"Boom!!!"
Another bolt of lightning split the rainy night, illuminating every droplet of rain as if time had momentarily paused. A deafening thunderclap shook the heavens and the earth.
In the Corpse Tide below.
The wreckage of the train, shattered into several pieces, burned fiercely. Even the pouring rain couldn't extinguish the flames.
"Roar!"
The Level 6 Zombie, slightly injured, let out a furious roar before charging off in a certain direction. Countless zombies followed, as if trailing a general. The severely wounded zombies were left behind, writhing and howling in agony amidst the rain.
The cacophony of the rainy night drowned out all other noises, creating an eerie sense of silence.
"Phew..."
On the other side of the Shahe Plain, a young man sitting at the control panel inside the World Weary Train let out a long sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had the Drill Bit component, making it relatively safe to hide underground.
Then, with a grim expression, he turned his gaze to the tens of thousands of red dots on the Targeting Radar.
What's going on?
He had been on the Shahe Plain for quite some time, but this was the first time he had seen a Corpse Tide of this scale. The Shahe Plain was known for its safety, yet among those dots were several Level 6 Zombies, posing a significant threat to his train. His train's Energy Shield was only Level 5, incapable of withstanding Level 6 monsters.
The Train Radio was in chaos.
It seemed this Corpse Tide wasn't just targeting him; it was attacking nearly every train.
Moreover, this Corpse Tide wasn't aimlessly wandering. It seemed to be targeting each train with purpose.
This glaring abnormality meant he wouldn't be sleeping tonight. No one knew if some terrifying monster would emerge from the ground. Thankfully, he had an Oxygen Generator, so he didn't have to worry about running out of air while staying underground.
This night.
The entire Shahe Plain was destined to be in turmoil. Nearly every train was attacked by the Corpse Tide—some were destroyed, some fled, and many hid underground.
Fortunately, the Shahe Plain was close to the Kunlun Mountains, where many trains had acquired the Drill Bit component. This made the underground a relatively safe space in times of crisis.
As for the Oxygen Machine component, almost every train with a Drill Bit had one. After all, both components were necessary for prolonged stays underground. Once a train obtained a Drill Bit, its occupants would go to great lengths to acquire an Oxygen Machine.
No one knew what had happened.
No one knew where these zombies had come from, as if they had appeared out of thin air.
Every Train Conductor anxiously awaited dawn. Tonight, sleep was out of the question.
But—
One man's poison is another man's treasure.
"Kill, kill, kill!!!"
Inside a Level 6 Flesh Train, a tall woman sat at the control panel, her eyes filled with bloodlust and excitement as she maneuvered the Flesh Train through the rainy night, relentlessly slaughtering the Corpse Tide.
The train's front had transformed into a gaping maw, devouring every zombie in its path.
The efficiency of the massacre was staggering.
For the Flesh Train, tonight's Corpse Tide was akin to a Mechanical Train discovering the Goblin Tomb—a treasure trove.
The monsters around the Kunlun Mountains had suddenly disappeared in recent days, leaving her in a bind. Unlike other Level 6 Flesh Trains, she hadn't ventured to other regions. Just as she was at a loss, the Corpse Tide arrived.
Like spring rain, it instantly brought her a whiff of life.
But this was only true for Level 6 Flesh Trains. Lower-level Flesh Trains could only fight and flee, avoiding high-level zombies while targeting the weaker ones.
A winter rainstorm had turned the entire Shahe Plain into chaos.
Countless people were jolted awake from their sleep.
Except for the Stellar Train, where it seemed as if nothing had happened.
The Car Blade spun mechanically at high speed, slaughtering any zombies that approached the train. The three Doomsday Cannons occasionally roared, firing shells with trailing flames, precisely targeting high-level monsters in the Corpse Tide.
And then there was Zhang Da Mei, piloting the Executioner Mech in the rainy night, wielding a giant axe as she relentlessly slaughtered zombies.
Inside the Resident Car, the Train Residents, with no windows to the outside, could only faintly hear the sound of heavy rain. They slept soundly, exhausted from 48 hours without rest, completely unaware of the chaos outside.
When a few Level 3 Zombies had initially approached and violently banged on the train earlier, the interior hadn't even trembled, remaining eerily quiet.
"Just passing by... sorry..."
In Car 9 of the Resident Car.
A man who had gotten up to relieve himself carefully made his way to the rear of the car, apologizing softly to those he had disturbed. At the end of Car 9 was a Refrigerator.
This Refrigerator served as the car's bathroom, equipped with several Level 1 Purified Water Filters. For urination, one could simply go inside.
The car was quiet.
The man tiptoed, trying not to wake anyone. But as he reached the end of the car, he caught a whiff of a strong metallic smell mixed with the earthy scent of rain.
"Huh?"
The man paused for a moment but then shook his head, dismissing the thought. He entered the Refrigerator, finished his business, and then returned to his spot, ready to sleep.
It was raining heavily outside.
As for the metallic smell, it was likely from monsters that had approached the train and been killed. He wasn't worried. After spending so much time on the Stellar Train, he had witnessed its strength firsthand.
If the Stellar Train couldn't withstand the threat, then there was no point in worrying. It would simply mean his time had come.
Even Lord Mang would have to die. His own death would be nothing out of the ordinary.
He tiptoed back to his spot. The weather had turned cold, but Lord Mang had turned on the heating, making the car comfortably warm. Exhausted, he quickly drifted back to sleep.
The sound of the heavy rain faintly reached his ears.
The earthy scent of rain seeped into the train.
For some reason, he slept even more soundly.
For a moment, he forgot he was in the apocalypse. Instead, he felt as if he were back in his pre-apocalypse rented apartment, with a torrential downpour outside. Tomorrow was a day off, and he could sleep in, wake up naturally, order a luxurious 40-something yuan takeout as a treat, and spend the day on his phone.
In his drowsy state, he dreamed many dreams.
He dreamed that all the monsters had been wiped out, that the apocalypse had finally ended, and that the Stellar Train had broken free from the planet to embark on interstellar travel. As a Train Resident with a three-digit ID, he had become a veteran of the Stellar Train, enjoying excellent treatment.
He also dreamed of marrying a gentle and virtuous woman, having a child, and flipping through history books to tell the child about everything they had endured during the apocalypse.
He dreamed many dreams.
Perhaps because they were all good dreams, the man, now in deep sleep, had a faint smile on his lips.
In Car 7 of the Guard Car.
Most of the Guardians were asleep, except for Team 2 members who sat by the window, watching their captain outside battling zombies. Originally, they were supposed to patrol outside the train tonight, but given the circumstances, they had returned to the car.
Besides Team 2, there were others still awake.
Lao Zhu, wrapped in a blanket, pushed open the compartment door and walked out. Seeing Biao Zi sitting by the window in a daze, he lit a cigarette and sat down beside him casually. "Can't sleep?"
The train's ventilation system was excellent, expelling the smoke outside so it wouldn't linger in the car.
"Yeah."
Biao Zi, with a complex expression, looked out at the Mech dancing and leaping in the rainy night. After a pause, he said softly, "I wish I had a Mech too."
"You think you can just wish for one?"
Lao Zhu sighed lightly and patted Biao Zi on the shoulder.
"If your Physical Fitness Index meets the requirements, Lord Mang would definitely get you one. But even if he did, you wouldn't be able to use it. Get some sleep. Your team is on patrol duty tomorrow morning."
"Yeah."
Biao Zi nodded and turned to Lao Zhu, about to say something, when he suddenly noticed the thick head of hair on Lao Zhu's head. He blurted out, "Where'd you get that wig?"
"What wig?" Lao Zhu shot him a glare. "I used some Stellar Coupons to visit the Medical Bay. My hair grew back. You'll never see me bald again."
"The same place Shan Mao Zi's girlfriend went?"
"Yeah, that one. But I didn't get a full treatment—it's too expensive. I just fixed my hair. The rest of me is fine, just some normal wear and tear on my organs."
"Normal wear and tear on organs? Sounds like you're a robot."
"Sort of. That's how the Medical Bay is set up. It gives percentages for each organ's condition, no disease names. It does feel a bit like being a robot."
Biao Zi looked away from Lao Zhu and turned back to the window. "Why aren't you asleep?"
"Can't sleep."
Lao Zhu tightened the blanket around him and followed Biao Zi's gaze out the window at the endless stream of zombies surging toward the train in the storm. After a moment, he said with a complicated expression, "It all feels a bit too unreal. I'm afraid if I fall asleep, I'll wake up and find it was all a dream."
"You and I are different from Yan Yao. We've been hiding and running since the apocalypse began. My name, Lao Zhu, has flickered on the Book of Life and Death in the underworld more times than I can count."
"You once said that no one who survives the apocalypse is a good person."
"I think I should add that those who survive the apocalypse have strong mental fortitude. Anyone weaker would've killed themselves long ago."
"Running for your life becomes a habit."
"Not knowing when you'll die becomes a habit."
"Suddenly being on the Stellar Train feels unreal, like a dream. When Lord Mang and I were on Master Kun's train during that Corpse Tide, we had already accepted that we were going to die. The stench of the zombies was overwhelming. I could already imagine them tearing me apart."
"Back then, I was bald. At least the zombies wouldn't have to deal with hair if they decided to eat me."
"If zombies even care about such things."
"But just a few months later."
Lao Zhu looked out at the zombies being shredded by the Car Blade in the rain, his expression complex. After a moment of silence, he stubbed out his cigarette in a cola can. "Here we are, sitting here, chatting casually, calmly watching the zombies outside."
"I didn't used to believe in destiny."
"Destiny is the idea that when a catastrophic disaster strikes, there's always a protagonist tasked with saving the world. But after meeting Lord Mang, I've started to believe in it."
"Do you think you'll see the day the Stellar Train falls?"
"..."
Biao Zi was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "No. If the Stellar Train ever falls, I'll die before it does."
"Really?"
Lao Zhu suddenly laughed. "Seems like you've developed a bit of an obsession with the Stellar Train."
"Yeah." Biao Zi nodded, meeting Lao Zhu's gaze with a wry smile. "I'll be honest with you. The reason I've been looking for opportunities to prove myself is partly because I crave Lord Mang's recognition. I don't need any rewards; I just want him to praise me."
"To tell me that I, as the captain of Guardian Team 1, am truly deserving and capable of taking on heavy responsibilities."
"Another reason is to maintain my position. After all, I'm one of the veterans. If I end up being outshone by newcomers on the Stellar Train, it would be a bit embarrassing. It's human nature; I'm sure you understand."
"And finally—"
"I genuinely want the Stellar Train to thrive. I have no family left. The Stellar Train is my only emotional anchor in the apocalypse. If the Stellar Train were gone, even if I survived, I'd be like a Zombie, not knowing what to do, wandering aimlessly."
"For the Stellar Train, I'd give everything, just like protecting my family."
Lao Zhu looked out at the tide of zombies. "Lord Mang doesn't praise people often."
"He praised Li Shiji."
"That kid's something else. It's like he's unlocked some genetic potential."
Biao Zi fell silent again, gazing out the window.
"Time to sleep."
Lao Zhu sighed and stood up, patting Biao Zi on the back. "You've got things to do tomorrow. Don't go setting up any flags. I'd hate to see you die someday."
"Don't take so many risks."
"You're the only real friend I have on the Stellar Train. If you die, I won't have anyone to talk to."
"It'd be lonely."
Biao Zi didn't respond, just waved to indicate he understood.
The number
of zombies outside gradually dwindled. Even a tide of zombies couldn't withstand such a rapid rate of death.
It was as if—
Even the darkest night would eventually give way to dawn.
And until then, all they could do was survive, striving to live long enough to see the dawn.
(End of Chapter)