Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Even if he moved his gaze, that silhouette, interwoven with deep and shallow hues like a sunset melting into gold, was etched deeply into his retina, like the sun in the sky—irremovable, impossible to ignore, unforgettable.

This was the most terrifying creature he had ever seen, even scarier than an angry mom.

At the moment of his distraction, a pair of hands covered his eyes, pulling him into a soft embrace, and the familiar scent of sugar-roasted chestnuts slowed his heartbeat. In his ear was his mother’s gentle murmuring, ”It’s all right, it’s all right...”

Su Yi noticed his mother didn’t habitually follow up with ”Everything will pass,” which made him vaguely uneasy, ”Could it be that even Xiaoba can’t beat that big tiger?”

The woman did not answer but only held him tighter.

”Mom...”

The sister’s fear-filled sobbing sounded, and Yu Yue also embraced the other two children, trying her best to use her ability to shield the sounds coming into the carriage from outside. But how could she, as a Tier Two Evolver, possibly block out the overwhelming pressure of a Tier Four Lord?

The pressure penetrated everywhere, tyrannically covering the entire battlefield.

Making all lives tremble under his tiger whiskers.

Fearing the death that could come at any moment, repeatedly imagining that terrifying scene in their minds until they fully collapse, offering both mental and physical pleasure to the conqueror.

Yu Yue felt her body trembling, unsure if it was the children trembling leading her to shake, or if her instincts were already at their limit. She dared not imagine the worst outcome; even a child’s scream could break her fragile nerves.

”If only you were here...”

Yu Yue said involuntarily.

Right after speaking, she regretted it; she never mentioned such dispiriting things in front of the children. But the biological magnetic field exerted by the Tiger King had already tightened her nerves, causing her to subconsciously speak the words buried deep in her heart.

”You?” Su Yi poked his head out from his mother’s embrace, ”Mom, were you talking about Dad?”

Yu Yue composed herself, nodded, forced a smile, and said, ”Yes, if your Dad was here, these little cats and dogs wouldn’t dare come out.”

”Auntie is lying.”

Su Yan suddenly spoke.

Perhaps due to mentioning that person, the fear in the woman’s heart instantly dissipated considerably. She wiped the tears off Su Yan’s chubby cheeks and said softly, ”Auntie didn’t lie to you.”

”But everyone says Xiaoba is the most powerful person in the world.”

Su Yan said seriously.

Nearby, Su Yi also nodded along.

They didn’t know what Tier Four represented, but in the system explained by the teacher, Master Eight was the unequivocal pinnacle, the most powerful. That surpassed the little ones’ comprehension.

As for the train conductor, that was legend, the protagonist of stories.

The teacher wouldn’t explain the train conductor’s combat power, as their teacher didn’t even know how strong the train conductor was, because there wasn’t any measure for him.

The train travels from south to north, and the grave grass on those who served as markers for train conductors flourished.

Thus, the train conductor was always invincible, like a distant cloud in the sky, unreachable and eternal, rather than the tangible person beside you.

”But Dad is even more powerful than Master Eight, that’s what Master Eight himself said.”

Yu Yue said.

”Can Dad defeat the Evolution Beasts outside?”

Su Yi looked expectantly.

Yu Yue opened her mouth, yet didn’t know how to answer; three years, she hadn’t seen her husband for three years, not even knowing where he was, alive or dead, cold or warm, she knew nothing.

’Su Huan, how should I describe you to the children?’

But thinking that today might be the last time, she then forgot everything, tears sliding down her cheeks.

”Yes, your Dad is the strongest; he will protect you, and he will protect everyone here...”

As the words fell, Yu Yue felt a small embrace holding her, looking down, little Su Yi was trying hard to hug her waist, shouting, ”I can protect Mom too!”

Watching the beasts approaching the window and the injured warriors outside, Yu Yue no longer felt fear.

...

”What is the background of this tiger?”

Lord Lian asked while wrapping bandages, having arrived at the battlefield just before the great battle began.

When he saw Lord Lian and the Tiger King appearing simultaneously on the battlefield, Xiaoba couldn’t feel either joy or sorrow. Assuming the most optimistic scenario, he’d hold off the Wolf King, and Lord Lian the Tiger King, but could the two gravely injured Tier Fours below hold off the Snake and Ape in full glory?

Dragging and victory were worlds apart.

And this was already the most optimistic scenario.

Xiaoba cautiously looked at the Tiger King licking its fur, this was the Lord he had interacted with the most and the only one to give him a hard time. If not for this tiger standing here, the other three Lords would have long been dealt with, not waiting for today!

”The ruler of the southwest tiger group, a Tier Four Lord, who masters the rule of [Space], the domain is... Gravity!”

”Space? That’s indeed dangerous.”

Lord Lian’s expression turned a bit solemn.

As the words fell, the originally languid Tiger King suddenly disappeared from its place, the gravitational pull seemed to intensify tenfold, the surrounding Genetic Warriors, caught off guard, fell onto the snow layer, some unfortunate ones even had their hearts burst by the sudden change in gravity.

And this was just the most insignificant ripple at the start.

The space before Lord Lian suddenly dimmed, the massive tiger’s body appeared without warning, the lazy tiger head became fiercely indignant, its corners lifting, a paw as large as a flower bed pressed down from above, the air unable to escape, compressed into a terrifying projectile.

”Boom!”

All sounds converged into this roaring explosion, snowy dust surged skyward under tenfold pressure.

Even Lian Jin beside her couldn’t help but worry for his elder sister.

A roar and a tiger’s howl resounded simultaneously, and the massive tiger body flew out from it.

Lian Jin couldn’t help but cheer, but seeing Lord Lian’s condition made his heart leap to his throat.

The distinctive silver-gray cloak was blown away, black hair tangled in the wind, her entire body entwined with the patterned rule of [Power], maintaining a punching posture, skin bleeding, evaporated by heated currents.

This was Lord Lian’s strongest form, usually only seen at the end of a battle.

But the Tiger King merely flicked its tail and stood up agilely, pacing slowly around Lord Lian, its beastly eyes filled not with apprehension but with curious interest.

Just that one move, the outcome was clear.

”Crap! Lord Lian couldn’t withstand this tiger! Does that mean we’re doomed?” Huayang cried out, clutching his head in despair.

Unfortunately, no one paid him any attention. After a while, Lao San climbed up from the carriage, frowned, and said, ”Should we let Master Eight release the wolves to fight Lord Lian, then encircle the tiger?”

He Jie took a deep breath, struggling to suppress his urge to curse, and explained, ”That tiger will teleport, encircle it for what? You think it’s your family’s pig that can be encircled at will?”

Lao San was dumbfounded, ”So we’re really screwed?”

Everyone fell silent, save for Su Han who spat angrily, ”If father were here, he would surely resolve this crisis.”

...

”Too bad he isn’t here.”

Fu Lanshan said.

”I suppose you don’t find it a pity at all!” Fatty Ge coldly stared at him, regretting trusting this old man’s nonsense, thinking he came to help.

Now it looked like he clearly wanted to witness the downfall of the Armed Train’s last power personally; he even suspected this beast tide was his doing!

And Deep Blue Data’s Tier Four might be crouching somewhere watching this!

Ge Mian’s nostrils flared, ”But do you think you’ll get out alive?”

Fu Lanshan laughed and countered, ”Who can prove I didn’t come to help? After all, I’m here myself.”

Ge Mian coldly stared at him, choosing not to answer.

Soon, he saw a hint of disbelief in Fu Lanshan’s eyes.

Fatty turned his head abruptly.

The all-powerful Tiger King was retreating!