"So wonderful."
Near the Stellar Train, a middle-aged woman standing among the crowd couldn't help but tear up as she watched the scene unfold.
She had been working hard every day to mine enough to earn Stellar Coupons to buy a refrigerator and have a place she could call her own on the Stellar Train.
It wasn't that she was obsessed with having a private space.
But ever since the apocalypse began, her husband had died right before her eyes, her child had also passed away, and she had lost contact with her parents. She had nowhere to go, no idea where she should go, or where she could go.
Even if she survived until tomorrow, what would she do then?
There was nothing.
The connections a person has with the world are their friends, family, and loved ones. When all of that is gone, it suddenly feels like the world is rejecting you, that there's no place for you. In peaceful times, there are many ways to alleviate this feeling, but in the apocalypse, it is magnified infinitely.
Even if you survive a few more days, how many more can you survive in this apocalyptic environment?
In reality, many people shared her thoughts. Everyone was extremely pessimistic and hopeless about the future. Each day, even while mining, everyone's faces were filled with numbness.
But—
At the moment the missile exploded!
Her eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears. It felt as if humanity had regained a glimmer of hope, that the future wasn't entirely bleak. One day, the Stellar Train would carry them all toward a brighter future!
At this moment, the train bore the hopes of all its residents.
The first glimmer of hope born in the apocalypse.
She might truly be able to build her own home on the Stellar Train, to once again have a family, and the Stellar Train would indeed continue to protect them.
Inside the train's cabin.
Chen Mang sat on a chair, admiring the distant explosion of the missile with a satisfied expression. It was the largest firework he had ever set off in his two lifetimes. Fireworks, after all, look better when they're bigger.
But at that moment—
The control panel screen suddenly began flashing red frantically. A long strip of text framed in gold swiftly scrolled across the top of the screen, accompanied by bursts of fireworks on all sides. Simultaneously, a voice echoed in the ears of all Train Conductors on the Shahe Plain.
「Shahe Plain Area Broadcast」: Congratulations to the Stellar Train for becoming the first mechanical train on the Shahe Plain to complete the hidden mission 'Vehicle of Hope.'
"Huh?"
Chen Mang stared at the text, slightly confused. What had he done?
Immediately after.
Several lines of text flashed across the panel.
「Successfully completed the hidden mission 'Vehicle of Hope,' Inheritance Value +100, Reputation Points +20.」
After reading the description of the hidden mission, he finally understood what had happened. To complete this mission, more than 500 survivors needed to place a feeling called 'hope' in the train itself.
These survivors believed that this train would lead them toward hope.
Completing this mission rewarded 100 Inheritance Value, while the 20 Reputation Points came from the area broadcast. Each green area broadcast would always grant 20 Reputation Points.
This was an unexpected delight.
Chen Mang let out a long breath, leaned back in his chair, and looked out the window at the crowd. His initial idea had been simple—just to set off a firework for fun. After all, a Level 1 missile wasn't good for much else besides being a firework.
He also wanted to show off the train's strength to everyone on board.
Unexpectedly, he had accidentally completed this hidden mission.
Not bad.
Chen Mang then glanced at the 「Shahe Plain Reputation Points Leaderboard.」 On the leaderboard, he ranked 6th with 50 Reputation Points. So far, there were only two ways to earn Reputation Points.
One was through area broadcasts.
The other was by achieving a high enough rank in the 「Combat Training Virtual Space,」 which would grant a certain amount of Reputation Points.
He didn't yet know what Reputation Points were for, but he was sure they weren't useless.
His Inheritance Value had finally increased from 0 to 100. The main reason was that the 「Doomsday Marriage Certificate」 hadn't been used, or else his Inheritance Value could have reached 200. Based on the information he had gathered, higher Inheritance Value could lead to more fortuitous encounters. For example, some special encounter maps might have certain requirements for Inheritance Value and Reputation Points.
Time to continue searching for iron ore.
After all the residents returned to the carriages, the Stellar Train gradually picked up speed and raced across the wasteland. As for the missile, aside from causing some damage to the terrain, it hadn't killed a single monster.
Twenty minutes later.
The 「Resource Detection Radar」 suddenly began beeping frantically.
"Hmm?"
A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Chen Mang's eyes as he quickly turned to the radar screen. The screen showed three Level 2 iron ore mines clustered together on the ground about ten thousand meters away, with two Level 2 copper mines nearby.
Wow.
This was definitely a high-level resource zone.
Such a dense cluster of mines, and on the ground no less—how could it have remained unoccupied?
But when he saw the two Level 5 monsters and a group of Level 4 monsters on the 「Targeting Radar,」 he realized what was going on. Was it because of these monsters?
Even if a Level 4 train couldn't handle these monsters, a Level 5 or Level 6 train could easily deal with them. There was no reason for Level 5 or 6 trains to overlook such a rich cluster of high-level resource mines.
Let's check it out.
Without hesitation.
He immediately changed course and raced toward the red dot on the Resource Detection Radar.
A few minutes later.
"So that's it."
Chen Mang narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the dark swamp before him. He finally understood why no one had claimed this resource zone. The high-level resource mines were right in the middle of the swamp, and the control panel screen displayed that the swamp had an extremely corrosive effect on energy shields and armor.
The lower the level, the faster the corrosion.
And the monsters lived in this swamp. As the Targeting Radar continued to alert him, a dozen red dots began rushing toward the Stellar Train, which was parked at the edge of the swamp.
「Foul Swamp.」
「The toxins and swamp have a strong corrosive effect on trains. The lower the level, the faster the corrosion. Additionally, this area prohibits flight and tunneling.」
This wasn't a special encounter map, but rather a high-level resource zone with harsh extraction conditions.
But—
While others couldn't go, he could.
The Level 5 Supermodel Effect of his carriage's steel armor granted immunity to corrosion from liquids, mist, and swamps, allowing him to pass through safely. The Wind-Fire Wheel couldn't traverse this area—special wheels like treads were required. But he had Spider Legs, which could also get him through.
Although the Spider Legs didn't have corrosion resistance.
Their level was high—Level 13—so the corrosion was extremely slow. Even the corroded parts could be quickly repaired by the 「Mechanical Nanite Spider」!
"Promised land."
Chen Mang glanced at the information on the control panel, then looked at the red dots rapidly approaching the train on the Targeting Radar, and suddenly smiled. "It's like the promised land granted to me by heaven."
This land was meant to be his, and only his.
The next moment!
"Roar!"
With a ferocious roar, a dozen crocodiles burst out of the swamp, charging toward the Stellar Train with terrifying momentum. Carriage No. 12 was already prepared. Eight 「Repeating Ballistas」 were pushed out by the lift platform.
Locked on by the Train Auxiliary AI.
Several long bolts shot out, with a near-perfect 96% hit rate. In an instant, three Level 3 crocodiles hit in the eyes fell to the ground, while the remaining crocodiles, with bolts embedded in their bodies, gritted their teeth and charged toward the train!
The fastest Level 4 crocodile reached the train first, roaring as it leaped into the air and slammed its claw down!
"Boom!"
With a loud crash, the claw broke.
Another claw, and the other one broke too.
Another bite, and all its teeth were gone.
The unarmed crocodile looked at its shattered teeth on the ground, then at the unscathed armor in front of it. A hint of confusion flashed in its eyes as it instinctively turned to look at the two Level 5 crocodiles behind it.
But then, the next moment!
"Screech!"
Car Blades covered in flowing electricity extended from both sides of the carriage and began spinning rapidly. Almost instantly, they sliced the nearby Level 4 crocodiles in half, while the others fled, injured.
"Rat-tat-tat!!"
The four Makeshift Heavy Machine Guns on the carriage locked onto the two fleeing Level 5 crocodiles and the rest. With the sound of heavy, piercing gunfire, a storm of metal engulfed them.
The battle lasted only a few seconds.
Like a steel dragon perched at the edge of the swamp, the Stellar Train remained as steady as a tiger. In the blink of an eye, the swamp's local tyrants were wiped out.
The 「Powerful Magnet」 installed on the train's head emitted a flash of white light, and all the dropped items were sucked into the train.
"What a bunch of useless trash."
Chen Mang looked out the window at the pile of monster corpses and sighed with emotion. "After three days apart, one should look at a person with new eyes. It's been so many days, and you still think I'm the little brat who went to the Kunlun Mountains back then?"
Level 6 armor.
Even if he didn't take any offensive measures and just slept here tonight, these monsters wouldn't be able to do anything to him. They couldn't even scratch his defense.
Firepower components of the same quality also varied in power.
For example, the 「Car Blade」 was far more powerful than the 「Repeating Ballista.」 After all, the latter was a long-range attack and had its flaws. It was already an extremely rare white component capable of long-range attacks, so its power naturally couldn't be too high.
Unlike the Car Blade, which had just performed impressively.
At high speed, even Level 4 monsters had to steer clear.
This was the benefit of upgrading armor!
Back when he went to the 「Kunlun Mountains」 area, his Car Blade was Level 10, but he had to run at the sight of a monster. The main reason was that his armor level was too low. By the time his Car Blade could harm a monster, his train would have already been smashed in half.
Only with sufficient defense could one attack freely.
Moreover.
The Supermodel Effect of the Heavy Machine Gun Bullet production line had two effects: the bullets produced had splitting and armor-piercing capabilities, with no change in price.
A Level 5 bullet cost 50 units of copper ore.
He had just fired over four hundred bullets, which amounted to 20,000 units of copper ore—a negligible amount compared to the train's internal copper reserves. But the power was truly impressive. Each bullet split into three in mid-air, and each split bullet had armor-piercing effects.
Almost instantly.
They shattered the scales of the Level 5 crocodiles, penetrating their bodies.
Both were Level 5.
But these two Level 5 crocodiles, under his Level 5 bullets, melted like snow, completely outmatched.
"Awesome!"
Chen Mang, satisfied, switched to the 「Spider Legs」 and pushed the control lever, aiming straight for the depths of the swamp. Did they really think his earlier threat to slaughter the Kunlun Mountains was just talk? What had he been building up for all this time, if not to avoid running away in fear when facing monsters?
"Beep beep."
An alarm sounded inside the carriage.
「Detected external toxic gas infiltrating the train's interior... Central air conditioning's fresh air intake shutting down... Oxygen generator activating.」
In an instant.
Under the control of the Train Auxiliary AI, several components inside the train began operating in unison, preventing the external toxic gas from entering. The rapidly running oxygen generator also ensured the train had enough oxygen.
Hmm, not bad. The Level 10 Supermodel Effect of the central air conditioning was quite useful, especially now.
He was starting to vaguely sense some of the underlying logic of this world.
If bitten by a seven-step snake, the antidote must be found within seven steps.
In the 「Foul Swamp,」 there was a dense cluster of high-level resource mines, but one needed to upgrade the central air conditioning to Level 10, the armor to Level 5, and have special wheels to enter.
And conveniently, the Kunlun Mountains area was nearby.
After finding a way to obtain enough Murphy Stones, one could enter the swamp, and the high-level resource mines inside would be the reward.
That was probably the logic.
Except he
had transcended the five elements.
A few minutes later.
The train had successfully reached the center of the swamp. Before them was a barren patch of land, surrounded by the swamp on all sides. In this area, there was no toxic mist. The control panel showed that the air quality was normal—the toxic mist couldn't reach this place.
And on this land.
Three Level 2 iron ore mines and two Level 2 copper ore mines lay quietly, like shy brides with red veils, waiting for him to lift the covers.
"So wonderful."
Chen Mang jumped off the train and looked at the scene before him, smiling with satisfaction. The sun had just risen—there was no better time to work than the early morning.
Good luck truly favors those who work hard.
After taking a deep breath, he grabbed the walkie-talkie and shouted, "Let's get to work!"
The next moment!
Several carriage doors were flung open from the inside, and countless train residents, carrying pickaxes, jumped out of the train, rushing toward the mines with excitement and enthusiasm!
"Stupid humans, stop crowding me!"
Doba, who had just jumped out of the carriage and hadn't had time to move, was shoved aside by the swarm of train residents pouring out. He couldn't help but angrily curse.
"Stupid humans, what are you trying to do?!"
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