Chapter 186: The Youth With Radiant Pupils
This kind of pure physical struggle was so subtle that even Su Huan’s General Energy Perception couldn’t detect any changes.
Let alone them.
But he didn’t keep everyone waiting too long.
“I lost.”
He Jie sighed and suddenly said.
The instant the two released their grip, He Jie was drenched in sweat like rain, streams of sweat flowing from his temples into his collar, with wisps of white steam rising.
Even the hand behind his back was clenched into a fist, trembling slightly.
Looking back at Liang Kuan, his face remained completely unmoved, merely his muscles bulging slightly, stretching his ever-present T-shirt.
The Acid Rain Area, due to long-term rainfall, wasn’t very warm, consistently around 18°C.
The heat emitted by the two had noticeably raised the room’s temperature.
Seeing the result, Director Xu couldn’t help walking up to Liang Kuan, eyes gleaming.
“Does this count as cross-tier?” Lin Jin swallowed and asked, unable to hide the shock in his eyes.
From the strength just shown, either He Jie or Liang Kuan could instantly crush him in pure power.
Especially the latter; he had no doubt he could be pinched into a lump of meat paste.
He thought he had been working hard enough, but unexpectedly, Liang Kuan, who had been silently driving, had such strong strength.
“It counts… but it doesn’t.” Su Huan narrowed his eyes.
Liang Kuan’s talent in strength had exceeded his expectations.
Not another SSR, right?
“Director Xu should know the concept of Basic Quality, right?”
Goat and the several Elite Soldiers suddenly understood.
The rest turned their gazes back to Director Xu, not knowing what riddle the two were playing.
“Basic Attributes are more complex to measure, only done in detail during experiments. Training can improve them slightly, Basic Potion can raise one level, but at major bottlenecks, they get stuck—no matter how much you train, you can’t promote. The first bottleneck is the barrier between Ordinary Person and Evolver.”
“This data can reference pre-apocalypse world athletes’ records. Without external aids, you can’t cross this barrier, like the Hundred Meters 9.58—later ones can only change digits after the decimal, because human muscle fiber contraction limit is 9.40.”
“Only Evolvers can break this barrier, and between Ordinary Evolver and Tier 1 Evolver, there’s still a Basic Quality gulf. I measured these nodes and digitized them, like Unranked…”
Seeing some faces growing more confused while Director Xu kept talking endlessly.
Su Huan waved his hand to interrupt and continued, “In short, there are two standards to measure Evolver strength: one is Basic Quality, one is Ability strength. Liang Kuan’s Basic Quality is very strong, so he suppressed He Jie.”
“Basic Attributes have ten dimensions: Strength, Speed, Defense, Stamina, Constitution, Total Energy, Energy Intensity, Fine Control, Duration, Energy Immunity.”
“Like Skills, Level 3 Tier 1. He Jie is probably Level 4 Strength, just one tier stronger than a newly promoted Tier 1 Defender.”
“While Liang Kuan’s Strength is around… Level 5.” Su Huan pondered, giving an accurate judgment based on experience. “Close to a Tier 2 Defender’s base Strength. Meaning, in pure Strength contest, Liang Kuan is the strongest among all of us.”
“But you just need to understand these. Battle relies on brain, mentality, technique. Even if opponent’s Strength is far higher, one 14.5mm bullet and they’ll scatter everywhere.”
Looking at Su Huan speaking eloquently, everyone had varied expressions.
Seeming to notice the crowd’s confusion, Su Huan casually stated his own attributes. “My Strength attribute is a bit above Level 4, not reaching Level 5. That’s because of my Dual Domain stacking. Tier 1 Fighter gave me Level 3 Strength, Tier 1 Energy Storage Core gave little, multiple evolutions only stacked about one level.”
Lin Jin glanced at Liang Kuan, then at Su Huan, suddenly thinking—
‘What if not competing in Strength?’
Xiao Zhao voiced it for him. “By this calculation, Train Conductor’s highest attribute should be Total Energy, right?”
“Mm-hmm, of course.”
Su Huan nodded with a smile.
These research brains accepted new concepts quickly. Professor Ma, Deputy General Manager Deng—they probably understood too, but being older and more steady, they wouldn’t rashly ask.
Su Huan didn’t plan to tell them his energy amount.
But honestly, with energy at such a level, without professional equipment, even he couldn’t estimate it accurately.
Energy Storage Core was a profession excelling in energy to begin with.
Upon promotion, Total Energy already tripled a Tier 1 Electromagnetic User’s. Though not as exaggerated as the guessed Level 6 Tier 2, it was Level 4. Now nearing Tier 2 Circulating Vortex promotion, his body’s energy had multiplied countless times.
Level 6?
Level 7?
Too vast to say for sure.
A slight error could differ by a Lin Jin.
To put it bluntly, the total energy of everyone present, including Energizers like Jiang Rong, all added up wouldn’t reach half of his.
The further evolution progresses, the greater the individual gap.
Like a chasm.
So, Tier 3 Evolvers can barely be killed with Firearms. Beyond Tier 3, technology and numbers can’t compensate that gap.
Technology becomes merely evolution’s aid.
Only High-level Evolvers can counter High-level Evolvers—this has become consensus.
Not to mention far-off cases: Su Huan at Tier 4 would be a high-density humanoid energy Bomb. Even if he doesn’t fight back, who would detonate him without suicidal resolve?
Professor Ma at Tier 4: one thought, Gravity reverses, all ascend to heaven.
Xiao Ba needless to say—directly draws Metal from the Ground, any military base becomes a metal coffin.
Goat’s type with seeking fortune avoiding calamity won’t let you hit at all.
Of course, if insistent on fighting, theoretically possible—after all, missiles dozens or even hundreds of kilometers have been developed. But practical cost too high.
Science is meticulous and rigorous; not solvable by one person or small team.
Requires a large force with population, territory, Supplies, industry, military, technology, economy, system…
But such forces pursue the evolution path more.
Technology only decays step by step with the apocalypse. Perhaps rising abruptly in some fields, but overall decline inevitable.
Next, answered some more questions about evolution.
Then the Armed Corps part followed He Jie to train soldiers.
On one hand, to familiarize with soldiers, earn their trust; on the other, he sometimes can’t handle alone.
Per He Jie, good soldiers need not just training but beatings—beat out bad temper, beat to submission, or on battlefield they’ll defy more.
Su Huan half-understood, could only let him do as he pleased.
Anyway, Armed Corps is unified; Yu Yue, Lin Jin etc. inserted among, no fear of He Jie’s one-man show.
“Clap clap—”
Su Huan clapped his hands, drawing remaining attention. “So in free time, if your combat style leans physical, train Physical Fitness; if energy-based, train Fine Control. Just piling General Energy Crystals won’t work—when opportunity comes, you still won’t evolve.”
“That’s it for today. Those with matters stay to report; others can go busy.”
Words just fell: Train Conductor’s inner and outer chief secretaries Yu Yue, Hu Shuo, plus Wan Hao, Old Yuan, Factory Director, Deputy General Manager Deng, and all Pursers stepped forward together.
Damn!
Su Huan’s eyelid twitched, feeling he’d spoken too fully.
So many matters—tonight no sleep again!
No, just a fledgling small force—how so many things?!
“One by one, state your matters.”
Professor Ma stood smiling. “I have some maintenance updates. You first.”
Teacher said wait, Xiao Zhao naturally wouldn’t step up.
Several Laboratory Directors thought and stepped back.
Finally Old Da stepped forward first. “Just reporting Bullet Workshop production and New Material synthesis.”
Old Er: “I’d like to report our Combat Group’s clearing work on Base and surroundings.”
Wan Xing: “New Potion synthesis…”
Xiao Zhao: “Database update, Spare Parts consumption, Map update, etc…”
Yu Jing: “Ironwood synthesis has new progress.”
“…”
Outside soldiers suffered too.
Today’s training goal aligned with Xiao Ba.
When Lin Jin was exhausted to exhaustion, turning to Xiao Ba—still persisting, just complexion slightly pale.
‘Lin Jin ah Lin Jin! Can’t even match a child’s Will—how to catch up to Train Conductor?’
So gritted teeth, continued.
When his muscles trembled uncontrollably, found Xiao Ba even paler, but still going.
Glanced at others: Liang Kuan doing high Load training with He Jie, current state good.
‘Lin Jin ah Lin Jin, more talented ones are working hard—how to catch up to Train Conductor?’
Bit teeth tight, continue!
When vision blurred, couldn’t even see nearby Xiao Ba clearly.
Body swaying on verge of collapse.
Just as falling, grabbed by shoulder by a hand; cool Potion injected into neck, Wan Xing’s calm voice from behind: “If can’t, don’t force yourself.”
Sat recovering half a day; when Recovery Potion took effect, Lin Jin felt soul return.
Massive shame surged.
Wan Xing extended pale finger from wide sleeve, waved before Lin Jin to confirm he recovered, then said, “Recovery Potion deducted from your Points.”
“Ah, okay.”
Awkwardly agreed.
“Xing Zi Sis, is inside done?”
Xiao Ba wheeled Electric Wheelchair to the two; except hair tips wet with sweat, youth’s gaze as clear and firm as start.
Not scattered at all.
Wan Xing shook head. “Still long time. You go back first.”
No extra words, instructed then turned back.
Xiao Ba looked at seated Lin Jin, manipulated Exoskeleton to stand, then yielded Electric Wheelchair.
“Get on, I’ll take you back.”
Lin Jin: “!”
Finally, powerless Lin Jin carried onto wheelchair by Xiao Ba; after greeting He Jie’s side, the two left.
When Xiao Ba pushing wheelchair’s figure vanished outside the door, First Floor Hall suddenly filled with relieved exhales.
Because Train undergoing upgrade refit, everyone’s Dormitory arranged in temporary dorms inside Train Manufacturing Base.
Seated in wheelchair, watched Xiao Ba use Metal to prop a rain shelter.
Lin Jin raised sore fingers; faint flame rose, but extinguished soon.
Overly fatigued body affected his Energy output.
Couldn’t help asking, “Xiao Ba, that training volume—how do you persist?”
Behind came youth’s clear splashing steps, casually: “Not really persisting. I can only endure, nothing else—so used to enduring.”
Lin Jin in wheelchair breath caught.
Hands silently clenched.
Just back to Dormitory, saw small figure dart out from inside. From afar, seeing the two figures, wailed crying.
“Xiao Ba… bro, I-I thought… you didn’t want me!”
Little boy cried gasping.
Xiao Ba hurried up, patted little boy’s head, hugged him, softly comforting: “I brought you tasty things, see what…”
Lin Jin watched big and small two children, expression puzzled.
When did Xiao Ba get a little brother?
When Xiao Ba finished comforting little boy, on way pushing him back to Dormitory, explained himself.
Youth’s voice somewhat shy: “That… though unbelievable, this child is one I adopted.”
“Ah?”
Lin Jin though prepared mentally, still a bit dazed.
Purely dazed.
A twelve-year-old youth adopting a five-six-year-old child?
“Saved by Steel Council back then?”
Lin Jin blurted.
Xiao Ba nodded. “Mm, he just four and a half, doesn’t remember many things.”
“Hiss…”
Lin Jin thought of tangled causes inside, scalp numbed.
Two already at Lin Jin’s Dormitory doorway; Lin Jin grabbed doorframe to stand, looked at outside door Xiao Ba, asked again.
“Does Train Conductor know?”
“No, so hope you keep secret for now.”
Outside still continuous drizzly rain, but youth’s Pupils seemed to hold sunlight, tone pleading.
……
“January 24, clear”
“Most despairing isn’t being drowned by water, but by endless tasks.”
……
“January 26, light rain”
“New field long drought, no sweet rain seen.”
……
After Train Conductor’s hard struggle, Train’s messy affairs finally sorted with a thread.
Recent two major goals both good progress.
First, Train Manufacturing Base refit: to make long-term Platform, original anti-thief security insufficient.
But Base area too large, can’t complete at once.
This refit targets core area, including part Residential Area and Train body manufacturing center.
