Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Number 1: “…”

Does our honesty mean only I have to be honest?

“Can it still be reproduced?”

Su Huan asked persistently.

Number 1 sighed, “If you’re thinking of turning them into wetware, it’s absolutely unnecessary. Each successful clone is unique and requires immense resources, costing almost as much as a supercomputer, yet its actual effectiveness is far inferior.”

“No, no, no, that would be too wasteful.”

Su Huan shook his finger.

“I need you to activate all the clones that can be activated and send them to the Donghuang frontier to command the defenses.”

This was something Su Huan had planned long ago; even if Number 1 didn’t show up, he would have dug this guy out.

Everyone’s gone north; how can he allow this rat to escape cleanly?

But as he said, turning them directly into wetware has little significance. Clones have hardly any evolutionary potential, except for their modified brains, which have no negative emotions, wouldn’t act emotionally, and can communicate information with each other.

Isn’t that like a highly intelligent monitoring cluster!

Most of the world outside Donghuang has fallen; across the eastern sea are pale demons, the west has embodiments of gods, the north has Otherworld invaders, and in the south, countless zombies hide amid the heat.

Surrounded by enemies, he can only start by tackling the most troublesome ones first.

The rest he will guard against, dealing with them when he has the time.

Upon hearing this, Number 1’s lips twitched; this uses him like a firewall, no better than wetware.

However, when he fully analyzed the information behind these words, he suddenly lifted his head, his previously calm expression replaced by shock, “Are the Ten Celestial Disaster Zones going to disappear?”

“Perhaps.”

Su Huan gave a noncommittal answer.

Number 1 lowered his head in thought, soon knitting his brows tightly, “No, even if I push the success rate of clone modification to one hundred percent, it can’t deploy defenses over such a large territory as Donghuang.”

“Focus mainly on the eastern coastline and the west; no need to handle the north and south for now.”

Su Huan said indifferently.

If the southern zombies shaped up to a climate, that’s better; he would clean it up as he went.

Number 1 nodded, despite still sounding like a fantasy, at least now there was a chance to realize it. He couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll turn traitor?”

Su Huan pointed to his head with a slight disdain, “Didn’t seem like you altered this brain of yours at all?”

Number 1 frowned, “To prevent you from realizing, I generally haven’t tampered with it, so many emotions sometimes surface.”

“Then I suggest you finish the modifications soon, lest you make something irrational.”

Compared to this humanized Number 1, he preferred the one without emotions.

Always making the most rational decisions.

When Number 1 left, Shu Wei standing nearby asked, “Should we keep him under surveillance?”

Su Huan gave an almost imperceptible smile, his gaze piercing through numerous obstacles, falling on Number 1’s departing silhouette from the base.

“Ah Duo left a mark on him; with just a thought, all clones replicated using his genes can be deprived. This is the Rule, providing ‘Life’, and naturally, it can also be taken away.”

“How long do you plan to stay here?”

“Not long, tonight, or tomorrow.”

Shu Wei’s gray-blue eyes moved slightly, innocently saying, “There’s no arrangement for me?”

She prepared long ago, ready to abandon everything to return to the train at Su Huan’s word, even forsake the name Black Kite, but she waited for this word for far too long. Until Su Huan walked out from the Eternal Night again, He Jie sent the message to prepare for war, still, she hadn’t heard that word.

Does the conductor no longer need her?

This question echoed in her heart for three years.

So when she saw Su Huan appear before her, the joy even overshadowed the pride and dignity in her heart, shattering all reason, desiring just a hug to see if it was all a fantasy.

Like a prisoner tormented for so long, craving the final outcome, be it good or bad, becoming redemption.

Thus she skipped all steps, desperately demanding Su Huan.

To affirm Su Huan’s existence, only then she could affirm her own.

The woman’s subtle emotional changes, like a synchronous feedback into Su Huan’s inner lake, detailed down to every ripple; even worms inside her wouldn’t know better than Su Huan at this moment.

“That depends on your performance.”

Su Huan leaned his elbow on the armrest, his hand opened naturally, smiling at the corner of his lips, his eyes black as deep pools, inviting to fall.

He certainly wouldn’t say cliché lines like “You are free”; meat swallowed won’t be spit out, she is his flesh and his lover.

This slightly frivolous gesture made the gray-blue sky blossom with splendor.

“As you wish.”

…

Even though Shu Wei wanted to make a big scene, the vast difference in physique made her admit defeat the next day.

After setting some fallback arrangements, Su Huan hurriedly went to the next major area.

At Tide Watching Island in the Flood Zone, he activated the Life Stone, and also injected initial energy into a tidal power device crafted by the Mechanical God Cult, then met Xiaodong at Iron Mountain Shelter.

The three continued south, with the once-collapsed Wangjiang Peak region turning into a marshland, passing through the swamp, accompanied by falling raindrops, those cold and damp memories again surged.

But Su Huan felt little; people he cared for in this life were all taken away.

He went directly to the Steel Council, now Chuanto New City.

No one knew what the conductor and Li Wangchuan discussed, but Su Huan unexpectedly received a Rule Stone — Wisdom.

He thought he’d have to dive deep into the High Temperature Zone and more unknown regions to obtain it.

A pleasant surprise.

Also accelerating his process.

Various major forces had already gathered supplies at Shun’an Station; when Su Huan arrived, they were already at work, the entire area roaring with large machinery.

According to the Doomsday Alliance’s estimates, they must build at least a hundred trains of 20 to 30 carriages to achieve transport efficacy.

Using the Armed Train outposts as the main line, various forces were responsible for replenishing supplies, manpower, maintenance, and more.

Since adding a hundred trains, Su Huan jokingly called this plan the Gabriel Plan.

Over a hundred trains departed from the Acid Rain Zone, bearing survivors northward like countless rivers rushing to the sea, to join the final battle.

This scene will eventually be recorded in history.

…

Following the route from years ago in reverse, Su Huan with two others arrived at Mojiang City once again.

The city remained, but it no longer bore Mojiang shadows; the originally grand river completely rerouted under the apocalypse’s devastations, diverting into numerous inconspicuous rivulets like a tree branch.

Under the once-transversal Mojiang bridge, it was all arid, countless mutant fish and shrimp corpses roasted dry before decay by the high temperatures, clinging to the riverbed, spreading densely to the distance like insects under decayed wood bark.

“Ahead is Hundred Beasts’ territory.” The guide’s respectful voice interrupted Su Huan’s gaze.

Returning to his senses, he looked across the river to the vast land, “Is there anyone else surviving here besides him?”

The guide wiped sweat streamingly cascading down his forehead.

“There are, but not organized, those surviving in such high heat are dangerous folks, we prefer not to provoke them.”

“Alright, you can go back.”

Su Huan waved casually, tossing some captured Pan-energy Crystals from the way into the guide’s arms.

The guide bowed respectfully, then rode off on his motorcycle, quickly leaving the edge of the High Temperature Zone.

Even at the Fringe, the perceived temperature exceeds fifty degrees, non-lethal but extremely uncomfortable.

Moreover, lingering beside Su Huan and the other two, their occasional leaking aura made him anxious.