Chapter 177: Strange Call (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Boom!

The aberration surrounded the entire train; in that instant, the monster seemed to sense the fear within, let out a piercing shriek, and slammed straight into the cockpit's window grill armor!

Clang~

Strange insects began colliding and gnawing at the train's steel plates.

Aaagh!!

The giant human-headed spider emitted a shrill scream; countless pale human arms on its legs thrashed wildly, sending chills down the spine.

Ooo!!

In that instant, Lin Xian's first reaction was to command the Infinite to accelerate wildly!

"Attack!"

Lin Xian's heart leapt—he knew the monsters had finally been startled, and immediately ordered everyone to act.

Ooo~ Clang clang clang!

The Mechanical Heart activated; the engine of the Whale 03e heavy gas turbine locomotive and the electric motor of the nuclear-powered locomotive roared to life, and the train began accelerating. Lin Xian raised his hand and summoned a mechanical construct, instantly creating a heavy armored plate bristling with spikes outside the cockpit window—the spikes shot upward.

Boom!

The giant spider's force slammed into the plate, spraying blood and flesh, followed by a cry of agony.

Lin Xian didn't know its abilities, so he prioritized protecting the window first.

Meanwhile, Kiki darted out, unleashing a powerful telekinetic surge that propelled the spiked armored plate forward. The spider's clawed limbs gripped the train's edge, sparking violently; piercing screams erupted, and even a giant black centipede on the roof rolled off!

Thud thud!

"Open fire, everyone!!"

In the crisis, Lin Xian gave the order immediately.

Tap-tap-tap! Boom boom boom! At his command, the crew in the living carriages opened fire through the firing ports, bullets riddling the monsters' limbs and instantly spraying unidentifiable pulp.

In Car 5, Dali stood before the automatic door, gripping a Gatling gun, ready to fire, while Lu Xingchen opened the roof platform—thud thud thud! The moment the roof opened, a strange snakehead and swarms of black insects frantically surged inside.

But then, a pillar of crimson flame shot skyward!

"Divine·Burn the Heavens!"

Evil spirits and demons, make way for this revered one!

Boom!

Scorching flames erupted from the battle window; the pressure differential doubled the flame's velocity, shooting it over ten meters high, instantly incinerating the black insects and bursting out the window—the strange snakehead roared and retracted.

Hss~

The automatic door opened; Dali immediately squeezed the trigger. Ooo~ The rotary barrels spun up, and the moment the light fell on the monstrous limbs outside, the K23 Gatling truly roared!

Dooooo!!!!!

A furious torrent of metal shredded the writhing tentacles; smoke filled the air. One fuzzy, scorpion-tail-like tentacle lunged inward—Dali's firepower reduced it to pulp.

Thud thud thud! Countless enraged aberrations slammed violently against the train's carriages and roof.

The giant black centipede clung to the train's side, attempting to gnaw through the panels; hundreds of legs clattered against the armor, sending chills down the spine.

Lin Xian stood in the cockpit, feeling the train dragged and slowed, his eyes hardening.

"Like clinging to the train, huh? Perfect—I've got just the handle for you!"

The Mechanical Heart activated instantly! High-voltage electric blades rose along both sides of the Infinite, humming faintly as electric current crackled across their silver edges, then blazed with arcs of lightning.

Shhh!

As the hundred-meter-long electric blades rose, the aberrations clinging to the train's sides shrieked in agony, their limbs severed, the centipede's belly split open, and they tumbled screaming beyond the track wall.

At that moment, the Infinite finally gained speed; the flames ignited by Lu Xingchen in Car 5 spread across the roof, flames racing to both sides—seen from afar, the entire roof blazed fiercely, crackling loudly as the train raced forward.

"We've shaken them off! Kiki, extinguish the fire!"

The train was accelerating, but the roof was now ablaze; Lin Xian feared the flames might spread through the armor into the carriages, and immediately ordered Kiki to clear the flames and aberrations from the roof.

"Got it!"

Boom boom boom boom boom!

Kiki swiftly flew toward the rear carriages, unleashing telekinetic shockwaves onto the roof, instantly blasting away the flames and charred aberration remains.

Aaagh!! Squeee!!

Piercing shrieks rang out as the aberrations furiously chased the train; from the dark mountains and forests, swarms of black insects surged forth, crawling relentlessly along the rails. "How could there be so many monsters? Is it really the pack-hunting effect?"

Chen Sixuan stared in disbelief, watching the unknown black insects pour from the dark forests beside the track under the headlights, her brow furrowed.

Lin Xian's expression was grim too—whether due to the pack-hunting effect or the Dark Tide from the Triple Star Abyss, the situation made it clear: the night was far more dangerous than before.

The endless stream of monsters seemed fixed on them, emerging ceaselessly from the dark forests.

He'd assumed more daylight would greatly improve survivors' safety and survival rates—but who knew the night's danger had multiplied exponentially? Just moments ago, the entire train had been crawling with aberrations—just thinking of it made his scalp tingle.

In the deep mountains, trembling roars echoed endlessly; the train raced forward, and Lin Xian dared not let his guard slip for a second.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Violent impacts hammered against the outer armor of every carriage; because of the armored electric blades, no monsters could climb aboard—but smaller black insects swiftly scaled the train.

"Damn it."

These night aberrations were just like that night in Yubei City—swarming out in droves. Lin Xian wanted to curse, yet also felt a flicker of relief.

Good thing he'd used every second of daylight to prepare the train's carriages and armor, and gotten Shu Qin and the others onboard—otherwise, nightfall would've meant catastrophic losses.

The night seemed to hold endless horrors; no one knew what might suddenly leap from the dark trees and slam into the Infinite's front.

!

"Lin Xian, look!"

At that moment, Chen Sixuan suddenly cried out.

Lin Xian looked up—a light in the distance caught his eye.

"There… is that… a person?"

Chen Sixuan's gaze was urgent yet strange—she'd seen a figure standing right in the center of the tracks ahead.

"Zombie?"

"Doesn't look like it."

Beep beep beep.

At that moment, the train's responder suddenly activated.

A mechanical voice emerged from within.

"Ahead, please merge onto Track 3 branch line."

"What?!" Lin Xian jolted, immediately pressing the responder button: "Who's speaking?!"

No response.

The mechanical voice had appeared as if from nowhere.

Then Chen Sixuan tapped Lin Xian's shoulder—he looked up and saw the black silhouette on the track had vanished; ahead, the main rail now split into a junction—and the switch had been changed!

"The track has been rerouted!"

"Forget it—just charge in!"

At that moment, countless aberrations surged from the darkness toward the train; swarms of black insects crawled over the rails, their sound like heavy rain.

He had no time to stop and reset the switch—he gritted his teeth and plunged the train into the branch line.

Under the headlights, the branch line stretched into a forest; the darkness deepened, towering trees blocked out the sky, and steep cliffs appeared on one side.

(End of Chapter)