Translator: AnubisTL
It sounded absurd: a logistics officer getting the second mech on the Stellaris train.
And it was the latest one, Leech mech, no less.
But upon closer reflection, it made sense. Li Shiji was the only person on the entire Stellaris train whose mental power exceeded 14.5.
"Sigh."
Biaozi remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh. "I'm not upset," he said, "just feeling a bit inadequate. Zhang Damei and Li Shiji were both blessed by Heaven with natural talent. Why didn't I get that kind of gift?"
"What the hell does a logistics guy know about piloting a mech?"
Just then—
Li Shiji, who had been standing nearby unnoticed, stepped forward.
"Brother Biao."
Li Shiji looked at Biaozi with a serious expression. "Lord Mang has entrusted me with the second mech on the Stellaris train, the Leech. I'm honored, but as you know, I'm just a logistics officer. I can't fully utilize its potential."
"Didn't I just request access to the Combat Training Virtual Space from you?"
"I've created a map inside that can enhance mental power. Brother Biao, would you like to come take a look with me?"
Biaozi paused, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his eyes. "Um, Li Shiji... about earlier..."
"Let's go."
Old Pig chuckled and clapped Biaozi on the shoulder. "Don't mind this guy's nonsense. Just show us your homemade map."
The trio—Biaozi, Old Pig, and Li Shiji—entered the Combat Training Virtual Space and materialized in a plaza.
Before them stood a white room.
At its center floated a luminous screen.
Mental Power Enhancement Training Map
Creator: Li Shiji
"Here's how it works," Li Shiji explained, standing his ground. "The Combat Training Virtual Space can manifest the comprehensive physical fitness gains you achieve here in the real world. Since mental power is trained, it should naturally transfer—training here will boost your mental power outside as well."
"I've created a simple challenge."
"My initial estimate is that completing the game four or five times should increase your mental power by 0.8."
"That's a significant boost!" A hint of surprise flashed in Old Pig's eyes.
"Mm-hmm. Let's start with the First Stage."
"Mental power manifests in multiple dimensions, and color sensitivity—your color sense—can effectively enhance it to a certain extent."
In the next moment—
Four green squares appeared on the screen before them. Three were dark green, while the fourth was emerald green.
A 30-second countdown timer also appeared on the screen.
"The rules are simple: select the square with the different color before the timer runs out."
"That's it?"
Biaozi frowned slightly. With a flick of his mind, he quickly selected the emerald green square, clearing the First Stage and advancing to the Second Stage.
"The Second Stage is slightly more challenging."
As Li Shiji spoke, eighty-one black squares instantly appeared on the screen, along with a mere 3-second countdown timer.
Three seconds later—
Failure.
"..."
Biaozi tilted his head, his expression unchanging, and asked Li Shiji, "Are those eighty-one black squares really not identical?"
"Of course not," Li Shiji replied.
He brought up the second level's display again and pointed to the central black square. "Isn't it obvious that this one is slightly lighter? It's easy to spot, like a jujube in a glass of water."
"I'll try again!"
Thirty minutes later, Biaozi rubbed his bloodshot eyes and gave Li Shiji a thumbs-up. "Brother, you're amazing!"
"But thanks to you, I've realized I'm not cut out for this."
"Uh..." Li Shiji stammered awkwardly, "There are nine levels in total, and the difficulty gradually increases. Brother Biao, you haven't even cleared the second level yet. If it helps, I can design many more maps to enhance mental power."
"Besides, I've looked at the built-in maps in this Combat Training Virtual Space, and they're quite limited. The historical records of your custom maps also show some limitations."
"I used to work as a game designer."
"I believe I can design maps that are better suited for enhancing both comprehensive physical fitness and mental power. This would allow Lord Mang's vision for the mecha squad to be perfected and realized sooner."
"..."
"..."
Biaozi and Old Pig exchanged glances, both recognizing the same thought in each other's eyes: This kid is a damn genius.
"We need to tell Lord Mang about this."
"We definitely do." For the first time, Biaozi looked at Li Shiji with genuine admiration. "Even though I won't use your map myself, two of the rookies in my first team have naturally high mental power. Wildcat, for example. I'll send them here for training."
"They can handle long-range fire support later. I'll just keep charging ahead."
"I'm still better suited to being a martial artist."
"You... you're impressive!"
At that moment, Biaozi finally and completely accepted Li Shiji, this young upstart, as his superior.
"Really? If I start a rebellion, will you join me?"
"Heh." Biaozi forced out a dry, humorless laugh.
"Just telling a corny joke to lighten the mood," Li Shiji said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Let's go," Old Pig said, shaking his head with a smile as he left the Combat Training Virtual Space. "The last time I heard a joke this cold was from Lord Mang himself."
Under the twilight sky, the Stellaris train rested on the plains, its residents spilling out onto the surrounding grasslands to breathe in the fresh air and savor the momentary peace. The occasional monster that wandered into view was swiftly dispatched by Zhang Damei and her second team.
Far from being frightened by the monsters, the train residents gathered together, cheerfully appraising the creatures from a distance.
"This monster is weak."
"Not as impressive as that hundred-meter-tall zombie we saw earlier today."
"True. When I first saw that giant zombie, I was terrified. But then the train fired a missile, and it dropped dead instantly!"
"They say it was a Tier 7 monster!"
"Old Pig told me Tier 7 monsters are incredibly powerful. Even that giant spider we encountered in the Iron Ridge Wasteland was only Tier 3. The monsters in this zone are only Tier 6."
Before encountering the Zombie King...
Chen Mang had manufactured numerous display screens and installed them inside the carriages and refrigerators. By connecting them to the generator and mechanical eyes, the train residents could now observe the outside world through these screens.
The nearly hundred-meter-tall zombie had left a deep impression on everyone.
Old Pig also periodically gave the group political lessons, primarily discussing the changes brought about by the apocalypse, the hierarchy of monsters on the train, and most importantly, Lord Mang's extraordinary abilities on the Stellaris and the dire circumstances of other trains.
"It's so peaceful," the boy who always followed Uncle Li murmured, lying on the grassland. He gazed at the twenty-odd children trailing behind several women in the distance, his hands pressed behind his head, feeling the gentle breeze against his face. "For a moment, I almost forgot we were in the apocalypse. It felt like we were camping in a park."
"I don't know why," he continued. "I never used to like kids, but seeing these children suddenly fills me with a sense of stability, almost like seeing hope. It makes me believe the Stellaris can endure forever."
"Of course, it's also possible that the apocalypse has made these children unusually mature."
"Especially the look in those boys' eyes—they don't look like children at all. They're more like adults who've been baptized by the apocalypse."
"Hey, Uncle Li, why aren't you saying anything?"
"..."
Uncle Li, who was also sitting on the grass, remained silent with a complex expression. After a long pause, he rasped, "Stop worrying about those kids and worry about yourself."
"I saw it today—the space gate leads to a vast realm with plenty of grassland."
"It's clearly better suited for farming and raising livestock than the Breeding Carriage."
"I'm worried we might lose our jobs."
"Hmm."
The young man, who had been basking in contentment just moments ago, fell silent. "Uncle Li... that's a real possibility. What do we do?"
"How the hell should I know? I'm still thinking!"
"Okay, okay, I'll think with you, Uncle Li."
"You think you can come up with anything?"
"I might not, but I have to have the right attitude."
"Say... Trainmaster Zhu is looking for teachers for those kids. Do you think I could become one?"
"Wouldn't that be hard to fake?"
"I really was a teacher, you know."
"Didn't you graduate with a civil engineering degree, spend a few years in prison for further study, and then switch to accounting after getting out? It's hard to squeeze 'teacher' into your resume."
"I ran an accounting training class."
"Does that even count as teaching?"
"Isn't imparting knowledge and resolving doubts what teaching is all about?"
"Uh... Uncle Li, why don't you give it a shot?"
"I'll give it a shot!"
Uncle Li gritted his teeth, hauled himself up from the ground, brushed the dust off his pants, and immediately headed toward the train. "I'm going to have a chat with Trainmaster Zhu right now. I think this teaching position could be a long-term career!"
"And when these kids grow up and become the pillars of the Stellaris, my status will rise with them!"
"Either way, it's all just raising things."
"Raising children is way more prestigious than raising pigs!"
"You, a teacher?"
Old Pig glanced at Uncle Li and shook his head. "No way. If you become a teacher, who'll manage the Breeding Carriage?"
"Just focus on raising your pigs properly."
"Stop daydreaming about nonsense."
"Uncle Li, why are you back?"
"Just lie back down."
Uncle Li lay back down expressionlessly. "Raising pigs isn't so bad after all. Raising kids is just a headache."
"Rejected?"
"Shut your mouth and thank you."
"Okay."
"Brother Biao, I'll try again."
Inside the Combat Training Virtual Space, Wildcat lowered his head in shame. "I'll try a few more times. I'm sure I can clear it."
"..."
Biaozi remained silent. Wildcat had cleared the second stage in just thirteen minutes. Each time he restarted, the stage changed completely, proving Wildcat's natural talent.
He was clearly better than Biaozi.
In three seconds, Biaozi couldn't even scan all eighty-one squares, let alone find the one with a color almost indistinguishable from its surroundings.
He patted Wildcat's shoulder gently and said, "Just keep training here."
"Once your mental power exceeds 14.5, I'll ask Lord Mang to get you a 'Leech' mech."
With that, Biaozi's figure vanished, teleporting to another virtual space.
Only Li Shiji on the entire train had mental power exceeding 14.5. Li Shiji's mental power was a staggering 26.8, utterly absurd. The second highest belonged to the Third Squad Captain, whose mental power was 13.9.
The Third Squad Captain held his position for three reasons:
Ruthless in his attacks.
Unwavering marksmanship.
Exceptional comprehensive physical fitness.
While individually none of these traits made him the strongest on the train, their combined strength made him a well-rounded powerhouse—a true jack-of-all-trades.
Biaozi, now in another dimension, gazed at the glowing "Resident Evil" title on the screen before him. He took a deep breath, focusing his mind and body to peak condition.
This simulation had been brought back by Lord Mang.
A standard playthrough granted a 0.2 increase to comprehensive physical fitness, up to three times.
A hardcore playthrough, with increased difficulty, granted a 0.5 increase to comprehensive physical fitness, also up to three times, but carried the risk of permanent death.
His goal was simple:
First, complete three standard playthroughs. Then, complete three hardcore playthroughs.
In an instant—
The "Resident Evil" title shattered into countless glowing particles. The previously white virtual space rapidly transformed. When everything stabilized, he found himself in a steadily rising elevator.
The elevator's dim lights flickered erratically.
The button for the 31st floor remained brightly lit, indicating the elevator had already reached the 7th floor.
Across the elevator's surface, crimson text slowly materialized:
Resident Evil: Standard Mission
Successfully reach the 31st floor and escape the building via the steel cable on the rooftop terrace.
Just then!
Thud!
Something heavy seemed to have crashed onto the elevator from the upper reaches of the elevator shaft. The elevator shuddered to a halt, jamming between the seventh floor.
Before Biaozi could react,
the steel plate above the elevator was ripped open. A zombie, its flesh torn and bloodied, clung to the frame above the elevator car, its head thrust into the cabin as it snarled down at him.
The stench of rotting flesh and blood instantly filled the elevator.
A viscous mixture of blood and saliva dripped from the zombie's maw, splattering onto the elevator floor.
Biaozi's breath caught in his throat. The scene was too real, too sudden. Plunged directly into the plot without warning, the shock sent a jolt through his mind. He quickly scanned the elevator interior.
Grabbing a steel pipe lying on the floor, he lunged upward, stabbing fiercely at the zombie's head.
But his attack failed to penetrate the creature's defenses.
This was clearly a High-Level Zombie, completely ignoring his ordinary strikes. It continued to tear frantically at the elevator ceiling, forcing its way into the cabin.
Bang! Bang!
Panic rising, Biaozi began kicking desperately at the elevator doors, trying to escape.
But it was too late.
Thud!
The zombie finally squeezed into the elevator. Its blood-soaked jaws, lined with fangs, opened wide, swallowing Biaozi's entire upper body in a single, gruesome bite.
(End of the Chapter)
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