Translator: AnubisTL
After upgrading the Windfire Wheel to Tier 5, the Stellaris's speed increased significantly. It was already moving at a decent pace, and once it reached Tier 10 in a few days, it would become even faster.
This was the Stellaris's first true departure from the Doomsday Abyss in recent days.
The previous trip to pick up the goblins had only involved stopping at the edge of the cliff; it hadn't actually left the Abyss.
Chen Mang still held a sliver of hope in his heart.
Maybe... maybe I'll encounter a new Monster Boss. With the Stellaris's current strength, he felt confident he could defeat any Tier 3 Boss that wasn't exceptionally overpowered. It might take a while, but he was sure he could do it.
Even if he didn't get the First Kill, the rewards from simply killing a Boss were still substantial. He'd been quite satisfied with the rewards from the Tier 3 Man-Eating Spider Boss he'd killed before.
Inside the Train.
Chen Mang gazed into the distance. Without headlights, the path ahead was shrouded in near-total darkness. He gently pressed the accelerator, cautious about pushing the speed too high.
The thrill of adrenaline surging through his veins made his arms tremble slightly. Though the train was currently equipped with Tier 3 Armor, few things in the wasteland could withstand its impact. Still, without the yellow-grade Gyroscope Accessory, excessive tilting could still cause the train to flip.
This Accessory became craftable once the train reached Tier 3.
What puzzled him was this:
How could such a basic and common Accessory as the Headlight not be craftable for Tier 1 and Tier 2 trains, nor even for Tier 3 trains? Could it possibly only become craftable at Tier 4?
Or perhaps its Blueprint could only be obtained through random drops in the wasteland?
Half an hour passed as he drove through the wasteland. During this time, both the Target Acquisition Radar and the Resource Detection Radar remained eerily silent, showing no activity whatsoever.
"Tonight's gonna be a big one," Chen Mang muttered, his expression growing more excited. His eyes narrowed as he peered intently into the dark depths of the wasteland. Logically, in a place like this, he should have encountered at least one monster within half an hour.
Unless...
Yes, just like last time, the oppressive aura released by a Boss's appearance would drive all the wasteland monsters into hiding.
Tonight, there's a real haul out on the wasteland.
Just then—
Beep, beep, beep
The Target Acquisition Radar began to sound first, followed by the Resource Detection Radar. The radar detected a Tier 1 Iron Ore deposit nearby, with a Tier 1 Train parked next to it.
"Tsk."
Chen Mang suddenly chuckled, as if remembering something. The External Speaker on the front of the train blasted out noisy DJ music at maximum volume, roaring past the Tier 1 Train like a gale and honking three times.
In an instant, the train and the iron ore deposit were left far behind.
As for how he could tell it was a Tier 1 Train, it was easy to spot. With only three carriages and lacking even Armor or Heavy Machine Guns, it was clearly a Tier 1 Train—a total newbie.
He didn't plan to stop and steal the ore.
For one thing, he didn't care much for such small Tier 1 deposits anymore. More importantly, when he had just built the Stellaris and was mining on the wasteland, a Tier 2 train had roared past him without trying to steal his ore.
His worldview and values had been shaped in his previous life.
But in the process of integrating into this world, its tone had subtly influenced his actions.
If that Tier 2 train had robbed him back then, he'd definitely be planning to rob this Tier 1 train now.
But since that train hadn't robbed him that day, he didn't mind following in the footsteps of his senior and teasing the newbie.
"..."
Having indulged his dark sense of humor, Chen Mang suddenly realized something, and the smile on his face slowly stiffened.
This scene felt eerily familiar.
Back then, that Tier 2 train had roared past him arrogantly to fight the Boss, only to return in utter defeat.
Now, he was preparing to go after the Boss himself.
Could it be that he...
He quickly shook his head, banishing these unsettling thoughts from his mind. Thinking about such things late at night was bad luck.
In the Iron Ridge Wasteland, a small train with only three carriages was parked near an iron ore deposit. Inside the train, a young man with white-dyed hair stared intently at the distant direction the train had disappeared, finally letting out a sigh of relief before clenching his jaw.
"That guy... he really hogged the spotlight!"
"Damn it..."
"Why can he be so arrogant in the wasteland? Doesn't he fear the music attracting monsters?"
When he had finally gotten a clear view of the train's full appearance just moments ago, his throat had nearly closed up in fear.
Eight carriages in total, each including the locomotive, were covered in thick, black armor. Four large-caliber Heavy Machine Guns were mounted on the roof. If this train were to attack him, he would have virtually no chance of resistance.
If the train fell, everyone might survive, but the train conductor was certain to die.
However, the other party seemed to be acting with goodwill.
They showed no intention of attacking him.
One day—
He too would command a train like this, its deafening music echoing across the wasteland as it roared arrogantly and fearlessly.
Inside the Train—
The young man with white hair clenched his fists, silently making a vow. He had set his sights on this train, a vessel he had only glimpsed once.
But when he glanced at the Train Panel, which displayed the 49 survivors, his face clouded with worry.
Before the apocalypse, he had been a third-year university student. After the apocalypse struck, he and his classmates had taken refuge in the university's Air-raid Shelter, which was stocked with enough food, water, and other supplies to last until rescue arrived.
The rescue team never came.
A few days ago, a monster broke into the Air-raid Shelter. He mustered his courage and killed it, and unexpectedly, a Train Token dropped. After some discussion, everyone decided to embrace the new era and stop hiding in the shelter. They would build their own train and survive in the new century by relying on it.
As the Class Monitor and the only one who had killed a monster, with the Train Token in his possession, he naturally became the train conductor.
But...
After expending tremendous effort to find an iron ore deposit, his classmates were dragging their feet with the mining. They could only extract two or three Units of iron ore per day. He had to personally pitch in every day, managing to mine around 10 Units himself.
He tried to reassure them, but their resentment grew. Some even went on complete strike.
He didn't know how to handle the situation, so he could only keep trying to reason with them. He explained that if the train didn't quickly upgrade to Tier 2, it would break down in the wasteland. But his efforts had little effect.
Many people suggested returning to the Air-raid Shelter. The food there could last another five years, by which time the world would surely have returned to peace, and rescue would arrive. There was no need to risk their lives wandering the wasteland, especially since it was so exhausting.
If a monster were to break in, he could simply kill it.
"...If it were you."
The young man stood inside the train, gazing at the spot where the other train had disappeared. His expression was dazed as he murmured, "If you were in my position, what would you do? Since you have such a powerful train, you must have a good solution."
"I've explained everything clearly."
"But they won't listen."
"The logic is so simple, it's a matter of life and death for everyone. Why won't they listen?"
Meanwhile—
"Hmm?"
Inside the Stellar Train Compartment, Chen Mang, seated at the control panel, glanced at the dark mass of Zombies charging toward them in the distance and the incessant beeping of the Target Acquisition Radar. He paused for a moment, then couldn't help but chuckle.
"I actually ran into them."
"This must be fate."
(End of the Chapter)
📖Read [MAT] ahead on Pa.treon@AnubisTL upto c144. [+4/+9.3k]
🎁All [3] Novels can be accessed for just $6/mo.
🔥Translated [600] Chapters and [1.05M+] Words.
🔔 Become a member before 8 August to enjoy 50% off. Just $3.