Apocalypse: I Build A Doomsday Train Chapter 1176 - 453: Dive Like This! (2)

Ryuji and KIKI, the only two telekinesis users present, possess the unique ability to maintain their stability. They exert their full power, shielding their companions in adjacent compartments while simultaneously working to secure the Infinity.

[Deep-sea module pressure hull exceeds the limit stress value, some structures have deformed, warning, there may be leakage risk]

Alarms blared incessantly throughout the Infinity.

Just as the Infinity was on the verge of colliding with the seabed reef and being consumed by the surging currents, KIKI and Ryuji managed to stabilize its position. Once the vessel came to a smooth halt, pandemonium broke out within the carriages.

Lin Xian gasped for air, his heart pounding. He understood that the immense upward surge of water was the terrifying manifestation of the Giant Ocean God ascending. He swiftly employed the Mechanical Heart to assess the Infinity's condition. Relieved, he finally exhaled after confirming no critical damage.

"How is everyone doing?!"

Lin Xian immediately queried his teammates.

"Carriage 3, we're unharmed," came the voices of Xiao Yuan and Miao Lu. Earlier, Ding Junyi's Green Vine had shielded them, functioning like a safety harness in conjunction with their power armor. Despite being tossed in a vortex, they sustained no injuries. Upon hearing Lin Xian's inquiry, they quickly suppressed their queasiness to reply.

"Carriage 5, everyone's alright," Da Lou responded, pressing his headset. Carriage 5 was in disarray, but thanks to Ryuji's intervention, Sun Yuzhen, Sha Sha, and the others were safe. Only Brother Huo, who had maintained composure throughout, appeared slightly disheveled. His tea set had been overturned, and the boiling teapot now hung around his neck, his face dusted with tea leaves.

"The deep sea is nothing, Master might as well be on a pirate ship, no... bleh!" Before he could finish, Brother Huo abruptly vomited.

"Everything is fine here as well, one person has minor injuries."

From the rear carriage, Ning Jing reported the situation. This compartment resembled a disaster zone, crowded with dozens of individuals. Even with Ning Jing and Qian Deli's squad of superhumans accelerating Vanessa's protective measures, the earlier ordeal had taken a significant toll on many. Several individuals were dazed, and despite their power armor, multiple ribs were fractured. Shu Qin, Lv Chang, and Shi Zhi were diligently attending to the injured.

"What was that entity earlier, wasn't it the Giant Ocean God?" Vanessa inquired, rubbing her neck as she approached, her expression fearful. "That was truly perilous."

"Had Lin Xian not retreated decisively, we might have been crushed," Qian Deli stated, applying an ice pack to his forehead and gazing disheartenedly at the wreckage within the carriage.

Monica, seated on a sofa in the lounge, unfastened her nano-power armor, her complexion somewhat ashen. Breathing heavily, she adjusted herself and remarked, "It appears the island's explosion drew this creature from the oceanic depths. I hadn't anticipated this Malevolent God would be so close. We are fortunate not to have been consumed or marked."

"Is it truly... progressing this smoothly?" Qian Deli expressed a hint of surprise.

"Ryan, Ryan!" Vanessa was attempting to reach Ryan's location at that precise moment.

After a brief pause, Ryan's voice finally came through the comms.

"Crackle... We're secure. Some internal conduits ruptured, but I've already instructed Azir and the team to initiate emergency repairs. Are you all well?"

Relative to the Infinity's predicament, Ryan's circumstances were far less dire. They had not traversed the cliff-like seabed itself and had retreated a considerable distance promptly. Despite also being affected by the violent upward currents, their Beifeng-09 Strategic Nuclear Submarine proved more resilient, its external structure remaining largely intact.

Hearing the voice over the frequency, Vanessa let out a sigh of relief. The recent ordeal had been extremely hazardous, with even a minor misstep potentially leading to catastrophe. At this juncture, she was filled with profound admiration for Lin Xian's adept command during the crisis.

"Lin, you are incredible. Your sense of impending danger is astonishingly accurate; I admire you immensely," Vanessa declared, her admiration unreserved.

"Don't celebrate just yet."

At that moment, Lin Xian's voice resounded over the core frequency. He stood within the cockpit as the damaged Infinity emitted ongoing alarms from several carriages. He efficiently operated the Mechanical Heart to commence repairs on the compromised sections.

Lin Xian's mechanical repair proficiency was akin to a divine gift, capable of mending the pressure hull even deep beneath the sea, thereby invariably enhancing survival chances and mitigating latent threats.

"Wow, you scared me half to death, Lin Xian. How did you know that thing would surface here?" KIKI inquired, observing Lin Xian meticulously restoring the train.

Lin Xian cleared his throat, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he finally spoke, "It’s just a hunch, really. Monica also mentioned that the island’s geothermal eruption would certainly draw the attention of this creature. Coupled with the vortex ring flow beneath the cliff, which follows the Galan Volcano ridge, its presence here isn't entirely unexpected."

Ding Junyi turned, scanning their surroundings, "We shouldn’t have alerted it. It seems there are no discernible marks left behind."

"Should we alter our escape route?"

Chen Sixuan, her racing heart somewhat steadied, spoke with feigned composure, "This might be our opportunity, and time is of the essence."

[Detected massive life form ahead.]

Just as the words left her lips, Viola's calm voice cut through the tension, delivering a sobering report.

[Based on my analysis, the island's nuclear detonation is further agitating the Galan Volcano, and a significant swarm of Abnormal Bodies is converging on our position. The colossal Ocean God has manifested, and its intentions – whether it is hunting or not – remain unclear. From a strategic standpoint, we have two optimal courses of action.]

[Option one: remain stationary. If the Ocean God is indeed hunting, this specific sea area will transform into a deathtrap. Monitored data indicates a coordinated surge of giant Abnormal Bodies. Thus far, we have evaded the volcano's direct influence and have not been targeted by the Ocean God or any other dark entities. We can infer that our current location offers a degree of safety. Maintaining our position grants us valuable time for further reconnaissance and strategic planning.]

[Option two: proceed with our original plan, descending deeper along our current trajectory into the Jingyuan Vortex Channel...]

Lin Xian decisively cut off Viola's detailed assessment, "Choose the second option."

"Huh?" KIKI questioned, gesturing towards the detector. "That monstrous entity is directly in front of the cliff face, and we’re still planning to dive deeper?"

Lin Xian nodded, his gaze resolute. "Indeed. There is no superior alternative. Remaining here is futile. Once that creature makes its move, this entire marine sector will descend into chaos. The longer we linger, the swifter our demise will be."

His eyes remained fixed on Viola's detector. The screen displayed an obstruction directly ahead of the cliff, akin to a gargantuan mountain ascending from the seabed, its immense pressure causing a prickle of unease that ran down his spine.

"The fact that it isn’t observing us… that’s our opening. An advantage of escaping under its very notice."

"There likely aren’t any other Abnormal Bodies in the immediate vicinity," Ding Junyi added.

"Precisely," Lin Xian stated with grave finality. "The most perilous location often offers the greatest security. This behemoth has already revealed itself. To surface would be suicide. To retreat, however, leaves us trapped as the island collapses. To advance, we face this immense obstacle. Any other direction means facing the converging Abnormal Bodies. From this perspective, our only viable path is to dive deeper, wouldn’t you agree?"

A heavy silence fell over the communication channel following his declaration.

"I must admit, I am truly impressed by your ability to dissect the situation with such clarity amidst this dire crisis," Ryan was the first to break the silence, his tone even. "Our current predicament truly does appear to be as you describe. The creature is directly in our path, capable of crushing us in an instant. Rather than passively awaiting our end, doing the opposite seems the logical course."

"Then let's press onward," Chen Sixuan concurred, nodding in agreement.

"Yes, make haste. Follow closely," Lin Xian commanded, wasting no time. The island was imploding, and their fleeting opportunities were rapidly diminishing.

At that precise moment, Lin Xian directed the Infinity towards the cliff face. The Beifeng-09 nuclear submarine followed suit, maintaining formation.

The occupants of the deep-water submersible vehicles held their collective breath, their vessels crawling forward at an agonizingly slow pace. Each individual understood they were inching closer to a terrifying denizen of the abyssal deep.

The plan was to plunge into the very abyss directly beneath its colossal form!

This was, without a doubt, a progression marked by a pounding heart and skyrocketing blood pressure!