Chapter 317: Rendezvous
Luo Jingyi had always lived in the small Shelter in Zhijin City and had no idea what the other was talking about.
Hearing that word immediately filled his mind with question marks.
He wanted to ask more, but found the other already impatient.
The sunlight baked his neck hot, and his back was scorching from the mad dash.
Luo Jingyi kept his head down silently, suppressing his speed to follow behind the crowd, ready to scatter and flee at any moment. With his Tier 1 strength, no matter how he ran, he would be the easiest one to survive.
A rumbling muffled sound accompanied by a gust of foul wind surged from ahead. Luo Jingyi looked up and saw a Tier 1 Night Demon clinging to the door header nearby.
His heart jolted in shock, but before this terror could fade, the Night Demon had already leaped over everyone’s heads and dashed madly into the distance.
“The Train is coming!”
Luo Jingyi looked toward the sound, where the setting sun cast a terrifying scene.
Countless Tier 1 Zombies emerged from corners throughout the entire City, gathering on the Train’s path like birds returning to their nest. As the Train passed, they frantically pounced on it, grabbing the windows and triangular anti-collision bars, stacking layer upon layer on the car’s surface, issuing intimidating hisses at the people inside while madly pounding the Armor with their flesh and blood.
But the Train ignored the “lice” on its body.
Streaks of eerie blue Electromagnetic Railgun fire tore through the sky, ripping and burning the Zombie Horde, then piercing buildings and smashing into the City.
Thick gray smoke rose simultaneously across thousands of meters.
High-Explosive Rounds followed closely, burrowing into the impenetrable Zombie Horde, then blasting open at the center. Waves of flesh and blood and gravel surged ten meters high, iron-gray limbs scattering like raindrops across the entire City, viscous black blood trickling down the building walls.
Teetering buildings, amid the cannon fire, were either riddled with holes or collapsed with a boom.
Hundreds of thousands of Zombies were sent off by the cannon fire and collapsing buildings without even seeing the Train.
Clearly, most Zombies had not broken free from the limits of carbon-based lifeforms. In the face of human weapons maxed to the extreme, they did not perform better than other creatures—in fact, due to their low intelligence and greed for flesh and blood, they suffered even greater losses.
This could not even be called a war.
The Armored Train’s goal was merely to carve a path through the City, and the Zombies’ flesh-and-blood bodies were evidently no tougher than steel-reinforced cement buildings.
Seeing the Armored Train’s overwhelming might, the Scavengers following behind grew confident, shouting slogans like “Armored Train” and “Savior” as they eagerly surged into the battlefield cleared by the Train.
……
Armored Train Carriage 13.
An Old Man stood by the window, wearing a white knitwear inside and a beige jacket outside, his figure upright, eyes blankly staring at a bloodstain on the window in front of him.
A warm and reserved voice came, “Even from this far, I can hear those cheers.”
Director Xu turned back to look at this new friend he had made on the Train, his gaze instinctively scanning the other’s hairstyle, collar, cuffs, and other details, only relaxing slightly with a barely noticeable ease when he saw the other was as presentable as himself.
Professor Ma naturally noticed his little actions and shook his head helplessly.
This little old man was very picky—not only meticulous about his own attire, but also strict about his friends’. Though he wouldn’t say it, if unsatisfied, he would ignore you completely.
Among the Train’s top brass, Director Xu was one of the most aloof.
“He has become the Savior.”
Director Xu’s voice was neither sad nor joyful, like reporting a piece of information.
Professor Ma walked over with hot coffee. The bloodstain on the car window was washed clean by the mechanical arm with Purified Water, allowing the two to see outside more clearly. “Isn’t this pretty good?”
Zombies charged at the Train one after another, only to be gunned down or shot off by automatic firearms.
Even Zombies that luckily reached the highest point could only stare blankly at the Train’s bare deck.
Whether the Ironwood making up the deck or the Train’s multiple-upgraded Tier 1 Armor, neither was a defense line that agile Zombies could easily breach.
Director Xu’s tone rose, laced with thick absurdity. “He has become the Savior?”
He still remembered the Steel Council’s great fire and the terrifying Corpse Roar.
Yet the culprit had transformed into the Savior in people’s mouths.
Though he didn’t consider himself a man of great principles, this shift in identity left a bad taste in his heart. He even wanted to crack open his skull to show the shouting Scavengers outside the terrifying sight of the Train carrying a million-strong Zombie Tide breaking through the defense line.
Professor Ma took a sip of coffee and chuckled, “Why can’t it be him?”
Director Xu was stunned.
His brows furrowed tightly.
Moments later, the little old man said with an unspoken firmness, “Then I can do it too!”
Professor Ma found it amusing. “We’re not young anymore—why compete with the Young Man over this?”
Director Xu said indifferently, “So what about sixty? It’s the prime time to strive!”
Professor Ma: “…”
……
Thirty kilometers outside Zhijin City.
Two people with no markings on them lay on a high-rise building, using a Telescope to observe the situation in Zhijin City.
“This is over five million Zombie Tide—releasing it will keep the Storm Zone restless for three months. What is Black Kite thinking?”
“I heard that Black Kite’s one has no brain.”
The partner lay on his back nearby, chewing Chewing Gum.
“How could the Supreme Director have no brain…”
“I mean literally no brain—cut it out during an experiment.”
The partner rolled over, saying excitedly.
“Holy shit! Real or fake?”
“Just for fun. Right, where’s the Armored Train at?”
The initial observer raised the Telescope, activating his ability. “Already at Chenxi Plaza. The speed is really slow, but this cannon fire is fierce— not inferior to the army.”
“What’s the use of fierce? With so many Zombies, Lord-level ones will definitely emerge. They charged in with no preparations—tch, they’re probably doomed. The information gap isn’t something a bit of supplies can make up; this is life-or-death stuff.”
The observer said fortunately, “Luckily, our Deep Blue Data top brass has some conscience and didn’t plant Data Collectors in such small forces.”
“Sure is.”
……
……
Inside Chenxi Plaza’s Iron Wall, the mountain of piled corpses tumbled down with a clatter, revealing the gruesome scene within.
Corpses piled nearly a meter high across Chenxi Plaza, reaching a terrifying dozen meters at the hotel’s edge.
At the center, over a dozen Giant Beast-like Tier 2 Zombies stood frozen like Sculptures, locked in place by Steel, their bodies covered in gruesome gunshot wounds, burns, and even torn gashes.
Blood-soaked Liang Kuan sat at the Iron Wall’s edge, with Pangtu helping treat the through-and-through wound on his arm.
Goat, Mongoose, and other Officers directed soldiers in combat below.
Jiang Rong, who had been awkwardly unsure what to do, was also chased down by He Jie.
Li Xinlong and Black Star’s people did not join the battlefield.
First, they were quite depleted and couldn’t help much if they went up.
Second, their strength was weak, with no coordination with the Train—going up would only disrupt the soldiers’ battle rhythm. Better to stay here and watch.
The Armed Corps’ combat style immediately opened the eyes of Black Star and the others.
Watching the soldiers below, each leading four or five Unranked Evolvers, slaughter Tier 1 Zombies like chickens, Li Xinlong felt like he had pushed open the door to a New World.
He couldn’t help comparing in his mind.
‘This gunner is like me—dual Handguns with a faster rate of fire than my Rifle.’
Then He Jie’s irritable scolding came to his ears.
“Lu Xiao, are you fucking dancing down there?! And twirling your gun—why not lift your thigh and twirl the gun below too?!”
Li Xinlong’s mouth twitched, then he saw the newly met Mongoose darting through, stepping on Zombies’ heads to charge inward. Each step made his heart race, fearing she would fall into the horde, but every attack was nimbly dodged by Mongoose, followed by a claw piercing a Tier 1 Earth Ghost hiding behind!
This thrilling scene made Li Xinlong cheer aloud.
“Nice!”
But the irritable bear-like figure beside him was already cursing, “Qu Hang, your Adjutant has charged up, and you’re still hiding like a rat in a gutter. Who are you two planning to let command—Xiao Ba? Or me?!”
Then Li Xinlong saw the Sniper who had one-shot a Tier 2 Butcher’s head sling the Heavy Sniper Rifle over his shoulder and jump down to take over command.
Li Xinlong awkwardly shut his mouth.
Deciding he wouldn’t make a sound even if beaten to death.
The last Tier 2 Night Demon in the field suddenly leaped onto the nearby Iron Wall, climbing up with hands and feet.
Numerous Spikes extended from the Iron Wall, wrapping toward the Night Demon like thorns.
Liang Kuan, who had just bandaged his wound, stood up and drew out the Shield he had been sitting on.
Li Xinlong saw the burly Man walk to the edge where the Night Demon planned to break through, lifting the Shield into free fall.
One ascending, one descending.
The two approached at terrifying speed.
“Old Liang, leave it breathing!”
He Jie roared.
Liang Kuan paused, twisting his body as the Night Demon’s claw slashed over, stepping on a protruding iron block, flipping the Shield in his hand and slamming it into the wall.
“Boom!”
A massive vibration echoed through the entire Chenxi Plaza.
The Tier 2 Night Demon howled, dropping its severed leg and continuing to climb upward.
He Jie on the hotel rooftop grinned ferociously, hoisting the Anti-aircraft Machine Gun for a barrage, knocking the Night Demon back and shouting, “Xiao Ba, Lin Jin, Old Liang—you three, no moves! Everyone else, take it down! Rewards for kills!”
“Those who perform poorly will wash my socks for a month!”
He pulled out a new Cigar, rubbed it harshly on the glowing-hot gun barrel, tossed the empty gun to a Recruit nearby, and was about to savor a puff when he spotted a command error by an Officer below.
It enraged him into a thunderous tirade of scolding.
“Tier 2 Zombies have Corpse Armor—ordinary Rifles can’t penetrate. Isn’t the difficulty a bit high?”
Li Xinlong couldn’t help asking beside him.
He Jie sneered, “You little punk know shit. If we don’t ramp up now, what if we encounter them later—get slaughtered?”
Li Xinlong watched the soldiers below with their stubborn combat will, his eyes full of envy.
If he had dozens—no, just one squad like this, Black Star could rise in Zhijin on that foundation.
He had no confidence against Black Kite, but sweeping forces like Jin Feng would be a cinch.
“On the Train, are there many Tier 1 Evolvers?”
Li Xinlong asked.
“How old are you?”
“Uh, nineteen.”
“Your mom is my subordinate, and my surname is He.”
He Jie flicked ash, saying meaningfully.
Li Xinlong froze, not getting what he meant, but Pang Ke beside him did, rummaging in Old Yang’s pocket for half a pack of smokes and handing it over with a grin. “Uncle He, I’m Zhang Ke—A Long and I are childhood friends…”
Li Xinlong hurriedly called Uncle He too.
He Jie took the smokes, smiling. “This little fatty is sensible. Since we’re all insiders, this isn’t a secret—I’ll tell you. The Corps has over twenty.”
“Uncle He, can you tell me about my mom?”
Li Xinlong wised up this time.
He Jie scratched his head. “It’s not that I don’t want to—it’s just your mom boarded earlier than me…”
After two sentences, he suddenly looked up, grinning. “Someone more suitable to introduce her has arrived.”
……
Meanwhile, the fully loaded Armored Train advanced toward Zhijin City’s core at a slow but steadfast speed.
When only the afterglow of the sunset remained, it had neared the Iron Wall defended by He Jie and the others.
Along the way, it had cannoned and crushed over two hundred thousand Zombies.
By the time the Train approached the Iron Wall, the internal battle had completely ended, with soldiers turning muzzles outward to block Zombies surging from Zhijin City.
The Iron Wall facing the Train opened a huge gap, allowing the Train to enter inside.
Goat directed a few squads to clear the Zombies clinging to the Train.
Old San’s Combat Group also emerged from the cars.
He Jie led Li Xinlong and the others down, heading straight for the Train. Xiao Ba, Jiang Rong, Lin Jin, and other senior Officers gathered at the front of the Train, everyone carrying that sharp aura forged in battle, startling Li Xinlong and the others slightly.
He thought he had been through plenty in half a year, but recalling how Old Ma intimidated him with a glance from the rooftop filled him with defeat.
Yet after seeing the Armed Corps fight, a hard-to-describe thrill rose in his heart.
As if seeing his future path.
Everyone cast curious glances at Li Xinlong and the others, but quickly withdrew them.
Because the bloodstained Hammer of the Alps had been set down, a black figure standing there with a half-smile looking at everyone.
“Train Conductor.”
Whether blood-soaked Liang Kuan, thunderously irritable He Jie, or the surrounding Men sharp as Military Sabers, all respectfully uttered this same title.
Though the Train Conductor’s oppression was far less than when blocking the Four Greats, his calm body like a frozen lake.
But on this plaza piled with corpse mountains, amid the surrounding dominant auras, his presence was even more terrifying.
Li Xinlong stared blankly at the scene, feeling the vague thrill from before instantly clarify.
All the fog turned into a pair of pitch-black, abyss-like eyes.
But the next words instantly stiffened him.
“I lost two soldiers. Have you seen them?”
