Chapter 207: Entering the Night

Beneath a gloomy sky, heavy rain poured down.

The silhouette of Rain Town merged with the horizon amid a sea of scorching black smoke.

On the train, the atmosphere was tense yet electric.

For everyone, this was the first time since Revelation Day that they had actively and directly killed a Weird Entity; the months of flight and suppression seemed to release all at once, and much of the earlier gloom and heaviness in the carriages vanished.

Yet everyone knew this was no time to rest—nightfall was imminent, and another siege like last night's could still come; Shu Qin could not afford a single moment's lapse, and led the group in preparing ammunition.

The previous battle had nearly exhausted 80% of the train's ammunition; the 1130 CIWS feed chain was also depleted, but fortunately, the weapon's power had held the giant parasitic louse at bay on the slope beyond the platform.

Lin Xian was equally busy—he and Dabao and Shasha rapidly manufactured bullets in Car 5 and distributed them to prepare for whatever might come next.

In Car 2, Kiki monitored the entire train's status, while Ding Junyi and Chen Sixuan also watched the Dark Radio for updates.

Static…

Static…

"Federal Phoenix Society Global Broadcast: The third Star Abyss Dark Tide boundary will converge with the fifth Star Abyss in 36 days over Quancheng and the Tagan Desert region. Survivors relocating northeast must evacuate promptly. The Phoenix Society has established emergency outposts in Xi Lan and Quancheng to provide aid. The seventh Star Abyss Tide boundary will converge with the fifth Star Abyss in 29 days over the Wei River, Longjiang, Jinhai, and the fifth Star Abyss. Survivors relocating eastward toward Xingcheng, Kangcheng, and Yongcheng Port must evacuate promptly. The Phoenix Society has established emergency outposts in Jinhai and Yongcheng Port to provide aid…"

"Federal Radio Yunjiang Plain Regional Bulletin: The Nightwalkers Recon Team recently detected an S-class Weird Entity's movements deep within the Palma Grasslands…"

"Federal Phoenix Society Global Broadcast: The Dawn Center's current position is the northern foothills of Yun'an Ridge, coordinates 116. 913447°, 39. 053937°. The Dawn Center will arrive at Tianqi in four days…"

"Federal Phoenix Society Global Broadcast: Further investigation by the Nightwalkers has confirmed that prolonged exposure to the Night increases the probability of Dark Contamination. Adults are advised not to remain in the Night for more than 48 consecutive hours; the elderly, the injured, and those with chronic genetic illnesses must not exceed 24 hours."

"We can't stay in the Night too long—it seems the theory of Night Invasion has been largely proven." Lin Xian entered Car 2: "About the 【Dark Mark】—if no large-scale Weird Entities appear after we enter the Night, we'll confirm this logic. Then we go find the Phoenix Society."

"Does that mean the longer you stay in the Night, the faster your abilities evolve?" Kiki suddenly thought of this, unusually.

Ding Junyi replied immediately: "If you view Night Invasion as a catalyst for evolution, you can interpret it that way."

"But from a biological standpoint, there must be some physiological threshold. For example, plants convert carbon dioxide and water into organic matter and store energy through photosynthesis—but that doesn't mean they photosynthesize nonstop. In fact, plants have circadian rhythms: they photosynthesize during the day to generate energy, then respire at night to consume energy and release carbon dioxide. If exposed to sunlight 24 hours a day, they'd disrupt their growth cycle and die."

"Moreover, the energy of Night Invasion is unknown, and its harm to the human body is unknown. Only the Descending Sects like Sacred Revelation treat Night Invasion's energy as humanity's evolutionary treasure."

Lin Xian frowned: "So it sounds like Weird Entities need the Night, humans need sunlight, and the Dark Tides aim to blanket the entire world in perpetual night. If we're to defeat these Night monsters, we must seek answers not just in the Night—but also in the Day."

Lin Xian's words changed Ding Junyi's expression. She stared at him without moving, as if deeply considering the idea, then walked away directly to Car 3.

"Looks like you got through to her," Chen Sixuan said, watching Ding Junyi's reaction.

"If only it were that simple," Lin Xian shrugged, turning to Chen Sixuan: "Chen Laoshi, get ready—we're leaving."

With just minutes left before nightfall, Lin Xian didn't want to wait until Weird Entities appeared and then move slowly. Better to accelerate now—even if trouble came, the train's speed could carry them through.

Chen Sixuan nodded, then frowned: "I thought you'd test it here first."

"No need. Too many corpses here. If we're making comparisons, we need an open space."

"You've got some experimental spirit," Kiki glanced at him and smiled. "Ding Director's influence on you is clear."

"When it matters, be precise."

Lin Xian sighed: "So many lives are at stake. If we confirm this, our future risks drop dramatically."

"You mean 'dramatically' as in: when you encounter a Weird Entity, you don't run—you stop and kill it?" Kiki sat cross-legged, slowly floating upward, watching Lin Xian with interest. "Have you considered that even if survivors know about the Dark Mark, do they have the ability to act on it?"

"You misunderstand." Lin Xian's expression turned grave. "When facing something unbeatable, running is always the first priority. But knowing Weird Entities carry the Dark Mark gives survivors another option. If you ignore the Mark and flee blindly, it triggers a chain reaction that escalates the threat beyond what anyone can handle. But if it's only C-class Weird Entities, more people might choose to fight back—some casualties versus total annihilation becomes a choice. Of course, I don't think every survivor will face an S-class. But when, like in Yubei City, all the Marks converge and every monster from sky and earth descends—that's true despair."

"So the best survival strategy is to kill the first hunter, then return to silence. That way, we might be safer in the Night."

Kiki frowned in thought, then nodded slowly, meaningfully: "Sharp."

Lin Xian said no more and activated Infinite Number, then entered the cab with Chen Sixuan.

"Don't we have enough bullets?"

!

"Just barely. The 1130 can't fire." Lin Xian frowned, accelerating the train: "No time left—we have to gamble now."

Lin Xian's stamina was nearly gone. The giant parasite's corpse still burned on the slope—he didn't want to linger here. He had to leave Rain Town and test whether the 【Mark】 had been cleared.

Whoosh!

Infinite Number gradually accelerated, leaving the valley through the rain, heading toward the Ring Star Main Track.

Along the way, Lin Xian saw scattered flesh and limbs on the rails—leftovers from last night's breakout.

Beep. Beep.

The alarm on his watch sounded. Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan's expressions changed instantly. The train's headlights snapped on; both stared ahead, hearts tightening.

Inside the carriages, everyone held their breath, waiting for the Tide.

Hum!

Above, mysterious light flickered.

The sky, moments ago heavy with storm clouds and rain, was suddenly smothered by a black veil. The horizon plunged into darkness; the forests beside the track vanished into blackness, visible only as silhouettes of trees.

For a moment, Lin Xian stopped breathing.

(End of Chapter)