Armed Train in the Apocalypse

On-site, only a giant crater from the explosion remains, or a patch of black glass.

The information left on the battlefield makes Lian Jin’s heart race with fear.

This is not just an issue of some powerful Evolvers appearing in the territory. Hunters have put forward a terrifying speculation: someone has swept through all the Tier Two nests within hundreds of kilometers!

Yang Ruoyu reports the information to headquarters, and Lord Lian gives it high priority. But within ten minutes, various information converges onto the map in Lian Jin’s hand, which originally had dense red dots indicating danger—all vanished, leaving only small yellow and green dots.

More than twenty dangerous zones were directly obliterated!

And this is just the information gathered in a short time. Judging by the disappearing trend of the red dots, it’s not hard to speculate—the south of the Gravity Zone has been swept clean!

”What are they trying to do?”

Yang Ruoyu adjusted her glasses, a trace of doubt flashed across her delicate face.

”I don’t know,” Lian Jin put away the electronic map, patted his chest, eyes filled with excitement, ”but why not just go ask directly?”

Everything pointed to one place: the East City Association floating island.

The battlefield of the armed train and Deep Blue Data.

Even without definitive evidence showing this was the conductor’s doing, Lian Jin had already made up his mind. Even though he didn’t know what the other party intended, he no longer wasted time and, with Wei Dong, dashed towards the direction of the East City Association.

...

Jiao Ting abruptly sat up from bed, instinctively felt his pocket, and only relaxed upon feeling a roll of burlap.

Realizing he was sitting in a newly built house on the floating island, he smiled wryly, ’This kid really holds grudges.’

Upon stepping out of the room, the people were resting; a small portion was plundered by the East City Association, while most were those who could no longer survive and came over seeking refuge, only to be left on the floating island by Wei Dong to fend for themselves.

Since they weren’t originally from the East City Association, the power shifts naturally didn’t mean much to them.

When extremely hungry, people don’t want to talk, or even think.

Attention to the outside world diminishes drastically.

In the middle, a campfire burned slowly, with a big pot on top, cooking a sticky green concoction; a woman occasionally stirred it with a piece of metal strip, and upon seeing Jiao Ting step out, she served him a bowl.

Jiao Ting was somewhat puzzled, took a sip, and the salty hot taste made him dazed, ’Noodle soup...’

”Where’s this from?”

”Left by the train, there are still many seedlings planted next to it.”

Someone said.

Jiao Ting looked in the direction pointed, noticing many grass-like Evolution Plants at the edge of the floating island, clustered together, lively.

Holding the bowl, Jiao Ting walked to the edge, examined each thick wild grass closely, and sighed deeply.

With food available, the floating island could support more people.

No need to hunt Evolution Beasts like the Iron Wolf Corps, nor plunder wandering survivors like the East City Association, it’s a true foundation for a power’s establishment.

Gazing into the distance, the long train had already vanished upon the land.

Yet, some tiny black dots appeared in the north.

’Still coming.’

Jiao Ting calmly finished the last of the noodle soup in the bowl, the decision already made in his heart.

...

Northeast direction of the Gravity Zone, Four Nations Alliance border.

A barbed wire wall rusted to ochre color, the watchtower abandoned due to the apocalypse, the windows empty and tower mottled with faded red slogans, the opposing cement sentry post more dilapidated, roof half-collapsed revealing rotten wood structure inside.

Dozens of modified motorcycles covered in various graffiti stationed at the border, behind them a massive convoy of various vehicles, some bearing Chongying flags, others displaying a variety of flags, at a glance chaotic like a ragtag group but having the advantage of great numbers.

A Chongying commander climbed to the highest watchtower, delivering a rousing speech.

Immediately below erupted in waves of cheers.

Then a few steamrollers took the lead and rolled over the symbolic barbed wire.

Hundreds and thousands of motorcycles followed, roaring like street punks, charging towards Donghuang land.

In a slightly distant corner, inside an off-road vehicle, Haywood clutched the steering wheel tightly, his blue eyes filled with melancholy, ”Do you think you can conquer Donghuang with just this ragtag group?”

Outside, a Chongying Person in military uniform snorted, ”Not Donghuang, but a faction within Donghuang!”

”But it’s a top-tier faction! What about your army? Isn’t it kept intact? Why not launch a decisive blow?”

Haywood retorted bitterly.

The Chongying Person replied calmly, ”Don’t rush; this is just an advance force. Once we gauge the strength, our Pan-Asian Alliance will naturally dispatch the most elite Alliance Army.”

Finishing the sentence, he ignored the defeated-looking Haywood, arrogantly straightened his collar and proceeded to the rear vehicles.

Within, Haywood’s twisted and dark expression quickly returned to calm once the other left, except for a trace of regret.

Though he presented enough convincing evidence, and the Pan-Asian Alliance was eager to act, breaking the image Donghuang left in their hearts was too difficult; otherwise, they wouldn’t have faced an unmanned sentry station for a year without moving.

Nonetheless, Haywood wasn’t disappointed. This was anticipated.

Mobilizing the Four Nations Army single-handedly was impossible, but when this tens of thousands of people entered the Central Plains and discovered Donghuang’s weakness, these gambling and ambitious folks wouldn’t miss the opportunity.

Moreover, the sunk cost of tens of thousands of people would inevitably push them to invest more.

As for these tens of thousands destined to be cannon fodder...

What does it have to do with Haywood?

Just as he prepared to turn the vehicle back to Four Nations territory, a muffled explosion was suddenly heard from the front.

Looking up, several motorcycles were flipped by the blast. He sneered, no longer cared.

Even the Pan-Asian Alliance doesn’t consider them human.

...

The train had arrived at the site of last night’s battle with Gunfire.

Initially, Qu Hang thought Su Huan would return in a day, worked overtime counting supplies that night, yet didn’t see the train on the second, third, fourth days until the sixth day. Those ammunitions were repeatedly counted inside and out while soldiers mingled deeply with the Mao Bears of Gunfire, but the train hadn’t arrived!

If it weren’t for daily contact being maintained, Qu Hang would’ve thought the conductor abandoned them and left.

Fortunately, at the end of December, five hundred anxious soldiers finally awaited the train.

”Where’s the conductor?”

Qu Hang, with dark circles, handed over his shift and asked resentfully.

As the supreme battlefield commander, everyone slept but him, especially since Gunfire’s three Tier Two Evolvers were alive, lacking the Evolver level of Zhong You and Xiaoba, he could only barely keep his eyes open.

He Jie glanced at the roof, ”Let’s talk at night if there’s nothing urgent. You should rest, it’s been hard.”

Qu Hang looked over in surprise, noticing the train’s commanding front end had a leg dangling comically, light breaths carried by the wind sounded like thunder, merged with the world rhythmically, invisible unless close to the train where the powerful heartbeat was audible.

Fortunately, the conductor’s mastery in concealing his aura was advanced, no leaks even asleep, otherwise, the workers would need to evacuate.

Everyone lowered their voices, soldiers silently changed shifts, and the crew cautiously transported ammunition.

Maintaining a tacit understanding, even tank tracks creaked for twenty kilometers without waking him.

Expecting him to wake at night, but seeing him still asleep, no one spoke up; they quietly attended to their tasks. Before nightfall, Lian Jin had arrived, yet also began waiting silently.

Those who need to wait did so, projects needing advancement progressed.

Everything was completed in this quiet state.

And this tranquility persisted until noon on the third day.