The train's power source remained undamaged, allowing for a smooth journey.
If one ignored the state of the carriages, it appeared to be a well-functioning train.
But it was impossible not to notice the carriages...
Blood handprints stained the carriage windows, and the outer walls and roofs bore marks from sharp objects, with some carriage roofs revealing a gaping hole.
The sheet metal curled outwards, creating a terrifying sight.
Woof woof!
Er Pang sniffed the air inside the train, seeming to detect a peculiar smell.
If a battle had occurred between humans and mutated creatures in these carriages, remnants of mutated creature tissue and blood would surely be present.
However, Er Pang roamed around the train and, without licking anything, directly disembarked.
Could it be...
This train hadn't been attacked by mutated creatures, and the people inside had simply died?
Was it a hallucinogenic neurotoxin, or something else?
Zhang Chen searched around the train but found no clues.
As no suspicious points were discovered, the prompts only revolved around the train:
[A high-speed train that can operate normally, very easy to operate, expected to arrive at Bengkou City in 3 hours...]
In this situation, there were no other options.
Whether or not they boarded this train, they still had to traverse this tunnel.
If the entity that killed the people in the train was still in the tunnel, Zhang Chen would eventually encounter it.
The train traveled at a high speed, covering over 500 kilometers in 3 hours.
If Er Pang had to run 500 kilometers at once...
Even setting aside the speed, it would have been exhausting.
"On the train!"
Zhang Chen waved his hand.
They would deal with whatever came their way. It was a step-by-step approach!
The army of 99 clones began to board in an orderly fashion.
They were telepathically linked, so there was no need for queuing.
Even with a crowd at the carriage doors, they ensured no friction and boarded sequentially.
The boarding speed was even faster than orderly queuing.
Inside the carriages, there was nothing but bloodstains.
No severed limbs, no shredded flesh, and no infected individuals. It was as if, after being attacked, they had cleaned up the scene and left on their own.
Zhang Chen, along with Xiaobai and Er Pang, headed directly into the driver's cabin.
The cabin door had been ripped open, rendering it useless.
With a slight exertion of strength, Zhang Chen removed the entire door and tossed it aside.
Er Pang stood guard at the entrance.
The five carriages were filled with clones.
Zhang Chen stood before the control panel and observed.
The interface was very simple: start, forward, brake, reverse.
As the train traveled on the tracks, there was no need for turns; it followed the direction of the rails.
Furthermore, from the interface city to Bengkou City, there were no junctions, only a single track, so no track adjustments were needed.
Thus, there was no steering wheel; these buttons were sufficient for control, as simple as playing a video game.
Zhang Chen's gaze was fixed on the control panel, and soon, the prompt reappeared:
[The train currently has sufficient energy and is in good condition, capable of traveling another 1500 kilometers!]
"Start, forward!"
Zhang Chen commanded.
Xiaobai clamored to be the driver, and Zhang Chen, with a sigh, ceded the opportunity to drive to her.
After all, it was just a matter of pressing the start button and then the forward button.
Xiaobai gave Zhang Chen a mock salute and then solemnly pressed the start button.
Vroom...
A series of motor spinning sounds ensued, and the train began to move.
Click!
Xiaobai pressed the forward button again!
Whirr... Vroom...
The train rapidly accelerated, picking up speed on the tracks and hurtling forward.
As the train ventured deeper into the tunnel, the tunnel lights on either side blurred past in rapid succession.
"Hehe, so fun, Daddy, you're the best!"
Xiaobai said, tiptoeing and wrapping her arms around Zhang Chen's neck, giving him a firm kiss on the cheek.
It seemed children all enjoyed riding little trains; this fact was now confirmed!
The train continued its rapid journey.
The scenery on both sides consisted of a dark tunnel and constantly flashing tunnel lights.
Occasionally, some sections of the tunnel lights had completely extinguished.
However, Zhang Chen possessed the ability to see in various environments, allowing him to continue operating the train forward.
The journey was surprisingly smooth.
No hallucinogenic creatures appeared, nor were there any infected or mutated beings.
They traveled like this for about two and a half hours.
It was estimated that in another 30 minutes, they would reach Bengkou City.
Xiaobai, bored, sat on the floor leaning against the carriage wall, fast asleep, drooling uncontrollably.
She occasionally snuffled in her sleep.
"Wake up, Xiaobai, we're almost there!"
Zhang Chen gently patted Xiaobai.
"Mmm? Delicious, want more!"
Xiaobai mumbled sleepily.
She looked around and realized it had all been a dream, and she was still in the carriage.
There was nothing to eat.
"Eat what? You already ate at noon! But... there might be some fun coming up soon!"
Zhang Chen reached out and pinched Xiaobai's smooth cheek.
So smooth, and so elastic!
"Wow, there's fun!"
Upon hearing about fun, Xiaobai, who had been drowsy just moments ago, jumped up with joy.
Her eyes widened.
"Where is it? Where's the fun?"
Xiaobai looked around.
The state of the carriage was the same as when she had fallen asleep.
Apart from the sound of the wheels frictioning against the tracks, there was no other noise.
There were 99 clones in the five carriages, all standing motionlessly with blank expressions.
Although they had the appearance of various survivors, and even illusory storage rings of a greenish hue, they were not real survivors. They had no interaction with each other, neither chatting nor showing interest in their surroundings.
All they knew was to obey orders.
These clones stood like wooden stakes in the carriages, a sight that felt more terrifying than the impending danger!
Zhang Chen knew that the absence of danger along the way did not mean the danger had disappeared.
On the contrary, it indicated that the danger was drawing ever closer.
At this very moment, all the tunnel lights in the section ahead were extinguished.
It was pitch black.
The train continued forward for a few more minutes.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a sharp metallic blade flew from ahead, skimming over the train's roof.
The train was moving fast, and the blade was also moving fast. With both traveling towards each other, the impact force was amplified.
With a ripping sound,
the train's roof was instantly sliced open.
Cold wind from the tunnel howled through the opening.
"What was meant to come has finally arrived!"
Zhang Chen narrowed his eyes.
He saw, in the endless darkness, pairs of red eyes staring at the train.
Then, countless sharp blades flew towards the train like raindrops!