Apocalypse: I Build A Doomsday Train Chapter 1187 - 458: Dawn and Destruction
Previously on Apocalypse: I Build A Doomsday Train...
Lin Xian found that all the words he planned to say next felt like utter nonsense.
Taking the wine glass from Monica’s hand, Lin Xian remained silent. Monica took a sip of her wine, cast a glance at him, and upon seeing his quiet demeanor, she slightly arched her eyebrows. "You're worrying too much. Look, even if we're on a train submerged in the deep sea, we still need to sleep when it's time to rest."
She moved towards the cabin's porthole, her reflection appearing on the stardust-speckled glass, overlooking the abyssal darkness.
"One moment, we are alive; the next, we face death. Perhaps life and death are both predetermined. If that's the case, why not push the boundaries of evolutionary power and discover the ultimate limits of the human species?"
"Limits?" Lin Xian swirled the wine in his glass, a pensive look on his face. "Can the forces aligned against the dark side truly defeat the darkness itself?"
Monica offered a faint smile, her gaze meeting Lin Xian's. "Aren't you essentially asking why the Dark Civilization would grant humans the means to resist if their aim was annihilation of Blue Star? Many wrestle with this question. During my flight aboard Star Orbital, I encountered individuals who pondered this. The optimists believed it to be a form of assimilation, a transformation orchestrated by a higher civilization, leading to humanity's rebirth. Conversely, the pessimists suspected it to be an experiment by the Dark Civilization, with human evolution serving merely as a test subject, rendering our pursuit of dawn a fruitless endeavor."
"And what are your thoughts on the matter?" Lin Xian inquired.
Monica simply shrugged. "I accept both viewpoints, or perhaps, I accept neither."
"Ultimately, does the absolute truth even matter? If humans lacked superpowers, they would rely on technological weaponry for resistance. With superpowers, they research evolution as a countermeasure. It's akin to a drowning person desperately grasping at anything within reach, be it a mere straw or sharp thorns, without hesitation."
Having spoken, she turned her profound gaze back to Lin Xian.
"Low-level civilizations are rarely afforded the luxury of choice. If the Dark Civilization's intent on Apocalypse Day was merely to obliterate Blue Star as if swatting away a speck of dust, do all our thoughts, our hatred, our force fields hold any significance?"
"Annihilation without personal cause," Lin Xian replied calmly, recalling a memorable line from a science fiction novel he once read.
"Precisely," Monica affirmed, stepping closer to Lin Xian. "If doubling the superpower index can increase our survival rate by even a mere 1%, isn't it a gamble worth taking?"
"You speak the truth." Lin Xian found himself in strong agreement. He exhaled deeply. "Once daylight arrives, provided no other complications arise, let's make preparations to attempt this Crystal Grid Evolution. The representatives from Hawk Sea Group are already here; they can provide guidance."
Upon hearing this, Monica inquired, "And what about the Phoenix Society? Don't you possess a means to contact them?"
Lin Xian glanced at the countdown timer, then at the wine remaining in his glass. He downed it in one gulp, placed the glass on the table, and with a determined expression, turned to head towards the front carriages.
"We should know soon enough."
Watching Lin Xian depart, a subtle smile played on Monica's lips. She turned her gaze back to the shifting lights and shadows outside the porthole, murmuring, "Power forms the foundation of struggle, and sacrifice is the stairway to victory. Our captain truly cares deeply for us team members."
Lin Xian traversed the quiet carriages, yet his inner state was far from tranquil. Despite the apparent security, he couldn't recapture the sense of peace he'd felt after escaping previous crises on the train. This unease stemmed partly from their submerged environment and, more significantly, from the relentless countdown.
As the designated time drew nearer, to claim he wasn't feeling nervous would be a blatant falsehood. The moment seemed to coincide with the approach of dawn, yet Lin Xian felt powerless, compelled to simply wait in place with no other recourse. This inactivity left his normally prudent heart in a state of disquiet.
Passing by Carriage 3, Lin Xian paused beside the Silver Dragon Ten Thousand Mistakes. This remarkable Disaster Plant, imbued with the Power of Dimensional Space, had been their salvation on three distinct occasions: once in the Bottomless Lake, again while traversing the Star Abyss, and most recently during their escape from the undersea vortex the previous night. Now residing within the cultivation chamber, the vibrant dark purple light that once pulsed within its roots had become subdued and dim. The flower that had bloomed had vanished, leaving it resembling nothing more than an ordinary grass flower.
"Remarkable, much like a potent magic treasure. How can it possess such miraculous functions when it appears to be merely a blade of grass..."
Lin Xian observed it for a spell, his mind unable to fully grasp its nature. He then lifted his gaze towards the resting area, considered for a moment, and proceeded to open Ding Junyi’s room door once more. To his surprise, he discovered Ding Junyi already awake and quietly getting dressed.
"You are awake?"
"I was already awake when you first arrived." Ding Junyi meticulously dressed, put on a pristine white research coat, adjusted her black-rimmed spectacles, and then stood firm, addressing Lin Xian. "This was the longest-duration release of Dark Energy by the Hell Black Chrysanthemum, filling every single carriage. We've been closely observing and analyzing the experiences of team members during the tense and perilous escape. Factors such as exhaustion, injuries, and being immersed in a sealed, high-oxygen underwater environment contributed to drowsiness and deep sleep. Our analysis indicated that this instance was more severe, signifying a critical evolutionary phase. That's precisely why Captain Chen and I entrusted Viola with the entirety of the operations, choosing not to rouse you." Hearing Ding Junyi's explanation, Lin Xian finally felt a sense of relief wash over him. "I hadn't anticipated it would absorb such a vast quantity of black gas; it appears to be more than mere monster hunting," Lin Xian remarked. Ding Junyi, with her hands tucked into her pockets, calmly offered her analysis. "When we plummeted down the cliff and passed by the Giant Ocean God, this kind of energy within the ocean likely isn't in a gaseous state. However, it indirectly points to the terrifying energy levels contained within this world-class disaster."