Apocalypse: I Build A Doomsday Train Chapter 1181 - 456: Stabilizing the Current

Neither Lin Xian nor anyone from the Infinity or the Hawk Sea Group could have foreseen a train navigating the abyssal depths of the ocean, thousands of meters below, like a vessel among the stars.

East of Sea Rock, at a staggering depth of 2650 meters in the Pacific Ocean, a realm where light is utterly extinguished, a faint luminescence snakes through the pitch-black abyss. This deep-sea current, a ribbon of starlight born from extreme thermal gradients and immense pressure differences, surges like a high-speed oceanic artery. Usually a perilous path, considered a death trap for human submersibles save for a few hardy microorganisms and pre-Apocalypse torpedoes, it is now the chosen route.

Currently, within this geothermally illuminated current, a train and a nuclear submarine are being propelled at breakneck speeds by the torrent, making their way through the subterranean sea.

Aboard both the Infinity and Beifeng 09, the atmosphere, though devoid of combat sounds, felt as though they had just survived a brutal engagement. Disorder permeated the cabins, structures were warped, windows fractured, debris littered the passages, and the acrid scent of blood hung heavy in the air. Survivors, many with head traumas, were overcome by the jarring impacts, while fractures and puncture wounds were distressingly common occurrences.

The recent ordeal was akin to a violent spin in a centrifuge; within mere minutes, each second stretched into an eternity, as if they had repeatedly brushed against the jaws of death. Any further duration, and it’s a grim thought how many might have been torn asunder.

The state of Beifeng 09 was dire, and the Infinity fared no better. That this slender, train-transformed submersible remained intact within the extreme vortex was a testament to Lin Xian’s meticulous material selection at Yongcheng Port, employing starship-grade steel for the pressure hull, coupled with Lin Xian and KIKI’s swift repairs, preventing the colossal deep-sea metal structure from succumbing to the immense forces.

Carriages No. 8 and No. 9 bore the brunt of the damage, with nearly all of the Hawk Sea Group members sustaining injuries. On the Infinity’s side, Ryuji and KIKI were incapacitated, while others suffered minor wounds. Lin Xian had equipped them with interstellar-grade power armor, offering significantly superior protection compared to the Hawk Sea Group’s standard gear. Nevertheless, the intense G-forces left Miao Lu, Xiao Yuan, Lv Chang, Mo Xiaotian, Sun Yuzhen, and Sha Sha Luo Yang retching uncontrollably, disoriented, and alarmingly pale.

Vanessa, relatively unscathed, had already commenced assisting her fellow team members, joined by Shu Qin, Da Lou, and others.

Monica, having shed her power armor, emerged unsteadily from the rear compartment, striving to maintain her composure but visibly unwell. Her superpowers had been overextended, and being in the train’s final carriage during this tumultuous passage marked one of her most harrowing experiences since the onset of the Apocalypse.

"You’re still on your feet? Impressive," Qian Deli remarked, leaning against the sofa in carriage No. 6, utterly spent. He had tirelessly played the role of the carriage’s fire warden, repeatedly streaking out with golden sparks to rescue individuals and quell blazes. Exhausted, yet his condition was among the most stable on the entire train. As a Divine Speed Superpower User, extreme load was merely a minor inconvenience.

"Being dead would be better."

Monica approached, her hand resting on the sofa’s edge, her gaze drifting across the scene. Ryuji lay resting, still masked even in unconsciousness. Sha Sha applied an ice pack to her throbbing head, rolling her eyes repeatedly. Sun Yuzhen was tending to the abrasions of Mo Xiaotian and Luo Yang. The sole figure standing was Xiao Qing, her expression unreadable, though her brows were deeply furrowed as she observed Lu Xingchen in the sofa’s corner. He clutched a trash can, periodically vomiting violently, his visage dark as iron, completely devoid of the usual 'Fire God' panache.

"Lin Xian, how is everyone?" Monica inquired.

Qian Deli gestured with his chin. "Shi Zhi is handling the healing. Lin Xian is off doing something insane again; Shi Zhi mentioned he was depleted to the point his spiritual power couldn't focus, but it shouldn’t be too severe. Our captain isn’t the decorative type, after all. He’s quite remarkable."

"Remarkable indeed," Sha Sha mumbled, touching her aching head with a somber tone. "That nearly scared me to death; I truly believed we were finished just now.""Not necessarily," Ning Jing stated, seated on the sofa while rubbing her temples. "In the absolute worst-case scenario, if the train's structure fails, we should still be able to break free using our power armor." Qian Deli chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not quite that straightforward, Captain Ning." "Within this current environment, facing an instantaneous explosion, even power armor rated for starships would offer little protection to most individuals," he explained, gesturing towards Ryuji. "However, beings like him, along with KIKI cutie and myself, could potentially survive. This Blood Qi Power User might endure, but for others, survival would be a slim chance. A slow descent and an immediate detonation are vastly different propositions, especially within that terrifying vortex." "Very well, it appears I underestimated the ocean's might," Ning Jing conceded at that moment. "Look." Just then, Mo Xiaotian, peering through the porthole, exclaimed, "The light is fading." His words startled everyone, and they turned to gaze out the porthole. They observed that the oceanic current, which had previously resembled passage through a luminous band, had significantly dimmed. The seawater commenced its transformation into a profound, dark hue, with the previously faint bluish glows becoming increasingly infrequent and sparse.