Armed Train in the Apocalypse

”How deep is the water now?”

Su Huan suddenly asked.

”Over twenty meters.”

”It seems to be getting deeper and deeper...”

”Yes, as we go deeper into the Flood Zone, the floodwaters are getting deeper. According to the analysis, the salt content in the water is increasing, and it’s not just floodwater anymore. There should be an influx of seawater causing this.”

Xiaozhao explained.

As the train’s chief of the research group, Xiaozhao’s main task was not scientific research, but rather coordinating resources to assist various laboratories.

More often, it was to explain to the conductor ”what Professor Ma and his team were working on.”

The recent achievements, the train’s updated functions, and how to use them.

Most of the time, Su Huan didn’t care what they were tinkering with, as long as the tasks he requested could be completed.

Suddenly, a staggering zombie appeared on the screen.

Everyone was a bit surprised at this sight.

But as the train advanced to the city center square, all the faintest sounds in the carriage disappeared.

Everyone watched the panoramic scene projected in front of the train’s head with mouths agape, their eyes reflecting thousands of corpses suspended on the water’s surface.

Some of these corpses were reduced to skeletons, some were enveloped in strange mucus, and some transformed into zombies.

But without exception, they were all entwined by vines.

Whether alive or dead, they were all trapped at the bottom of the water!

The only thing they could do was look up at the Armed Train gliding slowly across the water’s surface!

The atmosphere in the train’s head was stagnant for a full five or six breaths, followed by the sound of frantically sucking in cold air.

Even Su Huan couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

The density of corpses here was comparable to the platform corpse pit the train once charged through!

Even worse, the fact that so many corpses are entwined proves there are hundreds or even thousands of vines underwater!

They move in clusters, forming a huge shadow beneath the water.

The train’s bottom propellers shredded a floating corpse on the water’s surface; the next moment, the entire underwater area lit up with a ghostly blue glow.

Su Huan’s eyelids twitched, and he finally understood what it felt like for others to see his electric grid.

”Can the train speed up any further?”

Xiaozhao, still staring blankly at the panoramic image in front, snapped back to reality, swallowing hard, ”The train’s size is a restriction, making its efficiency in water very low...”

”Then be prepared to stay underwater for a while...”

As Su Huan’s words fell, countless vines surged towards them.

This was no longer child’s play.

In an instant, countless corpses and vines completely encircled the Armed Train on the water’s surface, with some of the still-alive zombies howling out their thirst for flesh.

”Boom——”

The train’s head was abruptly jolted, sending up a great splash of water.

”The Armed Train is about to enter deep dive mode. All sections, prepare accordingly. Each conductor coordinates the inspection of oxygen generation and other equipment!”

”Armed Corps senior staff, quickly gather at the train’s head!”

”Combat group, enter the train compartment for surveillance. Unauthorized individuals return to their rooms and refrain from moving around!”

”Armed Hall, commence lockdown from this moment...”

”The Armed Train is entering deep dive mode...”

”Countdown, ten, nine, eight, seven...”

Xiaozhao’s somewhat hurried voice echoed through the train’s public address system.

Amidst production tasks, the train swiftly adapted, with the manufacturing and research group conductors organizing equipment checks while other production staff quickly returned to their rooms, locking the doors and waiting for the next broadcast instruction.

The Armed Hall resounded with rapid footsteps.

He Jie and other senior military officers, who were training soldiers, quickly sprinted.

In just a few seconds, they rushed from the tail to the head of the train.

In car six, Hu Shuo paused while checking reserve materials. He had just lifted his foot and then paused, frowning at 428, who had recently defected, the ”Profiling Expert” Su Reya.

Her abilities were unique as a professional investigator, but for some reason, the conductor didn’t assign her to the Armed Corps. Instead, she was placed in Hu Shuo’s logistics group.

Though a Tier One Evolver, she was currently just a Level One conductor. Yet, as long as she didn’t rebel and worked hard, there would inevitably be a place for her on the train.

So Hu Shuo kept her by his side, teaching her some basic tasks.

Besides teaching, there was also an element of surveillance.

But with an unexpected situation now, if he left her here and a problem arose while he was busy, what could be done?

Should he confine her?

Seeing Hu Shuo’s reaction, Su Reya innocently raised her hands, a hint of enticing charm in her expression, ”Go ahead and do your job, I won’t do anything reckless. Besides, it’s just basic food here, how much could I eat even if I wanted to sneak some?”

After some thought, Hu Shuo decided that it was better to be cautious and avoid mistakes during this critical period.

He spoke steadily, ”It’s just an unexpected situation with the train. I’m afraid you won’t know what to do, so come with me.”

As they entered another carriage, they heard the countdown had already ended.

The train began to rapidly submerge into the water.

People in the corridor started to seal the windows from inside, and in a fleeting glance, Hu Shuo saw a vine, twisted like a bronze pillar, emerge from the water and lash against the window.

The conductor sealing the window was so frightened they stepped back several paces.

Hu Shuo steadied the conductor’s shoulder and said in a deep voice, ”Don’t panic. With the conductor here, they can’t make much of a ruckus. Have you checked the lounge?”

The conductor calmed down considerably.

”The lounge is cleared. Everyone has returned to their rooms.”

”Good, check the headcount. Not one can be missing!”

”Understood!”

...

In the train’s head, Su Huan listened to the reports from all sections, feeling somewhat emotional.

The work on governance wasn’t without returns; many small things no longer required his personal attention as everyone on the train could be utilized.

Acting as his tendrils, all the information aboard the train would converge on him.

This was the power of systems and organization.

Each cog only needed to keep turning, and the whole force would march forward like a war machine.

As the train fully sank into the water, the light fiber from the small drones in the sky snapped, freezing the image on the turbulent water’s surface.

”What should we do next?”

A heavily trodden He Jie asked eagerly.

Su Huan glanced at him helplessly, ”What can you do with ’Firepower Hand’ underwater?”

He Jie was momentarily stumped.

With resentment, he added, ”If only I had a couple of electromagnetic weapons, I could smash these bugs to bits!”

”Hmm, hmm, we’ll have some soon. First, gather the ’Manipulators’ from the team.”

After speaking, Su Huan stepped down from the command platform, just in time to run into the secretary hastily approaching.

The secretary nodded, following behind him.

Vice President Deng also came running laboriously, accompanied by a few nervous researchers.

Thanks to the detection equipment deployed in advance, they could still view the situation outside.

Thousands of intertwined vines wrapped around the train, slowly dragging it to deeper depths.

”Vice President Deng, you’re looking fit.” Su Huan casually greeted.

Vice President Deng wiped the sweat off his round face and quickly said, ”I felt that the conductor needed me, so I rushed over.”

Su Huan chuckled, ”Is this the conductor you mentioned last time, the conductive part?”

He placed his hand on a slightly lighter-colored metal compartment.

Vice President Deng nodded, ”Yes, that’s it. Other parts are insulated, only this can direct electric energy to the mechanical arm outside. But the electrical resistance in the mechanical arm needs adjusting.”

”No need to make it so complicated.”

Su Huan’s voice was calm.

Vice President Deng looked up to see Su Huan’s eyes turn into a bright, ghostly blue as lightning flashed more intensely.

”Thunderstorm.”

Fierce electric currents surged through the train’s conductive devices.

The train enwrapped by vines gleamed brighter on the screen, especially with the ghostly blue tone, becoming increasingly dazzling.

Electric currents leaked out between the vines.

In an instant, the entire water area illuminated.

The soldier controlling the detector watched eagerly, performing fancy maneuvers to dodge underwater debris while keeping the frame stable and the train center-screen.

As he was thoroughly enjoying himself, the screen suddenly went dark.

With a sharp slap to his thigh, ”Oh damn!”