Doomsday: I Build an Infinite Train.

Chapter 476 Defection

The crimson world was like a blood-red nightmare. Lin Xian stared at the hellish scene, stunned into place. Unconsciously, endless fear and sorrow raged in his heart.

In the hell before him, he seemed to have no strength to resist or struggle. His spine was numb, and all he could see was how he was torn to pieces and died in agony, and how his teammates struggled, screamed in despair, and sacrificed themselves...

"stop looking!"

A voice, like a resounding bell, instantly assaulted Lin Xian's rapidly collapsing reason. He felt a cold arm pull him out of the scorching crimson hell before his eyes, and he almost suffocated.

hiss!
Lin Xian, regaining his composure, took a deep breath. His face was deathly pale as he stood there in shock, staring at Chu Yan in front of him: "Darkness invasion?!"

“It’s even more terrifying than that.” Chu Yan turned to face the window and used nano-jet particles to seal all the gaps along the window frame. At that moment, the chilly feeling in the room immediately lessened.

"After the Star Abyss began to move, the dark tide started to be accompanied by crimson, causing the swept areas to enter the polar night zone faster than before. In other words, the Star Abyss's spread efficiency has accelerated."

Chu Yan said to Lin Xian, "Moreover, this crimson coverage will turn the area into an absolute death zone, where bizarre creatures that were never detected before will appear. They are not S-class, nor are they human-monsters. Anyone exposed to this environment will have their SAN value drop rapidly, accompanied by physical cancer. In as little as 20 minutes, your immune system will completely collapse. Even with a dark energy symmetry device, it cannot be blocked."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xian immediately frowned: "When did this scarlet color appear?"

“Three days ago, on the night you lost contact with us, Star Abyss began to move on a large scale, and Crimson Descends. Now, the Zhen Tian Ship and the transfer forces of Dawn Center are trapped in the Jongu Strait, which is the Gulf of Alaska, and have suffered heavy casualties. The Commander has ordered the transfer of Dawn City, and Dawn Center will march at maximum mobility after dawn. Our North American Front, the Interstellar Army, and the Nightwalkers have launched a radiation search and rescue plan to help the rescue teams in various places to rendezvous as quickly as possible.”

Chu Yan looked at Lin Xian and said with a serious expression, "The deterrence balance has failed, and all of humanity is fleeing to the polar regions to build defenses!"

Lin Xian remained silent, his eyes flickering. He didn't understand. The Dark Civilization's retreat from Star Abyss, the assassination of the Swordholder, and Hua Xiaoling's contact all made them believe that the deterrent was real, or at least that it existed on some level. But then Star Abyss suddenly began to accelerate its invasion. What exactly happened in between?
"So how much time do we have left?" Lin Xian asked in a low voice.

"The timing is unknown. The spread of the crimson tide accompanies the dark tides, but the area and frequency of its expansion are different. If it expands at the rate of polar night, we still have more than a year left. However, the dark tides cover all areas outside the polar daylight every day, so theoretically..."

"Just one night?"

"Yes."

Lin Xian's gaze sharpened slightly, then he looked up towards the window: "Will you be in danger?"

Chu Yan also turned towards the window and said, "What's interesting is that buildings have a physical barrier against this crimson, so if you're inside a building or vehicle, the impact is less than 5% of what it is outside. That's good news, provided you don't get targeted by the monsters in the crimson. Those things don't seem to be affected by the dark mark."

Lin Xian frowned upon hearing this and immediately said, "But if this area is swallowed by the crimson, we can only try to leave as soon as possible, which is equivalent to the complete deprivation of human activity range?"

"Yes."

"Damn it!" Lin Xian cursed under his breath, "This is just like a nuclear apocalypse winter caused by radioactive fallout."

"Pretty much, our research team is also thinking in this direction."

"When will you be able to return to the Phoenix Society?" Lin Xian asked Chu Yan at this moment. "I would like to speak with Professor Ye."

Chu Yan looked at Lin Xian, her eyes flickering, and then said, "At the fastest, about two days, provided that I don't die here tonight."

"Where are your team members?"

"Two blocks away, no contact possible, their fate unknown."

"Signal jamming?"

"Absolutely not. We can only wait until nightfall, then regroup at the pre-arranged meeting point and leave this area. With both darkness and crimson existing simultaneously, there's currently no chance of survival," Chu Yan said. "What happened on your end? What exactly happened?"

Lin Xian took a deep breath and, under the dim, cold light, recounted to Chu Yan everything that had happened on Haiyan Island and along the way on Hawaii Island, including his discussions with Hua Xiaoling and the theories proposed by Ding Junyi.

Whether it was due to the influence of the Crimson Land on Chu Yan's consciousness or not, even Lin Xian could feel a suffocating chill. After Lin Xian finished speaking, he noticed that Chu Yan didn't seem too surprised by Ding Junyi's guess that the enemy and ally shared the same origin. He immediately understood that Ye Lan and the others from the Phoenix Society must have already discussed this topic. After all, the Phoenix Society had already conducted very in-depth research on crystal lattices. Combined with the original Angel Project data, it was not surprising that the Phoenix Society's researchers would make even deeper discoveries.

Instead, after Lin Xian mentioned Hua Xiaoling, Chu Yan suddenly asked, "Did she invite you to join the foundation?"

"No, why do you ask that?" Lin Xian asked.

At this moment, Chu Yan pressed a device on her arm, and a projection gun slowly rose up and then projected onto the air in front of the two of them using a holographic screen.

The screen continuously displayed characters and their identities, and Lin Xian's expression immediately turned serious upon seeing this.

"Cheng Yu, female, scientist at the Phoenix Society's Institute of High Energy Physics, resume: former core member of CERN, who led the dark matter detection project "Project Night Owl". After joining the Phoenix Society, she was responsible for analyzing the properties of Star Abyss matter and successfully developed the first generation of dark energy shielding coating. She disappeared on August 21, the day of the Apocalypse."

"Mike Shaw, Gender: Male, Commander-in-Chief of the Southeastern North American Defense Line/Staff Member of the Phoenix Mech Assistance Force, once commanded the 'Raging Tide Defense Line' to resist the first large-scale bizarre tide for 72 hours after the Apocalypse Day, winning crucial time for the North American United Front to relocate. On July 19th of the Apocalypse Day, he led a force of 40,000 men to defect and join the Adventists."

"Su Lin, Gender: Female. Former Chairperson of the Federal Ethics Committee/Sociologist and philosopher, founder of the Post-Apocalyptic Ethics School, whose work 'The Humanity Anchor of a Dying Civilization' laid the foundation for the Human Rights Act for Superhumans. She presided over the drafting of the 'Wartime Ethics Convention for Superhumans,' advocating for the prohibition of the horrific human experimentation of superhumans within the Federation, earning her the title of 'Socrates of the Dark Ages' among civilians. On September 3rd, she was taken away by a mysterious force, later confirmed to have joined the Foundation."

"Du Zhen, male, captain of the Ash Serpent Caravan, a European Transcendent-level ability user, the caravan had 5300 members, and the entire caravan disappeared on August 13th..."

Lin Xian watched the scrolling figures on the screen, his expression gradually growing serious. These people were clearly no ordinary individuals; among them were high-ranking scientists, philosophers, military commanders, advanced superhumans, members of large convoys or high-ranking members of organizations, and even many important figures within the Phoenix Society. The reason these people were recorded was almost universally the same: defection!
Or perhaps it shouldn't be called defection, but rather that these people all chose the Adventists' side.

"What happened to these people? How could they suddenly change like this..."

"brainwashing."

Chu Yan looked at Lin Xian and said, "The North American United Front and the Phoenix Society's Nightwalker Division 1, which is responsible for protecting important personnel, are both investigating this situation. It has all happened in the last two months. From the movement paths of these people, we have discovered a lot of hidden agents of the Phoenix Society's Advent faction. Some of them have also been directly contacted."

Lin Xian frowned: "Didn't you take precautions against such a direct attempt to turn them against you?"

“You’re thinking too simply.” Chu Yan shook her head and sighed. “From our investigation, some of these people participated in forums among survivors, some obtained special information, some encountered setbacks in scientific research, and some simply played a game. These are all very simple personal behaviors, but the outcome is the same.”

"Playing games? What games?"

"That's not really a game; at most, it's an AR experience game. Our people have recently come into contact with it and are studying it. They've discovered that it wasn't developed by humans; it's more like... a forbidden thing," Chu Yan said.

Lin Xian frowned: "A rehearsal for civilization..."

"It seems that what Hua Xiaoling gave you is the same," Chu Yan said.

Lin Xian shook his head and asked in confusion, "But I don't understand, is it so easy to turn these people against their will? I've met quite a few before, including Julius, whom we're facing. Chen Yanxiu of Divine Revelation also told me about some bullshit theory of unification. In my opinion, the Adventists' tricks are only attractive to people who are scared out of their wits by the apocalypse and use them as an ostrich's den. How can they turn so many people against their will, and they are all elites?"

"Perhaps... the answer lies in that thing Hua Xiaoling gave you." Chu Yan looked at Lin Xian with a serious expression: "Right now, the human camp is in a state of panic. Many people don't know what's happening. The Adventists are definitely carrying out some kind of operation. Many of our departments are analyzing the data we've obtained, and some people who have passively come into contact with the Adventists have reported back. They've all heard about that 'Great Unification' theory, and many people have been affected. Professor Ye is having the Nightwalker department research this game, but now with the Crimson Descent, coupled with this internal crisis..."

"Are people worried that the human camp is about to collapse?"

“The defection is not just a matter of a few people,” Chu Yan said. “Ordinary people are one thing, but these people are leaders, wise men, and strong men in the current human camp. With their departure, everyone will think about one question: What is the truth? What did the Adventists see? Do they really have the means to save the world or prevent the extinction of human civilization? If they have really come into contact with the dark civilization, even more people will be eager to make a move.”

Lin Xiandao: "Especially those surrenderists and peacemakers?"

"Correct."

Lin Xian pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Hua Xiaoling told me that the truth about the Dark Civilization can be found inside. Perhaps the answer really is inside. I will study it carefully in the next few days to see what kind of bewitching potion these Adventists have used."

Chu Yan didn't speak. Lin Xian looked up at her and found that she was also quietly looking at him. He then smiled and said, "What, are you afraid that I will betray you too?"

"can not you do it?"

"Do you think I would?" Lin Xian said meaningfully, "Don't you know me well? You know all the secrets of my Mechanical Heart."

Chu Yan's eyes flickered slightly, then she looked away and said, "But I don't understand Hua Xiaoling, and I don't understand what they are trying to convey to the public."

As she spoke, she looked up at the file of the woman named Cheng Yu and said, "She used to be Professor Ye's student. She was a staunch materialist. Her family was killed by the Crimson Ghost, including her 12-year-old son. I've met her a few times. She's either in the research lab or in the Nightwalker's database every day. Her team is researching how to resist the invasion of darkness to the point of almost risking their lives. Although she doesn't talk much, I can see the determination and conviction in her eyes. But such a person joined the Foundation without any warning. The Foundation that supported the creation of the Crimson Ghost in the Crimson World. In my eyes, this is more terrifying than an S-class ghost."

After speaking, Chu Yan remained silent for a moment. Lin Xian looked at her and then said...

"Think positively."

"what?"

Lin Xian said, "The fact that the Dark Civilization needs the Advent to help it 'turn the enemy' also means that the Dark Civilization does not have the ability to directly destroy or take over Blue Star, or perhaps they want to be more cautious. Whatever their purpose, this is actually a good thing, right?"

Chu Yan frowned slightly, then she saw Lin Xian stand up with a calm smile on his face.
"If a person wants to step on an ant or destroy an anthill, they wouldn't resort to any kind of divisive tactics like supporting or subverting others, right?"

Chu Yan paused upon hearing this. Lin Xian's smile seemed to have struck a chord with her, and the gloom in her eyes lessened. She looked at Lin Xian and a slight smile appeared on her lips: "Now that the crimson has descended and the world is about to be destroyed, do you still think this way?"

Lin Xian raised his finger to interrupt, and said seriously, "The Crimson Descent is the Crimson Descent, and the destruction of the world is the destruction of the world. The two things are not causally related. Blue Star has existed for billions of years and has seen all kinds of things. It's just a matter of how we humans save humanity. We haven't reached the end of our rope yet."

Chu Yan looked at him: "What do you plan to do?"

"I will head to South America immediately to meet up with the Dawn Center. I have obtained a forbidden artifact that is said to allow one to walk through the Star Abyss. Perhaps I can try it out in the Crimson and see what this World-Destroying Crimson is all about. My wife, Director Ding, has a very good habit that I like. She says that one should take life and death lightly and that even the most terrifying nightmares can be explained by science. We haven't reached the point where we can be attacked by a lower dimension yet."

Chu Yan nodded and looked at Lin Xian: "Then be careful, there might be a problem..."

"I can contact you anytime." Lin Xian looked at the house under the dim, cold light. A chilling aura made him shiver. He then said to Chu Yan, "My situation seems to be much better than yours. You are the one who needs to be careful. You can contact me anytime using Grace. You don't need to wait for me to establish a mental link with you."

"Oh, right." Before leaving, Lin Xian suddenly said to Chu Yan, "We should use the South Heavenly Gate when necessary. Darkness has already played its cards, and we must..."

"There has been a response."

(End of this chapter)