Armed Train in the Apocalypse

”Damn it, I should have known not to go to the front lines!”

Haywood secretly regretted it inside, his face showing just the right amount of concern, ”How have you been on the train? I’ve been wanting to bring you back, but was held back by the higher-ups. Wei Mountain thinks you are more useful on the train... I know two sets of Tier Two Genetic Potions can’t compensate for what you’ve sacrificed, but it’s the best way I could think of...”

Tong Zizhan patted his blood-stained hand on Haywood’s fair, high-bridged face. The unnatural expression on the other’s face brought him a wave of satisfaction.

He’d wanted to do this for at least a year.

With a playful tone, he said, ”Without the Tier Two Genetic Potions you provided, our abilities wouldn’t allow us to infiltrate the Four Nations Alliance’s frontline camp.”

Haywood’s sunken eyes trembled, he thought those two sets of potions could have buried these two.

Though it didn’t bury them, it did grant him a series of early advantages in the direct confrontation with the Armed Train.

”Don’t worry, your affairs are under the conductor’s command.”

Tong Zizhan patted him on the shoulder.

Haywood felt slightly relieved, thinking he wouldn’t survive the day; it seemed there was still room to struggle.

Tong Zizhan and his companion casually took him out of the door, while the hurried personnel of the Four Nations around them seemed blind, passing by the three without the slightest notice.

This was the change from Tong Zizhan’s promotion to Tier Two, turning from the ”Dusk Robe” capable of hiding only a few people into the ”Thousand-Thread Veil” that can conceal multiple people’s whereabouts. ”Thousand” is merely a metaphorical figure, characteristic of Deep Blue Data’s naming style, in reality capable of hiding a dozen people. If it really hid a thousand and infiltrated enemy bases unnoticed, it wouldn’t be a Tier Two ability.

But this was overpowered enough; the only downside was its weak combat power, only capable of bullying Tier One or severely injured, dying Tier Two.

Stepping outside, Haywood discovered the temporary command post was already ablaze.

Not on the ground, but seven or eight meters above, in midair, the roaring flames forming an inverted red lake, rolling, streaming, continuously dropping fist-sized fireballs. These fireballs fell on tents, ammo boxes, and soldiers unable to evade, instantly exploding into even larger flames.

”Put out the fire! Quick, put it out!” A Chongying officer roared.

The flames descended like a school of fish that discovered its target, engulfing him in his despairing gaze.

Instantly burning him into a swaying skeleton frame.

However, this sound alerted the other soldiers, who quickly rushed to the water trucks, but the sprayed water only dispersed into a mist, transformed into scorching steam by the overhead sea of flames, enveloping them, with cries of agony following.

The murky water flowed over the ground, turning the entire surface into a deep brown swamp.

The soldiers struggled in the mud, their every step exhausting immense strength.

Heavy equipment was all trapped inside, the self-propelled artillery’s half-track was no longer visible, and armored personnel carriers were like stranded iron whales, with turrets futilely turning.

The next second, two of the four barrels of the antiaircraft gun suddenly twisted, broke, like twisted pretzels torn by great strength. The broken metal tubes didn’t fall, but disassembled and reassembled in mid-air, turning into dozens of sharp metal spindles, shooting towards the nearest group of soldiers. The screams were drowned out by the dull sound of metal piercing flesh.

”Flames, metal, water... Three Tier Two Controllers.” Haywood’s gaze flickered. Though the Armed Train’s surprise attack was rather abrupt and seemed effective, the temporary command post had a complete fifty thousand regular troops, definitely not something moved by one or two people.

But that doesn’t mean he can survive; to live, he must demonstrate sufficient value.

Gunfire sounded from all directions, but mostly was chaotic. Soldiers trapped in mud, their view obstructed by steam and flames, could only shoot blindly towards any direction with movement.

Tracer round trajectories were chaotic, occasionally hitting the sky-high sea of flames, but were merely pebbles cast into molten rock, only sparking a few flames.

In the distance, the White Elephant unit finally discovered the chaos here, riding motorbikes to provide support, but from Ying Shanche’s death to Haywood standing outside the door, ten minutes had passed.

This touching efficiency led Haywood to curse the White Elephant commander’s family in his mind.

”How many of you are here?”

Haywood instinctively asked.

Tong Zizhan gave him a look like he was mentally challenged, ”If I make up a number now, would you believe it?”

Haywood confidently stated, ”The Armed Train adopts the elite squad model; even if there are reserve forces, it wouldn’t exceed two hundred people, along with some stationing at Cangling Mountains and posts, your numbers here definitely won’t exceed two hundred.”

”Two hundred against fifty thousand.” Haywood murmured with a bitter smile, ”You Donghuang People... truly arrogant!”

Tong Zizhan didn’t respond; the train must break free from the brutal war of attrition by taking proactive strikes.

Fortunately, the other side never considered that the train dared to divide its forces for a surprise attack despite being pressured by tens of thousands, catching the Four Nations off guard, with highest commander Ying Shanche killed on the spot, disrupting the Alliance Army’s command system, extending this chaos.

”Looks like you’ve made another great contribution.”

A Power Armor clanked its way over, the sound warped through layers of transmission, but still revealing that youthful quality.

Hardly needing to guess, Haywood knew the identity of the newcomer, since he’d been dealing with the train early on. This knowledge made him more acquainted with the train, and aware of this young man’s weight on it.