¡ªbut it didn¡¯t shatter. Instead, it crackled strangely, its frequency display flickering wildly. Click! With a crisp metallic sound¡ª A silver object flew out from within. The entire train flared with blinding light. Every corridor and passageway was suddenly illuminated. And at that moment¡ª The black shadow in front of him was fully revealed. Lin Xian¡¯s breath caught in his throat. It was himself. The other Lin Xian stood there, wearing an eerie, twisted smile, staring at him unblinkingly. A chill crawled up Lin Xian¡¯s spine. With the sudden burst of light, the other Lin Xian rapidly retreated into the shadows¡ª And disappeared in the blink of an eye. Lin Xian instinctively stumbled back, his mind racing. ¡°As I suspected!¡± Hoo~ Hoo~ His breath came in sharp gasps. Looking down at his left hand¡ªhis fingers were intact. Glancing back¡ªthere was no girl, no blood. His heart pounded furiously. ¡°If I had attacked earlier... would I have ended up killing myself?¡± And that wasn¡¯t the only strange thing. The glass marble in the dark. The red-dressed ghost in the carriage. The bone-crushing pain in his severed finger. All of these were childhood fears of his. They terrified him but never truly harmed him. But when he believed he had killed Luo Shasha, his mind unraveled. That was when the shadow version of himself appeared. Had he given in to his instincts and attacked without thinking¡ª He would¡¯ve killed himself. Two more details stood out. First¡ªthe frostbite scars on both the shadow¡¯s hand and his own hand. Second¡ªthe radio on the couch. The entire train was under Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart control. Even if fear clouded his mind, it couldn¡¯t interfere with his system¡¯s readings. Yet that radio¡ª The power switch was off¡ªbut the frequency display was glowing. If he wasn¡¯t controlling it¡ª Then something else was. Something inside this twisted reality was amplifying his fears. Clang! Clang! The silver object landed on the floor, producing a sharp metallic sound. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze locked onto it¡ª It was a silver antenna. And strangely enough¡ª It moved on its own. It rolled swiftly across the floor, heading toward Carriage No. 3. Swish~ Swish~ Something¡¯s off. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He stepped forward and chased after it. Now that he understood¡ªhis greatest fears had been turned into reality. The glass marble, the red-dressed ghost, the severed finger¡ª All of it was fake. That cursed radio station possessed some kind of supernatural power¡ª It was broadcasting fear. It was unleashing terror. It was trying to make him kill himself. Gurgle~~ The silver antenna rolled deeper into the darkness. Then¡ªClang! It collided with a toolbox and stopped. Lin Xian narrowed his eyes and strode forward. Just as he took a step¡ª The red-dressed ghost lunged at him from thin air! His heartbeat skipped. His expression twisted in fear. He staggered back. But this time¡ª He forced himself to remain calm. ¡°Nice figure.¡± Clenching his teeth¡ªhe reached for the ghost¡¯s chest. The red-dressed ghost¡¯s face twisted in horror¡ª And she vanished instantly. Same trick, different method! Lin Xian smirked. This wasn¡¯t supernatural. This was psychological terror. Taking another step¡ª A spinning blade flew at his neck¡ª And his head was sliced off. Yet Lin Xian simply picked up his severed head, held it in his hands¡ª And inspected it. ¡°So this is what my back looks like.¡± Then, he reattached his head¡ªand kept walking forward. Ahead, the carriage glowed red¡ª A bloody tide surged forward, carrying countless severed heads in its wake. Lin Xian conjured an Ice Shield, pushing forward through the blood and dismembered heads. He even grabbed a severed head, weighing it in his hand. ¡°Nice. This melon¡¯s ripe.¡± The silver antenna continued releasing his fears¡ª But Lin Xian had already seen through the trick. The train lights flickered erratically. The carriage doors creaked open. Steel groaned under invisible pressure. ¡°Really pulling out all the stops now, huh?¡± Lin Xian stood before the toolbox, eyes fixed coldly on the silver antenna. ¡°This is MY train, you damn ghost.¡± Snap. He snapped his fingers. Whoosh! His Mechanical Heart roared to life. The shutters slammed shut. The doors froze in place. The lights stabilized. The locomotive engine hummed steadily. If not for his Mechanical Heart, he would¡¯ve drowned in fear, unable to tell illusion from reality. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you really are.¡± Lin Xian knelt, reaching for the silver antenna. Instantly¡ª A horde of ghosts and corpses surged toward him. But he ignored them all¡ª And grabbed the antenna. Swish! The nightmares vanished. ¡°Knew it! This thing was behind it all.¡± But¡ª As soon as he held the antenna¡ª The train plunged into total darkness. And then¡ª A creature appeared. A white-furred beast, blood dripping from its mouth¡ª Holding KIKI in its arms. Chapter 78: The Invisible Horror Why is KIKI here?! Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. His flashlight¡¯s beam fell upon the white creature, which slowly lifted its head and gazed at him with an unusual expression¡ª A look of surprise. A look of confusion. Almost as if... It was astonished that Lin Xian could see it. Lin Xian noticed a few strands of KIKI¡¯s hair drifting in the air¡ª And suddenly, realization struck. The hair from before... was KIKI¡¯s? Had this creature been standing here the whole time? Then why hadn¡¯t he seen it before? A chilling thought flashed through his mind. He looked down at the silver antenna in his hand, feeling his consciousness fading fast. ¡°What the hell is this thing?!¡± Sensing imminent danger, he raised his hand and fired a Wind Cannon at the creature. Boom! The creature¡¯s head was blown apart. A surge of black mist erupted from the wound. The monster let out a shrill scream, desperately flapping its wings as if trying to catch the escaping black mist¡ª And at that moment, KIKI slipped from its grasp, collapsing onto the floor. I hit it?! Lin Xian was momentarily stunned but had no time to dwell on it. Without hesitation, he lunged forward to save KIKI. The black mist continued to spew out, expanding rapidly¡ª Like an inflating cloud of darkness, swallowing the entire Carriage No. 1. Lin Xian covered his mouth and nose as he charged into the fog. The moment he entered¡ª His world spun violently. Hoo~ Hoo~ It was as if he had fallen into an endless abyss. A crushing sense of weightlessness engulfed him. Breaking through the mist¡ª Lin Xian¡¯s eyes snapped open. And found himself somewhere entirely different. A Silent, Apocalyptic City A dead city stretched beneath an overcast sky. The urban landscape¡ªstrangely familiar yet eerily foreign¡ª Lay in ruin under the suffocating dark clouds. In the distant skyline, a line of signal lights pulsed like breathing embers, flickering against the massive steel defensive walls encircling the city. The faint glows looked like the last dying flames of humanity, radiating a solemn yet oppressive atmosphere. Then¡ª Lin Xian lifted his gaze toward the sky. And his breath hitched. There¡ª A colossal humanoid corpse floated face-down in the sky. A decayed giant, spanning over ten kilometers. Its ashen, dried-up skin was wrinkled like a mountain range of scars. Its hollow black eyes were void of life, exuding an unspeakable pressure as it drifted silently over the city. A whispering chorus of eerie voices filled Lin Xian¡¯s ears. Slowly, he lifted his head¡ª And stared into the abyssal eyes of the floating corpse... The atmosphere inside the train was incredibly tense. Chen Sixuan, Luo Shasha, and Luo Ye stood frozen¡ª Their faces pale as they watched Lin Xian vanish before their eyes. ¡°Brother Lin disappeared?!¡± Luo Shasha gasped. Luo Ye was equally shaken¡ªcompletely unable to process what had just happened. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Lin Xian?! Lin Xian?!¡± Chen Sixuan frantically called out¡ª No response. A living, breathing person had just vanished into thin air right in front of them. ¡°What the hell is happening?!¡± Luo Shasha¡¯s face was stricken with panic. ¡°1542 Radio... That¡¯s it!¡± ¡°That day, when KIKI came back, she told me about it!¡± Her voice trembled. ¡°Oh no, did Brother Lin disappear too?!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s face turned ghostly pale. Thud. Thud. Thud. A sound echoed from the floor of the train. ¡°Chen Sis... listen...¡± Luo Shasha¡¯s voice quivered as she stared at the floor. ¡°There¡¯s... footsteps.¡± Thud. Thud. Thud. The three of them staggered backward. The footsteps grew faster¡ª Moving from Carriage No. 2 toward the cockpit¡ª Then pausing beside KIKI¡¯s bed. Before turning back. Thud. Thud. The sound stopped at the cockpit¡ª Then started coming back. ¡°What the hell is this?!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. Her face was filled with fear. ¡°Could it be Brother Lin?!¡± Luo Shasha waved her hand through the air¡ª Nothing. ¡°Is he invisible?! I swear, I can still feel him on the train!¡± ¡°Is this really the work of the 1542 Radio?¡± "Zzzzzt..." The radio on the couch still displayed the 1542 frequency, its speaker emitting weak static sounds. The train fell silent. Faintly, they could hear the sound of wind coming through the radio. ¡°Chen Sis... Should we turn it off?¡± Luo Shasha¡¯s voice was full of fear. Chen Sixuan¡¯s entire body was covered in chills. She hesitated for only a second¡ª Then strode forward and shut off the radio. But¡ª Even after turning it off¡ª The frequency numbers still glowed. ¡°Oh my god... it¡¯s still on!¡± Luo Shasha shrieked. ¡°What the hell is going on?!¡± They all backed away, eyes locked on the radio. Whoosh! Suddenly¡ª The train¡¯s lights flared up. The engine of the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive roared to life. Click. Click. Click. The shutters dropped. The gates opened. Bright daylight flooded into the train¡ª Driving back the darkness. Beep. Beep. The time displayed: 16:05. Morning had come. Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression shifted¡ª ¡°It¡¯s Lin Xian! He¡¯s controlling the train!¡± ¡°He¡¯s still on board!¡± Daylight illuminated the world, yet the three of them felt no relief. ¡°Yes! It has to be Brother Lin!¡± ¡°But... why can¡¯t we see him?!¡± Luo Shasha reached into the air, trying to grasp something unseen¡ª But there was nothing. She turned her head¡ª And her face drained of color. ¡°Look! KIKI is bleeding again!¡± Chen Sixuan spun around. Sure enough¡ª A fresh trickle of blood dripped from KIKI¡¯s nose. ¡°Shasha, get some water!¡± The three of them were completely overwhelmed. Lin Xian was gone. KIKI¡¯s condition was worsening. Tension choked the air. Luo Shasha lifted KIKI¡¯s eyelids¡ª Her pupils were almost entirely black. Her breathing was growing weaker. ¡°What do we do?! KIKI¡¯s getting worse!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s face twisted in worry. ¡°Quick! Where¡¯s the red crystal?!¡± Luo Ye turned, voice low¡ª ¡°It¡¯s gone. Lin Xian took it earlier.¡± ¡°Sh*t! That eerie blood crystal is missing!¡± Luo Shasha frantically searched the couch¡ªbut found nothing. BANG! Suddenly¡ª The radio crackled again. The frequency numbers flashed wildly¡ª Then faded into darkness. The radio had turned off. Chen Sixuan¡¯s heart leapt into her throat. ¡°Something¡¯s happening.¡± She clenched her fists¡ª ¡°Lin Xian is trying to tell us something.¡± ¡°We need to move¡ªnow!¡± Chapter 79: The Prison ¡ª¡ª Lin Xian felt as though his mind was trapped in a fog. A sharp ringing noise buzzed in his ears, while the putrid scent of damp rot filled his nostrils, making him grimace. He had no idea if he was still on the train¡ª Because not even the worst bathroom on the train smelled this disgusting. As he slowly regained consciousness, his blurred vision made out a pitch-black environment. He was inside a dark prison cell. In the dim shadows, a frail figure sat curled up in a corner. Lin Xian squinted¡ª It was a young girl, around thirteen or fourteen, hugging her knees to her chest. Her thin frame showed signs of malnutrition, but her eyes¡ª Her eyes burned with an intense light. As if... She was waiting for something. "KIKI?" Lin Xian¡¯s voice wavered. His mind was still a mess. Why does KIKI look so young?! Sure, she was always a kid, but she wasn¡¯t this small... "Hey, kid," he called out. No response. Suppressing his confusion, Lin Xian got to his feet and started examining his surroundings. He reached the metal door of the cell¡ª A mechanical lock operated by electronic circuits. Placing his hand against it, he activated his Mechanical Heart¡ª The circuits revealed themselves instantly. But this time¡ª No matter what he did, the lock wouldn¡¯t budge. "What the hell?!" He stared at his own hand. Did his ability fail? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be on the train? How did he suddenly end up in this place? What was that monstrous corpse in the sky he had seen earlier? And who was this girl that looked so much like KIKI? His mind was a chaotic mess. CLANG! The sound of a heavy metal gate opening rang from afar. Someone was coming. In the shadows, the young KIKI flinched. Lin Xian turned to look at her¡ª And saw fear flash in her eyes. The sound of leather boots echoed down the corridor. A group of men in uniforms and peaked caps approached the cell. Lin Xian tensed¡ªhis Wind Cannon was ready. The man in charge, a middle-aged officer, swept his gaze across the cell¡ª And looked directly at KIKI. As if Lin Xian wasn¡¯t even there. "Is this the one?" "Yes." "Take her away." "305, open the door." Beep! The electric lock disengaged, and the iron gate swung open. Two guards stepped inside, grabbing KIKI by her arms and lifting her. Lin Xian shot to his feet¡ª Ready to intervene¡ª But froze. Because he realized¡ª No one could see him. "What the hell?!" A chilling realization crept over him. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. This isn¡¯t real. I must be inside some kind of... mental projection. The moment KIKI was taken away, the scenery outside the iron bars shifted violently. Suddenly¡ª Lin Xian was no longer in a prison cell. Instead¡ª It was like he was watching a movie theater in the dark. KIKI sat stiffly on a chair. A woman in formal attire stood before her, holding a file in her hands. She spoke in a calm, detached voice. "Your name is Zhao Enqi?" "Yes." KIKI¡¯s voice was low and emotionless. "What is your relationship with Zhao Lu?" "Nothing." "But according to our records, she¡¯s your biological mother. She abandoned you at the Yulan Orphanage eight years ago¡ªthen disappeared." KIKI''s eyes remained empty. "What exactly do you want to ask?" The woman continued, unfazed. "How much do you know about her?" Silence. After a brief pause, the woman said: "We found a possible match for your father in Zhao Lu¡¯s records. Do you want to meet him?" KIKI didn¡¯t react. "Your father¡¯s surname is Wen. He¡¯s the CEO of Linglong Group, the wealthiest man in the city." KIKI let out a dry chuckle. "So I hit the jackpot, huh?" Her words were devoid of any excitement. The woman smirked coldly. "I reviewed your records¡ª" "You escaped from the orphanage at eight years old. You survived in the Old District by scamming people. You taught yourself programming just so you could hack ATMs for cash." "You¡¯ve been arrested 19 times in 6 years." "What a criminal record. Imagine that¡ªa street rat like you ending up with such a privileged father. You must feel so proud." KIKI''s eyes hardened, but she remained silent. The woman¡¯s tone darkened. "A week ago¡ª" "Your mother, Zhao Lu, was found dead near the Lucheng Sewage Plant." "Her corpse had already rotted for over twenty days." KIKI¡¯s fingers trembled¡ªjust barely. But her face stayed emotionless. A group of men surrounded a battered woman, beating her mercilessly. Blood streamed from her mouth and nose. Her screams were gut-wrenching. "WHERE IS YOUR DAUGHTER?!" A man in a black suit kicked her stomach viciously. "You think we won¡¯t find her if you keep quiet?!" "I... I don¡¯t know..." She sobbed, pleading desperately. But¡ª The beatings only became more brutal. Before long, the woman¡¯s body stopped struggling. Blood soaked her entire face... "Can you help me?" A soft, weightless voice echoed behind Lin Xian. He spun around. The frail girl stood there¡ª Watching him from the shadows. Her delicate face was hidden in the darkness, but her eyes burned with intensity. "Do you know who I am?" Lin Xian asked. "You¡¯re here to help me." KIKI¡¯s voice was calm. "Help you how?" Lin Xian frowned. She raised her hand¡ª Pointing at the men on the riverbank. "Kill them." Lin Xian''s eyes narrowed. "Who... are you?" "I am KIKI." The girl lifted her head. Her gaze cut through the shadows, staring straight at him. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. With a flick of his wrist¡ª His Mechanical Heart hummed to life. A fully-loaded Glock 23 materialized in his grip. His stockpile of salvaged gun parts and materials made crafting basic firearms possible¡ª Though ammo was still limited. The thin girl stared at the gun in fascination. She looked back at Lin Xian¡ª And whispered: "Thank you." On the riverbank. A thug noticed something. "Huh? There¡¯s a kid over there." The men stopped beating the woman and turned. KIKI stood in the distance¡ª Raising her right hand¡ª Fingers shaped like a gun. "What¡¯s this kid doing?" "Is she crazy?" KIKI''s face was expressionless. She murmured softly: "Bang." A gunshot rang out. A man¡¯s skull burst open¡ª Blood spraying across the ground. "Sh*t, she¡¯s got a gun!" "Kill her!" KIKI¡¯s eyes burned with hatred. She whispered again¡ª "Bang. Bang." Bullets ripped through flesh. Screams filled the air. Within seconds, the men were torn apart by gunfire. Chapter 80: Corruption Just as Lin Xian was lost in thought, the scene outside the prison cell changed again. ... This time, it was a dimly lit corridor. A little girl, looking no older than three or four, sat quietly on a bench, clutching a faded teddy bear in her small hands. The bear seemed quite old, but it had been carefully washed and kept clean. The girl sat with her head lowered, obedient and silent, her small face filled with confusion and fear. Not far from her, a door stood slightly ajar, revealing an office inside. "According to the regulations, only children whose parents both have special hardship certificates or severe health issues can be placed in our orphanage. And both parents must be present for the process. Ms. Zhao, your situation clearly does not meet these criteria¡ª" "Director... please, listen to me," the woman¡¯s voice was laced with anxiety and desperation. She pleaded urgently, "She can¡¯t stay with me. She¡¯ll die... she will definitely die..." "This..." "I beg you! She¡¯s very obedient, she won¡¯t cause you any trouble!" The orphanage director saw the panic in the woman¡¯s eyes and frowned. "Ms. Zhao, I¡¯m very sorry¡ª" "AH!!" The woman, who had been relatively composed just moments ago, suddenly trembled violently. Then, in a fit of hysteria, she screamed, yanked at her hair, tore at her collar, and¡ªlike a madwoman¡ªgrabbed a vase from the desk and smashed it against her own head. Bang! Crash! The scene spiraled into chaos. Security guards and teachers rushed into the office, trying to restrain the deranged woman. Meanwhile, the little girl remained seated on the bench in the corridor, her head still lowered. People rushed past her, the noise of shouting and screaming filling the air, but she seemed to have blocked it all out. No one knew how much time had passed before the room finally fell silent. Creak¡ª The door opened. A disheveled woman stepped out and stood at the threshold. She seemed to glance at the little girl¡ªor perhaps she didn¡¯t. She stood there for a moment. Then, she turned and walked toward the far end of the corridor, away from the light. The sunlight cast a long shadow behind her, but her figure blocked the distant glow, making the corridor feel even darker. "Zhao Enqi, your mom is a lunatic!" "We¡¯re not like you. You were abandoned by your mother¡ª" "Your mom hurt the director. She¡¯s going to be executed!" At some point, a group of children had gathered around the girl. They pointed at her and mocked her, their voices filled with cruelty. "Zhao Enqi, why are you so naughty?!" The orphanage teachers appeared as well, their expressions harsh and unforgiving. "Who taught you to lie? You¡¯ve been a liar since you were little. What will you become when you grow up?!" "Zhao Enqi! Why did you sneak out again?!" "Zhao Enqi, you¡¯re just like your mom! Are you a lunatic too?!" ... "Can you help me?" Lin Xian blinked. The children and teachers in the corridor had vanished. He was back in the black prison cell, facing the little girl sitting on the bench. But now, there were three girls in the cell. Lin Xian knew¡ªthey were all KIKI, from different points in time. The youngest KIKI kept her head down, her small hands nervously fiddling with the teddy bear. But she didn¡¯t cry. She simply played with the bear in silence, as if she were just waiting for someone to come and take her away. "Help you with what?" Lin Xian suddenly changed his approach, no longer asking if she recognized him. The little girl raised her hand, just like before, as if waiting for Lin Xian to give her something. Lin Xian frowned. Something felt wrong. His expression darkened, and his voice suddenly turned sharp. "Do you want to kill the director? Or those classmates? Or... do you want to kill your mother?" The little girl remained silent. "No, KIKI." Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew serious. A hint of frustration crept into his voice. "Listen to me. The ones from earlier deserved to die. They had it coming. But your classmates and teachers... they were just¡ª" Lin Xian paused. His lips were dry. He felt trapped in a logical deadlock. After a long silence, he finally forced out a sentence. "They were just annoying... but they didn¡¯t need to die." Everything seemed like fragments of KIKI¡¯s memories. But for some reason, Lin Xian had an overwhelming feeling¡ª If all the children, teachers, and her mother were killed... Then KIKI would no longer exist. Because he had thought of a word¡ª Hatred. Why was he seeing these memories? Was something happening to KIKI? "Whether it''s what the Phoenix disclosed or the rumors among the wanderers, all abilities boil down to three things¡ªan object, a transformation of the body or mind, or a specific condition." A chilling sensation ran through Lin Xian¡¯s body. He felt an eerie shiver crawl up his spine and over his scalp. He suddenly remembered something KIKI had mentioned about the Angel Project. Corruption. "Based on the collected cases, evolution isn¡¯t always guaranteed or predetermined. In some cases... evolution goes wrong!" "KIKI is on the verge of death. Could it be... that her ability is changing?" "Emotion... mind..." "A mutation gone wrong..." "Something is corrupting her?" Lin Xian frowned and instinctively took a few steps back. He recalled the white creature he had seen earlier... and the black ink in KIKI¡¯s eyes. A deep chill spread down his spine. But why had he suddenly seen that white creature? "Was it because of that eerie antenna?" "It must be." "If that¡¯s the case, then has that thing always been with KIKI, just invisible to everyone?" Hiss... Lin Xian stood alone in the black prison cell, his breath ragged, his body trembling. His mind was shaken¡ªhad he just glimpsed a forbidden truth hidden in the darkness? Could it be... that these eerie entities had always been around them?! Not long ago, he had discussed this with Luo Ye, wondering if the creatures of the night weren¡¯t actually drawn by sound, but by the living. Whether it was the Pale Giant or the Three-Faced Spider, they always appeared strangely close to Lin Xian, as if... As if they had been there all along. The moment this thought surfaced, a wave of dread swept through him. His body stiffened. He immediately took a step back. Then, his gaze landed behind the three versions of KIKI. There, in the shadows, stood a massive black figure. Inside this black prison, aside from him and the three girls¡ª Something else was here. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted. He stared at the dark figure, his entire body tense. And the shadow... It was staring back at him. It slowly stepped forward, its ghastly pale face emerging from the darkness. It opened its gaping maw, as if devouring something. One by one, the three versions of KIKI¡ªyoungest to oldest¡ªbegan to wither. Their skin shriveled, their faces twisted in horror. Their life force was being drained away. As he feared! KIKI, with her mind collapsing, was standing on the edge of Corruption! Chapter 81: Duality Inside the pitch-black prison cell. "They were just annoying people..." Four-year-old KIKI mumbled softly, pressing her tiny hand against her chest. "But, Enqi... it hurts here." Lin Xian was about to say something when he suddenly saw the little girl turn around and walk away. His eyes widened in shock as she approached eight-year-old KIKI¡ª And took the handgun from her hands! Lin Xian¡¯s heart dropped. Sh*t! He moved to stop her, but before he could react, the KIKI standing outside the iron bars had already stood up. She raised her tiny hand, shaping it like a gun, and slowly walked towards the end of the corridor. There, the silhouette of a woman had not yet disappeared into the distance... From outside, the joyous laughter of children echoed in the open yard. "Wait!" Lin Xian shouted, gripping the iron bars with both hands, his Mechanical Heart surging with energy¡ª But he couldn''t break the lock no matter how hard he tried. Frustrated, he immediately tried to build something¡ªa machine, anything¡ªthat could cut through the iron bars. But constructing a cutting tool took time, and no matter how desperately he worked, he wouldn¡¯t make it in time. "F* you!" Lin Xian roared in fury and turned around, raising his arm¡ª Then, with a blast, he fired his Wind Cannon straight at the monster lurking in the shadows! Tuk! Tuk! Tuk! The wind bullets struck an invisible wall, dispersing harmlessly, failing to cause any damage to the terrifying, eerie creature. Lin Xian''s expression changed drastically. No... this isn¡¯t right. If that white monster on the train had been the true cause of KIKI¡¯s Corruption, then he had already killed it. So where did this thing come from?! "AHHHH!" The three different versions of KIKI shrieked in terror. But Lin Xian suddenly froze. Terror? No... that wasn¡¯t fear earlier. Fear is... His eyes narrowed sharply as realization struck him. This monster¡ª It was not the same as the White Corrupting Demon from the train! Fear. F*. That silver antenna! Where is it?! Lin Xian looked down at his hand. He remembered holding it¡ª But now, his hand was empty. Huh?! He snapped his head up¡ª And saw the monstrous shadow in the corner. Without hesitation, he lunged forward¡ª And plunged his hand straight into its gaping, bloody maw! "Trying to scare me?!" Lin Xian knew now¡ª The monster that had grabbed KIKI and devoured her back on the train was the real source of the Corruption. Right now, he was inside KIKI¡¯s Corrupted World, probably unconscious somewhere in reality. And this other terrifying entity? It was the work of that silver antenna! Just as he thought! The moment his hand plunged into the monster¡¯s mouth, he felt something¡ª Something cold and metallic. And in an instant¡ª The shadowy figure vanished. A sharp beep echoed through the cell¡ª And the iron bars swung open. Lin Xian blinked in surprise. I was right. Without wasting a second, he bolted out of the cell. Tap, tap, tap... The dark corridor stretched endlessly before him, a faint light flickering in the distance. He ran faster and faster, the light growing blindingly bright. He had to shield his eyes with his arm. Finally¡ª He broke through the light. The sun blazed overhead. The harsh brightness stung his eyes, forcing him to squint as he adjusted to the sudden change. Outside, a vast green lawn stretched before him. The orphanage stood alone in the middle of the wilderness, its fences and gardens long since dismantled. Beyond the orphanage, towering skyscrapers loomed in the distance, their presence making the lone building appear out of place. But there were no massacres. No bloodshed. Just a group of children¡ª Laughing and playing under the sunlight. And beneath the sprawling shade of an ancient banyan tree, he saw her. A tiny girl sat quietly on the grass, clutching her teddy bear. She gazed toward a small road in the distance, where¡ª A disheveled woman walked away, her figure slowly fading into the horizon. It was the back of her mother. Leaving. "Hey..." A familiar voice called out behind him. Lin Xian turned around¡ª And saw KIKI. The KIKI he knew. She stood a few steps away, radiant and smiling. "Thank you, Lin Xian." ... The blizzard raged on outside. Inside Car No. 1, Chen Sixuan and Shasha anxiously monitored KIKI¡¯s condition. For some reason¡ª After all that blood loss, KIKI¡¯s complexion had suddenly improved. Her breathing was steady. Color had returned to her face. "She... doesn¡¯t seem as bad as before," Chen Sixuan murmured, frowning. She couldn¡¯t understand it. KIKI¡¯s condition had been fluctuating wildly, unpredictable and strange. Everything that had happened on the Infinite Train since last night had been disturbingly bizarre. Even now, she still felt lingering fear. But at least... for now, KIKI was getting better. They could finally breathe. "But ever since earlier... I haven¡¯t heard those footsteps anymore." Shasha glanced warily down the corridor, her small face tense with caution. THUD. THUD. THUD. Heavy footsteps echoed. Both women turned their heads sharply¡ª To see Luo Ye striding toward them, his expression grim. "There¡¯s a train ahead." Chen Sixuan and Shasha stiffened. They rushed to the cockpit¡ª And saw it. In the northwest, along the Jiangyu JY3365 railway¡ª A black train was approaching. But it wasn¡¯t on the same track as the Infinite Train. In the distance, the two rail lines would eventually converge¡ª And the black train was headed straight for Mount Daluo. Clank. Clank. Clank. As the train got closer, they saw it clearly. A Starfleet intercontinental-class military train! From the far end of the tracks, a deep rumbling filled the air as the Starfleet¡¯s massive train thundered past. "The military? That¡¯s the Iron Guard Battalion!" Shasha gasped, recognizing the insignia on the black train. The train was loaded with heavy armored tanks¡ª Iron Guard-3 Military Assault Mechs. Three ¡®Destroyer¡¯ Heavy Siege Walkers. And at the very end¡ª A colossal mobile railgun. RUMBLE. RUMBLE. Above them, the sky darkened¡ª As countless aerial gunships and aircraft roared past, shaking the train windows with their sonic booms. "That¡¯s a lot of firepower... and they¡¯re all heading toward Mount Daluo and Yubei City?" Chen Sixuan¡¯s face darkened. "This must be what the radio warned about¡ªan extremely high-risk eerie zone. A Major Eerie Entity. It¡¯s dangerous. We need to take the southern route." "What about Lin Xian? We still can¡¯t reach him on the radio..." Shasha¡¯s eyes flickered with concern as she watched the enormous military force move like a dark storm. It was the first time she had ever seen a military deployment of this scale. "We wait." Chen Sixuan took a deep breath and looked at them. "Luo Ye, check the train while it¡¯s still daylight. Shasha, take the bike and scout ahead on the southern route. I have a bad feeling¡ªno matter which path we take, getting into Yubei City won¡¯t be easy. I¡¯ll stay here to watch over KIKI and keep an eye on Lin Xian. Nightfall is coming. Tonight, we hold position and defend." Shasha nodded. "Alright. Let¡¯s move." Chapter 82: Investigation ... On the vast plains leading out of Mount Daluo, a heavy-duty train sat silently under the night sky. Darkness loomed like ink, and snowflakes drifted down in a quiet storm. Lin Xian was still missing. The Infinite Train had ceased moving, and the two-hour window they had planned to wait during the day had quickly passed. Now that night had fallen, the three of them could only gather inside the train, discussing their next steps while continuing to wait. Chen Sixuan carried a few extra blankets, tucking one over the unconscious KIKI and handing another to Luo Ye. Car No. 5 had been modified into a makeshift sleeping cabin, where Luo Ye resided. Most of the surrounding space was welded into tool racks, filled with steel and various equipment. "Any updates?" Chen Sixuan asked. Shasha sat on the sofa, staring uneasily at the radio, a trace of fear in her expression. "I don¡¯t know why... but I still feel like it¡¯s making noise." Silence filled the air. Chen Sixuan stood still, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she forced herself to stay rational. Her logic told her not to dwell on incomprehensible things. Someone was controlling the train. And that someone had to be Lin Xian. "It¡¯s been hours with no sound... Lin Xian might have..." Shasha¡¯s face darkened. "Chen-jiejie..." A person disappearing into thin air¡ªno matter how you looked at it, there was no good explanation. "It¡¯s fine. He¡¯ll figure something out."Chen Sixuan¡¯s words sounded more like self-reassurance than an actual answer. Shasha nodded. Chen Sixuan turned off the lights and heating, conserving the crucial power supply. Meanwhile, she, Shasha, and Luo Ye divided their roles¡ª Luo Ye guarded the front of the train.Shasha took a watch inside Car No. 1.Chen Sixuan monitored the rear compartments. They kept constant watch, observing their surroundings for any changes. Beyond the armored windows, the world was pitch-black. The wilderness beyond the train was filled with eerie whispers, distant screeches echoing in the dark, making one¡¯s skin crawl. Inside the frigid cockpit, Chen Sixuan wrapped herself in a blanket, her gaze filled with unease as she stared into the black void beyond the window. They were relatively safe inside the train¡ª The radar detection system was running in low-power mode, and earlier, Luo Ye had checked the exterior armor. Everything was still intact. Yesterday, they had narrowly escaped from Yu Chi Station, barely surviving the attack of the White Climbing Creature. But no one knew what else lurked in the dark. The crashes, the bites, the relentless attacks¡ªit had been overwhelming. How many other unknown horrors lay hidden in the black abyss? Perhaps they had only scratched the surface. But the fact that they had escaped unharmed meant that Lin Xian¡¯s armor upgrades had worked. If it had been the old train, the creatures would have torn through the roof, and their fate would have been sealed. Yet, before they could even catch their breath¡ª The eerie radio signal had appeared. Chen Sixuan let out a slow, careful breath. Just thinking about that radio sent shivers down her spine. Was it possible that some things couldn¡¯t be blocked, even by steel armor? One after another¡ª Zombies, mutated creatures, eerie fog, nightmarish entities. Each more terrifying than the last. In just a short amount of time, Chen Sixuan had felt like she had lived through countless nightmares. "Everything will be fine..." She forced herself to believe it. Currently, aside from the reserve energy in the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive, they also had over a thousand liters of gasoline scavenged from Tang Hai¡¯s stash. Some of it had been pumped into the gas turbine¡¯s fuel tank, while the rest had been set aside as backup. Their supplies were stable, and they were not in immediate danger¡ª But if they stayed in one place for too long, the Black Tides would consume the entire city of Yu Chi within a few days. By then¡ª They would be at the mercy of fate. Hooooo¡ª In the distance, headlights flickered along a winding mountain road. It looked like a convoy of fleeing vehicles. Chen Sixuan immediately grew alert. But after a while, the convoy veered off, heading toward Yubei City. She let out a quiet sigh of relief. Throughout the night, the sounds of various vehicles could be heard racing through the darkness. However, the train was parked far from both the railway and the main roads, so no one seemed to notice their presence. With the radio out of service, they had no external communication. At this moment¡ª The Infinite Train felt like a lonely boat adrift in a dark, endless ocean. An inescapable sense of despair slowly crept in. Beep. Beep. Her watch alarm jolted her awake. It was now 1:00 AM¡ªthe deepest part of the night. She got up and headed to Car No. 1. KIKI was still unconscious. And there was still no sign of Lin Xian. Not even the strange footsteps from before. "Chen-jiejie." A sleepy voice broke the silence. Shasha stirred on the sofa, the thick blanket sliding down to her waist. She rubbed her drowsy eyes and looked at Chen Sixuan. "Should we switch shifts? I can take the front watch." Chen Sixuan waved her hand. "It¡¯s okay. Get some more rest. I¡¯ll monitor things for now." "I can¡¯t sleep." Shasha mumbled, "Lin-gege hasn¡¯t come back. I can¡¯t relax." "I understand." Chen Sixuan forced a small smile. She herself was nervous as hell, but she had to keep reassuring Shasha. "Lin Xian is an Ability User. He¡¯s stronger than us. He¡¯ll find a way back." Shasha nodded. "Mhm." The lights inside the train remained off, and the blackout covers were shut, allowing only the faintest light to seep through. Car No. 1 was the most fully equipped carriage¡ª Lin Xian had spent countless hours perfecting it. A twenty-meter-long cabin with a living area, a sofa, a dining table, and a storage unit filled with food, water, and weapons. Even the A33K Heavy Sniper Rifle was stored here. A massive 1,557mm-long, 14.8kg black rifle capable of firing 12.7mm (.50 BMG) tungsten-core armor-piercing rounds. KIKI had once called it a "true anti-materiel killer." Lin Xian had originally intended to give it to Luo Ye, but¡ª Luo Ye had refused. He claimed his eyesight wasn¡¯t great, and his hands were too rough¡ª He preferred something fast and heavy, like an assault machine gun. So the sniper rifle had remained here. "Shasha, can you teach me how to use this?" For some reason¡ª Staring at the sniper rifle, a strange thought crossed Chen Sixuan¡¯s mind. "Huh?!" Shasha was stunned. "Chen-jiejie, that thing is heavy!" Chen Sixuan took a deep breath. "I know." "But if I can help provide cover... we¡¯ll have an extra firepower point against monsters. "And I can take some of the burden off you all." Chapter 83: Frequency Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes sharpened slightly. Every time the team encountered danger, she was always forced to hide in the safest part of the train. Even though Lin Xian believed she had been helpful, after experiencing so many brutal battles, her mindset had toughened. She felt she should at least learn some self-defense skills. Now that Lin Xian wasn¡¯t around, this need became even stronger. Shasha looked at Chen Sixuan in surprise and stuck out her tongue. ¡°Alright, but I¡¯m not that great at it either. I only know how to shoot. As for how to actually aim a sniper rifle properly, I have no idea.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Chen Sixuan stepped forward and took the sniper rifle. The moment she held it, she felt its immense weight, causing her to clench her teeth as she lifted it. She let out a slow breath. ¡°It really is heavy... But this weapon¡ªif we encounter monsters like the ones before¡ªmight actually be useful.¡± ¡°For sure!¡± Shasha nodded. ¡°This thing packs a serious punch and has an insanely long range. I¡¯ve seen it on TV before¡ªit can shoot straight through a car in one shot. Biubiu~¡± ¡°Chen Jie, this here is the trigger, and the safety is right here.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°This is the bipod. Big guns like these usually need one. Unless you have superhuman strength, shooting in a prone position without support is nearly impossible...¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®without support¡¯?¡± ¡°It means shooting while holding it up without any rest. This thing¡¯s way too heavy¡ªyou won¡¯t be able to. Also, this is an M3 optical 10x super scope, so you can see really far. Chen Jie, set up the rifle and give it a try. Oh, and one more thing¡ªthese kinds of guns have a strong recoil, so pay attention to your stance.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Suddenly feeling wide awake, Chen Sixuan, under Shasha¡¯s guidance, earnestly started learning about the rifle¡¯s components and aiming principles. Thud, thud¡ª A noise suddenly came from outside, making both of them freeze. ¡°Chen Jie!¡± Shasha whispered. ¡°That sound... it came from outside.¡± Hearing this, Chen Sixuan frowned and quickly gestured for silence. She then tiptoed to the window and carefully lifted the blackout cover. A flashlight beam flickered briefly along the side of the train. Chen Sixuan immediately covered her mouth in shock. There were people outside! The wind and snow howled in the night, and the entire train had gone dark. Standing inside Car No. 1, Chen Sixuan and Shasha anxiously peered outside. ¡°There¡¯s more than one person,¡± Shasha murmured. ¡°Chen Jie, I think someone has their eyes on our train.¡± Chen Sixuan looked uneasy. ¡°This road connects Mount Daluo to Yubei City. It¡¯s close to the highway. Maybe someone noticed the train parked here and came to investigate.¡± ¡°What should we do? Should we respond?¡± Shasha asked. ¡°Has this happened to you before?¡± ¡°Well... when my brother and I were driving, we¡¯d sometimes come across other teams. Most of the time, people just went their own way. Occasionally, friendlier groups would stop to chat during the day or form convoys at night for safety. But in our case... they¡¯re probably just curious.¡± Chen Sixuan shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see. It¡¯s already nighttime, and it¡¯s dangerous outside. If they¡¯re just survivors checking things out, they¡¯ll probably leave after looking around. But if they have bad intentions, we need to be cautious.¡± Shasha nodded. ¡°Yeah, Lin Ge upgraded our armor. We should still be pretty safe...¡± Chen Sixuan nodded, but then a thought struck her. She pulled Shasha close and whispered in her ear. ¡°Go warn your brother. Have him guard the back. We still have two cars on the trailer.¡± ¡°Oh, right!¡± Shasha¡¯s eyes widened. Those two vehicles were sitting out in the open on the flatbed trailer. If someone quietly drove them away, it¡¯d be a huge loss. Realizing the urgency, she immediately crouched low and scurried toward the rear. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan moved to the cockpit and peered outside through the porthole. The night was pitch-black, and faint rustling noises came from the tracks. There were definitely several footsteps approaching. As the sounds drew closer, she instinctively stepped back, blending into the shadows of the corridor. Bang, bang! Suddenly, someone climbed onto the front of the train, and a flashlight beam shone inside, sweeping across the space. ¡°Huh? Doesn¡¯t look like anyone¡¯s here,¡± a man whispered. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re sleeping in another carriage?¡± another voice suggested. ¡°Be careful. This whole train is armored¡ªit¡¯s definitely not an ordinary train.¡± ¡°You keep watch here. I¡¯ll go call it in.¡± ¡°Alright...¡± ... Hiding in the shadows, Chen Sixuan pressed her hand tightly over her mouth. Taking advantage of the moment when the flashlight wasn¡¯t pointed at her, she stealthily retreated to Car No. 1. She grabbed the walkie-talkie and huddled in a corner. ¡°Shasha, there are quite a few of them. Be careful.¡± ¡°Got it. If they try anything, we¡¯ll fire a warning shot.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s scare them off first. If they¡¯re just a regular survivor team, they¡¯ll probably run.¡± ¡°Chen Jie, if they don¡¯t make a move, they might be planning something. If a fight breaks out, should we start the train and leave?¡± Shasha¡¯s worried voice came through the walkie-talkie. Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression darkened. She fully understood the predicament they were in. The train was dark, covered in snow¡ªthis might give outsiders the wrong idea. ¡°No, we can¡¯t. Lin Xian isn¡¯t back yet...¡± Her gaze drifted toward the back of the car, where a radio still sat quietly on the sofa. Her instincts told her that Lin Xian was still on the train. If she moved the train now, she wasn¡¯t sure if it would cause problems for him. ¡°You¡¯re right. Lin Ge... Hey, Chen Jie, listen!¡± Just as Shasha finished speaking, an extremely faint sound came from inside Car No. 3, moving toward Car No. 2. Something was inside the train. For some reason, hearing that sound made Chen Sixuan feel both terrified and relieved. She and Shasha both had the same thought¡ªthis must be Lin Xian! That meant he was still alive! Bang! Bang! Bang! Suddenly, gunfire erupted from Car No. 5. Luo Ye was firing a machine gun through a shooting port near the hydraulic ramp. He had spotted several figures sneaking around the rear, trying to climb onto the flatbed trailer to unchain the vehicles. The machine gun roared, its bullets spraying across the flatbed car and into the snow, sending sparks and ice flying. The intruders panicked and scattered in fear. One unlucky man took a direct hit in the shoulder, blood splattering everywhere as he screamed in agony. The gunfire immediately intimidated the prowlers. They quickly vanished into the darkness. Arghhh!! The deafening shots also drew in a horde of zombies from the nearby forest, their shrill howls echoing as they charged toward the train. ¡°They¡¯re climbing onto the train!¡± Shasha gripped her grenade launcher and relayed through the walkie-talkie, ¡°Chen Jie, be careful!¡± The tension spiked in an instant. Hearing Shasha¡¯s warning, Chen Sixuan¡¯s brows furrowed. But right now, her focus was entirely on the movement inside the train¡ªsearching for any sign of Lin Xian. She didn¡¯t turn on the lights, carefully listening for any sounds inside the car. Then, suddenly¡ªthe entire train¡¯s lights flickered on. Chen Sixuan flinched, startled. She glanced up at the ceiling lights, confusion filling her mind. Following an instinct, she stepped over to the lighting control panel. Click. She switched the lights off again. ... Chapter 84: The Thugs Inside the dark train carriage, Lin Xian stared at the radio in his hand, his face heavy with concern. He tried adjusting the frequency, but no matter how much he turned the dial, it always snapped back to 1542. A wave of unease surged through him. He had already seen through this eerie trick¡ªthe fear invasion was merely a mental disturbance. But despite knowing that, he still had no idea how to escape this place. A cold wind howled through the carriage, filling the air with an icy chill. Lin Xian¡¯s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Wait. I remember... when I picked up the silver antenna, the lights turned on... His eyes narrowed. Immediately, he activated Mechanical Heart, and¡ªclang!¡ªthe entire train¡¯s lighting system powered on. This time, the lights behaved normally. They weren¡¯t swallowed by darkness, nor did they flicker strangely. Click. But oddly enough, just a few seconds later, the lights shut off again. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze snapped toward the control panel at the end of the carriage. Who turned off the lights? The Infinite Train¡¯s lighting system was working fine. This wasn¡¯t a malfunction¡ªsomeone had turned them off on purpose. That made things even eerier. An idea struck him. He activated Mechanical Heart again and switched on the heating system in Car No. 1. Inside the freezing carriage... On the other side, Chen Sixuan suddenly felt a warm breeze. ¡°It¡¯s Lin Xian!¡± She instantly realized what was happening. Without hesitation, she quickly turned the heater off again. Back inside the eerie carriage, Lin Xian abruptly shot up from the sofa. ¡°Turning off the heater to save power... That¡¯s definitely Chen Laoshi!¡± His eyes widened in astonishment as he grabbed the radio. ¡°So, I really am trapped inside a frequency!¡± Why was he stuck in 1542? He didn¡¯t have time to figure that out. What mattered was finding a way out. "Frequency... That¡¯s it!" "The Phoenix Group transmits important information using LW01 longwave frequency, while we Wanderers mainly use AM07 and AM09..." Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted as he suddenly understood. He wasn¡¯t in a real place. He was inside an eerie frequency. No matter how he adjusted the dial, the radio would always display 1542. "If that¡¯s the case, maybe I need someone outside to tune to a different frequency... That way, I might be able to sync with it and escape!" He clenched the radio tighter, but his excitement quickly turned to frustration. "But I can¡¯t change the frequency from in here!" Wait. He glanced at the silver antenna in his hand. "I almost forgot about this thing!" But then, he hesitated. If I put this thing back on, will it summon something terrifying again? "...So what if it does? It¡¯s all fake." Lin Xian¡¯s eyes darkened. Gritting his teeth, he slammed the silver antenna into place. Sure enough¡ª The moment it connected to the radio, a red ghostly figure materialized at the end of the corridor. A woman in a blood-red dress stood eerily still, her pale face twisted into a disturbing smile. Lin Xian scowled. "What the hell are you looking at?! Tell me how to get out of here!" A surge of irritation overpowered his fear. His sudden outburst stunned the ghost. Her eerie smile vanished. Her eyes flashed with rage, and in an instant, she teleported right in front of him, raising blood-soaked claws to tear at his throat¡ª Slash! Lin Xian¡¯s gaze turned icy. His blade flashed. The ghost¡¯s head flew clean off, rolling to the ground with a heavy thud. "Tch. Trying to scare me?" Silence filled the carriage. The ghost¡¯s severed head rolled into a corner, her lifeless eyes glaring at him with hatred. Meanwhile, her headless body remained standing, claws still raised. Lin Xian snorted. He knew this was just an illusion, so he ignored it. Instead, he turned the radio dial¡ªand this time, the frequency changed. "So I was right!" His theory was correct. The radio¡¯s true nature was in the silver antenna. It had trapped him inside this eerie frequency. To escape, someone outside needed to sync their radio with his¡ªbut on any frequency other than 1542. Realizing this, Lin Xian felt a surge of relief. "Now, how do I get Chen Laoshi to tune in?" Gurgle... The severed ghost head rolled to his feet, her eyes gleaming maliciously. "Ugh, you again...." Annoyed, Lin Xian kicked the head aside and frowned at the headless corpse. Even knowing it wasn¡¯t real, its creepy presence was unsettling. A thought crossed his mind. He suddenly grabbed the ghost¡¯s dress¡ª RIP! The red fabric tore away, revealing a thin but well-shaped female body... dressed in red lingerie. Lin Xian blinked. "Huh. Ghosts wear lingerie too?" Apart from being disturbingly skinny... The severed head in the corner looked horrified for the first time. As the torn fabric fell, the sinister atmosphere instantly vanished. The overwhelming sense of dread evaporated. Lin Xian let out a long breath. Pointing at the ghost¡¯s head, he smirked. "Mess with me again, and I¡¯ll strip you completely." ... Vrrrooom... Engines rumbled in the distance, growing louder. A large convoy of vehicles was approaching through the forest. "Chen Jie, more of them are coming!" Shasha¡¯s furious voice crackled through the walkie-talkie. "Looks like they¡¯ve really set their sights on us tonight!" Chen Sixuan¡¯s face darkened. "We don¡¯t have a choice. Keep an eye on them¡ªsomething¡¯s happening with Lin Xian." She had finally heard movement from Lin Xian¡¯s side. That was her priority now. Rat-a-tat-tat! Before she could react, gunfire erupted from the rear carriages. At least a dozen vehicles had arrived, attempting to surround the train. Shasha and Luo Ye opened fire immediately. Meanwhile, the commotion also attracted a horde of zombies from the snowfields. Outside, a blizzard raged. Thud, thud, thud! A sudden noise echoed from the roof. Someone was climbing on top of the train! "Chen Jie! Up front!" Shasha realized something and shouted through the walkie-talkie. Chen Sixuan¡¯s heart pounded. She rushed to the cockpit, intending to seal the doors. If the attackers figured out there were only three people on board, the situation could spiral out of control. Thud, thud, thud! The sound moved from the back of the train to the front at an alarming speed. Flashlights peeked through cracks, searching for openings¡ªuntil a face suddenly dropped upside down in front of the windshield, grinning wickedly. The man had scorpion-like insect limbs growing from his back. Chen Sixuan¡¯s face went pale. An Ability User! His flashlight beam landed on her. His eyes glowed as he let out a shrill laugh. "Hah! There¡¯s only three of them! And two are chicks!" With that, he leapt off the train and sprinted toward the convoy. Chen Sixuan¡¯s heart sank. She snatched the walkie-talkie. "Shasha! An Ability User spotted us! He¡¯s running to tell them!" In Car No. 5, Shasha¡¯s face darkened. She grabbed her gun and yelled¡ª "Ge, take that bastard out¡ªNOW!" Chapter 85: Breaking In Luo Ye''s face darkened as he immediately shifted his gun to the other side, rolled down the window, and fired a burst at the scrawny freak sprinting through the darkness. RATATATATAT! But the thin monkey-like man was unbelievably agile. His insect-like legs propelled him forward at an insane speed, weaving effortlessly through the forest. Luo Ye''s machine gun wasn¡¯t the most accurate, and his bullets only kicked up dirt, stone, and snow behind the fleeing figure¡ªnot a single shot hit. Meanwhile, the thin man let out a crazed laugh, sprinting towards his convoy while shouting: "HAHAHAHA! Boss, there''s only ONE guy, TWO hot chicks, and the rest is ALL SUPPLIES! Hurry up and take ''em! If you''re late, you won¡¯t even get the scraps!" His words were like gasoline on a fire. The bandit convoy erupted in excitement. RATATATATAT! BANG! BANG! With the first shots fired, the entire convoy opened fire, unleashing a storm of bullets toward Luo Ye''s position. Gunfire rained down like a metal storm. Sparks flew as bullets ricocheted off the Infinite Train¡¯s steel armor. Luo Ye and Shasha had no choice but to duck behind cover. Countless headlights and searchlights illuminated the night, casting a glaring brightness over the train. Seeing Luo Ye pinned down, the attackers grew even more reckless. Some gunned their engines and charged toward the train, extending their rifles out of car windows to fire indiscriminately. "They only have three people!" "The train is LOADED with supplies!!" "Kill the guy!" TINK! TINK! TINK! Bullets clinked harmlessly off the Infinite Train¡¯s armor. It was like shooting a fortress¡ªtheir standard rounds did nothing. But the raiders didn¡¯t care. Their eyes were red with greed and bloodlust. They only needed to keep Luo Ye suppressed long enough to reach the train. Some of the incoming vehicles began to flank, while others charged straight for the armored car, aiming to hijack it. Someone raised a Molotov cocktail. The bandits had begun their full-scale assault on the train. Meanwhile, in the pitch-black Car No. 1, Lin Xian paced back and forth, deep in thought. The headless, red-dressed ghost in lingerie stood motionless nearby, while her severed head on the ground followed him with its eyes. "Frequency... frequency..." Suddenly, he stopped. His gaze lifted to the ceiling lights, a thought flashing through his mind. The lights... they worked! Just now, when he powered them on, they weren¡¯t affected by the eerie frequency. That meant his Mechanical Heart still worked! CLACK-CLACK Lin Xian took a deep breath and flashed the lights twice, then waited for a response. Moments later¡ª FLASH. FLASH. The lights blinked back twice. Gunfire pounded against the armored train. BOOM! Shasha fired a grenade. It hit the hood of a pickup truck, exploding its engine and front tires. The truck flipped end over end, rolling down the mountain slope, its passengers'' fates unknown. But there were too many attackers. Luo Ye gritted his teeth as he fired back through the window. "Ge! There are TOO MANY OF THEM!" Shasha shouted, ducking another burst of bullets. At the front of the train, at least ten raiders had already leaped out of their vehicles and were sprinting toward the train¡¯s various entry points. Some ran for the engine car, while others rushed toward Car No. 5 and the armored vehicle. The Infinite Train¡¯s rear ramp was now surrounded, the bandits wielding steel pipes, crowbars, and machetes. Someone dragged out a tow hook and a chainsaw. They were waiting¡ªdesperate¡ªfor that door to open. "Don''t be scared! There are only THREE of them!" "We''ve hit the jackpot!" "Forget the train¡ªgrab the vehicles first!" The gunfire wasn¡¯t scaring them. They were too greedy to back down. A dark figure suddenly leaped onto a moving car, then kicked off its roof with monstrous strength. THOOM! He rocketed through the air like a cannonball¡ª CRASH! Landing heavily on top of the Infinite Train. He slammed a fist into the armored roof. BANG! But all he made was a tiny dent. His eyes narrowed. "Tch. This ain''t just regular steel." Realizing brute force wouldn¡¯t work, he dashed toward the rear, aiming to force open the hydraulic ramp! Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded as he watched the lights blink back at him. "That¡¯s gotta be Chen Laoshi!" His Mechanical Heart worked. The lights worked. Which meant¡ªMorse code would work too. "If I can signal a frequency, Chen Laoshi can sync with me!" "AM07. AM07. Just AM7¡ªshe¡¯ll get it!" Chen Sixuan was a railway professor. She should recognize international light signals. Lin Xian focused, recalling the Morse sequence for ¡®AM7¡¯. .©¥/©¥©¥/©¥©¥.../ He took a deep breath¡ª And started flashing the lights. First, three short, three long, three short¡ªSOS. He had to let her know he was using light signals. BANG! BANG! Luo Ye kept firing, but the attackers weren¡¯t slowing down. At least four advance vehicles had reached the train. Ten bandits ducked behind cover, trying to breach entry points. The ramp was under siege. A hulking brute with a metal-coated arm was at the back, trying to pry the hydraulic ramp open with brute force. SHHHRK! Sparks flew as his blackened metal fingers wedged into the gap. "Brother Zhu, get the tow hook!" "Got it!" The thin, scorpion-tailed freak sprinted toward them, hauling a metal tow hook. He planned to latch it onto the ramp and let the vehicles pull it open. RATATATAT! Luo Ye opened fire through the gap¡ª And finally saw the man on the roof. A bearded brute with gray-black metallic skin. Bullets bounced off him like they were hitting armor. The man sneered. "Good aim, kid." Then, he gripped the ramp harder. "But now, I¡¯m gonna RIP this turtle shell wide open!" Chapter 86: How Hard Are You? "Ahhh¡ª!!!" The hydraulic liftgate let out a deep groan as the steel plate gripped by his hand started to deform. "Courting death!" Daluo let out a muffled roar, immediately recognizing the unusual nature of his opponent¡¯s ability. His eyes burned with ferocity as he tossed aside his machine gun, raised his Steel-Slaying Greatsword, and drove it forcefully into the gap of the liftgate! Clang! A massive force erupted, slicing off a corner of the liftgate along with the greatsword''s edge. The Bearded Brute''s gaze hardened¡ªhe seemed to have sensed danger. His hands suddenly let go, then clamped together, trapping the sword¡¯s blade between his palms. Sparks flew violently, accompanied by a piercing screech. "What immense strength!" The Bearded Brute sneered. With one hand forming a claw, he grasped the sword¡¯s spine, flipped midair, and dropped toward the ground while dragging the Steel-Slaying Greatsword along the side of the liftgate¡¯s gap. His intention was clear¡ªhe was trying to use the sword¡¯s own sharpness to carve through the liftgate¡¯s connection points! What ruthless technique! Daluo hadn¡¯t expected the enemy to have not only a body as tough as iron but also such agility and skilled combat techniques. With this sudden pull, he was momentarily caught off guard, and the sword blade was being wrenched downward. "Argh¡ª!" Veins bulged on Daluo¡¯s forehead as he roared, summoning all his strength to yank the Steel-Slaying Greatsword free from the Bearded Brute''s vice-like grip! "Scorpion!" The Bearded Brute shouted. Clang! Clang! Clang! Several scorpion-like whips suddenly lashed out, hooking onto the slightly opened hydraulic liftgate. "Use the tow hook to pull it open! I¡¯ll go to the front¡ªmake sure they don¡¯t escape!" "Got it, Boss!" The Thin Monkey, who had been scouting earlier, had scorpion-like appendages on his back, which latched onto the liftgate. Meanwhile, several nimble subordinates quickly secured metal tow hooks to the gap, preparing to use vehicles to tear it open. Thud! Thud! Thud! The sound of rapid footsteps echoed from the train''s rooftop. Luo Shasha glanced up and immediately grabbed the walkie-talkie to warn Chen Sixuan. "Chen-jiejie, be careful! Someone''s coming from the front!" In Carriage No. 1, Chen Sixuan was focused on the flashing train lights. The pattern¡ªthree short, three long, three short¡ªwas unmistakable. Morse code! Realizing someone was sending an SOS, she immediately reached for her gun and rushed toward the driver¡¯s cabin, worried that the enemy would try to sabotage the train. Bang! Just as she stepped inside, the Bearded Brute suddenly descended from above, landing outside the cockpit window. With both hands, he grabbed the armored grille and bent one of the bars apart with brute strength, creating a hole the size of a bowl. His blackened metal hand gleamed as he peered inside at the pale-faced Chen Sixuan. Grinning wickedly, he taunted, "Where do you think you''re running, little girl? Come play with Uncle. I''m real tough." Then, his metallic fist shot toward the cockpit window! "Ahhh!" Chen Sixuan stumbled back in fear, a chill running down her spine. "Break it open!" The Bearded Brute roared, thrusting his fist forward. The armored grilles might keep monsters out, but this windshield? He didn¡¯t think it would hold for a second. But just as his fingertips were about to make contact with the glass¡ª He stopped. "...Huh?" The Bearded Brute''s pupils trembled violently. His entire body was frozen in place! The expected sound of shattering glass never came. Chen Sixuan, slowly lowering her trembling hands, was stunned to see the Bearded Brute locked in fear. Then¡ªbehind her¡ªcame a familiar voice. "Old man... just how hard are you?" Chen Sixuan whipped around, her eyes lighting up with joy. Standing in the carriage hallway, eyes glowing eerily, hair flowing despite no wind, exuding an aura of overwhelming killing intent¡ª Who else could it be but KIKI?! "You... you...!!!" The Bearded Brute¡¯s pupils shrank to pinpoints. Not only was he completely immobilized¡ªeven his voice and breath were stilled! A terrifying ability! In just a fraction of a second, a bone-chilling fear surged through his heart! Buzz! KIKI flicked her hand. The Bearded Brute was suddenly hurled like a black iron cannonball, smashing straight into an oncoming military jeep. CRASH! The sheer force caved the jeep into a C-shape, its tires exploding, the entire vehicle sent flying. "KIKI?!" Chen Sixuan gasped. "Chen-jiejie, hurry!" KIKI¡¯s expression was ice-cold, her glowing white eyes sharper than ever. A powerful surge of evolutionary energy radiated from her. She pointed toward Carriage No. 1, where lights continued to flash. "Save Lin Xian!" "Got it!" KIKI¡¯s sudden arrival had pulled Chen Sixuan back from the brink of despair. With renewed determination, she nodded and sprinted toward Carriage No. 1. KIKI turned around, eyes flashing at the sight of bandits climbing onto the train. "So damn annoying!" As the bandits scrambled to loot, a shockwave erupted from the train¡¯s center like a sweeping typhoon. BOOM!!! Everyone within range¡ªbandits near the train, raiders on the flatbed trailers, even nearby parked vehicles¡ª were all blasted away! The shockwave kicked up clouds of snow, rolling outward like a tidal wave. "AHHH!" "Ughhh¡ª!" "What the hell?!" Countless screams and wails filled the air. Near the train¡¯s front, the wrecked cars skidded across the snowy ground. Amidst the flames, the Bearded Brute staggered to his feet, looking utterly battered. His metallic skin was now riddled with deep, bloody wounds, flesh and bone exposed. Wiping the blood trickling from his nose and mouth, he stared at the girl in utter disbelief. "Sh*t... she''s insane..." "Boss, that girl is really strong!" "Tch. So what if she¡¯s an Ability User? One freak can¡¯t change anything. This train is stranded¡ªit¡¯s just a matter of time before we crack it open and feast on the prize!" "Yeah, but¡ªwait¡ªholy sh*t!" SLAP! The Bearded Brute smacked his underling. "Who the f*** are you cursing at?!" His lackey, eyes wide with terror, pointed to the sky behind him. "N-No, Boss! T-There''s a¡ªMONSTER!!!" SCREEEEEE¡ª!!! A bone-rattling screech tore through the air, shaking the ground and snow. The Bearded Brute felt a chill down his spine. Slowly, he turned around¡ª But before he could even register what was happening, a massive black shadow descended upon him. A second later¡ªhis body, along with over a dozen others, was obliterated into a splatter of blood and gore. On the Infinite Train¡ª Luo Shasha and Daluo barely caught their breath before KIKI ran over. "Daluo! Shasha! Close the windows¡ªNOW!" Before they could react¡ª BOOM!CRASH! A terrifying sound filled the air. Followed by¡ªthe horrifying sound of something... dragging bodies away. "AHHH!" "RUN!!!" "What the hell is THAT?!?!" "LOOK UP! IT¡¯S IN THE SKY!!!" Shasha¡¯s eyes darted outside¡ª Giant, writhing shadows loomed over the train. Her voice trembled. "W-What the hell is that?!" KIKI¡¯s voice was grim. "Tentacles." Chapter 87: Atmospheric Mica "Ahh¡ª!" A massive force yanked the entire Infinite Train, causing it to lurch forward violently. The deafening sounds of dragging and scraping filled the air as the train''s roof and sides were struck by something terrifying. Chen Sixuan lost her balance and collapsed onto the floor. Through the window, she saw dark, writhing shadows outside, and her mind went completely blank with fear. Then¡ª The flashing train lights jolted her back to her senses. Lin Xian! Lin Xian! I have to save Lin Xian! Gritting her teeth, Chen Sixuan pushed herself up, her mind racing as she focused on the flashing lights. "One short, one long¡ªA." "Two long¡ªM." "Two long, three short¡ª7." "AM7... AM7? What does that mean?" Her lips felt dry, her heartbeat pounding. Suddenly, she spotted the radio on the sofa and her eyes widened in realization. "AM07¡ªthat¡¯s a frequency! I got it!" Just as she stood up¡ª BOOM! A massive tentacle scraped along the side of the train, slamming into it with a heavy impact. The entire Infinite Train almost tipped over. Chen Sixuan fell hard onto the ground once more, but she gritted her teeth and got up again, crawling toward the radio. She quickly tuned the frequency to AM07. Meanwhile, in another carriage¡ª Lin Xian sat in front of a radio, his face tense. He had already tuned in to AM07, waiting for Chen Sixuan to act. But he had been waiting for too long¡ªand still, nothing happened. "What¡¯s going on? Did I guess wrong?" "No... that doesn¡¯t make sense..." Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His Mechanical Heart could sense the entire train shaking violently, but strangely, the room he was in remained completely still. 1542 Dark Radio... Why are we encountering it? He suddenly recalled something Jiang Yun had said¡ª "Be careful with this thing. It doesn¡¯t just receive signals from people..." Lin Xian''s breath hitched. Right! The Eerie Blood Crystal¡ªonly that thing can activate the Dark Radio! A shiver ran down his spine. He had attached an Eerie Blood Crystal to the radio before. That was how he had unlocked this terrifying frequency. But... hadn¡¯t he removed that crystal? Holding his breath, Lin Xian began searching frantically. "I remember having it in my hand... It has to be here." Yet, ever since he entered this eerie frequency, his mind had completely forgotten about the crystal. "Not on the sofa..." "What about the floor?" Heart pounding, Lin Xian switched on the light and began searching inch by inch. The blood-red bead should be easy to spot. "Where is it?" As he rummaged around, his vision suddenly froze¡ª A pair of pale, ghostly feet appeared in front of him. Lin Xian slowly looked up¡ª Standing there was the headless woman dressed in a three-piece lingerie set. "Get lost!" Lin Xian shoved her aside. She staggered back a step. But then¡ªhis movements abruptly stopped. His gaze flickered between her red clothing, her three-piece lingerie, and... The severed head in the corner of the room. After a long pause, Lin Xian frowned and spoke coldly¡ª "Why are you completely dressed in red?" The moment he said those words¡ª The ghost¡¯s face twisted. Her severed head suddenly flew toward him, jaws wide open, fangs bared! SLAP! Lin Xian caught her head mid-air with one hand. "Oh, I get it now..." "That¡¯s why I kept hearing the sound of glass marbles rolling." "It was you all along." A look of horror flickered across the ghost¡¯s face. Suddenly, the train lights began flashing wildly. Lin Xian''s eyes darkened. Both hands tightened around her head. And then¡ªhe squeezed. CRACK! The head shattered. A red mist burst out, swirling chaotically before quickly condensing. Lin Xian blinked, momentarily disoriented. When he looked down again¡ª A blood-red bead had appeared in his palm. The Eerie Blood Crystal! Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. "They tried to trap me in my own train, kill me with my own sword, and now they¡¯re using my own things to turn into ghosts and scare me?" "This is pure psychological torment..." Without hesitation, Lin Xian grabbed the radio and attached the Eerie Blood Crystal. The moment he did¡ª The world around him collapsed. BOOM! A massive impact shook the entire train. Lin Xian staggered, his ears ringing. "Lin Xian!" Before he could react, Chen Sixuan crashed into him, holding onto him tightly. At the same time, the Infinite Train almost tipped over completely. "Chen-jiejie, be careful!" Lin Xian instinctively shielded her, pressing her beneath him. The Infinite Train felt like it was being swallowed whole by something monstrous. All around them¡ª A deafening screech. A suffocating pressure. A suffocating nightmare. The sound drilled into their skulls, tormenting their eardrums until¡ª Finally¡ª It stopped. "What... the hell... was that?" Chen Sixuan shuddered as she sat up, her body trembling from exhaustion. Lin Xian helped her up, and they both stumbled into the driver¡¯s cabin. Looking outside, their breath hitched¡ª The entire railway was flattened. Deep gouges ran along both sides of the tracks. And hundreds of meters ahead... The rails were completely destroyed. The sight made their skin crawl. "Lin Xian¡ªlook!" Chen Sixuan pointed, and her voice caught in her throat. Up ahead¡ª Floating above the valley¡ª A gigantic, island-sized jellyfish drifted eerily through the night sky. It looked like something out of a nightmare. Lin Xian''s face darkened. The sheer terror of this thing... was almost on the same level as the Floating Colossal Corpse he had seen in the black mist! Just how many terrifying creatures lurked in this endless night? Luo Shasha, Daluo, and KIKI rushed into Carriage No. 1. "Lin-ge... AH?!" Shasha hadn¡¯t even finished her sentence before she saw the monstrous entity in the sky and screamed. Even the usually stoic Luo Ye¡¯s face paled. KIKI stepped forward, eyes wide with shock. "An atmospheric mica...?" It looked exactly like something straight out of interstellar horror fiction. Shasha gulped. "How... do we even kill that?" Lin Xian surveyed the devastation around them, his face grim. "We¡¯re lucky it didn¡¯t swallow us." Everyone held their breath as they watched the massive entity slowly drift away into the night. Finally, they let out a collective sigh of relief. "It¡¯s gone..." "That was terrifying..." Chen Sixuan murmured. Shasha turned to Lin Xian and KIKI. "Lin-ge, you¡¯re finally back! Where the hell did you go? And KIKI¡ªyou were unconscious, and then you vanished! We were scared to death!" Lin Xian glanced at KIKI, who simply grinned mischievously. "It¡¯s a long story," he said. "Let¡¯s assess our situation first." "Daluo, come with me¡ªwe need to check the train¡¯s damage and see if we can fix the tracks." He turned to KIKI. "Are you okay?" KIKI put her hands on her hips. "Report, Train Captain! I feel great!" Lin Xian shot her a long look¡ªher attitude felt different. "Alright," he nodded. "Use the drone to scout the area." "Shasha, keep watch." "What about me?" Chen Sixuan asked. Lin Xian noted her exhaustion. "Rest up. Once I fix the tracks, you¡¯re driving us through the Daluo Mountain South Route." Chen Sixuan sighed. "Fine. I¡¯ll cook something. KIKI just woke up¡ªshe needs food." KIKI smirked. "You¡¯re not worried that thing is still floating up ahead?" Lin Xian paused, then nodded. "Fair point. We¡¯ll rest until dawn." Chapter 88: Hotpot The combination of midnight raiders and the encounter with the massive eerie entity had left everyone drenched in cold sweat. Woo¡ª The side panels of Carriage No. 5 lowered with a mechanical whirr. Flashlights flickered on, illuminating the devastating scene outside. Lin Xian and Daluo stepped forward, their expressions darkening. It was a massacre. Whoosh! Whoosh! The blizzard howled as it rushed into the carriage. Lin Xian quickly shut the door connecting Carriage No. 5 to Carriage No. 4 to keep out the freezing wind. The lights shone onto the flatbed carriages in the back. Among the two vehicles there, only the armored car still resembled its original form. The off-road vehicle, on the other hand, was completely crushed into scrap metal. The tentacles of the atmospheric jellyfish had swept across the railway, and now the entire raider convoy that had attacked them in the night was annihilated. Not even a single corpse remained. The road, the slopes¡ªall covered in blood and wreckage. The snowstorm was already starting to bury the destruction under a fresh white layer. Lin Xian tightened his coat and jumped down from the carriage. His gaze swept over the train¡¯s exterior armor, and his face grew grim. ¡°Good thing we reinforced the roof. Otherwise, we¡¯d be dead.¡± Most of the armor plating on the train was deformed, its high-manganese steel surface covered in deep drag marks. Beneath the train, the railway sleepers were completely shattered. A deep sense of relief settled in Lin Xian¡¯s heart. If he hadn¡¯t spent two nights in Yuchi City upgrading the armor... No one would¡¯ve survived tonight. "Xian-ge, can this still be repaired?" For the first time, Lin Xian saw fear on Daluo¡¯s usually unfazed face. Truth be told¡ªeven he was shaken. But something odd struck him. Ever since he had experienced the fear illusion inside the 1542 Dark Radio frequency¡ª His fear threshold seemed to have increased. Now, even after facing this catastrophe, he wasn¡¯t as terrified as before. "It¡¯s not a big problem," Lin Xian exhaled. "It¡¯ll take time, but that¡¯s better than losing our lives." In the apocalypse, everything was in short supply. As long as you weren¡¯t dead, you still had a chance. "Come on, let¡¯s fix the track. If we run into another disaster, we¡¯ll be trapped here for good." At that moment, KIKI stepped out of Carriage No. 5 and leapt down lightly into the snow. "Lin Xian, I¡¯ll help." Lin Xian raised a brow. "Aren¡¯t you supposed to be scouting with the drone?" "Already did. Guess what?" KIKI pointed to the dark sky. "After that thing passed through, there¡¯s nothing left alive around here except for us." Lin Xian''s expression darkened. "That brutal?" KIKI nodded. "This thing isn¡¯t on the same level as the eerie entities we¡¯ve seen before. Shasha told me earlier¡ªshe saw an Iron Guard Battalion during the day. I think they were sent to deal with this thing." "A military unit?" Lin Xian¡¯s face grew more serious. "Then we need to move fast. If this thing reaches Yubei City, we won¡¯t be able to board the High-Altitude Corridor." "Exactly why I¡¯m helping," KIKI huffed, wrapping her puffy down jacket tighter around herself. Shasha had found the coat back in Yuchi City, but the biting wind had still turned her cheeks red. As she started walking toward the train¡¯s front, Lin Xian suddenly called out¡ª "Zhao Enqi... That¡¯s a pretty nice name." KIKI froze mid-step. She didn¡¯t turn around¡ªjust snorted and shot back¡ª "Nice my ass! I¡¯m KIKI, you turtle bastard!" And with that, she stomped forward without looking back. Lin Xian chuckled but didn¡¯t press further. Her reaction told him one thing¡ª She remembered what happened while she was unconscious. Fixing the railway was both simple and complicated. Lin Xian had plenty of track materials stored in his Mechanical Devourer Space, but the foundation of the railway was destroyed. He¡¯d have to fill in the ground and lay new sleepers. Instead of wasting time with that, he took the easier approach¡ª Building a temporary steel framework to hold the tracks in place. The damaged section wasn¡¯t too long, so it would be enough to let the train pass. Shiiiiing! Steel frames and track beams rapidly formed under the precision of Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart. Welding, assembling¡ªeverything proceeded methodically. KIKI watched him work, then smirked. "So, how was it¡ªflying the train that day?" Lin Xian chuckled helplessly. "Exhilarating. Never thought we¡¯d go this far." "If we weren¡¯t crazy, we¡¯d be dead!" KIKI wrinkled her nose, looking smug. "You said we¡¯d ¡®soar into the sky.¡¯ Well, I helped you take the first step, didn¡¯t I?" "You did. That was a big contribution." "Hehe~!" "But..." Lin Xian¡¯s gaze swept over the broken tracks ahead. He let out a sigh. "The night is full of dangers. We haven¡¯t even reached the Planetary Orbital Rail, and we¡¯ve already had two track breaks. This is just going to keep happening. We need a permanent solution." KIKI lifted a section of track with her Ability, placing it onto the steel framework. "If we follow your plan, the first step is making the train independent of tracks. The simplest way is converting the wheels into caterpillar treads." "But that comes with a ton of drawbacks¡ªspeed, energy consumption, noise, and maintenance issues." Lin Xian didn¡¯t argue. "It¡¯s impossible to solve everything at once. "The Planetary Orbital Rail¡¯s main lines are still intact, otherwise the Apocalypse Union wouldn¡¯t be able to mobilize their Starfleet Iron Guard Battalions at such a scale. "Doomsday began only a few months ago. "Even though humanity is scattered, we¡¯ve been adapting, researching, and uncovering the truth about the eerie threats. "We¡¯re still hiding and running, but we¡¯re learning more. "Understanding Soul Wave Values... discovering the true nature of the eerie... "For now, we don¡¯t have the power to fight back. That¡¯s why we¡¯re fleeing eastward¡ªto survive and grow stronger. "So whether it¡¯s treads, maglev tech, or wheels¡ª "If it lets us get past broken tracks, then it¡¯s worth it." KIKI exhaled. "I get it now." "Options are better than no options. Living another day is better than waiting for death." "Exactly." Lin Xian nodded. "Survival first." KIKI grinned and patted his shoulder. "Then we have to go to Underground City No. 9!" "Your Mechanical Ability is the key to our future, Train Captain. "Join the glorious path of mechanical evolution! Hah!" Lin Xian raised a brow. "So I¡¯m no longer a ¡®bad guy¡¯¡ªI¡¯m your Train Captain now?" KIKI winked. "Yep! You¡¯re now officially my personal Train Captain!" She smirked. "Take good care of me¡ªI¡¯m putting my life in your hands!" Lin Xian: ... The heaters were already on. Despite the deformed armor, the interior was undamaged¡ªstill warm and secure. Outside, the blizzard howled, battering the massive train. Inside, golden lamplight filled the carriages with warmth. At the center of it all¡ª A pot of steaming hotpot. Chen Sixuan had gathered canned beef, braised pork, preserved vegetables, bamboo shoots, and noodles¡ªthrowing them into a giant boiling pot. The rich aroma of meat filled Carriage No. 1, curling through the air. She even brought out KIKI¡¯s favorite canned fruit and some red wine from Tang Hai¡¯s loot. Shasha raised her glass excitedly. "To Lin-ge¡¯s safe return and KIKI-jie¡¯s recovery¡ªcheers!" "To survive another day!" Lin Xian added. "To my Ability Evolution!" KIKI grinned. Everyone turned to stare at her. KIKI snorted. "What? Drink first, talk later!" "CHEERS!!" Chapter 89: Forbidden Items With warm red wine in their bellies and hotpot filling the air with its rich aroma, the five of them felt as if they had been reborn after surviving the life-or-death ordeal. They clinked their glasses in celebration. "KIKI-jie, did your ability really evolve?" Shasha barely put her cup down before eagerly asking. KIKI nodded, looking quite pleased with herself. "All thanks to a certain someone, I can clearly feel my ability has leveled up!" "No wonder you were so strong just now." Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes sparkled. "I haven¡¯t even thanked you for saving me yet." "Why thank me? Chen-jiejie, do you even realize how many times you''ve saved everyone?" KIKI waved her hand dismissively, then cast a mischievous glance at Lin Xian. "Speaking of which¡ªLin Xian, weren¡¯t you going to tell us where you disappeared to these past two days?" Lin Xian smirked. "Don¡¯t you already know?" Hearing that, KIKI''s face flushed red as she quickly retorted, "I¡ªI mean, how did you end up there?!" The others listened, completely lost in their cryptic exchange. Lin Xian took a deep breath, stood up, and walked over to grab the radio from the sofa. "If there¡¯s no other explanation... then I was captured by this." "1542. The Dark Radio." With that, Lin Xian began recounting his experience after being pulled into the eerie broadcast. However, when it came to KIKI''s part, he glossed over the details¡ªonly mentioning that he had witnessed her corruption process and some of his theories. But even that much left the others pale-faced in shock. "So that footstep sound was really you?!" Shasha shuddered as if she had just heard a horror story. "Lin-ge, you mean you actually killed me over there?" Lin Xian rubbed his forehead awkwardly. "That was just a mind game. That thing was trying to break my mental defenses." At first, Lin Xian had assumed the radio broadcast was purely supernatural. But now, looking back¡ª It wasn¡¯t just the darkness. Some kind of unknown force was actively preying on survivors¡¯ minds. Shasha¡¯s eyes lit up suddenly. "So, Lin-ge¡ªyou do care about me! Seeing me get killed almost made you lose it, huh?" She grinned mischievously. Lin Xian froze. This girl... THAT¡¯S what she got out of this?! Chen Sixuan, on the other hand, was still unnerved. "So when I turned off that radio, that was what saved you?" Lin Xian nodded. "Yeah. If not for that¡ªand if you hadn¡¯t helped adjust the frequency through the lights¡ªI definitely wouldn¡¯t have made it out." "Smart thinking, Lin Xian!" KIKI listened intently, fascinated. "Wait¡ªyou¡¯re saying that after I passed out, some invisible creature was sucking my blood?" "Yeah." "Ugh!" KIKI shuddered, hugging herself. "That¡¯s so disgusting..." Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He turned to Daluo. "Daluo, do you remember what I said when we escaped Yuchi City?" Daluo nodded. Lin Xian continued, his voice grim. "I was confused back then. Sounds and lights only attract zombies and ghouls. "But whenever we draw in an eerie entity¡ª They¡¯re already nearby." Everyone held their breath. Lin Xian clenched his fists. "After being trapped in that Dark Radio, I¡¯m now certain¡ª Some of these things have been around us all along. Some only appear in the dark. Others require special conditions to be seen." His words sent a chill down everyone¡¯s spine. Shasha visibly shivered, glancing nervously around. "Wait, wait, wait¡ªyou¡¯re saying those horrifying things... might be right next to us all the time?!" "Exactly." Lin Xian¡¯s tone was dead serious. A heavy silence fell over the group. While Lin Xian¡¯s theory wasn¡¯t confirmed, it served as a terrifying warning. More than ever, he realized¡ª They needed a better detection method. And the key to that was¡ª The Soul Wave Detector. This device could detect eerie entities, zombies, and other supernatural threats. For humanity¡¯s survival, the ability to actively detect danger was absolutely critical. Without it¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t even have ten thousand lives to spare. "I think... I finally understand what the 1542 Dark Radio really is." KIKI suddenly narrowed her eyes at Lin Xian. "Something supernatural, but not related to Abilities... Lin Xian, have you read the Angel Project files I gave you?" Lin Xian took out the portable hard drive she had given him earlier. He frowned. "Not yet. I haven¡¯t even had time to sleep, let alone read it." KIKI snapped her fingers. She grabbed the hard drive and dashed to Carriage No. 2. A moment later, she returned with a portable screen in her hands. "I think this explains everything." She set it down in front of them. "Everyone was so focused on Abilities that we completely overlooked all the other weird stuff." "Look at this." On the screen was an old document from the Angel Project¡ª "A Global Investigation on Eerie &Paranormal Phenomena." This report was compiled by a now-defunct department of the former Federal Government, called the¡ª Special Item Investigation Department (SIID). The report contained early records of strange occurrences during the Polar Night¡ª And every single one of these incidents had one thing in common: They were all caused by specific objects. These items were ordinary objects from before the Doomsday¡ª But after the Apocalypse, they became catalysts for supernatural events. They were believed to be contaminated by an unknown force¡ª Turning them into extraordinary artifacts. The Angel Project classified these objects as¡ª Forbidden Items. Items capable of causing regional or contagious eerie events. The report listed several eerie cases, but only two had been confirmed and contained. Forbidden Item SIID-01: Big Ben Location: Lisbon City, Big Ben TowerDescription: The original Lisbon Big Ben was 13.5 tons, with a 6.7-meter clock face.Effects:July 9: First test¡ª3 researchers died, communication cut off.July 10: Second test¡ª2 researchers died, range of anomaly expanded to 300 meters.July 11: Third test¡ª3 researchers died, rapid aging effect confirmed.July 12: Fourth test¡ª4 researchers died, further expansion of anomaly.Containment Method:A group of healthy test subjects must enter at night, holding hands.No running allowed.Must grab the hour hand before all subjects die.Containment Location: Lisbon Branch, Angel Project. Forbidden Item SIID-02: Desert-857404 Taxi Location: Mo City, Dragon NationDescription: A 2057-model yellow taxi with a heavily decomposed male corpse in the driver¡¯s seat.Effects:July 25: First test¡ª1 researcher vanished after hailing the taxi at 2:12 AM.July 26: Second test¡ªonly one disappearance per night, proving it has a fixed spawn location.July 27: Third test¡ª9 researchers vanished. A survivor reported a horrifying cost for travel.Containment Method:Only used for short-distance travel.Survive by paying the price.Containment Location: Mo City Branch, Angel Project. KIKI took a sip of cola, then looked at Lin Xian. "There aren¡¯t many reports, but after hearing your story¡ª I¡¯m pretty sure that Dark Radio is one of them." Chapter 90: The Radio Lin Xian frowned deeply. ¡°So this radio really might have nothing to do with abilities, nor is it some kind of eerie entity or monster.¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± KIKI shrugged. ¡°Even if we figured it out, these things have no predictability and can¡¯t be detected in advance. Aside from researching eerie phenomena, it doesn¡¯t seem to have much use.¡± ¡°Not necessarily useless.¡± Lin Xian looked at the radio in his hand with a meaningful expression. ¡°If it can be contained, that means no matter how strange its power is, it can still be utilized. It¡¯s just that...¡± Although he didn¡¯t yet know how to use the power of this forbidden item, since he had risked his life to obtain it, he naturally wouldn¡¯t discard it. Who knows? It might be of great use in the future. Besides, it was this eerie radio that allowed Lin Xian to see the monster corrupting KIKI, which led to her ability to evolve¡ªso in a way, it was a blessing in disguise. ¡°Lin-ge.¡± Shasha looked at the radio in his hand, her small face full of caution. ¡°Can we still use this radio?¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flickered. He raised his hand, and with a flash of light, a brand-new radio appeared before him. With the amount of material he had gathered, making a simple radio was hardly a challenge. As for the 1542 Dark Radio, he decided to wait until late at night, when no one was around, to see if he could mechanically devour it¡ªjust to be safe. No matter how eerie something was, it was still just a radio. And considering that the strange power from the frequency hadn¡¯t affected his Mechanical Heart, didn¡¯t that mean... My code is above yours?! With that plan in mind, Lin Xian stored away the old radio and placed the newly crafted one on the table. Following the same setup, he mounted the Eerie Blood Crystal he had obtained from the three-faced spider monster. ¡°All set.¡± Lin Xian placed his hand on the dial and began tuning. Everyone instantly tensed up. "Zzzzz... Zzzzz..." "Zzzzz... " "Federal... Federal Radio YB Region Broadcast: A strong soul-wave disturbance has been detected in the northern foothills of Mount Daluo. Confirmed as a B-Class supermassive eerie entity¡ªAtmospheric Jellyfish. The entity is currently moving towards Yubei City. The Federal Phoenix Rescue Organization has deployed Iron Guard Battalion 52 to intercept. Survivors along G1523 and X556 heading toward Yubei or Maple City are advised to reroute. This message is provided by the Federal Phoenix Rescue Organization..." "Federal Radio YB Region Broadcast: Due to the collapse of the Dazhu Mountain Tunnel, the Phoenix Division of Tianhai Province has urgently repaired the Yubei No. 1 Spaceport Ascension Passage. Refugees escaping from Abyss Zone No. 3, Lucheng, Dingzhou, Jiang City, Maple City, and Luo City can use the Huanxing High-Altitude Corridor to bypass the Dazhu Mountain Plateau. Alternative routes include: North 756 Plateau Highway (clear), and Southeast Expressway GS66..." "Zzzzz... Zzzzz... Citywide Emergency Alert: Yubei City is experiencing a full-scale zombie horde outbreak. Due to the effects of Polar Night, Spaceport No. 1 will close in three days..." "Zzzzz... Federal Phoenix Global Broadcast: Due to the Dark Tides, global temperatures are dropping. Some regions are experiencing extreme blizzards and natural disasters. Important notice: Tests confirm that snow and black rain are contaminated by the Polar Night Plague, carrying unknown bacteria and energy-based infections. This has caused widespread wildlife mutations. Boiling and high-temperature distillation can partially reduce the infection rate..." "Zzzzz... Federal Phoenix Global Broadcast: Several newly discovered non-nocturnal eerie entities have emerged in blizzard zones, posing extreme threats. Daytime precautions are advised..." Countless broadcasts continued to stream from the Dark Radio, filling the room with a heavy silence. Everyone had mixed feelings¡ªnot sure whether to feel relieved or more anxious. Hearing official news in the apocalypse was somewhat reassuring. The information was undoubtedly crucial. But at the same time, these reports cast an even darker shadow over their hearts. ¡°Damn... Surviving is seriously hard work.¡± KIKI was the first to complain, staring up at the ceiling. ¡°Lin Xian, just turn this train into a spaceship. Let¡¯s go live on another planet.¡± Her joke lightened the mood a little. Lin Xian took a deep breath. ¡°Looking on the bright side, with the Ascension Passage repaired, we don¡¯t have to risk breaking through ourselves. Plus, the Iron Guard Battalion is there, so we¡¯re not completely on our own. Once we get past the High-Altitude Corridor, there¡¯s an electromagnetic acceleration system that¡¯ll get us to Jiazhou City¡ª4500 kilometers away. Even if Abyss Zone No. 3 expands, it¡¯ll take at least ten days to reach us. We¡¯ll finally get to enjoy some sunlight...¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded but then frowned. ¡°But we need to ration our clean water. Blizzards and water contamination could mean an ecological disaster for the entire planet.¡± ¡°Yeah, does this mean we¡¯ll never get to eat fresh fruits and vegetables again?¡± Shasha pouted. ¡°Of course we will.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face was serious. ¡°Worst case, we farm on the train. We¡¯re from Longguo¡ªwe can grow crops anywhere!¡± Nearby, Luo Ye gave them a strange look. How did this conversation shift from a life-or-death crisis to farming? To avoid further delays, Lin Xian drove the train past the repaired railway section. Then, he removed the Eerie Blood Crystal from the radio and placed it on the Soul Wave Detector for a test. Click. He pressed the detector¡¯s button. The crystal emitted a faint red energy wave before quickly retracting it. The gauge needle on the detector began to move. ¡°-21.¡± Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan and KIKI watched curiously. ¡°Is that number high or low?¡± ¡°Low.¡± Lin Xian turned to KIKI. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say regular zombies are at -1? This reading doesn¡¯t even exceed -100, so it likely means there aren¡¯t any eerie entities nearby¡ªfor now.¡± KIKI nodded. ¡°Makes sense. The only thing we don¡¯t know is the detector¡¯s range.¡± ¡°It should be a few hundred meters at least. That bonfire gathering covered quite an area.¡± ¡°Alright then...¡± KIKI yawned. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll rest for a bit. Chen-jie, wake me up later. I still need to finish setting up the Water-Oxygen Circulation System.¡± ¡°Okay, get some sleep.¡± Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s analysis, Chen Sixuan finally exhaled in relief. However, as soon as KIKI left, her expression changed. ¡°Lin Xian, look¡ª¡± The Eerie Blood Crystal on the detector had dimmed significantly, as if a portion of its blood energy had been consumed. Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Just as I thought¡ªit¡¯s a consumable item. This thing won¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°Damn, such a precious material, and it only works a few times?¡± Chen Sixuan looked heartbroken. ¡°But if it helps us stay safe, it¡¯s worth it.¡± Keeping watch in shifts wasn¡¯t a long-term solution. If eerie entities couldn¡¯t be seen, guards wouldn¡¯t be able to detect them either. The Soul Wave Detector was now an essential survival tool. As the lights dimmed, the blizzard intensified outside. For the first time in days, the heavy train parked on the snowy plains was finally at rest. Everyone was exhausted. The Steel Fortress gave them a much-needed sense of security. Shasha and KIKI fell asleep almost instantly. In the cockpit, Chen Sixuan glanced at the darkened hallway. Her body relaxed, and she suddenly collapsed into Lin Xian¡¯s arms. Days of stress had drained her completely. With Lin Xian back safely, she had finally found something to hold on to amid the storm. ¡°Lin Xian...¡± Her eyes reddened, her shoulders trembling as she whispered, ¡°Thank you for coming back.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s heart softened. If not for her, he might not have made it back from that eerie radio frequency. Moved by the moment, he held her tightly. ¡°I owe you one.¡± Chapter 91: Work Inside the dark train carriage, the warmth from the heating system created a stark contrast to the freezing cold beyond the thick armor. Lying on his bed, Lin Xian glanced at Chen Sixuan, who was sound asleep beside him, a hint of gratitude flickering in his eyes. The apocalypse had taught him a lot in a short time. Food and water were incredibly scarce, and while zombies and eerie entities were deadly threats, the isolation and fear of survival were just as suffocating. Without Chen Sixuan¡¯s support, without KIKI¡¯s ability, without Luo Ye and Shasha¡¯s help, even finding the courage to keep going would have been incredibly difficult. Outside, the blizzard raged on. Lin Xian got up, dressed, and quietly made his way to the Whale 03E¡¯s cockpit, activating his Mechanical Heart to run a full diagnostic and repair check on the train. The massive eerie entity in the sky weighed on his mind like a dark cloud, keeping him restless. He decided to use the time to reinforce the train¡¯s armor a little. Now that the train¡¯s armor had been upgraded, the increased weight¡ªcombined with the power consumption of the heating system¡ªwas putting a strain on the electric locomotive¡¯s energy reserves. This directly increased the fuel cost of running the train. "If I don¡¯t upgrade my Mechanical Heart to Level 3, even traveling 300 km a day will be a struggle..." "Hopefully, the underground city has a useful energy system to take some of the pressure off..." After handling the most critical armor repairs, Lin Xian returned to bed, set an alarm, and forced himself to rest. Thanks to the Soul Wave Detector, he only assigned Luo Ye to guard the rear of the train for the night. The radar warning system in the front car gave him some peace of mind. He needed to recover his energy¡ªtomorrow wouldn¡¯t be easy. Beep beep. Beep beep. At 8:00 AM, Lin Xian¡¯s wristwatch alarm woke him up. He felt significantly recharged. Chen Sixuan was still fast asleep¡ªas one of the only two non-enhanced humans on board, her stamina was far lower than the others. Even compared to Shasha, she was physically weaker. After days of constant tension, this was probably the first time she¡¯d had a proper rest. Not wanting to disturb her, Lin Xian quietly got up, opened the door to Carriage No. 2, and found KIKI already sitting at the computer, hard at work. "Hallo, boss!" KIKI hadn¡¯t turned on the overhead lights. The soft glow of the monitor illuminated her face, making Lin Xian suddenly think of a phrase¡ª ¡°Internet-addicted girl.¡± "...You¡¯re up early?" "I slept for so long, okay?" KIKI stretched lazily, full of energy, and grinned. "Right now, I¡¯m the most awake person on this train." "Not bad, Energetic Little Miss." Lin Xian smirked. "Are you working on the water-oxygen circulation system?" "Here~" KIKI pointed at the screen and pursed her lips. "It¡¯s not that simple. First, we need a separate storage tank for living water, separate from the train¡¯s water supply. Then there¡¯s the filtration system, which depends on what kind of purifier blueprint you plan to use." "If you want to set up a heating system, you¡¯ll need to link the train¡¯s water tank and the living water tank into a loop. That way, you can integrate distillation¡ªit purifies the water and provides heat at the same time." "As for the water-oxygen system, that¡¯s even trickier. If you¡¯re setting up a planting carriage, you¡¯ll need hydroponics, drip irrigation, and air regulation¡ªmeaning you¡¯d have to fully seal the train to make the oxygen cycle work properly..." Hearing this, Lin Xian got interested. He pulled up a chair and sat down. "Right, originally, I just wanted to improve the train¡¯s water supply, but now we have to consider purification, recycling, heating, and farming. It¡¯s getting more complicated... but we can start with water purification and recycling first. Heating-wise, the current warm-air system is still functional." "I was thinking¡ªthe Underground City No. 9 must have advanced systems in place. We can¡¯t copy them directly, but we can study their design. Maybe they even have a ready-made system we can take advantage of..." KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. "Oh! That¡¯s right! A place that big definitely has a botanical zone! And a medical system!" Clap! She slapped her palms together, her gaze burning with excitement as she stared at Lin Xian. "And one more critical thing!" "What?" "An AI system module!" KIKI¡¯s eyes widened. "If we can get a high-performance AI, we can have it design a customized solution for our train¡¯s systems! Way better than us brainstorming blindly!" Lin Xian nodded. "That makes sense." "And also, and also¡ª" KIKI was getting more and more excited, spinning her chair around. Because she was only wearing shorts, her long legs stretched out carelessly toward Lin Xian. "The underground city might even have an Eternal-Class Rail Train¡ªused for resource transport or emergency evacuation." "These super-trains have miniature nuclear reactors on board. If we could get our hands on one..." Seeing her over-the-top enthusiasm, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smirk. Of course, he wanted all these things. He knew the underground city would have cutting-edge tech. For someone with Mechanical Abilities, it was paradise. But he also knew... Things aren¡¯t that simple. First, the underground cities were federal government assets before the world fell apart. Did the new Apocalypse Union maintain them? Were they still operational? Even if they were intact, an apocalypse-scale underground city would have insane security measures. KIKI might be able to sneak in, but that didn¡¯t mean he could. And more importantly¡ª Time was running out. Yubei City¡¯s No. 1 Spaceport Passage would close in three days. Even considering travel time, he had less than two days to explore the underground city. But looking at KIKI¡¯s beaming face, Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to crush her enthusiasm just yet. "If things go smoothly," he said, "our train might undergo a huge upgrade. Once we pass the High-Altitude Corridor, we¡¯ll reach Jiazhou City in under a week. From there, it¡¯s only a short trip to Jinhai." The moment he said this, KIKI¡¯s smile disappeared. She stared at him sharply. "Wait, what did you just say?" "...What¡¯s wrong?" Lin Xian frowned. Did he say something incorrect? Thud! Thud! Thud! Before he could react, KIKI suddenly jumped off her chair, barefoot, and ran up to him. Like a cat, she straddled his lap, grabbed his shirt collar, and pulled him close, her eyes burning with anger. "Jinhai? What, are you planning to kick me off the train again?!" Lin Xian looked into her big, beautiful eyes and instantly understood. He chuckled. "How could I? You¡¯re our communications expert. I was just talking about the route." "Really...?" KIKI stared intensely into his eyes, so close he could feel her breath on his face¡ª A soft, tingling sensation. "Really." Lin Xian nodded seriously. For a moment, the air went still. Then, out of nowhere, KIKI lunged forward and bit his nose! Chomp! Then she shoved him away. "Get lost, get lost! Don¡¯t interrupt my work!" Lin Xian touched his nose in shock. What the hell was that move?! Chapter 92: Heteromorph Lin Xian rubbed his nose as he walked out of Carriage No. 2, looking somewhat dazed. ¡°...I got bitten. Wonder if I¡¯ll turn into a zombie...¡± Passing through Carriages 3 and 4, he glanced at the mostly empty compartments. These two were the ones they had seized from Tang Hai, mainly used for storage, but since they didn¡¯t have many supplies, they were still somewhat vacant. In fact, aside from Carriage No. 5, Lin Xian had distributed supplies across all the carriages¡ªa precaution against unexpected situations. Arriving at Carriage No. 5, he found Luo Ye sitting on a chair, rifle in hand, keeping watch. Seeing Lin Xian approach, he immediately stood up. "Xian-ge, are we setting off?" Lin Xian shook his head. "No, you rest for now. I¡¯ll take over the watch." "Alright." Luo Ye didn¡¯t argue. He knew Lin Xian always had a plan, so he put his gun aside and went straight to sleep. Lin Xian opened the rear ramp of the train, preparing to devour the broken off-road vehicle and see if he could repair the armored vehicle. For Lin Xian, an armored vehicle was highly valuable¡ªit would make ground operations much easier. The open flatbed trailer was convenient for loading and unloading vehicles, but the lack of protection was a major flaw. If another bandit convoy attacked, they could just climb aboard and steal a vehicle. However, dedicating an entire carriage to a single vehicle was impractical. Lin Xian thought about it and decided to drive the armored car into Carriage No. 5. The ramp made it easy to load and unload, though it would be inconvenient when handling other cargo. Unlike his motorcycle, which was far more maneuverable, this would take some planning. He walked over to the armored vehicle, placed his hand on the surface, and activated Mechanical Heart to run a diagnostic. "Not bad... still intact. Armor does make a difference." "Alright, let¡¯s move it to Carriage No. 5 first..." Glancing at the thick layer of snow covering the flatbed trailer, Lin Xian made a mental note: Once they reached Underground City No. 9, he would deal with this excess weight. For now, though, he needed the flatbed trailer¡ªjust in case they found large machinery that needed towing. With that in mind, Lin Xian stepped outside, devoured the wrecked off-road vehicle, organized the Carriage No. 5 tool rack, and drove the armored vehicle inside before sealing the ramp shut. Then, he pulled out the old radio, exhaled, and looked toward the railway tracks in the distance. There, a headless ghost woman in lingerie stood eerily. Only Lin Xian, holding the radio, could see her. "A forbidden item, huh?" "Since you¡¯re attached to a machine, let¡¯s see exactly what you are." His expression turned cold as he stared at the headless ghost, his thoughts sharp and calculating. "If you give me just one Mechanical Source Point, I swear I¡¯ll take you apart piece by piece..." Buzz! A faint glow flickered¡ªLin Xian activated his Mechanical Heart. Immediately, the red-dressed ghost and the radio trembled violently, resisting his control. ¡¾Devour Progress: 50%¡¿ For small mechanical devices like this, Lin Xian only needed a few minutes to complete the process. ¡¾Devour Progress: 99%¡¿ Suddenly, a flood of terrifying visions surged into Lin Xian¡¯s mind. The red-dressed ghost flickered violently, her screams distorting reality. Just as Lin Xian thought the devouring process was about to succeed, an unexpected notification appeared on his interface. ¡¾Devour Failed¡ªNon-mechanical energy detected. Upgrade Mechanical Heart to Level 3 to attempt again.¡¿ ¡¾Warning: Non-mechanical energy detected. Activating Mechanical Heteromorph to seal energy.¡¿ Boom! At that moment, Mechanical Heart whirred into overdrive. The radio in Lin Xian¡¯s hands transformed¡ªits components shifting and folding like a Rubik¡¯s Cube. Within seconds, it became a disjointed rectangular object, with its silver antenna now coiled at the center. "AHHHH!!!" A piercing wail echoed as the terrifying visions shattered. An invisible force compressed, sealing itself into the strange mechanical cube in Lin Xian¡¯s hands. "...What the hell just happened?" For the first time ever, Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Devour failed. "Non-mechanical energy... automatic activation of Mechanical Heteromorph to seal the energy?" Lin Xian stared at the now featureless block, the horrific ghost woman and hallucinations completely gone. He immediately tried scanning it with Mechanical Heart. No response. It was as if the object had turned into a dead lump of metal. "Sealed..." Lin Xian mulled over the word. This wasn¡¯t a random occurrence¡ªhis Mechanical Heart had acted on its own. For now, he had no choice but to trust the process. "Once I upgrade Mechanical Heart to Level 3, I¡¯ll deal with this thing properly." A strange feeling told him¡ª This forbidden item¡¯s power might eventually become his to control. At 3:00 PM, the Infinite Train crew had enjoyed a rare night of uninterrupted rest. Lin Xian wanted to depart before dawn. The southern route was still over 200 km away, and since daylight was short, he had to risk traveling at night to maximize daylight efficiency. After sleeping for over ten hours, Chen Sixuan¡¯s complexion finally regained some color. Since leaving Jiang City, this was the best sleep she¡¯d had. Inside the train, warm yellow lights cast a cozy glow, contrasting with the raging blizzard outside. Chen Sixuan, now acting as both navigator and cook, was preparing food. Meanwhile, Luo Ye and Shasha were fully geared up, checking their guns and ammunition. KIKI, who had worked through the night, wasn¡¯t working on the water-oxygen system¡ªinstead, she had been upgrading the train¡¯s radar system. With Lin Xian¡¯s guidance, she adjusted the optical sensors to monitor the vertical track conditions ahead¡ªan elegant solution to a major hazard they had been facing. Hooonnnkkk! The electric and gas-powered engines roared to life. Infinite Train rumbled forward after its night of rest. Before long, the train reached the Mount Daluo junction. Lin Xian stepped out into the darkness to check the track conditions. Sure enough, a newly constructed high-grade rail line lay before him¡ªa promising sign. He adjusted the switch, redirecting the train onto the branch line. Clang-clang-clang... Moving cautiously, Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan kept the train speed low, watching the tracks carefully. In the distance, Mount Daluo¡¯s silhouette loomed against the night sky as the train pressed southward. "Lin Xian, look!" From the cockpit, Chen Sixuan pointed at the tracks. "Six parallel tracks... this must have been a massive infrastructure project." Suddenly¡ª BOOM! A wrecked car lay across the tracks. Infinite Train¡¯s Icebreaker Shield smashed it aside, sending debris flying. Chen Sixuan flinched, while Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. As they continued, the landscape changed¡ªthe highway running parallel to the tracks was now jammed with abandoned cars, many buried in snow. "Why so many vehicles...?" "Lin Xian... it¡¯s getting worse." Beep-beep! Radar alarms blared. KIKI rushed into the cockpit, face pale. "The road is completely blocked. There must be at least 10,000 vehicles." Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened. "...Looks like they were all trying to escape to the underground city." Then, as dawn broke¡ª The light revealed an apocalyptic nightmare. The entire highway was buried under bodies. Chapter 93: Underground City Clang¡ªClang¡ª Graaah!!! The sound of train tracks clashing and the shrieks of zombies echoed through the sky. Countless zombies surged from all directions, completely surrounding the Infinite Train. However, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn forward, their gazes piercing through the sea of undead, locking onto a breathtaking megastructure ahead. The Infinite Train, with its monstrous horsepower, plowed through abandoned vehicles and zombies alike, showing no mercy as it cleared a path. Finally, it veered onto a dedicated track leading into the underground city, steadily approaching the towering outer walls. At the center of the tracks stood a massive gate. Behind it was a vast loading platform, where several high-end freight carriages lay dormant. However, the station was eerily empty. The distant construction vehicles, cranes, and watchtowers were all buried under thick layers of snow, as if this unfinished megaproject had been frozen in time. "Is this underground city abandoned?" KIKI asked in shock. "It¡¯s possible that it¡¯s already fallen," Lin Xian said grimly. "No wonder we never heard of any survivor convoys mentioning this place. Turns out it¡¯s been a living hell for a long time." A desolate underground city swarming with zombies¡ªonly someone like Lin Xian, armed with a fortress-like heavy train, would dare venture here. Regular survivor convoys wouldn''t even make it past the outskirts, let alone risk entering this nightmarish wasteland. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Ability, who in their right mind would come here looking for supplies? "So... are we going in?" Shasha hesitated. "Yes!" Lin Xian exchanged a glance with KIKI before making his decision. "I¡¯ll open that gate. Chen-laoshi, you drive the train inside. The rest of you, cover me." The moment the cockpit door opened, zombies surged forward like a tidal wave. KIKI raised her hand, and an invisible forcefield blasted dozens of zombies away in an instant. Lin Xian wasted no time, charging out with his gun blazing. A hail of bullets rained down, carving a bloody path through the undead. Ratatatat! Gunfire erupted. Luo Ye and Shasha had also disembarked, continuously firing to cover Lin Xian¡¯s advance. Seizing the opening, Lin Xian sprinted toward the massive gate, placing his hand on its freezing surface. His Mechanical Heart whirred to life, quickly linking with the gate¡¯s hydraulic system. BZZZT¡ªTHUD! With a deep mechanical groan, the gate trembled against the blizzard before slowly splitting open. Chen Sixuan immediately pushed the throttle, guiding the Infinite Train into the loading platform. Meanwhile, the others fought their way back, retreating through the opening before Lin Xian sealed the gate once more. BANG! BANG! CRACK! Zombies desperately clawed at the closing gate, their numbers thinning rapidly. Within moments, Luo Ye and Shasha finished off the remaining stragglers. "Raaaaaaah!!!" Tens of thousands of zombies roared outside the walls, stretching their decayed hands through the gaps. The sheer horror of the scene sent chills down everyone¡¯s spine. "Move back. Stay alert¡ªthere might still be something in here," Lin Xian warned. He didn¡¯t believe the underground city was completely abandoned. If the entire operation had shut down, it most likely meant the interior had already fallen. There was no way the former federal government would simply abandon a multi-trillion-dollar project without reason. The Infinite Train slowly pulled into one of the loading bays. The area was vast and eerily silent. The underground city¡¯s entrance resembled a gaping chasm in the earth, where warm updrafts clashed against the icy winds, creating swirling mist above the pit. Unbeknownst to the group, several hidden security cameras inside the loading platform had quietly turned, locking onto the Infinite Train. "There¡¯s seriously no one here?" KIKI frowned at the empty station. "This place is huge. How are we supposed to search it?" "We should¡¯ve expected this," Lin Xian replied. "No survivor has ever received a broadcast signal from this underground city. It¡¯s been silent for ages. But that¡¯s a good thing¡ªwithout people, we can search freely for useful supplies." "Yeah, but if there¡¯s no power, we can¡¯t exactly just jump in," KIKI muttered, biting her lip. "And without electricity, the underground city¡¯s main control system is definitely offline. Even if I wanted to hack in, I can¡¯t do anything if the servers are dead." "Then we take whatever we can find." Lin Xian wasn¡¯t too disappointed. If the place was truly deserted, it meant fewer obstacles. There were plenty of large machines around, perfect fuel for his Mechanical Heart. With any luck, absorbing them would push his ability to Level 3¡ªnot a bad trade-off. "Chen-laoshi," Lin Xian decided. "KIKI and I will check the entrance. To avoid wasting time, the rest of you stay here and gather whatever useful supplies you can find. We may need to backtrack later, and turning the train around outside would be difficult. We might have to return to Yu Chi Station and take the north route instead." "Got it." Luo Ye nodded. Shasha pointed at a flatbed trailer nearby. "Lin-ge, why don¡¯t we use the forklifts on the platform to load stuff onto that? We still have gas, and we can fit a lot of things back there." Lin Xian nodded. "Good idea. Prioritize machinery first. If you find any useful supplies, load those too. This place is bound to have plenty of valuable stuff. We¡¯ll need it later. KIKI, you¡¯re with me." "Fine. Let¡¯s see if we can find anything good," KIKI muttered, pulling her hood over her head and rubbing her hands for warmth. She grabbed a gun and prepared to follow Lin Xian off the train. Chen Sixuan hesitated. "Be careful. It¡¯s too quiet here... I don¡¯t like it." Just as Lin Xian reached for the cockpit door, a sudden beeping sound echoed inside the cabin. BEEP¡ªBEEP¡ªBEEP! Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes darted toward the source. To her shock, the train¡¯s communication system was blinking. Her eyes widened. "Lin Xian... it¡¯s the radio!" "What?!" KIKI was stunned. "How is that even possible? Without a red bead, how is there a signal?" Lin Xian strode over, his expression darkening. "Unless it¡¯s coming from inside the station." Reaching the console, he hesitated for a moment before decisively pressing the answer button. BEEP¡ª The air fell eerily silent. "Who¡¯s there?" Lin Xian broke the silence. A mature female voice crackled through the speaker. "Survivors, hello. This is Underground City No. 9, Floor -52, Research Lab. Do you read me?" The entire group froze. There were still people alive in the underground city! Chapter 94: SOS Chen Sixuan gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "There are actually people down there!" "Let¡¯s hear them out first," Lin Xian gesture for silence before pressing the responder again. "We can hear you." "This is Ding Junyi, Deputy Director of the Biological Research Department in Underground City No. 9. The city has been overrun by a massive outbreak of zombies and nocturnal entities. My colleagues and I are currently trapped on Level -52 in the research sector. Can you assist us? If you''re willing to help, we can offer a trade." Her voice carried a hint of urgency, but on the Infinite Train, the crew¡¯s expressions darkened. "Are you saying... out of this entire underground city, only a few of you survived?" Lin Xian¡¯s first instinct was to doubt her claim. He had encountered too many baited traps before¡ªthis wasn¡¯t something he would easily fall for. "The exact number of survivors in other areas is unknown," Ding Junyi replied. "Two weeks ago, the excavation teams in the lower levels encountered an unidentified subterranean lifeform, which led to an emergency shutdown of operations. Core Reactor No. 1 suffered a meltdown, triggering widespread mutations and infections. As a result, at least 376,000 citizens¡ªover 95% of the population¡ªperished. The Underground City Federal Management Committee was forced to initiate an evacuation, deploying 8 intercontinental-class trains, 3 Eternal-class trains, and numerous airships, helicopters, and flight units to transport key personnel. However, nearly all airborne evacuation vehicles went missing over the Daluo Mountains. Preliminary analysis suggests they were intercepted by airborne nocturnal entities." "The mutations triggered large-scale chaos, severely damaging the city¡¯s infrastructure. Zombies swarmed the underground levels, and nocturnal entities appeared in large numbers. My three colleagues and I failed to escape in time and were forced to take refuge in a biological research lab. As of now, there are likely very few survivors left in Underground City No. 9. We were able to locate you via surveillance feeds at GF2 Station, which is why we¡¯re reaching out for help." Despite requesting aid, her voice remained unnervingly calm. The moment she finished speaking, KIKI glanced out the window. Sure enough, several surveillance cameras were locked onto their cockpit. "Huh. So not only are there people here... but there¡¯s still power." Lin Xian nodded, scanning his team¡¯s faces. He was certain that the nocturnal entities Ding Junyi mentioned were the same as the Eerie Entities they had encountered before. Pressing the responder again, he asked, "How exactly do you expect us to rescue you?" They had no idea what lay ahead. From what Ding Junyi described, an unknown creature had emerged from the underground, zombies and nocturnal entities had taken over, and they were stuck 52 levels below. Even if Lin Xian wanted to help, he needed more information first¡ªthis could just as easily be a death trap. Ding Junyi wasted no time responding. "Currently, elevators 1, 2, and 5 are completely destroyed. Elevators 7 and 8 only reach Level -80 and below, which are already overrun with infected. The only functioning elevator is No. 3, which is a freight elevator for transporting equipment. It leads to the underground Level-95 Freight Rail Terminal, but due to structural damage, it can only reach Level -89 at best. "I can remotely unlock the security gate leading to GF2 Station¡¯s underground track, but we only have a backup power source. There isn¡¯t enough energy to power the rail elevator for your train. However, your train can still take the direct tunnel down to Level -65 Freight Terminal. From there, you can use Elevator No. 3 to reach us on Level -52. There are plenty of zombies outside, but given your heavy firepower and the presence of a psychic ability user, the risk should be manageable." Lin Xian frowned slightly. From her explanation, her identity as a Deputy Director of Biological Research seemed highly credible. A regular underground city citizen¡ªeven high-ranking officials¡ªwouldn¡¯t have such detailed knowledge of the city¡¯s infrastructure. Her logic was clear, her planning methodical, and she spoke in the precise tone of a researcher. Still, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t fully convinced. "You make it sound easy. Why didn¡¯t you contact the federal government for help?" KIKI leaned in, her sharp intuition kicking in. "Yeah, why didn¡¯t you call for an official rescue?" Another voice¡ªthis one younger and more anxious¡ªcut in through the responder. "Because the underground city¡¯s satellite communication systems were taken during the evacuation! Standard communication devices are useless due to the Dark Night Magnetic Waves, which you should be well aware of! The only systems we have access to now are the city¡¯s subsystems, which is why we¡¯re using the station¡¯s responder to contact you!" Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed. "So when the evacuation happened... no one came to get you?" A brief silence followed. Then, Ding Junyi took over the call again. "Our distress calls were received," she said plainly. "But given the circumstances... we were likely classified as abandoned assets." Inside Underground City No. 9, deep within a sealed-off research sector, the quarantine doors remained locked. The outer hallways were pitch black, infested with wandering zombies. Inside the lab, four researchers¡ªtwo men and two women¡ªhuddled together, their faces filled with anxiety. They had been trapped here for over a week. Despite the high-level security measures and life support systems, food and supplies were critically low. If they didn¡¯t escape soon, they would starve to death. Ding Junyi, the Deputy Director, was in her early thirties, her sharp gaze framed by glasses. With her were Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming, a microbiologist. The oldest among them, Zhao Yan, was visibly weakened. They had resorted to eating experimental green plants to sustain themselves. Fortunately, the lab still had functioning lighting and air circulation, preventing them from suffocating. Since the Great Evacuation, the underground city had turned into a nightmarish wasteland. Roads were blocked, the Polar Night had descended, and their chances of rescue were growing dimmer by the day. Nearly all useful resources had been taken during the evacuation. This half-finished, post-apocalyptic megastructure¡ªbarely 175% completed¡ªhad become nothing more than a graveyard of despair. "Director Ding... I don¡¯t think they trust us." Xu Wen, the youngest and most timid, was growing frantic. The silence on the responder made her panic. "What do we do?" "Stay calm," Han Qiming replied, scratching his messy, unkempt hair. He was already skeletal after two weeks of starvation. "They came in on a train, which means they have a purpose here. Plus, they opened the security gate and have high-tier abilities. They might want to explore the underground city anyway. If that¡¯s the case... we can find common ground." "Exactly." Zhao Yan, the eldest, turned to Ding Junyi. "Director Ding, should we just ask them directly?" Ding Junyi, however, remained calm as ever. Instead of replying, she silently reviewed the security footage, rewatching how Lin Xian¡¯s group had breached GF2 Station. Unlike the others, she wasn¡¯t focused on whether the train crew would help them¡ªshe was studying them. Taking notes on her tablet, she analyzed the video carefully. "They have five people visible in the footage so far," she noted. "It¡¯s unclear if there are more onboard. The leader is the man speaking with us. Estimated age: 25-30. Clear sense of purpose, logical thinking, highly educated. He opened the GF2 Station gate¡ªI checked the system logs. No authorization was granted, which means he likely has an advanced mechanical ability and forced it open." Chapter 95: Terms "This matches the basic profile of a crisis leader. The second individual, a female aged 16-18, possesses a rare and extremely powerful telekinetic ability. Logically, her ability would have been the most efficient way to open the gate, which suggests that the male leader''s ability is even more valuable¡ªlikely something beyond brute force, such as magnetic manipulation or inorganic control." "The third male is heavily built, estimated age 26-35. He wields an M556 light machine gun chambered for 7.62¡Á51mm rifle rounds, with a firing rate of 650-950 rounds per minute and a weight of 21.5kg. He also carries a heavy metal sword on his back, with the hilt positioned for a right-hand draw. However, he uses the machine gun with his left hand effortlessly, which indicates extreme muscle strength. While there¡¯s no visible sign of an ability, his sheer combat prowess makes him a formidable survivor." "The fourth individual, a young girl, appears highly skilled in firearms. Whether she has an ability is unclear. From a sociological standpoint, bringing a child on an escape journey usually means one of two things: she either possesses a unique ability or value, or she has a close familial tie to an important team member." "The fifth person hasn¡¯t exited the train. The cameras only captured partial footage, but she is female, around 25 years old, and appears to be the driver. Likely a technical expert or a non-combatant." Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses as she enlarged the surveillance footage on her handheld device. Her face, though pale from starvation, remained razor-sharp in focus. "The train itself is a heavily customized mobile refuge. It consists of a Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive¡ªa model produced 30 years ago¡ªalong with a Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive, which is 14 years old. Both are freight-grade and lack nuclear propulsion, meaning they rely on liquid fuel and railway power grids. The train has five modified passenger carriages, each with reinforced armor from a specialized manufacturer, suggesting extensive internal upgrades." Xu Wen frowned. "Director Ding... so what are you saying?" Ding Junyi turned her gaze to the group. "It¡¯s obvious that this train was meticulously designed as a mobile survival base. These people aren¡¯t just a temporary alliance. The Federation¡¯s Intercontinental-Class and Eternal-Class Rail Trains are all nuclear-powered, capable of planetary transit via the Star Rail system. That means this crew is likely here to solve an energy crisis." "That makes sense!" Han Qiming nodded. "They wouldn¡¯t risk entering a zombie-infested underground city just for food and water." Zhao Yan, growing anxious, interjected. "But we can¡¯t help them with that! All the nuclear-powered trains were taken during the Great Migration..." Ding Junyi took a deep breath, her sharp eyes flickering as she stared at the silent cockpit on the monitor. "That¡¯s not entirely true." She swiftly navigated the system logs, pulling up a surveillance record. "Before the Level -95 power grid shut down, the station logs recorded the presence of a Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive. This locomotive was meant as a backup power unit for the Intercontinental-Class trains but was left behind at the Level -95 Freight Terminal during the evacuation. If they¡¯re looking for energy solutions, this could be what they need." Her voice remained steady as she continued. "Based on this assessment, we have three key bargaining chips for negotiation." "What are they?!" Zhao Yan asked urgently. "First, we hold a Level-P3 administrative clearance and extensive knowledge of the underground city¡¯s layout. Besides the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive, we can help them locate other valuable resources. Given their small team but high survival capability, this makes up about 70% of our negotiation leverage." "Second, we have access to biological research data and archived pre-collapse Federation records. While these may not be immediately useful to survivors, they could be valuable for trade with the Apocalypse Union. This accounts for about 29% of our leverage." Zhao Yan frowned. "And the last 1%?" Ding Junyi¡¯s eyes turned cold. "Ourselves. As long as we¡¯re alive, we hold intrinsic intellectual, labor, and... physical value." Han Qiming¡¯s face twisted in horror. "Absurd! We are high-level Federation researchers! Even as bargaining chips, our intellectual contributions should outweigh physical labor!" Ding Junyi glanced at him indifferently. "You¡¯re too nai?ve. When I said physical value, I was including you." "WHAT?!?!" Han Qiming¡¯s face turned ashen. Zhao Yan and Xu Wen also looked disturbed. Never in their lives had they imagined being reduced to tradeable assets¡ªand that their value in that regard was a mere 1%. Zhao Yan, her face pale from hunger, muttered weakly, "Director Ding, even if we have access credentials and maps, why would they risk their lives for us?" "Yeah, and that locomotive is still in Level -95. That place is already..." Xu Wen shuddered. Ding Junyi¡¯s expression remained cold. "This is our perspective on negotiation. But for them, our offer might not even compare to a single crate of food. The situation is asymmetric, but we don¡¯t have any better options." Silence filled the room. Meanwhile, inside the Infinite Train, Lin Xian and his team exchanged glances as they processed the conversation. Chen Sixuan was the first to speak. "If their description is accurate, this underground city is already overrun. We¡¯re running out of daylight, and searching for supplies in these conditions won¡¯t be easy." Lin Xian nodded. "We¡¯d have to operate at night, which is insanely risky. Not to mention that unknown subterranean lifeform and the fact that over 100,000 people have already turned into zombies or worse..." "So we¡¯re not rescuing them?" Shasha asked. "Didn¡¯t they say they could trade supplies with us?" "Negotiate first." KIKI crossed her arms. "Let¡¯s hear what they can actually offer. If it¡¯s not worth it, we can just ignore them. We have backup power¡ªwe can find our own way inside." "Going in blindly is reckless." Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed. "This underground city is the size of a small metropolis. The internal layout is a mystery. Getting in is easy¡ªbut then what?" Even with his Mechanical Ability, bypassing ordinary security systems wasn¡¯t difficult. But an entire underground city? The system was likely too complex to be overridden manually. If he overexerted himself, he could end up dead before even covering one level. Not to mention the dangerous state of the city¡ªone wrong move could trigger a chain reaction that would force them into a hasty retreat with nothing to show for it. After a moment of thought, Lin Xian pressed the responder. "Alright. Let''s hear your terms." Chapter 96: Cooperation As soon as the words left her mouth, the tension in the laboratory rose instantly. All eyes turned to Ding Junyi. After some thought, they all understood¡ªthis rundown lab had no real bargaining chips. They had no choice but to rely on Ding Junyi¡¯s analysis. She stepped forward without hesitation and stated directly: ¡°We have Level P3 management clearance for the underground city. Aside from a few restricted zones, we can grant you access to residential areas, commercial districts, entertainment zones, industrial sectors, storage levels, animal and plant conservation areas, cultural heritage sites, research facilities, and all major transit routes. Despite the mass exodus, an underground city built for tens of thousands of people couldn¡¯t have been completely emptied in an emergency evacuation. There are bound to be valuable resources left behind.¡± ¡°Additionally, we know the location of a Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive. This train is equipped with a DRX micro-nuclear power reactor, boasting a thermal output of 290 megawatts. Lastly, if you need research data from our biological laboratory, we can provide it¡ªbut we¡¯d need a mutual confidentiality agreement to avoid political persecution from the Federal Government.¡± She laid out all their bargaining chips in one go. Beside her, Xu Wen looked uneasy and muttered in a low voice, "Should we... mention the third thing?" Despite her initial reluctance, now that she was in a real negotiation, she felt desperate to spill everything in exchange for survival. ¡°No need,¡± Ding Junyi replied coolly, lifting her finger off the responder button. ¡°If they agree to rescue us, we¡¯ll gain the right to live¡ªbut we¡¯ll also lose every other right. Once they get us out, we¡¯ll have no say in what happens to us.¡± Everyone here was an ordinary civilian, completely powerless. Given their circumstances, they had to see Lin Xian¡¯s group as both potential saviors and possible marauders. Han Qiming¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not that bad? Look at those three women¡ªthey don¡¯t seem like the type to do anything to a guy like me, right? They don¡¯t look like ruthless killers.¡± Zhao Yan gave him an incredulous look. ¡°Professor Han, are you out of your mind? You think Director Ding was talking about those three girls? Have you seen the two-meter-tall giant standing with them?¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± Han Qiming¡¯s face turned green. His legs trembled. ¡°N-no way...¡± Ding Junyi pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated by their misplaced concerns. Hearing Ding Junyi¡¯s words, Lin Xian and KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°My god, a Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive! Whoa!¡± KIKI exclaimed. ¡°Lin Xian, this sounds like a jackpot.¡± Lin Xian smirked, exchanging glances with Chen Sixuan and the others. ¡°This woman is smart. But if you think about it, she¡¯s only offering permissions and information¡ªno actual supplies.¡± A massive underground city after an emergency evacuation would undoubtedly have leftover resources. But this was too vague to be valuable. Lin Xian¡¯s group already assumed they¡¯d find supplies inside¡ªthe problem was whether the risks were worth it. The nuclear-powered train, however, was a tangible prize. But the fact that Ding Junyi brought it up directly made Lin Xian feel like she had somehow guessed his objective. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we don¡¯t need them at all. Give me some time, and I can hack into the system myself.¡± KIKI suggested. ¡°How long would that take?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t know until I get access. But in cases like this, the main AI must¡¯ve been removed, leaving behind a subsystem. My estimate... five to six hours.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s not worth it,¡± Lin Xian concluded. ¡°Rescuing them might actually be faster. If they really are researchers, they might have useful information. Plus, they¡¯re familiar with the underground city¡¯s layout¡ªcooperating with them is more efficient than working against them.¡± ¡°But what if they¡¯re lying?¡± Chen Sixuan voiced her concern. ¡°Let¡¯s find out. KIKI!¡± Lin Xian pointed to the train¡¯s roof. KIKI immediately understood. Moments later, two drones lifted off from the Infinite Train , heading towards the underground city. ¡°The blizzard¡¯s too strong¡ªit¡¯s messing with the image quality,¡± KIKI grumbled as she piloted the drones. ¡°No problem,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Before nightfall, we need to get a general layout. Look below.¡± ¡°Got it~¡± KIKI pouted, staring at the screen. The underground city lay before them, completely silent and lifeless. ¡°Looks about right¡ªno signs of survivors.¡± ¡°A thermal imaging system would be really useful here,¡± someone muttered. Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That large airborne nocturnal entity they mentioned¡ªcould it be the massive atmospheric jellyfish we saw last night? But that underground creature... what the hell is it?¡± Chen Sixuan frowned. ¡°This place is even more dangerous than we thought. Even if we go in, we can¡¯t stay for long.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll prioritize securing the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive. The rest we¡¯ll decide on the spot.¡± Lin Xian turned to KIKI. ¡°Can you locate their Level -52 floor?¡± KIKI shook her head. ¡°Nope. The moment we go below the horizon, we lose signal. It¡¯s pitch black down there. But look¡ªa tunnel leads straight underground. If we open the gate, we can drive the train directly inside.¡± ¡°An underground city of this size would have freight rail,¡± someone commented. Staying aboard the train offered a tactical advantage¡ªit was easier to fight off zombies, and elevators inside would make resource transport more efficient. But driving the train into a collapsed underground city was a huge risk. Lin Xian hesitated briefly, then looked at KIKI. ¡°Your thoughts?¡± ¡°There¡¯s definitely a risk,¡± KIKI admitted, resting her chin on her palm. ¡°But everything they said aligns with our mission. The only issue is we don¡¯t know what eerie entities are inside... or that underground monster they mentioned.¡± Lin Xian exhaled. ¡°Energy is a core issue¡ªit¡¯s critical for our survival. I already allocated one to two days here before heading to the High-Altitude Corridor, specifically to upgrade the train¡¯s defenses, sensors, life support, and weapons.¡± ¡°So...?¡± ¡°I think this risk is worth taking.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was firm. An entire abandoned underground city lay before them. If he didn¡¯t even attempt to explore it, he¡¯d be wasting his mechanical abilities. And a nuclear-powered train? That was an apocalypse-grade artifact. They had to try. ¡°I¡¯m in!¡± KIKI raised her hand excitedly. Chen Sixuan and the others exchanged glances, nodding in agreement. They all knew survival depended on the Infinite Train. As a mechanical ability user, Lin Xian had the final say. If securing this train boosted their chances, it was a risk worth taking. Meanwhile, Ding Junyi¡¯s group waited in agonizing suspense. Finally, they encountered a potential rescue team before the Polar Night. A glimmer of hope. But these people had no obligation to save them. They could only pray that Ding Junyi¡¯s offer was enough to convince them. ¡°...Will they really agree?¡± Xu Wen muttered in despair. ¡°We have no food, no water, and we don¡¯t even know if the military district still has weapons. Would they really risk their lives for a train they don¡¯t even know still works?¡± Despite how logical Ding Junyi¡¯s reasoning sounded, upon deeper thought, it didn¡¯t seem like a strong bargaining chip. Lin Xian¡¯s group had ability users¡ªthey could enter the underground city without help. And the Gemini 11R was just theoretical¡ªthe Level -95 system had been down for days. They had no clue what was really below. Food, weapons, or even the hope that their rescuers had moral integrity, all seemed like better incentives. Xu Wen became increasingly panicked, pacing frantically. When the responder remained silent, he snapped. ¡°I¡¯ll tell them! That we have tons of food, water, and weapons¡ªthat¡¯ll convince them!¡± But Ding Junyi coldly shut him down. ¡°Lies will only get us killed.¡± Chapter 97: The Tunnel Ding Junyi¡¯s words caused the other three to freeze, their expressions shifting instantly. The air in the room turned heavy. Almost as if in response, Lin Xian¡¯s voice came through the responder. ¡°We¡¯ll come to get you. Open the gate to GF2 Tunnel.¡± The moment those words landed, the people in the lab shot up from their seats, eyes filled with hope and excitement. ¡°They agreed! We¡¯re saved!!¡± ¡°...Director Ding was right all along,¡± Xu Wen muttered, his face pale. ¡°Good thing she stopped you, or you would¡¯ve ruined everything,¡± Zhao Yan scolded, unable to hide her relief. Ding Junyi, however, remained expressionless. There was no time to waste on conversation. She immediately accessed the system and opened the underground passage to the tunnel. At the same time, she spoke into the communicator: ¡°The downward tunnel is 31,650 meters long, with a 59.5% incline. The backup power supply is insufficient to support the electromagnetic braking system, so you need to maintain a speed of under 20 km/h. Keep the brake pads from overheating. Although all 127 tunnel monitoring sensors report no anomalies, I¡¯d still advise turning on your lights and proceeding with caution.¡± The GF2 Tunnel gate slid open as the Infinite Train began moving forward. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan stood in the control cabin, their expressions serious as they listened to Ding Junyi¡¯s instructions. ¡°You¡¯re Ding Junyi, correct?¡± Lin Xian asked while adjusting the controls. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°This is the Infinite Train. I¡¯m the train captain, Lin Xian.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Lin.¡± Lin Xian got straight to the point. ¡°Where exactly did you encounter the underground creatures?¡± ¡°Level 106. Everything below Level 100 is unfinished construction. Elevator No. 3 used to reach Level 95, but we lost contact below Level 89. I suggest stopping at the Level 65 Freight Rail Terminal¡ªfrom there, you can use the freight elevator to load supplies onto your train.¡± ¡°Understood. What¡¯s your exact location on Level 52?¡± ¡°Sector F13. Once you exit the elevator, you¡¯ll be in Sector K2, where there are some zombies. There¡¯s a zone map posted outside the passage. When you reach the elevator, I¡¯ll send you a visual feed and guide you. Distance-wise, it¡¯s about 1.9 kilometers.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The information was clear and precise. Lin Xian motioned for Chen Sixuan to sit tight before he accelerated the train into the tunnel, descending underground. Whoosh... Whoosh... The Infinite Train glided downward, its metal wheels screeching against the tracks. The tunnel ahead stretched endlessly into darkness, illuminated only by the train¡¯s headlights. As the train descended rapidly, everyone on board felt pressure building in their ears. ¡°Hold on tight!¡± Lin Xian called back. He constantly adjusted the brakes, ensuring the train wouldn¡¯t derail or spiral out of control. Yellow depth markers flashed by: [Level 10, -65M] [Level 30, -175M] [Level 50, -255M] [Level 60, -301M] The train spiraled downward through the black abyss, moving like a roller coaster. A damp, musty scent filled the air as they penetrated deeper into the underground. Finally, after a gradual incline, the train emerged onto the Level 65 Freight Rail Terminal. [Level 65, -325M] Hissss¡ª The scalding train wheels emitted steam as the Infinite Train ground to a halt at a pitch-black station. Beyond the cracked train windows, flickering damaged lights cast eerie sparks across the cavernous space. Chen Sixuan, KIKI, and Shasha crowded around the window, peering outside. A massive cargo station stretched before them, equipped with cranes and conveyor belts. However, something horrifying had occurred here¡ªdark red bloodstains splattered the walls and floors, and mutilated corpses lay scattered across the loading bay. The oppressive atmosphere of the sealed underground space weighed on them. At 325 meters below the surface, knowing that this city was filled with tens of thousands of zombies¡ªalong with unknown underground creatures¡ªsent shivers down their spines. Chen Sixuan turned to Lin Xian, her face uneasy. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll split up.¡± Lin Xian gestured toward the tunnel behind them. ¡°This is our only escape route. If something happens, we lose the train, and we¡¯ll have to fight our way out with nothing but our bare hands. That¡¯s not an option.¡± ¡°Shasha, Sixuan¡ªyou two stay behind and guard the train. If anything tries to cut off our retreat, you stop it.¡± ¡°Meanwhile, KIKI, Luo Ye, and I will head to Level 52 to rescue them. Once we¡¯re back, we¡¯ll evaluate the situation and decide which areas to search for supplies.¡± The underground city was enormous. Searching blindly was pointless. They had limited time¡ªsecuring information first was critical. Chen Sixuan and Shasha had no abilities and weren¡¯t physically on par with the others. Staying behind to defend the train was the safer option. Lin Xian, Luo Ye, and KIKI armed themselves to the teeth. Lin Xian: GK03 Electric Blade, a submachine gun, and a pistol.KIKI: Automatic rifle.Luo Ye: Light machine gun with extra ammo. Additionally, they equipped gas masks. A sealed underground zone meant they had to prepare for potential air contamination. ¡°Watch your stamina¡ªdon¡¯t waste energy on zombies,¡± Lin Xian instructed as the cockpit door slid open. ¡°I know~¡± KIKI grinned. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? My ability evolved. I won¡¯t run out of power so easily anymore.¡± Lin Xian eyed her. ¡°How many times can you use it now?¡± ¡°No idea! But it¡¯s a lot stronger than before.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Clack. Lin Xian stepped off the train. His boot splashed into a puddle¡ªthe ground was damp. ¡°Stay alert.¡± He signaled for Chen Sixuan to secure the train doors. The air was thick with the scent of mildew and dried blood, causing both Shasha and Chen Sixuan to gag slightly. Once the train doors sealed, it blocked out the worst of the stench. Their walkie-talkies flashed green, confirming short-range communications were still working. Lin Xian had realized something back in Yu Chi City, after fighting the three-headed spider monster. Their radio signals seemed to fluctuate whenever eerie entities were nearby. It wasn¡¯t a perfect detection system, but it could warn them of potential supernatural threats. With their weapons ready, they advanced into the darkness¡ªtoward whatever horrors lay in wait. Chapter 98: The Interior Plop, plop. The three of them switched on their tactical flashlights, illuminating their path as they moved through the platform. Apart from the flickering fluorescent lights overhead, everything else was shrouded in darkness. ¡°Whoa... it¡¯s so new.¡± KIKI swung her flashlight around, scanning the surroundings. ¡°Looks like it was just built not long ago.¡± ¡°This underground city isn¡¯t even finished yet. I¡¯d say not even one-fifth of it is done.¡± Lin Xian spoke in a low voice. ¡°Built with the combined effort of the Federation, yet it can¡¯t even save a million people...¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not the only underground city. Even though the Federation has collapsed, there must be larger ones out there. The question is¡ªwhat¡¯s their situation like?¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Lin Xian, leading at the front, suddenly halted. Both Daluo and KIKI immediately tensed up. Lin Xian raised his flashlight and pointed it toward the edge of the platform, where a man in a worker¡¯s uniform stood with his back pressed against a pillar. His entire body was trembling slightly. The sudden illumination caught the man¡¯s attention. Slowly, he turned around. The moment his face became visible, all three of them felt their expressions shift. His face had completely rotted and mutated beyond recognition. From the center of his head sprouted writhing, fleshy tendrils, filled with razor-sharp teeth, all a grotesque crimson hue. The sight was utterly horrifying. ¡°What... what the hell is that? A zombie?¡± KIKI gasped. ¡°Whatever it is, it¡¯s not human.¡± Hiss... gurgle... The humanoid creature let out an eerie chittering sound, its grotesque facial tendrils quivering. The moment it locked eyes on Lin Xian and the others, it suddenly shrieked¡ª "AHHHH!!!" Then, it bolted straight for them at an inhuman speed. Its movements were nothing like the sluggish zombies they had encountered before¡ªit was as fast as an elite athlete, charging forward with an overwhelming sense of pressure. ¡°Open fire!¡± Lin Xian shouted. Bang! Bang! BOOM! Uncertain about what they were dealing with, Lin Xian didn¡¯t dare to hold back. The three of them fired simultaneously, unleashing a barrage of bullets. Rounds tore into the creature¡¯s flesh, sending sprays of blood and tissue flying. The force knocked it back slightly, but instead of collapsing, it accelerated, moving even faster toward them. RATATATATAT! Sensing the abnormality, they immediately concentrated their fire, aiming for the writhing tendrils and its horrific mouth. The bullets shredded its twisted head apart, finally bringing it down. Even after hitting the ground, the flesh tendrils continued to twitch and writhe for several seconds before finally going still. ¡°This thing isn¡¯t right... it¡¯s nothing like a normal zombie. Stay alert.¡± Lin Xian was unnerved. All three of them were ability users, armed with firearms, yet this mutated zombie displayed a level of resilience far beyond anything they had encountered before. Its speed and endurance were terrifying. ¡°Ugh, that was disgusting. Why was it so hard to kill?¡± KIKI wrinkled her nose in disgust. ¡°Could it be an Eerie Entity?¡± Daluo speculated. Lin Xian directed his flashlight toward the corpse, scanning for any traces of black mist. Finding none, he frowned. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like it...¡± He checked the time¡ªit was only 18:02. Even though night hadn¡¯t fallen yet, after what they experienced at Beiwang, he knew that dangers weren¡¯t necessarily restricted to the dark. Some horrors lurked in specific locations regardless of the time. Inside an underground city, where daylight never reached, who knew how bad things could get? ¡°Stay on guard. Let¡¯s move.¡± Lin Xian kept his nerves taut as they quickened their pace, following a conveyor belt deeper into the complex. Soon, they reached a massive elevator entrance¡ªa freight lift several meters in length. Before they could approach, the control panel beside it suddenly lit up. On the screen, the face of a woman appeared. She wore a lab coat and glasses, exuding a sharp, professional air. She looked to be in her early thirties. ¡°Mr. Lin, I¡¯m opening the elevator for you now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Ding Junyi, the one I was just speaking to?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Lin Xian nodded. In the background of the video feed, he could see two women and a man, all dressed like scientists. The sight eased his nerves slightly. ¡°Open the doors.¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Be careful. Surveillance shows there¡¯s standing water inside the elevator, and there may be unidentified creatures within. Step back.¡± ¡°What kind of ¡®unidentified creatures¡¯?¡± KIKI asked, retreating a couple of steps in curiosity. Lin Xian gestured for them to move further back. ¡°Stand clear to the sides.¡± A deep mechanical hum resonated as the elevator began descending. They instinctively stepped back, guns at the ready, watching the numbers on the screen. [Elevator arrived: Level 65 ¨C Level 4 Freight Rail Terminal] A mechanical female voice announced its arrival. The massive elevator doors slowly split apart, revealing the dim interior. Then¡ª A flood of murky, yellowish water, more than a meter deep, surged outward with a violent rush. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sharpened as he immediately caught sight of movement within the swirling filth. He shouted a warning to the others¡ª "Something¡¯s in the water!" Bang! Bang! BOOM! BOOM! All three opened fire, their bullets tearing into the dark, writhing masses in the water. Flesh and blackened blood splattered everywhere as the unknown creatures were blasted apart. As the water drained away, the creatures became fully visible¡ªblack, multi-legged abominations clinging to bloated, decaying corpses. Parasitic organisms. ¡°Disgusting!¡± KIKI exclaimed. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down¡ªkill them all!¡± Lin Xian ordered. BANG! BANG! BOOM! Thanks to Ding Junyi¡¯s warning, they had been prepared. The second the creatures were flushed out, they unleashed a storm of bullets, reducing them to pulp. The gunfire echoed through the massive terminal, likely attracting more unwanted attention. Lin Xian grimaced. ¡°Get on the elevator, now!¡± KIKI and Daluo immediately dashed inside. Lin Xian followed, and the doors swiftly sealed shut behind them. ¡°Damn, there are way more monsters here than we thought. What about Chen-jie and the others?¡± KIKI asked, a hint of worry in her voice. ¡°They¡¯re fine.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s tone was firm. The Infinite Train was an impenetrable fortress, strong enough to withstand the tentacles of that monstrous atmospheric jellyfish. Plus, Chen Sixuan and Shasha had plenty of weapons onboard. He was confident they would be safe. Hum~ The elevator began its ascent, a powerful force lifting them upward. Ding Junyi¡¯s voice came through the speaker. ¡°You¡¯ll be arriving in Sector K2. There are a lot of creatures outside the passage. The ground between K2 and D23 is partially flooded. Here¡¯s the route map.¡± A schematic appeared on their handheld displays. ¡°The layout is complicated, with multiple paths. Some areas have damaged communication systems, so I won¡¯t be able to guide you the entire way. ¡°Also¡ªbe extremely cautious when passing F5-D6. That¡¯s where the floor¡¯s main elevator and staircase are located. It¡¯s the most overrun area. Originally, it was an emergency escape route, but it¡¯s definitely completely blocked now. Both power and surveillance systems are down there.¡± Chapter 99: Arrival Inside the laboratory, Ding Junyi was fully focused, swiftly enlarging the floor plan of Level 52 on her screen. Using auxiliary lines, she carefully explained the route for Lin Xian and his team. Beside her, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen wore anxious expressions. Their lives were at stake, and the tension in the room was palpable. Meanwhile, inside the elevator, the large screen displayed Ding Junyi''s detailed briefing on their path forward. KIKI and Lin Xian watched closely, quickly memorizing the key directions. "This underground city really is one giant factory. Just moving across a single floor from the freight elevator to another research sector takes two kilometers." Lin Xian took a deep breath. "That¡¯s nothing..." KIKI muttered under her breath, "This place was built for hundreds of thousands of people. Just one floor has to accommodate thousands, plus commercial and work zones. There are even roads and high-speed transport systems down here¡ªwhatever you had on the surface, this place had too.¡± Lin Xian nodded, then turned toward the elevator doors. ¡°When we move out, speed is our priority. Avoid unnecessary fights. I¡¯ll take the lead, Daluo, you cover the rear. KIKI, you stay in the middle.¡± ¡°Got it~¡± ¡°Understood, Lin-ge.¡± Their goal was to reach the research sector where Ding Junyi and the others were located. That area had defenses and was temporarily safe. Lin Xian needed to assess their situation before deciding the next steps with KIKI. If things looked viable, they¡¯d bring the scientists back to Infinite Train, then reorganize for supply transport. His plan was to leave the underground city before nightfall tomorrow, then follow the southern route back to Jiangyu Line before making their way into Yubei City. Suddenly, the elevator screen played old underground city advertisements, creating a stark contrast against the deathly silence of the facility. "Jieya Dental¡ªprotecting your oral health! This month, First-Class Citizens can enjoy a 5% discount on memberships. Visit us on Level 31..." "Do you struggle with mobility? Are you disabled? The Longteng Prosthetic Modification Center offers cutting-edge artificial limbs¡ªrun freely, embrace fully! The latest ARX-2 industrial prosthetics have a battery life of 168 hours, allowing a full week of non-stop work! The ultimate tool for boosting income!" "Kangde Gourmet Protein Blocks! Selected from premium New World breeds, made with authentic ingredients using traditional craftsmanship¡ªeach bite is packed with rich, original flavor!" The lively advertisements, promising a prosperous and efficient underground life, clashed violently with the horrifying reality of the now lifeless, abandoned city. ¡°Ugh, gross. What part of that sounds ¡®gourmet¡¯?¡± KIKI shuddered at the ad. Lin Xian¡¯s voice was serious. ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to judge. With the global food shortage, when we run out of supplies, you might just learn to love it.¡± ¡°Pfft, no way! I¡¯m not eating cockroaches...¡± Daluo gave the advertisement a strange look but stayed silent, clearly not thrilled at the thought of insect-based food either. [Elevator Arrived ¨C Level 52: New Dumera Research Sector. Access: First-Class Citizens &Special Personnel. Clearance: F3.] Lin Xian tensed as the doors slid open. Beyond the elevator, the K2 Sector was in total darkness. The three of them stood still, weapons raised, carefully scanning their surroundings. Aside from the elevator¡¯s screen, which continued to play recorded ads, the silence was absolute. ¡°Move out.¡± Lin Xian gave the order, and they rushed forward. Their footsteps echoed eerily in the hollow corridors as they moved swiftly through the cargo unloading zones. Soon, they exited the main passage, and the layout shifted¡ªthis floor consisted entirely of research laboratories and offices, with no residential or commercial areas. The architectural quality was high, with sealed, dust-free lab spaces and wide hallways. The problem? Everything looked exactly the same. Without clear signage, it was easy to get lost in this maze-like research complex. If not for Ding Junyi¡¯s route plan, they would¡¯ve wasted a ton of time just navigating. As they approached F1 Sector, the corridors suddenly lit up. Their footsteps echoed through the halls as they ran. Through the lab windows, they saw blood-soaked interiors¡ªevidence of violent deaths. Then, zombie howls began to rise. More and more voices joined in, creating a chain reaction throughout the sector. ¡°Just keep running! Don¡¯t look back!¡± Lin Xian raised his Wind Cannon, blasting away a zombie at the next corner. He deliberately avoided using gunfire, trying to minimize noise and avoid attracting more undead. But just as they rounded a bend¡ª They all froze. Ahead of them¡ª The corridor was packed with countless mutated zombies, each wearing white lab coats. As they turned to face the sound, their facial tendrils began to writhe, their toothy maws opening wide. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s more of them!¡± Lin Xian gritted his teeth. He had wanted to avoid unnecessary gunfire, but seeing these things, there was no other choice. "FIRE!" BANG! BANG! BOOM! Gunfire erupted. The hallway flashed with firelight as bullets tore through the monstrous horde. These zombies lunged forward, their grotesque maws wide open¡ªone bite could easily rip off a person¡¯s head. Having learned from their earlier encounter, the team didn¡¯t hesitate, aiming straight for their heads. The ground quickly became littered with twitching, mutilated corpses. More zombies poured in from behind, forcing Daluo to provide cover fire, while Lin Xian unsheathed his blade, decapitating any still-writhing creatures to ensure they were truly dead. CRASH! A glass door shattered as another wave of zombies burst through. Lin Xian turned instinctively, blasting them apart with his Wind Cannon. They charged ahead, only to find themselves in a circular elevator hall¡ª Completely blocked. Before them¡ª Countless black insect-like creatures, mutant spiders, and more zombie abominations had gathered, sealing off their only escape route. ¡°Hey!¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes glowed faintly. With a sharp motion, she raised her hand¡ª A powerful shockwave blasted outward, sending the creatures flying. The path was clear. Without hesitation, they rushed forward, cutting through the horde as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, in the laboratory... Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming stared at the monitor screens, their faces pale with anxiety. The sheer number of creatures swarming around Lin Xian¡¯s team was overwhelming. If even these powerful ability users, armed with advanced weaponry, couldn¡¯t make it¡ªthen as helpless scientists, their chances of survival were zero. But compared to them, Ding Junyi remained eerily calm. She wasn¡¯t even watching the monitors. Instead, she was focused on her computer, rapidly executing a series of commands. "Ding-director, what are you doing?" Zhao Yan frowned. "Shouldn¡¯t we be giving them instructions?" "I¡¯ve already told them everything they need to know." Ding Junyi didn¡¯t even glance up. "The best thing we can do is be ready to open the doors the moment they arrive. And¡ªnot waste time." "What do we even need to prepare?" Ding Junyi finally looked up. ¡°Research data. Abilities, blood flora, underground city logs... We might need all of it. Oh, and Zhao-laoshi, prepare Specimen No. 1¡¯s containment tank. If we can¡¯t take it¡ªwe activate the destruction protocol.¡± Chapter 100: Disaster Flora Zhao Yan stared tensely at Ding Junyi. Even though she normally disliked her emotionally detached colleague, she had to admit that Ding Junyi¡¯s rational mindset far surpassed her own. It was her negotiations and approach that had secured Lin Xian¡¯s team¡¯s rescue mission in the first place. Watching Ding Junyi work so efficiently, Zhao Yan¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. She had an idea. She quickly turned to her student, Xu Wen, and urged, ¡°Xu, hurry! Let¡¯s copy all our research data and take it with us.¡± ¡°Huh? What for?¡± ¡°This is our life¡¯s work!¡± Zhao Yan cast a glance at Ding Junyi before pulling Xu Wen aside and whispering, ¡°If we make it out, this research will prove our value. If we want to seek refuge with our former organization or join the Apocalypse Union, don¡¯t you think this data will be critical?¡± Xu Wen sucked in a breath, realizing the importance of what she said. For researchers like them, their findings could become bargaining chips¡ªperhaps even the key to their survival. With that in mind, the two immediately rushed to their computers and began downloading everything. Seeing their actions, Han Qiming quickly understood what was happening and joined in as well. Ding Junyi ignored what the others were doing. Apart from research data, she also downloaded: The holographic blueprint of the underground city,Notes on each sector¡¯s layout,Any available surveillance footage for backup. She glanced at the monitors. Lin Xian¡¯s group had already moved past D23¡ªthey were only a few hundred meters away from F13, where she and the others were. However, the hallway cameras ahead had been destroyed, meaning she could no longer track their movement. After finishing her tasks, she stood up and strode towards the sealed hallway, the last barrier between them and the outside. Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming followed behind her but kept their distance, hesitating to approach the isolation door. ¡°Are they coming?¡± Han Qiming called out. Xu Wen anxiously asked, ¡°Director Ding, are you really going to open the door? It looks like there¡¯s no one outside!¡± None of them dared to get too close¡ªfearful that if the door opened, a flood of monsters would rush in. But Ding Junyi simply raised a hand, signaling for silence. Then, she calmly placed her slender fingers on the unlock panel. Thud. Thud. Inside the highly sealed, soundproofed isolation chamber, almost all external noise was blocked. The silence was suffocating. Everyone could hear their own heartbeats pounding in their chests. No one knew what lay beyond the door. Would it be their rescuers¡ªor a horde of flesh-eating abominations? At this moment, their fates hung in the balance. Ding Junyi focused intently, her face calm and unreadable. Her gaze flickered slightly¡ªthen, she pressed down on the panel. Buzz~ The isolation door¡ªsealed for countless days¡ªsuddenly slid open. A cold, eerie gust of air rushed in. RATATATATAT!! A hail of gunfire roared through the hall. Almost instantly, three figures wearing gas masks stormed in, their backs against a swarming tide of zombies. WHIRR! KIKI rushed in last, spinning around as she swung her hand¡ª A wave of invisible force erupted, sending the pursuing zombies flying backward. "AHHH!!" The horrifying sight sent Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming scrambling into the corner, trembling in fear. Han Qiming even grabbed a chair, holding it up defensively. ¡°Wow, that door timing was perfect!¡± KIKI whistled in amazement, looking at Ding Junyi. But before responding, Ding Junyi had already pressed the close button. SLAM! The isolation door shut tight, sealing off the deafening howls and screams outside. Inside, the research sector was bright and pristine¡ªa stark contrast to the blood-drenched, corpse-ridden nightmare just beyond the door. Ding Junyi turned around and calmly raised both hands. "I am Ding Junyi. The air purification system is operational, and no contamination alarms have been triggered. You may remove your gas masks without worry." Lin Xian kept his gun trained on her. She stood still, hands raised, her expression serene¡ªher entire demeanor radiating "harmlessness." Seeing her, Lin Xian felt a moment of intrigue. She was calm. Logical. Completely unemotional. Her features weren¡¯t stunning, but she had a sharp, intelligent beauty¡ªgold-rimmed glasses, a white lab coat, jeans, and short-heeled boots. There was an icy, intellectual elegance about her. Lin Xian pulled off his gas mask, took a breath, and swept his gaze toward Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming. ¡°You¡¯re the only four here?¡± Ding Junyi, still holding her hands up, answered immediately: "Zhao Yan¡ªPhD in Molecular Biology, Level 1 Federal Research Asset. Xu Wen¡ªPhD in Biochemistry, Level 1 Federal Research Asset. Han Qiming¡ªPhD in Microbiology, also an expert in Ecology." Her words were precise, concise, and free of nonsense¡ªas if she were stating facts rather than pleading for her life. Her intent was clear: She wanted Lin Xian to understand that the people he saved were not ordinary civilians. If he was going to kill them, he should at least reconsider the cost. "We have no weapons and will fully cooperate with your operations." "If you rescue us, you could negotiate valuable exchanges with either the former Federal government or the Apocalypse Union.¡± ¡°Y-yeah! We have value! Please don¡¯t hurt us!¡± Xu Wen nodded frantically, practically begging. ¡°We¡¯re just scientists! We mean no harm!¡± "Y-yes, yes!" Zhao Yan and Han Qiming quickly echoed. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say earlier that you were already considered ¡®abandoned assets¡¯?¡± Ding Junyi didn¡¯t deny it. She simply replied: ¡°In terms of rescue priority, we were deemed expendable. But as long as we¡¯re alive, we still hold some value to the authorities.¡± Lin Xian snorted internally. Even after being abandoned, they¡¯re still discussing their ¡®value¡¯... Typical intellectual mindset¡ª Ruthlessly pragmatic, yet undeniably logical. And from a survival standpoint¡ª She wasn¡¯t wrong. For scientists, their best chance at long-term survival was aligning with a government entity. Debating human rights vs. being a ¡°research asset¡± meant nothing in this situation. "Daluo. Check them." Lin Xian gave the order. Daluo approached, his imposing figure making Zhao Yan¡¯s group shrink back in fear. He patted them down, checking for weapons. After confirming they were clean, he nodded at Lin Xian. ¡°Whoa, what the hell is that?!¡± KIKI suddenly exclaimed. She had spotted something in the laboratory¡ª A sealed, transparent containment unit housing a strange, flower-like plant. It resembled a chrysanthemum, but was entirely black¡ª At its center, faint crimson veins pulsed ominously, exuding a sinister aura. Xu Wen hesitated, then explained: ¡°That¡¯s ¡®Blood Scourge Flora¡¯¡ªSpecimen No. 1. We first discovered it during the First Polar Night.¡± Ding Junyi cut in coldly: "It grows exclusively... on corpses." Chapter 101: Infection Ding Junyi¡¯s voice came through as she noticed Lin Xian and the others showing interest. She spoke directly, ¡°We strongly suspect that this type of plant is directly linked to the biological mutations caused by Apocalypse Day, as well as the corruption from eerie entities. Based on our current research, the Blood Scourge Flora has a Soul Wave Value exceeding 100, which is inversely proportional to the standard for C-Class Nocturnal Entities. This suggests that Blood Scourge Flora contains the same bio-energy as Nocturnal Entities, and its energy is closely related to Eerie Blood Crystals.¡± ¡°Whoa! Eerie plants!¡± KIKI blurted out, her face filled with amazement. ¡°In this messed-up world, whether it¡¯s people, animals, organic, or even inorganic matter, it looks like everything is affected by that d*mn darkness.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of this thing?¡± Lin Xian frowned and asked. ¡°We¡¯re not sure yet.¡± A frail scientist named Han Qiming stepped forward, his voice trembling. ¡°We conducted some biological experiments and discovered that this thing directly triggers mutations in living organisms¡ªvery similar to the Dark Night Infection.¡± ¡°Dark Night Infection?¡± KIKI asked. ¡°What in the dark night is even infectious?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Han Qiming nervously glanced at the three of them before turning to Ding Junyi. Then, he finally spoke, ¡°Actually, all our research teams have reached a common understanding. However, this consensus...¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow and chuckled. ¡°What? Even in this situation, you¡¯re still keeping secrets for the Apocalypse Union?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about secrecy. Strictly speaking, it¡¯s about scientific rigor and responsibility. As researchers, making claims without experimental proof is irresponsible¡ªit could mislead the public and cause unnecessary panic. But if you really want to know these unverified theories, we can tell you.¡± Ding Junyi replied matter-of-factly. ¡°Exactly, exactly! Let me explain.¡± The microbiologist, Han Qiming, adjusted his thick glasses with a trembling hand. ¡°All major research teams worldwide now believe that zombies and mutations are not transmitted through bacteria or viruses.¡± ¡°The reason we can¡¯t publicly state this theory is, first, to avoid panic, and second, because it¡¯s not yet scientifically rigorous. There¡¯s no conclusive biological, pathological, or microbiological evidence supporting it. Even in direct studies of zombie specimens, we haven¡¯t found any infectious agents. Zombies themselves aren¡¯t a precise biological classification;from a purely scientific perspective, such an organism shouldn¡¯t even exist.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lin Xian was confused. Han Qiming explained, ¡°For example, a person with severe physical deterioration can¡¯t suddenly gain immense vitality and strength without caloric metabolism. A virus-ravaged body would only deteriorate further¡ªhow could it suddenly become superhuman and attack people while staying active for so long?¡± Hearing this, Lin Xian froze. Now that it was laid out like that, it did make sense. ¡°When the first Extreme Night outbreak occurred on Apocalypse Day, global population loss was exponential. We had highly advanced IoT surveillance, yet we detected no infection source or transmission pathway. This was the main reason why so many governments and military forces collapsed so quickly¡ªbecause we had no idea where the ¡®virus¡¯ was coming from. Was it airborne? Bloodborne? Something else entirely? Only after we discovered the concept of Soul Wave Value did we realize that all mutation events had one common factor¡ªdarkness.¡± ¡°As long as someone was exposed to the dark, a massive number of people would mutate into zombies or become Nocturnal Entities. It was completely unpredictable and impossible to prevent. We even suspected that the survivors might possess a specific genetic trait or physiological anomaly that made them immune, so we conducted mark-recapture studies and molecular biology tests¡ªbut we found no common pattern.¡± Lin Xian felt a chill run down his spine. He turned to KIKI, recalling how, during her Corruption, an invisible monster had appeared near the train. If KIKI¡¯s Ability hadn¡¯t evolved and instead spiraled into Corruption, would she have turned into something like Tang Hai, a creature neither human nor ghost? Thinking along these lines, he realized¡ªthe ordinary dark night and the Abyss¡¯s Dark Tides were completely different concepts. The Dark Tides weren¡¯t just some deeper darkness;they must have carried a sinister force that actively transformed everything within them. The Eerie Entities lurking in the shadows, the forbidden items mutating under assault, the Blood Scourge Flora growing out of flesh, and the unpreventable zombie transformations¡ªwhen all of this was linked together, Lin Xian finally understood the phrase Han Qiming had just used¡ª Dark Night Infection! "Beep¡ªBeep¡ª" 65th Floor, Rail Terminal Station. Chen Sixuan pressed the walkie-talkie button. The indicator had turned red ever since Lin Xian¡¯s team took the elevator up. She assumed it was just a signal interference issue in the underground, not necessarily a sign of trouble. At this moment, the train was in total blackout mode to avoid attracting any creatures lurking in the darkness. The light-blocking shields were lowered, and the interior lights were turned off. Both Shasha and Chen Sixuan held guns, waiting in Carriage No. 1, listening intently to any sounds outside. From time to time, the platform¡¯s flickering electrical tubes made a faint buzzing sound. Somewhere deep in the black void, an occasional rustling could be heard. Maybe there were zombies hiding in the darkness... or maybe it was just the airflow through the underground tunnels. Staying inside the train felt relatively safe, but after the Eerie Radio Incident, Chen Sixuan had become extremely wary of strange occurrences. ¡°How long have they been gone?¡± Shasha sat on the sofa, swinging her legs casually. Compared to Chen Sixuan, she had far more guts. Chen Sixuan checked her watch. ¡°Almost 40 minutes. They should be back soon.¡± "Beep¡ª¡± Just then, a beep came from the Responder Unit in the cockpit. Though the sound was faint, it shattered the eerie silence, sending a jolt of tension through both of them. Chen Sixuan and Shasha exchanged looks and hurried over. ¡°Hello, Miss Chen. We¡¯ve arrived. Everything okay on your end?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice came through the responder, and the two women instantly relaxed. ¡°No issues here. Everything¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Good. It¡¯s about to get dark soon¡ªstay alert.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Chen Sixuan switched off the responder, glancing at Shasha. In this underground city, no one could predict what would happen after nightfall. They had to stay vigilant. 52nd Floor, F13 Sector, Research Hall. Lin Xian turned to Ding Junyi. ¡°Since we¡¯re already here, hand over the system permissions. Then, tell me where the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive is.¡± As soon as he said this, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen¡¯s expressions changed. ¡°Uh... But we know this system better than anyone! And it¡¯s extremely complex...¡± ¡°No problem. KIKI?¡± ¡°OK~¡± KIKI had already hacked into the lab¡¯s mobile terminal and quickly opened a backdoor program. She walked over and handed the device to Ding Junyi. ¡°Big Sis, just authorize this, please~¡± For KIKI, as long as she had enough time, Lin Xian had no doubt she could hack the system directly. After all, she had done it before. But since Ding Junyi had administrator access, there was no need to waste time on a full-scale breach. However, this move instantly made the other three researchers nervous. At this moment, their only bargaining chip was Ding Junyi¡¯s admin privileges. If they handed it over, they would be utterly powerless. Luo Ye stood there, holding his assault rifle, exuding a murderous aura. Facing Zhao Yan¡¯s group, he radiated an overwhelming sense of impending doom¡ªas if they were about to be executed on the spot. None of them doubted that this big guy could rip all four of them apart with his bare hands! Chapter 102: Authorization Lin Xian could clearly see the tension on Zhao Yan and Xu Wen¡¯s faces, but he had no intention of explaining anything to them. They had risked their lives coming here¡ªnot to play mind games with a few researchers. Since they had arrived, Ding Junyi needed to follow through on her promise immediately. Ding Junyi glanced at Lin Xian, then at the mobile terminal KIKI was holding out to her. After a brief pause, she entered the password and pressed her fingerprint without hesitation. At that moment, Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming held their breath. They were terrified that as soon as Ding Junyi finished, Lin Xian¡¯s group would mercilessly execute them on the spot. ¡¾Beep, authorization complete.¡¿ A mechanical voice confirmed the process. KIKI cheerfully grabbed the device and checked the interface. As expected, it granted access to the underground city''s internal management system. She grinned at Ding Junyi. "Thanks a bunch~" Ding Junyi turned to Lin Xian and reported, ¡°The Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive is currently docked at the Level-5 Freight Terminal¡ªon the 95th floor. The system was taken offline five days ago, but the logs contain the last recorded footage to confirm its presence.¡± ¡°System offline? Does it have something to do with the underground creatures?¡± Lin Xian frowned. It was never going to be that simple. ¡°Yes. I suspect structural damage in the underground city might have affected the tunnels below the 89th floor.¡± The air grew heavier at her words. Zhao Yan and Xu Wen could tell Lin Xian was very interested in the locomotive, but this information was completely negative. "You... you have the access now. You''re taking us with you, right?" Zhao Yan¡¯s face was ashen, her body trembling. Xu Wen huddled close to her, looking at Lin Xian in fear. Lin Xian furrowed his brows, ignoring them, and turned to KIKI. "What''s the situation?" "Pretty much what she said..." KIKI''s fingers danced over the mobile terminal. ¡°The system confirms that a Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive was active at that terminal, but it''s now offline. We''ll have to go down there to check it out.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Coming all this way just to get system access would be a waste. Lin Xian turned around, sweeping a cold gaze over the researchers. "You have ten minutes." "Ten¡ªten minutes?! What do you mean?! Are you going to kill us?" Xu Wen cried out in panic. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He looked at Ding Junyi, the only one still somewhat composed. "Miss Ding, pack your things. We leave for the train in ten minutes. Nightfall is coming. There are all kinds of monsters out there. If any of you fall behind, I won''t be turning back for a rescue.¡± Hearing this, Ding Junyi relaxed slightly, nodding. ¡°We¡¯re already prepared. Ten minutes is more than enough.¡± This lab was merely a temporary shelter during the catastrophe. Aside from research materials, they had no personal belongings. If Ding Junyi hadn¡¯t reminded them, the others wouldn''t have even thought to gather their work logs. The other three researchers also exhaled in relief at Lin Xian¡¯s words. Their attitudes shifted instantly, and they hurriedly nodded. "Understood! Thank you, Mr. Lin!" "We''ll get ready right away!" "Quick, quick, pack up!" But then, in an unexpected move, Ding Junyi bent down, took off her shoes, and broke off the heels before slipping them back on. She then stuffed several portable hard drives into her pocket. ¡°These contain research data from the institute, as well as some underground city information. Of course, now that you have access, you can retrieve everything directly. This is just a backup. Besides, if there¡¯s anything else in this lab that you want, I can help.¡± After saying that, she picked up a Geiger counter from the workbench and handed it to Lin Xian. ¡°The Core Reactor No. 1 in the underground city has already melted down. The emergency isolation doors were sealed, but since the main structure is damaged, there is a risk of nuclear leakage. If you''re going deeper underground, you¡¯ll need this.¡± "I like your attitude." Lin Xian appreciated people who got straight to the point. Someone like Ding Junyi might be exhausting to deal with in daily life, but when it came to business, she was efficient and reliable. Just then, KIKI walked over, holding up the research files on the Blood Scourge Flora, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Lin Xian, should we take this thing with us? It looks really mysterious¡ªwho knows, it might be valuable!" Before Lin Xian could respond, Ding Junyi spoke seriously. ¡°If possible, I strongly recommend that you take it. From a research standpoint, its value surpasses Eerie Blood Crystals. We suspect it has a direct link to Abilities and the Apocalypse Night. It¡¯s also classified as an important Federation asset.¡± Lin Xian turned to study the containment pod holding the Blood Scourge Flora. After a brief pause, he nodded. "Luo Ye, take it. But if it causes trouble on the way, dump it. Lives matter more." Luo Ye grinned and nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s eyes flickered with a subtle expression as she watched Lin Xian. She took a closer look at this not-so-old yet not-too-young man, as if trying to figure something out. Meanwhile, Luo Ye slung his heavy machine gun over his back. Seeing this, Han Qiming hurried over, eager to help. "This¡ªthis needs to be disconnected from the power supply. It¡¯s a self-sustaining incubation pod with an internal circulation system. Here, let me show you..." He expertly assisted Luo Ye in dismantling it. KIKI, looking around the lab, sighed regretfully. ¡°This lab has so much great equipment¡ªlike the air circulation system and plant cultivation chambers. Feels like such a waste to leave them behind.¡± Lin Xian glanced around, his interest piqued. However, these research tools weren¡¯t their main priority. Even if they brought them aboard, they wouldn¡¯t be immediately useful. For now, their top priorities were energy systems and weapons. Medical and survival systems came next, including things like plant incubation chambers¡ªbut only if they could find a way to integrate them. Still, finding the underground city¡¯s AI module would have been the biggest prize, but that was already impossible. From Ding Junyi¡¯s information, the central control system had been removed long ago, leaving only subsystems and backup energy. Ding Junyi overheard their conversation and suddenly asked, "Why do you even need this equipment?" Lin Xian replied flatly, "You''re a scientist. Do you not understand their value?" "My apologies, I didn''t phrase that correctly," she corrected herself. "I mean... these are research tools. They''re important to us, but..." "But why would we care about research tools when we''re fighting for survival?" Lin Xian interrupted. Ding Junyi realized she had overstepped but still nodded. "Yes. But you don¡¯t have to tell me." Lin Xian responded coolly, "You¡¯ve already figured out my goal. If the train is a mobile survival base, then beyond food and supplies, I also need useful equipment. That¡¯s why I agreed to cooperate with you. Energy systems, weapons, air and water purification, medical facilities¡ªI need all of it. If possible, I¡¯d even take mobile research labs. So tell me where I can find them.¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s icy expression briefly flickers with shock. She slowly said, ¡°You¡¯re trying to turn the train into a mobile underground city?¡± "Exactly." Lin Xian met her gaze head-on. "Got a problem with that?" Ding Junyi stared at him for a long moment before speaking. ¡°No... but if that¡¯s the case, you¡¯ll want to check GF4¡¯s internal lift terminal. It has two Kor-3 Biological Science Research Carriages¡ªJ5-grade labs equipped with high-end experimental equipment.¡± "Whoa~" KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°See? I told you we¡¯d find something good!¡± Chapter 103: Human Eerie A high-grade research carriage just waiting to be taken¡ªLin Xian hadn¡¯t expected that. His main goal wasn¡¯t scientific research¡ªit was farming. It wasn¡¯t just his personal obsession. Under the Extreme Cold Catastrophe, the long-term lack of fresh vegetables posed a serious health risk. Once the train moved onto transoceanic rails, food supply would become an even bigger issue. Besides, Lin Xian was already planning to recycle all water resources onboard. If oxygen shortages became a problem in the future, they¡¯d need an internal oxygen supply system. A fully integrated water, heat, and oxygen system would be critical. With the Infinite Train as his moving fortress, plus his Mechanical Ability, there was nothing stopping him from implementing these ideas. From a rational perspective, energy and weapon upgrades were top priorities. But if these research carriages were available, why should he turn them down? "Not bad. Thanks for the heads-up." Lin Xian nodded in satisfaction. By now, Zhao Yan and the others had almost finished packing. They didn¡¯t have much¡ªjust two laptop bags and three briefcases, stuffed with portable computers and research materials. Each of them clutched their belongings tightly. Lin Xian glanced over. "If you''re ready, let''s move." Zhao Yan, still tense, hesitated before stepping closer. "Mr. Lin, you... you¡¯ll take us to a Federation mobile rescue point or another underground city, right? You¡¯re not just going to dump us outside, are you?" Outside the underground city, the zombie horde was endless. If they were just left outside, it wouldn¡¯t be much different from staying here. Lin Xian kept walking as he replied, "We¡¯ll be passing Yubei City, making a stop at the Huanxing-1 Spaceport High-Altitude Corridor. You¡¯ll get off there. So you better pray it hasn¡¯t fallen, or that your precious Federation government is still there." The moment he said this, Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming¡¯s faces turned pale. They glanced at Ding Junyi, hoping for reassurance, but she stayed silent and followed Lin Xian without hesitation. Seeing this, the three researchers didn¡¯t dare to argue further. They focused completely on keeping up. Swoosh! Luo Ye effortlessly hoisted the incubation pod onto his shoulder with one hand, while the other held his gun at the ready. "You two stay close to me," Lin Xian ordered, glancing at KIKI and Ding Junyi. "Luo Ye will cover the rear. It¡¯s almost nightfall, and we have no idea what¡¯s lurking out there. Stay together. No one falls behind." "Got it." KIKI pulled down her gas mask, stuffed her mobile computer into her jacket, and gestured for Ding Junyi to open the door. Ding Junyi nodded, took a deep breath, and pressed the controls. Hiss¡ª A faint mechanical hiss echoed as the research hall¡¯s protective door slid open. CRASH! The moment the alloy door cracked open, countless zombie hands clawed wildly through the gap, writhing and grasping. "AAAAHHHH!" Xu Wen shrieked, face twisting in horror as he cowered behind Zhao Yan. Even Zhao Yan and Han Qiming¡ªscientists used to controlled environments¡ªwere frozen in terror, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. Lin Xian ignored them. The second the door fully opened, KIKI unleashed a shockwave¡ª BOOM! A dozen zombies and grotesque insects were blown away, their bodies splattering against the walls and floor, leaving blood and severed limbs scattered across the corridor. BANG! BANG! BANG! Lin Xian fired multiple shots, clearing out the remaining zombies blocking the passage. From all directions, more unearthly screeches echoed. "Move! Now!" Lin Xian took the lead, charging ahead. He raised a hand, and in an instant, a steel door materialized, sealing off one of the corridors to prevent more zombies from swarming in. Ding Junyi¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Of all the Ability Users she had studied, she had never seen someone who could create steel out of thin air. KIKI followed right behind, showing no hesitation. Meanwhile, Zhao Yan and the others scrambled to keep up, running as if their lives depended on it. "Beep~ Beep~" Lin Xian¡¯s watch beeped. 18:45. Nightfall. Deep underground, they couldn¡¯t see the outside world, but the moment the time struck¡ª The hallway lights flickered ominously. An unnatural chill surged up from below, washing over everyone simultaneously. Lin Xian¡¯s eye twitched. He stared into the dark corridor ahead¡ª Something was coming. Fast. "KIKI!" Lin Xian gestured, signaling her to slow down. He clipped a flashlight to his ear, quickly fabricating a support bracket to keep it in place. His free hand began charging with electricity. "AAAAAAHHHHH!!!" A piercing female scream shattered the air. Lin Xian¡¯s flashlight beam swung toward the source¡ª A blood-red silhouette raced toward them at terrifying speed. In an instant, it was right in front of them¡ª Two clawed hands, blackened with elongated nails, slashed toward Lin Xian¡¯s throat. "Lin Xian, watch out!" Before KIKI could finish shouting, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes hardened¡ª CRACK! A bolt of white lightning pierced the darkness, searing the creature¡¯s head in a flash of blinding energy. For a split second, everyone could clearly see it¡ª A female zombie with rotting flesh, her skin half-melted, revealing decayed muscle and sinew. Her mouth hung unnaturally open, jawbone nearly dislocated down to her chest¡ª A truly nightmarish sight. BZZT! The zombie convulsed as the electricity burned through her skull. At the same time, KIKI clenched a fist, telekinetically gripping the monster midair. She flung it sideways, sending it crashing through an office wall, leaving a gaping hole in the concrete. "What the hell was that?!" KIKI¡¯s distorted voice came through her gas mask. Lin Xian frowned but kept moving. "I don¡¯t know. These zombies aren¡¯t like the ones outside. They¡¯re not eerie entities, but they¡¯re also far stronger than regular zombies." The speed of that female corpse was insane. Faster than anything they¡¯d encountered before. Tap. Tap. Ding Junyi caught up, speaking in a low voice. ¡°We classify these kinds of mutations¡ªdifferent from Nocturnal Entities, but still born from human transformation¡ªas Human Eerie.¡± "Human Eerie?" KIKI looked intrigued. "Yes. You could think of them as zombies with special abilities." ¡°Are you saying they¡¯re the result of Corruption?¡± Ding Junyi stared at KIKI, visibly surprised. "You... know about Corruption?" KIKI smirked. ¡°Oh, we know a lot.¡± Lin Xian fired another shot, blasting apart a few more zombies. He didn¡¯t even glance back as he kept running. "That¡¯s not the kind of question that matters right now." Chapter 104: Return Ding Junyi was momentarily speechless before continuing in a deep voice, "Yes, according to the theory of the Dark Tides, all zombies can be considered a form of human corruption, while some individuals possessing abilities can be seen as evolution. Regardless of whether it''s evolution or corruption, unpredictable biological mutations occur. This phenomenon is not uncommon in basic biological evolution and virology. However, what causes these mutations and evolution¡ªnamely, the Dark Tides¡ªremains completely unknown to us." Da-da-da!! Gunfire erupted as Lin Xian and KIKI led their team swiftly through an open area. Along the way, they passed by the remains of zombies they had previously taken down, confirming that they were retracing the correct route back. "I understand everything you''re saying, but that¡¯s not what we were asking," Lin Xian said, his expression focused as he moved quickly. "What I want to know is¡ªwhy are there so many of these so-called... ''Human Eeries'' down here?" Outside the underground city, zombies were everywhere. But the moment they entered, these strange zombies started appearing frequently. To Lin Xian, this was a dangerous sign. "I don¡¯t know," Ding Junyi panted heavily from running but tried to remain calm. "Ever since the construction team encountered unknown subterranean lifeforms, strange incidents have been occurring more frequently within the underground city. If it were just regular zombies, the Federal Underground City''s armed forces wouldn¡¯t have fallen so quickly. It was the emergence of these Human Eeries that forced the upper management to abandon the entire underground city and opt for a full-scale evacuation." "So, whatever¡¯s lurking underground is, in some ways, even more terrifying than the Dark Night Infection, right?" "You could say that." Ding Junyi''s words made Lin Xian¡¯s expression grow even more serious. The danger level of this place had exceeded his expectations. The threat posed by these Human Eeries was unpredictable. If the theory of ability-based evolution was correct, didn''t that mean these Human Eeries could also possess formidable abilities? Lin Xian thought of Tang Hai¡ªperhaps that guy had already become a Human Eerie, just at the evolutionary level, making him even more troublesome. But now, KIKI¡¯s ability had evolved, and Lin Xian¡¯s own strength had also improved significantly. If they encountered another one, they shouldn¡¯t be as helpless as last time. "Wait... wait for me..." Behind them, Han Qiming was staggering, his legs trembling uncontrollably, barely able to walk. Clutching his briefcase tightly, he suddenly collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. "Can we slow down a bit? I can¡¯t keep up!" he gasped desperately. Lin Xian glanced back while running. It wasn¡¯t just Han Qiming¡ªZhao Yan and Xu Wen were also pale-faced from exhaustion, their eyes filled with terror. Even Ding Junyi wasn¡¯t doing much better. Although she had been maintaining a composed front, as someone who had spent years in a laboratory, her physical fitness could only be so good. Besides, they had been starving for a week, surviving only on experimental plants in the lab. If there hadn¡¯t been drinking water, they would have already died of thirst. "Professor Han, don¡¯t fall behind!" Zhao Yan called out urgently, seeing Han Qiming slowing the team down. "I¡¯ll help him," Xu Wen said. She was the youngest among them and, despite being exhausted, still had more strength than Han Qiming. She turned back to assist him¡ªonly for a shadow to suddenly grab her from behind. "Watch out!" Before the words fully left her mouth, a sharp, piercing screech echoed through the corridor. A crimson blur streaked past where they had just come from, followed by several black, insect-like creatures scuttling out of the darkness at high speed. A chill ran down Han Qiming¡¯s spine. Before he could even stand up, a razor-sharp claw tore straight through his throat. At the same time, the black insects swarmed over him, sinking their fangs into his flesh. "AHHHH!!!" Zhao Yan and Xu Wen shrieked in terror and staggered backward. Bang! Bang! Bang! Da Lou raised his light machine gun and fired, instantly shattering several of the black insects. "KIKI, grab her!" Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected this thing to come back to life. He had clearly blown its head off and watched KIKI crush it into a bloody pulp¡ªso why was it suddenly here again?! KIKI, who was leading the group, immediately turned around. The female corpse was lightning-fast, nearly upon Da Lou when KIKI¡¯s telekinetic force clamped down on it mid-air. The situation was so perilous that even KIKI was breaking into a cold sweat. "Da Lou!!" Da Lou took two steps back, his face dark as he looked at the floating corpse trapped by KIKI''s power. Without hesitation, he pulled out his Steel-Slaying Greatsword, raised it high, and brought it down in a brutal vertical slash. Slash! The female corpse was instantly cleaved in two. But Lin Xian wasn¡¯t taking any chances¡ªhe stepped forward and unleashed two Wind Cannon Blasts, obliterating both halves of the corpse¡¯s head into a gory mess. Finally, the creature stopped moving. "Professor Han!!" Xu Wen cried out. Da-da-da-da-da! More black insects swarmed toward them. Da Lou raised his machine gun and sprayed bullets, mowing them down. KIKI swung her hand, sending out a telekinetic shockwave that blasted the insects away. But when the flashlight illuminated the scene, Han Qiming was already in pieces, torn apart into four or five chunks. Blood splattered across the corridor walls, a horrific sight. "Ahhh!!!" Zhao Yan screamed in horror. "RUN IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!!" Lin Xian shouted. Thump! Thump! Thump! Hearts pounding, the group sprinted frantically toward their escape route. Zhao Yan and Xu Wen were shaking with fear, their minds blank. They didn¡¯t even have the energy to cry anymore¡ªthey just focused on running, wishing they had more legs to keep up with Lin Xian and KIKI. Finally, they reached Elevator 3 in Sector K2. As the elevator doors opened, the bright lights inside shone upon them like salvation from the heavens. "Get in, now!" Lin Xian urged. Da-da-da! Bang! Bang! Bang! From the darkness of the corridor, a wave of zombies came rushing toward them. Most of them were wearing research uniforms, clearly former researchers from this facility. As the elevator doors sealed shut, Lin Xian let out a breath of relief. He pulled out his walkie-talkie, adjusting the signal. "Oh my god... Professor Han is dead..." Xu Wen was completely broken, grabbing Zhao Yan¡¯s shoulders and trembling in shock, her eyes hollow with fear. Lin Xian turned back and gave them a sharp look. "Can you still run?" Hearing his voice, both Zhao Yan and Xu Wen frantically nodded. Their expressions screamed fear¡ªalmost as if they were terrified that Lin Xian might abandon them. Lin Xian sighed slightly. It was clear that these people were utterly exhausted. They were just ordinary researchers, and after a week of starvation, the fact that they could still move at all was impressive. He remained calm¡ªthere was nothing more he could do. Even though he, KIKI, and Da Lou were ability users, they weren¡¯t gods. If KIKI hadn¡¯t been there just now, or if he had reacted a second too slowly, he might¡¯ve been injured by that blood-red female corpse. Thankfully, he had left Shasha and Chen Sixuan back on the train. Otherwise, the consequences would¡¯ve been unimaginable. "At least there weren¡¯t many people stationed on the research floors. If this had been the residential zone, who knows how many we¡¯d be dealing with." Inside the elevator, KIKI took off her gas mask, feeling overheated, and fanned herself with a hand. "Those black bugs are insane¡ªthey ate him in seconds." Ding Junyi, still panting heavily, was trying to steady her emotions. The horrifying scene had shaken her to the core. "The 52nd floor had no more than 2,000 people, including researchers and administrators. It¡¯s one of the least populated floors, aside from the high-level living quarters and the energy sector." [Elevator has arrived at Level 65: Rail Freight Terminal] The doors opened. Lin Xian, KIKI, and Da Lou raised their guns, on full alert. But the expected zombie horde wasn¡¯t there. Lin Xian checked the walkie-talkie¡ªit was glowing green. Pressing the comm button, he spoke, "Ms. Chen, we¡¯re off the elevator. Is everything safe on your end?" After a moment, Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice crackled through, "Safe, safe! Everything¡¯s fine on the train." Chapter 105: Going Down Lin Xian remained highly alert as he led the group out of the elevator, using a flashlight to probe the path ahead. Before long, they arrived at the Infinite Train. The cockpit door opened, and after their harrowing ordeal, the six of them finally stepped onto the train. Chhk¡ª As the heavy cockpit door sealed shut, Lin Xian switched on the cabin lights. A long-lost sense of security washed over them. Inside the train, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen collapsed onto the floor of Carriage No. 1, drenched in sweat and completely drained, gasping for breath. "Are you guys okay?" Seeing Lin Xian return, Chen Sixuan and Shasha finally breathed a sigh of relief and rushed over in concern. "One didn¡¯t make it." Lin Xian took a deep breath and said softly. Chen Sixuan covered her mouth in shock. Her gaze moved from the two women who were still trembling on the floor to Ding Junyi. "Is she the one we were in contact with?" "Ding Junyi." She met Chen Sixuan''s eyes and introduced herself directly. "...Are we saved?" Zhao Yan, still recovering from shock, asked as she scanned the train''s interior between gasps. "For now, you won¡¯t die." "Miss Chen," Lin Xian glanced at Zhao Yan and Xu Wen before turning to Chen Sixuan, "Get them something to eat. We need a break." "Really? Thank you so much!!" Hearing Lin Xian offer them food, Zhao Yan snapped out of her terror. Her survival instincts took over, making her realize just how close to starvation she was. Crying over Professor Han would have to wait. "Thank you, thank you, Mr. Lin..." "Waaah... Teacher Zhao, we''re safe!" Xu Wen was caught between fear and overwhelming relief. After enduring such a prolonged period of despair, their spirits had shattered multiple times. Now, sitting inside what felt like a fortress-like safehouse, and hearing that food was coming, they couldn¡¯t hold back their emotions any longer. Both women burst into tears again. In contrast, Ding Junyi, the deputy director of the Biological Research Department, remained tense. She was silent, scanning Lin Xian¡¯s team and the train¡¯s interior, seemingly lost in thought. Lin Xian ignored them and turned his attention to Da Lou, who had carried in a glass cultivation pod. "Whoa, what¡¯s that? A flower?" Shasha ran over in excitement upon seeing the strange plant encased in the glass. "What was it called again...?" KIKI tilted her head. "Blood Scourge Flora ¨C Specimen No. 1. If you prefer, you can call it Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum." Ding Junyi¡¯s expression remained cool as she explained to KIKI. "It¡¯s not an official name¡ªjust what we call it." "Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum? That sounds ominous." Chen Sixuan frowned slightly, staring at the strange black petals with fascination. To her, this eerie flower held a sinister beauty, especially its crimson core, which gave off an unsettling allure. "This thing..." Lin Xian glanced at it. "Store it away for now. The Federation¡¯s Phoenix Organization probably has information on it. We¡¯ll decide what to do with it later." Without a full understanding of its properties, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t eager to get too curious. If it was related to abilities, then it might be incredibly valuable. As night fell, the blizzard intensified. In the vast southern plains of the Daluo Mountains, the wind howled as snow covered the landscape. The endless rows of abandoned vehicles and thousands of corpses were buried beneath the thick, relentless snowfall. Zombies roamed the frozen wasteland, their feet crunching through knee-deep snow. Many had frozen solid, turning into lifeless, blackened human-shaped sculptures. Inside the Level 65 Freight Terminal of Underground City No. 9, the Infinite Train remained stationary. The warm glow of its interior lighting pushed back against the encroaching fear. After about an hour of rest and a bit of food, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen finally began to regain some stability. Lin Xian had no time to focus on them. In Carriage No. 2¡¯s Information Hub, he and KIKI were analyzing the underground city¡¯s internal layout. Since Ding Junyi was familiar with the city¡¯s infrastructure, Lin Xian had called her over as well. "This GF4 Terminal still has two carriages left," KIKI said as she pulled up surveillance footage from Station No. 4 on the surface. "From their paintwork, they seem to be pre-Federation assets." Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up. This trip might actually be worth it. And Ding Junyi hadn¡¯t lied¡ªso far, his decision to risk the rescue mission seemed to be paying off. "Once we get up there, we¡¯ll reorganize our train setup at the terminal, then head toward Yubei City." "What¡¯s our next move?" KIKI continued searching for usable information within the underground city¡¯s network. However, most areas had lost contact, and only a few subsystems were still online. "Our priority is securing the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive. Now that it¡¯s night, those Human Eeries could be everywhere, so we need to deal with this first. Everything else will depend on the situation." "How do we get down there?" KIKI pulled up the underground city¡¯s schematic, studying potential routes. Ding Junyi stepped forward and spoke. "If you want to go down, there are two options: Move the train directly downward. This is the fastest method, but if the tracks are broken or blocked, it¡¯s useless.Take the elevator to Level 89, then go down the stairs. However, if the tracks are damaged, even if you find the locomotive, it won¡¯t matter." "That¡¯s not necessarily true," KIKI smirked and patted Lin Xian on the shoulder. "We¡¯ve got a secret weapon." Ding Junyi cast a curious glance at Lin Xian but remained silent. Lin Xian pointed at the underground city¡¯s layout and pondered aloud. "It¡¯s simple. We take the elevator to Level 89, then use this safety passage to enter the tunnel. From there, we follow the tracks down to Level 95 and reach the station." So far, the tracks from Level 65 to Level 89 were still intact, so Lin Xian planned to scout ahead along Level 89¡¯s tracks. If anything was damaged, he and KIKI could fix it. He wasn¡¯t willing to risk taking the Infinite Train down yet. If they couldn¡¯t dock properly, the train would be stuck on a 59.5% incline¡ªa disastrous situation. If the brakes failed, they¡¯d all be buried alive. To play it safe, they needed to confirm the track conditions first and check the Gemini 11R¡¯s status. If everything was fine, he and KIKI could drive the locomotive up and link it to the Infinite Train, escaping the underground city together. "Yeah, that works!" KIKI agreed. "Then that¡¯s the plan," Lin Xian decided immediately. "Da Lou, you¡¯re staying on the train." "Xian-ge, let me go with you!" Da Lou frowned, clearly uneasy about being left behind at such a dangerous time. Lin Xian shook his head. "You and Shasha stay behind and protect the train." There were three outsiders onboard, plus the Human Eeries lurking in the underground city. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t comfortable leaving them alone. Keeping Da Lou, an ability user, on guard felt like the safer move. Besides, he and KIKI were more agile. Whether they ran into zombie hordes or track issues, their abilities would be more useful. "Da Lou, watch over them." Da Lou hesitated for a moment but understood what Lin Xian meant. He nodded. "Don¡¯t worry, Xian-ge. I¡¯ll handle things here." As Lin Xian prepared to leave, Ding Junyi stepped forward. "If you¡¯re following this plan, I can navigate for you," she said, pointing to KIKI¡¯s mobile terminal. "The walkie-talkie won¡¯t work, but you can use the underground city¡¯s subsystem for communication." "Okay." Lin Xian gave her a deep look before nodding. He knew she could be useful. Then, he and KIKI donned their gas masks, and Lin Xian grabbed the Geiger counter. Under the cover of darkness, they set out once again. Chapter 106: Level 89 Lin Xian, fully armed, slung a backpack over his shoulder and stepped onto the dark platform with KIKI once again. Perhaps because it was nighttime, a bone-chilling cold seeped through even the tunnels deep within the underground city. The underground city¡¯s mobile terminal successfully connected with the Infinite Train¡¯s responder system, allowing Ding Junyi to communicate directly with Lin Xian through the terminal. Once they entered the elevator, they confirmed they could still access messages from the train. "The entire underground city from Levels 20 to 60 is the main residential and work area. Levels 60 to 70 are for industrial production, research, and storage. Below that, Levels 70 to 80 house third-class citizens¡ªthe most densely populated level. Level 89, however, is a permanent preservation zone for civilization storage. It holds various species fossils, plant seeds, a gene cryo-storage facility, and an archive of artistic artifacts. Hardly anyone works there, and it doesn¡¯t have any vital survival resources, so after the infection broke out, very few people would have gone there. But the space is enormous, so be careful.¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s voice remained calm as she explained through the communicator. ¡°Wow, so forty floors are reserved for the least populated first- and second-class citizens, while ten floors cram in the majority of third-class citizens? That¡¯s some messed-up logic...¡± KIKI snorted. Lin Xian glanced at her. ¡°If you were here, you definitely wouldn¡¯t be living below Level 60.¡± KIKI scoffed. ¡°As if I¡¯d want to stay here. It¡¯s suffocating. My Carriage No. 2 is way more comfortable. When we finally break through Palma Grasslands, cross the Romu Desert, and reach the Pacific Ocean... at least if I die, it¡¯ll be somewhere better than this place.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame, though,¡± she added. ¡°I thought we¡¯d find a ton of supplies here...¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°If we can get that Gemini 11R nuclear electric locomotive, that alone would be a huge win. And on top of that, there are two entire research carriages. If we integrate them into the train, our Infinite Train¡¯s planting base will be up and running in no time. Expand the air and water circulation system, and our train won¡¯t be any worse than an Intercontinental-Class one.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a point~¡± With the Polar Night closing in, the underground city collapsing, and unknown subterranean creatures lurking, even this much of a haul was already a blessing. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t about to be greedy and attempt to loot the entire underground city¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t have enough lives to survive that. Besides, he hadn¡¯t actually obtained anything yet. Well, except for three more women on the train... and a potted plant. A dull thud echoed as Freight Elevator No. 3 rumbled to a stop on the offline Level 89, accompanied by a loop of old advertisements playing in the background. With a ding, the elevator doors slowly opened. Lin Xian and KIKI stood on either side, guns raised, eyes sharp with vigilance. The elevator light cast a dim glow onto the pitch-black floor outside. Scanning their surroundings, they saw an immense, dark space filled with towering storage shelves. KIKI fiddled with her mobile terminal, pulling up the navigation for the Track Safety Passage. ¡°This place is empty. We should be extra careful.¡± The vast space gave Lin Xian an unsettling feeling. Besides the elevator¡¯s dim lighting, everything around them was dead silent. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± Click. As soon as Lin Xian¡¯s foot touched the ground, it was like dropping a stone into a still lake¡ªthe sound sent an eerie ripple through the silence. Level 89. At this moment, the two of them were nearly 450 meters underground, and an immense pressure weighed down on them. Lin Xian took the lead, a tactical flashlight clipped to his ear, sweeping the surroundings. This floor had a much higher ceiling than Level 52¡ªat least ten meters tall. The massive storage racks loomed in the darkness like mountains. Rows of neatly arranged insect specimens lined the shelves. The aisles stretched on endlessly, disappearing into the void. ¡°We¡¯re at G-Zone, Aisle 117. We need to turn right and go down the passage near the Gene Cryo-Storage Facility.¡± KIKI¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper, but in the vast silence, it sounded like a thunderclap. Lin Xian walked briskly ahead¡ªthen suddenly stopped. ¡°...Did you hear that?¡± KIKI instantly tensed, her shoulders shrinking as she scanned their surroundings warily. ¡°I... didn¡¯t hear anything?¡± They stood still for a few seconds. Aside from their breathing, there was nothing. ¡°...Don¡¯t scare me like that.¡± Lin Xian gestured for silence and pressed forward into the darkness. This time, he drew his GK03 Electric Blade, slinging his automatic rifle onto his back. In this eerie space, if danger struck, using Backlash or Power Surge would be far smarter than firing a gun. A single gunshot could trigger a Zombie Tide, and in a place like this, they wouldn¡¯t even know which direction to run. Turning out of Aisle G117, they entered the fossil storage section, where rows of skeletal remains stood in eerie formations. KIKI followed closely behind, her unease growing with every step. ¡°...Lin Xian, talk to me,¡± she whispered. ¡°This place is freaking me out.¡± ¡°Talk about what?¡± ¡°Anything. Like... when I was unconscious, did you try to save me? Maybe even give me CPR or something?¡± ¡°You seriously want to discuss this now?¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°I¡¯m scared, okay...¡± KIKI took a deep breath, quickening her pace to stay close. ¡°Or how about this¡ªare we gonna pick up more people for the train? Should we install an AI driver? If we reach the ocean and the rails are gone, are we turning the train into a sea cruiser or a submarine?¡± Lin Xian replied evenly, ¡°The more people, the better. More hands, better odds of survival.¡± ¡°What about those three people today? Are we taking them along?¡± ¡°Not planning on it. We¡¯re not a rescue train. Besides, those scientists don¡¯t seem like they need to flee with us. They¡¯re still hoping to find the New Federation Government and pledge loyalty.¡± ¡°Pfft, let them go. They¡¯ll probably be less safe there than on the Infinite Train.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice grew serious. ¡°What I¡¯m more concerned about is the High-Altitude Corridor.¡± He continued, ¡°Ding Junyi mentioned that during the Great Migration, plenty of aircraft and airships were evacuated alongside the underground city. But they all got wiped out. That means whatever¡¯s up there might be even worse than the monsters on the ground. Since Apocalypse Day, all airborne and satellite equipment have gone down with the rest. If something¡¯s in the sky, it¡¯s probably not just that giant jellyfish.¡± Just thinking about the Floating Colossal Corpse from KIKI¡¯s Corruption Nightmare sent a chill down Lin Xian¡¯s spine. The skies weren¡¯t necessarily safer than the ground. If not for the Infinite Train¡¯s thick armor, who knew how many times they would¡¯ve died already? As they continued forward, the air grew noticeably colder. Leaving the fossil zone behind, they entered a larger section filled with numbered glass containers¡ªeach one storing dried plant seeds. ¡°Lin Xian, look! So many seeds!¡± KIKI shined her flashlight over the shelves, her eyes sparkling with excitement. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to grow vegetables on the train? Should we grab some and start cultivating?¡± Lin Xian scanned the shelves and made a quick decision. ¡°Yeah. Since we¡¯re here, might as well take some.¡± Good crop seeds were hard to come by. The Black Rain had devastated natural plant life, making fresh vegetables and fruits nearly impossible to find. Lin Xian didn¡¯t have the luxury of searching for them in the wild. If these were readily available, he¡¯d be a fool not to take some. Slipping off his backpack, he started selecting and packing seeds. Scrape... Thunk... Just as they were gathering seeds, a strange noise echoed through the space. It sounded like something wooden being dragged along the ground. Both of them froze, holding their breath. Lin Xian was sure this time¡ª He hadn¡¯t imagined it. Chapter 107: The Bone Wraith A sudden, unfamiliar sound shattered the eerie silence, making Lin Xian and KIKI tense up instantly. Their eyes darted around, searching for the source. Because this level was so vast, composed entirely of rows upon rows of towering display shelves and corridors, it felt like wandering through a massive museum. Sounds echoed unpredictably, making it impossible to determine their origin. Lin Xian¡¯s nerves tightened. ¡°We¡¯re not alone down here.¡± KIKI instantly grew anxious. She quickly checked the route on her mobile terminal before looking around nervously. ¡°We need to hurry! There¡¯s a corridor up ahead¡ªonce we get through it, we¡¯ll reach the Gene Cryo-Storage Facility.¡± Without hesitation, Lin Xian tightened his grip on his Electric Blade and moved forward, his senses heightened to the max. Scrape... That sound came again¡ªthis time, from just a few rows of shelves away, running parallel to them. Tap. Tap. Lin Xian and KIKI broke into a jog, their tactical flashlight beams swaying wildly through the darkness, illuminating the cold black floor ahead. Scrape... The dragging noise persisted. Lin Xian¡¯s stomach clenched¡ªhe had already covered a significant distance, yet the sound stayed right alongside them, never too far, always just beyond the shelves. As they turned into a long, dimly lit corridor, something strange happened. Whether it was an illusion or something in the air, Lin Xian noticed their flashlights dimming. The darkness ahead grew thicker, swallowing their vision like an ink-black void. At the same time, the scraping noise suddenly emerged¡ªthis time, just behind them. Scrape... ¡°Ah! Lin Xian!¡± KIKI let out a startled cry. She wasn¡¯t as fast as Lin Xian, so he instinctively reached out, grabbed her hand, and pulled her along at full speed. The sound of their hurried footsteps echoed through the massive corridor, amplifying their anxiety. KIKI¡¯s heart pounded as she clung to her mobile terminal with her free hand. Then¡ª That horrifying scraping noise came again. This time, it felt like it was right behind her. KIKI¡¯s instincts kicked in. Without thinking, she yanked her hand free and unleashed her Ability in a wild, sweeping motion. BZZT! An invisible force erupted from her palm, sending a powerful shockwave rippling through the air. A muffled THUD followed¡ªsomething had definitely been blasted away! ¡°Lin Xian! There¡¯s something behind us!¡± ¡°I know!¡± Lin Xian kept running, but KIKI was visibly struggling to keep up. Unlike him, her Ability didn¡¯t enhance her physical attributes. Lin Xian had grown significantly stronger since gaining his enhancements, but KIKI¡¯s stamina was still that of an ordinary human. She was already gasping for breath. Tap. Tap. They burst through the corridor, finally reaching an area bathed in an eerie, bluish glow. White mist swirled in the passage ahead, shrouding everything in a ghostly haze. ¡°Wait¡ªwasn¡¯t the power supposed to be out?¡± ¡°Cryo chambers usually have independent emergency power. But judging by this fog, one of the storage units must have a leak.¡± Lin Xian quickly checked the Geiger Counter in his hand. Both he and KIKI were wearing gas masks, but aside from that, they had no additional protection. ¡°We need to go through here!¡± KIKI urged. They rushed into the mist-filled passageway. The freezing vapor swallowed them whole, reducing visibility to near zero. Lin Xian gripped his blade tightly in one hand, while his other hand clutched KIKI¡¯s wrist. ¡°Hello.¡± A voice suddenly echoed ahead. It was soft. Childlike. Yet, the moment Lin Xian and KIKI heard it, an unbearable chill ran down their spines. It wasn¡¯t just because the voice came out of nowhere¡ª It was the way it sounded. Like it wasn¡¯t quite... human. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s instincts kicked in¡ªwithout hesitation, he yanked KIKI into a narrow cryo-storage passage. Whoosh! Something rolled past the space they had just vacated. ¡°Hel-lo.¡± The eerie voice spoke again, this time lower, as if struggling to mimic normal human speech. But the forced effort only made it more terrifying. ¡°There! By the passage entrance!¡± KIKI gasped, pointing to where they had just come from. Lin Xian turned¡ªand immediately noticed something horrifying. The swirling white mist at the passage¡¯s entrance was parting unnaturally to both sides. As if something huge was moving through it. A Horror Entity. That was Lin Xian¡¯s first thought. Whatever this thing was¡ªit wasn¡¯t a zombie. And it definitely wasn¡¯t human. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. Lin Xian steadied his breathing, gripping KIKI¡¯s wrist tighter as they ran. ¡°That thing is following us!¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡± KIKI shouted. They burst out of the Gene Cryo-Storage Facility and into another corridor. But before they could catch their breath¡ª The horrifying voice rang out again. ¡°YOU!!! HELLO!!!¡± This time, it was shrieking. A grotesque attempt at mimicking human speech. Lin Xian spun around, raising his tactical flashlight¡ª And saw it. Emerging from the misty cryo chamber¡ª A tall, skeletal shadow. And it was running straight for them. ¡°Look out!¡± Lin Xian yanked KIKI behind him and activated Mechanical Heart , rapidly constructing a steel frame barricade across the corridor. CRASH! The shadowy figure slammed into the metal bars with brutal force. Sparks erupted as the steel groaned under the impact. But the barricade held. Just as Lin Xian was about to take this chance to escape¡ª Something lit up in the darkness. A massive, blood-red skull began to glow, its hollow eye sockets and gaping maw igniting with eerie flames. Then¡ª A three-meter-tall, humanoid skeletal creature emerged. Its body was covered in jagged bone spikes, and its crimson skull burned with unnatural fire. ¡°GRRRAAAHHH!!!¡± A deafening shriek blasted through the corridor, rattling their eardrums. Then, the creature opened its jaw¡ª And spewed a wave of scorching blood-fire straight at them. ¡°It can breathe fire?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened¡ªhe had to react fast. Ice Shield! BOOM! The fiery blast illuminated the entire corridor. KIKI, pressed against Lin Xian¡¯s back, quickly raised her hands¡ªusing Telekinesis to reinforce their defense. A shimmering barrier formed in front of them, barely holding back the scorching heat. But the fire still splattered everywhere. The walls glowed red-hot. The steel barricade began melting. If KIKI hadn¡¯t reinforced it, the entire structure would have collapsed already! ¡°What the hell is this thing?!¡± ¡°Why can a Horror Entity talk?!¡± ¡°No time! We need to move!¡± KIKI shouted. She reached up and grabbed onto a massive hanging light fixture from the ceiling¡ª And yanked it down. CRASH! The metal fixture smashed onto the creature¡¯s flaming skull, pinning it beneath Lin Xian¡¯s half-melted steel barricade. The entire structure collapsed with a thunderous clang. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Xian grabbed KIKI¡¯s hand and sprinted forward. Ahead, his flashlight beam revealed a narrow maintenance tunnel. Chapter 108: The Passage ¡°There! That¡¯s it!¡± Before she even reached the emergency door, KIKI had already used her Ability to rip it right off its frame. The thick metal door groaned and twisted before being yanked away, leaving the passage exposed. Lin Xian barely had time to react. ¡°You¡¯re way faster at opening doors than me!¡± ¡°Less talking, more running!¡± CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! Behind them, the red skeletal horror emerged from the corridor, its elongated limbs and jagged bone spikes scraping against the walls with a sharp, grating noise. ¡°NGAHHH!¡± It shrieked again. Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate. He grabbed KIKI and leaped into the stairwell¡ªsimultaneously constructing a metal barrier to seal off the passage behind them. But what he hadn¡¯t expected¡ª Was that the stairwell was insanely steep. ¡°AHHHH!!!¡± KIKI barely had time to react before she instinctively wrapped her arms around Lin Xian¡¯s waist. Her eyes glowed with Ability energy, and their freefall abruptly slowed midair. Even so, they still tumbled down at least ten meters before rolling to a stop at the bottom, landing in a painful heap. BOOM! The steel door Lin Xian had just created was suddenly blasted off its hinges, soaring over their heads and slamming into the stairwell wall with a deafening crash. The impact bent the door out of shape, turning it red-hot as steam hissed from its surface. Lin Xian¡¯s spine went rigid. Holy sh*t. This thing didn¡¯t just breathe fire¡ªit had ridiculous destructive power. ¡°Ugh... ow...¡± KIKI groaned, sitting up while rubbing her sore ass and head. If she hadn¡¯t cushioned their fall with her Ability, they¡¯d probably be half-dead from that tumble. SCRAAAATCH! A blood-red clawed hand suddenly reached through the narrow stairwell entrance, its charred flesh twitching as it scraped wildly at the air. ¡°Fk!!¡± Ignoring the pain from their fall, Lin Xian grabbed KIKI and yanked her backward, just in time to dodge the creature¡¯s frenzied grasp. The grotesque hand flailed wildly for a few seconds¡ªthen, as if realizing it couldn¡¯t reach them, it slowly retreated. Lin Xian exhaled sharply, his heart still hammering. This was nothing like the Pale Giant he had encountered before. This thing was covered in muscle-like tissue, steaming with unnatural heat. And then¡ª It spoke again. ¡°You! Hello!¡± A few seconds passed before their flashlights revealed a blood-red skull slowly peeking through the stairwell entrance. Its empty eye sockets stared at them, glowing like hollow blood pits. It watched them. Like a hunter observing its prey. ¡°Holy sh*t, it breathes fire, AND it talks?!¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes went wide as she instinctively jumped backward. ¡°What the hell is wrong with these things? They¡¯re getting nastier by the minute!¡± Lin Xian panted as he backed away from the stairwell, an unsettling thought creeping into his mind¡ª This thing... Was looking more and more human. And the moment he realized that, a chill crawled up his spine. ¡°Do you think it¡¯ll come in?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± Lin Xian shined his flashlight down the stairwell, scanning the endless darkness. His voice turned grim. ¡°But if it¡¯s blocking the entrance, we won¡¯t be able to go back the way we came.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wanna go back anyway.¡± KIKI scowled, shuddering. If this had been just another Horror Entity, it wouldn¡¯t have felt this disturbing. But this thing could speak. And that inhuman, chilling mimicry made her skin crawl. ¡°Let¡¯s move. It probably can¡¯t fit through.¡± Lin Xian took a deep breath, then grabbed KIKI¡¯s wrist and led her downward. As they descended into the stairwell¡¯s abyssal darkness, the last thing they heard was¡ª ¡°You!... Hello!...¡± The words echoed from above, distant yet unnervingly clear. Lin Xian felt cold sweat bead on his forehead. Hello, my ass. This was the first time he had ever encountered a Horror Entity inside a building. And compared to the ones in the wild, this one felt far more terrifying. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. With their flashlights cutting through the dark, they continued down the stairwell. Soon, a yellow emergency door came into view. ¡°This is it.¡± Reaching the landing, Lin Xian stopped KIKI. ¡°No using your Ability to open doors anymore.¡± Even though KIKI had reached the Evolution Level, she couldn¡¯t waste energy recklessly. They had no idea what other threats lurked below. Lin Xian placed a hand on the door¡¯s handle, activated Mechanical Heart, and¡ª Click. The lock disengaged instantly. Whoosh! The door swung open, a cold gust of air rushing past them. Their flashlights illuminated what lay ahead¡ª A subway-like underground tunnel. Pipelines and maintenance corridors lined its walls, relatively new-looking, as if it had been recently built. But the entire passage reeked of decay. ¡°We¡¯re really walking along the tracks?¡± KIKI asked. ¡°It¡¯s about six floors down. We¡¯ll need to run at least half a circle around this underground city,¡± Lin Xian replied, checking his Geiger Counter. 56.66 ¦ÌSv/h. Radiation was higher than the surface, but still within safe limits. KIKI groaned behind her gas mask. ¡°Great. More running.¡± Beep. Beep. KIKI¡¯s mobile terminal lit up, and Ding Junyi¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Did you enter the railway passage?¡± ¡°We¡¯re in.¡± ¡°Good. The total distance from Level 89¡¯s passage to Level 95 is 2,620 meters. The vertical distance to Core Reactor No. 1 on Level 100 is 62 meters. If radiation levels exceed 100 ¦ÌSv/h, abandon the mission immediately.¡± Lin Xian took a deep breath and glanced back toward the stairwell. ¡°Let¡¯s go. If we fail, we¡¯ll either have to backtrack or climb up another tunnel.¡± ¡°No way.¡± KIKI waved a hand, still catching her breath. ¡°I am not running into that thing again.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Lin Xian adjusted his flashlight beam, widening the illumination radius as they started down the tunnel. The newly built ceiling already had leaks, with water dripping down. Some areas even showed cracks¡ª Just as Ding Junyi had warned, the underground city¡¯s structure was collapsing. RUMBLE!!! They had barely taken a few steps when¡ª A massive tremor shook the tunnel. Debris and dust rained down, sending a wave of dizziness through them. The entire ground trembled violently. ¡°An earthquake?!?!¡± Lin Xian and KIKI staggered, barely staying upright as they grabbed onto the metal railing. ¡°AHH!¡± KIKI yelped. The shaking intensified. Lin Xian instinctively pulled KIKI close, shielding her head while constructing a barrier to support the ceiling. Just when he thought the quake was about to worsen¡ª It abruptly stopped. Sand and dust trickled down as the tunnel slowly fell silent again. Beep. Beep. Beep. Lin Xian¡¯s mobile terminal rang. Chen Sixuan¡¯s urgent voice came through. ¡°Lin Xian! Are you okay?!¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine.¡± Lin Xian exhaled in relief. Then, his face darkened. ¡°Ding Junyi¡ª¡± ¡°Is this normal? Do these earthquakes have anything to do with the underground creatures?¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s voice came through calmly. ¡°Yes. For the past two weeks, these quakes have been happening every night.¡± Lin Xian froze. Then, slowly¡ª His entire body went cold. Chapter 109: The Mountain At this moment, Lin Xian started to feel that coming down here might have been a huge mistake. A creature that could cause earthquakes¡ªhe didn¡¯t even want to imagine what lay beneath this underground city. Rustle¡ª Brushing off the dust and debris clinging to him, Lin Xian felt a sinking sensation in his chest. But since they were already here¡ª There was no turning back. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± ¡°Damn, Lin Xian, if this whole place collapses in an earthquake, we¡¯ll be buried alive,¡± KIKI muttered as she walked. ¡°Better than getting eaten by Zombies or Black Centipede Creatures.¡± ¡°...Wait, you¡¯re seriously not scared?¡± ¡°What good would that do?¡± Lin Xian kept his flashlight aimed forward, his tone urgent. ¡°We¡¯re already here¡ªwe need to make this trip worth it.¡± ¡°Tch. If I die down here, I¡¯m stuck with you forever,¡± KIKI pouted. ¡°You could always go back and join Mr. ¡®Hello¡¯ Red Skeleton¡ªhe¡¯s polite, at least.¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but find it absurd¡ªthis girl was still joking at a time like this. ¡°Hell no!¡± KIKI quickened her pace and grabbed onto Lin Xian¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stick with you. At least I won¡¯t be a wandering ghost.¡± As they continued descending through the long, hollow tunnel, their soft conversations echoed off the damp walls. Lin Xian swept his flashlight carefully across the passage¡ª Then suddenly¡ªhe stopped. KIKI, caught off guard, bumped straight into his back. ¡°Ugh! What the hell, why¡¯d you stop so suddenly?¡± She rubbed her nose in irritation¡ªuntil she noticed where Lin Xian was pointing his flashlight. At the ceiling of the tunnel. Something brownish-red, the size of a washbasin, was stuck to the wall¡ªits irregular shape eerily resembling organic tissue. ¡°...Is that... meat?¡± KIKI¡¯s face twisted in disgust. ¡°Wait¡ªlook ahead¡ªthere¡¯s more!¡± She gasped. Lin Xian immediately shined his light forward¡ª Sure enough¡ª More of that flesh-like growth. Clusters of bloody, tumor-like masses spread along the tunnel walls, growing denser as they went deeper. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He crouched down, picked up a small rock, and tossed it at one of the flesh-like growths. Thud¡ª The rock bounced off. No reaction. No signs of corrosion. Cautiously, Lin Xian stepped closer and pressed his fingers against the fleshy surface. ¡°...What the hell is this? A mutated fungus?¡± KIKI shivered. ¡°Lin Xian... this place feels really wrong...¡± Ignoring the unease settling in his chest, Lin Xian kept moving forward. The further they went¡ª The more of that grotesque flesh appeared. Larger masses began to take shape¡ª Some covering entire sections of the tunnel. ¡°Lin Xian...¡± KIKI swallowed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it feel like... we just walked into the stomach of some giant creature?¡± ¡°...I was thinking the same thing.¡± For once, Lin Xian wasn¡¯t being sarcastic¡ª Because that exact thought had just crossed his mind. KIKI suddenly grabbed his arm. ¡°Lin Xian, look out!¡± Whoosh¡ª! A chilling gust of wind rushed toward them. Lin Xian¡¯s flashlight beam vanished into the void¡ªas if something had swallowed it whole. He stopped breathing. The tunnel had disappeared. ¡°...Holy sh*t.¡± KIKI took a step forward¡ªonly to realize they were standing at the edge of a cliff. The right-side wall of the tunnel had completely collapsed, exposing a vast open void. Above them¡ª A pale glow spilled in from a massive, rectangular opening in the underground city¡¯s ceiling. It was the surface. The tunnel had been spiraling downward along the underground city¡¯s inner walls. Now, from their current depth¡ªLevel 90 and below¡ª The sky above was just a distant pinprick, like looking up from the bottom of a well. And below¡ª A massive, collapsed pit. At the center of that pit¡ª A hill. A mountain of flesh. The grotesque red tissue that had been growing along the tunnel continued downward, cascading like a waterfall into the chasm. And now¡ª Standing closer¡ª Lin Xian realized something horrifying¡ª The ¡°hill¡± was breathing. ¡°This thing... it grew from below.¡± Lin Xian and KIKI stood at the broken edge of the tracks, staring down into the abyss. ¡°...Lin Xian, do you see that?¡± KIKI whispered, her voice laced with uncertainty. Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, trying to focus. But when he aimed his flashlight downward, the beam disappeared into the darkness. ¡°...See what?¡± KIKI pointed toward the center of the pit. Lin Xian adjusted his light¡ªbut still couldn¡¯t see anything. ¡°I don¡¯t see sh*t.¡± ¡°...Wait.¡± When KIKI didn¡¯t respond, Lin Xian turned¡ª And froze. KIKI had gone completely still. Slowly¡ª She removed her gas mask. Under the pale moonlight¡ª Her face was drained of color. Eyes wide, filled with sheer terror. She raised a trembling hand, pointing at the pit. And with her other hand¡ª She switched off Lin Xian¡¯s flashlight. Click. Darkness. With the flashlight off¡ª The moonlight cast an even clearer view of the abyss. Lin Xian followed KIKI¡¯s gaze¡ª And finally saw it. His pupils shrunk violently. KIKI hadn¡¯t been pointing at a specific spot. She was pointing at the entire hill. Because when Lin Xian stopped looking at it as terrain¡ª And instead saw it as a whole¡ª He realized¡ª It wasn¡¯t a hill. It was a creature. A colossal, thousand-meter-long entity. Its grotesque, mountainous body sprawled across the underground city¡¯s core, its flesh extending outward like a cancerous growth. And most horrifying of all¡ª The shape. It looked like¡ª A giant fish. With countless, writhing human arms. Lin Xian gasped sharply, sucking in a breath of frigid air. That thing... It was alive. A living horror. KIKI clasped her hands over her mouth, barely containing a scream. ¡°...Lin Xian...¡± she whispered, voice trembling. ¡°...Is this the ¡®Underground Creature¡¯ they talked about?¡± ¡°...Maybe.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s hands clenched into fists. ¡°...Holy f**k.¡± His mind reeled. This thing had grown up from beneath the earth. And it was still spreading. For years, people had believed¡ª That hiding underground was safer. That when Apocalypse Day came, the deep shelters would be their last refuge. But now¡ª As they stood before this monstrous entity, nestled deep within the very foundation of the underground city¡ª It was clear. 37,000 people had vanished overnight. A multi-trillion-dollar fortress had fallen in an instant. Against the horrors of the Abyss¡ª Humanity was nothing more than ants. Chapter 110: Locomotive "Lin Xian... what... what do we do?" Lin Xian took a deep breath. He could hear the fear in KIKI''s voice. It wasn¡¯t just KIKI¡ªhis own heart was filled with shock. He stared at the collapsed tunnel ahead and the partially exposed wall, falling into silence. The cave-in wasn¡¯t too extensive¡ªonly about seven or eight meters. Using the inner mountain wall of the tunnel, he could directly forge tracks and steel supports. If he and KIKI worked together, they could stabilize the tracks. The two of them had already traveled more than a thousand meters. If nothing went wrong, the freight terminal at Level 95 should be just ahead. At this point, turning back would mean that their dangerous trip into the underground city had been for nothing¡ªexcept for rescuing three strangers and picking up a plant of uncertain value. "Hold on, let me take a look first." Lin Xian observed the dark silhouettes ahead and pulled KIKI into the shadows. Maybe he was being overly cautious, but the thought of giving up when they had made it this far was too frustrating. He had originally planned to secure the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive, and if there was time, he wanted to explore other areas of the underground city¡ªmaybe the military prep zone, industrial district, or even the energy reserves. He had even considered taking control of the Night Watch system down here. But now, forget scavenging¡ªhe wasn¡¯t even sure if their group could escape the depths of these tunnels. If they had to turn back, the elevator was no longer an option. That meant they¡¯d have to climb all the way from Level 95 back up to the freight loading platform at Level 65 using the tracks. Lin Xian first crafted a segment of rail and had KIKI carefully place it over the broken section. KIKI looked tense as she used her Ability to set it in place. Click. Both of them tensed up instantly. But nothing happened. ¡°No reaction.¡± "What now?" KIKI looked at Lin Xian. "Let¡¯s cross first and check out the locomotive." With that, Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate. He raised his hand and started forging more steel tracks and support pillars. Seeing this, KIKI glanced at him silently before activating her Ability to help repair the rails. Bang! Bang! Soon, a suspended temporary track took shape. Lin Xian reinforced it with steel plates, ensuring both stability and a safe walkway for them. Thud. Thud. The moment they stepped onto the suspended tracks, both of their hearts pounded. To their side, the expansive underground city walls stretched out into the darkness. Below them was a bottomless abyss, its depths unknown. They were completely exposed to whatever lurked in the dark. "Be careful. That big thing probably hasn¡¯t noticed us yet." Each step felt like an eternity, but finally, they entered another tunnel where the darkness swallowed the light once more. Both of them let out a sigh of relief. "Move fast." Switching on their flashlights, the tunnel ahead was increasingly filled with flesh-like growths. Lin Xian and KIKI, though still tense, picked up their pace. A few more displaced and fractured tunnel sections appeared along the way, but none as severe as the previous collapse. To be cautious, they repaired the tracks as they advanced. Finally, the tracks leveled out, and they reached a wide underground freight station. Beep. Beep. Beep. Lin Xian¡¯s Geiger counter blared a warning. He glanced at it¡ªthe radiation level had spiked to 127.46 ¦ÌSv/h, dangerously high. ¡°We need to move faster.¡± The station had completely lost power, but it wasn¡¯t as dark as expected. One of the city walls had collapsed entirely, exposing a skeletal framework of steel and concrete. A massive broken elevator shaft dangled overhead, with a few steel cables still hanging loosely inside. "This place is a mess..." Lin Xian''s heart sank. He scanned the area with his flashlight. The freight station had five parallel tracks and a loading dock¡ªa huge space. Overhead, a container gantry crane was still in place, once used for hoisting heavy cargo. Further along, the gap in the city walls revealed an even larger void. In a single glance, Lin Xian could make out the outline of a massive creature at the bottom of the underground pit¡ªit seemed to have a huge head, but its body was obscured by darkness. "Lin Xian, don¡¯t you think... that flesh is moving?" KIKI shuddered, shining her flashlight on the brownish-red flesh spreading across the walls. Looking at it as a whole, they could see countless organic structures shifting within¡ªas if absorbing nutrients. Lin Xian noticed but wasn¡¯t in the mood to dwell on it. His entire focus was on finding the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive. Beep. Beep. Beep! The Geiger counter shrieked even louder. Lin Xian frowned and moved it closer to the flesh-like growths. The numbers shot past 300 ¦ÌSv/h. But the real shock came when he pointed the detector toward the flesh wall¡ªspecifically, toward the massive shadow beyond. The radiation levels continued to spike. ¡°The radiation source is coming from there!?¡± Lin Xian was stunned. The Core Reactor No. 1 was sealed deep within Level 100¡ªhow could this place be leaking radiation? "Lin Xian, look over there!" KIKI suddenly pointed her flashlight toward a secondary platform. In the beam of light, a streamlined train engine emerged from the shadows. Its massive industrial form loomed in the darkness. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up¡ªthey had found it! Without hesitation, the two sprinted toward the platform. As they got closer, the sleek, black-and-purple electric locomotive came into view. Amid the ruins of the Great Migration, the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive sat there like a slumbering beast in the depths. Lin Xian eagerly approached and placed his hand on it, activating Mechanical Heart. ¡¾Mechanical Heart - Scanning...¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Heart - Overwriting...¡¿ ¡¾Scan Complete: Target - Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive¡¿ ¡¾Condition: Structural Integrity 100%, Power System: Functional, Microscale 152-Type Micro-Nuclear DRX Reactor: Cooled, Auxiliary Energy System: Operational...¡¿ ¡°How is it?¡± "Everything''s in perfect condition. The nuclear reactor is cooled, but I¡¯ll try activating the auxiliary energy system first for a systems check." Lin Xian wasted no time, initiating Phase-1 startup. A machine of this scale was impossible to control manually¡ªhe needed to rely on the train¡¯s onboard systems. His current role was simply to power it up and manage the energy flow, while KIKI would handle the system interface. Woooo~ As Lin Xian activated Phase-1 startup, the locomotive¡¯s subsystems whirred to life. The headlights flickered on, illuminating the darkness. For the first time, the full grandeur of the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive was revealed before them. "Wow... this thing is amazing!" Lin Xian''s eyes gleamed with excitement. With this locomotive, their train¡¯s power issues would be completely solved¡ªheating, water circulation, propulsion¡ªit could handle everything. The 152-Type DRX Micro-Nuclear Reactor had a thermal power output of 290 megawatts, which meant Lin Xian could finally stop using his Ability for propulsion. Instead, he could focus on improving their defenses, upgrading internal mechanical systems, and strengthening himself. The only issue? The Gemini 11R wasn¡¯t as durable as the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive. "Let¡¯s get inside." Lin Xian glanced at the Geiger counter, his expression shifting. This train¡¯s outer shell was built with top-tier radiation shielding¡ªthey¡¯d be safer inside. Besides, he still needed to inspect the reactor, components, and systems¡ªhe wasn¡¯t about to stand around in a high-radiation zone doing maintenance. Chapter 111: Under Attack Underground City No. 9, Level 65, Tier-4 Freight Rail Terminal On the Infinite Train, Chen Sixuan and Shasha anxiously waited for news from Lin Xian and KIKI. Deep underground, after experiencing the earthquake earlier, the oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe. They had initially believed this underground city to be a final bastion of civilization, a place where survivors had gathered. With KIKI''s identity, they had hoped to gain something from this expedition. But what they found instead... was a tomb of the apocalypse. Even from Zhao Yan and Xu Wen, the two survivors they rescued, they could feel an overwhelming sense of despair¡ªas if the ghosts of the 370,000 people who perished here still haunted the depths. Ding ding ding¡ª Sitting at a table, Shasha curiously observed the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum inside a plant incubation chamber, her eyes full of fascination. Meanwhile, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen, after crying their hearts out and eating something, had finally calmed down. They sat in a corner, carefully inspecting the steel-armored interior of the train. "You guys... where did you come from? Are you heading to Yubei?" Shasha turned her head and glanced at them coldly without responding. Seeing this, Zhao Yan stopped trying to start a conversation and quietly spoke with Xu Wen instead. Not far away, Luo Ye stood guard with his gun, his attention split between the passengers and the situation outside the train. In the cockpit, Chen Sixuan waited by the Responder, while Ding Junyi, having just eaten, stood beside her. "Miss Ding," Chen Sixuan looked at the cold and composed woman, asking, "Where did all the survivors from this underground city relocate to?" Ding Junyi¡¯s gaze flickered slightly before she answered matter-of-factly, "The migration plan was to transfer people to another underground city. But which one? We were never informed. And honestly, I don¡¯t even know if they made it there safely." "Aside from you, are there any other survivors left here?" Ding Junyi nodded. "Statistically speaking, perhaps. But the odds of survival are low. Right now, the city''s main energy core and two backup cores are all destroyed. The only one still functioning is Backup Core No. 3 on Level 75. After the underground city was sealed, we connected to this backup core for power. As for other survivors... we haven¡¯t detected any unmutated individuals in the system, nor have we found any via surveillance." Chen Sixuan fell silent, feeling a chill run down her spine. This vast underground city, once a beacon of hope for countless people, had turned into a horrific tomb overnight, burying 370,000 souls in despair. Not to mention, on their way here, they saw countless refugees fleeing across the snowy wastelands... ¡ªBeep. Beep. At that moment, a mechanical alert sounded. At first, Ding Junyi thought it was the Responder, but before she could react, Chen Sixuan suddenly grabbed her wrist, motioning for her to stay quiet. Chen Sixuan pointed at the train¡¯s radar display. Something... was moving in the darkness ahead. Since the Infinite Train had entered from the surface, its front faced the exit while the cockpit pointed toward the lower tunnels. For a moment, Chen Sixuan wondered if it was Lin Xian and KIKI returning via the tracks. But she quickly dismissed the thought¡ªthey had just descended from the Level 89 tunnel. There was no way they could have reached Level 65 so soon. Her sudden movements put Ding Junyi on high alert. Not only her¡ªShasha and Luo Ye in Car 1 also noticed something was wrong and tensed up. Zhao Yan and Xu Wen looked at them nervously, their fear growing. "W-What''s happening? Are they back?" "Shh!" Shasha gestured for them to be silent. Just as she stood up to open the blackout panels, a massive impact suddenly struck the train¡¯s side¡ª BANG! Something had slammed into them from the darkness! ¡°AHHH!!¡± The sudden noise sent Zhao Yan and Xu Wen screaming in terror. Shasha yanked open the blackout panels¡ª The orange interior lights spilled out into the darkness, illuminating a blood-red desiccated corpse standing in the beam. It sprinted forward and slammed into the train¡¯s armored hull¡ª CRASH! A deafening impact echoed through the entire freight terminal, painfully loud. "What the hell is that?!" "It¡¯s a Human Eerie!" Luo Ye¡¯s face darkened. He had just fought one of these creatures not long ago. Although this one looked different, it was clearly not a regular zombie. It had to be one of the mutated horrors Ding Junyi had mentioned. In the cockpit, Chen Sixuan saw the commotion in Car 1 and was about to rush over when¡ª Tap. Tap. A faint noise came from the roof of the train''s engine. Something had climbed up top. ¡°Nghhhaaah~¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s expression darkened. She and Chen Sixuan instinctively stepped back. A deep, grotesque growl echoed through the air. In the dim light, several eerie tentacles slowly came into view. They slithered across the cockpit¡¯s armored windshield, leaving behind brownish-red mucus. A human hand was fused into the tentacles. In the center of the mass, they could vaguely see a ring of fanged teeth and a grotesque mouth. ¡°This one¡¯s a Human Eerie too,¡± Ding Junyi murmured, eyebrows furrowed. She turned to Chen Sixuan. ¡°Do we activate any defense systems? Or fight back?¡± Chen Sixuan stared at the nightmarish creatures outside, taking a deep breath before saying¡ª "No need. They can¡¯t get inside." BANG. BANG. BANG! The train shuddered as more impacts echoed across its hull. Strange creatures were crawling over the sides and roof. ¡°Nghhaaaa!!¡± The sounds drew even more horrors from the depths of the dark freight terminal. Zombies. Human Eeries. They were surrounding the train. In Car 1, screams filled the air. Shasha stomped over to Zhao Yan and Xu Wen, furious. "I told you to shut up! If you scream one more time, I¡¯ll throw you both out!" Zhao Yan flinched, shocked by how ruthless the young girl sounded. When she looked up, she saw Luo Ye approaching with murderous intent. For a moment, she thought they were actually going to throw her out. Panicked, she and Xu Wen clung to each other, covering their mouths, too afraid to make another sound. "Chen-jiejie! Any word from Lin-gege?" Shasha called toward the cockpit. Chen Sixuan shook her head. By now, the train was under relentless attack. Above them, black centipede-like creatures crawled across the windows. ¡°AHHHH!!!¡± A Female Eerie suddenly shrieked, sprinting toward the cockpit doors. Her bloodied claws raked at the reinforced metal, desperately trying to tear her way inside. The horrors swarmed the train, their eerie cries echoing inside the carriages. Ding Junyi watched in shock. She had known this train was heavily armored¡ªbut she hadn¡¯t expected it to withstand such a relentless assault. Even the Human Eeries, which had killed Professor Han in an instant, seemed unable to breach its defenses. This thing was practically as tough as a military tank. ¡ªBeep. Beep. The Responder crackled to life. Chen Sixuan quickly answered. Finally, Lin Xian¡¯s voice came through¡ª "Chen-laoshi, we found the locomotive." "That¡¯s amazing! What¡¯s your status?" Lin Xian hesitated. "Uh... it¡¯s complicated. What¡¯s happening over there?" "We¡¯re surrounded by zombies and Human Eeries. Not sure if there are Eerie Entities among them." Chen Sixuan forced herself to stay calm, glancing at the roof and carriages. "But don¡¯t worry," she added. "We should be fine." Chapter 112: Underground On the Responder, Lin Xian''s expression darkened the moment he heard that Infinite Train was under attack. He quickly relayed his own situation to Chen Sixuan and the others. The moment they heard about the massive underground creature that Lin Xian and KIKI had seen, everyone''s face changed¡ªeven Ding Junyi, who had remained composed the entire time, suddenly tensed up. She and Zhao Yan had long suspected that the unknown subterranean lifeform wasn¡¯t just a Human Eerie or an Eerie Entity¡ªbut they hadn¡¯t expected it to be something even more terrifying. Thinking back, the earthquake, the Dark Infection, the rapid mutation of countless Human Eeries... it all seemed to trace back to a single source. Hearing about such a dangerous situation, while their train was actively under siege, Chen Sixuan felt herself losing control of the situation. She immediately asked, ¡°Lin Xian, what¡¯s the plan?¡± "I''m coming up right now. You all get ready¡ªif we don¡¯t have time to link up, just start Infinite Train and head for the surface! We''ll follow behind and force our way out!" Level 95 - Tier-5 Freight Terminal As he spoke, Lin Xian worked quickly, using Mechanical Ability to inspect every major system on the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive. Although the 152-Type DRX Micro-Nuclear Reactor was still in a cooled state, Lin Xian didn¡¯t actually need to wait¡ªhis Mechanical Ability could jump-start the system immediately. However, powering both this locomotive and Infinite Train all the way to the surface without the underground city¡¯s electromagnetic rail assistance was going to be a serious challenge. Even with Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive¡¯s energy reserves, relying only on his Ability might not be enough. "KIKI, start withdrawing the control rods¡ªI¡¯m almost ready here." Activating the reactor required gradually extracting the control rods to reach the desired operational state. Cockpit - Gemini 11R KIKI quickly brought the systems online. [Core Activation: Control Rods Extracting, Accelerating Process] [Current Core Temperature: 76¡ãC] [Startup Progress: 3%] Clunk! As the first control rod was extracted, the small nuclear reactor emitted a low hum. A faint blue glow flickered for a moment¡ªCherenkov radiation. An invisible energy pulse rippled outward. KIKI stared at the progress screen, then suddenly thought of something. "Lin Xian... shouldn¡¯t the radiation be contained within the reactor?" She frowned. "But that disgusting flesh is highly radioactive. And that thing outside¡ªit¡¯s emitting radiation too. Could it be that the creature..." Lin Xian glanced at her. KIKI suddenly blurted out, "Did it EAT the core?!" Lin Xian froze mid-motion. For a brief moment, everything went dead silent. Then¡ª A faint rumbling vibration echoed from the depths. Lin Xian and KIKI whipped around¡ª Through the cockpit window, they saw something that made their scalps go numb. Beyond the gap in the station wall, at the bottom of the underground abyss, the colossal shadow suddenly... Moved. It was subtle¡ªa slow, turning motion. Like something in the darkness had just turned its head to look directly at them. "Sh*t!" Lin Xian¡¯s face changed instantly. KIKI was probably right. If the creature was truly here because of the Underground City No. 9¡¯s Core Reactor, then this meant... It had absorbed the energy of Core No. 1. No time to think! "We¡¯re leaving. NOW." Lin Xian pushed his Ability to the limit¡ªMechanical Heart surged with energy. [Mechanical Heart - Overclocking System] [Engine Ignition - Maximum Output] The entire Gemini 11R shuddered violently as its electric engines roared to life! BZZZZZZT! The headlights blazed through the darkness, revealing the blood-covered platform and tunnel ahead. WHOOOOM! Dust and debris slid off the train¡¯s hull as it began rolling forward! BOOOOOM!!! Suddenly¡ª The entire tunnel shook violently, sending clouds of dust into the air. KIKI stumbled, struggling to stay upright. Just as the electric locomotive pulled away from the Level 5 Freight Terminal¡ª A deafening explosion erupted behind them. A shockwave of dust and force rushed into the tunnel, slamming against the train. The Gemini 11R violently rocked. "What the hell was that?!" "It¡¯s that THING!" On the rear-view monitors, a massive grey-white silhouette loomed in the smoke¡ª It was so huge that it completely filled the screen. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils shrank. He forced the engines to maximum speed¡ª "Tell Chen-laoshi to GET MOVING!" He yelled to KIKI. At this rate, there was no time to safely link up with Infinite Train at Level 4 Terminal¡ªthey had to move separately. If Huanxing 7F didn¡¯t have enough power to make it up, Lin Xian would push it from behind¡ªas long as both trains were moving, they wouldn¡¯t crash into each other. Level 65 - Infinite Train Beep! Beep! The Responder crackled¡ª KIKI¡¯s urgent voice came through, "Chen-jiejie, START THE TRAIN! NOW!" Chen Sixuan¡¯s face went pale¡ªshe immediately ran to the controls. She disabled the safety locks, shoved the throttle forward, and prepped the route. The Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive roared to life! [Infinite Train - System Online] [Engines Engaged - Reverse Mode] The headlights snapped on as Infinite Train began rolling backward toward the tunnel! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Outside, zombies and Human Eeries relentlessly attacked the train¡¯s armor. But Chen Sixuan ignored them. Inside the cockpit, Ding Junyi suddenly pulled out her laptop. She hacked into the underground city¡¯s sub-systems and reported, "I¡¯m opening the station gates in advance. Also, I¡¯m rerouting the switch tracks from GF2 to GF4¡ªif you plan to haul those Kor-3 Biological Science Research Carriages, this will save time." "Got it! Everyone, brace yourselves¡ªI¡¯m going to ram into you!" Lin Xian¡¯s voice boomed through the Responder. Chen Sixuan shouted to Luo Ye and Shasha, "Too many zombies on the rear platform! Go clear them out!" Luo Ye immediately sprinted toward Car 5, with Shasha following, gun in hand. Car 5 - Rear Gunner Position RATATATATATA! Luo Ye opened the rear shooting port and unleashed a storm of bullets into the horde. Zombies exploded as their heads were blown apart. "AHHHH!!!" A Human Eerie with writhing tentacles lunged at him¡ª BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! It was ripped to shreds by gunfire. Meanwhile, the flatbed trailer ran over several zombies as Infinite Train accelerated into the tunnel. Inside Car 1, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen were clutching each other, praying to survive the night. "BROTHER!" Shasha tossed Luo Ye a fresh rifle magazine as she took over with an automatic rifle. "We¡¯re picking up speed!" Chapter 113: Ascending WHOOOOOOO¡ª!!! The Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive roared through the underground tunnel, its engine output far surpassing that of the old Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive from the Infinite Train. It rapidly gained speed, its deep hum reverberating through the vast tunnel as it charged forward. Lin Xian was fully focused, not daring to let his guard down for even a second. Not far ahead was the makeshift track he and KIKI had hastily repaired. If the earthquake had destroyed it, he would have no choice but to slam the emergency brakes. KIKI gripped the cockpit railing, her gaze fixed on the tunnel ahead, her Ability at the ready. Suddenly¡ª The collapsed outer wall came into view. "Up ahead!" KIKI shouted. She looked ready to activate her Ability at any moment. WHOOSH!!! At the edge of the tunnel breach, a powerful air current was violently rushing inward. Something massive was moving outside¡ªclosing in! Lin Xian''s eyes narrowed. The temporary track he and KIKI had constructed was still intact¡ªthe earthquake hadn¡¯t destroyed it! Without hesitation, Lin Xian pushed Mechanical Heart to full throttle. "We¡¯re blasting through!" KIKI¡¯s eyes glowed faintly, her Ability enveloping the entire train to help stabilize it. WHOOSH! Sparks flew as the locomotive rushed over the temporary track¡ª The iron plates buckled, the support beams twisted, but they held just long enough! And at that exact moment¡ª As the train sped past the breach, Lin Xian and KIKI both caught a glimpse of what lay beyond. A row of massive eyes stared back at them. Deep in the darkness¡ªan unspeakable horror watched. Like a leviathan lurking in an abyss, its blood-red eyes as large as colossal gears. The sheer sight of it made the air freeze¡ª Lin Xian and KIKI felt an overwhelming suffocating pressure crash down on them. "AHHHH!!!" KIKI screamed, her face going pale. "What the f* IS THAT?!" "HELL IF I KNOW!!!" Lin Xian gritted his teeth, his entire body drenched in cold sweat. A near-death terror surged through his veins. Mechanical Heart pushed to overclocked limits¡ªLin Xian willed the nuclear locomotive to FLY. Above Underground City No. 9 Under the eerie glow of the Cursed Moon, the titanic shadow in the abyss began to rise. Its brown-red, scale-covered body slowly emerged. It had massive insectoid legs, as large as skyscrapers, growing from its fish-like torso. Atop its grotesque form, countless flesh tendrils coalesced into a monstrous human face¡ª A behemoth from the depths, a nightmare given form. "AWWWWOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" A deafening, abyssal roar tore through the underground city. The ground quaked¡ªsnow piled atop the ruins collapsed into avalanches. The massive creature lifted one of its enormous limbs and slammed it against the underground city walls! Tunnel - Infinite Train BOOOOOM!!! The impact shook the entire city¡ªsending a massive shockwave racing through the ascending tunnel! Infinite Train trembled violently. The wheels screeched, sparks flying, debris cascading from the ceiling. Inside the train¡ª "AHHHH!!!" Zhao Yan and Xu Wen screamed. Shasha was thrown to the ground, while Chen Sixuan clung tightly to the control panel. As the train reversed rapidly, a cloud of thick dust engulfed them. But still¡ªno sign of Lin Xian¡¯s train. "Lin Xian! Lin Xian!!" She slammed the Responder. ¡ªStatic. For a split second, communication was lost. Then¡ª "Chen-laoshi, how much backup power do we have left?!" Lin Xian¡¯s voice cut through. Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes flickered. She glanced at the system monitor. "15%! But climbing the incline is draining power fast¡ªwe¡¯re running at max capacity!" "Hold on¡ªI''m coming up!" Behind Infinite Train - Gemini 11R A black-purple locomotive erupted from the dust cloud, barreling forward at insane speed! Lin Xian¡¯s visibility was near zero¡ªthe earthquake had filled the tunnel with smoke and debris. From the Responder, Ding Junyi¡¯s calm voice chimed in, "Did the earthquake awaken the creature?" Despite the chaos, she sounded completely emotionless¡ªas if this was nothing to her. "No idea!" Lin Xian growled. "But that thing FOUND us! It might be trying to CLIMB OUT!" Ding Junyi silently nodded, her fingers typing rapidly. She had hacked into the underground city''s systems and was already rerouting track switches¡ª "Adjusting station routes to GF4¡ªif you plan to haul those Kor-3 Biological Science Research Carriages, this will save time." "Good! Everyone, HOLD ON! I might RAM INTO YOU!" Meanwhile - Gemini 11R The dust hadn¡¯t settled, yet a fiery explosion suddenly engulfed the train¡¯s side! "IT¡¯S HERE!!" KIKI¡¯s eyes glowed, her Ability instantly stabilizing the train. Ahead in the tunnel¡ª A red monstrous silhouette appeared¡ª It was the Red Skeletal Horror from Level 89¡ªit had somehow descended into this tunnel and was now clinging to the walls, breathing fire at the locomotive! "RAM IT!" KIKI shouted. "DON¡¯T LET IT BREATHE AGAIN!" The Gemini 11R wasn¡¯t armored yet¡ªits titanium-alloy body was durable, but Lin Xian feared that if critical components melted under the flames, the train would be crippled. If they broke down now, they were dead. "YOU!!! GOOOODDD!!!!" The Red Skeletal Horror let out a distorted human-like scream. Its bone spikes extended, its charred, bloody arms lunging at the train¡ª It spat fire again. "SCREW YOU!" KIKI snarled, her eyes flashing silver¡ª Her telekinetic force smashed the creature against the tunnel wall, pinning it in place! The flames spewed from its mouth backfired, scorching its own face! BOOOOOOM!!! The entire tunnel glowed red-hot¡ªeven the walls melted under the intense heat! "AWOOOOOOOO!!!!" The Deep Abyss Behemoth let out another earth-shaking roar¡ª Lin Xian felt danger creeping up fast. "KIKI, THROW IT BACK!" KIKI instantly understood¡ª With a flick of her wrist, she hurled the Red Skeletal Horror backward. BOOM!!! The tunnel behind them collapsed, and the massive creature from the abyss ripped the horror apart. "YA YA YA!!" KIKI let out a victorious cheer, then suddenly waved her hands, pulling something back. Lin Xian turned¡ª She had ripped off the monster¡¯s HEAD! "DON¡¯T YOU DARE BREATHE FIRE AT ME!" "WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING?!" "What? Waste not, want not!" She crushed the skull, extracting a medium-grade Eerie Blood Crystal. She ran to the cockpit window, reached out, and grabbed it. Lin Xian stared, dumbfounded. "You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you?!" KIKI shook her head. "Nope! It just happened to be in my hand... figured why not?" Lin Xian: "......" Chapter 114: The Protocol Whoosh whoosh whoosh! The Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive surged forward, accelerating as the incline ahead became less steep. Lin Xian knew this meant they had reached the Level 65 Freight Rail Terminal¡ªthey were about to catch up to the Infinite Train. As the train rushed into the station, the lights illuminated a dense crowd of figures¡ªall of them zombies and eerie humanoid entities. Lin Xian didn¡¯t slow down for even a second. CRUNCH! CRUSH! The 290-megawatt Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive roared like a steel beast, compressing the air pressure within the narrow tunnel and platform corridors. It sped forward like a black-purple lightning bolt, rolling over the mass of undead! The zombies and eerie entities on the platform barely registered the blinding light rushing toward them before they were instantly obliterated¡ªshredded beneath the train¡¯s front and iron wheels! Splatter! Like a car speeding into a swarm of insects, blood splashed across the windshield. Flesh and intestines clung to the glass like grotesque noodles. KIKI turned away, unable to look. Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded. He immediately switched on the wipers. ¡°What are you standing there for? Get those damn intestines off the glass! You saving them for a midnight snack?!¡± Hearing that, KIKI let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Alright, alright!¡± She quickly waved her hand, using her ability to clear the obstruction. Boom! Boom! Boom! Shockwaves echoed from deep underground. Up ahead, a beam of light appeared in their field of vision. ¡°It¡¯s the Infinite Train!¡± As they accelerated, they could see it¡ªa massive train rapidly ascending through the tunnel. Its black armor and Icebreaker Shield exuded a destructive aura. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± From the responder, Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice came through. The two speeding trains drew closer within the tunnel. Through the armored grates of the Infinite Train, Lin Xian could see Chen Sixuan waving at him from inside. ¡°On my way!¡± ¡°Hey, girl, give me a hand!¡± Lin Xian stood up, slowing the train while swiftly constructing two carriage-linking pillars outside the window. Since the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive at the front of the Infinite Train had an Icebreaker Shield, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t just ram it from behind to push it forward. KIKI used her ability as well, stabilizing the speeds of both trains. In the midst of their high-speed maneuver, the linking pillars successfully latched on. With the connection secured, Lin Xian activated Mechanical Heart, generating an immense thrust to push the power-drained Infinite Train upward through the tunnel. BOOOOOM! Another earthquake hit. The tunnel behind them began to collapse, with soil and debris raining down. Cracks tore through the concrete ceiling above. ¡°Watch out! It¡¯s coming again!¡± ROOOOAAAAARRR!!! A deafening roar echoed through the underground city, reverberating like a drumbeat inside a sealed chamber. The sheer force of the sound sent tremors through the souls of everyone present¡ªanyone with even a shred of fear would have collapsed in terror. BOOM! Tunnels and floors crumbled. A massive section of the wall collapsed, exposing the outside world. Moonlight poured into the tunnel. At that moment, everyone saw it¡ªa massive row of gigantic eyes peering down at them from above, blotting out the sky. ¡°AAAAHHHHH!!!¡± Onboard the Infinite Train, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen went pale with horror, their screams filling the carriages. Even Shasha and Chen Sixuan were left completely stunned, their minds going blank. The collapsing underground city walls and floor slabs crashed down, bringing with them shattered fragments of commercial zones and residential areas. Alongside the debris, countless black silhouettes rained down into the abyss. A closer look revealed them to be zombified former residents of the underground city¡ªfalling like a torrential downpour. Lin Xian felt his heart turn cold. There¡¯s no escape... In the face of this Deep Abyss Behemoth, even the underground city itself was as powerless as an ant nest. Onboard the Infinite Train, Ding Junyi remained calm, her face unmoved. Though the massive earthquake had knocked her down, she quickly climbed back up and resumed operating the system. ¡°Mr. Lin.¡± Her voice came through the responder. ¡°I¡¯ve sent a system backup protocol to Miss KIKI¡¯s mobile terminal. It contains a self-destruct sequence for the No. 9 Underground City¡¯s four energy cores. Theoretically, we can use it to activate the destruction of the Level 70 Backup Core. Since no higher-level authority is responding, we only need P4-level clearance for internal confirmation to trigger it. If it works, we might be able to buy some time to escape.¡± Hearing this, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sharpened. He immediately turned to KIKI. KIKI quickly pulled up her mobile terminal and found the protocol link flashing on her screen. ¡°It¡¯s real. It¡¯s an embedded system protocol! I¡¯ll hack in and override the P4-level clearance.¡± As she worked, her expression turned from serious to shock. ¡°Oh my god... This was deliberately pre-programmed for a targeted destruction event. It¡¯s not just the core¡ªit also locks down the floors above.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced. He sensed an opportunity. ¡°Can you activate it?!¡± Before he could even finish, KIKI was already at work. ¡°No problem! The main underground city system is down, meaning the subsystems hold the highest authority. The protocol originally required P5-level confirmation and an acknowledgment from the satellite and Federal HQ, but since those aren¡¯t active, it means that when this system was set up, they already expected the underground city¡¯s leader to have full control over its destruction.¡± ¡°Alright, the Backup Core No. 3 is online. Do we activate it?¡± ¡°How much time do we have?¡± Lin Xian asked immediately. ¡°Thirty seconds,¡± Ding Junyi responded over the responder. ¡°At our current speed, we¡¯ll have twenty seconds before the detonation¡ªenough time to escape.¡± The underground city¡¯s main structure had already collapsed. Although the self-destruct sequence was originally intended to only destroy specific floors, given the current situation, the entire city likely wouldn¡¯t withstand the blast. If they triggered the explosion, the shockwave would cause a chain reaction, leading to a complete tunnel collapse. But the core meltdown wasn¡¯t a full-fledged nuclear detonation¡ªit was more about triggering a structural collapse. For Lin Xian, this was their only shot at escape! BOOM! Another earthquake struck, signaling that the Deep Abyss Behemoth was closing in, moving along the underground city¡¯s walls toward the trains. ¡°No time left¡ªactivate it!¡± Lin Xian made the call. There was no waiting¡ªif they hesitated, the Deep Abyss Behemoth would reach them first. Even if they made it to the surface, who was to say the monster wouldn¡¯t follow them out? They had to take the gamble. KIKI understood instantly. Without hesitation, she initiated the self-destruct protocol. [Backup Core No. 3 Self-Destruct Protocol Activated. Countdown: 30 seconds.] Beep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep! Throughout the underground city, lights began flickering and shutting down¡ªfrom Level 70 upward to the Research Sectors, across corridors, offices, halls, commercial districts, industrial zones, and residential blocks. Elevator music and advertisements went silent¡ªthen abruptly restarted. [30] [29] [28]... Chapter 115: Escape "Hold on tight!" Lin Xian shouted into the responder, his eyes bloodshot as he pushed his Mechanical Heart to its limit. The Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive surged forward, its immense thrust combined with the Infinite Train''s remaining engine power, accelerating through the ascending tunnel. The tunnel¡¯s cold wind howled, and the train plunged into yet another sealed passage. But the Deep Abyss Behemoth wasn¡¯t about to let its prey escape. A thunderous tremor shook the tunnel walls¡ªa sign that something massive was pursuing them. Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded. No one knew if, in the next moment, the ceiling would collapse and bury them all deep beneath Underground City No. 9, turning them into nothing more than blood offerings for the abyssal horror. KIKI gritted her teeth and clung to Lin Xian¡¯s arm, her entire body tense. ROOOOAAAAARRRR!!! A deafening, earth-shaking roar erupted, sending tremors through the underground. Then, the groundquake began¡ªrocks and debris exploded into the air. Lin Xian knew what that meant. The Deep Abyss Behemoth had arrived. [10] [9] ... At Level 62, a newly constructed private academy stood eerily silent. Desks were overturned, scattered school supplies littered the floor. In the hallways, zombies mindlessly roamed, aimlessly crashing into walls. [5] [4] At Level 56, the residential district was a scene of eerie stillness. A small wind chime, once hung at a doorway for good luck, now swayed wildly in the tremors. In the commercial district, the streets were dead silent. Neon lights and storefront signs flickered in the darkness. [3] [2] [1] BOOM! At Level 70¡¯s core, a brilliant blue light burst forth. A blinding white-hot explosion ignited, detonating the pre-installed explosives across ten floors. Heat and shockwaves ripped through the underground levels, vaporizing every zombie and eerie entity in an instant. But with the underground city¡¯s structure already compromised, the collapse began at Level 65. The once-sealed isolation walls crumbled, unleashing a chain reaction like toppling dominoes. The blinding white explosion expanded, racing toward the abyss below. BOOM! The ground shuddered violently¡ªthe earth itself was collapsing! A massive fireball and shockwave engulfed the Deep Abyss Behemoth, sending it plummeting into the pit. From the responder, Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice came through. Inside the Infinite Train¡¯s cockpit, she stared out the viewport, watching the destruction unfold. Snow and dust rained down. Lin Xian could finally see the surface beyond the tunnel¡ªthey had broken through to the outside world. Behind them, the underground city was disintegrating into the abyss. RUMBLE... As the tremors gradually faded, the Infinite Train surged onto the GF4 Terminal platform¡ªthen suddenly stopped. "The collapse might trigger a chain reaction¡ªdo you still have time to grab those two Kor research carriages?" Ding Junyi sounded puzzled, seeing that Lin Xian had brought the train to a halt instead of escaping immediately. "Shouldn''t we be running for our lives right now?" "Forget your damn theories," Lin Xian shot back. He quickly disengaged the train¡¯s coupling mechanism and spoke into the responder. "Chen Sixuan! Prepare to turn the train around!" Outside, the blizzard had already blanketed the snowfields with over a meter of thick snow. The outer passage was completely blocked¡ªclogged with abandoned vehicles and swarms of zombies. If they didn¡¯t rotate the train, the Infinite Train, lacking an Icebreaker Shield, would derail the moment it hit an obstacle. Lin Xian made a split-second decision¡ªturn the train first! Chen Sixuan immediately understood his intention. The snowfield had only a single-track route¡ªif they tried to barrel forward with the two flatbed trailers, a chain derailment was inevitable. "I got it!" she responded, wasting no time. Ding Junyi frowned but soon realized Lin Xian wasn¡¯t stopping to grab the research carriages¡ªhe had another plan in mind. RUMBLE! The ground continued shaking, but Lin Xian acted quickly. With the help of Chen Sixuan and KIKI, they utilized the dual-track system at the station to rotate the train¡¯s orientation. The Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive, equipped with its Icebreaker Shield, remained at the front, while the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive was repositioned at the rear. At the same time, Lin Xian located the two Kor research carriages. Rather than wasting time with delicate maneuvering, he brutally forced the coupling hooks into place, overrode the circuit locks, and disabled the wheel locks. With everything secured, he immediately restarted the train¡ªno hesitation. Lin Xian and KIKI jumped back onto the Infinite Train, reigniting its engines. Without a second wasted, they gunned it toward the station exit. "No time to open the gates¡ªjust crash through!" BAAAAM! Outside the station¡¯s iron fence gates, thousands of zombies screeched and moaned, drawn toward the thunderous noise. The earthquake tore open fissures, causing sections of the perimeter wall to collapse. Like a swarm of locusts, countless zombies surged forward, filling the night! WHOOOOSH! The gas turbines roared, and the 290-megawatt nuclear locomotive dragged the Infinite Train forward. Like a sword slicing through darkness, the train plowed straight through the undead horde, unstoppable. Behind them, the billion-dollar underground city collapsed, dragging hundreds of meters of hollowed-out earth into the abyss. A massive cloud of smoke and dust rose into the night sky, stretching beyond the horizon of the snowfield. Chapter 116: Reorganization Boom! Boom! Boom! The Infinite Train¡¯s orange-red headlights cut through the stormy night, illuminating the blizzard. The train''s icebreaker shield plowed through the thick snow like a hot knife through butter. Neither zombies nor abandoned cars could withstand the raw power of the locomotive! Everyone held their breath, sprinting forward. Inside Car 2, KIKI monitored the radar system closely while deploying two drones to scout the night. ¡°That big creature must¡¯ve been buried in the underground city. It¡¯s not chasing us.¡± After nearly an hour of racing across the snowfield, the number of zombies and obstacles steadily decreased. The tense atmosphere inside the train finally started to ease, broken by KIKI¡¯s voice. ¡°Really? We... we¡¯re safe?¡± Zhao Yan, who had been paralyzed with fear, suddenly seemed to come back to life, trembling as she spoke. ¡°Looks like it.¡± Ignoring them, Chen Sixuan walked toward the cockpit, where Lin Xian was drenched in sweat. Worried, she said, ¡°We seem to be out of danger, but should we take a break? The snow is too heavy, and visibility is bad. There¡¯s a valley ahead. If the earlier earthquake triggered an avalanche, we¡¯d be in serious trouble if we charged through.¡± Lin Xian nodded and began gradually slowing the Infinite Train. ¡°You¡¯re right, but we can¡¯t let our guard down. While we rest, I need to reorganize the carriages behind us. If we don¡¯t, they¡¯ll slow us down.¡± The relentless escape had drained everyone. They had covered at least a hundred kilometers across the snowfield. Lin Xian did want to stop and rest, but the train¡¯s current setup was far from ideal. Behind Car 5 were two flatbed carriages, followed by the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive, and then two Kor-3 Biological Science Research Carriages, hastily linked with temporary couplings and lacking any armor protection. It was an improvised setup, necessary for their desperate escape, but it needed fixing. After the high-speed chase, the train¡¯s iron wheels were burning hot, melting the snow beneath them and sending up plumes of steam. ¡°How¡¯s it looking?¡± Lin Xian entered Car 1, his expression still tense. KIKI was operating the drones, keeping watch around the train. Hoo... After a night of tension, KIKI finally let out a breath, licking her lips before replying, ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee much, but that big guy definitely didn¡¯t follow us. If it had, we¡¯d have picked up on it by now.¡± ¡°That reminds me.¡± Lin Xian pulled out the Soul Wave Detector and tossed it to KIKI. ¡°Didn¡¯t you pick up a Blood Crystal? Try scanning it.¡± ¡°On it.¡± Realizing what he meant, KIKI pulled out the large, eerie-looking Blood Crystal and slotted it into the device. The detector immediately activated, emitting a strange energy fluctuation. 0! Lin Xian was taken aback. That number suggested there wasn¡¯t a single zombie nearby... ¡°Could it be broken?¡± KIKI muttered in disbelief. ¡°Doubt it.¡± If there was one thing Lin Xian knew well, it was machines. He glanced around at the snowfield. The blizzard was intensifying, rapidly covering everything. Ordinary zombies wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up in such conditions¡ªthey¡¯d likely be buried by morning. Ding Junyi, who had been silent until now, eyed the device in KIKI¡¯s hands and asked, ¡°A Level-2 Eerie Blood Crystal? Did you guys take down a B-Class Nocturnal Entity?¡± Lin Xian looked at the Soul Wave Detector again. Finally, the shadow of that Deep Abyss Behemoth faded from his mind. He turned to Ding Junyi and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is ¡®shock¡¯ or ¡®fear¡¯ just not in your emotional system?¡± Ding Junyi looked at him curiously. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°If I screamed and panicked like Dr. Zhao and Dr. Xu, would I get more concern and protection from the group?¡± Silence. Chen Sixuan and KIKI exchanged strange looks. Zhao Yan and Xu Wen, on the other hand, seemed somewhat displeased and speechless. Even though they had worked with Ding Junyi for a long time, they still weren¡¯t fond of her way of speaking. Lin Xian was momentarily stunned by her words, then sighed. ¡°Alright, back on topic.¡± He picked up the eerie Blood Crystal. ¡°By the way, how do you classify these things? Your naming system is different from the Phoenix Federation¡¯s.¡± ¡°It¡¯s actually the same!¡± Xu Wen, who had finally regained some color in his face, jumped in. ¡°The Apocalypse Union and the original Federation were both working on the same Grand Envoy Project. After the Federation collapsed, the research approaches diverged slightly, but the terminology remained mostly consistent. Whether it¡¯s ¡®Nocturnal Entities¡¯ or ¡®Eerie Entities,¡¯ they all refer to the same kind of creatures. Our research into Soul Wave Values is also aligned. The only difference is that the Underground City Project no longer receives broad scientific support.¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Your biological research department knows about the Grand Envoy Project?¡± ¡°Not entirely.¡± Zhao Yan¡¯s expression turned tense. ¡°Right now, anything related to dark energy is under research. Whether it¡¯s zombies, corruption, human eerie entities, blood crystals, scourge flora, or abilities, they all seem connected to this dark energy. But after the Federation collapsed and the Angel Project was restructured, our Underground City fell under the Dawn Project. We don¡¯t have the manpower or firepower to gather large quantities of Blood Crystals or scourge flora for research.¡± Technically, the Dawn Project no longer belonged to the official Apocalypse Union, but its leaders still saw themselves as the rightful government of the world. That¡¯s why they had deliberately differentiated their terminology in research related to the Polar Night. ¡°For example, both ¡®Nocturnal Entity¡¯ and ¡®Eerie Entity¡¯ mean the same thing. Currently, anything with a Soul Wave Value fluctuation within -100 is classified as C-Class or standard level. The range from -100 to -1000 is defined as B-Class Eerie Entities. These creatures are where we find Level-2 Eerie Blood Crystals. The size of these crystals varies slightly, but we aren¡¯t certain if they directly correlate to threat levels or if they simply indicate how many humans the creature has consumed.¡± ¡°Consumed humans?¡± KIKI frowned. ¡°I thought the Soul Wave Value was just a measure of an eerie entity¡¯s threat level. I even thought ability users were classified using similar values¡ªthings like Evolution Level or King Kong Level...¡± Zhao Yan¡¯s expression changed. She stared at KIKI in surprise. ¡°How do you know about that?!¡± ¡°That was a rough classification system proposed in the early days of the Grand Envoy Project.¡± This time, Ding Junyi spoke up. ¡°Ever since the Dark Night Infection theory was introduced, both the Phoenix Federation¡¯s new Grand Envoy Project - Nightwalkers organization and our Dawn Project have agreed on one core belief: the Apocalypse Polar Night is a global evolution event. Most people fail to evolve and instead succumb to corruption, turning into zombies, human eerie entities, or experiencing biological mutations. Meanwhile, the Abyss spawns eerie entities. With each cycle of the Polar Night, more people die or succumb to corruption. But at the same time, every survivor undergoes continuous evolution¡ªnot just in terms of abilities, but in overall physiology. Their cellular activity increases, their muscle potential grows, and their resistance to viruses and bacteria strengthens... In simple terms, as long as someone stays alive, they¡¯re evolving. This evolution might be subtle in the short term, but over time, by the time humanity enters the Second Polar Night, survivors will have already surpassed their previous physical limits.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why the original Federation eventually split into three factions after the First Polar Night.¡± Chapter 117: Turkeys "Three factions?" Chen Sixuan was curious. "I thought it was just the original Federation and the current Apocalypse Union." "There¡¯s more to it. The original Federation, which is now the Dawn Project, represents the Survival Faction¡ªtheir goal is to preserve the last remnants of human civilization at any cost. Meanwhile, the Apocalypse Union represents the Resistance Faction, advocating for the use of humanity''s full strength to research and harness dark energy, using it to evolve and eventually eradicate the Abyss." "But there¡¯s also a third faction. They believe the evolution brought by dark energy is a blessing, a form of divine selection. They claim survivors and ability users are the chosen ones¡ªthe seeds of a new civilization on Blue Planet. This belief led to the creation of a fanatical organization called ¡®Holy Revelation.¡¯ They actively recruit ability users, research forbidden eerie artifacts, and even absorbed some former members of the Angel Project..." Researching eerie artifacts? Lin Xian immediately thought of the Dark Radio. So, there really were people out there trying to study and use these strange forces... But with the factions split into three, each one had completely different ideas on how to handle it. The implications were fascinating. KIKI frowned. "Survival Faction? If the Dawn Project represents the Survival Faction, then why the hell didn¡¯t they let civilians into these underground cities? Most people don¡¯t even know this project exists! They¡¯re just struggling to stay alive. What kind of ¡®survival¡¯ is that?" Ding Junyi remained unfazed. "From a sociological perspective, fairness doesn¡¯t exist. Everything is about resource allocation and utilization. This isn¡¯t a question of whether the train should run over one person or ten¡ªit¡¯s a question of a train that can only carry 100 people while 10,000 need a ride. The goal of the Dawn Project was to build a permanent underground city to preserve civilization. But the Apocalypse Polar Night came too suddenly. These underground cities were constructed in an extremely short time. There was no way to accommodate the entire population, so the leadership had no choice but to conduct a selective evacuation in secrecy to avoid chaos." Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. "There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been wondering about. If the Dawn Project¡¯s goal was to build a permanent underground city, a sanctuary from the Polar Night, and these citizens were handpicked, then why the hell does the energy core have a self-destruct protocol? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s just to stop underground monsters!" "Exactly!" KIKI suddenly realized something. She snapped her head toward Zhao Yan and Xu Wen, her gaze sharp. "You people have this kind of protocol¡ªwere you planning to lure us underground and blow us up?!" "T-This... We don¡¯t know anything about that!" Zhao Yan stammered in terror, turning to Ding Junyi for answers. "If Director Ding hadn¡¯t mentioned it, we wouldn¡¯t have even known such a protocol existed!" Xu Wen frantically nodded. "We¡¯re just scientists! How would we know about something like that?" Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Ding Junyi. She took a deep breath and spoke calmly. "It¡¯s not that complicated. After the Great Migration, my P3-level clearance became the highest active authority in the system. This self-destruct protocol was originally part of the war contingency protocols set in the underground city¡¯s management system. When I accessed the third backup core, I discovered this protocol. It¡¯s called Project Purification." "Project Purification?" KIKI folded her arms, frowning. "Purification of what, exactly?" "I mentioned earlier that the underground city categorized civilians into First-Class, Second-Class, and Third-Class tiers. Levels 70-80 housed Third-Class civilians¡ªthe largest and most densely populated section.Levels 40-60 housed Second-Class civilians.Levels 20-40 were reserved for First-Class civilians. The underground city had three backup cores, but only two had self-destruct protocols¡ªone at Level 70 and one at Level 40. The purpose of this plan was to control risks like famine and disease outbreaks." Chen Sixuan looked utterly confused. "Famine? What does that have to do with self-destructing the core?" "How does it not?" Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. "She means that when the underground city needed cheap labor, they¡¯d exploit Second- and Third-Class civilians. And when food shortages hit, they¡¯d just seal off the lower levels and trigger the self-destruct, burying tens of thousands of people alive. Am I right?" Silence. The air turned ice-cold. Chen Sixuan and the others sharply inhaled. Even Luo Shasha''s expression became grim. "That¡¯s... vile!" KIKI clenched her fists, her silver teeth grinding. "Those bastards! They should¡¯ve been the first ones fed to the zombies!" But Ding Junyi remained expressionless. "If you look at it from a moral standpoint, I completely agree with your anger. If I were in your position, I¡¯d feel the same way." She met their furious gazes without flinching. "But as I said before¡ªcivilization is not built on fairness. From a sociological perspective, throughout history, the people who control societal resources are those who are either stronger, smarter, or luckier. Of course, some are just privileged idiots who were born into the right circumstances. But statistically speaking, those who rise to the top are the result of societal selection. So, when a train only has 100 seats and 30 people need to be sacrificed, the ones chosen to die will always follow this structure." She tilted her head slightly. "Think about it this way¡ªif you were a farmer facing a food shortage due to a plague, and you had to cull half your turkeys, would you kill the strongest, healthiest, and smartest ones? Or would you get rid of the sickly, weak, and ordinary ones? Or would you let the turkeys vote and choose who gets slaughtered?" "...Turkeys?" Luo Shasha, despite her mature demeanor, was still young. Hearing Ding Junyi¡¯s words, her eyes reddened with anger. "But... killing so many people... isn¡¯t that just too cruel?" "Sigh..." Ding Junyi exhaled, breaking the silence. "Yes. From my personal perspective, this self-destruct protocol is indeed too cruel. When it comes to killing our own kind, humanity always seems to display endless creativity. It¡¯s no different from how science is weaponized by politics." She sounded almost self-mocking. Inside the train car, silence fell again. Expressions ranged from anger to fear to confusion. "...You sound like you make a lot of sense," Lin Xian finally said, his voice low. "But you forgot something important." Ding Junyi looked at him. "What?" Lin Xian stood up, pointing to the darkness outside. "Turkeys and farmers aren¡¯t the same species. So those Dawn Project bastards aren¡¯t farmers either. Because to the Polar Night and the Abyss creatures, all humans are turkeys." His voice was cold. "But the difference is¡ªthese turkeys..." "Have guns." Chapter 118: Wait... The blizzard made visibility extremely poor. The train''s blackout panels were fully opened, casting light onto the snow-covered plains. After the life-or-death escape, everyone was utterly exhausted. Lin Xian, KIKI, and Chen Sixuan discussed the next steps and decided to temporarily house Ding Junyi, Zhao Yan, and Xu Wen in Car 5, which was originally Car 3¡ªthe storage carriage. Once they confirmed they were out of immediate danger, Lin Xian set about reorganizing the train with the others. His first priority was devouring the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive. Now that he had the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive, the train''s power supply would be completely secured. For safety reasons, he decided to place the nuclear locomotive at the very end to push the train forward. With the two engine carriages at the front and back, their maneuverability would improve. The two Kor-3 Biological Science Research Carriages were moved behind Car 2, becoming the new Car 3 and Car 4. As for the two flatbed trailers, he planned to devour them as well and use their materials to reinforce the train¡¯s armor. Lin Xian set up a temporary rail track on an empty patch of land beside the train to facilitate carriage swapping. The Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive was retired and placed behind the nuclear locomotive. The two newly added Kor-3 research carriages were successfully connected behind Car 2. However, due to differing coupling and electrical standards, it took Lin Xian quite some time to get everything properly linked. The moment he stepped into the research carriages and switched on the lights, everyone was stunned by the pristine laboratory setup¡ªfilled with high-tech research equipment. Lin Xian''s attention, however, was drawn to the plant cultivation chambers. He planned to repurpose the space¡ªnot for research, but for growing crops. It might seem like a waste of advanced equipment, but in the apocalypse, survival took precedence. Besides, precision instruments were too fragile for a high-speed escape mission. It was far more practical to grow fresh fruits and vegetables to ease the food crisis. By the time everything was set up, it was deep into the night. The storm had intensified. Lin Xian told KIKI and Chen Sixuan, who were half-asleep, to go rest, while Luo Shasha stood guard in Car 7. Meanwhile, Lin Xian prepared to devour the two flatbed trailers and the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive. He estimated that this upgrade would push him to Level 3, triggering his first awakening. Afterward, once he had recovered some energy, he would build a protective armor system for the nuclear locomotive. The entire group¡ªincluding Zhao Yan and Xu Wen¡ªfell into deep sleep from exhaustion. Luo Shasha kept watch in Car 7, while Lin Xian remained inside Car 3 and Car 4, scanning the precision instruments one by one. This had become a habit¡ªeven if he didn''t immediately need the machines, adding them to his Blueprint Repository meant they might come in handy someday. [Scan Complete: Blueprint Acquired ¨C Desktop Cryogenic Centrifuge] [Scan Complete: Blueprint Acquired ¨C Horizontal Electrophoresis Equipment] 21:30. Inside Car 4''s laboratory, Lin Xian glanced outside. The storm finally seemed to be weakening¡ªjust a little. That was a relief. If the blizzard continued at this rate, by morning, half of the Infinite Train would be buried in snow. The Kor-3 research carriages were incredibly well-insulated, equipped with temperature-regulating systems that provided a far more comfortable warmth compared to the standard heating in Car 1 and Car 2. Outside, it was freezing hell. Inside, it was cozy and silent. Tap. Tap. Footsteps echoed through the train car. Lin Xian looked up. Ding Junyi, still wearing a white lab coat, had entered the carriage. Her gaze swept across the pristine research equipment. "Even though I¡¯m a biologist," she said, "logic tells me that these things are completely useless during an escape. If you actually want to research dark energy, you¡¯d need an entire scientific team to sustain it. And clearly, you don¡¯t have the resources for that." "Who said I¡¯m researching dark energy?" Lin Xian replied calmly, turning his attention back to the plant cultivation chambers. "My main goal is to grow crops. At most, I¡¯ll experiment with Blood Scourge Flora¡ªsee if it can be cultivated here." "...Crops?" Ding Junyi raised an eyebrow. She hadn''t expected such cutting-edge biological equipment to be repurposed for farming. "Yeah." "...Fine." She fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What do you plan to do with us?" "Yubei City." Lin Xian turned to face her. "There are quite a few survivor convoys there. And if I¡¯m not mistaken, an Iron Guard Battalion is stationed nearby. If you seek help from an official organization, you might be able to contact the Phoenix Federation." That was the most he could offer. Besides, it was on the way. Ding Junyi nodded. "Thank you for your generosity. If not for your rescue, the three of us would already be dead." "It¡¯s just cooperation." Lin Xian shrugged. "But if I had to choose again..." He sighed. "...I definitely wouldn¡¯t have come to save you." The shadow of the Deep Abyss Behemoth still haunted him. If he had known beforehand what he was up against, he would have run without hesitation. Ding Junyi studied him and said seriously, "We didn¡¯t hide the truth. When we were trapped in the lab, we had no knowledge of what was happening below Level 89." "There¡¯s no point discussing it now." "I think it¡¯s necessary," she insisted. "In times of crisis, maintaining trust is crucial for psychological stability." Lin Xian frowned, eyeing her in disbelief. "...Are you trying to be friendly with me?" "Not entirely." Ding Junyi took a step forward, her fingers reaching for the buttons on her lab coat. Then, she removed it. Underneath, her slender figure was fully visible¡ªand she was undoing the buttons on her shirt. She spoke softly, but clearly: "Aside from that... I¡¯m also offering you sex." Lin Xian: ? He froze. A second later, he stared at her in shock. "...Wait, what?" Ding Junyi continued unbuttoning her shirt, her expression calm and composed. "My body has just experienced an intense adrenaline rush from our near-death escape. It triggered an extreme hormonal response, likely influenced by estrogen levels." She looked him directly in the eyes. "If you don¡¯t refuse, I¡¯d like to engage in sexual activity with you." Lin Xian: ?!?!?! His mind blanked out for a second. Then, his expression twitched. "...This is way too much of a personality shift, lady." Ding Junyi blinked. "What do you mean by ¡®personality shift¡¯? "As a mentally stable, fully grown woman, isn¡¯t it normal to seek sexual gratification from an attractive male?" Lin Xian felt every hair on his body stand on end. Ding Junyi took another step forward, continuing to unbutton her shirt. "Physically speaking," she continued, "I undergo monthly medical exams. My health is perfect, I have no genetic disorders or infectious diseases, and my body conforms to scientific standards of attractiveness..." "Whoa, whoa, whoa¡ªWAIT." Lin Xian¡¯s eyes twitched violently. Chapter 119: A Gesture of Goodwill Ding Junyi had a point. The research carriage was clean, warm, and private. Despite being filled with various scientific instruments, in a way, it did make things more... stimulating. But before Lin Xian could fully process her bizarre logic, Ding Junyi was already standing in front of him, staring at him with that eerily calm expression. It felt like she was silently saying: "Brother, let¡¯s execute a flawless combo move together." Was this how straight-A science girls expressed themselves? Logically, clearly, without even a hint of hesitation? Lin Xian was momentarily stunned, but he managed to suppress his internal turmoil and met her gaze. "Are you afraid I¡¯ll kill you?" he asked. "Or that when we reach Yubei City, no one will take you in, and I¡¯ll just kick you off the train? So, you¡¯re trying to get on my good side?" He wasn¡¯t going to be taken advantage of that easily. But then again, if he were the kind of person to just sleep with her and then throw her off the train, what difference would it make? Ding Junyi had no idea what Lin Xian was thinking. But when she heard his question, she answered without a shred of hesitation: "You''re right. But my request is for after we have sex." "...After?" Lin Xian''s face twitched. "What the hell are you trying to say?" Ding Junyi furrowed her brows slightly. "Studies have shown that trust and acceptance between men and women increase significantly during or after sexual activity. In intense moments, it can even lead to a temporary state of emotional impulsivity and bonding. So, I plan to ask to stay on your train and join your team after we have sex." Lin Xian opened his mouth to say something but found himself at a loss for words. For some reason, he couldn¡¯t decide if she completely understood men or didn¡¯t understand them at all. "So after all that, your goal is just to stay on my train?" "Yes." Ding Junyi looked him in the eyes. "From my observations, you are the leader of this train. Your abilities and decision-making skills grant you full control. In other words, the lives of Dr. Zhao, Dr. Xu, and myself are all in your hands. In this situation, showing goodwill towards you costs me nothing and only benefits me. Whether you let me stay, drop us off at an official outpost, or simply choose not to harm me along the way, it¡¯s still a positive outcome for me. Logically, my decision is fully supported by rational theory." Ding Junyi had been carefully observing Lin Xian. She realized his ability was extremely unique¡ªhe could create mechanical structures out of thin air. The Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive normally required a team of specialists to operate, yet he controlled it effortlessly. From her calculations, his ability was highly advanced, and his team was exceptionally strong¡ªthey had managed to escape from an impossible situation. Furthermore, based on how Lin Xian treated Luo Shasha, KIKI, and the others, he seemed to be trustworthy. After careful analysis, she concluded that her best survival strategy was to join his team. "I see." Lin Xian sighed deeply. Talking to this woman was mentally exhausting. She was completely honest and seemed sincere, yet it felt like debating a thesis paper. Even her attempt at currying favor came with theoretical analysis¡ªjust thinking about it gave him a headache. "I¡¯ll think about it. But as for the rest of your request¡ªnot happening." "My apologies. I believe you may have misunderstood." Ding Junyi reached behind her back, undoing her bra strap with a calm expression, her eyes filled with a subtle intensity. "I¡¯m not offering sex as a bargaining chip," she stated. "I genuinely need to satisfy my biological needs." Lin Xian: ?!?!?!?! [Devour Successful: Mechanical Source Points +15, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +8, Bonus: Defense +1] [Devour Successful: Mechanical Source Points +15, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +8, Bonus: Strength +1] [Deconstruction Complete: Obtained High-Manganese Steel ¡Á50, Hot-Rolled Forged Steel ¡Á50, Cold-Rolled Dual-Phase Steel Plates ¡Á15, Ordinary Carbon Steel ¡Á100, Non-Metallic Foam Material, Non-Metallic Composite Material...] It took Lin Xian around 40 minutes to fully devour the two flatbed trailers. The space behind the train was now completely empty. Now, with the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive linked to Car 7, Lin Xian removed Car 7¡¯s rear panels, planning to install a side door for easier access and cargo loading. Additionally, he planned to modify the roof, preparing to mount a CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) later. Current Status ¨C Mechanical Heart (LV.2: 745/1000) Upgrade to LV.3 for Special Skill Reward & Awakening Strength Level: 2 (80%) (200kg explosive force)Speed Level: 2 (05%) (13m/s sprinting limit)Defense Level: 1 (78%) (Reinforced bones & toughened skin) Mechanical Awakening: Not Yet Achieved Mechanical Devour: LV.3 (106/1000) [Boosts Devouring Efficiency]Mechanical Manufacturing: LV.2 (260/500) [Boosts Construction Efficiency]Mechanical Passives: Scan / Repair / Deconstruct Special Skills: Wind Cannon (Common) ¨C LV.3 (Max Level)Ice Shield (Common) ¨C LV.2 (09%)Backlash (Rare) ¨C LV.1 (30%)Power Surge (Rare) ¨C LV.1 (23%) "So Wind Cannon maxes out at Level 3..." Lin Xian exhaled deeply. The cold night wind howled outside, making him instinctively tighten the collar of his jacket. At the very end of the train, the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive was still parked. Since the nuclear locomotive wasn¡¯t connected internally, and the electric locomotive was now obsolete, its best fate was to be devoured. The last time he devoured a short-range freight locomotive, it had granted 300 Mechanical Source Points. This Huanxing 7F was a massive machine. Once he absorbed it, he would definitely break through to Level 3 Mechanical Heart! To ensure safety, Lin Xian climbed into the cockpit. The locomotive¡¯s armor plating was thick¡ªhe had considered repurposing it for the nuclear locomotive¡¯s radiation shielding, but titanium alloy combined with high-density lead plates would be more effective. So, he decided to devour it all at once. As soon as the devouring process began, a crushing pressure slammed into him. It felt like the air had been sucked from his lungs¡ªa clear sign that he was absorbing an enormous structure. Meanwhile, inside Car 5... Ding Junyi walked in. Zhao Yan and Xu Wen were huddled in a corner, exhausted. Luo Shasha had given them blankets, and for the first time in a long while, they were able to sleep properly. However, in the post-apocalyptic world, nerves were always on edge. Zhao Yan woke up instantly at the sound of footsteps. "Director Ding?" She glanced at Ding Junyi¡¯s flushed face. Her cheeks were slightly red, and there was a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead. Zhao Yan¡¯s brows furrowed in concern. "You don¡¯t look well... Are you sick?" Ding Junyi: "No." Chapter 120: Awakening! The Mechanic! ¡¾Devouring Progress: 80%¡¿ Eight hours had passed, and Lin Xian was utterly drained. He sat inside the carriage of the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive, drenched in sweat. This was the major drawback of Mechanical Devour¡ªnot only did it consume stamina, but it also required complete focus. Even if he reached 99%, if he stopped, all progress would be reset to zero. That was why, without ample time and a safe environment, Lin Xian wouldn''t dare attempt to devour something this massive. Right now, after escaping from the underground city, they were on the vast snowfields. With the Soul Wave Detector and the onboard radar scanning the surroundings, they had finally secured a brief moment of respite. Seizing this crucial time, he resumed devouring. ¡¾Devouring Progress: 95%¡¿ Lin Xian¡¯s hands were already trembling. He gritted his teeth¡ªhe was so close! Just a bit more, and once he succeeded, his Mechanical Heart would level up, restoring some of his stamina. "Come on, come on! Just a little more!" At Level 3, his Mechanical Devour was significantly faster than when he had devoured that short-haul freight locomotive. Otherwise, he would never have endured this long. His Mechanical Heart was still too weak for him to bite off more than he could chew. Given his current level, this Electric Freight Locomotive was already pushing his absolute limit! ¡¾Devouring Progress: 99%¡¿ ¡¾Devour Successful! Mechanical Source Points +500. Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +200. Bonus Reward: Strength +30, Speed +20, Defense +30!¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! Mechanical Heart has leveled up to Level 3. Activating Mechanical Awakening!¡¿ Zing! Just as the success notification rang in his ears, the light-screen in front of him went black! Crackle! Countless arcs of electricity suddenly materialized around Lin Xian. His entire body felt incredibly light, but his left hand was violently trembling. He looked down sharply¡ª A metallic, rotating mechanism appeared in the center of his palm for a brief moment before vanishing again. "What the hell just happened?!" The electric arcs crackled wildly around him. His pupils reflected a faint blue glow, and then, as if rebooting, another system screen flickered into existence before his eyes. ¡¾Congratulations! Awakening Successful!¡¿ ¡¾Awakened Identity: Mechanic¡¿ ¡¾New Awakening Skill Unlocked: R&D Center¡¿ R&D Center: Allows deep research into a blueprint by selecting an upgrade path. After a certain period, a new blueprint is generated. (Note: Research time is affected by blueprint level and mechanical manufacturing proficiency.) ¡¾New Awakening Skill Unlocked: Manufacturing Plant¡¿ Manufacturing Plant: Converts one type of basic material into another using materials from the Disassembly Space. (Note: Conversion efficiency is influenced by material level and mechanical manufacturing proficiency.) ¡¾Disassembly Space Expansion Successful (Capacity: 1000 tons)¡¿ ¡¾Strength Level Upgraded to Level 3¡¿ ¡¾Defense Level Upgraded to Level 2¡¿ A flood of notifications bombarded Lin Xian¡¯s vision like a fireworks show. The entire Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive crumbled into dust, completely devoured. Lin Xian lost his balance and collapsed onto the tracks. "C-Cold! Damn, it''s freezing!" He scrambled back into the Infinite Train, slamming the door shut behind him. Only then did he let out a relieved breath. Opening his system screen, he took a look at his upgraded Mechanical Heart. ¡¾Mechanical Heart: Level 3 (245/5000)¡¿ Strength Level: 3¡¾10%¡¿ (Max output: 300 kg burst strength)Speed Level: 2¡¾25%¡¿ (Max speed: 13 m/s)Defense Level: 2¡¾08%¡¿ (Iron-bone durability)Mechanical Awakening: MechanicAwakening Skills: R&D Center, Manufacturing PlantMechanical Devour: Level 3 (306/1000) (Increases devour efficiency)Mechanical Manufacturing: Level 2 (260/500) (Improves construction efficiency)Mechanical Passives: Scan / Repair / Disassemble ¡¾Special Skills¡¿ Wind Cannon (Normal, Level 3, Maxed Out)Ice Shield (Normal, Level 2, 09%)Backlash (Rare, Level 1, 30%)Power Surge (Rare, Level 1, 23%) "My Mechanical Ability has finally evolved into a complete form!" Lin Xian was ecstatic. After enduring so many hardships, he had finally achieved his first awakening. And the skills that came with it made him feel exhilarated. "This¡ªthis is what a Mechanic is supposed to be like!" With R&D Center, he could now upgrade blueprints automatically! Excited, he immediately activated the skill. A research interface appeared before him, displaying a Blueprint Framework, surrounded by intricate circuit diagrams. "Hmm... I can only pick one blueprint to research at a time." Without hesitation, Lin Xian selected the 1130 CIWS blueprint and placed it into the R&D Center. Ding! A red glow filled the research interface. ¡¾High-Level Blueprint Detected. Current Mechanical Manufacturing Level: 2. Research Time Increased by 50%.¡¿ ¡¾Select Research Focus:¡¿ Firepower (18 Days, 22 Hours)Mobility (13 Days, 05 Hours)Precision (15 Days, 12 Hours) Lin Xian: "..." "That¡¯s almost half a month! By the time it''s done, the battlefield might have changed completely..." Looks like the higher his Mechanical Manufacturing level, the faster his research efficiency. Thinking about this, Lin Xian decided to test another blueprint¡ªM556 Light Machine Gun. ¡¾Select Research Focus:¡¿ Firepower (13 Hours)Mobility (9 Hours)Precision (12 Hours) "Even that still takes over ten hours..." He then tested the Blue Sky KK-93 Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier blueprint. ¡¾Blueprint Detected. Research Duration: 6 Hours.¡¿ "Huh, this one doesn¡¯t have a research direction... well, let¡¯s give it a go." Water purification was a crucial issue. While they still had plenty of water on board, there was no sustainable recycling system in place yet. Sooner or later, they''d run out. He originally planned to build one right away, but according to Shu Qin, the purifier¡¯s current efficiency was mediocre, requiring boiled water for full safety. If the R&D Center could upgrade it, he might obtain a higher-tier purifier. ¡¾Alert: Blue Sky KK-93 Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier Blueprint is now being upgraded. Estimated Completion: 5:59:59¡¿ The countdown timer started ticking, filling Lin Xian with anticipation. Turning his attention to his left palm, he examined the Manufacturing Plant skill. According to its description, this might just solve his biggest materials problem. ¡¾Manufacturing Plant: Scan a basic material to obtain its information. Select a material from the Disassembly Space to convert.¡¿ "Hah! So now materials have ranks?" Opening his Disassembly Space, he noticed that all materials now had level indicators. Level 1: Basic metals, plasticsLevel 2: High-manganese steel, hardened tungsten steel, hot-rolled forged steel, cold-rolled dual-phase steel, ordinary carbon steelLevel 3: Forged inner armor steel, titanium alloy, tungsten-titanium alloy To test the skill, Lin Xian disassembled a bullet, extracted the smokeless gunpowder from its casing, and placed it in his palm. Then, he activated Manufacturing Plant''s Scan function. Chapter 121: Eerie Barrier! Beep¡ªBeep¡ªBeep! A blue light flared from Lin Xian¡¯s left palm, displaying a material analysis progress bar. 30%... 60%... 100% ¡¾Analysis Complete: High-Energy Solid Propellant (1)¡¿ ¡¾Select Conversion Material¡¿ Lin Xian selected the lowest-tier Level 1 Steel. ¡¾Manufacturing Plant: Converting Steel (1) ¡ú High-Energy Solid Propellant (1)¡¿ ¡¾Conversion Efficiency: Consumes 50KG Steel (1) per hour ¡ú Produces 2KG High-Energy Solid Propellant (1)¡¿ "It actually works!" Lin Xian¡¯s eyes gleamed in astonishment. If he could now produce solid propellant, that meant he could equip the Infinite Train with an arsenal of firearms! He might even be able to manufacture artillery shells! "2KG of propellant... Given that the M556 Light Machine Gun uses 7.62¡Á51mm rounds, and each bullet contains 2.77g of gunpowder, this batch alone could produce 722 rounds¡ªmore than enough!" "But if I were making 30mm tungsten-core armor-piercing rounds for the 1130 CIWS, each shell requires 18-20g of propellant, meaning I could only craft 100 rounds per batch. That¡¯s 2,400 rounds per day at max output... and that¡¯s just for the gunpowder. I haven¡¯t even factored in the tungsten-core casings and manufacturing time. At this rate, I''d only be able to fire continuously for 15 seconds." Lin Xian nodded to himself. Fifteen seconds might sound short, but against past enemies like the Pale White Giant, the Red Dragonfly, or even the Skeletal Horrors from the underground city, how many seconds could they really withstand? If he could fully construct the 1130 CIWS, forget everything else¡ªeven C-Class and B-Class Eerie Entities, like Ding Junyi had warned about, would be manageable without his entire team fighting to exhaustion. "From now on, high-grade metal materials are going to be a priority." Without hesitation, Lin Xian began testing the limits of his R&D Center and Manufacturing Plant. With newfound efficiency, he streamlined material production. The Manufacturing Plant continuously converted raw steel into solid propellant, rapidly depleting his steel reserves while increasing his ammo supply. It felt just like the factory-building games he used to play. With manufacturing and research running in parallel, his Mechanical Heart had just unlocked infinite potential. Clang! Clang! Clang! Soon, dozens of 7.62¡Á51mm machine gun rounds tumbled onto the floor. Lin Xian grinned excitedly, scooping up a handful of warm brass casings. "If I keep this up, I can literally turn myself into a weapons factory¡ªbuilding guns, producing bullets, and generating my own power. As long as I have enough raw materials, I¡¯d be like a walking Gatling gun!" "Super Mecha Engineer! Hell yes!" "Next step¡ªgather and convert more materials. Once I build the 1130 CIWS for the train, no more running from giant bugs!" "And after that? Full-body armor plating! If I can supply my own ammo, I¡¯ll practically become Iron Man!" "Damn...!" Lin Xian sucked in a breath. If he threw military-grade mechs and the 1130 CIWS into the R&D Center, who knew what kind of monstrosities he could create? Just imagining it made his fingers twitch in excitement. For now, he checked the R&D progress¡ªthe upgraded water purifier blueprint was nearly complete. "Alright, next..." Even though his Mechanical Awakening had restored some stamina, running both R&D Center and Manufacturing Plant had been draining him nonstop. Fortunately, with a nuclear-powered locomotive, he no longer had to act as a human battery, which gave him a slight breather. "I should rest... then upgrade the train¡¯s armor and the experimental carriage." Lin Xian made his way to Carriage No. 1, eager to finally get some sleep¡ª Until something clicked in his mind. "Wait! The Eerie Radio!" Damn! He had almost forgotten about that thing! Keeping an Eerie Forbidden Item onboard without fully processing it was still a huge risk. The last time he tried to devour it, his Mechanical Heart detected non-mechanical energy and automatically activated self-protection mode, forcefully sealing the radio with an anomalous transformation. But now that his Mechanical Heart had reached Level 3, it was time to finish the job. Lin Xian retrieved a metal storage box from the overhead compartment. He had custom-built this box specifically to contain the Eerie Radio¡ªreinforced with tungsten-titanium alloy, layered with multiple barriers to ensure maximum containment. Quickly, he disassembled the box, revealing the transformed radio cube in his palm. ¡¾Mechanical Devour!¡¿ Without hesitation, Lin Xian activated the skill. Something this small wouldn''t take more than three minutes to devour. ¡¾Non-mechanical energy detected. Enable R&D Center scan?¡¿ Huh? Lin Xian frowned. Another anomaly? "Why is this thing so damn tricky to process...?" ¡¾Enable Scan!¡¿ Buzz! A soft blue light began scanning the radio cube¡ªagonizingly slow. Almost instantly, Lin Xian felt like a black hole was draining his strength. A sharp chill ran down his spine. "How the hell does a damn radio take this long to scan?!" ¡¾Scan Progress: 10%¡¿ ¡¾Scan Progress: 25%¡¿ ¡¾Scan Progress: 80%¡¿ Lin Xian collapsed onto the couch, completely drained, while the blue scanning light continued shifting across the radio. "This damn thing... is harder to deal with than a spider queen!" Finally¡ª ¡¾Scan Complete!¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Heart Detection Result: Eerie Object No. 01, Name: Undetermined¡¿ ¡¾Properties: Capable of broadcasting fear-inducing and dark-energy transmissions. Mechanical Heart has restructured and frequency-modulated the device. It can now be activated to reflect and neutralize fear-based and dark-energy influences within a fixed area.¡¿ "Wha... What?!" Lin Xian''s eyes widened. "A barrier... that blocks fear and dark energy?" "Wait... does ''dark energy'' mean Black Night Infection?" Sitting motionless on the couch, Lin Xian stared at the radio cube, deep in thought. "So... my Mechanical Heart actually contained a Forbidden Item?" "Which means¡ªI can use this anomaly to generate a protective barrier for the Infinite Train!" "Screw it! Let¡¯s test it out!" Taking a deep breath, Lin Xian activated the radio cube using his Mechanical Heart. ¡¾Beep! Activating non-mechanical energy reflection detection.¡¿ ¡¾Scan complete. No fear anomalies detected within the train. Dark energy influence neutralized.¡¿ Boom! An invisible force suddenly engulfed the entire train. Instantly, everyone aboard felt as if a cold, suffocating weight had been lifted from their chests. The oppressive aura of Black Night Infection was completely wiped away. Even Chen Sixuan, who had been restless in her sleep, suddenly relaxed, her furrowed brows smoothing out. Even Lin Xian himself felt a wave of serenity wash over him. "Holy sh*t... a 360¡ã Anti-Eerie Artifact!!!" Realization struck him like a freight train. "With this transformed radio cube, the terror broadcasts from 1542 Radio Station and those invisible Corrupting Demons... are completely locked out!" "This thing is basically a magic force field!" Letting out a long sigh of relief, Lin Xian silently thanked his Mechanical Heart. And if this theory was correct... Then all those Forbidden Items that people feared and avoided... Especially the mechanical ones... Might just become his next target for Mechanical Devour! Chapter 122: External Gun Turret! The blizzard had settled. In the dead of night, the Infinite Train remained parked on the snow-covered plains, its tracks buried beneath thick layers of snow. Chen Sixuan, KIKI, and Shasha all woke up feeling well-rested¡ªa stark contrast to previous nights. After Lin Xian and the others woke up, they, too, took turns getting some sleep while waiting for the water purifier blueprint to finish upgrading. "Do you guys feel like... that anxious feeling is gone?" Chen Sixuan stretched, then walked to Carriage No. 3 for a quick check. Seeing that Zhao Yan and the others were still sound asleep, she let Shasha take over keeping watch on the rear carriages. KIKI, seated at her computer, yawned and stretched. "Now that you mention it... yeah, it does feel different." Chen Sixuan pulled up the blackout curtain and peered outside into the endless, pitch-black snowfield. "Based on our distance traveled, sunrise should be around 16:00 today. KIKI, see if you can pick up any signals from Yubei City." KIKI nodded, grabbed the radio, and began scanning frequencies. "Federation Phoenix¡¯s Daily Survival Radio. According to the Abyss Monitoring Department¡¯s latest report, the relatively safer zones are as follows: In the Asia-Pacific region, Jiazhou City from Hengshan Pass eastward to Wei River, Longjiang, Jinhai, and Xingcheng corresponds to Safe Zones No. 3 and No. 4. From Maple City westward across the Gobi Desert, the Tashi Sands, and the Parma Grasslands, extending southeast to Jinhe, Yun¡¯an Ridge, and Tianji corresponds to Safe Zones No. 5 and No. 7... Survivors should migrate accordingly. Federation Phoenix rescue teams are stationed in all non-Polar Night secondary cities." "Zzzzz... Survival Tip #53: Emergency Water Procurement Methods..." "Zzzzz... Water is essential. Today, microbiologist Professor Qi will explain the dangers of Black Rain on surface freshwater sources..." "Zzzzz... To strengthen humanity¡¯s resistance against Eerie Entities, Federation Phoenix is recruiting Ability Users to join the Nightwalkers organization..." "Zzzzz... Federation Radio YB Regional Broadcast: Yubei City has been completely overrun by a Zombie Tide! Multiple Eerie Entity sightings were reported last night. Yubei No. 1 Spaceport is currently under full-scale defense operations... " KIKI kept adjusting the frequencies, frowning. "Yubei City''s situation is bad. If the Ascending Passage shuts down, anyone inside is as good as trapped." Chen Sixuan replied, "That¡¯s not our biggest concern. As long as the Sky Corridor hasn¡¯t collapsed and the Ascending Passage isn¡¯t blocked, we can still get up there. The real problem is that we don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening inside the city." "Guess we¡¯ll have to take it one step at a time." KIKI launched a drone to scan their surroundings once more. A Well-Rested Awakening By now, it was around 10:00 AM. Lin Xian had woken up after a few hours of solid, dreamless sleep. Whether it was thanks to the Eerie Radio Cube or his recent stat upgrades, he felt like he had slept a full twelve hours. His strength and defense enhancements made his body feel incredibly refreshed¡ªas if he had been reborn. "You''re up?" Chen Sixuan was making hot soup. With the nuclear-powered locomotive supplying electricity, they could now fully utilize the various appliances collected by Shasha in Yu Chi. The electric stove and oven were now in full use. If only they had fresh vegetables, Lin Xian had no doubt that Chen Sixuan would be whipping up a full-course meal. "How¡¯s everything?" Lin Xian asked. "Dr. Zhao and Dr. Xu are still asleep, but Director Ding woke up early. She¡¯s been working in Carriage No. 3 this whole time. No idea what she''s up to." "I¡¯ll check on her after I set up the new carriage armor. We¡¯ll move out at sunrise." Before heading out, he glanced at the R&D Center. The water purifier blueprint upgrade had 20 minutes remaining. Perfect timing. Without wasting a second, he headed toward the rear carriages. Optimizing the Train¡¯s Design In Carriage No. 2, KIKI had already pulled up the Kor Research Carriage blueprints. "See? I told you there was a ready-made solution. This carriage already has a fully integrated air circulation system. Once we hook it up to the rest of the train and install your water purification system, you¡¯ll have your oxygen-water recycling setup ready to go." Lin Xian nodded approvingly. "First, I need to finish reinforcing the rear carriages with armor. Then I¡¯ll install the water purifier." KIKI pointed at her digital train schematic. "By the way, Carriage No. 7 is directly connected to the nuclear-powered locomotive. Do you want to add more entry points? It¡¯d make it easier for us to get on and off." On her screen, she highlighted the front and rear driver cabins. "These exits work fine for us, but if we need to move cargo, things might get tricky." Lin Xian nodded. "I know. I¡¯m planning to add a side door to Carriage No. 7. I¡¯m also considering installing a rooftop hatch on Carriage No. 6 and Carriage No. 1¡ªmaybe even an elevator system." KIKI blinked. "Wait, an elevator? Are you planning to catapult yourself off the train?!" "No¡ª" Lin Xian sighed. "I want to mount turrets and weapons on the roof. If they¡¯re on an adjustable lift, they won¡¯t be as easily destroyed." KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. "OH MY GOD! LIKE A GUNSHIP?! THAT¡¯S SO FREAKING COOL! YOU SHOULD INSTALL ONE ON Carriage No. 2 SO I CAN SHOOT TOO!" Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. "A gunship turret?" KIKI rapidly clicked through her computer and pulled up an image. "Boom. Like this. But you¡¯ll need highly durable bulletproof plating¡ªotherwise, it¡¯s useless." Lin Xian stared. "KIKI... this is a damn railgun. That¡¯s not what I meant." "Oh, whatever!" KIKI waved dismissively. "Think BIG! I know you¡¯re talking about a gun turret, but if we upgrade step by step, we¡¯ll get there eventually. Trust me!" Lin Xian chuckled. "Fine. I¡¯ll design a custom mech turret just for you." KIKI grinned, completely in her element. With the R&D Center, Lin Xian now had no reason to hold back on ambitious designs. Eerie Research in Carriage No. 3 Arriving at Carriage No. 3, Lin Xian found Ding Junyi at her workstation, absorbed in her laptop. Beside her, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum cultivation pod remained undisturbed. Without looking up, Ding Junyi spoke. "Are we departing?" Lin Xian asked, "Are you researching that thing?" Ding Junyi¡¯s expression remained neutral. "Just continuing my previous work. This carriage has all the necessary equipment. If you need any of this data¡ªor if you want to forbid me from using your property¡ªyou can let me know. Until you officially allow me onboard, I am still your... rescued prisoner." Lin Xian smirked. "Rescued prisoner? If that were true, I¡¯d have thrown you in an iron cage last night." Ding Junyi finally turned to face him, her gaze calm and composed. "Then... I appreciate your generosity." Lin Xian¡¯s tone grew serious. "Don¡¯t thank me yet. Yubei City is worse than we thought. Once we get there, I can¡¯t guarantee I¡¯ll have time to help you." Chapter 123: The Romance of Science! "It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll consider keeping me around." Ding Junyi¡¯s expression was calm and unreadable. She gestured toward the workstation in the distance, where several carefully labeled petri dishes sat. Inside them were the plant seeds that Lin Xian and KIKI had collected back on Level 89. It looked like Ding Junyi had already categorized and sorted them all. "Your plan is to cultivate greenery on the train. Conveniently, I¡¯m an expert in this field. While academic research and practical forestry cultivation are fundamentally different, I doubt anyone else on this train is better suited for this project than me. "Besides, you have two Kor-3 Biological Science Research Carriages¡ªone can be my research lab, and the other can be used as a dedicated planting carriage. I¡¯ve already made progress in researching the Blood Scourge Flora. Plus, with multiple Ability Users onboard, I can gather valuable observational data. "Keeping me around will help you expand into new fields." Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. "As far as I know, there are Dawn Project operatives in Yubei City. You could probably also join Federation Phoenix or even the Iron Guard Battalion. With your credentials, why insist on boarding my train?" Ding Junyi tilted her head slightly and gazed at Lin Xian with serious eyes. "I already told you last night." "Told me what?" "I enjoy advanced physiological stimulation. Staying underground suppresses my emotions. Besides, it¡¯s not even safe down there, is it? The events we just experienced prove that." Lin Xian frowned. "Are you telling me you enjoy the thrill of being on the run?" Ding Junyi responded with absolute righteousness: "I wouldn¡¯t entirely rule that out. But more importantly, there¡¯s nothing more romantic than racing toward Dawn on a speeding train while facing Death. This is a fusion of science and romance¡ªand I get to have both." Lin Xian was speechless. He had assumed Ding Junyi was just a stoic academic, but now he understood why people often said: "The calmest people hide the fiercest passions." Ding Junyi was a prime example of that. After a long sigh, Lin Xian finally responded, "Fine. If you still feel this way after we reach Yubei City, I¡¯ll let you stay on board." "Thank you." Without another word, Ding Junyi turned back to her work. Lin Xian shook his head with a smile and left to wake up Daluo, planning to start installing armor on the nuclear-powered locomotive. Blueprint Upgrade Complete! Just then, his system screen flashed with a notification from the R&D Center. ¡¾Blue Sky KK-93 Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier Blueprint Upgrade Complete! Please retrieve the new blueprint.¡¿ Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up. "Perfect timing!" He immediately selected Retrieve Blueprint. With a flash of light, a new design appeared in the R&D Center. ¡¾Congratulations! You have obtained the A1-Class Subcritical Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier (Blueprint)!¡¿ Lin Xian blinked. "Subcritical Reverse Osmosis? What the hell is that? Is this some kind of next-gen tech?" Halfway to the next carriage, he abruptly turned around and marched straight to KIKI. "Hey, little troublemaker¡ªquestion for you. Ever heard of Subcritical Reverse Osmosis?" KIKI furrowed her brows. "Huh? That sounds... complicated. Is it related to the purifier?" Getting no answers, Lin Xian then sought out Ding Junyi. "Dr. Ding, do you know what Subcritical Reverse Osmosis Water Purification is?" Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses and explained: "If you¡¯re referring to RO (Reverse Osmosis) filtration, it¡¯s a process where a semi-permeable membrane separates solutes from solvents under pressure, filtering down to 0.0001 microns. High-end laboratories and residential areas with strict water purity requirements commonly use this technology." "As for ¡®Subcritical¡¯¡ªthat describes a material¡¯s state. In engineering, it refers to substances that exist in a fluid form at temperatures above their boiling point but below their critical temperature, and at pressures below their critical pressure..." Lin Xian walked away mid-sentence. Ding Junyi watched him go, expressionless, before calmly returning to her work. "Alright. I was overthinking it. It¡¯s just an advanced filtration system that most people haven¡¯t heard of." Still curious, Lin Xian tried feeding the new blueprint back into the R&D Center¡ªjust to see if he could upgrade it further. ¡¾Mechanical Manufacturing Level Insufficient. This blueprint has already reached its highest standard.¡¿ "Damn. Hit the limit already, huh?" Constructing the Purifier Next, he opened the Manufacturing Plant. By now, his Disassembly Space had accumulated a decent amount of High-Energy Solid Propellant, but before making more ammunition, he wanted to build the water purifier first. To do that, he needed the base material for the reverse osmosis membrane. Lin Xian tried using steel and plastic for conversion, but quickly realized that this membrane was a Tier-2 material¡ªand converting it from Tier-1 materials drastically increased resource consumption! "Sht. This is expensive as hell." Luckily, he still had plenty of Tier-2 materials, and the membrane didn¡¯t require too much of it. He used carbon steel for conversion, and after about 20 minutes, he had successfully produced the necessary materials. Taking a deep breath, Lin Xian activated the Mechanical Heart. A soft glow radiated from his hands as countless materials flew into the air, assembling themselves in real-time. Within moments, a sleek, white purification system took shape¡ªa network of cylindrical tubes and pressurization components fused together into one compact unit. Lin Xian inspected the final product. "Damn. This thing actually looks super high-tech." "Only one way to find out if it works." Excited, he carried the new water purifier to Carriage No. 1 and hooked it up to the locomotive¡¯s water tank. Once powered on, the machine began operating silently. A few seconds later¡ª Clear, purified water flowed out. Lin Xian watched for a moment and muttered, "Looks good..." Then he scowled. "Wait. The fck am I saying? I can¡¯t see microbes with my eyes!" The First Water Quality Test Grabbing the sample, Lin Xian marched straight to Carriage No. 3 and found Ding Junyi. "The lab has water quality testing equipment, right? Check this for me." Ding Junyi, without hesitation, took the sample and began testing it. After running the analysis, she concluded: "If you¡¯re asking about general water quality, we analyze multiple factors: particle content, turbidity, organic matter levels, pH balance... But if you just want to know whether it meets drinking water standards, then yes¡ªit¡¯s exceptionally pure. "However, I don¡¯t have the equipment to detect whether it carries Black Night Infection Energy Vectors. Federation Phoenix or HQ might have made progress in that area, but it¡¯s outside my research scope." Lin Xian took back the crystal-clear water sample, hesitated for a moment¡ª Then drank it all in one gulp. His water purifier¡¯s filtration standard exceeded the bottled water they had onboard. If there were still invisible contamination risks, there wasn¡¯t much else he could do. Besides, no one had fallen sick from drinking their bottled water so far. Also¡ª If the Eerie Radio Cube had truly blocked all Dark Energy influences, then this purified water should be safe as well. "If this still isn¡¯t safe, I don¡¯t know how the other survivor groups are even managing to stay alive." Finally relaxing, Lin Xian returned to the R&D Center and inserted the blueprint for the M556 Light Machine Gun. ¡¾Select Research Focus:¡¿ Firepower (13 Hours)Mobility (9 Hours)Precision (12 Hours) "Firepower!" With a confirmed selection, the system displayed: ¡¾M556 Light Machine Gun Firepower Upgrade (12:59:59) ¨C Countdown Initiated.¡¿ Chapter 124: Upgrade Log On the vast snowfield, a massive floodlight illuminated the roof of the Infinite Train. Under its glow, Lin Xian began working on the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive, making necessary adjustments. Coming out of the tunnel, they had rammed through an unknown number of zombies and Human Eeries. The locomotive¡¯s front end was a mess. Lin Xian gave it a quick cleaning and repair before moving on to designing armor for the entire train. "Being at the back, we''ll probably face a lot of combat..." Ever since they left Jiang City, most battles had taken place in Car 5. Whether it was chases or ambushes, that section had become the primary warzone. Now, with the nuclear-powered locomotive pulling from the rear, it was an unavoidable decision. This locomotive had a highly intricate internal structure, with a 290-megawatt DRX nuclear power reactor encased in multiple protective layers. It came with an array of support systems but lacked a through corridor like the original Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive. With such a compact nuclear facility onboard, it had to be positioned at the very back for overall train safety. Lin Xian didn¡¯t have any complex design plans¡ªhe simply piled on materials. From devouring the TFV600 Heavy Dual-Barrel Tank, he had obtained plenty of forged inner armor steel. He combined it with hardened tungsten steel for a dual-layered armor configuration. For the design, he directly used the tank''s armor structure. Since he was evolving purely through experience, he applied whatever worked. The Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive was a 45-meter-long intercontinental-class locomotive, originally developed by the Federation¡¯s Kehua Heavy Industries. Without it, diving deep into Underground City No. 9 would have been a huge loss. Thankfully, they secured it, ensuring stable power for the train. Lin Xian and Luo Ye worked tirelessly for five hours, reinforcing both the nuclear locomotive and Experiment Cars 3 and 4 with armor plating. Now, the Infinite Train consisted of nine carriages, spanning nearly 300 meters, slicing through the pitch-black snowfield like a colossal black beast. "The train keeps getting bigger." Shasha ran from the rear carriages to the front, holding a can of food. Her eyes widened in amazement. "It¡¯s almost turning into an aircraft carrier!" The rest of the squad was gathered in Car 1¡¯s dining area, finishing their meal before departure. In about an hour, it would be dawn, and they needed to be ready. "A Dragon Mountain-class aircraft carrier weighs 150,000 tons. The Hercules-class sky cruiser is 190,000 tons. The White Emperor-3 sky battleship is 330,000 tons. The Qingluan Sky City is 960,000 tons. Our train? Barely 1,500 tons. We¡¯ve got a long way to go." KIKI grinned. "But once we reach the Pacific, who knows? Maybe we¡¯ll be able to fly!" Shasha¡¯s mouth formed an ¡°O¡± shape. "That jellyfish can fly. If we take off, won¡¯t we crash into it?" Luo Ye, usually quiet, suddenly chimed in. Lin Xian shrugged. "There are monsters underground, and monsters in the sky. The best solution is to move on land, fly in the sky when necessary, and if we¡¯re really desperate¡ªdive into the deep sea..." As he spoke, his mind wandered. If jellyfish could fly into the sky, then who knew what horrors lurked in the abyss below... "Oh, right, Shasha." Lin Xian pulled out a metal case, revealing fifty V0G-25 40mm grenade launchers, all freshly manufactured. "Holy sht!" Shasha¡¯s eyes lit up. "So many?!" Lin Xian chuckled, handing her a grenade launcher. "Next time we run into monsters, don¡¯t hold back on the ammo¡ªblast them to hell!" KIKI, intrigued, leaned over. "Hey, Lin Xian, when are you making the 1130 for me? I want to have some real fun." Lin Xian scratched his head awkwardly. "That one¡¯s not happening anytime soon." Building an 1130 Close-In Weapon System wasn¡¯t easy. First, phased array radar and fire-control radar required rare-earth materials, which had to be processed at the manufacturing center. Then, it had to be properly integrated into the train¡ªnot just slapped onto the roof. Since Lin Xian lacked formal knowledge in mechanical engineering or weapon systems, he could only design basic armor, plating, and melee weapons without blueprints. The R&D center, from what he had seen, could only upgrade existing blueprints, not create new ones from scratch. KIKI was good with systems but wasn¡¯t much help in designing hardware. For example, despite gathering plenty of research materials, she still hadn¡¯t figured out how to build a water-oxygen recycling system. "If we had an ''A-System'', we could manage and maintain the entire train," she sighed. KIKI added, "Oh, and mecha. If we could build one, your mechanical abilities would be even more insane!" Lin Xian agreed. With a manufacturing plant and his mechanical creation and control abilities, an external exosuit could massively enhance his Mechanical Heart ability. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan remained silent. Listening to their conversation about weapons and upgrades, she felt uneasy. She was the only one without combat abilities, which weighed on her. She decided to spend more time learning firearm skills from Shasha¡ªmaybe it would be useful once they reached Yubei City. Lin Xian reviewed the train¡¯s upgrade log, adding another item to the list... Planting Carriage (Crops, fruits, water-oxygen recycling¡ªadds color to life) ? (Completed, but needs crops!)Entertainment Area (Games, movies for leisure) ? (Paused¡ªtoo busy surviving!)Sentry System (External surveillance proposed by KIKI) ? (Front radar system installed, ongoing)Icebreaker Shield (For clearing zombies and snowdrifts) ? (Perfect, a masterpiece!)Storage & Refrigeration ? / Heating Equipment ? (Forget the cold¡ªit''s brutal!)Drone Recon System (Two acquired, sufficient for now)Power Supply (Replaced Huanxing 7F Electric with Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric¡ªEndurance MAX!)Medical Facilities ? (Still using manual bandages!)Industrial Armor ? / Mecha Loader ? (KIKI-approved!)Track-Laying System ? / Humanoid Track-Laying Unit ? (Us: Me, KIKI, Luo Ye!)Repair System ? (That¡¯s me!)Electrified GK Blades on Train Armor ? (Not completed yet!)Water Purifier ? (Mysterious tech, but it works!)Cargo Bay Modification for Car 5 ? (Requires lift platform & traction system!)Train-mounted Weaponry (Gun platforms, turrets, or 1130 CIWS) ? (Pending)AI System Module ? (Can''t build yet, need to obtain it!)Drive System Upgrade (Maglev ? / Treads ? / Space Propulsion ? / Submarine? ????)Advanced Combat Armor ? (Need to acquire!)Service Bots ? / Combat Bots ? (Need to acquire!) At 15:56, the pitch-black sky suddenly cleared, revealing a blindingly white snowfield. Lin Xian closed his logbook, activated his Mechanical Heart, and checked over the train. After a long night of work, the Infinite Train was ready to roll toward Yubei City. "That¡¯s a lot of snow..." Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan frowned at the snow piling up ahead. "At least the snow¡¯s stopped¡ªthat¡¯s good news." Lin Xian unlocked the engine limiters. With ample power, the Infinite Train roared to life. The Icebreaker Shield plowed through the snow, pushing forward steadily. Chapter 125: The Orbital Rail "There¡¯s a valley ahead. Once we pass through it, we should be able to see Yubei City. This section of track should merge with the main freight line before reaching Yubei Freight Terminal." The Infinite Train plowed through the thick snow, picking up speed across the frozen wasteland. "Let¡¯s hope everything goes smoothly." Though Lin Xian said this, everyone on the team knew that the situation in Yubei City was far from simple. Countless survivors had gathered at the airport¡¯s high-altitude corridor, along with remnants of the former Federation, the Iron Guard Battalion, the Airport Security Regiment, and Yubei City¡¯s local survivors. Adding to the chaos, radio reports confirmed that the atmospheric jellyfish was also drifting toward the city... "With this much snow, without a snowplow, regular convoys would struggle to move." Chen Sixuan observed. "In these conditions, survivors either head to large city hubs and wait for the official evacuation or join large convoys¡ªor do what we¡¯re doing, running an apocalypse train. Small militias won¡¯t last long unless they have powerful abilities." Lin Xian replied. From the initial chaos of the Abyss catastrophe to now, time and survival instincts had forced survivors to organize. Whether through official evacuations or self-formed factions, humanity was beginning to transition from anarchy to order. "If we can get past the high-altitude corridor, we should get some breathing room. But heading east from Xingcheng, we¡¯ll reach the outskirts of Abyss Zone No. 4. The further we go, the faster night will fall. Crossing the Polar Night zone will bring a whole new set of unknown dangers." CRASH! Snow splattered as the Infinite Train thundered across the valley, pushing through the frozen terrain. Buried beneath the snow, countless abandoned vehicles began to emerge. "Lin-ge, Lin-ge! Those two people woke up!" Shasha¡¯s voice crackled over the walkie-talkie. "Give them some bread and water. Nothing else." Lin Xian responded. "Got it!" Suddenly¡ª THUD! The train collided with something, sending a deep, muffled shockwave through the steel frame. "Lin Xian, look!" Chen Sixuan pointed ahead, shouting. Lin Xian lifted his gaze and saw a massive wreckage on the mountainside¡ªa downed aerial gunship, its impact creating a deep trench in the snow. Flaming debris was scattered everywhere, with parts of the aircraft already coated in frost. Judging by the condition of the wreck, it must have crashed last night. Others on the train noticed it too. In Car 3, Ding Junyi stood by the window, her voice soft but heavy: "Iron Guard Battalion." Meanwhile, in Car 5, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen were devouring the bread that Shasha had given them. Xu Wen suddenly froze mid-bite, eyes widening. "Teacher Zhao, look! It¡¯s a military aircraft!" They stared in shock at the wreckage. The crash had been devastating¡ªonly scattered remains of soldiers could be seen, most of them obliterated beyond recognition, leaving behind only bloodstains in the snow. KIKI ran to the cockpit, looking out over the expanding battlefield¡ª Twisted wreckage lay everywhere. Tanks, helicopters, gunships, aerial artillery platforms¡ªcharred ruins stretched across the snowy valley. The number of corpses only grew. "Iron Guard-3... the Destroyer... oh my god. Warhawk-class aerial gunship... TFV600 Heavy Dual-Barrel Tank... Lightning-2 aerospace fighter... What the hell did they fight here? That jellyfish?!" KIKI gasped. "Most likely." Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. These were the primary combat units of the Federation¡¯s Iron Guard Battalion. To see them in such a devastating state was beyond terrifying. "Did they... all get wiped out?" "Not entirely. Radio reports said Brigade 52 retreated toward Yubei City. It must be an absolute mess over there right now." Chen Sixuan said, concern in her voice. "If there¡¯s an Eerie airborne entity, then even the high-altitude corridor might not be safe anymore. But we don¡¯t have a choice." Lin Xian replied. With Daluo Mountain Tunnel blocked and the western route no longer an option, the only path forward was the climbing passage. Suddenly¡ª WHOOOM! A low-pitched humming roared through the sky. Everyone looked up. A small aircraft streaked past at high speed, heading toward Underground City No. 9. "Is that from the former Federation or the Phoenix Union?" "No idea." Lin Xian glanced at it but didn¡¯t dwell on it. Beneath Underground City No. 9, a Deep Abyss Behemoth still lay dormant. Whether it would emerge was anyone¡¯s guess. Even if someone told Lin Xian there was a treasure trove down there, he wouldn¡¯t risk going back. As the train pushed forward, the landscape opened up. Ahead, a massive trench cut across the valley floor, its irregular shape stretching into the distance. Scattered within it were the remains of military convoys, shattered vehicles, and even an overturned military freight train, still burning. At the edge of a deep crater, a massive severed tentacle lay sprawled across the ground, surrounded by unidentifiable fluids and human blood. Lin Xian recognized it instantly. "It really was that atmospheric jellyfish." Chen Sixuan gulped, only now realizing the full scale of the battle. "These convoys... never stood a chance." That night had been pure chaos¡ªif Lin Xian and Luo Ye hadn¡¯t reinforced the roof armor beforehand, their train could have ended up just like that military freight train¡ªripped apart and derailed. The Infinite Train pressed forward. Through the misty cold air, the sky-high pillars of the high-altitude corridor began to emerge, stretching toward the snow-covered mountains of Daluo. To penetrate the 4,500-kilometer-long plateau mountain range, the Federation spent over 30 years constructing the orbital freight railway. All vehicles, trains, and cargo transports used a magnetic acceleration system, reaching speeds over 1,000 km/h to transport freight between mega-city hubs. Yubei City¡¯s No. 1 Spaceport was one of the most critical transport hubs, linking western and central Dragon Nation. But this wasn¡¯t the only high-altitude corridor¡ª Across Blue Planet, the 320,000-kilometer-long Orbital Rail Network interconnected land, ocean, and spaceports, spanning across: Asia-Pacific ContinentBlue Oceanic ContinentNorth AmericaSouth AmericaAfricaEuropeArctic ContinentEastland ContinentRepublic Continent And linking the Pacific, Black Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Western Ocean¡ªit was humanity¡¯s greatest infrastructure project. But now¡ª The skyscraping structures cast ominous shadows over a silent city. The Infinite Train merged onto the Y3365 Main Rail Line, heading toward Yubei Freight Terminal. The highways leading into the city were completely jammed¡ª Bloodstains, severed limbs, abandoned luggage¡ªall buried beneath the snow. Just then¡ª A drone buzzed in from high altitude, scanning the train before swiftly retreating. Lin Xian frowned. Something felt off. Then¡ª A snowmobile sped toward the cockpit, cutting through the snowfield. Everyone was tense. Then, the rider removed her helmet, revealing a familiar face. "Captain Lin, stop for a moment!" Lin Xian recognized her immediately¡ª Shu Qin, the leader of the Bigfoot Convoy¡ªthe woman who had asked him to repair her water purifier. Chapter 126: Nightfalls Invasion Screech¡ª The Infinite Train slowly came to a stop. Lin Xian opened the door, and a snowmobile rode up. Shu Qin, looking noticeably more haggard than a few days ago¡ªher skin dry and hair disheveled¡ªimmediately unfastened her helmet and secured it to the vehicle upon seeing Lin Xian. Her expression was somewhat urgent. "I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s really your train. Looks like I called the right person." Lin Xian looked at her curiously. "Shu Qin? Where¡¯s your convoy?" "Over there!" Shu Qin pointed toward the distant Freight Terminal. "We¡¯ve got four convoys gathered there, getting ready to enter the city together. But a lot has happened... You guys better be careful too." "What happened?" Lin Xian asked. "It¡¯s complicated. Are you planning to stop at the freight platform up ahead? If so, we can group up and push into the spaceport together. There are too many zombies over there, plus the fog... Some eerie entities are appearing in the city regardless of whether it''s day or night. Many convoys have suffered heavy losses." "Alright, we¡¯ll pull in first and talk." Lin Xian agreed without hesitation. As he gazed at the cold, desolate industrial city ahead, an unsettling feeling crept into his heart. Based on the radio broadcasts, this place had already become a completely abandoned city. All survivors and official forces had essentially gathered in Spaceport No. 1. But Lin Xian had no intention of charging straight in. If there was a chance to team up, it was always safer to have allies. Clang, clang! The train began moving again, merging onto the double-track railway. Shu Qin put her helmet back on and sped forward on her snowmobile. Before long, they arrived at a large freight station, surrounded by numerous derelict trains. Many zombie corpses lay sprawled across the tracks, seemingly having been cleared earlier. The Infinite Train crushed over them as it advanced. Soon, in an open area, they spotted a large cluster of survivor vehicles¡ªdozens of them¡ªparked in a staggered formation along the tracks. Many were heavy trucks, their exteriors battered and stained with blood, clear evidence of brutal battles. Anyone who had made it this far was either exceptionally lucky or had remarkable courage and strength. As the Infinite Train approached, several armed survivors instinctively raised their guns, but upon recognizing Shu Qin leading the way, they cautiously lowered their weapons. The train rolled in slowly. Inside the carriages, Shasha, KIKI, and Chen Sixuan peered through the windows at the convoy outside, while the survivors outside fixed their gazes on the heavily armored locomotive. "Another train..." "Whoa! Look at that armor¡ªit¡¯s insane! Way better than the scrap metal we slapped onto our rigs." "It looks like a factory-made Apocalypse Train... Could it be from the Federation?" "Who knows? But it¡¯s badass as hell!" The murmurs of the survivors filled the air. Once the train fully stopped, Lin Xian stepped out. A few convoy leaders made their way over from nearby. Lin Xian recognized two of them¡ªaside from Shu Qin, there was also Xu Jin, the middle-aged man he had met before. It seemed their convoys had grouped together on their way to Yubei City. "Let me introduce you," Shu Qin said, moving swiftly. "This is Captain Lin, leader of the Infinite Convoy." She then gestured toward an older man with graying hair. "And this here¡ªOld Mo, Mo Chengzhi, leader of the Iron Force Convoy. He used to be a mechanical engineer at Kehua Heavy Industries." "Tsk, tsk!" The man called Old Mo was lean and wiry. Despite being in his fifties or sixties, he sported a punk Harley-Davidson-style leather jacket, tight pants, a checkered scarf, and sunglasses, giving him a rather fashionable yet eccentric look. He strode straight to the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive, lifted his sunglasses, and his eyes lit up with excitement. "Beautiful... absolutely beautiful! I never thought I¡¯d see a gem like this in the Apocalypse. Hey, kid, where¡¯d you find this thing? And you actually got it running?! This has to be a first-generation power turbine, right? Incredible!" Lin Xian could tell Old Mo was an expert. "That¡¯s right. Took some effort..." Old Mo nodded in approval, patting the steel body of the locomotive. "It¡¯s impressive, no doubt. But the terrain restrictions are a serious issue. Since yesterday, we¡¯ve seen multiple trains come through¡ªbesides the Federation Phoenix and Iron Guard Battalion¡¯s intercontinental trains, we even spotted the Silver Star, an Eternal-Class Train built by the Fingar Family from Yang City. That beast had 118 carriages, carried over 3,000 people, and was powered by two micro-core engines with four railguns mounted on it." "Then there was Dragon Mountain No. 1, another intercontinental-class train, completely overhauled by the entire Dragon Mountain City. That thing was a double-deck train-city hybrid, practically a moving metropolis!" "But still... terrain is a massive limitation. Even with track-laying equipment, they¡¯re constantly restricted by the rails. We, on the other hand, modify a heavy truck, and we can go anywhere." His expression was filled with passion but also conflict¡ªclear signs of a man who had dedicated his life to machinery. "Planes are even more flexible. But what good does that do?" Xu Jin sighed. "Just got word that Sky City Qingluan completely crashed into the Pacific Ocean yesterday. God knows how many people died. Hah... You escape the Abyss, only to be swallowed by the Nightfall." He continued, "Every method has its trade-offs. Sure, trucks have more freedom, but with the blizzard raging, you¡¯re basically waiting to die without a heavy-duty snowplow. Didn¡¯t the Glasses Convoy get wiped out like that?" Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Glasses? The guy who traded Eerie Blood Crystals with me last time?" He recalled the man¡ªat the time, his convoy had just survived a major battle, and he had looked utterly dejected. Yet, they still had plenty of members left back then. "They¡¯re all gone?" "Yeah." "They were attacked by eerie entities?" "No," Shu Qin said grimly. "They got trapped in the snowstorm, and the Nightfall Invasion got to them. Someone in their team mutated, and... well, you can guess the rest." Nightfall Invasion... Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced. Was this what Ding Junyi had referred to as Dark Night Infection? "Is there any way to defend against it?" Lin Xian asked. "No," Old Mo rasped, waving a hand dismissively. "Anyone who¡¯s injured, mentally exhausted, or already weak-willed could be taken by this evil force at any moment. They turn into something that¡¯s neither human nor ghost." Shu Qin nodded. "That¡¯s why, in our convoy, anyone who¡¯s injured is immediately isolated in a separate vehicle to prevent a chain reaction." Lin Xian was shocked. He thought back to when KIKI was gravely wounded and that invisible Corrupting Demon appeared. He remembered the train being infiltrated by the eerie radio frequency¡ªit had been a terrifyingly close call. But now, with the Eerie Cube, did that mean this would never happen on his train again? If so... his Infinite Train was literally the safest place in existence! "Where¡¯s Jiang Yun?" Lin Xian suddenly asked about the Chasing Wind Convoy leader. "They headed toward Ping¡¯a Lake that night," Xu Jin replied, looking surprised. "You didn¡¯t hear? That night, a massive zombie riot broke out. Didn¡¯t you get caught in it too?" Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. "You guys encountered it as well?!" Chapter 127: Purified Water "We all encountered it! If it weren¡¯t for Jiang Yun, we would¡¯ve been completely wiped out!" Shu Qin¡¯s voice rang with anger, her expression darkening. "There was a gang of thugs called the Black Crow Four, specialized in hunting down Ability Users. One of them seemed to have the power to repel zombies. That night, when all our convoys gathered at the factory, they targeted us¡ªthey wanted to wipe us all out. Later, Jiang Yun and Big Beard¡¯s convoy chased them all the way to Ping¡¯a Lake, but Big Beard¡¯s team suffered heavy losses, and one of Jiang Yun¡¯s men, Dongdong, died there too... Even worse, according to radio reports, those four bastards got away in the end. Damn it!" Her frustration was palpable. Clearly, that zombie horde attack had cost them dearly. Lin Xian¡¯s expression shifted as he processed the information. So that zombie horde had nothing to do with Tang Hai after all... His luck really was terrible¡ªhe had run into two major disasters at the same time. "Dongdong..." Lin Xian recalled the young man who had guided them through Qu Guan City that night and even warned them to be cautious. He sighed, feeling a twinge of regret. "Yeah, those guys were total maniacs." Lin Xian nodded, realizing that night had been even more dangerous than he originally thought. Not only had he barely survived, but he had also unknowingly made new enemies. "Right, there¡¯s someone else you should meet." Shu Qin suddenly remembered something and pointed toward a large, heavily modified RV parked by the roadside. To Lin Xian¡¯s surprise, a beach umbrella was set up beside the vehicle. Beneath it, a young man wearing sunglasses lounged on a beach chair, sipping tea. A small table beside him held an elegant tea set and assorted pastries. The casual, carefree scene was completely at odds with the somber atmosphere of the survivors around them. "Who the hell is that? Doesn¡¯t look like a refugee... more like someone on vacation," Lin Xian remarked. "That¡¯s Lu Xingchen," Shu Qin explained. "He¡¯s a solo survivor, a one-man convoy. We met him back at Mount Daluo, and he¡¯s helped us out quite a bit on the way to Yubei." She paused before adding, "His Ability is extremely powerful¡ªhe can handle eerie entities alone." Lin Xian raised an eyebrow and looked over at the man. Just then, Lu Xingchen tilted down his sunglasses, glanced at Lin Xian, and casually lifted a hand in greeting. "Hi~" Lin Xian gave a nod in return, but the man quickly lost interest, returning to his tea. After some introductions and small talk, Lin Xian got a rough understanding of the convoy groups present: Shu Qin¡¯s Bigfoot Convoy: 7 vehicles, 30+ survivors, moderate weapons.Xu Jin¡¯s Convoy: 18 vehicles, 3 heavy trucks, over 100 survivors.Old Mo¡¯s Iron Force Convoy: 2 heavily-armored, all-terrain crawler trucks, 20+ people (including family and close friends). Old Mo¡¯s crawler trucks were particularly impressive¡ªsix pairs of large off-road wheels, thick armor plating, and even watchtowers. The exterior was painted with a cool sunglasses logo and the words "Iron Force Clan". "So, why are you all stuck here?" Lin Xian asked, getting straight to the point. Shu Qin and Xu Jin exchanged glances before Shu Qin responded gravely, "The city has a large eerie entity inside!" Lin Xian frowned. "Are you talking about that giant jellyfish?" "You ran into it?!" Shu Qin asked in shock. Lin Xian didn¡¯t hide it. "Yeah, back when I was crossing Mount Daluo. Luckily, I managed to avoid it." "Then your luck¡¯s really good," Old Mo chuckled, pushing up his sunglasses. "Even the Iron Guard Battalion was forced to retreat when they encountered that thing. If we see it, the only thing we can do is run." Xu Jin spoke up next, "Aside from that, the roads are completely blocked. The entire city is crawling with zombies, and the snow and ice make driving impossible. That¡¯s why we decided to move onto the railway tracks¡ªfollowing the trains heading to the spaceport seemed like the best bet. Our vehicles are built for rough terrain, so we can manage it." "And there¡¯s fog in the city," Shu Qin added grimly. "We¡¯ve lost contact with many other convoys because of it. That¡¯s why we¡¯re trying to gather as many survivors as possible before making the push forward." "Wait a second," Lin Xian interrupted. "You said ''those jellyfish''¡ªas in more than one?" Shu Qin looked at him strangely. "Of course! There¡¯s definitely more than one. But unlike the large eerie entity in Mount Daluo, the ones in the fog are much smaller." Xu Jin shrugged. "Maybe they¡¯re its offspring. Either way, we¡¯ve seen multiple of them inside the city." Lin Xian nodded slowly. "That explains a lot. Well, the climbing passage is still operational. We can follow the railway tracks¡ªI¡¯ll lead the way with my train, and you all can follow behind. That way, we have more firepower if things go bad." The floating eerie entities made Lin Xian uneasy. His Infinite Train had solid defenses, but his firepower was still lacking. Until he finished assembling the 1130 CIWS, he wasn¡¯t fully prepared for battle. Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s plan, Shu Qin¡¯s eyes lit up. "That¡¯s perfect! Captain Lin, with your train leading the way, our chances will be much higher!" Old Mo, however, was more interested in Lin Xian¡¯s train. He strolled along the length of the Infinite Train, taking in every detail. Finally, he stopped and gave an approving nod. "Didn¡¯t expect you to have an intercontinental-class nuclear-powered locomotive as well," he mused. "How many passengers do you have on board?" "Less than ten," Lin Xian replied honestly. At this, all three convoy leaders gave him strange looks. Xu Jin was the first to react. "Less than ten people?! And you¡¯re running a train that big?!" "That takes some guts..." Shu Qin added suspiciously, "So does that mean everyone on your train is as strong as Lu Xingchen?" Lin Xian chuckled. "Not quite. I do have some ordinary people onboard. I¡¯m still looking for suitable teammates, but so far, I¡¯ve encountered more monsters than humans. Just making it this far alive is lucky enough." At these words, Shu Qin fell silent. More monsters than people. That wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. With zombies and eerie entities lurking everywhere, running into a living person was rare. Even the campfire gathering Jiang Yun had organized, where a few convoys had banded together for mutual support, was a rare stroke of luck. That was why Shu Qin trusted Lin Xian more than a stranger¡ªthey had already survived together once before. "Alright, it¡¯s settled then." Old Mo cracked his knuckles. "Lin¡¯s train will lead, and I¡¯ll cover the rear. Don¡¯t underestimate my trucks¡ªthey¡¯re packed with firepower!" "By the way, Captain Lin," Shu Qin suddenly walked back to her truck, pulled out a box, and handed it to him. "Last time, you fixed my water purifier, and I only repaid you with a box of canned food. I felt bad about that. Since we¡¯ve crossed paths again, take this¡ªyou¡¯ll find it useful. It¡¯s a set of reverse osmosis filter membranes." She smiled. "With these, our purifiers can now produce Level-2 purified water. We don¡¯t even need to boil it¡ªthe quality is safe for drinking. Over a hundred people in our group have been drinking it without any issues." Chapter 128: The Water Purifier Lin Xian was surprised as he accepted the box. "Level-2 Purified Water Standard... That¡¯s the Federation Phoenix¡¯s standard, right?" "Yeah," Xu Jin confirmed, pulling out a silver-colored detection device. "This is one of their research-grade instruments, including the Soul Wave Detector. We traded Eerie Blood Crystals for it aboard the Silver Star. That train stocked up on tons of supplies from the Phoenix¡¯s mobile rescue points, including some light industrial manufacturing equipment. Compared to our older devices, this one is a lot more precise." "There should be Federation Phoenix personnel stationed at the spaceport," he added, "but I¡¯m not sure if we can trade with them." Lin Xian thought for a moment, then returned to his train and filled a cup of water from the onboard purifier before stepping back out. "Brother Xu, test this for me." Xu Jin nodded. "Is this from your train¡¯s water purification system? Alright, I¡¯ll check it out." He casually placed the silver detector into the cup. After a few seconds, a green light flashed on the device. Lin Xian assumed this meant the test was complete, but to his surprise, Xu Jin, Shu Qin, and Old Mo all froze, their faces changing drastically. "Level-1 Purified Water?!!" "What the...?!" Old Mo pushed down his sunglasses, his expression filled with disbelief. "Kid, did you just distill this water?" "No," Lin Xian replied, confused. "It¡¯s just filtered through the purifier." Xu Jin and Shu Qin exchanged stunned glances. "That¡¯s impossible," Xu Jin said. "Even the highest-end purifiers can only get water down to Level-2. Unless you immediately distill it, it naturally degrades after an hour. There¡¯s no way it should stay at Level-1 purity!" "Is that true?" Lin Xian frowned. To verify, he turned toward Chen Sixuan. "Ms. Chen, bring me a bottle of sealed water." She nodded and quickly fetched an unopened bottle of drinking water. Lin Xian poured some into a new cup and handed it to Xu Jin. "It won¡¯t work," Xu Jin said as he ran the test. "Even sealed bottled water can¡¯t escape the effects of Nightfall Infection." Sure enough, the device lit up with a yellow light. "See? Green is Level-1, yellow is Level-2, and orange or red means the water is completely unsafe to drink." Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed. So even the cleanest factory-sealed water was corrupted by Nightfall, yet somehow... his train¡¯s water purifier produced purer water than bottled water? What the hell? If water became contaminated after an hour, then there was only one way to confirm his theory¡ªhe needed to filter bottled water through his purifier, then wait for an hour. If the water remained at Level-1, then that meant the Eerie Cube truly blocked the Nightfall Infection! "Captain Lin, what model is your purifier? How is it able to directly produce Level-1 Purified Water?" Xu Jin and Shu Qin¡¯s eyes were burning with curiosity. Even though boiling water could improve its safety, it would never reach Level-1 purity. Only distillation could achieve that, but distillation consumed a ton of energy, making it impractical for most convoys. For the majority of survivors, as long as their water was drinkable and wouldn¡¯t kill them, they were willing to settle for Level-2 Purified Water. Yet Lin Xian¡¯s purifier? It could bypass distillation entirely and still produce Level-1 water¡ªmeaning he could drink the cleanest water anytime, anywhere. This wasn¡¯t just advanced equipment¡ªthis was a luxury in the apocalypse! "I found it along the way," Lin Xian said vaguely, seeing their eager expressions. Then, after a pause, he added, "But I have extra units. If you want one, I¡¯m willing to trade for Eerie Blood Crystals." Making these purifiers wasn¡¯t particularly difficult for Lin Xian. Keeping them to himself didn¡¯t make much sense. Instead, he could exchange them for more Blood Crystals¡ªwhich were far more valuable for survival and strength. Currently, the Infinite Train only had two Blood Crystals: One Level-1 Blood Crystal was installed in the radio station.One Level-2 Blood Crystal was inside the Soul Wave Detector. He had none to spare. "Seriously?!" Xu Jin¡¯s eyes gleamed. "How many do you have?" "Two," Lin Xian replied. "But I need to dismantle them first." "Two?! You lucky bastard!" Old Mo whistled. "How many Blood Crystals do you want for one?" Xu Jin and Shu Qin exchanged glances. "Our two convoys can share one purifier," Shu Qin suggested. "That way, we¡¯ll have three purifiers in total, which is enough. But we don¡¯t have many Blood Crystals¡ªonly small ones. I heard large eerie entities drop bigger ones, but we can¡¯t handle those." One hundred survivors sharing one Level-1 purifier and two Level-2 purifiers was more than enough. Their priority was to give the purest water to children and the wounded, reducing their risk of Nightfall Infection. Xu Jin took out five small Blood Crystals, some of which had been traded from others. Lin Xian inspected them¡ªthey were Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystals, likely from creatures on the same level as the Red Centipede, Fog Spider, or Three-Headed Monster. His estimation of their convoy¡¯s strength rose¡ªthey weren¡¯t weak. Clearly, having a large team was a major advantage. "Alright," Lin Xian agreed. "Three crystals for one purifier." "Deal!" Xu Jin and Shu Qin agreed instantly, handing over three Blood Crystals. Without hesitation, Old Mo reached into his pocket and pulled out a metal case. Inside were four Blood Crystals. "For Xiao Le and the others to have clean water," he said gruffly. "I¡¯m getting one too!" Lin Xian nodded and accepted six Blood Crystals in total. He returned to the Infinite Train, and about ten minutes later, he and Luo Ye carried out two large purifiers. The A1-Class Subcritical Reverse Osmosis Purifier was significantly bulkier than Shu Qin¡¯s original one. The moment it was brought out, dozens of convoy members gathered around, their eyes filled with amazement. "Holy crap, this thing looks high-tech as hell!" "This has to be top-tier Federation equipment..." "I bet it¡¯s worth a fortune!" Xu Jin and Shu Qin wasted no time. Their teams carefully loaded the purifier onto their heavy trucks, where all critical survival gear was stored. "Seriously, thank you," Shu Qin said, genuinely grateful. She glanced toward Lin Xian¡¯s train, a flicker of yearning in her eyes. "You¡¯ve been running non-stop," she sighed. "Honestly... if we ever got the chance, I¡¯d love for my entire convoy to join your train. Surviving out here is just too damn hard." Lin Xian fell silent. He had thought about it before¡ªwhat if he extended his train, adding more survival carriages? In theory, his train could accommodate far more people. Then there was the Silver Star, and Dragon Mountain No.1, both of which had been modified into massive, moving cities. That was his original dream, wasn¡¯t it? Hearing Shu Qin¡¯s words... Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but seriously consider the idea once again. Chapter 129: The Alliance "We''re basically banding together now, but in the current situation, we can''t take all of you with us. Everyone¡¯s vehicles are loaded with supplies, and if we make it across the Dazhu Plateau alive and find a few survival carriages in Jiazhou City, we might really be able to form a mobile fortress train and survive together." Right now, the Infinite Train didn¡¯t have enough survival carriages. The immediate priority was reaching the High-Altitude Corridor before nightfall. The city was shrouded in dense fog, and solving their current predicament was the top priority. There was no time for Lin Xian to refit the train or search for additional carriages. The entire freight platform was filled with either container cars or flatbed trailers. The idea sounded great, but reality was far from ideal. Shu Qin had only spoken casually, but Lin Xian¡¯s words unexpectedly touched her. She smiled and said, ¡°Thank you. We¡¯ll all do our best to survive and keep pace with your train.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Unlike the sentimental mood, Old Mo grinned and said in a carefree tone, ¡°But if you get the chance, I¡¯d suggest heading to Xingcheng or Jinhai to modify the train with wheeled tracks. There¡¯s a tech called Amphibious Transformation Drive, allowing interchangeable movement. If you get that working, you could drive anywhere without needing rails.¡± Xu Jin let out a breath and said, ¡°Whether it''s tracks or treads, you¡¯ve got a much better path than us with our trucks and off-road vehicles. So let¡¯s cut the chatter and get into the city before dark. The spaceport announced that the Climbing Passage will shut down tomorrow, but with that ¡®big guy¡¯ in the sky, who knows if the airport can hold out? If we don¡¯t make it up there, all this talk is meaningless¡ªwe¡¯ll just be stuck here in Yubei City waiting to die.¡± Lin Xian nodded, his expression growing serious. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move out. Stay sharp and don¡¯t fall behind.¡± ¡°Safe travels.¡± ¡°Safe travels...¡± ¡°Take care, kid.¡± With a few simple words, their temporary alliance was formed. Xu Jin returned to his convoy to organize things, and soon, the parked vehicles ahead cleared the road. From a distance, Lu Xingchen, who had been lounging under his RV, casually pushed down his sunglasses, stretched, and started packing away his sunshade and reclining chair before getting back into his vehicle. ¡°Who¡¯s that guy? He looks so smug.¡± Inside the Infinite Train''s cockpit, KIKI and Shasha peered through binoculars, watching Lu Xingchen. Shasha pouted, ¡°It¡¯s freezing, and he¡¯s out sunbathing? Is he hot or something?¡± Lin Xian walked into the cockpit and quickly relayed the latest updates. Then, he started up the train, guiding it toward the freight station¡¯s exit. The industrial city was built at the base of the snow-capped plateau, and from the station¡¯s vantage point, they could see the outskirts of the city nestled within a mountain valley¡ªbut the main city center was still out of sight. However, beyond the valley, they could see the High-Altitude Corridor¡¯s towering Sky Pillar, standing majestic and imposing. Zzzzt... ¡°Captain Lin, can you hear me?¡± The alliance team synchronized their radio frequencies, and now Lin Xian, Old Mo, Shu Qin, Xu Jin, and the enigmatic Lu Xingchen were all linked and communicating. On a heavy truck fitted with anti-slip chains, Shu Qin checked her radio and said, ¡°It¡¯s 18:15 now. We have about half an hour before nightfall. I estimate it''ll take us around 40 minutes to reach the spaceport¡ªassuming nothing unexpected happens.¡± ¡°Doesn''t matter if it''s night or not,¡± Xu Jin replied. ¡°The city''s already filled with fog, and the Phoenix Group warned about eerie entities appearing in daylight¡ªso who knows how many monsters are lurking around? I¡¯d bet it¡¯s just as bad as nighttime.¡± From his perspective, Yubei City was already in a catastrophic state. Going in now was a life-or-death gamble, day or night. With the Climbing Passage shutting down soon, this was the last chance for nearly 200 people to escape. ¡°Yeah, the fog is just as bad as the dark.¡± Lin Xian responded over the radio. He had already survived the fog escape in Beiwang, so he knew firsthand that the mist was indistinguishable from total darkness. Thinking back, it had already been snowing when they entered Beiwang. The Phoenix Group¡¯s report was proving to be eerily accurate. ¡°Let¡¯s move out. Stay alert.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression hardened as he drove the Infinite Train forward. The main road was clear of snow, likely plowed by other trains. Aboard the Infinite Train, the crew was on high alert. Luo Ye and Shasha were fully armed. Thanks to Lin Xian¡¯s Manufacturing Plant, Shasha now carried a full ammo backpack filled with grenade launchers, while Luo Ye had two full belts of bullets slung over his shoulders¡ªlooking well-stocked and ready for battle. ¡°Ugh, we¡¯re gonna see that giant jellyfish again...¡± KIKI rubbed her hands together and grimaced. ¡°I really hate anything with tentacles.¡± Beep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep¡ª Lin Xian used the scanner blueprints he got from Xu Pu to quickly fabricate a water quality detector. He handed it to Chen Sixuan and instructed, ¡°Chen, take a cup of water and test it. If the light is green, it¡¯s Level 1 quality. Then check again in an hour to see if there¡¯s any change.¡± Chen Sixuan immediately understood his intent and went to fetch water. KIKI asked, ¡°You really think the Dark Infection can taint bottled water?¡± ¡°No need to think¡ªI know it can.¡± Lin Xian turned to KIKI. ¡°But what I¡¯m testing now is our train¡¯s defense.¡± He considered explaining the Eerie Cube, but then realized he didn¡¯t fully understand it himself. Dark Invasion, Night Infection, Fear Corruption¡ªeven he was totally clueless about how they worked. Trying to explain them would be pointless. That was a problem for Ding Junyi and the Phoenix Group to study. Until they had solid research results, all he could do was test if the Eerie Cube¡¯s shielding worked. If the train¡¯s water remained unchanged, then the Eerie Cube was indeed a priceless artifact. The Federation would definitely want to study it, but even with his Mechanical Heart, Lin Xian could neither scan nor modify it¡ªonly seal it away. Clang¡ªclang¡ª The Infinite Train rolled out of the station, heading down the mountain road toward the city. Behind it, countless trucks and vehicles followed in an orderly fashion. At the very back, Old Mo¡¯s two massive fortress trucks rumbled along, towering over the rest. Among the moving vehicles, a sleek, luxurious RV cruised along, driven by Lu Xingchen. Wearing sunglasses, his sharp features oozed confidence as he casually whistled a tune. Inside the RV, Buddhist charms hung from the rearview mirror, and the dashboard was lined with soft padding and delicate trinkets. Unlike the desperate, ragtag survivors, his vehicle was immaculate and stylish. Hearing the intense radio chatter between the convoy leaders, he smirked slightly and muttered, ¡°Everyone¡¯s so tense... sigh.¡± He adjusted his sunglasses with a flick of his fingers. A tiny flame ignited at his fingertip, flickered for a moment, then was effortlessly snuffed out by his breath. ¡°No big deal. I¡¯ll step in if needed.¡± Chapter 130: Entering the City Buzzzzz¡ª On the Yubei City freight rail, a heavy train rumbled forward, followed closely by a long convoy of trucks and off-road vehicles, moving like a dark tide toward Yubei City No. 1 Spaceport. As they passed through a mountain valley, the main city came into view. With nightfall approaching, the entire city was swallowed in a gray-black haze, looking somber and desolate. Before Apocalypse Day, Yubei City was the largest industrial and freight hub in the southwest, serving as the gateway to the Huanxing Orbital Rail from Tianhai Province. It was once known as the Pearl of Tianhai. Now, the once-thriving aerial rail pillars that had propelled the city''s economy stood tall over the Dazhu Plateau, resembling towering tombstones. The howling wind swept through the ruins, echoing a dirge for humanity. As the train advanced, zombies began appearing along the tracks. The roar of engines and clatter of wheels drew their attention, and soon, they started chasing after the convoy. More and more zombies joined the pursuit, but the convoy remained disciplined¡ªno one fired a shot, no vehicle fell behind. Watching through the train¡¯s nuclear-powered camera feed, Lin Xian felt a sense of respect¡ªthe surviving convoys were clearly no ordinary groups. What surprised him even more was that Old Mo, Shu Qin, and Xu Jin¡¯s teams seemed to have a good amount of Eerie Blood Crystals. Did they have hidden experts in their ranks? After all, the eerie entities he had encountered so far were... something else entirely. ¡°If we had a hundred people on this train, each equipped with a grenade launcher, we¡¯d basically have a mobile heavy artillery unit.¡± The idea was tempting. With his Mechanical Heart, building a firepower-based survival convoy was completely feasible. But before he could dwell on his expansion plans, his expression stiffened at the sight ahead. As the train entered the city, the tracks were lined with high walls and barbed wire. Beyond the fences, the streets were packed with moving figures¡ªa dense, black tide of zombies, stretching endlessly. SCREEECH! The ground shuddered as the horde howled, triggered by the train¡¯s vibrations. Behind him, Shu Qin, Xu Jin, and Old Mo also saw the sight and visibly tensed. A full-city zombie tide! ¡°Attention! Do NOT fire! Stay close to the Infinite Train! Do NOT break formation!¡± Xu Jin¡¯s voice came through the radio, cold and firm. If the zombie horde broke into the tracks or split the convoy, it would be a massacre¡ªonly the heavy trucks stood a chance of pushing through. Regular off-road vehicles would be instantly swallowed. As they moved deeper into the city, zombies flooded every street, an ocean of the undead. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Suddenly, a series of explosions erupted far ahead¡ªthe sound rolled closer like thunder. Gunfire and engine roars echoed through the streets. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze locked onto the right front side of the convoy¡ªin the distance, a massive cluster of zombies was shifting, rushing toward the source of the explosions. The scene turned bizarre¡ªsome zombies charged the convoy¡¯s fences, while others sprinted toward the distant battle. ¡°Looks like another convoy is in combat.¡± Shu Qin¡¯s voice came through the radio. Xu Jin remained calm. ¡°Stay on alert. It¡¯s not our fight. Hold formation.¡± ¡°Deploy drones for recon.¡± Lin Xian ordered KIKI, who responded without hesitation. Two drones lifted off, soaring toward the battlefield while the train continued forward. DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!!! Gunfire, collisions, and screeching brakes grew louder. The drones soon transmitted live footage. ¡°Got eyes on them!¡± KIKI¡¯s voice carried a hint of shock. ¡°It¡¯s a large convoy, but they¡¯re not running from zombies¡ªthey¡¯re chasing another convoy!¡± Pursuit? Who the hell would be fighting in the middle of a zombie-infested city? Lin Xian immediately relayed the intel across the convoy¡¯s comms. Shu Qin, sensing something off, ordered her team¡¯s own drone to close in. As the video feed showed more vehicles, Shu Qin¡¯s face darkened. She grabbed her radio and shouted: ¡°I know that convoy! That¡¯s the Black Crow Four!¡± The moment she said it, Xu Jin and Old Mo¡¯s faces hardened. Even Lu Xingchen, whistling in his luxury RV, suddenly went silent, his gaze sharp as he peered toward the battle ahead. ¡°Weren¡¯t they just four guys with four vehicles?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe they absorbed other convoys and grew stronger. But I recognize their signature vehicles.¡± ¡°Who are they?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. Lin Xian answered, ¡°A group we heard about on the radio earlier.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression turned anxious. ¡°They made it this far? Aren¡¯t they afraid of retaliation from other survivor groups or the Phoenix Guild?¡± ¡°Yubei City is already overrun. Other than the spaceport, no one¡¯s in control anymore.¡± Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure what these lunatics were after, but they were known for hunting Ability Users. Were they trying to power up by killing them? ¡°With this many of us, they wouldn¡¯t dare attack us... right?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°That depends on whether they come near us.¡± ¡°If they do...¡± ¡°Then we make the first move.¡± Their priority was reaching the spaceport, but knowing that this was the same group that once tried to wipe them out with a zombie horde, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t let it go. Especially after hearing that they had an Ability to control zombies¡ªif such power was in friendly hands, it¡¯d be a game-changer. But in the hands of murderers, it was a catastrophic threat. ¡°Luo Ye, Shasha¡ªstay alert. If anyone gets close, take them out.¡± ¡°Copy that!¡± Shasha¡¯s voice crackled over the radio. ¡°Got it!¡± In Carriage No. 2, KIKI sat cross-legged, floating slightly in the air, enjoying the newfound control over her evolved Ability. Shu Qin pulled out a black Remington M96, her eyes filled with killing intent. ¡°Lin, if they spot us, they¡¯ll likely attack immediately.¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, watching as the city¡¯s fog thickened. ¡°I know. The fog¡¯s rolling in¡ªhold formation. I¡¯ll keep watch.¡± ¡°A fight, huh? Guess us old men should join in too.¡± Old Mo¡¯s voice boomed over the radio, brimming with battle spirit. ¡°Good!¡± Xu Jin gritted his teeth, watching the distant street. He grabbed his radio and alerted all vehicles. ¡°Prepare for combat.¡± Chapter 131: Ability Hunters Boom! Boom! Boom! On a street teeming with zombies, a heavy-duty truck with a bulldozer blade carved out a bloody path. Behind it, an armored bus packed with women and children, along with several off-road vehicles and pickups, sped through the chaos. People on the vehicles fired frantically at their relentless pursuers. "They''re catching up!" the driver of a pickup truck shouted after glancing at the rearview mirror. "D**n it!" The convoy leader, a middle-aged man with a blood-streaked forehead, sat in the passenger seat of an off-road vehicle. Looking at the endless zombie horde ahead, he gritted his teeth. "Why the hell are all these zombies swarming us?!" "Rocket launcher!!" A panicked voice screamed through the walkie-talkie. Whoosh! Boom! A trailing off-road vehicle exploded in a fiery blast, the force flipping it over. The people inside turned into blazing fireballs in an instant. "Ah Jie! Li Qian!!" The middle-aged man let out a desperate roar, but the walkie-talkie only responded with silence. "Screw it, let''s fight!!" His eyes glowed with fury as deep crimson scales spread across his neck and face. His hands transformed into massive beast-like claws, resembling those of a Tyrannosaurus. Without hesitation, he kicked open the door and climbed onto the car roof. The other team members'' eyes turned bloodshot with rage. At once, a dozen firearms unleashed a storm of bullets at the approaching enemy vehicles. Several hundred meters behind them, three black semi-trucks, covered in green graffiti, led a fleet of armored war vehicles, each modified for combat. A blonde thug, his face covered in tattoos, stood atop one of the SUVs, gripping a rocket launcher. Despite the apocalypse, he still had a cigarette dangling from his lips, grinning maniacally as he admired the wreckage ahead. "Hahaha! Got ''em! Got ''em!" He slapped the car roof excitedly. "Boss, let Lolo hit ¡®em harder! Let''s trap them completely!" The driver, a man in his early thirties with a buzz cut and a sinister expression, was the leader of the four-person crew¡ªQiu Long. With a lazy smirk, he picked up the walkie-talkie and spoke in a languid tone, "Slow down. We''re entering Yubei City. Don''t stir up too many zombies and trigger a chain reaction." "Boss, slow down? Why?!" Blonde Thug looked confused. "You know sh*t," Qiu Long sneered, his gaze locked onto the fleeing convoy. He spoke with eerie calm, "Having someone clear the road for us isn¡¯t a bad thing. They can''t escape anyway. The real thrill is in the hunt." "Hehehe, got it, got it." At the front of the semi-trucks, a burly man drove while a punk-styled woman with short purple hair and a lip piercing lounged beside him. Her eerie green eyes flickered slightly as her ability weakened just a bit. She shot the driver a sharp look. "You heard him. Slow down." "Got it," the burly driver muttered, forcing a grin. But a flicker of resentment flashed in his eyes. If Lin Xian were here, he would have recognized this driver instantly¡ªZhou Lei, the same man who shot Qian Yu in cold blood at Beiwang Outpost and fled with a stolen vehicle. Despite his outwardly honest demeanor, his eyes were always brimming with ruthless cunning. That night, he barely escaped the outpost thanks to the chaos caused by the zombie horde. After looting half of the Black Jiao Convoy¡¯s supply trucks, he gathered his remaining men and picked up a few new recruits along the way¡ªincluding a mutant ability user. His group had grown significantly, almost reaching mid-tier status. But then they crossed paths with the Black Crow Four. The infamous gang raided them mercilessly, swallowing his entire convoy whole. With no way to resist, Zhou Lei was forced to submit, becoming nothing more than the driver of their lead truck. As for the purple-haired woman beside him¡ªLolo¡ªshe was ranked third in the Black Crow Four. Zhou Lei had witnessed her terrifying ability firsthand. She could manipulate zombies into frenzies, triggering chain reactions that led them to attack designated targets. It was downright monstrous. Under Lolo¡¯s influence, the zombies that had been surging toward the fleeing convoy suddenly slowed. However, the chaos in the city had already spiraled beyond her control. The entire area had turned into a frenzied battlefield, with both convoys attracting more and more zombies. Ratatatatat!! The gunfire intensified. The heavy-duty truck plowed through skulls, leaving a trail of crushed corpses in its wake. Qiu Long watched as an ability user from the escaping convoy leaped onto the roof of their own vehicle and then, with a burst of speed, lunged straight toward them. He scoffed. "A beast-type ability user? Not even evolved yet. What a waste of time." Picking up his walkie-talkie, he casually ordered, "Guo Er, he¡¯s yours." "Got it!" As soon as he spoke, the passenger door of another truck swung open. A long-haired, dazed-looking young man¡ªhis face twisted with an unsettling grin¡ªsuddenly leaped out. For a split second, it seemed like he would plunge straight into the zombie horde below. But then¡ªfwip!¡ªa pair of gray-black wings sprouted from his back, and with a powerful flap, he soared into the sky, shooting toward the beast-transformed middle-aged man. "Grandpa''s here to teach you a lesson!" he cackled, his speed terrifyingly fast. The middle-aged ability user, furious at the challenge, let out a snarl. His body continued transforming as his beast claws lashed out at the airborne attacker. Whoosh! The powerful strike tore through the air, but to his shock, Guo Er didn¡¯t even dodge. Instead, he countered with a single punch¡ªclang!¡ªsending sparks flying. The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. His claws had hit something metallic. A closer look revealed Guo Er''s right arm gleaming with a mechanical sheen¡ªhis joints were made of steel. "A mechanical prosthetic?!" "Pathetic!" Guo Er sneered. In a blink, he twisted around, gripped the middle-aged man¡¯s throat, and, with a powerful flap of his wings, dragged him skyward. "AAARGH!!" The man thrashed wildly, his scales spreading as his transformation intensified. One claw locked onto Guo Er¡¯s prosthetic arm while the other lashed toward his gut. But Guo Er wasn¡¯t giving him the chance. Mid-flight, he suddenly loosened his grip¡ªwhoosh!¡ªdropping his prey from the sky. Before the man could react, he slammed straight into the path of an oncoming truck. Boom! The gruesome impact sent his body crashing into a storefront, his fate unknown. "WHOOO!!" The scene drew cheers from Lolo and the gang. The man hadn¡¯t even landed a proper hit before being obliterated. Still hovering mid-air, Guo Er chuckled. "Another beast-type ability user? Wonder if he can enhance my evolution... Whatever, I''ll just keep trying till I find the right one¡ª" Huh? Mid-sentence, he suddenly noticed something in the distance. His eyes narrowed as he peered toward a massive rail line a few streets away. A heavily armored train, escorted by dozens of vehicles, was speeding along the tracks. Guo Er¡¯s grin vanished. He grabbed his walkie-talkie. "Boss, you won¡¯t believe this. We just ran into an old friend¡ªit''s that train from Qu Guan." Inside an off-road vehicle, Qiu Long¡¯s expression shifted. "Well, well... what a coincidence." "Boss!" Blonde Thug leaned back into his seat, scowling. "Last time, that b**tard Jiang Yun let all those fat fish slip through our fingers. We need payback!" "You think I don¡¯t know that?" Qiu Long smirked and picked up his walkie-talkie. "Lolo, send the zombies to cut off their convoy. Everyone else¡ªtake the next turn!" "Move in!" Chapter 132: The Great Battle Buzzzzz!!! What a twist of fate! Several heavy-duty trucks swerved left at an intersection, as countless zombies surged into the streets ahead. Yet, the Black Crow Convoy weaved through them effortlessly. The zombies charged forward, and so did the roaring engines. Some zombies lunged at the convoy, only to be swiftly crushed beneath the wheels. Hearing Qiu Long¡¯s command, the thugs inside the vehicles howled in excitement¡ªthey knew a grand hunt awaited them just ahead. Meanwhile, the smaller fleeing convoy, which had been under relentless gunfire, suddenly noticed the bullets had stopped. Confused, they hesitated for a moment. At the same time, in the ruins of a collapsed storefront, the middle-aged ability user, bloodied and battered, struggled to crawl out from beneath the rubble. "Brother Dong! Brother Dong!" His walkie-talkie crackled with urgent calls from his team. Kneeling, he grabbed it with shaking hands. "I... I''m still alive." "They''re not chasing us anymore." Panting heavily, he was at a loss for the sudden change. Though he didn''t understand what had happened, he immediately signaled his men to pick him up. High above the battlefield, Guo Er spared a lazy glance at the store. To him, that guy was just a weak Level-1 ability user¡ªworthless. His real prize was that train! "Guo Er, block the road! Don¡¯t let them escape!" "Exactly what I was thinking!" Guo Er sneered. The ability to fly was the dream of many survivors. It granted him unmatched mobility in the apocalypse. Even if he couldn¡¯t win a fight, he could always retreat. Over time, his confidence had swelled to arrogance. Now, eyeing the speeding train, he pulled out a grenade, flapped his wings, and shot toward the locomotive. Rat-tat-tat-tat! Seeing a figure approaching from the sky, the convoy''s gunners fired without hesitation. "Captain Lin, watch out!" Shu Qin''s anxious voice crackled through Infinite Train¡¯s cockpit intercom. "Perfect timing!" Lin Xian¡¯s sharp gaze locked onto the airborne attacker. The moment he understood Guo Er¡¯s intent, his expression turned cold. "Oh, you can fly? Let¡¯s see if you still can after this!" Zap! Lin Xian swung open the cockpit door, leaned out, and raised his hand¡ªelectricity crackled between his fingers. Guo Er scoffed mid-flight. "Trying to hit me with¡ª" BZZZT! A blinding bolt of electricity surged through the sky¡ªfar faster than any bullet. Before Guo Er could react, it pierced straight through his shoulder and one of his wings. Feathers exploded in all directions, scattering like a wounded duck blasted from the sky. "Holy sh*t! A lightning ability user?!" Panic twisted Guo Er¡¯s face. No matter how fast he was, he couldn¡¯t outrun lightning. Struck hard, he spiraled out of control, plummeting toward the railway tracks below. SCREECH¡ª The Infinite Train slowed to a stop. The convoy behind it followed suit, soldiers gripping their weapons, preparing for battle. Lin Xian leaped off the train, sprinting toward the fallen enemy¡ªone less enemy, one less threat! BANG! BANG! BANG! Gunfire erupted! The side door of Car No. 7 slammed open, and Luo Ye unleashed a barrage from his light machine gun, shredding into the oncoming enemy convoy. From the rear, Shu Qin and Xu Jin¡¯s teams also opened fire. The battle had officially ignited. "There''s a strong one among them?!" Inside the Black Crow convoy, Qiu Long watched in surprise as Guo Er was shot out of the sky. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. VROOM! He slammed the gas pedal, plowing through the zombie horde. Then, turning to a subordinate, he barked, "Take the wheel!" With terrifying speed, he kicked open the door and leaped out, his entire body enveloped in a blood-red aura. Boom! Boom! His sheer momentum shattered several zombies in his path as he charged straight toward Lin Xian. This was an extreme physical enhancement ability! Meanwhile, Blonde Thug reappeared on the roof of a truck, raising his rocket launcher. "Eat this, motherf**kers!" In the Infinite Train¡¯s support convoy, Xu Jin saw this and immediately shouted into the walkie-talkie: "Rocket incoming¡ªwatch out!" Whoosh! A rocket streaked through the air, heading straight for the Infinite Train¡¯s locomotive. BOOM! But just before impact, a pillar of flames erupted, swallowing the missile midair and detonating it prematurely! "What the f**k?! Another ability user?!" Blonde Thug gaped. Boom! A camper van barreled onto the battlefield. Suddenly, from the center of the zombie horde, a blazing column of fire shot skyward! Flames roared, burning as bright as the sun. From the inferno, a red silhouette descended. Lu Xingchen emerged from the flames, his upper body stripped bare by the heat, his hands wreathed in fire. He stood between Qiu Long and Lin Xian, smiling. "Ability user?" Qiu Long¡¯s expression darkened as he took in this new opponent. Lu Xingchen grinned. "No¡ªI am a god." "A fire ability user?" Qiu Long narrowed his eyes at the flame-wielding youth. "Who the hell are you even talking to?" Lu Xingchen turned slightly, glancing at the charred zombie corpses around him. His brows furrowed. Sensing movement, he quickly spun back¡ª Qiu Long was already mid-air, fist aimed straight at his gut! WHOOSH! Lu Xingchen¡¯s face changed. Reacting instantly, he threw up both hands¡ª"Godflame Pillar!" BOOM! A torrent of fire erupted toward Qiu Long. "Are you f**king naming your attacks?!" Qiu Long roared. The raging flames engulfed him, halting his strike. His skin burned black, and the sheer agony contorted his face. But then¡ª His blood boiled. Veins bulged beneath his charred skin, rapidly regenerating as his blood energy surged. His strength was only increasing. Lin Xian, noticing the enormous fire pillar in the distance, finally understood¡ªLu Xingchen was a fire-type ability user. No wonder Shu Qin had praised his strength. A fire ability like that was the dream of countless survivors. With an ally like him, Lin Xian felt far more confident. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the fallen birdman. Ratatatat! Both sides unleashed a storm of bullets. Qiu Long, still grinning like a maniac, relished the chaos. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he locked onto Lu Xingchen. "I¡¯ll handle this fire-breathing freak. Blonde Thug¡ªgo help Guo Er!" "On it!" Blonde Thug tossed his empty launcher aside, grabbed two AKs, and slipped from the truck. Dashing between vehicles like a shadow, he moved with unnerving speed, expertly weaving through the battlefield. In an instant¡ª Ratatata! He gunned down two members of Xu Jin and Shu Qin¡¯s convoy with precise shots. Meanwhile, the Black Crow''s lead truck skidded to a halt. The purple-haired woman, Lolo, pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Zhou Lei, the former traitor now reduced to their lackey. "Fatty," she smirked. "Shouldn¡¯t you be doing something?" Zhou Lei swallowed hard. "O-of course! We¡¯re all in this together, right?" Feigning enthusiasm, he grabbed his gun and disembarked. Just then, he spotted someone¡ªhis former subordinate, Da Yong, rushing past. "Da Yong!" Da Yong shot him a glance¡ªthen completely ignored him and ran forward. Zhou Lei clenched his teeth. "Motherf**ker, traitors like you are the worst!" Which was ironic, considering he himself had betrayed multiple groups before. But now, watching the battle unfold, he sensed an opportunity. As both sides clashed violently, Zhou Lei¡¯s eyes darted around. Then¡ª He spotted something valuable. Chapter 133: Underestimated Ratatatatatat! On the Infinite Train, bullets hammered against the train¡¯s armored exterior. Outside, the chaos reached a new level¡ªzombies flooded in through a breach in the rail barriers, tearing into both sides indiscriminately. The once-distant firefight had turned into brutal close-quarters combat, with casualties mounting on both sides! Inside Car No. 3, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen cowered in fear as the gunfire intensified. "AHHH!! Why did we stop?!" Zhao Yan screamed. "Did the tracks get blocked? Why aren¡¯t we just leaving?!" Xu Wen shouted in panic. Across from them, Ding Junyi remained completely unfazed, tapping away at her laptop as if the battle outside was none of her concern. "Director Ding, get down! Bullets are flying everywhere!" Zhao Yan cried. "The windows in the research carriage are bulletproof. The entire train is reinforced to P5-grade protection, with additional external armor. Ordinary bullets won¡¯t affect us at all," Ding Junyi replied calmly, her hands never stopping on the keyboard. "Since we can¡¯t help, don¡¯t make unnecessary noise and distract others." Zhao Yan¡¯s shrieks slowly faded as she realized the logic in Ding Junyi¡¯s words. Her face twisted in frustration, but she clamped her mouth shut and covered her ears, waiting anxiously for the battle outside to end. BOOM! BOOM! Meanwhile, Lin Xian was closing in on the fallen Guo Er, unleashing relentless gunfire. Snow and dust burst into the air as the gray-winged birdman suddenly darted sideways. At the same time, a black object tumbled toward Lin Xian¡¯s feet. A live grenade! Lin Xian reacted instantly. With a flick of his wrist, he extended a mechanical clamp, snatched the grenade mid-air, and hurled it right back at Guo Er in one fluid motion. Guo Er, still retreating, barely had time to register what had happened before the very same grenade he had thrown came hurtling back at him. "You f**king b*stard! What kind of freak has a mechanical hand that long?!" he cursed. In reflex, he snapped his wings shut and raised his cybernetic arm to block the blast. BOOM! The explosion ripped through his wings, shrapnel punching bloody holes into them. Blackened by soot and seething with rage, Guo Er realized he had completely underestimated his opponent. Panic seized him¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a fight he could win. "Screw it, I''ll just take out a few weaklings before I retreat!" Determined to change tactics, he twisted in the air, adjusting his trajectory to target the more vulnerable survivors in the convoy. But just as he turned¡ª WHOOSH! Darkness. A giant electrical transmission tower, as if suddenly alive, snapped in half and came swinging toward him! CRACK! ZZZZZZZZT! Dozens of power cables snapped, and the steel tower, controlled by an unseen force, slammed into him mid-air. BAM! Guo Er crashed into the ground like a swatted fly, rolling to a stop beside the railway tracks. Near Infinite Train¡¯s open carriage door, KIKI lowered her right hand, her eyes glimmering with faint light. "Hmph. Flap those wings all you want, you¡¯re still just a crow," she sneered. CRACK. Guo Er groaned as he struggled to his feet¡ªhis wings were shattered, his bones fractured. He glanced toward the train, where two figures were approaching¡ªLin Xian and KIKI. Fear gripped him. Flying high and looking down on his victims, he had always felt untouchable. Now? He was prey. Lightning abilities. Telekinesis. What kind of monsters were on this train?! Guo Er¡¯s mind screamed retreat. "This level of ability... I should leave this for the boss." Click! He activated a small cylindrical device on his mechanical prosthetic¡ªa miniature explosive¡ªhis last trump card. But just as his fingers reached for it¡ª WHOOSH! A dark shadow lunged at him! "Who¡ª?!" BANG! BANG! BANG! Gunfire erupted as Blonde Thug fired to cover Guo Er. But it was too late. The shadow dodged every bullet, reaching Guo Er in seconds. THUMP! A boot slammed onto his mechanical arm, pinning him down. Before Guo Er could react¡ª CRACK! The shadow twisted his wrist, ripping the entire prosthetic arm off his body. At the same moment, the figure spun around, raising a massive black shotgun, aiming it point-blank at Guo Er¡¯s head. Two barrels. A Remington M96. Guo Er stared into the abyss of those twin muzzles. Fck... BOOM! His head exploded like a watermelon, chunks of skull and brain splattering onto the snow. Three seconds. A flawless sequence¡ªsprint, disarm, turn, execute. The shadow stood tall, gripping the still-smoking shotgun. Shu Qin. Lin Xian and KIKI stared, momentarily stunned. "Whoa, that was fast! Is she an ability user?" KIKI gasped. Lin Xian, eyes narrowing, shook his head. "She¡¯s not." He had assumed Shu Qin and Xu Jin¡¯s group were just hardened survivors¡ªtough, sure, but ordinary. Now? He realized he had completely underestimated them. Ding Junyi had once told him: "Those who survived the Polar Night, even without abilities, have evolved beyond human limits." Shu Qin was proof. She was no ordinary human. She wasn¡¯t here by luck¡ªshe had earned her survival. "YOU MOTHERF**KER!!!" Blonde Thug, seeing Guo Er¡¯s headless corpse, lost it. Raging, he sprayed bullets at Shu Qin with his AK-47. Shu Qin sidestepped, throwing the severed mechanical arm toward Lin Xian as she dashed forward with inhuman speed. At the same time, the Infinite Train convoy opened fire on Blonde Thug. Rat-tat-tat-tat! Lin Xian¡¯s eyes glinted as he caught the prosthetic arm mid-air. With a flick of his wrist, he fired wind cannons toward Shu Qin, covering her advance. Blonde Thug was caught off guard. A wind blast tore through his abdomen, leaving a gaping wound. "F**k!" He scrambled into the zombie horde, using the chaos for cover. Lin Xian frowned. Even if this guy had enhanced physical abilities? "LOLO! UNLEASH THE HORDE!!!" Blonde Thug yelled into his walkie-talkie, finally realizing they had miscalculated. This convoy was not an easy target. But they had one last trump card¡ªthe zombie swarm. On the Black Crow convoy, Lolo, the purple-haired woman, bit her lip. Seeing the battle turn against them, she activated her ability. Her eyes gleamed green, radiating an unseen force. ROAAAAARRRR!!! The zombies turned rabid¡ªtheir eyes gleamed with insane bloodlust, their target shifting toward the Infinite Train convoy. "Oh no! They¡¯ve unleashed the horde!" Xu Jin shouted. BAM! The side panel of a heavy-duty truck slammed open. A modified electric Gatling gun was wheeled out. "Hold the line!!!" WHIRRRRRRR! DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!!! The six-barreled beast roared, shredding the oncoming zombies. But it was too late¡ª They were now fighting on two fronts. Chapter 134: Bunker Boom! Boom! Boom! Flames roared across the streets, fire engulfing everything in its path. The zombie horde was overwhelming. Lu Xingchen and Qiu Long had fought their way from the roadside into a shop. Both of them were Evolution-Level Ability Users. Lu Xingchen¡¯s fire-based ability was undeniably powerful, but Qiu Long¡¯s eerie blood aura made him stronger the longer he fought, allowing him to recover at an alarming rate. The battle was at a deadlock. "You can recover?!" Lu Xingchen¡¯s face twisted in shock. He gritted his teeth and spat, "Then I¡¯ll just burn you to ashes and see if you can¡ª" "Too much talking!" Qiu Long blurred into a blood-red shadow, appearing before Lu Xingchen in an instant, launching a devastating punch. Lu Xingchen crossed his arms to block and retaliated by spewing flames behind him. "Reverse Thrust!" "What kind of dumbass name is that?! Do you have to yell out every move like you''re in an anime?" "Hmph! Fire Fist!" Completely immersed in his own world, Lu Xingchen ignored Qiu Long¡¯s taunts. He threw a punch, unleashing a column of scorching flames as thick as a water barrel. "Divine: Annihilating Flames!" ¨C Twin jets of fire burst from both hands."Divine: Flame Slash!" ¨C A downward slash of fire from one hand."Flame Emperor!" ¨C A massive fireball shot forward. Qiu Long¡¯s eyes darkened. He had killed countless ruthless men on his journey, yet this young brat had barely any combat experience but wielded terrifying power¡ªand to top it off, he kept shouting out ridiculous attack names. It pissed him off to no end. Meanwhile, Huang Mao sprinted toward the convoy, diving behind an off-road vehicle. Just then, an Ability User with hardened insect-like exoskeleton limbs advanced under a hail of bullets, leading a group of armed thugs. "Good timing! Da Yong, take out that chick. I¡¯ll get a beauty to keep you company in your car!" Huang Mao called out. "Heh! Sounds good!" Da Yong, a brute who used to follow Zhou Lei, wasn¡¯t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. He grinned, nearly drooling, as his eyes locked onto KIKI near the train. "I want that one!" "Then get your ass moving!" Huang Mao barked while firing his gun. "Alright! Kill ¡®em all!" Da Yong, despite being cursed at, gleefully raised his insect-like armored forearms, using them as a shield. He stepped onto the hood of a wrecked car and lunged forward. Bang! A thunderous gunshot echoed through the air. Da Yong, mid-leap, had just landed on the car roof when his chest and head exploded in a mist of blood and flesh. His brains, intestines, and shattered bones sprayed out in all directions, forming a thick crimson cloud. In the blink of an eye, only his half-torn torso remained¡ªhis exposed spine twitching in the air. A shocked silence fell over the thugs hiding behind the vehicle. Huang Mao¡¯s eyes widened in horror. "Holy f*! They have a sniper?!" Inside Car No. 1 of the Infinite Train, Chen Sixuan held her A33K Heavy Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle, her face pale, her eyes burning with barely contained fury. She didn¡¯t know why, but watching those raiders storm the convoy, watching her allies get slaughtered by zombies and bullets, made her blood boil. She had never fired a gun before, but when she saw the sniper rifle, an unfamiliar courage surged within her. Scope up. Safety off. Chamber a round. Aim. Fire. One shot. One kill. Through the scope, she saw Da Yong¡¯s torso disintegrate. Her body trembled, realization dawning upon her¡ªshe had just taken a life. Her mouth went dry, her breathing turned ragged, and even her fingertips shook. She had no idea how her hands had remained so steady when she pulled the trigger... It felt strangely like the delicate moment of placing a cherry atop a cake during a quiet afternoon of baking at home. "Chen Jie?!" Luo Shasha, who had just run over, gasped, covering her mouth in shock. Chen Sixuan, still in mild shock, slowly turned to her. "Did... did I just kill someone? Is he... dead?" Shasha stared at Da Yong¡¯s bisected corpse, looking as if she had just seen a ghost. "Jie... he¡¯s blown to pieces. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s gonna make it..." Hearing the gunshot, Lin Xian and KIKI rushed into the carriage¡ªonly to find Chen Sixuan clutching the massive sniper rifle, her face as white as a sheet. "Lin Xian, I... I just wanted to help." Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice was weak, as if she was trying to justify her actions. Lin Xian stared at her, dumbfounded. "Miss Chen... when the hell did you learn to snipe?!" She barely stood taller than the 1.6-meter-long sniper rifle, and she had always been so gentle, careful when handling things. Yet now... she had just blown a man¡¯s head off. "Shasha taught me." Shasha¡¯s eyes went wide, frantically waving her hands. "I¡ªI just taught her the basics! She never even fired a shot before!" "Damn, Chen Jie! You¡¯ve got talent! That was badass!" KIKI¡¯s eyes sparkled as she stared at Chen Sixuan. Clutching the sniper rifle, she looked stunningly fierce¡ªa sharp contrast to her usual quiet demeanor. "You¡¯re my new idol!" Lin Xian was in awe. This apocalypse was f*ed up. It had even forced a gentle foreign language teacher to pick up a sniper rifle and turn into a killing machine. If Chen Sixuan had a talent for this, maybe he could even custom-build a sniper setup for her... Outside, the zombie horde surged, filling the tracks. The group fought while retreating into the train. "What now?" Shu Qin, panting, grabbed a walkie-talkie. "Their boss is still fighting Lu Xingchen. There¡¯s another Ability User among them!" "Where¡¯s the one controlling the zombie horde?" Lin Xian asked, turning to the convoy¡¯s radio channel. "Has anyone spotted them?" Shu Qin immediately deployed a drone to scan the battlefield. They were at a severe disadvantage, surrounded by the undead. If they could eliminate the mastermind, they might have a chance to regroup. On the convoy¡¯s radio, Xu Jin¡¯s voice crackled through. "The one controlling the zombies is hiding inside a vehicle! Old Mo, can you find him?" Old Mo replied, "I only spotted Huang Mao. Let me take care of him first!" Inside a specially modified heavy truck, surrounded by zombies, Old Mo sat calmly, binoculars in hand. He pressed a button, activating the intercom. "All units, heads up. Huang Mao is hiding behind that green off-road vehicle." "Got him. That area¡¯s full of hidden shooters. What¡¯s the plan?" "They¡¯ve got cover." "Too many zombies... damn pain in the ass." "Screw it. Let¡¯s just blow them the hell up." The team quickly agreed. "Good idea." Old Mo hit a switch. The truck¡¯s roof opened, revealing multiple missile launch tubes. He adjusted the targeting parameters, muttering, "Let¡¯s send them and their bunker straight to hell." Launch. Huang Mao, hiding behind the car, was catching his breath when his thug tapped his shoulder, pale-faced. "What?!" The thug pointed toward the truck in the distance. Huang Mao looked up. A black missile launcher had just locked onto him. "What the f¡ª" WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! Three missiles screamed toward him. Huang Mao¡¯s face twisted in horror. "Oh, sh¡ª" BOOM. Chapter 135: Sneak Attack A deafening explosion erupted from the streets outside the railway tracks. Everyone flinched at the shockwave, turning their eyes toward the scene¡ªseveral Black Crow Convoy off-road vehicles had been blown to bits, flames roaring skyward, thick black smoke billowing into the air. Huang Mao and his gang were completely obliterated, their bodies reduced to nothing but scattered shreds of cloth drifting in the wind. Seated in the passenger seat of a heavy truck, purple-haired Lolo finally sensed the impending doom after watching Guo Lao¡¯er, Huang Mao, and Da Yong drop like flies. Her face turned deathly pale, and her panicked gaze darted around, searching for Qiu Long. The convoy was in chaos. Among the Black Crow Four, Qiu Long was the strongest. His insane regenerative ability made him almost unkillable. As long as he was still standing, the convoy wouldn¡¯t collapse entirely. Meanwhile, Lin Xian noticed that more zombies were surging in from the city streets, the fog thickening around them. His expression turned grim. "Shasha, cover me! That Ability User must be nearby!" Whoever was controlling the zombie horde had to be taken out immediately. The undead army that attacked them last time had nearly derailed the train. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t going to take any chances. He grabbed his rifle and electric blade and charged out of the train. Buzz! A wave of telekinetic energy blasted outward, sending dozens of zombies flying and clearing a path for Lin Xian. Shasha, following closely behind KIKI, jumped down and fired her grenade launcher. Boom! Crash! Boom! Bang! The grenades exploded within the horde, sending limbs and rotting flesh flying. Meanwhile, Xu Pu¡¯s team rained down a storm of bullets, mowing down waves of undead like dominoes. Lin Xian, machine gun blazing in one hand and electric blade slashing in the other, charged deep into enemy territory, scanning for the Black Crow Convoy¡¯s movements. Ratatatat! Gunfire erupted from the fog, but Lin Xian had already dodged, slipping past a wall by the tracks. In a flash, he lunged into the enemy¡¯s vehicle formation, slicing down two thugs who were shooting at the train. A drone buzzed overhead, relaying visuals to KIKI. Her voice crackled through Lin Xian¡¯s radio: "Lin Xian, two o¡¯clock! Black truck! Passenger seat¡ªthere''s a woman!" From the train, KIKI controlled the drone, zooming in on the footage. In the truck¡¯s passenger seat, a strange woman with glowing green eyes sat nervously. That had to be the Ability User. "Target acquired." Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªhe opened fire on the truck¡¯s cabin. Clang! Clang! Clang! His bullets pinged harmlessly off the armored plating and bulletproof glass. However, the purple-haired woman inside flinched in fear. "Gotcha." Lin Xian smirked. She was the one. Just as he was about to attack again, a sudden roar of flames erupted behind him. Boom! A fiery explosion burst into the air, and from within the blazing inferno, a figure shot out at high speed¡ª Qiu Long. From Lin Xian¡¯s blind spot, Qiu Long struck, his fist tearing through the air, aiming straight for Lin Xian¡¯s skull. "Damn it!" Lu Xingchen had no time to warn him¡ªQiu Long was already too close. But just as Qiu Long¡¯s fist was about to connect, Lin Xian suddenly flipped his left hand¡ª A massive metal shield materialized in an instant! BANG! Qiu Long¡¯s sucker punch, which should have been a guaranteed hit, slammed into solid steel instead. The impact dented the shield, but Lin Xian was completely unharmed. Qiu Long¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Where the hell did that steel come from?! Wasn¡¯t this guy an electricity user?! Before he could react¡ª BZZT! A blinding arc of electricity shot toward his face. It burned straight through his cheek, the searing current blasting out the back of his skull. Though there was no blood spray, Lin Xian immediately kicked the shield, launching Qiu Long¡¯s body backward. Boom! Qiu Long soared through the air¡ªbefore he could even hit the ground, a pillar of fire roared up, engulfing him completely. "Careful! This guy¡¯s got insane regeneration!" Lu Xingchen yelled from behind. Sure enough¡ªeven after being electrocuted and burned alive, Qiu Long still wasn¡¯t dead. He burst from the flames, his charred body steaming, but instead of attacking Lin Xian or Lu Xingchen, he suddenly changed direction¡ª ¡ªrushing straight for Shasha and KIKI. "Sh*t! He¡¯s trying to take hostages and hijack your train!" Lu Xingchen¡¯s face twisted in fury. He hated cowards who resorted to dirty tricks when they couldn¡¯t win in a fair fight. Enraged, he kicked off the ground, flames erupting under his feet as he launched himself forward. "I, the Flame God, am here! You dare?!" Lin Xian, watching, couldn''t help but facepalm. "Damn... this guy is ridiculously overdramatic." Qiu Long, on the other hand, was a complete idiot¡ª Of all directions to run, he just had to charge straight at Shasha and KIKI... Qiu Long, realizing his convoy was doomed, was desperate. He failed to kill Lin Xian and couldn¡¯t overpower Lu Xingchen. But¡ª Shasha and KIKI seemed important to Lin Xian. If he could capture them, he might turn the tables. He lunged forward¡ª Only to suddenly freeze mid-air. Qiu Long¡¯s eyes widened in horror. An invisible force locked him in place. KIKI¡¯s eyes glowed coldly, her hair floating as if weightless. "Brother?" Qiu Long was confused. He saw a girl using an Ability, but why did the little one call for her brother? And then¡ª A massive black silhouette suddenly charged forward. A gleaming Steel-Slaying Greatsword swung down mercilessly. Qiu Long¡¯s pupils shrank. Oh sh*t... her brother was here. SLASH! Qiu Long was cleaved in half, his torso separating from his legs. KIKI, expressionless, simply flicked her wrist, tossing his corpse into the zombie horde. The undead, smelling his blood, swarmed over, tearing his body apart in a frenzied feeding. Lin Xian winced. "Damn. Brutal." Lu Xingchen landed, frying the remaining zombies with a burst of flames. But upon closer inspection¡ª Qiu Long was already reduced to nothing but scattered chunks of meat. "Uh... can he even regenerate from that?" KIKI asked, frowning. Shasha, looking disgusted, muttered, "He¡¯s already zombie poop. No way he¡¯s coming back from that." Lu Xingchen, realizing he completely lost his moment of glory, suddenly felt awkward. Until¡ª "Hey, Big Bro?" Shasha pointed at the street. "Is that... your RV?" Lu Xingchen turned. His precious Fire God RV was speeding away into the distance. "OH HELL NO! WHO THE F* JUST STOLE MY RIDE?!" Chapter 136: The Swarm of Jellyfish Lu Xingchen stood there, dumbfounded. In the chaos of battle... someone had stolen his RV?! BZZZZZZZ¡ª On the distant street, seeing Qiu Long¡¯s death, the remaining raiders scattered like cockroaches. Some jumped into vehicles, recklessly plowing through the zombie horde in an attempt to escape. Others simply ran blindly toward the trucks. RATATATAT! The tables had turned. On Xu Jin and Shu Qin¡¯s side, their troops showed no mercy, mowing down the retreating enemies with a hail of bullets. Inside the heavy truck, the purple-haired woman saw the disaster unfolding. She panicked, scrambling into the driver¡¯s seat, locking the doors, and fumbling to start the engine. Lin Xian, the closest to her, saw her trying to escape and charged his hand with electricity, ready to finish her off¡ª "Captain Lin, fall back!" Old Mo¡¯s voice crackled through the radio. "Huh?" Lin Xian frowned, confused¡ªuntil he turned his head and his face changed dramatically. The missile launchers mounted on Iron Force Convoy¡¯s trucks had lit up once again. Without hesitation, Lin Xian bolted. WHOOSH! WHOOSH! Two missiles shot from the launchers, streaking straight toward the heavy truck. "NO! PLEASE!" The purple-haired woman¡¯s pupils dilated in horror, her face turning ghostly pale as death loomed over her. BOOM!!! The explosion obliterated the truck''s cabin, sending shockwaves rippling through the area. Even Lin Xian, though far enough away, felt the ground tremble beneath him. When the smoke cleared¡ªthere was nothing left. The woman was vaporized. "Damn. That was brutal." Lin Xian let out a relieved sigh, but before he could regroup, he saw Lu Xingchen sprinting past him in a panic. "Where the hell are you going?!" Lin Xian grabbed his arm. "MY CAR! MY CAR!!!" Lu Xingchen was on the verge of a breakdown. Not only was his beloved RV gone, but his clothes had been burned off in battle. Now, standing half-naked in the freezing wind, he was shivering uncontrollably. Lin Xian turned toward the street, squinting. The RV had already disappeared, having turned several blocks away. No way he could chase it on foot. And from what Lin Xian had seen, Lu Xingchen definitely didn¡¯t have flight abilities... Elsewhere ¡ª Inside the Stolen RV A chubby man gripped the steering wheel with a death grip, his foot slamming the gas pedal to the floor as he plowed through the zombie horde. He glanced into the rearview mirror and saw the stockpile of supplies inside the RV. His tense expression finally relaxed. "Damn, that was close..." Zhou Lei had barely escaped with his life. Who could¡¯ve expected those Black Crow bastards¡ªwho were so feared¡ªto get completely wiped out by the train convoy? "Sh*t, everyone in Yubei City is a damn monster... Good thing I got out in time!" With an armored, modified RV and a fresh start, Zhou Lei could vanish and rebuild his life elsewhere. As long as he stayed far away from those lunatics, he¡¯d be fine. For once, he actually felt proud of his quick thinking. He let out a deep breath, finally able to relax¡ª And then¡ª Darkness. The light inside the driver¡¯s cabin dimmed. Zhou Lei froze, his heartbeat accelerating. The street ahead was clear of obstacles¡ªno buildings, no signs, no sudden storm. Then why did it feel like something was blocking out the light? Slowly, he looked up. His pupils shrunk. His face went deathly white. Above the clouds and fog, a massive shadow loomed¡ª A monstrous, eldritch creature was descending upon him. "AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" His scream echoed inside the RV. Back at the Train Convoy With the Black Crow Four annihilated, Lin Xian and the others rushed back to their vehicles. Shu Qin¡¯s voice came through the radio, filled with panic: "We need to get out of here¡ªthere¡¯s something in the sky!" Above them, a colossal jellyfish-like creature emerged from the thick clouds. Everyone in the convoy paled. Compared to the one they had seen near Mount Daluo, this one was slightly smaller¡ªbut still enormous, larger than a skyscraper. "All aboard! Start the train!" Lin Xian barked. The zombie tide surged toward them. There was no time to gather loot¡ªthe Infinite Train roared to life, accelerating out of the battlefield. The convoy followed close behind, engines roaring as they pushed through the undead. "It¡¯s getting dark¡ªstay alert!" Xu Jin warned. "There¡¯s another one over there!" KIKI gasped. To the left of the train, far in the city, another massive jellyfish emerged. "F*! There¡¯s more of them!" In the rear convoy, Xu Jin, Shu Qin, and Old Mo¡¯s survivors locked their doors, pure terror washing over them. Inside buses and trucks, mothers clutched their children, covering their mouths to muffle their frightened whimpers. The pressure was suffocating. "Hurry up! Drive! DRIVE!" The vehicles charged forward, crushing zombies under their wheels, desperately keeping pace with the train. The barbed wire walls had been destroyed during the battle. Thousands of zombies spilled onto the railway, chasing after the convoy. Inside the Train ¨C Car No. 1 A shirtless young man sat in the corner, staring at the floor with dead eyes. Lu Xingchen. Since fleeing eastward, this was his greatest loss. His home was gone. Any normal person would be in shock after that. In the driver¡¯s cabin, Shasha hesitated before whispering to Lin Xian, "Brother Lin... should we take him with us?" Lin Xian turned to look at Lu Xingchen, who sat motionless, looking utterly defeated. "Yeah. He¡¯s got nowhere else to go. Find him some clothes." At the freight terminal, Lu Xingchen had been lounging under a parasol, drinking tea. Now, he didn¡¯t even look alive. Yeah... this dude was having a rough day. Lin Xian sighed and turned his attention to the sky. He lifted the radio, his expression serious. "Do NOT engage the jellyfish. We don¡¯t know how many there are. We can¡¯t afford a chain reaction." "They¡¯ve definitely noticed us." Shu Qin¡¯s voice confirmed. "Then we keep moving. No stopping." "Stay together. No stragglers." The train accelerated, the convoy gunning their engines to keep up. But¡ª A deep, resonating hum suddenly echoed from above. Like the blast of a massive cruise ship horn¡ª The sky jellyfish was descending upon them. As it drew closer, Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan could see its massive, writhing tentacles swaying in the air. "It¡¯s coming!" Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice trembled. Lin Xian tightened his grip on the radio. "Everyone, prepare to fire! DO NOT let the tentacles touch you!" WHOOOSH! The Iron Force Convoy launched three missiles, hitting the jellyfish¡¯s core tentacles¡ª BOOM! BOOM! Its gigantic transparent body convulsed, several tentacles snapping off, falling toward the city. SPLAT! When they hit the ground¡ª A thick, white mist erupted. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Sh*t. Those things are poisonous." Chapter 137: Flaming Squid BWOOOOOOM!!! The Sky Jellyfish let out a deep, thunderous roar. Its massive, transparent bell rippled violently, sending out shockwaves that shattered skyscraper windows and rattled the very bones of everyone in the convoy. A palpable sense of dread filled the air, as if a colossal nightmare had descended upon them. "Keep moving! Don¡¯t slow down! Watch the track pylons and stay in formation! Everyone else¡ªlight that bastard up!" Xu Jin¡¯s voice roared through the radio. Onboard the heavy trucks, the Gatling guns swiveled, locking onto the monstrosity above. BRRRRRRRRT!!! A hailstorm of bullets erupted into the sky, as the convoy¡¯s armed survivors leaned out their windows, unloading their magazines into the behemoth. "IT¡¯S COMING DOWN!" On Car No. 7 of the Infinite Train, Shasha clutched her radio, screaming. Above, the sky darkened. The Sky Jellyfish¡¯s massive silhouette loomed over the convoy, its countless tentacles stretching down toward the railway tracks. CRASH! A stray off-road vehicle was snatched into the air, flung violently into a wall, and plunged off the highway, taking dozens of zombies down with it. "AAAHHHH!" Inside the wrecked vehicle, a woman struggled to crawl out the shattered window, screaming for help. But before she could escape¡ª The horde consumed her. Her desperate, outstretched hand disappeared into the sea of undead, her screams drowning beneath the chaos. "ANKE! XIAOWEI!" Shu Qin¡¯s shout cracked with rage and sorrow. Her eyes reddened, and with a snarl, she slammed the accelerator. "You goddamn bastards, FOCUS!" BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! As the Sky Jellyfish drifted over the convoy, bullets shredded its lower tendrils, sending grayish-white chunks and viscous fluid raining down. Like a sickening downpour, the acidic slime splattered onto vehicles and people alike. SIZZLE! SCREAMS! Flesh burned, limbs melted, and the convoy nearly collapsed into chaos. 18:45 PM ¨C Darkness Fell The dense fog thickened, and night swallowed the city whole. Every vehicle¡¯s headlights blazed to life, cutting through the inky void. "Lin Xian! There¡¯s ANOTHER ONE ahead!" KIKI¡¯s urgent voice rang through the radio. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes darted forward¡ª A second, even larger Sky Jellyfish emerged over the city skyline, drifting from behind a skyscraper. "We¡¯re screwed if this keeps up!" Lin Xian grimaced. "KIKI, grab the fire-throwing idiot and bring him to me!" "On it!" Meanwhile, Lu Xingchen sat motionless, still staring blankly into space. "My car... my car... my car..." KIKI stormed up to him, glaring. "Are you serious right now?! The world¡¯s about to end, and you¡¯re STILL whining about your RV?!" Lu Xingchen lifted his head, eyes hollow. "You don¡¯t understand... That RV was my partner... my sanctuary... my only solace in this forsaken world..." KIKI¡¯s eye twitches violently. She resisted the urge to punch him, took a deep breath, and snapped: "Fine. Help me kill that damn jellyfish, and I¡¯ll make Lin Xian give you your own custom train car. You can decorate it however the hell you want. Deal?" WHOOSH! In an instant, Lu Xingchen stood up, his demeanor flipping entirely. His chest puffed out, his gaze sharpened, and he nodded solemnly. "Time is of the essence. Let¡¯s go." KIKI: "..." The hell did I just witness?! Before he could dramatically monologue, KIKI simply snapped her fingers¡ª And with her telekinesis, she yanked his ear, dragging him straight to the driver¡¯s cabin. "Lin Xian, I got him!" Lin Xian glanced at Lu Xingchen, eyes narrowing. "Can you fight?" Lu Xingchen opened his mouth to complain¡ªthen caught sight of the enormous, eldritch monstrosity in the sky. His expression hardened. "I can." "Good." Lin Xian turned to KIKI. "Gather every drum of gasoline we have and get ready to launch them." "Got it!" Before Lu Xingchen could question why Lin Xian called the Sky Jellyfish a "squid," KIKI had already bolted toward the cargo hold. Setting the Trap Lin Xian kicked open the driver¡¯s cabin door, conjuring a steel staircase leading to the train roof. Lu Xingchen, impressed by the seamless mechanical creation, briefly paused¡ªbut quickly climbed up without hesitation. Meanwhile, KIKI didn¡¯t just levitate the gasoline barrels¡ª She stood on them, balancing in midair as they floated beside her. Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. "So... you CAN fly." It made sense¡ªshe could lift an entire train, so why not herself? KIKI, grinning, soared beside the moving train, carrying the barrels high above the tracks. On the roof, Lu Xingchen stood firm, his hands glowing with firelight. KIKI raised the barrels overhead. "I¡¯ll throw. You light it up." "No need to remind me. Fire is an art!" Lu Xingchen cracked his knuckles, stepping forward. Inside the cabin, Lin Xian¡¯s voice came over the radio. "Old Mo, once we light that thing up, fire a few missiles to finish the job. Everyone else, keep your windows shut¡ªwe don¡¯t want burning jellyfish guts raining down on us." Shu Qin and Xu Jin responded immediately. "Understood!" Meanwhile, Old Mo was laughing through the radio: "Hah! Fire-roasted squid?! You¡¯ve got balls, kid!" A series of missile launchers armed themselves. "Alright, let¡¯s go all in. Win or die!" The Sky Jellyfish let out a deep, otherworldly bellow¡ª BWOOOOOM!!! Its transparent bell pulsed, its massive tentacles writhing as it descended toward the train. "NOW!" Lin Xian shouted. KIKI¡¯s eyes gleamed. Her telekinetic power surged, hurling the gasoline barrels upward¡ª WHOOOOOSH! The drums shot into the sky, heading straight for the jellyfish¡¯s core. Lu Xingchen planted his feet, gathering all his firepower. A massive fireball formed in his palms, flames licking across his arms. The fire grew brighter... hotter... larger¡ª Until finally¡ª "DIVINE: FLAME EMPEROR!" Lu Xingchen thrust his arms forward, launching the searing inferno toward the sky. FWOOOOOM!!! The fireball ignited the fuel mid-air, triggering a chain reaction explosion. BOOM!!! A towering inferno erupted, consuming the Sky Jellyfish¡¯s entire body. A sea of flames engulfed the monster, turning the night sky into a blazing hellscape. The heatwave crashed down onto the convoy. Lin Xian smirked. "Burn, you bastard." Chapter 138: No. 1 Spaceport Boom!!! Flames erupted in the sky, illuminating several nearby streets. Aooong!~ The massive Sky Jellyfish let out a shrill, agonized wail as a massive fireball engulfed most of its body. Its translucent bell rim writhed frantically, with burning gasoline clinging to its tentacles, sending thick black smoke billowing into the air. In unbearable pain, it violently crashed into a nearby skyscraper! Bang! Crash¡ª At that moment, flaming debris, shattered jellyfish flesh, and countless shards of glass rained down from above. "Get inside!" KIKI shouted. Reacting quickly, she used her telekinesis to grab Lu Xingchen and drag him through the cockpit door. Right behind them, Lin Xian swiftly detached the steel boarding ladder and slammed the door shut. ¡°The fire is falling!¡± "Push through it!" Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Countless fireballs and burning gasoline rained down, instantly turning the tracks and city streets into a fiery inferno. Flames crashed onto several convoy vehicles, sparks bursting upon impact. Some cars caught fire, their roofs engulfed in flames, while shattered glass fell like rain. The raging inferno spread across the streets, igniting hordes of Zombies, turning them into burning corpses. "Ahhh!!" "Watch out!" "Stay in formation! Don¡¯t crash!" "Fire extinguishers! Where are the extinguishers?!" Panic filled the radio channels, but after an intense sprint through the flames, the Infinite Train and the convoy finally made it through the firestorm. Survivors in the burning vehicles scrambled to open their windows, grabbing extinguishers in a desperate attempt to douse the flames. ¡°Did we just take one down?!¡± From her rearview mirror, Shu Qin saw the enormous jellyfish, engulfed in flames, plummeting to the ground. Her face was filled with disbelief. "If it''s not dead, it''s at least roasted half to death!" Xu Jin let out a breath, exhilarated. "Unbelievable... there''s more of these f***ing things out there!" At the back of the convoy, Old Mo, keeping a steady grip on the wheel, finally sighed in relief. Through the convoy¡¯s communication channel, he asked: "Anyone injured?" ¡°No, Grandpa Mo, we¡¯re all fine.¡± "Xiao Le is crying, though." ¡°Pff, what a scaredy-cat~¡± "Are we safe now? How much longer till we reach the Spaceport?" "Almost there, almost there." Old Mo squinted at the towering silhouette emerging from the black mist ahead. The bright lights of the massive structure became clearer. Then, glancing at the Infinite Train leading the charge, he clicked his tongue. "Good thing we followed this train. If not... with this many people, we''d all be dead." Neither the Black Crow Four nor the Sky Jellyfish were threats the convoy could handle alone. Even with Lu Xingchen onboard, survival seemed nearly impossible without Lin Xian¡¯s Infinite Train breaking through obstacle after obstacle. Aboard the Infinite Train, danger had come one after another. Inside Car No. 3, Ding Junyi gazed out at the retreating flames with a steady expression. Then, her eyes locked onto something ahead of the train¡ª A colossal structure stretched into the sky. Yubei No. 1 Spaceport. Aerial Rail¡ªClimbing Passage! Clang! Clang! The heavy locomotive rumbled along the elevated track leading into the Spaceport, the darkened city streets stretching around them. But ahead, the Spaceport platform was ablaze with countless lights. Under blazing high-altitude floodlights, the Climbing Passage stood like a pillar piercing the heavens, leading into an aerial corridor¡ªa gigantic suspended transit tube. Inside the corridor, negative-pressure electromagnetic acceleration tracks ran alongside a vehicle transit lane, capable of carrying up to ten Intercontinental-Class Trains and over ten thousand vehicles, all pulled forward by powerful traction systems. As the Infinite Train drew closer, elevators streaked upward at staggering speeds, glowing under the floodlights¡ª A monumental feat of human engineering, an epic achievement in history! ¡°Holy crap, that¡¯s insane!¡± Inside the cockpit, Shasha and Luo Ye gaped at the massive Climbing Elevators, their expressions full of awe. "I¡¯ve ridden this before, but... seeing it again still blows my mind." Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes sparkled. After such a long and brutal escape, they had finally reached the Main Track of the Orbital Rail, the starting point of their journey''s next phase. ¡°Damn, if only my RV were still here... I could have taken it up into space.¡± Lu Xingchen muttered bitterly. "It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s probably already up there by now," KIKI deadpanned. ¡°...Wait. What the hell do you mean by that?!¡± Tap, tap. Footsteps approached. Lin Xian turned to see Ding Junyi striding over, followed by the nervous-looking Zhao Yan and Xu Wen. "You got lucky," Lin Xian remarked. "The Spaceport hasn¡¯t fallen yet." That was good news. From their vantage point, they could see the Spaceport Base packed with thousands of vehicles, carrying survivors from all over Tianhai Province. "Thank god." Zhao Yan let out a relieved sigh. "Lin, we owe you everything. Without you, we¡¯d all be dead." ¡°Yes, we¡¯re incredibly grateful," Xu Wen added. Ding Junyi glanced at Lin Xian before shifting her gaze to the Spaceport. ¡°The CIWS turrets and anti-air defenses are still operational. Looks like the Phoenix Guild¡¯s emergency teams and engineers have arrived in time to maintain defenses. That means there¡¯s still an armed force holding the line.¡± "It¡¯s probably the Spaceport Security Regiment or Iron Guard Brigade 52," Chen Sixuan speculated. "We heard on the radio earlier that Brigade 52 had retreated to No. 1 Spaceport to regroup. They''re likely preparing to evacuate from here as well." "That¡¯s great news." Lin Xian nodded. "After running for so long, we¡¯ve finally found the main forces." In this apocalyptic world, no one wanted to fight alone. If there was an opportunity to find protection under an official military force, who would choose to keep hiding in the shadows? At the Spaceport, thousands of escaping vehicles were jammed together in a delicate balance of order and restraint. After their battle against the bandit convoy, seeing so many survivors coexisting peacefully felt almost unreal. "A place this crowded... No one¡¯s gonna dare stir up trouble, right?" Chen Sixuan wondered aloud. "Not necessarily," KIKI replied. "But with this many people, plus the Security Regiment and Iron Guard, anyone with bad intentions will have to think twice before acting." "They¡¯d have to be suicidal to start trouble here," Lu Xingchen scoffed. "Everyone came here to stay alive. No way anyone¡¯s dumb enough to pick a fight." Behind them, Shu Qin, Xu Jin, and Old Mo¡¯s convoy gazed at the approaching Spaceport, their expressions complex¡ª Hope. Exhaustion. Relief. Nervous anticipation. Everyone knew¡ª Once they crossed the Snowy Highland via the Aerial Corridor, they would finally have a moment to breathe! "Lin Xian, look!" Chen Sixuan suddenly shouted. The group turned their gaze forward¡ª On the exclusive train platform ahead¡ª Three massive trains stood parked. One belonged to the Iron Guard Brigade, an Intercontinental-Class Military Transport Train. The other two? Even grander. Like the Infinite Train, they were Doomsday Trains, preparing to race onto the Orbital Rail! Chapter 139: Entering the Station Compared to the Infinite Train with its mere nine carriages, the two Doomsday Trains ahead could only be described as railway behemoths. The first train was a massive, double-decked steel fortress, stretching over a kilometer long with fifty to sixty carriages. It was driven by six Intercontinental-Class Nuclear Electric Locomotives at the front, each locomotive itself a colossal war machine. The entire train was wrapped in welded steel armor, with various colors and patterns covering its exterior. Its interior lights glowed brightly, illuminating its many carriages like a moving double-decker city. The second train, however, left even Lin Xian in awe. A silver titan¡ªthe Eternal-Class Train, Silver Star¡ªstretched across the Spaceport platform like a metallic dragon. Unlike the first train¡¯s patched armor and rugged build, the Silver Star had a sleek, uniform silver design, spanning over a hundred carriages. Mounted along its front, rear, and mid-sections were four electromagnetic railguns, making it look like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Even without asking, Lin Xian knew¡ª This was Old Mo¡¯s rumored Doomsday Train from Sun City¡ªthe Silver Star, operated by the Fenger Group, housing over three thousand survivors! And the double-decked steel fortress beside it? That had to be Dragon Mountain City¡¯s legendary "Dragon Mountain No. 1." ¡°Whoa... that¡¯s a long train!¡± Shasha leaned over the control panel, her eyes wide in amazement. Chen Sixuan glanced at Lin Xian, sighing in admiration. "You were right. We¡¯re not the only ones escaping to the Orbital Rail on a train.¡± "Of course not," Lin Xian nodded calmly. "With such a developed railway system, it¡¯s only natural that people would use it to survive." Clang. Clang. Approaching the Spaceport The Infinite Train rumbled forward, approaching the Spaceport gates. Below the elevated tracks, an ocean of zombies swarmed toward the fortified walls, their grotesque figures illuminated by floodlights. Ratatatatata! Gunfire erupted from the high walls¡ªautomatic turret towers unleashed a relentless barrage, mowing down the crawling undead. Among the zombie horde, twisted mutant creatures¡ªgiant centipedes, towering aberrations¡ªsmashed against the fortifications, shaking the steel barriers. ¡°They won¡¯t hold out much longer,¡± Lin Xian observed grimly. "If they don¡¯t close the Spaceport soon, the whole place is gonna fall," he muttered. Beep! Beep! Beep! The radio communicator crackled to life. "KH5580, this is Spaceport Tower. Reduce speed and identify yourself!" KH5580. That was the old military designation for the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive¡ªits original service number before being repurposed into the Infinite Train. Hearing the call, Lin Xian immediately responded. "Spaceport Tower, this is Infinite Train. We have over two hundred survivors requesting access to the Aerial Corridor." Beep. "Infinite Train, come to a full stop and prepare for inspection." "...Inspection?" Chen Sixuan frowned. "Are they boarding us?" Beep. Just as Lin Xian was preparing for potential trouble, the radio crackled again. "KH5580 - Infinite Train, you are cleared for entry via Gate D. Please wait for an available Climbing Elevator." KIKI blinked. "Wait... weren¡¯t they about to inspect us? Why did they just let us in?" "They probably don¡¯t have the manpower to inspect us right now," Shasha guessed. "Let¡¯s not question it. Just go." "Understood." Lin Xian pressed the acknowledge button, then restarted the train, guiding it into the Spaceport. Entering the Spaceport Rumble~ A massive steel gate slowly opened, revealing dozens of heavily armed soldiers from the Iron Guard Brigade standing in formation. Their weapons were not ordinary rifles¡ªthese were heavy-duty military firearms, assisted by powered exoskeletons and night-vision helmets, their expressions sharp and vigilant. A stern-faced officer stepped forward, scanning the train before shifting his gaze to the convoy behind it. "Any injured in your group?" he asked. "We can provide medical support." Lin Xian responded immediately. "There are casualties in the convoy behind us," he said. "Some were injured while escaping the Sky Jellyfish.¡± "Understood." The officer turned to his radio. "D Platform has wounded survivors. Dispatch a medical team immediately." Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan exchanged glances. For the first time in a long while, someone was offering help. A gesture of humanity in the apocalypse. Boom! Boom! Boom! From the high platforms, CIWS turrets tracked incoming threats, sporadically firing into the night. Tracer rounds streaked across the sky, cutting through the darkness. In the gate passage, twelve automated turrets locked onto every heat signature as the convoy entered the platform, while Iron Guard soldiers scanned for hostile threats. The atmosphere was tense. Behind them, Shu Qin, Old Mo, and Xu Jin¡¯s convoy followed closely, their nerves taut. As the searchlights swept over the Infinite Train, countless survivors turned their gazes toward them. "First time seeing this many people after so long..." Xu Jin¡¯s voice crackled through the radio. "Having this many people isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing," Shu Qin muttered. "Didn¡¯t you see how insane those monsters are outside? If the defenses collapse, this place will turn into a buffet for them." "Man... haven¡¯t been here in years." Old Mo chuckled. "But damn, this place looks completely different now." His tone grew serious. "...Looks like only one Climbing Elevator is operational." "The Silver Star arrived hours ago¡ªwhy hasn¡¯t it entered the ascent sequence yet?" Aboard the Infinite Train, Lin Xian stared up at the Aerial Corridor, deep in thought. "All of these trains¡ªincluding ours¡ªshould be able to use the Horizon Clamp System to ascend," he mused. "But... the Spaceport Command Tower doesn¡¯t seem interested in opening more routes." "They¡¯re probably worried about chaos and elevator crashes," Chen Sixuan speculated, her expression tense. "The Spaceport doesn¡¯t have enough personnel or maintenance equipment. And with all these modified trains and vehicles, if they force an ascent without proper safety measures, the tracks could fail, or worse... the elevators could collapse. If that happens, the entire Climbing Passage is finished." Lin Xian nodded. That made sense. Decades ago, trains ascended via Horizon Clamps and electromagnetic acceleration, using raw power to blast into orbit. The Whale 03E¡¯s turbines were even designed for this. But over the years, brute-force ascents had been replaced by safer, controlled elevators. "The Iron Guard Brigade looks like they''ve taken serious losses," Chen Sixuan observed. Her sharp eyes caught the battle-worn soldiers, their armor stained with blood, some even scorched from intense combat. "In the valley, they probably lost an entire regiment¡¯s worth of weapons," KIKI added grimly. "And even a full military brigade couldn¡¯t hold their ground. Now, they¡¯re just running and trying to survive." Clang. Clang. The Infinite Train switched tracks, entering the Spaceport platform, flanked by the two massive Doom Trains¡ª The Silver Star on the left, The Dragon Mountain No. 1 on the right. And as the Infinite Train rolled past¡ª Thousands of survivors aboard the other trains turned their heads¡ª Watching. Wondering. Who was this mysterious armored train racing into the future? Chapter 140: Federal Investigation Team Screech¡ª The Infinite Train finally rolled to a stop at the frontmost position of Track No. 7, awaiting orders from the Control Tower. For the first time in a long while, Lin Xian felt as if he had re-entered human civilization¡ªa world with rules and order. The feeling of wandering alone through the darkness seemed to fade, if only slightly. As the train settled, Lin Xian opened the carriage door and stepped down onto the Spaceport platform. What met his gaze was an enormous expanse of vehicles, packed together in an organized queue. With nightfall, the massive entry and exit gates of the Spaceport had been sealed shut. The skies were pitch black, and turret towers on the high walls spewed relentless gunfire. Several 1130 CIWS turrets hovered in defense, while atop the Climbing Elevators, two rail-mounted electromagnetic cannons hummed with a soft blue glow. However, among these defenses, many systems appeared damaged or out of service¡ªa sign that they had been hastily repaired and deployed by the Phoenix Guild in an attempt to fortify the Spaceport platform. All across the Spaceport, long lines of survivors and their convoys waited for their turn to board the Climbing Elevators. The plaza was filled with people¡ªa chaotic mix of refugees, mercenaries, and military personnel. Among them, Iron Guard soldiers moved in disciplined formations, while transport trucks shuttled back and forth, ferrying weapons and ammunition to the outer defenses. The acrid scent of gunpowder filled the air. Chen Sixuan scanned the scene, her expression grim. ¡°This situation looks bad,¡± she murmured. "If the defenses collapse, there¡¯s nowhere left to run.¡± At that moment, Xu Jin, Shu Qin, and Old Mo walked over, having parked their vehicles nearby. Xu Jin exhaled, looking up at the Climbing Passage towering over them. "Judging by the queue," he said, "we¡¯ll be waiting until dawn." "And with all those jellyfish coming this way, who knows if the Iron Guard can hold out," Shu Qin added. "They¡¯ll manage," Old Mo shrugged. "As long as it¡¯s not that one we saw at Mount Daluo." "Don''t underestimate military firepower. The real problems are internal infections from the Dark Invasion... and those giant creatures." Lin Xian, however, frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t we hear from the Spaceport Security Regiment earlier? Where the hell are they?¡± "Security Regiment? Oh, those guys are too busy guarding the rich folks inside the Inner Port." A deep, booming voice interrupted them. They turned to see a burly middle-aged man approaching¡ªbroad shoulders, a square jaw, and a thick beard. He wore a heavy fur coat, his beer belly pressing against the fabric. Behind him, a group of people followed, their eyes lingering on the Infinite Train with undisguised curiosity. "Weird setup," one of them muttered. "An old gas turbine locomotive pulling a nuclear-powered train? That makes no sense." "Gas turbines aren''t great for running away. Fuel''s too unreliable." "Those armor plates look like high-quality standard parts..." "No visible weapons, though." "And they don¡¯t have many people, but damn... they''ve built quite the beast." "Oi! Stop staring!" The bearded man interrupted, then turned his gaze to Lin Xian. He extended a rough, calloused hand. "Name''s Shi Diyuan. Commander of the Dragon Mountain No. 1." Lin Xian glanced toward the massive intercontinental-class Doomsday Train in the distance, immediately recognizing the name. He reached out and shook the man¡¯s hand. "Infinite Train. Lin Xian." "Infinite Train, huh? Sounds badass." Shi Diyuan smirked. Without hesitation, he got straight to the point. "That massive fireball in the sky earlier¡ªhalf the Spaceport saw it. The gates were already sealed, but they reopened just for you. I take it you guys ran into something big?" ¡°A whole bunch of Sky Jellyfish!¡± Shasha piped up. ¡°You mean you didn¡¯t see them?!¡± ¡°Pfft. Big creatures show up every night.¡± A woman behind Shi Diyuan scoffed. "We''ve seen plenty of monsters in the sky." Lin Xian, however, still had questions. ¡°You mentioned the Security Regiment was in the Inner Port... why?" Shi Diyuan snorted. "They''re guarding the Federal Investigation Team." At that moment, Ding Junyi walked up, holding her laptop. "I accessed the Spaceport¡¯s information network," she said. "The Investigation Team was sent from Xingcheng Headquarters to investigate the Underground City No. 9 incident. Since Dr. Zhao and I still have valid clearance, I was able to check their mission logs." She continued: "Aside from their investigation, they''re also evacuating the high-ranking officials and wealthy First-Class Citizens who were stranded here after the Great Migration. It¡¯s technically a rescue operation." Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. Could that be why they let his train through? Did Ding Junyi¡¯s connection with the Federal Team get them special clearance? ¡°So the old Federal Government is still operating out of Xingcheng?¡± KIKI asked, frowning. ¡°Aren¡¯t they worried about the Polar Night?¡± Ding Junyi shook her head. ¡°The Federal Government''s entire Doomsday Plan revolved around Underground Cities. That hasn¡¯t changed." "A bunch of stubborn old f*ers!" KIKI spat. Ever since she learned about Underground City No. 9¡¯s self-destruct protocol, she had nothing but contempt for the old government. "Haha! That¡¯s exactly right!" Shi Diyuan laughed. "Those bastards showed up two days ago. Looks like they¡¯re planning to escape on a large airship with a few hundred people." His voice was filled with disdain. "They''ve redirected the entire Spaceport Security Regiment to protect their flight bay. They¡¯d rather waste soldiers guarding the rich, than lift a single finger to defend the perimeter. So now, the entire defensive line is being held by the Iron Guard Brigade." ¡°Yeah.¡± One of his men added, ¡°The Iron Guard was supposed to rest and recover, but now they¡¯ve been forced to take over Spaceport defense. They haven¡¯t slept in days." Everyone frowned. It was no secret that the Iron Guard Brigade had suffered horrific losses at Mount Daluo. Hearing that they were now overburdened while the Security Regiment protected the elites made everyone¡¯s blood boil. Lin Xian asked, "Why is the Security Regiment still following orders from the old Federal Government? I thought the Phoenix Guild was in charge now?" "It¡¯s not that simple." Old Mo pushed up his sunglasses and joined the conversation. "The Phoenix Guild was only formed a few months ago. The old government and the new government are still tangled in bureaucratic messes. The Spaceport Security Regiment is a local military force¡ªit doesn¡¯t follow the same chain of command as the Interstellar Army or the Iron Guard Brigade." Before anyone could respond, a convoy of armed vehicles sped toward the Spaceport Plaza. The vehicles carried heavily armed personnel¡ªalong with several Federal Officials. Leading them was a blonde woman in a black leather coat and sunglasses, her every step sharp and commanding. Ding Junyi¡¯s eyes narrowed. "That¡¯s the Spaceport Security Regiment," she murmured. "And those must be the Federal Officials." Lin Xian glanced back at the Infinite Train. Inside, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen were hiding in the carriage, too afraid to come out. "Since your people are here," Lin Xian said to Ding Junyi, "Tell them to come out." Ding Junyi hesitated. ¡°The Investigation Team will probably want to speak with you," she warned. "Whatever they say¡ªjust refuse." Lin Xian chuckled. "Survivors like us were abandoned by the Federal Government. From a sociological standpoint, they have no authority over me. Tell them to mind their own damn business." Chapter 141: Resignation Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! A group of heavily armed Security Regiment officers disembarked from their vehicles, following behind the blonde woman as she strode forward with swift, purposeful steps. Their sudden arrival drew the attention of many survivors across the Spaceport. The blonde woman swept her gaze coldly over Lin Xian and his group before locking eyes on Ding Junyi, the woman in the researcher¡¯s uniform. Without hesitation, she walked straight up to her, pulling out a mobile terminal, glancing at a photo for confirmation, and then speaking in a detached tone: "I am Taylor Moreno, Federal District Chief and leader of this Special Investigation Unit. Did you initiate the communication with us?" Her voice carried authority, her expression brimming with arrogance. She didn¡¯t spare even a glance at Lin Xian, Shi Diyuan, or the others, as if they weren¡¯t worth her attention. "Yes, that was me." Ding Junyi responded calmly. Taylor scanned the group briefly before stating: "You claimed that three personnel from the Biological Research Department escaped from Underground City No. 9. Where are they?" Inside the Infinite Train, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen had been waiting nervously. The moment they saw the Federal Investigation Team, they clutched their bags and hurriedly rushed out of the train, nearly tripping over themselves in their eagerness. "Us! That¡¯s us!" Before Ding Junyi could reply, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen had already rushed forward, introducing themselves eagerly. "I¡¯m Zhao Yan! Doctor of Molecular Biology, Biological Research Department, Underground City No. 9!" "Xu Wen, Doctor of Biochemistry, Biological Research Department, and an official employee of the Federal Government!" Despite the Federal Government abandoning them during the evacuation, seeing the Investigation Team now filled them with an overwhelming sense of relief and excitement. The fact that the team had come specifically for them meant that, as scientific researchers, they still held some value in the eyes of the Federal Government. Taylor scrutinized them, then spoke in a flat tone: "Yesterday, we sent an aerial investigation team to Underground City No. 9. They¡¯ve been missing for over eleven hours. Do you know what happened?" "The city was completely overrun by subterranean creatures," Ding Junyi stated, pulling a portable hard drive from her coat pocket. "This contains the system logs from the Underground City¡¯s network, as well as our department¡¯s research data. Everything you need to know is in there." Taylor cast a glance at the device, and a subordinate immediately stepped forward, connected it to a terminal, and began scanning the data. After a moment, he whispered: "The situation matches Headquarters'' predictions... Most likely an S-Class Nocturnal Entity." Taylor barely reacted. "If that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s no longer worth investigating. Prepare for withdrawal." Then, she turned back to Ding Junyi, Zhao Yan, and Xu Wen. "Take them with us. They¡¯ll be useful for further assessments." "Really?! That¡¯s fantastic! Thank you, Director Taylor!" Zhao Yan and Xu Wen lit up with joy, their faces filled with emotion. From being buried alive in the depths of a ruined city, to miraculously escaping, to now being taken back into the fold of the Federal Government¡ª It felt like they had walked through hell and back. But then¡ª "Additionally¡ª" Taylor tapped her mobile terminal, pulling up a document, and continued: "Aside from investigating Underground City No. 9, our mission also involves retrieving a classified biological research asset. Did you recover it during your escape?" Zhao Yan and Xu Wen¡¯s faces instantly stiffened. Displayed on Taylor¡¯s terminal was an encrypted project code. Others couldn¡¯t understand it, but Ding Junyi, Zhao Yan, and Xu Wen knew exactly what it referred to. The classified asset was none other than¡ª "Specimen No. 1: Blood Scourge Flora." "Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum." As a high-ranking official, Taylor was no fool. She immediately noticed their unnatural expressions. Without speaking, she began searching through the system logs on her terminal. Moments later, she found security footage showing Lin Xian and his team rescuing the scientists¡ª And more importantly, she saw them transporting the containment pod that held the Blood Scourge Flora. "I see now." Taylor handed the device to her subordinate, then walked past Ding Junyi and stood directly in front of Lin Xian. "Sir," she said in an official tone, "on behalf of the Federal Government, I thank you for rescuing our research personnel. Now, please return the property belonging to the Federal Government. In exchange, I will provide you with a compensation package of survival supplies." The atmosphere shifted instantly. Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin, and even Shi Diyuan¡¯s group all frowned. They had no idea what Taylor was talking about. But Lin Xian did. She was after that black flower. What surprised him most, though, was Taylor¡¯s own words¡ª It wasn¡¯t just some random research specimen. The Blood Scourge Flora was an official target of the Federal Investigation Team. It was far more valuable than he had expected. "And what if I refuse?" The words left Lin Xian¡¯s mouth calmly, but they sent a shockwave through the group. Taylor¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. "You refuse?" Lin Xian smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes, I refuse." His voice remained steady, but his words left everyone stunned. "I am not your employee, nor did I accept any Federal contracts. We saved these people by choice, not under obligation. Everything we recovered from Underground City No. 9 belongs to our team. Do I not have the right to refuse?" Taylor scoffed coldly. "Underground City No. 9 was Federal property. Everything inside still belongs to us. That includes the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive behind you." Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened instantly. He had risked his life retrieving those assets¡ªand now they were trying to claim them as their own? Brazen. Absolutely shameless. His gaze turned icy as he met Taylor¡¯s stare head-on. "So, Director Taylor¡ª How exactly do you plan to take it from me?" Taylor¡¯s expression hardened. She stepped back and snapped: "Security Regiment!" Clack! Clack! Clack! The Security Regiment soldiers behind her immediately raised their weapons, aiming at Lin Xian and his crew. Shi Diyuan and the others tensed¡ª Not expecting the situation to escalate this quickly. Zhao Yan and Xu Wen stood frozen, their faces pale with fear. And then¡ª Step. Ding Junyi suddenly stepped forward, standing beside Lin Xian with her hands in her coat pockets. She said nothing. Taylor¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Dr. Ding, what is the meaning of this?" Ding Junyi exhaled slowly. "The research I provided earlier contains all of my official contributions as a Federal scientist. By submitting that data, I have fulfilled my contract as a Federal employee. Therefore¡ª I am officially resigning. From this moment onward, I am no longer a Federal employee." "WHAT?!" Zhao Yan gasped in shock, while Taylor¡¯s face twisted in fury. Only Lin Xian, standing beside her, understood exactly what she was doing¡ª And even he had to admit¡ª This woman was braver than he expected. Chapter 142: Wrath "OK, I accept your resignation." Taylor¡¯s gaze turned sharp as she sneered. "Since you¡¯re no longer employees of the Federal Government, I can now officially classify you all as terrorists plundering federal assets. Isn''t this the outcome you were hoping for?" "Terrorists? I don¡¯t think so." Lin Xian stared at the dozens of gun barrels aimed at him without a trace of fear on his face. He slowly raised his hands and said loudly, "Do you really think you¡¯re the only ones with guns?!" Click! Click! Click! The sharp sound of a safety being disengaged rang out, and the cold, black muzzle of a Remington M96 was suddenly pressed against Taylor¡¯s forehead. Shu Qin! At the same time, Luo Ye, Xu Jin, Old Mo, and over a hundred armed convoy members all raised their weapons, standing behind Lin Xian and aiming at Taylor and her Security Regiment. Even Shasha, with her small frame, stood beside Lin Xian, confidently gripping a grenade launcher as she glared at the blonde woman before her. "Haha! This woman still thinks she represents the government? Now she''s resorting to robbing survivors?" From the side, Shi Diyuan from Dragon Mountain No.1 let out a laugh, snapping his fingers. His men immediately pulled out their weapons, pointing them at Taylor''s group as well. "Perfect timing! I¡¯ve had enough of you government lapdogs. Go on, try firing a shot if you dare!" The situation was on the verge of exploding into an all-out battle! "You people are insane! Do you dare challenge the Federal Government?!" Taylor¡¯s face twisted with rage as she shouted, "Zhan Wei, I order you to execute these criminals on the spot!" Zhan Wei, the head of the Security Regiment, was a man in his thirties with a military-style crew cut. Seeing how tense the situation had become, he hesitated. "Captain?" One of his subordinates shot him a concerned glance. "What do we do?" "Hold your ground. Don''t fire on the civilians," Zhan Wei said in a hushed tone. If the Security Regiment clashed with the Survivors'' Alliance here, it would trigger complete chaos. And with the zombie horde already besieging the city, no one wanted a bloody internal conflict. "The Federal Government? Ha! I spit on it!" Xu Jin spat on the ground, gripping his rifle tightly. "When the disaster struck, the first thing you did was abandon the people. And now you have the audacity to call yourselves the government?" Xu Jin¡¯s words were like a spark thrown onto dry tinder. Though the natural disaster wasn¡¯t the government¡¯s fault, they had abandoned the common people, leaving them to fend for themselves. And now, instead of defending the spaceport, they were only concerned with protecting their so-called first-class citizens. Fury spread like wildfire. The survivors, their faces twisted in anger, began closing in on the Security Regiment, their numbers rapidly increasing. "Yeah! Phoenix is the one running the rescue efforts now¡ªwhat the hell are you even doing?" "Where the f*** were you during the Polar Night?" "Cowards!" "F*** the Federal Government!" "Go crawl back into your underground bunkers and eat s***!" The rage of the crowd was overwhelming. The Security Regiment members looked around in panic, shifting their weapons uneasily. But there were simply too many survivors surrounding them. Lin Xian watched the scene unfold, smirking internally. Looks like I¡¯m not the only one who¡¯s fed up with this so-called government. Every survivor here had experienced loss¡ªfamilies torn apart, loved ones dead. Now, all that anger was being directed at the Federal Government, and Taylor, a mere senior officer, couldn¡¯t possibly withstand the fury of so many people. Taylor¡¯s face was flushed with rage, her chest rising and falling sharply as she shouted, "You! You people! Are you trying to rebel?!" "Rebel? That¡¯s not your call to make, Taylor." A powerful voice suddenly rang out, cutting through the tension. From outside the crowd, a large unit of Iron Guard Brigade soldiers marched in swiftly. These were heavily armed troops wearing powered exoskeletons, their presence instantly imposing. Seeing the Iron Guard Brigade arrive, many survivors instinctively stepped aside. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze landed on the middle-aged woman leading the soldiers¡ªshe wore a military uniform emblazoned with a crimson phoenix insignia. Phoenix! And to Lin Xian¡¯s surprise, standing among the troops was a familiar face¡ªJiang Yun. Taylor¡¯s expression changed drastically upon seeing the newcomers, but she still lifted her chin arrogantly. "Captain Bai, I am here under orders to investigate this district. Are you interfering with a federal operation?" The middle-aged woman, known as Captain Bai, swept her sharp gaze over Taylor, not even bothering to acknowledge her authority. "There is no federal operation here. The spaceport platform is now under the joint command of Phoenix and Iron Guard Brigade 52. Do not disrupt order." Taylor¡¯s eyes flashed with fury. "Ridiculous! Yubei Spaceport belongs to the Federation! You think you can just take over?!" She glanced at the Iron Guard soldiers behind Bai and sneered, "You Iron Guards have been losing battles from Maple City to Chong¡¯an to Xinglong. You have no real skills, yet you dare point your guns at the Federal Government?" Her words immediately enraged the Iron Guard soldiers. "If you still don¡¯t understand, I have no problem removing you from the spaceport myself," Bai Shuang said coldly, her voice laced with finality. As soon as she spoke, the heavily armed Iron Guard soldiers adjusted their grips on their weapons, making their threat clear. Though Bai Shuang''s tone remained calm, her overwhelming presence left Taylor visibly shaken. Taylor''s Security Regiment numbered fewer than a hundred, while Bai Shuang had an entire battalion of Iron Guard Brigade 52 behind her. After the collapse of the Federal Government, the Starfleet and Iron Guard Brigade had sided with Phoenix, leaving Taylor¡¯s Dawn Project with no real power. Taylor¡¯s face paled as she looked at the weapons aimed at her. She couldn¡¯t afford a direct confrontation with Phoenix and the survivors. Gritting her teeth, she glared at Lin Xian and Bai Shuang. "Don¡¯t think this is over! I will report this incident¡ªfederal assets will be reclaimed!" "Looking forward to it." Lin Xian scoffed. He had no intention of bowing to the so-called government. His team had fought tooth and nail to acquire their loot¡ªthere was no way they were giving it up for free. And the more Taylor resisted, the clearer it became¡ªthe Blood Scourge Flora must be extremely valuable. With that, Taylor stormed off with her team, her subordinates Zhao Yan and Xu Wen shooting Lin Xian and Ding Junyi a complex look before hurriedly following her. "Yeah, get lost!" "F*** your government!" "Rot in hell, you pieces of s***!" The surrounding survivors cheered as Taylor¡¯s group retreated in disgrace. At that moment, Bai Shuang approached Lin Xian. Before she could speak, Jiang Yun stepped forward to introduce them. "Captain Bai, this is Lin Xian, convoy leader of the Infinite Train." "Lin Xian, this is Bai Shuang, head of the Phoenix Spaceport Emergency Response Unit. She was the one who arranged for you to fast-track through the platform earlier." "So that¡¯s what happened." Lin Xian nodded in understanding and looked at Bai Shuang with gratitude. "Much appreciated." "No need to thank me. Jiang Yun briefed me on your convoy, so we waived the emergency inspection." Hearing this, Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. Since when did Jiang Yun get close to Phoenix¡¯s leadership? Bai Shuang¡¯s gaze swept over the convoy leaders. "Since you¡¯re all here, let me get straight to the point. The spaceport is facing an emergency situation, and we need support." "Emergency?" Shi Diyuan asked. Bai Shuang pointed towards the massive Ascending Elevator. "There¡¯s an enemy obstruction." Chapter 143: Support "Wait, Corpse Shepherds of the Polar Night¡ªdo those things actually exist?" someone in the crowd asked in panic. "Has anyone actually seen one?" "Will we have time to escape? The radio said... anyone who encounters a Corpse Shepherd¡ªdies." "Silence!" Bai Shuang''s voice rang out loud and clear, her sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd. "It doesn¡¯t matter what they are. The crisis is right in front of us. If you want to survive, don¡¯t just stand around. Anyone with weapons or abilities capable of fighting should head to the spaceport¡¯s defenses to help hold off the zombie tide. If we lose this battle¡ªthere will be no escape." Her words snapped many people out of their panic. Over on Lin Xian''s side, Chen Sixuan, KIKI, and the others looked tense as well. After everything they had been through, they had finally made it here¡ªthere was nowhere left to run. At that moment, Jiang Yun stepped forward. "I suggest we don¡¯t panic. Captain Bai, please specify what kind of assistance is needed. The convoys here can provide support, and we¡¯ll organize things on the spot to avoid chaos." "Good. Since this is an emergency, just tell us what you need, Captain Bai!" Shi Diyuan from Dragon Mountain No.1 said boldly. "We¡¯ve got plenty of weapons!" "Same here¡ªSilver Star is ready to assist." Click-clack, click-clack. At that moment, the sound of footsteps echoed across the plaza. The crowd instinctively turned their heads, spotting a man and a woman approaching, surrounded by a heavily armed security team. The two newcomers were young, dressed in luxurious fur coats with gleaming silver cross-star badges pinned to their chests. Unlike the ragged survivors, they were spotlessly clean, carrying an air of nobility. The woman in the lead had stunning looks and an elegant presence. She spoke directly: "Silver Star has 800 armed personnel available. If needed, we also have 42 engineers across multiple fields who can assist." Lin Xian raised an eyebrow in shock. Damn. A single train carrying an entire battalion¡¯s worth of firepower¡ªand over 40 engineers? No wonder they used to be a major international corporation. Money really does make a difference. As two major convoys stepped forward, the mood in the plaza shifted toward action. Other convoy leaders began offering their support, realizing that their own survival depended on working together. Meanwhile, the battle outside the spaceport was intensifying, the sounds of gunfire and explosions shaking the air. Aside from Lin Xian, Shu Qin, Xu Jin, and Old Mo¡¯s convoys, the two largest forces present were: Silver Star: 800+ heavily armed personnel and 42 engineers.Dragon Mountain No.1: Excluding the elderly, women, and children, they still had 500+ combatants. Together, these two forces alone were nearly a battalion-sized military unit. Additionally, convoys like Jiang Yun¡¯s Chasing Wind Convoy, Big Beard¡¯s Convoy, and several others totaled another 1,000 fighters¡ªthough their firepower was far less organized compared to Silver Star or the Iron Guard Brigade. The Battle Plan Bai Shuang, seeing that everyone was mobilized, wasted no time. "The situation is as follows:" "First: The A-Gate¡¯s lockdown system is malfunctioning, allowing zombies and eerie entities to flood in. The Iron Guard Brigade is deploying heavy troops to contain the breach." "Second: The spaceport¡¯s radar has detected multiple airborne eerie entities approaching. Preliminary scans show at least B-Class Sky Jellyfish, and there is a high chance that an S-Class Atmospheric Jellyfish is in Yubei City¡¯s airspace." "Third: The Ascending Elevator is malfunctioning. We¡¯re trying to fix it, but if it remains broken, we won¡¯t be able to evacuate." "Sky Jellyfish? What about the rail-mounted electromagnetic cannons?" Shi Diyuan pointed at the anti-air defenses on the upper structures of the spaceport. "Can¡¯t those handle it?" "Limited power supply¡ªwe can¡¯t activate all of them," answered Wei Kexue, an engineer from the emergency response team. "The spaceport¡¯s power grid was heavily damaged earlier. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve only activated one Ascending Elevator and are still prioritizing the high-altitude corridor¡¯s electromagnetic acceleration system¡ªotherwise, trains inside will collide." "Fine. But Silver Star and Dragon Mountain No.1 both have anti-air weapons. We should be able to use those," Shi Diyuan noted, glancing at Jian Xuwei. "We can. Silver Star¡¯s weapons will remain online." Jian Xuwei replied steadily. "But the spaceport is too large¡ªour coverage will be limited." Lin Xian summarized: "So the three main problems are: The A-Gate lockdown failure.The airborne threat.The malfunctioning Ascending Elevator." "That¡¯s correct," Bai Shuang nodded. Lin Xian then turned to Wei Kexue. "Can you explain the specific issue with the elevator? I have some mechanical expertise¡ªmaybe I can help." Before Wei Kexue could respond, a chuckle interrupted them. The group turned to see Jian Xuwei¡¯s companion, Jian Zeyang, barely holding back laughter. "Zeyang!" Jian Xuwei¡¯s expression darkened as she reprimanded him. "Sorry, sorry..." Jian Zeyang waved dismissively at Lin Xian. "No offense, but do you even know what the Ascending Elevator is?" "That¡¯s not some ordinary machine. It¡¯s a 4,800-meter-tall near-vertical superclimb system with a 90-degree incline. You don¡¯t just fix that by ¡®knowing a little about mechanics.¡¯" Lin Xian didn¡¯t react to the mockery. He was more concerned with solving the issue than arguing. "Lin Xian, are you serious?" Jiang Yun asked, watching him closely. Lin Xian took a deep breath¡ªthen raised his hand. A soft glow radiated from his palm. In the next instant, several metal components materialized out of thin air, assembling themselves in midair. Clang! A solid metal gate forged itself on the spot, crashing onto the ground with a deep, resonant boom. Silence. Everyone stared in shock. KIKI and the others simply smiled proudly, their expressions reading: "Don¡¯t underestimate us. We may be small, but every single one of us is elite." "Wait... Mechanical ability?" "That¡¯s an actual power?!" "Unbelievable!" Jiang Yun¡¯s gaze shifted slightly as he smiled, as if realizing that he had only scratched the surface of Lin Xian¡¯s capabilities. Jian Xuwei¡¯s eyes widened in shock, while Jian Zeyang was utterly speechless. Bai Shuang¡¯s expression hardened before she finally said, "I see. That changes things. Lin Xian, we¡¯ll need you inside the Ascending Elevator. If you can speed up repairs, it will increase our chances of survival." Lin Xian exhaled. He didn¡¯t like showing off, but this was life or death¡ªfor his team and for everyone here. "Captain Lin, this is great!" Wei Kexue exclaimed. "Some key components are broken. If you¡¯re available, we should go right now!" "First, we need to seal A-Gate¡ªotherwise, things will get out of hand," Lin Xian said firmly. "Agreed." Bai Shuang turned to the others. "We¡¯ll split into groups. Zones A5, A7, C1, C2, D9, and E6 all need reinforcements¡ªespecially long-range ability users and heavy weapons." With that, the survivors began mobilizing for battle. Chapter 144: The Gate Gear up. Load your weapons. The survivors rushed to reinforce the spaceport defenses. Woooo¡ª! The 1130 CIWS cannons roared, their bright tracer rounds illuminating the night sky. Above, the massive silhouettes of Sky Jellyfish slowly pulsed as they approached. On the high walls, an overwhelming tide of zombies climbed relentlessly. Whoosh! Whoosh! Preloaded missiles streaked into the zombie horde, striking giant humanoid grotesques and black centipede-like creatures clinging to the rail tracks. Even more bizarre, new eerie entities emerged from the darkened streets¡ªmonsters Lin Xian had never seen before. These eerie entities were indiscriminate, devouring zombies as they advanced toward the spaceport. The high-powered floodlights seemed to make them uneasy, forcing them to stay in the shadows or attempt sudden ambushes. Some creatures scaled the walls, ripping apart soldiers before retreating under heavy fire. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! With more survivors and ability users joining the fray, the Iron Guard Brigade finally gained some breathing room. "Don''t you guys think... the number of zombies and eerie entities in this city is way too high?" Lin Xian sat in the airport shuttle, watching the chaotic battlefield unfold. KIKI frowned as she observed the burning high walls. "It¡¯s like they all received some kind of signal¡ªthey¡¯re swarming toward us." "Could there be a zombie leader controlling them?" Lu Xingchen mused. "Didn''t we just hear about that Corpse Shepherd? Maybe you¡¯re right," Jiang Yun responded. "Speaking of which," Lin Xian turned to Jiang Yun, "I heard you ran into the Black Crow Four¡ªhow did you end up working with the emergency response team?" Jiang Yun, still wearing sunglasses, glanced back at him. "My team and Big Beard¡¯s convoy were at Ping¡¯a Lake when we encountered the S-Class Atmospheric Jellyfish. The Iron Guard Brigade was there too..." Lin Xian recalled something. "A few hours ago, we took down the Black Crow Four with Shu Qin and Xu Jin." "Really? Well done. That saves me the trouble." Jiang Yun smiled faintly, though his expression held a trace of sorrow. "This journey has been full of danger. Not everyone makes it out alive." Lin Xian fell silent. He knew Jiang Yun had deep ties with one of the Black Crow Four¡ªit must have been hard for him. Beside him, Shasha was loading grenade rounds into her launcher. She carried a massive backpack filled with ammunition Lin Xian had prepared for her. At first, Lin Xian had designed a bulletproof backpack to help her carry extra ammo, but it was too heavy¡ªthe small girl could barely stand upright. So instead, he planned to build her a custom exosuit when he unlocked his external armor designs. Shasha had no abilities and was still young, and Lin Xian didn¡¯t feel comfortable letting her run around battlefields unprotected. At least she had Big Luo to watch over her. Meanwhile, Wei Kexue, the engineer, was furiously typing on his laptop. Suddenly, his expression changed. "Not good. The monsters are getting smarter¡ªthey¡¯re converging on A-Gate." His words chilled the room. It was just like Lu Xingchen¡¯s joke about a zombie leader¡ªexcept now, it felt all too real. A-Gate: The Breaking Point BOOM! BOOM! The thunderous gunfire and explosions grew louder as their shuttle approached the collapsing A-Gate. Hundreds of Iron Guard soldiers were holding the line, but the massive gate had been forced open by about two meters¡ªenough for hordes of zombies to squeeze through. On the high walls, machine guns and artillery rained fire upon larger grotesque entities, but the sheer volume of corpses piling up was blocking the gate from closing. "Big Luo, Shasha¡ªcover us with long-range fire!" Lin Xian issued orders immediately. "KIKI, Lu Xingchen¡ªhelp me clear a path." "If we don¡¯t shut the gate, we¡¯re doomed," Jiang Yun said grimly. "Lin Xian, I¡¯ll clear a way for you." Jiang Yun grabbed his walkie-talkie. "Huiyan!" "On it." Vroom! The roar of a motorcycle engine grew closer. From behind, a woman in a black leather jacket raced forward on a modified bike, dodging debris as she launched multiple guided micro-missiles at the gap in the gate. BOOM! BOOM! The explosions ripped through the zombie horde, briefly clearing the entrance. Ren Huiyan reached out and grabbed at thin air¡ªbut something invisible formed in her grasp. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she hurled it toward the gate. WHOOM! A shockwave of air pressure erupted, sending chunks of flesh and bone flying. "We¡¯ve got the outside¡ªgo!" Jiang Yun adjusted his sunglasses and leaped off the shuttle. A gust of wind surged around him, lifting him into the air. "Wind ability!" Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes lit up. "Nice, nice! Wind can boost my firepower¡ªwe make a perfect team!" "Are you in love with him?" KIKI rolled her eyes. "You misunderstand! A true warrior seeks kindred spirits¡ª" "Lu Xingchen!" Lin Xian cut him off and pointed at the high wall. "Get up there and burn everything you can." "As you wish!" Right now, pressure relief was the top priority. If the zombie horde kept growing, the gate wouldn¡¯t just stay open¡ªit would be ripped apart completely. Wei Kexue checked his laptop. "Two of the gate¡¯s power units are down. One of the steel cables is jammed!" "Got it. Shut down the entire power system and reboot it." "What?! If we do that, the zombies will break through instantly!" "They won¡¯t." The shuttle stopped, and the team rushed out. Lin Xian turned to KIKI and Lu Xingchen. "Time it perfectly. Buy us a few seconds." Wei Kexue swallowed hard and nodded quickly. KIKI clapped her hands, her eyes glowing faintly as she lifted off the ground. More survivors and Iron Guard soldiers stared in shock. "What the hell is going on today? Why are so many people flying?!" "AAAAHHHHH!!!" A red centipede-like creature suddenly burst through the gate, its hundreds of wriggling legs spilling out like a nightmare. KIKI and Lin Xian locked eyes¡ªthey recognized it instantly. The same monster from before. "Again with this damn thing!" KIKI gritted her teeth and activated her ability. She grabbed the red centipede mid-air¡ªthen twisted her wrist. SNAP! The monster¡¯s body contorted like a pretzel, its internal structure crushing under her grip. "SKREEEEEEEE!" Its horrific screech pierced the air¡ªright as Lu Xingchen unleashed a beam of white-hot fire into its open mouth. FWOOSH! The centipede burst into flames, its chitin crackling under the heat. Suddenly, a crimson humanoid figure leaped from the zombie horde¡ªits mouth opening wide. WHOOSH! A blast of fire erupted toward the defending Iron Guard soldiers. "It¡¯s spraying flames¡ªdodge!" Survivors screamed as a wall of burning blood engulfed dozens. Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes darkened. "Oh, hell no. You think you can breathe fire in front of the Fire God?" Chapter 145: The White-Haired Ghost Spider Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes sharpened, his body lowering into a crouch with one fist planted on the ground. Boom! Flames erupted around him, his fists igniting with raging fire. With a thunderous explosion, he launched himself forward, descending from the sky like a meteor onto the skeletal humanoid figure. "Divine Annihilation¡ªSilent Extinction!" BOOOOOM! A massive pillar of fire erupted from both of his hands, engulfing and reflecting the enemy¡¯s fire breath back at it. Lin Xian watched in astonishment. "A perfect counter..." Previously, he and KIKI had barely survived against this same fire-spewing eerie entity. Yet Lu Xingchen could face it head-on¡ªand even overpower it. Above them, a howling gust of wind suddenly surged, intensifying the flames. "I¡¯ll help boost your firepower!" Jiang Yun extended both hands, conjuring white hurricanes that both swept zombies off the walls and fanned Lu Xingchen¡¯s flames. HUMMM! At that moment, KIKI swooped in, unleashing an invisible shockwave that blasted away both the burning eerie creature and a swarm of zombies, clearing the area. "Now! Close the gate!" Lin Xian shouted at Wei Kexue. Wooooo¡ª! The remaining gate motors roared to life, but only one side of the gate was functioning, slowly inching shut. "Cover them!" The Iron Guard soldiers, seeing the ability users assisting, began suppressing the enemies with all their firepower, buying time for Lin Xian¡¯s team. The ground was already a graveyard of corpses, but KIKI¡¯s earlier attack had cleared just enough space to make closing the gate possible. Lin Xian rushed into the engineering control room, activating Mechanical Scan. ¡¾Mechanical Scan¡ªInitiating¡¿ "This gate is even bigger than I expected¡ªthere are four motor units, two on each side." ¡¾Scan Complete¡ªMalfunction Detected¡¿ "Not just a snapped cable¡ªthe motors short-circuited too." Without hesitation, Lin Xian manufactured a new steel cable, rapidly reconnecting it with Mechanical Repair. Then, he restored the motor circuits and manually forced the gate shut. WHIRRR¡ª! Outside, amid the chaotic battlefield, the massive alloy gate suddenly rumbled¡ªand began closing. From above, KIKI and Jiang Yun saw the piled corpses blocking the entrance. They struck simultaneously¡ªa gale-force wind and a psychic shockwave sweeping away the debris. BANG! With a thunderous slam, the titanic metal doors finally sealed shut. Inside the spaceport, the remaining zombies were swiftly eliminated, and the Iron Guard soldiers immediately felt the pressure lift. Wooooo¡ª! Suddenly, the 1130 CIWS turrets spun around and began firing wildly in one direction! Above them, a monstrous white spider scaled the spaceport¡¯s rail structures, its grotesque form illuminated by searchlights. "White-Haired Ghost Spider¡ªB-Class Eerie Entity!" Wei Kexue shouted in alarm. SWOOSH! A gust of wind howled¡ªJiang Yun soared forward, shouting: "Don¡¯t let it open its mouth!" RATATATATAT! High-speed metallic projectiles shredded the spider¡¯s body, spraying chunks of blood and flesh into the air. Meanwhile, Ren Huiyan weaved her motorcycle through the battlefield, maneuvering under the spider¡¯s massive legs while firing missiles at its rear limbs. One missile struck true, blowing off one of its hind legs. Lin Xian rushed out of the engineering room¡ªhis stomach tightening at the sight of the behemoth. "It¡¯s ten times larger than the three-headed spider I fought at Yu Chi..." He noticed its swollen abdomen pulsing¡ªand his face darkened. "Watch out!!" GURGLE GURGLE¡ª! Just as the ghost spider¡¯s face was blasted apart, its massive abdomen violently trembled¡ª BOOM!! It exploded. A storm of red acid rained from the sky! "AAAAAH!!" "What is that?!" Hundreds of Iron Guard soldiers and survivors screamed in terror. BOOM! Simultaneously, Jiang Yun, KIKI, and Lu Xingchen attacked. Wind blast. Psychic strike. Explosive flames. BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM! Nearly half of the airborne acid was redirected outward, melting zombies and eerie entities instead¡ªbut there was still too much left. Blocking the Acid Rain Flashback! Shield Wall! Lin Xian maximized his speed, activating Disassembly Space to materialize countless metal plates. WHOOSH! The Heart of Machinery roared¡ª Ten meters. Twenty meters. Thirty meters! A towering steel barricade materialized in an instant, intercepting the thickest concentration of acid rain! SPLASH! As the acid landed, an overpowering stench of burning metal and toxic fumes filled the air. Dozens of Iron Guard soldiers and survivors screamed as their bodies were drenched in acid, their flesh dissolving in seconds. The crowd fell into chaos, terrified. KIKI¡¯s face went pale. She snapped her fingers¡ªher psychic energy seized the spider¡¯s corpse mid-air. With a furious shout, she hurled it over the wall, crushing an incoming white zombie horde¡ªdousing them in acid. She couldn¡¯t worry about that now. Her gaze locked onto Lin Xian¡¯s steel barricade¡ª It was rapidly dissolving, holes forming everywhere¡ª But then¡ªnew layers of metal kept regenerating. "Lin Xian¡¯s ability is still working!" "Fall back!" From behind the steel wall, Lin Xian¡¯s shout snapped the soldiers out of their panic. They bolted away in terror. WHIRRR¡ª! The steel barricade buckled and melted under the corrosive onslaught. Lin Xian released his grip and jumped back¡ªjust as an invisible force yanked him away. "Lin Xian, are you okay?!" KIKI descended, eyes filled with worry. Lin Xian gasped for breath and shook his head. "I¡¯m fine." The battlefield was a hellscape. Half of A-Zone Plaza was drenched in acid. Over a dozen vehicles¡ªincluding Iron Guard APCs and survivor transports¡ªhad melted into blackened husks. The ground was littered with charred, deformed corpses. WHOOSH!! Jiang Yun summoned a storm, dispersing the acidic fumes. "Lin Xian, Engineer Wei¡ªwe¡¯ll hold this area! Get to the Ascending Elevator!" "Got it!" Wei Kexue, deathly pale, clutched his computer and fled toward the shuttle. "Lu Xingchen!" Lin Xian turned to the fire-wielding warrior, whose upper clothes had burned away in battle. He pointed at the high wall, where Big Luo and Shasha were still firing down at enemies. "Protect them!" "Lin-ge, be careful!" Shasha called out, reloading her grenade launcher. Lu Xingchen cracked his knuckles, his battle-hungry grin returning. "Understood! The Fire God shall not fail!" "Let¡¯s move!" Lin Xian nodded to Jiang Yun and Ren Huiyan¡ªthen boarded the shuttle, racing toward the Ascending Elevator. Chapter 146: Robot Blueprints "The system''s self-check indicates that the main faults are concentrated in the drive module of the ascent track. These faults are typically handled as routine maintenance and aren''t particularly complex. However, the problem now is that there are too many failure points, all of which fall under safety protocols. As a result, the system has been forced to shut down. We don¡¯t have enough manpower, and we need to climb to the high-altitude section of the elevator to make the repairs, which will take considerable time." On the vehicle, Wei Kexue explained to Lin Xian amidst the constant gunfire. "The engineers sent by Silver Star can help a bit, but their expertise is mainly in engineering repairs. Those maintenance areas are typically handled by a large number of maintenance robots. Relying solely on human effort is just too slow." "Then why not activate the maintenance robots?" KIKI asked. Wei Kexue waved his hand. "When we arrived here a few days ago, most of the maintenance robots were still functional. But yesterday, after Iron Guard Brigade encountered that Atmospheric Mica in Mount Daluo, they seemed to have been hit by some kind of ion pulse attack. This resulted in their core control boards burning out..." Lin Xian frowned. "So the other ascent passages haven¡¯t been activated not just because of insufficient power, but also because most of the airport¡¯s master control programs have malfunctioned, right?" Wei Kexue''s expression turned grim as he nodded. "We¡¯ve already sent an urgent request to headquarters to dispatch some maintenance robots for support, but... they won¡¯t arrive in time." "It¡¯s already lucky that a few electromagnetic rail cannons survived. Otherwise, we would have had almost no air defense capabilities left." "At the time, the horde tide wasn¡¯t as severe as it is now. Those zombies and eerie entities hadn¡¯t actively attacked the airport. It was only after the Iron Guard Brigade withdrew that the full defense mechanism was activated." At this moment, the shuttle vehicle drove past the airport platform and began entering the massive ascent elevator pillar. The lighting changed suddenly, revealing a vast and magnificent megastructure before Lin Xian¡¯s eyes. As they moved deeper inside, countless transport corridors stretched upward. A massive black platform dominated the scene. All incoming trains and vehicles would first be prepared on this traction platform. Then, in three stages, they would be accelerated upwards in a near-catapult-like manner, surging up the ascent passage to a vertical height of 4,800 meters. From there, they would enter the High-Altitude Corridor above the Dazhu Plateau¡¯s snowy mountains. Inside the enormous corridor pipelines, the cargo would be electromagnetically accelerated to a speed of 1,000 km/h, allowing tens of thousands of tons of goods to be transported across 4,500 kilometers to Jiazhou City in under five hours¡ªnearly as fast as a commercial airliner! "Wei Gong, take me to see those maintenance robots." Lin Xian spoke. Attempting to fully repair the ascent elevator was clearly unrealistic¡ªthe sheer scale of it was comparable to a small city. Expecting his Mechanical Heart to cover the entire structure for repairs? He¡¯d suffocate to death before finishing. The only feasible way he could help was by manufacturing some key components based on existing blueprints. However, from Wei Kexue¡¯s explanation, this wasn¡¯t just a matter of replacing a few parts. If they could restore the maintenance robots, the repairs would proceed much faster. Wei Kexue looked up at him, remained silent for a moment, then nodded quickly. "Got it." The shuttle vehicle swiftly drove into a large maintenance bay. Under the dim yellow lights, numerous conveyor chains and suspension platforms came into view. Wei Kexue operated the computer system and activated the lights in a designated area. As the illumination flickered on, rows of small yellow maintenance robots appeared on the ground. "These are PX-05 Engineering Robots specifically designed for ascent elevator maintenance. They are usually managed directly by the airport¡¯s self-check system center. When the malfunctions started, a few colleagues and I tried to repair some, but we couldn¡¯t get them running. The maintenance warehouse had some backup units, but the Federal Investigation Team took them for airship repairs before we could use them." "The Federal Investigation Team again? Why the hell are they still here? All they do is make our lives harder!" KIKI said irritably. Wei Kexue sighed helplessly. "Even though we belong to different factions now, Phoenix ¡¯s top priority is still to help as many survivors as possible. We can¡¯t afford direct conflict with them. If everyone on Blue Planet dies, then our resistance will be meaningless." Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond. He walked straight over, placed his hand on one of the engineering robots, and activated Mechanical Scan. ¡¾Scanning in progress... 15%¡¿ ¡¾Scan progress... 50%¡¿ These factory robots used small Hall-effect anode-layer thrusters for high-precision levitation operations. Just judging by the scanning speed, Lin Xian could tell that their engineering complexity was high. However, he also noticed something surprising¡ªthese robots weren¡¯t missing any structural components. Unlike the previous wrecked Iron Guard-3 Military Mecha, which had lost its entire core, leaving only an empty shell that was useless except for Devouring, these PX-05 robots were still intact. Since Devouring damaged and incomplete machines wasn¡¯t particularly efficient, Lin Xian always prioritized restoring fully operational mechanical units whenever possible. That way, he could obtain complete blueprints. After about twenty minutes, Lin Xian finally completed the full scan. ¡¾Scan complete: PX-05 Engineering Robot Blueprint acquired¡¿ ¡¾Detected core control board circuit damage. Begin repair?¡¿ Repair! Seeing the prompt, Lin Xian finally breathed a sigh of relief. A full set of robot blueprints¡ªfinally! From the materials required, the construction wasn¡¯t particularly complex. His current Mechanical Manufacturing skill level would make the process a bit slow, but with these blueprints, he could start mass-producing maintenance robots for train repairs. He could even install machine guns or grenade launchers on them and turn them into battle robots! BZZZZZ! A soft hum filled the air. The mechanical circuits inside the robot flickered with blue light¡ªa maze of intricate wiring that would be a nightmare for any normal engineer to troubleshoot. But for someone with Mechanical Heart, repairs were effortless. BEEP¡ª"Program initiated." The PX-05 Engineering Robot¡¯s control panel lit up with a faint fluorescent glow, and a low electric whirr sounded as its thrusters ignited with a soft blue light¡ªthen, slowly, it hovered into the air. "Whoa! It¡¯s actually working!!" Wei Kexue adjusted his glasses in shock, immediately checking the system. Sure enough, one of the engineering robots had come online in the system¡¯s registry. Lin Xian nodded. "The first one takes longer. Now I¡¯ll fix the rest." "That¡¯s amazing!" At that moment, Wei Kexue''s eyes were filled with admiration. For a mechanical engineer, Lin Xian¡¯s ability was literally like a Mechanical God¡¯s blessing. With this skill, who even needed to study Kun¡¯s ¡¶Control System Engineering¡·, ¡¶Mechanical Manufacturing and Equipment¡·, ¡¶CAD & Mechanical Components¡·, ¡¶Materials Forming Technology¡·, or ¡¶Engineering Materials and Applications¡·? For a moment, Wei Kexue wanted to apprentice under Lin Xian¡ªbut quickly dismissed the thought. This ability probably wasn¡¯t something that could be taught. He snapped back to reality and regained his composure. "Alright, I¡¯ll arrange for maintenance operations right away. If we can get at least 20 units running, we should be able to complete all the repairs in under an hour!" Lin Xian nodded and, without wasting words, immediately began working on the next unit. Chapter 147: Repairs "Team Leader Bai, Captain Lin has successfully repaired the maintenance robots. The estimated repair time for the ascent elevator has been reduced to under an hour." BOOM! CRACK! The entire outer perimeter of the airport platform was engulfed in an intense battle, resembling a massive warzone. In various sectors, hundreds of thousands of zombies frantically climbed upwards. Flames roared, explosions echoed, and the fully-automated machine guns were so overheated that their barrels glowed red-hot. Each burst of firepower illuminated the endless surge of the undead flooding the city roads like a tidal wave. Among them, grotesque mutant insects, zombie ghouls, towering pale giants, and black centipede-like creatures crawled and slithered forward. The 1130 Close-In Weapon System swept across the battlefield, instantly turning them into a rain of shredded flesh and viscera. Below, Iron Guard Brigade had to use trucks to continuously haul ammunition chains from the airport¡¯s military warehouse to keep the guns firing. Inside the control tower, Bai Shuang was leading the emergency response team, discussing evacuation plans. Upon hearing Wei Kexue¡¯s voice over the radio, her expression immediately tensed. "Good! Radar has detected a massive eerie entity in the air¡ªit should be the S-Class Atmospheric Mica. It hasn¡¯t revealed itself yet, but stay alert!" BOOM! A brilliant blue electromagnetic beam streaked across the night sky, fired from the railgun, piercing straight through a massive sky jellyfish drifting too close. A dozen of its tentacles snapped off mid-air, crashing down. AOOO¡ªGRAAAHHH!! A terrifying wail reverberated, sending shivers down the spines of the resisting soldiers and survivors alike. Just catching sight of that colossal shadow looming in the sky made their hair stand on end. "Night Falcon-12 Anti-Air Missiles¡ªlaunch parameters ready!" WHOOSH! WHOOSH! The Iron Guard Brigade¡¯s anti-air missile launchers rose slowly, and two small air-to-air missiles blasted off, trailing white contrails before exploding against the sky jellyfish¡¯s bell-shaped body. Meanwhile, on the ground, a battalion of Iron Guard soldiers was advancing swiftly. Leading them was a middle-aged officer, clad in military uniform. He appeared to be in his mid-forties, his sharp features and rigid posture exuding the aura of a seasoned battlefield commander. "General, Team Leader Bai just informed us¡ªthe ascent elevator repairs will be completed within an hour." The adjutant reported urgently, following closely beside him. "Tell the convoys in the plaza to fall back into the port. The threats are reaching inside now." Zhang Dingzhong kept walking, pointing towards the railway platform. "Make sure Bai Shuang coordinates the evacuation¡ªeveryone moves to the track platform!" Most survivors had already picked up weapons and joined the Iron Guard Brigade in holding off the attackers. The thousands of escape vehicles still remaining were mostly occupied by the elderly, women, and children. "Where the hell is the Security Regiment? They¡¯re still not coming to support?!" "The Federal Investigation Team hasn¡¯t left yet. They just contacted us, demanding we escort their aircraft out of the combat zone before they agree to leave." "What?! Escort?!" BANG! Zhang Dingzhong came to a halt, letting out a cold snort. "Ma Xiaotang, go tell that damn Taylor¡ªI don¡¯t give a sh*t whose dad or son is on her damn plane. I¡¯m giving her 20 minutes to get the hell out of my sight. If she doesn¡¯t, she¡¯s staying forever!" "Yes, sir!" The adjutant saluted immediately. "General, we¡¯ve detected minor seismic activity southwest of our position¡ªit could be related to an eerie entity." Another officer rushed up to report. "How much time left for evacuation?" "According to the emergency team¡¯s estimates, once the ascent elevator is repaired, it will take at least five hours to complete the full evacuation of the airport personnel." "Five hours..." Zhang Dingzhong gazed at the dark, oppressive sky looming overhead. It felt as if a massive net was slowly tightening around the airport. Inside the port, more and more survivor vehicles were getting wrecked by eerie entities. Many survivors fighting in the defense lines were being killed. The air was filled with the screams of dying men and crying women¡ªtheir voices drowned in desperation. Those who had lost their vehicles or their last hope had nowhere left to run. Watching the chaos unfold, Zhang Dingzhong did not hesitate. "Follow my orders! Unload all artillery and anti-air equipment from the vehicles! The logistics unit will be responsible for transferring the wounded and stranded survivors onto the Iron Guard¡¯s transport trains!" "Alert all battalions and units¡ªprepare for a full-scale defense!" "Airship Squadrons One and Three¡ªget all remaining aerial units in the sky to defend the ascent elevator from airborne threats!" "Yes, sir!" The officers of Iron Guard Brigade 52 responded in unison. Maintenance Bay ¨C Ascent Elevator Back in the maintenance bay, one by one, the repaired maintenance robots hovered into the air. Under Wei Kexue¡¯s operation, they entered the repair queue and flew upwards into the ascent elevator passage. As the system¡¯s error reports were gradually resolved, Wei Kexue¡¯s tense expression relaxed slightly. "Based on the current sequence, if all repairs are completed, how soon can we finish the full ascent transfer?" The maintenance bay was eerily quiet¡ªthe sounds of gunfire and explosions now distant. As Lin Xian worked on another repair, he asked the question without looking up. "The fastest possible time?" Wei Kexue took a deep breath. "At least five hours¡ªthat¡¯s already pushing our limits." After speaking, he seemed to realize Lin Xian¡¯s intent and muttered, "You train operators... are planning to use the Horizon Clamp System to launch directly, aren¡¯t you?" Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond. Instead, KIKI asked, "And what¡¯s wrong with that?" "It¡¯s extremely risky." Wei Kexue adjusted his glasses. "Not just for your train¡ªnine train convoys have entered the ascent sequence in the past few days. Without the traction platform, there¡¯s no reliable way to ensure safety in the high-altitude corridor." The traction platform was a flatbed transport system, but far more complex than a regular trailer hook. It connected directly to the rail track, essentially functioning as a ferry vehicle for the ascent elevator, integrated with the electromagnetic launch system. Vehicles and trains weren¡¯t required to self-propel¡ªinstead, the system-controlled the acceleration, handling the climb and subsequent high-speed transition into the low-pressure corridor. This setup maximized transport efficiency while ensuring automated regulation. Without it, using the Horizon Clamp System to force-launch the train meant it would be directly driving on the high-altitude rail corridor without any external assistance. In early operations, manual track routing could still push speeds to 500 km/h¡ªfaster than most bullet trains. But under the current conditions? If the Doomsday Trains launched without proper clearance, with other electromagnetically accelerated transports following behind them, any accident mid-air could trigger a catastrophic chain reaction. The results would be unthinkable. "We¡¯ve actually considered increasing single-batch transport volume to improve efficiency, but..." "Lack of power?" Lin Xian interjected. Wei Kexue nodded. "Besides the ascent elevator and electromagnetic acceleration systems, we also need power to maintain the anti-air defenses of the high-altitude corridor." "In the dark of night, there may be fewer eerie entities in the sky than on land¡ªbut they are usually far more terrifying." "Since Apocalypse Day, most aircraft and orbital satellites have been destroyed. The sky is not safe." "Our Sky City¨CQingluan crashed two days ago, sinking into the Western Pacific Deep Sea with fifteen thousand people aboard. Phoenix is still trying to rescue them. They say something... horrifying was down there." "...What?" KIKI frowned. "Wait, aren¡¯t we talking about sky creatures? Why are you suddenly talking about the deep sea?" Wei Kexue pushed up his glasses. "Does it really matter?" He pointed to the sky. "Some things that should have stayed in the ocean... are now in the sky." "And at ten-thousand-meter depths, there are horrors far beyond anything we can handle." Chapter 148: Earthquake "So, is Phoenix''s headquarters now based in the sky?" Lin Xian asked. Wei Kexue nodded. "Right now, Phoenix has three headquarters, all of which are constantly moving across the world. Headquarters One is Phoenix City, floating in the sky, currently positioned near Abyss Zone No. 9 in North America.Headquarters Two is Noah, a seafaring city traveling across the Pacific Ocean.Headquarters Three, our largest land-based mobile center, is Dawn, currently deep in the Yun¡¯an Ridge." He shrugged and looked at Lin Xian. "The land-based mobile center operates similarly to your Infinite Train. Our track-bound convoys move along the Planetary Orbital Rail, but since we have all-terrain mobility, we don¡¯t maintain every section of the tracks. If an area is too damaged or has terrain fractures, we simply detour." "Currently, Dawn coordinates all emergency response teams in Dragon Nation, providing survivor aid in areas not yet covered by the Abysses, helping more people stay alive." BEEP¡ªProgram Initiated. Another PX-05 Engineering Robot successfully came online under Lin Xian''s repair. It wobbled slightly before stabilizing, then soared up toward the ascent elevator passage, heading to its designated area for maintenance. "Just as I expected," Lin Xian took a deep breath. "The top priority is ensuring the survival of as many people as possible. The Polar Night came too fast¡ªthe world collapsed before anyone could react." "Yeah... I was just at work when it happened. By the time I got home, my wife and kid were gone..." Wei Kexue tapped at his keyboard, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. "After that, I just kept searching the zombie-infested streets, wondering if they had turned, if they were suffering less, if other zombies were bullying them or something..." Lin Xian fell silent for a moment before speaking in a calm but firm tone. "No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Now that the world is on the brink of destruction, the only path left for us... is forward." "Exactly! Our abilities will grow stronger, and one day, the tables will turn¡ªit won¡¯t be us being hunted in the dark. We''ll be the ones hunting them!" KIKI clenched her fists. "I couldn''t agree more." Wei Kexue nodded. "It''s only been a few months, but Phoenix has already made breakthroughs in both eerie invasion research and ability development. We constantly broadcast updates via radio to survivors worldwide. Our philosophy is simple: the more people who grow stronger, the more who survive. And one day, we¡¯ll stop running." "From order to chaos, then from chaos back to order. Many convoys are now joining forces, improving survival rates. And as more people connect, information spreads faster." Lin Xian focused on repairing another robot, his Mechanical Manufacturing experience growing with every success. This support mission was turning into a major gain for him. He was already considering scanning the railgun blueprints, along with Iron Guard Brigade¡¯s battle armor and mechs. After reaching Jiazhou City, he''d take the time to study and enhance them, arming both himself and his team. "Right now, Phoenix¡¯s Nightwalkers Division is led by former key personnel from the Angel Project. Their main focus is ability research, but they¡¯re also actively recruiting ability users," Wei Kexue explained. "Recruiting?" Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. "For research?" "That¡¯s just a small part of it," Wei Kexue replied. "The Nightwalkers train ability users, dispatching them for rescue missions and eerie item collection. Compared to the early Angel Project, our research has already made significant progress." "Captain Lin, your ability is extraordinary¡ªand so is this young lady''s psychic power. The Nightwalkers need people like you." Wei Kexue adjusted his glasses. "Honestly, you could join us or at least partner with Phoenix. We can offer a lot of support that you might find useful." "You¡¯re saying the Nightwalkers operate from your three headquarters?" KIKI asked. "Correct. The closest one to you is Dawn Headquarters. After crossing the High-Altitude Corridor, you¡¯d need about two days to catch up." "Not that easy," Lin Xian mused. "After Jiazhou City, we''d have to cross Hengshan Pass, the Wei River, and Longjiang. But to the northeast, we¡¯ve got Abyss Zone No. 5 devouring West Gobi. To the southeast, there¡¯s Abyss Zone No. 7 swallowing Haidong. To bypass those, we¡¯d have to take the Parma Grasslands route through Jinhai and Xingcheng. If Dawn is taking the Yun¡¯an Ridge path, that means they aren¡¯t using the Transoceanic Rail, which would have taken them across the Northern Continental Shelf and through the Qiong¡¯gu Strait." Teaming up with Phoenix could provide huge advantages. In this apocalyptic world, sticking together was the smartest move¡ªonly bandits and raiders thrived alone. Even if Lin Xian didn¡¯t join, forming an alliance was far better than running blindly through the dark. But catching up to Dawn? That was another problem altogether... "Exactly," Wei Kexue nodded. "There are too many people¡ªwe can''t move them all onto the Transoceanic Rail. Ground migration is the only viable option." Lin Xian asked, "With satellite communications down, how does Phoenix coordinate its scattered emergency teams globally?" "There are several methods. It¡¯s complicated, but in short: Unmanned aerial drones provide fixed-path guidance.Teams pre-register location anchors before every mission.Relay points broadcast signals via saturation transmission.Courier networking¡ªa.k.a. the Postman System.For large-scale orders, we use longwave radio with coded signals¡ªbut I can''t share those details." "Anchor points? Holy sh*t¡ªthat''s like cyber-age signal beacons!" KIKI exclaimed. "Then why don¡¯t you just use the Dark Radio''s blood crystal technology to amplify ground signal relays and extend transmission range?" Wei Kexue''s expression immediately darkened. Lin Xian sighed, giving KIKI a look. "Hey. Do you even hear yourself? Everything is mobile¡ªwhy the hell would we build fixed signal stations? And where are we supposed to find enough eerie blood crystals? Even if survivors don¡¯t steal them, monsters will devour them the moment night falls!" "...Oh. Yeah, that¡¯s true..." KIKI scratched her head awkwardly. Wei Kexue chuckled. "Information transfer is a huge problem, no doubt." "After evacuating from here, will you return to Dawn HQ?" Lin Xian asked. "No." Wei Kexue¡¯s face turned serious. "Each emergency team has a one-time mission. If we survive, we''ll reroute north from Jiazhou City¡ªwe won¡¯t follow the Eastern Planetary Rail." BOOM! Just as Lin Xian and Wei Kexue were finishing another robot repair, a deep tremor shook the entire airport. The vibrations grew stronger, lasting several seconds before fading. Outside, in the airport plaza, countless survivors felt the ground tremble, their heads spinning as dust clouds swirled up. Car windows rattled¡ªthen, chaos erupted. "An earthquake?!" "What the hell was that?!" "What¡¯s going on?!" Aboard Infinite Train Inside the research carriage, Ding Junyi sat by a Dark Radio, gathering Phoenix¡¯s intel while studying the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. As the tremors hit, she frowned sharply. She immediately stood, rushing to the front carriage. "Ms. Chen, this quake reminds me of the underground creature we encountered last night in Underground City No. 9. I suggest we contact Lin Xian and the airport emergency team¡ªimmediately." "I¡¯m already trying." Chen Sixuan was urgently calling the control tower via the responder, while simultaneously reaching Lin Xian on the radio. Chapter 149: Evolution "Jiang Yun, that earthquake just now felt... unnatural. It¡¯s exactly like what happened in Mount Daluo yesterday." Ren Huiyan strode forward, raising a single hand and blasting apart a grotesque zombie charging toward her with an invisible force strike. Her expression remained completely unfazed. "This situation... could it be the Corpse Shepherds?" Jiang Yun turned his gaze toward the ascent elevator, his tone becoming urgent. "It doesn¡¯t matter who¡¯s behind this¡ªI have a strong feeling there¡¯s more coming. We cannot let them destroy our anti-air defenses again!" "Move!" Jiang Yun signaled to Big Luo and Lu Xingchen. "Gather the ability users. We¡¯re shifting focus to air defense. The zombies are endless¡ªignore them for now!" A deep unease gnawed at him. There was no doubt¡ªsomething in the darkness feared the airport¡¯s heavy weaponry. If those defenses fell, their chances of survival would plummet. They¡¯d be overrun long before the evacuation was complete. Airport Control Center On the other side, Wei Kexue¡¯s face drained of color as he stared at his screen. "This is bad... Railgun No. 3 is offline." Lin Xian immediately stood up. "I¡¯ll check it out." "It¡¯s not just that," Wei Kexue¡¯s forehead was drenched in cold sweat, his expression ashen. He frantically tapped at his console, his fingers trembling as if searching for a miracle. Then, he froze¡ªas if his soul had left his body. "...There¡¯s worse news." His voice came out hollow. "The earthquake just severed one of our primary power cables... The remaining energy output is now too low to sustain the ascent elevator!" The room fell silent for a split second¡ªthen Lin Xian and KIKI¡¯s faces darkened. "WHAT?!" KIKI frowned deeply. "The power cables are down too? Then... what the hell do we do?!" "I... I..." Wei Kexue was panicking, stuttering, unable to think straight. "We¡¯ll figure out power later. First, I need to fix that railgun." Lin Xian''s expression was ice-cold as he turned to Wei Kexue. "The ascent elevator is nearly repaired¡ªbut without the anti-air defense system, we¡¯re screwed. If those things break through, we won¡¯t even have a chance to run." He turned to KIKI. "Little Miss." "Yes?!" "You¡¯re coming with me." "Got it!" Wei Kexue forced himself to calm down, nodding repeatedly. "O-okay... I-I¡¯ll head back to the control tower to discuss power solutions with Bai Shuang and General Zhang!" Lin Xian wasted no time. He grabbed his gear and sprinted toward the elevator leading to the upper platform, KIKI right behind him. Upper Platform ¨C Railgun Station WHIRR! The maintenance elevator shot upward at high speed, carrying Lin Xian and KIKI dozens of stories up. As soon as the elevator doors slid open, a putrid stench assaulted Lin Xian¡¯s senses. At the same time, a swarm of black centipede-like creatures began crawling toward them. "KIKI!" Without hesitation, KIKI raised her hand¡ªBOOM! A crushing force slammed down on the hundreds of writhing creatures, instantly reducing them to piles of green mush, crackling with tiny arcs of electricity. Lin Xian''s brows furrowed. Outside, intense artillery fire lit up the night, streaking across the sky in flaming trails. Bullets howled, explosions roared, and the bitter wind carried flecks of snow¡ªa blizzard was coming. Stepping onto the platform, Lin Xian¡¯s gaze immediately landed on a massive, grotesque corpse lying across the ground. Its head had been obliterated, its black blood pooling into dark, sickly puddles. One enormous black wing hung limply over the platform¡¯s edge, swaying in the wind. Beyond it, the anti-air railgun had powered down, occasionally sparking with electrical bursts. "Holy crap... how did this thing even get in here?!" KIKI exclaimed. She turned toward the creature¡¯s remains, noticing dark mist swirling around it. Without hesitation, she raised a hand¡ªa Level-2 Eerie Blood Crystal flew into her grasp. But Lin Xian didn¡¯t have time to focus on loot. He rushed toward the railgun, slamming his hand onto its metallic frame and activating Mechanical Scan. ¡¾Scanning in progress... 1%¡¿ The difficulty level was much higher than with the maintenance robots. Lin Xian felt the strain immediately. "KIKI," he called. "This is going to take time. Cover me¡ªand watch the other railgun too. We can¡¯t let any monsters near them." KIKI nodded firmly. She understood just how crucial these anti-air weapons were. Her entire reason for coming was to protect Lin Xian while he repaired them. ¡¾Scanning progress... 20%¡¿ Airport Battlefield ¨C D-Zone On the platform below, Iron Guard soldiers and survivors were being pushed to their limits. More and more massive eerie entities were breaching the defenses. On the Silver Star, anti-air weapons fired relentlessly, guided by fire-control radar. On the Dragon Mountain No. 1, anti-air cannons and rapid-fire machine guns unleashed waves of deadly firepower, sweeping through the onslaught of horrors flooding over the walls. RAAAAH!! A crimson skeletal horror lunged from the zombie horde, streaking like a red phantom. In a blur of motion, it leapt onto the Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s rooftop, ripping half the throat out of a machine gunner in a spray of blood. "SH*T¡ªKILL IT!!!" Survivors opened fire, but the scarlet entity moved too fast, dodging and zigzagging across the rooftops. It was closing in on another gunner¡ª DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA! The gunner tried to spray it down, but missed. Clawed fingers flashed toward his face¡ª BOOM! A deafening gunshot erupted. The scarlet horror¡¯s head exploded, shredded into a bloody mist by a massive sniper round. Its corpse crumpled instantly, flung backward by the sheer force of the impact. "HOLY SH*T!" "That was too damn close!" The surviving machine gunner turned, his mind still reeling. Far in the distance, peeking out from the black armored train, a massive anti-materiel rifle was still smoking. Infinite Train ¨C Sniper Nest Inside the sniper carriage, Chen Sixuan let out a shaky breath, her A33K Heavy Sniper Rifle still pressed against her shoulder. Pain radiated through her body¡ªher arms ached, her shoulders throbbed. But something felt different. With every shot, her senses sharpened¡ªher awareness, her reflexes, her clarity of focus. She felt... stronger. "You¡¯re surprised," Ding Junyi¡¯s calm voice sounded beside her. Hands in her pockets, she watched Chen Sixuan with quiet intrigue. Chen Sixuan steadied her breathing, keeping her eye on the scope. "This is only my second time shooting." "Is that so?" Ding Junyi mused. "That rifle is far from lightweight. Judging by its sound and recoil, it¡¯s no beginner¡¯s weapon. You¡¯re untrained, you¡¯re not a soldier, and yet¡ªyou¡¯re evolving." Chen Sixuan¡¯s brows furrowed. "...Evolving?" "Exactly." Ding Junyi''s tone was matter-of-fact. "The longer you survive in the dark, the more you¡¯ll adapt. Don¡¯t fear it¡ªembrace it. Evolution isn¡¯t always a curse." Chen Sixuan paused¡ªthen her lips curled into a determined smirk. "I¡¯m not afraid." "If evolution makes me strong enough to help everyone..." "Then I¡¯ll gladly accept it." Chapter 150: Evolution 2 Yubei City No. 1 Spaceport ¨C Intense Battle! Beyond the gates and towering walls, an overwhelming swarm of nightmarish creatures and zombies surged forward. It was as if all the horrors within Yubei City had emptied out, converging on this final refuge¡ªNo. 1 Spaceport. Buzz! Boom! Blinding blue beams pierced the darkness, streaking toward the sky above the spaceport. More than a dozen giant sky jellyfish, large enough to blot out the stars, drifted in. As the anti-air defenses roared to life, countless severed jellyfish tentacles rained down. Some fell directly into the survivor convoys, causing heavy casualties. "It¡¯s over... It¡¯s over! We can¡¯t hold them off!" a survivor sobbed in despair. "The climbing elevator isn¡¯t fixed yet! Do we have any other way out?" "Run!!" "There¡¯s nowhere to run! We fight! Block them!!" "Has anyone seen my son? Please! Has anyone seen my son?!" The plaza was in chaos. Children huddled inside vehicles, crying. Many survivors, faces set with grim determination, gripped their remaining weapons and rushed toward the defensive perimeter. Rat-tat-tat! Rat-tat-tat! In Zone A, Luo Shasha''s hands trembled as she frantically loaded grenades into her launcher. It was her first time experiencing a siege of this scale, and the sheer terror drained the color from her lips. With each shot, she fired desperately into the swarming zombie horde. Above, the wind howled as Jiang Yun conjured a localized hurricane, forming a wind wall to block the sky jellyfish from drifting further into the spaceport. ¡°Divine: Fire Gun!¡± From the fortress wall, Lu Xingchen raised both hands, forming sword fingers as white-hot flames erupted from his fingertips, incinerating a grotesque, tentacle-covered humanoid abomination. A towering inferno ignited atop the walls. Rat-tat-tat! Luo Ye, positioned nearby, emptied the last rounds from his M556 light machine gun. Tossing aside the spent magazine, he reached over his shoulder, gripping his Steel-Slaying Greatsword, and with a powerful throw¡ª Whoosh! The massive blade streaked through the air like a meteor, impaling a black centipede-like creature that had lunged at Shasha, pinning it against the wall. Luo Ye charged forward, stomping down with brutal force to crush the monster¡¯s head, then wrenched his sword free, stepping protectively in front of his sister. "Brother, be careful!" Shasha called out in alarm. With their long-range weapons depleted, the fight was about to get even more dangerous. Shasha took cover behind Luo Ye, rapidly firing grenades into the fray. "B-Class Eerie Entity detected!" A comms officer from the Iron Guard Battalion shouted the warning just before a spider-like limb plunged down from above, skewering him straight through the head. "It¡¯s a Fog Spider!" Gunfire erupted in unison. The Fog Spider, cloaked in dense mist, had silently scaled the fortress walls. "AHH!!" Luo Ye roared as he charged forward, cleaving twice in quick succession, severing two of the Fog Spider¡¯s legs. Shasha fired a grenade launcher round directly at its torso, knocking the creature off balance. As it staggered, its eerie bluish-green body was revealed through the mist. Swish! A transparent spear shot through the air, piercing the spider¡¯s abdomen. Its insides spilled out in a disgusting heap. "That¡¯s not a B-Class! Stay alert!" Ren Huiyan warned. Her words had barely left her mouth when a shadowy, tentacle-covered silhouette emerged from the fog-covered wall. Squelch! A sickening, wet sound echoed as four or five brownish-red, centipede-like appendages shot out from the mist. Impaled soldiers dangled like skewered meat, lifted into the air as they screamed in agony. One of the appendages swept through the battlefield, knocking down Lu Xingchen and a wave of defenders like bowling pins. Shasha¡¯s eyes widened in horror. Her hands trembled as she scrambled to reload, accidentally knocking over her ammo bag. Grenades scattered across the ground. At that moment¡ª Two more tentacles lashed out! One shot toward Jiang Yun, attempting to skewer him mid-air, while the other barreled straight toward Shasha. This Eerie Entity wasn¡¯t just strong¡ªit was intelligent, deliberately targeting the most dangerous combatants while hiding in the Fog Spider¡¯s mist. Jiang Yun¡¯s expression darkened. As the tentacle lunged toward him, he kicked out with a wind-imbued blade, slashing precisely at its base. ¡°Huiyan! Protect Shasha!¡± he shouted. Clang! Jiang Yun¡¯s Wind Blade struck the tentacle, sending a metallic ring through the air. It was tougher than expected! The furry appendage, deceptively soft, was even stronger than the Red Centipede¡¯s carapace. His attack only carved a shallow wound, failing to sever it. Below, Ren Huiyan hurled two more transparent spears, detonating with compressed air upon impact¡ªbut even those couldn¡¯t halt the tentacle¡¯s advance toward Shasha. "Shit!" "AHH!!" Shasha, still gathering grenades, froze in terror as the tentacle shot toward her at blinding speed. Splat! A massive figure suddenly appeared, shielding her with his own body¡ª And took the hit straight through the chest. "Brother!!!" Shasha¡¯s grenades clattered to the ground as she let out a heart-wrenching scream. Luo Ye gritted his teeth, blood gushing from his mouth. Even so, he grabbed the tentacle with both hands, refusing to let go as he was shoved backward toward his sister. "RAHH!" His chest bled profusely, drenching his arms in red. Blood streamed from his mouth and nose, but he held firm, planting his stance¡ª And yanked the monstrous appendage with all his might! With a mighty heave, Luo Ye ripped the creature from the mist, dragging it into full view. A massive, alien leech-like Eerie Entity, covered in writhing tendrils, thrashed violently as it was forcibly pulled into the open. "YOU¡¯RE DEAD!!!" Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes blazed with fury. With a furious stomp, he launched himself skyward, flames roaring around him as he summoned an enormous inferno¡ª "Divine: Sunfall Blaze!!" BOOM! A pillar of fire erupted, illuminating all of Zone A. The tendril monster screeched in agony, its tentacles flailing wildly, knocking over ammo crates and vehicles as it desperately thrashed to escape the flames. But Luo Ye refused to let go! At the same time, Jiang Yun conjured a mini tornado, fanning the inferno into a blazing firestorm. "AHHHH!" Luo Ye, spitting blood, used the last of his strength to hold the creature inside the flames. The stench of burning flesh filled the air. Within seconds, the Eerie Entity¡¯s movements slowed. Its blackened body stiffened, then¡ª It stopped moving. With a final yank, Luo Ye ripped the spear-like tentacle from his own chest. Blood gushed forth as he collapsed to his knees. "Brother!!!" Shasha rushed forward, tears streaming. Luo Ye tried to speak, but blood filled his mouth. His gaze wavered. "Shasha... I..." Just as all hope seemed lost¡ª Lu Xingchen¡¯s expression changed. He gasped, watching in shock as Luo Ye¡¯s muscles and veins began to glow a deep crimson. Blood surged toward him. Even the black smoke from the burned creature was being absorbed into his body. "He... he¡¯s...!" Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes widened in realization¡ª "Shasha, get back! Your brother¡¯s Ability¡ªit''s evolving!!" Chapter 151: System Restart "What?" Hearing this, Ren Huiyan''s face immediately changed, and Jiang Yun also furrowed his brows. The group''s gaze turned, and they indeed saw that something strange was happening to Dalou. Luo Shasha was already on the verge of an emotional breakdown. But upon hearing the words from behind her, her tears stopped instantly. She sniffled and looked up, only to see her brother¡¯s entire body glowing with a crimson light coursing through his veins, making him look eerily unsettling. "My brother... What''s happening to him?" Behind her, Ren Huiyan quickly pulled her away. "Be careful! Your brother¡¯s life force is surging." "Then he won¡¯t die, right?" "This definitely means his ability is changing!" Jiang Yun''s expression was serious. "Everyone, step back." "Why? Shouldn¡¯t we do something?" Shasha was visibly anxious. "There''s nothing we can do." Jiang Yun said, "Right now, he probably won¡¯t die. But we can¡¯t be sure if he''s evolving... or degenerating!" "Yes." Lu Xingchen¡¯s expression was solemn¡ªhe had seen this kind of thing before. Here, both Jiang Yun and Lu Xingchen were Evolution-Level Ability Users, having taken the first true step in developing their abilities. They had a keen sense of energy. At this moment, they could clearly feel that something was changing within Dalou. A massive surge of blood energy was gathering around him, as if an infinite life force was sprouting from within. Thump¡ªThump¡ª Dalou felt his heart pounding wildly. A bloodthirsty madness clouded his mind. The gaping wound in his chest was healing at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his bones and muscles were mutating at the same time. Beneath his already robust skin, his muscles twisted and writhed like living creatures¡ªunnervingly grotesque. "Ha! Ha!" He knelt on the ground, his spine shuddering violently. The muscles along his back rippled in waves along his ribs, and his joints cracked and popped. The immense pain felt like it was devouring his sanity. The others watched with alarm, instinctively stepping back. At this moment, Dalou¡¯s presence was overwhelmingly terrifying¡ªlike a beast on the verge of mutation. Many survivors had experienced the Dark Invasion and knew that those severely wounded or killed by Eerie Entities often mutated into zombies or monstrous creatures that would then attack their own comrades. No one dared to be careless. Several people had already raised their guns, aiming them at Dalou. Seeing this, Shasha panicked and rushed in front of her brother, shouting at the surrounding people in distress: "No! He¡¯s my brother! Don¡¯t shoot him!" "Little girl, get out of the way! He¡¯s dangerous!" someone in the crowd shouted. "Yes! Step back, now!" Shasha¡¯s voice was choked with tears. "No! He¡¯s a good person! He won¡¯t hurt anyone¡ªhe¡¯s my brother!" Dalou was still kneeling, his fists clenched in pain. The blood energy around him roared like a storm. But deep inside his consciousness, he heard Shasha¡¯s voice. A sliver of clarity began to return to his mind. "Shasha..." He slowly opened his eyes, looking at the small figure before him. "From now on, you two siblings will be on my train. We¡¯ll survive together." Lin Xian¡¯s words echoed in his mind. "Survive together..." "I can¡¯t die!" "I CAN¡¯T DIE!!!" A surge of intense fury erupted from within, instantly washing away the pain and despair clouding his consciousness. Dalou took a deep breath, his eyes snapping shut. In that instant, everything around him became crystal clear¡ªthe gazes of the people, the worried Shasha, the anxious teammates, and... ¡ªthe Beasts that were about to charge over the high wall! "AHHH!" Dalou let out a low growl. Under everyone¡¯s stunned gazes, he shot forward with explosive force. The ground beneath his feet cracked under the impact. He grabbed his Steel-Slaying Greatsword, his entire figure turning into a crimson blur as he launched himself toward the high wall like a human projectile. At that moment¡ª From the top of the wall, a Crimson Skeletal Horror emerged, preparing to unleash a burst of fire to capture its prey. But just as it climbed out of the hail of gunfire and bullets¡ª A blood-red shadow was already streaking toward it. Clang! The Steel-Slaying Greatsword let out a piercing hum. Dalou charged straight ahead, his sword glowing red-hot. With a single horizontal slash, he cleaved the creature¡¯s skull clean off, slicing through the metal fence atop the high wall like butter. Boom! Only then did the shockwave from his rapid strike explode outward, sending several Iron Guard Battalion soldiers stumbling back. "Brother!" Shasha cried out in shock. "Such speed!" Jiang Yun¡¯s eyes flickered. With Dalou¡¯s strength¡ªif he has this kind of speed¡ªhis combat power is terrifying! "Haha! No doubt about it¡ªhe¡¯s evolved!" Lu Xingchen exclaimed with excitement. The surrounding people were left utterly speechless. For many of them, this was their first time witnessing an Ability User¡¯s Evolution, and the sheer power and eeriness of it left a lasting impression. And now, with Dalou having instantly slain the Eerie Entity, everyone breathed a sigh of relief¡ªthough some were left with lingering fear. Such a powerful Ability User¡ªif he had degenerated into a monster instead... A-Zone would have been doomed. Huff¡ªhuff! Dalou panted heavily, his Steel-Slaying Greatsword still vibrating in his grip. He looked at his teammates below and gave them a silent signal, then turned to Shasha. "Shasha... Get your gun. More monsters are coming." "Got it!" Shasha wiped away her tears and nodded quickly. Without hesitation, she rushed to the ground, grabbing grenade launchers and stuffing them into her backpack. "Alright, I¡¯m in too!" Lu Xingchen, filled with battle spirit, immediately joined. Jiang Yun and Ren Huiyan exchanged glances and let out a breath before diving back into the fight. ¡¾Mechanical Scan Complete. G3 Land-Based Electromagnetic Railgun Blueprint Acquired.¡¿ ¡¾Detected mechanical failure in Magnetic Flux Compression Device and Unipolar Generator. Initiate repairs?¡¿ Repair! From his vantage point, Lin Xian tensed up as he completed the scan. He looked at the colossal sky creature drawing closer, feeling a chill run down his spine. He activated his Mechanical Heart, pushing it to its limits. Woooo¡ª Elsewhere, the fire-control radar on the electromagnetic railgun locked onto something. The turret base rotated rapidly, targeting a fast-approaching airborne creature. Buzz!! Blinding blue light erupted, illuminating the night sky. A winged monstrosity screeched as it lunged forward, its eerie fangs bared. "KIKI!" Lin Xian shouted. KIKI was already reacting. Her eyes gleamed as she stepped forward. "Finally!" She thrust out a hand, and the flying monster slammed into an invisible wall mid-air, its body abruptly halting with a thunderous boom. At the same time, the two electromagnetic railguns locked onto the now-stationary target. BOOM! Twin railgun blasts tore it apart in mid-air. "Nice work." Lin Xian let out a breath. KIKI quickly rushed forward, searching the remains for Eerie Blood Crystals. "Little money-grubber..." Lin Xian muttered. But just then¡ª The entire spaceport suddenly went dark. "What the hell?!" Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. The lights flickered back on seconds later, but something was clearly very wrong... And then came the urgent shout¡ª "All anti-air weapons have been reprogrammed... They''re now protecting an aircraft fleet... escaping from the inner port!" Chapter 152: Federal Law Yubei City No. 1 Spaceport ¨C Aircraft Inner Dock A large Federation operation airship was docked at the inner bay, alongside several smaller aircraft. The engines of the airship were already idling in standby mode, while numerous Federation Investigation Team members in black suits were escorting a group of special citizens aboard. ¡°Director Taylor, things have already gotten this bad¡ªwhy aren¡¯t we taking off yet?!¡± A middle-aged man with streaks of black and white in his hair, his expression cold and sinister, sat in a wheelchair, pushed forward by a bodyguard. The powerful turbulence from the massive aircraft''s aerodynamic flows made the hems of everyone¡¯s clothes tremble. His face was twisted with rage as he questioned Taylor Moreno, who was sending messages on her mobile terminal. Taylor Moreno glanced up at him. "Senator Zhou, please return to the airship immediately. We cannot risk taking off until the airspace threats have been neutralized." "Absurd! What about the Iron Guard Battalion, the Security Regiment, and¡ªdamn it¡ªall the air defense systems in this spaceport?! The Federation spent a fortune maintaining them, so why aren¡¯t they clearing the airspace for us?!" Senator Zhou ranted hysterically. "A bunch of incompetent fools! Get this ship in the air, or you¡¯ll be out of a job!" Taylor let out a disdainful chuckle and replied calmly, "The Iron Guard Battalion refused to escort us. But I have overridden the spaceport system with my Federation clearance. The air defense weapons will clear a path for us. So, I suggest you stop wasting time here." Senator Zhou¡¯s expression darkened, his gaze shifting. He gritted his teeth and said impatiently, "Hmph! Then hurry up. If you delay me any longer, all of you can get the hell out!" ¡°All flight squads, prepare for takeoff.¡± Taylor handed her mobile device to her subordinate and issued the command. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Click. Click. Click. Just then, the sound of rushed footsteps echoed through the bay. Taylor turned her head and saw Bai Shuang leading a group of emergency response team members and Iron Guard soldiers toward her¡ªeach of them wearing an expression of fury. ¡°Security Regiment!¡± At her call, dozens of armed security officers immediately stepped forward, raising their weapons. ¡°How dare you do this?!¡± Bai Shuang ignored the guns pointed at her, storming forward in rage. "There are over ten thousand survivors here! Do you understand the consequences of what you¡¯ve done?!" Taylor stepped back slightly, letting the security officers block her front. Adjusting her glasses, she sneered, "According to Federation Law Article 332, all armed forces must ensure full escort measures for government officials¡¯ aircraft. I¡¯m simply following protocol." Bai Shuang¡¯s eyes burned with fury. "**Did you conveniently forget Federation Law Article 1¡ªthe life, property, and freedom of all citizens take precedence over everything else?!" Taylor laughed coldly, pointing at the massive airship behind her. "Do you even know who¡¯s on board?" The escalating conflict quickly drew the attention of the survivors in the plaza. Upon recognizing the Federation Investigation Team, the crowd grew increasingly agitated. When they overheard the argument, their fury boiled over. "What?! They disabled the air defense system... just to escort themselves?!" "What the f*?!**" "You bastards! I''ll f*ing kill you!**" "Slaughter them all!!" Angry survivors began raising their guns, forcing the Security Regiment members to form a tight wall around Taylor Moreno and Senator Zhou, preventing the mob from rushing forward. Meanwhile, Shu Qin, Xu Jin, and Old Mo were already covered in bloodstains, their weapons overused and scorched from battle. Yet, now they were being stabbed in the back by their own people. It was impossible not to feel rage. Senator Zhou¡¯s face grew even darker. He discreetly signaled his bodyguard, preparing to retreat. Facing the storm of curses, Taylor Moreno snapped, "I advise you all to stop wasting your breath! This entire spaceport is Federation property. Do you seriously think these weapons and walls were built with your money?!" She trembled with frustration, her voice rising. "The people on this airship are the most valuable assets of human civilization. It is everyone¡¯s duty to prioritize their safety¡ª" BANG! A gunshot ripped through the night, bringing the tense standoff to an abrupt halt. Everyone''s eyes widened in shock. Taylor Moreno¡ªwho had been shouting furiously just a moment ago¡ªnow had a perfectly round bullet hole in her forehead. Blood trickled down from between her brows. Her expression was frozen in disbelief. Then¡ª THUD. She collapsed backward, lifeless. Click. Click. Heavy footsteps echoed through the silent bay. The crowd instinctively parted, making way for a figure¡ªIron Guard Battalion Commander Zhang Dingzhong¡ªflanked by his adjutants. Senator Zhou¡¯s face twisted in horror as he glanced at Taylor¡¯s corpse, then at Zhang. He gritted his teeth and snarled, "General Zhang! How dare you fire on a Federation official?! Are you declaring war on the¡ª" BANG! Zhang Dingzhong wordlessly raised his handgun and blew Senator Zhou¡¯s head apart. ¡°Bastard.¡± His bullets were precise, straight through the forehead¡ªno hesitation. Senator Zhou¡¯s bodyguard stood frozen, his face splattered with blood. He looked down¡ªZhou''s body had slumped over in his wheelchair, mouth agape, bowels released. He was dead beyond dead. Screams erupted inside the airship as passengers panicked at the gunfire. Even the furious survivors outside froze in shock. Onboard the Dragon Mountain No. 1, Shi Diyuan widened his eyes in satisfaction. Meanwhile, on the Silver Star, Jian Xuwei and Jian Zeyang exchanged uneasy glances. Zhang Dingzhong strode toward Security Regiment Captain Zhan Wei, his sharp eyes narrowing. ¡°Zhan Wei. When you served under me, did I ever teach you to point a gun at women and children?¡± ¡°Commander, I...¡± Zhan Wei lowered his head, his expression full of conflict. The Security Regiment soldiers around him immediately lowered their weapons¡ªthey had never wanted to aim at civilians in the first place. Zhang ignored him and walked forward. He stopped beside Taylor¡¯s corpse, looking down at her terrified deputy. "You have three minutes to take off." ¡°Wh-what?!¡± The deputy¡¯s face turned deathly pale, and the other Federation officials scrambled toward the airship. ¡°Go! Hurry! We¡¯re leaving!¡± On board, Zhao Yan and Xu Wen clutched their computer bags, faces tense. Seeing the airship finally lifting off, they sighed in relief. ¡°God, I thought they were going to shoot us...¡± ¡°Phew... At least we¡¯re taking off now...¡± HOOOOOM... The airship fleet ascended into the night sky. From the window, Zhao Yan gazed at the black armored train stationed on the rail platform, eyes flickering. ¡°Director Ding... what a shame...¡± Zhang Dingzhong turned to Bai Shuang. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°Bad.¡± Bai Shuang¡¯s face was grim. "We never expected them to pull something like this. It completely disrupted our plans." Scientist Wei let out a bitter sigh. "This access was authorized by the original Federation. Our only options are negotiation or rewriting the system." The spaceport was in crisis. Their only lifeline was now cut off. The air grew heavy. Just then¡ª ¡°There¡¯s still one way!¡± A loud voice rang from the back of the crowd. Everyone turned. Lin Xian and KIKI rushed forward, faces filled with urgency. ¡°Lin Captain!¡± Scientist Wei¡¯s eyes lit up. "Wait¡ªcan you rewrite the system?!" ¡°No.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. "But I have a plan." "In two hours, I can get everyone to the High-Altitude Corridor." Chapter 153: Traction Plan "What?!" "Everyone can go up? What do you mean? No need to wait in line?" "Two hours? Are you serious??" Lin Xian¡¯s words were like a bombshell detonating in the crowd. The moment he spoke, chaos erupted, and all eyes turned to him in urgency. For the first time, a glimmer of hope sparked in their weary faces. Zhang Dingzhong frowned slightly, eyeing Lin Xian. "What¡¯s your plan? Speak freely." "Captain Lin, two hours... Does that mean we don¡¯t need to overwrite the system?" Wei Kexue asked, his voice a mix of anxiety and expectation. His heart pounded¡ªhis instincts told him Lin Xian might actually have a way out of this. Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate. "If we overwrite the system, the power supply will still be limited to the anti-air defense and electromagnetic acceleration systems. If we divert energy to the climbing elevator, even if it runs, it won¡¯t carry enough people. It might even be slower than before. That means it would take way more than five hours, and our defenses would be weakened. The monsters are increasing by the second. At this rate, we¡¯ll never get everyone out in time." "That¡¯s true," Wei Kexue nodded. "The climbing elevator consumes the most power. After all¡ª" Lin Xian cut him off. "There¡¯s another issue. The more people we evacuate, the fewer remain to hold the line. If the airport defenses collapse, no one will be able to escape. The best solution? We all leave at once." There was something Lin Xian didn¡¯t say out loud¡ªorder and control. If the frontline fell apart, the survivors waiting at the back of the queue would be the first to be slaughtered. Chaos would spread like wildfire, and the situation would spiral out of control. "Wait, there are dozens of vehicles here¡ªover ten thousand people! How can we all leave with a power shortage?" Shi Diyuan asked in confusion. "The method is simple!" Lin Xian raised his hand¡ªa flicker of light flashed, and a miniature metal model of the climbing elevator materialized in his palm. On it, four simulated metal trains represented the four trains currently docked at the spaceport. He looked toward Jian Xuwei and Shi Diyuan, speaking rapidly: "Longshan-1 and the Iron Guard Battalion¡¯s train are both intercontinental-class locomotives. Their engines exceed 150,000 kW each. The Silver Star, as an Eternal-class train, has at least 200,000 kW of operating power, correct?" "220,000 kW." Jian Xuwei replied, her voice tinged with pride. Lin Xian nodded. "My Infinite Train exceeds 100,000 kW. That means the four trains combined have over 600,000 kW of power." "Since we¡¯re all heading to the Orbital Rail, I assume all these trains have Horizon Clamp Systems¡ªdesigned for situations where there¡¯s no external traction when climbing the Climbing Passage or entering the Oceanic Rail. If we load all the vehicles onto climbing traction devices and use mechanical winches, then we can link all four trains together with steel cables¡ª" "We don¡¯t need the climbing elevator at all. We can haul over 2,000 vehicles straight up to the High-Altitude Corridor ourselves." A stunned silence spread across the entire spaceport. Everyone¡¯s expressions shifted from confusion to pure shock. Using trains to pull thousands of cars up a 4,800-meter-high aerial corridor? It sounded insane. Bai Shuang stared at Lin Xian, then turned to Wei Kexue, whose face was equally stunned. "Engineer Wei... is this even possible?" Wei Kexue¡¯s mouth opened and closed several times. His eyes flickered as calculations flooded his mind. "This... This..." He immediately pulled up his computer, rapidly running simulations. "The Climbing Passage is 7,250 meters long, with a 90% incline¡ªa vertical climb of 4,806 meters. The current queue has 2,696 vehicles, assuming a total weight of 10,000 tons when including trucks. If the trains accelerate to 100 km/h, with Horizon Clamps and mechanical traction, using a three-stage acceleration track¡ª" "We¡¯d need a peak traction power of 408,000 kW. In theory... it works. It could even be faster. But the steel cables...!" Before he finished speaking, a flash of light appeared in Lin Xian¡¯s hand. A 10-centimeter-thick high-carbon alloy steel cable materialized, hitting the ground with a deep metallic clang. Lin Xian took a deep breath. "The trains only need to link to the traction system. Once we reach the High-Altitude Corridor, the vehicles can transfer to the electromagnetic acceleration track, while the trains use rail acceleration¡ªavoiding congestion inside the passage." "Holy sht. You really thought of this?"* Shi Diyuan¡¯s eyes were wide. The engineers from the Silver Star were already running intense calculations, and the results aligned with Wei Kexue¡¯s conclusion. Zhang Dingzhong scanned the murmuring crowd before fixing his gaze on Lin Xian, his expression unreadable. "This is high-risk. It¡¯s only theoretical." Jian Xuwei¡¯s voice was cold and rational. "First, the vehicle weights are estimates. There are many heavy trucks and modified vehicles. Second, you only calculated instantaneous power demands, but Horizon Clamps and mechanical traction have never been stress-tested under such extreme loads. If the Horizon Clamps fail, not only will we lose the cars¡ªwe¡¯ll lose our trains, too." "Exactly!" Jian Zeyang objected outright. "This entire plan only benefits the survivors¡ªit puts us at massive risk. The Silver Star carries 3,219 people. Why should we gamble with their lives?" His voice darkened. "Frankly, if other routes were open, we would¡¯ve left already. We¡¯ve lost enough people as it is. Worst case¡ª" "Zeyang!" Jian Xuwei snapped, cutting him off. A heavy silence fell. Zhang Dingzhong turned to Bai Shuang. "Commander Bai, what¡¯s your assessment?" Bai Shuang hesitated, her expression complex. "There¡¯s risk... but this plan has the highest chance of success." "We disagree. This plan only adds risk for us!" Jian Zeyang protested. *"Even if it takes two hours, if everyone loads vehicles, who will hold the defenses?! If the airport falls, this plan will kill us all. The *Silver Star should just take a few hundred survivors and leave. It¡¯s safer for us!" His reasoning wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªwith over 3,000 lives on board, escaping alone would guarantee their safety. BOOM! A thunderous explosion rocked the sky. Everyone looked up. The Federation¡¯s massive airborne transport ship had just ascended¡ªonly to be obliterated mid-air. A gigantic fireball engulfed the sky, while smaller aircraft plummeted like falling leaves. "What the hell is the electromagnetic cannon shooting at?!" "There¡¯s something up there!" Lightning cracked, briefly illuminating the storm clouds above¡ª Revealing a titanic, circular, jet-black silhouette. Its bell-like structure loomed over them, rising like a mountain¡ª An Atmospheric Mica. The color drained from everyone¡¯s faces. "Dear god... It¡¯s THAT monster!!!" "It¡¯s right above us!!" BOOM! BOOM! The four electromagnetic rail cannons rotated upward¡ªand fired directly into the sky. Bai Shuang¡¯s face paled. "Sh*t. If we don¡¯t lure that thing away, it¡¯ll swallow the High-Altitude Corridor whole!" Zhang Dingzhong¡¯s gaze sharpened. He turned to Jian Xuwei and Jian Zeyang. "We¡¯re going with Lin Xian¡¯s plan." "But¡ª!" Jian Zeyang¡¯s face tightened, his voice filled with urgency. "Ma Xiaotang!" Zhang Dingzhong¡¯s voice rang out, firm and commanding. "Here!" The Iron Guard Battalion¡¯s deputy commander, Ma Xiaotang, immediately stepped forward. "First and Second Battalions¡ªhold Zone A!" "Fourth and Sixth Battalions, along with the Armored Infantry Company¡ªreinforce Zone B!" "Seventh Battalion¡¯s Tank Unit¡ªsecure Zone C!" "Fifth and Ninth Battalions¡ªsupport logistics in Zone D!" "Eighth Battalion and Reconnaissance Unit¡ªstay with me in Zone E!" "All airborne units¡ªtake to the skies and lure that thing toward the front of the spaceport! Protect the Climbing Elevator and the High-Altitude Corridor!" "Yes, sir!" Ma Xiaotang responded immediately. The entire battalion erupted into motion. Soldiers scrambled into position, the heavy sound of boots on metal echoing through the spaceport. The atmosphere grew grim, yet resolute¡ªthis was their last stand. Zhang Dingzhong swept his gaze across the gathering forces before locking eyes with the other commanders. "The Iron Guard Battalion will hold the line for two hours. Anyone else have objections?" Silence. Jian Zeyang¡¯s face darkened, his hands clenching into fists. He had nothing left to say. Jian Xuwei stepped forward decisively. "No objections. We¡¯ll start preparations immediately." "No objections!" Shi Diyuan echoed. The atmospheric mica loomed overhead, its monstrous shadow engulfing the spaceport. The air was thick with fear and urgency. But Zhang Dingzhong had made his stance clear¡ªthey would fight to give the survivors a chance. "Bai Shuang!" Zhang Dingzhong turned toward the Emergency Response Unit leader. "Evacuate your personnel and wounded onto the Iron Guard¡¯s intercontinental-class train. We¡¯ll be the last to retreat." Bai Shuang¡¯s face hardened, and she nodded solemnly. "Understood." "Commander..." A voice rang from behind. Zhan Wei, along with several dozen members of the Spaceport Security Regiment, stepped forward. "Commander Zhang, we want to fight alongside you." Zhang Dingzhong turned his gaze toward them. His expression shifted¡ªslightly surprised, yet approving. "That would be... fitting." Without hesitation, he moved toward the perimeter defenses, Ma Xiaotang and Zhan Wei following close behind. In an instant, the entire Iron Guard Battalion and Security Regiment mobilized. The spaceport transformed into a fortified warzone, every soldier bracing for the oncoming storm. Bai Shuang turned to Lin Xian, her expression solemn. **"Captain Lin, I¡¯ll handle vehicle coordination. The traction system¡ªthat¡¯s your responsibility." Lin Xian nodded firmly. "No time to waste. Let¡¯s move!" Chapter 154: Emergency Deployment The terrifying shadow in the sky loomed like a mountain. The momentary flash of lightning revealed its massive silhouette, sending an overwhelming sense of suffocating pressure through the hearts of all the survivors. ¡°Oh my god, what is that monster...?¡± ¡°This is terrifying!¡± ¡°What do we do...?¡± ¡°Look! The trains are moving into the climbing elevator¡¯s inner port!!¡± The survivors in the plaza, initially panicked, erupted into a frenzy of shocked chatter after learning about the emergency team¡¯s plan. As the Federation¡¯s investigative airship was completely wiped out, the spaceport¡¯s anti-air defenses re-adjusted their targeting to focus on the eerie entity above. Boom¡ª The remaining three Warhawk-class aerial gunships and several Lightning-2 aerospace fighters from the Iron Guard Battalion took off simultaneously, heading toward the massive creature hidden within the clouds. "Warhawk 0203, take note¡ªdo not engage in prolonged combat. Draw the target¡¯s attention toward the front of the spaceport.¡± "Warhawk 02, received." "Warhawk 03, received." Hiss¡ª The missile bay doors of the aerial gunships slowly opened, launching several large air-to-air missiles. At the same time, the gunships'' front-mounted I-17 Multi-Leaf Plasma Cannons began charging with crackling electric energy. Boom! Boom! Two brilliant plasma blasts streaked across the sky, exploding within the clouds. The glow illuminated the outline of a massive jellyfish-like bell that pulsed and slowly undulated. At the center of the spaceport, in Zone E¡ªwhere the main axis faced Yubei City¡ªZhang Dingzhong led his troops into position. Below the elevated railway and along the wide boulevard stretching for miles, an endless tide of zombies swarmed. Among them, grotesque bugs and eerie humanoid creatures skittered through the horde. Every time the 1130 CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) cooled down, it unleashed another devastating metallic storm, obliterating wave after wave of corrupted creatures. "Ma Xiaotang! Deploy those Iron Guard-3 and Destroyer mechs to Zones A, C, and here! Even if they¡¯re still under maintenance, get them operational! As long as the weapons can still fire, they¡¯ll serve as fortifications! No matter what, hold the line for two hours¡ªeven if we die to the last man!" "Yes, sir!" "Zhan Wei! Where are your security team¡¯s patrol mechs? Deploy all of them!" "We lost most of them during the last EMP attack. Only one is left." Zhan Wei strode forward, machine gun in hand, and unleashed a burst of fire, mowing down a wave of zombies attempting to climb up. ¡°Commander, I¡¯ll pilot it.¡± A towering white armored mech was delivered by a transport truck. Without hesitation, Zhan Wei climbed in, entering the cockpit and powering up the rear-mounted engine. Vroom¡ª The engine roared to life. Zhan Wei raised the mech¡¯s massive arms¡ªits left equipped with a six-barrel rapid-fire Gatling gun and its right fitted with a 60mm heavy grenade launcher. He immediately jumped down from the transport truck and charged toward the frontlines. The battle escalated into an all-out inferno! ¡°Hold the line, brothers!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let these beasts break through!!¡± "Watch out for the eerie entity¡¯s flame jets below!!" Boom! Boom! ¡°Gun emplacement No. 2, reload!¡± ¡°We need flamethrowers!¡± ¡ª Tracer rounds streaked across the sky, and the blazing fires lit up Spaceport No. 1. ¡ª Meanwhile, inside the Climbing Elevator¡¯s ascending track hall, four massive mechanical trains were lined up side by side on four separate elevator rails. Behind them, large yellow traction platforms, resembling conveyor belts, were in place. Each modular traction platform was 100 meters long and could secure around 20 vehicles. At the front of the platforms, four large climbing traction devices connected the vehicle traction platforms to the trains. Once they successfully reached the high-altitude corridor, the traction platforms would engage electromagnetic acceleration to propel the vehicles forward. Inside the preparation hall, under the emergency team¡¯s and convoy leaders¡¯ coordination, a long line of vehicles waited to enter the traction system. Thousands of people busied themselves in the hall¡ªsome assisting others, young men stepping down from their cars to help different convoys, and volunteers working with the emergency team to secure vehicles. Outside, explosions raged relentlessly, and the electromagnetic rail cannons fired continuously into the sky. Due to unstable power supply, the lights in the ascending track hall flickered intermittently, dimming before restoring their brightness. Faced with the monstrous entity looming above, some prayed while others trembled in fear. Everyone¡¯s fate teetered on a knife¡¯s edge, yet they could only push forward with this near-suicidal plan. Attempting to reach the high-altitude corridor without using the climbing elevator¡ªit was a gamble filled with danger and uncertainty. If the traction cables snapped... If the climbing elevator and high-altitude corridor collapsed... If the zombie horde breached the hall... No one could predict what they would face in the next second. For all the survivors here, this was destined to be a long, harrowing night! ¡ª On the front train tracks, Chen Sixuan held a flashlight as she and Luo Ye inspected the Horizon Clamp System of the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive. The train¡¯s onboard systems were running self-diagnostics. The "Infinite Train" team, aside from Ding Junyi, was gripped with tension. Compared to the other three massive trains, the "Infinite Train" looked much more... "slender." Though it had a near-intercontinental-class Gemini 11R nuclear electric locomotive, its power and onboard systems were clearly inferior to the others. As a result, it was assigned the fewest traction platforms. Following Bai Shuang¡¯s emergency team¡¯s allocation, based on each train¡¯s remaining power load: The Silver Star was assigned 1,000 vehicles with over 50 traction platforms.The Dragon Mountain No. 1 took 700 vehicles.The Iron Guard Battalion¡¯s intercontinental-class train carried 600 vehicles.Lin Xian¡¯s "Infinite Train" was left with just over 400 vehicles. Convoys led by Shu Qin, Xu Pu, Old Mo, and Jiang Yun were all assigned to the "Infinite Train¡¯s" traction platforms. According to the plan, once they reached the high-altitude corridor, all four trains would detach from their traction platforms and merge into parallel tracks, allowing the vehicles behind to accelerate first via electromagnetic propulsion. The trains would then separate again and rely on their own engines to speed through the Dazhu Plateau! Lin Xian, assisted by KIKI and Jiang Yun, was busy assembling and connecting the train¡¯s traction cables. Wei Kexue deployed a dozen maintenance robots to assist with welding and reinforcements. "I set up a decoupling mechanism. Once we reach the corridor, we can detach quickly and save time." Sweat dripped from Lin Xian¡¯s forehead as he frequently checked his watch. ¡°KIKI, we only have one Horizon Clamp System onboard. Unlike the Silver Star, which has eight high-powered drive units. If things get critical, you¡¯ll have to help stabilize the train, or the ascending traction hooks might break.¡± ¡°I got it.¡± KIKI nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Jiang Yun walked over. ¡°You have ability users here to help. If the situation gets out of hand, I¡¯ll step in.¡± Wind-based abilities were indeed a great asset in this scenario. Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Much appreciated.¡± This plan had been brewing in his mind for a while. When he discussed it with Wei Kexue, he knew it carried enormous risks. If it weren¡¯t for the desperate situation, who would willingly gamble with such a high-stakes move? Noticing Lin Xian¡¯s tension, KIKI¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Lin Xian, I believe in you. This plan will succeed.¡± ¡°...Thanks.¡± Lin Xian took a deep breath and kept working. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not entirely sure. As Jian Zeyang said, if it were just us making the climb, the chances of success would be high.¡± But with thousands of lives at stake, there was no room for hesitation. BOOM! Just then, an even stronger earthquake shook the entire spaceport. Chapter 155: Resistance The Iron Guard Brigade 52, a heavily armored interstellar military composite brigade, boasted formidable combat power. However, under the oppressive presence of that colossal sky creature, their overwhelming firepower felt as futile as striking a towering mountain¡ªleaving them with a sense of helplessness. Buzz¡ª! A deep, resonant sound reverberated through the sky, shaking the clouds apart and sending violent tremors through the air. The atmospheric mica, towering like a mountain, gradually emerged from the dissipating clouds, revealing the majestic edges of its bell rim as it slowly drifted toward the spaceport. Inside the Warhawk Aerial Gunship, the pilot stared at the massive silhouette looming in the darkness, cold sweat running down his face. Gritting his teeth, he shouted: ¡°Target successfully locked onto us! All flight units, retreat immediately!¡± Boom! A brilliant blue electromagnetic beam streaked past the cockpit, just as the radar blared frantically with alarms: "Unidentified biological entity detected approaching! Unidentified biological entity detected approaching!" Damn it!!! The pilot desperately pulled the aircraft up, the Warhawk Gunship¡¯s engines roaring. But before he could even turn, a massive tentacle came crashing down from above! From within the misty airspace behind them, an atmospheric jellyfish suddenly darted forward at high speed. Its tentacles swept across viciously¡ª The CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) on the gunship blazed for a few seconds, but in the next instant, the entire aircraft was obliterated in an explosion! BOOM!!! A massive fireball engulfed the sky. "Warhawk-03 is down! Warhawk-03 is down!" "Engage aerial situational awareness! Emergency evasive maneuvers!" "IT''S BEHIND US!!!" RATATATATATA!! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Four blinding electromagnetic railgun blasts shot into the sky, shattering several black-winged eerie entities. However, more grotesque flying creatures began emerging from the clouds, swarming toward them. Meanwhile, as the earthquake from earlier subsided, all the zombies on the ground seemed to grow even more frenzied. "General! Our aerial formations have suffered heavy losses! Sector D is on the verge of collapse!" On the high walls, Vice Commander Ma Xiaotang, his face streaked with blood, had already fought to the brink of madness. "What about Bai Shuang¡¯s team?!" "They''re still loading! There are too many people!" Zhang Dingzhong turned back. In the plaza, most of the survivor vehicles had already entered the Ascending Track Hall, leaving behind only corpses of fallen soldiers and civilians. A blizzard howled, mixing red blood with white snow, painting a scene of tragic devastation. His gaze shifted to the endless zombie tide swarming from the city. With a grave expression, he muttered: "These monsters... they¡¯ve gone completely insane." "Yeah... but why?" Ma Xiaotang said hastily. "It''s like they KNOW we''re evacuating! Every time we speed up the process, they get even more aggressive! It¡¯s the same in the sky, underground¡ªEVERYTHING is coming at us!" Another officer chimed in: "Could it be that the zombies and the bugs can actually predict our movements?!" "We encountered the same thing in Maple City, Chong¡¯an, and Xinglong. Every time our forces move in large numbers, we¡¯re met with even larger-scale attacks. It''s like some kind of nightmare!" Zhang Dingzhong''s gaze sharpened: "The more desperate the enemy, the more they want to wipe us out¡ªthis only proves that our resistance MATTERS." Inside the Ascending Track Hall The traction cables for all four trains were now fully connected, with only a few remaining vehicles still loading. Inside the Silver Star¡¯s high-level management carriage, a dozen well-dressed executives sat in a tense emergency meeting. "The engineering team has pre-checked the Horizon Clamp System¡¯s condition. I propose that if the system detects any anomalies during the ascent, we must IMMEDIATELY cut the rear traction cables¡ªto ensure the safety of everyone aboard!" A middle-aged man of noble bearing spoke first. "I second this." "Agreed." Jian Zeyang raised his hand as well, then turned to Jian Xuwei, who held the final decision-making authority. "Sis, we¡¯ve done everything we can. If something goes wrong, it means the plan itself was flawed. Using an emergency failsafe is the most logical choice." Jian Xuwei remained silent for a moment, her expression slightly tense: "I just discussed this with Captain Lin of the Infinite Train. He suggested that if the clamp system¡¯s high-voltage threshold doesn''t exceed 30%, we should NOT cut the traction cables." "30%?!?!" "That¡¯s TOO risky! Even 15% is already pushing it!" "Exactly!" The executives murmured in protest. Jian Zeyang scowled. "HE suggested it?! What gives him the right?! Infinite Train is carrying the lightest load among all four trains! Their setup is a joke! They¡¯re running a rusty gas turbine locomotive¡ªcompletely obsolete! It¡¯s useless!" "Chairwoman, we can''t take that kind of risk..." "Yeah, this is madness!" Many board members voiced their opposition. Jian Xuwei¡¯s cold gaze swept across the room: "Your concerns are valid. However, let¡¯s make one thing clear¡ªSilver Star will deploy a special air defense squad to suppress the airborne threats. That will buy us enough time to safely enter the high-altitude corridor." She paused, then asked: "Now, who among you is willing to lead this glorious mission?" The room fell silent. The executives glanced around nervously, some swallowing hard, others avoiding eye contact as Jian Xuwei¡¯s gaze swept across the room. "Zeyang." Jian Xuwei¡¯s eyes landed on Jian Zeyang. He froze immediately. "Do you know what made Fingal Group so successful?" Jian Zeyang opened his mouth but quickly looked away. Jian Xuwei smirked coldly, rising to her feet. Her piercing gaze swept across the board members. "Success comes from continuous progress. It also comes from the dedication of our 500,000 employees worldwide. A business that only clings to its foundations will never thrive. Human civilization advances through courage. With success comes failure. With ambition comes sacrifice. The traction cable behind our train carries the lives of 4,000 people. These lives were bought with the blood of the fallen Iron Guard soldiers outside. We are entrusted with their final chance at survival. This is an adventure. And every adventure requires courage." She let the words settle before continuing: "Some have already stepped forward to bear this burden for you. Do not feel ashamed¡ªjust do your part." A heavy silence filled the carriage. "Notify the engineering team." Jian Xuwei turned, her high heels clicking against the floor as she strode forward. "The rear traction cables can only be severed under MY direct authorization." Meanwhile, the emergency team worked swiftly to finish loading the last few vehicles onto the traction platforms. Hundreds of lost and injured survivors were being transferred onto the Iron Guard¡¯s intercontinental train. "Team Leader Bai, we¡¯re almost ready." Wei Kexue tapped furiously on his computer. "The four train engines are running test cycles. The corridors are clear. Spaceport radar shows the atmospheric jellyfish moving away from the high-altitude corridor." Bai Shuang nodded: "Notify all convoys and team members. As soon as the Iron Guard and security personnel evacuate¡ªWE MOVE!" BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Outside the Ascending Track Hall, the battle raged on. Explosions and gunfire shook the air, the deafening roars of battle merging with the howling wind. Inside the hall, however, all survivor convoys had already driven onto the traction platforms. Fear and tension spread through the crowd like wildfire. Sitting inside an off-road vehicle, Shu Qin clenched her hands tightly, her gaze shifting between the long line of vehicles and trains and the steeply rising Ascending Passage ahead. Her expression was grim. Beside her, Old Mo, Xu Pu, and the others were equally tense. All the trains were fully powered up, their engines humming as they prepared for departure. Many survivors inside both the trains and vehicles pressed their faces against the windows, staring at the massive convoy stretching endlessly before them¡ª It looked like an army of ants, disappearing into the distance. Their hearts pounded faster in anxiety. Aboard the Infinite Train In the cockpit, Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan stood side by side, staring at the massive Ascending Passage leading into the sky. Their expressions were tight with anticipation. "Are we about to depart?" "Waiting on the emergency team¡¯s final coordination." "The Iron Guard hasn¡¯t fully withdrawn yet..." Lin Xian''s gaze sharpened. "The Iron Guard¡¯s intercontinental train is staying at the rear to facilitate their evacuation." Chen Sixuan sighed. "There are so many people... Once we reach Jiazhou City, things should be safer, right?" Lin Xian shook his head. "I wouldn¡¯t be so sure. Jiazhou is just as big as Yubei. Even if it isn¡¯t surrounded by zombies in an endless Polar Night Siege, it¡¯s unlikely to be any better. In fact, we may need to avoid large cities entirely moving forward." The scale of this eerie entity assault was nothing short of cataclysmic. It shook Lin Xian to his core, just as Apocalypse Day had years ago. And worse¡ªhe was beginning to suspect something disturbing: The Nightmare Creatures didn¡¯t seem like mindless beasts. It was as if they had an agenda¡ª A coordinated effort to exterminate humanity. Old Mo and Wei Kexue¡¯s words echoed in his mind. If they followed their original route and successfully reached the Oceanic Rail, they¡¯d still need to consider future travel logistics. If they continued on land, they¡¯d have to upgrade their train for all-terrain traversal. If they risked the oceanic tracks, they¡¯d need to prepare for even worse threats¡ª Because whatever lurked in the endless abyss of the dark sea... would be far more terrifying. Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice pulled him back. "No one expected Yubei¡¯s situation to be this severe." Lin Xian¡¯s expression remained grim. "If we want to upgrade the train¡¯s mobility, we have two choices: One, we go through Jiazhou and take the Northeast Route toward the Phoenix Dawn Center. Two, we stick to our original plan and follow the Huanxing Line to Xingcheng. But... the remnants of the Old Federation Government might not welcome us." Chapter 156: The Corpse Chaser "General, the Ascension Rail Hall is fully prepped!" On the high platform of Zone E, the adjutant rushed forward, his voice urgent. Ratatatat! Gunfire ripped through the battlefield, but more and more Human Eeries and Eerie Entities surged forward. These creatures were far deadlier than zombies, their attacks devastating, leaving nothing but carnage in their wake. Boom! A missile streaked across the sky, slamming directly into a Fog Spider perched atop a skyscraper. The massive creature let out a shriek as it collapsed, crashing into the adjacent building. The glass facade shattered, raining debris onto the streets below. Zhang Dingzhong stood firm, his machine gun blazing, mowing down one monster after another. Thud! Thud! Thud! Above the city, the colossal tentacles of the Atmospheric Mica slowly descended, dragging entire buildings into ruin. The spaceport¡¯s floodlights scanned the night sky, but even then, the full scale of the entity remained unseen. Vwoom! Suddenly¡ª A pale white light flashed across the battlefield, illuminating the darkness for a brief moment. "General, look!" "What the hell is that?!" The Iron Guard Battalion soldiers, engaged in fierce combat, turned ashen-faced, their eyes shifting to Yubei City¡¯s center. Zhang Dingzhong¡¯s trigger finger halted. His gaze snapped to the distance, his pupils contracting. From within the darkness and swirling fog, a humanoid shadow slowly emerged. At a rough estimate¡ª It stood at least a hundred meters tall. Its arms nearly dragged along the ground. Strange, wing-like bone structures jutted from its back. It loomed in the heart of the city, its gaze seemingly fixed upon Spaceport No. 1. Zhang Dingzhong¡¯s voice was grim: "The Corpse Shepherd?" His eyes narrowed. "Just like the intelligence reports described." The monolithic figure exuded an overwhelming sense of oppression, a presence so alien, so incomprehensible, that it made one''s blood run cold. From atop the fortress walls, Zhang Dingzhong and the other Iron Guard officers stood frozen, staring at the colossal humanoid. It was like a being from a higher dimension. Even looking at it sent a shiver down their spines. And the moment the Corpse Shepherd appeared, the battlefield shifted. The creatures changed. The countless Eerie Entities, zombies, and even the skyborne jellyfish began to move in unison¡ªas if they were being herded. Their target¡ª Spaceport No. 1. "Is it coming for us?" A nearby officer¡¯s voice trembled. "All previous sightings occurred within the Polar Night Zone¡¯s active periods..." Another officer suddenly realized something horrifying. "It''s treating us like prey, driving us toward the slaughter?" "No wonder the zombies are all swarming in one direction!" Zhang Dingzhong¡¯s eyes flickered with realization. He stared at the Corpse Shepherd, his voice calm yet chilling: "Doesn''t it feel like it''s casting a net?" Silence. The officers¡¯ expressions darkened. "A net...?" Zhang Dingzhong continued: "In deep-sea fishing, several boats work together to cast massive nets, gradually narrowing their formation to drive the fish into an enclosed space¡ªuntil there''s no escape." His gaze swept over the battlefield. "This horde of zombies and Eerie Entities..." "They''re like an ever-tightening net." "And that Corpse Shepherd¡ª" "It''s driving us straight into it." The realization hit like a thunderclap. The battlefield wasn''t chaos. It was a hunt. "Now that you mention it... it does seem like that." "Fishing?" A heavy silence settled over the officers. One of them gritted his teeth and whispered: "We always assumed these creatures just hunted in the dark, aimlessly preying on survivors." "But if this is true..." His voice trembled as he looked toward Zhang Dingzhong. "Then the 13 Abyss Zones on Blue Planet¡ª" "Aren¡¯t they just 13 colossal, ever-expanding fishing nets?!" Silence. A suffocating pressure filled the air. The implications were terrifying. The Polar Night wasn¡¯t just some environmental anomaly. It was conscious. It was hunting humanity. A wave of fear crashed over them¡ª Followed by a surge of fury. "F* this! They''re treating us like fish?!"** a furious officer cursed. "Goddamn it!" "Where the hell did these things even come from?!" Anger spread like wildfire. But Zhang Dingzhong... His voice remained calm. His gaze remained firm. He looked directly at the Corpse Shepherd¡ª And smiled. "You want to treat humans like fish?" "Then let me show you what a torpedo looks like." BWOOOOOM!!!! The Infinite Train and the evacuation convoy surged forward. The rails trembled, and the traction clamps locked into place, glowing faintly as the engines roared to life. Inside their respective trains, Lin Xian, Jian Xuwei, Shi Diyuan, and Bai Shuang simultaneously gave the command: "Initiate Ascension!" The trains tilted upward, their momentum accelerating skyward along the Ascension Rail. ¡ª Spaceport Battlefield ¨C The Last Stand BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The Iron Guard Battalion continued their desperate battle. Zhang Dingzhong stood unwavering on the fortress wall, scanning the battlefield below. The Human Eeries, grotesque entities, and the unrelenting zombie horde were closing in. The sky was a warzone¡ªAtmospheric Mica tentacles lashed through buildings, Fog Spiders leaped from skyscraper to skyscraper, and winged horrors circled overhead. Despite the relentless anti-air fire, the monsters kept coming. Then¡ª An unnatural stillness settled over the battlefield. Zhang Dingzhong¡¯s instincts screamed. He turned his gaze toward the Corpse Shepherd. The massive humanoid figure still stood in the center of Yubei City, watching. Observing. Calculating. Zhang Dingzhong¡¯s fingers clenched. Then¡ª The Corpse Shepherd moved. Not an attack. Not a charge. It simply raised one arm¡ª ¡ªand pointed at the Ascension Rail. A silent command. In an instant¡ª The horde went berserk. Every zombie, grotesque entity, and Human Eerie rushed the spaceport. A tidal wave of death, racing toward the last defensive line. The Iron Guard soldiers knew what this meant. There was no surviving this. But not a single one hesitated. Zhang Dingzhong exhaled, gripping his machine gun. He turned to Ma Xiaotang, who was still loading the final rail cannon shell. Their eyes met. "Ready?" Zhang Dingzhong asked. Ma Xiaotang smirked. "Born ready." The cannon was loaded. Zhang Dingzhong gave the order: "Fire." BOOOOOOOOM!!!! The final shot of the Iron Guard Battalion. A blinding shockwave tore through the air, aimed directly at the Corpse Shepherd. ¡ª Above the Battlefield ¨C The Infinite Train Inside the Infinite Train, Lin Xian¡¯s grip tightened on the control levers. The train shot upward, leaving the battlefield far below. In the cockpit, KIKI watched the battlefield shrink beneath them, her voice barely a whisper: "They''re not coming back." Chen Sixuan and Shasha sat in Carriage No. 1, holding onto their seats. Daluo and Lu Xingchen were strapped in inside the nuclear-powered locomotive. Ding Junyi sat alone in the research carriage, hugging the nearest handrail. Xu Jin, Shu Qin, Old Mo, and Jiang Yun clutched whatever they could. Their breaths were shallow. Then¡ª The sky flashed. A brilliant white explosion consumed the battlefield. The rail cannon¡¯s final shot. Followed by¡ª A deafening silence. ¡ª Spaceport ¨C The End The Iron Guard Battalion¡¯s final stand was over. The Corpse Shepherd remained standing. The zombie tide had overtaken the last defense line. There was no one left. And yet¡ª The Corpse Shepherd did not chase the train. It simply watched. And then, it turned. And vanished into the fog. ¡ª Aboard the Infinite Train As the train soared through the atmosphere, Bai Shuang¡¯s voice echoed over the communication channels: "We move forward." A beat. Then, softer: "For those who stayed behind." Chapter 157: Reaching the Sky BEEP!!! Inside the Ascending Track Hall, four heavy-duty train engines roared to life, pulling all the traction platforms into motion. The survivors in the convoy behind felt the ground beneath them tremble before everything suddenly started moving. ¡°Why are we departing now? The Iron Guard Battalion hasn¡¯t retreated yet!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are we leaving early?¡± ¡°It¡¯s moving! It¡¯s really moving!¡± ¡°Ahh, I¡¯m so scared...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid! We can make it up there!¡± Inside the Iron Guard Battalion¡¯s military train, a young girl who had just been rescued onto the train clung to her mother¡¯s hand, her eyes filled with confusion. ¡°Mom, where are the soldiers?¡± The woman looked at the train full of injured soldiers and survivors, her eyes turning red. ¡°They... they¡¯ll be taking another train...¡± ¡°Really? They¡¯ll be coming with us?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± WHOOSH! A staggering 620,000-kilowatt surge of power pulled 2,696 survivor vehicles forward, rapidly accelerating. In just a short sprint, they broke past 200 km/h before entering the gradual ascent track. The Horizon Clamp System latched onto the rails as the engines pushed even faster. Aboard the Infinite Train, Silver Star, Dragon Mountain One, and the Iron Guard Battalion''s military train, everyone suddenly felt the ground tilt. The trains lifted into a steep incline, sending any unsecured items sliding toward the rear of the carriages. Within seconds, the trains transitioned into the steeper Climbing Passage. Mechanical winches extended, latching onto the Horizon Clamp System beneath the trains, initiating secondary acceleration! BOOM! BOOM! Thousands of vehicles behind them felt as if they were suddenly yanked off the ground, rocketing into the sky at incredible speed! ¡°AHHH!!!¡± Screams filled the Climbing Passage. Inside the Infinite Train, everyone clung tightly to the handrails. Chen Sixuan shut her eyes, heart pounding wildly from the immense acceleration. In the cockpit, KIKI and Lin Xian sat firmly in their seats, laser-focused on the controls. 100 meters... 200 meters... 300 meters... The altitude climbed rapidly. Lin Xian¡¯s voice rang out sternly, ¡°At 2,000 meters, we enter the third acceleration phase! If the Horizon Clamp System overloads, keep the train locked to the rails!¡± KIKI¡¯s expression was tense. She stared wide-eyed at the controls, exclaiming, ¡°Got it!!¡± On the Silver Star and Dragon Mountain One, the atmosphere couldn¡¯t have been more different. On the Silver Star, every passenger had secured their seatbelts in perfect unison, well-prepared. But on Dragon Mountain One, chaos erupted¡ªscreams filled the air as personal belongings tumbled everywhere. Inside the Iron Guard Battalion¡¯s train, Bai Shuang stood in the cockpit, watching the ever-deepening tunnel behind them through the monitors. Her face remained calm, but her eyes carried a resolute determination¡ªlike a silent elegy burning in her heart. BANG! BANG! BANG! RATATATATAT! BOOM! At the spaceport¡¯s high walls, gunfire raged. Countless rounds of metal-jacketed bullets rained down onto the horde of zombies below. The 1130 CIWS and electromagnetic rail cannons roared, playing a grim symphony of death. Above, massive atmospheric jellyfish floated in the sky, casting an overwhelming pressure over the battlefield. Below, the endless sea of zombies surged forward like a tidal wave. At that moment, a transport truck sped into the battlefield, carrying a cylinder-shaped weapon covered with a tarp. Soldiers rushed forward, yanking off the cover. A massive silver missile slowly rose from its cradle, glowing ominously with the unmistakable yellow markings of nuclear weaponry. Zhang Dingzhong strode over, his face brimming with excitement. ¡°We¡¯ve been fighting and running for too long¡ªI¡¯ve been itching to use this! Let¡¯s see what kind of monsters we¡¯re really dealing with.¡± His deputy, Ma Xiaotang, grinned. ¡°Ha! Free cremation service. This is gonna be satisfying.¡± ¡°Hell yeah! Let¡¯s tear a hole in this f*ing net! Who¡¯s with me?!¡±** ¡°HELL YEAH!!¡± At that moment, a towering patrol mech came to a stop. Zhan Wei stepped down, eyeing the nuke in front of him with astonishment. ¡°Damn... this thing¡¯s got some serious power.¡± Zhang Dingzhong smirked, then asked, ¡°Zhan Wei, are your legs steady?¡± Zhan Wei let out a determined laugh, snapping to attention. ¡°Commander, I can still stand strong!¡± Then, after a brief hesitation, he looked at Zhang Dingzhong with pride and said, ¡°Commander, fighting alongside you until the very last moment... it¡¯s the greatest honor of my life!¡± Zhang Dingzhong paused, then clapped him on the shoulder. His gaze carried admiration. ¡°Good man. That¡¯s the kind of soldier I trained.¡± HOOOOOOOONK!!! A sharp, piercing whistle echoed. Soldiers of the Iron Guard Battalion turned to see the massive convoy charging up the Climbing Passage, shaking the very air with its momentum. ¡°Look! They¡¯re making it up!!¡± Deputy Ma Xiaotang shouted in excitement. Thousands of soldiers gazed toward the track that led to the sky, their eyes filled with anticipation and reverence. The ascending trains were living proof of the battle they had fought to protect humanity¡¯s hope. At that moment, some survivor vehicles turned on their hazard lights, their golden flashes flickering in unison. More and more vehicles followed suit, creating a chain of golden lights stretching toward the heavens. A beacon of defiance against the darkness. Zhang Dingzhong watched the scene unfold and chuckled softly. ¡°They¡¯re cheering us on. Let¡¯s not let them down, brothers!¡± ¡°YES, SIR!!!¡± A deafening war cry erupted from the Iron Guard Battalion and Security Regiment! WOOOOOOO!!! Back in the Climbing Passage, the four trains neared 2,000 meters¡ªthe third acceleration was imminent. The kilometer-long train chains surged forward as the engines roared like beasts. ¡°Prepare for third acceleration!¡± BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The four trains engaged their high-speed traction systems, engines screaming as they pushed into the final acceleration phase! WOOOOO!!! ¡°Speed is picking up!¡± Lin Xian stared at the Horizon Clamp System¡¯s status monitor, pushing the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive to its absolute limit. Just then¡ªa blinding blue light erupted from the atmospheric jellyfish core above the port! BOOM!!! A massive electromagnetic pulse exploded outward! BZZZZZT! Instantly, every light in the Climbing Passage flickered violently, sparks flying everywhere! The spaceport¡¯s electromagnetic rail cannons went dark, and the four trains lost power, their systems shutting down! Passengers inside the trains were suddenly thrown into darkness. The drive motors let out a dying whine before grinding to a halt. ¡°Sh*t! Electromagnetic pulse! The engines are down!¡± Inside Dragon Mountain One¡¯s cockpit, Shi Diyuan¡¯s eyes went wide with horror as he shot up from his seat. ¡°Restart the systems NOW! We can¡¯t lose our momentum!!¡± Inside Silver Star, Jian Zeyang¡¯s face turned deathly pale. ¡°How long?!¡± ¡°Ten seconds!¡± The engineers shouted in panic. ¡°Not enough time! If we lose this much speed, the Horizon Clamp System will fail!¡± Jian Zeyang turned to his sister, Jian Xuwei, shouting desperately, ¡°Sis, we have to detach the train NOW, or we¡¯re all going down!¡± Just as she was about to issue the order¡ª BANG! BANG! BANG! ¡°ALL TRAINS, DO NOT DETACH!!!¡± A deep, commanding voice boomed over the radio. It was Lin Xian. And in the next moment¡ªthe Infinite Train surged forward, roaring against the impossible odds. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! The sharp sound of metal clashing rang through the comms. In the next second, several traction steel cables suddenly latched onto the mechanical traction systems of the other three trains. Inside Silver Star, Dragon Mountain One, and the Iron Guard Battalion train, Jian Xuwei, Jian Zeyang, Shi Diyuan, Bai Shuang, and Wei Kexue all stared in shock as a massive black heavy-duty train surged ahead, roaring like a beast unleashed! Its engines howled, the ground shook beneath it¡ª And it dragged all three failing trains along with it! ¡°PUSH FORWARD!!!¡± Inside the Infinite Train, Lin Xian''s eyes burned crimson. His Mechanical Heart roared at full capacity, pushing Whale 03E¡¯s ten-cylinder gas turbine engine to its absolute limit. The power turbines screamed, burning through the last reserves of fuel in a desperate final sprint. Despite the weight of three other trains and 2,696 survivor vehicles, Infinite Train refused to slow down. On the other side of the cockpit, KIKI¡¯s silver hair fluttered as she clenched her teeth, straining her mind. Her psychic power surged, pressing the train down onto the rails while simultaneously pushing it upward. WHOOOSH! Inside the Climbing Passage, a powerful updraft erupted! In the rear convoy, Jiang Yu, sitting inside his off-road vehicle, unleashed every ounce of his wind ability, sending a ferocious tailwind surging behind the train. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Inside Whale 03E, the turbine pressure spiked dangerously. The Infinite Train¡¯s carriages groaned under the immense strain, the steel framework creaking as it fought against gravity. ¡°HOLD ON!!!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s entire body felt like it was about to burst from the pressure. He knew Infinite Train alone couldn¡¯t pull this off. All he could do was buy the other trains enough time to restart their engines. Against all logic¡ªagainst all probability¡ª The descent finally slowed. Inside Silver Star, Jian Xuwei gasped, chest rising and falling in shock. On the screen in front of her, the Horizon Clamp System¡¯s high-voltage threshold had skyrocketed to 28%. Ten seconds had never felt so long. Then¡ª BEEP!!! The engine reboot sequence completed. BOOM!!! The Eternal-Class Train, Silver Star, roared back to life, unleashing a surge of power! Simultaneously, the Iron Guard Battalion train and Dragon Mountain One reignited their engines, firing back into full acceleration. The speed climbed again! ¡°We¡¯re stable?!¡± Bai Shuang and Wei Kexue stared in disbelief. ¡°Impossible...!¡± Shi Diyuan¡¯s entire back was drenched in cold sweat. ¡°FULL POWER SPRINT!!!¡± Jian Xuwei barked the command. 3,000 meters! 4,000 meters! The air pressure climbed, making everyone''s ears ring with pain. Inside the roaring tunnel, gravity twisted and turned, but the four trains refused to falter. Then¡ª They finally broke through. As the incline suddenly leveled out, the survivors saw it. A massive floating tunnel stretched endlessly forward, vanishing into the horizon. They had made it. They had reached the Sky Corridor. Behind them, every traction platform successfully followed into the Sky Corridor. And then¡ª A thunderous cheer erupted. ¡°WE DID IT!!!¡± ¡°Holy sh*t, we made it!!!¡± ¡°We¡¯re in the Sky Corridor!!!¡± ¡°We survived...!¡± ¡°WE SURVIVED!!!¡± Chapter 158: Dawn Will Come On the high-altitude corridor, thousands of cars erupted into a deafening wave of cheers, like mountains crashing and seas roaring. Some roared in rage, some gasped in shock. Some wept in pain, some panted for breath. The only thing they shared was the sheer awe from that death-defying sprint! At this moment, the four locomotives responsible for traction did not stop. They were still being dragged by the mechanical traction system on the track, merging onto parallel lines. Finally, the rear hooks were released, and the yellow traction platforms carrying the survivor convoys were activated by the system, entering the electromagnetic acceleration sequence. "Captain Lin, thank you." Jiang Yun''s voice came through the walkie-talkie. On Infinite Train, Lin Xian was drenched in sweat, nearly collapsing. That last push had made him feel, for the first time, as if his Mechanical Heart was about to overload and explode¡ªhe had almost blacked out. At this moment, the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive''s power turbines emitted a hollow cooling sound, and waves of scorching heat surged out from the engine compartment. Gasping for breath, he lifted his head and looked at the densely packed convoy ahead. Among them, he saw Jiang Yun, Shu Qin, Xu Jin, and Old Mo sitting on a heavy truck¡ªall nodding at him through the windows. "Captain Lin, we¡¯ll be waiting for you in Jiazhou." Shu Qin sat in her vehicle, her voice trembling with excitement as the traction platform moved past Infinite Train and slowly advanced forward. "Thank you, Captain Lin. Without you, we would''ve been finished this time. If we ever get the chance, we''ll definitely repay you!" Xu Jin added, deeply moved. "Thanks, kid surnamed Lin. See you next time! Remember to upgrade your train¡¯s propulsion system¡ªthe tracks ahead won¡¯t be easy..." Old Mo reminded. "Goodbye. I wish you all luck." Lin Xian picked up the walkie-talkie and responded, looking at them one last time. One after another, the crowd expressed their gratitude to Lin Xian. Thousands of vehicles started moving forward, while many aboard Silver Star and Dragon Mountain No. 1 waved from behind their windows. Wooooo~ One by one, the traction platforms raised their metal windshields. With the electromagnetic acceleration engaged, they shot forward at high speed. The nearly vacuum-like environment inside the high-altitude corridor allowed these vehicles to reach unimaginable velocities. On the Iron Guard Battalion¡¯s intercontinental military train, Bai Shuang watched as rows of departing cars faded into the distance, a look of relief on her face. "Team Leader Bai, we did it..." Wei Kexue was drenched in sweat, slumping into his chair with a complicated expression. Wiping his forehead, he muttered, "This is definitely the most thrilling thing I''ve ever done in my life." "It''s not over yet. Get the other trains onto separate tracks now." Bai Shuang remained calm. Wei Kexue nodded and quickly regained focus, resuming his work on the dispatch system. Many people had yet to make it through the high-altitude tunnel. Breaking through the first barrier was just the beginning. Beep. Soon, all the traction platforms had entered the electromagnetic acceleration passage, swiftly departing. The spaceport''s dispatch system began guiding the four trains onto different tracks, unlocking their restraints, and notifying them that they were free to proceed. At that moment, Lin Xian¡¯s walkie-talkie crackled to life with a transmission from another train. "Lin Xian, this is Jian Xuwei. On behalf of Silver Star, I want to thank you. I owe you one." Jian Xuwei¡¯s usually icy tone carried a rare hint of acknowledgment. She hadn¡¯t expected Lin Xian to act so decisively in that life-or-death moment. More importantly, it seemed as if he had anticipated it all along and already had a contingency plan. This forced her to reevaluate this man. A mysterious Mechanical Ability, the bold Traction Plan to save everyone, and at the critical moment, the sheer power of his Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive¡ªhis move had secured a vital boost in climbing speed, giving the other trains the precious time they needed to reboot their systems. This man... was far from ordinary. Behind her, Jian Zeyang sat pale-faced on the floor, his expression frozen in terror. He looked like he had just escaped the jaws of death, muttering in disbelief, "A gas turbine... how is that even possible? This is unreal..." "Thanks. You guys played a huge role too." On Infinite Train, Lin Xian responded. Both Silver Star and Dragon Mountain No. 1 had been absolute pillars of support in the Traction Plan. If it had been just Infinite Train alone, he never could have pulled this off. "We¡¯ll see you at the orbital ring." "See you." Wooooo~ Silver Star''s futuristic engine lights flared to life, carrying over three thousand passengers as it sped away into the distance. "Good kid, I, Shi Diyuan, will remember you. If we ever meet on the orbital track again, I¡¯ll buy you a drink." Shi Diyuan¡¯s bold voice rang out. Lin Xian had a strong impression of this man. In the apocalypse, few dared to stand up without hesitation. Other than Jiang Yun, Shi Diyuan was probably the second one he had seen. "Safe travels!" Lin Xian replied. Dragon Mountain No. 1, the massive moving fortress, also began accelerating, surging forward. Within moments, its dozens of carriages had vanished from sight. Neither Silver Star nor Dragon Mountain No. 1 wasted any time. Both trains swiftly entered the railway lines, activating their engines and accelerating toward the horizon. "Captain Lin, thank you for assisting in this evacuation. I will report this to my superiors. If you ever need help, you can always seek aid from Phoenix¡¯s rescue organizations across the region. The spaceport is about to fall¡ªevacuate immediately." On the other end, Bai Shuang¡¯s voice came through, followed by Wei Kexue¡¯s. "Captain Lin, good luck. See you again someday!" "Alright!" Lin Xian immediately responded as the two trains branched onto different tracks and began accelerating. Without electromagnetic acceleration traction platforms, all four trains could only rely on their own engines to move along the high-altitude corridor. Although this made them slower, compared to matters of life and death, it was a negligible issue. Each train had a different speed, and with everyone worried that the Atmospheric Jellyfish above might attack the high-altitude corridor, no one dared to delay. They all pushed their engines to maximum speed, racing to escape Yubei City No. 1 Spaceport as fast as possible. Among them, Infinite Train was the slowest. Before long, the three trains ahead had already disappeared at the far end of the high-altitude corridor. As the train continued forward, Lin Xian finally let out a sigh of relief. "How are you?" Chen Sixuan walked over anxiously, seeing both Lin Xian and KIKI drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted. Lin Xian stood up and asked, "Is everyone okay?" "We''re all fine." "That was way too close!" KIKI fanned herself with both hands, her face still full of lingering fear. "For a second, I really thought the train was going to fall." If the Horizon Clamp System had shattered at that moment, and if the train¡¯s engine had shut down, the fate of these tens of thousands of people would have been unimaginably tragic¡ªplummeting from thousands of meters in the air, the consequences would be unthinkable. "Don''t say that. We''re not out of danger yet. Ms. Chen, use Gemini to push the train to maximum speed." "Got it!" Chen Sixuan immediately nodded. Lin Xian¡¯s face was pale, his head spinning with dizziness, but there was no time to think about resting. That massive Clustered Cloud was still in the sky, and with the eerie siege happening tonight, those countless aerial creatures could attack the high-altitude corridor at any moment. Though the corridor''s defenses still had enough energy to power the anti-air weapons, all the survivors were currently 4,800 meters above the ground¡ªhow could he possibly feel at ease? Just as Lin Xian took a deep breath, preparing to activate Mechanical Heart again to accelerate, a deep rumbling sound echoed through the air. Boom! Everyone on the train felt a numbness wash over their faces, as if struck by a shockwave. At once, everyone turned their heads toward the train¡¯s side windows. From within the corridor, a distant roaring noise was rapidly approaching. "What happened?!!" "An earthquake?!" "No, it''s an explosion!" Lin Xian¡¯s pupils shrank sharply as he immediately shouted, "Everyone, hold on tight!" At the same time, he activated Mechanical Heart again, pushing Infinite Train to accelerate. Boom! A massive shockwave instantly swept across the train, causing the entire high-altitude corridor to shake violently. "Ahhh!!" Chen Sixuan and Shasha screamed as everyone instinctively dropped to the floor. The immense corridor trembled like a ship tossed in stormy waves, rising and falling in chaos. As the violent shockwave struck, Lin Xian felt the train engine roaring at full force, his body quickly reaching its limit. In that instant, time seemed to slow down. He could hear his own breathing, his heartbeat. His lips tingled, his vision blurred. "Accelerate...." "Faster...." .... In the sky above the Yubei City No. 1 Spaceport, Atmospheric Jellyfish and countless Sky Jellyfish floated, while millions of Zombies swarmed below. In the heart of the city, an eerie Corpse Shepherd stood still, staring eastward. Suddenly, in the sky above, a brilliant blue sphere of light ignited. This light was unimaginably bright, like a newborn sun blooming over the land. It was so blinding that it could pierce through human vision. In that moment, Yubei City was engulfed in pure white. Then, a massive shockwave erupted from the center of the explosion, expanding outward in a ring-like pattern. Wherever it reached, the ground trembled. Sand and dust were hurled high into the sky, forming a suffocating curtain that blocked out the heavens. The air itself seemed to ignite, unleashing a deafening roar¡ªa sound like ten thousand war drums struck at once, or a thunderous detonation reverberating through the world. Moments later, a gigantic mushroom cloud began to rise. Its base was vast, and its top unfurled like a colossal umbrella. It rolled and expanded upward, its color shifting from pale gray to deep black, resembling a devil''s flower blooming from the depths of hell¡ªradiating pure destruction. Under the force of the shockwave, millions of Zombies were vaporized in an instant. The Sky Jellyfish were immediately swallowed by the dazzling sphere of light. Above them, the Clustered Cloud let out an eerie, tremulous cry¡ªbut no one could hear it. Its mountain-sized bell began to burn. Countless massive tentacles shattered and crumbled like falling boulders. "General, will we win?" On the high platform at the center of Zone E in the spaceport plaza, Zhang Dingzhong stood amid the countless fallen soldiers of the Iron Guard Battalion. The last dozen survivors surrounded him as he gazed at the massive humanoid shadow in the city center. The shadow seemed to be staring back at him. "The song of humanity is a song of courage. No matter how dark the sky, one day, it will be illuminated." Boom. The light sphere exploded. Everything was consumed by blinding white. At the very edge of Abyss Zone No. 3¡¯sPolar Night, spanning thousands of kilometers, a blazing light erupted¡ªburning away the eerie creatures lurking in the darkness. On the high-altitude corridor, thousands of survivor vehicles sped forward. The four trains roared through the skies. Nearly 20,000 people were racing for their lives! Aboard Infinite Train, the Dark Radio crackled with static. Lin Xian, exhausted, walked over. Around him stood the entire team¡ªChen Sixuan, KIKI, Luo Ye, Shasha, Ding Junyi, and Lu Xingchen¡ªall watching the radio with heavy expressions. A voice echoed through every survivor¡¯s radio. "Phoenix global broadcast¡ªbased on the latest Abyss research analysis, Dark Night is expanding due to the influence of the Abyss Tides. However, its spread will gradually slow as it moves away from the abyssal center. According to Phoenix¡¯s calculations, Blue Planet will enter a global night in 1 year and 96 days. This Polar Night may last over 571 years. For the survival of human civilization, Phoenix now issues an urgent global notification: All survivors must follow the escape routes farthest from the Abyss. Head east¡ªtoward the dawn.¡± "No matter where you are right now... survive. Believe¡ªdawn will come!" Chapter 159: Dead City This was the first time Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart had completely consumed his energy. The sensation felt as if it had triggered some kind of self-protection program, forcibly shutting down. When his Mechanical Ability began running again, he immediately felt a chilling sensation on his skin¡ªalong with... weightlessness! The Infinite Train was descending rapidly. Whoosh! Whoosh! The tracks hummed, and the train trembled slightly. Lin Xian opened his eyes and found himself lying on a bed in Car No. 1. From the cockpit, he heard Chen Sixuan¡¯s crisp voice: ¡°Decelerating. No obstacles ahead.¡± ¡°Hold on, everyone! Shasha, make sure your brother Lin doesn¡¯t fall!¡± Turning his gaze, he saw Luo Shasha pressing down on his shoulder, her small face tense as she stared out the window, afraid he would roll off the bed due to inertia. ¡°Sister Chen, no radio broadcasts about Jiazhou City so far,¡± KIKI¡¯s voice came from Car No. 2. Lin Xian¡¯s mind was still groggy, but his subconscious told him¡ªthis descent angle... it had to be the Climbing Passage. Had they already arrived at Jiazhou City? Ding! A notification from the Mechanical Heart snapped him back to reality. He realized that several hours ago, the R&D Center had completed research on the M556 Light Machine Gun, and a new blueprint was now available. A flash of light. Inside the R&D Center, a brand-new blueprint appeared: [Congratulations! You have obtained the blueprint for the Roaring K23 Electric Gatling Gun!] Lin Xian craned his neck to look at it, his pupils trembling slightly before he collapsed back onto the pillow. "Am I seeing things? "What the hell is this? I wanted firepower enhancements, and it just throws out something like this...?" After pondering for a moment, he became certain¡ªthe R&D Center wasn¡¯t merely upgrading blueprints. Just like how it had created the A1-Class Subcritical Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier out of thin air, it was manifesting new technology altogether. At this point, he even started to suspect that the endgame of the R&D Center wasn¡¯t limited to creating things that existed on this planet... "Hah!" No time to dwell on it now. Lin Xian shook off his dizziness and sat up. Luo Shasha gasped in surprise. ¡°Brother Lin! You¡¯re awake?!¡± ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°On the descending tracks of Jiazhou¡¯s No. 2 Spaceport! We¡¯ve been flying through the High-Altitude Corridor for about seven or eight hours now,¡± Shasha replied. Lin Xian sat up straight. The entire train was tilted downward. He activated his Mechanical Heart and quickly sensed that Chen Sixuan was using the Horizon Clamp System to control the descent. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. The black-armored train continued its descent toward the ground. In the cockpit, Chen Sixuan looked up, surprise flashing in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± ¡°Is everything under control?¡± Lin Xian asked, seeing that the train was still charging forward at high speed. He cautiously began adjusting the train¡¯s trajectory. ¡°So far, no issues. I pushed the train to max speed in the High-Altitude Corridor, but compared to others, we¡¯re still a few hours behind.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was deep. ¡°As long as we made it. This is already the fastest we could escape the dark night while covering the greatest distance.¡± All the traction platforms had used electromagnetic acceleration to reach 1,000 km/h. Trains like the Silver Star and Dragon Mountain No. 1 had far superior configurations, so it was natural for the Infinite Train to fall behind in speed. But for a team that had just crossed 4,500 kilometers over the Dazhu Plateau, they had, at least for now, escaped the threat of the Polar Night. "I wonder if anyone else stopped at Jiazhou Spaceport..." ¡°No idea about others, but Shu Qin¡¯s group should be waiting for us,¡± Lin Xian replied. After what had happened at the spaceport, he decided that, like Silver Star and Dragon Mountain No. 1, he would expand the train on a massive scale, bring in more passengers, and fully tap into the potential of his Mechanical Heart. At the same time, he had another critical issue to resolve: the train¡¯s all-terrain mobility. The Orbital Rail passed through major cities and extreme regions alike. He needed multiple route options, just like Phoenix¡¯s Dawn Center. At that moment, the slope leveled out, the train shot down the Climbing Passage, and a massive track hall appeared in view. !!! The train¡¯s powerful rumbling echoed through the vast hall. Empty. Jiazhou¡¯s No. 2 Spaceport was built into a mountain, with its tracks running through underground tunnels. As the Infinite Train followed the tunnel along the subterranean tracks, a beam of light suddenly appeared ahead! Without stopping, the Infinite Train burst out of the tunnel. In an instant, blinding sunlight flooded the train, illuminating every carriage. Along with it came a distinct warmth. ¡°It¡¯s daytime?!¡± ¡°The sun¡¯s up so early...¡± Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan squinted against the glare. Shasha and KIKI came running in as well. Through the glass viewport, a silent metropolis unfolded under the morning sun. It was 7 AM. The sunlight was still cold, but compared to the blizzard conditions of Yubei City, this warmth felt almost comforting. ¡°Wow! It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve seen the sun this early!¡± KIKI gasped. Chen Sixuan¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°Feels like coming back from the dead.¡± ¡°Our daytime hours just increased a lot all at once!¡± Shasha beamed. Whoosh... whoosh... The train glided swiftly along the high-speed elevated tracks of the spaceport. Beyond them, the cityscape stretched into the distance¡ªboth familiar and alien. ¡°4,500 kilometers,¡± Lin Xian murmured. ¡°Jiazhou to Longjiang is near the middle ground between Abyss Zones No. 3 and No. 5.¡± Shasha admired the view. ¡°The people here are lucky. They get longer daylight than most places...¡± ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it.¡± KIKI frowned, pressing closer to the window. ¡°But why... does this city feel way too quiet?¡± ¡°Looks like a dead city.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t there be lots of survivors in a middle zone between Abysses?¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re thinking too simply. Abyss Zones No. 3, No. 5, and No. 7 are all close together. Even if there¡¯s temporary livable space, it¡¯s just boiling frogs in warm water. The dangers of the dark night are the same everywhere...¡± The farther a city was from an Abyss, the more time and space it had to survive. But the Black Night Infection was just as lethal. With Abysses expanding at different rates, some regions were slower to be covered and thus had higher survival chances. Jiazhou City was far from the rapidly expanding Abyss No. 3, but it was dangerously close to Abysses No. 5 and No. 7. If both those Abysses expanded at full speed, this entire middle zone would be swallowed in no time. "Population and city structure are major factors." Ding Junyi stepped forward. ¡°Abyss No. 3 is in Lucheng and Dingzhou¡ªthe most densely populated area of the Oceanic Province. It¡¯s just like Abyss No. 1 in North America, No. 2 in Asia-Pacific, No. 9 in Europe, and No. 11 in the Republic Continent. These areas saw the fastest Dark Tides expansion.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why Phoenix promotes mobility for survival,¡± she continued. ¡°For example, the Arctic Ice Cap, influenced by the Polar Day, is estimated to be one of the last places covered by the Polar Night.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Not bad. For humanity, that¡¯s a shrinking safe zone.¡± Something about it reminded him of an old game¡ªwhere you had to keep running from the shrinking zone... ¡°You call that a safe zone?¡± KIKI was dumbfounded. ¡°That place is the freaking Arctic! There¡¯s nothing there! How the hell are people supposed to survive?¡± Lin Xian turned to look at her, his expression meaningful. ¡°Trust me, when the entire planet is covered in an endless Polar Night, and monsters roam every inch of land... a sunlit wasteland will become the most desirable refuge imaginable.¡± Chapter 160: Corpse Crow Jiazhou City was located on the western edge of the Dazhu Plateau, part of the Yunjiang Plains. It was a major transportation hub. From here, heading northeast led to Xilan and Quancheng, while further northeast lay the Western Gobi, which had already been devoured by Abyss Zone No. 5. To the southeast, one would find Haedong, which was adjacent to Abyss Zone No. 7. The Orbital Rail Network passed directly between Abyss Zone No. 5 and No. 7, cutting through Jiazhou City, Hengshan Pass, Weihe River, Longjiang, and stretching across the Parma Grasslands to Jinhai and Xingcheng. The Jiazhou City Orbital Rail Station was a massive structure built on a hillside, offering a commanding view over the entire city. Unlike other places, Jiazhou City had not yet been engulfed by the Dark Tides. The skies remained clear, and the temperature was comfortable¡ªthere were no blizzards or extreme cold like in the Dazhu Plateau. Whoosh¡ª The Infinite Train slowly rolled into the station platform. This was a passenger terminal¡ªa place that should have long been overrun by zombies. Yet, as Lin Xian and the others cautiously drove in, they found the station completely empty. Not a single person. Not a single corpse. If not for the scattered luggage, the dried bloodstains, and the buzzing flies, Lin Xian might have thought they had stepped into a pre-apocalypse train station that had never even opened. "Strange..." Chen Sixuan frowned. "We¡¯re only a few hours late. With so many survivor convoys passing through, wouldn¡¯t at least some people have stopped here to rest? Why isn¡¯t there a single person?" Lin Xian also found it bizarre. He remembered that Shu Qin¡¯s convoy had planned to wait for them here. But now, everything about this place reeked of something unnatural. Too quiet. "Where are Luo Ye and Lu Xingchen?" "They stood guard all night. They¡¯re still sleeping." "Wake them up." Lin Xian¡¯s voice grew heavy. "Everyone, stay alert." Something was wrong. If all the survivor convoys had vanished, something was definitely off. Logically, this place should have been a temporary rest stop. It was far from the Polar Night of Abyss Zone No. 3, and after surviving the brutal battle at the spaceport, people should have wanted to stop here and recover. "Jiang Yun and his group should¡¯ve arrived a few hours earlier." Chen Sixuan analyzed. "At that time, it would¡¯ve still been dark here." "Could they have encountered an Eerie Entity?" Lin Xian nodded grimly. "That¡¯s a possibility." BZZZT... Suddenly, the walkie-talkie crackled to life. Lin Xian stiffened¡ªthis was the same frequency used during the spaceport¡¯s traction operation. Could there still be survivors from the spaceport here? "Lin Team! Lin Team! Can you hear me?!" "Shu Qin?!" Chen Sixuan exclaimed in shock. Lin Xian immediately pressed the talk button. "I can hear you. Where are you?" "Lin Team! Be careful! Whatever you do¡ªDO NOT open the doors or windows! This place is infested with¡ª" CRACKLE. Caw¡ªCaw¡ª Before Shu Qin could finish, a sharp bird cry suddenly rang out in front of the train. Thump. A black crow landed on the windshield, letting out a piercing shriek. At the same time, its head tilted unnaturally, peering inside the carriage. Everyone instinctively held their breath. The crow¡¯s eyes were gone. In their place were writhing, black tendrils, thin and elongated like parasitic worms, twisting and twitching in the empty sockets. The crow seemed to sense the presence of humans inside. It cocked its head¡ªthen suddenly lunged forward, slamming its beak against the windshield. BANG! The impact was so powerful that it echoed crisply through the train. "This thing is infected by the Dark Night." Lin Xian scowled. KIKI stepped forward, lifting her hand to clear it out¡ªbut before she could act, the crow suddenly went berserk. BANG! BANG! BANG! It frenziedly pecked at the window. Crack! Crack! Its entire beak shattered, yet the creature didn¡¯t stop. Instead, dozens of black tendrils wriggled out from its broken skull, latching onto the glass, making an eerie squeaking sound. And then¡ª Above the station platform, more crows began descending. Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. Some circled in the air. Others perched on the platform roof. As if triggered by the first crow¡¯s actions, the entire murder of crows began to descend upon the Infinite Train. BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! The sound of countless beaks striking metal echoed like raindrops against the train roof. Inside the carriage, passengers looked around anxiously. Lin Xian took a deep breath, then immediately shut all the blackout panels and disabled the ventilation system, sealing the train into an airtight space. "Disgusting..." someone muttered. Lin Xian turned to Ding Junyi. "Have you seen anything like this before?" Ding Junyi scanned the crows, hands stuffed into his pockets. "Never. The Dark Night creates far too many mutation types. In the biological research lab, we receive new samples every single day. The infections, aggression, and attack methods are completely unpredictable." Her eyes narrowed. "But for this place to be completely void of zombies... it¡¯s likely a full-scale biological outbreak occurred here." Biological outbreak. A wave of unease spread among the crew. An outbreak so severe that it wiped out all the zombies? "BZZT¡ªLin Team." Shu Qin¡¯s voice crackled back through the walkie-talkie. "Can you hear me?" "I hear you. Where are you?" "We... we¡¯re hiding in a train maintenance warehouse..." "Over there!" Chen Sixuan pointed towards a black warehouse at the far end of the station''s sidetrack. Outside the warehouse, an overhead gantry crane loomed over a cluster of rusted gas turbine locomotives. Through the static, Shu Qin¡¯s voice continued: "Last night... many survivor convoys were attacked by some kind of unknown creatures... BZZT... the skies are filled with them... BZZT... any sound attracts them..." "Sound?" Chen Sixuan¡¯s face changed. She pointed toward the city streets in the distance. There, hovering above the buildings, was a massive, writhing black cloud. It moved. It wasn¡¯t a cloud. It was birds. "Holy sh*t." Luo Xingchen staggered out, rubbing his sleep-deprived eyes. "That¡¯s... way too many birds." "They look like a swarm of mosquitoes." Shasha scrunched her face, visibly disturbed. BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! The pecking grew relentless. Lin Xian immediately gestured for silence. He quickly scanned the area, spotting an old metal water tower near the station. His gaze shifted to KIKI, pointing at the cylindrical water tank on top. Then, he gestured for it to be pushed over. KIKI understood instantly. She focused her psychic power¡ª The metal frame groaned as bolts snapped, and the water tank began to tilt. CREEEAAAAK! The noise immediately drew the attention of the crows. With a sharp whoosh, countless crows abandoned the train, flocking toward the collapsing tower. KIKI gave one final push¡ªand sent the entire water tank tumbling down the slope. Chapter 161: Joining the New Team Boom¡ªDong, Dong, Dong! The water tank crashed to the ground like a giant metal drum, producing a deafening roar that instantly startled every corpse crow on the Infinite Train. In an instant, an overwhelming chorus of ear-piercing caws erupted. The swarm of black corpse crows, like a tidal wave, frantically surged toward the rolling metal tank. Meanwhile, the tank tumbled down the slope, its loud rumbling echoing through the air. At this moment, Lin Xian and the others suddenly realized that the entire platform''s roof and the passenger terminal above them were densely packed with these black corpse crows, blotting out the sky as they came swooping down. ¡°So... there were this many of them above us the whole time...¡± KIKI muttered, feeling a chill run down her spine. Lin Xian wasted no time and immediately started operating the train. ¡°Little girl, switch the track for me. We''re heading into the maintenance depot to rescue Shu Qin and the others.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Woooo¡ª The Infinite Train roared to life once more. Taking advantage of the distraction, it sped towards the maintenance warehouse while the endless swarm of corpse crows was fixated on the noise. Inside the warehouse, Shu Qin''s convoy spotted the approaching train and immediately rushed to push open the massive workshop doors, clearing a path for Infinite Train to enter. ¡°Hurry! Get inside, quick!¡± Shu Qin stood at the warehouse entrance, waving her hand frantically while speaking into her walkie-talkie. Clang! Clang! Bang... As soon as the Infinite Train made it inside, Shu Qin¡¯s men swiftly shut the sliding doors behind it. Boom! The heavy doors slammed shut, the sound echoing through the vast maintenance depot. ¡°You guys okay?¡± Seeing that the Infinite Train had safely arrived, Shu Qin finally breathed a sigh of relief. As the train doors opened, Lin Xian and the others stepped down, their flashlights sweeping over the scene. Shu Qin''s convoy was still intact¡ªall seven vehicles were there¡ªbut their exteriors were covered in black bloodstains and scattered corpse crow feathers. It was clear that they had barely survived an onslaught the previous night. Lin Xian glanced around the large train hoisting workshop¡ªits arched metal ceiling and full-metal structure seemed sturdy enough. Most of Shu Qin¡¯s thirty-some survivors were still huddled inside their vehicles, too exhausted or traumatized to move. ¡°What happened? Why are you hiding here?¡± Lin Xian asked. Shu Qin looked drained. ¡°It¡¯s a long story... Last night, we made it down from the High-Altitude Corridor and planned to stay outside the city, find a safe place to rest, and wait for you. But as soon as we left Jiazhou Spaceport, those monstrous birds attacked. It was chaos. Many convoys crashed in the panic, and most people didn¡¯t even have time to stop before they were forced to flee. ¡°These things are fast... I don¡¯t even know how many people managed to escape.¡± She pointed toward the distance. ¡°We only survived because we stumbled upon this place... and because the commotion from Silver Star and Dragon Mountain One drew most of the birds away. Otherwise, we¡¯d be dead.¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°So, they attack at night too?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t care if it¡¯s day or night.¡± A terrified young man from Shu Qin¡¯s convoy walked over, his face pale. ¡°They¡¯re everywhere up there. We saw people get eaten alive in seconds¡ªnothing left but bones. It¡¯s terrifying...¡± ¡°They eat people?¡± KIKI sucked in a sharp breath. ¡°No wonder we haven¡¯t seen a single zombie around¡ªthey¡¯ve all been devoured!¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably right.¡± Ding Junyi, wearing disposable gloves, carefully picked up a small, wriggling black worm from one of the convoy¡¯s shattered windshields using tweezers. She examined it with a calm expression. ¡°This thing... eats inorganic material, too.¡± She pointed at the barely visible scratch on the windshield. Originally, she had prepared a test tube, but after seeing that, she opted for a reinforced metal container instead. Sealing the black worm inside, she immediately took it back to the train for further analysis. ¡°That powerful?¡± Chen Sixuan was stunned. ¡°Wait... then those black worms on the corpse crows¡¯ faces¡ªwere they trying to devour our windows?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze fell on the bullet-riddled and scarred vehicles of Shu Qin¡¯s convoy. His expression darkened. ¡°But from the looks of it, these corpse crows rely on sound, not sight. If that¡¯s the case... we might have a way to handle them.¡± He turned toward KIKI. The girl¡¯s unique ability had already proven to be an invaluable asset¡ªsaving them from a lot of unnecessary trouble. ¡°So, what¡¯s our plan now?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Shu Qin suddenly turned around and gestured toward the far end of the maintenance depot. ¡°We found something here. Not sure if it¡¯s useful to you guys.¡± Lin Xian followed her gaze and saw two trains parked on the repair tracks¡ªone city passenger train and one freight train. Both had their locomotives lifted onto hoists for maintenance, but they didn¡¯t look too old. Whenever Lin Xian reached a major station, he always checked for usable train carriages or locomotives. Earlier, he had scanned the passenger terminal and sidetracks, but all he found were rusted-out oil tankers and decommissioned freight trains, overgrown with weeds, resembling a train graveyard. Most of those scrapped trains were useless. But here, Shu Qin had actually found some decent ones. The freight train wasn¡¯t the main focus¡ªthe city passenger train was the real gem. It still had a clean, white exterior, a five-carriage setup, and relatively modern amenities inside. ¡°Wow! The carriages look amazing!¡± Shasha exclaimed. ¡°This is a premium-class passenger train. High-end features, but...¡± Chen Sixuan turned to Lin Xian. Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re about to say it¡¯s too fragile, right?¡± Shu Qin¡¯s gaze flickered as she looked at him. ¡°Captain Lin, my convoy and I have talked it over... If possible, we¡¯d like to join your train.¡± Lin Xian saw the hopeful and expectant gazes directed at him from all directions. Some people stood outside, while others peeked from inside their vehicles. From the campfire at Qu Guan, to the battle at Mount Daluo, and the journey into Yubei City, Shu Qin¡¯s Bigfoot Convoy had been through hell. They were down to just a few vehicles and thirty-some people. If they hadn¡¯t formed an alliance with Xu Jin¡¯s convoy and followed Infinite Train into Jiazhou Spaceport, they wouldn¡¯t have made it this far. Xu Jin¡¯s convoy still had over a hundred survivors. Old Mo¡¯s group was a family alliance, so they weren¡¯t in as dire need of protection. But Shu Qin¡¯s convoy... they needed a stronghold. Lin Xian nodded without hesitation. ¡°I said before¡ªif we survive the journey across Dazhu Plateau, we¡¯ll merge into a single Fortress Train and survive together. I wasn¡¯t joking.¡± Hearing this, Chen Sixuan, KIKI, and the others visibly brightened, their eyes filled with excitement. ¡°For real?¡± Shu Qin stared at Lin Xian in shock before grinning with excitement. ¡°Thank you, Captain Lin!¡± ¡°Seriously?! That¡¯s awesome!¡± Shu Qin¡¯s convoy cheered in excitement. ¡°Thank you so much!¡± ¡°We have new comrades now!!¡± Hope flickered in Shu Qin¡¯s eyes. She turned to her people and declared, ¡°From today onward, the Bigfoot Convoy officially joins the Infinite Convoy. Every one of us, including myself, will follow Captain Lin¡¯s command!¡± ¡°YES!¡± ¡°No problem!¡± ¡°Captain Lin, we¡¯re all at your command!¡± Chapter 162: Black Chrysanthemum of Hell Lin Xian¡¯s gaze swept over Shu Qin¡¯s convoy. He was familiar with most of the people inside¡ªmany of them he had met before at the Qu Guan Bonfire Mutual Aid Gathering. But along the way, their numbers had dwindled significantly. Survivor convoys were usually formed by small groups of refugees banding together. At first, they weren¡¯t particularly close, but after facing life-and-death crises repeatedly, they naturally grew familiar with one another. In the face of such an existential threat, sticking together for survival was the only choice. However, when it came to personal life-or-death decisions, not everyone possessed the self-sacrificing spirit of the Iron Guard Battalion. Lin Xian pondered for a moment. Taking in so many people would undoubtedly increase the burden on the team¡¯s survival resources, but at the same time, it could also enhance their combat strength. The outcome would depend on both the leadership at the core of the team and whether the group could unite as one. He could see that Shu Qin, as the leader of her convoy, protected her people like a head of a large family. However, Infinite Train had faced countless dangers along the way¡ªhe couldn¡¯t possibly watch over every single person. ¡°I welcome everyone to join us, but there¡¯s something I need to make clear upfront,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°The train is a closed environment, unlike cars, which are more flexible. While it provides a greater sense of security, any issue that arises could cause a chain reaction of problems.¡± ¡°I know that each of your vehicles represents a household or a close-knit group of friends. But once you board Infinite Train, everyone becomes one unit. I won¡¯t tolerate cliques or people who refuse to consider others. If anyone like that exists, I will kick them off the train myself. Or you can take a moment now to think it through¡ªbecause once you get on board, many of your vehicles will have to be abandoned. There will be no turning back.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s words earned approving looks from Chen Sixuan and the others. Allowing new people onto the train was a decision Lin Xian could make. However, Infinite Train had survived this long because of the cooperation of every squad member. The more people there were, the more it would resemble a miniature society. The train was like a moving city¡ªif the teams lost their previous unity, it would be disastrous in the face of danger. Shu Qin nodded in agreement. She swept her gaze over the people behind her. ¡°Captain Lin is asking for your opinion. If you want to join, speak up for yourself.¡± She understood Lin Xian¡¯s reasoning. Joining a team meant entrusting one¡¯s life to the decisions of others. Since it was a matter of life and death, merging convoys wasn¡¯t a decision she could make alone¡ªthe final choice had to be in each person¡¯s hands. ¡°I agree! I want to follow Sister Shu Qin and join Infinite Train!¡± A lively young girl was the first to raise her hand. Lin Xian looked at her, and she quickly added, flustered, ¡°M-my name is Miao Lu, but everyone calls me Lulu. I¡¯m in charge of logistics and cooking for the convoy, and I know some basic medical care.¡± ¡°I agree too!¡± The short young man who had opened the door earlier also spoke up loudly. ¡°I¡¯m Lu? Chang. I don¡¯t have many skills, but I¡¯m fast and a good shot.¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°My name is He Fang.¡± ¡°Zou Yunyao!¡± ¡°Zhou Yixuan!¡± ¡°Our entire Zhong Jiahao family agrees!¡± ¡°Count me in!¡± One by one, the survivors voiced their agreement. Lin Xian listened carefully to each introduction, gradually getting a sense of their capabilities. Chen Sixuan glanced at Lin Xian, a hint of appreciation in her eyes. From the first time she had contacted him, she had seen his ruthless decisiveness. But after surviving so many crises along the way, she could tell that Lin Xian¡¯s philosophy on survival in the apocalypse was changing. At first, he was extremely cautious, unwilling to let just anyone on or off the train. But now, he was willing to take in a team of thirty people. That alone showed how much stronger his mentality had become. ¡°Lin Xian,¡± Chen Sixuan asked as she scanned their surroundings, ¡°what¡¯s the plan now?¡± ¡°We leave the city.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s decision was firm. ¡°Originally, I planned to resupply and upgrade the train in Jiazhou City, but given the current situation, we need to get out of here as soon as possible¡ªshake off these crows first.¡± Initially, he had been tempted to stay in Jiazhou, where the sun was shining brightly, to upgrade Infinite Train. Back at Yubei No. 1 Spaceport, he had scanned not only robots but also obtained several useful blueprint components. For instance, automated blast doors from the spaceport, the sentry monitoring system for the traction device, and the lifting base from the maintenance workshop. With these, he could convert an entire carriage into a weapons station, build an 1130 Close-In Weapon System, and even create an engineering robot for precise welding and ammunition chain maintenance. But all those plans had been thrown into chaos by the appearance of the massive flock of crows. Even behemoths like Silver Star and Dragon Mountain No. 1 hadn¡¯t dared to linger here¡ªwho knew how much worse the crows would become after nightfall? So Lin Xian decided to take the two trains Shu Qin had found in the maintenance workshop and get out of the city first. They could deal with upgrades later, once they were safe. ¡°We¡¯ll drive alongside you on the tracks!¡± Shu Qin said. Lin Xian nodded. For now, their only option was to leave Jiazhou City first. Infinite Train had only one carriage that could store vehicles, and the two additional trains they found¡ªone a passenger train and the other a freight train¡ªmeant they couldn¡¯t just abandon their transport and flee. ¡°Everyone, get ready! We leave in 30 minutes.¡± Lin Xian gave the order. ¡°Got it!¡± the crowd responded in unison. The tense atmosphere spread quickly. Lin Xian immediately began offloading the maintenance locomotive from the crane, attaching it to Infinite Train for future devouring and modifications. Once that was done, he returned to the train. At that moment, Director Ding called him over the communicator, summoning him to Carriage No. 3. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°There are two things we need to go over,¡± Ding Junyi replied without looking up, still peering through a microscope. ¡°This parasite exhibits a clear photophobic response, which aligns with the traits of nocturnal eerie entities¡ªit lacks a visual system.¡± ¡°If it detaches from its crow host and is exposed to sunlight, its activity rapidly diminishes.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that if these corpse crows attack at night, they¡¯ll be far more dangerous?¡± Lin Xian asked, realizing his suspicions were correct. ¡°Exactly. If these black threadworms use the crows as carriers to attack survivor convoys at night, they could detach onto vehicles and chew through them at an alarming rate¡ªconsuming both the vehicle and the people inside.¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°They can chew through anything?¡± ¡°Judging by the damage to the portholes, their devouring ability is quite strong. Our train¡¯s high-strength alloy should slow them down a bit, but if they attack in large numbers, they¡¯ll pose a serious threat.¡± ¡°This just keeps getting worse.¡± ¡°There¡¯s some good news, though,¡± Ding Junyi said calmly. ¡°Besides their inability to see or smell¡ªmeaning they rely on air vibrations to detect prey¡ªI discovered a second weakness.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Fire.¡± Ding Junyi turned to him. ¡°They fear both light and fire. I cut off a piece and ran a division test¡ªit contains a flammable substance. If ignited, it could cause an explosive reaction.¡± Lin Xian immediately understood. ¡°That¡¯s much better than relying on guns.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the second issue?¡± he asked. Ding Junyi raised a hand and pointed to a plant incubation chamber. Inside, Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum was glowing a deep red. ¡°I¡¯ve been monitoring the growth of Blood Scourge Flora No. 1, and it¡¯s undergone two changes in a short period.¡± ¡°One happened after we escaped Underground City No. 9.¡± ¡°The other... was last night.¡± Chapter 163: The Fire Is Not Big Enough ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze shifted to the eerie Blood Scourge Flora. He had never paid much attention to it before, but after Ding Junyi¡¯s reminder, he noticed¡ªthe flower did look... redder. ¡°It¡¯s not your imagination,¡± Ding Junyi seemed to have guessed what Lin Xian was about to say. She picked up her mobile terminal, pulled up a set of comparison data, and handed it to him. ¡°The red glow, the blooming of the stamens¡ªboth have changed significantly.¡± Lin Xian frowned as he studied the surveillance comparison on the screen. ¡°So, what does this mean? That the flower is blooming?¡± Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses. ¡°The No. 1 Blood Scourge Flora remained unchanged for 21 days after it was sent to the laboratory and then transported out of the underground city. The first change occurred the night we left Underground City No. 9. At first, I thought it was entering a growth stage¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t the case. Then, just last night, after we left Yubei Spaceport, its stamens expanded dramatically, and the red glow intensified by at least 50%.¡± Lin Xian was confused. ¡°And then?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Ding Junyi casually put her hands in her pockets. ¡°The No. 1 Blood Scourge Flora is a valuable asset on the train, so I had to inform you. If you¡¯re asking me for an analysis, I can only say there are many possible explanations.¡± ¡°For instance, as you suggested, this might be a sign of plant maturity¡ªwhich I¡¯m inclined to believe. However, both changes coincided with major events we experienced. The fluctuations in the red glow aren¡¯t continuous or predictable, so there are other possibilities as well. It could be related to environmental changes or even linked to eerie entities and dark energy.¡± Hearing this, Lin Xian nodded and glanced at the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t turn into a monster on the train, I guess I can accept it.¡± After speaking, he suddenly recalled something and immediately headed to Car No. 1. There, he retrieved a plastic bottle of water from a storage cabinet. Before entering Yubei City, he had Chen Sixuan use the water purifier to fill this bottle. His intention was to test whether the Eerie Cube could block the pollution from the Dark Invasion. But after entering Yubei City, one problem after another kept cropping up, and he had completely forgotten about it. Now, he opened the bottle and took out a water quality detector to check it. Beep. A green light flashed on the detector. Lin Xian¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°As expected!¡± His gaze locked onto the Eerie Cube mounted on the wall, eyes burning with excitement. ¡°It really can block the pollution of the Dark Invasion! This thing is a treasure. If that¡¯s the case, then no matter how many people are on the train, we shouldn¡¯t have to worry about anyone getting infected and going rogue from corruption.¡± Breathing a sigh of relief, Lin Xian checked the time and returned to the driver¡¯s cabin to prepare for departure. ¡°Everyone, listen up. These crows are afraid of fire. Don''t fire your guns, or you''ll attract more of them. Keep all windows shut and just follow the Infinite Train closely.¡± His voice echoed through the convoy¡¯s walkie-talkie channel. ¡°Understood!¡± Everyone responded in unison. ¡°Lu Xingchen, it¡¯s your time to shine.¡± The moment Lin Xian heard that the crows feared fire, the first person who came to mind was Lu Xingchen. Shu Qin¡¯s convoy didn¡¯t have any flamethrowers, and using bullets on these beasts was a complete waste¡ªnot to mention the gunfire might trigger a chain reaction. ¡°Afraid of fire? Keh keh keh... Fire is the ultimate nemesis of all demons and evil! It is my duty to purge these wretched creatures. Fear not¡ªI will take action.¡± Hearing his cocky voice over the walkie-talkie, KIKI and the others couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°This guy is way too full of himself.¡± In Car No. 5, Da Lou turned to look at Lu Xingchen with an exasperated expression after hearing what he said over the radio. At that moment, Lu Xingchen stood before a large mirror, constantly striking different dramatic poses. ¡°Divine: Crossfire!¡± He interlocked his fingers and made a cross shape, but then shook his head. ¡°No, no... not good enough.¡± Then, he shifted the cross to his left eye. ¡°Hmm... looks a bit creepy.¡± Next, he placed it over his chest¡ªbut still wasn¡¯t satisfied. ¡°Too sinister, not fitting for my style.¡± Finally, he flattened his hands and pointed forward in a cross-like gesture¡ªonly to burst out laughing at his reflection. ¡°Why does this keep looking more and more flamboyant?!¡± ¡°Next one, next one...¡± Da Lou: ¡°...¡± ¡ª Clang! The iron gate of the maintenance workshop slowly opened. Infinite Train pulled two other train cars along as it gradually rolled out, the rusted tracks letting out a sorrowful screech. Shu Qin¡¯s seven vehicles also revved up their engines, their passengers tense with apprehension as they steered onto the roadway. At the junction, they turned onto the tracks. The Huanxing Main Rail was built with a wide, hard metal track surface. Some sections allowed for direct electromagnetic acceleration and maglev travel, making the drive smooth and effortless. Caw¡ªCaw¡ª The trembling tracks immediately startled a massive flock of black corpse crows below the hillside. They erupted into the sky like dark dust, swarming toward the train in an overwhelming black tide. ¡°Everyone, speed up! Stay in formation and don¡¯t fall behind¡ªwe¡¯ll handle the crows!¡± Vroom¡ª! The Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive¡¯s engine roared to life, and the Whale Gas Turbine Engine began its mad acceleration! Meanwhile, Lin Xian had already stationed Lu Xingchen at the rear to cover the convoy. Thud! Thud! Thud! The corpse crows lunged at the Infinite Train''s front, their black feathers and shattered bodies scattering in all directions. Their ear-piercing screeches filled the air as they kamikazed into the train. From within the splattered remains, countless black worms wriggled free, latching onto the train¡¯s hull and windows, making everyone¡¯s skin crawl. ¡°KIKI!¡± Lin Xian had specifically called her to the front for this. ¡°Ew!¡± KIKI grimaced at the dense swarm of wriggling bugs. With a push of her hand, an invisible telekinetic shield swept them away. The next wave of crows slammed into the force field, unable to get any closer to the train. ¡°Good! Keep it up!¡± Lin Xian ordered. With Chen Sixuan and KIKI handling the front, Lin Xian rushed toward the rear. Whoosh! The corpse crows filled the sky like an avalanche, their bodies slamming against the train¡¯s sides and roof. Overhead, Shu Qin¡¯s convoy was completely engulfed in a storm of wings. ¡°Fire Fist!¡± Boom! A massive pillar of fire erupted from the train¡¯s rooftop, unleashing scorching flames. The crows caught in it burned like gunpowder, igniting in white-hot flames with sharp popping noises. Boom! Boom! Boom! A chain reaction of explosions spread through the sky, engulfing the crows in a sea of fire. ¡°AHHH!¡± Shu Qin¡¯s convoy members screamed as the intense heat pressed down on them. Clang! Clang! Clang! Several grappling hooks shot out from the train, precisely latching onto the vehicles'' tow bars. Lin Xian opened the empty carriage doors at the rear and hooked every vehicle onto the train¡¯s tow hooks. ¡°Not enough fire!¡± Lin Xian shouted at Lu Xingchen. ¡°Then let¡¯s burn the whole damn city down!¡± With a wild grin, Lu Xingchen leaped out of the train, stepping onto the tow chains Lin Xian had secured. He thrust his hands downward, spewing fire to propel himself into the sky! Suspended above, he looked down at the endless black tide of crows, his eyes sharp, lips curling into a smirk. He crossed his arms over his chest. ¡°Divine: Incinerating Heavens!¡± Boom! A fiery explosion erupted outward in all directions, sending waves of flames surging into the sky. Lin Xian frowned at the spectacle, muttering, ¡°This guy... might as well give up on wearing clothes in the future.¡± Chapter 164: Escape from Jiazhou A Sky Full of Corpse Crows Devouring Everything¡ªwhat might be an apocalyptic disaster for other convoys was nothing more than a battlefield of fire for Lu Xingchen, whose fire-based ability made this the perfect domain for him. Above, the black cloud of corpse crows erupted into flames, each one bursting into ashes and raining down like gray snow. Yet despite this, waves of crows continued to take off from the roadside, slamming into Shu Qin¡¯s jeeps and off-road military vehicles, causing blood and flesh to splatter everywhere. Clang! Clang! Clang! Seeing this, Lin Xian''s heart burned with urgency. He immediately forged layers of metal plates, shielding the vehicles from the onslaught. But some still managed to break through. Boom! Boom! Standing shirtless atop the train, Lu Xingchen continuously unleashed fire, incinerating the swarming crows to protect Shu Qin¡¯s convoy. "Divine: Fire Wall!" Looking at the barrier walls flanking the railway, Lu Xingchen unleashed a torrent of flames, igniting both sides to form a blazing firewall that shielded the convoy. Finally, as the train picked up speed, the corpse crows began to fall behind, their relentless impact diminishing sharply. When the Infinite Train finally left the outskirts of Jiazhou City, the ear-piercing screeches of the birds gradually faded into silence. At this point, Shu Qin¡¯s convoy had been forcefully dragged out of the flames and the swarm by Lin Xian using tow chains, but they were in complete disarray. The outer armor and windows of their vehicles were coated in thick layers of blood and black feathers, with various bird remains piled up like smeared tomato paste. The overwhelming stench of blood stung the passengers¡¯ eyes, making it impossible to keep them open. Had they not been tethered to the train, the entire convoy might have already flipped over and perished. Lin Xian surveyed the vehicles and noticed that large sections of paint and coating had been completely stripped away, revealing the bare silver metal beneath. The sight sent chills down his spine. ¡°These parasites... horrifying. Even in the darkness, creatures like this exist...¡± Thankfully, the black worms had been burned away. Without fire, even if they had escaped the corpse crows, they would have been forced to abandon their vehicles and flee on foot. ¡°Shu Qin, how¡¯s the situation?¡± Lin Xian picked up his walkie-talkie. ¡°We¡¯re okay for now,¡± Shu Qin responded, her grip tense on the wheel. Checking the rearview mirror, she confirmed that none of the vehicles had been lost, and finally exhaled in relief. However, Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, sensing something was off. He quickly released all the tow chains connecting the convoy. Vroom! Vroom! Just then, the last off-road vehicle suddenly lost control, veering straight into the railway¡¯s metal wall. Something had gone terribly wrong. Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened, and he accelerated the train immediately. At the same time, the Shu Qin convoy also noticed the anomaly and quickly hit the brakes. Everyone rushed toward the wrecked vehicle. Shu Qin flung open the door¡ªonly to be met with a scene of pure carnage. The entire interior was a blood-soaked mess. The three passengers who were supposed to be inside... were gone. ¡°Ah!!¡± Someone gasped, covering their mouth in horror. ¡°They... they were eaten by the crows!¡± ¡°Oh my god...¡± Lin Xian stepped forward. Shu Qin¡¯s eyes widened as she turned to him, her voice heavy with shock. ¡°...It¡¯s Zhong Jiahao¡¯s family.¡± ¡°The car¡¯s been chewed through,¡± Lin Xian observed grimly, taking a step back. ¡°There could still be black worms inside.¡± He turned to Lu Xingchen. ¡°Burn it.¡± Lu Xingchen let out a deep sigh, raised his hand, and unleashed a blazing inferno. Boom! In an instant, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The others watched in silence, their expressions a mix of grief and numbness. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze swept over the convoy¡ªmany people¡¯s faces were blank, as if they had already grown accustomed to death. Every battle for survival came with casualties. Their convoy had suffered so much loss and pain that people were no longer even shocked by it. Shu Qin¡¯s eyes flickered with sadness. But she quickly turned away, forcing herself to remain focused. ¡°We need to keep moving. We might not have completely shaken off those corpse crows yet.¡± Lin Xian glanced at her but said nothing. Instead, he restarted the train and climbed onto the roof. Pointing at Lu Xingchen, he gave another order. ¡°Fire God, disinfect the train. Burn off any remaining worms. But be careful not to start a fire.¡± This so-called "disinfection" was a necessary cleanup¡ªensuring that no black worms remained on the Infinite Train, preventing future threats. ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Lu Xingchen nodded. Meanwhile, Lin Xian ran back to the driver¡¯s cabin, where Chen Sixuan was monitoring the route. ¡°Lin Xian, about 100 kilometers ahead, there¡¯s a small station called Pukou. It¡¯s a Level-3 station, so mainline trains don¡¯t usually stop there. Should we pull over and check the vehicles?¡± She was clearly concerned about the black worms and felt a deep scan was necessary. ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°If we¡¯ve shaken off the crows, we¡¯ll use the daylight to do a full maintenance check. Shu Qin¡¯s group should stay inside the train for safety.¡± Feeling mentally drained, Lin Xian grabbed a water bottle and chugged it down, letting out a long sigh. The team had just expanded, and they had already lost people. It didn¡¯t sit well with him. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± Chen Sixuan studied him. ¡°You don¡¯t need to blame yourself. You did everything you could. I know that if you had more time, you¡¯d make this train safer and protect more people. ¡°They just joined us. We couldn¡¯t fit their vehicles onto the train. Look at Jiazhou City¡ªthere isn¡¯t a single living soul left. The fact that we escaped those corpse crows at all is already a miracle.¡± Lin Xian nodded, then stood up. ¡°Watch the road. I¡¯m going to check on things.¡± Inside Car No. 1, Lin Xian opened the R&D Center, placing Shasha¡¯s VoG Grenade Launcher into the upgrade system. [Select an upgrade path:] ???? [Firepower] (13 hours) ???? [Mobility] (12 hours) ¡°Firepower or mobility...¡± Lin Xian pondered. He ultimately chose firepower. [Upgrade in progress: VoG Grenade Launcher Blueprint ¨C 12:59:59 remaining.] A day¡¯s wait for a powerful weapon upgrade¡ªa solid trade. He had also acquired PX-05 Engineering Robot blueprints, G3 Land-Based Railgun blueprints, and a mechanical arm from Guo Er, but since his mechanical manufacturing skill wasn¡¯t high enough, those upgrades would have to wait. Right now, the priority was arming his squad for immediate survival. ¡°KIKI¡± floated over, curious. ¡°Lin Xian, didn¡¯t you scan the railgun at the spaceport? Why not install one on the train?¡± ¡°I will,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°Just... not yet.¡± KIKI grinned mischievously. ¡°You should build a robot! I¡¯ll program it to maintain the train for us¡ªthen you won¡¯t have to work so hard.¡± ¡°I do plan to.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°But it¡¯s complicated. I¡¯ll build one when I get the chance.¡± KIKI pouted. ¡°Then hurry up!¡± Lin Xian flicked her forehead. ¡°Idiot. Can¡¯t you see we¡¯re still running for our lives? First, we reinforce the train armor, then we build the fancy tech.¡± "Alright then, but I want to renovate my No. 2 carriage too!" KIKI huffed, floating beside Lin Xian with a determined look. Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°How do you want to modify it?¡± ¡°Beds, a bathroom, and that nuclear-powered locomotive¡¯s central control server¡ªwe need to move it over and set it up properly. The whole layout has to be redone.¡± Lin Xian considered her words, then nodded. ¡°Fair enough. If we have enough time, I plan to redesign the interior of the train as well.¡± KIKI¡¯s face lit up with excitement. ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re the best!¡± Just then, Lu Xingchen strode over, still shirtless, his bare upper body covered in soot and ash from all the flames he had unleashed earlier. ¡°Brother Lin, for my Car No. 5, I require three things: a dressing room, a tea brewing station, and a few well-fitted outfits. Do you think you could accommodate such minor requests?¡± Chapter 165: The Destroyed Convoy ¡°A dressing room?¡± KIKI raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°You¡¯re a grown man, what do you need a dressing room for?¡± ¡°Hah.¡± Lu Xingchen turned slightly, arms folded behind his back, and looked at her. ¡°You just don¡¯t understand. As a god, one must naturally maintain their demeanor.¡± With a dramatic flick of his bangs, he said confidently, ¡°Even in times of chaos, one must still conduct oneself with grace¡ªone must not falter.¡± ¡°Tch.¡± KIKI looked at him with disdain. ¡°And yet you keep setting your shirt on fire. Honestly, why even bother wearing one? You¡¯re just wasting clothes.¡± Lin Xian, standing nearby, found her words quite reasonable. ¡°Maybe we should get you a fully enclosed battle armor instead,¡± Lin Xian suggested. ¡°It¡¯ll not only boost your firepower but also keep you from running around half-naked¡ªprotecting you from stray bullets.¡± ¡°Brother Lin, brilliant idea!¡± Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes lit up as he turned eagerly toward him. ¡°It should be¡ªno, it must be¡ªcustom-made, perfectly tailored, without restricting my Flame God¡¯s power! Brother Lin, you¡¯re the Mechanical God¡ªsurely, this is a piece of cake for you?¡± Lin Xian glanced at him, hesitating for a moment before saying, ¡°Just wait.¡± A fully enclosed battle suit¡ªhe had indeed been planning something like that. Unlike combat mechs, fully enclosed battle armor was an exoskeletal suit designed for personal use¡ªsimilar to Iron Man¡¯s armor, whereas combat mechs were large-scale war machines built purely for destruction. His original plan had been to scan and modify the Iron Guard Battalion¡¯s exoskeleton combat armor, making necessary upgrades through the R&D Center. Once completed, he¡¯d use it himself first, allowing him to fully unleash his mechanical manufacturing combat talents. Right now, his Wind Cannon and Ice Wall were barely enough to hold the line. And when the time came, he could custom-make battle suits for everyone. Take KIKI, for example¡ªwhile her abilities were strong, they didn¡¯t enhance her physical durability. She was still just a delicate girl. The red mark on her forehead from when he lightly flicked her earlier still hadn¡¯t faded... Unfortunately, time was too tight at Yubei Spaceport, and he hadn¡¯t been able to scan any highly sophisticated exoskeletal armor. A bit of a regret, but he¡¯d have to find another opportunity. Infinite Train raced along the high-speed track, sunlight shining down from above, yet the intercom inside the train remained eerily silent. Shu Qin¡¯s convoy followed closely behind, not daring to let their guard down for even a second. After leaving Jiazhou City, the tracks entered a mountainous forest region, where multiple highways gradually ran parallel to the railway. Abandoned cars and wandering zombies soon began appearing in sight. Perhaps after facing the nightmarish corpse crow swarm in Jiazhou¡¯s Dead City, seeing zombies now didn¡¯t seem so terrifying. In fact, they almost felt... familiar. ¡°Zombies spotted. Looks like there aren¡¯t any corpse crows in the area.¡± In the control cabin, Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan sat on either side, keeping an eye on their surroundings. ¡°Lin Xian, do you have a planned destination?¡± Lin Xian gazed at the seemingly endless Orbital Rail, then shook his head. ¡°I always knew the world would eventually be swallowed by darkness, but seeing Phoenix¡¯s countdown made it feel real¡ªone year and 96 days... If the Iron Guard Battalion knew that the survivors they fought so hard to protect might not even last a year, I wonder what they¡¯d think.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how it is.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Chen Sixuan turned toward him, her voice gentle in the sunlight. ¡°When they chose to stay and fight, they weren¡¯t thinking about gains or losses. Even if it meant just letting us survive until tomorrow¡ªthat alone was a victory.¡± ¡°Because courage is never measured by distance. It transcends time. It transcends dimensions.¡± ¡°So why should it be ¡®one year and 96 days until humanity¡¯s extinction¡¯... and not ¡®one year and 96 days until humanity¡¯s counterattack¡¯?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression flickered slightly. Then, after a moment, he smiled. ¡°You¡¯re right. One year and 96 days isn¡¯t time for us to flee¡ªit¡¯s time for us to act.¡± Infinite Train emerged from the mountains, now over 100 kilometers away from Jiazhou City. ¡°Pukou Station should be nearby.¡± Chen Sixuan checked the navigation screen, but just as she looked up, her expression suddenly changed. ¡°Lin Xian, look ahead!¡± Lin Xian had been resting in the driver¡¯s seat, trying to recover some energy, but at Chen Sixuan¡¯s urgent tone, he immediately looked up. Up ahead, the main rail track led into a small station nestled in a valley. Beside it, on a wide highway, over thirty survivor vehicles were parked in perfect formation. But from a distance, something felt off. Many car doors were open, and the vehicles and windows were stained with blood¡ªyet there was no one inside. Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. He recognized those vehicles. They belonged to the survivor convoy that had escaped the corpse crow swarm with them at Yubei Spaceport. Sigh... As Infinite Train slowly pulled into the station, Shu Qin¡¯s convoy also drove up. Shu Qin stepped out of her vehicle, visibly shocked. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Fireline Convoy?¡± ¡°You know them?¡± Lin Xian and the others disembarked as well. ¡°Of course. We fought together at Yubei Spaceport, in Zone C.¡± The young man from Shu Qin¡¯s team, Lu? Chang, frowned and added, ¡°And it¡¯s not just Fireline Convoy...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check it out.¡± Lin Xian led the group forward, carefully inspecting the vehicles. Among them were two heavily modified trucks¡ªtheir equipment level was quite high. Wooooh¡ª A strong gust of wind howled through the valley, whistling as it passed through the open truck cabs, creating an eerie, hollow sound. Everyone remained on high alert, methodically searching each vehicle¡ªonly to find that not a single person was left behind. Shu Qin pulled out a karambit knife from her waist, scraping some dried blood from an SUV window and examining it closely. Her brows furrowed. ¡°They died last night. There are some signs of corpse crow feeding, but not enough to be the cause. This wasn¡¯t their doing.¡± ¡°That makes it even weirder.¡± KIKI walked over, scanning the scene. ¡°There were at least a hundred people here. How did they all vanish without resistance?¡± ¡°No reaction from any of them...¡± Lu Xingchen struck a detective pose, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Something eerie must have happened here.¡± Shasha clung to Chen Sixuan¡¯s arm, visibly spooked. ¡°Did they... run into some kind of terrifying monster?¡± Chen Sixuan remained silent, her gaze falling on Lin Xian. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lin Xian admitted. He turned to Shu Qin. ¡°Were there other convoys here?¡± Shu Qin nodded. ¡°Three convoys merged here, all of them from Yubei Spaceport. They escaped the corpse crow swarm too, but their losses weren¡¯t as severe as ours. Whatever happened, it wasn¡¯t the crows.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew somber. ¡°These vehicles are nearly untouched. Even if they suffered internal corruption or mutations, there should¡¯ve been signs of struggle¡ªpeople trying to escape. But no car has been moved.¡± ¡°Then it means... they camped here last night, but something happened.¡± At that moment, Lin Xian caught murmuring voices. Turning around, he spotted a group of Shu Qin¡¯s team members, including Zhou Yixuan, looking pale and unsettled. ¡°What are you whispering about?¡± Their faces were drained of color, their eyes filled with fear. ¡°Q-Qin... Qin Jie, isn¡¯t this just like that rumor...?¡± Shu Qin¡¯s face hardened instantly. ¡°Zhou Yixuan! Don¡¯t start talking nonsense!¡± Chapter 166: This is the Doomsday Train! ¡°What? What rumor?¡± KIKI asked in confusion after hearing their conversation. Shu Qin¡¯s expression was complicated. She glanced at KIKI, then at Lin Xian. ¡°They¡¯re talking about the rumor of the Predator Effect. You¡¯ve never heard of it?¡± ¡°Predator Effect?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡°Does it have anything to do with what¡¯s happening here?¡± Shu Qin¡¯s gaze darkened slightly. ¡°It¡¯s just some baseless rumors.¡± ¡°Rumors?!¡± Upon hearing that, Zhou Yixuan walked over, looking tense. ¡°Didn¡¯t we experience exactly that in Qu Guan when we teamed up with Old Xu and the others? That very night, we were hit by a corpse horde!¡± ¡°We already told you¡ªthat was the Black Crow Four¡¯s doing!¡± Shu Qin immediately retorted. ¡°But what about the Blood Fiends afterward? We lost four vehicles that night!¡± Zhou Yixuan¡¯s agitation grew. ¡°And Yubei City¡ªwhy were there so many zombies and monsters? A lot of people think it wasn¡¯t normal at all! There were too many survivors gathered there, and that triggered the Predator Effect. Now, all the way along our route, we haven¡¯t seen any other convoys except Fireline Convoy, and they¡¯re the ones who got attacked. They merged three convoys together, Shu Qin¡ªdoesn¡¯t that prove it?¡± Lin Xian instantly understood. In truth, he had already considered this theory himself, just as Zhou Yixuan had. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that the more people there are, the more eerie entities show up to hunt them? Is that the idea?¡± Chen Sixuan spoke up. Shu Qin nodded solemnly. ¡°That¡¯s right. There have been rumors circulating on survivor radio stations that the bigger a survivor group gets, the more eerie entities and monsters they encounter. But there¡¯s another explanation: if two prey being chased suddenly meet, what does that mean?¡± ¡°It means there are two hunters behind them,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°Exactly. Either way, it suggests that the larger the group, the greater the danger. Right now, a lot of survivors are banding together, but maybe that¡¯s exactly what these monsters want,¡± Zhou Yixuan said. ¡°They want to wipe us out in one fell swoop!¡± A girl in the group exclaimed fearfully. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. This theory did seem plausible. In fact, he leaned more toward the hunter explanation. The way the Red Dragonflies pursued them, the Pale Giant¡¯s chase, and even the Atmospheric Mica targeting the Iron Guard Brigade¡ªwhether it was mere coincidence or something more sinister, there was a pattern forming. ¡°I get it now.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that if you join up with us, it¡¯ll bring even more danger?¡± ¡°Captain Lin...¡± Shu Qin was about to speak, but Lin Xian raised a hand, signaling her to let him finish. Zhou Yixuan, who had been so worked up just moments ago, suddenly hesitated. His expression flickered with uncertainty. Back in the maintenance workshop, he hadn¡¯t been particularly eager to merge groups. Lin Xian had noticed that¡ªnot everyone in Shu Qin¡¯s team shared the same mindset. ¡°No, Captain Lin, that¡¯s not what I meant...¡± Zhou Yixuan¡¯s face paled. His voice trembled slightly. ¡°Everyone knows that following ability users or large convoys increases your chances of survival. It¡¯s true¡ªjust look at Silver Star, Dragon Mountain One, or even Phoenix. But for ordinary people like us, suddenly merging with a big group also means higher risks that don¡¯t match our strength. I¡¯m just... worried... that we¡¯ll become dead weight for Infinite Train.¡± As he spoke, the members of Shu Qin¡¯s convoy had complicated expressions. Their gazes shifted subtly. Lin Xian looked at Zhou Yixuan and immediately saw through his lie. He wasn¡¯t actually afraid of being dead weight¡ªhe was afraid of being cannon fodder for the ability users. And truthfully, his fear wasn¡¯t entirely irrational. If the Predator Effect was real, then merging a group of strong ability users and a massive convoy would inevitably attract bigger threats. And for ordinary survivors, that could mean disaster. But overanalyzing like this¡ªtrying to navigate survival with such a perfect risk-avoidance strategy¡ªwas an extreme way of thinking. Simply put, most normal people wouldn¡¯t think like Zhou Yixuan. Even if they did, they wouldn¡¯t say it aloud¡ªbecause in the end, it wouldn¡¯t change anything. Sticking together, following stronger people, and seeking safety was human instinct. Yet Zhou Yixuan¡¯s fear had overpowered his rationality. He had taken all the hardships they¡¯d faced so far and blamed them on Shu Qin merging with other convoys, disregarding the Predator Effect. As an ordinary person, he felt powerless to change anything, so he saw Shu Qin joining Infinite Train as a looming disaster¡ªone that would ultimately harm his people. And after witnessing the death of Zhong Jiahao¡¯s entire family, Zhou Yixuan¡¯s urge to flee had only intensified. Lin Xian glanced at him, then at the others. The air was thick with the scent of blood from the road. His voice was calm but carried weight. ¡°Whether the Predator Effect is real or not, unity has always been how humanity amplifies its influence. I respect your decision.¡± He turned to Shu Qin. ¡°There are plenty of usable vehicles here, including heavy trucks. It¡¯s still early¡ªif you leave now, you should reach Hengshan Pass before dark. Anyone who wants to join us is still welcome, but they have to be prepared to die, because the monsters ahead will only be more terrifying than the ones we¡¯ve faced before. If anyone has doubts or hesitations, take a vehicle and go your own way.¡± The moment he finished speaking, Zhou Yixuan¡¯s mind cleared slightly¡ªbut hesitation flickered across his face. Before him were fully equipped Fireline Convoy heavy trucks. If he stuck to his own logic, this was actually a great opportunity. Zhou Yixuan turned to Shu Qin. But she only gave him a calm, indifferent look. ¡°I respect your decision,¡± she said. ¡°...Thank you, Shu Qin.¡± Zhou Yixuan¡¯s expression was stiff, the atmosphere heavy. He said nothing more, simply returned to his vehicle and began packing his belongings. Three others followed suit. Together, the four of them took one heavy truck and one off-road vehicle. After a brief farewell, they drove away into the distance. Shu Qin¡¯s convoy was left in a somber silence. Lin Xian watched them go and sighed inwardly. When he first built his team, he had already prepared for people to leave at any time¡ªwhether for survival or personal gain. The same applied to Chen Sixuan, KIKI, Da Lou, and the others. No matter how foolish a person¡¯s reasons might seem, everyone made their own choices. In this ruined apocalypse, talking about human nature was naive. Ordinary or not, survival was the only priority. Lin Xian turned to Shu Qin, his expression serious. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow you.¡± Shu Qin¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me, I¡¯ll take my people and leave right now.¡± At those words, Shasha gripped Chen Sixuan¡¯s sleeve anxiously. The entire Infinite Train squad sensed the tension in the air. Meanwhile, the remaining members of Shu Qin¡¯s convoy stared at Lin Xian, eyes filled with silent desperation. No matter their individual reasons, those who chose to stay wanted to board Infinite Train. Lin Xian swept his gaze over them, his expression sharp. ¡°Whether the Predator Effect is real or not, perhaps tonight we¡¯ll end up just like Fireline Convoy¡ªcompletely wiped out. If you¡¯re getting on my train, be ready for that. The union of survivors is inevitable. If unity isn¡¯t enough to survive, then we¡¯ve failed the Spaceport Security Regiment and Iron Guard Brigade for the sacrifices they made.¡± ¡°So open your eyes and look clearly¡ª¡± Lin Xian suddenly turned, pointing at the black armored train behind him. ¡°This isn¡¯t some safe passenger train. This is... the Doomsday Train.¡± Chapter 167: Target "If you choose to board, then all the vehicles here will be devoured and recycled by me. In other words, there''s no turning back." Lin Xian¡¯s words abruptly cut through everyone¡¯s thoughts. Whether they were weighing the pros and cons, contemplating the Predator Effect, shaken by the Fireline Convoy¡¯s tragic fate, or worrying about being abandoned or used as cannon fodder... At that moment, all eyes turned toward him. Behind Lin Xian stood the massive, black-armored train. Its heavy armor plating was still stained with dried flesh, and the mechanical wheels bore dark brown blood splatters. Dense bullet holes, gashes left by the Pale Giant and the Giant Dragonfly¡¯s razor-sharp mandibles, and deep dents from the Atmospheric Mica¡¯s tendrils¡ªall bore witness to the train¡¯s harrowing battles as it charged through the darkness. "That¡¯s right! Cowards have no place on the Infinite Train!" A young voice broke the silence. Shasha lifted her face, her expression proud. The crowd visibly reacted, their faces shifting in response. Miao Lu saw Shasha and immediately stepped forward, unwilling to be outdone. "We¡¯re not cowards!" Lu? Chang, his face flushed with excitement, echoed, "That¡¯s right, Captain Lin! We¡¯re with you!" "Captain Lin, just say the word! We¡¯ll start moving all the supplies from these dozens of vehicles onto the Infinite Train right now!" "Sister Qin trusts you, so there¡¯s no doubt in my mind." "Yeah, exactly!" "Please let us join you! We won¡¯t run away like cowards!" The somber atmosphere was shattered. Lin Xian turned to Shu Qin and said in a clear voice, "Count the numbers. We depart tonight." Shu Qin nodded, looking at Lin Xian with gratitude. For a team full of ability users, accepting them into the group seemed to be more trouble than benefit. Though she had a few capable fighters, and she herself had some combat ability, the majority of her people lacked strong fighting skills. Aside from logistical support, they couldn¡¯t contribute much¡ªfor now. But Lin Xian¡¯s words lit a fire in everyone¡¯s hearts. Their spirits surged with excitement. "Lin Xian." Chen Sixuan surveyed the crowd, noticing their rising morale, and asked, "So what¡¯s our next step?" Lin Xian nodded. With all eyes on him, he began to explain. "Right now, survivors around the world have three basic choices: "First, follow the Phoenix Organization¡¯s star abyss reports and escape the Polar Night. Along the way, survivors either gather into larger groups or get picked up by the rescue points scattered by the Phoenix Organization. But no matter the route, the ultimate goal remains the same¡ªescaping with the Dawn Center toward safer, more expansive regions." "Second, head for large shelters or major cities to form resistance forces, like Star City." "People are still going to Star City?" KIKI scoffed. "Aren¡¯t they afraid of being enslaved by the Federation?" "They are," Shu Qin interjected. "Many survivors have no real direction. Star City is the capital of Dragon Nation, so when Apocalypse Day struck, most people instinctively fled there, believing in its formidable city defenses. The Phoenix Organization¡¯s guidance only provides a broad escape direction. For many displaced people, the idea of a stable refuge is irresistible. Even if it means hiding in the sewers, they¡¯ll still rush in without hesitation." Lin Xian nodded. Shu Qin wasn¡¯t wrong. After Apocalypse Day, information became scarce. Many survivors didn¡¯t even have access to the Dark Radio, and fleeing toward big cities or shelters was simply an instinctive drive for safety. Take Underground City No. 9, for example. It was a rumored doomsday shelter, never officially listed online, yet it still drew tens of thousands of refugee convoys toward Mount Daluo. Lin Xian recalled the sight¡ªmiles of vehicles buried under a blizzard, a scene still hauntingly vivid in his mind. "What about the third option?" KIKI asked. "The third is what Director Ding mentioned before¡ªthe Polar Ice Cap." Lin Xian took a deep breath. "Since most people believe it¡¯s the last safe haven, there are definitely those who made it their target from the beginning. However, right now, it''s locked in a Polar Night. In four months, whether they¡¯ve been lying low or wandering aimlessly, they¡¯ll all make a desperate rush there." Lu Xingchen nodded. "That makes sense. So, are we heading to the Polar Ice Cap too?" Lin Xian shook his head. Lu Xingchen frowned slightly. "Then are we following the Phoenix Organization¡¯s guidance?" "Didn¡¯t I already tell you guys? We¡¯re following the Orbital Rail and heading east," KIKI said, giving Lu Xingchen a glare. "Right, Lin Xian?" Lin Xian smiled but didn¡¯t respond. "Wait... not that either?" KIKI¡¯s expression tensed. "You¡¯re not thinking of going to Star City, are you?" "You¡¯re overthinking it," Lin Xian sighed. Then, looking at the group, he said firmly, "Before we reached Yubei City, my plan was to enter the Orbital Rail and escape eastward. But now... my thoughts have changed." Chen Sixuan looked at him. "We¡¯re not taking the Orbital Rail anymore?" "No." Lin Xian¡¯s voice was steady. "When I say my thoughts have changed, I don¡¯t mean our route or our method of travel. The destination isn¡¯t the issue..." The group looked at him, confused. Lin Xian scanned their faces and continued in a calm tone, "We¡¯ve been to Underground City No. 9, a doomsday fortress worth trillions, yet its underground tunnels harbored even greater horrors¡ªcreatures that devoured 360,000 people in a single night. "In the skies, the Iron Guard Brigade¡¯s powerful Warhawk Gunships and Lightning Aerospace Fighters couldn¡¯t even prevent the collapse of the sky city Qingluan... "And in Yubei City, the more people fled, the more monsters appeared. "It¡¯s as if the entire world has turned into a massive hunting ground, with predators lurking in the darkness, preying on us humans." He paused, his eyes sharp. "I once told my team that I¡¯d use my Mechanical Ability to make the train fly. That goal hasn¡¯t changed. And I also said that if we can¡¯t escape the darkness, then we should start preparing for the worst." "In that sense, our goal aligns with the Phoenix Organization¡¯s." "And that is¡ªto gain the power to defeat the darkness while chasing the dawn." Lin Xian¡¯s words struck a chord in everyone¡¯s hearts. Since Apocalypse Day, all of humanity had been desperately fleeing, clinging to the hope of seeing the next sunrise. But the Phoenix Organization¡¯s doomsday broadcast had already revealed the truth¡ªin one year and 96 days, the Blue Planet will enter a global night that will last over 571 years. If the world was doomed to destruction, then running away was nothing more than prolonging the inevitable. Fleeing with such despair was just slow suicide. This was also why the Old Federation Government had insisted on the Underground City Project¡ªbecause a war with no foreseeable victory could only be endured by those with unwavering faith and willpower. After what happened at Yubei Spaceport, Lin Xian felt an unbearable weight pressing down on him. "If the Iron Guard Brigade¡¯s sacrifice only allows 20,000 people to barely survive for a year and 96 days, then their deaths were meaningless. "Those soldiers died believing that the survivors would one day defeat the darkness." Lin Xian looked at Shu Qin. "Shu Qin, you never thought you¡¯d be fighting monsters barehanded and becoming this strong, did you?" Shu Qin was momentarily stunned before nodding. "And the rest of you..." Lin Xian looked at them all. "Whether you have abilities or not, every single day we survive, we¡¯re evolving. All around the world, others like us are resisting. "That is our chance." "So our goal is no longer just to run. "We will grow stronger along the way, until we can finally face the darkness. "And when that day comes¡ªwill the Polar Night still be an apocalypse?" Everyone''s eyes widened in realization. KIKI crossed her arms, smirking. "If we can survive in the darkness, then it doesn¡¯t really matter if the whole world is swallowed by it." Chen Sixuan nodded. "One year and 96 days suddenly doesn¡¯t sound so terrifying." Lu Xingchen¡¯s palm ignited with flames. "Then let my fire light up the endless night!" Shu Qin exhaled, her exhaustion lifting. "This goal... feels way more motivating than just running for our lives." "So, Captain Lin¡ªwhat¡¯s our next step?" Lin Xian gazed at the empty platform, at the two trains they had brought from Jiazhou City, and at the thirty-some vehicles parked along the highway. The sun blazed overhead, the breeze whispering through the air. "In a place this nice? "Of course¡ªwe prep the train!" Chapter 168: Train Upgrade Plan 1 "Oh yeah!" KIKI cheered excitedly, "We''re finally upgrading the train!" Even though Shu Qin¡¯s group knew Lin Xian had a mechanical ability, they were still a bit dumbfounded when they heard him mention upgrading the train. Lin Xian¡¯s mind stirred slightly. Then, with a lift of his right hand, a glow appeared in his palm. Several materials flew out, converging, shaping, forging, and assembling¡ª Clang! A Howler K23 Electric Gatling Gun materialized out of thin air! Boom! The massive gun landed heavily on the ground in front of Da Lou. "Da Lou, here''s your new toy." Seeing this incredible scene, everyone in Shu Qin¡¯s convoy was stunned. A Gatling gun of this caliber was a game-changer for any convoy, something only mid-to-large-scale groups could typically afford. Yet Lin Xian had just summoned one with a wave of his hand! It completely shocked them all. "Whoa!" Sha Sha and Lu Xingchen were dumbfounded, eyes wide in disbelief. Da Lou, stunned as well, bent down and picked up the weapon. It was heavy. The six-barreled muzzle exuded a devastating presence. Coupled with Da Lou¡¯s towering, iron-tower-like physique, he now looked like an unstoppable war god. "Bro! This is insane!" "Heh." Da Lou licked his lips, clutching the massive weapon with delight. He turned to Lin Xian and said, "Thanks, Brother Xian!" "What are you thanking me for?" Lin Xian gestured toward the Infinite Train and said, "Now that we have time, let''s properly upgrade our fortress train. We need to equip it with weapons where needed and remodel the carriages where necessary. With so many people aboard, we have to make sure our living conditions are top-notch." "Hell yeah!" KIKI''s face lit up with excitement. "My Carriage No. 2 needs an upgrade too!" "Captain Lin." Shu Qin''s expression was full of anticipation. "Just say the word, and we''ll follow your lead." Lin Xian nodded. "Gather everything useful from these vehicles, including your own supplies. Have Ms. Chen take inventory of everything." "Got it, I¡¯ll handle it right away!" Lin Xian then turned to Lu Xingchen. "Fire God, take a few good hands and set up some sentries at the best vantage points. If you spot zombies or any other threats, take them out immediately." "No problem." Lu Xingchen grinned smugly. "Leave it to me." "Da Lou, Sha Sha, you two handle all the weapons and ammunition." Lin Xian pointed to an open area. "Organize our firepower over there." "Got it, Brother Xian!" "YES!" Sha Sha was pumped up. "Everyone else, help me clear out those passenger carriages. KIKI, Ms. Chen, let''s rework the train''s layout." "Understood." KIKI and Chen Sixuan responded in unison. Lin Xian looked at the Infinite Train. Now that he had manpower, time, and a proper workspace, he wasn''t going to waste this golden opportunity. At his command, the entire group sprang into action. His plan was to first build the combat carriages, reinforce the carriage doors, install elevating platforms, and equip the train with an external electric blade defense system, a sentry system, and 1130 CIWS (Close-In Weapon System). Inside Carriage No. 2, Lin Xian, KIKI, and Chen Sixuan were huddled around a computer, studying the train¡¯s layout. "The Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive stays as the lead engine, and the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive remains the rear engine. Those won¡¯t change," KIKI pointed at a rough 3D model of the train on the screen. "But we do have two major issues to address." She tapped the screen. "First, we need to link the nuclear locomotive¡¯s control system to my station. That way, I can monitor the entire train¡¯s operations. We''ll also integrate the sentry and radar systems with the train¡¯s water, air, heating, electricity, and communication systems. Once that¡¯s done¡ª ta-da! Infinite Train will be a smart train!" "And the second issue?" "Firepower, obviously!" KIKI smirked, pointing to the last carriage. "With five additional carriages, we¡¯ll have twelve in total. In a crisis, we can¡¯t afford to run back and forth with just walkie-talkies. Plus, the nuclear locomotive must be well protected. That¡¯s why I think Carriage No. 12 should be converted into a weapons station. The 1130 CIWS you¡¯re planning should go there." Lin Xian nodded. KIKI''s idea aligned perfectly with his own. "That was my plan too. If we keep adding people, our nuclear-powered carriage should remain sealed unless necessary. Converting Carriage No. 12 into a defense carriage will help protect the power system." "Should we add extra defenses, like Dragon Mountain No. 1?" Chen Sixuan suggested. "I observed its layout last night¡ªtheir firepower and anti-air defenses are evenly distributed along the entire train, covering all angles." "Hmm, good point. Let''s do that." Lin Xian agreed. "Carriage No. 5 will be our flexible defense unit, with a retractable Gatling gun on the roof and an access point for defenders. Da Lou and Lu Xingchen can hold the midsection." "Wait, what?" KIKI¡¯s eyes widened. "I thought you were making another 1130 CIWS?" Lin Xian gave her a deadpan look. "You think I''m some kind of walking arms factory? Even making one of those might burn through all the repair bay¡¯s materials. And you want two?" KIKI stuck out her tongue, sneaking a glance at him. "You¡¯re really that low on stock?" Lin Xian: "..." Why did that sound so weird? "By the way." KIKI pointed to the train¡¯s roof. "Didn''t you promise to weaponize Carriage No. 2 as well?" "I was planning to." Lin Xian nodded. "I¡¯m going to install a G3 Electromagnetic Rail Cannon and a bulletproof gunnery bay on the front section." "Whoa, seriously?!" KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up, and she almost jumped out of her chair¡ªuntil her face suddenly changed. She narrowed her eyes at Lin Xian. "Wait... there¡¯s a ¡®but,¡¯ isn¡¯t there?" Lin Xian grinned. "But..." "As always, I can only set up the bulletproof gunnery bay for now. The rail cannon will have to wait¡ªit requires rare materials, and I don''t have enough high-grade resources yet." Even with the Manufacturing Center, high-tier materials were still a major bottleneck. Low-grade materials could be converted, but the process was inefficient and slow. It would take a while to gather everything needed for the electromagnetic rail cannon. "Also," Lin Xian shrugged, "mounting the rail cannon on Carriage No. 2 will eat into your living space. This thing is massive, and for safety reasons, it¡¯ll need a built-in retractable platform along with a high-energy capacitor module. That¡¯ll take up a lot of room." "So what?" KIKI leaned back in her chair, completely unfazed. "Sha Sha and I just sleep in a bunk bed. This carriage is mostly empty anyway. Each car is nearly 30 meters long¡ªwe don¡¯t need all that space." She shot Lin Xian a playful glare. "Not everyone is like you two, always ¡®tinkering¡¯ with stuff." Chen Sixuan wasn¡¯t expecting KIKI to blurt out something so random and immediately turned red. "What are you even saying?! We¡¯re talking about serious matters here..." Lin Xian chuckled helplessly. "Alright then, I¡¯ll install everything in Carriage No. 2¡ªserver hub, drone control, sentry system, and nuclear locomotive monitoring. Happy now?" Chapter 169: Train Upgrade Plan 2 "Hehe, that''s more like it." KIKI seemed to really enjoy the feeling of controlling the situation. With a playful smile, she continued, "So, what about the remaining carriages? How do you plan to arrange them?" Lin Xian looked down the train corridor. "Here''s what I was thinking: Carriages 1 and 2 stay as they are. I''ve promised Director Ding that the 3rd carriage will remain as the research carriage, so no change there. The 4th carriage will be slightly modified to become the planting carriage. For the 5th carriage, which will be where Da Lou and Lu Xingchen stay, I''ll equip it as a defense carriage with both light and heavy firepower. I''ll store some weapons there and install an automatic explosion-proof door for easy access by armed personnel." "Then, for the 11th carriage, it will be used for storing tools and miscellaneous items. Our armored vehicle and two high-spec vehicles from Shu Qin¡¯s group can stay there. I''ll design a large lifting gate to make unloading the vehicles easier. Sometimes, we''ll need these cars and motorcycles for exploration." Lin Xian turned his gaze toward Chen Sixuan. "The remaining carriages will mainly be for living purposes. Teacher Chen, do you have any suggestions?" Upon hearing this, Chen Sixuan''s expression brightened slightly. Feeling appreciated, she happily responded without hesitation, "Carriages 6 through 10 can be used as living carriages. My suggestion is to transform the 6th carriage into a dining carriage and the 7th into a storage carriage for supplies. Shu Qin has a few women who are good at cooking, so they can handle the logistics. With so many of us now, we can arrange to supply food for the whole train. We can centralize the food and supply management in the 6th dining carriage and 7th storage carriage, which will allow us to keep track of our food supplies and avoid hygiene issues." "As for the 8th, 9th, and 10th carriages, we can directly transform the sleeper carriages from the passenger train. Each of these has 12 rooms, each large enough for four people. Given our current number, it will be enough for everyone to have their own room." Chen Sixuan continued, "Also, about shifts. Although you mentioned setting up a sentry system, I still think we need to arrange for people to be on watch every day. There are too many dangers in the dark that we can''t predict, and sometimes, humans are more sensitive than machines." Both Lin Xian and KIKI looked at her in surprise. "Wow, Chen½ã½ã, you''re so thoughtful!" KIKI exclaimed. Lin Xian nodded in agreement, "Right, I support this arrangement as well. Each carriage has its own door system, and with the information calling system inside the carriages, it will be easier to coordinate. Plus, with a dining carriage, we won¡¯t have to go searching for places to eat, and it will make food management easier." "There''s one more thing," Chen Sixuan said as she turned to Lin Xian. "Director Ding, you haven¡¯t made arrangements for her yet, are you just going to have her stay in the lab?" "I''ll ask her later," Lin Xian thought for a moment before responding. "By the way," KIKI said, "I have a suggestion. Shooting holes. We have a lot of people and guns now, but we can''t design shooting chambers for every carriage, can we? So, for the living carriages at the back, we can design some closeable shooting holes for defense. Speaking of which, Teacher Chen, you can even use a sniper rifle now, so the 1st carriage should definitely have one." Upon hearing this, Chen Sixuan hurriedly waved her hand, "Carriage 2 has a bulletproof shooting chamber on the roof, I''ll use that one. It''s more convenient, and I''m not yet particularly... skilled with it, so you don''t need to set one up for me." "Not skilled?" KIKI exclaimed, "Chen½ã½ã, you turned that ability user into a phone holder, and you''re not skilled?" Phone holder... Lin Xian was stunned for half a second, then quickly realized, "Ah, that image does come to mind." After some discussion, Lin Xian confirmed the preliminary upgrade and modification plan for the train. While there were still many issues to address, nothing could be done all at once. The work of modifying the twelve carriages was no easy task, but fortunately, they had enough manpower, time, and tools, making it a good fit for the renovation work. The final plan was as follows: aside from the locomotive and the tail power unit, the 1st carriage would become Lin Xian¡¯s living quarters. The current space was quite empty, so he decided to fully renovate it. He gave up on the original carriage and planned to use a new luxury cabin for the transformation. This cabin would feature an enclosed first-class living area with good privacy, a bright and clean large bathroom for the girls to use, and ample storage space for important supplies. The 2nd carriage, which had already been turned into an information center, would remain unchanged. The unoccupied space could be put to good use for other setups. KIKI and Shasha¡¯s beds would be transformed into more enclosed cabins similar to those for the crew. The roof would also need to be reinforced with bulletproof material, and space would be reserved for an electromagnetic railgun. This was the most complex carriage to modify. The 3rd and 4th carriages were originally Kor-3 type biological research carriages, and Lin Xian just needed to manufacture a series of plant cultivation chambers or hydroponic support frames for the 4th carriage. At the same time, the water purification system and the air circulation system would be integrated here, making it the second most complicated carriage to modify. The 5th carriage would be modified for automatic explosion-proof doors and an elevation platform for firepower, allowing Da Lou to focus on fire support. There would also be gun racks to store the convoy''s weapons. The 6th and 7th carriages, which were to be converted into a dining carriage and a storage carriage, would be easier for Lin Xian. He had already acquired plenty of kitchen equipment, and Shu Qin¡¯s old convoy had some as well. Lin Xian would only need to build some simple dining tables, chairs, and food storage cabinets. He also had blueprints for the Bing¡¯er TG-56 commercial freezers obtained in Jiang City, which would allow them to store perishable foods. For the 8th, 9th, and 10th carriages, Lin Xian would use the sleeper carriages from the passenger train with minimal modifications, adding armor to the outside. Shu Qin¡¯s group could stay here, and there would still be plenty of room, so it wouldn''t feel cramped. The 11th carriage, which had originally been Lin Xian¡¯s 5th tool carriage, would now store tools, motorcycles, and three modified armored vehicles. With an automatic door and a large lifting side panel, people and vehicles could be easily loaded and unloaded. Finally, for the 12th carriage, Lin Xian planned to install the 1130 CIWS (Close-In Weapon System). While he didn''t have all the materials yet, they had two intercity train locomotives and carriages from Jiazhou, plus more than 30 vehicles parked outside. After they devoured these, and with some modifications at the preparation center, he¡¯d have enough to complete the weapon system. If this big weapon could be finished, the Infinite Train would be much safer when encountering zombie hordes or C-level and B-level eerie entities during the night. Additionally, the survivor convoy''s equipment was still being gathered by Shu Qin¡¯s group, but it should be yielding significant results soon. Beyond these, Lin Xian also planned to install explosion-proof surveillance and an active phased array radar on the front of the train to form a sentry system for 24-hour monitoring of the train''s exterior. He would also integrate the GK03 electric blade module into the train¡¯s design, adding it near the wing armor to provide strong protection against zombies and any bandits attempting to climb the train. With these enhancements, the train''s external armor, sentry system, external electric blade devices, along with the internal defensive system like the mechanical cube and soul wave detector, the Infinite Train¡¯s defenses and safety would reach a whole new level. Chapter 170: Full Staff Monitoring With a clear plan in mind, Lin Xian arrived at the 3rd Research Carriage, intending to arrange Ding Junyi''s accommodation, only to find her still deeply engrossed in studying the black nematodes taken from the corpse crows. "I don¡¯t like being disturbed while I¡¯m working," Ding Junyi stopped her work and turned to look at Lin Xian. "But you¡¯re the exception." Lin Xian was slightly surprised. "That¡¯s unexpected." "You¡¯re both my employer and the partner I¡¯ve chosen to work with, so I should show you respect and regard," she said. Lin Xian smiled as he walked over to her. "I¡¯m not your employer since I won¡¯t be paying you, and I don¡¯t think of the people who¡¯ve survived with me as ¡®partners¡¯..." "This world is already full of dangers and challenges. Since I¡¯ve agreed to join your train, you don¡¯t have to assess our communication from a partnership perspective. Relax, I have no expectations of your research results. If you insist on setting contribution conditions for yourself, just grow those seeds for me," she added. Lin Xian¡¯s mindset had indeed shifted over time. When he first formulated the Infinite Train Project, he wanted everyone to contribute to the train¡¯s mission as much as possible. Back then, he was nervous and cautious. But now, he no longer wanted to evaluate people solely based on their contributions. For survival, everyone shone in their own way, within their abilities. Having these people around gave him the sense of team support. This unity was the source of strength that kept them all holding onto their beliefs through the endless night. Ding Junyi noticed the change in his expression and broke the silence. "Thank you. Your attitude has made me feel much better." "But I¡¯m a scientist, not a gardener. Aside from the planting carriages you want, my research into dark creatures will not stop. It¡¯s my way of realizing my self-worth and something I... wish to work on," she added. "Alright," Lin Xian understood and fully supported her stance. He had just recently set up a radio for Ding Junyi to listen to the Apocalypse Radio, which could provide useful scientific information for the team. Her research would certainly provide valuable analysis for them. "By the way," Lin Xian suddenly remembered something important. "I¡¯ve been rearranging the carriages but haven¡¯t figured out where to arrange for you to stay." "No need to arrange anything," Ding Junyi pointed to a nearby partition. "The disinfection room has a lot of space. I¡¯ve already tidied it up. I can rest on the nap bed during breaks, and it can also serve as my personal rest area." Lin Xian glanced at the partition. There was space for a single bed, but it was indeed a bit cramped. Ding Junyi saw the look on his face and immediately said, "It¡¯s just a place to sleep. I have two entire carriages dedicated to my work area, which are the largest spaces in the whole train, so it¡¯s not cramped for me. Of course, if you plan on sharing the bed with me, it would be cramped and not soundproof." Cough. Lin Xian cleared his throat and changed the topic. "We¡¯ve passed the high-altitude corridor, and now we have some time for maintenance. If there¡¯s anything you need for upgrading the train, feel free to ask." "Actually, there is something," Ding Junyi walked over to a computer and opened a panel. "Now that we have more members, there are more samples to study. I¡¯d like to conduct an ability evolution data test on all the personnel for research into dark powers." "Test? What kind of test are you referring to?" Lin Xian asked. "Body testing," she replied. "People like Shu Qin and Chen Sixuan, who don¡¯t have abilities, have already shown signs of evolution. They¡¯ve gained improvements, but with different bodily mechanisms. Other people are also experiencing changes in different aspects. I believe the Phoenix Club is observing this pattern as well. If this trend becomes clearer, ordinary people without abilities may also find ways to enhance their survivability." "Do you think everyone will evolve?" Lin Xian asked. "Yes, it''s just that the process differs for individuals. That¡¯s why we need a broad data sample, including the type of evolution, the rate of growth, the triggers for evolution, and individual differences. If we can regularly survey everyone on the train, and combine it with the data released by the Phoenix Club, I may be able to give the whole team an ''Evolution Plan.''" Evolution Plan. When Ding Junyi spoke those words, Lin Xian felt a jolt in his heart. He immediately asked, "What about the evolution of ability users? The Phoenix Club doesn¡¯t seem to have a clear plan either. The group of black crows we encountered earlier were hunting other ability users, and I met a mutant who said that killing eerie entities or ability users could lead to evolution, but the problem is..." "It¡¯s not precise," Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses. "In the early days of the Angel Project, an experiment revealed that when eerie entities or ability users were killed, there was an energy overflow. This energy shares similarities with Soul Wave values and can be absorbed by experimental subjects, leading to some enhancement. However, after studying the Eerie Blood Crystals, we found that the energy released from the killing is far less potent than the energy density contained within the Eerie Blood Crystals. So, if someone wants to evolve their abilities, whether they are ordinary people or ability users, the most direct method is to consume the Eerie Blood Crystals." Lin Xian frowned. "It¡¯s that simple?" In theory, yes. But consuming the Eerie Blood Crystals is extremely dangerous. The first human eerie entity in the Angel Project¡¯s lab was a result of a subject consuming the Eerie Blood Crystal, which caused an evolution mutation." "Corruption?" "Yes," Ding Junyi confirmed. "You can think of the Dark Tides as an energy invasion from a higher-dimensional world, and eerie entities are the native creatures of this world. Most humans cannot withstand this kind of energy intrusion, which causes them to be corrupted into zombies. The rest of us survivors represent those who are gradually adapting to this invasive power. But there is still too much we don¡¯t understand about this dark force. Why do some people develop abilities? Why do some evolve faster than others? We don¡¯t have definitive answers. So, in the absence of understanding the principles, trying to forcibly evolve by consuming blood crystals is a reckless act." Lin Xian fell silent for a moment. He remembered the time when Kiki went through the corruption process. He had made Kiki consume the Eerie Blood Crystals, which was indeed rash, but at that time, they had no other option. "So evolution isn¡¯t just about gaining the power of this dark invasion. It also depends on certain conditions, or... triggers?" Ding Junyi nodded. "Yes, but one widely recognized factor is mental willpower. That¡¯s why many ability users feel they have a greater chance of evolving when they are near death. People tend to unleash extraordinary mental willpower when facing death, what we call the survival instinct. For example, Lou Hua¡¯s evolution was extremely dangerous, but Chen Sixuan¡¯s evolution follows a more typical path of mental development for an ordinary person. This is a crucial factor." Lin Xian sighed deeply. "So in this environment, if the willpower collapses, or if someone consumes the blood crystal and exceeds the body¡¯s limit in withstanding the dark force, they are likely to go through a mistaken evolution and become zombies or human eerie entities?" "This has already been confirmed," Ding Junyi replied. "That¡¯s why I think regular testing for all personnel is necessary. It will help with research and also allow us to monitor the condition of the people on the train. This way, we can prevent anyone from succumbing to corruption and causing a Lotus Ring infection." "Alright." Lin Xian nodded. He then looked toward the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, the red light still glowing brightly. "What about this one?" Ding Junyi turned to the black flower in the cultivation tank behind her. She said faintly, "We¡¯re still observing the reaction of the red light. There¡¯s no clear pattern yet. What I said before was just my personal guess." "Could you remove the flower and do some research on it?" Lin Xian asked. "This plant isn¡¯t native to our world. Based on our previous analysis, it contains energy far exceeding the density of the Eerie Blood Crystals. But we can¡¯t conduct concrete experiments on it right now because it¡¯s the only sample in our lab. The higher-ups have ordered us not to physically damage it, so we haven¡¯t extracted any samples for experimentation." "I understand." Lin Xian smiled and pointed at the flower. "Aside from not being able to conduct human experiments, feel free to experiment as much as you want." Having a treasure and not studying it would be a waste. Lin Xian didn¡¯t care if it was the only sample; if it didn¡¯t provide value, it was just useless plant matter. Ding Junyi raised her eyebrows, giving him an appreciative look. "I was just thinking of doing that. Thank you for the authorization." Chapter 171: Transformation Begins After communicating with Ding Junyi, Lin Xian gradually developed a vague understanding of the Black Night. Under the influence of this force, the surviving humans, like Chen Sixuan, were undergoing unknown evolutions every day. This was thanks to Chen¡¯s increasingly strong heart and faith, which allowed a weak woman to persevere until now. Lin Xian also briefly communicated with Chen Sixuan and Da Lou. From what he gathered, Da Lou¡¯s evolution was similar to KIKI¡¯s¡ªbelonging to the phase of ability users. It seemed that Da Lou had reached the "Evolution Level" as described in the former Angel Project, allowing him to develop his abilities at a basic level. Even so, Da Lou was already incredibly strong in terms of both strength and recovery, as seen by normal standards. As for Chen Sixuan, she was subtly changing, primarily in terms of her sensory abilities. After many nights of vigil, she had become incredibly sensitive to even the slightest noise and observations in the Black Night. This was something Lin Xian never expected. With the research analysis by Ding Junyi, along with the changes in Da Lou and Chen Sixuan, and the addition of the strong-willed Shu Qin, Lin Xian felt his confidence had greatly increased. Upon disembarking from the train, Lin Xian immediately began inspecting the progress of the train¡¯s modifications. Although it was daylight, due to the need to dismantle the carriages and the fact that they were in the wild, Lin Xian took extra precautions for safety. He instructed Lu Xingchen and several other convoy members to patrol the area. Even Shasha, the young girl, actively joined the rounds. With Chen Sixuan and KIKI''s assistance, the Infinite Train began to detach each carriage. This train overhaul was unlike anything before¡ªthis was a massive project from the inside out. Fortunately, with Shu Qin¡¯s convoy now onboard, the manpower had significantly increased. The men and women alike were all energized, working in an organized fashion under the direction of Lin Xian, Chen Sixuan, and others. Lin Xian had the contents of his first carriage removed completely, clearing it out entirely. He planned to convert it into a defense carriage and repurpose the comfortable and fully equipped passenger carriages into a dining car (No. 6) and living carriages (No. 8, 9, and 10). One of the first-class compartments would be reworked into his own modified No. 1 carriage. His first task was to begin modifying the carriage structure: Carriage No. 2, No. 5, No. 11, and No. 12 all needed openings made for the later construction of lifts, weapon mounts, automatic blast doors, and lift platforms. Next, he planned to mass-produce the roof armor, side armor, and wing shields to reinforce the entire train, transforming it into an impenetrable steel fortress! He had no shortage of materials and had even set up a simple gantry crane on the platform. After producing the armor plates, Da Lou and his team would use the crane to assemble, weld, and install bolts, saving Lin Xian a lot of time. Meanwhile, Shu Qin led the team to unload the supplies from over thirty survivor vehicles. Lin Xian took a quick look and found that there was quite a lot¡ªvarious firearms, ammunition, food, and equipment, as well as a heavy truck fully loaded with living supplies. Once these supplies were cleared, Lin Xian planned to use the vehicles for mechanical devouring, upgrading his Mechanical Heart while acquiring more materials. The advanced materials needed for the 1130 Close-In Weapon System and PX-5 Engineering Robots were not easy to come by. These were high-level items that Lin Xian had never constructed before, unlike simple door panels that could be made on a whim. At this point, Lin Xian felt like a creator, fabricating thick armor plates out of thin air. They radiated warmth as they were hoisted away by the crane. The next steps involved the automatic blast doors for Carriages No. 5 and No. 11. Lin Xian used the blueprint for blast doors from the internal security areas of the spaceport. These doors would not only offer formidable protection, but they also allowed easy access for passengers¡ªfar more effective than relying on the tailboard and cockpit door. Following that, the lift platforms for Carriages No. 2 and No. 5 would be built, primarily for mounting the machine gun fort on the roof. However, Da Lou used a mobile Gatling gun, and Chen Sixuan opted for a sniper rifle, so there was no need to build a separate gun turret. Lin Xian¡¯s idea was to create a flexible personnel entrance. Once the platform was raised, a bulletproof hatch would emerge to ensure airtightness. If external fire was required, the hatch could be opened from inside. For Carriage No. 2, Lin Xian reserved a large space for the later installation of the G3 Electromagnetic Railgun. Like the 1130, it was not small and would need to be built as a retractable system, which posed considerable difficulty. Additionally, Lin Xian accepted KIKI¡¯s suggestion to add hidden shooting holes to the sides of other carriages, making it possible to fully seal off the interior. These were all external modifications to the train. On the other side, Chen Sixuan and KIKI led the team to empty out the interior of the train, preparing to catalog all supplies and reorganize the carriages according to the newly determined layout. The living quarters required the construction of bed frames, dining tables, chairs, storage cabinets, freezers, as well as the installation of bathrooms, water circulation systems, and heating systems¡ªtasks that Lin Xian would take care of with mechanical manufacturing. To the onlookers, Lin Xian appeared to be a godlike figure. The components that were once complex and needed industrial setups were now easily handled by him. For example, the previously makeshift living arrangements for Shu Qin¡¯s team, where they had to make do with scrap materials and ropes, were now being replaced with polished, factory-like installations. Even the space capsule-style living cabins in Carriage No. 2, which KIKI wanted, were simple mechanical structures to Lin Xian. With materials and a blueprint, he could complete it in minutes. The most important part was that everything could be directly fixed to the train, giving it a professional and pristine look, with none of the shabbiness that had previously plagued them. The new survivors in the living carriages were now thrilled, adjusting to their new homes with excitement. "Wow, living here feels so secure." "We actually have our own rooms now..." "I can¡¯t believe it, Lin Xian is amazing." "I absolutely love this train." As the new survivors eagerly worked to set up their new homes, everyone, regardless of gender, worked together in perfect harmony, contributing to the effort. Chapter 172: External Armor Electric Blade Device Carriage No. 7 ¨C Inventory Check Inside the storage room of Carriage No. 7, Chen Sixuan led her team in moving and counting all the survival supplies. "172, 173... Xiao Li, put all the biscuits in C1 Zone," Chen Sixuan instructed while keeping track of the numbers. "Got it, Captain Chen." Captain Chen? Hearing this, Chen Sixuan pressed her lips together slightly, a hint of joy flashing in her heart. However, she maintained a serious expression and continued, "Put all the jerky into the freezer. Make sure it goes into the right section." As she observed the different train carriages working in full swing, she made her way to Carriage No. 4, where she found Lin Xian. "We''ve gathered quite a lot¡ªfood is in good supply, plus we found plenty of medical supplies and some weapons..." Lin Xian, who was in the middle of assembling hydroponic racks and plant cultivation chambers for Carriage No. 4, nodded as he listened. "Food and medicine are key. As for weapons, just collect whatever we can for now. By the way, did you find any Eerie Blood Crystals?" With Lin Xian¡¯s mechanical manufacturing abilities, he didn¡¯t particularly need weapons unless they were of exceptionally high grade. However, Eerie Blood Crystals were a different matter¡ªthey were crucial. At this moment, Shu Qin approached, holding a modified radio in her hands. "This is strange. Even the Eerie Blood Crystals on the Dark Radio are missing, but the rest of the supplies are untouched." Lin Xian''s expression darkened. "That means some kind of creature must have devoured both the people and the crystals." The fact that people and blood crystals were missing, yet the critical survival resources and the vehicles remained, sent a chill down his spine. Even if it had been Eerie Entities or a Zombie Horde, there should have been signs of a struggle¡ªat least some traces of resistance. Shu Qin nodded. "We arrived in Jiazhou a few hours earlier than you. The Black Night here seems... different from Yubei." "Different? How?" Chen Sixuan asked. "It might be related to the three Abyss Zones," Lin Xian speculated. "Even though staying further from the Abyss Tides gives us longer daylight hours, when night falls, we¡¯re affected by the influence of Abyss Zones No. 3, 5, and 7. Things could get... complicated." Carriage No. 7 ¨C A Tea Enthusiast Amidst Chaos At that moment, Lu Xingchen ran onto the train. He had just been on lookout duty, but seeing how busy everyone was assembling the train, he hurried over to Lin Xian. "Brother Lin!" "Speak." "Remember that tea maker I mentioned earlier? Make sure to get me one! The water on this train is top-quality¡ªI bet brewing tea with it would be divine!" Lin Xian gave him a sidelong glance, genuinely impressed by his ability to focus on tea in the middle of an apocalypse. Still, he didn¡¯t object. Instead, he chuckled. "Once we¡¯re done setting up, I¡¯ll build you a dedicated tea station." "A true kindred spirit!" Lu Xingchen''s eyes lit up, flashing a dramatic "You get me!" expression. He raised a finger and declared, "With Brother Lin taking care of me, I, Lu Xingchen, shall protect humanity for all eternity!" ...Protect humanity for all eternity? Lin Xian almost choked. There were barely thirty people on the train, and this guy was already making grand declarations about saving the human race. Still, Lin Xian decided not to say anything. If nothing else, Lu Xingchen¡¯s enthusiasm was a good thing. With the train¡¯s firepower now upgraded, plus KIKI, Da Lou, and Lu Xingchen¡ªthree Evolution-Level Ability Users¡ªtheir security had improved significantly. The Birth of the PX-05 Engineering Robot [Manufacturing Factory: Material Conversion Complete] Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up as he checked his manufacturing system. Wasting no time, he headed to an empty carriage to test out a new creation¡ª The PX-05 Engineering Robot! This robot specialized in precise welding and assembly work, something Lin Xian had longed for back at the Spaceport. It would drastically boost efficiency and handle complex train maintenance tasks. "Alright, let¡¯s do this..." Lin Xian took a deep breath. Light flashed as various high-precision materials hovered mid-air, piece by piece assembling before his eyes. But this time, the process was slow. The materials kept shifting, and beads of sweat formed on Lin Xian¡¯s forehead¡ª Yet, the robot¡¯s core processor wasn¡¯t even taking shape. "Seriously?! This thing is that complex?" With a sharp gaze, Lin Xian halted the manufacturing. Ting¡ª A small black fragment dropped to the floor with a crisp sound. He wiped his forehead, picked it up, and realized¡ª It was just a tiny, unfinished piece of a microchip. "Damn... looks like my Mechanical Manufacturing Level isn¡¯t high enough." [Mechanical Manufacturing: Level 2 (420/500)] After crafting so many train components, his Mechanical Manufacturing Skill had jumped from 260 to 420, nearing Level 3. "Guess I need to level it up first. I¡¯ll try again tonight." His concern was justified¡ªhe had underestimated the complexity of crafting an advanced robot. Even though it was just an engineering model, its intelligence and built-in thruster system made it far from a simple assembly project. "That means even with the right materials, the difficulty of creation is still a huge factor. The 1130 CIWS will probably take even longer." Letting out a deep breath, Lin Xian stepped out of the carriage. Final Preparations Before Nightfall Wooooong¡ª The black Infinite Train was being disassembled and reinforced. Overhead cranes lifted new defensive armor panels onto the train as upgrades continued non-stop. "Alright, let¡¯s finish up the heavy work first, then tackle the precision systems." Armored carriages, living quarters, storage compartments, food distribution¡ªthese were the essentials. Securing them was the top priority so that if things went south, they could escape immediately. Defensive upgrades always took priority. Their train¡¯s armor had saved them countless times before, allowing them to survive total annihilation scenarios and escape to safety. With an entire daylight cycle at their disposal, the train crew found the situation oddly unsettling. Work continued from morning to late afternoon, and thanks to a team of dozens, the "Infinite Train" was finally taking shape¡ª 12 carriages and two power locomotives fully installed. The black armor plating now covered the entire train, and the dual-layer blast-proof doors gave it an impressive, high-tech appearance. Inside: Chen Sixuan and a group of women arranged food and kitchenware in the dining car. KIKI and Shasha were busy decorating their personal space in Carriage No. 2. The train¡¯s nuclear-powered server was relocated there, and Lin Xian even built Shasha a weapons assembly bench. Da Lou, Shu Qin, and others installed pipes for the water tanks, filtration system, and heating system. In Carriage No. 4, Lin Xian recruited Zou Yunyao and other educated survivors to assist Ding Junyi with setting up the hydroponics system. Finally¡ª Ding! Lin Xian finished installing infrared night-vision surveillance units on the train roof. Paired with the Electro-Optical Targeting System and Active Phased Array Radar, their external monitoring was now top-notch. "Alright..." Lin Xian groaned, stretching his stiff muscles. Time was running short¡ªhe needed to finish all external defenses before nightfall. "Only one thing left... the Outer Armor Electric Blade System!" Chapter 173: Carriage Renovation Completed The outer armor electric blade device was Lin Xian''s own idea. There were no blueprints; he purely relied on the principle of the GK03 electric knife. With the electrical power provided by the nuclear-powered locomotive, he was able to implement this simple high-voltage blade device directly onto the train¡¯s armor. When he re-equipped the entire train''s armor, Lin Xian had already left a metal groove embedded with ceramic between the steel plate¡¯s flaps and side panels. Now, he just needed to insert the body armor blade and connect the discharge modules. It seemed simple, but Lin Xian thought the effect and power shouldn¡¯t be far off. After all, the electric knife could cut through the defense skin of evolved human eerie entities like Tang Hai. Even if an eerie entity charged at them, it would at least strip off a layer of skin if not kill them outright. Szzzz! The silver electric blade, ten centimeters wide and several meters long, was built piece by piece by Lin Xian. After inserting and fixing them with the help of a few assistants, it took more than an hour, leaving Lin Xian sweating profusely. The automatic door opened, and KIKI excitedly walked out. Seeing Lin Xian still busy, she couldn¡¯t help but say, "Wow, hard at work, big shot." "I¡¯m the only one resting in the high-altitude corridor. Since you guys haven¡¯t slept, of course, I¡¯m more energetic than you all." Lin Xian finished installing and said to KIKI. KIKI glanced at the long blade Lin Xian had installed, nodding in delight. "Is this the electric blade you mentioned yesterday? You really did make it." Lin Xian reminded her, "Just test the retracting and extending, don¡¯t power it on." "Got it~" KIKI returned to the 2nd carriage, operating the system. A subtle sound of an electric motor hummed, and a circle of silver blades slowly extended from the side wing of the "Infinite Train," glinting coldly and sending a chill down one¡¯s spine. Lin Xian watched the result, quite pleased. "Not bad. Although it¡¯s simple, cold weapons might work wonders in the right moment." ¡¾Congratulations! Mechanical Manufacturing has been upgraded to level 3.¡¿ A notification popped up, and Lin Xian sighed in relief. He checked the time, and it was already 4:00 PM. Looking up, he saw that the thirty vehicles of the Fireline Convoy were neatly parked on the side of the road, with all the supplies already cleared out by Shu Qin and her team. "Let¡¯s deal with these cars first." If trouble arose after dark, these thirty vehicles would be wasted if they couldn¡¯t be moved. The train lacked the flatbed freight cars it previously had, and bringing these cars along would be pointless. It was better to disassemble them for materials. Lin Xian took a bottle of water, drank a few mouthfuls, and immediately started devouring the cars. Except for one heavy truck that was driven off, there was still one left. Lin Xian walked over and began devouring it, starting with the largest heavy truck. ¡¾Devouring Progress: 1%¡¿ The notification appeared, and Lin Xian calculated the time. He estimated that it would take just under 20 minutes to finish devouring this heavy truck. His Mechanical Devouring had reached level 3 back in Yu Chi, and though he only devoured his Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive along the way from Daluo Mountain¡¯s No. 9 Underground City to Yubei, his devouring level hadn¡¯t made significant progress. ¡¾Devouring Successful. Mechanical Source Points +20, Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +10, Extra Reward: Strength +2¡¿ ¡¾Disassembly: Obtained High-Manganese Steel x10, Hot-Rolled Forged Steel x10, Cold-Rolled Dual-Phase Steel Plate x5, Ordinary Carbon Steel x20, Non-Metallic Foam Material, Non-Metallic Composite Materials...¡¿ "Whew~" "A modified heavy truck only adds 20 Mechanical Source Points. Seems similar to the dump trucks from before. Apart from the engine, there aren''t any advanced mechanical structures." Without hesitation, Lin Xian devoured all the remaining cars except for two well-maintained armored off-road vehicles. Each vehicle took around five minutes, with some taking even less time. By the time the sun was setting, the thirty vehicles had all been devoured. The highway was now empty, save for the bloodstains and tire tracks. Lin Xian opened his Mechanical Heart panel. ¡¾Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.3 (565/5000)¡¿ Strength Level: 3¡¾30%¡¿ (Burst 300 kg) Speed Level: 2¡¾40%¡¿ (Max 13 m/s) Defense Level: 2¡¾26%¡¿ (Iron Bones) ¡¾Mechanical Awakening¡¿: Mechanic ¡¾Awakening Skills¡¿: Research Center, Manufacturing Plant Mechanical Devouring: 3 (466/1000) ¨C Increases devouring efficiency Mechanical Manufacturing: 3 (10/1000) ¨C Increases construction efficiency Mechanical Passives: Scan/Repair/Disassemble ¡¾Special Skills¡¿ Wind Cannon (Normal) (Level 3, Max Level) Ice Shield (Normal) (Level 2, 09%) Backlash (Rare) (Level 1, 30%) Power Surge (Rare) (Level 1, 23%) ¡¾Reminder: VoG Grenade Launcher blueprint is being upgraded, ETA 3:15:34¡¿ The devouring of the cars had added 320 Mechanical Source Points. The proficiency of Mechanical Devouring increased by 160, with Strength, Speed, and Defense accumulating 20, 15, and 18 points respectively. What surprised Lin Xian was that despite all this devouring, he hadn¡¯t gained a single skill. "Now that I think about it, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever gained any new skills from devouring cars?" Lin Xian furrowed his brow as he looked at the panel. "The Wind Cannon is already at max level, and my options are growing fewer. Looks like I need to find a way to speed up progress on mechanical combat." By now, the external assembly work of the train was mostly complete. More people meant faster progress, and his mechanical ability was highly efficient for the modifications. Currently, the armor plates, sentinel surveillance, and electric blade armor had all been installed. The automatic explosion-proof doors for Carriage No. 11 and Carriage No. 5 were finished, as well as the lift platforms on the roofs of Carriage No. 5 and Carriage No. 2. The water and oxygen circulation pipelines were still being worked on, and many of the convoy members were busy organizing their little homes in the living carriages. Besides this, the only unfinished tasks were the machine gun towers on the train roof, the 1130 Close-In Weapon System on Carriage No. 12, the PX-05 robots, and the two intercity train heads and material carriages at the back of the Infinite Train. However, Lin Xian planned to finish these inside the train for safety reasons. Beep beep, the watch¡¯s alert sounded. Lin Xian took a deep breath, wiped the sweat from his face, and immediately called everyone back on board. The night was coming! The heavy hatch doors of the cockpit, as well as the automatic explosion-proof doors of Carriages No. 5 and No. 11, slowly closed. The people on board were busy, everyone preparing for the impending darkness. "Thank you for your hard work." Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan saw Lin Xian walk in and immediately said, "This should be our first night entering the Yunjiang Plains, right?" Lin Xian nodded as he started the train. "The daylight lasts a bit longer here. I just hope we won¡¯t run into too much trouble tonight." "Do you plan to reach Hengshan Pass tonight?" she asked. "Yes. It¡¯s a large transfer station with many branch lines. We don¡¯t need to reroute. If the situation clears up, we can rest there. The weapons station isn¡¯t built yet, and I¡¯m still a bit worried," Lin Xian replied, glancing at Chen Sixuan. "Transfer stations like that should have a lot of trains, supplies, and mechanical resources. Now that we have manpower, we need to gather everything we can. There won¡¯t be much food available in the wild." Chen Sixuan nodded. As the train began to speed up, she spoke up again. "What do you think about the group hunting effect that Zhou Yixuan mentioned in Bai Tian?" "There¡¯s a possibility. Actually, I had a similar guess before," Lin Xian sighed and took a seat in the cockpit. He stared ahead, watching the vast sky gradually darken. "Before we entered Daluo Mountain, I didn¡¯t think much of it. I just thought the eerie entities showing up at night was too sudden, as if the night itself was a form of overlapping space. Once night fell, they suddenly appeared. Perhaps they exist in a higher dimension, and during Bai Tian, they could see us, but we couldn¡¯t see them..." Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts drifted to the time when he unexpectedly encountered the corrupted demon on the 1542 frequency, and that idea hadn¡¯t left him ever since. These eerie entities didn¡¯t seem like they came from a specific nest. If we were to call it a nest, perhaps the Abyss involved in the Dark Tides is the real nest. Chen Sixuan, surprised by his thoughts, furrowed her brow. "If that¡¯s true, then it¡¯s terrifying." "It¡¯s possible that the attacks from the eerie entities were just triggered by the large crowd gathering in Yubei City, or maybe these eerie entities were the hunters chasing after the survivor convoys. But after entering the black night of Yubei City, they all came out," Lin Xian shrugged. "After we entered Yubei Spaceport, I thought I was mistaken. After all, when night fell, so many survivors gathered, but the eerie entities didn¡¯t appear directly at the spaceport. But now, hearing about the group hunting effect, I¡¯m starting to think this could explain things." "If that¡¯s the case..." Chen Sixuan took a deep breath, her gaze shifting to the time on the train¡¯s screen. It was only a few minutes before the sun would set. She then glanced toward the long corridor behind them and said, "We¡¯ve expanded our team. That means more danger..." "And it will soon escalate," Lin Xian replied, his voice low. The train continued to roll forward, the darkening sky casting an ominous glow. Chapter 174: Triple Tide The massive black train, hundreds of meters long, began to accelerate under the setting sun. 18:40 The tracks stretched into the old forest valley, and the skyline seemed to sink into a sea of black. Chen Sixuan looked at the travel guide and said, ¡°It¡¯s almost nightfall. I don¡¯t know why, but ever since we left Jiazhou City, I¡¯ve had this eerie cold feeling.¡± Lin Xian glanced at the distant horizon, his expression subtly changing. He had felt the same way, but hearing Chen Sixuan voice her concerns made him uneasy. Clank. The train¡¯s speed suddenly slowed, as though something had been run over. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan were jolted forward by inertia, both frowning. ¡°What was that?¡± Chen Sixuan furrowed her brows, shaking her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything.¡± Lin Xian felt something was off. The tracks were clear, no zombies or obstructions in sight, yet something had caused the train to slow. ¡°Anyone feel something¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xian asked cautiously, picking up his communicator to contact the key personnel across the carriages. ¡°I feel a bit cold,¡± Shasha replied first. ¡°Did we just hit something?¡± came KIKI¡¯s voice. ¡°I feel uneasy too,¡± Shu Qin¡¯s voice followed from Carriage No. 10. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m overthinking, but every time I¡¯ve had this feeling, trouble followed.¡± In Carriage No. 5, Lu Xingchen was fixing his hair when he glanced at Da Lou. ¡°Is Lin Xian calling us?¡± Da Lou raised his hand and pointed to the communicator. ¡°Lin Xian said something feels off. Did you notice anything?¡± Lu Xingchen frowned and raised his palm, a flame sparking in his hand. Suddenly, the flame flared up, trembling violently before quickly settling down. Flare after flare! He ignited both hands, and the car was bathed in a red glow. He suddenly scowled, a rare gravity appearing on his face. ¡°This cold... it¡¯s not just the temperature. There¡¯s something sinister at play.¡± In Carriage No. 2, KIKI sat in front of the control panel, brow furrowed, analyzing the train¡¯s parameters and scanning the sentinel systems. Yet, she found nothing. ¡°Lin Xian, nothing¡¯s showing up, but I feel something¡¯s wrong. Should we stop and check?¡± she asked, holding her communicator. Clank. The train¡¯s speed slowed again, this time with a heavier, more sluggish feeling. Lin Xian, upon hearing the feedback, narrowed his eyes. He had an idea and quickly returned to Carriage No. 1, where he activated the device mounted on the train¡ªan anomalous cube. [Ding! Using non-mechanical force for reflection detection.] [Detection successful. No fear risks detected. Dimensional dark force invasion has been blocked.] ¡°No sign of anything inside... Could it be that I¡¯m overreacting?¡± His heart skipped a beat as he grabbed the Soul Wave Detector, pressing the button. The eerie blood crystal began to emit a faint red energy pulse, quickly retracting, causing the detector¡¯s needle to twitch. -100 -200 -300 -500 -1000!!! Looking at the rapidly descending negative Soul Wave values, Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. -1000 wasn¡¯t the actual data¡ªit was the limit of his simple Soul Wave Detector¡¯s range. Lin Xian¡¯s face grew grim as he picked up the communicator, his voice low and steady. ¡°Everyone, be alert. The Soul Wave Detector is picking up dangerously high levels of dark force. Something anomalous might be targeting us.¡± At those words, tension spread through the carriages. Lin Xian walked to Carriage No. 2, where KIKI, still furrowing her brows, reported, ¡°Nothing. I haven¡¯t found anything here.¡± ¡°Is it those crows in the sky?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Lin Xian...¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Just as Lin Xian was about to visit the other carriages, KIKI called out. She looked at him and said, ¡°It¡¯s almost nightfall.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression shifted, and without a word, he turned and ran back to the cockpit. ¡°Chen, are there any bridges or tunnels ahead? We might need to speed up and push through.¡± Chen Sixuan replied directly, ¡°There are plenty. This area is still mountainous. The plains only begin after Hengshan Pass. If we head into the forest, we¡¯ll encounter swamps and wetlands.¡± Beep. Beep. The second alert from his wristwatch went off. 18:45 ¡°It¡¯s getting dark!¡± Lin Xian looked ahead. The sunset hadn¡¯t yet set, but the skyline already shimmered with eerie light. But in the next moment, his face changed dramatically. Chen Sixuan shouted in surprise, ¡°Lin Xian, look! Three beams of light are coming at us!¡± Lin Xian saw it too. Every time night fell, the dark tide¡¯s glowing aura would streak across the horizon like a curtain, plunging the world into darkness. This time, however, there were three beams coming from different directions, rippling through the sky like waves across water. ¡°That¡¯s... a tidal wave coming from three Abyss zones!¡± Before Lin Xian could finish, the world was suddenly engulfed in blackness. Clank. The train encountered another drag, and in an instant, all the windows of the Infinite Train, including the sentinel system¡¯s monitors, went completely black. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± KIKI jumped up from her seat and rushed to the window, lifting the blackout panel. She looked out, but the window seemed to be covered by something, and she couldn¡¯t see anything. In the cockpit, as the darkness descended, something large and black suddenly blocked the front window. Chen Sixuan¡¯s gaze sharpened, and she realized the object covering the window appeared to be moving slowly¡ªlike the body of an insect! ¡°Ah!¡± Instantly, Lin Xian ordered the Infinite Train to slow down, and screams erupted throughout the carriage. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± KIKI¡¯s voice came urgently through the communicator. ¡°The outside of our train is crawling with these things!¡± Everyone froze in shock. Outside, as the Infinite Train descended deeper into the mountains, countless monstrous, creepy entities clung to the train. These creatures were enormous, their grotesque bodies twisting and contorting, entangling the entire train. The sound of steel being crushed rang out from all directions, leaving everyone startled by the suddenness of the attack. Thud, thud, thud... Suddenly, the entire Infinite Train was surrounded. The air was filled with the eerie sounds of creatures climbing and moving, with insect-like limbs skittering across the train¡¯s windows, leaving the passengers frozen in fear. ¡°Where did these things come from?!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s face turned pale as she held back her fear, cautiously speaking to Lin Xian. Lin Xian remained silent. His Mechanical Heart was linked to the entire train, and he could feel the strain on every carriage as external forces tried to penetrate. His heart sank. Why had these creatures appeared so suddenly? Despite all the precautions they had taken, Lin Xian was still startled by the unexpected danger. Thud. Thud. Thud. A giant black insect crawled across the front of the train, and a creature with numerous human-like arms slowly approached the front. It suspended itself, revealing a monstrous spider face, its eyes twisted and pale, with two large eyes that resembled twisted human faces, wide open, emitting an aura of terrifying fear. Chapter 175: Strange Call BOOM! The eerie entities surrounded the entire train. In that instant, it seemed as though the monsters had sensed the fear inside the train. With a shrill screech, one of the creatures charged directly at the front window''s grating armor of the Infinite Train¡¯s cockpit. ~! Some of the creatures began to crash into and tear at the train''s steel plates. "Raaah!!" A gigantic head-spider emitted a sharp screech as countless pale human arms flailed from its feet, shaking violently, sending chills down the spine of anyone watching. "Ahhh!" In that split second, Lin Xian¡¯s first reaction was to take control of the Infinite Train and accelerate furiously. "Attack!" Lin Xian¡¯s heart raced, knowing these creatures had finally been provoked. He immediately gave the order for everyone to take action. WHOOSH¡ª!! The Mechanical Heart roared to life, and the engines of the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive and the nuclear-powered train hummed with power. The train surged forward as Lin Xian raised his hand and initiated mechanical manufacturing. A long, spiked, heavy protective plate emerged outside the front window. BOOM! The head-spider slammed into the protective plate with immense force, sending blood and flesh splattering everywhere with a painful shriek. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure what this monster¡¯s capabilities were, so he decided to create some initial protection for the window. At that moment, KIKI dashed forward, raising her hand to unleash a powerful psychic wave, pushing the spiked protective plate along with it. The head-spider¡¯s claws scraped across the side of the train, emitting sparks, while a massive black centipede atop the roof rolled off with a screech. BANG BANG! "Everyone, fire!!" In a critical moment, Lin Xian immediately ordered. Rat-tat-tat, BOOM, CRACK-BOOM! At his command, the convoy members in the living carriages began firing their guns through the shooting holes, unloading a torrent of bullets onto the creatures¡¯ limbs and feet. The bullets tore into the monsters, showering a mess of unidentifiable meat chunks. In the 5th carriage, Da Lou, holding a Gatling gun, stood ready in front of the automatic door, while Lu Xingchen opened the rooftop platform. BANG BANG BANG! As the roof opened, a serpent-like head and numerous black insects scrambled inside. But in that moment, a pillar of crimson flames erupted into the sky! ¡°God¡¤Burning Heaven!¡± ¡°Demon beasts, all of you, make way for me!¡± BOOM! The searing flames shot out from the combat window, with such force that the circular window¡¯s fire eruption speed doubled. The flames reached up to several meters high and incinerated the black insects, blasting them out of the window. The strange serpent-head howled and retracted back. The automatic door opened, and in an instant, Da Lou began pulling the trigger. The K23 Gatling Gun roared to life, its high-speed firing shredding the squirming tendrils. The stench of gunpowder filled the air as the fiery blast obliterated one of the furry, scorpion-tail-like appendages. BANG BANG BANG ¡ª A barrage of ferocious creatures began to collide violently with the train''s armored exterior, with the roof shaking. The giant black centipede clung to the train''s side, trying to gnaw at the armor. Hundreds of insect feet clinked against the metal, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. Lin Xian, standing in the cockpit, felt the train being pulled and slowed by the creatures. His eyes sharpened, and he clenched his jaw. "So you like climbing the train, huh? Fine, I¡¯ll give you something to hold on to!" The Mechanical Heart activated! High-voltage electricity surged through the sides of the Infinite Train, and the silver blades of energy began to hum with a faint electrical charge. Meanwhile, the blades started to glow, and arcs of electricity flashed! With the appearance of these hundred-meter-long electric blades, the strange entities clinging to the sides of the train screeched in agony. Their limbs shattered, and the centipede''s abdomen was sliced open. The creatures screamed as they rolled off the track guardrails. Finally, the Infinite Train accelerated as planned. The flames from the explosion caused by Lu Xingchen¡¯s actions spread to the roof, setting it alight. From a distance, the train''s roof appeared to be burning with a raging fire. The train¡¯s speed increased, and the sound of explosions rang out as they tore through the night. ¡°We¡¯ve shaken them off! KIKI, put out the fire!¡± As the train picked up speed, Lin Xian worried that the flames might spread through the armor to the carriages, so he ordered KIKI to take care of the fire and the remaining strange entities. "Okay!" BANG CRACK¡ªBANG CRACK! KIKI swiftly flew toward the rear of the train and used her psychic wave to knock the flames off the roof, sending the burnt remains of the strange entities flying off with it. "Screech! Ahhh!" The shrill cries of the creatures echoed as they relentlessly pursued the Infinite Train. In the pitch-black forest, an overwhelming number of black insects emerged, crawling toward the tracks. ¡°How can there be so many monsters? Could it really be because of the predator effect?¡± Chen Sixuan said, incredulously, watching the road ahead as more unknown black insects continued to emerge from the forests. Lin Xian''s expression was grim. Whether it was due to the predator effect or the dark tide from the three Abyss Zones, the situation made it clear that the night was much more dangerous than before. The continuous emergence of monsters seemed to be a direct pursuit of the train. They kept pouring out from the forest, as though they had been tracking them the whole time. They had originally believed that having more daylight would improve the survivors¡¯ safety and survival chances, but little did they know, the dangers of the night had increased exponentially. Just earlier, the train had been overrun by strange entities, and just the thought of it made everyone¡¯s skin crawl. In the deep forest, the ground trembled with more monstrous roars. The train hurtled forward at full speed. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t afford to be careless at all. BANG! BANG! BANG! The fierce collisions continued to echo as the train¡¯s exterior armor took the brunt of the impact. Thanks to the electric blades on the armor, no monsters could climb the train, but the smaller black insects managed to get up there quickly. "Dammit!" Lin Xian cursed under his breath. The nightmarish creatures in the darkness reminded him of the chaos they faced back in Yubei City, where groups of monsters had rushed at them. Lin Xian couldn''t help but feel a mix of anger and relief. At least, he had made the most of the daylight hours, preparing the carriages and armor in time. Otherwise, if night fell too soon, the casualties would have been severe. The night seemed endless, as though there were always terrifying creatures lurking, waiting to spring out from the shadows. "Lin Xian, look!" Suddenly, Chen Sixuan called out in surprise. Lin Xian lifted his head and noticed a light in the distance along the track. "There... it looks like... someone?" Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as she saw a figure standing in the middle of the track up ahead. "A zombie?" "It doesn''t look like one." Beep beep beep. The train''s responder machine suddenly rang, and a mechanical voice echoed from inside. "Up ahead, please merge onto Track 3." "What?!" Lin Xian exclaimed in shock, quickly pressing the responder button, "Who¡¯s speaking?" There was no answer. The mechanical voice seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. At that moment, Chen Sixuan patted Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. He looked up, only to realize the figure on the track had disappeared, and in its place, a new track junction had appeared. The junction had been altered! ¡°The track¡¯s been changed!¡± ¡°No time to care about that, just push forward!¡± At this moment, countless eerie entities rushed out from the darkness, and the swarming black insects crawled onto the tracks, making a noise like rain pouring down. Lin Xian didn¡¯t have time to worry about the track junction. With no other choice, he drove the Infinite Train onto a side track, pushing through with all his might. The side track, illuminated by the train''s lights, seemed to lead into a dark forest. The trees loomed overhead, casting shadows, and steep mountain rocks filled one side of the train¡¯s view. Chapter 176: Rain Town Dada dada! The sound of gunfire from the rear carriage echoed in the air, as the monsters'' growls and their continuous attacks on the train¡¯s armor persisted. Lin Xian was in a panic. Just then, the train¡¯s front became clearer, and a platform with many tank carriages and the outline of an industrial town appeared on the horizon. ¡°Yuzhen Station?¡± Chen Sixuan nervously checked the driving computer. ¡°This branch line is connected to the Huanxing main track. We should be able to get back to the track ahead.¡± ¡°No, we can¡¯t!¡± Lin Xian fixed his gaze on the track. A tanker carriage was blocking the path of the Infinite Train. His heart sank, and he immediately applied the emergency brakes. SCREEECH!! The train wheels screeched to a halt, sparks flying on the track, the rails turning red with heat. Everyone inside the carriages was thrown off balance by the sudden deceleration, and loud screams filled the air. As the train came to a halt, debris from the ceiling scattered to the floor. The smell of hot metal from the wheels mixed with a foul odor that began to spread through the train. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Reverse! Break through!¡± Lin Xian grit his teeth, preparing to reverse the train. But at that moment, something strange happened. The sounds of the attacks from the rear suddenly ceased, and the gunfire gradually faded. Before anyone could react, KIKI, using the surveillance system, noticed something odd. ¡°Lin Xian, the monsters seem to have stopped following us.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Shu Qin.¡± ¡°Lin Xian, all the eerie entities are gone.¡± The voice of Shu Qin came through the communicator. ¡°I checked, and the rear carriages are intact with no damage.¡± ¡°The middle section is fine too.¡± Da Lou also spoke through the communicator. In Carriage No. 2, KIKI checked the sentinel system. Although the armor on the outside and the roof of the carriage looked battered, the integrity of the armor was still intact. Only a lot of insect corpses were wedged into the gaps. Hearing Shu Qin¡¯s words, Lin Xian exchanged confused looks with Chen Sixuan. He immediately stood up and rushed to Carriage No. 2. Sure enough, the sentinel system showed no monsters outside the Infinite Train. He moved on to Carriage No. 5, opened the door, and a strong, rancid smell hit him. There were some monster remains hanging from the ceiling. But there was no movement outside. He quickly shut the door and turned to KIKI. ¡°Kid, use the drones to check outside.¡± ¡°On it.¡± Knowing Lin Xian was extremely cautious, KIKI immediately deployed two drones to begin checking the entire train in the dark. From the drones¡¯ perspective, the Infinite Train was surrounded by a horrific scene, but fortunately, the interior was intact. When the drone camera pulled up, Lin Xian immediately saw that, in the distance, a large number of black shadows were quickly disappearing into the woods on the side of the track. ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± Shasha, standing next to them, exclaimed. ¡°Lin Xian, those monsters seem to be unable to get in.¡± Unable to get in? Lin Xian was taken aback when he heard this. KIKI furrowed her brows, staring at the screen, and pointed out, ¡°Wait, Lin Xian, this looks like... a kind of... barrier?¡± ¡°Yuzhen isn¡¯t a famous place. There are many chemical factories here,¡± Chen Sixuan said, thinking aloud. ¡°Could there have been some chemical leak that scared the monsters off?¡± Lin Xian shook his head and stood up, opening the sunshade to look outside at the empty freight platform. His expression became grave. ¡°There¡¯s something strange going on. Kid, use the drones to investigate the section of the track ahead. See how long the tanker blocking the track is. Let¡¯s not disembark yet. We need to observe the situation here.¡± ¡°Shu Qin, is anyone injured in the back?¡± ¡°Lin Xian, everyone¡¯s fine. No issues here.¡± Shu Qin¡¯s voice came through, and Lin Xian breathed a sigh of relief. They had barely entered the night when they encountered a series of strange situations that had put Lin Xian on edge. He was still puzzled about how to escape the suffocating eerie insect tide when they suddenly arrived in this eerie town¡ªand the strangest thing was that once they entered, they were safe. This was a situation Lin Xian had never encountered before. It wasn¡¯t a steel fortress, so he thought, could there be something that was unknowingly blocking the monsters? Lin Xian walked from Carriage No. 1 to Carriage No. 12, inspecting every carriage. Despite the lingering smell of smoke and anxiety inside, everyone seemed to be fine. Many people in the living quarters were still confused, but some were thankful they had survived. ¡°Wow, if we had stayed on the train tonight, we¡¯d definitely be doomed with so many monsters around.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m so scared...¡± ¡°Lin Xian, are you okay?¡± In the living area, the young girl Miao Lu saw Lin Xian approaching and stood up enthusiastically to ask. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°When we entered the station, did those monsters suddenly run off?¡± Miao Lu shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice. It was like, all of a sudden, the monsters just retreated and it became quiet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Shu Qin also came over. ¡°It¡¯s very strange. We¡¯ve never encountered something like this before.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Alright, everyone stay alert. The situation with so many monsters might still happen again, so let¡¯s be mentally prepared.¡± The train was covered with eerie entities. Not just Lin Xian, but even people like Shu Qin were caught off guard. If it weren¡¯t for the heavy armor, the dozens of people on board might have ended up as the monsters¡¯ next meal. Lin Xian continued checking the condition of each carriage with his Mechanical Heart and also began repairing some of the fasteners. When he reached Carriage No. 3, Ding Junyi called out to him. Ding Junyi, with a serious expression, pointed to the pot containing the Blood Scourge Flora and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on it, and just now, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum changed.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He quickly walked over and furrowed his brows as he looked at the black chrysanthemum. ¡°The red light... has it dimmed a little?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°Not only that, but during the recent fight, I saw a wisp of black smoke being absorbed into it, and the red light weakened a lot afterward.¡± ¡°Black smoke...¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°We¡¯ve seen this smoke before when we killed the eerie entities.¡± ¡°So, during the recent attack, we must have killed some eerie entities,¡± Ding Junyi said. ¡°What does this mean?¡± Lin Xian asked. Ding Junyi crossed her arms. ¡°The appearance of Eerie Blood Crystals is also accompanied by this black smoke. According to this logic, the Blood Scourge Flora should have the ability to absorb the power of this black smoke.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°But we don¡¯t know what effect or significance this has yet.¡± ¡°In the lab, we can¡¯t monitor these changes,¡± Ding Junyi said. ¡°But at least now we know some of its characteristics. If possible, please try to kill or capture some eerie entities. It¡¯ll help me test the effects of the black smoke produced by their deaths on the Blood Scourge Flora. The more experiments we do, the sooner we can get results.¡± Lin Xian blinked. ¡°Wait, did you just say... capture eerie entities?¡± Ding Junyi tilted her head slightly, and under her black-framed glasses, her gaze was serious. ¡°Yes. From a scientific perspective, the more experiments we have, the more accurate our conclusions will be.¡± Is she speaking human language? ¡°Forget about capturing them. If any monsters die near the train later, you can observe them.¡± Lin Xian walked away helplessly. He understood Ding Junyi¡¯s point, but right now, he had no mood for discussing experiments. Capturing eerie entities? Who would do such a thing? Not in this lifetime. Lin Xian cursed inwardly. Chapter 177: Candlelight Strange things were happening. Lin Xian¡¯s mind was filled with unease. The preparation center on his wrist lit up, and Lin Xian quickly glanced at the material conversion progress. The materials needed for the 1130 Close-In Weapon System were mostly ready. ¡°Better build one soon, or I won¡¯t be able to sleep peacefully,¡± he muttered to himself. As he walked into Carriage No. 2, KIKI¡¯s voice greeted him. Chen Sixuan and Shasha were gathered around the information center, staring at the live footage from KIKI¡¯s drone. ¡°Come take a look,¡± Chen Sixuan called out to Lin Xian. He walked over, and his eyes narrowed when he saw the drone¡¯s feed. It was heading toward a small town far off the station platform. Strangely, under the night sky, faint lights flickered in several houses¡ªlike gas lamps or extinguished candles. Lin Xian furrowed his brows. ¡°Is this town inhabited?¡± ¡°This is strange,¡± KIKI murmured, her legs crossed as she floated on the stool, zooming in on the drone¡¯s footage. Due to the distance, she could only make out faint outlines of buildings. ¡°If it¡¯s survivors, why would they light lamps like that?¡± Lin Xian immediately understood. The dim lights didn¡¯t seem like a post-apocalyptic survival setup¡ªthey resembled what you''d see in a town that had experienced a power outage. It didn¡¯t look like a place that had suffered through the end of the world. ¡°This town¡¯s strange. Not only are there people, but the dark creatures can¡¯t get in either. Could there be some special ability user there?¡± KIKI thought aloud, her chin resting in her hand. ¡°An ability like that would make someone invincible,¡± Shasha chimed in, her eyes wide in exaggerated disbelief. ¡°One person could protect everyone!¡± Chen Sixuan looked at Lin Xian, her expression questioning. ¡°Lin Xian, what do you think?¡± Lin Xian shook his head, still unclear. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but for now, we¡¯re safe here.¡± He then turned to Shasha. ¡°What did you find up ahead?¡± ¡°A chemical tanker train. We just need to move it out of the way. The road ahead is clear.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Should we go to the town and check it out?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Lin Xian glanced again at the distant, eerily quiet station and the small town. ¡°Even if we did, we should wait until daybreak. Let¡¯s move the tanker and keep the track clear for the train. We¡¯ll see how things go tonight. Someone deliberately redirected us to this side track, so I¡¯m cautious¡ªbetter to stay put for now and avoid attracting attention in the dark.¡± Chen Sixuan and KIKI nodded in agreement. Lin Xian¡¯s cautious nature was a comfort in this strange situation. Rushing to explore the town in the dark was definitely not a wise decision. The doors to the cockpit opened, and Lin Xian and KIKI stepped out, followed by Da Lou and Lu Xingchen, who began their patrols at the station¡¯s edge. The Rain Town station was a large chemical cargo platform, with a closed warehouse on one side. Under the moonlight, the platform was shrouded in a soft, pale glow. It was eerily quiet¡ªalmost too quiet. Lin Xian quickly made his way down the tracks toward the tanker train, activating the Mechanical Heart to begin scanning the entire train. Within moments, the scanning process was complete. The train rumbled as Lin Xian started the tanker. KIKI helped by switching the track, and under the lights of the Infinite Train, they moved the tanker off the tracks, clearing the path ahead. The task was easier than expected. The only sound came from the distant chirping of insects, but there were no unexpected complications. Once everything was in place, Lin Xian wasted no time and called everyone to board the train. Just as he was about to step back into the cockpit, he froze. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he turned and looked back at the empty, dark platform. There was an odd feeling, as if something unseen was watching them. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice came quietly from behind. Lin Xian didn¡¯t answer right away. His gaze lingered on the station, but he didn¡¯t see anything. He turned and boarded the train. Once inside, the cockpit doors closed with a heavy thud. The familiar hum of the Infinite Train¡¯s systems offered a sense of safety, but Lin Xian¡¯s unease didn¡¯t dissipate. It was as if something was lurking just out of sight, watching them. ¡°Tonight, I¡¯ll stand guard. Chen Sixuan, Shasha, you both should get some rest. Shu Qin and I will keep watch,¡± Lin Xian instructed, his tone firm and practical. ¡°I¡¯m not sleeping,¡± KIKI replied, her energy evident. ¡°You¡¯re setting up the 1130 Close-In Weapon System and the engineering robots tonight, right? I can help you calibrate the systems.¡± Lin Xian gave her a glance and nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± At that moment, he noticed Shasha¡¯s expression was a little off. He walked over to her. ¡°Shasha, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Lin Xian...¡± Shasha¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°This place feels... creepy. I can¡¯t shake the feeling that something¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°I feel the same,¡± Chen Sixuan added, her voice low. ¡°Even though those creatures are gone, this town just doesn¡¯t sit right with me.¡± Lin Xian nodded, his expression hardening. ¡°We¡¯ll stay in the train until daylight. I¡¯ll seal off the train. Only I can open the doors. You all get some rest.¡± Though Lin Xian felt unsettled as well, he didn¡¯t want to transmit his unease to the others. As the leader, he had to maintain a sense of calm. After assigning roles, everyone reluctantly settled into their duties. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± After everyone left, Chen Sixuan called out to him from the door of Carriage No. 1. ¡°Be careful.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I will.¡± He turned back to the device in his hand¡ªthe anomalous cube¡ªand activated it for another scan. [Ding! Non-mechanical force reflection detection in progress.] [Detection successful. No fear risks inside. Dark forces have been blocked.] Next, Lin Xian grabbed the Soul Wave Detector, pressing the button. [0] ¡°Everything inside and out seems clear,¡± Lin Xian muttered to himself. But despite the reassuring results, an uncomfortable feeling lingered. He couldn¡¯t quite shake the suspicion that something was wrong. ¡°Could the anomalous cube... be blocking the influence of an ability user?¡± he wondered aloud. Then it hit him. He had a sinking feeling¡ªwhat if this was some kind of forbidden object? Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced. If survivors had such abilities, they would be virtually invincible, far more powerful than his own Mechanical Heart. But if it were a forbidden object... His thoughts were interrupted as he looked back at the anomalous cube. He couldn¡¯t ignore the nagging feeling that this was something far more dangerous. ¡°Forget it,¡± Lin Xian muttered. ¡°We¡¯ll see what tomorrow brings.¡± He picked up the communicator, checking the system, and began walking down the train¡¯s carriages. Carriages No. 11 and No. 12 were quiet, with most of the passengers in Carriage No. 11 asleep. Shu Qin and the others had already turned off the lights, waiting patiently in the corridor. KIKI followed Lin Xian into Carriage No. 11, where three vehicles and a motorcycle were parked¡ªfuture equipment for mobile operations. Carriage No. 12 was empty, and Lin Xian had plans to turn it into a weapons station, starting with the 1130 Close-In Weapon System. Inside Carriage No. 12, the lights were bright, but it was eerily silent. KIKI, sitting at the control panel, looked up at Lin Xian. ¡°You can make a Gatling gun now, can¡¯t you? Why don¡¯t we build a few more? Our firepower will be much stronger.¡± Lin Xian gave her a dry smile. ¡°You think I¡¯m a factory? I don¡¯t have that much time.¡± Chapter 178: Making Cannons Late at Night Currently, the upgraded firearms weren¡¯t too difficult for Lin Xian to create, but the main issue was the ammunition. The preparation of gunpowder, material conversion¡ªwhile the bullets themselves weren¡¯t too complicated¡ªthe speed at which Lin Xian could manufacture them was limited. The problem was, these things were used up quickly, and he couldn¡¯t multitask. The 1130 Close-In Weapon System hadn¡¯t been completed yet, and once it was finished, it would be another huge consumer of ammunition. Lin Xian had calculated that, to allow the system to fire for 15 seconds, his preparation center would need to work nonstop for an entire day. Then, after the gunpowder and materials were produced, he would have to keep manufacturing to turn them into bullets. On top of that, he needed to devour mechanical resources, manufacture other items, and upgrade the research center. All of these required his time and energy. But Lin Xian¡¯s mechanical manufacturing was single-threaded¡ªhe couldn¡¯t do everything at once. If he were to supply the entire train with firepower, it would be exhausting. There wouldn¡¯t be enough time to devour and upgrade either. "Hehe~ I''m still waiting for you to build the electromagnetic cannon." KIKI teased him with a playful grin. "I¡¯ll get to it after the 1130 is done. The next step is the electromagnetic cannon," Lin Xian replied. "By the way," KIKI said, floating into the air with a graceful motion. She crossed her arms as she hovered, looking back at Lin Xian. "I think we should take a trip to Xingcheng. Since we¡¯ve already burned our bridges with the Federation, why not steal some high-tech blueprints from them?" "You mean we should march into Xingcheng and start fighting the Federation¡¯s defense forces?" Lin Xian asked, raising an eyebrow. "Silly!" KIKI pointed a finger at Lin Xian¡¯s forehead. "We won¡¯t openly attack. Just let me tap into their system terminal. I can steal the blueprints you want, or you can quietly scan their systems if you prefer." Lin Xian smiled. "You¡¯re right, I forgot you can fly. It¡¯s worth considering, definitely something to try." It was indeed a good plan. Most of the world¡¯s advanced military technology was either in the hands of the Starfleet or the Federation. With the right approach, acquiring blueprints without a desperate escape might be the most efficient way to gain advanced tech. "Hehe, you¡¯re finally coming around!" KIKI teased. "Alright, let¡¯s get to work." Lin Xian took a deep breath, raising the cover on the carriage¡¯s window to glance outside at the dark platform. He then sat down in the empty carriage, preparing to start. "Which one first?" "Of course, it¡¯s the robot," Lin Xian said as he extended his hand. Light flashed, and rare materials began to fly out. A black chip slowly started to form. ¡°The PX-05 Engineering Robot can autonomously connect to system programs. Aside from maintenance, welding, and transportation, it¡¯s pretty fast and durable. With this, it can directly help me maintain the weapon stations and feed the ammo chains." KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. "Wow, smart. Have you thought about modifying it into a combat model for enemy defense?" "I¡¯ve thought about it," Lin Xian replied. "But my ability level isn¡¯t high enough yet to mass-produce drones. Making one takes several hours." KIKI nodded. "Alright, make it first. I¡¯ll overwrite the system and have it help you with the train¡¯s modifications and maintenance." "Sounds good." The assembly of the 1130 was a massive undertaking. It wasn¡¯t just about building it and placing it on the train. Since no one else could assist, Lin Xian planned to create this engineering robot first to handle some of the key tasks. This large-scale equipment required KIKI¡¯s psychic abilities to assist. "Hehe, with this, we¡¯ll have a powerful mechanical helper." KIKI grinned as she watched the materials continue to fly from Lin Xian¡¯s hand. "Don¡¯t get too excited just yet." Lin Xian¡¯s expression was serious as he focused. The Mechanical Heart worked overtime. Even though his mechanical manufacturing had reached Level 3, he still felt immense pressure starting this creation. The core, the central control, the frame, the Hall-anode layer thrusters, sensors, small motors, energy groups... Two hours later, the engineering robot¡¯s form began to take shape. KIKI watched nervously, seeing Lin Xian sweat profusely. She flew over and started waving a fan at him. "Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush, it¡¯s almost done." "Now you think manufacturing things is easy?" Lin Xian said with a chuckle. "Okay, okay, I know it¡¯s tough~" KIKI laughed. "How about I give you a shoulder massage?" "No need, don¡¯t distract me." Lin Xian said, exasperated, as he continued working. "Humph~" With the final piece of the robot¡¯s shell attached, the small PX-05 Engineering Robot was successfully built. "Wow, we did it!" With a puff of smoke, the yellow-armored robot slowly toppled to the floor. Lin Xian wiped his sweat and let out a long breath. Looking at the small engineering robot in front of him, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of pride and weariness. He had once considered creating an army of robots for combat, but this engineering robot had given him a hard lesson. The road of a mechanic was long and difficult¡ªreaching that level would take much more work. "Try it out." Lin Xian wiped his forehead and spoke to KIKI. KIKI quickly pressed the startup button on the robot. Beep¡ªthe program initiated. The robot¡¯s control panel lit up with fluorescence, and a soft electric hum emitted from the robot. The thrusters on the robot glowed faintly blue, and it slowly rose into the air, hovering within the 12th carriage. "Wow, so cool!" KIKI¡¯s eyes sparkled. "Just wait!" She immediately pulled out a mobile computer, connected to the robot¡¯s program interface, and began configuring the system. "Alright, you get to work. I¡¯ll start on the cannon." Lin Xian nodded, a sense of urgency in his voice. The two of them had developed good teamwork during their journey from Jiang City, and it showed in their seamless coordination. Lin Xian began reviewing the materials in the disassembly space, and without hesitation, he began the process of manufacturing. WHOOSH¡ª Light flashed from his hand as metal materials flew out, condensing, shaping, forging, and assembling! Gradually, a large 1130 Close-In Weapon System began to take shape. KIKI, still focused on the robot, was also helping with the work. As the heavy weapon took form, Lin Xian¡¯s heart surged with excitement. ¡°Finally, a big weapon!¡± The base, the lifting platform, the automatic hatch for the roof, and the rear ammo supply system¡ªLin Xian didn¡¯t stick to the original design. He made some adjustments to suit his needs. The electro-optical targeting system and phased array radar were completed, and a movable, deployable Close-In Weapon System appeared in the 12th carriage. A behemoth of over ten tons, exuding a formidable killing intent. VROOM¡ª At that moment, KIKI¡¯s PX-05 Engineering Robot flew over, having completed its basic configuration. It started helping Lin Xian install the cannon¡¯s base. "Done, but the ammo configuration will take some more time. For now, let it help with the miscellaneous tasks!" KIKI said, hands on her hips, looking pleased. PHEW... Lin Xian nodded and sighed. "Finally, it¡¯s done." It was already past midnight. For Lin Xian, building such large devices for the first time was a challenge. Previously, he had only created simpler machines¡ªguns, armor, train accessories, and the freezer in the dining car. But the PX-05 Engineering Robot and 1130 Close-In Weapon System were far more complex, requiring hours of effort and focus. Mechanical Manufacturing: Level 3 (260/1000) Lin Xian opened the Mechanical Heart interface and saw that the progress had significantly increased, with over 200 points added to his manufacturing skill. "Nice, this is a good increase..." Mechanical Devouring and Manufacturing were the foundational skills Lin Xian needed to upgrade quickly. While the materials in the disassembly space were running low, he had finally managed to get the job done. Chapter 179: Special Bodyguard Whoosh~ Zzzzz Whoosh~ Crack crack. Inside Carriage No. 12, Lin Xian and KIKI sat on the empty floor of the carriage, resting as they watched the PX-05 robot busy assembling equipment in the weapons station. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s such a coincidence? Other places we went, we didn¡¯t encounter any monsters, but the moment we entered the night, we were surrounded by them. Then, at a critical moment, someone appears and leads us to this little town.¡± KIKI propped herself up with her hands behind her, tilting her head to look at Lin Xian. Lin Xian smiled helplessly, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯d like to know as well. If I knew, maybe we could turn from passive to active in this apocalypse.¡± Oh~ KIKI sighed deeply and then lay down on the floor, rubbing her stomach. ¡°I hate the apocalypse. I miss my ice cream, chips, and milk tea. Every time I think about the terrifying things outside the train, it¡¯s so unsettling.¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but reply, ¡°What does it have to do with being terrifying?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± KIKI huffed lightly, closing her eyes and reaching up to grab at the air. ¡°When my powers are stronger, I¡¯ll fly up to the sky, crush all those monsters, and go into the Abyss to see what the hell is going on in there.¡± ¡°Kid,¡± Lin Xian said, ¡°Do you remember in your dream...¡± ¡°Aiya, Aiya, I¡¯m not listening~¡± As soon as Lin Xian mentioned the dream, KIKI immediately covered her ears, seemingly unwilling to discuss her memories with Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯m not¡ª¡± Lin Xian said seriously. ¡°What I meant is, I saw a giant floating in the air in your dream.¡± Hearing this, KIKI froze and quickly answered, ¡°A very big person, a giant floating in the air, a giant dried corpse, right?¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I think this kind of thing couldn¡¯t possibly be a hallucination. Since I saw it, you must have seen it at some point too.¡± ¡°It was when the helicopter crashed, in Jiang City,¡± KIKI said, looking at the ceiling. ¡°I can¡¯t remember too clearly since it was during the crash, but after some time, I started to remember a little. I think I saw a really scary monster in the clouds.¡± ¡°A monster?¡± ¡°A thing that big. Isn¡¯t that a monster?¡± KIKI said, her tone dismissive. Lin Xian was momentarily speechless. ¡°True, a giant like that... but it¡¯s a dried corpse. I don¡¯t even know if it¡¯s alive or dead.¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± KIKI closed her eyes, seemingly not wanting to think deeply about it. She scoffed, ¡°We can¡¯t even handle the stuff we¡¯re facing now. All we can do is run. The more we run, the more monsters there are, and the stronger they get. It¡¯s as if we¡¯ve been targeted, like the monsters in the night put a bounty on us. With so many ability users in our train, we must be worth a lot.¡± Lin Xian furrowed his brows slightly and fell into silence. Seeing that Lin Xian wasn¡¯t speaking, KIKI sat up and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xian shook his head, feeling a little confused. ¡°Nothing, just thinking about what you said.¡± ¡°It¡¯s late now. You should sleep for a bit,¡± Lin Xian suggested, glancing at his watch. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for this to finish and then need to deal with the train at the back.¡± ¡°Alright~¡± KIKI nodded sleepily, got up, glanced at Lin Xian, then took a few steps before stopping. Suddenly, she floated back to him, wrapping her legs around Lin Xian¡¯s waist like a koala, her arms around his neck, burying her head in his chest. Lin Xian raised his hands in surprise. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯m just going to sleep here for a bit.¡± KIKI murmured in his arms. Lin Xian felt her warmth and the softness of her waist, helplessly saying, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit... ambiguous? I meant, in this kind of situation.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± KIKI closed her eyes and moved Lin Xian¡¯s hands to her waist. ¡°Hypocrite. When you were peeking at my underwear, you weren¡¯t so serious. You didn¡¯t talk so much when I asked you to hug me. Anyway, you don¡¯t need to move while you¡¯re devouring the machines. I can protect you.¡± With that, KIKI shifted her position, wrapping her legs tightly around his waist. Her body was light and agile, like a well-behaved cat, soft and comforting. At that moment, KIKI suddenly felt something pressing against her lower abdomen. Her face turned red, and she frowned, biting her silver teeth. ¡°Pervert.¡± Lin Xian was caught between amusement and helplessness. ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable now. I didn¡¯t want to move. You insisted on clinging to me. What else can I do?¡± ¡°Tch~¡± Lin Xian looked down at KIKI, who had closed her eyes and looked drowsy in his arms. His heart warmed. He knew that KIKI was only trying to protect him. The situation outside was unclear, and to devour the trains, he had to take some risks. But with KIKI, who had a telekinesis ability, by his side, he could relax a little. However, he knew that KIKI hadn¡¯t slept for two straight days. While he had collapsed from exhaustion on the ascension elevator, KIKI hadn¡¯t fared much better. ¡°Are you sure you want to do this?¡± ¡°Mmm~¡± KIKI whispered softly, almost asleep. ¡°Alright then.¡± Though it felt strange, since it was KIKI¡¯s special bodyguard service, Lin Xian didn¡¯t feel like complaining. He stood up and, holding KIKI like a koala, walked out of the nuclear-powered locomotive¡¯s cockpit and headed towards the intercity train heads pulled from Jiazhou City, ready to begin devouring. Before boarding, he glanced around at the pitch-black freight platform, sighed, and climbed into the long-unused train cockpit. With KIKI by his side, Lin Xian felt surprisingly calm. It seemed like she really could fall asleep in his arms, her breathing becoming steady. He settled into the seat and began his mechanical devouring. Lin Xian opened his Mechanical Heart panel. ¡¾Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.3 (565/5000)¡¿ Strength Level: 3¡¾30%¡¿ (Burst 300 kg) Speed Level: 2¡¾40%¡¿ (Max 13 m/s) Defense Level: 2¡¾26%¡¿ (Iron Bones) ¡¾Mechanical Awakening¡¿: Mechanic ¡¾Awakening Skills¡¿: Research Center, Manufacturing Plant Mechanical Devouring: 3 (466/1000) ¨C Increases devouring efficiency Mechanical Manufacturing: 3 (260/1000) ¨C Increases construction efficiency Mechanical Passives: Scan/Repair/Disassemble ¡¾Special Skills¡¿ Wind Cannon (Normal) (Level 3, Max Level) Ice Shield (Normal) (Level 2, 09%) Backlash (Rare) (Level 1, 30%) Power Surge (Rare) (Level 1, 23%) ¡¾Reminder: VoG Grenade Launcher blueprint is being upgraded, ETA 0:00:34¡¿ ¡°Hey, the blueprint is almost done...¡± ¡¾Congratulations! You¡¯ve obtained the Thunderstorm A1 Grenade Launcher (Blueprint)¡¿ ¡°Wow, turning single-shot into burst-fire. Shasha will probably love this.¡± Lin Xian smiled in delight. The Research Center was truly amazing. If it weren¡¯t for the practical limitations, Lin Xian really wanted to throw in the electromagnetic railgun to see what it could produce. But he could only dream for now. That kind of thing, given his current mechanical manufacturing level, would probably take fifty or sixty days to develop. Even if the blueprint came out, it couldn¡¯t be built. It was like watching a movie without ever getting to act. After some thought, Lin Xian decided to test it with the A33K Heavy Anti-Material Sniper Rifle, one of the weapons from Teacher Chen. ¡¾Please choose the weapon development direction:¡¿ ¡¾Firepower¡¿ (3 days 15 hours) ¡¾Mobility¡¿ (3 days 12 hours) ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°I thought my mechanical manufacturing was at level 3? Why does it still take this long?¡± He pondered for a moment and guessed that the Anti-Material Sniper Rifle was an advanced weapon, so it required more time. For the experiment, Lin Xian also placed the Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun and the newly obtained Thunderstorm A1 Grenade Launcher blueprints in. Sure enough, the former needed 4 days, and the grenade launcher needed 3 days and 20 hours. Chapter 180: Complete Devouring ¡°So that¡¯s how it is... what about the 1130?¡± Lin Xian slotted in the blueprint for the 1130 CIWS. Ding! This time, the R&D Center lit up again. But unlike the red glow from before, this time it was yellow. ¡¾This blueprint is high-tier. Current Mechanical Manufacturing Level: 3. Development time increased by 25%.¡¿ ¡¾Please select development focus for this weapon:¡¿ ¡¾Firepower¡¿ (15 days 18 hours) ¡¾Mobility¡¿ (11 days 22 hours) ¡¾Precision¡¿ (12 days 09 hours) ¡°Not bad. If I hit Mechanical Manufacturing Level 4, this thing would only take around 10 days to finish.¡± Feeling more confident, Lin Xian didn¡¯t dwell on it too long and turned his focus back to upgrading the sniper rifle. But this time, instead of picking Firepower, he chose Mobility. ¡°This rifle¡¯s still too big for Ms. Chen. If I can boost its mobility, it¡¯ll be more suitable for her.¡± He wasn¡¯t too worried about the upgraded firepower. What mattered most was making it better suited for Chen Sixuan. Now that she was part of the combat team, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but worry for her safety. ¡¾Notice: Blueprint upgrade for A33K Heavy Anti-Material Sniper Rifle in progress. Time remaining: 3 days, 11:59:59¡¿ ¡°Let it cook.¡± Lin Xian exhaled and didn¡¯t waste any more time. He turned to devour the head of the nearby intercity train. ¡¾Devour progress: 1%¡¿ He checked the speed. This intercity locomotive wasn¡¯t on the same level as the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive in terms of output or size. He figured it would take 2¨C3 hours per unit¡ªhe could probably get them all done before sunrise. Time ticked by. ¡¾Devour progress: 30%¡¿ ¡¾Devour progress: 60%¡¿ ¡¾Devour complete. Mechanical Source Points +300, Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +100. Bonus: Strength +10, Speed +5, Defense +10!¡¿ Two hours later, the prompt popped up. The locomotive¡¯s head disintegrated into gray ash. The ground under his feet gave out, and Lin Xian quickly tightened his grip on the sleeping KIKI as they dropped onto the rails below through the haze of smoke and dust. ¡°Mmm~¡± The girl stirred in his arms, barely waking, letting out a soft little sound. She squirmed a bit, nuzzled her cheek against Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder, and fell right back to sleep. This little brat... even the way she slept was unique. She leaned toward him, face nestled against his neck, her soft lips parting slightly as warm breath brushed his skin, giving him a subtle, tingling sensation. Seeing that, Lin Xian¡¯s heartbeat kicked up a notch. Before he realized it, something came over him¡ªand he dipped his head, kissing those sweet lips. Her lips were soft and fragrant, and to his surprise, KIKI¡ªstill seemingly asleep¡ªresponded. She let out a sleepy hum and parted her lips slightly. Her unconscious response lit a fire in Lin Xian¡¯s chest. Heat surged from his chest to his lower belly, and he quickly pulled away, forcibly pushing down the rising urge. D**n... wasn¡¯t I just devouring train engines? Why the hell am I kissing her now...? He glanced down again and found KIKI still asleep like nothing happened. It really seemed like it had been pure instinct on her part. Desperate for a distraction, he opened his system panel and let out a breath. ¡°Ugh... even with these trains, each one only gives 300 Mechanical Source Points now. To hit Level 4, I¡¯ll need to eat at least sixteen of these...¡± Now that he was at Level 3, the yield had dropped again. That Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive, which used to give 500 points, probably only gave around 400 now. ¡°Quality¡¯s hitting a limit, gotta rely on quantity.¡± But that 100 points of skill proficiency per devour was solid. If he could level up Mechanical Devour to Level 4, and with more daylight hours now, he could keep grinding bigger machines for more boosts. ... All night long, the responder stayed silent. The creepy, pitch-black freight platform remained dead still, with only a bone-deep chill filling the air. Nothing else happened. Lin Xian stayed on high alert while continuing to devour train engines. By the time 6 a.m. rolled around, the sky above Yuzhen¡¯s freight platform was still dark, but most of the locomotives along the tracks had already been consumed by the Infinite Train. Two freight locomotives, plus the head of a chemical tanker¡ªthree engines in total, along with several carriages¡ªall devoured by Lin Xian. It nearly drained him dry. If he didn¡¯t have a soft, powerful little ¡°koala¡± clinging to him the whole time, there¡¯s no way he could¡¯ve pushed through. ¡¾Devour complete. Mechanical Source Points +320, Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +100. Bonus: Strength +20, Speed +15, Defense +8!¡¿ ¡¾Devour complete. Mechanical Source Points +280, Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +100. Bonus: Strength +15, Speed +12, Defense +15!¡¿ ¡¾Devour complete. Mechanical Source Points +330, Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +100. Bonus: Strength +13, Speed +15, Defense +13!¡¿ ¡¾Devour complete. Mechanical Source Points +15, Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +5. Bonus: Strength +2¡¿ ¡¾Devour complete. Mechanical Source Points +13, Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +5. Bonus: Defense +1¡¿ ¡¾Dismantle results: Acquired High-Manganese Steel ¡Á500, Hot-Rolled Forged Steel ¡Á500, Cold-Rolled Dual-Phase Steel Plate ¡Á250, Ordinary Carbon Steel ¡Á1200, Non-Metallic Foam Material, Non-Metallic Composite Materials...¡¿ ¡¾Dismantle results: Acquired Glass, Plastic, Iron, Aluminum, Copper, Semiconductor Components, Crystal Transistor, Diode, Field-Effect Transistor, Integrated Circuit, Resistor, Capacitor, Inductor, Circuit Boards...¡¿ Three train heads and over a dozen carriages¡ªaltogether, Lin Xian gained 1,155 Mechanical Source Points and 375 Mechanical Devouring proficiency. On top of that, his attributes increased by 55 points of Strength, 50 points of Speed, and 41 points of Defense. The Fabrication Center also harvested a massive amount of metal materials, including high-grade steel. An absolute jackpot! ¡¾Current Mechanical Heart ¨C Level 3 (1720/5000)¡¿ Strength Level: 3¡¾85%¡¿(300kg burst force) Speed Level: 2¡¾90%¡¿(Max speed: 13 m/s) Defense Level: 2¡¾67%¡¿(Ironbone class) ¡¾Mechanical Awakening: Mechanic¡¿ ¡¾Awakening Skills: R&D Center, Fabrication Plant¡¿ Mechanical Devour: Level 3 (841/1000) ¨C Boosts devour efficiency Mechanical Manufacturing: Level 3 (260/1000) ¨C Boosts build speed Mechanical Passives: Scan / Repair / Dismantle ¡¾Special Skills¡¿ Wind Cannon (Normal) ¨C Level 3 (Maxed) Ice Shield (Normal) ¨C Level 2¡¾09%¡¿ Backlash (Rare) ¨C Level 1¡¾30%¡¿ Power Surge (Rare) ¨C Level 1¡¾23%¡¿ ¡¾Notice: A33K Heavy Anti-Material Sniper Rifle blueprint upgrade in progress. Time remaining: 3 days, 5:49:55¡¿ The sun still hadn¡¯t risen. Exhausted, Lin Xian opened the cockpit hatch and headed back into the train, planning to put KIKI back in bed. But the girl was clinging to him like a sloth, completely dead to the world. With no choice, he bent down and laid her on the bed, gently unhooking her legs from his waist. But she was gripping his neck tightly. After a bit of a struggle, he gave in and planted another kiss on her lips before slipping away. Still asleep, KIKI subconsciously licked her lips and turned over. Lin Xian sighed, a little guilty. His waist ached from carrying her all night, and his chest was still warm where she¡¯d rested. Back in Carriage No. 1¡ªnow a polished, first-class sleeper car, with its own bedroom thanks to Chen Sixuan¡¯s cleaning efforts¡ªhe pushed the door open. Chen Sixuan stirred at the noise and sat up. ¡°Lin Xian... is it morning already? You sleep. I¡¯ll take over the watch.¡± Warmth filled his chest. He walked over and slipped into the covers, wrapping her soft body into his arms. ¡°It''s not just the two of us anymore,¡± he said, eyes closed. ¡°Let them take watch for a while.¡± Her cheeks flushed. ¡°Then... you should go take a shower. We¡¯ve got a bathroom now, and you really need one.¡± Bathing was a total luxury in the apocalypse. But now that the Infinite Train had a water purification system, their basic needs were finally covered. ¡°And also... I¡¯m not... you know.¡± Her heart was pounding. She thought Lin Xian wanted to take things further, so she mustered her courage to say what was on her mind. But there was no response. She turned¡ªand saw Lin Xian, completely passed out. Her jaw dropped. Then she puffed out her cheeks and muttered, ¡°You don¡¯t have to... I¡¯d be okay even if you¡ª¡± ¡°...Mm?¡± Seriously asleep? Chen Sixuan bit her lip, shot him a glare, then softened. Her fingers brushed his hair as she gently pulled him into her arms. The restless heat in her chest slowly eased as she joined him in sleep. Chapter 181: The Town At 10 AM, the sun was shining brightly. After a night of nerve-wracking vigilance, the arrival of daylight brought a sense of relief aboard the Infinite Train. The tense and anxious atmosphere finally eased a little. Since the train doors remained shut, Chen Sixuan led the group in continuing to improve the living area inside the carriages while distributing water and food. Shasha, having slept through the night, got up early and joined her brother in Car No. 5 to sort through their stockpile of weapons. Lin Xian had only managed to sleep for three hours, but he felt somewhat refreshed. As he stepped out of the living quarters, he saw KIKI already seated in the information center, chewing on bread while operating a drone to scout out the nearby town. When she saw Lin Xian enter Car No. 2, KIKI glanced at him with a smirk, the corners of her mouth curving into a knowing expression before she quickly turned back to the screen as if nothing had happened. Lin Xian immediately sensed that something was off about her gaze. He felt a little awkward¡ªhad she caught him stealing a kiss last night? If so, then in KIKI¡¯s mind, he was now undeniably a complete b******. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± At that moment, Chen Sixuan approached and said, ¡°Only slept for a few hours?¡± Lin Xian was about to say something, but seeing Chen Sixuan walk over, he cleared his throat and replied, ¡°It¡¯s enough. I can¡¯t sleep for too long. Now that it¡¯s daylight, I¡¯m planning to take a group into the town to check it out.¡± ¡°I want to go! I want to go too!¡± Shasha ran down the corridor, her face full of excitement. ¡°You¡¯re staying. We need people to hold the fort. If you really want to get off the train, go with the others and scout the freight station surroundings for anything useful,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Ugh...¡± Shasha looked disappointed. ¡°Alright then. You guys be careful.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Lin Xian suddenly remembered something. He gathered materials from the manufacturing facility and quickly got to work. About ten minutes later, a sleek, black Thunderstorm A1 Grenade Launcher was freshly assembled. ¡°Whoa!!¡± Shasha¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she eagerly grabbed the weapon from Lin Xian¡¯s hands. ¡°No way, Lin-ge, since when did you learn to make something like this?¡± The grenade launcher looked oversized for the petite Shasha, yet Lin Xian noticed she handled it with surprising ease. ¡°You¡¯re holding that like it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Is it supposed to be heavy?¡± Shasha lifted it a bit and shrugged. ¡°A little heavier than my old one, but this one loads six rounds at once¡ªit¡¯s way better!¡± Her earlier disappointment instantly vanished, and she now clutched her new weapon with excitement, unable to put it down. Chen Sixuan turned to Lin Xian. ¡°How are you arranging the rest of the team?¡± ¡°You take a team to clean up around the train. Shasha and Huo-ge will check the freight station for supplies. I¡¯ll head into town with KIKI, Shu Qin, and Da Lou in two separate teams to scout the area.¡± There were still non-combatants aboard, including Ding Junyi and the women in the living quarters. Lin Xian decided to leave Lu Xingchen, the fire-type ability user, behind. Lu wasn¡¯t one for running around anyway¡ªhe preferred basking in the sun and brewing tea. Plus, he was strong, making him an ideal guardian for the train. As for Shu Qin, she was highly skilled, cautious, and sharp. Lin Xian planned for her and Da Lou to investigate the outskirts of the town, searching for anything unusual about the area¡¯s ability to repel Eerie Entities . ¡°One more thing,¡± Lin Xian said, glancing at the cockpit. ¡°Keep an eye on the responder and communication devices. Let me know immediately if anything happens.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Oh, right. The weapon station is fully deployed now. If necessary, you can switch it to automatic fire mode. Director Ding has already registered our personnel¡¯s facial recognition and vitals into the friend-or-foe system. If you¡¯re unsure how to use the targeting system, ask Shasha¡ªI taught her this morning.¡± KIKI added this casually, but Chen Sixuan was left completely bewildered. ¡°You mean... that big cannon?¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Just in case. You have defensive measures onboard now.¡± Even though it was daytime, with the train¡¯s weapon station fully operational, the defenders needed to know how to use it. If trouble arose, they could rely on the CIWS for covering fire. ¡°Understood.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded, feeling a bit emotional. In the past, when she had to guard the train, all she could do was clutch a wrench and anxiously wait for Lin Xian to return. But now, they had an armed squad, and even onboard defensive cannons. Their firepower and security had drastically improved. With Lin Xian¡¯s arrangements in place, the entire team geared up. The combat personnel took their positions behind the automated doors of Car No. 5 and Car No. 11, waiting for Lin Xian to open them. ¡°Stay alert. There may be other survivors here. Friend or foe, we don¡¯t know yet¡ªstay cautious,¡± Lin Xian warned over the comms. ~ The blast-proof doors swiftly opened. Though the sunlight outside was dazzling, a ghostly chill swept in. The train carriages, filled with people, had grown warmer than the eerie cold of the outside. Weapons raised, the team swiftly disembarked. Lin Xian gestured, and Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, and the other evolved fighters spread out in formation, scanning the platform surroundings. Shasha, now armed with her new weapon, followed closely behind Lu Xingchen as they stepped off the train. From Car No. 11, the lowering ramp descended, and Da Lou drove a bulletproof off-road vehicle onto the platform. Shu Qin climbed into the passenger seat and turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Lin, be careful. People hiding in towns like this... are usually lawless types.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Lin Xian nodded, pointing past the railway. ¡°Da Lou, Shu Qin, sweep the perimeter. Figure out the general boundary of this safe zone.¡± If this area truly repelled Eerie Entities, then something had to be causing it¡ªeither within the town itself or along its borders. For safety reasons, Lin Xian didn¡¯t send the regular squad members in first; he wasn¡¯t about to use them as cannon fodder. ¡°Got it, Brother Xian.¡± Da Lou started the engine and drove off the platform. Vrrroooom¡ª ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± KIKI, meanwhile, had finally pulled out her long-unused motorcycle. She revved the engine and took off toward the town, with Lin Xian riding behind her. The Infinite Train remained heavily guarded, and once Lin Xian and Shu Qin¡¯s teams left, Chen Sixuan got to work leading a crew to wash off the blood and remains left from last night¡¯s battle with the Eerie Entities. The stench was foul, and Lin Xian had long suspected that such odors could attract the creatures at night. Ever since Apocalypse Day, he had developed a habit of clearing and deodorizing their shelter¡ªsomething Chen Sixuan had also come to appreciate. She made sure the train stayed as clean as possible. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s check those warehouses.¡± Shasha, though small, acted like a boss. With sunglasses on and the Thunderstorm A1 Grenade Launcher in hand, she strutted up to Lu Xingchen. Lu Xingchen, meanwhile, had just set down a chair, ready to lounge in the sun. Shasha shot him a glare. ¡°Stop slacking! Weren¡¯t you looking for tea leaves? Still want them or not?¡± Lu Xingchen crossed his arms and lazily eyed the tightly sealed warehouse doors. With a smirk, he said, ¡°Dummy. Clearly, this place stores chemicals. No way there¡¯s tea in there.¡± Shasha fumed but then suddenly grinned mischievously. ¡°Fine, if you won¡¯t come, I¡¯ll just go with the others. If I get killed by some bandits, no big deal. People will just say that the mighty Fire God was all talk¡ªjust a fraud, all bark and no bite...¡± Chapter 182: The Cinema "A fraud? All bark and no bite? Just for show?" Lu Xingchen¡¯s grin instantly froze. His face turned pale as if each of Shasha¡¯s words had struck a precise nerve. Shasha stole a glance at him out of the corner of her eye, noticing the effect her words had, so she fanned the flames further. "Can¡¯t even protect a little girl, yet you dream of saving all of humanity? Pfft... If I were you, I¡¯d find a hole to crawl into. But hey, at least your fire ability is useful¡ªyou can warm people¡¯s seats like a human heater." "Shut up!" Lu Xingchen shot to his feet, veins bulging as he gritted his teeth. He pointed viciously at the warehouse ahead. "Fine, pick a damn warehouse! If I don¡¯t burn every last rat, roach, and pest inside, I¡¯ll consider their sanitation standards excellent!" Shasha smirked, adjusting her sunglasses, then dramatically waved her hand forward. "Lead the way, Fire God!" ¡ª The motorcycle cruised along a quiet road, flanked by lush green trees under the golden sunlight. Lin Xian sat on the backseat, gazing at the town¡¯s silhouette up ahead. Not far beyond the town, a large chemical plant loomed, complete with towering reactors and distillation columns. "Normally, a chemical plant this size would be built farther from residential areas," Lin Xian remarked. "But here, it¡¯s practically next door." KIKI responded, "Maybe that¡¯s the reason the Eerie Entities can¡¯t get in¡ªsome kind of chemical leak?" Lin Xian sighed, rubbing his temples. "The monsters can¡¯t get in, but we can. So... who¡¯s really the monster?" KIKI smirked. "Not necessarily~ There could be things that humans can tolerate but they can¡¯t. Haven¡¯t you seen those alien invasion movies? Sometimes, even a common human virus can wipe out an entire alien army." Lin Xian was speechless. Damn, she actually made a good point. He sniffed the air, trying to detect any unusual chemical odors. As they approached the town¡¯s main street, KIKI slowed the bike. Buildings came into view¡ªlow-rise houses, shuttered shops, and abandoned streets. Some doors were tightly shut, while others creaked open, swaying with the breeze. Fallen leaves, yellowed prematurely by the cold, covered the roads. The convenience store shelves were empty, coated in dust and mold. KIKI frowned at the desolation. "This place is weird. It doesn¡¯t even look like anyone¡¯s been living here." Lin Xian kept scanning the surroundings, eventually pulling out his Soul Wave Detector and activating it. A faint glow pulsed outward before retracting. The dial, which had started in the negative, slowly crept toward zero. That was... odd. Lin Xian frowned. Was the old detector malfunctioning? Or was something affecting its readings? The movement of the needle seemed sluggish, unnatural. ¡ª The motorcycle rolled into a crossroads¡ªlikely the town¡¯s center. Not much of a center, though. A small supermarket, a bank, and across the street, a relatively large cinema. They dismounted and took in the view. The streets, bathed in sunlight, felt eerily lifeless. Everything was in decay¡ªquiet, desolate. Rotten, dried-out corpses of townspeople lay on the sidewalks, their clothes fused to the ground. Flies buzzed over the remains. "This is strange... I saw people here last night," KIKI muttered. She glanced up at the second-floor windows of a nearby store¡ªdark, empty. In the shattered display case of a clothing boutique, a few mannequin torsos stood awkwardly, their clothes long since stripped away. Their vacant faces seemed to stare directly at Lin Xian and KIKI. A chill ran down Lin Xian¡¯s spine. They had both seen lights in the town last night¡ªnot just one, but multiple sources. "Stay alert," Lin Xian warned, eyes locking onto the cinema. "Let¡¯s check inside." This town had no Eerie Entities, no zombies¡ªyet no living humans either. It made no sense. He wondered if Shu Qin and Da Lou had uncovered anything on their end. KIKI nodded. "Maybe there are people here, just hiding." ¡ª Lin Xian pushed open the cinema¡¯s doors. A wave of damp, decaying air rushed out. He grimaced but stepped forward cautiously. "If this place repels Eerie Entities, it should be an ideal safe zone. A shelter here would be much safer than running around... But if there are no survivors¡ª" "Then something worse than Eerie Entities is lurking here?" KIKI cut in. Lin Xian didn¡¯t answer. He just hoped he was wrong. The cinema lobby was pitch black. Lin Xian quickly manufactured a high-powered flashlight. Click. A harsh white beam pierced the darkness. A mess lay before them¡ªrows of ticket machines, a broken popcorn stand, and in the corner, tattered tents. Scattered across the floor were human skeletons, their remains twisted in the dust. "Doesn¡¯t look like anyone¡¯s still alive here..." Lin Xian swept his light around. Just as he was about to leave¡ª "Lin Xian," KIKI whispered suddenly. "I hear something inside." He instantly turned, directing his flashlight toward the theater hallway. The two exchanged a glance, then wordlessly advanced. ¡ª Drip... drip... Water dripped somewhere in the darkness. Apart from that, the silence was suffocating. KIKI floated ahead, stopping outside one of the theater doors. She pointed at it. That¡¯s where the sound came from. Lin Xian nodded, electricity crackling faintly around his hands. He reached out and slowly pushed the door open. Creak... The rusted hinges groaned. Suddenly¡ªa wave of nauseating rot burst from within! KIKI recoiled violently, flying backward while clutching her nose, eyes wide with horror. Lin Xian staggered. The stench nearly knocked him out cold. He had seen his share of blood-soaked battlefields, but nothing had ever smelled this putrid. Forcing down his disgust, he yanked the door fully open. But aside from the overwhelming stench... there was no movement inside. Lin Xian raised his flashlight and swept it across the theater. The aisles were empty. The projector screen had long since rotted into tattered shreds. The two cautiously stepped inside. KIKI followed closely, still pinching her nose. "It stinks¡ªugh, it stinks!" "Shh." Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew grim. He motioned for silence. They reached the main theater seating area. Lin Xian aimed the flashlight up the sloped rows of seats. And in that instant¡ªboth of them froze. KIKI gasped sharply, ducking behind Lin Xian in terror. Under the stark white glow of the flashlight, row after row of seats were occupied. Every single seat was filled. But they weren¡¯t people. Nor were they zombies. They were skeletal figures, flesh peeled away, left to decay. Rotten, mold-covered husks¡ªlined up in perfect, orderly rows, as if still watching a movie that had ended long ago. Chapter 183: Flesh-Boned Beings "KIKI..." KIKI, usually fearless, was completely shaken by the sight before her. She clung to Lin Xian¡¯s side, her face twisted in disgust. "H-how... how is this possible? These people..." Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. Even for him, this scene was a shocking sight. He scanned the rows of flesh-boned beings, his voice low and tense. "Something¡¯s off. The level of decay is drastically different from the corpses outside. These... look less than a month old." "Then this place isn¡¯t safe at all," KIKI said, steadying her breathing. "Do we even need to keep investigating?" "No. We¡¯re leaving." Lin Xian shook his head. He swept his flashlight over the rows of grotesque remains, but just as the beam reached the last row, his body tensed. Among the skeletal husks, one person was still intact. "Lin Xian! There¡¯s someone alive!" KIKI gasped. The woman was slumped in one of the back-row seats, her hair disheveled, her body battered and filthy. It was unclear whether she was dead or barely clinging to life. "Let¡¯s check on her." Without hesitation, Lin Xian sprinted toward the seats, KIKI gritting her teeth and following despite the nausea churning in her stomach. As he got closer, Lin Xian became increasingly certain¡ªthis woman was alive. Just to be safe, he crafted a long pole on the spot and cautiously poked her back. The woman¡¯s body slumped sideways, but there was no stiffness¡ªand more importantly, she was still breathing. Lin Xian and KIKI exchanged a glance. KIKI immediately raised her hand, using her ability to lift the woman from the chair and gently place her on the aisle floor. "She¡¯s alive," KIKI confirmed, pressing her fingers to the woman¡¯s wrist. "But her heartbeat and breathing are all over the place. She¡¯s barely hanging on." Lin Xian brought his flashlight closer. The woman looked to be in her early thirties, her skin a sickly pale gray, her body emaciated from malnutrition. Her hair was a tangled mess, her tattered clothing hanging loosely over her skeletal frame, and she had no shoes. The sheer aura of death surrounding her was unsettling. He glanced back at the last row of flesh-boned beings. Their decay was fresh¡ªtoo fresh. "She might be a survivor." Lin Xian knelt to examine her. But just as his flashlight illuminated her face, she flinched, reacting to the light. The woman groaned weakly, her brows scrunching together as she struggled to move her arms. Lin Xian and KIKI¡¯s expressions shifted. Her breathing turned rapid. Slowly¡ªshe opened her eyes. The moment she saw Lin Xian and KIKI, her pupils dilated in terror. With a sharp gasp, she began frantically crawling backward, her body trembling. "Don¡¯t be afraid. We won¡¯t hurt you. Who are you?" Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected her to wake up so suddenly, and seeing how terrified she was, he immediately tried to reassure her. But she didn¡¯t react to his words. She was completely panicked, desperately dragging herself away before struggling to her feet and bolting toward the exit. "Catch her!" Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate. "On it!" KIKI swiftly raised her hand, her psychic power seizing the woman in mid-air and pulling her back toward them. "Calm down! We¡¯re not going to hurt you!" Lin Xian called out, but the woman kept thrashing violently in mid-air. Then, KIKI¡¯s brows furrowed. "She¡¯s... she¡¯s mute?" Lin Xian¡¯s mind clicked. That could explain why she hadn¡¯t responded. He was about to try another method of communication¡ª But suddenly, he noticed something even stranger. The woman¡¯s expression shifted¡ªnot in response to him or KIKI, but to something behind them. Her wide, terrified eyes were locked on the hallway behind them. A cold shiver ran down Lin Xian¡¯s spine. He and KIKI turned around at the same time. And there, standing at the end of the aisle¡ª A grotesque human face stared back at them. A person walking upside down. "Careful!" Lin Xian¡¯s pupils constricted. A white-skinned entity was creeping toward them¡ªmoving on all fours, its head twisted at an unnatural angle. Without hesitation, Lin Xian raised his hand and unleashed a bolt of electricity. Crackle! The bright silver lightning slammed into the creature¡¯s chest, charring a hole through its pale flesh. But the creature only paused for a moment before suddenly lunging forward at lightning speed, making no sound at all. It reached Lin Xian in less than a second! He barely had time to react¡ªthere was no time to craft a metal barrier¡ªso he instinctively threw up an Ice Shield. KIKI reacted fast, too, using her ability to shove the shield forward as reinforcement. Boom! The upside-down monster smashed into the shield, its long, thin limbs flailing wildly, knocking over the rows of flesh-boned beings. Bones and rotten flesh flew everywhere. "Fall back!" Lin Xian grabbed KIKI and the woman and retreated toward the exit. This cinema¡ªlike Underground City No. 8¡ªwas a confined space harboring Eerie Entities even during the day. "Got it!" KIKI landed on the ground, gripping the woman tightly as they sprinted toward the emergency exit. Lin Xian fired a few Wind Cannon shots as a test, but the upside-down entity dodged effortlessly, climbing rapidly along the walls to chase them down. Hum! KIKI lashed out with her psychic power, slamming the creature into the wall. It struggled violently, resisting her grip. She bit her lip and pushed harder¡ª Boom! The hallway lights shattered, carpet ripped apart, and debris exploded outward. The force hurled the creature to the end of the corridor, where its grotesque limbs flailed wildly. Then, suddenly¡ª It melted into the shadows. Lin Xian exchanged a glance with KIKI. "This thing isn¡¯t easy to kill," she muttered. "Let¡¯s get outside," Lin Xian said. He spotted the projection room hallway, leading to the exterior. He had powerful weapons like the Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun, but he couldn¡¯t create a hundred-pound machine gun on the spot while running for his life. Outside, it was daytime. That should keep the creature at bay. And if it didn¡¯t? They could retreat to the train¡ªthe 1130 CIWS would handle it. They sprinted toward the exit¡ª And then, silence. The upside-down creature... was gone. A deep sense of unease crept into Lin Xian¡¯s gut. He lifted his flashlight¡ª And at the end of the corridor, a man stood there. Motionless. A smile stretched across his face as he stared at them. "Who the hell¡ª" KIKI reacted instantly, raising her hand to seize him with psychic power. But before she could¡ª The man¡¯s mouth split open¡ª Brown-red tendrils erupted from his throat, lunging toward them. "A Human Eerie?!" KIKI caught the creature in midair, holding it with her ability. Lin Xian charged up a bolt of electricity¡ª Boom! The lightning punched a hole through its skull. The creature shrieked, thrashing violently¡ª Lin Xian rushed forward and fired point-blank Wind Cannon blasts into its head. Then, in one swift motion, he slashed it apart with his electric blade. Blood and gore splattered¡ª But then¡ª He and KIKI froze. Inside the torn human skin, writhing underneath¡ª Wasn¡¯t a person. It was a mass of wriggling red worms. And then, Lin Xian turned his gaze to the woman they had rescued¡ª She had stopped struggling. Her lips curled into a chilling smile¡ª Her face began to peel back. Chapter 184: The Impostors A chilling cold surged from the depths of Lin Xian¡¯s heart! That eerie smile sent shivers down his spine, making his hairs stand on end. No time to shout! As the woman slowly opened her bloodstained mouth, lined with dense, razor-sharp teeth, Lin Xian reacted instinctively¡ªstepping forward to shield KIKI while frantically summoning an Ice Wall and Iron Gate! In the blink of an eye, the icy barrier materialized in the air, encircling the rapidly thrusting tentacle. Its razor-sharp tip was mere inches from piercing Lin Xian¡¯s heart. Then¡ª Boom! A piercing sonic boom shattered the corridor¡¯s silence. A black spear shot past Lin Xian¡¯s vision, streaking through the air like a thunderbolt and piercing straight through the eerie woman¡¯s forehead. "NEAAHHH!!" Before she could even scream, she was pinned against the corridor wall, skewered like an insect. THUD! The black spear vibrated with a metallic hum, its sheer force embedding it deep into the reinforced concrete wall. Crack¡ª Lin Xian¡¯s Ice Wall and the iron-clad barrier slammed onto the ground, their echoes reverberating through the hallway. "Ah!" KIKI gasped, clutching onto Lin Xian as he instinctively pulled her back. Regaining their composure, they turned around to face the corridor¡¯s far end¡ªwhere two figures had appeared. A man and a woman. The man was middle-aged, broad-shouldered, and sporting a buzz cut. He wore an exoskeleton power suit, glowing with a faint blue luminescence, still poised from his recent throw. The woman beside him was younger, holding a large-caliber firearm at the ready. Bzzz¡ª The man flicked his wrist, and a mechanical hum resonated through the air. The black spear embedded in the wall trembled, letting out the whir of an engine. With a swift motion, the spear dislodged from the corpse¡¯s face and flew back into the man¡¯s hand. Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°Magnetically controlled weapon?¡± That spear undoubtedly housed some kind of precision magnetic propulsion system, enabling dynamic control within short distances. Such technology was usually found in Starfleet battle drones and sentinel systems¡ªbut seeing it integrated into a melee weapon was bizarre, almost absurd. ¡°Be careful, kid,¡± the man spoke in a deep voice. ¡°These aren¡¯t just Eerie Entities¡ªthey can peel off human skin and disguise themselves. Apart from being mute, you¡¯d never tell them apart.¡± Impostors? Lin Xian glanced at the impaled female impostor, his eyes flashing with unease. ¡°Who are you people?¡± Before the man could answer¡ª BOOM! The projection room¡¯s iron door buckled and exploded outward. A ghastly elongated hand shot forth, grabbing the middle-aged man and slamming him against the wall with brutal force. RATATATATA! The woman reacted instantly, raising her rifle and unleashing a barrage of bullets at the grotesque White Inverted Monster that emerged. ¡°Urgh!¡± Pinned against the wall, the man¡¯s power armor groaned under the impact, sparks flying as it absorbed the otherwise lethal blow. With a grunt, he twisted his body, flipping his spear and plunging it into the creature¡¯s thick hide. "NEAAHH!!" The monster howled, jaws gaping wide, swiping its clawed hand to knock away the black spear. The man landed, rolling swiftly to retrieve his weapon and regain distance. BZZZTT! A brilliant arc of electricity burst through the corridor, slamming into the creature¡¯s face. The air crackled, the acrid scent of burning flesh spreading through the hallway. ¡°Electrokinesis?¡± The man¡¯s expression shifted. Deep in the corridor, Lin Xian stood firm. Behind him, KIKI levitated into the air, her Psychokinesis surging. With a flick of her wrist, she snatched the spear-impaled monster with invisible force and, with a savage motion, slammed its head against the wall¡ªhard! CRACK! The creature¡¯s skull dragged across the corridor, leaving behind a black blood-streaked gouge as the concrete and rebar were torn apart. "NEA¡ªAHHH!!" With an unnatural twist, the White Inverted Monster rotated its head a full 360 degrees. Its freakishly elongated hands sprouted ten sharp bone spikes¡ªbefore whipping out at Lin Xian and the armored man from opposite directions! "Look out!" The man lunged¡ªtackling his female teammate just as the bone spikes ripped through the wall behind them. CRACK! Before the monster could recover, KIKI clenched her teeth and slammed its skull into the floor¡ªhard. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Hovering midair, KIKI gritted her teeth, exerting all her telekinetic might to suppress the struggling monster. Despite being pinned, the White Monster contorted its body¡ªarms stretching sideways¡ªclaws swiping at both Lin Xian and the armored man! SWOOSH! A silver flash swept through the corridor. An intense air pressure wave followed. The White Monster¡¯s waist suddenly bore a gaping, horizontal slash! Backlash! Lin Xian landed, gripping his GK03 Electric Blade. The confined space restricted the skill¡¯s movement, but he¡¯d still landed a direct hit! Yet¡ªbefore he could catch his breath¡ª The creature¡¯s waist wound didn¡¯t spill blood. Instead¡ªcountless black tendrils slithered out, lunging straight at Lin Xian! FWOOOSH! A sudden gust roared past. The mechanical hum of an engine flared up. The middle-aged man shot forward, black spear in hand, lunging into the tendril mass like a thunderclap. SHUNK! The spear impaled the White Monster¡¯s skull, driving it deep into the floor. Yet the creature still twitched. The man¡¯s eyes turned ice-cold. He twisted the spear¡ª WHIRRR! The spearhead expanded¡ªmorphing into a razor-edged umbrella shape¡ª Before exploding open like a blooming flower. BOOM! The monster¡¯s head was obliterated, black blood splattering the walls. The claws froze mid-swing¡ªbefore crashing onto the ground, motionless. Pant... pant... The four survivors stood in silence, glaring at the corpse, breath heavy. SCHLK! With a sharp pull, the man retrieved his spear, shaking off the blood before retracting the umbrella blades. A wisp of black smoke dissipated into the air. "Yeah," the man muttered. "That one¡¯s dead for good.¡± Then¡ªcasually¡ªhe bent down, plucked a Level-2 Eerie Blood Crystal from the corpse¡¯s remains, and pocketed it. He turned to Lin Xian. "Electrokinesis. Psychokinesis. Not bad. Guess I underestimated you two." Extending a hand, he introduced himself: ¡°Ding Qing. Duan Min. King Kong Convoy.¡± ¡°Lin Xian.¡± Lin Xian shook the offered hand, his gaze lingering on Ding Qing¡¯s power armor. That was a TRP-4th Gen Special Industrial Exoskeleton¡ªincredibly expensive. Unlike military models, it boasted extreme power output and multiple expansion slots. Ding Qing¡¯s suit had been heavily modified for combat, making it even deadlier. ¡°Hey!¡± KIKI¡¯s voice snapped them out of their thoughts. She stomped over, glaring. ¡°You just pocketed that crystal without even asking?¡± Ding Qing barely glanced at her. Instead¡ªhe strode to the fallen impostors. Raising his spear umbrella, he stabbed their chests¡ª Before extracting two wriggling, white-tailed parasites from within. Without a word, he tossed two glass vials to Lin Xian. "Saved your lives just now. With these two parasites, I¡¯ll take one crystal¡ªseems fair, right?" Chapter 185: Bone Worms ¡°Huh? What... what is this thing?¡± Lin Xian frowned, holding up the glass vial. Inside, the tiny parasite wriggled weakly, its movements sluggish. ¡°That¡¯s a Bone Worm.¡± The woman, Duan Min, finally spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the name. What matters is that we found these things inside the spinal bones of those impostors. Having one on you prevents them from attacking.¡± Lin Xian looked at the two of them. ¡°Have you been here long?¡± ¡°Not really, about a week or so,¡± Ding Qing said, nudging the corpse of the White Inverted Monster with his boot. ¡°Just like you, we got chased here by Eerie Entities in the middle of the night.¡± ¡°A whole week? In a place this dangerous?¡± KIKI asked, her face full of doubt. ¡°We¡ª¡± Duan Min was about to say something when Ding Qing cut her off. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside. This place is cursed. Who knows what else is lurking in the dark?¡± With that, he shook off his spear and strode toward the emergency exit. Lin Xian and KIKI exchanged glances before following. With a loud kick, Ding Qing blasted open the cinema¡¯s fire exit. The four of them stepped outside, the stench of blood still clinging to their clothes. The battle earlier had been perilous¡ªEerie Entities were always unpredictable. Despite its humanoid form, that creature was the fastest thing Lin Xian had ever fought. Its elongated limbs moved like a spider, closing distances in the blink of an eye. A normal person wouldn¡¯t have even had time to react before being torn apart. The afternoon sun was blinding, making them squint as they stepped onto the street. Behind the cinema, a mountain off-road vehicle was parked¡ªheavily armored, looking like it had been driven in after Lin Xian¡¯s arrival. ¡°You guys with a convoy?¡± Lin Xian asked, noting the thick plating on the vehicle. ¡°We set up our own temporary shelter,¡± Ding Qing replied with a casual smirk. ¡°No need to tell you where. Your train, on the other hand¡ªnow that¡¯s hard to miss. We spotted you the moment you arrived last night. Smart move, not entering the town after dark. Looks like you¡¯ve got some real leadership skills.¡± KIKI cut in. ¡°Wait... so you weren¡¯t the ones lighting up the town last night?¡± Duan Min scoffed. ¡°Hell no. You think a normal person would do something like that?¡± She hesitated for a moment before adding, ¡°That was the impostors. And at night... they do more than just light up buildings.¡± Her voice trailed off, as if unwilling to say more. Lin Xian weighed the parasite vial in his hand, his expression thoughtful. ¡°Mind telling me how you figured out these things work?¡± Ding Qing¡¯s eyes darkened slightly. ¡°Come on, kid. You¡¯re smart. Do I really need to spell it out for you?¡± KIKI let out an exaggerated ¡°Ooooh~¡± and grinned. ¡°So, you guys stayed here for a whole week because you already know why this town blocks out the Black Night Entities, huh?¡± Neither of them spoke. But the answer was obvious. Their goal was the same as Lin Xian¡¯s. They had stumbled onto something strange in their escape¡ªand like any sane person, they were trying to figure out why. Compared to the lethal horrors outside, this town was at least stable¡ªno Horde Riots, no Eerie Swarms overrunning the streets. Ding Qing didn¡¯t bother hiding it anymore. ¡°You don¡¯t want to dig too deep,¡± he said flatly. ¡°If you can leave, then leave. You saw how dangerous those impostors are, and there are things hiding in the dark. If you insist on staying, then keep those Bone Worms on you. We lost several teammates learning that the hard way.¡± Impostors... Lin Xian fell into thought. The skin-wearing monsters they fought earlier had been truly terrifying. Especially the female impostor¡ªhe and KIKI hadn¡¯t noticed anything off about her. Looking back, the only unusual thing was that she never spoke. Not even the slightest sound from her throat. And KIKI had sensed something unnatural about her breathing and heartbeat... Now, it was clear. That wasn¡¯t a heartbeat at all. ¡°You guys leaving, then?¡± Lin Xian asked as Ding Qing climbed into the armored vehicle. Ding Qing studied him for a long moment before finally speaking. ¡°Listen, kid¡ªI know what you¡¯re thinking. You think this town has something that keeps the Black Night Entities away. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll tell you now: It doesn¡¯t. ¡°But I also know you won¡¯t believe me.¡± He pointed toward the chemical plant on the edge of town. ¡°If you¡¯re so curious, then go check that place. ¡°But don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you¡ªit¡¯s dangerous as hell.¡± With that, he gestured to Duan Min. The off-road vehicle¡¯s engine roared to life. Moments later, it vanished around the corner. KIKI sighed. ¡°So they weren¡¯t the ones lighting up the town after all... those candles really were weird.¡± Then, a new question surfaced in her mind. ¡°But wait¡ªwho sent that message on the Responder? ¡°And who switched the track junction before we arrived?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze locked onto the chemical plant in the distance. ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± KIKI eyed him suspiciously. ¡°You really wanna go check it out? What if it¡¯s a trap?¡± Instead of answering, Lin Xian pulled out his communicator, connecting to Chen Sixuan and Shu Qin. He relayed everything about the impostors and ordered Shu Qin and Luo Ye to rendezvous with them. Originally, he and KIKI had already planned to investigate the chemical plant. But the King Kong Convoy¡¯s sudden appearance¡ªand the impostors¡ªhad made Lin Xian more cautious. Normally, he would¡¯ve left immediately. But the fact that something here could block out Black Night Entities was too important to ignore. ¡°We can¡¯t take their words at face value,¡± Lin Xian muttered, walking toward their motorcycle. ¡°Oh? So you noticed too?¡± KIKI asked. Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Did they really show up just to save us?¡± Holding up the glass vials, he watched the Bone Worms squirm. ¡°If these things prevent impostors from attacking... ¡°...then it means they¡¯ve been searching for or have already found the reason this town blocks out Eerie Entities.¡± Lin Xian started the motorcycle, motioning for KIKI to hop on the back. ¡°No one could resist investigating something like this. ¡°This town definitely has a secret. ¡°But we¡¯ll be careful. Let¡¯s send the drones in first.¡± KIKI grinned. ¡°Now that¡¯s a plan. I was thinking the same thing.¡± She wrapped her arms around his waist. ¡°Alright, driver¡ªlet¡¯s roll.¡± The motorcycle roared to life, speeding toward the chemical plant. High atop the town¡¯s clock tower, a young man watched them through a binocular scope. As the motorcycle raced away, he muttered into his walkie-talkie. ¡°Brother Ding, looks like they¡¯re headed for the chemical plant. That¡¯s the fourth group this week.¡± A raspy voice crackled through the speaker. ¡°Let them go. Doesn¡¯t matter. ¡°They¡¯re already here. They won¡¯t be leaving.¡± Chapter 186: Lantern Flower At 16:20 in the afternoon, Lin Xian sped through the streets of the small town on his motorcycle, racing toward the large chemical plant. Towering distillation towers and numerous silver storage tanks came into view. His bike rolled over scattered debris as he passed through the collapsed entrance of the chemical plant, entering a wide-open area. Looking around, many parts of the plant were flooded with wastewater, and some areas had strange-colored liquid flowing across the ground. A pungent smell lingered in the air. At the same time, Shu Qin and Big Luo arrived in a jeep, driving in through another entrance. "Captain Lin." Shu Qin pulled out a roughly sketched map and said to Lin Xian, "We checked the areas where those eerie entities retreated last night and then scouted the main roads in and out of this town. We¡¯re fairly certain that a circular zone is covering all of Rain Town. If our calculations are correct, this chemical plant is the center of it." Lin Xian nodded at her words and turned to look at the massive distillation tower. "Then this must be the place." ¡ªVmmm¡ª Not far away, KIKI had already calibrated the drone and sent it soaring into the air, letting it scout the plant from above. The live feed showed an eerily silent chemical plant. KIKI, staring at the screen, commented, "No signs of people. Looks normal enough." "Impossible for it to be normal." Lin Xian raised his hand, conjuring a small telescope from thin air and handing it to Shu Qin. "Shu Qin, find a high vantage point and keep watch." "Got it." Shu Qin slung her Remington M96 onto her back and swiftly leaped onto a nearby concrete pillar, using it as a stepping stone to propel herself onto the factory''s raw material pipeline. Moving rapidly, she climbed toward a high observation tower. "Big Luo, watch the entrance and roads." "On it, Brother Xian." Big Luo grabbed his Gatling gun and headed for the main gate. With everything in place, Lin Xian pulled out two gas masks, tossing one to KIKI. After putting them on, the two made their way toward the largest chemical workshop. "Hey, Lin Xian, did you scan that TRP power armor from that guy earlier?" KIKI kept up with him, effortlessly hovering above the strange liquids on the ground instead of stepping through them. "I wanted to, but I couldn¡¯t just say, ''Hey, buddy, hold still while I scan your gear,¡¯ could I?" "Pfft¡ª" KIKI burst into laughter. "Hahaha~ You¡¯re such an idiot! Why didn¡¯t you just do it when he wasn¡¯t looking? Or let me knock him out?" Lin Xian was speechless. Regardless of their suspicions about Ding Qing¡¯s group, those guys had still helped them. Even if they had ulterior motives, it didn¡¯t mean he could just attack them out of nowhere. Besides, the power armor was a highly complex piece of equipment¡ªscanning it wouldn¡¯t be a quick job. "Stay focused. Don¡¯t get distracted." Lin Xian didn¡¯t want to waste time on banter. His senses were sharp, carefully surveying their surroundings. "By the way, why didn¡¯t you bring that fire-loving idiot along?" KIKI asked. "We¡¯re just here to scout. If anything seems off, we¡¯re pulling out immediately. There¡¯s probably another convoy in town, plus impostors and eerie entities lurking around. Better to leave a reliable ability user behind." "Really? I thought you were just worried about your dear Teacher Chen~" KIKI teased, grinning. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t believe this girl still had the mood to joke in such a tense situation. Amused, he smirked. "Oh? Jealous, are you?" "Tch¡ªjealous my ass." They wove through a maze of massive pipelines, making turn after turn, until they finally reached the structure beneath the tallest distillation tower. A massive iron door stood in front of them, bearing the words "Reagent Workshop No. 1." The door was slightly ajar, and from within, a chilling wind howled, echoing with eerie emptiness. "Let¡¯s check it out. If anything seems off, we leave immediately." Lin Xian tensed, gripping his rifle as he conjured a small steel shield, then stepped inside. ¡ªWhoosh¡ª A gust of freezing air surged past them. The moment they entered, they saw a colossal metal reaction kettle suspended in the air. Above it, a massive yellow-painted overhead crane loomed. Below, the floor sank into a sublevel filled with towering silver storage tanks¡ªmany of which had already toppled. A massive volume of colorless liquid had spilled out, submerging nearly a third of the lower level, making it look like a bottomless black swimming pool. Lin Xian knew better than to assume the liquid was harmless. Approaching one of the storage tanks, he furrowed his brows. "Damn... 70% tert-butyl hydroperoxide..." KIKI tilted her head. "You know what that is?" "High school chemistry." Lin Xian glanced toward the massive reaction kettle overhead, his expression growing serious. "That thing up there should be an alkali preparation tank." "Meaning... is it dangerous?" "If this place were flooded with tert-butyl hydroperoxide, the whole factory would¡¯ve exploded already¡ªit''s highly flammable and can detonate from friction or vibrations. So, I doubt it leaked. It¡¯s probably just rainwater or something else pooling down there. But... if that alkali tank up top falls and hits the storage tanks, everything within a one-kilometer radius is gone." ¡ªHiss¡ª KIKI¡¯s face paled as she nervously eyed the massive metal tank. "Sh*t, that¡¯s terrifying." Lin Xian was already considering retreating when something caught his eye¡ªa faint orange glow flickering behind the reaction kettle and storage tanks. His expression sharpened as he broke into a sprint along the metal catwalk. Seeing Lin Xian move, KIKI flew after him. As they got closer, their expressions grew grim. What they saw emerging before them was a bizarre, towering plant. Rising from the chemical pool below, a thick, dark green stem stretched several meters high before bending downward in an arc. At its tip hung an enormous lantern-shaped flower nearly two meters in diameter. Inside the flower¡¯s bloom, layers of deep red, fleshy filaments pulsed with a dim, eerie glow. Its orange petals, veined with intricate patterns, gave off a strangely hypnotic radiance. This gigantic plant, growing in a pool of chemical waste amid towering metal tanks, was utterly unnatural. "Whoa... that''s one big-ass flower." KIKI¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. "Could this be like our Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum? A Blood Scourge Flora?" Lin Xian sucked in a breath. "I was thinking the same thing, but..." He fixated on the flower, unsettled by the unnatural pulsations of its red-orange glow. It gave off an almost sinister presence. More than that... It felt alive in a way plants shouldn¡¯t. "But what?" "It looks like a plant... but it also doesn¡¯t." Both of them had the same eerie sensation¡ªthat the glow was flickering rhythmically. And the lantern flower itself... was subtly rising and falling, as though it were... Breathing. KIKI¡¯s face turned pale as she murmured, "Wait... is this flower...?" Lin Xian felt his skin crawl. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. At that moment¡ª A faint clinking sound came from his backpack. His heart sank as he immediately recognized what it was. Without hesitation, he unzipped the bag, conjured a metal clamp, and yanked out two glass vials before tossing them onto the ground. ¡ªClink!¡ª The vials shattered, and two white parasites tumbled out, lying motionless... seemingly dead. "What¡¯s wrong?" KIKI asked. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. "Something¡¯s seriously wrong with this place." As the red glow from the lantern flower bathed over them, the two white parasites suddenly twitched, extending their hooked claws before violently launching themselves into the chemical pool below. Chapter 187: The Great Parasite "That guy said this was to prevent impostors from invading¡ªwhat a liar!" KIKI immediately realized something was off. The two parasites¡¯ sudden reaction in front of the giant lantern flower meant there had to be a deeper secret. Lin Xian made a snap decision. "KIKI! Quick, try pulling this flower out!" "On it!" Without hesitation, KIKI extended her hand forward, unleashing her psychokinesis to envelop the lantern flower. However, the moment her advanced telekinetic power took hold, the flower merely trembled, and the chemical pool below it began violently shaking. The surrounding storage tanks rattled, and the liquid surface rippled with a low, ominous hum. ¡ªGurgle¡ª At that moment, bubbles began rising from the black chemical pool. At first, there were only a few, but soon, they multiplied rapidly, giving the appearance of a boiling pot. Lin Xian turned to KIKI and saw that her face was flushed red from exertion. Below them, the storage tanks were starting to warp under the invisible force she exerted. "Stop pulling!" Lin Xian shouted immediately. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide was an extremely flammable and explosive chemical. Even vibrations and friction could cause a disaster. If KIKI accidentally ruptured one of the tanks, not even ten layers of steel walls would save them from being vaporized. Beads of sweat formed on KIKI¡¯s forehead. Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s urgent command, she reluctantly stopped, gasping, "The roots are deep¡ªwhat we see above ground is only a fraction of it. I can¡¯t pull it out." As she spoke, the bubbles in the chemical pool became more violent. Then, in their direct line of sight, a pale, humanoid figure slowly emerged from the depths. Their expressions darkened instantly. Because that thing¡ªwas yet another flayed, flesh-exposed "meat-bone" entity! The meat-bone creature was ghastly white, soaked in the chemical solution. With its exposed muscles and organs, it looked grotesquely horrifying. But that wasn¡¯t the worst part. One after another, more and more bloated, pale meat-bone entities began floating to the surface. Ten... twenty... fifty... a hundred... three hundred... Hundreds of them, densely packed, like a pot of boiling, swollen porridge. The sight alone was enough to make one''s skin crawl. Lin Xian and KIKI stood frozen, their stomachs twisting with unease. "This... how the hell are there so many dead bodies in a chemical plant?" KIKI¡¯s face turned deathly pale as she fought the urge to vomit. Lin Xian could already imagine the stench. If not for their gas masks, they might have passed out from the sheer horror of it. "Time to go." Without hesitation, Lin Xian turned to retreat. At this point, it was obvious¡ªthe reason the black night eerie entities couldn''t enter this town had to be this lantern flower. If even KIKI, an advanced psychokinetic, couldn¡¯t budge it, then it made sense that no one else could either. In his mind, Lin Xian still believed the lantern flower was a Blood Scourge Flora, and he was even considering negotiating with Director Ding about how to take it away. But in the next moment, that thought vanished completely. Because suddenly¡ª The hundreds of pale meat-bone corpses in the chemical pool began to rise, their bodies shifting aside as if something even larger was emerging beneath them. ¡ªRUMBLE¡ª Tremors. Waves of liquid sloshing. Corpses sliding off something massive. Lin Xian and KIKI barely glanced before realizing¡ªthis was about to get really bad. "Shu Qin, Big Luo¡ªprepare to retreat!" Lin Xian barked into the comms, breaking into a sprint. ¡ªCRASH!¡ª A colossal black tendril, dozens of meters long, surged out of the chemical depths. Its front end had several humanoid appendages, and at its core was a gaping maw, lined with rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. "This lantern flower... is alive!!" KIKI shrieked as she shot into the air, racing toward the exit. But the tendril was too long, and it moved like it had eyes¡ªcurling inward before violently lunging straight at Lin Xian! "LIN XIAN!" KIKI tried using her psychokinesis to stop it, but the moment her power gripped the tendril, she realized¡ªshe couldn¡¯t hold it back! It was too strong. ¡ªSWISH!¡ª At the last second, Lin Xian activated his Backlash ability, his figure flickering into a silver afterimage, narrowly dodging the incoming tentacle strike. ¡ªBOOM!¡ª The massive tendril punched straight through the entrance door, blocking the escape route. "Lin Xian¡ªthat way!" From above, KIKI pointed toward another emergency exit. But Lin Xian¡¯s face fell. "LOOK OUT!!" Because behind KIKI¡ªa second tendril appeared! ¡ªCRUNCH!¡ª A muffled air-tearing sound echoed through the chemical plant. Before she could react, the second tendril¡¯s maw snapped shut around KIKI! But at the last moment, she enveloped herself in a psychic barrier, preventing the tendril from crushing her outright. Instead, she was launched across the room like a kicked balloon. "Take the skylight!" Lin Xian shouted as he sprinted toward the emergency door, while KIKI, still airborne, turned toward the upper vents. She nodded. "Got it!" ¡ªCLANG CLANG CLANG¡ª At that moment, the lantern flower''s glow intensified, and all the meat-bone corpses in the chemical pool came to life. Their muscles twitched as they scrambled up the walls, moving like a horde of faceless zombies, their bodies dripping with chemical-laced water, some of them already rotting and dissolving. "F*** THIS!" Lin Xian waved his hand, instantly conjuring a chaotic network of metal scaffolding, forming a barrier behind him. But the meat-bone creatures didn¡¯t stop¡ªthey threw themselves against the barrier, their bodies shredded apart by the metal. And from the exposed muscle tissue¡ªcountless white parasites burst forth, crawling at terrifying speed toward Lin Xian! Meanwhile¡ª At the main entrance, the first massive tendril swept across, destroying the iron gate and part of the wall, cutting off the escape path! Seeing the emergency door about to be sealed off, Lin Xian activated Backlash once more¡ª ¡ªWHOOSH!¡ª A silver flash¡ª But before he could make it, the tendril struck mid-air, slamming him out of the air and violently crashing him into the ground. His entire body reeled from the impact, and for a moment, his vision blurred. ¡ªRUMBLE¡ª His ears rang, his body screamed in pain, and through hazy vision, he saw the dark sky above and the inverted cooling tower in the distance. A loud beeping sound grew clearer in his mind. Then¡ª A strong force yanked him backward. Lin Xian looked up. It was Shu Qin. "Captain Lin!!" She shouted, unloading her Remington M96 in rapid fire at the tendril. Big Luo, wielding his Roarer K23 Electric Gatling, unleashed a storm of bullets, providing cover fire. As Lin Xian¡¯s senses returned, he saw KIKI escape through the skylight¡ªand finally exhaled in relief. "Retreat!" Without hesitation, he gave the order. Shu Qin leapt into the jeep, Big Luo reloaded and followed. Lin Xian jumped onto his motorcycle, KIKI hopped on behind him, and with a blazing roar of the engine, they sped out of the chemical plant, leaving the horror behind them. Chapter 188: Territory Boom! Boom! Boom! The deafening noise still rumbled behind them. As the off-road vehicle and motorcycle sped far away, the roaring gradually faded into the distance. "Is everyone okay?" Lin Xian pressed down on the communicator. "No problem." Shu Qin and Big Luo¡¯s voices came through. At that moment, the eerie glow of the Dark Tides flickered across the skyline, and the entire town was instantly swallowed by darkness. From the sky above, a light drizzle began to fall. Everyone''s expressions tensed immediately. After experiencing last night''s Eerie Entities swarming the train, their eyes darted around, vigilantly watching the surrounding darkness. The headlights of the off-road vehicle and the motorcycle faintly cut through the town''s streets, but strangely, no Eerie Entities emerged from the darkness. Aside from the echoes of their engines, the entire street was eerily silent and desolate. "Captain Lin, what was that thing just now?" Shu Qin¡¯s voice came through the communicator. Lin Xian, panting heavily, responded while speeding forward on his motorcycle. "If I guessed correctly, that thing inside the Chemical Plant was a Major Parasite Creature, not some Blood Scourge Flora or a special material that could repel Eerie Entities. The reason those things outside couldn¡¯t enter was because this entire town, within a few kilometers of it..." "...is its territory!" Inside the off-road vehicle, Shu Qin and Big Luo''s faces changed drastically upon hearing this. Lin Xian was cursing internally. That so-called Bone Worm Ding Qing had given him was definitely bad news! That bastard had already predicted he would head to the chemical plant. He had pretended to warn him against going but deliberately withheld the truth about what was inside. It was a classic "killing with a borrowed knife" tactic! Because this guy had saved KIKI earlier and had helped him take down that White Inverted Monster, Lin Xian had held back his suspicion about the parasitic creature in the glass vial and planned to have Director Ding examine it later. But who would''ve thought¡ªtrouble had already arrived before that could happen! "Captain Lin, watch out." The sudden voice in the communicator snapped Lin Xian back to reality. He lifted his flashlight and immediately squeezed the brakes on his motorcycle. Screech¡ª! The sharp sound of braking echoed through the street. Lin Xian stopped his motorcycle and swept his light cautiously at the houses on both sides of the road. Slowly, he reached for the gun on his back. All around, faint candlelight flickered from dozens of windows, just like what they had seen last night through the drone surveillance. But something was off. The street was dead silent, and the houses didn''t look inhabited at all. Lin Xian released the brakes and slowly rolled forward. His flashlight swept past the glowing windows one by one. That¡¯s when he noticed something chilling¡ªinside each lit window, there seemed to be a black silhouette standing still. And as he got closer, those silhouettes also seemed to move toward the window. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted. Then, he saw it. A pale, expressionless man stepped out of the shadows and stood by the window, his vacant gaze locked onto him. And then¡ª His lips curled into a twisted, eerie smile. Impostors! A shiver ran down Lin Xian¡¯s spine. At that moment, everyone looked up¡ª Across the entire town, countless candlelit windows flickered to life, revealing one figure after another. They were men and women, young and old, all dressed like ordinary humans. Some looked almost real, while others had loose, sagging facial skin¡ªrevealing grotesque red worms writhing beneath the torn flesh. As if they had worn their human skins improperly. "Go! Now!" A chilling wave of malicious gazes fell upon them, making Lin Xian''s blood run cold. Without hesitation, he revved the throttle, tearing down the street alongside the off-road vehicle, racing out of town at full speed. At Rain Town¡¯s Freight Platform, warm golden light glowed from the Infinite Train''s carriages. Standing on top of Carriage No. 2¡¯s sniper hatch, Chen Sixuan gripped her sniper rifle, anxiously watching the approaching headlights. Beside her, Shasha, Lu Xingchen, and Miao Lu stood ready to cover and assist them. Vroom! The off-road vehicle and motorcycle sped onto the platform. The elevator ramp of Carriage No. 11 had already been lowered. Big Luo expertly drove the vehicle inside, while Lin Xian and KIKI maneuvered their motorcycle up as well. As soon as the elevator platform ascended and the cabin doors shut, Lin Xian finally exhaled in relief. "Are you guys okay?" Chen Sixuan climbed down from the sniper hatch, shutting the top cover, her expression tense. Lin Xian glanced at a few minor scrapes on himself and shook his head. "Lucky." His gaze swept over the other carriages before he turned to Chen Sixuan. "What about you all?" "We found a lot of supplies in those warehouses!" Shasha stepped forward, sounding excited. "Didn¡¯t run into any monsters. But when Sister Chen told us you encountered Impostors, we all got scared and rushed back onto the train to wait for you." Lin Xian nodded, feeling relieved. Good. His judgment had been correct¡ªthese eerie, unknown places were no place for ordinary people to explore. Otherwise, they¡¯d just end up as cannon fodder. Aside from unnecessary casualties, they wouldn¡¯t be much help. "So, what now?" Chen Sixuan asked with concern. "It¡¯s already dark. Do we set off?" Just thinking about those humanoid monsters made her skin crawl. This fear felt even worse than facing insects or spiders. Lin Xian took a few deep breaths, lifted the blackout panel, and looked out toward the dark platform and the shadowy silhouette of the town. His expression was grave. "We wait and observe. If that parasitic creature doesn¡¯t chase us, the best option is to stay here until dawn. If it comes after us, we leave immediately. Everyone, be ready¡ªwe might need to move at any moment." "Understood." The crew responded. Lin Xian assigned Shu Qin and Big Luo to inspect each carriage, while Chen Sixuan went to the control cabin, unlocking the train¡¯s limiters and standing by for immediate departure. Night fell, eerily silent. Because of the Impostors, the train crew was murmuring anxiously, and an air of unease filled the carriages. Being stuck in a town full of Impostors and some unknown parasitic entity was even more unnerving than last night¡¯s horrors. Lin Xian entered the control cabin. Seeing Chen Sixuan sitting upright, her face full of anxiety, he reassured her. "Relax. The train is still safe. Little KIKI and I already encountered them in the daytime. Besides that Major Parasite Creature in the Chemical Plant, the Impostors aren¡¯t particularly strong. As long as we stay alert, we¡¯ll be fine." "...I know," Chen Sixuan exhaled, still uneasy. "But I keep thinking... if these things show up elsewhere, how many other convoys will suffer? And they can move during the day too..." Lin Xian pondered. "Not necessarily. So far, all the Impostors seem to be controlled by some kind of parasite, likely related to the Major Parasite Creature in the Chemical Plant. It¡¯s possible they can only operate within a limited range." "...I hope so." Chen Sixuan nodded. Then she suddenly thought of something. "By the way, Director Ding seems busy with something. Want to check on her?" "I was just about to." As Lin Xian turned to leave¡ª Grab! Chen Sixuan suddenly seized his wrist. "Lin Xian, look!" Lin Xian turned back¡ª Outside the cockpit window, from the dark station platform, a figure was rapidly approaching. But it wasn¡¯t running¡ªit was floating. Lin Xian''s expression changed immediately, preparing to strike¡ª But the moment the figure entered the train¡¯s headlights, a familiar face full of anger came into view. It was KIKI! She flew to the window, pale-faced, puffing up her cheeks in fury, and shouted at the two of them from outside¡ª "Lin Xian, you bastard! How could you leave me behind and come back without me?!" Chapter 189: Invasion Lin Xian thought he must have misheard or misseen things. But right now, floating outside the train window through telekinetic ability¡ªwho else could it be if not KIKI? Beside him, Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes widened in shock, as if she also thought she was seeing things, her mind momentarily blank. "Little girl?!" "It''s me! What¡¯s going on? How did you guys leave me behind?" Lin Xian¡¯s face was filled with disbelief. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his expression gradually froze. If KIKI was outside... then who came back with him onto the train? Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed as he suddenly turned and sprinted toward Carriage No. 1, heading straight for the Eerie Cube. [Beep! Non-mechanical force detected. Initiating reflective scan.] [Warning! The train has been invaded by dark forces!] In an instant, a chill surged from the soles of his feet straight to the back of his head. Buzz! The Eerie Cube''s power flared up, and a terrifying low growl erupted from the carriage ahead¡ªlike a demon''s hollowed-out roar. Bang! Bang! Bang! The sharp sound of three gunshots followed immediately after. "Not good!" It came from Carriage No. 3! Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Without hesitation, he dashed forward while simultaneously opening the cockpit door to let KIKI in. The KIKI on the train was fake! His first concern now was Shasha and Director Ding. The gunfire instantly alerted everyone in the surrounding carriages. As Lin Xian sprinted forward, the bathroom door of Carriage No. 1 swung open. Shasha emerged, her small face pale with fear. "Brother Lin, what¡¯s going on?" Seeing the little girl, Lin Xian let out half a sigh of relief. He had no time to explain and bolted toward Carriage No. 3. Thinking back, KIKI had been eerily quiet the entire way, simply sitting at the back of the motorcycle without a word. That was strange. But something didn¡¯t add up¡ªweren¡¯t the Impostors supposed to wear human skin to blend in? If one had taken KIKI¡¯s form... didn¡¯t that mean KIKI was already dead? Chaotic thoughts flashed through Lin Xian¡¯s mind, but there was no time to dwell on them. As soon as he reached Carriage No. 3, he saw research equipment scattered across the floor in a mess. A pale, tiny Flesh-Boned Being wriggled rapidly across the floor. In the corner, Director Ding held a handgun. Though she appeared calm, her trembling hands betrayed her fear. "It¡¯s a Mimic Parasite." Director Ding spoke. "It tried to attack me, but... it seemed more interested in the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum." Thud, thud, thud! From the other side, Lu Xingchen and Luo Ye rushed in. Seeing the countless white parasites crawling across the floor, Lin Xian immediately shouted at Lu Xingchen, "Firebro, burn them all!" "On it!" Lu Xingchen moved swiftly, stepping forward with a sharp gaze. Without even calling out his attack¡¯s name, he raised his hand¡ª Fwoosh! Blazing flames engulfed the Flesh-Boned Being and the swarming parasites. Lin Xian hurriedly pulled Director Ding back, raising an Ice Shield to block the flames. "Disaster Flora!" But amidst the roaring fire, Ding Junyi¡¯s main concern was still the Blood Scourge Flora. "Forget it!" Lin Xian pressed her back. At that moment, an invisible wave of telekinetic energy surged forward, suppressing the rising flames and perfectly controlling the fire around the Flesh-Boned Being¡ªpreventing the entire train carriage from burning down. Standing at the doorway of Carriage No. 3, KIKI¡¯s face was pale as she held her hand out, restraining the flames. With their combined efforts, the parasites were reduced to ashes. The Flesh-Boned Being struggled desperately, raising its arms and letting out a chilling shriek¡ª "AHHHHH!!!" The sound was raspy, almost like a young girl¡¯s hoarse voice. A foul stench filled the air. Within moments, the Flesh-Boned Being stopped moving, charred into a pile of blackened remains. The heat in Carriage No. 3 was stifling. All the key personnel had gathered, their faces grim as they stared at the scorched corpse. "What¡¯s going on? She... she looked just like KIKI!" Shasha¡¯s eyes were wide with fear as she pointed at the charred body, then turned to the real KIKI. "How could that be?!" KIKI flicked Shasha¡¯s forehead. "Your sister¡¯s right here! Don¡¯t you recognize me? I¡¯ve spoiled you for nothing!" "Don¡¯t blame her," Ding Junyi said. "When she first came in, even I didn¡¯t realize something was off." "How is that possible?" Shu Qin crouched beside the burnt corpse, frowning. "Aren¡¯t the Impostors supposed to wear human skin?" At her words, everyone turned to look at KIKI. Lin Xian also turned to her. "What happened? Back at the chemical plant, didn¡¯t you see me?" KIKI looked confused and blurted out, "That¡¯s what I was about to say! When I flew out through the skylight, I saw you running back inside. I thought you hit your head or something and rushed to save you! I almost got caught by that monster¡¯s tentacles! But after searching the plant for ages, I never found you. And when I finally came out¡ªyour train was gone!" "I thought..." She shot Lin Xian a glare but quickly swallowed her frustration as realization dawned. Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed. "I never went back. After I got out, Shu Qin and the others pulled me away. I saw you outside and thought you were fine. Once you got on the train, I left immediately." He paused, his expression shifting. "I get it now..." "It had to be those two Bone Worms." "Bone Worms?" Lin Xian didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he activated the Eerie Cube and rescanned the train. [Beep! Non-mechanical force detected. Initiating reflective scan.] [Scan complete. No threats detected onboard. Dark force invasion neutralized.] Phew¡ª Lin Xian finally let out a breath. It seemed the danger was over. The others looked puzzled¡ªnone of them knew what the Eerie Cube actually did. Lin Xian didn¡¯t bother explaining. He turned to KIKI. "You saw a fake me, and I saw a fake you. If it was just the two of us, that means two Impostors appeared without needing human skin. The only explanation is those two Bone Worms." KIKI¡¯s face scrunched up. "So we brought those things onboard... and they can mimic people without skin?" "Maybe just temporarily," Ding Junyi suggested. "When I shot her, I noticed her outer tissue was dissolving. It might not last long." Lin Xian fell silent. That was a reasonable assumption. But he had a different theory¡ª The moment he activated the Eerie Cube, the Flesh-Boned Being let out that horrible scream. His gaze shifted to the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum¡ªits red glow had mysteriously intensified. "Right, you said it first tried to attack you... but then turned toward the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum?" "Yeah." Ding Junyi nodded. "I can¡¯t be sure if its primary goal was the Disaster Flora, but at that moment, it definitely prioritized it." "Then we got lucky," Lu Xingchen remarked. "At least it didn¡¯t cause any casualties or major damage." Lin Xian¡¯s eyes swept over the charred remains on the ground. Lantern Flowers. Impostor infiltration. Someone had nearly led them into a deadly trap. "AHH!!" A sudden scream from the rear carriage. Miao Lu¡¯s voice crackled over the communicator. "Captain Lin! We have hostiles outside!" Lin Xian¡¯s heart clenched. He immediately opened the train¡¯s blackout panels¡ª In that instant¡ª Everyone¡¯s faces turned pale. Outside, on what had been an empty, dark freight station platform¡ª Was now packed with people! Chapter 190: Encircled Boom! Beneath the dark night, the sky suddenly cracked open. A silver lightning bolt tore through the darkness, echoing thunderously among the storm clouds. Heavy rain poured down. At the Freight Platform of Rain Town, a massive black armored train stood still. On the platform, an eerie sight unfolded¡ªcountless figures had appeared out of nowhere. Men and women, young and old, all stood motionless in the rain, their eyes locked onto the train. The scene sent chills down the spines of those inside the train. These people looked almost identical to ordinary humans, but the deathly cold aura they emitted was unmistakable. Their skin had unnatural wrinkles; some were stretched too tight, revealing strange bulges underneath. Then, all at once, these ''people'' fixed their gazes on the Infinite Train and slowly grinned¡ªgrotesque, unnatural smiles. Inside the Infinite Train, the passengers exchanged uneasy glances. The air felt heavy, suffocating. Rain pounded against the armor plates of the train, creating an unsettling rhythm. Lin Xian sensed something was off. Silently, he signaled the others¡ªKIKI, Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin¡ªthey immediately understood his intent. Without hesitation, Lin Xian slowly raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist. At that moment, the motionless figures outside suddenly opened their mouths wide. Beneath their seemingly human faces were gaping maws filled with razor-sharp teeth, and from the depths of their throats, countless red tendrils writhed out. "Go!" Lin Xian clenched his fist and shouted. Vroom! The Infinite Train trembled violently as Mechanical Heart activated. The nuclear-powered electric locomotive hummed to life, and the gas turbine locomotive roared. Wooooo¡ª The train lurched forward. "Grab your weapons! Get ready for battle!" Lin Xian commanded. KIKI was the first to strike. Clenching her silver teeth, she unleashed her ability and sent a powerful blast surging forward! BOOM! A massive shockwave exploded, instantly creating a vacuum zone in the torrential rain. The figures on the platform were blasted away, scattering in all directions. Wasting no time, Shu Qin led a group toward the rear carriages, while Da Lou and Shasha grabbed their guns and sprinted to Car 2 and Car 5 respectively. Thud! Thud! Thud! Before the train could even pick up speed, a horde of impostors burst out from the darkness, racing toward the train at an inhuman speed. Their mouths bristled with writhing tendrils, which latched onto the armored plating as razor-sharp claws began tearing at the metal. A grotesquely bloated impostor with dissolving flesh sluggishly climbed onto Car 3¡¯s rooftop. From its decaying skin, countless red parasites oozed like liquid night, wriggling into the gaps of the train¡¯s outer armor, gnawing their way inside. Ssshhhhh! Luckily, Cars 3 and 4 were Kor-3 Biological Science Research Carriages, constructed with high-grade airtight materials. Unlike the passenger cars, there were no exposed gaps, preventing the parasites from infiltrating. The red worms, unable to burrow inside, furiously chewed on the outer metal plating, producing a nauseating scraping sound. Inside, Ding Junyi listened to the chaos above. Her gaze fell upon the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, its red glow intensifying. Her expression flickered¡ªshe was deep in thought. The Infinite Train barreled out of the freight platform, but the impostors continued clinging onto the train¡¯s exterior. Meanwhile, in the driver¡¯s cabin, Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression was grim. "Lin Xian, it¡¯s nighttime. If we keep going... won¡¯t it...?" "I know." Lin Xian¡¯s voice was heavy. "I¡¯m guessing our Blood Scourge Flora must have drawn their attention. We don¡¯t have another choice." Ahead, eerie entities lurked in the darkness. Behind, impostors relentlessly pursued them. And back in the town, that lantern-flowered creature was undoubtedly a high-level threat. Lin Xian had no escape route. But just now, the impostors'' invasion had been terrifying¡ªhe had truly thought KIKI was going to die for a moment. No time to hesitate. Only one option left¡ªkeep running. BOOM! At the rear of the train, KIKI¡ªpale and exhausted¡ªsprinted toward Car 3. With one final effort, she blasted a shockwave onto the rooftop. Swoosh! The red parasites were instantly blown away. The bloated impostor, its dissolved flesh peeling, exploded into a white, putrid liquid, splattering onto the rain-drenched tracks. Its skeletal remains tumbled off the train. "Thanks." Ding Junyi nodded at her. KIKI gasped for breath, waving a hand dismissively before turning and rushing toward the driver¡¯s cabin. She was completely drained from the chemical plant battle, and the earlier fight in the cinema had left her utterly exhausted. But now, as the train plunged into the dark night, she had no room for weakness. She had barely survived last night¡ªtonight could be even worse. BZZT! KIKI used telekinesis to shove two impostors off the front of the train, sending them crashing onto the tracks where the train wheels pulverized them. "Lin Xian! If we keep going, we¡¯re going to attract even more monsters!" KIKI shouted breathlessly. "I know." Lin Xian turned to see KIKI¡¯s pale face. "I stocked up the Weapon Station with one full round of ammo. If we get surrounded, use it to blast a path through!" Realization dawned on KIKI. "Right! I almost forgot! I¡¯ll go set it up now!" In the driver¡¯s cabin, Chen Sixuan stared into the abyss ahead. "In ten minutes, we¡¯ll merge onto the main track. But once we leave this town¡¯s range... will they still follow us?" "If this town is truly that lantern creature¡¯s territory, they might stop chasing us." Lin Xian paused. "But these dark entities don¡¯t follow normal logic. Right now, our Blood Scourge Flora is clearly drawing these impostor parasites toward us, so we need to prepare for the worst-case scenario." Chen Sixuan frowned. "From what you¡¯re saying... the creature at the chemical plant¡ªcould it be their ''mother''?" "Absolutely!" KIKI clutched her chest, still catching her breath. "Chen-jiejie, you didn¡¯t see it! That factory pool was filled with skinned corpses. It was horrifying." Lin Xian nodded. "Exactly. If that thing can control these flesh-bone creatures and send them after us, then it¡¯s highly likely that all the impostors in this town are connected to it. Which means¡ªit¡¯s the mother body!" BOOM! The train suddenly jerked violently, as if something had grabbed onto it. The brutal inertia nearly sent the three of them crashing to the floor. KIKI reacted instantly, using telekinesis to stabilize them before they could slam into the control panel. "What¡¯s happening back there?!" Lin Xian shouted into the radio. "Lin-ge, there¡¯s a snake!" Shasha¡¯s panicked voice crackled through. BOOM! Before anyone could react, the headlights illuminated a monstrous black shadow, barreling through the forest and vanishing into the darkness. A thick, barrel-sized creature¡ªwas it a tentacle? A snake? They had no idea how long it was. "We already left the town¡¯s range?!" KIKI exclaimed. Gunfire erupted. Howls filled the valley. The impostors still clung onto the train, attacking relentlessly. "Damn it! Full speed ahead!" Lin Xian growled. But before he could accelerate, Ding Junyi stepped forward, gripping the wall. Her expression was grim. "Lin Xian... I strongly suggest we stop right now. Otherwise¡ª "We might be heading straight to our deaths." Chapter 191: Serving The rain poured relentlessly. In the cold, desolate darkness, Rain Town stood eerily silent. In the distant valley, a train sped away, its flickering lights uncertain¡ªan omen of either fortune or disaster. Throughout the town¡ªon street corners, in shadowed alleys, and standing by windows¡ªcountless unmoving impostors lurked. They bore no expressions, resembling mannequins in storefronts, continuously sniffing the night air. Inside the town¡¯s cinema, the screening hall was packed with twisted, grotesque flesh-and-bone beings, silently rotting away in the dark. Atop the town¡¯s clock tower, Ding Qing watched the departing train, his expression sharp and cold. ¡°Ding-ge, they got away.¡± Beside him, a young man with binoculars, Luo Rong, scowled. ¡°I told you we should¡¯ve taken that train when their core members left for the chemical plant. Now, we¡¯ve lost our chance.¡± Before Ding Qing could respond, Duan Min cut in coldly, ¡°One¡¯s an electrokinetic, the other¡¯s telekinetic¡ªboth are deadly opponents. Even the parasitic mimic-demons in the chemical plant couldn¡¯t stop them, and you think we could raid their base?¡± ¡°Then what do we do?¡± Luo Rong gritted his teeth. ¡°That damn thing is getting more agitated. If we don¡¯t find it some blood soon, those impostors will start coming after us.¡± Duan Min¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Blood! Blood! We¡¯re becoming no different from those parasites because of this!¡± Luo Rong scoffed, clearly displeased. ¡°Duan-jie, those people brought this on themselves. We warned them about the danger, but they still insisted on going. It¡¯s got nothing to do with us.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Ding Qing¡¯s patience wore thin, and his voice carried a weight that silenced them both. ¡°Once you come here, there¡¯s no escaping. Even if they got away, the darkness will devour them. This is humanity¡¯s fate.¡± His gaze turned steely. ¡°Rongzi, take a group at dawn and follow the tracks. We should be able to recover plenty of bodies.¡± With that, he turned and descended the tower. Beneath the cinema, past the winding stairwell, lay an underground parking facility¡ªformerly a civilian shelter. Now, it was completely sealed off. Dim electric lights flickered over clusters of survivors. Some were asleep, others whispered in hushed tones, while a few families huddled around portable stoves, cooking meager meals. Despite its small size, the parking lot housed over a hundred people. ¡°Ding-ge, have you eaten? I made some soup.¡± A woman stirring a pot greeted them warmly. Ding Qing shook his head. ¡°No need, Wang-jie.¡± ¡°Is it safe outside today?¡± someone in the crowd asked. ¡°The chemical plant caused another disturbance¡ªshould we be worried?¡± ¡°I heard it¡¯s about to explode.¡± The survivors grew restless, voices overlapping. Ding Qing waved a hand dismissively. ¡°For now, it¡¯s not a problem. Even if it explodes, it won¡¯t affect us. Relax.¡± A frail elderly woman stepped forward, blocking his path, her face anxious. ¡°Ding-duizhang, isn¡¯t it true that a whole train of people arrived? Are they all dead? My grandson said if they¡¯re dead, we¡¯ll be safe for a month¡ªand we¡¯ll have plenty to eat.¡± Silence fell over the crowd. Dozens of eyes turned toward Ding Qing, some hopeful, some wary, others unreadable. ¡°They¡¯re as good as dead.¡± Luo Rong sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Granny Zhou. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take the convoy and bring back supplies. If anyone¡¯s still alive, I¡¯ll put a bullet in them myself.¡± A few survivors murmured in agreement, while others hesitated. ¡°But... if they had a train, doesn¡¯t that mean they could take a lot of people with them?¡± someone asked cautiously. The meaning behind the words was clear. Luo Rong snorted. ¡°Come on, Zhang-ge, do you really think they¡¯d take you along? If they could survive the darkness, why would they come here? If I hadn¡¯t led them into town last night, they¡¯d already be dead.¡± Disappointment flickered through the crowd. For most of them, survival meant waiting for new victims to arrive¡ªfresh blood sacrifices for the parasitic monstrosity that lurked in the town. In return, they gained a fragile peace, a hundred days of safety from the horrors of the night. At first, Ding Qing had turned a blind eye to it. But as time passed, Luo Rui and his faction began actively luring desperate survivors into Rain Town, leading to an increasing number of deaths. Eventually, even powerful ability-user convoys started showing up. Like the duo from earlier today. Luo Rong had already set up an ambush around the cinema, but Ding Qing sensed something was off about them. Fearing exposure and retaliation, he had personally intervened, using parasitic creatures to push the two ability users toward the monstrous parasite¡¯s maw. Yet, somehow, Lin Xian and his partner had still managed to escape. That alone proved his instincts were right¡ªif Luo Rui had taken action himself, their side would have suffered severe losses. But Luo Rong didn¡¯t see it that way. Blinded by his own desperation, he had come to view the eerie entities and parasitic monstrosity as tools, believing that as long as they served the creature well, Rain Town would remain a safe haven¡ªeven when the Eternal Night arrived. Except for the impostors, of course. ¡°Rui-zi.¡± Ding Qing¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°Enough talking. Get on watch duty. You¡¯re up tonight.¡± Luo Rui clicked his tongue in annoyance but nodded. ¡°Fine~¡± Ding Qing swept his gaze across the crowd. ¡°We¡¯ve made enough noise today. Everyone, keep quiet.¡± The survivors murmured their agreement. Most of them had no combat ability, relying entirely on Ding Qing¡¯s convoy to maintain this fragile shelter. Back in their private quarters, Duan Min pulled Ding Qing aside, concern in her eyes. ¡°Husband, if they manage to bring that train back... maybe we should leave?¡± ¡°Leave?¡± Ding Qing gave a bitter chuckle. ¡°And go where?¡± His shoulders sagged slightly as he exhaled. ¡°We¡¯ve already made a pact with the darkness. Do you think we still have the courage to face it?¡± On the railway tracks, the Infinite Train tore through the valley at full speed. More and more eerie creatures emerged from the darkness, and the train¡¯s combat crew fired relentlessly, carving a bloody path through the horde. In the Living Quarters, Shu Qin shoved a teammate aside just as a clawed appendage reached through a firing slit. In one swift motion, she grabbed her Remington M96, jammed it into the opening, and pulled the trigger. Boom! The blast incinerated the writhing limb instantly. ¡°Stay sharp!¡± she barked. The male teammate scrambled back to his feet, sweating profusely. ¡°Thanks, Qin-jie!¡± Without another word, he readied his weapon and rejoined the battle. Shu Qin¡¯s expression remained grim as she fought off the relentless assault. Since leaving Rain Town, the Infinite Train had faced an even deadlier onslaught. The impostors were nothing compared to what was attacking them now. Ever since crossing the Dazhu Plateau, the darkness hadn¡¯t given them a single moment of respite. It was madness. Chapter 192: Mark Car No. 5 The Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun in Luo Ye¡¯s hands had already run out of bullets, its rotating barrels glowing red-hot. Without hesitation, he picked up his old M556 Light Machine Gun and continued firing. In the middle of the carriage, Lu Xingchen cracked open the automatic door just enough to unleash torrents of fire, igniting vast stretches of trees along the way! Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian, KIKI, and Chen Sixuan listened to Ding Junyi¡¯s words, all showing confusion. ¡°Stop? Why?¡± Without wasting a second, Ding Junyi grabbed her mobile terminal, displaying the recently recorded changes in the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum for Lin Xian to see. ¡°I still don¡¯t know why those parasites are drawn to Blood Scourge Flora No. 1, but the shift in its red glow¡ªI think I¡¯ve found the reason.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression hardened. On the screen, the crimson glow of the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum had intensified dramatically at a specific moment¡ªvisible to the naked eye! Ding Junyi spoke urgently, ¡°Since the Blood Scourge Flora No. 1 was first recorded in the lab, there have been three instances of increased brightness and one instance of dimming. The three times it turned red were when we escaped from Underground City No. 9, from Yubei Spaceport, and just now¡ªfrom Rain Town! ¡°Although the sample size is too small to reach a rigorous scientific conclusion, this is a matter of life and death. So, considering the Predator Effect, I have a bold hypothesis: ¡°These Dark Entities leave some kind of invisible mark on prey they don¡¯t kill. The red glow on the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum is the physical manifestation of that mark¡ªjust like how the scent of blood in a forest attracts more predators. It makes us a bigger target for more Eerie Entities in the dark.¡± She took a deep breath and continued, ¡°This marking might be how Dark Entities communicate. There¡¯s also another possibility¡ªthe larger the Eerie Entity , the deeper the mark it leaves on us. ¡°If we explain what happened in Yubei City using the Predator Effect, then consider this¡ªwe didn¡¯t gain any new members after leaving Rain Town, yet the moment we stepped outside its territory, the red glow on the chrysanthemum changed! And immediately after, we were swarmed by Dark Entities! ¡°That¡¯s why I believe that if we keep running, and the marking accumulates past a certain threshold, we¡¯ll meet the same fate as Fireline Convoy¡ªtotal annihilation!¡± Ding Junyi finished in one breath, her eyes flickering. With her meticulous personality, making such a subjective claim was incredibly difficult. She also understood that if her theory was wrong but the team followed it, it could lead to their complete destruction. After hearing her, the three in the cockpit grew even more serious. Lin Xian furrowed his brows. ¡°So, you think the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum is acting as a warning for us humans?¡± Ding Junyi shook her head. ¡°Not exactly. But since this plant can absorb Dark Energy, it proves that Blood Scourge Flora No. 1 has the ability to perceive it. By that logic, the marks left by Dark Entities must also be a form of Dark Energy. ¡°But that¡¯s just one aspect. Its other functions will require more sampling and experim¡ª¡± ¡°Ding Junyi!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s sharp voice cut through, stopping her mid-sentence. His expression was grave as he snapped, ¡°Skip the analysis. Give me a conclusion¡ªnow!¡± Outside, the battlefield roared with explosions. Swarms of Eerie Entities kept slamming into the train¡¯s armored plating, testing its limits. Lin Xian was already at his limit¡ªthis was not the time for lengthy scientific reasoning. Ding Junyi flinched at his outburst. She opened her mouth in shock, then quickly steeled herself. ¡°Two options,¡± she stated firmly. ¡°One¡ªstop the train and kill every single Eerie Entity around us, completely erasing the mark. ¡°Two¡ªturn back to Rain Town and eliminate the Large Parasite and the Impostor Parasites. I recommend the second option. ¡°From a biological perspective, creatures that rely on traps tend to lack strong defense or escape capabilities . They¡¯re naturally fragile, which is why they need camouflage or traps to survive. ¡°The Large Parasite relies on splitting reproduction and Impostor Parasites for hunting. It has a fixed territory, meaning its combat capability might not be higher than the Eerie Entities we face in the dark. ¡°Meanwhile, our current crisis keeps escalating endlessly. Instead of dealing with this nightmare, Option Two has a much higher success rate. ¡°That¡¯s my conclusion.¡± KIKI and Chen Sixuan exchanged looks of disbelief, then turned to Lin Xian. His expression was darker than ever. As the team leader, every choice he made decided the team¡¯s survival. Ding Junyi¡¯s theory gave them a ray of hope, but also left him with a terrifying decision. Lin Xian¡¯s mind raced. His instincts screamed that Ding Junyi¡¯s marking hypothesis was most likely correct. It explained the Predator Effect. It explained why the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum changed after leaving Rain Town. And most importantly¡ªit aligned with something he had always suspected. The Pale Giant that chased them from Jiang City. The Crimson Dragonfly that pursued them from Yushan to Beiwang. The Sky Jellyfish that appeared after they escaped Underground City No. 9. The full-scale ambush they suffered after fleeing Yubei. Even the Iron Guard Battalion, hunted relentlessly by the Atmospheric Mica from Mount Daluo all the way to Yubei Spaceport . Hunter. Marking. The crimson glow of the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. It all made sense. Even last night, when KIKI casually mentioned it¡ªhow the more they ran, the more monsters came¡ªit was like they had a bounty on their heads in the dark. The team¡¯s growth was just the surface issue. The real problem was the mark on them, amplifying their danger in the night. If this theory was correct, then the safest strategy wasn¡¯t to keep running¡ªit was to eliminate every marked enemy and enter stealth mode. It was counterintuitive. Most people wouldn¡¯t think of it¡ªor wouldn¡¯t live long enough to figure it out. Because the Dark Entities could communicate. And that communication¡ªwas the Hunter¡¯s Mark. SCREEECH!! Suddenly, the Infinite Train slammed into an emergency brake! Many Eerie Entities crashed into the train¡¯s hull, some thrown off by sheer inertia. The tide of enemies swarmed the side carriages. Everyone inside grabbed onto whatever they could. Chen Sixuan turned to Lin Xian, knowing¡ªstopping meant he had made his choice. WOOO!! The electric engine roared, and before anyone could catch their breath, the train reversed direction! ¡°Lin Xian!!¡± Chen Sixuan shouted. ¡°We¡¯re going back.¡± Lin Xian locked eyes with Ding Junyi. ¡°I believe you.¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s gaze burned with determination. She simply nodded and turned toward Car No. 3. As a researcher, the only way she could contribute was through knowledge and information. As a team member, this was her duty. The entire train suddenly reversing caught everyone off guard. Lin Xian¡¯s voice rang through the train¡¯s communication system. ¡°Everyone, get ready. We¡¯re returning to Rain Town. Don¡¯t save bullets. Kill everything that moves.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡± Shu Qin acknowledged immediately, trusting him without question. ¡°Got it, Lin-ge!¡± Shasha chimed in. ¡°Wait, does that mean we¡¯re heading out to fight?¡± Lu Xingchen asked, almost excited. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Lin Xian responded decisively, pushing the Twin Star 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive to full throttle. He didn¡¯t know if Blue Planet¡¯s biological theories applied to Dark Entities, but he had already chosen to trust Ding Junyi. And in his mind¡ªa plan was already forming. Chapter 193: Human Traitor Whoosh¡ªwhoosh¡ª! Beneath the stormy night, the black train tore through the valleys at breakneck speed. Gunfire illuminated the darkness, revealing the monstrous Eerie Entities swarming from all directions. The overwhelming onslaught felt like something straight out of a horror movie. On top of the train, everyone who could fight was locked in combat, while some of the women assisted in transporting ammunition. Rat-a-tat-tat! Bullets rained down outside the train, while the torrential downpour and splattered blood washed over the armored hull, painting a gruesome scene. Yet, the monsters seemed endless, emerging relentlessly from the darkness. Just as Director Ding had warned, the Infinite Train had been marked by the scent of blood, drawing countless Dark Entities to attack. In just over ten minutes, the Infinite Train reappeared at the Rain Town Freight Platform. Its iron wheels screeched as it crushed the corpses of previously slain parasitic impostors, returning through a storm of blood and death. Boom! Boom! As they neared the station¡¯s outer perimeter, just as predicted, the Eerie Entities lurking in the dark began to fade into silence, gradually vanishing. Gunfire on the train ceased as well. Lin Xian and the others stood by the windows, peering toward the darkened station, fully prepared for a bloody battle against the impostors. The PX-05 Engineering Robots had already loaded the 1130 Close-In Weapon System with an ammunition belt, ready to fire at any moment. But something was off. Despite the train''s thunderous return, the freight platform, which had been crawling with parasitic impostors just minutes ago, was now eerily silent. Only a few scattered corpses and remnants of parasites remained¡ªaside from that, the platform was pitch black. The eerie silence mirrored the moment they had first arrived here last night. "Strange... There were so many of those disgusting impostors just now. How did they suddenly disappear?" "Stay alert." Lin Xian swept his gaze around before grabbing the communicator. "Everyone, stay on guard. Resupply ammunition immediately and watch for possible parasitic sneak attacks." Across the train, Lin Xian''s command was quickly relayed. Everyone moved swiftly, reloading weapons and clearing the firing ports. Though this temporary pause gave them a chance to catch their breath, tension still hung thick in the air. In the Living Carriage, no one spoke. Everyone worked in silent urgency. Lin Xian and KIKI made their way into Carriage No. 3, where the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum inside the plant cultivation chamber glowed with an even more piercing red light¡ªa foreboding omen. "Killing some of the parasites hasn¡¯t made the glow fade much." Lin Xian frowned. "This mark was definitely placed on us by the strongest entity in this territory." Ding Junyi, observing the changes intently, turned to Lin Xian, her expression solemn. "If we can prove this theory, it could save countless lives!" Lin Xian took a deep breath. "Let¡¯s worry about staying alive until tomorrow first." He wasn¡¯t here to play hero¡ªhe came back to keep his people alive. "So, that means the Predator Effect is at play here too?" KIKI mused. "If two teams marked by Dark Entities come together, it attracts even more trouble... Wouldn¡¯t that mean large convoys¡ªor even Phoenix¡¯s Dawn Center¡ªare in even bigger danger?" "No one ever said their trouble was small," Lin Xian said, his gaze lingering on the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. "Take Sky City¡ªQingluan, for example. Didn¡¯t it crash?" "I¡¯m sure Phoenix Headquarters is dealing with a situation far worse than we imagine. Right now, Phoenix is still the strongest remaining defense force for humanity. "With the Nightwalkers Organization and the Starfleet backing them, they should still be able to hold their ground. "But if we can confirm this intel, it could give humanity a strategic advantage. "That said... we need proof first." KIKI crossed her arms. "So, what¡¯s your plan?" "Do you remember the storage tanks inside the chemical plant?" Lin Xian turned toward her, a sharp glint in his eyes. "If those explode, it won¡¯t be just for show." KIKI''s eyes widened. "Ohhh... You want to blow up the chemical plant?!" Lin Xian nodded. "If we repair the mechanical crane or simply attach a remote explosive to the metal reaction kettle, we could trigger a chain reaction." "But there¡¯s no guarantee it will kill that thing beneath the Lantern Flower. "It might just piss it off even more." "Good! Let it be pissed!" KIKI huffed, cheeks puffed out. "That thing almost got me killed! It deserves to be blown to hell!" "...But," she suddenly paused, her expression turning thoughtful. "Logically speaking, Ding Qing and his Titan Convoy should have had the means to destroy it too. "They knew there was a monster there. "So why didn¡¯t they blow it up? "Why lure us there to die instead?" Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. "There¡¯s a species of coral called the sea anemone," he explained. "Sea anemones have toxic stingers, but they can¡¯t move and have limited hunting ability. "But there¡¯s a type of fish called a clownfish. "Clownfish can dodge the anemone¡¯s stingers, feed on its digested scraps, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªuse its stingers for protection against predators. "Over time, their symbiotic relationship evolved even further¡ªclownfish even started acting as lures to attract prey for the sea anemone." Ding Junyi, recording the conversation, nodded. "This town¡¯s ecosystem follows a similar model," she said. "It has a territorial range, it traps and preys on intruders, and despite its danger, it still offers some level of protection compared to the outside world. "That¡¯s why some survivors might choose to coexist with the monsters here." KIKI frowned. "...You mean those people are using this place as a safe zone?" "It¡¯s possible." Lin Xian recalled the messages on the responder. "Someone deliberately lured us in. "And now, it¡¯s obvious¡ªit was Ding Qing¡¯s group. "Their whole ¡®this place is too dangerous, you should leave¡¯ speech was just a cover. "Look at all the Flesh-Boned Beings inside the cinema and chemical plant¡ª "Those were probably former residents of this town... "And unlucky outsiders who tried hiding here, only to end up as prey for the Lantern Flower¡¯s monster." KIKI hesitated. "But... there are impostors in this town. "They¡¯re terrifying. "How could they only attack us but not them?" "If that were the case," Lin Xian said darkly, "we¡¯d already be surrounded by now." "...What do you mean?" Lin Xian walked to the window, gazing out at the dark platform. In the distance, Shu Qin, Big Luo, and Shasha stood on high alert, weapons ready. "They don¡¯t dare go out at night either. "They must have figured out some of the impostors¡¯ patterns, so they hide in their shelters. "But honestly? "They¡¯re not much better off than us." KIKI clenched her fists. "So... that makes them traitors, right?" "Traitors?" "Yeah! Human traitors. Monster lapdogs! "Tell me I¡¯m wrong!" Lin Xian smirked. "Harsh words¡ªbut not wrong." Lin Xian glanced at Ding Junyi. "Director Ding, earlier you said this Major Parasite Creature doesn¡¯t have strong defensive abilities or a way to escape from predators. "But isn¡¯t that just applying Blue Planet¡¯s biological theories to Dark Entities?" "We ran into that thing earlier, and it didn¡¯t look easy to deal with at all." Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses. "Survival and reproduction are the fundamental principles of any living organism," she explained. "This creature has rooted itself in this town and hunts using territory-based traps¡ª "That suggests it lacks mobility and relies on its surroundings to catch prey. "In that way, it¡¯s very similar to the sea anemone. "And another thing¡ªparasitic organisms, despite their devastating effects, usually have extremely weak original forms before they latch onto a host. "When we were escaping, all the impostors we saw were already in a fully parasitized state. "They used the muscles and joints of their human hosts to move¡ª "Which further supports my theory." Chapter 194: Killing "You¡¯re right." Lin Xian agreed. After escaping the chemical plant, it had already been nightfall, and that monster hadn¡¯t pursued them. Besides, KIKI had tried to uproot that Lantern Flower only to find it deeply rooted in the deep pool beneath the chemical storage tank. They had no idea how massive its main body was, but hearing Ding Junyi''s explanation, it did align with the characteristics of coral species. "So, what¡¯s our next move? If that¡¯s the case, those people who saw us return must have their eyes on us by now." KIKI added, "Some people are deliberately making things difficult. They won¡¯t just let us deal with that chemical plant monster so easily." "And we still don¡¯t know how many factions we¡¯re dealing with." "It doesn¡¯t matter how many." Lin Xian spoke calmly. "Anyone still living in this town is on the same boat. As long as our goals conflict with their interests, we¡¯re already their enemy." "So what do we do?" KIKI crossed her arms. "This town isn¡¯t big, but our enemies are hidden while we¡¯re exposed. We have a giant monster to deal with, Impostor Parasites to watch out for, and now we have to guard against those bastards trying to backstab us. Moving forward won¡¯t be easy." Lin Xian¡¯s gaze turned cold. "Then we root them out first¡ªeliminate them!" Minute by minute, time passed. The dark freight station remained eerily still, like the calm before a storm. There were no further sightings of Impostors, and everything had fallen into an unsettling silence. The tense atmosphere aboard the train gradually eased. Seeing this, Lin Xian ordered KIKI to deploy drones for reconnaissance. The cameras scanned the entire freight station, but no movement was detected. In the distance, the town still had scattered candlelights flickering, casting an eerie and mysterious glow. "Looks like returning was the right call. At least, for now, we¡¯re safe." In Carriage No. 2, Chen Sixuan let out a relieved sigh and sank into a chair. Shu Qin, KIKI, Luo Ye, Shasha, and Lu Xingchen had all gathered there as well. Lin Xian went over everything they had just learned, making sure everyone was up to speed before discussing their next steps. "If that¡¯s the case, then unless we eliminate the chemical plant monster, the Mark on us will only increase the longer we run. In the end, we won¡¯t be able to escape being devoured." Shu Qin furrowed her brows. "So that¡¯s the root of it all." Lu Xingchen scoffed, crossing his arms with a contemplative look. "Then the townsfolk must have figured this out too. That¡¯s why they gave up on escaping." Shasha, however, bluntly said, "Nothing that complicated. They¡¯re just a bunch of cowards, too scared to fight back. Siding with the Night Beasts¡ªshameless!" KIKI nodded. "Exactly. Running isn¡¯t an option anymore, so let¡¯s clear this place out and let them suffer the consequences of their choices." "Lin Xian, what¡¯s your plan?" Chen Sixuan looked at him. Everyone turned their eyes toward him, waiting for his decision. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t made a reckless choice in returning. After hearing Director Ding¡¯s theory, the others had come to agree with his decision. "KIKI is right. Right now, our enemies are lurking in the dark while we¡¯re out in the open. And we¡¯re not just up against one threat. But there is one thing we all share¡ªit¡¯s nighttime. Just like us, they can¡¯t do much either. That gives us an entire night to rest and prepare a plan." After an exhausting day of combat, the team¡¯s ammunition was running low, and both KIKI and Lu Xingchen needed rest. Fortunately, Lin Xian had gathered enough intel to take control of the situation instead of blindly reacting. Now, they had the chance to recover before striking back. "What¡¯s the plan?" someone asked. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze darkened. "Purge." "We came back to save ourselves. So at dawn, we split into three teams¡ª I¡¯ll lead a team to the chemical plant to set up remote explosives.Shu Qin and Firebro (Lu Xingchen) will be the first team to enter the town and hunt down the Impostors.The last team stays behind to guard the train in case those bastards launch a surprise attack." Chen Sixuan hesitated. "You want to charge straight into the town and kill those monsters? Isn¡¯t that too dangerous?" "It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll handle it." Lu Xingchen was completely unfazed. With a relaxed expression, he declared, "These deceitful creatures, hiding behind human skins... they shall be purified by my divine flames. If not¡ªthen we burn this entire town to the ground! Let the heavens stop me if they dare!" Everyone: "..." Lin Xian¡¯s expression remained calm as he looked at Shu Qin. "Actually, killing the parasites isn¡¯t the main objective. Your priority is to create as much commotion as possible¡ªthe bigger, the better. Draw their attention. If those bastards try to intervene, you fall back immediately. Minimize casualties." "Distraction, huh?" Lu Xingchen raised an eyebrow. "Fine." "Wait¡ª" Shu Qin, who had been strategizing how to take down the Impostors, was suddenly caught off guard. "Aren¡¯t we supposed to wipe them out?" Lin Xian shook his head. "Take down the leader first. If we exterminate the main parasite, then we can slowly deal with the small ones afterward." What he didn¡¯t say was¡ªif killing the big one really erased the Mark, then there wouldn¡¯t even be a need to fight the smaller parasites. Storming into buildings carried immense risks, and unless there were rewards like Eerie Blood Crystals, it wasn¡¯t worth it. "If Ding Qing¡¯s group attacks you in town, that¡¯ll actually work in our favor," Lin Xian continued. "It would mean they don¡¯t realize we¡¯re targeting the big parasite." Shasha tilted her head. "I mean, who the hell would think we came back just to hunt that monster?" She had a point. In a normal scenario, survivors wouldn¡¯t escape a death trap only to willingly return. To most people, facing a monster that massive was a suicide mission. Only a rare few survivors even knew about the Mark¡¯s existence. "Not necessarily." Lin Xian¡¯s tone was calm. "Even if they don¡¯t know about the Mark, that monster is the reason Rain Town is still standing. To them, it¡¯s basically their guardian deity. Now tell me¡ªwill they just sit back and let us kill it?" "True... Bastards." Shasha had quickly learned the term "bastards" from KIKI and used it with gritted teeth. Chen Sixuan understood Lin Xian¡¯s logic but still looked worried. "But those Impostors won¡¯t be easy to deal with. I¡¯m worried about Shu Qin¡¯s team..." "I know." Lin Xian reassured her. "As long as you avoid entering buildings, the Impostors won¡¯t be much of a threat. The only real danger is their ability to blend in." After saying that, he raised his hand, and a small device materialized in a flash of light. He handed it to KIKI. "This is a voiceprint detector I extracted from the Sentry System. The easiest way to identify Impostors is through their heartbeat patterns¡ªwhich are completely different from humans. Set up a sample, and Shu Qin¡¯s team can scan from a distance." KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up as she grabbed it. "Damn, that¡¯s genius! Why didn¡¯t I think of that? That fake woman¡¯s breathing and heartbeat were totally off! With this, we won¡¯t even have to risk close encounters!" Shu Qin and the others immediately felt more confident. "Understood, Captain Lin," Shu Qin said firmly. "I know what to do." Lin Xian nodded. "One more thing¡ªkeep communication open at all times. The big parasite has a special breed of Bone Worms that can temporarily mimic our own teammates. Keeping constant contact is the safest way to counter it." The Impostors were dangerous, but their true threat came from deception. As long as they had the means to expose them, they wouldn¡¯t be that difficult to handle. Lin Xian considered every possible scenario, refining his plan. Shu Qin nodded. "Understood." Chapter 195: Preparation ¡°What about the chemical plant?¡± KIKI asked. ¡°Same as before¡ªyou and me. But this time, just in case something unexpected happens, I¡¯ll bring Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, and a few others along. They can cover us if needed.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sasa widened her eyes. ¡°What about me?¡± ¡°Xian-ge,¡± Big Lou also chimed in, ¡°let me go with you to the chemical plant tomorrow.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯ve got a more important job for you two.¡± ¡°What task?¡± ¡°Guard the train.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Big Lou looked confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it¡¯s dangerous over there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous here too.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s tone held a hint of meaning as he lowered his head, continuing to manufacture bullets. ¡°Our goal might be someone else¡¯s stronghold¡ªbut that doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re not thinking the same thing.¡± ¡°So, Sasa, Big Lou, I want you two to form the strongest firepower with the close-in defense cannons on board. If anyone tries to raid the train¡ªblast them.¡± Big Lou was momentarily stunned. Sasa immediately nudged him with her elbow and said, ¡°Dummy, what Lin-ge means is that it¡¯s just as dangerous here. We just follow his lead.¡± Big Lou nodded. ¡°Got it, Xian-ge. Don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll guard the train well.¡± ¡°And me?¡± Chen Sixuan finally spoke up. Seeing everyone else getting assignments, her expression dimmed. She looked at Lin Xian and asked, ¡°Do I have to stay back and guard the train again?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow and looked at her. ¡°No, Ms. Chen, not this time.¡± He pointed to the warehouse not far from the freight station under the night sky. ¡°The rooftop of that warehouse is the highest point around here. I need you up there providing cover for everyone.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really? But...¡± ¡°Yay! Chen-jiejie¡¯s gonna be a sniper!¡± KIKI said excitedly. ¡°This is your time to shine!¡± Chen Sixuan looked at Lin Xian and then nodded seriously, taking a deep breath. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± For the first time, she was being given a combat role. Strangely enough, instead of fear, she felt excited¡ªcompletely forgetting the usual dread of the darkness. ... That night, Infinity was sealed shut. Aside from those on night duty, Lin Xian instructed everyone else to get some rest early. After what happened the night before, he now understood that the platform wasn¡¯t likely to be invaded by anomalies from outside. The King Kong convoy certainly wasn¡¯t going to risk moving out at night, either. The only real concern were the pseudo-humans¡ªbut after that big assault wave, they all seemed to have retreated back into town. There¡¯d been no sign of activity since. And honestly, compared to true anomalies, the pseudo-humans weren¡¯t all that dangerous. Their biggest threat came from infiltrating the train. In terms of raw combat capability, they didn¡¯t even match a Class-C anomaly like the Red Dragonfly from Beiwang. With Infinity¡¯s current defenses, they could handle it. In Carriage 1, Lin Xian took a shower¡ªa hot one. Since leaving Jiang City, opportunities like this had been rare. Although Infinity had always had bathrooms, water had been a precious resource during the early stages of their flight. And after learning that the world¡¯s water systems had been tainted by the darkness, people avoided washing whenever possible. But now, with the hetero-cube and Lin Xian¡¯s specialized filtration system, the water issue had been resolved. The girls on board could finally take proper showers too¡ªwashing away the blood and exhaustion they¡¯d picked up during countless nights of fleeing. After his shower, Lin Xian pulled out a heavy object from his storage locker and placed it on the table. Then he opened up his [Mechanical Heart] system and began manually drawing up a blueprint. The object on the table was a mechanical arm that Shuqin had taken from Guo Lao¡¯er¡¯s body when they were in Yubei. Lin Xian had already scanned it. The blueprint read: [Genesis Industries HG55-Series Mechanical Prosthetic ¨C Left Arm] It wasn¡¯t particularly high-end¡ªintended more for amputees who needed help with industrial work. Still, because it was built for heavy-duty tasks, it had high torque and full-metal construction. Even a normal person equipped with it would see a decent boost in combat strength. Of course, it wasn¡¯t nearly as agile or versatile as military-grade models. But Guo Lao¡¯er had modified it illegally, making it borderline weaponized¡ªand dangerous. Lin Xian opened a recessed slot on the prosthetic¡¯s forearm. Inside was a small metallic stick¡ªactually a microbomb. He scanned it and confirmed it contained a high-energy compound likely based on nitrogen anion salts. Crafting something like this bomb was no challenge for Lin Xian, but he wanted to design a simple mounting and detonation system¡ªbased on the reactor core setup from the chemical plant. As for the prosthetic arm itself, he considered either scanning or devouring it. Repairing it would take too much time. Instead, he could mount it on the train and use it for external mechanical operations. ¡°Oh right¡ªhis TRP Mark IV industrial-grade powered exosuit. I need to get my hands on that thing.¡± Lifting a hand, Lin Xian activated the fabrication center. A flash of light and materials swirled together¡ªsoon forming a completed microbomb. ¡°With that exosuit, I could expand our arsenal. I wouldn¡¯t have to rely solely on Wind Cannon or Electro Surge. My research center¡¯s blueprint upgrades could center around the suit too. I could even give each team member a set.¡± The thought fired him up. He¡¯d been disappointed that he hadn¡¯t scanned a military-grade exosuit earlier. Who would¡¯ve thought he¡¯d come across one in a backwater town like this? It was a lucky break. After wrapping up his preparations, Lin Xian went to Carriage 2 to check the sentry system and confirm that everything around the train was secure. Only then did he relax and return to Carriage 1. With Shuqin and the others on watch, he caught some rest¡ªfour hours, to be exact. When he got up, it was already past 2 a.m. Chen Sixuan, KIKI, and the others were still asleep. Lin Xian planned to wake up Sasa, Big Lou, and the capable fighters Lu? Chang and Miao Lu to start prepping ammunition. He also wanted to let Shuqin get some rest. But when he arrived at Carriage 3, he suddenly heard soft female murmuring and panting. His interface scan showed no sign of Ding Quanjun. Curious, he redirected the scan toward the lounge. Sure enough¡ªthe sounds were coming from there. Suspicious, he walked over and was about to knock when Ding Junyi¡¯s voice came from inside. ¡°Wait a second.¡± A few shuffling sounds followed¡ªlike someone getting dressed. A minute later, the lounge door opened, and Ding Junyi stood there, her cheeks flushed. She looked at Lin Xian and asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Lin Xian frowned slightly, eyes narrowing. ¡°You¡¯re off shift. Shouldn¡¯t you be asleep right now?¡± Chapter 196: Emotional Release Ding Junyi looked at Lin Xian, a flicker of embarrassment flashing in her eyes. But she quickly steadied herself, took a deep breath, and asked, ¡°Did you want to sleep together?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. In tonight¡¯s circumstances, thoughts of romance were far from his mind. ¡°I heard a noise and thought something had happened to you, so I came to check.¡± However, judging by Ding Junyi¡¯s expression, something had happened... just not the kind of emergency he had expected. Her cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her voice. ¡°Sorry... I was... relieving myself. If I disturbed you, I sincerely apologize. I hope this doesn¡¯t make you think less of me.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Huh?¡± Pushing up her glasses, Ding Junyi tried to maintain a serious expression as she explained, ¡°I believe I mentioned before that life-threatening situations give me an intense physical thrill. This is how I periodically release my stress and emotions.¡± As she spoke, she turned and picked up a peculiar purple object from the bed, then looked back at Lin Xian. ¡°But don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯m very traditional when it comes to relationships. Since I¡¯ve already been with you, I consider you my only male partner. Given your current emotional state, I knew it wasn¡¯t the right time for intimacy, so I handled it myself. I¡¯m very meticulous about hygiene... it¡¯s just that this room isn¡¯t well soundproofed. I sincerely apologize.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s too traditional.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eye twitched. His gaze involuntarily landed on the purple device in her hand. It looked oddly familiar, but he couldn¡¯t quite place where he¡¯d seen it before. ¡°Thank you,¡± Ding Junyi continued. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me being unfaithful¡ªphysically or emotionally. I have a psychological aversion to that kind of thing.¡± A mental purity complex...? Lin Xian suddenly felt a headache coming on. The Infinite Train was expanding, and everyone had their own private space now. Aside from Shasha, everyone on board was an adult, and this sort of thing was just a part of life. He had no right to interfere, so after a moment¡¯s thought, he simply said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I just wanted to check if you were in danger. Also... I wanted to apologize for yelling at you earlier. The situation was urgent¡ª¡± ¡°No need.¡± Ding Junyi cut him off, her serious gaze locking onto his. Then, unexpectedly, her tone shifted, growing heavier. ¡°You can raise your voice at me,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you¡¯re harsh with me¡ªI can adapt to that style of communication. In fact... it actually makes me feel... quite good.¡± What the f*¡ªshe¡¯s a hardcore M?!** Lin Xian¡¯s pupils trembled. He was at a complete loss for words. Ding Junyi¡¯s definition of ¡°traditional¡± was clearly in a league of its own, and he had no idea how to respond. ¡°Uh¡ªright. Get some rest.¡± And with that, he turned and bolted. Ding Junyi watched his retreating figure, her face burning. She touched her own flushed cheeks, then pressed a hand over her pounding heart, murmuring softly: ¡°When you yell at me... you¡¯re so manly.¡± Lin Xian made his way to Car 5, where Da Lou and Shasha were organizing weapons. Together, they moved to Car 10, where Shu Qin was stationed on guard duty. Though she initially refused to rest, Lin Xian could see how utterly exhausted she was and didn¡¯t give her a choice¡ªordering her to sleep until morning. Before joining the Infinite Train, Shu Qin had shouldered immense responsibility in the Bigfoot Convoy, running on little sleep. These past two days had been no different, and with a critical mission ahead, she eventually relented and went to rest. Meanwhile, in Car 11, Lin Xian busied himself with manufacturing ammunition. He even crafted an additional Thunderstorm A1 Grenade Launcher, assigning Shasha to train Miao Lu in its use. As for Lu? Chang, Lin Xian had observed that both he and Miao Lu had undergone significant physical enhancements. Their speed and combat ability were rapidly catching up to Blonde Thug from the Black Crow Four. Lu? Chang, in particular, was incredibly fast¡ªa natural close-combat fighter. So, Lin Xian crafted a GK03 Electric Blade for him as a melee weapon. Unlike Lin Xian, who could use the blade without an external power source, Lu? Chang would need to charge it periodically using the train¡¯s power grid. When they received their new weapons, Miao Lu and Lu? Chang were ecstatic. ¡°Whoa! Lin-dui, your ability is incredible!¡± Miao Lu¡¯s eyes sparkled as she admired the grenade launcher in her hands. Shasha grinned. ¡°Of course! My Lin-ge is the best. Come on, I¡¯ll teach you how to use it.¡± Lu? Chang, meanwhile, was staring at the gleaming blade, swallowing hard. ¡°Lin-dui... this knife looks insane.¡± Lin Xian gestured toward a switch on the handle. ¡°Try pressing this.¡± Lu? Chang nodded and flicked the switch. A faint electrical hum filled the air as silver arcs of energy danced along the blade¡¯s edge. The weapon emitted a dim glow, with miniature lightning bolts crackling across its surface. ¡°Amazing...¡± Lu? Chang¡¯s eyes burned with excitement. This would be an insanely powerful melee weapon. Outside, the Infinite Train remained stationed at the Rain Town platform, while preparations intensified inside the carriages. In Car 12, the PX05 Engineering Robot tirelessly assembled ammunition belts. Lin Xian, as the train¡¯s primary weapons supplier, knew tomorrow would bring a brutal battle. He had to be ready for anything. If the chemical plant monstrosity survived the explosion, they would have to rely on the train¡¯s heavy firepower to take it down. If only his Mechanical Manufacturing ability were at a higher level¡ªhe would¡¯ve built an Electromagnetic Rail Cannon by now. But there was no time for regrets. The minutes ticked by, each second drawing them closer to dawn. At 7:00 AM, the Dark Tides receded, and the sky lightened. In Car 1, Lin Xian spotted Chen Sixuan, already geared up and strapping the massive A33K Heavy Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle to her back. ¡°You ready?¡± he asked, his tone carrying a trace of admiration. He had watched her growth every step of the way. Chen Sixuan nodded firmly. ¡°I¡¯ve already scouted the area. KIKI¡¯s drones also confirmed my route¡ªI should be fine.¡± Lin Xian crafted a binocular scope and handed it to her. ¡°Good. Stay alert. If anything happens, Shasha and Da Lou will provide cover from the train.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Chen Sixuan glanced at him. ¡°You guys are the ones in real danger. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Lin Xian tapped his communication device. ¡°We¡¯ll stay in touch.¡± Chen Sixuan understood. She stepped to the train¡¯s exit, took a deep breath, then threw the door open, dashing across the platform. She moved swiftly, slipping through a warehouse alley and entering through a back door. Navigating past storage racks, she climbed a fire escape, reaching a metal air vent. The vent was locked. Gritting her teeth, she pulled out a shock lockpick and jammed it into the mechanism. Snap! A crisp sound echoed through the warehouse as the lock shattered. Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes lit up. She swiftly opened the vent, placed her sniper rifle on the rooftop, then agilely climbed out. Securing the vent door behind her, she scaled a wind tower, settling into position. She began setting up her sniper stand, adjusting her posture, checking the scope for distance and wind calculations. Everything she had learned from the ex-military sniper in their convoy was now being put to the test. ¡°In position,¡± she reported through the comms. Back on the Infinite Train, Lin Xian looked up. There, perched high above, was a composed and breathtakingly fierce female sniper¡ªa sight that made his breath catch for a moment. ¡°Chen-laoshi... you¡¯re my goddess.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice came through the comms, calm and steady. ¡°During a mission, no flirting.¡± Chapter 197: Clownfish Infinite Train ¨C Rain Town Operation Three vehicles rolled out from Car No. 11, engines rumbling as they hit the ground. Shu Qin and Lu Xingchen led a squad of over ten armed fighters, advancing along the main road toward Rain Town. Meanwhile, for better mobility, Lin Xian built another motorcycle. He, KIKI, Lu? Chang, and Miao Lu split into pairs, preparing to circle around the town¡¯s outskirts instead of using the main road to reach the chemical plant. Back at the train, Luo Ye and Shasha remained behind with heavy weaponry, tasked with guarding the train. The non-combat personnel, including Ding Junyi, stayed on board as well. Mission Briefing "Shu Qin, Huo-ge, let me repeat¡ªyour mission is to create a diversion. There are still Eerie Entities hiding in the buildings, so stay on guard. If you encounter enemy convoys, retreat immediately to the train.¡± "Understood." "Got it." Shu Qin confirmed. "Chen-laoshi, focus on Shu Qin''s team. If they run into trouble, fire immediately for support. Also, keep an eye on any potential targets near the station.¡± "Understood." "Luo Ye, Shasha, the train¡¯s security is in your hands. If we or Shu Qin¡¯s team retreat, you¡¯ll need to provide cover fire." From Car No. 2, Luo Shasha monitored the train¡¯s Sentinel System, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. Another screen displayed the 1130 Fire-Control System, still on standby but fully operational. ¡°**Don¡¯t worry, Lin-ge. If anyone tries to mess with our train, my brother and I will blast them to pieces.¡± With final instructions given, Lin Xian revved his motorcycle and sped off toward the station perimeter with KIKI. Behind them, Lu? Chang and Miao Lu followed closely, carrying a large supply crate on their bike. The station roared to life as engines thundered, the rising sun breaking the eerie silence of the ruined city. Rain Town ¨C Enemy Recon On a high-rise balcony, Luo Rui lounged in a deck chair, lazily scanning the station through a pair of binoculars. He held a can of fruit in one hand, his demeanor relaxed. ¡°They had a way out, but they chose to walk into hell instead.¡± Luo Rui smirked. ¡°Ding-ge is too soft. If we fed these high-level Ability Users to the Blood Feast, we could¡¯ve had peace for a month or two.¡± On the table before him sat two walkie-talkies. He picked one up. ¡°Fatty, Guo Sheng, what¡¯s the status on that train?¡± A voice crackled through the radio: "Rong-ge, we¡¯ve been watching all night. The train¡¯s got a lot of carriages, but not many people. No more than fifty in total. After accounting for the weak ones, maybe thirty can fight. ¡°**Just now, three vehicles rolled out, loaded with heavy firepower. About ten-plus people. Their leaders¡ªthe two strongest¡ªtook motorcycles and are circling the north route into town. Looks like they¡¯re headed for the chemical plant.¡± "Chemical plant?" Luo Rui frowned. "That bastard Ding Qing called it. That place has no guns, no firepower, yet they¡¯re walking into the lion¡¯s den? What are they thinking?" Another voice chimed in through the radio. "Rong-ge, their main force left the train. Firepower should be weak on board. Plus, judging by last night¡¯s battle, they must¡¯ve taken heavy losses.¡± Luo Rui nodded. ¡°Some impostors infiltrated. They must¡¯ve lost a few people.¡± "Rong-ge, should we make a move? This is a golden opportunity!" Luo Rui sneered, adjusting his binoculars as he watched the three approaching vehicles. ¡°Calm down. Hide and watch first¡ªwe can strike whenever we want.¡± "Understood." Unexpected Tactics The hidden sentries in Rain Town focused their attention on the incoming armored convoy. At first, they thought the intruders had come seeking revenge. But then¡ª The vehicles screeched to a halt outside the town, and over ten fighters disembarked, sweeping the nearby buildings. Gunfire erupted. Flames engulfed a building within minutes. Through the binoculars, Luo Rui¡¯s expression twisted in confusion. ¡°What the f*? Are they trying to clear us out building by building? Or are they hunting the impostors for revenge?**¡± A voice crackled over the radio. "These guys are idiots." Luo Rui chuckled. ¡°I thought they were storming in for a real fight. Those buildings are crawling with monsters¡ªthey¡¯re literally asking to die.¡± "Yeah. If they keep this up, they won¡¯t last two hours.¡± Luo Rui had assumed the intruders were coming for a fight, given how they had ambushed his group the night before. Instead, they had launched a full assault on the impostors. For what? Resources? The town had already been picked clean. To find someone? Searching door-to-door was suicide¡ªthe impostors were endless. It made no sense. Luo Rui¡¯s eyes narrowed. Grabbing his walkie-talkie, he ordered: ¡°Team One and Two¡ªmove in from the east and west. Guo Sheng, take Team Three and circle behind¡ªblow the rail tracks. Fatty, bait them in¡ªtoss a few Bone Worms at them. Do NOT expose yourselves. That train has insane armor.¡± "Roger that.¡± ¡°And if night falls and they¡¯re still holding out?¡± Luo Rui turned toward the chemical plant. ¡°Then we wait for Ding-ge. Once their leader is dead and the track is destroyed, they¡¯re trapped. ¡°**Then, we¡¯ll let them choose¡ª**a quick death, or a slow one.¡± "Got it!" Dozens of vehicles and over forty men began moving silently toward the station, closing in from all sides. A scouting team sped off on motorcycles, carrying explosives toward the rail tracks. Chemical Plant ¨C The Ambush Lin Xian raced ahead on his motorcycle, speeding toward the chemical plant. The morning mist hung low over Rain Town, giving it an eerie stillness. Through the fog, the towering cooling towers came into view. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. His communicator crackled. ¡°Lin Xian, you were right. Movement spotted near the station.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice carried a hint of tension. ¡°Hold your position. Do NOT engage until I give the order.¡± "Understood." From her sniper perch, Chen Sixuan peered through her scope, watching the convoy sneaking through the trees. Her breathing steadied. She adjusted her focus¡ªher world slowed down. She could even read the lips of the men inside the vehicles. As her heartbeat steadied, her fear and hesitation faded. She liked this feeling¡ªcalm and control. Showdown at the Chemical Plant As Lin Xian and KIKI approached the plant, they spotted several heavy-duty vehicles already parked outside. Over a dozen armed men stood guard. At the center¡ªDing Qing in Exoskeleton Armor, gripping a black rifle. Beside him stood Duan Min, her expression unreadable. They had been waiting for them. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Figures. A pack of clownfish.¡± KIKI floated off the motorcycle, raising her hand¡ª BOOM! A shockwave blasted the mist apart, clearing the field of vision. Instantly, the guards snapped their rifles up, aiming at her. But¡ª Ding Qing raised a hand, stopping them. He locked eyes with Lin Xian, his gaze shifting. "You left. Why come back?" Chapter 198: Information Toxins Whoosh! Just as the group was reeling in shock¡ª BAM! An invisible force suddenly ripped the guns from their hands, sending them soaring into the air. And then¡ª Click. Click. Click. The stolen firearms spun around midair, barrels all turning toward their original owners, aiming straight at them. Lin Xian instantly understood what was happening. Without hesitation, he stopped his motorcycle and strode forward, lifting his hand with a flick¡ª BOOM! A massive bulletproof turret dropped down in front of him, followed by a Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun, landing with a resounding clang. Lin Xian brushed his hand over the gun¡¯s heated surface, then looked up at the group with an icy gaze. "You risked the dangers of the Dark Night just to wait for me?" He tapped the turret''s armored plating, his voice dripping with mockery. "You think you can take me?" The armed men¡¯s faces twisted in shock. They had never seen someone summon a heavy Gatling gun out of thin air, let alone deploy an entire metal turret right on solid ground. "What¡¯s the point of talking to these traitors?" KIKI descended from the sky, arms crossed, her glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. Her mastery of psychic energy had reached new heights¡ªagainst ordinary weapons, her power made them utterly useless. In a single instant, the battlefield had flipped. Now, the hunters had become the prey. Duan Min¡¯s expression turned ashen. The gun in her hands had already been ripped away, and panic flashed across her face. Meanwhile, Ding Qing stood in grim silence, his eyes dark and calculating. "As expected of a high-tier Ability User," he muttered. "I¡¯ve seen your tricks before, but it looks like I still underestimated you." His gaze locked onto Lin Xian. "You escaped once, and now you¡¯ve returned." "That means... you¡¯ve figured out the truth about the Dark Night Curse, haven¡¯t you?" He let out a low chuckle. "But let me tell you something¡ªyou might think you have the upper hand. "But anger that thing, and not a single person in your convoy will make it out of Rain Town alive." Lin Xian''s heart clenched. So Ding Qing really does know about the "Marking." "Curse?" KIKI¡¯s brow furrowed. "So you knew all along?! And instead of warning people, you trapped them here to die?!" Her fists clenched, psychic energy crackling around her. "You son of a¡ª" BOOM! A sudden tremor rippled through the ground. A strange hissing sound echoed from the Chemical Plant behind Ding Qing. Then¡ª Whoosh! A wave of faint orange smoke erupted from Reagent Room No. 1, spreading like wildfire across the entire chemical facility. "What the hell¡ª?!" Ding Qing¡¯s men dropped to the ground, clutching their heads in agony. Even Duan Min swayed, staggering as she slumped onto the floor. Lin Xian''s pupils shrunk¡ª By the time he noticed the change in Ding Qing¡¯s expression, it was already too late. The smoke engulfed them all. The moment it hit¡ª Lin Xian felt his muscles give out. His entire body went numb. Even the floating weapons in the air clattered to the ground, their telekinetic hold vanishing. KIKI collapsed against Lin Xian, her face pale. "Lin... Xian..." Her voice was weak, her body trembling. "My powers... they¡¯re gone." Lin Xian gritted his teeth. His nervous system was shutting down. Across the chemical plant, everyone¡ªexcept for one person¡ªwas on the ground, paralyzed. The only one left standing... ...was Ding Qing. "Ahhh¡ª" Ding Qing let out a strangled groan, veins bulging as he reached into his exoskeleton suit and yanked out a small injector. Whoosh! He stabbed it directly into his own neck. Hissss... A strange energy coursed through his veins, his skin flushing red as his eyes sharpened with newfound clarity. Lin Xian stared in disbelief. What the hell kind of method was this?! Was Ding Qing an Ability User too? But if so¡ªwhy did his own men collapse alongside them? Had he planned this from the start? Ding Qing grimaced through the pain, his voice laced with tension. "I know your Abilities are powerful... but don¡¯t worry. "You won¡¯t die just yet." He exhaled sharply. "That Lantern Flower''s core releases a Dark Entity Neurotoxin when it¡¯s fatally attacked¡ª "It paralyzes the central nervous system and suppresses Abilities. "The radius is small, but... well..." His lips curled into a cruel smirk. "It¡¯s more than enough to handle you." Lin Xian''s mind raced. This was bad. He and KIKI had attacked first and disarmed their opponents¡ª But Ding Qing had laid the trap beforehand. Even if they had killed him immediately, the chemical plant was already rigged to release the toxin. And now¡ª The ambush outside was likely waiting to pick them off. Ding Qing was ruthless. But why? Why was a man willing to serve a monster so willing to risk his own life? Lin Xian¡¯s voice cut through the tense silence. "You really think we came here alone?" Ding Qing narrowed his eyes. "It doesn¡¯t matter." He lifted his black rifle, his expression turning cold. "You already tried running last night. "Do you really think you can escape Rain Town?" His voice hardened. "Even if you somehow kill the Mutant Giant Parasite, do you think my men will just let you go?" KIKI struggled to sit up, her breath ragged. "You''re insane... treating those monsters like guardian deities while sacrificing humans..." Her chest heaved. "You''re worse than the bandits." Something in Ding Qing¡¯s face twisted. "Call me insane if you want," he snapped. "Call me a dog if you want." He gestured toward Rain Town. "Do you know how many people live here? 257. "66 from my convoy. "191 Jintong survivors." His voice shook. "They just want to live. "Tell me¡ªwhat crime did they commit?!" Lin Xian let out a cold chuckle. "So the hundreds of people you fed to the monster¡ª "Those were what, acceptable sacrifices?" Ding Qing¡¯s face darkened. "Enough talk." His exoskeleton suit whirred loudly as he aimed his long rifle at Lin Xian. "You¡¯re marked. "You can¡¯t escape. "And I won¡¯t let you." WHOOSH! The long rifle launched forward like a black spear, cutting through the air at terrifying speed. "LIN XIAN!" KIKI lunged forward, arms raised¡ª She tried activating her Ability¡ª But nothing happened. Her heart sank. The black rifle tore toward them¡ª And then¡ª CLANG! A mechanical arm caught it mid-air. KIKI¡¯s breath hitched. Lin Xian stood firm, his HG55 Mechanical Prosthetic Arm extended, gripping the weapon tight. "What¡ª?!" Ding Qing''s eyes widened in horror. Rat-a-tat-tat! Gunfire erupted outside. A shadow rushed in, wielding a glowing electric blade. Ding Qing¡¯s men dropped like flies. Then¡ª A knife flew through the air. Before Ding Qing could react¡ª SHLKT! The blade impaled his chest. Chapter 199: Firepower The Infinite Train sat silently at the station, its black, heavy armor absorbing the faint glow of the dim track lights. Outside, a convoy of dozens of people had already slipped into the cover of a hidden forest, their countless eyes locked onto the imposing train. Several agile gunmen had already scouted the station¡¯s perimeter, taking cover behind buildings. At this moment, Infinite Train was completely surrounded. ¡°Brother Rong, this train is wrapped in armor so tightly that we can¡¯t even find a vent. How the hell are we supposed to get the bone worms inside?¡± A skinny man at the front whispered into his walkie-talkie, his tone filled with frustration. ¡°There¡¯s no way it¡¯s completely sealed. Otherwise, the people inside would¡¯ve suffocated already. Find the cracks¡ªthose bone worms can sniff out human scent and crawl their way in.¡± Inside the forest, Luo Rong stepped off the vehicle, raising his binoculars to carefully observe the train. ¡°Brother Rong, Guo Sheng and Team Three are already stationed at the outer tracks. Are we really not going to support Brother Ding?¡± Another voice, this one belonging to a stocky man, came through the comms. ¡°No need.¡± Luo Rong¡¯s expression turned cold, but he grinned. ¡°Brother Ding likes playing the good guy. As for this kind of job that leaves no survivors, I¡¯ll handle it for him.¡± His gaze sharpened as he fixed his eyes on the train. At the start, the King Kong Convoy had fought its way eastward under Ding Qing¡¯s leadership, showing remarkable courage and tenacity. They had battled through countless nights, growing stronger as a team, enduring hardships, and resisting the darkness together. But after so long on the run, fatigue and numbness crept into their minds. Even Ding Qing himself had started to doubt whether their group could survive another day. That was when they arrived at Rain Town. At first, the Impostors lurking in the town had caused some casualties, but after a period of rest, the group realized something unusual¡ªthere were no endless waves of zombies, no eerie entities flooding the streets at night. As long as they hid in a shelter and learned to detect impostors, they could enjoy a rare sense of safety and respite. However, it wasn¡¯t long before eerie entities began appearing in town again. Just when they thought Rain Town was no longer safe, some long-time survivors revealed a chilling secret: By throwing corpses into the deep pool at the chemical plant, offering them as nourishment for the Lantern Flower, the eerie entities would disappear. Upon discovering this ¡°rule,¡± the convoy members saw it as a blessing. But when fresh corpses ran out, they started waiting for new survivors to die in town. Then, they would scavenge their supplies and dump their bodies into the chemical plant, creating a gruesome balance of survival. The King Kong Convoy and the town¡¯s original survivors lived off these supplies and this newfound safety, taking on the responsibility of ¡°feeding¡± the Lantern Flower. But over time, as resources dwindled, their mindset changed. Luo Rong, along with others, began luring unsuspecting survivors into Rain Town. At first, he convinced Ding Qing and Duan Min that they were simply helping lost survivors find refuge from the horrors of the night. Whether they chose to leave in the morning or explore the town for supplies was their decision. If they died, well... that wasn¡¯t their fault. Deep down, everyone knew this was just an excuse to ease their guilt. But as fear of the night took hold and reliance on Rain Town¡¯s ¡°shelter¡± grew, even Ding Qing seemed to accept it. Until Luo Rong started directly attacking survivors who entered town. That was when they realized¡ªthey had already become executioners of the night. And now, this ambush on the Infinite Train was orchestrated by Luo Rong and his men¡ªruthless killers who had long since abandoned morality. To them, survival in Rain Town was worth any cost. "Everyone, get ready." Luo Rong raised his walkie-talkie. ¡°When Team Three blows up the tracks, open fire. Let¡¯s see how they react. If they panic and try to escape, we¡¯ll wait until they derail¡ªthen we move in. Team Two, guard the station gates and prevent their teammates from counterattacking.¡± ¡°Roger that, Brother Rong.¡± The shadows in the forest stirred. A trap was quietly set in place. The King Kong Convoy¡¯s vehicles were armed with heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, and other firepower. Their team had fought and evolved through countless battles, and their individual combat abilities were nothing to scoff at. Inside the Infinite Train In Car No. 10, Luo Sha stood by the window, gripping the Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun , his eyes scanning the surroundings with caution. In Car No. 2, Luo Shasha stared at the surveillance screens, her brows furrowing as she noticed movement in the trees. ¡°Brother Lin was right. These people really are here to attack our train.¡± ¡°But what are they up to...?¡± The Sentinel System, combined with the Radar System, could detect infrared and heat signatures. Luo Rong¡¯s squads, despite their attempts to move stealthily, appeared completely exposed on Shasha¡¯s screen. She activated the targeting function, setting the system to track their movements in advance. ¡°Shasha.¡± A voice came through the communicator¡ªit was Chen Sixuan. ¡°Someone¡¯s moving in from behind the train.¡± Shasha nodded and signaled to Luo Hua, who immediately headed toward Car No. 11. ¡°I see some of them heading to the front tracks. Looks like they¡¯re planning to blow up the rail.¡± Chen Sixuan slowly adjusted her aim, her finger resting on the trigger. ¡°Chen-jie!¡± Shasha hurriedly warned, ¡°Don¡¯t fire yet! If they spot you, we¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± Chen Sixuan hesitated, then exhaled and let go of the trigger. ¡°Fine... I almost acted on impulse.¡± She thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s let them blow it up. They probably think we¡¯ll be trapped without a way to escape¡ªthat¡¯s when they¡¯ll make their move.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Shasha smirked. ¡°They¡¯ll also be watching for Sister Shu Qin to return. Let¡¯s keep them occupied and catch them off guard.¡± Chen Sixuan hummed in agreement. For someone so young, Shasha was remarkably composed. Even when surrounded by enemies, she was thinking about baiting them into a trap. Seeing her teammates remain calm, Chen Sixuan took a deep breath and focused her scope on the convoy¡¯s heavy weapons. BOOM! BOOM! Suddenly, two deafening explosions erupted from the east and west ends of the station. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, shaking even the glass windows of the platform. ¡°Brother Rui, it¡¯s done!¡± Hiding behind cover, Luo Rui and his men watched closely for any reaction from the train. Hearing the explosion, everyone raised their weapons, awaiting Luo Rong¡¯s order to fire. Luo Rui narrowed his eyes, gripping his walkie-talkie. Minutes passed. The train remained motionless. Luo Rui turned his binoculars toward the town¡ªno vehicles were coming out. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Aren¡¯t they calling for backup?¡± The stocky man asked. ¡°They¡¯re hesitating.¡± Luo Rui sneered. ¡°The tracks are gone¡ªthey¡¯ve got nowhere to run.¡± He lifted his walkie-talkie. ¡°Team Two, get into position inside the station. If their teammates return, kill them all.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± His men swiftly moved behind the station¡¯s buildings. Meanwhile, Luo Rui climbed into his vehicle and grabbed a radio transceiver. He shot a glance at one of his subordinates. The man immediately understood. Without hesitation, he opened fire on the train. RATATATAT! Gunfire erupted, breaking the silence and igniting the battle. Luo Rui pressed the transceiver button, his voice echoing through the train¡¯s external speakers. ¡°Listen up, people on the train! We¡¯ve blown up the tracks. Your friends aren¡¯t coming back. I¡¯m giving you one minute to open the doors and surrender¡ªor we¡¯ll show you what real firepower looks like. The train stays, but you? You don¡¯t.¡± Chapter 200: Carjacking Silence. After Luo Rui¡¯s shout, the station remained eerily quiet, as if there wasn¡¯t a single soul on that train. Seeing that no one responded, Luo Rui lost his patience. He had no intention of waiting for the enemy¡¯s main force to return before taking action. Without hesitation, he waved his hand at his teammates. ¡°Brothers, surround the train!¡± At his command, a burly man immediately climbed onto the machine gun turret, pulled back the bolt, and aimed straight at the train before squeezing the trigger. Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud! The heavy machine gun roared deafeningly, and countless bullets rained down on the Infinite Train¡¯s armored side, sending sparks flying. Inside the Living Carriage, several women shrieked and dropped to the floor in fear. After a round of suppressive fire, the roar of engines suddenly filled the air. Several vehicles charged out from both sides of the platform, while a few figures hidden in the shadows hurled smoke grenades and incendiary bombs toward the train. Boom! Boom! Boom! Thick smoke billowed, obscuring the view as the incendiary bombs exploded along the tracks and against the train¡¯s side, burning fiercely. Inside the train, Shasha in Car No. 2 watched as the enemy finally made their move. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed her communicator. "Sister Shu Qin, we''re engaging. Get into position and cut off their retreat to the city." ¡°Got it.¡± Shu Qin¡¯s voice came through the communicator. Shasha exhaled sharply, rubbed her hands together for warmth, and pressed a button. Tat-tat-tat! The entire station erupted into chaos. Gunfire roared as bullets surrounded the train from all directions. Some attackers hid behind vehicles, some in station buildings, and others in the woods. They weren¡¯t trying to break through the train¡¯s steel armor¡ªthey were providing cover so their teammates could get closer. A chubby man and his squad moved cautiously through the smoke, each carrying glass jars filled with disgusting white parasites, inching their way toward the train. ¡°Suppress them! Cover for Fatty and his crew!¡± Luo Rui shouted into his walkie-talkie. Just then, a scout in the city relayed intel: ¡°Brother Rui, the group in town seems to be heading back!¡± Luo Rui grinned. ¡°Perfect! I¡¯ll wipe them all out! What Ding Qing doesn¡¯t dare to do, I¡¯ll handle myself! Just two Ability Users? Unless they¡¯re bulletproof, my 127mm train-mounted heavy machine gun will teach them a lesson!¡± ¡°Brother Rui! There''s movement on the train!¡± As Luo Rui¡¯s bloodthirsty excitement peaked, his subordinate suddenly shouted. His eyes shot toward the train just as a hydraulic mechanism let out a deep, metallic hum. A section of the train¡¯s roof began to open. Then, a massive weapon slowly rose into view. Tat-tat-tat... tat-tat... For a moment, all the suppressive fire stuttered and stopped. The attackers stared in stunned silence. Some looked puzzled, some confused. Some narrowed their eyes, trying to get a better look. Others muttered under their breath. "What... what the hell is that?" Luo Rong¡¯s gut clenched. His battle-high vanished as if someone had doused him in ice water. ¡°Big Liu!¡± He grabbed the bespectacled man beside him and pointed at the rising weapon, eyes wide. "Why the hell wasn¡¯t this in our intel?!" ¡°I-I... we don¡¯t know either! Is that a cannon?¡± Whooooom¡ª The air trembled. The massive base of the 1130 CIWS began to hum as its motor spun to life. Above, the electro-optical targeting system and phased array radar scanned rapidly. The fire-control radar activated. Luo Rong¡¯s face drained of color. His lips trembled. "I... I¡¯m f*ed..."** The next second, he grabbed his walkie-talkie. ¡°RUN!¡± BWOOOOOOO! The 1130 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) roared to life! Eleven 30mm barrels spun at blinding speed, spitting out pure destruction. The high-speed radar locked onto every enemy in milliseconds and swept across the battlefield like a storm of death! The attackers who had rushed in and taken cover behind cars? Shredded into a fine mist of blood. The vehicles? Torn apart like flimsy plastic toys. Luo Rui¡¯s retreat command barely left his lips before his men¡¯s legs gave out¡ªthey were already sprinting for their lives. Too late. The CIWS¡¯s tracking system operated in milliseconds. Even those hiding inside station buildings had no escape. The walls themselves were blasted apart! At the same time, Car No. 5¡¯s automatic door hissed open. From inside, Big Luo stepped out, hefting a Gatling gun. The gun¡¯s electric motor spun up. BOOM! A relentless stream of high-speed metal rounds tore through the scrambling enemies! The train¡¯s cockpit door opened. Luo Shasha emerged, cradling her Thunderstorm A1 Grenade Launcher. She didn¡¯t hesitate. Thud! Thud! Thud! Three grenades arced out. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Explosions rocked the battlefield. Screams. Shouts. Cars and buildings blasted apart. Trees collapsed. Deep in the woods, Luo Rong and his crew scrambled onto their vehicles. One of them, hands trembling, raised a rocket launcher, desperately unlocking the safety as the CIWS¡¯s turret swung toward him. CRACK! A single sniper shot rang out. The rocket launcher¡ªand the man holding it¡ª exploded into a shower of gore. Blood and flesh splattered across Luo Rui¡¯s windshield. Panicked, he stomped the gas pedal, trying to escape. At last, he understood¡ª This train hadn¡¯t run because it never needed to. This train was a damn mobile fortress! CRASH! His SUV slammed into another car, jamming the escape route. Luo Rong exploded with rage. ¡°GET THE F* OUT OF MY WAY!!!¡±** On a rooftop in the distance, Chen Sixuan calmly adjusted her anti-materiel sniper rifle. A cold determination filled her gaze as she took aim at Luo Rong¡¯s cockpit. The rifle¡¯s immense power brought her an unusual sense of security¡ªwatching her enemies obliterated, her emotions no longer wavered. Her finger squeezed the trigger. CRACK! What was supposed to be an organized ambush¡ªwithin mere seconds¡ªhad turned into a one-sided massacre. "Brother Rui! Brother Rong!" At a distance, Guo Sheng, who had been in charge of blowing up the tracks, paled at the sight of the bloodbath. He grabbed his walkie-talkie, frantically calling out. No response. From Luo Rong. From Fatty. From Squad One. From Squad Two. Nothing. "Screw this! We¡¯re getting the hell out of here!" Realizing the situation was hopeless, Guo Sheng and his team jumped onto motorcycles and bolted toward the chemical plant. But before they could escape¡ª Screech! All six bikes skidded to a halt. A lone armored vehicle blocked the road. Standing atop it, a young man with windswept hair faced away from them. "Who the hell are you?!" Guo Sheng shouted in terror, fumbling for his gun. Click. A black Remington M96 was already pressed to the back of his head. Bang! Tat-tat-tat! Shu Qin and her team emerged, wiping them out in mere breaths. Lu Xingchen turned, pouting. "Come on, Shu Qin, at least let them introduce themselves first!" Shu Qin holstered her gun. ¡°Cut the crap. We need to get to the chemical plant and assist Captain Lin.¡± Chapter 201: "People" "Husband!" Outside the chemical plant, the faint orange neurotoxin dissipated, and everyone gradually regained movement from their paralyzed state. Ding Qing had been impaled through the chest by Lu? Chang¡¯s thrown electric blade. Duan Min let out a sorrowful cry, scrambling up to catch his falling body. Lin Xian discarded his black rifle without hesitation, raised his gun, and stepped forward, ready to finish off the couple. "No!" Seeing this, Duan Min immediately threw herself in front of Ding Qing, fearfully pleading, "Please, spare us! You can have all the supplies and weapons from our convoy!" "Isn''t it a little late for that now?" "Captain Lin." At this moment, Miao Lu stepped forward to report, "The convoy that attacked our train has been completely wiped out. A rough estimate puts their numbers at over forty. The remaining stragglers were also taken care of by Sister Shu Qin and the others." Hearing this, Ding Qing''s expression changed dramatically. He looked at Lin Xian in disbelief. "Impossible!" Beside him, Duan Min gasped, "We didn¡¯t..." Before she could finish, her face suddenly stiffened, and she turned sharply toward Ding Qing. Luo Rui. Both of them realized what had happened. Now that Lin Xian knew Infinite Train had secured its position, his heart was at ease. He chambered a round and aimed at Ding Qing''s forehead, his voice icy cold. "The good news is, once we take care of that monster inside, you two won¡¯t have to be skinned and turned into impostors." "Wait!" Duan Min panicked, desperately trying to explain. "We didn¡¯t order an attack on your train! Actually¡ª" "Duan Min!" Blood trickled from Ding Qing¡¯s mouth as he cut her off. Seeing her confused expression, he said weakly, "No need to explain. We were the ones who struck first. The strong survive, the weak perish. There¡¯s no point in negotiating now." His face was ashen, his life rapidly slipping away. He turned to Lin Xian and muttered, "I just want to know... do you really think you can take that thing down with just a few people?" Lin Xian¡¯s gaze flickered. "Since you already mentioned the Black Night Curse, you should know we don¡¯t have a choice." Ding Qing frowned, agitated. "You''re throwing your people¡¯s lives away! Why not accept safe shelter and wait until you¡¯re ready to strike back?" Lin Xian met his gaze. "Your so-called shelter... is that just feeding people to the monster every day?" Ding Qing fell silent for a moment before sighing, a self-deprecating smile appearing on his face. Facing the barrel of Lin Xian''s gun, his expression carried a hint of relief. "Go ahead and shoot." "You still haven¡¯t told me where your so-called shelter is." Ding Qing opened his eyes, chuckled disdainfully, and sneered, "What, so you can slaughter everyone there? My enforcers were all part of my convoy, and they¡¯re already dead at your hands. The only ones left are innocent people. Why spill more blood?" Lin Xian¡¯s voice was cold. "People who¡¯ve eaten human flesh... can they still be called human?" Ding Qing said nothing. He closed his eyes, held Duan Min tightly as she sobbed, and braced himself for the shot. Bzzt¡ª At that moment, the sound of a drone cut through the air. A PX-05 engineering robot flew overhead, landing behind Lin Xian. Ding Qing''s eyes snapped open, his face twisting in alarm. "What did you do?!" KIKI stepped forward, clapping her hands with a smug grin. "What else? Setting up bombs, obviously. Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know this chemical plant is basically a giant powder keg?" Lin Xian spoke calmly, "Even if you won¡¯t talk, it doesn¡¯t matter. Blowing up this factory and that monster will force the people in town to face the consequences of their own choices once night falls." Ding Qing¡¯s pupils shrank, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His breathing grew ragged as he stared at Lin Xian in a frenzy. "No! You can¡¯t do this! You¡¯ll kill everyone!" Finally realizing the gravity of the situation, Ding Qing completely lost his composure. His eyes were desperate as he pointed to his exoskeleton suit. "Listen, brother! I know you want this suit! It has voice recognition¡ªno one else can activate it but me! I¡¯ll unlock it for you... just promise me one thing!" KIKI scoffed, "Hah! Voice recognition? What a joke, I¡ª" But before she could finish, Lin Xian raised a hand, stopping her. He turned to Ding Qing. "Speak." Ding Qing coughed up more blood, his voice hoarse. "Take everything from my convoy, I don¡¯t care... Just leave a few vehicles for the survivors. They¡¯re just ordinary people. Let them live! Please... let them live!" Blood foamed at his lips as he screamed the last words with all his strength. "Husband..." Tears streamed down Duan Min¡¯s face as she cradled Ding Qing, looking up at Lin Xian with pleading eyes. "We did the evil deeds. In the underground parking lot of the cinema... there are 191 people. Many of them are women and children. Please... spare them." Lin Xian raised his gun, his gaze cold. "You were right about one thing." Duan Min looked up, hope flickering in her eyes. BANG! A gunshot echoed inside the chemical plant. Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, and KIKI all tensed at the sound. Lin Xian lowered his gun and spoke slowly. "I still have to deal with that monster." Outside the chemical plant... Two motorcycles roared out at high speed. Lin Xian rode with KIKI, followed closely by Lu? Chang and Miao Lu, heading straight for the town. Meanwhile, Shu Qin and Lu Xingchen had finished clearing the battlefield. They drove into town to rendezvous with Lin Xian. "Captain Lin, we¡¯ve checked the area," Shu Qin reported as she stepped out of the vehicle. "The core members of the Vajra Convoy are all dead. There may still be some hiding, but we haven¡¯t located them yet." Lin Xian turned to look at the distant chemical plant. "Get ready. The explosion is going to be massive. The town will definitely be affected, and it might even flush out those impostor creatures." Lu Xingchen grinned. "Perfect. Saves me the trouble of hunting them down one by one." "Lin Xian, what if it doesn¡¯t die?" KIKI asked. "That thing is definitely stronger than a C-rank Eerie Entity. Its vitality is insane." "If the explosion doesn¡¯t kill it, we¡¯ll drag it out." Lin Xian¡¯s tone was firm. "If it¡¯s really as immobile as Director Ding said, we¡¯ll take our time wearing it down. If not... well, at least it''s daylight now. We won¡¯t be as defenseless as last night." Everyone nodded in agreement. This was an active assault on a high-level Eerie Entity¡ªsomething they never would have dared attempt before. Though nervous, they steeled themselves for battle. Lin Xian retrieved Ding Qing¡¯s exoskeleton suit and activated Mechanical Scan. ¡¾Scan complete. Acquired TRP-4 Special Industrial Active Exoskeleton (Blueprint).¡¿ His eyes flickered as he read Ding Qing¡¯s personal logs. [21st: Little Jia doesn¡¯t want to celebrate her 8th birthday underground. We¡¯re planning to let her see the sun for an hour...] [25th: The monster in the chemical plant is getting restless. Luo Rong told me Grandma Zhang is getting worse. I know what he meant by that...] Lin Xian exhaled slowly, then pressed DELETE. ¡¾Deleting user Ding Qing¡¯s log data...¡¿ ¡¾Deletion complete.¡¿ He turned away. "Let¡¯s move out." Chapter 202: Expulsion Rain Town in the afternoon welcomed another heavy downpour. The sky turned dark and gloomy, and the air carried a stifling atmosphere. Outside the cinema on Central Street, many vehicles were parked. Some of these vehicles belonged to the Titan Convoy, still stained with dried blood. Others were ones Ding Qing had collected and repaired from around the town. These had no real defensive capability, and barely enough fuel to go a hundred or two kilometers. In the underground parking lot, over a hundred people nervously stepped out under the aim of guns, lugging their belongings. The crowd was full of unease and confusion, with children crying and women sobbing here and there. The moment they learned the town was on the brink of destruction, everyone¡¯s first reaction was fear and uncertainty. No one had any clue what awaited them tomorrow. In the rain, some families began loading their luggage into the cars. A few people took charge of organizing the survivor vehicle assignments. Everyone moved in silence, while members of the Infinite Train stood on the street, holding guns and watching it all unfold. Countless targeting beams swept over to Lin Xian. Some people began to realize¡ªthis was the man about to confront that monster from the chemical plant head-on. The same man who was pushing them out of this warped but safe haven. The looks they cast at Lin Xian were layered with meaning. He said nothing, quietly watching them pack nervously, car by car driving away. He knew most of them probably wouldn¡¯t live to see tomorrow. But if the Mark theory was confirmed, and if they succeeded in taking down the monster, maybe they¡¯d live a few days longer. Once everyone was gone, Lin Xian didn¡¯t waste any more time. He told the team to board the train. He and KIKI stayed behind in town to handle the detonation. Considering all the aspects of the Mark, Lin Xian had Lu? Chang bring the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum in that big box. He wanted to see whether, after taking down the monster, it could absorb the Black Smoke. Over on the Infinite Train, everyone except Lin Xian and KIKI had already returned to their cars. Because the battlefield was too brutal, Shu Qin only allowed those with strong mental resilience to handle cleanup. The rest followed Chen Sixuan in sorting and logging the items into the storage boxes. The entire Rain Town platform was shrouded in a chill of death. With the rain pouring down, the flowing water was almost completely red. "12 Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystals, 3 Level-2s, 4 rocket launchers, and two 12.7mm vehicle-mounted autocannons. The Titan Convoy really had some firepower." Inside the carriage, Shu Qin stared at the confiscated records, inwardly shocked. "If it weren¡¯t for our heavy weapons, they probably wouldn¡¯t have gone down that fast." Chen Sixuan added. "Wouldn¡¯t have mattered." Lu Xingchen¡¯s face was dark. "These people had already lost their fighting spirit. Just stray dogs now, turned into Demonic Hounds. No guts left to fight. Just sneaky scumbag work at best." Chen Sixuan fell silent at that. Self-preservation was basic human instinct. Everyone on the Infinite Train, including herself, had been forced into survival on the brink. After fleeing through so many nights, it was inevitable that people would change once they found a place that could shield them from the darkness. "Alright." Chen Sixuan looked out the window and reminded, "Everyone get ready. We need to support Lin Xian and the others." Then she turned to Daluo. "Daluo, take a few people and do some emergency repairs on the track up ahead. I checked¡ªit¡¯s not too damaged. No need to wait for Lin Xian to return. We may have to evacuate at any time." "Got it, sis." Daluo accepted the order solemnly. Carriage No. 11 was stocked with prefabricated track steel and all kinds of lifting and welding tools¡ªsomething Lin Xian had prepared long ago. As long as the terrain wasn¡¯t completely destroyed, even without Lin Xian or KIKI, the others could handle emergency repairs. Chen Sixuan was meticulous and thorough. In Lin Xian¡¯s absence¡ªand after entering combat herself¡ªthat soft and restrained demeanor had slowly given way to a composed and chilling calm. Everyone started to respect her even more. Under Chen Sixuan¡¯s command, the crew across the Infinite Train began preparing the evacuation in an orderly fashion. Rain Town, Clock Tower. Lin Xian held a remote detonator cobbled together from a simple communicator, looking down the silent streets of the town. Behind some shattered windows, he could vaguely see eerie human silhouettes. Those hiding within the buildings, their eyes seemed to sense the invisible threat, quietly gazing in Lin Xian¡¯s direction. KIKI floated behind him, arms crossed. "I knew it! You ran back in there earlier because you were eyeing that mechanical suspension arm, huh? Planning to install it on the train?" "Not a bad idea." Lin Xian replied, "There¡¯s still a lot of potential in my Mechanical Ability. Like you said¡ªif this works out, maybe we really will head to Star City and have a talk with the Federal Government." KIKI raised an eyebrow. "The radio said the old Federal Government already renamed it to Dawn City, and merged the original defense force with some private security companies to form a full Federal Army. They¡¯re no joke. We¡¯ll have to sneak in quietly¡ªcan¡¯t just roll up in the Infinite Train with the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive." "If nothing unexpected happens, their power and influence will keep growing," Lin Xian said. "You think a lot of survivors will join them?" Lin Xian nodded, then took a deep breath. "If the Dark Mark theory holds up, there¡¯ll definitely be more people heading to Dawn City. Then a whole new debate could break out among survivors¡ªwhether to flee or hold their ground..." "That kind of situation would be extremely bad for the Phoenix." KIKI furrowed her brows, falling silent for a moment, then spoke uneasily. "Right... If people are afraid of being marked in the dark, the Dawn City underground project might gain a better reputation. That would definitely shake things up within the constantly migrating Phoenix." "Yeah. But it won¡¯t happen overnight. Humanity still can¡¯t survive stably in the Polar Night. That unknown creature in Underground City No. 9¡ªstill a mystery. Run or hold, each has its own logic. Most people will lean toward escaping the darkness. But solving the Dark Mark... that¡¯s what really matters." "So... do we still need to share this Dark Mark situation with the Phoenix?" KIKI¡¯s eyes showed a bit of concern. "Yes." Lin Xian¡¯s expression was resolute. He didn¡¯t hesitate. "Faction debates are our own business as humans. But when it comes to the invasion of darkness, we all have the same enemy. If we can prove this theory using the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum today, we might save countless fleeing survivors¡ªand even change how people try to escape. Compared to the life and death of millions, faction disputes aren¡¯t worth a damn." KIKI nodded with admiration. "Not bad. Big-picture thinking. But those Descent folks probably won¡¯t agree. They treat the monsters like gods." "Is that so?" Lin Xian turned his targeting beam toward the chemical plant. "Then today, let¡¯s bleed their so-called gods dry!" "Lin Xian, everything¡¯s deployed on our side. We¡¯re ready to pull out anytime. Be careful." Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice came through the communicator. Lin Xian checked the time: 2:40 p.m. "Everyone, brace for shock impact. Detonating now!" Chapter 203: Detonation Inside Reagent Room No. 1 of the chemical plant, eerie lantern flowers emitted a faint orange glow, their blood-red veins flickering constantly. Below them, the deep black chemical pool lay still, concealing countless flesh-boned beings just beneath the surface. The workshop was eerily silent. A massive metal reaction kettle hung high above, connected to an overhead crane by mechanical suspension arms. A silver, specially-made bomb glowed faintly with a green light, suspended above an underground storage area filled with a dozen large silver tanks. A pungent mix of chemicals and the stench of decay filled the air. In the town, the impostors sensed danger¡ªperhaps they, too, had been detected by the entity beneath the lantern flowers. The orange glow on the flowers grew brighter, flickering more intensely. Outside, the entire chemical plant was shrouded in a torrential downpour, the sky dark and oppressive, resembling an eternal night. On the open ground near the entrance, blood pooled beneath Ding Qing¡¯s chest. Duan Min held his gradually lifeless body, her face blank and numb. ¡°Honey, look, they¡¯re all gone,¡± she whispered. ¡°Xiao Jia and the others... they made it out alive...¡± Ding Qing struggled to keep his eyes open, gazing toward the distant horizon where the survivor convoy had long since disappeared into the rain. Duan Min turned her head toward the chemical plant, leaned close to Ding Qing¡¯s ear, embraced him tightly, and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. We don¡¯t have to run anymore...¡± ¡ªBoom! Atop the clock tower, Lin Xian had constructed a heavy blast-proof door to shield against the explosion. Behind him, KIKI¡¯s glowing eyes flickered as she formed an invisible psychic barrier, wrapping them both in protection. Seeing the moment had come, Lin Xian pulled out the detonator and took a deep breath. Beep. Then, he pressed the switch. ¡ªBOOM! Inside the chemical plant, the signal lights on the crane suddenly flickered wildly before detonating. The crane¡¯s structural arms snapped, and the reaction kettle¡ªfilled with caustic alkaline solution¡ªplummeted directly in front of the lantern flower, smashing onto the storage tanks below. Thud! The storage tanks ruptured instantly. In the blink of an eye, a dazzling explosion of white-hot flames erupted¡ª BOOM!!! A deafening explosion rocked the entire chemical plant. A colossal fireball engulfed the reagent room and the condensation towers, sending flames shooting dozens of meters into the sky. For a moment, even the heavy rain was blasted aside, creating a vacuum in the downpour. Billowing black smoke, like a massive dragon with outstretched claws, surged into the sky, obscuring the heavens. The sheer scale of the blast cast a dark veil over the land. The shockwave rippled outward like a tidal wave, shaking the ground violently as if an earthquake had struck. Rooftops and windows across Rain Town shattered in an instant, sending a thick cloud of dust surging through the streets. ¡°Watch out!¡± Lin Xian braced himself against the blast-proof wall as the invisible force slammed into the clock tower. Chunks of plaster and masonry peeled off the walls and columns, while KIKI¡¯s psychic shield deflected most of the flying debris. In the swirling dust, a white spherical barrier became faintly visible. The force of the explosion even shook the Infinite Train at Rain Town Station, sending shivers through everyone on board. Seconds later, the ringing in their ears and the choking dust gradually settled under the relentless rain. Lin Xian shoved open the blast-proof door and, alongside KIKI, peered into the distance. The chemical plant was now completely consumed by fire and black smoke. The explosion had obliterated any recognizable structure¡ªits towering condensation towers reduced to rubble. ¡°Did it die?¡± KIKI shouted. ¡ªROOAARRRR!!! A thunderous bellow echoed across the town. Instantly, the sound of frantic movement erupted from every building¡ªimpostors surged out of dark corners, some even hurling themselves from windows, their human-like bodies shattering on impact. These parasitic creatures shrieked and scrambled toward the chemical plant in a frenzied rush. More and more impostors emerged from underground tunnels, residential buildings, and beneath bridges¡ªsome still humanoid, others grotesquely rotted and shedding skin. The streets flooded with their grotesque forms, all charging toward the inferno. ¡°There are... so many of them,¡± Lin Xian muttered, his expression grim. ¡°That damn parasite must have consumed a lot of people...¡± ¡°Lin Xian, look!¡± KIKI suddenly gasped, pointing at the chemical plant. Under the dark clouds and crackling lightning, amidst the suffocating black smoke, a massive shadow loomed. As the lightning flashed, the monstrous form was revealed¡ªseveral enormous tentacles flailed wildly, its body still wreathed in raging flames. It roared and thrashed, its immense bulk struggling against the inferno. The air reeked of burning flesh and destruction. Beneath its monstrous head, they could finally see the true form of the tentacles hidden within the chemical pool. Atop its grotesque body, the lantern flower had been completely incinerated. The massive tentacles writhed desperately against the scorching flames. ¡ªROOAARRR!!! Suddenly, the parasite sensed Lin Xian¡¯s presence. Without warning, it lunged through the fire, scrambling toward the town. ¡°Run!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. Without hesitation, he leaped from the clock tower. ¡ªThud! With the assistance of his exoskeleton, he landed from over ten meters high with ease, hopping onto his motorcycle and speeding toward the outskirts. KIKI soared overhead, watching in shock as the flaming monstrosity barreled toward the town. ¡°Didn¡¯t Director Ding say it wasn¡¯t mobile?!¡± she shouted. ¡°A cornered rabbit will still bite! And those tentacles sure as hell aren¡¯t just for show!¡± Though clumsy on land, its sheer size and reach allowed it to wreak havoc. It plowed through the town, knocking over buildings with every massive sweep of its burning tendrils. The rushing impostors were instantly consumed by the flames it carried, igniting into living torches. Yet the impostor horde did not stop¡ªmore surged forward, heedless of the fire, pouring toward the creature. The enormous Eerie Entity had gone berserk. With a single sweep of its tentacle, an entire building was reduced to rubble as it relentlessly pursued Lin Xian. ¡ªAboard the Infinite Train , the entire crew gathered at the windows, watching in horror as the parasite set Rain Town ablaze. Smoke and flames engulfed the entire town, consuming the cinema and shopping district. Not even the torrential rain could douse the inferno. Chen Sixuan snapped into action. Grabbing her communicator, she barked orders: ¡°Da Lou, cover them! Lu Xingchen, go retrieve Lin Xian and KIKI! Shu Qin, provide fire support! Shasha, activate the CIWS targeting system!¡± ¡ªBeep! Beep! Beep! The automated blast doors on Cars 11 and 5 slid open. Lu Xingchen and Shu Qin dashed out, while Da Lou climbed onto the rooftop shooting platform. His Roarer K23 electric Gatling gun spun up, and the 1130 CIWS in Car 12 rose into position. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± ¡ªBrrrrr! Lin Xian sped down the road on his motorcycle, KIKI flying above him. As soon as the parasite lunged into range, the Infinite Train opened fire¡ª ¡ªTATATATATATATATA! A storm of bullets tore into the beast, ripping flesh apart in a shower of gore. Impostors, some still ablaze, rushed the station. The crew aboard the Infinite Train counterattacked immediately¡ªShu Qin and Da Lou unleashed a hail of gunfire, while Shasha¡¯s grenade launcher exploded amidst the horde. Atop the shooting deck, Chen Sixuan took aim with her A33K Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle. She locked onto a massive impostor lunging at Lin Xian¡¯s motorcycle¡ª ¡ªBang! The shot blasted the impostor into pieces, its remains still twitching from parasitic influence. One by one, she picked off monsters closing in on her teammates¡ªeach shot deadly precise. In Car 1, Ding Junyi stood by the window, hands in his pockets, his heart pounding wildly. Watching the tide of grotesque creatures and the monstrous entity beyond, he realized something¡ª For the first time... he felt no urge to run. The Infinite Train roared with firepower, tearing through the darkness! Chapter 204: Annihilation ¡°Such abomination... Behold the Fire God¡¯s Wrath!¡± Lu Xingchen leapt high into the air, flames surging from both hands as he propelled himself upward, landing directly onto the platform. He spread his arms wide, his Fire Ability roaring with intensity, shaking the air around him. The raindrops that had been falling near him suddenly vaporized, a wave of scorching heat radiating outward. ¡°Divine: Skyfire Finger!¡± With a flick of his sword-finger, the flames behind him spiraled into a fiery spear, blasting forward from his fingertips. The massive firelight illuminated the monster¡¯s curling black tentacles before striking it directly in the face¡ªan explosive blaze erupted! Meanwhile, Lin Xian and KIKI had rushed into Infinite Train¡¯s firepower coverage and immediately launched their counterattack. KIKI shot into the air, her hair whipping in the wind, raising a hand as her psychic energy twisted around both Lu Xingchen¡¯s inferno and the parasite¡¯s own flames. With a single clench of her fist¡ª Whoosh! The swirling fire condensed into a violent storm, whipping across the giant parasite¡¯s body, raising its temperature to the extreme. In the next instant, KIKI gritted her teeth and crushed her fist together. BOOM! The swirling fire tornado collapsed inward, erupting upon the creature¡¯s body. Chunks of its burnt flesh cracked and shattered, glowing red like embers, scorched fragments crumbling away. Lin Xian, clad in his Exoskeleton Power Suit, moved swiftly. A few Wind Cannon shots took down several Impostors rushing through the platform gates. Then, with a sweep of his hands, a steel machine gun bunker materialized at the entrance. The PX05 Factory Robot, carrying the Gatling gun Lin Xian had crafted at the chemical plant, secured it in place. Tat-tat-tat! A relentless barrage of bullets poured out! The giant parasite, now half-burnt, recoiled as a metal storm from the 1130 CIWS shredded one of its charred tentacles at the base! ROOAAAR! It let out a piercing screech, its massive, fanged mouth slowly opening, twitching violently. From within, countless tiny bone-white parasites began spilling out¡ª It was about to spew a swarm of parasitic worms! Lin Xian, crafting bullets on the fly to supply the robot, saw this and immediately reached for his Magnetically-Controlled Black Rifle. Whooosh! BANG! The black rifle rocketed forward, its magnetic propulsion engine igniting at full power. The weapon tore through an entire row of Impostors, piercing through their skulls like a skewer of meat, then accelerated mid-air, soaring upwards! Just as the parasite was about to unleash its swarm, Lin Xian¡¯s black rifle speared into its gaping maw¡ª SPLAT! A fountain of blood and flesh exploded outward, stalling the monster¡¯s attack! "KIKI, Fire Bro! Seal its mouth! Don¡¯t let it spit those worms!" Lin Xian shouted through the communicator. He had seen these bone parasites before. With the Infinite Train crew locked in a chaotic battle, if those parasites got onto the train, it would be impossible to tell friend from foe. KIKI and Lu Xingchen immediately realized the danger. KIKI prepared to fly forward and use her psychic force to clamp the creature¡¯s jaws shut, but at that moment¡ª WHAM! A massive tentacle swept through the air. She had to instantly ascend higher, narrowly avoiding the devastating strike. The tentacle smashed into the warehouse¡¯s rooftop, ripping it clean off. Lu Xingchen, mid-firecasting, couldn¡¯t dodge in time¡ª BAM! The tentacle struck him head-on, sending him hurtling like a meteor into the distant forest, his body wrapped in flames. ROOAAAR! The giant parasite howled. By now, the 1130 CIWS had run out of ammo. The Infinite Train crew was locked in intense firefights against the charging Impostors. The monstrous creature widened its maw¡ª PUHHHH! A white cascade of parasitic worms gushed out like a waterfall! KIKI clenched her fists, about to unleash a shockwave to blast them away¡ª But then¡ª From the woods, a pillar of flames erupted skyward! Lu Xingchen emerged, his entire body blazing like a human torch. His shirt had been completely burned away, his face ice-cold, his eyes filled with murderous intent. ¡°Abomination! You have chosen death!¡± He glanced at KIKI in the air and roared: ¡°Lend me your psychic power! Send me into that thing¡¯s mouth!¡± WHAT?! KIKI¡¯s eyes widened in shock, but seeing Lu Xingchen¡¯s unshaken resolve, she gritted her teeth¡ª With a flick of her hand, her psychic energy enveloped him. WHOOSH! She hurled him forward¡ªdirectly into the gaping maw of the monster! At the same time, she focused all her energy, forming a barrier to hold back the torrent of parasites, keeping them from reaching the platform. From the crew¡¯s perspective¡ª A small, blazing figure vanished into the creature¡¯s mouth. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. Retracting his black rifle, he suddenly drew his GK03 Electric Blade. Amidst the storm of bullets, he dashed forward¡ª His Power Suit¡¯s Speed Mode activated. The electric motors in his boots surged, accelerating him to breakneck speed¡ª He became a blur. The moment he reached the parasite¡¯s supporting tentacle, SHING! A flash of lightning. SLASH! The thick, black tentacle was severed! WHOOSH! The black rifle spun back toward Lin Xian¡¯s grip. With a reverse grip, he drove the weapon into the freshly cut wound, vaulting himself into the air. Mid-flight, he pulled out two pre-made metal bombs and shoved them deep into the exposed flesh. Then, he twisted in mid-air, landing gracefully. With a flick of his hand¡ª The black rifle¡¯s magnetic propulsion ignited, roaring back into his grasp! As he turned to look up¡ª From within the monster¡¯s gaping maw¡ª A blinding white glow ignited. Inside, Lu Xingchen stood, his very hair engulfed in flames. Yet, the fire did not harm him. His eyes opened slowly¡ª A crimson inferno blazed within his pupils. "Art... is an explosion." He whispered. Then¡ªhe spread his arms wide. BOOM!!! A crimson fireball detonated like a supernova, engulfing the creature¡¯s mouth and torso! The white parasites, once flowing like a cascading river, instantly vaporized into black ashes! Above the platform, the firestorm blazed like a miniature sun. The rain evaporated before it even touched the flames. KIKI swiftly formed a psychic barrier, shielding the team from the heatwave. Then¡ªshe unleashed a devastating telekinetic force. "Fall, damn you!" The colossal parasite reeled backward, its tentacles flailing desperately. Then¡ª BOOM! BOOM! The metal bombs detonated! One of its main supporting tentacles was blasted apart! Unable to hold itself up any longer¡ª The massive creature toppled over, crushing dozens of Impostors beneath its weight. Even so, its remaining tentacles still twitched violently. Lu Xingchen landed, still ablaze. Without hesitation¡ª "Divine: Inferno Burst!" Twin jets of fire erupted from his hands, roasting the monster alive! KIKI landed beside him, wrapping the flames in her psychic energy, ensuring the entire creature burned evenly. Chapter 205: Results of the Battle Ratatatat!! The impostors on the platform had been completely wiped out. Luo Shasha and Shu Qin led their team rushing out of the station, while every single member of the Infinite Train unleashed a relentless barrage on the burning monster. Everyone gritted their teeth, pouring out all the fear and frustration they had bottled up from countless nights of fleeing in terror from the creatures of the dark. It was as if they were determined to empty every last bullet they had. Flames. Bullets. Nonstop bombardment. For four or five minutes straight, the barrels of the machine guns glowed red-hot from overuse. Finally, the writhing frequency of the parasitic tendrils inside the smoke and fire began to slow... and slow... until at last, there was nothing but silence. Click. The final bullet was spent. Outside the station, the battlefield fell into a deathly stillness. Only the monstrous parasite, now engulfed in flames, continued to crackle and sizzle within the inferno. Huff... Huff... Everyone stared at the charred, unknown entity, their eyes wide, their breaths heavy. "Is it dead?" Someone broke the silence. "It should be... right?" Whoosh¡ª! A pillar of black smoke suddenly shot into the sky. Lin Xian''s expression darkened. "Not good!" But in the very next moment, the smoke twisted sharply¡ªdiverting away from them and soaring toward the back of the crowd. There stood Ding Junyi, in front of her... the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum she had placed earlier. As the swirling black mist surged into the flower, the deep crimson glow at its core vanished in an instant, replaced by a soft, radiant white light. Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses, a rare flicker of excitement gleaming in her eyes. "Looks like my hypothesis was correct." Lin Xian exhaled deeply, closed his eyes for a moment, and then spoke softly. "We did it." The instant those words left his mouth, a tidal wave of exhilaration swept over the entire team. "YEAH!!!" Shasha jumped up with a cheer. "This is amazing!" Shu Qin called out, exchanging a celebratory high-five with Luo. Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, and the others erupted into joyful shouts. "I can¡¯t believe we actually took down such a massive monster!" "This is unreal!" "Long live Captain Lin!" Chen Sixuan stood there, pale-faced, chest rising and falling with deep breaths. She looked at the burning remains of the enormous creature, then at the beaming faces of her comrades, the firelight illuminating their expressions. For the first time, their cheers felt genuine¡ªpure, unrestrained joy. Lin Xian was also catching his breath. His gaze flickered up to KIKI hovering above, then over to Lu Xingchen as he emerged from the flames, completely unscathed. At that moment, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. "I could never have done this alone. It was all thanks to you guys... and Fire God descending from the heavens." Lu Xingchen strolled over, his expression as composed as ever despite the chorus of excited cheers around him. "It was merely a wave of my hand, nothing more." His tone was indifferent, though he glanced down at his slightly singed sleeves. "Tch... I got a little dirt on my coat. I must strive for further perfection." "Lu-ge was insane today!" "So badass!" Some of the female squad members crowded around him, voices filled with admiration. "This guy... Seriously?" KIKI landed beside Lin Xian, rolling her eyes at Lu Xingchen. "He totally stole the spotlight today. He¡¯s probably feeling smug as hell inside, but look at him, pretending to be all calm and collected. ''A little dirt on my coat¡¯? Where¡¯s your damn coat?!" Lin Xian chuckled. "You know, I actually agree. He really did steal the show." "Oh, check this out." KIKI raised her hand, and a jet-black orb suddenly shot out from the flames, landing in Lin Xian¡¯s palm. His expression shifted. "This is... a Blood Crystal?" "It should be a Level 3 Blood Crystal," Ding Junyi said as she walked over. "According to the Federation¡¯s database, Level 3 Blood Crystals are extremely valuable¡ªequivalent to the resources needed to sustain an entire battalion." "Whoa, seriously?" KIKI¡¯s eyes widened. Lin Xian weighed the crystal in his hand, his gaze sharp. "Considering the price we paid for this fight, getting something valuable in return is only fair. But figuring out how best to use it... that¡¯s up to you, Director Ding." He handed the crystal over to Ding Junyi. She took it, adjusting her glasses once again. "The Federation and Phoenix probably already have some research progress on Blood Crystals. My suggestion is to trade our Dark Mark research data for their latest findings. That way, I can accelerate our own research." "Trade?" Chen Sixuan approached, frowning. "With the Federation?" "It¡¯s just an exchange of interests," Ding Junyi clarified. "It has nothing to do with loyalty to any organization." "No trade." Lin Xian shut it down immediately. "We still need to verify our findings when night falls. If it proves correct, then we¡¯ll directly share our Dark Mark research with Phoenix. They might already have their own theories, but if our information reaches the survivors even a day earlier, it could save lives." Ding Junyi studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, your call. I¡¯ll keep studying the Blood Crystal. If we need to trade, I suggest using Level 1 or 2 Blood Crystals first. This Level 3 one is far too unique¡ªit could greatly benefit my research." "That¡¯s fine." Lin Xian swept his gaze over the battlefield. The sky was overcast. Most of Rain Town was ablaze. The massive parasite had been reduced to a smoldering husk, and the station was littered with impostor corpses. Turning to Shu Qin, he asked, "Do we have any casualties?" Shu Qin shook her head, eyes still bright with excitement. "Some injuries, but nothing serious. No fatalities." Lin Xian exhaled, relieved. Taking down such a monstrous parasite without losing a single person... That was beyond his expectations. He turned to Ding Junyi. "Director Ding, I owe you one. Your judgment was spot-on." She nodded slightly. "Thank you." Though they had burned through a massive amount of ammunition and resources, their team had survived intact. More importantly, their successful operation might have cleansed their Dark Marks¡ªa potential game-changer. And perhaps even more crucially, the battle had shifted their mindset. Their fear was no longer absolute. Confidence had been born from victory. Lin Xian checked the time. An hour until nightfall. To be safe, he didn¡¯t want to waste another second. "Everyone, pack up and return to the train. We leave Rain Town tonight." "Understood!" The team moved swiftly. Lin Xian ordered Luo to load the Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun onto the train¡ªit would be a valuable addition to their firepower. The only problem was... ammunition. The more heavy weapons they had, the greater the burden on Lin Xian to manufacture bullets. Once everyone was aboard, Lin Xian activated the Eerie Cube. ¡¾Beep! Conducting anomaly detection using non-mechanical energy...¡¿ ¡¾Scan complete. No fear-based anomalies detected. Dark forces successfully neutralized.¡¿ "Hah..." Lin Xian let out a breath of relief. After the nightmarish impostor invasion from before, he wasn¡¯t about to take any chances. "Good thing we have the Eerie Cube... and Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. Both of them did some serious work today." One could block Dark Infection and detect infiltrators. The other... well, its Dark Mark detection ability alone made it worth its weight in gold. In some ways, Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum was like an upgraded Soul Wave Detector. Chapter 206: Into the Night Under the Gloomy Sky, the Rain Poured Down. The silhouette of Rain Town blurred into the skyline, shrouded in thick, charred smoke. Onboard the train, tension mingled with excitement. For everyone, this was the first time since Apocalypse Day that they had proactively taken down an Eerie Entity in a direct confrontation. Months of relentless escape and pent-up anxiety seemed to release in an instant. The once-oppressive atmosphere in the carriage had significantly lightened. But everyone knew¡ªthis was no time to relax. Nightfall was approaching, and there was a high chance they¡¯d face another siege of Eerie Entities, just like last night. Shu Qin remained on high alert, leading the group in restocking ammunition. The last battle had nearly depleted 80% of their ammo, and even the 1130 CIWS¡¯s ammunition belt had been emptied. Fortunately, this devastating weapon had done its job, keeping that Mutant Giant Parasite from breaching the platform, forcing it back onto the hillside. Meanwhile, Lin Xian was just as busy. Along with Big Luo and Shasha, he was rapidly producing bullets in Carriage No. 5, distributing them in preparation for whatever came next. Inside Carriage No. 2, KIKI monitored the train¡¯s surroundings, while Ding Junyi and Chen Sixuan focused on updates from the Dark Radio. ¡°Zzz... Zzz...¡± ¡°Federal... Global broadcast from the Phoenix Radio... The Dark Tides from Abyss Zone No. 3 will merge with Abyss Zone No. 5 in 36 days, near Quancheng and the Tagan Desert. Survivors moving northeast should evacuate immediately. Phoenix has established aid stations in Xilan and Quancheng.¡± ¡°The Dark Tides from Abyss Zone No. 7 will merge with Abyss Zone No. 5 in 29 days, near the Wei River, Longjiang, and Jinhai. Survivors moving east toward Xingcheng, Kangcheng, and Yongcheng Port should evacuate immediately. Phoenix has established aid stations in Jinhai and Yongcheng Port.¡± ¡°Federal Radio emergency report from the Yunjiang Plains¡ªA reconnaissance unit of the Nightwalkers has discovered an S-Class Eerie Entity deep within the Palma Grasslands...¡± ¡°Zzz... Phoenix Global Broadcast¡ªDawn Center is currently located at the northern foothills of Yun¡¯an Ridge, coordinates 116.3913447¡ã, 39.9053937¡ã. It is expected to arrive at Tianji in four days...¡± ¡°Phoenix Global Broadcast¡ªFurther research from the Nightwalkers suggests that prolonged exposure to darkness increases the risk of Dark Infection. Adult survivors should not remain in darkness for more than 48 consecutive hours. The elderly, injured, and those with hereditary conditions should limit exposure to 24 hours at most.¡± Lin Xian frowned as he stepped into Carriage No. 2. "So, staying in the darkness for too long is dangerous... Seems like the theory of Dark Invasion has been confirmed." "If we enter the night and don¡¯t encounter a large-scale attack, we can verify this logic. Our next step should be finding someone from Phoenix to confirm it." KIKI suddenly had a thought. ¡°Does that mean... the longer we survive in the darkness, the faster our Abilities evolve?¡± Ding Junyi immediately responded. "If you view Dark Invasion as a trigger for evolution, then yes, it makes sense." "But from a biological standpoint, there must be a natural limit to this process. Let me give you an example¡ªplants use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into organic matter, storing energy. But that doesn¡¯t mean they can photosynthesize 24/7. In reality, plants have biological rhythms¡ªthey generate energy during the day and consume it at night for respiration. If they were exposed to constant sunlight, their natural cycle would be disrupted, leading to death." "Moreover, Dark Invasion energy is still an unknown force. We have no idea how it affects the human body. Only groups like Holy Revelation ¡ªwho worship the darkness¡ªwould consider it a treasure for human evolution." Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed. "So, Eerie Entities need the darkness, while humans need sunlight. And the Dark Tides aim to plunge the entire world into eternal night. If we want to defeat these nightmarish creatures... maybe we shouldn¡¯t only look for answers in the darkness, but also in the light." Ding Junyi¡¯s expression changed. She stared at Lin Xian in silence for a long moment before abruptly turning and heading toward Carriage No. 3. Chen Sixuan watched her reaction and murmured, ¡°Looks like you struck a nerve.¡± Lin Xian shrugged. "If only it were that simple..." He turned to Chen Sixuan. "Ms. Chen, get ready¡ªwe¡¯re moving out." Nightfall was only minutes away. Lin Xian had no intention of waiting until the Eerie Entities appeared before setting off. It was best to gain speed in advance¡ªif anything happened, they could rely on the train¡¯s velocity to break through. Chen Sixuan nodded, though she looked puzzled. "I thought you¡¯d want to test things here first." "No need. There are too many corpses here. If we want accurate results, we should head to an open area." KIKI smirked. "You really do have a scientist¡¯s mindset. Guess Director Ding¡¯s influence rubbed off on you." Lin Xian sighed. "This is a matter of life and death for everyone. If we can confirm this theory, it¡¯ll greatly reduce our risks moving forward." KIKI leaned back in her seat, floating slightly as she mused, "You mean reducing risk by not running away and fighting instead?" Lin Xian¡¯s expression hardened. *"You¡¯re misunderstanding me. Running is always the first priority when facing an unbeatable threat. But knowing how Dark Marking works gives survivors an additional choice. If we blindly run without dealing with the markings, they¡¯ll stack like a chain reaction, creating an unmanageable disaster. If it¡¯s just C-Class Eerie Entities, many survivors might choose to fight back instead. A few casualties are far better than total annihilation. Not every survivor will face an S-Class threat, but in places like Yubei City, where all the markings concentrated, every imaginable horror¡ªsky, land, underground¡ªconverged. That¡¯s true despair."* "So, the best survival strategy is to eliminate the first hunter and then re-enter stealth mode. That way, we¡¯ll be safer in the darkness." KIKI pondered for a moment before nodding. "You¡¯ve got a point." Lin Xian said no more. He fired up the Infinite Train, then joined Chen Sixuan in the cockpit. "Do we have enough bullets?" "Barely. The 1130 CIWS is still out of commission." Lin Xian scowled. "No time to hesitate. We have to take the risk." His stamina was nearly depleted, and the Mutant Giant Parasite¡¯s corpse was still burning on the hillside. He had no intention of lingering in Rain Town any longer. They needed to leave¡ªand test if their Markings had truly been erased. With a roar, the Infinite Train surged forward, leaving the valley behind as it raced toward the Orbital Main Rail. Along the way, Lin Xian saw scattered remains on the tracks¡ªthe aftermath of their escape last night. Beep¡ªBeep¡ª His watch alarm went off. Both he and Chen Sixuan stiffened. As the train headlights lit up the tracks ahead, their expressions turned grim. Inside the carriages, everyone held their breath, waiting for the Tides to arrive. Chomp! Above them, the sky flickered with eerie light. The storm clouds that had covered the sky vanished instantly, replaced by an endless black veil. The entire forest along the tracks plunged into complete darkness, with only the outlines of trees faintly visible. For a split second¡ªLin Xian forgot to breathe. Chapter 207: Clear Mark One second, two seconds, three seconds... In Car No. 5, Daluo gripped his gun tightly. Lu Xingchen stood with arms crossed, eyes closed, playing the role of a mysterious expert. The tea brewer in front of them whistled as steam rose. Chen Sixuan watched the tracks ahead, tense with anticipation, afraid that at any moment, some terrifying creature would suddenly lunge at them. One minute, two minutes, five minutes... Ten minutes passed, and the train continued moving quietly. A wide track appeared ahead, and with a series of clanking sounds, Infinite Train smoothly merged back onto the main rail. "Lin Xian..." Chen Sixuan turned to look at him, seeing him standing silently beside her. At that moment, Lin Xian let out a slow breath, his expression shifting. "It seems... Dark Mark is real. Every survivor is a marked prey being hunted." He vividly remembered that during the previous two nights, before they entered Rain Town¡¯s vicinity, those eerie entities had appeared outside Infinite Train almost instantly. It was as if Infinite Train were a beacon in the dark tide, attracting a swarm of monsters, all waiting for the moment the light went out¡ªready to pounce! But now, everything around them was silent. So silent, in fact, that Lin Xian found it eerily unreal. Chen Sixuan covered her mouth, eyes filled with disbelief as she stared into the darkness ahead. "So terrifying... We thought we were hiding, but in reality, we''ve always been in their sight." Lin Xian spoke, "There should be some safe zones, or perhaps, once the mark is gone, we enter a dormant state, making us relatively safer." SCREECH¡ª After another ten minutes, they had completely left the valley of Rain Town and arrived at an open forest. Lin Xian brought the train to a stop. "We''re not moving forward?" Chen Sixuan asked. "No need. Now that we''ve confirmed this, we should take advantage of the dormant state to rest. There''s no point in rushing forward blindly in the dark," Lin Xian replied. He had no intention of immediately attracting a new mark after just getting rid of one. Now that they knew they were safe, the priority was to stop and resupply¡ªrestock ammunition, replenish food. That was the right course of action. "Good. We still haven''t sorted through all the supplies we collected in Rain Town." Chen Sixuan sighed in relief. Then she asked, "Earlier, you mentioned an S-Class Eerie Entity in the Parma Grasslands. Should we change our route?" Lin Xian nodded. "Of course. We can''t afford to provoke an S-Class entity right now. If we get marked by one, we could end up facing a disaster like what happened in Yubei City..." Chen Sixuan agreed. "Alright. In that case, we can head to Hengshan Pass first and decide our next move based on Phoenix¡¯s intelligence." Lin Xian ruffled his hair, feeling a rare sense of relief. "It''s been a while since I felt this way¡ªwithout zombies or eerie entities swarming us." Then, he turned to Chen Sixuan. "What do you think about the route?" She pondered for a moment. "I remember you mentioned before that we should avoid large cities. That means we might have to take detours off the main orbital route around areas like Longjiang, Jinhai, and Xingcheng. Those places are unavoidable if we stick to the main track." "If we avoid Parma Grasslands, then the choice after Hengshan Pass comes down to the northern or southern route. The northern path goes through the Western Gobi and Takan Desert, near Abyss Zone No. 5. The southern path passes through Qingshui, Lancheng, and Yunlan¡ªcloser to Abyss Zone No. 7. If we want to reach Xingcheng, we''d need to get back on the main track before Jinhai." Lin Xian nodded. "Whether we cross the ocean or take the northern continental shelf over Qiong¡¯gu Strait, we¡¯ll need to upgrade the train''s drive system and stock up on supplies and ammunition beforehand. Xingcheng is the best option for that." "Also, compared to before, we have a bit more time now. Let¡¯s pass Hengshan Pass first, then decide based on what happens in Parma Grasslands. Until then, we can adjust course. According to Phoenix¡¯s intel, their nearest outposts are in Xilan and Jinhai. The rest of their teams don¡¯t disclose their coordinates. We need to contact Phoenix as soon as possible and hand over the research data on Dark Mark to them." Chen Sixuan nodded. "We found a wireless radio from the Vajra Convoy. It was the device they used to lure us into Rain Town. Now that we have it, why don¡¯t we broadcast this information directly? If Phoenix picks up on it, they might come to us." "No." Lin Xian shook his head firmly. "You¡¯re thinking too simply. The survivor frequencies are too chaotic right now. Everyone is barely staying alive. If you suddenly announce, ¡®Don¡¯t run, just kill the eerie entities, and it¡¯ll be safer,¡¯ do you think people will believe you?" Even Phoenix wouldn¡¯t accept it outright. They¡¯d need detailed research data from Director Ding and would likely conduct tests first. Besides, not everyone has Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. They couldn¡¯t distribute it to everyone. Only after Phoenix verified the findings through experiments would they release it publicly. This even involved their operational approach¡ªif confirmed, many survivors might realize that escape was a dead end, leading to greater panic and despair. That, in turn, would fuel the old Federation government¡¯s underground city plan. Phoenix and the old Federation fundamentally differed in survival philosophy and resistance strategies. Due to Polar Night, most survivors believed in escaping the darkness. But Dark Mark introduced the risk of cumulative danger with escape, forcing survivors to reconsider their choices. "So, what should we do?" "Do what we must. The rest is for the higher-ups to decide." Lin Xian took a deep breath. His responsibility was to deliver the critical information. The rest was beyond his control. "Alright, Chen, take a team to inventory our supplies and prepare dinner. After all this running, we finally won a battle. We deserve a victory feast." Chen Sixuan agreed, her expression brightening. "Right. Several girls in the convoy are great cooks, and the dining car is equipped with ovens and woks now. Let¡¯s make a feast!" That night, the deep forest was quiet, the darkness serene. Dozens of kilometers outside Rain Town, the 400-meter-long Infinite Train rested in the dense woods, its heavy doors sealed tight. Soft yellow light from the train windows pierced the surrounding darkness, bringing a sense of security to its passengers. Since Jiang City, this was the first time Lin Xian had shared a meal with so many people¡ªand the first time he had a proper cooked meal in ages. Chen Sixuan and the skilled female team members had worked for over an hour, firing up the oven, wok, soup pot, and grill to prepare an enticing feast: Tomato beef soup, fragrant roasted jerky, stir-fried noodles, sweet soup made with honey and canned fruit¡ªand the highlight, a massive stew of braised pork, beef, salted fish, and dried vegetables! Chen Sixuan even brought out some red wine to celebrate their survival. "Wow! Having a dining car makes all the difference! We even have stir-fried noodles!" KIKI and Shasha ran into the dining car, their eyes gleaming at the long table full of food. Shasha licked her lips, staring in awe. "I can''t take it anymore! I¡¯m drooling just looking at this!" Gurgle¡ª Behind them, Daluo¡¯s stomach let out an audible growl as he eyed the food. "Bro! I heard that! Could you keep it down?" Shasha complained. "Hehe." Daluo chuckled sheepishly. "We fought hard today. Of course, I¡¯m hungry." In the apocalypse, a hearty meal was perhaps the only comfort in a night full of despair. "Not bad." Lu Xingchen walked in, surveying the setup with approval. "Clean dining car, aromatic food¡ªthis pleases me greatly." Chen Sixuan rolled her eyes. "Then why are you still standing there? Sit down already. You want me to beg you?" "Haha! Coming!" KIKI quickly grabbed a seat. Once everyone was gathered, Lin Xian stood up, gaze sharp. "Tonight, we celebrate surviving another battle. From now on, this train is our home. But we all know about Dark Mark now, and we won¡¯t just keep running¡ªwe¡¯ll fight back for our survival." "Our next mission is to relay this information to the world through Phoenix." "You may ask¡ªwhy take this risk?" Lin Xian raised his glass, eyes fierce. "For the soldiers of Starfleet Iron Guard Brigade 52 and Yubei Spaceport Security Regiment¡ªwho sacrificed their lives for us." Chapter 208: Life on the Train As night fell, the Infinite Train sealed all its blackout panels, leaving only slivers of warm light escaping through the cracks. Inside the living carriage, there was an overwhelming sense of post-crisis security. The former sleeper compartments had been remodeled into individual private rooms¡ªnot spacious, but compared to their previous lives spent inside cramped vehicles, it was a world of difference. Now that safety was assured, everyone had begun organizing and personalizing their mobile apocalyptic safe haven, stuffing all their belongings into the limited space. Shu Qin had her own private room. She didn¡¯t have many personal belongings, but having a space to move freely lifted the oppressive feeling of living in a car. After finishing dinner, she took a quick shower, washing away the lingering stench of blood. Feeling refreshed, she stepped out of her room and saw that everyone in the living carriage was still busy setting up their spaces. Their faces were full of energy and optimism, bringing a slight ease to her expression. Since joining the Infinite Train, it felt like they had finally found a sturdy vessel in the midst of a raging sea¡ªa haven worth protecting with everything they had. Checking the time, Shu Qin set an alarm for herself, picked up her gun, and took a seat in the hallway, keeping watch as she rested. Up ahead in Carriage No. 5, Big Luo, exhausted from a long day, had followed orders and gone to bed early after a hearty meal. His Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun, fully loaded, rested on the gun rack beside his steel-framed bed, within arm¡¯s reach. Below it, his Steel-Slaying Greatsword was neatly placed. Next door was Lu Xingchen¡¯s private quarters, completely separated from Big Luo¡¯s simple sleeping area. His room was brightly lit and well-kept. Besides his bed and personal wardrobe, a wooden tea table occupied the empty space by the window, accompanied by two woven straw cushions he had somehow scavenged from Rain Town. His tea brewer bubbled with steam, filling the air with the scent of red tea, a small stash that Shasha had found for him. As he sipped his hot tea, he sketched out ideas on paper, brainstorming ways to further develop his fire ability. The white sheet was covered in crude stick figures engulfed in flames, all drawn in dramatic, grandiose poses. "Skyflame Rift: Using lightning from the sky to ignite flames, instantly incinerating enemies... Hmm, not bad, not bad... just need to figure out that lightning part." "Heaven¡¯s Inferno: Ignite the fire energy within the body, creating a sea of flames that burns everything¡ªsounds powerful as hell!" In Carriage No. 4, a large glass eco-chamber stood in the center, still empty for now. Lin Xian planned to use it for medium-sized greenery or small shrubs. On either side of the chamber, two rows of hydroponic growing racks were installed, each enclosed by glass panels. There were ten layers in total, fixed directly to the ceiling, capable of cultivating a variety of leafy vegetables. The water circulation system was already in place, and Ding Junyi had begun working with a few younger team members to develop a planting schedule. However, their progress had been delayed for the past two days due to their stop in Rain Town. Further ahead in Carriage No. 3, Ding Junyi meticulously backed up her research data as part of her daily routine. Afterward, she took a shower, drank a glass of water, and returned to her converted rest area, which Lin Xian had remodeled from a decontamination room. Stripping off her clothes, she slipped under the clean covers. She then pulled up some academic research materials on her mobile terminal, put on her earphones, set an alarm, and quietly immersed herself in her studies. Her neatly folded clothes and undergarments sat beside the bed, adding to the meticulous orderliness of her living space. In Carriage No. 2, Shasha and KIKI, both freshly showered, were curled up inside KIKI¡¯s Special Entertainment Zone, playing console games on an entertainment system that Lin Xian had brought back from Jiang City. Right next to them was their shared sleeping area, a custom-built bunk bed with a semi-enclosed design, complete with built-in lighting. The enclosed structure provided a strong sense of security, preventing them from falling off during the train¡¯s movement. The entertainment area was covered in a thick, plush carpet. KIKI, now lounging comfortably, wore a pink low-cut camisole and denim shorts, her long, fair legs casually crossed on the floor. Both she and Shasha had lollipops in their mouths, treats Chen Sixuan had dug up from the storage room. "Hit it, hit it! Left side, you idiot!" "KIKI! Save me!" "Open that chest! There¡¯s something good inside!" "Hurry, hurry! It¡¯s about to evolve into Stage Two!" "I KNOW!" "It¡¯s almost dead!" "I¡¯m out of ammo! Give me some!" "You want a grenade?" "Yes! Let me blow it to hell!" In Carriage No. 1, Lin Xian¡¯s workbench was occupied by a TRP-4th Gen Industrial Active Exoskeleton Power Suit. The entire power armor weighed nearly 30kg, equipped with a mini high-energy electric drive unit and 13 hydraulic actuators. He was currently experimenting with integrating a mechanical prosthetic arm into the suit. Although having three arms looked a bit odd, it would be extremely practical in combat. The power suit¡¯s support system wasn¡¯t highly intelligent¡ªequivalent to a mini computer. Lin Xian could tell that Ding Qing had taken great care of the armor, meticulously maintaining it. To preserve its drive system¡¯s lifespan, she usually kept it powered down, even going as far as saving battery life. Forget power armor¡ªeven firearms, with their simple mechanical structures, were incredibly precious in the apocalypse. Without an industrial base, every bullet fired was one less they could replace. A broken gun was nearly impossible to repair. Unlike Lin Xian¡ªwho could casually craft Gatling guns and bullets whenever he wanted. ¡¾Upgrade in Progress: A33K Heavy Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle Blueprint ¨C 1 day, 13:49:55 remaining.¡¿ "Still over a day left..." Lin Xian glanced at the research center, feeling impatient to put the power armor in for an upgrade. If he could boost this blueprint, it would be equivalent to upgrading himself. It had already surpassed the 1130 CIWS and electromagnetic cannon in his list of priorities. Compared to the PX05 Engineering Robot, this power armor was slightly more complex, mainly due to the Tungsten-Titanium Alloy required, which was a Tier-3 material. Converting Tier-1 and Tier-2 materials into it would be incredibly resource-intensive, but at least it was feasible. Ever since he confirmed the existence of the Dark Mark, his next strategic goal was to arm the entire team. If everyone had a power suit, their mobility and survival rates would skyrocket when facing Eerie Entities. However, fully enclosed battle armor and combat exosuits were a whole different story. Their material demands were sky-high¡ªeven Phoenix and Dawn City would consider them luxury war gear, far from easy to produce. If Lin Xian wanted to start designing high-tier equipment, he needed to level up both Mechanical Manufacturing and Mechanical Devouring as soon as possible. "This thing handles pretty well." He hefted the black rifle in his hands. Upon scanning it, he discovered it had been repurposed from a mech unit¡¯s internal ¡°muscle engine¡±¡ªfitted with a magnetically-controlled system and reinforced impact plating. No ordinary person could get their hands on such black-market tech¡ªthis had to be the work of a highly advanced mechanical organization. Finally, after scanning and securing the blueprint, Lin Xian sighed in relief. It was already past midnight. He had been on high alert ever since they left Jiang City, barely sleeping. Now, for the first time, he finally understood the patterns of the dark¡ªand that was even more exhilarating than hoarding supplies. Chapter 209: Check, Be Gentle Lin Xian enjoyed a relaxing shower, letting the hot water wash over him. The bathroom was stocked with everyday essentials like body wash and shampoo that Chen Sixuan had collected, making him feel as if half of his exhaustion had been washed away. His whole body felt refreshed. Since the coverage of the Polar Night hadn¡¯t fully reached the area yet, the Yunjiang Plains only experienced a slight drop in temperature, with no snow or blizzards in sight. Each living carriage on the Infinite Train was equipped with restrooms and showers, all connected to the onboard water circulation system. Lin Xian had modified them to improve efficiency, but Carriage No. 1 had the largest bathroom, as it was originally designed with a bathtub. Because of its spaciousness and the availability of toiletries, KIKI and the other girls typically used this bathroom. However, Lin Xian had set a rule: no soaking in the bathtub¡ªto conserve water. Just as Lin Xian stepped out of the bathroom, he spotted Chen Sixuan entering Carriage No. 1, holding the logbook she had repurposed for tracking supplies. "Aside from that Level-3 Eerie Blood Crystal, we also found twelve Level-1s and three Level-2s from the Vajra Convoy. Additionally, we secured four rocket launchers, eleven rockets, two 12.7mm vehicle-mounted autocannons, and over three thousand rounds of ammunition. However, there wasn¡¯t much food or medicine¡ªwe left some behind for the survivors beneath the cinema, as you suggested. We also gave them a radio and a few weapons." Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s already a solid haul. But as for these blood crystals... other than trading with the Phoenix, we still don¡¯t know if they have any other uses." "Yeah," Chen Sixuan closed the logbook. "I believe they must be useful¡ªit all depends on what the Phoenix¡¯s research uncovers. Honestly, we owe a lot to Director Ding this time. If we had blindly rushed forward, things could have ended much worse for us." Humanity¡¯s understanding of the darkness was still only the tip of the iceberg. Brute force and courage alone weren¡¯t enough to survive in this new world¡ªthe path ahead for survivors remained uncertain. ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve been busy all day too. Go take a shower and get some rest.¡± Lin Xian looked at Chen Sixuan. Sweat glistened on her forehead¡ªafter spending the entire day as a sniper on the rooftop, fighting in the afternoon, preparing dinner, and managing supplies, her delicate features showed clear traces of exhaustion. Upon hearing his words, her eyes flickered, avoiding his gaze. Now that they were in a safe and relaxed environment, she knew exactly where this night might be heading. But... why did she instinctively think of the word "finally"? Her heartbeat quickened, as if a feather had brushed against her heart, leaving a tingling sensation behind. Ever since dinner, her mind had been drifting toward thoughts of the night, but she had deliberately kept herself busy in Carriage No. 6 with Miao Lu and the others, avoiding these thoughts altogether. She had waited until all the other carriages had gone dark and quiet before coming back. Now, hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words, she suddenly felt like she had played too coy. Lin Xian noticed the faint blush creeping up her face. He had no idea what calculations she was running in her head, so he simply asked, "Chen Laoshi, what¡¯s wrong?" "Ah... nothing... nothing at all!" Chen Sixuan¡¯s reaction was flustered, and she quickly pointed at her logbook in a serious manner. "I just remembered¡ªthere¡¯s still something left to check. You go ahead and shower first, I¡¯ll go after you." The moment she finished speaking, she regretted it. Because Lin Xian had literally just stepped out of the shower. Anyone could see through her excuse at a glance. "It¡¯s already this late, and you¡¯re still checking supplies~?" Lin Xian caught the flicker of panic in her expression, immediately snatching the logbook from her hands and tossing it onto the table. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed her and pulled her into the bathroom, locking the door behind them. "Ah! What are you¡ª You just showered, didn¡¯t you?!¡ªMmph...!" Before she could finish her sentence, her soft lips were sealed by a sudden, scorching kiss. Lin Xian¡¯s arms wrapped tightly around her, and the overwhelming heat of his presence sent shivers coursing through her body. Her mind went blank. She melted into his embrace, surrendering without resistance. Clothes¡ªcoated in dust and blood¡ªfell to the floor one by one. The hot shower was turned on, steam quickly filling the bathroom, thick with the scent of pulsing desire. As the hot water cascaded down, Chen Sixuan involuntarily clenched her thighs together, a torrential heat surging through her veins. For a fleeting moment, she lost control, instinctively throwing herself against Lin Xian¡¯s chest. Though her frame appeared delicate, her curves were soft and full, her skin as smooth as polished jade. Lin Xian inhaled her scent, a warm and intoxicating fragrance, his whole body shuddering with pleasure as he pressed his lips against hers, savoring every inch. "Mmm..." A sweet moan escaped her lips as she felt his breath sear against her skin, sending shivers all over her body. The relentless heat of his touch burrowed into her, and a mix of shame and longing left her helplessly trapped in this intoxicating moment. As the shower water continued to flow, Chen Sixuan could no longer hold back. She bit down on her lip, suppressing the moans threatening to escape her throat, while her trembling body desperately fought against the overwhelming tide of emotions. And then¡ªshe felt it. Something hot and rigid pressed against her. She instinctively twisted in embarrassment, only causing more friction between them. "Chen Laoshi~" "Mmm..." She shuddered at the sound of his voice, her response soft and breathless. A fire ignited deep in Lin Xian¡¯s chest, and he couldn¡¯t bear to let go of her supple waist. With one hand cradling the back of her neck, he deepened the kiss, while the other lifted her leg. And then¡ªlike a war machine roaring to life, he pressed forward, plunging into the scorching storm of steam and passion. "Ah~" At that moment, Chen Sixuan completely surrendered, her body trembling, her face flushed, her dazed eyes filled with longing. Their souls collided in the dark, breaking through the walls that separated them. Within the solitude of the apocalypse, they found comfort in each other¡¯s warmth. Beyond the dark mountains, the Infinite Train slowly dimmed its lights, sinking into its first peaceful night after crossing the Dazhu Plateau. A small aircraft hovered over a scorched and leveled forest, its lights flickering against the remains of a burned colossal entity. Three figures in black robes stood silently beside the charred corpse. Their faces were fully concealed by masks, making their expressions unreadable. On the chest of each robe, a red sigil resembling a goat¡¯s head was embroidered, with a series of numbers printed below it. "Subject A013¡ªconfirmed deceased." One of them held a scanner, its display flickering with data. "Chemical explosive traces detected¡ªtracked from the chemical plant to this freight station. The target possesses heavy weaponry and high-level abilities." The leader of the trio spoke in a cold, detached tone. "Extract a sample of its living tissue." "Understood." A black-robed figure retrieved a high-tech extraction device, pressing it against an untouched black tendril of the colossal parasite. With a soft mechanical hiss, the device sealed the sample in an airtight container. "Based on the movement patterns, this was a deliberate assault on an Eerie Entity. Rain Town only has a few scattered corpses remaining¡ªat least one hundred survivors have been relocated." "A proactive kill of an A-Class Eerie Entity¡ªreport it immediately." "Yes. What about the survivors?" The leader¡¯s voice turned even colder. "Deploy a cleanup squad. Mark them as test subjects for long-term observation." Chapter 210: Energy Conversion The night was silent. The entire Infinite Train had already shut off its lights, though a few people still took turns keeping watch inside the carriages for safety. Inside Carriage No. 3, Ding Junyi lay on her bed, enjoying the peace and quiet. She had a habit of sleeping without clothes, as it gave her a liberating sense of relaxation. Outside the resting chamber, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum quietly emitted an almost imperceptible ghostly glow from within its sealed cultivation pod. After absorbing the Black Mist from the Large Parasite, a stream of dark smoke began to cycle through its flower core, slowly transforming into a cold, invisible substance that dispersed throughout the carriage. Like an intangible mist, some of it was unknowingly inhaled by Ding Junyi, while the rest drifted into the surrounding carriages, enveloping KIKI, Shasha, Big Luo, Lu Xingchen, and even those further back¡ªShu Qin, Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, and the other team members. When the ghostly mist attempted to seep beyond the train, the Heteromorphic Cube in Carriage No. 1 pulled it back. Ding Junyi¡¯s eyes snapped open. She felt an inexplicable sense of comfort coursing through her body. Looking around, she saw nothing unusual. Still, she got up, grabbed her white coat, and carefully opened the door to check her surroundings. Seeing no one, she stepped out. Underneath the coat, she wore nothing. She had no desire to be seen, but something felt... off. When she looked ahead, she immediately noticed the faint, eerie glow radiating from Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± This was the first time Ding Junyi had encountered such an anomaly. Meanwhile, in Carriage No. 1, Lin Xian had just fallen asleep when a mechanical notification panel appeared before his eyes. A status message flashed: [Non-mechanical energy has been converted. +1000 Mechanical Source Points acquired.] [Network anomaly detected. Refreshing... Please retry.] Lin Xian bolted upright from his bed. ¡°What!?¡± Thinking he had misread it, he quickly opened his Mechanical Heart interface¡ªsure enough, his Mechanical Source Points had increased by 1000! [Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.3 (2720/5000)] ¡°Holy sh*t!¡± His mind raced. His first thought was: Did I just accidentally devour the entire Infinite Train in my sleep?! But everything was normal. The Infinite Train was intact. His Mechanical Heart was functioning properly. Even Professor Chen was peacefully asleep beside him. Something wasn¡¯t right. Lin Xian hurriedly threw on his clothes and checked his Heteromorphic Cube, which was secured in Carriage No. 1. He immediately activated a mechanical scan. [Beep! Performing reflective scan using non-mechanical forces...] [Scan complete. No fear-based anomalies detected. Dark-side invasion blocked.] [Converting residual non-mechanical energy... +2 Mechanical Source Points acquired.] ¡°Wait... this thing is generating Mechanical Source Points?¡± Lin Xian was stunned. His Heteromorphic Cube had originally been created when his Mechanical Heart forcibly converted Eerie Radio Waves, but he never expected it could produce Mechanical Source Points without devouring mechanical parts. But what exactly was this ¡®non-mechanical energy¡¯? As he mulled over the question, he suddenly noticed faint streaks of light energy flowing through the train, gradually converging inside the Heteromorphic Cube. His eyes narrowed. He began tracking the glowing mist¡¯s source, following it as it drifted toward the rear carriages. Passing through Carriage No. 2, he noticed KIKI and Shasha still deep in sleep. Shhht¡ª Lin Xian carefully opened the gate to Carriage No. 3 and was surprised to find the lights still on. Inside, Director Ding Junyi was examining something with a serious expression. He glanced around. Under the bright lights, the glowing mist had completely vanished. ¡°Director Ding? You¡¯re still up?¡± Ding Junyi looked up at him. ¡°I just noticed something strange about the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, so I need to study it.¡± ¡°Strange?¡± Lin Xian activated his Mechanical Heart and, with a click, switched off the lights in Carriage No. 3. Instantly, the ghostly glow reappeared¡ªand was now even brighter. Lin Xian followed its source¡ªright back to Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. Ding Junyi¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°So, you see it too?¡± Lin Xian had been about to ask her the same thing, but her reaction surprised him. This meant the mist was visible to everyone, not just his Mechanical Heart¡¯s interface. ¡°What is this?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°Could it be some kind of mark?¡± Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses. ¡°Unclear. My readings detect a positive surge in Soul Wave Values. Normally, this only occurs in Ability Users. My preliminary hypothesis is that it¡¯s a type of Dark Energy. But I don¡¯t know why it¡¯s dispersing like this.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression tightened. Could this be the reason I just gained 1000 Mechanical Source Points? But his Mechanical Heart was supposed to gain energy from devouring machinery¡ªnot from Dark Energy. And yet, Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum had clearly absorbed Eerie Energy from monsters like the Mimic Parasite, then somehow transformed it into non-mechanical energy... which was now converting into Mechanical Source Points through the Heteromorphic Cube? His mind was racing. Ding Junyi studied his face. ¡°Did you figure something out?¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Not sure. If this isn¡¯t some kind of marker, then it might mean this thing is actively releasing Dark Energy onto the train. We just don¡¯t know yet if it¡¯s beneficial or dangerous.¡± The glowing mist had already spread throughout the train. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t worried about himself¡ªafter all, he had just gained Mechanical Source Points from it. But he was concerned about its effects on other people. Too much Dark Energy could lead to Corruption in normal humans. That was a serious issue. ¡°To figure that out, we¡¯ll need live observation.¡± Ding Junyi stood up and looked at Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯ve been monitoring everyone¡¯s vitals. We should see results in a few days.¡± ¡°A few days?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°Unless there¡¯s an immediate case of rapid Corruption, the effects on the body won¡¯t be noticeable in a short period. A few days is already a fast timeframe.¡± Lin Xian exhaled and glanced at the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, his expression conflicted. ¡°Let¡¯s hope it¡¯s good news.¡± Getting free Mechanical Source Points was definitely exciting. His first guess was that the flower had absorbed Eerie Energy, then released a transformative mist that boosted his Mechanical Heart. If that were true, everyone on the train might be benefiting from it. If so, then Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum was an absolute blessing. Not only could it serve as an early-warning system for Dark Marks, but it could also absorb Eerie Energy and convert it into Mechanical Source Points¡ªgiving Lin Xian an entirely new upgrade pathway! A 1000-point gain was equivalent to devouring 4¨C5 train locomotives. Though it didn¡¯t grant mechanical components or experience, it still sped up his Mechanical Heart¡¯s evolution! Every time his Mechanical Heart leveled up, he gained powerful new skills. Advancing faster was always a good thing! ...Wait. Lin Xian suddenly realized something. He turned to Ding Junyi, his eyes sharpening. ¡°Director Ding, are you...?¡± Ding Junyi didn¡¯t even look up from her research data. ¡°Yeah. Not wearing anything.¡± She answered matter-of-factly, completely unconcerned about the breeze beneath her lab coat. Chapter 211: Grass Carriage No. 3 Lin Xian had been preoccupied with thoughts about the Eerie Cube and its transformation of the Mechanical Source Point when his attention was suddenly pulled elsewhere¡ªspecifically, to Ding Junyi, who was standing before him in a white lab coat... with nothing underneath. Ding Junyi hadn¡¯t expected Lin Xian to appear at this moment either. She lowered her head and explained, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. This is just how I sleep. I rushed here after noticing changes in the Blood Scourge Flora, so I didn¡¯t have time to get dressed.¡± Lin Xian opened his mouth, about to say something¡ªbut stopped. He didn¡¯t really mind. After all, Ding Junyi had an amazing figure, and he couldn¡¯t help but take in the view. But the moment he became aware of that thought, it became increasingly difficult to look away. Beneath the loose lab coat, glimpses of soft, pale skin peeked through, accentuating her graceful curves. The sheer visual impact was overwhelming. After a few seconds, Lin Xian felt his mouth go dry, his body reacting involuntarily. Sh*t. He quickly forced his gaze away and shifted his focus to the Blood Scourge Flora, walking toward it to distract himself by studying the strange plant. Ding Junyi glanced at him sideways. She observed his deliberate avoidance, then casually leaned back onto the lab table, smoothly sitting on its edge. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world¡ª She spread her legs slightly and adjusted her glasses, looking at Lin Xian with an unreadable expression. Lin Xian froze. "Wait¡ªI wasn''t...!" Ding Junyi didn''t respond, simply watching him. Everything was left unspoken. Lin Xian was about to say something else, but then a thought suddenly struck him. Not what? What am I even trying to explain? ...Do I even need to explain? Sh*t. Hesitation leads to defeat. Just go for it. Heat surged through Lin Xian¡¯s body. Without another word, he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He moved between her legs, wrapped his arms around her waist, and¡ª ¡°I...¡± "Do what you want." Ding Junyi pulled him in, her gaze burning. "I can take a break from work for this." Lin Xian chuckled softly. He had to admit¡ªDing Junyi was quite the woman. Dedicated. Focused. Even though her emotional intelligence seemed nonexistent¡ªwith her speech always cold and robotic¡ªLin Xian could tell that she was incredibly straightforward. Her words and actions were completely aligned, making her intriguingly genuine. "Alright, then I¡ªsh*t!" Lin Xian¡¯s voice suddenly changed. Ding Junyi nodded slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Go ahead. Using more dirty talk will help me get into the right state faster." "No, that''s not it!" Lin Xian took a step back, his eyes widening in shock. "There''s... grass growing out of your head!" "...?" Ding Junyi¡¯s expression shifted immediately. She frowned and reached up, feeling around the top of her head. Sure enough¡ª Right at the center of her scalp, she found something soft and sprouting. A tiny green seedling, freshly grown. "What the...?" Ding Junyi turned to Lin Xian, equally confused. Lin Xian instinctively reached out and held her still. "Wait. Let me take a look." He pulled her closer, inspecting her head. There it was¡ªa delicate green sprout, undeniably growing from her scalp. And even more bizarre¡ª It was growing fast. Within moments, it had reached three to four centimeters in height, and at its tip, a tiny bud began to form. The moment that flower bud slowly bloomed, revealing a soft pink blossom, Lin Xian froze. Ding Junyi also looked up at him, her face unreadable. "Is this an Eerie Entity? Or am I infected? Do I need to be quarantined or... physically removed? If you need to kill me, let me put my clothes on first." Her voice remained calm and cold, yet Lin Xian could tell that a thousand thoughts were racing through her mind. "If something abnormal is happening to me, it''s likely due to the Blood Scourge Flora''s influence. For safety, you should evacuate everyone from the train immediately." "Wait." Lin Xian placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. The tiny pink flower had stopped growing. Now, it just sat there, gently swaying as Ding Junyi moved her head. A sprout... on her head. Lin Xian had no words for what he was seeing. With a furrowed brow, he reached out and pinched the tiny plant, attempting to pull it out. "Ow¡ª" Ding Junyi flinched, her neck shrinking back slightly as she let out a soft gasp. "It hurts?" "Mm." She nodded. The tiny pink flower... also nodded along with her. Lin Xian: ...... His brain stalled for a second. Tonight¡¯s events were getting weirder and weirder. Lin Xian stared at the strange little flower, lost in thought for several moments. "If you can feel pain, then you should also be able to... sense its presence, right?" His words seemed to spark something in Ding Junyi. She closed her eyes, focusing. After a moment¡ª "I think... I can." "Can you make it... retract?" "What do you mean?" Lin Xian took a deep breath. "I think this might be an Ability." Ding Junyi¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. "An Ability? I¡¯ve never heard of anything like this." "There are a lot of things we haven¡¯t heard of." Lin Xian''s tone turned sharp. "Enough talking¡ªjust try it!" His commanding voice made Ding Junyi shudder slightly. She looked at him with subtle intensity, then nodded. "Alright. I¡¯ll listen to you." She took a deep breath, closing her eyes once more. One minute. Two minutes. The two of them stood face-to-face in silence. Lin Xian stared intently at the flower, his mind racing with possibilities. And then¡ª The tiny pink petals began to fold inward. The blooming flower rapidly shrank back into a bud. Then, in an instant, it regressed into a simple green sprout, blending seamlessly with her hair¡ªso much so that it was nearly invisible. "How is it?" Ding Junyi looked at Lin Xian. He nodded. "It¡¯s gone. Looks like it really is an Ability¡ªyou can control it." Ding Junyi fell silent, looking down at her hands. "It came out of nowhere. How did I suddenly develop an Ability?" Both of them instinctively turned toward the Blood Scourge Flora. Inside its cultivation chamber, the black petals shimmered with a faint, imperceptible glow. Lin Xian had previously used the Eerie Cube to scan the train¡ªthere had been no signs of contamination. Which meant¡ªthis power wasn¡¯t a threat to those onboard. "My Ability also evolved just now." Lin Xian had no way to fully explain the Mechanical Source Point, but combining his own experience with Ding Junyi¡¯s sudden transformation, he was almost certain¡ª The Blood Scourge Flora, after absorbing the Dark Essence from a Major Eerie Entity, was somehow granting evolutionary power to those on the train. Chapter 212: Warm Day At 6 AM, Lin Xian and Ding Junyi were still awake, having spent the night monitoring the energy dispersion phenomenon of Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. The convoy members on duty had already woken up. Shu Qin, Daluo, and the others were preparing for departure, and it seemed like everyone had slept well¡ªspirits were high. Ding Junyi had already dressed. She remained in Car No. 3, watching over the changes in Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, while Lin Xian stayed in Car No. 1, observing the Eerie Cube. Among all the team members, his ability to convert energy through the Eerie Cube provided the clearest insight into these changes. [Non-mechanical energy converted. +200 Mechanical Source Points.] [Beep! Reflective scan in progress using non-mechanical energy.] [Scan complete. No fear-related threats detected inside the train. Dark energy infiltration blocked.] After obtaining another 200 Mechanical Source Points, the Eerie Cube finally stopped converting energy. Lin Xian immediately walked through the train, following the dim glow, and only when he reached Car No. 3 did he notice the light had completely faded. At the same time, Ding Junyi looked up at him. "It¡¯s stopped." Lin Xian nodded. "Yeah." "You guys didn¡¯t sleep at all?" At that moment, KIKI floated into Car No. 3, a toothbrush still in her mouth. She was lazily flying through the air when she noticed the two still working and couldn¡¯t help but ask, "What¡¯s up? Did that flower start acting up again?" Lin Xian and Ding Junyi both turned to look at her. "Hey, kid, how do you feel?" Lin Xian asked seriously. "Huh?" KIKI looked confused. "Feel? Feel what?" "Your ability¡ªdo you notice any changes?" Lin Xian clarified. "My ability?" KIKI frowned, rolling her eyes up in thought before stretching her neck. "Hmm... not really. I just slept super well. Feel totally refreshed." Lin Xian and Ding Junyi exchanged glances. Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses and said quietly, "I¡¯ll do a full health check on the crew. If this happens again, we might start seeing changes after a few more occurrences." "What, what, what are you guys talking about?" KIKI asked, puzzled. Lin Xian exhaled. "Nothing. The sun¡¯s coming up soon¡ªget ready. We¡¯re heading for Hengshan Pass." He didn¡¯t want to announce anything prematurely. If Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum truly had the ability to enhance everyone¡¯s abilities, its value would be immeasurable. Looking back, the Federation¡¯s extreme focus on Blood Scourge Flora No. 01 probably wasn¡¯t without reason. That thought piqued Lin Xian¡¯s curiosity about the other Blood Scourge Flora. These plants were rumored to grow in Polar Night Zones¡ªperhaps he¡¯d have a chance to search for them in the future. "Tch¡ª" KIKI clicked her tongue. "Got it, boss." Meanwhile, in another carriage... Chen Sixuan had already woken up and was finishing the supply inventory from last night. Lin Xian took a deep breath and turned to her. "How¡¯s the count?" "About what you expected." She sat down and flipped open the logbook. "We¡¯re running low on food, and medical supplies are also starting to dwindle. A few team members got minor injuries yesterday, and since that town had parasites, I took out some antibiotics and anti-inflammatory meds. Rough estimate: if we maintain two meals a day, we have enough food for about 15 days¡ªat best, 20 days if we really ration it." "We¡¯ve got more people now. Can¡¯t be helped." Lin Xian nodded. "We picked up a decent amount from the Fireline Convoy, but there wasn¡¯t much in Rain Town. Food shortages are a problem for every convoy." With the team growing, basic survival was no longer as simple as when he was traveling with just four or five people. "It¡¯s fine. Hengshan Pass is a major transport hub. There should be plenty of survivor convoys there. We¡¯ve got weapons and Eerie Blood Crystals¡ªwe can trade for supplies in advance." Right now, they had a strong fighting force, and as the saying went, food is power. To deal with future crises, he couldn¡¯t just aim for basic survival¡ªfighters like Daluo needed proper meals to stay at their best. "Another issue is medical care. We need to get a medical carriage or at least an automated medical pod. Even a doctor would be better than nothing. We can¡¯t just rely on antibiotics and bandages forever." "Yeah, we need to prioritize that," Chen Sixuan agreed. She had discussed the matter with Shu Qin¡ªno one on board had professional medical or nursing expertise. Their current treatment method was basically disinfect, bandage, hope for the best. Despite everything, the night had been peaceful. Not only did they sleep well, but everyone also woke up feeling exceptionally energized, as if their bodies were brimming with strength. By sunrise, Car No. 2, the information center, had become their meeting spot for planning and communication. Before setting off, Lin Xian gathered all key team members, monitoring both Federation radio broadcasts and survivor frequency updates while discussing their next steps. Federation Radio ¨C Yunjiang Plains Sector: "The S-Class Eerie Entity from Parma Grasslands has been officially designated as Biological Entity No. 17. Current movement: southwest..." Survivor Broadcasts: "We provide a safe shelter. If you''re still alive, contact us anytime. We are the Steel Guardian Alliance. We accept all survivors¡ªmen, women, ability users, and ordinary people. Together, we will endure and gather supplies. We guarantee two crackers and 100g of dried rat meat per day, plus one can of food per week. We are based at Hengshan Pass, Longshan District Police Headquarters, and will be departing for the Phoenix Dawn Center in six days. We await you..." "The Akatsuki Organization is recruiting ability users¡ªONLY ability users. Once you join, you are our brother for life. Standard uniform provided. One can of food per day. If you''re one of us, come to Shibai Lake, east shore, marked by red maple trees!" "The Fortune Caravan is open for trade. We offer: Eerie Blood Crystals, Soul Wave Detectors, Water Purifiers, Weapons, Ammunition, Food, Medicine, Vehicle Equipment, Generators, Gasoline¡ªwhatever you need, we have it. Accepting all valuable trade items. Location..." "Whoa... even ability users only get one can of food per day now? Is food supply really this tight?" KIKI asked in surprise. "Actually..." Shu Qin¡¯s expression grew complex. "That¡¯s... pretty normal. If you¡¯re getting crackers and dried rat meat daily, that¡¯s already a decent protein intake." Lin Xian frowned. "What about your old convoy? Were you guys also eating dried rat meat every day?" Shu Qin nodded. "Dried rat meat is actually one of the best meat sources. We also had lizard jerky, dried insects, and other creatures that weren¡¯t infected by the darkness. Whenever we found those, we stored them up. Canned food was extremely precious¡ªwe only distributed it once a week, usually to the injured." "Food and water are constant struggles. Survivors have fought to the death over a single crate of canned food before." Shu Qin looked at Lin Xian meaningfully. "That¡¯s why... last night¡¯s feast felt like we were on a paradise train." Chapter 213: Wandering on the Blue Planet As soon as she spoke, Chen Sixuan, KIKI, Big Luo, Shasha, and the others all looked at Lin Xian in shock. Even Lin Xian was momentarily taken aback. Life on the Infinite Train had made them somewhat disconnected from the struggles of the outside world. Ever since they left Jiang City, they had gathered a massive supply of resources from the Oasis Convoy¡ªso much that he and Chen Sixuan had spent over half an hour carrying everything. Later, at the outpost, they seized Tang Hai¡¯s hard-earned stash. They had been maintaining two full meals a day, and Lin Xian had already considered that to be a frugal lifestyle. It never occurred to him that the other survivors were literally chewing on tree bark and eating dried rats... He turned to Shu Qin. Back when he repaired her water purifier, she had exchanged a whole crate of canned food for it. To her, that was an incredible fortune, yet he hadn¡¯t even given it a second thought. "I thought eating two meals a day was already pretty restrained." Lin Xian chuckled bitterly and looked at Chen Sixuan. "Turns out, life on the Infinite Train is practically luxury." With the A1-Class Subcritical Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier and a water circulation system, plus the Eerie Cube onboard, they had an unlimited supply of clean water¡ªthey could even take showers anytime. The train provided large beds, heating, fortified armor protection, and canned food with snacks at every meal. Compared to the outside world, this was paradise. Lin Xian had even been considering growing some fresh vegetables to balance out their overly meat-heavy diet... "Damn, if word got out, everyone would be scrambling to board this train." Shasha¡¯s eyes widened. "I sure as hell don¡¯t want to eat dried rats, but if it came down to starving... well, I guess we wouldn¡¯t have a choice." Lin Xian nodded, feeling both a strong sense of crisis and a massive opportunity at the same time. "Don¡¯t worry, Shu Qin. Lin-ge would never let you eat dried rats." "Actually, I have a plan." Lin Xian turned to KIKI. "You¡¯ve been telling me for a while now that we should start producing weapons and machinery to trade with other survivors. Well, now that we¡¯ve got a radio station, I think it¡¯s time to start broadcasting." "Are we really going to broadcast to the outside?" KIKI hugged her knees, staring at Lin Xian. "Aren¡¯t you afraid of drawing too much attention?" Back when KIKI was gravely injured and unconscious, Lin Xian had desperately searched for Eerie Blood Crystals but had no way to contact other survivors. He had been forced to infiltrate Yu Chi City, setting traps and killing Eerie Entities just to obtain a single Blood Crystal. It was a life-or-death gamble that almost got him caught by the Dark Radio. If not for his Mechanical Ability, he never would have escaped from that Eerie Frequency. Even now, thinking about it still sent chills down his spine. Now, with the global survivor migration underway, Lin Xian had given it a lot of thought. His Mechanical Ability was too valuable to go unused. He could confidently say that his A1-Class Reverse Osmosis Purifier alone was easily worth five Level-1 Blood Crystals¡ªa crazy bargain for any survivor in need. But... A man without sin may still be guilty for carrying a treasure. Despite his incredible mechanical prowess, his team was too small before to take the risk of trading with armed survivor groups. But now? KIKI, Shu Qin, Big Luo, and Lu Xingchen¡ªall high-level combatants¡ªwere on his side. Their firepower alone was enough to take down a large-scale Eerie Entity. With that kind of strength, it was time to start leveraging his abilities and gathering more resources. Otherwise, once they ventured deep into mountains, swamps, and deserts, they might run out of supplies and be left with nothing but dried rats to eat. "We need to be proactive. Broadcasting isn¡¯t just about trading¡ªit¡¯s about gaining influence." Lin Xian turned back to KIKI. "Remember what Wei Kexue told us about the emergency code? Once we reach Hengshan Pass, we can use the survivor frequency to send a message. We might even be able to make contact with Phoenix. The S-Class Eerie Entity in Parma Grasslands is still unaccounted for. We¡¯ll probably have to stay at Hengshan Pass for a day to observe the situation and avoid danger. What do you all think?" Chen Sixuan nodded. "I¡¯m with you." "Lin-ge, you make the call." Shu Qin¡¯s face was filled with enthusiasm. The others nodded as well. With Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Ability, the train was fully stocked with weapons and ammo¡ªthey had more guns than people. Meanwhile, for other survivors, guns were a matter of life and death. Trading firearms for survival supplies was the smartest move they could make. "Hell yeah!" KIKI¡¯s eyes sparkled. "So... what exactly should we say in the broadcast?" "Keep it low-key." Lin Xian replied. "Low-key, huh..." KIKI grinned mischievously and grabbed the radio mic. She cleared her throat. "Ahem~ Hello, everyone. This is the Infinite Convoy. We¡¯ll be arriving at Hengshan Pass Train Station in three hours. Our convoy has plenty of guns and ammo, as well as high-end water purifiers and advanced machinery. We also offer mechanical repair services. We¡¯ll be stopping for one day and are accepting all kinds of food, snacks, chips, chocolate, drinks, and biscuits in exchange. A Xinghuo-26 Tactical Rifle with 120 rounds of ammo¡ªyours for just one box of biscuits~!" Chen Sixuan frowned. "Isn¡¯t that too cheap?" "Oh, come on, Chen-jie!" KIKI pouted. "Didn¡¯t you hear about that Fortune-Longevity Convoy? They¡¯re selling mechanical equipment too. If we don¡¯t set competitive prices, how are we supposed to get business?" Shu Qin was also startled. "I think what Chen-jie means is... if it¡¯s too cheap, won¡¯t people be suspicious?" Exchanging a full-auto rifle and 120 bullets for a single box of biscuits was ridiculously generous¡ªalmost too good to be true. What if people thought they were a traveling bandit group running a bait-and-switch scam? "It¡¯s fine." Lin Xian smiled, picking up on Shu Qin¡¯s concern. "These rifles are easy to make. Trading one for a box of biscuits is already a good deal. Two for a crate of canned food? Totally fair. Survivors have it rough enough. Guns are life-saving tools¡ªsince I can manufacture them, there¡¯s no need to exploit people over it." Shu Qin froze for a moment. Then, looking at Lin Xian, her eyes filled with admiration and warmth. "Mm." KIKI laughed. "And just wait! Once our name spreads, survivors will be calling Lin Xian a savior! Even the Silver Star and Dragon Mountain No. 1 recognize us now. Soon, we¡¯ll be famous all over the world!" Lin Xian stood up and flicked KIKI¡¯s forehead. "It¡¯s 2069¡ªstop fantasizing about drifting through space!" "Ow! Lin-ge, weren¡¯t you the one talking about reaching for the stars?" The group laughed¡ªjust as dawn broke over the horizon. "Alright, time to move out." Chapter 214: Perfect Gun Mount Roar¡ª The electric engine of the Infinite Train rumbled to life. After an overnight stop, the heavy train resumed its journey, as crew members in each carriage got busy. Seated in the control cabin, Lin Xian monitored the operations across the train¡¯s sections. "Carriages 8 through 12, plus the Gemini Nuclear Locomotive, all checked¡ªno issues." Shu Qin¡¯s voice crackled through the communicator. "Carriages 6 and 7, dining section¡ªeverything¡¯s clear." Chen Sixuan reported promptly. "Xian-ge, Carriage 5 and Director Ding¡¯s section¡ªCarriages 3 and 4¡ªno problems either." Da Lou confirmed. "Carriage 2 is all good too!" Shasha added energetically. Lin Xian picked up the communicator. "Little girl, keep an ear on the radio frequency for any survivor broadcasts. There might be quite a few teams near Hengshan Pass." "Got it~" A New Dawn Whoosh¡ªwhoosh¡ª The Infinite Train raced along the Huanxing Main Rail, speeding through the wilderness. At 6:30 AM, the first light of dawn broke through the horizon. Outside the windows, what had once been a dark, eerie forest transformed into lush green plains. Ahead of the train, endless fields and rolling hills stretched as far as the eye could see, bathed in the soft glow of morning light. The air carried a crisp, refreshing chill¡ªjust like a spring morning. "After running for so long, I almost forgot how beautiful this world still is." "If it weren¡¯t for those monsters, the world has always been beautiful." Lin Xian gazed at the scenery, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "I never wanted to escape into space¡ªI just wanted to outrun the sunset." "I know." Chen Sixuan pointed at the navigation chart. "We¡¯ll reach Hengshan Pass in about three hours. Want to take a break?" Lin Xian shook his head. Despite a hectic night working with Ding Junyi, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum had replenished his stamina and mental clarity, leaving him feeling surprisingly refreshed. "The broadcast is out. People will start noticing us soon." Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened as he watched the railroad ahead. "The Silver Star and Dragon Mountain No. 1 definitely passed through Hengshan Pass before us. But with that S-Class Eerie Entity outbreak at Parma Grasslands, they might¡¯ve changed course. At this point, doomsday trains aren¡¯t exactly rare anymore." Chen Sixuan¡¯s words were meant to ease Lin Xian¡¯s concerns. "We¡¯ll need to stay at Hengshan Pass for at least a day. Aside from waiting for a response from the Phoenix, we also need to assess the situation at Parma Grasslands. If the threat spreads near Wei River, we¡¯ll need to reroute north to Xilan. Otherwise, we continue eastward." Lin Xian mapped out their strategy. Chen Sixuan nodded. "Mm. There''s a major city about twenty kilometers beyond Hengshan Pass¡ªcould be a good place for trade and resupply." Lin Xian chuckled. "Trading alone won¡¯t cut it." His eyes scanned the distant horizon. "We¡¯ve got a lot of people now, and it¡¯s broad daylight. We need to split into teams to scout and gather resources. Otherwise, what¡ªare we all just gonna sit on the train and eat?" "Fair point." Chen Sixuan grinned before glancing at Lin Xian. "What about me? I want to go too." "Not so fast." Lin Xian replied firmly. "Shu Qin and the others are highly capable fighters. Sure, you¡¯ve improved, but you¡¯re still a sniper, not a scavenger. Let me craft you a powered exosuit first¡ªthen I¡¯ll feel more at ease." Lin Xian knew that Chen Sixuan¡¯s abilities had evolved in terms of perception, but her speed, strength, and combat skills were still lacking. She was invaluable as a sniper, especially when fortified on the train, but throwing her into melee combat against zombies? That was another story. A Shift in Perspective "Are you afraid I¡¯ll die?" Chen Sixuan¡¯s sudden words caught Lin Xian off guard. She kept her gaze lowered, avoiding his eyes. She remembered when she had first joined the train¡ªLin Xian had been cold and pragmatic. "Everyone must scavenge. Men, women¡ªno exceptions." At the time, his tone had been like that of a heartless commander, devoid of emotion. But now... he seemed different. He cared about her. Lin Xian remained silent for a moment, his thoughts drifting. Back in Jiang City, he had been alone. If someone died? It didn¡¯t matter. His only goal was to survive. Everyone on the train had to pull their weight, contribute value, and follow orders. But as the team grew, he realized that he couldn¡¯t treat people like disposable chess pieces. At first, he had accepted death as an inevitability. But that day, when they left Jiazhou City, and Shu Qin¡¯s Bigfoot Convoy had just joined... Zhong Jiahao¡¯s entire family died. Lin Xian barely knew them. They had barely spoken. He had done everything he could to protect the team, and no one blamed him for what happened. But for the first time, he felt guilt. Because by then, they were his people. And he knew¡ªhe could have made better choices. That moment had changed him. He knew that more deaths were inevitable, but now, he was determined to do everything possible to protect his people and increase their survival chances. And Chen Sixuan... She was his woman. They had survived life and death together. He could no longer see her as just "a valuable crew member." "I¡¯ll build you a powered exosuit, tailored for your sniping role." Lin Xian¡¯s mind was already working. If he could craft a lightweight exosuit to enhance her speed and strength, she could wield a heavy sniper rifle effortlessly. With intelligent targeting systems and an electric sniper module, she could become an untouchable sharpshooter¡ªthe "Lightning Sniper Goddess". And it wasn¡¯t just her¡ªKIKI, Shasha, Da Lou, Shu Qin, Lu Xingchen, Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, Ding Junyi¡ªeach of them needed customized gear. "The Infinite Train¡¯s firepower is my firepower. Strengthening the team means strengthening myself." In the apocalypse, solo survival was not the way forward. "Of course I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll die." Lin Xian suddenly laughed, standing up and meeting Chen Sixuan¡¯s gaze. "You¡¯re my Chen Laoshi." He deliberately emphasized the word "my." Then, without waiting for her response, he turned toward the rear carriages, heading off to begin weapons production. As she watched him leave, Chen Sixuan turned her gaze back to the endless tracks ahead. A smile spread across her lips. She was happy. Whoosh¡ª The Infinite Train sped along the rails, cutting across the landscape. Chen Sixuan took over driving, while Lin Xian entered Carriage No. 2, preparing to build a G3 Electromagnetic Rail Cannon. It was time to prepare for war. Infinite Train - On the Move The Infinite Train roared across the Huanxing Main Rail, speeding eastward. Lin Xian left Chen Sixuan in charge of the control cabin and entered Carriage No. 2¡ªhis workshop. Here, he was preparing to build the G3 Electromagnetic Rail Cannon. This weapon was even larger than the 1130 CIWS, but he had a plan¡ªsplit the project into two stages: First, construct the cannon¡¯s frame and turret base.Later, install the energy capacitor and accelerator. It was a calculated gamble¡ªthe cannon wouldn¡¯t be operational yet, but it would look intimidating enough to deter potential threats. As the train neared Hengshan Pass, there was a high probability of running into other convoys, mercenaries, or raiders. Lin Xian had no intention of being caught off guard. A Strategic Bluff Sitting in a swivel chair, KIKI watched as Lin Xian cleared out the primary turret space and began welding the wiring compartments. "We¡¯re about to reach the city. You think you¡¯ll finish in time?" "No." Lin Xian didn¡¯t even look up. At his current mechanical engineering level, completing the entire electromagnetic rail cannon would take at least 7-8 hours. But Hengshan Pass was less than 3 hours away¡ªnot nearly enough time. "So if you can¡¯t finish, why even start? What if something happens in the city?" KIKI questioned, crossing her arms. Lin Xian smirked, pointing upward toward the train¡¯s roof. "I don¡¯t need it to be functional right now¡ªjust visible." "Huh?" KIKI blinked in confusion. "I¡¯m setting up the turret frame and cannon housing first. The internal accelerator and energy capacitor can be added later." "Wait... so you''re basically building an empty shell?" KIKI¡¯s eyes widened, then a sly smile curled on her lips. "Wow, Xian-ge... when did you become so sneaky?!" "Didn¡¯t you say we need to make a name for ourselves? Since we¡¯ve broadcasted our presence, there¡¯s a chance bandit convoys might come after us. One 1130 CIWS isn¡¯t enough to intimidate them." "If we want to do business, we need good wine for our guests¡ªand loaded guns for the wolves." This was not just a bluff¡ªit was a statement of power. The Silver Star, Dragon Mountain No. 1, and other mega-trains had multiple electromagnetic cannons and heavy defenses. By contrast, the Infinite Train had far fewer weapons, making it a more tempting target for looters. But if they rolled into Hengshan Pass carrying what looked like a massive rail cannon, people would think twice before trying anything. Chapter 215: Booming Business Hengshan Pass was the first transportation hub city after crossing the Dazhu Mountain Range into the Yunjiang Plains. It was much larger than Jiazhou City due to its unique geographical location. Heading north, one could reach Xilan, passing through Abyss Zones No. 4 and No. 5 to get to Quancheng. The southern route led to Qingshui, Lancheng, and Haedong, bypassing Abyss Zones No. 7 and No. 8. Heading directly east connected to the Orbital Main Rail, which extended past the Parma Grasslands, crossing the Wei River and Longjiang, all the way to Jinhai and Xingcheng¡ªformerly the capital of Dragon Nation, now renamed Dawn City by the Federation government. The train sped across the boundless plains under the bright sky. There were no mountains in sight, and along the tracks, some dried-up and decayed zombies, long past being ¡°fresh,¡± were lured by the sound of the train, stumbling toward the rails. As they approached the city, buildings became more frequent. KIKI remained busy, deploying a drone to survey the area. In the other carriages, Shu Qin, Luo Ye, and others were making preparations. More zombies appeared along the way, and there were bound to be even more inside the city. Along with other unknown threats, the entire train crew was ready for battle. Inside the urban area, high-rises grew denser, forming a concrete jungle. Under the sunlight, the city looked desolate. The Black Rain had yet to reach the Yunjiang Plains, and the once-populated streets had long been abandoned. Greenery had sprouted, vines climbing over low buildings, and even animals now darted between the abandoned cars blocking the roads. Zombies in tattered clothing wandered aimlessly, their low groans echoing as they were drawn toward the vibrations of the tracks. Dust covered the old shop signs, as if the absence of people had accelerated the decay of roads and infrastructure. Even the railings were beginning to rust. Inside Infinite Train, many team members leaned against the windows, observing this unfamiliar city. Unlike Yubei City, which had been overrun with zombies, Hengshan Pass looked more like an ordinary city along a refugee route. It reminded Lin Xian of Jiang City. "This place... doesn''t seem to have a lot of people." KIKI commented as she gazed at the urban jungle under the bright sunlight. "Were you hoping to see survivors sunbathing on the rooftops?" Lin Xian replied. KIKI stretched lazily. "Honestly, after running in the dark for so long, this kind of weather does feel perfect for sunbathing." Lin Xian gave no comment, standing up instead. "We''re almost at Hengshan Pass Station. Get ready." "Got it, boss." Choo, choo¡ª Hengshan Pass Train Station was an elevated platform built within the city, making it a natural refuge. However, it had clearly fallen as well. Strangely, there wasn¡¯t a single zombie in sight¡ªit seemed as if someone had already cleared them out. The heavy black train sped along the city¡¯s elevated tracks, quickly approaching a large passenger station. This was a Orbital Passenger Hub. Lin Xian entered the cockpit and immediately tensed. Inside the station, numerous survivor vehicles were parked, and a heavily armored, green-colored Doomsday Train¡ªsomewhat battered but still operational¡ªwas present. The train had multiple gun ports and additional armor grates installed. Though not professionally designed, it looked quite sturdy. The locomotive was a Huanxing Mining Series with a small nuclear-powered engine¡ªfar inferior to Infinite Train¡¯s Gemini-11R nuclear locomotive, but still an impressive feat of self-sustaining energy. Lin Xian''s gaze swept across the train and its surroundings. There were quite a few people onboard. Even before entering the station, he noticed multiple glints of light flashing from elevated positions. Squinting, he saw figures standing atop steel frameworks, using binoculars to observe them. "There are a lot of people. Could it be that these convoys are stranded here because of the Eerie Entities in the Parma Grasslands?" Chen Sixuan, with her keen eyesight, immediately spotted the station¡¯s interior. Numerous vehicles¡ªmotorcycles, off-road vehicles, jeeps, and vans¡ªwere parked there, and survivors had gathered in small groups, as if waiting for something. Lin Xian smirked. "Think about it another way¡ªmaybe they''re all waiting for us." As Infinite Train rolled in, countless eyes turned toward the platform entrance. The green Doomsday Train''s turret-mounted machine guns began adjusting, appearing to be on alert for their arrival. The platform and tracks were littered with cleared-out zombies, their bodies still sprawled on the ground. "They''re here, this must be the train." "Is this the Infinite Train?" "Everyone, stay cautious. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." "Fall back! Take cover!" Survivors quickly retreated behind vehicles or climbed back into them. The long struggle for survival had made them extremely wary¡ªnot just of the Dark Night, but also of unknown convoys. Onboard the green train, men and women armed with rifles wore cautious expressions. The air was tense. Lin Xian was surprised by the murmurs he overheard. "Huh... Didn¡¯t expect just one radio transmission to attract so many survivor convoys." Apparently, "one rifle and 120 bullets for a box of biscuits" was indeed an irresistible bargain. Of course, it wasn¡¯t a loss for him. Infinite Train had stockpiles of weapons¡ªscavenged from Tang Hai¡¯s camp, the Fireline Convoy, and the Vajra Convoy. At last count, Chen Sixuan had tallied over a hundred firearms. If needed, Lin Xian could always manufacture more onboard. That said, with so many people present, he remained cautious. Apart from Jiang Yun¡¯s Bonfire Mutual Aid Gathering, this was only the second time he¡¯d attended a survivor trade meet¡ªand this time, he was the host. Choo, choo¡ª Infinite Train rumbled into the main platform, its steel wheels screeching against the tracks. Lin Xian turned to the window. "Stay alert. Some of these convoys seem to be stationed here long-term, but others have clearly arrived just for the trade." Chen Sixuan warned. Lin Xian nodded. "That means our radio broadcast worked. No need to be afraid. This is a necessary step toward forming alliances. Future interactions like this will be inevitable¡ªstaying on guard while making contact is key." Since leaving Jiang City, he and Chen Sixuan had mostly encountered hostile raider convoys, so her caution was understandable. Lin Xian himself wasn¡¯t completely at ease either. However, living in constant fear wasn¡¯t an option. Sometimes, demonstrating strength was the best way to ensure others stayed friendly. And he wasn¡¯t about to let his Mechanical Ability go to waste¡ªif it could be used to barter for survival resources, intelligence, or equipment, then why not? Chen Sixuan nodded in agreement. Lin Xian lowered the train window, scanning the survivor groups. Then, he spoke in a clear, confident voice: "We are Infinite Convoy. Are you all here for a trade?" A middle-aged man wearing a hat stepped forward from behind a van, raising his voice: "How many guns do you have? How much ammo? Can we trade for something other than biscuits?" There were four or five large convoys treating the station as a temporary shelter, including the green train. Additionally, over a dozen smaller groups had rushed in from outside the area, each sending two or three representatives. The station was bustling, with over sixty survivors openly visible¡ªsuggesting an even larger number of people nearby. "So it''s really one box of biscuits for a rifle?" The green train''s cockpit window rolled down, revealing a shrewd-looking, chubby man who scrutinized Lin Xian skeptically. "Don''t try to scam us. With this many people here, you better back up your words with real goods!" "Yeah!" "That¡¯s right!" "No funny business!" Lin Xian chuckled and responded loudly: "Relax. We have plenty of weapons. We''re mainly looking for supplies¡ªfood, medicine, or even Eerie Blood Crystals." Hearing that, some survivors stepped forward eagerly. A woman with a rifle asked: "You guys fix machines, right? What exactly can you repair?" Another person chimed in: "Are you heading to Xingcheng? Can you take passengers? We have supplies to offer." The trade meet had begun. Lin Xian raised a hand to silence the growing chatter and spoke clearly, ¡°Repairs need to be brought here so we can assess the damage. As for water purifiers, we have both Level-1 and Level-2 standards available, but we don¡¯t have the latest Soul Wave Detectors, only the first-gen models issued by Phoenix. Also, we¡¯re not heading to Xingcheng.¡± He wasn¡¯t lying. The real plan was to sneak into Xingcheng, not charge in openly with the train. Even if he didn¡¯t care about security risks, he couldn¡¯t just take on passengers without making sure he could get them safely to their destination. Having set the record straight, Lin Xian opened the train door and stepped onto the platform. At the same time, Car No. 5¡¯s automatic doors slid open, and Luo Ye, Lu? Chang, and the others began unloading weapon crates that Lin Xian had manufactured. The moment Luo Ye stepped out, fully geared up, with a Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun strapped to his back, and another male teammate carrying a second one, the survivors froze. First came shock, then jealousy, then hunger for firepower. The fat man on the green Doomsday Train was Cao Hong, the leader of Nightshade Convoy. As the name suggested, his train had a lot of women onboard. Seeing the scene unfold, his expression twisted as he waved at his subordinates. ¡°Move it, move it! Get down there and take a look!¡± Lin Xian stepped forward, planting a foot on one of the weapon crates. With confidence, he declared, ¡°Automatic rifles, VoG grenade launchers, M556 light machine guns, shotguns, 12.7mm vehicle-mounted autocannons, rocket launchers¡ªwe have them all. We also carry other equipment, depending on your needs.¡± He went straight to business. ¡°Same deal as we announced on the radio¡ªautomatic rifle with 120 bullets for a box of biscuits or half a box of canned food. Grenade launcher with 12 grenades for two boxes of biscuits and one box of canned food. Light machine gun with 500 bullets for four boxes of biscuits or two boxes of canned food. Rocket launcher for two boxes of canned food. Autocannon for four boxes of canned food.¡± These prices were a steal compared to previous trade values in Qu Guan and other convoy deals. Right now, weapons were more valuable than food, because they were the only thing keeping most survivors alive. One Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystal could be exchanged for three Xinghuo-26 automatic rifles with ammo¡ªor could feed ten people for five days. That meant one rifle with 120 bullets was worth at least 1.5 days of food for ten people, or one full box of 20 canned meals¡ªbut Lin Xian was cutting those prices in half. Right now, he didn¡¯t care about profit. He needed supplies. And honestly, low-tier weapons would only lose value as people continued evolving abilities¡ªbut food would always be essential. As soon as he finished speaking, the survivor convoys¡¯ eyes lit up, and they rushed forward. ¡°I¡¯ve got canned food and biscuits¡ªplus jerky!¡± ¡°Our convoy needs a lot of weapons!¡± BANG¡ª A middle-aged man yanked open a van, revealing several large crates of collected supplies: Canned food, biscuits, dried lizard meat, and even a massive jar of blended cockroach paste¡ªgray-brown mush, still clinging to cockroach wings at the edges of the glass. ¡°We¡¯ll take the autocannon and the light machine gun¡ªis this enough? If not, we have more stock at our camp and can offer more.¡± ¡°The hell do you mean ¡®we¡¯ll take them¡¯?!¡± Cao Hong and his group shoved through the crowd, annoyed. ¡°What¡¯s this ¡®first come, first serve¡¯ crap? If you¡¯re offering more, then so can we! That light machine gun¡ªI¡¯ll give you three crates of canned food!¡± The middle-aged man was clearly from a large convoy himself. But seeing Cao Hong¡ªleader of a train-based convoy¡ªhe didn¡¯t flinch at all. Instead, he grinned smugly, ¡°Brother, first-come, first-serve. I bid first, so I get the deal. What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°Oh yeah? That¡¯s fair¡ªbut only if the seller agrees. Highest bid wins, right? I¡¯ll offer three crates! How about that?¡± ¡°Hah! Make it four. And I¡¯ll throw in a bottle of cockroach oil¡ªsecret recipe.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll top that with two bags of fried stinkbug chips!¡± KIKI and Shasha had been standing behind Lin Xian, excited to see what food they could trade for. The moment they heard ¡°cockroach oil¡±, their faces turned green, and they almost puked. Shu Qin and the others had similarly disgusted expressions. Sure, they weren¡¯t strangers to post-apocalypse survival food, but being on Infinite Train had spoiled them. Two full meals a day. Consistent access to canned food and starch. An absolute luxury in this world. Chapter 216: Doomsday Monopoly "Stop!" On the platform, the crowd erupted into a heated argument, each person voicing their own opinion. The unprecedented bargain had them bickering and even starting to bid against each other. Just as the debate was reaching its peak, Lin Xian directly called for a halt. At that moment, everyone fell silent. Standing in the center, Lin Xian swept his gaze around and said loudly, "The stock isn''t limited to what''s here. We have more on the train, so there''s no need to argue. We''re all just trying to survive." Lin Xian wasn¡¯t here to run an auction, and these were just ordinary survivors¡ªhe had no intention of squeezing them for extra profit. All these conditions were thanks to his Mechanical Heart, and he wasn¡¯t looking for a one-time deal. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that KIKI¡¯s idea was ahead of its time¡ªif Infinite Train could establish a reputation, they might eventually develop into a hub for weapons and resources. If that happened, securing the supplies they needed would become much easier, and their team¡¯s survival would be greatly ensured. "Seriously?" Cao Hong raised a skeptical brow, glancing at the weapon crates in front of Lin Xian before shifting his gaze toward the train behind him. His expression immediately turned complicated. Infinite Train was on a whole other level¡ªits entire structure clad in heavy armor, stretching hundreds of meters with over a dozen carriages. It was several times larger than his Night Phantom. He instinctively wanted to talk tough, but quickly thought better of it. "What? You don¡¯t believe me?" Lin Xian shot him a glance before turning to the middle-aged man from earlier. "You can take the vehicle-mounted autocannon and that light machine gun. I have more than one set. But I¡¯ll only accept canned food or biscuits in exchange." "No problem!" Cao Hong immediately agreed and waved at a female subordinate. "Hurry, bring the goods to trade for the guns!" The female members of Night Phantom instantly perked up. A group of them rushed to open one of the storage carriages of their green train. As the doors slid open with a clang, rows of neatly stacked survival supplies were revealed inside. Lin Xian noticed that among the goods were dozens of boxes of canned food with military-style packaging. This detail caught his attention because the middle-aged man''s van also had cans with the same packaging. "Where did you get military rations?" Lin Xian asked as his gaze swept over the supplies. "Oh, these?" The middle-aged man, Liao Ming, casually replied, "We bought them from Fortune-Longevity Convoy. Most survivors around here trade with them, but their prices are a bit higher than yours." "How much higher?" KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity. "Not too bad. They have a lot of supplies, practically everything you could need. Most of it¡¯s standard government-issue survival gear." Cao Hong, the burly leader of Night Phantom, added in a serious tone, "But weapons and ammo have always been expensive. That¡¯s why so many people rushed over after hearing your radio broadcast¡ªto see if your prices were really that good." Liao Ming picked up an automatic rifle, pulled back the bolt, checked it over, and nodded in approval. "This gun is in great condition. At first, I thought you guys were running a scam or selling broken junk." "Every gun can be inspected on the spot," Lin Xian stated. "Guaranteed quality. But stock is limited. Food, canned goods, biscuits, and medicine take priority. If those don¡¯t work, we can trade for Eerie Blood Crystals." "No problem." Lin Xian narrowed his eyes and said to Chen Sixuan, "Ms. Chen, let¡¯s proceed with the exchanges as planned." "Got it." Chen Sixuan nodded and turned to the crowd. "Anyone looking to buy guns, come to me. I¡¯ll register you one by one." Survivors from various convoys surged forward, eager to trade. "Hey, hey, hey! We¡¯re locals! We go first!" Cao Hong shoved his way to the front, afraid of missing out. "Move it, ladies! Grab the good stuff before it¡¯s gone!" Others quickly followed suit. "We want three sets of guns. Also, can you repair this detector?" "We need two sets¡ªone shotgun, one light machine gun, and some ammo..." "How much for your Level-1 and Level-2 water purifiers?" Beyond food, medicine, and Eerie Blood Crystals, Lin Xian intended to clear out his stockpile of spare weapons. Some of the larger convoys even eyed the Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun in Luo Ye¡¯s hands, and Lin Xian planned to fetch more from the train. These heavy weapons could be exchanged for a wealth of supplies. The only downside? The massive amount of ammo they required. As the transactions heated up, Chen Sixuan, KIKI, and Shu Qin busied themselves with managing the trades. Luo Ye, Lu? Chang, and Miao Lu were helping carry weapons and ammunition. BZZT¡ª A sudden roar of engines shattered the bustling atmosphere. Out of caution, everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and turned toward the commotion. Outside the platform, a dozen camouflage-painted off-road vehicles and a large transport truck smashed through the barbed-wire gate meant to keep zombies out, barreling onto the station. Seeing the aggressive arrival, survivors quickly retreated to their vehicles. SHNK SHNK SHNK¡ª Dozens of heavily armed individuals jumped out of the vehicles in unison, some standing atop their cars behind mounted autocannons. THUD. From the leading armored vehicle, two figures stepped out. The first was a wiry man wearing a checkered shirt under a deep red suit, his face obscured by oversized sunglasses. His expression was cocky and unruly. The moment he got out, he pushed up his shades, craned his neck, and strutted toward Lin Xian with an air of arrogance. His armed subordinates followed, exuding a dangerous aura. "Hey! Hey! Hey!" "You guys are the ones on the radio, offering a gun for a box of biscuits, right?" His gaze locked onto Lin Xian with scrutiny, his chin slightly raised in irritation. "Yeah." Sensing the hostility, Lin Xian¡¯s face turned cold. "Then you¡¯re the boss of this convoy?" "That¡¯s me." "What do you want?" KIKI crossed her arms and stepped beside Lin Xian. "If you¡¯re here to buy something, get in line!" Lin Xian assessed the newcomers. Their firepower was impressive¡ªevery one of them carried high-caliber weapons, and their vehicles were equipped with mounted autocannons. Most notably, among them stood a woman. She was tall¡ªnearly 1.8 meters¡ªwith striking red cropped hair. Her sharp features, tight-fitting vest, and sun-kissed, muscular physique radiated strength. If not for the bandages tightly binding her chest, most wouldn¡¯t have realized she was a woman at all. Most striking of all was her right arm¡ªa massive, silver-black weapon-grade prosthetic limb, exuding an intimidating presence. Among all the newcomers, she was the one who stood out the most. "Here to buy?" The cocky man sneered. "Kid, do you even know who I am?" "Nope." From behind, Liao Ming murmured, "That¡¯s Fortune-Longevity Convoy. Most of us have traded with them." Upon hearing this, Cao Hong¡¯s arrogance instantly vanished. He discreetly signaled his men to back away, trying to avoid trouble. Many others reacted similarly, exchanging wary glances. Clearly, Infinite Train''s bargain pricing had pissed off a big player. Lin Xian exchanged looks with Chen Sixuan¡ªwell, well, so they had met a competitor. "Oh? So you guys just popped out of nowhere?" The sunglasses-wearing man smirked, tapping his fingers against his suit jacket. "Ever heard of Fortune-Longevity Convoy? Do you even know the rules? By offering prices this low, you¡¯re screwing up the apocalypse market. Do you have any idea what kind of damage you''re causing?" Lin Xian''s gaze swept over the group behind the man, his brow furrowing slightly. "Survivors trading with each other¡ªdo we need your approval now?" "Hey, hey!" The man raised a hand. "Bartering between survivors is normal. Hell, you could trade a rifle for a single cracker, and no one would care. But the moment you broadcasted your prices on the radio, claiming you had stock and setting rates, that changed the game. That¡¯s not just a simple trade¡ªit¡¯s undercutting the market. You get it now?" "Wow, that¡¯s ridiculous." Chen Sixuan stepped forward, arms crossed. "So what, we¡¯re forced to sell at inflated prices?" At her words, the sunglasses man¡¯s expression darkened. "Are you people really this dense?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "Today, you¡¯re selling a Xinghuo-26 Tactical Rifle with 120 rounds for a box of biscuits. Tomorrow, how the hell am I supposed to sell my guns? How do my brothers put food on the table? Other survivor groups who could have traded for a full case of canned food will now only get half a case because of you. Tell me¡ªhow is this just ¡®your business¡¯?" Lin Xian placed a hand on Chen Sixuan¡¯s shoulder, his expression calm. "So what you¡¯re saying is¡ªsince we¡¯re new here, we don¡¯t have a lot of stock, so it¡¯s fine to trade in private. But announcing our prices publicly? That¡¯s what¡¯s screwing with your market?" "Exactly." The sunglasses man tilted his head back, nose in the air. "And what happens if we don¡¯t stop?" KIKI took a step forward, her eyes narrowing. Immediately, the survivors from Infinite Train ceased their trading, their hands instinctively moving to their weapons. A tense silence fell over the station. Those who had come to barter quickly backed away, sensing the imminent confrontation. While they preferred Infinite Train''s prices, many recognized Fortune-Longevity Convoy''s overwhelming power and didn''t dare to voice support. CLACK. In response, the armed fighters behind the sunglasses man raised their rifles, their vehicle-mounted autocannons swiveling into position. The red-haired woman at his side remained silent, slowly clenching her mechanical right fist. The servos in her prosthetic arm whirred softly as electric currents crackled across its reinforced knuckles. A faint blue light pulsed along the metal plating, building in intensity. "No, no, no!" Suddenly, the sunglasses man threw up his hands with an exaggerated sigh, shaking his head. "You¡¯ve got it all wrong. I¡¯m a businessman, not a bandit!" He snapped his fingers. SHUNK! The transport truck¡¯s rear doors swung open, revealing stacks upon stacks of supplies¡ªfood, medical kits, fuel, and ammo, all neatly arranged inside the massive cargo bay. A collective gasp rippled through the survivors. The sheer abundance was staggering. Even among the more powerful convoys, few had ever seen this much wealth in one place. The sunglasses man smirked, reveling in their astonishment. He turned to Lin Xian, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You set the price, right? Well, guess what? I¡¯ll take all your stock¡ªevery last gun you¡¯ve got, at your rate." His smirk widened. "Then, you pack up your shit and get lost." The moment he spoke, the Infinite Train crew¡¯s expressions darkened. This wasn¡¯t just a power move¡ªhe was blatantly trying to monopolize the entire arms trade in front of every convoy. Even the surrounding survivors looked displeased. Lin Xian almost laughed. "So you''re here for wholesale, huh?" He nodded, rubbing his chin. "Alright, got it. You¡¯re a businessman with principles." Then, Lin Xian tilted his head slightly. "And may I ask who I¡¯m doing business with?" The sunglasses man grinned. "Simple. My convoy¡¯s name is my name. Call me Fortune-Longevity!" Lin Xian raised a brow. "You mean your surname is ¡®Fortune¡¯?" Before the man could respond, Shasha peeked out from behind Lin Xian, blinking in surprise. "Wait... You actually have the surname ¡®Fortune¡¯? That¡¯s rare." The sunglasses man¡¯s expression stiffened. "Mind your damn business about my name!" Shasha tilted her head. "But it''s just weird... I mean, I¡¯ve never met anyone with that surname before¡ª" "It¡¯s Fortune as in ¡®mountains and seas of fortune,¡¯ with ¡®road¡¯ as in ¡®a path,¡¯ and ¡®longevity¡¯ as in ¡®long life¡¯!" His voice rose sharply, his frustration apparent. At that moment, the red-haired woman behind him sighed. Her deep voice cut through the tension. "His surname is Hu. Hu Lushou." "Hulushou?" Shasha frowned. "That sounds... weird." KIKI, standing beside her, slapped a hand over her mouth, stifling a giggle. Chapter 217: Vehicle-mounted Military Industrial Base ¡°What the hell are you laughing at?¡± Hu Lushou barked sharply, then glanced at the train on the tracks before jerking his chin toward Lin Xian. He grinned, flashing a gold tooth. ¡°Alright! You¡¯re the one who said yes, so you¡¯d better bring out everything you¡¯ve got. Don¡¯t think you can just take the money and run. I¡¯m being polite this time, but next time? Who knows.¡± Lin Xian nodded and looked at the massive truckload of supplies with an amused expression. Smiling, he said, ¡°Well then, I guess I¡¯ll reluctantly help you restock.¡± Then, he turned back. ¡°Luo Ye, Lu? Chang, get on the train and load up for this big client!¡± As soon as he spoke, the people aboard the Infinite Train immediately caught on. KIKI and Chen Sixuan had to stifle their laughter, while Shasha¡¯s face turned bright red from holding it in. Meanwhile, the survivors who had come to trade weren¡¯t looking too pleased. Normally, they were the ones who got the better end of deals by using fewer supplies to trade for what they needed. But now, they¡¯d been completely cut off from the transaction, leaving them frustrated and disappointed. Some shook their heads, ready to leave. Seeing this, Lin Xian called out just before boarding the train, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t go just yet! I¡¯ll trade with you guys after I finish selling to Boss Hu here.¡± The moment he said that, not only did the departing survivors freeze, but even Hu Lushou was stunned, thinking he had misheard. ¡°Oi, what do you mean by that? You think I don¡¯t have enough to clear out your stock?¡± At the back of the crowd, Night Phantom¡¯s leader, Cao Hong, was just as shocked. His subordinates had already started whispering among themselves. Lin Xian, however, remained unfazed. He frowned slightly, pretending to calculate, and said with some difficulty, ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much you brought. How about this? I¡¯ll start by preparing what your little truckload can trade for. If it¡¯s not enough, you can always go back and get more.¡± Hu Lushou¡¯s face turned green. He pushed his oversized sunglasses down and glared. ¡°You little sh*t, you think you run a damn military factory? That¡¯s some big talk! Fine! I¡¯ve got dozens more trucks back at my camp. Let¡¯s see if you can even handle all of it!¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t respond, only giving KIKI and Chen Sixuan a small signal before heading back onto the train with Luo Ye and the others. Chen Sixuan had the team carry up a few crates of weapons. ¡°This crate holds 20 Xinghuo-26 fully automatic tactical rifles. They¡¯re in decent condition¡ªgo ahead and inspect them.¡± Hu Lushou barely spared them a glance before snapping his fingers. Instantly, one of his men unloaded a table and tea set from their truck, setting it up in front of him with practiced ease. Hu Lushou lounged back in his chair while his subordinates meticulously checked each rifle. Meanwhile, his men began unloading supply crates from their truck and stacking them in front of Chen Sixuan. Both sides got to work. Watching crate after crate of supplies being loaded onto the Infinite Train, some survivors had already given up and left, while others lingered, hoping for an opportunity to pick up scraps. Some even considered buying directly from Hu Lushou after he was done¡ªafter all, making a supply run wasn¡¯t easy, and weapons were a necessity. Even if the price was a little higher, it was better than leaving empty-handed. The red-haired woman standing behind Hu Lushou, clearly acting as his bodyguard, remained silent, her sharp eyes locked onto the Infinite Train¡¯s key members. She could tell¡ªthere were Ability Users among them, and they were strong. One crate after another was carried down from the Infinite Train. At first, they were older, slightly worn-out firearms. Hu Lushou¡¯s men even rejected some of the worst ones. But soon enough, the rifles being unloaded became noticeably newer. Even the weapon crates themselves were brand new. The man responsible for checking the weapons grew increasingly uneasy. The rifles weren¡¯t just new¡ªthey were fresh. In fact, when he picked one up, it was still warm to the touch... Inside the Infinite Train, Lin Xian had his Manufacturing Plant running at full speed, churning out Xinghuo-26 rifles with ease. These guns were simple to produce, required minimal materials, and had decent firepower¡ªgood enough for zombies and lower-tier C-Class Eerie Entities like Fog Spiders or Three-Headed Phantoms. Against heavily armored threats? You¡¯d need heavy weapons. Still, since the other party had clearly come to test them, there was no way he¡¯d let the Infinite Train get embarrassed on its first day of business. And with Hu Lushou¡¯s massive stockpile of supplies, this was a prime opportunity to fill up the train¡¯s own reserves. As crate after crate of brand new rifles was carried down, Hu Lushou¡¯s men worked in silence, methodically stacking their own supplies in return. Chen Sixuan, ever composed, continued tallying the trade records. Sipping his tea, Hu Lushou finally sensed something was off. The crates and rifles looked like they had just rolled out of a military factory. And yet, instead of all being brought out at once, they were arriving at a steady pace¡ªlike they were being produced in real time. The watching survivors were equally dumbfounded. At the back of the crowd, Cao Hong¡¯s eyes were practically glowing. He never imagined that the train was this well-stocked. ¡°...Motherf¡ª¡± Hu Lushou abruptly stopped drinking, lowering his teacup and pressing down his sunglasses to stare at the train¡¯s entrance. Just when he thought they¡¯d run out of guns, another two people emerged with another crate. Then another. And another. It was like... they were respawning. His heart clenched. Turning back, he saw that his truckload of supplies had dwindled to less than one-third. His expression darkened. ¡°F*ck... Sun Chang, tell me they don¡¯t actually have a whole train full of weapons.¡± Hu Lushou lowered his voice as he spoke to the red-haired woman behind him. Sun Chang¡¯s expression was grim. She could tell they had underestimated this train crew. Slowly, she replied, ¡°These weapons are too fresh. They must¡¯ve gotten their hands on some high-grade military stock.¡± Hu Lushou¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°You serious?¡± Sun Chang remained silent. His face sank further, and he muttered under his breath as he eyed the heavy train warily, ¡°Well, sht... I think I fcked up.¡± But the endless cycle of weapon crates being unloaded continued. Thud! The final crate was placed before Hu Lushou¡¯s men. The guy handling the inventory turned to check on their own truck¡ªonly to find that they had been completely cleaned out. Instead, their vehicle was now stacked with neatly arranged gun crates. ¡°...That¡¯s it?¡± Chen Sixuan finished her final count and raised an eyebrow at them. ¡°That¡¯s all you brought?¡± Hu Lushou jolted so hard that his tea spilled. He shot to his feet, his hand trembling as he looked between his truck¡ªnow filled with guns¡ªand the Infinite Train, where yet another crate of weapons was still being carried down. He was utterly numb. Lin Xian finally stepped off the train, with KIKI beside him, grinning as she glanced at Hu Lushou. ¡°I thought you were bringing serious business. We haven¡¯t even filled half a carriage.¡± A truck was nothing compared to a train car. Hu Lushou¡¯s entire load had barely filled a third of Car No. 7¡ªone of the train¡¯s storage carriages. Lin Xian approached, his expression calm. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were here to clear stock? Should I wait while you go back and grab more? You know the deal¡ªonce you start, you can¡¯t leave until we¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Hey, you guys¡ª!?¡± Hu Lushou¡¯s face darkened, fluctuating between anger and dread as he realized he had just walked into a colossal trap. He was about to explode, but then¡ªhe saw that look. Lin Xian was watching him with amusement. Mechanical Heart activated. In an instant, two armored blast doors on the train whooshed open. The top hatches of Car No. 2 and Car No. 11 retracted, revealing two towering, monstrous death cannons that slowly rose into position. Woooooooom¡ªThunk! Thunk! Thunk! What had looked like an ordinary, heavily armored train just a moment ago had suddenly transformed into a mobile battleship. Hu Lushou and his entire crew turned pale as the G3 Electromagnetic Railgun and 1130 CIWS emerged with a deep mechanical hum, their turret bases rotating into place. At that moment, everyone¡¯s pupils contracted. The survivor convoys standing nearby were instantly gripped by fear, instinctively retreating as those two massive gun barrels locked onto their targets. Hu Lushou was frozen in place. His oversized sunglasses slid down to the tip of his nose, revealing a pair of wide, terrified eyes. Stammering, he forced out, ¡°N-Now, hold on a sec... Big... Big Bro, w-what are you doing?¡± His heart pounded violently. Just moments ago, he had been on the verge of losing his temper¡ªbut somehow, Lin Xian had anticipated that exact moment and preemptively countered him. ¡°Oh, nothing much,¡± Lin Xian replied casually, glancing at the massive railgun. ¡°No need to panic. This is just routine train system maintenance. And don¡¯t be fooled by how big these cannons are¡ªgetting hit by them doesn¡¯t even hurt.¡± Everyone: ... Sun Chang¡¯s expression twisted in horror. Weapons of this caliber weren¡¯t just for killing beasts¡ªthey could take down monsters. How the hell were they hidden inside what looked like regular passenger train cars? Hu Lushou felt like he had just seen a ghost. He had people watching the train since it entered the city. Sure, it had heavy armor, but from the outside, it had looked like an ordinary civilian train. In this post-apocalyptic world, unless you had a full-scale military industry backing you, how could anyone possibly hide two giant war machines inside standard railcars? In the distance, Cao Hong¡ªthe leader of Night Phantom¡ªand his female subordinates, along with over a hundred people aboard the green train, had fallen into stunned silence. All that could be heard was the sound of people sucking in cold breaths. Their own lineup of machine guns and auto-turrets suddenly looked like toys in comparison. Woooooom¡ª Almost as if it had never happened, the two monstrous cannons silently retracted back into the train¡¯s armored compartments. Hu Lushou¡¯s heart was still hammering. Lin Xian smiled at him. ¡°Boss Hu, no need to worry about those things. Now, where were we? Ah¡ªright, the deal.¡± ¡°Right, right! The deal! The deal!¡± Hu Lushou was cursing internally, but on the surface, his face was all smiles. The arrogant attitude from before had completely vanished as he repeatedly swallowed his saliva. Forcing himself to remain composed, he carefully asked, ¡°So... Big Bro Lin, right? Listen, I got all these guns at such a good price¡ªI feel kinda bad. How about this? For every two crates of rifles, I¡¯ll throw in an extra crate of dried meat, free of charge. Sound good?¡± His shrewd gaze gleamed. Realizing he had provoked the wrong people, he switched gears at lightning speed, instantly adapting from an arrogant dealer to a smooth-talking businessman. ¡°Hmm?¡± KIKI crossed her arms and levitated off the ground. Her hair floated, her glowing eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you had dozens more trucks of supplies to trade?¡± Up on the train¡¯s roof, Lu Xingchen had somehow perched himself there unnoticed. Flames danced in his palms, and he sneered arrogantly. ¡°Yeah, I heard it too. You said once we cleared our stock, we had to get the hell out, didn¡¯t you? But guess what¡ªwe¡¯re not done yet.¡± A collective gasp rippled through the station. Even an idiot could tell¡ªboth of them were high-tier Ability Users. And they weren¡¯t even trying to hide it anymore. Hu Lushou¡¯s face turned ghostly white. He immediately realized that these people were way beyond his ability to mess with. His survival instincts kicked in. In an instant, his shameless mode activated. Spinning around, he barked at his men, ¡°Did I say something like that to Brother Lin just now?¡± ¡°NO! NEVER!!!¡± His men frantically shook their heads, sweat pouring down their faces. ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding! A total misunderstanding!¡± Hu Lushou plastered on a grin and stepped forward, lowering his voice as he leaned in toward Lin Xian. ¡°Brother Lin, I thought you guys were just doing retail. I swear on my life, I never imagined you were in wholesale! Listen¡ªwhy don¡¯t you let me be your distributor?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. This gold-toothed bastard was something else. Most people in his position would either beg for mercy or try to save face. But this guy? The moment he realized he was outmatched, he immediately flipped the script and started sucking up¡ªas if he had just discovered a business opportunity instead of facing potential death. ¡°...So, your whole business is just flipping goods for profit?¡± Lin Xian asked flatly. Hu Lushou straightened his back with a righteous expression. ¡°No! Absolutely not! Our Fortune-Longevity Convoy offers prices lower than the official blood crystal exchange rate! It¡¯s just... well, you know how it is¡ªpeople are dying every day, every survivor convoy and settlement needs different things. We just¡ªuh, adjust prices based on demand. And, well, you know, trading in the apocalypse is dangerous. We risk our lives out there. So honestly... we¡¯re just earning hardship money.¡± ¡°...Hardship money?¡± Lin Xian almost laughed. ¡°You¡¯re monopolizing the market, and you¡¯re telling me it¡¯s not profitable? Weren¡¯t you just bragging about having dozens of trucks earlier?¡± Hu Lushou¡¯s face twitched. Glancing around quickly, he leaned in even closer and whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t actually have dozens of trucks. More like... ten. And they¡¯re small trucks. This big one here? It¡¯s our main inventory. If you take all our food, my seventy, eighty people will be left chewing on bullets for dinner. ¡°Plus¡ªzombies and Eerie Entities are getting stronger by the day. Small-caliber automatic rifles? They¡¯re losing value. I stocked up on too many, and when I heard your radio ad, I panicked¡ªI thought my inventory was gonna go to waste. So, I figured I¡¯d... you know, flip them fast...¡± Hu Lushou looked like he was about to cry. His original plan was to buy out Lin Xian¡¯s stock of rifles, then slowly resell them for a profit before the market tanked. But instead¡ªhe had completely miscalculated and ended up swapping all his valuable supplies for hundreds of the same damn rifles. And now? He was surrounded by rival survivor convoys, standing before an unstoppable armored train. So, like any true businessman facing imminent death, he did the only thing that made sense. He thickened his skin, adjusted his attitude, and started sucking up for dear life. Even if he couldn¡¯t cut a deal¡ªat the very least, he needed to get out of here in one piece. Chapter 218: Foundation Organization ¡°How about it, Brother Lin? With all these guns, I¡¯ll let my convoy handle distribution first. Later, I¡¯ll just pick up the goods directly from you, alright?¡± Lin Xian gave him a meaningful look. ¡°Do you even know how much stock I have?¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Hu Lushou was momentarily speechless upon hearing this. His expression shifted slightly as he looked at Lin Xian and said, ¡°The more, the better! With such a powerful convoy like yours, I¡¯m sure you can get your hands on anything!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze swept over Hu Lushou and the woman behind him. He spoke calmly, ¡°And if I do have stock, where do I find you?¡± Hearing this, Hu Lushou¡¯s brows immediately relaxed, and he quickly responded, ¡°Our camp is at the Hengshan Pass Stadium. Why don¡¯t you come over now? I¡¯ll treat everyone to a hotpot!¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Lin Xian smiled and simply looked at Hu Lushou. That gaze made Hu Lushou¡¯s heart feel uneasy. ¡°No need. You can go now.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression shifted, and he outright refused. He could see that this guy was itching to slip away. But he wasn¡¯t here to be a bandit¡ªthere was no need to antagonize a roaming supply convoy. Who knew? He might actually need them in the future. ¡°Haha, alright! Brother Lin, you¡¯re generous! We¡¯ll... be off then.¡± Hu Lushou grinned, quickly waved to his men, and they scrambled into their vehicles before speeding away. Vroom¡ª Watching Hu Lushou¡¯s convoy disappear, KIKI landed beside Lin Xian. ¡°That kind of guy... you¡¯re just letting him go?¡± ¡°What else should I do?¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°He didn¡¯t force a deal on us. We made a fair trade¡ªan entire truckload of supplies. What more do you want?¡± Chen Sixuan looked at him. ¡°You really think he wants to work with us?¡± Lin Xian sneered, ¡°That ¡®reseller¡¯ talk? He just wants to sell for me. As for pricing, he doesn¡¯t care. His real goal is to stop us from broadcasting prices over the radio, stabilizing the market in this area. That way, he can sell all those Xinghuo-26 Tactical Rifles at a higher price and recover his costs. But whether we agree or not, his priority is getting away first.¡± Hearing this, KIKI¡¯s brows relaxed, and she let out an Oh. ¡°That guy¡¯s pretty slick.¡± Lin Xian took a deep breath. ¡°But he was right about one thing¡ªthe creatures in the dark are getting stronger. Humans evolve, and so do monsters. Even zombies might become more dangerous. Basic weapons are going to lose their value fast.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°The survivor convoys have realized this too. That¡¯s why they all want heavy weapons.¡± Lin Xian turned to the onlooking survivors and called out, ¡°We still have guns. Anyone else want to trade?¡± ¡°Hell yes!!¡± Cao Hong was the first to shout, his eyes practically glowing. Seeing Hu Lushou fail to score a deal had been deeply satisfying. He¡¯d thought he was about to lose a golden opportunity, only to realize that the Infinite Convoy was the real big boss here! ¡°Yes! We want in!¡± The sudden shift in the situation energized the survivor groups. They had just realized that the Infinite Convoy wasn¡¯t just another faction¡ªit was a hidden powerhouse. Their military stockpile was enough to arm an entire battalion. Once they grasped the reality, the convoy leaders rushed over, eager to resume their trades with the Infinite. Just then, a middle-aged man named Liao Ming watched Hu Lushou¡¯s convoy drive off. He approached Lin Xian and said, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t believe a word that guy says. He¡¯s as cunning as they come, and his stock isn¡¯t from trading.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Liao Ming pointed to a box of military rations his men had just unloaded. ¡°This much standard-issue supply? No way he got it from scavenging survivors. When we tried to buy from him before, his men boasted that the Fortune-Longevity Convoy had connections with official organizations¡ªbut that¡¯s not true.¡± He then leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing classified intel. ¡°You know about Qingshui Town, right? It¡¯s by Shijiu Lake. Ages ago, a 095 Dragon-Class Transport Ship crash-landed there. Word is, that golden-toothed brat hit the jackpot¡ªscored a ton of survival supplies off the wreck and used it to start trading. That¡¯s how his convoy grew so fast.¡± ¡°Whoa, a Dragon-Class Transport Ship? That thing¡¯s a beast¡ªthousands of tons! That¡¯s insane luck.¡± KIKI gritted her teeth in frustration. ¡°That¡¯s total bulls**t luck.¡± Lin Xian, however, was thinking about something else entirely. He immediately asked Liao Ming, ¡°Is the transport ship still there?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Liao Ming was caught off guard, then laughed. ¡°That wreck¡¯s been picked clean by countless scavengers. Now, Qingshui Town is crawling with zombies. You¡¯re planning on looting leftovers?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just curious.¡± Lin Xian smirked, but his mind was already made up. What he was really interested in was the transport ship itself. A massive machine like that¡ªwrecked or not¡ªwas a goldmine. He could scan and break it down system by system. To him, that was the real treasure! Nuclear-powered turbine processors, anti-gravity propulsion systems, engine modules, onboard radar, ship-based anti-air weapons... Even if it was just raw material, aerospace-grade alloys were leagues better than standard train carriages. Back when he left Underground City No. 9, he had to abandon the crashed Iron Guard Battalion¡¯s gunships and fighters because of the impending Dark Tide. Even now, that still felt like a huge waste. ¡ª Outside Hengshan Pass Station Several armored vehicles sped down overgrown streets, plowing through waves of zombies. Inside one of them, Hu Lushou sat in the passenger seat, his face twisted in frustration. His second-in-command, Sun Chang, was at the wheel. ¡°F***! That was a huge loss! First, the Silver Star pops up, then Dragon Mountain No. 1, and now this Infinite Train?! F***ing train crews¡ªwhy do they always have so much firepower?!¡± The burly Sun Chang drove steadily, not even glancing at him. ¡°Their prices were reasonable. How was it a loss?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know s**t!¡± Hu Lushou grumbled, nostrils flaring. He glanced at Sun Chang but quickly softened his tone. ¡°Mark my words¡ªif we don¡¯t offload these basic rifles soon, they¡¯ll be nothing more than firewood!¡± Sun Chang¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing. Their convoy roared through the streets, drawing hordes of zombies in pursuit. ¡ª Back at Hengshan Pass Station The region had multiple survivor groups. Some had established shelters in the ruins, while others were just passing through, aiming for Xingcheng in the east or Dawn Center in the north. Convoy camps were scattered across the city, occupying supermarkets, police stations, prisons, and any well-fortified buildings. The Infinite Train¡¯s first public trade, broadcast over the radio, had been a massive success. The team loaded up carriages 6 and 7 with all sorts of supplies. Survivor convoys, in turn, secured weapons at bargain prices. Spirits were high. One by one, the convoys finished their trades and drove off. The station gradually quieted down. As the last group departed, Lin Xian noticed an armored vehicle parked in the shadows. A short-haired woman in a black coat stood in front of it, watching him quietly. No one else had seemed to notice her. As soon as Lin Xian met her gaze, she smiled slightly¡ªlike an old acquaintance greeting a friend. Lin Xian frowned. He had no idea who she was. At that moment, Chen Sixuan and the others were still busy loading supplies. Lin Xian, feeling suspicious, decided to approach. The woman¡¯s lips curled slightly as he walked up. She appeared to be in her thirties¡ªshort hair, neat and clean. She wasn¡¯t strikingly beautiful, but her features were refined. Most notably, her deep brown eyes carried an unfathomable depth. ¡°Hello, we meet again.¡± Her voice was steady as she greeted him. Lin Xian was taken aback. ¡°Have we met?¡± ¡°Hua Xiaoling.¡± She extended a hand. ¡°Thanks to your Traction Plan, the Climbing Elevator was a success.¡± Lin Xian finally realized what was going on and shook her hand. ¡°So, you came from Yubei City?¡± Hua Xiaoling smiled lightly and looked at him. ¡°In that chaotic situation, you were busy saving the world. It¡¯s understandable that you didn¡¯t notice me. But that was truly a genius plan.¡± ¡°You flatter me.¡± Lin Xian shifted his gaze to the armored vehicle behind her. It was a standard military-grade combat vehicle. From its appearance, it was clearly not something ordinary survivors would own. Its tinted windows obscured the number of people inside, and everything about it suggested that Hua Xiaoling wasn¡¯t here to trade weapons like the others. ¡°You heard the radio broadcast and came specifically to find me?¡± Lin Xian asked. Hua Xiaoling took out a business card and handed it to him. ¡°We¡¯re very interested in your Mechanical Ability. The Foundation has sent me to extend an invitation for collaboration. Are you interested?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow and took the card. It read: SIID Foundation Laboratory ¨C Senior Director, Hua Xiaoling ¡°SIID Foundation Laboratory?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°You¡¯re with the Federation?¡± He recalled something from Dark Radio. After escaping, KIKI had shown him a file on the Angel Project, which had mentioned a Special Item Investigation Department (SIID). This department was supposedly dedicated to researching forbidden artifacts. Hua Xiaoling smiled faintly. ¡°Technically speaking, the SIID Foundation Laboratory was established by the Lofi Consortium. Before the Federation dissolved, we were in a cooperative relationship with the government. But now, we operate as an independent entity.¡± ¡°Independent?¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It means that whether it¡¯s Phoenix or Dawn City, we remain neutral.¡± Seeing Lin Xian¡¯s confusion, Hua Xiaoling continued with a slight smile, ¡°Most people think the post-Federation structure is chaotic, but that¡¯s mainly due to the different philosophies regarding civilization¡¯s survival. Currently, the most widely recognized authority is the Phoenix-ledRescue Faction. Phoenix has three core divisions: The Three Great Dawn Cities, which act as the faction¡¯s main governing centers.The Nightwalkers, responsible for researching abilities, recruiting Ability Users, and dispatching teams for global missions.The Starfleet, which handles military defense and large-scale expeditions. Then, there¡¯s the Survival Faction, which is primarily driven by Project Dawn. Many survivors still consider the remnants of the Federation as the true government. After the first Polar Night, the original Angel Project was dismantled and split into multiple parts. The Special Item Investigation Department you mentioned? That¡¯s one of the teams we fund, tasked with studying anomalies related to the darkness.¡± ¡°Our Foundation, however, approaches everything from a scientific standpoint. We seek to understand civilization¡¯s transformation and the nature of the Dark Invasion.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°You¡¯re Arrivalists?¡± Hua Xiaoling chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t be so tense, Captain Lin. I just told you, we¡¯re neutral. The Arrivalists¡ªthose zealots who worship the Dark Power and view the Apocalypse as divine judgment¡ªare lunatics.¡± She tilted her head slightly. ¡°From a scientific perspective, they¡¯re just insane.¡± ¡°No argument there.¡± Lin Xian exhaled, then looked at her seriously. ¡°So, what exactly do you want to collaborate on?¡± ¡°Mechanical Innovation.¡± Hua Xiaoling got straight to the point. ¡°If civilization is to evolve, the most promising field is artificial intelligence and advanced technology. This is the last remaining human legacy. Genetic evolution and Abilities are still largely unexplored. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Lin Xian instantly understood¡ªthey were after his Mechanical Ability. Among all known Abilities, his was possibly the only one directly linked to human technology. Too bad my power isn¡¯t actually an Ability... Lin Xian sighed internally. ¡°You make a valid point, but you might be overestimating my Ability.¡± It was indeed powerful¡ªhis Research Center could generate blueprints far beyond their technological era. But Lin Xian had no intention of revealing too much. Even just his Mechanical Manufacturing and Devouring functions were already eye-catching. Back in Yubei City, many people had taken note of it. At the time, survival had been his priority, so he hadn¡¯t concealed his power. But now, it was bound to attract the attention of groups like Phoenix. He had expected Phoenix to approach him first. Yet, before they could, the SIID Foundation had already come knocking. Hua Xiaoling merely smiled at his response and didn¡¯t press further. Instead, she remained calm and said, ¡°That¡¯s fine. Our full-scale laboratory is located at Shijiu Lake. We¡¯ve made significant progress in researching the Darkness, Genetic Evolution, and Abilities. You¡¯re always welcome to visit. I think you¡¯ll find our work fascinating.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian replied. Hua Xiaoling nodded slightly, then turned and entered the armored vehicle. Within moments, it sped off and vanished beyond the station. ¡ª Lin Xian stood still, watching the armored vehicle disappear. ¡°The Foundation, the Lofi Consortium, the Angel Project, the crashed transport ship...¡± He pondered for a moment. ¡°Where did this so-called neutral organization suddenly come from?¡± Chapter 219: Team Exploration ¡°Who was that?¡± After the armored vehicle drove away, KIKI walked up to Lin Xian, curiosity written all over her face. Lin Xian narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, ¡°A group called the SIID Foundation. Seems like they¡¯re the backers behind the ¡®Special Item Investigation Department¡¯ mentioned in the intel you gave me earlier.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± KIKI frowned. ¡°Are they with the Federation?¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°According to her, they¡¯re a neutral organization. They probably took notice of us when we were at the Climbing Elevator.¡± ¡°They noticed your Mechanical Ability, didn¡¯t they?¡± KIKI glanced at Lin Xian, blinking knowingly. ¡°She¡¯s throwing you an olive branch, trying to recruit you?¡± ¡°Recruit...¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Are we bandits or something that need recruiting?¡± ¡°By the way,¡± Lin Xian asked, ¡°do you know of any large-scale laboratories or military bases near Stone Mortar Lake?¡± Hearing the question, KIKI furrowed her brows. ¡°As far as military bases go, based on the intel I gathered before, there shouldn¡¯t be any. If there¡¯s a newly established one or a highly classified one, I wouldn¡¯t know. As for large labs, I¡¯ve never heard of any. Those kinds of places should be marked on civilian maps, right?¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Crack! Lin Xian crushed a tiny metal bracket in his left hand and swallowed it. The bracket extended a few meters from the ground, resembling a makeshift metal arm. ¡°Eh? What did you just do?¡± KIKI noticed the small action and immediately asked. ¡°Nothing.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Just planted a communicator on that vehicle.¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re trying to use the communicator as a tracking beacon? But that thing loses signal over long distances, and with the Dark Tides interfering, tracking isn¡¯t even an option.¡± ¡°There¡¯s always a way to make do. Who said I was tracking them?¡± Lin Xian turned to look at KIKI. ¡°Just confirm which direction the vehicle leaves the city. Besides, it¡¯s better to be prepared than not. If they try to track us in the future, we¡¯ll know in advance.¡± That Hua Xiaoling claimed her group was neutral, but Lin Xian knew that no faction was truly impartial¡ªeveryone operated on some kind of interest. So, staying cautious was the smart move. But then again, if they wanted to collaborate, why not choose the Phoenix? With the coming darkness, even well-funded private research labs could barely guarantee their own safety, let alone anyone else¡¯s. ¡°Oh, you¡ª¡± KIKI gave him a scrutinizing look. ¡°You¡¯re getting craftier, like an old fox.¡± Lin Xian frowned at her and scoffed, ¡°Didn¡¯t I learn that from you? In the apocalypse, everyone needs to be on guard.¡± KIKI rolled her eyes. ¡°Ha! Now you¡¯re blaming me? Typical man.¡± Back on the train, Chen Sixuan finished taking inventory of the supplies they had just traded for in Car No. 7. Seeing Lin Xian enter, she smiled happily. ¡°Lin Xian, we got a lot of supplies this time. I did some quick math¡ªenough to feed our thirty-plus people three meals a day for a whole month.¡± Most of the weapons in Car No. 5 had been traded away, exchanged for a substantial haul of resources. Chen Sixuan let out a deep breath. ¡°If not for that Fortune-Longevity Convoy, things wouldn¡¯t have gone as smoothly as they did.¡± ¡°Hey, Chen-jie,¡± KIKI grinned as she walked over. ¡°They bought so many weapons from us¡ªdoesn¡¯t that make things even smoother?¡± Lin Xian was a little surprised by the numbers. This was his first time using his Ability to earn supplies, and the results exceeded his expectations. Shasha hugged a jar of pickled cucumbers from the trade and giggled. ¡°That idiot probably has no idea that Lin-ge is a walking weapons factory. Even if he brought all his wealth, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to buy everything.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± KIKI glanced at the shelves stacked with supplies, then wrapped an arm around Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder in excitement. ¡°I told you, with Lin Xian¡¯s Ability, we¡¯ll never have to worry about food again!¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m a beast of burden?¡± Lin Xian gave her a sideways glance. ¡°Listen, genius. Crafting things takes time, energy, and materials. And it¡¯s not like low-end weapons sell that well anymore. Keeping a train full of people fed isn¡¯t as easy as you think.¡± If that Fortune-Longevity Convoy had come looking for high-powered weapons, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have been able to mass-produce them so quickly¡ªit would¡¯ve been a hassle. KIKI chuckled. ¡°Hehe, my bad. You¡¯re not a beast of burden. You¡¯re a stud.¡± ¡°KIKI-jiejie, what¡¯s a stud?¡± Shasha asked curiously. ¡°A stud is¡ªmmmph!¡± Just as KIKI was about to explain, Lin Xian slapped a hand over her mouth. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what that means. Don¡¯t teach bad things to kids.¡± KIKI pried his hand away and, with a straight face, told Shasha, ¡°A stud is a hardworking horse that sows seeds¡ªjust like your Lin-ge.¡± ¡°Oh, then Lin-ge is really hardworking.¡± Shasha nodded. Chen Sixuan¡¯s face turned red, while Lin Xian was speechless. He had no idea where this girl kept picking up these ridiculous terms. Just then, KIKI suddenly leaned in close and whispered in Lin Xian¡¯s ear, ¡°Especially some people¡ªso diligent at night~¡± ¡°Oh? Sounds like you have too much free time at night.¡± Lin Xian smirked. ¡°Maybe you should start helping out.¡± ¡°I would never!¡± KIKI¡¯s face turned crimson as she quickly backed away, glaring at him. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± Chen Sixuan interrupted before KIKI could start more nonsense. ¡°What¡¯s the plan next? Are we sending out teams to explore?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s playful expression faded as he became serious. ¡°We need to wait for updates from Parma Grasslands before heading out through Hengshan Pass. In the meantime, we have to gather as many supplies as possible.¡± A train was like a mobile city. The crew didn¡¯t just need food and water¡ªdaily necessities like furniture, clothing, cups, toothbrushes, and even toilet paper were all crucial. For Lin Xian, mechanical components were especially valuable. Whether for Devouring, Scanning blueprints, or Manufacturing, the more, the better. Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°I suggest we split up like we did at Yu Chi¡ªsmall teams scouting along different routes. That way, we can also assess threats and possible exit points.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Lin Xian approved of her plan. ¡°KIKI.¡± At that moment, KIKI was checking the mobile terminal, using the train¡¯s onboard system to track the communicator Lin Xian had planted. ¡°They headed south, but the signal only covers a 10-kilometer range. Can¡¯t say for sure if they left the city.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s close enough to count as leaving. Knowing the direction is enough. Set the communicator¡¯s serial number as a proximity alert¡ªif they get near us, we¡¯ll know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± With that settled, Lin Xian gathered the team in Car No. 2¡¯s command center to discuss their scouting plans. Since it was just past noon, they had enough time. Lin Xian planned to divide into three teams: Main Rail Route ¨C Along the main track, where several large shopping centers were located.North Rail Route ¨C Leading to an industrial area.South Route ¨C More remote, with residential areas that might yield supplies. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the shopping centers!¡± KIKI shot her hand up excitedly. ¡°I haven¡¯t been shopping in ages. I¡¯m bringing back a haul!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going.¡± Lin Xian looked at her. ¡°You¡¯re coming with me to Clearwater Town¡ªStone Mortar Lake is in that direction. We¡¯ll check out where that foundation¡¯s people went.¡± ¡°Oh~¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You wanna check out that crashed transport ship?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± With teams set, everyone geared up and headed out. Main Rail Team: Shu Qin, Da Lou, Lu? Chang, and two others took an off-road vehicle to scout the eastern shopping centers.North Rail Team: Shasha and Lu Xingchen led a team in an armored vehicle toward the industrial district.South Route: Lin Xian and KIKI rode motorcycles, traveling light. As they rode off, the leader of the Night Phantom convoy, Cao Hong, leaned against his window and called out, ¡°You guys already scored so much¡ªwhy bother scavenging? This city¡¯s been picked clean a hundred times over.¡± Lin Xian ignored him and sped off. KIKI rolled her eyes before revving her engine and following. Cao Hong muttered something under his breath, then turned his gaze toward the Infinite Train before shutting his window. Chapter 220: Dragon Transport Ship On the Infinite Train, Chen Sixuan locked all the doors, activated the Sentry System''s warning mechanism, and started organizing supplies and carriages with the remaining crew. Under the warning system, the 1130 Defense System could launch attacks on unknown threats at any time with Chen Sixuan¡¯s authorization¡ªit was incredibly smart. Meanwhile, KIKI had programmed the PX05 Engineering Robot with a maintenance directive. As soon as 1130 activated, it would immediately follow up and reload the ammunition supply chain. "Everyone, the Infinite Train will be our communication hub. If you go too far, the signal may cut off. Make sure to return before 18:00." Lin Xian¡¯s voice came through the walkie-talkie. "Copy that," Shu Qin responded. "Roger that, got it!" Shasha also picked up her walkie-talkie and glanced at Lu Xingchen. "You heard him, right? If you get lost, I won¡¯t come looking for you, so you better stick close to me~" Lu Xingchen smiled helplessly. "Alright~" "Okay, everyone, be careful," Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice came through from the Infinite Train. Hearing the responses, Lin Xian glanced at KIKI and then revved up his motorcycle, speeding off. KIKI, seeing that Lin Xian was riding faster than her, instantly got competitive. She twisted the throttle, making her motorcycle¡¯s engine roar like a beast as she shot past Lin Xian, leaving behind the sexy silhouette of a female rider. "Are you trying to race me?" Lin Xian¡¯s voice came through the comms. "If you can¡¯t keep up, just eat my dust~ Hehe!" KIKI¡¯s voice carried the sound of rushing wind. Lin Xian shook his head with a wry smile, skillfully weaving past a lunging zombie, then sped up to chase after her. The once wide streets of the city were now littered with rusted, abandoned cars. The two motorcycles zipped between obstacles, racing southward. Lin Xian was fully equipped: a powered exosuit, a magnetically-controlled black rifle, an electric blade, and a fully loaded automatic rifle¡ªhe was more than ready. His scouting mission was the farthest out;he had to ride dozens of kilometers out of the city. According to the map, Qingshui Town was near Shijiu Lake, and even at top speed, it would take at least an hour to get there. To make it back before nightfall, he and KIKI didn¡¯t bother checking side streets¡ªthey just went full throttle. Zombies and Obstacles on the Road "Urrghh!" Low growls of zombies echoed around Lin Xian. He dodged and weaved, occasionally blasting a few blocking the way with his Wind Cannon. The bike snaked through open spaces. BZZT! KIKI, on the other hand, was far more aggressive. She didn¡¯t care if zombies or abandoned cars were in her way¡ªshe just unleashed invisible shockwaves, blasting a clear path forward. It was as if the obstacles moved aside for her on command. After cutting through countless city blocks, they finally reached the outskirts. The highway out of town was clogged with abandoned vehicles, but their motorcycles let them weave through the wreckage, jumping curbs and skirting slopes as they sped toward Qingshui Town. After riding for several dozen kilometers, Lin Xian saw a vast expanse of deep blue on the horizon¡ªa massive lake stretching to the horizon, blending with the sky. Even from a distance, he could feel the damp lake breeze against his face. This was the lake effect, a clear sign of the sheer size of this body of water. At first glance, it looked like an ocean. Before setting out, Lin Xian had studied this lake¡ªit was the largest freshwater lake in the Yunjiang Plains, covering 120,000 square kilometers with depths reaching 1,900 meters. It was a major freshwater reservoir for the Dragon Nation. Its dark blue waters hinted at unfathomable depths. Lin Xian had nearly drowned as a child while playing in a deep water reservoir, so he had an instinctive fear of deep water. Thinking about the oceanic railway segment they''d eventually have to traverse¡ªdriving the Infinite Train over tracks built atop deep-sea ridges thousands of meters underwater¡ªgave him a mix of excitement and dread. "Whoa, that lake is huge! Think there are any sea monsters in there?" KIKI''s voice came through the comms. By now, they were out of the city and had lost contact with the other teams. "What¡¯s there to be scared of? It¡¯s not like we¡¯re going for a swim." After surviving Underground City No. 9 and Rain Town, Lin Xian knew that even in broad daylight, eerie entities could lurk in dark buildings. And water¡ªespecially deep water that sunlight couldn¡¯t penetrate¡ªwas the perfect hiding place for such creatures. "You never know! What if that shady foundation¡¯s base is hidden under the lake?" Lin Xian chuckled. "If they¡¯re that powerful, then working with them wouldn¡¯t be a bad deal." The motorcycles roared as they sped down the highway, Lin Xian adjusting their route based on the road signs, turning off the expressway onto a national road. Qingshui Town was a small settlement with few survivors. The number of abandoned cars dwindled, allowing them to pick up speed. Passing through some lakefront forests, Lin Xian finally spotted a quaint little town ahead¡ªa tourist town based on its layout. A rusty, toppled sign still read: "Welcome to Qingshui Town~" As they neared the town entrance, the number of wrecked cars began to increase again. Scattered zombies wandered the highway, and the wrecks had been pushed to the sides, forming a clear path through the middle. Lin Xian and KIKI stopped on an open hillside. "Looks like a lot of people passed through here." KIKI shielded her eyes with her hand, scanning the town. "Too bad¡ªit¡¯s actually kinda pretty. Would¡¯ve been a nice vacation spot." "Hey, look! Isn¡¯t that the crashed transport ship?" KIKI suddenly pointed excitedly. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked toward the town center¡ªsure enough, a massive airship wreckage lay across the streets. The huge transport vessel, weighing tens of thousands of tons, was tilted at an angle, wedged between the remains of several collapsed buildings. Its hull was scorched, the bow snapped clean in half. Flocks of birds circled the wreckage, and from a distance, the ship¡¯s colossal man-made structure looked both surreal and futuristic amidst the town¡¯s ruins. "A ship this big crashing here is definitely strange. Maybe it hit a giant eerie entity?" Lin Xian pulled out his binoculars, scanning the town. He spotted zombies wandering the streets, but no survivor teams. "Could be." KIKI looked toward Shijiu Lake. "Told you there¡¯s something huge in that lake. The Federation¡¯s aircraft keep getting wrecked." Lin Xian frowned, instinctively uneasy about the lake¡¯s dark waters. 1,900 meters deep. No sunlight reaches that abyss. Who knows what¡¯s lurking down there? He thought about the underground creatures from Underground City No. 9, feeling a chill run down his spine. "Let¡¯s check out the town. Stay alert." The South Line Railway wasn¡¯t far. If the Infinite Train switched to that route, they¡¯d pass through here¡ªbut there was no official station. The two hopped back onto their motorcycles, reducing speed as they approached the town center, eyes sharp for any threats. Entering the Town and Investigating the Crash A desolate and eerie tourist town unfolded before them. Collapsed storefronts lined the streets, their faded signs reading things like "Shijiu Lake Seafood" and "Boat Rentals." The pavement was filthy¡ªlittered with discarded clothes, rotting corpses, and the stench of decaying fish. The air was thick with an unpleasant dampness, a mix of lake mist and the stench of death. Some streets had been completely flooded, the water a murky dark green, standing half a person¡¯s height in some areas. Lin Xian made a sharp turn, bypassing the flooded areas and heading straight toward the crashed transport ship in the town center. WHIZZ! A few Wind Cannon shots echoed as he cleared out some zombies wandering the roads. The deeper they ventured, the more collapsed buildings blocked their path. The massive airship, weighing tens of thousands of tons, had crashed diagonally into the town, completely destroying entire blocks of streets. The impact had ripped open the ground, creating a deep crater stretching hundreds of meters across, practically splitting the town in two. The dragon-class transport ship lay at an angle, its broken bow section exposing multi-level decks, the steel plating charred and melted in some areas. Lin Xian looked up¡ªif they wanted to reach the top of the ship, they¡¯d have to climb at least ten floors. "Damn, this thing is massive," KIKI whistled in awe. "We¡¯ll head straight for the top. The zombies are getting thicker¡ªlet¡¯s avoid the alleys," Lin Xian said, scanning their surroundings. He was certain they weren¡¯t alone in this town. If other survivors had made it here, they needed to stay cautious. "Got it!" As they ventured deeper, the presence of zombies thickened. Lin Xian quickly crafted metal barricades from his powered exosuit, using them to block staircases and alleyways, cutting off the undead¡¯s advance. KIKI, meanwhile, grabbed both motorcycles, levitating into the air before landing gracefully atop the ship¡¯s upper decks. BOOM! Lin Xian fired his Wind Cannon at a massive neon sign hanging precariously over the road. Sparks flashed as the metal frame snapped, sending the heavy sign crashing down, crushing a cluster of zombies and further blocking their approach. "That should hold them for a bit." He powered up his exosuit¡¯s movement system, then leapt up, grabbing onto a ledge and scaling the side of the ship. The transport ship¡¯s hull was deeply embedded in the ground, exposing underground drainage tunnels and sewer systems that had been ripped apart by the crash. Lin Xian climbed swiftly, reaching higher ground, where he noticed muddy footprints and bloodstains. There were corpses of survivors, some recently dead, some long decayed. "This place is too quiet," Lin Xian muttered. As he ascended the ship, he could tell that many people had already scavenged this wreck. But he wasn¡¯t here for supplies. He needed blueprints and engine components¡ªthings that ordinary survivors wouldn¡¯t have taken. "Hope there¡¯s no eerie entities hiding inside..." Lin Xian quickened his pace, moving toward the engine engineering room deeper inside the ship. The interior was pitch dark, the stench of death overwhelming. He activated his helmet¡¯s light module, illuminating the eerie corridors. "Lin Xian?" "No people in sight," he replied. This transport ship was built for military logistics, with living quarters, storage, and high-tech labs. As he moved through the halls, he spotted dozens of corpses dressed in Federation military uniforms. "They must¡¯ve died on impact," Lin Xian muttered. But something felt off. He recalled how the ship¡¯s nose and underside both had impact damage¡ªbut the upper hull looked like it had been hit even harder. That wasn¡¯t normal. Usually, a ship would crash nose-first into the ground, but this one had also suffered a powerful overhead strike. "Did this thing hit something in mid-air...?" The town¡¯s tallest buildings were barely ten stories high, nowhere near high enough to collide with an airship of this scale. There was only one explanation: Something struck this ship while it was still flying. Lin Xian glanced at the surrounding wreckage, suddenly uneasy. "Maybe it hit an Atmospheric Mica... but the radar should¡¯ve picked that up..." Chapter 221: Swallowing Missiles Lin Xian made his way from the upper deck to the Engineering Bay. The hatch was already damaged beyond repair, leaving only a narrow opening barely big enough for a person to squeeze through. Without hesitation, he walked up, placed his hand on the control panel, and activated Mechanical Heart. A surge of electricity pulsed through the circuits, and the automatic door emitted a strained mechanical whine before forcefully sliding halfway open. Lin Xian quickly slipped inside. Click¡ª He adjusted the beam of his flashlight, illuminating the pitch-black engine bay. Right in the center stood a Nuclear-Powered Turbine Processor Chamber. He pulled out his Geiger Counter and checked¡ªfortunately, there were no leaks. Standing on the upper platform of the engine bay, he looked down at two massive anti-gravity propulsion engines¡ªsilent, dormant, like two colossal industrial behemoths. "No idea if these are still functional..." Lin Xian¡¯s eyes gleamed with anticipation. Scanning an entire 10,000-ton Dragon-Class Transport Ship was impossible, and the damaged hull meant he couldn¡¯t extract a complete blueprint. But if the propulsion engines were intact, they might still be useful. Without delay, Lin Xian climbed down using the maintenance ladder. As soon as he touched the surface of the propulsion engine, he activated Mechanical Heart. Hissss¡ª In an instant, he felt a massive amount of energy being drained from him. The coverage of Mechanical Heart expanded as he attempted to perceive the full structure of the anti-gravity propulsion system. But as the scan extended, he quickly realized¡ªhe had been far too optimistic. Countless interconnected subsystems surfaced¡ªso many that it made his scalp tingle. Worse yet, a significant portion was heavily damaged. ¡¾Scanning Progress: 21%¡¿ Twenty minutes passed, and he hadn¡¯t even scanned half of it. Lin Xian was already drenched in sweat. ¡°F***.¡± With a frustrated sigh, he lifted his hand, abandoning the scan. "I got greedy. Should¡¯ve known better..." "Scanning is impossible unless I completely dismantle the engine first, then slowly break it down." He sighed again. In theory, he could dismantle the engine¡ªbut even in a professional shipyard, it would take an entire team of engineers using specialized equipment days to disassemble a propulsion system of this size. Doing it alone? Completely impossible. Shaking his head, Lin Xian shifted his focus back to the Nuclear-Powered Turbine Processor Chamber. This type of shipboard reactor wasn¡¯t enormous, but it was still significantly larger than the one used in the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive. "Forget it, let¡¯s try this one instead." Just as he was prepared to write off this whole trip as a waste, he climbed up the processor chamber and initiated a scan¡ªonly to find that not only was it intact, but it also had no radiation leaks. Thirty minutes later¡ª ¡¾Successfully scanned: ¡°Nightstar-2¡± Nuclear Turbine Processor (Blueprint acquired)¡¿ ¡°Phew¡ª¡± Seeing the Mechanical Heart interface display his newly acquired blueprint, Lin Xian finally let out a sigh of relief. "It¡¯s not immediately useful... but at least I got something out of this." He checked the time¡ª15:16 PM. There were less than four hours until nightfall. If he devoured the turbine processor, it would take at least 4¨C6 hours. If successful, he estimated he could gain 500+ Mechanical Source Points and 200+ Devouring Proficiency¡ªwhich would allow him to upgrade ¡¾Mechanical Devour¡¿ to Level 4. However, if he did this, it would already be dark by the time he finished¡ªand traveling at night would be too dangerous. "Let¡¯s check out the weapons system instead." Lin Xian wasn¡¯t in a rush. Hengshan Pass had plenty of vehicles he could break down for upgrades. As long as he had time, he could afford to move at a slower pace and focus on improving his abilities. The Dragon-Class Transport Ship was nicknamed the ¡°Airborne Hercules¡±, known for its massive cargo capacity. Unlike gunships and fighter jets, its defenses weren¡¯t as advanced¡ªbut it was still equipped with Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) and short-range anti-air missile defenses. This was what Lin Xian was most interested in. As he made his way to the central weapons station, he suddenly spotted a crew roster in the ship¡¯s conference hall. A familiar name caught his eye. He stopped, tilted his head, and walked closer to take a better look. Then he laughed out loud. ¡°Deputy Captain of the Yunxiang¡ªHu Lushou.¡± ¡°... Holy s**t, so that guy was a pilot? No wonder he got his hands on this transport ship¡¯s supplies. He had front-row access!¡± So Liao Ming¡¯s rumor wasn¡¯t baseless after all. Hu Lushou had likely survived the ship¡¯s crash, which explained why he had so many Federation-standard supplies. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t too concerned. He lingered for a moment, then continued heading toward the weapons station. ¡ª Dragon-Class Transport Ship ¨C Weapons Station The hatch leading to the weapons station was badly deformed from the crash. Lin Xian shone his flashlight through the cracks and took a look inside. Then he sucked in a breath of cold air. Inside were two missile launchers¡ªand both still had missiles loaded! ¡°Holy s**t¡ªan Eyestorm F12 Supersonic Air-to-Ship Missile and two Guardian-86 Anti-Air Missiles?!¡± As a former military enthusiast, Lin Xian recognized these Federation weapons instantly. He had seen plenty of photos of them before. But now that he was face-to-face with the real deal, they felt massive. ¡°Damn, the Eyestorm F12 is 6.86m long, 0.36m in diameter, and weighs 850kg, with a 200kg warhead. The Guardian-86 is 2.5m long, 0.18m in diameter, and weighs 100kg, with a 30kg warhead....¡± ¡°Of course, these things aren¡¯t small.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes burned with excitement. He activated his communicator and called KIKI. ¡°Hey, I found some good stuff. The ship¡¯s air-launched missiles are still here. Might take a bit of time.¡± KIKI¡¯s voice crackled back, surprised. ¡°Missiles?! The survivors didn¡¯t take them?¡± Lin Xian scoffed. ¡°Of course not. These aren¡¯t rocket launchers¡ªyou can¡¯t just grab and fire them. Loading missiles requires specialized equipment. Even if they could move them, what would they do? Shoulder-carry them and ram into monsters?¡± Missile systems weren¡¯t personal weapons¡ªthey needed full support infrastructure: launchers, radars, fire control systems, and regular maintenance. Lin Xian examined the weapons station, spotting one Guardian-86 missile lying on the ground with its launch rack snapped in half. "The survivors must¡¯ve freaked the hell out when they saw this. The fact that this station didn¡¯t explode on impact is already a miracle. No way they¡¯d dare touch these things." Most of the ship¡¯s valuable cargo had already been looted¡ªany handheld weapons, supplies, or tools were long gone. The missile racks, however, had been left intact, making them the perfect prize for Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Ability. ¡ª Scanning the Missiles Lin Xian carefully fabricated a hydraulic press, slowly forcing open the deformed hatch. Once inside, he crouched beside the fallen Guardian-86 missile. "Brother, listen. I¡¯m just touching you¡ªI¡¯m not gonna set you off." Nervously, he placed his hand on it. ¡¾Scanning in progress... 15%¡¿ ¡¾Scanning in progress... 50%¡¿ After twenty minutes, he finally received the notification: ¡¾Scan Complete: Guardian-86 Anti-Air Missile Blueprint Acquired¡¿ Lin Xian exhaled in relief. Time to scan the big one... He stepped toward the Eyestorm F12 Supersonic Air-to-Ship Missile. ... Lin Xian placed his hand on the Eyestorm F12 Supersonic Air-to-Ship Missile and activated Mechanical Heart. ¡¾Scanning in progress... 15%¡¿ ¡¾Scanning in progress... 50%¡¿ ¡¾Scan complete! Acquired blueprint: Eyestorm F12 Supersonic Air-to-Ship Missile ¡¿ Then, he moved to the missile launch system. ¡¾Scan complete! Acquired blueprint: MK-66 Roll-On Cantilever Missile Launcher¡¿ ¡¾Scan complete! Acquired blueprint: T1 Fire Control Radar¡¿ ¡¾Scan complete! Acquired blueprint: T1-2 Detection and Search Radar¡¿ ¡¾Devour successful! +100 Mechanical Source Points, +40 Devouring Proficiency, +5 Speed¡¿ ¡¾Devour successful! +120 Mechanical Source Points, +50 Devouring Proficiency, +6 Strength¡¿ ¡°Damn...¡± Lin Xian stared at the Mechanical Heart interface, a hint of surprise flashing across his face. He had spent less than an hour devouring just two missiles, yet he had already gained a total of 220 Mechanical Source Points! "The efficiency of devouring missiles is ridiculously high¡ªway better than dismantling train locomotives!" Lin Xian smirked. "This trip was worth it. Too bad there aren''t more missiles..." He turned his gaze to the slightly damaged Guardian-86 missile still lying on the ground. "Might as well take this one too." He reached out to continue devouring¡ª BEEP! His communicator suddenly activated¡ªKIKI¡¯s voice came through, her tone urgent. ¡°Lin Xian, get out here! Now!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression changed instantly. Without hesitation, he stopped devouring, turned, and sprinted out of the weapons station. ¡ª Rushing across the upper deck, Lin Xian vaulted over a broken railing and leapt from the fractured hull¡ªlanding on the ship¡¯s top surface. ¡°What happened?¡± He quickly scanned the area. KIKI was flying toward him from the distance, clutching a mobile terminal in her hands. She landed on the deck, eyes wide with urgency. ¡°Look at this!¡± she exclaimed, holding up the device screen. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed as he glanced at it. It displayed a blinking signal¡ªcoming from the tracking device he had secretly planted on that armored vehicle earlier. ¡°The transmitter is active! It¡¯s northeast of us!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze snapped toward the horizon, beyond the wreckage of the transport ship. All he could see was a dense forest near the lake¡¯s edge. ¡°Strange... Even with Dark Tides interfering, radio signals usually don¡¯t reach more than five or six kilometers... But that direction looks empty.¡± KIKI suddenly gasped. ¡°Wait¡ªcould it be under the lake?!¡± Lin Xian frowned and examined the coordinates displayed on KIKI¡¯s screen. After a moment, he made his decision. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Time to find out what this ¡®Foundation¡¯ really is.¡± KIKI hesitated, glancing back at the transport ship wreckage. ¡°You done here?¡± ¡°More or less.¡± Lin Xian dusted off his hands. ¡°I got all the good stuff.¡± KIKI beamed. ¡°Damn, you actually managed to take the missiles? That¡¯s awesome!¡± She grinned mischievously. ¡°C¡¯mon, make one now! I wanna test it out~¡± Lin Xian rolled his eyes. ¡°You want to ¡®test¡¯ a missile? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± KIKI pouted. ¡°Tsk, so boring.¡± Then she perked up again. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go! Maybe the research lab has some fun stuff too.¡± Lin Xian glanced at his watch, then nodded. ¡ª Engines roared to life. Lin Xian and KIKI mounted their motorcycles and tore through the streets, weaving past the scattered zombie hordes. The tracking signal from the armored vehicle remained stable, confirming they were heading in the right direction. ¡ª Northeast of Qingshui Town The further they traveled, the stronger the signal became. KIKI frowned as she studied the surroundings. ¡°Strange... There¡¯s nothing here but a forest.¡± Lin Xian slowed down. ¡°Stay alert.¡± Something felt off. His first instinct was that someone might have discovered the tracker and tossed it away. But if the research facility was really hidden here... Then this place was far more secretive than expected. The two eased off the throttle, entering the dense woodland. ¡ª Within the Forest Towering trees blocked out the sunlight, casting long shadows. The branches constantly scraped against their bikes, creating an eerie clatter. Lin Xian fabricated a protective steel frame on his bike to deflect the branches, while KIKI simply flew above them using her Ability. Gradually, the terrain leveled out. Screech¡ª Lin Xian¡¯s motorcycle skidded to a halt. Something wasn¡¯t right. As soon as he looked up, his pupils shrank. The sky¡ª had turned completely dark. ¡ª VROOM! KIKI¡¯s bike followed close behind, but as she emerged from the woods, she let out a startled gasp. ¡°Whoa¡ªwait... Why is it nighttime?¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t answer. He turned around and looked back at the forest they had just exited. It was also pitch black inside. The darkness wasn¡¯t natural. Something was very wrong here. ¡°Lin Xian, look!¡± KIKI pointed ahead, her voice filled with shock. Lin Xian followed her gaze¡ª And his heart dropped. Under the shroud of unnatural night, a town¡¯s silhouette emerged in the distance. A town that looked strangely familiar. ¡°This... This is...¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Qingshui Town?!¡± Chapter 222: Biochemical Test Site ¡°Whoa, you¡¯re right!¡± KIKI finally realized what was wrong, and her expression changed. ¡°No, something¡¯s off! This isn¡¯t Clearwater Town!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Look, where¡¯s the crashed transport ship?¡± The biggest difference between this place and Clearwater Town was the absence of the massive wrecked transport ship. Aside from that, the streets, buildings, and entire town layout were exactly the same. ¡°What the hell? How can there be two identical towns?¡± KIKI stared at the scene, completely dumbfounded. For a moment, Lin Xian thought he might¡¯ve taken the wrong route. But how could there be another town waiting for them after emerging from the Dark Forest? Upon closer inspection, he noticed something even stranger. There wasn¡¯t a single zombie in sight. The entire Clearwater Town was shrouded in eerie silence under the night sky. ¡°The sun¡¯s already down... this is weird.¡± Lin Xian checked his watch¡ªit wasn¡¯t even 4 PM yet. Why was it already dark? ¡°I think we just stumbled into something really creepy.¡± KIKI shuddered involuntarily, her unease growing. ¡°Is there still a signal from that communicator?¡± Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s question, KIKI quickly snapped out of it and checked her mobile terminal. ¡°Yes! And it¡¯s even closer now.¡± KIKI pointed toward the darkened town ahead. ¡°It should be just up ahead.¡± Lin Xian stared at the shadowy town, his expression darkening. ¡°Let¡¯s turn back.¡± This situation was completely different from what he had expected. To be cautious, Lin Xian decided to retreat for now. The night had already fallen, and if they accidentally provoked some eerie entity, it would be a massive headache. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m with you.¡± KIKI had lost all interest in exploring the strange town ahead. At Lin Xian¡¯s command, she immediately turned her bike around. The two of them revved their motorcycles and sped back into the dark forest. Vrrrmmmm! The motorcycles roared as they weaved through the rugged forest terrain. But the deeper they went, the worse things became. Lin Xian soon realized that no matter how far they rode, the forest around them remained pitch black¡ªand was getting even darker. Then, in the next instant¡ª The two motorcycles burst out of the forest... Only for them to find themselves right back where they had started. ¡°...What the hell!?¡± KIKI immediately freaked out. She turned to Lin Xian, her voice rising. ¡°Hey, are we... are we haunted?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. He looked back at the shadowy town and muttered, ¡°Looks like we have no choice but to check it out. There must be something different about this place compared to the Clearwater Town we visited earlier.¡± ¡°Ugh...¡± KIKI¡¯s face was full of reluctance. But seeing no other way out, she sighed and nodded. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m sticking with you.¡± Vrrrmmm... Lin Xian slowly guided his motorcycle toward the town. The surroundings were utterly silent, the engine¡¯s hum the only sound cutting through the darkness. Their headlights cast dim, flickering beams ahead, barely piercing the gloom. The closer they got, the more convinced they became¡ª This town was real. Everything¡ªeverything¡ªwas identical to Clearwater Town. Lin Xian focused on landmarks he had memorized from the real town, comparing each sign, storefront, and street. The resemblance was exact¡ªeven down to the positioning of manhole covers. An inexplicable sense of unease crept over him. KIKI felt it too. Just a moment ago, they had left Clearwater Town. Yet here they were, standing in another Clearwater Town. The very thought was absurd and terrifying. ¡°How can there be two identical towns?¡± KIKI¡¯s brows furrowed in disbelief. ¡°It must have been deliberately replicated,¡± Lin Xian muttered, his expression growing graver. ¡°Stay sharp.¡± KIKI rode behind him, a chilling sensation creeping up her spine. She shivered involuntarily. ¡°This place... it doesn¡¯t feel like anyone actually lives here...¡± She checked her mobile terminal again. The preset tracking program pulsed even stronger. ¡°The communicator you planted¡ªit''s definitely here.¡± Beep¡ªHumm!Beep¡ªHumm! Suddenly¡ª A piercing alarm erupted from deep within the town, shattering the oppressive silence. Both Lin Xian and KIKI immediately hit the brakes, scanning their surroundings with sharp, alert eyes. ¡°What the hell?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s some kind of alarm!¡± KIKI said, her face tense. ¡°But it sounds wrong...¡± The sound echoed through the empty streets, bouncing off alleys, storefronts, and shadowy corners. And then¡ª A cold, mechanical female voice rang out. ¡¸Experimental Site No. 3 ¨C Clearwater Town. Initiating Biochemical Simulation No. 92.¡¹ Hissssssssss! As soon as the voice fell, a thick fog erupted from countless vents hidden throughout the town. ¡°An experiment site?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. KIKI gasped. ¡°Wait¡ªare we already inside that research facility?!¡± ¡°This must be the Foundation¡¯s territory. But if this place is so huge, how the hell did they keep it hidden?¡± As if to answer his question¡ª A bolt of lightning split the sky. CRACK! Thunder rumbled as dense, black storm clouds churned overhead. A suffocating sense of impending doom filled the air. Lin Xian stayed hyper-aware of his surroundings, his senses on high alert. Suddenly¡ª He heard something shifting in the darkness ahead. ¡°...Did you hear that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something moving up there.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was steady, but his muscles tensed. KIKI immediately turned her head, her eyes locked on the darkness beyond their headlights. A shape lurched forward. Gah¡ªAghhh¡ªKrrrkk! From the blackness, an eerie, wet gurgling sound echoed. Like a rotting vocal cord twisting unnaturally. ¡°Something¡¯s coming.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s fingers instinctively tightened around his rifle. Then, out of the darkness, a figure staggered into the edge of their headlights¡ª And in the next instant, their blood ran cold. It was a grotesque, fused humanoid. Its body was an abomination¡ªlimbs twisted and fused in unnatural angles, skin ashen and decayed. Two headless necks gaped with crimson, hollowed-out voids where its faces should be. Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. Was this a zombie? An Eerie Entity? Or something else? ¡°...What the hell is that?¡± KIKI¡¯s voice was filled with pure revulsion. Her entire body tensed. ¡°Behind you!¡± Lin Xian suddenly shouted. KIKI¡¯s heart skipped. She whipped her head around¡ª Another identical abomination was stumbling toward her from the darkness. These creatures... they looked like two rotting corpses stitched together¡ªtheir ribcages split, organs spilling from their grotesquely connected torsos. ¡°MOVE!¡± Vrrrmmm! Lin Xian slammed the gas, spinning his motorcycle around in place. He fired a burst of Wind Cannon shots straight at the approaching monster¡¯s head. Bang! Bang! Bang! The invisible projectiles ripped into its flesh¡ªchunks of rotten meat splattered the ground. But the thing... Didn¡¯t even slow down. Instead¡ª It shrieked, its twisted limbs spasming wildly, and suddenly charged at Lin Xian at full speed. ¡°Unkillable?!¡± Lin Xian immediately activated his Black Rifle¡¯s Magnetic Acceleration Engine, hurling a supercharged shot straight at the abomination¡¯s head. BOOM! One of its skulls exploded¡ªbut instead of dropping, the creature barely stumbled before resuming its charge. And then¡ª Its body began to swell. As if something inside was about to burst. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°...KIKI!¡± ¡°On it!¡± KIKI thrust her hand out, Psychic Power gripping the abomination in place¡ª But before she could contain it¡ª BOOM! The creature¡¯s upper body detonated, unleashing a torrent of squirming, black beetles¡ª And then, from every corner of the town¡ª The horde began to awaken. The black beetles poured out like flooding blood, surging toward Lin Xian and KIKI like a living tide. Their tiny, writhing bodies emitted a horrifying skittering noise, making one¡¯s scalp tingle. ¡°What the hell is this experiment?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned grim. He had no idea what kind of research the SIID Foundation was conducting, but these things¡ªthese abominations¡ªweren¡¯t zombies, nor were they Eerie Entities. What were they? Vrrrmmm! Lin Xian twisted the throttle, his motorcycle veering hard right, crushing several beetles under its wheels. Greenish-black fluids splattered, corroding the ground with a sickening hisssss. Bang! Bang! Bang! KIKI fired several Wind Cannons, their invisible force ripping apart the encroaching beetle swarm. But the moment she looked ahead, her face paled. BAM! BAM! BAM! Doors of the surrounding buildings slammed open in unison. From inside the darkened shops and houses, twisted humanoid creatures began pouring out onto the streets. The entire town was coming alive. Vrrrmmmm! Lin Xian revved his bike, scanning his surroundings. In the distance, countless fused humanoids shambled onto the roads, their grotesque bodies illuminated by flickering streetlights. They weren¡¯t fast, but their numbers were endless¡ªfrom every alley, every storefront, more emerged. There were too many. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flicked around, searching for a way out. But no matter where he looked, the entire town was becoming overrun. ¡°Sh*t... There are too many of them!¡± KIKI¡¯s voice was laced with panic. ¡°We can¡¯t just rush through¡ªwe¡¯ll be surrounded!¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to fight them all.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice remained calm. ¡°We just need to find a way out.¡± He quickly adjusted course, steering his bike into a narrow alley. If they couldn¡¯t force their way through, they would have to navigate out. Vrrrmmmm! KIKI followed closely behind, twisting through the maze-like town streets. Finally, they emerged onto a wider avenue. Across from them, a large department store stood tall, its faded sign barely visible. To the right, a school loomed in the foggy darkness. KIKI glanced around, eyes filled with unease. ¡°...I don¡¯t recognize this place.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He did recognize it. ¡°This...¡± He exhaled. ¡°This is where the transport ship crashed in the real Clearwater Town.¡± Back in the real world, this entire area was nothing but wreckage and ruins. But here¡ªhere, everything still stood, untouched. ¡°...What the hell is this place?¡± Just then¡ª KIKI pointed toward the school. ¡°Lin Xian! Look¡ªthe lights! The school¡¯s lights are still on!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze snapped toward the building. Through the mist-covered windows, dim, yellowish lights flickered from inside the classrooms. In a town that was supposed to be abandoned... The school was still powered. ¡°...Could there be people inside?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. He made a decision. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out.¡± With a quick flick of the handlebars, Lin Xian sped toward the school gates. The moment their bikes crossed into the schoolyard, KIKI suddenly gasped. ¡°The monsters¡ª¡± She turned back, eyes wide. The fused humanoids had completely stopped. Not a single one crossed onto the school grounds. Instead, they gathered in droves, pressing against the school fence like a grotesque, silent mob. ¡°...What the hell?¡± KIKI whispered, gripping her handlebars tightly. ¡°Why aren¡¯t they coming in?¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. There was something different about this school. ¡°...Then we might¡¯ve just found the right place.¡± Vrrrrrmm¡ª Lin Xian brought his bike to a stop near the entrance of the main academic building. The place was in a state of decay¡ªbooks and papers were scattered across the courtyard, their pages fluttering in the night breeze. He turned off the engine, grabbing his Black Rifle and Electric Blade before dismounting. If this really was a test site, then there had to be an exit¡ªor better yet, a control system. KIKI followed suit, stepping onto the cracked pavement. Without hesitation, the two of them rushed toward the school building¡¯s entrance. Meanwhile¡ª Inside a well-lit observation room, several researchers sat monitoring the screens. One of them¡ªa woman in a white lab coat¡ªsuddenly noticed something unusual. Her expression changed. ¡°...Report! Unknown intruders detected in Zone F!¡± A security officer frowned. ¡°Initiate biometric scans.¡± ¡°...Confirmed. Two unregistered individuals. Uploading monitoring data now.¡± The woman turned toward a higher-ranking officer¡ªSecurity Chief Feng Chun. ¡°Chief Feng, we have two unknowns inside the test site. Should we halt the experiment?¡± Feng Chun furrowed his brows and lifted his mobile terminal, scanning the extracted images of the intruders. A cold sneer tugged at his lips. ¡°...Just a couple of unlucky rats.¡± He waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Let them die. If they somehow survive, send them to Facility No. 2.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Beep! Just as the security officer was about to execute the order¡ª BEEP¡ªBEEP¡ªBEEP! The mobile terminal flashed red with a Level-One Alert. Feng Chun¡¯s face twisted in shock. ¡°...What?!¡± The screen displayed one of the intruders¡¯ profiles¡ª A young man, currently leading the charge into the school. ¡¾Subject Identified: Lin Xian¡¿ ¡¾Foundation High-Priority Observation Target¡¿ ¡¾Clearance Level: One¡¿ ¡°...A Level-One target?!¡± His expression completely changed. ¡°Stop the test¡ªNOW!¡± He barked out the order. ¡°Send word to Miss Hua immediately!¡± At the same time¡ª In a dimly lit hallway, a group of scientists and security personnel rushed toward a secure facility. Leading them was Hua Xiaoling. She walked with urgency, her expression unreadable. ¡°Miss Hua,¡± an assistant reported, ¡°Confirmed. Lin Xian has entered Clearwater Test Site¡ªalong with one companion.¡± ¡°...Where did they enter from?¡± Hua Xiaoling¡¯s voice was calm but sharp. ¡°Facility No. 2¡¯s Experimental Forest.¡± Hua Xiaoling abruptly stopped in her tracks. ¡°...How?¡± Her brows furrowed. ¡°How the hell did they enter from there?¡± Her assistant shook his head, equally puzzled. A contemplative look crossed Hua Xiaoling¡¯s face. ¡°Fine,¡± she finally said. ¡°Should we bring them in?¡± the assistant asked cautiously. A pause. Then, Hua Xiaoling spoke decisively. ¡°Initiate sector isolation. Try to separate Lin Xian from his companion.¡± She glanced toward the monitoring screens. ¡°This is a rare chance. We might as well test his Mechanical Ability firsthand.¡± The assistant hesitated. ¡°And what about the other one...?¡± Hua Xiaoling resumed walking. ¡°...Leave them be.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Chapter 223: Target cannot be monitored As soon as Lin Xian stepped into the teaching building, a strong scent of dust from the old structure rushed into his nose. The surroundings were pitch black. He turned on his flashlight, scanning the area. The light he had seen earlier was on the second floor, so he needed to find the stairs leading up. "Over here." He quickly located the staircase and, without hesitation, prepared to rush up. But after just a few steps, an inexplicable sense of unease crept over him. "KIKI?" Lin Xian turned around abruptly¡ªKIKI was gone! "Where is she?!" He sprinted back, rushing out through the entrance of the teaching building, only to find that the outside world was shrouded in utter darkness. The playground, the plaza, the corridor, even the motorcycles they had ridden¡ªall of it had vanished! A chill ran down his spine. He quickly turned back toward the entrance, but the doorway was now engulfed in an ink-like blackness. "D*mn it, this trick again?!" Lin Xian immediately recalled the eerie 1542 Dark Radio. Back then, he had also suddenly disappeared from his original location, only to find himself trapped in a strange frequency space. He pressed down on his communicator. Crackle¡ª "Lin Xian, Lin Xian." KIKI¡¯s voice came through. "Where are you?" "I¡¯m right at the entrance of the teaching building." "I can¡¯t see you. Just now, the wall in front of me seemed to shift." Lin Xian frowned at her words. "It has to be the work of this test site. Hold on." He looked up at the ominous dark sky, his heart sinking. If this place was controlled by a mechanical system, then it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for him to crack it. Huff... Huff... For a moment, the only sounds he could hear were his own heartbeat and breathing. He shone his flashlight into the pitch-black doorway, its white beam cutting through the darkness, bringing with it a lonely, terrifying sense of isolation. Gripping his Electric Blade tightly, Lin Xian activated his Collision Volume Perception System on his Power Armor to enhance his defenses. ¡¾Collision Volume Perception System Activated¡¿ The outside world remained in absolute darkness, an eerie chill creeping up his spine. He aimed his flashlight further into the distance but saw nothing beyond the endless void. Within that void, however, there seemed to be countless unknown entities slowly approaching the teaching building. Lin Xian reached out and pressed his hand against the ground, but beneath him was solid concrete. His Mechanical Heart was unable to extend its influence through it. His expression darkened. With no other choice, he retreated into the only building available, searching for clues. Surrounded by more buildings, his only lead was the light he had seen earlier upstairs¡ªthat had to be the control terminal for the system. As his flashlight swept across the deep corridors, the passageways appeared endless. The doors to the nearby classrooms were all open, desks overturned and scattered in disarray. Every scene looked identical¡ªexcept for one thing. There were no bodies. No zombies. Thud, thud, thud¡ª Lin Xian quickly ascended to the second floor, following the direction of the light he had seen earlier. Reaching the second-floor hallway, he found that the illuminated room was the very first one beside the stairs. The dim light filtering through the window gave the illusion that the world had turned black and white. The door was slightly ajar. Lin Xian shone his flashlight inside and realized¡ªit was a storage room, not a classroom. The floor was strangely clean, entirely different from the chaos of the other rooms. His heart tightened as he cautiously stepped inside, sweeping his flashlight around. If there¡¯s light, there must be wiring... Knowing that this place was a massive test site, there had to be professional equipment controlling the experiments. His plan was simple¡ªuse his Mechanical Ability to analyze the system, then forcibly crack it. Walking to the wall, he activated his Mechanical Heart¡¯s Scan, searching for any mechanical structures. Just then, the light inside the room flickered. And then¡ª It went out. The entire storage room was instantly swallowed by darkness, leaving only Lin Xian¡¯s single beam of light from his flashlight. The sudden change put him on high alert. Click... Click... A faint sound echoed in the darkness. It sounded like... joints twisting unnaturally. Lin Xian immediately aimed his flashlight at the pile of mannequins in the center of the room. The white beam landed on them¡ªnothing seemed out of the ordinary. But when he widened the beam and aimed toward the corner of the room, he froze. The door he had entered through was now shut. A bad feeling rose in his chest. He strode toward it and twisted the handle¡ªlocked. "Playing this game, huh?" Click! His Mechanical Heart activated, forcing the door open! The instant the door swung open, a white mannequin of a child stood right in the doorway. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sharpened as he instinctively raised his Electric Blade. The white mannequin remained motionless. Aside from its unsettling appearance, it looked no different from the standard mannequins found in stores. Click... Click... That eerie joint-cracking sound came again. Lin Xian spun around, flashlight in hand. And in that instant¡ª A cold chill rushed down his spine. His scalp tingled. The mannequins that had originally been piled in the center of the storage room¡ª Were now all standing right behind him. For a moment, even the air seemed to freeze. Lin Xian¡¯s flashlight shone over the motionless white mannequins, their eerie aura filling the room. His expression darkened as he instantly fired a Wind Cannon at the nearest one. Boom! The mannequin¡¯s plastic head exploded, revealing a metallic framework beneath its shattered face. But it didn¡¯t move. "What the hell are these things? Zombies? Eerie Entities?" Lin Xian¡¯s gaze flicked between them. He knew something was off, but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint what. So, without hesitation, he unleashed a volley of Wind Cannons. Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! The mannequins were obliterated, torn into pieces. Clatter¡ª The storage room echoed with the deafening crash of shattered mannequins. These silent figures, all frozen with unnerving smiles, were now nothing but wreckage. Just as Lin Xian finished them off¡ª From the unlit corner, where his flashlight hadn¡¯t reached¡ª A small mannequin suddenly twisted its limbs, crawling up the wall. ¡¾Warning: Moving Object Approaching¡¿ His Power Armor issued an alert just as¡ª A ghastly pale face emerged from the darkness. The mannequin¡¯s mouth suddenly opened wide, revealing a grotesque maw filled with razor-sharp teeth! Swish! Lin Xian¡¯s instincts kicked in. He reflexively thrust his Black Rifle forward, its muzzle slamming into the mannequin¡¯s chest, stopping it from biting his throat. The force pushed him back several steps. "What the f*ck?!" Gritting his teeth, he jammed the gun¡¯s butt against the ground to hold his stance. Then, his right hand crackled with electricity¡ª Bzzzt¡ª! A surge of electric current shot into the mannequin¡¯s open mouth. Sparks burst forth, the stench of burning plastic filling the air. The mannequin suddenly froze, then collapsed to the floor, motionless. Lin Xian exhaled sharply, regaining his composure. He quickly grabbed his flashlight and inspected the fallen mannequin''s mouth¡ª Inside, he found a complex mechanical structure. These things... They weren¡¯t ordinary mannequins. "A robot?" Lin Xian was full of question marks. He immediately placed his hand on it, activating a Mechanical Scan. As expected, it was a magnetically controlled passive robot¡ªit had no power source of its own and was instead part of a networked mechanical puppet system. "Using robots against me? Not bad..." Click, click... Suddenly, faint footsteps echoed from the hallway outside. The sound was intermittent, slowly approaching through the darkness. "Ghost knocking on the door, huh?" Without hesitation, Lin Xian constructed a high-power floodlight, instantly illuminating the eerie room as brightly as daylight. Then, he grabbed the doorframe, his Power Armor amplifying his strength¡ª BANG! The entire door was ripped off its hinges. Raising both hands, he summoned a brilliant glow¡ª Clank! Clank! Clank! Chunks of tank-grade forged metal flew into the air, and in just a few breaths, a 40cm-thick steel door, resembling a bank vault, materialized, completely sealing off the room. And this door¡ª Had no handle. No lock. To top it off, Lin Xian wired a high-voltage discharge device to it, running electricity through the metal surface. "Alright. This door is officially open for ghost-knocking trials. Feel free to test it out." Satisfied with his setup, Lin Xian turned his attention to the room¡¯s wiring. He began tracing the light¡¯s circuit path, planning to scan the building¡¯s electrical structure and locate its control mechanisms. Inside the Research Facility¡¯s Monitoring Hall... In the monitoring hall, the technician in charge of the F-Zone experimental subjects stared at the screen, hands frozen above the keyboard, eyes widening. "Hey!" His colleague nudged him urgently. "Experiment Subject 072 is supposed to appear. Hurry up, don¡¯t waste time!" "There¡¯s... there''s a problem." "What? It didn¡¯t knock on the door?" The technician pointed at the screen in horror. A monstrous creature was furiously scratching at the door¡ªbut the suddenly materialized steel vault door didn¡¯t even budge. And, most importantly¡ª There was no handle to grab onto. "It... It can¡¯t even touch the door!" "What the hell?! Why hasn¡¯t the ''Crying Classroom'' experiment started yet?" Security Chief Feng Chun glanced at his watch, frowning. He pressed his earpiece and asked impatiently: "What¡¯s going on?!" A researcher scrambled to respond: "Sir, the experimental Eerie Entity failed to enter the area." "What?!" Feng Chun stormed over, glaring at the monitoring screen. "Switch to the storage room¡¯s surveillance feed¡ªNOW!" A different technician hesitated, his face looking pale. Turning around, he stammered: "S-Sir... We... we¡¯ve lost control of the indoor surveillance." Feng Chun¡¯s expression darkened. "What did you just say?" "I said... we have lost all internal surveillance." The entire monitoring hall fell into an eerie silence. "Switch to the hallway cameras, then!" Realizing the gravity of the situation, Feng Chun barked: "Headquarters requires us to collect precise data on mechanical abilities. We need to monitor the target''s condition at all times¡ªnothing can go wrong!" "Understood!" "Hallway cameras are operational¡ªno lifeforms detected so far." "Then the target must still be in the storage room..." Back in the Storage Room To eliminate future risks, Lin Xian devoured all of the destroyed robotic mannequins, converting them into raw materials. Only shattered plastic fragments remained. Now, the room was spacious and clear. Standing on a makeshift ladder, Lin Xian activated Mechanical Heart, connecting to the wiring and scanning the building¡¯s mechanical framework. "Kiki, how¡¯s your situation?" Crackle... The communicator¡¯s signal suddenly weakened. "Lin Xian... I can¡¯t find you. Where are you?" "I¡¯m inside the teaching building, second floor." "I... I don¡¯t see any teaching building." Kiki¡¯s voice trembled slightly, filled with unease. Then¡ªsilence. The signal was completely cut off. Lin Xian frowned. Not good. Given their relative positions, they shouldn¡¯t be too far apart. But something in this research facility was interfering. His gaze shifted toward the thumping noises coming from outside his steel vault door. Could it be that the Eerie Entities were generating dark energy to jam their communications? "This research facility... they¡¯ve brought in some serious monstrosities." Narrowing his eyes, Mechanical Heart finally locked onto something. He descended the ladder and moved to one of the walls. Placing his hand on the surface, he took control of the hidden power system behind it. Then¡ª Hiss¡ª A rectangular doorframe slowly emerged from the wall, then retracted, revealing a dark passageway beyond. Inside the Monitoring Hall... "Target confirmed entering the passageway." "Collect biometric data. Life signs normal, no injuries, heart rate stable." The monitoring hall erupted in activity. The research team finally spotted Lin Xian on their screens. Feng Chun exhaled, then pressed his earpiece. "Close the passage. Release the Frenzied Zombie Horde. Gather combat data." "Understood. Releasing the Frenzied Zombie Horde into the passageway." Inside the Passageway Bright lights suddenly flooded the corridor. Lin Xian shielded his eyes, then looked ahead¡ª A long, endless white corridor stretched into the distance. "Grrraaah!!!" Before he could move, a low, distorted shriek echoed from afar. Simultaneously, the floor began to tremble faintly. Lin Xian turned sharply. The door behind him¡ªthe one he had forced open¡ª Was now sealed shut again. No way back. His gaze shifted upward¡ª Directly at the hidden surveillance cameras. Inside the Monitoring Hall... "Control the zombie density. Don¡¯t apply too much pressure at once¡ªwe need the target alive." "Understood. Density set to Level 1." Feng Chun monitored the screen¡ª Suddenly, Lin Xian looked straight at the camera, as if he could see them watching. Feng Chun¡¯s expression froze. "Does... does he know we¡¯re watching?" Before anyone could answer¡ª The screen went black. "What happened?!" Feng Chun shouted. "Checking now¡ªpower systems are stable." One technician was sweating as he frantically worked the console. Then¡ª Dakka-dakka-dakka! Gunfire erupted from the speakers, growing fiercer by the second. "Target is engaging! Restore the lights!" The screens flickered back on¡ª And everyone stared in shock. The corridor was covered in blood and zombie remains. Standing amid the carnage¡ª Was Lin Xian. And beside him¡ª A fully-mounted Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun on a pushcart, steam still rising from its red-hot barrel. "Where the hell did he pull THAT from?!" "How is there even a cart?!" "That thing¡¯s huge! Did he summon it from a pocket dimension?!" Feng Chun clenched his jaw. "I don¡¯t care if he pulled it from his d*mn pants¡ªwatch his left hand or right hand, figure out how he did it! "Release the Frenzied Zombie Horde¡ªat MAX LEVEL!" "ROAAAARRR!!!!" From the far end of the corridor, countless mutated zombies burst forth¡ª "Wrrrrr¡ª!!!!" The Gatling Gun roared to life¡ª Lin Xian charged forward, gun blazing, slicing through the horde like a storm of bullets and steel. Chapter 224: Death Game 1 Tap. Tap. The sound of Lin Xian¡¯s footsteps echoed through the dark corridor. He walked for a while, following the glow of the lights stretching ahead, but the passage seemed endless. Something was off¡ªthis wasn¡¯t what he expected. As he kept moving forward, water stains began to appear on the floor. The further he walked, the more water there was. The original marble floor had gradually transformed into white ceramic tiles. Splash. Splash. The sound of water swishing accompanied his steps. Lin Xian looked down at the white tiles beneath his feet and couldn''t shake the eerie feeling that he had just stepped into a swimming pool. As he proceeded, the shallow puddles rose from mere centimeters to completely covering his feet. That¡¯s when the corridor walls ahead abruptly vanished. He had reached the end of the passage. Lin Xian frowned, raising his light to illuminate the area in front of him. What he saw made his expression darken. Before him was an enormous, enclosed swimming pool¡ªeasily over a thousand square meters in size. White, pristine tiles covered the surrounding walls, making the space seem eerily sterile. Just a few meters ahead, the floor beneath the water abruptly disappeared, replaced by a stainless steel pool ladder. Beyond that ladder, the once-clear water turned an unsettling shade of black. It was deep¡ªimpossibly deep. Under the glow of his light, a yellow swimming ring gently bobbed on the dark water¡¯s surface, drifting with the ripples. Lin Xian scanned the area. Other than where he stood, there was no visible way out¡ªonly towering, tiled walls enclosing the entire space. The cold water lapped at his ankles, carrying an inexplicable force, as if something hidden in the depths was trying to pull him in. "What kind of nightmare is this...?" He had already investigated the passageway before entering¡ªthere were no complex mechanical structures. He had expected to find something, yet after walking for so long, he¡¯d encountered nothing. Now, at the end of the hallway, all that awaited him was this massive, bottomless pool. It felt like an entrance straight to hell. Research Facility - Monitoring Hall Inside the monitoring room, the research personnel wore complicated expressions. A few turned to look at Security Chief Feng Chun, who sat with a heavy expression, eyes locked on the surveillance screens. ¡°Chief Feng, the target has entered the Black Pool.¡± Feng Chun¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Release Biological Specimen Black Abyss No. 1. Begin water injection. Flood the passageway!¡± ¡°What?!¡± The researchers were stunned. ¡°This... won¡¯t that¡ª¡± ¡°Follow orders. Today, we must obtain valuable data from the target!¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± The researchers, though tense, began executing the brutal command. Back in the pool area, Lin Xian positioned a metal support frame at the passage¡¯s edge, extending his light to illuminate a larger section of the water. Moving carefully to the silver pool ladder, he leaned forward to peer beneath the surface. Whoosh! A massive, shadowy figure flickered beneath the water, moving like a coiled serpent. Its form was pitch black, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. The sudden disturbance sent a wave rushing toward Lin Xian¡¯s submerged feet, as if trying to pull him in. ¡°Fk!¡±** Lin Xian instinctively stumbled backward, the chaotic splashing of his footsteps echoing unsettlingly in the eerie silence. Something was in there. His expression turned grim as he scanned his surroundings. Seconds passed like hours. He needed to find a way out. Looking up, he finally noticed something¡ªabout dozens of meters above the pool, a small diving platform protruded from the high wall, with a dark door behind it. Then, as his light flickered across the water¡¯s surface, he noticed something else¡ªa pathway submerged beneath the pool. Or rather, pillars¡ªnarrow, white-tiled columns barely wide enough for a single foot to step on. They were spaced roughly a meter apart, stretching all the way to the far side of the pool, where a set of wall-mounted ladders jutted out from the tiled wall. If he wanted to escape, he¡¯d have to step from pillar to pillar, balancing over the pitch-black abyss, reach the wall, and climb up. Without his light, he would be blindly leaping across an invisible abyss, with god-knows-what lurking below. And those pillars? They extended deep into the black water. There was no telling what was swimming around them. Who the hell designed this nightmare? Lin Xian¡¯s gut twisted. Even he felt a chill creeping up his spine. A pitch-dark, enclosed space. A massive, bottomless pool. Rippling black water. Unknown creatures lurking beneath. Anyone¡¯s sanity would be shaken. Then, suddenly¡ª The water that had been at his ankles was now up to his calves. It was rising. Research Facility - Monitoring Hall The surveillance screens displayed every angle¡ªthe pool¡¯s surface, the ladders, the pillars, and the diving platform above. ¡°The Black Water is now rising at Level 3 speed. The target has approximately three minutes to reach the wall before we activate Level 5 flooding.¡± ¡°Life signs update¡ªtarget¡¯s heart rate at 105, approaching 110.¡± Feng Chun smirked, watching the monitor with interest. ¡°He has to be scared now.¡± At three minutes, the water level would make it impossible to stand. He¡¯d be forced to swim. The corridor itself was like a massive pipeline, extending over the center of the abyssal pool. Feng Chun¡¯s gaze locked onto the corridor exit. He expected to see Lin Xian frantically leaping from pillar to pillar, desperately trying to escape. But... Lin Xian wasn¡¯t there. Feng Chun¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why isn¡¯t he moving? The water is rising!¡± ¡°No idea. We don¡¯t have cameras inside the corridor.¡± ¡°Did he retreat?¡± ¡°No. His vitals are still within the test area.¡± Feng Chun clenched his jaw. ¡°There¡¯s only two minutes left. If he doesn¡¯t move now, he¡¯ll never make it.¡± Then, one researcher hesitantly suggested, ¡°...Maybe... he¡¯s just waiting for the water to rise and float him up?¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± Feng Chun snapped. ¡°You can¡¯t survive in Black Water for a single minute. Black Abyss No. 1 will devour him instantly.¡± ¡°Chief! One minute left! The corridor will be completely flooded!¡± Feng Chun¡¯s fists tightened. His gaze burned into the screen, watching as the Black Water swallowed the passage. But still¡ªLin Xian didn¡¯t appear. ¡°Report¡ªtarget¡¯s body temperature is dropping. Heart rate is now at 80.¡± ¡°What the hell is he doing?¡± Feng Chun growled. Then, a researcher suddenly shouted, ¡°He¡ªHe¡¯s out!!¡± ¡°Where?!¡± Everyone, including Feng Chun, turned to stare at the corridor exit. But¡ª Lin Xian wasn¡¯t there. ¡°...No one¡¯s there?¡± ¡°He¡¯s¡ªhe¡¯s above the corridor!!¡± Feng Chun¡¯s head snapped toward the secondary monitor. And then, his pupils shrank. A circular hole had appeared at the top of the passage. From that hole, an elevator platform was rising. And standing on it¡ª Lin Xian. Calm. Expressionless. Stepping smoothly onto the diving platform as if nothing happened. Feng Chun sat in stunned silence. The escape they had anticipated¡ªnever happened. Instead, this elevator¡ª Where the hell did it come from?! ¡°Chief... his Mechanical Ability doesn¡¯t match any of our previous research.¡± Feng Chun¡¯s face twitched. That wasn¡¯t just ¡®mechanical assembly¡¯. Lin Xian had just created an entire functioning elevator from thin air. ¡°...Prepare Survival Room No. 3.¡± Feng Chun ordered, grimly. If Lin Xian could control machines like this... They needed to see more. Unlocking the Final Door Lin Xian turned his head and saw the two massive liquid chambers. The transparent green fluid inside was slowly draining, as if counting down to something. Realizing the urgency, he immediately activated Mechanical Heart and scanned the door in front of him. As the scan progressed, his frown deepened. It was indeed a door¡ªbut a highly intricate mechanical lock system. The structure was bafflingly complex, featuring twelve interlinked mechanical locks, each connected to twelve separate internal switches. The design wasn¡¯t made for functionality¡ªit was built purely to confuse anyone trying to open it. With that, Lin Xian was finally certain. This entire setup was designed to test his mechanical ability. And the two creatures? They were just here to "liven things up" for him. "You want me to pick these locks...?" His chest tightened slightly, but his mind remained calm. Mechanical Heart began to hum. Wooo¡ªWooo¡ª The sirens blared. The green liquid in the experimental chambers continued draining. As it reached the halfway mark, the first containment pod¡¯s sea star-like creature began stirring, its countless black needle-like spines scraping against the glass with a grating screech. ¡¾Countdown: 3 minutes remaining.¡¿ In the brightly lit observation room, several researchers stared intently at the surveillance feed, all eyes locked onto Lin Xian. ¡°Report the test progress.¡± ¡°Escape door progress: 0%.¡± ¡°What? He hasn¡¯t even unlocked one?¡± ¡°Wait a little longer.¡± ¡¾Countdown: 1 minute remaining.¡¿ ¡°Escape door progress: 0%.¡± ¡°Huh? Did he give up?¡± ¡°Quick, notify Ms. Hua!¡± Hua Xiaoling¡¯s Arrival Hua Xiaoling, clad in a black coat, stood before a gleaming silver door¡ªbehind it was the room where Lin Xian was trapped. A subordinate¡¯s voice crackled through her earpiece. ¡°Ms. Hua, 1 minute remaining. Escape door progress still at 0%. Should we activate the emergency protocol?¡± She remained silent, her gaze fixed on the silver door. ¡¾Countdown: 10 seconds.¡¿ ¡°Escape door progress 0%. It¡¯s impossible to open now,¡± Security Chief Feng Chun said, his face turning pale. Screech! Inside the glass chambers, the green liquid had fully drained. The massive sea-star creature flexed its needle-covered body, emitting a strange shrill cry. The white humanoid monster slowly lifted its head. Hua Xiaoling¡¯s expression flickered with doubt. Then, the countdown reached its final seconds. 10, 9, 8... 7, 6, 5... 4, 3, 2, 1... The instant zero hit¡ª BOOM. The silver door disintegrated into ash. A storm of fine gray dust scattered through the air. Hua Xiaoling instinctively lifted her hand, catching a speck of ash in her palm¡ªonly for it to disintegrate further into nothing. She blinked in astonishment. Then, as the dust cleared, a lean silhouette emerged from the doorway. A voice rang out¡ªcalm, but unmistakably sharp. "We meet again." A blade pressed against Hua Xiaoling¡¯s throat. The razor-thin electric edge sliced off a few strands of her dark hair, sending them drifting to the ground. Click. Click. Click. In a split second, dozens of armed personnel raised their rifles, locking their aim onto Lin Xian. The automated turrets in the room zeroed in, red targeting lasers painting deadly dots across his forehead. Yet Lin Xian¡¯s expression remained ice-cold. ¡°If I don¡¯t see my teammates in one minute¡ª you die.¡± Hua Xiaoling gazed at him. Not with fear. But with a strange mix of admiration and excitement in her eyes. She raised her hand, signaling her men to lower their weapons. Then, she gestured to an assistant, who pressed a command on a mobile terminal. A door slammed open behind Lin Xian. BOOM! A shockwave erupted. Several researchers were sent flying, crashing to the floor with groans of pain. From the open doorway, KIKI stepped out. Her expression, tense with worry, finally relaxed at the sight of Lin Xian. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Hua Xiaoling barely spared a glance at the groaning researchers. Her face remained indifferent. ¡°I extended an invitation to you. Naturally, your teammates are also our guests.¡± "Guests?" Lin Xian let out a cold laugh. ¡°This is how you treat your guests?¡± Hua Xiaoling shrugged. ¡°Well, technically, you did illegally trespass into our Clearwater Town test facility. But, I¡¯ll admit, we also conducted experiments on you without consent. For that, I apologize.¡± She then raised an eyebrow. ¡°However... our usual partners don¡¯t enter through such unconventional means.¡± She smirked slightly. ¡°Nor do they plant tracking devices on my vehicle.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face twitched slightly before he sighed, lowering his electric blade. ¡°...You have a point.¡± ¡°But you also never told me where you wanted to meet. So, I used my own methods.¡± Hua Xiaoling smiled faintly, not seeming offended in the slightest. Instead, she asked, ¡°Lin Xian, may I ask¡ªhow did you unlock that final password door?¡± Lin Xian scoffed inwardly. Password door? Unlock? What password? Why the hell would he bother with unlocking it when he could simply devour it whole? To him, that intricate mechanical structure was nothing more than raw materials¡ªeasily consumed and repurposed like scrap metal. It was easier than breaking down a train. He had no interest in answering her question. Instead, he got straight to the point. "Alright. I broke into your facility. You ran all these tests on me. Now tell me¡ª what do you want from me?" Hua Xiaoling¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver. ¡°I told you¡ªwe want to work with you.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice turned sharp. ¡°And if I refuse?¡± Hua Xiaoling pointed toward a corridor. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to cooperate, you are free to leave. We have no intention of restricting your freedom.¡± Then, she made a "please" gesture. ¡°Or... if you have time, I could introduce you to our Foundation.¡± Lin Xian and KIKI exchanged glances. Since they were already here, they might as well listen. So, they followed Hua Xiaoling deeper into the research facility. Journey into the Underground Lin Xian underestimated the scale of this facility. Beyond the surface-level test grounds, the true research center was buried deep underground. KIKI leaned closer and whispered, ¡°Did they do anything to you?¡± Lin Xian shook his head. What did surprise him, however, was the nature of their research. Somehow... Eerie Entities were involved. ¡°Why isn¡¯t this place visible from the outside?¡± Lin Xian asked. Hua Xiaoling explained, ¡°Our facility is hidden beneath a Sky Dome¡ªa structure with an external reflective surface. Optical projection tech displays an illusion of the surrounding environment, making us invisible.¡± KIKI¡¯s mouth dropped open. ¡°Wait, so from the outside¡ªthis entire place doesn¡¯t even exist?!¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°This facility... It wasn¡¯t built recently, was it? Was it here before Apocalypse Day?¡± Hua Xiaoling¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°This facility was originally a classified international bioweapons research base, developed long before the Great Cataclysm.¡± She turned to Lin Xian. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to stay longer, we can provide any resources or support you need.¡± ¡°Because soon¡ªyou¡¯ll have to cross the Abyss.¡± A faint sound rang out, and the partition glass in the room instantly turned transparent. Everyone was startled, their faces filled with confusion and fear as they looked around at their companions. The shackles on their hands clinked, prompting a woman to let out a sharp scream. ¡°Ah!!!¡± ¡°Let me go!!¡± A man shouted loudly. ¡°Qiao Min! Qiao Min!¡± Just as the others were still trying to figure out why they were here, a man in his thirties suddenly recognized someone familiar. He craned his neck and shouted toward the third room on his right. ¡°Huh?! Honey!¡± A young, beautiful woman immediately responded, her voice filled with urgency. These two were husband and wife. ¡°D**n it, where is this place?!¡± In Room 2, a middle-aged man dressed in relatively refined clothing roared hysterically. The eerie situation left everyone unsettled. Click¡ª A large overhead light suddenly turned on, and the strange noise instantly silenced everyone in the room. Looking forward, they saw that beyond the glass wall was a massive chamber¡ªthere was no floor, only a bottomless abyss below. At that moment, in the empty void, a giant red head flickered in and out of existence as it slowly descended. The head wore a peculiar black hat, resembling some kind of holographic projection. Simultaneously, a deep, monstrous voice echoed through the room: ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°It is my honor to inform you all that you have been selected as special test subjects for Facility No. 2 tonight. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already noticed your current predicament. Pleased to meet you all. Allow me to introduce myself¡ªI am ¡®The Hatter,¡¯ your host for this game.¡± The scene before them was truly bizarre. A massive red head loomed in the air, sending chills down everyone''s spine. The middle-aged man in Room 2 had a hot temper. Realizing the situation, he immediately slammed the table in anger. ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to participate! Let me out! I quit! I quit!¡± BZZT! A high-energy electrical surge suddenly crackled, followed by a piercing scream. ¡°Ahhhhhh!!!!¡± The shackles on the middle-aged man''s wrists emitted a powerful electric current, causing his entire body to convulse violently. His muscles tensed as he let out a pained howl. Boom! In Room 6, beside the young man, a bald, overweight man suddenly roared. His hands turned gray, transforming into the texture of granite as he yanked hard, attempting to break free from the shackles. Lin Xian and KIKI¡¯s expressions sharpened¡ªthis man was an Ability User! Just as everyone thought he would easily snap the delicate-looking shackles, he encountered the same fate as the middle-aged man. Like a coiling serpent, the shackles tightened violently, shattering his stone-like skin inch by inch! Splurt! Blood gushed as his flesh burst open, and a gut-wrenching scream echoed through the room. ¡°Ahhhh!!!¡± Meanwhile, the massive red head simply watched the spectacle unfold with a twisted smile. Everyone was utterly horrified. As they glanced down at the shackles on their own wrists, an overwhelming sense of dread began to spread. ¡°Don¡¯t struggle! These things are rigged with traps!¡± The voice came from Room 4, where a frail young man dressed in tattered outdoor gear spoke. His chapped lips suggested severe dehydration. Seemingly satisfied with the newfound silence, the red head continued speaking. ¡°If you¡¯re ready, the game can begin.¡± The moment those words fell, chaos erupted. ¡°Game...? W-What kind of game?¡± ¡°What do you want from us?!¡± ¡°Where the h**l is this?! Some kind of lab?!¡± ¡°Are you human or a ghost?!¡± Lin Xian noticed that the young man in Room 7 remained silent, his sharp gaze carefully observing both the environment and the people around him. He seemed much calmer than the others. At the same time, Lin Xian began examining the occupants of the eight rooms. Room 1 held the bespectacled man who had tried to talk to the woman in Room 3. He looked to be in his thirties, with a scholarly demeanor. Room 2 contained the middle-aged man, whose well-groomed appearance was oddly out of place in an apocalyptic setting¡ªhe looked neither desperate nor worn down. Room 3 housed a woman, likely the bespectacled man¡¯s wife. Her face was filled with fear, her body trembling as she anxiously scanned the surroundings. Room 4 belonged to the frail young man who had warned them earlier. His ragged appearance suggested he had been struggling to survive. Room 5 held a blonde woman with an air of composure and an extraordinary aura. Room 6 contained the bald, overweight Ability User who had just attempted to break free. He looked to be in his forties and was now in agonizing pain. In Room 7 was the calm young man Lin Xian had taken note of. And in Room 8, to his right, was a young girl with disheveled hair and a dirt-streaked body. She had kept her head down the entire time, only raising it now upon hearing the commotion. Lin Xian was momentarily stunned¡ªbeneath the grime, her features were exceptionally delicate. Though covered in dust, her beauty remained striking. At that moment, Lin Xian turned to Hua Xiaoling, realizing that this research facility had gathered a group of people for some kind of twisted experimental game. ¡°What exactly are you showing us?¡± Lin Xian asked directly. ¡°No need to be nervous,¡± Hua Xiaoling replied coolly. ¡°This is just one of our research projects. You¡¯re merely here as observers.¡± Lin Xian and KIKI exchanged glances, both sensing something deeply unsettling about this situation. ¡ª Inside the experimental hall below. ¡°I can tell that you all share the same question.¡± The projection of the red head abruptly vanished, and at the far end of the abyssal chamber, a single light flickered on, illuminating a massive glass display case. Inside, a mountain of supplies was piled high¡ªfood, water, weapons, and even daily necessities. Everyone¡¯s pupils shrank in shock. Their minds momentarily went blank. ¡°The resources here are enough to sustain one person for ten years. This will be the reward for the game¡¯s winner.¡± The red head reappeared. ¡°Then... w-what happens to those who don¡¯t win?¡± Someone asked in a panic. The others snapped out of their daze, their eyes locking onto the floating head with palpable tension. The crimson apparition seemed almost alive, its gaze piercing through them. ¡°According to the rules, eliminated players will be executed.¡± A deathly silence fell over the room. What kind of sick joke was this?! ¡°No! No! No! I don¡¯t want to play this game! Let me out! Let me out!!¡± The young man in Room 4 panicked and screamed in terror. BZZT! A bone-chilling electric shock surged through him. His entire body convulsed violently, his limbs spasming in an unnatural posture. Within seconds, a burnt stench filled the air as white smoke curled from his body. ¡°Ugh... ugh...¡± The electricity ceased. The young man, who had been full of life just moments ago, now slumped limply in his chair, foam at his lips. His terrified eyes locked onto the red head, his breath ragged, too scared to utter another word. Everyone was petrified. Any sign of resistance was met with punishment. ¡°Well, well~ Looks like you¡¯re all smart people. That only makes this even more exciting.¡± The red head grinned, its voice dripping with eerie amusement. ¡°Now, I announce that the first round of the game is... Jump.¡± Its words struck the hearts of every person in the room like a hammer. Then, the red head vanished. RUMBLE! The massive chamber¡¯s floor began rising. It was made of square black metal panels, shifting up and down with mechanical precision. As soon as everyone saw the gaps forming, they understood¡ª This was just like an old-school video game. Miss a step, and you fall to your death. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too hard, does it?¡± The woman in Room 3, emboldened by her husband speaking up, also chimed in, ¡°What could be more important than our lives? As long as we work together, we can all be free soon!¡± ¡°Wait, can we discuss this among the eight of us?¡± The woman in Room 5, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke. Her tone was cold and firm, exuding a calmness that set her apart from the others. ¡°I mean, before the game begins.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the red head responded. ¡°Each round, you will have 30 minutes to discuss. Once the game begins, the rooms will be sealed and soundproofed. If no one enters the game within 30 minutes, all players will be declared as having failed.¡± The red head¡¯s voice echoed powerfully, reverberating in everyone¡¯s minds. A countdown timer appeared on the screen, ticking down rapidly: 27:36, 27:35... ¡°Oh my god!~¡± The woman in Room 3 clapped her hands over her mouth and screamed, trembling as she stared at the timer. ¡°I think we shouldn¡¯t waste any time,¡± the middle-aged man in Room 2 said grimly, his gaze sweeping across the rooms to his right. ¡°Who¡¯s willing to step forward?¡± ¡°Wait!¡± The bespectacled man in Room 1 forced himself to remain composed. ¡°This game clearly requires our cooperation, so... is anyone here an Ability User? Or do you have any special skills? Maybe we can find another way to solve this.¡± His words were carefully phrased, but everyone understood what he meant. He wanted the Ability Users to reveal themselves. But after he spoke, silence followed. Seeing no response, he decided to take the lead. ¡°I-I¡¯m Han Dong. Before the Polar Night, I was a math teacher. I... I don¡¯t have any abilities.¡± Following her husband¡¯s lead, the woman in Room 3 quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m Qiao Min, a saleswoman. I don¡¯t have any abilities either. Han Dong and I are married...¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think self-introductions are necessary.¡± The woman in Room 5 interrupted, instantly drawing all eyes to her. Her face was cold and serious as she spoke directly, ¡°This game seems simple on the surface, but in reality, it presents two problems: the sacrifice and the betrayer.¡± ¡°The sacrifice has to risk being betrayed, while for everyone else, there¡¯s no real risk. On the contrary, the betrayer holds the power¡ªif they kill someone, they can guarantee their own survival and even receive a mountain of supplies.¡± The moment she finished speaking, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. It seemed like unity was the key to survival, but in an apocalypse, trust was far from easy to come by. Everyone here understood the darker side of human nature. Seconds ticked by, stretching into minutes. The young man in Room 4 grew visibly anxious, unable to sit still. Finally, he blurted out, ¡°Then let¡¯s just introduce ourselves. I¡¯m Fang Xiaonian, a student. I don¡¯t have any abilities, but my body has undergone some evolution¡ªI¡¯m quite agile.¡± ¡°You¡¯re all Ability Users, aren¡¯t you? Playing innocent, huh?¡± The bald, overweight man in Room 6 scoffed, his eyes flashing coldly. ¡°The name¡¯s Wang Anjian. I have an ability.¡± ¡°Zhao Bo, enhancement-type ability,¡± the well-dressed middle-aged man in Room 2 said in an indifferent tone. The young man in Room 7 spoke nervously, ¡°I¡¯m Chen Jia. I was just a machine gunner in a convoy. No abilities.¡± The girl in Room 8 hesitated, then raised her head fearfully. ¡°I... I¡¯m Wang Duo. I used to be a student. Now, I¡¯m... a prostitute in a major convoy.¡± The room fell silent. A flicker of disdain crossed Wang Anjian¡¯s eyes. He smirked and said mockingly, ¡°Not bad, you do have some looks. If you were in my convoy, I¡¯d keep you around for fun, too.¡± Wang Duo instinctively shrank back, trembling slightly. But she kept her head down, showing no anger¡ªjust silent fear. It was obvious her life after the apocalypse had been nothing short of cruel. With the introductions done, everyone turned their attention to the last person¡ªthe blonde woman in Room 5. Her expression flickered slightly before she finally spoke in a low voice, ¡°Tan Meng... Wing-type Ability User.¡± Everyone¡¯s faces changed. Their gazes toward her grew complex. No wonder she had refused to introduce herself earlier. She could fly. That meant this jumping game would be effortless for her. Feeling the weight of everyone¡¯s stares, Tan Meng¡¯s expression darkened. She lowered her eyes and muttered, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. I¡¯m not going to participate. But I promise¡ªI won¡¯t be a betrayer.¡± ¡°But you can fly! Even if you fall, you¡ª¡± Qiao Min protested anxiously. ¡°Hmph.¡± Zhao Bo from Room 2 let out a cold laugh. ¡°You think this facility didn¡¯t account for Ability Users?¡± His words silenced the room again. The self-introductions had taken nearly ten minutes, yet no real progress had been made. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve all introduced ourselves. Who¡¯s going to participate?¡± Zhao Bo¡¯s voice carried a sense of authority, cutting straight to the point. Silence fell once more. The timer ticked down¡ª16 minutes remaining. Then, Fang Xiaonian from Room 4 hesitantly spoke up. ¡°I... I have an idea.¡± Everyone turned their eyes toward him. ¡°We can all raise a number with our fingers at the same time. Whoever¡¯s number doesn¡¯t get repeated will enter the game. But we must all agree¡ªno betrayal. That way, we can all survive together.¡± His suggestion made sense. It was the fairest, though also the most helpless, solution. The eight players exchanged glances, seemingly reaching an agreement. ¡°Alright, if no one objects, let¡¯s do it.¡± Fang Xiaonian clenched his fists and glanced at both sides. ¡°On the count of three, everyone show their numbers.¡± The air grew heavy. ¡°3...¡± ¡°2...¡± ¡°1...¡± Everyone revealed their numbers simultaneously and looked around. Only one person had shown a ¡®1¡¯¡ªTan Meng. All eyes turned to her. Tan Meng¡¯s face turned deathly pale, her raised hand trembling involuntarily. Her lips twitched, and she suddenly shouted, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to do it! No one can force me!!¡± Wang Anjian from Room 6 let out a sneer. ¡°Tch. Useless. Guess we¡¯ll all just sit here and wait to die.¡± The group fell into silence again, staring at the countdown as it continued ticking away. 3 minutes remaining. Just as despair began to set in, a tiny voice suddenly spoke. ¡°...I¡¯ll do it.¡± Up in the observation rooms, Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed as he instinctively turned toward Room 8. The voice had come from Wang Duo. KIKI¡¯s grip tightened on Lin Xian¡¯s hand. Below, Wang Anjian¡¯s expression turned strange. He suddenly let out a chuckle. ¡°Alright, I support you. I¡¯ll make sure you get the right directions.¡± His tone was sickly sweet¡ªnobody believed he was sincere. To him, a woman who had fallen to such a fate in the apocalypse was beneath notice. He even seemed amused that she was volunteering to step into danger. ¡°Really? Are you sure?¡± Qiao Min quickly latched onto the moment. ¡°I-I support you!¡± ¡°So do I!¡± Han Dong shouted. ¡°Me too...¡± Fang Xiaonian chimed in. ¡°I¡¯ll support you!¡± Tan Meng added, visibly relieved. Zhao Bo raised his hand. ¡°If anyone betrays her, I¡¯ll kill them in the next round.¡± His words sounded tough, but no one took them seriously. Chen Jia, in Room 7, stared in shock at the frail girl beside him. His lips were dry as he nodded repeatedly, ¡°I-I support you!¡± The others grew visibly eager, not out of concern for Wang Duo, but because her sacrifice meant they had a chance to survive. Wang Duo sat quietly, her expression unreadable. There was no fear¡ªonly an eerie sense of relief. 0:00 The countdown ended. The massive red head reappeared, its eerie grin stretching wide. ¡°Excellent. Looks like we have our first challenger for tonight.¡± The others exhaled in half-relief. The red head let out a low chuckle. ¡°Now, let the game begin.¡± Click! At this time, the partitions of all the rooms became dark again, and at the same time, the surrounding sounds were completely isolated. A small screen with three buttons floated on the metal table in front of the eight people. They are ¡ü [front], ¡û [left], ¡ú [right]. One indicator light is gray. This means that if the indicator light is on, you need to give Wang Duo instructions in the corresponding room. Follow the movement trajectory of the floor. There is only 5 seconds. If you give the correct instructions, Wang Duo survives. If you give the wrong instructions, Wang Duo dies. Chapter 225: Death Game Lin Xian and KIKI''s expressions were grave as they looked downward. Below them was a pitch-black void, where the room that Wang Duo was in could no longer be seen. To isolate both the room and the sound was to expose human nature to the extreme. This meant that if Wang Duo had died, no one would know who the murderer was. The remaining seven rooms, each person carried their own thoughts. At this moment, the dark side of human nature was endlessly invoked. Lin Xian''s expression darkened;the human heart is unpredictable, and this was the most tormenting moment. Soon, everyone saw Wang Duo appear at the far left of the enormous room. Her figure was frail, and the youthful radiance she should have had was replaced by a ghostly, fragile form. Just standing there, she looked lifeless. "Challenger No. 8, if you''re ready, tell me." The voice of the red-headed figure rang out. At this moment, Wang Duo had been blindfolded with a black eye mask. Even from afar, everyone could see her slender body trembling slightly. Regardless of the time, when facing death, humans will always experience innate fear. Her hands were tightly clenched into fists. After a long pause, she gently nodded. "I announce, the game begins!" The loud voice of the red-headed figure made the temperature in the space drop by a degree. Drip. The first light illuminated the room, and it was No. 7, the room directly in front of Lin Xian. The young man named Chen Jia, seeing the indicator light in front of him, immediately felt his fingers tremble with nervousness. He decisively looked at the situation around Wang Duo and then nervously pressed the direction key on the screen. Inside Wang Duo''s room, she heard the instructions and quickly crouched down, preparing to jump. Then... she leaped with all her might! Clap! She landed on a solid surface. It was her first jump, and she was still somewhat unaccustomed to it. Wang Duo swayed her arms slightly before stabilizing herself. She kept mentally counting numbers, listening intently to the instructions coming through her earpiece. "Left." Hearing the command, her left foot rotated 90 degrees on its heel, followed by her right foot, to avoid any misalignment of her position. "Forward." Wang Duo took a step forward. "Right." She took another step to the right. The seven people in the separate rooms were now staring intensely at Wang Duo. Every time she jumped, it seemed to tighten the hearts of the onlookers. Clank~ Clank~ Clank~ The massive room''s mechanical floor continuously opened and closed, rising and falling, changing its shape. And the seven individuals in the separate rooms were like directors, controlling Wang Duo''s every move. Upstairs, KIKI gripped Lin Xian¡¯s hand tighter and tighter, her eyes fixed directly on the girl leaping below. Lin Xian glanced at KIKI and gave her a meaningful look. KIKI, understanding the look from Lin Xian, nodded in response. Down below, the jumping game was progressing smoothly, and Wang Duo surprisingly made it to the far right side. At this moment, everyone could see that only the last step remained. There, she only needed to jump forward to complete the challenge. At this point, everyone''s hearts were in their throats. Suddenly, Lin Xian''s eyes narrowed as he noticed something unusual. Originally, Wang Duo was supposed to jump forward, but instead, her right foot spun, and she turned toward the right side... Lin Xian''s heart sank as he sensed something was wrong. Just as Wang Duo was about to complete the challenge, she turned toward the direction where the others were. Having followed the correct instructions the entire way, Wang Duo¡¯s once pale face was now faintly flushed. Beyond her fear of death, the countless jumps had exhausted her physical strength. She gently exhaled, tightly pressed her lips together, and, as before, bent her knees, leaped forward with all her might! Whoosh! In an instant, KIKI shot forward, releasing a surge of invisible psychic power. But strangely, her psychic force didn''t manage to grab hold of Wang Duo. The crowd watched in disbelief as her fragile form disappeared into the abyss... Lin Xian''s eyes narrowed. He immediately stood up. "Ah!" KIKI''s face turned pale, unable to believe that her psychic power had failed. "I forgot to tell you, this is just a projection, not the real scene," Hua Xiaoling, sitting calmly, glanced at the two of them with an indifferent expression. Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew cold. Although it was the apocalypse, he still could not accept such methods of using living humans as experiments. Looking at Hua Xiaoling, Lin Xian spoke in a cold voice, "Is this the so-called experimental project you mentioned?" Hua Xiaoling¡¯s gaze subtly shifted. After a moment of silence, she responded, "There''s no need for you to rush. This footage is not over yet. What you¡¯ve seen may not be the truth." "You''ve killed someone, and it''s not over? What exactly are you trying to do?!" KIKI¡¯s voice was filled with fury as she clenched her fists tightly. Hua Xiaoling remained silent and made a hand gesture toward the glass window, signaling the two to keep watching. Click. In the game room, all the walls turned transparent once again. ¡°Damn it! Who did this?!¡± Wang Anjian, in room No. 6, immediately cursed furiously. ¡°My God, she really fell! She actually fell!¡± Qiao Min from room No. 3 was clearly horrified. ¡°This game really kills people?!¡± ¡°Who did it?!¡± Tan Meng from room No. 5 was the most agitated. Her eyes narrowed as she thought deeply, and suddenly, she realized that room No. 2 was still dark. ¡°It¡¯s No. 2!¡± Everyone turned their gaze toward it. At that moment, the glass door to room No. 2 swiftly became transparent, and inside, Zhao Bo was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Damn it, that bastard!!¡± ¡°Damn, this son of a bitch was acting all righteous just now! I spit on him!¡± Wang Anjian ground his teeth in fury. The Murderer had appeared. At that moment, some were panicking, some were regretting, some were fearful, and some were cursing. Choosing the correct answer meant relinquishing control of survival, while as a traitor, one could survive and escape. At this moment, human nature¡¯s primal instincts were fully triggered. ¡°Congratulations, everyone.¡± At that moment, the red-headed figure appeared again. Although a young life had been lost, ¡®it¡¯s¡¯ first words were congratulations. ¡°The first round of the game failed. To make the game more exciting, the reward for the next round will double to 2 million in supplies!¡± Clank! The display case¡¯s lights turned on again, and the pile of supplies inside had doubled in size. So many supplies¡ªjust by using a train, it would at least fill two freight carriages! At this moment, seeing the mountain of supplies, everyone fell silent. Their gazes shifted quietly. Not only could they survive, but they could also gain supplies. This seemed to be telling everyone that only selfishness would allow one to survive the longest. The remaining six people now stood in an eerie silence. Their gazes met and crossed, but no one was willing to speak. ¡°The second round of the game, just like the previous one, will have 30 minutes of free discussion time for everyone.¡± No one said a word, silently waiting. The red-headed figure¡¯s strange voice seemed a little excited. ¡°Now, let me introduce the second round of the game, called...¡± ¡°¡®The Sword of Trust¡¯!¡± Clang! The floor in the enormous room rose again, and two iron maidens facing the crowd appeared in the center of the room. Unlike traditional iron maidens, these two humanoid metal torture devices didn¡¯t have steel spikes inside. They resembled bulky suits of armor, with black holes instead of sharp spikes on the outside, and the head area exposed, somewhat similar to a "bucket-shaped" design. The difference was that the lower part was humanoid, separating the limbs and torso. A masked black-robed figure stood nearby, his posture slightly hunched, revealing a pair of eyes that glinted with sharpness¡ªwhether human or ghost, no one could tell. His presence sent a chill down the spine, immediately making everyone tense. Everyone¡¯s eyes shifted to the right corner of the room, where they were horrified to find the area where Wang Duo had fallen earlier still had an un-dried puddle of blood... But the body was gone. ¡°What the hell is this?!¡± Seeing the torture-like apparatus, everyone¡¯s faces turned ashen. ¡°Let me introduce this fun game,¡± the red-headed figure¡¯s voice rasped. ¡°This game is very simple. It requires two challengers to participate and enter the specially designed armor. Each of these armors has 7 identical holes, numbered 1 to 7, placed in specific spots: the two shoulders for numbers 1 and 2, the abdomen for number 3, the waist for number 4, the chest for number 5, and the two legs for numbers 6 and 7. So, the two sets of armor have a total of 14 holes. This black-robed figure has 9 sharp swords. The two challengers will take turns selecting the number of holes in their opponent¡¯s armor, and the swords will be thrust through. However, out of the 14 holes, 9 are impervious to the swords. So, if luck is on their side, both challengers can win without shedding a drop of blood!¡± The red-headed figure excitedly continued, ¡°This round differs from the last. Only two people can participate. If both survive, they will clear the game and receive supplies and freedom.¡± ¡°If both die, the mission fails, and the remaining players will receive supplies and freedom.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more rule. If only one person dies, the mission still fails. The survivor won¡¯t receive any prizes, but they will be free to leave.¡± ¡°Two people to participate?¡± Tan Meng from Room No. 5 was clearly terrified. She exclaimed, ¡°Wait... does this mean the other four people are irrelevant to the game?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the red-headed figure replied slowly. ¡°Those who don¡¯t voluntarily step up will lose the right to choose and must wait for the outcome of the game.¡± At these words, everyone¡¯s faces turned pale. This game was almost identical in nature to the previous round: personal survival was entirely in the hands of others. Even for the two participants, life or death was in the hands of the other. Who would be willing to let someone else stab them in the back? Wang Anjian''s gaze turned cold, ¡°I¡¯m not participating in this kind of game, letting someone stab me.¡± Among them, Fang Xiaonian¡¯s face was trembling, and he attempted to comfort himself, saying, ¡°If the 9 swords are all aimed at the shoulders and thighs, they shouldn¡¯t be fatal. Plus, with some holes that can¡¯t be pierced, if both of them discuss beforehand...¡± But he couldn¡¯t continue. Discuss beforehand? Wang Duo''s death is still vivid in memory. Who would be willing to trust anyone else? Who knew that his words were overheard by Qiao Min, who thought in confusion for a moment, then suddenly turned around and looked at Han Dong. At that moment, Han Dong happened to be staring directly at her. The two instantly understood each other! If there was anyone among the six who could still trust each other, it was the two of them. Qiao Min trembled all over. She wanted to speak but couldn¡¯t muster the courage. She was afraid of being stabbed by the sword. But when she thought about the 2 million in supplies and the chance for freedom, she was filled with desire. This could be the best opportunity for her and her husband to escape! Even someone as cautious as she knew that this game was only suited for her and Han Dong! Han Dong saw through her thoughts, his face turned pale as he thought for a moment, and quickly gritted his teeth, giving a confirming look. If they missed this, they might regret it forever! Lin Xian looked at the couple on the far left, and he guessed what was going on. This game seemed to be tailor-made for this couple. If they didn¡¯t participate, the others wouldn¡¯t. Who would give a sword to a stranger? Ridiculous. As time passed, everyone fell silent. Clearly, there was no need for any discussion about this game. Watching the 30-minute countdown slowly approach its end, Han Dong, drenched in cold sweat, gritted his teeth and raised his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll participate!¡± ¡°I... I¡¯ll participate too.¡± Seeing Han Dong raise his hand, Qiao Min eagerly raised hers as well, seemingly afraid that someone else might take the opportunity. ¡°Very good, we now have our participants for the second round of the game tonight.¡± The red-headed figure slowly turned to face the two and smiled eerily. ¡°Good luck.¡± The remaining four people had dark faces and remained silent, staring at the couple. The atmosphere was thick with tension. They had no other choice but to wait for the result. Clang! The glass doors of rooms 1 and 3 slowly opened, and the shackles on Han Dong and Qiao Min automatically unlocked. The two of them staggered out nervously. Unlike the first round, the remaining rooms were not isolated by soundproofing or visual barriers. "What''s this? This time, we can communicate freely?" Wang Anjian said solemnly, looking around. Tan Meng trembled and looked anxiously at the front rooms. "If we want to survive... it seems like we can only pray they all die." Once she said this, Fang Xiaonian and Chen Jia had complicated expressions. "They¡¯re a couple. If they both choose their hands or legs, they... shouldn''t die, right?" Fang Xiaonian said nervously. Hearing this, the bald, chubby Wang Anjian muttered, "If they don¡¯t die even after being stabbed a few times, I¡¯ll admire them." His eyes were burning as he stared at the front rooms. "Whether it¡¯s the legs or hands, even one stab would cause serious injury. It''s not that simple." He was right. Humans have major arteries in their legs, and if they bleed excessively, in the post-apocalyptic world, without medical help, and if they were ordinary people rather than special ability users, death was very likely. Soon, the lights in the large room ahead flickered on. Han Dong and Qiao Min had been locked in humanoid armor. They looked at each other, both filled with fear. ¡°Honey, we¡¯ll win!¡± ¡°Husband, I¡¯m scared!¡± Qiao Min¡¯s voice trembled, the shadow of fear completely consuming her. ¡°Honey, I love you. Trust me, I¡¯ll protect you!¡± Perhaps to encourage each other, Han Dong, who didn¡¯t know where his courage came from, gritted his teeth, his lips turning pale. The red-headed figure turned sideways to look at them. ¡°Now, the game begins. Who will choose first?¡± ¡°Her! Let her choose first!¡± Han Dong swallowed hard. Letting her choose first meant he would take the first stab, but how could he bear to let his wife be stabbed? Qiao Min nodded tremulously, grateful to Han Dong. ¡°Okay... okay, husband.¡± The hunched black-clad sword bearer slowly approached. ¡°Choose. Which number?¡± The dry voice was like sand being scraped from a parched throat, making it eerie to hear. Qiao Min¡¯s face turned pale, her eyes filled with struggle and hesitation. Such a bloody choice was something she had never experienced. It was a huge test for her. Han Dong, seeing this, gritted his teeth and hurriedly said, ¡°Stab me. It¡¯s okay, we¡¯ve always had good luck. Remember, honey, do you remember that time we were trapped in the collapsed tunnel, but we found a hole to escape through?¡± ¡°And the times we encountered zombies? Didn¡¯t we survive?¡± ¡°No matter how big the challenge, we can¡¯t be beaten as long as we work together!¡± Qiao Min was encouraged by his words, and she regained some of her composure. She nervously looked at Han Dong¡¯s armor and shakily said, ¡°6... I choose... number 6.¡± Number 6 was Han Dong¡¯s right leg, the lowest position among all the numbered holes. As soon as this decision was made, the others clearly heard it. This was the safest spot. At this moment, everyone¡¯s hearts tightened. The black-clad sword bearer walked to Han Dong¡¯s spot and drew a sword from the rack of nine swords. Han Dong felt an unprecedented fear and anxiety. His heartbeat was pounding in his ears, and his face turned pale as cold sweat poured down! The sword bearer raised the sword, the cold light gleaming as he aimed at the hole marked number 6. Then, with a swift motion, the sword was thrust in! In an instant, Han Dong felt his heartbeat stop, his back teeth almost crushing. But then, there was a crisp clang! It was the sound of metal meeting metal, and in Han Dong¡¯s heart, it felt like the sound of heavenly music. Because this sound meant the hole was fake, and the sword couldn¡¯t pierce it! ¡°It¡¯s fake! It¡¯s fake!¡± Han Dong sighed in relief, and in just those few seconds, his back was completely soaked with sweat. Qiao Min looked at the scene in delight and, after a moment, excitedly said, ¡°Great! Great! Husband, you¡¯re fine?¡± Han Dong felt like he had just survived a catastrophe. At that moment, the black-clad sword bearer still stood in front of him, his voice cold as he said, ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn to choose.¡± ¡°Which part of her will you choose?¡± Han Dong was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled darkly, looking up at the black-clad sword bearer with determination. ¡°How could I stab my wife? This time, I choose my number 7!¡± At this moment, Qiao Min hurriedly explained, "I-I know... but I''m just a woman. If a sword stabs my leg, I might die too, right? You¡¯re a man;surely you can hold on longer than I can..." Upon hearing this, Han Dong¡¯s eyes widened in terror, and a chill rose in his heart. Looking at Qiao Min¡¯s tear-streaked face, he suddenly felt that the woman he loved seemed strangely unfamiliar. He stared at her in disbelief, not realizing that the black-clad swordsman had ignored their argument and was walking toward them, picking up a gleaming sword. "Wait! Wait!" Han Dong snapped back to his senses and cried out in alarm. But the black-clad swordsman paid him no mind and thrust the sword forward! Position two! Clang~ The sharp sound of the sword striking the air shook Han Dong to his core. His mind went blank for several seconds as he watched the sword fail to penetrate, a complex look in his eyes. It was as if some part of his resolve had suddenly become uncertain. "Great! Hubby, this is great!!!" Qiao Min cheered, her face lighting up with joy. "You¡¯re alright! This is wonderful!" Panting~ Panting~ The black-clad swordsman stood in front of Han Dong, who had just regained his composure from the hellish fear. His head lowered, sweat already soaking his forehead, and his glasses fogged up. He gasped for air, his face as dark as a storm cloud. ¡°It¡¯s your choice now,¡± the swordsman asked. Silence. After a long pause, Han Dong slowly spoke, not raising his head, his bangs hiding his eyes. ¡°I choose... her position six.¡± ¡°Wait!!¡± Qiao Min shouted in shock. She cried out, "Han Dong, weren¡¯t you going to protect me?!!!" Seeing the black-clad swordsman slowly walk toward her, Qiao Min¡¯s fear reached its peak, and she desperately shouted. Meanwhile, Han Dong slowly raised his head. Through the foggy glasses, his terrified eyes met hers as he trembled, saying, "Haven¡¯t... I already protected you?" "Stop! Stop!! No!!" Qiao Min screamed in agony as the swordsman¡¯s blade pierced through her! Whoosh! The sword pierced her sixth position, the one on her leg. "Ah!!!!!!!!!!" Qiao Min let out a piercing scream as excruciating pain skyrocketed her terror to the utmost. "I choose his position three!!" Without waiting for the black-clad swordsman¡¯s inquiry, Qiao Min cried out, gritting her teeth through the pain. Upon hearing her words, everyone¡¯s expression darkened. She didn¡¯t even choose the remaining position one on her shoulder but directly chose position three on her abdomen. Had she lost her sanity in this pain? The scene unfolded in a way no one expected. The two people who had trusted each other moments ago now seemed like strangers. Lin Xian scanned the room, and the expressions of the others had turned grim. This game was even more twisted than the first round, breaking trust completely through people¡¯s primal survival instincts. In the room, Han Dong¡¯s eyes were filled with terror. He watched the black-clad swordsman walk toward him, raise his hand, and thrust the sword! Han Dong closed his eyes, seemingly awaiting death. Clang! Han Dong¡¯s luck was good¡ªthe position turned out to be fake! At that moment, Han Dong no longer hesitated, decisively shouting, "I choose... her position seven." Position seven, still her leg. "Ah! No! Don¡¯t! Han Dong, you bastard!!!" The swordsman walked toward her again, the blade thrusting forward. Whoosh! Qiao Min¡¯s seventh position was indeed real! "Ah!!!" With a heart-wrenching scream, Qiao Min¡¯s legs were pierced. The pain almost knocked her unconscious. Her body trembled violently, spasming in agony as she wailed, ¡°Han Dong, you bastard!¡± However, Han Dong, instead of showing sorrow, shouted excitedly, ¡°Great, wife!¡± Qiao Min turned in terror, looking at him in disbelief. "What... What did you say? You think this is great because I¡¯ve been pierced? Am I blind to have chosen you? Are you a demon?!" Han Dong¡¯s face turned pale as he shook his head, his eyes full of hopeful explanation. "No! Wife, listen to me! Nine swords, fourteen holes. Six swords are done, three are fake, three are real. One sword in my leg, two in yours. This means there are eight positions left with six fake holes, but only three swords remaining!¡± Han Dong was a math teacher, and he managed to stay rational in such a situation, which was quite rare. Hearing Han Dong¡¯s words, Qiao Min¡¯s mind slowly started to regain clarity. Her gaze shifted thoughtfully, and she nodded slightly, muttering, "Right, there are three swords left..." ¡°We need to stay calm, calm down,¡± Han Dong urged. "Calm down?!" Qiao Min glared at him, eyes filled with both resentment and hurt as she screamed, ¡°You¡¯ve only taken one sword, I¡¯ve been pierced in both legs, I¡¯m dying, do you know that?!¡± ¡°But I never chose your upper body!¡± Han Dong tried to explain. ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± Qiao Min¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. ¡°Since there are three swords left, I think all of them should be for you, that¡¯s fair!¡± Han Dong¡¯s face turned white as his lips trembled in disbelief. "You¡¯re crazy! I¡¯ve only got one shoulder left, and you¡¯ve already been pierced twice in your upper body! The remaining ones are the chest and waist! And you haven¡¯t even been touched on your shoulder, how is that fair?! If one of my chest or waist holes is real, I¡¯m dead!!!" ¡°You can divide those three swords between our shoulders, maybe they¡¯re all fake holes! Then we both survive!¡± Han Dong shouted, trying to make her understand his reasoning. ¡°How could that be possible?¡± Qiao Min shrieked. ¡°Two swords in my shoulders, are you insane?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not insane! This game needs both of us to survive to win! I¡¯m just stating the truth¡ªif I die, it¡¯s over for both of us!¡± Han Dong responded. Survive... Survive... Han Dong¡¯s words echoed in her mind, the cold sword that pierced her legs, and the overwhelming pain filling her with terror. It felt as though death was closing in on her step by step. Then, suddenly, a demonic thought surged in her heart. Seeing that she was silent, Han Dong felt something was wrong. Blood continued to pour from Qiao Min¡¯s armor, filling the air with the scent of death, making everyone around feel both fear and madness. After a long silence, Qiao Min slowly raised her head, her hollow eyes staring at the red head. "Still... still three swords left... So, I still have two chances, right?" The room fell into stunned silence. The four other people in the room all turned pale as they began to realize something ominous. "Hey!" Qiao Min suddenly shouted at the red head. ¡°I want to know, if someone dies, can the remaining holes still be used to insert swords?¡± Han Dong¡¯s pupils shrank as he looked at Qiao Min in disbelief, panicking as he shouted, "Hey, Qiao Min, wife... What are you trying to do?!" Qiao Min didn¡¯t respond but continued to stare at the red head with bloodshot eyes. Suddenly, the red head laughed eerily, its voice dripping with sinister satisfaction, as though it had smelled something it liked. "The rules don¡¯t say it¡¯s not allowed," it said, its voice low. "So, the living can insert swords into the dead!" As soon as these words were spoken, Han Dong¡¯s face went ashen. He immediately shouted in horror, "Wife! Don¡¯t do this! You¡¯ve forgotten our promise, haven¡¯t we agreed to survive together?!!" "We need both to survive to win!" Han Dong continued. "What are you doing?!!" The tension in the room reached a boiling point, and the four watching the game all looked grim. The rules that seemed so simple at first were now becoming nightmarish. One death means the other can leave. This game aimed to destroy trust between the closest people. The simplest way to do this is to deceive and then kill the person you trust the most. Chapter 226: Collapse Han Dong glanced at Qiao Min, who had her head lowered, her messy long hair hiding her once delicate and beautiful face. In that instant, he seemed to find some kind of release. His pupils weakly dilated as he watched the black-suited sword-wielder slowly approach. There was no anger, no sadness¡ªonly boundless despair. The black-suited sword-wielder drew two swords, one aimed at his waist, position No. 4, and the other aimed at his chest, position No. 5. Then, with a sudden thrust, the swords were plunged through! The few onlookers at the side were now extremely tense, their hearts pounding as they watched the deadly spectacle unfold. As the two were fighting among themselves, the others were constantly on edge, knowing their own survival depended on the death of both of the challengers. Wang Anjian¡¯s face looked ashen, and the usually chatty man fell silent. *Ding, Pch! Position No. 5 was a fake, but position No. 4¡ªcompletely pierced! Han Dong struggled violently, his eyes wide open as blood poured from his nose and mouth, his agony unbearable. "Wonderful!" Seeing Han Dong¡¯s suffering, Qiao Min¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as she wildly shouted. If Han Dong died, it meant she would be saved. The last sword would not strike her. "He¡¯s dead! He¡¯s dead! I won! I can leave!!" Qiao Min cheered through her tears, her joy at winning and surviving spreading through her. For a moment, she felt completely liberated. But at that moment, her armor didn¡¯t open. The red-headed figure slowly turned toward her, wearing a twisted smile. "Oh, don''t be in such a rush, Ms. Qiao. I think your celebration is premature. Now is the time to test the love you¡¯ve long cherished, isn''t it?" The ¡®Hatmaker¡¯ spoke meaningfully. "What?!" Qiao Min¡¯s mind began to piece things together, her body shaking as she turned her head, and discovered¡ª Han Dong... was still alive! "The challenger has not died yet, so the game continues," the red-headed figure¡¯s voice echoed like a death knell in Qiao Min''s ears! ¡°It¡¯s your turn to choose,¡± came the cold voice of the black-suited sword-wielder standing before Han Dong. Qiao Min¡¯s pupils widened, a chill running through her body. It suddenly dawned on her that even if the heart was pierced, one wouldn¡¯t immediately die, and Han Dong was only pierced in the waist... As long as he still had breath in him, he could still make a choice, couldn¡¯t he? "If the two of them had cooperated from the start, even if Han Dong had died, he might have sacrificed himself, taking all the remaining swords to protect Qiao Min." Chen Jia, who had remained silent in the compartment, spoke with a grave expression. Tan Meng and Wang Anjian turned their heads toward him. The atmosphere among the remaining group was grim. Chen Jia¡¯s words were somewhat nai?ve, but if the Hatmaker had revealed that the swords could be driven into a dead body, then most people¡¯s first instinct would be to kill the other, not sacrifice themselves. But now, it seemed everyone was no longer concerned with that¡ªthey only cared about whether these two could die together. Lin Xian glanced at Han Dong and Qiao Min, a deep sigh escaping his lips. "From the first time Han Dong took the sword for her, perhaps the man who truly loved her could indeed go this far for her." "But now... it¡¯s too late." In the room, Qiao Min, having realized this, suddenly screamed like a madwoman at Han Dong. "Husband... husband, I was wrong, I''m sorry, it hurts so much..." "Forgive me, we can still win! You choose my shoulder, we¡¯ll live, and we can get endless supplies!!" "I''m sorry, I''m so dumb, that''s why I couldn¡¯t figure it out... Please, I love you, you are the man I love the most in my life, please, let¡¯s stop killing each other!" Thud, thud... Blood kept pouring out of Han Dong¡¯s mouth and nose as he hung his head low, his glasses fogging up. He radiated an aura of utter despair. "I... choose... Woman, position No. 5." His hoarse voice sounded like it came from a broken wind machine. Blood and foam dripped from his mouth, cold, indifferent, detached. Qiao Min¡¯s pupils slowly widened, a wave of icy fear rushing to her head! Her eyes filled with blood vessels as she let out a desperate scream. "No!!!" Pch! The cold blade thrust through Qiao Min''s chest! Position No. 5 was real. In the final moments of her life, Qiao Min¡¯s eyes were filled with terror. In that instant, unwillingness, resentment, regret, and pain intertwined, until her pupils slowly faded... "The game is over." The red-headed figure slowly turned, its face expressionless. But at that moment, everyone in the room could have sworn they saw a sinister smile curl at its lips. The entire room fell silent. Crash, the glass wall before them suddenly turned black, and the lights in the room flickered back on. Hua Xiaoling slowly stood up, her gaze turning toward Lin Xian and KIKI. ¡°Well, what do you think? Isn¡¯t this experiment interesting?¡± she asked, her tone calm. Lin Xian, holding the agitated KIKI in his arms, stared at Hua Xiaoling and replied, "Nonsensical. What are you trying to say?" Hua Xiaoling took a deep breath, speaking in a detached tone, "From a scientific perspective, we designed this experiment to test the theory of ''Dark Night Evolution.'' When a person is on the brink of death, their psychic power reaches a breaking point. At this stage, the human body begins to merge with dark energy, undergoing a form of genetic evolution. The only problem is, this state doesn''t last long, and it¡¯s difficult to observe under normal conditions, which is why we¡¯ve tested many methods." "For example, we directly subjected the test subjects to the pressure of death. But forced emotions can be too one-dimensional and lead to numbness, so we used this death game instead. The results have proven quite effective." Hua Xiaoling looked at Lin Xian, "The remaining four participants are likely to experience significant physical evolution, and once they leave, their survival abilities should be much stronger." "From this perspective, it¡¯s also helping them, don¡¯t you think?" Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed as he looked at Hua Xiaoling with cold eyes. "So this is your way of helping humanity evolve?" "Strictly speaking, we follow the principle of survival of the fittest," Hua Xiaoling replied, walking to the glass wall and speaking calmly, ¡°Those who survive floods learn how to build levees, understand water patterns, and the laws of disaster. Those who survive earthquakes know how to solidify buildings and observe anomalies in animals." "And humans, after surviving countless plagues and viruses, develop antibodies to resist them. That¡¯s how humanity survives. Once we overcome, civilization will rise again. If we can¡¯t, it¡¯s just the extinction of a backward civilization." Hua Xiaoling turned to Lin Xian. "Don¡¯t you think that the dark tides of this world are just another form of plague for us?" "So, your idea of neutrality is just to let nature take its course?" Lin Xian responded. "No." Hua Xiaoling answered directly, "The rescuers, the separatists, the adventurers... As you saw in the first game, everyone agreed, and everyone could have survived, but some had their own interpretation of survival, and because of this, the differing ideas of survival..." ¡°The concept of ideology has led to a confrontation of beliefs. Heh heh heh... Do you find it amusing? We are at the brink of humanity¡¯s survival, yet society is still so fragmented. For an advanced civilization, isn''t our current civilization one of backwardness and ignorance?¡± ¡°Do you know why?¡± ¡°Greed, selfishness?¡± Lin Xian responded, ¡°It¡¯s just this cycle, isn''t it?¡± Hua Xiaoling shook her head. ¡°Human nature is inherent. This isn¡¯t the essence of the problem. What I want to tell you is that our human society is driven by reason but constrained by emotion. This is an advantage at the early stages of civilization development, but it is also the flaw that limits it. A truly advanced civilization would not need emotions. Take the second game for example. Do you think love, which has been praised for centuries, or ultimate emotions, has any benefit for the survival of civilization?¡± ¡°So, our goal is to maintain the progress of the Dark Tide. Under this natural selection, everything will reach its conclusion. All survival ideologies will be tested. The unreasonable frameworks and positions within this civilization will be naturally eliminated, and we will decide for ourselves who survives and who perishes.¡± Buzz~ At that moment, the glass wall suddenly began to glow. Lin Xian looked over and saw a large research institute outside. The place was enormous, with thousands of researchers, various war equipment for ability users, blood essence research instruments, and large-scale genetic research equipment ¡ª a sight that was both shocking and awe-inspiring. ¡°Only those who survive will be the better successors of humanity''s genes. Dark energy drives human evolution, causing mutations and abilities. These individuals are among the best.¡± Hua Xiaoling looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Mr. Lin, during the critical moment when the elevator was about to fail, you stepped forward and used your mechanical abilities to find a new way out. This is why our foundation isn¡¯t just after your mechanical abilities. We believe that someone like you, with supreme willpower and high-level abilities, is the only one fit to be a builder of this new world. You will lead this new civilization to glorious evolution. This is the goal of our foundation.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Lin Xian responded directly. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in building a new world. I¡¯m just an ordinary person, and I don¡¯t understand the grand ideals of civilization.¡± ¡°You have such complete equipment here. What I¡¯m interested in right now is... do you have fresh bread? It¡¯s been so long since I had any. I¡¯ve forgotten what it tastes like.¡± KIKI looked up in surprise, seemingly having just recovered from the previous game. She stared at Lin Xian and whispered, ¡°Bread?¡± Hua Xiaoling¡¯s face slightly changed at the mention of bread. After a brief silence, she smiled faintly and didn¡¯t speak, instead stepping aside to clear the way. Lin Xian grabbed KIKI¡¯s hand and walked toward the door. Halfway, he stopped, took out the business card Hua Xiaoling had given him, and casually threw it on the floor before walking out. Click click~ At the door, two armed personnel blocked their way. ¡°Let them go.¡± She didn¡¯t stop them and spoke directly. The armed personnel immediately moved aside. Furthermore, Hua Xiaoling instructed the research staff to escort them out. Hua Xiaoling looked at the retreating figures of Lin Xian and KIKI. Her eyes glanced down at the business card at her feet. Her expression was neither happy nor sad, but filled with meaning as she said softly, ¡°We will meet again.¡± Buzz, Lin Xian and KIKI rode out of the research institute on a motorcycle. Turning back, they saw the large research institute quickly becoming blurry, thanks to the reflective panels. The sun was slanting, the trees were tall, and the grass was green. Outside, it wasn¡¯t quite dark yet. If you didn¡¯t look closely, no one would guess such a massive research institute stood among the trees. Lin Xian was riding a motorcycle with KIKI on the back. He noticed KIKI¡¯s pale face and immediately said, ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart. Although they say they are neutral, in essence, their position is the same as that of the Descendants faction.¡± ¡°Lin Xian.¡± KIKI hugged his waist, pressing her body against his back and feeling his warmth. She whispered, ¡°If I block a sword for you in the future, will you be sad for me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lin Xian replied firmly. ¡°Ah?¡± KIKI widened her eyes. Lin Xian revved the engine. ¡°I¡¯ll make you an armor that¡¯s invulnerable to knives and swords. No sword will pierce it.¡± ¡°Tch~¡± KIKI couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, though most of the darkness in her expression faded. She laughed, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back and see what Sasha and the others found today.¡± Lin Xian nodded, glancing at the sky as the motorbike raced ahead. He spoke coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t know what they found, but I now know for sure what someone found here.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Who else? The merchant who bought so many guns from us.¡± The motorbike zoomed down the road toward Hengshan Pass station. Hengshan Pass Train Station, Infinite Line. Chen Sixuan, holding the itinerary, was with Miao Lu in compartment 7, checking the supplies. For safety, every box of food was opened and carefully inspected to ensure there was no damage, leakage, or spoilage. They organized everything according to category. ¡°Meat cans and fruit cans should be placed separately. Dry foods like biscuits should also be kept away from liquid foods to avoid moisture.¡± ¡°Xiao Yuan, Tao Tao, put the food in glass jars in the middle cabinets and add some padding. Otherwise, if the train is attacked, these jars might get shattered.¡± Chen Sixuan was meticulous, and Miao Lu worked diligently alongside her. ¡°Miao Lu, any news on the lines?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. Miao Lu checked her terminal and communicator and said, ¡°Not yet. It¡¯s still early. They¡¯ll probably wait until the last moment to return.¡± Chen Sixuan glanced out of the window at the setting sun and took a deep breath. ¡°I hope they get good results today.¡± ¡°Of course~¡± Miao Lu grinned. ¡°It¡¯s broad daylight, so there won¡¯t be any strange creatures around. If they only encounter zombies, it shouldn¡¯t threaten their safety. But Hengshan Pass has been visited by so many people. It¡¯ll probably be difficult to find anything useful.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded. This was the first time the Infinite Line had split into teams for a large exploration. Normally, Lin Xian would lead the way himself. But now, with more people, especially on a normal urban exploration mission, there wasn¡¯t much pressure. It was just the right opportunity to give everyone a breather after running for their lives. Chapter 227: Mark ¡°From now on, it¡¯s best to use the restroom and shower in the daytime,¡± Chen Sixuan said. ¡°We¡¯ll all have to get used to the idea that there¡¯s no real distinction between day and night. Nighttime is more dangerous. Based on past experience, it¡¯s actually safer to rest during the day.¡± ¡°But during the day, we need to travel and find supplies,¡± Miao Lu nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Maybe we¡¯ll rotate shifts, just make sure not to do anything like this at night. We need to be able to respond quickly if there¡¯s an emergency.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Thud thud thud At this moment, a female team member hurriedly ran from the front carriage. She was one of the people Chen Sixuan had specifically arranged to monitor the front car. ¡°Chen sis, you need to come see this! I don¡¯t know when, but a container suddenly appeared on the platform.¡± ¡°A container?¡± Chen Sixuan and Miao Lu¡¯s expressions both changed at the same time. They immediately put down the work they were doing and went to the front car. As they walked, they saw a large black container on the platform in the distance. ¡°The sentry system should have detected this,¡± Chen Sixuan frowned. ¡°It¡¯s probably too far to detect, but with such a big object, how could there be no sound at all?¡± The group continued to observe the container. Unlike a regular shipping container, this one appeared to be a module from a laboratory or similar facility. It had an electric control door and the Phoenix Society¡¯s emblem on it. ¡°Phoenix Society?¡± Chen Sixuan naturally recognized the emblem of the Phoenix Society. After all, they had seen the symbol on Bai Shuangwei¡¯s scientific officer during the Ascendant Elevator incident. ¡°Did the sentry system not detect who put it there?¡± Miao Lu asked as she checked her mobile terminal. ¡°The front car¡¯s observation system and radar didn¡¯t pick anything up. It¡¯s strange. I thought maybe it was an issue with the sentry system¡¯s observation angle,¡± Miao Lu replied. Chen Sixuan kept her eyes on the black container. Her sixth sense as a woman told her that something was off. At this point, other survivor teams at the station also noticed the suddenly appeared container. A few of them glanced over, and even some of the people on the Night Charm train turned their attention toward it. Chen Sixuan immediately grabbed her communicator, but all three channels were unable to establish a connection. The team was due to return soon, and she wanted to notify Lin Xian as soon as possible. ¡°Should we go down and check?¡± Miao Lu asked. ¡°No. Activate the defense system and have everyone pick up their weapons and remain on alert,¡± Chen Sixuan decisively said. ¡°We need to be cautious at all times. If they¡¯re not from our group, we absolutely do not open the doors. That¡¯s something Lin Xian taught me on the first day we boarded the train.¡± Bang. At that moment, the black container suddenly made a metallic sound. Then, the walls of the container collapsed in all directions, and Chen Sixuan and the others froze in shock. They were horrified to see that inside the container, there was a woman! The woman was disheveled, her hands and feet shackled with special mechanical restraints. Her mouth had a device to prevent her from speaking. She was wearing nothing but a thin red evening gown, with her legs bare and no shoes. Her hair was messy, and her body was filthy. Despite her condition, she was immediately recognized by the group. ¡°Ah... isn¡¯t that...?¡± Miao Lu exclaimed as she recognized the woman. ¡°Aileen Clark... isn¡¯t she that Hollywood star?¡± Because the woman was once quite famous, known for her devilishly attractive body and beautiful face, which was now streaked with tears. She looked terrified, struggling to get free as she stared at the train. The sight caused an immediate stir among the other survivor teams, who had also been on high alert. The leader of the Night Charm train, Cao Hong, was watching from behind his group of female subordinates and had turned to look out the window. ¡°Holy crap, Aileen Clark! What is she doing here?¡± ¡°Is it a trap?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just wait and see.¡± Cao Hong wasn¡¯t a fool, and at that moment, everyone¡¯s attention had turned to the Infinite Line train. ¡°Chen sis, it¡¯s definitely a trap!¡± Miao Lu said, her instincts telling her that something was wrong. Chen Sixuan raised her hand, signaling for everyone to stay calm. She studied the woman locked in the restraints and said thoughtfully, ¡°No matter who it is, we¡¯ll wait for the other teams to return before making any decisions.¡± Chen Sixuan was very clear that the people left behind on the train were not particularly strong in combat and didn¡¯t have any abilities. Apart from Miao Lu, who was good with her hands, they were mostly unarmed. The reason Lin Xian had asked them to stay with the train was that the Infinite Line itself was their strongest defense and offense. As long as they didn¡¯t make foolish decisions, they would be able to handle any threats that came their way. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wait and see what happens with that person.¡± At this moment, the woman, Aileen Clark, suddenly had her restraints on her face and feet unlocked with a loud thud. The restraints fell to the ground. Aileen Clark, now free, hurriedly opened her mouth and saw the train not far away. When she saw people inside, she panicked and yelled, ¡°Help me! Please, help me!¡± ¡°She can speak. Looks like she¡¯s not a fake person.¡± After the Rain Town incident, Chen Sixuan had learned to be more cautious. She picked up a broadcast device and, looking at Aileen Clark, said softly, ¡°Who are you? Why are you here?¡± ¡°I... I¡¯m Aileen Clark. You must have heard of me,¡± Aileen said, her gaze frantic as she quickly added, ¡°If you can contact the Phoenix Society or the Federation, my family will offer you a generous reward.¡± ¡°Why are you here? Who locked you up?¡± Chen Sixuan asked again. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Aileen shook her head and glanced at the container beside her. ¡°When I woke up, I was locked in this container.¡± ¡°Well, sorry, I can¡¯t help you.¡± Chen Sixuan replied coldly, directly refusing. Aileen Clark¡¯s sudden appearance was far too suspicious, and she didn¡¯t even know how she got here. Chen Sixuan couldn¡¯t help but be suspicious of her. Hearing this, Aileen panicked. She tried to stand up, but after being locked for so long, she couldn¡¯t manage it. She crawled toward the train, begging, ¡°Please, I really don¡¯t know who locked me up. I¡¯m not a bad person.¡± ¡°She¡¯s coming closer.¡± Miao Lu watched this, her expression now wary. At this moment, Ding Junyi, who was working in the third carriage, suddenly noticed that the black chrysanthemum near her was slowly emitting a red aura! Realizing what was happening, she immediately stood up and rushed toward the front of the train. When she saw that Chen Sixuan and the others were in the cockpit, she asked urgently, ¡°Did they return?¡± ¡°No, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Chen Sixuan replied. ¡°The Dark Mark is increasing. Someone marked is approaching us!¡± Ding Junyi said loudly. ¡°What?!¡± Hearing this, Chen Sixuan and Miao Lu¡¯s expressions immediately changed, and instinctively they looked outside. Ding Junyi had already noticed the woman crawling toward them. ¡°Don¡¯t let that woman get any closer! She has the Dark Mark on her!¡± Ding Junyi reacted immediately. Upon hearing this, Chen Sixuan quickly shouted, ¡°Close the windows!¡± Whoosh! In an instant, the atmosphere inside the Infinite Line became tense, and everyone went on high alert. Buzz~ At this moment, the sound of a motorcycle engine could be heard, and Chen Sixuan looked toward the entrance of the station. Sure enough, she saw Lin Xian and KIKI arriving. Her face changed, and she immediately pressed the communicator and urgently said to Lin Xian, ¡°Lin Xian, be careful! There¡¯s a woman outside our train with the Dark Mark on her!¡± Hearing this, Lin Xian immediately hit the brakes, and he and KIKI both turned their heads to look. Sure enough, they saw a woman crawling on the ground toward the Infinite Line. ¡°Drive, reverse! Don¡¯t let her touch the car!¡± Lin Xian ordered. At this moment, Lin Xian was utterly stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected the second time he noticed the characteristics of the Dark Mark to appear in such a way. Why was there a woman with a Dark Mark here? Upon hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words, Chen Sixuan immediately started the Infinity Train, heading toward the front of the platform in an attempt to avoid the woman. Meanwhile, Lin Xian drove his motorcycle, taking a detour under the tracks, heading toward the Infinity Train. The woman named Erin Clark panicked when she saw the train starting. Confused, she quickly turned around, looking at the other survivors¡¯ groups on the platform. In her panic, she trembled as she got up from the ground and staggered toward the green train, repeatedly pleading, ¡°Save me, please, save me...¡± Meanwhile, the Infinity Train had moved some distance away, and once they were far enough from the woman, it stopped again. Lin Xian drove his motorcycle onto the train and went to the cockpit. He used a loudspeaker to call out to the survivors on the platform. ¡°Everyone, stay away from that woman! She¡¯s marked by an anomalous entity. If we enter the night, it will cause a huge problem!¡± Upon hearing this, the other survivor teams on the platform immediately changed their expressions. ¡°Marked? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Is this real...?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather believe it than not. Maybe we should just pull out.¡± ¡°She¡¯s alone. How could she bring any anomaly here?¡± ¡°Could it be a trick?¡± On the Night Charm Train, the people instantly started arguing upon hearing these words. ¡°No way! That¡¯s Erin Clark! She doesn¡¯t seem like a bad person.¡± ¡°Boss, do you think the Infinity Train has something up their sleeves?¡± ¡°Yeah, they haven¡¯t even left.¡± Cao Hong carefully observed the approaching woman through the window and asked suspiciously, ¡°Wait a minute, wasn¡¯t that box marked with the Phoenix Association¡¯s symbol? Why would the Phoenix Association do something like this?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s a trick. Maybe they want us to leave so they can stay in the station.¡± A clever subordinate spoke up. Hearing this, Cao Hong¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°That makes sense! The herd mentality!!¡± He looked toward the distant black train, his eyes cold. ¡°Damn, they really have a plan.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s up with this woman?¡± ¡°Who knows? She looks so gentle and doesn¡¯t have any weapons. What threat could she be?¡± ¡°Save me~¡± Erin Clark staggered toward the Night Charm Train, unsteady on her feet, and fell to the ground with a thud. She looked up, her face filled with desperation, and looked at Cao Hong. ¡°Please, help me. My family will give you lots of supplies.¡± Seeing this, several of the female team members on the Night Charm Train immediately showed sympathy, starting to whisper among themselves. ¡°Maybe we should help her first.¡± ¡°Yeah, she looks so pitiful.¡± ¡°The people on the Infinity Train have no conscience! They don¡¯t want to help, but they also stop others from doing so.¡± ¡°No wonder there are so few people on their train. Such a big train, and yet so few people. They¡¯re really cold-hearted!¡± On the Infinity Train, Lin Xian noticed that many people from the other teams were unmoved. He furrowed his brow and increased the volume of his announcement. ¡°Don¡¯t engage with that woman! She¡¯ll attract a massive number of anomalous entities! Can you hear me?!¡± No one responded. At that moment, strange glances were cast toward the Infinity Train, especially from the female team members on the Night Charm Train, who started shouting angrily. ¡°Hypocrite! You won¡¯t even save one woman, what kind of man are you?!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got so many weapons, are you afraid of anomalous entities?¡± ¡°Exactly! Don¡¯t you see how pitiful she is? You¡¯re so cold-hearted!¡± ¡°She¡¯s Erin Clark, you know?!¡± ¡°Are you trying to trick us into leaving so you can stay safe with your team here? You¡¯re so scheming!¡± ¡°Oh, these gossiping hens!¡± KIKI immediately got fired up when she heard this. Rolling up her sleeves, she was ready to fly out and confront them, but Lin Xian grabbed her foot and dragged her back. ¡°Ouch.¡± ¡°Stop messing around,¡± Lin Xian said, his expression darkening. ¡°Lin Xian, what do you think?¡± Chen Sixuan asked anxiously. Lin Xian looked at Ding Junyi. ¡°Director Ding, why would a person have such a strong Dark Mark?¡± Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses. ¡°It¡¯s unclear at the moment, and we don¡¯t know how this mark can be transferred. But I strongly advise against interacting with that woman or letting her onto the train. The intensity of the mark on her is even stronger than what we encountered in Yuzhen. I¡¯m worried there will be a massive disaster here tonight.¡± ¡°How terrifying...¡± ¡°Lin, do you think someone is using the Dark Mark to poison us?¡± Miao Lu immediately reacted, the first to think of poisoning. ¡°Poisoning...¡± Lin Xian frowned upon hearing this. Miao Lu¡¯s words sent a chill down his spine. He hadn¡¯t considered that the Dark Mark could be used in this way. If this were true, it meant that someone behind this already understood the theory behind the Dark Mark and could even use it for poisoning. Not only did they know, but they were able to use this characteristic to mark someone as bait and poison them. It sounded absolutely insane¡ªwhat kind of organization would do such a thing? ¡°Professor Chen,¡± Lin Xian said, looking at Chen Sixuan, ¡°Can we use guns to deal with that woman from a distance?¡± Ding Junyi raised an eyebrow. ¡°You want to use that method to remove the Dark Mark?¡± Lin Xian responded, ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible?¡± Ding Junyi shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t be certain. Normally, if the prey dies, the hunter stops. But if the mark is just an odor or energy, as long as the body remains, we might not be able to avoid it.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed. If that were the case, there was no way to shake it off. He glanced at the time. It was almost nightfall. ¡°Is it really the Phoenix Association?¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression turned grim. They had initially thought they were the first to discover this characteristic and had planned to report it to the Phoenix Association. Now, however, things had taken a drastic turn. Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter which organization it is. What matters now is that we need to evacuate.¡± He then turned to KIKI. ¡°Quick, use the drone to check if Shasha and Shu Qin have returned.¡± Looking at his watch, Lin Xian noted that it was 18:05, and nightfall was just over 40 minutes away. Shasha and the others should have returned by now. ¡°What about the people at the station?¡± Miao Lu asked. ¡°We can¡¯t convince them. I¡¯ve shouted until my throat is hoarse, but it¡¯s no use. Since we can¡¯t convince them, I don¡¯t care anymore. Right now, I¡¯m only focused on the people in our team. You can¡¯t help those who refuse to listen.¡± ¡°They¡¯re at the east and north lines. Should we send someone to check on them?¡± Chen Sixuan suggested. ¡°If we evacuate now, they won¡¯t be able to find us. I¡¯m worried they won¡¯t make it back in time. If we don¡¯t warn them, and they interact with that woman, it¡¯ll be even worse.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Let¡¯s wait for five more minutes. If they haven¡¯t returned by then, I¡¯ll go with KIKI to check on them.¡± When it comes to mobility, right now, KIKI¡¯s flight ability combined with his powered armor would be the fastest and most efficient. Chapter 228: Tide of Monster Hunter Inside the station, the murmurs and discussions gradually quieted down as many people turned their attention to Erin Clark. There was no denying it¡ªthis woman was strikingly beautiful. Even in her current disheveled state, she exuded a charm that evoked both admiration and sympathy. Cao Hong felt his throat go dry as he watched her approach with a pleading expression. A woman like this was a rare sight in the apocalypse. His convoy had always been willing to take in beautiful women, but he wasn¡¯t an idiot¡ªon his train, women weren¡¯t just decorative vases. If they were, his convoy wouldn¡¯t have survived this long. However, having too many women on board had its drawbacks¡ªtoo much chatter, too many distractions, and too much interference with his decision-making. It was a headache. But now, looking at Erin Clark, he suddenly felt like adding one more wouldn¡¯t hurt. Even if she was just a pretty vase, she was the most beautiful vase he had ever seen. "Miss Clark, I¡¯m sorry," Cao Hong said seriously. "As much as I¡¯d love to help you, I have to consider the safety of my people. I need to confirm that you¡¯re not carrying any weapons." Hearing this, Erin Clark¡¯s face lit up with hope. She quickly explained, "No... I don¡¯t have any weapons on me." Cao Hong shook his head. "But you¡¯re wearing so many layers¡ªI can¡¯t be sure." The moment he said this, several female members of the convoy rolled their eyes. Erin Clark was wearing nothing but a thin red evening gown¡ªhow was that "many layers"? If he wanted her to strip, he could¡¯ve just said so instead of beating around the bush. Meanwhile, some of the male members of the convoy immediately caught on, their eyes gleaming with excitement. After all, she wasn¡¯t just any woman¡ªshe was a Hollywood superstar. Many here recognized her, and no one would mind getting a good look at her famous figure. Erin Clark understood instantly, but instead of embarrassment, she simply reached for the straps of her dress. With a soft rustle, the silky red gown slipped off her shoulders and pooled around her feet, revealing her flawless, curvaceous body clad only in a black lingerie set. The men aboard the Night Phantom were utterly mesmerized, their eyes locked onto her. Even some of the women couldn¡¯t help but steal a glance. "You see? I really don¡¯t have any weapons," Erin Clark said, raising her hands and spinning around in place. When she noticed that Cao Hong still seemed hesitant, she reached for the clasp of her bra, ready to take it off completely. At that moment, the air in the station seemed to freeze. The men held their breath, their eyes glued to her. Cao Hong, though just as captivated, quickly cleared his throat and interrupted her movements. "Alright, I believe you. You can come aboard." No way was he letting the others enjoy this view. A beauty like this was best appreciated in private. And now, seeing how bold and uninhibited Erin Clark was, his eagerness only grew stronger. Without hesitation, he welcomed her onto the train. Meanwhile, outside the station... The once golden evening sky over Hengshan Pass City was now shrouded in thick, dark clouds. The air grew heavy, and a sense of oppression spread through the streets. On the Infinite Train, Lin Xian and his team watched as strong winds howled outside, signaling an incoming storm. "It''s getting dark soon," someone said anxiously. "Why aren¡¯t they back yet? Did something happen?" The city streets echoed with the rustling of fallen leaves, swirling in the eerie wind. As if sensing an ominous presence, the roaming zombies suddenly became restless, their guttural growls growing louder and more frenzied. BOOM! A silver lightning bolt tore across the sky, illuminating the city for a brief moment. Thunder rumbled, and soon, heavy raindrops began to pour. Within moments, the storm turned into a torrential downpour. Just as Lin Xian was about to check the time, the low roar of engines cut through the rain. Everyone turned to look¡ªtwo armored off-road vehicles were racing down the street, cutting through the zombie-infested roads. "It¡¯s Shu Qin and Da Lou!" Lin Xian immediately grabbed his communicator. "Shu Qin, Da Lou, do you copy?" "Captain Lin! We just ran into some Eerie Entities. No idea where they came from!" Shu Qin¡¯s voice sounded tense. Lin Xian frowned. "Any casualties?" "No, just a minor injury¡ªLu? Chang got scraped up a bit." "Alright." Lin Xian exhaled in relief. "Enter from the east station entrance. Use the tracks to get back here¡ªavoid the survivor camps." Inside the off-road vehicle, Shu Qin and Da Lou exchanged confused glances before nodding. "Understood, we¡¯ll take that route," Shu Qin replied immediately. Though unsure of Lin Xian¡¯s reasoning, she trusted his orders without question. "You encountered Eerie Entities?" KIKI asked over the radio. "On the streets or inside buildings?" "Both, which is why it¡¯s weird," Shu Qin responded. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. "This doesn¡¯t feel like a coincidence." Chen Sixuan looked worried. "What about Shasha¡¯s team? Could they be in trouble too?" "Most likely," Lin Xian said grimly. "Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be this late." Checking his watch, he saw that there were less than ten minutes until nightfall. "Everyone, get ready for battle!" he ordered, prompting his team to arm themselves. VROOM! The two off-road vehicles burst onto the station platform, their reinforced tires screeching against the wet tracks. The Infinite Train crew was already waiting¡ªCarriage 11¡¯s blast-proof doors slid open, allowing the vehicles to drive straight inside. Shu Qin, Da Lou, and Lu? Chang jumped out, their bodies reeking of blood and gunpowder. Lu? Chang¡¯s arm was bleeding. Lin Xian approached him. "How bad is it?" "No big deal. Still got my arm," Lu? Chang said with a grin. Chen Sixuan and Miao Lu rushed over with medical kits, quickly tending to their wounds. "What exactly happened?" Lin Xian asked Shu Qin. Shu Qin took a deep breath. "It started fine¡ªwe were looting some commercial centers. But then, in an underground mall, we ran into a swarm of Eerie Entities. We didn¡¯t engage¡ªwe just got the hell out of there. "But when we resurfaced, they were everywhere¡ªcrawling all over the streets too. It took us forever to fight our way back to the vehicles." "Lin Xian!" KIKI¡¯s urgent voice came through the radio. "Shasha¡¯s still not back! I¡¯m going to look for her!" Just then, Shasha¡¯s voice crackled through the communicator. "Brother Lin! Do you hear me?" "I hear you! Where are you?" "We¡¯re cutting through the main road¡ªthere are so many zombies!" BANG! BANG! BANG! Gunfire rang out in the background. Lin Xian looked at KIKI. "Go! Get ready to assist them!" Main Road¡ªShasha¡¯s Convoy An armored vehicle weaved through the street, dozens of zombies in pursuit. From the pitch-black alleys, grotesque centipede-like creatures skittered out. Shadowy figures lurked in abandoned buildings, while monstrous hands emerged from sewer grates. BAM! BAM! BAM! Gunfire erupted from Shasha¡¯s team, mowing down zombies. But the horde kept coming, piling onto the hood of the armored vehicle. Shasha floored the gas pedal. The engine roared as she plowed through the undead. "Foul creatures, be cleansed by my flames!" Lu Xingchen rolled down the window, conjuring a massive fireball. WHOOSH! The explosion engulfed a dozen zombies, reducing them to ash. "I¡¯ll clear the way!" Lu Xingchen climbed halfway out the window, raising both hands. "Divine: Fire Wall!" FOOM! Blazing walls erupted on both sides of the vehicle. Zombies hurled themselves into the flames, turning to charred husks as the fires intensified. But suddenly, a monstrous, crawling humanoid leapt from an alley, blocking their path. Before Lu Xingchen could strike¡ª BZZZT! A deafening roar of machine gun fire tore through the air. The creature disintegrated before it could even be seen clearly. "It¡¯s our artillery!" Shasha cheered. "Brother Lin must be here to save us!" ¡°At this point, we¡¯ve all gotten used to sleeping while surrounded by zombies. Honestly, if they weren¡¯t howling and scratching outside, I¡¯d probably have trouble falling asleep~.¡± ¡°Oh~ really?¡± Erin Clark¡¯s tense expression finally eased upon hearing that. She gracefully stepped forward and slid into the bathtub. The rushing hot water helped relax her nerves. She watched as Cao Hong eagerly started stripping off his clothes, but she said nothing. Instead, she put on a seductive expression. In the apocalypse, she had long mastered the art of using her advantages to secure her survival. If she ever returned to her family, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to have this fat bastard killed. But for now, he was her lifeline. A little service¡ªso what? Cao Hong, now completely naked, looked at the stunning beauty in the bathtub and sighed, ¡°Those idiots on the Infinite Train... they have no appreciation for such fine art. But then again, that guy does have plenty of beauties around him... Heh, this kind of blessing¡ªonly I, Cao, deserve to enjoy.¡± Beep beep, beep beep. Just as he lifted a foot into the bathtub, the alarm in the room suddenly went off. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark.¡± Cao Hong¡¯s expression remained calm. He looked at her and said, ¡°Miss Erin, welcome aboard the Night Phantom. Enjoy your first wonderful night here.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Erin Clark gave a sultry smile. BOOM! A deafening clap of thunder exploded above Hengshan Pass, causing the entire train¡¯s windows to tremble. Just as Cao Hong was about to slide into the water and savor his rare apocalypse beauty bath, the entire train suddenly dropped downward, and even the ceiling caved in. BANG BANG BANG!!! The violent impact made his "little brother" shrink back in fright. He immediately grabbed the nearby walkie-talkie and shouted, ¡°What the hell is going on?!¡± Crackle... Silence on the other end. Cao Hong frowned and glanced at Erin Clark, then prepared to shout again. But just then¡ª Shrieks. Screams. Agonizing wails. A cacophony of horrifying sounds suddenly erupted from Hengshan Pass Station. "AHHHHHH!" RATATATATATA! ¡°RUN!¡± ¡°HELP!!!¡± Crackle. A sobbing voice came through the walkie-talkie: ¡°Boss!! Monsters are here!!!¡± BOOM BOOM BOOM. Cao Hong froze in shock, while Erin Clark clutched her chest and scrambled out of the bathtub, her face full of panic. Screeeeee~ A sharp, grating sound echoed from above the train, as if some massive claw was dragging itself across the roof. Cao Hong¡¯s face darkened. He turned toward the window¡ª And there it was. A monstrous, red-skinned head with a horrifying face slowly lowered itself outside the window. Its glowing, crimson eyes burned like two eerie lanterns, staring into the carriage. "AHHHH!!!" Erin Clark screamed in terror. Cao Hong swallowed hard. His sweat-drenched, naked body trembled as he slowly reached for the handgun on the table. At this moment, he finally realized¡ª The warning from the Infinite Train... was real. But it was too late. CRASH!!! A massive, razor-sharp claw tore through the side of the carriage like an aluminum can, sending sparks flying. Erin Clark, standing in the bathtub, was instantly sliced into three pieces¡ªso fast that she didn¡¯t even have time to make a sound. In a blink, the water turned crimson. ¡°F***...¡± Cao Hong trembled, cursing under his breath. ¡°At least let me... touch her one last time before I die...¡± BOOM! Darkness consumed Hengshan Pass Station as a swarm of grotesque creatures poured in. A massive, black centipede thicker than a station pillar slithered onto the train. Gigantic, leech-like abominations dropped from the station¡¯s ceiling, landing amidst a cluster of survivors. And that terrifying three-meter-tall red humanoid monster¡ªits mouth running vertically down its face¡ªstared ahead with those lantern-like eyes. It lifted a blackened, razor-clawed hand. Several people were already skewered on its talons¡ªCao Hong included. Their bodies sagged, lifeless. Then, with a single motion, the creature stuffed the human skewers into its gaping maw. The sickening crunch of bones and flesh echoed through the night. RATATATA! BANG BANG BANG! The once-secure train station erupted into chaos. Screams. Gunfire. Survivors didn¡¯t even have time to flee before the creatures overwhelmed them. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The station¡¯s metal roof began to collapse. Rain poured down, washing thick, red blood into the city¡¯s drainage system. The wailing and explosions could be heard from several streets away. Meanwhile, at Hengshan Pass Sports Arena Hu Lushou raised his binoculars toward the train station. Behind him, Sun Chang held an umbrella over his head. BOOM! A silver bolt of lightning split the sky. Through his binoculars, Hu Lushou saw it¡ª A nightmarish sea of writhing tentacles and grotesque creatures swarming the train station. Like a tide of horrors. "Hsss¡ª!" Hu Lushou sucked in a sharp breath and frowned. ¡°That¡¯s strange. Why are so many Eerie Entities appearing all at once at Hengshan Pass Station?¡± ¡°And some of them are B-rank,¡± Sun Chang added. ¡°No way. Those people have been there for more than a night already. Why now, of all times?¡± Hu Lushou muttered. ¡°Could it be because of the Infinite Convoy¡¯s Predator Effect?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°If so, they¡¯re screwed.¡± Hu Lushou clicked his tongue. ¡°Send two teams over at dawn to check it out. There might be good loot left behind.¡± Sun Chang hesitated. ¡°With the Infinite Train¡¯s firepower and their Ability Users, they might actually escape.¡± ¡°Eh, whatever.¡± Hu Lushou tossed the binoculars into her arms and turned toward the stairs. ¡°I just care about scavenging. Whether they live or die isn¡¯t my problem.¡± On the Orbital Rail THUD THUD THUD¡ª The ground trembled violently. BOOOOM!!! A massive, jet-black heavy train, stretching hundreds of meters long, tore across the tracks at breakneck speed. At the rear, a 1130 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) spewed a torrent of hellfire, blasting a monstrous spider off the side of the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive. Silver-plated electric blades extended from the train¡¯s sides, crackling with high-voltage arcs, slicing through the horde of black-winged beetles that swarmed the carriage. Each black-winged beetle was the size of a washbasin, resembling a giant cockroach. Their molten breath scorched metal, and their razor jaws sent sparks flying as they bit into the armored train. Like a locust plague, they clung to the train, refusing to let go. And wrapping itself around Carriages 3 to 6, a massive black centipede shrieked in a piercing tone, sending the Infinite Train screeching on its rails, its iron wheels flaring sparks. ¡°Firebro! Burn those bugs to a crisp!¡± ¡°Big Luo! Get out there and cut that centipede in half! Kiki, cover him and lock that thing down!¡± ¡°Take out those bastards on the nuclear locomotive, Shu Qin!¡± RATATATATA! BANG BANG BANG! A fierce battle raged aboard the Infinite Train. At the helm, Chen Sixuan gunned the engine southward, aiming for the Parma Grasslands¡ªbut Lin Xian had a deeper plan. He strongly suspected that this lure marked with the Dark Mark was the Foundation¡¯s doing. Was this... The third humanity test? No one had believed his Dark Mark theory before. But now, he was determined to prove it. And to do that, he needed to find Phoenix¡ªfast. Crack! The black centipede-like creature was suddenly yanked by an immense force, its legs scraping against the carriage, sending sparks flying. It was forcibly dragged off, its tail slipping from the train¡¯s surface. But its front end still clung on, struggling and climbing frantically. At that moment, Lin Xian had already climbed onto the train roof, sprinting at full speed. He raised his hand, and the black rifle¡¯s magnetic propulsion engine roared to life. The weapon shot forward, piercing straight through the centipede¡¯s head. Lin Xian lunged, pressing the barrel of the gun against the creature¡¯s massive mandibles. With his left hand, he rapidly crafted a hydraulic clamp, forcing its maw wide open. Then, a third mechanical arm extended from his back, clutching the half-meter-long warhead of a Guardian-86 anti-air missile¡ªnow rigged with an additional metal bomb he had personally modified. Without hesitation, he shoved the explosive straight into the centipede¡¯s gaping mouth. Lin Xian withdrew his rifle and instantly performed a backward roll. At the same moment, KIKI shot out from Car No. 5, grabbing the centipede¡¯s head and yanking it violently off the train. Screeeech! The centipede¡¯s countless hooked legs scraped against the train¡¯s armor, producing sharp, metallic clicks as they tore away chunks of metal. But ultimately, KIKI pried it off. ¡°Watch out!¡± Lin Xian flung out a mechanical iron chain, grabbing KIKI mid-air and pulling her back. At the same time, he raised an Ice Shield in front of himself. On the other side, Lu Xingchen witnessed the scene and quickly dove back into Car No. 5 through the hatch. Beep! Beep! Beep! BOOM! The Guardian-86 warhead¡ªpacked with 30 kilograms of explosives¡ªdetonated within the centipede¡¯s mouth. A fiery explosion ignited midair, instantly vaporizing the surrounding rain. Monster limbs and shattered flesh blasted outward, pelting the train¡¯s exterior like armor-piercing rounds. This warhead had been salvaged from a slightly damaged missile, and Lin Xian had held onto it for the perfect moment. Now, it had finally proven its worth. Bzzzzzzzz! Just as they dealt with the centipede, a massive swarm of black-winged beetles darkened the sky, surging toward Lin Xian and KIKI. KIKI hated these cockroach-like creatures. The sight of them made her shut her eyes tightly, grit her teeth, and channel all her energy into her hands. BOOM! A powerful, invisible shockwave rippled outward in a circular blast. The rain within a few hundred meters seemed to vanish for an instant, and every black-winged beetle¡ªwhether clinging to the Infinite Train or swarming through the air¡ªwas violently flung away. WOOOHH!! The Infinite Train roared forward, ignoring the debris on the tracks as it raced along the elevated railway. Before long, it had broken through Hengshan Pass and was speeding toward Shijiu Lake¡¯s Clearwater Town. ¡°Get inside!¡± Everyone was utterly exhausted. After a brutal battle, they had finally escaped with their lives. As soon as they re-entered the train, the thick stench of gunpowder filled their noses. The barrels of every weapon were glowing red-hot from constant firing. Lin Xian, KIKI, Huo-ge, Luo Ye, Shasha, Lu? Chang, and Miao Lu were all drenched in sweat, panting heavily. ¡°Just as I suspected,¡± KIKI muttered, flopping onto the sofa in Lin Xian¡¯s Car No. 1, using her hands to fan herself. ¡°That woman was a marked bait... So damn terrifying.¡± In the cockpit, Chen Sixuan was monitoring the road ahead. Seeing that the danger had subsided after leaving the city, she gradually eased off the throttle. ¡°Lin Xian, are we heading to that town?¡± Clearwater Town didn¡¯t have a station. Lin Xian eyed the distant silhouette of the town and made a quick decision. ¡°The lab is just outside that town. Find an open area to stop. There might be eerie entities inside¡ªwe shouldn¡¯t rush in.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After confirming there were no immediate threats near the train, everyone finally exhaled in relief. ¡°That monster horde was terrifying,¡± Shu Qin said as she walked over. ¡°I can¡¯t believe just carrying that mark attracted so many eerie entities.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°It proves they really do use this method to track humans. If it weren¡¯t for the darkness, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to find us.¡± ¡°Oh my god... that station... all those people...¡± Shasha shuddered in fear. ¡°We barely made it out alive. Those people... they¡¯re all...¡± ¡°Who cares about them?!¡± KIKI¡¯s face darkened with frustration. ¡°We warned them a hundred times, but they wouldn¡¯t listen! They even accused us of trying to harm them. Well, look at them now¡ªdidn¡¯t even get a chance to regret it.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°Using a former celebrity as bait... If we hadn¡¯t had Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, we¡¯d be dead.¡± Beauty aside, having a widely recognized public figure as a lure guaranteed trust. That alone made it a deadly trap. ¡°Check the train,¡± Lin Xian ordered. He needed to return to the research facility immediately to determine if this situation was connected to the Foundation. ¡°On it!¡± Shu Qin and the others sprang into action. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Suddenly, Chen Sixuan shouted from the cockpit. Lin Xian and KIKI rushed inside. ¡°Look at that!¡± As the Infinite Train sped along the lakeside toward Clearwater Town, a massive rift appeared in the northeastern sky. Flames surged through the opening¡ªit looked as if some kind of dimensional tear had split the heavens apart. Lin Xian and KIKI¡¯s expressions changed instantly. ¡°Lin Xian! That¡¯s the research facility¡¯s Sky Dome!¡± KIKI gasped. ¡°What the hell...?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face was filled with disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few hours. What happened?!¡± ¡°Should we stop?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. ¡°No, go straight there! We need to see what¡¯s going on.¡± Lin Xian activated Mechanical Heart and pushed the train to higher speeds. As they neared the Sky Dome, the raging flames became clearer. Many of the trees in the surrounding forest had collapsed, and the roadsides were filled with deep tire tracks. Bzzzzzzzz! The lakeside grass embankments trembled with a low, eerie hum. The water churned violently, as if a massive volume was draining underground. Seeing this, Lin Xian halted the train, his brows furrowing. ¡°Something serious went down here...¡± ¡°Should we go in?¡± Lin Xian turned to KIKI. ¡°Let¡¯s go. That research facility has a lot of valuable equipment. Even if we can¡¯t find Hua Xiaoling, getting our hands on a fully automated medical pod would be a huge win.¡± He had seen the device before when Hua Xiaoling guided them through the facility. If they could install it on the train, they wouldn¡¯t even need a doctor¡ªmost injuries could be treated automatically. Chapter 229: Research Institute in the Lake Under the dark night, the vast Shijiu Lake lay eerily still under the starlight, with a gentle breeze rippling across its surface. The Infinite Train, which had just broken through the eerie tide erupting from Hengshan Pass, was now quietly parked by the tracks along the lakeside. The night wind carried a chill, and the temperature over the Yunjiang Plains began to drop. Wisps of white mist started rising from the connections between the train carriages. Inside the train, the dim lights flickered as people moved back and forth along the carriage corridors. In Car No. 5 and the defensive carriages behind it, many people were loading bullets, while in Car No. 12, the PX-05 engineering robots were busy laying out the ammunition belts for the 1130 Weapon Station. Shu Qin and Luo Ye led their teams, inspecting the condition of each carriage. In Car No. 3, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, which had absorbed the black smoke released by the Black Centipede-like Creature, emitted a faint glow. In the center of its flower core, tiny specks of crimson had begun to appear. ¡°The Dark Mark is starting to take form.¡± Ding Junyi carefully observed the changes in the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum and spoke to Lin Xian behind her. ¡°Judging by the reaction of the station survivors, most people neither accept nor understand the fact that humans can be marked.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that they don¡¯t accept the mark¡ªthey don¡¯t accept me.¡± Lin Xian spoke in a calm tone. ¡°Trust between people has always been fragile in the apocalypse. That¡¯s why I want to use the Phoenix to spread this information.¡± Ding Junyi responded coldly, ¡°Right now, there¡¯s no way to effectively quantify the threat level of the Dark Mark, nor is there a clear method to visualize it. Simply put, while we can use the red glow of the Disaster Flora to gauge the intensity of upcoming attacks, even if others are aware of this, it¡¯ll still be difficult for them to prepare in advance.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Learning to assess the threat of dark entities and raising a gun to fight back is what¡¯s most important. Once people realize that endless escape leads to inevitable failure, the spark of resistance will ignite.¡± ¡°You could call it ¡®burning bridges¡¯ if you want to sound heroic, or you could just say ¡®even a cornered rabbit will bite.¡¯¡± Ding Junyi looked at Lin Xian and added, ¡°Interestingly, this might just give us more options in our eastward escape.¡± ¡°You mean, whether to kill or run?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Lin Xian neither confirmed nor denied her words. ¡°I worry that if the Dark Mark had a quantifiable threat level, even if we escape the pursuit of powerful eerie entities this time, the next encounter won¡¯t necessarily be any easier. Unfortunately, judging from the marked bait back at the station, this does seem to be the case.¡± Seeing Lin Xian¡¯s somewhat pessimistic expression, Ding Junyi spoke up. ¡°Science shouldn¡¯t be rigid, yet your thinking is even more rigid than a textbook. Back when we got marked in the Climbing Passage, all we encountered in Jiazhou City was a massive eerie entity siege. That suggests the Dark Mark has varying strengths and is also influenced by whether powerful predators are lurking in the area.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Huh, you¡¯re right.¡± Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses. ¡°Did you come to me just for this?¡± Lin Xian cleared his throat. ¡°Not just that. Aside from checking on the Dark Mark we¡¯ve been stained with, I also plan to investigate that research facility.¡± ¡°Do you need me to come with you?¡± Ding Junyi asked directly. Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll send in a robot first for reconnaissance. If the danger level isn¡¯t too high¡ª¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not too dangerous, don¡¯t bother calling me.¡± Ding Junyi said matter-of-factly. ¡°You know me¡ªI prefer...¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, I get it.¡± Lin Xian immediately understood. Without further delay, he turned and headed back to Car No. 1, preparing to have KIKI control the PX-05 robot and coordinate with drones to scout the interior of the SIID Foundation laboratory. Woo~ Two drones took off from the train roof. At the same time, the diligent PX-05 robot launched from the entrance of Car No. 11, swiftly flying toward the damaged sky dome of the test site under KIKI¡¯s control. ¡°Huh? That¡¯s odd~¡± In the Information Center of Car No. 2, KIKI frowned as she controlled the robot while staring at the surveillance screen. ¡°Where is everyone?¡± ¡°We won¡¯t know until we enter the underground research facility.¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°It really does look like there was a large-scale evacuation...¡± Chen Sixuan muttered, puzzled as she studied the screen. ¡°No way.¡± KIKI¡¯s face was full of doubt. ¡°You¡¯re telling me they cleared out an entire research facility just because we showed up?¡± Smack! Lin Xian flicked her on the forehead. ¡°Focus.¡± ¡°Ow~¡± KIKI glared at him before quickly turning her attention back to the robot¡¯s controls. From a high altitude, the drones revealed that the entire Qingshui Town Test Site was eerily silent. Meanwhile, the PX-05 robot cautiously entered through the passageway Lin Xian had used earlier. The once-busy laboratories, research rooms, and corridors were now completely deserted. Seeing this, Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew more serious. ¡°This is strange... Could it be that this idiot was actually right?¡± A facility capable of capturing large eerie entities for research and experimentation had suddenly become a ghost town. That was beyond strange. But to say they evacuated just because of him? Even Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t believe that. Still, looking at the scene before him, his mind began to churn. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll have to go in and check for ourselves.¡± ¡°Could it be an ambush?¡± Shasha suddenly asked. ¡°If it was, they would¡¯ve struck already. Besides, we came here looking for them, so it doesn¡¯t really matter.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes turned cold as he began organizing the team. ¡°Luo Ye, Huo Ge, Shu Qin, Xiao Niu, and Director Ding, you¡¯re coming with me. The rest of you, stay and guard the train.¡± At that moment, Lu Xingchen shot Lin Xian a meaningful glance. Lin Xian walked over and saw Lu Xingchen looking somewhat conflicted. He leaned in and whispered, ¡°Brother Lin, would you mind assigning me to guard the train tonight?¡± Lin Xian frowned slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t want to go?¡± Lu Xingchen¡¯s gaze flickered toward KIKI¡¯s screen, his voice lowering. ¡°To be honest... I have a bit of a thing about enclosed underground spaces.¡± Lin Xian thought for a moment before nodding. ¡°Alright, you guard the train.¡± "Much appreciated, Brother Lin," Lu Xingchen replied. Lin Xian didn¡¯t say much. He knew Lu Xingchen wasn¡¯t the type to fear death¡ªif he chose not to go, he must have his reasons. Lin Xian didn¡¯t press for details and instead led Luo Ye, Shu Qin, KIKI, and Ding Junyi off the train. The main reason for bringing Ding Junyi along was that Lin Xian wanted to see exactly what this research facility had been studying. He also hoped to find some useful scientific equipment to load onto the train. Hiss¡ª The cockpit door slid open. Lin Xian and his team stepped down onto the ground, ready to investigate the Foundation¡¯s research facility. As soon as they disembarked, a damp and chilling night breeze from the lake swept over them. Ding Junyi followed behind the group, hands casually tucked into her pockets. Despite the nighttime setting and the impending exploration of a dangerous facility, she remained unfazed. Her expression was as indifferent as if she were simply heading to a scientific seminar. Lin Xian, somewhat uneasy, subtly signaled Shu Qin to keep an eye on their scientist companion. Even though a small, unassuming green sprout on Ding Junyi¡¯s head hinted that she might have developed an Ability, Lin Xian still classified her as a zero combat power individual. The five of them piled into a vehicle. Since there was no platform, KIKI used her Ability to lift the off-road vehicle off the train, placing it directly onto the ground. Lin Xian then took the wheel, driving toward the collapsed forest in the distance. Along the way, Lin Xian noticed traces of vehicles¡ªeven aircraft¡ªhaving once been parked in the area. Scattered around were numerous empty equipment crates, discarded documents, and other debris. ¡°It looks like they evacuated in a hurry,¡± Shu Qin observed, her keen eyes picking up on the details. ¡°It¡¯s messy, but there aren¡¯t any signs of a fight or bodies, so I don¡¯t think they were attacked by eerie entities.¡± Sitting by the window, Ding Junyi glanced at the disarray outside. ¡°Abandoning a research facility of this size must have required some serious conviction. Maybe they sensed an impending crisis¡ªlike, say, some colossal lake monster in these waters, ready to devour the entire research center at night.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s hands almost slipped off the steering wheel. "Hey, Sister Ding, can you not scare us like that?" KIKI shot her a wide-eyed look. "If that¡¯s the case, aren¡¯t we all doomed?" "Not necessarily," Ding Junyi replied matter-of-factly. "With your combined abilities, at least one or two of you should survive." Lin Xian: ... They drove through the facility¡¯s broken curtain walls and parked inside what looked like an underground parking area. The research center still had power, with several corridors remaining lit. Stepping out of the vehicle, the five of them immediately felt the oppressive silence in the air. Whoooosh¡ª A strong gust of wind rushed out from the underground corridors, carrying a damp chill. Ding Junyi, still following at a leisurely pace, remarked, ¡°Probably water intrusion from the lake below, pushing air out. We should be cautious of flooding as we go deeper.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lin Xian knew this facility was built on the lake¡¯s edge, and beneath it lay the Blackwater Testing Grounds, which were undoubtedly connected to Shijiu Lake. If water was seeping in, it meant the underground structures had been compromised. ¡°Called it.¡± KIKI had stopped by a digital information panel, which still displayed an evacuation notice. ¡°System alert¡ªBasement Levels 11 and 12 have been completely submerged. Looks like flooding was indeed the reason for their retreat.¡± The team continued their exploration, finding the entire facility completely deserted. Since the power system was still operational, KIKI immediately pulled out her mobile terminal and began interfacing with the facility¡¯s systems. ¡°The internal system has been wiped¡ªonly the basic operating system remains to keep the facility running.¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes scanned the screen, her frown deepening. ¡°Wait a second¡ªQingshui Town Testing Grounds...¡± She suddenly looked alarmed, hurrying over to Lin Xian with her terminal in hand. ¡°Lin Xian, check this out. The containment doors for multiple experiment chambers have failed. The isolation mechanisms between the test site and the main facility have also malfunctioned.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°So you¡¯re saying the creatures they were keeping here... might have all escaped?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± KIKI shrank back slightly, glancing warily at the facility¡¯s vast research zones. ¡°Which means... whatever we encountered in the Qingshui Town Testing Grounds might already be inside this place.¡± Bang! A sudden rush of underground air slammed a research lab door shut with a loud thud, the sound echoing eerily through the empty facility. Bzzzt¡ª The corridor lights flickered as the voltage fluctuated, casting long, jittery shadows on the walls. The eerie atmosphere grew even more unsettling. Feeling the cold tension in the air, Luo Ye tightened his grip on the Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun, his eyes scanning their surroundings with heightened vigilance. ¡°Captain Lin,¡± Shu Qin asked, ¡°what exactly did you encounter here before?¡± ¡°Something that wasn¡¯t quite eerie entities and wasn¡¯t quite zombies either.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was grim. ¡°I think it was something the Foundation created. There were definitely eerie entities among them, though. I saw a massive one inside a large containment pool.¡± Ding Junyi frowned slightly. ¡°So they¡¯re already at the level of developing mutants?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just my guess. I can¡¯t be certain.¡± Lin Xian replied. By now, they had reached the underground elevator. It was still operational. Lin Xian turned to KIKI. ¡°If I remember right, we saw that massive Ability Research Hall on Level 9, right?¡± KIKI nodded, scrolling through her mobile terminal. ¡°Yeah. And if you¡¯re looking for a medical pod, it should be...¡± Before she could finish, Ding Junyi glanced at the screen and immediately said, ¡°Level 7¡ªthe Clinical Experimentation Floor. ¡°Regardless of whether it was for human trials or something else, they should have full-spectrum surgical medical pods there. These pods are highly efficient for treating bone and external injuries. They can even use Serta pulse sequencing to repair cells through DNA sequencing scans. ¡°Most common diseases take less than five minutes to cure. The only issue is the insane cost and the fact that they require Serta Rare Earth to function, which is highly radioactive.¡± Shu Qin gave her a long look before commenting, ¡°That¡¯s the kind of thing only rich people hear about on TV. I heard it can even cure leukemia in thirty minutes¡ªfor the low, low price of three million credits.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°Our train¡¯s Gemini-11R Nuclear Power System can support this device¡¯s operation. If we install one, we won¡¯t even need medical personnel anymore. But this kind of equipment is extremely delicate¡ªit breaks easily and requires careful transport.¡± Lin Xian felt a headache coming on. He hadn¡¯t expected medical pods to be this complicated¡ªlet alone the added issue of radiation hazards. ¡°Well, let¡¯s check it out first. These are problems for later. Like Ding Junyi said, a piece of equipment this expensive... might have already been taken.¡± Ding¡ª Lin Xian pressed the elevator button. As the doors slid open, everyone¡¯s expressions suddenly darkened. A thick, nauseating stench of blood hit them instantly. Inside the elevator, piles of mangled body parts were stacked atop one another. Blood had splattered across the walls, dyeing the entire cabin a grotesque crimson red. The corpses were still fresh¡ªthey hadn¡¯t been dead for long. ¡°...Were these the research personnel from below?¡± KIKI took several steps back, her face twisting in disgust. She recognized the Foundation uniforms among the bodies. ¡°What the hell did they run into down there!?¡± Lin Xian scanned the scene coldly before remarking, ¡°Looks like their own test subjects turned on their handlers.¡± Chapter 230: Biochemical Research Layer "Can you access the surveillance system here and see what''s happening below?" "I''ll try." KIKI quickly operated on her mobile terminal, and soon, the online surveillance system for the building appeared on the screen. "Levels 11 and 12 are already offline." KIKI continuously switched between public area camera feeds. "There¡¯s definitely flooding down below." "What about the other floors?" Lin Xian asked. "Not a single person." KIKI shook her head. "To be precise, not a single living person. And I don¡¯t see any monsters either." Lin Xian frowned. "That¡¯s strange... How did these people die?" "Maybe they came from the lower floors where the cameras can¡¯t reach," Shu Qin crouched to inspect the edge of the elevator and noticed water stains. She immediately stood up and said, "There are two possibilities¡ªeither they died before the flooding started, and since the elevator is well-sealed, no water got in. Or... something killed them inside the elevator." "Check level 7. If it looks safe, we¡¯ll head there first." Lin Xian focused on their objective¡ªfinding the necessary equipment. Other supplies were secondary. "Got it." KIKI immediately switched to the 7th floor¡¯s feed and began searching. "This research facility is massive, divided into different sectors. The classified research and core areas have separate surveillance systems controlled internally¡ªI can only access the public areas. But..." As she spoke, her eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh! There¡¯s one! A Comprehensive Life-Support Surgical Pod inside a research lab! Whoa, there¡¯s so much equipment here. They didn¡¯t take any of it when they left~" Lin Xian stepped forward to take a look, his expression instantly shifting. "As expected." "In an emergency evacuation, the priority is core research data, high-value assets, mid-value assets, and then general assets," Ding Junyi explained. "A Comprehensive Life-Support Surgical Pod is expensive, but for an organization of this scale, it¡¯s at best a mid-tier asset. Leaving it behind isn¡¯t surprising." "What about the researchers?" Shu Qin asked, puzzled. Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses and said coolly, "Except for a few top-tier supervisors who qualify as high-value assets, the rest are considered mid-tier or lower. In fact, some biological research specimens rank higher in the evacuation order than the researchers themselves." "Alright, let¡¯s not dwell on this." Lin Xian pulled out his Black Rifle and addressed the group. "Before the water rises any further, let¡¯s get to the 7th floor and see if we can secure that medical pod. After that, we¡¯ll check for other supplies." He pressed the elevator button, and the five of them descended underground. When the elevator doors opened on the 7th floor, a sharp, overwhelming scent of disinfectant filled the air¡ªfar stronger than any hospital. Lin Xian frowned as he and the others cautiously stepped out, scanning their surroundings. The space was massive, divided into multiple sectors. "Gene Research Area, Tissue Regeneration Engineering, Cell Cultivation, Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry... This place is even bigger than the Biological Research Facility in Underground City No. 9." Lin Xian muttered. Whoosh! A gust of air rushed through the corridors, followed by a faint tremor in the ground. Loose research documents scattered everywhere, fluttering into the air. Ding Junyi reached out, caught one, and adjusted her glasses as she read it. "This research facility''s work on Dark Entities is far more advanced than the Federation¡¯s. The data here is immense, but something about it confuses me..." Lin Xian walked over and grabbed her arm, pulling her forward. "The water is rising below. We can analyze later. First, we find that Comprehensive Life-Support Surgical Pod." "Got it~" They moved quickly through the facility. Along the way, they passed various sealed research labs¡ªsome even reinforced with lead-lined radiation-proof doors, making the atmosphere even more unsettling. As they ventured deeper, their expressions darkened. Now, they were encountering large-scale biochemical research chambers. Behind reinforced transparent observation windows, grotesque human body parts, Human Eeries, Zombies, and unidentifiable biological specimens were suspended in preservation tanks. The pristine, sterile labs starkly contrasted with the grotesque experiments they contained, creating a disturbing visual clash. "It looks like those conjoined aberrations we encountered in Clearwater Town were created here," Lin Xian remarked grimly. Ding Junyi, however, appeared intrigued. She carefully examined the specimens, her expression growing more serious. "When I worked for the Federation, Dark Entity research was still in its infancy. The kind of human mutation engineering and limb fusion experiments I¡¯m seeing here... were considered impossible." They turned into another biological research sector, stopping in front of a heavily secured lab. Through the reinforced glass, they could see a large, white medical pod in the center¡ªresembling some kind of cryostasis chamber. It was much bigger than Lin Xian had expected. Just at a glance, he estimated it weighed over a ton. "This is it." A wave of excitement flashed across Lin Xian¡¯s face. He hadn''t expected things to go this smoothly. Ever since Hua Xiaoling brought him to an underground research facility, he had suspected the Foundation might possess such technology. He had planned to scan a blueprint for it and manufacture one himself on the train. But after witnessing the Death Game Incident, he realized this Foundation was an insane organization. There was no chance he¡¯d get close to such equipment¡ªuntil now. Hiss¡ª KIKI swiftly bypassed the lab''s security using her terminal, and the door locks disengaged. Lin Xian rushed inside and immediately activated his Mechanical Heart to begin scanning the medical pod. Only by scanning it could he fully understand its systems. If the device was in good condition, he could dismantle and transport it back to the train. With Daluo and KIKI, moving it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. This would save him the trouble of building one from scratch. "I need about 30 minutes," Lin Xian said, looking at the others. "Search the surrounding areas, but be careful¡ªthere might be Eerie Entities lurking around." "Got it." KIKI clapped her hands. "Hey, there¡¯s a lot of valuable stuff here. If we can¡¯t take it all, you could devour it, right?" Lin Xian nodded. "That¡¯s the plan¡ªif we don¡¯t run into trouble. With lake water flooding in, we need to grab whatever we can without compromising safety." "Then we should check the other floors too." KIKI frowned at her terminal. "Look¡ªlevel 5 has an armory, and level 9, where we were before, seems to be the core research hub. With such a huge facility, there¡¯s bound to be more useful stuff." Lin Xian knew KIKI had been fixated on getting a mecha. He turned to Shu Qin and Daluo, saying, "Alright, the three of you head to level 9. Ding Junyi stays here. We won¡¯t split up too much. If this Comprehensive Life-Support Surgical Pod checks out, we take it and leave¡ªno distractions." "You¡¯re being overly cautious." KIKI smirked. "I checked the feeds¡ªthere¡¯s no sign of any monsters. If there are any, they¡¯re probably in the flooded lower levels." Lin Xian shot her a glare. "Just go. Less talking, more caution." He had a clear strategy now¡ªsecure priority targets first, then consider secondary objectives. Exploring unknown areas too greedily often led to disaster. The Comprehensive Life-Support Surgical Pod was something he had wanted for a long time. Until now, they had relied on bandages for every injury. Luckily, aside from KIKI¡¯s incident, no one in their team had suffered life-threatening wounds. But it remained a major concern. Injuries, combined with Dark Invasion risks, severely impacted a convoy¡¯s mobility and treatment capacity. If they secured this medical pod, it would significantly ease the burden on Chen Laoshi and Miao Lu¡ªno more rushing around with bandages. "Alright, you be careful too~" Lin Xian nodded as the three prepared to leave but suddenly called out to Daluo. "Daluo." "Yeah? What¡¯s up, Xian-ge?" "Level 9 should have Hua Xiaoling¡¯s office. Check if she left any tea¡ªbring some back for Huo-ge." "Oh, got it." As they left, Lin Xian focused back on scanning. [Scanning Target... Progress: 15%] Ding Junyi, meanwhile, was completely absorbed in collecting research documents. Just then, KIKI¡¯s voice burst through the communicator¡ªher tone urgent and excited. "Lin Xian! Hurry! Come to level 9¡ªNOW!" "We found something incredible!" Chapter 231: Mysterious Container "I told you to get the medical pod back first, didn''t I?" "Lin Xian, come quick! I found something really good!" KIKI''s voice was urgent. Lin Xian frowned upon hearing this. He immediately grabbed his black rifle and called out to Ding Junyi, "Let''s go. We''re heading down to the 9th floor." Ding Junyi hesitated, still holding a stack of documents, reluctant to part with them. But Lin Xian didn''t give her a choice¡ªhe grabbed her arm and pulled her along. They walked through the hallway, making their way to the elevator. Lin Xian pressed the button, and once the doors opened, he stepped inside with Ding Junyi, descending to the 9th floor. This was the area Hua Xiaoling had previously taken him to, so Lin Xian still had a clear impression of its layout. This floor was vastly different from the others¡ªit was incredibly spacious, with a ceiling height nearly three times that of the floors above. The ceiling was covered with a reflective material resembling a sky dome, displaying a real-time projection of blue skies and white clouds. Even the fake windows along the hallway displayed images of towering skyscrapers and lush green jungles, seemingly designed to ease stress for the foundation researchers who worked underground for long periods, preventing them from feeling too oppressed. Lin Xian led Ding Junyi through several large office areas, following a straight corridor. Before long, they spotted Daluo waiting at the entrance to a room. "Brother Xian." "What''s the situation?" Lin Xian asked. He glanced at the nameplate on the door¡ªit bore the name "Hua Xiaoling." He immediately realized this must be her office. Daluo scratched his head. "I¡¯m not sure. You should check it out yourself." Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate. He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The first thing that caught his eye was the vast, semi-circular room. Through the enormous panoramic windows, he could see the research plaza he and KIKI had observed before. But now, it was completely empty. The glass containment chambers were shattered, exposing the interiors. The mech maintenance platforms were also deserted, leaving only a few seemingly unimportant research devices scattered around. "Captain Lin." A voice came from behind. Lin Xian turned around to see KIKI standing near a secret passage in the wall. Arms crossed, she looked both excited and curious. She pointed to a large, two-meter-wide explosion-proof metal vault door beside her and said, "Guess how I found this?" Lin Xian walked over and examined it. "Is this Hua Xiaoling''s safe? But... isn''t it a bit too big?" "Whatever it is, there''s definitely something important inside." KIKI turned toward a nearby decorative statue, activated her psychic ability, and caused the wall mechanism to close again. "See? Pretty cool, right?" "Open it," Lin Xian ordered, his eyes flashing. As KIKI reopened the hidden passage, Lin Xian stepped forward, placed his hand on the heavy vault door, and activated Mechanical Heart to scan its structure. Moments later, his brows furrowed. "This is complicated... There¡¯s a large space behind this door. Stay alert." Hearing this, Daluo and Shu Qin immediately took out their weapons, forming a defensive triangle around the entrance. Clang! With the sound of metal latches disengaging, the vault door slowly opened. But just as the gap widened, an electric current surged out, making their skin tingle. "Watch out!" Whoosh! KIKI took over, using her psychic power to push the door open further. The group cautiously peered inside. Inside was a dark hallway. As they watched, soft lights flickered to life along the floor, illuminating a path that stretched into the distance. At the end of the corridor, a dim red glow emanated from a room. Without hesitation, Lin Xian stepped in, and KIKI followed closely behind. The moment they crossed the threshold, an eerie silence enveloped them. The floor was spotless, and even their footsteps made no sound¡ªas if the hallway was made of advanced soundproofing material. Lin Xian and KIKI exchanged glances before focusing ahead. Within a few steps, they arrived at the crimson-lit room¡ªand what they saw made them both freeze. "What the hell is this?" KIKI''s voice was filled with shock. The hidden chamber was spacious. In the center stood a circular metal platform, surrounded by diamond-shaped pillars arranged in a precise pattern, all glowing faintly red. Suspended above the platform by a slender mechanical arm was a peculiar device. It resembled a small containment pod, about a meter tall. The cylindrical chamber at its core was filled with red liquid, though its contents remained obscured. "It looks like a specialized containment unit," Lin Xian speculated. "But I have no idea what¡¯s inside." "Who cares? Let¡¯s take a closer look." KIKI wrinkled her nose and, without hesitation, reached out with her psychic ability to pull the device toward her. But just as she brought it closer, her face suddenly paled. Eyes widening, she lost control of her psychic grasp, and the device plummeted toward the ground. Lin Xian reacted instantly, lunging forward to catch it. Bang! A crushing force reverberated through his power suit. His spinal actuator auto-adjusted to counteract the weight, hydraulic systems groaning under the strain. "Ugh!" KIKI staggered backward, breathing heavily. "That was weird... My ability just went completely unstable!" Lin Xian wiped cold sweat from his forehead, just as shaken as she was. He recognized this sensation¡ªit was exactly like what he had felt back at Rain Town¡¯s chemical plant when facing Ding Qing. If not for his power armor, he wouldn''t have been able to hold onto the device at all. "Careful," he warned, staring at the red liquid inside. "This stuff might contain the same substance that came from the mutant parasite back then." KIKI instinctively backed away. "So it¡¯s some kind of anti-ability suppressant? A weapon against ability users?" "Not exactly..." Lin Xian studied the liquid, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn''t discern what was inside. He tried searching for an access panel or controls, but found nothing. Taking a deep breath, he activated Mechanical Scan to analyze the device. ¡¾Scan complete. Acquired Unknown Device 03 (Blueprint).¡¿ To his surprise, the scan worked immediately, but the results were vague. The device was identified as an automated containment vessel, requiring a password for access. A warning message appeared: ¡¾Enter Matrix Code: _________¡¿ Lin Xian frowned. "A password?" KIKI asked. "Can¡¯t your mechanical ability override it?" Lin Xian dove deeper into the device¡¯s structure, attempting to bypass the lock. The moment he tried¡ª ALERT: Forceful access will cause the "Resuspension Liquid" to destabilize, destroying the contained object. Lin Xian was baffled. "Resuspension Liquid? What the hell is that?" "How would I know?" KIKI muttered, stepping back further. As soon as she distanced herself by a few meters, she let out a relieved sigh. "This whole place is full of creepy stuff..." Lin Xian examined the security panel. The password required 11 digits¡ªa frustratingly complex lock. With a sigh, he stood up. Though he felt slightly weak, it wasn¡¯t unbearable. The container¡¯s shielding seemed to prevent direct exposure to its contents. "You can''t crack it?" KIKI asked. Lin Xian shook his head. "The security system is too advanced. Forcing it open could be dangerous." "So what now?" "Throw it away," Lin Xian replied casually. "Throw it away?!" KIKI was stunned. "Hey, if it was hidden this well, it has to be something important! Why toss it?" Lin Xian shrugged. "The entire research team evacuated but left this ¡®classified secret¡¯ behind. If it was so important, why not take it? Besides, it suppresses abilities and might be risky to open. What else would we do with it?" "...Ugh, fine. Do whatever you want." As Lin Xian turned to leave, his Mechanical Heart suddenly activated on its own. ¡¾Mechanical Heart¡ªActivating!¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Heart¡ªActivating!¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Heart¡ªActivating!¡¿ A deafening engine roar echoed in his mind. "Lin Xian!" A deep mechanical voice rang in his ears. Lin Xian shuddered, every hair on his body standing on end. He spun around¡ª The containment device was glowing red. Lin Xian¡¯s breath hitched. A cold sweat broke out on his back as he stared at the glowing red containment device. What the hell was that voice just now? His heartbeat pounded in his ears. He quickly turned to KIKI. "Did you hear that?" he asked, his voice slightly hoarse. KIKI gave him a strange look. "Hear what?" She glanced around, perplexed. "I walked out and saw you just standing there like an idiot. I thought something happened to you." "You didn''t hear anything? A loud voice¡ªlike an engine roaring, and someone calling my name?" Lin Xian''s brows furrowed deeply. KIKI shook her head. "Nope. You sure you¡¯re okay? You didn¡¯t suddenly develop schizophrenia, did you?" Lin Xian remained silent, his gaze locked onto the red-glowing containment device on the ground. Something was wrong. His Mechanical Heart had never activated on its own before¡ªlet alone in such an intense, uncontrollable manner. And that voice... It had called his name. It wasn¡¯t just a random hallucination. It was directed at him specifically. The implications made his scalp tingle. Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the lingering unease in his chest. His Mechanical Heart had finally calmed down, no longer pulsating wildly like before. Whatever this thing was, it wasn¡¯t ordinary. Making a snap decision, Lin Xian walked forward and constructed a reinforced metal container¡ªthick, layered, and lined with shielding materials. He then carefully placed the red containment device inside and sealed it shut. The moment the box closed, that strange suppressive force weakened. KIKI raised an eyebrow. "Changed your mind?" "Yeah. We¡¯re taking it back," Lin Xian said firmly. His tone carried an edge of uncertainty, but also determination. "I want to figure out what this thing really is." Moments ago, he was dead set on abandoning it. But after hearing that voice, an odd intuition told him that this thing was important to him. Even if he didn¡¯t understand why. KIKI didn''t argue. She just shrugged and said, "Whatever you say." At the entrance of the corridor, Shu Qin and Daluo watched as Lin Xian and KIKI emerged, carrying a massive, heavily reinforced iron box. Both of them instantly felt something the moment they got closer¡ªan odd, subtle pressure that made them slightly uncomfortable. Daluo frowned. "What the hell is that? It¡¯s making my arms feel weak." KIKI smirked and used her psychic ability to levitate the box. "Here, big guy. You carry it." Daluo, thinking it¡¯d be an easy lift, grabbed onto the box with both hands. WHAM! The moment he touched it, his legs buckled. His muscles tensed, and he nearly collapsed on the spot! "Sh*t¡ª! Why the hell is this thing so heavy?!" Daluo gritted his teeth, barely managing to keep himself upright. His arms trembled. Lin Xian glanced at him and calmly explained, "It¡¯s not actually that heavy. Your strength is just being suppressed." Daluo: "..." What the f*ck kind of explanation is that?! Still, with a grunt, he adjusted his footing and forced himself upright, locking his core strength in place. "Alright, let¡¯s move. We still need to get that medical pod back." With that, the group left the hidden chamber, moving through the massive underground research facility. Even though most of the valuable equipment had been evacuated, there were still plenty of scattered supplies, tools, and instruments left behind. Lin Xian planned to salvage anything useful along the way. His Mechanical Devour ability could break down a lot of these devices, converting them into raw materials or usable components. As they walked, KIKI suddenly turned to him and asked, "Hey, you never did say¡ªwhat exactly was in that thing?" Lin Xian¡¯s fingers tightened slightly around his rifle grip. He didn¡¯t know. But whatever it was... It had called his name. Chapter 232: Dark Shadow "Big Luo, KIKI, you two go together to the 7th floor and bring that Comprehensive Life-Support Surgical Pod back to the train first. Also, call a few more people on your way down," Lin Xian instructed. He glanced out the window at the vast research hall filled with numerous abandoned research devices and immediately said, "Before the water rises, let''s loot this research facility thoroughly. I see plenty of employee rest areas and offices here¡ª even everyday supplies shouldn''t be overlooked. Opportunities like this won''t come often." "Mm." Shu Qin nodded in agreement. "You''re right. Now that Abyss Zone No. 5 and No. 7 are spreading, no matter which route we take next, we''re heading straight toward the abyss. The faster we move, the sooner night will fall. Just this afternoon, many survivors reported through the radio that the east, the northern route, and the Parma Grasslands have already been hit by blizzards. Several extreme cold vortexes are approaching us, and Abyss Zone No. 3 isn''t far either." Ding Junyi was busy sifting through papers scattered across Hua Xiaoling¡¯s office, searching for useful information. Without looking up, she said, "Extreme cold vortexes are forming because the moisture from Shijiu Lake in the Yunjiang Plains and the southeastern ocean is being swept into the tides of Abyss Zone No. 8 and No. 4. The resulting blizzards will be unprecedented. The Federation had already assessed this as a major natural disaster, and it seems their prediction was spot on." Lin Xian''s face darkened at her words. "Exactly. Hengshan Pass is already getting colder. Once we leave this station, we¡¯ll have to charge through the encirclement of Abyss Zone No. 5 and No. 7 in one go. There won¡¯t be many chances to scavenge or restock supplies on the way. If we have the opportunity now, we better take it." KIKI shrugged, her big eyes blinking in confusion. "I could carry that thing out by myself. Why are you sending the big guy with me?" Lin Xian gave her a speechless look. "That thing is precious. If you run into trouble on the way, you need backup. Otherwise, I''ll have to use you as a sandbag to smash zombies. Where am I supposed to find another one of these if you break it?" KIKI stuck out her tongue, realizing that was something she would actually do. "Alright, Brother Xian, we''re heading out first." Big Luo nodded, never questioning Lin Xian¡¯s orders. "Be careful. Once I get back, I''ll bring more people over and clear this place out!" KIKI called out before heading toward the 7th floor with Big Luo. Lin Xian glanced at Director Ding, who was still busy searching through documents, then turned to Shu Qin and said, "Let¡¯s go. This floor is about to flood. We''ll do a quick sweep, grab what we can, and work our way upwards. I bet there are still useful weapons in the armory on the 5th floor." "Mm." Shu Qin nodded, pulling out her Remington M96 as the three of them moved toward the research hall at the end of the corridor. Before they even stepped onto the stairs, the roaring sound of rushing water echoed through the facility, and many of the lights flickered due to short circuits. By the time they descended, the lower corridors were already flooded, with water deep enough to cover their feet. The icy chill instantly seeped into their bones. Whoosh¡ª A deep, muffled gust of wind howled through the passageways. "The water has already reached this floor," Shu Qin observed. Lin Xian frowned and immediately abandoned the idea of searching further. "Forget it. Let''s head up to the 8th floor." Safety came first. While the research hall had plenty of devices he could devour, extracting them would take too much time, and the entire research facility was flooding. It wasn''t worth the risk. Lin Xian had considered ordering a salvage operation, but in this situation, the priority was moving essential supplies, not feeding his Mechanical Devour ability. Besides, he could always return later at night to the Dragon-Class Transport Ship and devour its Night Star-2 Nuclear Turbine Processor, which was a safer bet. "Wait a second," Ding Junyi pointed at a floor layout map on the wall. "The Information Archive Room is just ahead. I think we should check it out. This research facility contains a lot of inexplicable things. If we can find valuable intel, it¡¯ll definitely be beneficial." Lin Xian looked at her, contemplating for a moment before nodding. "Alright, it¡¯s not far." Without hesitation, the three of them waded through the flooded corridor, heading toward the Information Archive Room. Since the 9th-floor ceilings were almost triple standard height, classified research divisions and data archives were isolated in separate sections. As soon as they rounded the corner, they found themselves in a vast corridor filled with shallow, rippling water. Splash, splash, splash¡ª The eerie sound of their footsteps echoed down the hallway. Soon, they passed into another section of the 9th floor, climbed a set of stairs, and arrived at a previously sealed corridor. This section wasn''t flooded. At the end of the corridor stood a yellow security door equipped with a keycard system and biometric scanners. "This must be the Information Archive Room." Lin Xian didn''t have high hopes. The internal network had already been migrated, so top-secret data wouldn¡¯t have been left in paper form. However, since they were already here, he figured it was worth checking. He was already highly suspicious that this afternoon¡¯s "Marked Decoy" incident was orchestrated by the Foundation¡ªwhich also happened to rival the Federation and Phoenix in many research fields. But what he couldn¡¯t figure out was why the Foundation would deliberately leave behind a Phoenix insignia. Shu Qin examined the layout. "There¡¯s a stairwell here. We can take it directly up to the 8th floor instead of backtracking." Lin Xian nodded and placed his hand on the door lock, activating Mechanical Heart. Within moments, the complex security mechanisms disengaged. Creak¡ª As the door swung open, rows of overhead lights flickered to life, illuminating neatly arranged information cabinets. However, instead of documents, the cabinets had previously housed data servers, which were now completely missing. Only a single terminal server remained, still running the facility¡¯s basic infrastructure. Lin Xian sighed. "As expected. Looks like they had plenty of time to evacuate. They weren¡¯t fleeing in panic." Shu Qin nodded. "Nothing critical was left behind, and there are no signs of an attack. It was an organized retreat. I bet if there were any incidents, they only happened in the flooded lower levels." "Or in their test sites," Lin Xian added. Meanwhile, Ding Junyi didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, she strode straight to the control terminal and began typing rapidly. "Large organizations follow strict emergency protocols. Evacuation measures for fires, biothreats, air raids, etc., must provide saturation-level notifications across internal comms, email, area broadcasts, lights, and personnel transport links. So even though their main system was removed, the basic infrastructure still holds these logs." As she finished speaking, her fingers danced across the keyboard one last time. Beep. A red system log popped up on the screen. Just as she predicted¡ªthere was an evacuation order on record. Lin Xian¡¯s expression sharpened. ¡¾EMERGENCY EVACUATION (LEVEL 5)¡¿ ¡¾16:15¡¿ "16:15??" Lin Xian''s pupils contracted. "What''s wrong, Lin?" Shu Qin asked. Lin Xian''s voice was icy cold. "That was the exact time KIKI and I had just left this research facility." Ding Junyi looked puzzled. "Did something happen while you were here?" Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. "I¡¯ll explain later. Let¡¯s move." Just as he turned away¡ª Creak¡ª A faint metallic noise echoed from the server room. Lin Xian and Shu Qin instantly raised their weapons, eyes locking onto the same darkened passageway ahead... Shu Qin immediately stepped forward. ¡°Lin, I¡¯ll check it out.¡± Lin Xian raised a hand to stop her, then made a quick hand signal. Stay behind Ding Junyi. He and Shu Qin instinctively shifted into a protective formation, keeping Ding Junyi between them. He drew his Black Rifle, then gestured midair¡ªa split second later, an automatic rifle materialized in his grip, constructed in an instant through Mechanical Devour. Moving cautiously, he stepped into the narrow server aisle, his gaze locked onto the source of the sound. Creak. Another faint noise¡ªeven clearer this time. Lin Xian narrowed his eyes, slowing his breathing as he approached the dimly lit power distribution room. As he reached the door, he carefully pushed it open. At first, there was only darkness. But then¡ª A shadow. A strange, black silhouette stood in the corner of the server room. Its head was adorned with two twisted, horn-like protrusions. Its body was covered in black tendrils, giving it an eerie, inhuman appearance. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils shrank. No hesitation. BANG! BANG! BANG! He fired instantly, unleashing a stream of bullets straight into the figure. The rounds struck¡ªbut instead of flesh and blood, chunks of dry, brittle material snapped off the creature¡¯s body, scattering like splintered wood. And then¡ªit moved. With an unsettling, inhuman grace, the shadow lunged sideways, its long, clawed limbs scraping against the floor as it darted toward the hallway. Lin Xian¡¯s expression flickered. A retreating Eerie Entity? Strange. The creatures he had encountered before never ran. They always attacked head-on. But this one¡ªwas trying to flee. That thought barely lasted a second. His instincts screamed: Don¡¯t let it escape. The power armor surged with energy as his legs exploded forward, launching him into a full-speed pursuit. If a creature like this was backing off, it meant it was weaker than him. And if he could kill it now, he had to. Because he knew the Dark Mark existed. He wasn¡¯t about to let this thing mark him or his team. BOOM! Lin Xian launched off the wall, using its surface as a springboard to slingshot himself forward. The creature had just rounded a corner¡ªstraight into a dead end. Except¡ª It wasn¡¯t running anymore. It was climbing. The black tendrils covering its body were shrinking, its form collapsing inward, as if it were squeezing itself into¡ª A tiny ventilation duct. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flashed. Not happening. He hurled his Black Rifle with all his strength, activating its flight controls¡ª WHOOSH! The rifle accelerated mid-air, boosted by its built-in propulsion engine, and slammed straight into the creature¡¯s side! CRACK! A spray of splinters and dark shards burst from the impact. The creature hissed¡ªa sound like a croaking toad mixed with static interference¡ªbut in the next instant, its clawed fingers latched onto the edges of the duct, and with a sickening squelch, it compressed itself further and vanished inside. SCREECH! The sound of its claws scraping metal faded into the distance. Lin Xian rushed forward, retrieving his Black Rifle, then glanced at the duct opening. It was tiny. No bigger than a handspan. That thing had shrunk itself and slithered through like an octopus squeezing into a bottle. Fck. "Lin?" Shu Qin¡¯s voice came from behind. She had positioned herself at the entrance, still protecting Ding Junyi. Lin Xian exhaled sharply. ¡°It got away.¡± He flipped the Black Rifle in his hand, inspecting the barrel. Some kind of black residue clung to the metal. Wet? He frowned. The substance was slightly damp¡ª Waterborne? His gaze darkened. ¡°Be careful. That thing might¡¯ve come from the water.¡± As he turned back, he noticed Ding Junyi¡¯s face. She was flushed, chest rising and falling with rapid breaths, her eyes glinting with an unusual shine. Lin Xian frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Ding Junyi barely spared him a glance. ¡°Nothing. Don¡¯t worry about me. This place is just... very dangerous.¡± Lin Xian resisted the urge to facepalm. She was saying ¡°dangerous¡±, but why did she look like she was enjoying herself? Shu Qin, on the other hand, looked genuinely confused. Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Whatever. Let¡¯s move. Anywhere with water is a no-go. We¡¯re heading up to the 8th floor.¡± "Mm." The three of them left the Information Archive Room, making their way down the hallway toward the exit. But as they stepped outside, they came to a stunned halt. They were standing in a massive mechanical workshop¡ªa high-ceilinged industrial hangar. Before them, a flooded hangar bay stretched across the room, its depths completely submerged. At the far end, a staircase led up toward the next level. But Shu Qin wasn¡¯t looking at the stairs. Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Lin¡ªlook!!¡± Lin Xian turned toward where she was pointing¡ª His expression changed instantly. Beneath the dark, flooded hangar, the upper half of a massive combat mecha loomed above the waterline. Its dark green armored frame was half-submerged, its core reactor dim, its colossal battle arms hanging limply over the surface. Lin Xian recognized it instantly. ¡°T8-Z Vulcan Military Siege Mecha?!¡± Chapter 233: Vulcan Mecha "What a massive machine!" Shu Qin exclaimed. "I saw the Iron Guard Battalion with one at the spaceport before¡ªits firepower is insane!" "That was a T7," Lin Xian''s expression grew serious. "This T8-Z Fire God is the latest siege model before Apocalypse Day. Only a few were ever deployed to the Starfleet, and now a random Foundation has one? That''s insane." "They don¡¯t just have one. Looks like they have plenty," Ding Junyi scanned the hangar and said, "There are sixteen large storage bays on these mech maintenance platforms, and they¡¯re all empty. Could this one be broken?" Lin Xian''s eyes sharpened. He dashed a few steps along the water''s edge, then leaped onto the mech with a clang. He moved toward the armored viewport of the cockpit, wiped away the grime, and immediately saw a drowned corpse inside¡ªdressed in a Foundation uniform. "Looks like they didn¡¯t make it out. Doesn''t necessarily mean it¡¯s broken, though." Lin Xian felt an intense surge of excitement. After so much searching, he had finally found a heavy mech! He eagerly examined the upper body of the machine, his gaze burning with enthusiasm. This beast weighed a full 17 tons, standing over three meters tall. Its right arm was equipped with a triple-barreled 30mm Vulcan cannon, carrying 6,000 rounds. The left arm held a 75mm onboard main gun, capable of firing high-explosive shells, semi-armor-piercing demolition rounds, and guided munitions at a rate of 40 rounds per minute. On top of that, it had a flamethrower and a grenade launcher system. Its armor was comparable to a tank, making it the ultimate siege weapon! "I need to check if it''s damaged, then find a way to get it back to the Infinite Train!" Lin Xian pressed his hand against the cold metal plating and activated Mechanical Heart, preparing to scan the mech. "Lin Xian, can I check out the other areas on this floor?" Ding Junyi raised a stack of documents in her hand and said, "I want to gather more useful information before we leave." Lin Xian wanted to refuse. They had just encountered an unknown eerie entity, and he was worried about Ding Junyi¡¯s safety. But seeing her determined expression, he understood how important this was to her. He turned to Shu Qin and said, "Fine. Go together, but don¡¯t stray too far." Then, he pressed his communicator and warned, "When we were on the seventh floor, the signal range was decent. But down here, the interference is intense. Either it¡¯s an eerie entity¡¯s dark energy, or it¡¯s these waters. Stay alert." Shu Qin nodded. "Don¡¯t worry, Captain Lin, I¡¯ll stick with Director Ding." With that, Lin Xian gave Ding Junyi a nod, and the two women moved past the hangar toward other areas on the ninth floor. This floor was the Foundation''s main operations hub, meaning there were likely far more valuable resources here than on any other level¡ªsomething Lin Xian had already factored into his plans. Seeing them leave, Lin Xian wasted no time and initiated the mech scan. [Scanning... 1%] A deep hum filled the air as Mechanical Heart activated. As his consciousness merged with the mech, a rush of exhilaration surged through his mind¡ªa feeling he''d only experienced when scanning his power armor before. Beneath the exterior plating, the intricate mechanical transmission design, the power core on the back, the control systems, the gyro stabilizers in the legs, the hydraulic power distribution units in the thigh actuators, the high-torque agile knee drives, and the muscle fiber engine clusters¡ªall of it sent an electric thrill through Lin Xian¡¯s senses, the sheer industrial beauty making his heart race. If he could bring this thing back, it would be an absolute game-changer. Combined with the G3 Electromagnetic Railgun he was still working on, the Infinite Train''s firepower would reach a whole new level! "...Wait, damn! I almost forgot!" An idea suddenly struck him, and he opened his Research Center interface. "Shi*! The sniper rifle blueprint finished upgrading two hours ago..." Looking at the floating holographic interface, Lin Xian suddenly remembered something crucial. "I was so focused on fighting that black centipede that I missed the notification." [Congratulations! You have obtained the ''Meteorite-3 Heavy Sniper Rifle'' (Blueprint)!] "Holy sh*t, this is high-end gear!" The Meteorite-3 was an elite sniper rifle used by Starfleet special forces. Built with special alloy materials, it was lighter, more mobile, and integrated with a smart recoil-dampening system¡ªoffering superior firepower, stability, and maneuverability. "It even has an advanced support system. If I give this to Professor Chen and craft her a power armor suit... Damn..." The thought of turning Professor Chen into a sniper goddess filled Lin Xian with fiery excitement. "Finally! Time to upgrade the power armor!" This time, he prioritized armor development. Ever since obtaining the TRP-4 Industrial Active Exoskeleton from Ding Qing, he had planned to modify and upgrade it. Once the electromagnetic railgun system was complete, he would craft power armor for his top fighters, boosting everyone''s combat capabilities. Without hesitation, he uploaded the power armor blueprint to the Research Center. [This blueprint is high-level. Current Mechanical Manufacturing Level: 3. Research duration increased by 25%.] [Estimated research time: 13 days, 20 hours.] "As expected." Lin Xian''s gaze darkened slightly. But this time, he didn¡¯t cancel the research¡ªhe locked it in. [Mechanical Manufacturing: Level 3 (460/1000)] Thanks to his massive weapon production at Hengshan Pass and his frequent use of mechanical abilities at the research institute, his proficiency was nearing halfway to the next level. "Once I finish setting up the weapon station for the Infinite Train, or build a batch of heavy weapons..." "Perfect¡ªI was planning to track down that guy Hu anyway. I¡¯ll craft more weapons and trade for essential supplies before heading into the snowfields." Lin Xian refocused on scanning the mech, but he remained highly alert to his surroundings. "Shu Qin, what¡¯s your status?" "No abnormalities, Captain," Shu Qin responded. Hearing that, Lin Xian felt a bit more at ease. He took a deep breath, fully activating Mechanical Heart, pouring all his focus into scanning the massive mech. Gurgle... gurgle... The submerged hangar bubbled and rippled, the water level rising slowly. What once reached the mech''s waist was now up to its chest, and the walkway was beginning to flood. Lin Xian frowned, estimating the water¡¯s rise. Every now and then, he checked in with Shu Qin over the communicator. Thud, thud. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the corridor they had entered from. Lin Xian''s heart tightened. He snapped his head toward the sound¡ªjust in time to see a shadow dart past. "Who¡¯s there?!" he called out. Silence. No response. Lin Xian gripped his Black Rifle, but he didn¡¯t let go of the mech¡ªthe scan was still running. [Scan Progress: 55%] Unless absolutely necessary, he would not interrupt the scan. "Shu Qin." "What¡¯s wrong, Captain?" "Where are you?" "We''re in an office area." Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened. "Stay alert. Something¡¯s moving toward your direction." "Got it!" Shu Qin¡¯s voice tensed up. Thud, thud, thud¡ª The footsteps drew closer. Bzzzzt! The lights flickered. For an instant, everything plunged into darkness. When the lights flickered back on, Lin Xian¡¯s breath caught. KIKI. She was standing in the corridor, silently watching him. "When did you get here?" KIKI stepped forward¡ªthen, without hesitation, she did something utterly baffling. Before Lin Xian''s stunned eyes, she slowly removed her clothes, one piece at a time. Within moments, her bare, porcelain-white body was fully exposed. Lin Xian''s brows immediately furrowed. This eerie behavior triggered a strong sense of unease. His mind flashed back to the Rain Town incident, and without hesitation, he raised his Black Rifle, his voice turning ice-cold. "Who the hell are you?" "It''s me! What are you doing?" KIKI looked at Lin Xian, puzzled by his raised weapon. Yet, she didn''t stop. Instead, she stepped into the water and began swimming toward him. Lin Xian''s alarm bells rang. Every fiber of his being screamed that this ''KIKI'' was off¡ªyet she spoke, making him hesitate. "Stop!" he barked. But KIKI didn¡¯t stop. She just kept swimming, her pale body cutting through the dark waters in a strangely graceful manner. In the dim, flooded hangar of this underground research facility, the sight was downright unsettling. Lin Xian tightened his grip on the Black Rifle, gritting his teeth. Was this an illusion? Or had KIKI lost her mind? His subconscious screamed a warning¡ªthis was all wrong! "It''s really me! Don''t shoot!" KIKI called out. Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded as she got closer, sweat forming on his forehead. Just as KIKI was about to reach the mech¡ª BANG! A massive gunshot shattered the silence. In an instant, the KIKI in front of him vanished¡ªand Lin Xian''s vision suddenly snapped back to reality. The dark haze cleared, revealing a spray of blood and shredded flesh exploding into the water next to the mech. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze snapped downward. There was no KIKI. Instead, floating in the water was a ghastly white human head, its lower half riddled with bullet wounds¡ªand below it, a mess of torn-apart tentacles! "Lin Xian!" A familiar voice rang out from the distance. Lin Xian snapped his head up and saw a group rushing down the straight corridor¡ªKIKI, Da Lou, Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, and a dozen team members were all racing toward him. And standing at the center of them was¡ª Chen Sixuan. She was still holding her A33K Heavy Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle, the barrel smoking from the shot she had just fired. Her chest rose and fell slightly as she lowered the gun and ran over with KIKI. "Lin Xian, are you okay?" Chen Sixuan asked. KIKI floated over the water, frowning at the strange corpse, then back at Lin Xian. "What the hell were you doing?! That thing was so close¡ªwhy didn¡¯t you shoot?!" Lin Xian finally snapped out of his daze. His gaze remained locked on the humanoid abomination in the water. His voice was filled with disbelief. "This thing... I don¡¯t know what it did, but I saw you..." His tone darkened. "I saw you taking off your clothes and swimming toward me¡ªyou even talked to me." "WHAT?!" KIKI¡¯s big, expressive eyes widened in shock and outrage. "Bullsh*t! Who the hell would strip naked and swim in a place like this?!" she fumed. Chen Sixuan reached the edge of the hangar, looking at Lin Xian from across the water. "But when I was aiming just now, I didn¡¯t see it using any camouflage," she noted. Lin Xian nodded. "Exactly. So I¡¯m thinking¡ªthis was some kind of hallucination-based ability." "An ability?" "Yeah." Lin Xian pressed his communicator. "Shu Qin, Director Ding¡ªget over here. Our team has arrived." "Copy that. On our way." Lin Xian exhaled deeply, then looked at the shredded corpse in the water. "Director Ding mentioned before¡ªif an Ability User mutates into a Human Eerie, they might still retain their abilities. But it could also be some kind of Eerie Entity. We¡¯ll have to ask her when she gets here." His expression grew serious as he addressed the team. "Everyone, stay sharp. This Foundation research facility might not just have Human Eeries and Eerie Entities¡ªthere could be other experimental horrors lurking around. Stay on your toes." "Hold up." KIKI suddenly landed next to Lin Xian, eyes sharp as daggers. "Explain this to me properly." She narrowed her gaze. "Did you really see me take off my clothes?" Cough cough¡ª Lin Xian avoided the little troublemaker¡¯s accusatory stare and immediately turned to Chen Sixuan to change the topic. "Professor Chen, what are you doing here?" Chen Sixuan held onto her sniper rifle and replied in a casual but probing tone. "Lu Xingchen is staying back to guard the train. Shasha stayed behind too. When KIKI told me this place had a lot of supplies, I figured I¡¯d come along. I know exactly what we¡¯re low on, so I can help prioritize what we take. We can¡¯t just throw everything onto the train." Lin Xian nodded. He understood her real reason for coming¡ªshe wanted to help out more actively. But he didn¡¯t call her out on it. Instead, he simply agreed. "That makes sense. Good thinking." "Oi, Lin¡ª" "By the way, kiddo¡ªtake a look at this." Before KIKI could explode, Lin Xian cut her off and pointed at the mech beneath him. KIKI''s attention immediately shifted. Her eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. "Holy sh*t! The T8-Z Fire God Siege Mech?!!" ... A few minutes later, Shu Qin and Director Ding arrived from the side corridor. The team gathered around the water¡¯s edge, examining the grotesque monster that Chen Sixuan had just obliterated. "This thing has a completely human torso¡ªit¡¯s probably a Human Eerie," Director Ding analyzed. "But after seeing all the biological experiments in this Foundation lab, I can¡¯t say for sure." "That''s actually terrifying," Shu Qin muttered, her face grim. "It could make people hallucinate¡ªdefinitely a psychic ability." Lin Xian nodded. "I don¡¯t even know how I got caught in it. I knew something felt wrong when it got closer, but the KIKI I saw was so damn realistic. That¡¯s why I hesitated instead of shooting immediately." "Everyone needs to stay extra cautious moving forward." At the mention of "realistic," KIKI puffed out her cheeks and gave Lin Xian a narrow-eyed glare. Lin Xian could feel her sneaking glances at him, clearly still fixated on that one detail. In hindsight, he should¡¯ve just said he saw KIKI¡ªwithout mentioning the stripping part. Now, she wouldn¡¯t let it go. So, he motioned for KIKI to come closer. KIKI, still fuming, floated over with an unconvinced expression. "What do you want?" Lin Xian lowered his voice. "That thing¡ªit simulated you taking off your clothes." His tone was serious. "I observed it very carefully¡ªand I¡¯m absolutely sure..." KIKI''s expression froze, a faint blush creeping onto her face. "That wasn¡¯t your real body." KIKI blinked, then her face turned red and white, her teeth gritting hard. "You¡ªhow the hell do you know?!" Lin Xian kept a straight face. "Because..." He pointed at the floating corpse and calmly stated: "That monster had a chest." Chapter 234: Cover Deployment "Lin Xian!" KIKI''s face instantly paled at his words. Her eyes flared with anger, and if they weren¡¯t surrounded by people, she would¡¯ve rushed over and strangled him on the spot. Lin Xian pointed at the mecha beneath his feet. "Once I finish repairing it, you can be the first to pilot it." Hearing this, KIKI¡¯s eyes immediately brightened, though she was still fuming. She looked at him with a mix of anger and anticipation, then quickly said, "You said it, no take-backs!" "Lin Xian, what''s the plan now?" Chen Sixuan spoke up, glancing warily at the strange corpse in the water. Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned serious. "Originally, I wanted to send the whole team to explore, but judging by the situation down here, things are a lot more complicated than expected. It¡¯s better if we stick together. I¡¯ll repair this mecha first, and then we¡¯ll leave together." "Ah?" KIKI sounded a little disappointed. "This research facility is huge. Are we really not going to look around? What if there''s more valuable stuff?" Lin Xian pointed at the eerie human head floating in the water. "Monsters that can cause hallucinations are a serious threat. Plus, we already encountered those things crawling through ventilation ducts. I¡¯d bet a lot of creatures have already gotten in from the breached containment walls over at the test site. Given the circumstances, we shouldn¡¯t push our luck." In horror movies, people always insist on splitting up even when they know something is wrong¡ªa stupid decision. Right now, Infinite Train wasn¡¯t in a life-or-death situation for supplies. If it weren¡¯t for the heavy mecha he was currently repairing, Lin Xian would¡¯ve already ordered a retreat. After all, his primary objective¡ªretrieving the medical pod¡ªhad already been accomplished, which was more than he expected. On top of that, it was currently nighttime, meaning Infinite Train might face other dangers. Staying here too long wasn¡¯t an option. "How about this?" KIKI suggested. "Since there are so many of us, we can stay on this floor and search. That way, we can still cover you while you work, and once you¡¯re done, we¡¯ll all leave together." Looking at such an empty research facility without scavenging at least a little felt like a waste. However, she also understood Lin Xian¡¯s reasoning, so she proposed a compromise. Lin Xian thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But we¡¯re still deep underground, and with rising water levels, we need to plan for emergencies." He turned to KIKI. "Where¡¯s the elevator exit for this mecha hangar?" KIKI quickly checked her mobile terminal. "Exit F, but that¡¯s located at Test Site No. 3¡ªalso known as the Clearwater Town Test Site, the one we entered earlier. That¡¯s the designated large-scale machinery exit." Lin Xian frowned slightly. "Got it." He then looked at Big Luo. "Big Luo, take a team and secure the elevator access for our eventual retreat." "Shu Qin, Lu? Chang, you two handle the central courtyard. The lake water here is suspicious¡ªpossibly contaminated with Eerie entities¡ªand it¡¯s interfering with our communications. Since you¡¯re agile, you¡¯ll serve as relay points for messages while also gathering supplies." "As for KIKI, your job is to protect Director Ding and take her to key research areas. Look for any valuable data, especially anything on Abilities or Eerie Entities. This Foundation seems to have conducted deeper research than Phoenix, and their findings might help us." "Chen Sixuan, you and Miao Lu stay here and cover me while I work. I expect to finish repairs in about 40 to 60 minutes." "Got it." Chen Sixuan nodded. Lin Xian added, "Everyone, stick together. Do not explore alone¡ªat least three people per room. Keep your lights on¡ªthe power supply might fail at any moment. This facility contains Eerie Entities, Human-Eeries, and unknown test subjects. If you encounter any threats, neutralize them immediately. If you can¡¯t, retreat to the central courtyard elevator and regroup for support!" "Understood!" Everyone responded in unison. Other than Lu Xingchen, Shasha, and a few convoy members who stayed behind on Infinite Train, 24 combat-ready members were currently in the research facility. Lin Xian¡¯s team assignments ensured every group had at least one heavy-firepower unit armed with a Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun. Additionally, each team member was equipped with tactical flashlights, explosives, grenade launchers, gas masks, and cutting tools. "Alright, stay sharp¡ªmove out!" Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s precise strategy, the team¡¯s morale soared. They immediately began their assignments. With their enhanced bodies and advanced firepower, the Infinite Train crew had become a formidable force. Knowing there was backup nearby, everyone focused as they set off. Command Post ¨C Repair Site "Chen Sixuan¡ª" "I know." Before Lin Xian could finish, Chen Sixuan cut him off. "Just focus on your task. I¡¯ll handle things here." Lin Xian hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. Stay safe." Chen Sixuan exhaled softly and turned to Miao Lu and the others. "We¡¯ll stay in this area and observe. The water¡¯s rising, so keep an eye out for anything in it." "Understood!" Lin Xian observed the rising water level. Given the size of the ninth floor, it would take time to completely flood, but the water was already reaching the mecha¡¯s cockpit. [Scan Progress: 60%] Meanwhile, Big Luo led his team toward the central courtyard. The facility¡¯s underground structure resembled a honeycomb, with a central descending passageway and six hexagonal research sectors per level. "Testing¡ªcommunications check." Shu Qin pressed her earpiece. "Shu Qin, received. But I¡¯m noticing signal interference." "You two, stay here." Shu Qin assigned relay operators along the path. "Work in pairs, check-in every three minutes, and maintain communication." Big Luo watched her efficiency and asked, "Were you in the military?" "Starfleet 71st Army Group, Dingzhou 552nd Recon Cavalry, Sergeant." Shu Qin glanced at him. "Retired. You?" "Westwind Brigade, Combat Engineer." Shu Qin¡¯s eyes widened. "General Wei¡¯s unit?" Big Luo nodded. "Yeah." "I heard that after Apocalypse Day, when the Federation collapsed, some Starfleet remnants reorganized and joined Phoenix. That included Westwind Brigade." Big Luo scratched his head. "I wouldn¡¯t know. I retired before that¡ªopened an auto repair shop." Their squad reached the central courtyard¡ªa massive hall resembling an airport terminal, complete with directional signs. "I¡¯ll hold this position," Big Luo said, hoisting his Gatling gun onto his shoulder and stepping onto a flower bed. "There are two emergency stairwells nearby. Lu? Chang and I will sweep the area and patrol. We¡¯ll stay in contact with you," Shu Qin replied. "Got it." Big Luo¡¯s eyes scanned his surroundings. He knew this was the retreat route, so he remained fully alert. Meanwhile, KIKI and Ding Junyi headed toward the research sectors. "You¡¯ve grown stronger since leaving Jiazhou City," Ding Junyi remarked as she quickened her pace. "Really?" KIKI crossed her arms and hovered backward. "I don¡¯t feel any different. Soul Wave Values don¡¯t seem to measure evolution properly." Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses. "That''s because Soul Wave Values measure life force fluctuations, not true power levels..." As they discussed, they raced deeper into the unknown depths of the facility. KIKI hovered backward as she listened. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that Soul Wave Values aren¡¯t a reliable measurement?¡± Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°Not exactly. The more time someone spends in the Black Night, the stronger their Abilities and genetic evolution seem to be compared to survivors in areas with less Polar Night influence. However, the survival rate is significantly lower.¡± KIKI scoffed. ¡°Well, obviously. If you¡¯re constantly fighting monsters in the dark, of course fewer people survive.¡± Ding Junyi shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not just about combat. There¡¯s also Dark Corruption¡ªremember how Lin Xian mentioned it before? I¡¯ve been studying Phoenix¡¯s research and cross-referencing data from other survivor factions. I found something interesting¡ªentering Dawn significantly suppresses Dark Corruption.¡± KIKI raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wait, so you¡¯re saying people who absorb Black Night energy need some kind of balancing phase?¡± Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°For humans, yes. Biological evolution requires sunlight. You can think of it like photosynthesis¡ªplants absorb light energy during the day, but if exposed to too much sun, they wither. At night, they undergo respiration, releasing stored energy. Phoenix probably knows this, but they haven¡¯t released their findings because they lack experimental confirmation.¡± KIKI clicked her tongue. ¡°Seriously? The world¡¯s already ended, and they¡¯re still worried about ¡®scientific verification¡¯? If they¡¯ve figured something out, shouldn¡¯t they warn people?¡± Ding Junyi smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. Science is precise. And Phoenix represents the last true authority among the survivors. If they make false claims, people could misinterpret the findings. Their philosophy is already about ¡®following the Dawn,¡¯ so they don¡¯t need to highlight something that supports their existing agenda. Plus, without full verification, an incorrect statement could do more harm than good.¡± ¡°Ohhh.¡± KIKI narrowed her eyes. ¡°So if they publicly announced this, some idiots might try to deliberately stay in the darkness to evolve faster¡ªwhich would just get them all killed?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s voice dropped. ¡°The same goes for Dark Marks¡ªit¡¯s even more dangerous than Dark Corruption. If survivors knew the full extent of the risk, some might try to experiment on themselves, leading to even more deaths.¡± KIKI pursed her lips. ¡°But... we¡¯ve already proven Dark Marks exist. We literally just dealt with a Marked Decoy earlier today!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡± ¡°From a scientific perspective, our findings are still based more on hypothesis than proof. Even with Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, we lack detailed data. We don¡¯t even fully understand what kind of energy Dark Marks are, how to monitor them, or their exact mechanics. Right now, our understanding is more experiential than empirical.¡± ¡°On top of that, Phoenix¡¯s structure doesn¡¯t allow them to experiment on live subjects the way the Foundation does.¡± KIKI rolled her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. Even if they don¡¯t trust us, we still need to find Phoenix eventually, right?¡± Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°Damn it!¡± KIKI¡¯s face darkened¡ªthen suddenly, something clicked in her mind. ¡°Wait... are you saying that this Foundation is the same group that dropped that Marked Decoy at the station earlier?¡± Ding Junyi shook her head. ¡°Not necessarily. But judging by their research direction, they could have the means to study Dark Marks more effectively than Phoenix or the Federation.¡± She then glanced at KIKI. ¡°Didn¡¯t you and Lin Xian interact with them earlier? Can you tell me more about SIID? What kind of organization are they?¡± KIKI¡¯s expression turned sour. ¡°They¡¯re a bunch of lunatics.¡± Crossing her arms, she recounted what happened inside the SIID facility earlier that day. ¡°...Not only do they experiment on live humans, but they also treat it like a game. And yet, they have the audacity to call themselves ¡®neutral¡¯¡ªwhat a joke!¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s expression became unreadable. ¡°...It sounds like they¡¯re following a group immunity model.¡± KIKI blinked. ¡°What now?¡± Ding Junyi explained, ¡°Think of the Abyss Zones and Dark Invasion as a global extinction virus. According to the group immunity theory, only the fittest survive. Apocalypse Day wiped out billions of people worldwide. Those of us still alive either gained Abilities or underwent genetic evolution. In their eyes, we¡¯re simply the lucky few in a natural selection process.¡± KIKI scoffed. ¡°Yeah? And who¡¯s supposed to fight back against the darkness?¡± Clack. Ding Junyi stopped walking. She turned to KIKI, her expression unusually solemn. ¡°That¡¯s the problem.¡± ¡°Humans have never actually ¡®defeated¡¯ a virus before.¡± Chapter 235: Bait Submersible ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± As they walked, Ding Junyi explained, ¡°Throughout history, humanity has endured countless outbreaks of viral pandemics. Millions have died. Although modern science and virology have provided us with numerous countermeasures, the reality is¡ªwe have never truly defeated a virus through medical means.¡± ¡°Then how did we survive? The virus just disappeared on its own?¡± KIKI asked, confused. Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°Partially, yes. But for the most part, it¡¯s due to the evolution of the human immune system. So when you mentioned the SIID Foundation¡¯s mission statement, this is what came to my mind. To be honest, as someone in the biological sciences field, I find the theory rationally sound.¡± ¡°You mean abilities?¡± KIKI floated beside Ding Junyi, reaching out to play with the little tuft of green hair on her head. ¡°You¡¯ve evolved too, so I¡¯d say you¡¯re making a fair point. But I don¡¯t agree with their methods¡ªneither does Lin Xian. So, what¡¯s their purpose in deploying marked decoys?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a hypothesis. We can¡¯t be certain yet.¡± KIKI fell silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Ding Junyi and asked, ¡°If your stance were different from Lin Xian¡¯s, what would you do?¡± Ding Junyi responded calmly, ¡°My agreement with a theory is purely from a scientific perspective. My personal stance doesn¡¯t matter. If Lin Xian asks me for my conclusion, I¡¯ll tell him based on my principles. As for what he chooses to do...¡± ¡°I will support any decision he makes.¡± She glanced at KIKI. ¡°I act on principle. You act on emotion. That¡¯s the difference between us.¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes widened. Flustered, she quickly retorted, ¡°Emotion? Pfft! What nonsense! He and I are just partners¡ªright now, everyone¡¯s struggling to survive...¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Ding Junyi suddenly stopped in her tracks, staring ahead. KIKI, startled by the interruption, immediately turned around. They had arrived at an unfamiliar research sector. Before them was a large isolation hall with a massive glass enclosure, now filled with murky lake water. It looked like an aquarium. Cracks in the structure were leaking water, and the ground was already flooded up to their knees. ¡°What kind of room is this?¡± Ding Junyi searched for a nameplate and quickly found one near a control panel outside the chamber. It read: ¡¾GX Deep-Water Sampling Chamber¡¿ ¡°This is a depressurization chamber. It must connect directly to Shijiu Lake.¡± KIKI lifted her mobile terminal and floated closer to the thick isolation window, staring into the dark water inside. Then, after a few quick operations, she exclaimed, ¡°Huh, this sector is controlled by an independent internal system.¡± She flew toward a massive control panel in the distance and connected her mobile terminal. Within seconds, she had accessed the chamber¡¯s control program. ¡°Easy work...¡± Pleased with herself, KIKI activated the chamber¡¯s drainage system. ¡°Looks like the main leak isn¡¯t here. The drainage is working fine.¡± Meanwhile, Ding Junyi stood beneath the nameplate, reading the various warning labels on it. Her brows furrowed, and she immediately turned to KIKI. ¡°Be careful. This seems to be a hazardous research facility¡ªeverything here is remotely controlled by the system.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± KIKI immediately flew back, her eyes wide. ¡°It¡¯s not some kind of toxic or radioactive research, is it?¡± Splash! As the water level inside the chamber slowly receded, the space echoed with strange sounds. A vortex swirled within the murky liquid. KIKI and Ding Junyi watched as several mechanical arms emerged from the ceiling, each holding a device resembling a small submersible. ¡°Oh~ I get it now.¡± KIKI sighed in relief at the sight. ¡°These must be used for deep-sea exploration in Shijiu Lake. They come here for depressurization afterward. I thought it was something serious.¡± Then, she noticed a dark object caught in the swirling water. Curious, she leaned closer, reaching out with her ability to pull it toward her for a better look. The black mass drifted toward the glass, swirling in the current. Thud! Suddenly, it slammed into the glass right in front of KIKI. It was a bloated, corpse-like body with wide-open eyes. KIKI¡¯s pupils contracted as she instinctively recoiled. Just as the corpse began drifting away with the current, she abruptly reached out with her ability and caught it. ¡°Ding-jiejie! I know this person!¡± Floating in the water before them was none other than Tan Meng¡ªthe woman from Room 5 in the Death Game that KIKI and Lin Xian had encountered earlier that afternoon. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°This woman¡ªshe was in that game I told you about! I remember...¡± ¡°I remember she survived! How did she end up dead here?¡± ¡°So the so-called ¡®freedom¡¯ and ¡®survival¡¯ they promised were just lies?¡± Ding Junyi murmured. ¡°The SIID Foundation is disgusting!¡± KIKI gritted her teeth. As the depressurization chamber continued to drain, the atmospheric pressure increased. The corpse, having been submerged for days, swelled grotesquely, its mouth and nose leaking chunks of flesh. The sight was horrifying. KIKI scowled and released her grip, letting the corpse sink into a corner as the remaining water drained. ¡°There¡¯s an open submersible over there. I¡¯m guessing she escaped from it.¡± Ding Junyi pointed toward a damaged submersible resting on the flooded floor. Its transparent hatch was open, submerged in the remaining water. ¡°So these submersibles were made to hold people?¡± KIKI lifted the submersible with her ability, bringing it closer. Now they could see that the cylindrical interior was barely large enough for a person to fit inside. Ding Junyi stepped down into the water and joined KIKI. ¡°KIKI, put it down. Let me take a look.¡± KIKI nodded, lowering herself and the submersible to the floor. The two of them peered through its glass window. Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses, remaining calm. ¡°This is definitely an unmanned submersible. The space inside isn¡¯t for piloting¡ªit¡¯s for containment.¡± ¡°Look,¡± she pointed at the interior. ¡°There are no control panels in here. The occupant would be completely sealed in.¡± KIKI leaned closer and finally noticed the bloody scratch marks covering the metallic interior. ¡°...So what exactly was this project for?¡± KIKI¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°It¡¯s obvious.¡± ¡°Ding-jiejie, be careful.¡± With a flick of her power, KIKI lifted Ding Junyi and moved her to a safe distance. Then, she clenched her fist and smashed through the high-strength glass of the depressurization chamber, extracting the submersible. She pulled it toward her, pried open its control panel, and connected her mobile terminal. ¡°These unmanned units all have mission logs. No way they wiped everything.¡± Sure enough, within moments, she had accessed the stored data. She floated Ding Junyi back beside her and frowned. ¡°What the hell are these missions...?¡± Ding Junyi adjusted to floating in midair, finding the sensation oddly thrilling. As she examined the logs, her brows furrowed. ¡°All missions followed the exact same pattern: descend 900 meters, stay for 30 minutes, and return.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± KIKI was baffled. ¡°Dump someone in the lake for a half-hour swim?¡± Ding Junyi pushed up her glasses. ¡°I¡¯m more interested in the timing.¡± She pointed at the timestamps. ¡°Every mission occurs exactly 30 minutes before sunrise.¡± ¡°Huh... You¡¯re right,¡± KIKI muttered. ¡°So they always return just as daylight breaks?¡± ¡°Check the other submersibles,¡± Ding Junyi instructed, a theory forming in her mind. KIKI complied, quickly scanning several more units. Their logs were nearly identical¡ªexcept none of the others had scratch marks inside. ¡°Ding-jiejie, what are you thinking?¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is like fishing?¡± ¡°Fishing?¡± ¡°Yes. They¡¯re dropping live bait into Shijiu Lake, then reeling it back in.¡± KIKI paled. ¡°You mean¡ªthey¡¯re using people to lure Eerie Entities?¡± Ding Junyi shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. If that were the goal, they wouldn¡¯t need this specific setup.¡± ¡°Then what are they fishing for?¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Unmanned. Live target. Always returns before daylight. If something happens to the person down there... what use are they when they come back?¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°Black Night Marks!¡± Ding Junyi nodded grimly. ¡°And more than that¡ªwhatever¡¯s lurking 900 meters down must be something terrifying enough that they can¡¯t risk retrieval after sunrise.¡± Chapter 236: Full Firepower "Lin Xian, how much longer?" Water had already risen past everyone''s knees in the corridor. Chen Sixuan stepped through the murky water, frowning at the black depths beneath her. "Almost done." ¡¾Scan Progress: 90%¡¿ "At most, ten more minutes." Lin Xian pressed his communicator. "Everyone, report your status." "No issues here," came the response from Shu Qin''s side of the building. "But the water has reached the elevators." Shu Qin used her communicator to contact KIKI. "KIKI, Director Ding, how¡¯s your situation?" Crackle¡ª A burst of static came through the communicator. Inside the depressurization chamber of the submersible, KIKI heard the interference in her earphones and immediately put down the device. She turned to Ding Junyi. "Someone¡¯s calling us. We should head back." Ding Junyi glanced at the research area, now completely submerged, and nodded. "I''ll analyze the engineering logs after we get back." "I think the situation is pretty clear," KIKI said grimly. "There''s no way the Foundation isn''t involved in this." Gurgle, gurgle¡ª Suddenly, a strange empty thump echoed from the chamber¡¯s drainage pipe, followed by a stream of rising bubbles. The ground shuddered, and the water rippled violently. Just as KIKI was about to leave, something caught her eye¡ªat the drainage pipe¡¯s opening, a creature resembling a black, branch-like structure slowly emerged from the swirling vortex. Its wet body glistened in the dim light, and a pair of eerie eyes seemed to lock onto them. "What the h*** is that?!" KIKI instinctively reached out, activating her ability. With a loud boom, water surged, coalescing in her grip as she yanked the black creature out of the pipe. But to her shock, its body stretched further and further¡ªlike a massive snake. Even after pulling out four or five meters of its length, its full form remained hidden within the drainage system. The tremors intensified. Both KIKI and Ding Junyi sensed something was seriously wrong. KIKI immediately seized a submersible from above and slammed it down onto the creature¡¯s body. Boom! The serpent-like entity writhed in agony, its enormous body thrashing wildly, sending shockwaves through the water. The sheer force shattered the chamber¡¯s glass panels. Then¡ªcrack, crack, crack!¡ªthe ground split open. With a deafening roar, a colossal black head burst through the floor. The creature resembled some kind of eldritch sea serpent, its massive head lined with lantern-like eyes, arranged from largest to smallest in a row. As it emerged, a surge of inky black water gushed out in torrents. KIKI¡¯s eyes widened in horror. The black, branch-like creature she had grabbed earlier? It was merely one of the serpent¡¯s lures¡ªan appendage growing from its head. Now fully revealed, it had taken on the grotesque shape of a human face, complete with crude facial features. "We need to go¡ªnow!" In that instant, KIKI realized her psychic powers couldn¡¯t restrain the monstrosity. Without hesitation, she grabbed Ding Junyi and shot toward the corridor. Meanwhile Elsewhere in the building, Shu Qin and Lu? Chang felt the tremors. Dust rained from the ceiling, lights flickered, and the water churned violently. "What the h*** is going on?" Whoosh¡ªwhoosh¡ªwhoosh! Water gushed down the elevator shaft, and on the ninth floor, the lights flickered erratically, accompanied by bursts of electrical discharges. Standing atop a cabinet, Da Lou tightened his grip on his Roarer Gatling Gun and peered cautiously at the murky, waist-deep water below. "Stay sharp. There¡¯s something in the water." Shu Qin lowered her gaze. The moment she did, her expression shifted. Splash! With a muffled grunt, she instinctively recoiled as something lunged from the water¡ªa grotesque, humanoid fish-like creature with slick black fur. Its gaping maw revealed jagged red teeth, its scaly body gleaming menacingly. DADADADA! Before it could reach Shu Qin, a barrage of gunfire lit up the corridor. She dodged, twisting midair. As soon as her feet touched down, she spun and fired. BOOM! The high-speed 10-gauge Exorcist Shell tore through the creature¡¯s lower half. The purifying flames from the bullet vaporized the water upon impact, splitting into multiple searing streams that shredded the creature¡¯s body. Blood and water sprayed into the air, glowing under the flickering lights like a grotesque fireworks display. Shu Qin¡¯s sharp gaze swept the area. The water ghost, though grievously wounded, wasn¡¯t dead yet. It slithered back into the depths, its remaining body vanishing beneath the waves. She tensed, then burst into motion, sprinting across the water. Leaping off a wall, she vaulted onto a high platform inside a research lab. Just as she was about to scan the area, her stomach twisted with dread. Beneath the surface¡ªcountless black shadows lurked, swimming toward her teammates. "Out of the water¡ªnow!" Shu Qin¡¯s urgent cry rang out. From his vantage point, Da Lou saw the writhing mass beneath them. WUUUU! The Roarer Gatling spun up with a mechanical whine, unleashing a storm of metal. Bullets carved through the water, shattering the surface into chaotic waves. More than a dozen water ghosts were shredded to pieces. Hearing Shu Qin¡¯s warning, their teammates scrambled for higher ground. BANG! BANG BANG! Just as Da Lou kept up suppressing fire, an ominous noise rumbled from the elevator shaft behind him. It sounded like a swarm¡ªdense, rapid movement, like locusts descending in unison. The elevator panel¡¯s numbers flickered chaotically, rapidly counting down. Ding¡ªDing Ding BOOM! The elevator plummeted. Suddenly, something slammed against the closed metal doors from the other side. Dents formed instantly, deep claw marks and grotesque indentations pushing outward. Da Lou and Shu Qin exchanged a look¡ªboth realizing at once the horror about to unfold. "Da Lou, fall back!" Shu Qin shouted. Da Lou took a deep breath and leaped off the cabinet. The very next second, the elevator doors burst open. A putrid stench flooded the air. From within the shaft, a swarm of grotesque, fur-covered aquatic creatures erupted forth like a dam breaking. BRRRRRRRRRT!! The Roarer Gatling roared to life once more. The elevator hall became a blood-soaked battlefield, crimson mist blooming with each round fired. Da Lou retreated while unloading relentless fire, Shu Qin and Lu? Chang closing in to support him. "This way¡¯s blocked! Fall back to Lin Xian!" Shu Qin''s expression was grim as she pressed her earpiece. "KIKI, Director Ding!!" Static crackled¡ªthen, finally, KIKI¡¯s voice cut through, carried by howling wind. "Monsters! Be careful, everyone!" By now, the water had risen to hip level. KIKI lifted Ding Junyi and flew through the air. She originally intended to take a shortcut through the central atrium¡ªbut before she could, a swarm of black creatures burst from the adjacent corridor. She thrust her hands forward¡ªBOOM! A shockwave shattered the walls and lighting fixtures, blasting the water ghosts aside. Without pausing, she changed course, heading toward the mecha hangar. BOOM! BOOM! The underground research facility trembled violently. The flooding intensified. Hearing the commotion through her earpiece, Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression tightened. "Miao Lu, cover them!" "On it." SCREEEEECH! Before Miao Lu could move, the water ahead of her rippled¡ªthen, a sea-star-like monstrosity surfaced. Its central maw, lined with concentric rows of razor-sharp teeth, spewed a jet of inky black fluid straight at Chen Sixuan. But in that instant¡ª Chen Sixuan''s heart pounded, but her mind remained unnervingly calm. Everything seemed to slow. She twisted her body, narrowly dodging the corrosive black spray. Lifting her A33K Heavy Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle, she took precise aim. BOOM! A single shot tore through the creature¡¯s mouth, leaving a gaping, half-meter-wide exit wound. The battlefield was chaos. And at the heart of it all¡ªLin Xian finally completed his scan. ¡¾Mechanical Scan Complete: T8-Z Vulcan Military Siege Mecha (Blueprint Acquired)¡¿ The war machine roared to life. The eerie slug looked soft, yet it suddenly coiled around Lin Xian¡¯s mechanical arm, tightening with such immense force that his mechanical joints let out a harsh metallic creak. "Damn!" Without hesitation, Lin Xian raised his hand and unleashed a surge of electricity. A scorching arc of lightning shot out, instantly piercing through the writhing creature. Screeeeech!! The eerie slug in his grip began struggling frantically, but Lin Xian didn¡¯t waste a second. Mechanical Heart instantly controlled the Fire God Mecha, raising its massive combat arm¡ª BANG! WHOOSH! The recoil compensator beneath the main cannon activated. Lin Xian skewered the monster with his Black Rifle and held it up to the flame jet. BOOM! A torrent of scorching crimson flames erupted from the high-temperature flamethrower, roasting the eerie slug into charred remains on the spot. Lin Xian casually tossed it aside and stood atop the mecha, pulling a corpse out of the cockpit. At that moment, something caught his eye¡ªa mecha cockpit that made his mechanical soul tremble with excitement. The entire frame was painted military green, equipped with a holographic HUD, an intelligent fire-control panel¡ªthe sight made Lin Xian pause for a second. But there was no time to waste. He suppressed his excitement, quickly slid into the cockpit, and connected his Mechanical Heart to the control system. The entire mecha felt as if it merged with his body, like wearing a suit of armor tailored just for him. The Fire God''s cockpit was spacious enough that even a 1.8-meter-tall man in a power suit like Lin Xian didn¡¯t feel cramped. Hiss¡ª As he pressed the hatch lock, the battle canopy slowly closed, sealing him inside. A deep, mechanical male voice echoed in his ears¡ª [System Booting...] [Connecting to Pilot...] [Connection Established. New Pilot Confirmed.] A holographic display appeared in front of Lin Xian, providing an ultra-clear view of the outside world¡ªfar sharper and wider than human vision. The intelligent fire-control system, radar, and mecha status parameters were all displayed neatly before him. A surge of unmatched security filled his heart. Lin Xian scanned the cockpit¡ªbehind him was a small storage compartment for supplies and food. To his left was a medical kit, and to his right, a mission terminal. Using Mechanical Heart, he linked with the Unified Control System, and with a deep humming sound, the entire mecha responded instantly, beginning to move through the water. Thud! Thud! The massive mecha strode through the flooded corridor, turning toward the passage ahead. Meanwhile, KIKI and Shu Qin''s teams had regrouped and were fiercely fighting against the surging tide of Water Ghosts, pushing toward the hangar. ¡°Mr. Chen, Miao Lu, get on the lift and provide long-range cover for them!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Chen Sixuan immediately moved, leading Miao Lu and the others as they waded through the water and climbed onto a large cargo lift. WHOOM! WHOOM! Lin Xian piloted the Fire God Mecha, charging straight toward the Water Ghost Tide. The left-hand main cannon and right-hand Fire God Gatling system were fully unlocked and mounted in place. ¡°You go ahead¡ªI¡¯ll hold them back!¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up as she saw Lin Xian activate the mecha. She lifted both hands, unleashing psychic force to levitate everyone out of the water, moving them across the deep flood and toward the lift platform. "Nice work, kid." Lin Xian sat in the cockpit, watching the endless horde of black creatures surge toward him. His eyes burned with intensity. He clenched the control levers, pushed them forward, and roared¡ª ¡°DIE!!!¡± WHOOSH! WHIRRRR! The T8-Z Fire God Military Siege Mecha¡¯s dual main weapons lifted, the fire-control recoil suppressors and hydraulic dampers on the elbows fully engaged, and the barrels of the Fire God Gatling began to rotate. In an instant¡ªFULL FIREPOWER! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTT!!!!!!! Golden streams of tracer rounds illuminated the dark corridor like a devouring storm, shredding hundreds, if not thousands, of Water Ghosts into pulp. Countless bullet casings rained down into the water like a torrential downpour. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! At the same time, the left-hand 75mm mecha-mounted main cannon fired, unleashing devastating blasts that tore straight through the monster-filled corridor like skewering meat on a stick. Each thunderous shot blasted apart dozens of Water Ghosts in an instant! The Fire God Mecha stood in the center of the corridor, its overwhelming firepower suppression completely halting the tide. Steam and smoke billowed from the venting valves and heat exchangers on its back. Suddenly¡ª SPLASH! A transparent Water Ghost Slug leaped from the depths, latching onto the mecha¡¯s mechanical leg. These small creatures were invisible to standard sensors! But Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart covered the entire mecha¡ªevery movement was detected with absolute clarity. While keeping his guns blazing, he raised his right foot and stomped down hard! SPLAT! The black slug burst into pulp under the sheer force. "Lin Xian, there''s a BIG one coming from behind!" KIKI¡¯s voice was tense. BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! The mecha¡¯s warning system blared as the corridor ahead shook violently¡ªsomething massive was tearing through the floor and walls, charging at them! "FALL BACK!" They were deep underground, and Shijiu Lake¡¯s floodwaters were pouring in fast. Lin Xian couldn¡¯t risk staying any longer. WHOOSH! He ceased fire, turned around, and sprinted toward the lift. With the mecha¡¯s suppression gone, the horde of Water Ghosts surged forward like a tsunami, trampling over mountains of their own dead as they chased the team into the hangar hall. The water level rose rapidly, and more monsters flooded into the area. RATATATATATA! The Infinite Train squad opened fire, covering Lin Xian¡¯s retreat. Just as he stepped onto the lift, KIKI raised her hands and unleashed a shockwave behind them¡ª BOOM! Thousands of Water Ghosts swarmed out from the corridors, flooding the hangar like underwater locusts, their eerie shrieks drowning out all other sounds. WHOOSH! The lift platform activated! The team stood at the edge, firing relentlessly to keep the monsters at bay. Lin Xian engaged the Fire God Mecha¡¯s flamethrower, unleashing a massive firestorm downward. CLANK! CLANK! The lift ascended, crushing the monsters clinging to the edges against the upper floor, severing and grinding them into mangled remains. At last, the gunfire ceased. Silence fell. "Shu Qin, Chen, report casualties!" "Lin, no injuries!" The team, panting, finally caught a brief moment to breathe. "Stay sharp! Reload and prepare for battle!" Lin Xian''s Fire God Mecha stepped forward, leading the squad as the massive underground doors slowly opened¡ª The outside world awaited. Ding Junyi was protected in the middle of the group. She looked around at the surrounding darkness, her face slightly pale. Chen Sixuan stood behind her. ¡°Director Ding, you must stay close to Lin Xian.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Ding Junyi reached up and touched the tiny green sprout on her head, her eyes flickering slightly. She actually wanted to help, but she still hadn''t figured out the principle behind her ability. Other than blooming a small flower when she got emotional, it seemed to have no other effect. The beams of flashlights swept continuously across the darkness. At that moment, a red Skeletal Horror suddenly charged out of the shadows, lunging straight at the nearest female team member. Lu? Chang reacted quickly. He raised his light machine gun and fired, sending a stream of bullets that pierced through the male Skeletal Horror¡¯s forehead and out the back of its head, splattering blood and flesh everywhere. The creature collapsed to the ground but still struggled, clawing toward the female team member¡¯s feet. The teammates on both sides immediately opened fire, riddling it with bullets in an instant. "Ah! Ah! Ah!" In the blink of an eye, a second, third, tenth... fiftieth Skeletal Horror appeared, surging out of the darkness. A tide of horrors was pouring in, and everyone''s weapons roared to life simultaneously. ¡°Da-da-da! Da-da-da!¡± Like a relentless string of firecrackers, gunfire erupted, filling the air with smoke as rounds poured into the encroaching Zombie Horde. The squad, along with the building they were stationed in, had three Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Guns positioned to cover the left, right, and rear. Meanwhile, the Infinite Train team members wielded nothing less than light machine guns and grenade launchers, unleashing overwhelming firepower. For the moment, they managed to hold back the tide of darkness within a range of about ten meters. At the same time, everyone followed closely behind Lin Xian''s Fire God Mecha, moving steadily toward the exit of the test site. Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian watched the radar screen, locking onto the densest clusters of Skeletal Horrors with the left-hand mounted cannon, providing fire support to relieve the pressure on his teammates. His Fire God Machine Gun in his right hand cleared the path ahead. KIKI hovered behind the mecha. Lin Xian instructed her to handle the mutant swarm closing in from behind, reminding her to conserve energy and only use her psychic shockwave when absolutely necessary¡ªespecially when firepower lagged or someone needed cover while reloading. Shu Qin and Lu? Chang guarded the flanks. Both were highly skilled fighters, carrying close-combat weapons in addition to firearms in case any Skeletal Horrors or Eerie Entities managed to break through the gunfire. Bang! Bang! Bang! Crash! The team moved with seamless coordination, suppressing the Zombie Horde as they advanced into South Street of the small town. Monsters crawled out of storefronts, shattering glass doors as they emerged. Click! Click! In the middle of the street, a twisted, conjoined experimental horror shuffled forward amidst the zombies. A burst of machine-gun fire tore it apart in an instant, but grotesque black corpse insects poured out like a tide, swarming toward the team. Bullets sparked as they raked across the ground, but the bugs were too numerous, slipping through every gap. "KIKI!" Lin Xian shouted. He knew she needed to act. "I got it!" KIKI let out a soft cry, flying forward. Her eyes flashed with light as she reached out toward the ground. With a motion like flipping a carpet, she lifted the very surface of the street, sweeping the insect tide and the zombies into the air. The pavement exploded layer by layer, sending dust and debris flying! Boom! A heavy sniper rifle thundered. Chen Sixuan locked her gaze on the darkness above a department store and called out to Lin Xian. "Lin Xian, 11 o¡¯clock¡ªFog Spider!" Before she even finished speaking, a massive spider leg stabbed down toward KIKI. Clang! A Steel-Slaying Greatsword swept across, intercepting the attack. Da Lou charged in, wielding the sword with one hand, blocking the monstrous limb with precision. Sparks flew as the coarse, steel-like hairs of the Fog Spider scraped against his blade. With a powerful flick of his wrist, Da Lou heaved the sword upward¡ª Slash! The spider leg was severed completely. Bang! A flare round burst open, flooding the sky with white-hot light. Perched atop the department store, a massive green spider loomed into view, its six elongated legs striking fear into the team. Screeeech! Lin Xian¡¯s left-hand main cannon was already raised, aimed directly at the Fog Spider in midair. Boom! The spider¡¯s mandibles and two front legs were blown apart in an instant. Thick, dark-green bodily fluids gushed from the wounds as its severed legs tumbled down, crashing against the edge of the building before rolling to the ground. "Thanks, big guy!" KIKI shouted before darting off to help the rear guard hold back the Zombie Horde. As more Skeletal Horrors and the Fog Spider were slain, an invisible black mist gathered toward the group. The Infinite Train team members exchanged glances, their faces flushing red as an oppressive, fear-inducing presence seeped into their minds. Ding Junyi noticed immediately. She pressed her earpiece communicator and spoke to everyone: "Stay calm! Do not let fear and slaughter consume your reason. Fear is an instinct, but so is courage!" Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed at her words, instantly realizing what was happening. He shouted: "We''re almost out! Hold on!" Hearing this, many regained their composure, consciously suppressing the tremors in their minds. "Reloading!" "Eerie Entity spotted at 3 o¡¯clock!" "Concentrate fire!" Screeech! A mutant leech-like creature lunged from the 3 o¡¯clock direction¡ªonly to be snatched midair by KIKI¡¯s ability. The moment it was restrained, layered gunfire tore it apart. The squad¡¯s synergy subtly strengthened, their unity growing in the face of the endless night. Boom! Breaking free from the small town, the Fire God Mecha¡¯s main cannon blasted open a path through the forest ahead. Lin Xian led the squad forward, their headlights illuminating a hidden trail¡ªthe same one he and KIKI had used to infiltrate earlier on their motorcycles. Whoosh! Flamethrowers ignited trees along the path, expanding visibility. Zombies continued pouring out, and ammunition was running low. The Roarer Gatling Guns had already exhausted their rounds, forcing Da Lou to charge in with his Steel-Slaying Greatsword. His speed was terrifying, his entire body radiating crimson battle energy. The massive greatsword sliced through zombies like a hot knife through butter. A female Skeletal Horror pounced on Da Lou¡¯s shoulder, biting down and tearing out a chunk of flesh¡ªbut he didn¡¯t even flinch. Instead, he grabbed her head, roared, and smashed it into the ground, shattering it instantly. As his wound rapidly regenerated, his eyes glowed red, his strength surging even further. Boom! A flare round lit up the test site¡¯s outer perimeter, revealing towering reflective panels and metal scaffolding. Crash! KIKI unleashed a shockwave, shattering the panels. A chain reaction followed¡ªentire sections of the structure collapsed, burying Skeletal Horrors and zombies in waves of destruction. "Lin Xian, the vehicles are still at the research facility entrance!" Chen Sixuan called out. "I know! KIKI, Shu Qin, Miao Lu¡ªgo start them up! I''ll cover you!" Lin Xian commanded. At this moment, many team members, including Lin Xian himself, still had Dark Marks on their bodies, attracting the remaining Zombie Horde from the Clearwater Town Test Site in relentless pursuit. Meanwhile, only Da Lou and the injured Lu? Chang were left behind. The Research Institute and the Infinite Train were still several kilometers away. Under the shroud of this Dark Night, there was no way he could let these people travel on foot¡ªespecially when their ammunition was nearly depleted. Running blindly in the darkness was no different from walking into death¡¯s embrace. So, he had to lead the team to retreat towards the main entrance, giving KIKI and the others time to drive the vehicles over. Boom! A main cannon shell exploded within the zombie horde, igniting a sky full of fire. Behind the mecha, the Infinite Train members had almost run out of ammo. Some pulled out their backup pistols, while others simply grabbed short blades and explosives, preparing to face the incoming enemies. ¡°Argh!!¡± Da Lou, drenched in blood, charged into the monstrous crowd. His body was riddled with wounds, and his clothes were torn to shreds. Though his Evolutionary Blood Aura Ability was constantly healing his injuries, the sheer number of zombies was overwhelming. On top of that, there were powerful Human Eeries mixed within the horde. Da Lou was struggling to keep up, continuously getting bitten and clawed, fresh wounds tearing open across his body. Meanwhile, Lu? Chang¡¯s M566 Light Machine Gun had already run dry. His left hand was bandaged, and in his right, he wielded the GK03 Electric Blade that Lin Xian had personally crafted for him. Sparks of electric arcs flickered as he dashed through the horde, his blade flashing¡ªevery swing decapitating multiple zombies in an instant. From inside the mecha¡¯s external vision system, Lin Xian watched this scene unfold, his face grim. He knew that Da Lou and Lu? Chang wouldn¡¯t hold out much longer. ¡°These zombies and Human Eeries... why do they feel even stronger than the ones we faced in Yubei City and Underground City No. 9?¡± In the darkness, the Zombie Horde wasn¡¯t just composed of Corpse Fiends controlled by the Black Centipedes¡ªeven the ordinary, rotting zombies had grown faster and stronger. Among them, there was even a spiked Human Eerie that blocked Da Lou¡¯s Steel-Slaying Greatsword with its bare hand! When the blade struck its body, sparks flew from its metallic spikes. Da Lou let out a furious roar and swung again, his blade carving out chunks of flesh as a wave of blood splattered into the air. Boom! As Da Lou struggled against the enemy, a loud gunshot rang out. The spiked Human Eerie¡¯s head exploded right in front of him! Its jaw, lined with razor-sharp teeth, shattered into bloody fragments, some splashing onto Da Lou¡¯s face. He wiped the blood away and instinctively looked toward the source of the shot¡ªonly to see Chen Sixuan standing amidst the chaos, calmly holding her rifle in a perfect shooting stance. Da Lou immediately shot her a grateful look. Chen Sixuan gave him a slight nod before swiftly aiming at her next target. Every time she pulled the trigger, her lips moved slightly, murmuring a number: ¡°Seventeen.¡± Bang! ¡°Eighteen.¡± Her targets were the most agile and lethal Human Eeries and Eerie Entities. With each precise shot, she sent another monstrous abomination straight to hell. Somehow, at some unknown point, the former Jiang City Foreign Language Teacher had begun radiating the cold aura of a true killer. The zombie horde grew even fiercer, the pressure was mounting¡ª BOOM! The Fire God¡¯s Main Cannon unleashed its final shell, obliterating a swarm of Black Centipedes. Their fur-covered bodies ignited instantly, sending waves of fire cascading across the battlefield. And then¡ª A distorted, unnatural screech echoed through the night. Inside the mecha, the radar warning system erupted into a frenzy of alarms! The external vision system automatically zoomed in. Through the flames, a massive, multi-limbed Eerie Entity¡ªseveral meters tall¡ªdarted out from the horde and raced straight toward Da Lou! The creature looked like an upside-down human, its limbs twisting unnaturally, and its blood-red tendrils moving in a grotesque, inhuman manner. In mere seconds, it had already reached Da Lou¡¯s back! By now, Da Lou was completely soaked in blood, his eyes blazing, his Ability Energy nearly exhausted. "Da Lou! Behind you!!¡± Lin Xian immediately slammed the hatch release, ready to jump out and assist. But¡ªit was too late. One of the Eerie Entity¡¯s long, spiked tendrils lashed forward like a spear, aiming straight for Da Lou¡¯s skull¡ª "Vile beast! You dare harm my roommate?!" BOOM!!! Suddenly¡ª A massive pillar of crimson flames descended from the heavens, illuminating a hundred-meter radius! The flaming column slammed into the Eerie Entity, pinning it to the ground! A silhouette descended from above, its hand raised in a martial stance as fierce, high-temperature flames surged forth. The Eerie Entity twisted and screamed in agony. The surrounding zombies were instantly incinerated, their bodies reduced to ash. The shockwave from the blast sent Da Lou flying backward, his Steel-Slaying Greatsword shielding him from the scorching heat. Lu Xingchen!! ¡°Ashes shall be your final fate!¡± Like a rocket booster, Lu Xingchen hovered above the firestorm, his flames raging uncontrollably. Below him, the Eerie Entity had already burned into charcoal. Spreading his arms wide, Lu Xingchen unleashed a wave of scorching embers, then gracefully descended¡ªhis boots crushing the charred corpse beneath him. Crack¡ª The burnt husk crumbled into smoldering ashes. Inside the mecha, Lin Xian exhaled. "He must¡¯ve been summoned by Chen Sixuan," he thought. ¡°Waaah! It¡¯s Fire Bro!!¡± ¡°Fire Bro is here!!!¡± Among the Infinite Train members, a few excited fangirls cheered. Lin Xian stepped out of the Fire God, glancing at the dramatic Lu Xingchen, who was striking a heroic pose amidst the embers. He couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°Damn it... why does this guy always make such flashy entrances? This time, he actually looks cool.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª With their retreat secured, KIKI and the rest arrived in off-road vehicles, while Lin Xian and Fire Bro covered the rear. ¡°KIKI, get the mecha into the train.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± As the train¡¯s heavy doors sealed shut, the Infinite Train¡¯s outer armor deployed its Electric Blade Defense System, ensuring no more creatures could breach their defenses. Inside, dozens of exhausted survivors finally breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Xian glanced at their spoils¡ªthe Fire God Mecha, a fully-functional Medical Pod, stacks of supplies, and a mysterious containment unit. A fire burned in his eyes. "Finally... we''re back. Time to upgrade our strength!" Chapter 237: Devouring Nuclear Power "Ugh¡ªah!!" At 2 AM, on a railway track near the mountain forests of Shijiu Lake, the Infinite Train had all its blackout panels lowered. Inside the train, figures moved back and forth, and the sound of busy activity never ceased. Outside, a large number of zombies roamed about. As the battlefire died down, the zombies gradually grew quieter, surrounding the carriages, occasionally letting out hoarse growls and clawing at the metal exterior. In the shadows beneath the train, black centipede-like creatures slithered in and out, either lying in wait or searching for ventilation gaps to burrow their way inside. But under the Mechanical Heart of Lin Xian, every corner of the Infinite Train was crystal clear in his tactical perception. Right now, he could clearly sense that the external threat level had dropped to its lowest. ¡¾Beep! Conducting Reflective Scan using non-mechanical power.¡¿ ¡¾Scan complete. No fear-related risks detected within the train. Dark forces successfully blocked.¡¿ Every time they returned to camp, Lin Xian would always conduct a full train-wide inspection using the Eerie Cube. Once confirming there were no anomalies, he immediately assigned Shu Qin and Luo Ye to organize personnel, resupply ammunition, check weapons, and assess injuries. Huo Ge and Shasha had stood watch over the train all night, so Lin Xian let them rest first. As for the Comprehensive Medical Pod, it hadn¡¯t even been installed yet. Without wasting a second, he grabbed Chen Sixuan and a few others and hurried to Car No. 3 to check with Ding Junyi on the status of the Dark Mark. By now, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum was radiating a faint red glow while simultaneously absorbing large amounts of black mist. "Since we don¡¯t have a precise energy source for the mark, I¡¯m temporarily using the brightness of the Blood Scourge Flora as an evaluation unit." Ding Junyi¡¯s white research coat was already splattered with bloodstains and bits of flesh, but she didn¡¯t seem to care in the slightest. The moment she boarded the train, she immediately got to work. She lifted a mobile terminal and pulled up a simple data chart of her previous records. "So far, I¡¯ve observed five levels of brightness change. The brightest was in Jiazhou City, which I¡¯ve classified as Level 5. I believe this level occurred when we were marked by an S-Class Eerie Entity and a large number of lesser eerie entities at Yubei Spaceport¡ªour highest recorded level." Chen Sixuan nodded as she recalled that suffocating night when they first entered the Black Night at Yunjiang Plains, suddenly surrounded by eerie entities. "Yeah... that night, our train was almost overturned." "Exactly. Following that logic, our encounter at Rain Town was Level 4. When we emerged from Underground City No. 9, it was Level 3. Our escape from Hengshan Pass was Level 2. And after we cleared out the Rain Town threat, I¡¯m classifying it as Level 1¡ªrelatively safe and risk-free." KIKI immediately interjected, "But I feel like the monsters we fought in Rain Town were even tougher than in Jiazhou City." "That brings me to my second point," Ding Junyi continued. **"The distribution of eerie entities within the Dark Tides is region-specific. This is evident from how that Major Eerie Entity in Rain Town displayed territorial behavior. Think of it like this¡ªwe can treat the Dark Mark as an invisible beacon or scent tag placed on us. The stronger the mark, the wider the range of eerie entities it attracts. It¡¯s like lighting a torch in an unknown black forest. But the problem is, if the forest around us lacks high-level eerie entities, then we might not actually face any lethal threats."** Lin Xian frowned slightly. "So it¡¯s not just about the mark¡¯s level, but also regional factors... or even luck?" "Exactly." Ding Junyi went on. **"Now, my third point¡ªthis is purely my personal hypothesis. I believe that in areas where large or high-level eerie entities reside, there will be fewer low-level eerie entities. This follows a predator density pattern. That¡¯s why when we arrived outside Jiazhou City with an S-Class mark, we attracted a massive horde of low-level eerie entities. Although their numbers were overwhelming, none of them posed the lethal threat of an S-Class entity."** KIKI stuck out her tongue. "Well, duh. If it really was S-Class, we¡¯d be dead as hell by now." Then, she asked, "So that thing we fought tonight... was it a Level 3 entity?" Ding Junyi nodded. "More or less." Then, she looked at KIKI. "Or maybe even Level 4. And I believe... only the two of us on this train were marked." Chen Sixuan frowned, glancing at the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. "But judging by the brightness, shouldn¡¯t it be Level 3?" "That¡¯s likely because we killed a lot of eerie entities tonight. The mark¡¯s level has been diluted." Lin Xian let out a long breath. "Tonight alone, we took down at least six C-Class eerie entities. I¡¯m not sure if there were any B-Class, but including the Human Eeries, the centipede creatures, and the drowned ghosts¡ªwe must¡¯ve killed at least a few hundred." Ding Junyi nodded. "Yes, logically, that makes sense. Plus, our surroundings should be clear of eerie entities now. If there were any left, they¡¯d already be drawn to us by our current mark level." KIKI crossed her arms. "So basically, we killed them all." Ding Junyi¡¯s analysis gave Lin Xian a deeper understanding of Dark Entities. The Dark Tides seemed to overlap with the real world, creating an alternate dimension. During the day, eerie entities might be lurking all around them, invisible. But at night, they manifested suddenly. If they were too close, they would immediately attack and devour anything marked. Or, drawn by the Dark Mark, they would converge from the shadows to hunt their prey. "Then, based on this logic, does that mean there¡¯s an S-Class entity beneath the research facility?" Chen Sixuan asked, frowning. KIKI¡¯s eyes widened. "Chen-jie, you didn¡¯t see it! That thing was huge! It burst straight out of the ground¡ªa giant fish with two human-shaped lures growing from its head!" She suddenly remembered something and quickly turned to Lin Xian. "Oh, right! That¡¯s not all! Ding-jie and I made another big discovery." She then recounted what they had found inside the pressure-release chamber. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan¡¯s expressions shifted to shock. "Human-shaped lures?" "Yes." Ding Junyi¡¯s gaze darkened. **"Otherwise, there¡¯s no explanation for why people were being sent into the deep lake and retrieved¡ªall controlled remotely. I believe the Foundation is fully aware of the S-Class behemoth beneath Shijiu Lake. They¡¯re deliberately using this method to acquire Dark Marks. And tonight, the entity that marked KIKI and me... was that monster."** Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. "That woman¡ªTan Meng. She was an Ability User with flight capabilities, wasn¡¯t she?" "Yeah, she won the game." KIKI replied. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Then there¡¯s one person who might know the truth." "Who?" "Hu Lushou. He definitely participated in the Foundation¡¯s Death Games¡ªand won."** KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. "Oh, right! That guy might know a lot about what¡¯s going on inside the Foundation!" "We have the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive, so energy isn¡¯t an issue. And since you''re a psychic ability user, you don¡¯t need firearms either." Ding Junyi lifted her head and gave her a calm, assessing look. "In conclusion, what I see before me is a lovestruck girl. Oh, and by the way, just to be precise¡ªare you even of legal age?" "I can¡¯t hear you! I can¡¯t hear you!" KIKI felt utterly defeated. She covered her ears and fled from Car No. 3 as if running for her life. After taking a shower, she returned to Car No. 2 and lay down on her custom-made KIKI bed. Shasha was already fast asleep, but KIKI tossed and turned, unable to drift off. Swoosh! KIKI pulled back the blackout panel on the porthole beside her bed. Outside, a few grotesque zombies stood eerily in the dark. As soon as they saw the light spilling out, they let out a chorus of ghastly howls, their rotting hands scratching at the armored grilles over the window with an unsettling creaking sound. Lying on her side, KIKI rested her head on the pillow, staring at the zombies with a mind full of thoughts. She reached out, lightly tapping a fingertip against the glass, lost in contemplation. "That guy... wasn''t he super cautious before?" Tap tap tap. She absentmindedly drummed her fingers against the glass, watching a particularly frenzied zombie flail about outside. She muttered softly, "Yeah, you think he''s an idiot too, don¡¯t you?" "Urrghh!" The zombie groaned in response. "Exactly! It¡¯s the middle of the night, and he still has to make people worry. Maybe you should go check on him for me? Give him a little scare while you''re at it so he hurries back?" "Graahh! Urrghh! Wabba labba dub dub~" The zombie kept howling. "Hm?" KIKI blinked her large eyes, then her expression shifted. "Never mind, you can¡¯t go. Don¡¯t cause him any trouble!" With that, she brought her fingers together in a quick motion¡ªpop! The zombie¡¯s head instantly compressed into a ball before exploding into a gory mess. As the first zombie collapsed, another immediately shuffled forward to take its place. ¡ª Vroom! Under the cover of night, a motorcycle sped swiftly along a desolate highway. Lin Xian carried the PX-05 robot on his back as he entered the northeast side of Clearwater Town. To avoid attracting a zombie horde, he parked his motorcycle outside the main street and then activated his power armor, dashing across the rooftops under the cover of darkness. He had traveled several kilometers already without encountering any eerie entity attacks. This could mean either he wasn¡¯t marked or there were no eerie entities in this area anymore. Regardless of the reason, this only further proved Ding Junyi¡¯s theory. Bang! A shadow leaped down from above, landing directly on the deck of a crashed Dragon-Class Transport Ship. Lin Xian remained still, listening carefully. When he confirmed that nothing had been alerted¡ªno zombies, no unknown creatures¡ªhe proceeded quietly inside. Once inside the cargo hold, Lin Xian immediately flicked on his flashlight. One advantage of this transport ship was that regular zombies couldn''t get in. However, he wasn''t sure if anything else might be lurking in here at night, so he remained extremely cautious. The stench of decay wafted through the passageways, growing more pungent in the enclosed space. Lin Xian was long accustomed to such smells and didn''t even flinch. "Well, would you look at that? Seems like all the trouble really has been lured away." "Good thing too, considering how much ammo we burned through last night..." Letting out a breath of relief, Lin Xian quickly made his way through the deck towards the rear energy compartment, where the nuclear turbine processor was located. "There you are." He took out the PX-05 robot and activated a patrol program KIKI had set up in advance. Buzz! The little robot¡¯s propulsion engine hummed as it lifted off the ground and began executing its patrol routine. Lin Xian set a limited patrol zone¡ªjust the rear chamber and corridor. "Alright, you¡¯re my only company tonight." He patted the small robot, which wobbled slightly in the air before scanning the surroundings with a 3D mapping function and plotting its patrol route. Lin Xian ignored it and walked toward the energy compartment, preparing to devour. "First time devouring nuclear energy... let''s hope it''s worth it." With a deep breath, he mentally prepared himself, then climbed atop the nuclear turbine processor and activated his ability. ¡¾Devouring Progress: 1%¡¿ Since he had scanned the area beforehand, he could immediately feel the absorption process taking effect. Suddenly, an immense pressure surged through him. His face darkened as he cursed internally: "Sh*t... I underestimated this." He had initially estimated it would take four to six hours, but now he realized that was far too optimistic. Not only would it take longer, but the energy draw on his psyche was overwhelming¡ªlike a flood surging through his mind. Barely a minute in, sweat was already dripping down his forehead as his Mechanical Heart roared into overdrive. Lin Xian clenched his teeth. "This is a rare opportunity. No matter what, I will see this through!" From this moment on, every minute of devouring felt like torture. He had to endure for hours. Time dragged on. His clothes became completely soaked, and even the life-support system in his power armor detected abnormalities, issuing urgent warnings: ¡¾Heart rate irregularity detected.¡¿ ¡¾Electrolyte depletion rate abnormal.¡¿ ¡¾Warning: Intense neural activity detected.¡¿ One hour, two hours... Five hours, seven hours... As the Abyss drew nearer, sunrise at Hengshan Pass had been delayed to 11 AM. Meanwhile, aboard the Infinite Train, the crew had fully recovered after a night of preparation. KIKI had no idea how long she had been tossing and turning before finally dozing off. But when dawn arrived and Lin Xian was still nowhere to be seen, she hurried to find Chen Sixuan. "Chen-jie, it¡¯s morning now. I¡¯m going to Clearwater Town to find him." Chen Sixuan, who hadn''t slept all night, nodded. "Alright. Stay safe. It¡¯s not far, and if you manage to contact Lin Xian on the way, send me an update." "Got it." KIKI nodded firmly, then stepped out, crushed a group of zombies with a casual flick of her fingers, and took off into the sky. ¡ª "Zzz... Zzz..." "Federation... Phoenix Radio global broadcast: The Dark Tides of Abyss Zone No. 3 will converge with Abyss Zone No. 5 in 35 days over Quancheng and the Takan Desert. Survivors evacuating northeast should leave immediately. Phoenix stations at Xilan and Quancheng are offering assistance..." "Zzz... The Dark Tides of Abyss Zone No. 7 will merge with Abyss Zone No. 5 in 28 days over the Wei River, Longjiang, and Jinhai regions. Survivors heading east towards Xingcheng, Kangcheng, and Yongcheng Port should evacuate at once. Phoenix has set up aid stations at Jinhai and Yongcheng Port..." "Zzz... Xilan station reports: An S-Class eerie entity was detected in the depths of Parma Grasslands yesterday but has since disappeared near the southern Bai Lu Marshlands..." Inside Car No. 2, Chen Sixuan and Shu Qin listened closely to the latest Apocalypse Radio reports while keeping an eye on the situation. "KIKI went to find Lin Xian. We should get news soon." The crew had grown increasingly anxious without their core leader. Instinctively, all eyes turned to Chen Sixuan. Suppressing her unease, Chen Sixuan steadied herself. "These updates will heavily influence our next moves." Checking the map, she added, "Bai Lu Marshlands... that¡¯s near the Wei River. We might have to reroute." Shu Qin nodded. "Unless we rush through that stretch today while we still have daylight." "We¡¯ll wait for Lin Xian¡¯s return," Chen Sixuan decided. "He may have other plans." Just then, KIKI¡¯s voice crackled over the radio. "Chen-jie, I found him. He¡¯s okay." A visible wave of relief washed over the group. Chen Sixuan, exhausted but reassured, exhaled deeply. "Alright, let¡¯s eat. Once Lin Xian gets back, we¡¯ll set out." ¡ª Meanwhile, KIKI flew towards Clearwater Town at full speed, muttering irritably, "What the hell took him so long? Does he plan on devouring the entire transport ship?" Despite her grumbling, she instinctively picked up the pace. Soon, she reached the transport ship, scouted the area, and pressed her communicator. "Lin Xian, are you in there?" "Yeah..." His voice sounded utterly drained. KIKI¡¯s expression tensed. She flew inside, following the corridors to the lower energy chamber¡ªonly to find Lin Xian slumped in a corner, drenched in sweat, pale, and gasping for breath. The PX-05 robot hovered beside him, silently standing guard. "Hey, you..." KIKI¡¯s face darkened as she rushed over, stunned. "What the hell happened to you?" Lin Xian took a slow, deep breath, exhaustion evident but with a small, satisfied smile. "Took down a big one... just cost me some effort." "You look like a vampire sucked you dry!" KIKI frowned, placing a hand on his forehead, then comparing it to her own. "Are you sure you¡¯re okay?" "I¡¯m fine." Lin Xian pushed himself upright, his HUD flickering with golden text. ¡¾Devouring Complete. +1000 Mechanical Source Points, +400 Mechanical Devouring Proficiency. Bonus: +20 Strength, +20 Agility, +20 Defense!¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! Mechanical Devour has evolved to LV.4!¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! Your Strength Level has increased to LV.4 (Extra Stamina Boost Acquired)¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! Your Agility Level has increased to LV.3 (Reaction Speed Boost Acquired)¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Devour: 4 (241/2000)¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! You have acquired an additional special trait skill from this devour: Gravitational Lens!¡¿ ¡¾Gravitational Lens: Creates a large-scale gravitational source, bending and enhancing light that passes nearby!¡¿ "Gravitational Lens..." Lin Xian stared at the name, momentarily dumbfounded. His previous skills were just Wind Cannon, Ice Wall , and Electric Surge¡ªhow did he suddenly leap to manipulating gravitational fields of entire star clusters? Nuclear-powered turbine engine... This technology has already reached this level? His heart pounded wildly, and his blood pressure skyrocketed. 1,000 Source Points¡ªthis was an absolute jackpot! He hadn¡¯t expected to gain a new skill, and one that sounded so ridiculously overpowered at that. "Hey... hey!" A sharp voice snapped Lin Xian back to reality. His gaze slowly refocused, and the voice became clearer. Right in front of him, KIKI was staring at him with her wide, Casillan-esque eyes, waving her hand in front of his face with an odd expression. "Hey! What are you spacing out for? What''s going on with you?" she asked, her tone filled with urgency. Since she was leaning in so close, Lin Xian could even feel her breath brushing against his face. Looking at KIKI, he was so overwhelmed with excitement that his brain short-circuited¡ªbefore he knew it, he had stretched his neck out, tilted his chin up, and planted a quick kiss on her chattering little mouth. Smack! The sound was crisp and clear. For a moment, the entire scene froze. KIKI went completely blank, her eyes widening in slow motion. She absentmindedly touched her lips, then turned to Lin Xian, her expression shifting rapidly from confusion to shock... then to pure rage. Realizing what he''d just done, Lin Xian''s mind raced, and he blurted out, "Misunderstanding! Total misunderstanding!" "Misunderstanding?" KIKI¡¯s face flushed red and white in rapid succession. This guy had just ambushed her right in the face, and he had the audacity to call it a misunderstanding? Her anger flared up instantly. She gritted her teeth and glared at Lin Xian, her eyes flashing with a dangerous light. Then she took a deep breath and bellowed, "GO. TO. HELL!" BOOM! The Dragon-Class Transport Ship, which had crash-landed in the streets of Clearwater Town, trembled violently as a massive cloud of dust erupted into the air. In the dark alleys and abandoned streets, every zombie within earshot turned in unison, all eyes locking onto the direction of the explosion... High Above the Ground Exhausted and weakened, Lin Xian was now being carried through the air by KIKI¡¯s ability, heading toward the Infinite Train. She hadn¡¯t even bothered to grab his motorcycle. As he gazed at the blue sky and white clouds above Shijiu Lake, Lin Xian felt a rare sense of peace. This latest devour had been an incredible haul¡ªafter nearly eight or nine hours of effort, his Mechanical Ability had made a massive leap forward. He was now only a few hundred points away from hitting Level 4 Mechanical Heart. At this rate, he figured he just needed to break down two or three locomotive engines, and he¡¯d reach the next milestone. "So, this is what flying feels like... damn, it¡¯s nice," he murmured contentedly as the wind brushed against his cheeks. Flying in front of him, KIKI crossed her arms and shot him a side-eye glare. "If it weren¡¯t for your pathetic state right now, I¡¯d have made you run the whole way." Lin Xian let out a small sigh. Seeing KIKI sulking like that, he felt a bit of a headache coming on. Why do I keep kissing this girl? he wondered. Last time, I snuck a kiss and got away with it. This time, I totally brain-lagged and just went for it head-on. Now things are awkward... Did I really have to do that? Meanwhile, KIKI sneakily peeked at Lin Xian from the corner of her eye. When she saw him looking her way, she immediately turned her head back, exhaling quietly. She pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart was still pounding wildly. "Again... He kissed me again..." Her eyes darkened with resentment, and she muttered under her breath, "Bastard... next time, I¡¯ll bite your damn lips off and see if you dare try it again. Hmph!" Inside the Infinite Train Shhhk! The doors of the Infinite Train hissed open, and KIKI and Lin Xian stepped inside. The moment Lin Xian entered, a notification screen from Mechanical Heart suddenly popped up in front of him. ¡¾Non-mechanical energy converted¡ª1,000 Mechanical Source Points acquired.¡¿ Whoosh! A surge of powerful, warm energy flooded through Lin Xian¡¯s body. Instantly, he felt his drained mental energy rapidly recovering. "The Eerie Cube?!" Realizing what had just happened, Lin Xian bolted toward Carriage No. 1. "Hey! Weren¡¯t you just acting all exhausted?!" KIKI, who had just walked in, watched in disbelief as Lin Xian¡ªwho had seemed weak and drained just moments ago¡ªsuddenly became full of life, practically radiating energy. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Was he faking it the whole time?!" Oblivious to KIKI¡¯s suspicions, Lin Xian quickly reached Carriage No. 1 and activated the Eerie Cube. ¡¾Beep! Reflective scan using non-mechanical energy initiated.¡¿ ¡¾Scan complete¡ªno detected fear-based threats inside the train. Dark energy incursion blocked.¡¿ ¡¾Non-mechanical energy converted¡ª1,000 Mechanical Source Points acquired.¡¿ "I knew it!" It seemed that last night¡¯s all-out battle had yielded more than he initially thought. With so many Eerie Entities and Human Eeries slain¡ªespecially that massive Black Centipede at Hengshan Pass¡ªthe Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum had absorbed and converted a tremendous amount of energy. Team Discussion "Lin Xian!" Chen Sixuan and Shu Qin arrived, looking much more refreshed than he expected. Lin Xian glanced at them in surprise. "How¡¯s everyone feeling?" Chen Sixuan blinked, confused. "Uh... good? Why?" Shasha, standing to the side, suddenly caught on. "Chen-jiejie, weren¡¯t you up all night?" The entire group turned toward her. Chen Sixuan hesitated, then shook her head. "Weirdly enough, I don¡¯t feel tired at all." "Now that you mention it, I feel the same," Shu Qin added. "I didn¡¯t rest much, but I¡¯m feeling totally energized. Could it be... did we evolve from killing the Eerie Entities?" "Naturally," Lu Xingchen declared smugly. "Purging the evils of the Dark Night is bound to enhance our cultivation." "Not entirely," Lin Xian interjected. Seeing how energized everyone was, he knew the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum had benefited the entire team. However, he decided against explaining the details¡ªpartly because it was complicated, and partly because even he didn¡¯t fully understand it yet. New Skill Acquired ¡¾Congratulations! Mechanical Heart has reached LV.4! You have acquired the passive skill: Mechanical Amplification!¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Amplification (Passive)¡¿: Converts max-level special skills into mechanized exclusive skills. Requires mechanical materials for enhancement. (Note: Amplified skills will no longer have a proficiency level and will instead contribute to Mechanical Manufacturing proficiency.) ¡¾Available Skills for Amplification¡¿ Wind Cannon (LV.3, Max) ¡ú Upgrade to ¡¾Mecha Cannon¡¿Materials: Titanium Alloy ¡Á100, Hot-Rolled Forged Steel ¡Á100Time: 20 hoursIce Wall (LV.3, Max) ¡ú Upgrade to ¡¾AT-Field Shield¡¿Materials: Ultra-Carbon Carbide Alloy ¡Á10, Tungsten-Titanium Alloy Type I ¡Á50Time: 30 hours "Holy sht."* Lin Xian was completely stunned. This was exactly what he needed. Luo Ye, Shasha, and Chen Sixuan all turned their gazes toward Lin Xian. Lin Xian glanced at the map and said directly, "I already have a plan. But before we head out, we need to go back to Hengshan Pass¡ªthere¡¯s someone we need to find." Woo~ At that moment, the Mechanical Heart roared to life. The Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive of the Infinite Train let out a deep rumble, its iron wheels trembling as they rotated along the rails, pushing the train in the opposite direction, heading back toward Hengshan Pass City. The zombies that had been wandering around all night noticed the steel fortress moving and immediately let out guttural growls, staggering after the train in pursuit. "Back to Hengshan Pass? That train station might already be destroyed." Chen Sixuan said to Lin Xian. "We may need to slow down and watch the road conditions carefully." Lin Xian nodded. "Yeah, also¡ªyou and Shu Qin should check our inventory of cold-weather supplies in the living area. We might need to trade for more." "Got it." Chen Sixuan nodded. "I¡¯ll handle it right away." "Hey, brat." Lin Xian called out to KIKI. "What?" KIKI didn''t even look up, lazily sucking on a lollipop, clearly not in the mood to talk to him. "Come help me install the Comprehensive Medical Pod." "Oh~" Lin Xian glanced at her, then added, "Since I didn¡¯t let you pilot the Fire God Mecha yesterday, I¡¯m planning to have a few people test it later. We need to check its Unified Control Coefficient. Want to go first?" KIKI¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, her head tilting slightly. "Seriously?" "Seriously." Shasha, watching from the side, looked puzzled. "Brother Lin, what¡¯s a Unified Control Coefficient?" Lin Xian explained, **"It refers to the neural synchronization signal between the pilot and the mecha¡¯s operating system. The higher the coefficient, the greater the control ability. This is largely determined by natural talent. People with high sensory perception, strong motor skills, and stable mental states are generally more suited to piloting mechas. There are five levels¡ªanyone reaching Level 1 is considered a qualified mecha pilot. But to control military-grade combat mechas, especially battle-class mechas, you need at least Level 3 or above."** Shasha¡¯s eyes widened. "Then what about Level 4 and 5?" KIKI snapped her fingers. "Level 4 means you¡¯re already a genius pilot. Level 5? Those are insanely rare." Lin Xian nodded. "You can try it too, Shasha. I heard that younger pilots tend to adapt better¡ªthey react faster and have fewer mental interferences. You might be a natural fit." "Really?!" Shasha instantly perked up. "Wow, piloting a mecha? That sounds awesome!" "Don¡¯t get too excited just yet~" KIKI stood up and pinched Shasha¡¯s cheek. "Your big sis KIKI hasn¡¯t even piloted one yet. You think you¡¯ll get a turn before me?" Shasha quickly protested, "But KIKI-jie, you can already fly! You don¡¯t even need a mecha!" "Why can''t I fly and pilot a mecha? It¡¯d be so cool!" "Enough messing around. Let¡¯s get to work." Lin Xian interrupted, looking at KIKI. The Comprehensive Life-Support Surgical Pod that KIKI and Luo Ye brought back was set up in Ding Junyi¡¯s Car No. 3 Research Lab. This carriage had ample space, but more importantly, it was well-fortified, with no windows and an airtight air circulation system. Placing the Medical Pod here made perfect sense to Lin Xian. Since it was a fully functional device, Lin Xian only needed to manufacture a compatible base, hook up the wiring, and let Ding Junyi and KIKI configure the system. After that, it would be ready for use. Once the setup was complete, Lin Xian immediately called over Lu? Chang, one of the injured crew members. The moment Lu? Chang saw the Medical Pod, he tensed up. "Captain Lin... uh... how long will I be dead in there?" KIKI clicked her tongue. "Dead?! What are you talking about? It¡¯s a Medical Pod, not a Cryostasis Chamber. You¡¯ll be in and out in no time!" "No, no." Lu? Chang scratched his head. "I mean... does this require full anesthesia?" Ding Junyi answered, "No need. The system automatically applies localized anesthesia based on your injuries, but instead of drugs, it uses Neuron Oscillation Technology." "Ohhh~" Hearing Ding Junyi explain it, Lu? Chang immediately relaxed. He unwrapped the bandages around his injured arm and lay down inside the pod. Ding Junyi pressed a few buttons, and the hatch of the Medical Pod slowly closed. ¡¾Performing Life Sign Scan...¡¿ ¡¾Detecting injuries...¡¿ ¡¾Detected Level 3 Fracture of the Left Ulna, with torn muscle and epidermal lacerations.¡¿ ¡¾Initiating Treatment Protocol. Full-area disinfection in progress.¡¿ Hiss! A white mist filled the pod, followed by a blue energy scan sweeping over Lu? Chang¡¯s body. ¡¾Localized Neuron Oscillation Anesthesia Activated.¡¿ Beep! A set of precision robotic arms extended from the pod, directing focused laser beams at Lu? Chang¡¯s fractured arm. In an almost 3D-printing fashion, the lasers reconstructed his bone and tissue, sealing the wound seamlessly. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed, observing the real-time healing¡ªhis wound closed up with zero bleeding, zero scarring, as if the flesh had regenerated perfectly. "It¡¯s done?" Within minutes, the pod¡¯s hatch opened, and Lu? Chang sat up, his face filled with shock as he stared at his fully restored arm. "Holy sh*t! It¡¯s like I grew a new hand!" Lin Xian asked, "How do you feel?" Lu? Chang flexed his fingers excitedly, "Uh... it¡¯s still a bit tingly, but other than that, good as new! Captain Lin, this thing is insane!" Lin Xian chuckled. "This was high-end medical tech from before the Apocalypse¡ªonly the wealthiest could afford it. Now, we can treat injuries instantly whenever needed." "Alright, alright!" KIKI clapped her hands, growing impatient. "The Medical Pod is set up! Lin Xian, let¡¯s go test the mecha already!" The excitement in her voice was impossible to miss. Lin Xian pointed outside. "We¡¯ll test it once we reach Hengshan Pass. The mecha can¡¯t even stand up properly right now¡ªhow do you plan to test it?" "Oh... yeah, true." Chapter 238: Ding Junyis Superpowers The sun was shining just right, and the breeze was warm and gentle. Clang¡ªclang¡ª The Infinite Train raced along the railway tracks bordering Shijiu Lake, speeding back toward Hengshan Pass City. When news spread that the train now had a Comprehensive Life-Support Surgical Pod, the entire crew erupted in excitement. In this eerie and suffocating apocalypse, having access to a fully functional medical system inside their mobile steel fortress was an unbelievable luxury. After all, before this, even a minor wound without proper medicine could lead to fatal bacterial infections, not to mention the risk of dark invasion, which could cause mutation into a zombie or a Human Eerie. Inside Car No. 4, the soilless cultivation pod and planting pod had been fully assembled. Ding Junyi was currently leading a few assistants in plant breeding. This wasn¡¯t exactly a priority in her research schedule, but since Lin Xian had requested it, she temporarily set aside her studies on the Foundation¡¯s research data and decided to push this project forward first. From Ding Junyi¡¯s perspective, Lin Xian¡¯s decisions were always necessary and meaningful. For once, she didn¡¯t analyze things purely from a rational standpoint¡ªa rare occurrence for her. Standing in front of the planting pod, Ding Junyi leaned slightly forward, adjusting her glasses as she observed the nutrient-rich soil inside the glass chamber. With the initial setup complete, her assistants had all left. Now alone, Ding Junyi carefully logged her observations into her mobile terminal. "Since the train''s interior is unaffected by the Dark Tides, perhaps plant growth will also benefit from this." She pondered this possibility. Just as she was about to turn away, something in her peripheral vision caught her attention, making her pause and turn back toward the soil inside the planting pod. In one of the planting areas, the soft soil seemed to shift slightly. The moment she noticed this, Ding Junyi''s caution immediately heightened. To her, any unusual biological phenomenon could potentially be linked to dark mutations¡ªand could endanger the train¡¯s internal safety. The thought flashed across her mind, and she swiftly turned back, carefully observing every minute change in the soil. "Box 12-A, Lettuce Seeds..." As she narrowed her eyes for a closer look, the soft soil shifted again. This time, a tiny, pale green sprout pushed up through the soil, emerging into view. Ding Junyi¡¯s brows furrowed deeply as she instantly realized the seriousness of the situation. Meanwhile, outside the train, the cold wind intensified. Within just one night, the temperature had dropped several more degrees. The drastic climate shift had caused vast stretches of mountain forests, marshlands, and greenery along the lake''s edge to wither and die. The entire landscape was turning into a barren wasteland, as lifeless yellow hues overtook the once-thriving land. On the roof of Car No. 1, Lin Xian stood, gazing out over Shijiu Lake. The strong winds rushed past him as sunlight shimmered across the vast lake surface. If he didn¡¯t know that a massive Deep Abyss Behemoth lurked thousands of meters beneath those waters, this place might have seemed like a peaceful paradise. But he wasn¡¯t up here to admire the scenery. He had come to test a new skill. "Gravitational Lens... Sounds powerful. But I have no idea what it actually does." It was the only skill in his arsenal that he couldn¡¯t quite understand from its description. Taking a deep breath, Lin Xian raised his hand and aimed toward the open sky above. "Gravitational Lens¡ªactivate!" The moment he triggered the skill¡ª His face turned pale. He suddenly felt his entire stamina being rapidly drained, as if something was violently ripping away his strength. A crushing sense of exhaustion slammed into him like a collapsing mountain, leaving him shaken and weak. "Tsk¡ª!" He inhaled sharply, struggling to keep his balance. As he lifted his gaze, he saw that hundreds of meters above, a portion of the sky was beginning to distort rapidly. In an instant, a brilliant halo of light formed, refracting and intensifying the surrounding sunlight. Then¡ª Fwoosh! A water-barrel-thick beam of searing energy suddenly blasted downward, striking the lake surface with devastating force! BOOM! The heat from the beam instantly vaporized a large portion of the lake, sending massive clouds of white steam billowing into the sky! Lin Xian stared in shock, but before he could react¡ª His fingers twitched¡ª And the beam suddenly swept toward the train. "Sh*t!!" BZZZT¡ª!! Lin Xian immediately tried to halt the attack, but it was too late. The scorching beam arced across the land, narrowly missing the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive, just inches away from disaster! Finally, Lin Xian¡¯s body gave out from exhaustion, and he deactivated the skill. Drenched in cold sweat, he turned to look at the ground behind the train. A 1-meter-wide, pitch-black scorch mark had been carved across the land, stretching hundreds of meters into the distance. The top layer of the ground had been entirely vaporized, leaving behind a smooth, charred pathway. Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded in fear. "Holy sh*t... I almost sliced the train in half." He stared at his hand in disbelief. This Gravitational Lens was on an entirely different level compared to his other skills. "It¡¯s insanely powerful... but it also drains my stamina at an absurd rate." Slumping onto the train roof, he gasped for air. "That was just two seconds... and I feel like I¡¯ve been wrecked by twenty women non-stop for an entire night... What kind of monstrous stamina drain is this?!" If he had been at full strength, he estimated he could sustain it for 3¨C5 seconds at most. "Seems like it compresses and amplifies sunlight into an extreme energy beam..." Lin Xian felt pretty smug for a moment, staring at his fingers. "With this skill, I finally have a high-damage attack against eerie entities at night¡ª" He froze mid-thought. His expression stiffened. "Wait... at night...?" "Does the sun even exist... at night?" A sudden realization struck him like a ton of bricks. "Crap... Does this skill even work when there¡¯s no sunlight?" His mind went blank. An overwhelming sense of ridiculousness flooded his thoughts. "Did I... just invent a solar-powered flashlight?" For a long moment, Lin Xian sat there, completely silent. "No way... No way..." He massaged his temples, denying reality. "I must be missing something. There has to be another way to use it. If this skill only works in daylight, then it¡¯s absolutely bullsh*t." With the expansion of the Abyss, daylight was becoming rarer. If that was the case, his chances of using this skill would become even more limited. "I need to test this further..." At that moment, Lin Xian dragged himself up, still feeling exhausted. "But first¡ªI need food, water, and a damn nap." Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words, Ding Junyi finally processed what he was saying. She opened her mouth, and for once, the usually composed scientist found herself stumbling over her words. "This... theoretically speaking... um, well... it does seem possible." Lin Xian¡¯s face lit up with excitement as he looked at Ding Junyi. "Director Ding, you have to explore your ability further! Car No. 4 could be your personal training ground or experimental lab. I really think your power has incredible potential just waiting to be discovered!" Ding Junyi took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Then, regaining her usual composure, she nodded at Lin Xian and said, "You''re right. I shouldn''t jump to conclusions so quickly. There could be many other properties of my ability I haven''t uncovered yet." "Definitely." Lin Xian was ecstatic. Plant growth¡ªthe possibilities were endless! There were billions of plant species on Blue Planet, each with unique properties. From a survival perspective, it meant nearly unlimited food supplies. But the most important thing was¡ª Fresh food! Just that alone meant Ding Junyi could probably walk into the Phoenix Organization and become the Global Minister of Food Supply without any issue. And yet, she hadn¡¯t thought much of it? What a rare gem... it''s like striking gold in a haunted house. "Oh, right," Lin Xian suddenly turned serious. "Director Ding, from now on, you should only use your ability on the train. Don¡¯t display it in front of outsiders." Ever since he had showcased his Mechanical Manufacturing ability at the spaceport, he had been targeted by organizations like the Foundation. He couldn¡¯t imagine how much attention Ding Junyi¡¯s ability would attract if others found out about it. He hadn¡¯t fully aligned himself with the Phoenix Organization yet, and the global survivor factions held vastly different agendas. Revealing Ding Junyi¡¯s ability too soon might bring unnecessary trouble to the Infinite Train. "I understand." Ding Junyi glanced down at Lin Xian¡¯s hand, which was gripping her shoulder tighter and tighter. Then she looked up at him with an expression that carried a certain... indescribable meaning. Lin Xian frowned¡ªhe instantly understood that look. ¡®Squeeze harder. I like it.¡¯ He immediately let go. Otherwise, he was pretty sure this closet masochist of a scientist would start looking at him with glowing eyes. "Good luck, Director Ding. I believe in you." Lin Xian gave her a clear and sincere gaze, then nodded before picking up the metal case and leaving. Ding Junyi watched him walk away, and for once, a rare, gentle smile bloomed on her usually cold face. "So manly." ¡ª Lin Xian made his way to Car No. 12 and found an empty fuel rod storage box. He placed the metal case inside, securing it under double layers of safety measures. The suppressive effects of the Heavy Suspension Conductive Liquid were finally completely neutralized. Chen Sixuan saw him enter and immediately asked, "What happened? You were fine just now, but now you look exhausted again." "I just used my Mechanical Ability for a bit," Lin Xian admitted. "But it¡¯s fine, nothing serious." Chen Sixuan looked at him with slight concern before saying, "You should take care of yourself. You were gone all night. Everyone was really worried about your safety." Lin Xian walked over and took her hand. "I¡¯ll try not to take such risks in the future." "KIKI¡¯s ability is really powerful. You should bring her with you," Chen Sixuan said, gazing at him. "We¡¯ve all been through so much together. One night of rest wouldn¡¯t hurt." "You forgot¡ªshe has a Level-3 Mark. I can''t take her into dangerous situations." Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression darkened. "Right... I almost forgot about that. Ugh... these marks make it feel like we¡¯re just playthings to them." She looked back up at him, her eyes unwavering. "But... you could take me. I think I can protect you too." "Alright." Lin Xian smiled, warmth spreading through his chest. He pulled Chen Sixuan into a hug without saying anything more. Just that simple embrace was enough to wash away most of his exhaustion. ¡ª "We''re about to enter the city." Hearing the sound of the train aligning with the tracks, Chen Sixuan quickly pulled away, looking ahead. "The route isn¡¯t very clear. We fought pretty hard last night." Lin Xian looked forward as well. The tracks were littered with the mangled corpses of Black Elytra Bugs and countless crushed zombies. The iron fencing and protective barriers on either side of the tracks were riddled with bullet holes and splattered with green insect fluids and zombie blood. A dense cloud of flies buzzed overhead¡ªa gruesome sight. The Infinite Train slowed slightly. Before long, the remains of Hengshan Pass Station came into view. Most of the steel canopy above the platform had collapsed. As the train drew closer, the devastation became even clearer. Corpses of survivors lay everywhere. Severed limbs were scattered across the platform and tracks. A massive Black Centipede corpse, riddled with bullet holes, sprawled across multiple rails. There were also the remains of Giant Fog Spiders, a White Giant blown apart at the torso, two Car-Sized Elytra Bugs, a Three-Headed Spider Monster torn to shreds¡ªand even a Red Skeletal Horror''s severed arm impaled through the windshield of a truck¡¯s cab. It was a horrifying, blood-soaked battlefield. Even Chen Sixuan, who had seen her fair share of carnage, wore a grim expression. Lin Xian scanned the area. The station was almost completely stripped of usable weapons and vehicles. Even the Night Phantom, the green-painted train that had been stationed here, had derailed. Several of its carriages lay toppled, filled with corpses, while the locomotive itself was missing. Lin Xian frowned. "Looks like someone already cleaned up the battlefield." The Night Phantom¡¯s engine was a Huanxing Mining Series Small Nuclear Engine. If it were still here, Lin Xian would¡¯ve taken it without hesitation. Devouring the nuclear engine from the Dragon-Class Transport Ship had benefited him tremendously. While this engine wasn¡¯t as powerful as the Night Star-2¡¯sNuclear Turbine Processor, it was still far superior to a standard electric locomotive. But clearly, last night¡¯s battle had drawn attention. Other survivor factions must have arrived before them¡ªperhaps local survivor enclaves, or maybe passing convoys from other railway lines. Whoever they were, they had already scavenged what they could. Not that it was shameful¡ªsurvivors were simply fighting for survival. "Are we stopping here?" Chen Sixuan asked, frowning at the devastation. Lin Xian shook his head. "Keep moving. Find an open area to stop. I need to prepare the train for tonight." Boom! Boom! The Infinite Train plowed through abandoned wreckage on the tracks, accelerating as it stormed past the ruined station. Before long, they reached a freight rail platform near Hengshan Pass and pulled off the main line to dock. Under the morning sun, the freight station was overrun with zombies. The moment they heard the train¡¯s vibrations, they came sprinting from all directions. Abandoned train cars lay rusting on the tracks, withered weeds growing around them. Nearby, crumbling buildings held remnants of past lives¡ªtoppled cabinets, neatly stacked dishes, a rusted baby stroller submerged in a murky puddle. The air was thick with an eerie stillness. "The Apocalypse Day has lasted so long... The places we pass will only become more desolate." Lin Xian scanned the landscape. "I remember watching a documentary called Life After Humans. It theorized that within three months of humanity¡¯s disappearance, plants and animals would start reclaiming cities. But this disaster is different¡ªeven nature isn''t spared. Right now, we can still find traces of human survival, but in a few years... this world might be nothing but wasteland." "A few years?" Chen Sixuan¡¯s gaze darkened. "Didn¡¯t the Phoenix Organization say we only have one year left?" Hiss! Lin Xian engaged the brakes, slowly bringing the train to a stop. Then he turned to her and said, "Darkness won¡¯t be the end of humanity. It will only be the night before the embers ignite." Then he switched to the team comms: "Shasha, Fire, Miao Lu¡ªclear the platform and set up a temporary camp!" "Chen-jie, Daluo¡ªcheck and clean the train." "Shu Qin, Lu? Chang¡ªscout the northern and eastern escape routes." "KIKI," Lin Xian called as he entered Car No. 2, looking at her seriously. "Come with me. We''re going to find an old acquaintance." As Lin Xian gave out orders, the Infinite Train crew moved swiftly into action. Clack-clack¡ª Just then, the walkie-talkie crackled to life, and a subordinate¡¯s voice came through: "Boss Hu, the captain of the Infinite Convoy is here with someone." Hearing this, Hu Lushou shot up from his seat so fast he almost choked on the sausage he had just swallowed. "What?!" He turned sharply to Sun Chang. "Didn¡¯t they run off last night? Why the hell are they back?" "They¡¯re probably not here for a friendly visit," Sun Chang said coldly, slamming her mechanical arm onto the table and standing up with an imposing air. Hu Lushou¡¯s expression darkened as he pressed the talk button on the walkie-talkie. "How many of them?" "Just two. They say they¡¯re here to discuss a deal," the subordinate replied. "Two people?" Hu Lushou exchanged a glance with Sun Chang, his brows furrowing. "What¡¯s that supposed to mean?" "Could it be an ambush?" Sun Chang asked immediately. Hu Lushou gave her a strange look. "An ambush? Who the hell walks right up to someone¡¯s doorstep in broad daylight with just two people for an ambush?" "Don¡¯t forget," Sun Chang said grimly, "their convoy has some seriously powerful Ability Users. If things go south, we might not be able to handle them." Hu Lushou knew that all too well. He had already realized the previous night that while the Infinite Convoy was small in number, it was full of hidden powerhouses. At least three or four Ability Users, plus heavy weaponry mounted on their train¡ªdespite the Fortune-Longevity Convoy¡¯s strength and advanced gear, an all-out fight was a gamble at best. His expression shifted rapidly as his mind raced. "Sh*t... they really came knocking." "Should we prepare for a fight?" Sun Chang¡¯s eyes glinted with killing intent. Hu Lushou hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand. "Let¡¯s wait and see. We¡¯re not at the point of shedding blood yet¡ªotherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have let us go last night." He then picked up the walkie-talkie. "Let them in. Keep an eye on the surroundings, see if anyone else is lurking." "Understood." After giving those orders, Hu Lushou shot a look at Sun Chang. She nodded in response, gesturing for a few men to fall back and hide inside the vehicles, setting up an ambush just in case. A low rumble grew louder as a motorcycle approached from the distance. The convoy members instinctively raised their weapons, aiming at the incoming vehicle. The motorcycle cut across the withered grass of the abandoned stadium and rolled to a stop in the middle of the convoy. "Well, well! Brother Lin, what brings you here?" Hu Lushou immediately put on a fawning smile and walked up to greet Lin Xian, his tone full of fake enthusiasm. "We were ambushed by a massive horde of Eerie Entities at Hengshan Pass Station last night. Do you know anything about it?" Lin Xian and KIKI strode forward, getting straight to the point. "This..." Hu Lushou¡¯s eyes flickered, and he let out a heavy sigh. "A lot of survivor camps probably heard the commotion last night. I was actually thinking of sending reinforcements, but we ran into trouble ourselves..." What a blatant lie. Lin Xian almost laughed out loud. This conniving merchant sending reinforcements? Who would believe that nonsense? "You seem nervous," KIKI remarked. "We¡¯re here to gather intel and buy supplies. What¡¯s with all the guns? Is this how you do business?" She crossed her arms and casually waved a hand¡ªclatter! The weapons of Hu Lushou¡¯s men suddenly flew out of their hands and hovered in midair. Caught off guard, the men panicked, jumping up and down, trying to snatch their guns back¡ªa comical sight. Zzt! Whoosh! Sun Chang stepped forward, arcs of electricity crackling around her mechanical arm as an overwhelming pressure filled the air. Hu Lushou reacted instantly, raising a hand to block her path. He turned to Lin Xian and KIKI, the fake smile fading from his face. "You¡¯re here to buy something?" "Of course," Lin Xian said coldly. "Look, man," Hu Lushou sighed, throwing up his hands. "You guys already bought most of my food stock¡ªI need to keep some for my own people, you know?" Lin Xian¡¯s gaze swept over the convoy before he signaled to KIKI. Snap. KIKI snapped her fingers, and the guns dropped back down. Seeing this, Hu Lushou quickly gestured for his men to collect them and leave, now looking at KIKI with clear wariness. This kind of ability was terrifying¡ªordinary Evolvers wouldn¡¯t even have a chance to resist. Deciding to tread carefully, Hu Lushou adjusted his posture to avoid escalating the situation. "What we need isn¡¯t food. We¡¯re looking to buy cold-weather gear," Lin Xian explained. "And we also need some information." "Cold-weather gear?" Hu Lushou immediately pieced things together. "So you¡¯re heading toward the northeast routes?" Lin Xian nodded. "Something like that." "We do have some winter supplies, but..." Hu Lushou hesitated, looking troubled. "These things are in high demand right now, and I can¡¯t trade them for Xinghuo-26 Tactical Rifles anymore." "Why not? Yesterday you were eager to take all of them," KIKI said with a smirk. Hu Lushou grimaced. "I screwed up, okay? I seriously underestimated you guys. If I¡¯d known you were running a damn military factory, I wouldn¡¯t have tried to clear out your warehouse!" He threw up his hands in exasperation. "Now I¡¯m stuck with piles of these rifles¡ªtoo short to use as canes, too long to use as chopsticks! After last night¡¯s attack, most of the survivors around here fled at first light, and I have no idea who I¡¯m supposed to sell all these guns to!" Lin Xian¡¯s gaze shifted past Hu Lushou and landed on Sun Chang. He then spoke, voice calm yet firm: "Boss Hu, your people picked up a lot of loot from the convoy wrecks at the station, didn¡¯t they?" Hu Lushou froze. "...How do you know that?" KIKI lifted a small communication device and pressed a button. A rhythmic beep-beep-beep echoed from it. "All the comms gear we sold ended up in your hands," she said meaningfully. "You searched through those wrecks pretty thoroughly, huh?" Hu Lushou¡¯s face paled. He took two steps back and quickly raised his hands. "L-look, I had nothing to do with that attack! And besides, the people were dead! Survivors scavenging leftover supplies¡ªit¡¯s just part of surviving, right?!" Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. "Did I say you were involved?" "Uh..." Hu Lushou hesitated, then exhaled in relief. "Damn, brother, you scared the hell out of me! I thought you came for payback. Actually, I was about to ask you¡ªwhat the hell happened last night? It was brutal!" "A large-scale Black Night Eerie Entity assault," Lin Xian stated bluntly. "I don¡¯t think it was a coincidence. It¡¯s likely tied to a certain organization." "An organization? What do they have to do with the Eerie Entities?" "We¡¯re not entirely sure yet," Lin Xian said, his tone measured. He locked eyes with Hu Lushou and Sun Chang, speaking slowly: "But I do know that there¡¯s a secret research facility right here in Clearwater Town¡ªan organization called The Foundation. Ever heard of it?" The moment he said the name, Hu Lushou¡¯s expression changed drastically. Beside him, Sun Chang¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. "Research facility? Never heard of it," Hu Lushou said, forcing a laugh. "Why would I know anything about that?" "Drop the act," KIKI interjected. "We know you were the Vice Captain of Yunxiang. We also know you¡¯ve been inside that facility. We¡¯re here to trade information¡ªso don¡¯t play dumb." Hu Lushou¡¯s forced smile instantly vanished. He exchanged a glance with Sun Chang, and the air between them turned icy. Sun Chang¡¯s gaze hardened. "What exactly do you want from us?" "We visited that research facility last night," Lin Xian said. "We also learned about The Mad Hatter¡¯s Death Game. That place is now abandoned." "What?! That place is gone?" Hu Lushou looked genuinely shocked. Seeing his reaction, Lin Xian and KIKI knew immediately¡ªthey were right on the mark. "Yes, I was indeed the vice-captain of the Cloud Soaring before. Back then, we encountered an Aerial Eerie Entity and had to make an emergency landing in the forests outside Clearwater Town. But we crashed into something¡ªan invisible structure¡ªand ended up wrecked inside the town. By the time I woke up, I was already inside that research facility..." Hu Lushou laid everything out without hesitation. His eyes flickered as he looked at Lin Xian. "So, what exactly do you want to know? But let¡¯s be clear¡ªmy intel isn¡¯t free. That also includes the cold-weather supplies you¡¯re trying to buy. But I don¡¯t want automatic rifles." "What do you want, then?" Lin Xian asked. "Heavy-caliber weapons. The 1130 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), an electric Gatling gun, and the power armor you¡¯re wearing."** Lin Xian laughed outright. "You think a single piece of intel is worth all that?" "Robbery much?!" KIKI stepped forward, ready to grab Hu Lushou by the collar. Hu Lushou immediately scooted his chair backward, waving his hands frantically. "No, no, no! I¡¯m just saying those are the only things I¡¯d accept for trade¡ªI don¡¯t mean I want all of them!" "The Gatling gun is doable. The rest? Forget it. Not even close to being worth that much." Lin Xian saw right through Hu Lushou''s probing tactics. There was no way he¡¯d actually trade away the 1130 CIWS, though he could tell Hu Lushou was eyeing it greedily. In reality, Hu Lushou already knew the only thing he could realistically get was the Gatling gun, but he still pretended to go big just to negotiate. "Are you serious?" Hu Lushou¡¯s eyes lit up. A high-powered weapon like this would greatly boost his convoy¡¯s firepower¡ªmost C-Class Eerie Entities wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it. "Yes. I¡¯ll trade you one for your intel, and three more for 30 sets of cold-weather gear. That includes Federation-standard thermal suits, body heat regulators, thick blankets, snow goggles, and snow boots. Plus, I¡¯ll throw in 6,000 rounds of ammunition. Deal?" Hu Lushou and Sun Chang were stunned speechless. Four Gatling guns? That was an insane amount of firepower¡ªequivalent to a heavy-weapons platoon. Hu Lushou¡¯s heart pounded, and he exhaled sharply in excitement. "You have that many Gatlings?" "Take it or leave it. No more talking." "Deal!" Hu Lushou agreed immediately. "Good. Start talking." Lin Xian leaned back in his chair and gestured for him to begin. "Wait... talk about what?" Hu Lushou suddenly froze. An autumn breeze blew past as he turned to look at Lin Xian. "Bro... you haven''t handed over the weapons yet. You¡¯re not planning to do this on credit, are you?" He glanced around. Lin Xian had arrived on a single motorcycle¡ªhe didn¡¯t exactly look like he was carrying four Gatling guns. KIKI, standing beside Lin Xian, made no move to bring out the goods either. The two of them just sat there, staring at him like they were about to dine and dash. Good grief. They were straight-up playing him. Hu Lushou¡¯s face darkened instantly. "You screwing with me?" Lin Xian exhaled, then suddenly raised his hand. The instant he did, Hu Lushou flinched, and at the same time, several hidden gunmen in the shadows emerged with weapons drawn. At that moment, Sun Chang suddenly lunged forward¡ªher mechanical arm crackling with electricity. BZZZT¡ª! KIKI moved first. With a shockwave, she blasted the armed men backward and snatched their guns in one swift motion. At the same time, she reached out with her left hand and grabbed Sun Chang mid-air. But Sun Chang was ridiculously strong. Her mechanical arm¡¯s elbow suddenly ignited, using jet propulsion to break free from KIKI¡¯s grip¡ªbefore launching a punch straight at her! BANG! However¡ª A massive, iron gate suddenly materialized between them. Sun Chang¡¯s punch slammed into it, denting the metal heavily, but KIKI¡ªstanding behind it¡ªwas completely unharmed. "STOP!" Just as Sun Chang prepared to attack again, Hu Lushou shouted at her to stand down. His gaze shifted¡ªLin Xian hadn¡¯t attacked him. Instead, Lin Xian¡¯s right hand had formed an iron wall to protect KIKI, while his left hand hovered over a floating holographic interface¡ªfrom which countless materials poured out, rapidly assembling a fully functional Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun right before their eyes. CLANG¡ª With a hiss of heat, the freshly built Gatling gun landed directly in front of Hu Lushou. His expression went from shock to awe, then to horror, before finally settling into a look of utter realization. "This... this...!" Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flashed. "You wanted a Gatling, didn¡¯t you? Give me 20 minutes." Since he had already prepared the materials in advance, his manufacturing speed was now lightning-fast. Within minutes, four brand-new Gatling guns were neatly placed in front of Hu Lushou. Sun Chang was in complete disbelief. "What kind of Ability is this?! You can create weapons out of thin air?!" Lin Xian glanced at her mechanical arm before replying casually¡ª "Your mechanical arm isn¡¯t bad. Give me some time, and I can make you one too." Chapter 239: The Sword of Damocles Clank¡ª Hu Lushou slumped into his chair. He turned to look at his truck, then back at the Gatling guns in front of him. Before he could even say a word, Lin Xian spoke first. **"No need to guess. That batch of Xinghuo-26 fully automatic tactical rifles I sold you? I made them myself. I didn¡¯t loot a military armory¡ªbecause I am the armory."** "Holy sh*t!!!" Hu Lushou¡¯s jaw dropped. His face was filled with utter shock as he stared at Lin Xian. "You... your Ability is insane!" "It¡¯s alright." Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He wasn¡¯t in the mood for jokes. "Alright, your weapons are here. Now talk." Hu Lushou¡¯s gaze shifted, his expression a mix of hesitation, calculation, and disbelief. After a moment of contemplation, he waved Sun Chang over. The two of them stepped forward together. **"Alright, fine. Honestly, I don¡¯t know much. When I was locked up in that research facility, I went through the same thing you saw¡ªI was forced into the Mad Hatter¡¯s Game. Only Sun Chang and I survived that round."** For the first time, Hu Lushou¡¯s usual sly and shrewd demeanor faded, replaced by a grim look. "So, after getting supplies, you two joined forces and started a convoy?" KIKI asked. "Yeah." Hu Lushou¡¯s tone showed clear discomfort when mentioning his time in that facility. **"At the time, I thought I was dead for sure. But when I won... they actually gave us a ton of supplies."** He turned to Lin Xian, his gaze suddenly serious. **"At first, we were imprisoned in that facility. There were a lot of survivors there. From what I know, not everyone was subjected to the same experiments as us. That research lab was twisted¡ªbut their studies were highly advanced. Abilities, Eerie Entities, Human Eeries, Dark Invasions¡ªtheir knowledge seemed far beyond even the Federation¡¯s underground research labs. We all had the same suspicion..."** Hu Lushou¡¯s expression turned dead serious. "They¡¯ve been studying the Darkness for at least ten years." Lin Xian and KIKI¡¯s expressions hardened. This aligned with what Ding Junyi had told Lin Xian inside the lab. But hearing it confirmed from Hu Lushou made it even more unsettling. **"That¡¯s impossible. The Apocalypse started less than six months ago. How could they have been studying it for ten years?"** Hu Lushou shrugged, forcing a bitter smile. **"No idea. We¡¯re just speculating. But a facility that massive, and yet completely unknown to the Federation¡¯s system? That alone is highly suspicious."** "Why is that strange?" KIKI asked. Hu Lushou¡¯s expression grew even more serious. **"Our Cloud Soaring ship was a military vessel. We had top-level airspace clearance under the Federation. But we collided with an invisible sky dome above that facility. A base that size, and yet it doesn¡¯t exist in our Federation¡¯s system? You¡¯re telling me they built it in three months?"** Lin Xian fell into silence. He had asked Hua Xiaoling about this before. She had told him that the research facility was once a military project co-developed with the Federation. Something had always felt off about it. Now that Hu Lushou pointed it out, it finally clicked. The wreckage of the Dragon-Class Transport Ship seemed highly suspicious¡ªa Federation vessel should have known about any collaborating research bases in the area. But now, it was clear¡ª SIID Foundation wasn¡¯t working with the Federation or Phoenix Society at all. "As for this Tan Meng woman you¡¯re asking about... I don¡¯t know her. What about her?" Hu Lushou asked. **"She was placed inside a submersible, sent down into Shijiu Lake as part of an experiment. Also, as far as I know¡ªshe was an Ability User."** KIKI said. Hu Lushou¡¯s brows furrowed. He shook his head. **"What kind of insane experiment is that? If she won the game, wouldn¡¯t she have left?"** "That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m asking you." Lin Xian said dryly. "I really don¡¯t know." Hu Lushou spread his hands. **"Honestly, the fact that we were even allowed to leave was shocking to me. Maybe they saw some other value in her. I mean, she had Abilities, right? Maybe she was useful to them. Or... maybe she was just good-looking, haha."** Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. Now that he thought about it¡ª That Tan Meng woman was indeed attractive. She had an elegant aura, plus a flight-based Ability¡ªwhich could be extremely valuable. "That¡¯s all you got?" "That¡¯s all." Hu Lushou confirmed. "I¡¯ve told you everything I know." His gaze sharpened as he looked at Lin Xian. **"I understand now why they wanted you. Brother, with an Ability like yours, you¡¯re a major asset. Honestly, you probably learned more than I did while inside that facility. Did any of this actually help you?"** Lin Xian stood up. **"Not really. Get my supplies ready. Deliver them to the freight platform."** Hu Lushou panicked slightly as he saw Lin Xian getting up. **"Hey, hey¡ªwait! Four Gatling guns¡ªyou better not back out on me! A deal is a deal. We Dragon Nation folk don¡¯t screw each other over!"** **"Relax. It¡¯s all yours. If we cross paths again, we can talk business."** Lin Xian and KIKI turned to leave. "Wait¡ªwait¡ªwait!" Hu Lushou suddenly called out to Lin Xian. **"Hold up! I¡¯m not a fan of one-sided deals. I¡¯ve got one more piece of intel. It¡¯s got nothing to do with the Foundation, but trust me¡ªit¡¯s useful. And I¡¯ll give it to you for free.**" Lin Xian paused, intrigued. "Oh? What is it?" Hu Lushou¡¯s expression turned secretive. Leaning in, he lowered his voice. "Do you guys know what Phoenix Society is actually doing in Palma Grasslands?" "Aren¡¯t they just holding off an S-Class Eerie Entity?" KIKI crossed her arms. "That¡¯s it, right?" "Not quite." Hu Lushou smirked. **"From what I know¡ªthis Palma Grasslands operation is actually a large-scale experiment led by Phoenix Society. It¡¯s part of the Resistance Movement. They call it... The Emperor Project."** Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sharpened. "The Emperor Project?" "Exactly." Hu Lushou¡¯s grin widened. **"And guess what? This project involves testing massive human-made war machines¡ª A superweapon known as... The Planetary Titan."** In the darkness, there was no such thing as absolute safety. And with the Dark Mark on him, Lin Xian was forced to make a crucial decision. Once someone was marked, they couldn¡¯t just keep running. If they didn¡¯t decisively deal with the eerie entities they could handle, the mark would become a Damocles¡¯ sword hanging over the Infinite Train¡ªconstantly stacking up, increasing the risk of annihilation. No one could predict whether surviving one night meant the next area wouldn¡¯t bring forth some terrifying, unknown existence because of the mark. When should they flee? When should they fight? If they could decipher this pattern of darkness, perhaps the Infinite Train could continue securing peaceful nights¡ªlike when they left Rain Town¡ªwhile reaping great rewards. But if they miscalculated... they might meet the same fate as the Fireline Convoy, which vanished without a trace¡ªover a hundred people, gone, without even a distress signal left behind. At this moment, inside Car No. 2, all eyes were on Lin Xian. The air grew heavy with silence. Hoo... Lin Xian exhaled lightly, breaking the quiet. "I¡¯ve made my decision. We take the northern route, pass through Xilan, bypass Abyss Zone No. 5, and enter Quancheng via the Western Gobi." "The northern route? Is it because of the Phoenix Organization?" Chen Sixuan immediately understood his reasoning. "That¡¯s part of it." Lin Xian nodded and said seriously, "First, Xilan is the closest Phoenix outpost to us. Aside from dealing with the Dark Mark, we also need to trade for supplies. I have a strong feeling that the Nightwalkers from Parma Grasslands are heading toward Xilan, so if we can establish contact, we might gain critical intelligence on abilities and Eerie Blood Crystals." But there was another reason¡ªLin Xian was deeply intrigued by Hu Lushou¡¯s so-called Emperor Project. A superhuman war machine? Even now, he could feel his Mechanical Heart pulsating with excitement. And the logic behind it was sound. While humanity relied on abilities to fight back, their core survival strategy had to be industrial technology. Mass-producing mechs and drones was the most practical approach¡ªso it was no surprise that the Phoenix Organization was developing such a plan. Thus, Lin Xian had deliberately chosen a less safe route. He wasn¡¯t just seeking the Phoenix Organization¡ªhe was actively looking to engage with the pinnacle of human technological warfare. Even Hua Xiaoling had once told him: "Artificial intelligence and advanced technology are the last remaining will of human civilization." And after acquiring the Fire God Mech, Lin Xian believed in this more than ever. Ability research was uncharted territory. Genetic evolution was still in its infancy. But mechanical engineering? That was humanity¡¯s strongest and most promising weapon! "Whoa~" Shasha clapped her hands in excitement. "I heard there are a ton of uninhabited zones up north! Looks like we¡¯re in for a long adventure!" Shu Qin, who had already scouted the northern exit, reported, "The railway out of the city is clear, though zombies are heavily concentrated in that area. But once we get past the outskirts, the terrain opens up." Chen Sixuan nodded. "We have enough supplies, so even if we hit a blizzard, we¡¯ll be fine." She pulled out the travel log and listed their current stock: "We¡¯ve gathered all the cold-weather gear we need. At two meals per day, our food will last at least 42 days. Plus, we now have a medical pod. Clothing, snow goggles, thermal gear, gloves, masks, protective eyewear¡ªalong with hygiene supplies like soap, shampoo, sanitary pads, toothbrushes, and toothpaste¡ªwe¡¯ve gathered quite a bit from Hengshan Pass and the research facility. Even recreational items like poker cards, books, and music players." "Honestly, we¡¯ve got pretty much everything we need." Lin Xian raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Damn, looks like everyone really covered all the bases." "What about water?" Ding Junyi suddenly spoke up. KIKI looked puzzled. "We have a water recycling and purification system on board. Do we really need to stockpile more?" Lin Xian turned to Ding Junyi. "Director Ding, do you foresee a problem?" Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses and explained, "I''ve been monitoring reports on the extreme cold vortex. This blizzard is unlike anything we¡¯ve ever encountered. There are three major concerns: First, deep snow. Some areas already have over 1.2 meters of accumulation, and with the blizzard intensifying, entire convoys are being buried. Aside from tracked vehicles and our rail-based train, most routes will soon be impassable. Even though we have the Icebreaker Shield, the road conditions and snow depth mean we won¡¯t be able to travel quickly. Second, unknown lifeforms within the blizzard. Survivors are calling them Snow Wraiths, but no one knows what they actually are or how dangerous they might be. We need to stay on high alert. Third, dark-contaminated snowmelt. Blackened snow is considered polluted. Even though we have water purifiers, survivor radio reports suggest this contamination is worse than the snow disaster at Dazhu Plateau. I strongly recommend stocking up on additional bottled water in case we lose access to fresh sources." Her analysis made everyone¡¯s expressions grow serious. Chen Sixuan nodded solemnly. "She¡¯s right. I¡¯ve had the same bad feeling. This blizzard might be worse than we think." "Agreed." Lin Xian pondered for a moment. "Let¡¯s store extra drinking water, fill the water tanks, and ration our daily consumption accordingly." At -40¡ãC, heating would be a critical issue. If the nuclear-powered locomotive failed, Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart alone couldn¡¯t sustain 14 train cars for more than an hour. Full-train heating would also increase water loss, making drinking and sanitation water a high-demand resource. "Alright, let¡¯s proceed as planned." Lin Xian checked his watch. "We need to move fast. We could be facing another major battle tonight. "Chen-jie, Shu Qin¡ªyou handle the preparations. KIKI, pick a few people to test the mech synchronization coefficients and run some drills. I need to finish assembling the electromagnetic railgun and stockpile more ammo." "Got it!" "Understood!" Everyone sprang into action, feeling the storm brewing on the horizon. Even under the bright daylight, the freight yard camp held little warmth. The biting winds howled through Hengshan Pass, and within a single night, temperatures had dropped several more degrees. The crew of the Infinite Train had already donned thick winter gear. Lin Xian focused on assembling the G-3 Electromagnetic Railgun''s Extreme Energy Capacitor while also reinforcing the train¡¯s seals to retain heat. Ammunition was another concern¡ªbetween the 1130 CIWS, Fire God Mech, and multiple Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Guns, they were consuming bullets at an alarming rate. Just thinking about it made Lin Xian feel the immense burden on his shoulders. With tasks assigned, he wasted no time and immediately began working inside Car No. 2. Though his stamina had only recovered by 40%, there was no time for rest. No one knew what horrors the night might bring. Clank! Clank! In the Manufacturing Plant and Disassembly Center, materials flew out in rapid succession. As Mechanical Heart processed the blueprints, intricate circuits and components were printed with precision, gradually forming a large-capacity energy capacitor. The unit was bulky, filled with high-voltage wiring, and required substantial materials. Lin Xian even had to install isolation shielding inside Car No. 2 to block ionizing radiation¡ªespecially since KIKI and Shasha lived there. Though the electromagnetic railgun was a power-hungry beast, the Infinite Train¡¯s nuclear engine could handle it. But Lin Xian was already considering backup power solutions. "I thought we solved the energy issue after leaving Underground City No. 9... but now I¡¯m not so sure." If the nuclear engine failed, Lin Xian''s Mechanical Heart alone couldn¡¯t sustain everything¡ªtraction, electric blades, heating, weapons, and the water system had become exponentially more complex. "We need a secondary power system." As he built the Extreme Energy Capacitor, he also began manufacturing bullets¡ªpushing himself to multitask. The glowing blueprints hovered before him as Mechanical Heart worked overtime. At last¡ª Ding! ¡¾G-3 Electromagnetic Railgun Extreme Energy Capacitor¡ªComplete¡¿ Lin Xian¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. "Finally¡ª!" "No way!" KIKI planted her hands on her hips, tilting her chin up proudly. "Chen-jiejie, you¡¯re seriously underestimating me! I¡¯m a genius, you know¡ªI obviously tested it first!" She raised three fingers in front of Chen Sixuan and wiggled them smugly. "I got a Level 3Unified Control Coefficient rating! How about that? Pretty impressive, huh?" Chen Sixuan¡¯s almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise. "That strong? What does Level 3 even mean?" "In simple terms, it measures compatibility and responsiveness. A mecha is still a machine¡ªit¡¯s not as naturally agile as we are. The bigger the mecha, the harder it is to control since it has complex integrated systems. Just one leg alone has multiple engine modules. Achieving precise control requires a high degree of neural synchronization. For example, some people are born with poor spatial awareness or weak motor skills¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t even be able to drive a car properly, let alone pilot a mecha." KIKI explained confidently. Chen Sixuan nodded. She didn¡¯t have a strong grasp of mecha technology, but she could still recognize KIKI¡¯s natural talent. "KIKI~" Chen Sixuan glanced at the massive mecha in the distance and asked, "So does that mean you¡¯ll be the one piloting it from now on? I feel like using a mecha might be a waste of your ability, though." KIKI squinted her eyes and waved her hand dismissively. "Ah~ I just do it for fun. I like flying around more than sitting inside a mecha all day." For KIKI, mecha were just another exciting toy¡ªsomething fresh and thrilling to play with. She knew her Psychokinesis ability was more efficient on its own, but the real problem was that no one else in the team had a high enough Unified Control Coefficient to be an optimal pilot. Vrrr¡ªScreech! Bang! Just then, the Fire God Mecha suddenly came to life, its motors whirring as it moved¡ªstepping forward, retreating, turning, raising its arms¡ªits movements were swift and precise. After some warm-up maneuvers, the mecha even attempted a sprint¡ªthen performed a perfectly fluid jump! Boom! Dust billowed into the air as it landed, and the onlooking team members erupted into applause. "Who the heck is that?" KIKI¡¯s eyes widened as she quickly flew over, with Chen Sixuan following closely behind. Shhhk¡ª The mecha landed steadily, and the heavy cockpit hatch slowly lifted open. A bright, ecstatic face peeked out from within. ¡¾New Pilot Neural Link Unified Control Coefficient Rating: 4¡¿ A metallic voice announced the results as the pilot climbed out. It was Shasha. Shasha stood inside the cockpit, eyes sparkling with excitement as she turned to KIKI. "KIKI-jiejie! I got a Level 4 rating!" KIKI froze. Seeing Shasha in the pilot¡¯s seat, her jaw practically dropped. She landed right on the edge of the cockpit, reaching out to pinch Shasha¡¯s cheeks. "Well, well! You little rascal¡ªyou actually scored higher than your KIKI-jiejie?! Who told you to climb in and start testing without permission, huh?" She pretended to scold her, but her eyes were full of delight. "C¡¯mon, let¡¯s go find your Lin-gege!" "Aiya~ I was just curious! I didn¡¯t mean to!" Shasha pleaded, but KIKI didn¡¯t listen¡ªgrabbing her and practically dragging her toward the train car. Inside Carriage No. 2 Lin Xian was busy loading newly manufactured ammo into storage crates, instructing the PX-05 robots to carry and assemble them. Just then, KIKI came rushing in with Shasha in tow. "Lin Xian! Look who I found¡ªa Level 4 genius mecha pilot!" Lin Xian raised an eyebrow, glancing at KIKI¡ªthen at the person she was pulling along. "...Shasha?" "Yep! This little brat is actually better than me!" KIKI huffed. Lin Xian looked at Shasha. She peeked at him shyly, then quickly averted her gaze, letting out a giggle. "This Fire God Mecha belongs to the heavy mecha classification. If she scored a Level 4 rating on the test, that¡¯s definitely in the genius tier." Shasha was only twelve years old, and she hadn¡¯t even received formal mecha training. The fact that she could achieve such a high Unified Control Coefficient at her age spoke volumes about her talent. "Exactly! So why not let her pilot it?" KIKI suggested immediately. Lin Xian glanced at KIKI thoughtfully, then turned to Shasha. "Shasha, do you want to pilot the mecha?" "Me? I¡¯m fine with anything¡ªI¡¯ll do whatever Lin-gege decides," Shasha replied obediently, looking up at him. Lin Xian nodded. "It¡¯s possible... but isn¡¯t she a little too young?" "Too young?! Says who?!" KIKI protested. "She¡¯s clearly better than everyone else at piloting! I¡¯m only Level 3! Yuan and Lu? Chang are just Level 1 or 2! Shasha is obviously the most suitable pilot!" She crossed her arms. "You never thought she was too young when she was running around blasting zombies with a grenade launcher!" Shasha hadn¡¯t expected KIKI to be so passionate about this and quickly tugged her hand. "KIKI-jiejie, I¡¯m not a kid anymore~" Lin Xian smirked. He understood KIKI¡¯s real motive completely¡ªshe just wanted Shasha inside a heavily armored mecha so she¡¯d be safer in battle. He could see right through her protective instincts. But he didn¡¯t call her out on it. Since Shasha had an exceptionally high Unified Control Coefficient, it was only logical for her to pilot the mecha. In fact, Lin Xian had already been considering it¡ªShasha was small, agile, and highly skilled with weapons. Having her pilot from the rear for fire support was much safer than letting her run around carrying a grenade launcher on foot. "Alright. Shasha will pilot the mecha." Lin Xian made his decision. "Shasha, spend the rest of the day getting familiar with the controls. Before nightfall, I¡¯ll have the Fire God Mecha fully rearmed." "Really?! YAY!!!" Shasha¡¯s eyes lit up, and she jumped up in excitement. "Good choice." KIKI nodded in satisfaction and winked at Lin Xian. Then, grabbing Shasha¡¯s arm, she led her off to start mecha training. Halfway there, KIKI suddenly stopped and turned back. "Wait¡ªsince you piloted one last night, what¡¯s yourUnified Control Coefficient?" "Level 5," Lin Xian replied without looking up, calmly sorting the electromagnetic cannon¡¯s wiring. KIKI blinked. Her brain short-circuited for a moment. Lin Xian looked up at her and said matter-of-factly, "Did you forget my Mechanical Ability? To me, mecha are like wearing clothes¡ªif they aren¡¯t responsive enough, it¡¯s not my problem. It¡¯s a flaw in their power system, drive mechanisms, or materials." Unified Control Coefficiency was one of the hardest challenges in military mecha technology¡ªfinding an elite pilot was just as difficult as recruiting a hypersonic jet fighter pilot. Even though mecha AI had been continuously improved, robots still couldn¡¯t replace human intuition and skill. On the battlefield, efficiency in mechanized combat is crucial¡ªespecially for heavily armed, large-scale mechas, which need to process multi-situational awareness and handle extreme complexity in real-time engagements. For this reason, Level 4 and Level 5 mecha pilots are considered priceless assets to the Starfleet. But this longstanding challenge in mecha piloting was essentially nonexistent for Lin Xian. The moment his Mechanical Heart enveloped an entire mecha, it was as if the machine became an extension of his own body. Just like he always said¡ª "If a mecha fails to execute my commands, the problem isn¡¯t me¡ªthe problem is the mecha." The Mechanical Heart acted as millions of neural threads, fusing with the machine and transforming it into a living entity under Lin Xian¡¯s complete control. To put it bluntly¡ª With the Mechanical Heart, Lin Xian was the greatest mecha pilot on Earth. KIKI opened her mouth, then sighed heavily. She looked at Lin Xian with a deep, knowing expression. "Yeah... makes sense. You¡¯re a total mechanical freak." "The hell did you just call me?!" "Nothing! Nothing! Let¡¯s go test the mecha!" KIKI bolted away before he could catch her. Car No. 2 ¨C Manufacturing &Repairs The G-3 Electromagnetic Rail Cannon had just been completed. Fire rate: Once every 15 seconds. With the configuration finalized, Lin Xian immediately began manufacturing 1130 CIWS ammunition. At the same time, he used his Mechanical Heart to scan and repair various damages across the train. The battle from the night before had left some sections compromised, and he needed to seal every gap to prevent cold air leaks inside the train cars. Just then, Chen Sixuan entered the workshop car. She knew Lin Xian had been working non-stop, so she brought him a bottle of water and some food. But Lin Xian was too busy to take a break¡ª At this moment, he had practically become the beating heart of the entire train, keeping every system operational. "If we had more of these mechas, it¡¯d be great." Chen Sixuan¡¯s concern was evident as she watched Lin Xian work tirelessly. "At least then, you could take some proper rest." "One step at a time." Lin Xian nodded toward the ground, where a freshly manufactured Meteor-3 Sniper Rifle was laid out. He had built it earlier in Car No. 12, but since Chen Sixuan was busy outside, he hadn¡¯t interrupted her. Instead, he focused on crafting ammo first. Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. She picked up the rifle, running her fingers over its sleek, polished frame. "You made this for me?" "It¡¯s lighter than your previous one. Also comes with an intelligent recoil dampening system¡ªshould feel a lot smoother. Try it out." Lin Xian¡¯s voice was casual. Chen Sixuan gently stroked the rifle for a moment, then smiled in satisfaction. "You really think about everyone, huh?" "That was always the plan." Lin Xian finally looked up at her. **"Once we survive tonight, I¡¯ll start equipping everyone with power armor. It¡¯ll boost both our combat effectiveness and mobility, directly increasing our chances of survival."** Right now, his team consisted of over 30 members, most of whom were Ability Users or Genetic Evolvers. By using his Mechanical Ability, Lin Xian could weaponize and armor-up the entire squad, significantly increasing Infinite Train¡¯s resistance against threats. Moreover¡ª This would also rapidly level up his [Mechanical Manufacturing] skill, allowing him to research and develop new technologies at a much faster rate. This was why Lin Xian pushed himself relentlessly to enhance his Mechanical Ability. Faster Devouring! Faster Manufacturing! His goal was clear¡ª To mechanize their entire force and lead Infinite Train into a glorious evolution. [Mechanical Manufacturing] Progress Current Level: 3 (960/1000 EXP)Significant gains from manufacturing:Extreme Energy CapacitorsAutomatic Rifles &Gatling Guns for Hu LushouMeteor-3 Sniper RifleMassive Ammo Production At this rate, he¡¯d hit Level 4 before nightfall. [Ongoing Mechanical Enhancements] Wind Cannon - Mechanical AmplificationUpgrade Progress: 12:44:22 Remaining[Research Center]TRP-4 Industrial Active Exoskeleton (Blueprint): 13 days 4 hours "Once I hit Level 4, the Research Center should become much faster." "The Wind Cannon needs an upgrade too." Lin Xian glanced at the time¡ª 4:50 PM. Only one hour left before nightfall. **"Professor Chen, gather everyone for final preparations. Have them eat early¡ªdinner at 5:30 PM. We¡¯ll depart Hengshan Pass before dark, stopping at an open field for better positioning. The city was crowded before, so there are definitely a lot of Eerie Entities lurking around. We need to get as far from the city as possible before nightfall¡ªmakes it easier to defend."** "Got it!" Chen Sixuan nodded and immediately took action. At the freight platform, all Infinite Train outposts received the recall order. KIKI also returned the Fire God Mecha to Car No. 11. Lin Xian watched as KIKI lifted the massive mecha with telekinesis, carefully guiding it back inside the carriage. He was already thinking about how to store it more efficiently. KIKI had suggested an ingenious solution¡ª Using the Starfleet''s "Rail Mecha Deployment Carriage" system. These specialized train cars were designed specifically for mecha transport. Walls &floors could unfold for deployment.Mechas would hang inside designated docking slots.A narrow walkway ran through the center for pilot access.It came with built-in power systems for charging &maintenance. It was the perfect storage solution¡ª But KIKI only had photos of it. Even if he had the blueprints, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t fabricate an entire train carriage from scratch. At least not yet. Unless he captured an existing one, he¡¯d have to wait a long time before he could implement such a system. [Mechanical Manufacturing - LEVEL UP!] After rapid-fire crafting hundreds of rounds, bombs, and spare magazines¡ª DING! [Congratulations! [Mechanical Manufacturing] has reached LV.4!] Manufacturing Scale &Efficiency Greatly Increased! The instant the notification popped up, Lin Xian felt the change¡ª His manufacturing flow became noticeably smoother, his speed doubled, and his resource consumption skyrocketed. He immediately checked the Research Center¡ª His eyes widened in shock. [Updated Research Center Progress] TRP-4 Industrial Active Exoskeleton (Blueprint)Remaining Time: 3 Days 16 Hours(Originally 13 Days!) "HOLY SH*T! From 13 days to 3 days?!" "THIS is what I call a manufacturing revolution!" The increased level in Mechanical Manufacturing directly boosted both his efficiency and blueprint research speed. This was critical for the train¡¯s technological upgrades. Now¡ª He could finally start crafting the MK-66 Rolling Arm Missile Launcher from the Dragon-Class Transport Ship scans. And after that¡ª It was time to mass-produce missiles as the train¡¯s ultimate trump card. "Let¡¯s see what this new power armor can do¡ªtime for Infinite Train¡¯s First Wave of Mechanical Evolution!" Chapter 240: Joint Shelter ¡°Whew~¡± After finishing the last batch of bullets, Lin Xian felt it was about time. He stood up and stretched his muscles a little. This batch of ammunition was at least enough for the 1130 to fire a full cycle, and for the convoy members, their magazines could last about four or five rounds. ¡°All the ammo consumption falls on me to replenish... My two hands are getting tied up.¡± Lin Xian sighed, looking at the massive pile of bullets before him. The materials he had stored in the Disassembly Center had been significantly depleted. ¡°If only I could build a bullet factory on the train...¡± The thought had just surfaced in his mind before he quickly dismissed it. Bullets might seem simple, but different calibers and manufacturing processes involved intricate production flows. It wasn''t something that could be handled with just one or two machines. Multiple production lines would be needed just for making bullets, which wasn¡¯t an ideal development model. It would be better to invest in electromagnetic cannons or energy weapons in the future¡ªthose might be more reliable. Whooo~~ With the entire train fully prepped and the ammunition stocked, Lin Xian walked to the front cockpit and began starting up the train. At the same time, he spoke into the communicator: ¡°Attention, everyone. This time, we¡¯re dealing with a Level-3 Dark Mark. Once night falls, there¡¯s a high probability we¡¯ll face the same kind of eerie siege we encountered in Jiazhou City and Rain Town. There¡¯s also a chance we¡¯ll run into large-class eerie entities. Be mentally prepared!¡± The Infinite Train advanced towards the Northern Route. After speaking, Lin Xian sat in the driver''s seat, picked up the food Chen Sixuan had given him, and started eating. He needed to rest and regain some energy in preparation for what awaited them after nightfall. As the Infinite Train entered the Northern Track, it accelerated forward. The golden glow of the setting sun bathed the dead, abandoned city in a soft light, casting elongated shadows of buildings that swept continuously across the train cars. Car No. 2 KIKI was sitting with Shasha, pointing at an image of a mecha¡¯s interior on the computer screen. ¡°This here is the emergency valve. In critical situations, it can release the upper chamber locks, allowing an escape from the back of the mecha.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t use the flamethrower recklessly. Against regular eerie entities, close-range burns won¡¯t do much. If one gets too close, focus on creating distance instead.¡± ¡°Got it, KIKI-jie.¡± ¡°You got sh*t. Pay attention and remember this properly.¡± Car No. 5 Inside Car No. 5, Luo Ye, Shu Qin, and Lu? Chang were loading their firearms. ¡°The machine guns won¡¯t last long. We need to stagger our firepower while reloading to maintain continuous suppression.¡± Shu Qin tossed a magazine to Lu? Chang. ¡°Got it? You don¡¯t have an Ability. If Lin Xian doesn¡¯t give the order, don¡¯t just rush in with a knife. You think you¡¯re like Luo Ge, with an Ability that makes you unkillable?¡± Luo Ye cleared his throat while loading his magazine. ¡°I can still die. It just hurts like hell.¡± Hoo~ Snore~ On the other side, Lu Xingchen was lying on a recliner, wearing light-blocking goggles, seemingly taking a nap¡ªresting up for the coming battle. Car No. 3 Ding Junyi had set up multiple sensors and monitoring devices around the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum and some other plants to track energy fluctuations from the Dark Mark during the night. After finishing, she picked up a small plant cultivation pod and returned to the rest area. Inside the container was a green vine plant. She placed it on the table and focused her mind, trying to sense the plant¡¯s energy¡ªtesting the changes in her Ability. Living Carriage In the Living Carriage, teammates held their guns at the ready. Magazines were scattered across the walkways and bunks, and the air was thick with tension. Cockpit Chen Sixuan was focused on the road ahead, while Lin Xian sat beside her, resting. ¡°The temperature is dropping too fast. Good thing we came prepared.¡± Chen Sixuan glanced at the temperature gauge¡ªthe interior of the train had already dropped to 6~7¡ãC. Lin Xian narrowed his eyes and murmured, ¡°The Dark Tides are alive... These so-called natural disasters aren¡¯t just natural shifts. Survivors need much more than just sheer willpower to make it.¡± ¡°What if the tracks are gone?¡± Chen Sixuan suddenly turned to him. ¡°Now that we¡¯re off the Huanxing Main Rail, these branch-line tracks aren¡¯t maintained by the Federation or the Phoenix Society. There¡¯s a high chance the railbeds might be damaged.¡± Lin Xian opened his eyes, shook his head slightly, and replied with a deep look in his eyes: ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. Infinite Train¡¯s drive system can only operate on rails. For short distances, we can repair the tracks ourselves, and KIKI can help. But if the damage is too extensive, we¡¯d have to stop and reroute before the Dark Tides arrive.¡± Taking a train off the rails was no easy feat. Even with his Mechanical Heart Ability, he couldn¡¯t just modify the train¡¯s drive wheels out of thin air. Making the train fly was even more absurd. Flight wasn¡¯t just about installing propulsion engines. A train was essentially a moving steel beam, lacking aerodynamic design or flight control systems. Even if they equipped every carriage with flight engines, they wouldn¡¯t have the proper controls to keep it stable. Upgrading the train like that wasn¡¯t feasible. The more he thought about it, the more his head hurt. Lin Xian simply closed his eyes again. Originally, his Mechanical Heart had just reached Level 4, and the Infinite Train had gained significant upgrades. This should have been a time for rest and preparation¡ªbut the Dark Mark looming over them kept everyone on edge. Seeing his agitation, Chen Sixuan walked over, placed her hands on his head, and gently massaged his temples. ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t stress yourself out. Think about it this way¡ªbefore, whenever night fell, we never knew what would happen. The darkness was an endless terror. But now, we can at least predict some of the dangers. If we can deal with them, and with the Soul Wave Detector, we might be able to find safer routes at night. We¡¯ve moved from uncertainty to relative certainty¡ªthat¡¯s already a step forward.¡± ¡°...Yeah.¡± Her words cleared away much of the gloom in Lin Xian¡¯s heart. She was right¡ªbefore, the night was completely unknown. But now, they could foresee potential dangers. At least now, they could be on guard and shift from pure defense to partial offense, reducing potential casualties. Clang, clang~ The train slowly exited the main city, passing by Hengshan Pass¡¯s industrial zone and moving towards the suburbs. The sun sank lower, casting long shadows over the distant mountains and dense broadleaf forests. As the heavy train rumbled over the tracks, the trembling noise attracted a horde of zombies along the rails. Countless zombies chased after the train, only to be crushed by the Icebreaker Shield and Whale 03E¡¯s iron wheels. The Infinite Train left Hengshan Pass behind. Just as they reached the outskirts, Chen Sixuan suddenly noticed a large cluster of survivor vehicles¡ªover a hundred¡ªparked in an open clearing ahead. Among them were large trucks, even modified bus-sized mobile living vehicles. At the forefront, a heavily armored all-terrain polar truck stood out¡ªit seemed to belong to the convoy leader. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± Chen Sixuan gave a heads-up. Lin Xian had already noticed. Among the crowd, he spotted familiar vehicles and faces¡ªincluding Liao Ming, who had warned him about Hu Lushou and Clearwater Town¡¯s Dragon-Class Transport Ship. It seemed... these people had been waiting for him. Although taking the eastern route is also within the coverage of the Extreme Cold Vortex, there are many survivors traveling in this direction. With several major cities along the way and well-developed transportation routes, the chances of survival are relatively higher. The more cautious convoys choose to detour around Abyss Zone No. 7 via the southern route. As for the northern route, unless using tracked vehicles or rail-mounted transports, it''s rarely taken anymore. Once past Yuan Pass, the journey gradually enters the Parma Grasslands. The northern railway runs along the Yunjiang Mountains, all the way to Xilan City. Besides, this insect tide also sounds like a major problem. ¡°We¡¯re not heading directly into the grasslands.¡± Liao Ming said. ¡°We¡¯ll detour west of the Yunjiang Mountains, cross the Dazhu Snow Mountains, and exit into Xilin City on the Yunjiang Plains. There, we¡¯ll rendezvous with the Northern Wind Survivor Alliance, and then proceed together to Xilan City.¡± At this moment, Lin Xian understood their plan¡ªthey were trying to find Phoenix, then join forces to push northward in pursuit of the Dawn Center. But that wasn¡¯t what surprised him. ¡°It looks like you were waiting for me. How did you know I¡¯d come this way?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Liao Ming looked a bit embarrassed. ¡°Hu Lushou sold us the information.¡± ¡°Sold?¡± Chen Sixuan frowned. ¡°Yeah, he... charged us one Eerie Blood Crystal for it.¡± Lin Xian was speechless. That guy Hu was truly something¡ªactually selling his travel route as intelligence and even charging a Blood Crystal for it? Damn it. This guy never missed a chance to squeeze profit from others. ¡°Then why not wait until daylight to leave Yuan Pass?¡± Lin Xian asked directly. ¡°Last night, a massive Eerie Entity outbreak hit the city. Several large convoys were completely wiped out. No one dares to stay in Hengshan Pass tonight.¡± Liao Ming said bluntly, spreading his hands. ¡°Actually, we wanted to leave during the day, but we ran out of ammo while escaping last night. To be safe, we went to Fortune-Longevity Convoy to stock up on supplies. That¡¯s how we found out you were taking the northern route out of the city.¡± ¡°After discussing it, we decided to warn you about the danger and also propose joining forces. Even if we can¡¯t break through, we can set up camp together and wait until dawn before moving again.¡± Lin Xian scanned the group. He could already tell¡ªthe Eagle Convoy had run into no ordinary insect tide. A convoy of over a hundred people had barely escaped after consuming a huge amount of ammunition. They had even suffered casualties. Now, they were stuck. The city was overrun with Eerie Entities, nearly wiping out every convoy there. Even Lin Xian and his group had barely escaped. No one dared to bet on whether another outbreak would happen tonight. These three convoys were caught in a deadlock. Liao Ming and Hu Lushou both knew the firepower of Lin Xian¡¯s Infinite Train, so when they got this intelligence, the three convoys made a collective decision to wait for the Infinite Train to arrive¡ªhoping to travel together. If escaping wasn¡¯t an option, they could at least camp together for a better chance of survival. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan exchanged serious looks. Checking the time, it was almost 18:00¡ªless than an hour until nightfall. Lin Xian pressed his earpiece, lowering his voice. ¡°Director Ding, what¡¯s the situation?¡± When he got off the train, he had already opened the internal comms channel. Inside Car No. 3, Shu Qin and the others were listening to Wu Zhenhai, Liao Ming, Luo Yang, and Liang Lei report the situation. Standing inside Car No. 3, Ding Junyi observed the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum for any abnormal changes. Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s question, she immediately responded. ¡°The Dark Mark is stable at Level 3. That means one of two things¡ªeither these three convoys don¡¯t have a mark, or their marks don¡¯t exceed Level 3, making them equal to ours.¡± ¡°I lean toward the second option.¡± Lin Xian spoke into the earpiece. These convoys just survived a battle¡ªthey were bound to have some level of Dark Mark. There was no way they had none at all. But since their marks didn¡¯t exceed Level 3, theoretically, they wouldn¡¯t be attracting any greater danger. ¡°Lin Xian, what do you think?¡± Chen Sixuan scanned the group before quietly asking him. ¡°They¡¯re right to be concerned. We really can¡¯t stay in the city tonight.¡± The Mark Bait Level at Hengshan Pass Station definitely exceeded Level 3. The resulting devastation was catastrophic¡ªover ten convoys, including the Night Phantom, were wiped out overnight. Not a single survivor. If it weren¡¯t for Director Ding and Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, even the Infinite Train wouldn¡¯t have escaped so easily. ¡°But the problem is, no matter what happens inside or outside the city, we already have a Level 3 Dark Mark ourselves...¡± Chen Sixuan muttered. ¡°Brother,¡± a deep voice interrupted. Eagle Convoy¡¯s leader, Wu Zhenhai, stepped forward, speaking candidly. ¡°I know what you¡¯re worried about. You have a large convoy. We may be saying we¡¯re joining forces, but let¡¯s be real¡ªwe just want your heavy firepower for protection.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t beat around the bush. Your ammo isn¡¯t free. We¡¯re all just trying to survive. If you have any conditions, name them. Think of it as us hiring you to escort us for a while.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Liao Ming nodded. ¡°We can provide supplies.¡± ¡°Yes, same here.¡± Luo Yang quickly added. Liang Lei¡¯s wife, Li Yi, looked at her husband before stepping forward, her expression complex. ¡°Our convoy is short on resources, but we have this.¡± She reached inside her bulletproof vest, pulling out a small, old pouch strapped to her waist. When she opened it, several Eerie Blood Crystals lay inside. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about the Predator Effect, I can guarantee¡ªaside from last night¡¯s black centipedes, our convoy hasn¡¯t faced any major Eerie Entity attacks the past two nights in Hengshan Pass.¡± Wu Zhenhai pounded his chest. Lin Xian scanned their faces, his expression shifting slightly before he spoke. ¡°To be honest, I appreciate the intelligence about the insect tide, and I don¡¯t mind teaming up to escape.¡± ¡°But the problem is¡ªour trouble might be even bigger than yours.¡± ¡°Bigger than ours? What do you mean?¡± Liao Ming was confused. Lin Xian gestured toward the train. ¡°Once night falls, our convoy will most likely be attacked by a massive wave of Eerie Entities.¡± ¡°You all know we were at Hengshan Pass Station last night. We already went through this once. Tonight, we might go through it again.¡± ¡°So if we join forces, it might look like mutual benefit, but in reality¡ªwe might just bring disaster upon you.¡± Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words, the convoy leaders exchanged grim looks. Liao Ming¡¯s face paled. ¡°Are you saying... you¡¯re already marked by a ton of Eerie Entities?¡± Lin Xian nodded. Checking his watch, he added: ¡°Night is falling soon. We have to leave the city immediately. If you want to follow us, I won¡¯t stop you¡ªbut I need to make the risks clear.¡± ¡°In an emergency, I might not be able to help much. We¡¯ll be taking the rail tracks¡ªif things go south, we¡¯ll just accelerate and escape. You won¡¯t be able to keep up.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to switch to road routes for speed.¡± Lin Xian walked over and said, "Have you ever considered the possibility that those monsters lurking in the darkness are already around us?" "Every time we enter the night, those eerie entities just suddenly appear. Especially that night in Jiazhou City¡ªthere¡¯s no way so many monsters could have appeared all at once. It''s more likely that they had been following us for a while, gathering together, and only waiting for nightfall to emerge." Hearing this, KIKI narrowed her eyes and glanced around, then instinctively shrank her neck. "Ugh, that¡¯s disgusting. But why can''t we see them during the day?" Lin Xian was speechless. "Daytime? If we could see them then, we''d already be dead." "Hehe~ Just messing with you." KIKI leaned back on her lounge chair. "What do you think we need to do to make our abilities stronger? Maybe then we won¡¯t have to fear those monsters anymore." The lounge chair slowly turned, and KIKI looked at Lin Xian. "I¡¯m not talking about what Sister Ding said¡ªabsorbing the power of the night or whatever¡ªI mean something more tangible, something real that can make us stronger." "Blood Crystals." Lin Xian took one out and handed it to her. "Every organization in the world is studying this stuff. Last time, when you were severely injured, we fed you two of these by accident, and you evolved. But this stuff is definitely toxic. Whether there''s a better method... that¡¯s something only Phoenix might know." "Eh!" KIKI furrowed her brows, snapped her fingers, and said, "That Foundation... they even use the Dark Mark trait to turn live people into bait. That just proves their research is far beyond Phoenix and Dawn City. Do you think they might have already discovered the secrets of Blood Crystals or abilities?" "Based on that logic, it''s definitely possible." Lin Xian nodded. "But all of this is just speculation. Right now, we can only hope that guess is wrong. If an organization like that really exists, it would be just as dangerous to humanity as the darkness itself¡ªif not worse." Beep, beep. Just as they were talking, Lin Xian''s watch started beeping. Nightfall was coming. Boom, boom, boom! Chen Sixuan ran over quickly. "Lin Xian, there''s an open plain ahead¡ªwide visibility, just a single patch of forest." Lin Xian nodded seriously and immediately activated the Mechanical Heart, bringing the train to a halt. "Nightfall is approaching. Shu Qin, Da Lou." Lin Xian pressed the communicator. "Captain Lin, we''re ready." Shu Qin stood in the passageway of Carriage No. 8, holding a Remington M96, her eyes sharply scanning the outside. "All set, Brother Xian." Da Lou stood in front of the automatic door of Carriage No. 5, holding a Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun. He disengaged the safety, ready for action. "Hey, kid! It''s almost dark." He called toward Lu Xingchen, who was still dozing off. "No worries. I''ll step in when needed." Lu Xingchen half-opened one eye, took a quick glance, and then closed it again. "Everyone." Lin Xian picked up the walkie-talkie, his eyes flickering slightly. "We''re stopping here. Each convoy, find the best defensive positions and set up fortifications. Once night falls, we could engage immediately. Be ready." His voice transmitted through the steel convoy, and Wu Zhenhai, Liao Ming, Luo Yang, Liang Lei, Li Yi, and others all responded with solemn expressions. "Got it!" Wu Zhenhai shouted. "Prepare to stop! All vehicles, deploy in defensive formation!" Clang, clang. From within the Great Eagle Convoy, a black military truck opened its side hatch. The remaining dozen miniature missiles were loaded into the launch sequence. At the same time, over twenty elite soldiers, equipped with passive armor suits and high-energy weapons, disembarked from their vehicles. Their presence was sharp and cold as they quickly spread out to key defensive points. Meanwhile, the Chasing Sun Convoy¡ªa group of young, skilled drivers¡ªquickly found an open area. With seamless coordination, their dozen or so modified vehicles parked in a spiral formation, protecting a supply truck at the center. Moments later, these young fighters emerged from their vehicles, armed with rocket launchers, heavy machine guns, and even drone bombers. "Xiaobai, deploy the high-voltage ion wall. Amin, Lolo, your power armor only has two hours of battery¡ªdon''t rush out unless necessary. Focus on defense. Li Guangwen, keep an eye on air threats!" Vrrr~ Crackle! Two young women in power armor stepped down from a truck. Their white combat suits, lined with glowing blue energy veins, were high-end military-grade rapid-response exosuits, heavily upgraded and modified, exuding a formidable presence. "Syncing visual systems." "Sync complete." "Chainsaw sword charging!" Meanwhile, Liang Lei and Li Yi arrived in their heavily modified mining truck, which had been repurposed into a motorhome. Their convoy consisted of two modified buses loaded with people, followed by a few heavy engineering vehicles. These sturdy vehicles parked at the rear of the Infinite Train, forming a final line of defense. "Wife, just stay in the truck and give commands. Leave the outside to me!" "Be careful, Lei." Li Yi, gently stroking her pregnant belly, looked at him with concern. "Don¡¯t worry. No damn bugs are getting through my line." Liang Lei cracked his neck. His eyes gleamed faintly, and his entire body seemed to bulk up, his skin darkening into a metallic sheen. The hydraulics of the vehicle even sank two centimeters under his weight as he stepped down. Aboard the Infinite Train In Carriage No. 2, KIKI watched the convoys setting up and then shot Lin Xian a glance. "See? Their firepower isn''t too bad either." Lin Xian responded, "Even the Great Eagle Convoy, with all that firepower, got forced back by the insect tide. That just means we have to be even more cautious." He turned to KIKI. "Shasha is in Carriage No. 11, calibrating the Fire God Mecha. Go help her out¡ªif needed, we can deploy it for fire support." "Got it~" KIKI saluted with a playful "YES" gesture before lightly floating off her seat and speeding toward Carriage No. 11. There, Shasha was getting into the mecha cockpit. Seeing KIKI, she called out, "KIKI! What took you so long? Hurry, hurry!" "Relax. We might not even need this thing." KIKI crossed her arms and landed in front of the mecha. "If we get surrounded like last time, this thing won¡¯t be much help." "Better safe than sorry!" Shasha, standing on the cockpit hatch, was practically bouncing with excitement. She hopped into the cockpit and patted the controls. "Right, Sally?" Shasha had always loved tinkering with weapons¡ªdespite being a tiny girl, she was obsessed with heavy firepower. Ever since Lin Xian let her pilot the Fire God Mecha, she had been practicing for hours and was getting hooked. The sight of a little girl enamored with a towering war machine was a hilarious mix of angelic innocence and utter destruction. "I told you to change the name. ''Sally'' sounds like a pet chicken." "Nope! I love Sally!" Hiss¡ª On the open plain, the black heavy train slowly came to a stop. Besides the broadleaf forest, the clear visibility made it an ideal nightfall defense zone. Over a hundred survivor vehicles encircled the train, forming layers of defenses. The scene was overwhelming¡ªa massive battle seemed inevitable. Buzz¡ª On the horizon, a dark glow flickered. Like a curtain of shadows being pulled across the world, the golden sunset vanished instantly, swallowed by the onrushing night. For a moment¡ªeveryone held their breath. Lin Xian stood in the cockpit, eyes locked ahead. All teams were on high alert. Yet... nothing came. Only the chirping of insects and rustling wind filled the silence. Chen Sixuan, gripping her Meteor-3 rifle, whispered, "Is it possible this area has no eerie entities?" "Could be." Lin Xian scanned their surroundings, his face tense. "But I¡¯m more worried about another possibility..." He exchanged a look with Chen Sixuan¡ªshe immediately understood. Without hesitation, they both headed for Carriage No. 3. If they weren¡¯t being swarmed by eerie entities, aside from sheer luck, there was another possibility¡ªthis area belonged to a large eerie entity. This was its territory! The two of them quickly stepped into Car No. 3 and turned their gaze toward Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. ¡°Director Ding.¡± Ding Junyi stood to the side. ¡°No changes. No overlapping marks.¡± Lin Xian frowned. Something abnormal always has a reason. The sudden calmness felt even more unsettling, especially since they were carrying Level-3 Dark Marks. It was too eerie. Lin Xian picked up the walkie-talkie. ¡°Everyone, anything unusual?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t noticed anything yet.¡± ¡°Lin, nothing here.¡± Each convoy responded. ¡°Could it be that the dark entities in this area were drawn away by another survivor team? Or maybe they¡¯ve already been wiped out?¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s words gave Lin Xian a new line of thought. ¡°That¡¯s definitely possible,¡± Ding Junyi agreed. Lin Xian walked into Car No. 2, glancing at the external surveillance feed from the Information Center, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, one of the Sentry System¡¯s rooftop surveillance feeds caught his attention. The infrared night vision display seemed... narrower than before. ¡°What is it?¡± Chen Sixuan stood beside him, watching his reaction with confusion. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Lin Xian pointed at the black border on the side of the screen. Then, he switched to the adjacent feed¡ªand the black border shifted from the left to the right. Chen Sixuan squinted but saw nothing. ¡°I don¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something there.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s frown deepened, his voice turning serious. Without hesitation, he flipped open the blackout panel, looking in the direction of the surveillance feed. That area faced the forest. But at this moment, dark clouds obscured the moon, the sky was devoid of stars, and everything below was pitch-black¡ªso dark that even the forest¡¯s outline was barely discernible. Chen Sixuan saw Lin Xian¡¯s reaction and immediately stepped forward. ¡°Let me take a look.¡± She raised her Meteor-3 Sniper Rifle, activating its smart night vision targeting system. Thanks to her gene-enhanced eyesight, she could see far better in the dark than Lin Xian, and with the scope¡¯s assistance, her vision became even sharper. ¡°Eleven o¡¯clock direction. That patch of forest. Look carefully,¡± Lin Xian instructed. Chen Sixuan focused in, adjusting the magnification¡ªher elegant brows furrowed sharply in an instant. ¡°What do you see?¡± ¡°Lin Xian, there¡¯s a person standing on top of the forest!¡± Her voice was ice-cold, carrying an unmistakable trace of fear. A person... standing on the forest? The very idea was unnerving. Why would someone be standing atop the trees? ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes. Eleven o¡¯clock direction. That person is enormous!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s tone was sharp. In her scope, deep within the broadleaf forest, an inhuman silhouette stood silently. Towering. Unmoving. At a glance, it was at least twenty meters tall. Its legs stretched straight into the forest, planted firmly among the trees, motionless. Chen Sixuan slowly raised her rifle, trying to get a clearer look at its face. But no matter how she adjusted her scope¡ªshe couldn¡¯t see it clearly. One thing, however, was certain¡ª That thing was an existence of the dark. Chapter 241: Exterminate insects! Exterminate insects! Under the Black Night The howling wind echoed like a high-frequency shriek from another world, sending chills down one¡¯s spine. In the distant forest, a towering silhouette stood eerily in the mist. It looked like a disproportionate humanoid machine¡ªwith unnaturally straight legs and a round, hollow head. There were no reference points around it, yet even though it stood completely still, Lin Xian felt an immediate sense of dread. Indescribable. Weird and grotesque. ¡°Everyone, eyes on the 11 o¡¯clock direction.¡± Lin Xian quickly regained his focus and spoke into the channel. Instantly, every gaze in the convoy shifted toward that direction. A drone lifted off, its camera swiftly zooming in. ¡°What the hell is that thing?¡± Liao Ming from Eagle Convoy asked, his face darkening as he stared at the surveillance feed. Wu Zhenhai shouted sternly, ¡°Everyone, be careful! Eerie Entity detected!¡± All three convoys paled in an instant. The moment they laid eyes on it, a strange, unsettling feeling gripped them all. Inside the Infinite Train, crew members hurriedly pulled off their light-blocking covers, peering through the windows toward that eerie figure. A heavy silence filled the air. Tension mounted. At that moment, the massive eerie figure¡¯s round head shifted slightly¡ªand then, a red glow began to shine from within! The entire head was one giant hollow cavity. The red light, like a searchlight, pierced through the mist, illuminating the fog thickened by the night¡¯s drop in temperature. The sinister red glow swirled and pulsed, creating a terrifying sight. Then, the red-glowing head began to move. It bent forward, extending whip-like arms, and ripped the roof off a house hidden within the forest. The red light shone inside, searching. Slowly... it turned. And its glaring red searchlight locked onto the train and convoy. WOOOONNNGGG~~~!!! A deep, reverberating roar erupted from the creature¡ªlike the blast of a titanic ship¡¯s horn! A sonic wave rolled outward. The moment the sound reached them, everyone¡¯s expressions changed drastically. Instinctively, they clutched their ears. A chilling, eerie presence swept through the air, creeping into their bones, sending a shudder through their very souls. ZZZZZTT¡ª A strange vibration suddenly resonated within the Infinite Train. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes darted around. ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know... Seems like it¡¯s coming from over there,¡± Chen Sixuan pointed toward Car No. 1. Her face twisted in discomfort¡ªthe sound itself was making her feel physically ill. Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed. He sprinted toward Car No. 1¡ªand found the source. The Eerie Cube was violently trembling! ¡°What the hell is happening?¡± He grabbed the cube. In response, the Mechanical Heart activated¡ªimmediately, a flickering holographic screen popped up. [BEEP! Conducting reflective scan using non-mechanical energy.] [Detected: Massive Fear Energy Shockwave!] Lin Xian¡¯s expression changed instantly. A Fear Energy Shockwave?! He grabbed the walkie-talkie¡ª Click¡ªclick¡ª But under the sonic tremors, all signals failed. ¡°F**k!¡± He rushed into the cockpit, yanked the external loudspeaker, and shouted: ¡°EVERYONE, BACK TO YOUR VEHICLES! THIS THING AMPLIFIES DARK INVASION FEAR ENERGY!!¡± "AAAAHHHH!!!" Just as Lin Xian¡¯s voice boomed from the train¡¯s external speakers, a wounded middle-aged man from the Eagle Convoy suddenly let out a piercing scream! His bandages turned crimson, his chest wound burst open, and the veins around his eyes darkened. His pupils were being swallowed by blackness. The surrounding survivors staggered back in horror. ¡°Li Dong! LI DONG! Stay with us!¡± ¡°AARGH!!! AAAAHHH!!¡± Li Dong screamed uncontrollably. The moment his eyes turned completely black, he collapsed to his knees. His mouth gaped open, and in the next instant¡ª Countless writhing insect-like tendrils started crawling out of his throat and eye sockets! His body convulsed violently, his muscles twisted grotesquely, and his face distorted beyond recognition! ¡°AAAAH!!! KILL ME!!¡± Li Dong wailed in agony. ¡°Please... take care of my wife and son...!¡± ¡°HE¡¯S MUTATING!!¡± The survivors had seen mutations before. But never this fast. This sudden. ¡°End it!¡± ¡°Put him out of his misery!¡± A teammate¡¯s face twisted in anguish¡ªhe clenched his teeth and pulled the trigger. ¡°FK IT! AARGH!!¡± BANG! BANG! BANG! A burst of gunfire rang out. Li Dong¡¯s head exploded instantly¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t the end. His blood-soaked corpse suddenly erupted with tendrils. The flesh wriggled, pulsating with eerie black fluid. His teammates unloaded their guns, ripping apart his upper body until it stopped moving. "AAAAH!! HELP!!" But before they could even process what happened¡ª More mutations broke out across the convoy. The infection spread like a collapsed dam. "GET BACK TO THE VEHICLES!!" Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s warning, Luo Yang was the first to react. He shouted to the convoy: ¡°MOVE! BACK TO THE VEHICLES! NOW!!¡± Wu Zhenhai also grabbed the vehicle PA system: ¡°ALL UNITS, EVACUATE TO THE VEHICLES!¡± Panic erupted. Before the battle even began, gunfire rang out¡ªbut they were shooting their own people. Infinite Train, Locked &Loaded Inside Car No. 2, the G3 Electromagnetic Railgun lifted into position. Inside Car No. 12, the 1130 CIWS powered up. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze turned icy cold. No hesitation. He locked onto the red-light creature¡ª FIRE. BOOM! A blue electric arc surged from the railgun, tearing through the night sky, slamming directly into the creature¡¯s glowing red head. BOOM!! A huge chunk of its skull was blasted apart¡ªblackened fragments rained down, burning furiously. The red glow flickered violently. Simultaneously, the 1130 CIWS erupted¡ªa storm of bullets tore into its blackened flesh, shredding its twisted form. WHOOSH! A black fog surged around the creature. Then¡ªits upper body twisted unnaturally. And suddenly¡ªit floated into the air. "FK! IT CAN FLY?!¡± The communicators came back online. Lin Xian immediately shouted: ¡°DO NOT LET THE RED LIGHT TOUCH YOU! ITS ATTACK METHODS ARE DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING WE¡¯VE ENCOUNTERED!¡± ¡°ROGER!¡± Inside Car No. 11, KIKI shielded Shasha, her face pale. She grabbed Shasha and shoved her into the Fire God Mecha¡¯s cockpit. ¡°Stay inside! Lock the hatch!¡± ¡°But Sally can¡¯t stand up¡ª¡± SMACK! KIKI smacked her on the forehead, pressed the lock button, and snapped: ¡°Sit tight. I¡¯ll send you out when we need you.¡± Then, without another word¡ª She sprinted toward the front carriages. Rustle, rustle, rustle... From all directions in the darkness surrounding the camp, faint scuttling noises began to emerge. The sound grew louder, rushing closer, swelling into a roaring tidal wave of movement¡ªlike a monstrous wave crashing against the shore. Sitting inside his vehicle, Wu Zhenhai heard the noise, and his expression darkened. He immediately grabbed his walkie-talkie. "Everyone, stay alert¡ªit¡¯s a Bug Tide!" The Eagle Convoy knew this sound all too well¡ªthey had barely survived it last night! The warning spread through the entire convoy in an instant. "Form a defensive line!" Liao Ming shouted, shifting his vehicle into position. "Xiaobai, Amin, Lolo¡ªdrive closer to the Infinite Train! Li Guangwen, block the front with the defense vehicle!" Luo Yang immediately took action, directing his team. Vroom¡ªvroom! Several heavy-duty engineering vehicles rumbled into motion, positioning themselves on the left, right, and rear of the Infinite Train and the convoys. Holding his walkie-talkie, Liang Lei shouted, "These are our unmanned fortress vehicles¡ªall heavy firepower to the rear! Keep the front line protected!" Hiss! Roar! From the unmanned engineering vehicles, ten 12.7mm heavy auto-cannons quickly deployed, and inside one of the trucks, a few young men frantically controlled them remotely. Meanwhile, on the Infinite Train, KIKI rushed into Car No. 2¡ªInformation Center, immediately scanning for that red-light creature. At the same time, Lin Xian activated the External Electric Blade System and shouted to the entire train crew, "Do NOT let the Bug Tide breach the convoy!" Whoosh! Inside Cars No. 5 and No. 11, the automatic blast doors slid open. Da Lou, Lu? Chang, and three other team members armed with Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Guns took defensive positions at the doors. Meanwhile, Lu Xingchen took an elevator lift to the train¡¯s rooftop. He cracked his knuckles, eyes gleaming with uncontained battle intent, scanning the surrounding darkness. Screech! BOOM! The ear-piercing shrieks of unknown insects and the deafening rumble of thousands of legs scuttling forward became overwhelming. After a quick sweep, KIKI locked onto that red glow in the sky. "There! That thing is definitely what¡¯s attracting the Bug Tide!" She stood up immediately. "I¡¯ll fly up and take it out!" But before she could take off, Lin Xian grabbed her ankle mid-air and yanked her back down. "No, you¡¯re staying right here." Without another word, Lin Xian raised the G3 Electromagnetic Rail Cannon, adjusted the trajectory, and fired at the red glow in the sky! Whoosh! Crackle! A massive electric arc burst forth, the railgun¡¯s discharge illuminating the night sky. The brilliant blue beam streaked across the heavens, piercing through the shadows, revealing the silhouette of a massive creature above. BOOM! Several seconds later, an explosive shockwave reverberated through the air. The eerie wailing sirens abruptly ceased. "Set up a target lock¡ªkeep that electromagnetic cannon trained on the red glow! We¡¯ll handle the Bug Tide first!" "Ooh! Good idea!" KIKI, still dangling from Lin Xian¡¯s grip, immediately began reconfiguring the railgun''s tracking system. "Lin!" From the rear carriages, Shu Qin stood at the open doors of Car No. 11, scanning the darkness beyond. She pressed her comms button. "They''re here!" BEEEEEP! With its radar and fire-control system, the 1130 CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) automatically detected the incoming threat and opened fire first. A fan-shaped barrage of metal erupted, its glowing tracers streaking through the darkness, lighting up the battlefield in a hellish spectacle. And what it revealed made even the battle-hardened Infinite Train crew gasp. Less than two kilometers away, a horrific tide of massive scythe-limbed insects, black-shelled beetles, and giant centipedes swarmed forward, flooding the landscape like a biblical plague¡ªan unstoppable tsunami of nightmares. The very ground trembled under their approach. BEEEEEP! The 1130 CIWS roared, its cannon fire shattering the night¡¯s silence. For a moment, the battlefield fell into a suffocating stillness¡ªlike the eye of a storm. Then¡ª "OPEN FIRE!!" Lin Xian, Wu Zhenhai, Luo Yang, Liang Lei¡ªthe leaders of all four convoys¡ªgave the order simultaneously. BANG BANG BANG! RATATATATATATATATA!! A rainstorm of bullets erupted, creating an all-around kill zone centered on the Infinite Train. CLANG CLANG CLANG¡ª The frontline bugs were shredded apart the moment they stepped into range, their bodies splattered across the battlefield. The sheer volume of gunfire pushed back the Bug Tide, suppressing their advance. Meanwhile¡ª The convoys'' heavy weapons¡ªgrenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenades, flamethrowers, and missiles¡ªunleashed devastation onto the densest clusters of insects. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Explosions engulfed the battlefield, flames erupting like a pyrotechnic nightmare, filling the sky with thick smoke and burning insect carcasses. Whoosh! Hiss! Inside Car No. 11, Xiao Yuan and her squad kept up suppressive fire. Suddenly¡ª "Xiao Yuan! Move aside!" From the blast door, Shasha emerged¡ªpiloting her Sally Mech! With uncanny precision, she maneuvered the heavily-armored mecha, leaping from the train and landing directly in the battlefield. Her dual heavy cannons blazed to life, unloading high-caliber rounds into the Bug Tide. "Take this!!" Shasha gritted her teeth, her tiny frame gripping the controls fiercely, already mastering the Fire God Mech in less than half a day. To the left, the Chasing Sun Convoy had been struggling¡ªbut with Shasha¡¯s mech joining the battle, their pressure immediately lessened. Luo Yang turned back, his eyes widening. "HOLY CRAP! Lin has a GUNDAM?!" BOOM! Above, the Electromagnetic Rail Cannon kept firing, tracking the red glow in the sky, hammering it with repeated blasts. Without the sonic pulses, Luo Yang seized the opportunity. "Amin! Lolo! Go!" "On it!" "Covering!" Two agile figures leapt from the convoy, lightning crackling around them. Each wielding a thin, white chain-sword, they dashed into the Bug Tide, moving like ghosts. In a blink, dozens of monstrous insects were bisected, their bodies sliced clean through, their scorched corpses still smoldering from electrical discharge. "Left flank!" "Right flank!" Their automated tracking cannons and battlefield awareness systems locked onto every threat within their range. Suddenly¡ª A gigantic centipede burst from the swarm, lunging at Amin! At that moment, a muscle-bound young man charged in, his massive fists encased in strange gauntlets. He punched the air¡ªand an invisible shockwave tore through the centipede, shattering its exoskeleton, ejecting its entrails in a gruesome explosion. Above, the sky darkened¡ªblack-winged insects descended in a suffocating cloud. Luo Yang''s eye gleamed¡ªand a thin, searing beam of light ripped through the swarm, triggering mid-air explosions. BOOM BOOM BOOM! "Haaah¡ª" Breathing hard, he recovered, preparing for the next attack. The black-winged carapace insects seemed endless¡ªno matter how many they killed, more kept swarming in. Their temporary suppression barely lasted a moment before the tide surged back, and despite their numbers, their dozens of fighters still seemed too few against the sheer mass of the insect horde. "Keep firing!! Yaaaaahhh!!" Shasha, piloting the Fire God Mecha, pushed forward, helping Amin and Lolo hold the line against the overwhelming wave of insects. Beep!! The Fire God Mecha''s cannons swept across the battlefield, instantly incinerating a whole section of the swarm. "There''s too many of them!!" Shasha shouted from the cockpit, frustration clear in her voice. "You damn fire-spewing bastard, if you don¡¯t get out here, I¡¯m throwing away your tea canister!" BOOM!!! Just as Shasha and the Chasing Sun Convoy felt their defenses being pushed to the limit, a pillar of fire erupted into the sky, illuminating the battlefield. "The great one has arrived!!" A blazing crimson flame shot out from the Infinite Train, soaring past Amin and Lolo, before crashing into the densest part of the insect horde like a meteor impact. The explosion sent waves of fire scorching outward, burning every insect in a radius of several hundred meters to cinders! Lu Xingchen stood tall at the center of the inferno, his back turned dramatically toward the two women, his voice echoing across the battlefield: "The filth and corruption of this world must be cleansed! Tonight, I shall purge these vile abominations in the name of the heavens!" Boom! Boom! Shasha fired off two more cannon blasts before stopping, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "That guy... he just loves showing off in front of beautiful women." Meanwhile, Luo Yang, Li Guangwen, and the other ability users from the Chasing Sun Convoy were utterly stunned. They had heard from Liao Ming that the Infinite Convoy had terrifying firepower, but they never imagined it would be this insane¡ªa high-tier fire ability user standing amidst the flames like a god of war! "Liao said they had strong firepower¡ªwas this what he meant?!" Luo Yang was in disbelief, his eyes filled with excitement and admiration. He immediately shouted with newfound determination: "Everyone, stay strong! We can hold the line!!" The morale of the entire resistance force soared, their fighting spirit igniting like wildfire. They pushed back fiercely against the swarm. Right Flank - The Great Eagle Convoy With the largest numbers and strongest firepower, the Great Eagle Convoy unleashed a storm of destruction¡ªheavy machine guns, rocket launchers, grenade cannons, flamethrowers, and even small missiles blasted into the endless insect horde. Among them, Da Lou, after emptying a magazine, didn''t even bother reloading¡ªhe drew his Steel-Slaying Greatsword and charged straight into the swarm. Since the last battle at the research facility, he had discovered that his ability strengthened with every injury¡ªhis power and regeneration surged the more he fought, just like Qiu Long from the Black Crow Four. This realization awakened his battle lust, and now he actively sought close combat. The Great Eagle Convoy warriors watched in shock as Da Lou waded into the insect tide with nothing but a sword. "Is... is he an ability user?" Boom! Boom! Boom! Liao Ming¡ªa mutant ability user with scythe-like arms¡ªshouted a warning. "Brother, be careful! These things are tough to kill with melee weapons!" Da Lou remained silent, his expression cold. As soon as he dove in, several black-winged carapace insects immediately latched onto him, their claws and mandibles tearing into his flesh. Liao Ming immediately moved to assist¡ª BOOM BOOM! But before he could act, a shadow blurred past him¡ª A Remington M96, enhanced with Exorcist¡¯s Holy Flames, roared to life¡ªobliterating the insects attacking Da Lou in a blast of purifying fire. Shu Qin, wielding two custom-made shotguns by Lin Xian, was firing with both hands, dual-wielding with deadly precision. Within seconds, she blasted back the incoming insect swarm, clearing the area around Da Lou. Meanwhile, Da Lou¡¯s entire body radiated crimson blood energy¡ªhis aura surged. He raised the Steel-Slaying Greatsword, stepping forward with a heavy stomp. Boom! His muscles tensed¡ªwith a low growl, he swung his sword forward with all his might! HUMMM!! The slash carried unbelievable force, heating the air until the blade glowed red-hot. The crimson blood energy enveloping the sword exploded outward, unleashing a massive fan-shaped shockwave! CRACK!! A wave of insect carapaces shattered¡ªevery creature within several meters ahead was blown apart in an instant! The blasting force hurled insect corpses and limbs flying like shrapnel. "Holy sh*t!" Liao Ming''s eyes widened in shock. He had intended to help, but at the last second, he instinctively retracted his scythe-arms, afraid of getting caught in that devastating sword wave. "HAAAA!!" Fueled by his raging battle instinct, Da Lou planted himself at the front of the unmanned engineering vehicles, standing alone against the insect tide. "I¡¯ll fight with you!!" Liao Ming, blood pumping with adrenaline, led his elite warriors into the fray! Fire Support - The Bombardment Convoy From the rear convoy, Wu Zhenhai ordered: "Artillery team, barrage! Cover them!" "Roger that!!" Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The rear convoy unleashed a wave of missile fire, supporting Da Lou, Shu Qin, and Liao Ming''s team by blasting open a massive clearing in the battlefield. Meanwhile, at the rear of the Infinite Train, where women and children were sheltered, the 1130 CIWS cannons provided continuous fire support, while youths controlled automated turrets. Liang Lei, his entire body transforming into living metal, towered over everyone¡ªeven taller than Da Lou. He stormed into the insect horde, grabbing a Crimson Giant Centipede¡¯s massive jaws. The centipede¡¯s razor-sharp legs clawed against his metallic skin, sending sparks flying, but failing to penetrate. "AHHHH!!" With pure brute force, Liang Lei ripped a chunk of flesh from the centipede¡¯s jaw, making it shriek in agony. Just as it tried to bite back, he kicked it away! BAM! BAM! BAM! From the roof, Li Yi, using a vehicle-mounted autocannon, obliterated the centipede¡¯s head, turning it into a bloody mess. "Lei! Behind you!!" Liang Lei turned¡ª SHINK! At the last second, Lu? Chang flashed past with an Electric Blade, decapitating a massive flying beetle mid-air! "Another one, Chen!" BOOM!! A Meteor-3 sniper round obliterated a giant carapace insect diving from above¡ª Chen Sixuan, crouched atop the Infinite Train, coldly took aim, sniping down dangerous creatures with deadly precision. Suddenly¡ª BZZZZZZZZZ!! A deafening hum filled the sky¡ª The moon and stars vanished behind a massive black storm of flying insects, their wings beating in horrifying unison. Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression darkened. "Everyone! Look up!!" At that moment¡ª The sky trembled. The ground quaked. And above them, a purple-haired girl rose into the air, her glowing eyes radiating destruction. Lolo... had arrived. The Sky Turns to Hell The swarm above surged like a living black tide, completely blotting out the stars and moon. The overwhelming buzz of countless wings sent a numbing chill down the spine of every survivor. "Sh*t¡ªsky¡¯s completely covered!" Li Yi swung her vehicle-mounted machine gun upward, opening wild suppressing fire into the air. "Lei, get back here!" The Chasing Sun and Great Eagle Convoys immediately shifted tactics, redirecting firepower skyward. Beep! Beep! From the Infinite Train, the 1130 CIWS anti-air cannons spun to life, unleashing a storm of tracer rounds, illuminating the dark sky with streaks of fire. "Flamethrowers! Burn those bastards!" "Reload, reload!" "We can¡¯t hold the ground AND the sky!!" Panic spread through the ranks as the survivors realized the dire situation¡ªthe ground battle against the insect tide was already pushing their limits, but now they were completely vulnerable from above. And then¡ª The air itself began to tremble. The dust on the ground lifted unnaturally, swirling in zero gravity, as if being suspended by an unseen force. "What the hell¡ª?" Someone turned to look at the Infinite Train''s roof¡ª There, a purple-haired girl floated effortlessly, her glowing violet eyes radiating pure destruction. Her hair swayed without wind, and her entire body emitted an invisible force, warping the air around her. Lolo had awakened. The True Power of a Psychic "What''s happening?!" The black tide of insects¡ªjust moments away from crashing down onto the convoy¡ªsuddenly froze mid-air. Every single winged creature stopped flapping, their bodies locked in place as if they had smashed into an invisible wall. Lolo slowly raised a hand. The air quaked. Chapter 242: The Original World "KIKI!" Chen Sixuan called out. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, KIKI slowly rose into the air. Her usual playful smirk was gone¡ªreplaced by an unwavering coldness and razor-sharp focus. She lifted both hands, her gaze locking onto the dark storm of insect swarms in the sky. Her eyes burned with killing intent! ¡°Everyone, take cover!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice suddenly blared over the communicator. Hoo¡ª KIKI let out a slow breath. Then¡ªher hands clenched into fists in midair! WHIRRR! A low hum resonated through the air. A nearly invisible spherical barrier formed at her chest, rapidly compressing inward. Then¡ª BOOM! A blazing white shockwave exploded outward from her core¡ªradiating in all directions! A Devastating Impact An unstoppable force blasted through the battlefield, expanding into a hundreds¡ªno, thousands¡ªof meters-wide radius! The ground quaked. The sky churned. The hurricane-like wave obliterated everything in its path! On the ground and in the air, the insect swarm was instantly torn apart¡ªshredded and blown away like dust in a storm. Those standing closest¡ªLuo Ye, Liao Ming, Liang Lei, Lu? Chang¡ªnearly got swept away, forced to crouch and cling to the ground! The high-speed air currents created an almost oxygen-depleted vacuum, leaving everyone gasping for breath! "HOLY FK! WHAT WAS THAT?!"** Inside the Eagle Convoy, survivors screamed in shock. ¡°Did a nuke just go off?!¡± ¡°Boss, we¡¯re FRIENDLY! FRIENDLY FIRE!!¡± ¡°STOP! STOP!!¡± ¡°Did a typhoon just hit us?!¡± The shockwave and gale-force winds raged for several seconds. Even the dense condensation fog in the air was completely dispersed. For a moment¡ªeveryone felt like they were suffocating. Aftermath The closest ones¡ªChen Sixuan and Miao Lu¡ªclung to the gaps in the train¡¯s roof, gripping tightly to avoid being blown away. As the shockwave subsided, they slowly lifted their heads. KIKI descended from midair, her glowing eyes dimming as she exhaled a long breath. She turned to Chen Sixuan and Miao Lu, a smug grin forming. ¡°Chen-jiejie, how was my new move?¡± Chen Sixuan: She gasped twice, her pale face slowly regaining color. Miao Lu: "KIKI... does that attack even differentiate between friend and foe?" KIKI puffed up her chest, defending herself: ¡°Of course it does! I controlled it carefully¡ªotherwise, you two would¡¯ve been blown away already!¡± Miao Lu¡¯s eyes widened. She realized... KIKI was right. They were standing so close¡ªif the blast didn¡¯t differentiate, they wouldn¡¯t be here right now. Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression darkened slightly. Lin Xian had told her before¡ªever since Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum started glowing at night, everyone¡¯s Abilities and Evolutions had begun changing subtly. Now, seeing KIKI¡¯s overwhelming display of power¡ªit was clear. She had grown significantly stronger. "WOW!!" Inside the Fire God Mecha, Shasha stared at the flashing emergency alerts on her screen. She couldn''t help but speak into the communicator: ¡°KIKI-jie! At least give me a warning next time¡ªI almost had a heart attack!!¡± Shock and Awe On the Chasing Sun Convoy¡¯s side, every survivor stared at the train¡ªtheir faces filled with awe and disbelief. "Holy sh*t..." "Is this a telekinetic Ability?!" "Everyone on this train is a fking monster!**" Lu Xingchen: He leaped onto the Fire God Mecha, looking at everyone below with a smug grin. "Looks like I need to develop some bigger attacks too." Shasha (flatly): "Yeah, right. You¡¯re fireproof. The rest of us? We ignite instantly. So keep your attacks AWAY from us, thank you very much." Lu Xingchen: "...." "INSANE." On the Running Far Convoy¡¯s side, Li Yi clutched her pregnant belly, staring at the train in utter disbelief. She murmured softly, as if comforting her unborn child: "Don¡¯t be afraid... Mommy¡¯s still alive..." The Children¡¯s Reactions Inside the buses, dozens of children¡ªwho had been trembling in terror just moments ago¡ªnow pressed their faces against the windows, cheering excitedly. "Wow!! Is that jiejie a goddess?!" "She blasted all the bugs away!" "That wind was HUGE!" "I wanna be like her when I grow up..." Eagle Convoy¡¯s Reality Check The Eagle Convoy members were completely dumbfounded. They had survived last night¡¯s insect horde. They knew the sheer hopelessness of being swarmed by millions of those monsters. Seeing that massive wave of insects¡ªeveryone had felt despair creeping into their hearts. But then... KIKI had just blown them away. Wu Zhenhai exhaled deeply, shaking his head in amazement. "Holy hell... No wonder Liao Ming was so insistent on teaming up with this convoy." He grinned bitterly. "Sh*t. This is like a bunch of guerrilla fighters running into an elite military unit." Liao Ming: He was panting heavily, but his heart was pounding with excitement. He had zero regrets about spending a Blood Crystal for the information that led him here. Originally, all three convoys had planned to rush out of the city before dark. But now? Waiting for the Infinite Train was the best decision they ever made. A Temporary Respite For now, the swarming sounds of the insects had stopped. Everyone could finally breathe. But¡ª BZZZT!! The Electromagnetic Railgun suddenly hummed with energy. The blinding blue-white beam fired off, striking a floating black shadow in the distance. A crimson glow flickered from within the shadow¡ª Then, vanished. The Next Wave Rustle... Rustle... Rustle... The ground trembled. The respite lasted only seconds¡ª The swarming sounds returned, echoing from all directions. "Reload!" "Tighten formation!" "Fall back toward the Infinite Train!" Lin Xian stood atop the train''s engine, his radio buzzing with reports from the other convoys. Wu Zhenhai: "Kid, we¡¯ve got enough firepower for two and a half waves. We¡¯ll need a coordinated defense." Li Yi: "These bugs just won¡¯t stop. What¡¯s the plan?!" Luo Yang: "Lin-ge, I think these bugs are connected to that red-light monster! If we focus our strongest Abilities on it, we might stand a chance!" Lin Xian¡¯s gaze hardened. He checked the Railgun''s radar¡ªbut the red-light monster had disappeared. Ding Junyi: "Dark Mark level hasn¡¯t dropped. It¡¯s still covering all of us." Conclusion? The monster isn¡¯t dead. It¡¯s still marking us. And if they entered the Polar Night Snowstorm carrying a Level-3 Dark Mark... They wouldn¡¯t survive. Lin Xian¡¯s Orders: "Target has vanished, but it¡¯s still here. Stay alert." He turned to KIKI and Lu Xingchen. "You two. Find that red-light bastard and KILL IT." FWOOSH! As the firepower erupted across the battlefield, Lin Xian¡¯s Black Rifle fired the moment the red glow appeared. CRACK! The Black Rifle seemed to pierce something, threading through like a needle through fabric. At that instant, a massive fire lance shot up into the sky! BOOM! Lu Xingchen spewed forth flames, while KIKI used her psychokinesis to grab the blaze, compressing it into a high-speed rocket. The moment the Red Lantern-Head Creature emerged from the cloud cover, the fire rocket blasted directly into its hollowed-out skull! The three of them executed their attack in perfect sync, their movements as fluid as if they''d practiced for years. BZZT! The eerie humming that had begun to resonate across the battlefield was suddenly silenced. Hundreds of people in the convoys, who had been on the brink of losing control, narrowly escaped disaster. Those whose faces had darkened with blackened veins slowly regained their sanity¡ªthe inky blackness in their eyes fading away. "Direct hit!" KIKI shouted. "Not enough firepower!" Lu Xingchen, filled with battle fervor, intensified the flames. Under his control, the concentrated fireball swelled, releasing an intense white heat, illuminating the entire camp like a pillar of fire. BZZZZT! Suddenly, in the sky above, an entire section of the darkness flickered red. Moments later, countless black fragments rained down like a storm. When they hit the train roofs and ground, they ignited into thick black smoke! Lin Xian reached out, attempting to recall his Black Rifle, but it remained motionless. As the flames subsided, the sky was once again pitch black. Other than the scattered debris, there was nothing left. Meanwhile, the Bug Tide remained relentless. Everyone was still fighting for their lives. "Where did it go?" Chen Sixuan raised her sniper rifle, rapidly scanning the night sky. "I don¡¯t see it. Stay alert, Lin Xian." BANG! BANG! BANG! The Fire God Mech unleashed a hailstorm of electric cannonfire. Shasha, seated inside the cockpit, was pushing the mech¡¯s firepower to its absolute limit, carving an open corridor straight through the Bug Tide. On the battlefield, Amin and Lolo flashed like silver stars, their lightning-chain swords slicing through the swarm with blinding speed. "Hah!!" Li Guangwen threw a devastating punch, creating a fan-shaped shockwave that ripped the ground apart, obliterating dozens of large insects in a single blow. Positioned at the forefront of the engineering vehicles, he stood as the convoy¡¯s last line of defense. Meanwhile, the Eagle Convoy was rapidly burning through their ammunition. Wu Zhenhai emptied another magazine, then ripped the smoking-hot barrel off his rifle, his face grim as he looked at the endless swarm before them. "Pull back the defensive line¡ªprepare to charge through!" If the Bug Tide was truly endless, then there was only one option left¡ªthey would have to break through and escape. Their strongest ability users were already running low on energy. **If they couldn¡¯t eliminate that Red Lantern-Head Creature, then the only chance of survival was to floor the gas pedal and flee. TATATATATA!! Li Yi¡¯s hands were now completely blackened from the heat of the vehicle-mounted machine gun. Her lips were pale, but she kept firing, desperately holding back the swarming insects so her husband, Liang Lei, could fight up front. The pile of insect corpses was growing into a mountain, and blackened insect limbs and blood splattered across every vehicle. The stench of death was suffocating. "AHHH!!" Liang Lei crushed a black-armored beetle¡¯s head with a single punch, but before he could react, several other creatures pounced on him, dragging him to the ground, their razor-sharp mandibles tearing into his armor. WHOOOOO!!! The 1130 CIWS and the Railgun Turret continued to rotate at high speed, their radar systems operating at full capacity. Standing atop the Infinite Train, Lin Xian, KIKI, and Lu Xingchen fought off the insect swarm while searching for the black silhouette in the sky. "Where the hell did that thing go?!" KIKI''s voice was filled with frustration. Suddenly¡ª A massive tidal wave of insects erupted upward in front of the Eagle Convoy, rising like a towering tsunami. "WHAT IS THAT!?" "JUST SHOOT IT!" "HOW ARE THERE SO MANY?!" Everyone who saw the colossal surge of monsters was stunned in horror. Then¡ª As the insect tsunami cascaded downward, a towering humanoid silhouette was revealed through the gunfire. "It¡¯s that MONSTER!" BRRRRRRMMMM!!!! A deep, droning hum filled the air. At the same moment, the Bug Tide became even more aggressive, their movements frenzied and chaotic. A group of retreating soldiers was instantly overwhelmed, their agonized screams lost in the roar of gunfire. WHIRR! KIKI soared into the sky, attempting to restrain the giant creature with psychokinesis. Lu Xingchen launched himself into the air, unleashing a wave of fire! "I FOUND IT!!" As the Red Lantern-Head Creature advanced, swarms of insects fell from its body. It morphed into a living wave of insects, crawling toward the convoys. Then, suddenly, it lowered its head, its hollow, glowing red skull focusing on the Eagle Convoy. In an instant, a massive crimson light engulfed everyone. Looking up, they saw a circular abyss, as deep and vast as the void itself. The red glow carried a corrupting force¡ªwithin seconds, the vision of everyone trapped inside it turned to black and white. BEEEEEEP!! BZZZT!! The 1130 CIWS and Railgun instantly fired upon the monster¡ª But¡ª The black insects piled up like sandbags, forming two thick barriers, absorbing the firepower meant for the Red Lantern-Head Creature. "DAMN IT!" On the ground, Da Lou and Shu Qin watched in horror as the Eagle Convoy soldiers froze in place, their firing rate dropping sharply. Their bodies stiffened. They were succumbing to the Corruption. The Infinite Train''s crew jumped in to assist, but every bullet that hit the insect barrier was absorbed. "Divine: Scorching Heavens!" Lu Xingchen, furious, raised both arms, summoning an inferno that engulfed the battlefield, attempting to burn away the insect towers. At that moment¡ª Lin Xian''s voice rang through the comms. "KIKI, grab Fire Brother¡ªRETREAT!" Lin Xian had just received a signal from his Black Rifle. His mind raced, and in an instant, he made a bold decision. "If it¡¯s light... then it can be BENT." "Gravitational Lens!" A silent hum rippled through the battlefield. Everything froze for an instant. Then¡ª The red light warped. And reality itself began to twist. The Fall of the Red Lantern Head BANG! WHOOSH! CLANG! The massive Red Lantern Head, its skull and most of its body severed by the vortex, crashed to the ground with a deafening impact. The remaining half of its head, its red glow flickering like a short-circuiting lightbulb, twitched violently. The surrounding insect horde¡ªwhich had previously been charging with relentless aggression¡ªsuddenly became chaotic. No longer moving in unison, they scattered like roaches in disarray, their coordination shattered. The convoy firepower immediately pushed back the front lines, driving the swarm back into the dark abyss beyond their lights'' reach. Meanwhile, despite the Red Lantern Head''s horrific wounds, it was still struggling to rise. Without hesitation¡ª KIKI and Lu Xingchen rushed forward. "Kick it while it¡¯s down!" Seeing the colossus in its weakened state, every convoy''s top fighters instinctively charged in unison. "Kill it!!" "Amin, Lolo¡ªgo!" "On it!" Two silver-white silhouettes flashed through the battlefield like phantoms. "Li Guangwen!" Luo Yang leaped off the Infinite Train¡¯s rooftop, covering his eyes¡ªa beam of scorching white light blazed across the field! "Lei!" Li Yi swung her mounted gun turret, locking on. "Bombardment unit¡ªseven-shot barrage! FIRE!" Wu Zhenhai¡¯s voice thundered through the comms. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Above them¡ª "Divine: Cluster Detonation!" Fire God soared into the sky, his body engulfed in blinding flames. KIKI¡¯s eyes burned with energy, both hands grasping an inferno of pure destruction. The Red Lantern Head tried to retreat, sinking into the swarm like a creature burrowing into quicksand¡ª But it was too late. It only had one remaining arm, making its movements sluggish and uncoordinated. And before it could escape¡ª A storm of annihilation fell upon it. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Artillery, gunfire, energy beams, explosions, flames, slashes¡ª All at once. The entire battlefield was swallowed by devastation. The colossus was bombarded from all directions, its blackened flesh and carapace shredding apart, fragments scattering like burning meteors across the battlefield. Every insect within range was obliterated, their carapaces reduced to dust, their wings incinerated in the raging inferno. Thick clouds of smoke billowed skyward, turning the battlefield into an ashen wasteland. The Red Lantern Head, its mangled corpse still twitching, had been torn apart piece by piece. Its remaining arm, still groping blindly for survival, was sliced clean off by the 1130 CIWS'' hypervelocity metal stream, leaving behind only a shower of shrapnel. For a full minute, the bombardment continued relentlessly¡ª By the time it ended, the ground itself had been scorched several inches deep, leaving nothing but a smoldering crater. BOOM. BOOM. The final gunshots rang out¡ª Then¡ª Silence. The insect horde was gone. The final fleeing beetle was shot out of the sky by a vehicle-mounted turret. And at last¡ª The only sounds left were the crackling of flames and the lingering smoke drifting into the night. The Aftermath Huff... huff... huff... The battle was over. Every survivor¡¯s heartbeat pounded in their ears, their chests heaving from exhaustion. The air reeked of gunpowder, the heat from their weapon barrels making them glow red-hot. For a moment¡ª No one spoke. Then¡ª KIKI, hovering at the frontline, floated toward the impact zone. She raised a hand. WHOOOSH! An invisible force swept outward, instantly blowing away the lingering smoke. Dozens of searchlights from the convoy vehicles immediately focused on the blackened crater. And there¡ª Everyone saw it. The corpse of the Red Lantern Head. Or rather¡ª What little remained of it. Its once-massive body was now reduced to hardened black fragments, its spine still barely recognizable among the wreckage. And its glowing red head¡ª Gone. "Is it... dead?" A shocked voice rose from the survivors. For a moment¡ª No one dared to believe it. Then¡ª "HOLY F*!!!**" The camp erupted. "We won?!" "The swarm¡¯s GONE!!" "Did we really just kill something that huge?!" "Was that a B-rank Eerie Entity? A-rank?! Whatever the hell it was, it had to be strong as hell!" "Damn, Infinite Convoy is INSANE!!" "YEAH!!!" A wave of cheers exploded through the survivor camps. The sound of victory cries, laughter, and disbelief filled the air, shaking with relief and triumph. KIKI finally let out a deep breath, then turned her gaze toward a certain figure. Everyone followed her gaze. And there¡ª Standing atop the Infinite Train¡ª A lone figure raised his hand, calling back a black gun glowing with blue light from the air. "It''s Captain Lin!!" "Holy sh*t, what the hell was that?! A black hole?!" "What kind of ability was that?!" "I thought fire-type and telekinetic abilities were already OP¡ªbut this?!" "Come on, he¡¯s the convoy leader. Of course he¡¯s a monster." "Damn... if it weren¡¯t for Lin Xian and the Infinite Convoy, we¡¯d be dead." "All four of our convoys fought like hell, but damn, that was next-level." KIKI, her eyes gleaming with curiosity, shot toward Lin Xian. Lin Xian, seeing the crisis had finally passed, let out a quiet breath. But his face... Was more serious than ever. "Hey! Lin Xian! Since when did you have a move like THAT?!" KIKI landed next to him, grinning. "Damn, you totally hid that from me¡ª" But Lin Xian wasn''t listening. Instead, he looked down at his watch¡ª Then, without saying a word, he built something using Mechanical Manufacturing. A sundial. And a lightbulb. He crouched down, placed the sundial on the ground, and lit the bulb, casting its shadow over the device. "What are you doing?" Chen Sixuan, arriving, also noticed his odd behavior. Lin Xian''s brow furrowed as he muttered calculations under his breath, shifting the light and measuring the shadow¡¯s angle. Then¡ª He froze. A moment later¡ª His expression relaxed. "As I thought." At first¡ª He had assumed he was seeing a different time dimension. That the "daylight" he glimpsed was an echo of the past. But now¡ª With precise calculations¡ª He knew the truth. What he had seen was not a different time. It was the real world. Chapter 243: The Second Blood Disaster Plant August 24, 2069, Daytime Somewhere in the Western Pacific Phoenix Sky City ¨C Phoenix City [August 24, 2069] [Saturday] [15:29:15 (CCST)] System Log Power System:Star Engine No. 1 is operating normally, all parameters are stable, no fault alarms.The "Night Star 9" Sky City nuclear-powered turbine processor is at normal temperature.Routine maintenance cycle 2-1 initiated for the day.Navigation System:Currently in Level-1 Cruise Phase, flying according to plan.Distance traveled: 625 kilometersSpeed: 210 km/hAltitude: 9,600 metersAirspace Radar:Coordinates: XX-YY-ZZ+10 (offset from current position).Tracking Biological Entity No. 04, sudden abnormal weather detected.Anomalous Weather Description:Target Sea Area:Sky City meteorological satellites and over 20 million Pacific buoys detected a high-pressure wave zone exceeding 2,400 kilometers in diameter.The formation resembled a black hole and moved slowly over the Pacific Ocean.Duration: 3 hours 5 minutes before disappearance. [August 24, 2069] [Saturday] [15:40:55 (CCST)]: After a resolution by the Sky City Security Committee, reconnaissance drones ZL-02 and ZL-03, along with Nightwalker Escort Unit 4, Flight Team 7, were dispatched to investigate. [16:03:12 (CCST)]: The reconnaissance drones reported that Biological Entity No. 04 changed its trajectory. The Sky City Security Committee confirmed its new heading¡ªAsia-Pacific Continent. Cloud River Plains, Outside Hengshan Pass City Under the black night sky, multiple camp floodlights were set up. The convoy was in chaos, remnants of a brutal battle visible everywhere¡ªfallen comrades, shattered insect corpses, blood-soaked vehicles. Around the Infinite Train, mountains of bug carcasses lay piled. Each convoy had dispatched patrol and cleanup teams to scout for lingering threats and eliminate any surviving creatures. Meanwhile, others were busy treating the wounded, counting ammunition, and repairing vehicles. The camp was filled with a tense and urgent atmosphere. In the middle of the encampment, under a makeshift canopy, the core members of four different convoys gathered around a campfire, deep in discussion. "Lin, we owe you everything." Liao Ming, his face still showing the exhaustion of a near-death experience, turned toward Lin Xian''s team and sincerely expressed his gratitude. ¡°Uncle Wu, should we...?¡± Wu Zhenhai raised his hand to cut him off, signaling that he understood. Then he turned to his men and ordered: ¡°Liangzi, bring over our No. 5 supply truck.¡± "No need." Lin Xian immediately declined, seeing through their intentions. ¡°This was a joint operation. We were all in the same boat, fighting together. There¡¯s no need for this. Resources are survival assets, and with hundreds of people in your convoy, you need them more than I do.¡± ¡°This...¡± Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words, Luo Yang, Liang Lei, and Li Yi, the leaders of the other convoys, became visibly anxious. ¡°Lin, your team did most of the heavy lifting. You saved so many of our people, we have to show our appreciation!¡± ¡°Exactly! If it weren¡¯t for you guys, my wife and I would be dead right now!¡± Liang Lei, still covered in dried blood, spoke urgently. Lin Xian waved them off. During the battle, every convoy had suffered casualties¡ªexcept his Infinite Train, which hadn¡¯t taken a single injury. Even though these three convoys were clearly hoping for his protection, the reality was that they had formed a defensive ring around the Infinite Train and had already used every ounce of their strength and firepower. If Lin Xian had wanted payment, he would have spoken up before nightfall¡ªwhen they still had options. Now, with their people dead or wounded, he had no interest in taking advantage of them. "Enough, I appreciate the thought." Lin Xian glanced at the sky, then added: ¡°The cold front is moving in. A blizzard is coming soon. Resources are our lifeline. We fought together today¡ªlet¡¯s consider it mutual assistance. There¡¯s no need for formalities.¡± Afterward, he briefly shared his observations on the Dark Mark with the convoys. ¡°So you¡¯re saying... if we¡¯re inside the monster¡¯s territory, we can actually kill it?¡± Li Yi rubbed her slightly swollen stomach, her face filled with doubt and concern. ¡°Dark Mark... Lin, can we really trust this?¡± Luo Yang, however, nodded in agreement. ¡°Logically speaking, what Lin is saying makes sense. It sounds more accurate than the Predator Effect theory.¡± ¡°The only issue is... we don¡¯t know if we¡¯ve been marked or what level the mark is. The only way to tell is if we get attacked¡ªwhich puts us in a passive position.¡± "Passive? It makes no difference." Wu Zhenhai slapped his thigh, his expression stern. ¡°If we¡¯re marked, we¡¯re marked. The only question is when to run and when not to. We won¡¯t be lucky every time.¡± Liao Ming nodded in realization. ¡°No wonder... the convoys we¡¯ve seen barely escaping from large Eerie Entities... They disappear a few days later. Turns out... they escaped once, but not twice.¡± "Exactly." Lin Xian scanned the group. He was only sharing his experience, not trying to push Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum as evidence. If they believed him, he didn¡¯t need to prove it. If they didn¡¯t believe him, no amount of explaining would matter. In life-or-death chases, convoys only trust their own experiences. When it really counted, everyone had to rely on their own judgment. Lin Xian could tell from their expressions that they hadn¡¯t fully accepted his theory. After all, they couldn¡¯t see the mark on themselves, and the pattern of Eerie Entity attacks was too unpredictable. So instead of arguing, he changed the subject. ¡°You¡¯re taking the main road from Yuankou to Yunzhou¡¯s western mountain range, right?¡± Lin Xian continued: ¡°The cold front will hit you a little later, but not by much. I suggest you leave as soon as possible and don¡¯t linger.¡± Even with the Icebreaker Shield, the Infinite Train couldn¡¯t guarantee smooth travel in a blizzard¡ª For their convoys, it would be even worse. At this point, Hengshan Pass City was plummeting in temperature, nearing freezing levels. ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Yang nodded. ¡°We plan to leave two hours before dawn. Based on our speed, daylight should come at 11:25 AM tomorrow, but nightfall might arrive as early as 18:20.¡± Wu Zhenhai frowned deeply. ¡°Less than seven hours of daylight?¡± ¡°The farther north we go, the shorter that time becomes.¡± Li Yi added: ¡°Phoenix¡¯s Xilan City base announced they will completely evacuate in four days. At our speed, we need to reach Xilin City in three days, so we still have time to meet Phoenix¡¯s main forces in Xilan.¡± "Alright." Lin Xian stood up. ¡°Everyone¡¯s exhausted. The fear aura of that creature might still be affecting your people, and the Black Smoke toxin from the bug horde isn¡¯t fully cleared. I suggest rotating night guards, and making sure everyone has enough food and water to stabilize morale.¡± Clack. Lin Xian pressed his communicator, giving an order. Moments later, Da Lou and a few Infinite Train crew members carried over several crates of ammunition and dropped them outside the canopy. ¡°Lin, what is this?¡± Liao Ming looked stunned. "Ammunition." Lin Xian took a deep breath. ¡°You used up most of your stock tonight. There won¡¯t be many resupply points ahead. We have extra on board¡ªso take some.¡± "No, we can¡¯t accept this!" Li Yi shot to her feet, her lips dry. ¡°You saved us, we haven¡¯t even thanked you¡ªhow could we take your supplies?!¡± "That¡¯s right! We¡¯re not that kind of people!" ¡°No more discussion.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°If you can still hold off the bugs for five more minutes, I¡¯ll take it back.¡± Silence. At this moment, Wu Zhenhai walked over and opened the crate. Inside the large box was just a single cylindrical container, about the thickness of an arm, very standard in design. Within it was a mass of pitch-black, branch-like material. Carefully lifting the container from the box, Wu Zhenhai gently activated a mechanism on its surface. A violet-blue glow lit up from within, and the group finally saw clearly what looked like "branches." It was actually a plant! About as thick as a pinky finger, its roots were short, and several dark purple buds sprouted from its stem. Lin Xian examined it closely and noticed an almost imperceptible flow of tiny purple light coursing through its roots and stalk, as if it were breathing. Blood Scourge Flora! Realizing this, Lin Xian¡¯s expression instantly hardened. Wu Zhenhai introduced, "We found this thing in the wreckage of a destroyed scientific research convoy. No idea which organization it belonged to. Later, a small squad from the Federation tracked us down and offered a high price to buy it, but we refused." "A high price?" "Haha." Liao Ming chuckled, still finding it unbelievable even now. "Yeah, enough to fully equip two Big Eagle Convoy fleets. But Uncle Wu turned them down." Even Lin Xian was taken aback, and Luo Yang, Liang Lei, and Li Yi all looked at Wu Zhenhai in confusion. But Wu Zhenhai simply let out a cold sneer. "Who the f**k would work with those Federation dogs?" "If this thing is so valuable, I¡¯d rather cooperate with Phoenix. But..." He patted the container, then sighed slightly as he looked at Lin Xian. "We might not be able to deliver this thing to Xilan. So instead, why not give it to you? If it¡¯s useful, take it as a token of goodwill. If not, you can trade it with Phoenix for supplies and still make it worth your while." Wu Zhenhai wasn¡¯t entirely sure if this thing was as valuable as the Federation claimed, but he was certain it wasn¡¯t ordinary. However, he also understood that there was no guarantee his convoy could safely reach Xilan and meet up with Phoenix. From a practical standpoint, this thing was useless to them in the immediate crisis. It made more sense to use it to build a relationship with Lin Xian¡ªespecially since they had just taken a significant amount of supplies from him. Most importantly, they were in desperate need of ammunition. If they ran out and somehow survived tonight, what about tomorrow? Lin Xian''s emotions were complicated. He was at least 70¨C80% sure that what Wu Zhenhai had in his hands was a type of Blood Scourge Flora. He had personally witnessed the power of Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum¡ªthe very plant that had helped the Infinite Train escape from Jiazhou City and survive this long. Understanding the significance of the Blood Scourge Flora, he saw no need to be polite. "Alright, I¡¯ll take it." After a brief pause, he added, "I do know this thing is incredibly valuable. So, how about this? I¡¯ll give you some extra weapons." "No, no, no, this is already enough." Wu Zhenhai waved his hand. "I¡¯m not here to negotiate or trade for profit." "I know." Lin Xian turned around and walked toward the Infinite Train, raising his voice. "That¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to hear about you dying before dawn." His words made everyone freeze. Not long after, four Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Guns, three Thunderstorm A1 Grenade Launchers, twelve M556 Light Machine Guns, nearly three full caches of ammunition, and a crate of alloy explosives were unloaded from the train and neatly arranged in front of them. The Roarers and machine guns were taken directly from the Infinite Train¡¯s stockpile. Lin Xian didn¡¯t have time to manufacture new ones, so he had to rely on the supplies they already had. The ammunition was a mix of existing stock and freshly manufactured rounds. Seeing such an overwhelming amount of firepower, many convoy members gathered around, stunned. Liao Ming and the others were utterly shocked. "Holy sh*t." Wu Zhenhai whistled in awe. "I¡¯ve only ever seen this kind of military-grade weapons transport in the army before. Lin, are you giving us your entire stockpile or what?" Lin Xian shook his head. "Don¡¯t worry. We have more." He turned to Liao Ming. "Liao, you¡¯ve seen it yourself¡ªour train is stocked with weapons." Everyone immediately turned their eyes to Liao Ming. His expression was conflicted. He had, indeed, seen the Infinite Train¡¯s massive armory. Weapons were being unloaded from storage units like they had an entire warehouse on board. But now that Lin Xian put him on the spot, he didn¡¯t even know how to respond. "Split these among your people," Lin Xian instructed. "This will boost your firepower significantly. The journey ahead will be filled with blizzards and unknown dangers. For the sake of your brothers and sisters in the convoy, don¡¯t hold back." "Alright!" Seeing that Liang Lei and Luo Yang still hesitated, Wu Zhenhai took the lead. "We¡¯ll gratefully accept Lin¡¯s generosity¡ªno need for formalities!" "Everyone, organize the supplies! Distribute the weapons and ammo!" "Yes, sir!" The group quickly divided the supplies. Dozens of people swarmed forward, hauling ammunition and weapons back to their vehicles. The convoy members were overjoyed. This unexpected massive resupply meant everyone could finally sleep a little easier tonight. The previously tense atmosphere in the camp immediately lifted. This was, without a doubt, a morale boost for the weary survivors. "Alright, there¡¯s still plenty to handle in our convoy," Lin Xian said. "Let¡¯s stay in touch over the communicator. We¡¯ll be leaving before dawn. If fate allows, let¡¯s meet again in Xilan!" "Understood. Thank you, Lin." Wu Zhenhai nodded. His convoy had suffered the worst losses, and they were still scrambling to reorganize. "Lin, thank you." Luo Yang added sincerely. "We¡¯ll meet again at Dawn Center!" "Yeah." Lin Xian nodded. "Lin." Li Yi was visibly moved. She stood up, wanting to say more, but Lin Xian cut her off. "Your convoy has a lot of kids to take care of. No need for words¡ªjust focus on getting them to safety." Liang Lei wrapped an arm around his wife¡¯s shoulder and said to Lin Xian, "Lin, I¡¯ve never admired many people in my life. You¡¯re one of them." "Take care, everyone!" The frigid wind howled across the plains. The bleak autumn night had swiftly transitioned into bitter winter. The Big Eagle Convoy, Chasing Sun Convoy, and Running Far Convoy all hurried to pack up their camps. The leaders reorganized their teams, checked on the wounded, and reassessed their strategies. With their newfound ammunition, confidence among the convoy members had risen significantly. On a bus, Li Yi and her team handed out food to the children. "Mommy Li Yi! The train is so cool!" a little girl exclaimed. "Are we going to travel with the train?" a boy asked. "Yeah, yeah!" another chimed in. Li Yi chuckled. "Yes, once we reach Xilan, our forces will grow. There will be trains, cars, and even airplanes~" "Wow! Does that mean we¡¯ll get to sleep in big beds?" "Yes." "And have clean water to drink?" "Of course." "Mommy Li Yi! For my birthday, I wanna eat french fries!" "Haha, such a greedy little one~" Meanwhile, in the Chasing Sun Convoy, Luo Yang and his team held a meeting inside an RV. "Amin, Lolo, you two did great today. Dayuan, make sure to analyze their movement data and optimize their performance." The two girls were thrilled. "Tonight was intense, but we¡¯re getting better at working together." "Li Guangwen, did your Dust Wave Ability improve? You killed a lot of monsters tonight." The young man scratched his head. "Maybe a little." "That Infinite Train crew is insane." "Yeah! Fire abilities, psychic powers... And Lin can even use black holes?!" Luo Yang¡¯s gaze flickered. He nodded. "Yeah, Lin is incredible." "I hope we can meet again in Xilan." The night deepened, and the journey ahead remained perilous. But for now, hope burned bright. At the Big Eagle Convoy, the atmosphere remained solemn despite the recent boost in supplies. The weight of lost lives hung heavy over the survivors. Inside a living carriage, a middle-aged woman was busy preparing hot meals, distributing them to the wounded. Beside her, a young boy diligently helped, his small hands working tirelessly. Two convoy members approached, carrying supplies. "Sister Li." "I got it." The woman¡¯s eyes were red, but her hands never stopped moving. "Hurry, give these to the wounded. It¡¯s the middle of the night¡ªwe can¡¯t let their conditions worsen." Her voice faltered slightly, but she pressed on. "We can¡¯t let them end up like Li Dong..." Hearing this, the two convoy members fell silent for a moment. Then, with a heavy sigh, they began distributing the hot food. For those fleeing the apocalypse, death had become an everyday reality. Elsewhere in the convoy, Liao Ming was tending to the wounded while messaging Wu Zhenhai over the communicator. Liao Ming: "Uncle Wu, we lost 6 people. 13 injured. Situation under control for now." Wu Zhenhai: "Send the names to Song Li, make sure their families in the living carriage are looked after." Liao Ming: "Understood. Also, Chenchen and a few of the kids keep asking to join the combat teams. Those little brats have so much energy now." Wu Zhenhai: Exhaled deeply as he read the message from the back of his truck. Wu Zhenhai: "They¡¯re not even 14 yet. Tell them they can talk to me after we get past the Snowfields. If they have extra energy, they can help with logistics." Chapter 244: Cold Dark Basic Particles The night wind howled as the Extreme Cold Vortex spread over a vast area. Near Hengshan Pass, delicate snowflakes began to fall. After the brutal battle, the camp slowly returned to order. The once-chaotic convoy was now falling into silence. Infinite Train, lights blazing. "You little brat!" Inside Car No. 2, KIKI pinched Shasha¡¯s cheeks, scolding her: ¡°How dare you take the mecha out without my or Lin¡¯s permission?! You¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± ¡°I was wrong! I was wrong! KIKI, I swear I was wrong~¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Lin Xian said directly. ¡°The bug horde completely surrounded us. Using mechas made sense in that situation.¡± He glanced at Shasha and added: ¡°I¡¯ll modify the door of Car No. 11 tonight, so next time, you won¡¯t have to climb out.¡± Shasha quickly escaped KIKI¡¯s grasp and nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Uh-huh! I¡¯ll listen to whatever Lin says!¡± Assessing the Battle All the core members had gathered in Car No. 2 to review the battle. ¡°We¡¯ve secured this area,¡± someone noted. ¡°For now, staying put to regroup is relatively safe, but the Extreme Cold Vortex is spreading rapidly¡ªwe can¡¯t stay too long.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t suffer any major losses, aside from ammunition depletion.¡± Chen Sixuan flipped through her logbook. ¡°This area has already been hit by a bug horde. The tracks ahead might not be stable. If we¡¯re leaving early, I suggest we depart before sunrise, just like the other convoys. That way, we have time to react if anything happens.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°The other convoys will need more time to recover. Tonight, we also need to stock up on ammunition. After passing Yuankou, we¡¯ll be entering the Parma Grasslands. That¡¯s an open area, meaning no reliable supply points.¡± Preparing for the Unknown Lin Xian had no time to waste. Ding Junyi brought over Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. Its red glow had completely faded, leaving only a faint shimmer¡ªdrifting like air currents inside the carriage. On the table, a silver case sat next to it¡ª inside was a new Blood Scourge Flora, taken from Big Eagle Convoy. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned toward the strange plant. A purple energy flowed through its root core, giving it an almost mystical appearance. Ding Junyi picked it up for a closer look. ¡°Hmm... there are some similarities with Specimen No. 1. If this is a new strain, it might have unique properties.¡± ¡°Hopefully, it¡¯ll be useful to us.¡± Lin Xian murmured. Chen Sixuan glanced outside at the other convoys setting up camp. With a serious expression, she noted: ¡°After this battle... our marks should be cleared. But them... I¡¯m not so sure.¡± Doubt and Trust "What, they don¡¯t believe us?" KIKI frowned. Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°I warned them. They¡¯ll think it over, but the same issue remains¡ª We have Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. They don¡¯t. Without a visible way to confirm the Dark Mark, they¡¯ll only believe it when they¡¯re in danger again.¡± Ding Junyi shrugged. ¡°Well, that¡¯s human nature. If killing these creatures doesn¡¯t bring a clear benefit, but running away has a higher survival rate, then, of course, people will choose to flee rather than risk fighting.¡± ¡°No reward, no reason to try. Simple as that.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. Ding Junyi had hit the nail on the head. If survivors didn¡¯t understand that fighting and eliminating Eerie Entities was critical to their own survival, then it would be impossible to change their mindset. Survival Comes First ¡°Let¡¯s leave it for now.¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°These things aren¡¯t our problem. Once we reach Xilan, we need to secure supplies and intelligence from Phoenix. As for the Dark Mark data, we¡¯ll just send it over. Whether they believe it or not... isn¡¯t up to us.¡± At the end of the day, their primary goal was survival. Lin Xian could only keep sharing information with every survivor group they encountered. But how many people actually listened? That was beyond his control. Ding Junyi nodded and was about to take the Blood Scourge Flora for further research, when Lin Xian suddenly stopped her. A Theory Beyond the Apocalypse "Director Ding." "Hmm?" Lin Xian took a deep breath. ¡°I remember something about string theory... Isn¡¯t gravity the only fundamental force that can pass through different dimensions?¡± Everyone looked at Lin Xian strangely. Why was he suddenly bringing up theoretical physics? Ding Junyi paused, then answered thoughtfully: ¡°My specialization is biology, but string theory belongs to theoretical physics.¡± She adjusted her glasses and explained: ¡°In quantum gravity theory, all fundamental particles are considered vibrating strings, existing in a curled-up nine- or ten-dimensional space, rather than our familiar three dimensions. The graviton, which carries gravitational force, is a closed-loop string that isn¡¯t bound to our 3D world. It can move freely through higher dimensions, which means gravity can indeed cross into other dimensions.¡± Then, she narrowed her eyes and asked: ¡°Are you suggesting that the Dark Tides... are an overlapping dimension imposing itself onto our world?¡± A Strange Connection KIKI tilted her head in confusion. ¡°What? What are you guys even talking about?¡± ¡°No idea...¡± Shasha whispered. Lin Xian knew Ding Junyi had understood his point, but he wasn¡¯t sure how to discuss it further. He shook his head. ¡°Never mind. Just some weird thoughts.¡± He recalled a scene from the movie Interstellar. In it, Murph¡¯s father, Cooper, used gravity to transmit a message through Morse code from a black hole. Murph then used that data to solve the gravity equation, allowing humanity to build space stations and escape Earth¡¯s extinction event. Similarly, when Lin Xian used his Gravity Lens Skill, he briefly saw two worlds at once¡ª Darkness and Light, rippling together like waves. Most crucially, before dawn, that other world generated a black-hole-like pull, crushing the Red-Lantern Monster and countless Black Bugs. But why? Why did Eerie Entities stay hidden in darkness, only emerging after the Dark Tides? What if that was the key? Back to Reality Shaking off his thoughts, Lin Xian turned to Chen Sixuan. ¡°Chen, make sure we stock up on food. Everyone¡¯s exhausted, and with the temperature dropping, we need to boost our energy levels.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Just then, Ding Junyi noticed something. She pointed at the silver case on the table. ¡°This looks like a specialized mobile cultivation chamber for plants. But... it doesn¡¯t seem like Federation tech. Did they say where it came from?¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Wu said they found it in a destroyed research convoy, but they didn¡¯t know which organization it belonged to.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± KIKI grabbed the case, inspecting it closely. ¡°This thing looks high-end¡ª not something a small group could produce.¡± She turned it around¡ª then suddenly stopped. Her eyes widened. At the bottom of the case, there was a tiny emblem¡ª A triangular symbol. Everyone stared at it. ¡°What is this symbol? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen it before...¡± Chen Sixuan muttered. Shuqin and Da Lou both shook their heads. "This could be a symbol of some research organization, similar to the Foundation. It might even be related to Phoenix." Lin Xian remarked. Hearing this, Lu Xingchen, who had been standing nearby, glanced at the mark. His expression hardened slightly, and the relaxed look on his face faded. He didn¡¯t say a word. Suddenly, the radio crackled. "Zzz... Zzz..." A transmission from Phoenix''s Xilan Outpost came through: "**Phoenix Outpost in Xilan reporting to the Yunjiang Plains region. Based on investigations from various survivor groups and monitoring teams, a large number of aberrant creatures have been discovered within the blizzards caused by the Extreme Cold Vortex. Captured live specimens measure between 1.2 to 1.6 meters and are quadrupedal eerie entities with scaly spines and tails exceeding their body length. Sample analysis confirms these creatures carry potent toxins. Phoenix officially designates them as ¡®Snow Wraiths¡¯. They primarily hide beneath the snow layers, can conduct limited activity during the day, and enter a frenzied state at night..." "Zzz... Global transmission from Phoenix Federation. Dawn Center is currently located at the northern foothills of Yun¡¯an Ridge at coordinates 116.3913447¡ã, 39.9053937¡ã. It is expected to arrive in Tianji in three days..." "Phoenix Xilan Outpost reporting to Yunjiang Plains region. Snow layers in the Extreme Cold Vortex center have exceeded two meters. A significant number of B-Class eyeless eerie entities have been found deep within the blizzard. Survivors, be on high alert!" "**Global broadcast from Phoenix Federation. The Nightwalkers'' Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory has successfully isolated a unique energy particle from Eerie Blood Crystals through a process involving underground xenon-cooled dark filtration. This particle has a resting mass of zero but enters quantum excitation and decay states when kinetically accelerated. It has been confirmed that this energy particle resonates with ability users¡¯ Soul Wave Values. Phoenix has officially named it the ¡®Cold Dark Fundamental Particle.¡¯ Currently, specialized separation devices have been developed to extract this particle from Eerie Blood Crystals and Dark Tides Waves. Experimentation with Nightwalker ability volunteers has confirmed a strong correlation between the particle and ability wave enhancements as well as biological gene evolution. Phoenix is now collaborating with Xinghua Heavy Industries and Silent Industrial City to develop a portable separation device..." "**Phoenix global transmission. 147 additional mobile support outposts will soon be deployed to assist, train, and support survivor groups in strengthening fundamental survival capabilities. The Nightwalkers Organization warns: Do NOT consume Eerie Blood Crystals! Always wear protective gear when handling them to avoid contamination from Dark Forces!" Another transmission cut in. "Zzz... Survivor shortwave frequency..." "**White Light Convoy issues a warning to all survivors within 500 kilometers. Zzz... We... We have been completely wiped out... Our location is 150 kilometers northwest of Chixia Route. We repeat: DO NOT RUN if you encounter Snow Wraiths! The more you run, the more of them will appear¡ªAAAHH!!!" "Zzz... This is Flying Tiger Convoy. We¡¯re moving towards the Yunzhou Mountain Range. We¡¯ve encountered multiple convoys suffering heavy casualties. The snowmelt is TOXIC¡ªDO NOT FILTER OR DRINK IT! If you¡¯re still alive, head to areas with no snow!" "**The Sentinels¡¯ Alliance reports: At coordinates 102.4571147¡ã, 66.4545487¡ã, near Su Feng Village and Yaze Lake, a massive battle is taking place between Phoenix and the Starfleet Army. This area may be the site of a terrifying Black Night Eerie Entity emergence. Survivors are advised to avoid the area!" "A SUPER GIANT appeared in the blizzard! It¡¯s firing laser cannons! We don¡¯t know if it¡¯s an Eerie Entity or a man-made weapon. Everyone, RUN!!!" "......" Ding Junyi switched off the radio and turned to the group. "These messages are from earlier today and last night. Some are from this morning. I recorded and played them all at once," she explained. "I filtered out useless information, but from what we can tell, Dark Energy has been definitively detected. The key now is analyzing the commonalities among Dark Matter, Eerie Entities, and natural disasters. Once that puzzle is solved, humanity will finally uncover the secrets of the Abyss." Danger in the Snowfields "My god," Shasha muttered. "It sounds like the grasslands near Xilan have already turned into a snowfield¡ªand it¡¯s terrifying." "It seems you were right," Chen Sixuan said to Lin Xian. "Some people say running is pointless, but most are choosing to flee. However, escaping with a tracking mark only makes things more complicated." Shu Qin frowned. "Lin, these Snow Wraiths sound like a swarming species, and they can operate in daylight. It looks like they might trigger Dark Marks, which is a serious problem." Lin Xian nodded. "But there¡¯s also good news." Ding Junyi''s tone turned excited as she spoke. "Yes! Phoenix seems to be developing separation devices that can formally harness Eerie Blood Crystals for ability enhancement and gene evolution. If that¡¯s true, the Angel Project¡¯s ability system framework will soon be public knowledge. If possible, I¡¯d like to obtain one of these separation devices from Phoenix. Even better, I¡¯d love a research paper on the Cold Dark Fundamental Particle." Lin Xian nodded. "Finally, some real progress. If we can extract this energy, humanity might be able to harness the power of the Blood Crystals and the Black Night." "Whoa, that means Blood Crystals are going to skyrocket in value!" Shasha gasped. "Exactly." KIKI nodded. "But I¡¯m more curious about how these separation devices are built. They must be extremely sophisticated, even if they¡¯re portable." "Phoenix is working with Xinghua Heavy Industries, so that shouldn¡¯t be a problem," Shu Qin said. "But I¡¯ve never heard of Silent Industrial City before." "You don¡¯t know?" KIKI smirked. "It¡¯s Silent City! The offshore mobile city built by the world¡¯s top corporation, the Moonlight Consortium. That place has a fully integrated industrial system and can move onto land. I always wanted to visit, but never got the chance. Looks like it¡¯s now a major survivor hub and is working with Phoenix." Lin Xian frowned slightly. "Are you saying it¡¯s a mechanical city?" "It is!" KIKI said earnestly. "There were blueprints online before the world fell. Some were fake, but some were real. It¡¯s basically a massive floating fortress. Without industrial capacity, why else would Phoenix choose to work with it?" Lin Xian glanced at Chen Sixuan and noticed her serious expression. "Chen, what¡¯s wrong?" Chen Sixuan snapped out of her thoughts and responded, "I¡¯m more concerned about the blizzard warnings¡ªtoxic snow, Snow Wraiths, major battles, Black Night Eerie Zones... These are all problems we¡¯ll have to face soon." Lin Xian nodded. "Yeah. Today¡¯s intel is overwhelming¡ªsome good, some bad. Right now, we must reach Xilan. Once we meet Phoenix, we¡¯ll get answers about abilities and Dark Energy. As for the dangers ahead... we only have one track forward. The alternative would be retreating toward Abyss Zone No. 3, which is not an option." "Doesn¡¯t matter," Lu Xingchen grinned. "Those monsters hide under the snow? My specialty is clearing snow¡ªthey won¡¯t have anywhere to hide!" KIKI laughed. "Perfect! We¡¯ll strap you to the train¡¯s front as a snowplow!" "Wait, no¡ª" The storm raged on. And the night grew darker. The Night¡¯s Preparation and the Blood Crystal Hunt The discovery of the Cold Dark Fundamental Particle and the separation device stirred countless thoughts in Lin Xian''s mind. Dark Marks, Eerie Contamination, Ability Evolution, Blood Crystals, and Blood Scourge Flora... Everything seemed to be coming together, as if the veil over the Abyss was finally being lifted. And yet, none of it mattered if they didn¡¯t survive the night. With the Level 3 Dark Marks on their bodies finally removed, the Infinite Train¡¯s entire crew let out a collective sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan and Miao Lu distributed food among the convoy members, ensuring everyone was fed and energized. At the same time, Lin Xian wasted no time manufacturing a new batch of Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Guns and heavy firepower weaponry, reinforcing their defensive strength. For the first time in days, the train and convoy camp were at peace. But in the darkness beyond their safety zone, a field of grotesque insect corpses lay scattered¡ªremnants of the monstrous creatures they had slain earlier. Shasha and Luo Ye, along with a few Infinite Train members, donned gas masks as they sifted through the battlefield, searching for Blood Crystals among the rotting insect corpses. ¡°Ugh, this stinks to high heaven.¡± Shasha grumbled, holding her rifle. Even through the gas mask, she could still smell the overwhelming stench of decay. SCHLICK! Luo Ye sliced open the head of a large black-armored insect with a single blade strike. A dense cloud of black mist rose from the wound. As the foul vapors dispersed, a blood-red crystal dropped onto the icy ground. "Ah-ha! Found one!" Shasha exclaimed. She nimbly jumped over, picked up the crystal with gloved hands, wiped it clean, and carefully stored it in a small pouch on her belt. "Let¡¯s move to that side," she said excitedly. "I remember Fire Bro burned a big red bug over there. That one¡¯s gotta have a Blood Crystal!" Their search wasn¡¯t the only one. Other convoys, having learned the true value of Blood Crystals after Phoenix''s recent announcement, were also scavenging their surroundings for any remaining loot. Some were checking for survivors among the corpses.Most were digging through the insect carcasses, hoping to find a valuable Blood Crystal.For survivors, Blood Crystals were now currency¡ªa highly valuable trade commodity. Resource Trade and Emergency Medical Aid While some gathered Blood Crystals, others worked on securing supplies. Chen Sixuan, Miao Lu, and Xiao Yuan sat around a makeshift campfire with several convoy members from other groups, exchanging resources and survival knowledge. ???? Medical supplies were traded for rations. ???? Ammunition was exchanged for fuel. ???? Survival tactics and information were shared. As the night deepened, a startling piece of news spread through the camp¡ª ???? Both the Big Eagle Convoy and Running Far Convoy had several critically injured members! ???? Hearing this, Lin Xian immediately ordered Chen Sixuan to bring the wounded aboard the Infinite Train and use their onboard Full-Spectrum Life Support Medical Pods to treat them. The moment the first injured person stepped into the pod, the entire convoy erupted into chaos. People stared in shock and disbelief¡ª High-grade medical pods? On a train?! For most survivors, such advanced medical technology was a distant dream. Yet now, wounded men, sickly women, and even malnourished children were receiving treatment right before their eyes. In just a short time, several critically injured survivors showed rapid improvement. It was nothing short of a miracle. Among the wounded, a little girl with a high fever suddenly opened her eyes and smiled, whispering, "Mommy... I feel warm now..." The crowd fell silent. And then¡ª Someone broke down in tears. "Thank you... Thank you so much..." A mother clutched her child, weeping uncontrollably. Many other survivors felt a spark of hope ignite¡ªhope they had not dared to hold onto in years. A Night of Reinforcement and Preparation While the medical pods worked their miracles, the camp remained bustling with activity. ???? Technicians repaired armored vehicles and reinforced convoy defenses. ???? Mechanics fine-tuned the train¡¯s systems. ????? Security personnel trained new recruits in firearm handling. ???????? Even young teens contributed¡ªcleaning vehicles, organizing supplies, and learning survival skills. ???????????????????? Meanwhile, inside Infinite Train Car No. 12, Lin Xian studied the Research Center¡¯s interface, monitoring the development of his latest upgrades. ???? [Wind Cannon - Mechanical Augmentation] ? Enhancement in Progress: 6 hours, 14 minutes remaining. ???? [TRP Gen-4 Special Industrial Active Exoskeleton (Blueprint)] ? Estimated Completion: 3 days, 10 hours. Lin Xian took a deep breath. Before dawn, his Wind Cannon would be fully upgraded. His combat capabilities were about to take a massive leap forward. More importantly, his recent battle with the Red Lantern Head Monster had changed his understanding of Gravity Lens Manipulation. Previously, he had assumed the skill could only distort light and act as a control ability. But in the heat of battle, it had warped space itself, dealing massive damage. If properly developed, could it be turned into a true offensive ability? His thoughts ran wild with possibilities. For now, though, there was only one priority¡ª Surviving the night. Chapter 245: Upgrading the Mechanical Energy Cannon! Hiss¡ª Lin Xian was continuously manufacturing ammunition, replenishing the convoy¡¯s firepower and supplies. "This time, Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum must have absorbed a significant amount of black smoke. That should result in a considerable increase in Mechanical Source Points, and the rest of the team will also benefit in unseen ways." Lin Xian had never mentioned to the team how Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum enhanced evolution, but everyone had been silently changing. The most noticeable effect was on their overall stamina. After every battle and rest period, the members of the Infinite Train Convoy felt significantly better. According to the Convoy Member Observation Records compiled by Ding Junyi, core members like Shu Qin, Chen Sixuan, Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, and Shasha had all experienced noticeable increases in their fundamental strength. Meanwhile, ability users like KIKI, Lu Xingchen, and Luo Ye lacked direct physiological changes to observe, but the recent battle had proven that their ability control and burst strength were steadily improving. Snow water is toxic... As Lin Xian was crafting bullets, this issue suddenly came to mind, and his face darkened. He looked up at the roof of the train. Though he had reinforced it in multiple ways, he hadn¡¯t accounted for water seepage and airtight sealing. Back when he was planning the train, he had considered threats like toxic gas and oxygen depletion. His solution was to rely on the train¡¯s Water-Oxygen Circulation System to support the air supply throughout the train. But along the way, his focus had been entirely on upgrading weapons and armor, pushing this issue indefinitely down the priority list. Now, with the Toxic Snow looming, he had no choice but to take it seriously. As he worked and thought, he didn¡¯t notice someone quietly entering the carriage. "Captain Lin?" A soft, slightly hesitant female voice broke the silence. Lin Xian looked up to see Xiao Yuan, who lived in the Living Carriage. She had just taken a shower. Droplets of water still clung to her damp hair, and she was wrapped in a large bath towel, wearing only a thin set of clothes underneath¡ªclearly sleepwear, though not quite pajamas. Lin Xian noticed her nervous expression and asked, "You need something?" "Oh... no, um... yes." Xiao Yuan looked flustered under Lin Xian¡¯s gaze, her eyes darting nervously. "I just saw you... still busy so late, so I wanted to ask if... you¡¯d like some hot soup?" "Hot soup?" Lin Xian frowned slightly. "No, no! That¡¯s not what I meant!" Xiao Yuan panicked as soon as he asked, waving her hands in a rush to explain. "It¡¯s from my personal supply of canned fruit¡ªI didn¡¯t take extra from the convoy¡¯s resources... If you want, I can make some for you." Under the glow of the light, her flushed face looked uneasy. She lowered her head and murmured, "I make a pretty good pear soup... It warms the stomach..." Xiao Yuan had a soft, curvy figure and a quiet demeanor¡ªthe kind of girl who, when she smiled, felt especially warm and likable. She got along well with everyone in the convoy. Though she didn¡¯t contribute much in battle, she was young, intelligent, well-educated, and a great cook. Alongside Miao Lu and Chen Sixuan, she often helped manage the convoy¡¯s daily affairs and was already becoming an integral part of the team. "Sure," Lin Xian said. He noticed her flushed cheeks and slightly unnatural posture. He had vaguely sensed her sneaking glances at him for a while now, but he neither acknowledged nor rejected it. Instead, he simply returned to crafting bullets. Hearing his agreement, Xiao Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly nodded, her words stumbling over each other. "Alright... okay! Captain Lin, you¡ªyou wait here!" Then, she quickly turned and ran off toward the Dining Car, her steps light and hurried. A short while later, she returned, carefully carrying a bowl of sweet canned pear soup in a meal box. Lin Xian took it, drank a mouthful, and couldn¡¯t help but praise, "This is really good. Did you add something extra?" Hearing his compliment, Xiao Yuan was thrilled. She moved a step closer and pointed at a few floating stems in the soup. "It¡¯s dried vanilla seeds and dried lemon verbena..." She bent forward slightly, her ample chest swaying slightly in front of Lin Xian¡¯s eyes. Realizing she was too close, she quickly stepped back. "I found them while gathering supplies and brought them onto the train." "Oh~ nice find." Lin Xian sighed. He knew everyone in the Living Carriage had their own personal habits. Besides the primary resources, each person¡¯s Safe Cabin held various personal items. Even in the apocalypse, people clung to the remnants of a normal life. Even in a world on the brink, people still yearned for warmth. He drank half the soup in big gulps, then looked up and saw Xiao Yuan still standing there. "It¡¯s getting cold. You should go to bed. I¡¯ll take this to the Dining Car when I¡¯m done." Xiao Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, but she nodded. "Alright... then, Captain Lin, rest well too." 3:00 AM. The snowstorm howled outside. A thin layer of snow had already covered the convoy¡¯s campground. The Infinite Train and other convoy vehicles still had lights on¡ªnight watch guards maintaining vigilance. Ever since the world fell, survivor convoys had adopted a habit of taking night shifts. In the darkness, no one could afford to sleep too soundly. Over time, people had simply adapted to this upside-down rhythm of life. In Car 12, Lin Xian finished crafting a good amount of ammunition. He checked the time, planning to rest for a bit. Just then, the Mechanical Heart¡¯s holographic interface suddenly lit up. [Non-mechanical energy converted: +1000 Mechanical Source Points] Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sharpened¡ªthe Eerie Cube must have fully converted Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum¡¯s energy! He stepped into the corridor, watching the faint glimmers of fluorescent energy float through the air. He felt his stamina and focus rapidly recovering. Strangely, despite having spent hours crafting bullets, he felt more energized than before. As he walked toward the Living Carriage, he passed through the sleeping quarters. Most members were resting soundly. Shu Qin sat on a corridor bench, rifle in hand, watching the dark landscape outside. She immediately stood up when she saw him. "Captain Lin." "You should rest, too." Lin Xian often saw her taking night shifts, so he couldn¡¯t help but say, "We have enough people now. You should conserve your energy." Shu Qin shook her head. "I¡¯m used to it. It¡¯s actually dangerous that everyone on the Infinite Train feels so safe. That¡¯s why I stay up at night¡ªI feel better keeping watch." Lin Xian nodded. She had a point. It was necessary to have officers on duty at night to handle emergencies. "Alright, just make sure to rotate shifts. We¡¯ll be entering blizzard zones soon. The threats during the day won¡¯t be any less than those at night." "Got it." Shu Qin gave him a confident smile. Car 5. At night, Luo Ye was on watch duty, while Lu Xingchen was already snoring in his sleep. Luo Ye was sitting on a bench, steadily sharpening his Steel-Slaying Greatsword. "Luo Ye, ever since your ability evolved into Blood Qi, your stamina has skyrocketed," Lin Xian remarked. Luo Ye grinned. "Yeah, feels like I don¡¯t even need sleep anymore." "You still need sleep." Lin Xian looked at the massive sword and sighed. Originally, he had positioned Luo Ye as a heavy firepower soldier, but after his Blood Qi Ability awakened, he seemed far better suited for close-quarters combat. That meant armorized weaponry was no longer ideal for him. "Looks like I¡¯ll have to focus on enhancing your weapons and mobility instead..." People¡¯s understanding and planning for the apocalypse and survival come with both advantages and disadvantages. The good part is that rational judgment helps reduce casualties. The downside, however, is that the pressure on all survivors increases significantly... "Yes, this is a groundbreaking discovery for humanity," Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses. "It¡¯s similar to virology¡ªwhen we successfully isolate a virus strain, at the very least, we understand its true nature. This energy, which can alter consciousness and physical form, is no longer just some supernatural mystery." "You seem to be in a good mood?" Lin Xian asked. "For science, yes." Ding Junyi replied seriously. "Idealism and theistic theories undermine scientific progress. That¡¯s why I¡¯m relieved to find a tangible scientific explanation for what people call ¡®miraculous evolution¡¯¡ªeven if it is quite extraordinary." Lin Xian walked over to the Silver Dragon Ten-Thousand Mist, noticing that it was still in an early growth stage. It was stored in a soil-free containment unit, and upon closer inspection, delicate purple streaks within its roots and stem looked like intricate pathways in a microscopic world¡ªmesmerizing in their own way. Ding Junyi stepped closer and remarked, "The properties of the Blood Scourge Flora far exceed our previous understanding. From what we¡¯ve seen so far, these unique plants are extremely rare. The Phoenix Organization and other research groups are actively seeking them out. We¡¯re fortunate to have obtained two of them." Lin Xian nodded. "Let¡¯s hope they bring us some surprises." Just as he finished speaking, he realized that Ding Junyi had vanished from his line of sight. Looking down, he was caught off guard¡ªshe had crouched down, reaching for his belt. "Wait... what are you doing?" Lin Xian asked in shock. Ding Junyi¡¯s face was slightly flushed, her movements deliberate yet gentle. She calmly replied, "Right now, Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum is releasing and transforming energy. Under its influence, everyone on this train is undergoing some form of evolution or change. That¡¯s why I want to conduct an experiment." She slowly lifted her gaze, her expression filled with curiosity and intensity. "The question is¡ªdoes this evolution intensify when a person is in an excited state?" Lin Xian was stunned. Wait... Are you really doing this for science? Ding Junyi¡¯s hand firmly gripped his waistband, her gaze filled with deep contemplation. Lowering her voice slightly, she said, "If we¡¯re being precise, I want you to experiment on me." ¡ª The lights in Car 3 dimmed, and in the quiet shadows, Ding Junyi felt her body heat up. That battle against the swarming hordes had ignited something deep within her. As someone who had always been dedicated to rigorous scientific pursuits, she had long dismissed certain human instincts as trivial distractions. She had buried herself in research, rejecting any frivolous indulgences. But this was the end of the world. The rules that governed society had collapsed overnight. Ever since the destruction of Underground City No. 9, it felt as though Ding Junyi, the scientist, no longer existed. There were no more structured research projects, no more sterile labs, no more suffocatingly rigid routines. There was only him¡ªthe man who had saved her at the last moment, pulling her from the brink of death when the world crumbled around her. So... fine. She had made her decision. For the first time, she would abandon cold rationality. She would shed the self-imposed restraints from her youth, the academic grind, the long, lonely nights in research facilities where even the slightest joke was inappropriate. Perhaps... there was another way to live. Beyond the satisfaction of scientific achievement, perhaps this once-dismissed, "trivial" aspect of existence held its own kind of fulfillment. ¡ª Inside the converted sterilization chamber, Ding Junyi felt a rush of emotion she had never experienced before. A newfound sense of freedom, intensity, and exhilaration overtook her. She had always been thorough in her research, and she intended to see this experiment through to its full results. "Mm¡ª!" She let out a quiet exhale, suppressing the overwhelming surge of emotions. From a biological perspective, every sensory receptor in her body was firing signals, creating an undeniable reaction. A sudden wave of energy rippled through her¡ªalmost like an electric current. Lin Xian, caught between control and surrender, was momentarily stunned. "Hold on..." Ding Junyi silenced him immediately, pushing forward instead of stopping. She moved closer, her breath warm against his skin as she whispered, "This is all part of the experiment... I need you to follow standard procedures... and help me gather the most accurate data." "Wait, what¡ª?" Lin Xian was utterly speechless. Had he just encountered... a scientific masochist? The overwhelming surge of energy was still lingering¡ª The first snowfall had arrived. Beneath the blackened sky, the convoy pressed on. The vitality of the world, the fierce struggle for survival, and the relentless cycle of life and death¡ªit all remained vivid in Lin Xian¡¯s mind. When he woke up, it was to the sight of a holographic notification flashing from the Mechanical Heart: [Congratulations! Mechanical Augmentation Successful¡ªWind Cannon Upgraded to Mech-Energy Cannon!] [Mech-Energy Cannon: Fires a focused energy beam from your fingertips, possessing significant destructive power.] It worked?! Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, and he instinctively tried to sit up¡ªonly to realize that a warm figure was still resting on him. Ding Junyi had seemingly exhausted herself and was sleeping soundly. As Lin Xian glanced down, he noticed a tiny green sprout atop her head, now in full bloom with a delicate pink flower, exuding a faint, pleasant fragrance. "...Alright then." Lin Xian lay back down for a moment, but he didn¡¯t waste time. Without hesitation, he initiated another Mechanical Augmentation¡ªthis time, on Ice Wall. [Mechanical Augmentation in Progress: Ice Wall¡ªTime Remaining: 1 Day, 19:59:59] "Hmm... but isn¡¯t Ice Wall the same level as Wind Cannon? Why does its augmentation take nearly twice as long?" Lin Xian frowned slightly. After several hours of energy recovery, he felt that his stamina had mostly returned. He gently lifted Ding Junyi, placing her to the side, then got up, preparing to test the Mech-Energy Cannon and check how many Mechanical Source Points had been converted by the Eerie Cube. Exiting Car 3, Lin Xian headed straight for Car 1 and activated the Eerie Cube. [Non-Mechanical Energy Converted¡ª+550 Mechanical Source Points] [Alert! Conducting Reflexive Scan Using Non-Mechanical Energy...] [Scan Complete. No Fear-Based Threats Detected Within the Train. Dark Energy Intrusion Successfully Blocked.] "550 points?" Lin Xian was taken aback. The Mechanical Source Points gained from this battle were even greater than what he had harvested from the Giant Parasite before. It seemed that those insect creatures had contributed quite a lot. [Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.4 (1690/7000)] Without realizing it, he had gained nearly 20% progress in just a single day¡ªthe biggest jump in a long while. Of course, the cost was equally immense. The Infinite Train had nearly depleted its entire ammunition stock, and three other powerful convoys had also burned through their supplies, with personnel losses to account for as well. Lin Xian lifted a blackout panel and gazed outside at the sleeping convoy. "Hope they all get stronger, too." The morning was silent. The snowstorm continued, and under the glow of headlights, the ground outside had been covered in a blanket of pure white. It was now 6 AM. Most of the other three convoys had settled down to rest, except for the night shift sentries. Their joint battle against the insect horde had given everyone a rare, peaceful night. "Captain Lin!" As Lin Xian stepped down from the train, he turned to see Lu? Chang and two teammates on the train roof, wrapped in thick cold-resistant coats, waving at him. Lin Xian nodded in acknowledgment. These young men were dedicated sentries, and their vigilance brought the entire train a sense of security. Wearing his Exosuit, Lin Xian walked past the mountains of insect corpses, heading into the darkness. The convoys were still on high alert. Even the slightest disturbance could trigger a chain reaction of panic. To avoid unnecessary tension, Lin Xian moved far enough away. The cold wind howled. The Exosuit¡¯s HUD displayed his body temperature and the external environment temperature. His flashlight beam illuminated several boulders ahead. Lin Xian glanced back at the distant convoy, mentally calculating the distance. This should be far enough. He raised his hand, aiming at one of the boulders¡ªready to test the Mech-Energy Cannon. A faint mechanical hum resonated. Lin Xian could feel metallic components assembling around his fingertip, forming some kind of energy conduit. As the charging sequence intensified, the hum turned into a high-pitched whine¡ª And then¡ª ZING! A piercing blue energy beam blasted from his fingertip, cutting through the air with a sharp, electric hiss¡ª SPLAT! The Mech-Energy Cannon punched straight through the boulder ahead. Not even an echo. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. He quickly moved forward, scanning the impact site with his flashlight. At the center of the boulder, he found a narrow, blackened hole, barely wider than a finger. He reached out to touch it¡ª "Tch¡ª!" His hand jerked back immediately¡ªthe hole was scorching hot! Under the beam of his flashlight, wisps of white smoke were still curling from the entry point. "That strong?!" Shocked, Lin Xian rushed behind the boulder¡ªand sure enough¡ª The energy beam had punched straight through. A perfectly clean exit hole was left behind. He furrowed his brows and quickly measured the boulder¡¯s thickness¡ª At least 80 centimeters. And it had been blasted through in an instant. The destructive power was far beyond what his old Wind Cannon could ever achieve. "Holy sh*t..." Lin Xian stared at his hand, where a semi-transparent holographic projection of a mechanical finger flickered briefly¡ªbefore disappearing the moment he tried to touch it. "Mech-Energy Cannon... now that¡¯s something." A glint of intrigue flashed in his eyes. Now that he had calmed down, he began analyzing its pros and cons: Pros:Power had drastically increased.Penetration was absurdly high.Cons:Firing speed had slowed down.It was no longer rapid-fire like the Wind Cannon. Essentially¡ª His "machine gun" had been upgraded into an "artillery cannon." Against ordinary zombies, this would actually be less efficient. But that was irrelevant. After all¡ªordinary zombies were no longer a threat to him or the Infinite Train. Satisfied with his testing, Lin Xian turned back toward the train. Before heading back inside, he scooped up a handful of snow, letting it rest in his palm. His expression darkened slightly. The rumors of toxic snow... He had no idea how severe the contamination really was. But one thing was certain¡ª He needed to reinforce the train¡¯s seals. There was no way he would allow toxic snowmelt to seep into the train¡¯s interior. Not on his watch. Chapter 246: Rushing into the Snowstorm Lin Xian''s plan was simple: after completing the train''s maintenance and repairs, if there was still time, he wanted to build himself a TRP Gen-4 Special Industrial Active Exoskeleton Power Suit. His first thought was to make it for Shu Qin or Chen Sixuan¡ªboth of them were genetic evolution-type ability users who needed better mobility, and equipping them with the suit would greatly enhance their combat effectiveness. At first, Lin Xian had considered scanning the military power armor used by Amin and Lolo from the Chasing Sun Convoy, but after comparing the specs, he realized that their armor mainly excelled in weapon expansion and application systems. In contrast, the industrial version he was developing offered superior strength and protection. Since he could install weapon expansions himself, he ultimately decided to abandon that idea. Besides, his R&D Center was already working on an upgrade for this exoskeleton. Given how the R&D Center operated, he had no doubt that the results wouldn¡¯t disappoint him. Just as Lin Xian was about to return to camp, he suddenly felt something¡ªan eerie sensation, as if something in the darkness was watching him. His instinct for caution kicked in immediately. He spun around, his flashlight beam slicing through the darkness. But there was nothing. ¡°Activate collision volume detection system! Turn on radar scanning!¡± Without hesitation, Lin Xian enabled his power suit¡¯s early warning system, and the system immediately began scanning the area, rapidly sweeping through the darkness. But after several rounds of scanning¡ªnothing. Lin Xian held his breath, his body tense. He took a few steps forward, but the unsettling feeling of being watched remained. He turned around once more¡ªstill nothing. Just as his expression darkened in suspicion, his gaze caught something. Slowly, he tilted his head upward. The sky was pitch black, with only a few scattered stars dimly flickering, as if the night itself was shrouded in an even deeper layer of darkness. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze locked onto the black canopy above. His mind pieced together an image, constructing it in ever clearer detail. The starless night and faint lights in the sky... It looked like... A colossal eye. Lin Xian''s brows furrowed deeply. He shook his head, dismissing the thought as hallucination. Looking again, he saw that in the sky above, an Extreme Cold Vortex was approaching, likely triggering an ¡°Aurora Phantom¡±¡ªan optical atmospheric phenomenon caused by charged ice particles. The swirling light formations in the sky had taken on a massive, circular nebula-like shape, giving him the illusion of being watched. ¡°Yeah... I really need to stop pulling all-nighters.¡± He exhaled sharply, shaking off the eerie feeling, and made his way back to the Infinite Train, stepping through the putrid remains of insect corpses along the way. The Extreme Cold Vortex was getting closer, and the temperature was plummeting fast. Stepping from the howling blizzard outside into the warmth of the train¡¯s carriages, Lin Xian felt an immediate contrast¡ªit was like stepping into a whole different world. Safety. Comfort. These sensations were rare luxuries in the apocalypse. In the other convoys, the living vehicles were also equipped with heating systems. By now, the logistics teams were already awake, beginning their morning routine¡ªpreparing food, checking security conditions, and conducting health assessments for their crew. Inside the large trucks, buses, and RVs, the survivors had transformed the limited space into compact but cozy shelters¡ªfunctional small homes, complete with beds, storage cabinets, and bathrooms. Iron mesh and steel plating covered the windows, reinforced tires had collision-resistant frames, and vehicle power systems had been upgraded for protection. Every modification reflected the brutal struggle for survival in the wasteland. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes were drawn to the Eagle Convoy''s all-terrain polar vehicle, a tracked machine built for extreme conditions. Clearly, it was a high-value asset. ¡°No idea where Uncle Wu got his hands on that...¡± He eyed the tracks on the vehicle, deep in thought. If he wanted to install something similar on the Infinite Train, it would practically mean rebuilding it from scratch. The train¡¯s chassis, axles, and framework were fundamentally different from those of cars, making such a modification an immense challenge. In any convoy, mechanics and engineers were priceless assets. It was their expertise in vehicle modifications, material upgrades, and mechanical repairs that kept the convoy moving and protected. Lin Xian enjoyed crafting a safe and livable space inside the train. Looking at the warm, golden light inside the Infinite Train, contrasting against the dark, terrifying wasteland outside, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of fulfillment. Since the dawn of humanity, people had instinctively sought shelter¡ªa place to escape the elements and survive the night. Now, instead of caves, their sanctuary had become a fortified steel train. Lin Xian liked to visit the living carriages, watching how the crew transformed them into warm and lively spaces. It gave meaning to the cold steel armor that protected them from the horrors outside. HUMMMM¡ª Settling into Car No. 1, Lin Xian activated Mechanical Heart, scanning the nearby train carriages for damage and malfunctions. Using resources from the Disassembly Center, he immediately began repairs. ¡°Damn, this much damage...?¡± His frown deepened. Mechanical Heart¡¯s scan revealed significant damage¡ªmuch worse than he had expected. The last full maintenance check had been after the Jiazhou City upgrade, but since then, the train had survived multiple brutal battles. Most of the work had focused on installing defensive weapons like the 1130 CIWS and electromagnetic railguns, but he hadn¡¯t accounted for how much structural damage the train had sustained. Some sections of armor plating were heavily damaged¡ªin some spots, monster claws had even pierced through the train¡¯s rooftop air-conditioning units. ¡°Good thing I checked in time.¡± Realizing the potential danger, Lin Xian immediately initiated full-scale repairs. The approaching blizzard would only make things worse, and he couldn¡¯t afford to leave vulnerabilities unchecked. CLANK. CLANK. CLANK. In the silent darkness, the Infinite Train quietly self-repaired, as if it were a living organism regenerating. If the other convoys ever saw how Lin Xian¡¯s ability allowed his machines to repair themselves, they would probably start questioning reality. DAWN APPROACHES As time passed, more people from the three convoys awoke, preparing for the journey ahead. On the Infinite Train, Chen Sixuan was already up, organizing the internal affairs of the train. KRRRRK¡ª By 9 AM, the sky remained pitch-black. Engines from the convoys roared to life, and voices crackled over the walkie-talkies. "Brother Lin, it''s time. We''re heading out." ¡ªWu Zhenhai. "Lin, thanks for everything." ¡ªLiao Ming. "Lin bro, we''re rolling out first. Good luck out there!" ¡ªLuo Yang. "Lin, safe travels!" ¡ªLi Yi. Lin Xian picked up the walkie-talkie. ¡°Stay sharp. I meant it when I told you to mark your routes¡ªthe bigger the snowball, the harder it is to stop. You guys are strong enough to make it to Xilan, no doubt. See you at Dawn.¡± "Roger that. See you at Dawn!" As the steel convoys roared to life, hundreds of headlights cut through the darkness. The all-terrain polar vehicle led the charge, and soon, the thundering caravan disappeared into the night, heading northward. "Our turn." Lin Xian stepped into the cockpit. Chen Sixuan and KIKI were already analyzing the route ahead. VROOOOM¡ª The twin engines of the Gemini 11R and Whale 03E thundered to life, shaking off the snow. The Infinite Train charged into the storm. That bone-chilling feeling of being watched never faded. Lin Xian couldn''t sleep soundly at all¡ªhis mind was bombarded with strange, unsettling emotions, as if something creepy and unshakable was lurking in his subconscious. "Tsk." Sitting up in bed, Lin Xian exhaled deeply and pulled back the blackout blinds. The world outside was already bathed in daylight. The vast snowfield shimmered with an almost blinding radiance, as the sunlight reflected off the pure white expanse. The Infinite Train was smoothly racing ahead, its Icebreaker Shield slicing through the thick snow like a hot knife through butter. Looking into the distance, the mountains lay far along the horizon, while the snow-laden trees nearby were growing sparser and more desolate. The vast Palma Grasslands stretched out ahead¡ªbut gone were the lush green meadows of the past. Now, all that remained was an endless world of white. "You''re awake?" From the cockpit, Chen Sixuan kept her eyes locked on the navigation radar, her expression tense and focused. "The tracks are no longer visible. The radar isn''t detecting much either. I''ve slowed down a little..." Though she tried to sound composed, there was an unmistakable edge of nervousness in her voice. Through the train''s windshield, the only way to vaguely make out the railway path was by spotting the occasional utility poles and fence walls on either side. But as the tracks led deeper into the snowfield, the surroundings became wide open¡ªso much so that it felt as if the Infinite Train was sailing through an endless white ocean. The view was breathtakingly beautiful, yet for a train operator, it was utterly terrifying. WHOOSH!! The Icebreaker Shield, crafted from forged inner armor steel and tungsten-titanium alloy, plowed through the snow, clearing a path as the thousand-ton steel colossus charged forward. Lin Xian glanced at the temperature gauge¡ªoutside, it had already dropped to -12¡ãC, and it was still falling rapidly. Inside the train, however, the temperature was a comfortable 26¡ãC, and everyone was still dressed in casual wear. CRACK... CRACK... The howling wind outside caused the frozen armor plates to let out a faint creaking sound, making Lin Xian frown slightly. He and Chen Sixuan both knew what the real problem was, but there was no better solution. They had no choice but to push forward. The current snowfall wasn¡¯t overwhelming yet, but if it piled up to two meters or worse, combined with a Category 12 blizzard, then it would truly be a nightmare. "Keep going. Be bold. Even if we derail, we can handle it." Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flashed with determination as he reassured Chen Sixuan. Fortunately, this was a grassland¡ªthey could visibly track the terrain changes. If damaged tracks or obstacles appeared, they could either ram through them or derail briefly. As long as there were no cliffs or tunnels, the risk was manageable. By now, the snow had piled up to around 30 centimeters, and the railway looked like a barely visible ridge rising above the snowy ground. Inside the living carriages, crew members had opened their blackout blinds, gazing in awe at the snow-covered world outside. Above them, the sunlight was gradually being swallowed by the ominous storm clouds swirling in the Extreme Cold Vortex. The sky grew dim and foreboding. !! ALERT: DARK FEAR ENERGY DETECTED IN THE TRAIN!! !! ALERT: DARK FEAR ENERGY DETECTED IN THE TRAIN!! The Eerie Cube suddenly blared an emergency warning, making Lin Xian¡¯s expression harden instantly. Grabbing his communicator, he barked out orders: "Check all carriages for abnormalities!" BANG! BANG! BANG! At his command, the entire crew sprang into action. "Cars 2, 3, and 4 are clear!" ¡ªShasha reported. "Cars 5, 6, and 7¡ªno issues!" ¡ªLuo Ye confirmed. "Cars 8 through 12 checked¡ªnothing unusual, but..." "We found water leakage at Car 11''s junction!" ¡ªShu Qin added. "Damn, same here! There''s leakage between Cars 2 and 3!" ¡ªShasha quickly followed up. "Car 5 and Car 4 are leaking too!" ¡ªLuo Ye called out. Lin Xian¡¯s brows knitted together as he rushed toward Car 2. Sure enough, at the carriage junctions, he saw melted snow seeping inside the train, dripping down continuously. Could this be it...? His heart skipped a beat¡ªwas the melted snow itself carrying the Dark Invasion¡¯s power? That was terrifying! Upon closer inspection, he quickly found the root cause¡ªCars 3 and 4 were originally Kor-3 Biological Research Carriages, with different junction standards compared to the other train cars. Back when he salvaged them from Underground City No. 9, he had only done a basic connection and later sealed them off manually. Even though he had reinforced them just last night, structural differences between train cars turned out to be far greater than he had anticipated. Now, due to the temperature difference between inside and outside, melted snow from the roof had started seeping through gaps, carrying Dark Invasion fear energy into the train¡ªtriggering the Eerie Cube''s warning. "No one touch the melted snow!" Lin Xian called out, stopping Shasha and Luo Ye as they approached. Thinking fast, he turned to KIKI¡ª "Send the PX-05 Robot to clean this up! I''ll seal the gaps on the roof!" "Got it!" KIKI nodded and immediately got to work. WHOOOOSH!! Gearing up in his power armor and cold-weather gear, Lin Xian climbed onto the train''s roof via Car 5¡¯s lift platform. The moment he stepped outside¡ª FWOOOSH!!! A violent gust of icy wind blasted him, carrying a storm of biting snowflakes. The train continued its rapid advance, and Lin Xian rushed to the junctions, quickly fabricating a large cover panel. Since its main purpose was to prevent snow buildup, he used lightweight aluminum alloy, reinforcing it with flexible materials to account for turning stress. One by one, he sealed each leaking junction. Once finished, he moved on to Car 11¡ªan older utility carriage he had salvaged from Jiang City. Its issue stemmed from aging materials and high internal heat, causing significant snowmelt. Using the same method, he patched it up. To be safe, he decided to inspect the nuclear-powered drive car at the end of the train. But just as he reached the final carriage, his eyes caught something disturbing¡ª Beneath the snow on both sides of the tracks, something was moving. Something alive. Lin Xian froze mid-action. Activating his power armor¡¯s combat assist system, he zoomed in for a closer look. The Infinite Train sped along like a lone black ship, sailing across an endless white ocean. But now¡ªbeneath the disturbed snow layers¡ª Shallow, shifting trails were forming, accompanied by a soft, eerie rustling sound. Like something burrowing just beneath the surface. And it was multiplying. Lin Xian crouched low, eyes sharp as he observed the movements behind them. The trails were increasing. His communicator clicked on¡ª "Everyone, stay alert! There''s movement in the snow¡ªit might be the ''Snow Wraiths'' from the survivor reports!" And just like that¡ª The battle for survival had begun. THE SNOW WRAITHS STRIKE The moment Lin Xian issued the warning, he abandoned his repair work and rushed back inside through the Car 11 lift platform. WOOOOOO¡ª The PX-05 Robot swiftly vacuumed the snow off his armor as he landed inside the train. In the corridor, Shu Qin, Lu? Chang, and Miao Lu hurried toward him, guns in hand, their faces filled with urgency. "Lin! Something''s definitely wrong! We''re being stalked!" Shu Qin reported. "Hold the rear carriages!" Lin Xian ordered as he stripped off his cold-weather gear and headed for Car 3. Inside Car 3, Ding Junyi was already monitoring the situation. The eerie Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum¡ªa biological anomaly capable of tracking Dark Energy fluctuations¡ªhad begun to glow with a sinister red light. ¡°It¡¯s evolving...¡± Before Lin Xian could even ask, Ding Junyi responded, her fingers flying across her mobile terminal, documenting the data in real-time. She lifted her hand and pointed at the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, voice grave. "The Dark Mark is spreading. It¡¯s reaching Level 1." Lin Xian''s expression darkened. "Damn it..." It had marked them. This wasn¡¯t just a random ambush¡ªit was a hunting strategy. These creatures were stalking their prey, waiting for nightfall to attack at full force. Lin Xian immediately recalled the radio transmission from a doomed convoy¡ªa group that had tried to flee but was wiped out overnight. This was the same pattern. If they didn¡¯t act now, they¡¯d be dead by sundown. ¡°All units, open fire on the moving entities beneath the snow!¡± ¡°Copy! Engaging!¡± RATATATATAT!! BOOM! BOOM! The Infinite Train roared to life with thunderous gunfire as machine guns, rifles, and auto-turrets opened fire from both sides of the train. The snowy landscape was instantly torn apart, sending plumes of snowdust into the air. Screeeeech!!! Amid the gunfire, high-pitched screeches echoed as bullets ripped into unknown creatures, splattering green blood across the pristine snow. Up on the train¡¯s roof, Lu Xingchen activated his flamethrower, unleashing a sea of fire onto the snowbanks. ¡°COME OUT AND FIGHT, YOU COWARDS!¡± ???????????? "DIVINE: INFERNO WILDFIRE!" ???????????? Two massive fire pillars erupted, incinerating layers of snow and exposing the monstrosities underneath. As the flames raged, the creatures¡ªwhite hyena-like beasts with spiked tails¡ªburst out of the snow, finally revealing themselves. They were Snow Wraiths. THE MONSTERS ATTACK Suddenly, hundreds of the Snow Wraiths began emerging from the snow, their ghoulish white fur blending perfectly with the landscape. They were writhing, struggling, their bodies twitching in pain from the fire and sunlight¡ªas if their true strength had yet to awaken. And yet, despite their suffering¡ª They lunged at the train in a suicidal frenzy. "They¡¯re trying to board!" WHOOSH!! Dozens of Snow Wraiths leaped onto the train, aiming straight for Lu Xingchen. "Come at me, you bastards!" Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes gleamed with madness as he spread his arms wide, conjuring a net of flames that slammed into the creatures mid-air, burning them into smoldering husks before they could reach him. "Damn, these things are persistent!" Below, inside the train, the firing ports continued to rain down bullets and explosives, shredding through wave after wave of Snow Wraiths. Despite their sheer numbers, their movements were too erratic, making them difficult to kill efficiently. "Lin, there''s too many!" From Car 3, Ding Junyi issued a grim warning¡ª "We don¡¯t have enough bullets to kill them all!" Lin Xian clenched his fists. She was right. Even if they kept firing all day, they¡¯d run out of ammunition before they could kill them all. And once night fell, the Snow Wraiths would enter their true hunting form. This wasn¡¯t sustainable. Lin Xian took a deep breath¡ª "Then we stop shooting. We kill them at night." A CHANGE IN STRATEGY Inside Car 3, Lin Xian gathered his core team. "We can¡¯t afford to waste bullets like this. These things are just stalling until sundown." Shu Qin frowned. "Then what¡¯s the plan? We can¡¯t just sit here and do nothing." Lin Xian nodded. "Exactly. We let them mark us." Luo Ye¡¯s eyes narrowed. "You mean... bait them?" "Yes." Lin Xian''s expression was dead serious. He turned to Ding Junyi. "If we let them fully mark us, what happens?" Ding Junyi tapped on her terminal. "Once the Dark Mark reaches Level 3, they will prioritize us as their primary target¡ªmeaning all of them will attack at once." Lin Xian¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. "That¡¯s what we want." Shu Qin¡¯s eyes widened. "Wait... you want them to all attack at the same time?!" Lin Xian nodded. "If we let them hunt us on their own terms, they¡¯ll pick us off one by one. But if we set the terms¡ªif we force them all into one massive attack¡ª" He clenched his fist. "¡ªwe can wipe them out in one go." A silence fell over the group. Then, Luo Ye chuckled. "I see. We don¡¯t run. We don¡¯t hide. We make them come to us." Shu Qin exhaled. "Damn... that¡¯s ballsy." Lin Xian smirked. "That¡¯s how we survive." THE FINAL ORDER Lin Xian turned on his communicator¡ª "All units, cease fire. Let them mark us." A brief pause. Then¡ª "Copy that. Ceasing fire." The gunfire died down. The battlefield fell silent. Outside, the Snow Wraiths slowly retreated into the snow¡ªwaiting. They thought they were hunting prey. They had no idea the prey had set a trap. Nightfall was coming. The real battle was about to begin. The Infinite Train roared forward, cutting through the snowstorm like a black steel beast, its headlights piercing the darkness ahead. But inside the carriages, the atmosphere was dead silent. Everyone was waiting. Waiting for nightfall. Waiting for the real hunt to begin. Chapter 247: Silent Hunting KIKI frowned slightly upon hearing this. ¡°What if we can¡¯t kill them all?¡± ¡°We can only try to weaken the mark as much as possible.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze flickered as he said in a deep voice, ¡°Other survivors must be facing the same problem. They don¡¯t have Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum and can only defend passively. In this situation, the death rate is bound to be high!¡± Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected that the moment they entered the snowfield, they would face an almost unsolvable dilemma. KIKI was right. Even with enough time, there was no way to guarantee they could kill all the pursuing Snow Wraiths. That meant Infinite Train could never completely erase its mark, leaving them exposed in the blizzard at all times. But after thinking it through, there was no better solution. The train couldn¡¯t stop, and they couldn¡¯t kill every monster beneath the snow. The snowfield stretched endlessly like an ocean, and as the snow piled up, there was no telling what other horrors might emerge. ¡°This is the plan!¡± Lin Xian made a swift decision, pressing his earpiece. ¡°Cease fire! Fire Bro, return! Ms. Chen, accelerate!¡± ¡°For now, we hold our ground. If these creatures are just tracking us, they won¡¯t cause immediate harm. Our defenses are strong;they won¡¯t be breached so easily. My idea is to find a less open area before nightfall and do a cleanup operation there. The goal is to reduce our mark level as much as possible before dark.¡± ¡°These things are infuriating! They hide beneath the snow and still manage to mark us...¡± Shasha said angrily. ¡°Hyenas are pack hunters,¡± Ding Junyi explained. ¡°Their attack power and methods might not be as fierce as wolves or tigers, but they encircle their prey in large numbers, wearing them down little by little. Once their target starts bleeding, exhaustion is inevitable, and death is only a matter of time.¡± Hearing this, a heavy sense of crisis weighed down on everyone. The train was surrounded by monsters, yet they were powerless against it. It felt as if they had been marked as prey doomed to die. Once darkness fell, the Snow Wraiths would swarm and devour them completely! Lin Xian raised his voice, rallying the crew. ¡°But what we do know is that these things won¡¯t attack before nightfall, and we can observe our mark levels. This gives us some control¡ªwe can at least decide what level we enter the night with.¡± ¡°I have a suggestion.¡± Ding Junyi glanced at Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum and pointed at it. ¡°Once our mark reaches level 5, we open fire to ¡®relieve pressure.¡¯ A level 5 mark might be beyond our ability to handle, so let¡¯s not take unnecessary risks.¡± Lin Xian watched as the Disaster Flora¡¯s crimson glow shifted and nodded. ¡°I was thinking the same thing.¡± He turned to the team. ¡°That¡¯s the plan. Stay alert. Once we hit level 4, we fire again. I¡¯m worried that as the snow thickens, reducing our mark level will only get harder.¡± The worst-case scenario would be if they couldn¡¯t kill the marked ones fast enough, leading to a level 5 ¡®Dark Hunt¡¯ tonight. If that happened, their only hope was that they wouldn¡¯t encounter something on the scale of an Atmospheric Mica monster in the blizzard. The relentless pursuit of the Snow Wraiths put everyone on Infinite Train on edge. Many wore grim expressions as they watched the snow deepen, the storm intensify, and the shapes moving beneath the ice. Shhhh... More and more Snow Wraiths were gathering! Inside the train, the atmosphere became unbearably heavy. Time ticked away, each second like a countdown to disaster. The entire train felt like a pressure cooker, the tension making it hard to breathe. Lin Xian strode toward Carriage 12. The only thing he could do now was produce as much ammunition as possible¡ªespecially for the Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun, Thunderstorm A1 Grenade Launcher, and the 1130 and T8-Z Vulcan Military Siege Mech, all of which required large-caliber rounds. Against pack-hunting creatures, the best countermeasure was overwhelming firepower. In his Disassembly Space, most materials had already been converted into ammunition components. Under his dual-hand Mechanical Manufacturing ability, bullets poured out rapidly. Meanwhile, the others worked in full swing, hauling crate after crate of ammo from Carriage 12 to supply the firepower points¡ªgrenade launchers, 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds, and 30mm tungsten-core armor-piercing shells. Lin Xian was producing them like a madman. At the same time, he silently prayed that Da Ying and the other three convoys had listened to his warnings about Dark Marks and taken precautions. ¡°They rerouted through Yunzhou Mountain¡¯s western pass. The snowfall shouldn¡¯t be as severe there...¡± Lin Xian thought. Chen Sixuan, who was monitoring road conditions, had also received the latest updates. Her expression was grim as she stared at the ever-deepening snow ahead. Above, the massive storm vortex loomed like a dark maw threatening to consume the world. ¡°Before reaching Dalat Town, we have to pass through Wuliya Satai Mountain. The altitude isn¡¯t high, only a few hundred meters... The terrain here...¡± She reviewed the route records she had prepared earlier. Normally, when facing Eerie Entities at night, the best strategy was to find an open area for maneuverability and retreat options. But under current conditions, it was the opposite¡ªendless snowfields stretched on both sides, hiding an unknown number of Snow Wraiths beneath. If they didn¡¯t find a more enclosed terrain to make a stand, they would just attract more predators until they ran out of ammo. Finding a defensible position before nightfall became Chen Sixuan¡¯s top priority. In Carriage 5, Lu Xingchen cracked his knuckles in frustration, looking at Daluo, who was methodically preparing ammunition. He muttered grimly, ¡°This is like controlling fire¡ªtoo much burns everything, too little leaves a mess behind. These damn monsters are a real headache.¡± ¡°You? Frustrated?¡± Daluo snorted without looking up. ¡°I suggest you finish your tea now. From this moment until nightfall, we cannot relax.¡± ¡°Relax, my friend!¡± Lu Xingchen sat cross-legged on his meditation cushion, closing his eyes like a sage. ¡°I always have plenty of energy. These Snow Wraiths are natural enemies of my Divine Flame! Tonight, just watch me unleash carnage!¡± Whooooosh! Above, the terrifying Extreme Cold Vortex churned ominously. The blizzard howled, whipping cobalt-blue ice crystals through the sky. At its core, a chaotic space distortion flickered violently! Snow roared across the train, visibility dropping as temperature and wind speed plummeted. From running beneath the sunlit snow earlier to now being engulfed in a raging storm, Infinite Train had traveled less than two hours¡ªproof of the Extreme Cold Vortex¡¯s terrifying speed and reach. Crack! Crack! Crack! Frost formed rapidly on the windows, cold seeping into the carriage junctions. Feeling the rapid temperature drop, Lin Xian increased the train¡¯s internal heating. ¡°Lin, we¡¯ve got a problem.¡± In Carriage 10, Shu Qin watched the Snow Wraiths swimming through the ice like a school of fish and reported through the comms, ¡°They¡¯re increasing in numbers. You were right¡ªthe thicker the snow, the more of these things appear.¡± Beside her, Lu? Chang let out a worried sigh. ¡°I just hope nothing bigger shows up...¡± Lin Xian turned to Ding Junyi. ¡°Director Ding?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve reached a level 2 mark. At this rate, we¡¯ll hit level 3 in 30 minutes and level 4 within an hour.¡± Ding Junyi reported calmly. ¡°Understood.¡± Lin Xian closed his eyes for a moment, then said, ¡°In one hour, we start the operation. Shu Qin, track their movement patterns. When we fire, we need precision.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± He checked the time. 16:00. Two and a half hours until nightfall. They would do their first sweep in an hour, then decide when to strike again. His heart tightened¡ªwithout enough firepower and precise judgment, they risked making things worse. Now, all he could hope for was that the upcoming operation would yield results. If not... they would have no choice but to stop and force the marks down, no matter the cost. And in this situation, ammo was everything. Beneath the snow, countless Snow Wraiths swarmed, their movement causing the layers above to ripple. In Carriage 3, Ding Junyi fixated on her mobile terminal, monitoring the spectral changes of Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum while keeping track of the time. Finally, when the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum reached Level 4, she immediately reported through the comms. ¡°Lin Xian, our Dark Mark has exceeded Level 4.¡± ¡°Open fire!¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate. He stopped producing ammunition, stood up, and rushed to Carriage 11, unlocking the automatic explosion-proof door. Ratatatatatata!Boom! Boom! Boom! The crew had been waiting for this command. The moment it came through, gunfire erupted! Five Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Guns and several M556 Light Machine Guns roared to life. At the same time, Daluo and Lu Xingchen in Carriage 5 unleashed their firepower. In an instant, a metal storm poured into the boiling snowfield on both sides of the train. Bullets ripped through the air, explosions burst across the terrain, and Snow Wraiths were blown apart! Above, flames raged, burning the creatures attempting to leap from the snow, their shrieks drowned by the roar of the inferno. One after another, Snow Wraiths lunged from the deep snow, their bodies scorched by sunlight as they shrieked and latched onto the train¡¯s armor. Their long tails whipped forward, their needle-like stingers stabbing with force. Thud! Thud! Thud! A series of heavy impacts rang out. To everyone¡¯s shock, the Snow Wraiths¡¯ tail stingers were powerful enough to dent the thick armor plating. Some of them found gaps in the armored grates, their stingers piercing through the steel shell, embedding several inches deep into the train¡¯s exterior. Bzzz!Bzzz!Bzzz! On the roof, KIKI, dressed in heavy winter gear, soared from the front of the train to the rear, releasing shockwaves from her hands. The force blasted the clinging Snow Wraiths off the train, sending them tumbling into the fire and sunlight, where they were instantly incinerated. Before they died, these creatures behaved like bees on a suicide mission, stinging with everything they had before being engulfed in flames and plummeting into the abyss. Before long, the steel plating of Infinite Train was covered in a dense array of dents from their stingers! Swish! Standing at the doorway of Carriage 11, Lin Xian raised his hand and unleashed a ¡¾Mech Cannon¡¿, blasting apart a massive Snow Wraith that had been lying in wait. The shot pierced through it and struck two more behind it, killing them instantly. Boom! Boom! Grenades detonated in the snow, sending shockwaves rippling through the white expanse. Each explosion revealed the hidden menace below¡ªcountless Snow Wraiths lurking beneath the frozen surface. Lin Xian¡¯s face was grim. Every single explosion exposed more creatures, confirming just how infested the snowfield truly was. ¡°Director Ding!¡± ¡°It¡¯s down to Level 3,¡± Ding Junyi reported. ¡°Increase firepower!¡± Without hesitation, Lin Xian called out, ¡°Shasha, fire the Railgun!¡± The Railgun didn¡¯t require ammunition and was typically reserved for large Eerie Entities, but right now, they couldn¡¯t afford to hold back. ¡°Got it!¡± Shasha immediately activated the G3-Railgun System. Vwoooom! The roof hatch of Carriage 2 slid open, and the G3-Railgun¡¯s main barrel slowly ascended. Below, the Extreme Energy Capacitors charged rapidly. A dazzling blue energy beam began to glow along the rails, and the targeting system locked onto a dense cluster of Snow Wraiths before firing. Vwoom¡ªZzzzt! A deafening ionized shockwave rang out as a brilliant beam of destruction blasted into the snowfield 100 meters ahead. Boom! Snow and ice exploded into the air, the impact sending a hurricane of shockwaves through the blizzard. A massive crater, several meters wide, formed where the blast had struck. More than a dozen Snow Wraiths were instantly vaporized, their bodies reduced to nothing but a spray of green blood. With the addition of heavy artillery, the suppression of the Snow Wraiths became even more overwhelming. ¡°RAAAAH!!¡± In Carriage 5, Daluo stood at the automatic door, gripping a Gatling Gun with a belt of ammunition draped over his shoulders. The rotating barrels glowed red-hot as he let out a battle cry, mowing down the oncoming creatures. On the roof, Lu Xingchen and KIKI unleashed their abilities. Lu Xingchen¡¯s flames scorched the creatures bursting from the snow like locusts, while KIKI used large-scale telekinetic waves to crush those hidden beneath the surface. ¡°Level 2! Three minutes remaining!¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s voice came through the comms. As Infinite Train¡¯s firepower swept across the landscape, the once-pristine snowfield became a hellscape of corpses and green blood. The sheer force of their bombardment nearly drowned out the sound of the storm itself. Ratatatatatata!Boom! Boom! At this point, aside from the 1130 CIWS and the Vulcan Mech, Infinite Train had deployed almost all its firepower. Now, it was up to the Ability Users to play their trump cards. Lin Xian, however, wasn¡¯t willing to use the Eerie Cube just yet. There were unknown giant creatures lurking in Palma Grasslands and Yaze Lake, threats hanging over their heads like a sword. He needed to conserve energy to keep Infinite Train supplied with ammunition. ¡°Level 1! One minute!¡± Finally, under the relentless onslaught, the Dark Mark was pushed below Level 1. Though the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum still glowed faintly red, Lin Xian ordered a ceasefire. He checked the time¡ª17:05. It had taken approximately 12 minutes. After calculating the time left until dark, he turned to Chen Sixuan. ¡°Ms. Chen, nightfall should be at 18:35. Adjust our speed¡ªwe need to enter Wuliya Satai Mountain by 18:00.¡± Based on her earlier calculations for the campsite, they were right on schedule. To ensure accuracy, Lin Xian left extra time to eliminate any remaining marks before nightfall. ¡°Understood!¡± In the cockpit, Chen Sixuan finally felt a slight sense of relief. She pushed Infinite Train to full speed. Whoosh! Whoosh! The thick snow was violently cleared away by the Icebreaker Shield, flinging it off the tracks. The colossal rail fortress engine roared as it accelerated, racing toward Wuliya Satai Mountain. Every minute gained meant more time to relieve pressure, and the fewer marks they carried into the night, the safer they would be. Across the train, crew members moved swiftly. Though they had just finished a battle, there was no time to rest. They immediately began restocking ammunition, preparing for the next pressure relief operation. ¡°KIKI, head to the cockpit.¡± ¡°For what?¡± Lin Xian led KIKI to Infinite Train¡¯s control room. As the train accelerated, he needed her to monitor and clear any obstacles on the track ahead. ¡°Use your ability to stabilize the train. If anything appears on the tracks¡ªblow it away.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± KIKI nodded, understanding his intent. Chen Sixuan added, ¡°The snow is already over 80 centimeters deep. At this rate, by morning, it could exceed 1.5 meters or more.¡± Her biggest fear was that the train would get buried completely, rendering it immobile. But right now, they had no choice. Driving through the night would be suicide. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with that later.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± KIKI asked. Lin Xian turned away. ¡°Fixing the carriages that got pierced.¡± The Snow Wraiths might not be huge, and they were easy to kill, but their sheer numbers, speed, and armor-piercing stingers made them a serious threat. And this was only during the day. At night, they would enter a berserk state. If Infinite Train got fully surrounded, a breach could mean catastrophic losses. Their only hope was to fortify before darkness fell. ¡°The outer layer of the research carriage is made of nitrided steel, boron carbide ceramic, and a self-repairing gel layer.¡± In Carriage 4, Ding Junyi was checking whether the plants in the cultivation area had been affected by the infiltrating snow and wind. Seeing Lin Xian repairing the train¡¯s armor section by section, she spoke up. ¡°This is aerospace-grade technology. You might want to consider upgrading Infinite Train¡¯s armor with something similar.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡± Lin Xian focused on his repairs as he replied, ¡°Those materials might be great on paper, but when dealing with these creatures, heavy armor is still the best defense. Internal upgrades won¡¯t matter if the outer armor isn¡¯t strong enough.¡± Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses. ¡°From what I know, the military¡¯s top-tier armor steels are Tungsten-Titanium Alloy Type I and II. For mechas, they use Ultra-Carbon Carbide Alloy and Nano-Ceramic Armor for infantry. You might find those materials useful.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s interest was piqued. He looked up at her. ¡°You know a lot, Director Ding. You¡¯re right¡ªif I can get my hands on those materials, Infinite Train¡¯s armor would reach a whole new level.¡± Unfortunately, Lin Xian didn¡¯t have the molecular scan data for those high-end alloys, meaning he couldn¡¯t convert them through the Manufacturing Center. Even if he did, transforming such materials would be extremely resource-intensive. And to armor an entire train? The cost would be astronomical. Right now, Infinite Train relied on forged steel, titanium alloys, high-manganese steel, and hardened tungsten steel. These could be obtained by breaking down cars, trains, and large industrial machinery. But Tungsten-Titanium Alloy? The first time he ever got his hands on that material was by dismantling a damaged Iron Guard-3 Military Assault Mech. He had used it to craft his GK03 Electric Blade, Icebreaker Shield, and other vital components. If he wanted more of it, he needed to find and devour even higher-grade military hardware. Cars and trains were no longer enough¡ªthey could only be used for ammunition and weapon manufacturing. Rumbling through the Blizzard Infinite Train thundered down the frozen rails, its engine roaring like a beast. In the distance, more Snow Wraiths swarmed beneath the ice, their restless movements causing a shh-shh-shh sound as they pursued the train. After repairing the damaged carriages, Lin Xian reinforced the outer armor. He also modified the shooting ports¡ªwhen the battle started and the explosion-proof doors were opened, the internal temperature of the train had plummeted. To conserve heat, he programmed the passage gates between Carriages 3 and 4 to automatically close when not in use. But the living quarters in the back had no such protection. Cold air streamed in through the shooting ports, rapidly turning the living area into an icy wasteland. Many of the crew members who had been firing earlier now found their hands frozen stiff. To counter this, everyone suited up in thick thermal retention gear and winter combat suits, bracing themselves for the approaching night. ¡°Lin Xian, we¡¯re almost there!¡± In the cockpit, Chen Sixuan peered into the distance. Ahead, several massive rolling hills stretched across the snowy expanse, their peaks blanketed in thick snow. Wuliya Satai Mountain was a ring-shaped terrain consisting of low hills. Its highest peak was only a few hundred meters tall. Before the Palma Grasslands were buried under this endless winter, it had been a breathtaking natural wonder. But now, all that remained was a vast, snow-covered wasteland. The sun was beginning to sink, its light dimmed by the raging blizzard. The Extreme Cold Vortex above continued to churn, and the temperature dropped even further. Chapter 248: Endless Winter Night Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The black heavy-duty train plowed through the thick snow, roaring like thunder amidst the raging blizzard. Above, the ferocious vortex of extreme cold loomed over the sky, swallowing the heavens in its snowy abyss, plunging the world into an early darkness. The land was a vast, white wasteland, where nothing could be seen except the endless howl of the storm. "Mark Level approaching 4!" "Prepare to open fire!" Screeeech! From beneath the snow, Snow Wraiths surged like a flood, kicking up a violent storm of frost and ice. Thud! Thud! Thud! The deafening sounds of collisions against the train and tracks grew more intense. Standing inside Car 2, Lin Xian surveyed the Sentinel System¡¯s external feeds, his gaze cold and focused. "Lin Xian!" Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice crackled through the communicator. "There¡¯s a swarm of creatures gathering at the pass ahead!" KIKI immediately switched to the Electro-Optical Targeting System, locking onto the vast, snow-covered plains before them. From the blinding white fog, countless black-and-white long tails surfaced from beneath the snow, writhing like a rising tide. Perhaps it was the approaching nightfall, or maybe the blizzard¡¯s cover, but these Snow Wraiths were now able to breach the snow¡¯s surface, charging toward the train like a relentless storm. KIKI frowned at the surveillance feed. "It looks like our Level 4 Mark has attracted even more eerie entities." Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He pressed his earpiece. "Speed up. CRUSH THEM!" Wooooo! Activating the Mechanical Heart, he boosted the Infinite Train¡¯s engine output, forcing it to accelerate once more. Glancing at the time¡ª17:53. With zero experience against the Dark Tides, their estimated nightfall was only a rough guess. Judging by the thickening darkness, full nightfall would arrive in about half an hour! "KIKI, take the front." "Got it." KIKI nodded seriously, sprinting forward. Lin Xian then turned his gaze toward the carriage corridor, waiting for Ding Junyi¡¯s signal. "Level 4." "Open fire!" Boom! Boom! Boom! BZZT! Above Car 2, the G3 Electromagnetic Rail Cannon roared, unleashing a violent, ionized blastwave. The sheer electrical discharge sent tingling static across Lin Xian¡¯s skin. He turned back to the monitor, locking eyes on the incoming Snow Wraith swarm. "Everyone¡ªbrace for impact!" Collision! BOOOOOM!!! Snow erupted into the sky! The heavy rail train, charged with unrelenting kinetic force, rammed straight into the tide of leaping Snow Wraiths. Chen Sixuan and KIKI, inside the control cabin, braced themselves. "Here they come!" Chen Sixuan gripped the control panel tightly. "Haah!" KIKI¡¯s eyes glowed with a piercing white light, her hair lifting as if caught in an invisible wind. With a sharp cry, she thrust her palm forward, channeling her psychic energy into a razor-sharp shockwave¡ª BOOOOM!!! A cone-shaped force wave sliced through the snow, parting the landscape like a raging flood, clearing hundreds of meters ahead. Beneath the snow, the barren railway and withered ground were fully exposed. Hundreds of Snow Wraiths were violently launched into the air¡ª Those caught too close were torn apart instantly. Those further back were still thrown into the howling winds, scattering like uprooted weeds. The shockwave carved out a massive clearing, giving the Infinite Train a direct path forward¡ª With unrelenting force, the train plowed through the remaining snowbanks and charging Wraiths. BOOM! WHOOSH! The entire train shuddered under the sheer impact force. Inside the carriages, various items crashed to the floor, shattering across the ground. Outside, tons of snow erupted tens of meters into the air, forming a towering snow fountain. Chen Sixuan¡¯s windshield was immediately blanketed, her vision completely obstructed. The steel armor plating and icebreaker shield were pelted like a torrential storm, followed by the shrill wails of countless creatures. Doomsday on the Rails. THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! The Infinite Train barreled through the storm, leaving behind a path of destruction. Bone fragments exploded. Skulls shattered. Blood and viscera splattered the reinforced glass, coating it in a grotesque film of red and white gore. Chen Sixuan activated the washer system, but the bloodied mess was too thick. Beside her, KIKI gritted her teeth, reinforcing the train¡¯s frontal defenses with another psychic barrier. BZZT! WHOOSH! The Electromagnetic Rail Cannon operated at full power, its smart targeting system prioritizing dense enemy clusters and large-scale threats. With every shot, the train¡¯s lighting dimmed momentarily, only to flicker back at full intensity. Aboard the Rear Carriages Dalong stood his ground, wielding the Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun. Every metal storm barrage tore through hordes of Snow Wraiths¡ª Yet, more climbed aboard. Without KIKI¡¯s backup, only Lu Xingchen remained as the sole large-scale ability user. On the train¡¯s rooftop, Lu Xingchen stood alone. Gale-force blizzards whipped against him. His anti-cold visor was already frosting over. Yet, he exhaled sharply¡ªhis breath steaming in the frigid air. "This bitter cold is the perfect training ground." Without a hint of hesitation, his flames roared to life. Blazing torrents swept across the rooftop, the sheer thermal shock causing the metal plating to groan under the strain. The Snow Wraiths Swarm The creatures reacted. Drawn by the heat, they stopped attacking the steel armor, instead rushing directly at Lu Xingchen. Their decayed bodies reeked of rot. Yet, even in death, their feral instincts remained unstoppable. Lu Xingchen grinned. "Good. Good!" The creatures had previously been spread across the entire train, making them hard to handle at once. Now? "Perfect." "FIERY SKY!" Lu Xingchen crossed his fingers, compressed his flames, and unleashed a sweeping firestorm across the entire rooftop! WHOOSH! At the same time, the Electro-Blade Armor deployed¡ª SNAP! SLASH! The Snow Wraiths climbing aboard were instantly shredded. Electric arcs danced along the blade edges, cutting down even the sharpest tails of the creatures. Final Call: "Mark Level 1!" The mountain pass ahead came into view. Lin Xian slammed the brakes. SCREEEECH!!! The Infinite Train screeched to a halt. Snow poured off the rooftop like an avalanche, while the superheated wheels melted the frozen tracks, sending clouds of steam billowing into the air. "AAAAAARGH!!" "SHRIEEEEK!!" The battle had only just begun. A FIELD OF CORPSES The Infinite Train ground to a halt. For the next ten minutes, the crew conducted a final sweep, gunning down any remaining Snow Wraiths. By the time the last shot was fired, the train¡¯s flanks had become a graveyard of frozen beasts¡ªpiled high enough to form walls of corpses. The assault had finally ended. "Hah... It¡¯s so damn cold!" Lu Xingchen, completely exhausted, felt the biting chill creep into his bones. Even as a fire ability user, the extreme cold was starting to overwhelm him. Seeing that the battle was over, he turned toward the roof hatch¡ªready to descend back into the train. But¡ª CLUNK! The hatch wouldn¡¯t budge. It had been completely frozen shut by the howling blizzard. "Tch¡ªseriously?" With no other choice, Lu Xingchen blasted out another burst of fire, melting the thick layer of ice before finally slipping back inside Car 5. THE TRAIN STRUGGLES AGAINST THE COLD WOOOOOO~~ WOOOOOOOO~~~~ Outside, the roaring blizzard had become the only sound in the endless white wasteland. Inside the train, the gun ports sealed shut, and the heating system roared to life, working overtime to restore warmth. Lin Xian, Shu Qin, and Luo Ye donned heavy-duty cold-weather suits, along with temperature regulators and insulated helmets, before exiting through Car 11¡¯s hatch to inspect the train. -30¡ãC¡ªTHE DEEP FREEZE The moment Lin Xian stepped outside, the winds almost knocked him off his feet. The snowstorm had intensified¡ªthe blistering winds no longer simply fell from the sky. Now, they swept horizontally, erasing visibility beyond a few meters. Each step crunched through frozen bodies, shattering Snow Wraith corpses like fragile ice sculptures. ¡°These damn things survive the cold when they¡¯re alive... but the moment they die, they freeze solid?¡± The irony wasn¡¯t lost on him. A voice called out behind him¡ª "Lin, over here." Lin Xian turned¡ª And his brows furrowed. The Infinite Train¡¯s armor was in terrible shape. Deep gashes marred its once-solid plating. Holes and fractures spread across the side panels. Some armor plates had even begun to crack apart entirely. "Lin, the temperature¡¯s too low," Luo Ye said grimly. "The armor¡¯s becoming brittle." Lin Xian exhaled, his breath turning to ice crystals in the air. CREEEEEEEEAKKKKK... Somewhere on the train¡¯s undercarriage, the metal groaned. Even without an enemy, the brutal cold was actively tearing the train apart. This natural disaster was just as much of a threat as the nightmarish creatures they faced. ¡°Check every section. Do it fast. We need to get back inside before nightfall.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s faceplate was already frosting over, a sign that even their protective gear wouldn¡¯t last long out here. AN UNEXPECTED ATTACK WHOOSH! From beneath the train, a Snow Wraith suddenly lunged forward¡ªits serrated tail needle stabbing toward Lin Xian¡¯s head. "LIN!" Shu Qin shouted. She dashed forward, but¡ª She was too late. CLANK! The attack stopped mid-air. A third mechanical arm had extended from Lin Xian¡¯s power armor, gripping the creature¡¯s tail in a vice-like hold. The Snow Wraith screeched, writhing in agony¡ª Before finally going still. CRACK! Lin Xian snapped the tail clean off, holding it in his hand. "Damn... this thing¡¯s heavy." Even through his reinforced gloves, he could feel the unnatural density of the severed appendage. Shu Qin caught up, scowling. "They''re still attacking us, even when we¡¯re cleaning up?" Lin Xian nodded, tossing the tail away. "They¡¯re smart. And without thick armor, these things are a pain to deal with." Shaking his head, he resumed his train inspection¡ªbut as he reached the front of the locomotive, his eyes narrowed. A silhouette stood ahead of him, barely visible through the blizzard. A FROZEN WARNING "Activate collision detection. Radar scan¡ªNOW!" BEEP! Lin Xian¡¯s power suit sensors locked onto the figure¡ª A humanoid shape, half-buried in the snow. Then¡ª BEEP BEEP¡ªYELLOW ALERT: NO LIFE SIGNS DETECTED. Lin Xian approached, raising his Black Rifle¡ª And realized¡ª It was a frozen corpse. A middle-aged woman, wearing a thick down jacket, her body entombed in ice. Shu Qin¡¯s voice came from behind him¡ª "Lin, there¡¯s more." Lin Xian looked up¡ª More corpses were appearing through the snow. People, frozen mid-motion¡ªsome clutching weapons, others huddled together, all buried beneath the ice. A caravan of survivors had perished right where they stood. Lin Xian followed the trail of bodies forward¡ª And discovered an abandoned vehicle encampment. SUVs, buses, and trucks¡ªall half-buried under mounds of ice and snow. A FROZEN GRAVEYARD The first black SUV was tilted at an angle, stuck in the snow, its roof rack¡¯s tarp frozen solid. The driver¡¯s seat was occupied¡ª A man, his hands locked around the frozen steering wheel, his lifeless body fused to the dashboard. Further in, a bus had tipped onto its side, its emergency exit buried beneath a funnel of ice. A woman in a red jacket had tried to escape¡ª Her frozen corpse still dangled from the shattered window. In her arms, a newborn, wrapped in a thick woolen bundle¡ªnow nothing but a lifeless, ice-covered cocoon. The scarf around her neck fluttered in the wind, causing tiny icicles to clink like a wind chime. Snow howled through the vehicles, rattling the doors with a sound like a mourner¡¯s hymn. Even an SUV¡¯s rearview mirror, which bore a red peace charm, had frozen stiff, its dangling tassels now icicle-sharp spears. "Lin, this was a survivor camp." Shu Qin counted the vehicles. "Twenty-three cars in total. They were stationed here." Luo Ye inspected the snow-covered remains¡ª A Snow Wraith corpse, its frozen jaw still clamped around a severed human arm. "They were wiped out." Lin Xian sighed. "Let¡¯s head back." The group turned away from the icy graveyard, hurrying back to the train before nightfall claimed them too. A WARNING OVER THE RADIO The moment Lin Xian re-entered the Infinite Train, the intercom buzzed. "Lin Xian, get to the cockpit. We¡¯ve got a situation." It was Chen Sixuan. Stripping off his gear, Lin Xian hurried to the driver¡¯s cabin. "What happened?" Chen Sixuan gestured at the radio transceiver. "Someone¡¯s trying to contact us." Lin Xian frowned. "We¡¯re in a blizzard. How are they reaching us?" KIKI answered¡ª "The storm¡¯s blocking long-range transmissions. Whoever this is... they¡¯re close." Lin Xian clicked the receiver¡ª "Who¡¯s there?" The response came instantly¡ªa desperate, ragged voice shouting over the static. "You... the train¡ªGET OUT OF HERE! YOU¡¯LL KILL US ALL!" Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. Then¡ª A second voice, angrier and more hostile, cut in¡ª "You idiots! You just led the monsters straight to us! GET LOST!" KIKI bristled. "What the hell?!" She was about to snap back¡ª But Lin Xian stopped her. Lin Xian pressed the comms button and briefly explained the situation regarding the Dark Marks. ¡°So, if you haven¡¯t been attacked yet, and we haven¡¯t either, that means tonight should be relatively safe for all of us. Even if there¡¯s trouble, it won¡¯t be too serious. Just stay put and wait until morning.¡± The Pack Hunting Effect and Dark Marks seemed similar in some ways, but their fundamental nature was different. The former made it difficult for survivor groups to trust each other. Many survivors became hostile toward outsiders, preferring to stick with strong organizations like Phoenix rather than risk forming temporary alliances. But Lin Xian knew they were completely misjudging the situation. The snowfield was crawling with Snow Wraiths. If these people weren¡¯t being attacked right now, it meant they were actually safe. Meanwhile, Infinite Train had just plowed through and wiped out most of the pursuing monsters. Even if the Dark Mark wasn¡¯t fully erased, only traces remained. Under these circumstances, sticking together through the long night posed no real danger. Even if they didn¡¯t want to interact, they could simply keep to themselves. But apparently, some of them had already noticed Infinite Train barreling into the mountain pass, and now, they were uneasy. ¡°You think we¡¯re safe just because you say so? What, you the father of these monsters or something?¡± A hot-tempered middle-aged man barked through the comms, wasting no time in launching into an angry tirade. ¡°Do you even know how much we sacrificed to kill those things during the day? You train people have a whole damn rail network¡ªwhy the hell did you have to stop here? Get lost.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey! We¡¯re Speed Convoy! That train of yours can just keep going to Dalat Town ahead¡ªthere¡¯s a station there. Can¡¯t you not camp here?¡± A woman¡¯s voice chimed in. ¡°Yeah, seriously, get out of here! Don¡¯t drag us into your mess...¡± Another hurried voice added. Tensions Rise Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. Chen Sixuan, on the other hand, looked downright pissed. ¡°These people are idiots,¡± she muttered angrily. ¡°Why do they believe in the Pack Hunting Effect but refuse to listen to us? That theory isn¡¯t even officially confirmed.¡± Lin Xian exhaled sharply, his expression turning cold. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± He pressed the comms button again and spoke flatly. ¡°We¡¯re setting up camp here. Stay or leave¡ªyour call.¡± If they weren¡¯t all fellow survivors heading west toward Xilan, he would¡¯ve already cursed them out. ¡°Bastard!¡± The hot-tempered man exploded again. ¡°You think I won¡¯t blow you to hell with a¡ª¡± Before he could finish, voices interrupted him from his side. ¡°Boss, their firepower is no joke. That train has a railgun.¡± ¡°Yeah, and they just took down at least a thousand Snow Wraiths...¡± Rustle, rustle, rustle... On the comms, a wave of chatter and discussion broke out. A few moments later, the sound of engines rumbling to life reached Lin Xian¡¯s ears. They¡¯re Leaving? ¡°Lin Xian, look.¡± Chen Sixuan had a sharp eye. From the higher ground in the mountain pass, a series of faint headlights flickered through the blizzard. ¡°They¡¯re really leaving?¡± KIKI narrowed her eyes. ¡°No, I think they¡¯re running.¡± ¡°This late?¡± Chen Sixuan was stunned. ¡°Are they suicidal?¡± The distant headlights flickered before vanishing into the storm. Several large convoys had begun merging and were now heading deeper into the snowfield. Lin Xian immediately pressed the comms again. ¡°It¡¯s almost nightfall. You won¡¯t make it to Dalat Town. Listen to me¡ªstaying here is the safest option.¡± Crackle... The comms signal deteriorated as the distance increased. A few distorted voices crackled through: ¡°Not dealing with this... We¡¯re out... Later, suckers...¡± ¡°Who the hell believes in that marking nonsense? You watch too many movies...¡± ¡°Just go, don¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t reply...¡± Vroom...(Engines roaring in the distance.) Bang! Bang! Bang!(Gunfire.) ¡°SNOW WRAITHS¡ª!! SHOOT AND MOVE, SHOOT AND MOVE¡ª!!¡± A Deadly Decision Inside Infinite Train, silence fell over the crew. ¡°Idiots!¡± KIKI slammed her fist against the nearest console, fuming. ¡°It¡¯s almost night! Do they want to die?¡± ¡°From the sounds of it, those convoys have hundreds of people...¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s brows furrowed as she turned to Lin Xian. ¡°I finally understand what you meant earlier. Sometimes, letting them run is better than making them fight. Normal people just can¡¯t accept the idea of being hunted.¡± Lin Xian let out a heavy sigh. ¡°It¡¯s fear.¡± He turned toward the darkening blizzard outside the viewport. ¡°They¡¯ve been running for so long that their bodies have developed an instinctive terror of Eerie Entities and the darkness itself. Stopping to fight against the dark... is a hundred times harder than choosing to flee.¡± Nightfall Approaches Whoooosh... The blizzard howled. Wind screamed through the armor plating of Infinite Train, sending eerie whistles through the gaps. The comms had gone completely silent. The convoys were gone. Beep, beep. A faint alert sounded¡ªa subtle chime that nearly got lost in the roaring storm. This was a pre-set warning, adjusted by Luo Yang earlier. Nightfall was imminent. ¡°Prepare for enemy contact.¡± Under the Extreme Cold Vortex, even though Lin Xian was confident about the team¡¯s Dark Mark levels, this weather alone was enough to make anyone uneasy. And the endless Snow Wraiths lurking beneath the snow only added to his concerns. ¡°Full alert¡ª¡± Lin Xian ordered immediately. ¡°*Load your weapons. Snowmelt is toxic¡ªput on your gas masks. Even after we seal the shooting ports, wipe down all the melted snow inside. No one drinks any water during this process!¡± The Eerie Cube had been on high alert all day. Snowmelt seeped into the train, mixing with the remnants of the monsters¡¯ Dark Corruption. The entire crew had been on edge for hours. The moment Lin Xian issued his orders, Shu Qin and the others snapped into action. Lin Xian turned, walking toward the back with KIKI and Chen Sixuan. He tossed them each a gas mask. ¡°Put it on. Don¡¯t take it off until we clear this crisis.¡± Outside the windows, the world was now a void of blackness and howling snow. Drip, drip... Inside the carriages, melted snowwater trickled onto the floor. Crew members in the living quarters gripped their weapons tightly. Even Xiao Yuan, the youngest among them, held an automatic rifle, her face covered with a mask, waiting in silent tension. A Frozen Fortress in the Storm Lin Xian sat inside the storage room of Carriage 7¡ªthe center of the train. This was where he could use his Mechanical Heart to monitor and repair the entire structure. Whoooooom... The train¡¯s heaters roared at full power, fighting the bitter cold. On the roof, the 1130 CIWS and G3-Railgun were covered in layers of frost. Each time they rotated, they shattered the built-up ice¡ªonly for new frost to form seconds later. Outside, ice crusted the windows, melting and refreezing in a constant cycle. Crack... Crack... All around, the sound of ice forming echoed from every direction. Lin Xian clenched his fists. If the blizzard buried Infinite Train completely before sunrise... Then even he might not have a way out. A deep frustration swelled within him. Darkness. Eerie Entities. Natural Disasters. This apocalypse never gave anyone a moment¡¯s peace. ¡°Damn it... Damn it all...¡± Lin Xian gritted his teeth. Inside the train, silence reigned. Everyone waited. Outside¡ªnothing but blackness and the endless storm. Lin Xian glanced at his watch. 19:00. ¡°It¡¯s nightfall.¡± ¡°...It¡¯s been nightfall for a while now.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression was grim. He stood up, let out a long breath, and tightened his stance as he focused on the outside of the train. At this moment, the entire Infinite Train was already buried under a thick layer of snow. The steel armor plates on the sides had been coated with an icy shell, hardened by the raging blizzard. Between heaven and earth, only the howling winds of the snowstorm remained. Apart from that, there was nothing¡ªjust an eerie silence. "All carriages, report in." Lin Xian pressed his wireless earpiece without hesitation. "Lin, everything¡¯s fine." Shu Qin swiftly made her way forward from Car No. 12, reporting as she walked. "Car No. 11, all clear," Sasha confirmed. "Car No. 10, no issues," Miao Lu reported. "Car No. 9, all clear," Lu? Chang stated. "Car No. 8, normal," Xiao Yuan added. "Cars No. 6 and 5, no abnormalities," Da Lou and Lu Xingchen said as they moved swiftly down the corridor. "Cars No. 3 and 4, no issues. No further reaction from the Blood Scourge Flora," Ding Junyi reported, glancing at the faint energy fluctuations in the air. After taking down so many Snow Wraiths, it seemed the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum had already had its fill. "Cars No. 2 and 1, all clear," Chen Sixuan and KIKI responded. Standing in Car No. 7, Lin Xian finally let out a small breath of relief. "Everyone, keep your thermal gear on. Don¡¯t take them off just yet. We¡¯ll observe for a while longer. If everything remains stable, we¡¯ll rotate for rest shifts." "Understood." It wasn¡¯t until this moment that the team¡¯s collective tension eased slightly. Chen Sixuan began distributing food. Originally, she had planned to prepare hot meals, but Lin Xian was concerned that it would take too long. Plus, the train¡¯s heating system was already working at full capacity. To keep things simple, they decided to just eat what was available. In Car No. 2, KIKI kept switching between radio frequencies, only to find complete radio silence. "Looks like the Extreme Cold Vortex has completely engulfed this area. We¡¯re not picking up anything¡ªnot even the global broadcasts from Xilan City or Phoenix. Even short-range survivor radios are dead." Chen Sixuan glanced up toward the train¡¯s roof. She knew that right now, high above them, the massive Extreme Cold Vortex was rapidly pulling the world back into an Ice Age. The snowstorm, laced with the forces of Dark Invasion, was so intense that it had even cut off Dark Radio transmissions entirely. At this moment, the Infinite Train had truly become a lone vessel, drifting through the endless white abyss of the snowfield blizzard. "At our current pace, it¡¯ll take us at least another 10 hours to reach Xilan," Chen Sixuan estimated. Lin Xian shook his head. "That¡¯s too optimistic. By tomorrow, the snow will be at least twice as thick. If we can even maintain 50 mph, that¡¯d be a miracle¡ªunless this blizzard lets up." "Ah..." KIKI¡¯s face was filled with worry. She rubbed her hands together and muttered, "If the snow keeps getting worse, won¡¯t we just get buried alive?" "If it comes to that, we might have to modify some snowmobiles... or you¡¯ll just have to fly everyone to Xilan," Lin Xian half-joked. If things really reached that point, abandoning the Infinite Train might be the only option. Hearing this, KIKI¡¯s face darkened immediately. With a distressed expression, she groaned, "Come on! I thought the worst problem was going to be the train tracks, not this damn blizzard!" "Lin Xian." Chen Sixuan looked at him seriously. "Is there no other way?" Lin Xian took a deep breath, thought for a moment, and then spoke with determination. "We¡¯ll have to wait and see how the blizzard develops. If the storm weakens later tonight, we¡¯ll be fine. But if it keeps getting worse..." His eyes sharpened. "Then we¡¯ll have no choice but to risk it all and push forward!" Darkness was a desperate gamble, but getting buried by the snow was certain death. Between the two, even if there was only a slim chance of survival, charging forward was the better choice. At the very least, moving forward¡ªeven against impossible odds¡ªwas better than staying put, abandoning the train, and either trekking on foot or relying on KIKI to fly them across the frozen wasteland. For now, though, the snow wasn¡¯t deep enough to force that decision. Chen Sixuan nodded. "I get it. I¡¯ll take the night watch." Lin Xian shook his head. "No need. Same as always¡ªI¡¯ll do it." As an Ability User, his mental endurance was stronger than most. Plus, he knew that Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum would continue to release energy throughout the night, aiding in the physical evolution of his teammates. Letting them rest properly would maximize their survival chances in the long run. Chen Sixuan hesitated, looking at him with concern, but eventually nodded in agreement. The wind and snow gnawed at the Infinite Train¡¯s outer armor, the blizzard¡¯s howling forming a ghostly wail. Inside the living carriages, team members huddled in their well-insulated bunks. Those on rest shifts had removed their thermal gear and buried themselves under thick blankets. The heating system was running at full power, but as the blizzard outside intensified, the train¡¯s interior temperature barely held at 12¨C13¡ãC. Only areas near the heaters were warm¡ªeverywhere else, the metal walls of the train sucked the heat away, letting in the creeping chill from outside. Fortunately, the Infinite Train had stocked up on cold-weather supplies, and Chen Sixuan had distributed canned meat rations for the night. Everyone stayed tucked in their beds, relatively comfortable despite the conditions. In a small, cozy living pod, Xiao Yuan was wrapped in a thick blanket. She pulled back the blackout panel and peered outside, watching the raging blizzard in the darkness. A trace of worry flickered across her delicate face. Reaching out, she pressed her fingers against the glass. A sharp, bone-chilling cold immediately seeped into her skin, making her frown. Quickly, she shut the panel and curled back into her bed. In the corner beside her pillow sat two cans of snow pear preserves, carefully guarded. Fruit preserves were distributed at random, one can per person every other day. But Xiao Yuan, unwilling to eat them right away, had been saving hers. She even traded with her teammates to collect only snow pear preserves, carefully hoarding them next to her pillow. Looking at the cans, she smiled sweetly, let out a deep breath, and quickly closed her eyes to sleep. In four hours, she¡¯d have to wake up for her night watch shift. Since the blizzard made everything even more dangerous, Lin Xian had assigned a four-shift night watch rotation, ensuring the team could react quickly to any emergency. Buzzz... Buzzz... Both the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive and the Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive remained powered up. Lin Xian kept both engines running, preventing them from freezing over. The train¡¯s heating system was already at maximum output, continuously pumping warmth inside. This was a necessary energy expense for survival, but with the Gemini 11R¡¯s 100-megawatt thermal output, electricity wasn¡¯t an issue. The only real problem was water consumption¡ªnot just for human needs, but also for the train¡¯s water tanks. Right now, they couldn¡¯t use snowmelt to replenish the tanks. Even though Chen Sixuan had topped off the supply beforehand and prepared several large water barrels as backup, the issue remained severe. Time quickly passed, and it was now 9:00 PM. Extreme cold¡ªminus 40 degrees Celsius! Lin Xian was making every second count, simultaneously producing ammunition while crafting TRP Gen-4 Special Industrial Active Exoskeleton Power Suits! He had to take advantage of this time to build at least two more sets. Not only would this improve his mechanical manufacturing skills, but it would also equip more people with exoskeleton power suits¡ªa crucial necessity for moving in this icy terrain. With these suits, mobility in the snow would be greatly enhanced! Lin Xian was becoming increasingly proficient in multitasking. In particular, making bullets had become second nature to him. So, with his left hand manufacturing ammunition, his right hand started working on the power suits. The challenges of making active exoskeleton power suits were similar to those of the PX-05 robots. The exoskeleton material itself wasn¡¯t too hard to produce¡ªthe real difficulty lay in integrating the specialized intelligent combat system, power source, joint transmission shafts, and hydraulic power hubs. The total weight of the suit was 30 kilograms, equipped with a small high-energy electric drive module and 13 hydraulic power units. These required highly precise manufacturing processes, and since this was his first attempt, he had to start by crafting the main control chip from scratch. However, after reaching Mechanical Manufacturing Level 4, both his production speed and efficiency had significantly improved. In just four hours, Lin Xian successfully completed a light gray exoskeleton suit, completely brand new, exuding the fresh scent of industrial materials. This exoskeleton power suit offered almost zero protection outside of the arms, but its biggest advantage was its lightweight design. Despite weighing 30 kilograms, the full-body support structure helped distribute the weight evenly to the ground. Additionally, the power system provided an explosive force of over 500 kilograms, a 100-meter acceleration time of 3.5 seconds, and a joint rotational speed of 270 degrees per second. It also came equipped with dynamic detection, a mini radar targeting system, and biomechanical enhancements. It included several protection thresholds, such as knee joint shock absorbers, arm bone pressure sensor fuses, and cardiac overload warnings. Overall, for Shu Qin, Chen Sixuan, Lu? Chang, and Miao Lu¡ªall gene-enhanced individuals¡ªthis power suit would be an incredible boost to their combat capabilities. ¡°This set goes to Ms. Chen first.¡± Lin Xian exhaled deeply, then immediately began crafting the next one. ¡¾Ding! Conducting reflective scan using non-mechanical energy.¡¿ ¡¾Scan successful. No fear-related threats detected on the train. Dark energy intrusion neutralized.¡¿ ¡¾Non-mechanical energy converted. +1000 Mechanical Source Points.¡¿ "Hmm..." As Lin Xian was about to continue, the Mechanical Heart interface suddenly popped up before him. Seeing the notification, he couldn''t help but smile. Massacring the Snow Wraiths had its perks after all¡ªHell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum could actually absorb this much dark energy! ¡¾Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.4 (2690/7000)¡¿ Mechanical Manufacturing: 4 (360/2000) - Increases construction efficiency "Just crafting one power suit raised my manufacturing proficiency by at least 200. Not bad at all." As his stamina continued to recover under the faint glow of absorbed energy, Lin Xian took a deep breath. With this support, he had to make the most of every minute tonight. Throughout the black night, Lin Xian worked tirelessly, all the while keeping an eye on the howling blizzard outside the train. Every so often, he would glance at the external temperature monitor¡ªit was already approaching minus 50 degrees Celsius. By the time he finished crafting the second exoskeleton suit, it was already 5:00 AM. Feeling restless, he got up and opened the blackout panels, only to find the windows completely covered in frost and snow. He wasn''t sure if the train was simply frozen solid or if the blizzard had finally weakened, but the roaring winds outside seemed to have died down significantly. Shivering slightly, Lin Xian noticed that even with the train¡¯s heating running at full power, the cabin temperature was barely in the teens. The carriage junctions and restrooms were completely covered in frost. He quickly donned his power suit, thermal gear, and insulated helmet, then headed toward the nuclear-powered locomotive carriage, preparing to open the cockpit door. BANG! The electric motor groaned in pain, but the door refused to budge. Lin Xian frowned, then reached out to manually force it open. The exoskeleton suit''s torque output surged, and from outside the door came the sound of ice cracking apart¡ª It was just like his Ice Wall. WHOOSH¡ª! The moment the door opened, an almost solid mass of white frost came rushing in. Under the train¡¯s interior lighting, Lin Xian could see that the snow had piled up against the entrance, nearly spilling into the carriage. His expression darkened. The train¡¯s entrance was already 1.3 meters above the tracks, meaning the snow outside was at least 1.4 meters deep¡ªan utterly terrifying sight. But what relieved him slightly was that, despite the ferocious winds, the snowfall had stopped. Bracing himself against the frigid gusts, Lin Xian stepped forward¡ª Crunch. His entire leg sank deep into the snow. He sighed. "At least the snow is deep but not compacted." With great effort, he pulled himself free from the snowdrift, shut the train door, and climbed onto the train roof using the armored steel panels. Aside from the howling wind, the surroundings were shrouded in complete darkness. Lin Xian switched on his flashlight and scanned the area¡ªa vast expanse of white. The Infinite Train looked as if it had pulled into a pure white station, completely encased in a thick layer of snow and ice. The roof was buried in thick snow, while the train¡¯s sides were encased in a layer of transparent ice, making it resemble a relic excavated from a polar ice sheet. The engines and heaters hummed faintly, working tirelessly. Lin Xian made his way toward the front carriage, carefully inspecting the train¡¯s condition. ¡¾Low Temperature Warning. Low Temperature Warning.¡¿ The exoskeleton suit¡¯s alarm blared. Even through his thick thermal gear, frost quickly formed on his clothes. Walking along the train¡¯s rooftop, Lin Xian carefully observed its state. "We should still be able to move... As long as it doesn¡¯t start snowing again..." According to his calculations, there were still seven to eight hours until nightfall. If the blizzard resumed, he might have no choice but to risk moving the train through the snow-covered terrain at night. However, with such deep snow, coupled with the Dark Mark and the possibility of hundreds or even thousands of Snow Wraiths attacking, there would be no way to suppress the mark again. If that happened, and they ran out of ammo with no resupply, they would be trapped with no escape¡ªdoomed to die in this frozen wasteland. After completing his inspection, Lin Xian let out a small sigh of relief and was about to head back¡ª When suddenly, a thought struck him. He immediately jumped down into the deep snow and began moving toward the wreckage of the destroyed convoy. He needed mechanical devour! Materials were scarce¡ªever since entering the Snowfield, he hadn''t even seen a single power pole, let alone mechanical resources. And right now, with a convoy full of vehicles buried in the snow, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste this goldmine of materials. But just as Lin Xian stepped onto the tilted wreckage of an off-road vehicle, the snow suddenly shifted beneath him¡ª THUMP¡ªCRACK! A frozen corpse, encased in a solid block of ice, smashed through the shattered windshield, revealing half of its face. Lin Xian calmly shone his flashlight onto the face, revealing wide, frost-covered eyes staring blankly at him. And then¡ª "Brother... living is so damn hard." The frozen corpse sighed and spoke. ¡°I know.¡± Lin Xian swept the flashlight around the buried convoy before glancing back at the frozen man inside the car. "You did well¡ªyou managed to bring this many people all the way here." The corpse¡¯s stiff neck creaked as it turned to look at the large bus nearby, its voice tinged with regret. "But none of them survived." It then looked straight at Lin Xian. "Your train can carry even more people... but if they all die, won¡¯t that only make things harder for you?" Lin Xian shook his head. "I¡¯m not a savior. I can¡¯t guarantee that even my own people will make it to tomorrow. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to take in more survivors¡ªnot until I¡¯ve reached a certain level of power." The frozen man stared at him for a moment before speaking again. "You¡¯re afraid." "Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t be working non-stop like this. Sleep must be a luxury for you, huh?" Lin Xian shrugged. "I¡¯m an Ability User¡ªI have plenty of stamina. Plus, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum converts evolutionary energy to keep me going. So I¡¯m doing just fine." "Fine?" The corpse reached up, touching its own broken neck before giving Lin Xian a mocking look. "Then why can you see me... and why are you having a full conversation with a dead man?" Lin Xian rolled his eyes. "What can I say? Late-night loneliness hits hard." The frozen man let out a sigh before looking at Lin Xian seriously. "Be honest. With all this pressure, have you ever considered just joining Phoenix?" "If you worked with them, life would be so much easier. Your abilities would be a huge asset, and you wouldn¡¯t have to shoulder the burden of an entire train by yourself." Lin Xian exhaled, his breath turning to frost in the air. "That... makes sense." He gazed out at the buried convoy, the frozen corpses, and then back at the man¡¯s lifeless body¡ªa body that had clearly been dead for a long time. He wasn¡¯t talking to anyone real. ¡¾Devouring successful. +20 Mechanical Source Points. +10 Mechanical Devour proficiency.¡¿ ¡¾Disassembly: Obtained High-Manganese Steel ¡Á10, Hot-Rolled Forged Steel ¡Á10, Cold-Rolled Dual-Phase Steel Plates ¡Á5, Ordinary Carbon Steel ¡Á20, Non-Metallic Foam Material, Non-Metallic Composite Material...¡¿ As the Mechanical Devour process completed, the off-road vehicle rapidly crumbled into brown-gray ash, leaving behind only scattered junk and the frozen corpse. With nothing left to support it, the surrounding snow collapsed inward, completely burying the body in mere seconds. "Good luck." The frozen man¡¯s voice echoed softly before vanishing beneath the white abyss. BOOM... Suddenly, the snowfield began to tremble. Lin Xian¡¯s breath hitched as he saw the snow and even the air itself begin to ripple. He immediately lifted his head. Somewhere far away, a deep, low-frequency roar reverberated across the frozen wasteland. And then¡ª A massive, invisible shockwave swept across the sky, causing the very ionosphere to distort. For a moment, Lin Xian was convinced that a horde of Snow Wraiths was about to attack¡ª But instead of approaching, the strange boiling sound in the distance retreated... and then vanished completely. The mountains around Uliyas Tai fell into an unnerving silence. Lin Xian narrowed his eyes and looked toward the distant horizon. Above, at the very center of the Extreme Cold Vortex, lightning crackled violently, illuminating the stormy cobalt sky. Like a titanic cosmic beast, the howling blizzard raged on¡ªan awe-inspiring yet terrifying sight. Chapter 249: Snowland Woooooo¡ªhoooo¡ª The howling blizzard showed no signs of stopping. Lin Xian devoured every vehicle he could dig out, harvesting a considerable amount of materials in the process. The once snow-covered mounds marking the locations of buried vehicles had now disappeared, leaving behind only a vast, untouched white expanse. As for the people who had perished in the convoy, they were now buried beneath the deep snow, their existence erased by the relentless catastrophe. Back on the train, Chen Sixuan was already awake. Seeing Lin Xian return, she immediately guessed that he had gone outside to devour the convoy¡¯s vehicles. ¡°Want something to eat? It¡¯s freezing out there.¡± Lin Xian nodded, stepping inside. The chilling sensation that had clung to him vanished the moment he entered the train. He knew that besides the cold, the snow concealed fear-based energy, but thankfully, the Eerie Cube had completely neutralized it. ¡°Did you hear that sound earlier?¡± Lin Xian asked. Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°It woke a lot of people up, but nothing seems to have happened. Do you think it was an earthquake?¡± ¡°Possible... but I feel like it was some kind of creature.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°A creature? What do you think it was?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°All we can do is stay alert. Since most people are awake now, let¡¯s get breakfast ready so we can depart as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded immediately. Lin Xian noticed that she seemed in good spirits and remarked: ¡°You¡¯ve changed quite a bit.¡± ¡°Changed?¡± Chen Sixuan was grabbing supplies from the storage cabinet in Carriage No. 1. Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words, she turned her head. ¡°In what way?¡± ¡°Overall, I guess. You don¡¯t seem as fragile as before.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Just then, a can of food accidentally slid off the shelf above her head. Without even turning around, Chen Sixuan effortlessly caught it midair, her eyes still locked onto Lin Xian in confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t feel any different. What makes you say that?¡± Lin Xian: ...... The night was still freezing, and dawn had yet to break. Inside the train, however, the lights were fully lit. This wasn¡¯t just to ward off the cold¡ªit was also to help the team mentally recover from the intense stress of the previous day. To boost morale, Lin Xian had Chen Sixuan, Xiao Yuan, and Miao Lu prepare hot meals for everyone on board. ¡°Xiao Yuan, bring me a crate of braised pork cans.¡± In the dining car, Chen Sixuan and the others were busily preparing food. Just then, Miao Lu came running in, holding something carefully in her hands. "Chen Captain, look at this!" She gently placed a bunch of vibrant green stalks on the counter. "This is celery from Director Ding¡¯s planting area. A few stalks have matured! Lin Captain said we should add them to the soup!" "Wow!" "Really?!" At her words, the entire dining car suddenly burst into excitement. People gathered around, their eyes lighting up at the sight of the fresh green celery. After so long without fresh food, this was a rare sight. Chen Sixuan walked over, picked up the freshly harvested celery, and breathed in its crisp, clean scent. "It grew so fast! This is amazing¡ªwe can finally have vegetable soup today!" Fresh Vegetables¡ªA Distant Memory For the survivors aboard the Infinite Train, the term "fresh vegetables" had become almost foreign. After the Black Rain, plants had almost completely perished. At the start of the apocalypse, some lucky survivors had scavenged wild greens and fruits, but over time, such food sources became nonexistent. Farming required either land or greenhouses, both of which were impossible for people constantly on the run. On top of that, fresh produce spoiled quickly. Unless it was dried or pickled, it would rot within days. As time passed, fresh food became an unimaginable luxury. But now, this small bunch of celery, grown in the No. 4 Planting Carriage, gave everyone a renewed sense of vitality. In the midst of this apocalyptic winter, it was a glimmer of hope. As people chatted about their past lives¡ªabout food, hobbies, and memories¡ªthe oppressive despair of the long, cold night seemed to fade away. By 8:00 AM, most of the crew had woken up, and the temperature inside the train had risen slightly thanks to the activity. After enjoying a steaming hot breakfast, Lin Xian felt fully recharged. Before long, he gathered the key personnel in Carriage No. 2 to discuss today¡¯s plan. The New Power Suits "Ms. Chen, Shu Qin." Lin Xian handed them two freshly crafted exoskeleton power suits. "I made these last night. You two should test them out¡ªyou should be able to get used to them quickly after activation." "Whoa! Power suits?!" Shasha¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. "Lin Brother, are we finally getting to wear these?!" Lin Xian gave her a look. "You already have a giant mecha. Do you really need this too?" "Uh... hehe." Shasha scratched her head, grinning. "I just wanted to try it out..." "Keep dreaming." KIKI, seated on a swivel chair, grabbed Shasha and squished her cold cheeks. Then she looked at the two power suits with approval. "Not bad. You actually made two of these in one night? That¡¯s impressive." Chen Sixuan and Shu Qin, however, looked surprised. "Do I... really need this?" Chen Sixuan hesitated. "Maybe give it to someone else first? I¡¯m usually inside the train." Shu Qin agreed. "Lin Captain, shouldn¡¯t these go to KIKI and Fire Bro instead? They¡¯re Ability Users and our main fighters..." "Just wear them already." KIKI smiled. She understood Lin Xian¡¯s reasoning, so she simply told them: "These suits boost mobility. You two are Gene Evolvers, meaning this will make you even stronger. I¡¯d love to play with one, but honestly, it wouldn¡¯t help me much. I can already fly¡ªwhy would I need to run or jump? As for Fire Bro, he can¡¯t use it either. He¡¯d probably just burn it to a crisp." "Agreed." Lu Xingchen, leaning against the wall, nodded. "This thing would just slow me down. Not practical." "Everyone will get one eventually." Lin Xian stated firmly. "As a Mechanical Ability User, my goal is to fully mechanize and arm every person and every carriage on the Infinite Train. But we have to take it one step at a time." He turned to Shu Qin and Chen Sixuan. "You two are key members. Get familiar with the suits so you can teach the others later. I¡¯ll keep upgrading them over time. As for the other Ability Users, I have different plans. Fire Bro, for instance¡ªDirector Ding told me about nano carbon-ceramic alloy armor used by the Starfleet. It can withstand over 6,000¡ãC and has high durability." Lu Xingchen shrugged indifferently. "Honestly, I don¡¯t need¡ª" "It looks really badass." Lin Xian added. "Please prioritize its development, Lin Brother!" Lu Xingchen¡¯s expression instantly changed, his eyes filled with sincerity and eagerness. "Whoa, does that mean we¡¯ll be fighting Snow Wraiths all the way?" KIKI frowned. "Aren¡¯t you worried that leaving marks along the way will attract even worse trouble in the dark?" "We¡¯ll just have to adapt as we go." Lin Xian stood up. "If things go well, we can stop at Chixia or Su Feng Village, just like we did yesterday. But if the situation turns bad, we¡¯ll have to make a run for Xilan overnight. The best we can do is launch a full-scale defense outside the city to prevent the risk of bringing an even bigger threat inside." "Then today¡¯s going to be a tough battle," Chen Sixuan remarked. "Yeah." Lin Xian nodded and turned to KIKI and Lu Xingchen. "And not just later¡ªwe have a battle to fight right now." Infinite Train, Start! The snow was deep¡ªso deep that the Icebreaker Shield was nearly two-thirds buried. The tracks and iron wheels were frozen and completely covered in ice and snow. Forget about building up momentum¡ªjust getting the train moving was nearly impossible. The only way forward was to have KIKI and Lu Xingchen clear a path first. Once the Infinite Train gained enough speed, it could use its own momentum to plow through the snow. At 9 AM, the entire train was ready. KIKI positioned herself on the roof, while Lu Xingchen was in the cockpit, both preparing to clear the way. "We need to be quick," Chen Sixuan warned as she looked at the slopes flanking the mountain pass. "The snow up there is thick. If we clear too much at once, it could trigger an avalanche. We only get one shot at this¡ªonce we clear it, we have to rush out immediately." While Urias Mountains wasn¡¯t steep, the amount of accumulated snow posed a huge risk. If it slid down, the train could be completely buried. "Agreed. We only have one chance," Lin Xian confirmed. "No worries." Lu Xingchen rubbed his hands together, warming them with his fire ability as he spoke into the communicator. KIKI smirked proudly from the cockpit. "Please. How hard can it be? You think I can¡¯t handle a little snow?" "Fire Bro, you go first!" KIKI called out over the comms. "On it." The plan was set. Lu Xingchen took a deep breath, standing in the freezing wind, his eyes burning with a fiery glow. Fwoosh¡ª A wave of scorching heat burst forth from his body. In an instant, the frost and snow on his clothes evaporated, and heat waves radiated outward. Even the thick ice on the roof beneath his feet rapidly melted. "I¡¯ll call this move... Inferno Blast¡ªHeaven¡¯s Road!" BOOM! Lu Xingchen raised his hands high above his head, and in an instant, a towering pillar of crimson fire shot into the sky, illuminating the surrounding darkness. Then, with a sharp shout, he slammed the fiery column forward! At the same time, a blue-hot Mach ring burst from the flames, igniting a powerful shockwave! BOOM! Inside the mountain pass, the howling winds were instantly thrown into chaos. The sudden collision of hot and cold air sent a violent updraft skyward, scattering snowflakes in all directions. A massive jet of fire struck the snow directly ahead of the Infinite Train, instantly vaporizing it and opening up a clear path. But it wasn¡¯t over yet. KIKI seized the perfect moment¡ªher eyes glowing, hands outstretched. She gripped the roaring fire column with her psychic power, then suddenly pushed forward! WHOOOSH! Under KIKI¡¯s control, the fire exploded ahead, carving a hundreds-meter-long tunnel straight through the snow. The black steel tracks beneath were instantly revealed under the train¡¯s headlights, still radiating scorching heat¡ªnot a single trace of ice remained. "Now!" Lin Xian immediately fired up both locomotives, the engines humming to life. With an ear-splitting roar, the buried steel behemoth came alive¡ªits ice coating cracking apart, snow sliding off its roof. The train¡¯s iron wheels turned, beginning its slow, laborious movement. Rumble... But as the train started rolling, the snow on both sides of the tracks began collapsing toward the rails! The immense force from Lu Xingchen and KIKI¡¯s attack had triggered a chain reaction, causing the packed snow to split and slide down toward the train. BAM! BAM! BAM! The Infinite Train accelerated! Chunks of ice and frost shattered against its armor, but KIKI and Lu Xingchen kept blasting a path forward. "Faster!" "KIKI, watch over Fire Bro! Don¡¯t let him get buried!" "Relax, I got this!" BOOM! The avalanche roared down both sides, temporarily burying the train in darkness, but with its forward momentum, it quickly broke free of the collapsing snow. "Speed¡¯s up!" Chen Sixuan shouted. "Fire Bro, get back inside!" Lin Xian ordered. Hearing the command, Lu Xingchen immediately retracted his flames and sprinted toward Car No. 5¡¯s elevator hatch, leaping back into the train. At that moment, the Infinite Train hit 80 km/h¡ªKIKI was still using her ability to clear the way. 90 km/h. BAM! BAM! BAM! The train plowed through the snow, throwing up massive clouds of ice and dust. 100 km/h! The snow exploded around them, scattering into the sky! "That¡¯s enough!" Lin Xian called out. "I can still keep going," KIKI insisted. Lin Xian grabbed her arm, then reached for Chen Sixuan. "Brace for impact!" At 100 km/h, with thousands of tons of steel momentum, and the Icebreaker Shield at the front, Lin Xian knew they had more than enough force to smash through the snow ahead. He gave the order. "Stop using your ability!" BOOM! WHOOOSH! The Infinite Train slammed into a 1.5-meter-thick snow wall, shaking violently. Everyone inside felt a massive forward jolt, but the steel behemoth continued cutting through the snow, sending towering clouds of white powder flying. WOOOOO!!! The Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive roared as the deep snow scraped and rattled against the train¡¯s armor, the vibrations humming through the cabin. Looking out the windows, the snow level was only a few centimeters away from reaching them. Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan watched in awe as the train tore apart the endless snow before them. Lin Xian checked the speedometer¡ª95 km/h. This was faster than expected, but they couldn¡¯t slow down now. If they lost speed, regaining it would be almost impossible. If another blizzard hit, or the snow got even thicker, the train could be forced to a stop. Right now, the Infinite Train had no choice but to keep charging forward like a runaway beast. Under the dark sky, the storm winds howled. The train finally cleared the mountain pass, speeding into an endless snowfield. Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian, Chen Sixuan, and KIKI remained on high alert. They had traveled dozens of kilometers already, yet there were no attacks from the Snow Wraiths. "Director Ding," Lin Xian called over the comms. "No threats. It¡¯s safe," Ding Junyi reported. Safe? That didn¡¯t make sense. Last night, they had seen how many Snow Wraiths lurked beneath the snow. Lin Xian had prepared to fight all the way till dawn¡ªbut now, nothing? "Weird..." KIKI muttered. "Could they only come out during the day?¡± "No way," Lin Xian shook his head. "According to previous radio reports, Snow Wraiths are even more aggressive at night. There¡¯s no reason for them to just disappear now." "It is strange," Chen Sixuan frowned, her gaze locked onto the snow ahead, illuminated by the train¡¯s powerful headlights. "Could we have crossed out of their territory and into another Eerie Entity¡¯s domain?" "That¡¯s possible," Lin Xian mused. There was evidence suggesting that high-level Eerie Entities had territorial instincts. If no Snow Wraiths had appeared, it could mean they had entered an area ruled by a stronger entity. But something still didn¡¯t add up. Even Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, which normally reacted to danger, had remained completely still. Lin Xian recalled the low tremor and deep growl from before¡ªthe one that had seemingly riled up the Snow Wraiths. Could that seismic event have somehow driven them away? "Well, whatever¡¯s going on, stopping isn¡¯t an option," KIKI said seriously. "Whether there¡¯s an Eerie Entity ahead or not, we only have one way forward. No turning back now." "Agreed," Lin Xian nodded. Just as he finished speaking, something black suddenly emerged from the snow ahead. Before anyone could react¡ª BAM! The Infinite Train slammed into it at full speed! Sparks flew. The black mass was sent flying, breaking into several shattered pieces on impact. The crew quickly snapped into alert mode. "What was that?!" Through the windshield, they saw debris scattering¡ªand at the center of the wreckage... A CAR. A snow-covered vehicle had been lying sideways on the tracks, completely buried in the ice. The Infinite Train had torn through it like paper, splitting it apart. A chunk of the car frame was now lodged in the Icebreaker Shield at the front of the train. But that wasn¡¯t the worst part. A corpse¡ªpartially frozen and covered in frost¡ªhad been inside. The body had been flung forward, its hardened remains scraping across the windshield, leaving behind deep ice scars, before it flew off into the snow. A horrible chill crept through the cockpit. For a moment, none of them spoke. "...That car... how long do you think it¡¯s been buried?" KIKI finally asked, her voice unnervingly quiet. Chen Sixuan swallowed. "Hard to say. But that body was completely stiff... frozen solid. It must¡¯ve been there for a while." Lin Xian¡¯s grip on the controls tightened. "We might be heading straight into a graveyard." And in a place like this... Graveyards don¡¯t stay quiet for long. The Train Charges Forward The Infinite Train thundered onward, cutting through the vast snowfield under the cloak of nightfall. But an unsettling tension had settled over the crew. Every kilometer, more buried vehicles appeared. Some were barely visible beneath the snow, others already crumbling from exposure. The train plowed through them all, the Icebreaker Shield tearing through metal like paper. Yet¡ªnot a single body moved. No Snow Wraiths. No Eerie Entities. Just an eerie silence, heavier than the blizzard itself. "Something''s off." Lin Xian adjusted the controls, keeping the train steady. "Where are the scavengers?" In post-apocalyptic snowfields, it was rare for remains to go undisturbed. Usually, there were always creatures¡ªwhether Zombies, Snow Wraiths, or Eerie Entities¡ªthat would feed on bodies left behind. But here, nothing had touched them. As if even the monsters didn¡¯t dare come near. "KIKI," Lin Xian called. "Try the radio again. See if there¡¯s any signal." KIKI quickly scanned the frequencies. "Nothing. Still dead silence." "Damn it..." That meant their location was still within the range of the Extreme Cold Vortex¡ªcompletely isolated from outside communication. Which meant no reinforcements. Whatever was out there... they were on their own. 30 Kilometers Ahead BAM! Another snow-covered vehicle was crushed under the train¡¯s massive weight. Chen Sixuan, still scanning the terrain, finally spoke up. "It¡¯s not random." "What?" Lin Xian asked. "The wreckage¡ªit¡¯s following a pattern." Lin Xian¡¯s gaze darkened. "You think it¡¯s deliberate?" "Yes," Chen Sixuan confirmed. "These vehicles aren¡¯t scattered randomly. They¡¯re positioned at regular intervals, all leading in the same direction." A trail. Like breadcrumbs leading to something ahead. "...We¡¯re being lured in." The Black Shadow Suddenly, KIKI''s eyes widened. "Something ahead!" Lin Xian''s hands tightened on the controls. The train¡¯s headlights flashed over the horizon¡ªrevealing a massive dark shape, standing dead center on the tracks. It was not a vehicle. It was something else. Something alive. "Brace for impact!" Lin Xian shouted. BAM! The Infinite Train slammed into it. And this time¡ª The train didn''t break through. The thing on the tracks didn''t budge. A deep, reverberating sound filled the air¡ªnot from the train, but from whatever they had just hit. The cockpit shuddered violently. Outside, the snow began to move. Then came the sound¡ª A low, guttural growl. Something huge was waking up. Chapter 250: Orbital Fortress in the Snowstorm "It looks like they froze to death. Their vehicles have already been buried under the snow." Chen Sixuan''s expression was complicated. "With this much snow, if you¡¯re not using a specialized vehicle, it''s nearly impossible to move." "Could it be the people from those convoys last night?" KIKI asked. "Maybe." "If it were a convoy like the Big Eagle Convoy with their tracked polar vehicles, they might have been able to push through the snow, but there''s still the issue of energy supply," Lin Xian said in a deep voice. "At minus 50 degrees, a regular car engine won''t start once it''s turned off. On top of that, heating needs to be maintained at all times. Without a sufficient energy source, even electric-powered vehicles struggle to maintain long-term endurance in these freezing conditions." Bang!!! The Icebreaker Shield continuously plowed through the snow as the Infinite Train pushed forward. Time had reached 11:30. The blizzard had stopped, and the world was suddenly covered in a vast, dazzling white. Aside from the howling wind, the glistening snow reflected a piercingly bright light, illuminating the entire interior of the Infinite Train. Everyone instinctively shielded their eyes. "Whoa, it''s so bright!" "The whole grassland has turned into a snowfield," Chen Sixuan gazed into the distance, seeing nothing but an endless white sea. Lin Xian looked at the thick snow outside¡ªthe vast, silver-white expanse stretching to the horizon. He sighed, "In conditions like this, with Snow Wraiths lurking and Dark Invasion toxins contaminating the snow, surviving is no easy task." The Infinite Train pushed forward through the snow like a burrowing worm, carving a path along the tracks. From the darkness of night into the brightness of day, they had neither encountered Snow Wraiths nor any other Eerie Entities, which was highly unusual. With a mix of suspicion and caution, the train pressed on. Before long, Lin Xian spotted a small-town train station ahead. Further in the distance, buildings were buried under thick snow. The station¡¯s frozen-over sign was barely legible, but it read: Dalat Station. "Lin Xian, look!" Chen Sixuan suddenly spoke up. Lin Xian and KIKI followed her gaze. In an open area in front of the station, numerous vehicles were scattered¡ªmodified survivor vehicles, some clustered on high ground, others partially buried along what used to be the town¡¯s main road. There were bullet-riddled billboards along the road, as well as the frozen corpses of Snow Wraiths. It didn''t seem to belong to a single convoy but rather a combination of multiple groups. Further away, at least dozens of vehicles were visible. Several large snowplow trucks and heavy-duty rigs were at the front, likely tasked with clearing the road. But something had attacked them viciously¡ªtwo of the heavy trucks were completely caved in, twisted and bent by some immense force. After these lead vehicles fell, the dozens of other modified apocalypse vehicles had tried to flee, only to get trapped in the deep snow. Now, all of them were half-buried, their sides streaked with frozen bloodstains, evidence that the battle hadn¡¯t been long ago. Yet, there were no signs of life anywhere¡ªeverything had been swallowed by the Extreme Cold. "It must be those four convoys from last night. Judging by the snow, they were probably dead before the blizzard even stopped," Chen Sixuan said. "They had so many snowplows and good equipment¡ªno wonder they made it this far," KIKI frowned. "But... I feel like they didn¡¯t just encounter Snow Wraiths. Lin Xian, look¡ªthose vehicles were flattened. Snow Wraiths don¡¯t have that kind of strength." "Ms. Chen." Lin Xian¡¯s eyes stung from the snow¡¯s glare. He pointed toward something strange in the distance and asked Chen Sixuan, "Is there... something over there?" Chen Sixuan immediately understood. She pulled out the Meteorite-3 Sniper Rifle and switched its scope to light-filtering mode before looking in the direction Lin Xian indicated. Soon, her brows furrowed deeply. Through the scope, she saw something on top of a snow-covered building¡ªa massive wing-like structure, grayish-white, frozen with thick ice. It hung from the side of the building like an enormous billboard, partially covering multiple floors. Its wingtip dragged into the snow, making it impossible to see its full size. Chen Sixuan¡¯s face turned grim as she described what she saw. "Only half a wing is visible. I don¡¯t know what kind of creature it belongs to, but based on the size alone, it must be a large-class Eerie Entity." Lowering the scope, she turned to Lin Xian and KIKI. "It could be A-Class... or even S-Class." KIKI¡¯s eyes widened. "That convoy was strong enough to sever the wing of a large Eerie Entity? Could it be that they killed it?" "I don¡¯t see any other parts of the creature," Chen Sixuan shook her head. "Only that wing structure." Rumble¡ª Above them, the Extreme Cold Vortex swirled, blocking out the sky. Sunlight seeped through gaps in the storm, casting fleeting rays of light. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. "There¡¯s no doubt that creatures from the Abyss are lurking in that blizzard. The snow and vortex act as a natural screen, hiding them. We need to leave as soon as possible¡ªotherwise, whatever they encountered, we¡¯ll encounter next." Bang! Bang! Bang! The Infinite Train charged through the station, crashing through snow-covered support structures and abandoned vehicles. Sparks flew, and the metallic tremors echoed through the air. Whoosh! Without stopping, the train plowed forward. Though it was now broad daylight, the Snow Wraiths remained hidden. Lin Xian found this odd but also a small relief. At the very least, the farther they traveled, the closer they got to Xilan City. That was all that mattered. The Infinite Train roared through the icy wasteland, sending snowflakes glittering through the sunlight. Survivors in the living carriages watched the endless white landscape through the windows, their faces filled with vigilance. The pure, unblemished snow gave no sense of beauty¡ªonly an unshakable terror. The contaminated snow, the lurking Snow Wraiths, and the Dark Invasion''s lingering corruption made the environment feel suffocating. Lin Xian refused to relax. The Infinite Train was navigating an extremely hazardous environment. As the snow piled higher, he remained on guard, ready to activate the Mechanical Heart to boost power at a moment¡¯s notice. They were moving along the western edge of the Parma Grasslands, a region entirely covered by the Extreme Cold Vortex. Every surviving group in the area was heading toward Xilan City¡ªnot just because Phoenix had a base there, but because Xilan was a major industrial stronghold, a former military fortress with extensive defenses. If Phoenix had chosen Xilan as a support hub for Abyss Zones 3, 5, and 7, it had to be for a reason. According to the last radio transmissions, the city still had survivors, and Phoenix¡¯s evacuation was planned in the coming days. Their next phase was to cross Abyss Zone 5¡¯s outskirts and chase the Dawn Center. Lin Xian had two possible routes¡ªhe could work with Phoenix and use Xilan to upgrade the train¡¯s power system, allowing him to follow the Dawn Center across the Qiong¡¯gu Strait by land. If that failed, he¡¯d have to head to Dawn City, take the Oceanic Rail, and possibly link up with Noah, the floating city. "Take a break," Chen Sixuan told him. "I¡¯m fine," Lin Xian replied, eyes fixed on the path ahead. Just then¡ª Beep! Beep! Beep! The alarm blared in the cockpit. KIKI¡¯s voice came through the comms from Car No. 2. "Lin Xian, radar warning! Obstacle on the track ahead!" "What kind of obstacle?" "It¡¯s... a train!" Woo~ KIKI held her mobile terminal and deployed a drone to begin scouting. The monitoring screen showed the drone flying over the frost-covered train cars of the Dragon Mountain One. Through the ice-coated windows, there was no sign of movement inside. On the exterior armor, dense claw marks, puncture wounds, and battle damage from Snow Wraith attacks were everywhere. Seeing this, everyone''s expression darkened. After all, Dragon Mountain One had over a thousand people onboard. Its firepower and defenses weren¡¯t any weaker than the Infinite Train, and in terms of mobility, it was even stronger. How could it have gotten stranded here? "A brutal battle must have taken place," KIKI said while adjusting the drone''s flight. "But their external armor isn¡¯t broken, and the interior compartments still seem intact... that¡¯s strange." "There¡¯s no way this many people could have just disappeared without a trace," Lin Xian frowned. "Even if there were corpses, there should be some remains." Back at Dalat Town, they had seen the brutally massacred convoy. If Dragon Mountain One had suffered a complete annihilation, the scene should have been even worse. But now, this colossal doomsday fortress just sat silently, motionless in the frozen wasteland, buried under snow¡ªeerily still. "Huh?" KIKI''s drone made another pass and spotted something odd. "I remember Dragon Mountain One had two Intercontinental-Class Drive Cores... but there''s only one left?" "What?" Lin Xian stepped forward and zoomed in on the drone¡¯s feed. Sure enough, the train¡¯s primary drive engine and power locomotive were missing¡ªonly the main train head remained. "They must have encountered something unexpected," Chen Sixuan said, glancing at Lin Xian. "We''re going in to check." Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate. "Shu Qin, KIKI, you''re with me." "Got it!" Lin Xian didn¡¯t have time for speculation¡ªhe needed to confirm the situation immediately. Dragon Mountain One had once been an ally in battle. If they were in trouble, he would help without hesitation. Besides, with the train blocking their path, they had no choice but to investigate. Hiss¡ª The cockpit door slid open, and the three of them stepped out, sinking knee-deep into the freezing snow. "The snow is too deep¡ªwalking is almost impossible," Shu Qin muttered. "Without specialized gear, movement is a nightmare." "KIKI!" Lin Xian called out. "Got it!" KIKI flicked her fingers, and an invisible psychic force surged forward, blasting a path through the snow. She then hovered into the air, while Lin Xian and Shu Qin sprinted toward Dragon Mountain One. As the snow parted, a gruesome sight was revealed beneath it¡ªlayers of frozen Snow Wraith corpses, stacked like shattered pastries, hidden beneath the pristine surface. The horrifying scene made their scalps tingle. Last night, the Infinite Train had wiped out thousands of Snow Wraiths at Uliyasitai Mountain, yet here, the density of bodies around Dragon Mountain One seemed even greater. The double-layered armored train cars were covered in marks where monsters had clawed, stabbed, and bitten. Chunks of flesh, bones, and torn skin were frozen solid in the ice crystals, creating a terrifying spectacle. From the air, KIKI flew up to one of the upper train cars. She flicked her fingers again, sweeping away the frost on the windows before peering inside. The interior was empty. These were once crowded living compartments, where Dragon Mountain One''s survivors had turned their train into a mobile fortress¡ªtight quarters, but filled with life and a sense of security. But now? Not a single soul remained. It was as if they had vanished into thin air. Below, Lin Xian placed a hand on the train''s metal surface and activated Mechanical Heart¡ªonly for his expression to change drastically. "The heating system is still running... Someone is inside!" Thud! Thud! Thud! Just as KIKI moved closer, a shadow suddenly darted across the corridor inside! KIKI¡¯s eyes widened. "Who¡¯s in there!?" Lin Xian grabbed onto the armored plating and climbed rapidly using his exosuit¡¯s climbing function. "The door¡¯s up ahead!" Shu Qin followed, climbing onto the roof. Boom! KIKI soared ahead, tracking the shadow. She extended her hand, releasing a psychic shockwave, shattering layers of ice on the train¡¯s exterior to get a better view inside. Thud, thud, thud! Suddenly, the noise inside grew louder¡ªthe sound of multiple people running. At last, Lin Xian reached a large airlock door. He activated Mechanical Heart, covering the entire train car, and forced the door open. Hiss¡ª! A burst of hot air rushed out, colliding with the cold outside air, creating a thick white mist. Click, click, click. As the mist cleared, multiple gun barrels were suddenly aimed straight at them. "Who goes there!?" RAT-TAT-TAT! The people inside hadn¡¯t expected the door to be forced open¡ªthey panicked and opened fire! Bullets tore into the snow outside, kicking up a chaotic spray of ice and powder. From the roof, Shu Qin¡¯s exosuit suddenly issued a warning: [WARNING: Unidentified hostile rapidly approaching from behind.] Shu Qin¡¯s eyes narrowed. She reacted instantly¡ªslamming down on the train roof, denting the metal, then leaping into the air, flipping 180 degrees, and drawing her Remington M96. But the shadow behind her moved just as fast! It twisted mid-air, kicking her gun barrel aside! BANG! The gunshot missed, but Shu Qin didn¡¯t flinch. With her left hand, she drew a shotgun, swinging it horizontally while dodging a bladed weapon aimed at her face. Their fight erupted in a blur of speed, both moving faster than an ordinary human. Meanwhile, inside the train¡ª KIKI yanked the gunmen out of the car with her psychic power, hurling them into the snow. Buzz! A red-hot glow flickered from inside the dark train car. KIKI''s brows furrowed. "What kind of ability is this...?" WHOOSH! Suddenly¡ª Two beams of searing laser light blasted outward! But before they could reach KIKI, the air twisted strangely, bending the energy into a crimson sphere! BOOM! A shockwave of heat instantly vaporized the surrounding snow, melting a crater into the frozen ground. Steam billowed into the air. "Lasers?!" KIKI was shocked. She glanced at Lin Xian¡ªhe had activated his Gravity Lens, distorting the laser¡¯s trajectory. Lin Xian had begun mastering this ability, particularly against energy-based attacks. "You dare attack me!?" KIKI furiously extended her psychic grip, yanking the attacker from the train. A teenager, no older than seventeen, wearing thick sunglasses, was dragged out. Dark red energy swirled around his eyes¡ªhe was about to fire another attack. "Not happening!" KIKI immobilized his hands. The boy struggled wildly, but physically, he was weak. Against KIKI¡¯s psychic force, he had zero chance of breaking free. Lin Xian frowned. "This isn¡¯t someone from Dragon Mountain One." "Who are you!? Where is Shi Diyuan!?" The boy¡¯s face drastically changed. Just then¡ª A woman¡¯s voice suddenly shouted from inside: "STOP! Lin Xian¡ªit¡¯s us!" Chapter 251: Longshan Dilemma At the rear section of Dragon Mountain No. 1, the carriage doors swung open, and seven or eight fully armed personnel rushed out in unison. In the snow, the people KIKI had dragged out at gunpoint struggled to their feet. The woman who had been fighting Shu Qin on the train roof also halted her attacks. The three of them stood in a standoff, their gazes locked onto the approaching group. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at the woman in the lead¡ªshe seemed incredibly familiar. "Hold your fire¡ªthis is a misunderstanding." The woman was clad in a thick white down jacket and wore a high-tech thermal mask. Tall and poised, she carried an air of authority. She sternly ordered her subordinates to stand down before turning to Lin Xian. "Captain Lin, I¡¯m Ning Jing from Dragon Mountain No. 1. We met before at Yubei Spaceport." Everyone was bundled in cold-weather gear and helmets, making it difficult to recognize faces at a glance. But as soon as Lin Xian heard her name, he remembered¡ªthis was the woman who had been following behind Shi Diyuan at the spaceport. Ning Jing, the deputy train commander of Dragon Mountain No. 1, had proven herself to be quite formidable in the battle at the spaceport. Phew... Lin Xian exhaled inside his thermal mask. Then, raising a hand, he gestured to Shu Qin on the roof and KIKI beside him. The two withdrew their attacks. KIKI tossed the young man she was holding back into the snow and remarked, "Oh, I remember you. But these two guys look unfamiliar. I thought your train had been hijacked." "They¡¯re our new teammates," Ning Jing explained to Lin Xian. "I failed to receive your response signal earlier, and by the time we realized, fighting had already broken out." She turned to the girl on the train and the young man in the snow. "A¡¯Bai, Xiao Qing. Is everyone okay?" The girl named Xiao Qing remained silent, giving only a slight shake of her head. Meanwhile, the young man, still half-buried in snow, hurriedly adjusted his sunglasses and stammered, "Jing-jie, I¡¯m fine... I¡¯m totally fine..." "This guy¡¯s eyes can shoot laser beams. Your new teammates are pretty impressive," KIKI commented, clapping her hands. Shu Qin, still standing on the train, observed Xiao Qing carefully. The girl wasn¡¯t using a powered exosuit, yet her physical enhancements were already at a highly advanced level. In their brief exchange, she had even managed to put some pressure on Shu Qin. However, Shu Qin also realized that Xiao Qing wasn¡¯t fully proficient in combat yet¡ªher lack of experience with exosuit maneuvering had somewhat hindered her abilities. Lin Xian swept his gaze over them and got straight to the point. "What happened to you guys?" The rear carriages were empty. The responder hadn''t picked up. And from Ning Jing¡¯s heavy expression, it was obvious something had gone wrong aboard Dragon Mountain No. 1. Ning Jing glanced toward the distant Infinite Train. For some reason, a hint of relief flickered across her face. "Captain Lin, if it¡¯s convenient, let¡¯s talk inside. It¡¯s too cold out here." "Alright." Lin Xian nodded. Seeing his agreement, Ning Jing turned to Xiao Qing and the young man. "You two, get inside as well. They¡¯re allies." The tension dissolved, and Lin Xian, KIKI, and Shu Qin followed Ning Jing into the rear carriages of Dragon Mountain No. 1. Inside, the temperature wasn¡¯t high¡ªLin Xian¡¯s exosuit system displayed only 12 to 13 degrees Celsius¡ªbut compared to the frigid -50 degrees outside, it felt downright cozy. Lin Xian removed his thermal mask and surveyed the carriage. It was eerily empty. What was once a packed living carriage was now devoid of people, with a lingering coldness in the air. "You¡¯ve been stuck here for days?" Lin Xian immediately asked. "Almost two days," Ning Jing replied, leading them to the lounge area of a living carriage. Several members of Dragon Mountain No. 1 quickly brought over insulated thermoses filled with hot water. "It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t want to leave, but we underestimated the scale of the blizzard. When we arrived here two days ago, the snow wasn¡¯t this bad." The middle-aged man standing beside Ning Jing, Lu Yong¡ªanother familiar face to Lin Xian¡ªspoke up. "Right now, we¡¯re completely immobilized. The tracks are iced over, and the train is too large and heavy to gain any traction. The biggest issue is that one of our drive motor units has failed, and we¡¯ve been trying to repair it for the past two days." "What? You¡¯re stuck?" KIKI was surprised. She and Lin Xian had initially assumed Dragon Mountain No. 1 had suffered some major attack or disaster¡ªwho would¡¯ve thought it was just an issue with getting the train moving? "And where¡¯s Shi Diyuan?" Lin Xian asked, getting to the crucial point. "He led a team northeast to a place called Trakama Ice Valley," Ning Jing replied. "Two days ago, we intercepted a high-frequency distress signal from Phoenix. Old Shi immediately decided to lead a team for a rescue mission, while the rest of us were supposed to wait here for six hours. The plan was that if they didn¡¯t return in time, we would proceed to Xilan City and wait for further updates." "But the extreme cold vortex hit too fast, cutting off all communications. We also suffered multiple attacks from Snow Wraiths. The lead traction locomotive malfunctioned, and with the ice and deep snow... well¡ª" Ning Jing sighed. "We ended up completely stranded." "He took a team out for a rescue mission?" Shu Qin was puzzled. "Did they go by train?" "No." Lu Yong explained, "Our No. 2 and No. 3 power locomotives were modified with Triangle Track high-magnetic all-terrain drive modules. Captain Shi took the backup energy locomotive, traction locomotives, and three heavy firepower weapon station vehicles." Hearing this, Lin Xian recalled Shi Diyuan¡¯s bold nature from their time at the spaceport. This was exactly the kind of thing he¡¯d expect from the guy¡ªa man of action when disaster struck. "You modified them for all-terrain driving?" KIKI was shocked. "Where did you even get that upgrade?" "That¡¯s not the focus right now," Lin Xian interrupted, turning back to Ning Jing with urgency. "How long have they been missing?" Ning Jing shook her head. "We lost contact as soon as they left. Normally, our communication devices cover about 20 kilometers. Beyond that, we have no way of knowing. The extreme cold vortex disrupted radio frequencies, so we stuck to our original plan¡ªwaiting six hours." "But the blizzard hit too fast. The Snow Wraiths kept attacking. We couldn¡¯t even leave if we wanted to." "Two days ago, I sent a search team northeast, but the snow was too heavy. Out there, even without encountering Snow Wraiths, it¡¯s nearly impossible to navigate. I feared further casualties, so I pulled them back." "For safety, I relocated all passengers to the front carriages, where heating is concentrated, and our combat personnel can provide better protection." "Oh, so that¡¯s why this part of the train is empty," KIKI noted. "But doesn¡¯t that leave the rear carriages vulnerable to eerie entity attacks?" "We have patrolling guards stationed here." Ning Jing looked at them. "You should know those creatures can sense human presence. They only attack occupied carriages. They ignore empty ones." "That makes sense..." KIKI had been about to mention something about markers, but on second thought, she realized Ning Jing was right. Regardless of markers, eerie entities wouldn¡¯t waste effort attacking abandoned sections. Ning Jing then looked at Lin Xian. Seeing him deep in thought, she took the initiative to speak. "I was planning to detach twenty carriages and try to break free from the snow while sending a scouting team to Xilan City for help. But now that you¡¯re here..." She knew Lin Xian¡¯s capabilities. Under these circumstances, his arrival was practically divine intervention. From Lin Xian¡¯s perspective, sacrificing excess carriage weight to gain momentum for a charge was a sound decision. Dragon Mountain No. 1 had 68 carriages and over a thousand passengers¡ªessentially a mobile fortress. If it remained trapped in the snow, it would become a frozen metal coffin. This was exactly the kind of crisis Lin Xian had been wary of. "Do you have precise coordinates?" Lin Xian asked. "Yes." Ning Jing nodded. "Trakama Ice Valley is about 80 li from here. But the blizzard and signal interference make it almost impossible to navigate off-track. Plus, there are the Snow Wraiths..." "That¡¯s why Old Shi¡¯s plan was to take the all-terrain train¡ªjust to be safe." Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned serious. "If Phoenix was the one sending the distress signal, then the situation must be beyond what normal survivors could handle. Shi-ge is one hell of a guy." He wasn¡¯t being sarcastic¡ªif he were in Shi Diyuan¡¯s shoes, he wouldn¡¯t have had many better options either. With the deep snow covering everything, the vehicles onboard were practically useless. The only ones with actual mobility were KIKI and the Fire God Mecha¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t like they could just have KIKI fly across the endless frozen wasteland to search for people. "I don¡¯t know the exact situation either," Ning Jing admitted. She relayed the distress signal they had received to Lin Xian. "When we first entered the Parma Grasslands, we saw a giant mecha being airlifted by multiple transport planes toward the southwestern interior during the blizzard. I suspect it was some kind of Phoenix weaponry test project. Then, two nights ago, there was a massive earthquake near Yaze Lake. Other survivors around Su Feng Village and Yaze Lake also witnessed it¡ªsome even claimed to have seen an S-Class Eerie Entity. "That¡¯s why Old Shi speculated that the distress signal might be related to that incident¡ªbecause under normal circumstances, Phoenix wouldn¡¯t send out an SOS so easily..." "A giant mecha?" KIKI¡¯s eyes widened as she immediately looked toward Lin Xian. Lin Xian understood as well. It seemed Hu Lushou¡¯s intelligence wasn¡¯t wrong. The only issue was that Phoenix¡¯s regional broadcast had previously reported an S-Class Eerie Entity appearing in Cloudwatch Swamp, which was in the southern part of Parma Grasslands, near the eastern Wei River. And now, another was sighted near Yaze Lake on the northern route. This meant either that unknown entity was moving toward Xilan City¡ªor that Parma Grasslands had more than one S-Class Eerie Entity. "I think I get the picture," Lin Xian said, standing up. He looked at Ning Jing. "Take me to the damaged traction locomotive first." The priority right now was to free Dragon Mountain No. 1¡ªonly then could Infinite Train continue moving. Given the current situation, both teams would have to work together to break through the snowfield and head for Xilan City. Fortunately, everyone here was already acquainted. Ning Jing knew Lin Xian¡¯s skills, so there was no need for unnecessary talk¡ªshe immediately led him forward through the train. On the way, KIKI spoke quietly to Lin Xian. "What do you think?" "If the repairs go smoothly and the weather doesn¡¯t get worse before we leave, I want to take a look," Lin Xian replied honestly. Shi Diyuan, Phoenix¡ªwhoever was involved, Lin Xian felt it was worth stepping in to help. But he also knew that Trakama Ice Valley was bound to be dangerous. Shi Diyuan had taken a heavily armed combat train, yet they still hadn¡¯t returned. If Lin Xian went, it would be a lightweight expedition. Even with powerful ability users like KIKI, the harsh weather alone could render them ineffective. So, he was conflicted. KIKI understood him well. "Earlier, Ning Jing mentioned sending an advance team, which means they must have small all-terrain vehicles. And obviously, they also want to find Shi Diyuan. I think we can cooperate¡ªsend a small team to check out the ice valley. If things go south, we can always retreat. It¡¯s still daylight, and if we travel light, our mobility should let us escape if needed." Lin Xian glanced at KIKI and lowered his voice. "You little brat... you¡¯re just curious about that giant mecha, aren¡¯t you?" KIKI crossed her arms. "You¡¯re a mechanical ability user¡ªsomething like that is practically a nuclear-level weapon for you. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re not curious?" Lin Xian remained expressionless, but of course, he was interested. However, he always approached things from a practical standpoint. Right now, Infinite Train was stuck. The immediate priority was escaping before another blizzard struck. If they couldn¡¯t even secure Infinite Train, then any other plans were just wishful thinking. But since this also involved Phoenix and his old friend Shi Diyuan, if the logistics worked out, this was a risk worth taking. One issue with such a long train was that moving from the rear carriages to the front took quite a bit of time. Infinite Train had 14 carriages, and even at a fast pace, getting from the front to the back took at least a couple of minutes. Dragon Mountain No. 1 was even longer and more cramped. Though the corridors had been specially managed for efficiency, it still took nearly seven or eight minutes of fast walking to reach the front. Along the way, Lin Xian, KIKI, and Shu Qin got a full view of the train¡¯s internal facilities. There were hive-like sleeping compartments in the living carriages¡ªsome double-decker carriages could accommodate over 80 people. They passed through storage and weapon carriages, a medical station, a radio broadcast center, an armory, and even an entertainment carriage. There was a dedicated manufacturing carriage outfitted with industrial lathes, bullet reloading presses, and 3D mechanical printers for fabricating essential parts. Further ahead, they saw carriages repurposed as conference rooms and makeshift classrooms. There was even a psychological counseling carriage designed with customized internal scenery. One of the more intriguing sights was a functioning supermarket where passengers could barter their stored goods for much-needed supplies. Lin Xian was quietly impressed. This train had practically become a self-sustaining mobile society. As they passed the front living quarters, curious passengers peeked out from their compartments, whispering among themselves. "New members again?" "Isn¡¯t that the leader of Infinite Train? I saw him at the spaceport." "Infinite Train? Are we seriously running into them again?" "What are they here for?" "No idea..." As they neared the front, the temperature noticeably increased¡ªnot just from the heating system, but also from the sheer number of people packed into the space. Ning Jing had concentrated most of the firepower here to compensate for the difficulty of defending such a large group while stranded in the snowfield. If they had been in motion, this wouldn¡¯t have been necessary. But right now, they were not only immobilized, but they had also lost some of their combat power when Shi Diyuan took a squad and heavy weaponry to Trakama Ice Valley. Protecting over a thousand people was no easy task. Finally, Ning Jing and Lu Yong led them into the front section. Apart from an intercontinental nuclear-powered locomotive, Dragon Mountain No. 1 had two electric traction locomotives similar to Lin Xian¡¯s Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive. These high-energy-consuming systems required careful power distribution across the train. To conserve energy, Shi Diyuan had taken one of the small nuclear-powered locomotives, one traction electric locomotive, and three weapon station carriages, along with over sixty personnel. The remaining power supply and traction engines should have been more than enough to drive Dragon Mountain No. 1 forward¡ªif not for this unexpected malfunction. "This is the one," Ning Jing said, leading Lin Xian into a large electric locomotive. Beyond it lay the intercontinental nuclear-powered locomotive, the head of the train, which¡ªlike Infinite Train¡ªhad been reinforced with heavy armor plating, primarily for clearing zombie hordes and obstacles. In icy conditions, it doubled as a breakthrough ice shield. Shi Diyuan had only modified Power Core No. 2 with a Triangle Track high-magnetic all-terrain drive module, but he had left Power Core No. 1¡ªthe intercontinental power unit¡ªuntouched. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure why. "I¡¯ll take a look first. Hopefully, it¡¯s not too bad." Checking his watch, Lin Xian saw it was already nearing 1 PM. The daylight hours were getting shorter. He wasn¡¯t sure if he could repair something this massive before nightfall, but there was no other choice. Dragon Mountain No. 1 was blocking the track¡ªInfinite Train couldn¡¯t just fly over it. Without hesitation, Lin Xian activated Mechanical Heart and began scanning the electric locomotive. Immediately, the intricate structures of the electric traction drive system, traction motors, and microcomputer network control system appeared before him in a projected light screen. As the scan expanded, a complete high-power electric locomotive blueprint was displayed. After analyzing it, Lin Xian let out a breath. "It¡¯s fixable. Give me 30 minutes." Ning Jing visibly relaxed. "That¡¯s a relief. Looks like we¡¯re not doomed after all." KIKI raised an eyebrow at her. "You have engineers, don¡¯t you?" "We do," Ning Jing replied helplessly. "They diagnosed the issue, but¡ª" "Two sets of asynchronous/permanent magnet synchronous motors failed. The active tilting mechanism is damaged," Lin Xian cut in first. "This requires modular replacement or a full remanufacture. In any other setting, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem¡ªbut in these conditions, it¡¯s impossible." Unless you had Mechanical Heart. "We tried yesterday. Three people died." Lu Yong sighed. "But strangely enough, since last night, not a single one of those snow beasts has appeared. I don¡¯t know if they¡¯ve all died off or what." "You too?" KIKI was surprised. "Last night, we killed a bunch of them, but after that, nothing. Not even one. It¡¯s really weird." "Maybe they operate in packs and moved elsewhere," Shu Qin analyzed. "Hopefully," Ning Jing replied. "But I¡¯m more worried that this means something worse. When groups of these creatures suddenly disappear, it often signals the arrival of a higher-tier Eerie Entity¡ªone that hasn¡¯t shown itself yet." Lin Xian frowned. "You mean... territory?" He had already encountered this in Rain Town. There, the Inverted Ghosts lurking in the cinema and those Impostors had created a clear territorial boundary¡ªexternal Eerie Entities didn¡¯t step into that zone. At first, it seemed like the area was safe, but in reality, it concealed a far greater danger. Lin Xian no longer believed in "good luck." Ning Jing looked at him. "So, you¡¯ve encountered large territorial Eerie Entities before. In my experience, this is never a good sign. Maybe Old Shi¡¯s team ran into exactly this kind of trouble." Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. "Ning-jie, do you have any snow vehicles?" "We have some spare all-terrain polar trucks. Why?" Ning Jing narrowed her eyes. "Are you thinking of¡ª?" "As soon as the train is fixed, I want to go after Old Shi." Lin Xian checked his watch. "Repairing this traction locomotive should take around thirty minutes. If both our trains push forward together, I¡¯ll need to set up additional traction support between them. With ability users clearing a path, we should be able to get moving." "If the blizzard doesn¡¯t hit yet, we could quickly mobilize and reach Trakama Ice Valley within two hours. There¡¯s a chance we could find some clues." Ning Jing¡¯s eyes lit up. "Good! I was thinking the same thing. I¡¯ll take a team with you¡ªbetter to have backup." Lin Xian nodded and immediately started planning. He used his communicator to contact Chen Sixuan, instructing her to have Fire Bro bring Infinite Train up to the front of Dragon Mountain No. 1 to prepare for the push forward. Infinite Train would be under Chen Sixuan¡¯s command, while he and KIKI would go with Ning Jing¡¯s team in an all-terrain polar truck to Trakama Ice Valley. Preparation for Departure Inside the dim, cold carriage, Lin Xian quickly got to work. Using Mechanical Heart, he extended his scanning field, breaking down the locomotive''s mechanical and electrical systems into detailed blueprints. The projection outlined all components: the traction motors, synchronous motor system, power transmission unit, and the train¡¯s central control module. One by one, Lin Xian identified the issues. "The good news is, the key systems are intact," he muttered. "The main problem is the traction motors¡ªthey¡¯re misaligned due to ice buildup and internal stress fractures. And your primary support pivot is jammed, causing the whole drivetrain to lock up." "In short, we¡¯re stuck," KIKI summarized, arms crossed. "It¡¯s not unfixable." Lin Xian cracked his knuckles. "I can repair the fractured components directly using mechanical devour and mechanical scan to reconstruct the missing parts. But I need tools." Lu Yong hesitated. "What kind of tools?" "Something for high-energy welding, metal reformation, and fine-precision component assembly," Lin Xian listed off. "A plasma welder, a micro-welding laser, and a mobile assembly kit." "We have those in the manufacturing carriage," Ning Jing said immediately. "Then let¡¯s move." Lin Xian and Ning Jing¡¯s engineers worked at full speed. With the tools provided, Lin Xian used mechanical devour to break down excess scrap metal from the train, restructuring the damaged traction motor components. Sparks flew as he wielded the plasma welder, sealing fractures in the pivot support system. His mechanical scan projected a real-time blueprint, allowing him to make micro-adjustments with absolute precision. Time ticked by. KIKI and Shu Qin stood guard, watching for any unusual movement outside. The wind had calmed slightly, but there was still a thick tension in the air. "Done!" Lin Xian exhaled. Ning Jing¡¯s engineers stared in shock. "That should¡¯ve taken at least six hours..." Lin Xian wiped his hands. "I work fast." With the traction motors realigned and the pivot support repaired, Lin Xian moved to the power relays, checking for any last-minute failures. After final recalibrations, he looked at Ning Jing. "Start it up." The train engineers nodded and powered up the locomotive. A deep mechanical hum resonated through the train as the motors cycled back to life. The once-dead engine roared, the traction drive stabilizing as electrical currents surged through the system. "We¡¯re good!" one of the engineers confirmed. Ning Jing let out a breath of relief. "Perfect. Now we just need to get moving." Splitting the Teams With Dragon Mountain No. 1 operational again, Lin Xian turned to the next step. "Now we prepare for departure," he said. "But before that¡ªNing-jie, we need one of your all-terrain polar trucks." Ning Jing immediately called for one of their modified heavy-duty snow crawlers¡ªa Triangle Track APC, outfitted with extreme cold insulation and high-torque drives. She selected four combat-ready team members, including Lu Yong, to accompany them. Lin Xian, KIKI, and Shu Qin would round out the scouting squad. Their objective: locate Shi Diyuan¡¯s team and identify what happened at Trakama Ice Valley. The sky had started to darken. "We move fast," Lin Xian said. "Two hours there and back. If we don¡¯t find anything, we retreat immediately." KIKI smirked. "Exciting. Let¡¯s go." Ning Jing gave Lin Xian a firm nod. "We¡¯ll hold down the train while you¡¯re gone. Stay alive out there." With a final check of their gear, the expedition team climbed into the all-terrain truck. The Triangle Track APC growled to life, its reinforced treads crushing through the snow as it began its treacherous journey toward Trakama Ice Valley. Chapter 252: Trakama Ice Valley The news of the Infinity¡¯s arrival and the imminent repair of the Longshan No.1 traction locomotive quickly spread between the two trains. The once anxious atmosphere inside the living quarters of the Longshan No.1 eased noticeably as passengers, who had been gripped by fear, finally breathed sighs of relief¡ªsome excited, others full of gratitude. Lin Xian could feel the surge of emotion from the rear carriages, and it left him with a sense of contemplation. The larger the group, the more easily emotions could be swayed, for better or worse. This made managing a train community far more complex. That said, there were benefits too¡ªstrength in numbers. Coupled with Lin Xian¡¯s mechanical weapon-crafting ability, it meant they could potentially form a highly capable combat force¡ªenough to establish a stronghold in this apocalyptic world. When word spread that Lin Xian was using his mechanical abilities to repair the locomotive, people came running from other carriages to catch a glimpse. Even with armed guards keeping watch, the curious stares toward the traction engine couldn¡¯t be stopped. ¡°Whoa, is that Captain Lin?!¡± ¡°I saw him back at Yubei Airport¡ªhe¡¯s a total hero!¡± ¡°Mechanical powers are so cool!¡± ¡°Oh my god, we might actually be saved!¡± ¡°He¡¯s fixing that massive locomotive all by himself...!¡± ¡°Let me see! Move over!¡± The crowd buzzed with chatter. Nearby, KIKI, Shu Qin, and Ning Jing were prepping their gear for a field mission. Seeing the gawking crowd, KIKI grinned and said to Lin Xian, ¡°You¡¯re such a hit now. Once we reach Xilan City, I bet Phoenix Society will fight to recruit you.¡± She said it half-jokingly, but Shu Qin caught the comment and looked at Lin Xian with a complicated expression. She wasn¡¯t sure what he intended. If Lin Xian joined Phoenix Society, did that mean the Infinity would be disbanded? Would their whole group end up absorbed into Phoenix Society, relying on them for protection? ¡°Joining Phoenix Society doesn¡¯t mean everything changes,¡± Lin Xian said seriously. ¡°They¡¯re still a mobile official organization. The Dawn Center is basically a mega-convoy or a mobile city. Even if the Infinity merges into the main group, it doesn¡¯t mean we can relax or expect to be fully sheltered.¡± Lin Xian understood full well: with great power comes great responsibility. In this post-apocalyptic world, even women and children had to contribute¡ªthere were no innocents left. ¡°Exactly,¡± Ning Jing chimed in, walking over. Behind her stood the pair known as A-Bai and Xiao Qing, both fully geared up. It looked like she planned to bring them along for the rescue mission with Lin Xian. ¡°Phoenix Society isn¡¯t like Dawn City,¡± she continued. ¡°Without a town to anchor them, all land-based survivor convoys¡ªtrains, trucks, RVs, whatever¡ªoperate as independent mobile communities. Joining the Dawn Center gives us a shared system for intelligence, resources, and defense, but it doesn¡¯t mean giving up our own vehicles. In fact, maintaining your own ride is more important than ever.¡± ¡°The great human migration... sounds like a swarm of ants,¡± Shu Qin said, right on cue. ¡°Not wrong,¡± Ning Jing nodded. KIKI shrugged. ¡°Not everyone in Phoenix Society is migrating. It¡¯s mostly the main survival forces. Like Kehua Heavy Industries, for instance¡ªthat¡¯s the world¡¯s largest military tech conglomerate. There¡¯s no way all those factories and labs could be moved.¡± ¡°No way,¡± Lin Xian agreed. ¡°Phoenix City and Noah might have some industrial capabilities, but supporting the interstellar army and all of Phoenix Society¡¯s needs still requires land-based megafactories. That rumored super-sized mecha? There¡¯s no way the Dawn Center¡¯s mobile bases could produce that.¡± ¡°To my knowledge, Kehua still has multiple bases under military guard,¡± Ning Jing added. ¡°Phoenix City is also working with major organizations like the Fingal Group.¡± She looked at Lin Xian. ¡°You probably know Jian Xuwei from the Silver Star. The Fingal Group still holds a lot of assets and influence globally. It¡¯s more than just that Eternal-class apocalypse train. Then there¡¯s Silent City, another key arms supplier working with both Phoenix Society and Dawn City. Even what¡¯s left of the old Federation¡¯s Dawn City still collaborates with Phoenix Society in certain areas.¡± ¡°Different factions don¡¯t mean they can¡¯t cooperate,¡± Lin Xian said solemnly. ¡°Humanity¡¯s all facing the same crisis. Every survivor probably wishes we could all unite instead of staying divided.¡± ¡°Yeah... we can only hope,¡± Ning Jing sighed. Then she glanced back at A-Bai and Xiao Qing and said, ¡°These two¡ªwe rescued them from a group called the Descendants. They were being used as test subjects in experiments on biological evolution. Do you think groups like that want humanity to unite?¡± All eyes turned toward the pair behind her. A-Bai wore thick sunglasses. His features were youthful, probably seventeen or eighteen, and though silent, his body language screamed anxiety and unease¡ªa deep, physiological fear of the outside world. Beside him, Xiao Qing looked delicate and sweet at first glance, the type to give off a gentle vibe. But her eyes were cold and expressionless, completely devoid of emotion. She clutched her gunblade tightly, exuding a chilling detachment that didn¡¯t belong to someone her age. ¡°Test subjects? What kind of experiments?¡± KIKI frowned. Ning Jing sighed. She gently patted A-Bai¡¯s shoulder, perhaps trying to help him relax. Then, right in front of everyone, she slowly lifted his sunglasses. In the next moment, all three of them¡ªLin Xian, KIKI, and Shu Qin¡ªvisibly tensed. Around A-Bai¡¯s eyes were dozens of pinprick scars and small sensor ports, stitched together with staple-like fasteners. His eyes were a lifeless gray, with no pupils¡ªonly a faint energy ripple visible inside. A-Bai clearly hated the exposure. He trembled, and Ning Jing quickly replaced the sunglasses. ¡°His eyes evolved abilities,¡± she said quietly. ¡°So they used them for experiments.¡± ¡°At that moment, when we rescued them... I really wondered what was more terrifying¡ªmonsters in the dark, or human nature.¡± KIKI¡¯s expression turned grim. She stared silently at the pair. Shu Qin echoed her mood, voice low. ¡°You can¡¯t apply normal logic to people like that.¡± Vrrrm¡ª Suddenly, the electric traction motor hummed to life, rumbling deep from the engine. Lin Xian stood, stepped past the women, and looked toward Ning Jing. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s coordinate our plans. In and out¡ªfast.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Ning Jing¡¯s expression relaxed. ¡°I did the math earlier¡ªif we leave now, and the snow holds off, we should reach Xilan City around 10 p.m. tonight. If we stop by Trakama Ice Valley, that adds at least two hours round trip. Either way, it''ll be dark before we reach Xilan, so we¡¯ve got a little wiggle room.¡± But Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°The blizzard will return¡ªand the snow won¡¯t be the only threat. We need to get this done quick. If things go sideways, we pull back and get moving ASAP. No one¡¯s safe unless the train¡¯s running. Only once we reach Xilan City can we breathe easy.¡± Xilan was heavily guarded by Phoenix Society and packed with survivors¡ªbasically the only true safe haven in this storm-ravaged world. Only there could Lin Xian lower his guard, even a little. While passing along the Dark Mark data to Phoenix Society, he also hoped to secure an upgraded train drive system¡ªor at least some info on mechanical techniques and ability developments. In short, reuniting with Phoenix Society meant reconnecting with a central authority. For survivors constantly on the run, finding that kind of structure again was a huge morale boost. Hope, at last. In the howling wind, the Infinity was linked to the rear of Longshan No.1 through a custom metal connector crafted by Lin Xian. Inside the Infinity, Lin Xian gathered his core members to brief them on the plan. ¡°KIKI and I will go. Same arrangement as always¡ªif I¡¯m not here, Ms. Chen takes command of the train.¡± He glanced at his watch and added, ¡°It¡¯s all set with Longshan No.1¡ªwe won¡¯t take more than three hours. If a blizzard hits, we¡¯ll pull back early.¡± He turned toward Lu Xingchen and Shasha. ¡°Huoge, Shasha, you two take the lead here. Shasha, get Fire God ready for rapid response. Ms. Chen, stay in contact with Lu Yong from Longshan No.1. Dalu and Shu Qin will guard the cars.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°Are we really expecting an S-class anomalous entity out there?¡± ¡°Yeah, it sounds super dangerous,¡± Shasha added. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re keeping it light,¡± Lin Xian explained. ¡°Fewer people means quicker retreat.¡± ¡°Alright, you two be careful,¡± said Ms. Chen. ¡°Let¡¯s roll, little miss,¡± Lin Xian called out. KIKI came around the corner just then, towing the PX-05 robot with her. ¡°We¡¯re taking this guy. Might come in handy.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Good call.¡± Vroom! Two camouflage-patterned tracked polar vehicles crushed snow beneath them and rumbled out. Lin Xian and KIKI took one;Ning Jing, along with A-Bai and Xiao Qing, took the other. Without further delay, both vehicles sped northeastward, kicking up clouds of snow, quickly disappearing into the vast white wilderness. ¡°Log the coordinates. Mark the route,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°On it~¡± KIKI replied, cheerful as ever. Every so often, she used telekinesis to drive a long rod with a small transmitter into the deep snow. Then she tapped her device, activating a blinking green light on the transmitter. It was a makeshift relay node Lin Xian had designed, capable of helping them track their path back even if a blizzard interfered with their signals. As the vehicles plunged into the snowy plains, they felt like boats sailing across a boundless white sea. The original Palma Grasslands, already vast and hill-less, were now completely blanketed in snow. The sky and land merged into a glaring white nothingness. It was impossible to judge if they were driving straight. The nav systems had been reduced to just basic compass directions¡ªnothing more. In the second vehicle, Ning Jing followed behind Lin Xian, watching his every move. ¡°Mechanical powers... seriously OP. In this frozen hell, he just pulls a signal relay out of thin air.¡± ¡°He... he¡¯s really strong,¡± A-Bai said softly from the backseat. ¡°He... blocked my beam.¡± Ning Jing looked surprised. Then she said, ¡°That train of his is full of hidden talent. The girl beside him¡ªshe¡¯s telekinetic. I''ve met a lot of powerful Awakened, but she¡¯s the only one I¡¯ve seen with telekinesis. As for Lin Xian¡¯s mechanical ability... I¡¯ve never even heard of anything like it. It¡¯s not just a power¡ªit feels like something a god would bestow.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not... the only one with mechanical abilities,¡± Xiao Qing suddenly spoke, her tone flat. ¡°Huh?¡± Ning Jing glanced at her in the rearview mirror. ¡°You¡¯ve met another one?¡± Xiao Qing stared out at the blinding snow and went silent again. Ning Jing didn¡¯t press. She knew both of them had been through hell in that strange cult-like organization called the Descendants. They had a deeply ingrained distrust of the outside world. It had taken her a long time to earn their trust after rescuing them. Both had thrown themselves into protecting the train with reckless abandon. When they had once attacked Lin Xian, she¡¯d been terrified things would escalate¡ªbut thankfully it hadn¡¯t. Back in Lin Xian¡¯s vehicle, KIKI was still fiddling with the terminal as she asked, ¡°You think that cult A-Bai and Xiao Qing came from might be the same as that Foundation research lab?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± Lin Xian said right away. ¡°But it sounds like something they¡¯d do.¡± KIKI scrunched her nose. ¡°Then I get why they were so eager to invite you. Clearly, they wanted to study your ability.¡± Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t said that, I might¡¯ve still been flattering myself¡ªthought they were impressed by my great genes and intellectual charm.¡± Of course he knew. His biggest value to any organization¡ªFoundation, Phoenix Society¡ªwas his mechanical ability. But KIKI shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean. I mean, if they wanted to study you, why not just kidnap you and start experimenting, like they did with the others? Why go out of their way to invite you, show off their weird morality games, and then let us walk out unharmed? Doesn¡¯t that feel... off?¡± Vroom... The vehicle roared over snow drifts. Lin Xian mulled it over silently. ¡°I¡¯ve wondered the same thing,¡± he finally said. He didn¡¯t buy that the Foundation spared them out of fear. Their resources were too overwhelming. But Hua Xiaoling¡¯s demeanor during their encounter... it was odd. Amid the mystery, what struck him most was her sincerity. Yes¡ªsincerity. She seemed genuinely open to different perspectives. Her convictions were strong, and her invitation felt like admiration, even recognition. It clashed violently with the blood-soaked horror of the Chingshui Town test site. Rumble... Above them, thunder echoed from a massive storm vortex, pressing down on the snowy plains. The entire atmosphere trembled with a crushing pressure. ¡¾Low Temperature Alert: -60¡ãC¡¿ Inside the polar vehicle, the temperature warning light glowed red. Frost coated the windows and frames, and the cold seeped in through even the tightest seals. Lin Xian and KIKI were fully suited up, wearing thick thermal helmets and powered temp-reg suits. Still, KIKI shivered and had to create a telekinetic barrier around herself to ease the chill. Seeing this, Lin Xian checked his own system panel. ¡¾Mechanical Amplification: Ice Wall¡¿ ¡¾Amplification Active: Ice Wall ¨C 8h 44m 59s remaining¡¿ ¡°Eight more hours until AT Field is unlocked... just the name alone sounds way tougher than Ice Wall. Another life-saving skill is always welcome...¡± He switched over to the R&D Center tab. ¡¾R&D Center¡¿ ¡¾TRP Gen-4 Industrial Powered Exosuit (Blueprint): 2d 2h remaining¡¿ The power armor upgrade was a huge deal. Once he completed this blueprint, he could manufacture exosuits for the entire team. With a high enough mech-manufacturing level, the whole Infinity crew could become walking mechanical supersoldiers. Back in the real world, the two vehicles pressed onward, mere specks against the endless white sea. After about an hour, the terrain began to shift¡ªgentle hills slowly formed, breaking up the flatness. Using PX-05¡¯s terrain radar, KIKI scanned ahead and discovered that they were approaching a massive glacial canyon stretching for dozens of kilometers. In Lin Xian¡¯s field of vision, the endless white expanse of snow abruptly cut off¡ªreplaced by a sheer cliff edge. He immediately swerved, leading both vehicles along the edge of the canyon up a slope before bringing them to a stop. ¡°We¡¯re here. This should be the Trakamar Ice Valley.¡± As they opened the car doors, a blast of howling snow-laden wind hit them square in the face. Lin Xian, wearing a black snow-blindness face shield, stood atop the polar vehicle¡¯s treads. Ning Jing¡¯s vehicle pulled up behind, and everyone climbed out to look ahead. Not far in the distance, a colossal canyon ripped through the earth, stretching endlessly into the horizon. The howling wind formed turbulent spirals above the ravine, white flakes swirling like spirits in the air. ¡°According to old map data, this canyon has always had glacial terrain,¡± Ning Jing said over the comms, bracing against the wind. ¡°Now with the blizzard covering everything, you can¡¯t even see the glaciers. We haven¡¯t picked up any signal from Lao Shi¡¯s team, but this is definitely the right direction.¡± ¡°How are we supposed to find anything in a canyon this huge? Don¡¯t tell me we¡¯re actually going down there?¡± KIKI sent PX-05 hovering out over the edge of the cliff. But on the terminal screen, all she could see through the storm was a hazy blur¡ªdeep, chaotic terrain full of jagged ice and deadly drop-offs. Lin Xian narrowed his eyes at the gorge. There were open areas and some that were sheer, narrow drops. It was incredibly dangerous, and the lack of any snow demons so far only made him feel even more uneasy. ¡°Ning-jie, let¡¯s search the area centered around here and keep close watch on the time.¡± He looked up at the swirling vortex overhead. From the center of the supercold storm system, bolts of cobalt-blue lightning flickered across the sky, flashing against the dark clouds like a looming doomsday. Whoooosh! As if to prove him right, the wind suddenly intensified. ¡°The blizzard¡¯s about to hit. We shouldn¡¯t stay here long,¡± he said. Ning Jing nodded. ¡°From what we saw on the way here, it didn¡¯t seem overly dangerous. That probably means Lao Shi¡¯s team ran into something else entirely. Could they have gone down into the valley?¡± Lin Xian shook his head firmly. ¡°No way. With terrain like this, you go down, you¡¯re not coming back up. Even with a full-modded, high-torque all-terrain rail vehicle, nobody¡¯s dumb enough to try driving down there.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s move quickly.¡± Ning Jing climbed back into her vehicle and deployed ten compact drones for search and rescue. At the same time, KIKI flew high into the sky, taking PX-05 with her to scan the canyon floor. ¡°Careful, girl.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t remind me~¡± KIKI floated above the frigid chasm. One glance into the bottomless dark, with icy winds howling through, and even she felt a chill in her gut. ¡°This place is seriously creepy...¡± Lin Xian stayed busy too. He walked right up to the cliff¡¯s edge, raised his hand, and summoned his interface. A massive pile of materials flew out, rapidly assembling mid-air. Within moments, a three-meter-tall signal tower stood tall on the cliff edge. Lin Xian took out his comm device and began broadcasting on all frequencies. Bzzzt... kzzzt... The transmission spread through the storm. Lin Xian crouched beside it, carefully monitoring the waveform and frequency bands for a response. Meanwhile, Ning Jing stared at the overcast sky. Heavy snowflakes began to drift down¡ªthick, slow, and ominous. On her drone control screen, visibility was practically zero. One by one, drones froze up and crashed into the snow. That¡¯s when A-Bai stepped up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. ¡°Over... over there.¡± He pointed south, along the edge of the canyon. ¡°What did you see?¡± Ning Jing asked immediately. A-Bai hesitated, then said slowly, ¡°Death... the scent of death. Of monsters... of people...¡± Ning Jing¡¯s face changed. She quickly found Lin Xian. ¡°Captain Lin, over here!¡± Lin Xian immediately stood up, and the group climbed a steep slope ahead through snow deep enough to swallow a person whole. Crrrch, crrrch... The snow crunched underfoot. As they crested the slope, a massive open plain came into view¡ªcompletely blanketed in white. Crunch. Ning Jing¡¯s foot struck something hard and unyielding. She looked down¡ªand froze. A massive gray limb jutted from the snow, several meters long, its sharp claws reaching toward the sky like a frozen scream. Icy frost clung to the edges. ¡°Watch out!¡± she warned. Just then, the storm began to let up. The snow and wind eased slightly, improving visibility. And then they saw it. More and more twisted corpses of anomalous entities littered the snow. Among them were destroyed vehicles, human corpses, and massive wings¡ªlike those of bats¡ªhalf-buried in snow. Farther ahead, Lin Xian spotted a black Hercules-class VTOL transport, its massive engines stabbed into the ground. It had crashed headfirst into the snow. The entire area looked like the aftermath of an apocalyptic battle. The only word to describe it: carnage. And among the frozen corpses weren¡¯t just snow demons. Lin Xian saw anomalous entities he had never encountered before. One stood out¡ªa hulking quadrupedal beast, several meters tall, impaled through a VTOL wing. Its thick, gray-black scales glistened with frost. It looked monstrous and terrifying. Another grotesque winged creature lay collapsed nearby. Lin Xian had seen something similar back near Dalat Town¡ªbut the one now was smaller. Still, its wingspan stretched at least four or five meters, hinting at an even larger body buried beneath the snow. The frigid wind howled through a battlefield of horrors¡ªhundreds of twisted corpses strewn across the white plain. Broken aircraft. Shattered vehicles. Frostbitten human remains. It was like a frozen hell spawned from the blizzard itself. Chapter 253: Underground Worms "What happened here?!" At that moment, KIKI arrived with the PX-05 robot, following closely behind. Seeing the gruesome battlefield before her, she couldn''t help but furrow her brows. Monsters over three meters tall filled the entire landscape, densely packed as far as the eye could see¡ªhundreds of times more terrifying than the Snow Wraiths they had encountered before. It was hard to imagine what had taken place here. "These aren¡¯t our people." Ning Jing quickly walked up to a frozen corpse, examined it briefly, and frowned. "Doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯re from Phoenix either." "That Hercules transport belongs to Phoenix."** Lin Xian said grimly. He then took out his binoculars and looked into the distance. "And it looks like there¡¯s more than one." "So many Hercules transports... what were they carrying?" KIKI''s eyes widened. The Hercules transport aircraft had a takeoff weight of over 1,000 tons. In the military, it was mainly used to airlift large-scale military equipment¡ªit could even carry 20 heavy TFV600 Dual-Barrel Tanks in one go. Yet now, Lin Xian could see at least three of these massive aircraft wrecked on the battlefield. Their combined lifting capacity was enough to haul away his entire Infinite Train. "It must''ve been carrying something big." Lin Xian exhaled into his cold-weather mask and said, "If my guess is correct, the distress signal you received earlier probably came from here." "Let''s move forward and check it out." "Alright, get in the car!" ¡ªWhoooosh¡ª The frigid wind howled as the frozen battlefield stretched for miles. Lin Xian and Ning Jing got back into the Polar Vehicle and drove forward. As they advanced, more and more Eerie Entity corpses appeared buried within the snow¡ªsome half-submerged, others fully buried. The vehicle¡¯s tread system crushed through them, producing a sharp cracking sound as broken bodies were torn apart under the weight. Ning Jing''s expression darkened. Though she had held onto a sliver of hope when they set out, seeing this devastation made her heart sink. "Looks like Old Shi and the others didn¡¯t make it." "Keep searching." Lin Xian¡¯s eyes were sharp as he drove forward. And soon enough, he spotted a fourth downed Hercules transport! He took a deep breath and turned to KIKI. "Four transports... and they used unified tow cables. That means they were either moving a massive arsenal or¡ª" he paused, his voice grave, "the supermassive mecha that was mentioned on the radio!" KIKI gasped. She had suspected as much upon seeing the scene, but the scale of the operation was beyond anything she had imagined. "A mecha weighing thousands of tons? Does Phoenix even have the technology for that?" KIKI was deeply familiar with military-grade machinery and classified weapon systems. The possibility that such a colossal mecha even existed left her skeptical. "If something is that massive, it would require an ultra-high-powered energy and propulsion system, a highly sensitive drive system... The sheer number of neural control nodes needed would be staggering. Even if a super AI managed to handle the processing, the material limitations alone¡ª" KIKI sat cross-legged in the passenger seat, rapidly running calculations on her mobile terminal. "Even if all that were possible, there''s still the biggest issue: Unified Control. A single pilot wouldn''t be enough. If this thing has only a Level 1 or Level 2 control coefficient, it would just be a slow, oversized walking weapons platform¡ªfar less effective than warships or fighter jets. I don¡¯t know what solution Phoenix came up with, but honestly, I¡¯d trust Steel Swarm Drones more than something like this." Then she turned to Lin Xian, her eyes lighting up. "Except for you. If a machine like this really exists, you might just be the perfect pilot." "We¡¯re in the middle of a battlefield, surrounded by corpses. We don¡¯t even know if there¡¯s anyone still alive. Thinking about this right now is pointless." Lin Xian replied grimly. A signal antenna extended several meters above the Polar Vehicle as Lin Xian increased transmission power, scanning for any available signals while tracking the route markers they had passed. As they pushed further, the number of buried Eerie Entity corpses increased dramatically. Many had been entirely covered by the snow, but the closer they got, the more they saw them exposed on the surface. "These monsters all seem to be running in the same direction." Ning Jing also noticed this pattern and reported over the comms, "Captain Lin, be careful. A''Bai says the monster presence ahead is getting stronger." Lin Xian frowned at KIKI. The two were surprised that A''Bai could sense the Eerie Entities'' presence. But hearing Ning Jing''s warning, they became even more alert. "The corpses are buried shallower and shallower. It¡¯s not just the snow¡ª" KIKI raised her hand, releasing a surge of psychic energy that blasted away a layer of snow. A heap of Snow Wraith corpses flipped over like uprooted potatoes. "It¡¯s the time of death. The closer we get, the more recent the deaths, so they''re buried less deeply." Lin Xian said through the comms. "There must be survivors ahead." ¡ªCrackle¡ª ¡ªBuzz¡ª Just as Lin Xian finished speaking, the howling wind suddenly died down, and KIKI''s communication scanner flickered green. "Huh? A signal!" KIKI instantly perked up, narrowing the scan radius. Within moments, the signal stabilized, and the comms unit began to pick up a hoarse, broken transmission: "......Who......" "......Damn......" On the other side, Ning Jing also heard the fragmented voices. Her eyes narrowed, and suddenly, she recognized something. She pressed the comms button and said urgently: "Captain Lin, that sounds like Fat Cat! They¡¯re our people!" "Fat Cat! Old Shi!" Ning Jing called out. "......Cold...... underground...... don''t......" "Underground?" Lin Xian picked up on the key word, his brows furrowing. "What are they saying?" ¡ªBuzz¡ª The Polar Vehicle accelerated toward the signal source. As they drove, the battlefield became even more nightmarish¡ªruined vehicles, destroyed Iron Guard-3 Military Assault Mechs, wrecked hovercrafts with only their engine cores above the snow, and frozen corpses of Starfleet soldiers, their powered armor now nothing more than ice sculptures. Then, in the distance, a massive black shadow emerged from the blizzard. "What is that?" KIKI''s eyes widened. "A transport ship?" "No... it¡¯s not." The two Polar Vehicles advanced quickly. At first, Lin Xian and Ning Jing thought it was a huge black mountain or some massive airship, even bigger than a Dragon-Class Transport Ship. But as they got closer, the terrifying truth was revealed. That "mountain" was a colossal black worm. The monstrous creature stretched hundreds of meters, like a giant industrial pipeline, lying motionless on the snowfield. Its gigantic abyssal maw faced their approaching vehicles, lined with countless vortex-like fangs¡ªlarge enough to swallow both Polar Vehicles in one bite. Both vehicles came to an immediate stop. "What the hell is that?!" Ning Jing gasped. "Looks dead." Lin Xian held his breath. "Was yesterday¡¯s earthquake caused by this thing?" "Whoa, that¡¯s one huge worm!" KIKI exclaimed. Lin Xian noticed deep gashes on the creature¡¯s body. One particularly horrifying wound had nearly severed two-thirds of its massive form¡ªa fatal strike. Then, Ning Jing turned to A''Bai, noticing his pale expression. "A''Bai? What¡¯s wrong?" His voice trembled. "So many... monsters." And then, deep beneath the snow¡ª ¡ªCrack. ¡ªCrack. ¡ªRUMBLE. A roaring quake shattered the frozen battlefield. And from beneath the ice, something huge was rising. KIKI swung her arm back and unleashed a telekinetic shockwave, blasting an entire spherical area of Snow Wraiths into the air! ¡ªZzzzt!¡ª Just as the path was about to be cut off, another laser beam shot forward. ¡ªSlash! Slash! Slash!¡ª At that moment, a spinning blade zipped through the Snow Wraiths ahead, slicing through flesh and heads in a gory spray. The rotating blade traced an arc through the air before returning to a slender, agile figure standing atop Ning Jing¡¯s Polar Vehicle. She balanced effortlessly against the howling winds, her gunblade flashing as she cut down the Snow Wraiths leaping onto the vehicle. ¡ªBzzzt! Whoosh!¡ª Lin Xian sharply turned the wheel, crushing several Snow Wraiths under the treads, then raised his hand and pointed. ¡ª[Mechanical Energy Cannon]¡ª With a roar, the mechanical engine at his fingertips powered up, unleashing blazing blue energy blasts, incinerating dozens of Snow Wraiths and filling the air with the stench of burning flesh. ¡ª"Zzzt... Over here! Southeast! Whoosh (wind noise)..."¡ª A booming voice came through the comms, and Lin Xian immediately responded. "Brother Shi, are you guys alright?!" The shattered car windows let the freezing wind howl into the cabin, rapidly frosting over the dashboard and steering wheel. The heating system had failed, but thankfully, everyone was wearing cold-weather gear¡ªthough the worsening blizzard was severely limiting their visibility. "Lin Xian?!" Shi Diyuan sounded shocked, as if he hadn¡¯t expected anyone from the Infinite Train to be here. "Old Shi, Captain Lin is here to help!" Ning Jing shouted through the comms. "Hurry! Southeast¡ªtoward the canyon edge¡ªwhoosh (wind noise)... it¡¯s safe here for now!" Shi Diyuan yelled. Hearing his voice, Ning Jing exhaled in relief, then slammed the accelerator, pushing the Polar Vehicle forward at full speed. ¡ªBoom. Boom. Boom.¡ª Suddenly, heavy, thudding footsteps echoed across the snowfield. Everyone quickly realized that amidst the surging Snow Wraith horde, several massive quadrupedal monsters were charging toward them! These creatures had no eyes, their bent limbs as hard as steel, producing a thunderous impact with each movement. They moved with alarming speed, crushing several Snow Wraiths underfoot as they burst from the horde¡ªone of them lunging straight for Ning Jing¡¯s Polar Vehicle! ¡ªBOOM! BOOM!¡ª The quadrupedal monster was gigantic¡ªeven in its crawling stance, it was larger than the Polar Vehicle itself. With a powerful leap, its two massive forelimbs slammed into the vehicle''s hood and treads. ¡ªCRASH!¡ª The vehicle¡¯s frame twisted, metal screeching under the impact! On the roof, Xiao Qing reacted instantly¡ªshe leaped into the air, somersaulted, and brought her gunblade down in a deadly vertical slash aimed at the monster¡¯s skull! Inside the vehicle, Ning Jing acted just as fast¡ªshe grabbed A¡¯Bai, planted her foot, and launched herself forward, diving through the shattered windshield! ¡ªCLANG!¡ª Xiao Qing¡¯s gunblade struck the monster''s skull, sending out a piercing metallic clang. The creature¡¯s bone structure was unnaturally tough¡ªthe blade split its skull halfway open, and dark blood sprayed out violently! At the same time, KIKI extended her telekinetic grip, snatching Ning Jing and A¡¯Bai midair and pulling them back toward Lin Xian¡¯s vehicle. ¡ªBOOM! BOOM! BOOM!¡ª The Polar Vehicle, still carrying its momentum, slammed into the quadrupedal monster, flipping over and crushing it! "Hold on!" Ning Jing pushed A¡¯Bai onto Lin Xian¡¯s vehicle, then leaped forward, launching herself toward the monster! "Xiao Qing, move!" Ning Jing¡¯s voice was cold and sharp, carrying an unstoppable force. Recognizing the signal, Xiao Qing kicked off the monster¡¯s back, slicing down two more Snow Wraiths before retreating. The quadrupedal monster roared, but its forelimbs were still embedded in the wrecked vehicle¡ªit had no time to react. Ning Jing, a blur of motion, reached it in an instant¡ªand instead of using a weapon, she threw a punch straight at its skull! ¡ªBOOM!¡ª The force of her punch caved in the monster¡¯s head like a heavy-caliber anti-materiel round¡ªits skull shattered, vertebrae snapped, and its brain matter exploded backward in a spray of gore! Even the air itself rippled from the sheer impact, clearing a vacuum-like zone in the blizzard! "HOLY SH*T!" KIKI¡¯s eyes went wide in shock. "That strength is insane!" Lin Xian was equally stunned¡ªhe couldn¡¯t tell if Ning Jing was an Ability User or a genetically enhanced martial artist¡ªbut her raw power was terrifying. "Chick, grab her!" The Snow Wraith horde was already closing in again. Lin Xian swerved the Polar Vehicle, activating its steel plate defense to shield the left flank while signaling KIKI to pull them back. KIKI didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªshe extended one hand, telekinetically grabbing Ning Jing and Xiao Qing, while her other hand sent a shockwave blasting the Snow Wraiths away. ¡ªZzzzt!¡ª A¡¯Bai fired another laser blast, carving a path through the horde, while KIKI, Xiao Qing, and Ning Jing fended off the attacking creatures. The Polar Vehicle accelerated¡ªsnow and corpses scattered under its treads. As they advanced, more freshly killed bodies appeared¡ªthese monsters had just died. Lin Xian immediately understood¡ªthe Snow Wraiths had been relentlessly attacking Shi Diyuan¡¯s position! "I see you!" Not even two kilometers ahead, the comms signal suddenly cleared up. ¡ªBeep!¡ª ¡ªBoom! Boom! Boom!¡ª A barrage of heavy firepower lit up the blizzard, unleashing hell on the horde chasing the Polar Vehicle. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Boom!¡ª Explosive missiles detonated, ripping through the Snow Wraiths¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just Shi Diyuan¡¯s team firing. "We¡¯re not alone." Ning Jing frowned. "Someone else is here!" "Phoenix?" "Lin Xian, LOOK!" KIKI suddenly shouted. Through the storm, countless fire lines blazed, revealing hundreds of armored vehicles and snow terrain transports, forming a massive defensive perimeter along the Tarakama Ice Canyon¡¯s edge. Mountains of Eerie Entity and Snow Wraith corpses were piled high, the stench of blood thick in the freezing air. Crash-landed aircraft littered the battlefield. And at the heart of this fortress-like formation, a shadow loomed above the canyon. A towering figure, a single clenched fist bracing against the cliffside, its massive frame disappearing into the abyss below. Even partially buried, it dwarfed the battlefield, exuding an overwhelming presence. Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted¡ªeveryone in the vehicle saw it. An ultra-massive humanoid mecha! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! As Lin Xian¡¯s Polar Vehicle surged forward, the firepower from the defensive perimeter intensified! At the same time, dozens of Ability Users rushed out from within, unleashing various attacks to suppress the incoming horde. The battlefield reached a fever pitch! Lin Xian¡¯s eyes swept across the frontline¡ªa modified heavy-duty train with advanced magnetic all-terrain drive modules was stationed at the forefront, acting as a barricade. And standing atop it was a middle-aged man, clad in a thick winter combat suit, firing a Gatling gun wildly into the enemy ranks. Shi Diyuan. ¡ªRUMBLE!¡ª The earthquake returned¡ªthe Snow Wraiths were going berserk, throwing themselves into the onslaught of gunfire! And above, amidst the raging blizzard, several massive winged creatures emerged, their silhouettes flickering in and out of the storm as they soared over the defensive line. "That black worm again!" Lin Xian shouted. "Lin, get inside!" Shi Diyuan momentarily halted his Gatling fire, waving toward them. "The underground bugs won¡¯t come near here! Hurry¡ªmove in!" Lin Xian didn''t hesitate¡ªslamming the accelerator, he pushed the Polar Vehicle to its maximum output, kicking up a towering wave of snow as he raced toward the line. Ahead, a heavy-duty armored crawler truck rumbled to life, opening a narrow passage into the defensive stronghold. ¡ªWOOOOOSH!¡ª Just as the Polar Vehicle sped through the opening¡ª BOOM! A massive explosion of snow erupted behind them! The colossal black worm had resurfaced. Its gaping abyssal maw instantly devoured dozens of Snow Wraiths, swallowing them whole! ¡ªRUMBLE! RUMBLE!¡ª The violent tremors triggered a catastrophic avalanche along the cliffside, massive chunks of ice and snow collapsing into the Tarakama Ice Canyon! "So this is where Shi and his team got trapped?!" Ning Jing exclaimed. "We¡¯ll talk later! Just get inside first!" As the Polar Vehicle finally breached the defensive perimeter, Lin Xian turned to KIKI. "Together¡ªlet¡¯s block them off!" "Got it!" ¡ªHUMMMMM!¡ª KIKI levitated into the air, her eyes glowing intensely, her hair lifting as if caught in an invisible wind. She unleashed her ultimate move. A low-frequency hum resonated¡ªa nearly invisible spherical force field collapsed inward at her core, rapidly condensing into a blinding white energy pulse. Then¡ª ¡ªBOOOOOOOM!¡ª A massive telekinetic shockwave erupted outward! Like a tidal wave, it swept across the battlefield, uprooting deep snow, shattering ice, and hurling hundreds of Snow Wraiths into the air¡ªripping them apart mid-flight! The impact was so immense that it flattened the entire snowfield in front of the defensive line into a barren frozen wasteland! ¡ªZzzzt!¡ª At the same time, A¡¯Bai fired another laser beam, piercing the sky, slicing clean through the wing of a massive flying beast! ¡ªSPLASH!¡ª A torrent of green corrosive acid rained down as the creature plummeted, its body slamming into the battlefield below. ¡ªRUMBLE!¡ª The groundquake suddenly began to settle, the storm grew fiercer, and the Snow Wraiths¡ªas if sensing something¡ªbegan burrowing underground, disappearing by the dozens. "Hah!" Watching this, Shi Diyuan let out an astonished shout, his face full of disbelief. "That girl¡ªher powers have skyrocketed in such a short time?!" Chapter 254: Emperor Project - Unit-01 The Snow Wraith Horde erupted into a frenzy, while a giant black worm burrowed madly into the ground. Its exposed, mountain-sized body became the focus of all firepower, raining down chunks of flesh and blood everywhere. But despite the relentless heavy fire, the monstrosity remained unscathed¡ªits black flesh untouched, the massive explosions merely igniting tiny sparks against its body. Everyone watched in shock as the creature, causing the ground to quake, vanished underground. Snow and dust billowed, and the massive snowdrifts at the canyon¡¯s edge began to collapse. KIKI¡¯s psychic attack had immediately drawn attention, triggering a wave of heavy firepower that pinned down the Snow Wraiths emerging from the snow. With the front snow layers blasted open, the monsters had nowhere to hide¡ªas soon as they surfaced, they were shredded apart by streams of high-powered metal projectiles. The cliffside terrain naturally narrowed, making the defensive line easy to hold. The monsters, piled up in chaos, were incapable of breaking through under the barrage of kinetic energy weapons. Above them, winged monstrosities attempted to swoop down through the blizzard, but the anti-air artillery from Dragon Mountain One¡¯s primary weapon station roared to life. Explosions filled the sky, and the entire ice canyon became choked with thick, acrid smoke. BOOM! The ground shook violently¡ªthe black underground worm was stirring again. Shi Diyuan¡¯s expression darkened as he watched the snow tremble. He spat to the side before turning toward the camp behind him. "Captain Yu! That thing¡¯s coming up again¡ªkeep the machine running!" HUMMMM! WOOO¡ª! Moments later, a thunderous roar erupted from the colossal mecha, shaking the storm-filled air. A nuclear-powered turbine engine suddenly ignited, releasing a high-pitched hum that rattled the bones of everyone nearby. K-K-K-KABOOM! The Snow Wraith Horde instantly fell into chaos. Even the underground tremors turned more erratic, making the snowfield ripple like an ocean. Moments later, the tremors faded into the distance¡ªthe howl of the engine seemingly repelling the horde. Large numbers of Snow Wraiths and four-legged snow beasts burrowed into the blizzard, disappearing from the firing range. "Cease fire!" "Conserve ammunition!" "Make way! Let them through!" With the monsters retreating, the firestorm along the defensive line died down. At the front lines, a heavily armored tracked truck moved forward, creating a gap in the barricade. Lin Xian immediately drove his polar vehicle through, only to find numerous vehicles parked inside¡ªincluding several marked with Phoenix insignias. This was a makeshift encampment. WOOO¡ª The nuclear-powered turbine engine gradually shut down, its final echoes resonating like a dying wail in the frozen air. Lin Xian and KIKI instinctively looked up. A colossal humanoid mecha stood with one arm braced against the ground, its gaze towering down at them. Even with only part of its body exposed, the machine exceeded 30 meters¡ªas tall as a ten-story building. The mecha knelt in the ice canyon, one massive fist pressed against the cliffside. Snow and wind swirled through the fractured gaps in its shoulder armor. Its once pristine deep-blue plating was now riddled with battle scars. A massive nuclear turbine core still glowed with a dim orange halo at its chest. But its left arm was severely damaged¡ªa gaping wound revealed hexagonal hydraulic pipes, looking like a shredded beehive. Golden coolant dripped from the pipes, forming meter-long icicles. The left shoulder armor had peeled outward, exposing a carbonized transmission shaft and alloy bones capable of withstanding tens of thousands of tons of pressure. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes twitched. "Holy... sh*t." "Phoenix really built something this terrifying...?" His Mechanical Heart nearly activated on its own at the sight of this steel behemoth. FWOOOSH! As soon as the battle ended, the defensive line swiftly reorganized. At the same time, a group of people rushed toward Lin Xian¡¯s vehicle. Shi Diyuan led the charge, his expression both surprised and relieved when he saw Lin Xian and Ning Jing step out. "When we picked up the signal, I thought it was Phoenix reinforcements. How the hell is it you guys?!" "Obviously, we came to find you," Ning Jing replied, her gaze sweeping over the survivors behind Shi Diyuan. She frowned. "Damn it... I thought you were all dead. How the hell did you guys all end up holed up here?" "Yo, Sister Ning!" A chubby man behind Shi Diyuan, nicknamed Fat Cat, exclaimed in shock. "Wait... how come there¡¯s only a few of you? Weren¡¯t you coming from Xilan City? Where¡¯s Phoenix¡¯s reinforcement team?" "Yeah, is it just you guys?" "A¡¯Bai, Xiao Qing, where¡¯s the rest of our main force?!" "Still back where we left them." Ning Jing sighed, then turned to Shi Diyuan. "Dragon Mountain One got caught in the storm. On top of that, we ran into a monster horde. Our No. 3 Electric Locomotive failed, so we were stuck in the snow for two days." "Then we ran into Lin Xian and the Infinite Train¡ªhe helped us repair the locomotive. Before heading for Xilan, we wanted to check on you guys. Didn¡¯t expect you to be trapped here too." "Trapped?!" Shi Diyuan slapped his thigh in frustration. "Son of a b*tch! We¡¯re completely screwed now. Without Phoenix reinforcements, we¡¯re not breaking through this." Lin Xian glanced around¡ªaside from Shi Diyuan¡¯s group, there were at least four or five other survivor convoys, totaling over 200 people. It seemed they had all gotten stuck here. "Brother Shi, what¡¯s going on?" Lin Xian asked. Shi Diyuan pinched his brow, sighing. "Lin bro, I hate to say this, but we¡¯ve dragged you into another mess. We¡¯ve been stuck here for two days¡ªlost a lot of people already." "If Phoenix reinforcements don¡¯t show up, we¡¯re all f*cked." "Sister Ning, Captain Lin," Fat Cat explained, his thick fur coat barely containing his bulk. "We answered a distress signal, but when we got here, it was a goddamn hellscape." "Apparently, Phoenix was secretly testing this giant mecha here." "But something went horribly wrong. Their entire armed platoon and transport team got wiped out." "By the time we arrived, Brother Qian and his team had already been fighting for a whole night." "This place is a death trap." "Once you enter... you can¡¯t leave." Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. "So you¡¯re telling me... we came here to rescue you, but now we¡¯re the ones needing rescue?" Everyone fell silent. The situation was worse than expected. Ning Jing turned to Lin Xian, her voice grim. "We only have three hours. The two trains still need to depart." Fat Cat sighed. "We really thought you were bringing Phoenix¡¯s army with you..." KIKI suddenly spoke up. "Then why don¡¯t we do a diversion?" "Send one vehicle to lure the worm away, and everyone else escapes." Shi Diyuan groaned. "We already tried. It doesn¡¯t work." "The creatures can smell us." Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed. "...Smell?" Lin Xian immediately understood¡ªthe Dark Mark. The monsters lurking in the snow could track marked prey even in broad daylight. That meant both he and KIKI had already been tagged with a high-level mark. And that massive black creature¡ªwhatever grade it was¡ªlikely had everyone here marked as well. "That can''t be right!" KIKI objected. "We ran into that thing just now, and it scared the hell out of me." "Wait, really?" Qian Dele raised an eyebrow, looking at them with suspicion. "How did your two vehicles escape from that monster''s jaws?" KIKI shrugged. "We just... ran." Ning Jing added, "It was damn close. If Lin Xian and his team hadn¡¯t stepped in, we wouldn''t have made it. But if we try to run back now, we definitely won¡¯t shake it off. Worse, we¡¯d bring it straight to the train¡ªand that would be a disaster." "Exactly." Lin Xian nodded. This wasn¡¯t just about escaping anymore. If they couldn¡¯t shake off or kill that underground worm, then the Infinite Train itself could be flipped over. He couldn¡¯t afford to drag this trouble back with him. "Looks like we need another plan." "The only plan is to wait for Phoenix reinforcements from Xilan City." Shi Diyuan gestured toward the massive humanoid mecha behind them. "Or pray that this thing has one last spark left in it¡ªenough to get us out." "What do you mean? That mecha is completely inoperable?" Ning Jing asked. "It''s been dead for a while," Fat Cat replied. "Captain Yu just fired it up for show, to scare off the worm. But in reality? It can''t stand anymore." "Wait a second!" Shi Diyuan suddenly lit up, turning to Lin Xian with wide eyes. "Damn! How did I forget?! Lin Xian, you have a mechanical ability!" He smacked his forehead and then grabbed Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder. "Come on! I¡¯ll introduce you to Captain Yu¡ªshe¡¯s in charge of the Emperor Project. She¡¯s definitely going to be interested in you." Lin Xian immediately shut him down. "Brother Shi, do you really think I can fix that thing? You¡¯re overestimating me." "Wait, aren¡¯t you a mechanic-type Ability User?" Shi Diyuan looked confused. "He is, but not a mechanical god," KIKI cut in. "That thing weighs thousands of tons¡ªit¡¯s not something you just fix up overnight." KIKI was right. This mecha was too massive. The problem wasn¡¯t just repairing it. Or scanning it. There was also the issue of materials. This thing likely used composite armor, super-carbon carbide alloys, and nano-ceramic plating¡ªall high-end materials. Lin Xian didn¡¯t have anything like that. Even at a glance, the core structure seemed intact, but its left arm was torn apart. Fixing that alone would be a monumental task. Shi Diyuan stared blankly at Lin Xian, who nodded. "Yeah. I have mechanical abilities, but... I need to examine it first." "Eh, no worries!" Shi Diyuan waved it off. "Honestly, we¡¯re stuck anyway. And I already mentioned you to Captain Yu. Maybe we can think of another plan together." Then, Shi Diyuan turned to Qian Dele. "Qian, I¡¯m bringing Lin Xian to see Captain Yu. You coming?" "I¡¯ll pass~" Qian Dele¡¯s gaze lingered on Lin Xian before he scoffed. "I don¡¯t like that woman¡ªcold as ice. I¡¯ll stay out here and keep watch in case the Snow Wraiths come back." "Haha! Look at the bright side¡ªat least we got more Ability Users on our side!" Shi Diyuan tried to lift morale. "That psychic girl? We all saw how powerful she was! With her and Lin Xian, we might actually break out of here!" The others nodded slightly in agreement. KIKI¡¯s performance had been shocking. There were about a dozen Ability Users here, all strong, but KIKI and Bai had massive area-damage potential. That alone gave the survivors a huge morale boost. With that, the convoy members returned to their vehicles to warm up. The defensive line had two nuclear-powered generators, ensuring enough heat for everyone. Shi Diyuan¡¯s own nuclear-powered locomotive had a Triangle Track electromagnetic all-terrain drive module. Lin Xian had inspected it earlier¡ªthe engineering was top-tier, high-precision, but it required extensive modifications. Aside from the outer shell, almost everything had been replaced. Lin Xian guessed Shi Diyuan must¡¯ve paid a massive price to build it. If Lin Xian had to create something similar, it would be a colossal engineering challenge. Not to mention the Infinite Train had 14 cars¡ªit would take more than just a few days to upgrade it. He made a mental note to ask Shi Diyuan how it was built and maybe scan the blueprints. Joker Convoy also had a small nuclear generator powering their vehicles. Other teams relied on solar energy storage systems, but in these conditions, nuclear power was the only reliable option. Under the relentless blizzard, at the edge of Trakamar Ice Canyon, the nuclear reactors kept the convoy survivors warm. Shi Diyuan led Lin Xian and KIKI toward the mecha¡¯s base, where a cluster of large tents formed a makeshift camp. Meanwhile, Ning Jing, A¡¯Bai, and Xiao Qing returned to Dragon Mountain One. The Emperor Project As they walked, Lin Xian spoke up. "Something¡¯s bugging me." "The Emperor Project is part of Phoenix, right? Why are they requesting help from Xilan City?" Something felt off. Why did it sound like Phoenix in Xilan had no idea this was happening? Shi Diyuan waved it off. "I asked about that." "This mission is classified." "They even kept it secret from their own people?" "No," Shi Diyuan¡¯s tone grew serious. "My guess? Something went wrong. Whatever happened here, it¡¯s not part of the plan¡ªthat¡¯s why Phoenix lost contact with their other reinforcement teams. That¡¯s why they sent a full-spectrum distress signal. Seven convoys came here to help. And now we¡¯re all stuck." "So many casualties..." KIKI frowned. "This must be an S-Class Eerie Entity¡ªlike that black worm." Shi Diyuan shook his head. "That worm isn¡¯t classified S-Class." Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Then the S-Class monster reported in Parma Grasslands... is something else?" "Exactly." The Titan of Steel Under the howling blizzard, heavily armored soldiers worked around the camp, hauling military supplies toward the frontline barricades. Lin Xian glanced around¡ªonly about 20 soldiers remained. They wielded heavy weapons, outfitted with exoskeletons and high-end cold-weather gear. Their bodies bore scars from days of brutal combat. As they neared the mecha, the blizzard weakened¡ªits lingering heat from the turbine still radiated warmth. Standing beneath the colossal machine, Lin Xian and KIKI felt like ants beneath a mountain. Shi Diyuan saw their awe-struck expressions and grinned. "Scary, huh? First time I saw it, I almost pissed myself." "If we could build more of these, we¡¯d stand a real chance against the monsters." KIKI, however, was blunt. "But doesn¡¯t this mean the project already failed?" A Phoenix superweapon¡ªdestroyed on its first mission. That wasn¡¯t hope¡ªthat was despair. Lin Xian frowned. "They built this to fight S-Class Entities... or infiltrate the Abyss. If this is the result, does that mean it didn¡¯t meet expectations?" Shi Diyuan exhaled. "I dunno. But it killed a Black Worm¡ªthat¡¯s not nothing." Lin Xian examined the damage. "This thing¡¯s fought something else too..." KIKI looked up. "What¡¯s its name?" Shi Diyuan¡¯s expression turned solemn. "Emperor Project¡ªUnit 01." Chapter 255: How did you know? Outside the tent of Phoenix¡¯s temporary base, Lin Xian and KIKI followed behind Shi Diyuan. The area was filled with electronic equipment, with thick cables running from the tent to various devices, then splitting into numerous thinner lines that connected to the massive Prototype Unit-01 standing at the edge of the cliff. "Still running diagnostics?" Lin Xian asked as he approached. Shi Diyuan nodded. "I¡¯d say most of the functions are operational. For example, the mecha¡¯s power core is intact¡ªyou saw it activate earlier. We did that to intimidate the monster horde." "This trick won¡¯t last forever," KIKI said bluntly. "Eerie Entities are highly aggressive. By nightfall, it probably won¡¯t work anymore." "Sigh..." Shi Diyuan let out a deep sigh. "You¡¯re right. Last night, we were this close to losing everything. The nuclear turbine engine of Unit-01 ran all night, and we barely held the line. This canyon edge gave us a bit of an advantage, or else we¡¯d already be wiped out. At this rate, our ammunition reserves won¡¯t last through the night." He turned to Lin Xian with a wry smile. "Brother Lin, fate really keeps bringing us together. Every time we meet, it¡¯s at the brink of death." Lin Xian remained indifferent. "For us survivors, every day is a life-or-death moment. This isn¡¯t anything new. But yeah, I guess we do have fate." "Hahahaha!" Shi Diyuan let out a hearty laugh. He gave Lin Xian a deep, meaningful look. "But you know what? The moment I saw you, I got this gut feeling that we¡¯re not dying tonight." Lin Xian was speechless. This guy¡¯s putting way too much pressure on me¡ªlike I¡¯m some kind of savior. Truthfully, the moment he arrived here, his head was already aching. He had originally planned to use his and KIKI¡¯s mobility for reconnaissance, but instead, they had walked straight into a death trap. To be fair, KIKI¡¯s abilities might allow them to escape by air. That Joker Convoy¡¯s flight ability user had managed to break through an encirclement before¡ªmaybe they could too. But that thought remained buried for now. Shi Diyuan and the Phoenix people were here, and Lin Xian wasn¡¯t the type to just abandon them. Besides, he was very interested in this Emperor Project they were running. His mind was already working on possible ways to break through. Unexpected Reinforcements "Captain Shi!" A man wearing a Starfleet Senior Officer¡¯s uniform and powered armor ran toward them, followed by a group of soldiers covered in snow. "The monster horde attacked again? It¡¯s only been three hours!" "Ah, Commander Sun!" Shi Diyuan greeted him. "You¡¯re back already? No worries, we held the line this time¡ªno casualties." Commander Sun Kai was the leader of the armed escort for the Emperor Project. Two hours ago, he had taken a squad down into the ice valley to scout for escape routes. But without warning, the Snow Wraith Horde had shortened its attack interval again. A massive avalanche struck, forcing Sun Kai and his men to take shelter inside an ice cavern before finally making their way back. Sun Kai scanned the defensive perimeter, then exhaled in relief. "Damn, we¡¯re lucky. Captain Shi, if it weren¡¯t for you¡ªthis should¡¯ve been our responsibility..." "Come on, no need for formalities." Shi Diyuan waved him off. "Your unit has already suffered heavy losses. We came here to help you." Sun Kai nodded but quickly noticed two unfamiliar faces. His eyes lit up with hope. "Are you reinforcements from Xilan City?" "We¡¯re not from Xilan City," Lin Xian said outright. Shi Diyuan cleared his throat awkwardly. "These two are old friends of mine. They came to help." Sun Kai¡¯s excitement faded. A hint of disappointment crossed his face as he looked at Lin Xian and KIKI. "I see... Still, I appreciate you risking your lives to support us. But now, you¡¯re trapped here with us as well. I¡¯m sorry..." "No need to apologize," Lin Xian replied. "We¡¯re all in this together¡ªlet¡¯s just figure out a way out." "Exactly!" KIKI added. "Who could¡¯ve predicted things would turn out this way?" Shi Diyuan clapped his hands. "That¡¯s the spirit! And listen¡ªLin Xian and KIKI are powerful ability users. This means we have more options now. Speaking of which, where¡¯s Squad Leader Yu? I need to introduce him to some top-tier talent!" "Ability users?" Sun Kai frowned slightly. "This KIKI girl is a psychic ability user. She can fly and has insane telekinetic strength. She just wiped out a whole wave of monsters on her own! She¡¯s worth ten heavy cannons¡ªand no, I¡¯m not talking about her weight, hahaha!" KIKI¡¯s expression twitched. This bastard... Shi Diyuan continued, pointing at Lin Xian. "And my brother Lin here? Mechanical ability user! He can repair machines¡ªhow awesome is that? If your Emperor Project needs an expert, he might even be able to fix that big guy over there. Then we can punch our way out!" Sun Kai¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "Mechanical ability?" That was a first. The moment Shi Diyuan mentioned Lin Xian could repair machines, Sun Kai¡¯s expression shifted to intrigue. Lin Xian, however, quickly cut him off before the exaggeration got out of hand. "Hold on, Shi-ge. I never said I could definitely fix a machine that big. I need to inspect it first." Lin Xian¡¯s realistic response brought Sun Kai back to his senses. His brief hope dimmed again, and he scrutinized Lin Xian carefully before saying, "If that¡¯s the case, then there¡¯s no point in troubling Squad Leader Yu. They¡¯re busy working on an evacuation plan and attempting to restore some of Unit-01¡¯s subsystems. I was planning to lead another team into the ice valley before sundown to¡ª" "Hey, hey, hold up," Shi Diyuan interrupted. "Didn¡¯t I just tell you? Lin Xian¡¯s a mechanical ability user! If you need repairs, he can help!" Lin Xian turned to Sun Kai and immediately understood his hesitation. "Is it because of confidentiality issues?" The Emperor Project was a top-secret Phoenix initiative. While many details were already public knowledge, the core mechanics of the mecha would surely remain classified. Given that Phoenix¡¯s enemies weren¡¯t limited to just Dark Tides, it made sense to enforce strict security. But Sun Kai¡¯s next words made Lin Xian realize that confidentiality wasn¡¯t the real issue. Sun Kai¡¯s gaze swept over the group. He exhaled and said, "That¡¯s part of it. But the bigger issue is that you probably wouldn¡¯t even get a proper discussion with them." "What? Why?" KIKI frowned. Sun Kai dusted off the snow from his armor and explained, "If this were the Nightwalkers Organization, they¡¯d be very interested in your abilities. But the Emperor Project is the complete opposite. Phoenix established this project because some people firmly believe that humanity¡¯s survival depends on technological advancements¡ªnot abilities." "Wait, seriously!?" KIKI was stunned. "Even Phoenix has internal divisions? That¡¯s ridiculous!" "It¡¯s not a division," Sun Kai corrected. "The ultimate goal of Phoenix is to ensure the survival of human civilization. Every department aligns with that goal. The Nightwalkers research abilities and Dark Invasion. The Emperor Project focuses on mechas and military-grade weapons. The two groups operate separately with no direct conflicts. In fact, they cooperate on certain missions¡ªlike this one. A Nightwalker unit was assigned to protect us, but... they¡¯ve already perished." "Then what¡¯s the problem?" Shi Diyuan looked confused. "That sounds like a good thing." Sun Kai sighed. "But directly interfering in another department¡¯s core research is different. And we¡¯re not part of the Nightwalkers Organization, which makes it even less likely they¡¯d involve us." Lin Xian immediately understood. "In other words, unless it¡¯s a life-or-death emergency, they won¡¯t let an outsider like me mess with their research." Sun Kai nodded. "That¡¯s right." Shi Diyuan scoffed. "Then screw it¡ªthis is a life-or-death emergency! We don¡¯t have time for politics!" Sun Kai hesitated, then finally relented. "Alright. I¡¯ll take you to meet Squad Leader Yu¡ªbut I make no guarantees." Lin Xian and KIKI exchanged a glance. Finally, a foot in the door. They stepped inside the command tent. There were more than 20 people inside, and various computer instruments were placed on both sides. Many technical team members of the Emperor Project were busy. In the central area, there stood a metal operating cabin with a circular base. Countless pipelines were connected to a man wearing a special control armor like a spider web. On the screen next to it, various neuron docking states, driver''s physical signs, and hundreds of parameters of Unit-01 mecha were displayed, which made people''s scalps numb at a glance. "Fully sympathetic neuron interaction system, neural synaesthesia control technology, it looks so cool." KIKI couldn''t help but exclaimed when she saw this scene. Lin Xian nodded: "Such a large mecha, and a humanoid weapon, human nerve synesthesia is indeed the best solution." Sun Kai looked at the two in surprise: "It seems that you are really knowledgeable. Wait a moment, I will call Team Leader Yu over." At this time, Captain Sun walked over and communicated with a young man next to the metal operating cabin. The man immediately turned around and looked at Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan. The man had a delicate face and wore gold-rimmed glasses. He looked less than 40 years old. His eyes were like lightning. At this time, he saw Shi Diyuan and Lin Xian and KIKI beside him with a gloomy face. After listening to Sun Kai for a while, he impatiently handed the mobile terminal in his hand to a staff member next to him, and then walked towards the few people quickly. "This Team Leader Yu is the temporary person in charge of this group. Their original team leader died a few days ago. He is the deputy team leader. He was in charge of the technical team before. He is a sour literati." At this time, Shi Diyuan suddenly whispered in the ears of Lin Xian and KIKI. Lin Xian nodded slightly upon hearing this, and he probably understood the other person''s personality. "Hello, Yu Yuheng." The man with gold-rimmed glasses walked up to Lin Xian and stretched out his hand to him with a cold face. "Lin Xian, KIKI." Lin Xian introduced himself. Yu Yuheng looked at the two of them, nodded and said, "Thank you for your help. I heard that you are a mechanical superpower. I wonder what the specific characteristics of your superpower are?" "My superpower can repair and manufacture machinery." Lin Xian looked at Yu Yuheng and got straight to the point. He immediately raised his hand to perform mechanical manufacturing. In an instant, a light screen materialized in front of Lin Xian. Countless raw materials emerged, rapidly assembling and integrating. Within moments, a precision-engineered miniature drone hovered above his palm, its four rotors whirring smoothly as it levitated in the air. The entire Emperor Project research team, including Yu Yuheng, stared in utter shock. "P-physical fabrication out of thin air?!" Yu Yuheng¡¯s brows furrowed tightly. Even as someone who had seen cutting-edge technology, this ability shook him to the core. As a core technician of the Mecha Development Team, Yu Yuheng fully understood the significance of this. Even though it was just a small drone, the complexity of its internal components spanned over fifteen specialized industrial sectors and involved more than thirty supporting industries back in the pre-Apocalypse Day world. Even a simple propulsion system required an electric motor, a speed controller, a battery module, and propellers¡ªnot to mention more advanced subsystems like flight control, radar, gimbal stabilization, payload sensors, cameras, infrared scanners, LIDAR, telemetry, heat dissipation, and more. Yet Lin Xian had instantly created it. And he wasn¡¯t done. He casually grabbed the drone, snapped off one of its rotors, and then activated Mechanical Repair. Under the shimmering light, the broken rotor was seamlessly reconstructed, as if an invisible 3D printer had restored it to factory condition in an instant. A Turning Point in Perception The members of Emperor Project Team 1 were left completely stunned. "What kind of ability is this?" "This is insane!" "Is he a human factory!?" Yu Yuheng instinctively adjusted his glasses, his breath slightly ragged. He stood there frozen for a full thirty seconds before finally snapping out of it. Originally, he had planned to politely reject Lin Xian and KIKI¡¯s involvement. But now, his curiosity had completely overtaken him. "Can you fabricate something larger?" Yu Yuheng suddenly asked, walking over to a nearby console. He quickly pulled up an image on his tablet and handed it to Lin Xian. "This component is called a Phase Conduction Prism. Each unit weighs twelve tons and has an extremely complex structure. It also includes polycrystalline information circuits..." Lin Xian frowned. "If I have blueprints, I can fabricate it. But I need time and materials." "How long?" Yu Yuheng pressed. "Something that massive? At least eight hours." Yu Yuheng¡¯s face darkened. He sighed, shaking his head. "Your ability is remarkable¡ªyou¡¯re absolutely a creation-type talent. But... I¡¯m sorry. If you can¡¯t produce it in a short time, it doesn¡¯t really help us." He glanced away, as if convincing himself of his own logic. "See? There is still a logical limitation to matter creation. If it¡¯s just about fabricating existing blueprinted designs, then even though it¡¯s an ability, it¡¯s still something our industrial production lines could theoretically achieve. In an open environment, with enough time, this ability would be useful. But under these conditions? It doesn''t solve our core issue." Yu Yuheng turned back to Lin Xian. "I¡¯ve always been curious about ability users, but I also understand that your power consumption is tied to some kind of energy threshold inside your body. The Nightwalkers call it Psionic Power or Soul Wave Value, right?" "Regardless, aside from a select few individuals, most ability users worldwide are still in their growth phase. If I had to estimate, you¡¯re probably at Level 3 or 4 in their system. "In short, even if you can repair, Unit-01 is too massive. Logically, it should be beyond your capabilities." Yu Yuheng adjusted his glasses again. "That said... there are some key components you might be able to help with." A Clash of Perspectives Lin Xian, KIKI, and Shi Diyuan all frowned. Yu Yuheng¡¯s words had revealed a lot of hidden information. Most notably, it seemed that scientists viewed ability growth as a gradual process¡ªlike a skill tree that had yet to fully develop. And in some ways, Yu Yuheng wasn¡¯t wrong. Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Fabrication and Mechanical Devour abilities were currently Level 4. With his current power, even scanning and analyzing something as massive as Unit-01 would be a huge challenge, let alone fully repairing it. But KIKI was already irritated. "Okay, fine. You¡¯ve been talking for five minutes, but you still haven¡¯t explained what¡¯s actually wrong with this damn mecha! What¡¯s broken? What systems are down? Can it even be fixed!?" Yu Yuheng paused, then calmly adjusted his glasses again. "Apologies. But every other issue is actually worse than the component I just mentioned. And since you can¡¯t fabricate the simplest part, due to security protocol, I won¡¯t disclose the rest." He hesitated, then looked at Lin Xian. "However... if we survive this, I¡¯ll submit your information for review. The Emperor Project might be interested in your ability¡ªfor manufacturing purposes." "Our production factories are located in a safe environment. It might be a good fit for you. Plus, the compensation isn¡¯t bad." A Disrespectful Offer Lin Xian froze. Did they just classify me as a human 3D printer!? "Whoa, whoa, whoa," KIKI interrupted. "You¡¯re seriously keeping secrets even now? We¡¯re in the middle of a crisis!" She then nodded toward the pilot inside the neural control pod. "What¡¯s the big deal? It¡¯s just a Unified State Neuronal Interface System for mecha piloting. The mecha is 90¨C115 meters tall, powered by a dual-core fusion turbine, uses two-pilot neural synchronization, and has a custom-built quantum AI core. "The radar system is a Multi-Aperture Phased Array Sensor, the legs use a hydraulic power distributor, and it probably has a 500KT gyroscopic stabilizer for balance. "And for weaponry¡ªbesides that folding high-frequency blade, the right arm capacitor is clearly built for plasma artillery, probably with hidden missile pods, rail-burn cannons, and a super-high-voltage pulse hammer." She went on and on. With every word, the faces of Emperor Project¡¯s engineers grew darker. Yu Yuheng¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. "How... do you know all that!?" KIKI folded her arms. "It¡¯s just military engineering basics. No way Phoenix suddenly had a breakthrough and developed alien-level technology in a few months, right?" "No, that¡¯s not what I meant," Yu Yuheng said, his expression serious. "I¡¯m asking¡ªhow do you know so many classified details about this project?" KIKI froze. Sht. I talked too much.* Her big eyes darted around as she quickly made something up. "Uh... I used to hang out in military and tech forums a lot." Lin Xian nearly burst out laughing. "Tech forums"? Girl, you literally hacked the pre-Apocalypse Federal databases, stole blueprints for classified weapons, and probably know more than their engineers do. Both Yu Yuheng and Sun Kai looked suspicious. Meeting the Ace Pilot At that moment¡ª Click.Hiss. The pilot inside the neural interface pod disengaged. A tall, muscular man with a camouflage undershirt stepped down from the control platform. His movements were sharp and commanding. A nearby staff member quickly handed him a thermal coat. The man threw it on as he strode forward, his piercing gaze locking onto Lin Xian and KIKI. "Who are these two?" he asked coldly. "A mechanical ability user," Yu Yuheng replied. "Might help with repairs." The man barely spared them a glance before snapping, "Send them somewhere else. I don¡¯t need distractions." Then, without another word, he walked off. KIKI clenched her fists. "What an asshole!" Shi Diyuan frowned. "Who is that guy?" Sun Kai sighed. "His name is Chen Wei. He and his brother Chen Lie are Starfleet¡¯s former ace fighter pilots. Now, they¡¯re 5th-Level Unified Mecha Pilots. They were part of Emperor Project¡¯s first wave of mecha pilots. "And yeah... he¡¯s always been an arrogant bastard." Chapter 256: Snowstorm Frequency "His brother? Where is he?" Sun Kai glanced toward the ice canyon behind them. "He died down there while covering us on the last day. See the tear in the nano-ceramic viewport on Unit 01¡¯s head? His brother, Chen Lie, was ripped out in one bite by an Eerie Entity. In the end, it was Chen Wei alone who piloted this mecha and protected the rest of us." After saying that, he looked at Lin Xian with a meaningful gaze. "That guy''s temper has always been like this¡ªhe never shows a good face to anyone, and he especially resents Ability Users. I heard that after Apocalypse Day, his entire family was slaughtered by a bandit convoy of Ability Users. Now, with his brother gone too, plus the mental strain from linking directly to Unit 01¡¯s neural resonance system, he''s taken some serious psychological damage. So, don''t take it to heart. You risked your lives to come help, and yet he acted like that... On his behalf, I apologize to you." Lin Xian fell silent for a moment before sighing. "No need to be so formal, Captain Sun. We didn¡¯t really manage to help much. Looks like we¡¯ll have to think of another way." "Piloting a mecha alone with neural resonance?!" KIKI was shocked. "And he survived?!" "Guess he¡¯s just got ridiculous luck..." Sun Kai nodded. KIKI turned to him. "Right, didn¡¯t you say Captain Yu¡¯s team had a breakout plan? What is it? Surely they¡¯re not just waiting for Xilan City¡¯s rescue?" At that moment, Shi Diyuan spoke up. "Seems like they¡¯re planning to have this mecha send out some kind of signal to attract the monsters. Then, they want to make it self-destruct to see if it can take out that black worm or at least severely injure it, giving us a chance to escape. But I don¡¯t know the details. They had this rough idea before you guys even arrived." "Quantum-dot nano clusters," Sun Kai added. "This was something Unit 01 was originally experimenting with¡ªan apparatus meant to lure monsters. Apparently, these nano-particles can enter a quantum-entangled state with the ¡®Mother Quantum Trap¡¯ inside a monster¡¯s nest, or something like that. It¡¯s way too complicated for me to understand." Lin Xian stared at him, thinking: You just explained the whole principle, and you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t understand? "But there''s another plan," Sun Kai continued. "Chen Wei suggested it. Both he and his brother were Level-5 Unified Control pilots. Now that his brother is gone, there''s still a Level-3 pilot in the team. Chen Wei wants to take that person and forcefully restart Unit 01 to clear a path for all of us." "As for waiting for a rescue..." He shook his head. "With no comms and this blizzard making navigation impossible, even a flying Ability User might not make it to Xilan City. So, that¡¯s just a backup plan. Our main hope is to break out on our own." Lin Xian nodded. "Relying on rescue alone won¡¯t work. This canyon is swarming with Eerie Entities¡ªeven if help does come, it won¡¯t be easy." KIKI, however, had caught onto something important. She turned to Sun Kai. "Restart the mecha? You mean... it¡¯s still functional?!" Sun Kai suddenly looked a bit awkward. "I really don¡¯t know the technical side of things. But if they¡¯re suggesting this plan, then... maybe it¡¯s possible?" He quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, you guys keep talking¡ªI need to go report on the scouting situation." With that, he turned and left. "Holy sh*t, that thing can still start up?!" Shi Diyuan¡¯s eyes widened as he turned toward the towering steel giant, realization dawning on him. "It won¡¯t be that simple," Lin Xian said. "If it were, this would¡¯ve been Plan A¡ªnot self-destructing the mecha." Shi Diyuan opened his mouth but didn¡¯t say anything for a long time. Eventually, he let out a heavy sigh, looking up at the endless snowstorm. "What a fcking mess. I thought that once Dragon Mountain No.1 reached Xilan City, even if I died here, at least I wouldn¡¯t feel so bitter. But now we¡¯re still stuck in the same damn place. Fck, if I¡¯d known, I wouldn¡¯t have come!" Lin Xian looked at him. "You would¡¯ve come no matter what. You¡¯re just not the kind of guy who can be cold-hearted and selfish." "Exactly," KIKI added with a grin. "Back at Yubei Spaceport, when that Federation guy, Taylor, was about to shoot at us survivors, you jumped in to stop him without even knowing what was going on. Shi, admit it¡ªyou¡¯re a good guy." "A good guy, huh..." Shi Diyuan muttered bitterly, pursing his lips. "Damn bad luck. I¡¯m responsible for so many lives here¡ªwhat the hell am I supposed to do?" "We¡¯ll figure something out. Shi, I¡¯ll take KIKI to check out the mecha first." "Alright." Shi Diyuan turned away. "Go ahead. I¡¯ll check the frontlines. Let¡¯s regroup before nightfall and go over the plan." "Got it." Lin Xian then led KIKI toward the enormous mecha. At this point, none of the Starfleet soldiers or the busy engineers stopped them¡ªafter all, everyone was in the same boat now. Besides, they weren¡¯t the only curious survivors approaching the mecha to get a closer look. As they walked up to Unit 01¡¯s arm, KIKI extended her hand and used her psychic power to create a large energy dome, shielding them from the wind and snow. This allowed them to clearly see the intricate, industrial beauty of the metal plating. "For humanity to build a weapon of this scale... with such a civilization, how could we lose to these beasts in the darkness?" Lin Xian murmured as he placed his hand on the mecha¡¯s cold, armored finger. "The allure of machinery... is intoxicating." At that moment, Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart finally activated! BOOM! The moment the power of the Mechanical Heart connected with the steel titan in the storm, an invisible tremor seemed to echo through the depths of Trakamar Ice Canyon and the heavens of the Extreme Cold Vortex! Lin Xian didn¡¯t waste time scanning blueprints¡ªhe knew there wasn¡¯t enough time to analyze an entire mecha of this scale. Instead, he spread his Mechanical Heart across Unit 01, using his own perception to substitute for a full diagnostic scan, attempting to envelop the entire machine. Doing so allowed him to "feel" the mechanical colossus in a fraction of the time and with minimal energy expenditure. Through his mechanical intuition, he could grasp its issues without running a full technical analysis. A humming sensation filled the air¡ªhis awareness flowed like a celestial vantage point, gliding across the folding high-frequency blade chainsaw hidden beneath the wrist, trailing along the six-column high-energy capacitors behind the plasma cannon, up past the multi-surfaced torso joints, to the niobium-titanium superconducting reactor core in the chest, and finally sinking into the magnetorheological transmission chamber in the knee joints. For a brief moment, time itself seemed to fold into liquid form¡ªhe saw hydraulic pistons sketching Mobius strips in four-dimensional space, and every frictional movement of the nano-bearings was like birthing a parallel universe. In his mind, Unit 01 stood in its full, undamaged form beneath the auroras of the ice canyon. "Hah..." Letting out a deep breath into the icy air, Lin Xian¡¯s awareness swept past the neural resonance cockpit, and at last, he discovered the mecha¡¯s official designation: PANGU. At that moment, a grand, earth-shaking sense of awe surged through his chest. KIKI, still shielding them with her power, watched as Lin Xian opened his eyes. She couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, "That fast? How is it?!" Lin Xian replied gravely, "The main structure is intact except for the left arm and the tear in the nano-ceramic viewport. But... that tear may have damaged the primary control system. That could be a huge problem." "You mean the AI might be down?" KIKI frowned. Lin Xian nodded. "Yes, and that¡¯s bad news..." Ning Jing lowered her head and checked herself over, her eyes narrowing. "What does Captain Lin say? He¡¯s a Mechanical Ability User¡ªdoes he have a solution?" "Heh." Shi Diyuan suddenly stood up. "Of course, he has a solution! That guy has saved tens of thousands of people¡ªthis little setback won¡¯t stop him. But..." He trailed off, then looked at Ning Jing seriously. "Whether Dragon Mountain No.1 can break through this blizzard might depend on him. So no matter what happens tonight, we must ensure Lin makes it out safely. The people on both trains need him to survive." "All of you, got that?!" His sharp gaze swept across the gathered fighters. The others stiffened, their expressions turning solemn as they nodded without hesitation. In the storm, Lin Xian stood alone beneath Unit 01¡ªPangu, gazing up at its massive nuclear-powered turbine engine. He could feel the intense heat radiating from it, pushing back the surrounding cold. The swirling vortex of energy seemed as if it might swallow him whole. "Handsome guy, what¡¯s the problem? Stuck?" A sharp voice cut through the wind. Lin Xian turned to see Qian Dele, dressed in an extravagant mink coat, watching him with interest. Lin Xian glanced behind him, then back at Qian Dele, surprised. "You move fast. When did you get behind me?" "Just now." Qian Dele¡¯s sharp eyes roamed over Lin Xian before shifting toward Unit 01. "Everyone thinks this big hunk of metal is our only ticket out of here. Are you one of them?" "It¡¯s a natural thought," Lin Xian replied. "With a weapon of this scale at your back, anyone would want to seek shelter under its shade." "Shelter? Ha, I¡¯m freezing to death out here." Qian Dele tightened his coat around himself, then spoke slowly. "Still, in all this time running for our lives, this is the first human-made weapon that has actually made those disgusting monsters hesitate. This ''Emperor Project''... it¡¯s given survivors like us a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, humanity isn¡¯t so small after all." Lin Xian replied bluntly, "Do you know about the Dark Mark?" Qian Dele looked puzzled but waited for him to continue. "We discovered that Eerie Entities have a way of communicating¡ªa hunting language, so to speak. They can mark prey with an invisible signal, turning them into beacons in the darkness. Once marked, those in the vicinity will inevitably be hunted down." "Interesting," Qian Dele mused. "So these creatures are actually quite cooperative." "Hmm?" Lin Xian was taken aback. It was the first time someone had focused on that particular detail, making him instinctively engage in the discussion. "That¡¯s your first reaction?" Qian Dele¡¯s gaze held a trace of arrogance as he spoke in a nostalgic tone. "Before the apocalypse, my biggest hobbies were shopping and hunting. As a licensed professional hunter, I had a rule¡ªI never let other hunters take my targets." "Why?" Lin Xian asked. "Isn¡¯t it obvious?" Qian Dele smiled faintly. "Hunters enjoy the act of hunting, not just the spoils. It¡¯s like fishing¡ªanglers love the thrill of the catch. If they just wanted to eat fish, they¡¯d buy one at the market. Besides... I don¡¯t even like eating meat." "Fishing enthusiasts enjoy catching fish and feeding fish¡ªbut not eating fish," Lin Xian murmured, recalling his university days when he often skipped class to go fishing. He had all the gear, looked the part, but always came back empty-handed. His dorm mates would constantly roast him for it, often inviting him out just to eat fish. "Heh heh heh~" Qian Dele chuckled, then added, "Hunters don¡¯t share their prey. So this ''Dark Mark'' you mentioned? It doesn¡¯t sound like a predator marking its hunt." His voice turned cold. "It sounds more like a death warrant." Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew serious. "I¡¯ve always thought the Eerie Entities weren¡¯t just eating us¡ªthey wanted us erased." "Which is why I was so puzzled when I heard that giant black worm wouldn¡¯t approach this place. We¡¯ve always seen these creatures as fearless, but now, one of them is actually hesitating? Just because Unit 01 killed one of its kind?" Qian Dele frowned. "Even monsters have survival instincts. That¡¯s normal." Lin Xian, still busy crafting something with his hands, glanced up at the towering mecha and responded calmly, "Maybe." Qian Dele crossed his arms, studying Lin Xian intently before turning to leave. "Come on, Captain Yu has called a meeting for all convoy leaders to discuss the breakout plan. There may only be two of you, but I think you should still be there." After he left, Lin Xian checked his watch, his expression growing heavier. At that moment, a slender silhouette descended from the storm above, wrapped in an invisible psychic barrier. KIKI landed, her small face flushed red from the cold. "It¡¯s done." "Let¡¯s go. Time is short," Lin Xian nodded. The two of them quickly headed for the command tent. As soon as they stepped inside, warmth washed over them. The tent was filled with people¡ªShi Diyuan, Ning Jing, Qian Dele, Sun Kai, and the leaders of five other convoys, as well as members of the Emperor Project team, led by Yu Yuheng. In total, over thirty people were gathered, and the atmosphere was heavy. The Snow Wraith attacks were growing more frequent. They might survive one more night, but two? That was uncertain. Everyone knew¡ªthey had to make their move before nightfall. As Lin Xian and KIKI entered, all eyes turned to them. Shi Diyuan and Ning Jing nodded in greeting, while Captain Sun also acknowledged them with a glance. They quietly made their way to a corner. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze fell on Chen Wei, the pilot. He was sitting on a work chair not far behind Yu Yuheng, bundled in a thick military coat. His face was cold and rigid, and his arm was wrapped with sensor wires and IV tubes, indicating he was receiving treatment. Once everyone had arrived, Yu Yuheng called Sun Kai forward and addressed the group. "It¡¯s 15:20. We have about 2 hours and 40 minutes until nightfall, give or take 10 minutes. We¡¯ve gathered you all here for an urgent discussion on our breakout strategy." Sun Kai stepped up. "All of you came to help us escape this crisis, so let me make one thing clear¡ªwe, the armed division, will take the front line in any plan we choose." "Hey!" Shi Diyuan immediately interrupted, raising his hand in a bold gesture. "No need for that. Unity is what matters. And let¡¯s be practical¡ªmy train has the thickest armor. We should be the ones leading the charge. If we have heavy armor, we use it. No sense sending our brothers to take the brunt of the attack." "Damn right! I¡¯d rather risk my own life!" "Don¡¯t make it sound like we¡¯re afraid to die!" The other convoy leaders chimed in¡ªnone of them were selfish cowards. Over the past two days, they had grown close, and in this moment, none of them hesitated. "Let¡¯s focus on the actual plan first," Qian Dele interjected, arms crossed. "It¡¯s too early to argue about this." Yu Yuheng adjusted his glasses and spoke seriously. "We have two plans¡ªone is a direct breakout. The other is abandoning the position and retreating through the ice canyon." Sun Kai stepped forward. "We scouted the canyon three times and found a 3-kilometer-long ice tunnel leading north to a slope near Yaze Lake. From there, we could circle around. The problem is... we¡¯d have to abandon all large vehicles and escape on lightweight snowmobiles." Yu Yuheng added, "The advantage is a stealthy escape with minimal risk of encountering Eerie Entities. The downside? Once we leave this area, we might still run into them." "And the direct breakout?" Ning Jing asked. Yu Yuheng activated a holographic projection on the war table. "That... is where the Quantum Resonance Generator comes in." Yu Yuheng shook off the hand restraining him, adjusted his glasses, and said, "I''ve already told you many times¡ªthe reason I won''t consider your plan is purely due to technical concerns. No one understands this mecha''s issues better than I do. If you two go up, you''ll just be throwing your lives away for nothing and wasting our time." He then turned to someone else. "And you¡ªdon''t get too happy. Your plan is nothing but empty talk on paper." Just as everyone thought the argument had ended, KIKI suddenly shifted her focus to Yu Yuheng, catching everyone off guard. "Me?" Yu Yuheng asked in surprise. All eyes turned to KIKI with confusion. From a logical standpoint, Yu Yuheng''s plan seemed feasible. He had even prepared three contingency strategies¡ªthough brutal, they were at least viable. Hearing Yu Yuheng¡¯s confusion, KIKI let out a sigh. "Your work doesn¡¯t usually involve dealing with eerie entities, does it? You haven''t really experienced moments of true peril, have you?" Yu Yuheng frowned. "What do you mean? Are you trying to question my experience?" "It''s not about experience¡ªit''s about common sense." KIKI raised a finger. "Regardless of whether it''s a device that attracts monsters or their own blood, you''ve ignored the most important factor. These creatures have eyes, noses, and ears. They can track us in the dark and even possess a certain level of intelligence. We''ve encountered eerie entities countless times at night¡ªour only options were to run, die, or kill them. But tell me, have you ever seen them miss their mark?" Yu Yuheng''s face stiffened at her words, while Chen Wei narrowed his eyes slightly. "And then there''s your ''split into two teams'' idea¡ªit''s even worse. Even with all of us together, relying on defensive positions, we can barely hold off their attacks. What makes you think splitting up will increase our chances of survival? Do you have any idea how many Snow Wraiths and Snow Demons lurk in this snowfield? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? Millions? To them, our numbers are insignificant. Whether we split into two teams or twenty, it won¡¯t matter¡ªthe endless monster horde will just swallow us even faster." KIKI''s voice carried a sharp edge as she continued, "And another thing¡ªthere¡¯s a black worm carcass just three kilometers away. What makes you so sure there¡¯s only one of them underground?" At this, Yu Yuheng was left speechless, and the faces of Shi Diyuan, Qian Dele, and the other convoy leaders darkened. As experienced leaders, they quickly realized the flaws in the plan. "So according to you, we should just sit here and wait for rescue?" Chen Wei snapped, his voice sharp. KIKI''s words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing any lingering hope before they could even act. To a soldier like him, such pessimism was unacceptable. "KIKI, Lin¡ªdo you two have a better plan?" Shi Diyuan, who had been observing them from the sidelines, perked up. Since KIKI had just shot down all their options, he figured she and Lin Xian must have something else in mind. His tone was urgent as he turned toward them. "Of course we do," KIKI said casually. Instantly, the room''s atmosphere shifted, everyone''s eyes lighting up. Seeing KIKI dismantle both Yu Yuheng and Chen Wei¡¯s plans, Lin Xian decided to step forward. He addressed Yu Yuheng directly. "Captain Yu, there¡¯s one thing we all agree on¡ªyou and the Phoenix Guild officials are willing to put your own safety aside to stand in front of us survivors. Your courage and conviction deserve recognition." Yu Yuheng¡¯s expression remained conflicted after KIKI had so thoroughly shut down his plan. Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s words, he sighed and spoke with less confidence. "If you have a better plan, just say it. No need to flatter me. She¡¯s right¡ªI¡¯m just a technical specialist. I lack experience in this kind of situation..." Lin Xian nodded, checked the time, and got straight to the point. "The solution is simple¡ªwe all rush out together before nightfall." Silence filled the tent. Everyone stared at Lin Xian, expressions mixed with disbelief. What kind of plan was that? Chen Wei''s face darkened. Seeing Lin Xian step forward with such confidence, he had expected a well-thought-out strategy¡ªonly to hear... this? Just charge? Wasn¡¯t that obvious? If it were that easy, why were they still hiding here? Even Shi Diyuan, who usually trusted Lin Xian, seemed bewildered. Scratching his head, he asked, "Uh, Lin, that¡¯s it?" "Not exactly," Lin Xian replied, his expression serious. He had no time for word games. "First, let me remind you of something important¡ªthe time. It¡¯s currently 15:20." Lin Xian glanced at his watch before continuing. "All Snow Wraiths emerge from beneath the snow. They can¡¯t stay exposed to sunlight for long. They¡¯re more active during blizzards, which clearly shows that light is dangerous for eerie entities. Even that giant worm¡ªboth times it surfaced, it didn¡¯t stay above ground for long. The parts of its body exposed to sunlight were blown apart by our gunfire, shedding flesh and blood. If that doesn¡¯t tell you something, I don¡¯t know what will." "We already know that," Qian Dele crossed his arms, looking smug. "But once night falls, these monsters won''t be nearly as sluggish." "And then?" Yu Yuheng pressed, frowning. Lin Xian saw their confusion and walked up to Yu Yuheng, grabbing the mobile terminal from his hands before tossing it to KIKI. "Hey, girl." "Got it!" KIKI responded instantly, already beginning to operate the system. A moment later, the screen behind Yu Yuheng projected a temporary terrain curvature map. Lin Xian pointed at a location. "We¡¯re currently near Duck Ze Lake, close to Trakamar Ice Canyon. In extreme cold weather, cold air clings to the ground, forming what¡¯s called an ''inversion layer.'' Normally, the thick clouds during midday block sunlight, but as the inversion layer dissipates in the afternoon, the sun will angle westward, and snow reflection will amplify the light¡ªmaking it the brightest time of the day." "More specifically..." Lin Xian checked his watch again. "That window is between 16:00 and 17:00. If we break through then, our chances are highest." "Hah," Chen Wei scoffed impatiently. "This is nonsense. The sky is covered in dark clouds¡ªwhat, you think you can just command the sun to shine?" Yu Yuheng¡¯s face darkened. "With this blizzard, the weather is unpredictable. I get what you¡¯re saying, but the sunlight¡ª" "I can handle that," Lin Xian interrupted. Dead silence. Everyone looked at him in shock. "Lin," Sun Kai asked, incredulous, "what do you mean by that?" Before anyone could react, Lin Xian suddenly raised his hand and activated his ability¡ªGravity Lens! Buzz! A miniature spatial vortex manifested in the tent, instantly distorting the light. The entire room was thrown into layered refractions, and even the computer screens flickered erratically, their signals bending toward the gravitational anomaly. Then, just as suddenly, everything returned to normal. "I can manipulate light for short bursts," Lin Xian explained. His words hit like a bombshell. Chen Wei and Yu Yuheng stared at him, stunned. "Wait¡ªwhat?! You can control the weather?" "Not exactly. I can amplify light. Normally, it¡¯s not very useful, but against monsters that hate daylight... it comes in handy." Lin Xian shrugged, downplaying his ability. "Besides, there¡¯s another crucial factor no one has considered." He glanced around the room. "Before we arrived, there were no Snow Wraiths around Duck Ze Lake. Now, they¡¯re all swarming here. That likely means the mecha or some high-level eerie entity is drawing them in. But if we move, they¡¯ll chase us. We can¡¯t outrun them to Xilan City in two hours. Without backup, even if we escape, we¡¯ll still be hunted down." "But my Infinite Train and Shi''s Dragon Mountain No. 1 are stationed just 100 kilometers north on the rail line. They¡¯re fully armed and ready to provide cover. If we can reach them, we¡¯ll have the firepower to hold out until nightfall." "Wait!" Yu Yuheng blurted. "The blizzard blocks all signals¡ªhow could you possibly contact a convoy 100 kilometers away?!" "Yeah! Even I didn¡¯t know you got in touch with Dragon Mountain No. 1!" Shi Diyuan added. Beside him, Ning Jing suddenly caught on, her face lighting up. Lin Xian smirked. "Who said I couldn¡¯t?" Lin Xian smirked, then casually pulled out his communicator. "Hey, Mr. Chen. Fire Bro, is the path cleared yet?" He pressed the call button and spoke into the device. Crackle... sizzle... "Lin Xian, we¡¯re all set over here!!" Through the static interference, Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice came through loud and clear, echoing inside the now-silent tent. Everyone¡¯s heads snapped toward Lin Xian in shock. Then, under their stunned gazes, he casually raised his hand and conjured a signal pillar¡ªa small, glowing device resembling an antenna. He tossed it in the air a few times before gripping it firmly. "I¡¯m a cautious person," he explained with a chuckle. "When I came out to find Brother Shi, I didn¡¯t want to get lost, so I left signal pillars behind every few hundred meters." With that, he turned to the wide-eyed Yu Yuheng and added, "Oh, by the way, Captain Yu¡ªjust a heads-up. My nearest signal pillar is only two kilometers away. I didn¡¯t get a chance to plant more on the way here because we ran into a monster horde. So earlier, I borrowed Unit 01¡¯s overclocked signal relay system and set up a bridge to connect to my network." Yu Yuheng¡¯s glasses slid down his nose as his mouth opened and closed, struggling to form words. "Y-you... When... h-how...?" Lin Xian turned to KIKI with a smirk. Yu Yuheng followed his gaze, locking onto the girl. KIKI squinted playfully and gave him a cheeky grin. "Relax~ I didn¡¯t peek at your classified files." Shi Diyuan let out a hearty laugh and clapped his hands. "You sly fox! So you had a backup plan all along, huh? Hahaha!" Qian Dele, now thoroughly impressed, shot Lin Xian a thumbs-up. "Damn, dude¡ªyou¡¯re on another level." "This plan is solid," one of the convoy leaders said, his face full of excitement. "Definitely worth trying!" Others chimed in, their voices carrying a renewed sense of hope. Even Sun Kai, who had been skeptical, now looked at Lin Xian with astonishment. His breathing quickened as he processed the full scope of the plan. A full-team breakout, accounting for terrain, weather, and sunlight. More importantly, it resolved their biggest issue¡ªthe lack of backup. No plan was foolproof, but this was, without a doubt, their best shot at survival. The atmosphere in the tent shifted dramatically. The tension and despair that had weighed everyone down moments ago were gone, replaced by fiery determination. For the first time in a long while, hope had returned. Outside, the Trakamar Ice Canyon howled with blistering winds. Snowflakes danced furiously in the air. And in that vast, frozen wasteland¡ªevery few hundred meters¡ªstood a series of gray signal pillars, their green lights pulsing like electronic beacons in the white abyss. They flickered steadily, carrying the rhythm of an encrypted signal¡ªa heartbeat in the storm, a silent call to arms. Chapter 257: Arc Pulse String Vibrator Hoo¡ªhoo... The freezing blizzard turned the skyline into a gray haze. The temperature had already dropped to minus 55 degrees. On the northern rail line of the Parma Grasslands, two heavy trains connected together stretched across the snowy plains like a two-kilometer-long steel dragon. The raging wind and snow formed icy stalactites, and the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the train caused the reinforced glass to be covered in a thick layer of frost. Creak¡ª Inside the central living carriage of Dragon Mountain No. 1, a young boy reached out and wiped the frost from the window. His small face, reddened from staying in the heated space, was pressed against the glass, peering curiously through the armored grates at the vast, snowy expanse outside. But before he could see much, an adult pulled him away. "Come here! From now on, stay inside the safety cabinet with Bingbing and Xiaodong. Just like before¡ªno crying, no screaming. You wait inside until an adult opens the cabinet. Do you hear me?" A thin woman, carrying a heavy rifle on her back, quickly bundled the boy in a thick cotton coat and stuffed a pack of biscuits into his hands. "Eat when you''re hungry." The boy nodded obediently and hurried into the specially designed safety cabinet inside the carriage. Many carriages had these compartments, and at maximum capacity, they could hold about ten children at a time. Clang clang clang¡ªBang bang bang. Inside Dragon Mountain No. 1, the entire train was bustling with activity. People moved urgently, speaking in hushed tones while their hands and feet never stopped working. Every adult carried a gun, and crates of supplies and ammunition were being transported down the corridors via carts. "All non-combat personnel, return to your designated living areas! Everyone else, follow the full-train defense protocol!" The commanders of each carriage were issuing orders in rapid succession. This kind of drill was something they practiced daily¡ªeven during times of safety¡ªto ensure that Dragon Mountain No. 1 could maintain its formidable combat capability and high survival rate. Other than the elderly and young children, everyone was a soldier. Tasks were divided, cooperation was seamless, and each carriage had its own commander for efficient coordination. Every five carriages, there was a weapons station equipped with heavy firepower and supply reserves, allowing for quick replenishment during combat. But this time, the entire train was under immense pressure. Not without reason¡ªbased on the intel Lin Xian had passed to Lu Yong, they were about to face the full force of the Snow Wraiths from the Yaze Lake to Uliyasitai Mountains, and possibly even an underground Behemoth capable of flipping the train. Even the Phoenix forces had nearly been wiped out. It was clear that the upcoming battle would be a desperate struggle for survival. Whether they could successfully rendezvous with Shi Diyuan and Lin Xian''s main force¡ªand ultimately reach Xilan City alive¡ªdepended entirely on their preparations. "Distribute food in advance! There won¡¯t be time to eat later!" "Move all flamethrowers and de-icing agents to the front cars! Increase heating by 10% in carriages 24 to 46, and ensure sufficient oxygen density in activity zones!" "What about the ammunition?!" Lu Yong, his face tense with urgency, moved swiftly between carriages with his team. The air on Dragon Mountain No. 1 was thick with the weight of an impending battle. Every carriage was a hive of activity, reinforcing defenses. "Our heavy firepower reserves are adequate, but if this fight lasts all night, we..." "Stagger the phases!" Lu Yong ordered as he walked. "Use the heavy artillery primarily against high-level Eerie Entities or large-scale assaults. For the rest, we¡¯ll engage with armored defenses. There''s no way we can keep firing for six straight hours. Ability Users and Enhancers need to rotate attacks in a strict pattern. Heavy firepower first¡ªthen, once the enemy closes in, the Ability Users move in for close-quarters combat. "Also, Dongzi, Wang Zhong, Zhuang Yue, Yu Lianxing, Zhu Anran, and Min Ming¡ªthose six frontline fighters¡ªmake sure their Power Suits are checked, and prepare backup batteries! The blizzard is strong tonight, so make sure they have extra temperature-regulating gear for the rooftop battles!" "Understood, Captain Lu!" With Shi Diyuan and Ning Jing absent, Lu Yong was the third-in-command of Dragon Mountain No. 1. Upon receiving the intel from Shi Diyuan and Lin Xian, he immediately began tactical deployment. "Also¡ªcheck all carriages for Arc Pulse Resonance Emitters !" "Got it!" "Wait¡ª" Lu Yong suddenly stopped. "Hurry! Brother Shi instructed us to send those three spare Arc Pulse Resonance Emitters to Infinite Train! They might consume a lot of power, but they¡¯re highly effective against Snow Wraiths trying to climb onto the train¡ªfar better than bullets." One of his men nodded and turned to prepare the delivery. ¡ª Meanwhile, inside Infinite Train, Carriage No. 12¡ª Chen Sixuan, clad in a Power Suit, was overseeing the defensive preparations. "It¡¯s 15:30 now. They plan to depart at 16:00. It will take about an hour for them to break through to us, which means we have about an hour and a half to prepare." She pointed to the lift hatch originally reserved for the 1130 CIWS and addressed Da Lou and Lu? Chang. "Let¡¯s move the Fire God Mecha here. It can¡¯t be relocated easily, but we can use its firepower to cover the rear. Otherwise, the 1130 CIWS won¡¯t have enough ammunition to last." Shasha waved her hand dismissively. "Moving it will be tough. The hatch is in Carriage 11¡ªunless I activate the Mecha, climb onto the roof, and then drop into Carriage 12..." The Fire God Mecha was massive, making maneuverability inside the train difficult. The narrow passageways between carriages made direct relocation impossible. "If only KIKI were here. She¡¯d handle this easily." "We¡¯ll manage," Chen Sixuan replied. "Shasha, use the tool ladder Lin Xian built in the utility carriage. Tonight, you¡¯ll be in charge of guarding Carriage 12." Shasha nodded firmly. "No problem. Just like playing a shooter game¡ªexcept Sally (her Mecha) has way stronger firepower." "I¡¯ll be here too," Shu Qin added, pulling out a grappling rope with a hook that could latch onto Power Suits. "Shooting from inside the train is too restrictive. If necessary, I¡¯ll use the lift hatch to get onto the roof and support Fire Bro." "We¡¯ll help as well." Lu? Chang and Miao Lu zipped up their thick cold-weather gear. "We¡¯ll hold the midsection with Brother Lou." Lu Xingchen stood off to the side, eyes burning with excitement. "A real battle, huh? Hell yeah." He rolled his neck and grinned. "A brawl in the middle of a blizzard? This is gonna be fun." "Fire Bro." Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice turned serious. "Watch the connection point between us and Dragon Mountain No. 1. If anything happens there, the train could derail." "Got it. Leave it to me." Lu Xingchen closed his eyes and nodded confidently. Da Lou grabbed a grappling rope and headed back to Carriage 5. "We won¡¯t last on bullets alone. This is gonna turn into a melee at some point." Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression hardened. "Lin Xian and I discussed it. Before we rendezvous, both trains need to accelerate first. We need to build momentum¡ªat least 80 KM per hour. Timing will be everything." She turned to Lu Xingchen. "Fire Bro, you and Dragon Mountain No. 1 will lead the charge. Wait for Lin Xian¡¯s signal. If we get separated by more than three kilometers, we¡¯ll lose contact, and that¡¯ll be a disaster." ¡ª At Trakamar Ice Canyon, inside the Unit 01 Defensive Line, Lin Xian¡¯s communicator flickered in and out. Listening to Chen Sixuan¡¯s report, he maintained a composed expression. "Arc Pulse Resonance Emitters? Good. Install them on those three carriages. Just remember¡ªour twin-engine Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive at the rear must be protected." "And one more thing¡ªour convoy won¡¯t be able to keep up with the train¡¯s speed. They¡¯ll lag behind, facing the most firepower." Lin Xian spoke, "If that thing chases us from underground, it could flip the train over entirely. That¡¯s why I think we should severely injure it before we even attempt to regroup." Shi Diyuan nodded gravely. Dragon Mountain No. 1 carried over a thousand people¡ªhe understood all too well what a catastrophe it would be if the train were overturned by a behemoth-sized worm. If that happened, they would be swarmed by Snow Wraiths and Blood Fiends, completely losing any chance of resistance in the middle of the raging blizzard. "Exactly. We need to cripple this thing during the daytime. If we don¡¯t, it''ll be our worst nightmare by nightfall," Qian Dele said, his expression serious as he walked over. "Don¡¯t worry. If that thing dares to show up, I¡¯ll tear a chunk out of its hide even if it kills me!" Shi Diyuan clenched his fist, his eyes turning faintly red. His pupils shifted to a tiger-like golden hue, radiating an overwhelming aura of strength. A second later, his gaze returned to normal. "Time''s running out¡ªwe leave in ten minutes." Sun Kai spoke up, "Our infrared observation system just detected a large number of lifeform alerts in the snowfields. Looks like these creatures noticed our movements. We can¡¯t afford to hesitate anymore!" BOOM! Just as he finished speaking, a violent tremor rumbled through the ground. The lights hanging from the tent ceiling began to sway. Everyone in the tent, busy with preparations, instantly fell silent. When the tremors subsided, Lin Xian stood up sharply. "Just as I thought... They know we''re trying to escape!" He grabbed his communicator. "Hey, girl, how¡¯s it going over there?" "Whoooosh¡ª(wind howling) Almost done! Five minutes!!..." KIKI''s voice crackled through the roaring blizzard over the communicator. Among the crowd, Yu Yuheng watched with a complicated expression. He was only now realizing how nai?ve his earlier strategies had been¡ªmere paper plans. They hadn¡¯t even set off yet, and the creatures in the snow had already sensed their movement. Splitting into different groups wouldn''t have made a difference;the monsters would have hunted them down regardless. As for taking the ice canyon route? That would have been outright suicide. "Can these creatures actually sense human thoughts? Or maybe they track our scent?" A terrifying thought flashed through Yu Yuheng''s mind. He quickly dismissed it with a sigh and scanned the area¡ªthen, his expression darkened. Someone was missing. Frowning, he turned and sprinted out of the tent. Outside, armed squads and convoy members were still loading supplies. Some vehicles had already started their engines, forming up in the rear of the battle lines. Yu Yuheng scanned the area frantically. Then, at the edge of the Unit 01 Cliff, he spotted a familiar figure. Pushing through the crowd, he rushed forward. "What the hell are you doing here?! We''re evacuating¡ªget in the truck! You can''t stop your IV treatment right now!" The man standing at the cliff¡¯s edge was none other than Chen Wei. Dressed in a military coat, he stood motionless in the bitter wind, gazing up at the towering head of the Pangu Unit 01 Mecha. The nano-ceramic visor was cracked open, adding to the already battle-worn, mournful look of the towering mechanical giant. Snow had accumulated over its hundred-meter-tall frame. "When my brother died, we were still linked through the neural synchronization system. I felt all of his pain as if it were my own. In a way, I¡¯ve already died once... So this pain means nothing to me." Yu Yuheng clenched his jaw. "You''re a Level-5 Unified Mecha Pilot, once the ace pilot of the White Emperor Aerospace Squadron. You were among the first batch of Emperor Project pilots to fight an S-Class Eerie Entity in real combat. That was a successful trial¡ªthe Phoenix faction is still working on building stronger, more advanced Emperor Mechas." He took a deep breath and continued, "I know you want to die here. But if you really want revenge, then get inside a new mecha and fight back!" With that, he reached into his coat and pulled out a small object, extending it toward Chen Wei. Chen Wei frowned. "What¡¯s this?" Yu Yuheng opened his palm. In his hand lay a bloodstained Phoenix Emblem. It was engraved with a name, an identification number, and the unit designation. It was Chen Lie¡¯s badge. "Lin Xian gave this to me," Yu Yuheng explained. "He found it in the cockpit while installing the bridge connection system." Chen Wei''s pupils contracted sharply at the sight of the badge. He clenched his teeth, his face filled with suppressed grief. A moment later, he grabbed the badge without another word, turned on his heel, and strode toward the convoy. "I¡¯m riding in the armed truck." "The armed truck?!" Yu Yuheng exclaimed. "You still need your IV!" "The IV gets in the way of me operating the autocannon!" ¡ª Whooooosh¡ª The command tent had been emptied. Over a hundred vehicles, carrying nearly three hundred people, were now fully assembled. Lin Xian and KIKI had returned to their Polar Rover, which he had repaired just in time. As he opened the door, he froze. Someone was already in the driver¡¯s seat. Xiao Qing from the Dragon Mountain No. 1 convoy was gripping the steering wheel, her expression indifferent as she glanced at Lin Xian. In the passenger seat, KIKI grinned and waved. "Hello~ Ready to roll?" Lin Xian frowned. "What¡¯s this about?" Before anyone could answer, Ning Jing approached from the distance and called out, "Captain Lin, let Xiao Qing drive for you. She¡¯s a skilled driver, and you¡¯ll be busy with command. We¡¯re worried you won¡¯t be able to handle everything at once." Lin Xian immediately understood and didn¡¯t argue. He nodded at Ning Jing, then glanced at Xiao Qing before taking a seat in the back. "KIKI, how¡¯s the train holding up?" "They should be ready," Lin Xian replied. "Shasha moved Sally into Carriage 12¡ªshe¡¯s planning to use the Fire God Mecha as a turret from the roof." KIKI wrinkled her nose. "Tch. That girl¡¯s getting reckless." "Honestly? It¡¯s a good idea. This way, the Fire God Mecha can move while still providing fire support." KIKI pursed her lips in thought before nodding. "Yeah, that makes sense." "Are we moving out?" Xiao Qing asked coldly, her tone so sharp that it seemed to lower the temperature in the car. Lin Xian rolled down the window, scanning the storm outside. The blizzard, which had intensified half an hour ago, had now weakened significantly. "Looks like even the heavens are helping us." BOOM... The ground trembled once more. In the distance, the sound of snow eruptions could be heard¡ªmonsters, buried beneath the ice, beginning to stir. "Brother Lin! We''re waiting on your signal!" At the head of the formation, Shi Diyuan''s All-Terrain Locomotive, equipped with an Electric Traction Engine, had already roared to life. The entire convoy was positioned in a wedge formation, ready to charge. Vrrrrrrr¡ª All engines revved in unison. "We¡¯re all set!" "The snow¡¯s clearing up! Hahaha!" "Yeah, the light¡¯s getting brighter too!" From the right flank, Sun Kai¡¯s voice came through the comms. "All personnel are aboard and ready!" Lin Xian nodded, his gaze sharpening as he turned to face the snowy battlefield ahead¡ªlittered with frozen, piled-up corpses of Snow Wraiths. He lifted his communicator. "All units, break through!" WOOOOOOM!! At that moment, over a hundred heavy vehicles unleashed an earth-shaking roar. Treads, skis, and caterpillar tracks churned up massive clouds of snow as the convoy surged forward, a steel juggernaut plowing into the blizzard. "CHARGE!!" Shi Diyuan bellowed. In an instant, the armored convoy stormed the frozen wasteland, crushing ice-corpses under their relentless advance. "Maintain formation¡ªno collisions! Brother Shi, no matter what happens, do NOT stop the train!" Lin Xian''s voice rang through the comms. "Relax! Unless you tell me to stop, I won¡¯t even stop for a goddamn mountain! HAHAHA!" As the convoy charged along the valley path, monstrous figures erupted from the snow¡ªhundreds, then thousands of Snow Wraiths swarming toward them. "OPEN FIRE!" DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!! VRRRRRRRR¡ª Machine guns and Gatling turrets roared. Brass casings rained down like hail. The battle for survival had begun. Chapter 258: Storm Pursuit! On the snowy plains above the Trakamar Ice Canyon, the convoy rolled forward like a steel tide, its roaring engines shredding through the howling storm. "Watch your ammo! The big ones haven''t shown up yet!" Lin Xian shouted through the comms. The four-legged snow wraiths and the flying winged eerie entities in the blizzard hadn''t appeared yet. Now was the time to conserve ammunition¡ªespecially heavy firepower. It was nearly an hour¡¯s drive from the defensive line to the Infinite Train, even at full sprint. And even if they managed to link up with Dragon Mountain No. 1 and Infinite Train, it would still only be the calm before the storm. Once darkness fell, the thousands marked with the Dark Mark would be facing true terror. Screeeee!! Hundreds of Snow Wraiths, barbed tails gleaming, burst from beneath the deep snow and swarmed the convoy like locusts. The convoy had already picked up speed, but the Snow Wraiths slithered quickly under the snow, and from all directions, eerie beasts surged like a tidal wave. The overwhelming charge sent a chill down many spines. Vroooom!! In her Polar Vehicle, Xiao Qing stomped the accelerator. The engine roared, treads spinning wildly as snow plumed behind her. Her vehicle veered up beside the rear flank of Shi Diyuan¡¯s train. Clang! A Snow Wraith suddenly lunged from the snow, slamming against the driver-side door, screeching and jabbing its stinger toward the cabin. Without missing a beat, Xiao Qing lowered the window, drew her blade with her left hand, and sliced it clean through the creature¡¯s head. Then she kicked the door hard, flinging both the door and the corpse away in one go. Lin Xian sighed when he saw it. He had just fixed that door. This girl seriously had no fear of the cold... Bang! Bang! Bang! Snow Wraiths were slamming into both wings of the convoy now. Gunfire erupted, accompanied by rapid thuds as the swarm pressed inward, forcing the outer vehicles to push closer to the central column. "Three o¡¯clock! Four-legged beasts, all large!" "Seven o¡¯clock too!" "Watch out for the Hercules crash site ahead!" "Unknown flying entity in the rear airspace, stay alert!" Boom-boom-boom! The ground trembled, snow shaking across the plains. From the edge of the canyon, countless monsters surged in waves, chasing after the convoy and forming a monstrous army in the rear. Yu Yuheng was riding with the central tech team in an all-terrain snow vehicle, fully geared up with his team. Hearing the chaos outside, his face was drawn and tense. "Team Leader Yu..." Two colleagues stared at the rear window in horror. Yu turned¡ªand froze. The snowy plains behind them had vanished. In their place, a gray-white wave of Snow Wraiths surged like a living sea, charging with terrifying speed. Flamethrowers poured fire backward. Every grenade blast tore apart dozens of creatures, sending severed limbs and gore flying. "This is insane... How are there this many of them?" "I remember during the Unit-01 tests, there weren¡¯t nearly this many. Why are they all swarming here?" Yu Yuheng¡¯s eyes flickered. "Might be related to S-Class Entity No. 13." A middle-aged researcher nearby spoke up nervously, "Wasn¡¯t the observation team sure No. 13 headed toward Yunwang Swamp?" Yu shook his head. "It¡¯s not that simple. After the last collision, Unit-01 suddenly became a prime target for all the eerie entities under the Extreme Cold Vortex. We¡¯ve never seen this wide-scale behavior before." "Team Leader Yu," the researcher said solemnly. "Is it possible that S-class entities have some kind of... command ability?" "Orders." Yu¡¯s glasses reflected a gleam. "That¡¯s what you¡¯re trying to say, right?" The researcher nodded quickly. "Yes! Like they marked us and Unit-01, and now everything in the region is zeroing in on us. This whole situation¡¯s been off from the start." "Exactly, we all thought it was just noise from Unit-01, but Captain Lin¡¯s report said that when we were attacked, they were hundreds of kilometers away¡ªand they saw no Snow Wraiths at all. That¡¯s just bizarre." "And we¡¯ve taken huge losses. That black worm had destructive power way beyond A-Class estimates, and there¡¯s more than one of them in this canyon." "Still, all of this helps us study how these entities behave," Yu said with a nod. Gunfire was like a string of firecrackers behind them, the snow tide boiling. He glanced back, then told the team, "Especially the traits shown by No. 13..." He looked at a few metal devices in the vehicle, voice heavy. "We¡¯ve abandoned Unit-01, but we must get the experimental data out. If not, everything we worked for will be lost!" BOOM. BOOM. Tremors rocked the ground. The convoy reached the edge of a mountain pass¡ªright where Lin Xian and Ning Jing had stopped earlier. They drove through wrecked fighter jets and smashed vehicles until a massive, black worm corpse stretched hundreds of meters before them. "That¡¯s the one we killed." On Dragon Mountain No. 1, Ning Jing pointed ahead. "We¡¯re nearly at Captain Lin¡¯s position!" Shi Diyuan scanned the left hills and the right cliffside, voice grim. "We need to move fast. Things are about to get loud." Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ª Monster tide rising. At the rear of the convoy was Qian Dele¡¯s Joker Convoy. Wrapped in a thick fur coat, Qian stood on the side of a massive Polar Vehicle, gripping the railing as the cold wind lashed him. Behind, the Snow Wraiths surged like a pack of hyenas, some just meters away. "So disgusting~" He pressed his earpiece. "All units, heads up¡ªavalanche incoming. Pick up the pace!" "Yes, sir!" came the responses. "Everyone get ready!" Lin Xian¡¯s voice echoed across the comms. In his Polar Vehicle, Lin Xian glanced at the slope behind the worm¡¯s body, his eyes locked onto the watch and detonator in his hands. Earlier, he had sent KIKI to plant metal bombs on the slope¡ªand on the worm¡¯s corpse itself. KIKI turned nervously to him. "Hey, I forgot to ask¡ªwill the snow be enough to bury the Wraiths?" "Not a chance. It¡¯ll only scatter the horde, give us breathing room," Lin Xian said, eyes on the detonator. "My real target¡¯s the worm corpse. That¡¯s why I had you use thermite charges." KIKI nodded. "Hopefully it''ll draw out the one underground. It always just ambushes and runs. At night, it¡¯s even harder to deal with." Lin Xian squinted, feeling tremors beneath them. "It¡¯s coming. We need to mess up its timing." What he feared most was that the monster would charge straight into the middle of the convoy. Beep. The detonator¡¯s light turned green¡ªit was connected! "Everyone stay sharp. It¡¯s coming!" Lin Xian roared into the comms. The convoy just passed the giant worm corpse when Lin Xian slammed the trigger. BOOM!! Explosions lit up the slope ahead. The worm¡¯s body erupted into flames behind. Thermite blasts tore through its frozen flesh, vaporizing chunks in a burst of green blood and black flesh. Hundreds of Snow Wraiths were caught in the blast¡ªscattered into shreds. The shockwave hurled gore skyward, raining down in a storm of fire and flesh. Green blood plasma splashed over the pursuing horde, throwing them into disarray and spreading panic. RUMBLE¡ª From the slope ahead, the blasts triggered an avalanche, snow collapsing in a massive wave rushing down the mountainside. "Faster!" "Go go go!" "Maintain formation!" THUD THUD THUD! A black shadow rushed in. A giant four-legged beast lunged from the side, slamming its hard leg down on the roof of a small vehicle. "Too late¡ª!" Inside, the armed personnel froze, heart skipping a beat as the shadow blocked the light. The driver, seeing the rearview mirror, jerked the wheel, ready to swerve away so their destruction wouldn¡¯t impact the convoy. But just then¡ªa golden blur flashed from the snowy plain. It moved like lightning. Even the surging snow tide and the beast¡¯s ambush seemed to freeze in slow motion. The golden figure danced across the snow without a trace, leapt high, and kicked the monster¡¯s front leg. CLANG! The sound of metal striking metal echoed as the monster¡¯s limb snapped backward, hurling it away. The team snapped into action, and a storm of metal bullets shredded the beast¡¯s upper body, flinging it into the Snow Wraiths behind. The golden figure vanished again, darting through the snow, crushing dozens of Wraiths beneath its feet, before landing gracefully on top of a Polar Vehicle. "Ew, now I¡¯m all gross~" Qian Dele looked down and saw green blood splattered on his polished pointed leather shoes. With his severe cleanliness obsession, his face changed dramatically. He quickly pulled out a handkerchief from his mink coat and meticulously wiped the blood off the edge of his shoe. Then, shooting a disgusted look at the handkerchief and another at the Snow Wraith tide behind them, he tossed it and snapped, ¡°Take this silk handkerchief as a gift!¡± BOOM BOOM BOOM! Thanks to the convoy¡¯s steady movement and Lin Xian¡¯s precise judgment, the avalanche struck right after the convoy passed, crashing down and engulfing over ten thousand Snow Wraiths in one sweeping wave. The massive current of snow carried them off the cliff at the bottom of the canyon, halting the bulk of the chasing monster swarm. But the convoy didn¡¯t even have a chance to catch its breath before more Snow Wraiths swarmed out of the snow like a plague of locusts. Just as they were about to clear the narrow pass, the rumbling underground grew more intense. The entire snowy plain started rising and falling like liquid. ¡°That thing¡¯s coming out!¡± ¡°Little girl!¡± Lin Xian and KIKI both flung their doors open and jumped out. KIKI flew into the air, while Lin Xian clung to the vehicle¡¯s handrail, standing on the side of the truck, his eyes locked on the snow-covered ground with a grim expression. Then he looked up. Beneath the Extreme Cold Vortex, the sky was filled with thick clouds. The howling wind and snow never stopped. But rays of slanted sunlight pierced through the cloud gaps in the west, casting dazzling beams onto the vast snowfield of the Parma Grasslands. The pure white landscape reflected blinding light¡ªmuch brighter than during the worst of the blizzard. As the Snow Wraiths emerged from the snow, it was like they were being torn apart by some unseen force. Their skin cracked inch by inch, and they howled in agony, recklessly charging toward the convoy. One vehicle, its weapons offline, got swarmed by seven or eight Snow Wraiths. It rocked violently as it was dragged out of formation and rolled into the monster tide, instantly swamped under the pile of beasts. ¡°F*** it!! I¡¯ll take you all with me!¡± BOOM! The person in that vehicle, burning with rage, detonated the explosives at the last second, turning the truck and several teammates¡ªand over a hundred Snow Wraiths around them¡ªinto a burst of blazing fragments! VROOOM! As one vehicle fell, another behind it immediately revved up and surged forward to close the gap, shielding the living carriages and the technical staff vehicles in the center. Casualties were mounting. The whole convoy was reaching a breaking point. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze swept coldly over the battlefield. He lowered his voice and said to KIKI, ¡°Remember what I told you¡ªif that thing bursts out from the middle, save as many as you can!¡± ¡°I know!¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes were already glowing with her Ability. A field of psychic energy surrounded her, shielding her completely from the bitter cold. Her mind was stretched thin, sensing the movements beneath the ground and tracking the dozens of vehicles in the center. For her, this kind of mental strain was a brutal challenge. On the other side, Shi Diyuan, Ning Jing, A''Bai, and more than a dozen of the convoy¡¯s top fighters had also stepped out, braving the blade-like cold wind. Everyone was scanning for the underground threat. Ning Jing stood atop the Dragon Mountain No. 1 train, gripping the frail A''Bai, who was gasping anxiously and peering through thick sunglasses at the snow. ¡°Can you see it?¡± A''Bai trembled, eyes darting nervously in the biting wind. In that moment, it felt like every heartbeat across the convoy froze in place. RUMBLE RUMBLE! The tremors grew even more violent. Along the edge of the Trakamar Ice Canyon, the snow gave way in massive sheets, collapsing into the valley below. Just as the convoy was about to clear the narrow pass, Lin Xian and A''Bai suddenly turned their heads toward the front! ¡°It¡¯s up ahead!¡± ¡°Up ahead!!¡± Their voices blared across the radio at the exact same time. Fat Cat, who was driving the Dragon Mountain No. 1 , heard them. Just then, the ground at the pass ahead erupted. Snow and dust shot into the air like a geyser. BOOM BOOM BOOM! A deafening hum, followed by the sound of the crust being torn apart, echoed across the canyon and the snowfield. The convoy couldn¡¯t stop in time. They were about to plow straight into the explosion. Amid the flying snow and dust, a massive black worm the size of a mountain burst from the earth, towering into the sky. Its grotesque form sent chills down everyone¡¯s spine¡ªit looked like some twisted parasite risen from the depths of the earth! The giant worm opened its abyssal maw, blotting out the sky as it loomed before the convoy. The sheer terror of the sight froze minds in shock. ¡°Split the convoy¡ªleft and right!!¡± Seeing disaster about to strike, Lin Xian shouted at KIKI without hesitation. ¡°Turn! It¡¯s gonna hit us!¡± KIKI¡¯s face turned pale. She shot forward, both hands glowing with surging psychic energy, conjuring a massive forcefield to push the convoy vehicles apart to either side! SHHH SHHH SHHH¡ª Everyone was yanking their steering wheels hard. Dragon Mountain No. 1 veered left. Lin Xian¡¯s polar vehicle swerved right. The rest followed, the steel behemoths forming a massive Y-shaped split in the snow. Those in the rear who couldn''t dodge in time slammed into the invisible psychic wall¡ªBAM BAM BAM¡ªbouncing off and swerving wildly before veering to the sides. ¡°AHHH!!¡± The living and tech vehicles at the back stared wide-eyed at the gaping maw ahead, frozen with horror, screaming in sheer panic. One out-of-control truck smashed into KIKI¡¯s psychic wall, lost control, and crashed hard into a snow rover on the right, blasting open a huge gap in the formation. Several vehicles tumbled off the edge of the canyon. Seeing this, KIKI quickly shifted her focus to catch the truck¡ªbut that caused a rupture in her psychic forcefield. Two vehicles in the center, their vision completely blocked by snow, rushed blindly into the worm¡¯s mouth. Screams echoed out. ¡°Crap!¡± KIKI cried out. BOOM BOOM! RRRAHHHHH¡ª!! A guttural, hellish roar echoed from the depths of the abyssal maw. The flesh around the mouth rippled and flared, releasing clouds of putrid stench! BANG! But at that moment, an armed vehicle fired first. Its onboard autocannon blasted out a shockwave. A 75mm alloy armor-piercing round screamed toward the beast. Chen Wei! Staring into the creature¡¯s gaping maw, there wasn¡¯t a trace of fear or hesitation on Chen Wei¡¯s face. If anything, flames of battle lit up in his eyes. This giant monster didn¡¯t shake his focus one bit. ¡°Right down your throat! You¡¯re f***ing dead!¡± His voice crackled over the comms, brimming with fury. Lin Xian and KIKI both turned back to look at him, a flash of surprise in their eyes. Chen Wei¡¯s shout snapped everyone back to their senses. That giant worm¡¯s maw was horrifying, yes¡ªbut it was also its weakest spot! ¡°Open fire! Blow that thing to h*ll!¡± On the train roof, Shi Diyuan suddenly pulled out a gleaming 155mm grenade launcher¡ªso old the primer had worn down completely. His arms swelled with raw power, veins bulging. With a roar, he lifted the 40-50kg launcher one-handed and hurled it like a javelin straight into the beast¡¯s mouth. WHOOSH! With a whistling scream, the grenade sailed over a hundred meters. Dragon Mountain No. 1 was the closest¡ªand the grenade flew straight into the black maw of the monster. A few seconds later¡ª BOOM!! ¡°Don¡¯t be scared¡ªkill it!¡± ¡°F***er, go to hell!¡± ¡°Unload everything we¡¯ve got!!¡± RATATATATAT!! BOOM BOOM BOOM!! The convoy¡¯s firepower roared to life, unleashing a relentless storm upon the abyssal worm. WHIRRR¡ª At the same time, more than a dozen Ability Users joined in, unleashing their powers in a surge of dark red lasers aimed directly at the monster. Lin Xian turned back to look¡ªthe entire convoy¡¯s weapons were already focused on the beast. Seizing the moment, he turned to the sky and raised a single finger, eyes cold. ¡°GIVE ME LIGHT!!!¡± Chapter 259: Rushing into the Snowfield "Gravity! Lens! Full Power Activation!" In an instant, Lin Xian felt as if all the energy in his body was being drained like a flood bursting through a dam! High above the sky, a section of space rapidly distorted. In a flash, the twisted space expanded, swallowing and warping the dazzling beams of light refracting through the clouds, forming a brilliant halo! At that moment, hundreds of meters above, it was as if a phantom sun had appeared in the sky. The blinding radiance shone like an enormous daylight lamp, instantly illuminating the entire canyon pass. Visibility in the snowstorm suddenly became much clearer. As the snowstorm momentarily subsided, the scene resembled a bright winter afternoon for a fleeting second. The light burned like a torch, instantly contorting the forms of countless Snow Wraiths and Snow Demons. Their agonized screeches pierced the air as black smoke oozed from the joints and skin of the eerie creatures. The once relentless tide of monsters frantically burrowed into the snow, dramatically easing the pressure on the convoy¡¯s defense. At the same time, the convoy¡¯s firepower was concentrated on the Abyss Worm, unleashing an onslaught of explosions and metal projectiles. Smoke and debris erupted in all directions, and chunks of black flesh and green blood splattered across the snow. "Awoooong!" A massive force of suction emanated from the gaping maw of the monstrous worm as it surged dozens of meters above the ground. This time, it didn''t just surface momentarily before retreating. Instead, it violently twisted its maw, attempting to sweep across the escaping convoy in a furious assault. But its enraged rampage was ineffective. The once-impenetrable black hide of the Abyss Worm rapidly melted, distorted, and dislocated. Armor-piercing rounds now inflicted significantly greater damage, punching through its hide and sending massive chunks of flesh plummeting to the ground. "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!" Suddenly, an explosive shockwave sent snow and shattered stones flying into the air. Shi Diyuan, gripping a 155mm howitzer shell, glared fiercely as his muscular frame tensed. Dragon Mountain No. 1 had already maneuvered to the side, and he was preparing to fire with both hands when he suddenly noticed the monster frantically retreating underground. "It''s trying to escape!!" he roared. Daylight was never the domain of these Night Eerie Entities, and against a creature capable of wiping out an entire city, this moment presented the best opportunity to inflict serious damage. There was no way Shi Diyuan and the others would let this chance slip away! The moment his words fell, the entire convoy unleashed a furious hail of gunfire, as if they wished to fire their very gun barrels along with the bullets. Even members of the Technical Team, usually non-combatants, picked up automatic rifles and handguns, joining the assault. "Shhhhhhkkk!" The Abyss Worm was burrowing at an astonishing speed. Lin Xian, drenched in cold sweat, gritted his teeth, and with his last ounce of strength, clenched his fist¡ªhard! At that moment, the dazzling, twisted mass of light began to spiral inward in a Fibonacci sequence, compressing into a searing beam that shot downward like a scorching pillar of death! BOOM! The intense gravity ray struck the Abyss Worm¡¯s body, instantly sending plumes of black smoke and scalding steam surging from its flesh like a tidal wave. "Buzz!" From the left flank, A¡¯Bai removed his sunglasses, his eyes flashing with a deadly gleam. Two laser beams shot out, slicing into the monster¡¯s side at close range. In mere moments, as the colossal creature plummeted, the laser beams cut through its hide like a hot knife through butter, leaving behind a massive, ten-meter-long gash. Lin Xian¡¯s gravity beam, though lasting only a second, completely punctured the creature¡¯s body, causing the gaping black abyss of its mouth to emit a scorching white light. "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!" Snow and debris erupted skyward in violent explosions. The next moment, the Abyss Worm frantically withdrew underground. When the dust settled, it left behind a gargantuan crater, over ten meters in diameter, with its flesh and remnants of blackened hide strewn across the terrain. Some of the scattered chunks even splattered onto the racing convoy vehicles. "Rumble¡ª" Seismic tremors pulsed through the canyon as large swathes of snow cascaded down from the surrounding cliffs. Still unsatisfied, Shi Diyuan grabbed two more 155mm howitzer shells and hurled them into the crater. A few seconds later, two deafening explosions echoed from the abyss¡ªa direct hit on empty space. "Bzzzzzz¡ª" At last, the defensive convoy had fully cleared the massive crater and was racing out of the canyon, heading toward the open snowfields. "Tch! It got away!!" Shi Diyuan cursed in frustration. BANG! BANG! BANG! "Hmph!" On one of the armed vehicles, Chen Wei finally released the trigger of his machine cannon. Sizzle... The scorching barrel glowed red-hot, and when the falling snowflakes touched it, they evaporated instantly with a sharp hiss. "We definitely wounded it!!" Over the radio, Squad Leader Sun panted heavily. "I doubt it''ll dare come out again anytime soon." "At least not before nightfall," Qian Dele replied from the rooftop of a vehicle, wiping sweat from his brow despite the cold. "All units, report casualties!" "We''re not out of danger yet! Reload your weapons¡ªstay alert!" other convoy leaders echoed over the comms. Leaning out of his vehicle window, Yu Yuheng and several Technical Team members stared in shock at the battlefield. The entire encounter¡ªfrom the moment the Abyss Worm surfaced to now¡ªhad lasted barely 30 seconds, yet it had felt like an eternity of life-and-death struggle. If not for the strange psychic force shielding the convoy, at least a third of their vehicles would have been sucked into that monstrous maw! "How''s Chen Wei?!" Yu Yuheng urgently radioed the armored vehicle carrying Chen Wei. "No major injuries!" came the reply. Yu Yuheng exhaled in relief. "Damn, that thing is terrifying... but it looks like we actually managed to injure it, maybe even drive it back!" One of the researchers clutched his backpack, his face still tense. "Yeah, attacking together was the best strategy. If we''d spread out our firepower¡ª" Yu Yuheng''s face turned complex as he listened, then nodded firmly. "Specialized tasks should be left to professionals. If Team Leader Li were alive, he would¡¯ve made the same call." "Yu, this guy Lin Xian is insane," another researcher said in awe. "A Mechanical Ability User who can create machines from thin air and control the weather? Could he actually combine his ability with mechs?" Yu Yuheng blinked. "If he can really create machines... that¡¯s a game changer. We need to document everything. When we reach Xilan City, we''ll immediately forward the data to HQ and wait for their response." Another older researcher looked uneasy. "The Nightwalkers are definitely going to target him." Yu Yuheng''s expression darkened, deep in thought. Meanwhile, the convoy pressed on. Thanks to the blinding light from earlier, the Snow Wraiths had thinned out. But with the blizzard intensifying and the vast snowfields ahead, eerie howls began rising once more. At least, for now, the earthquake had faded into the distance, offering a brief moment of respite. The convoy leaders relayed casualty reports: "Left flank: 3 vehicles lost, 9 dead!" "Right flank: 4 vehicles lost, 17 dead!" "Center: 2 vehicles lost, 7 dead." A somber air settled over the radio. KIKI, pale-faced, sighed deeply in the front seat. "Damn it..." Lin Xian, exhausted, leaned back, closing his eyes. "We did everything we could." "I¡¯ll live," Chen Wei said faintly, eyes closed. "What about you guys?" "Xiao Yang¡¯s dead," Yu Yuheng sighed. "He was in that vehicle." Hearing this, Chen Wei''s eyes shot open. He took a deep breath, his gaze filled with anger and helplessness... Inside the Arctic Vehicle, Lin Xian activated his Mechanical Heart, hastily repairing the car¡¯s windows and doors to block out the chilling wind. The heater inside gradually warmed the air, making the atmosphere inside more comfortable. KIKI glanced at Xiao Qing beside her and said, "Hey, let me drive. Looks like you¡¯re itching to get into the fight." Xiao Qing turned her head to look at KIKI, then at Lin Xian, before quietly replying, "You guys... rest." Her voice carried a cautious maturity. Lin Xian and KIKI were both exhausted. Outside, countless Snow Wraiths were already swarming the defensive lines. On top of the Dragon Mountain No. 1, Ning Jing and Shi Diyuan had climbed back onto the roof to face the monster horde. Xiao Qing had wanted to join the fight, but Ning Jing had assigned her to driving duty, so she¡¯d remained silent. Now hearing KIKI¡¯s offer, her spirits lifted. She eagerly handed over the wheel to KIKI, grabbed her blade, and leapt from the vehicle to join the fray. KIKI settled into the driver''s seat, crossing her legs as her fingers guided the steering wheel and accelerator with telekinesis. She simultaneously projected a psychic shield to block the Snow Wraiths that suddenly lunged out from the snow-covered plains. "When I heard that Hu Lushou mentioned the Emperor Project, I thought we''d end up getting some massive mech," KIKI muttered. "Instead, we just got ourselves into a huge mess with nothing to show for it." "If we had enough time, that mech might... still be salvageable. But we wouldn¡¯t be able to take it with us," Lin Xian replied. "You mean because of the Phoenix?" "No. A mech that size is only useful in combat. Otherwise, it''s transported by a Hercules Transport Aircraft. Even a Fire God Mecha carriage isn¡¯t big enough to fit that thing..." "Yeah, true... but still, it¡¯s cool," KIKI chuckled, glancing at the rearview mirror. "Brother, aren''t you at least a little tempted by such an awesome mech?" Lin Xian¡¯s eyes gleamed as he recalled Unit 01''s high-frequency chain blade that had once slain an Abyss Worm. His heart surged with excitement. The Emperor Mecha seemed tailor-made for his Mechanical Heart, aligning perfectly with its growth potential. Exhausted, Lin Xian leaned against the window of the Arctic Vehicle, watching the convoy roll steadily across the endless snowy plains. Snow Wraiths raged outside, flames flickered in the distance, and hundreds of people in the convoy fought desperately for survival. This was the first time Lin Xian had experienced a chaotic escape like this. "Trains are still safer..." He murmured softly. With over a hundred vehicles, every overturned car meant more casualties. As a convoy leader, the pressure on him felt far lighter compared to those managing the entire fleet. For a brief moment, Lin Xian seemed to understand Shu Qin''s struggles ¡ª endless running, surviving against all odds. Exhaustion... sheer exhaustion. The thunderous sounds of gunfire and slaughter raged outside, yet Lin Xian''s mind drifted away. His eyelids drooped, and before he knew it, he had drifted off. In his dream, Lin Xian was back in Jiang City, inside his apartment-turned-refuge. Beep... Beep... The familiar nightfall warning echoed. As usual, he pulled down the alloy iron shutter he had crafted with his Mechanical Ability, sprayed deodorizer in the stairwell and entryway, turned off the lights, and huddled in the pitch-black room. He listened closely to the unsettling noises from the floors above and below, and to the eerie murmurs and growls echoing from the streets outside. Wandering zombies rasped past charred car frames, their decaying tracheas producing hoarse, guttural groans. Lin Xian sat in the corner of his bedroom, his short blade resting nearby. He waited... for the night to deepen... for dawn to arrive. Whoosh¡ª A gust of wind stirred from the living room. Lin Xian¡¯s windows had long been shut tight ¡ª there was no way a breeze could get in. His eyes scanned the darkness, and that¡¯s when he noticed... In front of his living room''s glass window stood a dark figure. Lin Xian snatched up his blade and rushed out, but the living room was empty. The balcony¡¯s sliding glass door was fully open. The night wind howled, causing the curtains to billow and dance. Lin Xian cautiously stepped onto the balcony and looked up ¡ª only to feel his vision overwhelmed by an enormous floating corpse, a nightmarish behemoth that loomed over the entirety of Jiang City. Its continental-sized body drifted slowly through the sky, blocking out the moonlight and plunging the city into shadow. Jiang City seemed nothing more than a silhouette beneath its presence. "Biological Entity No. 2... is moving! It¡¯s moving! Direction: East! Direction: East!" Suddenly, a voice blared urgently in his ears ¡ª like someone shouting through a communicator. Lin Xian spun around, searching for the speaker ¡ª but no one was there. "Who are you?!" Suddenly, that voice barked back, this time directed right at him. Lin Xian froze ¡ª cold sweat trickling down his back. He whipped around, only to find a dark figure standing in the corner... watching him. "Lin Xian! Lin Xian!" A wave of warmth suddenly enveloped him, pulling him back to consciousness. Lin Xian¡¯s body stirred as strength gradually returned. He blinked, his face pale and breath ragged. [Vital Signs Detected: Hypothermia. Hypothermia.] The warning from his Power Armor rang faintly in his ears. Ssshhh! Lin Xian snapped awake. Checking his watch ¡ª 17:40 ¡ª he''d been asleep for ten minutes. Was that a dream? This was his second time seeing that Floating Colossal Corpse. The lingering dread still surged through his mind. Bang! Bang! Bang! Ratatatat! Gunfire and explosions intensified outside. KIKI, gripping the wheel tightly, shook Lin Xian with her telekinesis, her face filled with worry. "What¡¯s wrong with you? I¡¯ve been shaking you for ages!" Lin Xian exhaled deeply, massaging his temples. "Just overexerted. I fell asleep... I¡¯m feeling better now." KIKI sighed in relief, then frowned. "That move of yours sure drains you... but damn, it was powerful. Even that big worm couldn¡¯t handle it." Lin Xian nodded. The Gravity Lens was his strongest ability, but its severe energy drain made it difficult to use frequently ¡ª especially in daylight. If it weren¡¯t for the extreme cold vortex forcing those eerie creatures to attack in the day, he wouldn¡¯t have had a chance to use it. "I noticed... those creatures don¡¯t actually seem afraid of light itself," Lin Xian said thoughtfully. KIKI pondered for a moment. "Yeah... at first, I thought they feared sunlight or UV rays, but it¡¯s like they¡¯re being torn apart by something else entirely." Lin Xian nodded grimly. "Daylight is our only real advantage. The Dark Tides want to plunge everything into Polar Night, because dawn is humanity¡¯s last hope." "We should be close to the northern rail line now!" Ning Jing¡¯s voice crackled over the communicator. ¡°We¡¯re still too far,¡± Lin Xian responded, calculating the distance. "It¡¯s hard to see anything in this storm. Getting the trains started at the right moment... it¡¯s nearly impossible." Ning Jing¡¯s voice was anxious. Lin Xian gritted his teeth. "We just need to keep moving... and find the train in time." "Slash!" From midair, Shi Diyuan twisted, severing the heads of two Snow Wraiths before landing heavily on the train car roof. His expression was grim as he barked, "We should be able to pick up the train¡¯s signal within two kilometers. As long as our direction is right, we won''t lose it." Chapter 260: Three-kilometer Battle Line The frigid wind howled as Dragon Mountain No. 1 and Infinite Train stood ready on the Northern Line track. At the very front of Dragon Mountain No. 1, Lu Xingchen sat atop the locomotive, bundled in a thick cold-resistant suit, gazing into the snowstorm. His communication headset was tuned in, waiting for a signal. Meanwhile, Lu Yong and the others aboard Dragon Mountain No. 1 were preparing to start the train. Inside the double-decker carriages, there were no elderly or children in sight¡ªonly fully armed adults. Heavy machine guns, turrets, anti-air cannons, and electromagnetic railguns were all in position atop the train. Every gaze was fixed on the vast snowy expanse to the east, waiting for something. "Three kilometers? Got it." Inside the cockpit of Infinite Train, Chen Sixuan tensed up as she heard Lin Xian¡¯s voice. The Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive had already been preheated by an electric de-icing system, and the Gemini Nuclear Electric Locomotive at the rear had its engines running. Inside the carriages, the heating system kept the temperature comfortable. "Everyone, get ready. Just a few more minutes until we depart!" Creak, creak, creak¡ª After being stationed for so long, the train¡¯s armor was coated in a thick layer of ice. The once-black heavy locomotive was now covered in white frost, its side flaps buried in snow. Beneath the train, the rails and metal wheels groaned in protest. As temperatures continued to plummet, some of the train¡¯s systems were already failing or shutting down¡ªwater pumps, air circulation units, even the warning lights on some brake valves flickered ominously in the cockpit. Chen Sixuan frowned, her expression tense. One hand rested on the throttle, waiting intently for Lin Xian¡¯s signal. Inside the rear carriages of Infinite Train, an eerie silence filled the air. Everyone was on edge. Da Lou stood behind the blast doors, gripping a machine gun, ready to unleash covering fire. On the rooftop, the 1130 Close-In Weapon System and G3 Electromagnetic Railgun were already deployed, their radar systems active. Every rotation of the turrets shattered another layer of freshly formed ice. Meanwhile, a steel tide of armored vehicles charged violently across the snowfield, forming a defensive front. Behind them, an unending horde of Snow Wraiths surged like a tsunami, stretching as far as the eye could see. More and more eerie creatures converged from all directions, their numbers swelling. Massive quadrupedal beasts plowed through the Snow Wraiths, smashing them aside before lunging at the convoy¡¯s flanks. The deafening cacophony of light and heavy gunfire intensified as the convoy pressed forward. At the very front, a massive all-terrain train unleashed a dark-red laser beam, slicing through the Snow Wraiths like a beacon in the storm. Hah... hah... A''Bai adjusted his sunglasses, panting heavily. Prolonged use of the laser was beginning to take its toll on his body. Xiao Qing, equipped with a grappling hook at her waist, leapt across the rooftops of several carriages, cutting down Snow Wraiths as they attempted to board. On the right flank, Captain Sun¡¯s troops were nearly out of ammunition. They had no choice but to pull back, allowing Old Zhou¡¯s armored convoy to take their position at the outermost perimeter. Aboard the Polar Vehicle, Lin Xian carefully monitored the incoming signals, his expression grave as he whispered calculations under his breath. "One kilometer to go." To ensure smooth communication, he had locked onto Infinite Train¡¯s frequency, speaking directly to Chen Sixuan. "About one minute." "All units, prepare to turn!" Whooosh¡ª Lin Xian peered ahead. Though his vision was still obscured by the raging blizzard, he knew the train was just beyond the storm. "Three kilometers! Ms. Chen, GO!" At last, the convoy reached the designated range. Dragon Mountain No. 1 and the Polar Vehicle both turned sharply to the right. The sky darkened. Just as Lin Xian gave the order, a violent tremor shook the ground. The entire convoy jolted. For a brief moment, they feared it was the Abyss Worm. But this was different. The tremors came from all directions. Sitting atop his war vehicle, Sun Kai¡¯s radar screen was flooded with red dots. Then his face twisted in horror. Beyond the sea of red, an ominous dark-red wave surged toward the convoy from all sides. The radar module glitched, issuing a piercing alarm. His blood ran cold. He slammed his hand onto the comms panel and roared, "IT¡¯S A MONSTER TIDE!!!" Aboard Infinite Train, Chen Sixuan immediately relayed orders through the train¡¯s comms to Lu Yong and Huo Ge aboard Dragon Mountain No. 1. "GO!!" "Flame Burst¡ªHeaven¡¯s Path!" As the command rang through the headset, Lu Xingchen leaped to his feet, raising both hands high above his head. A crimson inferno erupted skyward, forming a towering fire pillar. With a sharp exhale, he slammed the inferno forward. Flames roared, igniting into blue Mach rings, detonating a shockwave! BOOM! The fire column struck the track ahead, instantly vaporizing a hundred meters of snow. The rails turned blackened and scorched. At the same time, Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 unleashed over 250,000 kilowatts of raw power. Their engines roared to life. Dragon Mountain No. 1 deployed its Horizon Clamp System, magnetizing itself onto the frozen rails for better traction. CRACK, CRACK, CRACK¡ª!!! The combined 82-carriage train jerked forward as the sheer force shattered layers of ice from its armor. Snow cascaded off the rooftops, and the couplings screeched under strain. Inside Infinite Train, the accumulated snow outside had nearly reached the windows. No one knew how many creatures lay hidden within. "20 km... 30 km... Speed is increasing!" Chen Sixuan fixated on the comms unit. The signal with Lin Xian¡¯s convoy had cut off¡ªmeaning they were now over two kilometers apart. Whooosh! The blizzard raged, reducing visibility to barely 20 meters. She could only make out the last carriage of Dragon Mountain No. 1. Beyond that was just a blinding white void. One minute. Two minutes. She gripped the comms unit tightly. Only static crackled through the frequency, and the signal indicator flickered red. "Lin Xian, do you read me?" "Lin Xian, respond!" Only the howling storm answered. Then¡ª THUD! A grotesque Snow Wraith slammed into the window, shrieking. Chen Sixuan stumbled back as the creature scraped away the ice before slipping under the train¡¯s wheels¡ªcrushed instantly. Then more emerged. One by one, monstrous figures crawled out from the deep snow, swarming toward Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1. Suddenly, an explosion echoed from the distant storm. Chen Sixuan¡¯s heart leapt. She glanced at the comms unit¡ªits signal light flickered between red and green. "Zzz... Chen...!" "LIN XIAN!!!" she shouted. "Ms. Chen!" Lin Xian¡¯s voice crackled through. Then came his next words, sending a chill down her spine. "OPEN FIRE¡ªNOW!!" BOOM! On the right flank of the two-kilometer-long train, an endless Snow Wraith horde surged forward¡ªcountless, swarming like locusts. The massive train tilted under the sheer force. WOOO!! The 1130 CIWS and heavy turrets roared to life. A storm of metal rained into the advancing monster tide. Above, the G3 Electromagnetic Railgun locked onto high-altitude threats¡ªblasting through the storm, revealing grotesque winged horrors. The battle had begun. "HOLD THE LINE!!!" "Captain Lin¡¯s team still hasn¡¯t appeared!" The tsunami-like monster tide was unlike anything Infinite Train had ever encountered. The incoming convoy was still nowhere in sight, yet the entire train formation was already engaged in all-out combat, unleashing relentless firepower. Thud, thud, thud¡ª The train''s speed climbed¡ª50 km/h... 60 km/h...! Chen Sixuan, clad in her Powered Exoskeleton, quickly made her way to Car No. 2, then ascended to the roof through the combat lift. She knew Lin Xian¡¯s convoy was only a few hundred meters away, and with Dragon Mountain No. 1 leading the charge, she wasted no time diving into battle. Whoosh! As soon as she stepped onto the rooftop, she executed a backflip, narrowly dodging a Snow Wraith¡¯s ambush. Bang! Midair, she fired her Meteor No. 3 Armor-Piercing Rounds, the bullet tearing through the Snow Wraith and several others behind it. The massive hydrostatic shock effect caused the carbon-based creatures¡¯ bodies to explode in a shower of gore. The moment her feet touched the ground, she swiftly crouched and aimed skyward. The muzzle of her Meteor No. 3 aligned almost simultaneously with the G3 Electromagnetic Railgun. Bang! Even before spotting the enemy, she pulled the trigger without hesitation. Whooosh! Sizzle! At that exact moment, the Electromagnetic Railgun fired as well. A blazing blue pulse streaked through the storm. A winged monster diving down from above had its skull pierced clean through by the armor-piercing round, leaving a 10-centimeter-wide blood hole. A split second later, its chest was obliterated by the electromagnetic blast! "ARRRGHH!!" The train-car-sized monstrosity tumbled through the air, crashing onto the snowy plains below. A massive plume of snow erupted upon impact. Boom! Boom! Boom! Gunfire flared in the distance. Chen Sixuan immediately used her infrared scope to scan ahead and spotted a black steel convoy emerging from the blizzard. It was Dragon Mountain No. 1 and Lin Xian¡¯s Polar Vehicle! To avoid getting caught in the train¡¯s crossfire, the convoy was maneuvering into position at the train¡¯s rear-right flank. Over a hundred vehicles were rapidly closing in on Infinite Train¡¯s tail. "Lu Yong, Ms. Chen, push the speed to 80!!" As soon as the convoy appeared, Lin Xian¡¯s urgent voice crackled through the comms. "Can everyone keep up?" KIKI blasted a shockwave through a cluster of Snow Wraiths before turning to Lin Xian, her voice filled with urgency. Lin Xian stole a glance at the massive creatures looming behind them. "We have no choice but to push full throttle! Keep up, or we die!" The monster tide was an unstoppable flood¡ªif they didn¡¯t keep running, they wouldn¡¯t get another chance. Boom! Boom! The earth-shaking tremors intensified. The massive convoy surged forward behind Dragon Mountain No. 1 and Infinite Train, roaring through the snow. The three-kilometer-long firepower formation clashed against the tsunami of creatures, with winged horrors swooping from above and unknown abyssal creatures lurking beneath. The entire battlefield felt like a lone island in a sea of monsters. Whoooosh! Dragon Mountain No. 1 charged onto the Northern Line tracks. Beneath it, the Triangle Track Electromagnetic All-Terrain Drive Module adjusted itself, locking onto the rails with high-powered magnetic adhesion. Sparks flared as the traction locomotive unleashed its full power, linking up with Infinite Train¡¯s Gemini Nuclear Locomotive. "Brother Lin, I¡¯ll cover your convoy¡¯s rear!" Shidi Yuan called out. "All non-combat vehicles, move to the train¡¯s left side for cover!" Lin Xian and KIKI steered the Polar Vehicle out of formation, escorting the Empire Project Technical Team¡¯s vehicles across the tracks to Infinite Train¡¯s left flank, evading the right-side onslaught of Snow Wraiths. Meanwhile, the main convoy pushed forward, falling in behind Dragon Mountain No. 1. BOOM!! The 1130 CIWS unleashed a storm of metal, shredding the oncoming tide. Snow, debris, and monster fragments blasted into the windshields of armored vehicles. Sally¡¯s flamethrower ignited vast swathes of Snow Wraiths, providing cover for the following convoy. The combined firepower of the 1130 CIWS and the Fire God Mecha was a relentless wall of destruction. KIKI grabbed Lin Xian, leaping onto Infinite Train¡¯s roof. Whoooosh! A piercing wingbeat suddenly echoed through the blizzard. KIKI barely had time to raise a psychic barrier before a massive winged creature slammed down! "HELP!!" "KIKI!!" Sasha¡¯s face paled as she saw the beast¡¯s shadow engulf them. The creature bared its gaping maw, filled with rows of serrated fangs, but its bite was stopped by KIKI¡¯s barrier. Without hesitation, Sasha raised the Fire God Mecha¡¯s main cannon and fired directly into its throat. BOOM! A perfect shot¡ªthe armor-piercing round pierced its throat and detonated inside. A rain of blood and flesh erupted! With a sharp cry, KIKI grabbed the struggling beast and hurled it down into the Snow Wraith horde below. Its hulking body crushed dozens of creatures beneath it. Taking advantage of the chaos, Lin Xian rushed to the rear of Dragon Mountain No. 1, where Ning Jing, Xiao Qing, and A''Bai were still fighting atop the train. The Snow Wraith tide swarmed the convoy, relentlessly pushing against the firepower lines. With the joint train formation accelerating violently, the monstrous horde completely surrounded the train and convoy. The Empire Project Team¡¯s remaining firepower was running low. Only Qian Dele and five other squads were still holding their ground. As soon as they regrouped, several more vehicles were overturned and swallowed¡ªcasualties were mounting. "If you''re out of ammo, move to the train¡¯s left side and follow the tracks!" Lin Xian barked through the comms. As he surveyed the never-ending sea of monsters, he realized their only hope was to use the train as a fortress. Most vehicles, aside from heavy-duty Polar Vehicles, wouldn''t last if they fell behind. The monster tide was overwhelming, and even Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 were covered in Snow Wraiths. Suddenly, the Joint Train Formation¡¯s Arc Pulse Resonator powered up! ZZZZZZZZZT!! A blinding white plasma discharge surged along the train¡¯s armor! The high-voltage discharge field ripped through the creatures, emitting an ear-splitting electrical crackle. The Snow Wraiths on the train¡¯s flanks burst into scorched chunks, their blackened remains tumbling into the snow below. With the Infinite Train¡¯s outer plating electrified, it became nearly impossible for creatures to climb up. Inside the train, even the battle-hardened crew flinched at the thunderous ionized discharge. As the Snow Wraiths fell away, the crew resumed fire, their gun barrels glowing hot. "Resonator cooldown: 40 seconds! Everyone, stay clear of the next discharge!" Lu Yong¡¯s voice echoed through the comms. Meanwhile, aboard Dragon Mountain No. 1, monstrous Blood Fiends and Winged Horrors slammed into the armored train, attempting to tear it apart. The 68-carriage behemoth roared through the storm, crushing everything in its path. The battle was far from over. And as nightfall approached, the three-kilometer battlefield was only just beginning its chase through the abyss! Chapter 261: The entire front collapses Zzzzt! The Arc Pulse Resonator finished charging for the second time, and a scorching white plasma spark exploded with a deafening crack! Zzzzt! Zzzzt! Thick black smoke whooshed past, filling the air with the acrid stench of high-voltage discharge searing through both air and monster flesh. Whoosh! A blue mechanical energy cannon pierced through a four-legged monster that had lunged at the Emperor Squad¡¯s armored vehicle. At the same time, a black rifle was hurled straight into the creature¡¯s skull, halting its advance. Chen Wei, who had been laying down suppressive fire with his machine gun, glanced up at Lin Xian on the train before immediately slamming a fresh magazine into place and resuming his relentless barrage. ¡°Hold the damn line!¡± ¡°F*! Why the hell are there so many of them!?**¡± ¡°Sh*t, I¡¯m running out of ammo!¡± ¡°Less talking, more running! It¡¯s not even dark yet, and we can¡¯t kill them all¡ªjust move!¡± At that moment, frantic voices from other convoy leaders crackled through the comms system. An overwhelming pressure crashed over the convoy like a tidal wave. Under these circumstances, survival meant one thing: run for your life. Against this endless swarm of Snow Wraiths, there was no guarantee they had enough bullets to match the sheer number of enemies. The monsters emerging from the blizzard stretched into the unseen distance, an ocean of horrors. Even Shi Diyuan, who had seen his fair share of large-scale battles, wore a grim expression. Bang! Through the wind and snow, Ning Jing leaped through the air, her fist obliterating a four-legged Snow Demon before she landed atop the train. She turned toward Shi Diyuan, who was still launching grenades. ¡°We won¡¯t reach Xilan City until past midnight, and we¡¯re already barely holding on before nightfall¡ªwhat do we do?!¡± Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! A golden afterimage streaked through the battlefield. Qian Dele flicked his wrist as he approached. ¡°Oi, oi, oi, we need to speed the hell up! We can only shake them off if we push forward. If worse things crawl out after dark, we¡¯re dead meat!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t go any faster!¡± Bzzzt! A psychic shockwave blasted away a wave of Snow Wraiths as Lin Xian and KIKI retreated to the train. Lin Xian caught his returning black rifle mid-air and shouted, ¡°The snow¡¯s too thick! We¡¯re already at maximum speed. Even Dragon Mountain No. 1 is using its Horizon Clamp System, but with so many creatures latching onto the tracks, we¡¯ll derail if we go any faster!¡± Shi Diyuan cursed, ¡°We don¡¯t have enough ammo to last that long! We planned for alternating fire to conserve supplies, but these motherf*ers swarmed us! Every damn monster around Duck Ze Lake seems to have come straight for us¡ªthey¡¯re trying to rip us apart!**¡± Ning Jing¡¯s face darkened. Dragon Mountain No. 1 had dealt with monster tides before, but this was different. These creatures had first been drawn toward the Trakamar Ice Canyon, leaving the northern route eerily empty, only to swarm toward them in full force. Could it be that these monsters were specifically hunting the Emperor Project team? ¡°What do we do now?!¡± Qian Dele scowled. His convoy had already suffered significant losses, and without ammo, their survival, logistics, and tech convoys¡ªat least thirty or forty vehicles¡ªhad been forced into the train¡¯s left flank for safety. But seventy to eighty armored vehicles in the rear were still getting picked off one by one. If this continued, they¡¯d be wiped out. ¡°Use the armor to hold the line!¡± Lin Xian made a decisive call. ¡°There¡¯s no other choice now. All ability users and enhanced fighters¡ªclimb onto the train and hold them off! Move every vehicle except for the heavy firepower units to the left flank and preserve some ammo for left-wing defense¡ªminimize casualties first!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a solid plan!¡± Shi Diyuan looked back at the convoy. ¡°If we don¡¯t do this, the people in the back are as good as dead once the night creatures show up!¡± ¡°That¡¯ll cut down our firepower!¡± Sun Kai responded from inside his battle vehicle. ¡°Firepower isn¡¯t the issue!¡± KIKI snapped over the comms. ¡°We can¡¯t kill them all anyway¡ªif the convoy sticks together, we can cut down on support pressure. Their vehicles can¡¯t take the hits like our train can!¡± ¡°She¡¯s right!¡± Qian Dele nodded. ¡°The convoy is stretched too thin! Better to consolidate our forces rather than let the monster tide pick us off one by one.¡± ¡°Alright, shifting formation now!¡± Sun Kai, an experienced commander, immediately understood the intent. Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Within moments, all but a dozen heavy-duty polar vehicles had raced to the train¡¯s left flank, forming a protective barrier around the logistics and tech convoys. Meanwhile, every ability user, enhanced fighter, and heavy weapons operator scaled the train¡¯s left side, using grappling ladders that Lin Xian had just finished constructing. On the train¡¯s rooftop, Lin Xian also welded an arc-shaped wall of steel spikes, designed to impale any Snow Wraiths trying to climb up or dive-bomb from above. At that moment, the storm-ridden battlefield became a moving warzone. The train¡¯s weapon stations, rapid-fire turrets, anti-air autocannons, close-in defense cannons, and railguns all unleashed hell against the rolling tide of monsters. The battle had become a high-speed pursuit between the Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1¡ªtwo thousand people locked in an unprecedented fight for survival. Inside Car No. 3 of the Infinite Train, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum pulsed with a sinister red glow. The Eerie Cube shrieked with constant alarm signals. The dark corruption was surging. The oppressive fear pressed against everyone¡¯s minds, amplified by the minus 60-degree blizzard. The suffocating grip of death loomed over the entire battlefield. Bang! A Meteor No. 3 Heavy Sniper Rifle thundered, obliterating the skull of a giant four-legged monster. Chen Sixuan was specifically targeting the larger threats, but just as she took her shot¡ª Whoosh! A black rifle whistled through the air, piercing a Snow Wraith lunging toward her from behind. Chen Sixuan spun around, eyes wide. Her exosuit¡¯s defense system had been screaming alerts nonstop, yet monsters were still slipping through. Lin Xian sprinted toward her. ¡°Watch yourself! Protect yourself first!¡± ¡°...Got it.¡± Gritting her teeth, Chen Sixuan raised her rifle once more. Nearby, Miao Lu landed next to her. The two of them stood back to back, firing in unison. Zzzzt! The Arc Pulse Resonator flared white-hot once again, igniting another plasma explosion. And so, the nightmare raged on. The monster tide slammed into the train over and over, refusing to relent. The endless battle pushed every fighter to their limits. But survival was the only option. ¡°It¡¯s almost dark!¡± Sitting in the vehicle, Yu Yuheng nervously stared at the blizzard outside, gripping his comms device. ¡°If we can¡¯t shake them off, we¡¯ll have to risk accelerating!¡± The moment night falls, the monster tide would become even more ferocious, and unknown horrors would emerge. As the endless horde surged forward, a sense of despair settled in everyone''s hearts. The dark corruption within the Extreme Cold Vortex twisted their minds, amplifying the suffocating pressure. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± KIKI¡¯s urgent shout came through the comms. ¡°The rear vehicles can¡¯t hold out much longer! Should we tell them to abandon the cars?!¡± ¡°Won¡¯t help.¡± Qian Dele¡¯s voice remained calm. ¡°Without their heavy firepower, they¡¯re as good as dead. We can¡¯t protect this many people.¡± ¡°Lin?!¡± Shi Diyuan glanced around, trying to locate Lin Xian, but¡ª ¡°Where the hell is he?¡± ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Chen Sixuan also called out over the comms. ¡°Wait for me!¡± Suddenly, Lin Xian¡¯s voice came through. Thud! Thud! Thud! Above, gunfire and explosions roared across the train¡¯s rooftop. Meanwhile, Lin Xian rushed inside the Infinite Train, taking the elevator from Car No. 2 and sprinting toward Car No. 3. ¡¾Non-mechanical energy successfully converted. +1000 Mechanical Source Points.¡¿ The moment he entered, a holographic screen flared to life. The Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum had absorbed dark energy, converting it into Mechanical Source Points, replenishing Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart. His exhaustion eased slightly. Suppressing his urgency, he stormed into Car No. 3, where the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum glowed brilliant red. ¡°Level 4 Dark Mark!¡± Ding Junyi, anticipating Lin Xian¡¯s intent, immediately spoke: ¡°We miscalculated. Dark Mark stacking doesn¡¯t automatically reach Level 5.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡°That means only an S-Class Eerie Entity can imprint a Level 5 Mark!¡± The only time the Infinite Train encountered a Level 5 Mark was at Jiazhou, likely originating from Yubei Spaceport, where they had been targeted by S-Class and multiple Eerie Entities. Turning on his heel, Lin Xian bolted out of the carriage. Ding Junyi was stunned. She had assumed he had other plans, but he had only come for an answer¡ªand immediately left. Whooosh! Across the frozen plains, waves of Snow Wraiths surged endlessly. Larger eerie entities emerged, and countless anti-air rounds streaked toward the sky, suppressing the winged horrors circling above. On the right flank of Dragon Mountain No. 1 and Infinite Train, the armor plating had suffered severe damage¡ªsome of the steel panels were shredded, grille armor had begun falling apart. ¡°We can¡¯t hold out much longer!¡± ¡°There¡¯s too many!¡± ¡°Ammo! We¡¯re almost out!¡± ¡°Flamethrowers, get ready!¡± HUMMMM! The 250,000-kilowatt joint locomotive engines roared in fury, propelling the convoy through the blizzard, with the endless monster tide roaring in pursuit. On the train¡¯s rooftop, hundreds of Snow Wraiths swarmed upward. Big Luo, Chen Sixuan, Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, and Shu Qin were forced back by the overwhelming onslaught. Sasha¡¯s ¡°Sally¡± mecha had run out of ammo. Jumping out, she grabbed her Thunderstorm A1 grenade launcher, firing wildly behind her comrades. At the rear, Lu Xingchen and KIKI fought with everything they had, suppressing the horde, yet even their overwhelming power felt drained against the unrelenting blizzard and endless swarm. ¡°Lin Xian... we... we¡¯re not gonna make it...¡± KIKI hovered in the air, her chest heaving, her arms trembling from overuse of her psychic abilities. Blood trickled from her nose, which she hastily wiped away before unleashing another Psychic Shockwave, blasting away a charging pack of four-legged monsters. The comms remained silent. Then¡ª Light. A blinding radiance ignited in the sky, piercing through the blizzard like the sun itself. It grew brighter¡ªslicing through the storm clouds, creating a massive hole in the dark sky. The glowing sphere distorted, gathering the last embers of the sunset, and in the next instant¡ª It erupted. A celestial beacon. A lighthouse in the storm. A divine fire illuminating the frozen battlefield. ¡ªGravitational Lens!¡ª At the front of the train, standing atop the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive, was Lin Xian. His right arm was raised, pointing skyward. His lips were pale, blood streaming from his eyes and nose. ¡°...This is the last option.¡± BOOM! The divine radiance scorched through the blizzard, purging the darkness like judgment from the heavens. Thousands of monsters screamed¡ª Their ashen skin cracked, their flesh blistering under the holy blaze. Many four-legged demons burrowed underground, frenzied in fear. The Snow Wraiths clinging to the train turned to dust, their bodies disintegrating in the golden light. In seconds, the tide of monsters collapsed. The battlefield fell silent. The once-relentless horde suddenly fled, disappearing into the snowy abyss. The blizzard raged on. The storm clouds reclaimed the sky. The light vanished. Beep. Beep. His watch beeped faintly. Nightfall approached. The last sunset glow had faded. At the front of the train, Lin Xian¡¯s strength drained from his body. His vision blurred¡ª He collapsed. A golden streak caught him¡ªQian Dele. ¡°Hey, pretty boy, still hanging in there?¡± Around them, Lu Xingchen, Ning Jing, and Shi Diyuan rushed over. ¡°Lin Xian! You alright?!¡± Chen Sixuan and KIKI sprinted up. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Lin Xian wiped the blood from his face, bracing against the biting wind. The fear in everyone¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t fade. Nightfall was coming. And they all knew¡ªthe real nightmare hadn¡¯t even begun. ¡°What now?¡± Shi Diyuan¡¯s face was grim. ¡°We¡¯re almost out of ammo. Are we seriously gonna die here?¡± ¡°We should regroup while we have the chance.¡± Chen Sixuan urged. Lin Xian clutched his comms device, his gaze drifting to the horizon. ¡°...Hope they saw that.¡± KIKI frowned. ¡°Who?¡± Then¡ª BOOM. A distant roar echoed from the storm clouds. Not thunder. But¡ª Aircraft. The comms crackled. ¡°Infinite Train, this is the Starfleet 7th Recon Airborne Unit! We¡¯ve spotted your signal flare! Combat forces arriving in three minutes for extraction!¡± Above, a fleet of aircraft pierced the storm¡ª ¡ªthundering toward them at supersonic speed. Chapter 262: Lighthouse in the Storm "Starfleet?!?!" "It¡¯s the Phoenix¡¯s support from Xilan City!!" KIKI cried out in shock. "That¡¯s right! The 7th Investigation Corps is stationed in Xilan City¡ªwe¡¯re saved!!" Hearing the voices coming through the communicator, Captain Sun shouted in excitement. Finally, everyone realized what had happened. Lin Xian had used his Gravity Lens not only to repel the Eerie Tide but also to act as a beacon for Phoenix¡¯s incoming Starfleet forces. Instead of relying on a signal obstructed by the storm, he had lit up a ¡®flare¡¯ in the sky, guiding the reinforcements straight to their location. "Looks like Brother Lin must have detected the Phoenix¡¯s signal and came up with this move!" Shi Diyuan said, beaming. "Damn, that was a stroke of genius!" Qian Dele looked at Lin Xian with admiration and nodded. "Old Shi, I believe you now. This pretty boy is definitely something special." "Quick! Get Captain Lin treated! It¡¯s almost nightfall¡ªwe need to tend to the wounded and reorganize the train immediately!" Ning Jing ordered decisively. After such a brutal battle, their entire defensive line had nearly collapsed. Now that they had a moment to breathe, their top priority was stabilizing the situation. "Got it, move!" "Shu Qin, Miao Lu¡ªhelp the wounded! Luo Chang, check the train¡¯s condition!" Chen Sixuan immediately began organizing their response. KIKI wasted no time¡ªshe used her psychic power to lift Lin Xian and flew straight toward the train cars. The Infinite Train, Dragon Mountain No. 1, the Emperor Project team, and five convoys of hundreds of survivors¡ª They had all been on the brink of destruction. Now, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, they could breathe again. The news that Phoenix¡¯s reinforcements had arrived sent waves of relief through everyone. Some even broke down in tears from sheer joy. The convoy teams swiftly got to work¡ªtreating the injured, assessing losses, restocking weapons and ammunition¡ªpreparing for whatever dangers the night would bring. Phoenix¡¯s Fleet Arrives Above them, the sky trembled with the roar of war machines. Warhawk-class aerial gunships, Lightning-2 aerospace fighters, and H50 bombers streaked across the sky in tight formation. At the center of this massive fleet was a 30,000-ton Dreadnought-class aerial carrier, escorted by a full combat air wing, cutting through the storm with a deafening roar. On the ground, the earth rumbled as Phoenix¡¯s mechanized divisions pushed in from the east, advancing toward the North Line railway. This force¡ªthe Phoenix Starfleet Corps sent to reinforce Trakamar Ice Canyon¡ªhad picked up Lin Xian¡¯s signal relay, a network of electronic beacons spanning over a hundred kilometers. This network had successfully guided them to the correct location despite the storm. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t originally expected these beacons to be useful. He had assumed Phoenix¡¯s reinforcements would struggle to find them in the dark blizzard, and that even the flying Ability User sent for help might not have made it to Xilan City. But against all odds, his contingency plan had worked. The only problem? The beacons were no longer aligned with their current position. By the time Lin Xian had detected the search signals from Phoenix¡¯s patrol craft, he hadn¡¯t even had time to respond before the signals disappeared. That¡¯s when he came up with his last-minute plan¡ªusing the Gravity Lens as a flare beacon. Nightfall Looms As darkness fell, the injured on the Infinite Train were being treated, while Dragon Mountain No.1 also struggled to recover. On the roof of the train, A¡¯Bai, exhausted from the chase, had barely managed to recover some of his strength. He now used his abilities to observe the storm ahead. No one dared to lower their guard¡ªthe dangers of nightfall were ever-present. Suddenly, A¡¯Bai¡¯s expression changed. Through the raging blizzard, he caught a glimpse of something monstrous. A colossal entity, covered in countless writhing limbs, swayed eerily in the storm. It stood like a massive sea urchin on the snowfields, its glowing red eyes flashing for just a moment before vanishing into the storm. Lin Xian¡¯s Vision Meanwhile, on the Infinite Train, everyone remained busy. Xiao Yuan and the other wounded were stabilized. Shu Qin and Chen Sixuan worked frantically to recharge exosuits and power armor. But their ammunition was nearly depleted. Only the electromagnetic railgun still had operational rounds left¡ªeverything else was almost gone. Lin Xian, still groggy, suddenly found himself dreaming again. He saw himself back in Jiang City, standing on the rooftop of his apartment complex. The Floating Colossal Corpse that had once blocked out the sky was gone. The massive clustered clouds had also disappeared. The setting sun cast long shadows over a city that lay in ruins. µÎµÎ,µÎµÎ¡ª¡ª The sound of his watch¡¯s alarm pulled his attention. He glanced at the time. 18:40. His face changed. "Sh*t!" He ran down the stairs, his body moving instinctively. But when he reached the hallway, he found his shelter¡¯s door was locked. Frowning, he activated Mechanical Heart, easily bypassing the mechanical lock and pushing the door open. Inside¡ª No one. The living room, kitchen, storage room, and bedroom¡ª Everything was exactly as he had left it when he fled Jiang City. Yet... something was off. He remembered that KIKI had blasted the door open when they left, but now¡ªit was as if someone had reinstalled it. Even stranger¡ª Someone had been here. The kitchen and living room had opened cans of food. Someone had even cooked a meal recently. Lin Xian suddenly realized¡ª This wasn¡¯t a dream. "By now, Jiang City should have been swallowed by the Polar Night. But the sky was bright just now... and these changes happened after I left. What the hell is going on...?" Just then¡ª A sound. From the bedroom. Lin Xian¡¯s heart pounded. He had checked the bedroom earlier¡ª It had been empty. His head was heavy, but he forced himself to move and stepped toward the bedroom. And then¡ª A shadow. A woman. Standing inside. "Who are you?!" Lin Xian activated Mechanical Heart, ready to fight. But then¡ªsomething even stranger happened. The woman¡¯s head snapped toward him, her eyes filled with fear. Yet¡ª She didn¡¯t seem to see him. "Who¡¯s talking?!" Lin Xian froze. He could now see her clearly¡ª She was young, maybe 26 or 27. Short, but strikingly beautiful. Her short, wavy hair gave her a sharp, confident aura. Then¡ª She raised her hand toward where Lin Xian stood. A massive force suddenly warped space, distorting reality like ripples in water. Lin Xian instinctively leaped back! This wasn¡¯t just any Ability User. Her power was similar to his Gravity Lens! Before he could react, the woman lunged forward and grabbed at the space where he had just stood. Suddenly¡ª The entire space collapsed. A crushing weight pulled him downward. He felt an overwhelming loss of gravity¡ª ¡¾Non-mechanical energy detected¡ªconverted into 600 Mechanical Source Points.¡¿ ¡¾Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.4 (4690/7000)¡¿ With a loud gasp, Lin Xian shot up in bed. "What the hell...?" He was back in the Infinite Train. Inside Carriage No.1. Outside the window¡ªdarkness. The storm roared, but inside, it was silent. And then¡ª A voice. "You¡¯re awake?" Lin Xian looked up¡ªChen Sixuan stood at the door, smiling. SLAM! Shi Diyuan slammed his hand on the table, his expression a tangled mix of frustration and exhaustion. He let out a deep sigh, "F*ing hell... this is really a goddamn catastrophe."** "At least the Infinite Train provided a Comprehensive Medical Pod¡ªwe managed to save a lot of our critically injured fighters. The other convoys, though... their situation is even worse," Ning Jing said. "What about A¡¯Bai? How is he?" Shi Diyuan asked. Ning Jing shook her head. "Still unconscious. He overused his Ability¡ªhe¡¯s been out cold since then." "Boss, isn¡¯t this whole situation way too weird?" Fat Cat said nervously. "Not a single damn thing has happened all night. I don¡¯t like it." "What¡¯s there to be uneasy about?" Lu Yong gestured outside. "The entire 7th Investigation Corps is out there protecting us. When¡¯s the last time we had this kind of treatment?" Ning Jing turned to Shi Diyuan. "Old Shi, don¡¯t blame yourself too much. If it weren¡¯t for your team supporting the Emperor Project, Xilan City wouldn¡¯t have sent such a massive force to help us. If it had just been us facing that monster tide, we probably wouldn¡¯t have lasted long enough to even reach Xilan City." Dragon Mountain No.1 had broken down in the snowfields precisely because of the Snow Wraith Tide. Seeing the dark look on Shi Diyuan¡¯s face, Ning Jing could only try to reassure him. Shi Diyuan waved a hand dismissively. "Forget it. Focus on treating the injured first. This isn¡¯t our first large-scale battle¡ªlearn from it and upgrade our armor. We called this thing the Dragon Mountain Fortress¡ªwe can¡¯t have it folding like wet paper." Pushing Through the Storm BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The heavily armored locomotive of Dragon Mountain No.1 plowed through the deep snow, surging forward with unstoppable force. Meanwhile, the Emperor Project convoy drove steadily within the protective escort of the reinforcements. Inside one of the armored vehicles, Yu Yuheng had just finished speaking with Commander He of the 7th Investigation Corps over the comms. He immediately turned to his team. "We¡¯ve made four copies of the research data. Once we reach Xilan City, the Nightwalkers'' Courier Division will split up and relay them through different routes¡ªbypassing the Extreme Cold Vortex¡¯s signal interference. The only issue left... is the Monument Core." He glanced at a large silver metal case inside the vehicle. Inside that case lay the Core of Unit 01¡ªPangu. In simple terms, it was the black box of the mecha, containing a huge amount of combat data, telemetry, and, most importantly, direct engagement records with an S-Class Eerie Entity. Beyond just improving the Emperor Project¡¯s superweapon program, its greatest value lay in unraveling the mysteries of S-Class Eerie Entities. This data held potential breakthroughs in humanity¡¯s understanding of the Abyss and the darkness beyond. In many ways, it was even more valuable than the mecha itself. "Captain Yu, getting the Core out is going to be a problem," one of his subordinates said. "The entire Yunjiang Plains is under a complete communications blackout. Our higher-ups don¡¯t even know where we are, let alone how to extract the Core. We¡¯ll have to wait for the Couriers to relay our coordinates before we can hand it off." Yu Yuheng nodded. "This thing is more important than all of our lives combined. I¡¯ve already coordinated with Commander He¡ªXilan City¡¯s regional commander, Zhao Yu, has access to an intercontinental radio station. They¡¯ll find a way to get it out." The Infinite Train ¨C Nearing Xilan City "...krzzzt... This is a broadcast to all convoys: the aerial fleet has returned to base. We are approximately one hour from Xilan City." Lin Xian¡¯s communicator crackled with the voice of Commander He Zhen. "The 7th Investigation Corps has split its forces. Some units are escorting our trains, while the aerospace fleet has already returned. ETA to Xilan City: one hour." "Lin Xian," Chen Sixuan called out, **"The reinforcements include a team from the Nightwalkers Organization¡ªthey¡¯re onboard our train now. They seem really interested in you, Fire Bro, and KIKI¡¯s Abilities." "They¡¯re already on our train?" "Yeah, they specifically requested to board. They¡¯re in Carriage 2¡ªInformation Center." "I¡¯ll go check it out." The Nightwalkers Organization¡ª**Phoenix¡¯s elite Ability User group¡ª**was finally making their move. Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate. He immediately got up and headed toward Carriage 2 with Chen Sixuan. Carriage 2 ¨C Meeting the Nightwalkers Inside the Information Center, most of the Infinite Train¡¯s key personnel were already gathered. Two strangers stood in the carriage¡ªa man and a woman, both clad in uniform cold-weather gear. Over their suits, they wore black trench coats, woven from a mysterious hexagonal composite material that absorbed light, making them seem almost shadow-like. "Lin Xian! You¡¯re awake!" KIKI floated up from her chair in excitement. Shu Qin, Luo, and Shasha also turned their gazes toward him. Lu Xingchen had been dragged over to join the meeting¡ªbut he was already asleep in his chair. Meanwhile, Ding Junyi was already deep in conversation with the newcomers. As Lin Xian approached, the two Nightwalkers turned to face him. Both were young. The man looked around 27 or 28, with sharp features and an easygoing, confident demeanor. His eyes flashed like electricity. The woman seemed around 22 or 23¡ªshort-haired, sleek, and radiating an edgy, rebellious energy. She was chewing gum and wearing a black lipstick tint that made her stand out even more. The man stepped forward, extending a hand. "Captain Lin, a pleasure to meet you." "I¡¯m Zhou Wuer, Nightwalkers Division One¡ªCourier Unit." "This is Peng Peng, my partner." Lin Xian shook his hand. "Courier Unit? So, you guys handle message delivery?" "Exactly." Zhou Wuer nodded. "The Nightwalkers are split into three divisions: Couriers, Polar Night, and Starfire¡ªeach with different tasks. "Polar Night investigates the Dark Tides and the Abyss. Starfire provides security for survivor groups and high-value assets. And we Couriers? We keep the world connected. That¡¯s why we¡¯re here¡ªto meet with you." "How did you even find us?" KIKI asked. "We didn¡¯t," Peng Peng replied casually. "All the Couriers across Yunjiang Plains got the same assignment. We execute our tasks in a saturation deployment¡ªwhoever finds you first makes contact." Lin Xian nodded. He had heard from Wei Kexue that Phoenix had three main global communication methods: Drone Beacon Networks (similar to his signal relay towers).Encrypted Radio Codes via Nightwalker Couriers.Direct relay stations, using special energy sources like Dark Blood Crystals. "Phoenix specifically asked for me?" Lin Xian asked. "Why?" Zhou Wuer smiled. "To thank you for your help with the rescue op¡ªand to offer collaboration." "The Yubei City Support Team uploaded their mission logs. You¡ª¡®the Mechanical Ability User¡¯¡ªexecuted an insanely risky but brilliant ¡®Traction Plan¡¯ that saved thousands. Their team lead held you in very high regard." Lin Xian¡¯s brow lifted. "White Team Leader?" "Yeah," Zhou Wuer nodded. "Though... her team doesn¡¯t exist anymore." Zhou Wuer spoke at length, ¡°And then there¡¯s the field of neuroscience. If telekinesis allows one to manipulate matter, then even if Cold Dark Fundamental Particles are energy-driven, what is their output mechanism? A quantum entanglement channel? This could significantly advance neural decoding technology. Since you¡¯ve already come into contact with the Emperor Project, you should be familiar with neural resonance piloting technology, right?¡± ¡°If we really start breaking it down, there¡¯s so much more to consider.¡± KIKI¡¯s expression was one of amazement. ¡°Damn, you guys are trying to pry open the secrets of physics using abilities?¡± ¡°Why not? Why does having abilities automatically mean it¡¯s all mysticism?¡± Zhou Wuer, like a true scholar, answered seriously. ¡°Cold Dark Fundamental Particles were just discovered, proving they¡¯re merely another form of material existence.¡± Ding Junyi nodded in agreement. ¡°I support that perspective. When humanity¡¯s ancestors first discovered fire, they saw it as divine. But as science progressed, we learned that fire is simply high-temperature gas or plasma. So the idea that abilities could one day be scientifically explained isn¡¯t impossible.¡± Lin Xian glanced at Zhou Wuer with deep meaning and said, ¡°Using materialism to dissect idealism... The Phoenix Guild truly lives up to its name as the light of humanity.¡± ¡°Relax.¡± Zhou Wuer grinned, waving a hand. ¡°We¡¯re not going to dissect you. That¡¯s the work of anti-human organizations.¡± ¡°Hey! But Lin-ge is our train captain! If you take him¡ªand KIKI-jie¡ªwhat are we supposed to do?¡± At that moment, Shasha posed the key question to Zhou Wuer. As soon as she said it, Lu Xingchen, who had been dozing off, lazily opened his eyes, squinting in their direction. ¡°Joining the Phoenix Guild doesn¡¯t mean disbanding your team.¡± A confident woman named Peng Peng chimed in, explaining, ¡°The Phoenix Guild is a global mobile organization. Even places like Phoenix City and Noah aren¡¯t true safe havens capable of sheltering all survivors. That¡¯s why we¡¯re currently constructing the Dawn Defense Line in the polar regions and a space elevator as contingency plans. Our primary mission is global aid. So joining the Phoenix Guild doesn¡¯t necessarily mean you¡¯ll be stationed at headquarters¡ªyou can operate anywhere. The idea is that a single spark can ignite a prairie fire. A Phoenix Guild or Nightwalker branch can exist within any region, within any survivor team.¡± ¡°Including Dragon Mountain No. 1 and six other convoys¡ªthey¡¯re already our partners. Your rescue of the Emperor Project team has earned you official recognition from the Phoenix Guild. You¡¯re classified as a trusted organization even in this post-collapse world. Unlike ordinary survivors, you¡¯ve proven your combat capabilities and resilience, which makes you even more valuable.¡± Zhou Wuer nodded and added, ¡°Exactly. Right now, the enemy¡¯s power is unmatched and unknown. In this scenario, we must first preserve the strength of the human race, gradually seek opportunities for survival, and rally the surviving global population. Searching for a one-time, permanent solution is futile¡ªthere¡¯s no absolute safe haven. That¡¯s why the Phoenix Guild can be above or below¡ªit can exist within major cities or among the people, scattered yet persistent, surviving no matter what.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contracted. He opened his mouth, then suddenly understood. ¡°You mean... even if I join the Phoenix Guild, I won¡¯t have to take direct orders like you guys do? Our team would function as a mobile militia unit, coordinating with Phoenix Guild operations through guerrilla warfare!?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Zhou Wuer and Peng Peng spoke in unison, then turned to look at Lin Xian in surprise¡ªthey hadn¡¯t expected him to grasp the concept so quickly. The rest of the group had priceless expressions. Lin Xian turned toward Chen Sixuan, feeling a sudden chill run down his spine. Guerrilla warfare? Both of them suddenly felt a sense of eerie familiarity. Why did this strategy sound so... historically significant? ¡°...Alright.¡± Lin Xian nodded. He had more or less figured out how the Phoenix Guild operated. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then joining the Phoenix Guild would give us an additional identity. But we¡¯re barely surviving right now¡ªwhat could we possibly contribute?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really asking what¡¯s in it for you, aren¡¯t you?¡± Zhou Wuer smirked and winked at him, his expression screaming, Bro, I see right through you. Lin Xian didn¡¯t reply. While he appreciated the Phoenix Guild¡¯s goodwill, there was no way he would blindly carry a banner for them. Right now, he had just barely escaped death. He was already struggling to keep Infinite Train alive¡ªhow could he possibly start thinking about saving humanity? To be honest, Lin Xian had always believed that in the apocalypse, self-interest was key to survival. And yet, every time life or death was on the line, he found himself doing something incredibly stupid. He always told himself that these reckless actions were for his own survival¡ªnot because he wanted to be some kind of hero. But the more stupid things he did, the harder it became to convince himself of that. ¡°Of course, we¡¯ve got something for you.¡± Zhou Wuer snapped his fingers. A strange ripple spread out, and suddenly¡ªa silver metal case appeared out of thin air behind him, landing with a thud on the floor. Everyone stared, stunned. ¡°What kind of ability is this...?¡± Peng Peng stepped forward, lifted the metal case onto the table, and began unlocking it with a click-clack-clack. ¡°First, let¡¯s talk about the special gift the Phoenix Guild is offering you¡ªas gratitude for Infinite Train¡¯s efforts in assisting the evacuation of tens of thousands at Yubei Spaceport!¡± Shhhh! All eyes locked onto the case. As the lid lifted, inside were ten specially designed vials, each filled with a pale green liquid. The moment the case opened, Lin Xian¡¯s Eerie Cube issued a warning. [WARNING: DETECTED DARK FEAR ENERGY INFILTRATION!] Lin Xian frowned. Clearly, the liquid had something to do with the Dark Invasion forces¡ªbut since it was coming from the Phoenix Guild, he kept his thoughts to himself. Inside the box, aside from the ten vials, there was also a crimson circular badge with the emblem of a phoenix. But Lin Xian immediately noticed something unusual¡ªbeneath its surface, he sensed a precise mechanical structure. ¡°What is this? It looks like something straight out of a bioweapons lab,¡± KIKI mused, her curiosity piqued. Others leaned in closer, equally intrigued. Zhou Wuer picked up one of the metal vials and addressed Lin Xian. ¡°This is called Cold Dark Serum¡ªit¡¯s made by extracting Eerie Blood Crystals using a Cold Dark Particle Separation Device. The result is a substance we call Cold Dark Energy, diluted in purified water at a 0.5% ratio. Drinking it increases an ability user''s Soul Wave Value energy density¡ªthink of it as a drug that enhances abilities.¡± ¡°...Only 0.5%? Will that even work?¡± Shu Qin frowned. Ding Junyi spoke up. ¡°It must be because the energy density is too high¡ªit needs to be diluted for the human body to handle it.¡± Zhou Wuer nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. You really are a top scientist from the Federation¡¯s Bio-Lab.¡± He shook the vial lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate it¡ªeach one of these contains the extracted energy of ten Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystals. You could trade this for an entire vehicle.¡± ¡°Ten Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystals?!¡± ¡°Holy crap... that¡¯s a lot...¡± ¡°There are ten vials in here¡ªso that means this box contains the equivalent of 100 Blood Crystals?!¡± KIKI gasped. Peng Peng nodded. ¡°This is an extremely hazardous substance. Even diluted, excessive consumption can cause discomfort¡ªso we don¡¯t recommend taking too much at once.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s been confirmed that consuming this can artificially enhance abilities?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. ¡°Well...¡± Zhou Wuer smacked his lips. ¡°To be honest, this isn¡¯t our first batch. The Nightwalkers have tested it on volunteers. But yes, this is now the official version.¡± ¡°Volunteers? Who?¡± KIKI inquired. ¡°The Nightwalker Organization¡ªwe tested it on ourselves.¡± Zhou Wuer nodded. ¡°Of course, we haven¡¯t completely purified the Dark Invasion¡¯s energy with current technology. There¡¯s still some residual infiltration within the serum¡ªit remains an unknown factor. However, the concentration of Dark Invasion energy in Eerie Blood Crystals is much lower than in the black night itself. After undergoing separation and dilution, the harmful effects on ability users are significantly reduced. Still, it¡¯s not something to be careless about.¡± He gave a wry smile. ¡°For example, in the Nightwalker Organization, we frequently use Black Water to enhance abilities, but that also exposes us to the risk of corrosion. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve developed countermeasures to neutralize or balance the infiltration within our bodies.¡± ¡°What kind of countermeasures?¡± Zhou Wuer pulled a sealed metal flask from his waist, flicked open the lid, and a straw popped out. He took a sip, then winced as if it tasted terrible. ¡°More sunlight. And...¡± He sighed, lifting the flask for everyone to see. ¡°More vegetable juice.¡± ¡°...Vegetable juice?!¡± The entire group reacted with shock and disbelief. Zhou Wuer had clearly anticipated their reaction. He nodded with a resigned look. ¡°When I was a kid, my parents always nagged me about eating my vegetables and getting plenty of sunlight to stay healthy. I never imagined that after the apocalypse, those same things would help fight against the Dark Invasion...¡± He sighed dramatically. ¡°Unfortunately, in this barren world, where even the soil is corrupted by Black Water, fresh vegetables are rarer than Eerie Blood Crystals. Even if we wanted to eat more, we can¡¯t. The Phoenix Guild has specialized doomsday cultivation facilities that maintain a small-scale production, but it¡¯s nowhere near enough.¡± ¡°And to think¡ªI used to hate bitter melon.¡± Zhou Wuer gave his flask a pitiful shake. ¡°Now, in the Nightwalker Organization, we¡¯re only rationed one bottle of bitter melon juice per week¡ªand it¡¯s never enough.¡± Silence. But then¡ªeveryone¡¯s eyes slowly turned toward Lin Xian. Especially Ding Junyi. The ever-serious scientist¡ªwho rarely displayed emotion¡ªwas now staring at Lin Xian with undisguised amazement. She had already thought that Lin Xian¡¯s plan to cultivate crops on the train was a brilliant foresight... But now¡ªthis was a game-changer. Vegetables could counteract Dark Invasion energy? Lin Xian himself was stunned. He had never expected that something as simple as eating vegetables and getting sunlight could actually resist and balance the Dark Invasion¡¯s corruption. If anyone else had told him this, he would have laughed it off as a joke. But Zhou Wuer was dead serious¡ªtreating his vegetable juice like a precious treasure. This had to be real. Zhou Wuer, noticing the strange atmosphere, slowly retracted his flask and hesitantly asked, ¡°Uh... Did I say something weird?¡± ¡°...So the Phoenix Guild considers vegetable juice as an antidote to Dark Invasion energy?¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s tone was sharp and analytical. Zhou Wuer nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not an instant cure, of course. The effects take time, and the body itself needs to regulate the balance. We haven¡¯t found solid scientific proof yet, so we haven¡¯t officially announced it. The Phoenix Guild has only promoted it as a general health recommendation, mainly to avoid misinterpretation and misinformation. Still, word has been spreading among survivors.¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s mind raced. Sunlight and vegetables. Lin Xian had already prepared for both¡ªwithout even knowing it. His train had dedicated planting carriages. He had already started experimenting with energy exposure. Ding Junyi had even been studying the differences in ability users¡¯ reactions to sunlight¡ªand the properties of Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. She had thought Lin Xian was just unusually perceptive. Now¡ªshe was starting to believe there was something more to him. ¡®This man is truly mysterious...¡¯ Ding Junyi remained expressionless, but inside¡ªher scientific curiosity burned hotter than ever. Chapter 263: Phoenix Order "Oh, I see." KIKI floated over, using her telekinesis to pick up a vial and examine it closely. "So drinking this can enhance abilities? That means our Eerie Blood Crystals finally have another use besides trading..." She then picked up the round, medallion-like badge, feeling its weight in her palm. Flipping it over, she noticed a data interface and some kind of information module embedded in the back. "This is a Phoenix Badge," Zhou Wuer explained, pulling out his own badge. However, his was slightly different¡ªit had a silver-black coloration. "Phoenix issues these special badges to allied teams. They''re called Crimson Phoenix Badges. Meanwhile, internal personnel like us carry the Starry Sky Phoenix Badge. These badges can receive and decode transmissions from our regional radio stations or division broadcasts. We call this system Fire Book. It contains up-to-date information packets valid for 48 hours, covering ability research, Abyss survival strategies, and the latest studies on Eerie Entities. It also allows for distress signals to be transmitted on a specialized frequency, leaving behind a personal Fire Book entry." "In simpler terms, the Phoenix Badge provides direct one-way communication with the Phoenix organization within a certain range. You can also log messages¡ªsay you run into danger, you can send out a Fire Book transmission on all available frequencies. This transmission will be temporarily stored on any accessible information device, including survivor radios and Phoenix communication towers. If another survivor team or Phoenix unit passes through the area and broadcasts, your message will ¡®jump¡¯ along the network, eventually reaching distant Phoenix divisions." Zhou Wuer scratched his head. "Am I making this too complicated? Basically, it¡¯s primarily an identification tool. Any team carrying a Phoenix Badge will be recognized by Phoenix branches worldwide as a trusted ally or even a peer-level unit." "I get it," Lin Xian nodded. Having just experienced the Blizzard Pursuit Battle, Lin Xian had already used a similar relay system to contact Infinite Train a hundred kilometers away and to ping a rescue team. But this Phoenix Badge seemed even more advanced. He recalled that Wei Kexue had previously mentioned Phoenix encoded its global radio broadcasts with certain cipher keys to facilitate interregional coordination. These encrypted transmissions were incredibly resource-intensive¡ªwhen Lin Xian had made a local broadcast at Hengshan Pass, it had consumed two Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystals. A full global broadcast would require exponentially more resources. To reduce this cost, Phoenix embedded numerous hidden codes in each transmission, allowing authorized personnel to extract targeted information. Lin Xian suspected that access levels varied based on rank, region, and department. "If I¡¯d had this back at Hengshan Pass, I might have been able to contact a nearby Phoenix team directly." However, what intrigued Lin Xian most was the Fire Book Information Pack. It provided the latest Phoenix research updates, essentially synchronizing him with their official intelligence network¡ªa critical survival advantage. Access to information was the key to survival. Some survivor teams even had dedicated information officers who worked around the clock collecting regional and global updates. On Lin Xian¡¯s team, this task rotated among KIKI, Ding Junyi, and Ms. Chen. Yet, despite their efforts, gaps remained. For example, after entering the Extreme Cold Vortex, they had gone days without receiving a single Phoenix broadcast. "In short," Zhou Wuer continued, "the Crimson Phoenix Badge is a marker for allied teams and a way for us to maintain contact with potential reinforcements. Carrying this means Phoenix acknowledges you as a legitimate organization and a friendly force. Of course, since you''re just an allied team, we won¡¯t issue direct orders¡ªbut if we need assistance, we¡¯ll prioritize working with trusted teams. Whether it''s a contract job or a joint operation, you''ll be compensated. Likewise, if your team needs something, we''ll do our best to assist¡ªprovided it''s within our regional capability." Lin Xian nodded. KIKI tossed him the Phoenix Badge, and he caught it midair. Turning to Zhou Wuer, he said, "This is a solid partnership. No matter what, we really appreciate your support." "Now, onto the second matter," Zhou Wuer said. "The Nightwalkers are currently conducting large-scale ability assessments and intelligence gathering in uncharted areas. It¡¯s a mutually beneficial exchange¡ªwe provide Ability Users with critical information and evolution support, and in return, we gather data on their abilities. We also use this as a recruitment tool. That being said, we¡¯d like to conduct a more detailed assessment on you specifically." "Right now?" "No, in Xilan City. You don¡¯t plan on leaving anytime soon, do you?" Lin Xian shrugged. "Depends. We¡¯re likely moving with the main convoy. Once we clear Abyss Zone No. 5, we¡¯ll reassess." "Speaking of which," Lin Xian continued, "we actually sought out Phoenix for an important reason." He glanced at Ding Junyi. Since she was a Phoenix member, she could handle the research handoff directly, saving them some trouble. Ding Junyi nodded and pulled out a miniature portable hard drive, handing it to Zhou Wuer. "This contains research on the behavioral patterns of Dark Entities when attacking humans. While some data is incomplete, I assume Phoenix has conducted extensive research in this area. Our findings include practical field data, which could provide useful insights for your team." One major limitation in Dark Mark research was the lack of theoretical models for Cold Dark Fundamental Particles and their capture mechanisms. Infinite Train simply didn¡¯t have the necessary particle-level measuring instruments. Because of this, Ding Junyi had been forced to rely on Soul Wave Detectors for comparative studies instead of direct analysis. Hearing this, Zhou Wuer and Peng Peng were visibly shocked. They hadn¡¯t expected a refugee train to be conducting scientific research on the side. Zhou Wuer took the hard drive with interest. "Wow, you guys are impressive. Surviving Eerie Entities while researching ways to save humanity?" "Saving humanity isn¡¯t our goal," Lin Xian replied bluntly. "We just happened to notice these patterns. And understanding them is why we¡¯re still alive." Zhou Wuer was intrigued. "I¡¯m not a scientist, but could you give me a quick summary?" Ding Junyi explained the basic principles behind the Dark Mark Theory. Upon hearing it, Zhou Wuer gasped. "Ohhh¡ªI know this! Nightwalkers and Phoenix researchers have been investigating a similar phenomenon. I can¡¯t recall the exact name, but it¡¯s nearly identical to what you¡¯re describing. This theory is gaining traction within Phoenix, though we lack conclusive evidence." He glanced at the hard drive. "I didn¡¯t expect you to hand us something like this. Alright, I¡¯ll submit it immediately. We have a research team in Xilan City¡ªthey¡¯ll be very interested." The group collectively sighed in relief. Chen Sixuan asked, "Many survivors still believe in the Predator Effect, which discourages cooperation and increases mortality rates. If Phoenix verifies this theory, how long until it¡¯s publicly announced?" Zhou Wuer chuckled awkwardly. "Well... that¡¯s above my pay grade. Phoenix is extremely cautious about official statements. Unless the research team provides indisputable proof, they won¡¯t make a formal declaration. For now, all we can do is continue our rescue efforts." "You realize that criminal organizations are already exploiting the Dark Mark as bait traps? Phoenix is the biggest official group¡ªhow are you falling behind those scumbags?!" Shasha protested. "Criminal organizations?" Ding Junyi nodded. "There¡¯s a group called SIID Foundation Laboratory. Their Dark Tides research is far more advanced than ours. We encountered them at Hengshan Pass, but by the time we arrived, their facility was abandoned." She also described the bait trap incident. While there was no concrete evidence linking SIID to it, the fact that they had left behind a forged Phoenix insignia made Zhou Wuer¡¯s expression darken. "A fake Phoenix emblem...?" Zhou Wuer turned to Lin Xian, frowning. "Where exactly was this research facility located?" "About three kilometers north of Clearwater Town. But it¡¯s probably buried by now." Zhou Wuer nodded. "This is critical intel. I¡¯ll report it immediately. Phoenix¡¯s Polar Night Division will likely send a team to investigate." Zhou Wuer took a deep breath, put away the portable hard drive, and said to Lin Xian, "Our task here is complete, so we''ll be leaving for now. If there''s a chance, we''ll meet again in the next couple of days in Xilan City. If our higher-ups or any other divisions need assistance, I hope Mr. Lin will be willing to help." "Of course," Lin Xian nodded. "Farewell." With that, Zhou Wuer gestured for KIKI to open the roof hatch of Carriage No. 2. Peng Peng placed a hand on Zhou Wuer¡¯s shoulder, and in the next instant, their special cloaks wrapped around them, lifting them into the air. With a powerful gust of wind, they shot off into the sky above the train. "Flying ability users?" Shu Qin couldn''t help but comment as she watched them disappear into the distance. "I''ve heard before that Postmen are usually highly mobile ability users. Having flight abilities isn¡¯t surprising," Lin Xian replied. Chen Sixuan, watching the hatch slowly close, frowned. "I don¡¯t know why, but I have a bad feeling about this Dark Mark situation. It¡¯s not as simple as we think." "We''ve done everything we can. The rest is up to their official researchers." Lin Xian rubbed his temples. He had provided all the information he could¡ªhe wasn¡¯t about to hand over Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum as well. This was as much as he could do, and he considered it a closed matter for now. What concerned him more was the state of the train. "How are Xiao Yuan and the others holding up?" "Nothing serious," Shu Qin replied. "Good thing our armor held up;otherwise, it could¡¯ve been much worse." "Armor... right." Lin Xian sighed. The entire right side of Infinite Train was now a wreck¡ªmany of the armored plates had been torn off entirely. The grated panels were missing in multiple places, and the high-manganese steel and hardened tungsten steel armor looked like it had been through a battlefield bombardment. These defenses were originally designed for Zombie Tides, but the sheer force of the Snow Wraith Swarm was on an entirely different level... "We¡¯ve cleaned up most of the interior damage. As for the outer armor, we can do repairs once we reach Xilan City," Chen Sixuan reassured him, sensing his exhaustion. "Yeah, Brother Xian, the train''s still holding together just fine," Da Lou added. Lin Xian nodded, then picked up a vial of Cold Dark Serum. "I forgot to ask earlier... do we just drink this?" The eerie green liquid swirled inside the vial, giving him an uneasy feeling. "And how much of a boost does it give? They didn¡¯t say." The only thing they knew was its value¡ª10 Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystals per vial. With Infinite Train receiving 10 vials, that was 100 Blood Crystals worth¡ªalmost equivalent to the entire resource stockpile of a mid-sized convoy. That alone proved its importance. But in truth, Lin Xian knew that the Phoenix Badge was the real treasure here. This badge meant that, in this lawless apocalypse, they were now on Phoenix''s whitelist. It granted them direct access to Phoenix communications via regional radio channels and enabled them to build mutual trust and cooperation with Phoenix teams. Not to mention, it provided access to Fire Book Information Packs, which would be invaluable for their future survival¡ªhelping them strategize routes, improve their understanding of abilities, and assess dangers more accurately. Simply put, they were no longer blindly searching for Phoenix strongholds. They now had direct access. "The Phoenix branch in Xilan City has an ability assessment device. It can measure your ability level by detecting the peak fluctuations of your Soul Wave Value," Ding Junyi added. "They told me earlier, and I figured you¡¯d be interested in the Cold Dark Fundamental Particle Separator. But there¡¯s no civilian version yet¡ªit¡¯s still under development. This serum was officially produced by Phoenix. I''ve also heard that Dawn City has a similar version, but it¡¯s ridiculously expensive." "An ability assessment device?" Lin Xian asked. "It just measures power levels?" "Yes. It¡¯s part of the Nightwalkers¡¯ widespread experimental program. Zhou Wuer mentioned earlier that ability users need a clear understanding of their own abilities, and Phoenix needs more data on ability users. That¡¯s why Phoenix is rolling out these testing stations¡ªto help ability users evolve while also gathering intel and recruiting talents." "So Nightwalkers have already established a classification system for abilities, including levels, rarity, and even effective growth methods? They¡¯re actively helping ability users develop while improving survivor survival rates?" Lin Xian picked up the Crimson Phoenix Badge. "Then the Fire Book Information Pack inside this thing must contain all of that, right?" "Oh yeah! I was curious about that too¡ªwhy don¡¯t we check?" KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. Lin Xian handed the badge to her. KIKI quickly connected it to the information center''s computer, and soon, a special encryption key was automatically inputted. The Phoenix Badge activated. "Looks like this thing needs to be connected to a radio system," KIKI observed. "It¡¯s probably a highly sophisticated information device," Lin Xian noted. Once activated, the badge immediately decoded a set of messages¡ªnot from a live transmission, since Infinite Train was still stuck in a blizzard with no access to long-range signals. Even Dark Radio was out of range. Instead, this data had been retrieved from a temporary storage frequency¡ªinformation that Infinite Train had received days ago, before entering the blizzard. The contents weren¡¯t complex¡ªjust regional Phoenix activity reports, covering schedules and key events in Xilan City, Wei River, and surrounding areas. There were also assistance requests, but most had expired due to the time delay. If not for the blizzard, they would¡¯ve had access to real-time transmissions. However, the real goldmine was the Fire Book Information Pack. Unlike the short text bulletins normally broadcasted via Phoenix radio (due to Dark Tides interference), this detailed data package was structured more like an apocalypse survival manual, divided into three main sections: MAPSIncluded real-time expansion rates of all 13 Abyss Zones within the past 48 hours.Listed natural disaster zones linked to Abyss phenomena.Provided an updated survival map, marking multiple safe zones¡ªplaces that had successfully survived the Dark Night under specific conditions.EERIE ENTITY BESTIARYCataloged all observed Eerie Entities, complete with names and serial numbers.Provided images or hand-drawn sketches for well-documented entities;less-known ones had text descriptions.Ranked all known Dark Creatures into five threat levels: C-Class, B-Class, A-Class, Special-Class, and S-Class.The massive atmospheric creature they encountered in Yubei City was listed as #10.However, the Deep Abyss Behemoth from Underground City No. 9 was not found in the records.WORLD-LEVEL DISASTERSIncluded a classification above S-Class: WORLD-LEVEL CATASTROPHE Also referred to as: Dark Invaders. Four of these creatures had already been identified, designated as 01¨C04.Among them was a floating colossal corpse¡ªthe one Lin Xian and KIKI had seen in Jiang City. "Entity #02: Unknown Sky Corpse¡ªHumanoid, estimated size over 10,000 meters, floating at an altitude of 3,000¨C4,000 meters. Disaster capabilities: Unknown. Current location: Ping''a Lake to Congshan region..." KIKI¡¯s expression darkened. "Holy crap... So that thing was real. Not just a nightmare... And it¡¯s moving!" Lin Xian felt chilled to the core. He vividly remembered hearing a woman¡¯s voice in his dreams: "Entity #02... is moving... is moving... Heading eastward... heading eastward..." Who was she? Why did Lin Xian dream about her? Lin Xian''s mind was swirling with questions. How did he dream of something that actually exists? Was it just a coincidence? Or was it something else entirely? He had originally thought it was hallucinations caused by overusing his ability¡ªa symptom of mental exhaustion. But now, seeing this Phoenix report, he realized his dreams were real. "Entity #02... is moving... is moving... Heading eastward... heading eastward..." This was exactly what that voice had said in his dream. Who was that woman? Why had he heard her voice? Lin Xian clenched his fists, forcing himself to calm down. There was no way to figure this out now¡ªhe had more pressing issues to deal with. Taking a deep breath, he refocused on the conversation happening around him. "This thing has been hiding inside massive cloud formations near Jiang City," Lin Xian said, glancing at KIKI. "I always felt something was off, but I never got a clear look at it." It was only through KIKI¡¯s consciousness that he had glimpsed the Floating Colossal Corpse¡¯s true form. KIKI¡¯s face darkened. She muttered, "It¡¯s terrifying. Worse than the Atmospheric Mica. I honestly don¡¯t know how humans are supposed to fight something like this." "Holy crap¡ª" Shasha¡¯s eyes widened. "Just looking at it freaks me out." "And this... isn¡¯t even the biggest one," Lin Xian added grimly. His gaze moved further down the Fire Book Information Pack. "Entity #01: Unknown Subterranean Organism" Location: Abyss Zone No. 1 (Siberia)Type: Giant Crustal ParasiteShape: Disk-likeObserved Diameter: 65 kilometersRadiation Levels: Extremely highDisaster Capabilities: Unknown "65 kilometers?!" Shu Qin gasped. "That¡¯s not a creature¡ªthat¡¯s a freaking continent!" Chapter 264: Mist Shadow Xilan "Subject 03: Iris-like Star Ring Captured by the Harper Space Eye before its crash. Angel Project theorizes it to be an interstellar entity lurking within dark matter clouds. However, due to lack of substantial evidence, it has not been classified under Eerie Entity Phenomena for now. Awaiting further observations, number retained." "Subject 04: Unknown Deep Pacific Abyssal Creature First discovered on July 11, 2069, in the Pacific Ocean and the Black Ocean Abyss. Exact morphology remains unknown. Observed size exceeds 13 kilometers. Previously triggered the Bor Island Tsunami..."** "M-Mom... why the hell are these things appearing on Blue Planet?" Staring at the Phoenix Organization¡¯s Eerie Entity Index, Shasha¡¯s eyes seemed to lose their spark. She muttered in disbelief. Chen Sixuan sighed. "These things... they seem even more hopeless than zombies or the darkness itself." The sheer scale of what they were looking at stunned everyone. Even Fire Bro, usually loud and arrogant, had nothing to say¡ªhis mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. The only one who remained indifferent was Ding Junyi. To her, fear of death was all the same. Whether it was an Abyssal Monster or a zombie¡ªboth simply represented the destruction of flesh. Her strictly materialist, scientific view left her unfazed. "It¡¯s not entirely hopeless." Seeing the gloom settle over the group, Lin Xian finally spoke up. "We just survived another brush with death. As long as humanity isn¡¯t completely wiped out¡ªthere¡¯s still hope." His words lifted some of the heavy weight in the room. Chen Sixuan nodded. "Yeah. After all, humans have built cities in the sky weighing millions of tons, and weapons with destructive power in the billions of tons. We still have a chance against these things." Seated in a swivel chair, KIKI flipped through the eerie entity index with her eyes darting rapidly over the data. Suddenly, she let out a surprised "Huh?" "Not every eerie entity produces Eerie Blood Crystals?!" Her remark caught everyone¡¯s attention. Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses and leaned in to look at the entry: "Analysis of over 1,000 cases of C-class and B-class eerie entities by the Nightwalkers Organization confirms that the production and concentration of Eerie Blood Crystals is directly proportional to the number of humans an entity has killed..." "So it¡¯s confirmed. Blood Crystals... are human blood." Ding Junyi¡¯s expression turned icy. Taking a deep breath, she continued, "I had a theory about the Foundation Laboratory on the 7th floor¡ªthat it was experimenting on humans, turning them into a ¡®filtration system¡¯ for harvesting dark energy. The goal? Feeding eerie entities to mass-produce blood crystals." The room fell deathly silent. Chen Sixuan covered her mouth in shock. The others visibly paled. "You¡¯re kidding, right?!?" KIKI¡¯s eyes widened in horror. Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. "You mean... the stronger the Ability User or Evolver, the higher-grade Blood Crystal they produce if devoured?" The implications were monstrous¡ªraising humans as livestock to harvest Blood Crystals. This wasn¡¯t just anti-human... it was something far worse. But as soon as he finished speaking, he noticed everyone staring at him. Ding Junyi stuffed her hands into her coat pockets and gave Lin Xian a knowing look. "I was just making a deduction from the data... but your thinking is even more terrifying than mine." Lin Xian was speechless. I was just following your logic! Abilities and Power Scaling "Alright, let¡¯s move on to what everyone¡¯s most interested in." KIKI stole a glance at Lin Xian before pulling up the third section of Fire Book''s Data Package¡ªthe topic everyone had been waiting for. Abilities. Until now, their understanding of abilities came from KIKI''s early access to Angel Project¡¯s data. Lin Xian only knew that several members of their group had reached Evolution Level, but nobody had a full grasp of the details. Among them, only Fire Bro had actively worked on developing new ability techniques. KIKI and Big Luo, on the other hand, had brute-forced their way through growth¡ªcompletely lacking any structured training. Fire Bro¡¯s approach wasn¡¯t much better. His abilities were developed through trial and error, and his "naming" of skills was nothing more than self-indulgence. Aside from combat experience, the only confirmed ways to improve abilities were Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum transformation energy and... that was about it. Section 3: Abilities According to the latest Phoenix-Nightwalkers Report, over 100 distinct ability types had been identified and categorized into ten major classifications. Abilities were ranked from S, A, B, C, D based on their uniqueness, potential, and threat level. D-Class: The most common abilities, including Flesh Proliferation, Limb Mimicry, Gigantism.C-Class: More advanced types, like Beast Form, Blood Qi, Undead Regeneration, Water Affinity, Metallic Skin.Big Luo was classified under Blood Qi, meaning his strength and regeneration increased with blood loss¡ªbut at the cost of massive strain on his heart, lungs, and spine.B-Class: Rarer abilities, including Demonic Form, Earth Manipulation, Cursed Bones, Monstrous Eyes.All flight-based abilities were categorized under B-Class.A-Class: Wind, Water, Superbody, Resonance, Sonic, Laser, Psychic, Superspeed, Telekinesis.Jiang Yun had Wind,Li Guangwen (Chasing Sun Convoy) had Resonance,A¡¯Bai had Laser,Qian Dele had Superspeed.S-Class: The most powerful tier. Psychic, Fire, Lightning, Light were expected. But one ability stood out. "Evil Desire." Lin Xian froze. They had encountered this before. The Green-Haired Woman from the Black Crow Four, the one who controlled zombie hordes at Hengshan Pass¡ªshe had this ability. "Whoa, that woman was S-Class?!" KIKI was stunned. "Controlling zombie tides is an immense threat," Shu Qin noted. "She nearly wiped out our entire convoy single-handedly. Imagine if she got stronger." Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan both nodded, recalling that nightmarish encounter. If her ability had room to evolve, the consequences would be catastrophic. "But we have two S-Class Ability Users on our train." Shasha playfully glanced at Lu Xingchen. "Fire Bro, you¡¯re an S-Class. Got any thoughts?" "Hmph!" Lu Xingchen snorted. "I am the incarnate of the Fire God. I do not concern myself with petty rankings." But he couldn¡¯t help adding, "However... I do approve of them placing Fire ahead of Wind, Lightning, and Light." "Yet you¡¯re still ranked below me~" KIKI teased. Lu Xingchen waved dismissively. "They probably sorted it alphabetically. Doesn¡¯t count." Big Luo frowned. "Wait... that actually makes sense." "Bullsh*t!" Shasha smacked him. "Then why is Light not listed before Fire?" Everyone laughed. But Chen Sixuan quickly brought them back on track. "Enough arguing. This isn¡¯t about rankings. Focus on how to actually upgrade abilities." Her teacher-like tone immediately silenced them. Lin Xian sighed, rubbing his forehead. He noticed his Mechanical Ability wasn¡¯t listed¡ªneither was Ding Junyi¡¯s Plant Ability. This made him realize¡ªno wonder Phoenix Organization was so interested in him. His ability was rarer than Psychic Power. And if there were other Psychic Ability Users, KIKI wasn¡¯t the only one. Lin Xian thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Trying it isn¡¯t a bad idea, but since Xilan City¡¯s Nightwalkers Organization has equipment for testing Ability Users, I think it¡¯d be better to wait until we understand more before using it. At the very least, we¡¯ll know how it affects our abilities. Right now, if we drink it, we¡¯re just guessing." "That makes sense~" KIKI agreed. "I want to see if I¡¯ve already broken through to the Diamond Rank." Hearing this, Lu Xingchen instantly snapped awake. "Interesting. I, too, find it absolutely necessary to test this." Lin Xian chuckled helplessly. He wasn¡¯t too worried about his Mechanical Heart since it had a structured growth progression. What really piqued his curiosity was the potential new skill rewards he might receive. At this moment, he was immensely grateful for taking the risk in Clearwater Town and devouring that nuclear-powered turbine engine in the middle of the night. Gravity Lens had already saved his life three times. Though it drained his energy, in hindsight, it had been a bargain. Charging Through the Storm Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The United Train Convoy plowed through the blizzard, racing through the dark night. The Rescue Convoy, the Emperor Project Team, and the Investigation Corps from Xilan City¡ªhundreds of armored vehicles forming an unstoppable tide of steel, crushing the snow beneath their wheels as they pushed forward to Xilan City. Lin Xian had rested for a few hours, recovering a significant amount of energy. Seizing the downtime, he manufactured additional ammunition to prepare for any unexpected crises. However, not long after, thunderous explosions rumbled across the blizzard-stricken landscape. Boom! Boom! Boom! A dense barrage of artillery fire erupted in the distance, jolting awake many passengers who had been sleeping inside the United Train Convoy. Instinctively, they grabbed their weapons¡ªsurvival had been engraved into their very DNA. In this world, there was no distinction between day and night¡ªonly between life and death. Incoming Communication "To all survivor convoys, Dragon Mountain No. 1, and Infinite Train¡ªthis is Commander He Zhen of the Seventh Investigation Corps. We are approaching Xilan City. Scout reports confirm the city is currently under attack by Eerie Entities¡ªthreat level: Moderate. However, we have support firepower clearing a path. No need to panic¡ªwe¡¯re going straight into the city!" Commander He Zhen¡¯s voice carried a firm, commanding presence, invigorating everyone who heard it. His tone suggested that Xilan City¡¯s defense forces were well-versed in handling these Night Horrors, which helped ease the tension in the convoy. Xilan City ¨C A Fortress That Still Stands "Looks like Xilan City is operating on a Fortress Defense Strategy¡ªmeaning the entire inner city is likely still secure." On Infinite Train, Shu Qin¡¯s voice was filled with surprise upon hearing Commander He Zhen¡¯s transmission. "Seems like it." Lin Xian¡¯s spirit lifted. Throughout their journey, they had never encountered a city that hadn¡¯t already been overrun by Zombies or Eerie Entities. No wonder Nightwalker Courier Zhou Wuer had insisted on meeting them in the city. It seemed that, under the Phoenix Organization¡¯s protection, Xilan City had somehow maintained a functioning urban infrastructure. "I remember my father mentioning Xilan City once," Chen Sixuan added. "Originally, it was an industrial city built over an iron ore deposit. Small, but equipped with nuclear-tier city defenses. Before the Federation was founded, this place was meant to be a northwestern defense stronghold for Longguo. "More importantly, it controls multiple key oil and natural gas transportation hubs¡ªmaking it a strategic stronghold. This city even has full-fledged production lines for heavy tanks and mechas." A City Built for War With a lollipop in her mouth, KIKI tapped away at her computer keyboard. In moments, she pulled up a schematic of the city. "This city isn¡¯t huge, but it was built into the mountains. Fenglan Mountain isn¡¯t that tall¡ªonly about 1,000 meters¡ªbut it¡¯s the largest peak in this entire grassland-desert region. "Tsk tsk~ And look at this! The city still has a military defense wall!" "That wall was built last century..." "Oh, and check this out¡ªDuggar Radar Array. It¡¯s an old relic from last century too, but it has a ten-megawatt power output. If they activate it, every radar system in the entire Yunjiang Plains will experience interference. But nowadays, it¡¯s just a tourist attraction." "I remember before Apocalypse Day, this place had a ton of heavy industry but barely any population. No one really came here for tourism." The Iron Fortress Emerges "LOOK!" On Infinite Train¡¯s tactical observation system, the image resolution gradually sharpened. A towering mountain silhouette emerged in the distance. As the snowstorm weakened, visibility improved, revealing a city of pure steel and concrete¡ªan unshakable industrial fortress. From all directions, waves of Snow Wraiths surged toward the city, but they weren¡¯t attacking the convoy¡ªthey were charging straight at Xilan City. The city¡¯s massive military walls stood firm. Heavy artillery rained down from the fortifications, filling the night with the thunder of explosions and gunfire. On the snow-covered mountaintops, radar towers and searchlights illuminated the battlefield, casting an overwhelming aura of dominance over the city below. The Final Approach The United Train Convoy¡¯s first checkpoint was a massive oil refinery just outside the city. Giant pipelines crisscrossed the snow-covered land like the veins of the Earth. Amidst these industrial structures, Snow Wraiths and Eerie Entities rampaged¡ªsome already rushing toward the convoy. BOOM! The Investigation Corps¡¯ support forces opened fire. Hellfire Barrage BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! A colossal explosion rocked the monster horde, detonating in the distance like divine thunder. A giant thermobaric bomb ignited kilometers ahead, forming a white-hot shockwave dome that expanded outward¡ªcrashing into the convoy with enough force to tilt every vehicle sideways. For a split second, everyone experienced deafening eardrum shock. "It¡¯s just our support artillery and airstrike units¡ªdon¡¯t panic!" "We¡¯re almost inside the city!" Xilan¡¯s Ultimate Fortress Defense From the city walls, dozens of large-caliber railguns fired in synchronized volleys, tearing into the charging Snow Wraith hordes and setting off chain-reaction explosions. The city¡¯s defense network was unparalleled. Great Wall-50 Railgun BatteriesIron Curtain Anti-Air Defense System (a mix of missiles, electromagnetic cannons, and CIWS turrets)Hundreds of heavy firepower turrets**An elite battalion from the Starfleet Investigation CorpsXilan City¡¯s unique mountainous terrain Together, they formed an impregnable stronghold. Under the cover of this immense firepower, the United Train Convoy pushed forward, crossing into Xilan¡¯s outer industrial zone. The howling Snow Wraith horde disappeared behind them. As the storm calmed, a city hidden beneath the mountains revealed itself. The Final Countdown "Two days left... Let¡¯s hope everything goes smoothly." Lin Xian muttered, watching the fortress city glow in the fading blizzard. Chapter 265: A Break in the Snowstorm 00:32 AM ¨C The Joint Train Formation Arrives at Xilan City Rail Station Upon entering Xilan City, the defensive convoy split up. The Empire Project Team was escorted by the Investigation Corps to the Phoenix stronghold, while Qian Dele¡¯s six convoys set up a temporary Doomsday Encampment near the Central Avenue perimeter of the rail station. Due to the large number of parked trains at the station, Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 diverted onto a freight mining track, originally used for cargo transport. This area, near the Fenglan Mountain mining region, was farther from Central Avenue, meaning fewer survivor camps were stationed here. However, Lin Xian still spotted a few convoy settlements occupying the former Xilan Mining Company¡¯s freight terminal, surrounded by stacked shipping containers and mine cart tracks stretching into the distance. Choosing this location had another advantage: it housed several large overhead rail cranes, perfect for transporting cargo¡ªand for Lin Xian, a rich source of salvageable materials. After traveling all the way from Hengshan Pass, battling non-stop, the convoy had exhausted its supplies, energy, and even basic armor plating. This was their chance to upgrade the train¡¯s defenses. Dragon Mountain No. 1 had endured the same harrowing blizzard chase, and tensions were still running high. The moment the Joint Train Formation rolled in, Shidi Yuan, Ning Jing, and the convoy leaders immediately set everyone into motion. Hissss¡ª The all-terrain drive train of Dragon Mountain No. 1 detached from Infinite Train¡¯s rear, and the temporary docking frame at the front was removed, merging the thousand-person train convoy back into one unit. Clang! Clang! Clang! The train doors swung open, and over a hundred engineers and maintenance workers disembarked from Dragon Mountain No. 1, joined by additional logistics personnel. In an instant, the once-quiet freight zone became a hive of activity, with hundreds of people repairing carriages, stripping damaged armor, and securing the train¡¯s defenses. Armed sentries remained stationed on the rooftops, staying on high alert. Meanwhile, Shidi Yuan checked in with Lin Xian before leading a team toward the city center, leaving Ning Jing in charge of overseeing repairs. With so many hands on deck, the two-kilometer-long train convoy quickly entered an intensive repair cycle. As power was restored, the long-dormant overhead cranes whirred back to life. Floodlights from Dragon Mountain No. 1 illuminated the freight zone, pushing back the shadows of the bitter storm. The area, shielded by Fenglan Mountain, was significantly calmer than the outer city blizzard, and the towering concrete walls offered a welcome sense of security. Armor Repairs &Strategic Adjustments On Infinite Train¡¯s side, Lin Xian inspected the damage¡ªand it was severe. The left armor plating had been riddled with holes during the Snow Wraith onslaught en route to Uliyasitai Mountain, its perforation density dangerously high. Fortunately, Dragon Mountain No. 1 had shielded Infinite Train¡¯s nuclear-powered locomotive, and the Gemini unit¡¯s lead-plated armor had minimized radiation risks. Still, this ordeal highlighted a critical flaw¡ªthe rear section lacked proper defenses. Lin Xian resolved to install a specialized defensive carriage at the rear, along with an additional electric locomotive to compensate for the lost power unit, since the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive had been repurposed for upgrades. As he gazed at Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s bustling repair crew, he deliberately ordered his own team to rest, keeping only a few key personnel active. His plan was to scout for usable power units and salvage specialized steel components¡ªwithout overtaxing his already exhausted team. A Quiet Moment Amidst the Chaos "You¡¯re going alone? I¡¯ll come with you." Chen Sixuan, noticing Lin Xian dismissing the others, frowned with concern. "I¡¯m fine. You, on the other hand, need rest."** Lin Xian said firmly. From the Phoenix stronghold to the blizzard battles, Chen Sixuan had fought non-stop since he fell unconscious. Bloodstains and frostbite marred her face¡ªbattle scars of a once-scholarly professor who had now fully stepped into the warrior¡¯s path. Her handling of the heavy anti-materiel sniper rifle had grown increasingly precise, eliminating countless threats for the team. Meanwhile, Lin Xian had at least rested a few hours while unconscious¡ªhe was recharged and ready to work. "We finally have a safe window. Everyone needs to recover¡ªincluding you." He met her gaze. Chen Sixuan hesitated, then exhaled. "Alright." As Lin Xian turned to leave, she suddenly stepped forward, wrapping an arm around his neck¡ªand kissed him. The touch was soft and fleeting, gone in an instant. Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes burned with intensity as she pulled away. "Take care of yourself." Lin Xian was momentarily stunned¡ªbut then, a smile played at his lips. "I will." Blueprints &Upgrades The wind howled outside as Lin Xian activated Mechanical Heart, bringing up a blueprint file. This design schematic had been secretly scanned back in Trakamar Ice Canyon¡ªa structural analysis of Unit 01¡¯s right-arm composite armor. The original materials¡ªsuper-carbon carbide alloy, nano-ceramics¡ªwere far too advanced for him to reproduce on a large scale. However, Lin Xian devised a workaround: He could substitute titanium alloy, tungsten-titanium composite, and tungsten carbide steel to mimic the layered armor design. The blueprint was a revelation. Compared to the hastily welded steel plating he had originally fashioned in Jiang City, Unit 01¡¯s multi-layered armor composition was ingenious. "Active Defense Layer..." The five-layer structure was as follows: Active Defense Layer (0-5mm) Material:Forged Tungsten-Titanium Alloy II Energy Dissipation Layer (5-15mm) Material:Boron Nitride Ceramic / Titanium Honeycomb Composite Primary Protection Layer (15-25mm) Material:Super-Carbon Carbide Alloy Fabrication:Laser-Additive Manufacturing with Alternating Porous-Dense Structure Additionally, the shock-absorbing isolation layer used basalt fiber 3D weaves, while the self-healing inner liner incorporated magnesium-based composites and shape-memory alloys. Lin Xian marveled at his Mechanical Heart¡ªit was like wielding the knowledge of an entire industrial empire at his fingertips. With the new R&D center, he could now fully integrate research &development into his workflow. "No need to overcomplicate this. Simplifying the materials should still work." If implemented, this armor upgrade would be far superior to his original haphazard plating. Plus, it would actually look good. Late-Night Design Session Inside Car No. 2, the information center¡¯s computer screen glowed faintly. KIKI sat before it, tweaking the armor schematics, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. "If we go with this armor setup, we¡¯ll need to modify the original grid structure¡ªshould we integrate it into the windows too?" The room was dark, save for the computer¡¯s light. The young girl, dark circles under her eyes, yawned as she worked. She had burned through nearly all her energy in battle, yet she kept helping Lin Xian, her hands never stopping. Lin Xian glanced at her, knowing she wouldn¡¯t last much longer. For now, he let her keep working. There was still so much to do. "Wouldn''t this be unsafe? If we open the windows, it''ll be directly exposed to the outside. And if we keep the entire train sealed, it''ll feel way too stuffy and claustrophobic." Lin Xian frowned. Inside the warm train carriage, KIKI had shed her heavy cold-resistant coat, now lounging in casual shorts. Her smooth legs were crossed as she floated in midair in front of the computer. She poked Lin Xian''s chest with her finger and grinned. "Can¡¯t have your cake and eat it too, bro~" "Just add a layer of high-strength polyester bulletproof glass in between the armor grids," Lin Xian replied matter-of-factly. "That way, we can still open windows when needed. In combat, we can''t just blindly fire outside." KIKI pouted. "If that¡¯s the case, why not just install remote-controlled auto-gun turrets? That way, people can stay inside and operate them via surveillance feeds." Lin Xian gave her a deadpan look. "Might as well install full-on combat capsules on rails, huh?" KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. "Ohhh, I like that! Fully automated turret arrays!" "Why stop there? Let¡¯s just upgrade the whole thing into a full-blown rail battleship while we¡¯re at it." "YES! YES! Do it!" Lin Xian flicked her forehead. "You¡¯re getting carried away. If I could pull that off right now, I¡¯d just build a brand-new train¡ªor hell, even a floating city. Why bother adding armor at all?" "Hehehe~" KIKI chuckled mischievously. "Okay, okay, I was messing with you. But seriously, your idea makes sense. I think it''s workable." Lin Xian exhaled and nodded. "Alright, let¡¯s go with that. You get some rest¡ªI need to gather materials." His plan was to scavenge the necessary armor materials and, if possible, scan the blueprint for Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s Triangle Track Electromagnetic All-Terrain Drive Module. If he could reverse-engineer it before entering the Oceanic Rail, it would give Infinite Train more mobility options, allowing it to traverse non-rail terrain with ease. "Need backup?" Just as Lin Xian was about to leave, KIKI spoke in a deliberately casual tone. "Hey, you sure you''re okay? You passed out earlier." "Same as you¡ªjust overused my energy. Nothing serious." "Then¡ª" Before he could react, KIKI suddenly pounced, wrapping her legs around his waist and clinging to his neck like a koala. Her big eyes looked up at him, gleaming with mischief. "Want me to go with you? I can protect you, y¡¯know~" Lin Xian sighed, noting the bloodshot veins in her eyes and the chapped dryness of her lips. Without a word, he picked her up, carried her over to her bed, and gently laid her down. "You''re in no shape to protect anyone. Sleep first, then we¡¯ll talk." He kept his voice low, careful not to wake Shasha, who was sleeping above them. KIKI puffed out her cheeks. Not willing to accept defeat, she clung to him tighter, arms and legs wrapped around him like a stubborn octopus. "Oh, so now you¡¯re underestimating my superpowers, huh? Think I won¡¯t¡ª" A glint of mischief flashed in her eyes. She tilted her head, locked onto Lin Xian¡¯s nose, and lunged forward¡ªready to chomp down as ¡®punishment¡¯. But Lin Xian saw through her trickery instantly. Before she could bite, he leaned forward and kissed her instead. "Mwah~" Caught completely off guard, KIKI froze¡ªher brain short-circuiting. Her hands instinctively let go, covering her lips in shock. "You¡ª!!" Lin Xian stepped back, touching his lips with mock seriousness. "Wow. So you actually dared to steal a kiss from me? Well, now we¡¯re even." "I¡ªI DIDN¡¯T STEAL A KISS FROM YOU!!" KIKI was flabbergasted. Realizing she had been completely outplayed, her face turned red, and she nearly exploded on the spot. Lin Xian smirked. "Wait, don¡¯t tell me you wanted to follow me just so you could sneak in another kiss?" "PFFT!!" KIKI¡¯s face flushed crimson as she spat at him. She glared at him for a long moment¡ªthen, her gaze flickered away, a little guilty. She huffed, rolled over in bed, and pulled her blanket over her head. "Hmph! Fine, whatever! I wasn¡¯t interested in tagging along anyway! Freeze to death out there for all I care¡ªbye-bye, I¡¯m sleeping!" Lin Xian let out a small chuckle, shaking his head as he silently turned and left. A Rare Moment of Peace Chen Sixuan and KIKI had been with him since the first day Infinite Train left Jiang City. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t blind to how much they cared about him. In a world consumed by apocalypse and endless battles, that kind of companionship was worth more than any amount of firepower. As he stepped into the blizzard, he took a deep breath. Outside, Fenglan Mountain loomed in the distance, casting a lonely silhouette over the snowstorm. The repair crews of Dragon Mountain No. 1 worked tirelessly, sparks flying as they welded and cut steel plates. Glancing toward the double-decker carriages, Lin Xian could see the warm glow of cabin lights behind the armor plating. Some families had already settled in for the night. A few children peeked out from a safety compartment, their curious eyes landing on Lin Xian. One of them waved hesitantly. Lin Xian smiled and waved back. Scouting the Freight Yard Activating his Powered Exoskeleton¡¯s enhanced vision, Lin Xian climbed onto the train¡¯s rooftop and surveyed the massive freight yard. The cargo area was filled with thousands of stacked shipping containers, blanketed in snow. The tracks extended toward the distant mining facility, which had collapsed and was now completely sealed off. Scaling an overhead crane, he peered into the horizon¡ªspotting the outer city walls in the distance. Faint firelight flickered on the skyline, though the intensity had waned since their arrival. For the first time in months, standing amidst the blizzard, Lin Xian felt... safe. After months of running through the darkness, always on the edge of survival, it was a strange yet welcome sensation. The city was free of zombies and eerie entities, and at least a few thousand survivors had made it here. For once, Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 weren¡¯t the only ones fighting to survive. A Lucky Find Following the tracks toward the mining sector, Lin Xian spotted a row of abandoned freight trains¡ªsome buried under deep snow. For most survivors, cargo trains were useless¡ªthey lacked shelter and couldn¡¯t be easily repurposed. But for Lin Xian? "Jackpot." Activating Mechanical Heart, he began devouring the train cars for materials. An Even Bigger Find After clearing out a dozen freight cars, something caught his eye¡ªa massive locomotive parked at the front. It was a "Weilong-Class Heavy Electric Locomotive"¡ªover 60 meters long, painted yellow and black. It consisted of two sections: One for high-powered traction motorsAnother for energy reserves and auxiliary systems "7 megawatts... even stronger than the Huanxing 7F." Excitement surged through Lin Xian¡ªuntil he checked its status. "Crap. It¡¯s broken." Most survivors wouldn¡¯t have the means to repair an industrial locomotive¡¯s electrical system¡ªbut Lin Xian wasn¡¯t ¡®most survivors¡¯. A grin spread across his face. "Well, looks like I just got myself a new engine." Salvaging the Weilong-Class Heavy Electric Locomotive Lin Xian pressed his palm against the locomotive, activating Mechanical Heart to scan its internal structure. Almost immediately, a detailed schematic unfolded in his mind¡ªpower distribution modules, traction motors, auxiliary converters... "Damn. This thing is a beast." A locomotive like this was built for heavy freight transport, with a brutally high torque output designed to pull thousands of tons of cargo. If he could restore it, it would be a perfect rear-engine addition to Infinite Train¡ªa dedicated powerhouse capable of generating a stable 7-megawatt output. "This bad boy¡¯s gonna save me a lot of trouble." The main issue was a faulty electrical circuit¡ªspecifically, a burnt-out main distribution board. For anyone else, it would take days of intricate repairs. For Lin Xian? An hour, tops. But first¡ªmaterials. He needed to harvest conductive alloys and high-insulation components to replace the damaged circuits. "Alright, let¡¯s get to work." Devouring the Freight Yard Hummmm¡ª Mechanical Devour activated. The fourth-tier devouring speed was nearly twice as fast as before. A single freight car¡ªten-plus tons of steel¡ªwas dismantled and absorbed in under ten minutes. Whoosh¡ª! The moment the car disappeared, the snow piled on top collapsed, cascading down like an avalanche. Lin Xian worked nonstop, methodically devouring each freight car, rapidly breaking down their metallic structures. Boom¡ª! Another ten-meter-long steel frame vanished into nothing. Within two hours, he had cleared out over a dozen freight cars, filling his resource pool with: High-density steel platesNickel-chromium alloysAdvanced insulation materialsCopper wiring &industrial-grade circuit components "That should be enough." With his materials stocked, Lin Xian finally turned back toward the Weilong locomotive. Time to repair this beast. Chapter 266: Monica Ssshh~ The Mechanical Heart hummed to life as Lin Xian pushed open the electric locomotive¡¯s cabin door. A wave of rotting stench immediately assaulted his senses, causing him to frown. His mechanical arm automatically deployed a shoulder-mounted flashlight, illuminating the cramped interior of the train car. Stepping onto the metal grate, he climbed inside¡ªonly to be greeted by a scene of utter ruin. Two bodies¡ªa man and a woman, their corpses frozen in frost-covered decay¡ªlay eerily still within the cramped space. Lin Xian¡¯s gaze swept across the messy cabin. Discarded food wrappers, sleeping bags, blankets, and broken light fixtures littered the floor. There were pots, pans, and dinnerware, as well as empty medicine boxes strewn about. Judging by their tattered uniforms, they had likely been factory workers¡ªa husband and wife who had sought refuge here. But they had perished before the arrival of the Extreme Cold Vortex, their bodies left to rot in silent despair. The sheer number of medicine boxes on the floor suggested they had succumbed to illness and starvation. Their frail, withered corpses spoke of a slow, inevitable death. Throughout his journey of survival, Lin Xian had encountered far too many such tragedies. He could only sigh softly before turning his attention back to his task. Activating the Mechanical Heart, he began repairing the locomotive¡¯s electrical system, systematically diagnosing and restoring power to the engine core. Beep. Beep. Beep. In the driver¡¯s cabin, subsystem lights flickered back to life. The engine¡¯s deep rumble slowly reverberated through the cabin as its frozen iron wheels and brake systems trembled, groaning under the strain of long-term disuse. Rumble~ Snow slid off the locomotive¡¯s body as Lin Xian reversed the train, carefully maneuvering it to align with the rear of the Infinite Train¡¯s Twin-Star Nuclear Carriage. On the opposite track, a group of Dragon Mountain No. 1 engineers noticed Lin Xian¡¯s actions. Seeing him drive back with a massive electric locomotive set, they were stunned. But instead of immediately linking the new train cars, Lin Xian decided to wait until morning. He would have his team clear out the two powered train cars before integrating them. For now, he turned his attention to manufacturing composite armor panels. On the Dragon Mountain No. 1 side, many engineers noticed Lin Xian standing alone atop the train, though they weren¡¯t sure what he was up to. The next moment, their eyes widened in shock. Even the workers welding steel plates, hoisting materials, and dismantling equipment froze in place. Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! A glow of mechanical energy flickered around Lin Xian¡¯s hands. Countless raw materials floated into the air, self-assembling into precise structures. In the blink of an eye, a lifting rack and a modular canopy materialized, shielding the Infinite Train from the howling blizzard. Two rail-mounted gantry cranes emerged, rising from solid ground like towers of steel. Clang! Clang! Clang! A Dragon Mountain engineer, who had been hauling a heavy steel frame, stood slack-jawed. His hands went limp, causing the metal beams to clatter loudly onto the ground. ¡°What the...?¡± ¡°Did he just build an entire assembly workshop out of thin air?!¡± ¡°Holy sh*t.¡± ¡°What kind of ability is that...?¡± Lin Xian ignored the awe-struck stares, focusing on constructing the core framework. Once the armor panels were complete, he planned to have his team dismantle and repair the train cars in the morning. But just then¡ª Headlights flared in the distance. Several tracked polar vehicles rumbled through the storm, speeding toward the freight station. Vroom~ Vroom~ The vehicles skidded to a stop in the main plaza, and Lin Xian¡¯s sharp gaze immediately caught sight of their occupants. Shi Diyuan, Qian Dele, and several other convoy leaders emerged from their polar gear-clad ranks. Two of the rear vehicles held a group of unfamiliar faces¡ª Leading them was a woman with long, wavy red hair and a towering presence. Dressed in high-riding boots, her imposing stature dwarfed many of the men beside her. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Shi Diyuan spotted him immediately, waving as he led the group forward. ¡°Damn, Lin Xian! You were only gone for a bit, and now you¡¯ve built a whole damn factory?!¡± Lin Xian chuckled, shaking his head as he walked over, holding an armor plate. ¡°Not that exaggerated.¡± He glanced toward the red-haired woman. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Shi Diyuan grinned. ¡°Introducing a new friend!¡± Lin Xian sighed internally¡ªShi Diyuan sure had a knack for networking. The red-haired woman stepped forward. Her wind goggles reflected the train¡¯s lights, but her deep-set eyes locked onto Lin Xian with a keen, assessing gaze. Shi Diyuan continued. ¡°Lin, I heard from them that the city¡¯s safe now¡ªno need to stay on edge. She¡¯s got some intel to share, and knowing you¡¯re a Mechanical Ability User, she¡¯s got something she needs help with.¡± Lin Xian set down the armor plate, turning to her. ¡°What kind of help?¡± The woman smirked. ¡°I¡¯m Monica. Interested in getting acquainted?¡± Her voice was bold yet feminine, carrying the distinct air of someone who commanded authority. Lin Xian had initially assumed she was a stranger, but in reality, she was an old friend of Qian Dele¡ªa convoy leader of another train fleet. Nodding, Lin Xian leaped down from the train and extended a handshake. ¡°Lin Xian, Infinite Convoy.¡± Monica shook his hand, her eyes flickering toward the armor plates beside him. ¡°Mechanical Ability... Don¡¯t tell me you built this entire train yourself?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow at Shi Diyuan and Qian Dele. What the hell did you guys tell her? Did she expect him to build her an entire train? ¡°No way.¡± ¡°If I had that level of power, I¡¯d be building a damn spaceship, not running on land.¡± Pfft¡ª Monica burst into laughter, raising a hand in mock apology. ¡°Fair point. My bad.¡± Qian Dele smirked, leaning back. ¡°Monica, don¡¯t underestimate this pretty boy. If it weren¡¯t for him, we¡ªand even Phoenix¡ªwouldn¡¯t have escaped the blizzard alive.¡± Shrugging, he tugged his coat tighter, glancing at Shi Diyuan. ¡°Alright, old Shi¡ªdidn¡¯t you say you had a place where we could drink?¡± ¡°Hell yeah! Follow me!¡± They soon gathered in Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s bar carriage, a warm, well-stocked compartment designed as a restaurant-bar hybrid. As the group settled into sofas, Shi Diyuan poured out clear liquor into large glasses, its sharp aroma filling the air. ¡°Dragon Mountain¡¯s finest! The perfect drink for a frozen wasteland!¡± Monica smirked, downing an entire cup in one gulp. The group stared¡ªbut Qian Dele wasn¡¯t surprised. Chuckling, he pushed his own glass away. ¡°Tch, drunkard. Just don¡¯t go on a rampage later.¡± As laughter echoed, the night of intelligence-sharing, planning, and uneasy camaraderie began. ¡°So for the next few days, you can all rest easy in the city,¡± Monica said. ¡°Recover your strength, recruit new people. Phoenix and the Arctic Wind Alliance have plenty of supplies. Even if you don¡¯t have Blood Crystals to trade, you can still get some basic supplies and defensive weapons from Phoenix for free. Or, you could just join one of the larger convoys or Phoenix itself¡ªit¡¯s not a bad option.¡± ¡°Recruiting?¡± Shi Diyuan raised an eyebrow at the term. ¡°What, are we starting to fight over people now?¡± ¡°Not exactly,¡± Qian Dele said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s just how things work when a lot of people are around. Smaller convoys want to stick with bigger ones, ability users want a strong backing. Phoenix can provide aid, but it can¡¯t take in and care for everyone. And besides, joining Phoenix isn¡¯t easy¡ªtheir missions are dangerous as hell, and the death rate isn¡¯t low. For most, it¡¯s more comfortable sticking with a strong convoy.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Monica smirked. ¡°Joining Phoenix isn¡¯t a cozy arrangement. Most convoys prefer working with them rather than becoming full members. Survivors are looking for a place to live¡ªbut Phoenix? They charge straight into death. Anyone thinking of joining better ask themselves if they have the guts for it.¡± A heavy silence fell over the group. Many had originally thought joining Phoenix meant securing a powerful patron, but that was exactly where Phoenix differed from Dawn City and the Federation. Lin Xian had long since figured this out. Dawn City collected protection fees, but the survivors within its walls weren¡¯t responsible for the city¡¯s defense¡ªunless it was under siege. But Phoenix had no city, no fortress. It operated worldwide, guiding survivors toward the Dawn, leading them to fight back against the darkness, rather than simply shielding them from it. To join Phoenix was to accept the burden of saving humanity. That was no ordinary commitment. And that was exactly why the Starfleet had earned its legendary reputation¡ª When Apocalypse Day struck, the Starfleet became the only military force that continued to protect survivors. When the world fell apart, they didn¡¯t hesitate to stand at the front lines. ¡°Large convoys want strong ability users, gene evolvers, and specialists in unique skills. Every convoy is working to strengthen itself¡ªit¡¯s the only way to survive.¡± Monica took a sip of her drink, continuing casually. ¡°Blood Crystals are basically hard currency now. You can trade them with alliances, organizations, or Phoenix for weapons, gear, and supplies. West Xilan City has started feeling like a temporary survivor settlement¡ªthere¡¯s even a hint of commerce. Hell, go check out Tiannan Street tomorrow. You might even find a little entertainment.¡± Qian Dele rolled his eyes and spat in exasperation. ¡°What, you mean brothels? We¡¯re all just trying to survive. Who the hell cares about stuff like that anymore?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not what I meant~¡± Monica leaned her cheek against her half-empty glass, her gaze sweeping across the group of men with an amused glint. ¡°I was talking about special ability-user services. Ever tried that?¡± Pffft! A few convoy leaders choked on their drinks, spraying liquor all over the table. Even Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan couldn¡¯t help but look stunned. Special ability-user services? Lin Xian had never even considered something like that until Monica mentioned it. As the men exchanged uncertain glances, Ning Jing folded her arms, staring at Monica with an unimpressed expression. ¡°Enough with the nonsense. Let¡¯s talk about something useful¡ªlike what the city has to offer or Phoenix¡¯s plans.¡± Monica chuckled at the shift in tone, taking another sip of liquor before getting back to business. ¡°Well, once the sun¡¯s up, you can check out the main survivor districts around Central Avenue. You¡¯ll find just about anything you need there, as long as you have trade goods or Blood Crystals.¡± ¡°As for Phoenix, I only know that the one in charge here is Zhao Yu. He commands the 7th Recon Unit, and the current plan is to evacuate West Xilan City before dawn on the 31st. That means you all have two full days to rest and resupply.¡± ¡°Also, the Nightwalkers are running ability tests at Michelle Church on Central Avenue. Any ability user above Evolution Level or gene evolvers at Level 3 or higher will get free supplies for participating. The higher the level, the better the rewards¡ªTitanium Rank gets even more.¡± She suddenly grew serious. ¡°But I should warn you¡ªWest Xilan has no shortage of powerhouses. Every major convoy and Phoenix is keeping an eye on that place. If any of your people test high, expect to get noticed. The big convoys offer all kinds of perks, and it¡¯s common for ability users to jump ship. Happens all the time.¡± ¡°Hah! That¡¯s all?¡± Shi Diyuan scoffed, sounding completely unconcerned. ¡°If my people find a better deal somewhere else, good for them. Hell, I¡¯d be happy for them¡ªit¡¯d take a load off my shoulders! Hahaha!¡± Lin Xian understood his reasoning. Dragon Mountain No. 1 had over a thousand people, most of whom were ordinary survivors. Only a handful were the original Dragon Mountain residents¡ªthe rest were rescued survivors who had been trained and armed along the way. In terms of individual combat power, Dragon Mountain No. 1 was far weaker than elite convoys, but it had still managed to survive as a railway fortress. It wasn¡¯t just raw strength keeping them alive. ¡°Since the city¡¯s safe, we can let the recruits go out and scavenge during the day,¡± Shi Diyuan told Ning Jing. ¡°Have the ability users and enhancers take the test¡ªit¡¯d be good to grab some free supplies.¡± Ning Jing nodded. ¡°Yeah, I already promised them. Since we¡¯re cooperating with Phoenix, the test will help us gauge their strength and boost morale. The supplies are just a bonus.¡± Lin Xian remained silent, but his mind was working. It seemed that the Nightwalkers had approached both Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1. That meant Shi Diyuan likely had a Scarlet Phoenix Token as well¡ªthough Lin Xian wasn¡¯t sure if he¡¯d received the Cold Dark Reagent yet. Monica gave Shi Diyuan a curious look. ¡°I thought a big convoy like yours would be hunting for elite recruits. You don¡¯t sound very interested.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t actively recruit,¡± Ning Jing replied simply. ¡°We help when we can. If people want to leave, we don¡¯t stop them. Everyone here fights for survival together¡ªthere¡¯s no special treatment.¡± Her words struck a chord with the other convoy leaders. Most of them had formed their groups through hardship, treating each other like family, never discussing salaries or benefits. ¡°And what about you, handsome?¡± Monica turned to Lin Xian, her eyes gleaming with interest. ¡°Old Qian and Shi have been talking you up like you¡¯re some legend. Even Phoenix wants you. Ever think about expanding your forces?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression remained calm. ¡°I don¡¯t need more people right now. I¡¯d rather trade for supplies or weapons.¡± His words were a clear rejection, meant to deter unnecessary trouble from people looking for shelter under his banner. He couldn¡¯t protect everyone, but if he found the right allies, he¡¯d consider it. Monica raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? What a shame. After hearing about you, I was almost ready to bring my train to join you.¡± She shot Qian Dele a playful glare. ¡°See, Old Qian? He doesn¡¯t even want me.¡± Shi Diyuan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Wait¡ªyou have a train?!¡± ¡°Not just any train,¡± Qian Dele muttered, rolling his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s an intercontinental-class convoy, fully automated weapons systems, all-terrain adaptability. Only twenty people on board, but enough firepower for two hundred.¡± Lin Xian sighed internally. Monica was trouble. ¡°An intercontinental-class train?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. He had assumed Monica was just another convoy leader, but if she was operating a train of that caliber, then she wasn¡¯t someone to take lightly. Shi Diyuan, on the other hand, was visibly impressed. ¡°Damn! That¡¯s a serious setup! Lin Xian, you better think this through¡ªthis lady¡¯s got an elite convoy. If she really wanted to join forces, that¡¯d be a hell of a boost.¡± Qian Dele, however, just folded his arms, looking bored. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. Monica, didn¡¯t I tell you to go easy on the booze? You¡¯re just drunk-talking now. Weren¡¯t you the one asking Lin Xian for help? Keep this up, and he¡¯s going to think you¡¯re crazy.¡± Lin Xian glanced at Monica¡¯s empty glass¡ªher bottle was already half gone. Despite drinking so much, she looked more alert than ever, and her words had grown more unrestrained. Monica ignored Qian Dele¡¯s remark, resting her chin on one hand as she studied Lin Xian. ¡°I¡¯m serious, though. You¡¯re a hell of a guy, Lin Xian.¡± She smirked, swirling her glass. ¡°Your train might not be intercontinental-class, but it has something more valuable¡ªyou.¡± Lin Xian remained silent, waiting for her to elaborate. Monica finally leaned back with a sigh. ¡°Fine, fine. Let¡¯s talk business. I do need your help, after all.¡± Her expression grew serious as she set down her glass. Chapter 267: Doomsday Flight ¡°Ehehe~ I¡¯m being totally honest¡ªwhat woman doesn¡¯t like a hero, right?¡± Monica said with a playful wink at Lin Xian, clearly amused. ¡°Oh right, Captain Lin, there¡¯s a small issue on my train. I heard you¡¯re a mechanical ability user¡ªmind giving me a hand?¡± ¡°Small issue?¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. ¡°If it¡¯s really that small, how come no one else can fix it?¡± Just earlier, Shi Diyuan had said her train was basically military-grade and highly automated. There¡¯s no way someone piloting that kind of machine wouldn¡¯t know how to handle minor malfunctions. Lin Xian knew both the Dragon Mountain No. 1 and the Silver Star were staffed with engineers. And here in Xilan City, there weren¡¯t any of the harsh environmental issues that Dragon Mountain No. 1 had faced. So what kind of ¡°small¡± problem couldn¡¯t be fixed? Monica casually placed her wine glass on the table and snapped her fingers. A guy behind her, thick glasses and all, quickly handed over a mobile terminal. Lin Xian took it, glanced at the screen, and his brows raised ever so slightly. The screen displayed Monica¡¯s train blueprint and system failure logs. What surprised him first was the train itself¡ªit gave him instant de?ja? vu, like seeing the Silver Star again. Monica¡¯s train had just eight carriages, but it was ultra-smart¡ªmore like a self-contained, land-based mobile warship. Energy car, power car, a fully integrated electric system, 42 automated gun turrets, full-surround situational sensing, multi-band radar, fire suppression, de-icing, anti-air systems, close-in electric defense field... The whole 200-meter-long train needed fewer than five people to run it. The rest of the crew were fighters and logistics support. The interior was solid and secure¡ªpretty much a dream doomsday shelter. There was even an automated air circulation system. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up. Everything on here was something he had once imagined building himself. But Monica¡¯s train was a seamless, unified build¡ªtotally different from the Infinite Train, which was just a heavily modified regular train. This thing had money written all over it. ¡°This train looks like it was made just for the apocalypse...¡± Monica noticed the look on his face and smiled faintly. She didn¡¯t even try to hide anything: ¡°It was. Built by the Kor Group as part of a doomsday project. A military collab stunt. Limited edition¡ªtwo billion a unit. Birthday gift for my eighteenth.¡± A two-billion birthday present? The others looked at her with weird expressions. Qian Dele just gave her a sidelong glance. ¡°Aww~ And who was it that used to say they hated that gift the most? Now look at you, it¡¯s your lifeline.¡± ¡°Ehehe~ Can¡¯t help it, can¡¯t help it~¡± Monica shrugged with a smile. ¡°Times like these, staying alive is all that matters~¡± Lin Xian finally got it¡ªMonica was a rich heiress before the apocalypse. He knew the ultra-wealthy loved building doomsday bunkers and survival pods. It wasn¡¯t paranoia to them;it was planning ahead. With that much money, companies happily catered to their fears, offering luxury apocalypse survival tech to milk the market. Who¡¯d have thought that stuff would actually come in handy? Right now in Xilan City, Monica¡¯s Queen Monica was basically a fortress-on-wheels that everyone would kill to own¡ªloaded with firepower and serious security. But as Lin Xian scrolled through the fault reports, his brows furrowed again. The problems were a lot like those faced by the Dragon Mountain No. 1. Multiple system failures, mostly concentrated in the drive components, power systems, and even the nuclear energy core. And these weren¡¯t just bugs¡ªthey were irreversible failures from poor maintenance. In plain terms: most of the parts were beyond repair. They needed replacing. If it were anyone else, that would be game over. But Lin Xian had his Mechanical Ability. The components might be tricky materials, but with enough time and effort, he could handle it. Still, for Monica and her crew, this was a nightmare. Her train was a limited edition. The Kor Group had gone bankrupt before Apocalypse Day. While the weapons were standardized military issue and easy to replace, everything else¡ªthe chassis, drive systems, special design¡ªwas custom-built. No spare parts. No support. And apparently, no skilled engineers on board. Over time, things had spiraled into irreversible wear and tear. So yeah, the Queen Monica looked cool, but it was way more broken than anyone realized. Monica knew it too. As Lin Xian browsed the terminal, her usual confidence gave way to a barely noticeable flicker of tension. The group sipped their drinks in silence. Monica gently swirled her glass like it held wine, quietly waiting for Lin Xian¡¯s verdict. ¡°It¡¯s manageable,¡± Lin Xian said at last, handing the terminal back. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°But?¡± Monica¡¯s brow creased. That ¡°but¡± made her stomach tighten. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about payment¡ªwe¡¯ve got plenty of Blood Crystals.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the issue,¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°The thing is, I¡¯m tied up tonight. My own train isn¡¯t fully repaired yet. Maybe after sunrise tomorrow, I can take a look at yours.¡± Monica visibly relaxed, breaking into a bright smile. ¡°Oh~ that¡¯s it? You had me scared for a second, handsome~¡± ¡°No rush,¡± she said cheerfully. ¡°Take your time. When you¡¯re done, come find me¡ªI¡¯ll even show you guys around town.¡± Shi Diyuan perked up at that and turned to Qian Dele. ¡°Perfect timing! Why don¡¯t we head over to that Michelle Church tomorrow and get our powers tested by the Nightwalkers? Might learn something useful¡ªhelp our team get stronger. Be more prepared next time we run into an Eerie Entity.¡± ¡°Exactly. A bunch of my convoy already planned to go.¡± ¡°Ability Users and Gene Evolvers should all give it a try. Even just learning more would be good,¡± Ning Jing nodded. ¡°Honestly, I still don¡¯t even know if I¡¯m an Ability User or a Gene Evolver, or how my powers developed. We¡¯ve been so focused on survival, we never had time to figure that out...¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Lin Xian looked at her. ¡°We have no clue~¡± Shi Diyuan shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s definitely stronger than before, but strength alone isn¡¯t a giveaway. Lots of Gene Evolvers are like that too. Most people are just fumbling around in the dark. Without the Phoenix¡¯s guidance, who knows what¡¯s going on?¡± Qian Dele laced his fingers together and said in his usual flamboyant tone, ¡°My superspeed¡¯s pretty easy to tell, but I don¡¯t know what rank I¡¯d get in a test. Either way, I¡¯ll find out the hard way¡ªif I can beat an Eerie Entity, great. If not, welp. Just ¡¯cause I score high doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t die. It¡¯s not a poker game. Plenty of Ability Users have died in the dark.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Ning Jing agreed. ¡°But I think the ranking system is more like a tracking tool for the Phoenix. Those who¡¯ve survived this long have probably evolved further. It could help them predict survival rates, or even study humanity¡¯s limits. If we can understand ourselves better, get stronger, maybe we can live longer too.¡± ¡°Like¡ªwhat level do we need to be to survive longer in the dark?¡± Monica took a sip of her wine. ¡°Makes sense. But the thing is, no one knows how those monsters appear. One moment it¡¯s a C-class Eerie Entity, the next it¡¯s an S-class. You just never know.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Shi Diyuan said seriously. ¡°We just need to know our own powers. Those freaks are showing up in broad daylight now. If we hit Polar Night, it¡¯s gonna be chaos. If we want to study them, we need to live long enough first.¡± Lin Xian nodded, downed his drink, and felt a wave of heat rush through him. He set the glass down and stood up. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s leave it there. I¡¯ve got repairs to finish. We¡¯ll talk tomorrow.¡± Now that everyone had a better grasp of the situation in Xilan City, the pressure of near-death started to ease a bit¡ªespecially with the liquor warming their bodies. But Lin Xian wasn¡¯t one to relax for long. He¡¯d survived too many close calls to get careless. His top priority was getting the train back in fighting shape. Shi Diyuan and Ning Jing felt the same. The Dragon Mountain No. 1 had a big crew and tons of carriages. Until the train was secured, no one would sleep easy. In the apocalypse, survival always favored the prepared. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head back. Still a mess in the convoy¡ªwon¡¯t rest easy until it¡¯s sorted.¡± The other convoy leaders started getting up too. ¡°Hey, handsome~¡± Just as Lin Xian stepped off the Dragon Mountain No. 1, Monica called out from behind. In the midst of the snowstorm, one of Monica¡¯s men stepped up behind her and draped a coat over her shoulders. She walked gracefully up to Lin Xian and handed him a small communicator. ¡°This is my private frequency. If you need anything while you''re in Xilan City, you can always reach out to me.¡± Lin Xian glanced at it, then at her. ¡°I never said I could fix your train.¡± Monica smiled lightly. ¡°Someone like you¡ªjust a promise is enough to give people hope. Besides, I trust Old Qian¡¯s judgment. Even if you can¡¯t fix it, I still hope we can be friends.¡± Lin Xian raised a brow. The way she spoke was so typical of the upper class¡ªconfident, but not overly flattering. Polite, yet proud. But he didn¡¯t dwell on it. What really caught his interest was the chance to take a closer look at that train, maybe scan its design and blueprints. It could be useful for his own planning later on. As for payment¡ªwell, that was a conversation for another time. Right now, his only priority was getting his own train back in shape. He gave Monica a simple nod. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°See you tomorrow. I hope everything goes well for you.¡± Monica cast one more glance at the Infinite Train behind him, then turned and left in her vehicle. Late into the night, the Dragon Mountain No. 1 was still buzzing with repair work. Lin Xian noticed that this wasn¡¯t just ordinary maintenance¡ªthey were installing new gear on armored panels and weapon stations. A lot of the equipment was already prepped and being brought out from inside the carriages, including maintenance tools. ¡°These are all systems we bought from Silent City,¡± Ning Jing said, spotting Lin Xian crafting armor panels on top of the Infinite Train. She strolled over, her voice casual. ¡°Cost us a fortune.¡± She eyed the massive armor plates in Lin Xian¡¯s hands with a trace of envy in her gaze. ¡°These factory-grade castings can¡¯t be made without big machinery. Most survivors just slap on whatever scrap they can find. But your ability¡ªhonestly, it¡¯s like having a full industrial chain.¡± Lin Xian exhaled, breath turning white in the cold. He crouched down, clearly interested in what she said. ¡°Silent City, huh? Heard they¡¯ve been growing fast, working with the Phoenix. Industrial output in the apocalypse¡ªit¡¯s a big deal?¡± Ning Jing nodded. ¡°Yeah. We traded with them once when they passed by the Wei River. That¡¯s also where we learned about the trouble the Phoenix Emergency Team ran into at the Climbing Elevator, so we rerouted through Hengshan Pass and came back to Xilan City.¡± That jogged Lin Xian¡¯s memory¡ªZhou Wuer had mentioned something about Leader Bai Shuang¡¯s team hitting trouble. But now he had a new question. ¡°You said they passed the Wei River? So... Silent City¡¯s a convoy?¡± Ning Jing shook her head. ¡°No. It¡¯s a city. A mobile mechanical industrial city.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Lin Xian was floored. Last he heard, someone told him Silent City was a ship... Ning Jing seemed to expect his reaction. ¡°We were shocked at first too. Word is, the whole place can move across land, sea, and air. It travels through areas that haven¡¯t been swallowed by the Abyss and trades with other groups and alliances. It¡¯s got a full industrial system and houses tens of thousands. They¡¯re the ones who upgraded our Electromagnetic All-Terrain Drive Module. We also bought a bunch of defense weapons and carriage designs from them.¡± ¡°A mobile arms dealer?¡± Lin Xian looked intrigued. ¡°Now that¡¯s interesting.¡± Ning Jing shrugged. ¡°The whole world¡¯s gone to hell. These marvels of engineering? Just desperate attempts to survive. Even a floating city doesn¡¯t guarantee safety. But industrial goods have become rare and essential¡ªbasic survival needs. That¡¯s why I said your ability has massive potential¡ªit¡¯s practically a one-man factory.¡± ¡°Potential¡¯s only useful if you stay alive,¡± Lin Xian said bluntly, going back to work on the armor panels. ¡°It¡¯s not about quantity anymore. It¡¯s quality. Against the dark, it¡¯s all unknown. The gap is massive¡ªno way to describe it, understand it, or solve it.¡± Ning Jing¡¯s eyes darkened a little. She exhaled. ¡°...Let¡¯s hope humanity finds a breakthrough before we¡¯re all wiped out.¡± Lin Xian quickly did the math¡ªover thirty armor plates needed replacing. He didn¡¯t plan to touch the roof for now, but both sides would be swapped with new panels, forming a full-sealed, integrated armor shell. With automated doors and windows, the upgraded defense level would shoot up. He also scanned the arc-pulse resonator gifted by Dragon Mountain No. 1. His plan was to replicate it and install one in every carriage, giving the Infinite Train a full-surround close-in electric defense field¡ªlike Monica¡¯s train. Combined with the Electric Blade Armor system, the exterior would now be capable of counterattacks¡ªvital against monster hordes. Then there were the interior systems. After the extreme cold, the heating, de-icing, circuits, and car interiors were all heavily tested. But the biggest issue was still the main drive system. Lin Xian felt a headache brewing. That part was an absolute beast to refit¡ªmassive workload. He could handle the welding and maintenance with help from teammates like Luo Ye, but overhauling the entire drive? Not a chance solo. Honestly, it was practically like rebuilding a new train. Maybe Silent City could help with that. Or perhaps Monica¡¯s kind of integrated smart apocalypse train was worth studying. That thought made him even more curious about the Queen Monica. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll check it out tomorrow...¡± As for the Nightwalkers¡¯ power assessment¡ªhe had promised Zhou Wuer he¡¯d attend. He figured his teammates should go too. What he really cared about was helping them grow stronger. After all, ever since the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum started transforming dark energy, the team¡¯s development had accelerated fast. Especially people like Shu Qin, Chen Sixuan, Lu? Chang, and Miao Lu¡ªtheir gene evolution was off the charts. Take Miao Lu for instance¡ªthis girl could probably crush Feng Yuming, the mutant Ability User Lin Xian met in Beiwang County, with just her bare hands. And that guy had already evolved into a mimic-limbed monster. In such a short time, humanity¡¯s rate of evolution and growth had skyrocketed. Maybe it really showed just how adaptable people could be when thrown into disaster. Clang. Clang. In the makeshift repair tent, Lin Xian continued crafting the newly designed composite armor plates, inspired by Unit 01¡¯s arm armor. These plates were trickier and ate up a lot of rare materials. His manufacturing center ran full tilt, converting Tungsten-Titanium Alloy, while Lin Xian¡¯s hands never stopped. The upside? His mechanical manufacturing skill kept leveling up. ¡¾Mechanical Manufacturing Proficiency +10¡¿ ¡¾Mechanical Manufacturing Proficiency +10¡¿ Mechanical Manufacturing: Level 4 (766/2000) ¨C Increases Construction Efficiency In just one night, he¡¯d gained nearly 300 points. If he had a couple more days in Xilan City, he could finish the armor, maybe even build a 1130 CIWS and a G3 Electromagnetic Railgun for the front and rear ends of the train. That¡¯d cover their firepower gaps. He was also thinking about installing a missile system¡ªcould become a major offensive asset. Then there was the Exosuit production. He could probably craft two more for Miao Lu and Lu? Chang. That would boost the convoy¡¯s strength and skyrocket his proficiency. And once he figured out the city¡¯s layout, he was seriously considering launching a little ¡°arms business¡± of his own¡ªlike back at Hengshan Pass. Just like Silent City, he could start selling weapons and industrial gear, or offer repair services. Trade for materials, rare resources, even Ability-enhancing items. Now that he had Cold Dark Reagents, Blood Crystals were way more valuable. He had to stock up, fast. As his thoughts spiraled, time slipped by. It was already past 8 a.m., though the sky remained shrouded in night. The snowstorm had eased. The distant artillery fire outside the city had gone silent at some point. Xilan City was wrapped in a rare and profound calm. Everyone aboard the Infinite Train finally got a quiet, peaceful night. It wasn¡¯t just about weapons or city walls. It was the collective effect¡ªthousands of survivors gathered together, a rare sanctuary after endless flight through the darkness. Safety felt tangible in numbers, something you could never feel running alone in the dark. In Carriage No. 1, Chen Sixuan stirred awake after a deep, much-needed sleep. She hadn¡¯t realized just how drained she was until now¡ªbut today, she felt completely recharged. It was her first time personally facing such a brutal battle since leaving Jiang City. Life or death had hung by a thread. Her eyes snapped open. She rolled out of bed in one swift motion. Her body was tingling with soreness and tightness, but her heart pounded powerfully in her chest. She quickly scanned the carriage¡ªno sign of Lin Xian. She grabbed the communicator. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± ¡°You¡¯re up?¡± His voice came through. Chen Sixuan let out a breath of relief. ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll come find you.¡± Throwing on her thermal gear, she opened the carriage door. Without thinking, she stepped on the door handle, pushed off hard, and backflipped up onto the train roof in one smooth, airborne arc. Thud! The moment she landed, Chen Sixuan blinked, stunned by her own reflexes¡ªright as Lin Xian stared at her with a mix of surprise and alarm. ¡°Ms. Chen, how the h**l did you get up here?¡± She frowned, glancing back toward the carriage below, still a bit dazed. ¡°I thought I was wearing my exosuit...¡± She looked genuinely confused. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten used to moving around in it during battle yesterday. I didn¡¯t even think about it just now... But hearing you react¡ªI just realized I¡¯m not even wearing it.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eye twitched as he recalled how she¡¯d just leapt nearly three meters into the air. ¡°She jumped like that without a suit? What kind of evolution speed is this...?¡± he thought. ¡°Looks like gene evolvers aren¡¯t necessarily weaker than Ability Users after all.¡± Chen Sixuan tested her arms and fists. ¡°I feel stronger. And..." She narrowed her eyes. ¡°I can hear your heartbeat.¡± Lin Xian looked down, stunned. They were still two or three meters apart. He was bundled in thermal gear, and the wind was howling around them¡ªand she could still hear that? ¡°Looks like your senses are evolving too,¡± he said, exhaling deeply. Chen Sixuan nodded, still adjusting to the changes. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s from yesterday¡¯s battle.¡± ¡°No doubt,¡± Lin Xian said. Between the battle, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum power boost, and surviving that monster horde, everyone¡ªon both the Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1¡ªhad gained something. As long as they made it out alive, the benefits were undeniable. Chapter 268: Scientific Debate ¡°This really does follow the survival-of-the-fittest rule among predators... it''s just that the evolution is way too fast,¡± Lin Xian muttered under his breath. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. ¡°Nothing. Why are you looking for me?¡± Chen Sixuan glanced at the densely stacked armor plates on the roof and the platform below, her gaze filled with concern as she looked at Lin Xian. ¡°You¡¯ve been working all night. Leave the rest to us. Go get some rest.¡± Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Still not done. There¡¯s a lot left. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m still in good shape. Once everyone¡¯s rested, I¡¯ll call them over to help.¡± Seeing how things were, Lin Xian decided not to wake the resting team members. Letting everyone sleep until they naturally woke up was a rare luxury¡ªand it was clearly helping everyone recover physically. At the same time, Lin Xian shared the situation in the city with Chen Sixuan. After upgrading the armor, he planned to have everyone undergo testing with the Nightwalkers Organization under the Phoenix, and take the chance to visit the various camps around the city to gather intel and trade for supplies. If conditions allowed, he also wanted to give the team some free time to move around in this relatively safe city. Sometimes, mental stress weighed heavier than physical fatigue. These few dozen people had gone through everything from Yubei Spaceport to now without much of a break. Even someone like Shasha had gotten noticeably quieter. ¡°We currently have 41 Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystals, 5 Level-2s, and 1 Level-3,¡± Chen Sixuan said, responding to Lin Xian¡¯s earlier words and reporting their current inventory. ¡°As for supplies, we traded a good amount at Hengshan Pass. We¡¯ve got enough food and water for now. Just might need some more hygiene products, but nothing else.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Then our biggest concerns right now are the train itself, and weapons and abilities.¡± With food and water settled, the next priority was environment and defense¡ªhow to make sure the Infinite Train could hold its own against monster waves, improve its propulsion and adaptability, and how to fend off Eerie Entities and Dark Invasions. It all came down to things like train defenses, power, non-track-based mobility, and the team¡¯s physical resilience, mental strength, and combat power... Clank¡ª Lin Xian set an armor plate he had just fabricated onto the crane, then operated it to lower it to the platform below. Although the carriage armor plates weren¡¯t made of pure steel but composite armor, each one still weighed over two tons, and each carriage side needed about eight different plates assembled together. He¡¯d spent the whole night and only gotten about halfway through¡ªnow stuck again due to material shortages. Tungsten-Titanium Alloy required a massive amount of base steel to convert. Whoosh¡ª Looking at the platform on the train¡¯s right side, where armor plates were stacked like tiles, Lin Xian exhaled deeply. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here for today. I¡¯ll finish the right side first, then handle the left tonight.¡± The right side had suffered the most damage, so he was prioritizing the worst-hit area. There were only a few hours left before dawn. He still needed to find Zhou Wuer and Monica. His schedule was tight, and if needed, he¡¯d personally head out to trade for some higher-grade armor materials to boost efficiency. Vrrrr¡ª Just then, a few military snow vehicles came speeding through the snowstorm, heading straight for the Infinite Train. ¡°It¡¯s the Phoenix,¡± Chen Sixuan said. Her eyesight was excellent;she spotted the logos on the vehicles from afar. Lin Xian¡¯s expression shifted. He clapped his hands, not surprised the Phoenix might come looking for him, but didn¡¯t expect them to arrive before dawn. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go check it out.¡± ¡°Jump down?¡± Chen Sixuan asked instinctively. Funny enough, she hadn¡¯t even thought twice when climbing up earlier, but now she hesitated, questioning her own ability. Lin Xian chuckled. ¡°Ms. Chen, you can jump way higher than I can now.¡± Chen Sixuan opened her mouth, a strange feeling creeping in¡ªhis words weirdly made her feel like she was turning into a monster. She looked down at the snow below, took a deep breath, fought back the pressure in her heart, and leapt. Whoosh¡ª With agility and focused vision, she could suddenly sense her own speed, her falling height. Every muscle in her body activated. For a moment, it felt like even the snowflakes in the air slowed down. She landed softly. The anxiety she felt was completely gone, replaced with a lightness that came from exceeding her physical limits¡ªan overwhelming confidence that made her feel almost omnipotent. Her timidness and delicate nature began to fade, replaced by growing resolve. She turned back, face lifted, eyes steady and warm as she looked at Lin Xian. He smiled lightly at the sight, then leapt down after her. Just as he landed, the snow vehicles arrived. One of the doors opened, and a thin, frazzled-looking man wearing thick glasses jumped out, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Captain Lin!¡± Lin Xian looked over and lit up. ¡°Wei Kexue?¡± ¡°That¡¯s me! It¡¯s really me!¡± Seeing an old friend was a total surprise. Lin Xian vividly remembered repairing gates and the Climbing Elevator with Wei Kexue back at Yubei Spaceport. But after learning from Zhou Wuer that the support team there had been wiped out, he thought Wei Kexue hadn¡¯t made it either. He never expected to meet him again in Xilan City. Wei Kexue now looked completely different¡ªmuch thinner than before, unshaven, with a disheveled and worn-out look. But the spark in his eyes still burned behind his lenses. He jumped off the treads and was followed by a tough-looking elderly man in his fifties or sixties. Wei tried to help him down, but the old man waved him off and jumped himself¡ªnearly losing his balance¡ªthen stumbled through the snow toward Lin Xian. ¡°Captain Lin! It¡¯s really you! I saw the experiment data labeled ¡®Infinite Train¡¯ in the submission from the Courier Unit and thought I was seeing things!¡± Wei called out excitedly as he approached. Lin Xian stepped up and hugged him. ¡°I heard your team ran into trouble?¡± Wei opened his mouth, hesitated, then quickly explained, ¡°Yeah, things went south. I just got lucky and survived. Phoenix found me buried in the dead and brought me into the Xilan research team.¡± He quickly introduced the elder beside him. ¡°This is Professor Guo Sicheng, head of the Xilan United Research Group, my mentor and current superior. He¡¯s way ahead of the curve in studying Cold Dark Fundamental Particles.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Guo Sicheng. You¡¯re the captain of the Infinite Train, right? That research data came from you?¡± Lin Xian glanced at Wei Kexue, then nodded to Professor Guo. ¡°Yeah, that was us.¡± The professor immediately took off his gloves and shook Lin Xian¡¯s hand firmly. Lin Xian had thought Phoenix came for something Ability-related, but turns out, the first to arrive was a research team. During the handshake, Lin Xian noticed the professor¡¯s winter coat was rumpled and his buttons misaligned¡ªclearly in a rush when he left. Noticing Lin Xian¡¯s glance, Guo Sicheng looked down and smiled sheepishly. ¡°Yeah... bit of a rush this morning. No big deal.¡± Wei Kexue, still visibly excited, added, ¡°As soon as the professor saw your data, he gathered the whole team. We held hours of discussion sessions and even started prepping a requisition for specialized lab equipment and staff to recreate the experiment. But we got into a disagreement with the Emperor Project folks, so we rushed over without notice. We know you just survived a hellish ordeal¡ªsorry for disturbing your rest.¡± ¡°Emperor Project?¡± Lin Xian raised a brow. What did Dark Mark research have to do with the Emperor Project? Just then, several more researchers stepped out of the snow vehicles¡ªmostly older, lab coat-wearing types. In the last few trucks, Lin Xian spotted Yu Yuheng from the Emperor Team. ¡°Captain Lin,¡± Yu called as he briskly approached, looking a bit embarrassed. ¡°Didn¡¯t get to thank you properly for the help last time, and here we are again.¡± Lin Xian looked between the two teams¡ªPhoenix¡¯s United Research Group and the Emperor Project team¡ªclearly confused. One focused on Abilities and Dark Tides, the other on Mecha warfare. Why were they clashing over his research data? ¡°Professor Guo, Captain Yu, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Yu Yuheng jumped in first. ¡°Xilan Command is finalizing the evacuation plan for two days from now. Our Emperor team wasn¡¯t originally scheduled to be stationed here, but we felt obligated to share our findings from the Trakamar Ice Canyon¡ªspecifically, a highly abnormal Eerie Entity Cluster event. So, using our Unit 01¡¯s data from S-Class contact, we collaborated with the local research group to draft a report for command.¡± ¡°Then...¡± he glanced toward Guo¡¯s team, ¡°Professor Guo here has a rather unique interpretation of Dark Entity behavior.¡± Lin Xian exchanged glances with Chen Sixuan. Why were researchers dragging him into this? ¡°What interpretation?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Dark Mark!¡± Before he even finished, Professor Guo stepped forward, eyes gleaming. ¡°Your naming was incredibly precise. We¡¯ve proposed over a dozen hypotheses globally on how these Dark Entities appear¡ªPredator Effect, Hunter Tracking, Soul Wave Value Attraction, Ability User Resonance, and more¡ªbut none have been experimentally confirmed. But you¡ªyou...¡± He looked intensely at Lin Xian. ¡°Your observational data somehow achieved 99.9% accuracy in predicting entity appearance based on a single subject, without needing Soul Wave Data. How?¡± 99.9%? Lin Xian was stunned. Director Ding really was meticulous... Professor Guo¡¯s excitement left him speechless for a moment. Wei Kexue quickly added, ¡°Captain Lin, my teacher also proposed a Campfire Theory¡ªwhich closely matches your Dark Mark idea. Though we still lack theoretical proof, a number of teams have found similar patterns in survivor convoy data. The only issue is... we can¡¯t find solid evidence for the campfire¡¯s existence. Behaviorally, it just doesn¡¯t make sense¡ª¡± ¡°Because it doesn¡¯t fit any biological logic!¡± Yu Yuheng cut in bluntly. ¡°All natural creatures act on survival and reproduction. Our research shows that Dark Entities have hierarchical structures¡ªsome issue commands, others follow. This proves they can communicate amongst themselves¡ªthey don¡¯t need humans to propagate behavior!¡± ¡°Your data comparison is just based on convoy death cycles, which is meaningless. Everyone knows each Dark Tide is a survival nightmare. Rising death rates are just the new normal.¡± ¡°But that doesn¡¯t explain the behavioral logic behind these creatures showing up!!¡± Professor Guo couldn¡¯t help raising his voice again in public, arguing with Yu Yuheng. ¡°Why is it that once a target is attacked, they end up being assaulted by different creatures in different zones afterward? Elementary math teaches you¡ªfind the constant among variables! And in this case, the constant is people!¡± Yu Yuheng fired back immediately, ¡°The appearance of Dark Entities is inherently unpredictable. That¡¯s a trait of the Darkness, not the people! No one knows what monsters will emerge in the same zone after night falls.¡± He got increasingly agitated, turning to Lin Xian. ¡°Captain Lin, wasn¡¯t our encounter at Trakamar Ice Canyon the perfect example? High-level Eerie Entities led the Snow Wraiths and Snow Demons to surround us, drawing all the nearby snow-type monsters into one area. If we¡¯re going by the Campfire Theory, how do you explain that kind of disparity?!¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying whether or not we run into Eerie Entities at night is purely luck?¡± a middle-aged professor from the research team chimed in. ¡°At the very least, we can¡¯t observe Dark Entities¡¯ behavior during daylight, and that¡¯s the real problem!¡± someone from the Emperor Project argued. Professor Guo pointed sharply at his palm. ¡°The constant among variables! That¡¯s what we should be focusing on. Don¡¯t overcomplicate it!¡± ¡°If the Dark Entities could see us during the day and communicate within the Darkness, wouldn¡¯t that explain everything?¡± Yu Yuheng countered. ¡°Oh sure,¡± an elderly researcher fired back sarcastically, ¡°The monsters in Yubei City must¡¯ve called up the ones in the Wei River to warn them our support team was heading over, and that¡¯s why they got ambushed as soon as they entered the darkness, right?!¡± In an instant, the two sides were back at each other¡¯s throats. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan exchanged looks, both feeling a little lost. Wei Kexue walked over with an embarrassed expression. ¡°They¡¯ve been arguing like this all night.¡± ¡°What are they even arguing about?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°It¡¯s because the Emperor Project also submitted a separate theory to Director Zhao, which could influence Phoenix¡¯s upcoming strategy in Xilan. That sparked the debate,¡± Wei explained. ¡°But why is the Emperor Project involved in this topic?¡± Lin Xian asked in confusion. ¡°It¡¯s not interference,¡± Wei sighed. ¡°Understanding the behavioral logic of Dark Entities isn¡¯t just the concern of the Nightwalkers or the Emperor Project¡ªit¡¯s a problem for all of humanity. Disagreements between research teams have been happening for a while. Now that Cold Dark Fundamental Particles have entered the picture, everyone¡¯s hopeful we¡¯re close to cracking the logic behind how Dark Entities communicate. That¡¯s why my mentor¡¯s team and Captain Yu¡¯s team both included this in their secret missions.¡± ¡°Long story short, Captain Yu¡¯s team thinks my mentor¡¯s Campfire Theory is completely unfounded.¡± Chen Sixuan looked at the two sides getting louder by the minute. ¡°Why are they getting so hostile over this?¡± Wei shook his head. ¡°I personally support my mentor¡¯s theory, but I understand both perspectives. You were part of the Trakamar Ice Canyon rescue mission, right? So you know how many people the Emperor Project lost. They¡¯re obviously not going to accept that the reason their team was surrounded and wiped out was due to a ''leftover marker'' from fighting an S-Class Eerie Entity somewhere else.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°But that¡¯s the reality. From Yaze Lake to Trakamar, all the Eerie Entities got drawn there¡ªtwo Deep Abyss Worms, even. If not for a marker from an S-Class, what else could explain it?¡± Chen Sixuan frowned slightly. ¡°So you came to us in the middle of the night... hoping we¡¯d have an answer?¡± ¡°Well, the Campfire Theory is one of the most counterintuitive ideas among mainstream hypotheses. But the data you provided was shockingly precise. Our whole team¡ªand especially my mentor¡ªwas stunned. His theory aligned with many experimental results but lacked observable process. We had no idea what the ¡®campfire¡¯ even was. So even though more people started agreeing with him, it never went mainstream. Some even dismissed it as pseudo-science or result-only theory. Survivor convoy mortality rates are high by default¡ªespecially after contact with S-Class monsters or zombie hordes. Some said he was just feeding off survivor tragedy...¡± ¡°Even though he had observational sequences in place, they were inaccurate and lacked a reliable reference frame. So this ¡®marker¡¯s¡¯ energy form was never precisely measurable...¡± Wei let out a deep sigh and turned to Lin Xian. ¡°That¡¯s why when we got the research file, we were all shocked. We couldn¡¯t believe your team managed to track the marker¡¯s energy curve so accurately. Everyone got heated trying to figure it out and eventually tracked you down¡ªbecause the file came from your team.¡± ¡°The reference system in that report can¡¯t just be a hypothesis!!¡± Professor Guo suddenly stormed over, clutching a Mobile Terminal, clearly holding the data provided by Ding Junyi. ¡°Captain Lin, I have a question. It looks like the data you submitted lacks a key control group. We studied it all night and found it all based around a specific descriptor. While it reads like a hypothesis, it somehow predicts Eerie Entity appearances with pinpoint accuracy. You even identified safe zones correctly three times in a row. That¡¯s what we want to know.¡± ¡°Yes, exactly!¡± another researcher chimed in. ¡°So we came to the conclusion¡ªdo you have a very special Ability User who can perceive this stuff?¡± ¡°They definitely do.¡± Yu Yuheng stepped forward. ¡°I already told you¡ªwithout Captain Lin and his team¡¯s powerful Ability Users, we wouldn¡¯t have made it out of Trakamar. Captain Lin alone dispersed thousands of Snow Wraiths¡ªthat¡¯s a huge threat to Dark Entities. Our Emperor Project Team doesn¡¯t have Ability Users and still got hit hard. Other nearby survivor convoys were dragged into it too. So your Campfire Theory, Predator Effect, all of that doesn¡¯t hold up. Dark Entities are intelligent¡ªthey can assess threat levels.¡± ¡°That supports what I said before¡ªDark Entities can identify threat levels. That¡¯s why even after relocation, we were still targeted by monster waves.¡± ¡°Then what about cross-regional threat tracking? Those normal survivors were running nonstop!¡± ¡°Running shows fear! And fear draws hunters in! Professor Guo, you should know that better than I do!¡± ¡°You...!¡± ¡°Being marked by Dark Entities and them possessing higher-level cognition aren¡¯t mutually exclusive,¡± came a cool, calm voice that cut through the heated debate. Everyone turned to see a woman walking down from the Infinite Train, approaching Lin Xian¡¯s side. Ding Junyi. Lin Xian had already activated the communicator with her once he guessed the visitors'' intent. He figured this kind of situation should be handled by a pro. ¡°And you are...?¡± both Professor Guo and Yu Yuheng asked. ¡°I¡¯m Ding Junyi, former Chief Biologist at Underground City No. 9¡¯s lab under the Pre-Federation. Currently serving as Infinite Train¡¯s biological researcher. That research file? I wrote it.¡± ¡°Oh, that was you?¡± ¡°No wonder it was so professional.¡± The researchers immediately swarmed her. Yu Yuheng was the first to introduce himself. ¡°Pleasure to meet you. I¡¯d like to ask¡ªwas your report based on a special Ability User¡¯s perception, or your monitoring of the train¡¯s overall Soul Wave Value? The missing parts in the report made it hard for us to replicate the results, which really impacts our conclusions. I¡¯m sure you understand, as a fellow researcher.¡± ¡°The report clearly notes that Soul Wave Value was used as supplementary monitoring only. Peaks and troughs were identified after Eerie Entity attacks¡ªnot as a predictive tool for their appearance. Young man, read more carefully!¡± Professor Guo scolded, flushed with frustration. Ding Junyi glanced at Lin Xian, her expression making it clear she¡¯d anticipated this situation. The most critical part of the report¡ªthe reference system¡ªwas missing. If it weren¡¯t submitted by Infinite Train through the Phoenix Courier Unit, with her precise annotations and logical breakdowns, it would¡¯ve been dismissed as a joke. Only with Wei Kexue¡¯s involvement did Professor Guo even learn about the Infinite Train¡¯s track record, and decide to seriously investigate instead of dismissing it as a theory. Seeing her expression, Lin Xian sighed inwardly. With all these experts showing up in the middle of the night, there was no hiding it. He gave Ding Junyi a subtle nod. She nodded back, then turned to the group. ¡°It¡¯s not from a special Ability User, nor from general threat-based attention. It was due to a specimen of the Blood Scourge Flora. We discovered it during our escape and found it had the ability to sense these so-called ¡®markers.¡¯ That¡¯s when we began studying it¡ªin other words, we used ourselves as test subjects. And our findings confirmed that this marker does trigger Dark Entity attacks. Once removed, we entered a kind of ¡®stealth state¡¯ in the Darkness.¡± ¡°I propose that the Darkness, for these creatures, is simply their habitat or territory. Unless a human is within a certain range, Dark Entities can¡¯t perceive them. This ¡®marker¡¯ is a unique form of hunting behavior.¡± ¡°I also discovered that the marker can stack, or be overwritten by higher-tier entities for targeted hunting. In short, if you kill the strongest Dark Entity in a region, you can erase the marker¡ªor even absorb it.¡± She spread her hands. ¡°To put it more simply¡ªit¡¯s like a battle arena. Dark Entities can eat humans, but humans can eat them too. This power exists equally for both sides. It explains why we¡¯re evolving.¡± Her words sent a chill through the crowd. ¡°Blood Scourge Flora?!¡± Professor Guo¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Wh¡ªwhat type is it?!¡± The research team immediately burst into excited chatter. Wei Kexue turned to Lin Xian in shock. ¡°Captain Lin... don¡¯t tell me this is that thing Taylor from the Federation was harassing you about?!¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Yeah. We found it in Underground City No. 9.¡± ¡°Knew it...¡± ¡°Makes sense¡ªit¡¯s the resonance power of the Disaster Flora.¡± ¡°Just need to know its genus, its nature...¡± ¡°This is incredible! With this reference system, Professor Guo¡¯s Campfire Theory is finally validated!¡± ¡°If we can pinpoint the energy form of this marker, we might finally decode Dark Entity communication¡ªand uncover the secrets within the Darkness!¡± ¡°Exactly!!¡± ¡°This could save millions of survivors! It could change how we live!!¡± The research team was completely fired up. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected such a strong reaction. Yu Yuheng, meanwhile, looked utterly shocked. He stepped forward and asked Ding Junyi in a grave tone, ¡°Have you observed a definitive energy form?¡± Ding Junyi looked at him, then took out her mobile terminal and handed it to him. ¡°I used an axion wave detector and picked up a response from a high-mass particle similar to cold dark fundamental particles. That¡¯s how I could confirm its presence. The problem is, with our current tech, we can¡¯t capture it.¡± Yu Yuheng snatched the terminal from her hand. The researchers behind him quickly gathered around to look, but as they read, their expressions grew increasingly grim. Yu Yuheng¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed as he flipped through the data. Any arguments he¡¯d been preparing were completely crushed by the strength of Ding Junyi¡¯s reasoning. If Ding Junyi¡¯s theory was right, then the crisis brought on by the Emperor Project didn¡¯t stem from Unit 01¡¯s deterrent power, but from a ¡°mark¡± imprinted on Chen Wei and Chen Lie after they used Unit 01 in close contact with an S-Class Eerie Entity. That mark was likely the reason for the repeated large-scale Eerie Entity attacks during their relocation¡ªultimately leading to the near-total annihilation of the transport and combat teams! Realizing this, Yu Yuheng¡¯s face went deathly pale, and he murmured under his breath, ¡°No way... no way... Then why don¡¯t those monsters dare approach the defensive perimeter?¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy¡ªthey¡¯re just adapting to the light,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice the frequency of the Eerie waves matches the frequency of the blizzards?¡± Yu Yuheng opened his mouth but couldn¡¯t find a response. His eyes were filled with disbelief. At that moment, Professor Guo walked over. Yu Yuheng, seeing him, hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly handed over the terminal, still clinging to his stance. ¡°Unless we successfully detect this energy particle, we can¡¯t draw a firm conclusion. The Blood Scourge Flora research is still quite unclear. The research data is rigorous, I¡¯ll give it that, but I¡¯d say this theory only has partial support...¡± ¡°Multiple repeated experiments are showing matching results. That rules out other possibilities. Young man, we can¡¯t use Earth biology logic to understand these dark entities. Stuff like hunters, threats¡ªit¡¯s meaningless. Their actions are purely mechanical. There must be some internal logic behind them that we can¡¯t yet grasp. And this hypothesis¡ªdemonstrated through Captain Lin and Professor Ding¡¯s work¡ªis absolutely worth further experimental validation!¡± As he spoke, Professor Guo carefully examined the mobile terminal, growing more excited the more he read. Then he looked up at Ding Junyi. ¡°Where is this Blood Scourge Flora now? Can you let us run tests on it right away?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression shifted subtly at that. Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum was a major asset aboard the Infinite Train. It could warn of Dark Marks, absorb black mist and convert it into energy to aid in everyone¡¯s evolution, and when combined with an Eerie Cube, even function as a Mechanical Source Point¡ªboosting Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Ability. It was practically a treasure trove, and Lin Xian wasn¡¯t about to let it go. Seeing the group go silent, Professor Guo looked at Lin Xian in confusion. ¡°What... it¡¯s not possible?¡± ¡°Sorry. This thing is really important to us,¡± Lin Xian replied bluntly. Ding Junyi had told him before that the cold dark fundamental particles had already been identified. As long as the Phoenix researchers followed her experimental method, they could locate the energy patterns even without Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. So there was no need to hand it over. But the premise was that they had to be willing to adopt this unfamiliar "reference frame" and run widespread testing. Hearing Lin Xian¡¯s response, Professor Guo grew visibly anxious. ¡°Come on, look at the state we¡¯re in! Survivors everywhere lack the means to detect or counter these threats. People are dying in droves daily. If we had this reference, we could drastically speed up the research and develop devices to detect these marks. Even one day¡ªor one hour¡ªsooner could save countless lives!¡± ¡°Exactly! If we can prove these marks exist, it would completely overturn the way survivors think about survival!¡± another senior researcher chimed in urgently. ¡°Just identifying the behavioral logic of Dark Entities has taken hundreds of Phoenix teams, thousands of researchers, a ridiculous amount of time and money. We can¡¯t afford delays.¡± Seeing Lin Xian still hesitating, Professor Guo was so desperate his lips trembled. ¡°Look, I know how valuable it is to you. But I, Guo Sicheng, swear on my name¡ªwe¡¯ll only use it for research, nothing else. Once we¡¯re done, I¡¯ll personally make sure it¡¯s returned to you, untouched. Please, I¡¯ll even talk to Director Zhao and apply for funding¡ªlots of funding¡ªfor your team, okay?¡± Seeing Professor Guo getting more worked up, Wei Kexue quickly stepped in and pulled him aside. ¡°Professor, please, don¡¯t get worked up. I¡¯ll talk to Captain Lin.¡± He then walked up to Lin Xian and said in a low, apologetic voice, ¡°Captain Lin, please don¡¯t take offense. My professor tends to get a bit intense¡ªhe¡¯s spent his whole life in the lab and isn¡¯t great with people. If it¡¯s really not convenient, we understand. But if there¡¯s anything you need, I can help you talk to the higher-ups. It¡¯s just... this is really crucial to us right now. What do you think?¡± Lin Xian sighed and turned to Ding Junyi. ¡°Director Ding, what¡¯s your take?¡± Ding Junyi replied, ¡°Like I said, with a reference point, the answer¡¯s already within reach. The problem is, our train doesn¡¯t have the equipment to sequence particle-level materials, so we can¡¯t track the energy pattern changes in the Black Chrysanthemum. If they¡¯ve got the gear, they should theoretically be able to solve it quickly.¡± ¡°How quickly?¡± Ding Junyi took a deep breath. ¡°I can¡¯t give a concrete number. Science needs repetition. And there are too many variables here¡ªtime, nightfall, Eerie Entities. So it depends on the size of the experimental team and how many viable samples they have.¡± ¡°To put it simply, with a large enough team and test group, and with a known reference, we might identify the energy within a week to a month.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened, clearly torn. ¡°Of course, if we¡¯re lucky, we might get it on the first try.¡± Ding Junyi shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s science for you¡ªespecially in materials research. It¡¯s practically like rolling dice with molecules. In layman¡¯s terms: it¡¯s all luck.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve only got two days here,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Two days is enough!¡± Professor Guo cut in. ¡°Professor Ding is right. With a reference, the core problem is solved. Just lend it to us for two days and I¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible, Professor,¡± a researcher interrupted with a troubled look. ¡°I went through the data just now. There are over a thousand possible high-mass particle types with similar traits. Even doing contrast experiments would take at least hundreds of trials.¡± ¡°Exactly. Unless we get very lucky, two days won¡¯t cut it.¡± ¡°It will!¡± Guo Sicheng exclaimed. ¡°I¡¯ll call Zhao Yu right now and ask him to send someone to Quancheng to borrow an ultra-pure germanium detector. We can use captured Eerie Entities to test directly. Two days should be enough.¡± It was clear this old professor was trying every possible angle to fast-track a solution. ¡°No.¡± Wei Kexue shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no time to get to Quancheng. It also requires escort from the Investigation Corps. And we can¡¯t transmit the signal either.¡± That silenced the room. Even if they didn¡¯t sleep for two days straight, they still couldn¡¯t guarantee a result. The researchers looked visibly frustrated. ¡°We¡¯ve got an ultra-pure germanium detector.¡± The sudden voice broke the silence. Everyone turned toward the speaker¡ªYu Yuheng, who had remained quiet until now. He let out a long breath and declared firmly, ¡°The Emperor Project has a dedicated ultra-pure germanium detector for detecting energy particles after close contact with S-Class Eerie Entities. If Professor Guo needs it, we¡¯ll provide it.¡± The moment he finished, the researchers from the Emperor team gasped. ¡°Group Leader Yu, that detector is critical for our¡ª¡± ¡°We support them first!¡± Yu Yuheng¡¯s expression was resolute. ¡°Based on the data, their theory is solid. If it works, it can save a lot of people. That¡¯s more important than our priorities.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Have you forgotten the Phoenix Code? I¡¯ll take full responsibility!¡± Yu Yuheng suddenly shouted, bringing the room to a halt. He turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Captain Lin, if you¡¯re worried about progress, we can collaborate with Professor Guo¡¯s team. We¡¯ll help speed things up and provide support.¡± Excitement swept through Professor Guo¡¯s team. Hope lit up their eyes. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± ¡°This will speed things up so much!¡± ¡°Yes, we definitely need that!¡± Professor Guo was practically glowing with joy, his wrinkles stretching out with every word. ¡°These old guys were arguing like crazy just now,¡± Lin Xian muttered, watching the bizarre scene unfold. Beside him, Ding Junyi responded calmly, ¡°Science is the pursuit of truth. Personal biases mean nothing in the face of that.¡± Her words hit Lin Xian hard, and he sighed. ¡°Guess I¡¯ve been too narrow-minded. Alright, let them borrow it.¡± ¡°For humanity¡¯s sake?¡± Ding Junyi asked. Lin Xian glanced at the group of aging researchers and the openly emotional Professor Guo, and replied dryly, ¡°Nah. Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m giving face to these old-timers.¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s gaze lingered on his face, then she smiled faintly. ¡°You think I¡¯d buy that?¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Truth is, I¡¯m still worried.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Ding Junyi said softly. ¡°I¡¯ll go with them over the next two days and help with the research. I can¡¯t promise it¡¯ll speed things up, but I¡¯ll make sure Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum stays safe.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up. That actually sounded like a pretty good plan. ¡°And Phoenix is currently doing plant cultivation research. I might be able to bring back something you¡¯d be interested in,¡± she added, glancing at him knowingly. The more she got to know Lin Xian, the more she could sync with his thinking and priorities. She paused, as if waiting for his acknowledgment. ¡°Director Ding.¡± Lin Xian looked at her with surprise, then shifted his gaze. ¡°You¡¯re getting better and better.¡± ¡°Better?¡± What kind of word was that? Lin Xian didn¡¯t quite know how else to describe it. She was already smart¡ªvery smart¡ªand everything she did now just happened to align perfectly with what he had in mind. It felt incredibly comfortable. He scratched his head and gave a sheepish smile. ¡°Just... better, okay?¡± Ding Junyi gave him a puzzled look, then smiled softly. She could feel his recognition and approval, and it bloomed inside her like a flower opening in full spring. Chapter 269: Ability Detection Not long after, Ding Junyi came down from the train, all geared up and carrying her laptop. Chen Sixuan followed behind, gently holding the pot with the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. The moment the research team spotted the strange black plant, they immediately swarmed over, surrounding Ding Junyi and launching into a flurry of discussion. Soon, Guo Sicheng and a few others carefully escorted the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum onto their vehicle, while Ding Junyi gave Lin Xian a quick nod and followed the team into their research transport. ¡°Make sure it¡¯s protected at all times! As soon as we¡¯re back, start the experiment setup! Call in anyone who can help!¡± Professor Guo was practically buzzing with energy. His aged face showed no hint of exhaustion¡ªonly uncontained excitement. He was already barking orders before he even got in the car. Yu Yuheng came over and spoke earnestly to Lin Xian, ¡°Captain Lin, I truly don¡¯t know how to thank you. Not only did you save our team, but you¡¯re also supporting Phoenix¡¯s work. All I can say is thank you. If we make it out of this Extreme Cold Vortex, I¡¯ll apply to my superiors. Your ability might offer a unique solution to our Emperor Project.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too polite,¡± Lin Xian replied. He was starting to think better of Yu Yuheng. Like KIKI had said, the guy was definitely more of a bookish type, but just now, he had shown real character. Being able to set aside differences and work together in critical moments¡ªthat kind of mindset wasn¡¯t easy to come by. It was one of the reasons Lin Xian had genuine respect for scientists. Everyone had boarded by now¡ªexcept Wei Kexue. He was still fumbling through his coat pockets in the snow, clearly anxious. Then he walked up to Lin Xian, pulling out a small black iron box. He slipped off his gloves and breathed warm air into his hands before carefully opening it¡ªinside were three Level-1 Blood Crystals, glistening as they rolled gently in the case. He held it out to Lin Xian with a sheepish smile. ¡°Professor Guo is old-school, doesn¡¯t care much for the politics or reward stuff. He only ever talks about the greater good. But I know this Blood Scourge Flora means a lot to you. Maybe Phoenix will give you some recognition once the research pays off¡ªbut right now, we¡¯ve got nothing.¡± He bowed slightly. ¡°So, think of this as a small token from our research team. I hope you won¡¯t mind. We promise¡ªwe won¡¯t waste your trust. We¡¯ll be working non-stop starting today.¡± Lin Xian could tell how exhausted Wei Kexue was. For someone in his position to gather three Blood Crystals must¡¯ve taken serious effort. He gently pushed the box back. ¡°If I¡¯m working with Phoenix, that means I trust you. Don¡¯t worry about rewards. What matters most is that we find something useful¡ªsomething that can really help survivors.¡± Wei Kexue¡¯s smile slowly faded. His gaze dropped to the box in his hands, face darkening. ¡°My professor proposed this theory a long time ago. At first, I didn¡¯t believe it. Honestly, most of us didn¡¯t. Or maybe we didn¡¯t want to believe it...¡± ¡°You were afraid to face the truth about the dark entities?¡± Lin Xian asked. Wei nodded solemnly. ¡°For most survivors, yes. But for the Phoenix higher-ups... it¡¯s more complicated.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression sharpened slightly. ¡°If dark entities attack by using marks¡ªtargeting humans like beacons in the night¡ªthen Phoenix¡¯s Dawn Project could actually increase the danger,¡± Wei said. ¡°So the Federation¡¯s bunker-down strategy was the right call?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°If we can¡¯t beat the Dark Invasion, if humanity can¡¯t live without sunlight, then what¡¯s the difference¡ªdie slow or die fast? What¡¯s the point of pretending?¡± Wei sighed. ¡°We all know that. But most ordinary people don¡¯t think that far. And more importantly, it¡¯s not just about ideology anymore¡ªthis theory could force us to rethink the entire way humanity survives.¡± He looked Lin Xian in the eye. ¡°If it¡¯s confirmed, then what? Are we supposed to send survivors¡ªpeople who barely made it¡ªto go hunt down dark entities? It¡¯s like... asking them to walk to their deaths.¡± Lin Xian went silent. ¡°No investigation, no right to speak.¡± Wei¡¯s tone was low. ¡°Whether as scientists or as leaders, we have to get solid, actionable evidence. Otherwise, we might be the ones accelerating humanity¡¯s extinction.¡± ¡°What exactly happened to you at the Wei River?¡± Lin Xian asked quietly. Wei¡¯s whole body trembled. His face twisted in pain, lips quivering. ¡°The mark... reached a certain threshold.¡± ¡°A... fatal threshold.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s blood ran cold. Wei¡¯s eyes were filled with pain and fear. ¡°That was the moment I started to believe in the theory. I told Leader Bai Shuang again and again. Every night, the death pressure was growing. But everyone thought we¡¯d reach the support team soon.¡± ¡°We were... just one dawn away...¡± Lin Xian stood in stunned silence. He finally understood what they had gone through. They¡¯d escaped from the Climbing Elevator, but had faced a Level-5 mark. The Infinite Train had been lucky at Rain Town. They¡¯d discovered the mark early and suppressed it using a territory-based parasite monster. Without that, they wouldn¡¯t have survived the night. But not everyone was that fortunate. The Fireline Convoy they encountered? Wiped out. No bodies found. Of the convoys from Yubei Spaceport, only the Dragon Mountain No. 1 had been seen. No sign of Xu Jin, Old Mo, Jiang Yun, or even Jian Xuwei¡¯s Silver Star... Wei Kexue brushed the snow off the box and handed it over again. ¡°I can¡¯t use this anyway. Take it as a personal favor.¡± Lin Xian took the box and looked at the three Blood Crystals inside. He let out a breath and nodded. ¡°Alright. Thank you.¡± Seeing him accept it, Wei Kexue visibly relaxed, a spark of clarity returning to his eyes. ¡°If you need us, we¡¯ll be at Xilan University¡ªon Central Avenue. We¡¯ve set up a temporary lab there.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Lin Xian nodded, and Wei finally climbed into the vehicle. The group drove off in a flurry. Watching the snowmobile disappear, Chen Sixuan came up beside him. ¡°This whole Dark Mark thing... it¡¯s way more complicated than we thought. But how did that Foundation predict all this so early?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even bring up the Foundation,¡± Lin Xian exhaled. ¡°We still have no idea who they are. As for Phoenix¡ªofficial orgs are like that. Just like Wei said¡ªeverything they do affects survivors worldwide.¡± ¡°Like the Nightwalkers¡¯ claim that vegetable juice could suppress the effects of dark infection,¡± Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°But what if someone trades fake herbs for real resources? In the apocalypse, we don¡¯t have test equipment. People might fall for anything.¡± ¡°Exactly. Even Phoenix doesn¡¯t know which compound in the juice neutralizes the dark toxin, so they can¡¯t endorse it. That¡¯s why they won¡¯t announce the Dark Mark theory either¡ªnot unless it¡¯s solid. The consequences would be way bigger than the veggie juice situation.¡± ¡°And even if it¡¯s real, there¡¯s still the problem of how to detect the mark,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Otherwise, survivors won¡¯t know if they¡¯re marked or how badly. It¡¯d be like the theory doesn¡¯t even exist.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Chen Sixuan sighed. ¡°Hopefully, we get some answers soon.¡± Back on the Infinite Train, the lights inside the living carriage came on. Chen Sixuan glanced over. ¡°Looks like everyone¡¯s waking up. You worked all night. Come eat something first¡ªthen you can organize the crew for today.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Yeah, lots to do now that it¡¯s morning.¡± Inside the train, team members were waking up one by one. The living carriage buzzed with life. Some people were already washing up or stretching, their energy renewed. KIKI, too, had slept like a rock. When she finally opened her eyes, it was nearly 10 a.m. Shasha was crouched by her window with a steaming bowl of soup, blowing gently and watching her. ¡°KIKI-jie, you¡¯re the last one up! I¡¯ve never seen you sleep so long!¡± KIKI jolted upright, looking at the soup¡ªthen at Shasha. ¡°Where¡¯s Brother Lin?¡± Shasha nodded toward the window. ¡°He¡¯s outside, helping install the new armor plates. He said once it¡¯s daylight, we¡¯re all going to Phoenix for Ability testing and supply exchange. Then we get free time in the afternoon~¡± KIKI instantly knew Lin Xian must¡¯ve worked all night. She felt a pang of worry. ¡°Move¡ªcoming through!¡± She shot out of bed and dashed to the restroom. But she moved too fast¡ªnearly slammed into the ceiling. Panicked, she threw up a psychic shield and thump! hit the ground hard. ¡°Oww...¡± ¡°KIKI-jie, what the heck?¡± Shasha looked shocked. ¡°Were you trying to punch a hole in the ceiling?¡± KIKI rubbed her sore backside and looked down at her hands, puzzled. ¡°Why does it feel like my psychic power¡¯s stronger...? Did I just... rest too well?¡± Lin Xian, working up on the roof, heard the commotion and opened the rooftop hatch of Car 2, spotting KIKI below. ¡°What are you doing down there?¡± ¡°I-I-I¡¯m fine!¡± she blurted, bolting into the restroom like she was running for her life. Lin Xian blinked, glancing over at Shasha. Shasha could only shrug¡ªshe had no idea either. In the makeshift workshop at the freight yard, the Infinite Train¡¯s new armor was being installed piece by piece. The old plates on the right side had been fully removed, exposing the heavily damaged carriage body. Lin Xian used his Mechanical Ability to repair the frame. The new armor had inner shock-absorbing layers, adding both protection and insulation. Cranes whirred nonstop as sleek silver-black armor panels were fitted onto the train. Everything was modular now. The panels were made as one integrated system¡ªif any part got damaged, he could produce a replacement and bolt it right on. At 11:20, the welding and hammering was deafening. Then suddenly, the darkness above Xilan City pulled back fast¡ªsunlight burst through. The storm had stopped. A warm breeze broke through the Extreme Cold Vortex, lighting up the snow-covered city like a spotlight from the heavens. Everyone¡ªthose installing armor on the Infinite Train, the weary crew from Dragon Mountain No. 1¡ªfelt that warmth hit their skin. The temperature even seemed to rise a little. In that moment, everyone shielded their eyes and looked to the sky¡ªto the long-awaited dawn. Mount Fenglan in the distance stood clearer now, its midsection still wrapped in cold fog. The nights were getting longer. But with every new sunrise, survivors found a little more reason to believe in the beauty of the world. ¡°...It¡¯s morning.¡± Standing on the rooftop of the train, Lin Xian glanced over the Infinite Train¡¯s right side, where the armor plating still wasn¡¯t fully installed. But he¡¯d decided to make use of the daylight to wrap up the Ability testing first. With so many convoys in Xilan City, he also planned to take a look around¡ªmeet people, secure some weapons, ammo, or blueprints, and take the chance to upgrade the train properly. The rest of the installation would be handled by his team. As for the left-side armor, that would have to wait until they were back from dealing with Phoenix. ¡°Captain Lin.¡± Shu Qin approached. ¡°Should those of us who aren¡¯t Ability Users go too?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°The Nightwalkers have been doing just as much research on Gene Evolvers as they have on Abilities. And Gene Evolvers actually make up the majority¡ªthey¡¯ve got huge potential. We can¡¯t miss this chance to understand our own power. It could make all the difference for survival.¡± Shu Qin nodded. ¡°Alright. Should we leave more people behind to guard the train?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Lin Xian pointed at the dozen or so team members still installing the armor plates. ¡°They¡¯ll stay behind. I¡¯ve also spoken with Captain Shi¡ªDragon Mountain No. 1 has hundreds of people. They¡¯ll help watch over things too.¡± The core team¡ªDa Lou, Shasha, KIKI, Lu Xingchen, Chen Sixuan, Miao Lu, Lu? Chang, and Xiao Yuan¡ªwould all be going. Director Ding was still stationed at Phoenix¡¯s research lab, so she wouldn¡¯t be coming. Lin Xian wasn¡¯t planning to develop her ability just yet anyway. For one, it hadn¡¯t clearly manifested a growth path yet. For another, it was far too mysterious. Drawing attention could be dangerous. His Mechanical Ability had already made the Infinite Train a point of interest for both Phoenix and the Descent faction¡ªthere was no need to invite more trouble. ¡°This feels just like we¡¯re going on a field trip,¡± Shasha said excitedly as she stepped out of the crowd, her face bright. It had been so long since they¡¯d had a peaceful, sunny moment like this after fleeing for their lives for so long. KIKI hovered in midair, basking in the sun with her eyes closed and a blissful smile on her face. ¡°Mmm~ No ugly zombies, no bugs, no monsters. So nice~¡± Lu Xingchen swaggered out wearing sunglasses and a bright red hoodie¡ªno thermal gear at all. Among the sea of bundled-up survivors, he stood out like a flare. As a fire-type Ability User, his resistance to cold was on a whole different level. Of course, anyone who didn¡¯t know that looked at him like he¡¯d lost his mind. Wearing a hoodie in minus fifty-degree weather? Shu Qin and Chen Sixuan were fully geared up in exosuits, looking sleek and battle-ready. Miao Lu and Lu? Chang followed close behind. Xiao Yuan was joining the core team task for the first time, visibly excited. Her eyes sparkled as she watched the group ahead. She was a Gene Evolver, though her powers hadn¡¯t stood out much yet. Still, she was more than capable of handling herself in a fight now. ¡°Brother Lin!¡± From the Dragon Mountain No. 1, Shi Diyuan, Ning Jing, Lu Yong, A¡¯Bai, Xiao Qing, and dozens of other Ability Users and enhanced fighters came pouring out of the train. ¡°So many?¡± Lin Xian was a little surprised at the size of the squad. ¡°It¡¯s not that much,¡± Shi Diyuan waved it off. ¡°There are already over a hundred people on board showing signs of gene evolution. I just picked the ones with standout traits. We¡¯re not just going for testing¡ªit¡¯s a great opportunity for everyone to learn something. Who knows if we¡¯ll ever see this many people gathered again?¡± Team Three¡¯s captain, Lu Yong, looked a bit helpless. ¡°We¡¯ve got more people, so the pressure¡¯s higher in a crisis. Big Bro picked more folks to let them learn from other convoys.¡± ¡°Plus, gotta show a bit of muscle,¡± Shi Diyuan coughed with a grin. ¡°Let those folks trying to poach my team think twice.¡± Lin Xian chuckled. So much for ¡°I don¡¯t care if people get poached.¡± The guy said that last night¡ªand now he¡¯s leading a whole army out. Clearly, appearances still mattered. ¡°Oh right,¡± Shi Diyuan added. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to help that Monica girl with her train later? I¡¯ll tag along. I¡¯m curious to see what kind of upgrades we might copy from her Doomsday Express.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s getting their train fixed?¡± KIKI perked up at the mention, trotting over curiously. ¡°One of Qian Dele¡¯s friends. She¡¯s got a train setup too¡ªpretty interesting,¡± Lin Xian explained briefly what had happened the night before. ¡°Wow~ A 2 billion-dollar doomsday fortress? Sounds awesome!¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°We have to check that out.¡± Shi Diyuan leaned in close and whispered to Lin Xian, ¡°If Monica wants to join your convoy, you¡¯d better check her people out carefully. I heard from Old Qian¡ªsome of them aren¡¯t exactly the obedient type.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let just anyone in anyway,¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Besides, her train¡¯s way more advanced than ours. She was probably just flattering me.¡± ¡°Haha, sharp as ever.¡± Shi Diyuan laughed and clapped Lin Xian on the shoulder. At that moment, Ning Jing stepped up. ¡°A¡¯Bai mentioned something. After the horde pulled back last night, he saw a creature in the blizzard. He¡¯s not sure what it was¡ªbut none of us had the Dark Mark you mentioned.¡± Lin Xian was surprised. ¡°A¡¯Bai can see Dark Marks?¡± ¡°He used to describe it as a lingering aura from the monsters. But now, it sounds like what you described.¡± Lin Xian looked at A¡¯Bai in shock. Who would¡¯ve thought a blind Ability User could sense Dark Marks? Maybe Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum wasn¡¯t the only detection method. ¡°That thing... it only showed up briefly. Then it vanished.¡± A¡¯Bai stood at the front, his voice low. ¡°But it gave off a terrifying presence.¡± ¡°Was it an Abyss Worm?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°No.¡± A¡¯Bai shook his head. ¡°It was... worse than that.¡± Everyone¡¯s expression changed. Lin Xian exchanged glances with Ning Jing and Shi Diyuan. The same thought crossed all their minds. An S-Class Eerie Entity? ¡°The Emperor Project was set up to deal with this at the Parma Grasslands,¡± Shi Diyuan said grimly. ¡°It¡¯s not surprising. We¡¯ve seen S-Class before. Doesn¡¯t matter¡ªwhatever comes, we deal with it. I already passed this on to Phoenix. We just need to stay sharp.¡± Lin Xian fell silent. What puzzled him was¡ªif an S-Class had appeared, why hadn¡¯t anyone on their trains gotten marked? Even Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum hadn¡¯t reacted. But judging by Ning Jing and Shi Diyuan¡¯s reactions, they didn¡¯t doubt A¡¯Bai¡¯s ability in the slightest. That made Lin Xian feel a bit uneasy. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get to the Nightwalkers. With this many people, there¡¯s definitely going to be a wait.¡± Shi Diyuan waved his hand. More than ten large vehicles rolled out from Dragon Mountain No. 1. ¡°Let¡¯s go too.¡± Lin Xian boarded their previous polar vehicle, and both groups headed toward Central Avenue. As they drove deeper into the city, the number of convoys camped out around shopping centers and plazas grew. Lin Xian¡¯s group was small, following behind Dragon Mountain No. 1. Many eyes turned toward KIKI as she floated above the vehicle. Flight Abilities were rare, and while most survivors had seen them, KIKI¡¯s style was different¡ªno wings, just levitating midair like a deity. Her purple hair floated as if touched by an unseen wind, and with her striking features, she quickly became the center of attention. Thanks to the high-profile rescue the night before¡ªwhen Phoenix¡¯s Seventh Recon Unit had escorted Dragon Mountain No. 1, Infinite Train, and the Emperor Operation Team into the city¡ªthese three convoys were now the talk of the town. With the Emperor Project being classified, all attention had shifted to them. Xilan City was a frozen city of glimmering towers, their glass walls now encrusted with ice crystals. Under the sunlight, everything sparkled. The streets were littered with snow-buried zombies¡ªrendered completely inert by the Extreme Cold Vortex and now harmless. Along the way, Lin Xian noticed many convoys had taken over buildings for their camps¡ªtrying to escape the claustrophobia of living inside vehicles. Hotels, malls, you name it¡ªanything with space was claimed. ¡°Looks like the city really is safe enough for them to move indoors,¡± Shu Qin said, taking in the view. ¡°Yeah, compared to cars, our train is luxury,¡± Shasha added. She remembered those cramped days in the pickup with Da Lou¡ªno room to sleep, barely space to lie down. Now? A bed. A couch. Even a washroom. Heaven. Chen Sixuan nodded. She recalled how, at first, she hadn¡¯t understood why Lin Xian insisted on using a train. Only later did she realize¡ªbesides his Ability¡ªit was a genius move. The only real limitation was the tracks. But with Dragon Mountain No. 1 paving the way for true mobility, the dream of a roaming steel fortress was no longer just fantasy. She turned to look at Lin Xian, a thought blooming in her mind. And maybe... his dream of soaring into the sky wasn¡¯t far off either. The sheer scale of it left everyone on the Polar Train visibly stunned. If it weren¡¯t for the matching tornado decals on all the vehicles, they might¡¯ve thought this was a Starfleet Investigation Corps base. ¡°So this is the Arctic Wind Alliance?!¡± ¡°What kind of vehicle is that? Damn, that¡¯s insane!¡± Lu? Chang exclaimed. KIKI, well-traveled and sharp-eyed, immediately responded, ¡°That¡¯s a Trex-300, a nuclear-powered, all-terrain vehicle. Bet you¡¯ve never seen one¡ªit can even go amphibious.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard them on the survivor frequency broadcasts more than once. Rumor is, they¡¯ve got more than one convoy, and they¡¯re all cooperating with the Phoenix in different zones¡ªrecruiting other teams along the way. Their final destination is to link up with the Dawn Center before heading to the Arctic Zone,¡± Chen Sixuan added. ¡°More than one?¡± Shu Qin swept her gaze across the area. ¡°Just the numbers here look like over ten thousand people. That¡¯s practically a full division.¡± ¡°Most of them are survivors, not soldiers,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°But still, pooling their resources gives them way more firepower than your average mid- to large-sized convoy.¡± ¡°Bet a lot of the convoys around here will end up joining them.¡± ¡°Not surprising. People want protection. If they don¡¯t want to work under Phoenix, joining a big convoy like this is the next best thing. The more they¡¯ve lived through the Darkness, the more they crave unity.¡± Fire Bro¡ªLu Xingchen¡ªwas lying on the train roof, soaking up the sun. Hearing the conversation, he gave the convoy a sweep of his eyes and grinned. ¡°Housing over ten thousand people... the leader of this Arctic Wind Alliance must be someone serious.¡± The cold wind howled down the central street, carrying sharp ice crystals. As the convoy moved forward, a grand church slowly came into view. The statue of the Saintess atop the steeple had been modified into a watchtower. A Phoenix Radar System spun rapidly up top, while jagged icicles clung to her broken marble dress. The stained glass windows of St. Michel Cathedral shimmered an eerie blue under helium lights. The surrounding plaza was packed with equipment and base vehicles, and a massive transparent folding shield had been deployed¡ªlikely a device to block or neutralize some kind of energy. More survivors appeared along the streets. Many weren¡¯t near their own camps but had crowded toward the cathedral square to see what was happening. All around, groups of survivors gathered by barrel fires, casting curious glances as the convoy passed. Other convoys rolled through, transporting exchanged goods in trucks and pickups between camps. Lin Xian observed the various survivor camps. Maybe it was the Phoenix and Starfleet presence, but there was clearly less tension here than there had been at Hengshan Pass. The convoys were interacting far more peacefully. At that moment, the convoy began slowing down. The streets ahead were jam-packed, especially near the cathedral, where thousands had gathered. The Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 had no choice but to stop. Everyone disembarked and continued on foot. ¡°D*mn, it¡¯s packed!¡± said Shi Diyuan, tall and broad-shouldered, wrapped in a thick fur coat and sporting a bear-fur felt hat, looking every bit like an apocalypse warlord. He looked at the sea of people ahead and muttered, ¡°Old Qian and Old Zhou are lucky to be stationed nearby. At this rate, we won¡¯t even get through until the afternoon.¡± ¡°So many people?¡± Ning Jing frowned. ¡°They can¡¯t all be here to get Ability tested. Must be a lot of rubberneckers.¡± Lin Xian walked over and said, ¡°There are at least several thousand convoys in the city¡ªtens of thousands of people. Sure, some are just here to gawk, but a lot of them definitely have motives.¡± KIKI crossed her arms. ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, this feels more like a job fair.¡± That comment made everyone¡¯s expression... rather colorful. ¡°D*mn. If a monster horde hit now, we¡¯d be toast!¡± Shi Diyuan looked at the densely packed crowd outside the cathedral plaza. ¡°Not necessarily.¡± A loud, clear female voice called out from the distance. Everyone looked over to see Monica approaching with a squad in tow. Shockingly, her people were all geared up in matching Lone Wolf A-Class Military Quick-Reaction Exosuits, glowing with deep blue energy lines¡ªpowerful and intimidating. With a smile, Monica said, ¡°This area houses the best Ability Users and Enhancers in all of Xilan City. Normal monsters aren¡¯t breaking through that easily.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with all the people?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°They all here to get tested?¡± ¡°Nope. This is actually a light day,¡± Monica replied. ¡°Not many new arrivals made it to Xilan yesterday, and your teams didn¡¯t arrive until deep in the night. Total count today is maybe three thousand, but those coming for tests are probably just three to four hundred.¡± Her eyes swept over the impressive gathering of Ability teams behind Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan. ¡°Most of them are here to see you guys.¡± ¡°Us?¡± Ning Jing blinked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Monica smirked. ¡°Yesterday, the 7th Investigation Corps put on a huge display escorting your convoys into the city. It caught a lot of attention. Many teams started guessing you might be high-value Phoenix partners. So, first thing this morning, everyone flocked here to see for themselves.¡± ¡°Well d*mn!¡± Shi Diyuan laughed. ¡°Here I was wondering what the big deal was. Turns out, we¡¯re the show!¡± ¡°How long¡¯s it gonna take to get through three to four hundred people?¡± KIKI flew into the air and glanced toward the center of the plaza. ¡°Does the test take that long?¡± Monica¡¯s gaze flickered at KIKI¡¯s strange flying ability, then she replied, ¡°Peak value detection is quick. The trouble is with measuring Extreme Indexes¡ªthose take time. For this many people, probably three to four hours.¡± Shi Diyuan let out a breath. ¡°Three to four hours? Not too bad. We can manage that.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s move.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was calm but firm. He didn¡¯t want to waste any time standing in line. With that time, he figured he could fix the Mo Queen¡¯s malfunction¡ªor even build a PX-05 Robot, maybe even a 1130 CIWS. He had too much on his plate to waste even a second. He turned to Monica. ¡°Your camp far from here? If the line drags on, I can head over and fix the vehicle first.¡± Monica¡¯s eyes brightened at that, though her expression turned slightly complicated as she looked behind Lin Xian at his group, hesitating for a moment. Truthfully, she was thrilled Lin Xian was offering to help right away¡ªbut she was also puzzled. She had specifically warned him that the testing plaza was under heavy scrutiny. With last night¡¯s buzz, today¡¯s turnout was huge. Every convoy was watching closely. And yet, Lin Xian was still willing to walk away and fix her vehicle? Didn¡¯t he worry that his elite team members might get poached while he was gone? ¡°OK~ After the testing, I¡¯ll introduce you all to some major convoy leaders. Maybe you¡¯ll find something useful from each other,¡± Monica finally said, pushing aside her doubts. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s not waste any more time,¡± Shi Diyuan said, waving his arm and leading his group toward the plaza. Monica gave them a parting wave. ¡°Good luck~¡± As they entered the crowd, more and more eyes turned toward them. Lin Xian glanced around¡ªnearby buildings were packed with spectators. It was clear people had turned the Phoenix Ability Test into a sort of post-apocalyptic sideshow, with discussions buzzing from every corner. At the cathedral plaza, heavily armed Investigation Corps soldiers were stationed around the perimeter, maintaining order behind barricades. The Phoenix had set up multiple checkpoints. When Lin Xian and the others approached, they saw every person was subject to iris, biometric, and palmprint scans. A gate-shaped recognition robot was conducting the scans. ¡°Alloy Slug Convoy, Wang Xiang.¡± ¡¾Scanning in progress¡¿ ¡°Scan complete. Former Federation citizen, Wang Xiang. Hometown: Guilin, Dragon Nation. Citizen ID: CN113284156802. Synced with Phoenix database. Convoy: Alloy Slug. New survivor ID assigned: D19526633.¡± ¡°Please proceed.¡± The gate robot quickly scanned the man at the front of the line, retrieved his old Federation data, updated it, and logged him into the Phoenix system. ¡°Phoenix is registering people even in this situation...¡± Shu Qin commented. ¡°It¡¯s not just registration. Most people here are either Ability Users or Enhancers. They¡¯re collecting data to study differences between them. It¡¯s much more efficient than manual interviews.¡± ¡°Exactly right.¡± A cheerful voice rang out. In the next moment, a gust of wind hit, and Zhou Wuer and Peng Peng swooped down from the sky. Lin Xian noticed that Zhou Wuer was being carried by Peng Peng, who didn¡¯t have wings¡ªbut used a swirling air vortex beneath her feet to stay aloft. Her flight was clearly powered by her Wind Ability. ¡°Captain Lin! Been waiting for you all night. Looks like you were busy?¡± Zhou Wuer said with a grin. Lin Xian nodded, but asked curiously, ¡°You run tests at night too?¡± ¡°Normally no,¡± Zhou Wuer replied. ¡°Too risky. We don¡¯t want Soul Wave Fluctuations at night¡ªit could trigger unnecessary incidents. But for special cases¡ªlike you¡ªwe¡¯d make exceptions.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone say so earlier...¡± KIKI pouted, arms crossed. ¡°I was already asleep~¡± Lin Xian was speechless. Had he known, he would¡¯ve done the test last night. He could¡¯ve spent the free time building a PX-05 Engineering Robot, or maybe even a 1130 Close-In Weapon System... Chapter 270: Special List ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright~¡± Zhou Wuer smiled and said, ¡°This works as well.¡± Beside him, Peng Peng explained seriously, ¡°You all experienced a big battle yesterday, so resting up and recovering your energy will make the test results better.¡± ¡°Right, let¡¯s start with the registration first.¡± Zhou Wuer pointed at the threshold robot and said, ¡°Let me explain ahead of time, after entering your information here, you will enter the system queue. There aren¡¯t too many people today, so it should be done in a few batches. Each batch is 100 people, and it should take about 30 minutes per batch.¡± ¡°Hey, handsome, what exactly are we testing?¡± At that moment, Shasha couldn¡¯t help but ask him, ¡°It¡¯s not some human experiment, right?¡± Zhou Wuer laughed at once, ¡°How could it be? Right now, the Phoenix Association¡¯s tests for ability users and enhancers are mainly divided into two steps. One is the Soul Wave Peak Test, and the other is the Limit Coefficient. Combined, these two can give us the person¡¯s evolution level.¡± ¡°Soul Wave Peak Test?¡± Shu Qin walked out at this moment and said, ¡°Can we enhancers also measure Soul Wave?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Zhou Wuer replied. ¡°Gene evolutionaries are also affected by the Cold Dark Fundamental Particles, which causes humans to undergo over-limit evolution. This is essentially a type of ability. By testing the extreme peak, we can determine the individual¡¯s evolution level and the energy density they possess.¡± ¡°So, what is this Limit Coefficient?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°This one¡¯s simple,¡± Peng Peng explained. ¡°You can think of it as a person¡¯s combat talent¡ªcourage, mentality, experience, the ability to respond in crises, and how well they¡¯ve developed their own abilities.¡± ¡°If Soul Wave Peak represents the power of a gun, then the Limit Coefficient represents the quality of a soldier. Combining both tells us what kind of power this gun can unleash. For example, if a rookie uses a heavy machine gun, they might not even kill a zombie and might break their own hand, but if a skilled person uses a handgun, they can shoot like a sharpshooter. So, the impact of an ability depends on many factors, even including knowledge.¡± ¡°Knowledge?!¡± ¡°Right,¡± Peng Peng said, chewing gum and blowing a bubble. Then, she popped the bubble, poked a hole in it with her finger, and the bubble instantly hardened. A gust of air gathered inside, and she clenched her palm. A whirlpool of air shot out, forming a rapidly spinning vortex in her palm. As she compressed her ability, the vortex grew stronger, buzzing with the sound of the airflow. Buzz buzz buzz! Boom! Peng Peng shot the vortex at the ground, instantly blasting a circular hole in the hard surface. Its power was comparable to a bullet! ¡°Vortex effect, middle school fluid physics knowledge, combined with my ability, can turn ordinary air into an attack more powerful than an alloy bullet,¡± Peng Peng said calmly as she popped another piece of gum in her mouth. Lu Xingchen, standing behind the crowd, immediately brightened up upon seeing this. Peng Peng¡¯s move instantly opened up a whole new world to him. ¡°Physics combined with Fire God power? Interesting,¡± he murmured to himself. Even KIKI, who was present, furrowed her brow and thought about it with interest. Peng Peng¡¯s move was straightforward and easily understood. Lin Xian then said, ¡°So, this Limit Coefficient varies from person to person, and it¡¯s used to evaluate someone¡¯s talent?¡± Zhou Wuer shrugged and said, ¡°That¡¯s the idea. But this evolution level is just a relatively objective numerical evaluation. It doesn¡¯t fully represent a person¡¯s combat power or survival rate. Some abilities are more functional than lethal. For example, flying abilities have a high survival rate and great functionality, but their combat power isn¡¯t necessarily high.¡± ¡°We understand that.¡± ¡°I heard that there¡¯s material compensation for participating in the test? Is that true?¡± At this moment, Miao Lu, excited, asked curiously. ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Wuer smiled and said, ¡°As long as you are an Evolution Level, you can receive a box of survival supplies. If you¡¯re at the Diamond Level, besides receiving three boxes of supplies, we¡¯ll also provide a heavy machine gun and 1,000 rounds of ammunition!¡± ¡°So much?!¡± The crowd gasped in surprise. Zhou Wuer nodded. Seeing everyone¡¯s shock, he smugly added, ¡°Heh, if it¡¯s the Berserk Level, we¡¯ll even provide a supply vehicle, a bottle of Cold Dark Reagent, a YJ-03 vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft cannon, and 200 rounds of cannonballs. How¡¯s that? Attractive enough?¡± ¡°Ah?!¡± The crowd exclaimed. ¡°An anti-aircraft cannon?¡± ¡°Is that for real?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Zhou Wuer shrugged and said, ¡°And these are all free. The only condition is that anyone at Diamond Level or above has to leave a blood sample for our Nightwalkers organization¡¯s tracking research.¡± Chen Sixuan, upon hearing this, said, ¡°It¡¯s not just for research, right? You probably want these high-level ability users to strengthen cooperation with the Phoenix Association in the future?¡± ¡°We do have that intention,¡± Zhou Wuer replied helplessly. ¡°At the same time, we also hope to help these teams gain higher survival rates. From a certain perspective, these teams that survive against all odds may one day be humanity¡¯s last hope. Of course, the Phoenix Association is happy to invest resources in supporting survivors. That¡¯s our purpose.¡± ¡°Besides that, when you undergo the test, our Phoenix colleagues will also give you some simple training based on methods we¡¯ve summarized from the Nightwalkers organization. It should help you. It¡¯s kind of an emergency ability training. So, the Phoenix Association isn¡¯t just about supplying materials. Rescue points across the regions are providing comprehensive survival skills training¡ªnot only about abilities but also about firearm usage, medical training, survival routes, black night responses, psychological counseling, and so on...¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Looking at the team of Longshan No. 1 gradually passing through the threshold into the church square, Lin Xian said to Zhou Wuer, ¡°It looks like we¡¯ll be in the later batches. Can I register now and come back later when there are fewer people? I need to take care of something else.¡± Zhou Wuer raised an eyebrow in surprise, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡± ¡°Hey, Lin Xian, where are you going? Can I come with you?¡± KIKI asked. Lin Xian shook his head and told everyone, ¡°You guys go ahead with the test and learn more. I¡¯ll be right back as soon as I¡¯m done.¡± Since Xilan City is still relatively safe, Lin Xian didn¡¯t feel the need to bring KIKI along. Since Zhou Wuer was kind enough to give him some time, he didn¡¯t want to waste it waiting in line. Buzz~ A dark blue light passed over Lin Xian as he stood in front of the threshold. ¡°Infinite Convoy, Lin Xian.¡± ¡°Scan complete. Former Federation member, Lin Xian, from Jiang City, Dragon Nation. Citizen ID: CN15132192430126. Phoenix Association info synchronized with Infinite Convoy. New survivor ID recorded: D19529527.¡± ¡°Please proceed.¡± After the successful registration, Lin Xian quickly briefed the team and contacted Shi Diyuan and Monica, preparing to drive to Monica¡¯s Queen Monica ship. Monica hadn¡¯t expected Lin Xian to bring the entire team for the test while he came ahead to help her repair the vehicles. She had originally wanted to observe the ability users in the convoy, but now she was more concerned about her train. So, after receiving Lin Xian¡¯s message, she immediately drove to pick up Shi Diyuan and Lin Xian. ¡°Ka-ka, hey, Lin Xian, communication is clear.¡± After driving a few blocks, Lin Xian pressed the communicator button and found that the signal was very clear. ¡°Once they enter the testing area, communication will be blocked. However, my men will relay messages from the perimeter, so the test results of your team will be synchronized in real time.¡± On a polar vehicle, Monica, sitting in the front seat, said to Shi Diyuan and Lin Xian in the back. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s still early. We might even get back in time to see. My team is also recording separately. It doesn¡¯t matter if we know now or later. Monica, I¡¯m really interested in your doomsday war vehicle, haha.¡± Lin Xian thought the same as Shi Diyuan. After Zhou Wuer mentioned it to him, he already had a basic understanding of the test. For him, he just needed to know the final result. There was no need to spend several hours just to see others'' ability test results, especially since he wasn¡¯t very interested in it. He wasn¡¯t trying to recruit anyone, so since Zhou Wuer had agreed to let him take the test later, he didn¡¯t feel the need to show off his ¡®repairman¡¯ identity. With tens of thousands of people in the city, if someone like Hua Xiaoling showed up, it would be a headache. Lin Xian thought it was better to avoid trouble. Besides, he had already been open with the Phoenix Association. Of course, he was still quite curious about the rewards from the Phoenix Association. Lu Xingchen, wearing sunglasses and with his arms crossed, heard Lu? Chang¡¯s words and grinned, not seeming to care. "As for the reward, I¡¯m not really bothered. I just wonder if such a mundane thing can even detect my true strength." KIKI glanced at him and said, "Well, you better give it your all, then. Let''s see if that machine can give you a high score." "Geez, that machine looks really scary." Shasha shrank her neck and added, "I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s used for." "It¡¯s the Peak Value Detection Gauge for Soul Wave Value. You don¡¯t have to go all out;just stand on it, and your body will naturally show its highest Soul Wave Value fluctuation." At that moment, a female staff member carrying a mobile terminal approached, looking down while operating it. She explained to the group, "I¡¯ll lead you to the testing area now. You¡¯re the fifth group for testing, and it¡¯ll take about two hours. Let me first explain a few important things." She gestured to a large, circular instrument behind them. "The peak value test is quick. When it¡¯s your turn, just stand on it. It will take only five seconds to complete. Relax;there will be a moment of fear, but don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t cause any harm to your body." Just then, the pressure gauge behind them suddenly emitted a loud, electric buzzing sound, followed by an ionized wave that spread out, making the thousands of people watching feel a tingling sensation on their faces. The huge noise made everyone present feel a jolt of unease. Some from the Dragon Mountain No. 1 group looked around, stunned. "What... What was that noise? Is it really safe? Won¡¯t it kill anyone?" "No," the staff member reassured them. "Don¡¯t worry, this instrument triggers your body¡¯s automatic defense mechanism, but it won¡¯t cause any real harm. Just close your eyes and relax. The test will be over quickly." KIKI squinted her eyes, nodding. "Oh, sounds like it makes you feel like you¡¯re dying, causing your body to reflexively show the highest resistance, and that¡¯s how the peak value is measured?" "Exactly," the staff member confirmed. Ning Jing from Dragon Mountain No. 1 also nodded. "It¡¯s a good method. This will ensure the accuracy of the test, and the standard will be consistent." "After the peak value test, you¡¯ll undergo a multi-directional test in the extreme testing chamber behind. Don¡¯t worry;there¡¯s no danger. The test mainly uses holographic projections and some non-lethal mechanical structures for assistance." The staff member continued, "The extreme test lasts for five minutes. After each batch, the Nightwalkers¡¯ guidance team will provide feedback and answer any questions. You can also communicate directly with them." Just then, someone who had just finished the test walked down from the instrument, a look of lingering fear on their face. [Test Completed, Peak Value Data: 320] "320? That¡¯s already at the Evolution Level, right?" someone asked. "No, the current standard requires multiplying by the extreme coefficient to determine the final level." "The extreme coefficient for a normal person can reach about 1.2, so they¡¯re probably close to 400." The crowd near the church square was in an uproar. After every 10 people were tested on the pressure gauge, they would enter the side testing chambers for the second round of extreme coefficient tests. Seeing this, Shu Qin from the Infinite Train group asked the staff, "What is the normal range for the extreme coefficient?" "The Phoenix Union sets the extreme coefficient range between 0.8 and 2. Most normal people exceed 1.1. A value below 1 indicates health issues, such as disabilities or diseases affecting the heart, lungs, nerves, or intellect." The staff member patiently explained, "A value between 1.2 and 1.3 is considered standard, while 1.4 to 1.5 is excellent. Over 1.6 indicates high intelligence or exceptional physical or combat abilities, along with superior mental resilience." "If it¡¯s above 1.8, that person is an all-around genius. Even if they¡¯re just an ordinary mutated ability user, their potential is frightening." "Yeah, very reasonable," said Lu Yong from Dragon Mountain No. 1, nodding. "Your standards are indeed very objective." "However, this only applies to combat. Other applications can¡¯t be judged in the same way," the staff member said seriously. "The test is just a reference. In the face of dark entities, it doesn¡¯t carry much weight. The battlefield in the Polar Night is brutal, as you all know. The Phoenix Union set these standards to help survivors understand Soul Wave Value fluctuations, monitor our evolutionary progress, and gauge the danger level." Everyone nodded in agreement. They recognized that understanding how much their evolution changed after enduring the night, battling to the death, or using cold dark agents would help survivors manage their power and boost their confidence. At the same time, they¡¯d have a benchmark to compare the threat posed by Soul Wave Values, not just a numerical value. It sounded important. [Test Completed, Peak Value Data: 280] [Test Completed, Peak Value Data: 430] [Test Completed, Peak Value Data: 600] Wow¡ªeveryone gasped. At that moment, a surprising number appeared on the Soul Wave Value Detection Gauge, drawing attention from everyone in the crowd. A value of 600 meant that, even with an extreme coefficient of 1, this person exceeded the Diamond Level (500). People stared as a massive man, looking formidable, walked down from the instrument, his eyes cold. He was then guided toward the extreme testing chamber. "Wow, a Diamond-Level!" Shu Qin and Xiao Yuan from Infinite Train exclaimed, like excited fangirls. "He can take three boxes of supplies and also get a heavy machine gun and 1,000 rounds of ammo, right?" Shasha, with a look of envy on her face, poked KIKI and said, "KIKI, it¡¯s up to you!" "I¡¯ve seen that guy. He¡¯s from the Joker Convoy, right?" Chen Sixuan remarked, scanning the first batch of people. Sure enough, she spotted Qian Dele among them, his expression proud. "Interesting~" Meanwhile, Lu Xingchen, who had somehow found a recliner, wandered to an empty spot in the square, enjoying the sun while waiting for his test. He couldn¡¯t help but lift his sunglasses and glance over at the crowd, pretending to be calm but feeling a little nervous inside. Though he knew he¡¯d already surpassed the Evolution Level before in Yubei City, with so many people watching, he had no idea what his current peak Soul Wave Value would be. "Stay calm, stay calm~" When the Diamond-Level appeared, the mood in the square grew more excited. All around, the reflections of telescopes gleamed from the surrounding skyscrapers. "Already a Diamond-Level, that¡¯s amazing~" "I saw several flying ability users." "They¡¯re probably from the convoy that reached Xilan City last night." The discussions from the crowd grew louder. "Yes, yes, those are them. A few came during the day too." "I heard Team Leader He brought half of the Investigation Corps, with ground troops and aerial combat units deployed. This looks like a major battle, maybe even with S-Class entities." "Are you saying they escaped from an S-Class entity attack? No way?" "Who knows? But if they sent that many people, it means some of these convoys must have some really strong experts, possibly even stronger than the Arctic Wind Alliance or the Cosmic Convoy." "That¡¯s crazy, the Cosmic Convoy? But can they really compare to the Arctic Wind Alliance? They¡¯ve got more than one Berserker-level fighter." "Let¡¯s just watch and see~" Countless staff members dressed in Phoenix Union uniforms were working in an orderly fashion. These personnel were field agents following the Nightwalkers'' organization and essentially worked alongside the large Phoenix Union, with their direct department being the Starfire Division, which traveled with them. The Starfire Division was responsible for assisting and providing security for the Phoenix Union''s various locations. Their role was similar to that of the Starfleet, handling various investigative and detection tasks on the frontlines. They also acted as a support point, coordinating the schedules of the Courier Division and the Polar Night Division. "Have the 3rd group, led by Lin Chuan, investigate the area 100 kilometers to the south." "The research team requested additional Ability users to guard the lab last night. We are currently short on personnel." In the main building''s Gospel Hall, which had been transformed into a temporary dispatch center for the Nightwalkers, direct communication with the command center located in the southern city was possible. The Ability testing data from the church square below was also being compiled here. By the stained-glass windows, a man with a handsome face but not very tall, wearing an earbud-style communicator, was listening to the dispatch information while looking down at the testing square below. He was Wen Zhuo, the head of the Starfire Division''s Western Operations Team within the Nightwalkers. "A-class personnel, Lin Xian from the Infinite Train convoy¡ªhas he been registered yet?" "Yes, 15 minutes ago. The convoy has 10 people logged in, and they are in the fifth batch of the testing team." An assistant behind him reported. "Got it." At this moment, his eyes narrowed, as though he noticed something. In an instant, he disappeared from his spot as a blur, reappearing directly in front of a desk 10 meters away. He grabbed a man who had been sneaking around, attempting to steal something from his desk. "Damn, it¡¯s only been a month, and your speed has improved again." The man, caught red-handed, didn''t panic. Instead, he grinned and helplessly placed down the bottle of Apricot Blossom Fen Liquor, something even Wen Zhuo hesitated to drink. Wen Zhuo snatched it back from the man''s hands, a rare smile tugging at his usually cold face. "Get lost. This is my treasure, bought with half a month¡¯s action points. No way!" Zhou Wuer, the one caught, chuckled awkwardly and said, "You¡¯re so stingy. Can''t I at least have a sip?" With the extreme cold and snow, drinking such liquor at the edge of the Polar Night was indeed a delightful experience. "Not a drop." Wen Zhuo spoke coldly, opening a drawer and stuffing the liquor inside. His gaze turned serious as he added, "And it¡¯s working hours now. The Nightwalkers'' regulations prohibit alcohol. Even though you''re part of the division, I still have the right to request disciplinary action from your superior." "Do you think I¡¯m scared~?" Zhou Wuer retorted, flopping into a chair with a relaxed look, hands behind his head, grinning. "You¡¯re working, but our Courier Division is on break now, under the command of Supervisor Zhao. So I¡¯m just... relaxing~" Wen Zhuo glanced over at the other side. Zhou Wuer¡¯s partner, Peng Peng, was sitting with a game console, engrossed in a game. Wen Zhuo¡¯s tone turned serious again. "If you have time for this, you should be training your Ability. The pressure on the stationed troops is increasing. Your Courier Division may need to reinforce the frontlines at any moment." "What to train?" Zhou Wuer asked with a faint smile, snapping his fingers. The computer on Wen Zhuo''s desk suddenly began to fade, gradually becoming transparent until it vanished entirely. "Before joining the Phoenix Union, someone told me my Ability had great strategic potential and room for development. As you can see, its biggest use is to save my life." He snapped his fingers again, and the computer reappeared. "Saving my life is a skill, right?" Wen Zhuo replied seriously, "You thought your Ability could be better utilized in the Courier Division, not because I suggested it." "Whatever, whatever~" Zhou Wuer said with a carefree grin. "It''s rare that we get a couple of days off, so I came here to take it easy. Your top guy in the Starfire Division isn¡¯t always lecturing those survivors who come for Ability tests, telling them that Ability users are at a natural disadvantage compared to gene-enhanced individuals, so they should focus more on Ability development. Yeah, I listened to that, so I¡¯m not participating in any body training stuff." Wen Zhuo sneered. "You little brat, don''t think I don¡¯t know you¡¯ve been secretly practicing your skills with Jing Tian. Stop pretending to be lazy in front of me." "By the way," he changed the subject. "In today¡¯s testing sequence, I heard there are two special individuals on the list¡ªone is Lin Xian, and the other is KIKI. You were the one who made contact and issued the Phoenix Order to them, right?" "Yes, one is a mechanical Ability user, the other is telekinetic. Both are here today." Zhou Wuer scratched his nose. "But Lin Xian had something come up. He might be a little late." Wen Zhuo nodded and pondered, "A mechanical Ability user, interesting. Not just the headquarters, but even I¡¯m very interested." "You better not deceive him. He doesn¡¯t want to join the Nightwalkers to do our bidding, and I¡¯ve heard that the Emperor Plan is also interested in this guy..." "The Emperor Plan? Don¡¯t they focus on mecha?" Wen Zhuo almost said something but swallowed the words, his expression flickering slightly as he chose not to comment further. On the other side, Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan were riding in Monica¡¯s vehicle, heading towards the Western Yan Rail Passenger Station in the northern part of the city. They had actually passed through here last night, but since all the rail lines and even the maintenance spurs were completely filled, they had no choice but to switch to the mining rail line heading towards the western Fenglan Mining Freight Platform. Xilan City was built on the mountains, and as a former strategic stronghold in the West, the city was surrounded by air-raid shelters. The heavy city walls were mostly concentrated in the eastern and northern parts. The northern entrance was where Lin Xian and the others had entered yesterday, passing through a canyon-like terrain. The famous Xilan Refinery was located about 20 kilometers outside the city, while the eastern side faced the vast Parma Grasslands. Before the extreme cold storms arrived, the roads here were well-connected, with multiple highways, national roads, and railway lines passing through. The northern part of the city also had a medium-sized airport. Originally a dual-use military and civilian airport, it had now become the headquarters of the Phoenix Union¡¯s Starfleet Air Combat Division. The colossal, awe-inspiring Dreadnought-class airship was currently docked there, and from a high building, one could still see the massive silhouette of the steel giant. Monica and her team led Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan through several streets and arrived at an underground station entrance for the rail station. As Lin Xian followed behind, he noticed several trains parked underground. The temperature inside the underground rail system was noticeably higher, and it was much safer than the open-air platforms. The spacious platform had numerous camp tents set up, and several survivors preparing lunch glanced up as Lin Xian¡¯s group walked by. ¡°I prefer staying in a safe environment, so I parked underground. It¡¯s less windy here, and we won¡¯t get buried in snow. How about it? Not bad, huh?¡± Monica said with a smile, as though she was sharing her survival tips. Shi Diyuan didn¡¯t seem too impressed, saying flatly, ¡°It¡¯s comfortable, sure, but if anything happens, it¡¯ll be hard to run down here.¡± Shi Diyuan, who managed thousands of people, was usually quite cautious about these things. Lin Xian, having experienced the terror of the No. 9 Underground City, didn¡¯t like the feeling of being underground either. However, Monica¡¯s choice made sense;there was less concern about cold waves and snow accumulation. The energy would be saved when starting up. ¡°If it were outside, I wouldn¡¯t want to stay in a cave either,¡± Monica added, as they walked further along the underground platform. Ahead of them, a magenta-painted, black-and-red automated heavy train appeared on the tracks. The moment Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan saw it, their expressions changed, for the train¡¯s design was unlike anything they had seen before. It was nothing like the transformed passenger trains like the Infinite Train or Longshan No. 1. Apart from the automated blast-proof doors, the train was designed as a fully enclosed survival unit. The exterior was made of reinforced composite armor and featured a modular weapon platform. The power carriages included photovoltaic alloy panels, stronger than titanium, meaning the train had more than one energy acquisition method. Looking at the weapon modules on the sides, Lin Xian guessed that it probably had some hidden missile vertical launchers or railgun electromagnetic cannon stations, but all of them were currently retracted. Additionally, the drive system, although using conventional track wheels at present, had modules for the Triangle Track strong-magnetized all-terrain drive, and even a magnetic levitation module. Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan exchanged glances. They knew immediately that the integrated systems on this train were mind-boggling. At this moment, Lin Xian even began to worry that with so many subsystem components, the vehicle¡¯s practical performance might be compromised, making it more showy than useful. After all, the technological companies from the pre-apocalypse era, when designing such vehicles, often took a speculative approach, focusing on what might happen during an apocalypse, adding all sorts of fancy features for the sake of appearance. But the actual functionality could have been overlooked. Take maintenance, for example. These systems would probably work fine in a nuclear winter or zombie apocalypse scenario. But if faced with something like the current monster tides, the delicate subsystem components would start malfunctioning, and the maintenance costs would be overwhelming. ¡°Shi Big Brother, Captain Lin, how about checking inside?¡± Monica said with a smile, walking up to the automatic door. The recognition system above scanned them, and the door opened. Just as the door opened, two men appeared. They looked to be in their thirties, holding wrenches and screwdrivers, covered in black oil stains, obviously in the middle of some repairs. ¡°Monica!¡± ¡°Song Hao, Zhu Pang, did you get the transmission system fixed?¡± Monica frowned as she asked immediately. ¡°We couldn¡¯t get it done.¡± One of the slightly chubby men, Song Hao, said with a distressed expression. ¡°The subsystems underneath are too complex. We couldn¡¯t take them apart in time and had to put them back. We¡¯re worried it might cause problems.¡± Song Hao looked at Monica with a displeased glance, his voice heavy. ¡°I think we should leave it to the professionals. Otherwise, we might not even be able to start it.¡± Monica¡¯s eyes flashed with anger. She folded her arms and lowered her voice. ¡°Song Hao, I brought you on this mission because you claimed to be a senior mechanic from Chuangke. You¡¯ve been responsible for the maintenance all these months. Now you tell me we need to find professionals?¡± Song Hao looked embarrassed. ¡°Monica, I¡¯ve told you many times. The design of this train has a lot of issues, and there are many wear-and-tear parts that need frequent replacement. These things aren¡¯t easy to fix.¡± ¡°Are we all just going to sit here and wait for death?!¡± Monica shot back sharply. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad. It¡¯s not to the point of not being able to start it,¡± Song Hao explained. ¡°But it¡¯s better for us to prepare a backup plan in case. For example, we could get a power locomotive. At least the energy carriages aren¡¯t a huge problem right now. If the traction and transmission system fails, we can replace it immediately. That way, we don¡¯t have to worry about breaking down on the road.¡± ¡°Yeah, Monica, didn¡¯t we find a Weilong-class high-power electric locomotive at the Fenglan Mining Freight Platform west of the city? It¡¯s broken, but didn¡¯t the people from the Jin Cheng convoy say they could fix it if we give them 40 Blood Crystals?¡± said the other man, Zhu Pang, chiming in. ¡°40 Blood Crystals? That expensive?¡± A voice suddenly came from behind. Lin Xian furrowed his brow as he walked over. The electric locomotive they were talking about sounded familiar. Was it the one he had casually repaired and driven off last night? Chapter 271: Yes, I did it, kill me? "Expensive? Do you know the value of a high-power electric locomotive?" Song Hao didn''t know where Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan had suddenly appeared from. Hearing the questioning tone, he immediately opened his mouth to retort. "I know that." Before Monica could speak, Shi Diyuan directly responded loudly, "In good condition, a 70,000-kilowatt ordinary electric traction locomotive is worth at most 10 Blood Crystals, and that''s only if someone even wants it." "What did you say?!" "Shut up." Monica sharply interrupted Song Hao and turned to apologize to the two men. "Big Brother Shi, Captain Lin, I''m sorry, I got a bit carried away. This is the technician from my train. Let me take you on board and show you around, would you like something to drink?" "No need, no need~" Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan were not polite at all, and directly boarded the train. As soon as they stepped in, both of them couldn''t help but look around in surprise, taking in the interior. Song Hao and Zhu Pang exchanged confused looks as they watched the two walk by. "Monica, who are they?" "Friends, here to help with the repairs." "Repairs?!" Song Hao''s eyes widened immediately. "Just... just the two of them?" "Monica, didn¡¯t we contact the Jincheng Convoy? They have the best mechanical engineers in the city, why are we looking for other people?" Monica shot him a cold glance, not bothering to explain. She followed Lin Xian and the others into the carriage. Song Hao swallowed his words under her gaze and awkwardly lowered his head. But as Monica passed by, he raised his eyes to look at her retreating figure, his eyes flickering with a trace of coldness. "Let''s see what they¡¯re here for first." Zhu Pang nudged him with his elbow and gave him a look. Song Hao''s gaze shifted, and without a word, he began packing up the maintenance tools. From the outside, Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan did not look like mechanical engineers or repair technicians at all. If anything, one was wearing a grey bear coat and the other high-tech powered armor, making them look more like high-ranking members of a convoy. Moreover, they didn''t bring any tools and came empty-handed, which made Song Hao unable to believe they were here to fix anything. At that moment, Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan were like curious children, looking around the interior of the "Queen Monica" with focused expressions. Although both were from train convoys and lived on trains, the interior of the "Queen Monica" was completely different from any ordinary train structure. Lin Xian''s first impression was that it resembled the interior of a spacecraft! The integrated functional carriages, with their numerous automated devices, made the space seem not too roomy. Being fully enclosed, there were no windows except for the port and starboard windows of the train, and all external situations were monitored by a 360-degree sentry system throughout the car. Inside, it had an incredibly secure atmosphere. The living area beds were embedded in honeycomb-like compartments, while the control room''s circular screen was filled with snowfield terrain maps. The advanced air circulation and heating systems made it feel like stepping into spring as soon as anyone entered. Shh~ Arriving at the first and largest driving carriage, the door required Monica''s iris recognition to open. This was not only the energy carriage but also Monica''s personal living area. This carriage, over 60 meters long, housed the energy, power, and main control systems. It also contained an intelligent AI system that could monitor the entire train¡¯s status, detect malfunctions, and even remotely control it, allowing for automated driving¡ªall under Monica¡¯s command. "This is my personal private living area;normally, no one is allowed in." Monica smiled as she led them through, "We only have 26 people on board, and 5 of them are responsible for vehicle control and operation. Although the train is fully automated, someone needs to monitor road conditions 24/7, and the radar is always on." "Wow, Monica, you sure have a spacious place here." As soon as they walked in, Shi Diyuan couldn''t help but exclaim. Despite the integration of so many core systems, Monica''s living area still felt very spacious and luxurious. The space-age bathroom had a large wave massage bathtub, and in addition to the spacious bedroom, there was even a dedicated walk-in closet, a wine cabinet, and a spa-like space capsule... It almost felt like a vacation rather than the apocalypse. "No wonder this is a 2-billion-APocalypse Express." Lin Xian couldn''t help but smile. "It may look fancy, but it¡¯s practical as well. The whole train¡¯s defense, survival, and life-sustaining systems are like a fortified armory. I wouldn¡¯t say it¡¯s unrealistic;having a luxury fortress like this in the apocalypse is way better than having to sleep in a stinky backseat or use welded scrap metal as shelter." "Yeah!" Shi Diyuan added seriously, "If I¡¯d known, I should''ve brought a few people from the engineering team over. Not to mention anything else, even the air circulation and greywater systems here are something we could learn from. If we put them on Dragon Mountain One, they would definitely solve a big problem." Shi Diyuan''s words weren¡¯t exaggerated. With a train of over a thousand people and an apocalyptic environment, hygiene became a huge issue. If not carefully managed, the train would stink, and keeping the toilets clean would be a nightmare for the car supervisors. Lin Xian¡¯s "Infinite Train" hadn''t encountered this issue yet. The men and women in the living carriages were all very conscious of hygiene. With Xiao Yuan and the other logistics staff being diligent, they had taken it upon themselves to handle some of the cleaning duties, keeping the living carriages comfortable, so Lin Xian hadn¡¯t worried about it. "Sorry to laugh," Monica said with her arms crossed and a tone of faint sorrow. "I''m the only woman on this entire train. Even if one day I''m destined to die in the blackness of some night, I still want to face death in a clean and comfortable environment." Lin Xian was slightly surprised by her words. The whole train only had one woman, and this woman was also the leader of the convoy. This setup seemed odd. Moreover, from Monica¡¯s attitude toward her subordinates earlier, she didn¡¯t seem like someone with a warm and approachable personality. Considering all this, Lin Xian guessed that Monica¡¯s ability to control the convoy was likely not just due to her command over the train¡¯s systems but also because her personal strength must not be underestimated. After all, how could she control a convoy guarded by people in powered armor unless she was formidable herself? "How about it, Captain Lin?" Monica asked, looking at Lin Xian. "Give me a moment." After the tour ended, Lin Xian immediately went to the control station and sat down, placing his hand on the console, starting to activate his Mechanical Heart. As soon as the field of the Mechanical Heart spread, Lin Xian quickly began a rough evaluation. "Three hours." Monica¡¯s eyes lit up. "Three hours... you can fix it in three hours?" Lin Xian didn¡¯t give a definite answer, only saying, "There¡¯s hope." The three hours was roughly the time he needed to finish scanning the train. Although the train only had 8 carriages, it had numerous subsystems. Fortunately, he had prior experience with scanning nuclear-powered systems. Apart from that, the most advanced mechanical component on this train was likely the intelligent control AI. The chip manufacturing process took the most time. Although he could bypass these systems, the train was an integrated design, with the main control system connected to all the subsystems. Bypassing them would take even longer. Upon hearing this, Monica tried to suppress her excitement, her eyes filled with hesitation. She couldn¡¯t help but glance at Lin Xian and then at Shi Diyuan, cautiously asking, "Captain Lin, I feel like I still don¡¯t know your terms?" "20 Blood Crystals." Without waiting for her response, Lin Xian answered directly. "Only 20 Blood Crystals!?" Shi Diyuan exclaimed. "They charge 40 for a basic electric locomotive circuit repair. Brother Lin, you¡¯re so generous!" Lin Xian chuckled at his words. Shi Diyuan wasn''t trying to provoke him but was actually criticizing the exorbitant price set by the so-called Jincheng Convoy. After all, Lin Xian had gotten the Huanxing 7F Electric Locomotive for free because nuclear-powered locomotives themselves were extremely powerful and could drive super-long trains like Dragon Mountain One on their own. Shi Diyuan had a backup plan, but if there were no nuclear-powered locomotives, ordinary electric traction locomotives wouldn¡¯t be useful at all. Not to mention, a damaged freight electric locomotive? Hearing the 40 Blood Crystal repair price made both Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan realize it was a ridiculously high price, specifically aimed at exploiting Monica¡¯s situation. "Really, just 20 Blood Crystals?" Monica was almost sure she misheard. If this price could solve the train''s current issues, it would be an incredible deal. Fortunately, Monica knew that Qian Dele was extremely cold-faced and picky. If he had approved of this, there had to be a method behind it. Thinking this, Monica felt a little relieved. She said nothing more and headed to the wine cabinet, opening a bottle of her cherished red wine. Soon, Monica brought wine to both Shi Diyuan and Lin Xian. She watched Lin Xian¡¯s actions closely but didn¡¯t detect any fluctuation in his Soul Wave Value. She then calmly said, "Captain Lin, you¡¯ve really helped me a great deal." "Just a small matter," Lin Xian replied indifferently. For Lin Xian, not only would he earn 20 Blood Crystals, but he would also receive the complete blueprint of the entire train, including key structural designs such as the integrated electrical system, automated weapon compartments, bathroom and living quarters designs, lighting, air circulation systems, and water recycling. These were more valuable than Blood Crystals because he couldn''t find any design blueprints for them elsewhere. Currently, the Infinite Train used basic designs for things like the automated blast doors, but they weren¡¯t tailored to the train¡¯s specific needs. Having blueprints designed specifically for the train would allow for much better modifications to the Infinite Train in the future, solving the overall structural issues in one go. This was what interested him most. Shi Diyuan took a sip of red wine and then said to Monica, "Monica, while Brother Lin is busy, do you mind showing me around the weapons setup? I could use a lesson on firepower layout and stuff." Dragon Mountain One was also planning to purchase a large number of weapon systems for updates, and after experiencing many dangers, Shi Diyuan understood the importance of tiered firepower layouts and the supply of ammunition in each carriage. Although Monica wasn¡¯t an expert, her train was designed with military cooperation, so there were a lot of things worth learning. "Of course." Monica glanced at Lin Xian and then smiled, leading Shi Diyuan to explore other carriages. ¡¾Scanning progress: 1%¡¿ Meanwhile, Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart was fully activated, quickly covering every corner of the "Queen Monica" train. Gradually, a blueprint for a meticulously designed heavy-duty doomsday train began to take shape on the holographic screen in front of Lin Xian. As he observed the incredibly complex structural designs, Lin Xian couldn''t help but feel a sense of admiration: "Although it''s a gimmick put together by a tech company, designing such a train isn''t simple. No wonder it costs 2 billion per unit..." Lin Xian concluded that the team responsible for designing this doomsday train must be from a top-tier industrial group. They had even incorporated avionics integration systems used in fighter jets, connected numerous sensors to the onboard radar systems, and set up a complete data chain transmission system, all of which were centralized in the main processing server of the first carriage. From the very beginning of its design, the doomsday train had considered a five-defense level standard for bulletproofing, anti-cold, fire, water resistance, and even radiation protection. It even accounted for short-term water travel, leading to a very complex drive system design. The ongoing scanning left Lin Xian in awe, but the only problem, as he had anticipated earlier, was that the train had considered so many factors that the maintenance costs were extremely high. Lin Xian speculated that there must be spare parts for many of the fragile components, but even so, after months of battling against various powerful, eerie entities and zombie hordes, the train was bound to have suffered significant wear. While scanning, Lin Xian kept an eye on the time, calculating that once he solved the current issues, he could also upgrade the equipment inside the Infinite Train. The entire train''s armor had been replaced with new composite armor, and since the armor modules were standardized, coupled with the roof armor, the train¡¯s sealing capability had significantly improved, which would address the previous snowmelt infiltration issue. Next on the list was the sentry system. Now that he had the time, he could borrow from the ''Queen Monica'' design to create 360-degree monitoring and integrate it into the information center. He could also install external displays in every carriage, so there would be no need to open windows to see the outside. Moreover, the protective capability would be far superior to that of windows, increasing the safety for all team members. There was also the Triangle Track strong magnetic all-terrain drive module of Dragon Mountain One waiting for him to scan. The new WeLong electric locomotive hadn''t been integrated yet, and there were also weapon systems, the 1130, electromagnetic cannon, powered armor, PX-05 robots, and upgrades for the planting carriages... Lin Xian was eager to make every second count to fully arm the Infinite Train and create a safer environment before nightfall. At the same time, he opened his R&D center. ¡¾R&D Center¡¿ ¡¾TRP Gen-4 Special Industrial Active Exoskeleton (Blueprint): 1 day 04 hours¡¿ "The new powered armor is almost ready. I wonder how it will turn out." Additionally, Lin Xian casually opened his Mechanical Heart panel to check his skill proficiency. ¡¾Special Skills¡¿ Mechanical Cannon¡¾Amplified¡¿ AT Field¡¾Amplified¡¿ Flashback (Rare)¡¾Level 2 50%¡¿ Power Surge (Rare)¡¾Level 2 45%¡¿ Gravity Lens (Legendary)¡¾Level 1 73%¡¿ "Mechanical Amplification can only amplify max-level skills. Flashback and Power Surge haven''t come in handy for a long time. Looks like I need to level up my proficiency and reach Level 3 sooner." After the mechanical amplification, his skills had upgraded to a whole new level. Although Lin Xian had never used the AT Field in combat, he could tell that it was likely much stronger than Ice Wall. The most crucial thing was that this skill could be extended using Power Surge to increase the defense area. In other words, if necessary, he could even use it to protect the Infinite Train from attacks! Just as Lin Xian was scanning for a fault in the transmission system, he couldn''t help but frown. "This problem seems more troublesome than I imagined..." ... "Not bad, not bad. Monica, your train is much more impressive than my Dragon Mountain One. Yours is really professional;unlike us, piecing everything together from scraps." At that moment, outside the carriage, Shi Diyuan had followed Monica to inspect the entire weapon system of the train. Monica, as straightforward as when drinking, readily showcased all her secret weapons, without the slightest attempt to conceal anything. "Big Brother Shi, don''t tease me. I''m just a woman, how could I have abilities like you and Captain Lin? If it weren''t for my good background and this train, with my limited capabilities, I¡¯d have probably been eaten by a zombie or sold to a bandit convoy to be used as a toy by now." Monica''s tone carried a touch of self-mocking helplessness, but she still wore a smile. "Hey! Don¡¯t say that." Shi Diyuan waved his hand and replied directly, "In this world, surviving is a skill." The two continued talking, and as Shi Diyuan waited for Lin Xian, he also kept an eye on Dragon Mountain One¡¯s ability detection status. Unconsciously, more than two hours passed, and soon, the results of the ability detection from Dragon Mountain One started coming through via the city''s relay signal. This meant the ability detection was nearing its final batch. Just as they were about to board the train to discuss things with Lin Xian, a loud engine roar suddenly rang out from the distance at the platform. Looking over, they saw a well-modified four-wheeled monster truck barreling toward the platform. The survivors camped on the platform cast disapproving looks at the vehicle, but when they saw the Gatling gun and small arc pulse cannon mounted on it, they all backed off. The reason was simple: a vehicle¡¯s modification level could reflect the power of the convoy. If a monster truck could be outfitted with a small arc pulse cannon, it meant the convoy was incredibly powerful, not just with impressive firepower but also with significant wealth. The monster truck was large and almost scraped the edge of the platform as it drove in, then it headed straight toward the "Queen Monica." Whoosh~ In an instant, the truck stopped right in front of Monica and Shi Diyuan. The door opened, and a middle-aged man with a mohawk and a thick down jacket quickly jumped down, immediately removing his sunglasses to reveal a long, thin face. At the same time, three others got out of the truck, each holding strange mechanical toolboxes and detectors, following the man. "Who¡¯s the boss of this train?" The man with the mohawk scanned Monica and Shi Diyuan with an arrogant air. Monica sensed the offensive look from him and, with a cold expression, spoke sternly, "Who are you?" "Who am I?" The mohawk man frowned, gave a strange smile, and then ignored them. He grabbed his communicator and shouted, "Hey, hey, Song, we¡¯re here." Before he could finish, Song Hao hurriedly ran over, panting, and spoke to Monica, "Monica, Monica, they¡¯re from the Jincheng Convoy. Didn''t you ask me to find someone to fix the train? I checked them out, they¡¯re very professional, many convoys in Xilan City have had their vehicles repaired by them." Then, he quickly introduced the mohawk man, "Captain He, this is our boss, Monica." "Oh~ You¡¯re the boss? Hello, hello, nice to meet you," He Kun said, looking at Monica, seeming somewhat disbelieving that the leader of such a powerful doomsday train could be a woman. Although he greeted her, Monica clearly didn¡¯t want to deal with such an impolite person. She gave him a cold glance and asked Song Hao, "Did you finalize the price?" "No..." "How could that be?" Before Song Hao could respond, He Kun seriously raised his voice, "Beautiful lady, we are very professional. How can you quote a price without knowing the fault? Isn¡¯t that just trying to rip you off?" He turned to pat the detection equipment his subordinates carried and smugly said, "Our Jincheng Convoy specializes in all kinds of repair issues. Our motto is free inspection first, then a reasonable quote. If the client accepts, we proceed with the repairs. We also offer after-sales support. Our convoy has over 20 mechanical engineers, and whether it''s software, hardware, or military vehicles, even if it''s just a wheel, we can fix it. Absolutely professional!" Hearing this, Shi Diyuan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, "Haha, you¡¯re really good at blowing your own horn. You can make a whole new vehicle from a wheel?" "This is just a metaphor," He Kun replied lightly. "Anyway, whatever the issue is, come to us, you can¡¯t go wrong!" At this point, Song Hao leaned closer to Monica and whispered, "Monica, I checked, this Jincheng Convoy is really professional. They can fix any vehicle. Since they offer a free inspection, I arranged for them to come over. After they inspect, we can hear their quote and then decide whether to hire them." Monica snorted, "40 Blood Crystals just to fix a scrap electric locomotive? Do you really think I¡¯m an idiot and will let them inspect my train?" Song Hao froze, not knowing what to say. But He Kun, hearing this, wasn¡¯t angered at all. Instead, he adopted a serious expression and said to Monica, "Miss, from your words, I can tell you have a deep misunderstanding about us!" "First of all, that¡¯s not an ordinary electric locomotive, it¡¯s a WeLong-class electric locomotive with 70,000 kilowatts of power. It can pull 50,000 tons of cargo without a problem. Moreover, repairing the electrical system is not a simple task;it requires a major overhaul." He Kun smiled and looked at Monica, speaking seriously, "And most importantly, it¡¯s about time. We¡¯re about to evacuate. To get that machine running, we¡¯ll need at least a dozen people working overnight. This is a life-or-death issue. As the leader of your convoy, you must understand the gravity of the situation. It¡¯s not that the scrap electric locomotive is valuable;it¡¯s the result you need, which is worth so much." "Considering that, 40 Blood Crystals really isn¡¯t expensive at all. We¡¯re just taking your money and doing your job." "Good one, looks like you¡¯re a pro at being a profiteer," Shi Diyuan chuckled at He Kun¡¯s words, giving him a thumbs-up. "No need," Monica replied. He Kun, having delivered a seemingly reasonable speech, was stunned when Monica, without a second thought, immediately rejected him, "I¡¯ve already entrusted the repairs to someone else. No need for you, thank you. Please leave." After saying this, Monica directly dismissed them. He Kun¡¯s expression changed, and his smile faded slightly. He immediately turned to Song Hao and whispered, "What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t you tell me the repairs weren¡¯t done yet?" At this moment, Song Hao was also bewildered, and turned to Monica, "Monica... who did you entrust the repairs to?" Monica turned her head and gave Song Hao a stern look, saying, "I''ve already assigned all the repair work for the train to Team Leader Lin. It should be done soon, so you don''t need to look for anyone else to repair the train for now." Song Hao was greatly taken aback. When Monica mentioned that Lin Xian was here to repair the train earlier, he hadn''t paid much attention to it. But now, it seemed like Lin Xian had already started working on it? What the heck? No tools, and he thinks he can fix this 200-meter-long automated doomsday train all by himself? "Monica!" Song Hao couldn''t sit still now. "Why didn''t you discuss this with me first? I''m the one who knows the train''s issues the best. How can someone else just come and repair it without me knowing about it?!" "I just told you," Monica responded coldly. "No, I didn''t think he was actually going to fix the train¡ªalone, with no tools! You didn''t even let me help. This is completely ridiculous. How could it be fixed like this?!" "You don¡¯t need to worry. Team Leader Lin has his ways." Song Hao was stunned. He knew that Monica was clueless about mechanics, so all train maintenance decisions were supposed to be left to him. But now, Monica had hired some random person to fix it? In his eyes, Monica must have been tricked. In fact, Monica was well aware of this. Although she had never seen Lin Xian work before, she hadn''t planned on explaining his abilities to Song Hao in front of He Kun. Since she had already reached an agreement with Lin Xian, the repair work had been handed over to him. At this point, if she brought in anyone else to inspect or repair the train, it would be disrespectful to Lin Xian. Monica, being a woman of clarity, understood exactly who Lin Xian was¡ªsomeone brought back by the Seventh Investigation Team of the Phoenix Guild. She didn¡¯t need to hesitate or explain anything to people like He Kun. He Kun, seeing Song Hao¡¯s reaction, quickly realized what was happening. A look of amusement crossed his face as he spoke. "Hey, when did Xilan City get such a genius mechanic? We didn¡¯t know about it. A one-man team fixing your entire train without tools, and according to the lovely lady captain here, he''s almost done?!" He raised his voice with increasing sarcasm, and his three engineers behind him barely managed to stifle their laughter. Standing aside, Shi Diyuan folded his arms and immediately snapped back. "What''s the problem? My brother Lin has the skills. If you¡¯ve got nothing to do, just go somewhere else. Don''t make weird noises around here. Want me to remove your vocal cords?" Shi Diyuan was direct and blunt. He didn¡¯t beat around the bush. If someone got on his nerves, he would not hold back in greeting them. When he spoke, the others immediately changed their expressions, and He Kun''s face darkened. He could sense an aura that he definitely didn¡¯t want to provoke. Although his Gold City team was a large one, he knew that those who operated nuclear-powered trains were not ordinary characters. Thus, he quickly reined in his earlier arrogance and said seriously. "Okay, okay, this guy¡¯s got quite a temper. Calm down, calm down. I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. But since we¡¯ve met today, I¡¯d like to meet this master who can fix nuclear-powered trains without tools. Let¡¯s be friends. This won¡¯t be a problem, right?" Just then, Zhu Pang, one of Monica¡¯s team members, suddenly ran down from the train with an astonished expression. "Hey, the transmission system fault alert¡¯s gone off!!" "What?!" Song Hao immediately pulled out his mobile terminal to check the train¡¯s fault data. To his astonishment, not only had the transmission system been cleared, but several other faults, both minor and major, had also been resolved. "This... this can¡¯t be happening." Monica saw Song Hao¡¯s shocked expression and couldn¡¯t help but marvel. However, she didn¡¯t show any surprise. She was about to board the train to confirm things with Lin Xian when she noticed that he was already standing at the train door. "Team Leader Lin?" "Finished a little faster than expected," Lin Xian said, clapping his hands as he walked down. His hands were spotless, in stark contrast to Song Hao and Zhu Pang, who were covered in grease. Monica''s pupils contracted, and she looked up at Song Hao. At this moment, Song Hao, still in disbelief, stammered, "Monica, the transmission, electric control, and drive¡ªall the faults are gone! How... how did he do this?" Hearing Song Hao¡¯s words, Monica felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders. Excitedly, she turned to Lin Xian and asked, "Team Leader Lin, you really fixed everything?!" "Of course! Hahaha!" Shi Diyuan, quite pleased with himself, walked up and patted Lin Xian on the shoulder. "When it comes to mechanical problems, there¡¯s nothing my brother Lin can¡¯t solve. Monica, you finally found the right guy. 20 Blood Crystals is a great deal, huh?" 20 Blood Crystals? He Kun¡¯s face darkened as he listened to the conversation. He suddenly felt like he had been played. "Hey, Song, didn¡¯t you tell me that the transmission shaft magnetizer was broken, the power turbine had issues, and the electric control and shock absorbers had faults? How come all these problems are fixed in two hours? Are you messing with me?" "I... I didn¡¯t do anything!" Song Hao was now questioning everything. His face kept changing as he ran a self-check through the train¡¯s system. The engines and turbines hummed, but no issues popped up. He had thought Lin Xian might have just cleared the alert system and made a show of it, but the actual result showed that Lin Xian really had fixed problems that had plagued the train for over a month in just two hours! "Heh." Naturally, He Kun didn¡¯t believe this. He had lost patience and glared at Song Hao, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Fine, fine. Since you, the beautiful captain, believe your train is fixed, then I guess we won¡¯t bother you. But just a friendly piece of advice¡ªtrain failures are a matter of life and death. You¡¯d better have professionals check it over, or you might run into trouble when it¡¯s time to leave the city. And at that point, no one will be able to help you." "Damn it, you little son of a b****, is your tongue swapped with the hair on your head? Did you think I was saying nonsense?!" Shi Diyuan immediately lost his temper. He shrugged off his coat and was about to charge forward when Lin Xian stopped him with a hand. "Don¡¯t bother with him. We have other matters to attend to." Lin Xian then stepped forward and spoke to Monica. "The advice is reasonable, though. Even if we¡¯ve fixed it, a check would make you feel more at ease." Monica smiled slightly and said, "Song Hao already ran a system self-check. While I don¡¯t understand mechanics, I can tell if the turbine core sounds right. Team Leader Lin, I¡¯m really grateful." He Kun shot a glance at Shi Diyuan, visibly intimidated. He quickly gestured for his team to follow him, saying, "We¡¯re leaving." But just as they were about to walk away, he suddenly stopped and turned back to Song Hao and Monica, saying, "By the way, about that electric locomotive... you don¡¯t need it, right? If you don¡¯t, we¡¯ll just take it with us." His words were a deliberate probe, trying to see if Monica would get anxious. After all, his information indicated that the ''Monica Queen'' train had serious hidden dangers. He had come here thinking it was a big business opportunity, so he was still trying to push for a lower price. Before Monica and Song Hao could respond, another voice interrupted. "If you¡¯re talking about the two Weilang-class locomotives at the west side freight station, sorry, I¡¯ve already fixed them and taken them." "What?!" He Kun stumbled back in shock, looking at Lin Xian with fear in his eyes. Lin Xian glanced at him. "What¡¯s the problem?" He Kun¡¯s eyes went wide with anger. "What the hell? That electric locomotive was found by our Gold City team. We were planning to fix it and sell it to a client. Who gave you the right to take it?!" Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but laugh, looking coldly at He Kun. "I took it. So what? You want to steal it back?" "Ha, a joke! Just because you found it, doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s yours. Did you piss on it and leave a mark?" Shi Diyuan chimed in, laughing. He Kun had clearly been treating them like fools. "Are you messing with me?!" He Kun¡¯s face turned dark with anger. He reached behind and pulled out a large gun. "You¡¯re daring to steal from our Gold City team¡¯s business? Brothers, get your weapons!" Click-click-click! Before He Kun¡¯s men could even draw their guns, six battle-ready soldiers wearing Lone Wolf A combat exoskeletons quickly surrounded them, guns trained on He Kun¡¯s group. The sudden, intimidating display made He Kun¡¯s anger die down instantly. He felt a cold chill and hurriedly dropped his gun. "Wait, wait, it¡¯s a misunderstanding, misunderstanding. Beautiful lady boss, I was just targeting that guy. I didn¡¯t want trouble with you all." Monica¡¯s nuclear-powered train stood nearby, and He Kun knew this was her territory. His target was Lin Xian, the one who had taken their business. He just wanted to save face;if word spread that a repairman had stolen a business deal from a team of hundreds, they wouldn¡¯t get any future work in Xilan City. Monica stepped forward with a cold face, the mink fur on her coat fluttering. "These two are my guests. If you want to make trouble on my turf, it seems like your team is ready for a confrontation with us?" As she spoke, her beautiful eyes suddenly glowed a deep crimson, and a pressure, invisible yet tangible, burst forth, immediately making He Kun¡¯s group feel suffocated. Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan, who were watching from behind, exchanged glances, both surprised by Monica¡¯s ability to exert such a powerful force. Song Hao and Zhu Pang, witnessing Monica¡¯s anger, quietly stepped back. "No, no, no! How could that be?!" He Kun quickly realized the situation was no joke, and his team of repairmen was outmatched. He knew he couldn¡¯t win this one, so he quickly backed down. "Since your train¡¯s fixed, we won¡¯t bother you. Business is business, we¡¯re all just trying to survive here. Don¡¯t make it worse and attract the Phoenix Guild¡¯s people, right? No need for that, right..." As he said that, He Kun and his men raised their hands and started backing off toward the Bigfoot convoy. Monica stared at him without saying a word, making He Kun feel a chill in his heart. He thought to himself that this woman''s presence was much more intimidating than it appeared on the surface. He decided not to say anything else, clambering into the vehicle and stepping on the gas to make a hasty retreat. Seeing several people fleeing, Monica didn''t intentionally escalate the situation. "Brother Shi, Captain Lin, I¡¯m sorry," Monica said apologetically as she walked over. One of her subordinates handed her a box, which she opened to reveal 20 blood crystals inside. "Captain Lin, if the Golden City convoy causes you any trouble, please contact me. I will take care of it." Lin Xian reached out to take the box. He was quite satisfied with how Monica handled things and responded, "Alright, if anything happens to your vehicle, you can also contact me." He looked at Monica, his next words carrying some deeper meaning: "At least for these two days, I''ll cover the after-sales service." "Ha, Sis Mo, honestly, this isn¡¯t even your problem. The Golden City convoy looks like they''re just the type that likes to extort. I''ve run into these kinds of people many times. I wouldn''t even bother with them unless they crossed a line," Shi Diyuan waved his hand dismissively, then turned to Lin Xian, "Brother Lin, the ability tests are now at Longshan and the Infinite Train. Let¡¯s stop the small talk and head back." Lin Xian nodded, the timing was right. The blueprint for the Monica Queen was already scanned, saving them the trouble of waiting in line. "Alright, I¡¯ll take you over there." Monica didn¡¯t expect that the mechanical failure issue that could determine the life or death of her convoy would be resolved so easily by Lin Xian. The 20 blood crystals were nothing to her, and she had also made connections with Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan, two powerful convoy leaders. She was in a great mood, smiling as she gave some orders to her subordinates and then drove with Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan toward Michelle Cathedral. Michelle Cathedral, Ability Testing Square. The square was now in a frenzy, and more and more survivors gathered from the surrounding streets to watch. News spread like wildfire, and it had been days since the Ability Testing Square in Xilan City had been this lively. The reason was simple. Within two hours, three people had reached the Frenzied Level! Two of them were convoy leaders, Zhou Li and Qian Dele, who had been escorted into the city the night before by the 7th Investigation Corps. The other was Long Dahei, the leader of the Black Child Big Convoy, who had just arrived in Xilan City the afternoon before. Zhou Li, the team leader, had even drunk with Lin Xian yesterday, but to everyone''s surprise, he had no ability. Relying solely on his gene evolution, he reached the peak of 700 Soul Wave Value, and with an extreme coefficient of 1.5, his final ability test level reached 1050, qualifying as Frenzied Level (1000)! Long Dahei, leader of a 800-person convoy, also had an extreme coefficient of 1.5, his ability peak at 800, and his final test level was 1200! The most surprising was Qian Dele, dressed like a wealthy woman, whose ability reached a terrifying 1080 just for the Soul Wave Value peak! Moreover, his extreme coefficient was the highest in the room at 1.7! Thus, the leader of the Joker convoy became the hottest topic of discussion, with a test level of 1836, close to 2000, a true monster! "Wow, that guy just looked like a pretty boy, who would¡¯ve thought his ability level would exceed 1800?" "Impressive! Without counting the Nightwalkers, he¡¯s probably the third or fourth strongest survivor in Xilan City." "Yeah, at least in the top five. I remember Qin Xueming from the Cosmic Convoy, whose 1972 should place second. The strongest is Han Jun from the Arctic Wind Alliance, the only one to break 2000. That¡¯s really something." "But he¡¯s a convoy leader, probably no one can poach him." "Who knows? What if the Arctic Wind Alliance wants to recruit his entire convoy?" "An 1836 ability user isn¡¯t someone who can just be picked up easily." "Maybe. No matter how strong, they¡¯re still fleeing like us in the dark. Smart people know that group survival is safer. If we join the Arctic Wind Alliance, with their setup, we might even be able to handle A-level Eerie Entities!" The crowd was abuzz with discussions. Even in the midst of an apocalypse, there was no stopping people from gossiping. On the roof of a high-rise building, the woman with mechanical eyes focused on the tested Qian Dele from the Joker convoy, analyzing him. "Joker convoy, about 400 members, high-level configuration. This Qian Dele seems to be familiar with Monica from the North City Queen convoy, and he has good relations with the other convoys that arrived last night." "Green Wind, go talk to him. Offer some reasonable terms. If he¡¯s unwilling, I¡¯ll talk to him personally." Han Jun, dressed in a trench coat, spoke in a calm voice. Beside him, a middle-aged man with a face like red gold, Qin Xueming, the leader of the Cosmic Convoy, crossed his arms and spoke solemnly, "Level 1836, a team of 400 people. Your terms aren¡¯t easy to offer." "Crossing the Abyss, even 2000 isn¡¯t guaranteed to survive." Han Jun''s gaze was indifferent as he looked at him, "If you want to survive, we¡¯ll talk." Below, Qian Dele stood at the edge of the testing area, casually chatting with Ning Jing from Longshan No. 1. "Has Old Shi and that handsome guy Lin arrived yet?" "Almost there." Ning Jing looked at the people from Longshan No. 1 also starting to line up, saying, "Someone outside told me they¡¯ve finished their business and should be here in a few minutes." Qian Dele rubbed his face, visibly impatient. "That machine¡¯s ionizing shock is too strong. If I weren¡¯t curious about their test results, I would¡¯ve left already. Standing here isn¡¯t good for my skin~" Ning Jing sighed, "But you can¡¯t see anything from outside." "That¡¯s different." Qian Dele scanned the crowd outside the square. "It¡¯s packed with people, and all the buildings upstairs are full. I can¡¯t be bothered to squeeze with them, I¡¯ll just stay here." At the Infinite Train side, Ning Jing had informed Chen Sixuan of Lin Xian and the others'' imminent return, as there was no signal inside the arena and their communicators couldn¡¯t transmit. Fortunately, Longshan No. 1 had someone stationed outside for communication. "Lin Xian¡¯s almost back," Chen Sixuan said. "Should be here any minute!" Miao Lu added, "I¡¯m a bit nervous." "Me too," Xiao Yuan whispered, knowing her test results wouldn''t be great, she still felt a nervous tremor seeing the scene. "Don¡¯t worry, just take it step by step. The Phoenix Alliance¡¯s research is also progressing bit by bit," Shu Qin reassured them. "Right, once we test, we¡¯ll know our situation and learn from the experience," Lu? Chang said, eager to try. Daluo nodded and glanced at Lu Xingchen not far away, "Has Fire Bro fallen asleep?" "This idiot!" Shasha shot an annoyed look, "How can he sleep through this? I¡¯m going to wake him up." "Don¡¯t bother him," Kiki grabbed Shasha, "This guy loves to show off, he¡¯ll definitely be the last one to go on stage, don¡¯t worry." At this, Shasha felt it made perfect sense. "Look, here comes Ning Jing and the others," Chen Sixuan said, and everyone turned their attention to the front. At this point, most of Longshan No. 1¡¯s members, including Dongzi, Wang Chong, Zhuang Yue, Yu Lianxing, Zhu Anran, and Min Ming, had completed their tests. The third-in-command, Lu Yong, had just stepped onto the Soul Wave Pressure Tester. Under the operator''s control, a huge mechanical ring emitted a deep electrical surge, flashing with white light. Buzz~ Thump! A chilling ionizing shock flared, and Lu Yong exhaled deeply, then stepped down. ¡¾Test complete, peak data: 650¡¿ "Wow, Captain Lu reached 650, that''s already above the Diamond level," the Longshan No. 1 members began discussing. "Impressive, I wonder if he can reach Frenzied level." "At 650, if his extreme coefficient reaches 1.6, he should break into Frenzied level." When the extreme coefficient test ended, Lu Yong¡¯s final evaluation level came out. His extreme coefficient was 1.5, and the evaluation level was 975. Everyone was disappointed. "975, damn, so close," they all sighed. The main disappointment was the Frenzied level reward from the Phoenix Alliance: a supply vehicle, a Cold Dark Reagent, plus a YJ-03 vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft cannon and 200 rounds of ammunition, which was a hefty sum¡ªeven for a large-scale convoy like Longshan No. 1. Next in line, Ning Jing, A¡¯Bai, and Xiao Qing had already completed their tests, and the numbers displayed on the pressure tester left everyone, including the Phoenix Alliance staff, in shock. Gene Evolver: Xiao Qing, Peak Data: 750. Today¡¯s first Evolver with no abilities to hit this number! Laser Eyes: A¡¯Bai, Peak Data: 1000! The data hit everyone like a bombshell! All eyes turned to the young man in thick sunglasses, nobody expected this seemingly frail-looking guy to have such terrifying Soul Wave Value density! When Ning Jing stepped down, the numbers on the tester refreshed again. 1080! The second 1080 today, the same as Qian Dele from the Joker convoy. Their extreme coefficients weren¡¯t out yet, but just the Soul Wave Value peaks made people on the rooftop, including Han Jun, Green Wind, and Qin Xueming, glance at each other in shock! "Longshan No. 1, this convoy is really something." "It¡¯s a rail convoy, with over a thousand members, their firepower should be on par with Qin Xueming¡¯s Cosmic Convoy," Green Wind, who seemed to know everything about Xilan¡¯s survivor convoys, said, "They probably can¡¯t be poached though, since they¡¯re a rail convoy." Chapter 272: All violent! ¡°The train... really isn¡¯t as convenient as other vehicles,¡± Qin Xueming said, eyes sharp. ¡°The Abyss keeps expanding. For the train convoys, there are fewer and fewer available routes.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be long before all these convoys either switch vehicles or adapt to full-terrain mode. That said, they¡¯re faster than car convoys. A lot of them have already caught up with Dawn Center.¡± ¡°Dawn Center? How big is it now?¡± ¡°Over six million people,¡± Han Jun answered calmly. ¡°It¡¯s like a long march¡ªno easy road.¡± ¡°The last stop in the Polar Region is only getting more crowded.¡± At that moment, on the testing plaza, the limit coefficients for Ning Jing, A¡¯Bai, and Xiao Qing had just been evaluated. To everyone¡¯s surprise, A¡¯Bai only scored a 1.3 in his limit coefficient, putting his final assessment level at 1300. It showed that while his Ability held strong potential, his individual combat talent and psychological resilience were just average. Ning Jing and the others were actually aware of this. A score of 1300 had already exceeded their expectations. Ning Jing¡¯s limit coefficient, however, was 1.6, with a final rating of 1728¡ªan absolutely terrifying result. Then Xiao Qing stepped out, and gasps erupted all around. Her limit coefficient had reached 1.8! Genius-level. Inside the gospel hall of the cathedral, Wen Zhuo¡¯s expression showed visible surprise at the scene. ¡°This girl actually scored a 1.8... truly remarkable.¡± ¡°And she¡¯s a Reinforcer, no Ability,¡± Zhou Wuer added, snacking while watching from beside him. ¡°These two convoys are hiding quite a few experts...¡± ¡°They¡¯re working with the Phoenix,¡± Wen Zhuo said. ¡°Their growth data is extremely valuable to us.¡± He then turned to his assistant. ¡°Mark ¡®Longshan No. 1¡¯ as high priority. Raise their attention level to Class A and prep for upload.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the assistant responded immediately. Below the cathedral square, the crowd had already exploded into chatter. ¡°1.8 limit coefficient? Damn, she¡¯s a genius!¡± ¡°She uses a blade too... could she be a Gene Evolver?¡± ¡°Holy sh*t, she looks so badass!¡± ¡°This convoy¡¯s called Longshan No. 1, right? Man, they¡¯ve got some beasts¡ªthree Berserker Levels already!¡± ¡°1728? That¡¯s enough to break into the top ten, and it¡¯s a woman too. Total powerhouse.¡± ... On the Infinite Train side, chatter broke out too. ¡°Whoa! That¡¯s crazy! Sister Jing got a 1728?¡± Chen Sixuan was in disbelief. Ning Jing always kept a low profile, but Chen had seen her in action. The ¡®Power Queen¡¯ had real strength¡ªshe could punch a Snow Wraith to death. ¡°And that Xiao Qing¡¯s also Berserker Level now...¡± Miao Lu let out a soft sigh, face full of awe. ¡°She¡¯s a Gene Evolver too, but how is she so much stronger than me?¡± ¡°Everyone has different talent and experiences,¡± Shu Qin said. ¡°But I feel like we¡¯ve all made huge progress lately. As long as we stay alive, we¡¯ll keep breaking through our limits.¡± ¡°Well said!¡± Just as she finished speaking, a bold voice rang out from behind. Everyone turned to see Shi Diyuan and Lin Xian finally arriving. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± ¡°Brother Shi!¡± ¡°Just in time,¡± Lin Xian said, glancing behind him. Off the square, Monica was walking up to a high platform she had pre-reserved, smiling and nodding at him. ¡°Xiao Qing¡¯s different from the rest of you,¡± Shi Diyuan said as he noticed the group from the Infinite Train talking about her. ¡°She was locked up by some scumbag group. They did all kinds of inhuman experiments on her. Every day was life or death. That¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t talk much now.¡± Hearing that, Chen Sixuan¡¯s expression shifted. She nodded slowly. ¡°If she didn¡¯t have this kind of talent... maybe she wouldn¡¯t have gone through all that.¡± ¡°Definitely one of those disgusting Descent Faction groups,¡± KIKI muttered angrily, arms crossed and fists clenched. ¡°If I ever meet those b*stards, I¡¯ll crush every last one.¡± Shasha nodded emphatically. ¡°Yeah! Traitors!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Lin Xian motioned ahead. ¡°It¡¯s your turn now. Brother Shi and I will go last.¡± Nearby, Lu Xingchen lifted his sunglasses as the Infinite Train team was called forward. He stretched dramatically in front of everyone, giving off that ¡®master-of-the-world¡¯ vibe as he walked into the line. ¡°I thought you were gonna go last,¡± KIKI said, glancing back at him and chuckling when she noticed the eyepatch he was wearing. ¡°Please,¡± Lu Xingchen smirked. ¡°You think someone like me cares about appearances? If you¡¯re weak, putting on a show is pointless.¡± ¡°Oho~¡± Shasha laughed. ¡°Fire Bro, is there anyone who cares more about appearances than you?¡± Wearing his shades, Lu Xingchen didn¡¯t mind their teasing at all. With a serene look, he replied, ¡°Once you sense the Flame of the Six Faces, and realize that in a past life you defeated an Unrivaled Emperor in the river of time, you¡¯ll understand¡ªthe Will of Fire is everything to me.¡± That shut everyone up. ¡°We¡¯re up.¡± Just then, a staff member walked over¡ªit was Shasha¡¯s turn. KIKI, Lu Xingchen, Lin Xian, and Shi Diyuan were slated for the last group. Above the square, Wen Zhuo, Zhou Wuer, and a few others made their way down from the cathedral. All of them, especially KIKI, were high-priority targets on the Phoenix¡¯s Nightwalker list. Wen Zhuo watched closely. ¡°Only the four of us left, huh~¡± Lin Xian exhaled slightly when he saw the testing instrument. Looked like he wouldn¡¯t need to activate his Mechanical Ability after all¡ªsome of his earlier worries were eased. KIKI looked back. She didn¡¯t expect to be the cutoff point. ¡°There¡¯ll be others arriving in Xilan City in the next couple of days. We¡¯re not the last.¡± Lin Xian explained. He recalled the Eagle and Chasing Sun convoys were moving west along the Yunjiang mountain range toward Xilin. If all went well, they¡¯d probably arrive within a day or two. As the evacuation deadline approached, more people would show up. That¡¯s why the Phoenix usually scheduled evacuations at the very last minute¡ªto help as many as possible. Now it was time. On the Infinite Train side, Chen Sixuan, Big Luo, Shu Qin, Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, Xiao Yuan, and Shasha, along with the remaining three from Longshan No. 1, stepped up for the test. Walking up to the Soul Wave Value max-pressure simulator, Chen Sixuan had a moment of disbelief. She never imagined she¡¯d become a battle-hardened warrior of the apocalypse so quickly. She took a deep breath and stepped up as the Infinite Train¡¯s first candidate. ¡¾Test Complete. Peak Value: 400¡¿ The result stunned her. Across the way, Lin Xian was also surprised. Judging by that score, Chen Sixuan could very well break 500 and hit Vajra Level. ¡°Seems those recent upgrades helped her a lot. She¡¯s no pushover anymore,¡± Lin Xian thought. Most impressive was her observation skills¡ªthose weren¡¯t reflected in the raw numbers but could be decisive in a fight. Sure enough, when Chen Sixuan emerged from the simulator and the screen showed a limit coefficient of 1.7, Lin Xian nodded. She really is gifted. ¡°Whoa, Sister Chen hit 680! Vajra Level!¡± KIKI gasped. Lin Xian added, ¡°They say Vajra Level can solo a C-Class Eerie Entity. At this rate, she might even be able to take out that Pale Giant.¡± ¡°No doubt!¡± KIKI grinned. ¡°She¡¯s a sharpshooter! One bullet and that monster¡¯s brain is gone!¡± The other scores began coming in. Xiao Yuan had the lowest result¡ªPeak Value 200, limit coefficient 1.4, final rating 280. But she¡¯d only just evolved, and everyone expected it. Instead of disappointment, she was excited. Evolving meant she wasn¡¯t a liability anymore, and she was a solid logistics support on the Infinite Train. Her confidence soared. Then came Lu? Chang and Miao Lu. One scored 450, the other 400, both with a limit coefficient of 1.5¡ªfinal ratings 675 and 600. Both had reached Vajra Level. Then Big Luo and Shu Qin. Big Luo¡¯s Blood Qi Ability had skyrocketed to 800. Shu Qin, a Gene Evolver, hit a surprising 700. But with a limit coefficient of 1.6¡ªhigher than Big Luo¡¯s 1.5¡ªtheir final Ability ratings were identical: 1120. Both reached Berserker Level. The results left Lin Xian, KIKI, and Lu Xingchen stunned. ¡°Whoa! Big Luo and Sister Shu Qin are so OP! We¡¯re bringing back two sets of CIWS now!!¡± KIKI cheered. The biggest surprise came last: Shasha emerged from the simulator with a peak value of only 300¡ªbut a limit coefficient of 1.8! ¡°You little beast! Born to brawl!¡± KIKI ruffled her hair as Shasha blushed and walked back. ¡°540! Vajra Level! From now on, go hand-to-hand! Forget piloting your Sally!¡± Shasha immediately lifted her head and protested, ¡°No way! That big guy fights best in my hands. I¡¯m twelve, you want me swinging blades at monsters?¡± ¡°Hehe~ just messing with you.¡± ¡°Brother Lin, your people are monsters,¡± Shi Diyuan said, chuckling. In his convoy, kids this age were kept safe. Shasha, on the other hand, was piloting mechs like a Steel Fortress. ¡°She¡¯s a firepower maniac. Loves studying weapons. Don¡¯t let her size fool you¡ªshe and her brother drove through the darkness themselves,¡± Lin Xian said proudly. Just then, Chen Sixuan returned with the others, smiling. ¡°Better than I expected,¡± Lin Xian said. Chen gave him a playful glare. ¡°What, did you think I was some fragile lady?¡± ¡°I never thought that,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°You¡¯re our navigator. You should be strong.¡± She smiled¡ªa rare, heartfelt smile. ¡°Captain Lin.¡± ¡°Brother Xian.¡± Shu Qin and the others joined in. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I made Berserker Level,¡± Shu Qin said. Big Luo nodded. ¡°The improvements have been insane lately.¡± No wonder. From Clearwater Town to here, they¡¯d fought almost non-stop. The Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum helped them evolve nightly. Even Xiao Yuan was combat-ready now. Speaking of Xiao Yuan, she stood at the back, glancing shyly at Lin Xian. He noticed and gave her an encouraging smile. She let out a deep breath. Even if she was the lowest scorer, Lin Xian had brought her along. That meant he saw her worth¡ªand that meant more to her than any number. ¡°Alright. Our turn.¡± The staff came over and confirmed their numbers on a mobile terminal. Lin Xian, Shi Diyuan, Lu Xingchen, and KIKI all walked toward the testing platform under countless watchful eyes. Far away, on a rooftop, Han Jun and others leaned forward, watching seriously. ¡°Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan¡ªleaders of the Infinite Train and Longshan No. 1,¡± Qin Xueming of the Cosmic Convoy said. ¡°One commands over a thousand, the other only thirty-something, yet both were given Crimson Phoenix Tokens by the Phoenix. They¡¯re no joke.¡± ¡°With those three earlier, Longshan No. 1 has three Berserker Levels now, all with strong scores. Plus over a dozen Vajra-levels. This leader definitely has what it takes to run a thousand-strong mega convoy.¡± ¡°And the Infinite Convoy¡¯s even more interesting. Fewer people, but they¡¯re riding a massive train with a rail-mounted electromagnetic cannon. All elites. They¡¯ve already got two Berserker Levels...¡± Han Jun¡¯s eyes narrowed. Among hundreds of candidates, he could still feel a powerful Soul Wave Value that hadn¡¯t yet been revealed. Which meant¡ªit had to be one of these four! On the cathedral plaza, Wen Zhuo, Zhou Wuer, and Peng Peng stood by the base vehicle. Even Peng Peng put away his game console, watching with curiosity. ¡°Mechanical Ability... I wonder what kind of result it¡¯ll show.¡± Thousands of survivors felt the shift in atmosphere. All eyes turned to the platform. ¡°Brother Lin, I¡¯ll go first.¡± Lu Xingchen stepped up. Dressed in a blazing red hoodie, he stood out like a sore thumb. Xilan City¡¯s temperature was -50¡ãC, and most survivors wore heavy thermal gear. This guy? Just a single layer. Attention score: maxed out. Lu Xingchen had that classic "strongman" hairstyle¡ªlike a flaming torch. At the staff¡¯s signal, he stepped forward casually, arms crossed, eyes gently closed, standing beneath the massive circular testing device, quietly awaiting the scan. Wuuu¡ªSnap! The ionizing buzz echoed out, drawing everyone''s attention. [Scan complete. Peak index: 1100]! The moment that number appeared, the entire cathedral plaza erupted in gasps of astonishment. 1100¡ªtoday¡¯s highest reading, a full 20 points higher than Ning Jing and Qian Dele''s peaks. The result instantly electrified the crowd. Discussions broke out everywhere. ¡°1100? Who the h*ll is that?¡± ¡°No info on him...¡± Even the nearby survivors weren¡¯t the only ones shocked¡ªWen Zhuo and Zhou Wuer were also caught off guard. ¡°1100. That¡¯s nuts.¡± Up in the building, Qin Xueming clicked his tongue. ¡°Just barely below my 1160 and Captain Han¡¯s 1200. This guy¡¯s gotta be one of the Infinite Train¡¯s main fighters.¡± ¡°He¡¯s from the Infinite Convoy? Why do they have so many powerhouses?¡± Green Wind¡¯s mechanical eye quickly locked onto Lu Xingchen¡¯s face and began recording data. Back on the plaza, Lu Xingchen listened to the thunderous chatter around him, cracking a relaxed smile. Like some transcendent master, he strolled down the platform at his own pace. ¡°1100, huh? Looks like I¡¯ve been slacking a little in my training.¡± He basked shamelessly in the admiring stares¡ªuntil they suddenly vanished. He stopped, realizing something was off. Instead of entering the Extreme Limit Testing Pod, he turned to look behind him. Because right then, everyone¡¯s eyes had shifted¡ªtoward the girl who¡¯d just flown in. KIKI hovered in midair, arms folded over her chest, her purple hair flowing even without wind. Under the gaze of the crowd, she descended gently onto the testing platform, then turned to the nearby staff. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Wuuu¡ªSnap! The ion surge blasted out. KIKI¡¯s eyes glowed faintly;her hair floated upward from the pressure, but the intense force had zero effect on her. Only when she realized the scan had finished did she glance around and mutter, ¡°So that¡¯s what dying feels like? Doesn¡¯t seem that bad...¡± But just as she was about to step down, the entire plaza fell deathly silent. She looked toward the technician¡ªhis eyes were wide open in disbelief. [Scan complete. Peak index: 1240]! Boom! The silence shattered into chaos! ¡°What?!¡± On the rooftop, Qin Xueming¡¯s face twisted in shock. He dropped his hand and stared down. ¡°1240?? What the h*ll is this girl¡¯s deal?!¡± Beep, beep, beep! Green Wind¡¯s mechanical eye kept scanning her. ¡°No propulsion, no wings. She¡¯s flying with some kind of invisible telekinesis¡ªthis is beyond weird.¡± ¡°Mind control... psychokinesis-type ability!?¡± Even Han Jun¡¯s ever-calm expression turned serious. Though this had no bearing on him¡ªPhoenix wasn¡¯t a competitive group¡ªthe fact that someone had surpassed his peak score was still unexpected. Down on the plaza, the uproar only intensified. ¡°Holy sh*t! What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°She hit 1240?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s insane! Even higher than Han Jun from the Arctic Wind Alliance!¡± ¡°She can fly too...¡± ¡°I knew those convoys had monsters hiding in them!¡± ¡°She¡¯s nuts!¡± ¡°She¡¯s a d*mn witch!¡± In the crowd, Wen Zhuo¡¯s gaze sharpened as he watched the girl descend from the platform. ¡°No doubt she¡¯s an S-class Ability User. That kind of mind-based growth potential... probably bottomless.¡± Zhou Wuer popped another snack into his mouth and said lazily, ¡°These numbers get reported, HQ¡¯s definitely gonna focus more on the Infinite Convoy.¡± ¡°D*mn, this little missy¡¯s terrifying,¡± muttered Shi Diyuan, who was next up for testing. He glanced at Lin Xian with awe. Even Lin Xian was visibly surprised. As one of the convoy¡¯s key fighters, he knew KIKI was powerful¡ªbut 1240? That was beyond what he¡¯d expected. Not far away, Lu Xingchen saw KIKI stepping down and took a deep breath, muttering with eyes shut, ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. That girl¡¯s a freak. This Fire God walks the path of stability. No comparison, no comparison.¡± With that, he stepped into the Extreme Coefficient Testing Pod. Finally, it was Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan¡¯s turn. The two leaders ascended the stage one after the other. With the shocking results of Lu Xingchen and KIKI still fresh, the crowd held their breath, watching the pair intently. Lin Xian went first. As he stood under the massive testing device, energy waves began swirling above him, humming gently. He closed his eyes, tuning out the stares. Wuuuu¡ª The Soul Wave Value Peak Pressure Tester began charging, humming with rising power. Snap! A massive wave of energy surged, slamming into Lin Xian¡¯s mind like an invisible pulse. Buzz¡ª His Mechanical Heart kicked into overdrive! [Non-mechanical energy detected. Activating shielding protocols.] A HUD flashed before his eyes. Strangely, he didn¡¯t feel the overwhelming death-like sensation that Zhou Wuer had warned him about. As the screen faded, a woman suddenly appeared in the darkness before him. Lin Xian¡¯s expression changed instantly¡ªit was the same woman he¡¯d seen in his dreams at the Jiang City shelter! She stood clad in strange black full-body armor, wires and tubes feeding into her as she stood atop a testing platform. The moment she sensed Lin Xian¡¯s gaze, her eyes snapped open, locking onto him. ¡°You again. Who are you?!¡± Before Lin Xian could respond, the woman spoke first. ¡°Chu Yan, who are you talking to?¡± Lin Xian opened his mouth¡ªonly to see a group of lab-coated researchers rush over, checking her vitals in a panic. Yet the woman never broke eye contact. The next second, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flew open¡ªthe vision had vanished without a trace. His heart thundered in his chest. He was now certain: the woman he¡¯d seen wasn¡¯t some hallucination or dream. He had truly glimpsed someone from somewhere else. And whoever she was... she had a direct connection to him. How else could she have appeared inside his own shelter room? That thought flashed by, but he forced himself to calm down. Shi Diyuan was still waiting his turn, eyes on Lin Xian¡¯s display. [Scan complete. Peak index: 1050] Surprisingly, though Lin Xian¡¯s result was high, it didn¡¯t surpass KIKI or Lu Xingchen. ¡°D*mn, Brother Lin! 1050¡¯s still awesome!¡± Shi Diyuan looked genuinely impressed. He knew Lin Xian¡¯s ability was incredibly versatile, but this showed his combat strength wasn¡¯t lacking either. On the side, Wen Zhuo and Zhou Wuer exchanged glances, both looking surprised. They had naturally assumed Lin Xian, as the leader, would have the highest stats. This result threw that assumption out. Even those on the outskirts¡ªMonica, Qian Dele, Han Jun up on the rooftop¡ªall showed visible surprise. ¡°He¡¯s only third strongest in his own convoy?¡± Qin Xueming frowned. ¡°1050¡¯s still a savage-level score, but I¡¯ve never seen a leader outclassed by their subordinates,¡± Green Wind muttered, puzzled. In this post-apocalyptic world, Ability Users and Enhancers constantly evolved. With survival and Dark Entities being humanity¡¯s greatest threats, power was the foundation of leadership. Though civilization hadn¡¯t fully collapsed, intellect-based teams were rare¡ª even groups like Phoenix relied on firepower to maintain order. So to folks like Han Jun, this result was weird. ¡°We can¡¯t judge just yet. Let¡¯s wait for the Extreme Coefficient results,¡± Han Jun said, watching Lin Xian head toward the pod. Those from the Infinite Train¡ªlike Chen Sixuan¡ªweren¡¯t surprised. They all knew how strong KIKI and Fire Bro were, but that didn¡¯t shake Lin Xian¡¯s place at the top. He had founded the Infinite Train from scratch¡ªweapon systems, energy management, and every other survival-critical feature. Without Lin Xian, the 30-something people on this train wouldn¡¯t have survived the darkness this long. He wasn¡¯t just their strongest fighter. From Underground City No. 9, to Yubei Spaceport, Rain Town, Clearwater Town, the snowfields¡ªLin Xian had cracked the code of survival time and time again, rescuing tens of thousands. What did a peak index even mean in the face of all that? [Scan complete. Peak index: 1100] Shi Diyuan¡¯s result popped up, and he too headed into the Extreme Testing Pod. Whoooosh¡ª The crowd roared again. Four people, all above 1000¡ªsavage-tier monsters. Turned out today¡¯s main event was saved for last. Now that the show had begun, everyone focused on the final evaluation¡ªeager to see what those four would achieve inside the Extreme Pods. Lin Xian walked in silently, still replaying the image of that woman¡ªChu Yan. He knew now this wasn¡¯t the first time they¡¯d seen each other. Somehow, they¡¯d connected across space. A staff member met him inside and said: ¡°Hello. Please remove your Exoskeleton Suit. This test doesn¡¯t allow external gear.¡± Lin Xian nodded and took off the suit. ¡°The test lasts five minutes. You¡¯ll face various pre-programmed attacks. If you feel unwell, say ¡®stop.¡¯ After stopping, please refrain from using your ability again.¡± ¡°Note: All attacks are AR projections with no physical substance. Be cautious using your power to avoid self-harm.¡± Didn¡¯t sound too hard. He stepped inside and saw a half-sphere room made of high-tech black nano-carbon ceramic alloy¡ªcrazy expensive and tough. Waterproof, fireproof, bulletproof¡ªbasically a fortress built for Ability Users to safely go all out in a crisis simulation. [Identity confirmed. Test subject ID: D19529527. Lin Xian, please confirm when ready.] A mechanical female voice echoed. Lin Xian exhaled slowly. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± [Test commencing] The lights went out, plunging the pod into darkness. Then full-holo visuals lit the walls¡ªsuddenly, Lin Xian stood in a ruined city overrun by zombies. Above, eerie bat-like Eerie Entities clung to buildings. Thunder boomed overhead. Rain poured. The atmosphere was suffocating. ¡°Pretty realistic...¡± He immediately recognized the test format. ¡°Well then¡ª¡± Zzzap, zzzap, zzzap¡ª Mechanical lights flared;lightning crackled from his hands. A transparent force field, like an AT barrier, shimmered before him. Simultaneously, countless metallic materials erupted from his surroundings... Back at Michelle Cathedral Plaza, all eyes were locked on the four Extreme Testing Pods. Once those results came out, the full Ability Evaluation Rankings would finally be clear. Wenzhuo and Zhou Wuer both had their eyes locked on the test pods where Lin Xian and KIKI were. They were curious¡ªjust how high could the maximum coefficient get for a Mechanical Ability user and a Psychic? But just as tens of thousands of people were waiting for the test results, a sudden burst of gunfire rang out in the quiet Church Plaza! And it wasn¡¯t just any gunfire¡ªit was the roar of some kind of heavy-caliber Gatling gun!! Doo!! The sudden outburst made every survivor instinctively shrink back. Their eyes darted around, searching for the source of the sound. Even though most were just watching out of curiosity, survivors were hyper-alert to danger. That sound had instantly triggered a panic, with many assuming it was an attack. Some had even drawn their guns. In a flash, the crowd became chaotic. Even the Phoenix security team and soldiers from the Investigation Corps were on high alert, scanning for a threat. But just a few seconds later, everyone realized¡ªthere was no actual danger. The intense gunfire was coming from inside the plaza. To be specific... from one of the Extreme Testing Pods! ¡°What the h*ll¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t weapons not allowed inside?¡± ¡°Yeah, I saw the staff check everyone!¡± ¡°Could it be a false alarm? Like, caused by some ability?¡± Over at the Infinite Train team, Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin, Luo Ye, and Shasha were all exchanging glances. Once they realized what was happening, the previously serious scene turned a little... hilarious. The moment they heard that sound, they instantly knew the reason behind it. ¡°Brother Lin, seriously...¡± Shasha stifled a laugh. She¡¯d been inside one of those test pods before¡ªit''s a simulated survival environment. It tests not just abilities but also reflexes, environmental awareness, and rapid decision-making. She could already picture exactly what Lin Xian was doing in there. No one had expected the usually noisy plaza to go so quiet, making the gunfire all the more jarring. Doo~ The Gatling gun''s roar echoed again and again. And then¡ªan explosion! Boom!!! Wenzhuo and Zhou Wuer frowned, looking toward the source. Since the pod was a sealed environment, no one outside could tell what was going on. Finally, after a confusing few minutes, the testing process for the four pods came to an end. At the same time, the sounds of warfare from inside that pod stopped. Shhhh~ The test pod door opened. The staff member standing nearby had already been on edge, her face full of worry and panic. She had done a full inspection on Lin Xian¡ªhe didn¡¯t have any weapons on him. Now, she was worried she¡¯d missed something crucial. But in just five minutes... how the h*ll could he have pulled out so many weapons? As the door opened, a thick cloud of gunsmoke poured out, slowly drifting into the sky. Lin Xian stepped out with a calm expression, waiting for his results. The staffer rushed into the pod in a panic. Instantly, the thick scent of gunpowder hit her. She looked around and saw that all four walls¡ªmade of nano-carbon ceramic alloy¡ªwere covered in dense bullet marks. The formerly black panels now looked like they¡¯d been spray-painted silver. But weirdly, there wasn¡¯t a single shell casing or bullet to be found. The entire pod was empty. Apart from the gunpowder smell, nothing else remained. ¡°What the h*ll?¡± She¡¯d been standing closest, and the gunfire inside had sounded like the front lines of a battlefield. How was there nothing left after the test ended? Meanwhile, KIKI had exited her pod and immediately looked toward Lin Xian. She had a knowing smile¡ªshe¡¯d heard all the ruckus from inside and had actually been distracted by it, which had slightly affected her performance. Then the results from all four testers were finally released. Shi Diyuan and Ning Jing both scored a max coefficient of 1.6, with final Ability Level Evaluations at 1760. For a C-Class Beast-type Ability User, that was really impressive. Among the four, Shi Diyuan¡¯s ability was actually the most ¡°ordinary,¡± but now that his powerful score was public, no one dared underestimate the leader of the Thousand-Person Train Convoy. On the other hand, KIKI and Lu Xingchen¡¯s results also came out. Surprisingly, KIKI also hit a max coefficient of 1.6, but Lu Xingchen scored even higher¡ª1.7! Looking at his score, Lu Xingchen narrowed his eyes, looking smug. ¡°Just as I thought. This kind of talent is something you¡¯re born with.¡± Finally winning back some pride, Lu Xingchen was clearly satisfied. With that, the Ability Level Evaluation put Lu Xingchen at 1870, and KIKI at 1984! Seeing her score, KIKI just pouted slightly. She knew the test wasn¡¯t actually dangerous, which was why she¡¯d let herself get distracted by Lin Xian¡¯s antics and spent half the time trying not to laugh. If she had focused, she might¡¯ve broken 2000¡ªbut she didn¡¯t care much. She was already at Rampage-Level. Whether she hit 2000 or not didn¡¯t matter to her. ¡°Two Rampage-Levels in a single convoy? This Infinite Convoy may not have many people, but it''s full of hidden monsters,¡± said Qin Xueming, arms crossed as he watched from atop a tall building. ¡°Looks like the convoy leader is building an elite team,¡± he added. ¡°With so few members in such a big convoy, I bet they¡¯re going to get flooded with partnership offers in the next couple of days,¡± said Green Wind. Then she turned to Han Jun. ¡°They¡¯re also a train convoy. Should we still make contact?¡± Han Jun didn¡¯t respond. His eyes were still on Lin Xian¡¯s testing pod. Why was his data taking longer than the others? Just then, down at the testing plaza, a result finally started to appear. Everyone stared as a number slowly appeared on the screen above Lin Xian¡¯s pod. Han Jun¡¯s expression immediately changed. ¡¾2¡¿ In that instant, the whole Church Plaza fell deathly silent. Many rubbed their eyes, thinking they¡¯d seen it wrong. That screen had never shown a number different from 1. Wenzhuo and Zhou Wuer¡¯s faces instantly changed. ¡°2? What does that mean? 1.2?¡± ¡°Is that a mistake?¡± ¡°How could someone hit 2?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really a 2!¡± ¡°Then that means his Ability Level Evaluation is...¡± ¡°2100?!!!¡± ¡°Holy sh*t, 2100? That¡¯s higher than Han Jun!¡± ¡°What the h*ll is this guy¡¯s deal?!¡± Seeing the crowd go wild, even Lin Xian looked a little stunned. Inside the Extreme Test Pod, crisis after crisis had been thrown at him. So, he made metal armor, deployed his AT Field, and even fabricated weapons on the spot to defend himself. It was intense¡ªbut honestly, not as tough as that snowy pursuit yesterday. Still, he hadn¡¯t expected a perfect score. That caught even him off guard. There was one catch, though¡ªhe hadn¡¯t been able to test his AT Field¡¯s defense. The pod only used holograms and sensory modules, which triggered based on contact. They didn¡¯t carry any real force. So, while he avoided hits, there wasn¡¯t any actual threat. ¡°No wonder Brother Lin pulled it off. Impressive,¡± Shi Diyuan said with a hearty laugh as he walked over. To him, this test was basically just a favor to Phoenix. He didn¡¯t care much about the score. He was more pleased about scoring some anti-aircraft guns and other supplies. And after seeing Lin Xian in action both at the spaceport and the snowfield, Shi Diyuan wasn¡¯t surprised in the slightest. A man who could stop a collapsing world with his bare hands¡ªhow could he be ordinary? Up in the tower, the looks on Han Jun and the others'' faces were priceless. Qin Xueming looked genuinely shocked. He glanced at Han Jun. He never would¡¯ve guessed that the leader of a convoy with just thirty people would have a higher Ability Score than Han Jun, the head of the massive Arctic Wind Alliance. It was surreal. Han Jun¡¯s expression was serious, but his eyes shone with interest. Staring at the figure in the plaza, he finally said, ¡°It¡¯s done. Let¡¯s go meet him.¡± Chapter 273: The Supreme Principles ¡°Whoa, that was awesome, Lin Xian.¡± KIKI flew over to him first, her eyes sparkling as she looked him over. Then she leaned in and lowered her voice, ¡°Hey, but weren¡¯t you a bit too flashy just now? Aren¡¯t you worried they¡¯ll say you were cheating?¡± Lin Xian shrugged helplessly. ¡°Are you stupid? This is literally my Ability. How¡¯s that cheating?¡± The test chamber was designed to simulate escape under extreme pressure. Killing was only one aspect¡ªthe main challenge was handling omnidirectional attack points, which tested a subject¡¯s response capability. Lin Xian, however, not only had an AT Field but also Steel Armor, allowing him to handle every challenge thrown his way. The attack system of the test chamber was quickly overridden by his Mechanical Heart. At that point, even if Lin Xian didn¡¯t try too hard, the chamber couldn¡¯t pose much threat to him. So in essence, this test chamber wasn¡¯t truly pushing the limits. But given current conditions, it was already a relatively objective setup, and the results could serve as a useful reference. An individual¡¯s Limit Coefficient was essentially a fixed value. Once the Phoenix released their portable Peak Detection Devices, Ability Users would be able to track changes in their Ability Level with precision. The test concluded, and Wen Zhu held a mobile terminal as he reviewed the collected data. Then he signaled his team to begin the wrap-up process. ¡°Compared to two weeks ago, the evolution rate of Ability Users has accelerated quite a bit,¡± Wen Zhu said, glancing at his watch. Unless there were special circumstances, Phoenix¡¯s Ability assessments were always conducted during the day. It was already 3:20 PM, so the newly arrived survivors would have to wait until tomorrow for their turn. ¡°Fleeing for their lives, surviving against all odds... anyone who¡¯s still alive by now owes it at least partly to luck, no matter how capable they are,¡± Zhou Wuer said. After a round of tests, it was rare to see anyone with a Limit Coefficient below 1. It was a harsh form of natural selection¡ªpsychological resilience and physical condition were critical factors in survival. As a Courier, Zhou Wuer had seen his share of hellish scenes. This didn¡¯t faze him anymore. Wen Zhu glanced at him, his eyes shifting subtly, then turned to instruct his team to begin the final round of public education. With the test over, many of the onlookers began to disperse, chatting about the Infinite Convoy and Dragon Mountain No. 1. But for most survivors, unless they had a reason to connect, these discussions were just idle curiosity. After all, none of this directly affected their own survival. At most, the more powerhouses the city had, the more secure the average survivor felt. The hundreds who had just completed their tests were still in the Cathedral Plaza, waiting. They hadn¡¯t left yet because they were expecting a training session from Phoenix¡ªand more importantly, to receive supplies! Even Evolution-Level survivors got a box of supplies. No one was going to say no to free stuff. Lin Xian, KIKI, and Fire Bro regrouped with Chen Sixuan and the others. Just then, staff from the Nightwalkers Organization began gathering everyone in Central Plaza. All eyes turned to a short-statured young man wearing the black metallic trench coat standard for the Nightwalkers as he walked up to the Peak Soul Wave Value Detector. Wen Zhu. It was rumored among survivors in Xilan City that these trench coats didn¡¯t just offer defense¡ªthey could also mask one¡¯s Soul Wave fluctuations, which Phoenix believed helped Nightwalkers avoid being detected by Eerie Entities. As Wen Zhu stepped forward, he casually waved his right hand¡ªand the massive Soul Wave Peak Detector behind him emitted a low hum and slid several meters to the side on its own, clearing a wide space for him to stand. That one simple motion instantly hushed the crowd. Everyone stared at the seemingly short man, eyes wide. ¡°What the h*ll just happened? That machine!?¡± ¡°What kind of Ability is that?¡± ¡°Hly sht, that thing¡¯s gotta weigh at least ten tons.¡± ¡°Nightwalkers really are terrifying.¡± Watching all this unfold, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but frown at the man. Then he looked at KIKI and noticed she wore the same puzzled expression. ¡°Psychokinesis?¡± ¡°Sort of,¡± KIKI murmured with a frown. ¡°But it feels... different somehow...¡± ¡°Good afternoon, survivors. I¡¯m Wen Zhu, Team Leader of Phoenix¡¯s Nightwalkers Organization, Starfire Division Three, Xilan Operations Team.¡± Wen Zhu¡¯s voice was calm and rational as he scanned the crowd. ¡°First, thank you all for supporting Phoenix¡¯s work under such circumstances. Your data has now been entered into Phoenix¡¯s system. You can think of this as your new citizenship number under Phoenix.¡± ¡°As usual, after an Ability test, it¡¯s our responsibility to educate you on the fundamentals of Abilities. We hope this helps you better defend yourselves against the darkness.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been 92 days since Apocalypse Day. Date ID: D92. If you¡¯ve survived this long through these catastrophic events, then you must have your own understanding of Abilities. Our research at Phoenix is far from complete. The Nightwalkers are still actively studying the impact of the Dark Tides on humanity.¡± ¡°For many of you, this power may mean evolution, mutation. But on a global scale, it represents ecological collapse and the death or zombification of over ten billion people¡ªa civilization-level catastrophe. If the darkness is a flood, then those of you standing here are the lucky few who learned to swim. But the waves haven¡¯t stopped. And swimming alone won¡¯t keep you alive.¡± ¡°Phoenix has invested immense manpower and resources into Ability research. The Nightwalkers now number over forty thousand, and globally, over three hundred thousand Ability Users have been documented. As a leading organization in preserving human civilization, Phoenix believes it is our duty to share the knowledge we''ve gathered, to help you understand this power and use it wisely¡ªso we can all survive to see the next Dawn.¡± Everyone in the plaza stood a little straighter. All of them had escaped chaos, horror, and death just to make it this far. Phoenix had not only committed to researching Abilities but had also shared information through radio and these outposts, providing supply support. Because of this, nearly everyone had a strong respect and appreciation for Phoenix. ¡°Due to time constraints, we won¡¯t go into the full details of the Dark Tides, the Polar Night, and Ability classifications¡ªthose are available via global broadcast or local materials you can pick up here shortly. I¡¯ll focus on training you in three key pieces of information.¡± Key information? The crowd instantly perked up. ¡°Oh boy, here comes the good stuff.¡± Hearing that, Shi Diyuan shouted to the team behind Dragon Mountain No. 1, ¡°Listen up, this might just save your a** down the line!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± the group responded in unison. Over on the Infinite Train¡¯s side, Chen Sixuan and the others had gathered around Lin Xian. They were up front, clearly intrigued. ¡°His materials should be in the Fire Book, but the method is worth studying,¡± Lin Xian said. Others had perked up too¡ªZhou Li, Qian Dele, and members from the five convoys that had defended the front line, plus several that had entered the city just yesterday. ¡°The first point: For Gene Evolvers, surviving extreme danger can trigger major boosts in bodily function¡ªnear-limit breakthroughs. The closer to death you¡¯ve been, the more obvious the evolution. Depending on your physical traits, you might develop strengths in things like power or recovery¡ªsome even becoming like giants or Blood-Fueled Ability Users.¡± Wen Zhu addressed the crowd, ¡°The difference between Ability Users and Gene Evolvers is mainly physical. Ability Users show Soul Wave fluctuations when activating their powers¡ªothers can sense the energy. But Gene Evolvers don¡¯t. Based on our extensive data, both are influenced by Cold Dark Fundamental Particles, but Gene Evolvers represent an internal push¡ªconstant breakthroughs in human limits and physical enhancement. If they¡¯re not using their power, they look just like normal people.¡± ¡°Our Nightwalkers believe these are two distinct branches of development. Gene Evolvers focus on martial arts, strength, speed, durability, and healing. Ability Users, on the other hand, have a power core that can convert those particles into Ability effects.¡± ¡°Put simply, it¡¯s mental energy. Mental energy is also key to resisting Dark Invasion. Ability Users only need to strengthen this to get stronger. Gene Evolvers need to push both body and mind. That makes life a lot harder for regular folks who aren¡¯t Ability Users.¡± ¡°But Ability Users also have weaknesses. Apart from strength-based ones like Giants or Blood-Fueled types, most have lower efficiency in physical training. In other words, if they try to train their bodies, they¡¯ll fall behind Gene Evolvers. Some might dismiss this, but trust me¡ªit matters. The disasters and Eerie Entities we face are getting stronger. Most Abilities are narrow in scope and lack mobility. In these situations, you either rely on your team or an Exosuit. But both are external. They can¡¯t guarantee personal survival. That¡¯s why Phoenix recommends all Ability Users train their bodies too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy for you to say,¡± someone suddenly cut in from the crowd. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say training efficiency is lower? Why waste time when I could be leveling up my Ability?¡± Heads turned toward the voice. A burly middle-aged man stood there, wrapped in a black down coat, wearing sunglasses under a snow cap¡ªlooking very much like some street gang boss. Ning Jing and Chen Sixuan immediately recognized him. That was Long Dahei, leader of the Blackie Convoy. A Berserker-Level Ability User with a 1200-point rating¡ªone of the strongest convoys in the city. On stage, Wen Zhu replied calmly, ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s a recommendation. I believe most Ability Users are already aware of this. Their powers might be strong, but their weaknesses are just as clear.¡± That statement got nods of agreement from many in the crowd. Lin Xian felt this deeply. Without an Exosuit, he was pretty vulnerable. If it weren¡¯t for his Backlash move giving him mobility, he¡¯d be in real trouble facing large Eerie Entities. Zombies were manageable. But those thick-skinned monsters like the Pale Giant? His Wind Cannon, Ice Wall, all his gear and traps¡ªnone of them guaranteed results. Even the Infinite Train nearly got flipped once, and that was just a C-Class Eerie Entity... Fire Bro and KIKI had it even worse. Their defense was way too low. Without team cover, a single bullet could end Fire Bro. Even though KIKI had picked up a Forcefield and could fly now, her petite frame still couldn¡¯t handle the constant onslaught from monster tides. Someone like Shu Qin, on the other hand¡ªwhile lacking massive damage output¡ªcould handle danger with grace. If she weren¡¯t stuck on the train, she¡¯d have great odds surviving alone. ¡°Weaknesses? I don¡¯t think so,¡± Long Dahei said from the crowd, clearly not buying Wen Zhu¡¯s take. ¡°You know what Abilities are? They¡¯re basically f***ing magic. No matter how strong a normal person gets, they can¡¯t fly, right?¡± He laughed and looked around. ¡°No offense to you Gene Evolvers. Just my two cents.¡± His comment instantly sparked a lively debate. ¡°Yeah, no matter how strong your fists are, they can¡¯t beat bug armor or beast claws. And don¡¯t even mention the ones that spit fire or shoot lightning.¡± ¡°Mobility can totally be replaced by power armor~¡± A bunch of voices chimed in agreement with Long Dahei. Wenzhuo let out a small sigh at that, just about to speak when Zhou Wuer, standing off to the side of the platform, cut in first. ¡°It¡¯s not just about mobility. Your body''s agility and recovery are part of the equation. Sometimes, to fully leverage your Ability, your physical attributes need to be up to par too. It all works together¡ªyou can think of it like that.¡± His explanation instantly clicked for a lot of people. But Long Dahei wasn¡¯t buying it. He crossed his arms and looked at Zhou Wuer with a challenging stare. ¡°Let me ask you this¡ª¡± ¡°Are you an Ability User?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Wuer replied calmly. ¡°What¡¯s your Ability peak value?¡± ¡°Seven hundred.¡± ¡°And your limit coefficient?¡± ¡°1.8.¡± That number caused an immediate stir among the crowd. Doing the math, even though Zhou Wuer¡¯s peak value was just 700, his Ability evaluation rating came out to 1260¡ªhigher than Long Dahei¡¯s 1200. Long Dahei frowned. ¡°So with a limit coefficient that high, your body¡¯s probably pretty solid, huh? Does that mean I definitely wouldn¡¯t be a match for you?¡± The moment he said that, a wave of unease spread through the onlookers. That tone¡ªit sounded like he was trying to provoke the Nightwalkers. On stage, Wenzhuo shot a glance at Zhou Wuer, but Zhou Wuer didn¡¯t even look his way. Instead, he smiled and said, ¡°Theoretically speaking, Ability evaluation ratings don¡¯t fully represent a person¡¯s combat power. We¡¯ve already covered that. But if it helps everyone better understand how important physical skills are when using your Ability, I don¡¯t mind showing you.¡± Whoosh~ Zhou Wuer¡¯s words made the crowd erupt. Even people who had been getting ready to leave the cathedral plaza came rushing back to see the show. Sounded like a survivor was challenging someone from the Nightwalkers¡ªa first in Xilan City. ¡°Alright!¡± Long Dahei¡¯s eyes lit up with anticipation. He stepped forward, waved to clear a space, shrugged off his coat and handed it to one of his guys, and said to Zhou Wuer, ¡°To be honest, I never really cared about this whole ¡®limit coefficient¡¯ thing. Perfect. Let me see how your ¡®700¡¯ goes up against my ¡®800.¡¯ Fair warning¡ªI¡¯ll hold back a little, but if you get hurt, that¡¯s on you.¡± ¡°Heh, now this is interesting. A duel,¡± Shi Diyuan said with interest. ¡°Though this Nightwalker¡¯s Ability evaluation doesn¡¯t seem as high as I expected,¡± Ning Jing commented. Lin Xian joined in, ¡°Zhou Wuer¡¯s from the Courier Unit. Combat might not be their specialty, but even so, I think their understanding of Abilities runs deeper than ours.¡± Qian Dele nodded. ¡°I agree. Still, looks like we¡¯re in for a good show.¡± ¡°Whoa, they¡¯re really about to throw down!¡± On the Infinite Train, Shasha hopped up onto Luo Ye¡¯s shoulder to get a better view. KIKI flew up next to her, grinning, ¡°I¡¯m betting the big guy loses.¡± Shu Qin frowned slightly. ¡°That¡¯s a big gap in Ability peak values. Can this really end quickly?¡± ¡°Very nice. A duel of strength and philosophy¡ªwhat fun.¡± Lu Xingchen seemed genuinely interested, stepping out of the crowd to find a good spot to watch. Lin Xian kept his gaze on Zhou Wuer. He¡¯d always been curious about Zhou¡¯s Ability that could conjure items out of nowhere¡ªnow he wanted to see it in action. Up on the stage, Wenzhuo crossed his arms and sighed. Zhou Wuer glanced at him, and Wenzhuo muttered under his breath, ¡°Always causing trouble. Don¡¯t hurt anyone.¡± Zhou Wuer just grinned and winked at Peng Peng. Peng Peng got the cue and flicked his finger, releasing an invisible wind blast into the air. Zhou Wuer¡¯s eyes sharpened, and he leapt up, using the wind burst to launch himself tens of meters across the air, landing right in front of Long Dahei. ¡°Guts. Just for that, I respect you Nightwalkers,¡± Long Dahei grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s be clear¡ªI got nothing but respect for your Phoenix folks. I won¡¯t go all out, so don¡¯t get mad.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind. Let¡¯s not waste time¡ªshall we begin?¡± Zhou Wuer smiled. With that, the crowd quickly cleared the area. Zhou Wuer didn¡¯t hesitate at all. His eyes even showed a hint of excitement as he made the first move. He dashed forward with shocking speed¡ªfeet pushing off left and right, body almost parallel to the ground, a blur racing toward Long Dahei like a gust of wind. Long Dahei dropped his smile, face turning sharp. This wasn¡¯t his first life-or-death fight¡ªwhen it was time to throw down, he never played around. He clenched his right hand, then suddenly thrust his palm forward. A powerful shockwave burst out. BOOM! In an instant, the snow covering the entire sector in front of him exploded upward, blasting into a storm of icy dust that swallowed Zhou Wuer completely. Smart¡ªhe saw Zhou¡¯s speed and countered with wide-range suppression! ¡°Shockwave, huh? Looks a bit like your Ability,¡± Lin Xian said to KIKI up front. KIKI hovered nearby with her arms crossed. ¡°Not quite. He has to use his body to trigger it¡ªmine¡¯s all mental.¡± Just like how Fire Bro can¡¯t control flames with thought alone¡ªjudging by the force, Long Dahei¡¯s Ability definitely had destructive potential. With a peak value over 1000, he was already above Frenzied Level. Not someone to take lightly. After unleashing his move, Long Dahei didn¡¯t let his guard down. His shockwave worked like a radar¡ªit reflected off surfaces and helped detect enemies. He already sensed it¡ªZhou Wuer was no longer where he should¡¯ve been in that cloud of snow. ¡°Behind me!¡± Swish! Long Dahei¡¯s eyes flared¡ªhe heard a subtle gust from behind. Without thinking, he spun and sent out another strike¡ªbut suddenly, it felt like he slammed into an invisible wall. The shockwave backfired, blasting him away, his skin rippling from the impact, even spitting from the recoil. Darkness blurred his vision for a second. When he came to, he saw it¡ªa massive riot shield from the Investigation Corps had appeared behind him out of nowhere. The backlash nearly knocked him out cold. And before he could even steady himself, something locked onto his arm. But Long Dahei wasn¡¯t easy prey. He stepped down, yanked his arm, and tried to twist around to catch Zhou Wuer. ¡°Not so fast!¡± He hadn¡¯t even caught sight of Zhou Wuer¡¯s face, but he¡¯d already been countered once¡ªthat alone made him furious. Now he saw an opening and moved to unleash another wide-range shockwave. But just as he raised his right arm¡ªand before he could gather strength with his left¡ªclick, something latched onto him again. ¡°Hey!¡± He roared, trying to break free¡ªbut his wrists had already been cuffed with some kind of metal restraints. Thick cables retracted with lightning speed, binding his arms to his chest, completely neutralizing his shockwave Ability. Then¡ªwham!¡ªa sweeping strike knocked his legs out from under him, sending him face-first toward the ground. And right in front of his falling face, a dagger appeared, stabbed into the ground¡ªits glinting blade aimed squarely at his forehead. Hiss¡ª! In that instant, Long Dahei felt death breathing down his neck¡ªhis heart nearly stopped. Gasps rippled through the crowd. It was too fast¡ªway too fast. From an outsider¡¯s view, that exchange lasted less than five seconds¡ªand a 1200-rated Frenzied-Level Ability User was already inches from death. If Long Dahei¡¯s head hit that blade, there¡¯d be no saving him. Even Lin Xian, Shi Diyuan, Ning Jing, Qian Dele, and folks on the outskirts¡ªHan Jun, Qin Xueming, Green Wind, Monica¡ªall widened their eyes. Then¡ªjust as Long Dahei¡¯s face was about to hit the dagger¡ªhis massive body suddenly stopped mid-air, frozen in place. He stared at the blade in front of him, breathing out frosty air, sweat pouring off his forehead. Behind him, the snow settled¡ªand Zhou Wuer stood calmly, smiling, holding a steel cable that had caught him just in time. ¡°Careful. Falling like that could get you hurt.¡± Zhou Wuer gave the cable a tug and lifted Long Dahei, who was built like a bear, back upright with one hand. Wenzhuo on stage just shook his head. Even Peng Peng looked unbothered, like this was the outcome he¡¯d expected all along. But everyone else¡ªLong Dahei, the Ability testing team, and the thousands of spectators in the plaza¡ªwere completely stunned. A 1200-rated, high-tier shockwave Ability User nearly got taken out in five seconds? That was just terrifying. Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan exchanged serious glances. They knew¡ªthis wasn¡¯t about Ability peak values. It was about skill, physical ability, and high-level tactical awareness. Long Dahei¡¯s power might be effective against Zombie Hordes, but against a smart, experienced opponent¡ªhis flaws were fatal. Life or death in the blink of an eye. Zhou Wuer¡¯s move was a masterclass for all survivors watching. Long Dahei, panting hard with lingering fear, looked down at the dagger, then at the cuffs on his wrists. That moment of helplessness¡ªunable to use his Ability¡ªwas a wake-up call. Just like Zhou Wuer had said: to fully use your Ability, your physical foundation has to keep up. ¡°Apologies. I hope you¡¯re not hurt?¡± Zhou Wuer flicked his wrist, making the dagger and restraints disappear, then grinned at him. Long Dahei turned to him with a complicated look. He opened his mouth, but couldn¡¯t say a word. Instead, he motioned for his guy to bring his coat back. Zhou Wuer didn¡¯t push it. He just turned and walked back to the Nightwalkers¡¯ side like nothing had happened. In just a brief moment, the true weight of the Nightwalkers was fully revealed. Right then, everyone¡¯s gaze toward the Nightwalkers subtly changed. A five-second takedown by someone with an ability peak of 700, crushing a high-tier Ability User with a peak of 1000¡ªthis demonstration made everyone start treating the concept of the ¡°limit coefficient¡± as a serious and authoritative measure. So it turns out, the strongest isn¡¯t the ability itself, but the one who knows how to wield it! ¡°By now, everyone should have a basic understanding of the limit coefficient and physical fitness.¡± Onstage, Wen Zhu continued calmly, ¡°In short, no matter how powerful the ability is, it still depends on how it¡¯s used. Training your mental strength will raise the energy density of your ability and improve resistance against Dark Invasion, but if your body can¡¯t handle it, it¡¯s still extremely dangerous.¡± At this point, the entire venue had gone silent. No one dared question it anymore. ¡°Next, let¡¯s talk about the second point. Whether you¡¯re an Ability User or a Gene Enhancer, the source of this evolutionary power¡ªnamely Cold Dark Fundamental Particles¡ªcomes from two main channels. First is the darkness;our bodies passively absorb it. The second is killing Eerie Entities. When they die, they release a visible black mist of dark energy, which the human body absorbs as well. The issue is, this power causes irreversible damage. Once it surpasses a person¡¯s limit threshold, mutation is extremely likely.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we extract Cold Dark Reagents from Eerie Blood Crystals¡ªit¡¯s a relatively safe method of absorption. To better neutralize and balance this power, Phoenix encourages sunlight exposure and drinking vegetable juice. Evolution takes time. Even we Nightwalkers follow a strict standard: no more than one dose per day. Please keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Lastly, the third point¡ªtraining abilities and physical techniques follow the same rule: repetition. Some of you may worry about energy levels, but the more you use your ability, the more you¡¯ll understand it. Same goes for Gene Enhancers¡ªit¡¯s like training muscles. Since the human body evolves quickly, it needs high calorie intake and constant training to adapt to pushing past limits.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also the matter of development. Abilities have many potential directions for growth. Think of it like fighting techniques. Even if an Evolver¡¯s physical strength improves, mastering techniques boosts combat power even more. Phoenix has a guidebook that collects and compiles various development methods. I suggest everyone study it thoroughly.¡± Hearing that, Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes lit up. He¡¯d been struggling to develop his fire-type ability, constantly trying to boost the power of his moves. After seeing Peng Peng¡¯s ¡°vortex¡± technique, he felt like a whole new world had opened up. If the air-type could be developed so broadly, his fire-type surely had even more potential. ¡°Let¡¯s go grab a copy later.¡± Lin Xian turned back to the team. He knew how important that guide was. There was no way they¡¯d broadcast this kind of detailed info. Only Phoenix strongholds offered access to it. ¡°Got it~¡± KIKI said excitedly. ¡°Phoenix really has everything thought through,¡± Chen Sixuan added. ¡°They¡¯re like a big parent figure, slowly raising us up so more of us have a chance to survive.¡± Shu Qin nodded at that. ¡°It¡¯s a blessing in a storm. When Apocalypse Day just started, it was pure despair¡ªdead bodies everywhere.¡± ¡°Look at these survivors... I¡¯d guess less than ten thousand people managed to escape a whole city.¡± With billions mutated, the land was crawling with zombies and corpses. Less than 1% of human civilization made it out alive. No communication. Silence for thousands of miles. A doomsday reality that could crush the spirit of any survivor. Now, with Phoenix rebuilding a rescue government, supporting survivors worldwide and guiding everyone toward dawn, it was the last voice of human civilization echoing through the radio waves. ¡°That¡¯s all the key info our Nightwalkers have summarized. We hope it helps all Ability Users and Gene Enhancers out there. We also hope you¡¯ll hold on with Phoenix until dawn comes and the Dark Tides recede.¡± As Wen Zhu finished speaking, the crowd quieted down and looked toward the stage. ¡°After this, you can claim free supplies from Phoenix based on your ability assessment score. If you need further help, Xilan City has twelve emergency aid stations offering free medical care and survival guidance.¡± ¡°Right now, Phoenix¡¯s refugee aid camps are severely over capacity, and the defense forces are stretched thin. Biohazards are frequent, and the daily death rate exceeds 5%. Defense unit casualty rates are over 3%. So we¡¯re calling for more capable individuals to join in protecting civilians. Phoenix is recruiting publicly¡ªfor Nightwalkers, researchers, admin, military-medical teams, logistics, and more. If you''re willing to seek shelter and contribute to humanity¡¯s survival, head to the emergency stations to sign up.¡± At that, many people¡¯s expressions turned grim. Daily death rate? Counting deaths by the day... it sounded as brutal as a world war. ¡°Defense unit death rate at 3%? Doesn¡¯t that mean 1,200 Nightwalkers die every single day?¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s face was cold. ¡°That¡¯s terrifying¡ªthey¡¯re Nightwalkers.¡± ¡°So what? We came from Maple City, and every large convoy we passed on the way had over 5%, sometimes even 10% death rates whenever night fell. No one makes it through unscathed.¡± Captain Zhou Li from the defense line sighed, ¡°Our convoy lost half our people in the past month. New blood just keeps coming in. Sometimes we merge with other convoys along the way. My deputy commander had half his head eaten by an Eerie Entity just last week... trying to cover for us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why...¡± Qian Dele, standing at the front, took a deep breath. ¡°Even knowing the Polar Night is drawing closer, convoys in this city refuse to leave early. Everyone just wants to stick with Phoenix¡¯s main forces during the evacuation. We¡¯ve seen too much death. People go numb. A place like this¡ªif it weren¡¯t for the damn Dark Tides¡ªpeople would stay here even if it dropped to minus 50.¡± ¡°Tell me about it,¡± said Shi Diyuan, arms crossed and brow furrowed. ¡°I¡¯ve got over a thousand people, families with kids. The last thing I want to see is another death. Negative emotions spread fast. The weak-willed even mutate under Dark Invasion. That¡¯s why every carriage is equipped with alarm systems¡ªto catch problems early.¡± Shu Qin, Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, and the others all nodded in silent agreement. Xiao Yuan¡¯s gaze dimmed. Before joining the Infinite Train, death was a daily thing in their convoy. And she knew¡ªthose who died were usually the ones on the fringes, the ones with weak abilities or no protection. Xiao Yuan had lived under that shadow. She desperately wanted to grow strong, to be someone her team could rely on. Since boarding the Infinite Train, Lin Xian¡¯s presence gave them all a sense of safety. And in this crumbling world, her heart had quietly grown attached to the figure who kept stepping up to protect them. Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned solemn too. He recalled that convoy buried in the snow at Uliyasitai Mountain¡ªover a hundred men and women, even a pregnant woman among them. Every step forward had been life or death. These tens of thousands in Xilan City? Just the lucky few from the hundreds of cities scattered across this massive land. Besides the supplies handed out after ability assessments, the rescue stations also stocked plenty of weapons and ammo for convoy distribution¡ªrifles, antibiotics, bullets, food, all given out per person. Phoenix wanted to arm every survivor, to save as many lives as possible. This was a long march, a journey to find hope in the middle of an exodus. And it was done with zero reservations¡ªno matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice. ¡°Alright. That concludes the information we needed to share with all the new convoys arriving in Xilan City.¡± Wen Zhu swept his gaze across the crowd. ¡°By protocol, allow me to reiterate Phoenix¡¯s highest creed to all our new citizens.¡± He stood at attention, raised his right fist to his left chest, his face solemn. And at that moment, everyone in the plaza¡ªfrom the joking Zhou Wuer to Peng Peng, to the soldiers of the 7th Investigation Corps¡ªevery single member of Phoenix followed suit. ¡°I pledge to fight for the survival of human civilization for the rest of my life. I will burn my bones as fuel, turning eternal night into day, and swear to protect the flame of civilization!¡± The next moment, the entire Phoenix force shouted in unison¡ª ¡°Burn our bones as fuel, turn eternal night into day, protect the flame of civilization!¡± In that instant, all the chatter ceased. Even the spectators around the edges of the plaza stood still, their faces solemn. A wave of sorrow and unyielding resolve swept across the square. Watching this, Lin Xian felt a ringing in his ears. His eyes swept across the plaza¡ªthose soldiers, those staffers¡ªno matter where they faced, they all stood tall and shouted that soul-shaking creed. And at that moment, he finally understood those who had marched into death in Yubei City. He thought of Bai Shuang, Zhang Dingzhong, and even Yu Yuheng¡ªwho, despite arguing endlessly with Guo Lao, still chose to set aside his differences and join the scientific collaboration the moment he heard their research had made a breakthrough... Chapter 274: Free Activities The ability testing had concluded, and the Infinite Convoy reaped massive rewards¡ªfive Rampage-level, four Titan-level, and one Evolution-level ability users. Thanks to this, they received a significant amount of supplies and weapons from the Phoenix. After providing blood samples in cooperation, Lin Xian¡¯s team received a total of five pickup supply trucks, thirteen crates of standard survival goods, five vials of Cold Dark Reagent, four heavy machine guns with 4000 rounds, as well as five YJ-03 vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft cannons and 1000 shells. This YJ-03 cannon was a medium-caliber 80mm weapon, capable of both altitude coverage (3000¨C7800 meters) and damage effectiveness. It had a firing arc from -10¡ã to +85¡ã, making it suitable for both low-altitude air targets and ground targets. For a regular convoy, this level of firepower was already considered heavy. While it couldn¡¯t compare to the 1130 CIWS or rail-mounted electromagnetic cannons, its advantages lay in its compact size and automated target acquisition and firing. The only drawback was the manual reloading process, which meant Lin Xian would need to build a few more PX-05 robots to support its use on the Infinite Train. Over on the Dragon Mountain No. 1 side, they had a large headcount¡ªfour Rampage-level, a dozen Titan-level, and dozens of Evolution-level ability users. While most were genetic Evolvers, their combat capabilities were formidable. The team secured a huge haul from the Phoenix, much to the delight of Shi Diyuan, Ning Jing, and the others. With five additional vials of Cold Dark Reagent in hand, Lin Xian decided not to trade his Eerie Blood Crystals with the Phoenix for more of the reagent. Instead, he sent Chen Sixuan to lead a group to trade for essential survival items with other convoys. Right now, there were many convoys gathered in Xilan City¡ªbasically, anything they needed could be bartered from someone. The Infinite Train had a decent amount of space. Previously, they¡¯d scavenged here and there, but their biggest gains had come from bartering with Tang Hai and at Hengshan Pass Station. Now that the ability testing was done, Lin Xian shifted strategies and split the team into three groups. Chen Sixuan, Big Luo, Miao Lu, and Xiao Yuan took a few others to purchase supplies. Meanwhile, Lu Xingchen wasn¡¯t left to idle¡ªShu Qin and Lu? Chang were tasked with escorting him and Shasha to safely transport the Phoenix-acquired goods back to the Infinite Train. The armor-welding work on the train should be wrapping up soon. Due to the situation involving He Kun of the Golden City Convoy, Lin Xian also gave Shu Qin and Lu Xingchen a heads-up, asking them to keep a close eye on the Dragon-class Electric Locomotive they had recovered. But with the testing at Michelle Plaza now over, the Infinite Convoy''s reputation had likely spread far and wide. They were parked right next to Dragon Mountain No. 1, under the watch of over a thousand people on Shi Diyuan¡¯s side. The Golden City Convoy probably wouldn¡¯t dare cause trouble now. At that moment, Lin Xian had KIKI take him to a separate location. The Xilan Weapons Manufacturing Plant. Tonight, he planned to upgrade the Infinite Train''s armor, weapon systems, and internal facilities. Thanks to the Monica Queen¡¯s blueprints, he had better designs for integrated power systems, air circulation, lifts, weapon bays¡ªeven blast doors. He had to make the most of this window of time to get things done. His goal at the now-abandoned plant was to search for any large-scale equipment he could repurpose. If he could find something like a fully-automated shell pressing machine, he could dedicate an entire train car to ammunition production, drastically speeding up the reloading and remanufacturing process, sparing him the manual labor. Cold wind howled as distant artillery echoed from Xilan City''s defensive walls. The 7th Investigation Corps manned the anti-Eerie frontline around the clock. Phoenix had a well-stocked ammo supply, and the Dawn Center had kept military logistics running up until three days ago when the Extreme Cold Vortex hit. For this massive migration, Phoenix had consolidated every combat resource from nearby regions. ¡°These monsters are attacking around the clock. The attacks are getting more frequent and more intense¡ªprobably tied to the approaching Polar Night,¡± KIKI said, watching the distant battlefront from high above. Lin Xian glanced at the swirling vortex above¡ªdark clouds loomed, cobalt lightning occasionally flashing through the stormy sky like some cosmic beast pressing down on the snowfields and Xilan City, sending a chill through his chest. ¡°It could be related to the vortex too,¡± he muttered, brows furrowed. Though the city seemed calm, unease gnawed at his mind. Maybe it was the eerie entity A''Bai had seen. Or the strange snowfield Eerie Tide. Or those mysteriously wiped-out markers. All of it felt wrong. So even though the city¡¯s survivor convoys seemed more relaxed now, Lin Xian stayed on guard. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you think those Nightwalkers are way more powerful than we expected?¡± KIKI recalled Zhou Wuer¡¯s earlier performance, still shaken by it¡ªespecially since Long Dahei¡¯s attack style had resembled hers, making the comparison feel personal. Lin Xian looked at her and said, ¡°That¡¯s expected. The Nightwalkers¡¯ biggest advantage over other ability users is access to information. Even though it¡¯s only been 92 days since Apocalypse Day, humanity¡¯s evolution has progressed rapidly. We¡¯ve been groping our way forward in isolation, but they¡¯ve been pooling data from over 40,000 Nightwalkers worldwide. Their understanding of abilities is way ahead of everyone else.¡± ¡°Plus, they¡¯re already using things like Cold Dark Reagents to enhance their abilities. Combined with the intensive training they go through, it¡¯s no surprise they¡¯re so strong.¡± KIKI nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah... makes sense.¡± ¡°You¡¯re probably wondering why Long Dahei lost so fast, right?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Kind of...¡± Lin Xian let out a long breath, his gaze sharpening. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by Zhou Wuer¡¯s carefree act. When he fights, he¡¯s decisive. From his very first move, he went all out. Aside from holding back on the final strike, he fought like it was life or death against an Eerie entity. Long Dahei might¡¯ve been cautious, but he was already a step behind in sheer momentum.¡± That told Lin Xian one thing¡ªZhou Wuer had clearly faced way more life-or-death situations than Long Dahei ever had... ¡°But going up against you wouldn¡¯t be so easy,¡± he added, turning to KIKI. ¡°Your psychic-type ability has full-range defense. You¡¯re not that easy to pin down.¡± ¡°Well, duh~¡± KIKI grinned. ¡°But seriously, I learned a lot this time. I can tell my ability has a lot of room to grow.¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯re only at the Rampage level¡ªplenty of room to level up.¡± As they talked, the two had already arrived at an industrial zone. What first came into view was a cluster of rust-covered steel structures. The towering smokestacks loomed like inverted black swords piercing through the curtain of snow. In the open spaces around the warehouses, camps from various convoys were set up, with thin streams of smoke curling up from scattered fires used for warmth. There had to be at least a hundred convoys in this area. Lin Xian and KIKI even saw large vehicles cutting up steel plates and materials hauled out from abandoned factories, prepping them for vehicle modifications. Everything useful in this industrial zone had long been stripped away. Even half-decent iron doors had been dismantled, leaving only towering lava towers, forging hammers, and various conveyor systems behind. Places like this were always the first to be scavenged by survivors. Lin Xian had expected this, so his goal was to find the kind of ¡°stuff¡± survivors couldn¡¯t take with them. The two of them swept through the air and dove straight into the search, scanning various large workshops for their target. Sure enough, it didn¡¯t take long before they struck gold inside a weapons factory¡¯s steel workshop, the air thick with the scent of rust. An arc smelting furnace, a CNC forging press, a triple-defense system filling line, a ceramic plate sintering furnace, a Kevlar weaving machine, a deep-bore gun barrel drill, and exactly what Lin Xian had been looking for¡ªa fully automatic shell casing press. The problem? They were massive. The scale of the Xilan Weapons Manufacturing Factory far exceeded Lin Xian¡¯s expectations. Even the six-axis robotic arms in the welding shop were monstrous. ¡°No wonder no one¡¯s interested. This place makes stuff for tanks and rail cannons. You can¡¯t carry it, can¡¯t dismantle it. Even to run one of these, you¡¯d need intelligent system debugging and at least a few hundred engineers just to maintain and operate them...¡± ¡°Hey~¡± KIKI pointed at the six-axis robotic arm on the loading line. ¡°Why not start with that one? Begin with the ¡®small¡¯ stuff.¡± Lin Xian let out a helpless sigh. ¡°Small,¡± she said. That thing was at least a dozen tons and more intricate than a car or train. Swallowing it was going to be a serious challenge. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll start with that...¡± At the moment, this six-axis robotic arm seemed like the easiest thing to take on. And if he got lucky and scanned a full blueprint, he could maybe install two in Carriage No. 11¡ªdedicated to loading and unloading mechas. That would solve a major logistical headache. There were also a few smaller machines around, but Lin Xian was here for materials. He wasn¡¯t too interested in injection molding machines or their blueprints. After he finished with the robotic arm, he¡¯d check if he could get the arc smelting furnace. The arc smelting furnace was built with high-grade silicon carbide and high-temp alloy steel, and its complexity wasn¡¯t too high¡ªgood for material harvesting. The fully automatic shell casing press, on the other hand, was a bit large. He¡¯d see if he could simplify it into sub-systems after scanning. Without a blueprint, he was basically clueless about how it worked. No time to waste. It was already close to 16:00¡ªabout two hours before nightfall. He had to move fast. Lin Xian powered up his exosuit and leapt from the maintenance ladder of the loading line to the side of the robotic arm. Taking off his gloves, he reached out and started scanning and devouring it. ¡¾Scan Progress: 1%¡¿ As soon as he started, Lin Xian realized this thing would take over an hour to scan. Devouring it would take at least another hour. If he wanted to deal with the arc smelting furnace and the shell press too, he¡¯d be working past nightfall. Seeing Lin Xian at work, KIKI, clearly restless, said, ¡°You do your thing. I¡¯m gonna look around, okay?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t wander too far. I can¡¯t be distracted.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t~¡± KIKI knew full well Lin Xian needed protection right now, so she simply flitted about the massive factory, curiously peeking at everything. Through the communicator, Shu Qin¡¯s voice came in, reporting that all the supplies from the Phoenix had been moved back onto the Infinite Train. At the same time, the right-side armor plating had been installed. Chen Sixuan, who was in charge of purchasing train essentials, had also returned and was asking Lin Xian what the next step was. Lin Xian thought for a moment and decided to let the team have some free time before nightfall¡ªgive everyone a chance to relax. The team on Infinite Train was thrilled when they heard the news. It had been a long time since they¡¯d felt this safe. The tension everyone had been carrying started to ease at last. Even the over-a-thousand-strong team on Dragon Mountain No. 1 got a break, as Shi Diyuan allowed the passengers to walk around the safe zones in the city and barter for items they needed. For safety, Chen Sixuan made sure everyone going out moved in groups of three or more and returned before nightfall. Soon, the crew on Infinite Train grouped up in twos and threes and headed into the city. Fire Bro volunteered to stay and watch the train. He wanted to soak up some sun and study the ability growth manual they got from the Phoenix. On the surrounding streets near Central Avenue, convoy camps had set up shop with stalls offering items for trade. While eerie blood crystals remained the hard currency, they were too valuable for small deals, so most trades were bartering. If both sides agreed, a deal was struck¡ªsimple as that. Beyond bartering, many skilled survivors took the chance to make a little post-apocalypse cash¡ªshaving, haircuts, quick medical services, mechanical repairs, massages, bone-setting, and even ¡®camp bars¡¯ selling drinks. As Monica had mentioned, some even offered services for hire. ¡°Tire mushroom skewers, fried algae cakes in lizard oil, crispy green bark, snow-salt lizards, asphalt scorpion chips, beef soup with bat, freeze-dried slugs...¡± ¡°Good grief, what even are these?¡± Miao Lu and Xiao Yuan were walking with Chen Sixuan, Da Lou, and Shasha down a supply trade street. The variety of post-apocalyptic ¡°delicacies¡± had all the girls frowning in unison. These made the lizard jerky, dried rat meat, and cockroach protein bricks from before seem positively gourmet. Chen Sixuan looked at the food and couldn¡¯t help but marvel at humanity¡¯s creativity in the apocalypse. Judging by the expressions on Miao Lu and the others, the meals aboard Infinite Train were borderline luxurious by survivor standards. The Infinite Train crew wasn¡¯t large, but they had tons of supplies. Combined with what they got from the Phoenix, everyone was practically swimming in resources. The group strolled with a ¡°window shopping¡± mindset, trying to unwind from the stress of survival. Da Lou trailed behind them like a bodyguard. Even for someone used to eating canned food every day thanks to Lin Xian, seeing things like asphalt scorpion chips still made him frown. While the others browsed the camp stalls, Chen Sixuan stopped when she saw something familiar displayed on a stall that used a car hood as its stand. The vendor was a woman wrapped in a thick down jacket. Her convoy was huddled nearby, a barrel fire burning behind them. The woman noticed Chen Sixuan¡¯s gaze and pointed to a box in the corner. ¡°Brand new. Got five of ¡¯em. Ultra-thin. Four cans and they¡¯re yours. Deal?¡± Few people would¡¯ve expected condoms to become as valuable as food in the apocalypse. Chen Sixuan gave her a knowing look, then pulled out four cans from her backpack and made the trade. ¡°I¡¯ll take them.¡± ¡°Done~¡± The woman smiled. Seeing how pretty Chen Sixuan was, she leaned in and added, like someone speaking from experience, ¡°As long as they¡¯re not damaged, wash ¡¯em, dry ¡¯em, add a little petroleum jelly¡ªyou can reuse each one five or six times easy.¡± That comment made Chen Sixuan¡¯s usually cool expression flush red. She forced a smile, quickly stashed the items into her pack, and nodded. ¡°Nothing to be shy about,¡± the woman said casually. ¡°We women already have it hard. Getting pregnant in this mess? That¡¯d be hell.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Chen Sixuan smiled politely and walked away. Just then, she saw a strange man chatting with Miao Lu and Xiao Yuan. Because Da Lou was standing right there, the man didn¡¯t dare get too close. As Chen Sixuan approached, she realized he was promoting something. ¡°For Titan-class, that¡¯s one bottle of Cold Dark Reagent a month, two veggie juices, a can of meat every day, and a bunch of snacks. If you¡¯re an evolved, we even provide a passive exoskeleton suit.¡± ¡°For Rampage-class, it¡¯s two Cold Dark Reagents a month, four veggie juices, a full-power exo-armor, custom meals with meat every time, and a personal living carriage, modified for privacy.¡± ¡°Also, our Nightwind Convoy is super safe. Over 600 people, ten big supply trucks, anti-air systems, heavy weapons¡ªyou name it...¡± Then he turned to Da Lou. ¡°With your 1120 ability rating, bro, we¡¯ve got plenty of pretty girls who can be your sleep partner. Help you, uh, unwind. Not expensive¡ªjust treat ¡¯em nice, share your food, and the Rampage-class girls will throw themselves at you. Two or three at a time? No problem.¡± That made Miao Lu and Xiao Yuan visibly uncomfortable. Miao Lu quickly covered Shasha¡¯s ears¡ªonly for the girl to swat her hand away, scowling as she turned to the man. ¡°He¡¯s my brother. If he gets that kind of treatment, what about me?¡± The man frowned, scratching his head. ¡°You¡¯re that young and you want a sleep partner too?¡± ¡°B*lls**t!¡± Shasha snapped. ¡°I mean¡ªdo I get Cold Dark Reagent? Veggie juice? Meat cans?¡± ¡°Well...¡± The man pulled out a mobile terminal and sifted through what seemed to be ability data from the Evolved Plaza. After a while, he finally found her file. ¡°Ohhh, you¡¯re that 1.8 coefficient genius girl¡ªTitan-class. Of course, you get the Titan perks.¡± He beamed, crouching and speaking in a coaxing tone. ¡°So, he¡¯s your brother?¡± Shasha nodded. ¡°Well, if both of you join together, I might be able to get you even better perks. What do you say?¡± Shasha pretended to think, making the man¡¯s eyes light up¡ªonly for her to smirk slyly. ¡°Thing is, my brother and I already each have our own 30-meter luxury carriage. We eat three meat meals a day. Lin-ge lets me snack on whatever¡ªcandy, fruit, canned food, you name it. Oh, and I have a T8-Z Vulcan Mecha. Sooo... your offer¡¯s kinda hard for us to accept~¡± The man¡¯s face froze. ¡°A whole train car? Just the two of you?¡± Shasha shook her head. ¡°I knew it...¡± ¡°Two people.¡± ¡°...Huh?¡± The guy was totally dumbfounded. Two people sharing a whole carriage, eating meat and snacks like royalty¡ªwere they refugees or tourists? Miao Lu and Xiao Yuan knew Shasha was trolling the guy and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Knowing he had no shot, the man awkwardly excused himself and left. At that moment, Chen Sixuan came up and commented, ¡°Two Cold Dark Reagents and four veggie juices per month for Rampage-class... I remember Zhou Wuer saying the Nightwalkers offer the same deal.¡± ¡°That means this convoy must be pretty big,¡± Shasha said. ¡°Two vials of Cold Dark Reagent would cost at least twenty Eerie Blood Crystals, right?¡± Big Luo nodded. ¡°Under the same conditions, joining Phoenix is more dangerous, so a lot of people would probably choose a convoy like this.¡± ¡°No wonder these convoys are getting bigger and bigger. Looks like they¡¯ve got some strong folks in there too,¡± Miao Lu chimed in. This wasn¡¯t their first time being approached for recruitment. Ever since the Ability Test ended, people from the Infinite Train had run into several teams trying to poach them, offering all sorts of bizarre deals. Most of them were friendly attempts at communication, so nothing had turned hostile. And it wasn¡¯t just top-tier fighters like Big Luo, Shu Qin, or Lu Xingchen¡ªthere were even offers for someone like Xiao Yuan, who only scored 260 points. Her ability peak and limit coefficient were just average Evolution Level, yet someone still came looking for her. It seemed like just showing your face at the testing plaza was enough to get you noticed by one of the thousands of convoys in Xilan City. The one who approached Xiao Yuan was a small convoy captain, and his reason was totally ridiculous: he said she reminded him of his first love. Even weirder, the offer he gave was surprisingly generous. Though she found it super random, Xiao Yuan turned him down without hesitation. ¡°Wow, there are so many convoys parked around here,¡± Shasha said, clearly in a great mood. ¡°We probably won¡¯t get through all of them before nightfall. Let¡¯s check out what¡¯s up ahead!¡± After that little detour, the group continued exploring the ¡°commercial street¡± set up by the various survivor convoys, checking out all kinds of new and strange goods. Xilan Weapons Manufacturing Plant, Loading Bay No. 3. [Scan Progress: 65%] Lin Xian sat with his eyes closed, focusing completely as he activated his Mechanical Heart, not wasting a single second. At the same time, he monitored the messages on his communicator. Even though it was supposed to be free time, he still felt like the ¡°parent¡± of this group, and kept tabs on where everyone was. Other than Fire Bro who stayed behind to watch the train, the Infinite Train crew had split up and gone off exploring. According to Shu Qin, Lu? Chang, and Chen Sixuan, a bunch of them had also run into recruitment attempts¡ªsome were there to ask about benefits, some looking for Lin Xian, others wanting to team up. But since the team leader, Lin Xian, wasn¡¯t around, all those people left disappointed. Hearing this, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but consider whether to bring in a few more people. Logically speaking, the Infinite Train had plenty of supplies and space. Plus, with his Mechanical Ability, he could enhance their combat abilities, which would boost their survival chances. Still, he was torn. More people meant more responsibility¡ªand he didn¡¯t want to end up like Dragon Mountain No. 1, losing dozens of people after every major battle... Most importantly, Lin Xian felt that the terrifying pressure Infinite Train faced was often beyond imagination, sometimes practically a death sentence. Since they left Jiang City, even with his game-breaking Mechanical Ability, and S-Class telekinetic KIKI by his side, plus the heavy armor of Infinite Train, they still had countless near-death experiences. He couldn¡¯t imagine how other convoys survived with just a few Xinghuo rifles or light machine guns. Even after seeing ordinary people like Shu Qin evolve into powerful fighters, that alone didn¡¯t explain it¡ªbecause Shu Qin¡¯s burden hadn¡¯t lightened at all... The truth was, Lin Xian had just taken most of the risk onto himself. And so, what really worried him was that any newcomers might face even greater danger. That kind of contradiction made him cautious about expanding the team, especially if it meant luring survivors with ¡°benefits¡± only to turn them into cannon fodder¡ªor one of the daily ¡°5%¡± casualties... ¡°Ugh, so boring~¡± KIKI floated lazily in front of Lin Xian, then perched on the edge of the mechanical arm, her legs swinging in the air. ¡°I just walked around outside. All the convoys are either taking things apart, cutting, welding, or repairing. I heard Sis Chen and the others are out shopping. I haven¡¯t gone shopping in so long~¡± Lin Xian smiled slightly. ¡°Once I finish the train modifications tonight, you can have the whole day tomorrow to do whatever you want.¡± ¡°Really~?¡± KIKI squinted a teasing smile at him. ¡°You better not stand me up.¡± ¡°Why would I do that?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming with me? It¡¯s boring to shop alone...¡± KIKI stared at him with wide, expectant eyes. Lin Xian: ¡°...¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± he said, letting out a slow breath as he looked out beyond the factory. ¡°These people are using every second to upgrade their convoy defenses. One more steel plate might keep a whole team alive for another day. Even the Snow Wraiths¡¯ stingers could pierce my armor now. If I don¡¯t upgrade it, I can¡¯t sleep at night.¡± KIKI gave him a soft, shining look and said playfully, ¡°Yes yes, we all know you''re super responsible and always worried about our safety. Captain Lin, you''re working so hard¡ªwant a back rub and leg massage from yours truly?¡± ¡°Followed by a good whack with a stick, right?¡± Lin Xian said with a chuckle. KIKI snorted. ¡°Still holding onto that? What a petty man.¡± Since they¡¯d come into the workshop, various survivor teams had wandered in, poking around. But after seeing nothing but heavy machinery, they left cursing under their breath. Every dismantlable item had already been taken¡ªeven the screws. Lin Xian and KIKI had stayed up high on the mechanical arm, and no one had noticed them, so they got to enjoy some peace and quiet. ¡°Geez, these people don¡¯t mess around. They even took the chandeliers.¡± ¡°Lights are important, especially the high-powered ones,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Some convoys light up their camps at night¡ªthey say it can help keep Eerie Entities at bay.¡± ¡°Does that even work?¡± KIKI frowned. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that just be like a lighthouse in the dark? Drawing them right in?¡± ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Lin Xian said with a low voice. ¡°Those creatures of the night don¡¯t always rely on sight. Remember the ones we¡¯ve encountered?¡± The Pale Giant stood beside him for ages before reacting. The Three-Headed Spider Monster appeared right above his head. The Crimson Centipede only went berserk after they fled on the Infinite Train. And the monster from Underground City No. 9 only tracked them down after the nuclear locomotive was activated. Those monsters had eyes, but their behavior was unlike Zombies or Human Eerie Entities. ¡°I get what you mean¡ªthey mark targets using Dark Mark. But I still think if they can¡¯t see you even when you¡¯re right in front of them, how do they tag you in the first place?¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why we need to wait for Phoenix¡¯s research results. We know there¡¯s some kind of marking mechanism, but how it works¡ªthere¡¯s still a lot to figure out.¡± ¡°Yeah, true. So that means¡ª¡± ¡°Shhh.¡± Suddenly, Lin Xian signaled KIKI to be quiet. He heard someone entering the factory. Wanting to avoid unnecessary trouble, they both decided it was best not to reveal themselves and to leave as soon as the scan was done. KIKI immediately quieted down, floated over to sit beside him, and waited silently. But this time, the people coming in felt... different. Just from the sounds, it seemed kind of shady. ¡°Here¡¯s good~¡± a man¡¯s voice came from a corner, hurried and excited. ¡°You¡¯re way too eager¡ªit¡¯s broad daylight! What if someone comes in?¡± the woman said with a hint of annoyance. ¡°I can¡¯t wait anymore. I¡¯m on night watch tonight. C¡¯mon babe, take your pants off~¡± ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s freezing! My a** is gonna get frostbite. Couldn¡¯t you pick a warmer spot?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go back to the car?¡± ¡°No way! Everyone¡¯s there, and it¡¯s not soundproof.¡± ¡°So what? We¡¯re married. Old Wang and his wife do the same thing every night¡ªbouncing those shocks off the suspension. Let¡¯s not pretend. Just let me cop a feel~¡± ¡°Ugh, stop it! You¡¯re shameless¡ªjust do it already!¡± ¡°Just let me touch a bit! Otherwise, I can¡¯t get it up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re hopeless. Fine, stand still. I¡¯ll do it.¡± ... Up on the loading arm, Lin Xian was deadpan. Negative fifty degrees and they¡¯re doing this? Not worried about frostbite, huh... But then again, with how much stronger Enhancers had become, maybe it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Even Xiao Yuan could casually lift a 100-pound weapon crate. So maybe this kind of ¡°activity¡± really wasn¡¯t hard for these hormone-fueled men and women. Then he noticed the weight on his arm increase. Turning his head, he saw KIKI¡¯s face completely flushed, her expression one of teeth-gritted fury. She clamped down on his shoulder and muttered in a low voice: ¡°So shameless...¡± Lin Xian chuckled and leaned in to whisper, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear them? They¡¯re a married couple. What¡¯s shameless about that?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Down below, strange moans and gasps began to echo through the empty workshop. KIKI¡¯s face turned even redder. She summoned a telekinetic shield to block out the embarrassing sounds, then buried her face in Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder, covering her ears. A minute later, the noises stopped. With the woman¡¯s annoyed complaints in tow, the two finally left. Now Lin Xian was the one stunned. He muttered under his breath, ¡°Guess evolution doesn¡¯t cover the kidneys...¡± ¡°What did you just say?!¡± KIKI raised her head, eyes squinting suspiciously. Lin Xian instantly put on a serious face. ¡°Nothing. There¡¯s still time left.¡± [Scan Progress: 80%] ¡°Okay then, hurry up.¡± KIKI tilted her face toward him, her eyes glinting with mischief. She smiled and teased: ¡°They were pretty fast, huh?¡± Lin Xian: ?!? Chapter 275: Train Upgrade on a Snowy Night ¡¾Scan Successful ¨C Acquired Blueprint: Kor Industries ¨C 6-Axis Mechanical Power Arm¡¿ ¡¾Devour Successful ¨C +200 Mechanical Source Points, +100 Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency¡¿ ¡¾Disassemble: Obtained 100 units of hot-rolled forged steel, 30 units of molybdenum-tungsten corrosion-resistant alloy, 50 units of titanium alloy, 5 units of zirconium-based amorphous alloy, 20 units of ordinary carbon steel, plus graphene-aluminum wiring, zirconium-based amorphous alloy, silicon carbide fiber reinforcements...¡¿ 18:20, outside the workshop of the Xilan Weapons Manufacturing Plant. Dusk approached, and the blizzard began to howl. As the glowing interface faded, a pile of gray ash slipped from Lin Xian¡¯s hands. ¡°200 points. Not bad.¡± Most importantly, both the molybdenum-tungsten alloy and titanium alloy were military-grade materials. When converted in the manufacturing plant, the efficiency would be much higher. At that moment, KIKI was sitting on the lid of the arc smelting furnace, boredly using her psychic power to stack a bunch of metal scraps in front of her like toy blocks, practicing fine control of her abilities in the process. Seeing Lin Xian finishing up, she glanced over and pointed to the arc furnace beneath her. ¡°This one¡¯s next?¡± Lin Xian leapt across using KIKI¡¯s psychokinetic platform and landed on the furnace lid. He looked down and said, ¡°This should go quick.¡± This industrial-grade arc smelting furnace was massive, around 30 tons, but its mechanical structure wasn¡¯t too complex. Lin Xian didn¡¯t need to scan a blueprint either, so devouring it should be faster than the mechanical arm. ¡¾Devour Progress: 1%¡¿ As expected, once Lin Xian activated his Mechanical Heart and unleashed his Devouring power, he immediately felt pleased. He estimated it¡¯d take about an hour to finish this big guy¡ªroughly the same difficulty as devouring a freight carriage. Still, with nightfall approaching, Lin Xian¡¯s nerves tensed instinctively. ¡°Don¡¯t worry~¡± KIKI sat casually on the furnace lid, looking over at Lin Xian. ¡°There are tons of convoys outside. This city should be safe. Besides~¡± She hugged her knees and smiled at him. ¡°You¡¯ve got me protecting you, remember?¡± Lin Xian gave her a serious look. ¡°Sit tight. Stay alert.¡± ¡°Okay~¡± KIKI straightened her posture immediately. After a second of thought, she floated over and sat beside him, facing his back. ¡°I¡¯ll watch the rear. You cover the front. Satisfied?¡± Lin Xian glanced at her, took a deep breath, and said nothing more. Beep, beep~ ¡°Ms. Chen,¡± Lin Xian spoke into his communicator, still connected with the Infinite Train. ¡°Everyone made it back safely, don¡¯t worry,¡± Chen Sixuan replied from the Living Carriage. She looked at the excited teammates around her. ¡°When are you coming back?¡± ¡°Two, maybe three hours,¡± Lin Xian estimated. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll have the others put the supplies into storage and take inventory.¡± With the situation back on the train confirmed, Lin Xian relaxed a bit and focused on preparing for the oncoming night. 18:30. Nightfall. Darkness swept across the sky, swallowing even the vortex of storm clouds. Thunder rolled ominously above. The bustling crowds across the streets vanished as if by magic. All the convoys were fully geared up and on high alert as night fell. Everyone looked grim. A chill seemed to sweep through Xilan City all at once. From the east and south of the city came a sudden spike in cannon fire. Electromagnetic cannon beams lit up the sky, and aerial vehicles began to lift off from the north. This was a nightly occurrence. The 7th Investigation Corps was already well-prepared for night combat. Minutes ticked by in eerie silence. Eventually, the convoys along Central Avenue began to relax. Campfires and lights came back on, and the collective tension eased. Another safe night had begun. The teams from both Infinite Train and Longshan No. 1 had made preparations too. But with no Eerie Entities attacking, everyone in the carriages gradually let their guard down. In the control cabin, Chen Sixuan monitored the outside for a while, then walked to the Information Center. She checked all cameras using the Sentry System, confirmed everything was normal, then contacted Lin Xian: ¡°Lin Xian, things are all clear on the Infinite Train side.¡± Inside the pitch-dark factory, Lin Xian and KIKI sat atop the cold arc furnace. Hearing Chen Sixuan¡¯s report, they both sighed in relief. ¡°Looks like Xilan City really is pretty safe,¡± KIKI exhaled. A faintly glowing Psychic Barrier surrounded them. Maybe it was an illusion, but inside the barrier, the air didn¡¯t feel quite so cold. ¡°The zombies and Eerie Entities in the city have been cleared. The Phoenix guards the outskirts, plus all those city defense weapons... yeah, it¡¯s solid.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression eased slightly. His gaze swept the dark interior of the factory. Through the high windows, the lights of nearby convoy camps twinkled gently in the distance. ¡°Relax already, and hurry up~¡± KIKI smacked her lips. ¡°I¡¯m starving~¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Lin Xian whispered, ¡°Almost done.¡± Their voices stayed low to avoid alerting other convoys. Lin Xian didn¡¯t even turn on the lights. In the dark, KIKI leaned back against Lin Xian¡¯s shoulder and whispered, ¡°Lin Xian... do you think we¡¯ll ever go somewhere warm?¡± He opened his mouth, wanting to say no¡ªbut instead replied seriously, ¡°The Dark Tides have blocked out the sun. It¡¯s only going to get colder. But... if we can escape this Extreme Cold Vortex, maybe things will be a little better.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t even lie to me a little,¡± KIKI huffed. ¡°Actually,¡± Lin Xian asked, ¡°you keep mentioning Jinhai. Was that real, or just made-up?¡± Swoosh¡ª KIKI flopped back, resting her head on Lin Xian¡¯s knee. Through the darkness, she looked up at him. ¡°What do you think?¡± Lin Xian slid his hand under her head to make her more comfortable, then said, ¡°I always figured... with how rich your family is, maybe we could head to Jinhai and strike a deal. Upgrade the train with some high-tech stuff. You wouldn¡¯t mind, right...?¡± ¡°What are we, a pair of thieves?¡± KIKI responded instinctively¡ªthen immediately caught herself and changed the subject in a tiny voice, ¡°I mean, I wouldn¡¯t steal from my own family...¡± Lin Xian laughed. ¡°When you wanted to use your inheritance to help me steal the Starry Sky Propulsion System from Underground City No. 9, you were very excited.¡± ¡°Ahhh... well, about that...¡± KIKI was momentarily speechless and then fell quiet. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I¡¯m cold,¡± KIKI said, snuggling into his chest. Lin Xian sighed, didn¡¯t say anything, and wrapped his arms tighter around her. ¡¾Devour Progress: 88%¡¿ ¡°Lin Xian.¡± ¡°Mhm?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go rob my family together.¡± ¡°......¡± In the darkness, Lin Xian felt her breath gently brushing his face. He lowered his head¡ªthough he couldn¡¯t see her expression, he could somehow feel her eyes, bright and shining, looking up at him. ¡°Okay,¡± he said. A moment later, a soft pair of arms slipped around his neck, and warm breath hit his lips. Then came a gentle, tender kiss. Lin Xian¡¯s heart surged. He didn¡¯t speak. Just leaned in and kissed her back. No sound in the dark. Despite her usually fiery personality, KIKI¡¯s kiss was surprisingly gentle, cautious¡ªshy, even. Soft and intoxicating. Because they couldn¡¯t see each other, only feel each other¡¯s breath, there was an unexpected spark of secret affection¡ªquiet and sudden. Lin Xian lost track of time. ¡¾Devour Successful ¨C +150 Mechanical Source Points, +100 Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency¡¿ Suddenly, Lin Xian was jolted back to reality as the interface popped up. The arc furnace beneath them vanished in a swirl of ash¡ªhe almost lost his balance. They were so lost in the moment that the sudden drop broke their kiss. ¡°Ahh¡ª¡± KIKI yelped and instinctively activated her Ability to lift them both before they hit the ground. ¡°Phew. That was close,¡± Lin Xian exhaled after landing. ¡°Yeah, geez! Be more careful!¡± KIKI replied, flustered and pretending nothing happened. Click. Lin Xian turned on a flashlight. KIKI immediately ducked away from the beam and pointed quickly. ¡°Hey, you still have another machine to take care of, right?¡± ¡°Right.¡± Lin Xian knew she was embarrassed, so he played along and got to work on the Automatic Shell Pressing Machine. ¡¾Scan Successful ¨C Acquired Blueprint: Kor Industries ¨C Automatic Shell Pressing Machine¡¿ ¡¾Devour Successful ¨C +100 Mechanical Source Points, +50 Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency¡¿ This one was simpler than the 6-axis arm. Lin Xian wrapped up the scan and devour in under an hour. His Disassembly Center was now stocked with high-tier materials. With everything done, the two of them headed straight toward the western rail freight station. Western Freight Station. The wind and snow howled. Longshan No. 1 rested on the tracks, covered in snow. The thousand-meter train glowed with warm yellow lights. Behind the ice-covered windows, figures moved about, filling the carriages with life and chatter. Team members chatted as they ate their rations. Mothers made fresh beds. Men fixed household items. Kids played in the hallways. Veterans trained the youth in firearm handling, and the scent of soup in the dining car warmed everyone against the cold night. After a full day of rest, the Longshan team finally experienced their first peaceful night in Xilan City. The atmosphere was lighthearted and relaxed. Many had traded for useful or rare supplies. Laughter echoed through the carriages. On the Infinite Train, the Living and Dining Carriages were equally lively. The supplies from the Phoenix were way better than standard canned goods or biscuits. As Lin Xian and KIKI returned, hot soup was just finishing. The smell filled the air and made their stomachs growl. There were canned fish, braised pork, braised beef, five-spice beef, ham, chicken¡ªeven the compressed biscuits came in flavors like scallion and peanut. There were also self-heating meals that Chen Sixuan and Xiao Yuan had turned into full hot dishes. On top of that, they had chocolate, hard candy, chewing gum, and even cigarettes for stress relief. ¡°Look! I traded a nail clipper for this~¡± Miao Lu held up an old music player, beaming. She pressed play, and an old North American song¡ª¡°Let It Snow¡±¡ªfilled the air. The joyful tune lit up the entire carriage. Lu? Chang had scored a pair of Kevlar fingerless tactical gloves, perfect for his wire-chain ¡°System.¡± Just as he was about to show them off, Shu Qin dragged him to help in the back carriage. Shasha had somehow gotten her hands on a paint sprayer and a case of colored paint. The little firecracker was in Carriage 11, wearing a gas mask and repainting the Sally. She even installed her own custom anti-flameback device on the flamethrower. Following Ding Junyi¡¯s advice, Chen Sixuan picked fresh vegetables from the vegetable base in Carriage 4 and used spices she¡¯d traded from other convoys to cook up a big pot of soup. Ever since learning from the Phoenix that veggie soup could neutralize Dark Fear Energy and aid Ability growth, Carriage 4 had become a ¡°sanctuary¡±¡ªboth a place for mental refreshment and a vital food source. In Carriage 5, Lu Xingchen was loving the cozy vibes. The Tea Brewer was bubbling away, and he handed a tiny cup to Big Luo, who was cleaning his weapons. Big Luo took it with care, finished it in one gulp, and nodded in approval. Then asked for another. Lin Xian patrolled the train using his Mechanical Heart, feeling completely at peace. Ever since escaping Jiang City, it had been a long time since he¡¯d felt so content. ¡°Let¡¯s hope there are more nights like this,¡± he said, holding a bowl of hot soup in the dining car, speaking to the teammates gathered around. ¡°Yeah, exactly! It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve felt this relaxed...¡± said Miao Lu, her easygoing personality making her the first to chime in. ¡°We¡¯ll just turn this train into the safest fortress in the world, problem solved!¡± Lu Chang grinned, speaking with that one-track-mind kind of confidence. Lu Xingchen blew on his bowl of hot soup and said in a deep, mysterious tone, ¡°Not quite. Only when all evil is purged from this world can we truly rest easy.¡± For once, his words drew a surprising amount of agreement. People around him nodded in support. ¡°Once we all become superhumans, maybe those monsters won¡¯t stand a chance against us anymore,¡± Shasha said. ¡°Just look at how fast Sis Xiaoyuan, Miao Lu, and Chen-jie have evolved. They used to struggle with zombies, but now? I bet they could crush a zombie¡¯s skull with their bare hands.¡± ¡°I¡ªI can¡¯t crush a zombie¡¯s head,¡± said Xiaoyuan quickly, a bit timid as she glanced toward Lin Xian. But Shu Qin nodded. ¡°Actually, Shasha¡¯s got a point. It¡¯s been less than a hundred days since Apocalypse Day, and humanity has already broken through its limits more in that time than it did in millions of years of evolution. Who knows where the upper limit really lies? Given enough time, anything¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Mhm~¡± KIKI hummed brightly, a lollipop in her mouth. ¡°Anyway, we humans are definitely smarter than those monsters. If we all evolve together, they won¡¯t stand a chance. Like those bugs¡ªthey¡¯re already easier to handle.¡± ¡°Optimism is good. But don¡¯t forget caution,¡± said Chen Sixuan. ¡°So far, the Polar Night and the Abyss Zones are still forbidden territory for humans. Haven¡¯t you heard? Nightwalkers Division Two, which is in charge of Abyss investigations, has the highest casualty rate in the whole organization. So the real danger is still out there¡ªin the Abyss.¡± Lin Xian responded, ¡°We don¡¯t need to worry about all that just yet. Let¡¯s follow Phoenix¡¯s Dawn Project. Our evolution will accelerate, and the secrets of the Dark Tide will become clearer.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. ¡°Captain Lin,¡± Lu Chang suddenly stepped forward, full of enthusiasm. ¡°Let¡¯s upgrade the train tonight¡ªall of us together! You shouldn¡¯t have to do everything on your own.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Miao Lu quickly added. ¡°We can all help!¡± ¡°Captain Lin, everyone¡¯s gotten plenty of rest these past two days. You¡¯ve been working yourself to the bone¡ªit doesn¡¯t sit right with us.¡± Shu Qin¡¯s tone was sincere. Chen Sixuan and KIKI both looked over at Lin Xian. They knew the entire burden of the convoy had been resting on his shoulders. He hadn¡¯t taken a single break since last night. Lin Xian felt a wave of relief. After taking a sip of hot soup, he said, ¡°What are you talking about? Of course I¡¯ll let you help! It¡¯s just, last night I was working on the armor plates¡ªyou wouldn¡¯t have been much help anyway. But tonight¡¯s different. You¡¯d better not slack off!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Lu Chang grinned and gave a thumbs-up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got this.¡± ¡°Brother Xian, leave it to me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m in too!¡± ¡°We¡¯re all in!¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Xian put down his soup and got right into it, not holding back in the slightest. ¡°Da Lou, you take a team and handle the left-side armor plate removal. Once I finish fabricating the new ones, start welding the support frame and install the new composite armor panels. Also, we¡¯re adding new arc-pulse vibration units.¡± ¡°Got it, Brother Xian,¡± Da Lou responded immediately. ¡°Lu Chang, you¡¯re in charge of pipework. I¡¯ve made a new integrated circuit system. Also, get that Wei Long unit prepped¡ªgonna need a lot of hands later.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Shu Qin, KIKI, you two have the heavy-duty task¡ªinstalling the anti-air cannon and the sentry system. I¡¯ll guide you through it. We¡¯re also putting in a new command module.¡± ¡°What about the radar? Are we upgrading that too?¡± KIKI asked. Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ll add a search radar and link it with the 1130 and the railgun. That way, the entire weapon system reacts as one.¡± ¡°Perfect. You build it, I¡¯ll handle the rest,¡± said KIKI confidently. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll support KIKI,¡± Shu Qin added. ¡°What about me?¡± Chen Sixuan looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Interior,¡± he replied, turning to her. ¡°For safety reasons, I plan to clear out Carriage No. 11.¡± ¡°Shasha, get the Shali ready and move it out. I¡¯m planning to install a 6-axis mechanical arm in Car 11. It¡¯ll serve as a mech bay for loading and deploying units¡ªmuch more convenient.¡± ¡°So Cars 11 and 12 might both need major overhauls. We¡¯re adding a weapon station, and if time allows, I¡¯ll install a fully automatic casing press in Car 12 for bullet production¡ªplus another 1130.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded. Xiaoyuan looked toward Lin Xian nervously, but before she could speak, he turned to her and said, ¡°Xiaoyuan, you¡¯re in charge of hygiene and logistics inside the carriages. Bring a few people to help.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly nodded. ¡°Uh... Brother Lin,¡± Even Lu Xingchen, who usually preferred keeping to himself, couldn¡¯t help but speak up. With everyone else getting involved, he felt a little awkward. ¡°Is there any task this great one can assist with?¡± Lin Xian looked at him and smiled meaningfully. ¡°Oh, absolutely.¡± Lu Xingchen opened his mouth to respond but suddenly had a bad feeling. 20 minutes later. ¡°FIRE FIST!!!¡± BOOM! Flames roared as heat engulfed the area. Inside the Infinite Train¡¯s repair bay, Lu Xingchen sat next to a makeshift ¡°boiler,¡± looking completely defeated as he kept the water heater going. Since most of the manufacturing had to be done outside the carriages¡ªand the roof and windows needed opening¡ªthe cold was brutal both inside and out. To make night work bearable, Lin Xian had built a circle of ¡°heaters¡± using metal pipes in the repair area. The system used a hot water loop from a boiler, and because the area was enclosed, it warmed up fast. And the great honor of being boiler man? That went to Fire Bro¡ªLu Xingchen. Lin Xian figured since this guy liked making tea and boiling water, this should be a piece of cake for him. Wrapped in a blanket, Lu Xingchen sat on a recliner, watching the boiler¡¯s pressure gauge and temperature. Every now and then, he¡¯d extend a finger and shoot fire into it. He opened his mouth, about to yell ¡°Fire Fist!¡±¡ªbut the thought of how lame it felt made him purse his lips and swallow the words. No one was listening anyway. Might as well just... keep the boiler going. He was exhausted. Elsewhere, the massive repair bay¡ªstretching hundreds of meters¡ªwas brightly lit and buzzing with energy. Even Shi Diyuan and Ning Jing came over to check it out. Seeing that Lin Xian had built such a huge bay, complete with a heating system, they were both amazed. Lu Yong immediately called over a group of engineers with mobile terminals to study and learn from the advanced modifications. Lu Yong declared that, under Captain Lin Xian¡¯s tech-enhanced abilities, life on the Infinite Train had been revitalized. The working environment and team spirit were at an all-time high. The brand-new overhaul system made train upgrades more efficient and seamless. Green development ideals had taken root, the ecosystem was steadily improving, and the results were clear. Dragon Mountain No. 1 needed to learn from the Infinite Train¡ªembrace innovation, and write a new chapter of progress. 19:00 Clang clang clang¡ª Silver-black composite armor plates were being manufactured one by one. The team used cranes to hoist them into place. Da Lou rolled up his sleeves and led the careful installation work. 22:00 The entire roof of Carriage 11 had been removed and converted into a double-sided flip-top hatch. The first 6-axis mechanical arm was now being installed. The Sally was moved down by KIKI¡¯s ability, and the vehicles and tools inside the carriage were completely cleared out. The mech hangar designed for the Sally had started to take shape. 01:00 Five YJ-03 Vehicle-Mounted Anti-Aircraft Guns were mounted on the roofs of Carriages No. 12, 10, 7, 5, and 1. All were built with retractable systems that folded into the carriages when not in use. The hatch doors were specially sealed to prevent water leakage. 03:00 A new Arc Pulse String Resonator system was installed along both sides of the train, integrated with the Electric Blade Armor System. Inside the carriages, cleaning and repairs were still ongoing. Everyone was hard at work¡ªdozens of welding and cutting machines barely had a second of downtime. The women had surprisingly gained impressive strength. Even Xiao Yuan could carry hundred-kilogram anti-aircraft ammo crates to the storage carriage with ease. KIKI and Lu? Chang were working together off the blueprints, rewiring the train¡¯s internal circuit systems and even updating the air circulation system. Chen Sixuan led a team to clean all the water tanks and install several newly manufactured water circulation filters from Lin Xian to reinforce their defense against Dark Invasion. 06:00 Lin Xian was in full work mode. His Mechanical Heart was operating at full tilt, and the Disassembly Center and Manufacturing Plant hadn¡¯t stopped for a moment. Composite armor plates, automatic lifts, hatches, search radars, AA gun mounting brackets, circuit integration systems, Arc Pulse String Resonators, Sentinel System infrared monitors, electro-optical targeting, 6-axis robotic arms, water filtration systems... Manufacturing was only part of it¡ªhe also had to tackle tons of technical details: heating system maintenance, modular component assembly, the mech hangar, ammo rack designs for each carriage... Much of the progress was thanks to the design schematics from the Monica Queen. They helped Lin Xian resolve a lot of issues. Take the train''s electrical system, for example. Lin Xian had been clueless at first. He¡¯d previously just slammed together the Gemini Nuclear Locomotive and the Whale 03E Heavy Gas Turbine Locomotive into a single unit. As a result, every time the G3 Electromagnetic Railgun fired, the train¡¯s voltage would fluctuate wildly¡ªand there was no contingency plan. If something went wrong, Lin Xian had to overhaul the whole thing. So, this time, he was taking the chance to do a complete upgrade. 08:00 Lin Xian had never worked this hard before. Both hands kept projecting his fabrication light screens nonstop, supplying an endless stream of materials, components, parts, equipment, and screws. He was like a one-man industrial nation, solving problems that would stump entire convoys¡ªlike a missing screw, a support bracket, or a simple bearing frame. To improve efficiency even further, Lin Xian started fabricating a PX-05 robot, which KIKI then configured and added to the team working on complex systems like the circuit grid and Arc Pulse String Resonator. Everyone else was also working like mad. With only about 30 people trying to upgrade a super-heavy train over 300 meters long, it was no easy feat. Even though it was -50¡ãC outside, inside the maintenance bay, Luo Ye had stripped down to just a tank top. The work was intense. Tons of composite armor plates were mounted tightly along one side of the train. Once connected to the sensors, they could report real-time impact data and feed visuals to the Sentinel System. The Weilong-class electric locomotive was connected to the Gemini nuclear engine using a specialized carriage connector. Since the corridor between them was blocked, it could only be used as a power unit, maintained by PX-05 robots. It was also armored and cleaned out, equipped with interior and exterior surveillance systems, rear radar, and a targeting suite. Under this intense mechanical workload, Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Manufacturing proficiency was growing faster than ever. [Manufactured Composite Armor Plate ¨C Mechanical Manufacturing +20] [Manufactured PX-05 Robot ¨C Mechanical Manufacturing +100] [Manufactured Search Radar ¨C Mechanical Manufacturing +35] [Manufactured Kor-6 Axis Robotic Arm ¨C Mechanical Manufacturing +200] [Manufactured Unknown Fastener ¨C Mechanical Manufacturing +5] [Manufactured...] Mechanical Manufacturing: 4 (666/2000) Mechanical Manufacturing: 4 (880/2000) Mechanical Manufacturing: 4 (1245/2000) Mechanical Manufacturing: 4 (1796/2000) [Congratulations! Mechanical Manufacturing upgraded to Level 5. Efficiency increased!] He was on a manufacturing rampage. Lin Xian had entered a hyper-focused state, with his production speed and energy output reaching insane levels. It wasn¡¯t until the light screen popped up with the notification that he realized¡ªhis skill level had actually surpassed his Mechanical Heart for the first time. His energy had been bouncing on the edge of 1% all night, but the adrenaline rush made him feel no fatigue at all. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the Disassembly Center had run out of almost every raw material, he¡¯d still be going. It was like... ¡°Give me a push and I¡¯ll fight three hundred more rounds.¡± ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice finally pulled him back to reality. He looked up to see her staring at him in concern. ¡°You¡¯ve been zoning out for over ten minutes. Are you okay?¡± Lin Xian rubbed his eyes. On his right-hand light screen, an unfinished bearing was only a third complete. He canceled the process, and the component clattered to the floor in pieces. He was sitting in Carriage No. 11. A massive six-axis robotic arm stood in front of him, freshly calibrated. The roof hatch was wide open. Parts were scattered all around him. A horizontal mech hangar clamped tightly onto the Sally, with charging cables already connected in the back. The PX-05 robot was running a pre-load ammo test. His eyes were bloodshot, and he needed Chen Sixuan¡¯s help just to stand up. A wave of crushing fatigue hit him like a falling abyss. There was still so much unfinished. He¡¯d only built one PX-05 robot, though he¡¯d planned on four. Only one 6-axis arm, when two were intended. He hadn¡¯t even started the automatic ammo press¡ªlet alone the 1130s. By his original plan, all of this was supposed to take two full days, including daytime hours. To get this far in just one night was beyond what he thought possible. Hoo~ Outside, work was still underway. The sound of welding and cutting hadn¡¯t stopped. KIKI had worked through the night too. The integrated power system was still incomplete. Chen Sixuan helped Lin Xian sit down and offered him a bowl of hot soup. He snapped out of it a bit and started taking inventory: ¡°The external armor, arc pulse string resonators, AA guns, Sentinel system upgrades, search radar and fire control radar... all the key defensive systems are done.¡± ¡°As for the internal¡ª¡± ¡°Just rest for now,¡± Chen Sixuan interrupted gently. ¡°KIKI and Lu? Chang are almost done with the circuitry. The Sally''s storage issues are handled. The robots and robotic arms aren¡¯t urgent¡ªwe still have manual loaders. Shu Qin and I double-checked the water and heating systems. The only thing left is bullet manufacturing and installing the 1130s. Once you¡¯re rested, we can take our time finishing the rest.¡± Lin Xian took a sip of soup and pulled her into a hug, resting his head against hers. ¡°I also want to make more exosuits... for Miao Lu, Lu? Chang, and Xiao Yuan.¡± ¡°No rush,¡± Chen Sixuan said softly, glancing at the clock. ¡°It¡¯s already 10 a.m. You¡¯ve been running your ability for fifteen hours straight since last night. You need to take care of yourself.¡± Lin Xian nodded. He couldn¡¯t make anything else anyway¡ªhe was out of materials. Still, the night¡¯s work had paid off. The defensive system was basically complete. All that remained was firepower upgrades. ¡°I was thinking of remodeling the Living Carriage too. Monica¡¯s convoy had that honeycomb-style layout...¡± ¡°No need,¡± Chen Sixuan said, looking up. ¡°It¡¯s fine as is. Everyone¡¯s comfortable. As long as the outside is strong, we all feel safe.¡± Lin Xian finally relaxed a little. With Mechanical Manufacturing now at Level 5, he could probably produce the 1130s, railguns, and PX-05s a lot faster. Maybe even deploy a missile system. That thought alone lifted a weight from his shoulders. Then something clicked in his mind¡ªhis skill had leveled up. What about the R&D Center? He quickly opened it¡ªand sure enough, a message popped up: [Research Complete. New Blueprint: Black Hawk ¨C Silent Hunter Power Armor] Lin Xian pulled up the blueprint and stared, eyes wide. ¡°This isn¡¯t just an exosuit... it¡¯s full-body armor!¡± His heart surged. The armor included auxiliary jump jets and landing boosters¡ªcapable of low-altitude flight. It felt like the future of steel-bodied combat! Still, he didn¡¯t want to get ahead of himself. Excited as he was, he wondered¡ªcould it be upgraded? He tried putting the blueprint back into the R&D Center. [Unable to insert. Maxed out R&D tier. Upgrade Mechanical Heart to continue.] [R&D Center missing critical mechanical info-processing units. Cannot proceed.] ¡°What the h*ll? So it¡¯s not just a level issue¡ªit¡¯s missing components?¡± He stared at the message, puzzled. This was the first time he¡¯d seen this kind of limit. He thought the R&D Center could do anything¡ªmaybe just slow it down. He didn¡¯t expect it to require some kind of special info unit. Sigh. ¡°Forget it. I haven¡¯t even built the Black Hawk yet. No need to get ahead of myself.¡± Right now, they only had three TRPs. Not even deployed. Jumping straight to the high-end stuff would be overkill. So Lin Xian dropped in the blueprint for the G3 Electromagnetic Railgun instead. [Device R&D Time: 3 Days 20 Hours] ¡°Nice. Just three days.¡± He confirmed the process. [G3 Electromagnetic Railgun (Blueprint) R&D in progress: 3 Days 19 Hours 59 Minutes] ¡°All right, let¡¯s go. It¡¯s almost morning. Time to get some sleep.¡± Lin Xian stood up and took Chen Sixuan¡¯s hand, planning to finally rest. The train¡¯s outer armor was finished, and the weapon systems had received a massive boost. With dawn approaching, he felt much more at ease. As he held her hand, Chen Sixuan gave him a look and teased, ¡°You¡¯re this exhausted, don¡¯t tell me you still have bad ideas?¡± Lin Xian stretched with a grin. ¡°Whatever you say.¡± Hearing that, her heart softened. She could tell he was finally listening to her now¡ªgone was the roughness and awkwardness from when they first got close. CLANK CLANK CLANK~ Even with dawn nearing, Xilan City remained cloaked in night. In the howling wind and snow, construction at the freight station''s temporary workshop never stopped. Lin Xian stumbled into Carriage No. 1. No time for a shower¡ªhe just collapsed onto the bed. Fatigue fogged his mind, but the successful upgrade progress filled him with a deep satisfaction. Just as he was about to fall asleep¡ª A massive tremor struck! ¡ª Xilan Industrial University ¨C Phoenix Research Group Temporary Base Once a premier defense engineering school, the place had trained many of Dragon Nation¡¯s military researchers. But now, the broken front gate leaned against the snow, and the library¡¯s shattered glass was webbed with cracks. From midnight till now, the lab building had stayed brightly lit. Armed Phoenix soldiers guarded every entrance. The site had clearly seen battle¡ªdried blood stained the corridor walls. Inside one lab, Ding Junyi was deep in discussion with a group of senior researchers. BANG! The lab doors burst open. A disheveled Wei Kexue rushed in, panting. ¡°Professor Ding¡ªsomething happened!¡± CLANK CLANK CLANK Ding Junyi and Wei Kexue quickly headed downstairs, flanked by armed guards. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Specimen 13 still hasn¡¯t shown any reaction during testing. Not even a ripple in Soul Wave readings.¡± Wei Kexue¡¯s pace quickened. ¡°I just got word¡ªCaptain Yu¡¯s team tried a shockwave scan. Nothing. Old Guo got desperate and ordered targeted electric stimulation. It was just a routine test¡ªbut the specimen suddenly went berserk!¡± Chapter 276: Pre-dawn Attack Ding Junyi frowned. ¡°Someone¡¯s injured?¡± ¡°They said three people were hurt. Old Guo¡¯s been rushed to the Medical Carriage¡ªbarely managed to survive,¡± Wei Kexue said as he took off his black-rimmed glasses and wiped them while walking. ¡°The pressure from the monster tide on the front line is intense. Command suspects this might be a riot from some Eerie Entity group, so they¡¯re watching our current experiment closely. They want to know if anything unusual is going on.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s just a Dark Mark, then based on what we¡¯ve seen, there shouldn¡¯t be any high-level Marks yet. Otherwise, things wouldn¡¯t have been this calm the last couple of days.¡± Ding Junyi replied while walking, ¡°But the command center¡¯s trying to gather other intel through these Marks. So far, there haven¡¯t been any signs at all.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s strange.¡± Wei Kexue said, ¡°We¡¯ve run multiple controlled tests on over twenty Snow Wraith specimens caught from the front lines, yet not a single one matches Professor Ding¡¯s previous experimental parameters. And now No. 13 suddenly went berserk for no reason. Could it be related to the environment?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s confusing me the most,¡± Ding Junyi said grimly. The two of them hurried into the building next door and pushed open a door to find the room packed. Some stood, others sat on the floor¡ªall were research personnel from the Science Group and the Emperor Group. Phoenix medical staff were treating the wounded, and Guo Sicheng lay on a temporary cot, his cold-weather suit tattered and bloodied. He looked visibly agitated. Several soldiers from the Investigation Corps were also present. One burly officer standing off to the side turned and saluted as Ding Junyi and Wei Kexue entered. ¡°Commander He, what¡¯s the situation?¡± He Zhen, commander of the 7th Investigation Corps, had a square face and a permanent frown. He didn¡¯t look easy to deal with. But those who knew him well knew that he was quite affable with subordinates and fellow departments¡ªjust not on the battlefield, where he was all business. ¡°Couldn¡¯t hold him back. Nearly got his head split open, and he still wanted to head for the lab,¡± He Zhen said, glancing at his deputy. ¡°Xiao He, explain the situation.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Xiao He, a young soldier, immediately addressed Ding Junyi and Wei Kexue. ¡°Professor Guo and Team Leader Yu were about to apply electric stimulation to Test Subject No. 13 to observe its response to the Dark Mark. But suddenly, the creature went berserk. It bit through its limbs to escape the restraints and attacked the research staff. Luckily, we got there in time.¡± ¡°Bit through its own limbs?¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s brow furrowed. She turned to the other injured researchers. ¡°We¡¯ve done electric stim tests before. Why this time? Did we overlook something?¡± The few disheveled, dusty researchers exchanged glances and shook their heads. ¡°All standard procedures.¡± ¡°Voltage settings were the same...¡± ¡°There was a change!¡± Professor Guo, from his cot, suddenly tried to sit up. Wei Kexue rushed over to help. ¡°Professor, what happened exactly?¡± Guo adjusted his broken glasses and said urgently, ¡°The subject wasn¡¯t responding, so Professor Zhang and I discussed reducing the test distance. No matter how we stimulated it, it didn¡¯t react¡ªuntil we brought the Blood Scourge Flora near it. That¡¯s when it snapped. I suspect the creature has a special sensitivity to the Flora.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t move, Professor. You still have internal bleeding,¡± a medical worker pressed him down quickly. ¡°Teacher!¡± Wei Kexue gently urged him back down. ¡°Listen to the doctor. Don¡¯t overexert.¡± ¡°But... there¡¯s something else. When Subject No. 13 went berserk, more than a dozen others started acting crazy too¡ªall at the same time. They were locked in isolation chambers, so none escaped, but they¡¯re all housed far apart,¡± said the balding Professor Zhang, his face haggard. He¡¯d been injured in the attack and looked thoroughly shaken. Ding Junyi¡¯s expression turned grim. She suddenly recalled the time back in Rain Town, when that impostor tried to ambush their crew. She¡¯d only survived thanks to the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. Even then, she¡¯d noted Eerie Entities seemed to have some kind of heightened reaction to the Blood Scourge Flora. She glanced around the room at the battered researchers, her heart sinking. She had hoped that cooperating with Phoenix would make the research process smoother¡ªshe¡¯d already completed the final deductions of the formula. Wei Kexue and Yu Yuheng had even used her parameters to design the equation. All that was needed was to reverse-calculate based on the Flora¡¯s reactions and use the ultra-pure germanium detector to pinpoint the Dark Mark with high probability. Yet bizarrely, even after multiple control tests with captured Eerie Entities, no Dark Marks had been detected. Not a single reaction from the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. This inexplicable result had even Ding Junyi baffled. He Zhen checked his watch, then turned to her. ¡°Professor Ding, you mentioned needing more subjects for group testing. Can you give me a number? I¡¯ll dispatch a Special Unit right away.¡± ¡°Yes...¡± Guo Sicheng, pale and weak on the cot, muttered, ¡°I reviewed Professor Ding¡¯s parameters carefully. These Snow Wraiths may be too isolated individually... Group testing really is necessary...¡± BOOM!! A deafening explosion shook the entire building. The floor quaked, chunks of plaster rained down, and the lights flickered wildly, as if a massive detonation had just struck. ¡°Xiao He! Li Luo! Protect the scientists!!¡± Amid the chaos, He Zhen was the first to react, barking orders to guard the researchers. As layers of dust fell, he looked up and saw Ding Junyi rushing out already. He immediately followed. The two bolted into the hallway¡ªonly to find the entire corridor ahead had collapsed. Across the gap, the neighboring B Block Lab Building had half its structure gone, replaced by a towering black behemoth¡ªa giant Abyss Worm bursting up from underground like a living skyscraper. That entire half of the building had been swallowed in a single bite. ¡°Watch out!¡± He Zhen yanked Ding Junyi back. Her face was pale¡ªHell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum was still inside that building! ¡°Eerie Entity attack on the Inner City!¡± Dragging her to safety, He Zhen rallied his troops and charged out. Within seconds, gunfire and air raid sirens rang through the once-quiet city of Xilan. Massive floodlights lit up the night, illuminating the black worm. Its body, like a mountain of dark cement, loomed above the snowstorm. The lab building''s remnants clung to exposed floors, rebar, and concrete. Severed power lines sparked violently. Rat-a-tat-tat! Boom! Boom! The city''s firepower escalated rapidly, long guns and heavy artillery bombarding the Abyss Worm¡¯s massive form. VROOOOM!! As rubble collapsed, the creature let out a deafening hum, shaking the very ground beneath them. All across Xilan, survivors were jolted awake. On Central Avenue, headlights from thousands of convoy vehicles lit up like rippling waves. ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± ¡°Eerie Entity attack!¡± ¡°Where?!¡± ¡°Inside the city!¡± ¡°The air raid alarm¡¯s going off¡ª¡± ¡°Quick, grab your gear!¡± ¡°All convoys, stay alert¡ª¡± Woooooo~ At the Northern Airport, the aerial strike fleet scrambled. On the tarmac, various fighter jets were already heating up, the massive floating engines of a Dreadnought-Class Aerial Carrier roaring to life. Pilots and ground crew raced everywhere. On the streets, heavy vehicles and artillery were being rushed toward the university district. At Xilan Industrial University, the Abyss Worm had erupted dozens of meters into the air, swallowing half a building. Explosions pelted its black body, sending chunks of flesh flying. But only minutes later, it unleashed another deep quake¡ªand began to retreat, dragging dust and rubble with it as it vanished underground. Just when it seemed like a massive siege had begun, the Abyss Worm mysteriously disappeared. Before long, the city fell eerily silent again. Even the battlefronts on the East and South city walls fell quiet. The relentless Snow Wraith assaults had suddenly stopped. At the Northern Freight Rail Platform¡ª Lin Xian, who had just fallen asleep, was startled awake by the air raid sirens and tremors. Outside the Service Car, Infinite Train team members doing repairs and upgrades dropped everything, their faces pale. ¡°That sound¡ªwasn¡¯t that from Central Avenue?¡± ¡°Yeah, are we under attack?¡± Shhhk¡ª A moment later, Lin Xian, KIKI, Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin, and Lu Xingchen, along with Shi Diyuan, Ning Jing, and Lu Yong from Dragon Mountain No. 1, all jumped off the train. ¡°What the h*ll¡ªalmost morning and something still happens?¡± Shi Diyuan barked. ¡°A¡¯Bai, Chen Dong¡ªget airborne and scout it out!¡± Whoosh¡ªfrom Dragon Mountain No. 1, a winged Ability User took off with A¡¯Bai. Lin Xian looked at KIKI and Chen Sixuan. They nodded. KIKI grabbed Chen Sixuan and soared into the sky. High above, Chen Sixuan pulled out the Meteorite-3 to trace the shockwave¡¯s source. ¡°It¡¯s over at the university!¡± Her expression changed. Once on the ground, she told Lin Xian immediately. ¡°It¡¯s a giant bug. The creature¡¯s aura is insanely strong,¡± A¡¯Bai added, his face tense. Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan exchanged looks¡ªeveryone knew something serious was going down. Then, the air raid sirens suddenly cut off. ¡°Alarm¡¯s over?¡± ¡°KIKI, take me over there,¡± Lin Xian said, grabbing his Black Rifle without hesitation. ¡°Shu Qin, Ms. Chen¡ªfull alert on the train.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Chen Sixuan looked at Lin Xian, worried. He¡¯d been working all night, and now not even ten minutes of rest before another crisis. Plus, she knew that¡¯s where Director Ding was¡ªher heart sank. Lin Xian and KIKI took off toward Xilan Industrial University. ¡°Let¡¯s go check it out too. Lao Lu, you hold the line here!¡± Shi Diyuan called, taking Ning Jing and A¡¯Bai with him. By now, the field outside the university¡¯s lab building was filled with tanks and artillery. Over a thousand soldiers from the Investigation Corps stood guard. A massive pit, over ten meters wide, had opened where Building B¡¯s foundation used to be. Spotlights beamed down into the abyss. Half the building still dangled above, with furniture, files, and lab equipment tumbling down... Vroom! A large snow vehicle roared in. The door opened and a tall, lean middle-aged man in a thick coat jumped down, striding quickly through the dirty snow. Behind him followed over a dozen Nightwalkers from the Starfire Group, including Wen Zhu. The man¡¯s sharp gaze and hawk-like eyes radiated an unshakable, mountain-like presence. Phoenix¡¯s chief in Xilan¡ªZhao Yu. ¡°Where¡¯s He Zhen?¡± he asked, his voice steely as he turned to a nearby officer. ¡°Reporting, Director Zhao¡ªCommander He¡¯s over there.¡± The officer handed over a terminal while briefing him. ¡°Building collapse. Professors Guo and Zhang were moved to Building A¡¯s medical center during the attack¡ªno fatalities. But there were over thirty people still working in B Block. Only a few have been pulled out.¡± Zhao Yu snatched the device, then turned to Wen Zhu. ¡°Starfire Group.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Wen Zhu¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°Jing Tian, Wang Mocheng, with me.¡± Swish! With a flick of his hand, Wen Zhu tossed two metal rods behind him and shot into the air. Two Nightwalkers¡ªone tall, one short¡ªgrabbed the rods and followed him upward. Magnetism Ability! Bzzzt bzzzt bzzzt~ Exposed steel rods on the ground trembled and buzzed under Wen Zhu¡¯s power, lifting the three of them swiftly toward the deep crater. Meanwhile, He Zhen was personally leading rescue efforts at what remained of Building B. Wei Kexue and Ding Junyi stood behind the team, looking dazed. Just then, soldiers pulled a soot-covered researcher from the tilted structure. Wei Kexue rushed over in a panic. ¡°Professor Wang¡ªwhere¡¯s Professor You?!¡± The man¡¯s face was covered in blood and dust. He gasped, waving his hand weakly. ¡°They... they fell. All gone. All of them.¡± Wei Kexue went pale. He was shaking¡ªthere had been over twenty researchers in that room. ¡°What about Team Leader Yu? He was still inside, wasn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Team Leader Yu¡¯s over here!!!¡± Before the words had even finished echoing, Xiao He and a few soldiers came charging out from the rubble and smoke, covering a figure covered head to toe in dust. As everyone looked over¡ªthey saw it really was Yu Yuheng. Not only that, he was cradling a transparent plant cultivation pod, and inside was none other than a Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum! Ding Junyi¡¯s eyes lit up the moment she saw it, and she quickly rushed over with Wei Kexue. Cough cough cough... Yu Yuheng stumbled out, still clutching the Blood Scourge Flora, and immediately passed it to Ding Junyi as soon as he spotted her. ¡°The scanner... was still on when we left. I checked. The Disaster Flora hasn¡¯t changed.¡± Xiao He, who had been covering the rescue, glanced around and added, ¡°We got him out, but he insisted on going back in to retrieve that thing. Said it was really important.¡± Wei Kexue nodded repeatedly, then hurriedly turned to He Zhen. ¡°Yes¡ªyes! It¡¯s crucial! We¡¯re counting on it to figure out how these Dark Entities attack.¡± He Zhen nodded thoughtfully. At that moment, footsteps approached from behind. They turned to see Zhao Yu leading a team toward them at a brisk pace. ¡°Old Zhao.¡± ¡°He Zhen, what¡¯s the situation?¡± He Zhen frowned. ¡°I was right here when it happened. No warning at all. That thing suddenly burst out from underground and attacked the research building. There were over thirty people working in Building A. We¡¯ve only managed to rescue nine.¡± He gestured toward Wei Kexue and Ding Junyi. ¡°There was an earlier attack in the lab too¡ªProfessor Guo, Professor Zhang were both injured. They¡¯ve been moved to the infirmary for now¡ªat least they¡¯re safe.¡± Whoosh whoosh~ Just then, Wenzhuo and the other two who¡¯d been scouting the underground tunnel returned, flying in from above. ¡°It got away. We didn¡¯t dare pursue too deep. Not sure if it¡¯s the same one the Emperor Team reported from the Trakamar Ice Canyon,¡± Wenzhuo reported to Zhao Yu. Yu Yuheng stepped forward, face smudged with dirt, voice trembling. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the same one! I saw the wounds we inflicted on it when we were retreating!¡± He¡¯d been standing near the door when the Abyssal Worm struck. All he heard was a deafening roar¡ªand then the entire building, along with his colleagues, vanished in an instant. The hellish scene nearly knocked him off his feet. But in that very moment, he saw it¡ªa large puncture wound on the black worm¡¯s body, and a deep scorched gash left by A¡¯Bai¡¯s laser beam. That¡¯s when he knew¡ªit was the same worm they encountered in Trakamar Ice Canyon. Hearing this, He Zhen¡¯s face darkened. ¡°An A-Class Eerie Entity launching a sudden attack here? Old Zhao, that¡¯s a really bad sign.¡± Zhao Yu¡¯s expression turned grim as his eyes swept over the giant crater now exposed to the frigid wind, letting out ghostly wails. Phoenix personnel were scrambling to evacuate the rest of the researchers and equipment from the research building. ¡°Report.¡± A voice came through Zhao Yu¡¯s comms. ¡°Director Zhao, a lot of convoy leaders have arrived. The numbers are increasing¡ªover a hundred so far.¡± ¡°Let in only the Phoenix-Insignia Convoys.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected that the first time his Crimson Phoenix Token would come in handy would be now. Hundreds of convoy members had rushed to the scene hoping to get information, but only about ten convoys were granted access to Industrial University grounds. These were Phoenix''s official collaborators¡ªrecognized for their strength and trustworthiness. In critical moments like this, they were considered role models among survivors and could cooperate in joint operations with Phoenix. Among them, only Lin Xian and KIKI had arrived on foot¡ªflying, in fact. The rest came in a variety of vehicles, a dozen or so entering the campus square under military escort. Besides Shi Diyuan, Qian Dele, and Lin Xian, the rest were all major figures too¡ªHan Jun and Green Wind from the Arctic Wind Alliance, Qin Xueming from the Cosmic Convoy. From afar, Lin Xian saw the partially-collapsed building and the massive crater under floodlights. His heart sank. He and KIKI hurried over and immediately spotted Ding Junyi, Wei Kexue, and a battered Yu Yuheng among the soldiers. ¡°Captain Lin!¡± Wei Kexue spotted Lin Xian and waved him over. Hearing him, Zhao Yu, He Zhen, and Wenzhuo all turned their eyes toward them too. ¡°You must be Lin Xian from the Infinite Convoy,¡± Zhao Yu stepped forward and extended a hand. ¡°I¡¯m Zhao Yu, head of operations in Xilan City. This is He Zhen from the 7th Investigation Corps. First time meeting in person, but I¡¯ve read your file. Wei Kexue¡¯s told us about you too.¡± Lin Xian, surprised, shook hands with them. ¡°Director Zhao, Commander He¡ªmay I ask what exactly happened here?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze flicked to the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum in Ding Junyi¡¯s hands, and he felt a slight sense of relief. Then he asked. ¡°A worm creature attacked the research building. Didn¡¯t put up much of a fight before escaping. Its objective is still unclear,¡± He Zhen replied. ¡°That scent¡ªit¡¯s definitely the same one!¡± A¡¯Bai, who¡¯d arrived with Shi Diyuan, suddenly spoke up. His voice was quiet but caught everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°He can sense Eerie Entities? Gloom Gaze Ability?¡± Wenzhuo, captain of the Nightwalkers¡¯ Starfire Unit, frowned. From Phoenix¡¯s data, he knew A¡¯Bai had a mutant eye-laser type Ability, but didn¡¯t expect this sensory trait. ¡°Yes. He can sense the presence of Eerie Entities¡ªeven on people,¡± Shi Diyuan said as he approached, shook hands all around, and got straight to the point. ¡°We heard the commotion. Just tell us¡ªwhat does Phoenix need from us?¡± ¡°Dragon Mountain No. 1, Shi Diyuan. Crimson Phoenix Token holder,¡± Wenzhuo introduced him to Zhao Yu. ¡°Joker Convoy, Qian Dele.¡± Zhao Yu nodded, then gestured toward the others. ¡°Captain Han Jun from Arctic Wind Alliance, Vice Captain Green Wind, Captain Qin Xueming from Cosmic Convoy, his assistant A-Long, Captain Zhang Tianfang from Warrior Convoy, Captain Chen Xiao from the Torch Alliance. They arrived a bit earlier. Get familiar¡ªthere¡¯s an evacuation coming up, and we¡¯ll need your help.¡± ¡°Pleasure to meet you.¡± Han Jun gave Lin Xian a sharp once-over, then stepped forward to shake his hand. Lin Xian greeted the others as well. These were all Phoenix Token holders¡ªmeaning their convoys were among the strongest in Xilan City, recognized by Phoenix. In a crisis, they were partners in fighting off enemies. ¡°No need for small talk.¡± Zhao Yu pointed toward the massive crater. ¡°An A-Class Eerie Entity attacked the inner city. Commander Yu says it¡¯s the same one you encountered in Trakamar Ice Canyon.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Yu Yuheng¡ªstill covered in dust¡ªcouldn¡¯t even be bothered to clean himself off. ¡°I saw the exact wounds Lin Xian and A¡¯Bai inflicted on it¡ªit¡¯s definitely the same creature.¡± His clenched, trembling fists made it clear how shaken he still was. ¡°An A-Class chasing us for hundreds of kilometers to strike a research lab?¡± Green Wind¡¯s mechanical left eye glowed faintly as it scanned the ruined building. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± ¡°It ran off?¡± asked Zhang Tianfang from Warrior Convoy, who looked younger than the others, flanked by two aides. ¡°What¡¯s the casualty count?¡± asked Chen Xiao from the Torch Alliance. Han Jun¡¯s gaze swept across Lin Xian, Shi Diyuan, and the others, then landed on Zhao Yu. ¡°We¡¯ve heard Phoenix¡¯s research team is accelerating a certain project. Something about Dark Entity behavior patterns. Is that true?¡± Zhao Yu nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Our research team has been studying a unique attack pattern called the Dark Mark. Basically, Eerie Entities tag survivors with a mark we can¡¯t detect and use it to hunt them. These marks can stack too¡ªso the longer someone runs, the more attacks they attract. It¡¯s like lighting a campfire in the dark¡ªit draws the monsters.¡± He turned to the group of scientists behind him. ¡°That¡¯s the general idea. I just got word that Old Professor Guo was injured. Wei Kexue, you explain.¡± Wei Kexue adjusted his glasses, nervous. ¡°Based on previous data, we should be able to reverse-calculate results using our current equipment and team. But the strange part is¡ªwe haven¡¯t found a single Dark Mark. We ran tests on multiple samples using the Disaster Flora, and... nothing.¡± Hearing that, Lin Xian and KIKI¡¯s expressions changed. Lin had assumed their entrance into the city had cleared their marks through battle and his Gravity Lens, and that others inside likely still had lingering marks¡ªjust blocked from attack by the 7th Investigation Corps at the perimeter. But now? No marks inside the city? With tens of thousands of survivors from all over, how could that be possible? Wei Kexue and Yu Yuheng exchanged uncertain glances before continuing. ¡°It¡¯s incredibly unusual. Professor Guo, Commander Yu, Professor Ding, and I each ran tests using different methods and biological stimuli. But the results...¡± ¡°Could the test be faulty? Or maybe the hypothesis was wrong to begin with?¡± Qin Xueming from the Cosmic Convoy, blunt as always, cut in. ¡°No!¡± both Wei Kexue and Yu Yuheng replied in unison. Wei Kexue glanced at Ding Junyi, then said firmly, ¡°We¡¯ve reviewed Professor Ding¡¯s research thoroughly¡ªpredictions and observations all line up. They even used themselves as test subjects, enduring multiple attacks from different Eerie Entities. The deductions were incredibly precise¡ªthere¡¯s no room for error.¡± Then Zhang Tianfang asked, ¡°You used the Blood Scourge Flora for detection? Can that really be trusted?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how our convoy found a pattern during our entire escape journey,¡± Lin Xian responded loudly. ¡°So yes¡ªI trust it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Zhang Tianfang nodded. ¡°But if the Disaster Flora found no mark¡ªwhy did an A-Class Entity attack here?¡± ¡°Maybe there¡¯s more than one kind of mark. Still, that doesn¡¯t explain the earlier attacks inside the city,¡± Chen Xiao added. His convoy had faced Eerie Entity attacks too, with casualties¡ªonly beaten back through a joint effort. ¡°Hey, we haven¡¯t even figured out the cause¡ªhow can you be sure it can¡¯t explain it?¡± KIKI shot back. ¡°No, no,¡± Wei Kexue quickly stepped in to clarify. ¡°Killing an Eerie Entity can weaken or even remove the mark. The issue now is...¡± ¡°All our past encounters showed clear marking behavior. Even the Snow Wraith Horde. But this time, after entering the city, all the marks vanished. That¡¯s an extreme anomaly. We need mass testing¡ªmaybe even testing outside the city¡ªto understand the monster¡¯s true intent,¡± Ding Junyi added. And just like that, the group broke into a tense, chaotic debate. Lin Xian felt his head spinning. He was completely drained. After working through the entire night and just about to catch some rest, disaster had struck. Now, standing before that massive crater and looking at the disheveled Yu Yuheng, he didn¡¯t even know the status of the other scientists in the research team. And the way that monster had appeared¡ªit was so bizarre, it made Lin Xian feel utterly powerless. Why? What was the reason? Could there be something wrong with Ding Junyi¡¯s research? No way. Without her theory, the Infinite Train wouldn¡¯t have even made it to Xilan City. Right now, Lin Xian felt like he was trapped in a fog of confusion. Beside him, Qian Dele quietly glanced over at Lin Xian, who was wearing a deep frown. Lin Xian had mentioned the Dark Mark theory to him back in Trakamar Ice Canyon. It couldn¡¯t be proven completely, but Lin¡¯s evacuation strategy and the coordination of trains to combat the Eerie surge were clearly based on this hypothesis. And on that point, Qian was firmly in support of him. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to be talking about the attack right now?¡± Qian Dele suddenly interrupted the ongoing debate. He pointed toward the massive crater ahead. ¡°A monster that big attacking the lab¡ªthere¡¯s gotta be a reason, right?¡± ¡°Could it be because there were Eerie Entities here? Didn¡¯t you just say you were using a bunch for research?¡± said Qin Xueming from the Cosmic Convoy, arms folded. ¡°Impossible.¡± He Zhen, commander of the Investigation Corps, stepped forward. ¡°We¡¯ve captured way more than that. The weapons research facility alone uses tons for testing weapons and defensive materials. They¡¯re stored across multiple zones, not just here.¡± At that, Ning Jing also spoke up. ¡°Then what¡¯s the reason? The Industrial University is in the center of the city. For a monster to attack the experimental building this precisely... that can¡¯t be just a coincidence.¡± ¡°I think¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± The discussion was suddenly cut off by a sharp voice¡ªZhao Yu. His eyes locked on Ning Jing. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. There¡¯s no way a monster like that would randomly attack a lab...¡± His gaze then swept across Ding Junyi, Wei Kexue, and the battered Yu Yuheng before barking out an order. ¡°He Zhen! Wen Zhu!¡± ¡°Here!¡± they both responded. Looking at the dust-covered scientists, Zhao Yu gave his command without hesitation: ¡°Immediately relocate the research team to a secure zone. Assign additional guards and have Nightwalkers provide 24/7 protection. He Zhen¡ªput Xiao He on escort duty. Whatever the research team needs, even if it seems impossible¡ªmake it happen. The stronger the resistance from our enemies, the more we know we¡¯re on the right track! The entire force must offer full support to the research group!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± He Zhen and Wen Zhu answered without hesitation. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up with clarity. Zhao Yu¡¯s words were like a gust of wind clearing fallen leaves¡ªeverything suddenly made sense. And Zhao wasn¡¯t just speaking to He Zhen and Wen Zhu. He was also addressing the scientists and leaders of survivor convoys like Lin Xian and Han Jun. He was sending a clear message: Phoenix fully trusts and supports the research team¡¯s judgment. At the same time, his assessment was sharp and decisive. Just because there were no Dark Marks found across the city didn¡¯t mean the theory was invalid. But the Eerie Entity had still targeted the lab¡ªwhy? In Zhao Yu¡¯s view, there were no coincidences. Only two possibilities: The research team¡¯s work had inadvertently attracted the creature¡¯s attention. Their findings posed a real threat to the Eerie Entities. Either way, it meant their research was working. It meant they were right. The others who heard Zhao Yu speak now felt like the fog in their minds had lifted. Having issued his orders, Zhao Yu turned toward the leaders of several incoming survivor convoys. ¡°The situation is urgent. There¡¯s no point debating anything else. Leave the science to the experts. What we can do is trust the research team. The city is no longer safe¡ªwe¡¯ll need your help in other areas.¡± ¡°No problem. You¡¯re the general of this city. We¡¯ll follow your lead,¡± said Shi Diyuan, patting his chest. ¡°Zhao Chief, the Arctic Wind Alliance stands with Phoenix all the way,¡± added Han Jun. Zhao Yu looked around. No need for more words. His tone turned fierce as he began assigning tasks. ¡°Starting now, the city is under full alert. All convoys gathered on Central Avenue must follow Phoenix¡¯s evacuation plan and spread out to avoid bottlenecks. You convoy leaders will set the example.¡± ¡°Second, to brace for the increasing pressure on our outer defenses, I¡¯ve already sent all of the Investigation Corps to the front lines,¡± he said, glancing toward the soldiers out in the snow-covered streets. ¡°If something like tonight happens again, it could leave the front wide open. So you¡¯re responsible for holding the city interior.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Han Jun said calmly. ¡°We¡¯ll guard the eastern sector. The Arctic Wind Alliance is stationed there, alongside parts of the Joint Convoy. I¡¯ll begin setting up defenses immediately.¡± ¡°Alright. Then we of the Cosmic Convoy will handle the southern sector,¡± said Qin Xueming, arms crossed. ¡°There are a lot of convoys there. We can hold the line.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take the north,¡± Qian Dele chimed in. ¡°Lots of train teams are based up there. It¡¯s a bit tight, but they¡¯ve got plenty of firepower and airport anti-air defense. We¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Then the Fenglan Mountain western sector is on us,¡± said Shi Diyuan with a look at Lin Xian, before turning to Zhao Yu with confidence. ¡°There aren¡¯t many people out there, but it¡¯s backed up against the mountain. And our two convoys aren¡¯t exactly soft, are we, Brother Lin?¡± Lin nodded, then turned to look at Wei Kexue and Ding Junyi. ¡°I¡¯m good. What are your plans next?¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s expression was calm and serious. ¡°We need to begin large-scale testing immediately. If that fails, we¡¯ll have to consider conducting tests outside the city.¡± The situation had gone beyond what she¡¯d expected, but danger wasn¡¯t her concern. What bothered her was that the research progress had stalled. ¡°I agree,¡± said Wei Kexue, adjusting his glasses. ¡°Guo Lao is injured. I suggest Professor Ding and Professor Zhang handle things at the lab. I¡¯ll take charge of the group trials.¡± ¡°And count me in!!!¡± Yu Yuheng smacked the dust off his cheeks and quickly stepped forward. ¡°We¡¯re short-handed. I¡¯ll get all the support staff from the Emperor Team here now.¡± Zhao Yu frowned slightly. ¡°You¡¯d better be ready for another attack. I¡¯ll assign the Seismic Monitoring Team. That thing couldn¡¯t have moved without leaving a trace. To play it safe, the research team needs multiple backup relocation sites.¡± ¡°Good call,¡± He Zhen nodded. ¡°If the team¡¯s really being targeted, this could happen again.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll organize a dedicated guard unit,¡± Wen Zhu added. Zhao Yu nodded, then pulled out a Phoenix-emblem communicator and adjusted the frequency. He turned to Lin Xian and the other convoy leaders. ¡°All Phoenix dispatch and communication from now on will go through the Phoenix Token.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± everyone responded. ¡°Everyone,¡± Zhao Yu said, scanning the group, ¡°a storm is coming¡ªstand together and endure it!¡± With that, he swept his coat and led the crowd away in haste. As his words echoed, a heavy sense of oncoming chaos settled over everyone. Han Jun and the others looked toward Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan. The convoy leaders exchanged looks, then quickly departed. In just a few minutes, the city¡¯s peaceful illusion would be shattered. Above them, the dark sky hung low. Under the howling blizzard, Xilan City looked grim and deathly. Wei Kexue turned his gaze toward the bottomless pit in the distance, his eyes filled with sorrow and emptiness. Just thirty minutes ago, dozens of researchers had still been working by his side¡ªburning the midnight oil, all for the chance to uncover the truth about the Dark Mark. Now, in a flash, all those familiar faces were gone. ¡°Professor Wei, it¡¯s time to go.¡± Xiao He, He Zhen¡¯s second-in-command, was in charge of securing the research team¡¯s transfer. Seeing Wei in a daze, he stepped up to gently nudge him. Yu Yuheng, now wrapped in a windproof blanket, glanced over at Wei. He wanted to say something but couldn''t. The weight in his chest was too heavy¡ªhe¡¯d watched his colleagues vanish before his eyes. Not even a single scream had made it out. Ding Junyi stood nearby, watching all this unfold. Lin Xian and KIKI walked over. ¡°Director Ding.¡± ¡°Thank you for trusting my research without hesitation,¡± Ding Junyi said softly, still staring in Wei Kexue¡¯s direction. ¡°It wasn¡¯t without hesitation,¡± Lin Xian replied. Ding Junyi looked at him, confused. ¡°I only wanted your support before. Now, I need you to complete this mission and come back safely to the Infinite Train,¡± Lin Xian said gravely. The closer they got to results, the more turbulent it became. Lin Xian could feel something sinister in the air¡ªa suffocating sense of being toyed with. If before he just wanted to pass the Dark Mark research to Phoenix and be done, now¡ªafter seeing all those researchers lost in that crater, after seeing Wei, Yu, and Ding in danger¡ªhe was thinking the same thing Zhao Yu had. That maybe this research... had actually made something in the dark angry. Had made it feel threatened. And the more that seemed true, the more Lin Xian felt¡ªhe had to fight the darkness to the end! Ding Junyi paused, seeing that resolute look in Lin¡¯s eyes. Her calm demeanor stirred with emotion. She pressed her lips together, then nodded. ¡°I promise.¡± With that, she turned and walked toward the vehicles being prepared for evacuation. Once Wei Kexue and the others had left, only the Investigation Corps soldiers remained, guarding the area around that terrifying abyss. Swish¡ª Suddenly, the sky lit up. The wind howled even louder. Thunder boomed across the horizon, tearing through the Extreme Cold Vortex¡¯s eye. It pressed down on the earth like a judgment. 11:30. Dawn broke. To prevent Eerie Entities from emerging through the crater, Zhao Yu had ordered both soldiers and Nightwalkers, along with combat engineers, to temporarily seal the opening. Lin Xian and KIKI stood in the plaza, watching this in silence. ¡°What do we do now?¡± KIKI asked, her breath fogging in the air beside him. ¡°We go back.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Sleep.¡± Lin Xian turned around without hesitation. He had to rest. He needed to recover as fast as possible¡ªbecause he was going to upgrade the Infinite Train¡¯s firepower again. Something catastrophic was creeping closer and closer to Xilan City. He could feel it. Chapter 277: Above the Sky August 30th, Apocalypse Day D93 ¡ª 1 day until the Great Evacuation of Xilan City. The city howled beneath a raging blizzard. Temperatures had plummeted to minus 60 degrees. Everything was a sheet of white¡ªicicles hung like spears from the buildings, snow flew in swirling gusts across the streets. Near Central Avenue, the roads were jammed with convoys preparing to evacuate. Countless survivors wore heavy expressions. City-wide announcements echoed nonstop across public and convoy communication frequencies. Two words dominated every channel. Evacuate. Defend. Just those two simple words brought a crushing sense of dread to the tens of thousands packed in the city¡ªthe calm that once reigned in Xilan was completely shattered by the quake and attacks before dawn. Everyone knew one thing: Xilan City was no longer safe. What awaited them was a mountain of battles and the looming specter of death. ¡°Where are we evacuating to?¡± ¡°No idea. Just follow orders¡ªasking won¡¯t help.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over... Will we even make it? I heard there are massive Eerie Entities in the city now. Even the Phoenix couldn¡¯t respond in time.¡± ¡°Shut it. Don¡¯t spread panic.¡± ¡°Keep tight with the vehicle behind you!¡± ¡°Stay away from tall buildings. Watch where you stop.¡± ¡°Pass it on¡ªclear the snow off your vehicles every hour. Don¡¯t slack!¡± The snow-covered streets were packed bumper to bumper. Under the Phoenix¡¯s direction, convoys were diverted into various sectors. Inside the lines of vehicles, the extreme cold and thick snowfall all but blocked out visibility. Wipers were going full-speed, but it was useless. Frost had long caked the armored windshields, and even with heaters on max, drivers¡¯ hands and feet were red from the cold. ¡°Some convoys left at dawn to evacuate early.¡± ¡°Whatever. In this weather, not sticking with the main group is a death sentence. Staying with the Phoenix gives us a better shot.¡± ¡°What if even they can¡¯t hold?¡± ¡°What are you, a jinx? If the Phoenix falls, you think anyone else has a chance? Got a better plan?¡± ¡°Heard a whole carload froze to death at Sun Park¡ªheater failed last night.¡± ¡°Trade for heaters and heating supplies, now!¡± ¡°Car broke down at Tongzhou Road. Detour ahead. Repair team can¡¯t get through!¡± ¡°...¡± Tension and fear crackled nonstop across all comms frequencies. To the east, the Northwind Alliance led over a thousand vehicles toward key areas: East Park, Capital Commercial Plaza, and along the Baiyu River. They were near the 2nd Regiment of the 7th Investigation Corps. Heavy firepower and ammo poured into the eastern Demon Defense Line. To the south, the largest convoy area couldn¡¯t fully evacuate. Under Phoenix¡¯s command, they spread into lower-density neighborhoods. School sports fields were converted into rally points. To the north, dozens of apocalypse trains and the joint convoys of Qian Dele, Zhou Li, and even Monica¡¯s Queen Mo train were stationed. Firepower was formidable. With the northern airport open for aerial operations, the area was relatively spacious. To the west, under Fenglan Mountain, was the West Freight Rail Station, home to the Infinite Train and Longshan No. 1. This was once Xilan Mining Group¡¯s industrial zone, mainly filled with dormitories. Terrain was open, wind and snow less intense due to the mountain¡¯s shielding. However, it was furthest from the evacuation routes¡ªfew chose to stop here. Aside from the two trains, only a few scattered convoys camped nearby. The beauty of train convoys? Once onboard, you¡¯re ready to go at any time. Inside Longshan No. 1, the crew bustled with activity. After returning, Shi Deyuan canceled all free time and ordered a full combat prep. The train¡¯s internal atmosphere grew tense. Due to the dropping temperature, the heating system was pushed to full capacity. Steam rose continuously from the carriage joints. After the recent ability testing and Queen Mo¡¯s inspection, Shi Deyuan had made significant adjustments to Longshan No. 1¡¯s defense layout. Heavy weapons and anti-aircraft cannons had been deployed by the engineering team. Unlike the Infinite Train¡¯s modular customization, Longshan could only install the AA guns on roof weapon stations. Ammunition feeds were manual, and firing was handled by personnel in each carriage. On the Infinite Train, Chen Sixuan and Shasha sat at the Information Center, eyes locked on the monitors. A comm and a crimson Phoenix Token rested on the table. Key combatants like Lin Xian, KIKI, Firebro, Big Luo, and Shu Qin were finally resting after an all-nighter. Chen hadn¡¯t expected the situation to turn tense so fast. With nightfall only hours away, Lin had ordered everyone to grab what rest they could. In the rear carriages, Miao Lu, Lu? Chang, and Xiao Yuan sorted the parts Lin Xian made last night, prepping them for use. ¡°Ugh, Team Leader Lin was saying we could finally relax and get some free time today,¡± Miao Lu sighed. ¡°Now it¡¯s all gone.¡± ¡°Could¡¯ve been worse,¡± Lu? Chang replied. ¡°At least nothing¡¯s happened yet. If they were up all night and got attacked again? We¡¯d be totally f***ed.¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, it¡¯s daytime,¡± Miao Lu muttered while working. ¡°Yeah, for a few more hours,¡± Lu? Chang said grimly. ¡°Team Leader Lin¡¯s been on edge this whole time¡ªtwo nights without rest just to finish the external armor.¡± ¡°Just thinking about it makes me tired...¡± Miao muttered. Xiao Yuan, quietly picking out parts, finally asked, ¡°You think Lin Xian... might be overworking himself?¡± Miao Lu pouted. ¡°No idea. All I know is, ever since I got on this train, I¡¯ve never seen him really take a break.¡± Xiao Yuan glanced toward the front of the train, eyes flickering with silent thoughts. All across Xilan, the wind howled with tension. And yet, more convoys kept managing to reach the city¡ªbattered survivors escaping from snow demons, saved by the city defenses. Beep-beep. Beep-beep. The alarm rang. Lin Xian snapped awake and checked the time¡ª15:00. Three hours of sleep. His head was clearer. As he activated his Mechanical Heart, he felt energy returning¡ªand no alerts on the train. Nothing had happened while he slept. Shaking off the grogginess, he suited up in thermal gear and power armor. He planned to finish building another Type-1130 autocannon on Carriage 5 before nightfall. With his Mechanical Crafting Level now at Level 5, he estimated two to three hours for the build¡ªmaybe enough time left to prep some rounds too. The automatic ammo press would have to wait. Right now, priority was weapons. If they made it through the night, then he¡¯d upgrade the railgun and power armor. So little time. Clunk. As he opened his cabin door, he saw a bowl of pear soup sitting on the nearby workstation. It was cold, but he was too tired and thirsty to care¡ªhe chugged it all in big gulps. The cold shot through his body, making him shiver¡ªbut he felt much more awake. Then he strode quickly to the rear carriage to begin fabrication. Right as he reached it, the comms crackled. ¡°Lin Xian, you awake?¡± ¡°Yeah, where are you?¡± ¡°At the station. Someone just arrived¡ªit¡¯s Uncle Wu and the others!¡± Lin Xian stopped cold, turned, and rushed to the exit. Stepping out of the ¡°Assembly Workshop,¡± he found the empty space between the Infinite Train and Longshan No. 1 now packed with over a hundred vehicles. Most were heavy-duty trucks and modified engineering vehicles. One glance, and Lin Xian recognized the gear from the Great Eagle Convoy and Far Runner Convoy. But there was also a new group¡ªsnow-crawler base vehicles he didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Captain Lin!!¡± Through the snow, a young man in a thick down coat called out. Lin Xian saw it was Luo Yang of the Sun Chaser Convoy. ¡°Captain Lin!¡± At the same time, familiar faces like Wu Zhenhai, Liao Ming, Liang Lei, and Li Yi greeted him warmly. Chen Sixuan and Shu Qin were nearby, already speaking with them. ¡°When did you get here?¡± Lin Xian asked, surprised. ¡°An hour ago,¡± Wu Zhenhai replied, his beard coated in frost. ¡°As soon as we entered the city, we asked around and came straight here.¡± ¡°City¡¯s too crowded,¡± Liao Ming added, breath puffing. ¡°Had to find old friends.¡± ¡°Captain Lin,¡± Li Yi asked, face flushed red from the cold, hands on her pregnant belly, ¡°we heard the city¡¯s under attack. Are we evacuating?¡± Behind her, the burly Liang Lei shielded her from the wind. Luo Yang and the other young guys looked relieved just to see Lin Xian. Clearly, they¡¯d gone through hell to reach the city. Seeing them, Lin Xian smiled and replied, ¡°Probably not yet. But it¡¯s not safe anymore¡ªXilan is under full alert.¡± ¡°Right, let me introduce someone,¡± Wu said, pointing to a stubbled man. ¡°This is Shen Yao, leader of the Northwind Survivor Alliance.¡± ¡°Captain Lin,¡± Shen greeted him with a firm handshake. ¡°We came from Xilin. I¡¯ve known Wu for years. If you trust him, you can trust me. I¡¯ve got a good-sized team. We¡¯ll follow your lead.¡± ¡°Northwind Alliance? Related to the North Pole Alliance?¡± Lin asked, raising a brow. ¡°Haha, nah¡ªjust similar names,¡± Shen laughed. ¡°We¡¯re a coalition of convoys that crossed the Great Pillar Plateau from the west.¡± ¡°They ran into a lot of trouble too,¡± Chen Sixuan said. ¡°I just briefed them on the current situation. As for ability testing...¡± ¡°Still ongoing,¡± Lin nodded. ¡°The Nightwalkers haven¡¯t shut down testing yet. You¡¯ve still got time.¡± Even with attacks and lockdowns, Michelle Plaza still ran Ability Testing, along with all Phoenix support hubs. It was critical for both new arrivals and existing convoys. Wu Zhenhai and the others lit up. ¡°We heard there¡¯s supplies and even weapons. Let¡¯s go now before it gets dark!¡± Everyone agreed and quickly prepared to leave. Lin Xian added, ¡°Make sure anyone with good abilities¡ªpsychics or gene-evolved¡ªgets tested. The more supplies you can claim, the better. I¡¯ll watch your vehicles.¡± ¡°Thanks, Captain Lin!¡± ¡°Appreciate it!¡± ¡°Thanks, Lin!¡± Shen Yao added with sincerity. ¡°We¡¯ll head out now.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Luo Yang and the other young fighters joined in, excited. Most of them were psychics or gene-types¡ªand like Lin Xian, they cared more about learning than looting. ¡°Go,¡± Lin said. ¡°The Phoenix manuals are worth reading.¡± ¡°Heard, loud and clear¡ªlet¡¯s move out!¡± The convoy leaders quickly gathered their people. Testing could offer not just guidance, but also rare rewards. This kind of chance might not come again. As the groups departed, Lin Xian turned to Chen Sixuan and Shu Qin. ¡°Let¡¯s move too. Ms. Chen, take a break. Shu Qin, you and Big Luo come help me prep the ammo.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Chen nodded. Back on the train, everyone snapped into motion. After a brief rest, the weariness lifted, replaced by focus. Gone were yesterday¡¯s lighthearted moments. Now, the Infinite crew worked in grim determination. The side armor on both flanks had been fully installed. Lin had Big Luo lead a full systems check¡ªrear engines and Weilong-class traction train included. Thanks to the Prototype Armor Blueprint, the Infinite¡¯s plating was worlds apart from normal steel grids. Now, it looked like a silver-and-black futuristic war machine. On top of that, Lin installed Arc Pulse Resonators on both sides of every carriage. The power draw was immense, but he didn¡¯t skip a single one¡ªthis was also why he¡¯d upgraded the electrical system. With full-train drive, heating, power, water, electric-blade armor, arc pulse resonators, and railgun systems, the Infinite¡¯s energy demands were off the charts. Without modifications, there¡¯d be no way to keep it all running. Then came the rooftop weapon stations¡ªCarriage 12 and Carriage 5 were each fitted with an 1130 CIWS (Close-In Weapon System), while Carriage 2 had a G3 Electromagnetic Railgun installed. Additionally, five YJ-03 Anti-Air Cannons were scattered along the entire train. These anti-air guns, once their firing arcs were adjusted, could not only shoot aerial monsters but also be lowered for direct fire against ground targets. Carriage 11 had been completely remodeled into a utility carriage. Several of the small vehicles previously stored inside had already been disassembled by Lin Xian for materials¡ªthey were useless in the freezing wilderness anyway. The carriage had now become a fully automated mechanical bay. The roof could open completely, and the 6-axis mechanical arm could deploy the Fire God Mecha from its bay within 20 seconds. During downtime, the system could also handle partial disassembly, weapon mounting, ammo loading, and recharging and maintenance tasks. Lin Xian planned to store all future mechas here as well, turning it into a dedicated mecha deployment carriage. As for the two PX-05 Robots, one had been permanently stationed in the rear Wei Long-class locomotive for remote control and maintenance work. The other moved between Carriages 11 and 12, occasionally heading outside for external tasks. These engineering maintenance robots were incredibly useful to Lin Xian¡ªnot only were they equipped with Hall Thrusters for flight, but they also handled high-precision welding, repairs, and other operations, adapting easily to harsh environments. Plus, they were durable. Lin Xian realized he¡¯d been underutilizing them¡ªmostly just having them maintain the 1130 and refill ammo belts. He now planned to build more of them. With a few mechanical manufacturing tweaks and KIKI''s modular upgrades, they could take over a much broader workload. Heavy weapon stations and exterior tasks could be completely handed off to the robots¡ªway safer for the passengers onboard. Finally, there was the Infinite Train¡¯s information system. The upgraded Sentry System now offered 360-degree monitoring across the entire train. The search radar on the roof and the active phased array radar at the front were now linked¡ªa setup Lin Xian had designed specifically to deal with large-scale zombie tides. It allowed rapid target acquisition and battlefield awareness. The only issue was that the train¡¯s current computing system couldn¡¯t keep up¡ªit lacked the AI processing power to fully automate fire-control calculations and monster suppression. Inside the train, the crew worked busily. Shasha had just finished reloading Shali¡ªher Fire God Mecha now sported a fierce yet strangely cute paint job. Across the chest armor it said ¡°Shali¡±, the left arm read ¡°Mass Destruction¡±, and the right arm said ¡°Leave None Alive¡±. Hard to imagine what kind of headspace a 12-year-old girl had while painting that. Carriage 12 Lin Xian was busy crafting ammo and distributing it to the various carriages. KIKI was nearby, swapping out control modules for the PX-05 robot. She couldn¡¯t help but ask: ¡°Lin Xian, what do you think that big bug¡¯s real goal was? Why would it suddenly attack the research building?¡± ¡°The most likely culprit is Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°But even that doesn¡¯t make sense. It¡¯s been with us for so long on the train¡ªwhy would something only start tracking it after we handed it off to the science team?¡± He¡¯d also considered whether the Eerie Cube¡¯s cloaking effect had played a part, but that felt like a stretch. After all, when the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum was first brought out of Underground City No. 9, the Eerie Cube hadn¡¯t even been on the train yet. But Ding Junyi had mentioned the Rain Town impostor infiltration, and Lin Xian had a gut feeling¡ªHell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, or maybe Blood Scourge Flora, had a very specific impact on Eerie Entities. Still, Lin Xian felt that the recent Abyss Worm ambush on Central Avenue couldn¡¯t possibly be just about the Blood Scourge Flora. KIKI frowned, muttering as she worked, ¡°Could the monsters really be afraid we¡¯re getting close to discovering the Dark Mark? Sounds kinda...¡± ¡°Whatever the case, Director Zhao was right.¡± Lin Xian continued molding and stacking fresh 7.62mm bullets into ammo boxes with rhythmic clinks. ¡°There¡¯s the North Airport¡¯s air combat fleet, the East Base of the Survey Corps, the armory, and tens of thousands of survivors on Central Avenue. Yet the worm specifically went after the lab.¡± ¡°That means¡ªwhatever¡¯s there is even more important than the air force, the weapons, or the civilians.¡± He tapped his communicator, trying to reach Ding Junyi. Crackle¡ª ¡°Lin Xian, I¡¯m here.¡± Ding¡¯s voice came through quickly, backgrounded by chatter from inside the lab. The entire research team had relocated to the Xilan Sports Arena for safety¡ªa move known only to Phoenix and a few select Phoenix Convoy units. ¡°Trial 21 starting. Swapping observation target...¡± ¡°Hold the light¡ªdetector self-checking.¡± ¡°Professor Ding, could you take a look over here...¡± Lin Xian took a breath. ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± ¡°No results yet from the group observation test,¡± Ding Junyi replied calmly. ¡°The Blood Scourge Flora still hasn¡¯t reacted. We¡¯re moving to the final test. Phoenix¡¯s Special Ops and the Nightwalkers have both sent teams¡ªwe¡¯re prepping for a live field trial.¡± Lin Xian frowned. Group test failed? That made no sense. Previously, even the slightest appearance of a Snow Wraith would trigger a red glow in the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum¡ªeven at the weakest levels, it was detectable. He still remembered how the Dark Mark had jumped to Level 4 at Uliyasitai Mountain during the wave of Snow Wraiths. But now? Nothing? 17:40. 40 minutes to nightfall. At the temporary camp in the Xilan Sports Arena, the Survey Corps had the area under tight lockdown. High-sensitivity seismic detectors ran full tilt. Sky radars spun like crazy. Jingtian from the Nightwalkers and Xiao He from the Survey Corps maintained a constant perimeter. In the lab, Snow Wraiths were held in lightless rooms inside special alloy cages. The creatures hissed and screeched. Dozens of side-by-side control tests were underway. Ding Junyi¡¯s assistant moved back and forth between labs carrying the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum for testing. ¡°It¡¯s not working! Still no reaction!!!¡± Wei Kexue was on the verge of snapping, slumped in exhaustion and frustration, teeth clenched. Trying to pull himself together, he contacted Guo Sicheng, who was resting in the infirmary. ¡°Professor, I found that paper you sent me¡ªyeah, the one on the CERN dark matter detection project... I get what you¡¯re saying now, but no¡ªplease, don¡¯t try to come here. You shouldn¡¯t be moving around with your injuries.¡± As he spoke, he uploaded a research paper titled ¡°Axion-Mediated Cross-Dimensional Biological Perception¡± to Yu Yuheng¡¯s team. ¡°If these are Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs)... the presentation could be...¡± ¡°The issue now is all the Eerie Entities are in complete stasis, like they planned it.¡± Yu Yuheng, now wearing a clean parka but still dusty, stared at the data. ¡°We¡¯re starting to suspect it¡¯s the result of some higher-level creature¡¯s command.¡± That aligned with previous research from the Emperor Project. The odd behavior of the Snow Wraiths made Yu Yuheng extremely uneasy. Wei Kexue went pale. Before he could respond, Ding Junyi and a group of scientists came back from the observation lab. ¡°Prepare for field testing.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Wei Kexue hit his comms again. ¡°Commander He is here.¡± Clang, clang, clang. Shhhhk! Before he finished, a wave of footsteps echoed from outside. He Zhen entered with Xiao He, both looking grim. He locked eyes with the three scientists and said, ¡°Professors, our air patrol just found the corpse of an Abyss Worm 34 kilometers northwest of here.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Everyone tensed. He Zhen wasted no time, signaling to a subordinate to project the video from his mobile terminal onto the lab¡¯s main screen. The footage showed a giant black worm, mountain-sized, sprawled motionless across the snowy plains. Its body was pierced by a dozen massive holes, like it had been torn apart by giant claws. He Zhen¡¯s voice was serious: ¡°It¡¯s dead. Based on how much snow is covering it, this happened just a few hours ago. Our ground team is en route to collect samples. The air patrol will arrive soon with further intel¡ª¡± ¡°Wait!!¡± Suddenly Yu Yuheng shouted, stumbling forward, eyes locked on the screen. His mouth opened and closed, speechless for a moment, before he finally cried: ¡°That¡¯s not the worm that attacked the lab today! That¡¯s the one Unit 01 and Chen Wei killed in Trakamar Ice Canyon!¡± ¡°What?!¡± He Zhen and Xiao He both frowned instantly. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Yu Yuheng pointed at a spot on the screen. ¡°This one¡¯s smaller. Look¡ªthis gash here came from Unit 01¡¯s high-frequency blade chain sword. When we retreated from Trakamar, Captain Lin planted explosives on the body to draw the monsters away. Those blast marks are still there! I swear, this isn¡¯t today¡¯s worm!¡± Wei Kexue stepped forward, glasses slipping down his nose. He pointed at the video¡¯s edge. ¡°Look here¡ªthough it¡¯s mostly buried by snow, there¡¯s a clear trench. This thing... didn¡¯t come from underground.¡± He turned back to the group, confused. ¡°It looks like... something dragged it here.¡± Everyone¡¯s face changed. He Zhen stared at the video on loop, his voice low. ¡°You¡¯re saying something moved this massive thing all the way to Xilan¡¯s outskirts?¡± ¡°What for?¡± Xiao He asked grimly. ¡°To get our attention?¡± ¡°I need to report this to Command ASAP.¡± ¡°Sir!¡± A soldier entered the room. ¡°Commander, the air patrol¡¯s Hawk Team has arrived.¡± ¡°Send Wu Chen in.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Xiao He.¡± ¡°Here.¡± ¡°Inform Meng Chenggang¡ªdeploy 5th Battalion to reinforce the northern defense line. If something like this showed up in the north, we can¡¯t take any chances.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Xiao He snapped a salute and left. In the lab, dozens of researchers were already deep in debate. ¡°Why drag that thing here? Trakamar Ice Canyon¡¯s 700 kilometers away,¡± Yu Yuheng muttered. Wei Kexue scratched his wild hair, dazed. ¡°How many of these worms are there?!¡± ¡°Right now? Looks like two. But...¡± ¡°The north is our main evac route,¡± one researcher said. ¡°Could this be related?¡± ¡°Blocking the road? No way...¡± Ding Junyi stared at the video feed in silence. ¡°Professor.¡± At that moment, a soldier in an aviation pilot uniform walked into the lab. He Zhen immediately called out, ¡°Wu Chen, explain the situation to the research team.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Covered in snow, Wu Chen had rushed over the moment he was notified. He was just about to speak when a sudden voice interrupted him. ¡°Wait!¡± Ding Junyi spoke up. ¡°Hey, hey, hey!!¡± Wei Kexue suddenly shouted, pointing toward the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum sitting on the lab table. ¡°It¡¯s reacting!¡± Yu Yuheng¡¯s jaw dropped. And it wasn¡¯t just him¡ªeveryone in the lab turned their eyes toward the eerie, black flower. From within the pitch-black petals, a blazing crimson light had begun to glow, pulsing with an unsettling, spine-chilling energy! Even He Zhen and the soldiers from the Investigation Corps stepped closer, drawn in. ¡°It¡¯s finally lighting up.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that... a bit too bright?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Professor Ding, in your research notes...¡± ¡°What does this mean?¡± Ding Junyi turned to Wu Chen, her expression sharpening. Her voice was grim: ¡°This is bad... it¡¯s a Level-5 Mark!¡± 18:00 Wooo~! Wooo~! City East, Investigation Corps HQ. The red alert sirens blared. Military units, ammo trucks, and mech battalions surged into action. Zhao Yu, He Zhen, Wenzhuo, and others moved briskly through the base camp, faces grim with resolve. ¡°Notify the entire city¡ªprepare for full-scale engagement.¡± ¡°Get the aerospace squadrons airborne before nightfall¡ªhave them hold position above Xilan City!¡± ¡°He Zhen, the heaviest pressure will be in the north and east sectors. You and I will each hold one.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± He Zhen nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take the north. The aerial patrol squad all have marks on them. Wu Chen¡¯s team volunteered to land near Sishui Slope in the north¡ªthat¡¯s the best position for fire support.¡± Zhao Yu frowned. He knew that was practically a suicide mission. ¡°Send two additional missile response teams to the north. Tell the artillery battalion not to hold back¡ªdo everything we can to keep Wu Chen¡¯s team alive.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± He Zhen said, his voice cold and firm. ¡°Wenzhuo, have the entire Nightwalkers Organization and the Courier Unit stand by at all city support points. If internal disasters break out after nightfall, eliminate them first.¡± ¡°Coordinate with the Phoenix Convoy. Have them handle area cleansing. We must prevent widespread panic from triggering internal mutations.¡± As they walked, Zhao Yu addressed Wenzhuo seriously. ¡°There¡¯s a high density of Ability Users and Evolvers in the city. If an internal outbreak happens, the damage will be catastrophic. You and the convoy reps are in charge of joint defense.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± With that, Wenzhuo turned and flew off into the air. Meanwhile, Zhao Yu and He Zhen boarded two small patrol aircraft and took off toward the Anti-Eerie Frontline. High atop the steel city walls, rows of Great Wall-50 railgun turrets stood ready. The integrated Iron Curtain Defense System¡ªanti-air missiles, electromagnetic cannons, and CIWS turrets¡ªhad all powered up. The radar tower halfway up Phoenix Ridge was now at full combat readiness. Vmmmm~ At the northern airport, the field blazed with signal lights. A Dreadnought-Class Aerospace Carrier, weighing tens of thousands of tons, shattered the snowfall as it lifted off with a deafening roar. Warhawk-Class Gunships, Lightning-2 Fighters, and H50 Bombers were all scrambling into formation. Clang clang clang¡ª Military mechs of all models¡ªIron Guard-3 Assault Units, Defender-2s, Defender-3 Light Assaults, T8-Z Vulcans, and even Destroyer-Class Heavy Siege Walkers¡ªwere being transported to frontline positions. Over 12,000 soldiers from the 7th Investigation Corps were now fully deployed. Inside the city, over a thousand convoys were already at full readiness under Phoenix¡¯s red alert. Even the Monica Queen, previously stationed underground, had moved to the open freight tracks, all weapon systems powered up. Monica sat grim-faced in Carriage No. 1, staring at the radar display, coordinating with Qian Dele via comms. At the North Passenger Platform, dozens of trains had already formed a defensive perimeter on the tracks. The rooftops were lined with a dense array of machine guns, AA turrets, and heavy gun towers, all locked and loaded. Once the news of the Level-5 Mark spread, the entire teams of the Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 tensed up. ¡°Twenty minutes left.¡± At the freight terminal, Lin Xian disassembled and absorbed the entire maintenance bay, then opened a comms channel to the vehicles of the Big Eagle Convoy, parked between the Dragon Mountain No. 1 and the Infinite Train. ¡°We can¡¯t move inside the city. We hold position. Our priority is the western sector and Phoenix Ridge. High probability of aerial monsters¡ªfocus on anti-air defenses.¡± ¡°Got it, Captain Lin!!¡± The Big Eagle, Chasing Sun, Running Far, and North Wind Alliance convoys¡ªover 150 vehicles total, most of them heavy¡ªhad formed into a rectangular train-like defense formation. The heavy vehicles were positioned around the perimeter to shield the smaller ones. With Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Ability, all anti-air systems were installed and calibrated in record time. What they didn¡¯t expect... was that the newly-acquired weapons and ammo would see action in under an hour. ¡°Brother Lin... is a Level-5 Mark really that dangerous?¡± Shi Diyuan¡¯s voice came through the comms. The entire Dragon Mountain No. 1 was battle-ready. ¡°Probably stronger than what we faced before we entered the city,¡± Lin Xian replied without hesitation. ¡°You guys came from the spaceport¡ªyou must¡¯ve seen it.¡± Shi Diyuan¡¯s face turned dark. ¡°F*** me... we barely got two days of rest.¡± Realizing how serious the situation was, he started cursing while ordering Ning Jing and Lu Yong to distribute food. With this black night expected to last nearly 19 hours, and with so many people on board, they had to ration supplies in advance to avoid collapsing mid-battle. ¡°Dongzi, Wang Zhong, Zhuang Yue¡ªyou guys guard the heating systems like your lives depend on it! If those go out, we¡¯re all dead!¡± ¡°Yu Lianxing, Zhu Anran, Min Ming¡ªyou and Xiao Qing clear any threats on the rooftop turrets. A¡¯Bai, you stay on the big toys. Got it?!¡± Over at the allied convoys, the Chasing Sun¡¯s high-voltage ion wall had already been activated. The Amin &Lolo Gemini Mechs were standing by. Every convoy was on full alert. After taking down the maintenance bay, Lin Xian remained in constant communication via his Crimson Phoenix Token, linking with the major convoy leaders and receiving intel from He Zhen and Zhao Yu. He also passed on all Level-5 Mark info to Phoenix for synchronization. At the same time, he kept trying to reach Ding Junyi. But with the city¡¯s various frontlines jamming the frequencies, it took a while before her voice finally came through. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s an attack, it won¡¯t just target marked individuals¡ªyour labs could be hit too.¡± Lin Xian warned her the moment the connection stabilized. ¡°I know. The Investigation Corps is already helping us relocate. All labs are now inside mobile carriages.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Lin Xian, when you evacuated the Trakamar Ice Canyon, did you ever come into contact with the corpse of that black worm?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. But KIKI did. Why?¡± ¡°Then the Dark Mark didn¡¯t originate from the worm¡¯s remains. Thirty minutes ago, the ground recovery team returned. We tested it with Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum¡ªno mark detected.¡± ¡°...What do you mean?¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s voice was so calm, it was unsettling: ¡°I believe the Level-5 Mark likely came from...¡± ¡°The sky above.¡± Chapter 278: Fierce Battle RUMBLE¡ª! Darkness loomed, and in the sky above, the center of a polar vortex crackled with violent lightning. Silver bolts lit up a vast storm canopy, like a giant beast poised to devour the earth. The blizzard howled. Ice crystals froze even reinforced concrete solid. Under the raging winds, icicles formed horizontally from buildings, like spears piercing the air. In such extreme conditions, even with cold-weather suits, ordinary people could no longer survive outdoors. Bzzz~ A convoy of over a dozen military-grade polar vehicles sped through a remote, open area of Xilan City. Special combat vehicles and small aerial drones followed closely, guarding what was essentially a mobile scientific research lab. Inside one of the trucks, the cramped cabin was packed with equipment. Data constantly streamed across the computer screens. Wei Kexue sat dazed in a corner, clad in a protective suit issued by the Investigation Corps. Yu Yuheng tapped away at the computer beside him, calling up various datasets. ¡°The aerial patrol squad was marked¡ªthat proves our theory¡¯s right,¡± Wei Kexue said as he removed his battered black-rimmed glasses and wiped them with a cleaner part of his sleeve. ¡°Those monsters... whatever command they¡¯ve received, they¡¯re deliberately not using Dark Marks on us.¡± ¡°Why would they sense our intent?¡± one senior researcher asked, confused. ¡°If that¡¯s true, it confirms we¡¯re on the right track¡ª¡®Bonfire¡¯¡ªno, the Dark Mark really does exist, doesn¡¯t it?!¡± another female researcher added. ¡°What Professor Yu wants to know,¡± Wei Kexue muttered, rubbing his temples from exhaustion, ¡°is how they passed the message down to that giant worm... how it ended up attacking the lab building.¡± Perhaps due to days without rest, whenever he closed his eyes now, he could still see the faces of his dead colleagues. His whole being radiated a quiet, defeated sorrow. ¡°I think the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum might be the key,¡± Ding Junyi said. She had just finished a call with Lin Xian and now stood beside the cultivation pod. The black flower was dormant. She stared at it and continued, ¡°Professor Guo¡¯s experiment probably exposed the Disaster Flora¡¯s presence to the Snow Wraiths. The berserk reaction may have just been a symptom. These Eerie Entities likely have their own ways of transmitting information¡ªwe just haven¡¯t figured them out yet.¡± ¡°You mean Test Subject No. 13 biting off its limbs and going berserk could be a form of communication?¡± Yu Yuheng stopped typing and looked up at her. Ding Junyi shoved a hand in her coat pocket, coolly checking her watch. ¡°We¡¯ve got no better explanation.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t buy it,¡± Wei Kexue said, putting his glasses back on, his voice tired. ¡°Here¡¯s the first problem¡ªthere are no Marks inside the city. If the Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends were ordered not to release them, then by ¡®Silent Night¡¯ theory, Xilan shouldn¡¯t be under attack at all. But we¡¯re still getting hit with monster tides every single day.¡± ¡°Second issue¡ªif they¡¯re avoiding detection, then why did the aerial patrol squad suddenly get hit with a Level 5 Mark? Isn¡¯t that contradictory?¡± The cabin fell into silence. Outside, the polar vehicle creaked over snow and ice. The lab rocked slightly with every bump, and the equipment inside clattered rhythmically. The researchers frowned deeply. As darkness approached, a growing sense of dread filled the cabin. Then Ding Junyi turned to Yu Yuheng. ¡°I remember the Emperor Group¡¯s prior theory: high-tier Eerie Entities can command lower-tier ones, right?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Yu Yuheng nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s assume,¡± she continued, ¡°that an S-class Eerie Entity is currently hovering above Xilan. It could have issued an order to the monster tide not to use Dark Marks. But maybe that same entity already discovered Xilan long ago¡ªor has been hiding nearby¡ªand now it¡¯s directing the assault. Does that track?¡± Yu Yuheng and Wei Kexue exchanged a glance. ¡°So... you¡¯re saying this whole thing is to stop our research?¡± Wei Kexue asked skeptically. ¡°Sounds like a stretch. I mean, wouldn¡¯t it be simpler to just hit people outside the city with the Marks and mess up our tests that way?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Wei Kexue frowned. ¡°If Professor Guo¡¯s experiment exposed the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, why weren¡¯t there any Marks in the city before that? Unless you¡¯re saying these creatures can predict the future and already knew we were working on Dark Marks?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he muttered. ¡°The idea that one plant exposed our entire study? It¡¯s just... hard to believe.¡± ¡°Or maybe,¡± Yu Yuheng suggested, ¡°the monsters simply want to steal the Disaster Flora. We might be overthinking it. Given how rare it is, and its unique properties, it¡¯s valuable to both humans and these Eerie Entities.¡± Ding Junyi fell silent. She stared at the black chrysanthemum inside the transparent pod. Her thoughts were a tangled mess. But then¡ªsuddenly¡ªa new idea came to her. Maybe... don¡¯t think about it scientifically... What if... use an Ability? The idea took root in her mind, rapidly expanding. As someone who always approached problems with logic and theory, this felt unnatural. But still¡ªshe reached up and gently touched the little green sprout hidden in her hair, her pupils narrowing. She steadied her breathing, focusing on the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, and activated her Plant-type Ability. At that moment, an invisible force of plant affinity radiated from her eyes and enveloped the Disaster Flora. 18:19 According to Nightwalker monitoring, one minute remained until darkness fell. Inside the lab vehicle, Wei Kexue glanced nervously at his watch. ¡°It¡¯s almost nightfall. The plan was to evacuate the city tomorrow. Who knew this would happen now...¡± ¡°Professor Ding, do you think that Level 5 Mark was a sign that they sensed¡ª¡± He stopped mid-sentence. Because Ding Junyi stood motionless next to the chrysanthemum. Her eyes were pure white¡ªno trace of black left¡ªand more terrifyingly, the Disaster Flora had started glowing again... pulsing with an eerie crimson light. ¡°Professor Ding?!¡± Wei Kexue cried out. Everyone was stunned by the sudden change. As he rushed to check on her, the entire vehicle violently jolted. From far down the road, something massive was rapidly approaching. Buildings on either side shook as ice and snow came crashing down. Xiao He, riding shotgun, glanced at the instruments. The alarm was blaring. ¡°They¡¯re coming! Accelerate now!!¡± 18:20 The skies went black in a flash. The wind howled. Already shrouded by the blizzard, the research convoy¡ªbarely visible in the snow¡ªwas suddenly plunged into pitch darkness. BOOM! At the exact moment darkness fell, an earth-shattering roar erupted behind the convoy. Glass shattered. A giant Abyss Worm burst from underground, swallowing the last two vehicles in one bite¡ªalong with nearby high-rise buildings torn apart like paper. The ground quaked violently. Shockwaves rippled like tsunamis beneath the earth, nearly flipping the entire convoy. SKRRRT!! THUNK THUNK!! Concrete exploded. Steel broke. Shockwaves rippled outward like a megaton bomb, shaking the souls of tens of thousands across Xilan City. ¡°THE BIG BUG¡¯S HERE!!¡± Despite nearly flipping the vehicle, Xiao He immediately called it in. ¡°Turn the convoy¡ªcircle through the inner city!¡± Inside the lab vehicle, Wei Kexue¡ªjust about to reach Ding Junyi¡ªwas flung into the ceiling by the impact, then crashed to the floor. Others fared no better. Equipment shattered and slid everywhere. Everyone was tossed like rag dolls. Wei Kexue ignored the pain and crawled up¡ªonly to see that Ding Junyi was still standing. Eyes glowing white. Staring straight ahead at the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. In that moment, her ears rang. Everyone else had vanished from her vision. Before her, crimson ripples surged from the Disaster Flora¡¯s glow. Her pupils reflected a shattered hallucination. Tens of thousands of pale eyes merged into a massive compound eye in the void. Veiny tissue wrapped each eyeball in hive-like mucus. Countless Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends writhed like a black tide, their limbs warping into vessels fused with the eye. From the depths of the Polar Abyss Rift, a wet, squelching sound echoed¡ªsomething slithering. Its body was made of multiplying ice-tipped tendrils and rotting flesh sacs. Ding Junyi¡¯s eardrums were pierced by the overlapping howls of countless Eerie Entities. She saw it. A monster¡ªfloating high above the blizzard¡ªstaring down at Xilan City beneath Mount Fenglan. For a moment, she was plunged into an infinite space of cold and horror. At that moment, six Warhawk-Class Aerial Gunships lifted into the air, forming a formation every few hundred meters atop the northern city wall. Clank! Clank! The missile bays of the gunships slowly opened, firing off several large air-to-air missiles with explosive force. Simultaneously, the gunship-mounted I-17 Multi-Leaf Plasma Cannons began charging, arcs of energy gathering at their tips. Boom! Boom! Twelve streaks of blue plasma, each millions of degrees in temperature, tore through the sky, blinding and blazing as they exploded in the midst of the Winged Fiends, blooming like superheated blue fireworks. In an instant, swathes of monsters melted away, their bodies and bones incinerated by the scorching plasma, the blasts radiating out in blazing waves. ¡°1st Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 4th Battalion¡ªhold your lines! Wait until they¡¯re closer to open fire! Mecha Units, front and center!¡± He Zhen barked out calmly, unshaken as he watched the monster horde surge like a flood across land and sky. ¡°Shift your firepower priority to airborne targets! On the ground¡ªactivate the High-Voltage Ion Walls! Let the beasts throw themselves at us¡ªlet¡¯s see what gives first: their lives or our nuclear-powered reserves!¡± BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM! The densely arranged Great Wall-50 Rail Cannons roared again, their 300mm-caliber warheads blasting into the sky like Carbon-Based Lifeform Shredders, raining down flesh and blood with every hit. Missed rounds slammed into the snowfield, erupting into massive explosions, each capable of wiping out dozens or even hundreds of Snow Wraiths, leaving behind terrifying craters. Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ª The entire snowfield, stretching several kilometers, was pitch-black with the writhing Monster Tide, surging forward like a deadly mudslide. Soldiers of the Investigation Corps heard nothing but roaring winds and the thunderous boiling of the ground beneath their feet. The world between heaven and earth had become a horrifying battlefield. At that very moment, the canyon east of the city and the frozen river to the south erupted with artillery fire that shook the heavens. Inside Xilan City, the air was thick with tension. From the gaping crater torn open by the Abyssal Worm, countless Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends surged out, flooding into every street and alley. ¡°Pingjiang Road, Future Street, East Xin Garden¡ªmultiple sinkholes have emerged, flooding with Eerie Entities! Central Avenue, city east and south convoys¡ªprepare for engagement!!¡± Ratatatat! Bang bang bang!!! Phoenix¡¯s inner-city observation posts urgently relayed reports through the comms. Just seconds later, gunfire erupted around a dozen streets near the sinkholes, rapidly spreading to alleys, plazas, and more. Like a lit fuse, within moments, half of Xilan City was plunged into chaos and flames. BOOM! WHIRRR! Explosions, gales, beams, shockwaves, missiles, and arc pulses tore through every district. Buildings exploded, and the public broadcast channels descended into chaos¡ªfilled only with the sounds of gunfire. ¡°Head toward Arctic Wind Alliance¡¯s location!¡± ¡°There¡¯s too many! TOO MANY!!¡± Ratatatatatat!! Bang bang bang! Beep beep! ¡°Ram through them!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Snow Fiends!¡± ¡°Forget that convoy¡ªfall back!!¡± ¡°Quick! Quick! Nightwalkers are here¡ªlet¡¯s hit them together!!¡± ¡°Hold the line!!¡± ¡°The road¡¯s blocked! Someone help! We¡¯re on Shunan Street!¡± ¡°Everyone stay away from the TV Tower¡ªa convoy¡¯s gone rogue! There¡¯s a Corrupted Ability User!¡± ¡°Cover fire! Pull back, pull back!¡± ¡°AHHH!!...¡± At the North Rail Terminal, dozens of Doomsday Trains opened fire, unloading barrages of autocannons. As the monster horde poured in from multiple streets, the heavy weaponry created a fireline worthy of world war¡ªso intense that it vaporized even the street snow. ¡°Suppress them! Suppress them!¡± ¡°Airborne targets incoming¡ªbring in the Anti-Air Cannons!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let them breach the rail terminal!¡± WOOOOOOOOM! Pulse weapons swept across the passenger station plaza, toppling even its massive light pillars. Layers of ice pillars shattered, and the flamethrowers mounted on several Doomsday Train rooftops ignited infernos that lit up the entire terminal. From the sinkhole emerged wave after wave of Winged Fiends, unfurling their massive wings as they dove toward convoys. Even if shredded by artillery mid-air, their crashing corpses crushed entire vehicles on impact. RUMBLE RUMBLE! Thunder and fire engulfed Xilan City, with every block erupting into fierce battle¡ªartillery and gunfire blazing without end. But in the West Freight Mine Station, it was strangely quiet. The teams from the Infinite Train, Dragon Mountain No. 1, and the United Convoys stood ready, every nerve stretched taut as the distant city sounds roared with war. Lin Xian, clad in his Active Exoskeleton, stood atop a shipping container, eyes not on the city, but fixed on Mount Fenglan in the near distance. RUMBLE! ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Chen Sixuan, also in Power Armor, sat atop the highest apartment building near the rail yard, holding the Meteor-3 rifle and scouting the mountaintop. Beside her, Miao Lu was ready to cover her. ¡°They¡¯re coming¡ªfrom the mountain!¡± After a night of stoking boilers, Lu Xingchen stretched his shoulders and stepped up to the train¡¯s front, eyes glowing red with fire. Above them, KIKI hovered midair, power gathered. Shasha, fully geared up in the Sally, stood at the very front. In the cockpit, the little rascal was chewing gum, trying to stay focused despite her nervous expression. Big Luo and Shu Qin covered Lin Xian from the platform below. On the Dragon Mountain No. 1 side, Shi Diyuan, Ning Jing, A¡¯Bai, Xiao Qing, and Lu Yong were all battle-ready. ¡°Son of a b*tch... they really came over the mountain,¡± Shi Diyuan growled, his presence radiating brute force. ¡°Not just that.¡± In Lin Xian¡¯s comms, his armor¡¯s radar picked up tremors intensifying across Mount Fenglan. ¡°Watch out¡ªit¡¯s an avalanche!¡± BOOM BOOM!! In a flash, the mountaintop erupted¡ªan immense white wall of snow roaring down. A thousand meters tall, carrying millions of Snow Wraiths, it crashed toward them. Within the crumbling mass, lights flickered as Snow Fiends crawled down in waves. Everyone below froze in shock. ¡°Hold your ground! Defend the camp! Engage only at close range¡ªdon¡¯t break formation!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes were sharp, his jaw clenched. Trying to flee now would only lead to disaster¡ªsandwiched between enemies, they''d be doomed. Outside the walls was hell itself¡ªno escape. In this Endless Night, they had only one path: hold the defensive lines and endure! WOOOOOO! In that instant, every train-mounted weapon on the Infinite Train, Dragon Mountain No. 1, and United Convoys rotated toward Mount Fenglan and the mine station. ¡°All melee units¡ªonly deal with enemies that breach the line! Don¡¯t charge out. Let the trains and convoy armor absorb the hits!¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± replied Uncle Wu. ¡°Copy!¡± Li Yi and Liang Lei shouted. ¡°Understood, Captain Lin,¡± said Luo Yang. ¡°We can hold!¡± Shen Yao, commander of the North Wind Convoy¡¯s heavy base vehicle, responded grimly. ¡°Listen up¡ªtonight¡¯s going to be brutal!¡± Shi Diyuan shouted over the comms. ¡°KIKI! Fire Bro!¡± Lin Xian called out as the avalanche''s roaring soundwaves drew near. ¡°Breakthrough Formation!¡± ¡°Been waiting for it!¡± Lu Xingchen roared. Flames burst from his body as he leapt forward, landing in front of the mine station, igniting a massive blaze. ¡°Divine: Flame Realm!¡± Lu Xingchen unleashed a searing technique¡ªusing adiabatic compression detonation, he formed a blazing fireball over ten meters wide. Crimson flames with a white-hot core evaporated the snow within dozens of meters, creating a miniature sun. ¡°Let the flames of the divine realm descend.¡± But Fire Bro wasn¡¯t talking to the monsters¡ªhe was speaking to KIKI. Whoosh¡ª Eyes glowing with terrifying power, KIKI soared high above the mine, spreading her arms. A massive psychic field blasted outward, scattering the blizzard. Using the rising heat from Lu Xingchen¡¯s flames, she began spinning her psychic field, forming a colossal firestorm. The blazing fireball was swept into the vortex¡ªbecoming a hundred-meter-wide, several-hundred-meter-tall flaming tornado! ¡°Riding the winds of fire¡ªyes!¡± Lu Xingchen kept blasting fire upward, fueling the vortex. KIKI gritted her teeth and shouted, pushing the flame twister slowly toward the avalanche. In an instant, scorching waves drove back the freezing wind, the heat brushing every face in the convoy. The flaming cyclone tore through the mountain, lifting even steel mine carts, and collided with the avalanche and monster tide head-on. BOOM BOOM BOOM! The explosion was deafening¡ªthe avalanche evaporated on contact. Black smoke and steam surged skyward as the roar reached a fever pitch, even the air itself trembled. BANG! The landslide shattered in a cataclysmic blast, spraying blinding snow and ash. But much of it was swallowed by the firestorm, flung toward the freight warehouses and container platforms on either side of the rail yard. Lin Xian raised his arm, deploying a force field shield to block the blast. At that moment, the full force of the avalanche had been stopped¡ªbut the snowstorm clouded all visibility. The entire terminal was swallowed in thick white dust, the world reduced to shadowy silhouettes. Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ª As everyone braced against the storm, the sound of the approaching monster tide grew louder. Then, from within the obscured mine field¡ªdense, black shapes emerged rapidly. Above, in the blackened snow mist¡ªmassive wings cut through the sky. Bang! The thunderous ignition of Meteor-3 marked the first shot in the defensive counterattack. Atop the Infinite Train, Miao Lu shielded Chen Sixuan from the howling snowstorm. Now composed and cold-eyed, Chen Sixuan raised her gun and fired a devastating shot at a large Winged Fiend approaching through the swirling snow haze! The high-energy armor-piercing round tore through the blizzard and shattered the creature¡¯s skull before it even fully emerged¡ªchunks of flesh and bone exploded outward in a gruesome spray! Woooo¡ª! In the next instant, the G3-Rail Electromagnetic Cannon and the 1130 CIWS atop the Infinite Train began to rotate on their mounts in sync. Fire-control radars locked onto targets. All systems¡ªopen fire! Dooo!! Woooo! Zzzzt! The heavy artillery and machine guns from Dragon Mountain No. 1 and the allied convoys unleashed a torrent of high-energy firepower! At the same time, the Infinite Train, Dragon Mountain No. 1, and the convoy¡¯s YJ03 Anti-Air Cannons erupted with relentless force, launching successive volleys into the sky! Bang bang bang bang bang! In an instant, the sky lit up like a festival¡ªexplosions blooming from low altitude to high altitude in dazzling waves! ¡°They¡¯re here!!¡± At the front of the rail station, Shasha, sitting in her Fire God Mecha, even paused chewing her gum. She held her breath¡ªher line of sight obscured by smoke and snow, searchlights utterly failing to pierce the veil¡ªbut on her mecha¡¯s radar, the forward arc was now swarming with targets rapidly closing in. ¡°Come on then, bring it!¡± Gripping the mecha¡¯s arm controls with both hands, she raised them high. Left arm: autocannon. Right arm: main gun. The central Arc Pulse Resonator had been upgraded by Lin Xian to a high-power version¡ªits defensive capabilities stepped up a level. Whooosh! RAAARGHH!! Shrieking sounds drew closer. Beneath the snow curtain, the first barrier to erupt was the High-Voltage Ion Wall deployed by the Chasing Sun Convoy. Horizontal ion beams flashed brilliant blue, instantly shredding a swath of charging Snow Wraiths. But there were too many of them. In seconds, the Unified Convoy¡¯s extreme-energy capacitor voltage dropped significantly. Countless Snow Wraiths surged forward over their mangled comrades¡¯ remains and launched themselves at the rail station. ¡°Open fire!¡± Bang bang bang bang!! Ratatatatatat!! As the dark shapes drew close, the train and convoy unleashed a full barrage. Dense metal streams ripped the charging tide to pieces, halting the assault¡ªfor now. But from behind, more Snow Wraiths poured down from Fenglan Mountain in waves! RAAARGHH!! BOOM BOOM BOOM!! The towering Snow Demons, thick-skinned and tough, advanced through the hail of bullets, some making it several meters before being blown apart¡ªonly to be replaced by more charging from behind. In the skies above, Winged Fiends swooped down endlessly. After the first wave of dense suppression, a few large ones slipped through the firepower gaps and breached the convoy, closing in on the train¡¯s rooftop. That¡¯s when Luo Ye, Lu? Chang, Shu Qin, Shi Diyuan, Ning Jing, Xiao Qing, Lu Yong, and several elite melee fighters from the convoy sprang into action, smashing back the creatures that had broken through the lines. Boom! Ning Jing, the powerhouse, leaped into the air. Her first punch bent a Winged Fiend¡¯s wing backward. Her second caved in half its skull, slamming it into the ground in an eruption of snow and dust. ¡°This won¡¯t work¡ªwatch the firepower gaps!¡± she roared over comms. Just then, Luo Yang leapt onto a truck roof, aimed with his fingertip, and his eyes flashed¡ªBOOM! A series of blue ion blasts erupted in the sky. On the other side, A¡¯Bai, removing his sunglasses, fired twin beams of deep red laser from his eyes, slicing through multiple swooping Winged Fiends. Li Guangwen and Liang Lei took positions beside Shasha¡¯s Fire God Mecha¡ªone using shockwave punches, the other fully metallized¡ªblocking monsters at close range. The Gemini twins, Amin and Luoluo, wielding chain-swords with radiant brilliance, danced among the invading Snow Wraiths. Liao Ming joined Shu Qin and Luo Ye¡¯s brutal melee. Uncle Wu¡¯s artillery and Xu Jin¡¯s barrage rained down destruction. And Shen Yao, a Breakthrough-Level Ability User of the Energy Condensation class, charged into the horde alongside several soldiers clad in full-body armor. The surge of impact channeled into his body made his skin glow with a blinding orange-white light. Next second, he unleashed it all in a single punch¡ªBOOM! A massive energy burst carved a fan-shaped kill zone through the horde, reducing hundreds of Snow Wraiths to dust. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Lin Xian¡¯s Black Rifle darted through the blizzard like a death-reaping shuttle. Combined with the radiant blaze of his mechanical cannon, he weaved through the Eerie tide, harvesting their lives one after another. Step! After a Backlash, Lin Xian landed on the shaft of his flying Black Rifle, soaring a dozen meters. An electric surge activated his AT Field, blocking an ambush from behind. In a flash, he reversed and fired a mechanical cannon blast through the Snow Demon¡¯s skull¡ªjust before Xiao Qing zipped past and cleanly decapitated it. He was conserving energy, just as Ding Junyi had warned him. High altitude? S-Class? He¡¯d already told KIKI and Fire Bro to conserve their strength. As for him, he needed every ounce of stamina ready¡ªfor the moment the worst-case scenario emerged and he had to unleash the Gravity Lens! BOOM BOOM BOOM! Above the skies, aerial support squadrons from the western city began fierce bombardments on the monsters crossing Fenglan Mountain. BOOM! BOOM! Off in the distance, outside the city, thermobaric bombs unleashed shockwaves that felt like they¡¯d tear the sky apart¡ªdeafening thunder that made eardrums bleed. Within the city, the ground never stopped shaking. That Abyss Worm continued to rampage. Many high-rises had collapsed completely. The entire city was engulfed in explosions and constant sirens. Lin Xian, holding his Black Rifle, charged up an office building. He blasted down a pack of Snow Wraiths trying to climb from the rear, then turned to gaze over the city¡ªstill shrouded in darkness, yet blazing with fire and artillery. His heart sank. How many more people would die tonight? While he worried about the front lines and Ding Junyi, a deeper fear gnawed at him: Would the city even last until dawn and evacuation? Wooo¡ªVrrrrr! At that moment, Xiao He¡¯s research convoy was racing along the city¡¯s perimeter highways. The tremors had somewhat stabilized since they¡¯d escaped the first worm attack. To avoid a larger Snow Wraith onslaught, Xiao He directed the team away from major camps, sticking to remote routes. The convoy, guarded by Wen Zhu¡¯s Nightwalkers led by Jing Tian, had just over a dozen vehicles left. Inside, dozens of scientists whispered over a secure frequency, brainstorming solutions. In the lead experimental vehicle, Wei Kexue, Yu Yuheng, and others focused on Ding Junyi¡¯s status. Earlier, that strange outburst from Ding had frightened everyone. Then, without warning, she collapsed¡ªand the red glow of the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum vanished. It threw everyone into chaos. Had her vital signs not remained faintly stable, they would¡¯ve thought she was already dead. ¡°We¡¯ve notified the med team, but we can¡¯t stop the vehicle¡ªwhat now?¡± Yu Yuheng asked anxiously. ¡°Team Leader Yu, how¡¯s Professor Ding¡¯s condition?!¡± Xiao He¡¯s voice came through the comms. ¡°Stable for now, but we don¡¯t know what happened. We need to find a safe place fast so the medics can assess her properly.¡± Xiao He frowned, eyes on the seismic reader. ¡°Tremors are easing. The worm may have moved elsewhere. I¡¯ll have the aerial units scout ahead¡ªfinding a safe zone ASAP.¡± ¡°Good. Hurry!¡± Inside the lab vehicle¡ª ¡°Have you noticed?¡± Wei Kexue spoke, eyes on the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. ¡°That A-Class Abyss Worm¡ªthis was its second attack. But none of us were marked.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yu Yuheng asked. ¡°A higher directive?¡± Wei looked toward Ding Junyi, his expression complicated. ¡°What if she was right? What if the creature is trying to stop our research?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that was too much of a stretch?¡± Wei nodded, but pressed on urgently. ¡°It is, unless there¡¯s something else¡ªsomething we and Professor Ding both don¡¯t know. We can¡¯t just sit here. That worm could strike again at any time. And people are dying all over the city. We need to act.¡± Yu Yuheng frowned. ¡°Our research is about the behavioral patterns of Dark Entities. Even if we find answers, it won¡¯t change tonight¡¯s outcome.¡± ¡°No!¡± Wei suddenly looked consumed by a wave of logic-driven obsession. ¡°Why did the lab get attacked? Why did that supposedly dead worm get dragged outside Xilan City? Why did our aerial patrol get marked? There¡¯s got to be a reason behind all of it. If our research is related, that means something else is hiding in this blizzard, something that could determine whether the city survives or not!¡± Yu Yuheng froze. As a scientist, logical reasoning meant everything. Wei¡¯s words ignited all the doubts that had been festering in his mind. His gaze shifted. ¡°...So what do we do?¡± ¡°I think we have only one path left,¡± Wei said. ¡°Zhao Yu was right¡ªthe more the enemy interferes, the more we know we¡¯re right. If we can successfully capture a Dark Mark, we may uncover everything!¡± ¡°How?!¡± Yu Yuheng snapped. ¡°You said it yourself¡ªthe A-Class worm didn¡¯t even leave a mark. So how are we¡ª¡± ¡°Then we go to the skies!!¡± Wei spun around, trembling all over, his eyes wild. ¡°If only the one in the sky¡ªthe S-Class¡ªemits a mark, then that¡¯s our observational target!¡± Chapter 279: Two Flying Machines Night fell like a curtain, and thunder exploded across the sky. The fierce battle in Xilan City only grew more intense. Inside and outside the city, it was total chaos. Streets ravaged by Snow Wraiths were littered with destroyed convoys, burning vehicles, blood frozen solid by the icy wind, and piles of Snow Wraith and Snow Fiend corpses. Winged Demons dangled from dark alleys and high-rises. Eerie Entities crawled out endlessly from massive sinkholes, with clawed limbs scaling buildings and vehicles alike. Boom! Boom! To the north and east of the city, blinding explosions lit up the sky, sonic waves rippling across the city. Electromagnetic cannon beams fired into the heavens from every direction. Tracer rounds from 1130 CIWS cannons painted the sky with bursts of orange light. Inside the city, the Arctic Wind Alliance¡¯s heavy weapons had the eastern park, Capital Mall Plaza, and White Feather Riverfront locked down tight. Under Han Jun¡¯s command, convoys formed solid defensive formations. Layered firepower and a mix of ranged Ability Users and Enhancers held the line. The situation was deadlocked. In the south, where most of the convoys had gathered around Central Avenue, a sudden attack by Abyss Worms caused heavy casualties. Zhao Yu was forced to deploy the airborne unit for cover. With help from the Cosmic Convoy, Warriors Convoy, and Torch Alliance led by Chen Xiao, the chaos was temporarily stabilized¡ªbut losses kept mounting. Above the eastern city, a 30,000-ton Dreadnought-class Aerospace Carrier hovered low in the sky. Lightning-2 Aerospace Fighters led swarms of drones and scout units like an endless hive flooding through the clouds to launch a massive aerial strike. The sky erupted with explosions and arcing beams. As the death aura spread, people with weaker mental resilience began mutating under the pressure of the Dark Invasion... Meanwhile, Lin Xian¡¯s side had just repelled the first avalanche wave. The Train Corps and allied convoys caught a quick breather, but with fewer vehicles on their side and monsters surging down from Mount Fenglan, the pressure never let up. ¡°Lin Xian! There¡¯s a massive horde coming out of the mine!¡± KIKI swooped down from above, her expression urgent. ¡°There¡¯s a ton of them, all headed straight for us!¡± ¡°Prep the next barrage! Everyone fall back into the convoy¡ªlet the train take the hit! Arc Pulse Resonators, ready up!¡± Lin Xian barked into the comms without hesitation. After round after round of intense fighting, the barrels of cannons, artillery, and rapid-fire guns were glowing red-hot. It was time to rotate the firepower. The rest would be up to Ability Users, Enhancers, and infantry weapons. Whoooosh¡ª More and more monsters flooded the entire mining site. From afar, the slopes of Mount Fenglan looked like a waterfall¡ªonly a closer look revealed it was a dense surge of monsters charging down! From the sky, mountains, and underground mines, these creatures were even more insane than during the Blizzard Front battle! The sound of crawling swelled into a deafening roar, enough to make one¡¯s scalp tingle. Bzzzt¡ª On top of Dragon Mountain No. 1, A¡¯Bai¡¯s laser beam swept through an entire arc, instantly slicing apart hordes of monsters. As one of the team¡¯s rare large-scale Ability Users, he was surrounded by Xiao Qing, Ning Jing, and others who constantly provided cover. But the monster tide¡ªand especially the airborne Winged Beasts¡ªseemed to share some hive mind, focusing their attacks on A¡¯Bai. KIKI and Fire Bro were similarly targeted¡ªone in the air, one underground¡ªconstantly bombarded by overwhelming monster waves. Under the blaze of Lu Xingchen¡¯s flames, grotesque Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends lunged at him with gaping maws, barbed limbs, and jets of green blood plasma. ¡°The more I kill, the stronger I get¡ªdon¡¯t even think about running wild!!¡± Fire Bro roared with fighting spirit, igniting his aura and charging out. ¡°Fire Fist!¡± Boom! A colossal flaming punch blasted forward in a wave of searing heat, carving a scorched path and melting snow¡ªand monsters¡ªwith it. ¡°Hold the line!!¡± Shi Diyuan barreled out of the monster tide like a tiger, shouting hoarsely. ¡°Ammo, now!¡± ¡°They¡¯re coming!!¡± Rumbling like a tsunami, the monster horde surged toward the freight terminal from all directions. At that moment, all melee fighters pulled back. On both sides, the Arc Pulse Resonators on Dragon Mountain No. 1 and the Infinite Train¡¯s armor began charging up. Bzzzt! On the train¡¯s side armor, blinding white plasma sparks exploded! A high-voltage discharge field let out a piercing crack that seemed to rip the air apart, instantly frying the Snow Wraiths piling onto the side into charred chunks that rained down in a shower of smoking flesh. ¡°Lin Xian! There¡¯s movement in the rear too!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice came through the comms. Lin Xian turned and saw a swarm of dark figures approaching from the city. The ground was trembling beneath their steps. ¡°Don¡¯t panic! We can hold them!¡± He shouted into the convoy channel, ¡°Tighten defenses! Sweep with weapons! Melee only moves within the convoy or on the rooftops, no going outside!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Roger that!!¡± Rat-tat-tat!! From a Fast Runner Convoy war rig, Li Yi fired a rapid-fire gun wildly into the horde, yelling into the comms: ¡°Lei! Do what Captain Lin says! Get your *ss back!!¡± ¡°On it!¡± Clang! Clang! Clang! Surrounded by monsters, Lei¡¯s body sparked as claws and stingers raked across his armor. Shouting in fury, he blasted a few away and sprinted back through the chaos. At the same time, Luo Yang¡¯s focused beam, Chen Sixuan¡¯s Meteor-3 sniper round, and Lu? Chang¡¯s spinning blades all fired at once, blowing apart the Snow Fiends chasing him. A massive hand reached from a building¡ªDa Lou¡ªand yanked Lei onto the train roof. Bzzzt! In that instant, the train¡¯s side armor sparked again, disintegrating the pursuing monsters in a blaze. ¡°Someone¡¯s hurt!!¡± KIKI unleashed a shockwave, pulling Li Guangwen and Liao Ming out of the horde just in time and using her psychic power to fling them back to the train. Xiao Yuan and her group provided covering fire and rushed over to catch them. Seeing their severe injuries and gushing blood, Xiao Yuan immediately shouted, ¡°Quick, get them into the medical pod!¡± ¡°Firepower up!¡± BEEP!! Two 1130 CIWS cannons roared to life again, their brutal metal stream wiping out the left-wing monster horde in seconds, buying everyone a brief moment to breathe. ¡°Hold steady!¡± ¡°KIKI! Fire Bro, strike now!¡± ¡°On it!¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, b*tches!¡± BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM! The entire freight rail station, spanning several kilometers, had become a war zone. The ground was burning. Apartment buildings collapsed. Blizzards howled, echoing with the shrieks of Snow Wraiths. "Right now, her brainwave activity is a complete mess, but all her physical functions are stable. We suspect it might be related to some kind of Ability." In the brightly lit, makeshift operations hall, a doctor in protective gear spoke to Xiao He. "Ability?" "Yeah. The Nightwalkers Organization had similar cases before, but we can¡¯t be sure. At least for now, things don¡¯t look too bad¡ªshe should wake up soon." Hearing this, Xiao He nodded. Finally, a bit of good news. At that moment, in the airport¡¯s backup hangar, Wei Kexue and his team had just finished installing a detector and were hurriedly inputting some kind of module and formula into a computer. "Professor Wei, it¡¯s done. I¡¯ll go notify Captain Xiao and the others," one of the research team members said while wiping sweat from his forehead. "No need. I¡¯m not done here yet," Professor Wei replied urgently, his glasses reflecting the lines of code rapidly scrolling on screen. "Go check on Professor Ding for me¡ªand Uncle Guo is on his way. He¡¯s injured. Go pick him up." "Got it!" As the others left, Wei Kexue glanced in the direction they had hurried off, swallowed nervously, then quickly shut his laptop while no one was looking and climbed up the boarding ladder of the aircraft. But just as he got in, a hoarse voice came from behind. "I majored in mechanics and information systems in college. I¡¯m currently the lead tech of the Emperor Operation Team. This old Tongxing Aircraft may have automatic controls, but solving the Dark Night Information Relay Transmission issue in such a short time? Impossible." A weary figure stepped out of the shadows. Yu Yuheng adjusted his glasses and looked at Wei Kexue. "We¡¯ve never tested this with human signals. The original success rate of this plan was already low. The best approach is to use ourselves as the test subjects¡ªfly up, lure the S-Class Eerie Entity, get it to mark us, and then run the observations." "But Professor Wei, you¡¯re missing something. The Ultra-Pure Germanium Detector doesn¡¯t calculate results that quickly. Even if you die, we might not get any data." Standing on the ladder, Wei Kexue froze. He looked at Yu Yuheng, face darkening, lips trembling. "But I don¡¯t have a better idea..." "I do." Yu Yuheng pulled a laptop from his bag and walked toward another aircraft. "Two computing modules. If someone covers us, we¡¯ll have a better chance dealing with the S-Class Eerie Entity." "Team Leader Yu!" Wei Kexue¡¯s eyes widened. "Say no more. Let¡¯s go. If this thing draws that bug in, we won¡¯t get another shot." Yu Yuheng decisively climbed into the second Tongxing Aircraft, shut the automatic cockpit, and started the master control program. Wei Kexue paused, took a deep breath, then got into his cockpit. The free-wing lights on both aircraft lit up simultaneously. Vrrrmmmm... At that moment, several heavy military trucks rolled into Xilan Airport, stopping just outside the command center. Medical staff and guards carefully helped the injured Guo Sicheng inside, along with a few elderly researchers following behind. Uncle Guo looked anxious. The moment he stepped into the command hall, he barked, "Whose genius idea was this?! The Ultra-Pure Germanium Detector relies on WIMP collisions with atomic nuclei to generate signals! But using this tech on biological samples¡ªespecially living cell membranes¡ªrequires extreme sensitivity and resolution! You can¡¯t risk damaging the samples! This has to be tested on live subjects! Remote ops? Human signals? What kind of nonsense is this?!" "Word is there¡¯s an aerial experiment going on. Uncle Guo insisted on coming in person," a military officer escorting them saluted Xiao He, then added with a helpless look, "We already got clearance from the commander." Xiao He nodded, watching the exhausted scientists rush in. "Uncle Guo, what exactly do you mean?" "We¡¯ve been running tests for weeks just to detect the Dark Mark on the human body. And now they want to do unmanned testing? Is Wei Kexue out of his mind?" Professor Zhang, standing beside Guo Sicheng, exclaimed. "Uh..." "But Professor Wei said he consulted with you and that you approved this plan." A female researcher from the convoy looked puzzled. "I approved it? When?! With that detector and Disaster Flora being so important, how could I agree to unmanned testing? If something goes wrong, what are we supposed to tell the front-line soldiers?! Where is that brat Wei Kexue?!" Xiao He¡¯s expression darkened. As a soldier, he didn¡¯t understand much about research, but from Uncle Guo''s reaction, something clearly wasn¡¯t right. He turned toward the rest of the research team. "Where are Professor Wei and Team Leader Yu?" Even Jingtian of the Nightwalkers looked puzzled, scanning the room. "Professor Wei is still setting up the modules," some researchers replied as they walked in from the hangar. But before they could finish speaking¡ªVroooom!! Twin roars from jet engines echoed not far off. Xiao He and Jingtian¡¯s faces changed instantly. "Fang Chen," the young Ability User, took off into the air. Moments later, a voice crackled over the comms. "Two Tongxing Aircraft just launched!" "Crap!!" Xiao He slammed his comms button. "Professor Wei!" Crackle... Wei Kexue¡¯s voice came through. "Sorry, Captain Xiao. Things escalated too fast¡ªI didn¡¯t have time to explain. Team Leader Yu and I are airborne now to secure the target. Please take care of Professor Ding and Uncle Guo." "What?! Just the two of them?!" "D*mn it." Jingtian''s face sank. Two scientists with zero combat ability going up against an S-Class Eerie Entity? There¡¯s no way they¡¯ll survive. Guo Sicheng snapped to his senses, face twisting in anger. He roared into the comms, "Wei Kexue, get back here right now! The Ultra-Pure Germanium Detector has a super narrow detection window! Distance precision is everything! This plan won¡¯t work at all!" "But there¡¯s still a 5% chance, isn¡¯t there?" Wei Kexue¡¯s voice echoed in the comms, stunning everyone into silence. The command center fell deathly quiet, the only sound being his voice in the radio channel. "Teacher, I remember your first lecture. You talked about how, in 1895, Ro?ntgen discovered X-rays by accident while studying cathode rays. A 0.01% chance led to a new era in science. You said even if the odds are tiny, even if the path ahead is uncertain, someone still has to take that step. This time, we¡¯ve got a 5% chance. I believe, if it were you, you''d make the same choice." Guo Sicheng opened his mouth, stunned. He turned to the dark sky outside the command room window. His steady hands now trembled slightly. After a long silence, he finally spoke. "That damn kid... Don¡¯t forget to calibrate the neutrino signal frequency." "Understood, Professor." Wei Kexue¡¯s voice suddenly felt brighter. "Uncle Guo..." Professor Zhang looked at him with a complicated expression. Just hours ago, this old man was ranting about scolding Wei Kexue, and now, there was something resolute in his eyes. Uncle Guo raised a hand, turned to the team. "What are you all standing around for? The young ones are up in the sky risking everything¡ªwe old bones can¡¯t slack off! Let¡¯s track the data and run the measurements!" "Yes, sir!" The researchers responded in unison. He turned to Xiao He and said, "Captain Xiao, please have all the instruments moved here. We¡¯ll work from this location!" Xiao He looked around at the scientists and felt a surge of deep respect. He immediately turned and barked, "Everyone, move the lab equipment here now! Lock down the spaceport tunnel¡ªI don¡¯t want even a mosquito slipping through!" "Yes, sir!" "What''s going on?!" "Did something explode in the sky?" "What kind of weapon was that?" "Look! Those monsters!!" "What the h*ll is happening?!" As the white flash streaked across the sky, every Snow Wraith, Snow Fiend, and Winged Demon below the night sky let out a shrill, piercing howl. The once-raging hordes started frantically retreating. The Eerie Entities in the sky darted away, and the monstrous tide on the ground pulled back en masse toward the snow layers and sinkholes. This bizarre scene left every survivor and soldier of the Investigation Corps, who were locked in a life-or-death struggle, completely stunned. At the northern city wall¡¯s defensive line, He Zhen stared at the tide of monsters vanishing into the darkness like receding waves. Below the wall, piles of corpses were already several meters high. His pupils narrowed¡ªhe immediately grabbed the communicator. ¡°Zhang Chengzhi, get two recon teams out there. Now. I want to know what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°This is He Zhen. The monster tide on the northern front has completely pulled back. Old Zhao, how¡¯s it on your end...?¡± On the eastern wall, the electric motor hum of the Gatling guns from the Mecha Unit finally quieted. Steam billowed from the hot barrels. The horde in the canyon had completely vanished. Zhao Yu turned to glance at the sky¡ªthose monsters that had been harassing the Dreadnought-Class ship had disappeared too. He reported on the comm channel. ¡°They¡¯ve retreated from the east side too. Wen Zhuo, what¡¯s the situation inside the city?¡± Above the Michelle Cathedral, Wen Zhuo hovered mid-air. Hundreds of massive metal beams and shattered armor plates spun around him like a storm. On the plaza below, mountains of corpses piled up. All around Central Avenue, over a hundred Nightwalkers occupied various positions¡ªsome in alleyways, others on rooftops, some in the middle of streets or parks. They were all soaked in blood and grime, eyes wild with killing intent. Even Zhou Wuer, Peng Peng, and dozens of Nightwalkers from the Courier Unit stood atop heaps of Snow Wraith corpses, staring in bewilderment at the retreating monster tide. ¡°Director Zhao, the hordes near Central Avenue just pulled back. It¡¯s really strange¡ªmight be connected to that huge explosion earlier.¡± At the same time, others began reporting in across the command channel¡ªHan Jun of the Arctic Wind Alliance in the northeast, Qian Dele in the north, Qin Xueming, Zhang Tianfang, and Chen Xiao in the south¡ªall confirmed that the monster tide had retreated. At the cargo track platform on the west side, the battlefield outside the joint train camp was a blood-drenched mess. No trace of snow remained across the entire mining field¡ªonly the choking stench of smoke and burning corpses lingered. Thousands of people were gasping for breath, looking around in disbelief at the receding tide. ¡°They ran?¡± ¡°Did we drive them off?!¡± ¡°We won!!¡± ¡°Oh my god, we survived!!¡± ¡°Thank god.¡± ¡°This is unreal...¡± Cheers and cries of joy erupted across the convoy. Nearby, Lin Xian, KIKI, Fire Bro, Shu Qin, and Chen Sixuan regrouped with Shi Diyuan of Dragon Mountain No. 1, Ning Jing, and members of the joint convoy¡ªUncle Wu, Luo Yang, Li Yi, Shen Yao, and others. ¡°What the h*ll just happened?!¡± ¡°They¡¯ve retreated from the west too,¡± Lin Xian reported over the command channel using his Phoenix Order. Shi Diyuan¡¯s face was grim. ¡°Just got word¡ªit¡¯s not just here. They¡¯re retreating everywhere.¡± ¡°Did we really beat them back?¡± Ning Jing frowned. ¡°No idea,¡± Lin Xian panted, glancing at the devastated battlefield. ¡°But something definitely happened.¡± ¡°Quick, clean up the battlefield!¡± Even though it was still pitch-black night, Lin Xian¡¯s first instinct upon getting a breather was to restock ammo and prep for a potential renewed assault. The sudden halt in the enemy attack had caught the whole city off guard. Thirty minutes later, as Lin Xian was busy replenishing ammunition, a voice crackled through the communicator. ¡°Captain Lin, Captain Shi¡ªthis is Xiao He from the 7th Investigation Corps. We¡¯re en route to Fenglan Mountain. A scientific team¡¯s aircraft has crashed¡ªwe don¡¯t have the exact location yet. Can you send someone to assist with the search?¡± ¡°Aircraft crash?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s brow furrowed. Just then, Ding Junyi¡¯s voice came through as well. ¡°Lin Xian, Wei Kexue and Yu Yuheng took a flier out to make close contact with an S-Class Eerie Entity. Their flight signal¡¯s gone. I picked up a rough location using Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. Sending it to you now¡ªwe¡¯re almost there!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. Close contact with an S-Class? He had a bad feeling. ¡°Shi Bro,¡± he called out, ¡°something went down on the mountain. I¡¯m heading out. You¡¯re in charge here.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Shi Diyuan asked, confused, but Lin Xian was already flying off with KIKI, heading toward Fenglan Mountain. Whooooom¡ª At that moment, several aircraft raced in from the northern airport. Onboard one of them, Ding Junyi sat pale-faced, her eyes reflecting a deep, chilling fear that went beyond her usual calm toward death. Her chest heaved with each breath, trying to keep her mind rational. Xiao He, sitting beside her, noticed her expression. ¡°Professor Ding, are you sure this is the right direction? The signal dropped from the east.¡± ¡°It¡¯s this way.¡± Ding Junyi didn¡¯t elaborate. The Nightwalker squad was following close behind. Xiao He nodded, issued orders through the communicator in a low voice: ¡°Use the terrain coordinates from Director Ding to start the search. Should be on the northwest slope of Fenglan Mountain. Keep an ear out for any distress signals.¡± In the black night, flight signal transmissions didn¡¯t reach more than three kilometers. Communication across the city relied heavily on the Phoenix¡¯s relay signal network, but the western outskirts near Fenglan Mountain had minimal coverage. They had to rely on circling search patterns to locate Wei Kexue and Yu Yuheng. Meanwhile, Lin Xian and KIKI had already reached Fenglan Mountain. The 2,000-meter-high peak was steep and jagged, its dark ridges vanishing into the clouds. Most of the snow along the slopes had already been dislodged by the earlier monster tide, leaving bare rock behind. After crossing a mountain pass and reaching the northwest side, the wind howled fiercely through the ravines. The depths below were swallowed in darkness. Amid the howling storm, the landscape blurred into shadows. ¡°What the hell happened? Why would Wei Kexue and the others crash here?¡± KIKI used her psychic shield to block the wind as they flew, glancing over at Lin Xian. ¡°No clue,¡± he replied, shaking his head. ¡°But I think it¡¯s connected to the monster tide pulling back.¡± KIKI looked at him in shock but said nothing. They both scanned the surroundings carefully. Then, Lin Xian¡¯s powered armor¡¯s electro-optical scope picked up something. The targeting display zoomed in, and in the distance on a mountain slope, a faint red light flickered. ¡°There!¡± Without hesitation, they flew toward it. Whoooosh¡ª As they descended from the sky, the wind between the cliffs roared louder and louder like a furious beast. The source of the red light became clear: it was a crashed aircraft on a mountaintop platform, engulfed in flames. Its wings were shattered across the snowy cliffs, leaving a hundred-meter-long crash trail. ¡°There it is. Send the signal!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± KIKI nodded and used her psychic power to launch a signal beacon Lin Xian had crafted up into the clouds. As they closed in, they saw someone frantically digging through the snow near the wreck, throwing handfuls of it at the fire. He was trying to put it out. Getting closer¡ªthey recognized him. ¡°Yu Yuheng!!¡± Yu Yuheng froze mid-motion, thinking he was hearing things. Then he spun around and saw Lin Xian and KIKI flying toward him. His eyes widened. He stood frozen for a second, then stumbled forward, completely overwhelmed. ¡°KIKI! Put out the fire!!¡± Fwooom¡ª A wave of psychic force surged out from KIKI, instantly snuffing the flames. Only thick black smoke still rose from the wreckage. ¡°Captain Lin!¡± Yu Yuheng finally spoke, stumbling toward them, pointing at the flier behind him. ¡°Quick¡ªhelp me get the ultra-pure germanium detector! We found it¡ªwe found it! We found the Dark Mark!!¡± His face was smeared with blood, lips cracked from the cold, eyes wild with desperation and terror as he screamed¡ª ¡°It was that monster¡ªit triggered the monster tide. It¡¯s the one that released the Level-5 Mark! We were wrong¡ªno, no, Professor Wei, Professor Ding... We were right...¡± ¡°It¡¯s waiting. It¡¯s watching. It¡¯s leading us. It won¡¯t reveal itself because it¡¯s a...¡± ¡°Scout!¡± BOOM¡ª Above Fenglan Mountain, the Extreme Cold Vortex swirled violently. Thunder cracked across the heavens, the stormy night sky flashing like the maw of some cosmic beast. Both Lin Xian and KIKI felt an icy chill sweep through their bodies. In the depths of the pitch-black mountain ravines, the howling of the blizzard sounded like a mournful hymn rising from the abyss of hell. Chapter 280: The whole city is in a deadlock! ¡°I''m sorry, Captain Lin. Thank you for entrusting me with something as important as the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. And I also need to apologize for using it in a risky experiment without permission. Even though I installed it on the ejector seat of the copilot''s chair and added protection... I know there¡¯s a good chance I won¡¯t be coming back from this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not as brave as General Zhang or Team Leader Bai. I didn¡¯t survive a pile of corpses to get here. During the Wei River evacuation, I was actually in the first group transferred out by Team Leader Bai as a core research staff member. I saw your fearlessness back at the Yubei Spaceport, so I don¡¯t want you to think I¡¯m a coward. It¡¯s just... I¡¯m terrified of watching people die around me again. That¡¯s why I made this reckless choice. I know... maybe it¡¯s just my cowardice and my way of running away...¡± ¡°It¡¯s the apocalypse. I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯ll live to see the dawn... Maybe you will. If you get this recording, please help me pass on an apology to my professor¡ªI¡¯ve never had his kind of courage.¡± Inside the makeshift lab at Xilan Airport, the computer played back a recording left by Wei Kexue. The recording was found in the protective casing of the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum after it was ejected and landed in a valley on Fenglan Mountain, later recovered by Ding Junyi and Lin Xian. The atmosphere in the hall was somber and heavy. Many in the research team had red-rimmed eyes. Guo Sicheng stood at the front, looking like he¡¯d aged several years in an instant. Because this was an emergency situation, only a few people were present: Zhao Yu, He Zhen, Wen Zhuo, Xiao He from the Phoenix, and a few others from the Xicheng search team like Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan. Lin Xian sighed quietly in his heart. He hadn''t expected Wei Kexue, who had just caught up with him a few days ago, to be gone so soon. He took out a metal box from his pocket and opened it¡ªthe three Eerie Blood Crystals inside were still quietly sitting there. They were Wei Kexue¡¯s ¡°payment¡± for borrowing the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum to conduct his research. But in truth, Lin Xian had no intention of taking anything in return. He simply knew that accepting it would ease Wei Kexue¡¯s conscience. Wei Kexue probably never imagined he¡¯d die chasing a theory¡ªon the eve of evacuation. The Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum lay on the table, radiating a crimson glow. Beside it, a disheveled Yu Yuheng sat quietly. This meant he, too, had been marked¡ªLevel 5. Zhao Yu''s expression darkened. ¡°So, the experimental team confirmed evidence of the Dark Mark, but also discovered other abnormalities?¡± Old Guo adjusted his glasses and nodded. ¡°The ultrapure germanium detector picked up a kind of weakly interacting massive particle. It forms some sort of dark matter bond with human cell membranes. The dark matter stream can penetrate any barrier, making marked individuals a ¡®beacon in the dark.¡¯ This is a breakthrough discovery. If we had more time, we could develop a detection device that allows anyone to scan for their own mark.¡± Xinghuo team leader Wen Zhuo now turned to the still-shaken Yu Yuheng. ¡°Captain Yu, can you walk us through what exactly happened? Why did you call that creature a scout? What made you think that?¡± Everyone turned to him, eager to hear his answer. Yu Yuheng looked dazed. He raised his head, eyes unfocused, as memories of the terrifying event two hours ago replayed in his mind. Two hours earlier¡ª Yu Yuheng¡¯s aircraft had just plunged out of a cloud bank. The drop in altitude made his mind go blank. Luckily, the autopilot system kicked in and stabilized the flight. With no flying experience, he fumbled to check the instruments and looked out the window. But what he saw froze him in place¡ªa massive black shadow was emerging from the cloudy mist to the right of the aircraft, blotting out the already-dim moonlight. It was a floating monstrosity, with countless colossal legs¡ªeach easily hundreds of meters long¡ªlike a black sea urchin hovering in the sky. Its body was covered with clusters of crimson compound eyes, and the bristles on its limbs twitched eerily in the blizzard. The tiny aircraft that Yu Yuheng and Wei Kexue were in looked pitiful by comparison. Beep-beep-beep¡ªwarning alarms sounded. ¡°Professor Wei! It¡¯s right above us!!¡± Yu Yuheng gasped. ¡°Pull up! Pull up!¡± came Wei Kexue¡¯s shout through the comms. ¡°Has the Blood Scourge Flora activated?!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Beep-beep-beep! All kinds of alarms began to go off. ¡°The detectors are working¡ªit¡¯s like this thing is staring at us!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been hiding here this whole time!¡± ¡°No time to think¡ªfire on it! Let¡¯s see what this thing¡¯s up to!¡± Wei Kexue gritted his teeth, adrenaline pumping as fear turned to action. ¡°Ahhhh!!¡± Zzzzzap! The missile launched from the craft¡¯s bay, streaking through the sky straight toward one of the creature¡¯s compound eyes. Boom! An explosion lit up the air, but it didn¡¯t seem to hurt the giant Eerie Entity. The missile had hit what seemed like an invisible wall and detonated midair. A faint, transparent ripple shimmered across the air before vanishing. ¡°What was that?!¡± ¡°Some kind of shield?!¡± ¡°Sh*t.¡± ¡°What now?¡± Wei Kexue looked back at the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, which remained inactive. He clenched his jaw. ¡°Captain Yu, I¡¯m going to get closer. According to Professor Ding¡¯s research, the Blood Scourge Flora only covers 500 meters. Maybe we¡¯ll trigger it if I get near enough.¡± ¡°500 meters is way too close!¡± Yu Yuheng shouted. ¡°There¡¯s no other way¡ªthis is our only shot!¡± Wei Kexue took a deep breath and banked hard toward the monster. ¡°Professor Wei!!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t follow! Stay at a safe distance and monitor the Blood Scourge Flora. If I eject, keep an eye on where it lands. I promised Captain Lin I¡¯d return it intact!¡± Woooosh! The Tongxing aircraft¡¯s engines roared as Wei Kexue blasted through the clouds, flying straight at the behemoth. Beep-beep-beep-beep! The radar pinged like crazy. And then, all of the monster¡¯s crimson eyes turned toward the aircraft. A strange red glow began to pulse from them. In an instant, the sky turned blood-red. Yu Yuheng felt a chill down to his bones. When he looked up again, it was like the creature had become a massive blood moon, with Wei Kexue flying straight into it without hesitation. ¡°Professor Wei!!!¡± Beep-beep-beep-beep! Yu Yuheng¡¯s eyes filled with horror. Strange visions danced before him. Blood-red ripples churned through the sky, and reflected in his trembling pupils was a grotesque image¡ªa single, massive eye formed from thousands of pale pupils, surrounded by storm clouds spiraling into a vortex. He yanked off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and scrambled to access the aircraft¡¯s computation module. ¡°C¡¯mon c¡¯mon c¡¯mon c¡¯mon!!¡± He furiously refreshed the detector readings. Beep-beep-beep-beep! Bzzzt! ¡°It¡¯s active! The Blood Scourge Flora¡¯s glowing!!¡± Wei Kexue¡¯s voice suddenly shouted through the comms. Ding! At that moment, the ultrapure germanium detector lit up green¡ªsuccessful detection. ¡°Professor Wei, get ou¡ª¡± BOOM! Before he could finish, a massive shockwave struck. Every system in the aircraft went dark. Yu Yuheng felt an intense weightlessness sweep through him. Looking out the window, he saw a faint explosion in front of the blood moon¡ªWei Kexue¡¯s aircraft. ¡°Professor We¡ª!¡± BZZZT! Before he could scream, a wave of dizziness slammed into him. The world spun. Then came a series of alerts: ¡¾Altitude Alert. Altitude Alert.¡¿ ¡¾Flight control override engaged.¡¿ ¡¾Mountain terrain ahead. Mountain terrain ahead.¡¿ ¡¾Climb failed. Climb failed.¡¿ Dazed, Yu Yuheng jolted back to reality and grabbed the controls. ... ¡°That thing wasn¡¯t like any monster we¡¯ve seen before. Normal weapons didn¡¯t work, and it seemed to have some kind of group attack mechanism.¡± Inside the lab, Yu Yuheng recounted everything in detail. He took off his glasses, rubbed his brow, and sighed. ¡°In that instant, all instruments failed. And in my mind¡ªI think I saw something terrifying. But it wasn¡¯t the same creature. It felt like... something was trying to communicate, or guide us. The feeling was overwhelming.¡± He Zhen frowned. ¡°You mean... there¡¯s more than one S-Class creature?¡± Zhao Yu murmured, ¡°If there¡¯s a hierarchy, that means the other one might be beyond S-Class.¡± Everyone felt a chill. ¡°Whether it¡¯s S-Class or not, it¡¯s still a massive threat,¡± Zhao Yu exhaled. He turned to He Zhen and Wen Zhuo. ¡°Now that the Zombie Tide has retreated, let¡¯s move up the evacuation. Handle casualty reports and supply plans on the go. Xiao He, bring Han Jun and Qin Xueming here. We need to go over ammo logistics.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Lin Xian finally spoke up. ¡°Director Zhao, I know we planned to evacuate tomorrow. But don¡¯t you think everything that¡¯s happened since yesterday is... strange?¡± ¡°I feel the same way,¡± Shi Diyuan said. ¡°That S-Class monster just hides and doesn¡¯t attack? Isn¡¯t that suspicious?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Wen Zhuo nodded. He looked to Zhao Yu. ¡°If that was really a scout, hunting for prey for some dark creature, why was there a Zombie Tide tonight? If everyone in the city died, what¡¯s the point?¡± ¡°Because it wasn¡¯t an attack.¡± A woman¡¯s voice rang out. Everyone turned to see Professor Ding Junyi stepping forward. ¡°Professor Ding, what do you mean it wasn¡¯t an attack?¡± Zhao Yu frowned. Ding Junyi glanced at Yu Yuheng, then said: ¡°Professor Wei was right. That monster didn¡¯t come specifically for the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum¡ªfinding it was a coincidence. The reason there are no Dark Marks in all of Xilan City is because all the Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends stopped emitting them. Only S-Class Eerie Entities can issue Level 5 marks, and that creature probably realized we were studying the Dark Mark. That¡¯s why it marked the Falcon Patrol Team outside the city, which triggered tonight¡¯s siege.¡± He Zhen looked confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say it wasn¡¯t a siege?¡± Ding Junyi looked at the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. ¡°Now, aside from the sky, no other Eerie Entity is emitting marks. That monster is watching Xilan City. The reason it didn¡¯t mark earlier was to keep the city safe¡ªso people would gather.¡± Her gaze turned sharp. ¡°Because Xilan has strong defenses. Maybe it¡¯s to reduce casualties. Or maybe it just wanted to spread confusion and fear. So tonight wasn¡¯t an attack¡ªit was a forced evacuation.¡± ¡°But we were planning to evacuate tomorrow!¡± another female researcher exclaimed. ¡°Exactly. Now we¡¯re leaving earlier¡ªand we might escape the Polar Night and the spread of Abyss Zone No. 5. Isn¡¯t that better?¡± The room buzzed with uncertainty. Then Lin Xian stepped forward. ¡°What if they mark the entire city with Level 5 marks before we leave?¡± Silence fell. Everyone went cold. He Zhen¡¯s eyes narrowed. He recalled the Falcon Team¡¯s fate. ¡°You mean...¡± Lin Xian turned to Zhao Yu. ¡°Director Zhao, I suggest we call in the leaders of every convoy in the city and check their mark status. I already scanned ours while bringing in the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum¡ªeveryone¡¯s been marked Level 5. I think it has something to do with that thunderous sound we heard in the sky earlier. If that¡¯s the case, it would support Professor Ding¡¯s theory about why the Zombie Tide retreated.¡± Zhao Yu studied Lin Xian in silence for a moment. Then, firmly, he said, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll do it your way. Wen Zhuo, we¡¯re relocating to Michelle Church. Gather the convoy leaders¡ªdon¡¯t tell them why yet. Run separate tests. Once we confirm, we¡¯ll make a decision.¡± ¡°He Zhen, start casualty reports and resupply the defense line. Until we confirm evacuation, hold the perimeter.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± He Zhen nodded. Zhao Yu checked the time, then addressed everyone. ¡°Time¡¯s tight. Get moving now. If we wait till morning, it¡¯ll be too late. We implement the evacuation plan before 5 AM.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The night¡¯s battle had only just ended, and people barely had time to breathe¡ªonly to find themselves plunged into an even greater crisis. A suffocating fear spread through Xilan City like a choking fog. Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ª 4:00 a.m., Michelle Church Plaza was a flurry of movement. Countless convoy leaders from survivor groups had been urgently summoned. The plaza, scarred and ruined, was piled high with monster corpses that the Nightwalkers had temporarily cleared, yet the overwhelming stench of blood and rot still hung in the air, making people¡¯s heads feel heavy. Under the bright plaza lights, Ding Junyi and her research team were scattered around, conducting mark tests on each convoy leader. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°No idea... just cooperate.¡± ¡°They said they¡¯ve identified the attack pattern of the Eerie Entities¡ªit¡¯s called Dark Marking. Anyone tagged with it attracts monsters at night.¡± ¡°Huh? So that¡¯s what this is about...¡± ¡°So if they¡¯re checking us now, does that mean another attack is coming?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t even finished handling the casualties in our convoy.¡± ¡°Good thing Phoenix is supplying us with ammo and supplies...¡± ¡°Are we evacuating?¡± At the edge of the plaza, Zhou Wuer, Peng Peng, and the rest of the Nightwalkers¡¯ Courier Unit stood in the corner, watching with complicated expressions. ¡°So many people got tagged... looks like our evacuation plan¡¯s going out the window,¡± Peng Peng said, arms crossed. Zhou Wuer, who¡¯d been fighting all night, looked serious. ¡°Who knows. Let¡¯s just hope it goes well.¡± Buzz buzz¡ª Just then, their communicator lit up. Zhou Wuer waved behind him. ¡°Let¡¯s go, they¡¯re letting us in.¡± 04:35 Inside the makeshift command center at the church¡¯s Gospel Hall, a crowd had gathered. Leading the discussion were Phoenix heads Zhao Yu and He Zhen, along with researchers Guo Sicheng, Yu Yuheng, convoy leaders from the Nightwalkers and the Crimson Phoenix Order, including Lin Xian, Shi Diyuan, Qian Dele, Han Jun, Qin Xueming, Zhang Tianfang, Chen Xiao, and others. ¡°Scan results are in. Out of 1,236 convoys in the city, 786 convoy leaders carry a Level-5 Dark Mark,¡± reported Xiao He, face grim. ¡°Why not everyone?¡± He Zhen asked in confusion. ¡°These monsters are picky?¡± ¡°I think Captain Yu and Professor Wei¡¯s actions disrupted the creature,¡± said Ding Junyi. ¡°That¡¯s why some weren¡¯t tagged¡ªand maybe why the monsters pulled back early.¡± ¡°64%...¡± Zhao Yu murmured, brows furrowed. ¡°Can¡¯t tell if that¡¯s good or bad.¡± He looked up, sweeping his gaze across the room. ¡°You¡¯ve all been briefed. I want your input now.¡± ¡°We need to evacuate¡ªimmediately,¡± said Qin Xueming of the Cosmic Convoy, still disheveled from battle. ¡°You think we can survive against an S-Class Eerie Entity?¡± ¡°Same here. What¡¯s there to discuss?¡± added Chen Xiao of the Torch Alliance, clearly frustrated. ¡°Did you not hear what the research team said? Anyone carrying a Level-5 Mark is basically guaranteed to die out there,¡± Zhang Tianfang said. ¡°Then what? Kill the S-Class?¡± Qin Xueming raised his voice. ¡°Or something even worse? With just us?¡± Han Jun from the Arctic Wind Alliance stayed calm and turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Captain Lin, your Infinite Convoy has the most experience with Dark Marks. Can killing enough of the Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends reduce the intensity of the mark¡ªmaybe even let us go into a dormant state?¡± He Zhen nodded. ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s not like the mark can¡¯t be removed. If there¡¯s a way, maybe we don¡¯t have to kill that S-Class Eerie.¡± Many nodded in agreement, but Zhao Yu didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he looked to the research team¡ªYu Yuheng, Ding Junyi¡ªand Lin Xian. ¡°Your thoughts?¡± ¡°I just feel... it¡¯s not that simple,¡± Yu Yuheng said hesitantly. Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°Think about it¡ªwhy did the monster retreat right after marking us?¡± ¡°Wait, s**t...¡± Qin Xueming looked stunned. ¡°That¡¯s messed up.¡± Han Jun¡¯s face darkened. The way this unfolded¡ªit felt like the creature watching over Xilan City was intelligent, and this was all premeditated. Remove the marks, increase survivor numbers, lull everyone into a false sense of safety¡ªthen suddenly attack the city, spread fear, and tag everyone. Force a mass evacuation. But if they evacuated now, those with Level-5 Marks wouldn¡¯t make it to Quancheng. And staying meant death too¡ªbetween the thunderous creature above and whatever unknown horror lurked beyond. In front of them was... a city-wide death trap. Everyone felt a chill crawl up their spine. ¡°Brother Lin,¡± Shi Diyuan whispered to Lin Xian. ¡°What now? Are we screwed?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes were dark. He felt a fear unlike any he¡¯d known¡ªfear of being hunted by the dark. ¡°D*mn... These monsters really plan to eat us like dumplings,¡± Qian Dele sighed, brushing his fur coat. ¡°Screw it, maybe I¡¯ll go drink, then fight like hell.¡± Lin Xian looked at him, his face shifting. ¡°You¡¯re right. Maybe fighting is our only shot.¡± Just as everyone was feeling hopeless, Lin Xian suddenly raised his voice. ¡°If we fight, maybe we still have a chance!¡± Everyone turned toward him. Qian Dele leaned in, muttering, ¡°Hey¡ªI meant charge out, not some big ¡®plan.¡¯¡± Zhao Yu looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Speak your mind.¡± A crazy idea was brewing in Lin Xian¡¯s head, and he couldn¡¯t contain it. His breath came fast as he said, ¡°What if... we don¡¯t evacuate tomorrow?¡± ¡°That¡¯s suicide.¡± ¡°Yeah...¡± Chen Xiao and others reacted instantly, but Zhao Yu raised a hand. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°If we stay, the worst we face is Polar Night¡ªbut is that necessarily fatal? If we remove the marks and go into a dormant state, maybe we can safely pass the edge of Abyss Zone No. 5!¡± Lin Xian turned to Zhao Yu. ¡°We¡¯ve tested this. People without marks often don¡¯t encounter anything in the dark¡ªunless they¡¯re unlucky enough to wander into a monster¡¯s den.¡± Zhao Yu frowned. ¡°So, we take one day to remove the marks? But the creature won¡¯t give us that chance¡ªit¡¯s guiding another one, even more¡ª¡± ¡°Then what if we kill it?!¡± Lin Xian cut him off, shouting. ¡°It wants to tag us and eat us? Then let¡¯s kill this b**tard and wipe out the Level-5 Marks! Polar Night hits the day after tomorrow, and that bigger thing may arrive during the night or the Extreme Cold Vortex¡ªthat timing is our window!¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions changed. ¡°You¡¯re saying... kill an S-Class Eerie?¡± Han Jun asked, frowning. ¡°But it¡¯s been hiding. Wasn¡¯t it just a scout?¡± Qin Xueming added. ¡°Yeah, even if we wanted to kill it, we can¡¯t hit what we can¡¯t see,¡± Zhang Tianfang said. ¡°Exactly,¡± Yu Yuheng nodded. ¡°It¡¯s been hiding above the clouds, watching us.¡± ¡°Not necessarily!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°If its goal was to mark the entire city, and it¡¯s only done 64%, then it hasn¡¯t finished. So if we don¡¯t evacuate tomorrow, it¡¯ll likely attack again tomorrow night. That¡¯s our shot¡ªwhen it moves again.¡± ¡°So hit it while it¡¯s marking?¡± asked Wen Zhuo, leader of the Starfire Division. ¡°But it¡¯s airborne. We don¡¯t have the capability,¡± He Zhen said. ¡°Our air units have no experience fighting S-Class, and missiles don¡¯t work. If we can¡¯t kill it fast enough, the city¡¯s doomed.¡± Everyone knew he was right¡ªfleeing now might leave a slim chance. But fighting an S-Class with unknown shields? Nearly impossible. ¡°There¡¯s a way to bring it down,¡± Lin Xian suddenly said. ¡°What is it?¡± Zhao Yu asked. ¡°This.¡± Ding Junyi, who had stayed silent, slapped her hand on the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum cultivation pod. ¡°Ever wonder how an S-Class lost its mind over two tiny drones?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°That thing can lure A-Class Abyss Worms¡ªit can lure that monster too!¡± Yu Yuheng stood up, excited. ¡°Yes! When it turned all red, it wasn¡¯t just the attack¡ªit sensed the disaster flora on Professor Wei¡¯s drone!¡± Zhao Yu and He Zhen exchanged glances, deep in thought. Lin Xian turned to He Zhen. ¡°Commander He, what if we start fortifying the entire city right now¡ªusing the steel plant, weapons factory, radar and rail stations? If the convoys stop panicking and instead set up ambushes and defenses, wouldn¡¯t our chances be better than tonight?¡± He Zhen¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡°Of course. With strong walls, deep trenches, solid weapons, and full rations, we¡¯d lose fewer people than during last night¡¯s chaos.¡± ¡°One more thing,¡± Wen Zhuo added. ¡°Xilan has tons of heavy city defenses and base weapons. If we leave, we can¡¯t take them. Maybe the monster¡¯s trying to force us out for that reason too.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Shi Diyuan agreed. ¡°Vehicle weapons are nothing compared to stationary artillery. Evacuating makes us sitting ducks. I back Lin¡¯s plan!¡± ¡°Me too,¡± Qian Dele said with arms crossed. ¡°A defensive siege beats a fleeing snowstorm ambush, especially with Level-5 Marks¡ªwe¡¯d be monster bait out there.¡± Their arguments swayed many, even Qin Xueming, who glanced at Han Jun. ¡°What do you think, Han?¡± Han Jun looked grim. ¡°Burn the boats or slip the shell¡ªcould be our only shot. But...¡± He looked to Zhao Yu. ¡°We¡¯ll follow your lead.¡± Zhao Yu and He Zhen locked eyes. ¡°Old Zhao,¡± He Zhen said. ¡°That good news-bad news you mentioned¡ªthis is it, right?¡± Zhao Yu nodded slowly. 64% marked¡ªmeaning nearly a third weren¡¯t. He couldn¡¯t force them to stay. If they left, the defense would lose a third of its strength. But if they stayed, they were betting everything on him. If they lost¡ªeveryone would die. After a pause, Zhao Yu scanned the crowd. ¡°Strategically, I support Captain Lin and Professor Ding¡¯s plan. Defend the city and erase the marks. It¡¯s harder, but safer than fleeing with Level-5 Marks. With our weapons, our walls, even our morale¡ªwe¡¯re stronger here. He Zhen, you agree?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± He Zhen nodded. ¡°Turn defense into offense, crisis into opportunity¡ªit¡¯s a smart move.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± Zhao Yu said solemnly, ¡°As Phoenix¡¯s Xilan City Director¡ªI approve defense over retreat!¡± ¡°Next, I need to hear from the other thousand convoys. Everyone must understand the situation. Once we confirm who stays and who goes¡ªwe start building defenses immediately!¡± Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ª 5:00 a.m., Michelle Church Plaza was ablaze with torchlight. Over a thousand convoy leaders, lieutenants, and key personnel had gathered. Thousands stood in the cold wind. From the platform above, Zhao Yu solemnly broadcasted the truth¡ªthe Dark Mark, the city''s current crisis, and Phoenix¡¯s new defensive strategy. Cries of despair echoed across the plaza. The air was thick with helplessness and dread. ¡°What... we¡¯ve all been hit with a Level-5 Mark? Does that mean we¡¯re doomed?¡± ¡°I heard a patrol team yesterday couldn¡¯t even escape...¡± "Oh my god, I thought we¡¯d be evacuating by tomorrow!" "During the scan just now, it looked like we weren¡¯t marked..." "Staying behind to defend the city and evacuating during the Polar Night... is that even possible?" "If that¡¯s really the plan, we¡¯d rather stay. At least here we¡¯ve got shelters, and artillery. If we¡¯re caught out there on the road, there¡¯s no way our vehicles can hold up against a zombie tide of that level." "Exactly. We¡¯ve already been marked anyway. What choice do we have but to fight?" "Yeah, we¡¯ll go with Phoenix. Maybe there¡¯s still a sliver of hope!" "Defend the city, huh? I¡¯m in. I love tower defense games¡ªI¡¯ve got loads of experience. Can I be in charge of strategy?" "Give me a break. Commander He¡¯s been leading troops for years. You think your game skills are what we need right now?" "..." The crowd buzzed with anxious voices, heavy and grim. Zhao Yu looked across the plaza. ¡°That¡¯s the situation. We don¡¯t have time to waste. All convoys can make their choice now¡ªwhether marked or not, you¡¯re free to evacuate. I¡¯ve already instructed the support points to prepare emergency supplies and ammo for those leaving. Evacuation must be completed before 6 a.m. All remaining supplies and ammunition will be shared with the whole city. We¡¯ll lay out a detailed defense plan, organize convoys into tactical squads based on vehicle-weapon ratios and Ability User types, and set up a temporary ¡®Cityforge¡¯ battle command center. All preparations must be completed before nightfall.¡± The moment he finished speaking, the crowd quieted significantly. ¡°Um...¡± A convoy leader raised his hand. ¡°We¡¯re not marked¡ªare you saying we can really leave? Does that mean we¡¯re safe?¡± His question caught the attention of several other unmarked convoy leaders, all turning to Zhao Yu. ¡°That¡¯s right. If you¡¯re not marked, you can leave. As for whether you¡¯re safe¡ªI trust the judgment of our research team. At the very least, the danger will be significantly reduced. I believe this will become a global standard for identifying Dark Entities going forward,¡± Zhao Yu replied firmly. ¡°Then... we¡¯ll evacuate.¡± The convoy leader gritted his teeth. His team had suffered massive losses the previous night, and their fighting spirit was all but gone. ¡°We¡¯re leaving too.¡± ¡°Looks like we don¡¯t have any markings either... so this isn¡¯t really our fight.¡± This came from Long Dahei of the Blackie Convoy. He gave a complicated look toward the Phoenix members on the stage and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say... Thank you for your help. I hope you make it.¡± With that, he sighed, turned, and led his men away. One after another, more convoys followed suit, leaving the plaza in silence. ¡°We trust Phoenix. We¡¯ll live or die together!¡± A strong female voice finally broke the stillness. ¡°That¡¯s right! Stand our ground and fight to the death!¡± Her words lit a spark. Those who had lost everything, those who had been separated from their families by the monster tides, those who knew they were cornered and filled with rage¡ªtheir emotions flared one by one! ¡°F*** this! Marking us like livestock¡ªf*** that s**t!¡± a burly man roared. ¡°I¡¯ve never killed an S-class before. Maybe if we take one out, the whole city evolves. What do you say, people?!¡± ¡°D**n right!!¡± ¡°What the h**l are we afraid of? I didn¡¯t even get to go all out last night. This time we¡¯re ready. We¡¯re gonna wipe these beasts out!¡± ¡°Yeah! Don¡¯t think we humans are pushovers. I¡¯m at the top of the food chain, dammit!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°We weren¡¯t marked either, but we¡¯ll stand with Phoenix!¡± ¡°Kill, kill, kill! Our Dingli Convoy signs up first!¡± The plaza suddenly exploded into noise, a surge of battle-ready energy rising like a tidal wave. ¡°Xiao He, tally the final headcount and weapons inventory.¡± Watching this, He Zhen¡¯s eyes were steady as he gave the order to his adjutant. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The count was quickly completed, and in the command center hall, discussions on the Cityforge defense plan began. ¡°Report. Total surviving convoys: 1,236. Of those, 1,072 chose to stay and defend the city. 164 have evacuated¡ªall of them unmarked. We¡¯re still counting the total headcount and weapons,¡± Xiao He reported. ¡°The Nightwalkers are compiling Ability User data collected during testing. We¡¯ll need some time to organize by groups,¡± Wen Zhu added. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s finalize the Cityforge plan. He Zhen, give us the defense layout.¡± A holographic tactical table was placed at the center of the hall. Zhao Yu stood at the head, surrounded by members of the Investigation Corps, the Nightwalkers, and convoy leaders. All eyes were serious as they looked at the holographic map of Xilan City. ¡°Got it.¡± He Zhen pointed at the northern and eastern walls of the city with a command baton. ¡°The northern, eastern, and southern city walls are permanent fortifications. Right now, we can¡¯t stop the monster tides from breaching the interior. If we continue focusing defenses outside the city, we¡¯ll get flanked.¡± ¡°My plan is to abandon the inner city and form three triangle strategic zones: the northern wall with the passenger terminal and Xilan Airport;the eastern wall with the Steelworks and Weapons Factory;and the southern wall relying on the mountain range and Duga Radar Array Station. The west has no strongholds¡ªFenglan Mountain and the mines can¡¯t hold¡ªso we abandon it. Finally, we¡¯ll deploy highly mobile and powerful Ability Units with Blood Scourge Flora bait near Michelle Plaza and Central Avenue. They¡¯ll be ready to engage A-class Abyss Worms and S-class Black Spikes from the Clouds, maintaining tight coordination across the three zones. When necessary, they can launch pincer attacks to neutralize internal threats.¡± Everyone nodded, impressed by He Zhen¡¯s strategy. Concentrating core forces along the defense perimeter instead of spreading thin inside the city was indeed optimal. This way, the city walls could form not just a line of defense, but islands of resistance throughout the city. ¡°Commander He thought of everything. The terminal, airport, steelworks, and radar array are all ideal defense points¡ªeasy to hold, hard to breach,¡± Zhao Yu nodded at the map. These structures weren¡¯t ordinary residential buildings. Xilan City¡¯s buildings had been constructed with war in mind. The average wall thickness exceeded 80 cm, and strategic buildings surpassed 100 cm. Combined with the convoys¡¯ armored vehicles, the defenses would be solid. ¡°Now the second issue¡ªhow do we kill that S-class Black Spike before dawn on September 1st?¡± Zhao Yu turned to Wen Zhu. Wen Zhu replied, ¡°We currently have 112 at the Berserk level and 1,201 at the Titan level. Based on Commander He¡¯s setup, I suggest selecting elite fighters with strong mobility and offensive Abilities¡ªfive per squad¡ªto form a major hunting group under my command. We¡¯ll first try to take down the Abyss Worm. If the S-class Black Spike shows up, we¡¯ll make initial contact to identify weak points, then use the group''s mobility to lure it among the three defense points and coordinate air and ground firepower to destroy it.¡± ¡°Sounds feasible, but maybe a bit too optimistic,¡± Qin Xueming interjected. ¡°If that S-class Entity hits one of our defense zones directly, the other two can¡¯t help. We could get picked off one by one.¡± ¡°True,¡± Shi Diyuan said seriously. ¡°But we can¡¯t have the whole city holed up in one spot. With tens of thousands of people, we¡¯d fall apart from within before the monsters even get us.¡± Wen Zhu added, ¡°That¡¯s why I plan to draw it with high-power Abilities¡ªfire, laser, telekinesis, Han Jun¡¯s water-based power, and my own magnetic field...¡± ¡°Then the pressure¡¯s all on the Ability Squad,¡± Han Jun frowned. ¡°We¡¯ll be running all over the place. That¡¯s a huge stamina drain. Xilan¡¯s not a small city¡ªthose three zones are dozens of kilometers apart. Not everyone can fly.¡± ¡°If all our forces and convoys are focused at the three zones, the city center will be nearly defenseless. Even with the elite squad, without heavy fire support, how could we handle a monster of that level?¡± Zhang Tianfang said grimly. ¡°I can deploy a Dreadnought-Class gunship for air support,¡± He Zhen offered. ¡°Though it has its limits.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Qian Dele nodded. ¡°An A or S-class monster could probably swat us like flies, even with Abilities.¡± ¡°Any other plans?¡± He Zhen frowned slightly. ¡°We could concentrate heavy weapons and missiles. That might help.¡± ¡°We still don¡¯t know how resistant that thing is to missiles. If it has an Ability Shield like Captain Yu mentioned, then conventional weapons might be useless,¡± Han Jun said. ¡°Agreed,¡± Qin Xueming added. ¡°If it¡¯s got some freak defensive mechanism, everything we¡¯ve planned could go down the drain.¡± At the back of the group, Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. Hearing Han Jun¡¯s and Qin Xueming¡¯s doubts, he immediately thought of his own AT Field Shield. If that monster had something like that, they were in serious trouble. ¡°Hey,¡± came a quiet voice beside him. Lin turned to see Zhou Wuer. ¡°I saw in your mission logs¡ªyou once used a sunlight-generating Ability outside Xilan. Maybe that could work?¡± ¡°That only worked because it was already daytime,¡± Lin Xian replied softly. He wasn¡¯t sure if his Gravity Lens could replicate the result from the Red Lantern fight. ¡°No worries. I think your idea is bold. It might just turn the tide. I like your thinking.¡± Lin Xian sighed. He still believed the best plan was to rely on the city defenses, take out the scout, then evacuate. But even that wasn¡¯t guaranteed. No one¡ªnot even Phoenix¡ªhad ever killed an S-class Entity. There were no known successful cases globally. As everyone fell into silence, stuck on how to defeat the S-class threat¡ª Bang. Suddenly, the doors to the Gospel Hall burst open. A tall man in a military coat strode in and shouted, ¡°If we had a weapon that could suppress the monster tide and go head-to-head with an S-class Entity inside the city, this problem would be a lot simpler!¡± Lin Xian recognized the man immediately¡ªChen Wei, from the Trakamar Ice Canyon camp! ¡°Chen Wei, what are you doing here? Aren¡¯t you injured?¡± Yu Yuheng called out. But Chen Wei didn¡¯t stop. As he walked, he addressed the crowd. ¡°Project Emperor. Pangu Unit-01. Height: 125 meters. Weight: 8,665 tons. Dual-core fusion turbine reactor. Dual neural sync pilot system. Super-carbon carbide alloy composite armor. Multi-aperture phased array radar. Hydraulic leg stabilizers. 500KT gyroscope. KKG-grade high-agility torque drive. 4,238 muscle units¡ªeach with two magnetically controlled engines. Weapon systems include: right arm I-19 plasma cannon, foldable high-frequency chainsword, dual-arm pulse hammers, left arm rail incinerator, and chest-mounted 4x8 vertical missile launchers. Elbow rocket boosters...¡± ¡°Also, that bug up north? My brother and I killed it with that chainsword. If we reboot Unit-01 from the canyon, we can use it as our central stronghold. I¡¯ll even show you how to squash a worm again!¡± Stunned silence. Then¡ª ¡°What? There¡¯s actually a monster like that mecha?!¡± Han Jun exclaimed. Even Zhao Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed. He knew about Project Emperor. So did Shi Diyuan and Qian Dele¡ªthey had seen it firsthand. ¡°But the cockpit, the Unified Control Drive, the left arm¡ª¡± Yu Yuheng started. ¡°I can fix it!¡± Everyone turned¡ªLin Xian had finally spoken, eyes alight with madness. ¡°I can¡¯t fully restore it, but I can handle the core systems. Plus, that Monument Core you brought back¡ªit¡¯s a backup AI, right?¡± Hearing that, Lin Xian realized he could make it in time. His Mechanical Manufacturing was at Level 5 now. If he left immediately, he¡¯d have 24 hours to fix it. That mecha was built specifically to fight S-class threats. If they got it online, their odds would skyrocket. Yu Yuheng looked conflicted. ¡°Even if we fix it, we¡¯d need two Level-5 Unified Control pilots and¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m one of them,¡± Lin Xian said before Chen Wei could speak. Everyone¡ªChen Wei, He Zhen, the entire Investigation Corps¡ªstared in shock. ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± Chen Wei asked, his gaze sharp. ¡°Dead serious. I¡¯m a Mechanical Ability User. You¡¯ve seen what I can do,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Alright!¡± Chen Wei grinned. ¡°I don¡¯t like Ability Users much, but a Level-5 Unified Control? I can work with that.¡± Lin Xian gave him a look. ¡°Your attitude sucks, but I respect you for stepping up. It¡¯s a solid plan.¡± Chen Wei nodded, then turned to the crowd and gave a formal salute. ¡°Director Zhao, Commander He, Captain Yu¡ªrequesting permission to deploy!¡± Zhao Yu turned to Yu Yuheng. ¡°Captain Yu?¡± Yu¡¯s face shifted through uncertainty, then excitement. ¡°You¡¯re right! If Lin can fix the cockpit, Unified Drive, and left arm¡ªand with the Monument Core¡ªwe can reboot Unit-01!¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s settled!¡± Zhao Yu declared, looking to Lin Xian. ¡°Captain Lin, bring back the ultimate weapon of Project Emperor!¡± ¡°With pleasure!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes burned with fire. Through the Gospel Church¡¯s stained-glass windows, he looked southeast¡ª700 kilometers away, in the icy depths of Trakamar Canyon, a colossal war mecha slept atop a frozen peak. Its dual-core fusion turbines, silent now, seemed to await one thing¡ª To burn again. Chapter 281: City Forging Plan - Going Out Fortification Plan, Phase One. The entire city of Xilan was mobilized¡ª1,072 convoys comprising over 65,000 survivors, and 12,256 Investigation Corps soldiers, divided into three main defensive strongholds: [East City ¨C Steelworks ¨C Weapons Factory] Defensive Line Supreme Commander: Zhao Yu. He led the Mecha Unit and the 3rd and 5th Battalions of the Investigation Corps to hold the East Wall. The Arctic Wind Alliance and 80 convoys defended the industrial area of the Steelworks, while the Warriors Convoy, Torch Alliance, and 160 convoys held the Xilan Weapons Manufacturing Plant. Though the eastern line had the fewest people due to its compact coverage, top-tier firepower from major convoys like the Arctic Wind Alliance made up for it¡ªcomparable to the force of dozens of regular teams. [North City ¨C Railway ¨C Airport] Defensive Line Supreme Commander: He Zhen. Leading the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and Artillery 7th Battalions of the Investigation Corps, he secured the North Wall. Dragon Mountain No. 1, Infinite Train, Monica Queen, and 22 other Doomsday Train units, along with 78 convoys including the North Wind Alliance, Big Eagle Convoy, Chasing Sun Convoy, and Fast Runner Convoy, defended the Xilan Railway Terminal¡ªtotaling 100 convoys. Joker Convoy, Zhou Li Convoy, and 300 other large and small convoys guarded the Xilan Airport defense line. [South City ¨C Durga Radar Array Station] Defensive Line Supreme Commander: Xiao He. Commanding the 6th and Artillery 9th Battalions, Support Units, and Reconnaissance Unit, he held the defense line along the southern Fenglan Mountains. The terrain was more open, and the Cosmic Convoy and 432 other convoys lined up from the Radar Array to the Southern City Wall, forming a complementary defense. Though the South held the most people, its reliance on the mountains and radar stations meant lower pressure. Most small convoys had thus gathered here. Aerial Combat Command was held by Zhang Chengzhi, stationed aboard the Dreadnought-class Aerospace Carrier. He led the Warhawk-class Gunships, Lightning-2 Fighters, and H50 Bombers to carry out anti-air and bombing operations, offering support across all three defense lines. Fortification Plan, Phase Two. A 175-member Ability Hunting Corps was assembled, including 35 Rampage-level and 140 Titan-level Ability Users. Their base of operations was Central Plaza, from which they would launch mobile hunts. All other Ability Users and Enhancers were stationed at the main defensive bastions. Supreme Commander: Wen Zhuo. The corps was split into 35 five-person squads, each with a Rampage-level Ability User or Enhancer. Based on ability type, each squad also included members skilled in mobility, support, or defense¡ªthough flight-capable Users were limited. Some entire squads were composed of Power Armor-wearing Enhancers, agile enough to scale buildings and traverse rooftops with ease. For example, at Lin Xian¡¯s position, the defense and command of the Infinite Train were handed to Chen Sixuan, Miao Lu, and Da Lou. Sha Sha operated a mech, while KIKI, Fire Bro, Shu Qin, and Lu? Chang were all recruited into the elite hunting squads. KIKI, Wen Zhuo, Han Jun, Qin Xueming, and Lu Xingchen formed a core assault team, tasked with carrying Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum to lure enemies¡ªa mission of extreme risk and difficulty. Finally, a Unit 01 Team led by Lin Xian, Chen Wei, and Yu Yuheng was assigned to reactivate Unit 01¡ªa critical element of the Fortification Plan, and possibly the one that could turn the entire tide of battle. ¡°This is the full strategy. Once the defensive lines are transferred, the Phoenix will initiate the final round of ammunition and supply resupply.¡± 06:00, Gospel Hall Command Center Zhao Yu checked the time and addressed everyone in the room with a resolute voice: ¡°From this moment on, we have approximately 12 hours to prepare. During that time, there are a few things we must accomplish.¡± 1. Mobilize the Investigation Corps, survivor convoys, and Ability Users across all three zones to construct defensive structures using anything usable¡ªconcrete walls, steel plates, barbed wire, anti-tank barricades. Use armored vehicles and trucks to form solid defensive formations. 2. Strategically establish firepower points to ensure thorough coverage and smooth ammo supply. Assign Ability Users and Enhancers according to the difficulty of each defense zone. 3. Set traps to distract the enemy. We¡¯ve fought the Snow Wraiths and Blood Fiends before¡ªwe know how they move. Traps don¡¯t need to kill, just slow the monster tides. 4. Most importantly¡ªmorale. Many casualties last night came from panic and internal mutations. Keep your teams steady. Fear kills faster than claws.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Shi Diyuan responded immediately. ¡°There¡¯s no turning back now. Fear won¡¯t help us.¡± ¡°Right. There¡¯s no retreat,¡± Han Jun added, voice heavy. ¡°But when there''s no way out, people tend to find courage they never knew they had.¡± Then he looked to Lin Xian. ¡°Captain Lin, Team Leader Yu¡ªwe''re counting on your secret weapon to arrive in time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do everything I can,¡± Lin Xian answered firmly. Zhao Yu nodded, then turned to Wen Zhuo: ¡°Wen Zhuo, your Hunting Squads need to scout early. Prep everything thoroughly.¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± From the back of the crowd, Zhou Wuer spoke up. ¡°Director Zhao, how come we, the Postman Unit, weren¡¯t assigned anything? We¡¯ve got combat skills too!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± several Postman members chimed in. ¡°We¡¯re fast¡ªjust as fast as the Starfire Division!¡± Zhao Yu looked over with a serious expression. ¡°You have a different mission.¡± Bang¡ª Just then, the doors flew open. Guo Sicheng and a few researchers rushed in, urgency written on their faces, each carrying metal crates. ¡°Professor Guo, are they ready?¡± With bandages still wrapped around his head, Guo Sicheng and his team placed the crates on the tactical table and opened them¡ªrevealing twelve cylindrical titanium-alloy containers, faintly glowing green. ¡°They¡¯re... all here,¡± he panted. ¡°Everything we¡¯ve studied in Xilan, including the full experimental data on the Dark Mark. As long as we can get these out of the Extreme Cold Vortex and upload them to headquarters, they can recreate the results... and broadcast it to the world!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression hardened. He realized¡ªif everyone in the city perished, the Dark Mark data wouldn¡¯t reach the rest of humanity. Everything Wei Kexue died for¡ªall their sacrifice¡ªwould be in vain. Zhao Yu stepped forward, picked up one of the signal beacons, and said: ¡°There are twelve of these beacons, emergency-crafted by the science team. They contain the lifeblood of our research. Even if all 70,000 of us fall, this information must survive. Only by broadcasting it to survivors worldwide can we prevent others from enduring the same fate.¡± ¡°The sooner the Dark Mark is known, the sooner Phoenix can expand its research¡ªand fewer people will die.¡± Everyone understood: this was the final contingency. Zhao Yu had prepared for total loss. But the data must not be lost. Yet he also knew¡ªthe Postman Unit all carried Level-5 Marks. This mission was as close to certain death as it got. ¡°Postman Unit!¡± ¡°Here!¡± Zhou Wuer stepped forward with a smile. Behind him, Peng Peng and 24 other Nightwalker couriers stood solemnly. ¡°Each of the 12 courier teams takes one beacon. Head toward Daliang, Quancheng, or Xilin¡ªyour only goal: get beyond the Extreme Cold Vortex and deliver the message.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes darkened. A saturated deployment strategy¡ªwhere redundancy meant sacrifice. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Zhou Wuer quickly grabbed a beacon and chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡ªwe¡¯ll get it done. Shame we can¡¯t stick around to bash some monsters. Gotta run first, haha~¡± ¡°Yeah, easy job, right?¡± another Postman teased, smiling as they took a beacon. In minutes, all twelve were taken¡ªno hesitation. Peng Peng, standing beside Zhou Wuer, chewed gum nervously. He patted her shoulder and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just like any other day.¡± She nodded silently. ¡°No time to waste. Everyone, move out!¡± Zhao Yu gave the official command. The hall emptied as everyone scattered to carry out their orders. ¡°Good luck,¡± Lin Xian said, stepping up to Zhou Wuer. ¡°Hope we meet again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it~¡± Zhou Wuer grinned. ¡°Of course we will.¡± Lin Xian nodded and turned to leave. As they all dispersed, Zhou Wuer took a deep breath and addressed his squad: ¡°Alright folks, keep your heads down. We¡¯ve got drinks waiting at HQ.¡± ¡°Haha, no doubt!¡± ¡°You guys better not be slow¡ªwe don¡¯t want HQ getting 11 copies before us~¡± ¡°Shut up. I¡¯ll be first!¡± ¡°You wish. No one¡¯s faster than me.¡± The Postman Unit joked and laughed, as if the danger didn¡¯t exist. ¡°Zhou Wuer.¡± A voice called from behind. He turned just in time to catch something flying toward him. It landed in his hands¡ªhis eyes lit up. ¡°Heh, you actually gave it up, huh?¡± Wen Zhuo gave him a complicated look. ¡°It¡¯s cold out there. Keep your hands warm. Run fast.¡± ¡°Appreciate it.¡± Zhou Wuer held the bottle of Xinghua Fenjiu, gave it a shake, then waved and walked away. Wen Zhuo watched him go, a shadow passing over his face. He whispered under his breath: ¡°Don¡¯t die on me, brother...¡± "Flamethrowers, heavy machine guns, autocannons, arc weapons¡ªsend them to the perimeter. Wait to set up fire points. All mobile firepower units spread out and support." "All anti-air fire units, report upward!" From high above, the scene under the night sky was a grand procession of steel. The lights from convoys in the south, north, and east districts of the city converged and grew brighter. At the eastern Steel Plant, the once-empty factories and warehouses were now filled with all sorts of Doomsday Vehicles. The streets around the industrial zone were completely encircled by Armored Vehicles. Inside, the 7th Investigation Corps¡¯ heavy artillery barrels protruded through factory skylights, while rusted conveyor belts were stacked into ring-shaped barricades. Every high point on the factory buildings had YJ-03 Anti-Air Cannons with anti-freeze coatings and heavy machine gun turrets. People bustled about as more and more defenses¡ªbarbed wire fences, doors, stone piles¡ªwere being constructed. Under Han Jun and others¡¯ command, from the steel plant to the weapons manufacturing factory, the whole industrial zone had become a fortress of iron. Thousands of vehicles were gathered inside, even blocking off several streets. What was once an open zone on all four sides had been sealed into a temporary stronghold with only three open routes. At those three paths, nine Electromagnetic Rail Cannons were deploying, holding the line like a last bastion against the monster tide rushing in from all sides. At the southern Durga Radar Array Station, thousands of vehicles were lined up along the mountains, forming a massive ¡°V¡± shape when seen from the sky. It formed a triangular defense line with the southern city wall. The Phoenix Engineering Team was pouring steel anchor points into the frozen ground and installing seismic sensors. At the first hint of the Abyss Worm¡¯s underground roar, the frontline convoys would fire off chains of cold-light flares. The headlights of the long line of vehicles nearly lit up the entire mountain range. Behind the glass curtain wall of the Northern Airport, He Zhen and the frontline command staff were adjusting the placement of High-Voltage Ion Walls. Over 2,000 vehicles from 300 convoys had turned the giant terminal building into a fortress. Scrapped airliners on the runway had been converted into Mobile Bunkers and Automated Gun Towers. Wing-mounted turrets followed the aim of Surveillance Drones. On the runway, engineers and survivors were planting landmines, spike traps, wire traps, and burning trenches in the howling wind. Even the control tower was outfitted with heavy machine guns and AA cannons. Ion walls, barbed wire, and towers of all sizes were popping up everywhere¡ªdense and overwhelming. Compared to that, the rail station side was relatively simpler. Over twenty Steel Trains, centered around the Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1, formed an inverted "T" shape with the passenger station at the track junction. Both ends of the tracks were sealed off with boulders¡ªno retreat possible. The Doomsday Trains parked here had all become fixed fortresses. The monster tide came almost entirely from the square and main avenues in front of the station. This place was now a central hub-level defense barrier. The Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 had been moved to the Northern Track. Uncle Wu and Shen Yao¡¯s joint convoy had begun fortifying the square in front of the passenger building. Three rows of Container Trenches were stacked at the front lines, and over a thousand Heavy Machine Guns, Autocannons, Gatling Guns, Flamethrowers, Arc Pulse Disruptors, High-Voltage Ion Walls¡ªall were rolled out, even the most deeply hidden reserves of the convoys and the Infinite Train. Lin Xian had even fabricated a batch of Gatling Guns on the fly to support the various convoys at the square. Besides Shasha¡¯s Shali, the square also had a Mecha Squad from the Investigation Corps and several survivor mechs. Inside the Infinite Train, Lin Xian was urgently meeting with the convoy leaders. "Level-5 Mark¡ªnone of you should be strangers to it. This is going to be massive¡ªbigger than the battle when we broke out of the Snowfield, and bigger than last night¡¯s fight. But this time, the goal isn¡¯t to wipe out the tide¡ªit¡¯s to buy time." Inside Carriage 2, Lin Xian looked around and said, "The longer we hold, the better. Our real target is to draw out the S-Class Skyborne Blackthorn. As long as we take it down and erase the Level-5 Mark, we¡¯ll have made it through." Chen Sixuan, Big Luo, Shasha, KIKI, Lu Xingchen, Shu Qin, Lu? Chang, and Xiao Yuan were all present. Everyone looked grim¡ªeven the fearless Shasha was visibly tense. Ding Junyi brought over the crate of Cold Dark Reagents delivered by Phoenix, along with bottles of green liquid¡ªvegetable juice. "I checked with Zhou Wuer. Using these may not give a huge power boost right away, but they¡¯ll quickly restore your Abilities and boost mental strength. The downside is they may trigger some level of Dark Invasion, so I asked Director Ding to prepare the veggie juice to counteract that." "Everyone on the train gets veggie juice¡ªjust in case. But we only have this many reagents, so you all get first dibs." Shasha frowned as she held up the reagent and juice bottle. "Why can¡¯t we just drink them now? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to boost our power before the fight?" "You can." Lin Xian nodded. "This is going to be a drawn-out battle, so Evolvers can take it first." He looked at KIKI and Lu Xingchen, handing them the last two in the box. "You two use your Abilities heavily¡ªtake an extra one, just in case." KIKI took the two Cold Dark Reagents, concerned. "What about you?" "You don¡¯t need to worry about me." Lin Xian lifted a bag beside him. "I brought all five from the test reward. Getting that mech operational might cost me a lot of energy." "Five? Aren¡¯t you afraid of the Dark Invasion?" KIKI asked, shocked. "I¡¯ll manage." Ding Junyi added, "Based on Team Leader Yu¡¯s analysis, the S-Class Eerie Entity may not use conventional attack methods. Be on alert. Also watch for the Abyss Worm¡ªsince you¡¯re carrying the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, you might get flanked." "No problem." Lu Xingchen, gripping the two vials, wasn¡¯t flustered. In fact, his eyes were glowing with excitement. "With Brother Lin and the whole city placing their trust in me... isn''t this the perfect time to break my limits and become a hero? Thanks, Brother Lin." "Now that¡¯s what I like to hear," KIKI smirked, for once not teasing him. "If we really take down that S-Class, not only will you save tens of thousands of lives¡ªyou might bag the world¡¯s first S-Class kill record." "First kill?" Lu Xingchen frowned. "Tch... That¡¯s... I¡¯m not really..." He gulped hard, his eyes shifting, then abruptly turned and sprinted toward the back carriage. "Hey, where are you going?!" "This cultivator has slacked off for over 30 minutes¡ªmustn¡¯t delay any longer! Not for the first kill¡ªuh, I mean... cultivation!!" He rushed off, clearly fired up. "Captain Lin, stay safe." Shu Qin nodded solemnly. "Don¡¯t worry about us¡ªwe¡¯ll protect the train." Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, and Xiao Yuan all nodded in agreement. Big Luo patted his massive Steel-Slaying Greatsword and added, "Don¡¯t worry, Brother Xian. I¡¯ll guard everyone with my life." "Good." Lin Xian¡¯s gaze steadied. He turned to Chen Sixuan. "Since Shu Qin and Lu? Chang are in the hunting squad, give him your TRP Exosuit to boost mobility." "What?" Lu? Chang was stunned. "But I¡ª" Lin Xian cut him off. "Just do it. Ms. Chen is leading the Infinite Train now, so I made her a new one." The new Black Hawk Exosuit had full Battlefield Awareness and Data Integration. Lin Xian had rushed to build it for Chen Sixuan, not only to protect her, but also to free up her old suit for Lu? Chang, who¡ªeven with his Evolver agility¡ªwould be at serious risk in the coming Monster Tide without an exosuit. "Okay, thanks Captain Lin!" Lu? Chang beamed, excited. "Alright, that¡¯s the plan. I have to move out now. You guys handle the fortifications." Without delay, Lin Xian ended the meeting and told everyone to prep. He called Chen Sixuan and headed to Carriage No. 1, opened a metal locker, and revealed a freshly built exosuit. "Try it on. The functions are a bit more complex, but it¡¯s got smart controls. Best to suit up now and get used to the motion." Chen Sixuan looked at the new Black Hawk: Silent Hunter Armor, stunned. "How do I put it on?" Beep. Lin Xian held out his hand. The armor lit up with a Holographic Interface, scanned her face, and then opened its Chest Plate. Leg Bolts and Braces unlocked automatically with a mechanical hiss. "It¡¯s got a Thermal Regulation System inside¡ªno need to bundle up." Chen Sixuan nodded, stripped off her heavy gear, and carefully stepped into the open armor. [Black Hawk - Silent Hunter Armor initializing. Running system diagnostics.] The system¡¯s icy female voice echoed as her HUD filled with status bars¡ªMobility, Defense, Radar, Situational Awareness, Life Support¡ªeach module activating one by one. The armor¡¯s components tightened and locked in. [Diagnostics complete. Multi-panel torso armor syncing with user vitals. Adjusting exosuit configuration.] [Adjustment complete. Would you like to¡ª] The voice echoed around her, streams of data flooding her vision. The armor felt powerful yet sleek, providing strength and agility far beyond anything she¡¯d worn before. Clang. Clang. Chen Sixuan stepped out from the locker, now clad head to toe in sleek black armor. Her helmet¡¯s Holographic Sensor Array glowed blue. The multi-panel armor hugged her form perfectly¡ªshe looked like a Mecha Goddess descending from the stars. Lin Xian stared, dumbstruck. The sight stirred something deep in his Mechanical Heart¡ªthis was the future he dreamed of building. "Ms. Chen." "Hm?" "You look incredible." He moved in for a kiss¡ªbut the helmet¡¯s face shield automatically rose to block him. Lin Xian paused, laughed awkwardly, and sighed. "I¡¯m heading out on a dangerous mission and you won¡¯t even let me have a kiss?" "It¡¯s not that..." Chen Sixuan was fumbling with the suit. "I just don¡¯t really know how to use this yet..." "No worries. I¡¯ll get my kiss when I¡¯m back." Lin Xian smiled. "The sooner I leave, the sooner I return." "Hey..." Chen Sixuan watched him walk away, heart tightening. "Lin Xian¡ªyou better come back in one piece! If you dare get hurt, or¡ªor don¡¯t come back at all..." She shouted into the comms, her voice filled with emotion. ¡°I¡¯ll just... dock your credits!¡± Lin Xian had barely taken a few steps when he heard that, and nearly stumbled from the jolt. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he turned back with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely be back. We will see the dawn of September!¡± ... Whoooosh¡ª The freezing wind howled as Lin Xian stayed inside KIKI¡¯s psychic shield. The endless blizzard made it almost impossible to see the city below. He had asked KIKI to take him to the airport, where the Emperor Project team was waiting. To save time, the Reboot Team would be taking a risky route via aircraft straight to Trakamar Ice Canyon. The entire trip, KIKI said nothing. Lin Xian glanced over and noticed her face was cold as ice¡ªshe didn¡¯t look too happy. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he asked. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you taking me to Trakamar Ice Canyon?¡± KIKI said flatly. Normally, Lin Xian always brought her along for missions. They were perfectly in sync. But this time, for once, he hadn¡¯t. Truthfully, Lin Xian had considered bringing her, but after thinking it through, he decided to leave her behind. The main reason was this: he suspected that nearly all the monsters from the Snowfield had already converged around Xilan City. That seemed to be their final target¡ªeven the Scout was watching its prey, serving something even greater. In that case, heading alone to Trakamar might actually mean less pressure. Lin Xian hoped so, anyway. It would benefit both the Reboot Plan and Zhou Wuer¡¯s Courier mission. Another factor was the Hunting Team. KIKI ranked in the top three among survivors with the highest Ability Index. If both she and Lin Xian left, the pressure on the team would spike drastically. The real threat had always been here, looming over Xilan City. And KIKI, with her psychic abilities, wasn¡¯t just powerful¡ªshe excelled in defense, support, and mobility. Her presence could greatly amplify Fire Bro¡¯s performance and help protect Shu Qin, Lu? Chang, and the Infinite Train group near the north wall. All things considered, Lin Xian decided she should stay behind. He had no idea how long it would take to repair Unit 01. If the city fell in the meantime, it wouldn¡¯t matter if he fixed it at all. ¡°Most of the monsters are probably gathering around Xilan City,¡± he finally explained patiently. ¡°Your abilities will be more useful helping Fire Bro hunt inside the city.¡± ¡°Tch. And going there is guaranteed safe or something?¡± KIKI huffed, clearly unhappy. Lin Xian knew she was just worried, so he replied, ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as ¡®safe¡¯ anymore. But if we can get that mecha operational, we¡¯ll have a real trump card against whatever¡¯s up there. Just stay here, work with Fire Bro and Wen Zhuo, okay?¡± ¡°I got it¡ªyou don¡¯t have to say it,¡± KIKI muttered, giving him a complex look before puffing her cheeks, turning her head to avoid eye contact. Soon, the Xilan Airport appeared through the snowstorm. On the wide-open tarmac, several Lightning-2 Aerospace Fighters and one transport aircraft were parked. Dozens of staff were busy loading equipment, computers, tents, and the black box core of Unit 01¡ªthe Monument Core¡ªonto the transport. Yu Yuheng, looking haggard and wrapped in thick thermal gear, was inspecting the gear one item at a time. Meanwhile, Chen Wei, fully armed and hooked up to medical lines, was already seated inside the transport, quietly waiting for takeoff. Lin Xian also spotted a few familiar faces. Captain Sun Kai of the armed unit. ¡°Captain Lin!¡± Seeing Lin Xian and KIKI descend from above, Sun Kai led his people over. ¡°Captain Sun, what¡¯s this?¡± ¡°I already requested it from Command. I¡¯ve been assigned as the Reboot Team¡¯s escort leader!¡± Lin Xian nodded in response. Behind Sun Kai stood the Nightwalker, Jing Tian, who gave him a silent nod¡ªclearly sent by Wen Zhuo. ¡°We¡¯re almost ready. Should be taking off in about fifteen minutes. A recon flier¡¯s already been dispatched from the south to scout the airspace, but... no updates yet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still before dawn. If those Eerie Entities didn¡¯t go berserk despite the Level-5 Mark, that says something about their discipline¡ªit¡¯s way beyond what we expected.¡± In truth, Lin Xian had actually hoped the horde would strike again¡ªit would give them a chance to weaken the Mark and relocate, avoiding a direct confrontation with that terrifying S-Class Entity. But since the Mark appeared and the monsters retreated, Lin Xian knew: for Xilan¡¯s survivors, this was a net that covered the entire sky. ¡°Captain Lin!¡± Luo Yang and others ran over from where they were fortifying defenses. With him were Liang Lei, Li Yi, Uncle Wu, Liao Ming, and Shen Yao. Lin Xian turned and smiled. ¡°Nice setup. Turning passenger jets into bunkers¡ªand all these ion walls?¡± ¡°These kids like Luo Yang are full of ideas,¡± Uncle Wu grinned. ¡°They¡¯ve even been helping Commander He. Young minds just think faster.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Liao Ming laughed. ¡°But this place is wide open. Not easy to defend,¡± said Shen Yao of the North Wind Alliance. ¡°No choice. Inside the city, we¡¯re boxed in and easy to trap. Out here, we can station over ten thousand people, and supply lines can keep up,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°Besides, you won¡¯t be surrounded on all sides. The north wall¡¯s less than ten kilometers from here. The main horde will hit from the city side, and the northern bus terminal will draw some pressure too. Most of what you¡¯ll face is from the southwest.¡± Everyone nodded. ¡°Captain Lin, I heard you¡¯re taking on a dangerous mission. Please, be careful.¡± Li Yi, pregnant, looked at him sincerely. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll be waiting for you to come back,¡± added Liang Lei. ¡°Captain Lin.¡± Yu Yuheng, dark circles under his eyes, approached. ¡°We¡¯re about ready. Time to go.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Lin Xian looked back at KIKI. ¡°Go on¡ªget prepped. Stay safe. I¡¯ll be back.¡± KIKI shot him a look, then quietly muttered, ¡°You better hurry back...¡± ¡°I will.¡± With the wind howling, Lin Xian boarded the transport aircraft under everyone¡¯s gaze. The hatch sealed shut. Escorted by several Lightning-2 Fighters, the transport lifted off and soared southeast. Inside, Yu Yuheng sat with a laptop, explaining the current status of Unit 01 and the problems they¡¯d encountered. Now that they were in this together, Phoenix had no reason to keep secrets. And what Lin Xian saw was a massive, awe-inspiring plan. Yu Yuheng even briefly mentioned that the Emperor Project originally had three versions of the humanoid weapon design. Due to power limitations and the difficulty of integration, Unit 01 was actually the most conservative version. ¡°The S-Class Eerie Entity we encountered¡ªwe named it ¡®Gray Mist¡¯,¡± Yu said. ¡°When it attacked us, the situation wasn¡¯t as bad as we feared. That night, Chen Wei and the others piloted Unit 01 and fought it for over four hours. It eventually vanished. We thought the mecha had scared it off. But then...¡± Yu pushed up his glasses. ¡°We didn¡¯t even know about the Level-5 Mark on us. When night fell in Trakamar Ice Canyon, we got hit harder than ever. Two massive worms nearly swallowed our entire armed unit. In the sky, there was a Winged Demon at least seventy or eighty meters long. We were caught completely off-guard¡ªtook massive losses and had to send out a full-spectrum distress signal.¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°You didn¡¯t prep for nightfall?¡± Yu¡¯s expression shifted, about to reply when Chen Wei interrupted. ¡°Prep? If it¡¯s one-on-one, or even one-on-two or three, Pangu can go toe-to-toe with those beasts. But if it¡¯s ten thousand¡ªor a million¡ªthen what?¡± Yu sighed. ¡°Our team was built to target S-Class entities. We never anticipated a full-blown monster tide. It¡¯s rare to see Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends launching swarms under higher-level command. We weren¡¯t ready for that.¡± Lin Xian nodded. Even an elephant fears too many ants. Maybe it would¡¯ve been better to deploy the Emperor Project in a direct confrontation¡ªlike in Yubei City¡ªinstead of keeping it so secret. ¡°Can I ask something blunt?¡± he said. ¡°Why all the secrecy? Was it to keep the Descent Faction in the dark? Or to avoid leaking... something else?¡± Yu froze at the question, mouth slightly open, unsure how to respond. Chen Wei looked directly at Lin Xian. ¡°I asked the same thing. The answer they gave me sounded absurd. But after joining the Emperor Project, I changed my mind.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chen Wei inhaled deeply. His tone sharpened. ¡°During the early days of Apocalypse Day, the Starfleet launched a massive counterattack using tactical nukes against the Dark Entities and the Abyss. They, along with Phoenix, learned two things: The Abyss expanded faster. The Eerie Entities evolved¡ªespecially in terms of radiation resistance.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You mean... you¡¯re keeping secrets from the darkness itself?¡± ¡°That¡¯s part of it,¡± Yu shrugged. ¡°But also from the survivors. Headquarters didn¡¯t want to reveal anything before the project was ready. If Unit 01 failed, it would shatter everyone¡¯s faith.¡± ¡°I get it.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. Phoenix¡¯s strategy was thorough, no doubt. But what Chen Wei said chilled him to the core. It hinted that the dark creatures were intelligent¡ªable to adapt, evolve, even counter human weapons. Which would explain why nukes weren¡¯t used to flatten the Abyss. Not because they hadn¡¯t tried. But because they had. Chapter 282: Mist Crown Cloak Woo¡ª! High above the skies, a transport aircraft raced southeast away from Xilan City, flanked by several Lightning-2 Aerospace Fighters. At this moment, all the anti-aircraft weapons in the southern and eastern districts had activated their fire-control radar. Wen Zhuo personally led a squad of airborne Ability Users to follow for a stretch. Everyone was nervously monitoring the departure of the Reboot Team. But just as they expected, after being marked with a Level-5 Mark, the surrounding area of Xilan City didn¡¯t experience any attack¡ªeven though it was still dark. Watching the transport aircraft vanish into the blizzard, Wen Zhuo, flying with the escort squad, narrowed his eyes and muttered, ¡°Let¡¯s hope the Courier Unit has it this smooth too.¡± Inside the transport aircraft, Lin Xian and the Emperor Project team members were all on edge. Since Apocalypse Day, high-altitude flights had become incredibly dangerous. Up to now, every monster Lin Xian had encountered in the skies had been hell to deal with. Even the Corpse Crows of Jiazhou City had inflicted heavy casualties. And once an aircraft crashed, even someone wearing a Power Suit like Lin Xian couldn¡¯t guarantee a safe landing. After a stretch of smooth flying, aside from the booming thunder up above, the flight group didn¡¯t encounter any attacks. This brought Yuheng a mix of relief and dread. ¡°We¡¯re carrying a Level-5 Mark, and those monsters are purposely not attacking us. That¡¯s just terrifying.¡± Chen Wei let out a cold laugh. ¡°It¡¯s obvious. To that monster, we¡¯re already dead meat.¡± Lin Xian, however, felt a bit puzzled. He¡¯d prepared for a breakout fight, but this eerie calm made him even more uneasy. Because it didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°That¡¯s weird... So if the whole city were to evacuate now, would they attack or not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Yu Yuheng pushed up his glasses. ¡°Captain Lin, I¡¯ve been wondering¡ªwhy did that monster have to issue a Level-5 Mark? According to your research data, even tens of thousands of regular Snow Wraiths would only register a Level-4 at most. If the Level-5 Mark is some kind of special signal, one that only that monster can release for certain targets, then it makes sense.¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°For creatures of the Polar Night?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible. So you¡¯re right¡ªwe absolutely can¡¯t carry this mark into the Polar Night, not even to the Abyssal Periphery. We might not survive it,¡± Yu Yuheng said gravely. ¡°And another thing¡ªthere¡¯s probably a limit to how far that S-class monster can project its influence. It doesn¡¯t know whether we¡¯re evacuating or staying. To it, there¡¯s no difference.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°If we stay in Xilan, we¡¯re its prey, its offering. If we leave its domain, we become prey for other Polar Night Entities...¡± ¡°Hah, sounds like this beast is playing the lackey role real well,¡± Chen Wei scoffed. ¡°Went through all that trouble just to serve us up as a tribute?¡± Lin Xian fell silent. Abyss. Polar Night. What exactly were these beings in the darkness? They evolved, blanketed the world in Abyssal Shadows, all for one goal¡ªhuman slaughter. BZZT BZZT¡ª Turbulence rattled the outside of the aircraft. As the flight continued, the tense atmosphere inside the cabin gradually eased. Many of the Emperor Project researchers resumed work. At this time, Sun Kai and Jing Tian walked into the cabin with a few soldiers from the escort group, holding several specially made metal cases, distributing them to the researchers. Lin Xian, Yu Yuheng, and Chen Wei each received one. When Lin Xian opened his, he found¡ªa black cloak from the Nightwalkers Organization! ¡°Director Zhao specifically arranged this,¡± Jing Tian explained. ¡°It¡¯s the Mistcrown Cloak from the Nightwalkers. Made of special material¡ªit¡¯s bulletproof, fire-resistant, and can harden into a gliding surface for short-range glides. Most importantly, it reduces the chance of being detected by Dark Entities.¡± Chen Wei frowned and asked Sun Kai, ¡°Old Sun, why are you only handing these out now?¡± Sun Kai exchanged a look with Jing Tian and said helplessly, ¡°Orders from the top. I¡¯m not sure why either.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that complicated,¡± Lin Xian said, holding up the cloak with a complicated look. ¡°If we got ambushed leaving the city, we¡¯d still have city defenses and escort teams to fall back to. But now that we¡¯re out here... we¡¯re on our own. This thing¡¯s all we¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°Well said,¡± Sun Kai nodded at Lin Xian. Running his hand across the cloak, Lin Xian found the material and design extremely refined¡ªinterlocking hexagonal plates made of some kind of special composite, seemingly able to absorb light. Mysterious. He activated his Mechanical Heart and quickly scanned it. [Scan Complete: Acquired Honeycomb Matrix Profile using Tungsten Carbide Fiber Material.] He triggered the sensor switch¡ªa faint current surged through, and the entire cloak tightened into a solid aerodynamic glider panel. One more switch, and it fluttered back down like a regular cloak. It wasn¡¯t powered by any motor, just clever design and advanced material use. Lin Xian was amazed. The design was stunning. He thought, Maybe with some special modifications, this thing could have more potential. ¡°We¡¯re almost there, Captain Lin, Team Leader Yu.¡± Sun Kai¡¯s voice came through the Communicator, and the escort soldiers had all locked and loaded. Lin Xian checked the time. 7:20 AM. Still over five hours till dawn. But daylight itself only lasted under four hours. With Abyss Zone No. 3 expanding and converging with Zone No. 5, nightfall was arriving far quicker than when Lin Xian had escaped from Jiang City. To avoid getting caught between two Polar Night Abysses, they had just one last day and night to leave Xilan City at dawn and charge into Abyss Zone No. 5¡ªtoward the abandoned city of Quancheng. At the edge of the Trakamar Ice Canyon, the old defense camp¡¯s tents were half-collapsed and buried in snow. The battlefield was now blanketed, leaving behind only towering piles of Snow Wraith corpses, looking eerily unnatural. The transport aircraft and six aerospace fighters descended onto the old camp¡¯s clearing. Their landing gear sank into the snow. As the hatch opened, a blast of howling wind and a sky-swallowing blizzard slammed into them. ¡°Hurry up, we don¡¯t have much time! Get the tents back up¡ªthe tech team needs time to redeploy Unit 01¡¯s System!¡± Yu Yuheng led dozens of escort and tech team members off the transport ship, unloading equipment. Sun Kai and Jing Tian quickly set up perimeter defenses and sent out recon squads. ¡°Check everything¡ªtwo o¡¯clock, four o¡¯clock, eleven o¡¯clock, all the way down the valley!¡± ¡°Raise the tents!¡± ¡°Mecha unit¡ªmove the generator first. Protect the Unified Neural Sync Pod. That comes last!¡± WHOOOOSH¡ª Lin Xian, now wearing the Mistcrown Cloak, stepped off the aircraft with Chen Wei. They were immediately engulfed by blinding wind and chest-deep snow. He trudged past the transport belly and looked up at the cliff. Camp lights flickered in the storm, but Lin Xian still saw it¡ªa towering silhouette standing silent atop the cliff, one fist pressed to the ground. He didn¡¯t hesitate. Struggling through the snow, he reached Unit 01¡¯s right arm and climbed up. WOOOO¡ª Wind whistled through a crack in the head cockpit¡¯s nanoceramic visor¡ªripped nearly in half. The damage was horrifying. This thing was tougher than the Infinite Train, yet something had torn it apart. You could almost imagine the monstrous force behind it. CRACK¡ª Lin Xian snapped off a frozen icicle of leaked golden antifreeze and crawled through the gap into the Neural Sync Cockpit. Inside, broken cables dangled from above. One of the Neural Synchronization Devices was crushed, and blood was sprayed across nearly half the cockpit¡ªlike something had exploded inside. The sharp stench of chemicals filled the air. Lin Xian frowned. In his mind, he pictured Chen Lie getting shredded by a claw mid-fight¡ªblood spraying as the head cabin was ripped open. ¡°You planning to use your ability in here?¡± Chen Wei¡¯s voice came from the breach behind him. Lin Xian turned and nodded. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I want to seal this hole first¡ªit¡¯s freezing in here.¡± Chen Wei stepped in and pointed to the right console. ¡°My brother and I had just taken down the big bug, but didn¡¯t expect a second one. Left arm almost got torn clean off.¡± CLANK CLANK CLANK. Lin Xian crafted a temporary metal plate to block the gap, muffling the howling wind. Seeing it, Chen Wei looked impressed. ¡°That¡¯s one hell of an ability. But don¡¯t tell me you plan to fix it with tin sheets.¡± ¡°Nope. Just a temporary fix.¡± He sat down and began running Mechanical Heart to start scanning and repairs. ¡°Hey...¡± Chen Wei looked at him, expression a bit complex. ¡°Thanks for finding my brother¡¯s stuff. And... thanks for backing my plan at the meeting.¡± Lin Xian paused, then smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Your plan¡¯s solid. This mecha might be our game-changer.¡± Chen Wei took a deep breath. ¡°It is. Against an S-class Eerie Entity, there¡¯s nothing better. Trust me¡ªif you fix it, you¡¯ll see what it¡¯s really capable of.¡± Lin Xian nodded, feeling the same anticipation. He focused and initiated the scan. Right away, he frowned. The pressure was immense¡ªfar beyond normal. At least it¡¯s just the cockpit, left arm, and some drive components. I¡¯ll have to fix it in stages... Below, the Unit 01¡¯s backup systems powered on, and lights blinked on the holo-display. The tech team had restored partial systems and started inspections. Lin Xian estimated¡ªjust scanning the cockpit and Unified Drive Mechanism would take 7¨C8 hours. Repairs? Easily over 12. Maybe more. The left arm damage was extensive, and material conversion had to wait until scanning finished. So he prepped some composite armor materials ahead of time. ¡°Faster, faster, faster!¡± Back in Xilan, it was already the night of the 31st. The Ability Hunting Corps was using Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum to lure enemies. Everyone was facing a worse situation than last night¡ªevery second mattered. Lin Xian pulled out a vial of Cold Dark Reagent and downed it without hesitation. The burning chemical flavor surged down his throat, and a high-density energy spread like fire through his body. Digestive absorption was conservative¡ªsafer than IV¡ªbut even so, Lin Xian¡¯s body spasmed involuntarily from the shock. But soon, the heat gave way to a surge of adrenaline-like focus. His mind burned hot, his heart raced, and clarity returned sharper than ever. ¡°D*mn, this high-end stuff feels like chugging bootleg liquor...¡± Despite the grumbling, Lin Xian could clearly feel the boost in focus. Maybe not raw power, but definitely alertness. With the cold pushed back, he dove fully into scanning the mecha. Meanwhile, in the Emperor Project camp below, tents were back up, equipment pouring in, lights gleaming in the icy canyon. The escort squads kept constant patrol around the perimeter. 12:40 PM. Daylight. The Extreme Cold Vortex was moving closer. The blizzard worsened, hammering tents, covering the six aerospace fighters in layers of snow. Their core systems stayed online for emergency readiness. Back in Xilan City, now under daylight, tens of thousands of survivors and Investigation Corps soldiers remained on full alert. The pressure in the air was heavier than ever. All routes and tracks had been blocked¡ªpart for defense, part for resolve. They were burning bridges. There was no Plan B. Only a fight to the death. VROOM VROOM VROOM¡ª Phoenix¡¯s transport trucks raced nonstop across the city, hauling ammo to the three defense lines. Survivor convoys scavenged for anything useful to fortify the front. ¡°Tear down those doors¡ªgrab the railings, security grates, anything metal! Load it all up!¡± ¡°Take all the signal towers¡ªwe¡¯re converting them into autocannon towers at the radar station!¡± ¡°Move, move, move! Even the wrecked cars¡ªhaul ¡¯em to block the roads!¡± ¡°Every useful thing in this city¡ªwe¡¯re taking it! Lives depend on this. No wasting time!¡± RUMBLE RUMBLE. RUMBLE RUMBLE. Eastern Industrial Zone ¡ª Excavators, breakers, and all kinds of engineering equipment from the Engineering Corps roared nonstop. Soldiers wearing gas masks were embedding napalm charges into pre-made trench slots, while the clanging of metal and the rhythmic pounding of hydraulic hammers echoed again and again between blast-proof walls. Boom boom boom, boom boom boom! Southern District ¡ª Several high-rises collapsed in a chain of massive explosions. A shockwave swept through, carrying a waterfall of shattering tempered glass down onto the streets, blocking them completely. The crumbled buildings and wreckage transformed into makeshift impact-resistant fortifications. Inside the radar station¡¯s inner base camp, tens of thousands of people were busy preparing. Loading ammunition, checking weapons¡ªeveryone, men and women alike, worked without pause to get ready for war. Even the youngest children were helping move supply crates, while the elderly and women rushed to prepare hot meals for distribution. At the Michelle Church Command Center, Zhao Yu kept a constant eye on the preparation progress of each defensive front. ¡°All the remaining ammo has been sent out. This time, we¡¯ve really got nothing left in reserve.¡± He Zhen walked in quickly from outside and said, ¡°But at least we¡¯ve had time to train these survivors on how to use weapons. Most of them aren¡¯t military trained¡ªthey¡¯re figuring it out as they go. Old Zhao, would you call this clutching at straws?¡± Zhao Yu¡¯s face was grim as he stared at the holographic sand table and muttered, ¡°Clutching at straws is still better than nothing. Every bit of preparation we do might mean a thousand fewer deaths.¡± He tapped a few locations on the holographic display with his command stick. ¡°Rough estimates say over 6,000 died last night. More than 40 convoys were completely wiped out. We had the rescue team merge some of the survivors into other convoys, and a few are temporarily under Phoenix¡¯s care.¡± ¡°No point splitting them up now,¡± He Zhen replied coldly as he glanced at the marked locations. ¡°All of us are in this war together anyway. And look¡ªthose spots you marked are all near the tunnels those bugs dug. Underground ambushes. These things are even nastier than shield tunneling machines. They hit us hard and fast. That¡¯s why the death toll¡¯s so high.¡± Zhao Yu exhaled deeply. ¡°That¡¯s what worries me the most.¡± ¡°You think those things might tunnel up from inside our defenses?¡± He Zhen asked. Zhao Yu nodded. ¡°The south side¡¯s a little better. There¡¯s an old mine and former underground air defense infrastructure beneath the radar station, and we poured millions of tons of concrete in. But the north and east...¡± ¡°There¡¯s no other way,¡± He Zhen cut in. ¡°Our only current plan is to use a Blood Scourge Flora to lure that thing into appearing on Central Avenue. Then we hit it. Based on the past two encounters, it should work.¡± Zhao Yu thought for a second and pressed his communicator. ¡°Wen Zhuo, how¡¯s it going over there?¡± ¡°Running drills,¡± Wen Zhuo¡¯s voice replied. Central Avenue Plaza ¡ª Thirty-five teams, each led by a Rampage-level combatant, were gathered. Wen Zhuo, KIKI, Han Jun, Qin Xueming, and Lu Xingchen stood at the front as the main assault force. The rest were grouped based on their abilities and previous test data by the Nightwalkers¡ªmany of them strangers to each other. Beep beep. Hovering in mid-air, Wen Zhuo wore a battle suit coated in electro-optic camouflage synced to the blizzard. He had a pair of transparent tactical glasses on, and his wrist-mounted terminal projected a holographic sand table directly into the HUDs of the Hunting Corps. To ensure tactical cohesion, every team member had been issued these tactical glasses by the Nightwalkers. They provided a real-time 3D map of the surrounding urban battlefield. ¡°Tactical link established across all combat units,¡± a mechanical female voice sounded in everyone¡¯s earpiece. KIKI touched the holographic display in front of her, curiosity lighting up her eyes. ¡°This thing¡¯s kinda fun~ Hmm, should I bring one back for Lin Xian later?¡± Just then, Wen Zhuo spoke: ¡°Listen up. This communicator was prepared specifically for battle by the Nightwalkers. I¡¯ve set up two anti-jamming channels¡ªone for your five-person squad, and one for the entire Hunting Corps. From this moment on, only team leaders are permitted to speak. Everyone else, radio silence on your personal comms. I¡¯ll be handling the overall coordination. No stragglers.¡± ¡°As for internal squads, get familiar with each other fast. I¡¯ve already walked everyone through this part of the city. Remember the key terrain. Your survival depends on your squad functioning as a unit.¡± He swept his gaze across the crowd. ¡°Everyone listen. Except for our Spark Team members, many of you were core combatants in your original convoys. But this time, we¡¯re going up against A-Class and even S-Class Eerie Entities. No hero sh*t. No lone wolf nonsense. You¡¯ll die. Follow your squad leader¡¯s commands. Got it?!¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Understood...¡± ¡°OK!¡± The group responded in unison. This Hunting Corps represented the most elite Evolvers and Ability Users in all of Xilan City. The only ones not present were those like Daluo, whose mobility made them more suited for defense rather than offense. Many of the gene-evolved fighters wore power suits, using their enhanced physiques for swift movements. On the Infinite Train side, Shu Qin, Lu? Chang, and from Dragon Mountain No. 1, Ning Jing and Xiao Qing were teamed up. Their squad leader was Spark Nightwalker Wang Mocheng¡ªan Ability User like Jiang Yun, but with a very different wind-based power. Instead of flying, he constantly generated turbulent air around his team, giving them a sense of weightless momentum and enabling short glides. ¡°Five hours till nightfall. Start setting up defenses.¡± Wen Zhuo turned to look at KIKI. The Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum was secured in a special container. ¡°Hand it to me.¡± KIKI nodded and used her telekinesis to float the flower to him. Wen Zhuo grabbed it and summoned a swarm of metallic fragments that instantly formed a chain, securing the container to his side. ¡°Just in case, let¡¯s begin moving between locations. Use your powers to reinforce the defensive lines.¡± Han Jun raised his hand and summoned a platform of ice crystals from the surrounding air. ¡°Right on. Let¡¯s go.¡± 15:30 ¡ª Trakamar Ice Canyon A mechanical arm hoisted the massive Monument Core into place, sliding it into the embedding slot beneath Unit 01¡¯s cockpit. Whirr... hissss... The mecha unit sealed itself back up. On Yu Yuheng¡¯s mobile terminal, a self-check progress bar began to fill. ¡°Captain Lin, it¡¯s done. Next up is core reheat ignition.¡± ¡°Copy that.¡± CLANG. Whirr... The twin nuclear fusion turbine engines of Pangu Unit 01, still partially frozen, began to emit Cherenkov radiation. The niobium-titanium superconducting loop in its chest reactor started to heat up, melting the ice around it in seconds. A strange energy ripple spread outward! Inside the cockpit, Chen Wei, already suited up in neuro-sync driving armor, calmly ran system checks. Twelve spinal interfaces buzzed in sync with Unit 01¡¯s core. Lin Xian remained in the corner, still using Mechanical Heart to scan the mech. Repair work hadn¡¯t even started yet. [Scan Progress: 73%] 16:25 ¡ª Xilan North Passenger Terminal The plaza was completely walled off with containers and heavy vehicles. Every window on the five-story terminal building had been removed to mount heavy machine guns and cannons. Outside on Zhongzhi Avenue, layers of anti-tank barricades, flame canisters, barbed wire fences, and spike traps had been laid. A kilometer-long flame trench had been dug on both sides. All the directional pressure was funneled toward the plaza. Above the city and around the rails, 22 Doomsday Train weapon systems were on standby. On the rooftop, over a dozen YJ-03 anti-aircraft guns were mounted, all aiming skyward, adjusting their firing angles under radar and smart-fire protocols. 17:00 ¡ª South District, Durga Radar Array Station Tanks blanketed the snow-covered hills around the station. Beyond the wall of vehicles was a newly built concrete wall with gun towers. Further out were vertical layers of redirecting iron mesh fencing, forcing the monster horde into narrow kill zones below, where rows of flamethrowers were lined up, ready to pour fire like a waterfall down the mountain. This was the most densely populated area in the entire city. Xiao He felt the pressure like a mountain as he moved nonstop through the snowstorm, checking every section of the defensive line with his team. 17:30 ¡ª Michelle Church Command Center was now empty. Zhao Yu and He Zhen had both headed to the East and North frontlines. Only the Hunting Corps remained, stationed across various key points near the plaza. Eastern Wall Defensive Line Zhao Yu stood in the tower, face sharp and focused. Preparations were complete. His eyes remained locked on the canyon beyond. Suddenly, a voice came through his headset¡ªit was Zhang Chengzhi from the airstrike squadron. ¡°Director Zhao, radar¡¯s picked up a swarm of Winged Demons in the clouds. They''re not heading toward the city. Direction seems to be southeast.¡± Zhao Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Why now?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± ¡°Send out a recon team to follow their route. If they''re reacting to the Emperor Team''s movements, and that¡¯s confirmed, switch them to reinforcements!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Whooooo~ A dozen fighter jets roared into the sky, heading toward Trakamar Ice Canyon. 17:40 ¡ª About 10 minutes to nightfall Inside the Emperor Team camp at Trakamar Ice Canyon, Yu Yuheng and his crew were still busy with final adjustments. ¡°Night¡¯s almost here. Keep those monsters away from Unit 01¡¯s cockpit at all costs,¡± Yu Yuheng said urgently. ¡°Understood.¡± Nightwalker Jing Tian glanced out at the massive mech through the tent flap. ¡°Captain Lin said it¡¯ll take a few more hours. Hopefully, none of those monsters are nearby.¡± Yu Yuheng nodded as he worked. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve heard about your Nightwalker fog cloaks. But based on our tests, the material doesn¡¯t seem to block detection from Dark Entities. You guys still testing them? Anything special we missed?¡± ¡°Not sure,¡± Jing Tian replied. ¡°I think it¡¯s related to some ability research our group is doing¡ªsomething to do with Cold Dark Fundamental Particles. Anyway, as long as it resists fire, bullets, and helps with gliding, that¡¯s good enough. Even if it only offers 1% shielding, it¡¯s better than nothing, right?¡± Yu Yuheng eyed the cloak on himself and frowned. ¡°Let¡¯s hope... it¡¯s useful.¡± ¡°Captain Jing, it¡¯s time. Ready to proceed.¡± That¡¯s when Sun Kai entered with his security squad, expression steely. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Yuheng suddenly noticed none of Sun Kai¡¯s team were wearing the fog cloaks. Not one of them. ¡°You Nightwalkers are stingy, huh? Why don¡¯t even your guys have these key items?¡± Jing Tian glanced at Sun Kai, then looked away. Sun Kai answered directly: ¡°We have a different mission. So we don¡¯t need them.¡± ¡°What mission?¡± Yu Yuheng looked confused. ¡°Aren¡¯t we all on the same task?¡± Sun Kai took a deep breath and said, ¡°Director Zhao talked it over with us. Based on current estimates, the number of Eerie Entities outside Xilan might be low¡ªbut we still need to be ready. After reviewing footage from the Falcon Squad, we believe there¡¯s a high risk of an air raid. The attacks will come fast. Since we¡¯re all Level-5 marked, we plan to use the fog cloaks to create a contrast in signal intensity and lure the enemy.¡± ¡°Lure them?¡± Yu Yuheng¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What the h*ll do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be leading a flying squad to patrol the airspace before nightfall. We¡¯ll spread out. Once the enemy takes the bait, we run¡ªdraw them off¡ªbuy time for Unit 01 and Captain Lin.¡± Yu Yuheng paled. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding. These fog cloaks aren¡¯t foolproof. There¡¯s no solid scientific basis for them to work! You¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°We know,¡± Jing Tian cut him off. ¡°Like I said before¡ªeven a 1% chance of success, if it creates a difference that draws attention¡ªit¡¯s enough.¡± As he finished, not just Yu Yuheng, but the entire technical team froze. One by one, they looked down at the fog cloaks they were wearing, their faces filled with shock. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Using ourselves as bait?¡± ¡°Captain Sun, he...¡± Yu Yuheng stared at Sun Kai, then turned to Jing Tian. ¡°You¡¯re a Nightwalker too, and you¡¯re not wearing one. Why?¡± ¡°We¡¯re handling ground-based bait ops,¡± Jing Tian replied, pointing to a young man nearby. ¡°His name is Fang Chen. He¡¯s a flying Ability User. If needed, he can evac four people.¡± After speaking, he turned back and exchanged a look with Sun Kai. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ª In an instant, thirty or forty people stepped out of their camp tents in unison. Sun Kai led five people toward the Lightning-2 Aerospace Fighters, while Jing Tian took his team toward the outer defense line. ¡°Wait!!¡± Yu Yuheng stumbled out, shouting, ¡°Do you realize you¡¯re walking into your deaths?!¡± The group only left him their retreating backs, quickly fading into the snowy wind¡ªnone of them responded. Yu Yuheng stood dumbfounded at the tent entrance, watching those figures disappear into the blizzard, his expression stunned. Before long, the surrounding fighter lights flickered on. ¡°Prepare for liftoff. Maintain altitude separation.¡± Sun Kai sat calmly in the cockpit of the lead Lightning-2, putting on his helmet and starting up the launch sequence. He gave orders to the other five aircraft: ¡°Turn on all nav lights, anti-collision lights, and landing lights. Circle at 1,000 meters altitude. The goal is to grab the attention of the Eerie Entities. If we succeed in luring them out, any survivors must draw the horde away from the camp immediately!¡± ¡°Roger that!!¡± Wooo¡ª The wind and snow scattered as the six aerospace fighters lifted off and shot skyward, roaring into the blizzard until they reached 1,000 meters. Then, they began circling Unit 01 below. Meanwhile, Jing Tian led a group of Starfire Division Ability Users and a team of soldiers in Exoskeleton Power Suits toward the mouth of the valley. Jing Tian knew this was the only route the Zombie Tide could use to attack, so he instructed, ¡°Spread out. The objective isn¡¯t to kill, it¡¯s to lure them. Move in waves!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ªthe team strapped on some kind of motorized skis and began zigzagging across the snowy field in front of the camp. Minute by minute, time ticked by. The blizzard gave them no room to think. Soon, it was 17:50. The howling wind and snow suddenly cut off like someone flipped a switch. The entire Trakamar Ice Canyon plunged into darkness. At that moment, flashing colored lights lit up on every team member¡¯s body, turning them into glowing beacons. High above, Sun Kai and the five pilots stared intently at their radar screens. Even though he was mentally prepared, Sun Kai still felt tense. Beep beep beep beep! The moment the sky blacked out, red blips began flooding the radar! ¡°11 o¡¯clock! They¡¯re coming from Xilan City!¡± ¡°Jet 3, increase speed!¡± Whoooosh¡ª Before anyone could react, a swarm of red dots had already closed in on one of the fighters. The pilot, seeing the whole cockpit lit up with warning signals, gritted his teeth and yanked the control stick. Wooooo!!! The engine roared as the jet surged forward, the window going white with snow. But just then, the radar lit up with a surging tide of red, directly ahead¡ª They were coming... from the vortex! He looked up. In the moment the clouds cleared, he saw a dense flock of Winged Demons, mouths wide open, rushing straight at him. ¡°Ahhh!!!¡± BOOM! ¡°Jet 3 is down! 11 o¡¯clock¡ª9 o¡¯clock¡ªevade, now!¡± ¡°Ah!!¡± BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! In a flash, Jets 4, 5, and 6 exploded mid-air. The extreme g-forces from emergency maneuvers caused a spike in blood pressure among the pilots. Sun Kai clenched his teeth, yanking his aircraft sharply upward, eyes locked on the radar. He screamed in his heart¡ª Follow me! Follow me!! Beep beep beep beep¡ª The radar¡¯s rear sweep panel suddenly turned blood red! At the same time, in fully locked-down Xilan City, 70,000 people held their breath, watching the blackened sky descend. Whooooo¡ª The streets lay empty, save for the howl of the storm. On Central Avenue, fully armed members of the Ability Hunting Corps spread out across rooftops, alleys, and the tops of plaza sculptures. Thirty-five Rampage-level teams stood ready. Wen Zhuo crouched on the wingtip of the Angel Statue, holding the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. Beside him were Han Jun, Lu Xingchen, and Qin Xueming. KIKI had a Psychic Barrier up to block the blizzard. Of the five, Han Jun and Lu Xingchen had decent mobility¡ªthough neither could fly. Qin Xueming was the least mobile, but his Energy Condensation Ability allowed for massive energy cancellation, making him a wild card. Wen Zhuo handed out metal belts to each of them to allow him to use his Magnetic Manipulation Ability to help them fly. KIKI could also assist with flight, making Team One highly agile. To the north, Chen Sixuan stood atop the terminal in her Black Eagle Exosuit, watching the street ahead. Beside her stood Miao Lu and Big Luo. Shasha piloted the Fire God Mecha in the plaza, with Shi Diyuan holding the line nearby. At the airport, Qian Dele, Wu Zhenhai, Liao Ming, Luo Yang, Li Yi, Liang Lei, and Shen Yao stood in full formation. On the northern city wall, He Zhen and his soldiers had their eyes locked on the snowy field ahead. To the east, tens of thousands from the Arctic Wind Alliance, Warriors Convoy, and Torch Alliance were dead silent, their Electromagnetic Rail Cannons aimed down the street. Zhao Yu stood inside the command tower, eyes closed in focus. To the south, the 30,000-strong defense line was quiet as a graveyard. Xiao He stood at the front, gaze icy. VMMM VMMM VMMM! Just as the sky went dark, a rumbling sound began approaching fast. Instantly, the glass in the city¡¯s high-rises began to tremble, and the snow on the ground started to shake. ¡°They¡¯re here. It¡¯s that bug again.¡± Atop Michelle Church, Qin Xueming clenched his fist. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this!¡± Fire Bro was fired up. After downing a Cold Dark Reagent, he could feel a raging fire energy building inside him. He was ready to explode into action! ¡°As I thought, that bug¡¯s coming for our Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum,¡± KIKI added. But Han Jun frowned, eyes shifting to the sky. ¡°Hold on.¡± Wen Zhuo also sensed something. He felt the vibrations in the air. ¡°That¡¯s not just one shockwave...¡± Han Jun reached out with his Water Ability, sensing the moisture in the air¡ªand his face changed. Just then, an explosive air current boomed overhead, joined by an ear-splitting shriek and a massive tremor from the ground. A massive elongated black shadow expanded rapidly through the blizzard, plummeting straight down from the sky. ¡°Oh no¡ªabove!!¡± ¡°Fall back!!¡± Wen Zhuo was the first to react, shouting to the hunting squads. In a flash, he used Magnetic Control to grab four people and flung them backwards. Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Instantly, all 35 squads scattered¡ªsome flew, some scaled walls, some leapt across buildings¡ªeverybody giving it everything they had. The next moment, that colossal shadow came crashing down toward Central Avenue. BOOOOM!!! Like a meteor strike, the impact exploded out with a massive shockwave! The massive black figure smashed directly into three high-rise towers on the avenue. The buildings crumbled, and the 200- to 300-meter towers were cut clean in half. KIKI, Wen Zhuo, and the others, mid-air, felt the shockwave slam into them. When they looked back, they saw it¡ªthe corpse of that Abyss Worm from outside North City had been hurled down from a thousand meters up, straight into Xilan City! RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE¡ª!!! The resulting blast wave tore through the city, snapping the three towers like twigs. Half of Central Avenue was obliterated, buried in smoke and snow whipped up like a tidal wave! Chapter 283: The war begins! RUMBLE¡ª!! No one in Xilan City expected that the first eerie entity to appear after the night... would be the corpse of that already-dead Abyss Worm! Under the massive impact, half of Central Avenue was flattened in an instant. The black worm¡¯s body shattered apart, its frozen flesh and stone-like remains melting under the high temperatures of air friction and erupting hundreds of meters into the sky. In a flash, smoke and snow surged like a nuclear explosion, blotting out the sky like a colossal smokescreen! The earth-shaking tremors lasted for over a full minute. Wenzhuo¡¯s team retreated urgently through the air, their faces grim. As he looked at the holographic battle screen, he saw that three out of the thirty-five Hunting Corps squads had vanished in an instant. ¡°Teams 12, 15, 29, report your status!¡± ¡°Kzzzt¡ª...¡± Only static echoed on the communication channel. The faces of those remaining in the 32 teams darkened. ¡°Team 12¡ªCaptain Zhu Jun got buried under a collapsed building. We can¡¯t find him. There are four of us left!¡± ¡°Team 29¡ªI¡¯m the only one who made it out!¡± Just then, some voices finally came through the channel¡ªbut they only brought more bad news. Wenzhuo stared at the light dots on the holo-map, eyes cold. He had already planned for mobility to handle the Abyss Worm¡ªbut what no one expected was a corpse crashing from the sky, and with terrifying velocity. It caught them completely off guard. ¡°How the h*ll did that worm¡¯s corpse fall from the sky?!¡± Qin Xueming¡¯s face was filled with shock. This kind of horror was a first even for him. ¡°No need to guess. It had to be that black thorn thing in the clouds,¡± Han Jun replied. ¡°We dumped this worm outside the northern part of the city... Never thought someone would toss it back like this.¡± ¡°It might not be that simple!¡± Wenzhuo looked toward the horizon and said sharply, ¡°Don¡¯t you guys think the smell of rot is way too strong?¡± ¡°For real, it stinks!¡± KIKI wrinkled her nose, disgusted. ¡°Something¡¯s off. I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this,¡± Lu Xingchen muttered as the entire central district was cloaked in thick smoke. The impact heat from the worm¡¯s crash melted the ice encasing the body. Upon impact, it sent a blood flood and chunks of flesh flying for kilometers, along with a monstrous stench. It was practically a biochemical weapon. Just then, the ground below continued to quake¡ªand from the sky came a strange new sound. Like boiling clouds. Like frenzied sand chimes. Moments later, an overwhelming black tide surged from the clouds. Everyone looked up¡ªand realized they weren¡¯t winged demons. They were something smaller. Something that looked... like crows. KIKI and Lu Xingchen¡¯s faces changed. ¡°Sh*t. Corpse Crows!¡± The sight of these eerie creatures made KIKI¡¯s heart skip a beat. Corpse Crows from Jiazhou City... Why were they here?! ¡°These things carry parasitic threadworms that can devour steel. They¡¯re incredibly hard to deal with. Only fire works!¡± Lu Xingchen said seriously. ¡°What?!¡± Han Jun and Qin Xueming both exclaimed. ¡°Where the h*ll did these come from?!¡± Wenzhuo immediately alerted the three defensive lines. ¡°Attention! Corpse Crow swarm incoming. Use fire attacks¡ªparasites can eat through steel!¡± All across the defense network¡ªfrom Zhao Yu, He Zhen, Xiao He, to the various survivor convoys¡ªeveryone felt a chill. They were ready for Snow Wraiths, Snow Fiends, and Winged Demons. No one expected something even worse to show up first. And these things could melt steel walls. ¡°Did the stench from that worm bring them in?!¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Lu, hit ¡®em with fire!¡± ¡°Divine: Brahma!¡± Lu Xingchen didn¡¯t hesitate. He soared upward, both hands unleashing a raging inferno that lit up several city blocks. KIKI gritted her teeth and followed, unleashing her psychic power¡ªlike flaming clouds rising into the sky! FWOOOSH! A massive wall of fire exploded amidst the Corpse Crows, triggering a chain reaction. The sky lit up like a burning galaxy, firestorms engulfing the heavens. ¡°Now! Fire jets, up top!¡± ¡°Watch out for those crows!¡± ¡°Get the incendiary rounds ready!¡± ¡°AAAAH!!¡± The Corpse Crows came down like black rain. Screeching. Piercing. A flood of death. In just a few minutes, entire convoys and survivors were overwhelmed. Barbed wire, steel walls, barricades¡ªmelted before people¡¯s eyes. At the northern airport, a civilian airliner had half its body consumed in under thirty seconds. Not a single scream came from the defenders¡ªit was over that fast. All three defense lines¡ªeast, north, and south¡ªsaw fire erupt into the sky as flame throwers and missiles lit up the darkened heavens. BOOM BOOM BOOM! Fiery clouds rose from every direction of Xilan City. ¡°Keep burning them! They trigger chain reactions!¡± ¡°Light it ALL up!¡± ¡°Dad! Mom!!¡± ¡°Help them!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go over there¡ªthey¡¯ve got parasites!¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s on fire! Get the extinguisher!¡± ¡°Flamethrowers! Now!¡± RUMBLE¡ª!! The earth shook again. Wenzhuo¡¯s face grew darker as he listened to the reports pouring in. ¡°Watch out! The worm¡¯s under the city too!¡± He looked at the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum in his hand, then eastward¡ªwhere seismic waves were racing closer. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± BOOM¡ª!! The quakes grew louder, resonating through stairwells and buildings. Glass shattered. Structures cracked. At the city¡¯s eastern Steelworks district, explosions rocked the area. The sky was burning with Corpse Crows, but the worm threat wasn¡¯t over¡ªthe ground shook harder. ¡°What the h*ll is happening?!¡± BOOM! Before a crowd of over ten thousand could react, a cataclysmic tremor exploded behind the Steelworks. Half of the smelting plant collapsed instantly. A giant Abyss Worm burst from the ground, devouring over a dozen Living Carriages full of women, children, and elderly, flattening dozens more vehicles in its path. Everyone watching the explosion in the east gasped. The worm didn¡¯t even go for the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum? ¡°D*** it!¡± Han Jun turned pale. The Steelworks was the base of his Arctic Wind Alliance¡ªthe worst-case scenario just happened. ¡°Do we open the shield?!¡± Qin Xueming shouted. ¡°No! That monster¡¯s heading straight for us!¡± Wenzhuo growled. This chaos hit them way too fast. ¡°We¡¯ll go distract it. Squad 2 covers us. Everyone else¡ªstay alert!¡± With that, Wenzhuo and KIKI led their squad flying toward the eastern district. At the Steelworks, the earth rippled like waves. Defensive structures toppled. Dust clouds billowed! THUD THUD THUD! WHOOM WHOOM WHOOM! Concrete foundations split. Buildings collapsed. Shockwaves rolled through Xilan like a 10-ton aerial bomb had gone off¡ªtens of thousands felt their hearts seize up! ¡°The Big One¡¯s here!!¡± ¡°Steelworks is under attack!!¡± ¡°It¡¯s coming!!¡± ¡°In the east!!¡± The sudden attack caused mass casualties. Worse¡ªthe sinkhole it left behind was massive and could bring a full monster horde straight into the city. RRRROAR¡ª!! Amid collapsing rubble, the worm let out a deafening screech that made the ground itself tremble. BOOM BOOM BOOM! Everyone opened fire on the worm bursting from the rear. ¡°Kill it!¡± ¡°My wife¡¯s still in the car¡ªf*** it, I¡¯m going in!¡± BOOM BOOM BOOM! The surprise attack from the back shattered morale¡ªjust as skyborne Corpse Crows continued wreaking havoc. Chaos spread fast. FWSH FWSH FWSH¡ª! Wenzhuo¡¯s team arrived first. Behind him were dozens of steel beams weighing several tons. While the worm was still exposed, he hurled them with all his might. ¡°Block the crows first!¡± Wenzhuo shouted to his squad. ¡°Fire Fist!¡± Fire Bro coated the beams in flames and hurled them straight at the Abyss Worm! The worm had already taken several lightning bolts from Zhao Yu¡ªbut only roared in pain. Now, sensing something, it turned¡ªright into the path of the flaming steel beams. BANG BANG BANG! The searing steel crashed into its massive jaws, blasting out a black wave of blood. KIKI charged forward, grabbed the beams with her psychic power, and stirred them viciously in its mouth. ¡°CHOKE ON THIS!!¡± WHOOM WHOOM WHOOM WHOOM! Violent explosions of metal and fire erupted in its mouth. Thick black smoke billowed skyward. At the same time, Han Jun took action¡ªcondensing water vapor into wide ice sheets in midair to block the divebombing crows. Then, with both arms raised, he launched millions of icy droplets like a reverse storm of daggers¡ªshredding the crow swarm into bits. Lu Xingchen blasted the worm with one hand and teamed with KIKI to launch a massive fireball, wrapped in her psychic energy, at the remains of the crow swarm. FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH¡ª!! A beam of flame swept across the sky. BOOM BOOM BOOM! The sky turned into a sea of fire, evaporating the snowstorm completely. Below, thousands of survivors and soldiers felt a blast of heat crashing down from above. At that moment, Qin Xueming plummeted from the sky, his body glowing with fiery cracks. He roared, slamming into the worm¡¯s back. BOOM! The impact left a crater meters wide in the worm¡¯s flesh, its thick hide cracking open as blood and gore erupted. RRRROAR¡ª!! The Abyss Worm screamed and slammed its jaws shut¡ªswallowing the flames and steel beams. Then, it shattered the ice covering its body and, with monstrous force, burrowed back underground. ¡°It¡¯s retreating again!!¡± ¡°Block that hole!¡± Wenzhuo shouted, tossing the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum to the arriving Team 2. ¡°Team 2, lure it into the city!¡± ¡°Move!¡± Team 2 caught the Chrysanthemum and took off, flying toward the empty city center. Sure enough, the seismic tremors shifted, following their path. FWSHHH! As the worm retreated, the sinkhole at the Steelworks started to boil. Wenzhuo didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Don¡¯t let the monster horde out!¡± HUMMM¡ª He swung his arms, lifting steel plates and beams, and hurled them down the hole. KIKI joined in, psychically launching chunks of concrete from the ruins into the pit. ¡°Lu Xingchen¡ªfuse it shut!¡± Wenzhuo ordered. ¡°Got it!¡± Lu Xingchen landed straight from the sky and unleashed a full blast of flames into the sinkhole. In an instant, the opening erupted like a volcano¡ªblazing fire surged, and scorching heat spread rapidly! Vehicles and survivors nearby quickly retreated, everyone raising their guns toward the hole, on high alert for monsters emerging from below. Whoosh¡ªwhoosh! The intense heat melted steel in large quantities, fusing it with the concrete. Steam billowed into the air. At the same time, Han Jun used his water-based Ability to cool and freeze the molten iron and red-hot steel, solidifying it all. In no time, the massive wormhole¡ªover ten meters wide¡ªwas sealed off. The rumbling noises from below quickly faded away. This move was part of a pre-planned drill designed to counter sudden worm attacks at surface openings. Every such tunnel in the city had already been sealed in this way. Boom! Another loud explosion sounded from the direction of the city. Wen Zhuo turned his head sharply and said coldly, ¡°Another one¡¯s popped up. Let¡¯s move!¡± ¡°Green Wind, assign some men to lock down this area¡ªsurround it first!¡± Han Jun shouted toward his second-in-command, then immediately followed Squad 1 toward Central Avenue. Bang bang bang! Boom boom boom! At this moment, gunfire erupted from the eastern, southern, and northern high walls. Flames lit up the skies¡ªthe war had fully ignited. A 30,000-ton Dreadnought-Class Aerospace Carrier hovered low above the city. Several Lightning-2 aerospace fighters zipped through the clouds in high-altitude maneuvers, missiles exploding mid-air and illuminating the winged demons'' outlines hidden in the clouds. Attack drones and floating scout drones surged out of the clouds like a massive swarm, launching a full-scale aerial assault. The entire sky became a battlefield, with explosions and arcs of energy lighting up the heavens. On the mountain ridge to the south of the city, the Durga Radar Array Station launched thousands of flamethrowers, sending massive flames skyward. Plasma beam launchers on the city defenses fired streaks of eerie blue plasma, like a brilliant mix of blue and orange fireworks. The Great Wall-50 Rail Cannon Base emitted a unique thunderclap-like explosion, its sonic boom resembling that of air traffic control towers. Across the skies, tracer rounds blazed like a meteor shower! ¡°There¡¯s so many of them! That monster must show up again¡ªotherwise, all the marks on us will disappear!¡± In the air, KIKI raised a psychic shield, flying swiftly with Fire Bro and the others. ¡°That monster knows what we¡¯re planning. We¡¯re prepared, but so is it!¡± Qin Xueming cursed. ¡°That son of a b***h is toying with us!¡± Han Jun¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡°I¡¯m guessing unless our lines completely fall apart, that monster in the clouds won¡¯t show. It wants us to panic, mutate, and fall into chaos¡ªonly then will it mark the entire city.¡± Wen Zhuo frowned. ¡°It might be charging up too. That blast last night wasn¡¯t normal. Marking an entire city can¡¯t be a simple task.¡± ¡°Good point.¡± ¡°Either way, we need to hold the line against the horde first!¡± ¡°Take out that big bug¡ªevery hole it digs adds pressure to our rear defense!¡± ¡°Move!¡± Boom boom boom! Near the city center, glass windows of tall buildings shattered. Entire rows of structures collapsed like dominoes. Waves rippled across the streets, and sewer grates exploded in succession. Every member of the hunting squads could feel the oppressive presence of something massive approaching. Meanwhile, another sinkhole created by the Abyss Worm began to surge with floods of Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends, spilling into multiple streets like a tidal wave. ¡°Squad 6!¡± Vrrrmmmm! A howling gust swept in. The Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum dropped into Wang Mocheng¡¯s hand. He immediately passed it to Shu Qin. ¡°Run!¡± Thump-thump-thump! The TRP Exosuit¡¯s boosters kicked in, and the fully armored Shu Qin darted through buildings like a cheetah. As the ground shook, a burst of electricity shot from an Electric Blade and embedded itself into a rusty billboard. Lu? Chang swung in like Spider-Man on a steel cable, grabbed the blade from Shu Qin mid-motion, and leapt onto another rooftop. ¡°Squad 2¡¯s entangled with the Winged Demons! Redirect to Ambush Point 1!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Shing! The spinning Electric Blade sliced through a group of Snow Wraiths climbing up a high-rise. Lu? Chang landed nimbly on a supermarket roof and sprinted forward again. Thud thud thud! Suddenly, a massive Snow Fiend crawled up the side like a giant spider. One of its claws slashed straight at Lu? Chang¡¯s head! ¡°Sh*t!¡± The ambush caught him off guard. [Danger! Danger!] His Exosuit¡¯s hydraulic muscles kicked in automatically, yanking him into a backflip and dodging the fatal strike. At the same time, a flying blade shot out, carving a deep gash into the Snow Fiend¡¯s body¡ªdown to the bone! But the fiend was tougher than expected. It didn¡¯t die. Shocked, Lu? Chang saw another claw rushing at him. He stumbled back two steps and fell to the ground. Bang! He split his legs, and the Snow Fiend¡¯s claw punched a hole in the floor between them. Whirrr! The winch on his wrist spun rapidly, reeling back the Electric Blade. He grabbed it and hurled it upward, stabbing the blade directly into the fiend¡¯s forehead. But it still wasn¡¯t dead¡ªand lunged again. ¡°Crap!¡± ¡°Duck!¡± A green blur flew past from above. A foot landed on the Snow Fiend¡¯s foreleg, and a hand grabbed Lu? Chang¡¯s wrist¡ªflicking it hard. Shwing! The blade spun and sliced clean through the fiend¡¯s skull. Before the blood even splattered, the figure flipped and landed gracefully. ¡°Give it to me.¡± Xiao Qing stood in front of Lu? Chang, extending her hand. He let out a long breath and quickly handed her the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. ¡°Hyah!¡± Below the supermarket, in the parking lot, Ning Jing launched a punch that blasted apart two Snow Fiends and dozens of Snow Wraiths. The impact shockwave left a fan-shaped vacuum in front of her¡ªair itself burned with the acrid smell of scorched meat. ¡°Move!¡± Ning Jing shouted toward Lu? Chang. Whoosh! A whirlwind swept in. Wang Mocheng glided overhead and used the wind to accelerate everyone. Shu Qin brought up the rear. In the blink of an eye, the entire street and supermarket were flooded with Snow Wraiths. ¡°That worm¡¯s coming!¡± Wang Mocheng caught the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum tossed by Xiao Qing, conjured a gust of wind, and looked at the holographic map¡ªthen hurled it into the air. ¡°Squad 11!¡± ¡°Squad 11¡ªreceived!¡± A woman with bat-like wings emerged from the Winged Demon swarm, snatched it mid-air, and flew toward Xilan Park at full speed. ¡°Shu Qin, Lu? Chang, Ning Jing, Xiao Qing¡ªget to the rooftop!¡± After delivering the payload, Wang Mocheng used a gust of wind to push back the monsters, then dragged the four of them straight up the side of the building. ¡°Squad 7, we¡¯re at Sunshine Tower on Youth Avenue!¡± ¡°Squad 7¡ªcopy that!¡± ¡°Squads 23 and 30, prepare to receive!¡± ¡°Squad 4¡ªcopy!¡± ¡°Peace Street is blocked¡ªSquad 19, divert to North Ring Road!¡± ¡°Squad 32¡ªon site!¡± At the edge of Xilan Park, Squad 32¡¯s captain¡ªa young woman wearing a modified personal flight pack¡ªlooked on grimly. Waves of monsters poured down the high-rise avenue ahead. A four-legged Ability User in cheetah form leapt between buildings and hurled a bundle containing the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum toward her. ¡°Squad 32, ready to receive!¡± ¡°Coming in!¡± Vrrrrrr! Two mini-drones zoomed out from beside her, catching the item in mid-air. But as she reached out, a rumbling quake hit beneath her feet. ¡°Look out!¡± Whoosh! Sensing danger, she activated the flight pack to accelerate. BOOM! A colossal Abyss Worm burst from the ground. The low-rise and its foundation exploded in a cloud of debris. A gaping abyss opened beneath her. A massive vacuum pressure sucked her downward, and even at max thrust, she couldn''t escape¡ªbeing drawn helplessly toward the monster¡¯s mouth. ¡°Ahhh!!¡± VMMM! Just then, a psychic shockwave tore through the air¡ªyanking her free from the broken concrete and gaping maw. KIKI! And the next second¡ªWen Zhuo raised both hands. THUD! Ten massive steel beams fell from the sky. They whined with metallic stress as they fell. Under magnetic Ability control, they plunged like nails from all sides into the monster¡¯s body, embedding nearly a meter deep but still failing to pierce it fully. ¡°Pin it down!¡± Wen Zhuo gritted his teeth, trying to anchor the worm to the ground. KIKI joined in, channeling psychic power. ¡°I¡¯m on it.¡± Her eyes gleamed. Purple hair floated. She poured everything she had into the attack¡ªher psychic force pressing down like a mountain on the Abyss Worm. ¡°Fire up the plasma beam launchers!¡± Crackle! Buildings around Xilan Park lit up. Thirty-two plasma beam launchers rose into position, unleashing searing blue arcs from all directions. The beams carved through the worm¡¯s flesh, flames erupting across its body. Honnnnnng! The worm let out a low, ship-horn-like roar. It thrashed wildly. Buildings shook. The plasma launcher cables spun like fishing reels¡ªsparks flying. But the worm still couldn¡¯t break free. Crack! Crack! Crack! The cables groaned under strain. Wen Zhuo seized the moment, shouting on the hunting squad¡¯s channel: ¡°Everyone! Hit it now!¡± ¡°On it!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it escape!!¡± ¡°Watch the skies¡ªthose Winged Demons are everywhere!¡± The streets were now flooded with monsters. In the sky, the Winged Demons swarmed like a dark cloud. With no air support, even a hundred-plus Rampage-level Ability Users felt stretched thin. Their window was closing. Lu Xingchen and Qin Xueming struck simultaneously. ¡°Divine: Flameblade!¡± Lu Xingchen formed a sword with his fingers, accelerating a spiraling inferno. In half a breath, he fired a massive flaming blade¡ªwhite-hot at the core. BOOM! A sonic boom cracked the air. The recoil actually launched him into the sky. The flameblade flashed for a brief second¡ªbut it sliced open a truck-sized gash on the worm¡¯s back. The ground melted from the heat, leaving a cratered scar! KIKI was still holding the worm down. Seeing Lu Xingchen fly off, she cursed mentally and reached up, yanking him midair. ¡°You idiot! What, were you trying to launch yourself into orbit!?¡± But Lu Xingchen didn¡¯t answer. He stared at his hands in awe, face glowing with excitement. ¡°Yup... Knowledge really is power!¡± Chapter 284: Unit-01 - Pangu Bang! Bang! Bang! Ten steel beams hummed with vibrations. Thirty-two plasma bundling cables ignited with explosive force, while immense invisible psychic power crushed the Abyss Worm in place. With Wen Zhuo and KIKI holding it down, all nearby squads from the Hunting Corps launched a fierce assault on the worm. In an instant, fire, shells, electric arcs, energy blasts, and cold weapons¡ªevery method imaginable¡ªrained down on the mountainous creature. The once-impenetrable carapace now showed large swathes of damage, its flesh bursting open repeatedly. The Abyss Worm thrashed wildly. One sweeping blow obliterated the front gates of Xilan Park and several nearby apartment buildings, kicking up clouds of dust. ¡°Kill it, now!!¡± ¡°That thing¡¯s got nothing else¡ªit just burrows. Take it out and the monster tide in the city loses its backup!¡± ¡°Go! Go! Go!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it get away!¡± But then¡ªBOOM! Thunder cracked across the sky. Many looked up to see a colossal black shadow looming in the storm. It was circular in shape, barely distinguishable through the blizzard. Before anyone could get a clear look, a terrifying long limb suddenly swung down from the sky like a pendulum, sweeping toward the street! ¡°Watch out!¡± ¡°Fall back!¡± The massive sonic boom shook the very air. The enormous limb came crashing down on Wen Zhuo and KIKI mid-air. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!! The suspended limb looked like a giant celestial pillar descending from the heavens. It swept across the entire street in a single strike, unleashing a chain of explosions. The impact sent KIKI and the others flying. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Her psychic barrier nearly shattered. KIKI coughed up blood as they were blasted toward the distant monster swarm. Several Hunting Corps squads were thrown off immediately, disappearing from sight¡ªno telling how many casualties. In mid-air, Han Jun frantically summoned his water ability, forming a massive tidal wave that came crashing down. At sub-zero temps, it froze into solid ice instantly, turning half the monster tide into ice sculptures beneath the surface. Wen Zhuo, gritting his teeth through the pain, used magnetic force to grab the belts of a few allies and flew toward a nearby high-rise. Qin Xueming landed first, unleashing a burst of energy that blasted apart the Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends crowding the rooftop. ¡°It¡¯s that S-class Eerie Entity!¡± ¡°How is it out this soon?!¡± ¡°Look! The worm is retreating!¡± Han Jun shouted. Roooooar! With an earth-shaking screech, the Abyss Worm snapped all the plasma cables and, amid a booming tremor, burrowed back underground. Wen Zhuo kept one eye on the black shadow in the sky while checking in with the Hunting Corps. ¡°All squads, report status!¡± ¡°Team 13 is gone¡ªmonster tide¡¯s too heavy over here!¡± ¡°Team 28, get to the rescue, they¡¯re pinned down!¡± ¡°Look out above¡ªahh!!¡± ¡°Fall back!¡± Chaos filled the comms. Staring at the collapsed blocks and thick smoke, the members of Hunter Squad 1 all looked grim. ¡°That thing in the sky... f**king vanished again...¡± Qin Xueming looked up. The shadow that had just loomed within the blizzard had once again disappeared. The lingering pressure from earlier still gripped everyone¡¯s hearts. Even the ever-calm Wen Zhuo and Han Jun looked shaken. ¡°Quick, rescue the wounded first!¡± Things had completely spiraled beyond the original battle plan. Forget the S-class Eerie¡ªthey hadn¡¯t even managed to take out the worm on time. With sinkholes and monster tides flooding into the city from every direction, Wen Zhuo had no choice but to adapt. ¡°Execute the backup plan¡ªlure the worm toward the north side. We¡¯ve got stronger firepower there!¡± ¡°Roger!¡± KIKI, anxious, grabbed Fire Bro and Qin Xueming, taking off toward the open air corridor. The disaster at the eastern steelworks weighed on her mind¡ªwould the same happen in the north? But the Hunting Corps could no longer hold the tide. They could only retreat toward fortified zones. Wen Zhuo had already sent a message to He Zhen, and the triangular defense line in the northern sector was fully engulfed in flames of war. Tat-tat-tat! Boom-boom-boom! In the plaza outside the rail station, Zhongzhi Avenue boiled with chaos under darkness. Dozens of ring-shaped searchlights painted the avenue a ghastly white. Everywhere the beams swept revealed nerve-wracking monster swarms. Buildings, rooftops, and high-rises were crawling with Snow Fiends. In the sky, Winged Demons blotted out the clouds. Over a thousand heavy machine guns roared in unison, bathing the plaza in metal. Flak cannons fired furiously into the sky, weaving a dense anti-air grid. Inside the station, twenty-two Doomsday Train cars screamed with firepower. Missiles from Longshan No.1 and Monica Queen exploded across land and sky. High-energy turrets at the weapon stations spewed plasma streams, mowing down the incoming monster tide across the tracks and behind residential zones. Aboard the Infinite Train, two 1130 CIWS systems turned the sky into shredded metal, annihilating Winged Demons with tungsten-core rounds, reducing carbon-based flesh to ash. Zzzzzap! With a screech, the G3 Electromagnetic Railgun carved blue arcs through the night, silhouetting the oppressive vortex in the stormy sky. Up front, more than ten mechas stood atop container-based fortresses, unleashing nonstop fire onto the streets below. The Sally¡¯s electric arc pulse stringers detonated in rhythmic bursts, igniting clusters of plasma sparks. Sasha¡¯s pupils reflected waterfalling data from the fire control system. The Fire God Mecha¡¯s twin rotary cannons glowed molten red. Gritting her teeth, she pushed the mecha¡¯s output to its very limits. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Countless explosions tore through the monster horde. The flame trenches scorched the ravenous Snow Fiends as they surged forward. These Eerie Entities had no survival instinct¡ªripping through barbed wire, barricades, and spike traps, they piled over each other¡¯s corpses, clawing for blood. Bang! Bang! Two massive Snow Fiends trying to scale the adjacent building had their heads blown apart by 12.7mm anti-materiel rounds. A black-armored phantom sprinted straight up the building fac?ade with triple Hall thrusters on her back. A blur, she scaled over 100 meters in seconds. Bang-bang-bang! Six explosive rounds fired from her shoulder-mounted smart launcher¡ªsix Snow Fiends'' skulls erupted in unison. Chen Sixuan eliminated the rooftop threats in moments. Her Black Hawk armor¡¯s HUD cast a holographic radar map of the battlefield before her. ¡°Everyone, heads up! That giant worm is headed this way!!¡± ¡°It¡¯s between the rail station and the airport. Once it shows up, all cannons and bombers from the north wall will fire¡ªbrace for the shockwave!¡± she warned over the command channel. ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Captain Shi, big Eerie Entity at your four o''clock¡ªit''s going for the barrier!¡± ¡°I¡¯m on it!¡± Shi Diyuan responded. His body morphed into a three-meter-tall humanoid tiger and launched himself forward, with several defense-line elites close behind. ¡°Monica, 9 o¡¯clock sky¡ªsomething¡¯s diving fast through a blind spot. Watch out!¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Standing atop the Monica Queen, Monica was flanked by power-armor-clad guards. Her crimson gaze locked onto the sky at 9 o¡¯clock. A sonic boom ripped through the air. She raised her hands, forming a triangle with her fingers, brought it to her mouth, and let out a piercing scream. Whoooosh! A devastating sonic wave tore upward like an invisible blade, slicing through a pack of Winged Demons midair¡ªthey shredded apart, scattered by the wind. Even though she¡¯d tried to dampen the blast, everyone on the platform still felt it. Glass across several floors shattered from the force. Everyone flinched from the pressure. At Xilan Airport¡¯s defense line, the scene had already become apocalyptic. The wide runways were a sea of Eerie Entities, surging like ants toward the terminal. Flame trenches, once meant to cushion shockwaves, were now filled with monster corpses. Modified airliners rained fire from auto-turrets. The terminal stood like a lonely island amid this sea of chaos. Tens of thousands of bullets fell like torrential rain. Steel walls, polar trucks, freight containers, and barbed wire had formed the outer perimeter¡ªbut the monster tide pushed within 100 meters. In less than an hour, the corpses had piled into hills, allowing the tide to surge forward like a living landslide. ¡°Everyone, brace for ion shock!¡± Luo Yang shouted over comms, slamming a switch. Zzzzzt! Clang! A heavy electric surge pulsed across the airport apron. Everyone felt a prickling charge crawling across their skin as hundreds of high-voltage ion walls ignited at once. The entire tarmac lit up in a lattice of plasma, and in an instant, the front wave of the monster sea caught fire. Flames fed on the oily Snow Fiend flesh, erupting into a chain inferno¡ªturning the icy battlefield into a roaring hellscape. Fwoooosh¡ªcrackle¡ªBOOM! A golden flash kicked through a string of Snow Wraith heads and landed on top of a container in the defensive line. Over the communicator, Qian Dele shouted, ¡°About 40 seconds, the bugs are heading this way!¡± Woooooo... Up in the sky, bomber squadrons from the aerospace fleet swept across the heavens, while countless drones tangled with the Winged Demons high above. ¡°We¡¯re too exposed here! They¡¯ll likely focus their attack on our side!¡± Shen Yao from the North Wind Alliance called out. ¡°They¡¯re not gonna drop thermobaric bombs inside the city!¡± Uncle Wu responded. ¡°We just need to hold this area. If needed, provide supporting fire.¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t take that bug out, the hole it digs will bring even more monsters.¡± Liao Ming¡¯s voice came through the comms. ¡°Lei Zi, go help Brother Liao, Lolo, and Amin!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Li Guangwen, keep an eye on that passenger plane with them. Don¡¯t let anything break through, or we¡¯ll be under even more pressure on the flank!¡± BOOM! Seismic waves thundered out, and the entire northern part of the city started trembling violently. He Zhen sat in the command tower on the North City Wall, his expression grim as he stared at the holographic map. ¡°Wen Zhuo.¡± ¡°It¡¯s approaching the airport avenue. We¡¯ve been circling near that area, but no signs of it entering the defensive zone yet!¡± Wen Zhuo¡¯s voice came through the communicator, accompanied by the howling wind. ¡°Good. Once you confirm the target mark, we¡¯ll project firepower in 30 seconds. If necessary, try to hold that bug in place¡ªbut stay out of harm¡¯s way!¡± ¡°Copy that.¡± Whoosh~ The Hunting Corps had already redeployed on a large scale. The monster tide within the city was surging northward, accompanied by violent quakes. High above, Wen Zhuo kept an eye on both the sky and the epicenter marked on the hologram. ¡°This is the spot. Aside from Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, this monster is likely drawn to densely packed people, so we can¡¯t let it move in any further!¡± KIKI stared tensely at the holographic blueprint, clutching the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum tightly in her hand. ¡°This time, we have to take it down!¡± Han Jun said sternly. ¡°KIKI, I¡¯ll watch underground, you watch the sky. If those sea urchin spikes show up again, get Qin Xueming to hold the front. He¡¯s an energy-type¡ªhe can tank physical hits better than your telekinetic barrier!¡± Wen Zhuo instructed. KIKI frowned and glanced at Qin Xueming. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Means you¡¯re using me as a meat shield.¡± Qin Xueming shrugged, totally unfazed. ¡°Relax. I should...¡± He glanced up at the sky with a complicated expression, ¡°...should be able to take it.¡± ¡°D**n, Brother Qin¡¯s built different,¡± Lu Xingchen muttered. ¡°Enough chatter, that thing¡¯s almost here!¡± BOOM! Not far away, the street cracked open and buildings began to tilt and collapse. Everyone¡¯s heart tightened at the sight. At the same time, the North City Wall¡¯s heavy cannons, missiles from the aerospace fleet, bombers, and long-range support from the terminal and airport were all locked onto the same target. Wen Zhuo¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡°It¡¯s here!¡± Elsewhere, Trakamar Ice Canyon ¡ª gunfire echoed outside the camp. ¡°Captain Lin, the Monument Core¡¯s calibration is complete. The core temp is stable. Once repairs are done, you¡¯ll need to proceed with neural sync...¡± Yu Yuheng¡¯s voice was urgent over the communicator. Inside the camp tent, Yu Yuheng was frantically adjusting data on the computer. His lips were dry, eyes glued to the code. Everyone in the research team was just as tense, silently working under pressure. ¡°No need for a test run. I¡¯ll link directly with Chen Wei. My Ability already covers the entire Mecha¡ªjust shift 70% of the neural drive balance to me. I can handle more.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Inside Unit 01¡¯s cockpit, Chen Wei stood up and firmly rejected Lin Xian¡¯s adjustment. ¡°Our neural sync must stay aligned, or I¡¯ll experience drive lag. This isn¡¯t the time to play the hero¡ªI can take it!¡± While working on repairs, Lin Xian replied, ¡°You¡¯re already breathing irregularly. That means your respiratory system has suffered irreversible damage. Even if I get this Mecha fixed, it¡¯s doubtful you¡¯ll last two hours. I¡¯m doing this to keep you going longer.¡± ¡°Oh, come on.¡± Chen Wei glanced at the three empty Cold Dark Reagent tubes next to Lin Xian and said coldly, ¡°I may not have Abilities, but I know you¡¯re way past your limit. I don¡¯t know what your Level-5 Unified Control Coefficient means, but to bring out the Mecha¡¯s power, we¡¯ve gotta be in sync. If we¡¯re dying, we die together. I¡¯m not taking any favors.¡± Lin Xian took a breath. ¡°Fine.¡± Then he immediately spoke into the comms to Jing Tian and Sun Kai. ¡°Less than an hour until we attempt Stage One activation. Hang in there.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Jing Tian replied. ¡°We¡¯re good too. Those things are right on our *ss, but we got it covered, Captain Lin!¡± Sun Kai added. Encouraged, Lin Xian focused completely on operating the Mechanical Heart. His lips were pale;he had already collapsed twice earlier. Hours ago, he¡¯d finally completed the scan. Now he was fully engaged in repairs. The external armor and nano-ceramic viewport on the head module were already restored. Inside the massive tear in the left arm, hydraulic pipes, armor plating, and the carbonized drive shaft were all being rapidly fixed. Thankfully, the alloy skeleton hadn¡¯t broken¡ªotherwise, Lin Xian wouldn¡¯t have had enough materials to finish the job. Outside the camp, a large swarm of Snow Fiends suddenly appeared and attacked Jing Tian¡¯s team. Though not as vast in number, these monsters were huge¡ªfar tougher than the average Snow Wraith. Jing Tian led his team while skiing across the snowfield, trying to lure all the monsters away from the camp. ¡°Something¡¯s off¡ªwhy are they all large-type Snow Fiends?¡± ¡°Li Wei, any threat near the camp?¡± ¡°None!¡± ¡°Good. Everyone stay away from the camp. Don¡¯t lead the monsters there!¡± ¡°Move smart. Every second we delay helps.¡± Seeing the ever-growing Snow Fiend swarm, Jing Tian¡¯s face was grave. They only had thirty-something people¡ªkilling them all would be a waste of time and energy. The monsters kept coming in eerily increasing numbers. To buy time, they had to keep moving and luring the enemy in circles. By now, seven of their team had died under the monsters¡¯ claws. In the sky, two aerospace fighters streaked through the clouds, one chasing the other. Behind them, hundreds of Winged Demons followed like horrific flying predators. The pilots intentionally held back on speed to keep the monsters close and prevent any from slipping toward the camp. ¡°Captain Sun, we just saw something flash above us. Suggest we drop altitude and follow.¡± ¡°Copy that¡ªdescend to 2200.¡± ¡°Dropping to 2200!¡± Sun Kai¡¯s expression was cautious. Staring at the blood-red dots on the radar, he said, ¡°Can¡¯t go faster. These monsters are hellbent on taking us down.¡± ¡°Feels weird. I don¡¯t think they can actually see us. Just reacting to the markers.¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why we use the marks to draw them away¡ªbuy time for Captain Lin and Captain Yu¡¯s team!¡± Beep, beep, beep. Suddenly, his radar gave a warning, followed by violent turbulence. Sun Kai shouted, ¡°Something¡¯s wrong¡ªabove us!¡± The pilot of Unit 2 looked up¡ªonly to see a massive shadow overhead. Wings spanned dozens of meters, whipping up snow and wind. A terrifying maw covered in countless compound eyes opened above them. ¡°What the h*ll is that?!¡± ¡°Evade! Now!¡± ¡°Ahhh!!¡± Wooo! BOOM! Far above, a Lightning-2 Aerospace Fighter trailed black smoke and flames as it plummeted into the snowfield, erupting in a small explosion. Jing Tian watched with a heavy heart. Another decoy jet down. Only one remained in the sky. Unit 1¡ªSun Kai. ¡°Reporting: a super-massive Winged Demon just showed up. Unit 2 is down. I have to pull this thing farther out!¡± ¡°What?! Super-massive?¡± Jing Tian¡¯s expression darkened as he looked at the ever-growing number of large Snow Fiends. Something was definitely wrong. ¡°No way¡ªI can¡¯t keep circling here. Gotta pull it away farther!¡± In the comms, Sun Kai let out a roar full of resolve¡ªhe was clearly ready for whatever came next. Back in the cockpit, Lin Xian listened in, shaken, but he had no choice now¡ªhe had to speed up the repair of Unit 01. He pulled out another Cold Dark Reagent, uncapped it without hesitation, and downed it in one gulp. Ka-ka... Just then, Unit 01¡¯s signal booster picked up activity in the distant airspace¡ªsome sort of aircraft. Both Lin Xian and Chen Wei stiffened, then tried hailing it. ¡°This is the Phoenix Special Operations Unit¡ªidentify yourselves!¡± Ka-ka... ¡°We¡¯re West Xilan Air Support Group Three, here under orders to back up the Reboot Plan. The first two groups already went down¡ªwe just broke through enemy lines. What¡¯s the current situation?¡± Lin Xian responded immediately, ¡°Everything¡¯s in motion. We¡¯re under heavy assault from high-level Eerie Entities. Ground and air forces are in urgent need of backup.¡± ¡°Understood. ETA¡ª2 minutes!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up with hope. He immediately opened the comms to Sun Kai. ¡°Captain Sun, hang on¡ªreinforcements are almost here!¡± Inside the camp, the technical team members lit up at the news from Lin Xian. Yu Yuheng immediately nodded, ¡°You heard that, right? Reinforcements are coming. Everyone stay calm¡ªwe need to finish the last tasks quickly.¡± Then he spoke into the communicator again, ¡°Sun Kai, did you hear that? Reinforcements are almost here.¡± Crackle... No response. ¡°Captain Sun?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice came through again. ¡°Captain... Lin...¡± the communicator crackled with a fuzzy signal. Sun Kai¡¯s fighter jet seemed to be making rapid maneuvers. ¡°Captain Sun, reinforcements will be here any second. Hold on! Don¡¯t fly too far!¡± ¡°Captain Lin... this large Winged Demon must have sensed our threat¡ªit has to be drawn away. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll finish the mission!¡± Sun Kai¡¯s voice came through the static. Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned urgent. ¡°These monsters probably came from Xilan City. We haven¡¯t been hit by a full-scale assault yet, which means that S-Class influence must cover the entire Extreme Cold Vortex area. Now that backup is here, we might be able to buy some time, so...¡± ¡°Return to base immediately!¡± Lin Xian shouted. Whooooosh~ Inside the cockpit of a Lightning-2 aerospace fighter, Sun Kai turned to see the massive creature swooping in from the wing. Taking a deep breath, he shoved the throttle forward without hesitation, accelerating the jet. Staring at the flickering signal waves, he spoke calmly into the comms: ¡°Captain Lin.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t return. Keep going.¡± Beep... In the camp tent, the sound of Sun Kai¡¯s voice and the fading signal made everyone freeze mid-action. All eyes turned to the communicator on Yu Yuheng¡¯s desk. His hands, mid-typing, trembled slightly as he stared at the device. The entire tent fell silent. A few female team members¡¯ eyes were already red, and they couldn¡¯t hold back their quiet sobs. Jing Tian looked up at the sky as he listened¡ªbut above the blizzard-filled sky, there was only pitch-blackness. Nothing could be seen. BOOM BOOM BOOM! A minute later, a barrage of missiles screamed through the air, striking the snowfield where a horde of Snow Wraiths had gathered. Explosions erupted in waves, blasting countless Snow Wraiths apart. Then, a dozen fighter jets swept in low. A voice came through the comms frequency. ¡°Reboot Squad, this is Aerial Support Team 3¡ªwe''re here on orders to provide assistance!¡± ¡°Watch out, there¡¯s a large Winged Demon here!¡± Yu Yuheng immediately grabbed the communicator and shouted. ¡°Understood!¡± Whoosh! Whistle! Just as the words left his mouth, a deafening sonic boom echoed above the ice canyon. Flocks of Winged Demons screeched in from the distance¡ªright from the direction where Sun Kai had drawn them off. ¡°Persistent b******s!!¡± Jing Tian roared and grabbed his weapon, firing into the sky. ¡°Lure them down! We can¡¯t let them hit the camp or Captain Lin!¡± Bang bang bang bang bang! Rattatatatat! In an instant, the remaining twenty-odd members of the guard squad opened fire into the sky. Meanwhile, the incoming air support squad accelerated into formation and engaged the Winged Demons in an intense aerial dogfight. ¡°Protect the camp!¡± ¡°Drake, Leopard, pull up!¡± BOOM BOOM! Before two fighters could complete their maneuvers, a massive Winged Demon suddenly burst from the clouds. Its wings stretched out like a towering building, and in one instant, it smashed the two jets apart. After that vicious strike, it disappeared back into the clouds with a shrieking roar, preparing for a second dive. On Jing Tian¡¯s side, as the gunfire drew the Winged Demon swarm overhead, they began diving toward the guard team en masse. Everyone immediately mounted their mobility snowboards for fast maneuvering. Rattatat! ¡°Open fire!¡± ¡°Watch out!¡± ¡°Get out of the way!¡± ¡°Ahhh!!...¡± The flying Eerie Entities attacked like monstrous bombers. A single dive¡ªand several guards were torn apart in an instant. In a flash, the situation turned critically dangerous. At that moment, Yu Yuheng inside the camp stared at the parameter feedback on Unit 01. He saw the armor plates, sensors, cables¡ªeven the weapon systems¡ªsomehow being miraculously restored, and his heart pounded. The screams coming intermittently through the communicator made him forget to breathe. All he could do was silently chant in his mind¡ª Faster, Faster, Hurry... ¡°That big one¡¯s coming again!¡± ¡°Split up. One sacrifice per pass¡ªbuy time!!¡± BOOM! Right then, Yu Yuheng saw the drive system and cockpit synchronization status on the monitor hit 100%. His pupils shrank sharply. A moment later, Lin Xian¡¯s voice came through the comms. ¡°Team Leader Yu, initiating secondary ignition¡ªPhase One startup!¡± ¡°Roger that!¡± Yu Yuheng instantly hit the control button. Inside Unit 01¡¯s cockpit, Lin Xian had already suited up in his Unified Neuro Armor and drank the final vial of Cold Dark Reagent. ¡°You ready?¡± Chen Wei stepped onto the right-side seat¡ªwhere his brother once stood¡ªand gave Lin Xian a piercing look. ¡°This thing... isn¡¯t a toy.¡± ¡°Start it up,¡± Lin Xian said as he donned his helmet. His voice was calm and cold. ¡°I just want to go on a killing spree.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t agree more.¡± Chen Wei looked up, pressed a series of control unit buttons, eyes sharp as ice. He echoed Lin Xian¡¯s words. Woooo! All lights and holographic interfaces lit up across the nano-ceramic viewport. ¡°Begin syncing neural interface with pilot,¡± came Yu Yuheng¡¯s voice over the comms. ¡¾Calibrating neural synchronization with pilot...¡¿ A mechanical female voice rang out. Buzz! Lin Xian and Chen Wei both felt a powerful mental jolt. Their entire motor nervous system seemed to merge with that of a colossal machine. ¡¾Neural sync successful. Unified neuro coupling rate: 97.7%¡¿ ¡°Prepare for secondary thermal ignition.¡± Lin Xian and Chen Wei looked at each other. ¡°Ignite it.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡¾Initiating fusion core ignition sequence!¡¿ Woooosh! In the heart of Trakamar Ice Canyon, a mighty ethereal resonance thundered. Amid the blizzard, the fusion reactor at Unit 01¡¯s chest¡ªlined with a niobium-titanium superconducting ring¡ªbegan to heat up and discharge in a bright orange plasma pulse. The pulse gradually turned to eerie blue plasma, vaporizing all snow and ice around it in an instant. The front of the camp lit up as bright as day! Yu Yuheng rushed out of the tent. Just looking at that blinding fusion turbine core made his breathing grow heavier. ¡¾Fusion core ignition successful!¡¿ Inside the cockpit, under the unified neural control system, the two men spoke in perfect sync. Lin Xian: ¡°Prepare to break the ice!¡± Chen Wei: ¡°Prepare to break the ice!¡± WUUUUUUUUUUU!!! BOOM BOOM BOOM! Thunderous metallic shockwaves echoed through the canyon. The Pangu Unit 01 shook as the snow and frost covering it cascaded off like an avalanche. Its initial kneeling stance shifted¡ªits upper body slowly lifted. In that moment, this near-ten-thousand-ton super weapon... Awakened once more. ¡°Watch out! The big one¡¯s coming back! Gale¡ªprepare for sacrifice!¡± A support team¡¯s shout came through the comms. But just as the pilot code-named Gale readied to kamikaze the incoming Winged Demon... A ground-shaking sonic boom split the air. From the low sky behind the demon¡ªthrough the blizzard¡ªa towering mech burned with eerie blue plasma at its chest. It pierced the darkness, wrapped in storm winds, revealing the terrifying silhouette of a mechanical titan. Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian and Chen Wei¡¯s voices rang out, cold and sharp: ¡°Chainblade ready!¡± ¡°Chainblade ready!¡± Chapter 285: Danger, Flaw Screeeeech!! Above the Trakamar Ice Canyon, the ear-piercing shriek of a Winged Demon sliced through the raging blizzard, sending ripples across the snowy plains. Just as the storm seemed moments from swallowing everything whole, a massive mechanical arm suddenly lunged out, clamping onto the tail of the airborne Winged Demon. With a fierce yank, the beast''s colossal wings¡ªdozens of meters long¡ªflared wildly. Before it could let out a second screech, a massive, dark-red chain greatsword surged upward with a sonic boom and cleaved the monster¡ªwings, half its body and all¡ªstraight in two! The enormous blade glowed red-hot as it sliced effortlessly through the demon''s rock-hard hide and bones like a hot knife through butter. Clang! Vrrrmmm! Unit 01 let out a deafening mechanical roar that shook the earth. In a single motion, it hurled the severed carcass of the Winged Demon toward the Snow Fiends chasing after Jing Tian¡¯s squad across the icy plains. Smooth as clockwork, it raised its right arm and retracted the High-Frequency Blade Chain Sword. Clink-clink-clink¡ª its mechanical fingers and wrist rapidly morphed into a Triangular Plasma Phase Ring. ¡°Activate the Plasma Cannon!¡± ¡°Activate the Plasma Cannon!¡± Whooooo! The triangle ring spun at high speed as the maglev acceleration rails lit up segment by segment. The hexagonal superconducting coils unleashed a shrill whine, tearing through the extreme cold. Zzz-krrr! Zzz-krrr! Zzz-krrr! Three rounds of multi-million-degree plasma bursts erupted, lighting up the sky above the canyon like midday sun, exploding dead center within the Snow Fiend horde! From Jing Tian''s squad¡¯s vantage point, the sky flashed with eerie blue lightning. In the next instant, the pursuing horde was swallowed by plasma sparks. Even the steel-rending Snow Fiends and the snowy ground beneath them were instantly vaporized. Plasma splash exploded outward, tearing apart the monsters at the edges. Severed limbs and charred flesh flew in all directions with the shockwave. Moments later, outside the camp, the world suddenly fell quiet¡ªonly the howling wind of the blizzard remained. The Security Squad stood panting, wide-eyed. Through the low visibility, they could only make out the silhouette of a mountain-sized mecha, its warning lights and nuclear-powered engine pulsing like a lighthouse in the storm. ¡°That¡¯s the mecha from the Emperor Project?!¡± ¡°Holy sht, that was insane!!¡± ¡°Did we do it?¡± ¡°F** yeah, wiped them all out!!¡± Outside the camp, Yu Yuheng and the rest of the Emperor Team stared at the towering figure, expressions mixed with excitement and awe. ¡°We... we actually reactivated Unit 01!¡± Yu Yuheng collapsed onto the snow, eyes full of disbelief as he looked up at the mecha¡¯s heroic silhouette. ¡°Captain Yu, Jing Tian.¡± Inside Unit 01¡¯s Neuro-Sync Cockpit, Lin Xian stared coldly at the holo-display. ¡°We¡¯re heading back. Now.¡± 01:54 AM ¨C West Xilan City BOOM BOOM BOOM! At the Durga Radar Array Station in the south of the city, charred corpses of Snow Wraiths littered the hills. The air reeked of scorched flesh and burnt ozone. Raging firestorms left little trace of the cold¡ªchaos drowned the storm. Heavy machine guns lay wrecked across the defense line. The South City Wall¡¯s anti-air guns had been firing for hours, filling the sky with nonstop thunder. In the frontlines, several destroyed mechas lay buried in the snow, surrounded by countless corpses¡ªboth human and monstrous. The battlefield stank of blood and gunpowder. BOOOOM! ¡°That worm¡¯s on the move again¡ªblast the sinkhole!¡± ¡°Bomber squad inbound!¡± ¡°We¡¯re losing the mountain pass¡ªtoo many wounded! Not enough men!¡± ¡°Drag the injured back¡ªhold the front or we¡¯re all dead!¡± ¡°Captain Xiao¡¯s already charged up¡ªMecha Corps is barely hanging on!¡± ¡°Tell the kids to fall back! We¡¯ll hold the line!¡± DA-DA-DA! BOOM BOOM BOOM! Along the multi-kilometer-long frontline, over 30,000 soldiers fought desperately. But the monster horde from the mountain and city seemed endless. After two waves of purges, two more sinkholes opened in the south. With the horde pressing from all sides, the defense was reaching its breaking point. At the Eastern Weapons Factory, the first defense layer had already fallen. The Resistance was forced back inside the factory. Outside, industrial highways were overrun with Snow Wraiths. Half of the Torch Alliance¡¯s forces had perished. Captain Chen Xiao¡¯s remains lay scattered on the road, trampled by beasts. Massive cratered blast pits turned the factory zone into prehistoric rubble. Two exploded rail-mounted electromagnetic cannons still smoldered in the pits¡ªgrim reminders of the brutal battle. At the Northern Passenger Station, the horde breached the train lines. Several trains were crawling with Snow Fiends, and some carriages were already ablaze. The plaza was soaked in blood. On the fractured frontline, Lu Yong, a geokinetic ability user, stood in the breach, halting the tide. But his stone armor was full of puncture wounds from the fiends¡¯ stingers, and he was bleeding heavily. DA-DA-DA! BOOM! With supporting fire forcing the horde back a few meters, Lu Yong turned with a roar, bloodied but defiant. ¡°F*** this! Longshan One will never fall! Everyone''s gonna make it out!!¡± He smashed his fists into the ground, causing a mini-quake. Giant stone slabs rose from the earth, forming a wall that blocked the breach. THWACK! In the next instant, dozens of stingers and claws pierced him from behind. ¡°LU!!¡± With bloodshot eyes, Shi Diyuan, transformed into a tiger-hulking beast, leapt from a container fortress, crashing down like a meteor. He tore through a cluster of Snow Wraiths, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Behind him, reinforcements rushed forward, setting up machine guns, arc cannons, and flamethrowers to hold the line. Shi Diyuan reached Lu Yong, yanking out the fiend stingers from his back. ¡°D**n it, hold on, man! I¡¯m getting you help!¡± ¡°Cap...tain...¡± Lu Yong¡¯s voice was a ragged whisper, blood frothing from his mouth. ¡°Forget me... Hold the line. They... they all wanna live...¡± His eyes dimmed. ¡°You son of a b*tch¡ªLUUUU!!¡± Shi Diyuan roared and charged the horde once more. URRGHH!! From behind, another tide of Snow Fiends surged. A Steel-Slaying Greatsword sliced through the air like a blender, tearing monsters apart. Da Lou, glowing crimson, burst out of the horde, grabbing the sword mid-swing and decapitating a diving Winged Demon in one brutal strike. Wounds covered his body, rapidly regenerating¡ªonly to be slashed open again. ¡°Bro, hang in there!¡± BOOM BOOM BOOM! Shasha, piloting the Shali Mecha, had emptied the Vulcan Cannon. Only the main cannon and melee blade remained. She leapt into the fray beside Da Lou. ¡°We have to pull back!¡± ¡°Sister Chen, our flank¡¯s crumbling!¡± BANG BANG! On the rooftop, Chen Sixuan kept sniping Winged Demons with her Meteor-3 Rifle. Miao Lu, drenched in blood, dual-wielding a pistol and a blade, shouted: ¡°Commander Chen, more incoming! What now?!¡± WHOOSH! A piercing sonic wave cut through, shredding fiends crawling up the track perimeter. Monica, in a now-battered fur coat, landed beside Chen. ¡°The next decoy wave¡¯s headed this way. If another sinkhole opens, we¡¯re screwed. We need to shift fire support now!¡± ¡°Won¡¯t help much¡ªour best shot is the North Wall and the aerospace squad. We¡¯re too far to make a difference,¡± Chen snapped while firing. ¡°Our job is to hold this line, buy time for the Hunting Corps, and ease pressure on other fronts. If one side collapses, the chain reaction will be catastrophic!¡± Monica¡¯s chest heaved as she looked down at the bloodied station plaza. ¡°D*mn it... how are we supposed to hold until dawn?¡± ¡°We hold till the end!¡± Chen shouted. Every nerve in her body screamed with tension, a single name echoing in her mind: Lin Xian... we can¡¯t hold much longer. Where are you? Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡ª amidst the monster horde, the charged chainblades flashed like meteors. The two girls moved with perfect synergy. Their battle armor¡¯s auto-tracking turrets and full-field situational awareness system locked onto every Snow Wraith in their path. They glided like phantoms, darting through the swarm, chainblades slicing through monsters left and right. In no time, they were closing in on the massive, three-tailed Snow Wraith. "I¡¯ll go left!" "I¡¯ll take right!" Their white chainblades crossed in midair, crackling with high-voltage arcs before diving into the swarm like buzzsaws. In a blink, dozens of Snow Wraiths were sliced clean in half. The massive Snow Wraith, sensing danger, let out a roar, and the three sharp tail spikes behind it lashed through the air toward them. Swoosh¡ªswoosh. Amin reacted instantly, propelled by her powered armor as she leapt away. Dodging the incoming tail strikes, she countered with a high-voltage arc slash aimed at the beast. But to her surprise, the Snow Wraith suddenly raised a front limb, blocking its head. The arc only managed to slice halfway through the flesh. It roared and whipped all three tail spikes toward Amin. "Watch out!" Lolo shouted, but it was too late. Alarms blared from Amin¡¯s mech. Her heartbeat spiked. She spun around and slashed at one incoming spike. Her other foot pushed off the ground, barely dodging the second. But the third came from above¡ª Shnk! It pierced clean through her left side. "Ahhh!!" Amin screamed, the searing pain blanking her mind. CRACK! A golden blur zipped by¡ªQian Dele kicked the spike clean off and hurled Amin toward Lolo. "Take her¡ªgo!" Boom! Elsewhere, a swarm of giant Snow Fiends veered toward them. Shen Yao and his team braced at the front line. Violet energy burst outward, blasting several enemies back, but the Fiend wall still sent them flying. Qian Dele charged straight at the monster wall again. "Amin! Lolo!!" "Get her out of here!" Sensing the frontline collapsing, the others rushed in to help. Lolo caught Amin, but before she could leap away, two tail spikes from nearby Snow Wraiths stabbed into her thigh and abdomen. The power suit¡¯s circuits snapped. Both girls were yanked down to the ground. Snow Wraiths surged like a tide, closing in for the kill. Just then, a black shadow flashed forward. Liang Lei threw himself over them, his skin transforming into metallic silver. Clang-clang-clang! Claws and spikes rained down, tearing through his clothes and gouging deep wounds across his metalized body. Blood flew. "Ahhh!" BOOM! An explosion ripped through the horde. Luo Yang descended from above, swinging on a steel cable, his eyes glowing red with explosive energy. ¡°Uncle Liang¡ªmove!¡± Liang Lei struggled up, ignoring his injuries. He grabbed both girls and ran toward the defense line. But the giant Snow Wraith roared again. Its tail swept like a whip, slamming Liang Lei back into the monster tide. The swarm swarmed in instantly. "Lei Zi!" Li Yi¡¯s eyes reddened. "Don¡¯t let them through!" Boom! The Fiend swarm crushed a heavy armored truck, leaving carnage behind. Qian Dele dove in again, his super speed hammering away at the hulking beasts. ¡°Start the trucks! Block the breach!¡± he shouted. ¡°Bring in the incendiaries!¡± Liao Ming, now transformed into his insect-armored form, rushed forward with Li Guangwen to intercept the giant Snow Wraith. ¡°Shatterfist!¡± Li Guangwen roared, punching with explosive force. The Snow Wraith¡¯s front leg and half its head exploded into gore. Seizing the chance, Liao Ming leapt onto the beast¡¯s back. His mutated pincers clamped and tore, shredding what remained of the monster¡¯s head. The Snow Wraith thrashed wildly, trampling its own kind. As its brain matter splattered, one last tail spike shot toward Liao Ming. BOOM!! The jagged barb ripped off his right arm and half his chest, sending him flying. His bloodied claw crashed into the horde. ¡°Uncle Liao!!¡± Li Guangwen blasted apart the horde around him with twin shock-punches, rushing to drag Liao Ming back¡ªbut stopped short at the mangled sight. Liao¡¯s shoulder and rib cage were torn open. ¡°Don¡¯t look! Behind you!¡± Liao coughed up blood. Thud-thud-thud! Li Xianwen didn¡¯t hesitate. He took several tail stabs but surged forward, hoisting Liao with one arm and retreating fast. "The line¡¯s broken!!" Heavy losses hit the frontline. Li Guangwen had no choice. He hurled Liao toward Luo Yang and Liang Lei¡¯s direction. Luo Yang gave up aiming and opened fire all around, blood streaking from his eyes from overusing his ability. BOOM-BOOM-BOOM! Explosions rocked the horde. The blasts blew the enemies off. Amid the smoke, Liang Lei still lay shielding Amin and Lolo¡ªbarely conscious. Tat-tat-tat! Members from the Chasing Sun and Running Far Convoys stormed in with rifles, surrounding Liang Lei¡¯s position. Together with Luo Yang, they held back the monster horde while dragging the wounded toward safety. But the rear defense had been breached. With no covering fire, the Snow Wraiths surrounded the group in moments. "We¡¯re surrounded!" Luo Yang gritted his teeth, dragging Liang Lei, his bleeding eyes fierce. ¡°AJie! Get out of the way¡ªwe¡¯re breaking through!¡± ¡°AHHH!!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t hold them!!¡± ¡°We¡¯re outta ammo...!¡± Screeches and wails erupted as the Wraiths closed in like a sea of locusts, tail spikes stabbing wildly, deadly from all sides. ¡°Let me!¡± Li Guangwen propped up Liao Ming¡¯s remaining arm and fired off another shock-punch behind them. BOOM! A gap opened for just a second¡ªthen the swarm surged again. ¡°We¡¯re screwed! Too many!¡± VROOOM!! Suddenly, the roar of an engine. A heavy-duty truck burst through the swarm, crushing dozens under its wheels. Reinforcements from the Big Eagle Convoy arrived. Gunfire blazed, clearing a path for retreat. ¡°Get them inside first!¡± Uncle Wu yelled from the truck. ¡°Save them¡ªsave them first!¡± ¡°Kill those b*stards!!¡± Thump-thump-thump¡ª the Snow Wraiths clambered onto the truck. Wu Zhenhai glanced at the breached line and the collapsing rear defense, gritted his teeth, and slammed the accelerator. ¡°Uncle Wu!!¡± Luo Yang, Li Yi, and the others cried out. The truck surged forward, wheels churning through monsters. Wu flipped a special switch inside¡ªred lights lit up on the rear explosives cabinet. ¡°Hold the line! You kids aren¡¯t dying today.¡± He whispered into the radio, ignoring the monsters clinging to the cab. He rammed straight into the sinkhole. BOOM!! The truck plunged in and exploded. A towering flame rose tens of meters. The shockwave leveled everything, burying all nearby monsters. The Battle of Xilan Airport had turned into a bloodbath. At the outer Spaceport Avenue, devastation stretched as far as the eye could see. Shells and missiles had erased all traces of civilization. Flames and smoke choked the sky. At ground zero, a massive sinkhole radiated outward, where Snow Wraiths and Fiends continued to swarm. Endless. Like a tide. Like the sea. The air reeked of death and despair. The three main defense lines¡ªnorth, south, east¡ªwere on the verge of collapse. Inside the city, only 23 out of 35 Hunting Squads remained intact. Disbanded teams had either regrouped or were reassigned to the frontline to help repel the tide. Those left continued sprinting through the city, trying to lure the Abyss Worm and fend off the elusive S-Class Eerie Entity in the clouds. ¡°That f***ing worm! Keeps digging and running like a damned eel!!¡± Qin Xueming swore mid-air. His squad was battered and breathless. ¡°We need to take out that sea urchin in the sky,¡± KIKI panted. ¡°Every time we¡¯re about to kill the worm, it shows up with some invisible barrier. It¡¯s f***ing annoying.¡± Earlier, they¡¯d nearly taken down the Abyss Worm near the northern airport¡ªuntil the cloud-dwelling sea urchin deployed its floating spines and blocked all missile and bomber strikes. Lu Xingchen said nothing, staring at his hand. His Divine Flame had failed him for the first time. He was shaken. Han Jun muttered, ¡°That sea urchin¡¯s drawing in more monsters... It¡¯s following us but won¡¯t show itself. Why?¡± Team leader Wen Zhuo¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°It¡¯s waiting. Waiting for us to crack. The second we lose control¡ªwhen fear mutates us¡ªthat¡¯s when it¡¯ll strike.¡± ¡°Then how the hell do we fight it?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t.¡± Wen Zhuo clenched his fists. ¡°It can sense fear. That¡¯s how it tags people with Level-5 Marks. Hiding¡¯s useless.¡± ¡°F***!¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum into the air. If that thing doesn¡¯t show, this whole city¡¯s gonna burn.¡± Wen Zhuo popped open the chrysanthemum¡¯s metal case. ¡°One last chance!¡± ¡°The Dreadnought-class carrier is ready. We¡¯ll hit the sea urchin first!¡± VMMM¡ª High above, Zhang Chengzhi stood in the Dreadnought¡¯s command center, monitoring the entire aerial fleet. ¡°Whatever happens, the primary target is the S-Class Black Thorn in the Clouds!¡± Zhao Yu barked from the east wall, glaring at the battle map. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Monitor radar readings,¡± He Zhen ordered at the north wall. Outside, a million-strong horde surged. CIWS guns and Great Wall-50 rail cannons thundered non-stop. Railguns lit up the sky, outlining Winged Demons overhead. RUMBLE¡ª A quake shook the earth. The Abyss Worm was surfacing again. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± Wen Zhuo looked up. ¡°Hold the line¡ªI¡¯ll find that bastard.¡± He soared skyward with the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. A pair of aerospace fighters followed. WHOOOO¡ª The blizzard froze on Wen Zhuo¡¯s face. He exhaled steam, staring into the storm. He flew straight into the clouds. He looked at the chrysanthemum in its clear pod¡ªnow exposed, glowing with crimson light, drawing in the black mist swirling around them. BOOM! Below, the quake intensified. The Abyss Worm was almost here. He clutched the Blood Scourge Flora tightly, eyes sharp as he scanned the surroundings and the sky above. At this moment, a strange sensation crawled up his spine. Something up there... was watching him! Buzz! Two fighter jets roared overhead, and almost at the same time, a message came through his earpiece from the escort team: ¡°Captain Wen, radar has picked something up¡ªright above you!¡± ¡°Missile launch!¡± Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! In a flash, both jets fired tactical missiles straight toward the unidentified target above. Wen Zhuo looked up sharply¡ªhis expression froze. A massive black creature was slowly emerging from the clouds, covered in terrifyingly long black spines. It looked like a sea urchin... in the sky. But this thing wasn¡¯t just big¡ªthose black spines alone were longer than a skyscraper. They writhed and swayed menacingly, and the part emerging from the clouds already stretched hundreds of meters. The sight was downright horrifying. Boom! Boom! Boom! Suddenly, the missiles exploded mid-air in eerie bursts, shockwaves rippling like they¡¯d struck some kind of invisible shield. ¡°You¡¯re not hiding anymore, huh?!¡± Wen Zhuo¡¯s gaze turned cold. Several steel beams beside him instantly launched upward. As the cloud-urchin¡¯s massive spines shifted, he sensed an invisible energy wave burst outward. One of the steel beams slammed into something with a sharp metallic clang, the tip warping slightly¡ªas if it had hit a force field. Wen Zhuo¡¯s eyes lit up, his Ability surging. Now he could clearly feel it¡ªthat shield was real. Solid. Impenetrable. Buzz! A wind-splitting noise suddenly tore through the air. Wen Zhuo reacted instantly, dodging to the side! A gigantic black spine swept through the air where he¡¯d just been, bringing with it such intense air pressure that he was flung dozens of meters through the sky. ¡°Argh!¡± He gritted his teeth, flipping through the air. Even as he was flung backward, he maintained control of the steel beams. But then¡ªhe noticed something. The steel beams that had stopped midair were suddenly flying upward again. He quickly stabilized himself and used his magnetic control to hurl the beams toward the cloud-urchin¡¯s spines. Thunk! The black spines opened again. This time, the beams were sucked in like they¡¯d hit quicksand, unable to move. The next second, those beams were crushed by a massive force into thin sheets, violently bounced back to where they¡¯d stopped before¡ªright where the missiles had exploded. Wen Zhuo¡¯s eyes widened as realization hit. He shouted into his comms: ¡°That urchin¡¯s force field has a fixed range! And when it attacks, the shield goes down! This is our chance¡ªhit it now!¡± Instantly, the message spread through all units, sparking an adrenaline jolt in everyone. Down below, KIKI immediately shouted, ¡°We¡¯ll fake an attack on that giant worm! Once the urchin strikes, all your cannons¡ªaim for the sky!¡± ¡°No problem!¡± On the Dreadnought-Class Aerospace Carrier, Zhang Chengzhi snapped to attention. Boom! Fire Bro had already begun charging his flames. ¡°Redirect the cannons!¡± On the North Wall, despite facing relentless monster tides, He Zhen instantly gave the order¡ªturning the heavy artillery and railguns skyward. ¡°Recon-03 has located the aerial zone. Coordinates sent to Intelligence Command!¡± ¡°Meteorological report: conditions in Endzone meet missile-launch parameters!¡± ¡°LF21 rapid-response missile unit, lock firing data¡ªprepare to launch!¡± Rumble... Shockwaves rolled through the city. KIKI and the others stood ready. The ground below cracked in layers, clouds of dust shooting up. The quakes made the pavement ripple like water. Then¡ªBOOM! The earth erupted. Concrete crumbled in layers, rubble blasting skyward. A giant, scarred Black Underground Worm burst from the ground. KIKI, Fire Bro, Han Jun, and Qin Xueming were already in position. KIKI used Psychic Power to lift the three into the air. Fire Bro held a massive fireball, fully charged. ¡°Divine: Flame Sword!!¡± Whoosh! Wen Zhuo dove from the sky like a meteor. At the same moment, a terrifying limb dropped from above like a pendulum, swinging straight toward them! ¡°Now!!¡± ¡°Been waiting!¡± But Lu Xingchen didn¡¯t swing his flame sword down¡ªhe aimed upward. KIKI compressed the flame with a psychic pulse, launching a blazing jet skyward. A crimson beam shot vertically into the clouds, lighting up the entire sky. Simultaneously, from the North Wall, two LF21 missiles soared into the sky. From the air combat units, a barrage of missiles and high-temperature plasma cannons rained upward. All attacks converged. As Fire Bro¡¯s Flame Sword blazed into the sky, Wen Zhuo quickly led everyone away. ¡°Hunting Corps! Retreat!!¡± Buzz¡ª The swinging black spine swept the street, kicking up dust. But this time, the Hunting Corps was ready. Everyone had received the signal and scattered¡ªno longer caught off guard. And then came judgment. BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!! A chain of massive explosions tore through the sky, igniting firestorms that lit up half the skies above Xilan City. Amid the crimson inferno, survivors at the Northern Passenger Terminal and Airport looked up... And saw it. A colossal sea urchin-like shadow backlit by fire. Countless black spines writhed like a spider hanging in the clouds. The sight made every scalp crawl. ¡°Did we hit it?!¡± ¡°Holy sh*t, that thing¡¯s HUGE!!¡± ¡°An atmospheric lifeform?!¡± ¡°F***! Kill that thing already!!¡± ¡°Blast it to h*ll!!¡± The whole city erupted in shock and fury. Then¡ªan explosive shockwave blasted out like a nuclear detonation, clearing the clouds and blizzard in a multi-kilometer radius. Within the eye of this storm, the S-Class Eerie Entity was now fully visible. Hundreds of meters of black spines swayed like spears. And in the center... a dense cluster of glowing red compound eyes, like something straight out of h*ll. CRACK¡ª!! A thunderous, throat-choking screech echoed from the skies. The blazing creature suddenly began to fall¡ªplummeting from the clouds. ¡°It¡¯s coming down!!¡± ¡°Move!! Evade!!¡± WHOOOOOSH¡ªBOOM!! Dozens of massive black spines slammed into the city streets, shaking the ground and sending up a storm of dust. ¡°Hit it while it¡¯s down!¡± Zhao Yu¡¯s urgent voice came through the comms. ¡°Full artillery, FIRE!¡± shouted He Zhen. ¡°Bomber squad, GO!¡± Zhang Chengzhi followed up immediately. From the city walls came a barrage of cannon fire. In the sky, bombers dropped massive payloads. Railguns and plasma cannons unleashed a full barrage at the fallen black spines. But the spines suddenly lashed out again, and all the attacks were once more blocked by that invisible shield. At the same time, the central red compound eyes flared, triggering violent gales and electric arcs all across the surrounding districts. Wen Zhuo and KIKI saw it and shouted¡ª ¡°Crap! It¡¯s about to launch another attack!!¡± ¡°Up in the air!!¡± ¡°Dreadnought, evade!!¡± ¡°Sh*t!!¡± In the Aerospace Carrier''s bridge, Zhang Chengzhi''s face darkened. Before he could respond¡ª The creature¡¯s core unleashed a giant laser beam, meters wide. It pierced the Dreadnought-Class Warship. The dark red beam sliced through the clouds. The 30,000-ton metal beast screamed in agony as the beam carved through its hull like a hot knife through butter, melting twelve layers of armor into molten red waterfalls. In the engine room, the chief stumbled to his knees. Looking up, he saw the vessel cleaved in two. Through the gaping breach, his comrades tumbled from the sky¡ªgrabbing broken pipes, clutching fire extinguishers as they turned into flaming meteors¡ªothers just fell, like autumn leaves into the abyss. Wail... A terrible metallic shriek echoed across the city. Everyone on the frontlines watched as the flaming juggernaut plummeted. ¡°The Dreadnought... it¡¯s going down!¡± Wen Zhuo stared in horror. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Cease fire!¡± He Zhen shouted in disbelief, yelling across all command channels¡ª ¡°Zhang Chengzhi!¡± ¡°Zhang Chengzhi!!¡± On the East Wall, Zhao Yu¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°All airborne units, emergency evasive maneuvers!!¡± Instantly, every pilot¡¯s mind blanked¡ªthen pivoted into urgent motion. But KIKI, still stunned, watched as the black spines began tearing through Xilan City¡¯s skyscrapers, grinding everything in their path. They were heading... toward the Xilan Passenger Rail Terminal. ¡°No!!¡± KIKI¡¯s face drained of color. She launched herself toward it. ¡°Sis Chen! Shasha!!¡± She screamed into the Infinite Train''s comms, panicked beyond control. ¡°Zzzzt...¡± But all she heard was static. ¡°Sis Chen! Shasha! Big Lou! Lulu! Xiao Yuan! Someone answer me!!¡± Zzzzt... At last, the comms stabilized¡ªbut the first reply wasn¡¯t who she expected. A voice she knew all too well came through. ¡°Hold on, babe¡ªI¡¯m almost there!!¡± ¡°Lin Xian?!¡± KIKI gasped, freezing in the air, stunned at what she¡¯d heard. ¡°Target locked¡ªS-Class Eerie Entity. Distance: 16 kilometers.¡± ¡°Activating rear rocket thrusters.¡± ¡°Ready for launch!¡± Lin Xian. Chen Wei. Far outside Xilan City, beyond the blizzard, thunderous tremors echoed¡ª BOOM. BOOM. Each one, like a lightning strike. Screeeech¡ª A horde of Snow Wraiths converged on the East Wall, until suddenly¡ªthey stopped. One turned around... And a mountainous black shadow descended, stomping straight through hundreds of wraiths in one crushing step. It was a colossal humanoid mecha, charging through the monster tide like a juggernaut, tearing a path straight toward Xilan City! Chapter 286: Orbital Incinerator Cannon! Under the night sky, the fall of the Dreadnought-Class Aerospace Carrier cast a heavy shadow over all surviving Resistance Fronts and Investigation Corps soldiers. Smoke and fire billowed across the sky, shaking the ground with massive explosions. But even more terrifying was the sight atop the high-rises in Xilan City¡ªa giant sea urchin-like creature, like a demon descended from the heavens. Just one glance filled hearts with dread. It moved with the sluggish grace of a deep-sea creature. Hundreds of meters long, its black tendrils plunged into the earth one after another, each puncture triggering localized quakes. These tendrils didn¡¯t remain still¡ªthey shifted slowly, as if billions of centipedes twisted and churned beneath its shell. Ka... chiiiiiii¡ª A horrifying infrasound reverberated from the creature, like a tremor within one¡¯s keratin layer, making scalps crawl. ¡°Hold the line! Snap out of it!!¡± ¡°The line¡¯s about to break!!¡± Across all fronts, many resistance fighters, upon seeing the enormous monstrosity within the city, froze in terror. Some even forgot to fight¡ªuntil their comrades¡¯ shouts and the howls of approaching monster hordes jolted them back to reality. But that single moment of hesitation may have been all it took. Whether due to the Cloudthorn Horror''s appearance or a collective wave of fear, resistance morale crumbled. In the south, north, and east, multiple defense lines began collapsing. Breaches widened, forcing retreats. Entire vehicle formations and fixed weapon stations were abandoned, leaving behind high casualties. ¡°All units, attention: the Black Thorn in the Clouds has fallen¡ªits weakness has been exposed. This is the best time to strike. Tell all fronts to defend with everything they¡¯ve got¡ªhold until the last breath!¡± Zhao Yu¡¯s voice echoed like a stabilizing anchor across all command frequencies. It snapped many out of despair. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid¡ªit¡¯s down!¡± ¡°Hold your ground!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give up!!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got nowhere else to run!!¡± North of the city, 23 mobile hunting teams sped through the skies and streets, closing in behind the S-Class Cloudthorn Horror. In the air above, the few remaining aerospace fighters tangled with a flock of Winged Demons. As the Cloudthorn Horror moved toward the Northern Passenger Rail Station, Han Jun turned to Wen Zhuo: ¡°Why isn¡¯t it being drawn to the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum? It¡¯s heading somewhere else.¡± ¡°It is attracted,¡± Wen Zhuo said grimly. ¡°But the prey in the city is more valuable.¡± He pointed toward the station. ¡°It senses threats. There are over ten thousand people marked with Level-5 tags in there!¡± Wen Zhuo issued a command across all hunting teams: ¡°Don¡¯t let it pass the station. Team 1, draw it off! Teams 2 to 10, execute feint attacks. Everyone else, assist the station¡¯s defense!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Whoosh¡ª Figures swept through the sky. Wen Zhuo caught up with KIKI, calling out: ¡°The Emperor Team is back. If we don¡¯t divert that thing, the Black Centipede-like Creature will follow. We have to lure the fight into an open area!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± KIKI responded urgently. Missiles roared overhead. Electromagnetic cannon blasts lit up the ground. But none could penetrate the transparent barrier surrounding the Cloudthorn Horror¡ªit was as though the creature wore an invisible shield. ¡°We need to make it strike!¡± Han Jun¡¯s eyes burned. ¡°Its tendrils can swing wide, but their actual range is limited.¡± ¡°I noticed that in the clouds,¡± Wen Zhuo added, projecting data to the Combat Intelligence Center. ¡°The barrier only works if the tendrils stay intact. If one is missing, there¡¯s a gap.¡± ¡°Watch the tendrils¡ªwherever one moves, that¡¯s where the barrier thins. If it fires its laser, it exposes a weak point!¡± ¡°Understood,¡± said Qin Xueming, and Lu Xingchen nodded. BOOM BOOM BOOM¡ª At the Northern Passenger Station, Chen Sixuan, Shi Diyuan, Monica, and others stared in shock at the slowly advancing behemoth. Crrkkk... The comms were a mess of static. A looming sense of dread weighed down on everyone. ¡°Hello?! Can anyone¡ª¡± ¡°Too much interference¡ªwhat the hell is going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely that thing.¡± ¡°Motherf**er!¡± Shi Diyuan leapt to the rooftop, glaring at the monstrosity. ¡°How the hll are we supposed to punch that?!¡± Chen Sixuan raised her Meteor-3 Rifle, scanning the skies until she spotted KIKI and the hunters in the distance. ¡°They¡¯re here. They¡¯ll try to lure it off with the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum.¡± ¡°Commander Chen, we¡¯re barely holding below!¡± Miao Lu, bloodied and breathless, ran up. Below the station plaza, everyone was locked in combat. Even Xiao Yuan had joined the fray. Onboard the Infinite Train, only the railgun was still auto-firing¡ªall AA guns and 1130 CIWS ammo had been spent. RUMBLE¡ª With the Hunting Corps approaching, the Abyss Worm triggered more quakes. ¡°Hold formation!¡± Chen Sixuan turned quickly. ¡°Brother Shi, Monica¡ªfocus fire on the ground!¡± ¡°We¡¯re not gonna deal with that thing?!¡± Monica asked in disbelief, staring at the sky. At that moment, more hunting squads surged in from nearby streets to reinforce the front. Ning Jing, Xiao Qing, Shu Qin, and Lu? Chang rejoined their teams. ¡°They¡¯re redirecting it elsewhere!¡± Ning Jing landed and relayed the comms disruption. ¡°What do we do then?¡± Shu Qin asked, visibly drained from the long night. ¡°Do what we can!¡± Chen Sixuan said sternly. The aerial weapons were useless. Better to hit the horde and trust the hunters. ¡°No one look back¡ªfocus on the monsters!¡± ¡°Right behind you!¡± Shi Diyuan charged in without hesitation. Ning Jing glanced up, face grim. ¡°We¡¯ll leave it to fate. Xiao Qing¡ªlet¡¯s go!¡± Zzzzzz! A¡¯Bai¡¯s laser beam tore through the horde, clearing space. With the Hunting Corps¡¯ help, the station defense saw some relief. But no one dared to relax¡ªtheir greatest nightmare still hovered above. In the air, Wen Zhuo, KIKI, and three others zipped past the giant black tendrils, now writhing in the storm. The pressure was suffocating. Gritting his teeth, Wen Zhuo flew past the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, its crimson glow sending out eerie pulses. The Cloudthorn Horror froze mid-step. ¡°It¡¯s working!!¡± ¡°It¡¯s reacting!¡± Crrrkkk¡ª The beast¡¯s infrasound tremors made internal organs vibrate. Nausea and dizziness swept through many. Its dense red compound eyes locked onto Wen Zhuo. One tendril surged wide¡ªa fatal swipe. ¡°Dodge!¡± Wen Zhuo hurled metal debris at the opening. KIKI, Fire Bro, and Han Jun attacked in unison: ¡°Divine: Flameblade Slash!¡± Fire Sword. Psychic Waves. Ice Needle Storm. But just when they thought they¡¯d struck a weak point, the Horror¡¯s eyes glowed crimson. Its black bristles whipped around, releasing a crimson vapor cloud that drowned every attack. The metal shards melted mid-air. ¡°No¡ª!¡± KIKI¡¯s spine went cold. Without hesitation, she yanked the team together and forced out a massive psychic barrier. Ssssssh! The corrosive red mist consumed the barrier. KIKI felt immense pressure. Before she could react, Wen Zhuo used magnetism to fling them away. BOOM! The red mist met cold air¡ªvacuum bubble explosions erupted, blasting the five of them across the sky. Below, the shockwave ravaged the station. Snow and monsters flew like ragdolls. A spherical dust cloud burst outward. ¡°AHHH!!¡± ¡°Watch out!¡± ¡°I CAN¡¯T HEAR ANYTHING!!¡± Deafened and dazed, Chen Sixuan, clad in Black Hawk Power Armor, was thrown onto a truck roof. Through her HUD, she spotted the team tumbling through the air. ¡°KIKI! FIRE BRO!!¡± No response. The signal was jammed. THUD THUD THUD¡ª Shasha¡¯s Vulcan Mecha landed beside her, slicing down a Winged Demon. ¡°Commander Chen¡ªwatch out!!¡± But Chen Sixuan didn¡¯t respond. Her eyes stayed locked on the sky, where tens of thousands of red eyes lit up like demonic lanterns. A devastating energy fluctuation pulsed. Whoosh¡ª The airborne team crashed kilometers away. KIKI was exhausted¡ªboth Cold Dark Reagents from Lin Xian were gone. Against an S-Class Eerie Entity, even Rage-Tier Ability Users felt helpless. ¡°What¡¯s that?!¡± Wen Zhuo¡¯s face changed. ¡°It¡¯s prepping that move again!¡± ¡°No!!¡± ¡°Stop it!!¡± Han Jun yelled. They surged forward with renewed force. At the station, everyone noticed the glow above¡ªand terror flooded their hearts. ¡°Commander Chen¡ªLOOK OUT!!¡± Shasha threw herself in front of Chen Sixuan and Miao Lu, arms wide. Heartbeat skipped. Air stood still. FWOOOSH! Just as the Cloudthorn Horror prepared to unleash its laser, a massive object came screaming from the sky¡ª A refinery tower, over 2,000 tons, glowing red-hot, pierced the sky like a spear and slammed into the creature¡¯s compound eyes. KABOOM!!! Everyone froze. The giant sea urchin was blasted hundreds of meters back, crushing entire city blocks! The tower lodged deep into its shell, causing black ichor to explode out¡ªcorrosive goo splashed across the streets, sizzling on contact. THUD! THUD! THUD! Suddenly, the city trembled. Asphalt cracked, spidering across the streets. Everyone turned¡ªjust in time to see the skyline split open. From the horizon, a colossal mecha surged forward, trampling the monster tide. Warning lights and nuclear pulse glow flashed through the night. As it leapt, the entire glass fac?ade of the street shattered like crystal rain. Hydraulics screamed, louder than the air-raid sirens. Inside the head cockpit, Lin Xian and Chen Wei, both clad in Neuro-Sync Exoarmor, maintained perfect synchronicity as they sprinted. Their vision, displayed on nano-ceramic panels, locked onto the massive sea urchin overhead. The next instant, they both shouted in unison: "Activate the Plasma Cannon!" "Activate the Plasma Cannon!" Woooo! Pangu Unit 01¡¯s right arm began to transform. Its five fingers morphed into a triangular phase ring that spun at high speed. Segments of the magnetic-levitation accelerator rail lit up, and the hexagonal superconducting coils howled at ultrasonic pitch in the extreme cold! The massive Black Thorn in the Clouds sensed danger. Several black spines curled up, trying to deploy a defensive barrier¡ªbut a refinery¡¯s atmospheric tower was still impaled through its body, leaving the barrier unable to fully form. A strange red glow flickered at the tower¡¯s rear end. Zzzr-KRSH! Zzzr-KRSH! Zzzr-KRSH! Three blasts of multi-million-degree plasma shot out, piercing the exposed gap and slamming straight into the sea urchin¡¯s body. In a blinding explosion, searing blue plasma erupted across its surface, igniting a storm of white-hot flame. CRK...ZZZZZZZZ! The Black Thorn shrieked, and its previously sluggish spines began to whip around at furious speed. The surrounding streets and towers quaked violently, entire buildings collapsing one after another. ¡°It¡¯s Brother Lin!!¡± Inside the Fire God Mecha, Shasha looked up at the towering machine with wide eyes. ¡°Whoa! Brother Lin¡¯s back in a giant mech!!¡± ¡°Lin Xian!!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Captain Lin!!¡± Shu Qin, Xiao Yuan, and the others shouted in excitement. In that instant, members of Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 at the passenger terminal all raised their fists and cheered. At the brink of despair, a colossal mecha had descended like a god, blasting the nightmarish sea urchin skyward. Even far-off Xilan Airport saw the explosion. Zhao Yu and He Zhen, upon receiving the news, were stunned. They immediately relayed the message to the south, east, and north defense lines, giving morale a massive boost. ¡°KIKI, Ms. Chen, hold the line. Leave this to me!¡± Having just entered the city, Lin Xian and Chen Wei quickly grasped how dire the situation was. He knew every front was hanging by a thread¡ªand eliminating this S-Class Eerie Entity was now the top priority. From the intel Zhao Yu had relayed and the earlier attack test, Lin Xian confirmed his suspicion: this S-Class wasn¡¯t as tough as the Atmospheric Mica they¡¯d faced before. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be hiding and acting as a scout. Without its weird defensive shield, it wouldn¡¯t last a second against the 7th Investigation Corps¡¯s firepower. ¡°Hit it while it¡¯s down!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it get airborne!¡± Chen Wei warned. ¡°If it does, it¡¯ll be a nightmare to handle.¡± ¡°My thoughts exactly!¡± They exchanged a glance, then raised their fists and pulled them apart, shouting: "Prepare missile lock-on!" "Prepare missile lock-on!" Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! Pangu Unit 01''s arms spread. Four Emperor-class missiles rose from the chest-mounted hatches. With a roar, the rockets ignited and launched, streaking toward the sea urchin¡¯s weak spot. But the sea urchin had caught on. It curled its spines and rolled backward, bringing up its rear shield just in time to block the missiles. BOOM! The missiles exploded on impact, igniting a fiery cloud in midair. Seeing this, Lin Xian and Chen Wei surged forward without hesitation. As long as the atmospheric tower remained impaled, a gap in the defense would remain¡ªthis was the perfect chance! But just then, Pangu¡¯s seismic alert system lit up¡ªsomething was racing toward them underground. Both pilots initiated evasive maneuvers¡ª BOOM! A massive explosion ripped through the ground they had just vacated. The Abyss Worm burst from below, rising to Pangu¡¯s chest level. The shockwave rocked the entire mech. Inside the cockpit, they braced for impact, then shouted in sync: ¡°Charge Punch!¡± BOOM! Over two thousand muscle engines roared as the hydraulic power drives surged. The twin fists of Pangu unleashed tens of thousands of tons of force straight into the worm¡¯s body. CRACK! The reinforced armor fists smashed into the thick carapace, caving it in, cracks splintering outwards. ¡°Again!¡± ¡°More power!¡± Both men pivoted to the side, charging up their right arms. ¡°Activate Elbow Rocket Thrusters!¡± ¡°Activate Elbow Rocket Thrusters!¡± Pangu¡¯s torso shifted, its right arm pulled back. Three rocket thrusters on the elbow fired up¡ª VROOOM! Sonic rings rippled as the rocket thrusters pushed the massive arm forward. The knuckles morphed, covered in diamond-shaped reinforcement, gleaming like brass knuckles. Friction heated the air, glowing faint red. WHAM!! The punch hit like a divine hammer, smashing clean through the Abyss Worm¡¯s midsection. Chunks of flesh and ichor exploded like rain. SKREEEE!! Three hits in, the worm reeled in panic. It lashed out, trying to flatten Pangu. Chen Wei and Lin Xian raised their arms to guard, standing firm. Their single leg stepped back, pressure release valves across the mech hissed open as they braced for impact. BOOOM! The worm crashed into them with mountainous force, creating a shockwave. Pangu was shoved over a hundred meters back, flattening half a street. The strike was fierce¡ªbut for the nimble Pangu Unit 01, it wasn¡¯t critical. The worm tried to retreat underground¡ªbut Lin Xian and Chen Wei weren¡¯t letting it go. They surged forward, right arm flinging back¡ª ¡°Deploy Chainblade!¡± ¡°Deploy Chainblade!¡± CHNK! The high-frequency vibro-chainblade slid out from under the right arm¡¯s armor. Its spine locked into place, shifting from folded to solid-state form. Serrated edges gleamed¡ªthis was the same blade that had killed another Abyss Worm. Just then, their HUD flared red. An incoming strike. They raised their left arms to block¡ª BOOM-BOOM-BOOM! A massive black spine swept across several city blocks, slamming into Pangu and sending it crashing into a building. The structure crumbled. As they fell, Lin Xian and Chen Wei stowed the chainblade and braced against a building to stop the collapse. WHIRRR¡ª Another giant black spine struck again, trying to crush Pangu. ¡°Brace for impact!¡± Pangu stood, raised both arms, body leaning forward, one leg back. All rear thruster gates flared open! BOOM! The massive spine struck again, shoving Pangu back. The ground buckled, but the rear thrusters roared, unleashing massive counter-thrust to resist. WHOOSH-WHOOSH! From above, missiles and railgun rounds rained down. All aerial units, under He Zhen¡¯s orders, had been waiting. Seeing the sea urchin move, they struck at once. It worked. With two spines extended in attack, its front face was exposed. Every missile hit its mark. KABOOM! Fireballs lit up the Central District like daylight. ¡°Nice one!¡± Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian and Chen Wei pumped their fists. ¡°That thing¡¯s covered in black hair¡ªlet¡¯s burn it all off!¡± Chen Wei growled, eyes on the flames consuming the black spines. ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡± They closed the thruster gates, then leaned forward, shifting from walking to a full sprint. ¡°Activate Left Arm: Incinerator Railgun!¡± ¡°Activate Left Arm: Incinerator Railgun!¡± CLANG-CLANG! Pangu¡¯s left arm lowered. Armor segments peeled away, revealing a massive orange railgun. A flame-guided sprayer ignited. Black smoke billowed upward. THUMP-THUMP-THUMP¡ª Pangu charged with overwhelming momentum. A black spine swung in to intercept. Pangu blocked with its right arm, sliding sideways, but held its course. As they closed in, the left arm raised¡ª FWOOSH! A thousand-degree plasma stream shot forth like molten steel. White-hot at the core, it lit up the entire sky and slammed into the sea urchin¡¯s exposed face. CRK...ZZZZZZZZZZZ!! The Black Thorn whipped its spines furiously, shaking the ground, but Lin Xian and Chen Wei didn¡¯t care. They cranked the railgun¡¯s output to max, determined to burn this sea urchin to the ground¡ªand find out if there was any "urchin roe" inside! ¡°Keep firing!¡± ¡°AHHH!!¡± they roared over the blinding heat. BOOM! Suddenly, the ground beneath Pangu collapsed. The Abyss Worm had burrowed under them and exploded upward, flipping the entire ten-thousand-ton mech into the air. The left-arm railgun¡¯s capacitor detonated, engulfing the district in a firestorm. ¡°LIN XIAN!!¡± KIKI cried out in horror. She grabbed the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum from Wen Zhuo and shouted, ¡°We have to lure that damn worm away¡ªLin Xian can¡¯t fight two fronts!¡± ¡°Wait¡ª!¡± Wen Zhuo tried to stop her, but she was already gone. Wen Zhuo flew off with Fire Bro and others, circling to the other side of the sea urchin. He radioed command: ¡°Focus all attacks on the far side of the urchin! Even if you miss, just distract it¡ªbuy Pangu some time!¡± ¡°Roger!¡± He Zhen gave the order. ¡°All air units, ignore the Winged Demons¡ªprovide cover fire for Pangu!¡± VMMM¡ª Aerial forces across the sky swarmed toward Central City. Black clouds of Winged Demons surged after them. ¡°Help take down those flyers! Cover them!¡± On the northern front, Chen Sixuan and Qian Dele coordinated anti-air support. BOOM-BOOM-BOOM! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK! Every anti-air cannon and railgun on the north line lit up the sky. Chapter 287: Before Dawn Countless volleys of firepower surged into the sky, forming a torrent that rained down on the Winged Demon. At the same time, the heavy cannons along the tall defense lines in both the Eastern and Northern Districts opened fire on the colossal sea urchin. Dense explosions flared against the sea urchin''s invisible shield, lighting up its black spines with searing light. The roar of artillery filled the heavens. Pangu Unit 01 was flung backward by the Abyss Worm, crashing straight into a city block. Several high-rises exploded on impact, and debris and shattered glass rained down like a tidal wave. ¡°F***ing worm!¡± Inside the cockpit, Chen Wei cursed, breathing heavily. ¡°This thing¡¯s definitely a vanguard unit for that sea urchin. They must have some kind of communication mechanism. Now they¡¯re attacking us from both sides!¡± Lin Xian panted, suddenly feeling a warm trickle from his nose. He wiped at it and saw bright red blood. Even with a Mechanical Heart, piloting this tens-of-thousands-ton mecha while maintaining full-body scanning and control was insanely taxing. He turned to look at Chen Wei and saw that he, too, was pale, with nosebleeds streaming like a faucet. ¡°You good? Still able to fight?!¡± Chen Wei wiped the blood away with one hand. ¡°No big deal.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Clunk, clunk¡ª The two of them gripped their arm controllers, bodies tensing as they forced themselves back up. Whooooom~ From the ruins, Pangu Unit 01¡¯s nuclear turbine pulse engine began to roar. The mech¡¯s muscle engine clusters unleashed a burst of torque as its fist pounded the ground¡ªand it rose again. Staring into the billowing smoke, Chen Wei said calmly, ¡°That worm struck while we were on the move. The seismic sensors couldn¡¯t pick it up. Now it''s gone quiet again¡ªit''s obviously lying in wait.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. He looked at the black sea urchin under the rain of artillery and nodded. ¡°Every time we target the sea urchin, this thing shows up. So...¡± He glanced at Chen Wei, who gave him a nod back. Got it. They started moving toward the black sea urchin. Thump. Thump! Unit 01 emerged from the smoke and began striding toward it. The sea urchin¡¯s shield fully activated. Its massive black spines twisted violently, smoke curling upward from around it¡ªit looked like it was trying to ascend. ¡°It¡¯s trying to run?!¡± ¡°Not a chance!¡± If that thing escaped into the clouds, they¡¯d never get another shot. Unit 01 picked up speed, each step shaking the earth. But beneath them, the Abyss Worm was also on the move. ¡°Right fist!¡± ¡°Right fist!¡± As they neared the urchin¡¯s spines, both pilots shouted in unison. A furious punch was thrown¡ªbut it slammed into an invisible shield, rippling the air like water. Still, the urchin didn¡¯t fight back¡ªit just kept rising under the storm of cannon fire! But Unit 01 wasn¡¯t about to let that happen. It lunged sideways, covering hundreds of meters, and reached the previous breach made by the standard-pressure tower. Around that spot, the force field shimmered with intense heat, melting the metal structure. It was on the verge of collapse. Seizing the moment, Lin Xian and Chen Wei raised their right arms together. ¡°Activate high-voltage pulse hammers!¡± ¡°Activate high-voltage pulse hammers!¡± Zzzzzz! The hydraulic assemblies extended, high-frequency electric arcs flickering across the alloy striking modules. Then¡ªBOOM! A devastating punch landed on the tower. The electromagnetic shockwave blasted through the tower with a concussive crack, penetrating the urchin¡¯s outer shell by dozens of meters, releasing a torrent of black corrosive sludge. The two pilots dodged away just in time. Creak¡ªZzzzzzzzz! The hit did more than wound¡ªit enraged the sea urchin. It shrieked with a low-frequency howl, shaking the earth. Every black spine whipped violently, ignoring the missiles and raining down toward Unit 01. Boom! They were ready. With a massive heave, Unit 01 caught the spines and yanked the monstrous sea urchin straight out of the sky! On the other side, Wen Zhuo saw the sea urchin¡¯s shield vanish. He didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°NOW! Full barrage! Empty all missiles!¡± Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Every air unit, ground artillery, and turret¡ªeverything lit up. The sky filled with streaking flame, and the cannons on the high walls screamed. Wen Zhuo and the Hunting Corps unleashed every long-range skill at their disposal. Explosions engulfed the sea urchin! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Huge blasts ripped through its shell, snapping black spines like twigs. Fiery chunks crashed to the ground. It burned fiercely¡ªembers raining across the battlefield. Morale surged. RUMBLE! Suddenly, seismic tremors returned. Chen Wei and Lin Xian instantly braced. Cracks spidered across the ground. The holographic view tracked them. Their faces turned grim. ¡°Don¡¯t let go. It''s about to break!¡± Chen Wei roared through gritted teeth. ¡°I... KNOW!¡± Lin Xian pushed Unit 01¡¯s reactor into overdrive. Engines screamed, pouring out torque to pin the sea urchin in place. Then¡ªa streak of red light zipped across the sky toward the fissure. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened¡ªit was KIKI, flying fast with the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. ¡°KIKI! Get back!!¡± he shouted, but communications were jammed near the spines. The air units were all reacting based on Unit 01¡¯s movements. Seeing her dash into danger, Lin Xian panicked. ¡°You damn worm! Weren¡¯t you chasing this flower?! Come get it!¡± KIKI¡¯s face was pale. She clutched the planting pod tightly and veered at the last moment, skimming along the quake¡¯s path. ¡°Come on... come on... follow me!¡± And it worked. The Abyss Worm, as if drawn by the flower¡¯s scent, abruptly changed course¡ªright as it was about to attack Unit 01. It followed KIKI instead. Her eyes lit up. She sped toward open ground. Lin Xian and Chen Wei stared, stunned. ¡°That worm¡¯s not too bright, huh?¡± Lin Xian muttered. ¡°Urchin, your lackey bailed. Time for you to die!¡± Chen Wei snarled. But then¡ªthe Unit 01 HUD lit up with flashing red. WARNING: Intense energy fluctuation detected! WARNING: Intense energy fluctuation detected! Suddenly, the urchin¡¯s many compound eyes blazed red. Its black fur flared. A sphere of crimson dust erupted in every direction! BOOM!!! Every missile, every shell¡ªit all got swallowed up. Shockwaves ignited the city. Buildings vaporized. Unit 01¡¯s composite armor shredded. Mechanical parts melted. The nano-ceramic visor shattered. Lights died. The entire mech was blown away! KIKI, mid-air, felt the wave behind her¡ªtoo late to turn. She was flung like a ragdoll, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum tumbling from her hands. BOOOOM!! The blast created a radiant dome of destruction over Xilan City, covering nearly a third of it. Monster hordes, Winged Demons, and air units¡ªgone. Ionized radiation fried all aircraft electronics. They plummeted from the sky. Central District¡ªflattened. KIKI landed in ruins, barely shielded by a last-second telekinetic bubble. Cough, cough¡ª Bloodied and dazed, she clawed out from beneath debris, pushing off a collapsed floor slab. ¡°Lin... cough cough¡± She was shaking uncontrollably, barely standing. And then¡ªshe saw it. The mech. Unit 01, lying in the wreckage, its chestplate split open, faceplate glowing red-hot. ¡°Lin Xian!!¡± She shouted, jabbing her communicator¡ªno response. RUMBLE! Tremors again. Smoke billowed. KIKI knew what that meant. If the worm got the Chrysanthemum, Unit 01 was finished. ¡°Where is it? Where¡ª?!¡± She frantically searched the debris. Then it hit her: ¡°The worm¡¯s looking too!¡± She turned¡ªand saw it. The flower, glowing faint red, near rubble on a side street. KIKI¡¯s breath quickened. She tried to fly¡ªbut her body wouldn¡¯t respond. Blood poured from her nose. And just then¡ª A snow crawler roared through the ruins! Headlights beamed through the haze. It skidded to a stop beside the rubble. The door flung open. A small figure jumped out and sprinted¡ª It was Xiao Yuan! ¡°Xiao Yuan!!¡± KIKI shouted into her comms. ¡°KIKI, I found the Chrysanthemum! Where are you?!¡± Xiao Yuan called back as she gently dug it out of the rubble. RUMBLE RUMBLE! Tremors neared. Smoke erupted in the distance. KIKI¡¯s face fell. ¡°RUN! Forget me¡ªJUST GO!¡± She hit the group channel. ¡°Wen Zhuo, Fire Bro, where are you?! Hurry!!¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡± Wen Zhuo¡¯s voice crackled through static. Xiao Yuan, seeing the quake approaching and Unit 01 down, clutched the flower and sprinted back to the vehicle. Engine roared. Treads kicked up snow as the crawler sped toward open ground. But the quake closed in. Fast. The crawler couldn¡¯t outrun the Abyss Worm. The earth buckled like waves. She knew it was catching up. She clutched the Chrysanthemum¡ª WHOOSH! A sonic boom! Wen Zhuo had arrived. He used magnetic force to lift the entire crawler off the ground. G-forces pinned Xiao Yuan to her seat¡ªhope flickered. Then¡ªan explosion below. A massive maw burst from the earth, black as night, swallowing the crawler whole! All light vanished. Her heart skipped. ¡°CATCH IT!!¡± she screamed, summoning every ounce of strength to hurl the Chrysanthemum toward Wen Zhuo¡ªjust before the worm devoured her vehicle. BOOM! The crawler disappeared. But Wen Zhuo caught the flower. ¡°XIAO YUAN!!¡± KIKI screamed, staring in disbelief. Crackle... ¡°I-it¡¯s... okay...¡± Through static and noise, Xiao Yuan¡¯s voice came. ¡°You... all have to live...¡± Inside the worm, she gripped the comm. "Every convoy suffers at least 5% casualties..." "In every black night, it¡¯s the same. 5%, 6%, even 10%. There¡¯s always death." "It¡¯s always the weakest, the ones with no protection. It''s not that unusual..." RUMBLE. The worm began retreating underground. Her signal was fading. She closed her eyes, ready to give her final words¡ª ¡°Captain Lin, I¡ª¡± BOOM! The snow crawler was completely swallowed, signal cut. Thud-thud-thud! Just then, the ruins of Central District began to tremble violently. As the Abyss Worm was about to retreat underground, a colossal mecha burst in at breakneck speed. The impact force swept away the blizzard above and the flames on the ground. The entire battlefield quaked. ¡°Lin Xian!!!¡± KIKI screamed. Inside the cockpit, Lin Xian, now solo-piloting Pangu Unit 01, surged forward, bloodshot eyes blazing. He lunged, grabbing the edge of the worm¡¯s gaping maw. Lifting his right arm, the mecha began to morph¡ªits fingers twisting into a tri-phase rotary ring, spinning at blinding speed. But this time, the maglev acceleration rail didn¡¯t light up. He was using it like a rotating tunneling drill. ¡°You wanna eat me? In your f***ing dreams!!!¡± Lin Xian bellowed with rage. The rotating drill came crashing down, plunging into the Abyss Worm¡¯s mouth, grinding meat and splattering blood like a hurricane. As it bored downward, the arm¡¯s thousands of engines howled, hydraulic shafts erupting with torque. With a roar, Unit 01 tore out not only the swallowed snow crawler, but a chunk of the worm¡¯s esophagus! SCREEEEEE!! The Abyss Worm howled in terror. Blood and flesh erupted from its mouth like a volcanic geyser. Inside, just before blacking out, Xiao Yuan saw a blinding white light above¡ªthen came Lin Xian¡¯s voice, roaring through her comm. ¡°Captain Lin...?¡± she murmured. Outside, both KIKI and Wen Zhuo froze in disbelief. Unit 01 flung the crawler toward them¡ªWen Zhuo instantly reacted, catching it with magnetic force, then pulling both it and KIKI into the air to escape danger. Whoooom! Unit 01¡¯s maglev rail on its right arm, now drenched in gore, lit up with a faint blue glow. The hexagonal superconducting coil let out a chilling screech under the icy winds. Lin Xian raised the plasma cannon, aimed straight at the worm¡¯s open maw. ¡°Here¡ªeat THIS!¡± BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Millions of degrees of plasma erupted from the cannon. The worm, trying to retreat, suddenly swelled with white-hot light¡ªthen exploded. Molten fire and magma jetted outward. The worm¡¯s mouth split like a bursting flower, glowing like lava. Dead. Deader than dead. BOOM! A massive black spine suddenly whipped through the flames, catching Lin Xian off guard. Unit 01 was sent flying, carving a deep trench into the ruins. Pffft~ Lin Xian slammed into a cooling module, vomiting blood. The neuro-sync cables still connected, he was wracked by both physical and mental agony. The gel inside his visor started leaking. He gasped for air, suffocating. Warning: Target Eerie Entity Approaching! Red lights flashed. He looked at the incoming giant sea urchin¡ªand smirked. The thing didn¡¯t flee¡ªit charged in a rage after the worm¡¯s death. For whatever reason, the surviving forces launched a final bombardment. Only a dozen black spines remained on the urchin. WHIRR! Another spine shot down¡ªnot a sweep this time, but a precision stab, aiming for Unit 01¡¯s chest core. ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Xian scrambled onto the controls, forcing the mech to dodge right. The spine grazed the left flank, tearing through armor, snapping drive shafts, and shattering cables. Unit 01¡¯s left arm and chest armor blew apart, leaving a gaping wound. Sparks everywhere. Coolant leaked in sheets. The spine pinned Unit 01 to the ground. The urchin descended, looming overhead. Dozens of red compound eyes focused on the cockpit. Its remaining spines shifted, forming shields to block incoming attacks. Behind the cracked nano-ceramic panel, the red eyes locked on Lin Xian. His ears rang¡ªas if pierced by countless overlapping Eerie Entity screams. For a moment, he saw a cosmic eye¡ªa presence gazing at him from beyond the atmosphere. The urchin¡¯s eyes sprouted scarlet tendrils, thousands of them, like fleshy energy filaments, spiraling, twisting, closing in. Lin Xian tried to move¡ªbut his body wouldn¡¯t respond. He was paralyzed. Drained. Powerless. WHIRR! Suddenly¡ªUnit 01¡¯s chainblade deployed from its right arm, transforming from folded form into a solid broadsword, serrated edges gleaming. The nuclear engine shrieked¡ªthe blade drove straight into the urchin¡¯s central eye cluster! Lin Xian snapped out of the trance. He turned¡ªChen Wei had gotten up! Blood-covered, expression grim, he¡¯d reconnected the neuro-sync link, shouting: ¡°DIE!!!¡± "That guy... he never liked Ability Users. After Apocalypse Day, his entire family was wiped out by a rogue convoy. Then his brother... now it¡¯s just him. Flying solo on Unit 01¡¯s neural link¡ªhe¡¯s been shattered inside ever since...¡± CLANG! The sword cleaved the urchin¡¯s black shell, spewing black slime. Under the red alert lights, Lin Xian saw inside: a mass of brain-like nodules, round and grayish-red, pulsing with fluid, distorting and twitching like something out of a nightmare. WHOOOOOOM¡ª! The inner cavity wailed like a pipe organ. The crack closed rapidly, and all red eyes focused on Unit 01¡¯s cockpit. Crimson energy surged. The storm intensified, arcs of lightning lashing out across the city. Another laser was charging. ¡°LIN XIAN!!¡± ¡°CAPTAIN!!¡± Dozens of Hunting Corps members rushed in. Air units dove. Everyone knew what was coming. Wen Zhuo, Han Jun, Fire Bro¡ªall launched their Abilities, creating barriers in front of the cockpit. Too late. BOOM! The dark red beam tore forward, engulfing Unit 01¡¯s head completely! The ground boiled. The air flash-vaporized. The city turned scarlet. Earth shook. Blinding light filled everything. Then, silence. Smoke cleared. Everyone thought Lin Xian was dead¡ª ¡ªbut Wen Zhuo saw it. A transparent energy shield, flickering rapidly, hovered in front of the cockpit, covering Unit 01¡¯s upper body. The mech stood intact, steaming. ¡°What... is that?!¡± ¡°It blocked the laser?!¡± ¡°Impossible!!¡± The nano-ceramic panel cracked and fell. Lin Xian stood, eyes arcing with electricity. One hand raised, holding up a massive AT Field shield. Behind him, a blue phase-ring reactor spun in midair. Power cables floated, lightning webbed behind him. The nuclear turbine raged. Energy surged. The red eyes twitched, confused. Their prey still lived. Lin Xian raised a trembling finger, pointing at the cracked shell. Whispered: ¡°Gravity Lens.¡± BOOOOOM¡ª The world stilled. Sound vanished. Light dimmed. A warped space vortex formed within the shell¡ªa blackwater whirlpool, devouring all light and energy. A massive gravitational singularity formed. The urchin¡¯s flesh, eyes, and inner sacs were all sucked inward¡ªshredded¡ªspun into a crimson-black void. 1/5 of its mass¡ªgone. Wen Zhuo saw it. He shouted: ¡°NOW! FINISH IT OFF!!¡± Everyone responded. Fire Bro, Lu Xingchen, Han Jun, Qin Xueming, all 20+ Hunting Corps. Air units. Three defensive lines. Total bombardment. BOOM BOOM BOOM¡ª! The urchin tried to raise shields¡ªbut too late. Its flesh was ripped apart by metal storms and pure energy. In seconds¡ªit disintegrated. In the cockpit, Lin Xian watched the blast above. Everything blurred. The cables fell. He collapsed. Beside him¡ªChen Wei lay still, body still linked. His hand frozen mid-strike, holding the sword. On his neck¡ªtwo Phoenix badges. One for Chen Wei. One for Chen Lie. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± A voice. Chen Sixuan. Wearing Black Eagle armor, she tore away the shattered panel, landing on the cockpit. Clank, clank... The sound of trains¡ªlike a lullaby in the snowstorm. 22 Doomsday Trains, like a blizzard dragon, rumbled northward, away from Xilan City. September 1st, D-95, 5:25 AM. The Battle of Xilan City was over. Of 65,000 survivors, only 29,000 remained. Of 12,256 soldiers, over 7,000 fell. Two-thirds of the air fleet¡ªgone. The Dreadnought-class carrier¡ªdestroyed. Of 35 Hunting Corps teams, only 21 survived. The colossal sea urchin was slain. All monster tides had receded. Humanity had won¡ªbarely. Wei Kexue, Sun Kai, Chen Wei, Xiao He, Chen Xiao, Zhang Chengzhi, Wu Zhenhai, Liao Ming, Lu Yong... too many to name. They would never see September¡¯s dawn. The Phoenix led survivors and the Investigation Corps eastward, toward Abyss Zone No. 5. The Infinite, Dragon Mountain No. 1¡ªand all trains followed the Northern Route, deeper into the blizzard and Polar Night. A silent mass evacuation. ¡°Director Zhao, did the signal beacon go out?¡± Inside the Phoenix base convoy, Wen Zhuo asked Zhao Yu. ¡°It did. Dawn Center received it.¡± ¡°Which Courier Unit?¡± Zhao Yu paused. ¡°None. All twelve are gone.¡± He looked at Wen Zhuo. ¡°A convoy called Blackie¡¯s found Zhou Wuer and Peng Peng... too late. A guy named Long Dahei... he carried the beacon out.¡± Wen Zhuo¡¯s fingers trembled slightly. ¡°...Good.¡± As he turned to leave, Zhao Yu stopped him. ¡°He was your friend, huh? A good man.¡± ¡°...He was my brother.¡± Wen Zhuo took a deep breath and walked on. In the depths of the storm, corpses of Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends piled up. At the center¡ª Zhou Wuer held Peng Peng, frozen together beneath the snow. Inside their courier satchel, a bottle of Xinghua Fenjiu still lay unopened. Zzzz¡ª ¡°Global Broadcast: Phoenix announces new breakthrough in analysis of Dark Entities¡¯ behavior¡ªdesignated Dark Mark. The Soul Wave Detector¡ªjointly developed with Xinghua Heavy Industries¡ªcan now detect Soul Wave peaks and Mark intensity. To all survivors: Do not enter the Polar Night while marked. Daylight is ending. Before we ignite the spark¡ª Stay silent in the dark.¡± Chapter 288: Silent Night Under the black sky, only a few starlights revealed the faint outlines of the city. Yubei City, shrouded in darkness and deathly silence, was full of war-torn ruins. The temperature was freezing. There was no blizzard¡ªonly the purest form of extreme cold. Even the wind was absent. The entire city felt frozen in time. At the city center, a massive nuclear crater six kilometers in diameter had formed. A frozen slurry of blood and broken corpses had solidified into ice. Streets in all directions radiated outwards, melted and cracked from the blast. Only in the distant districts were there still hordes of zombies. But even those zombies stood eerily still in the dark, as if trapped in a state of suspension. The surroundings were void of sound and life. Though these zombies were technically still ¡°alive,¡± they had completely lost all instinct to move¡ªlined up like mannequins throughout the streets and alleys. On top of a still-standing skyscraper, Chu Yan stood silently in her custom full-body mech suit, gazing at the massive nuclear crater in the distance. Data constantly flashed across her holographic visor. A mechanical voice spoke: ¡°Distance to Lu City Abyss Zone No. 3: 5,650 kilometers. Current Soul Wave Value: 1156. Radiation index: 198 mSv/h.¡± ¡°According to intelligence analysis, more than two S-Class Eerie Entities may be present in this area¡ªalong with a Corpse Shepherd from Abyss Zone No. 3.¡± ¡°Corpse Shepherd?¡± Chu Yan¡¯s eyes narrowed as she looked toward a massive jellyfish tentacle fallen on a distant hill. Then she turned to the towering Climbing Passage reaching into the sky. Piles of charred corpses were stacked like mountains outside the spaceport. Ash blanketed the ground like dust. The tragedy of the evacuation battle could be seen in just a single glance. Her gaze sharpened. ¡°Scan for Blood Scourge fluctuations.¡± ¡°Scanning in progress. No signs of Blood Scourge growth detected.¡± ¡°Must be the radiation...¡± ¡°Shall we set the next Polar Night exploration path?¡± Chu Yan didn¡¯t respond immediately. She stared in the direction of the nuclear blast center, paused for a second, then raised her hand and pointed. ¡°Warning. Using the Gravity Lens here could trigger Tidal Resonance. Projected risk index for the path ahead will rise by 13%.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. Phoenix¡¯s Polar Night Division Two already investigated this place. The Corpse Shepherd is no longer here.¡± She was just about to take action when she suddenly sensed something. Whipping around, she was startled to see a young man standing quietly behind her¡ªwith no protective gear at all. Chu Yan¡¯s pupils contracted. ¡°You again?¡± Lin Xian stood at the edge of the rooftop, looking weary. He stared at the vaguely familiar skyline, then looked back at Chu Yan. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re synced in time. So you¡¯re not a hallucination.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. But you are,¡± Chu Yan replied calmly. She turned around, facing Lin Xian through her mech¡¯s visor. ¡°My radar didn¡¯t detect you, which means only I can see you. Who the h*ll are you?¡± Lin Xian noticed two emblems on Chu Yan¡¯s armor¡ªone was the crimson phoenix of Phoenix, and the one before it was a grey-blue shield¡ªNAUF. ¡°I¡¯m Lin Xian. Leader of a survivor convoy that works with Phoenix.¡± ¡°Lin Xian?¡± Chu Yan frowned. ¡°You own the shelter in Jiang City?¡± ¡°So I should be the one asking¡ªwhy were you in my house?¡± Lin Xian shot back. ¡°That¡¯s classified.¡± Chu Yan raised her hand and drew a small flying blade from her mech¡¯s left shoulder, flicking it toward him. It passed straight through Lin Xian¡¯s face. ¡°There must be some kind of mental-energy connection between us. But I don¡¯t know your background. Since you claim to work with Phoenix, I¡¯ll verify it with them. Next time we meet, maybe we can share more. In the meantime, you¡¯d better keep this whole thing to yourself.¡± As she turned to leave, she looked back and asked, ¡°You saw me for longer this time, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s gaze focused, but he didn¡¯t answer her question. Instead, he said, ¡°Wait, let me look around a bit.¡± Yubei City under the Polar Night was wrapped in pure desolation and death. Not a hint of life remained. At the far edge of the spaceport platform, faint humanoid silhouettes were burned into the defensive walls¡ªlike a tragic mural painted with charcoal... DONG, DONG... DONG, DONG... Lin Xian clutched his aching head, struggling to rise. When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying in the bedroom of Carriage No. 1 on the Infinite Train. The lights were off. All blackout shades were tightly sealed. The carriage was completely dark. He checked the time on his watch. 16:00 Lin Xian tried lifting one of the nearby shades. Through the custom multilayered bulletproof window he had installed, he looked outside. Pitch-black. Only the falling snowflakes hinted that it was snowing. The temperature outside had climbed back to -32¡ãC. The convoy seemed to be moving away from the Extreme Cold Vortex. ¡°Phew...¡± Lin Xian exhaled deeply, trying to suppress the splitting headache. Overexerting himself while piloting Unit 01, combined with using the Gravity Lens, had left him feeling like his soul had been ripped apart. The moment of Chen Wei¡¯s death kept replaying in his mind, causing waves of nausea and suffocation. He focused on his breathing, sitting in silence for several minutes before he started to feel better. He recalled the final blast against the massive sea urchin. At that moment, it seemed like the nuclear energy from Unit 01 had fueled a massive AT Field. But that hadn¡¯t been a conscious action¡ªhe had no idea how the Superstring Phase Rainbow Ring had appeared behind him... Opening the Mechanical Heart panel, Lin Xian¡¯s expression changed as he saw the flood of alerts: ¡¾Non-mechanical energy converted¡ªgained 1000 Mechanical Source Points¡¿ ¡¾Non-mechanical energy converted¡ªgained 1000 Mechanical Source Points¡¿ ¡¾Congratulations! Mechanical Heart upgraded to LV.5. Remote Control Mode unlocked!¡¿ Remote Control Mode: Allows remote scanning, devouring, manipulation, and manufacturing. Range is affected by ¡¾Mechanical Manufacturing¡¿ level. Current range: 500m. Mechanical Heart Level: LV.5 (240/20000) Special Skills: Mecha Energy Cannon¡¾Amplified¡¿ AT Field¡¾Amplified¡¿ Backlash (Rare, Lv.2 - 50%) Power Surge (Rare, Lv.3 - Maxed) Gravity Lens (Legendary, Lv.1 - 99%) R&D Center ¡¾G3 Electromagnetic Railgun (Blueprint) in Development ¨C 1d 13h 59m¡¿ ¡°So the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum absorbed that much dark energy? It converted 2000 source points?¡± Lin Xian was stunned. Just as he was getting up, another message popped up: ¡¾Non-mechanical energy converted¡ªgained 1000 Mechanical Source Points¡¿ His expression turned serious. ¡°It¡¯s still converting?!¡± In the Xilan City battle... how much black energy did that Blood Scourge absorb?! ¡¾Skill available for Amplification¡¿ Power Surge (Rare, Lv.3 - Maxed) ¡ú Amplify to: ¡¾Superstring Reactor Phase Rainbow Ring¡¿ Condition: Devour a nuclear power unit with output over 300 MW Amplification Time: 24 hours ¡°So it¡¯s real. But why did I activate it before the upgrade...?¡± His mind was full of questions. He had already used the skill, yet it hadn¡¯t officially amplified. The requirement¡ª300 MW nuclear device¡ªwas absurd. His Gemini 11R Nuclear Electric Locomotive only output 290 MW. ¡°But at least the Mechanical Heart has finally leveled up.¡± Lin Xian looked at his hands, then at the small alarm clock on the nearby desk. He grabbed it. Whoosh¡ª The alarm clock turned to ash. ¡¾Devour successful¡ªgained 1 Mechanical Source Point¡¿ ¡°Remote devour, scan, and control. That¡¯ll save a lot of trouble.¡± Feeling stronger, Lin Xian started to recover from the horrors of the last battle. He reached for the communicator to contact the others¡ª ¡ªbut then he paused. Something felt... off in the carriage. The train¡¯s clacking had slowed noticeably. Lin Xian didn¡¯t know how long he¡¯d been asleep, nor where they were. His first thought: The train¡¯s moving too slow. His second: Something¡¯s weirdly quiet. He held his breath and stepped into the corridor¡ªcompletely dark. Where was everyone? Just then, someone approached with a dim cold light. It was Chen Sixuan. ¡°Shhh!¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s eyes lit up with joy when she saw him, but she quickly gestured for silence. Then, unable to help herself, she rushed into his arms. ¡°Thank goodness... you¡¯re finally awake.¡± Her voice was barely audible, yet full of joy. Lin Xian steadied himself, then whispered, ¡°What happened?¡± Chen Sixuan pulled him back into the bedroom, closed the door, and said seriously: ¡°The entire convoy is in silent mode right now.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve entered the Polar Night zone of Abyss Zone No. 5. But right when we crossed into the Tidal Zone... weird things started happening.¡± ¡°Weird things?¡± Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°Something showed up outside. A convoy train called Flying Fish¡ªone of its carriages was damaged during the last battle. And now there¡¯s a full-carriage infection. Everyone inside is dead. Cause of death unknown.¡± ¡°That carriage has been quarantined. We think it might be airborne, so all 22 trains have activated air filtration. Everyone¡¯s working on patching the leaks.¡± Lin Xian frowned at her words and immediately activated Mechanical Heart to scan for the Eerie Cube aboard the train¡ªno alerts. He let out a small breath of relief. ¡°Also, while you were out, we spoke with Brother Shi and a few other convoy leaders,¡± Chen Sixuan explained. ¡°Even though no one currently has a mark, everyone¡¯s worried about getting marked during the Polar Night. And we know there¡¯s something out there, so for safety, everyone agreed to slow down, turn off the lights, and travel in complete silence.¡± Lin Xian nodded. He understood instantly. After the brutal battle at Xilan City, though the survivors had cleansed their marks, they all knew¡ªdeep in the Polar Night, no one dared to let their guard down. Chen Sixuan added that due to routing constraints, the 22-car Doomsday Train formation had no choice but to traverse the outer perimeter of Abyss Zone No. 5 via the northern route en route to Quancheng. This meant they had to pass directly through the Polar Night area, so caution was paramount. ¡°Thankfully, the snow isn¡¯t as deep as it was back on the Parma Grasslands, so we don¡¯t need to push the speed.¡± Thunk! Lin Xian used his Mechanical Heart to open the blackout shade. His expression tightened as he looked out over the pitch-black snowy plains. ¡°So all 20-something trains are moving together?¡± ¡°Yeah. Dragon Mountain No. 1 is leading the way. Right behind us is Monica Queen¡¯s train.¡± ¡°She¡¯s got full all-terrain drive. Why isn¡¯t she with the main Phoenix convoy?¡± Lin Xian asked, puzzled. ¡°No idea,¡± Chen Sixuan whispered. ¡°Not just her¡ªQian Dele too.¡± ¡°Qian Dele?¡± Lin Xian raised a brow. ¡°That guy runs a major convoy. And he¡¯s got nuclear-powered polar vehicles. Why would he switch to a train?¡± ¡°He swapped his nuclear vehicle for a train from another convoy. Said he prefers space and cleanliness. If he¡¯s gonna die, he wants to die comfortably.¡± Lin Xian chuckled helplessly. That did sound like Qian Dele. After this mass migration, many convoys probably hoped to hitch a ride with Phoenix and were eager to switch vehicles anyway. ¡°Luo Yang and the others are the same. After Xilan, everyone¡¯s wrecked. Wu Shu and Liao Ming from the Big Eagle Convoy are dead. Liang Lei, Amin, Lolo, and Li Guangwen were badly injured¡ªbarely saved thanks to our medical pod. Liang Lei still hasn¡¯t woken up. Luo Yang and Li Yi traded their vehicles too. They combined and renamed their team the Sun Convoy, now over 100 people, following right behind us. Some of their crew and remaining Big Eagle members also went with Shen Yao of the North Wind Alliance.¡± The battle at Xilan had devastated nearly all convoys. Under these conditions, survivors grouping together was natural. Hearing of Wu Shu and Liao Ming¡¯s fate, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He remembered the Blood Scourge Flora Wu Shu gave him. After what happened in Xilan, the importance of Blood Scourge Flora had skyrocketed in his mind. He had hoped that if they survived, they could ally with Wu Shu¡¯s group and provide them with Power Armor and weapons. But now, the Big Eagle Convoy was no more. ¡°Oh, right. Shen Yao from North Wind asked me to pass on a message¡ªsomeone¡¯s looking for us.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Chen Sixuan hesitated for a second. ¡°Silver Star. Jian Xuwei.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s pupils shrank. He remembered the sharp and decisive leader of Fenger Group at the spaceport. That Eternal-Class Doomsday Train with over a hundred carriages was the most firepower-packed beast Lin Xian had ever seen. Just the electromagnetic railguns numbered over four... ¡°Pff¡ªhello? Brother Shi?¡± Lin Xian pressed his communicator, attempting to contact Dragon Mountain No. 1 up ahead. Soon, Shi Diyuan¡¯s surprised voice crackled through: ¡°Brother Lin! You¡¯re awake!!¡± ¡°Shh! Keep it down¡ª¡± Ning Jing¡¯s voice cut in. ¡°Oh, right! My bad!¡± Shi Diyuan quickly lowered his voice. ¡°Brother Lin, man, I was worried sick. How are you feeling? Any busted parts?¡± Lin Xian felt a warmness inside. ¡°I¡¯m good, Brother Shi. What¡¯s our status?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain.¡± The channel shifted to Ning Jing¡¯s voice. ¡°Captain Lin, Brother Shi¡¯s injured pretty bad, so I¡¯m handling things for now. We¡¯re almost at Yijin, no monsters in sight yet. But you need to watch your air circulation system. We suspect there¡¯s something toxic in the snowstorm¡ªmaybe something like Dark Invasion. Be extremely careful.¡± ¡°Got it. Stay in touch.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Lin Xian switched to another frequency and connected with Luo Yang¡¯s group. The moment his voice came through, the young team members exploded with excitement. ¡°Captain Lin! We¡¯ve started modifying our train just like yours! We¡¯re with you all the way!¡± Luo Yang said. Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Take care of yourselves first. Finish the modifications when it¡¯s safe. We¡¯re in Polar Night now¡ªbe cautious. Let me know immediately if anything happens.¡± ¡°Got it! Thanks, Brother Lin.¡± ¡°Hey, Li Yi¡ªhow¡¯s Liang Lei doing?¡± ¡°He... he¡¯s still alive,¡± Li Yi said quietly. Clearly, Liang Lei¡¯s condition was worse than expected. ¡°Take care of him.¡± Lin Xian sighed. He checked in briefly with Qian Dele and Monica, then finally exhaled long and deep. At this moment, 22 Doomsday Trains were linked front to back, forming a steel dragon nearly 15 kilometers long, slowly advancing through the snowy Polar Night. Over 400 survivors were on board, some of whom had transferred in from vehicle convoys after Xilan. Without them, the numbers would be even higher. ¡°How¡¯s everyone else doing?¡± Lin Xian asked as he walked toward the rear carriages with Chen Sixuan. She leaned in to whisper, ¡°KIKI is still asleep. Fire Bro, Big Luo, and the other ability users are all wiped out. We Evolvers fared a bit better.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°So... regular people are adapting better than ability users?¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just more exhausted. Plus... we used two Cold Dark Reagents.¡± Chen Sixuan looked genuinely worried. Lin Xian stopped in his tracks. He stared at the faint glowing energy flowing through the carriage and thought: Could it be because they¡¯re closest to S-Class, and absorbed more Dark Energy¡ªalong with what Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum converted? That might explain the intense burden on their bodies. The logic made sense. Setting aside the two Cold Dark Reagents, these stronger fighters had slain more monster tides. That S-Class Sea Urchin and Abyss Worm must¡¯ve released a huge amount of energy. Yes, it helped with abilities and evolution. But the downside? They probably wouldn¡¯t see the sun for a long time. With that thought, Lin Xian headed for Carriage No. 3. As he passed Carriage No. 2, he noticed KIKI still sound asleep. Her complexion looked much better. That gave him some relief. The battle at Xilan had pushed KIKI into the worst possible situation. Her ability scan had reached over 2000 on the evaluation scale¡ªRampage Level. But at heart, she was just a girl who had only awakened her ability a month ago. She had barely any energy left when facing the giant sea urchin. She needed proper rest. As for himself, Lin Xian figured his faster recovery probably came from the Eerie Cube converting energy into his body. Lin Xian didn¡¯t find Ding Junyi in Car 3. Instead, she was in Carriage No. 4, busy harvesting vegetables with a few young team members. ¡°Cut the carrot tops with 3 cm of root, root-side up in the petri dish. They¡¯ll sprout in 2¨C3 days. Then transfer to the hydroponic tank,¡± Ding Junyi instructed. ¡°For lettuce, place the roots in water¡ªbut not deeper than 2 cm. Also, watch the temperature in Car 4. Lettuce is sensitive. Overheating causes mutation. Ideal range is 15¡ãC to 25¡ãC. Perfect for places without direct sunlight.¡± She spoke in her usual patient tone, even while harvesting. Noticing Lin Xian, she stood up right away. ¡°Lin Xian¡ªyou¡¯re awake?¡± ¡°Captain Lin!!¡± The others shouted, then quickly realized they were too loud and clamped their hands over their mouths. Lin Xian motioned for silence. The group nodded. ¡°Director Ding, we¡¯ll take these to blend into veggie juice.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Ding Junyi replied. Once they left, she turned to Lin Xian: ¡°It¡¯s been night constantly, and after being exposed to the monster tide in Xilan for so long, we¡¯re expecting severe Dark Invasion. So I prepped extra vegetable juice.¡± Lin Xian opened his mouth¡ªhe had come for that very reason. But she was already on it. Seeing this, Lin Xian stepped forward and hugged her tightly. ¡°Thank you, Director Ding. Thank you for your research. Thank you for the Dark Mark.¡± After they crossed Dazhu Plateau, it was Ding Junyi, Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum from Underground City No. 9, and the efforts of the entire Infinite Train that got them this far. It was also because of Wei Kexue, Guo Er, and countless researchers who validated the Dark Mark Theory, that Xilan¡¯s survivors were still alive today. Now that they were back aboard the Infinite Train, Lin Xian just needed to hug her. Ding Junyi was caught off guard. Her composed face flickered with a trace of surprise. ¡°This... it¡¯s nothing.¡± Lin Xian let go, placing both hands on her shoulders. ¡°How can it be nothing? You, Wei Kexue, Guo Sicheng, Captain Yu, Professor Zhang¡ªall of you. Do you realize how many lives the Dark Mark Theory has saved? You all deserve the highest honors in science.¡± Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses, her voice calm. ¡°To a scientist, the far side of truth isn¡¯t a crown of honor¡ªit¡¯s a wellspring of redemption carved out by intellect in desolation. As a human being, I¡¯m honored just to have contributed.¡± ¡°...But,¡± she added, locking eyes with him, ¡°Your recognition¡ªit feels f***ing great.¡± Chapter 289: Human Fungus ¡°That made me feel good?¡± Lin Xian, who had been in a gloomy mood, was stunned when he heard that. He had just wanted to sincerely thank Ding Junyi. As someone who had always had a low profile aboard the Infinite Train, Lin Xian had seen this as a good opportunity to reward her for her contributions. But now it sounded like... he was the reward? Ding Junyi glanced at Lin Xian, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly upward. Then she said seriously, ¡°Back to business¡ªI have some very important information for you.¡± Lin Xian let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡± Ding Junyi walked up beside the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum and said, ¡°While we were investigating the Dark Mark, I used my ability to try sensing affinity with the Chrysanthemum. What I saw... was something very unusual.¡± ¡°Saw?¡± Lin Xian pointed to the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, which was currently flickering with red light and absorbing dark energy. ¡°You mean visually?¡± Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m sure of it. Through that Disaster Flora, I saw from the perspective of some dark entity in Xilan City. It could¡¯ve been that giant sea urchin¡ªor perhaps something even more advanced, something it worshipped or served.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face turned serious at her words. He gestured for her to continue. Ding Junyi¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°To be precise, the word ¡®see¡¯ might not be accurate. Dark creatures are a different type of existence entirely. Their sensory and survival systems are completely unlike ours. They likely possess a unique network of sight/smell/perception. And this time, we discovered that WIMP-type dark matter particles can form bonds directly with human cell membranes, turning the marked human into a sort of ¡®Dark Universe Beacon¡¯. In other words, this dark matter is their ¡®light¡¯.¡± Lin Xian pondered. ¡°And they can¡¯t see our light?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Ding Junyi confirmed. ¡°We can¡¯t understand these beings with conventional logic. Take cold dark fundamental particles, for example¡ªthey might be their oxygen or a more advanced form of energy. I was only able to sense the presence of a colossal lifeform through the Disaster Flora. Judging by the sea urchin¡¯s behavior, it¡¯s likely just a scout.¡± ¡°Of course, all of this is just speculation. It doesn¡¯t contribute much to our current research. What I really wanted to tell you is something else.¡± She raised both hands in front of Lin Xian, and to his astonishment, the minuscule energy streams flowing through the air slowly rose¡ªthen were directly absorbed into her body. ¡°Wait... huh?¡± Lin Xian was dumbfounded. ¡°You can grab that energy?¡± ¡°I seem to have developed some traits similar to the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. I can directly absorb and convert the energy from the Black Smoke. It¡¯s incredibly weak... but still...¡± She looked at Lin Xian with a troubled expression. ¡°Honestly, I feel pessimistic about this change.¡± ¡°I still don¡¯t know if this trait is permanent, whether I¡¯ve replicated something, borrowed it, or if it¡¯s because of my plant-based ability. Maybe I¡¯ve formed some kind of symbiotic relationship with the Disaster Flora...¡± ¡°That¡¯s also why I was able to sense the Chrysanthemum¡¯s location when Captain Yu went missing.¡± Her brows were tightly knit with worry, and her voice sounded uneasy¡ªbut Lin Xian was already stunned. Wait a sec... Sis, are you some kind of cheat-code magnet?! That Chrysanthemum¡¯s ability is seriously overpowered, and now she¡¯s just... copying it? ¡°Lin Xian?¡± Ding Junyi called out when she saw his dumbfounded face. ¡°You think this is unusual too, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re being too modest,¡± Lin Xian muttered, turning away as a million thoughts ran through his head. He struggled to find the right words, but upon seeing her serious face, he could only say, ¡°Let¡¯s just... keep observing. Your ability has only just awakened. There might still be a lot¡ªlike, a lot¡ªof unknowns to uncover.¡± ¡°For example, if you can sense Disaster Flora, maybe you¡¯ll be able to detect more of them.¡± Ding Junyi shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve tried. So far, I can¡¯t sense any others except for the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. Not even the Silver Dragon Tenfold Bloom.¡± ¡°Oh, right!¡± Lin Xian suddenly remembered. ¡°Have you figured out what that thing does?¡± ¡°No. But if I can use the same method as I did with the Chrysanthemum, I might be able to find the answer.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Out of caution, Lin Xian immediately objected. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should try that right now. Last time, you passed out. And we still don¡¯t understand the effect the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum is having on you. Testing the other one might backfire.¡± His concern wasn¡¯t unfounded. Who knew if the Silver Dragon Tenfold Bloom was tied to some even worse dark entity? Their top priority right now was escaping the Polar Night. Risking it would be reckless. That thing wasn¡¯t going anywhere, and with Ding Junyi¡¯s expertise as a biologist and plant-type Ability User, he was confident she¡¯d eventually uncover its secrets. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°We can¡¯t rush this.¡± Lin Xian glanced toward the dark train corridor and said, ¡°That Chrysanthemum absorbed a lot of energy this time. Everyone¡¯s been fighting for nearly two days straight. We¡¯re gonna need a bigger supply of veggie juice. I¡¯ll leave that to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve wrapped up the Dark Mark investigation. Next, I¡¯ll focus on cold dark fundamental particles and plant cultivation.¡± After wrapping up with Ding Junyi, Lin Xian made his way toward the back carriages. Since the lights were off, the train was quietly cruising. Da Lou and Fire Bro were fast asleep in Car No. 5, so Lin Xian kept walking until he reached the living carriage. Even before he got there, he could already hear some chattering from one of the living pods¡ªboys and girls chatting in hushed tones. ¡°Xiao Yuan, you were so brave! You drove all the way there alone to find the Chrysanthemum.¡± ¡°Yeah, we were scared out of our minds...¡± ¡°It was so close. I still can¡¯t believe Lin led the charge and pulled you out of that monster¡¯s belly like a fr*ggin¡¯ god!¡± ¡°Our Captain Lin is awesome! Like a savior from heaven! I think I¡¯m in love.¡± ¡°Ah Chen, did you forget you¡¯re a dude?¡± ¡°So what? What guy wouldn¡¯t fall in love with a massive mecha? That thing cracked open that sea urchin like a walnut!¡± ¡°Totally badass!¡± Then came Xiao Yuan¡¯s voice: ¡°Alright, alright, that¡¯s enough. Captain Chen told us to keep it down, remember? Let¡¯s not be noisy¡ªah~¡± ¡°Xiao Yuan.¡± Lin Xian walked over. Everyone turned in surprise and quickly stood up. ¡°Cap¡ªLin¡ª¡± Shhh. Lin Xian held a finger to his lips. ¡°We¡¯re still under the Polar Night. Until we know what¡¯s out there, let¡¯s try not to make too much noise.¡± They all nodded and lowered their voices. ¡°Thank goodness you¡¯re okay, Captain Lin. We were so worried.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been through so much. Thank you, Captain.¡± ¡°We all fought with our lives. No need for thanks.¡± Lin Xian nodded, then looked toward Xiao Yuan. Her head and body were still wrapped in bandages. The Automated Medical Pod had already treated her twice, but due to the intense crushing damage and Dark Invasion inside the Abyssal Maw, she looked pale and exhausted. Her baby-fat cheeks were now ghostly white. When she saw Lin Xian, her eyes widened in surprise and she tried to sit up. ¡°Cap¡ªCaptain Lin.¡± Lin Xian quickly motioned for her to stay down. ¡°You made it through. That¡¯s all that matters. Focus on recovering.¡± Xiao Yuan looked at him with teary eyes and nodded. ¡°Okay, Captain. Thank you.¡± ¡°You nearly died saving me. Why are you thanking me?¡± Lin Xian said with a sigh. ¡°You were really brave. I should be thanking you.¡± ¡°I...¡± Boom! Suddenly, the train trembled slightly, and everyone tensed up. Lin Xian signaled them to stay quiet. Then, a voice came through the communicator¡ªNing Jing¡¯s. ¡°All trailing convoys, heads up¡ªunknown entities detected on both sides of the track. Do not engage.¡± A moment later, she switched to a private channel. ¡°Captain Lin, confirm if there¡¯s any new Marks.¡± ¡°Captain!¡± Shu Qin came rushing in. ¡°Quick! Look outside!¡± Hearing that, Lin Xian¡¯s face changed. He immediately opened the blackout panel in the living carriage. The snowstorm had calmed down. On both sides of the once pitch-black track, buildings and fences began to appear¡ªdilapidated and eerie. Most shockingly, strange mushrooms were growing on the fences, houses, and abandoned cars. They glowed faintly in the dark, casting a blue-green luminescence. The train rolled forward, and what had started as scattered dots of glow turned into glowing fungal carpets. One by one, people on each train opened the blackout panels to look outside. Under the glowing mushroom fields, they saw it¡ªa city in the darkness: Yijin. Everyone on the Infinite Train was stunned. ¡°What kind of mushroom is that? It glows?!¡± ¡°Nothing from the Blue Planet would grow under Polar Night like that...¡± ¡°Looks kinda beautiful...¡± ¡°Can we eat it?¡± Soft chatter began to spread. Suddenly, Xiao Yuan cried out, ¡°Captain Lin! Look!¡± She pointed toward a few low buildings near the tracks. Lin Xian and the others looked¡ªand there, on the ruins, stood people. They stood completely still¡ªalive or dead, it was impossible to tell. But the creepiest part was that their heads and bodies were covered in those glowing mushrooms. As the train thundered past, every one of those ¡°people¡± turned their heads in unison to watch it pass. Their faces were indiscernible, but the aura they gave off was chilling. ¡°Director Ding,¡± Lin Xian instinctively pressed his communicator. Ding Junyi replied from Car No. 3, ¡°No Marks detected.¡± Lin Xian told her to keep updating all 22 convoy leaders in real-time to help ease tensions. But now, more and more mushroom-covered figures were appearing along the tracks. Some stood in pairs, others in clusters¡ªbut all stood like wooden stakes, their heads slowly turning to follow the train¡¯s rumble. Shasha and Chen Sixuan leaned by the window, staring at the bizarre sight. Just then, one of those ¡°people¡± passed close to the train. As it turned its head, its face reflected off the window from the glow of the mushrooms¡ªand finally, the two of them saw what it looked like... It was... a living person?! The shriveled, yellowed face looked like decaying wood, crawling with mycelium vines. The top of the skull had been broken open by fungal threads, with grayish-white brain matter solidifying into the patterns of a mushroom cap. The cap itself was covered in honeycomb-like holes, seeping blue-green glowing slime. The jawbone sagged like bleached wood, coral-like fungus clusters climbed up the throat¡ªand the most horrifying part? The person¡¯s eyes were still moving... like they were alive. ¡°Holy sh*t!¡± Shasha jumped back in fright. ¡°What the hell is that?! Is it alive or dead?¡± ¡°I saw its eyeballs move. Is it a zombie?¡± As they moved deeper into Yijin City, more of these human-fungus hybrids came into view. What had seemed like a surreal, luminous landscape at first now stirred something indescribably eerie in the survivors. Everyone¡¯s initial awe turned into palpable dread. No one knew what these dark creatures were, and all remained on high alert. ¡°There are still no Marks. All convoys, stay synced and do not fire!¡± Just as the words left the comms, a massive explosion boomed from about a kilometer behind. Immediately after, an anxious voice came through the communicator. It was the captain of the Ocean convoy. ¡°Captain Lin, someone in our team fired at those human-fungus things! The mushrooms are explosive¡ªthey ignite and blast with crazy force! Everyone, be careful!¡± Panic swept through the convoys. Orders to cease fire were relayed rapidly across all teams. Lin Xian rushed toward Car No. 2 to launch drones for reconnaissance, but just then¡ªthe train braked hard. SCREEECH¡ª!! Starting with Dragon Mountain No. 1, the inertia rippled back through the convoy. Everyone felt the intense jolt. The 15-kilometer-long steel beast let out a piercing metallic screech as sparks flew across the tracks. ¡°All trains stop immediately¡ªtrack ahead is broken!¡± Ning Jing¡¯s urgent voice came through the communicator, and chaos erupted. Lin Xian quickly cut Infinite Train¡¯s power output, but the convoy''s massive inertia pushed Dragon Mountain No. 1 hundreds of meters forward before it finally halted. The grating friction noise echoed through the dark shell of Yijin City, harsh and ominous. Thousands of survivors¡ªstill reeling from the brutal Xilan City defense¡ªwere instantly on edge. As if triggered, they reached for their weapons, holding their breath, ready for combat. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°Are we under attack?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t shoot! Wait for the captain¡¯s orders!¡± On Infinite Train, everyone tensed up. Da Lou and Fire Bro were startled awake. Even KIKI rubbed her eyes groggily, asking around, ¡°What happened? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Everyone, stay calm.¡± Lin Xian stopped near Car No. 3 and glanced toward the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. Ding Junyi stood beside it, expression solemn¡ªthen she shook her head. No Marks. Lin Xian turned to the communicator. ¡°Ning Jie, what¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°Not good.¡± Those two words immediately set off alarm bells in Lin Xian¡¯s mind. Back in Dragon Mountain No. 1, Ning Jing stared at a blank void on the track detector display, her face grim. ¡°Our rail scanner¡¯s range is over one kilometer...¡± She looked up toward the front of the cabin. By the faint outlines of the glowing mycelium clusters, she could see a frozen urban water zone ahead, crusted in ice like a swamp. Beyond that, only pitch-blackness¡ªno trace of the tracks. Ning Jing took a deep breath and activated Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s high-powered floodlights. A blinding beam lit up the tracks and surrounding structures like daylight. Abandoned buildings, snow-covered roads, everything was silent and still. The light cut further into the city. The train had just entered Yijin, still far from the main station. The roads up ahead were cracked like spiderwebs, coral-like fungi gushing from each fracture. Billboards and ruins were covered in dried yellow vines, and everywhere, human-fungus hybrids stood frozen in grotesque forms¡ªchests split open, legs fused into the earth. Mycelium wrapped around them like veins, forming grotesque symbiotic bodies. One billboard, originally reading ¡°Welcome to Yijin City: The Beautiful Western Homeland,¡± had been rewritten in glowing patches: ¡°Welcome... to... Beautiful... Home...¡± As the spotlight swept over them, the glowing mushrooms on these figures shrunk their caps, and then¡ªthe ¡°people¡± began trembling violently. Crack, crack! The fungal vines snapped, roots that had anchored them to the ground tore free, and the creatures began moving mechanically, dragging their rotted joints and stumbling toward Dragon Mountain No. 1. Seeing this, Ning Jing immediately turned the lights off and barked through the comms: ¡°Everyone, listen up! These things react to light¡ªdon¡¯t turn on the lamps!¡± She stepped back cautiously. Shi Diyuan, wrapped in bandages, limped forward. Watching the mass of silhouettes advancing from the shadows, his expression darkened. ¡°F*** me... can¡¯t even catch a break. What the h*ll are these freaks now?!¡± ¡°No idea. And now that the track¡¯s broken, we can¡¯t even run if we want to.¡± Ning Jing scowled. ¡°We¡¯ll need to send a scouting team and fix the rails fast¡ªor we¡¯re sitting ducks.¡± Out of the 22 Doomsday Trains, only Monica¡¯s Monica Queen had full all-terrain mobility. Dragon Mountain No. 1 only managed half that. On terrain like this, dragging dozens of steel carriages was impossible. ¡°Should¡¯ve upgraded everything when we passed through Silent City,¡± Shi Diyuan muttered, loading a shotgun with swift one-handed motions. Eyes narrowing at the approaching monsters, he growled, ¡°Figures¡ªhad to break down in the middle of Polar Night. What a f***ing joke.¡± ¡°Easier said than done,¡± Ning Jing sighed. ¡°Back then, we didn¡¯t have the supplies to trade for upgrades.¡± ¡°Well then¡ª¡± ¡°Wait¡ªhold up,¡± Ning Jing stopped him. She noticed the creatures had paused midway through their march. They froze in place, and slowly, the mushrooms on their bodies reopened, glowing faintly again. ¡°They only seem to react to light. Doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯re actively hostile...¡± BANG! Suddenly, a loud crash hit the side of the cockpit. Something had slammed into the train¡¯s armor. Startled, the two turned toward the source. Another impact struck a carriage behind them¡ªand then more. A series of heavy thuds pounded against both sides of the convoy. On Infinite Train, Lin Xian immediately opened the blackout panels. Several rushed into the information center. KIKI pointed to the monitor showing Sentry System¡¯s night-vision feed: grotesque, spiked rat-like beasts were slamming into the train¡¯s flanks with frenzied force. Other convoys were under the same assault. ¡°It must¡¯ve been the screech from braking¡ªthey heard it and came rushing!¡± Chen Sixuan exclaimed. ¡°Director Ding,¡± Lin Xian called out. ¡°No Marks!¡± she responded instantly. ¡°Should we fight back?¡± Shu Qin asked, ready to act. ¡°Prepare to eliminate them,¡± Lin Xian ordered. Shu Qin nodded and turned to leave, but Lin Xian quickly stopped her. ¡°Wait!¡± He noticed something strange¡ªthe giant rats had only been attacking for a few minutes before suddenly retreating into the darkness. Despite the chaos, the impacts had caused no real damage. Infinite Train¡¯s new composite armor remained intact. Other trains were fine too¡ªonly some grille plates were dented. Thousands of survivors, who¡¯d been holding their breath for a counterattack, finally exhaled. ¡°Trains really are safer,¡± said Luo Yang of the Sun Convoy, wiping sweat from his brow. ¡°That kind of impact would''ve totaled a jeep or off-road vehicle...¡± As the sudden night assault faded, the 22 convoy captains began exchanging updates. ¡°Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s drones have flown over 10 kilometers. Still no sign of the track. What the hell¡ªwhere did the whole Yijin City rail line go?!¡± ¡°Are we trapped here?¡± ¡°Hold on, there should be news soon.¡± Back on Infinite Train, all key personnel gathered in Car No. 2, waiting for the scouting reports. ¡°Everyone,¡± Ning Jing¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Good news: we¡¯ve found the track. Bad news: the break is in the northern part of the city. That means the entire 22-kilometer stretch of city rail is gone, including all backups.¡± ¡°What?! 22 kilometers?!¡± In the Joker Convoy, Qian Dele looked at his stunned teammates and grumbled into the comms, ¡°Hey, Monica, didn¡¯t you say track issues were super rare?¡± ¡°You¡¯re just really lucky,¡± came Monica¡¯s reply. Inside the luxury cockpit of the Monica Queen, Monica scanned the train¡¯s system data and sighed. ¡°We¡¯ve always taken the orbital rails, and we¡¯ve never entered a Polar Night Zone. Guess your bad luck just hit the jackpot.¡± Still, Monica wasn¡¯t panicking. Her train had full all-terrain mobility. That meant out of 22 trains, she was the only one with an escape route. Truthfully, she¡¯d only joined the rail convoy to stick with Infinite Train. After all, this man had just piloted a giant mecha and smashed an S-Class Eerie Entity. Monica knew that in the apocalypse, choosing the right team was often more important than raw power. And in that decision¡ªshe had no doubts. Chapter 290: Mycelium Human Head On the Infinite Train, Lin Xian replied to Ning Jing¡¯s words, ¡°Laying 22 kilometers of track¡ªeven with the most basic standard¡ªis no small project.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Ning Jing said thoughtfully, ¡°My engineering team has already reviewed the drone¡¯s reconnaissance footage. There are multiple collapses, waterlogged sections, and countless obstructions. The two main issues are track materials and time and safety concerns.¡± ¡°So many Doomsday Trains, I¡¯d imagine everyone has emergency track supplies, right?¡± Shu Qin chimed in. ¡°We already did a tally,¡± Ning Jing answered. ¡°Everyone only has short-term emergency reserves¡ªjust a few hundred meters. Altogether, we can maybe cover three to four kilometers. Of course, there¡¯s also the option of dismantling rear track sections to patch the front, but that would cost a lot of time...¡± Inside Carriage 2, everyone instinctively turned to look at Lin Xian. ¡°Our emergency track only covers three hundred meters,¡± Big Luo said. ¡°That¡¯s far from enough.¡± ¡°Lin Xian, more than twenty kilometers¡ªeven if you try to manufacture it, that¡¯s going to take serious effort, right?¡± KIKI swiveled in her chair and looked back at Lin Xian. Lin Xian shook his head. ¡°Making rails is simple. It won¡¯t take much. With so many Ability Users among us, clearing obstructions is easy. Dragon Mountain No. 1 has a track laying machine, so it¡¯s not a complex fix. The only issue... is materials.¡± He had already used up all the materials in his Disassembly Space when repairing Unit 01. Currently, all that remained was 30 grams of iron from a swallowed alarm clock... ¡°But if we mobilize all the trains to lay tracks, it¡¯s going to be a huge commotion. Who knows what might happen in the current situation,¡± Chen Sixuan said. ¡°Can we just use Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s all-terrain vehicle to haul us across the 22 kilometers?¡± ¡°Drag a 15-kilometer-long train convoy?¡± KIKI let out a dramatic sigh. ¡°Even if they grind Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s treads to dust, it still wouldn¡¯t budge. And if we derail, getting back on the tracks won¡¯t be easy~¡± ¡°She¡¯s right.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°The best option is still connecting the rails.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, he added, ¡°Let¡¯s form a small team, head into the city to gather materials. With those and the other trains¡¯ emergency rails, we can supply the Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s track layer directly. That¡¯d be the most efficient way.¡± ¡°Seems like that¡¯s the only plan.¡± KIKI spun back around in her chair, shooting Lin Xian a teasing look. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s up to our savior again.¡± There was a trace of hidden concern deep in her eyes¡ªwell-disguised by her usual stellar performance. Hearing this, Chen Sixuan gave Lin Xian a helpless look. ¡°I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about the situation in this city. And the air...¡± Lin Xian glanced at KIKI. ¡°Let¡¯s go down and take a look first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± KIKI nodded. Lin Xian then discussed the plan with Ning Jing and the others. He brought KIKI along and had her deploy a Telekinetic Shield to isolate the outside air as they prepared to disembark. Just to be safe, he sealed the carriage completely, leaving only the two of them to open the door. ¡°Everyone, stay alert. I¡¯ll scout ahead. All convoys remain silent and await further orders.¡± ¡°Understood, Captain Lin.¡± The voices of over a dozen convoy leaders echoed from the back. No one questioned this young train captain¡ªafter all, he had been the key to resolving the Xilan City Crisis. Even Luo Yang of the Sun Convoy was a loyal follower of Lin Xian. Shhh¡ª The hatch of Carriage No. 1 opened. KIKI activated her Telekinetic Shield to block the outside air, and the two of them floated out of the Infinite Train. Outside the carriage, the air was cold and damp. Everywhere they looked, bioluminescent fungi glowed in the dark¡ªon the ground, on walls, on the train, on people... ¡°If only this stuff didn¡¯t grow on people¡ªit¡¯d actually be kinda pretty,¡± KIKI said, gazing at the glowing patches. ¡°Anything born in the Polar Night isn¡¯t something I¡¯m in the mood to admire,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°Well? What do you think?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel particularly weird.¡± Regaining her energy, KIKI crouched and grabbed one of the glowing mushrooms. With a soft squeeze¡ªpoof¡ªit burst, releasing a puff of ochre-colored spores that wafted through the air. Seeing this, KIKI quickly swept them away with her telekinesis. ¡°Fungal spores?¡± Lin Xian scanned the nearby Human-Fungi. ¡°Looks like this type of fungus can parasitize humans.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s another parasite... or Impostor?¡± KIKI grimaced. ¡°That¡¯d be disgusting.¡± She extended her power toward the nearest Human-Fungus¡ªa tall man still wearing a thick jacket. But under the fungal tendrils, it had turned entirely discolored. Her power stripped the mushrooms and mycelium from his body¡ªalong with his dried-out clothes, and... his skin and bones. Crack¡ªcrack¡ªcrack. A disturbingly eerie noise rang out. The more KIKI pulled, the more nauseated she felt, her brows deeply furrowed. It felt disturbingly like peeling the crispy skin off fried chicken. Beneath the fungal layers lay rotting, soaked organs. She gagged. Ugh¡ª KIKI dry-heaved, completely unaware that as she ¡°peeled,¡± the eyes of that Human-Fungus were frantically twitching¡ªfilled with agony. Lin Xian frowned at the sight. This fungus seemed to be turning people into some sort of plant. He wasn¡¯t even sure what form it counted as. If they accidentally got infected, they¡¯d be completely screwed. ¡°Let¡¯s head up for a better view,¡± Lin Xian gestured skyward. ¡°Okay.¡± KIKI released her hold and tossed the Human-Fungus away. Crack. Its head snapped off at the neck like rotting wood, rolling along the ground with tendrils and mushrooms sprouting from it. With a surge of telekinesis, the two of them soared into the air, wrapped in a protective barrier. Within moments, they were hundreds of meters up. Fierce wind whipped spores against their gas masks. Lin Xian tightened his cable grip and looked down. His pupils shrank. The entire city of Yijin¡ªonce a tourist hotspot in the west¡ªwas now cloaked in a bizarre fungal bloom. Networks of glowing mycelium pulsed across the surface like fluorescent rivers. Spore clouds drifted between buildings. Lin Xian was awed. If not for the horrific Human-Fungi, the scene might even be considered otherworldly¡ªbeautiful, in a twisted way. But looking too closely was a mistake. The brown, web-like mycelium clung to buildings and ground alike, interwoven like a cocoon. Condensation inside his mask slid down into his collar, making Lin Xian shiver. The glowing mushrooms blinked on and off, and the whole city pulsed like a breathing womb¡ªdeeply unsettling. ¡°I remember before Apocalypse Day, Yijin was a top travel spot,¡± KIKI murmured, staring into the night. ¡°People came here for the Wildflower Festival, rode that steam train through the salt marshes and canyons... Oh, and there were tons of casinos too. Kinda like our own Las Vegas. Their lamb skewers and rose pies were famous...¡± She suddenly turned to Lin Xian. ¡°Do you think the Polar Night is covering these cities just to grow these mushrooms?¡± Lin Xian ran a scan with his Power Armor¡¯s radar and air analysis systems, then said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head back. Air¡¯s okay for now, but those airborne spores are a real threat. Plus, the darkness of the Polar Night might bring more than just fungi.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a point.¡± Back on the Infinite Train, Lin Xian immediately checked the Eerie Cube. Confirming no sign of Dark Invasion inside, he finally relaxed. ¡°Everyone stay on the train. I¡¯m forming a temporary team to collect materials. Get Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s track layer prepped.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going with you¡ªand I¡¯ll bring A¡¯Bai.¡± Ning Jing responded promptly to Lin Xian¡¯s plan. ¡°Count me in too!¡± Luo Yang chimed in. ¡°Captain Lin, my night vision is excellent. Let me help.¡± Lin Xian thought for a moment. ¡°Make sure you¡¯re all in Power Armor. If it¡¯s not fully sealed, wear gas masks.¡± After what happened in Impostor Town, Lin Xian felt it was wise to have a few strong allies by his side. The 15-kilometer train was stationary¡ªno threat from the Night Rats. Better to bring extra protection. Of course, KIKI was going. Surprisingly, Fire Bro wanted in too. ¡°Didn¡¯t you love garrison duty? Why join this mission?¡± KIKI asked Lu Xingchen curiously. Lu Xingchen grinned. ¡°In the Polar Night, you don¡¯t face darkness with kindness. You fight it with fire.¡± Lin Xian had no comeback. He knew Lu Xingchen had taken a serious blow in Xilan City. As a top-tier Ability User, a Rampage-Level at that, he got chased all over by a giant bug and sea urchin¡ªforced to fly for his life. For someone who called himself the Flame Emperor, that was unacceptable. No wonder he jumped at the chance for action. ¡°Alright, that makes six of us...¡± ¡°Add me too.¡± Suddenly, Ding Junyi stepped forward, hands in her pockets, her face calm. Before Lin Xian could speak, she said, ¡°Fungal lifeforms differ fundamentally from plants. No chloroplasts. They rely on decomposing organic matter¡ªdead or alive¡ªfor energy. I¡¯m very interested in these fungi that thrive in the Polar Night. Plus, I can sense my Dark Mark now. You have no reason not to bring me.¡± ¡°...Can¡¯t argue with that.¡± Lin Xian sighed. He had almost forgotten how suitable Ding Junyi was. She could even absorb Dark Invasion energy and convert it into pure power¡ªa walking anomaly. Her skills would be crucial for analyzing this fungal city. ¡°Ms. Chen,¡± Lin Xian turned to Chen Sixuan, ¡°we¡¯ll leave the train in your hands. With this many people coming with me, we should be safe.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°You all be careful.¡± Soon, the seven-person squad¡ªLin Xian, KIKI, Ding Junyi, Fire Bro, Ning Jing, A¡¯Bai, and Luo Yang¡ªwas assembled. Their mission was clear: assist Lin Xian in entering the city to Devour materials and manufacture the rails for escape. The rest of the convoy remained on guard. The engineers on Dragon Mountain No. 1 had already started mobilizing, installing the track layer using temporary rails and cranes. One locomotive was detached for the job. Other convoys sent reinforcements¡ªeveryone in Power Armor and gas masks. Meanwhile, Shi Diyuan, Chen Sixuan of the Infinite Train, Monica, Qian Dele, and Li Yi handled security. The Electromagnetic Railgun atop the Infinite Train rose silently, scanning for suspicious activity under radar surveillance. At 17:12, the Doomsday Train, stretching 15 kilometers with over 500 carriages, lay quietly in Yijin City. All lights were off. Blackout shields drawn. It looked like a sleeping steel beast beneath the night. White mist billowed from carriage joints, and all around, Human-Fungi watched in silence¡ªeye sockets twitching with eerie intent. Clack. Wearing a TRP Power Armor and gas mask, Lin Xian stepped onto the ground once more. A cold wind lifted dry fungal vines into the air. There wasn¡¯t much snow¡ªonly scattered human clothing. Everyone was fully equipped. For safety, Chen Sixuan had given the Black Eagle Battle Suit to Ding Junyi, the weakest among them. KIKI¡¯s Telekinetic Shield couldn¡¯t stay active indefinitely, so she wore a gas mask as well. Lin Xian made sure no skin was exposed¡ªjust in case. These parasitic spores were even scarier than parasites. If he had the resources, Lin Xian would¡¯ve wanted everyone in Black Eagle Battle Suits¡ªthose fully sealed Power Armors with their own air filtration systems, even capable of movement underwater. With that in mind, he decided to collect extra materials this time and build a suit for every core team member. He even swapped out his own TRP armor to give to a regular team member and planned to iterate a new one for himself later. ¡°Try not to get too close or touch any of this stuff,¡± Lin Xian instructed as he led the group through a break in the wire fence alongside the track. On the outskirts were rows of crumbling old houses. He didn¡¯t use a flashlight, relying instead on the faint glow of the bioluminescent fungi to guide their way. The Human-Fungi nearby seemed to react only to sound, slowly creaking their heads around, but otherwise didn¡¯t move or show signs of aggression. ¡°So weird. Some of these people were Survivors, some are Zombies...¡± Luo Yang followed close behind Lin Xian, eyes lit up with fascination like a fanboy. He stared hard at the clusters of fungi and Human-Fungi. ¡°This stuff doesn¡¯t look new. Probably been here a while.¡± Lin Xian pulled out his long-unused phone, dug through it, and found a map of Yijin City he¡¯d saved. After checking their location, he quickly formed a plan. There was an Auto City not far from here, with plenty of shops along the way. Since he was only here for metal materials, he planned to handle things quickly. Staying too long in the Polar Night was a risk, especially with Abyss Zone No. 5 expanding¡ªdelays meant more trouble escaping. Crack! Crack! Crack! A mushroom-covered abandoned car by the street suddenly crumbled into ash. The fungal tendrils clinging to it still maintained the car¡¯s shape, with roots stretching and crawling across the ground¡ªit looked eerily alive. Luo Yang and Ning Jing had never seen Lin Xian use his Devouring ability before. Watching a whole car vanish into thin air left them speechless. ¡°Captain Lin, you can make an entire car disappear from that far away?¡± Luo Yang stared at Lin Xian like he was witnessing a god. No doubt about it¡ªLin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Ability had become something terrifying. With just a wave of his hand, an inorganic machine simply vanished. Even Lin Xian himself felt the leap in his power¡ªa qualitative shift in control over machinery. ¡°You don¡¯t even need to touch it anymore?¡± KIKI floated nearby, whispering by his ear. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s like... an evolution,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°With how fast your powers are progressing, it seems I¡¯ve been slacking off too much.¡± Lu Xingchen muttered hoarsely from behind his gas mask. Ding Junyi also gave Lin Xian a look of mild awe, clearly taken aback by how much his ability had changed. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of monster energy around here.¡± As they walked along the fungus-covered path, A¡¯Bai, who was beside Ning Jing, suddenly spoke up. Ding Junyi blinked. She knew A¡¯Bai could detect monster presence and Dark Marks, so she focused too. Her Black Eagle Battle Suit was covered in radar and data interfaces she still wasn¡¯t used to, so she just read off the screen. ¡°The Human-Fungi are alive, but they don¡¯t seem to match known Eerie Entity classifications.¡± ¡°Everyone stay alert. We don¡¯t know what threat these things pose, so avoid contact,¡± Ning Jing warned seriously. ¡°Jing-jie...¡± A¡¯Bai¡¯s voice tensed. ¡°The presence I sensed¡ªwasn¡¯t from the Fungal People.¡± That made everyone freeze in place. Lin Xian was in the middle of devouring another broken-down car but immediately noticed something off. Countless Human-Fungi were staring at them¡ªbut there was something else mixed in among those gazes. ¡°KIKI.¡± ¡°On it.¡± With a quick signal from Lin Xian, KIKI stood ready. As a powerful Telekinesis User, she could instantly lift everyone into the air if needed. Their mobility was a huge advantage in case of danger. Everyone clustered around Lin Xian in full alert, scanning the surroundings. Lin Xian, meanwhile, ignored the threat and focused on Devouring¡ªthat was still priority number one. They weren¡¯t here to investigate monsters or scavenge loot¡ªthey were here to fix the tracks and get the hell out. Grrrrrrllll... A strange rolling sound echoed through the damp, silent street¡ªlow and muffled. Everyone turned their eyes to the source. A black, spherical object slowly rolled out from the shadows ahead. ¡°Careful!¡± Ning Jing shouted, pulling A¡¯Bai and the others behind her protectively. As it got closer, the glow of the fungi revealed what it was¡ªa head, covered in mycelium. Then came more rolling sounds. More and more heads rolled out of the darkness. Each seemed semi-sentient, rolling toward corners of the street¡ªlight poles, garden edges, billboards¡ªthen stopping, turning their fungus-coated, waxy pale faces toward the newcomers. Eyes watched silently. ¡°Lin Xian...?¡± KIKI¡¯s voice was small, and she edged closer, ready to evacuate everyone with her powers. No one had used any flashlights. Their footsteps were quiet. Yet now every corner of the street had Fungal Heads watching them. ¡°They¡¯re probably real human heads,¡± Ding Junyi murmured. ¡°But it¡¯s unclear whether they¡¯re classified as biological or non-biological under fungal parasitism.¡± She pointed to one of the heads nearby. ¡°Best approach? I bring back a few samples for study.¡± Lin Xian felt a headache coming on. If she brought that kind of thing back to the train, no one would sleep again. Back to reality, things were getting creepier by the second. Everyone was now fully on edge. Lin Xian took a moment, then raised a hand and repaired a broken streetlamp in the distance, installing a quick battery. With a snap of his fingers, the lamp flickered to life in a pale yellow glow. That... was a mistake. The Human-Fungi all around started crack-crack-cracking, twisting violently. They tore their mycelium mats from the ground, joints cracking and twitching. Some walked, others climbed, moving like grotesque puppets toward the light. Then the most disturbing part happened. The Human-Fungi formed a circle around the streetlamp. The mycelium on their bodies went into overdrive, rapidly growing and intertwining. In just a few seconds, they had covered and climbed the streetlight, weaving a bio-dome that completely engulfed the lamp. Within moments, the battery Lin Xian had made corroded, and the light winked out. Darkness returned. Everyone¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Good thing we didn¡¯t let them get onto our train...¡± Ning Jing muttered. ¡°These mycelium can devour energy,¡± Luo Yang frowned. ¡°And if we attack them, it might trigger a chain reaction¡ªlike an explosion. This is tricky.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. These things were freaky. If they got on the Infinite Train, who knows what damage they¡¯d cause? They were practically the bane of machines. Worst of all¡ªthe airborne spores were microscopic. If inhaled? Total disaster. ¡°Human bodies contain bio-energy, too,¡± Ding Junyi added. ¡°These spores might be more dangerous than viruses. Physical removal may not even work.¡± Lin Xian looked at everyone and felt a headache rising. ¡°D*mn... if these spores stick to us and we can¡¯t get rid of them, how are we supposed to go back?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s easy.¡± To his surprise, Ding Junyi didn¡¯t seem concerned. ¡°There are many ways to neutralize fungal spores. We can fumigate in an ozone chamber, or use UV sterilization in a cleanroom... if...¡± She turned to glance at the glowing fungal carpet beside the road. ¡°If these are actually fungi, and not some kind of Dark Entity in disguise.¡± ¡°Director Ding, look,¡± KIKI pointed toward the Fungal Heads watching them from every street corner. ¡°Those ones aren¡¯t reacting to light. They¡¯re just staring at us.¡± Chapter 291: Fire Book ¡°Dazed.¡± Just as the word left his mouth, a mycelial human head in the corner began to swell in an eerie way. That twisted face ballooned like a grotesque balloon. Lin Xian¡¯s expression changed instantly. He turned to KIKI and shouted, ¡°KIKI, wrap it up!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± KIKI instantly wrapped the swelling mycelial head in a psychic barrier. As expected, the next moment, the head exploded with a loud pop, spraying rotting, bluish-white brain matter and a thick brown spore mist. The psychic barrier held it all tightly inside. ¡°That¡¯s disgusting!¡± At the same time, more mycelial heads began swelling, rolling toward them at high speed. ¡°Move!¡± Realizing the danger, Lin Xian didn¡¯t hesitate. KIKI grabbed everyone with her psychic power and shot up into the sky. Boom! Boom! Crack! Boom! A series of muffled explosions echoed behind them. The street they¡¯d just been on was now completely swallowed by thick spore fog. ¡°What the h*ll is this? Spore bombs?¡± Ning Jing asked, her expression a mix of shock and dread. She didn¡¯t fear monstrous enemies¡ªbut this parasitic spore mist made her feel powerless. Thankfully, they had someone like KIKI on the team. Otherwise, this would¡¯ve been a nightmare to handle. ¡°Head to that Auto City¡ªtwo blocks away. Let¡¯s move fast,¡± Lin Xian said firmly. This place creeped him out, and he didn¡¯t want to stay a second longer. Whoosh~ Above Yijin City, the air was thick with the musty smell of mold. KIKI held a transparent psychic shield over the group of seven and flew rapidly toward Auto City. Soon, a stretch of low-rise streets appeared, and beyond them, a vast open parking lot. Hundreds of abandoned, broken-down cars lay scattered across the clearing. Every vehicle was covered in fungal mats and bioluminescent mushrooms, giving it all a dreamlike glow... if you didn¡¯t know that beneath those glowing caps lay foul, rotting mycelia. ¡°Any drivable vehicles are probably long gone,¡± Luo Yang muttered with a frown. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not here for the cars,¡± Lin Xian replied. At that moment, Ning Jing noticed that A¡¯Bai looked troubled. She asked, ¡°A¡¯Bai, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Sis Ning... I just feel like... we¡¯re being watched by monsters from every direction...¡± Ning Jing¡¯s eyes scanned the area. The city was dead silent under the dark sky, fungal mats spreading everywhere. Other than the humanoid mycelial figures on the streets, there didn¡¯t seem to be any movement. But she knew A¡¯Bai¡¯s instincts rarely failed. She turned to Lin Xian and gave a subtle nod. Lin Xian nodded back. ¡°Let¡¯s make this quick. There¡¯s definitely some Eerie Entity here. If we get marked, we have to go all out and eliminate it. Otherwise, we won¡¯t make it out of this Polar Night.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Ning Jing nodded solemnly. So far, none of the human-fungus hybrids or those mycelial heads had marked them, not even the giant rats they encountered earlier. So despite how weird things were, they pressed on to search for devouring materials. ¡°Hey, Lin Xian, look!¡± KIKI pointed toward the center of the auto complex. ¡°That looks like a convoy camp!¡± Everyone looked in the direction she indicated. Sure enough, among the chaotic clusters of cars, there was a circular formation¡ªclearly once a survivor encampment. Around the perimeter were over twenty heavy-duty trucks forming a defensive ring, and inside were a mix of utility vehicles, off-roaders, trucks, buses, fuel tankers, and solar-powered vehicles¡ªat least 50 in total, making it a mid-to-large-sized convoy. But now, the camp was lifeless, dark, and completely covered in fungal mats and glowing mushrooms. It looked like a giant fungal flowerbed in the middle of the parking lot. ¡°This convoy¡¯s gone. No signs of life at all,¡± said Ding Junyi, clad in her Black Hawk armor. KIKI gently descended with her psychic power. Just then, both Lin Xian¡¯s and Ning Jing¡¯s red Phoenix Tokens started beeping. Beep-beep-beep. They reacted instantly. ¡°Someone left a Fireletter message pack!¡± ¡°Was this a Phoenix Convoy?¡± ¡°Not necessarily. Could be from the Nightwalkers.¡± Lin Xian pulled out his Phoenix Token and opened the transmission¡ªan audio signal crackled to life. ¡°Th... this is Nightwind Convoy... I¡¯m Deputy Liu Zhong... we can¡¯t evacuate... the city¡¯s suffering massive fungal spore contamination... the zombies...¡± ¡°The spores invade the brain fast... cause hallucinations... firearms are useless... the infected are drawn to sound and light... do NOT shoot, do NOT get out, do NOT turn on the lights... we¡¯re trapped... the city¡¯s fungal network is alive... it¡¯s alive!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been holed up for three days... the Captain took a team to Deep Crimson Pharma¡¯s underground facility... they were studying the Polar Night and the mycelium... they destroyed the roads and bridges to trap people in the city and use survivors as test subjects for fungal experiments... we engaged them, but it¡¯s too late... anyone hearing this¡ªif you¡¯re a survivor or from Phoenix, you must wipe them out! These fungal strands are worse than any virus¡ªthey¡¯ll destroy humanity!¡± ¡°We... can¡¯t get inside their lab... it¡¯s under that building! AAHHH¡ªsomething¡¯s growing inside my head!! AAHHH¡ª¡± Click. The message ended, and the air went cold. ¡°Deep Crimson Pharma? Them again?!¡± Ning Jing¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°You know the group?¡± Lin Xian asked. Ning Jing nodded and glanced at A¡¯Bai. ¡°They¡¯re backed by a cult called the Crimson World. Very secretive. A¡¯Bai and Xiao Qing were taken by them once...¡± She paused, words catching in her throat as she looked at A¡¯Bai. Everyone turned to A¡¯Bai, who looked utterly terrified. On the side, Lu Xingchen also had a dark expression. ¡°Deep Crimson...¡± KIKI quickly searched on her phone. ¡°Yep¡ªhere it is. No. 223, South Dae East Road. Deep Crimson Pharma, Yijin Branch. Used to be a top research company here.¡± ¡°So they¡¯re the ones who destroyed the roads and bridges? Those b*stards!¡± Lin Xian''s face darkened. He tried to send the message back to the train using his comms, but the signal was completely dead. All the relay poles were covered in fungal mats and ruined. ¡°Trouble.¡± ¡°What now, Captain Lin? Should we fall back?¡± Luo Yang asked cautiously. Lin Xian shook his head. He glanced at the humanoid fungi in the shadows. ¡°No point retreating. Without tracks, we can¡¯t leave Yijin. If those things latch onto the Infinite Train, we¡¯re all done.¡± ¡°This pharmaceutical group is one of the top in the global medical field,¡± Ding Junyi added. ¡°Not only are they filthy rich, they¡¯re also leaders in genetic research and cancer treatments. Based on the message, they clearly have means to continue experimenting here¡ªwhich means they likely already have defensive protocols, maybe even a way to fight this fungus. If we find them, we might find a solution.¡± ¡°Makes sense!¡± Lin Xian nodded. He glanced in the direction of the train¡¯s rail junction and said in a low voice, ¡°Let me finish gathering track materials here first. Then we head straight to Deep Crimson Pharma. If those people are still alive, we either wipe them out or squeeze out a cure. I¡¯ve got a bad feeling¡ªeven if we fix the tracks, we might not be able to leave so easily.¡± To repair the track, they¡¯d have to go through the city¡ªa long and slow process, with unavoidable noise. Even with Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Ability and remote track-laying support, covering over 20 kilometers and clearing debris was nearly impossible without attracting the fungus. Realizing this, Lin Xian decided to shift their strategy. ¡°You¡¯re saying we should go find the pharmaceutical group and try to get the fungal cure from them?¡± Ning Jing asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible they¡¯re already watching us?¡± Luo Yang added. ¡°Mycelial networks can transmit information and hunt. Biologically speaking, the whole fungal system could act as a single organism. In fact, the world¡¯s largest living being is a fungus,¡± said Ding Junyi. ¡°So yeah, it¡¯s entirely possible we¡¯re already under surveillance.¡± ¡°Then we have even more reason to act fast,¡± Lin Xian said urgently. ¡°And hard. If these things attack our train, we¡¯ve got no countermeasures.¡± He pointed to the nearby heavily armored Doomsday Truck. ¡°That convoy wasn¡¯t defeated by firepower.¡± They looked at the now-corroded survivor convoy¡ªdozens of vehicles buried under fungal mats, everything rotting. Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. The fungal spores and human-fungus hybrids posed a serious threat to the Infinite Train. They couldn¡¯t even fight back properly. Ning Jing and Luo Yang both nodded grimly. ¡°He¡¯s right. With a train this long, a chain reaction would spiral out of control,¡± Luo Yang said. ¡°Then let¡¯s go meet those people,¡± Lu Xingchen said coldly. ¡°We¡¯ll be doing the human race a favor.¡± Ning Jing¡¯s eyes flickered with hesitation before she sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t think these things would be this much trouble. They¡¯re even worse than Eerie Entities.¡± ¡°No need to get too pessimistic,¡± Ding Junyi said. ¡°At least for now, the fungal network hasn¡¯t shown extreme aggression. As long as we stay quiet, there¡¯s still room to maneuver.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lin Xian and the group landed in the parking lot. Wasting no time, he began devouring the heavy trucks. [Devour successful. +20 Mechanical Source Points. +10 Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency.] [Disassembled: Acquired High-Manganese Steel ¡Á10, Hot-Rolled Forged Steel ¡Á10, Cold-Rolled Dual-Phase Steel Plates ¡Á5, Ordinary Carbon Steel ¡Á20, Non-Metallic Foam Material, Composite Non-Metal Materials...] [Devour successful. +15 Mechanical Source Points.] While Lin Xian focused on devouring, KIKI and Ding Junyi scouted the convoy. They were stunned¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a single body left. ¡°Where is everyone?¡± ¡°They probably all turned into human-fungus hybrids.¡± Ding Junyi looked across the massive parking lot. All around them in the dark stood shadowy figures¡ªeach one grotesquely shaped, sprouting strange fungal growths. Tendrils from their legs were rooted into the ground, all interconnected. Staring down at the dense mycelial network underfoot, Ding Junyi murmured, ¡°I remember a study using Physarum networks to design subway systems. Their root structures transmit information¡ªbasically a living neural net. Yijin City¡¯s layout is just like that...¡± ¡°Wait, are you saying... every human-fungus hybrid is like a sensory terminal? Like monster feelers? Monitoring us?!¡± Luo Yang exclaimed. ¡°If the fungus has a collective consciousness, then yes,¡± Ding Junyi replied calmly. The group felt a chill run through them. Lu Xingchen, annoyed, stomped on one of the fungal tendrils. He felt energy flowing through it and grumbled, ¡°Wish I could just burn it all down.¡± ¡°Hey! You trying to blow us all up?!¡± KIKI snapped. ¡°You¡¯re not here to mess around. Don¡¯t touch anything!¡± ¡°Alright, alright...¡± Fire Bro muttered, raising his hands. Suddenly, A¡¯Bai stepped back closer to Ning Jing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, A¡¯Bai?¡± He pointed at the abandoned cars around them. ¡°They... they¡¯re all watching us.¡± Everyone looked up. Shockingly, the number of humanoid fungi had multiplied. From the dark came a faint click-click-click¡ªsoft movements drawing closer. ¡°They¡¯re surrounding us?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t even turn on the lights...¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just light. Our body heat and bio-signatures¡ªthey already see us as prey.¡± ¡°Fungus?¡± ¡°That would be best,¡± Ding Junyi muttered, frowning. ¡°If it¡¯s just instinct, we might still manage. But if not... we¡¯re in real trouble.¡± Still devouring at full speed, Lin Xian said, ¡°Nobody move. If they keep closing in, we¡¯ll devour from the air!¡± ¡°Duh... duh... duh...¡± The clock ticked past 8:10 p.m. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. More and more humanoid shadows gathered in the dark, their joints creaking eerily, closing in on the convoy camp. The team formed a defensive circle around Lin Xian, eyes alert. Clatter-clatter¡ª Vehicle after vehicle disintegrated under Lin Xian¡¯s remote devour ability. Items inside spilled to the ground as the car shells collapsed into empty fungal husks. As he devoured, Lin Xian noticed something disturbing. The survivor convoy vehicles looked like they had aged ten years inside¡ªeven though the distress message was only days old. The implications for Infinite Train were terrifying. If the fungus got on board, it¡¯d be a disaster. ¡°They¡¯re getting closer!¡± KIKI warned urgently. ¡°Up we go!¡± Lin Xian called out. KIKI immediately lifted the seven of them several meters into the air. Moments later, their former position was swarmed by the hybrids. Lin Xian had now devoured most of the convoy vehicles. The Disassembly Center¡¯s inventory was growing fast. His mechanical source points and devour skill were also rapidly increasing. It had been a long time since he devoured this much. Under better circumstances, he could¡¯ve consumed every last car in the parking lot. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± KIKI pointed below. Looking down, Lin Xian saw a dim red glow spreading through the tangled fungal network beneath the humanoid hybrids. Like blood, the glow pulsed and flowed, illuminating the ground. Everyone saw it. The red light became brighter and more concentrated, flowing like a vascular system. The fungal network seemed to be... breathing. Sensing the danger, Lin Xian stopped devouring and turned to tell KIKI to fly higher. But just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something floating toward him¡ªa glowing fungal umbrella, soft white and pink, as delicate as a feather or dandelion. His eyes narrowed. ¡°Lin Xian, watch out!¡± KIKI cried. She instantly raised a massive psychic barrier, enveloping the group. The floating umbrella burst apart midair, scattering thousands of tiny glowing spores like a misty, sparkling cloud. ¡°Above us!¡± Looking up, they saw a rain of white and pink fungal umbrellas descending from the black sky. They shattered against the psychic shield, releasing clouds of spore dust onto the hybrids below. In an instant, the hybrids began to mutate violently. White fungi burst from their bodies. Their limbs exploded. Their heads rolled to the ground. In their place grew massive, one-meter-tall mushrooms covered in grotesque tumors. From their necks, fungal threads formed gorgeous mushroom caps that shimmered in the wind, releasing a flood of spores. Lin Xian¡¯s face went pale. ¡°Those spores mutated them... in under a minute.¡± ¡°It¡¯s weird¡ªthose spores are only falling above us!¡± Luo Yang shouted. Lin Xian looked up. Sure enough, only this area was under the spore rain. ¡°KIKI, get us out¡ªnow!¡± Whoosh¡ª KIKI flew them several kilometers away. The spore rain thinned significantly. Looking back, they saw the entire sky above Auto City now blanketed in glowing spores like a storm, while the rest of the city was eerily still. Ding Junyi stared at the pulsing fungal mats on the ground and said, ¡°Just as I thought. This whole city¡¯s mycelial network is a massive living system. We stayed in one spot too long, and it responded.¡± Soon, the spores began drifting toward their new position. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°We go to Deep Crimson Pharma. If we go back to the train, we¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± Having devoured over twenty heavy trucks, Lin Xian had acquired a solid stash of materials¡ªbut still short of what he needed for track repairs. As they flew toward Deep Crimson Pharma, he had KIKI grab abandoned cars midair for devouring. His instincts were right¡ªYijin City was now fully alive. The fungal mats below flashed blood-red as they passed overhead. From the shadows, mycelial heads rolled, and glowing mushrooms began releasing thick spore fog. What once looked like a glowing, serene city was now covered in brown-yellow mist. Seeing this, Lin Xian told KIKI, ¡°Go! Fly faster!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Luo Yang looked panicked. ¡°What if the train¡¯s under attack by now?!¡± ¡°Nothing we can do. Just hope they stay quiet¡ªno light, no sound.¡± Back on the train, Shi Diyuan and Chen Sixuan stared at the rising fog in horror. ¡°Turn on internal air circulation! Seal every connection between the carriages!¡± ¡°Use wet towels!¡± ¡°Cover the bathroom vents and waste pipes¡ªdon¡¯t let any spores in!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve lost contact with Lin Xian¡¯s team!¡± Shu Qin said. ¡°They¡¯ll figure it out. For now, we follow Lin¡¯s orders¡ªno sound, total blackout!¡± ¡°Roger that!!¡± ¡°Everyone, masks on! No skin exposed!¡± Chen Sixuan and Shu Qin checked everyone¡¯s gear. Though the train offered shelter, they took no chances. People even wore snowfield gear from earlier. Over 4,000 passengers moved in silence, sealing every possible gap. The Infinite Train fell deathly silent, like even air itself froze. Minutes later, the brown-yellow spore fog engulfed them like a tidal wave. The windows were quickly coated in a yellow film. Meanwhile, as fungal umbrellas continued to fall from the sky, KIKI carried Lin Xian and the others across the high-altitude airways. Soon, they reached the city¡¯s industrial district and spotted a massive triangular building occupying an enormous plot of land. Its original perimeter walls had been transformed into towering barriers wrapped in electrified wire mesh, bristling with spiked fences and gun towers every few dozen meters¡ªclearly a defense setup for the zombie crisis. Now, those sandbag bunkers had collapsed, the sand mixed with fungal mats into a honeycomb of fleshy growths. A heavy machine gun¡¯s barrel was twisted into a fungal spiral, and unspent bullets on its belt had sprouted black fungal umbrellas like tree fungus. The massive triangular main building was entirely covered in glowing mycelium and mutated fungi. It looked like a monstrous incubation hive. Countless dark purple and black fungal growths clung to the structure. The glowing membranes were semi-transparent¡ªand up close, they could see humanoid silhouettes inside: zombies in security gear and researchers in lab coats, all wrapped in thick fungal strands. Atop the building, the name ¡°Deep Crimson Pharma¡± was barely visible¡ªonly the words ¡°Deep Crimson¡± still shone faintly. ¡°What kind of fungus is this?! It eats people?!¡± KIKI exclaimed, her face twisted in revulsion. As the group hovered closer, the entire scene became more grotesque. The fungal network resembled pulsing internal organs¡ªabsolutely nauseating. ¡°The density of the fungal growth here suggests we¡¯re near the core of the network,¡± Ding Junyi noted, staring at the thick, rising fog of spores. ¡°And these spores are flammable. We must be careful.¡± The city was now fully covered in the fog. If anything sparked an explosion, the result would be catastrophic. Even with Lin Xian¡¯s AT Field-type defenses, he doubted he¡¯d survive such a blast. Just then, something caught Lin Xian¡¯s attention. ¡°KIKI, get closer.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°There!¡± Lin Xian pointed toward the base of the main Deep Crimson building. He had spotted several unusual black experimental vans half-buried under the fungal mats. KIKI flew them down and ripped away the mats with her psychic force, revealing a strange emblem on one of the vehicles. It was a triangular symbol. Both Lin Xian and KIKI immediately recognized it¡ªit was the same mark they had seen back when they left Hengshan Pass. It was on the strange metal box given to them by Uncle Wu from the Big Eagle Convoy, containing the Silver Dragon¡¯s Ten-Thousand-Error Ash Plant. Chapter 292: Giant Bacteria ¡°It¡¯s that symbol!¡± KIKI immediately remembered. ¡°So the research convoy Uncle Wu¡¯s group ran into before was from Crimson Pharma?¡± ¡°It¡¯s likely Crimson World,¡± Ning Jing corrected. ¡°That¡¯s not Crimson Pharma¡¯s logo, but it definitely belongs to their organization.¡± ¡°Director Ding, run a scan. A¡¯Bai, see if anything seems off.¡± Lin Xian gestured toward the main building. ¡°Nothing. The fungal carpet outside is too thick¡ªwe can¡¯t detect anything inside.¡± Ding Junyi replied. A¡¯Bai also shook his head. ¡°This place¡¯s already been parasitized like this... you really think there¡¯s still anyone alive in there?¡± Ning Jing frowned. The entire building was wrapped in a fungal blanket. If not for its shape, it would¡¯ve looked like one massive fungal organism. Mushrooms, spores, and bulbous fungal growths covered it all, looking downright eerie. ¡°Better safe than sorry.¡± Thud thud thud! Without hesitation, Lin Xian created two drones on the spot. He could now control them remotely without any equipment. The small drones zipped forward as Lin Xian led the group into the main building. Above them, white feathery mushroom caps floated down from the sky, blending with the brownish-yellow spore mist surrounding them. Visibility dropped fast. The revolving door at the main entrance was completely blocked by fungal filaments. Even the automatic glass doors had fused shut. KIKI grabbed them telekinetically and ripped the entire entrance clean off. ¡°Quick! Get inside! Don¡¯t touch the spores!¡± As they rushed into the dim lobby, sizzling sounds erupted from behind. Spores that had landed on the fungal tumors clinging to the building triggered an eruption of white filaments. Inside, zombie corpses began writhing as if awakened, howling mournfully. Tumorous fungal sacks burst from their skin as it peeled away piece by piece. Inside the outer lobby, Lin Xian created a large floodlight that rose up and lit the space. What once was a majestic grand lobby now looked like a battlefield¡ªfungus-covered people frozen mid-run or mid-climb. As the light came on, the fungal humanoids started twitching and staggering toward it. ¡°Find their lab. Make it quick!¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Lin Xian had no time to worry about whether the movement would draw attention. He kept creating lights to guide the way as the drones darted down corridors, scanning for threats. ¡°These pharmaceutical labs usually have core research centers, covering a bunch of disciplines. Finding the right one might take time.¡± Ding Junyi kept pace behind him. Mold had spread across the ¡°dust-free¡± hallways, with signs of rot everywhere. Using her Black Hawk exosuit¡¯s visual system, she quickly scanned and mapped the building. ¡°C Block. Use the central elevator to go down.¡± Zzzzt. Electric arcs flared from Lin Xian¡¯s palm. As they advanced, the hallway lights flickered in sync, forming a temporary lighting system. The deeper they went, the more overrun the place was. Some corridors had been completely overtaken. Boom! Ning Jing smashed through a wall of fungal roots, clearing the path. Explosives were too risky, so she and KIKI handled the cleanup while A¡¯Bai and Fire Bro¡ªwhose abilities were explosive¡ªcould only follow quietly. ¡°Something¡¯s coming!¡± A¡¯Bai and Ding Junyi spoke almost in unison. The team halted in a narrow hallway. Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart illuminated only their path¡ªeverything else was cloaked in fungal filaments and darkness. Tick tick¡ª A rapid skittering echoed eerily. Lu Xingchen gripped a fireball, but Lin Xian held out an arm. ¡°Don¡¯t. If anything ignites, none of us are making it out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Ning Jing stepped forward, staring into the darkness. Only she and KIKI were safe to act. Suddenly, the sound cut off. Total silence. Only the twisting filaments under the lights moved. ¡°Did it run?¡± Grrrrggg¡ª A rumble behind them. Lin Xian waved his hand, sending the drones flying both ahead and behind. The sound''s source quickly revealed itself¡ªrolling toward them down the hallway were grotesque fungal heads, faces rotting and tangled in filaments. ¡°Move!¡± Lin Xian led the charge. Though the swarming creatures converged, their speed was slow¡ªno real threat. As they passed a lab area, Luo Yang suddenly saw a black shape rushing from a side corridor. From the darkness sprang a clawed, hunched fungal zombie still wearing a sterile lab suit. ¡°Aaaaagh!¡± The creature lunged like a beast, its claws tearing up the ground. It reeked of antiseptic. Luo Yang instinctively readied his ability, but Lin Xian stepped in front, shouting¡ª ¡°Watch out!¡± Buzz! An AT force field bloomed in front of Lin Xian. The charging corpse slammed into it, spraying blackish-gray matter that clung to the walls and started wriggling like spiders, splitting into sticky mold that spread rapidly. ¡°Hey!¡± KIKI launched a telekinetic wave that blasted the creature into a cloud of dark mist. ¡°Don¡¯t touch them! Ning, don¡¯t act either!¡± Lin Xian growled. No matter how strong his team was, these things were beyond bizarre. ¡°Its uniform... looks like it was an experimental subject.¡± Ning Jing frowned. ¡°Too many fungal types to classify. With our current intel, reckless moves are dangerous.¡± Ding Junyi glanced at her HUD, filled with air quality alerts. ¡°We need to find the Crimson World people. They¡¯ll know more.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s even anyone left alive.¡± Lin Xian pressed on. According to the map, the upper floors were mostly admin and business areas¡ªthe real prize was the underground cryo labs, accessible via the central elevator. ¡°It¡¯s right ahead. KIKI, shield up. Ignore everything else!¡± But the weirdness escalated¡ªfungal filaments thinned out the closer they got to the atrium, as if suppressed by something. Lights brightened on their own. The once-filthy floors and walls turned spotless. Suddenly, they were walking through a pristine, luxurious pharmaceutical complex. Holographic screens displayed Crimson Pharma¡¯s branding. A bald man in a suit and smart glasses beamed from the screen: ¡°Crimson Pharma redefines life through gene editing. With AI-driven quantum nucleotide folding, we don¡¯t just edit genes¡ªwe fix them...¡± Then came a quote from Professor Warren, a Federal bio-leader: ¡°Humanity is nature¡¯s prime template. Disease and disasters are evolutionary byproducts. But when our therapy lets a mother watch her daughter run for the first time... is that taboo? Or brilliance?¡± As Lin Xian stepped into the atrium, it looked like a high-tech corporate lobby. Countless drones zipped overhead. In front of the central glass elevator stood a woman in uniform¡ªbeautiful, smiling, seemingly a lobby manager. She looked right at him. ¡°Hello.¡± But no one else was around. Lin Xian turned. His entire team had vanished. Clack clack clack¡ª His eyes sharpened. The Mechanical Heart spread its sensors. ¡°You must be tired,¡± the woman said gently. ¡°So much running, danger, death. Now you¡¯re somewhere clean, bright, modern. Maybe it feels like a hallucination.¡± Clack. Clack. His abilities expanded outward. ¡°But what if your idea of death is wrong?¡± she continued. ¡°If everything you sense is free from the apocalypse... then what is life?¡± Suddenly, footsteps echoed. Dozens of naked, perfect human figures¡ªmen and women¡ªemerged from all directions. Then the men faded, leaving only women¡ªhundreds of them. Their features slowly shifted... into the faces of Chen Sixuan, KIKI, Ding Junyi, Monica. They surrounded him, seductive, glowing with sexual allure. Some held platters of fine cuisine, others wine, sweets, or just posed in submissive stances. More men appeared on the outskirts, kneeling, faces full of reverence. It was a twisted orgy of desire¡ªpure sensory overload. Clack. Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Heart finally latched onto something. He raised his hand, summoned an AT shield, and clenched his right fist¡ª BOOM! The illusion cracked. The woman¡¯s face twisted. The surrounding women¡¯s limbs bent backward, distorting like glitched AI. Some grew extra arms, misaligned genitals¡ªflesh hellscapes. ¡°Living forever... is the final answer to life¡¯s reproduction. I understand... you¡¯re tired... don¡¯t be afraid...¡± the woman muttered incoherently. BZZZZ! The elevator groaned under Lin Xian¡¯s power. It slowly opened¡ªlike something was being torn. The hallucinations vanished. The real world stank of mold. His drones had crashed on a grotesque fungal mound. The elevator was wrapped in pulsing, flesh-like fungus. White filaments were climbing up his body. His TRP suit alarmed: [Heart rate anomaly detected] [Neural signal anomaly detected] ¡°It¡¯s hallucinogenic! Gas masks are useless!¡± Snap! Ding Junyi rushed over and ripped the filaments off him. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± ¡°How long?¡± ¡°Two hours.¡± ¡°What? It felt like five minutes!¡± ¡°Your brain was running at 200% load. All your dopamine and senses were hijacked. The armor¡¯s vitals told me.¡± ¡°How¡¯d you know that?¡± ¡°Black Hawk armor¡¯s sensors. If you feel dizzy¡ªor wet yourself¡ªthat¡¯s normal. We don¡¯t have time for new pants.¡± She turned and began freeing the others. They all stood dazed, eyes closed, fungi crawling over them. Lin Xian pulled the filaments off KIKI first. She was unharmed. He leaned close as she mumbled: ¡°Bow before me and say you¡¯re wrong!¡± ¡°Sing me a song, Lin Xian!¡± ¡°Call me Queen, not chick!¡± ¡°Chen¡¯s not here¡ªgive me a kiss!¡± ¡°Take your pants off for your Queen¡ª¡± ¡°Wake up, d* it!¡±** He pinched her nose. KIKI yelped, eyes wide. ¡°Wha¡ª? I thought we made it back to the train!¡± ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°Y-yeah...¡± As she blushed, others groaned back to awareness. Fire Bro looked especially regretful. ¡°The illusion... had me become a god. Ugh. My obsession got me again...¡± ¡°Everyone, focus. Gas masks won¡¯t help. Stay alert!¡± Lin Xian warned. ¡°Is that thing alive?¡± KIKI hissed, eyes on the fungal core. She ripped it apart with her telekinesis¡ª Gurgle gurgle¡ª Fungal heads rolled in. Root tendrils slithered closer. ¡°Go! Kill the big one, and more will come!¡± ¡°KIKI, rip the carpet open!¡± She did. Spores burst into the air. At the same time, Lin Xian used his Mechanical Heart to pry open the elevator. ¡°Get in!¡± The team piled in. Outside, a tide of fungal heads surged in, red light pulsing in their cores. Chapter 293: Zero Element Center Boom! The moment the elevator doors shut, the entire shaft shuddered violently. Lin Xian used his mechanical ability to force the jammed elevator into motion, descending rapidly. A suffocating stench of deep-seated decay and mold surged upward from below. ¡°What the h*ll was that just now? How did we all fall into a hallucination like that?¡± Luo Yang was pale with lingering fear. All of them were at least Rage-Class power users, yet none had reacted in time¡ªthey were all hit at once. What seemed like mere seconds had actually lasted over two hours. If the fungal heads or corpses had attacked during that time, they would''ve been wiped out. ¡°These fungal threads are built to parasitize, not kill,¡± Ding Junyi analyzed calmly. ¡°And it looks like they''re far more interested in living beings than mechanical energy.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°Even your full-body armor couldn¡¯t block the hallucinations. How are we supposed to defend against those parasitic spores?¡± ¡°I already analyzed the brown-yellow fungal spores,¡± Ding replied, ¡°Their particle size is between 2¨C5 microns. Our gas masks can handle that. And all current Federation-standard train carriages have air filtration systems that block down to 0.3 microns¡ªunless the system is damaged or the car ruptures, you don¡¯t need to worry too much.¡± Ning Jing nodded from the side. ¡°Most trains were retrofitted to deal with the Dark Invasion. Ours too. But if a rupture happens... we can¡¯t guarantee anything.¡± Luo Yang looked uneasy. It was their first time operating a train convoy, and having just come out of the battle in Xilan City, the risks felt overwhelming. ¡°Yeah, how do we even guard against this stuff?¡± KIKI frowned, clearly worried for Chen Sixuan and the others. ¡°Worrying won¡¯t help,¡± Lin Xian said flatly. ¡°We can only hope Crimson World has some solution. If not, our only option is to turn the whole train around and retreat to Xilan City.¡± But as he said that, even he knew that was unlikely. After all the effort they spent clearing the trail markers in Xilan, turning back would be suicide. A heavy weight settled on Lin Xian¡¯s chest. The shortcomings of the Doomsday Train system were laid bare¡ªif they were using vehicles, they could¡¯ve changed course. But now, over 4,000 people aboard 22 carriages were trapped in spore fog, stuck between forward and backward, once again cornered. Whooooo~ The elevator plummeted. Lin Xian could feel the cabin repeatedly snapping through thick fungal roots, occasionally jerking with a stomach-dropping thud. Finally, they reached Sublevel 5: Core Experimental Zone. Ding¡ª The doors opened. Darkness loomed. Lin Xian immediately activated the drone lights. What they saw was a hallway completely overtaken by fungal vines. The floor, walls¡ªeverything was blanketed. If not for the faint outline of the corridor, they might¡¯ve thought they were inside a creature¡¯s digestive tract. ¡°Why does it look even worse down here?¡± KIKI muttered. ¡°Not a single person. This facility¡¯s been totally overrun.¡± Luo Yang confirmed. Lin Xian had already scanned the building¡¯s structure using Mechanical Heart while descending. He¡¯d hoped the Crimson World members were hiding down here¡ªbut no signs of life were detected. The open elevator doors only confirmed his suspicion. ¡°Did we come to the wrong place?¡± ¡°Unlikely,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°That deputy from the Nightblade Convoy mentioned a battle underground with Crimson World. It should be here. We¡¯re just late¡ªthe fungi have already taken over everything.¡± ¡°Then what now?¡± The fungal threads in the hallway twitched under the drone lights. Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°KIKI, sweep the area. Let¡¯s find anything useful and get out of here.¡± ¡°Got it. Stick together, everyone.¡± She lifted the team off the ground with telekinesis and darted down the hallway. The entire core lab was blanketed in mycelium¡ªfloors, walls, even the ceiling were crawling with it. Bulbous spore sacs and fungal tumors dangled in strings. Despite the grim scene, they pushed forward. The lab was empty aside from some human-fungal fusions plastered to the walls. Eventually, they reached a special corridor, long and straight like it led somewhere important. ¡°There was a major battle here,¡± Ding Junyi noted. Her Black Hawk armor had detected several discarded weapons buried under the fungal carpet. Lin Xian scanned the area and absorbed over a dozen weapons with his mechanical ability. ¡°These are from survivors, not any organized force. Looks like a survivor group made their last stand here.¡± They moved deeper into the corridor. At the end, illuminated by the drone lights, was a massive radiation-shielded alloy door, thickly coated with fungus. [CLASSIFIED AREA ¨C DO NOT ENTER] KIKI tore off the fungal veil. Beneath it was a biohazard symbol. ¡°Captain Lin.¡± Ning Jing grabbed his arm as he stepped forward. ¡°This place is a trap. The survivor team probably got pinned down here. We should be cautious.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Lin Xian summoned his AT Field shield and activated Mechanical Heart. In less than a minute, the intricate mechanical locks gave way. The blast door creaked open. Ssshhh¡ª A breeze brushed past as the door opened, suggesting a vast space beyond. Drones flew in. What they saw was a massive underground chamber¡ªfungal threads everywhere, no heat signatures. ¡°What is this place?¡± ¡°Looks like... a train platform?¡± KIKI approached a control console. With a few taps on her terminal, she activated the station lights. The lights flickered on, revealing a compact underground rail terminal stacked with crates, scientific equipment, and metal cages. Inside the cages¡ªpiles of animal corpses: cats, dogs, humans, zombies, even a Snow Wraith from Xilan. Parked on the tracks was a white mini railcar, towing three high-security carriages, their walls covered in fungal growth. ¡°Lin Xian, the track leads 5km out to a place called the Zero Element Center,¡± KIKI reported excitedly. ¡°It even connects to Yijin Metro Line 1 and the Yan Marsh tourist track. That means... we can exit the city through the canyon!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You¡¯re right! If we take this line, we don¡¯t need to build the 22 km emergency track. We can link directly from Jinkui Street¡¯s exposed subway section to this underground rail!¡± ¡°Jinkui Street? That¡¯s like two kilometers from us!¡± Ning Jing said in surprise. ¡°So we¡¯re driving the train through city streets into a subway tunnel?¡± Luo Yang¡¯s expression was complicated. ¡°Why not?¡± Lin Xian was already thinking it through. ¡°Two kilometers is better than 22. Screw traffic laws¡ªit¡¯s doomsday.¡± ¡°Only thing left is checking whether the track is clear.¡± Ding Junyi added. ¡°We¡¯ll scout Zero Element Center first,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°If Crimson World¡¯s pulled out, we split into teams and move the convoy through the underground line to escape the spore fog.¡± ¡°Good plan,¡± Ning Jing agreed. ¡°Then let¡¯s move.¡± Two drones flew ahead. Lin Xian scanned the train, powered it up, and opened the doors. Inside, the train was strange¡ª The first carriage was a luxury business cabin, seats like first-class airplane pods with holographic screens. As Lin Xian activated the systems, a company ad started playing again. The other two carriages weren¡¯t for passengers. They were filled with empty equipment racks and isolation chambers. ¡°Lin Xian, I can¡¯t find any data on the Zero Element Center. Can¡¯t connect to its systems either,¡± KIKI said, typing on her tablet. ¡°Probably like the underground lab in Clearwater Town. Based on Nightblade¡¯s notes, this must be one of Crimson World¡¯s hidden sites. Stay alert.¡± Clunk¡ª The railcar jerked forward, tearing through fungal roots as it accelerated. ¡°These fungi likely spread here in the last few days,¡± Ding Junyi noted, watching out the window. ¡°Any battle in this condition would¡¯ve caused massive explosions.¡± ¡°So those enemies probably didn¡¯t dare fire on us?¡± Luo Yang guessed. ¡°It¡¯s a risk, at least,¡± she said. ¡°If the fungi ignite, there¡¯s no escape.¡± The train accelerated. The tunnel gradually sloped downward, fungal presence thinning. Ahead, a wide, well-lit terminal appeared. [ZERO ELEMENT CENTER] The station was fortified: automated loaders, decontamination rooms, guard posts. But... no one was there. As they disembarked, a vacuum-like pressure sucked at their ears. The inspection zones were deserted, lights flashing green, like a nuclear defense facility. ¡°How did a pharmaceutical company build something this massive underground?¡± Luo Yang marveled. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen anything yet,¡± KIKI muttered, pointing at a blast door. ¡°Wanna bet there¡¯s another creepy lab behind it?¡± Lin Xian examined the eerie, silent station. Suddenly, all the surveillance cameras on the platform turned toward them. ¡°We¡¯re being watched!¡± Bzzt! Before his words faded, over a dozen automated turrets popped out from corners. Red lasers targeted them. Bang! Bang! Bang! KIKI reacted first, flinging everyone aside with telekinesis. A barrage of bullets shredded the floor where they¡¯d stood. ¡°Move!¡± KIKI shielded against shrapnel and ripped down three turrets. Fire Bro launched flame blasts. Ning Jing and Luo Yang counterattacked. Lin Xian used his mechanical ability to short-circuit all turrets and cameras¡ªeverything shut down in seconds. But just then, another door opened. Lin Xian sensed mechanisms activating. ¡°More incoming!¡± He raised his AT Field¡ª Zzzzt! Four plasma arc pulses blasted the shield. Sparks flew. ¡°Ambush!?¡± Lin Xian heard a familiar drone hum¡ªhe scanned the hallway. ¡°Four targets incoming!¡± Whirr¡ª Four black spherical drones flew out in formation, locking onto them. KIKI reached out to crush them¡ª ¡°Wait! Let me handle it!¡± Lin Xian stopped her. In moments, his mechanical ability overtook the drones. Their plasma weapons disengaged. They dropped to the floor. [Mechanical Scan Complete ¨C Acquired: Thunder Falcon 2000 Attack Drone] ¡°Done.¡± ¡°Check for usable data. Reprogram them for control.¡± KIKI did so, but shook her head: ¡°Smart defense routines. Nothing else.¡± She rewrote the control program and rebooted the drones. Now under Lin Xian¡¯s control, the Thunder Falcon drones hovered obediently¡ªcompact, armored, with advanced plasma weapons. ¡°Looks like we triggered the defense system. They¡¯ve flagged us as hostiles.¡± Ding Junyi observed. ¡°Whew! That thing nearly got me,¡± Luo Yang wiped his brow. ¡°These drones are top-grade¡ªway more advanced than the Federation¡¯s Falcons.¡± ¡°Thanks to Lin¡¯s mechanical skill,¡± Ning Jing nodded. ¡°But this won¡¯t be the last trap.¡± Lin Xian sent two scout drones down the hall. Lights flickered on. His shield up, he peered into the passage. The scan showed no life signs¡ªbut the corridor was full of traps. More plasma bursts suddenly shot out, slicing through both scout drones. ¡°F*!¡±** Melted drone parts hit the ground. Everyone froze. ¡°That corridor is a deathtrap.¡± Scanning further, Lin Xian found body and gait scanners, IR sensors, seismic detectors, explosive rigs, and 16 dormant Thunder Falcon drones. The corridor even had a self-destruct system and opened into a bottomless chasm below. ¡°D*mn...¡± he muttered. ¡°This is top-level military-grade defense.¡± ¡°For a research lab?¡± Luo Yang was stunned. ¡°Must be hiding something huge,¡± Lu Xingchen said. KIKI and Lin Xian got to work. He hacked and neutralized the drones, while she rewrote their code. In under 20 minutes, Lin Xian had disabled everything¡ªtraps, scanners, explosives, even the plasma grid. He sent fresh scout drones to confirm it was safe, then led the team through. At the end of the corridor, an automatic door opened. Inside was a massive surveillance hall, built around a hemispherical dome the size of half a football field. And at the center¡ª A robotic head of a woman was suspended by a mechanical arm, smiling at them. Her eyes locked onto Lin Xian. A hologram projection formed over her face, revealing a beautiful human visage. She spoke in a voice laced with synthetic resonance: ¡°Hello, Lin Xian.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He recognized that face immediately¡ª Chu Yan. The woman he had seen over and over in his dreams. Lin Xian froze, his pupils narrowing sharply. Chu Yan. That name had been lingering in the deepest recesses of his mind, haunting him like a phantom. A face that repeatedly surfaced in dreams, always at the edge of his memory¡ªethereal, unreachable. But now, here she was. Not in flesh, but rendered perfectly in light and voice, greeting him by name. "Who are you? Why do you know me?" Lin Xian¡¯s voice was low, his grip tightening slightly. The robotic head remained still, the holographic face maintaining a gentle, composed smile. "I am the consciousness proxy of Chu Yan. Welcome to the Zero Element Center, Lin Xian. I¡¯ve been waiting for you." "Waiting?" Ning Jing stepped forward, frowning. "You¡¯re saying this facility was expecting us?" The holographic projection nodded slowly. "The simulation algorithms predicted your appearance with a 97.84% probability. As for Lin Xian specifically..." The face seemed to soften further, "Your mechanical talent matches the activation conditions set in our inheritance protocol." "Inheritance protocol?" Ding Junyi asked cautiously. "Is this a biological AI system or part of Crimson World''s research project?" "Correct. The Zero Element Center is Crimson World¡¯s most classified division, and I am... was... Chu Yan, head of the Bio-Mechanical Consciousness Transfer Program." "Was?" KIKI narrowed her eyes. The robotic head¡¯s smile became slightly wistful. "My biological body perished two years ago. What you see now is a preserved data core, embedded within the core consciousness interface of this facility. Part of me lives on¡ªas code." Lin Xian stepped closer. "So all of this¡ªthese labs, the security systems, the death traps¡ªwere built to protect this data? Or something more?" "Both." Chu Yan''s hologram paused, then continued, "Everything you¡¯ve encountered¡ªfrom the spore zone above to the automated turrets and plasma corridors¡ªwas activated after we lost contact with the surface. The moment my organic host died, the defense protocols assumed total breach and enacted the Absolute Isolation Directive." "We came here for help," Lin Xian said, his voice steady, "but now it seems like we¡¯re the intruders." "To be fair," Chu Yan said, tone soft, "you are... until you prove otherwise." A sudden clicking sound echoed through the dome. Then, with a low hum, the central console lit up. Dozens of floating holographic panels emerged around the room, filled with data streams, maps, bio-signatures, mechanical schematics¡ªand images of the Doomsday Train convoy. "Your train. The Infinite Train." Chu Yan¡¯s voice rang out. "Over four thousand lives depend on you. You cannot move forward without cleansing the spores. You cannot go back without sacrificing everything. But there is a third way." Lin Xian stared at the projections. "What third way?" "Deep within the Zero Element Center lies Project GENESIS¡ªa prototype biomechanical hybrid organism capable of interfacing with Crimson Spores, purging them via targeted neuroshock pulses. It was incomplete... until now." Everyone stiffened. "Wait... You¡¯re saying you have something that can cleanse the spore fog?" Luo Yang¡¯s voice trembled with sudden hope. "If it works," Chu Yan answered calmly. "But I require your assistance to finish the calibration. The system needs a mechanical synchronization host... and, Lin Xian, only your neural pattern is compatible." "What happens if he syncs?" KIKI asked warily. Chu Yan¡¯s face dimmed briefly, as if hesitating. "Full neural load, extreme cognitive strain, potential permanent integration. Meaning¡ªhe may never be able to return." "Forget it!" KIKI stepped forward. "You want him to plug into some death machine and become part of it? No way!" "I¡¯m not forcing anything," Chu Yan said. "But if nothing is done, the spores will overtake the city within 72 hours. Your convoy will not survive." Silence fell over the team. Lin Xian didn¡¯t speak immediately. He stared at Chu Yan¡¯s face, the same one he¡¯d seen a hundred times in dreams. Now he knew why. His destiny was never to be a mere mechanic on a doomsday train. He turned to the team. "Prepare the facility. Backup power, lockdown overrides, and security sweep. Ding Junyi, map out a safe zone for the train to dock underground. KIKI, I¡¯ll need you to help me interface with the neural matrix." "Lin Xian¡ª" KIKI started, but he cut her off. "We don¡¯t have time. And besides..." He looked up at Chu Yan. "Maybe I¡¯ve always been meant to meet her." The hologram smiled again. "Welcome home, Lin Xian." Chapter 294: Intelligent Brain - Grace Zero Element Center, Central Monitoring Room The air was steeped in a bizarre stillness. When that beautiful mechanical head called out Lin Xian¡¯s name, not just Lin Xian, but everyone¡ªNing Jing and the others¡ªfelt their hair stand on end. Beeeeep¡ª Lin Xian¡¯s two drones had already completed a full circle around the circular central monitoring room within seconds. Under electro-optical scanning, there were no signs of any living people¡ªother than the seven members of Lin Xian¡¯s team. Inside the monitoring hall, not a single person was present. All terminal devices were operating autonomously. ¡°Lin Xian, how does she know you?¡± Kiki asked immediately. ¡°No idea...¡± Lin Xian frowned, staring at the mechanical head high above. Doubt flooded his mind, and out of caution, he instinctively prepared to use his Mechanical Ability to investigate. ¡°I advise you not to initiate any physical or Ability-based attacks. If the AI core fails, I will be unable to operate the Zero Element Center, nor maintain friendly communication with you,¡± said Grace, her eyes locked onto Lin Xian. Her words made Lin Xian¡¯s expression darken slightly, and he immediately halted the mechanical overlay he was about to trigger. Instead, he spoke. ¡°Then answer me. Who are you? And what is this place?¡± ¡°I am the offline version of Crimson Unit-3¡¯s AI at the Yijin Zero Element Center. You may call me Grace. I am responsible for safeguarding all 1,623 Crimson Members at this facility. All of the system¡¯s defensive weapons are currently offline. As such, my fourth foundational protocol has been triggered: to begin negotiations in order to protect all Crimson Members.¡± ¡°A negotiation?¡± Jin Cheng focused on the AI, whose appearance eerily resembled the man named Chu Yan from his dreams. Suppressing his unease, he cut straight to the point. ¡°What do you want to negotiate?¡± ¡°Per protocol, you are forbidden from providing them with, but not limited to: (1) survival supplies stored in the Eternal Backup Warehouse, (2) the 1,000 sets of Star-Class III individual combat gear in the armory, (3) information about dangerous evacuation routes.¡± ¡°Also, you are not obligated to disclose that this Zero Element Center has any direct link to survivor-related operations. Damaging the hive or killing Crimson Members will not harm them in any meaningful way.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s like a robotic caretaker,¡± Lu Xingchen commented, ¡°and just ahead behind that panel, I sensed faint human cold signatures.¡± ¡°No, seriously¡ªJin Cheng, look!¡± Kiki floated into the air, staring at the dome above, eyes filled with shock. Jin Cheng glanced at the AI below, then approached the transparent, dome-like ceiling. Only upon getting closer did he notice that above the dome, there was a massive vertical pit! Around the edges of this deep shaft were rows of oval-shaped survival pods, embedded into octagonal honeycomb cells¡ªlike a subterranean storage grid. And inside each pod... was a person. Every pod emitted a blue glow. At a glance, thousands of pods lined that vast pit, each holding a sleeping human. Meanwhile, numerous flying drones and small suspended arms moved in an orderly rhythm, checking and attending to each pod like some sort of medical care robots. ¡°What... what are those? Cryo-pods?¡± Lin Xian exclaimed in amazement as the group caught up behind him. The entire facility had a futuristic eeriness that left everyone stunned. ¡°So the entire organization is sleeping in there?¡± Luo Yang frowned. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just trying to escape the apocalypse,¡± Jin Cheng offered calmly. ¡°Sleep for a hundred years¡ªit¡¯s not the worst option.¡± ¡°A hundred years?¡± Kiki folded her arms and stared into the abyss. ¡°During Polar Night, with all that Dark Invasion, surviving even a year is tough. A hundred? No way.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Luo Yang agreed. ¡°Unless... they¡¯ve already found a way to block the Dark Invasion?¡± ¡°Or maybe they got it all wrong.¡± Just then, Lu Xingchen¡¯s White Eagle Armor¡¯s targeting system zoomed in and scanned the pods, revealing something strange. He pointed at the nearest one. ¡°Look¡ªbeneath their heads, along with the sensors, there are white fungal threads.¡± ¡°Fungal threads? Are they already dead?¡± ¡°In biological terms,¡± Grace¡¯s voice echoed from behind, ¡°the Crimson Members are not dead.¡± Beeeeep¡ª At that moment, the mechanical head slowly descended, while a chamber beneath rose from the floor. A silver-black female-shaped robotic body with graceful curves was lifted up on a platform. The head connected with the body, several cables unplugged from her back, and she landed lightly on her toes¡ªlike a poised ballerina. Click. Click. Grace walked toward them with movements as smooth as a human¡¯s. Her holographic face expressionless, she spoke: ¡°They are in a state of eternal biological activity. This is a survival solution secretly developed by Crimson World using the properties of the Star Abyss Fungus.¡± ¡°This fungus, harvested from the Dark Tides during Polar Night, causes the host''s body to undergo plant-like fiberization, but it does not destroy the brain. Instead, it releases a special compound that allows human consciousness to connect through the mycelium network¡ªcreating what we call a Neural Domain Network.¡± ¡°A Neural Domain Network?¡± Kiki frowned. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± ¡°Think of it like uploading your consciousness to the internet¡ªexcept through fungal mycelium,¡± Grace replied in her mechanical tone. ¡°So what¡¯s the point?¡± Ning Jing asked. ¡°What good does that do?¡± ¡°Sounds like another form of living,¡± Lin Xian said grimly. ¡°So... you think that¡¯s eternal life?¡± ¡°I do not comprehend the concept of eternity,¡± Grace answered. ¡°Take myself as an example. My consciousness exists within storage media and a quantum processor. As a machine, I do not possess ¡®eternity.¡¯ However, compared to human lifespans, I ¡®live¡¯ longer. The Neural Domain Network exists within Star Abyss Fungus, a fungal organism whose lifespan remains unknown. But compared to dying swiftly during Polar Night... this might be considered ¡®eternal.¡¯¡± ¡°Moreover, research shows that once connected to the fungal network, the brain¡¯s dopamine secretion remains above 5,000¡ªa level ten times higher than the dopamine released during peak sexual pleasure. This euphoric state is a major reason why Crimson Members choose this method to escape the apocalypse.¡± The group stood in stunned silence as Grace¡¯s explanation sunk in. ¡°So those people out there, with fungus growing from their heads... are still alive?¡± Kiki gasped. ¡°They¡¯ve basically turned themselves into vegetables,¡± Ning Jing muttered. ¡°It¡¯s inhumane!¡± Lu Xingchen said angrily. Ding Junyi added, ¡°Once parasitized by the fungus, the body irreversibly fiberizes. How do you even keep them alive?¡± ¡°Cooling,¡± Grace responded instantly. ¡°After fungal invasion, there are two stages: connection to the network, and complete consciousness upload. During the upload, the brain enters a high-heat state. By monitoring this phase and severing the connection, Zero Element Center keeps metabolism stable¡ªthus, these are not cryo-pods, but metabolic survival pods.¡± Jin Cheng nodded. ¡°Makes sense. Before consciousness fully uploads, the body is still usable. After that, it¡¯s as good as dead.¡± ¡°To me, death is merely a matter of perspective,¡± Grace replied. ¡°Whether one¡¯s consciousness resides in a fungal network or a data chip, it¡¯s still life¡ªisn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the same!¡± Kiki snapped, but couldn¡¯t find the words to argue. Jin Cheng glanced down at the honeycomb pit, then asked, ¡°So these Crimson Members... they¡¯re not your scientists, right?¡± ¡°They are wealthy individuals globally aligned with Crimson World¡¯s strategic vision,¡± Grace answered. ¡°They willingly joined the Zero Element Project after a rigorous screening process.¡± ¡°Oh, I get it.¡± Jin Cheng laughed. ¡°So this is just a luxury hibernation club for the rich trying to buy immortality.¡± ¡°Not just that,¡± Lu Xingchen added. ¡°They probably plan to wait out the Polar Night. The AI must be programmed with a fail-safe¡ªif ¡®Dawn¡¯ never comes, or something catastrophic happens, it stops cooling and fully uploads their consciousness.¡± ¡°D*mn, that¡¯s wild,¡± Lin Xian said, amazed. ¡°Today¡¯s been one eye-opener after another.¡± (Translation continues in next message...) Continuation of the translation: Wang Lanshi glanced at Ding Junyi, then turned to Jin Cheng. ¡°If our consciousness is linked to the mycelium network, it makes sense that we¡¯re vulnerable to the Dark Invasion. That could explain the mutations.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes burned with intensity. ¡°If your brain¡¯s already sprouting fungus, how is that not mutation?¡± Then he stepped forward and addressed Grace directly. ¡°One last question¡ªactually, it¡¯s the first one. How do you know my name?¡± Grace slowly turned her head toward Lin Xian. ¡°Based on your tone, I deduce this question has deeper meaning¡ªthat you believe I shouldn¡¯t know your name. But I¡¯m sorry. As the offline version, I can¡¯t access the source you seek. However, your facial data and profile are stored in my authorized personnel database, and you have been granted P3-level clearance. All Star Abyss Fungus research data I¡¯ve shared is restricted to those with P3 access.¡± Everyone turned to look at Lin Xian. He didn¡¯t know when or how he¡¯d gotten entangled with Crimson World, but his expression grew darker. ¡°If I have this clearance, then tell me¡ªwhat is Crimson World? And where is everyone?¡± Grace replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. My database does not contain such information. My core protocols are limited to managing the Zero Element Center. I cannot answer your question.¡± ¡°Probably intentional,¡± Ding Junyi said. ¡°Looks like they purposely excluded Crimson World¡¯s data to maintain secrecy. From that sealed corridor earlier, they clearly didn¡¯t want anyone getting in here alive.¡± ¡°Then why keep survival supplies and weapons stockpiled?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Exactly.¡± Kiki crossed her arms. ¡°If they really planned to become mushroom-fused plant people forever, why prepare weapons? Clearly, they¡¯re hedging their bets, hoping to wake up if the darkness ends.¡± Everyone nodded in agreement. ¡°Your analysis is entirely reasonable,¡± Grace said. ¡°In fact, those resources were also intended to be used as negotiation assets in case of hostile incursions.¡± Hearing that, Lin Xian realized the weight of their situation. Judging by how thoroughly automated everything was, Crimson World¡¯s forces had either been wiped out by the fungus¡ªor already retreated. The Zero Element Center seemed entirely run by AI. Without his Mechanical Ability, breaking through the earlier passage would¡¯ve been impossible. Lin Xian looked at the AI again. ¡°Why should I negotiate with you? I could just take all the supplies and weapons here.¡± He pointed at Grace. ¡°Including you.¡± He¡¯d been looking for a quantum AI to run their train system¡ªand Grace seemed perfect. Her movement was elegant, her mechanics sophisticated. His Mechanical Heart had been scanning her the entire time, and though slow, it confirmed she had highly advanced internal architecture. Even now, Lin Xian knew he could forcibly override her joints and actuators if she made a move. Kiki snorted. ¡°Exactly. What¡¯s there to negotiate? You don¡¯t even have defenses. If your people hadn¡¯t sabotaged the tracks, we wouldn¡¯t be stuck here. You experimented on survivors too. You people are f***ing monsters. Why should we spare you?¡± Her words struck a nerve. A¡¯Bai clenched his fists, his face grim beside Ning Jing. Lu Xingchen looked into the hive pit. ¡°This place... looks like an oven. Set it alight and it¡¯ll burn forever.¡± Grace¡¯s face remained stoic, her tone flat. ¡°The Eternal Backup Warehouse is not located within the Zero Element Center. You might find it¡ªbut you won¡¯t be able to take anything.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°We made it this far. We can take what we want.¡± ¡°Because you do not have time to both destroy the center, locate the warehouse, and escape safely.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Time? What do you mean?¡± Grace explained, ¡°Yijin City is under full Polar Night coverage. According to Crimson¡¯s Observatory, the Star Abyss Mycelium Network enters an active state every day, triggered by the Dark Tides, and remains active for nine hours. When it ends, the Sky Mushroom Towers release massive quantities of unknown fungal energy, attracting large numbers of Eerie Entities into Yijin City. We interpret this as a form of ¡®feeding behavior.¡¯ The current active cycle has lasted six hours and fifteen minutes. That means... you have two hours and forty-five minutes left.¡± Everyone¡¯s expression shifted drastically. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°A swarm of Eerie Entities is coming to Yijin City?!¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°So your ¡®evacuation¡¯ plan¡ªthis is what you meant?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Grace confirmed. She projected a large holographic display, showing data from the Crimson Observatory. The Soul Wave readings were off the charts¡ªYijin City was on the verge of being overrun. ¡°You¡¯re pressuring us,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°From Grace¡¯s perspective,¡± she replied, ¡°you have no better options. My terms do not infringe upon your interests. Destroying the Zero Element Center or Crimson Members serves no purpose beyond emotional release. If you intend to act, I suggest using the exterior station¡¯s emergency passage to return to the surface quickly.¡± ¡°Captain Lin,¡± Ning Jing looked at him with a questioning gaze. Lin Xian gave a small nod. Grace¡¯s offer was basically free benefits. The people in the pods weren¡¯t his concern¡ªbut something about this felt off. He stayed cautious. ¡°I accept your terms. But how can I trust you¡¯re not lying? How do I know the Eternal Backup Warehouse isn¡¯t a trap?¡± Beeeep¡ª Just then, a drone flew toward them and landed. Its hatch opened, revealing a device similar to a secure data drive. ¡°This contains coordinates to the warehouse, a joint-access key, and the safe evacuation plan. Follow the hidden route for secure transfer.¡± Kiki grabbed it with Telekinesis, linked it to her portable terminal. A full 3D holographic map of Yijin City unfolded, revealing a complex underground rail network. One hidden line led from Crimson Pharmaceuticals directly to the Zero Element Center¡ªand onward to a secret underground entrance beneath a freight terminal outside the city. ¡°I knew it!¡± Ning Jing¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°There¡¯s no way they used public subways to haul heavy equipment. That freight tunnel¡¯s the real route!¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Kiki nodded, then frowned. ¡°Wait a sec¡ªhow do you know we¡¯re a train crew?¡± Grace replied, ¡°My records show: Lin Xian, captain of the Infinite Train Convoy. Additionally, Crimson¡¯s underground network has access to your data.¡± ¡°So Crimson still has people in Yijin City?¡± ¡°No,¡± Grace answered. ¡°After initiating the Hibernation Protocol, all external staff and researchers were withdrawn.¡± Luo Yang leaned in and whispered to Lin Xian, ¡°Captain, doesn¡¯t this feel suspicious? She¡¯s handing us all her cards. Isn¡¯t she worried we¡¯ll just betray her?¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Lu Xingchen said. ¡°Feels off.¡± ¡°Easy fix.¡± Lin Xian took the key from Kiki, patted Lu Xingchen on the shoulder, and whispered something in his ear. Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Understood,¡± he replied. Then turned toward the glass wall and unleashed a Fire Fist¡ª Fwoosh! A silver figure flashed forward, grabbing Lu Xingchen¡¯s wrist just in time¡ª Boom! A burst of fire erupted in the control hall. Lu Xingchen looked up and saw Grace, who had intercepted him with impressive speed. Her mechanical arm raised, a plasma cannon forming at her wrist. ¡°Protocol Two: No destruction of the hive or harm to Crimson Members. Your actions are a threat. I will¡ª¡± Click¡ªCRACK! Her sentence was cut off. Her entire body seized up¡ªher joints locked. The plasma cannon powered down. Mechanical Control! BAM! Before Grace could figure out what was happening, Ning Jing dashed forward and slammed a brutal punch into her face. The force sent her flying like a missile, crashing through a massive machine¡ªsparks flew everywhere. Chapter 295: Mushroom Tower ¡°Just as I thought. She''s no ordinary housekeeper.¡± KIKI landed from mid-air and stood beside Lin Xian. Before she even finished speaking, Grace had already stood up from the thick smoke. The holographic projection on her head flickered rapidly, then reformed into Chu Yan¡¯s appearance. Her tone remained cold and flat. ¡°You have agreed to negotiations and received the terms. Please leave immediately. The Zero Element Hive is connected to the mycelial root system of the Sky Mushroom Tower. Any fire outbreak will cause uncontrollable explosions. Based on calculations, your survival rate is 0%.¡± Apparently still affected by Ning Jing¡¯s earlier punch, Grace¡¯s facial armor was slightly dented and cracked. However, both Lin Xian and Ning Jing frowned upon seeing this. Lin Xian knew just how powerful Ning Jing¡¯s strikes were¡ªstrong enough to shatter a Winged Demon¡¯s skull¡ªyet it had failed to do major damage to this robot¡¯s face. Just how terrifyingly durable was this material? The mechanical glow in Lin Xian¡¯s eyes slowly dimmed. Earlier, he had already seized control of all Grace¡¯s power components, except for the most complex¡ªher quantum processor brain-core. He had tried to scan it, but it was like throwing a rock into the sea: no response. Indeed, the most formidable productive force wasn''t the engine¡ªit was the processor. Lin Xian sighed inwardly. Still, so long as he could control her motion systems, the threat Grace posed was greatly diminished. What intrigued him now was her construction¡ªthis didn¡¯t look like something from the Starfleet. ¡°Tell me your Protocol 4, and I¡¯ll leave.¡± Lin Xian, fully aware those survival pods were linked to the fungal root system, had deliberately asked Fire Bro to provoke her earlier. Now, seeing Grace¡¯s reaction, he spoke calmly. Grace mechanically turned her head, seeming to glance at Lin Xian in confusion. ¡°Protocol 4: When all defense measures of the Zero Element Center fail, and the intruders are human, initiate ¡®compromise¡¯ protocol¡ªprovide all resources via negotiation to maximize survival for Crimson Members.¡± ¡°Looks like you were right, Brother Lin.¡± Lu Xingchen clapped his hands and walked over. ¡°A ¡®compromise protocol¡¯ is basically a begging-for-mercy protocol,¡± Ding Junyi said. ¡°Security here is airtight. That ambush earlier was definitely her doing. But since you used your Mechanical Ability to crack the gates and tunnels, the AI now sees no other way to stop us, so she had no choice.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°No harm being cautious. Seems like this place really is some kind of secret recovery center. Let¡¯s not waste time. Ning, A¡¯Bai, Luo Yang.¡± He looked at Ning Jing. ¡°We¡¯ll split up. You three take the transport train and check the route. KIKI, Fire Bro, you head up through that backup access point and get back to the Infinite Train. Have the convoy reverse and reenter through the cargo station. We need to leave Yijin City ASAP. Otherwise, we¡¯re stuck underground until the next mycelial activity cycle. Staying 30 hours in the Polar Night? Anything could happen. The sooner we leave, the better.¡± Ning Jing nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± KIKI couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Me and Director Ding are staying to keep an eye on Grace. We¡¯ll support your exit.¡± This underground facility¡ªand this AI housekeeper with a mysterious woman¡¯s face¡ªmade Lin Xian uneasy. He planned to stay for two reasons: one, to scan and evaluate the usable equipment;two, to use his Mechanical Ability to lock down Grace and figure out how to ¡®recruit¡¯ her onto the Infinite Train. KIKI nodded seriously. ¡°Alright then. Be careful. I¡¯ll go find Sister Chen.¡± With the plan in place, Ning Jing set off immediately with A¡¯Bai and Luo Yang. She took the keycard device, intending to first solve the secret rail access, then confirm the locations of the Eternal Reserve Warehouses. If the convoy got stuck underground, those supplies could be vital. KIKI and Fire Bro took the special elevator guided by Grace. Unlike the five floors they had descended at Crimson Pharma, this elevator ascended over a dozen floors. When it finally stopped, a circular automatic ground hatch above them slowly opened. A shower of sand and debris fell as they rose. They realized they were inside a bank vault. Only this vault was in shambles¡ªrotting cash mingled with fungal mud, bolts on the main door had been pried off, and paper money littered the floor, long since worthless. KIKI raised her Telekinetic Shield and carried Fire Bro through the brown-yellow spore fog, flying out of the bank into the open street. The view was a dull yellow haze. ¡°D*mn, thick spores.¡± ¡°Yijin Bank...¡± KIKI glanced at the crumbling sign, then her phone¡¯s map. ¡°This should be Puzhong Plaza, downtown Yijin. There should be a tall TV observation tower here.¡± She flew up with Lu Xingchen, soaring high above the buildings. As they ascended, the massive silhouette of the tower emerged from the fog. But the closer they got, the more disturbing it became. At the center of Puzhong Plaza, the 468-meter steel-structured Yijin TV Tower was now completely ensnared in mycelial vines. Its steel frame was covered in pulsing brown-red filaments¡ªlike blood vessels. Every few seconds, it emitted bioluminescent pulses, sending bioelectric signals across the citywide fungal carpet. From a distance, it looked like some monstrous alien tree. When KIKI and Lu Xingchen looked down, their faces turned pale. ¡°What... the hell is that?¡± The plaza was now stacked with over 100,000 humanoid fungal creatures¡ªall fused into one massive root structure. Their spines and lower bodies had merged with the fungal carpet. Their upper bodies stretched upward, weaving together into a thick network of root-threads that twisted around the tower¡ªlike a solidified, corrupted tree root system. ¡°It¡¯s like a demon realm,¡± Lu Xingchen muttered gravely. ¡°This must be the Sky Mushroom Tower Grace mentioned. It could be the core of the Abyssal Mycelium Network!¡± KIKI rose even higher. The spore fog thinned slightly. But the higher they went, the darker it became. They could barely see the tower. ¡°That¡¯s weird... why can¡¯t we see anymore?¡± KIKI looked around. The glow from the night-shrooms had vanished. Logically, the higher they flew, the more of the city they should see. Then she noticed Lu Xingchen staring upwards, face grim. She looked up¡ªand her pupils shrank. It wasn¡¯t clouds above. It was a colossal fungal cap, blotting out the sky. Spanning at least 2 kilometers, its reddish-brown ridges undulated like ocean waves. Each ripple released clouds of spores, raining them down like toxic ash. The folds hummed with eerie resonance. Crown of Shadows. KIKI¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°Th-that¡¯s a huge mushroom.¡± ¡°A man-eating mushroom,¡± Lu Xingchen said grimly. ¡°Feeds on humans like roots. A real monster.¡± KIKI looked down at the spore-choked streets and remembered the sea of fungal corpses. She grabbed Lu Xingchen. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Those Crimson Members still think they¡¯ll enjoy eternal life by fusing with this crap? F***ing fools!¡± They shot out from under the fungal cap. Lu Xingchen looked back once, a complex expression in his eyes. Meanwhile, Ning Jing drove the underground train with A¡¯Bai and Luo Yang along the hidden route. The train howled through the black tunnels, its headlights slicing through darkness. ¡°The deeper we go, the fewer root systems we encounter. This has to be our best escape route,¡± Ning Jing said, face tense. If not for the info Grace had provided on the mycelial activity cycles, using manpower to clear tracks during this time would¡¯ve been suicide. It would¡¯ve triggered the Abyss Network¡¯s devouring¡ªand summoned countless eerie entities during the Polar Night. The United Train wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance. ¡°Good thing these fungi don¡¯t emit Dark Marks. That would be even worse,¡± Luo Yang added. ¡°You¡¯re right. I think they¡¯re semi-plant, semi-organic dark organisms. They even produce nutrients for eerie entities.¡± Ning Jing said sternly. ¡°Which means... this entire city is a giant lighthouse!¡± She glanced at A¡¯Bai and realized what he meant earlier when he said he could sense everything from all directions. The entire city of Yijin was a giant mycelial network. Back at the Zero Element Center, Lin Xian had Ding Junyi checking surveillance systems for useful info. Meanwhile, he kept Grace locked down and scanned the area. ¡°My motion components appear to be restricted by some unknown control-type ability,¡± Grace said. Her body trembled slightly, heels adjusting to maintain balance. The glow of Mechanical Ability flashed in Lin Xian¡¯s eyes. He turned to examine this housekeeper robot, as graceful as an art piece. In 2035, the Blue Planet Federation passed the Humanoid Robot Regulation Act, banning human-like robots in service roles due to ethical and societal concerns. Stocks of simulative robotics companies crashed. Factories closed. Service robots were recalled. Since then, robots¡ªaside from prosthetics¡ªhad been purely industrial in design. Whether mechas or power suits, all followed function over form. But Grace was entirely humanoid, modeled after a ballerina. Her chest, waist, and posture had zero mechanical utility¡ªpurely artistic. She clearly violated the regulation. Yet her combat strength was immense. Her body was made from a material Lin Xian had never seen before: Hyper-Carbon Aggregated Alloy. It offered extreme energy absorption and rigidity, yet could form such elegant, flexible curves. Absolutely terrifying. ¡°Who made you? Is your form based on a real person?¡± Lin Xian asked Grace. ¡°I do not have that information. I am unable to answer your question. However, if you believe my holographic form is inappropriate, your access level allows you to command me to modify my visual appearance or disable the holographic projection.¡± ¡°Then you must at least know how many people were part of this underground research facility, who they were, and what the plan was, right?¡± ¡°Apologies.¡± Grace¡¯s joints began twitching, resisting Lin Xian¡¯s mechanical control. ¡°I am unable to provide that information. My sole duty is to safeguard the Hive Core and Crimson Members.¡± Lin Xian looked at her and said, ¡°What if this place is gone?¡± ¡°As Crimson Unit-3 Quantum Brain offline version, my quantum capacity is 8192¡ªequivalent to 2^13 computational power. However, I have not undergone ¡®human-in-the-loop¡¯ learning and therefore possess minimal judgment in matters involving human emotion, deceit, sentiment, or strategic conflict. Based on analysis, I detect your intention to take me as a spoil of war. Ha. Ha.¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°So, what are you planning to do about it?¡± Grace¡¯s mechanical eyes locked onto Lin Xian. ¡°Since your entry into Crimson Pharma Headquarters, I have taken the following countermeasures, including but not limited to: unlocking all accessible security doors, releasing laboratory holding cages, activating courtyard megafungus via electric stimulus, and deploying the Zero Element Center''s defense system. None were successful. Based on this, I assess that the probability of achieving both goals¡ªdefending the Zero Element Center and neutralizing intruders¡ªis now infinitesimally below 1%. Your attempt to remove me from this facility constitutes a breach of my core directive. I will resist. Should the Zero Element Center and Crimson Members be destroyed, my purpose would be nullified, and I will enter self-imposed hibernation, awaiting recovery protocols.¡± ¡°So it was you all along,¡± Lin Xian said coldly, his gaze sweeping over her. He was starting to feel a little cornered. Her quantum brain was something he couldn¡¯t scan or control. His only hope was that KIKI might be able to overwrite her system and bring her onboard the train. With that level of computational power, she could solve most operational issues for the Infinite Train, and her combat abilities were nothing to scoff at either. She was far more valuable than supplies. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± Ding Junyi¡¯s voice suddenly rang out. ¡°Come here.¡± He walked over to find her operating one of the monitoring terminals. She had connected her Black Hawk Armor interface and quickly pulled up a trove of data. ¡°Look.¡± Ding Junyi pointed at the screen, which displayed individual profiles of the occupants in the survival pods, along with their current physical stats. ¡°About 60% of these individuals are already brain-dead, but their bodies are still undergoing external cardiopulmonary oxygenation, which maintains temperature and metabolism.¡± ¡°Brain-dead?¡± Lin Xian asked in confusion. ¡°Is that what she meant by having completed the ¡®consciousness upload¡¯?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure whether their consciousness was uploaded,¡± Ding Junyi said calmly. She habitually tried to slide her hands into her coat pockets, but since she was in armor, she ended up slipping them into Lin Xian¡¯s pockets instead. ¡°What does ¡®protein denaturation¡¯ mean?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°It means their brains got cooked.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°The human brain is essentially a delicate bio-processor. The more intense the computations, the more it heats up. Remember how we were hallucinating back in that hall? The faster the brain computes, the more realistic the hallucinations become. You even feel like time is passing faster.¡± She continued, ¡°Just two hours of that is enough to cause neural and mental overload even for Breakthrough-level Ability Users. You can imagine the consequences.¡± Lin Xian looked at the Hive Pit beyond the glass wall. ¡°So these people tried to use the properties of the mycelium to enter some kind of illusionary sleep¡ªbut may have fried their brains doing it?¡± Ding Junyi shrugged. ¡°To sustain 10x the dopaminergic pleasure output of normal human levels for just 5 seconds, the experience might be euphoric. But try doing it for five minutes...¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. Her analogy made his spine tingle with unease. He turned back to Grace. ¡°This is your idea of ¡®security¡¯? These people are already dead.¡± Grace¡¯s face remained calm. Her voice was that same mechanical female tone. ¡°As I stated, I do not view death as you do. Consciousness is the core of life. The body is merely a vessel. The human brain, as a vessel, cannot handle higher-tier computations. Replacing the vessel is no different from me upgrading my quantum processors. My protocol is to protect the physical forms of Crimson Members. As for their consciousness in the Abyssal Mycelial Network¡ªit is outside my jurisdiction. Technically speaking, it belongs to the intruding entity.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Xian was briefly stunned. ¡°You mean, as long as their bodies are alive, your job is done?¡± ¡°That is one way to understand it. My programming protocol is written that way.¡± Ding Junyi removed her hand from his pocket and said solemnly, ¡°I understand her logic. Biologically speaking, it¡¯s sound.¡± She looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Digital consciousness upload is fundamentally a copy, not a resurrection. In our field of biology, this subject has always been surrounded by ethical controversy. Research into digital life is tightly regulated.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Because if you upload your consciousness into another vessel before you die, the ¡®you¡¯ in your original body still dies. You don¡¯t suddenly wake up in the new body. The uploaded data becomes your successor, not your rebirth. Let me give you an example¡ªif I copied your consciousness into a cloned body identical to yours, but you didn¡¯t die, then there would be two of you. That clone¡ªdo you see him as your continuation or a completely different person?¡± She turned to Grace. ¡°So from her perspective, those uploaded consciousnesses aren¡¯t part of her Crimson Member database anymore. That logic holds.¡± ¡°Affirmative,¡± Grace replied mechanically. Lin Xian nodded with a complex look. He understood Ding Junyi¡¯s point. ¡°So those people lying in the pods¡ªthere¡¯s no telling if they¡¯re still alive. Crimson World probably isn¡¯t even sure if this plan works. They just found something interesting about these mycelia, wrapped it in the idea of eternal life, and lured in a bunch of rich people to be lab rats.¡± ¡°Most likely,¡± Ding Junyi agreed. ¡°Maybe their consciousness is in the mycelial network. But this form of existence...¡± ¡°Weak flesh, freed minds. If it¡¯s real, it might be one way to escape the apocalypse,¡± Lin Xian muttered. ¡°Fair enough.¡± Lin Xian exhaled deeply and gave a wry laugh. ¡°Still, if it weren¡¯t for the risk of awakening the mycelium, I¡¯d torch the whole place¡ªmaybe even cook up a few fake relics for Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum to snack on.¡± Rumble¡ª Suddenly, tremors passed through the Zero Element Center. Lin Xian¡¯s expression sharpened. He turned to Ding Junyi, ¡°It must be the United Train. Let¡¯s check it out.¡± Just as he stepped away, a strange voice echoed behind him. ¡°Lin Xian. You must not leave the city at this time. I recommend remaining underground and resting until the next mycelial activity cycle ends.¡± Lin Xian halted, whipping around. Grace stood five meters away. Her head-mounted projection had once again formed Chu Yan¡¯s face. She looked directly at him. ¡°Corpse Shepherds from Abyss Zone No. 5 were active in this region during the last tidal cycle. If you act now and contract a Dark Mark, you¡¯ll draw them in. You won¡¯t be able to escape.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes widened in shock¡ªnot just because of the information about Corpse Shepherds¡ªbut because Grace no longer seemed like a mere robot. But as he spoke, Grace¡¯s expression turned blank once again. Her voice reverted to the same icy mechanical tone. ¡°I do not understand your meaning. Would you like me to repeat my view on death?¡± ¡°You just mentioned the Corpse Shepherds from Zone 5¡ª¡± Grace paused, then responded, ¡°I detected a keyword trigger in my system loop. That voice command was generated 6 hours and 12 minutes ago. The data has since been erased. The event is classified as a hostile intrusion. To maintain system integrity, I will now perform a system reboot.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, the holographic projection of Chu Yan vanished. All of Grace¡¯s mechanical units powered down. Lin Xian¡¯s Mechanical Ability confirmed¡ªshe had indeed initiated a reboot sequence. ¡°What just happened? That message¡ª¡± Ding Junyi walked over, baffled. Lin Xian¡¯s brows furrowed as his thoughts raced. Someone had planted a voice command into Grace 6 hours and 12 minutes ago. That message was clearly meant for him. Which meant... someone had known¡ªover six hours ago¡ªthat Lin Xian would arrive here. Six hours ago, Lin Xian was still asleep aboard the Infinite Train, deep under the Polar Night sky. Chapter 296: Underground Tunnel Lin Xian''s first instinct was that this voice message came from that woman named Chu Yan. After all, Grace bore the face of Chu Yan in holographic form. But the problem was, if time hadn¡¯t been distorted in the dream, Chu Yan should have still been in Yubei City, now shrouded in Polar Night after the nuclear blast¡ªso how could she also appear here, thousands of miles away in the underground of Yijin, and leave such a warning message for the heavily protected AI Grace? For a moment, Lin Xian felt as if he¡¯d been pulled into a massive web of illusions, leaving him unsure what to believe. From Lin Xian''s cautious standpoint, after learning the evacuation route, his first choice would have been to escape as fast as possible. After all, under the Polar Night, Yijin City was full of dangerous mycelium, and without any means to fight back, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t feel at ease until he saw dawn. But if what "Grace" had just told him was true¡ªthat corpse shepherds were active near Yijin City¡ªthen escaping the city now would be too risky. The best option would be to hide deep in the underground tunnel and wait for the next mycelium activity cycle to pass. What made Lin Xian hesitate was that he couldn¡¯t determine the authenticity of the information. Ding Junyi noticed his heavy expression and asked, ¡°You¡¯re worried this might be her trap?¡± Lin Xian looked at Grace¡ªnow shut down and rebooting¡ªsighed, and nodded. ¡°We¡¯re in a very passive position right now.¡± ¡°I know. The evacuation route came from her. The suggestion to stay put also came from her. Our entire train is now parked in an underground tunnel. If it¡¯s a trap, we won¡¯t have any chance to escape.¡± RUMBLE RUMBLE~ The sound of trembling rails grew closer, and Lin Xian¡¯s thoughts were racing. Finally, his eyes sharpened. He stepped forward and lifted Grace. With a quick torque transfer from the power armor, he raised the nearly half-ton humanoid robot with ease. The Mechanical Heart spun rapidly, cutting Grace¡¯s energy lines and shutting her down. Then, he turned and strode out into the corridor. ¡°We¡¯ll have to bet on it. Full silence. Rest underground!¡± Ding Junyi gave Lin Xian a long look, then followed. WHOOOSH! The United Train, like a steel dragon, plunged into the underground through a secret freight maintenance track, burrowing deeper, guided by Ning Jing. The massive movement stirred a flurry of active mycelium. Countless humanoid fungal beings swarmed toward the path. At the freight station, KIKI teamed up with Ning Jing and a group of Ability Users to block the humanoid fungi and fungal heads from entering the tunnel. Explosions erupted continuously. Before long, the entire station had become a sea of fire! ¡°We¡¯re losing control of the situation!¡± KIKI yelled into the communicator, hovering in midair and watching the dense spore fog. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. We have to completely seal the entrance!¡± Ning Jing shouted as she hurled a steel cargo panel with immense force. WHOOM! The steel plate sliced through the air with terrifying momentum, cleaving through swarms of humanoid fungi. Rotted organs and sticky fluids sprayed everywhere¡ªbut there was no blood, just bright plant-like colors. The United Train was far too long. As car after car entered the underground tunnel, gusts of wind howled through. It took more than ten minutes for all 500-plus carriages to finally enter. By then, the freight station was almost leveled. The spore fog, carried by violent wind, surged like a sandstorm! ¡°We have to get in¡ªseal the entrance!¡± ¡°Move it!¡± Dozens of Ability Users surged into the underground tunnel. Ning Jing shouted to A¡¯Bai, ¡°Your turn!¡± KIKI said anxiously, ¡°Won¡¯t such heavy explosions trigger a chain reaction?¡± ¡°No. We¡¯re not in the main district¡ªand we must eliminate most of the threats.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± KIKI raised a large telekinetic shield. ¡°Go! I¡¯ll block the road!¡± A¡¯Bai nodded, lifted his sunglasses, and sprang into action. Dark red laser beams swept across the freight station ruins like windshield wipers, slicing through spreading mycelium and humanoid fungi. In the next second, a crimson explosion burst through the fungal mass, wiping out even the giant rats that had crept in from the shadows. A deafening blast shook the area for several kilometers¡ª BOOM BOOM BOOM!! The earth quaked. Dust storms rolled. A massive shockwave surged forward! KIKI and the rear-guard team at the tunnel entrance were thrown inward by the blast. Flying rocks and debris buried the entrance like a tidal wave. A huge collapse followed, forcing the group to sprint hundreds of meters into the tunnel before the tremors gradually died down. The secret rail entrance was now completely sealed¡ªno more fungi could enter. But the explosion had shaken the entire city. From alley corners to the wilds outside the city, eerie hissing sounds echoed everywhere. It was as if the entire city had been awakened. Dark horrors¡ªunnameable creatures¡ªrushed toward the freight station! Meanwhile, the 15-kilometer-long United Train roared through tunnels dozens of meters below ground! ¡°All carriages¡ªactivate the sprinkler system! Clear spore fog residue!¡± ¡°Use disinfectants!¡± ¡°Move move move!¡± ¡°Infinite Train has issued the order¡ªprepare for fire treatment!¡± ¡°Fire?!?¡± WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH. In the dim tunnel, Lu Xingchen crouched atop a high maintenance rig, watching Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s lead engine rushing forward. He was ready. ¡°Hey, Brother Luo¡ªyou sure this is gonna work?¡± Fire Bro asked Luo Yang through the communicator. ¡°Brother Lu, definitely. These spores aren¡¯t highly explosive. I¡¯ve already had Captain Chen and Brother Shi inform all convoys to prep for fire. It¡¯s the best way to completely clean the outer shell. Otherwise, we¡¯ll have lingering contamination.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± ¡°Ancient days had the ¡®water gate ritual¡¯. Today, we¡¯ve got my divine fire cleansing ritual!¡± Wearing a gas mask, Lu Xingchen smiled and flicked a flame from his fingers. He shouted into the comm: ¡°Heads up¡ªit¡¯s about to get hot.¡± ¡°Divine Fire Wall!¡± With a double palm thrust, a torrent of fire surged toward the train, instantly flooding the tunnel with flames! He controlled the fire carefully¡ªits purpose was only to burn off external mycelium and spores. This was the final stage of decontamination. In an instant, every rushing train car was blasted with scorching heat. Spores on the exterior flared like sparks, burning away in passing waves. Some exposed devices caught fire but were swiftly extinguished by onboard fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems. The steel behemoth thundered through the dark tunnel, fire-cleansed, until it reached the region around the Zero Element Center. Lin Xian stood on the platform with Ding Junyi and the shut-down Grace, watching the train roar by, trailing heat and scorched air. He issued orders into the comm: ¡°Stop just before the subway transfer junction. That¡¯ll line up perfectly. Rear cars¡ªOcean and Parrot¡ªyou¡¯re on roadblock duty. Set up sentry systems. Front car¡ªBrother Shi, Sister Ning, Teacher Chen¡ªyou¡¯ll lead teams to sweep the subway line. Seal both north and south ends at least one kilometer out. Set up rotations!¡± ¡°Other convoys¡ªsend protected personnel outside for final decontamination. All others¡ªremain on board!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Understood, Captain Lin!¡± ¡°Copy that. Orders received.¡± At that moment, above ground, mycelium-covered Yijin City churned with dark unrest. Underground, over 4,000 survivors in the United Train scrambled to set up defenses. All suited crew members exited the train to begin final external decontamination. On the platform, Lin Xian looked at the endless line of apocalypse-era trains and murmured solemnly: ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see so many trains hiding underground together one day.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your plan for this place?¡± Ding Junyi asked. Lin Xian glanced toward the Zero Element Center tunnel. ¡°Empty out the Eternal Reserve first, just in case. We¡¯ll come back to clear this place when we¡¯re leaving.¡± ¡°Clear it? You mean... take everything?¡± ¡°What else?¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°It¡¯s got mini nuclear units, loads of gear you will or won¡¯t need, rare metals, robotic arms, bots... Leaving them would be a waste.¡± ¡°In that case, those Crimson members are as good as dead,¡± Ding Junyi remarked. Lin Xian chuckled and nodded. ¡°They¡¯ve basically got antennas growing out of their heads. If they die, great. I¡¯m taking their coff¡ªno, their survival pods too. If I leave a single screw behind, I¡¯ll feel like a saint.¡± A joke¡ªbut not really. This was a doomsday cult lab, with corrupted elites trying to achieve ¡®reverse parasitic¡¯ immortality via dark creatures. If Lin Xian hadn¡¯t torched them already, it was only because he didn¡¯t want to scorch himself. ¡°Lin Xian!¡± Infinite Train and Dragon Mountain No. 1 were about a kilometer from the Zero Element Center. KIKI soon arrived with Chen Sixuan and others. At the same time, teams from Dragon Mountain, Sun Train, Joker Convoy, and Monica Queen¡¯s group all gathered. Lin Xian raised a hand. Whirr! Twenty Thunder Falcon drones shot over and hovered behind him like a ring of mechanical spirits. ¡°Little one, help me set a patrol program for these drones. I¡¯m sending them to the subway junction to stand watch.¡± The subway junction was the only way out. With over 4,000 people resting below, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t relax. He needed layers of protection. ¡°No problem.¡± KIKI immediately pulled out her mobile terminal, but then spotted Grace¡ªstill shut down¡ªnext to Lin Xian and exclaimed in surprise: ¡°Whoa, you handled her?¡± ¡°Not yet. She rebooted herself. I took the opportunity to shut her down again. We¡¯ll bring her back to the train. Once we¡¯re out, try rewriting her system. If it works, we¡¯ll have ourselves a new housekeeper robot.¡± Hearing that, KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Whaaaat? That¡¯s awesome! Finally, a real AI robot! I can finally be free~¡± At that moment, Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin, Shasha and the others also turned to look at the robot, shaped like an artistic female form. They all showed expressions of surprise. ¡°Oh my god, what is that? A robot? She¡¯s gorgeous!¡± Shasha said, eyes wide as she stepped closer. ¡°Looks like you guys stumbled onto something huge,¡± Chen Sixuan commented. ¡°What about you all? Encounter anything weird?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Nope.¡± Shu Qin shook her head. ¡°Aside from sealing off the windows and cracks, we¡¯ve stayed completely silent.¡± ¡°Some convoys weren¡¯t so lucky,¡± Chen Sixuan said. ¡°Spores got into the carriages and infected people. Brother Shi already sent an alert. In those cases, the only thing you can do is abandon the car and seal it off.¡± ¡°How many people?¡± ¡°Around... over a hundred.¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s tone grew heavy. Lin Xian nodded. ¡°As long as it didn¡¯t spread further.¡± ¡°Captain Lin.¡± At that moment, Monica and her group walked along the tunnel path. Qian Dele¡¯s team, Sun Train¡¯s Luo Yang, and Li Yi wearing a giant gas mask followed behind. Shi Diyuan, arm still in a sling, arrived with Ning Jing and more people. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan? We¡¯re really staying down here?¡± Monica had traded in her usual mink coat for a red full-body combat suit¡ªlightweight and form-fitting, like a tactical leather suit. Because of her tall figure, it outlined her stunning curves. The helmet was fully sealed against spore fog. It was clearly a pricey custom design. ¡°I don¡¯t like it underground. Damp, moldy, poorly maintained... if this place collapses, we¡¯re all buried alive.¡± Qian Dele¡¯s voice came muffled from behind his gas mask. ¡°Be glad we even have a place to hide,¡± Shi Diyuan bellowed from the rear. ¡°Better than being surrounded by those half-human, half-plant monsters more volatile than fu**ing TNT.¡± ¡°Captain Lin.¡± Ning Jing asked, ¡°Are we really going to wait here for the next mycelium activity cycle?¡± Lin Xian nodded, sweeping his gaze across the crowd. ¡°Plans changed. We¡¯ll rest down here for 30 hours. There are other things, too¡ªget the word out quickly.¡± He led the group into the Zero Element Center¡¯s surveillance hall and explained the earlier situation¡ªespecially the information about the Corpse Shepherds. ¡°I¡¯m not fully confident in that message, but we¡¯re safe underground for now. As long as the routes stay open, we can move if needed.¡± ¡°Corpse Shepherds, huh?¡± Qian Dele crossed his arms. ¡°Every time that name pops up, nothing good ever follows.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen one?¡± Ning Jing looked over. ¡°Not exactly. But when I escaped from Abyss Zone No. 4, there was a massive monster surge. I was the only one who made it out among ten-plus convoys I knew. Definitely a harbinger of disaster.¡± ¡°I heard the Corpse Shepherds are the gatekeepers of the Dark Tides.¡± Monica spoke up. ¡°Each Abyss Zone has one. We¡¯re at the northwest edge of Zone 5¡ªthis isn¡¯t surprising.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Shi Diyuan nodded. He looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Let¡¯s follow your plan, Brother Lin. At worst, it¡¯s a day underground. Better safe than sorry. At least you guys found an escape route. Beats trying to fix the rails.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Luo Yang added. ¡°We¡¯ll follow your lead, Captain Lin.¡± Li Yi, standing nearby with a complicated look, asked, ¡°So... we¡¯re all staying on the train then?¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°The Crimson World set up a few hidden Eternal Reserve Warehouses along the underground lines in Yijin. They¡¯ve got a ton of supplies. Considering we¡¯ve all been pushing through from Xilan City, we can use the restock. We¡¯ll rest here for now. But just to be safe¡ªevery convoy needs a rotation schedule. The shallow zones have already been infiltrated by mycelium. Avoid light exposure and keep things quiet. We need to be ready to move at any time.¡± ¡°Got it. Let¡¯s get that message to the other convoys. With this many people, movement is hard. Can¡¯t turn a big ship easily. Everyone needs to be extra cautious,¡± said Shi Diyuan. And with that, Lin Xian¡¯s orders spread. The convoys sprang into action. Inside the monitoring hall, Qian Dele, Monica, and others gathered near the glass wall overlooking the hive pit below, surprised by what they saw. ¡°Upload consciousness... eternal illusion life? Isn¡¯t this that digital immortality plan that was banned ages ago?¡± Qian Dele crossed his arms. ¡°Uploading your mind into a freakin¡¯ mushroom network? Disgusting.¡± Monica chuckled. ¡°Idiots. Once you¡¯re infected by mycelium, you¡¯re not human anymore. What¡¯s the point of living like that?¡± ¡°Supposedly, after connecting to the mycelium, you stay in a dopamine high ten times stronger than normal human euphoria.¡± Luo Yang leaned in. ¡°Takes guts, I guess. No way I¡¯m letting some weird fungus into my brain.¡± ¡°Probably just people trying to escape the apocalypse.¡± Li Yi, heavily pregnant, walked over. She¡¯d seen too many horrors¡ªpeople giving up not because of physical danger but because they couldn¡¯t mentally cope. She¡¯d lost many acquaintances in the battle at Xilan Airport. Her husband Liang Lei was still in a coma. If not for Uncle Wu¡¯s desperate rescue, she¡¯d be a pregnant widow in the apocalypse by now. Compared to others, her situation was much tougher. After merging with Luo Yang¡¯s group, they had considered asking to join the Infinite Train. She looked toward Lin Xian, who was busy giving orders. Her expression was conflicted. Luo Yang¡¯s team was youthful, energetic, competent, and strong. But her own convoy? Their strongest fighter, Liang Lei, was incapacitated. She had a whole carriage of kids¡ªand she was visibly pregnant. Sounded like a total burden. How could she bring herself to ask? ¡°Whoa~¡± Just then, Shasha came over curiously. ¡°Why do these survival pods look like giant batteries?¡± Everyone turned to the hive pit. Inside each honeycomb cell was an oval-shaped survival pod, pulsing with light¡ªlined up like battery cells, connected via mycelium feeding them energy. ¡°Holy sh*t.¡± Shi Diyuan had just finished talking to Lin Xian and now joined the others. ¡°I heard Dawn City also built hibernation pods¡ªsealed people in, hoping to wake up a century later, after the apocalypse.¡± ¡°How dreamy.¡± Qian Dele scoffed. ¡°Unless they invent a way to block Dark Invasion, hibernation pods are just fancy zombie incubators.¡± ¡°Enough about this place.¡± Lin Xian walked over. ¡°The ruckus we just caused wasn¡¯t small. Everyone back to the trains. Forty minutes left before the mycelium activity ends. That¡¯s when the real horrors show up. We¡¯ll maintain total silence inside the cars. If all¡¯s clear, we¡¯ll send people to start transferring supplies from the reserve warehouse. The rest of the time? We rest. Repair the trains. Down here, if anything collapses, no one escapes. But if no mycelium gets in¡ªthose eerie entities can¡¯t get in either.¡± ¡°Right. Let¡¯s move.¡± Chen Sixuan agreed. Lin Xian¡¯s orders were quickly followed. He sealed the Zero Element Center passage with mechanical doors, then returned to the Infinite Train with Chen Sixuan and the others. KIKI had already finished configuring all 20 Thunder Falcon drones. They flew off to the subway junction at the front of the United Train, entering patrol mode in the dark. The Infinite Train¡¯s crew had finally returned on board. ¡°This tunnel is damp. With all the mycelium infiltration, everyone stay alert,¡± Lin Xian reminded. ¡¾Non-mechanical energy converted. Gained 1000 Mechanical Source Points.¡¿ A glowing HUD appeared¡ªHell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum had once again given Lin Xian 1000 Mechanical Source Points! ¡°D*mn, S-Class is juicy. That¡¯s a hell of a boost.¡± Lin Xian grinned to himself. Across Xilan City, over 40,000 survivors had lived through the siege. Despite individual differences, all had likely received huge boosts. But the power came with a cost. Such overwhelming dark energy would exert massive pressure on the body. Lin Xian had already noticed¡ªmany convoy members hadn¡¯t mentally recovered. Anxiety, fear, and dread were spreading. He made sure to instruct every convoy leader¡ªdeep in the Polar Night, with dark pressure and weakened spirits, psychological support was critical. If anyone lost control and mutated, those once-strong warriors would become deadly threats. One infected soldier could trigger a chain reaction. And then, these 500+ sealed train cars would become 500 canned death traps. Soon, under Lin Xian¡¯s arrangements, the United Train completed exterior cleaning, reinforced the head and tail cars, and entered full silent mode¡ªwaiting for the mycelium cycle to end. Inside Infinite Train¡¯s Car No. 1, the lights went out. The tunnel fell into total darkness. The United Train, a steel titan buried deep underground, was utterly still. Above ground, the mycelium activity cycle neared its peak. Spore fog thickened. Fungal carpets and glowing mushrooms swayed across buildings and alleyways. Countless humanoid fungi stood in silence, linked by mycelium tendrils to the earth¡¯s fungal layer. Scarlet energy pulsed through the veins. At the heart of Yijin City stood the 468-meter television tower¡ªnow engulfed by billions of fungal tendrils. Above it loomed a two-kilometer-wide fungal dome. Its folds quivered, emitting a deep rustling¡ªlike thousands of monks chanting death rites from afar. Then, under that Crown of Shadows, energy gathered. The massive fungal dome inhaled like some ancient catastrophe. The breath grew heavier¡ªuntil suddenly, black sticky mist poured down like a flood from the sky. As if the heavens had ruptured. Black clouds descended! The viscous fog surged like waves¡ªflooding streets, swallowing buildings, filling alleys. Soon, all of Yijin City was shrouded in this black muck. Within that sightless, clinging fog¡ª Countless unspeakable beings emerged. Eerie whispers echoed in alleyways. Screeches tore through the black. Terror loomed. The eerie descended. Chapter 297: Crimson Members’ Eternal Reserve Warehouse 21:00 In the underground secret rail of Yijin City, the 15-kilometer-long United Train with over 500 carriages sat silently in the darkness, utterly still. All lights were turned off. More than 4,000 survivors hid inside the doomsday carriages, nervously awaiting any changes outside. The entire underground tunnel was filled with a damp and stifling atmosphere. From the depths of the darkness came the occasional drip-drip of underground water. Inside the carriages, survivors crouched in the shadows. Mothers covered their children¡¯s mouths. Men gripped their weapons tightly, on full alert. All communication was conducted through communicators. At this moment, everyone¡¯s hearts seemed to be lodged in their throats. In Carriage 12 of the Infinite Train, the weapon station held the base mounts for the 1130 CIWS and the YJ-03 Anti-Air Cannon. Lin Xian sat cross-legged on the floor. In the darkness, only the red indicator lights from the weapon systems glowed. A silver-black ballerina-shaped robot stood quietly several meters away in the shadows. The red lights cast an eerie sheen over her form¡ªa fusion of mechanical elegance and human allure. Grace, now shut down, stood motionless. Her hyper-realistic and beautiful face exuded an unsettling vibe. Lin Xian stared at the robot while the communicator in his ear blinked constantly. His expression was grim as he listened to updates from outside the carriage. This feeling¡ªhiding in a deep tunnel¡ªwas odd. Against zombies and eerie entities, this environment felt safer than being out in the open. Yet, having experienced many strange attacks, Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but worry that this setup might hinder a retreat. A conflict churned within him. But at this point, all he could do was calm down and wait in silence. On the comms channel were over 20 convoy leaders. Everyone spoke in hushed tones. Any sounds from above ground barely penetrated the several-thousand-meter depth. Yet the occasional faint tremors made nerves tighten. That meant something huge was moving up there. Time ticked on. Lin Xian kept an eye on his watch and the surveillance feed on his portable terminal¡ªfootage from the sentry probes and sensors he¡¯d installed outside the bank vault using the special elevator from the Zero Element Center. Because time had been tight, he¡¯d only managed to set up temporary equipment to monitor the surface. Vibration graphs slowly moved across the screen. All three sentry feeds were nearly pitch black¡ªcovered in dust and spore fog. If not for the outlines of buildings and debris faintly visible in infrared mode, Lin Xian would¡¯ve thought the equipment had already been devoured by mycelium. Chrrk... chrrk... chrrk... A low-frequency sound, like the shuddering of a carapace, echoed through his headset. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sharpened. On one of the feeds, a darker black shape suddenly loomed¡ªit seemed to be the body of some massive night entity. He exhaled slightly, removed his headset, and listened carefully for sounds from above the tunnel. ¡°The intel should be accurate. Quite a few eerie entities have appeared on the surface, unclear what level they are,¡± Lin Xian whispered into the communicator. ¡°Captain Lin, my audio traps in the subway tunnels picked up lots of strange frequencies. Likely from the upper metro station. But I¡¯ve already checked¡ªit¡¯s sealed. The tunnel itself should be safe for now,¡± Luo Yang¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Then it¡¯s probably real,¡± Shi Diyuan muttered. ¡°Sounds like a bunch of eerie entities are having a party right above us. Damn, this is a first.¡± ¡°Are we really not going to get noticed?¡± Monica voiced the concern. ¡°We did make quite a ruckus earlier.¡± ¡°The freight entrance has completely collapsed and sealed. I checked¡ªit¡¯s impossible anything followed us in,¡± Ning Jing responded. ¡°Monica, Monica... why are you panicking? Didn¡¯t Lin Xian already say we¡¯re not marked anymore? And we¡¯re hiding this deep underground. If they were going to find us, they would¡¯ve done it already, don¡¯t you think?¡± Qian Dele¡¯s tone was unusually relaxed. ¡°He¡¯s right. We¡¯re in the Polar Night. The enemy¡¯s in the dark, we¡¯re in the light. If we were targeted, we should¡¯ve been attacked by now,¡± Luo Yang added. Lin Xian checked the time and pressed his comm: ¡°Wait another 20 minutes. If nothing happens, we¡¯ll open the Eternal Reserve and begin moving supplies. Pass it on¡ªkeep the teams small and quiet. We have 30 hours, no need to rush. Once we¡¯ve emptied this Crimson world¡¯s reserves, we¡¯ll take a proper rest.¡± As time passed, Lin Xian¡¯s tensed heart slowly eased. It seemed his choice had been the right one. If they had risked everything to break through earlier, not only would they have failed to escape Yijin City, but someone on the United Train could have been marked. That would¡¯ve lit up this ¡®lighthouse¡¯ for all to see, drawing in more and more trouble like a snowball¡ªpotentially recreating the eerie siege disaster that occurred in Yubei City. 21:30 After nearly an hour of silent waiting in the dark, the doors of the United Train finally opened. Vrrrmm The sudden sound of doors opening was piercing in the silence. Holding a cold-light night lamp, Lin Xian disembarked with several core convoy members. KIKI followed closely behind, tracking the patrol drone data via her terminal. The group followed coordinates from Grace¡¯s password device to a hidden encrypted door behind one of the maintenance zones in the secret rail. After unlocking with the device, a massive blast-resistant automatic door slowly opened. A hissing release of compressed gas filled the air. White mist spilled out¡ªand then, layered lights from backup energy sources lit up the space inside. Everyone¡¯s eyes lit up. Behind the door was a massive tri-proof warehouse that resembled a wartime supply depot. The area was vast. As they stepped in, the bright lighting revealed clearly divided zones¡ªrice, flour, oil, sugar, freeze-dried and compressed foods, canned goods, synthetic protein gel¡ªall neatly stacked on prefabricated shelves. There was even a cold storage zone specifically for meats. The food was categorized meticulously by storage standard: from 1-year supplies to 30-year emergency stocks. Even deeper inside were premium goods like chocolate, red wine, seafood, steak, ham, cheese, and caviar, all preserved in special cold rooms. Beyond that was a dedicated medical section with various broad-spectrum antivirals/antibiotics, surgical emergency modules, anti-radiation meds... The specs were astonishing¡ªespecially the wine, all rare treasures from around the world. Stuff ordinary folks wouldn¡¯t even dream of seeing. The dozen-plus people walking through this spotless, gleaming warehouse all had amazed expressions¡ªsome surprised, some delighted, some just smiling wryly... ¡°Romane?e-Conti 2025. Nice taste,¡± Qian Dele said as he walked into the wine section and picked up a bottle sealed in special packaging. He chuckled. ¡°These guys sure know how to enjoy life.¡± ¡°Sucking in so many rich members to push these insane plans...¡± said Shi Diyuan, his arm in a sling, as he stared at the shelves that rivaled a luxury warehouse. ¡°This Crimson World must have some serious backing.¡± Monica stepped beside Qian Dele, picking up a bottle of wine. Her fingers brushed over the triangular logo in the corner of the container. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°I think I encountered this Crimson World years ago.¡± ¡°Years ago?¡± Ning Jing asked. ¡°You mean before Apocalypse Day?¡± Monica nodded. ¡°All I knew back then was that they claimed to be an organization studying human genetic defects, aiming to push humanity toward perfect evolution. A lot of people in elite circles joined. I looked into them briefly¡ªmostly cosmetic medicine, cancer prevention, offspring gene screening. Nothing unusual. They approached me many times, but I thought they were just another luxury doomsday-fortress scheme for the rich. I wasn¡¯t interested.¡± She stared at the wine in her hand, a bit of joy and more than a bit of melancholy in her eyes. ¡°Looking back... maybe they were onto something.¡± Lin Xian and KIKI exchanged glances at her words. ¡°Why does this feel so familiar?¡± KIKI whispered beside him. ¡°You thinking about Clearwater Town?¡± Lin Xian asked. KIKI nodded. Lin Xian fell silent. He thought of Underground City No. 9¡ªthat was built after Apocalypse Day with trillions of federal funding and the most advanced automation. There was no way groups like the Foundation or Crimson World could rival the Federal powers back then. It hadn¡¯t even been 100 days since Apocalypse Day... and yet these two organizations showed extraordinary foresight. He remembered asking Hua Xiaoling about this once. She said it was based on a previous joint construction project. But this Crimson World¡¯s Eternal Reserve Warehouse? It looked like it had been built specifically for the end times. Could that really be a coincidence? ¡°You think there¡¯s a connection between this Crimson World and the Foundation?¡± KIKI asked, puzzled. Lin Xian pondered. ¡°Each of these organizations is more secretive than the last. We¡¯re always a step behind. If we want real answers, we¡¯ll have to get them from Crimson World themselves.¡± Monica¡¯s words left the group dazed. ¡°You mean this organization knew about Apocalypse Day in advance?¡± Li Yi asked in shock. ¡°Of course they did. There¡¯s no way they built this warehouse¡ªthis underground hive¡ªin just a month or two,¡± Luo Yang said, frowning. Monica shrugged, neither confirming nor denying. ¡°I just happened to remember it. Honestly, I don¡¯t fully believe it myself. Construction like this? With enough money, it¡¯s not hard using today¡¯s mechanical production.¡± ¡°You guys are being too paranoid,¡± Qian Dele added. ¡°What gives a pharma company more insight than the pre-Apocalypse Federation? Didn¡¯t you see how rushed the Federal underground city plans were? If humanity could predict disaster in advance, things wouldn¡¯t be like this now.¡± "You''re right." Shi Diyuan nodded. "This place is obviously newly built. As for the supplies, these follow the standard storage protocol for military and regional urban reserves. Nothing too surprising¡ªjust higher-end stuff." "Guessing back and forth won¡¯t get us anywhere. Since the supplies are delivered to our doorstep, we might as well stock up properly." Lin Xian stepped forward and cut everyone off. "These supplies are reserved at the scale of thousands. For us, this is a massive gain. Let''s divide it up properly here." "Exactly! So much good stuff¡ªwe''re rich!" KIKI giggled. "I haven¡¯t had steak or rice in ages. I say we empty this whole place!" "Haha, well said." Shi Diyuan laughed heartily, then turned to Lin Xian. "Brother Lin, you found this place, and you¡¯re the one leading us. You decide how we divide it." As soon as he finished, everyone turned their eyes to Lin Xian. "That¡¯s easy." Lin Xian smiled calmly. "The few of our convoys combined already account for more than half the group. Since we did most of the work, taking 70% shouldn¡¯t be a problem. The remaining 30% can be divided among the rest based on headcount." "Heh, your Infinite Train has so few people¡ªwouldn¡¯t that leave you at a loss?" Qian Dele looked at Lin Xian, arms crossed. "And you''re the one who found these supplies. I don¡¯t like taking advantage of people." "He''s right." Shi Diyuan disagreed with that division. "My Dragon Mountain No. 1 has over a thousand people. Sure, we¡¯d benefit most from this method, but I¡¯m not that shameless. I¡¯d be taking way more than you and your 30-plus people. I can¡¯t accept that." Ning Jing nodded. "That division really isn¡¯t fair. Infinite Train should get more." Li Yi also chimed in. "I think we should divide by convoy. Let Captain Lin decide the ratio." "That works." Luo Yang agreed. Dividing by convoy was the most favorable for the Infinite Train. Fewer people, more supplies¡ªhigher per capita gain. "Captain Lin, I have a suggestion." Just as everyone was debating, Monica walked over with a bottle of wine in one hand and a box of frozen steak in the other. "There are many types of supplies here, and every convoy has different needs. For example, my convoy doesn''t lack supplies. I just want some good wine and steak¡ªthe rest we don¡¯t need." "So I suggest, let your Infinite Train pick what you want first. Then let everyone else take what they need. Isn''t there a weapon warehouse too? Perfect. If someone wants medical supplies, take less rice and oil. If they want meat, skip the gear. Problem solved." Her words made everyone¡¯s eyes light up. "Yeah, that works!" "Good point. If Brother Lin picks first, I¡¯ll be at ease. Haha!" "True. A few convoys are low on medical supplies. Food isn¡¯t the main issue." "Mm, agreed." Lin Xian glanced at KIKI, then nodded. "Alright, let¡¯s do it this way. I¡¯ll have Teacher Chen bring people to inventory everything. Then we¡¯ll let each convoy submit requests and adjust things based on need." Faced with everyone¡¯s suggestion, Lin Xian didn¡¯t object. He wasn¡¯t one to play humble. If these 22 convoys hadn¡¯t survived Xilan City together, he¡¯d only share 10% of the supplies¡ªand only because Infinite Train couldn¡¯t carry any more. Besides, the Infinite Train was already well-stocked. With the fully equipped medical pod, they didn¡¯t need much in terms of medical supplies¡ªjust some surgical modules, stem cell gel, and antibiotics. So like Monica, Lin Xian was more interested in frozen meats, seafood, and red wine¡ªto boost the crew¡¯s quality of life. After leaving the Eternal Reserve, the group headed straight for the weapon warehouse. Ning Jing and Li Yi stayed behind to meet up with Chen Sixuan and the Dragon Mountain crew for the inventory and distribution. Lin Xian was especially curious about the Interstellar Tier-III Combat Kits Grace had mentioned¡ª1,000 sets was no small deal. So he was even more interested in the weapon cache than the food. They headed into a maintenance tunnel and activated a special switch with the password device. Soon, a hidden wall door began to open slowly. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Massive warehouse lights flared on in rows. The fireproof-coated floor revealed a stunning sight: a row of all-terrain armored vehicles! Fully outfitted, armored with standard plating¡ªat least ten of them in sight. And further inside, the group collectively gasped¡ªfour Nightstar-3 hypersonic aircrafts were neatly parked in the center of the warehouse! These were highly mobile, advanced aircrafts capable of seating 2¨C3 people. They used Hall-effect thrusters for vertical lift and plasma pulse engines for main propulsion. Cruising speed? Mach 5. They were powered by plutonium-238 isotope batteries, with foldable wings. Apart from lacking weapons, every other aspect was cutting-edge! ¡°D*mn, trucks and planes? Crimson World sure knows how to equip its members!¡± Shi Diyuan stared in disbelief. "Must¡¯ve been meant for the Zero Element Center¡ªso the people in those survival pods could escape," Qian Dele speculated. Lin Xian was surprised¡ªGrace never mentioned either of these vehicle types during their negotiations. "This AI butler really knows how to keep secrets," KIKI muttered, sharing the same realization as Lin Xian. Lin Xian swept his gaze over the hangar. ¡°Maybe she thought this stuff was useless for a train convoy like us, so she didn¡¯t mention it.¡± Or maybe this was reserved for those seeking immortality¡ªoff-limits for trade. ¡°Could be.¡± Lin Xian and the others quickly headed deeper into the warehouse. ¡°Those trucks are good, but even with a vertical elevator, we can¡¯t drive them out of here.¡± ¡°What about the aircraft?¡± KIKI asked. ¡°Looking at its folded size... if we modify a carriage...¡± Lin Xian furrowed his brow, thinking. ¡°Carriage 11 has a mecha bay. We could use the 6-axis robotic arm to load one in.¡± KIKI nodded. ¡°Mm-hmm, that¡¯d make movement way easier for us.¡± Deeper in, they passed the aircraft and arrived at rows of black tactical display cabinets. The lights came on, revealing rows of black exoskeletal power armors¡ªeach set paired with a silver arc pulse gun as the main weapon, two sidearms, a power pack, holographic night vision goggles, mini medkits, and a variety of tactical gear. These Interstellar Tier-III Combat Kits stretched out beyond sight¡ªdomino-like in their perfection. ¡°Holy sh*t! So many power suits!!¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°This Crimson World must be loaded!¡± The others were equally stunned. Luo Yang walked up, pressed a switch, and one cabinet opened automatically. He checked the specs and couldn¡¯t help but speak: "This... this is the Lone Wolf S Military Rapid-Response Power Armor. It''s probably the newest tactical-grade model. Even most frontline Starfleet units don¡¯t have this yet!" Monica crossed her arms and sighed. ¡°My team only has the Lone Wolf A series. Didn¡¯t expect them to already roll out the S series.¡± ¡°Heh, don¡¯t be so modest,¡± Qian Dele said with interest. ¡°They''re all tactical-grade. New or old, not a huge difference. But with this many sets, we could turn a thousand regular folks into Titan-level fighters.¡± ¡°Haha, we¡¯ve really hit the jackpot this time!¡± Shi Diyuan tore off the sling from his shoulder, flexing his arm as he grinned. ¡°With this, our convoy¡¯s power just got a huge boost!¡± Lin Xian stared in awe at the rows of tactical cabinets arranged like dominoes and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He had originally planned to equip the Infinite Train crew with TRP suits¡ªbut now, it was like finding a pillow when you¡¯re tired. A full thousand sets of top-tier tactical exo-suits, just sitting there. Power armors were classified by the former Federation into three tiers based on combat purpose, feature coverage, output, AI integration, and power level: Tactical, Iron Hunter / Ghost Wolf, and Interstellar. Technically, there was one tier below tactical¡ªIndustrial. As the name implied, Industrial suits were for civil and industrial use, with no combat function. The TRP suit Lin Xian got from Ding Qing was a Special Industrial Type. But because Ding Qing had it illegally upgraded¡ªwith smart battle AI, radar, situational awareness, and unlocked all power limiters¡ªit was basically a semi-military tactical suit. Monica¡¯s team¡¯s Lone Wolf A was legit military tactical gear, a step above, with more complete features. And the Lone Wolf S in front of them was its upgraded version¡ªwith better specs across the board. But as Qian Dele said¡ªeven an upgrade, it was still within the tactical-grade category. The Iron Hunter / Ghost Wolf level wasn¡¯t considered armor¡ªit was battle gear. Full-body suits akin to Iron Man tech. Their base standard included tri-environment capability¡ªland, low-altitude, and underwater. They were essentially small humanoid mechs¡ªextremely agile and ideal for special ops. Within that, Iron Hunter was more about heavy armor and assault firepower;Ghost Wolf focused on high mobility. Based on that scale, Teacher Chen¡¯s current Black Hawk Armor and Monica¡¯s red soft suit both qualified as Ghost Wolf-class. Chapter 298: Doomsday Train in the Tunnel "Xiaomeng." At this moment, Qian Dele called over his usually quiet female assistant by his side: "Try on this power armor, check the detailed specs, and see if it has identity recognition too." Qian Dele¡¯s words immediately reminded everyone, and Monica spoke up: ¡°Right, if these power armors are encrypted with the personal data of those Crimson members, that could be a problem.¡± "Totally~" KIKI chimed in, "Power armors of this level usually have permission settings. Even if we could crack them, there are a thousand sets here¡ªit could take forever." "Then let¡¯s give it a shot first. Oh, and this pulse rifle¡ªif we can use it, our ammo pressure will be a lot lower," said Shi Diyuan. "Less ammo pressure, more power pressure." Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°Still, if it works, it¡¯s definitely way better than submachine guns.¡± Qian Dele¡¯s female assistant Xiaomeng was a tall woman. Hearing his words, she immediately nodded and stepped forward. Without a care for everyone¡¯s eyes, she took off her outer clothes, leaving only her thin underwear, revealing a stunning figure. Then, right in front of everyone, she started putting on the power armor. At the same time, she equipped both primary and secondary weapons, a holographic night vision headset, and completed the startup. In that moment, a fully geared female mecha warrior appeared before them¡ªtech vibes all over! Vrrm~ A soft engine sound buzzed as the black power armor''s internal systems initiated a self-check. A flurry of mechanical sounds clattered rhythmically. ¡°No need to unlock¡ªcan match directly!¡± The woman named Xiaomeng turned to everyone and said, then turned around to face the open area of the warehouse, slightly crouching into a sprint-ready stance. At that moment, subtle white energy circuits lit up across her power armor. The actuators in her ankles, knees, waist, and joints auto-unlocked and began releasing. A crisp mechanical hum filled the air. In the next instant, as Xiaomeng pushed off with her toes, the power armor synced and unleashed massive torque. With a loud mechanical burst, she shot out like a cheetah. Her speed kept climbing¡ªwithin seconds she had dashed to the end of the warehouse, then stepped onto the wall to decelerate, crouched, and launched like a cannonball, flying dozens of meters! ¡°Such explosive power!¡± Lin Xian exclaimed in awe. From that display alone, this armor was clearly far superior to the one he was wearing! ¡°Wow wow wow, awesome!¡± KIKI was super excited. ¡°I wanna try one too!¡± ¡°Hey, we¡¯ve seriously hit the jackpot this time.¡± Shi Diyuan let out a long breath, then looked eagerly at Lin Xian. ¡°Brother Lin, this warehouse is huge¡ªwe¡¯ve got to clear it out!¡± ¡°Old Shi, you¡¯re being silly. How¡¯re you gonna carry trucks?¡± Qian Dele said calmly. ¡°Did you forget we¡¯re a train group? These trucks and aircraft... they don¡¯t really fit us.¡± Lin Xian immediately replied, ¡°We can take everything. They¡¯ll come in handy later. I can whip up some flatbed trailers and use metal to build basic transport carriages. We can load up the trucks and aircraft.¡± These specially modified doomsday trucks and those hypersonic aircrafts that Lin Xian had been eyeing for a while¡ªthere was no way he¡¯d leave them behind. With these aircraft, the Infinite Train would gain a pair of eyes in the sky. The best part? They could carry people. Super useful! ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s a great idea!¡± Shi Diyuan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Right, haul it all out first¡ªleaving stuff like this behind would be a sin!¡± Qian Dele looked at Lin Xian in surprise, only now realizing: ¡°I almost forgot you¡¯re a mechanical expert. My bad, this is my first time running a train convoy¡ªI lack experience. Now that you mention it, I¡¯m thinking of keeping two trucks for my own convoy.¡± Monica¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at Lin Xian, as if her gaze could devour him. She paused, then turned to Qian Dele and said, ¡°Told you, my instincts never fail. Following Captain Lin, even big trouble turns into opportunity.¡± ¡°Hey, who compliments people like that? Gross!¡± KIKI cringed and frowned. ¡°You¡¯re not... into him, are you?¡± To that, Monica just smiled seductively and said aloud, ¡°Yup. I told your Captain Lin before¡ªI want to join your Infinite Convoy. Little sis, do you agree to let big sis here hook up with your train?¡± KIKI didn¡¯t expect that response. Hearing Monica¡¯s slightly magnetic tone, she rolled her eyes and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t we already hooked up? How else do you wanna connect?¡± ¡°Ahem ahem...¡± At that, Luo Yang, Shi Diyuan, and the other guys all choked a little, expressions turning awkward. Lin Xian¡¯s forehead darkened. He quickly redirected, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s sort this out. Divide what we can, disassemble what we must, move fast. We¡¯ve still got a lot to do, and this place isn¡¯t exactly safe. Better get back to the train and rest up.¡± ¡°Brother Lin¡¯s right. Let¡¯s wrap this up¡ªwe¡¯ve got a freak party going on above us. No time to waste.¡± Shi Diyuan chimed in. Monica just smiled sweetly, glanced at Lin Xian again, then quietly joined the planning session. After a round of discussion, the Infinite Train took 40 sets of Lone Wolf S Military Rapid-Response Power Armor, complete with weapons and power packs. Everyone wanted Lin Xian to take more, but his train only had about 30 people, and now everyone already had a set. Any extras wouldn¡¯t be useful. Out of consideration for everyone¡¯s support, he took 40 sets, planning to use the rest for maintenance rotation. Even though, with his Mechanical Ability, repairs were hardly needed... Besides that, Lin Xian also claimed one Nightstar-3 Hypersonic Aircraft and two Doomsday Armored Trucks¡ªthat was enough for him. His biggest gain this time was still AI Grace. Before leaving, he also planned to dismantle a batch of maintenance robots and instruments from the Zero Element Center to share with the other convoys¡ªand devour the rest himself. If time allowed, he wouldn''t even leave a screw behind. In total, the Infinite Train took nearly 50 people''s worth of food supplies, along with a lot of red wine, frozen seafood, steak, caviar, frozen poultry and pork, plus a bunch of rice, flour, oil, sugar, and canned goods. A massive haul. Just like she said, Monica only took some high-end stuff like red wine. The rest¡ªrice, flour, oil, and other essentials¡ªwere split mostly between Dragon Mountain No. 1, the Joker Convoy, and the Sun Train. As for the weapons warehouse¡ªout of 1000 sets of Interstellar Tier-III Combat Kits¡ªLin Xian took 40. Monica claimed 10 for internal upgrades. Joker and Sun Convoys took 100 sets each, plus one truck and one aircraft per convoy. Dragon Mountain No. 1 had the most people and took 350 sets, two armored trucks, and one aircraft. That left 400 sets for the remaining 17 convoys. The last four trucks weren¡¯t assigned yet, so they were temporarily counted as assets of the Infinite Train, to be hauled out together. When news got out, all the convoy captains who had joined the United Train were thrilled. They thought they were just hiding underground¡ªbut ended up getting serious supplies. The power armors alone gave their combat strength a massive boost, equipping a lot of frontline fighters. ¡°Wow, brand new Lone Wolf power armors¡ªand plasma pulse rifles!!¡± ¡°So much gourmet food. Never thought I¡¯d eat real rice again...¡± ¡°Captain Lin is amazing. I feel so safe with them!¡± ¡°These weapons and gear... they¡¯re really free?¡± ¡°Sweetie, we¡¯ve got meds now. You¡¯ll feel better soon.¡± ¡°Old Li, keep it down with the armor repairs. We¡¯ve got to listen for anything in the dark.¡± ¡°Captain announced we¡¯re having fruit cans tonight...¡± ... In no time, the 15-kilometer-long train was filled with buzzing energy. In the underground tunnel, countless people carrying cold lights formed long lines, hauling supplies from the warehouse into their train cars. Many newly armored survivors were beyond excited. The whole tunnel was full of bustling movement¡ªlike a giant colony of ants relocating. Following Lin Xian and the others¡¯ orders, the various convoys began repairing their trains and weapons, patching damage from the Xilan City battle, encouraging their teams, and boosting morale. Many logistics teams started prepping long-lost hot meals under cold light in the darkness. In this silent tunnel, dozens of meters underground, the 15-kilometer-long 500-carriage United Doomsday Train carefully entered a period of rest. Each carriage buzzed with soft conversations and laughter, and the air was thick with the smell of food. On the Infinite Train, in Car No. 6¡ªthe dining car¡ªthe faint cold lights gave the interior a cozy dimness. On the table sat steaming steaks, king crab, fresh vegetable salad with caviar, and a simple dessert made of flour and fruit preserves. It looked absolutely extravagant. "Cheers~" Lin Xian raised a glass of red wine, speaking in a low voice: ¡°To surviving again and again... and to every comrade who risked their life!¡± "Cheers!" KIKI, Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin, Daluo, Lu Xingchen, Shasha, Ding Junyi, Miao Lu, Lu? Chang¡ªevery member of the Infinite Train raised their glass in that moment. ¡°To Lin Xian!¡± Chen Sixuan gazed at him warmly. ¡°Yeah, to Lin Xian!¡± KIKI giggled as she raised her glass. ¡°To Brother Lin who blew up monsters in that big mecha!¡± Shasha shouted excitedly. ¡°Brother Xian.¡± ¡°Brother Lin.¡± ¡°Captain Lin!¡± ¡°Captain Lin!¡± ¡°Thank you, Captain Lin!¡± The injured Xiao Yuan stood not far from Lin Xian, raising her wine glass high. Her eyes were filled with excitement and admiration as she looked at him, her whole being radiating vitality and energy. Lin Xian smiled warmly, raised his glass in silence, heart surging with emotion and gratitude, drinking with the others. ¡°To... staying alive!¡± ... 00:30 The underground tunnel gradually quieted down, leaving only engineers and maintenance personnel moving gently and cautiously, trying to make the most out of the short rest period to fortify the train¡¯s defenses. On Dragon Mountain No. 1, sparks from welding torches occasionally flashed in the tunnels. Whenever the noise got too loud, everyone in the area would pause simultaneously, lift their heads to listen and observe silently. Once confirmed there was no threat, they resumed work. Though this cautious prep wasn¡¯t highly efficient, everyone understood¡ªthis was the Polar Night. Opportunities like this were rare. Every second counted. Especially in a region filled with spore-laden fog, repairing even a single armor plate might save a carriage full of lives. ¡¾Scan complete, obtained blueprint for Lone Wolf S Military Rapid-Response Power Armor¡¿ ¡¾Scan complete, obtained blueprint for Illusion Extinguisher ¨C Plasma Pulse Rifle¡¿ Inside the carriage, Lin Xian completed the scan of the newly acquired power armor set. The latest blueprints showed how precise the specs were. He had already distributed a set to everyone on the train, and the entire Infinite Train crew was thrilled, eagerly putting on the new armor and adapting to the combat mode assisted by onboard AI. For the Infinite Train, this was a massive leap in power. Even Xiao Yuan, with an Ability Index of just 260, could now fight at Titan-level strength. One person, however, didn¡¯t show much interest¡ªDing Junyi. To Director Ding, all her current work was research-related within the train. Lin Xian didn¡¯t need her in combat. So unless the situation demanded it, there was no need for her to wear the armor. Lin Xian, on the other hand, tried the armor himself. His original plan was to craft and wear the Black Hawk Armor, since it was a step above the Lone Wolf S set. But right now, his priority was building trailers to load the trucks and the Nightstar onto the rails, and he also intended to upgrade and repair the Infinite Train¡¯s air circulation system. There was plenty to do. Lin Xian had just taken a long nap, so he told Chen Sixuan and the others who had been guarding the train earlier to get some rest while he stayed busy in Carriage 12. There was also another important task¡ªAI Grace. Lin Xian called KIKI, who had also rested, to join him in figuring out how to reprogram this mysterious robot. In the dark Carriage 12, only a cold light lamp was placed on the floor. Several metal ammo crates were filled with ammunition that Lin Xian had crafted while multitasking. At the moment, Lin Xian sat in the shadows by the wall, with a pouty little girl clinging to his neck, her legs tightly wrapped around his waist, pinning him down. Her lips kept biting his. Though Lin Xian was kind of enjoying it, he was also a bit speechless. After kissing for a while, he pushed her away. ¡°Hey, is this what you meant by keeping watch?¡± KIKI huffed, wrapped her arms around his neck again, and pressed her soft lips back onto his. She muttered in a commanding tone, ¡°Don¡¯t move. I¡¯m just applying lip balm~ Don¡¯t get the wrong idea.¡± Lin Xian felt her awkward, wolf-like nibbling and thought, Seriously? That excuse? You didn¡¯t even apply any balm yourself. And since when is lip balm applied like this? They kissed a little more in the shadows until Lin Xian pushed her away again, saying seriously: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got a lot of work to do. Where we are right now... it¡¯s not the time for¡ªugh!¡± Before he could finish, she locked lips with him again. Her grip tightened, a stubborn posture taking over. ¡°Hey!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s heart sank. He pushed the little she-wolf off for the third time and raised his voice. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? This place isn¡¯t safe right now. It¡¯s not the time to drop our guard.¡± Even though there weren¡¯t any Dark Marks in the convoy, and no enemy activity for now, this underground tunnel still gave Lin Xian no peace. Above them, Yijin City loomed like a terrifying whirlpool. He couldn¡¯t relax. He had to: Secure all the spoils from the Eternal Depot. Gather the resources from the Zero Element Center. Deal with Grace¡ªthis AI, with Chu Yan¡¯s appearance and strange behavior, still made him uneasy despite being forcibly shut down. Finally, there was the current state of the United Train. Thirty hours wasn¡¯t long. It wasn¡¯t like any other break¡ªthey were operating under looming disaster. The entire convoy had to stay on edge, ready to flee. Lin Xian¡¯s mind was overloaded. But when he pushed KIKI away again, he noticed she had suddenly gone quiet, sitting on his lap, head lowered, lost in thought. He looked down. Under the dim light, her beautiful eyes glimmered with moisture. She bit her lip and looked up at him with a hint of accusation. ¡°Why are you so dumb? Always playing the hero, showing off... and never taking me with you. What if you die?¡± Lin Xian was caught off guard. ¡°I¡¯m doing this so we can all survive. I don¡¯t have a choice.¡± ¡°Then can¡¯t you stress less? Let someone else take the lead for once? We can help you too!¡± KIKI suddenly raised her voice. ¡°You are helping me¡ªTeacher Chen, Shu Qin, Daluo, Fire Bro, Shasha, Lu? Chang, Miao Lu, Director Ding, even Xiao Yuan¡ªand you. Everyone¡¯s risking their lives together.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you realize everyone¡¯s worried about you!¡± ¡°I do!¡± ¡°Then why won¡¯t you apply lip balm?! Don¡¯t you know cracked lips can get infected with the zombie virus?! You¡¯ll grow red hair, green nails, and get mushroom butt!!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want that either!¡± ¡°Then shut up and stop arguing with me!¡± KIKI, increasingly agitated, pounced on Lin Xian again. Her lips found his once more. Lin Xian felt a warm, slick heat¡ªfiery, insistent... and... cool. He closed his eyes and let himself receive KIKI¡¯s ¡°serious concern.¡± His hands wrapped around her slender waist, feeling her smooth legs tighten around him. He started to lose control, lowering his hand toward¡ª But before he could reach his destination, she shuddered like she¡¯d been shocked, grabbed his hand, and pushed it back up. When he tried again, she smacked his hand as punishment for the ¡°pervy paw.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± KIKI bit his nose and whispered in a warning tone. Lin Xian chuckled, leaned in, and kissed her lips. ¡°Not my fault. You started it.¡± ¡°Hmph! I did not!¡± ¡°I object, Your Honor! Who was the one clinging to me like a koala and¡ª¡± ¡°Mmph!¡± ¡°...applying lip balm?¡± ¡°Lip balm¡¯s no big deal. What filthy thing are you thinking of?!¡± Lin Xian replied solemnly, ¡°Nothing. This is standard procedure. Ask anyone. I¡¯m following protocol.¡± ¡°Pfft, as if I¡¯d believe that!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me? Well, can¡¯t help you there.¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°There¡¯s a switch on a man¡¯s body. If you keep going with this process, the next step will happen.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you!¡± KIKI leaned in again, half curious, half testing. Lin Xian¡¯s hand moved lower¡ª It triggered her ticklish spot. Her face flushed, body trembled, and as his hand neared her butt, her breath caught. In the end, the little she-wolf couldn¡¯t beat the big bad demon. Just before Lin Xian could succeed, KIKI gritted her teeth, let go, and used her telekinesis to escape his embrace, yelling as she fled: ¡°In your dreams, perv!¡± Lin Xian laughed, letting out a breath of relief, stood up, and changed the subject. ¡°Come on. I¡¯m heading to the Zero Element Center to absorb some materials. Come with me.¡± ¡°Now?¡± KIKI rubbed her burning cheeks, avoiding his gaze. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say we¡¯d go at the end? If we shut down the machines now, there¡¯ll be a mass die-off in there.¡± ¡°They¡¯re mostly dead already. The rest... don¡¯t look like they¡¯ll make it,¡± Lin Xian recalled the Crimson members with white mycelium connected to their heads and replied grimly, ¡°I¡¯ll start with the less critical sections. Plus, there are Crimson people in there. I¡¯m not leaving it unsupervised.¡± KIKI nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Then she remembered something else. ¡°Oh right¡ªMonica¡¯s not saying she wants to join our convoy for the first time, is she? What do you think?¡± Lin Xian replied with a blank face: ¡°Not much. I don¡¯t dislike her. Her ability and convoy are solid. She¡¯s bold, yeah, but she¡¯s also smooth and controlling. Not the type to take orders well. I hear her out, but I don¡¯t take her words to heart.¡± KIKI frowned slightly. ¡°And if she really wants to join?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk later.¡± Lin Xian didn¡¯t overthink it. ¡°For now, we¡¯re on the same path. Whether she¡¯s friend or foe... we¡¯ll see.¡± Chapter 299: Lu Xingchens Accident Pulse~ In the dark underground rail tunnel, the Infinite Train¡¯s automatic doors slid open. Lin Xian, clad in a black Lone Wolf S Power Armor, stepped out to the entrance. His night vision system and smart target acquisition system automatically activated, helping him scan both ends of the tunnel shrouded in darkness. This power armor had excellent overall coordination and decent protection. Back in Xilan City, Lin Xian had seen a similar model used by a mecha unit from the 7th Investigation Corps. The paint and model were a bit different, but overall, it was quite similar to the ones under Monica¡¯s command. Soldiers equipped with such armor usually belonged to special ops units¡ªit was a notch above the standard exoskeleton gear issued across the Starfleet. And now, with the physical evolutions triggered by dark energy, these soldiers likely had at least Evolution Level, if not Titan-Level combat power. Still, theoretical combat ratings were one thing;real battle was another. Compared to those monsters, the human body was still extremely fragile. Even an ordinary Snow Wraith could be lethal if you weren¡¯t careful¡ªits tail stinger was razor-sharp. Lin Xian had studied it before¡ªits density was comparable to high-strength alloys. It was hard to believe a carbon-based lifeform could produce such a biological weapon. With these Lone Wolf S Power Armors, the regular members of the Infinite Train were getting a comprehensive upgrade¡ªnot only in flexibility and protection but also in combat capability. Paired with the latest Arc Pulse Rifles, they were nearly on par with Starfleet infantry. The only thing they lacked was the tactical finesse of professionally trained soldiers. Another key advantage was the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. Its effects essentially acted like a Cold Dark Reagent Converter, further enhancing team evolution. Plus, the Eerie Cube could shield against Dark Invasion energy, making the Infinite Train¡¯s evolution process significantly safer. ¡°Hey, Lin Xian,¡± KIKI followed behind him, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t you think something¡¯s off with Fire Bro? He¡¯s been acting weird since we got down here.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s usually the first to drink, sip tea, and show off. But since we came into this tunnel, he¡¯s been unusually quiet... and he¡¯s wearing, like, three extra layers.¡± KIKI frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t that weird?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly in thought. ¡°I remember last time we went to the SIID Foundation¡¯s underground lab, he said he hated being underground. That might be it.¡± KIKI nodded. ¡°Oh right, I remember now. Okay, makes sense.¡± Lin Xian and KIKI got off the train together. On the unused track outside the weapons depot, he had set up multiple transport platforms for storing All-Terrain Armored Trucks and Nightstar Aircraft, loaded onboard by the Dragon Mountain No. 1 crew. Lin Xian had also rigged up a simple external carriage. Once the train departed, the rear car would use tow cables to drag everything¡ªmuch more convenient. His plan was to first devour and salvage the valuable self-tagged equipment inside the Zero Element Center, then return to build a new Electromagnetic Railgun to boost firepower. Together, they headed down the tunnel to the platform of the Zero Element Center. Through the now-safe passage, they entered again. As soon as the automatic doors opened, Luo Yang and the others inside immediately turned around. ¡°Captain Lin!¡± Lin Xian scanned the room and saw not only Luo Yang but also the injured Li Guangwen and Amin, along with Lolo. All were wearing black Lone Wolf Power Armor, gathered in the hall talking quietly. When they saw Lin Xian, they came over immediately. ¡°No unusual activity. The robots are all on automatic routines. The main AI¡¯s offline though, so there were lots of error alerts, but nothing serious.¡± Lin Xian nodded. With over a thousand people lying dormant here, he had stationed someone to keep an eye on things. He didn¡¯t expect Luo Yang to show up personally with injured team members. ¡°Captain Lin.¡± Lu Xingchen, Lolo, Amin, and the younger team members all greeted him enthusiastically. ¡°How are the injuries?¡± Li Yi glanced at them. She knew they had been severely wounded. Even with the Automated Medical Pod doing emergency repairs, some injuries were too complex for anything short of mechanical reconstruction. They had all been on death¡¯s edge¡ªand even now, Boudan, the muscle-bound guy with Metal Skin Ability, still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness. ¡°Not too bad,¡± Lolo and Amin said, grateful. ¡°Yeah, all thanks to your medical pod, Captain.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± KIKI flew over to a row of control terminals and stared at the fluctuation data. ¡°Looks like their brainwave activity levels dropped a lot.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Lin Xian explained, ¡°When you arrived, you caught the end of what I was telling the team¡ªbefore we reactivated the blocking sequence, the brainwave signal fluctuations of everyone in the hive pods had dropped below 98%, and more than a dozen were showing signs of brain death.¡± Li Yi walked to the glass wall and looked up at the central hive cluster. The hexagonal pods were still glowing blue, each person inside seemingly in peaceful slumber. The white Fungal Threads had already been severed by the standard blockers. ¡°Looks like the system doesn¡¯t cut them off in sync with the fungal activity. It lets them stay connected for 9 hours, then disconnects for 30.¡± ¡°So basically, half of the dead didn¡¯t die all at once,¡± KIKI folded her arms, sweeping her gaze across the room. ¡°They just couldn¡¯t survive those 9 hours of connection. I thought they were stuck in that state for 24 hours or something.¡± ¡°How would that even be possible? If they stayed connected that long, they¡¯d be like those Fungal Heads already.¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°Honestly, I expected some kind of high-tech defense. But this is a pretty crude method.¡± ¡°So technically, it¡¯s not life-threatening?¡± Lolo asked curiously, ¡°The bodies are intact... just 9 hours of, like, bliss? How does that kill them?¡± ¡°¡®Blissful 9 hours?¡¯¡± Lin Xian chuckled dryly. ¡°Back in 17th-century Europe, punishment for crimes included not just brutal physical torture, but also something called the ¡®Laughing Penalty.¡¯ No blood, no wounds. They¡¯d tie the person up tight, smear honey or salt on their soles, and let goats lick it off. Guess how long people could last?¡± ¡°Licking feet? That counts as torture?¡± ¡°Sure does,¡± Luo Yang chimed in. ¡°I¡¯ve read about that. After thirty minutes, people start to break. One to two hours, and it can cause cardiac arrest or suffocation.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Now imagine the same torment, but to the brain. High-intensity mental stimulation leaves irreversible trauma.¡± He turned around and began scanning the control room, thinking about where to begin. The maintenance bots here didn¡¯t interest him¡ªthey were all tailored to the hive system and not nearly as useful as his PX-05 Engineering Robot. He already had the Thunder Falcon 2000 Attack Drone for offense, so these only had value as scrap for Devouring. But first, he wanted to tackle the big suspended Mechanical Arms, the energy systems, and most importantly, the High-Temperature Plasma Beam Cutting Array. He had just thought of it back on the train¡ªwhat if he replaced the Electric Blade Armor System with this array and arranged it densely? Combined with the Arc Pulse Resonator, it could turn the Infinite Train into a giant buzz saw. If they encountered another Monster Tide like those Snow Wraiths and Snow Fiends, they''d get shredded on impact. Of course, given current materials technology, such an array couldn¡¯t stay on long. Its power consumption was even higher than the Electromagnetic Railgun, and the Gemini 11R¡¯s current power supply would likely fall short. Still, as the saying goes, you eat one bite at a time. Just like with the Electric Blade Armor System, Lin Xian could start with one module. If he could integrate Grace¡¯s AI into the train¡¯s system redesign, many of his blueprints would suddenly become feasible. Without wasting time, Lin Xian assigned Luo Yang and others to patrol different zones while he began Devouring. KIKI, bored, tagged along with Luo Yang to wander around. ¡¾Devour Successful: +15 Mechanical Source Points, +10 Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency¡¿ First, Lin Xian devoured the Power Conversion Cabinet from Grace¡¯s chassis. He also took her Power Chamber¡ªuseful for recharging and minor body repairs. No need to scan and fabricate when he could just take it and use it directly. Since entering Yijin City, Lin Xian had been devouring everything in sight. Thanks to his Remote Devour skill, his efficiency had skyrocketed, and his skill level had increased by hundreds in a short time. Mechanical Devour: Level 4 (1316/2000) He figured that once he finished the Zero Element Center and found a Nuclear Power Unit to devour, he¡¯d hit Level 5. That wouldn¡¯t just increase devour speed¡ªit would also meet the conditions to unlock his Electrical Surge Mechanical Augmentation! He pried open a maintenance panel in the hallway and found the Plasma Beam Array, then started scanning it. ¡¾Scan Progress: 2%¡¿ The unit was intricate but not massive. He figured it¡¯d take about an hour to fully scan and then devour. He quickly got up and walked to Lu Xingchen¡¯s room, wanting to ask him for advice on developing Abilities. After all, this guy had always loved researching powers, and in the recent Xilan City defense battle, the new skill he used was several times more powerful than before¡ªit was obvious he¡¯d made progress. But just as Da Lou reached the door, he saw Lu Xingchen sitting cross-legged inside drinking tea. In a rather discreet motion, Lu pulled down his sleeve and looked over at him with a slightly unnatural expression. ¡°You need something?¡± ¡°Oh, I just...¡± Da Lou scratched his head. Seeing Lu Xingchen wrapped up in thick clothes, he found it a bit odd but didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he stated his reason for coming: ¡°I just wanted to ask you about possible development directions for my Blood Qi Ability.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the manual from Phoenix already list suggestions?¡± Lu Xingchen said lightly, his gaze dimming slightly. Da Lou opened his mouth but noticed Lu seemed a little down, so he quickly replied, ¡°Alright then.¡± He turned to leave but hesitated before adding, ¡°Hey... Brother Lu, if there¡¯s something bothering you, try to take it easy. Brother Xian gave me a bottle of white liquor a while back. I¡¯ve been saving it¡ªwanna have a drink?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Lu Xingchen shook his head and declined without hesitation. ¡°Alright then.¡± As Da Lou turned to go, Lu Xingchen¡¯s conflicted expression softened into a hint of reluctance. Then he suddenly said: ¡°Your Blood Qi Ability is known for its strong regenerative power. The stronger your blood energy, the greater your strength. That means your body has an incredibly high vitality. In other words, your resistance to harsh environments, Dark Invasion, and neural paralysis should be stronger than most Ability Users. So... don¡¯t you think you might also have a higher resistance to the toxins from Black Smoke or Eerie Blood Crystals? Of course... that¡¯s just my guess.¡± Da Lou was stunned for a moment. He understood what Lu Xingchen meant. The Dark Invasion within Black Smoke and Eerie Blood Crystals released by dead Eerie Entities could severely damage both body and mind. Most people needed to maintain a balance¡ªbut for someone with his power, the resistance threshold might be higher. That suggested that while Physical-Type Abilities might seem less promising, they might actually have higher survival rates in darkness. Come to think of it, it made sense why there were more physical-type users, and why they often grew much stronger through combat. Da Lou nodded, turned back to glance at Lu Xingchen, and said, ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll remember that.¡± Then he turned to leave. Lu Xingchen watched him go and sighed deeply. Then, once again, he lifted his sleeve. Under his gaze, dark greenish-black patterns were now crawling across his wrist¡ªfine mycelium spreading across his skin. It looked utterly eerie. ¡°Looks like... this path of cultivation ends here for me in this lifetime...¡± He lifted his head and looked at the pristine room¡ªhis makeup mirror, the small tea table, the tea brewer made by Lin Xian, the plush doll gifted by Shasha¡ªand couldn¡¯t help but let out another sigh. ¡°Brother Lin... I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡¾Scan complete. Acquired blueprint: High-Temperature Plasma Beam Cutting Array¡¿ ¡¾Devour complete. Mechanical Source Point +120. Mechanical Devouring Skill Proficiency +40¡¿ ¡°Phew~¡± At the entrance of the Zero Element Center passage, Lin Xian had spent over an hour finalizing the setup. Technically, this array had been custom-designed for this corridor, and the scanned blueprint revealed a rather bizarre sliding-rail configuration. If he wanted to use it on the Infinite Train, he¡¯d need to modify the blueprint accordingly. He checked the time¡ªit was already 2:00 AM. Based on his calculations, there were still over 20 hours until the next Mycelium Activity Period. ¡°Just gotta deal with a few more scrap devices, then head back and work on the gear.¡± Materials at the Disassembly Center were almost ready. Once he handled Grace, he¡¯d get started on constructing the Electromagnetic Cannon. Also, Car No. 11 was still missing one Mechanical Arm, and there was the Bullet Pressing Machine... As he mentally ticked things off, he thought about merging the Sun Convoy with the Infinite Train once they escaped from here. Luo Yang and Li Yi were solid people. Uncle Wu, Uncle Liao, and the other retired soldiers had risked everything to protect them. Luo Yang and the others even converted their entire convoy into a train to follow Lin Xian¡ªthat kind of sincerity wasn¡¯t something he could refuse. Besides, he needed to expand his power. The Darkness was swallowing Dawn¡ªthings were only going to get harder. Bringing more people together meant more hope. Lin Xian had looked into the Sun Convoy¡ªthey had an engineering-grade nuclear-powered locomotive, outputting about 200 megawatts. Not enough for intercontinental travel, but in a doomsday scenario, that was incredibly valuable. If the Sun Convoy hadn¡¯t joined Phoenix¡¯s team to avoid entering the Polar Night, there¡¯s no way they would¡¯ve traded all their resources and vehicles. That¡¯s also how Qian Dele¡¯s Joker Convoy got their hands on one. The Sun Convoy had a total of eleven carriages. While their armor wasn¡¯t as strong as the Mecha Composite Armor on the Infinite Train, it was still tough enough. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have made it across the Snowfield to Xilan City. Each car was equipped with Machine Gun Turrets and Gatling Cannons. Most of the other weapons had been taken away by the original convoy members, but Luo Yang and Li Yi had moved all their own light arms onboard. Luo Yang¡¯s convoy had 34 people, with Luo himself at the core. His Ability, like A¡¯Bai¡¯s, was a type of Monster Eye¡ªhis dual pupils could store energy and detonate it at long range. The main combat force was Li Guangwen, a Thunder Fist Ability User. Both he and Luo Yang were Rampage-level Abilities. Then there were two elite close-combat fighters¡ªAmin and Lolo, both genetically enhanced martial artists¡ªand a tech guy named Zhang Xiaobai, who handled all technical support. The team mostly came from survivors of the University City, most of them engineering or sports students. Their execution ability was strong, and they had even made their own traps and defense weapons. Li Yi and Liang Lei¡¯s convoy had more people. After casualties in Xilan City, about 110 remained. The leaders were the couple Liang Lei and Li Yi. Liang Lei had a rare Physical-Type Ability¡ªhis skin could metalize and enhance, giving him a body like a metal war bear. His Ability Rating was 1100. Da Lou¡¯s was 1120¡ªalmost the same. Li Yi also had an Ability, but it was practically useless. She only found out much later that she could breathe and fly underwater. Since she was pregnant, she stayed out of battle, acting as the tactical planner and logistics manager. Half of the Running Far Convoy were Liang Lei¡¯s old coworkers from the engineering team, most with families. Kind-hearted, they saved many stranded survivors, including those without much combat value¡ªlots of women and children. By the time they reached Xilan, they had over 20 kids, aged 3 to 10. So in total, the convoy¡¯s core fighters were Liang Lei, about 30 strong, well-built workers, and a few others who joined later. Of the 110, about 60 could fight, while the rest were women and kids handling logistics. Now, all 144 of them lived in the Sun Convoy¡¯s train. It was way better than their previous setup¡ªalmost like a mobile home. With the original Infinite Train crew, they had nearly 180 people. After upgrading with Exosuits, they now had 140 suits, enough to gear up almost everyone except kids and a few support staff¡ªan undeniably strong force! As Lin Xian continued to devour the Gait Scanner, he was deep in thought, when suddenly, a voice crackled over his communicator. ¡°Captain Lin, something¡¯s up over here!¡± He stopped immediately, stood, and woke KIKI, who¡¯d been dozing behind him. The two dashed toward the far end of the circular passage. Soon, they saw Luo Yang, Amin, and Lolo surrounding a woman in a white cryosleep suit, who¡¯d apparently emerged from a nearby survival pod elevator. She looked disheveled but oddly clean, lying on the floor trembling with mechanical spasms, eyes wide with fear, crying out again and again: ¡°Grace! Grace!! Butler! Butler!¡± Lin Xian walked up and saw faint traces of broken mycelium on her face and head. His expression turned cold, and he raised his hand, ready to strike. But before he could act, KIKI suddenly called out, ¡°Lin Xian, wait! Don¡¯t move!¡± He turned to her, only to find a strange look on her face. Brow furrowed, she took a moment before saying, ¡°I know her.¡± Chapter 300: Fleet upgrade! "Wuu~" At the massive center of the beehive, countless maintenance drones drifted slowly by. Overhead, a white-painted high-tech mechanical arm rotated and paused at each level''s partition, operating automatically. Inside the circular surveillance hall, by the cabin elevator, a woman was curled up on the ground, trembling like an addict in withdrawal. Some broken fungal threads had fallen from her body and shattered when her head knocked into them. They no longer seemed active. KIKI''s words made everyone''s expression¡ªincluding Luo Yang''s¡ªchange in shock. Lin Xian looked at her. ¡°You know her?¡± KIKI nodded, brows furrowed. ¡°If I''m not mistaken, this woman should be called Tang Yun.¡± She glanced at Lin Xian, her tone less than pleased. ¡°She¡¯s... the wife of that father''s brother.¡± Lin Xian asked, ¡°Biological brother?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°So that makes her your aunt, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Xian said. KIKI shrugged. ¡°Kind of. I don¡¯t have much impression of any of them, but this one... is okay, I guess.¡± Due to her background, KIKI had little affection for the Wen family and avoided contact with them. The Wen family, on their part, treated this illegitimate daughter with cold contempt. But since this second aunt was relatively kind, KIKI remembered her and didn¡¯t completely dislike her. Lin Xian understood. He knew KIKI¡¯s background: her biological father was the chairman of the Linglong Group, the head of Jinhai¡¯s most powerful conglomerate. Before Apocalypse Day, Linglong was one of Dragon Nation¡¯s top real estate empires and a global top-ten shipping group. Technically illegitimate or not, if not for the apocalypse, KIKI would be high society¡¯s elite heiress. If this woman really was her aunt, then she had to be a central figure in the Wen family. For such a person to appear here... was suspicious, to say the least. The woman continued convulsing on the floor. She was wearing a white garment¡ªif it could be called that. It looked more like two flaps of lab coat fabric, barely covering anything. She was practically naked, shivering on the floor. Just then, KIKI jabbed Lin Xian with her elbow and glared at him. ¡°What are you staring at?¡± Lin Xian frowned and gestured to KIKI. ¡°She¡¯s still got fungal threads on her head. She might already be a fungal corpse.¡± ¡°So... take her out?¡± KIKI asked bluntly. Lin Xian observed for a moment. Despite her convulsions, the woman¡¯s vitals seemed normal. Plus, for a ¡®relative¡¯ to show up here, it was worth some caution. He turned to the group. ¡°Keep your distance for now.¡± He raised his hand, and mechanical light flickered. In moments, he assembled a transparent mechanical isolation pod, then said to KIKI, ¡°Put her inside.¡± KIKI got the message and used psychic power to move Tang Yun into the pod. Lin Xian then hit his communicator and summoned Ding Junyi. Once that was done, Lin Xian turned to KIKI and said, ¡°Your dad joined the Dawn Project, but your second aunt became a member of the Descent Faction¡¯s Crimson World, trying to become immortal. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s strange?¡± ¡°It is weird... but I don¡¯t care about them.¡± KIKI turned to Lin Xian, her eyes glinting mischievously. ¡°But I know what you¡¯re getting at.¡± Lin Xian nodded subtly. He, Chen Sixuan, and KIKI had already discussed that once they escaped Abyss Zone No. 5 from Yijin City, his next step would be to break away from the United Train and head for Jinhai. Before entering the Oceanic Rail, he needed to make several preparations. One of the key tasks was upgrading the train¡¯s drive system. Upgrading to all-terrain drive would consume more energy and reduce speed but would allow Infinite Train to operate off-rail, giving them greater mobility. They were likely to take the Lesser Oceanic Rail, which meant they might need to operate on water or even sea surfaces. If heading toward the Polar Region, there were two options: one route passed through the Qiong''gu Strait, via several North American micro-continents, then south from White Ocean¡ªbut that required a giant ferry if the rails weren¡¯t intact. The other route directly crossed the Pacific Ocean via the Lesser Oceanic Rail, covering a broader stretch but potentially less risky, since few knew its current condition. Jinhai was one of the world¡¯s smallest orbital train manufacturing bases and home to the Nuclear Physics Institute of Dragon Nation. It was also KIKI¡¯s hometown and the headquarters of the Linglong Group. Whether it was for the drive upgrade or their ¡°Heist Couple Plan,¡± he had to go there. Soon, Ding Junyi arrived. For safety, Xiao Lou and Brother Lin came to the surveillance hall too. ¡°Perfect timing. I went back to study the surveillance hub¡¯s data and found something odd,¡± Ding Junyi said briskly as she walked in. Upon hearing about the mysterious man from Ji Gui, she immediately brought a neural brainwave scanner along with a portable medical pod. Xiao Lou carried a Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. ¡°I brought this too, just in case.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Lin Xian asked immediately. Ding Junyi walked over to the isolation pod, scanned the woman¡¯s head with a multi-frequency bio-ray lamp, then stowed the device. She opened the pod and signaled Shu Qin to hold the woman down, then began attaching the brainwave monitor to Tang Yun. ¡°It was something Shasha said that inspired me. When I analyzed the brainwave data of surviving subjects, I noticed a peculiar pattern. When their brain produces over 200hz and 70uV of Y-gamma waves, it creates synchronous interference¡ªvery different from ordinary hallucinations.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t understand a word,¡± KIKI muttered with a pout. ¡°If this person regains even a sliver of consciousness, she¡¯ll understand,¡± Ding Junyi replied. ¡°Got it.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°You two watch her. I¡¯ve got other things to do.¡± With that, Lin Xian motioned for Luo Yang and the others to follow him to the side so as not to disturb Ding Junyi, ready to discuss his plans with Luo Yang. ¡°Really, Lin Bro? We can really join your convoy?¡± Lin Xian got straight to the point. Luo Yang was instantly excited, eyes wide. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to talk to you about this! This is great! We all want to join your convoy, Lin Bro!¡± Behind him, Lolo and Amin also beamed with joy. ¡°Captain Lin, we¡¯ve talked it through many times.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Back when our three convoys passed through Xilin, we already discussed joining forces,¡± Luo Yang added, then paused, recalling the Big Eagle Convoy, a flicker of sorrow in his eyes. Lin Xian sighed and patted Luo Yang on the shoulder. ¡°I understand. After surviving all this, joining forces makes us stronger. Once we escape Polar Night, I¡¯ll combine our trains. I¡¯ll do a full overhaul then.¡± Infinite Train currently had 16 carriages. Adding the Sun Train¡¯s 11 carriages brought the total to over 27¡ªmaking Infinite Train over 800 meters long, with greatly increased capacity. ¡°Awesome! That¡¯s amazing!¡± Luo Yang was thrilled, pushing up his glasses. ¡°Lin Bro, I¡¯ll go tell the others the good news right now!¡± But just as he turned, he paused and glanced at Lin Xian. ¡°Oh, by the way, Lin Bro, there¡¯s also¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Lin Xian cut him off. ¡°That includes Li Yi and her group. I¡¯ll talk to her directly.¡± Luo Yang¡¯s eyes lit up, breathing a sigh of relief. ¡°Great! Got it.¡± Though they were temporarily merged with Luo Yang¡¯s group, Li Yi''s convoy was still an independent unit with many members. Lin Xian thought it best to speak to her personally to avoid future misunderstandings. The Sun Train was a yellow-black armored train, massive in size, powered by a more advanced Huanxing-10A Electric Locomotive and a Linglong Nuclear-Powered Car, making it a true Doomsday Train. Besides the two engine cars, there was a supply car, armory, and dining car¡ªthe remaining six were living carriages, offering much more space than Infinite Train''s multi-purpose setup. As soon as Lin Xian boarded, he could feel a strong lived-in vibe. Supplies just hauled aboard hadn¡¯t been fully stored, and passengers were quietly organizing their personal shelters, much like the Bigfoot Convoy had done earlier. The first two living carriages housed Luo Yang¡¯s younger crew¡ªmales in one, females in the other. Their styles were distinct and energetic. In the men¡¯s carriage, many excitedly fiddled with their new power suits, while in the women¡¯s, some were tidying up supplies and cleaning, and others were learning to use firearms. The whole atmosphere was upbeat. Past those two, the remaining four carriages belonged to the original Running Far Convoy. The first had a wide corridor with closed-off living pods, allowing for smooth movement and plenty of storage. Just as Lin Xian was wondering why this carriage¡¯s living space was so compact, a small head popped out from an upper bunk partition. In the dim light, a pair of bright, watery eyes blinked at him and asked in a soft whisper: ¡°Bi¡ªbro... bro, who... are you looking for?¡± Lin Xian blinked. The little girl looked only four or five, with a short bob haircut and a smudged but adorably lively face. At her age, she should have been enjoying a happy childhood. But her face bore the traces of a long, harsh escape. Lin Xian sighed inwardly and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m looking for¡ª¡± ¡°Shhh~¡± Before he could finish, the girl put a finger to his lips and whispered, ¡°Mommy... Li Yi... says... talk softly~¡± ¡°Okay~¡± Lin Xian chuckled and mimicked her tone. ¡°Captain Lin!¡± Just then, Li Yi''s voice rang out. Lin Xian looked up and saw her carrying a repair kit filled with wrenches and screwdrivers, with a large gun slung over her back. She looked surprised. ¡°Captain Lin, you''re looking for me?¡± ¡°Mommy Li Yi~¡± The sound of her voice drew curious glances from all around. One by one, little heads began popping out of the sleeping pods. Lin Xian nodded and looked around at the children, then gestured to Li Yi. Li Yi nodded back and quickly set down the tool kit, wiping the grease off her hands while calling up to the girl above. ¡°Duoduo, time to sleep.¡± ¡°Okay~¡± The girl named Duoduo grinned and shyly peeked at Lin Xian before obediently ducking back inside. As Lin Xian stepped down, Li Yi quickly said, ¡°We¡¯ve moved the kids into a dedicated living carriage in the middle section so it¡¯s easier to care for them. But this train is a lot wider than our old bus, so the extra space is full of clutter we haven¡¯t sorted yet. Sorry you had to see it like this.¡± ¡°How¡¯s Liang Lei¡¯s injury?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Much better now.¡± Li Yi looked at Lin Xian gratefully. ¡°Captain Chen and his team took Lei Zi back to your medical carriage for another check-up earlier. All his vitals... they¡¯re stabilizing. He¡¯s got thick skin and strong muscles¡ªhis ability¡¯s bouncing back pretty fast too.¡± Lin Xian nodded, then got straight to the point and told her about inviting Luo Yang¡¯s convoy to join. ¡°Luo Yang and the others have agreed. I came to find you because I hope your convoy can join Infinite Train as well.¡± Li Yi¡¯s expression froze for a moment. She stared at Lin Xian in shock, her mouth slightly open, clearly in disbelief. ¡°Lin... Captain Lin, are you serious?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not too keen on the idea?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°No... no, that¡¯s not it.¡± Li Yi was both surprised and thrilled, and for some reason, her eyes welled up a bit. ¡°Lei Zi, Luo Yang, and I¡ªwe¡¯ve talked about this before. It¡¯s just...¡± She glanced back at the carriage, then looked down helplessly at her big belly. ¡°I¡¯m just worried... that I¡¯d slow you down, Captain Lin.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°I heard you saved dozens of stranded survivors along the way?¡± Li Yi gave a bitter smile. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been easy for anyone. If we can help each other out... maybe it gives us all a better shot at staying alive.¡± Lin Xian took a deep breath and said, ¡°Meeting a convoy like yours is my luck. If I were a survivor struggling to make it in the apocalypse, I¡¯d dream of crossing paths with someone like you. How could I ever think you¡¯d slow us down?¡± In the beginning, Lin Xian had very clear standards for accepting new people on his train. Loyalty. Value. To him, that was the only way to survive in the apocalypse. Be absolutely self-serving. Everyone is a resource. But after the Dawn Journey, Lin Xian came to realize something else. It¡¯s those who form genuine bonds, those who haven¡¯t lost their humanity and reach out to help others in disaster¡ªthose are the ones truly fit to climb mountains and carry the flame forward. That carriage full of kids¡ªmaybe they can''t fight. Maybe they don¡¯t contribute much under doomsday conditions. But aren¡¯t those innocent hearts exactly what humanity must protect? ¡°Captain Lin, I...¡± Li Yi was momentarily speechless, caught off guard by his words. ¡°You¡¯re part of us now,¡± Lin Xian said directly. ¡°We¡¯ll protect this family together.¡± Li Yi bit her lip, then quickly covered her mouth, eyes damp. She nodded to Lin Xian. ¡°Okay. Thank you, Captain Lin.¡± ¡°Take care of Lei Zi and the kids for now. Have the rest of your team get used to the new gear. We¡¯re about to break through the Polar Night. Things won¡¯t go smoothly.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After finishing his conversation with Luo Yang and Li Yi, Lin Xian finally felt like a heavy burden had lifted from his chest. If all went well, Infinite Train was about to get a major upgrade¡ªnot just weaponry, but intelligence systems and drive units too. He checked the time. It was already past 5 a.m., so he immediately returned to the Zero Element Center to continue devouring items. [Devour Successful. Mechanical Source +10, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +5] [Devour Successful. Mechanical Source +15, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +6] [Devour Successful. Mechanical Source +20, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +8] ......... Inside the monitoring hall, Lin Xian scoured everything he could find. Anything remotely usable, he took¡ªturning it all into source material and mechanical points. Once he¡¯d cleared the monitoring hall, he operated the robotic arm to transfer over the already-defunct survival pods. Then, through the glass wall, he began devouring them. [Devour Successful. Mechanical Source +3, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +1] After each pod was devoured, they crumbled into brown ash. In an instant, the bodies inside¡ªincluding remnants of shattered fungal threads¡ªfell straight into the base of the hive center. Men and women, almost all over forty, whose bodies had nearly turned into plant-like deformations. One careless touch and their organs would just plop right out of their cracked chests¡ªyet there wasn¡¯t a drop of blood. It was eerie. These survival pods didn¡¯t yield much, but there were tons of them. In about six to seven hours, Lin Xian had cleared out hundreds. His mechanical source points shot up by nearly 2000¡ªan absolute feast. [Current Mechanical Heart Level: LV.5 (4340/20000)] Mechanical Devour: 4 (1760/2000) ¨C Improved Devour Efficiency ¡°As expected. A big base, plenty of time¡ªthis is how you level fast. Once I hit level 5, I could probably devour a regular car in just a few minutes.¡± After the long grind, Lin Xian felt thoroughly satisfied. It was the first time he¡¯d truly felt safe underground. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Dark Invasion and the Dark Mark, the underground really might¡¯ve been a solid plan...¡± Then he paused, recalling that unknown subterranean creature in Underground City No. 9, and quickly shook his head. ¡°Sh*t. Almost forgot about that thing. Screw the underground.¡± Just then, KIKI¡¯s voice crackled through the comms. ¡°Lin Xian, get over here quick¡ªthis woman just woke up!¡± Shu Qin immediately dropped what she was doing and ran toward the other side of the secondary monitoring room. KIKI, Lin Xian, and the others¡ªDing Junyi included¡ªhad all gathered around the isolation pod Shu Qin had built. The woman inside had regained a sliver of consciousness. She scrambled out of the pod and dropped to the floor. Her eyes darted between each of them in terror before she suddenly shrieked: ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! Don¡¯t kill me...!!¡± Her face went pale. She trembled violently, eyes spinning wildly in her sockets. Then, out of nowhere, she knelt down, twisted around with her backside facing everyone like she was trying to seduce them, crying out frantically: ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! Come on! I¡¯ll do anything! I can¡¯t take it anymore! Hurry, hurry!¡± Everyone¡¯s face changed instantly. The woman¡¯s hibernation suit was basically two sheets of surgical cloth¡ªfront and back¡ªso thin it barely covered anything. And now, with her strange posture, everything was on full display. The scene was as bizarre as it was obscene. Luo Yang, Lolo, and Xiao Min all looked at each other in stunned silence. Da Lou and Shu Qin had odd expressions too. KIKI frowned deeply, immediately covering Lin Xian¡¯s eyes with one hand while using psychic force to wrap the woman in her hibernation robe and suspend her in midair. ¡°AHHH!!¡± The woman¡ªTang Yun¡ªscreamed, flailing in the air. Lin Xian noted her ghostly pale skin, but her eyes... they were bloodshot, sickly red. Ding Junyi stayed calm, hands in pockets. ¡°Looks like a stress response from prolonged fungal hallucinations. Similar to toxin exposure. But we¡¯ve confirmed she¡¯s still human¡ªno fungal parasitism. Must¡¯ve used some kind of isolation tech.¡± ¡°Tang Yun!¡± KIKI called out. The woman flinched at the sound of her name. Her breathing slowed, the panic in her eyes slowly fading into clarity. She stared at KIKI, face shifting from fear to confusion to sudden realization. Her pupils shrank. ¡°You... you... you¡¯re... Wen... Wen Qi?!¡± KIKI¡¯s expression remained cold. ¡°It¡¯s me. What are you doing here?¡± Tang Yun¡¯s eyes locked on KIKI¡¯s face, shifting wildly as she tried to process. Then, seeing the others, she spoke with urgency. ¡°W-What time is it now? Is the world... safe again?!¡± KIKI rolled her eyes. ¡°Perfect timing. We¡¯re smack in the middle of Polar Night. Monsters are partying right above your head.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Tang Yun gasped, scanning her surroundings in disbelief. Then her eyes drifted toward the hive center. ¡°No... that can¡¯t be. They said... when it was all over, we¡¯d wake up. Just a blink. Even if we died, it¡¯d be in a dream. Why... why...¡± As she spoke, her gaze returned to the survival pod. She suddenly screamed and struggled violently. ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t supposed to wake up! No!¡± Lin Xian and KIKI exchanged a look. KIKI got the message and pressed her. ¡°Hey. Answer me. Why are you here?¡± Tang Yun blinked, finally realizing she was suspended in midair by a strange force, surrounded by armed people in combat suits. Definitely not friendly vibes. Then it clicked. She looked at KIKI in panic and shouted, ¡°Wen Qi, Wen Qi¡ªI¡¯m your aunt! Save me, please! Don¡¯t let them kill me!¡± KIKI dropped her. Tang Yun hit the ground hard, legs too weak to stand, landing on her butt. ¡°Wen Qi... please, save me... I¡¯m your aunt, remember?¡± She was completely overwhelmed by fear, crawling toward KIKI without even registering she was still exposed. Buzz! Shu Qin raised a hand. A white spear flew to her and she caught it, pointing it at Luo Yang¡¯s face to stop him from backing away. ¡°She¡¯s definitely the one you asked about the eighth time,¡± Ji Gui said coldly. Chapter 301: Linglong Group "I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk, just don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯ll tell you whatever you want to know, please, don¡¯t kill me!" Lin Xian''s intimidating presence made Tang Yun¡¯s face go deathly pale. She finally seemed to realize the danger she was in and blurted out, "It... it was that organization called Crimson World that brought us here. They said... they said this place could connect to a quasi-digital consciousness. That... that we could avoid Dark Invasion, and... and safely and happily hide through the Polar Night and wait for the Apocalypse to end!" ¡°You guys?¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°Who else besides you?¡± ¡°My husband!¡± she cried, as if suddenly remembering, and started looking around the hive-like center in a daze. ¡°My husband... where is he...¡± Tang Yun¡¯s mental state was extremely unstable. She was clearly losing control of her emotions, searching wildly. Fortunately, some survival instinct still lingered, keeping her just coherent enough to speak. Long-term stasis had nearly wrecked her motor coordination. She tried standing, but kept collapsing, even her sense of direction was off. From her fragmented explanation, Lin Xian learned that Tang Yun had come here with her husband Wen Dong and several of his Wen family relatives to join this project. As senior members of Crimson World, they enjoyed privileged treatment. They had been introduced to Crimson World¡¯s ideas about the Fungal Network and Zero Element Plan, and had personally participated in an experiment where they were temporarily exposed to Illusion Spores, experiencing the surreal euphoria of entering a dreamlike consciousness. The goal of the Zero Element Plan was to use life-sustaining pods equipped with specialized biological isolation devices to allow temporary access to a kind of tender mycelium, enabling consciousness to connect to the Fungal Network. This allowed people to achieve joy and spiritual ascension while avoiding infection from the Underground Polar Night. The entire Zero Element Center was automated, ensuring absolute secrecy and safety. The isolation device would sever the connection at timed intervals based on the activity levels of the fungal network to prevent brain overload and uncontrollable fungal spread. The problem was, even a nine-hour neural overload was beyond what ordinary people could endure. The pods¡¯ life-support systems couldn¡¯t save them. People were dying every cycle. Crimson World had long anticipated this. But in the words of the Descent Faction, this kind of death wasn¡¯t real death¡ªthey believed the consciousness had been successfully uploaded, living eternally inside the fungal network. After the darkness passed, it could be re-downloaded into a cloned body and reborn, even reverted to a youthful state. So for these Crimson Members, whether it was rebirth after the Apocalypse or eternal life through consciousness, it was the ultimate escape. That¡¯s also why most of those lying inside were over forty years old. ¡°They said... the fungi here are a higher form of life than humans,¡± Tang Yun stammered, her voice trembling, eyes darting nervously at Lin Xian. ¡°If your brain connects to the network, you¡¯ll be safe from Dark Invasion and immune to Eerie Entities. That¡¯s why no staff are allowed here¡ªit¡¯s to keep the environment ''clean'', to coexist in harmony with the fungal network.¡± ¡°Coexist?¡± Lin Xian snorted. ¡°And people actually believe that kind of bullsh*t?¡± Tang Yun pulled the blanket Luo Yang had given her tighter around herself and muttered, ¡°They said there were multiple safeguards. The AI would automatically cut off the network regularly to let us rest and survive. And the backup plan... even if we died, our consciousness would still live on in the network. Forever. And happily, too.¡± Her pupils drifted as she stared at the floor, almost in longing. ¡°We all tried it... inside that consciousness, anything you want¡ªyou have it. Wealth, freedom, sex, power, flavors, scents, sensations... every beautiful feeling. It wasn¡¯t like a drug high or a delusion¡ªit felt real. As if that was the real world...¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t it still just a fantasy?¡± KIKI frowned. ¡°Your body¡¯s still lying there, nothing¡¯s changed.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Wen Dong suddenly rebutted in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s the same. What we say is right. Life isn¡¯t about the body¡ªit¡¯s consciousness. What difference is there between what you feel in the outside world and what you feel in the fungal network? None. Sixty, eighty years of sensations¡ªsour, sweet, bitter, salty¡ªyou won¡¯t feel them in reality anymore either. So if you can¡¯t have a life with everything, why keep living in fear under the Apocalypse and dread the Polar Night?¡± ¡°Even if the world is destroyed, your mind lives on forever. The others are the ones who¡¯ve truly died. So at that point, who¡¯s really alive, and who¡¯s dead? What¡¯s reality, and what¡¯s illusion?¡± ¡°But you know it''s just a hallucination created by the brain! How can that be real?¡± Lin Xian couldn''t help but retort. ¡°And who says it isn¡¯t real?¡± Wen Dong countered immediately. ¡°The Buddhists say, ¡®A world in a grain of sand, a bodhi in a single leaf.¡¯ Maybe your Blue Planet, your galaxy, is just one neuron in some cosmic being¡¯s mind. Maybe your entire life is just a flicker of thought in its brain. Ever thought of that?¡± The more Wen Dong talked, the slower his speech became. Blood-red veins burst at the corners of his eyes, blood trickled from his nose, staining the blanket behind him crimson. Seeing this, the Wen family members looked uneasy, remembering the massive global debates triggered by the post-Digital Life Prohibition Act. The philosophical chaos over what ¡°life¡± really meant had never stopped. Supporters of digital life believed consciousness¡ªnot the body¡ªwas the essence of existence. As long as the mind survived, it didn¡¯t matter if it was housed in a robot, a computer terminal, or floating in the internet. For them, digital immortality was the ultimate form of life extension. But the key reason the prohibition was passed wasn¡¯t philosophical. It was because we couldn¡¯t determine whether a data-simulated consciousness truly possessed the recursive thought structure of a human brain. In other words, we couldn¡¯t verify if it was real life, or just advanced AI with fundamentally different ethics. I used to think Crimson World was just a cult scamming rich apocalypse preppers. But now... they actually combined digital life theory with Fungal Network tech and created a whole worldview around it. And they didn¡¯t hesitate one bit. ¡°No saving this one,¡± KIKI sighed and looked toward Tang Hui. ¡°Wen family,¡± she muttered. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°No... no...¡± Tang Yun muttered, still struggling to get up from the floor. Her limbs had atrophied from disuse, and she couldn¡¯t even remember how to stand properly. ¡°I need to go back... I need to go back. My son, my husband... they¡¯re still inside. I can¡¯t wake up now!¡± ¡°You still want to go back?! Seven out of ten people in there are already dead. The fact that your brain wasn¡¯t fully consumed by the Fungal Threads is sheer dumb luck.¡± Lin Xian stared at the fungal fragments still clinging to Tang Yun¡¯s scalp, inwardly shocked. He had no idea what tech Crimson World was using to prevent the fungi from physically invading the brain while still enabling neural connection to the network. It was baffling. ¡°She¡¯s a rare case,¡± Ding Junyi said, walking over with her mobile terminal. ¡°Her mental strength is extremely high, which is why her body stayed alive. The others couldn¡¯t resist¡ªbrain overload took them out in no time.¡± ¡°So Crimson World didn¡¯t tell them that part?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°They did,¡± Shu Qin replied with a complicated expression. ¡°They said once you die, your consciousness is uploaded¡ªeternal life.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Luo Yang pushed up his glasses. ¡°A perfectly closed logic loop. These people are wild.¡± KIKI stood next to Lin Xian, arms crossed. ¡°Well, duh. How else do you trick rich people into buying in?¡± Hearing all this, Tang Yun¡¯s expression twisted in disbelief. ¡°No... no way...!¡± She suddenly lunged toward the glass wall. ¡°My husband and son are still in there!¡± ¡°What are their names?¡± Luo Yang asked. ¡°My husband is Wen Dong. My son is Wen Jiacheng. And... and Wen Qi, they¡¯re the same age,¡± she said, looking at KIKI. ¡°Found him... Wen Jiacheng. Pod 09112...¡± Luo Yang reported while tapping on his terminal. He was already connected to the monitoring system. Frowning, he quietly said, ¡°Vital signs show... he¡¯s been dead for a while.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Tang Yun screamed. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! No way! He was with me¡ªhe was right there with me!¡± Lin Xian frowned, now suspicious. He turned to Ding Junyi. ¡°Director Ding, could it be that his consciousness really was uploaded?¡± ¡°Yes! That must be it! That has to be it!¡± Tang Yun cried hysterically. But Ding Junyi remained calm, her tone even. ¡°The data I found in the Zero Element Center isn¡¯t enough to confirm whether this fungal network has the characteristics of a distributed cloud system for data transfer and storage. Even if it did, it¡¯s not logically feasible.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ding Junyi explained, ¡°This mycelium¡ªfrom a species of dark fungi¡ªhas an unknown biological logic. Let me give a simple example: the original digital life project relied on quantum computers to simulate neural networks, compressing consciousness data into quantum bits for ¡®upload¡¯ and ¡®eternal life¡¯. Quantum logic operates on qubits¡ª0 or 1. Traditional computers use binary¡ªalso 0 and 1. But either way, both are based on human logic systems.¡± She paused. ¡°So if a Fungal Network were to function similarly, it would have to be compatible with human brain neural logic. Does that make sense?¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± KIKI nodded. ¡°You¡¯re saying these alien things run on a different ¡®OS¡¯ than we do.¡± ¡°Exactly. But that¡¯s just my logic,¡± Ding Junyi admitted. ¡°My thinking is limited by my humanity and my education. Abilities might touch on higher lifeforms, so my logic might not be the correct one. But practically speaking¡ªthere¡¯s another guess. What she saw¡ªher son¡ªmight have been a hallucination, simulated by her own brain. We¡¯ve seen that before, so it¡¯s not hard to understand.¡± Lin Xian nodded, brows furrowed. ¡°Yeah, I get what you¡¯re saying.¡± At that moment, Luo Yang spoke again while still checking his terminal. ¡°Something¡¯s off. I searched several times¡ªaside from Wen Jiacheng, there¡¯s no other Wen listed. Wen Dong¡¯s name isn¡¯t in the system at all.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Hearing this, Tang Yun suddenly found the strength to stand. She lunged at Luo Yang, snatched the device from his hands, and scrolled madly. She checked every name, one by one. Her husband was nowhere to be found. Slowly, her face went even paler. Her fingers froze. She collapsed to the floor, stunned, muttering, ¡°Impossible...¡± KIKI used her telekinesis to take the device back, handing it to Lin Xian, who glanced at it and seemed to realize something. ¡°Seems your husband didn¡¯t fully believe in that perfect immortality plan.¡± Tang Yun turned to him, trembling. ¡°You... what are you trying to say?¡± Everyone else understood instantly. One possibility¡ªWen Dong got cold feet and backed out at the last second. The other¡ªhe planned this all along, sending his wife and son here for a reason only he knew. Tang Yun wasn¡¯t stupid. Even though her mind was foggy, she remembered what had happened after arriving. She thought back to how calm and indifferent her husband had been¡ªnot curious, not excited, not like the others who were eagerly speculating about eternal life. And now, with no record of him in the system, it all clicked. Her earlier panic and tension vanished. She collapsed, white as a ghost, not even caring that she was exposed in front of everyone¡ªjust lost in disbelief and despair. Lin Xian sighed, looked over to KIKI, and asked quietly, ¡°She¡¯s kind of your acquaintance. What now? Up to you.¡± From KIKI¡¯s earlier words, this woman wasn¡¯t evil. Somehow surviving the mycelium cocoon and still dreaming of eternal life... she was a pitiful figure. If she were a stranger, Lin Xian might¡¯ve just handed her off to a northbound Survivor Convoy heading for the Dawn Center. Let fate decide. But since she was a relative of KIKI¡¯s, he figured he¡¯d ask. KIKI nodded but glanced at Lin Xian with a strange expression. ¡°Saving her is easy. But aren¡¯t you curious why she came here? What happened with the Wen family in Jinhai?¡± Lin Xian blinked. Damn, why hadn¡¯t he thought of that? KIKI was always sharp¡ªalways thinking about her family¡¯s assets. In peacetime, she¡¯d be the perfect wife. With that brief interlude over, Lin Xian had someone bring Tang Yun some warm water and clothes from the vehicle. Luo Yang and the others finished handling the situation inside and went out to patrol the tunnels, leaving Lin Xian, KIKI, and a few others behind. Tang Yun was in no condition to respond. She didn¡¯t even touch the clothes or water. KIKI took a deep breath, walked over, and said: ¡°Hey. We¡¯re still in the middle of the Polar Night. Danger could hit any second. If you want us to save you, at least cooperate a little. Sitting there naked isn¡¯t helping anyone.¡± Her hair was a mess, her face blank. She buried her head, her eyes dull. ¡°It¡¯s just some flesh. Doesn¡¯t matter. Men and women all look the same lying in those pods...¡± Then she slowly lifted her head and studied KIKI¡¯s face. After a long silence, she spoke. ¡°We all thought you and your father were dead, Wen Qi. Auntie doesn¡¯t have much to offer you, but here¡¯s a word of advice¡ªbe careful of that Wen family...¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even use the Wen name. My last name is Zhao,¡± KIKI shot back. Tang Yun glanced down at the clothes and water, her eyes shifting. ¡°I know you don¡¯t care about the Wen family. But the fact that you survived that plane crash... maybe that¡¯s fate.¡± KIKI¡¯s brows furrowed, instantly alert. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Tang Yun took a deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know much. But based on how your aunt and the others reacted after the incident with you and your dad... I think... they might¡¯ve known it was going to happen.¡± Lin Xian, listening from the side, was immediately intrigued. He stepped forward and asked, ¡°You¡¯re saying her dad was set up?¡± Tang Hui shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t be sure. Before Apocalypse Day, Wen Qi¡¯s father held full authority in the family. He controlled the family¡¯s fate in the coming doomsday. He leveraged the construction and maritime business resources with both the Federation and Phoenix. Apart from the Surface City Project, he was also planning to divert three 50,000-ton grain freighters to Dawn City, trading them for a Federation flagship¡ªthe Wen Jiacheng, plus a full escort fleet for underwater escape.¡± She paused. ¡°And he also partnered with Noisy City to retrofit an Eternal-Class Doomsday Train in Jinhai¡¯s rail industrial center. It was meant to carry the family inland toward the Dawn Center.¡± ¡°Damn. Surface city, sea route, and a land-based train. Putting all the eggs in multiple baskets,¡± Lin Xian muttered in awe. It had to be said¡ªLinglong Group was one of the chosen few. After Apocalypse Day, most of the world¡¯s top 700 companies had their assets wiped out. Money was no longer money. But some corporations survived. Take Fengge Group, for example¡ªhome to Silver Star and Jian Xuwei. It controlled logistics, machinery, manufacturing, and energy¡ªeverything essential in a post-apocalyptic world. Linglong Group, meanwhile, specialized in construction and maritime shipping. On the surface, not ideal. But in truth, they were deeply involved in the Surface City Project, one of the Federation¡¯s flagship survival strategies. Plus, they owned their own security forces. That gave them immense leverage when dealing with governments. And as for maritime shipping¡ªwell, that was vital. A single bulk ship could carry over 50,000 tons. And Linglong Group had more than 410 vessels under its name. During the chaos of the apocalypse, a single ship carrying grain or fuel was worth more than gold. KIKI¡¯s father had been able to mobilize those resources quickly, amidst global collapse, riots, and population decline. He exchanged them for vital alliances and technology. That alone proved he was bold and decisive. As for this Dragon Whale vessel Tang Yun mentioned¡ªit sounded absurd. But Lin Xian knew the Federation, or now Dawn City, had shifted entirely toward underground living. Their surface fleets were useless. Trading an obsolete flagship for 150,000 tons of grain made sense. That much food could feed a million people for over a year. ¡°Oh, I get it now,¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You¡¯re saying the Wen family had four separate survival routes: an Eternal-Class Train Fortress, the Dragon Whale vessel chasing Phoenix, a Surface City Project seat, and... you, here in this Crimson World?¡± ¡°Four, yes,¡± Lin Xian added, gesturing toward Tang Yun on the floor. ¡°She¡¯s the fourth.¡± Tang Yun shook her head. ¡°All those plans were your father¡¯s. After he was gone, your aunt¡ªWen Hui¡ªtook over. She canceled every one of his projects. She planned to donate all the family¡¯s resources to Dawn City, just to secure a Federation Council seat. She believed that way, the Wen family wouldn¡¯t splinter. That they could still hold onto their upper-class status in Dawn.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s brows shot up. ¡°Wow. A true ¡®let¡¯s all die together¡¯ approach.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± KIKI jumped up, furious. ¡°What kind of pig-brained logic is that?! The world¡¯s ending and she¡¯s still thinking about being a councilwoman? I was actually getting excited about all those trains and ships and whatnot... and she went and ruined it all?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know all the details,¡± Tang Yun said softly. ¡°I only know the Eternal-Class Train was already halfway built... the rest...¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you think your father was set up?¡± Lin Xian asked. Tang Yun shook her head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I think that because... I found out my husband, and your aunt Wen Hui... had already been secretly contacting Crimson World.¡± She looked up. ¡°And it¡¯s very likely... even before Apocalypse Day.¡± Chapter 302: Shocking Change! Tang Yun''s words caught both Lin Xian and KIKI off guard. They had clearly understood the implication behind her words, which indirectly explained why Tang Yun and the others were here. Essentially, they were part of the Crimson World project and must have paid quite a price for it. ¡°How much do you know about this Crimson World?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°I... don''t know much. I only came here because my husband brought me. This organization is very mysterious. The highest-ranking person I¡¯ve seen here is a white man named Julius Litt, looked like he was in his forties. He¡¯s the one who told us about the properties of the mycelial network, and he also had us experience the hallucinogenic spores. The rest...¡± Tang Yun wasn¡¯t someone with strong opinions. Everything she did was at the behest of her husband¡ªKIKI¡¯s second uncle, Wen Dong. So the real question was, why did her husband send his wife and child here, then run off on his own? ¡°Wen Qi, it¡¯s really good that you¡¯re still alive...¡± Tang Yun looked up at KIKI, her face filled with sorrow. ¡°Even though your aunt took all of your and your father¡¯s assets, the underground city quota your father secured for you is non-transferable. No matter if she becomes a member of the Dawn City council or not, you still have the identity of Linglong Group''s heir and a senior member of the Dawn Project. You can go to Dawn City. Aside from the Phoenix HQ, it¡¯s probably the safest place left. You can survive there...¡± Hearing this, KIKI turned to look at Lin Xian. ¡°That¡¯s true. I heard Dawn City is overcrowded now, and the entry fee¡¯s through the roof. This identity of mine might really come in handy.¡± Lin Xian added, ¡°But your aunt and the rest of the Wen family probably won¡¯t welcome you.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with me? Does this lady need their approval?¡± KIKI floated off the ground, arms crossed, proudly defiant. Lin Xian chuckled. Fair enough¡ªthis girl could crush a truck with her bare hands. This kind of ultra-rare psychokinesis ability was far more valuable in the apocalypse than wealth or status. ¡°Alright.¡± He turned to Tang Yun. ¡°Get dressed. Come with me. I¡¯ll take you out of here.¡± To his surprise, Tang Yun showed no reaction to his words. She just kept her head down in silence. After a long while, she finally said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave.¡± KIKI immediately frowned. ¡°Hey, what do you mean you don¡¯t want to leave? You saw what happened¡ªso many people died! You wanna die too?¡± ¡°No!¡± Tang Yun¡¯s expression turned desperate, her eyes reddened as she shook her head. ¡°No, they¡¯re not dead. My son¡¯s not dead. He¡¯s in that world. We¡¯re together every day. It¡¯s not fake!¡± Lin Xian looked at her, unsure if she was simply unable to accept her son¡¯s death, or if she was completely lost in the illusion created by the mycelium. He said quietly, ¡°Once we leave, this place will lose power completely. No more robot maintenance. The life pods will stop working. Your physical bodies will rot and die. Are you sure?¡± Hearing this, fear flickered in Tang Yun¡¯s eyes¡ªbut was soon replaced by obsession. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. ¡°No, no... Once I enter that world, I¡¯ll live in that world.¡± She suddenly knelt before KIKI, pleading. ¡°Wen Qi, I appreciate your kindness, but I feel like I no longer belong in this world. Please, just let me go back.¡± KIKI¡¯s face turned rare shades of anger. She shouted, ¡°I told you¡ªit¡¯s all fake! Fake! You managed to escape, and now you can live! Isn¡¯t living better?!¡± Her outburst made Lin Xian''s face shift. He fell silent, head down, messy hair half-covering his carefully maintained face, voice trembling. ¡°Your son is on that side. If you stay here, I¡¯ll be sad... I¡¯m still searching for my dad... still looking, always looking. You were supposed to stay with me. You''re one of the few familiar people I have left. If you go... I¡¯ll be lonely... I¡¯ll be heartbroken...¡± ¡°Wen Qi... just help her this once... for the sake of her being his aunt...¡± he pleaded, kneeling on the floor, his entire being hollowed out. Whether it was joy, sadness, rage, or despair¡ªnone of it was clear anymore. It seemed the world outside that pod was the true nightmare. The moment he stepped beyond the pod, he¡¯d wake up again¡ªin this miserable, unfree world. KIKI was still angry, but Lin Xian¡¯s words stirred a strange restlessness in her heart. Even if they hadn¡¯t spent much time together, she didn¡¯t want to see Lin Xian choose death like this. Just as she was about to say more, He Jie suddenly grabbed her arm. She noticed Lin Xian¡¯s eyes were slowly filling with white threads¡ªsigns of an impending mutation due to Dark Invasion. ¡°Forget it. You¡¯ve already lost the will to live. Even if you stay, the Dark Invasion will soon mutate you into a zombie. So let it be...¡± His mental defenses had crumbled. His body was collapsing. His mental strength was on the brink. Under the Polar Night, someone like him would become a zombie in no time¡ªunless forcibly dragged back into the Infinite Train under protection of an Eerie Cube. But even then, that might not save him. He¡¯d be a burden, sinking into endless grief and self-pity, dragging the team down emotionally. Better to let her die in the illusion, reunited with her son in happiness. Lin Xian thought for a moment¡ªmaybe he could leave Tang Yun¡¯s pod a small robot and an array battery as repayment for the information she¡¯d provided. KIKI heard this and sighed helplessly. Tang Yun, seeing no more objections, slowly got up. She staggered, trying to steady herself, lifting her gaze gently across Lin Xian and KIKI¡¯s faces. She wanted to say something¡ªbut didn¡¯t. Instead, she gave them a grateful look, turned around, took off her hibernation suit, and walked naked into the activated life pod. She lay down, closed her eyes. Nearby, Daluo and Shu Qin watched silently, their expressions complicated. For some reason, Tang Yun¡¯s decision weighed heavier than simply witnessing the death of a survivor. (Low-frequency activation hum) Identity verified. Tang Yun. Zero Element ID: 0403. Life Pod activated. Current body temperature: 36¡ãC. Heart rate: 62. Life support system: online. The voice from the life pod rang out. The lid slowly closed, sealing her off completely. The pod then moved into the transport tunnel, descending into the hive interior where it was gripped by massive mechanical arms and inserted into a vacant hexagonal mycelium access zone. Above, Lin Xian, KIKI, and the others watched silently, sighing. ¡°You think her consciousness really uploaded into the mycelial network?¡± KIKI finally asked. ¡°Maybe,¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°But the thing is¡ªhumanity only has one path left: defeat the darkness. Either humans die out, or we destroy the dark entities. So to us, they¡¯re already dead.¡± Clack, clack, clack. Lin Xian turned around and saw Ding Junyi tapping away seriously on her mobile terminal. On the screen, footage of Tang Yun¡¯s life pod interior appeared. ¡°I added a brainwave 0-frequency neural interface. If mycelial connection occurs, we might capture some kind of brainwave interference,¡± she explained without even lifting her head. Lin Xian was about to respond when she added, ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything about this in the previous surveillance data. Normally, a facility like this would definitely monitor that frequency. It¡¯s suspicious, so I wanted to watch it more closely.¡± He scratched his head, a bit deflated. ¡°Alright then, carry on.¡± Ding Junyi was always like this in the lab¡ªsuccinct, precise, laser-focused. Never wasting time. And in every possible way, that trait showed through. Everyone was stunned the moment Lin Xian said that. Shasha was even more horrified¡ªjust picturing the scene gave her goosebumps. ¡°No way, Brother Lin!!¡± she cried out in a panic. KIKI, hands on hips, looked smugly at Lin Xian and said, ¡°Alright, but remember¡ªyou said it.¡± Lin Xian quickly cleared his throat and coughed. ¡°Uh... I was just joking. Let¡¯s not go there. That¡¯s... not exactly a bedtime thought.¡± With that, he headed toward Carriage No. 5, ready to set up a new G3 Electromagnetic Railgun. ¡°Hehe~¡± KIKI grinned victoriously, clearly pleased to have left Lin Xian speechless. As he walked away, she suddenly caught up and leaned in close to whisper in his ear, ¡°Hey, I heard that service-type robots back in the day were really... comprehensive. Even had companion features. Want me to throw in a few extra kits for you?¡± This girl really knew how to push buttons¡ªshe loved watching Lin Xian squirm. But to her surprise, he stopped in his tracks, turned with a knowing smile, and reached out his hand. ¡°Kits? You know I need blueprint scans to build anything. Go ahead¡ªshow me.¡± KIKI¡¯s smile froze. She instantly realized she and Lin Xian weren¡¯t talking about the same kind of ¡°kits.¡± Her cheeks flushed a vivid red, and she exploded on the spot. ¡°LIN XIAN!!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take a look if there¡¯s time later. Gotta run for now,¡± he said as he bolted, fleeing her fury. When he got to Carriage No. 5, Lin Xian got straight to work. He started clearing space and preparing to build the railgun. His plan was to outfit the Infinite Train with two 1130 CIWS units and a G3 Electromagnetic Railgun. That would double their firepower. With the YJ-3 Anti-Air Cannon added in, the 16-carriage train would be a force to reckon with. ¡°Once the Sun Train connects, we¡¯ll probably need to reshuffle some carriages,¡± he muttered. He sat down in a clear area, lifted his hand, and began manufacturing the railgun¡¯s extreme-energy capacitors. Back in Xilan City, the entire train¡¯s integrated electrical system had already been upgraded. All he had to do now was plug the capacitors in properly, and they¡¯d work without a hitch. ¡°Now we¡¯ve got two nuclear-powered locomotives¡ªone Gemini 11R, 290 megawatts, and one Linglong Industrial 200MW. Three electric locomotives¡ªtwo Weilong-class, one Huanxing 10A, and my Whale 03E Gas Turbine Locomotive...¡± ¡°Six powered engines total...¡± Between the Electromagnetic Railgun, 1130 CIWS, YJ-03, Electric Blade Armor, Arc Pulse Resonators, the research and mecha carriages, and over a hundred Power Suits charging¡ªplus the ultra-high-temperature plasma beam cutting array, automated bullet press, and the power-hungry drive systems he planned to install¡ª Yeah, energy demand was off the charts. While the two nuclear power carriages could generate enough electricity, they¡¯d still need several electric carriages to store and balance the voltage. Luckily, Lin Xian no longer had to rely on his Mechanical Heart to manually power the entire train. Controlling all 27 carriages wasn¡¯t necessary anymore. ¡°We¡¯ll put the Huanxing 10A at the front, right behind the gas turbine¡ªlike before. That¡¯ll be enough traction.¡± But what really bothered him were the two nuclear locomotives. Neither had head-end coupling capability, meaning both had to be placed at the rear. Still, Lin Xian wanted to separate them to avoid both getting taken out at once. After thinking it through, only one plan remained: split the nuclear engines¡ªone at the front, one at the back¡ªeach paired with a Weilong or Huanxing 10A for traction and energy storage. That meant he¡¯d have to retire his original Whale 03E gas turbine... ¡°Damn, hard to let go.¡± He¡¯d built that engine when his Mechanical Heart was still Level 1 in Jiang City, using the most basic parts. It helped him tear through zombie hordes, climb the Underground City No. 9 Tunnel, charge up the Climbing Elevator, and roll across the Blizzard Snowfields. Though its output had dropped since he stopped using his ability, it had been his loyal workhorse. As a Mechanical Ability User, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to dismantle it. Maybe once they got through the Polar Night, he¡¯d hang it at the rear as backup. He wasn¡¯t hurting for Mechanical Source Points these days. As he worked, his Mechanical Manufacturing¡ªnow Level 5¡ªmade everything faster. Compared to the Hengshan Pass days, this was a breeze. In just over two hours, most of the capacitor array was complete. Another hour and a half later, a new G3 Railgun slowly rose from the roof of Carriage No. 5. Just as he finished the main cannon and prepared a system diagnostic, he noticed¡ª He was alone. Where was Fire Bro? Something felt off. He walked over to Lu Xingchen¡¯s room. Empty. Spotless. On the tea table sat an old-style message recorder. Something wasn¡¯t right. He waved his hand, activating it remotely with his Mechanical Ability. The device crackled, then played Lu Xingchen¡¯s message. ¡°Brother Lin, Brother Lou, everyone aboard the Infinite Train... please forgive me for leaving without a word...¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been infected by mycelium toxins. I know I can¡¯t endanger you all. And I know I can¡¯t keep going east. So I¡¯m leaving alone¡ªto guard the passage, and give whatever strength I have left...¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face darkened. Lu Xingchen was infected? How was that possible? There hadn¡¯t been any signs, and KIKI¡¯s Psychokinesis Barrier had been up the entire way. Then again, there was that time during the tunnel disinfection when Fire Bro went off on his own... ¡°F***!!¡± The realization hit him hard. The mix of helplessness and anger overwhelmed him. He grabbed his communicator, about to call Fire Bro¡ª But before he could, Ding Junyi¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Lin Xian, we¡¯ve got a situation!¡± At the Zero Element Center, Ding Junyi was watching as Tang Yun¡¯s entire head was consumed by mycelium. Her theta band brainwaves were spiking in strange patterns. Her eyes narrowed¡ªshe hadn¡¯t expected this backup measure would lead to uncovering the mycelial network¡¯s real secret. ¡°Speak!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice came sharply through the comm. ¡°There¡¯s frequency-6 interference between Lin Xian¡¯s brainwaves and the mycelium connection,¡± Ding Junyi explained. ¡°That means getting connected to the mycelium isn¡¯t so different from what happened with the hallucinogenic spores. Even if the cerebellum is generating illusion from the user¡¯s own consciousness, the mycelium is resonating with the same neuronal pathways¡ª¡± ¡°Get to the point!¡± Lu Xingchen adjusted his glasses, gazing at the colossal hive structure. ¡°That mycelial network is definitely tapping into people¡¯s consciousness. And more than that¡ªit¡¯s actively reconfiguring their neural patterns. The pattern matches individual cognitive structures. That means...¡± ¡°The mycelium is using human brains... as computational processors!¡± ¡°In other words, the entire network might be capable of recognizing human thoughts¡ªincluding Lin Xian¡¯s!¡± RUMBLE!! As soon as he finished, a massive tremor shook the underground tunnel. Dust filled the air. The jolt woke everyone on the Joint Train from their rest. Weapons were grabbed. Communications channels filled with noise. ¡°What happened?!¡± ¡°Are we under attack?!¡± ¡°An earthquake?!¡± Elsewhere, Chen Sixuan also woke up. Acting on instinct, she suited up in her Black Hawk Armor and contacted Lin Xian. ¡°Lin Xian, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Not sure yet,¡± Lin Xian said, racing through the tunnels with KIKI. ¡°Professor Chen, alert all convoys¡ªprepare to evacuate!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Brother Shi, Sister Ning! Check the metro tunnel¡ªwe may need to pull out!¡± Lin Xian relayed to Dragon Mountain No.1. The response was immediate. Shi Diyuan, Ning Jing, Qian Dele of the Joker Convoy, Xiaomeng, Monica of the Monica Queen, Luo Yang, Li Yi, and over a dozen convoy leaders all received the emergency alert. In every carriage, footsteps pounded through the corridors. The electric locomotive engines began to hum. From one end of the 15-kilometer-long train to the other, limiters disengaged with quiet metallic clicks. ¡°Move out!¡± ¡°Disengage limiters!¡± ¡°Reactors heating¡ªboost power!¡± ¡°Weapons stations, gunners to your posts!¡± Meanwhile, Lin Xian and KIKI raced toward the Zero Element Center. ¡°So what Ding¡¯s saying is¡ªthe mycelium is using human brains as processors and even reading consciousness?¡± KIKI asked, half-distracted. She hadn¡¯t even finished Grace¡¯s override. Lin Xian nodded, expression grim. He glanced at surveillance feeds from the Yijin Bank Vault and nearby streets¡ªstill calm. ¡°Still can¡¯t confirm it, but if Ding¡¯s right, we have to prepare for the worst. That quake wasn¡¯t normal.¡± ¡°Where to now?¡± Lin Xian clenched his teeth. ¡°We find Fire Bro.¡± At that moment, atop the Yijin Bank building, Lu Xingchen leaned against the edge of the rooftop, his gaze sweeping across the darkened streets below. His ears were filled with eerie whispers, as if countless nameless things lurked in every alley and shadowed corner. In the sky above, strange tentacles flickered in and out of the clouds. The dense black sticky fog blanketing the city had already begun to fade. When Lu Xingchen looked up, he could clearly see the towering silhouette of the Sky Mushroom Tower and the massive Crown of Shadows overhead. A cold glint passed through his eyes. ¡°Monsters everywhere... corruption thriving,¡± he murmured. Lowering his collar, he struck a flame with his fingertip. On his chest and neck, bluish mycelium had already spread across large patches of skin. He let out a long sigh. Lu Xingchen picked up a communicator, confirming that the signal was still active. Then, with nothing better to do, he continued burning a gold bracelet he¡¯d picked up from the vault¡ªcaked in mud, now wiped clean, and slowly turning red under the dancing flame. He seemed more bored than anything. After talking to Daluo, Lu Xingchen had decided to leave the Infinite Train. He was afraid the mycelial spores on his body might infect the others. And as a Breakthrough-level Ability User, he feared what he might become if mutated¡ªhow dangerous he¡¯d be to the team. So he quietly slipped away, climbed to the rooftop above the Zero Element Center, and now stood guard alone, watching over the train while waiting¡ªcalmly¡ªfor the mycelium to consume him. Flick-flick. Tiny flames danced on the dark rooftop. ¡°They say real gold fears no fire... and I¡¯ve been burning this thing forever, but it won¡¯t melt. Looks like even my own skills are wearing thin,¡± he said with a bitter smile, half-joking. As he gazed down at the slowly blackening bracelet, a faint tremor rippled through the air. He immediately sat upright, eyes snapping toward the dark outline of the Sky Mushroom Tower. In the distance, he saw it¡ªmassive energy filaments surging through the tower¡¯s intricate root system, climbing like pulsing veins toward the massive mushroom cap overhead. And just like that, the enormous cap¡ªtwo kilometers in diameter¡ªshuddered. Lu Xingchen rose to his feet, his expression cold and focused. He narrowed his eyes and said softly, almost reverently: ¡°Well now... interesting.¡± ¡°I could swear... I¡¯m being watched... by a damn mushroom.¡± Chapter 303: Goodbye, Brother Huo! "Fire Bro, where are you?!" Lin Xian''s voice came through the communicator. Standing atop a building in Yijin City, Lu Xingchen let out a long sigh when he heard him. He picked up his communicator and replied, "Brother Lin, I sensed some disturbances in the city. It might be related to the changes in that Fungal Tower. It''s a bad omen. You guys need to prepare yourselves¡ªthis sky, I''m afraid it''s about to change." Inside the Climbing Elevator, both KIKI and Lin Xian looked grim. "What the h*ll is he doing? Why didn¡¯t he tell us he was parasitized by mycelium sooner? Trying to be a hero on his own or what?!" KIKI, who usually loved teasing Lu Xingchen for his cringey "chosen one" complex, was now full of urgent concern. Lin Xian¡¯s face was serious. "Director Ding said the Zero Element Center''s survival pods have mycelium isolation systems. If we make it in time, that might be the only way to save Fire Bro." "Mm." KIKI nodded. "He¡¯s an Ability User¡ªhe should... have more resistance than normal people, right?" But that was only her guess. At this point, they had no other options. Their only choice was to risk it all and bring Fire Bro back. Clang. The floor of the vault opened once again. Without hesitation, KIKI grabbed Lin Xian and shot out toward the exterior. "My comm relay is only set up around this building. He shouldn''t be far." "Got it!" The two zipped through the air. As soon as they exited the bank, the thermal sensor radar on Lin Xian¡¯s Lone Wolf S Power Armor instantly picked up a signal from the rooftop. "He¡¯s up there!" Whoosh. They ascended rapidly and soon reached the rooftop of the Yijin Bank tower, where they saw Lu Xingchen standing at the edge. He looked proud, but there was a hint of melancholy in his expression¡ªas if he''d already accepted death. When Lu Xingchen saw Lin Xian and KIKI arrive, his expression shifted. He immediately raised a hand to stop them. "Brother Lin, stay back. The mycelium in my body penetrates everything. It¡¯s immune to fire. If I infect you guys too, I won¡¯t be able to die in peace." "Hey!" KIKI stepped up and snapped, "Didn¡¯t you say you had some grand destiny to ascend and become a god? So what, now you run into one problem and you¡¯re ready to off yourself? You didn¡¯t even ask us! Didn''t talk to Director Ding! Maybe we do have a way. We¡¯ve still got the Full-Support Medical Pod!" "So what¡¯s the actual situation right now? How bad is it?" Lin Xian quickly followed up. Lu Xingchen sighed softly and stood with his hands behind his back. "I¡¯m not afraid to die. I¡¯ve seen what happens to those infected by mycelium¡ªit''s incurable. Instead of rotting into a fungus-covered corpse... I''d rather¡ª" "Rather what?" Lin Xian frowned. "We just saw a woman at the Zero Element Center survive the infection. She was just a normal person. Are you saying you¡¯re weaker than a woman?" "Exactly! Just come back with us! Sister Ding might have a solution!" KIKI urged him anxiously. Lin Xian¡¯s words visibly stirred something in Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes, but he quickly snapped back with a defiant look. "It¡¯s too late. You''ve seen it¡ªthe mycelium is growing from inside me. Even my fire abilities can¡¯t burn it away." He looked toward the nearby Crown of Shadows and added, "You already saw the earlier crisis. The chaos in the city isn¡¯t over yet. And that woman¡ªTang Yun¡ªwas linked to the mycelium. Your locations, escape routes... they may all be known to those eerie creatures. Would you really want to see that happen?" "What¡¯s he trying to do?" Tang Yun asked, puzzled. "He¡¯s got a plan... but not a perfect one," Ding Junyi muttered. "What plan?" KIKI frowned. Lu Xingchen pointed dramatically toward the Fungal Tower, a gleam of resolve in his eyes. "Brother Lin, lead the convoy out of Yijin City. While you''re retreating, I¡¯ll burn that cursed tower to ash with the Flame of Apocalypse¡ªdetonate the entire filthy city. That¡¯ll draw in every Eerie Entity nearby to help cover your escape, and destroy the mycelial network that¡¯s killed hundreds of thousands. To die in flames, purging evil with heavenly fire¡ªis that not glorious?! Hahahahahaha!" Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flickered. He looked at Lu Xingchen. "You''ve really made up your mind?" "Lin Xian!" KIKI panicked, thinking he was about to give up on Fire Bro like he did with Tang Yun. Lu Xingchen nodded, then turned to face both of them. His expression softened. In a rare moment of sincerity, he said to Lin Xian: "Brother Lin, traveling with you guys... it¡¯s the most peaceful and free I¡¯ve felt since the Apocalypse began. No matter how many life-and-death battles we went through¡ªif someone needed me, I was there. I¡¯m truly grateful that you let me onboard your train, treated me as a comrade, respected my quirks, and even built me a custom tea brewer..." He looked at Lin Xian, emotion brimming in his eyes. "I¡¯ve never told anyone this before. But I... I escaped from an Ability Lab in the Crimson World¡¯s underground research facility¡ªsame as Xiao Qing and A''Bai. I don¡¯t even remember how deep I was kept. A hundred meters underground? Two hundred? I lost track of the days. What I do remember... is that the experiments were scarier than the Apocalypse itself." "Since then, I¡¯ve never wanted to be in a closed space or underground again. And now... now that I¡¯m dying, I just hope I won¡¯t be buried below. Maybe after the darkness burns away... I¡¯ll get to feel the sun again." Lin Xian finally understood. Why Lu Xingchen loved sunbathing, why he refused to go into the underground labs at Clearwater Town, why he acted so strange in tunnels... He had escaped the lab on his own. Alone. "Brother Lin, tell Brother Lou I¡¯m sorry¡ªI can¡¯t be his roommate anymore. I never really minded him clanking his weapons at night. And tell Shasha I¡¯m sorry too¡ªLu Bro can¡¯t get her a new mech now. Same to Captain Chen, Sister Shu Qin, Director Ding..." "...and KIKI." Lu Xingchen turned to her, tears streaking down his face. His voice trembled with stubborn pride. "You¡¯re a worthy rival. Fighting alongside you... has been an honor. But my fire¡ªwill never be defeated!" He dropped his usual pretentious manner. Now he wept, but still stood tall¡ªresolute and unyielding. KIKI looked torn. She opened her mouth to say something¡ªwhen Lin Xian suddenly whispered to her: "KIKI, grab him. Now!" Instantly, without hesitation, KIKI used her Ability to pin down the crying Lu Xingchen. Lin Xian launched forward with his Power Armor, dashing over in a flash. Before Lu Xingchen could react, he tore off the guy¡¯s shirt and used the built-in bio-scanner to examine him. Sure enough, Lu Xingchen¡¯s upper body and arms were covered in eerie black-blue patches. It looked terrifying! "Brother Lin, stay back! You¡¯ll get infected!" Lu Xingchen cried out, eyes bloodshot. But Lin Xian, after scanning, looked confused. He studied the torn shirt for a moment... and then furrowed his brow. "...Dude, is your thermal shirt just... bleeding dye?" Lu Xingchen froze mid-sob. "...What?" KIKI quickly flew over, grabbed a piece of the fabric, examined it¡ª "Yep. Where¡¯d you even find this garbage shirt?" "It¡¯s from the supplies we picked up," Lin Xian replied, inspecting the shirt. "The underground tunnels were super damp. I warned you yesterday. But this thing¡¯s quality is awful." "Seriously. Look at this crap. You look like a moldy cucumber." KIKI rubbed his shoulder, and a huge chunk of dye came off. "We use what we find. He liked that shirt!" Lin Xian said. "Liked it? It''s a thermal shirt, not a battle outfit." "Ugly and poor quality." The two started debating over the shirt while Lu Xingchen stood there, utterly stunned, brain melting, about to explode. "K... KIKI, could you please let me go now?" Lu Xingchen trembled, tears still on his face. "Let you go? So you can blow up the Fungal Tower?" KIKI said, hands on her hips. Lu Xingchen took a deep breath and stubbornly tried to double down. "We''re facing catastrophe! If we¡¯re retreating, then blowing the Fungal Tower is still the best move for thousands of survivors!" Lin Xian nodded seriously. "Good point. But how about we do it without you dying? Like... I don¡¯t know, building a timed bomb?" "Oh! That works!" KIKI¡¯s eyes lit up. "...Seriously?" Lu Xingchen was speechless. Back at the Zero Element Center, Director Ding Junyi had already copied all the core research data. She also took some active mycelium that was still connected to the Crimson Members¡¯ heads, placing them in a Planting Isolation Pod, and immediately returned to the train with Shu Qin and Daluo. ¡°Move out! Everyone get ready to depart!¡± ¡°Stay silent¡ªdon¡¯t fire without orders.¡± ¡°Turn off the lights, pull back the tunnel barricades!¡± ¡°Listen up¡ªeveryone follow the Infinite Train¡¯s command only!¡± ¡°!¡± Woooooo~ The engines of the Electric Locomotives began to roar. With a massive burst of synchronized power, the connected carriages started to pull each other into motion. This 15-kilometer-long Underground United Train began its early departure! Rumble! Whoosh! Clatter! At that moment, all across the subway stations¡ªthe Zero Element Center¡¯s vault, the Crimson Pharma tower, and more¡ªblack shadowy figures with flailing limbs began to appear. These Eerie Entities seemed drawn by something, sniffing out a scent, and began frantically burrowing into the ground! Beep, beep, beep! As the train rumbled away, picking up speed, the entire Fungal Tower¡¯s mycelial carpet started violently vibrating. Inside the now-empty Zero Element Center, the lights flickered on and off. Glass curtain walls shattered, shards falling down like rain toward the Hive Core below. In Survival Pod 0403, Tang Yun lay peacefully inside. The signal lights on her head flickered one last time¡ªand then went dark. At the final moment, it was as if she was smiling. Her breath and heartbeat stopped. She quietly left this hopeless world. Up above, in the skies, Lin Xian and KIKI flew at full speed toward the Fungal Tower, dragging behind them a thoroughly embarrassed and dead-silent Fire Bro. Lin Xian glanced back. The guy clearly had a pulse, but for some reason, he seemed spiritually dead. Well, to someone as prideful as Fire Bro, what just happened was basically the equivalent of Apocalypse Day. But neither Lin Xian nor KIKI had the energy to mock him now. His raw honesty before death had been truly moving¡ªand more importantly, his idea had given Lin Xian a solid plan. He had no choice now but to go all in. If they could blow up the Fungal Tower... maybe, just maybe, they could buy enough time for the team to escape. As they flew, Lin Xian started fabricating high-energy explosives on the go, all while observing the streets below. ¡°Lin Xian! Look!¡± KIKI suddenly shouted. He looked up. They had already gotten close to the Fungal Tower¡ªand it was the first time Lin Xian had ever seen it this close. His pupils contracted sharply. Billions of mycelium tendrils wrapped the tower like a colossal tree, with glowing scarlet lines pulsing inside them like data cables. At the base, the tower was connected to tens of thousands of human-mycological hybrids. From what Director Ding said, Lin Xian realized this was likely a supercomputer powered by human brains. What was it calculating? What was it trying to perceive? The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became. In that instant, Lin Xian completed dozens of high-energy timed explosives, each powerful enough to flip an armored vehicle. It was the very limit of what his Mechanical Manufacturing skill and Fabrication Center could produce! Whooosh~ Beneath the Crown of Shadows, countless spores drifted in the howling wind. Above them, wind whistled through the tower¡¯s fungal caps, whose wrinkled undersides looked like an ocean of hanging kelp¡ªslithering in the dark. An overwhelming pressure filled the air. Lin Xian called out: ¡°Hurry¡ªI¡¯ve set the timers! Scatter and toss them in!¡± KIKI nodded and used her psychic powers to hurl the timed bombs toward the root clusters of the Fungal Tower. All three of them circled the structure and scattered the bombs along its base. Meanwhile, massive shadowy figures began closing in from the city. From the cloud-choked sky, twisting eerie tentacles reached down in spirals. ¡°We¡¯re done. Let¡¯s get out of here¡ªnow!¡± The bombs were placed. Whether they¡¯d succeed was up to fate. But one thing was certain¡ªthey could not afford to be marked by the dark. As soon as the last bomb was thrown, KIKI grabbed the two guys and blasted eastward at full speed! ¡°Brother Lin... are you sure you don¡¯t want me to ignite them with Heavenly Flame?¡± Lu Xingchen asked quietly. ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Brother Lin...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t tell anyone else.¡± ¡°Thank you!! A thousand times, thank you!!!¡± Lu Xingchen¡¯s expression twisted in shame and fury. His voice trembled with vengeance. ¡°I swear¡ªI¡¯m never wearing that cursed shirt again. If I ever find out who ran that clothing factory, I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll grind his bones into¡ª¡± ¡°Alright, enough already! Look at the situation we¡¯re in!¡± KIKI glared at him, half angry, half helpless. Honestly, they¡¯d been scared to death earlier. Thank god it turned out he wasn¡¯t actually parasitized by mycelium. KIKI finally let herself breathe again. Still, thinking back to how emotional and tragic he had been... all over a cheap thermal shirt losing color? She couldn¡¯t help but snort inwardly. ¡°So long, Fire Bro. Hello... Tragic Bro.¡± RUMBLE!!! The Underground Train roared with violent power, plunging into the city subway lines. The 15-km steel beast tore through the tunnels, sending intense tremors through Yijin City. Dust flew on the streets. Sparks sprayed from the rails. Compressed air blasted out of every ventilation shaft! Everyone aboard the Infinite Train stayed silent and alert. Inside the Dragon Mountain No.1 cockpit, Shi Diyuan and Ning Jing held command. On the Sun Convoy, Li Yi comforted the children while Luo Yang and his team suited up in Power Armor, bracing for battle. As for Qian Dele, he lounged in his personal carriage with a relaxed expression. This was his first time evacuating by train¡ªup, down, wherever it went, he had no control. So there was nothing to worry about. In fact, it was kind of nice. The entire military was linked together in one convoy¡ªno separate formations, no driving, no detours. If they derailed, well... they¡¯d all derail together. Onboard the Monica Queen, Monica sat calmly in Car No. 1, monitoring all train systems and issuing commands to the rear carriages with military precision. A glass of red wine sat beside her. The luxury shock-absorption system kept the car almost completely stable¡ªthe wine in the glass barely rippled. She stared at the tail end of the Infinite Train, locked onto the Weilong-Class locomotive, deep in thought. The United Train blasted out of the underground tunnel and sped onto the city¡¯s outbound sightseeing rail line. Meanwhile, Lin Xian, KIKI, and Lu Xingchen soared eastward under a shield of psychic force, riding the gale. They had to dodge ground hazards, stay away from pitch-black areas, and avoid flying into the clouds¡ªone wrong move, and they¡¯d be marked by Eerie Entities. Under the Polar Night, even a Level-1 Mark would make Lin Xian shine like a beacon in the sky. Everyone¡¯s nerves were stretched taut. Thankfully, KIKI''s flight speed was blisteringly fast. Before long, they left Yijin City behind and reached a mountain valley. The air around them quieted. ¡°That direction is the Salt Marsh Gorge. The tracks should run in from the elevated suburban line!¡± KIKI pointed toward a faint silhouette of mountains in the night. ¡°Why¡¯s it so dark over there? Feels... super ominous,¡± Lu Xingchen muttered, squinting at the distant elevated railway. ¡°Everything¡¯s dark. And where it¡¯s darkest¡ªthat¡¯s where the Eerie Entities are.¡± Lin Xian said grimly. ¡°If the train¡¯s marked, and we can still break out of Yijin City, then we¡¯ve got a shot.¡± ¡°Only if the tracks hold,¡± KIKI added. ¡°We need a clean route out of the Polar Night zone.¡± ¡°We left earlier than expected. Judging by Abyss Zone No. 5¡¯s expansion speed, if we push full throttle, we should hit the Western Gobi in 6 to 8 hours. Then Quancheng won¡¯t be far.¡± Lu Xingchen didn¡¯t respond to their calculations. He kept staring ahead. ¡°No, I mean... is it just me, or is the sky over there too dark?¡± His repeated question finally made them look up. Sure enough, there was a sharp mountain silhouette in the northeast¡ªand it was way darker than its surroundings. Then they took a closer look... Ssshh¡ªwhoosh! KIKI slowed down, her eyes wide, jaw dropping. ¡°Lin... Lin Xian. Is that... a person?¡± Not just her. Lin Xian and Lu Xingchen¡¯s faces turned pale. Because they all saw it¡ªthat towering black silhouette shaped like a mountain... It had arms. And then¡ª BOOM!!! As the thing took a step, a deep tremor radiated for hundreds of kilometers. The mountains quaked. The very air shattered. Lin Xian felt as if a colossal humanoid mountain was swinging its arms, an overwhelming force rushing toward them. At the same time, down in the canyons and valleys, a tidal wave of monsters surged forward¡ªdriven as if by some unseen herder. They climbed mountains. They crushed towns. A black flood surged through the night like a living mudslide¡ª The Corpse Shepherds have arrived. Chapter 304: No. 5 Xingyuan Corpse Chaser The first time Lin Xian heard the term Corpse Shepherd was back when he attended a bonfire trade fair held by the Jiang Yun Organization in Qu Guan. After heading up to the high-altitude orbital rail, he had never seen a Corpse Shepherd again. But now, more and more intel suggested that the Corpse Shepherd was different from other dark entities¡ªit appeared to be humanoid. The difference was¡ªit was a giant! And it came with an overwhelming wave of eerie entities¡ªthose unnameable unknown beings that brought boundless horror! Seeing this scene, Lin Xian thought back to that time in Yubei City, when the entire city was swallowed by zombie tides and eerie beings. That could¡¯ve very well been the arrival of a Corpse Shepherd. At that moment, in the skies above the eastern hills outside Yijin City, Lin Xian, KIKI, and Lu Xingchen stared at a colossal humanoid shadow approaching like a land-born marvel¡ªtheir faces were pale with shock. ¡°What the... is that thing?!¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes widened. The sight brought her back to the horrifying scene she had once seen in the skies above Jiang City. Her little face instantly turned ghostly white. ¡°Judging by the looks of it, it might be the Corpse Shepherd Grace warned us about!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression was grim. This thing¡ªhe didn¡¯t need to guess¡ªhad to be at least an S-class unknown entity! Lu Xingchen stared at the shadow and quickly said, ¡°Not good¡ªit¡¯s heading our way. That¡¯s where the outbound track is!¡± Hearing that, Lin Xian immediately activated the scanning mode on his power armor to zoom in¡ªand sure enough, the elevated track line followed the mountain range and extended northeast! Crap! If the United Train bursts out now, wouldn¡¯t it crash straight into it?! ¡°Brother Shi! Ms. Chen!!¡± In that instant, Lin Xian felt a chill run down his spine. He slammed his finger on the communicator, but the United Train was still speeding through the underground tunnels, and the blackout distance made it impossible to get a signal through. ¡°What now?!¡± KIKI panicked. Lin Xian clenched his teeth and hardened his gaze. ¡°We have no choice¡ªwe¡¯ll draw its attention ourselves!¡± He had no other plan. All he could do was gamble on the highest risk¡ªlure that sky-scraping shadow away, then use aerial maneuvering to escape the polar night. Lin Xian knew this was a near-suicidal mission. But if the tracks were destroyed and the United Train derailed under the feet of that Corpse Shepherd, it would be true catastrophe! The three of them exchanged a determined look and nodded heavily. They had to take the risk! ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡± Lu Xingchen took a deep breath. ¡°A man must stand tall¡ªlet my flames ignite glory¡ª¡± BOOM!! Before Lu Xingchen could even finish his heroic monologue, a massive explosion suddenly erupted from behind them in Yijin City! They turned in unison¡ªonly to see a giant crimson fire pillar shooting into the sky. A strange scarlet energy morphed into a blazing white orb that rapidly expanded, illuminating a two-kilometer-wide fungal cap. Then the fireball swelled and finally detonated the massive fungal dome! ¡°Run!!¡± Tao Hao saw what happened and instantly shouted to KIKI. She raised a telekinetic barrier, and the eight of them bolted in the opposite direction from the Corpse Shepherd! BOOM! The seventh explosion followed. The colossal fungal dome suddenly contracted inward, bursting into a sky-filling flame cloud. In that instant, a mushroom cloud over seven kilometers wide erupted into the sky. The blinding white flash turned night into day! The radiation burst hadn¡¯t even finished before a massive shockwave tore through the land, scattering even the clouds above! The mushroom firestorm radiated outward. The entire city ignited like a living lava field, with flame columns hundreds of meters tall erupting from underground fissures. At its peak, the flame net suddenly constricted and sucked all the oxygen out of the city! RUMBLE!!! The shockwave slammed into Lin Xian and the others mid-flight like a sledgehammer, flinging them several kilometers away like airborne bubbles. KIKI cried out in pain, barely managing to stabilize the trio with gritted teeth. It felt like their internal organs had been punched by a hammer¡ªone second from blacking out and coughing blood. Flame tides swept across Yijin City, centered at Pu Zhong Plaza, forming a massive annihilation crater several kilometers wide. Streets and buildings within a dozen kilometers were flattened and engulfed in flames. The city burned. Explosions rang out endlessly. All those eerie entities under the dark night were instantly vaporized. Yijin City had become a sea of fire, bright enough to light the sky. At the same time, the United Train racing underground suddenly felt a colossal tremor. The tunnel floor surged like a rippling canal, and massive clouds of dust and debris poured down! On the Infinite Train, over thirty crew members were slammed into walls or the floor. Chaos erupted on the other trains¡ªscreams and panic. ¡°AHHHHH!!¡± ¡°The tunnel¡¯s collapsing!¡± ¡°We¡¯re doomed!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stop! Keep going!!¡± ¡°Was that a meteor?!¡± ¡°Run!¡± As over four thousand people braced for doom, Dragon Mountain No. 1 finally burst out of the surface and merged onto the sightseeing rail, charging forward through a trail of fire. Thankfully, most were suited up, preventing more serious injuries. Behind them, the collapsing terrain buried many train cars under dirt and rubble. But since the United Train had already reached top speed, those cars were yanked out of the tunnels just in time! Elsewhere, Lin Xian and the others, still reeling from the blast, hovered in the air staring at the enormous mushroom cloud that hadn''t yet dissipated. Their faces were grave. Lin Xian hadn¡¯t expected the Sky Mushroom Tower¡¯s explosion to be this terrifying. They had already left the city¡ªat least 40 to 50 kilometers away. If not for KIKI¡¯s telekinetic shield, even their Breakthrough-level powers might¡¯ve been obliterated. The blast was more terrifying than a nuke. Fearfully, Lin Xian immediately worried about the United Train. Beneath the flame-washed sky, he looked for a direction¡ª ¡°Brother Lin, look!¡± Fire Bro¡ªshirtless¡ªsuddenly shouted. Lin Xian and KIKI looked over and saw that, under the firelight, the Corpse Shepherd had finally revealed its terrifying form: a massive humanoid figure, its head adorned with octopus-like tentacles. Under the night sky, it was unspeakably grotesque. It stood amidst the mountain valleys, tentacles slowly writhing, its mummified skin making it look like a god from a twisted world. After the explosion in Yijin City, it seemed to sense something strange. It turned toward the blast site. The tentacles on its body began thrashing wildly, releasing an earth-shaking hum! Then¡ªits massive leg stepped forward. Boom! The Corpse Shepherd turned, moving away from the United Train¡¯s track. Each step thundered through the earth¡ªbut then came something even stranger. With each step, its gigantic body began fading, as if it were walking into another dimension¡ªuntil it completely vanished! ¡°It... disappeared?¡± Lu Xingchen stared in disbelief. He had just started to celebrate their narrow escape, only to see the monster vanish into thin air. Lin Xian and KIKI were just as stunned. There was no explaining it. Lin Xian gulped hard, feeling all the hair on his body stand on end. In the firelight, he saw a steel train rushing along the elevated rail in the distance¡ª ¡°They made it! Quick¡ªwe need to catch up!¡± He couldn¡¯t explain it, but this Corpse Shepherd left a suffocating pressure in its wake. Its sudden disappearance was even creepier. It reminded him of the white giant monster he¡¯d seen back in Jiang City. The same unsettling feeling. But these creatures were supposed to come with the Dark Mark and the night. So how did this Corpse Shepherd exist? Could something that big actually turn invisible? He didn¡¯t want to think too much. All he wanted now was to get back on the train and race out of the polar night. With their current knowledge, they had no way of understanding what they were seeing¡ªlet alone fighting it. All they could do was run. Click-clack! Ding-ding! Beneath fire and shadow, the 15-kilometer-long United Train charged forward like an unstoppable iron dragon¡ªblazing through the collapsing Yijin City. Inside the 500-plus carriages, countless passengers were injured. Almost everyone had been hurt by the earlier shockwave and quake¡ªsome with ruptured eardrums, damaged lungs, or severe physical trauma from being tossed around. The air was thick with cries and groans as uninjured crew members scrambled to treat the wounded and clean up the shattered debris scattered across the train. On the Infinite, everyone was at least wearing protective power armor, which had built-in shock absorption systems, so they were slightly better off¡ªthough still badly jostled. The living areas were a complete mess. The Sun Train, Joker Convoy, Monica Queen, and Dragon Mountain No. 1 were all in similar shape. That colossal explosion had nearly annihilated an entire city¡ªit felt like even the heavens had been blown open. From the midsection onward, the rear cars were buried under rubble and dirt, as if dug out from the ground. Fortunately, the armor-clad steel train had withstood the damage without derailment¡ªan unbelievable stroke of luck. The United Train raced through the valleys at the outskirts of the city, picking up speed. From the sky, KIKI carried Lin Xian and Fire Bro at high speed, finally catching up just as the train merged onto the northern mainline. Because of the Sky Mushroom Tower¡¯s explosion, the Corpse Shepherd and eerie entities had all rushed toward Yijin City. The United Train had narrowly missed the incoming tide of monsters and slipped into the safety of darkness. Lin Xian turned his head for a final glance. Yijin City still burned behind them, flames piercing the sky. The explosions and humming noises lingered, but as they moved farther away, those sounds gradually faded. He let out a breath he didn¡¯t even know he¡¯d been holding. That was too close. He glanced at Fire Bro¡ªwho¡¯d come up with the insane idea to blow up the tower¡ªand realized that somehow, miraculously, that decision had bought the United Train its only chance at survival. Lin Xian didn¡¯t dare imagine what might have happened if the explosion hadn¡¯t occurred. The Corpse Shepherd and monster horde would have met them head-on¡ªit would¡¯ve been a massacre. At the same time, Lin Xian wondered¡ªif Tang Yun hadn¡¯t sacrificed herself, triggering the fungal tower¡¯s reaction, would the Corpse Shepherd have eventually discovered the United Train hidden beneath the city? ¡°Ms. Chen, Director Ding¡ªwe¡¯re in the air. We''re going to check if any of us are marked with the Dark Mark,¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice came through on Chen Sixuan¡¯s communicator. Her tense expression instantly softened as she quickly replied, ¡°Got it¡ªCarriage 2, opening the rooftop hatch now!¡± Ding Junyi rushed over with Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum in tow. KIKI, still airborne, carried Lin Xian and Fire Bro straight back into the carriage. Using Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum and Lin Xian¡¯s Eerie Cube, the scan confirmed that none of the three were marked with darkness. Lu Xingchen also showed no signs of fungal infection. Honestly, Lin Xian had never told the team about the Eerie Cube, but thanks to Fire Bro¡¯s blunder and Tang Yun¡¯s sacrifice, this unlikely series of events had given the United Train its one and only chance of escape. ¡°That was way too close. What the hell happened up there? Why did you guys have to evacuate from the sky?¡± Tao Hao asked with deep concern. The core team aboard the Infinite quickly gathered. Everyone saw Lin Xian returning with his lower body bare, clothing shredded except for some cloth tied around his neck. He looked utterly disheveled, with faint bluish-white traces on his body that resembled mycelial veins. Julius Litt¡¯s face darkened as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s my fault...¡± KIKI let out a long sigh. Yijin City¡¯s rep, looking pale as a sheet, swallowed nervously. KIKI shot him a warning glance, then helplessly explained, ¡°Fire Bro wanted to make sure you all could evacuate safely, so he came up with a plan¡ªto blow up the Sky Mushroom Tower and lure the monsters away.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Shasha asked in amazement. ¡°Yup,¡± Julius nodded with a proud grin but stayed serious. ¡°We coordinated it. It was risky¡ªFire Bro nearly died.¡± Hearing that, the pale-faced Yijin City rep suddenly looked flushed again, eyes filled with overwhelming gratitude as he looked at them like they were saviors. ¡°Wow!!¡± Shasha¡¯s eyes sparkled. She looked at Lu Xingchen with admiration. ¡°Fire Bro, you¡¯re amazing! That explosion was all you?!¡± ¡°Thank you. You saved all of us,¡± Chen Sixuan said, her face full of gratitude. ¡°That was insane!¡± Daluo gave a big thumbs-up, stunned. ¡°Bro, you blew up a whole damn city. Respect.¡± ¡°You¡¯re awesome!¡± Shu Qin chimed in. ¡°You did that just for us?! You bombed the entire mushroom tower? Oh my god,¡± Miao Lu said, nearly in tears with admiration. Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes gleamed under all the praise, but he quickly put on a humble face. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a small move on my part¡ªdanger turned to safety.¡± Lin Xian and KIKI exchanged a look. Even though the idea wasn¡¯t entirely his, it had indeed saved them all. So, they let him have the moment. ¡°Alright, the shockwave was massive. Is anyone injured? Let¡¯s check the trains ASAP¡ªwe¡¯ve got to keep pushing out of the polar night zone.¡± Lin Xian quickly gave orders and began syncing updates with the other convoys. ¡°What?! You blew up the mushroom tower? I thought a nuke went off!¡± Shi Diyuan cursed through the communicator. But after hearing how close they were to disaster, his tone grew serious. ¡°Holy sh*t... we were almost monster chow, weren¡¯t we?!¡± ¡°Corpse Shepherd?¡± Ning Jing¡¯s tone turned heavy. ¡°Looks like the intel was right. They usually show up on the edges of the Abyss and dark tides.¡± ¡°Captain Lin, we¡¯re all fine. We were wearing power armor, but our carriage is a mess. Some armor got dented, windows shattered,¡± Luo Yang reported urgently. Lin Xian quickly checked in with Li Yi¡ªwho was pregnant and surrounded by children. As soon as the comm opened, a cacophony came through¡ªchildren crying, chaotic noise. In the Sun Train¡¯s rear cars, former members of the Running Far Convoy were rushing to carry the wounded and fix damages. The women in logistics were gathering scattered supplies, while Li Yi, in Carriage 1, tended to the children. Many of the kids were injured¡ªheads bleeding¡ªbut the older ones, though in pain, didn¡¯t cry. Only the younger ones sobbed quietly. Years of post-apocalyptic survival had taught them to stay silent, to endure. No loud crying. ¡°There, there... it doesn¡¯t hurt. Just keep your voices down. The monsters outside might hear you.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm...¡± Li Yi, holding her belly, gently wiped a little girl¡¯s forehead with alcohol. The pain made the girl shrink her neck, tears dripping down her cheeks, but she bit her lip, refusing to scream. ¡°Captain Lin, it was just a scare. No major injuries. Don¡¯t worry,¡± she reported back. ¡°I¡¯m good. Some teammates got scrapes, but nothing major,¡± Qian Dele of the Joker Convoy replied calmly, sounding like nothing fazed him. ¡°Knew following you was the right choice again. Owe you a drink.¡± ¡°I knew it¡ªnever wrong following Captain Lin!¡± Monica from Car 1 of the Monica Queen was listening in. The more she learned about Lin Xian, the more curious and intrigued she became. In a world like this¡ªespecially for a woman¡ªmany hoped for a savior to appear. And to her, Lin Xian increasingly felt like just that. From the blizzard-night entrance to Xilan City, to stepping up in times of crisis, his presence kept reappearing during the bleakest moments. Leader. Savior. Hero. Words like these were being quietly etched into Lin Xian¡¯s identity, through the awe-filled conversations of others. Monica wasn¡¯t surprised. She swirled her wine glass and looked toward the Infinite, smiling with a touch of charm. Once all convoys reported in, Lin Xian finally allowed himself to relax. Most injuries were internal trauma, concussions, ruptured eardrums, vomiting, and fainting¡ªbut so far, no reported deaths. A miracle, considering the magnitude of the disaster. Due to the number of injuries, Lin Xian immediately reminded all convoys to stay alert for signs of Dark Invasion. The fact that the United Train had escaped Yijin City was a victory¡ªand this good news had to be shared with everyone to maintain faith in reaching dawn. DONG¡ªDONG¡ª The black United Train roared through the hilly Gobi under the polar night. The moonlight was a thin silver veil over the wilderness. The train¡¯s wheels clanged against the twisted tracks, and the rolling hills looked like the backs of sleeping beasts. No trees¡ªjust scattered desert thorns and dry brush. Windblown grass rustled like whispers in the night. Wind swept in from the Gobi, carrying fine sand across the carriages, making the metal surfaces whine faintly. Since the apocalypse, there were no insects, no streams¡ªonly the clash of gravel and steel, wind whispering over the cliffs. A mournful nocturne woven into the desolation. The United Train dashed ahead for two hours, during which each carriage buzzed with activity, tension, and unease. As they entered deeper into the Gobi, the view broadened¡ªno eerie beings, no zombies¡ªonly the wind and sand. And at last, people began to believe¡ªthey had escaped! The tension among the 4,000+ passengers finally started to ease. Slowly, the panic from the Yijin City explosion faded. ¡°We¡¯ve checked¡ªno one¡¯s marked. We¡¯re in full stealth mode now,¡± KIKI confirmed in Car 2. She had just finished a full aerial scan with Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum and A¡¯Bai from Dragon Mountain No. 1. After confirming twice, Lin Xian finally breathed easier. ¡°Good. You rest now. That explosion¡¯s shockwave must¡¯ve taken a toll on you,¡± Lin Xian told her. KIKI stretched with a yawn. ¡°Not bad. We were far enough away, plus my shield did its job.¡± Actually, it wasn¡¯t just her. Despite the quake, so many people had survived because the apocalypse trains were solid, the explosion was distant, and¡ªthirdly¡ªeveryone on board had undergone some form of evolution due to the dark powers. Even little Shasha could now wield a Roarer Gatling Gun one-handed. That said it all. Chapter 305: Western Gobi Desert The wind howled, and grit scraped across the ground. Beneath the black night sky, the vast Gobi wasteland stretched endlessly as a steel train steadily rumbled forward. The only sound left was the grinding of metal wheels against the tracks. Until they fully escaped the Polar Night, the train didn¡¯t slow down for a second, racing headlong beneath the shroud of darkness. ¡°At our current speed, we should be able to exit the range of the Abyss Zone No. 5¡¯s Polar Night in about five hours. But the thing is, even once we''re out, based on the timeline, we¡¯ll still be in the middle of the night and the Dark Tides. We''ll have to wait for the tides to pass¡ªdaylight should come around 9 a.m.¡± Inside the Infinite Train¡¯s cockpit, Chen Sixuan ran calculations on the track map and navigation system, then turned to Lin Xian and said, ¡°This is based on the Phoenix¡¯s estimated expansion speed of Abyss Zone No. 5. The actual situation might differ a little.¡± Lin Xian nodded at her words. ¡°As long as the tracks stay clear and we¡¯re in stealth mode right now, there¡¯s not much to worry about.¡± Chen Sixuan closed the travel logbook and said to Lin Xian, ¡°I get your concern about the tracks, but this isn''t something we can rush. Honestly, things are already way better than we expected when we first left Jiang City.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because we¡¯re not the only ones fleeing by train,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Eerie Entities and zombies don¡¯t destroy railways for no reason. We¡¯ve run into three track crises so far¡ªtwo of them were man-made. And since it¡¯s been less than a hundred days since Apocalypse Day, the tracks haven¡¯t suffered much damage yet. But give it time, who knows.¡± Of the three track incidents, one happened in Tang Hai, one in Yijin City, and the other occurred just before they reached Underground City No. 9, when the tracks were destroyed by tentacles from Atmospheric Mica. From past experience, zombies and Eerie Entities marked by the darkness usually only attack humans during the tides. Even when they destroy buildings, it¡¯s with the intent of harming people. Plus, modern Planetary Orbital Rails and high-speed tracks were built to incredibly high standards, so for the most part, traveling has been smooth. Besides, their convoy wasn¡¯t the only one taking this route¡ªother teams must also have ways to repair tracks. ¡°Our train team is going to expand eventually,¡± Lin Xian leaned back, hands behind his head. ¡°This issue¡¯s gotta be handled sooner or later.¡± Leading the charge was the Dragon Mountain No. 1, which had a team specifically for scouting track conditions, radar systems, and both Shi Diyuan and Ning Jing onboard. That meant Lin Xian¡¯s team and the trains behind them could take it a bit easier. Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°So, we¡¯re heading south from Quancheng to Luling, then to Jinhai, and finally Dawn City, right?¡± ¡°Depends on how it goes,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Jinhai is home to the Dragon Nation Rolling Stock Group. They¡¯ve got plenty of train loading bays. Lots of Doomsday convoys go there. I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a huge industry in train modifications there¡ªprobably includes that Linglong Group.¡± ¡°And Fengge Group too,¡± Chen Sixuan added. ¡°Didn¡¯t Shen Yao from the North Wind Alliance mention that before? Jian Xuwei from the Silver Star was looking for us. After they came down from the High-Altitude Corridor, they were likely heading along the Orbital Rail toward Dawn City.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll deal with it when we get there.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll probably split from the other convoys at Quancheng,¡± said Chen Sixuan. ¡°They¡¯re all heading north, trying to catch up with the Dawn Center.¡± Lin Xian closed his eyes slightly, his face weary. ¡°I know. Once we pass Quancheng, we¡¯ll have the longest stretch of daylight ahead of us.¡± It had been a non-stop death race, and he was exhausted in every sense. If they could make it past Quancheng, only Abyss Zones No. 6 and 8 had rapid expansion rates, and both were still far from Jinhai and Dawn City. As the central hub of the Dragon Nation, that region had become a massive migration zone where survivors from all over were converging¡ªan overwhelming flood of convoys and organizations scrambling to escape. But that patch of daylight would also be humanity¡¯s last and longest. Once Abyss Zones 6 and 8 merged, the total of 13 Abyss Zones on Blue Planet would nearly blanket the entire world. Until the Polar Doomsday Center was completely consumed, only 400 days would remain! Chen Sixuan gently wiped the dried blood from Lin Xian¡¯s nose and mouth with a damp towel¡ªthe aftermath of shockwaves from earlier impacts. As she looked at his weary face, the firmness in her eyes softened into tenderness. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, leaned forward, and offered a gentle kiss. ¡°You... need some rest.¡± Blushing slightly, she rose and pressed the cockpit door''s close button. Before the door shut, she tied her hair into a loose ponytail, then leaned forward again, pouring all her warmth into Lin Xian. Hong Wei hadn¡¯t expected that elementary school teacher of old to become so bold now. Her heart fluttered, and her entire body began to relax. Wrapped in that gentleness, half her exhaustion faded away. Though Ms. Chen was a bit awkward in her movements, she gave it her all¡ªno rush, no hesitation. Her soft breaths and quiet murmurs sent tingles to Lin Xian¡¯s ears and stirred a rising heat in his chest and abdomen. Just as he was about to sit up, Hong Wei Xiang gently pressed him back down, lifting her head with a look as gentle as water yet touched with cool determination. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me handle it.¡± She stood, slipped out of everything, bit her lip, and leaned down once more. ¡°All that pressure we¡¯ve been carrying... we don¡¯t have to bear it alone anymore. From now on, no matter life or death, we¡¯ll face it together.¡± Cradling Lin Xian¡¯s face between her palms, she moved with a rhythmic grace, her voice soft and soothing. Warmth surged through Lin Xian¡¯s chest, loosening the tension that had been wound so tight within him. He couldn¡¯t help but wrap his arms around Ms. Chen¡¯s waist, burying himself in her comforting scent. Inside the Infinite Train¡¯s cockpit, waves of exhaustion and tenderness surged like tides¡ªpassion interwoven with quiet breeze¡ªstirring, wild, and more exhilarating than any dopamine rush the Mycelial Network could offer. Afterward, Lin Xian felt completely refreshed. Ever since that encounter with the Corpse Shepherd, he hadn¡¯t been too worried about common Eerie Entities appearing in the night. His mindset had toughened up significantly. In Carriage No. 1, inside the sleeping cabin, Lin Xian had taken a shower. Ms. Chen had already drifted off to sleep peacefully. Since this stretch through the Polar Night Zone was still ongoing, Lin Xian planned to stand watch himself. Once they were out, he¡¯d rest up and let Chen Sixuan take command. After closing the cabin door, he activated the 20 Thunder Falcon 2000 Attack Drones¡ªa major gain from their time trapped in Yijin City. He had long wanted to build attack drones, but lacking remote mechanical control ability, he was previously limited to manually guiding small units loaded with explosives¡ªnot exactly ideal in combat. It made him feel like a joke in the face of real threats. Now, not only could he directly control machines remotely, these Thunder Falcon Drones were far superior to earlier rotor models. Equipped with Hall Thrusters, they were extremely fast, highly maneuverable, armored, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªeach came with an Arc Pulse Cannon. Lin Xian raised a hand, and with a low whoosh, the 20 spherical drones took off in unison, hovering in a perfect circle in front of him. Their red lights glowed ominously, forming a mechanical halo that was nothing short of spectacular. He flicked his finger, and under his precise command, the drones shifted into an S-formation¡ªthen instantly into a B¡ªflawless and synchronized. Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°If I build 200... no, 2000 of these, wouldn¡¯t I basically be the queen of a mechanical swarm?!¡± ¡°S**t! Now that¡¯s what I call Mechanical Deus Ex Machina!¡± Just imagining a sky swarming with drones unleashing a barrage of fire made his scalp tingle. ¡°Wait¡ªwhat if I combine a few and mount them onto my power armor? I could fly!¡± ¡°F**k yeah! I¡¯m a genius!¡± He grew more and more excited. He decided to swap out his Lone Wolf S Power Armor and build a Black Hawk Silent Hunter¡ªa Stealth Wolf-Class Suit. He¡¯d seen its capabilities in the hands of both Chen Sixuan and Ding Junyi. It was fully enclosed and, though not capable of full flight, had micro-thrusters that allowed low-altitude gliding¡ªeasily scaling buildings hundreds of meters tall. With a few of his own tweaks, Lin Xian was confident he could boost mobility to the next level. He wouldn''t have to rely on KIKI for lift anymore¡ªmobility would skyrocket! At that moment, he opened his R&D dashboard. [G3 Electromagnetic Railgun (Blueprint) ¨C In Development: 16 hours 29 minutes remaining] ¡°New blueprint¡¯s almost done...¡± Even though he was hyped for the railgun upgrade, he decided to build a basic G3 Railgun in Carriage No. 5 first. The newer the tech, the more complex it became to manufacture. He could build a Black Hawk, but there was no way he had the bandwidth to mass-produce suits for the entire convoy. He figured that equipping the team with Lone Wolf S suits was already a big leap¡ªfar better than what he¡¯d initially planned with the TRP system. No need to rush into overkill. He also planned to continue work on the 1130 CIWS and G3 Railgun, but that would wait until after Sun Train was integrated into the convoy. Manufacturing would then depend on the new car layouts. For now, he paused even the Auto Bullet Pressing Machine¡ªfocusing instead on repairing the train after the recent quakes. Plus, he wanted to check how Grace¡¯s system overwrite was progressing. Eventually, he could assign her to assist with blueprint implementation and design. Another matter on his mind was his Power Surge skill. To upgrade it with Mechanical Amplification, he needed to devour a 300-megawatt-class nuclear power unit. But right now, only Dragon Mountain No. 1 and Monica Queen trains had such high-output engines. He couldn¡¯t just steal someone else¡¯s life support system¡ªand even if he had one, using it for skill upgrades would hurt like hell. Not worth it yet. Other than Power Surge, the only skill he hadn¡¯t maxed out yet was Backlash, which remained at: Backlash (Rare) ¨C Level 2, 50% ¡°Once we join up with the Sun Convoy, I¡¯ll build a missile carriage and recreate that MIK-66 Rotating Arm Missile Rack from my scan.¡± As he planned all this, he walked toward the rear carriages, casually using his Mechanical Heart to scan the car structure and repair any minor damages. But honestly, the new Composite Armor was so tough that there wasn¡¯t much to fix¡ªa relief. He stepped into Carriage No. 2. The darkened carriage was illuminated only by the soft blue glow from KIKI¡¯s information center. Shasha was already fast asleep in her bunk, while KIKI sat cross-legged in her swivel chair, a lollipop tucked in the corner of her mouth, eyes focused on her computer screen. ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Lin Xian walked over and asked in a low voice. ¡°Not that fast,¡± KIKI replied, her ten fingers flying across the keyboard as she sucked on the candy. ¡°These computers don¡¯t have enough processing power. It¡¯s going to take a while to parse Grace¡¯s data. There¡¯s no rushing it.¡± ¡°Yeah, I figured.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°When we get the chance, I¡¯ll upgrade your setup.¡± ¡°Pfft, dream on. Do you even understand what an 8192-core quantum computer means?¡± KIKI spun around in her chair and pointed her lollipop at him. ¡°That kind of computing power could run the entire Oceanic Rail Operation Unit¡ªit¡¯s even stronger than the Yubei Spaceport¡¯s Climbing Elevator System. You think you can just get one of those?¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°Well... don¡¯t we already have one?¡± KIKI rolled her eyes at him but then changed her tone, musing aloud. ¡°Come to think of it, this Crimson World must really be something. They actually installed a brain like Grace in a cryo-center like that... and she¡¯s probably just a simplified offline version.¡± Her implication was clear¡ªif there¡¯s one Grace, there are likely more, and some might be even more powerful. Lin Xian understood and exhaled slowly. ¡°If it was just a fake center for show, it wouldn¡¯t need a machine like that. But Director Ding did say those fungal threads might actually be able to upload human consciousness and use the brain as a computing node. Which means, yeah, this stuff isn''t just some scam for rich people. It¡¯s serious tech.¡± KIKI nodded. ¡°Makes sense. But you better let me finish the overwrite before powering her on. If Grace wakes up now, and the system rewrite isn¡¯t done, she could become a major threat.¡± ¡°No worries,¡± Lin Xian said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll leave her to you. You take care of it.¡± Right now, Grace¡¯s command was to protect the Zero Element Center¡ªbut with the center destroyed, there was no telling what she¡¯d do if she rebooted. She could even trigger some kind of hostile protocol. Lin Xian had already secretly cut off her energy transmission module with his Mechanical Ability. Without physically repairing it, nobody could power her back on. But KIKI immediately waved her hands. ¡°No way¡ªI don¡¯t want her here!¡± ¡°What, are you scared too?¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± KIKI glanced at Shasha sleeping nearby. ¡°But if you leave her here, that little one¡¯s never gonna fall asleep.¡± ¡°Fine, fine...¡± Lin Xian chuckled. He understood¡ªGrace came from the Descent Faction, had extremely advanced AI, and a disturbingly human appearance. The crew¡¯s unease around her was natural. He turned to leave, but KIKI suddenly stretched out her leg, blocking his path. Her eyes fixed on him. ¡°Wait. I¡¯ve got something to ask you.¡± Before she could even finish, Lin Xian grinned, cupped her cheeks, and gave her a quick kiss on her lollipop-flavored lips. ¡°There. A little reward.¡± Caught off guard, KIKI¡¯s face flushed bright red. She instantly kicked Lin Xian away, shouting in exasperation. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, you perv!¡± Lin Xian scratched his head, laughing awkwardly. ¡°Oh. So... what were you gonna say?¡± KIKI¡¯s chest rose and fell quickly. She shot him a sharp glare, then turned around, typed a quick command, and brought up an image on the screen. ¡°This. I want you to make this for me.¡± Lin Xian looked at the blueprint. It seemed to be a kind of cold weapon¡ªa blade shaped like a phoenix wing. Oddly, though, it had no handle. Both ends were sharpened, and there was nowhere to grip it. It looked more like a double-edged throwing blade than a knife. ¡°What is this?¡± Lin Xian frowned. ¡°A blade?¡± ¡°It¡¯s something I came up with,¡± KIKI explained. ¡°I found the base design in the old Federation database. It¡¯s an outdated mech weapon prototype¡ªa retractable spinning blade. The design was scrapped.¡± Lin Xian looked puzzled. He didn¡¯t get what she was planning. KIKI seemed to anticipate his confusion and explained further. ¡°Remember when we did that Phoenix ability test, and Wen Zhuo talked about power development? I¡¯ve been thinking about that ever since. My ability¡¯s mostly functional¡ªnot very offensive. I¡¯ve made that large-scale shockwave before, but it drains a ton of energy.¡± ¡°So I thought... maybe cold weapons are better for me. If you can make these blades, I can control them with telekinesis. They¡¯ll be deadly, reusable, and the energy cost on my end will be lower. One stone, four birds! Pretty smart, right?¡± Lin Xian finally understood, though he frowned slightly. ¡°Four birds? What¡¯s the fourth?¡± KIKI giggled, turned around, and trapped Lin Xian between her smooth legs, smiling mischievously. ¡°I want you to make me a hundred sets!¡± She suddenly struck a martial pose, slicing through the air like a kung fu master. ¡°I¡¯ll control them all at once¡ªturn them into a storm of blades to slice through monster hordes! For defense, they¡¯ll form a dragon-scale shield¡ªimpenetrable! That¡¯s the fourth bird: offense, defense, efficiency, and style!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes lit up. Leave it to this girl to come up with something so cool. Her telekinetic control had grown a lot stronger lately, and this method really would amplify her damage potential. Plus, the blades could be reused. Even if one got broken, Lin Xian could just make her a new one. Definitely more efficient than using shockwaves alone. Only downside? High-level Eerie Entities had ridiculous defense. Even Lin Xian struggled to cut through them with his Electric Blade sometimes. So she¡¯d still need to mix in shockwaves and focused telekinetic slashes for tougher targets. ¡°Brilliant idea,¡± Lin Xian said, nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll build you a hundred sets. I¡¯ll also design a special auto-deploy container and mount it on the train¡¯s roof. You can just summon them when you need them.¡± KIKI¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Yes! That¡¯s exactly what I wanted¡ªmmph!¡± Before she could finish, Lin Xian sneak-attacked her again¡ªplanting another kiss on her soft lips before darting away. ¡°Hey! You¡ªyou¡ª!¡± KIKI shouted at the back of the retreating rascal, teeth clenched in mock rage. But her eyes sparkled with a tiny flicker of joy. ¡°Such a jerk...¡± Lin Xian couldn¡¯t help but smile. This brat really was adorable. Beneath the loudmouth sass, she was fiercely tough and incredibly smart¡ªa true genius girl, scarred but strong from all she¡¯d been through. Yeah, she could be bratty and stubborn, and... okay, totally flat-chested, but none of that mattered to him. Their bond had grown stronger through every life-or-death battle¡ªand though she still blushed and played hard to get, always ducking into dark corners or pretending to fix her lip gloss, Lin Xian knew they both saw through the act. In Carriage No. 3, as per protocol, all train lights were off¡ªbut Ding Junyi still had a small desk lamp on. Under its soft glow, she was carefully observing the fungal sample she had brought back from the Zero Element Center using a set of lab instruments. When Lin Xian stepped into the carriage, Ding Junyi happened to look up. ¡°You look exhausted. You should get some rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait until we¡¯re out of the Polar Night Zone,¡± Lin Xian replied, a bit surprised¡ªthat wasn¡¯t the kind of thing Ding Junyi usually said. She set down her tools, turned to face him, and spoke with quiet seriousness. ¡°The idea that the Mycelial Network can upload human consciousness has given me some serious pause. It suggests that Dark Entities may understand humans far better than we thought. While we study the darkness... the darkness is studying us.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sharpened, and he murmured, ¡°When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.¡± Ding Junyi raised her brows slightly. ¡°There¡¯s another thing. As Mycelial Networks and the Sky Mushroom Towers are both unique lifeforms capable of parsing human thoughts, their extreme vulnerability to fire seems too convenient. That kind of fatal weakness compared to their potential value doesn¡¯t add up¡ªit¡¯s suspiciously unbalanced.¡± ¡°You mean... they shouldn¡¯t be that easy to destroy?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Lin Xian frowned slightly. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because we¡¯re deep inside the Polar Night Zone, which is basically their territory. That might explain¡ª¡± ¡°If that¡¯s your logic,¡± Ding Junyi interrupted, ¡°then the Corpse Shepherd you saw might be a form of internal defense mechanism¡ªpart of their protective system. And our destruction of the tower? Probably just a fluke.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s also possible that humanity simply lacks understanding of what¡¯s happening within the Polar Night. There¡¯s a serious information gap. After all, in the face of Dark Entities, we humans are still incredibly small. Being able to blow up a Sky Mushroom Tower in their territory? That was probably a one-in-a-million thing.¡± ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying now.¡± ¡°There¡¯s one more thing that might interest you.¡± Ding Junyi moved to the side of the lab station. There were two Plant Cultivation Chambers there¡ªone containing a Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, the other holding a Silver Dragon Ten-Thousand-Strand. Oddly enough, the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum looked noticeably bigger than before. Even stranger, the Silver Dragon Ten-Thousand-Strand had grown significantly taller than its previous silver-white sprout form. At the middle of its stem, a white flower bud had emerged¡ªglowing faintly with an eerie light. Chapter 306: Where did you get this chain? Seeing the mutation of the Blood Scourge Flora, Lin Xian''s expression turned serious. He immediately stepped forward and asked in a deep voice, ¡°How long has this been going on?¡± ¡°Within the last 24 hours.¡± Ding Junyi said, ¡°It¡¯s obvious the Blood Scourge Flora grows extremely fast under the Polar Night.¡± Lin Xian replied, ¡°Is that why the Blood Scourge only appears during the Polar Night?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°What¡¯s clear is that the Blood Scourge has adapted to a certain ecological condition specific to the Polar Night¡ªmost directly, the power of the Dark Invasion. I exposed both of these specimens to that environment after removing them from the train for observation.¡± Lin Xian felt a chill rise in his chest. If that were the case, didn¡¯t the presence of the Eerie Cube end up hindering the growth of both Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum and Silver Dragon Ten-Thousand Error? But then again, what choice did he have? He couldn¡¯t possibly risk the safety of the entire train just to accelerate the growth of these plants by exposing everyone to the Dark Invasion. In fact, the reason the crew of the Infinite Train progressed faster than other survivors and had a better mindset was largely thanks to the Eerie Cube. Without its ability to shield against fear energy, they would''ve been defenseless when that cursed Dark Radio hit them. If not for his mechanical ability, they''d all be trapped in that 1542 frequency. ¡°Maybe we can try storing the flora in a rear carriage when not under study...¡± The Eerie Cube¡¯s range was limited. Lin Xian figured that when Ding Junyi wasn¡¯t actively researching them, she could place the specimens in the nuclear-powered rear car to test the effects. Thinking this through, he turned to her. ¡°After maturing, do these flora develop any new traits?¡± Ding Junyi replied, ¡°As for the Chrysanthemum, nothing significant yet. Perhaps its dark-energy conversion efficiency has improved. But ever since we left Xilan City, I¡¯ve noticed a considerable boost in the crew¡¯s physical stats. With the Phoenix''s Peak Power Detector, we¡¯ll get a more accurate reading. For now, it¡¯s still speculation. As for the Silver Dragon Ten-Thousand Error...¡± She glanced at the strange white bud and said, ¡°Now that it¡¯s blooming, there must be traits emerging. But we¡¯ll only know for sure once it fully opens, maybe under specific conditions.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Xian nodded, feeling hopeful. The Blood Scourge Flora held massive potential for the entire train. Even the Phoenix had prioritized it in their research. The Nightwalkers'' Division Two¡ªthe Polar Night Division¡ªwas tasked with deep Polar Night exploration, starfield studies, and hunting these rare flora. Division Two also happened to be the smallest but most elite Nightwalkers team, boasting the best gear and overwhelming combat strength, all designed to maximize survival in the Polar Night. The intel they gathered could directly influence humanity¡¯s future. Looking at the evolving flora, Lin Xian felt more grounded. Thank goodness Ding Junyi was on board leading the research. She¡¯d provided vital data that could increase their chances of survival dramatically. He had initially planned to hire a plant specialist for the vegetation carriage, but while that didn¡¯t work out, this cold, genius biology professor with a plant-based ability had practically become his divine blessing. Lin Xian glanced around the research car. Nothing seemed damaged by the earlier tremors, except for a few shattered test tubes and glassware on the lab table. The sight made Lin Xian¡¯s heart skip a beat. ¡°Crap! We¡¯ve got tons of stuff in the cultivation pods back in Car 4!¡± ¡°Relax,¡± Ding Junyi responded calmly without even looking up. ¡°Only two old lab jars cracked. The polycarbonate ones you had built are still intact.¡± Lin Xian froze mid-step, then sighed in relief. ¡°Phew. For a second there, I thought our veggie garden got wrecked.¡± ¡°You always get like this when you¡¯re worried.¡± ¡°He should take a break,¡± Qiu Yi let out a long sigh and turned to Chen Sixuan. ¡°Don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s tired.¡± Chen Sixuan didn¡¯t even bother to respond directly. Qiu Yi turned to see Tang Chunya watching him, hands in her pockets, a subtle smile on her face. His heart skipped. ¡°Something¡¯s off...¡± he mumbled quickly. ¡°He pulled an all-nighter at the Zero Element Center too. Let him rest. It¡¯s still the Polar Night¡ªwe just need someone to stay on watch.¡± Ding Junyi suddenly stepped forward and looked up at Lin Xian with her calm, intellectual gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve mastered a new trick. Want to see it?¡± A new trick? Whoa, that was direct. Lin Xian¡¯s face twitched¡ªwas her M-side acting up again? He quickly waved it off. ¡°Let¡¯s wait till you¡¯re rested. I need to finish the weapons setup first.¡± It wasn¡¯t that Lin Xian wasn¡¯t tempted... but seriously, he had just¡ª And besides, weapon manufacturing and train repairs couldn¡¯t wait. Infinite Train was sturdy, yes, but he couldn¡¯t feel at ease until he inspected every single carriage. Just as he turned to leave, something blocked his path. He looked down¡ªand realized a pothos vine had reached out from a nearby potted plant, resting right in front of his stomach like a living thing. It wasn¡¯t just alive¡ªit had force. That slender green vine had the strength of a steel wire! ¡°This is my new trick.¡± Since leaving Xilan City, Ding Junyi¡¯s plant powers had evolved drastically. Her abilities had broken past the laws of natural growth, allowing her to shape plants in bizarre ways¡ªchanging their elasticity, hardness, tensile strength, and more. Lin Xian turned around, stunned. Ding Junyi stood with hands in her pockets, calm as ever, while the little flower atop her head bloomed with a soft pink sway¡ªcute and almost comically different from her usual intellectual coldness. ¡°If you''re worried that I come on too strong when initiating sex, I can tone it down. No matter the time, place, or situation, I¡¯ll listen to you. Whatever you want me to do, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression turned awkward. He gave a helpless smile, realizing he¡¯d misunderstood her. A twinge of guilt hit him. He looked at her calm gaze, took a deep breath¡ªand without hesitation, scooped her into his arms and carried her to the rest room. Ding Junyi didn¡¯t resist. As she was lifted off the ground, her eyes remained serene, and a slight, triumphant smile curled on her lips. That look seemed to say: My hero¡ªyour moment has come. Are you satisfied? Infinite Train, Car 5 ¨C A compartment named ¡°Burning Heaven Hall¡± Lu Xingchen sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes burning with killing intent as he stared at the tungsten crucible in front of him. Inside it... were all his thermal underwear. He was about to burn them all at once. ¡°Does the Flame God wear thermals?¡± A philosophical question, perhaps. But Lu Xingchen already knew the answer¡ªhe would never wear them again. They were neither stylish nor worthy of his flame-wielding self. Most importantly¡ª ¡°F*ing thermals bleed color!¡± ¡°Such unholy things, disrupting my cultivation¡ªhow can they be tolerated?!¡± Teeth clenched with a click, Lu Xingchen picked up his recorder¡ªthe one he¡¯d used to leave a farewell message for Lin Xian¡ªand gripped it tight. ¡°This Sovereign shall now¡ª¡± Click. His fingers accidentally hit the switch. That dramatic message suddenly echoed through the quiet room: ¡°Brother Lin, Brother Lou, all comrades of the Infinite Train... please forgive my abrupt departure...¡± Lu Xingchen¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Sh*t¡ª!¡± He fumbled to shut it off, nearly dropping it in the process. Flustered and red-faced, he tossed the recorder into the crucible, slammed the lid down, and shouted: ¡°Burn! Burn it all to ash!¡± The flames roared as he blasted the crucible with fire. In no time, the poor thermals and recorder were reduced to smoke and ashes. A scorched stench rose with the dark fumes. Lu Xingchen hurried to flip the ventilation switch. Once the air was clear, he wiped the floor, cleaned the desk, and arranged everything meticulously. He then pulled out a cherished Gu Ming air freshener and spritzed it around the room. A moment later, the serene scent of clean tea leaves filled the chamber once more. ¡°And now, my inner demons are purged.¡± Content, Lu Xingchen picked up the crucible and stepped outside to dump the ashes. Just as the contents hit the trash, a metallic clink echoed¡ªsomething solid had fallen in. He paused, eyes narrowing at the garbage bin. Nestled among the gray ash... was a glimmer of gold. Lu Xingchen¡¯s expression darkened. He dug into the bin with two fingers, carefully pulling out¡ª A golden bracelet. The same one he¡¯d picked up from Yijin Bank¡¯s vault during that ridiculous escapade. Back then, he¡¯d thought about crafting something symbolic from it¡ªa relic, maybe a spiritual pendant¡ªto leave behind his legacy if he died. But no matter how long he tried, the damn thing wouldn¡¯t melt. Totally wrecked his mood. Now, seeing it again... ¡°You dare survive my divine flames?¡± With renewed curiosity, Lu Xingchen cleaned the crucible and the bracelet, then brought them back inside. Under the lab¡¯s cold lighting, the ladies¡¯ bracelet¡ªcrafted with nine intricate golden flowers¡ªgleamed with exquisite craftsmanship. Obviously something stored in a high-security vault, valuable in the old world... though in the apocalypse, gold had long lost its worth. Only blood crystals mattered now. Lu Xingchen brewed himself a pot of tea, then sat down to examine the bracelet. As he sipped, he casually blew fire at the bracelet with his finger, curious about its melting point. One cup... two... a few minutes passed. The tungsten crucible itself began to glow red and soften at the base, but the bracelet? Not a single dent. In fact¡ªit looked even shinier. Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes flickered. What kind of material is this? Tungsten melts at 3400¡ãC¡ªthree times the melting point of gold. So why isn¡¯t this thing burning? ¡°This must be some high-tech alloy...¡± Concerned the high heat might cause problems, he finally extinguished his flame and set the bracelet aside. But then, something eerie happened. After the flames disappeared, the golden bracelet... began to move. It writhed slowly in the glowing crucible like a living creature! Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes shot wide open. He jerked back like he¡¯d been electrocuted. ¡°Y-y-y-y-you monster!!!¡± Car 3 Lin Xian was feeling refreshed again... In the rest cabin, Ding Junyi¡¯s cheeks were still flushed. Moments after that wild ascent-and-landing, she stood up¡ªcompletely naked¡ªand calmly started getting dressed again. Besides the inner jeans and shirt, she always defaulted to her white lab coat. It saved her time on outfit decisions. With one rule: her underwear must always be a matching set¡ªblack or purple only. It was both an OCD quirk and her own expression of feminine confidence. Lin Xian watched her move with admiration. ¡°You¡¯re already going back to research?¡± Ding Junyi turned and looked at him calmly. Then, without warning, she started unbuttoning her jeans again. Her lips curved faintly as she asked, ¡°If you want to go again... or cuddle for a bit, I¡¯m fine with either.¡± Lin Xian nearly buckled at the knees. He quickly reached out to stop her. ¡°Let¡¯s save our energy. We¡¯re still in the middle of the Polar Night.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Ding Junyi nodded, put her lab coat back on, adjusted her glasses, and instantly returned to that cold, efficient scientist mode. She turned and walked out briskly. Watching her leave, Lin Xian sighed internally. She¡¯s the purest example of a logical woman¡ªher passion is fierce and raw, never hidden or restrained. When she shows it, it¡¯s with absolute sincerity, like molten lava bursting out... Just then, a light screen popped up before his eyes. [Alert: Detected intrusion of non-mechanical fear energy!] ¡°What?!¡± Lin Xian¡¯s face changed immediately. He jumped up and dashed out the door. Ding Junyi noticed his urgency and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Without answering, Lin Xian glanced toward Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum¡ªnothing unusual. ¡°Do you sense anything off inside the carriage?¡± Ding Junyi immediately understood. She checked the front corridor, then turned to look behind. Suddenly, her brows furrowed. ¡°This side. Something¡¯s wrong.¡± Ever since bonding with the Chrysanthemum, she had become hypersensitive to dark energy. The pink flower on her head curled back into a tight bud, clearly reacting. Without hesitation, Lin Xian followed her. They rushed from Car 3 to Car 5, where Daluo was maintaining her Roarer Gatling gun. Seeing them, she stood up and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on, Brother Xian?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got a situation!¡± Lin Xian said grimly. Daluo immediately raised her weapon, ready for combat. Just as they were about to charge into Car 6, Ding Junyi suddenly stopped. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not this way.¡± She doubled back and sprinted straight to Lu Xingchen¡¯s room. ¡°Fire Bro?!¡± ¡°If my senses are right, it''s here,¡± Ding Junyi said coldly. Lin Xian immediately stepped in front of her and called in reinforcements via his communicator. Within moments, all the Infinite Train core members arrived¡ªChen Sixuan in her Black Hawk Armor, KIKI ready with a psychic shield, even Shasha dragging a giant hammer with sleepy eyes. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Chen Sixuan asked sharply. ¡°What¡¯s up with Fire Bro now?¡± KIKI frowned. ¡°Monster attack?¡± Shasha asked, yawning. ¡°Captain Lin?¡± Shu Qin looked toward the sealed door. Daluo looked uneasy. She¡¯d just finished cleaning gear. Had she really missed signs of this? Lin Xian raised both hands. ¡°We detected a spike in dark energy. Stay alert.¡± KIKI narrowed her eyes. ¡°No way... don¡¯t tell me he...¡± She stopped herself mid-sentence. ¡°Step back. I¡¯ll open it.¡± She cast a psychic shield and was just about to open the door when¡ª Bang! The door labeled Burning Heaven Hall flew open. Fire Bro stood there, hands ignited, looking freaked out. ¡°Everyone stay back! There¡¯s an eerie thing!¡± Tension skyrocketed. Lin Xian saw that Fire Bro was unharmed and sighed a little in relief. Twenty Lei-class drones swooped in and scouted the room. ¡°Everyone back!¡± Lin Xian commanded. But the scan found... nothing. Everyone stared blankly. ¡°What eerie thing?¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s here,¡± Ding Junyi insisted, brows furrowed. Lu Xingchen pointed at the crucible on the floor. ¡°It¡¯s in there! Something weird happened. Look!¡± KIKI lifted the crucible with her powers. Inside, a golden bracelet floated midair, twisted into an X-shape. Its glow shimmered with more than just gold¡ªlike it was infused with some power. ¡°What the h*ll is that?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. Shasha blinked. ¡°It¡¯s... a flying bracelet?¡± ¡°Looks like a crafted item,¡± Shu Qin said. ¡°But the shine¡¯s too intense...¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s more than that. This thing¡¯s absorbed dark energy,¡± Ding Junyi said with pinpoint accuracy. ¡°Dark energy?!¡± the group exclaimed. KIKI¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Wait¡ªare you saying this is a forbidden item?¡± ¡°Like that weird radio?¡± Chen Sixuan¡¯s face dropped. That incident had nearly broken the team¡ªjust remembering it made her chest tighten. Lin Xian stared at the bracelet, then looked at Lu Xingchen. ¡°You brought this back?! Where did you even find it?¡± Lu Xingchen¡¯s expression was complicated. He explained the whole story. ¡°I kept burning it, but it wouldn¡¯t melt... and then it started moving like a living thing.¡± Lin Xian nearly cursed out loud. This guy¡¯s luck is insane... you found a forbidden item in a bank vault?! Chapter 307: Soaring to 90,000 Miles! ¡°Forbidden item?¡± Shu Qin looked confused. ¡°There¡¯s been rumors and studies about forbidden items. Back in the Federation, there was a department called the Special Item Investigation Department. They weren¡¯t investigating eerie entities, but rather objects that could trigger specific eerie phenomena. These items originally existed on Blue Planet, but after Apocalypse Day, they began causing strange events. People believe they¡¯ve been contaminated by some mysterious force and turned into extraordinary objects. In Project Angel, such items were labeled as forbidden items¡ªthey refer to ¡®specific items capable of causing regional or contagious eerie/extraordinary events,¡¯¡± Ding Junyi explained. ¡°We already know that,¡± KIKI interjected. ¡°Before you all got on the train, we ran into the 1542 Dark Radio back in the Daluo Mountains near Yubei City. That was an eerie event triggered by a forbidden item.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, it scared the h*ll out of us. We thought it was haunted!¡± Shasha nodded vigorously. Shu Qin¡¯s eyes widened. She had attended the bonfire party in Qu Guan with Lin Xian and knew about the 1542 radio. But only now, hearing Lin Xian mention it, did she realize Infinite Train had actually encountered it. Back then, three convoys had reported receiving the signal during the night¡ªpeople even went missing. ¡°So your team actually ran into that eerie radio? Were there any disappearances?¡± Shu Qin asked. Lin Xian shook his head and briefly recounted what had happened. ¡°It wasn¡¯t really haunted, but that thing is seriously dangerous. It can pull people into some sort of radio frequency... and mentally invade them through fear, making them visualize their worst nightmares!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why these kinds of items shouldn¡¯t be judged by standard eerie entity logic. They go way beyond our current understanding of ability systems.¡± Ding Junyi added, ¡°That¡¯s kind of like the mycelial illusion from the Sky Mushroom Tower¡ªexcept one is terrifying, the other euphoric.¡± ¡°So, does that mean some illusions during Polar Night can transform ordinary objects into forbidden items?¡± Daluo asked. ¡°That¡¯s our best guess so far.¡± ¡°Enough talk,¡± Lin Xian muttered, eyes darkening as he stared at the floating, spinning gold bracelet. Just hearing the words forbidden item gave him a headache. Last time, this stuff had nearly ruined him. But now the Eerie Cube had become Infinite Train¡¯s protective artifact¡ªit even converted Black Smoke into Mechanical Source Points. He had mixed feelings: love and hate. And now, out of nowhere, another one shows up on his train. It put him on the back foot again. No one could predict what kind of threat this thing might pose. He motioned for everyone to back away, then raised a hand and conjured a metallic mechanical arm, aiming it at the golden bracelet. But just as the metal gripper got close, the floating bracelet suddenly began spraying out extremely fine blue flames in all directions¡ªso faint they looked like transparent air. In that instant, the whole carriage filled with searing heat, and the temperature shot up. His metal gripper melted instantly into molten iron and dripped into the crucible below. Not just the gripper¡ªsoon, even the crucible itself turned red-hot and started collapsing under the heat. A wave of high-temperature air burst through Car 5, forcing everyone to retreat. The heat surged toward the front and back carriages like a blast wave. Lin Xian immediately activated his AT Field Shield. Cold sweat broke out on his back¡ªthankfully, the flames only lasted a few seconds. If it had kept going, the entire carriage might¡¯ve been melted before he had a chance to throw the bracelet away. ¡°This thing can release that kind of heat?!¡± ¡°F***, that¡¯s terrifying!¡± ¡°Be careful, Shu Qin!¡± ¡°Captain Lin, don¡¯t let your guard down!¡± ¡°KIKI!¡± Lin Xian called. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it,¡± KIKI replied, flying over. ¡°Shu Qin, toss it out of here!¡± ¡°Quickly!¡± Just as KIKI was about to use her telekinesis, Zhan Lurong, standing next to the crucible with her pants half-burnt, looked on in disbelief. The bracelet¡¯s glow hadn¡¯t fully faded, and it floated less steadily now. Ding Junyi suddenly activated her Middle Seven Flame Heart and declared, ¡°I see now! This is a fire-element treasure¡ªit requires a drop of blood to bond with its master¡ª¡± ¡°Drop of your a**!¡± KIKI yelled, chucking an empty can from the trash directly at her head. ¡°Now¡¯s not the time! What if this thing burns the train down?¡± Ding Junyi looked embarrassed, then earnestly said, ¡°You mean... that heat wasn¡¯t just flame¡ªit absorbed your fire earlier?¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°I...¡± Lu Xingchen hesitated, then made a bold move¡ªhe reached out and grabbed the golden bracelet with his bare hand. Everyone gasped. Even Lin Xian¡¯s heart skipped a beat. But nothing happened. The bracelet didn¡¯t ignite. It just floated quietly in his palm like an ordinary accessory. Everyone held their breath. Lu Xingchen¡¯s heart pounded, but seeing everyone staring at him, he quickly put on a smug expression and turned sideways like a master mage. ¡°See? I told you.¡± He opened his palm. The bracelet hovered there. Just as he thought people would relax, their expressions turned even more shocked. Shasha¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her head. ¡°Fire Bro... you...¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Xingchen sensed something was wrong. He looked around. Why did everyone suddenly look so... short? He looked down¡ªand realized... He was floating off the ground! ¡°Fire Bro¡¯s flying?!¡± Chen Sixuan shouted. Everyone, including Lin Xian and KIKI, looked on in awe. Lu Xingchen was now hovering like an astronaut in space, weightless, drifting. ¡°Uh... what the...!¡± Lu Xingchen started flailing, swimming in the air, unable to come down. He only managed to descend when he pushed off the ceiling. Everyone stared in stunned silence. Even Ding Junyi looked serious. ¡°Anti-gravity?¡± In science, negative mass has never been ruled out. But there¡¯s never been any evidence supporting anti-gravity... until now. Lin Xian was half-relieved. ¡°You feeling okay?¡± Lu Xingchen grabbed a handle to stay grounded and replied, ¡°Brother Lin, I feel no discomfort.¡± He then offered the bracelet. ¡°Would you like to inspect it?¡± Lin Xian reached out, then paused. No way. Lu Xingchen had fire-type abilities¡ªmaybe that¡¯s why he was unaffected. Lin Xian activated Mechanical Scan instead. [Scan Failed: Non-mechanical energy detected.] Shu Qin frowned. To be sure it really was a forbidden item, she tried using Mechanical Devouring¡ªafter all, that¡¯s how she had acquired the Eerie Cube before. Progress bar appeared: [Devouring: 10%... 30%... 50%... 80%...] [Devouring Complete. Cannot deconstruct. Convert to material: Gold x 0.05?] Right as it was about to finish, a holographic prompt popped up. Lin Xian frowned and halted the devouring. He turned to Lu Xingchen. ¡°Fire Bro, test it again. If this bracelet lets you float without any other side effects... maybe your fire powers could help you fly!¡± That thought had just occurred to Lin Xian. He¡¯d tried devouring the 1542 radio but couldn¡¯t control the fear energy. It was only by chance that the Mechanical Heart reacted, creating the Eerie Cube. But this bracelet¡ªboth the flame and the anti-gravity effect¡ªwere things Fire Bro might control. Using it as scrap would be a waste. Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes lit up like he¡¯d had an epiphany. He retracted the bracelet and stared at it with a fierce gleam. If this thing let him stay in anti-gravity mode... wouldn¡¯t one burst of flame send him flying? He¡¯d really become Fire God! His mind painted a vivid image of himself soaring through the sky like a deity. His pulse surged with excitement. ¡°Brother Lin, you are absolutely right! Let me give it a shot!¡± With that, he grabbed the door handle and floated toward Car 5¡¯s automatic door. Everyone stepped aside, watching him with a mix of curiosity and concern. ¡°Uh... you sure about this?¡± KIKI frowned. ¡°I think Lin Xian has a point,¡± Chen Sixuan said. Shasha crossed her arms. ¡°Just look at him¡ªhe¡¯s not gonna stop until he tries.¡± ¡°We need to be careful,¡± Ding Junyi warned. ¡°We know too little about forbidden items.¡± Daluo and Shu Qin both nodded. ¡°Be careful, Fire Bro.¡± ¡°Train¡¯s going fast. If you rush it...¡± Shu Qin cautioned. Lin Xian turned to KIKI. ¡°Little one, go with him. We need to know the full properties of this thing. It¡¯s not safe to just leave it unchecked on the train.¡± KIKI sighed. ¡°Alright.¡± (Translation continued in next message...) Infinite Train - English Translation (Part 2 Continued) The automatic door of Car 5 slid open, and a gust of harsh Gobi desert wind blew in, dispersing the heat that had filled the train just moments ago. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± KIKI said coolly, arms crossed as she floated at the doorway, glancing back at Ding Junyi. But Ding Junyi was far from calm. She flipped her wrist, slipped the golden bracelet onto her arm, and stretched her right hand forward. A stream of crimson fire burst out¡ªher fire-type ability in full display. The recoil from the flame sent her flying slowly out of the train. Everyone rushed to the doorway to watch. Just like she¡¯d claimed, she used her flames to propel herself into the air, albeit slowly. She had no prior flying experience, and the Polar Night Gobi made her disoriented¡ªit was hard to even tell which way was up or down. But she knew everyone, including the other convoys, was likely watching her. And KIKI was just behind, ready to ¡°correct¡± her any second. How could she, the self-proclaimed Fire God, not rise to the occasion? With a determined bite of her lip, Ding Junyi pushed past her panic. Slowly but surely, she learned to control her flames and posture. She began to fly with some stability, picking up speed. In the Gobi night sky, the red jet trail behind her burned like a Mach ring, and she shot upward, slicing through wind barriers and tearing into the clouds. ¡°Polar Night is dangerous, yes¡ªbut there''s so much humanity hasn¡¯t discovered yet,¡± Ding Junyi muttered, hands in her pockets, her eyes fixed on the sky. Anti-gravity energy, consciousness-bound plants, Sky Mushroom Tower, corpse shepherds, and living disaster flora¡ªthey had encountered all of this within less than a day of entering the Polar Night. Many of these discoveries defied the very foundations of physics and biology. No wonder she was so deeply moved. Lin Xian¡¯s expression grew complex. Their entry into the Polar Night was both misfortune and blessing. He knew others hadn¡¯t been so lucky¡ªlike the Phoenix Convoy and Nightblade Convoy¡ªthey were fleeing, with only one goal: to escape the darkness, to reach the dawn. But someday, humanity would be completely engulfed by the Polar Night. And those who survived... would have to face everything in it. ¡°Forbidden items... disaster flora...¡± Chen Sixuan sighed. ¡°We know so little about the darkness. But judging by what we saw in the Sky Mushroom Tower... maybe the creatures of the night know more about us than we ever expected.¡± Everyone fell silent at her words. A subtle weight settled in their hearts. But Lin Xian¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡°On the bright side, Fire Bro can fly now¡ªdoesn¡¯t that make our Infinite Convoy stronger?¡± ¡°The darkness might force humanity to evolve. These dangerous forbidden items¡ªmaybe they¡¯re tools we can harness,¡± he said, turning to Ding Junyi. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the whole point of the Special Item Investigation Department?¡± Ding Junyi nodded. ¡°Exactly. We study the dark, not just to survive¡ªbut to one day conquer it.¡± ¡°WHOOOAAAAA!¡± A wild, excited scream echoed across the dark wilderness. It was Lu Xingchen. His face was flushed with pure joy. Flight¡ªthe power he''d dreamed of for so long¡ªwas now real. And he couldn¡¯t help but cry out in delight. Humans have always longed to fly. It¡¯s in our DNA. In the vast Gobi night, Lu Xingchen tore across the sky like a silver arrow loosed from a divine bow. Wind howled past his ears like ripping silk. Every dive cut through the sky with flame-forged precision, and every ascent felt like climbing the shattered pieces of stars. He dove from high above like a meteor and flew in parallel with the speeding Infinite Train. ¡°Brother Lin!¡± he shouted from the sky. ¡°Thanks for the tip¡ªthis thing¡¯s insane!¡± As he flew alongside the train, he glanced down at the team and over at KIKI floating beside him, looking unimpressed. Grinning proudly, he recited: ¡°Ladies and gents, when the roc takes flight with the wind, it soars ninety-thou¡ª¡± WHAM. Before he could finish his poem, he flew straight into a rock wall on the side of the track and disappeared from view. ¡°Fire Bro!!¡± everyone yelled, stunned, leaning out the carriage to search for him. Lin Xian wanted to curse out loud. ¡°D*mn it, this guy¡ªhow can you fly without looking?! At that speed, he¡¯s gonna die!¡± Just then, a voice called down from above. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I caught it,¡± KIKI muttered, rolling her eyes. She raised a hand, and a moment later, Fire Bro reappeared, flaming trail and all, crashing through the shattered sand wall, rolling on the ground a few times, then lifting off again. The previous grandeur vanished. Now, with a dead-serious face, he declared: ¡°All clear ahead!¡± ¡°Brother Lin, the terrain¡¯s stable, and our Infinite Train¡¯s armor is as sturdy as ever!¡± He acted like nothing had happened. Everyone: ... ¡°Ugh...¡± Shasha covered her face, groaning. ¡°Lin-ge, can you tell him to fly farther away? I wanna sleep.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, patting her head. Shasha yawned and left. Ding Junyi also turned and left quietly. Shu Qin and Daluo exchanged awkward looks. ¡°Captain Lin... I¡¯m gonna go take over my shift.¡± ¡°Brother Xian, I haven¡¯t finished fixing my rifle.¡± Both quickly made excuses and dipped out. That left only Chen Sixuan watching the sky with a complicated expression. She turned to Lin Xian, concerned. ¡°You sure this is safe?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be fine,¡± Lin Xian said, arms folded. ¡°He¡¯s our glorious Fire Bro. Been through worse. Seen worse. He¡¯ll survive.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s give him space. KIKI too.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. ¡°If we don¡¯t leave... how¡¯s he supposed to come back with dignity?¡± She covered her mouth, holding back laughter, then walked off to rest. After Lin Xian and KIKI left, he used his communicator: ¡°Fire Bro, too much fire during Polar Night might attract unwanted attention. Better head back soon.¡± ¡°Understood, Brother Lin!¡± Lu Xingchen replied immediately. Lin Xian headed to the rear carriage. Once the coast was clear, Lu Xingchen focused hard, finally navigating his way back into Car 5. Landing, he dusted himself off and noticed his clothes were torn to shreds. That crash had been rough. Alone now, he sighed. ¡°Sigh... Not very graceful.¡± Flying was fun, but he still lacked full control. With some training, though, he¡¯d definitely improve. He glanced at the power armor suit Lin Xian had assigned him. He hadn¡¯t needed it before¡ªfire abilities made it tricky. But now, it might help protect his clothes while flying¡ªand offer extra defense. His body was already superhuman, but those wind shears? Still painful. With new motivation, Lu Xingchen picked up the crucible, determined to study the bracelet and its transparent fire jets. From the start, he¡¯d noticed its terrifying heat¡ªit was even stronger than his Skyfire Sword. He changed into something comfortable, brewed a pot of tea, and sat down to investigate. ¡°Forbidden item? What¡¯s so forbidden about something this miraculous? It lets me fly, it breathes fire...¡± Wind and flame in a perfect cycle. He looked at the bracelet, now curled into the shape of an infinity symbol (¡Þ). ¡°Let¡¯s call you... Infinite Ring.¡± He smiled. ¡°Perfect. Just perfect.¡± Chapter 308: Break out of the polar night and turn on the lights! Lin Xian made his way toward the storage and living carriages, checking on the conditions of each section. KIKI trailed behind, asking, ¡°Lin Xian, are you really just gonna trust that thing like this?¡± ¡°What choice do I have if I don¡¯t?¡± Lin Xian replied. ¡°It¡¯s not like we can toss it. Since we¡¯re seeing some benefits now, let¡¯s just use it. No point letting fear of the unknown mess with our judgment.¡± After that earlier mess, Lin Xian realized that the Forbidden Item seemed to have been successfully ¡°contained¡± by accident. The brutal scenarios KIKI had warned him about from past containment failures didn¡¯t occur, which is what led him to this line of thinking. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± KIKI nodded after some thought. ¡°That thing breathes fire¡ªmaybe it really was just contained by Fire Bro. That¡¯s the only explanation I can come up with.¡± As Lin Xian walked, he suddenly stopped and gave a bitter laugh. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because we¡¯ve fallen into so many traps before. Now that we¡¯ve hit the jackpot, it just feels unreal. Honestly, I still can¡¯t believe we got away from that Corpse Shepherd completely intact.¡± Back on the mountains outside Yijin City, when he first saw the Corpse Shepherd and that massive surge of Eerie Entities, Lin Xian¡¯s mind went totally blank. That suffocating, hopeless feeling was something he¡¯d never forget. ¡°Fire Bro might talk like a joker, but he¡¯s extremely cautious. If there was a problem, he¡¯d have dealt with it immediately. I trust him.¡± Saying that brought Lin Xian a sense of relief. He didn¡¯t have to shoulder everything alone anymore. Trusting his teammates¡ªthis too was a form of growth for him. Looking back, if Fire Bro had really been infected by Fungal Threads, his actions were clearly meant to protect the rest of the convoy. In this apocalypse, someone who¡¯d face death alone to shield his comrades¡ªhow could Lin Xian not trust a teammate like that? Handing a Forbidden Item over to him seemed completely justified. Besides, the thing was something Fire Bro had stumbled upon by sheer dumb luck anyway. Judging by now, the guy was practically walking around with plot armor. Hearing this, KIKI smiled sweetly. ¡°Hmm, you look a lot brighter now that you¡¯re not worrying about everything.¡± Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. Are you trying to say I look pale? Well... fair. Checking the time, Lin Xian sighed in relief. ¡°We¡¯re almost out of the Polar Night zone. But since it¡¯s still nighttime, we can¡¯t let our guard down. Go get some rest. Keep the radar running at full power. We¡¯re not using lights, so it¡¯s all we¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°Alright, alright~¡± KIKI stretched. ¡°Then I¡¯m going to bed. Don¡¯t you dare wake me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°No, no, if something happens, you have to wake me.¡± KIKI suddenly looked worried again. She walked over, wrapped her arms around Lin Xian¡¯s neck, her big eyes watery. ¡°Or... how about I stay with you?¡± Lin Xian glanced toward the rear carriage and shook his head. ¡°Nope. You need proper rest. The Sky Mushroom Tower explosion definitely took a toll on you. There are so many people on the train now, you don¡¯t need to worry about me. Just get some sleep.¡± Rest was critical for surviving crises. Lin Xian had realized that ever since leaving Jiang City. More importantly, the transformation of the Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum''s dark energy¡ªresting was the best time for one¡¯s body to evolve. Except for Lin Xian, who didn¡¯t need rest. Thanks to the Eerie Cube, all that energy was directly converted into Mechanical Source Points, efficient and simple. ¡°Okay then.¡± KIKI understood he was just concerned and didn¡¯t press it. ¡°Be careful, alright? Once Chen Jie and I wake up, it¡¯ll be your turn to sleep.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± With that, she glanced at Ning Jing, then turned and left. Before leaving, Ning Jing had been staring out the window¡ªthe noisy Gobi Desert stretching wider and whiter like a sea. She activated her Mechanical Heart, finishing her inspection of the carriages and framework. Soon she arrived at Carriage 12, where Shi Diyuan stood silently in the shadows. His mechanical face was eerie yet beautiful, his silver-white metal skin shimmering faintly. Ning Jing walked up and touched something. A strange resonance surged through the chill, and her Mechanical Heart seemed to tremble in response. Inside the stark white Carriage 12, Zhuang Rengu stood quietly. Meanwhile, in the Gemini 11R Nuclear-Powered Carriage up front, a special lead container holding a suspension fluid containment unit suddenly lit up, glowing a cherry-red hue. Something pale appeared within the contents¡ªthen blinked out quickly, disappearing without a trace. Ning Jing¡¯s expression changed slightly. She withdrew her hand and stared at Shi Diyuan¡¯s grotesque face. ¡°Weird... It¡¯s not even shut down, and yet... why do I feel like it¡¯s watching me?¡± After a moment, Lin Xian looked away. He felt a strange unease. Toward the back, all the tools from the original Infinite Train tool carriage had been moved. A large maintenance area had been set up, fully equipped. Many of the devices were ones Lin Xian had scanned and manufactured along the way. Daluo, Lu? Chang, and others with some repair knowledge were now able to help take over much of the train¡¯s upkeep. With Luo Yang and Li Yi¡¯s teams joining, maintenance support became even stronger. Luo Yang¡¯s team consisted of skilled university tech majors with hands-on ability. Li Yi¡¯s team were hardy workers, both technically skilled and combat-ready¡ªyou could tell by the way they¡¯d converted construction vehicles into apocalypse-ready war machines. Add in AI Grace and the PX-05 maintenance robots, plus an automatic bullet press that Lin Xian built¡ªthis setup alone cut 60% of his burden. Now he could focus more on boosting the convoy¡¯s overall combat capabilities, strengthening ties with the Phoenix, and upgrading internal living areas with greenery, entertainment, and automation¡ªturning the Infinite Train into a fully mobile Steel Fortress! With that in mind, Lin Xian found an open corner, sat down, and began manufacturing a set of Black Hawk ¨C Silent Hunter Power Armor for himself. He¡¯d add some custom mods to fully enhance his combat prowess. He¡¯d also make two spare PX-05 robots, to deploy when they restructured the carriages later. Clang. Clang. He got to work. The mechanical manufacturing interface booted up, materials flying out to begin forging the basic components. The Joint Train sped across the vast wilderness of the Gobi Desert, wind howling as its steel wheels roared nonstop. From 2 PM to 7 PM, it kept racing forward. The dark sky stretched endlessly above, like a black curtain that never lifted. Staring into the boundless dark wasteland, there was this indescribable feeling of being abandoned by the world. Then, all of a sudden, every communicator across the convoy lit up with Lin Xian¡¯s voice. ¡°All convoys, we¡¯ve officially exited the Polar Night zone of Abyss Zone No. 5, but we¡¯re still within the range of the Dark Tides. Judging by their speed, dawn should arrive around 9 to 10 AM tomorrow. We currently don¡¯t have any Dark Markings, so we¡¯re in stealth mode. You can turn on your vehicle lights and carry on with normal tasks¡ªbut stay alert!¡± Inside the Infinite Train, Lin Xian checked the travel logs on his mobile terminal as he made the announcement via communicator. ¡°Whew~¡± He finally exhaled deeply. It was his first time entering a Polar Night zone, even if just the edge of Abyss Zone No. 5, and it had been intense¡ªbroken rails, Fungal Threads, steel-melting mycelium carpets, the Sky Mushroom Tower, the Crimson World, the Corpse Shepherd¡ªone crisis after another, all terrifying. Escaping this time wasn¡¯t about strength or strategy¡ªit was a miracle. ¡°Guess the old saying was right¡ª¡®Survive a great disaster and fortune will follow.¡¯¡± Right after the chaos of Xilan City, they nearly lost all hope again in Yijin City. If not for an unbreakable will, they wouldn¡¯t even have the courage to keep going. Tang Yun was living proof. Her husband was gone, and she had no desire to face the apocalypse. She¡¯d rather be consumed by Fungal Threads than flee. Once someone loses the will to live, all that¡¯s left is being swallowed by darkness¡ªturning into a Zombie or an Eerie Entity. The last time there was a mass transformation like that was during the first day of defending Xilan City, when a sudden Sinkhole created by Abyss Worms sent the whole city into chaos. Now though, with only the strong remaining and fewer mental breakdowns, it was rare to see anyone mutating into Eerie Zombies among the survivor convoys¡ªunless it was from a major injury or a collapse of the will. Lin Xian¡¯s broadcast sparked excited cheers from convoy leaders across the fleet. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± ¡°We¡¯re out of the Polar Night zone?!¡± ¡°Thank God!¡± ¡°Lin, Shi¡ªyou guys really went above and beyond!¡± ¡°Exactly. We can¡¯t relax until we see the dawn, but this is a huge relief.¡± ¡°Let the wounded and the women and kids rest first. Everyone else, rotate shifts! Eyes and radars both need to stay sharp!¡± ¡°Right, right. Don¡¯t worry¡ªwe¡¯re in this together. We¡¯ll see the dawn for sure!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± At the front of Dragon Mountain No. 1, Ning Jing stood in the command cabin and finally let out a breath of relief. She gave orders to her crew, then walked back into a rest room. Inside, Shi Diyuan¡¯s bandages had been half removed¡ªonly his shoulder and ribcage remained wrapped. Those wounds were horrifying, nearly torn open by a Snow Fiend and a Winged Demon working together. Just thinking about it gave people chills. Even with his Breakthrough-Level Beast Mutation Ability and freakish healing rate, he still hadn¡¯t fully recovered. ¡°Brother Lin, you¡¯ve been through a lot. Once daylight comes, we¡¯ll probably reach those small western towns near Lobu. Maybe we can rest there for a bit.¡± Ning Jing overheard Shi Diyuan chatting with some of the convoy leaders. She nodded and said, ¡°We only made it out of the Polar Night thanks to Captain Lin. He¡¯s not just skilled¡ªhis intuition is off the charts. Feels like he was born to lead.¡± Shi Diyuan laughed. ¡°Told you he wasn¡¯t ordinary! Back in Yubei, this guy drove into a zombie tide with only five or six people, relying on one Gas Turbine and one Nuclear Engine. Even Miss Jian from Feng Group thought highly of him. I knew he was my kind of guy. You see now? Didn¡¯t misjudge him, did I?¡± Ning Jing found a seat and nodded. ¡°So what¡¯s next? When we were about to enter Yijin City, I heard him mention heading to Jinhai, to re-enter the Planetary Orbital Rail. Looks like he plans to pass through Dawn City. That place has a big population, but it¡¯s also former Federation territory¡ªdefinitely complicated.¡± Shi Diyuan picked up on her implication. His eyes grew serious as he fell into thought. Clearly, from Quancheng northward toward the northeast, if they drove at full speed by day without stopping, they¡¯d reach the Dawn Center within a week. Even if there were obstacles, they¡¯d arrive at Qiong¡¯gu Strait within two weeks. The bridge there had collapsed, and transporting six million people by ferry was no joke. Plus, survivors kept heading northeast toward Tianji. Now, cities like East Sea and Tianji had Phoenix populations rivaling Jinhai. ¡°Following the Dawn Center makes things easier,¡± Shi Diyuan said seriously. Entering the Dawn Center meant finding a central base¡ªeven if mobile, it was something to rally around. Unlike the Phoenix Aerospace Cities like Noah, the Dawn Center¡¯s mission wasn¡¯t just survival¡ªit aimed to gather all survivors from across the globe and bring them to the Polar Base. But because of that, it moved slowly¡ªspending 20¨C30 days in each region before moving on. Given the massive population of the Dragon Nation, and the ferry crisis at Qiong¡¯gu, the Dawn Center would likely stay put for months. Meanwhile, the Phoenix, Starfleet, and affiliated convoys were pouring resources into the Polar Defense Lines¡ªcities, ports, everything fortified. Leading the construction effort was Xinghua Heavy Industries, building Xuanwu Fortress and Kunlun Starhub, designed to hold tens of millions¡ªmankind¡¯s final bastion. Also, the last spaceport to escape Blue Planet. That¡¯s why orbital trains like theirs were crucial. They didn¡¯t need to rely on the slow route through the Dawn Center¡ªthey could take the Transoceanic Rail, crossing the Pacific and Black Ocean directly to the Polar Ice Cap. Dragon Mountain No. 1 and Silver Star shared this vision. The former played it safe;the latter, more aggressively. But if Polar Night couldn¡¯t be stopped, and the world collapsed, escaping the planet would be humanity¡¯s only hope. Still, resources were limited. Not everyone could get on the ships. Some would die in the dark. So the Phoenix ran a multi-phase survival plan. The Starship Program was the final backup¡ªto give people hope, and keep them fighting back. ¡°I think we¡¯ll need to hit Jinhai,¡± Shi Diyuan finally said. ¡°We need to fully convert Dragon Mountain No. 1 to all-terrain capability¡ªfor what¡¯s ahead.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Ning Jing replied. ¡°Even if we reach the Dawn Center, we¡¯ll still live on trains. Tracks are a limitation¡ªfor us and for them. If something goes wrong... are we just going to abandon Dragon Mountain No. 1?¡± ¡°I get it. Let¡¯s travel with Captain Lin¡¯s crew¡ªwe can support each other.¡± One by one, the lights turned on in Dragon Mountain No. 1 and the Infinite Train. Warm yellow glows poured through armored windows, lighting up the Gobi¡¯s gravel and scrub. All 22 trains, nearly 500 carriages, began to illuminate. A 15-kilometer steel serpent glowing like a chain of stars, forging ahead across the land. Inside Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s living carriage, Xiao Qing was fully geared up, wiping down her blade. When the lights came on, she slowly raised her head. Her cold eyes softened slightly. She glanced at A¡¯Bai still sleeping in the opposite bunk, picked up a can, frowned, then swapped it for an empty one¡ªand chucked it at him. Thunk! A¡¯Bai jerked awake. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The... lights,¡± Xiao Qing murmured. A¡¯Bai looked up. Through his sunglasses, he squinted at the faint light cutting through the darkness. He reached toward it, a smile spreading across his young face. ¡°We¡¯re finally out of the Polar Night.¡± The living carriages erupted in noise. Lights meant safety. The worst was over. People stood up cheering. Chatting started. Logistics staff hauled supplies from the storage carriages. The kitchens fired up¡ªhot food, hot soup. Even music echoed from one carriage¡ªa song from an old music player. That oppressive darkness was finally lifted. This train was home in the apocalypse. Their safety was now welded to these steel rails. On the Joker Convoy side, Qian Dele had changed out of his coat, now sporting a stylish shirt and a pink trench coat. With steady steps, he walked into the rear carriage. His crew members went silent, watching him approach. None of them had much experience living on a train, and their carriage still hadn¡¯t been fully set up¡ªbut they all felt the same comforting sense of security that the train provided. Qian Dele glanced at them and chuckled. ¡°What are you all staring at me for? Isn¡¯t this the perfect time to prep food, set up your sleeping quarters, and stock the weapons bay? Move it!¡± ¡°Heh, Boss Qian!¡± One bulky guy wearing both a rifle and a chef¡¯s outfit stood up, grinning sheepishly. ¡°Everyone¡¯s saying we scored some steaks this time. Uh...¡± Qian Dele gave them a long look. His men¡¯s eyes were practically sparkling with anticipation. He snorted a laugh and waved a hand. ¡°Why are you asking me? If we¡¯ve got steak, eat it! The better the steak, the less you wanna freeze it. Live a little, will you? Who the h*ll knows if we¡¯ll even see tomorrow? Lao Zhou¡ªgrill it, stew it, roast it, fry it, whatever the crew wants, just do it. And break out the booze! Honestly, asking me something so obvious.¡± The moment he finished, the entire crew erupted in excitement. ¡°Hell yeah! Fire it up! We¡¯ve got rice, seafood, and steak!¡± ¡°Move it, move it!¡± ¡°Xiaomeng~¡± Qian Dele turned to her. ¡°Sort something out for me, I just want something light.¡± Then he strolled over to a couch and sat down with a grin, watching his crew bustle around. Xiaomeng looked over at her captain. Despite his picky, sharp-tongued nature and his somewhat unmanly vibe, she knew better than anyone¡ªQian Dele was a straight shooter, a free spirit through and through. He never hid anything from his team. Everyone on the convoy lived with a ¡°drink today, fight tomorrow¡± mentality. If she didn¡¯t personally manage the logistics, the entire crew would probably starve half the time and feast the other. Meanwhile, on the Monica Queen, the mood was starkly different. In the automated carriage, everything was dead silent. The lights had just flickered on when Carriage No. 1¡¯s doors slid open. Monica emerged slowly, dressed in a sleek white power armor under-suit¡ªflame-resistant, insulated, and optimized for movement. It was high-end gear usually reserved for elite Starfleet special forces and pilots. Though she¡¯d removed her power armor, the skin-tight under-suit perfectly hugged her form, instantly drawing every gaze in the room. The men aboard the Monica Queen were used to her bold fashion sense, but even so, they were momentarily stunned. Monica always insisted her carriages be spotless. In Carriage 1, her walk-in closet alone took up a fifth of the space. Even in an apocalyptic world, she maintained her elegance. As she walked out, several men stared, eyes wide. She was their leader, and in this male-dominated world, she was not just stunning in appearance and aura¡ªshe was an absolute powerhouse. In any normal post-apocalyptic setting, a woman wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain that kind of presence around battle-hardened men. But Monica was different. Her Ability was monstrously strong¡ªBreakthrough-Level. She also owned a fully automated, fortress-class apocalypse train. Her resources were vast. With her fierce-yet-soft leadership style, she¡¯d won the loyalty of numerous warriors who would die for her. Sure, some men on the train didn¡¯t like her or quietly questioned her position¡ªbut none dared challenge her authority. In the apocalypse, power, supplies, and shelter defined your worth¡ªwhether man or woman. And Monica gave her men all of that¡ªplus a rotating fashion show. Even if they couldn¡¯t touch, it beat staring at rotting zombies every day. What was there to complain about? Monica scanned the room with poise, then raised a hand. A terminal slid out from the wall. She tapped on it, and robotic arms extended from the Supply Carriage, delivering freshly prepared meals made by chefs and automation. The trays came packed with steak, veggie juice, fruit, wine¡ªeven a cigarette. Everyone¡¯s jaws practically hit the floor. Monica¡¯s lips curled in a faint smile as she lifted her wine glass and declared in a clear, elegant voice: ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard. Escaping the Polar Night was no small feat. This toast is for you.¡± ¡°Monica¡ªQueen Monica¡ªit¡¯s you we should be toasting!¡± one man stammered, clutching his glass. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the reason we¡¯re still alive!¡± ¡°Following you was the best decision I ever made!¡± They all stood, faces beaming, gazes intense with admiration and devotion. At that moment, Monica looked like the radiant queen of salvation in a world of death. Her bold curves gleamed in the light, radiating a sensuality that sparked primal desire¡ªbut still demanded reverence. Even Song Hao and Fatty couldn¡¯t hide the hunger in their eyes. Of course Monica felt their attention. She smiled faintly, relishing it like a war trophy. ¡°Cheers.¡± She clinked glasses with her crew, then turned and left the room with her usual graceful flair. Chapter 309: Brand New Battle Armor Under the silent night sky, the withered tumbleweeds on the Gobi Desert rolled with the wind. Now that they had left the Extreme Cold Vortex behind, the temperature had risen above zero degrees. But the temperature difference on the desert at night was huge, and the wind and sand were biting. The massive track foundation laid across the desert was raised with hard stone, and in this desolate no-man¡¯s land, there were no rail guards whatsoever. Clang, clang, clang, clang¡ªcrisp tremors of steel rails gradually rang out. The yellow sand around began to tremble, and with the blinding flash of train lights, a black-and-green heavy armored locomotive thundered forward with unstoppable momentum. Behind it stretched a steel dragon, extending all the way to the edge of the earth. More than 500 carriages all had their lights on. Shadows of people moved within¡ªsome were sitting, some standing, some pacing, some chatting. All of them were survivors of the apocalypse, exiles of civilization. The exteriors of these carriages were all covered in thick armor, riddled with bullet holes, claw marks, dried blood, and rotting monster limbs. The steel wheel shock absorbers rattled violently as they roared past. September 3rd, 2069. Apocalypse Day. D-97. Led by Dragon Mountain No. 1 and the Infinite Train, the joint convoy had escaped the Polar Night from Xilan City¡¯s mass evacuation and Abyss Zone No. 5. There were only 100 days left until Apocalypse Day. Three major abysses remained. In less than a hundred days, Bluestar¡¯s ten-billion-plus population had been wiped out by 99%. Thirteen planet-devouring abysses continued expanding. The Dark Invasion had mutated humans into zombies and eerie entities. Blizzards, black rain, and other natural disasters ravaged the land. Flora and fauna went extinct. Human cities were overrun by zombies and anomalies. The entire continent of Nine Provinces and Four Oceans had fallen into bleak desolation. As they fled for months, the survivors looked out at the desert from the carriages¡ªsome were lost, some fearful, some anxious, and others still held on to optimism, constantly encouraging their teammates. The Sun Train followed behind the Joker Convoy and Monica Queen. This hastily assembled convoy, like Qian Dele, was still getting used to the trains. But adapting to vehicles was nothing for this team that had clawed their way out of a blizzard. In one of the front carriages, led by Luo Yang, members of the original Chasing Sun Convoy¡ªA Min, Lolo, Li Guangwen, and A Bai¡ªgathered together. This used to be a passenger carriage, but all the seats had been removed and replaced with simple bunk beds. More than thirty young men and women were eating while chatting excitedly. They were a knowledgeable bunch and brought lively energy, although there was still a lot they didn¡¯t know¡ªlike how to cook. Everyone was simply eating canned food, along with some biscuits, chocolate, or candy. They were happily discussing one topic: Joining the Infinite Train. ¡°Oh my god, I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re actually going to join Captain Lin¡¯s convoy. This is awesome!¡± A girl sitting cross-legged on the top bunk shouted while holding a spoon and a can. ¡°Captain Lin is seriously amazing. He¡¯s got mechanical abilities!¡± A talkative guy stood by the window, gesturing animatedly. ¡°Did you guys see that? The Infinite Train¡¯s armor is crazy strong¡ªjust like a mecha. And they¡¯ve even got a G-3 Electromagnetic Railgun on board! That¡¯s federal military-grade stuff, and Captain Lin made it with just a flick of his finger!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah! I heard during that bug battle, the Gatling guns the Infinite Train gave us were all made by him!¡± ¡°F***ing awesome!¡± ¡°That¡¯s gotta be the number one ability in the world!¡± ¡°Hey, do you think Captain Lin can handcraft a nuke?¡± ¡°Of course he can. Come on, abilities can evolve! Who knows, maybe someday he¡¯ll build a damn starship!¡± ¡°Woooah, a starship~¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, and don¡¯t forget about KIKI and Fire Bro on the Infinite Train. One¡¯s got telekinesis, the other¡¯s fire-type. Insane combo!¡± ¡°Li Guangwen, your shockwave ability¡¯s got competition. Better start learning fast!¡± Li Guangwen chuckled and shot back, ¡°Zhou Chaoxian, you little sh*t messing with me? You think I can compare with those legends? Just let me fire off my bird cannon, I¡¯m good with that.¡± Hahahahahaha... Laughter erupted among the group. Luo Yang sat to the side eating from a can, smiling as well. His eyes were filled with anticipation and excitement. He and his classmates had always been weapon geeks. Among them were students of mechanics, electrical engineering, lasers, and power systems. Their admiration for Lin Xian grew every day. Especially after witnessing the towering Unit 01 fight that S-Class giant sea urchin in Xilan City¡ªLin Xian had become their mechanical war god! Luo Yang glanced over at Lolo and A Min, then asked, ¡°A Min, how¡¯s your abdominal injury?¡± A Min nodded. ¡°Still hurts a bit, but it¡¯s much better. Sister Chen told us not to do any intense activity for 48 hours.¡± Luo Yang let out a breath. ¡°Good. Now that everyone has power armor, let¡¯s all train more and improve ourselves. It won¡¯t just be the two of you doing solo fights anymore.¡± Lolo smiled. ¡°But A Min and I make a great team. Don¡¯t forget, our synchronization coefficient is 1.7. With a peak index of 600, we¡¯ve already broken the 1000 mark¡ªofficially in the Rampage-level. With our new battle armor, we¡¯re gonna be even stronger. Right, A Min?¡± A Min nodded stubbornly. ¡°Exactly. We¡¯re still the main firepower. Two sisters are worth four guys!¡± Luo Yang played along with a grin. ¡°Of course. Even Captain Lin acknowledges your strength. It¡¯s just that...¡± Just as he spoke, noise suddenly broke out among the group. Luo Yang looked up and saw Li Yi entering, accompanied by a few middle-aged folks, carrying two large soup pots. ¡°We made some meat soup. Everyone should have a bit.¡± Li Yi, with her pregnant belly, said cheerfully. This train only had one dining car, and when she saw that Luo Yang¡¯s group didn¡¯t have any cookware and were all eating cold food, she decided to cook extra and bring it over. Hot meals didn¡¯t have to be fancy. Luo Yang and the others knew how to make simple soups¡ªit¡¯s just that as a bunch of young people used to ordering takeout, they had gotten used to cold cans. For convenience during travel, no one thought to bring cookware to cook over a fire. So when it came time to distribute supplies from the permanent reserve storage, they only asked for canned goods and self-heating meals¡ªno rice, flour, oil, or meat. ¡°Whoa, it smells amazing!¡± As soon as the two big pots were brought in, the young ones¡ªused to cold food¡ªwere instantly hit with a wave of rich meat aroma. Suddenly, the cans in their hands lost all appeal. Luo Yang quickly stood up in surprise. ¡°Sister Li, we¡¯re already eating...¡± ¡°I know.¡± Li Yi smiled, her eyes sweeping over the group. ¡°Conditions on the train are much better than when we were on the road. Since I saw you all eating cold, I figured I¡¯d make more. If we¡¯ve got hot food, we should eat hot. You¡¯ll feel stronger afterward!¡± ¡°Really? Awesome! I want some, I want some! Thank you, Mama Li Yi!¡± ¡°Thank you so much... I haven¡¯t had cooked food in forever.¡± ¡°So touched~¡± ¡°I want a bowl too!¡± Everyone immediately gathered around, scooping up soup one bowl after another, carefully holding it as they drank. A wave of warmth spread through their bodies. In an instant, it felt like half their exhaustion melted away. ¡°No need to be so polite. We¡¯ve all come through this together. We¡¯re family now.¡± Li Yi, busy serving soup, chuckled as she said, ¡°You young people might not like cooking, and that¡¯s fine. Every team needs division of labor. Later on, laundry, cooking, cleaning¡ªwe¡¯ve got it covered on our side. And those big guys over there? They might not be great with research, but they¡¯re good with machinery. So we¡¯ll all work together.¡± ¡°Sounds great!¡± Luo Yang smiled brightly, gratefully taking a bowl of soup from her. Looking at her swollen belly while she still brought them food, he felt a bit warm inside. He said, ¡°We¡¯re all going to follow Captain Lin from now on. The team¡¯s getting bigger, and everyone can put their strengths to good use. I¡¯m sure we can survive this apocalypse together. Right, everyone?¡± ¡°Yeah!!¡± the young men and women shouted in unison. In that moment, the cold-can-eating carriage transformed into a big family. Under the steel roof of this train, in the midst of a dark apocalypse, a bit of warmth had finally taken root. ..... On the Infinite Train, unlike other convoys, there wasn¡¯t much of a communal dinner. Because of the busy schedule around the Zero Element Center and the recent escape, and also to prepare for taking over after Lin Xian at dawn, Chen Sixuan was making the most of her time to rest in the master cabin of Car No. 1. Inside the luxurious sanctuary cabin, she slept soundly. In her heart, she knew¡ªas long as Lin Xian was there, she could completely let down her guard. Even if the world outside was overrun with a corpse tide, she wouldn¡¯t panic. In Car No. 2, the private space shared by KIKI and Shasha, two specially designed wrap-around sleeping pods were staggered opposite each other. Both of them were sleeping deeply. The only place still lit in the entire carriage was the Information Center. On the screen, aside from the radar surveillance system, there was also an analytical program that KIKI had set up, still continuously running system data from ¡¾Grace¡¿. In Car No. 3, after wrapping up the final stage of her experiment, Ding Junyi put away all the lab instruments. Once she had stored both the Hell Black Chrysanthemum and Silver Dragon Ten-Thousand Error, she grabbed a clean set of underwear and headed to the bathroom in Car No. 1 to take a shower. Only after that did she return to her room, turn off the lights, take off her glasses, strip down completely, and lie flat on her bed. She even slept with precision. Because of her profession, she had high standards for sleep quality, and she was the only person on the train who didn¡¯t have to worry about rotating shifts. Except for Lin Xian¡¯s arrangements, she still stuck to her old routine from before Apocalypse Day¡ªsleep at 9 p.m., wake at 7 a.m. However, there was one habit she had changed. Before, she always locked her door to sleep. It gave her a sense of safety and calm. But now, even though the rest room door had a lock, she no longer used it. To her, if robbers or eerie entities barged in, a lock wouldn¡¯t help anyway. Death, to her, was a peaceful thing. But if locking the door made it inconvenient for Lin Xian to come in, then to her, that would be an unbearable betrayal. So, it was a simple logic problem. A habit that could be corrected. Because in Ding Junyi¡¯s mind, if Lin Xian wanted to come in¡ªthen he could. Car No. 4, after modifications and with Ding Junyi¡¯s plant-type ability, had turned into a mini green forest. The 30-meter-long carriage was filled with neatly arranged aerial vegetable growth beds overflowing with fresh greens, spinach, and seedlings under chaotic lighting¡ªlike water celery and kale. On both sides of the carriage, Lin Xian had planted green vines like pothos and ivy, along with moss-covered walls and maidenhair ferns for water-oxygen cycling and visual relaxation. The whole carriage now smelled like a living forest. These plants weren¡¯t just for decoration. Most importantly, they helped circulate air. The train¡¯s purified water, after usage, would go through a recycling mechanism to nourish the plants. Then, the water would be cycled again for hygiene supply. Lin Xian¡¯s multiple water purifiers would separate out waste and impurities and recycle the water back for drinking. Although it sounded a bit gross, in the apocalypse, it was a necessary setup. Clean water untouched by the Dark Invasion was extremely scarce. Actually, according to the filtration standards of Lin Xian¡¯s A1-Class Subcritical Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier, plus the Eerie Cube¡¯s shielding against dark energy, the water the Infinite Train crew drank had always met the Level-1 Purified Water standard¡ªregardless of how many times it had cycled. But even so, the Infinite Train was now starting to feel the pressure of a drinking water shortage. The snow from the Extreme Cold Vortex was toxic. Since Clearwater Town, the train hadn¡¯t restocked fresh water in ages. With the black rain and the Dark Invasion, land-based water sources were becoming increasingly contaminated. While basic filtration could still be done globally, the dark energy itself remained a huge unsolved problem. Car No. 5¡ªDaluo was on mid-shift duty. As usual, he was performing maintenance on all the carriage¡¯s weapons, including the new G3 Electromagnetic Railgun and the gun tower elevator Lin Xian had installed. While wiping down the machine guns, there was surprisingly a pot of hot tea sitting on a small stand nearby. Daluo would take a sip from time to time, exhaling deeply as if chasing away the loneliness of night duty. Ever since he started rooming with Lu Xingchen, one of Daluo¡¯s few new habits had become drinking tea. Tea wasn¡¯t a rare resource in the apocalypse. Though traded among survivors, most people used it to mask the foul taste of drinking water. Someone like Lu Xingchen who genuinely drank it for enjoyment¡ªthat was pure luxury. It meant you needed a clean, safe environment¡ªand the time and mood for tea. As Daluo sipped and glanced at Lu Xingchen¡¯s room, he figured the guy was still studying that Gold Bracelet. At the same time, his mind wandered to his own ability. After the events in Xilan City and several battles, many team members had leveled up in combat. Especially those with Exoskeleton Power Suits, like Miao Lu and Lu? Chang¡ªboth from the Gene Evolution faction¡ªhad made huge gains. Shu Qin, even more so. Back during the ability tests, he and Shu Qin had been evenly matched. But she was a gene-evolver. Naturally gifted to use power armor for massive boosts. Daluo couldn¡¯t match that. One, the armor didn¡¯t fit him. Even if it did, his ability required building up through blood energy. So he was feeling the pressure. Big build, big appetite, took up space, and he had a 12-year-old sister to take care of. Even though Shasha was capable, Daluo still felt that he had to become Lin Xian¡¯s right-hand man¡ªto repay the life-saving grace and care Lin Xian had shown them. Thinking that, Daluo¡¯s eyes hardened. After wiping the last gun, he started physical training again¡ªpush-ups and the like. ¡°Add 20 more sets!!¡± He grunted inwardly, also recalling Lu Xingchen¡¯s suggestion. Next time they fought off a Monster Tide, he planned to try confronting the black smoke from monster corpses without relying on gas masks. Even though Dark Invasion energy caused intense physical pain, with his endurance, he was sure he could take it. In Car No. 6¡ªthe dining car¡ªit was already lights out. But a bright lamp still glowed by an electric stove. A small iron pot was bubbling, releasing a sweet aroma. Xiao Yuan stood by the stove like a quiet housewife, watching the pear soup roll and bubble. This was an upgraded version, made from warehouse supplies. She had added red dates and goji berries to it¡ªnot just for taste, but to quench thirst and clear heat. Once it was ready, she carefully ladled it into a bowl, opened the lid, and let it cool. She waited. Knowing Lin Xian was still busy in Car No. 12, she frowned and blew gently on the soup. What she didn¡¯t know was that Shu Qin, who was on patrol, was standing quietly in the dining car hallway watching the scene, wearing an expression of helplessness. Xiao Yuan¡¯s feelings were no secret among the team. But that wasn¡¯t a big deal. In the apocalypse, men and women going through hardship together developed feelings more easily. Shu Qin had seen it plenty. Even without talking about cliche? romance, even just fulfilling physical needs was a big deal for mental relief and stress release in this world. In fact, happy physical intimacy was even said to help resist the Dark Invasion. But what Shu Qin found hard was¡ªXiao Yuan liked Captain Lin. And honestly, a lot of women on the team liked Lin Xian to some degree. He was the captain¡ªyoung, handsome, powerful, and carried the vibe of a savior. With that sense of belonging, how could one not admire someone like him? But admiring was one thing. Xiao Yuan was the only one who expressed it so clearly. Everyone else knew about Lin Xian¡¯s bond with Chen Sixuan¡ªand the fact that he had the beautiful and formidable KIKI as his right-hand woman. Shu Qin couldn¡¯t say much about it. There weren¡¯t any marriage customs left anyway. She just worried that Lin Xian might not feel the same about Xiao Yuan¡ªand that she might end up hurt. But looking at Xiao Yuan now, full of hope as she blew on the pear soup over and over, Shu Qin could only let out a helpless smile. ¡°Sigh... well, as long as she¡¯s happy.¡± ..... Inside Car No. 12, mechanical lights flashed continuously as countless materials were forged and assembled midair. Lin Xian sat cross-legged in a corner, fully focused. Before him, a silver-black Howler-Class Fully Enclosed Armor Suit was gradually taking shape. Although it was the male version of the Black Hawk ¨C Silent Hunter, Lin Xian had modified the external armor using the same composite armor configuration he¡¯d scanned from Unit 01¡¯s arm¡ªessentially the same material as Unit 01. Because of that, it took slightly more time to build than the one for Ms. Chen. Lin Xian had considered that he often had to charge into monster hordes, unlike Ms. Chen, who fought from long range as a sniper. So he upgraded the outer armor material accordingly. At the same time, Lin Xian added two retractable hooks on the shoulders¡ªhigh-powered magnetic types¡ªso he could later use the Thunder Falcon 2000 to lift himself for flight. With the thrust from two Thunder Falcon 2000 Hall-effect propulsion engines, carrying him through the air wouldn¡¯t be a problem at all. Of course, the downside was that it wouldn¡¯t be particularly fast, and it would heavily drain the drones¡¯ energy. But the armor already came with a low-altitude leap thruster system. Combining the two basically solved the mobility issue of taking to the skies. Clack clack clack¡ª As the final piece of armor finished materializing, Lin Xian finally let out a breath of relief. He stood up and looked at the custom-designed fully enclosed power armor before him, a glint of excitement in his eyes. ¡°Finally looks a bit like Iron Man.¡± With that, he couldn¡¯t wait any longer and immediately activated the armor. A holographic projection lit up automatically on the mech¡¯s surface and scanned his face. Right after, the chest plate of the armor popped open, and bolts, brackets, and armor units on the legs and other sections began unlocking automatically¡ªemitting a series of click-click mechanical sounds that stirred the blood. Lin Xian stepped forward and entered the fully enclosed armor suit. ¡¾Black Hawk ¨C Silent Hunter Armor 01 initiated. Running system diagnostics.¡¿ A cold mechanical female voice echoed. Clink~ The helmet sealed shut slowly. A flash of light filled his view, with a progress bar loading. Subsystems for motion, defense, radar, situational awareness, life support¡ªeach appeared one after another on the holographic interface. Then the armor units began contracting, bolts auto-tightened. In that instant, he felt himself enveloped by a powerful mechanical construct. The inner cushioning liner bound him perfectly. Lin Xian raised his hand and looked at his mechanical arm through the holo-vision. Then slowly clenched his fist. With nearly zero delay, the hand-powered output unit responded instantly, delivering a surge of force. He could feel it¡ªthis hand could crush steel like paper. ¡¾Detecting pilot vitals...¡¿ ¡¾Vitals stable. Heart rate... body temperature...¡¿ ¡¾Unified control system activated.¡¿ ¡¾Current combat training value: 0¡¿ ¡¾Motion and combat data required for loop learning to better match pilot movement patterns.¡¿ Inside the power suit, Lin Xian¡¯s eyes reflected the glows of the holographic interface. He grinned with excitement. ¡°No need to port the motion parameters from that TRP exosuit¡ªlet this one learn everything from scratch.¡± Ms. Chen had mastered it in a ridiculously short time. This suit¡¯s intelligence level was clearly very high. Although it was a fully enclosed armor, the experience was vastly different from piloting Unit 01. Unit 01 weighed ten thousand tons, had over forty engine-muscle actuators, and required two people for neuro-sync interfacing. It could carry the weight of the world, but its agility couldn¡¯t compare to personal armor¡ªnot even to Shasha¡¯s Sally Unit. There was a massive latency difference in their movements. That was inevitable¡ªbound by the laws of physics. The advantage of personal battle armor was that it moved as easily as one¡¯s own limbs¡ªnear-zero delay response. It functioned like an external skin, solving humanity¡¯s poor natural defense. Especially for gene-enhanced individuals, armor was a game-changer. Their agility, reflexes, strength¡ªeven combat instincts¡ªcould be perfectly synced to the mechanical platform. A powerful suit could significantly boost a gene-evolver¡¯s combat performance. From that perspective, the Phoenix Society¡¯s ability assessment index was really only a basic benchmark for measuring a gene-evolver¡¯s true combat power. When human tech and machinery could match human evolution, it genuinely made it possible to rival supernatural powers. And that¡ªwas one of the reasons why 90% of survivors without abilities could still live through the black nights. Chapter 310: Global Target After getting familiar with the systems on the Black Hawk Armor, Lin Xian exited the armor, feeling a rush of excitement as he admired his self-made masterpiece from the outside¡ªfilled with a deep sense of accomplishment. Ever since he saw the Iron Guard-3 Military Assault Mech for the first time at the Beiwang Outpost, he had set his sights on crafting a real-life Iron Man-like battle suit. Now, that dream had finally come true. Lin Xian¡¯s ability was different from others. His physical enhancement lagged far behind gene-evolvers like Shu Qin. Before he had the Gravity Lens and Mechanical Augmentation, his combat power was far lower than his support capabilities. Most of the time, he had to rely on the Mechanical Heart to keep the Infinite Train speeding away. His own body was simply too fragile against eerie entities. Even the steel plates he crafted or the Ice Wall couldn¡¯t stand up to attacks. But now, with a Fully Enclosed Armor Suit, his mechanical ability finally had the perfect platform. First of all, with the armor equipped, he had unlimited energy and could even perform in-battle repairs. He could also continuously modify the suit, make on-the-spot upgrades, and even in a monster tide, hold his own far more effectively. Thinking of this, Lin Xian didn¡¯t waste a second. He sat down again and began crafting the PX-05 Robot in preparation for assembling the new train. Since leaving Jiang City, Lin Xian had barely wasted a moment aside from sleeping or fleeing¡ªalways crafting, devouring, or repairing. Exhausting? Absolutely. But the Infinite Train was safer than ever, with low casualty rates. That alone was enough to keep him going. Whirr~ Mechanical lights flickered¡ªanother PX-05 robot was in progress. Back in Jiazhou City, it took him about 3¨C4 hours to make one. Back then, his mechanical manufacturing level was only Level 3. Now it was Level 5, and he could finish one in less than an hour. Lin Xian checked the time¡ª19:00. He planned to make 4 PX-05 units first as spares. Then he would craft a batch of Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Guns and Meteor-3 Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifles, along with a large supply of 1130 ammo¡ªthese would be delivered to Luo Yang and Li Yi¡¯s crew. Although the Arc Pulse Rifle in the single-soldier kit was powerful, its rate of fire and range were limited. Kinetic weapons remained essential for the convoy, especially when facing monster tides. Only high-ROF weapons like the 1130 CIWS and Gatling guns could withstand that tsunami-like onslaught. The others just didn¡¯t cut it. As he worked, Lin Xian suddenly heard footsteps. Turning around, he saw Xiao Yuan walking over with a bowl of pear soup. ¡°Captain Lin.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Xiao Yuan.¡± Xiao Yuan walked over carefully and placed the gently warmed pear soup beside him, then looked up timidly at him, biting her lip slightly. ¡°I saw how hard you¡¯ve been working all night... so I made you some pear soup. You... please drink it.¡± ¡°Perfect! I was parched,¡± Lin Xian grinned, accepting it without hesitation. Looking at Xiao Yuan, Lin Xian felt a warmth in his chest. Say what you will¡ªbeing cared for like this was something no one could easily turn down. He thought back to Xilan City, how this girl had mustered the courage to lead the Hell Black Chrysanthemum to distract the Abyssal Endworm for him. In such a life-or-death moment, it was impossible not to be moved. Even worse¡ªshe had been gravely wounded. According to Ms. Chen, her internal organs were severely compressed, and she had multiple fractures. If not for the Comprehensive Medical Pod on the Infinite Train working over four hours to save her, she¡¯d already be dead. Even though she had recovered, she still looked frail. Lin Xian suspected the trauma might have impacted her ability evolution. Yet there was no worry on her face¡ªjust a plump, smiling face and bright eyes. Seeing Lin Xian accept the soup so warmly, her eyes shimmered with light, joy quietly blooming in her chest. Lin Xian took a big gulp. Instantly, a refreshing sweetness flowed down his throat, soothing and cool. He could feel even the tight muscles in his back relax. ¡°D*mn, that¡¯s delicious. Xiao Yuan, your cooking¡¯s getting better.¡± Honestly, in a world like this, having something like this to drink was no small luxury. Lin Xian felt like he could go out and hack down a few more Snow Fiends with no regrets. ¡°I... I just threw it together. If you like it, Captain Lin, I¡¯ll make it for you often, okay?¡± Xiao Yuan asked nervously, looking at him with hopeful eyes. It didn¡¯t sound like a casual offer. ¡°Sure, if you make it, I¡¯ll drink it.¡± Lin Xian smiled and agreed without thinking. He devoured the whole bowl¡ªsoup and pears alike. The dry heat of the Western Gobi felt instantly swept away. ¡°Mmm!¡± Xiao Yuan¡¯s cheeks turned red as she nodded quickly. Like a sweet and dutiful little wife, she took the bowl and spoon from Lin Xian, then walked off with pink bubbles practically trailing behind her. Lin Xian watched her go and let out a soft sigh. ¡°What a good girl,¡± he thought. Being taken care of like this somehow made working feel less tiring. He smiled, then got back to crafting. Minute by minute, time slipped by. By the time it was past midnight, he had finished crafting: 4 PX-05 Robots 10 Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Guns 10 Meteor-3 Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifles A huge amount of 1130 ammo Then, he opened his Mobile Terminal. Following KIKI¡¯s design idea, he began crafting her throwing blades. The blueprint KIKI found came from a type of outdated military mecha¡ªspring-loaded throwing blades that had long been retired from the Starfleet in favor of chain swords. No one knew where she had dug it up. But Lin Xian understood what she wanted¡ªthese weren¡¯t meant for high-precision Electric Blade tech. She just needed something to use with her telekinesis. So his job was just to match the design with the right size and material. After thinking it through, Lin Xian chose to use Tungsten-Titanium Alloy Type I¡ªthe same material used in making Electric Blades. Hard, not too light, and with enough mass to deliver serious kinetic damage when flung with psychic force. He quickly crafted three size variants: Small: 60 cm Medium: 100 cm Large: 150 cm The large version weighed over 20 kg each¡ªtall enough to reach KIKI¡¯s shoulders, with a deadly sharp edge. ¡°With that little one¡¯s telekinetic power now, tossing a few hundred tons is nothing to her. Making 1000 blades would be just 20-something tons. Piece of cake.¡± He glanced at his Disassembly Center and Manufacturing Center. Tungsten-Titanium Alloy Type I was a Tier-3 advanced material. No way he could mass-produce that many in one go. And if he used up all his stock, it¡¯d be hard to find more Devourable materials out here in the Western Gobi. What if the convoy needed emergency production later? That would be awkward. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s test the waters first. I¡¯ll make 100.¡± He also decided to install a hidden Blade Compartment on the roof of Car No. 2 for KIKI. Clang clang clang¡ª Blade after icy-sharp blade was forged. By the time it passed 2 a.m., Lin Xian was finally hitting his limit. Inside Car No. 12, looking at the scattered masterpieces around him, Lin Xian finally relaxed. He checked the time and exhaled. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep four hours, then start building the Weapon Station...¡± At this point, there wasn¡¯t much room left in the Infinite Train¡¯s twelve carriages for more weapon stations. Car No. 2 already had the Electromagnetic Railgun, Server, and Information Center. Cars 3 and 4 were both research stations, with the specialized Kor-3 Biological Science Research Carriage¡ªno way Lin Xian was modifying that. Car No. 5 had the Electromagnetic Railgun, YJ-03 Anti-Air Cannon, and Gun Tower. Cars 6 and 7 were the Dining Carriage and Resource Storage Unit. Cars 8, 9, and 10 were all Living Carriages. Car No. 11 was the Mecha Hangar and Mechanical Arm Carriage. Car No. 12 also had the 1130 Close-In Weapon System already installed. Only Car No. 10, where Shu Qin lived, and his own Car No. 1 were still relatively empty. In fact, Lin Xian had planned to reorganize the weapon stations only after merging the trains and properly laying out the integrated power system. The 1130 CIWS and Electromagnetic Railgun had different tactical purposes, not to mention the YJ-03 Anti-Air Cannon and the planned missile systems. He didn¡¯t want to slap together something on a whim only to find it difficult to modify later. If the configurations were unbalanced, it would mess up the scheduling for nearly 200 people and throw the Infinite Train¡¯s defenses into chaos. After thinking it over, Lin Xian decided not to rush things. He returned to Car No. 1, took a proper shower, and went to bed. When Lin Xian got back, Chen Sixuan was already awake. She immediately took over watch duty, monitoring the situation across the entire train so Lin Xian could sleep in peace. Lin Xian¡¯s plan was to sleep for about four hours and get a head start on preparations before dawn. But he hadn¡¯t expected the massive explosion in Yijin to have such a lingering impact. As soon as he, KIKI, and Fire Bro lay down, a bone-deep coldness swept over them, draining all strength from their bodies. At that moment, Lin Xian realized his body had been heavily contaminated by dark energy. But it was already too late. A torrent of intense negative emotions surged through his mind¡ª Sadness, pain, despair, fear. Screams like hell itself filled his ears. In that instant, he seemed to be linked to the wails of hundreds of billions of zombies across the world, as if swallowed by a never-ending nightmare the moment his eyes closed! This was the first time Lin Xian so clearly felt the infective power of the Dark Invasion. Cold sweat soaked him as he lay frozen on the bed, unable to move¡ªlike being pinned under a spectral wall. ¡°Die, die, only in death will you be free...¡± ¡°I will be devoured. I will rot!¡± Before his eyes stretched an endless Abyss, crawling with countless unspeakable horrors. Sinister whispers echoed in his ears like demonic chants, tearing into his mind. Lin Xian felt like he was enduring the worst torture known to man¡ª Fingers snapped one by one, face flayed alive, pain burrowing into his bones. In that moment, he wanted to scream, to call out for Ms. Chen, for anyone. He wanted to activate the Mechanical Heart, unleash the AT Field¡ª But he couldn¡¯t do a thing. The fear crawled up like billions of ants, gnawing through his eyes, ears, nose, and brain. Suddenly, a wisp of dark energy from the Hell Black Chrysanthemum, filtered through the Eerie Cube, slowly entered Lin Xian¡¯s body. His Mechanical Heart began to operate on its own. In an instant, Lin Xian felt his senses and control systems reignite. His mental will took back control. Before long, the dark pollution started to fade, and the pain in his body eased. Soaked in sweat and drained, Lin Xian finally fell into a deep sleep. Only then did he truly understand why the Dark Invasion could wipe out billions in one night on Apocalypse Day¡ª And why survivors who wavered in willpower or suffered injury would collapse under such pressure. Thankfully, the Infinite Train had the Eerie Cube. Without it, once the train population increased, internal mutation would be uncontrollable. Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s solution to this problem was to assign a Carriage Leader and Deputy Leader to every car. These individuals were handpicked by Shi Diyuan and Ning Jing, selected for strong abilities and combat strength. They were responsible not only for daily management and battle formations but also for mutual oversight. If anything went wrong, the car would be sealed off immediately! ... Far away in Jiazhou City, which had long been swallowed by Abyss Zone No. 3, the dark rooftops were packed with perching Corpse Crows. They were densely clustered, their pale eyes crawling with Parasitic Threadworms. The abandoned city was bleak and reeking, filled with lurking horrors. All outbound roads, tracks, and highways were littered with rotting survivor remains, chewed clean by the darkness. Caw caw, caw caw¡ª The corpse crows suddenly became agitated. Their frenzy triggered a chain reaction, and a wave of shrieking erupted throughout Jiazhou City. Thousands of crows scattered in a black storm cloud, tearing through the sky. The reason for their hysteria? Over the Air Corridor far above the city, a Floating Colossal Shadow descended from the horizon, blotting out all starlight. Jiazhou City fell into total darkness. Even the skyline vanished. A deep, vibrating hum trembled through the air like bubbling gas. Dust clouds burst from the streets like a sandstorm burying the city. ... Federation Star City, once known as the Dragon Nation¡¯s foremost tech city¡ªnicknamed the City of Stars. Now it served as the base of the Old Federal Government, renamed Dawn City¡ªsymbolizing humanity¡¯s final glimmer of hope. Dark skyscrapers stood like a dense forest of steel, radiating outward from the Twin Star Towers at the city¡¯s center. Above the city¡¯s inner loop was a vast and majestic Urban Ring, once the aerial maglev expressway of Star City¡ªa hallmark visible even from low Earth orbit. But after Apocalypse Day, the City Ring had gone completely dark. One-third of the corridor had collapsed, leaving behind only a shattered mega-structure¡ªa remnant of human tech¡¯s twilight. In stark contrast, the lower zones still flickered with neon. Every street and alley teemed with all sorts of doomsday vehicles heading toward Dawn City. The Federal Parliament issued a ban forbidding any light from appearing above 100 meters¡ª Because Dawn Wall No. 1 stood exactly 100 meters tall! At the city¡¯s edge, an enormous wall rose from the ground, encircling all of Dawn City¡¯s urban core. It towered menacingly, still incomplete, with countless automated cranes, transport bots, and tens of thousands of hazardous laborers working around the clock. Stretching 196 kilometers, Wall No. 1 flickered with signal lights like wartime beacons¡ªthis was the apocalypse¡¯s Iron Defensive Perimeter! Meanwhile, within the Starport district where the Twin Star Towers stood, another completed wall¡ªStarport Wall No. 2¡ªformed the final defense of Dawn Underground City No. 1 and the Federal Starfleet Port. It also served to isolate the overpopulated outer city zones. Thus, everything beyond the 18-kilometer Wall No. 2 was collectively known as¡ª The Old District! Once the capital of science, now it resembled a cyberpunk wasteland. At least 3 million people crammed into it. Cramped, filthy, chaotic. Perpetually shrouded under the oppressive Tidal Sky Canopy. The sky drizzled endlessly. A foul stench filled the alleys. Crooked neon signs advertising cheap goods flickered, bulbs sizzling. The alley was dead silent¡ªonly the drip drip of rain collecting on power lines and falling onto metal trash bins could be heard. Click¡ª A lighter flared briefly. In the shadows of a corner stood a youth in a black leather jacket, hood drawn low. The flicker revealed a slightly youthful face. Not long after, footsteps echoed nearby. The youth stubbed out his cigarette and tugged the front of his hood. As the footsteps neared, a tall man with a dark expression came into view. He wore a spiked leather jacket and a dramatic mohawk¡ªclearly a gang-style look. The man stepped up to the corner, glanced back to make sure no one had followed, and finally rasped toward the hooded youth¡ª ÒÔÏÂÊDZ¾¶ÎÄÚÈݵÄÍêÕû·­Òë,Ñϸñ×ñÊØÄãµÄ¸ñʽÓë·­ÒëÒªÇó,°üÀ¨ÊõÓïʹÓᢶÎÂä¶ÏÐС¢±£ÁôÔ­±êµã¼°ÓïÆøÓïÐò±í´ï: "Where''s the thing I asked for?" The young man¡¯s eyes flickered. He then pulled something from inside his leather jacket¡ªa mechanical prosthetic, structurally sound though visibly worn. A stylized graffiti of a purplish-red cat¡¯s head was sprayed across the forearm¡ªlikely the emblem of a mechanical modification alliance. The man¡¯s eyes lit up as soon as he saw it. He took the limb, removed his old prosthetic left arm, and skillfully attached the new one to the connection port at his elbow joint. Click¡ª The servo system powered up. The man slowly clenched his fist. As the joints in his wrist and knuckles rotated, faint gear noises emerged. Electric blue arcs crackled across his knuckles. Gazing at the surging electromagnetic light, the man looked visibly thrilled. ¡°Not bad.¡± Then, he cast a cold glance at the youth, pulled a micro storage device from his pocket, and tossed it over. "City¡¯s a mess right now. It¡¯s not just the patrol squads¡ªeven the Garrison and the Angel Project people are all over the place. I can¡¯t help with this kind of thing anymore." The youth caught it in one hand, looked it over, then raised his arm. The skin on his left wrist opened automatically, revealing a data port. He inserted the storage device, took a deep breath, said nothing more, and turned to leave. The rain kept falling. This black rain was laced with toxins from the Dark Invasion, and with night upon them and the Outer City Curfew Suppression Order issued by the Federation, the streets were nearly deserted. The youth walked briskly, weaving through alleys, eventually slipping into an unremarkable building corridor. He walked through pitch blackness for a while until deafening music boomed from ahead. Pushing open a door, a noisy underground bar came into view. Every patron was visibly armed. Even the waitresses in crop tops and black fishnet stockings wore twin large-caliber revolvers on their hips. Tattooed above their slender waists was a small red bead¡ª A Eerie Blood Crystal motif, oozing a seductive allure. But in Dawn City, such tattoos also meant something else. All it took was one blood crystal¡ªfor a night of romance. The hooded youth walked past the rowdy crowd to a corner booth. A man and a woman were seated there. Around them stood several individuals with Soul Wave Value fluctuations off the charts. The woman wore a black trench coat, elegant and poised¡ªher presence clashed starkly with the dingy, rundown bar. The man wore a windbreaker, looking clean-cut and composed. He sat casually in the shadows, eyes scanning the eclectic bar scene with interest. "Brother Jiang." The youth stepped forward quickly and handed over the storage device. The man seated there was none other than Jiang Yun¡ªthe same one who had rushed the Climbing Passage alongside Lin Xian. The woman across from him was Jian Xuwei, head of the Fenge Group and now the leader of the Silver Star Doomsday Train. Jiang Yun took the device and slotted it into his own small terminal. Inside¡ªit was surveillance footage. One day earlier, in the Old District¡¯s Auckland Block, there had been a reported Eerie Human attack. Normally, this would fall under the jurisdiction of the city¡¯s patrol units. Eerie entity outbreaks in Dawn City were commonplace at night. If the casualty count was under 50, it barely qualified as noteworthy. But this case was different. The target was a convoy named Freedom Wind Convoy. They didn¡¯t have many members, but all were ability users¡ªfour of them at Rampage-level. Strangely, the entire convoy vanished overnight. This happened in a heavily patrolled and surveilled zone¡ªan extraordinarily bizarre incident. The Freedom Wind Convoy had a strong reputation in the district, often leading charges during night assaults. Their sudden wipeout sent shockwaves across Auckland Block, filling survivors with dread. The footage showed only three seconds. In the darkness, a man¡ªslightly taller than average¡ªhurried past the street corner. Just as he neared the camera, the feed abruptly blacked out. Some kind of electromagnetic interference had clearly disrupted the signal. Jiang Yun frowned, slowed down the playback, and rewound it. The man wore a strange dome-shaped top hat. His outfit was from another era¡ªlike something out of a different century. Even with night vision enhancement, the distance was too great to make out facial features. Tap. A delicate finger suddenly pointed at Jiang Yun¡¯s terminal, dragging to pause. "Look here." Jian Xuwei tapped at the figure¡¯s eye region. In the frame, a faint red glow seemed to flicker in the eyes. Jiang Yun exhaled slowly, his tone grim. "Figures. Another one of those Crimson Skeletal Horrors¡ªmechanical and eerie hybrid constructs. No idea what that damn Crimson World is even researching anymore." Jian Xuwei glanced at the noisy crowd in the distance, her gaze serious. "Our people spotted Silent City crippled in Luling Forest after escaping Abyss Zone No. 5. The Federation already dispatched a team. Corpses swarm the outskirts, and inside there¡¯s mutation and Crimson Horrors roaming. With supply shortages, Dawn City is already a mess inside and out. Once they finish Wall No. 1 and finish their so-called ''city defense taxes,'' I¡¯m guessing they¡¯ll abandon the Outer City altogether." "I doubt they¡¯ll even finish," Jiang Yun chuckled. "Hiding in an underground city doesn¡¯t guarantee safety either. Their so-called ''century reserves'' are a joke if they don¡¯t solve the water problem. And now that the Starfleet Port¡¯s ship bays are fully occupied, you think outsiders can¡¯t guess what the Federation¡¯s really planning?" Jian Xuwei¡¯s brows tightened. "That¡¯s a headache for both the Federation and the Phoenix Society. No matter how advanced water purification tech gets, if it can¡¯t filter out the Dark Invasion toxins, it¡¯s pointless." "Miss Jian," Jiang Yun looked straight at her, casually swirling his drink. "I¡¯ve been waiting a long time for that plan of yours." Jian Xuwei remained calm, speaking slowly and evenly. "What¡¯s the rush? The night is coming. Dawn City is about to become the eye of the storm. Neither of us is going anywhere. But that person¡ªhe''s finally here." "Lin Xian, huh?" Jiang Yun¡¯s eyes lit up. "According to the intel broadcast on Phoenix Global Radio¡¯s Fire Log, he stirred up quite the storm in Xilan. Now, whether it¡¯s the Phoenix Society, the Federation, or the Descent Faction¡ª This mechanical ability user friend of ours has already become..." He narrowed his eyes and said solemnly¡ª "A global target." Chapter 311: Wasteland World Beep beep, beep beep. In the haze of confusion, Lin Xian felt the sound of his watch¡¯s alert chime growing louder, as if approaching from the depths of darkness. He realized he was awake¡ªor more precisely, he was back in reality. Lying on the main bed in the living cabin of Car No. 1, Lin Xian felt his eyelids weighed down. Even before opening his eyes, a wave of heat and a chorus of screeches flooded his mind all at once. His brain responded instantly. Stifling. Scorching. Parched. Oppressive. He opened his dry lips and forced his eyes open. Right beside his pillow was the blackout panel of the Infinite Train. That suffocating heat and screeching sound were clearly coming from outside. Lin Xian focused his mind and lifted his hand to check his watch. ¡°Eleven o¡¯clock? I actually... slept for nine hours...¡± He rubbed his heavy head, recalling the haunting feeling of being attacked by darkness before falling asleep. His brows furrowed¡ªit was a bone-deep sensation he never wanted to experience again. He reached up and opened the blackout panel. SCREEECH!! SHRIIEEK!! The blinding sunlight made Lin Xian¡¯s pupils contract sharply. And what greeted him beyond the multi-layered bulletproof windows of the train were countless withered, decaying zombie faces. Seeing that, Lin Xian immediately frowned and sat up. Outside the Infinite Train was a literal sea of zombies! Hundreds of thousands. Millions. Tens of millions! Stretching as far as the eye could see, like an unending tide. These hordes swarmed forward like airborne magnetic dust, densely clinging to the direction of the joint convoy. Below the train tracks, the sounds of crushing and tearing were endless. These zombies, long deprived of water and driven by bloodlust, were all dried up and dark-skinned, with tattered remnants of what once were human clothes hanging from their bodies in shreds. Above, the scorching sun blazed in a cloudless sky, yellow sand filling the air. Waking up, Lin Xian felt like the Infinite Train had charged straight into a post-apocalyptic wasteland! Staring at the overwhelming scene, Lin Xian¡¯s mind froze a bit. He quickly pressed the communicator and tried to contact Chen Sixuan. Click. Moments later, the door opened. Chen Sixuan, now out of her Black Hawk Armor, wore a light crop top and shorts. Upon seeing Lin Xian awake, she immediately said: ¡°You¡¯re up?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lin Xian glanced at her, then at the swarm of zombies outside. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Chen Sixuan said quickly, looking out the window. ¡°Since we exited the Polar Night, the zombies across the Gobi Desert have been gathering more and more. After sunrise, it¡¯s been a literal mountain of corpses.¡± ¡°So many?¡± Lin Xian looked at the tightly packed crowd outside. ¡°That sounds like a problem.¡± Chen Sixuan shook her head. ¡°Relax. The convoy is moving just fine. These zombies haven¡¯t really affected us much.¡± Hearing that, Lin Xian took a moment to register it. He could feel the train¡¯s movement¡ªnow it made sense why she was so calm. Against the armored Infinite Train, the zombie tide could barely scratch the surface. The 15-kilometer-long steel beast moved with the mass and power of a mountain. With 22 connected trains in the convoy and over a thousand megawatts of output, the current defensive capabilities made ordinary zombies nearly irrelevant. ¡°Zombies are pitiful, honestly... not even safe outside the Polar Night.¡± That dream he had... he remembered seeing Chu Yan in Yubei City. There were hardly any zombies there;even the few he saw were eerily still. The city had been completely overtaken by dark entities. Chen Sixuan added, ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re guessing this is the result of Corpse Shepherds driving the zombies out of the Polar Night region.¡± Corpse Shepherds... Hearing that term, Lin Xian frowned. So that¡¯s what it means? He had never heard that term used officially in Phoenix broadcasts. Looks like even the Phoenix group didn¡¯t have a clear answer yet. Relieved a bit, Lin Xian remembered what happened last night and quickly asked: ¡°By the way, how are KIKI and Fire Bro doing?¡± ¡°Those two?¡± Chen Sixuan replied, ¡°They¡¯re fine¡ªslept just as long as you. Probably exhausted after blasting the Sky Mushroom Tower.¡± Lin Xian immediately got up and followed Chen Sixuan toward the rear carriages. As soon as they entered Car No. 2, they saw KIKI seated at the front of the information center, piloting a drone to scout the path ahead across the Gobi. ¡°Oh¡ªyou¡¯re finally up?¡± KIKI greeted him with a smile. ¡°What do you think? Scared stiff seeing all those zombies?¡± Lin Xian went straight to the point. ¡°Did you feel anything strange from the darkness while sleeping last night?¡± KIKI frowned, first shook her head, then nodded. ¡°Had a nightmare, but nothing major.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Sensing something off in Lin Xian¡¯s tone, Chen Sixuan asked with concern. Lin Xian paused, his expression shifting subtly before answering calmly, ¡°When the Sky Mushroom Tower exploded last night, we must have absorbed a ton of dark energy. But judging by how we are now, it seems like we¡¯re okay.¡± What surprised him was KIKI¡¯s reaction. He thought she¡¯d have suffered the same effects as him¡ªbut apparently not. Maybe it¡¯s because KIKI and Fire Bro¡¯s ability levels have high mental thresholds, Lin Xian mused. While my Mechanical Heart... Just then, Chen Sixuan added, ¡°Oh, and good news¡ªLiang Lei is awake, and Brother Shi¡¯s injuries are healing well. Seems like Phoenix was right¡ªdawn really does mean everything to us.¡± Lin Xian smiled. ¡°That¡¯s great news.¡± KIKI chimed in, ¡°According to Phoenix, we¡¯ve absorbed too much dark energy. We need daylight or vegetable juice to neutralize it. If we stay in the dark too long, we¡¯re done for.¡± From Xilan City until now, the team had been shrouded in darkness. Even with the Eerie Cube, everyone had absorbed a considerable amount of dark power. It had to be purged, or it might leave irreversible damage. Now fully alert, Lin Xian sat at the edge of the bed and looked out at the zombie-filled plains. ¡°Any word from Phoenix or other survivor broadcasts?¡± ¡°Nothing local yet, but Phoenix¡¯s global channel is coming through.¡± Chen Sixuan pulled out the Dark Radio and played the recording. ...This is a global broadcast from Phoenix. The Nightwalkers and Xinghua Technologies have jointly developed the new Soul Wave Detector¡ªSoul Compass. By using Eerie Blood Crystals, it can measure personal Soul Wave Value peaks and Dark Mark concentration. It can also detect the presence of eerie entities nearby, helping survivors identify relatively safe zones before nightfall... ...Warning: 1 to 5 levels of Dark Mark exist. Levels 1¨C4 increase through stacking effects from different eerie entities. Level 5 means you¡¯ve been marked by an S-class entity. Marks can be reduced by killing eerie entities and absorbing black energy. Mark levels are directly correlated to nighttime attacks¡ªthough not absolutely. If you¡¯re in an S-class entity¡¯s territory, even a Level 1 mark can get you hunted. Phoenix is airdropping 3 million units globally via the Nightwalker Courier Unit to cities not yet fully covered by the Polar Night. Survivors are urged to pick them up and spread the word¡ªtogether, we will survive the dark. ¡°We haven¡¯t found one of these Soul Compasses yet,¡± Chen Sixuan said. ¡°Maybe once we reach Quancheng or meet another convoy, we¡¯ll get our chance.¡± ¡°Is it free?¡± Shasha, fiddling with a Pulse Resonator Circuit, asked skeptically. ¡°Think people are just handing these out?¡± KIKI raised a brow. ¡°Nowadays? People don¡¯t give you stuff for free.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t Phoenix handing them out?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Phoenix.¡± She looked at Lin Xian. ¡°Or maybe your Brother Lin can just scan one and make it himself.¡± Lin Xian shrugged. ¡°We¡¯ve got a Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum. This thing¡¯s only good for measuring ability thresholds. If Phoenix is mass-producing it, they¡¯ll definitely release the blueprints. Cities like Silent City, the Old Federation, and any group with R&D capacity will start making them too. No point hoarding it for profit.¡± For Lin Xian, it wasn¡¯t even a challenge¡ªhe could already scan and replicate mechanical structures with ease. He pressed the communicator, connecting with Dragon Mountain No. 1 and the other convoys. ¡°Lin bro, we¡¯ll probably reach Luobu in two or three hours. No idea if the zombies will thin out there. If it looks clear, I¡¯m thinking of stopping for water.¡± It was Shi Diyuan¡¯s voice. ¡°You guys short on water?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Not yet,¡± Shi said, watching the water tanks and supply crates from the cockpit of Dragon Mountain No. 1. ¡°But better safe than sorry. Past the Western Gobi, it¡¯s the Tagan Desert. If something goes wrong and we can¡¯t stop, a water shortage is way deadlier than hunger.¡± Other convoy leaders echoed the sentiment. Lin Xian looked to Chen Sixuan, who nodded seriously. ¡°We haven¡¯t had a proper water resupply since Clearwater Town,¡± Chen Sixuan said. ¡°That¡¯s when we topped off the tanks and loaded up on bottled water.¡± But since they¡¯d left Hengshan Pass, there hadn¡¯t been another chance to resupply. The snow from the Extreme Cold Vortex was so saturated with Dark Invasion toxins that even the Eerie Cube had issued warnings. Snow or desert¡ªthere wasn¡¯t much difference out here. Back in Xilan City, Chen Sixuan had managed to trade for some fresh water to bring onboard, but even that was running low. She had mentioned the issue to Lin Xian before¡ªbut at that time, with the entire city on the brink of collapse, water was the least of their concerns. Now, after escaping Abyss Zone No. 5 and entering the Western Gobi, the extended lack of resupply meant water shortages were starting to hit all convoys hard. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan quickly took stock of the Infinite Train¡¯s remaining water reserves¡ªand the result was worse than he¡¯d expected. The train had a fully functional water-oxygen recycling system. All graywater¡ªshower water, sanitation, even everyone¡¯s urine¡ªwas filtered and repurposed. This water was routed to Car No. 4, the plant cultivation carriage, then filtered three more times before entering the drinking supply. Thanks to the Eerie Cube, all water onboard was safe from secondary contamination by dark energy. But that only applied after it had entered the system. The Cube and filters couldn¡¯t neutralize the initial toxins from raw water. They only blocked bacteria and other contaminants. So, unless the water was absorbed by the body and processed naturally, their supplies were gradually being depleted. And water couldn¡¯t be reused forever¡ªevaporation through sweat, cooling systems for the nuclear-powered carriages, even the plants¡ªall of it meant a slow but constant loss. Infinite was still in relatively good shape compared to the other convoys¡ªfewer people, more reserves¡ªbut the water issue was becoming more serious by the hour. ¡°All we have from Xilan and the Zero Element Center are bottled water reserves,¡± Chen Sixuan reported in the No. 7 supply car. ¡°I¡¯ve limited rations to half a bottle per person per day. Once that¡¯s gone, we¡¯ll switch to recycled water.¡± She added, ¡°Right now, our two biggest water drains are the nuclear-powered engine carriage and Car No. 4¡¯s greenhouse.¡± ¡°These zombie tides are affecting our pace too,¡± she continued. ¡°Based on Brother Shi¡¯s report, we¡¯re still two to three hours from Luobu. If we don¡¯t stop there, we won¡¯t reach Akesai before nightfall. As for Quancheng, it¡¯ll probably take us until the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°Our food supplies are holding out better than water,¡± she admitted, ¡°but yeah, this is a real problem.¡± ¡°The Western Gobi is just too vast,¡± she sighed. ¡°If we don¡¯t get a solid resupply in Quancheng, we¡¯re in trouble.¡± ¡°Even if we do,¡± she added grimly, ¡°Phoenix has warned us: the longer the night drags on, the more toxic the water becomes. And right now, there¡¯s no real way to block or filter out the dark toxins¡ªonly our bodies can absorb and resist them.¡± Quancheng¡ªa forgotten city deep in the Tagan Desert. It was even more desolate than the Gobi. Beyond that, they had two routes: head east, across more than 6,000 kilometers of desert to reach Jinhe, or go south toward Luling or Baisha. Either way, it was all desert. There¡¯d be no easy exit anytime soon. So for now, the water issue was the most pressing concern for every convoy. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll have to scavenge along the way,¡± Lin Xian said with a helpless smile. ¡°As for the toxins¡ªanyone still alive now probably has the body for it. We¡¯ll just keep filtering it as much as we can. Better that than dying of thirst. At least we¡¯re not constantly drowning in Dark Tides anymore.¡± Screeech! Screeech!! Countless zombies with blackened blood and dried-out hair surged toward the high-speed train. In an instant, they were crushed into clouds of red mist by the unstoppable force. ¡°Whoaa!¡± A group of kids aboard the Sun Train pressed their faces to the windows, staring in awe at the exploding zombie gore along the tracks. Standing guard was a burly man with a thick beard¡ªOld Dong. He chuckled, ¡°Pretty wild, huh? Looks cool, but don¡¯t stare too long, kids. Might give you nightmares.¡± The sides of the joint convoy were now soaked in dark red gore, as if it had just emerged from an ocean of blood. Lin Xian made his way to the plant cultivation car, gazing at the lush green scenery with a conflicted expression. In a world buried under endless sand and blazing sun, this green was a balm to the soul¡ªbut it only reminded him of how bad their water situation really was. If the global water supply kept becoming more saturated with Dark Invasion, there¡¯d come a day when even water drawn directly into Infinite would trigger the Eerie Cube¡¯s alarms. The Polar Night hadn¡¯t even fully spread yet¡ªand already, humanity was facing one of its gravest problems. Lin Xian had no idea how many people were still alive in the world... or how many died each day. As he stared at the endless tide of zombies¡ªevery one of them had once been a living, breathing human on Blue Planet... Click clack. Click clack~ The train thundered forward. The crew of the Infinite had mostly recovered. In Fire Bro¡¯s car, all the blackout panels were wide open. Wearing his Infinite Bracelet, Fire Bro was lazily floating in the center of the carriage, casually adjusting his position with small bursts of flame from his fingers to stay level with the moving train. He completely ignored the zombies, basking in the sunlight like he was on vacation. Ever since he got his hands on that strange item, he¡¯d had a breakthrough¡ªlike the world was his playground. The whole Thermals incident was a thing of the past. ¡°Everyone, we might need to stop in Luobu ahead. We¡¯ll be looking for supplies¡ªespecially water. Get ready.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s voice echoed across the internal comms. Everyone who heard it began donning their power armor and preparing their weapons. Staying alert had become second nature to them. Lu Xingchen heard the call and immediately hit his communicator. ¡°Brother Lin! Allow me to lead the scouting party for this mission!¡± Ever since he¡¯d learned Lu Xingchen could fly, Lin Xian had been itching to make use of him. ¡°Go for it,¡± he replied. ¡°Just don¡¯t stir up any trouble.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Back in Car No. 1, Lin Xian was suiting up in his Black Hawk Armor, while 20 Thunder Falcon 2000 drones stood neatly on the ground, charging. Chen Sixuan glanced out the window and let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Looks like we were right. The further we go, the fewer zombies we see. They really were driven out by the Corpse Shepherds.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it,¡± Lin Xian said, adjusting the magnetic control engine on his Black Rifle, ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel sorry for the zombies...¡± Chen Sixuan pulled on her armor. The helmet sealed with a hiss, and her voice came through the internal speakers, calm and mechanical. ¡°The closer we get to the Federation zone, the more complicated things get. I heard back at Hengshan Pass¡ªthe cost to enter Dawn City has already shot up to three Blood Crystals or more.¡± Three Blood Crystals... Lin Xian opened a small drawer and took out the iron box Wei Kexue had given him. Inside sat three shimmering Eerie Blood Crystals. For someone like Wei Kexue to have gathered three of these¡ªit was no small feat. And he was part of Phoenix. For ordinary survivors, without someone strong on their side, killing three Pale Giants or Crimson Centipedes would be nearly impossible. ¡°Attention everyone¡ªLuobu ahead.¡± Chapter 312: Desert Iron Alliance Shi Deyuan¡¯s voice came through the communicator, snapping Lin Xian out of his thoughts. He immediately turned around. A mechanical gleam flashed in his eyes. Swish, swish, swish¡ªin an instant, all the blackout blinds on the Infinite Train lifted at once. Outside the windows stretched a barren expanse of rocky desert, covered in yellow sand. The long, winding joint train moved steadily across the land. Through the window, a small town in the middle of this desolate no-man¡¯s-land gradually came into view. The scorching sun shimmered above the wasteland, creating visible waves of heat. The distant town looked like the desiccated corpse of a camel¡ªtelephone poles like exposed ribs leaning awkwardly in the dunes, frayed wires trembling slightly in the haze. Further off, clusters of greenhouses dotted the landscape, their black tarps tattered and torn, resembling orderly scars slashed into the earth. The station was an old-school open-air platform. On its rusted metal roof, the three characters for ¡°Luobu Station¡± looked like they belonged to another century. The only reason this tiny place even had a rail connection was because it was on the way to Quancheng, and it used to be known for its melons. But at times like this, you could forget about finding such rare fruits. The joint train was so long that even before it reached the station, Longshan One started braking early. It had to slow down over a stretch of 500 meters before the entire train screeched to a stop. Lin Xian and Shi Deyuan quickly decided: just send a few people from the front cars to check things out. No need to linger in a place like this. If there was no water to refill, they¡¯d head out immediately and try to reach Akesai before nightfall. Once the train stopped, Lin Xian gave the eager Huo Ge an assignment, then had Shu Qin lead Shang Lu?chang and a few others. The group split up to scout the town¡ªsome from the air, others on foot. Longshan One¡¯s group, led by Ning Jing, set out with Xiao Qing and A Bai. With A Bai on board, Lin Xian didn¡¯t need to bother Ding or Hell Black Chrysanthemum. He could finally enjoy the rare luxury of kicking back and letting his teammates handle the exploring. He handed out more than ten comms posts to Shu Qin¡¯s group, instructing them to plant one every two kilometers to avoid signal issues. KIKI also launched a drone to patrol the surrounding airspace. Under the blistering sun, the automatic door of Car 5 slid open. Before Lu Xingchen and Shu Qin could step outside, a wave of hot, stifling air surged in. Wind whipped across the Gobi, flinging sand like razors. The very air reeked of grit. The power armor wasn¡¯t fully enclosed but had an attachable gas mask module. Lu Xingchen, not wanting the hassle, simply slapped on a reinforced windproof face shield. Then, with flames shooting from his fingers, he soared into the sky. Shu Qin also suited up in power armor and jumped out with her squad, rifles at the ready. Creak¡ª As boots hit the gravel and hard-packed sand, a gritty crunch echoed. From around the old platform and a few abandoned buildings, a handful of skeletal zombies staggered toward the train with hoarse groans. Whoosh! A spinning blade flashed through the air, slicing cleanly through the zombies¡¯ heads. Lu?chang retracted his electric blade and silently followed Shu Qin as they slipped deeper into the town. From the rest of the train, some squads peered through scopes while others launched drones. Once the train came to a halt, the survivors quieted down, waiting for the scouting teams¡¯ reports. In Car 2, KIKI piloted her drone as Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan stood behind her. On the main monitor, the town of Luobu looked like a forgotten wasteland. Not even 100 days after Doomsday, the desert had already reclaimed much of the town. Dry weeds blanketed the ground, and tattered storefronts had doors barely hanging by a hinge, creaking in the breeze with an eerie wail. Under the blazing sun, only the dried-out zombies remained¡ªwandering aimlessly in faded, weather-beaten clothes. The drone¡¯s buzzing drew some of the zombies¡¯ attention. They tilted their heads up, their milky white eyes scanning the sky. ¡°No water here, not even a busted-down car left to scavenge,¡± KIKI muttered as she nudged the joystick slowly. That guy next to her scoffed, ¡°We weren¡¯t planning to stay here anyway. Once we finish the sweep, we¡¯ll move out.¡± Jin Xuechen turned to him, ¡°By the way, before the polar night, didn¡¯t a few squads suggest keeping the joint convoy together permanently? But you and Shi said you might change routes, so that idea got scrapped.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all thinking of heading north to catch up with the Dawn Center, right?¡± Qian Dele nodded. ¡°Yeah. After all we¡¯ve been through, chasing down Phoenix Society¡¯s splinter group makes more sense. Safer for us too.¡± ¡°Yeah, makes sense,¡± that guy agreed. ¡°If we were sticking to one route, staying together wouldn¡¯t be a problem. But combining into one group permanently... that¡¯s a different story.¡± KIKI glanced over. ¡°There¡¯s no way we could manage that many people, especially with some of these teams...¡± Chen Sixuan raised a brow, puzzled. ¡°What kind of teams?¡± Lin Xian saw the look on KIKI¡¯s face and chuckled, explaining to Chen Sixuan, ¡°Longshan One¡¯s crew ran background checks on all the other teams before forming this convoy. They did a thorough job.¡± ¡°Back in Yijin City, Ning told us the Ocean Squad used to be black market smugglers in Xilan. Their crew¡¯s a total mess¡ªmixed crowd, terrible management. First day in the city, they already caused trouble. And then there¡¯s the Rose Squad. Eighty percent of the women on that team survived by selling their bodies during the apocalypse. The men? Basically pimps and hired muscle. Oh, and don¡¯t forget the Hellbringers...¡± ¡°Hell... what now?¡± Chen Sixuan frowned. KIKI¡¯s expression darkened. Lin Xian glanced at her odd reaction and said calmly, ¡°Hey, they¡¯re just a bunch of muscle-heads. Doesn¡¯t mean anything.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not overthinking!¡± KIKI scrunched her nose and shot a look at Sasa. ¡°Hey Sasa, have you ever seen your brother wearing denim booty shorts?¡± Bang! Startled by that, Sasa¡¯s hands slipped and her generator short-circuited in a burst of sparks. Her face froze in horror. ¡°W-what the h*ll?!¡± ¡°See?¡± KIKI pointed. ¡°Even she¡¯s freaked out.¡± Chen Sixuan couldn¡¯t help but pull a weird face. ¡°So yeah,¡± Lin Xian said flatly. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re only traveling together¡ªnot merging. Once we hit Quancheng, they¡¯ll all head north. Only us and Longshan One are going south to Jinhai.¡± ¡°What about the Queen Mo and Joker squads?¡± KIKI asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t that chick want to stick with you?¡± Lin Xian sighed. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with that when the time comes. If they want to tag along, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Qian Dele and Monica¡¯s squads were strong, and both of them had impressive abilities. Lin Xian didn¡¯t mind extra backup on the way to Jinhai. ¡°Captain Lin,¡± Shu Qin¡¯s voice came through the comms. ¡°We¡¯ve swept a few streets. Nothing noteworthy. Some signs of old camps, but nothing useful.¡± On a deserted street half-buried in sand, tumbleweeds rolled by in the wind. Shu Qin stood at a corner, Lu?chang watching from a nearby rooftop. ¡°There¡¯s still a few streets and a big market. Give us about ten minutes.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Lin Xian pressed his comm: ¡°Huo Ge, what¡¯s your status?¡± Whoosh¡ª High in the sky, Lu Xingchen relished the joy of soaring through the scorching daylight. With his speed, he could scan the whole town in minutes. The heat didn¡¯t bother him at all. Honestly, he was having the time of his life. ¡°Brother Lin, nothing spotted yet. Expanding search radius.¡± With a grin, he rocketed higher. Meanwhile, northeast of Luobu, on a remote farm, over a dozen spiked, heavily-modified off-road vehicles had surrounded a makeshift convoy of a bus and some smaller cars. These brutal-looking rides were welded with steel spikes, red vulture emblems warped to mimic Phoenix Society¡¯s logo, and weaponized fronts that looked like meat grinders stained with dried blood. One of the trucks was converted into a cage, packed with dozens of prisoners. Judging by their gear, they weren¡¯t from the same squad. Some wore metal masks and shackles¡ªlikely to restrain Awakened or enhanced types. Most were men, kids, or elderly women. A few recent captives screamed and struggled, trying to break free. In front of a warehouse, a crowd of raiders were in the midst of a sick, frenzied party. Clad in studded jackets and freakish outfits, they cheered wildly. In the chaos, six or seven women¡ªnaked, bloodied, bruised¡ªwere bound to wooden crates, being brutally abused by turns. Nearby, several corpses lay in fresh pools of blood. The scene was pure hell¡ªan apocalyptic wasteland of humanity at its worst. The raider leader, known as ¡°Brother J,¡± led one of the Red Vultures¡¯ sub-gangs. Unlike the others, he wore a clean white shirt, gold-rimmed glasses, and had slicked-back hair¡ªlike a well-groomed city professional. But in one hand, he held a Gurkha knife, dragging a struggling middle-aged man toward a girl. She was the youngest of the captives, naked but untouched, as if saved just for him. Tears streamed down her face as she watched him slash the man¡¯s shoulder¡ªblood sprayed like a fountain. ¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± ¡°Dad!!¡± She screamed in hysteria, yanking so hard on her chains that barbed hooks shredded her hands and feet. The surrounding raiders grinned with twisted glee. Brother J¡¯s eyes gleamed with madness. He was turned on by her reaction. Unzipping his pants, he growled: ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s it. Scream! Look at him and scream!¡± ¡°Let her go!¡± the man roared, blood pouring, pain forgotten. Just then, from the rooftop of a truck, a glint of light flickered through binoculars. The lookout¡¯s face changed, and he grabbed his radio: ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve got a problem¡ªsomething big just rolled into Luobu.¡± Just as Brother J was getting into the mood, he heard a voice come through the walkie-talkie. His manic expression vanished instantly as he zipped up and barked at the others around him, ¡°Cut the crap!¡± In the Western Gobi, you could never afford to let your guard down¡ªespecially when your scout had something to say. Every single bandit here understood that. In the blink of an eye, whether they were still at it or mid-act, they all yanked up their pants, grabbed their guns, and in perfect sync began guarding the perimeter. Brother J jumped back into the vehicle, grabbed the digital binoculars, and peered in the direction the scout had pointed out. In an instant, his pupils contracted. Far off near Rob Town, an armored doomsday train stretched endlessly across the horizon like a steel dragon. Blood and flesh clung to both sides of its carriages as if it had just burst out from hell. The sheer presence of it made Brother J''s expression shift dramatically. He issued a direct order: ¡°Sh*t, that¡¯s a major force from Xilan. Fall back, now!¡± Just one look was enough. Brother J knew his convoy couldn¡¯t afford to mess with this group. Since the enemy was stopping in Rob Town, they were definitely planning to investigate. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t need the tracks. As long as they disappeared into the Gobi before being spotted, even a train couldn¡¯t do much to them. As soon as the words left his mouth, the bandits rushed into their vehicles. Modified metal engines roared to life. One of the bandits, climbing aboard, pulled out a Molotov, planning to torch the half-naked women they hadn¡¯t finished with. The guy in front of him¡ªa bandit with a full beard¡ªturned and slapped the sh*t out of him. ¡°J said we¡¯re falling back. No noise, you f*ing idiot!¡±** Just as the convoy was about to move, the scout seemed to spot something. He pointed at the sky, mouth wide open. ¡°Crap! It¡¯s an Ability User!¡± The words spread through the vehicles via the walkie-talkies instantly. Everyone cocked their guns, ready for combat. ¡°Take him down!¡± ¡°Run!¡± In the skies above¡ªit was Lu Xingchen, sweeping the area around Rob Town. Finding nothing in town, he expanded his search. From afar, he spotted the farm with the massive water tank and immediately dived toward it. From the air, Lu Xingchen initially assumed the vehicles were part of a survivor convoy. He approached to negotiate, but the moment he saw the bodies littering the ground and the prisoner transport truck, his face turned cold as ice. Da-da-da! Gunfire rang out first from the ground as the bandit vehicles opened fire. Simultaneously, they revved up and kicked up dust, clearly preparing to flee. ¡°You dare to kill and loot right in front of me? Then today is the day you die!¡± Boom! As the convoy sped across the desert, dozens of rifles fired at the sky. But the next second¡ªa giant fireball the size of a basketball court fell from the heavens, eclipsing the sun. ¡°Fire Fist!¡± Buzzzzz! Under the blazing sun, dozens of doomsday vehicles tore across the desert. Near the Infinite Train, on a patch of wasteland, more than a hundred people had gathered¡ªcaptains and elite members from 22 different convoys. Meanwhile, the top of the Joint Train was armed to the teeth: electromagnetic cannons, 1130 turrets, machine gun towers, and patrolling guards with weapons secured the area. Even approaching zombies were taken out in advance. Lin Xian, Chen Sixuan, KIKI, Shi Diyuan from Dragon Mountain No. 1, Qian Dele from Joker Convoy, Monica from the Monica Queen, and Luo Yang and Li Yi, all stood together watching the convoy roll in. Not long after, more people dispatched from Dragon Mountain No. 1, along with Shu Qin, Lu? Chang, Ning Jing, and Xiao Qing, had brought over the vehicles from the Crimson Vulture Gang and the raided convoy, including the caged prisoner truck. Inside the truck, dozens of disheveled people looked terrified. Faced with this overwhelming steel behemoth, many stared wide-eyed, swallowing nervously. The sudden turn of events had left them confused, unsure of their fate. Clang, clang. As the lead truck stopped, Shu Qin and Xiao Qing dragged out the last seven or eight surviving bandits, including the white-shirted Brother J. Their weapons had been confiscated, and iron chains now wrapped around their bodies. On the bus, the survivors from the attacked convoy huddled together. Some of the assaulted women trembled under blankets, others lay unconscious or weeping, tended to by their companions. Swoosh¡ª Descending from above, Fire Bro landed with a crash, stomping on Brother J¡¯s back. The sheer force made him cough up blood violently. ¡°You fing bstards! Do you even know who I am?! Kill me, and all of you are dead!¡±** Brother J, bleeding from the mouth, glared wildly at Lin Xian and the others. Even in chains, he still acted arrogant. ¡°Brother Lin, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lu Xingchen exhaled and looked apologetically at Lin Xian. ¡°When I saw these inhuman scumbags hurting women, I lost control. I might¡¯ve burned a few too many...¡± ¡°How many died?¡± Lin Xian glanced at the still-spitting Brother J and asked. ¡°They had about forty guys. These seven are all that¡¯s left.¡± Ning Jing yanked a bandit from the trunk and hurled him like a sandbag. He hit the ground hard, a cloud of dust and the sound of cracking bones following. He passed out without a scream. She glanced at Xiao Qing, whose gun-blade was still dripping with blood. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t stopped her, there wouldn¡¯t be a single one left.¡± Xiao Qing stared at the seven surviving bandits with an emotionless face. Had she not been stopped, she likely wouldn¡¯t have spared a soul. ¡°Scum like you deserve death.¡± Xiao Qing said coldly. Her rare archaic tone made Lin Xian glance at her¡ªwasn¡¯t this 2069? Could Fire Bro¡¯s habits be contagious? ¡°F* this. Why keep these animals alive?¡±** Shi Diyuan swept his gaze across the group and barked. ¡°There¡¯s a reason.¡± Qian Dele scrutinized the gear and vehicles. ¡°These rides are custom-modified for desert terrain. That means they¡¯re not migrants¡ªthey¡¯re desert bandits based in the Western Gobi.¡± Shi Diyuan frowned and turned to Lin Xian: ¡°You planning to get something out of them?¡± Before Lin Xian could answer, Brother J suddenly shouted, ¡°Kill me then! Go ahead! Let¡¯s see if you can even make it out of this desert!¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± KIKI, having heard everything over the comms, was already furious. With a snap of her fingers, she clamped his jaw shut with telekinesis. All of his teeth shattered instantly¡ªhe couldn¡¯t even scream as blood gushed out. Lin Xian nodded to Shu Qin, who stepped forward, kicked Brother J over, and used her gun to pop open his shirt buttons. On the left side of his chest was a dark-golden hexagonal device embedded over his heart. ¡°This the thing?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Shu Qin nodded. ¡°According to him, they¡¯re part of a desert alliance called the Iron League, with over ten thousand members. They¡¯re bound by mutual interests. That device is the Iron League Emblem¡ªif his heart stops, all nearby Iron League convoys will launch an attack on us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± another bandit joined in defiantly. ¡°You mess with us, and you¡¯ll never make it out of this desert. The Iron League will tear you apart!¡± ¡°Bullsh*t!¡± Shi Diyuan glared. ¡°You think we¡¯re idiots? That thing can send a signal like that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± From the prisoner truck, a sunburned young man grabbed the bars and shouted in fear: ¡°These bandits work together to rob convoys heading to the Federation or Phoenix. That device sends out a localized signal packet, like a radio broadcast. If it goes unanswered every three hours, nearby Iron League convoys will converge here. Our troops were killed the same way!¡± ¡°Ours too!¡± Another middle-aged man growled from inside the cage. ¡°They¡¯re like starving wolves!¡± ¡°Makes sense now.¡± Shi Diyuan sneered. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re still so cocky on death¡¯s doorstep. A ten-thousand-man alliance? You trying to scare us?¡± ¡°Signal packets...¡± Qian Dele folded his arms thoughtfully. ¡°Sounds a lot like Phoenix¡¯s Fire Log signal system.¡± ¡°But why would these bandits unite? That¡¯s not normal.¡± Li Yi was confused. ¡°Yeah, something¡¯s off.¡± Luo Yang agreed. ¡°Lin Xian.¡± Chen Sixuan whispered in his ear. ¡°The guy¡¯s still acting tough. Could he really be holding onto something powerful?¡± Lin Xian glanced at Brother J, who was now struggling to speak through bloody lips. He gave KIKI a signal. ¡°Mmm¡ªmmgh!¡± Freed from her psychic grip, Brother J was now filled with dread. These people were terrifying. Their methods were endless, and he¡ªonce a convoy leader¡ªwas powerless even against their underlings. The leaders looked even scarier. Brother J knew he was doomed. Desperation kicked in, adrenaline surged, and he masked his fear with arrogant bravado. He struggled to his feet and spat blood as he mumbled, ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Fine, kill me then. That train of yours¡ªit¡¯s full of supplies, women, and treasure. Once the Iron League locks onto it, we¡¯ll rip up your tracks and trap you like flies.¡± ¡°Heh heh heh... you¡¯re probably low on water, right? Even the army won¡¯t mess with us in these parts. Killing me just gifts the League a target. The rest of my Crimson Vultures? They¡¯ll be living the good life! Hahaha!¡± Everyone¡¯s faces darkened. Who would¡¯ve thought this ragtag convoy would dare to threaten a force of over four thousand? But the more he spoke, the more plausible it sounded. If it was true, then these desert hyenas really were a formidable menace. They wouldn¡¯t face you head-on¡ªthey¡¯d chip away, rip up tracks, lure in monsters, and ambush you in the night. The convoy leaders began exchanging uneasy glances. Killing this group was easy¡ªbut the consequences? Unclear. So, everyone turned to Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan for a decision. ¡°Oh really?¡± Ning Jing¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°We¡¯ve got weapons for monsters. Not sure if your little League can handle it.¡± ¡°Tch, a pack of mutts dares to threaten the Infinite Train?¡± Lu Xingchen ignited a flame in his palm. ¡°Even a hundred thousand of you can¡¯t stop me from wiping you all out!¡± ¡°Fire Bro, that was awesome.¡± Shasha shot him a thumbs-up. ¡°We¡¯ve killed S-class eerie entities. You think we¡¯re scared of desert scum?¡± Daluo, gripping her Steel-Slaying Greatsword, silently stepped forward, her eyes locked on the bandits. Just one word from Lin Xian, and she¡¯d send them straight to hell. ¡°Who¡¯d have thought desert scum could pull off a whole alliance?¡± Monica, fanning herself while standing beneath a parasol held by her aide, smiled coolly. ¡°But you made the wrong call messing with us. Our train can move without tracks. As for your Iron League... let¡¯s see if they¡¯ve got the balls for a real fight.¡± Her confidence made Brother J¡¯s twisted grin falter. He glanced around nervously. The Infinite Train, Monica Queen, their armor was top-tier. Mounted railguns, 1130 turrets, and Arc Pulse Resonators lit up ominously. He couldn¡¯t even understand the tech¡ªbut he could tell these weren¡¯t normal trains. So yeah, now he was panicking. He knew his death wouldn¡¯t mean much¡ªjust that he¡¯d passed along a target. Whether the Iron League attacked or not had nothing to do with him anymore. But showing fear would get him killed faster. Maybe if he looked confident, they¡¯d keep him alive¡ªbetter to live a little longer than die now. ¡°Brother Lin,¡± Shi Diyuan stepped closer and said in a low voice, ¡°Monica¡¯s right. These guys are playing the whole ¡®little devils are harder to deal with than big ones¡¯ game. But thinking a few words could shake us? That¡¯s underestimating us.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± KIKI chimed in. ¡°Killing them would be doing them a favor.¡± Lin Xian¡¯s eyes flicked over the vehicles, the prisoner truck, then back to the bloodied Brother J. He walked over, his gaze sharp and serious. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to him. Brother J blinked. A young man was approaching him. From the crowd¡¯s reaction, he realized¡ªthis was the leader. This whole iron train was under his command. A rich boy, probably. That¡¯s what Brother J assumed. If he was still alive, it meant this guy was scared. The longer he lived, the more leverage he had. Confidence crept back into his eyes. Lin Xian looked him over and said, ¡°So you mean, as long as we don¡¯t kill you, we won¡¯t have any of these problems?¡± Brother J hesitated, knowing this was exactly the dilemma. But he already had a plan. ¡°Heh, whatever. Lock me up, chop off my arms and legs, toss me in the wild¡ªI don¡¯t care. But if you lock me up, the signal gives you away. If you torture me, I¡¯ll die anyway. I¡¯m a dead man either way.¡± He smirked as he stared at Lin Xian. ¡°And you guys? You¡¯re f*ed either way.¡±** Lin Xian paused, then said: ¡°Then I guess... I have no choice but to let you go?¡± ¡°Hahahahaha!!! Look at you! You choose, idol!¡± Brother J was laughing maniacally, blood pouring from his mouth. His tied-up lackeys around him burst into laughter too. Seeing how arrogant he was, the others looked grim. Lin Xian swept his gaze across the group, paused as if weighing options, then turned to Brother J and said, ¡°There¡¯s no way we¡¯re letting you go. What you brought up is a legit concern. Looks like we¡¯ll have to lock you up first and figure things out later.¡± Brother J¡¯s expression twitched slightly, but he didn¡¯t stop smiling. He knew damn well they wouldn¡¯t let him go¡ªbut hey, he was still alive. That was a win in his book. Whatever torment lay ahead, or whether he''d find a way to escape, that was a problem for later. Looking at Lin Xian now, Brother J felt a little more at ease. Just as he thought¡ªthis guy didn¡¯t have the guts. He couldn¡¯t even play him, and he dared go up against the Iron Alliance? Sooner or later, he¡¯d be meat on the chopping board. ¡°Do what you want!¡± Brother J chuckled creepily, so smug it made people want to punch his face in. But Lin Xian eyed his blood-stained white shirt with interest. ¡°Not bad, huh? Wearing something flashy in a place like this hellhole. You must¡¯ve lived pretty well before Apocalypse Day. Delicate skin too. I¡¯ll have to make sure you get special treatment.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Brother J¡¯s face twisted. Delicate skin? What the h**l did that mean? Before he could ask, Lin Xian suddenly turned and called out, ¡°Big Brother Dong.¡± ¡°Yo! Captain Lin!¡± From the back of the crowd, a deep, magnetic voice answered. A second later, people started stepping aside. Especially the men¡ªexpressions shifting from surprised to horrified, then to gloating... and some just straight-up disgusted. Step, step. Four or five towering, muscular men strode in. Mid-30s to 40s, bodies like they lived at the gym¡ªbulging muscles, each one built like a tank. The shortest was easily 6''1". The leader? A massive beast with a receding hairline, full beard, hairy chest under a tight tank top, and tattoo sleeves up both arms. These guys weren¡¯t just scary. Everyone knew the Hellbringers Convoy wasn¡¯t to be messed with¡ªand that every single one of them had a ¡°thing¡± for men. Even most guys didn¡¯t dare make eye contact with them. ¡°What... What are you doing?¡± Brother J¡¯s face went pale at the sight. Lin Xian ignored him, looked straight at Big Brother Dong with a serious face. ¡°These bastards raided our convoy. They r*ped women. I want to ask¡ªhow would your team deal with scum like that?¡± Dong blinked, caught off guard. Why the hell was he being asked? Still, instinct kicked in: ¡°F***ers like that? Cut them down, no question. I hate nothing more than cowards who prey on women. Ptooey!¡± ¡°Yeah, just kill them already!¡± ¡°Slice ¡¯em up!¡± His guys chimed in immediately. Then Dong turned back, respectfully: ¡°But of course, we¡¯ll do whatever you say, Captain Lin.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°Well, I was thinking... we lock them up, give them a taste of their own medicine. But there are women and children on board¡ªthey won¡¯t want to be anywhere near these punks. I heard your carriage¡¯s a bit empty... maybe you guys could help us out?¡± Dong blinked, then it clicked. He looked at the group of captives¡ªeyes lighting up. He gulped. ¡°Say no more, Captain Lin. I get you.¡± He looked at the bus, then gave Brother J a wicked grin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Captain. You hand these delicate little... I mean, b**tards over to us, and we¡¯ll take real good care of them. Bring them back to you good as new!¡± He twisted his thick neck, bones cracking like a warning shot. The other hulks all smiled¡ªbreathing a little heavier. Their eyes went from angry glares to gleeful stares, almost... appreciative. ¡°Wow, Captain Lin really trusts us!¡± ¡°I hate r*pists the most. I¡¯m gonna¡ª I mean, we¡¯ll take care of them. Yeah.¡± ¡°Finally, something fun in this godforsaken place...¡± ¡°Alright, boys¡ªgrab ¡¯em!¡± Brother J and his gang shuddered. Their captors¡¯ eyes were way too intense. He turned to Lin Xian, furious. ¡°F***! Just kill me or let me go¡ªdon¡¯t play mind games! That s*** doesn¡¯t work on me!¡± Lin Xian smiled and said nothing. He just nodded at Dong. Eyes sharp, Dong and his men stormed forward, grabbed the captives, and started dragging them toward the train. ¡°Do you f***ing know who I am?!¡± Brother J screamed as Dong approached. Dong leaned in, voice low and wicked: ¡°Heard you like people calling you daddy. Don¡¯t worry, baby¡ªwe¡¯ll let you call it all you want.¡± Brother J¡¯s face froze in terror. He stopped struggling, eyes glassing over. Dong hoisted him up with one arm, over his shoulder. Still, J thrashed wildly, blood flying from his mouth as he screamed: ¡°Kill me! Just f***ing kill me!!!¡± Everyone around had complex expressions. A few guys visibly cringed, imagining the fate that awaited those poor bastards. Even Daluo shuffled to the side. Dude was built like a steel tower himself, but at least his tastes were... normal. If it were him, he¡¯d just kill them. Quick and clean. Nearby, Ning Jing and the others watched, satisfied... but concerned. ¡°Captain Lin, if you hand them over like that, they probably won¡¯t survive.¡± Lin Xian turned, calm as ever. ¡°I never said they had to survive. Didn¡¯t Big Brother Dong say they¡¯d come back intact?¡± He looked over at the military bus and smirked. ¡°Guys like that¡ªjust killing them is too easy. If they love r*ping so much, let¡¯s see how they like being on the receiving end first. That¡¯s fair.¡± ¡°Wha¨C?!¡± Everyone was stunned. Monica, intrigued, looked over. ¡°You¡¯re not worried about the Iron Alliance coming after us?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Qian Dele sneered. ¡°It¡¯s all bluff. I say Lin did the right thing. No way we¡¯re letting ourselves be played.¡± Shi Diyuan crossed his arms. ¡°Exactly. If we run into more of them, so what? What, are we rats that run at the first sign of a cat? F*** that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Lin Xian shook his head and raised his hand. In front of everyone, he activated his Mechanical Manufacturing skill. In under a minute, tiny parts came flying out and assembled in the air¡ªforming a gold hexagonal bio-signal tracker from J¡¯s chest. ¡°It sounds fancy, but it¡¯s really just a signal transmitter synced to a life form. Its most complex part is the unique identity code.¡± Lu Xingchen¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So you¡¯re using this thing to trick them? That way we won¡¯t trigger the death signal?¡± ¡°Ugh, you''re so slow!¡± Before he could finish, little Shasha rolled her eyes. ¡°And here I thought you were cool earlier.¡± ¡°Huh? Did I guess wrong again?¡± Lu Xingchen scratched his head. Chen Sixuan smiled. ¡°Think about it¡ªif we carry this instead of him, it¡¯s the same signal. But it¡¯ll lead them away, and we can dodge the Iron Alliance entirely.¡± KIKI added with a grin: ¡°Exactly. And we can track this Crimson Vulture crew¡¯s movements too. Might even uncover their base¡ªand their supplies. Turn defense into offense.¡± Their analysis clicked with everyone. The crowd stared at Lin Xian, eyes full of awe. Lin looked back at the two women. Damn. They knew him almost too well. ¡°Whoa, genius!¡± ¡°That could totally work!¡± ¡°Lin¡¯s the man!¡± ¡°Bet that guy thought he had us fooled!¡± ¡°And we need resources anyway!¡± ¡°We should wipe out every convoy like this one. It¡¯s what all survivors want!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Shi Diyuan clapped his hands, laughing. ¡°Just what I needed¡ªwas dying to find water out here, and they bring it to us? Let¡¯s be desert bandits for once, haha!¡± Lin Xian nodded. His gaze swept across the desert. ¡°Nothing here but sand and corpses. Finding water¡¯s damn near impossible. But desert raiders like them? They know where it is. So we¡¯ll let Big Brother Dong and the guys squeeze them for intel. I¡¯ll backtrack their convoy¡¯s path. We¡¯ll find plenty.¡± Some trouble can¡¯t be avoided¡ªmight as well face it head-on. And let¡¯s face it: local scum like these knew the terrain better than any outsider. Judging by their passengers, they were probably running a trafficking ring. Any area they¡¯ve touched? Already cleaned out. If we want resources, picking over these desert rats is the simplest way. Lin Xian thought he was being very clear. But as soon as he finished... Everyone looked at him like he was a f***ing psycho. ¡°Squeeze them?¡± Seriously? You played the helpless guy a minute ago, and now it turns out you never cared if that guy lived or died, never feared the Iron Alliance, and were just brainstorming the most existentially horrifying punishment possible? And your solution... was to hand them off to a busload of very enthusiastic bodybuilders? Even Satan would take notes from you. Even the Eerie Entities would call you relatable. Chapter 313: Tolls Clang! The steel cage swung open, and dozens of survivors captured by J Bro were finally freed. Half of them were members of the hijacked bus convoy. Pretty much anyone with any combat ability in that group had been taken. Of course¡ª If you were a woman, even if you could fight, you still had to be ¡°used¡± by those animals first. ¡°Dad!¡± A girl from the bus rushed off and ran into the arms of a middle-aged man with a gash on his shoulder. ¡°Thank you!¡± The man¡¯s face was pale. He looked like he was just starting to crawl out of his pit of despair. Out of sympathy, Lin Xian had Shu Qin return their vehicle and the supplies that had been looted. Some of the other convoy groups chipped in and gave them extra provisions¡ªpost-apocalyptic solidarity, you could say. The rest of the people were survivors from other convoys. Judging by their condition, they¡¯d been locked up in that cage truck for two or three days at least. Now freed, they were beyond emotional. Some wore helmets and ankle shackles¡ªthese were Ability Users. After a quick chat with the other convoy leaders, Lin Xian helped assign them to small units within the joint convoy, while others joined the Tianba military team. Otherwise, they¡¯d have been left to die in the wild. Most of them were no pushovers either¡ªconvoys like the Oceanic were practically fighting to recruit them. Lin Xian picked up one of the ankle shackles and found a remote-controlled high-voltage discharge device built in. Clearly used to control low-level Ability Users. And as if that wasn¡¯t enough, that 40-man convoy from the Crimson Vulture Group had two Arc Pulse Rifles, 20 standard rocket launchers, a stockpile of explosives and ammo¡ªeven suicide drones. This wasn¡¯t some back-alley operation. Something smelled off. At the same time, they got a lot of valuable intel from the freed prisoners. The biggest reveal was about the so-called Desert Iron Alliance J Bro had mentioned. Rumor had it this alliance of sand raiders only popped up within the last month or so across the Western Gobi and Tashi Sands. In a short time, they¡¯d built a reputation for brutality and chaos. Even though survivor alliances and Phoenix bases like those near Jinhe had launched repeated attacks, this group kept growing stronger. They operated like mad dogs: attack one, and the whole pack bites back. Most survivors wanted nothing to do with them. The Iron Alliance would kidnap and loot the weak, but if they ran into a big convoy, they¡¯d slip away into the Gobi¡¯s vast, uninhabited zones¡ªonly to return with more raiders for a counterattack. Unless you had a huge convoy, there wasn¡¯t much you could do. Some convoys even started handing over supplies as bribes to avoid confrontation. But even that didn¡¯t guarantee safety. Pay off one group, and another could hit you by nightfall. In this hellscape, bandits don¡¯t play by any rules. After all, survivors just wanted to escape. These raiders? They were full-blown apocalypse junkies, building secret hideouts in the desert like they were partying through doomsday. ¡°You... you guys are heading toward Akesai next, right?¡± As the joint convoy finished cleaning up and was about to move out, a sunburned young man spoke up. ¡°Yeah. Why? You know something?¡± Shi Diyuan responded immediately. The guy quickly said, ¡°I heard something¡ªdon¡¯t know if it¡¯s useful. There¡¯s a big convoy stationed at Akesai. Their leader claims to know a hidden route that bypasses all the raiders and leads straight to Quancheng. He¡¯s selling this ¡®secret¡¯ for one Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystal per five people.¡± ¡°What?¡± Everyone gasped. ¡°One blood crystal for five people?¡± ¡°Who¡¯d fall for that? Total scam.¡± ¡°He¡¯s ¡®claiming¡¯ to know?!¡± Chen Sixuan sneered. ¡°What kind of bulls*** is that? What, the raiders are deaf and blind? Why would they let anyone pass?¡± But Ning Jing picked up on something off. She asked the man, ¡°So you¡¯re saying... you guys got attacked because you didn¡¯t pay that toll?¡± He nodded, hurriedly explaining, ¡°At first, we didn¡¯t believe it either. But that convoy told us they had an arrangement with the raiders. That blood crystal was partly meant to be handed over to Lin Xian. So basically, it wasn¡¯t really about the route¡ªit was just a toll.¡± ¡°So what you¡¯re really saying...¡± Akesai narrowed his eyes. ¡°They¡¯re not actually part of the raiders?¡± ¡°Exactly. If they were, why not just rob everyone directly? Why all the theatrics?¡± ¡°So if it¡¯s fake...¡± The young man paled and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s true or not. But that small convoy had been stationed near Shi Diyuan for two weeks without being attacked. Because of the Dark Mark, other convoys weren¡¯t allowed to stay there overnight. A lot of groups decided to camp nearby instead¡ªtoo scared to go deeper into the Gobi, afraid of both the raiders and the ¡®White Night.¡¯ Then, when the attacks started, they either paid the toll or ran. Your team was the only one that didn¡¯t pay... and well...¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Lin Xian raised his brows. ¡°A bandit alliance like this¡ªhit one, they all jump you. Even Phoenix¡¯s Starfleet can¡¯t wipe them out. So they let some middleman do the toll collecting. Avoids full-on retaliation, and they get supplies without firing a shot. Clever setup...¡± Everyone looked at Lin Xian. His analysis left them visibly uneasy. Clearly, this bandit alliance was a bigger problem than they¡¯d thought. ¡°They really think they own the place,¡± Qian Dele scoffed. ¡°They get to bully people, but no one¡¯s allowed to touch them? And they collect tolls too? Arrogant pricks.¡± ¡°Tch! They just haven¡¯t messed with us yet.¡± KIKI folded her arms, fuming. ¡°If they try anything, I¡¯ll crush every last one of them.¡± ¡°Agreed. This method has merit.¡± Lu Xingchen, usually quiet, finally spoke, his gaze cold. Ning Jing frowned. ¡°The concern is if they decide to hit the rail line.¡± Lin Xian gave her a helpless smile. ¡°That¡¯s the trouble with people¡ªthey¡¯re worse than the Eerie Entities. When villains decide to bleed you dry, you don¡¯t even get to choose how.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Shi Diyuan shouted. ¡°Looting or tolls, whatever! Let¡¯s see if a bunch of desert thugs can scare us more than the monsters in Xilan! I dare them¡ªlet¡¯s go to war!¡± ¡°Damn right!¡± ¡°Scumbags can¡¯t even fight monsters, so they pick on survivors instead.¡± Everyone nodded. They¡¯d just survived a literal bloodbath. Worrying wasn¡¯t useful¡ªit was better to prepare for a fight. Thanks to his Mechanical Ability, Lin Xian had turned this potential crisis into an opportunity. Like Shi Diyuan said¡ªmaybe it was time they became the desert raiders. Take the initiative, solve a threat, and gain resources in the process. The joint army was powerful and resource-hungry, and its members came from all over. No way a pack of bandits could scare them off. 13:00 ¡ª The Joint Convoy rolled out of Rob Town, racing to reach Akesai before nightfall. In Car No. 2, KIKI was copying data from J Bro¡¯s signal device into one of Lin Xian¡¯s modified analyzers. The core team of the Infinite Train had gathered here to strategize. Even Luo Yang and Li Yi had been called in for some early team bonding. Lin Xian had already deployed a fake signal transmitter somewhere in Rob Town. As for J Bro¡¯s original device, he¡¯d shut it down completely. Those seven captives? Now being ¡°looked after¡± by 80-plus brutes from the Hell Vanguard Convoy. Daluo sat far off on the sofa, cradling her rifle. Beside her, Lu Xingchen idly fiddled with his Infinity Ring, as quiet as ever. ¡°Captain Lin, I don¡¯t think this raider group is just about looting.¡± Li Yi, pregnant and visiting the Infinite Train for the first time, still looked a little nervous¡ªbut she spoke up anyway. ¡°We¡¯ve run into gangs like this before. They¡¯ll rob, kill, burn¡ªanything. But they¡¯re not stupid. If they built that ¡®sky cage¡¯ to catch people, they definitely have a purpose.¡± ¡°I think the same,¡± Chen Sixuan nodded. ¡°Those special helmets and chains? No way a regular convoy has gear like that. They were ready to kidnap Ability Users from the start.¡± ¡°Human trafficking?¡± KIKI leaned on her chin, spinning in her chair. ¡°So what¡¯s the end goal?¡± ¡°Selling them to the Descent Faction, maybe?¡± Shu Qin offered seriously. ¡°Like the Foundation or Crimson World. They¡¯ve used Ability Users in biochem experiments before.¡± ¡°Good point!¡± Luo Yang pushed his glasses. ¡°That¡¯s probably why they have so many resources¡ªthey¡¯re being funded, which makes them more dangerous.¡± ¡°Then why the tolls?¡± Lu? Chang asked. ¡°That¡¯s just to throw people off,¡± KIKI said. ¡°You think paying once means they won¡¯t rob you again? Please. They just want to lull people into a false sense of security. Best move? Wipe them out.¡± Lin Xian sat at the edge, examining a hexagonal Life Signal Device made of dark gold. His face unreadable. ¡°Hey, Lin Xian, what do you think?¡± KIKI leaned back and looked over at him. Everyone turned to him. ¡°This thing looks small,¡± Lin Xian exhaled, ¡°but the internal design is as complex as the Phoenix Order device.¡± ¡°So yeah, you¡¯re all right. This raider gang isn¡¯t just a random alliance. Someone powerful is behind them.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s still something I don¡¯t get¡ªespecially that convoy at Akesai. What¡¯s their angle?¡± If a major organization had united these raiders, offering incentives for attacks and abductions across the Gobi, that¡¯d be one thing. But the whole toll scheme felt contradictory. KIKI¡¯s theory seemed the most likely: just another two-faced scheme to squeeze people dry. ¡°So, got any useful intel from the device yet?¡± Still feeling scattered, Lin Xian turned back to the data package embedded in the Iron Alliance token. ¡°Not yet,¡± KIKI pointed at the screen. ¡°This thing¡¯s basically a mobile shortwave transmitter. It uses ambient wave storage tech, but without satellite support, we can only triangulate through signal movement. I¡¯ve locked onto the strongest overlapping signal and started tracking the reflection points. But the signal¡¯s weak¡ªwe¡¯ll have to move before it gets clearer.¡± She turned and added, ¡°If we went the wrong direction, we¡¯re screwed. But if we can find a few more of these, cross-referencing the data gets easier.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t go the wrong way,¡± Lin Xian said. ¡°Their hideout¡¯s definitely in the opposite direction of the Polar Night zone. Once we get out of range, we¡¯ll lose it.¡± "Lin Xian, our route is definitely going through Akesai. What¡¯s your take?" Chen Sixuan glanced out the train window, her brows slightly furrowed. On the southern side of the tracks, out on the Gobi, a dozen or so survivor vehicles were tearing across the terrain alongside the Infinite Train. It was the same convoy that had been attacked earlier¡ªthey looked like they were trying to tag along for some protection. "That little convoy¡¯s lucky we ran into them," Chen Sixuan said coldly. "Judging from how arrogant those bandits were, this definitely isn¡¯t their first rodeo." Lin Xian thought for a moment. "Let¡¯s not enter Akesai yet. We¡¯ll stop early and scout the situation first." Before getting a clear picture, Lin Xian had already decided to proceed cautiously. Towns were always hotspots¡ªpacked with zombies and eerie entities, and now with some unknown faction holed up in Akesai, there was no room for reckless moves. The Infinite Train thundered along the barren tracks, picking up speed in a bid to reach the outskirts of Akesai before nightfall. Around 3 PM, the train passed through a salt marsh region and entered an ancient dried-up riverbed. The tracks followed the wind-eroded banks, winding eastward through a landscape carved into mushroom-shaped rock pillars and reddish-brown Yadan formations. Based on their progress, they were less than two hours away from Akesai. That¡¯s when every convoy picked up a transmission on the civilian survivor frequency¡ªcoming straight from Akesai! ¡°Zzzzt... Akesai broadcast: All convoys seeking safe passage to Quancheng, proceed to the Black Rose Bar in downtown Akesai before nightfall. Convoys and armed personnel are prohibited from entering the city¡ªonly leaders and select individuals may enter lightly equipped. If you¡¯ve got no sincerity or you''re not afraid to die, feel free to detour. Anyone who tries to force their way in... consequences are on you... zzzzt...¡± ¡°F***, they¡¯re actually broadcasting tolls on public radio? That¡¯s insane!¡± Onboard the Infinite Train, everyone who heard the transmission looked stunned. ¡°They¡¯re not even letting convoys in...¡± ¡°Lin Xian, what if we just storm the place and blow them all to pieces?¡± KIKI burst out, fuming. Charging tolls on the Infinite Train? Did their electromagnetic cannons not run hot enough? Was the 1130¡¯s rate of fire too slow? ¡°Cool it,¡± Lin Xian said calmly. ¡°We¡¯re big and loud¡ªeasy to spot. No doubt the desert bandits have people stationed around Akesai. We were never planning to head in anyway. Camping out in the open might be safer for now.¡± What happened at Luobu Town had been a wake-up call. The region was crawling with bandits, and they¡¯d formed powerful alliances with supply chains and military-grade weapons¡ªnothing to take lightly. Their 15-kilometer-long train was an obvious target. Sure, those sand bandits couldn¡¯t match their firepower, but even flies and mosquitoes could be a real nuisance. Their biggest concerns now were water shortage and eerie entities at night. So Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan both agreed¡ªno blind charges into town. They had drones, flying ability users, and even a Nightstar-3 hypersonic aircraft. Reconnaissance was way easier than before. And since the spread of Abyss Zone No. 5 was currently slow, they didn¡¯t need to worry about Polar Night catching up just yet. ¡°So then?¡± Chen Sixuan asked. Lin Xian looked around at the others. ¡°Don¡¯t you think the voice in that radio transmission... sounds familiar?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Familiar?¡± ¡°Who is it...¡± Everyone looked puzzled. KIKI frowned and turned up the volume. Just then, the broadcast repeated: ¡°Zzzzt... Akesai broadcast: This is the Fortune-Longevity Convoy. All convoys seeking safe passage to Quancheng¡ª¡± ¡°Fortune-Longevity?!¡± ¡°That gold-toothed scumbag?!¡± Shasha exclaimed. ¡°No f***ing way, that shady dealer ended up here?¡± Miao Lu stared in disbelief. Everyone on the Infinite Train remembered this guy all too well. ¡°It¡¯s the convoy from Hengshan Pass!¡± Even Luo Yang and Li Yi had crossed paths with them there. ¡°So it¡¯s him...¡± KIKI gritted her teeth. ¡°What¡¯s that guy doing hooking up with desert bandits?¡± Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°We¡¯ll stop soon and check out Akesai with a few other convoys. Maybe it¡¯s time to catch up with our... old friend.¡± The moment he heard that laid-back, scheming voice, Lin Xian remembered the guy who once sold him a full truckload of automatic rifles¡ªand who¡¯d actually passed along some good intel. They¡¯d even talked about future collaboration. Now he¡¯d popped up here, mixed in with bandits, and Akesai was the choke point on their route. Lin Xian made up his mind to investigate. They had plenty of aerial recon options, including KIKI and others. Even without entering the city, they could get a good read on the situation. Half an hour later, the Infinite Train came to a halt in the middle of a desolate Gobi stretch. No buildings in sight, just ballast stones by the rails. Not even zombies¡ªjust endless yellow sand and dry weeds. A gust of wind kicked up a wave of dust. The piercing brake screech rang out, and the steel beast of a train sat still in the blazing wilderness. Seeing the train stop, the survivor bus convoy also rolled up and parked beside it. Since everyone knew this group, none of the other teams objected¡ªthey just let them tag along. Meanwhile, two off-road vehicles rolled down from Dragon Mountain No. 1. Not heavily armored, but high clearance and strong engines, desert-camouflaged¡ªperfect for the Gobi. Along with Ning Jing, Xiao Qing, and A''Bai, Qian Dele from the Joker Convoy joined the team. KIKI would drive, with Lin Xian riding shotgun. Originally, Shi Diyuan had planned to go too, but he was still healing from injuries. Lin Xian preferred he stay back and manage the camp. So Ning Jing took command of Dragon Mountain No. 1¡¯s team. A¡¯Bai, with his Laser Eyes and Hell¡¯s Black Chrysanthemum, was a walking threat. It was broad daylight, but better to stay cautious. ¡°I thought we were flying over,¡± Qian Dele said, puzzled at the sight of the off-roaders. ¡°No need for that right now,¡± Ning Jing replied seriously. ¡°Flying¡¯s fast¡ªour Nightstar could cover this distance in a minute¡ªbut it¡¯s loud. In this open, cloudless terrain, we¡¯d spook the entire region.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just scouting the outskirts for now. We¡¯ll decide after that,¡± Lin Xian explained. Even though everyone could technically fly using KIKI¡¯s telekinesis, it wasn¡¯t convenient for the full trip¡ªover 100 kilometers¡ªand driving gave them more flexibility. ¡°Got it,¡± Qian Dele nodded. He had just finished speaking when someone unexpected joined the group¡ªMonica. Qian Dele blinked. ¡°Whoa, since when did road scouting require you to personally show up?¡± Monica tapped her helmet, lifting the visor. She gave Qian Dele a glance, then looked seriously at Lin Xian. ¡°As convoy leader, I have a responsibility to the team. Besides, staying cooped up too long messes with psychic strength. Getting out helps me train it.¡± Lin Xian narrowed his eyes. ¡°But we¡¯re just¡ª¡± ¡°I can hear a kilometer away,¡± she said, cutting him off with a sly smile. ¡°Get in,¡± Lin Xian chuckled, not bothering to argue. Qian Dele gave her a look like, Oh, I know what you¡¯re playing at, then whipped out a hydration spray from his coat and misted his face before hopping into Ning Jing¡¯s vehicle instead. The two off-roaders started rolling into the Gobi, kicking up clouds of dust behind them. KIKI drove. Lin Xian sat beside her. In the rearview, he glanced back at Monica. The heat was sweltering. He cracked open a water bottle and took a sip before breaking the silence. ¡°Monica, how come I never heard you had that kind of ability?¡± Monica, lounging in the backseat with her legs crossed, smiled. ¡°My ability is Sound Blade¡ªso I¡¯m sensitive to sound frequencies. I just never mention it. Otherwise, my guys might stop whispering my name while, you know... jacking off at night.¡± Pfffft! Lin Xian spit his water all over the windshield. Even KIKI, focused on the road, blushed and clenched her teeth, muttering silently, ¡°Disgusting...¡± Monica never said much, but when she did¡ªalways a curveball. Lin Xian wiped his mouth, mourning the wasted water. His expression turned strange. If Monica was serious, did that mean she knew everything said or done on the Infinite Train? Sensing his unease, Monica said casually, ¡°Relax. Using that ability drains me. Unless it''s mission-critical like this, I don¡¯t eavesdrop for fun.¡± She wasn¡¯t lying. Using her ability consumed serious energy. It was her tool for keeping tabs on the convoy, not for invading privacy¡ªexcept when necessary. Lin Xian coughed lightly. ¡°Your ability is way more powerful than I expected...¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Monica replied with a smile, though she didn¡¯t answer directly. Whether she had a stake in the Infinite Train or not¡ªonly she knew. In the rearview mirror, Lin Xian saw her gazing out across the vast plain, a faint smile on her lips. He couldn¡¯t quite read her. Revealing an ability like this usually made people wary¡ªbut she just came out with it. Was it a sign of trust, or something else? One thing was clear¡ªhe¡¯d definitely underestimated Monica. Chapter 314: Axe! The two vehicles rumbled along the edge of the railway across the Gobi Desert, wheels crunching gravel and sand. The vibrations of the engines made the dry grass and rocks along the way tremble. Eventually, the cars turned off the path and drove up a slope, stopping beneath a massive wind-eroded rock. The group disembarked and walked to the edge of a sand-swept cliff. From this vantage point, a town came into view¡ªisolated in the vast desert plain. Akesai sat alone at the center of the Gobi, slightly larger than Luobu, intersected by a national highway and the northern rail line. Yet the whole town was swallowed by sand, its colors blending perfectly with the landscape. There were no high-rises¡ªmostly old, low western-style buildings. Even the more modern roads and streets were now deserted and half-buried under yellow sand. They each pulled out electronic binoculars and peered toward Akesai. The place looked barren, but there were clearly several convoys camped inside. Lin Xian adjusted his scope to scan the outskirts of the town. Along the national highway, more survivor convoys were slowly trickling in and gathering near an abandoned gas station. This didn¡¯t match what Lin Xian had heard on the radio earlier. ¡°Didn¡¯t they say other convoys and armed personnel were banned from entering?¡± Ning Jing said sharply, eyes fixed through her binoculars. ¡°Looks like no one¡¯s listening.¡± ¡°A Bai?¡± Lin Xian asked. A Bai shook his head¡ªnothing unusual spotted. ¡°These look like regular convoys,¡± Qian Dele commented. ¡°But all gathering here... maybe there¡¯s some connection to the Desert Bandits¡¯ alliance.¡± ¡°You mean out of fear?¡± Monica asked. Qian Dele shrugged, ¡°Not necessarily fear. Maybe they just don¡¯t want trouble. This place is crawling with zombies and high spirit resonance levels. Once night falls, weird entities are bound to show up. And past Akesai is a stretch of thousands of kilometers of uninhabited wasteland. If we¡¯re gonna move, best do it while the sun¡¯s up. Survivors are just trying to minimize risk. The bandits know that.¡± Monica lowered her binoculars, expression unreadable. ¡°With this many large convoys gathered, none of them seem particularly worried about the bandits.¡± Lin Xian glanced at KIKI, who was tapping away at her mobile terminal. ¡°How¡¯s it looking?¡± She grinned, ¡°Bingo. This Iron Command Token works just like the Phoenix Token¡ªit picks up local data packets. There¡¯s a lot of similar signal activity around Akesai.¡± She tapped again. ¡°But nothing inside the town itself. Looks like the bandits don¡¯t dare mess with Akesai directly.¡± Lin Xian nodded, ¡°Typical bandit behavior. Good for hit-and-runs or harassing small squads. But this place has ten convoys with at least a thousand or two survivors. They¡¯d have to be brain-dead to try anything here.¡± Ning Jing frowned, ¡°Then how does the Fu Lu Shou convoy still have the guts to charge tolls here?¡± ¡°Seeing is believing,¡± Lin Xian said, eyes narrowing as he conjured a several-meter-high signal antenna behind him. ¡°But if they¡¯re daring enough to pull that stunt in front of all these people, there¡¯s gotta be a reason.¡± He pressed his communicator, adjusting it to sync with the Joint Train¡¯s signal. ¡°Testing. Mr. Chen, can you hear me?¡± Crackle ¡°Lin Xian, I hear you.¡± ¡°Brother Shi?¡± ¡°Yeah, Lin. What¡¯s up?¡± With the connection established via the signal posts he¡¯d planted along the way, Lin Xian gave his orders. ¡°Brother Shi, Mr. Chen, have the Joint Train move another hundred miles forward. Like we discussed earlier, organize ten assault squads. I¡¯ll send you coordinates soon¡ªdisperse and proceed as planned.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Ning Jing stood up and turned to the others. ¡°Your ride¡¯s coming. Let¡¯s go. Time to catch up with this old acquaintance outside the town.¡± ¡°Heard there¡¯s no bar even in this wasteland,¡± Akesai muttered with mild disappointment. ¡°Not as much freedom as those days outside the polar night.¡± Monica walked to the car, just about to get in when she turned to Ning Jing. ¡°Hold up a sec.¡± She activated her power armor, stepped out, stripped off her inner suit, then changed into a desert-proof windbreaker, added sunglasses and a dust scarf. Ning Jing blinked in surprise¡ªthis guy even kept a casual outfit tucked into his armor? The two off-road vehicles roared back to life, charging toward Fu Lu Shou Town through wind and sand. Scattered zombies lunged toward them as they sped through the heat haze. Whirr! Two silver blades spun outward, flying low across the horizon like buzz saws, cleanly slicing apart all the zombies approaching from both sides. In the passenger seat, KIKI¡¯s eyes gleamed with psychic energy. A faint smirk tugged at her lips. ¡°Not bad at all.¡± Lin Xian frowned slightly, ¡°Where¡¯d you get those? I didn¡¯t even see you bring them.¡± ¡°Roof rack,¡± KIKI said, pointing up. ¡°Only brought two¡ªtesting them out.¡± Lin Xian chuckled, ¡°Nice move. Perfect for clearing out monster swarms.¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t know if it¡¯ll work on weird entities,¡± KIKI replied. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll find out.¡± In the back seat, Monica smiled as she listened. ¡°Captain Lin, why is everyone with you so damn skilled? Where¡¯d you find these people?¡± ¡°Find them?¡± Lin Xian smiled at the memory. Back in Jiang City, he¡¯d even posted ads trying to recruit people for the Infinite Train plan¡ªdidn¡¯t get a single bite. Both Chen Sixuan and KIKI had joined completely by accident. ¡°I didn¡¯t. Met them along the way.¡± A glint flashed ahead. As the two off-roaders neared the outskirts of town, binoculars turned in their direction. Dried-out zombie corpses littered the fields. Some convoys had set up camp at gas stations and motels outside the town, while others had already entered and settled in the city¡¯s side streets. The vehicles rolled onto the cracked roads, drawing wary glances from armed sentries posted on rooftops and street corners. These convoys came from all over, each keeping to themselves. No interaction, just mutual observation. Veteran survivors could tell a lot from a vehicle¡¯s build. Lin Xian¡¯s cars weren¡¯t heavy transports¡ªthey were scouts. Everyone could see that. This kind of entry wasn¡¯t uncommon. Cautious teams always sent scouts first before bringing in the main group. Akesai was a chaotic mix of travelers¡ªnobody was throwing parties here. Following Ning Jing¡¯s vehicle through twists and turns, they finally reached the old market and found the Black Rose Bar. The street was crowded with vehicles. If not for the weathered sign covered in dust and the apocalypse-themed mods on every car, you¡¯d think this was a lively pre-Doomsday strip. Survivors armed to the teeth lounged around the parked vehicles¡ªclearly from different teams. As Lin Xian and the others got out, they attracted a lot of stares. They were too young, too clean, and too good-looking to look like folks who¡¯d been surviving months in the apocalypse. ¡°Is this a real bar or just a front?¡± Qian Dele muttered, eyeing the steady flow of people in and out. ¡°Kinda feels weird...¡± Monica tilted her head, eyes scanning beneath her sunglasses. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m curious how things work here at night.¡± ¡°Only one way to find out,¡± Ning Jing said. They headed to the door. Two burly men in power armor stepped forward and blocked the way. One of them pointed to Xiao Qing. ¡°No weapons inside.¡± They were all Awakened, but Xiao Qing was visibly armed¡ªwith a gunblade. She looked at Ning Jing and said, ¡°I¡¯ll guard the car.¡± Then turned and headed back. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Ning Jing nodded, and the guards let them through. Inside, the scene shifted dramatically. The dusty, battered sign outside gave way to a surprisingly clean and tidied-up interior. A heady mix of alcohol and desert dust hit them immediately. Dim yellow lighting illuminated the bar. Booths and the bar counter were packed. The bartenders¡ªtwo men in shades. The waitstaff¡ªattractive women. But by the look of them, it was clearly all an act. Everyone in here had a purpose, quietly sipping the limited drink selection. Just as Lin Xian was puzzling over this strange setup, a tattooed waitress walked up. Her face said, ¡°I¡¯d rather be out killing zombies.¡± ¡°This way,¡± she said with a sigh. She led them to a booth in the back and tossed a card onto the table. Three drink options were listed: Whiskey, Rum, Brandy. ¡°We¡¯re not here to drink,¡± Lin Xian said directly. ¡°We¡¯re here to see your boss.¡± The waitress glanced around the bar and replied, ¡°None of them are here to drink.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s this about?¡± KIKI asked. Monica picked up the card, voice calm. ¡°I¡¯m guessing these drinks stand for something else. Supplies, intel, toll?¡± The waitress gave her a look. ¡°Correct.¡± Ning Jing frowned. ¡°You guys really charge tolls?¡± ¡°Up to you,¡± the waitress replied bluntly. ¡°If you¡¯re strong enough, you don¡¯t need to bother.¡± Qian Dele chuckled under his breath. ¡°Knew it. Radio warnings were just scare tactics.¡± Understanding dawned on Lin Xian. He reached out and pointed to ¡°Whiskey.¡± Tap. The waitress tossed down a pen and gestured for Lin Xian to write on the card himself. Lin Xian thought for a moment, then jotted down his request. The waitress picked it up, glanced at it¡ªand immediately frowned. She shot him a baffled look. "You sure about this?" "I¡¯m sure." "...Alright, if you say so." It was the first time the waitress had seen such a bizarre supply request. Her gaze swept curiously across the group, then she went to the bar to whisper something, and disappeared through a side door. Moments later, another server arrived with six glasses of chilled whiskey. Monica picked one up with a smile, giving it a little swirl. "Not bad. Looks pretty legit." KIKI took a sip. "Hmm, not bad at all. Looks like this guy¡¯s got access to all kinds of supplies¡ªeven this much booze." Ning Jing glanced around. "Pretty crowded too..." "Most folks who come through here know a thing or two about desert bandits," said Qian Dele, arms crossed and speaking calmly. "Past Aksay is a huge no-man¡¯s land. Even if our train doesn¡¯t stop, it¡¯ll take at least a full day and night to get to Quancheng. So people come here to gather info, team up, or just avoid charging blind into the wild." "A¡¯Bai," Lin Xian turned to the silent one at his side. "Any sign of a Dark Mark?" A¡¯Bai put down his glass and nodded. "Yeah. A lot." "Now that we¡¯ve got ways to detect Dark Marks, it¡¯s not so easy to form alliances anymore," Ning Jing added. "Everyone checks your convoy before teaming up¡ªotherwise, they¡¯re just asking for trouble." Qian Dele nodded. "If you¡¯re not backed by a big convoy and you''ve got the Mark, you¡¯re on your own." "And not every convoy¡¯s worth joining." Lin Xian¡¯s gaze shifted to Monica, who was already knocking back her drink faster than anyone else. "Monica, think you can keep an eye on a few people for me?" "Oh~" Monica looked intrigued. "Tell me who. Let¡¯s see if I already guessed right." Lin Xian leaned in and whispered a few words. Monica¡¯s eyes lit up. "Bingo!" "Captain Lin, what did you notice?" Ning Jing asked. Lin Xian looked at her and spoke softly. "Desert bandits." Ning Jing immediately frowned. In a secret underground chamber below the bar, the lights were bright, thick carpets covered the floor, and stacks of supplies filled the corners. An old electric fan hummed as Hu Lushou, dressed in a shirt and shorts, solemnly packed eerie blood crystals into a metal box. "98, 99, 100..." "D*mn it." His golden teeth gleamed as he muttered and sealed the box. Even with so many Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystals, Hu didn¡¯t look happy¡ªinstead, he seemed troubled. And there were several other boxes just like that in the room. He paced anxiously, repeatedly glancing at a strange communicator on a low table. Its light was still flashing red. Clunk. The heavy alloy door creaked open. This underground room had once been a small nuclear shelter¡ªfitting, since Aksay had once been a nuclear test town, full of hidden weapons facilities. The one entering now was none other than his lieutenant, Sun Chang. Sun Chang¡¯s mechanical arm had clearly undergone major upgrades¡ªnow armored in red components, looking far more powerful. "Boss." "Don¡¯t talk to me. I¡¯m stressed as hell." Hu slumped onto a messy sofa with a brooding look. "An old acquaintance just showed up." Sun Chang walked over, her cold face impassive as she handed a card to Hu Lushou with her mechanical arm. Hu blinked in confusion, then glanced at the card. His eyes fixed on it¡ªthen snapped wide open. "A thousand Xinghuo-26 Tactical Rifles? Who the f*...?"** Before he finished the curse, his face tightened. He looked up at Sun, then back at the card. "Who gave this to you??" "They¡¯re right outside¡ªthree men, four women. Their Soul Wave Value is high¡ªnot peak, but... these seven alone could raze the whole bar." Sun Chang¡¯s voice remained flat. Hu¡¯s expression flickered wildly. He shouted, "Quick, get them in here!" Sun gave him a glance, turned, and walked out. Hu Lushou scrambled around the room in a panic. He considered hiding the blood crystal boxes¡ªbut then gave up. Instead, he straightened his clothes, cleaned up the sofa, pulled out a premium bottle from his private stash, and fetched several glasses. Soon, footsteps came down the stairs. Hu turned and saw Lin Xian and his group entering the underground room. "Whoa, this place is huge!" KIKI looked around in amazement. The moment Hu heard her voice, he confirmed their identity. "Captain Lin?" Lin Xian removed his windproof mask and looked at Hu Lushou, half amused. "Boss Hu, I gotta say¡ªyou really have no shame, doing business with bandits now?" Zzzzz... The blast-proof alloy door slowly shut. Inside the spacious bunker, Lin Xian, KIKI, Qian Dele, Monica, Ning Jing, and A¡¯Bai were seated in the guest area. Hu Lushou hurriedly poured drinks for everyone, grinning wide. "Captain Lin! Wow, what a surprise. What brings you all the way out here?" "We should be asking you that." KIKI slammed the table and cut straight to the point. "Spill it¡ªwhat¡¯s this about charging ''tolls'' for the bandits?" All eyes turned to Hu. Sun Chang stood nearby, stone-faced. Hu froze mid-pour, then laughed awkwardly. "We¡¯re all friends here, right? Alright, I¡¯ll be honest..." He cleared his throat, sat on the sofa, and said: "The desert¡¯s crawling with bandits. Lately they¡¯ve even formed some infamous alliance¡ªit¡¯s chaos out there. Convoys getting robbed, people killed, women assaulted... you name it. So I, being a man of principle, decided to¡ª" "Cut the crap." Sun Chang¡¯s cold voice interrupted, giving her boss zero face. Lin Xian smiled faintly and glanced at his watch. "It¡¯s almost nightfall. Don¡¯t waste time. I just want to know how this toll system works¡ªand if you have intel on the bandits, even better." Hu¡¯s expression darkened slightly. "It¡¯s not that complicated. When I got here, I ran into some desert bandits. I negotiated with them. I collect tolls for them¡ªconvoys that pay get a special signal transmitter. With that, the bandits along the way turn a blind eye. That¡¯s all it is." "So you partnered with bandits to save your own skin?" Ning Jing¡¯s voice was icy. "That¡¯s not fair!" Hu shot to his feet. "You don¡¯t get it. Ever since I made that deal with the Iron League, attacks in the Western Gobi dropped by seventy percent. Seventy! I¡¯m not saying I deserve a shrine, but a little gratitude wouldn¡¯t kill you!" Lin Xian chuckled softly and stood up. "Shrine, huh? Sounds like the bandits already built you a temple¡ªand you''re about to get buried in it." He turned to leave. "Captain Lin! Save me!" Before Lin Xian even finished speaking, Hu Lushou¡¯s smug expression completely crumbled. With a loud thud, he dropped to his knees, immediately switching to a pleading face. ¡°Don¡¯t go, don¡¯t go! I¡¯ll talk¡ªI¡¯ll tell you everything, okay?¡± ¡°D*mn, that was fast,¡± KIKI exclaimed, stunned. The rest of the group looked equally surprised. Only Hu Lushou¡¯s assistant, Sun Chang, remained unfazed, clearly used to her boss dropping to his knees. Once Lin Xian sat back down, Hu Lushou quickly stood up, his expression mixed. ¡°Captain Lin, I¡¯m telling the truth. You might not believe me, but aside from making money and staying alive, I did all this to help small convoys find a way to survive.¡± Lin Xian glanced at him. ¡°Do you believe that?¡± ¡°Those are desert bandits. You think they keep their word?¡± Qian Dele scoffed. ¡°Even if they did, five people for one eerie blood crystal? You¡¯re profiting off disaster, man.¡± Hu Lushou sighed. ¡°Of course I know you can¡¯t trust sand bandits.¡± ¡°Then why...¡± He raised a hand to cut Qian Dele off. He pushed aside a cup on the low table, revealing a map of Akesai underneath. He pointed at it. ¡°Because of Abyss Zone No. 5, Haiqu¡¯s route is no longer viable. Akesai has become the main passage to Quancheng. I know one eerie blood crystal for every five people is steep, and that the bandits won¡¯t behave even after collecting their cut. The so-called big gangs around here only act calm because they¡¯re getting paid. The rest? Forget it. They talk about an alliance¡ªpfft. Just a bunch of apocalypse thugs. What morals would they have?¡± ¡°But the point is, as long as enough convoys gather in Akesai¡ªwhether they paid or not¡ªthe bandits won¡¯t dare make a move. There are too many people here now.¡± He glanced at Lin Xian, a little sheepish. ¡°And yeah... a lot of them paid the toll...¡± Then he straightened up. ¡°So any convoy in this area, paid or not, can do one thing.¡± ¡°What thing?¡± KIKI asked. ¡°Form an alliance!¡± Hu Lushou slapped the table, face serious. ¡°Because bandits only prey on small and mid-sized convoys. The bigger ones? They stay away. If these smaller teams stick together, they¡¯ll be much safer.¡± ¡°Oooh~¡± KIKI raised a brow. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, you offered a platform¡ªon the surface collecting tolls, but really warning passing convoys about bandit threats and encouraging them to huddle together?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Hu Lushou clapped his hands, looking touched that someone finally understood his ¡°good intentions.¡± Lin Xian looked at him, expression neutral. ¡°We¡¯ve met some of those bandits. They¡¯re doing kidnappings and raids, and they¡¯re armed to the teeth. Someone¡¯s backing them. If that¡¯s the case, why would they cooperate with you?¡± Hu Lushou chuckled. ¡°Bandits aren¡¯t dumb. No matter who they work with, it¡¯s all about profit. Raids mean guns, bloodshed, risks. With me? No need to lift a finger, and they still get paid. If I were a bandit, I¡¯d take the deal too.¡± ¡°And another thing.¡± He leaned in, lowering his voice. ¡°Those big convoys? They don¡¯t even take the bandits seriously. Because the real threat in this region isn¡¯t the bandits.¡± ¡°You mean the darkness?¡± Hu Lushou nodded. ¡°There¡¯s a huge problem in the Western Gobi¡ªsandstorms. Even during the day, those storms bring Eerie Entities. The most common? Sand Ants. You can¡¯t kill them all. Even the Starfleet has to hide from them. Open wilderness? Total deathtrap. You can¡¯t even avoid the Dark Mark. Some survivors from the wastelands said they saw some kind of terrifying atmospheric creature¡ªit swallowed entire people and vehicles into the sky.¡± He was getting more animated, and turned to Lin Xian again. ¡°And I¡¯ve got intel¡ªthere¡¯s a Forbidden Item in the wasteland!¡± ¡°A Forbidden Item?!¡± Everyone, including Lin Xian and KIKI, exclaimed in shock. ¡°Yup,¡± Hu Lushou nodded mysteriously. ¡°Because of that, the Angel Project sent people here. And another group showed up too¡ªsomething called Holy Revelation. Super secretive.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of them,¡± Monica said with arms crossed. ¡°They¡¯re a splinter group from the Angel Project. The Descent Faction, right? Real shadowy. Don¡¯t hear much about them.¡± Lin Xian nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the name too.¡± Hu Lushou continued, ¡°That¡¯s why I say the bandits aren¡¯t the biggest problem. At night, it doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯ve got the Dark Mark or not¡ªdo not move. Even the baddest bandits crawl into a hole to hide.¡± Lin Xian glanced at Ning Jing. They locked eyes¡ªthis intel was far more critical than any bandit threat. ¡°Looks like the wasteland between Akesai and Quancheng is the real problem,¡± Ning Jing said. ¡°Boss Hu, what can you tell us about these Sand Ants?¡± Lin Xian asked. ¡°Well...¡± ¡°They eat people.¡± The usually quiet Sun Chang finally spoke. ¡°When they swarm, they consume everything like locusts. The only hope is to stay in the car. And it better be sealed tight. If they get in, nothing¡¯s left¡ªnot even bones.¡± ¡°Yes! Exactly!¡± Hu Lushou nodded violently. ¡°And that¡¯s not even the worst part. Deeper into the wasteland, there are Eerie Entities you can¡¯t even imagine. Way scarier than the ones we saw at Hengshan Pass!¡± Lin Xian exhaled slowly, then looked at him. ¡°Thanks for the info, Boss Hu. So¡ªwhat do you want from me?¡± Hu Lushou, seeing Lin Xian was pleased, quickly made a troubled face. ¡°See, I collect a lot of blood crystals here. Every three days, the Sand Scorpion Gang and Crimson Vultures come to split the tolls. If I leave, won¡¯t the small convoys here be left to fend for themselves¡ª¡± Lin Xian raised a hand to cut him off. ¡°Spare me. You just want to save your own *ss.¡± Caught mid-sob, Hu Lushou grinned sheepishly. ¡°Well yeah... Captain Lin, I¡¯m stuck. I only took 20% of the profit, but if I bail, those bandits will tear me apart. So I contacted a few convoys¡ªthinking...¡± ¡°Thinking you¡¯d pull together a big group and make a break for it?¡± KIKI smirked. Hu Lushou nodded. ¡°Well, bad news.¡± Monica chimed in politely. ¡°We already asked around. Your plan¡¯s been exposed. There are at least three bandit scouts outside, watching the bar. Even if the whole city bolts, they¡¯re not letting you go.¡± ¡°Well, you are pretty plump,¡± Qian Dele added, eyeing the room full of rare supplies and blood crystals. ¡°Gotta say, you¡¯ve got guts. Doing something this risky, and living fat off it.¡± ¡°Captain Lin, please save me!¡± Before anyone could react, Hu Lushou dropped to his knees again. Even Sun Chang sighed, closing her eyes. ¡°Captain Lin, what they want is info on the bandits.¡± Hu Lushou froze mid-cry, looked up. ¡°Lin... Lin Xian, those bandit gangs? Easily five to six hundred strong. They¡¯re armed. You guys can¡¯t take them on.¡± From what Hu Lushou knew, Lin Xian¡¯s Infinite Train had big guns and powerful ability users, sure¡ªbut only around thirty people. No match for that many bandits. ¡°Exactly,¡± Lin Xian replied calmly. ¡°Which is why someone as cautious as you has surely gathered intel on the bandits¡¯ outposts, right?¡± ¡°You... what do you want? You¡¯re not afraid they¡¯ll team up?¡± Hu Lushou asked, confused. Lin Xian shook his head and looked him in the eye, tone slow and heavy. ¡°I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll run away.¡± Chapter 315: Im Afraid Theyll Run Away "I''m afraid they''ll run." When Lin Xian said that, not just Hu Lushou but even Sun Chang were stunned, looking at Lin Xian in disbelief. Qian Dele and Monica exchanged odd glances as well. They had thought playing desert bandits was just a joke, but now, from the sound of it, this guy wasn''t just acting like a bandit leader¡ªhe was planning to take on Ping¡¯an City? KIKI chuckled beside him, her face glowing slightly. Lin Xian¡¯s plans always seemed counterintuitive at first glance but proved to be incredibly foresighted. Lin Xian knew well¡ªthe real danger was the night. Even with everyone working together, surviving through the night wasn''t guaranteed. But if someone stabbed them in the back, it could wipe them all out. No amount of defense could match the destructive force of Tang Hai and Crimson World''s track sabotage. The United Train was about to head into uncharted territory. And with sand bandits being a potential threat, the sooner they were dealt with, the better. Humans were way better at creating trouble for their own kind than the Eerie Entities ever could be. Right now, Lin Xian had over four thousand people on the United Train, more than a thousand armed with tactical-grade power armor, plus countless Rampage-level Ability Users. Their firepower was enough to rival a Starfleet battalion. Why tiptoe around sand bandits? His only concern was not wiping them out completely¡ªleaving behind any threat would be a problem. The data packet from Brother J¡¯s Iron Alliance transmission revealed that these sand bandits each had their own territory. They weren¡¯t unified, and their interests were tangled up. Coincidentally, Hu Lushou and the surrounding area near Akesai involved several of the main bandit groups. For Lin Xian, that was a golden opportunity. "Captain Lin..." Hu Lushou''s eyes widened. "You... what do you mean?" "When was your original evacuation plan?" "The day after tomorrow." "How many convoys?" "Three, plus ours makes four. The biggest one is the Dawn Convoy¡ªover two hundred people, lots of heavy weapons. The others are the Safe Haven Convoy and the Akesai Brotherhood¡ªsmall convoys. All together, just four to five hundred people. We¡¯ve checked¡ªnone of them are marked with the Dark Mark." "You¡¯re pretty cautious." Lin Xian leaned forward from the couch, snapped his fingers, and motioned him to come closer. Then he whispered his plan to him. "What?!" Hu Lushou''s eyes nearly popped out. "That¡¯s... that¡¯s insane..." Before he could finish, Lin Xian casually dropped something into the glass in front of them with a clink, then said in a tempting tone: "So, Boss Hu¡ªhow about we team up again?" Hu Lushou¡¯s pupils constricted the moment he saw what was in the glass. He took a sharp breath. "Alright! I¡¯m all in! I¡¯m putting it all on you, Captain Lin!" 16:20 PM, Lin Xian and his group exited the Black Rose Bar, all wearing sand masks to cover their faces, then drove straight back the way they came. Outside Akesai, the setting sun scorched the horizon, and heatwaves shimmered above the land. Two off-road vehicles sped through a gravelly desert stretch, arriving at a hidden windbreak canyon. There, a makeshift camp of two armored base vehicles and over a dozen other types of vehicles came into view. Closer inspection revealed the camp was occupied by Bao Yuanyuan and her crew. "Ms. Chen, three o¡¯clock, clear the airspace." "Got it." Chen Sixuan, dressed in desert-toned wind gear, squatted on top of a base vehicle and calmly fired a sniper shot toward the space behind Lin Xian¡¯s convoy. Boom! The sniper¡¯s roar echoed through the wasteland. A small, concealed drone exploded midair just behind them, bursting into a small fireball. KIKI glanced back, frowning. "That drone operator... I could never spot them. No way they¡¯re using a long-range signal, right?" Monica, in the back seat, chuckled. "He¡¯s an Ability User. Well-trained, great at hiding. He was behind that wind-eroded rock the whole time." "That explains it." Clunk clunk¡ªthe two vehicles pulled up in front of the camp. Lin Xian immediately had Lu? Chang lead a team to chase in the direction Monica mentioned. "He¡¯s gone already. Probably can¡¯t catch up," Chen Sixuan said seriously as she got down from the vehicle, seeing Lin Xian approach. Lin Xian looked back, then smiled. "We spotted their drone. If we don¡¯t send someone to investigate, wouldn¡¯t that be impolite?" From the front car, Ning Jing stepped out with Xiao Qing and A Bai. She glanced around the camp, then looked curiously at Lin Xian. "I thought you called in backup because you were worried we¡¯d run into trouble in Akesai. Turns out it was all for show?" "No, no," Lin Xian smiled helplessly. "Sis Ning, don¡¯t give me that much credit. I really was worried we¡¯d run into trouble, so I had the team lying low around Akesai, ready to assist. It was only after I learned what was going on that I changed the plan last-minute." Qian Dele stared at him, amazed. "So you knew someone was tailing us all along? And you let it slide on purpose?" "Of course. You forget Lin Xian¡¯s a Mechanical Ability User? How could he not notice a drone on his tail?" KIKI yawned. "But that guy was like a lizard¡ªtotally silent. Really sneaky." Monica walked over, adjusting her scarf in the dusty wind. "Those sand bandits started following us the moment we left the Black Rose Bar. They saw us enter the basement and assumed we were a convoy allied with Hu Lushou, so of course they wanted to investigate." Lin Xian looked at her. "What else did you hear?" Monica folded her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "Plenty. They debated whose boobs and butt were bigger¡ªmine or Ning Jing¡¯s. Wondered how many of us were part of your harem. Commented on your stamina, Old Qian¡¯s preferences, KIKI¡¯s measurements... They trashed each of us, and you guys got roasted too. The language was disgusting. Want to hear the highlights?" Silence fell. Everyone stared at her in stunned awkwardness. Seeing their reactions, Monica shrugged and laughed dryly. "Told you¡ªI¡¯m not into eavesdropping for fun." Sometimes knowing too much is a burden. Luckily, Monica had a strong ego. Unlike most women, she saw men¡¯s crass chatter as confirmation of her charm¡ªand a window into their hypocrisy. Ahem. Lin Xian cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "I meant the sand bandit info." "They¡¯ve been targeting the Fu Lu Shou Convoy¡ªthat big fish¡ªfor a while now. And now that we¡¯ve worked with Hu Lushou, they¡¯ve basically mapped out all the convoy alliances." Monica¡¯s expression turned serious. "If Hu Lushou makes a move, they¡¯ll strike first." "Now they suspect we¡¯re allied with Hu Lushou too. That¡¯s why they tailed us¡ªtrying to gauge our numbers and firepower." Lin Xian nodded just as Lu? Chang returned with a dozen people, looking sheepish. "Captain Lin... he got away." "Good," Lin Xian let out a deep breath. "Huh?" Lu? Chang was confused. They¡¯d failed¡ªhow could that be good? Lin Xian glanced over the Gobi desert, where nightfall loomed. He straightened up and addressed the group. "Alright, time to go. Hu Lushou said the desert at night is dangerous as hell. We need to get back and prep early." Everyone agreed. Engines roared, and the convoy pulled out, vanishing into the swirling sand. Akesai, Black Rose Bar, Basement. Hu Lushou paced anxiously, his face tense. "Dmn it, dmn it... I just wanted to make some clean money. Why¡¯s that so hard?" Sun Chang stood quietly nearby, expression flat. It¡¯s the end of the world¡ªwhat part of that says ¡®peaceful¡¯ to you? she said coldly, "It''s getting dark, boss." "I know, I know!" Hu Lushou¡¯s eyes darted around, then landed on a glass on the low table. Inside was a dark-gold Iron Alliance Token¡ªa life-signal packaging device. He knew exactly what that meant. Lin Xian had taken out an Iron Alliance member, yet dared to strut into Akesai with just a few people. That either meant the Alliance''s threats didn¡¯t work on him, or they were too scared to act¡ªor maybe Lin Xian had cracked their signal recognition system. Either way, it meant Lin Xian had serious power and resources. He remembered back at Hengshan Pass Stadium, when Lin Xian built a Roarer K23 Electric Gatling Gun right before his eyes. That was when he first realized how terrifying Mechanical Abilities could be. Staring at the token, Hu Lushou¡¯s eyes sharpened. "Call them." Sun Chang turned and left immediately. Twenty minutes later, in a private booth of the Black Rose Bar, more than a dozen people had gathered, split into four factions. The largest group was the Dawn Convoy, led by a slightly chubby man in his forties named Lu Zhao, dressed in tactical gear with a stern face. With over two hundred members, heavy-duty electric trucks, and anti-air weapons, they were a solid mid-tier convoy. Another group¡ªthree men and two women¡ªseemed more tense than the others. Their gear was disorganized but complete¡ªtactical flashlights, daggers, firearms, water bottles. They were the Akesai Brotherhood, a newly formed group of survivors from various convoys shattered by sand bandits in the Western Gobi. Their leader, Xie Guan, was a weathered man in his thirties who had managed to unite the remaining fragments into something more substantial, though they were still under-equipped and weak. The last group was the Safe Haven Convoy, with around sixty members but solid gear and decent combat strength. Their leader, Wu Dapeng, was a middle-aged man and probably the most approachable person in the room. Hu Lushou sat with his second-in-command Sun Chang across from them, having his people pour drinks. "Boss Hu, I thought we weren¡¯t evacuating until the day after tomorrow. Why gather us now?" Lu Zhao from the Dawn Convoy frowned and lowered his voice. "Our scouts spotted Sand Scorpion Gang activity near Broken Stream Valley today. Those sand bandits are watching Akesai like hawks, not even trying to hide. There must be spies in the city. If they find out we¡¯re teaming up, we¡¯re screwed." ¡°No big deal,¡± Hu Lushou laughed, patting his chest. ¡°My convoy¡¯s still parked here, isn¡¯t it? What the h*ll are they worried about? Besides, I helped them make a ton without lifting a finger¡ªthey ought to worship me like their ancestor. What idiot would cut off a steady stream of money?¡± ¡°Hah.¡± Lu Zhao sneered, looking Hu Lushou in the eye. ¡°You might be fooling others, but don¡¯t fool yourself. Sure, the toll idea was yours, but you¡¯re not irreplaceable. You¡¯ve been collecting fees here for over two weeks. I bet they¡¯ve been planning to eat you alive¡ªbones and all¡ªand start collecting themselves. Why would they keep giving you a cut?¡± He squinted, smirking. ¡°You¡¯re picking fleas off a tiger while the tiger¡¯s eyeing your throat. If that weren¡¯t the case, you wouldn¡¯t be trying to team up and make a run for it. Am I wrong?¡± At that, Xie Guan of the Akesai Brotherhood chimed in. ¡°All the other convoys inside the city have formed alliances. At first light, they¡¯re heading into the uncharted zone. If no new convoys show up, and only a few of us are left behind, any secret meeting like this is bound to stir suspicion. If the sand bandits catch wind of something, they¡¯ll definitely get ideas.¡± Wu Dapeng of the Safe Haven Convoy looked around, concerned. ¡°Altogether, we¡¯ve got maybe five hundred people, right? Would the sand bandits really dare storm the city head-on?¡± ¡°Tch!¡± Lu Zhao scoffed, his face jiggling with disdain. ¡°Come on, Captain Wu, that ¡®five hundred¡¯ includes the old, the sick, the kids. We¡¯ve got maybe three hundred who can actually fight. The sand bandit convoys don¡¯t have to babysit anyone.¡± That hit hard¡ªXie Guan and Wu Dapeng both looked grim. Wu quickly turned to Hu Lushou. ¡°Boss Hu, didn¡¯t you say you could contact the Red Assault Team from the Star Guard forces? Any word?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Lu Zhao jumped in. ¡°We¡¯ve taken some of your sweet deals, sure¡ªbut you promised a safe route to Quancheng and claimed you could reach the Red Assault Team. That¡¯s the only reason I¡¯m willing to risk crossing the bandits with you.¡± He wasn¡¯t lying. His convoy had decent strength¡ªhe could¡¯ve joined another team or just paid the toll and left. But he wasn¡¯t convinced that toll was anything more than a temporary pass. And joining another convoy might help, but crossing thousands of kilometers of no-man¡¯s-land with rumors of eerie creatures? Not a risk he liked. Lu Zhao preferred battles with known odds, which was why he turned to Hu Lushou for solid info¡ªand got suckered into this alliance. The Akesai Brotherhood saw things differently. As a small, weak convoy with no real voice in city alliances, joining this united team offered safety and benefits. Xie Guan¡¯s people had lost friends and family to sand bandits. Most of them were burning with hate¡ªeager to fight back. They were actually the ones backing Hu Lushou the hardest. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll say it straight,¡± Hu Lushou raised his voice, wearing a bold expression. ¡°I gathered you here before dark to tell you¡ªthe Red Assault Team isn¡¯t coming. They¡¯re stationed at Sand Serpent Pass right now. We can¡¯t wait. The evacuation plan has to change!¡± ¡°Change? When?¡± someone asked. Hu Lushou¡¯s eyes darted around before he firmed up and said, ¡°Tomorrow.¡± ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Lu Zhao frowned. ¡°You serious?¡± ¡°Dead serious,¡± Hu said firmly. Wu Dapeng looked surprised. ¡°Boss Hu... you¡¯re not planning to sneak out with those other convoys before dawn, are you?¡± That question hit home for the others too. Lu Zhao¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Boss Hu, those other convoys won¡¯t take us with them.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t,¡± Hu Lushou waved it off. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say? I¡¯ve got my own way.¡± Lu Zhao narrowed his eyes. ¡°You sure the Red Assault Team is really going to meet us?¡± ¡°Trust me.¡± Hu chuckled, signaling everyone to stay calm. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t gamble on something like this if I wasn¡¯t confident. Just stick to the plan. Tomorrow morning, all convoys regroup, fully armed and loaded. Stay sharp¡ªwe should be crossing into the Akesai uncharted zone by noon.¡± The room fell silent. Xie Guan was the first to nod. ¡°Alright, Boss Hu. I¡¯ll go get everything ready.¡± Lu Zhao stared at Hu Lushou for a long moment, then slapped his thigh. ¡°Fine. We¡¯re in this together now¡ªno point in second-guessing everything. In this world, every step is a roll of the dice. Even if we survive this one, who knows what¡¯s next. I¡¯ve been through worse¡ªf*ck it!¡± Wu Dapeng, however, looked tense. ¡°There might be spies in the city watching us. If we move tomorrow, we¡¯ll draw attention. I suggest we keep things low-key tonight.¡± ¡°Well, no sh*t,¡± Lu Zhao snorted. ¡°Like we¡¯re planning a fireworks show? I¡¯d rather avoid those sand ants altogether. If we run into an Eerie Entity tonight, that¡¯d be the real nightmare.¡± He turned to Xie Guan. ¡°You guys should move your convoy into the city tonight. Find a wider space. If you get hit like last night again, no one¡¯s gonna be able to help you.¡± Xie Guan nodded solemnly, the memory still fresh. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s all. Let¡¯s move,¡± Lu Zhao said, standing up first. Just like that, the secret alliance meeting ended. As dusk fell, a heavy tension blanketed the survivor convoys around Akesai. People started double-checking their vehicles¡ªsome even stuffed the air intakes with sponge to keep dust out. After handing out supplies, many began locking their armor plates and doors, readying for the worst. In the basement of the Black Rose Bar, Hu Lushou was busy gathering his loot. Thanks to his sharp mind, he¡¯d made a killing in just over a week¡ªover a hundred Eerie Blood Crystals and tons of rare, valuable goods. What the bandits didn¡¯t know¡ªor didn¡¯t care about¡ªwas that Hu hadn¡¯t charged every convoy the ¡°five people, one blood crystal¡± rate. He often gave discounts or traded favors instead. That so-called ¡°Safe Badge¡± had been handed out plenty. That¡¯s why so many convoys in Akesai didn¡¯t hold any serious grudge against him. For large convoys, the badge was a handy way to avoid trouble and get useful info. Paying a little was worth the convenience. For smaller ones, even with the badge, they never felt truly safe. That¡¯s why they sought alliances. In a way, Hu Lushou actually did them a favor¡ªunions boosted survival odds, and the sand bandits were just one piece of the puzzle. ¡°Tomorrow might be a real bloodbath,¡± Sun Chang said flatly from the basement door. ¡°No sh*t...¡± Hu Lushou exhaled hard. ¡°We¡¯ve gotta find a real base before we can do anything big. In this world, until you¡¯ve got power, everyone sees you as a fat sheep.¡± He glanced at his stash, eyes watery. ¡°Poor me... made all this dough, and haven¡¯t even had a chance to enjoy it...¡± He grabbed a bottle of high-end whiskey and took a fierce swig. Sun Chang rolled her eyes, then turned to start prepping their evacuation. Meanwhile, under the blood-orange sunset, a single vehicle slipped out of Akesai and sped toward a ruined roadside motel. With a swirl of dust, the car stopped. Two figures stepped out, glanced around, then headed inside. The place was wrecked¡ªdust-covered tables, decaying furniture, and a few shriveled corpses on the floor. The two people were none other than Wu Dapeng of the Safe Haven Convoy and one of his men. Gone was his friendly demeanor. His eyes were sharp and cold. Standing in the center of the lobby, he called out: ¡°Stop hiding. It¡¯s almost dark. Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± In the corner, a shadow peeled away from the wall. A bald young man with a tattooed face emerged, his body blending with the background like a chameleon. Chewing gum, the bald guy swaggered out. ¡°Talk.¡± ¡°Hu changed the plan. He¡¯s making his move tomorrow morning. Go tell the boss now,¡± Wu Dapeng said, voice low and venomous. ¡°With the other convoys?¡± ¡°No. He¡¯s taking Sand Serpent Pass¡ªclaims he¡¯s linked up with the Red Assault Team.¡± ¡°Bullsh*t!¡± the bald guy laughed. ¡°That whole place is under our control. What a joke.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t call him out,¡± Wu sneered. ¡°That bastard¡¯s been trying to run for a while now. Now he¡¯s suckered a few convoys into following him. Thought he could slip away from us and the Red Vulture Gang? Please. The boss saw through it from day one. He just kept Hu around to open the route for us. Let him live a few extra days.¡± The bald man nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll head back right away. Tomorrow, none of them leave Akesai alive. Heard Hu¡¯s filthy rich now¡ªhis crew alone should feed us for half a month.¡± ¡°And that Dawn Convoy seems decent too.¡± Wu Dapeng sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of things from the inside. They won¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± He looked over. ¡°That convoy I told you to tail¡ªany intel? They had contact with Hu. Might¡¯ve gotten roped in too.¡± ¡°Tch!¡± The bald guy snorted. ¡°Bunch of pretty boys and girls. I thought it was some elite unit with top-tier gear. Turns out it¡¯s a d*mn rookie convoy¡ªforty people max!¡± ¡°You sure?¡± Wu frowned. ¡°I had a gut feeling about them at the bar. Didn¡¯t seem ordinary. Could they be an elite team of Ability Users?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± the bald guy scoffed. ¡°I tracked them for thirty miles with a drone. No one even noticed. Ability Users, my *ss. I scoped their camp¡ªmaybe ten vehicles, two decent ones. The rest? Total noobs. Couldn¡¯t even keep up with my shadow. If the boss hadn¡¯t told me not to spook them, I¡¯d have iced a few already.¡± Wu Dapeng¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°F***, good thing you didn¡¯t. Those women in that group? Damn, top-grade.¡± ¡°What?¡± The bald guy gave him a sly look. ¡°You¡¯re not worried they¡¯ll side with Hu?¡± ¡°Tch!¡± Wu Dapeng glared. ¡°I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll run!¡± Chapter 316: At night, close the windows! The Wind-Eroded Valley, the dried-up riverbed¡ªa 15-kilometer-long heavy rail train stood quietly, its 500-plus carriages winding like a dragon, stretching all the way to the distant horizon. 18:00 The setting sun dyed the gravel plains of the Gobi Desert a rusty red. Fine grains of sand shimmered like tiny golden scales in the twilight, only to be whipped into a flowing red tide by the sudden north wind. It carried pebbles crashing into half-buried oil drums, producing hollow echoes. On the United Convoy Train, over four thousand people were rushing to prepare for the coming night. "They say sand ants aren''t exactly the same as regular ants. Just to be safe, check every gap, vent, and even the bathroom pipes!" Chen Sixuan¡¯s voice came through the Infinite Train''s comms as she briskly walked through the carriages, reminding everyone. Lin Xian was also inspecting each carriage one by one, as meticulously as he had when dealing with snowmelt leakage before. But he knew sand ants were a different beast entirely. They could probably slip through the tiniest cracks. His biggest worry now was whether these sand ants, like the Snow Wraiths, might also leave a Dark Mark on people. "Didn''t Hu Lushou say the convoys he contacted didn¡¯t show any Dark Marks, even though they stayed in Akesai for several days? So it should be fine, right?" KIKI followed behind Lin Xian, asking as they reached Car No. 3. "Better to stay cautious," Lin Xian pointed outside the window. "I¡¯ve stationed a few drones and planted some pre-set explosives out there, just in case." "Director Ding," said Shu Qin, turning to Director Ding, who was conducting fungal regression experiments. "Temporarily shutting down the air circulation in the two Kor experimental carriages shouldn¡¯t cause any serious damage to the plants, right?" Ding Junyi looked up and began, "From a botanical standpoint¡ª" "Director Ding," Lu Shun interrupted, giving her a meaningful look. "It will." "It¡¯s bad." Lu Shun sighed gloomily, clearly frustrated with Director Ding¡¯s habit of being too blunt and concise. Finishing his thought, he pressed the comms button and instructed all convoy leaders, "Repeat: during the sand ant migration, absolutely no one is allowed to open fire without permission." "Understood!" came the first response¡ªfrom the Ocean Convoy¡¯s captain. Even though Lu Shun had already shared all the intel they had gathered about White Night with the various convoys when they first returned, Lin Xian still thought it was worth repeating again. Over four thousand people¡ªno small number. After Apocalypse Day, Shu Qin had struggled even to manage a dormitory full of elementary school boys. Who could imagine managing a group this mixed¡ªsoldiers, refugees, thugs¡ªall crammed together on the United Train? Despite everyone''s cooperation under their common predicament and alliances, from a management perspective, Shu Qin knew there were still plenty of fools around. So she mustered up every ounce of patience she had, hoping to keep things calm until nightfall. "Brother Lin," came Shi Diyuan¡¯s voice through the comms. "After you guys got back, you had the entire train checked for Dark Marks again, right? No issues?" "All good." "Don''t stress, Captain Lin, your team is tight," Monica said gently, speaking from Carriage No. 1 of her own Queen Monica Train. "No need to worry," added Qian Dele. "No issues on your side either," Luo Yang chimed in. Lin Xian had already finished arranging the kids in the large carriage. After experiencing so many crises¡ªmonster tides, worm tides¡ªthese kids had learned to stay calm and quiet without needing much instruction. "Captain Lin," Li Yi approached Lu Shun and reported, "When you were away, the Hellbringers gave us some extra information. Mainly about abducting ability users. They traded them to some organization. The deal was made at a place called Iron Pot Valley, but we couldn''t find that on any maps." "Iron Pot Valley? Sounds terrain-related," Lin Xian immediately caught on. "According to them, the place has a lot of abandoned radio telescope dishes. That¡¯s why it¡¯s called that." "Radio telescopes?" Lin Xian frowned slightly. "Sounds like it used to be some kind of observatory." "Easy," said KIKI, whipping out her mobile terminal and searching quickly. "Found it! Bailutan Observatory. It shut down back in 2056." "Abandoned for 13 years, huh..." "According to the map, their movements matched that area a few times, but not much overlap." "Because they only go there at certain times," Lin Xian said after checking the coordinates. "After we finish dealing with the sand raiders in Akesai, we need to check this place out." Lin Xian realized he had overlooked something. He had been filtering out areas with low signal overlap, assuming they weren¡¯t important. But this transaction location was definitely worth a closer look. Shu Qin nodded. "And regarding the trade rates: according to their intel, a King-level evolved human could be traded for two Level-1 Eerie Blood Crystals. An ability user could fetch five. A Berserker-level would be five times that, and a Destroyer-level twenty times." "What?!" KIKI pointed at herself, incredulous. "I¡¯m only worth 25 blood crystals?!" "Could be worse. Two and a half tubes of Cold Dark Reagent ain''t bad," Lin Xian teased. "Hmph!" KIKI huffed and coldly snorted, "I¡¯d like to see them try!" Lin Xian¡¯s gaze darkened. "Robbing a convoy of 20¨C30 people might usually net a little loot, maybe a few crystals. But with this human trafficking, those sand raiders could score 10¨C20 crystals at once. Even if they can''t handle the high-tier evolved ones, there are plenty of small and mid-sized convoys out there. It''s way more profitable than simple looting." Shu Qin added, "A haul like that could feed them for a month. No wonder those sand raiders are so crazy." "Any more news?" Lin Xian asked. Shu Qin shook her head. "Not yet. Big Brother Dong said they''re still squeezing them for info. But one of the seven already died. He asked if we could hold onto the others for a few nights, just in case they spill more." "Whatever. Keep them locked up but don¡¯t kill them yet," Lin Xian said darkly, cutting her off. "They¡¯re worthless to us now. Just don''t let them escape." "Got it," Shu Qin replied with a strange smile, not pressing the issue further. Hearing that, KIKI immediately made a disgusted noise, glaring at Lin Xian. "Gross." "You can''t put it that way," Lin Xian said, taking a deep breath. "In the natural order, there¡¯s always a counterbalance. Against scum who assault women, isn¡¯t this fitting revenge?" "Besides," he added with a grin, "if our enemies suffer and our allies are happy, isn''t that a win-win?" "Ewww!!!" KIKI scrunched her face, pulling her chin back. "I want no part of that kind of ally." Lin Xian chuckled helplessly, then turned to Shu Qin. "By the way, make sure the Windrunners Convoy hears about this." The Windrunners Convoy, the group from the raided minibus, was parked quietly beside the United Train on the Gobi. Shu Qin had already updated them about the sand ants, and they were making their own preparations. "Understood," Li Yi nodded to Shu Qin and left immediately. As nightfall approached, food supplies had been distributed across the convoy. Water rations were now stretched¡ªone bottle had to last two days. Everyone was well aware of the pressure. Each carriage had sealed its windows and drawn blackout covers. Inside, a tense atmosphere was brewing. Lin Xian personally shut all the bulkhead doors between carriages. Then he and Chen Sixuan made their way to the cockpit, peering through the windows at the dusky Gobi landscape outside. Rustle, rustle¡ª The barren desert was filled with nothing but the sound of wind dragging sand across the land. Grains smacked against the carriages and cockpit glass, making a dry scratching noise. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan sat silently, one on each side, waiting for the black night to fall. On the convoy''s comms channels, everything had gone quiet. Everyone was just watching the clock. "Remember when we first left Jiang City? It was like this too, waiting for nightfall," Lin Xian said, glancing at Chen Sixuan¡¯s wary face. Back then, Chen Sixuan had been a desperate university lecturer, clutching the piece of bread Lin Xian gave her, hiding in a corner of the cockpit hallway, while he kept watch with a short blade against the undead scratching at the train outside. Chen Sixuan turned slightly to look at him, then back out the window. "Even though there are no Dark Marks, I still feel uneasy in this vast emptiness." Her gaze drifted far out over the wasteland, her eyes narrowing slightly. The world felt too vast, the horizon too distant¡ªand yet, deep in that empty zone, it somehow felt crowded, a suffocating sense she couldn¡¯t explain. Lin Xian swept his gaze over the land, his breathing slowing. Beep, beep. The tiny beeping of a wristwatch broke the silence of the carriage¡ªsoft, but somehow stark and jarring in the vast, deathly quiet. "The night¡¯s falling." Whoosh¡ª A tide-like wave of light swept across the sky, pulling a dark curtain over the land. In the next second¡ªthe world switched off. The sun hadn¡¯t even set yet, but the entire western Gobi plunged into darkness ahead of schedule. Even the stars seemed muffled under some chaotic haze. The land was dead silent. Everyone held their breath at that moment. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan sat there, feeling only the pounding of their own heartbeats. Suddenly, the wind picked up¡ªand a faint pattering sound emerged. "Is it raining?" Lin Xian frowned slightly. "No," Chen Sixuan said, her expression grave as she stared into the blackness beyond the cockpit window. "It¡¯s the sound of the earth itself." In the living quarters, the lights had long since gone out. The children all held their breath, huddled together, too afraid to make a sound. Dodo lay on her pillow, peeking through a tiny gap in the blackout cover, staring out at the dark horizon. The sound of rain seemed to be growing louder, evolving from a soft drizzle into a rattling downpour¡ªyet not a single droplet was visible on the windowpane. She widened her eyes, watching intently, when suddenly, with a faint ding, a strange little bug scuttled across the outside of the glass. It moved quickly, dragging a long tail like a tiny spider, no bigger than her thumb, its true shape impossible to make out. All she could sense was that the creature seemed to be constantly twisting and shifting, crawling across the window at terrifying speed. Startled, Dodo shrank her neck back instinctively. The next second, more and more of those black bugs began swarming over the window, growing denser by the moment. The rain-like noise intensified, evolving into a torrential downpour! Whoosh¡ªwhoosh¡ªwhoosh! In an instant, the entire world outside the United Train was engulfed by that eerie sound, as if a sandstorm was hammering against the carriages. The noise was so intense it drowned out everything else. Inside the Infinite Train¡¯s cockpit, Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan watched in horror as the front viewport was completely swallowed up by the swarm of black insects. Both of them instinctively stood up and took a step back. At that moment, all light seemed to vanish. The entire carriage plunged into pitch-black darkness. Sand Ant Migration! A stifling sense of suffocation enveloped the 15-kilometer-long train. No one could see even a sliver of light. The rain-like noise continued to sweep across every surface¡ªsides, roof, undercarriage¡ªdense and overwhelming, as if the world was reduced to nothing but this sound. Hearts pounded. Some people gripped the handrails and weapons tightly, but no one dared to move. In this complete darkness, all they could do was pray¡ª That nothing would crawl into the carriages! In Car No. 2, KIKI and Shasha huddled together, covering their ears. KIKI also conjured a small telekinetic shield to wrap around them, terrified that in this darkness, those flesh-tearing bugs might suddenly crawl onto them. Meanwhile, Lin Xian¡¯s expression darkened. He frantically activated his Mechanical Heart, scanning the Infinite Train¡¯s metal structure for vulnerabilities. But the more he tried to feel the surfaces, the clearer it became¡ª It was as if billions of eerie lifeforms were crawling all over them. His entire spine tingled. This suffocating nightmare lasted for two full hours before the deafening "rain" finally began to subside¡ªand eventually disappeared. Gradually, the windows once covered in sand ants cleared again, revealing faint starlight and the outline of the horizon beyond the wasteland. ¡°Phew¡ª¡± Lin Xian let out a long breath, finally relaxing a little. He was just about to press the comms button to check on the other convoys when Chen Sixuan suddenly stepped forward and slapped her hand over his mouth! ¡°Look over there!¡± Her urgent whisper filled his ear. Lin Xian immediately turned to follow the direction she pointed¡ªand his pupils shrank sharply! Several kilometers away, above the barren Gobi Desert, a thick yellow cloud of sand churned and seethed in the sky like boiling soup. From within that dense cloud, several massive, segmented limbs¡ªlike grotesque insect legs¡ªslowly descended. Everyone could see their misshapen, monstrous outlines. The inverted legs dangled in the air, brushing lightly across the desert as if moving aimlessly with the drifting clouds, slowly sliding deeper into the wastelands. Around them, sandstorms howled and battered against the United Train, the wind keening like a mourning whistle. The survivors who witnessed this scene all felt a chill pierce their bones¡ªnot merely fear, but something deeper. The dangling limbs exuded a weird psychic shockwave, carrying a surge of ultra-concentrated Dark Fear energy, crashing outward across the barren desert! [Detected minor Dark Fear Energy impact!] At that moment, a warning hologram from the Eerie Cube flashed across Lu Shun¡¯s vision. The windows of the United Train fogged up with a thin layer of icy mist. Shu Qin could do nothing but hold her breath and remain perfectly still, just like everyone else on the train. Their hearts seemed to collectively stop. Minute by minute, the monstrous limbs gradually receded into the depths of the desert. Finally¡ªthe desolate riverbed grew quiet again. Woooo¡ª A cold, harsh night wind blew across the wasteland, rustling dry grass and tumbleweeds. Lin Xian could feel warmth slowly returning to his hands and feet. He glanced at Chen Sixuan, whose eyes were still wide with shock. Their gazes met¡ªboth filled with the hollow, dazed look of people who had skirted the edge of terror. "At least... we don''t have any Dark Marks," Chen Sixuan murmured, her face pale, still shaken. She and Lin Xian had been through so much together¡ª They had even faced S-Class Eerie Entities before. But what they had just witnessed wasn¡¯t merely terrifying¡ªit pressed down on their souls with a suffocating, brutal weight. Lin Xian exhaled heavily. He had felt this poisonous invasion of darkness the night before, even as he slept. The spiritual impact was absolute¡ªand devastating. This was why, on Apocalypse Day, billions mutated into zombies overnight. The survivors¡ªthough adapted somewhat to the dark energy over time¡ªwere still fragile when facing true darkness. Thinking of this, Lin Xian immediately pressed the comms button. "All convoys¡ªreport your status!" ¡°Rose Convoy¡ªtwo people on the brink of mutation, but stabilized!¡± ¡°Triangle Iron Convoy¡ªsix people showing unstable signs, one fully mutated, a fight broke out in Car No. 2, but situation neutralized!¡± ¡°Hidden Forces reporting...¡± ¡°Ocean Convoy...¡± ¡°Dragon Mountain No. 1 is stable, but a lot of women and children are vomiting heavily. We¡¯re handling it,¡± Ning Jing reported. ¡°Captain Lin, same here,¡± said Li Yi, busy tending to the children¡¯s carriage. Many of the little ones were pale-faced, vomiting uncontrollably. On Luo Yang¡¯s side, young adults were trembling without meaning to. Li Guangwen slapped his thigh hard and gritted his teeth, growling: "Dmn it, what the hll is this?! Why can¡¯t I stop shaking?" "I can¡¯t control it either!" another teammate cried, staring at his own trembling hands. In Monica¡¯s Queen Monica Train, she monitored the vitals of all her crew via the internal screens. Her eyes narrowed, and she pressed the cabin intercom. "Everyone, stay calm. Wicker, get everyone a hot coffee." "Yes, Queen Monica!" her catering staff responded immediately. Meanwhile, in Joker Convoy, Qian Dele was dashing between carriages with Xiaomeng and other trusted aides behind him. He pressed the comms button: "Captain Lin, I suggest we turn on all lights and heating¡ªto chase away the lingering fear." "Agreed!" Lin Xian had already been thinking the same. With the desert finally silent again, he immediately ordered all convoys to activate lights and heaters, trying to warm everyone up and drive off the oppressive gloom. Click, click, click¡ª One by one, the carriages lit up, heating and air circulation systems humming to life. The entire United Train seemed to come back from the brink of hell. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan moved swiftly, inspecting Car No. 2, Car No. 3, and onward to the living carriages. Thanks to the Eerie Cube, Infinite Train''s situation was relatively stable. He checked the Cube¡¯s diagnostics, scanned his crew¡ªmost looked pale and shaken, but intact. Chen Sixuan quickly distributed pre-prepared vegetable juice. Miao Lu, wrapped in a blanket, chugged hers down in one go¡ªdespite its unpleasant flavor, the refreshing taste and the rising warmth in the carriage helped calm her trembling heart. Around her, others were in a similar state. Xiao Yuan, who had just recovered from a major illness, looked especially pale. The slightly chubby girl''s voice trembled: "It¡¯s so weird... it felt like... like a ghost was staring at me." "Yeah!" Lu? Chang nodded fiercely. "Exactly! Like sleep paralysis¡ªyou can''t even fight back." Lin Xian handed a bottle of water to Shu Qin. "You holding up?" Shu Qin shook her head lightly. "I''m fine, Captain," she said, then added with a complicated expression, "but for a moment there, it reminded me of Apocalypse Day." Lin Xian nodded solemnly. "Never thought the Gobi Desert would have such intense dark invasions. We weren¡¯t as prepared as we should¡¯ve been." "But Captain," Shu Qin said, "this kind of event shouldn¡¯t be common. Otherwise, people in Akesai wouldn¡¯t have survived there for days. At least now, we''ll be mentally stronger after experiencing it." "Yeah." Lin Xian fell silent, contemplating. Darkness¡ªthe source of the apocalypse, and the force behind humanity''s forced evolution. Survival was a fragile balancing act¡ªone misstep, and they''d be swallowed whole. By 1 AM, the suffocating oppression had finally lifted. The United Train began to settle. Lin Xian made his way to Car No. 2 to gather key personnel for a meeting about their next move regarding Akesai. Just then, a notification pinged from the R&D center. He remembered¡ªthe upgrade project for the G3 Electromagnetic Railgun was nearing completion! [G3 Electromagnetic Railgun (Blueprint) upgrade completed!] [Congratulations! You have obtained the blueprint for the Nichi K1 Orbital Quake Cannon!] "What the h*ll?!" Staring at the massive blueprint displayed in his holoscreen, Lin Xian¡¯s pupils shrank. "This thing... isn''t it a starship main cannon for the Starfleet??!" "And you¡¯re telling me... we can mount it on a train???!!!" Chapter 317: Nighttime Preparations The blueprint in the R&D Center made Lin Xian¡¯s mind go boom¡ªhe never imagined the center would spit out something like this. It was the latest model of an energy weapon just recently deployed by the Starfleet, and before Apocalypse Day, Lin Xian had eagerly discussed it online with a bunch of military enthusiasts. This weapon could cause terrifying thermal damage through high-temperature fusion and unleash an electromagnetic pulse capable of frying circuits with transient high voltage! But right now, Lin Xian¡¯s very first reaction was: Can this thing even fit on a train? He glanced at the specs. The main cannon was over 53 meters long, plus a particle accelerator the size of half a basketball court. Even if he ripped apart two carriages, there still wouldn¡¯t be enough room... And even if it did fit, there was the second problem: not enough energy density. The Gemini 11R''s nuclear thermal efficiency peaked at 290 megawatts, but to get this thing¡¯s particle accelerator to critical mass, the whole train would probably have to shut down and go dark. "R&D Center, are you seriously messing with me?" Right now Lin Xian felt like ten thousand horses were stampeding through his head. Even with the blueprint, he didn¡¯t know where to start. Turn the train into a starship? Yeah right. That¡¯d be like building an entire feast just for a dab of vinegar. The challenge sat squarely in front of him. Originally, he planned to upgrade the railgun with the new blueprints, then maybe squeeze in the 1130 model. Now he could only shelve that idea. All the time and effort spent developing that blueprint... and for now, it was completely useless. Even though the Zhenxing Cannon looked mighty and badass on paper, if he couldn''t build it in this situation, it was nothing but a pretty piece of paper. And the standard weapons? They didn¡¯t seem to need upgrading for now either. Just then, Lin Xian turned to see Shasha, wearing her goggles and studying the Arc Resonator. A thought struck him like lightning¡ª The Fire God! ¡¾This blueprint is high-level. Current Mechanical Manufacturing Level: 5. Development time increased by 50%.¡¿ ¡¾T8-Z Fire God Siege Variant (Blueprint) Estimated Development Time: 28 Days, 23 Hours.¡¿ Lin Xian¡¯s gaze sharpened at the pop-up notification. If he could develop an even stronger heavy mech from this blueprint, even if it ended up overweight, the train should still be able to tow it. After everything that happened at Xilan City, Lin Xian¡¯s faith in mechs had skyrocketed. Against massive disasters, sometimes a heavy-duty mech could be even more valuable than a whole squad of Ability Users. Currently, though, only Shasha could pilot one. Still, Lin Xian figured they could build a few more Fire Gods, and maybe even upgrade them into true battlefield wreckers. Having made up his mind, he confirmed the development order. Meanwhile, aboard Longshan-1. Shi Diyuan, Ning Jing, and their key members were holding a meeting inside the conference carriage, all looking grim as they listened to the reports coming in from each car. Luckily, there hadn¡¯t been any firefights or battles tonight. Otherwise, under the crushing pressure of the Dark Invasion, Shi Diyuan had no confidence how many of their nearly one-thousand-strong group would survive. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and, not waiting for Lu Zhao to speak, voiced his concern first: "Yeah, water''s gonna be a big issue too. The populated zones are way too small. At best, you¡¯ve got two or three days'' worth of supply, and that¡¯s assuming no accidents." Lu Zhao''s voice crackled from the communicator. Many key personnel had gathered in Car No. 2. Earlier, Lu Zhao had gone over the situation with Shi Diyuan and the Fu Lu Shou Convoy members, discussing battle plans in depth. Though they didn¡¯t have the advantage in surprise, numbers, or firepower, this was the first time the Joint Train Army would be operating as a single force. As for the desert raiders? Intelligence suggested their numbers were over a thousand, but their heavy weapons and overall strength were lacking. Lu Zhao firmly believed they needed to strike with everything they had to eliminate the threat before it could grow. ¡°The intel from Wu Dapeng¡¯s convoy says that within a few hundred kilometers around Shashekou, the main raider force is made up of three groups. One of them¡¯s the Red Vulture Gang you ran into. Around two hundred people, divided into eight squads specializing in raids. Their leader, codename ''Red Eagle,'' is an Ability User, though no one¡¯s seen him fight yet." "The biggest group is the Sand Scorpion Gang¡ªover 400 strong. Their leader calls himself the ''Emperor of the Desert,'' nickname Old Scorpion. They¡¯ve got artillery, heavy firepower, and a lot of Ability Users too. Easily the strongest faction." "The third group¡¯s the Earth Dragon Society¡ªsmallest in number, about a hundred-plus. But they¡¯ve got tons of fast vehicles and operate like desert guerrillas. Their leader¡¯s called the ''Bone Dragon.''" "All together, around 800 raiders," Lu Zhao summed up. "But if we¡¯re cautious, we should treat it like a thousand, not counting any hidden reserves." At this, Qian Dele from the Joker Convoy chimed in: "With that many people, there''s no way we can wipe them all out." "We don''t need to." Lin Xian¡¯s voice rang out across Car No. 2: "We just need to break their backbone. Smash their main force, seize their heavy weapons and supplies, and the survivors won''t be able to cause any real trouble." Shi Diyuan responded with a heavy grunt through the comms: "Agreed. Once we crush their core, the stragglers won¡¯t matter. Even if the Iron Alliance tries a counterattack, we¡¯ll be long gone to Quancheng. No way a beaten gang can catch up!" "Honestly, we shouldn''t even treat the Iron Alliance like a real threat," Monica said leisurely from the cockpit of the Monica Queen. Sipping her wine, she added with a slight smirk, "They¡¯re nothing but a bunch of apocalypse thugs. Against railguns, they''ll p*ss their pants before they even get close. We wipe out the main force, and plenty of others¡ªlike the Akesai Brotherhood¡ªwill be lining up to finish off the leftovers for us." "But Lin, what if some of them manage to escape?" Luo Yang asked cautiously over the comms. "They won''t," Lin Xian said coldly, holding up the Iron Alliance token in his hand. "Thanks to these tokens, we can track their movements and verify whether their leaders are still with them. We already scouted earlier¡ªthose raider groups have been circling around Akesai for days now, within a hundred to a hundred fifty kilometers." "Even if they don''t show up tomorrow, I¡¯m organizing strike teams to wipe them out one by one." Taking down the raiders would clear the way for the Joint Train Army and provide badly needed supplies for the journey across the no-man¡¯s land. And if they were lucky, they might even uncover some leads about the abducted Ability Users. "Alright then, Lin," Shi Diyuan said, sounding pumped. "We¡¯ll follow your plan. But Akesai¡¯s wide open terrain worries me. If those guys hunker down in the town¡¯s defenses, we''ll be charging across bare desert under heavy fire." "I¡¯ve thought about that," Lin Xian said grimly aboard the Infinite Train. "Which is why... I have a slightly crazy plan." Crazy? Every convoy leader on the frequency stiffened slightly at that word. The next day, 8:30 AM. The sky was still dark. According to the calculations, sunrise wouldn''t come until around 9:15, but inside Akesai City, countless survivor convoys had already turned on their headlights. A roar of engines echoed as a flood of vehicles moved toward the east gate, heading eastward for a hundred miles. After passing through Shashekou, they would enter the vast, barren Akesai No-Man¡¯s Land. In the darkness, the long lines of headlights stretched across the open wilderness like glowing ribbons, kicking up huge clouds of yellow dust as they moved slowly but steadily under the tense atmosphere. Some convoys had allied in groups of three or five;others had stocked up on supplies and headed out together toward Shashekou. By the time daylight was near, the city had become almost empty¡ªonly the Dawn Convoy and the Akesai Brotherhood''s encampments scattered across the suburbs remained, their lights still on. Outside the Black Rose Bar, hundreds of large trucks were parked neatly across the plaza. The vehicles were well-equipped and heavily stocked. Over a hundred members of the Fu Lu Shou Convoy stood in uniform, including an elite squad clad in Power Armor, all under the command of Sun Chang. Inside the bar, Hu Lushou sat alone at the counter, wearing two bulletproof vests. Staring at the empty bar, a complicated look flickered across his face. He couldn¡¯t help but mutter to his reflection in a glass: "Hu Lushou, Hu Lushou... Your parents gave you this name hoping you''d live a blessed, prosperous, and long life. So today, buddy, you gotta keep that lifespan going, right?" As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward the basement door, a serious look flashing in his eyes. Just then, the rumble of an engine sounded outside. The bar¡¯s door swung open, and Lu Zhao, leader of the Dawn Convoy, and Xie Guan of the Akesai Brotherhood, strode inside. Seeing Hu Lushou sitting there alone, Lu Zhao immediately said, "Boss Hu, most of the convoys have already left. Shouldn''t we be heading out too?" "Our people are ready as well," Xie Guan added seriously. "Hmm... is it time already?" Hu Lushou pulled out a gold pocket watch and glanced at it, then looked up: "By the way, where¡¯s Wu Dapeng?" "I''ve been trying to call him on the comms, but no answer," Lu Zhao said. "I saw their convoy still parked west of the city," Xie Guan added. "Still sleeping or what?" Lu Zhao cursed under his breath. "No response?" Hu Lushou¡¯s face darkened. He quickly pressed the comm: "Captain Wu? Captain Wu??" "Something¡¯s off," Lu Zhao said sharply. "I''m sending people over to check it out. That old bastard''s usually cautious as hell¡ªsomething must be wrong." He turned to Hu Lushou, visibly anxious: "And you! You said you had some secret escape route. Why all the mystery? You scared the other convoys might catch on?" Hu Lushou cleared his throat dramatically: "It''s not that mysterious... We¡¯re planning to follow the North Line railway." "The railway?" Lu Zhao and Xie Guan both looked stunned. "Why?" Lu Zhao demanded. "Well, following the tracks does make some sense," Xie Guan began to analyze, talking faster and faster. "You won¡¯t get lost in the no-man¡¯s land if you stick to the rails. Sure, the Gobi terrain¡¯s rough, but it''s still better than wandering blindly. And since not many train groups use the tracks now, the raiders probably won''t have their eyes on it." The more he analyzed, the more hyped he got, leaving Lu Zhao looking more and more skeptical. "Sounds reasonable, sure. But Boss Hu, after all your build-up about some hidden route, this is it? Following railroad tracks?" Following the railway did mean better direction, but... It also meant no real roads. The Gobi was vast and open, but wide-open didn''t mean smooth driving. Battered by rocks and sandstorms, the survivors'' modified vehicles could handle rough terrain¡ªbut crossing thousands of kilometers of wilderness would definitely be slower than driving on a hardened highway. "No, no, no," Hu Lushou said, coughing mysteriously. "Following the tracks isn¡¯t just about the route. There''s another big reason." "What reason?" BANG BANG BANG! Before he could explain, sudden gunfire erupted somewhere in Akesai City. Hu Lushou''s face immediately twisted in frustration. "Trouble''s here..." he muttered. Lu Zhao and Xie Guan stiffened instantly at the gunshots. Without hesitation, they bolted out of the Black Rose Bar. Watching them go, Hu Lushou sighed helplessly: "You¡¯ll know the reason soon enough..." Gunfire cracked sharply across the dark city, jarring the survivors still parked in the streets. Lu Zhao had barely stepped outside when his comms exploded with a frantic shout: "Boss Lu! Sh*t, Wu Dapeng¡¯s convoy is firing at us!" "WHAT?!" Lu Zhao¡¯s face twisted in shock. He slammed the comm button: "Wu Dapeng, what the f**k are you doing?!" No reply. "It¡¯s bad!" Xie Guan, pressing his earpiece, yelled: "Our scouts spotted a massive raider convoy coming from the north¡ªpaint schemes match the sand raiders!" "Boss! Boss!" Another urgent report from the Dawn Convoy¡¯s observation post: "Raiders sighted near the southern outskirts at Lame Hill!" "F**k!" Lu Zhao swore, scalp tingling. How the hell did the raiders time this so perfectly? Lu Zhao and Xie Guan kicked the bar¡¯s door open again and shouted to Hu Lushou: "Boss Hu! We¡¯re surrounded¡ªtime to move!" "No way to retreat," Sun Chang stepped into the bar calmly. "There¡¯s over a hundred raider vehicles pouring in from Shashekou. Two smaller convoys tried to break out and got crushed immediately. We¡¯re boxed in¡ªwe have to defend the city!" "Boxed in from all sides?" Xie Guan blinked in disbelief. "West side¡¯s blocked too?" "Wu Dapeng¡¯s people fired on us. What does that tell you?" Lu Zhao barked furiously. "That b*stard sold us out! Now he¡¯s blocking our escape!" "He didn¡¯t ''sell us out.'' He¡¯s been a raider all along..." Hu Lushou said bitterly, slapping his own face in regret. "D*mn it! I''ve met all kinds of people, but I couldn¡¯t spot a snake in my own camp!" "Raiders don¡¯t wear badges," Sun Chang said flatly. "The Harbor Haven Convoy¡¯s gear was clean and professional. As long as they didn¡¯t expose themselves, no one would¡¯ve suspected a thing." "Sh*t, what¡¯s the point talking now? Grab your gear! We¡¯re fighting our way out!" Lu Zhao barked. "We won¡¯t make it," Xie Guan shook his head grimly. "They¡¯re ready for us. If we try to break out, they¡¯ll chase us down and bleed us dry in the no-man¡¯s land." "Then what do you suggest?!" "Hold the city." Sun Chang¡¯s calm voice cut through the panic. "Xie¡¯s right. In a city fight, we still have a chance. Running would be suicide." "Right," Xie Guan added urgently. "At sunrise, maybe other convoys will spot the fight. The raiders can¡¯t camp here forever." "You really think anyone¡¯s coming to save us?" Lu Zhao spat bitterly. "Forget it. Just warn everyone! Wu Dapeng¡¯s a f**king raider!" Lu Zhao spun and dashed out of the bar, Xie Guan right behind him, both racing to rally their teams and fortify defensive positions. "We¡¯ve already set up defenses around the plaza, covering all high points and fire sectors," Sun Chang reported to Hu Lushou. "Combined, the enemy forces probably number seven to eight hundred," she continued. "Judging by the setup, Old Scorpion and Red Eagle themselves are probably here." "I figured as much," Hu Lushou muttered, wringing his hands. "Their Ability Users could be a serious problem," he warned Sun Chang grimly. "Tell everyone: unless I personally give the order¡ªno one opens fire!"