Chapter 426: Chapter 426

Accompanied by a violent crashing sound, a black heavy train burst out from the collapsed Haiyan West orbital station’s ruins. At the same time, three shield-armored 1130s and three G3 electromagnetic railguns mounted on the roof fired simultaneously, blasting apart the surrounding Red Bones and other abnormal entities, then charged wildly onto the city’s rail network heading toward the city center.

Leaving the main track, the Infinite train resumed its rail propulsion drive. Thousands of tons of rolling mass pressed on the rails, steel wheels sparking and screeching. High above, Shasha piloted the Flying Peach mech, bombing relentlessly as flames erupted along the tracks and smoke filled the air.

The blast door of carriage 5 opened. Daluo, Lü Chang, Shu Qin, and Luo Yang, clad in power armor and armed, unleashed full firepower chasing the abnormal entities along both sides of the railway. Takahashi Ryunosuke hovered over the train roof, controlling powerful telekinetic waves to suppress any monsters blocking the train’s path.

“We have less than 50 minutes left. Our current mark is persistent and cannot be fully cleared.”

Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan observed the battle outside the porthole, her expression grave as she spoke into the comm: “Before entering underground, we need a thorough sweep!”

“By the way, can we use the Silver Dragon Ten Thousand Mistakes?” Qian Dele’s voice came through.

Before he finished, Ding Junyi, working inside carriage 3, replied directly: “No, the new buds haven’t formed yet.”

“We can use the method we tried on the snowfield before.”

Chen Sixuan said over the channel: “I checked. Before entering the University Town station, there’s an intersection platform where freight and subway lines branch. We can stop there and take the chance to wipe them out in one go.”

At the rear, Monica stood guard, repelling a monster with her Sonic Roar Sword. The monsters’ green bio-fields flickered continuously. Even electromagnetic railgun fire couldn’t fully pierce them, requiring multiple focused attacks. Monica said, “These aren’t snow demons. With so many, we can’t guarantee clearing them quickly.”

“Exactly. Their defense is insane. Even heavy machine gun fire barely breaks through...” Lü Chang said with disbelief.

Shu Qin and Daluo combined fire on a split-tailed horror. A high-explosive round blasted it up, its defense field flickering. Seizing the chance, Shu Qin struck with a pulse heavy cannon, blasting the monster’s upper body to pieces. Its flesh splattered onto the nearby building.

“Their bio-field has limits. Continuous attacks overload it, or hitting with energy denser than the field breaks it.” Shu Qin said, instructing Xiao Yuan and Miao Lu who operated the train’s weapon stations in carriage 2: “Adjust attack patterns. Focus fire with onboard weapons to annihilate, then switch targets!”

“Got it!” Xiao Yuan immediately adjusted, and Miao Lu helped coordinate. She added, “Why hasn’t Viola returned? The signal chain is completely down.”

“Captain Lin sent Viola to scout along the rail chain. Looks like she won’t make it back before dark.” Xiao Yuan replied.

Just as Shu Qin and Daluo finished off a split-tailed horror, a high-speed figure streaked through the air. Sun Yuzhen, wearing a flight battle suit specially made by Lin Xian, equipped with wings and missile launchers, landed on a wall. Six mechanical arms like spider legs extended from her back, anchoring her to the wall. She then took out a special container and collected a chunk of blood and flesh before flying off again just as several monsters attacked.

“What is she doing?!”

In carriage 7, Ding Junyi opened the door and kicked a monster away. Seeing Chen Sixuan flying back, she asked curiously,

“Director Ding wanted it, said it’s to study that bio-field.”

Yousanwei finished speaking and retracted her wings, slowly running toward carriage 3.

Ding Junyi shrugged: “Not bad. At worst, it could give your train a defense field like that, stronger than steel armor.”

“Right now, inside there are at most seventy daytime abnormal entities without bio-fields. Judging by the increasing rate, you won’t be able to stop for more than two minutes without attacking.” Shasha, flying above, ran data simulations with her mech computer and said: “Besides, on your side, the numbers seem to be dwindling. Maybe... less than two minutes left.”

“One minute is enough!”

A dazzling sniper beam exploded. The Infinite’s cockpit door opened. Chen Sixuan, holding the towering Night Hunter sniper rifle, fired a plasma constraint cannon shot that instantly pierced a split-tailed horror and a Red Bone, blowing a basin-sized bloody hole in their bodies. Her face cold and sharp, she pressed the Night Hunter’s energy rewind button and spoke into her headset:

“Takahashi Ryunosuke.”

“At your command!” Takahashi Ryunosuke’s voice was hoarse yet respectful.

“When we reach the loading station, there’s a warehouse area to the north. I need you to use your ability to gather all monsters within sight into one spot, preferably within ten meters. Can you do it?”

After a second of thought, Takahashi Ryunosuke replied: “If it’s just gathering, yes.”

Chen Sixuan continued, “Everyone gather on the right side of the train. Once Takahashi Ryunosuke finishes controlling them, everyone concentrate fire. Shasha, Xiao Yuan, prepare the Flying Peach and Infinite’s destruction arrays. We need a full-scale concentrated bombardment.”

“Then Luo Yang and Monica, finish with your abilities. The rest provide supporting fire.”

“Okay, Captain Chen.”

“Also,” Chen Sixuan told Xiao Yuan, “prepare to deploy a Storm Eye F12 supersonic airship missile. Additionally, mount the Hyperion directional constraint cannon that Lin Xian prepared. If this isn’t resolved within one minute, use that superweapon.”

“Understood.” Xiao Yuan responded immediately.

“Wow, I totally forgot about Lin Brother’s orbital weapon!” Shasha’s eyes lit up. “With that, we can definitely wipe those guys out instantly.”

“Not bad. Multiple fail-safes.” Qian Dele breathed a sigh of relief: “This should work.”

Monica’s voice came through the comm: “Still, let’s handle it with our methods if possible. It’s only a level two mark now. Using the Hyperion cannon on these monsters would be overkill.”

“Right. That weapon can threaten S-level entities. We must use it cautiously.” Shu Qin agreed.

Chen Sixuan responded immediately: “I know. It’s a last resort. We’re almost at the loading station. Stay sharp. We must annihilate the dark mark in one strike!”

Everyone responded in unison.

Rumble rumble rumble. The heavy train thundered along the main track, steel trembling. The Infinite’s new outer armor was already splattered with sticky blood from abnormal entities. The rooftop 1130s alternated firing with the electromagnetic railguns. The scorching barrage tore through the air, obliterating the charging Red Bones and split-tailed horrors, though the firing frequency was reduced.

Inside, Miao Lu deployed PX-05 robots for the next reloading cycle. The PX-05s lined up, mechanical arms precisely delivering 1130 shells to the gun mounts. The metallic clinking of ammo boxes mingled with the hiss of steam pressure relief, ready for the next firestorm.

The daytime monsters appeared more numerous than expected. Their bio-fields flickered like ghostly phosphorescence under fire. As the barrage reached its peak, Chen Sixuan began slowing the train. Ahead, the rusted track ended at an abandoned freight loading station, looming like a giant beast’s skeleton against the sunset.

“The mark is still level two.” Sun Yuzhen’s voice came through.

The freight station scene flashed past the porthole. The collapsed canopy was piled with rotting containers. A rusted gantry crane lay twisted on the ground like a broken spine. Below the platform, dried bloodstains, scattered corpses, and debris covered the ground.

“All from north and south have converged here!” Shasha’s Flying Peach bomber swept over the platform, its wing shadow passing a peeling “No Smoking” sign on the wall.

The train slammed brakes. Steel hinges groaned sharply.

“Takahashi Ryunosuke!” Qian Dele seized the moment to issue orders.

“As you command.” With a whoosh, Takahashi Ryunosuke flew up from the roof. I reached out in the air and grabbed a collapsed warehouse at the loading station, clearing a wide empty space in the center. Metal beams and girders scattered apart. Then I turned, eyes locking onto each monster converging on the Infinite, grabbing them mid-air and hurling them into the warehouse center.

The monsters’ bio-fields flickered violently as telekinetic waves radiated from me, stirring the air like invisible giant hands. Takahashi Ryunosuke wasted no time, like throwing sandbags, swiftly gathering the monsters.

“Everyone, concentrate fire!”

At this moment, the turrets at multiple weapon stations on the Infinite rotated to face the target. The prepared team opened fire simultaneously.

Three 1130s unleashed torrents of bullets, the linked chains weaving a crimson waterfall. The electromagnetic railguns’ blue beams pierced the monster clusters. Tungsten alloy armor-piercing rounds and railgun flashes shone together. Above, Shasha piloting the mech bomber fired a bright blue star-shock cannon and two high-explosive shells diving down!

Boom! On the Infinite’s carriage, a black missile ignited and soared. A bright streak cut the sky as the Storm Eye F12 missile dived, its shockwave lifting container debris thirty meters high.

Meanwhile, Luo Yang’s blast wave, Monica’s Sonic Roar Sword, and the firepower of Daluo, Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin, and Lü Chang all poured out with full force!

At that moment, the loading platform on the Infinite’s right side instantly turned into a sea of flames. The abnormal entities thrown by Takahashi Ryunosuke seemed trapped in a fiery meat grinder. Their strong bio-fields flickered only briefly before shattering under the brutal firepower. With the expert coordination aboard the Infinite, these monsters didn’t even get a chance to resist before being blasted to pieces.

“Level 1 mark!” Inside carriage 3, Ding Junyi monitored the spirit value detector and the Hellish Black Chrysanthemum. She released affinity power, allowing the Hellish Black Chrysanthemum to absorb the black smoke from outside’s deaths, then fixed her gaze on the red glow on the petals.

As Chen Sixuan fired the Night Hunter, she kept an eye on Ding Junyi’s feedback. At the moment the dark mark value on the terminal screen hit zero, she immediately pushed the throttle forward.

“Full speed ahead. Takahashi Ryunosuke, give it a push. Qian Dele, deploy the Bait Agent. Luo Yang, have your mech scout ahead. Prepare to enter the underground rail!”

Under Chen Sixuan’s command, Takahashi Ryunosuke descended from above, raising a hand to grab the entire Infinite train body, then shoved forward fiercely!

Everyone inside felt a massive force slam their backs. The several-thousand-ton heavy train shot forward hundreds of meters along the main track, sparks flying from the iron wheels. The engine roared as speed surged to maximum.

At the same time, Qian Dele pulled out a simple device made from Lin Xian scanning Geddy’s Bait Agent. Using rapid force, he jumped off the Infinite and escaped dozens of streets away, detonating it. The monsters attracted by their dark mark were diverted in another direction, completely clearing the rear.

Soon, under the sunset, a descending track appeared ahead. It was the entrance to the city’s underground subway. At this time, Luo Yang manipulated mechs and flying drones through a holographic visor, launching them with jet propulsion. Hundreds of robots and thousands of drones charged into the darkness first.

“Going underground again, really an unpleasant experience.” Qian Dele, back on the train at high speed, looked at the dark tunnel ahead. Due to the blackout, there was no light inside, resembling a pitch-black abyss. When they fled late at night from Yijin City, they faced tunnel collapses. Having the train underground gave a paradoxical sense of both safety and danger. But thinking of the Oceanic Titan they saw during the day, Qian Dele felt hiding underground wasn’t so bad...

The Infinite rushed into the tunnel. Darkness swallowed it like asphalt. The train’s headlights illuminated dried black bloodstains on the tunnel walls. The tunnel was filled with corpses of zombies, bones cracking under the iron wheels. Clearly, no “living creatures” had entered here for a long time.

The stench of rot mixed with blood soaked into the ventilation system. Xiao Yuan retched and closed the rooftop weapon station, returning the Infinite to a sealed state.

“Terrible smell.” Yousan frowned.

“Slowly check the seal.” Xiao Yuan said calmly.

The Infinite had water-tight sealed cabin modifications, but the weapon stations had to retract for full closure. After activating internal air purification cycles, the two finally relaxed.

Monica came to the cockpit with Qian Dele, both looking through the porthole into the deepening tunnel. Sticky droplets hung from the ceiling, moldy from long decay. The island’s humid air seeped in, making the tunnel thick, slimy, and foul-smelling.

“These things hide on the ground. You probably can’t ram through them.”

“One or two can be dealt with immediately. As long as you don’t have the mark after dawn, hiding outside is dangerous.” Qian Dele watched the route map: “The civil defense inspection segment is just ahead. Monica, now it’s all on your and Lin Xian’s sensing abilities. No movement, deal with it directly.”

“Worrying.” Monica glanced meaningfully at Qian Dele, then smiled faintly: “He’s getting stronger.”

Qian Dele didn’t reply.

Soon, the train slid slowly into a maintenance segment off the main tunnel. Rusted platforms were piled with moldy blast-proof boxes. After stopping, Lü Chang and Daluo jumped out, spraying deodorant along both sides of the track up to the segment entrance. The pungent chemical scent temporarily suppressed the rot smell.

Luo Yang and Shasha immediately set up defensive devices at the entrances and dispatched patrol drones deep into the darkness. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⟡𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵

Some covert signal drones were deployed as data chains outside University Station to link Lin Xian and Viola. At this moment, Chen Sixuan hurried to carriage 3 and asked Ding Junyi,

Ding Junyi’s eyes glowed green. The affinity from plant abilities flowed back from the Hellish Black Chrysanthemum. She said to Chen Sixuan, “Cleared. The Black Chrysanthemum sensed no other threats. We’ve entered silence mode.”

The nighttime alarm sounded inside the carriage.

Chen Sixuan took a deep breath and looked back at all carriages: “Lock the doors. Turn off the lights!”

At that moment, the Infinite’s onboard lights instantly extinguished. The pressure relief valves beneath the wheels released white smoke. The engine cut off. The heavy train perfectly hid itself in darkness.

Outside the maintenance segment, deep at both ends of the underground main track, eerie chanting sounded, sometimes near, sometimes far. The cold rails trembled intermittently.

On the surface, signal stations deployed by Luo Yang flickered faint green lights amid ruins.

A mysterious light flashed across the sky. Darkness descended!