Translator: AnubisTL
Overpowered Effect: None.
Chen Mang gazed thoughtfully at the Tier 5 overpowered effect. He had been upgrading his accessories to Tier 5 first, fearing this very outcome. If the Tier 5 overpowered effect was none, then the Tier 10 effect would surely be none as well.
However, this also answered a question that had been on his mind.
As the holder of the "Infinite Upgrade" Tier 0 Authority, he could continuously upgrade his accessories, endlessly enhancing components like "Armor" and "Pickaxe Production Line" to Tier 5, and even Tier 10.
But other train conductors didn't have this ability.
So how were they supposed to do it?
After a train reached Tier 4, how could they face Tier 4 monsters without Tier 4 armor? How could they mine higher-level resource mines without a Tier 4 pickaxe?
Now, it seemed he had the answer.
When a train reached Tier 4, higher-grade accessories would become available to replace the lower-grade ones currently installed. This made the "Crafting Table" accessory's lack of an overpowered effect at Tier 5 seem perfectly normal. After all, its only upgrade effect was to produce higher-level energy stones.
Chen Mang turned his gaze from the Crafting Table to the two Bullet Production Lines: the "5.56mm Rifle Bullet Production Line" and the "12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun Bullet Production Line."
After consuming nearly 20,000 copper ore, he upgraded both accessories to Tier 10.
Each gained four overpowered effects.
5.56mm Rifle Bullet Production Line Tier 5 Overpowered Effect: When producing bullets, imbue them with flames. This effect is particularly effective against Wood-attribute monsters. Price remains unchanged.
5.56mm Rifle Bullet Production Line Tier 10 Overpowered Effect: When producing bullets, imbue them with ice. This effect is particularly effective against Fire-attribute monsters. Price remains unchanged.
Tier 5 Overpowered Effect: Heavy Machine Gun Bullet Production Line
When producing bullets, you can now produce Split Bullets. These bullets split into three mid-air, retaining their full power while maintaining the original price.
Tier 10 Overpowered Effect: Heavy Machine Gun Bullet Production Line
When producing bullets, you can now produce Armor-Piercing Bullets, which are exceptionally effective against heavily armored monsters. The price remains unchanged.
"Huu..."
Chen Mang, seated at the control panel, took a deep breath. These overpowered effects were naturally powerful. Without raising prices, they would allow his firearms to deal even more devastating damage.
At this point!
Nearly all accessories on the Stellaris train had been upgraded, each now boasting its own overpowered effect. It was time to begin the Train Upgrade!
He glanced at the requirements for upgrading to a Tier 3 train:
Upgrade Requirements: Must have 10 carriages, all six required train components fully crafted, 5,000 units of Tier 2 Iron Ore consumed, and the combined Tier of all accessories within the train must exceed 40.
All conditions were met and already exceeded.
Chen Mang didn't want to delay any further.
In the next moment—
After 50,000 units of Iron Ore vanished from the train's inventory, a white light flashed across the control panel, and a translucent panel materialized before him.
"Your train has reached Tier 3."
"More craftable accessories will be unlocked, along with enhanced personalization and practical features."
Chen Mang's eyes gleamed with barely concealed anticipation as he gazed at the Train Panel.
Train Name: Stellaris
Train Tier: Tier 3
Train Components: Tier 10 Vehicle Blade, Tier 13 Spider Leg, Tier 10 Vehicle Audio System, Tier 10...
Number of Carriages: 10
Ore Units: 78,000 units Iron Ore, 0 units Wood, 112,000 units Copper Ore
Legacy Value: 0
Upgrade Requirements: Requires 18 carriages, all four mandatory train components fully crafted, 10,000 units of Tier 2 Iron Ore consumed, and the combined level of all accessories within the train must exceed 80.
PS: Before reaching Tier 4, you must complete a Class Change. Available paths include Mechanical Train and Flesh Train, each with its own corresponding mission. Upon completion, you will successfully change classes.
Finally! A Tier 3 train.
The exterior of the Stellaris remained unchanged after the Train Upgrade. Upgrading the train didn't directly enhance its combat capabilities; instead, it increased its base speed, unlocked more craftable accessories, and added new functions.
For example:
A Tier 2 train had a base speed of 130 km/h. After upgrading to Tier 3, this increased to 160 km/h—a negligible improvement in most cases.
In addition, nine new craftable accessories became available.
Four of these train components were mandatory; completing them was a prerequisite for upgrading to Tier 4. The remaining five were optional—though for most people, "optional" meant "mandatory." Without crafting these optional accessories, they couldn't reach the total accessory level required for the upgrade.
Unless, of course, they had other means of obtaining accessory blueprints.
Beyond that—
The most noticeable change was the addition of "Legacy Value" to the Train Panel. His Legacy Value was currently 0. With a high enough Legacy Value, he would have a chance to trigger more Fortuitous Encounters in high-level zones.
There were only a few ways to gain Legacy Value.
For example, taking in children under the age of 12 on the train, or using the Doomsday Marriage Certificate to hold a doomsday wedding for survivors aboard the train.
The former proved that even in the apocalypse, some still cared about the continuation of humanity.
The latter proved that even in a world where morality had collapsed, true love could still exist.
However...
He hadn't seen a single child yet, let alone anyone under 12. He hadn't even seen anyone in their mid-teens. Pessimistically, he doubted this age group could survive a year in the harsh conditions of the apocalypse.
As for the Doomsday Marriage Certificate, he hadn't found anyone to use it yet.
But he wasn't in a rush. Even with Legacy Value, it would only be effective in high-level zones, and he wasn't planning to go there anytime soon.
As he looked at the nine craftable train components, he finally understood how to repair damaged Train Components.
Mechanical Nanospider: Yellow-grade Accessory, requires 1,000 Units of iron ore to craft.
Combat Training Virtual Space: Yellow-grade Accessory, requires 1,000 Units of iron ore to craft.
Built-in Space Stabilizer: Yellow-grade Accessory, requires 1,000 Units of iron ore to craft.
Single-Person Exoskeleton Armor Production Line: Yellow-grade Accessory, requires 1,000 Units of iron ore to craft.
These four accessories are mandatory for crafting and are essential for upgrading a train to Tier 4.
"..."
A flicker of surprise crossed Chen Mang's eyes. These craftable accessories were incredibly powerful!
The first, the Nanospider, was designed to repair damaged accessories. Before this accessory, all damaged components were beyond repair, forcing train conductors to make do with makeshift solutions or craft entirely new ones.
It appeared a bit late, only becoming available for Tier 3 trains.
But it made sense.
For most First and Second Level Trains, the accessories they possessed weren't particularly expensive. Crafting a replacement wasn't a major issue. Unlike Chen Mang, whose accessories were all of extremely high tiers, replacing them after damage would bankrupt him even if he had ample resources.
The second and fourth accessories were both designed to enhance individual combat capabilities.
The former focused on improving combat proficiency, while the latter was the Single-Soldier Skeletal Armor, further boosting individual combat effectiveness.
He read the description of the latter.
It wasn't bulky armor or a mecha.
It resembled a simplified version of a steel exoskeleton that adhered closely to the body's surface, comprehensively enhancing the soldier's overall physical fitness. It offered no defensive capabilities, unable to withstand bullets or monster attacks.
Worn beneath clothing, it remained completely invisible from the outside.
But...
"..."
Chen Mang narrowed his eyes slightly. He had always considered enhancing individual combat capabilities a false need, since the train usually handled all combat functions. But after upgrading to a Tier 3 train, two accessories suddenly appeared that enhanced individual combat abilities—and both were craftable.
As the saying goes:
Before Pangu split the heavens, there was nothing. Only after the male organ (yang) existed could the female organ (yin) exist.
If Pangu hadn't split the heavens, and the male organ hadn't created the hole, neither would have any meaning.
TL/N: No wonder they said fusion of Yin and Yang creates life.
This was a natural law.
In other words—
During the upgrade from a Tier 3 train to a Tier 4 train, there must be a place that severely tests the train's individual combat capabilities. This test was likely the Job Advancement Quest before reaching Tier 4, or perhaps somewhere else entirely.
Otherwise, the appearance of these two individual combat-enhancing accessories would be completely pointless.
As for the final mandatory accessory:
The "Built-in Space Stabilizer."
His slaves would probably love this one.
This accessory would ensure that no matter how the train moved—whether climbing vertically up a wall, drifting like a falling leaf in mid-air, or even spiraling straight up—the interior space of the train would remain horizontally stable.
His slaves would no longer be crammed together like sardines in a can in the slave car while the train climbed walls.
"Excellent."
These four accessories would significantly improve the train's capabilities. Chen Mang turned his attention to the remaining five optional accessories.
Central Air Conditioner: Yellow-grade Accessory. Requires 1,000 Units of iron ore to craft.
Storage Box: Green-grade Accessory. Requires 500 Units of Wood to craft.
Permanent Shock Absorber: Yellow-grade Accessory. Requires 1,000 Units of iron ore to craft.
Medical Bay: Yellow-grade Accessory. Requires 1,000 Units of iron ore to craft.
Unknown Component: Unknown-grade Accessory. Requires 1 Unit of iron ore to craft. After the train completes its Class Change, this component will automatically transform into a heavy-firepower external accessory specific to that Class Change path.
The first accessory's effect was immediately clear. Winter was approaching, and this accessory would maintain a basic temperature inside the train, preventing his slaves from freezing to death. It also provided fresh air, significantly improving the air quality within the train.
The second accessory, the Storage Box, could store up to 1,000 Units of the same resource. For example, 1,000 Units of iron ore. Both Tier 1 Iron Ore and Tier 2 Iron Ore were acceptable. This would free up a considerable amount of space, though he still felt the Tier 10 Refrigerator was more practical.
The third accessory, the Permanent Shock Absorber, was a defensive component. When the train's external defensive components, such as armor, remained undamaged, it effectively negated the impact force from monster collisions.
The fourth accessory, the Medical Bay, could treat most external injuries upon entering. However, he already had a Tier 10 Basic First Aid Kit, which was even more effective.
The fifth accessory...
This was the cheapest accessory he had ever seen. It only required 1 Unit of iron ore to craft, but he couldn't build it yet. He would have to wait until the train completed its Class Change.
Upon changing the train class into a "Mechanical Train," you would gain a heavy-firepower external accessory from that series.
The same applied to changing class into a "Flesh Train."
These nine craftable accessories were the most significant change after the Stellaris reached Tier 3.
It was worth noting that the number of craftable accessories decreased with each Train Upgrade: from 17 for Tier 1 trains, to 12 for Tier 2 trains, and finally 9 for Tier 3 trains.
Many basic accessories, like the Telescope, were removed.
The remaining subtle changes were hidden within the control panel and Train Panel, not as immediately apparent as the panel itself. He would have to explore them himself.
For example, the new "Personalized Customization Carriages" feature in Tier 2 trains had gained a new function.
The carriage originally equipped with the "40-Tube Cherry Blossom Fall Rocket Launcher" was an open-air carriage, open on all sides and with an open roof. This design made the accessory extremely vulnerable to damage, as it lacked external armor protection.
Upon reaching Tier 3, he could upgrade his open-air carriages to an advanced version.
The advanced open-air carriages were fully enclosed, with the Rocket Launchers concealed inside. When needed, the overhead armor would retract into the carriage, and a lift would raise the firepower systems, unleashing a fiery barrage.
This was an incredibly practical feature.
The upgrade wasn't expensive. Upgrading a single open-air carriage to the advanced version cost only 1,000 Units of iron ore. With two carriages, upgrading both would require just 2,000 Units.
He didn't need to provide additional iron ore for the extra armor on top of the advanced open-air carriages. The iron ore had already been consumed during the initial armor upgrade.
Furthermore, three new buttons had appeared on the train control panel:
Plan for Birth Control
Immediate Self-Destruct
Immediate Ejection
Pressing the first button would release a mist throughout the carriages, rendering all members infertile except for those in the Breeding Carriage.
He immediately pressed this button. For now, he didn't want anyone on the train to become pregnant.
The second button was even more brutal. Pressing it would immediately trigger the train's self-destruct sequence, unleashing a devastating explosion.
"..."
Chen Mang stared at the button, his lips twitching slightly. What if he accidentally pressed it one day and instantly ascended to heaven? But the next moment, a transparent plastic shell materialized around the button, encasing it completely.
The plastic shell also featured fingerprint recognition.
Only Chen Mang could open it. Anyone else attempting to force it open would trigger the "Built-in Security System," instantly locking onto the intruder and opening fire under the control of the "Train Auxiliary AI."
Furthermore, even after pressing the button, Chen Mang would still need to confirm the self-destruct sequence on the control panel screen before it would begin.
This made it virtually foolproof.
After all, it was impossible for someone to accidentally open the plastic shell, accidentally press the button, and accidentally tap "Confirm" on the screen all at once.
If someone was that careless, it wouldn't be surprising if King Yama accidentally erased their name from the Book of Life and Death with a careless flick of his wrist.
(End of the Chapter)
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