Chapter 417

After crossing the waves, the Infinite Train entered the deep sea along the Ocean Segment of the Ring Star Orbit. The weather was clear, the ocean now a liquid blue plain, sunlight spilled across the surface like molten gold foil, and delicate glimmers floated along the massive sea-based tracks, as if the train were rolling over a starry river studded with diamonds. Occasionally, flying fish leapt from the water, their silver bodies tracing parabolic arcs before plunging abruptly into the unfathomable blue depths.

Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan sat in the cockpit. Without a tugger, the train could only advance under its own power, relying on radar and the rail system to monitor track conditions.

After leaving the continental shelf and entering the deep sea, the ocean's color turned deep blue. Lin Xian gazed far to the right of the track, where a storm-like black curtain obscured both horizon and sky. He knew it marked the edge of Star Abyss No. 8—and also the fracture zone of the Deep Ocean Ridge.

Lin Xian took a deep breath, still feeling a flicker of tension. He feared the massive track might suddenly snap, sending the thousands-of-tons steel train plummeting straight into the deep sea.

Though he had upgraded each carriage of the Infinite Train with deep-sea cabins and underwater propulsion systems, he had no intention of operating a submarine unless absolutely necessary.

Whoosh~

The Infinite Train raced across the Ocean Track like a steel dragon, everything calm and still. Hours passed, and the world narrowed to sky above and endless deep blue below, as if there were no end to either.

Huo Ge, summoned to stand watch, had set up a reclining chair atop the Infinite Train, wearing sunglasses as he leisurely surveyed the surrounding seas, while Long Zhijie sat cross-legged up front, eyes fixed and focused.

Both possessed flight abilities and could react instantly in emergencies, so Lin Xian had sent them outside to keep watch.

Not long after, Chen Sixuan in the cockpit noticed a layer of sea fog gradually forming over the water. The weather turned gloomy. At first she thought a storm was coming, but the Infinite Train's weather detection system registered no storm—this fog seemed localized.

Soon, the fog thickened, dimming all surrounding light. Lu Xingchen on the train's roof slowly sat up, removed his sunglasses, and his expression turned serious.

"Lin Brother, the weather has turned strange. This kind of sky-obscuring mist may summon evil entities in broad daylight."

"I've already slowed down," Lin Xian replied via communicator.

Sitting atop the train, Long Zhijie deployed his ability, sending countless tiny grains of sand swirling in a several-hundred-meter radius around the Infinite Train. These grains acted as his sensory radar—any slight contact with approaching objects triggered immediate alert.

"This fog is suspicious," Chen Sixuan told Lin Xian. "It reminds me of the fog spiders in Beiwan Town."

Lin Xian nodded. "Same here."

Viola controlled hundreds of aerial drones, arranging them in a circular information chain for forward reconnaissance. At this moment, Lin Xian received a response.

【No anomalies detected on the forward track. Approaching Taku Deepwater Port. No live biological signatures detected.】

【Metal detection indicates severe rusting across multiple structures in the deepwater port.】

"We've reached the deepwater port…"

Lin Xian spoke grimly. Moments later, ahead, the sea fog peeled back like a shroud, revealing the colossal steel silhouette of a structure.

Four drilling platforms stood in leaden-gray seawater, surrounding a steel deepwater port spanning over two square kilometers—once a cargo transfer hub for the Ring Star Orbit, now resembling a steel graveyard. As the Infinite Train slowed and entered, distant sounds of rusted steel groaning beneath gentle waves seemed to echo.

Countless suspended walkways hung like the spine of this place, draped with spiderweb-like cables. Massive cranes hung crookedly in midair, as if about to plunge into the abyss at any second.

Before even entering the port, Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan spotted numerous burned-out mechs, fighter jets, abandoned trains, and countless corpses. The bodies were completely desiccated and decayed; inside the powered armor helmets, only dried faces remained. Around the drilling platforms and throughout the port, strange, grotesque remains of decayed flesh littered the ground—also long dried. This place had clearly endured a brutal battle; now, silence reigned everywhere.

【Forward port transit track obstructed. No large-scale track damage detected.】

At this moment, Viola's voice came through. Lin Xian immediately ordered: "Viola, deploy drones to clear the obstruction, inspect the track, and patrol the entire deepwater platform."

【Viola understands.】

Wu~

In an instant, thousands of drones surged forth. Combat drones flew to the drilling platforms and cargo docks for inspection; engineering drones began clearing debris from the track.

"Lin Xian."

At this moment, Kiki's voice came through: "Sonar detected something beneath the port."

"Bai Bai and Shizhi sensed it too," Xiang Ningjing's voice followed.

"Check it out. Watch for Dark Markers," Lin Xian ordered.

"Got it!"

Xiang Ningjing immediately coordinated with Shu Qin, Lu Chang, and others to begin searching.

Sea fog blanketed the entire deepwater port, turning it into a steel ghost ship adrift on the ocean—silent, eerie. Seawater flowed slowly between platforms, shimmering with oily rainbows. Occasional waves slapped rusted pilings, producing hollow echoes.

Lin Xian opened the cockpit and, clad in powered armor, stepped onto the deepwater port with Chen Sixuan. Under the fog, visibility dropped to less than ten meters.

Under the powered armor's radar and electro-optical scans, outlines of objects emerged from the mist. The entire port platform was desolate, littered everywhere with desiccated, decaying corpses.

What caught Lin Xian's attention was that every firearm on the ground remained untouched—including the supply trains and aircraft. Upside-down railcars still held vast quantities of remaining supplies.

"Has anyone come to this port? This looks like it's been abandoned for at least two months," Lin Xian frowned.

"I asked Jiang Yun. Since the Star Abyss anomalies began, many Apocalypse Trains stopped entering the Ocean Segment. After the Dawn City battle, most headed toward Dawn Center. Probably because the Phoenix Association stopped using this route, the Ocean Segment fell into disrepair—so no convoys dare risk the sea anymore," Chen Sixuan said.

Lin Xian nodded. Indeed, ordinary Apocalypse Train teams usually chose safer land routes. If he hadn't possessed the Sky Dome Train, he wouldn't have dared cross the Pacific.

After scanning the surroundings, Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan headed toward the cargo platform's storage depot. In their earpieces, Kiki's voice came from above.

"Lin Xian, I've checked the heights. This place is completely shrouded in fog—seems abandoned for a long time. And judging by the state, strange entities have definitely been here."

"Be careful," Lin Xian said, his gaze sweeping over a massive winged creature's corpse that had crushed half the storage depot. "Protect Shizhi. Watch the sky."

"I know."

In Car 3 of the Infinite Train, Ding Junyi, deeply focused on her research, noticed the blood vine twitching slightly. Its thorns glowed crimson. She immediately walked over, activating her ability to sense the change.

Ding Junyi frowned, then called out to Xiao Yuan.

"Xiao Yuan, look."

Xiao Yuan approached and saw the blood vine rapidly curling its tender shoots toward a specific direction, soon reaching the edge of the growth chamber.

"Director Ding, this calamity plant seems to be reaching toward something."

"I noticed too," Ding Junyi immediately lifted the growth chamber, rotated it near the window, and—sure enough—when she turned it fully, the vine slowly shifted its shoot direction, clinging again to the transparent chamber's edge. The shoots then rapidly grew, emitting a series of squeaking sounds.

"Southeast direction… maybe…"

"Ah!"

Before Ding Junyi finished speaking, Xiao Yuan screamed. Ding Junyi turned and saw Xiao Yuan covering her mouth, pointing in horror toward the platform outside the window. Both stared—and froze.

On the platform where the Infinite Train was docked, beneath the thick fog, a figure had silently appeared. It resembled a human but was unnaturally tall—at least three meters. Its feet were backward-bent goat hooves; its arms long and dangling. Most bizarre was its head: a triangular opening, like a blooming flower, glowing deep red. The triangular head now stared motionlessly toward Ding Junyi's direction, sending chills down their spines.

Clink!

In an instant, a golden flash lit up. Door 5 opened. Da Lou, Luo Yang, and others rushed out. As soon as Xiao Yuan screamed, Qian Dele activated his Speed Force and arrived instantly. He spotted the strange humanoid creature at once and without hesitation launched a powerful kick.

But as his kick swept through, the monster twisted like smoke in the air, vanished instantly, leaving behind a winding, strange afterimage as it slithered into the dense fog.

"Where are you going?!" Qian Dele saw the creature's speed was clearly slow, yet his kick had missed completely. He felt something was deeply wrong. Seeing the afterimage vanish, he flashed forward after it.

"Da Lou, Luo Yang, guard the train. We're going after it!"

Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan arrived at once. Both moved swiftly, activating their powered armor's mobility mode, racing through the port ruins. Meanwhile, Kiki and Shizhi flew down from above.

"Lin Xian, Shizhi says she didn't detect any Ling Value fluctuation from that thing!"

"Figure out what it is," Lin Xian accelerated. Years of fighting strange entities had taught him: any anomaly must be taken seriously. If not dealt with decisively, it could bring massive trouble later.

Ahead, a golden flash streaked past. In an instant, Qian Dele stopped on the cantilever above the deepwater inlet of the drilling platform, frowning in confusion.

Lin Xian and the others arrived. He asked Qian Dele: "What happened?"

"Weird. It wasn't fast—but I couldn't catch it…" Qian Dele bent over, his expression darkening.

"Viola!"

【I'm here】

"Did you lock onto its position?"