Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Chapter 11: Chapter 10: Evolver

This sentence was not only addressed to Wan Xing, but also to everyone in this carriage.

Sitting next to him, Xiaoba showed no change in expression.

Although he felt that Su Huan was not as simple as he seemed.

But one must know to return favors.

Wan Xing was momentarily stunned, then pursed her lips and said, ”Okay.”

Su Huan finally smiled with satisfaction.

He liked those who were obedient.

The team’s progress was far exceeding his expectations.

A single unintentional flap of wings had changed many things.

...

The iron dragon emitted a slight moan on the tracks, the last wisp of twilight crushed beneath the wheels.

The armed train quietly left Wen’an City, heading towards a steel factory thirty kilometers away.

The light wrapped in metal spread like a melting sugar cube, casting a warm yellow halo on the blood-stained windows.

Su Huan’s pen danced across the notebook, ticking off ”track repair” and ”material collection.”

These were some key conditions he had previously listed for the armed train.

Closing the notebook, he looked at the thick darkness rising outside the window and suddenly pulled the curtains shut.

In the night, anything shining is either prey or bait.

Yu Yue was using a steel fork to flip spam in a frying pan, oil sizzling and popping.

Xiaoba whispered beside her, ”Sister Xingzi, is your hand okay now?”

Wan Xing noticed the worry in Xiaoba’s eyes and remembered her arm had been bitten by a zombie.

Rolling up her sleeve, a thin scar coiled on her fair forearm, shallow bite marks barely visible beneath blood scabs.

”Healed so quickly, looks like evolution promotes cell growth,” Yu Jing remarked in surprise.

”Evolution enhances the physical attributes of Evolvers all around, but physical strengthening is a Defender’s domain, not the Collector’s trait.”

Su Huan said while unabashedly picking up the sizzling spam and stuffing it into his mouth.

Feeling the aroma of the meat mixed with just the right amount of salt rolling in his mouth, Su Huan felt his energy recovery even accelerated by a third.

”Collectors...and you mentioned visual analysis earlier?”

Yu Jing seemed thoughtful.

”More accurately, Level 1 visual analysis. Wan Xing, why don’t you describe your feelings?” Su Huan suggested.

The reflection faded from Wan Xing’s eyes, presenting a distinct, monochrome unlit look, seeming somewhat blank, she pondered for a moment before speaking.

”When the energy flows into my eyes, the world turns into a dark gray, then some light spots appear, but I can’t touch most of them right now.”

”That’s because you haven’t learned ’Advanced Decomposition’ yet. Once you do, you’ll be able to take apart most common objects.”

”Is it a skill?”

”You could put it that way. Evolvers can train special skills which can then form professions through various combinations.”

Seeming to recall something, Su Huan tapped his forehead with his fingers.

”Yu Jing, have Liang Kuan find a place to stop the train and prepare for the night; also drag that bloodhound corpse over.”

”Okay.”

Ten minutes later, the train entered a nameless small tunnel.

Accompanied by slight tremors, the train came to a halt.

Liang Kuan emerged from the train’s front.

”Just get it to carriage number two.”

Liang Kuan replied and soon carried the bloody bloodhound over.

Su Huan had already directed a few people to lay a plastic sheet on the sightseeing car’s carpet.

”Bang!”

Liang Kuan dropped the bloodhound, and the carriage lightly trembled.

Yu Jing estimated roughly, marveling secretly, this bloodhound didn’t look big, but its weight was comparable to that of a slimmer hog.

Wan Xing, looking at the body on the ground, suddenly let out a light gasp, ”I think I can touch this light spot.”

”Give it a try, then.”

Su Huan pondered secretly.

With the existence of a Decomposer in the team, the speed of evolution would definitely take a significant leap.

Some related plans could also be accelerated or advanced simultaneously.

Twenty minutes later.

Everyone looked curiously at the thumbnail-sized transparent crystal in Wan Xing’s hand.

”This is a Pan-energy Crystal. Using it, cultivation speed would surpass that of touching zombies, plus it’s safer. Zombies outside that haven’t evolved, those in a cadaver state, can produce about half the size of this,” Su Huan explained.

”Collectors... so that’s what it means, able to gather pan-energy from other organisms,” Yu Jing realized with sudden enlightenment.

Su Huan stretched lazily, ”There are five major types of Evolvers, three are already here.”

Seeing everyone looking at him, Xiaoba straightforwardly said, ”I can manipulate metal, but I don’t know what type that is.”

”Manipulator,” Su Huan spoke calmly.

”The five types are Power Supplier, Manipulator, Collector, Maker, and Defender.”

Ignoring the complex looks from the others, Su Huan continued.

”A Power Supplier’s trait is generating energy, then converting it to various forms to power machinery and electronics.”

”A Collector’s trait can harvest Pan-energy from zombies or plants and Mutant Beasts into crystals that are easy to carry and absorb, and can also collect some unique apocalypse materials.”

”Manipulators can control a certain element, like a metal Manipulator can wield metals.”

”Makers can use their body’s Pan-energy to erode materials, altering their physical properties and making fine adjustments.”

”A Defender’s ’combat factor’ can quickly escalate abilities through battle.”

”Every type of Evolver’s traits is unique, no matter how many further evolutions they undergo.”

Afraid they might not understand, Su Huan gave a broad overview of the Evolver types.

In reality, information about Evolvers was far more detailed; various forces developed occupational drugs, training methods, and evolutionary paths all with intricate complexity.

Su Huan had heard of dozens of evolutionary pathways just by name.

Any piece of information could create a top-level expert, but those were Su Huan’s precious assets and naturally, couldn’t be casually shared.

’In my free time, I should note the timing down, see if there’s a chance to seize some opportunities.’

Thought flashed in Su Huan’s eyes.

”What should we do next?”

Xiaoba suddenly asked.

”Are you asking about the long-term goal or the immediate goal?”

”Both.”

”The long-term goal is to fortify the mobile fortress beneath our feet, escape the high-temperature zone and head north. You’ve seen it during the day, those beasts aren’t something we can take down barehanded, even Evolvers need time to develop... As for the short-term goals, eating and sleeping, what about you?”

Su Huan countered the question.

A trace of age-appropriate confusion finally appeared on the boy’s calm face, ”The Director is dead, the orphanage is gone, I don’t know.”

”Do you believe in me?”

Su Huan gathered his smile and earnestly asked back.

Looking into Su Huan’s cold eyes, Xiaoba instinctively felt this wasn’t a good person.

But the Director always said.

That one should repay kindness, and keep their word.

”I believe in you.”