Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train-Chapter 259: Rushing into the Snowfield

"Gravity! Lens! Full Power Activation!"

In an instant, Lin Xian felt as if all the energy in his body was being drained like a flood bursting through a dam!

High above the sky, a section of space rapidly distorted. In a flash, the twisted space expanded, swallowing and warping the dazzling beams of light refracting through the clouds, forming a brilliant halo!

At that moment, hundreds of meters above, it was as if a phantom sun had appeared in the sky. The blinding radiance shone like an enormous daylight lamp, instantly illuminating the entire canyon pass. Visibility in the snowstorm suddenly became much clearer.

As the snowstorm momentarily subsided, the scene resembled a bright winter afternoon for a fleeting second. The light burned like a torch, instantly contorting the forms of countless Snow Wraiths and Snow Demons. Their agonized screeches pierced the air as black smoke oozed from the joints and skin of the eerie creatures. The once relentless tide of monsters frantically burrowed into the snow, dramatically easing the pressure on the convoy’s defense.

At the same time, the convoy’s firepower was concentrated on the Abyss Worm, unleashing an onslaught of explosions and metal projectiles. Smoke and debris erupted in all directions, and chunks of black flesh and green blood splattered across the snow.

"Awoooong!"

A massive force of suction emanated from the gaping maw of the monstrous worm as it surged dozens of meters above the ground. This time, it didn't just surface momentarily before retreating. Instead, it violently twisted its maw, attempting to sweep across the escaping convoy in a furious assault.

But its enraged rampage was ineffective. The once-impenetrable black hide of the Abyss Worm rapidly melted, distorted, and dislocated. Armor-piercing rounds now inflicted significantly greater damage, punching through its hide and sending massive chunks of flesh plummeting to the ground.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Suddenly, an explosive shockwave sent snow and shattered stones flying into the air. Shi Diyuan, gripping a 155mm howitzer shell, glared fiercely as his muscular frame tensed. Dragon Mountain No. 1 had already maneuvered to the side, and he was preparing to fire with both hands when he suddenly noticed the monster frantically retreating underground.

"It's trying to escape!!" he roared.

Daylight was never the domain of these Night Eerie Entities, and against a creature capable of wiping out an entire city, this moment presented the best opportunity to inflict serious damage. There was no way Shi Diyuan and the others would let this chance slip away!

The moment his words fell, the entire convoy unleashed a furious hail of gunfire, as if they wished to fire their very gun barrels along with the bullets. Even members of the Technical Team, usually non-combatants, picked up automatic rifles and handguns, joining the assault.

"Shhhhhhkkk!"

The Abyss Worm was burrowing at an astonishing speed. Lin Xian, drenched in cold sweat, gritted his teeth, and with his last ounce of strength, clenched his fist—hard!

At that moment, the dazzling, twisted mass of light began to spiral inward in a Fibonacci sequence, compressing into a searing beam that shot downward like a scorching pillar of death!

BOOM!

The intense gravity ray struck the Abyss Worm’s body, instantly sending plumes of black smoke and scalding steam surging from its flesh like a tidal wave.

"Buzz!"

From the left flank, A’Bai removed his sunglasses, his eyes flashing with a deadly gleam. Two laser beams shot out, slicing into the monster’s side at close range.

In mere moments, as the colossal creature plummeted, the laser beams cut through its hide like a hot knife through butter, leaving behind a massive, ten-meter-long gash.

Lin Xian’s gravity beam, though lasting only a second, completely punctured the creature’s body, causing the gaping black abyss of its mouth to emit a scorching white light.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Snow and debris erupted skyward in violent explosions. The next moment, the Abyss Worm frantically withdrew underground. When the dust settled, it left behind a gargantuan crater, over ten meters in diameter, with its flesh and remnants of blackened hide strewn across the terrain. Some of the scattered chunks even splattered onto the racing convoy vehicles.

"Rumble—"

Seismic tremors pulsed through the canyon as large swathes of snow cascaded down from the surrounding cliffs.

Still unsatisfied, Shi Diyuan grabbed two more 155mm howitzer shells and hurled them into the crater. A few seconds later, two deafening explosions echoed from the abyss—a direct hit on empty space.

"Bzzzzzz—"

At last, the defensive convoy had fully cleared the massive crater and was racing out of the canyon, heading toward the open snowfields.

"Tch! It got away!!" Shi Diyuan cursed in frustration.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Hmph!"

On one of the armed vehicles, Chen Wei finally released the trigger of his machine cannon. Sizzle... The scorching barrel glowed red-hot, and when the falling snowflakes touched it, they evaporated instantly with a sharp hiss.

"We definitely wounded it!!" Over the radio, Squad Leader Sun panted heavily. "I doubt it'll dare come out again anytime soon."

"At least not before nightfall," Qian Dele replied from the rooftop of a vehicle, wiping sweat from his brow despite the cold.

"All units, report casualties!"

"We're not out of danger yet! Reload your weapons—stay alert!" other convoy leaders echoed over the comms.

Leaning out of his vehicle window, Yu Yuheng and several Technical Team members stared in shock at the battlefield. The entire encounter—from the moment the Abyss Worm surfaced to now—had lasted barely 30 seconds, yet it had felt like an eternity of life-and-death struggle.

If not for the strange psychic force shielding the convoy, at least a third of their vehicles would have been sucked into that monstrous maw!

"How's Chen Wei?!" Yu Yuheng urgently radioed the armored vehicle carrying Chen Wei.

"No major injuries!" came the reply. Yu Yuheng exhaled in relief.

"Damn, that thing is terrifying... but it looks like we actually managed to injure it, maybe even drive it back!" One of the researchers clutched his backpack, his face still tense.

"Yeah, attacking together was the best strategy. If we'd spread out our firepower—"

Yu Yuheng's face turned complex as he listened, then nodded firmly. "Specialized tasks should be left to professionals. If Team Leader Li were alive, he would’ve made the same call."

"Yu, this guy Lin Xian is insane," another researcher said in awe. "A Mechanical Ability User who can create machines from thin air and control the weather? Could he actually combine his ability with mechs?"

Yu Yuheng blinked. "If he can really create machines... that’s a game changer. We need to document everything. When we reach Xilan City, we'll immediately forward the data to HQ and wait for their response."

Another older researcher looked uneasy. "The Nightwalkers are definitely going to target him."

Yu Yuheng's expression darkened, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, the convoy pressed on.

Thanks to the blinding light from earlier, the Snow Wraiths had thinned out. But with the blizzard intensifying and the vast snowfields ahead, eerie howls began rising once more. At least, for now, the earthquake had faded into the distance, offering a brief moment of respite.

The convoy leaders relayed casualty reports:

"Left flank: 3 vehicles lost, 9 dead!"

"Right flank: 4 vehicles lost, 17 dead!"

"Center: 2 vehicles lost, 7 dead."

A somber air settled over the radio. KIKI, pale-faced, sighed deeply in the front seat.

"Damn it..."

Lin Xian, exhausted, leaned back, closing his eyes. "We did everything we could."

"I’ll live," Chen Wei said faintly, eyes closed. "What about you guys?"

"Xiao Yang’s dead," Yu Yuheng sighed. "He was in that vehicle."

Hearing this, Chen Wei's eyes shot open. He took a deep breath, his gaze filled with anger and helplessness...

Inside the Arctic Vehicle, Lin Xian activated his Mechanical Heart, hastily repairing the car’s windows and doors to block out the chilling wind. The heater inside gradually warmed the air, making the atmosphere inside more comfortable.

KIKI glanced at Xiao Qing beside her and said, "Hey, let me drive. Looks like you’re itching to get into the fight."

Xiao Qing turned her head to look at KIKI, then at Lin Xian, before quietly replying, "You guys... rest."

Her voice carried a cautious maturity. Lin Xian and KIKI were both exhausted. Outside, countless Snow Wraiths were already swarming the defensive lines. On top of the Dragon Mountain No. 1, Ning Jing and Shi Diyuan had climbed back onto the roof to face the monster horde. Xiao Qing had wanted to join the fight, but Ning Jing had assigned her to driving duty, so she’d remained silent. Now hearing KIKI’s offer, her spirits lifted. She eagerly handed over the wheel to KIKI, grabbed her blade, and leapt from the vehicle to join the fray.

KIKI settled into the driver's seat, crossing her legs as her fingers guided the steering wheel and accelerator with telekinesis. She simultaneously projected a psychic shield to block the Snow Wraiths that suddenly lunged out from the snow-covered plains.

"When I heard that Hu Lushou mentioned the Emperor Project, I thought we'd end up getting some massive mech," KIKI muttered. "Instead, we just got ourselves into a huge mess with nothing to show for it."

"If we had enough time, that mech might... still be salvageable. But we wouldn’t be able to take it with us," Lin Xian replied.

"You mean because of the Phoenix?"

"No. A mech that size is only useful in combat. Otherwise, it's transported by a Hercules Transport Aircraft. Even a Fire God Mecha carriage isn’t big enough to fit that thing…"

"Yeah, true... but still, it’s cool," KIKI chuckled, glancing at the rearview mirror. "Brother, aren't you at least a little tempted by such an awesome mech?"

Lin Xian’s eyes gleamed as he recalled Unit 01's high-frequency chain blade that had once slain an Abyss Worm. His heart surged with excitement.

The Emperor Mecha seemed tailor-made for his Mechanical Heart, aligning perfectly with its growth potential.

Exhausted, Lin Xian leaned against the window of the Arctic Vehicle, watching the convoy roll steadily across the endless snowy plains. Snow Wraiths raged outside, flames flickered in the distance, and hundreds of people in the convoy fought desperately for survival. This was the first time Lin Xian had experienced a chaotic escape like this.

"Trains are still safer…"

He murmured softly. With over a hundred vehicles, every overturned car meant more casualties. As a convoy leader, the pressure on him felt far lighter compared to those managing the entire fleet.

For a brief moment, Lin Xian seemed to understand Shu Qin's struggles — endless running, surviving against all odds.

Exhaustion... sheer exhaustion.

The thunderous sounds of gunfire and slaughter raged outside, yet Lin Xian's mind drifted away. His eyelids drooped, and before he knew it, he had drifted off.

In his dream, Lin Xian was back in Jiang City, inside his apartment-turned-refuge.

Beep... Beep...

The familiar nightfall warning echoed. As usual, he pulled down the alloy iron shutter he had crafted with his Mechanical Ability, sprayed deodorizer in the stairwell and entryway, turned off the lights, and huddled in the pitch-black room. He listened closely to the unsettling noises from the floors above and below, and to the eerie murmurs and growls echoing from the streets outside.

Wandering zombies rasped past charred car frames, their decaying tracheas producing hoarse, guttural groans.

Lin Xian sat in the corner of his bedroom, his short blade resting nearby. He waited… for the night to deepen… for dawn to arrive.

Whoosh—

A gust of wind stirred from the living room.

Lin Xian’s windows had long been shut tight — there was no way a breeze could get in. His eyes scanned the darkness, and that’s when he noticed...

In front of his living room's glass window stood a dark figure.

Lin Xian snatched up his blade and rushed out, but the living room was empty.

The balcony’s sliding glass door was fully open. The night wind howled, causing the curtains to billow and dance.

Lin Xian cautiously stepped onto the balcony and looked up — only to feel his vision overwhelmed by an enormous floating corpse, a nightmarish behemoth that loomed over the entirety of Jiang City.

Its continental-sized body drifted slowly through the sky, blocking out the moonlight and plunging the city into shadow. Jiang City seemed nothing more than a silhouette beneath its presence.

"Biological Entity No. 2… is moving! It’s moving! Direction: East! Direction: East!"

Suddenly, a voice blared urgently in his ears — like someone shouting through a communicator.

Lin Xian spun around, searching for the speaker — but no one was there.

"Who are you?!"

Suddenly, that voice barked back, this time directed right at him.

Lin Xian froze — cold sweat trickling down his back.

He whipped around, only to find a dark figure standing in the corner... watching him.

"Lin Xian! Lin Xian!"

A wave of warmth suddenly enveloped him, pulling him back to consciousness. Lin Xian’s body stirred as strength gradually returned. He blinked, his face pale and breath ragged.

[Vital Signs Detected: Hypothermia. Hypothermia.]

The warning from his Power Armor rang faintly in his ears.

Ssshhh!

Lin Xian snapped awake. Checking his watch — 17:40 — he'd been asleep for ten minutes.

Was that a dream?

This was his second time seeing that Floating Colossal Corpse. The lingering dread still surged through his mind.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Ratatatat!

Gunfire and explosions intensified outside. KIKI, gripping the wheel tightly, shook Lin Xian with her telekinesis, her face filled with worry.

"What’s wrong with you? I’ve been shaking you for ages!"

Lin Xian exhaled deeply, massaging his temples. "Just overexerted. I fell asleep... I’m feeling better now."

KIKI sighed in relief, then frowned. "That move of yours sure drains you... but damn, it was powerful. Even that big worm couldn’t handle it."

Lin Xian nodded. The Gravity Lens was his strongest ability, but its severe energy drain made it difficult to use frequently — especially in daylight. If it weren’t for the extreme cold vortex forcing those eerie creatures to attack in the day, he wouldn’t have had a chance to use it.

"I noticed... those creatures don’t actually seem afraid of light itself," Lin Xian said thoughtfully.

KIKI pondered for a moment. "Yeah… at first, I thought they feared sunlight or UV rays, but it’s like they’re being torn apart by something else entirely."

Lin Xian nodded grimly. "Daylight is our only real advantage. The Dark Tides want to plunge everything into Polar Night, because dawn is humanity’s last hope."

"We should be close to the northern rail line now!" Ning Jing’s voice crackled over the communicator.

“We’re still too far,” Lin Xian responded, calculating the distance.

"It’s hard to see anything in this storm. Getting the trains started at the right moment... it’s nearly impossible." Ning Jing’s voice was anxious.

Lin Xian gritted his teeth. "We just need to keep moving... and find the train in time."

<p0" data-end="14">"Slash!"

<p16" data-end="311">From midair, Shi Diyuan twisted, severing the heads of two Snow Wraiths before landing heavily on the train car roof. His expression was grim as he barked, "We should be able to pick up the train’s signal within two kilometers. As long as our direction is right, we won't lose it."

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