Armed Train in the Apocalypse

They were all waiting, waiting for the moment the order was given, to rest completely amidst the roar of gunfire.

”Let’s go for one more round and then head back to sleep. We’ve walked this road for several months now, haven’t seen any new recruits come in...”

The veteran suddenly said.

The others silently echoed him.

The veteran propped himself up, brushed the snowflakes off his body, and was just about to pull his comrade up when he noticed a patch of darkness darker than the rest, he blinked, and that area seemed to blend back with the surroundings.

The veteran hurriedly grabbed the sensor next to him, urgently saying, ”Quick, see if there’s someone over there?”

The word ”someone” immediately sent chills down everyone’s spine, they all stood up and looked in that direction, but most were like the veteran, only the Tier One ”Gatherer” could see that far with his eyesight.

Expressions gradually transformed from nonchalant to serious. In the dead of night, everyone often became paranoid, but this time was different—there really was a human silhouette rapidly approaching them!

”There is indeed someone, be alert!”

Without the veteran’s urging, the soldiers themselves raised the rifles in their hands, others did likewise, bullets were loaded, not daring to breathe.

In the uneasy ambiance, the shadow drew nearer, footsteps becoming clearer, even those not skilled in sensing noticed the figure.

Bullets sprayed onto the snow a few meters ahead of the figure, ”Stop, password!”

Under the gaze of five men, the figure halted, puzzled, ”What’s the password?”

The men glanced at each other, exchanging a look conveying one message, ”An outsider? Or a deserter?”

The veteran knitted his brows, cautiously asked, ”Which unit are you from?”

The other’s voice carried a hint of panic and urgency, ”I don’t know which unit you’re from; something terrifying is chasing me, please let me run...”

Including the veteran, their faces changed.

For those patrolling the borders, encountering a deserter wasn’t frightening, almost every month a couple show up, but if they met an evil anomaly, it truly spelled doom—even if the entire base were present, they’d struggle to escape alive!

The newcomer had begun to move, some soldiers’ expressions turned fierce, fingers hooking the triggers.

The veteran gritted his teeth, whispered, ”Retreat!”

The soldiers cast him a glance, without hesitation, turned and ran away.

The figure continued pleading, but the veteran remained unmoved, aim fixed on him, silently counting to ten before shouting, ”You can run, but don’t follow us, or I won’t hesitate to act!”

Finished, he ran towards his team’s position, glancing back to watch the figure’s movements.

Their task was to assist outsiders, but the lives of their own took priority over tasks. Even if the superiors found out, they wouldn’t speak against it; failing to protect oneself while worrying about others, that’s sheer idiocy.

The figure quickly vanished into the night, but the veteran felt anything but relief—instead, his heart grew heavier.

Catching up to his team, retrieving their supplies, a few dashed forward swiftly.

”This direction seems to lead out...”

”Who cares where it goes, just run. Besides, this ghostly place is inescapable, you outta know that.”

At this, silence fell among them.

Even the most steadfast mind can’t bear such a bleak, timeless world and looming death; they pondered escape as they patrolled daily.

It’s not that they didn’t want to flee, they simply couldn’t pull it off.

South lies the endless snowfield, days and nights of crossing lead nowhere, deserters only despair and return to base.

It’s not that they chose to hold out, but the other side demanded more resolve.

”Why did you leave me behind?”

A hoarse voice suddenly appeared before them, hairs standing on end, without waiting for the veteran’s command, all five rifles fired simultaneously, gunfire tearing through the snowy silence.

In the blinding gunfire, a soldier in tattered Donghuang uniform stood ahead, face pale, bloodied eyes glaring ominously.

Bullets met no resistance, passing straight through him.

Evil Anomaly!

Simultaneously, the thought crossed everyone’s mind.

”Why abandon me?”

The silhouette stepped forward through the barrage, repeating the question.

In the despondent gaze of the group, the shadow drew nearer, the icy chill akin to Nine Netherworld Hell’s breath brushed their faces.

Eyes of the foremost veteran suddenly grew void, whispered, ”Why abandon me?”

Then, without warning, shoved the muzzle into his mouth, and in the shocked sight of the others, squeezed the trigger—bang, red and white spattered everywhere.

”Sergeant!”

The soldier beside him hadn’t finished speaking, shock and rage vanished instantly from his face, then also turned the gun on himself.

The group’s sole Tier One Evolver watched in sorrow, expression turned steely, eyes open as the last comrade swallowed the gun barrel, while his own magazine ran dry, in stark contrast of flare and darkness, the world plunged into blackness.

The soldier sensed the chilling presence close by, without hesitation, leapt forward, activating his decomposition ability fully.

A short and piercing scream sounded across the snowy plains.

...

Half an hour later, only a few faint blood stains remained on the ground, even the snow was licked clean. The Tier One Evolver staggered to his feet, dusted off his coat, picked up a random rifle, reloaded, ready to head north, suddenly turned back, uncertainly looking around.

A faint noise issued from ahead, like a group speaking, words indistinct yet ceaseless.

The evil anomaly tilted its head, eyes drooped, whispered eerily, ”Why did you leave me behind...”

In a breath, traversed hundreds of meters south, nearly teleporting.

Soon, he arrived at a slightly bulging snow mound, two meters long, resembling a freshly piled grave, from which the wailing emanated.

Aside from that, there was a slight chewing sound, like a starving man focused on eating something, stirring hunger anew in his barely filled stomach.

”Why abandon me?”

Though tinged with tragedy, the evil anomaly’s eyes held bloodthirsty excitement, tossed aside the gun, pounced forward, began frantically digging into the snow mound with hands and feet.

The snow layers were shallow, he swiftly uncovered it.

The wails grew nearly deafening.

But upon seeing the object, even the evil anomaly paused in surprise.

A beautiful hunting rifle, worthy of display in ancient family castles, lay amidst the snow, the grip carved of ebony wood, adorned with lava-like fiery red patterns, flickering flames within where twisted souls rose and fell, enduring the agony of torment.

The voice he’d heard was their shattered wails!

”Are you talking to me?”

A drowsy voice suddenly emerged from beneath him, before he could react, a hand shot up from the snow, clamped onto his ankle like a bear trap, overpowering, granting no struggle, flipping him to the ground.

Lying in the snow, the evil anomaly stared blankly ahead as a stunningly eerie man sat up from the snow, powder falling seamlessly from his robust chest, unmarred by adhesion or melting, a chest marked with a daunting scar like a ground fissure—glance alone inducing dizziness, hard to fathom how such a basin-sized wound came to be.

Long hair like earth’s roots emerged from the snow bit by bit, hands steadying the ground, narrow eyes still shut, voice from before now carried impatience.

”Did you wake me up?”

The focused chewing sound issued from this person’s right hand.