Chapter 262: Night of Cosmic Hallucination (5)

Dan Heng walked over to the think tank's search engine, casually found a document and opened it, and the data on various insects unfolded before everyone's eyes:

"While perusing the Think Tank's *Chronicle of Exotic Insects Across Realms*, I read about a species that exists only in the records—because no actual research samples are available, the author temporarily named it the 'Giant True Burrowing Insect'."

"This insect can grow to an extreme size—large enough to swallow an entire Star‑Destroyer in one gulp."

Dan Heng suspected that the "overlord" Yin Zhi heard was such a giant insect, and that they were now inside the creature's stomach.

This explanation also reminded Yin Zhi of Wei Li Te's earlier encounter; when they first met, they were trapped in a dark, colossal cavern, unable to escape, and indeed heard swallowing and writhing sounds inside the cave.

"Hmm. Your flight path intersected with the train's star‑track; perhaps we are dealing with the same Giant True Burrowing Insect."

Dan Heng intended to gather evidence for his hypothesis, but suddenly a rumble of gastrointestinal movement came from outside the train, startling March 7th into silently hugging herself.

"... It seems we no longer need proof," Dan Heng said, opening the think‑tank chamber's door. "Let's go discuss a plan with Mr. Walter."

——

Teyvat, Maple Court.

"Wait, a worm that can swallow an entire Star‑Destroyer?! Shouldn't such a behemoth be tackled by a joint army and manpower for extermination?"

During afternoon tea, Navia was adding sugar spoonful by spoonful to almond powder when she heard Dan Heng mention a huge worm; startled, her hand trembled and she accidentally tipped a nearby jar, spilling nearly half its sugar into the mix.

She had heard since childhood from her parents the legend of the "Beast" Erinas, said to be a monster larger than the entire Maple Court; Maple Court dispatched countless armies to subdue it, and it could swallow the court's ships in a single bite. To this day, its mountain‑like head can be seen from afar on the walls of Maple Court.

Erinas was one of the few colossal beings Navia could even imagine; the mixer in her hand trembled imperceptibly. "So this monster must be even larger than Erinas?"

"Probably even more; you can't compare Maple Court's ironclad ships with a Star‑Destroyer."

Clo... leisurely stirred her black tea, the silver spoon clinking against the porcelain cup with a crisp sound. "As the name suggests, a Star‑Destroyer is a weapon capable of annihilating an interstellar civilization; its sheer volume likely exceeds the combined area of all Maple Court's seas and lands."

"If we really compare…" Clo... picked up a macaron that Navia had just baked. "In the Giant Burrowing Insect's eyes, Erinas would probably look like this macaron."

"Then why doesn't the Interstellar Peace Company send people to eliminate that monster? With its power, it should be able to kill such a worm, right?"

"Perhaps... it's a low‑probability event?" Clo... gave her a meaning‑laden look. "You're the boss of the Thorn Rose Society; you know that deploying force is costly. Not to mention Giant Burrowing Insects are rare, and even if encountered, the manpower and resources required would be incalculable."

"Although those guys constantly invoke 'Preservation', I don't think they're that benevolent."

——

On the way back to the observation carriage, March 7th sensed a heavy atmosphere, glanced at Dan Heng and Yin Zhi on either side, and said, "So quiet... care to say something?"

"To meet you all here, I, Yin Zhi, would die without regret," Yin Zhi declared on the spot.

"... Forget it, better to stay quiet."

After they briefed Walter on the whole situation, he analyzed for a moment and devised a plan: "If the train truly got swallowed, perhaps we can temporarily overload its engine to strike the worm's stomach, using supersonic speed to burst out of the Giant True Burrowing Insect's body."

"Why not just teleport away?" Xing asked, puzzled.

"Teleportation requires extensive preparation, and the process would inevitably attract the swarm's attention," Dan Heng explained.

Though this scheme carries the risk of the train's engine igniting itself, there seems to be no better idea for now.

——

Chainsaw Man.

"The train's current predicament... isn't it just like when we were locked on the eighth floor by the Eternal Demon last time?"

Dian Ci sat cross‑legged on the sofa, watching Walter's suggestion projected on the ceiling, and yawned. "That's a boring idea, isn't it? If you ask me, at a time like this we should call Ren over... I've already thought of the reason: if he arrives late, we can't slay him with our own hands."

"Huh? What does this have to do with Ren? Dian Ci, you're really an idiot, aren't you?" Pawa stuck his head out of the bedroom.

"Tsk tsk tsk... Pawa, you have no idea! Let Ren jump straight into the True Burrowing Insect's stomach, continuously killing it and causing it to bleed; the True Burrowing Insect then reproduces infinitely, only to be slain by Ren again..."

"One can resurrect endlessly, the other can proliferate without limit, but the True Burrowing Insect's blood will keep increasing, endlessly! That would complete a perpetual motion machine! Even the Genius Club would have to invite me!"

Pawa suddenly realized, "Dian Ci, you've been talking forever—how does the train crew get out?"

"Did you forget the True Burrowing Insect's blood? The blood is also water transformed, you know~"

Dian Ci let out a weird "hehe" laugh. "Let Dan Heng become a Dragon Lord, use his sphere to manipulate the blood into a dragon that punches a hole through the worm's stomach wall—then the blood just keeps increasing, so we never run out."

——

Yin Zhi noticed everyone's mood was low and decided to soothe them together with Xing.

Arriving at Wei Li Te and March's side, Wei Li Te's emotions were on the brink of collapse; he was just a third‑rate employee at the company, and this upheaval was a sudden disaster for him.

"Please, everyone, do not worry," Yin Zhi stepped forward. "I am saying my final farewell to the potted plant; just as meeting you, befriending the many lives on this train and discussing the Way of Pure Beauty, I would die without regret!"

March subconsciously moved a little closer to Xing. "He just kept hugging the potted plant... and in such a short time formed a deep friendship with it? Though I also worry about the doll in the room..."

Wei Li Te lowered his head in disappointment. "I never imagined that my first meeting with you all might be a goodbye. Ah, it seems there's nothing I can do now; I'll spend my remaining time listening to your stories about the train..."

"Stop talking nonsense, how can it be a goodbye!" Pam glared at Wei Li Te, "But at this point, you finally developed feelings for the train, and Pam is quite pleased about that."