Armored train in the apocalypse

Chapter 194 Fist Power
Shunan Farmers Market.

The area originally had a large supply of agricultural products and vegetables, but because the apocalypse broke out so suddenly, it has long since become a paradise for zombies and mutated beasts.

He Jie ransacked the place again recently, leaving only a mess.

Various rotten flesh and vegetables were piled up in the corner, rummaged through and gnawed at by mutated rats with red eyes.

Originally, there were survivors who would occasionally use some tricks to smuggle some food and oil from inside.

Now people avoid this place like the plague; it has become a paradise for evolved beasts.

Unexpectedly, a group of new customers came tonight.

The sound of splashing water rang out, and a figure staggered in, attracting pairs of scarlet eyes from the corner.

But the next moment, as if sensing something, the red light trembled, accompanied by strange squeaking sounds, and the mutated beast fled frantically.

The investigation team leader collapsed in front of a condiment counter, leaning against it and panting heavily.

A flash of electricity crackled through his hair, and the lights on the counter flickered on, illuminating his disheveled appearance with warm light. His combat uniform was stained crimson on the left shoulder, and a large handprint could be seen from the torn marks on the clothing.

It's hard to imagine how terrifying the grip is; it can tear through a body with just five fingers.

Clear footsteps approached, and the metallic clanging against the concrete floor produced a crisp "click-clack" sound, like gears turning.

The chilling murderous aura was like the cold wind outside the door, continuous and penetrating straight to one's bones.

The investigation team leader, however, was oblivious to the terrifying sense of oppression in front of him.

My eyes are slightly out of focus.

Thoughts churned in my mind.

Eleven Tier 1 fighters and one Tier 2 fighter... What kind of mission is Black Kite carrying out that requires such terrifying force?

They even want to ruthlessly eliminate their Deep Blue Data investigation team?
Could it be that the Black Kite is actually behind the armed train?
Did we inadvertently stumble upon Black Kite's secret?

Too many mysteries converged in my mind, and I could never come up with a logical solution.

Zhao Kuo walked in with a gloomy face, his right eye emitting a faint blue light. Before the modified mechanical eyes, the darkness in front of the farmers' market vanished without a trace, even without the light the other party had lit.

"What exactly is Deep Blue Data here for?"

The investigation team leader's eyes flashed with mockery. "I'd like to know what the hell you're here for."

Even Zhao Kuo, who had received extensive training in observation, couldn't understand the intricacies of the situation.

Those two people are clearly from DeepBlue Data!
Why is this wave also like this?
Could the armed train be a pawn in their game?
The Iron Council's recent crushing defeat has a story to tell.

Deep Blue Data orchestrated the downfall of the Steel Council and seized the original genetic material that belonged to the Steel Council. However, this action may have violated certain rules, forcing Deep Blue Data to try its best to cover it up.

Therefore, it is obvious why Mr. Shu sent me.

A strong killing intent flashed in Zhao Kuo's eyes.

Black eat black!
The investigation team leader sensed his thoughts and sneered, "It seems your Black Kite is doing quite well. Just wait for the company to declare war."

Having figured out the underlying logic, Zhao Kuo was no longer in a hurry.

These are all dirty jobs that can't be done in the open, and it's hard to say whether the company will admit it or not.

How could we declare war over something like this?
However, the premise is that things have to be done well, otherwise this defective Tier 2 product is very likely to become a victim of the transaction.

"We only want those two protogenes; we don't want to kill anyone."

Upon hearing this, the investigation team leader forced himself to remain calm, but his heart still raced a little.

It's the original gene!
Still two!

No wonder Black Kite used so many evolved beings.

But even though the two Primarchs are precious, is it really necessary to risk going to war with their Deep Blue data?
In the first year after the apocalypse, all they did was fight and there was no development whatsoever; the whole thing collapsed.

Like the Steel Conference, which is located in an acid rain zone, if you go to a severely affected area, you can be carried away in one go.

While using his backup plan to relay the message back, he sneered, "You guys have already taken out four of my teammates, and you still don't want to kill anyone... You can explain that to the company's combat team later."

Zhao Kuo's expression was strange. "Except for that unlucky guy at the very beginning, the rest are all alive."

"Bang bang bang-"

All the surviving lights on the roof of the farmers' market came on, and five figures resembling cocoons were thrown down from the roof, hanging upside down.

Each person was wrapped in a black bag similar to a sleeping bag, with only their head sticking out.

The investigation team leader looked up in astonishment.

A wiry figure jumped down. His exoskeleton was simpler and thinner than everyone else's, and his combat uniform was also slightly different. Some key parts were made of different materials with tight-fitting designs, especially his arms, which looked as if they were wrapped in black bandages.

He was like a sharpened knife, cold and swift.

He nodded slightly to Zhao Kuo and took two steps back.

One by one, figures wearing exoskeletons appeared, some in the light and some in the shadows, in the farmers' market.

Hearing his teammate groan in pain, the investigation team leader felt a little relieved.

It seems the other party wasn't too ruthless.

"It's your turn to show your sincerity. I'm curious why your team has seven people while the other team has five."

Zhao Kuo's 1.78-meter frame was accentuated by his exoskeleton, making him appear cold, hard, and imposing.

The investigation team leader glanced at his teammates and frowned. "We've always been a group of five. The other two are from the Steel Council. As for the other team you mentioned, I don't know about them."

Zhao Kuo's expression stiffened for a moment.

I could almost feel the disdainful gaze of HT-426 behind me.

I think I made a really stupid decision.

and also……

Which side were those two bastards I let go?
The investigation team leader didn't ask any further questions, explaining that the number of people was irrelevant.

It's something everyone knows.

But it's impossible to extract Deep Blue's data secrets from them.

The survey team members knew far less than the data collectors, and the former had also undergone rigorous confidentiality training.

Interestingly, the latter did not.

In a post-apocalyptic scenario, without adequate safeguards, who would be foolish enough to go undercover?

DeepBlue Data's predecessor was a company, not a religion, so it couldn't cultivate such a firm belief.

This task has been largely handed over to the Cult of Machines.

However, those crazy guys had too unique aura to be undercover agents.

Zhao Kuo took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

Now, the only way to regain my dignity is to complete the task.

"Then we'll have to trouble the Deep Blue Data team to travel with us for a while. We'll let you go once the mission is complete."

The investigation team leader snorted twice, feeling a sense of relief.

It's so good that I don't have to die.

"Kaka——"

Zhao Kuo turned around, and a sharp blue light shone from his right eye.

"The remaining questions can only be answered by the armed train."

……

"February 8th, torrential rain"

"Things may not be better ahead, but as long as we keep moving forward, there is hope."

The train conductor was unaware that he was being watched again. Hu Shuo was standing beside him, giving his final report.

"...In addition to various canned non-staple foods, two more carriages of staple food have been added this time, totaling about 300 tons, enough for everyone on board to eat normally for more than a year."

"Currently, the crew consists of 640 people, the combat crew 40 people, the research crew 80 people, the logistics crew 220 people, and the manufacturing crew 300 people,"

"The armed corps, including officers, totals 510 people, and the armed train has a total of 1150 people, all of whom have arrived."

Are you driving?

Su Huan glanced out the window; the dark night outside had vanished.

Wan Hao and Lao Yuan, along with a group of workers, stood on the platform, reluctantly bidding farewell to the train.

However, the scene looked rather eerie.

Su Huan felt that the expressions on their faces were more like urging him to leave.

It was more annoying than the gloomy night.

His entire conversation with Wan Hao took place that night; he didn't say anything for the rest of the time, including today when he decided to leave.

We're all smart people; talking nonsense will only waste our time.

As long as the train conductor maintains his high-spirited demeanor and formidable strength when the train returns next time.

Then Shun'an Base will become the No. 1 station of the armed train he mentioned.

Like a courteous waiter, providing various conveniences for the train.

"Let's set off."

The train conductor said calmly.

The armed train started up again, carrying hope, breaking away from the crowd, merging into the night, and heading towards the far reaches of darkness.

This time, the train will travel directly to Wangjiang Peak in Guangren City, the northernmost part of Qingchuan Province.

No further extended stops will be made during the journey.

After giving a few brief instructions, Su Huan returned to his room.

Now that the train's interior space has been expanded, everyone has a more comfortable private space, with the conductor's No. 1 carriage being the most outstanding example.

Hu Shuo and the others did not make any major changes to the room; it remained in its original survivalist style, and even some small items were kept exactly as they were.

Then add something new to the original.

For example, the wooden floors, various new furniture and decorations make it look like a hardcore apocalyptic apartment.

(Diagram of the train's interior space)

(The train conductor can't possibly sleep in a bunk bed, this is just a token gesture.)
Of course, all the little surprises that filled the room, such as the little yellow duck bath bomb next to the bathtub, the rug with the Electric Train photo stickers, the giant bear blanket on the sofa, and the mug on the table, were all prepared by Yu Yue herself.

Apart from her, no one dared to secretly step on the train conductor.

Besides the bed, there were several different workbenches, and four or five guns of various types were hanging on the wall. On the top was a 1.8-meter-long Citybreaker electromagnetic sniper rifle, and below it was a carbon fiber composite longsword.

Four or five exquisite and beautiful pistols were placed in holsters next to the workbench.

A little to the side was a sandbag hanging up, its leather dark and its thickness comparable to a large tree.

It is a bearskin lining sandbag that the manufacturing team spent a lot of time carefully making.

It took hundreds of people in the manufacturing team a lot of time to erode and dismantle the second-tier giant bear completely.

Flesh and blood became the workers' side dish, while tendons, bones, skin, and flesh became various materials used by manufacturers in various construction projects.

The most valuable bear skin was cut into dozens of blankets.

Currently, no one knows how to properly use such valuable leather. Forcing its use would be time-consuming, laborious, and wasteful, so it is being used as raw material for now.

Most of the materials, including those from the previously hunted White Snake Mojiang, are stored in the warehouse.

"boom!"

The sandbags remained unmoved.

Su Huan increased his strength slightly and landed a straight punch on the sandbag again.

The sandbag vibrated slightly.

A hint of interest flashed in his narrow eyes. As expected of a specially made 700kg sandbag, it should be able to withstand his full strength.

Spread out a little and assume a fighting stance.

It's not martial arts, nor is it boxing or wrestling; it's the fighting instincts granted to him by level 3 "Fighting Specialization".

If I had to compare it, it's somewhat similar to Sanda (Chinese kickboxing).

With the front foot pushing off the ground, the hips suddenly release like a tightly wound spring, and the shoulder blades push forward, the fist shoots out in a straight line, like a nail heavily "chiseling" into the sandbag.

With a dull thud, the 700kg sandbag was thrown backward like a candle flickering in the wind.

Without pausing, straight punches, hooks, low kicks, front kicks, side kicks...

Su Huan tried all the techniques on the sandbag.

The violent impact sounded like acid rain roaring outside the car.

The intense hitting sounds lasted for half an hour.

With the final heavy blow, the room was filled with the heavy breathing of a lion or tiger, each breath like a blacksmith pulling a bellows.

"happy……"

Su Huan muttered something to himself and then lay down on the ground, feeling utterly satisfied.

Sweat poured from his pores, soaking through his shirt.

A typical heavyweight fighter's punching power hovers between 500 and 800 kg, and extreme tests can even reach 1000 kg+.

But these are the privileges of humanity's top fighters before the apocalypse.

For the average amateur, the weight range is usually between 100 and 200 kg.

But nowadays, anyone in an armed vehicle can easily deliver a punch with a force of 800kg+.

In other words, there were over a thousand people on the bus, all of whom were top-level boxing champions.

Even the gentle Yu Yue, when truly angry, can poke a hole in an iron pot with a spatula, and leave a huge dent in a solid wood cabinet with a single slap.

Not to mention power-type evolvers like Liang Kuan.

To him, common industrial products were no different from wafer biscuits.

Meanwhile, the train conductor, who was second only to Liang Kuan on the train, had little opportunity to shine.

Only today did I truly make the most of this "fighter's" power.

……

Lying on the ground, various fighting techniques flashed through my mind, and it felt like an epiphany, with all the moves and secrets instantly unlocked in my mind.

The tremors were even more intense in the genes within his body.

The "Fighting Specialization" skill, originally at level 3, has quietly advanced to level 4.
This is the original gene, its advancement speed is unreasonable.

After resting for a while, Su Huan felt as if he had lost something. He got up from the ground, took out a healing and recovery potion from the refrigerator where the potions were stored, and gulped it down.

This medicine also has a life-restoring effect, but it is very weak and far less effective than the life-restoring medicine extracted from crown pears.

But Su Huan suspected that even the life-saving medicine would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

To truly resolve the health risks, you need to find the earliest mutated crown pear tree and directly eat the fruit that grows on it.

This might alleviate the problem of excessive consumption of vitality during gene conflict.

(There was a typo earlier; the current recovery potion was written as life potion. This is to correct it. The train currently has two types of potions: healing recovery potion and general energy recovery potion. The former is a small red bottle, and the latter is a small blue bottle.)

(End of this chapter)