Armed Train in the Apocalypse

HT-426 calmly said.

More than ten people sprang into action, starting to divide the tasks and collaborate, conducting comprehensive detection on the surrounding mutated plants, air environment, and soil.

The Black Kite Special Service personnel are not merely combatants, but rather a synthesis of top experts and tactical personnel in various fields.

HT-426 approached the land vehicle he arrived in, opened the trunk, and pulled out a two-meter-long aerospace aluminum case, laying it flat on the ground. Only after fingerprint and password verification did he open it.

Inside the case was not a weapon, but a young man in sleepwear, with one hand resting behind his head and the other on his abdomen, sleeping peacefully.

The only somewhat incongruous thing was a silver iris brooch pinned on the sleepwear’s collar.

HT-426 solemnly said, ”Commander, we have arrived at the Acid Rain Zone, and we can officially begin the mission.”

After a while.

Not a single sound was heard.

The commander inside the aluminum case still maintained his original posture.

HT-426 suspiciously frowned, quickly scanning the data on the glass panel of the case.

After a moment, he thought of a possibility.

A ”#” shape appeared on his eyebrows.

Taking a deep breath, he changed to a gentle tone and said, ”Dear Conductor Zhao, resting time is over. If you’re so inclined to sleep, after this mission, I could speak with the doctor to arrange a more comfortable and secure culture chamber for you to sleep in. The laboratory has been wanting a live Tier Two Evolver for quite some time now.”

”426, long time no see.”

Within the metal box, Zhao Kuo opened one eye, examining the fire-suppressed HT-426. Seeing that the other’s emotions were relatively steady, he lazily stretched.

With a ”bang!” came a dull sound.

HT-426 punched the commander’s abdomen, furiously roaring, ”We met only three days ago. Why on earth did the company choose you, a waste, for the Tier Two experiment!”

”Cough cough...”

Zhao Kuo sat up, clutching his abdomen and coughing violently a few times.

Hearing about the Tier Two experiment, a complex look flashed in his eyes, quickly masked by an awkward smile.

”What’s the mission objective this time again?”

’He didn’t even listen to the mission briefing!’

HT-426 clenched his fists, suppressing his anger, calmly stated, ”Capture two Genetic Primordials. The mission timeframe is ten days; we spent seven days just reaching the Acid Rain Zone.”

”So rushed, only three days left?”

There was a hint of doubt in Zhao Kuo’s eyes.

”The ten days are the time buffer the superiors obtained for us; actually, other forces are still unaware of this information. It will be officially reported to the company in three days, and after discussion and implementation, it’ll take another two or three days. By the time the second wave capturing team from the company is organized, possibly half a month will have passed.”

”So what you’re saying is, we practically have nearly a month, right?”

Zhao Kuo sat up, the wide sleepwear falling off, revealing numerous metal structures beneath his collarbone.

”That’s the case, but I don’t want to stay in such a cold, damp place for a month.”

HT-426 warned.

”Ah, the Acid Rain Zone is laid-back enough already. Could it be you want to head into the Spore Jungle?”

”Those small mushrooms, except for being somewhat dangerous, are actually quite cute. Who knows, new forms of life might really emerge on land in the future.”

”Alright, alright...”

During their conversation, other team members gradually returned.

”Conductor Zhao,” said a man emotionlessly.

Sitting in the case, Zhao Kuo raised his hand in greeting with a light chuckle, ”Ah, 447, long time no see, still haven’t died yet?”

The latter’s mouth twitched and turned his head away.

”The corrosion rate of the Acid Rain Zone is 12% higher than anticipated; all kinds of metal coatings will degrade more quickly.” The voluptuous blonde woman walked in, throwing a flirty glance at Zhao Kuo.

”Ah, 428, when did you dye your hair blonde?”

”Seems like Conductor Zhao doesn’t care about me. It’s been like this when you woke up three days ago.”

”Is that so, hahahaha...”

”339, how did an old-timer like you with a 3-prefix end up this way?”

”Conductor Zhao, you’re still just as articulate...”

”...”

Zhao Kuo greeted each of the dozen or so individuals without bearing anything particular on his face, yet he accurately called out each person by their number.

HT-426 and others were already accustomed to it, not to mention these ten-plus individuals; as long as Zhao Kuo had seen the numbers, he could remember them.

The curious thing is he hasn’t awakened a memory ability; his memory is just average for a Tier Two Maker.

When the small talk ended, HT-426 retrieved his exclusive exoskeleton from the vehicle.

Compared to the minimally modified exoskeleton of the armored train from logistics, the Black Kite military exoskeleton is far more feature-rich, with a matte black metal coat, a detachable backpack mounted on the rear, and bulletproof armor capable of defending against 12.7mm armor-piercing rounds at the front, covering the entire body when deployed, with numerous weapon mounting points across the exoskeleton.

Even when the power runs out, the exoskeleton can alleviate the user’s burden through mechanical structure.

Depending on each individual’s evolutionary ability, the exoskeletons also come with various personalized attachments.

Like Zhao Kuo’s exoskeleton, no one else can wear it.

The crowd voluntarily turned their backs, and Zhao Kuo removed his sleepwear, revealing a body intertwined with metal machinery and flesh in front of HT-426, where even some functioning organs could be seen.

Not only did it not seem weak, but it rather bizarrely integrated with the surrounding machinery.

As though it were innate.

HT-426 calmly donned the exoskeleton onto Zhao Kuo, perfectly aligning all the connections with the machinery on his body.

Accompanied by the sound of engines whirring, Zhao Kuo raised his hand, feeling no sluggishness that other team members experienced. The mechanical support outside felt as though it was part of him. Once the exoskeleton was fully dressed, a glint of coldness fleetingly passed through his eyes.

This was the complete Tier Two Evolver, in the Maker realm of ”Flesh and Bone Armor”.

”How long are you intending to dawdle?” a combatant coldly questioned.

Standing beside him were three others, clearly not aligned with HT-426 and his group.

Zhao Kuo’s cold gaze swept over, and in an instant, a tempest erupted within the room.

The tall combatant’s muscles swelled, but before he could reach peak condition, he was already lifted into the air by the neck, disbelief crawling across his eyes.

Ignoring the three others akin to frightened birds, Zhao Kuo slammed the latter against a concrete pillar.

Debris flew as flesh splattered.

It wasn’t until the second strike did someone shout for him to stop.

Seeing the three poised for action, Zhao Kuo hurled the combatant at their feet, cold eyes bearing unmasked ruthlessness, ”Are you intending to attack me?”

The three glanced at their injured teammate at their feet, swallowed in unison.

When they felt the tempest stirred by Zhao Kuo’s movement, they sensed trouble, yet their companion, a Tier One Fighting Master, being taken down in one move, caused an upheaval in their hearts.

Though aware a Tier Two Evolver would be formidable, without firsthand experience, they couldn’t comprehend that kind of despair.

The adept close-combat Fighting Master being subdued barehanded implied they held no more weight in front of Zhao Kuo than ordinary people.

After all, they’re considered the crème de la crème among Evolvers!

This disparity made them instantly recall the feeling of being ordinary humans.

With a hint of reverence, one explained, ”We merely intended to remind you of the time.”

”Remember, I am the commander of this mission. Consolidate all information to me, prepare for task execution.”

Chilling words resonated in each person’s ear.

With a start, including 426, everyone crisply responded, ”Yes!”

The atmosphere immediately grew solemn.

As if all prior banter and jest were fleeting illusions.

...

The armored train station is merely about 1.2 kilometers from the train manufacturing base, while Su Huan’s clearing order spans a three-kilometer radius centered on the station.

This means that during the sweep of surrounding threats, He Jie and others had long since familiarized themselves with the manufacturing base’s circumstances.

It was so detailed they could tell how many lice were on the people inside.