Translator: AnubisTL
Each monster had its own unique characteristics.
For example, the Red-Eyed Rabbit was incredibly agile and fast. Even with its "Heavy Machine Gun's" auto-lock function, it was nearly impossible to hit in an open space. Chen Mang had once fired 100 Tier 1 bullets at it, and every single shot missed.
However, in free fall, the rabbit lost almost all its agility. The Train Auxiliary AI easily predicted its trajectory, allowing nearly every Tier 3 bullet fired to hit.
It took 300 Tier 3 bullets to blast off the Tier 3 zombie's arms.
But killing the two Tier 3 Red-Eyed Rabbits cost only 51 Tier 3 bullets.
Though both were Tier 3 monsters, their defenses were vastly different. Size was clearly a crucial factor.
Chen Mang steered the train off the Spider Silk and used the "Spider Leg" to descend the cliff face, landing safely at the Abyss Valley Bottom. He smiled contentedly at his haul. This was a truly bountiful harvest.
After spending so much time listening to the Train Radio these past few days, he had learned a great deal about this world.
In this world...
Few trains actively hunt down Bosses. A major reason is that the cost doesn't always justify the reward. Killing a Boss consumes vast amounts of copper ore—in essence, a train's attacks are entirely reliant on it.
Another reason is that a train's primary development relies on basic mineral resources. While the Blueprints and special items dropped by Bosses are valuable, a train can still steadily progress without them. They're more like bonuses that increase a train's potential.
Many trains hoard copper ore as a crucial resource for emergencies, only deploying heavy machine guns and other firepower accessories in dire situations. Normally, they avoid provoking Bosses altogether, with running away being the best strategy when encountering one.
Constantly changing positions on the wasteland to evade monsters while mining is the survival method for countless trains.
In truth, this is a desperate measure.
He had spent five grueling days mining copper ore, only to exhaust it all in a single night. Tier 3 heavy machine gun bullets were simply too expensive for most to afford—at least a Tier 2 Copper Mine was needed to sustain their use.
At this moment, the train's copper ore unit was at 0, completely depleted. The only remaining supplies were just over 700 Tier 1 heavy machine gun bullets.
In truth, Chen Mang didn't even need to fire. Letting those two rabbits fall into the Doomsday Abyss Valley Bottom would have been a guaranteed death sentence. However, such a death would likely not count as his First Kill, nor would it grant him any loot rewards.
"Time for the inventory."
Chen Mang stubbed out his cigarette in an empty Cola can and retrieved another ice-cold can from the refrigerator. After gulping down half the can in one go, the refreshing Cola instantly calmed his racing heart. His eyes, filled with anticipation, swept over the vast haul within the carriage.
Awesome.
The Cola in his hand was, of course, the sugary kind. He never drank sugar-free Cola, let alone room-temperature Cola.
Who in their right mind would drink that sugar-free stuff? And if it's not even cold, it's worse than his mother's Chinese medicine.
He set aside the loot from the zombie horde for now. Nothing of significant value.
The biggest prize was undoubtedly the First Kill reward.
Though the boss was only Tier 3—the lowest tier in this world—it was still a First Kill. The reward was far more generous than killing an ordinary Tier 3 boss.
Choose one of the following First Kill rewards:
Tier 2 Copper Mine Refresh Scroll, Tier 2 Iron Ore Refresh Scroll, Tier 2 Lumber Mill Refresh Scroll—choose one.Rare Train Token.Yellow-grade Vehicle Component Blueprint: Compound Eye Lookout Tower (for Flesh Trains only).
Without much hesitation, Chen Mang chose the first reward: the Tier 2 Copper Mine Refresh Scroll. This special item had a simple effect: upon use, it would create a Tier 2 Copper Mine in any Zone.
However, it was a one-time use item.
Unlike naturally occurring mines, which had a chance to respawn after a period—though the exact duration was unpredictable, varying from slow to fast—this scroll offered a guaranteed Tier 2 Copper Mine.
With this item, he could create a Tier 2 Copper Mine at the bottom of the Doomsday Abyss. For a long time to come, he wouldn't have to worry about copper ore again.
This greatly compensated for his lack of firepower.
While all three rewards were decent, he didn't have much choice. His Stellaris train had been crafted using a Rare Train Token, which he already possessed. Trains built with Rare Train Tokens gained an extra red-grade train component at Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Beyond that, there was nothing particularly special about it.
Most train conductors didn't build their first train using a Rare Train Token. If he were to obtain this special item through some stroke of luck, he might seriously consider restarting the game.
As for the third option:
It was an exclusive accessory for the Flesh Train, with an effect nearly identical to the Target Acquisition Radar. However, it required the eyes of thirty-six carbon-based lifeforms as a medium, making it an upgraded version. It possessed all the Target Acquisition Radar's functions, plus an offensive capability.
Furthermore—
These two Tier 3 Red-Eyed Rabbit Bosses, one male and one female, dropped incredibly rich rewards themselves.
1: Special Item: Doomsday Marriage Certificate
2: Blue-Grade Vehicle Component Blueprint: 40-Tube Cherry Blossom Fall Rocket Launcher
3: White-Grade Vehicle Component Blueprint: Reproduction Spray
"..."
Chen Mang stared at the rewards dropped by the two rabbits. His eyes instantly reddened, his gaze fixed on the 40-Tube Cherry Blossom Fall Rocket Launcher. His breathing grew increasingly rapid. This was a true weapon of mass destruction!
He didn't even need to check the grade.
Just by its name, he knew it was far more powerful than the Third-Rate Heavy Machine Gun.
It could provide suppression-Tier firepower coverage, something a Heavy Machine Gun could never achieve. Of course, its consumption would be equally staggering, making it essentially a last-resort weapon.
But—
A weapon of mass destruction is something you might not need to use, but you can't afford not to have!
It's like a man over 25: he might not need sildenafil, but he can't afford to be without it in his bedside drawer.
Like the Rapid-Fire Ballista, this accessory cannot be directly installed on a carriage. It must occupy a separate Open-Air Carriage. Each Open-Air Carriage can accommodate four 40-Tube Cherry Blossom Fall Rocket Launchers.
Whoosh
After a moment, Chen Mang finally looked up through the Skylight at the sliver of starlit sky above the Doomsday Abyss. He couldn't help but grin. This is good stuff. Really good stuff. Even without ammunition, just having this thing on display is a pleasure to behold.
If he installed four of these on the train, which train on the Iron Ridge Wasteland would dare to challenge him?
As for the remaining two rewards, perhaps because the two rabbits had been crushed during their mating ritual, the two special items they dropped were also related to mating.
Reproduction Spray - White-Grade Accessory
Can be installed in a separate carriage to induce estrus in the carriage's unintelligent carbon-based lifeforms, accelerating their reproduction and cub growth. This accessory is perfect for creating a dedicated Breeding Carriage for raising chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, and other livestock.
Doomsday Marriage Certificate.
"..."
Chen Mang hefted the two red booklets in his hand, a slight frown creasing his brow. This thing was truly valuable, offering significant benefits to the train's future advancement to Tier 3. However, the trigger condition was incredibly difficult: finding a genuinely loving couple, recruiting them to the train, and hosting their wedding.
But... finding a genuinely loving couple in the apocalypse? That was an absurdly demanding requirement.
Genuine love in the apocalypse? That was pure, utter bullshit.
Even the most genuine affection would be shattered by three blows in this world, just as he would never ask Old Pig if he was truly loyal.
If they could be used, they were loyal.
If they couldn't be used, they were disloyal.
Anything that could be used was his, regardless of whether he truly possessed it or whether the other party was truly sincere.
Women and all things were the same.
If they could be used, that was all that mattered.
(End of the Chapter)
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