A tremendous force struck the steel hydraulic ramp, denting it inward with a massive bulge. Lin Xian's heart pounded—this insect's strength was terrifyingly immense.
At this rate, the armor would be punctured sooner or later.
The front half of the giant insect had already climbed onto Car 2. Seeing this, KIKI hopped over to Car 2. With a swift kick, she uncovered a small utility knife hidden in the corner of a waterproof bag.
So this was how she had secretly cut herself free earlier.
Lin Xian glanced at her but had no time to bother with her right now.
At the same time, a sharp gnawing sound echoed from the roof, producing a horrifying metallic tearing noise.
The rampaging Wind Cannon finally showed some effect, shattering several pieces of the insect’s soft underbelly. The powerful impact even blasted open a blood-red hole, sending dark green insect blood spurting out.
The insect screeched in pain, swiftly retracting its stinger, only to coil it up and aim once more at the already dented hydraulic ramp.
Lin Xian’s pupils contracted—he knew the ramp wouldn't hold much longer. He turned and shouted at KIKI.
The massive stinger pierced straight through the ramp and into the carriage. At that moment, KIKI was crouching on the ground, anxiously cutting the nylon cable ties around her feet with the small knife. Hearing Lin Xian’s shout, she looked up—only to see countless shattered steel fragments flying toward her like bullets!
She froze, her pupils dilating rapidly.
Lin Xian saw that she wasn’t dodging and felt a sinking dread.
In the blink of an eye, he suddenly appeared in KIKI’s field of vision—accompanied by a rapidly forming Ice Wall!
Lin Xian had already thrown himself in front of her, swinging his hand.
The azure Ice Wall had barely solidified when several black steel shards embedded deeply into it, sending ice shards scattering everywhere.
KIKI let out a soft cry as Lin Xian pulled her into his arms, dodging to the side.
KIKI was pressed down hard. The ropes binding her hands and feet snapped apart. Looking at Lin Xian, who was sprawled over her, she seemed a little flustered.
"Hey, jerk, are you okay?"
Lin Xian struggled to his feet, glaring at her with a fierce expression.
"If you don’t help, we’re all dead!"
"I-I-I... I'll try!" In her panic, KIKI quickly stood up, gritted her teeth, and waved her hands, shouting, "Hey!"
However, nothing happened.
Lin Xian's eyes widened. He was about to curse when KIKI's face suddenly changed. She pointed toward Car 3 and screamed,
The giant insect, having pierced through the ramp, seemed to have found an entry point. After wildly thrashing inside with its stinger, it retracted. Then, with a sudden shift, two crimson tentacles reached through the hole in the ramp.
At that moment, both Lin Xian and KIKI saw its gaping maw filled with massive pincers!
The giant insect didn’t give Lin Xian even a second to breathe, immediately gnawing at the damaged ramp.
If this thing got inside, all three of them would be dead today.
Without hesitation, Lin Xian got up and fired two Wind Cannons directly at the creature’s maw!
Blood and flesh erupted. The insect’s mouth was blown open, dark green blood spraying everywhere as it let out an ear-splitting screech that made everyone’s scalp tingle.
Reeling from the pain, the insect’s lower half hooked onto a row of iron fence posts beside the railway. With the immense traction force of the accelerating Infinite Train, it was almost pulled off the carriage.
However, the insect’s limbs clamped tightly onto Car 3, causing the train’s speed to plummet sharply. The resulting inertia sent everyone stumbling.
Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan nearly slammed into the control panel from the sudden deceleration. Looking back, she saw a massive insect clinging desperately to Car 3.
She immediately shouted at Lin Xian,
"Hold on! There's a turn ahead!"
Hearing this, Lin Xian grabbed KIKI by the waist and clung to the door handle of Car 3 while activating Mechanical Heart to slow the train down.
If they were going too fast, the train could derail—he had to reduce speed.
The insect's lower body was getting caught on more and more iron fences. Its clawed feet left deep gouges on the carriage, sparks flying. Meanwhile, the red centipede-like creature screeched incessantly.
As the train entered the curve, the centrifugal force flung the insect’s lower body into more fence posts. Unable to withstand the pull of the train, it finally let out a shriek and tumbled off the roof of Car 3, rolling down the embankment.
The carriage fell silent once more.
Seeing they had shaken off the insect, Lin Xian finally exhaled. His back was drenched in cold sweat.
"Are you two okay?" Chen Sixuan called out.
"We’re fine!" Lin Xian replied.
Just as he was about to get off KIKI, a roar suddenly came from the left side of the train!
KIKI immediately screamed, "Look out! It’s coming again!"
A red blur slammed into the side of the train with a thunderous impact, tilting the entire carriage. One of the iron wheels lifted off the tracks, letting out a piercing metallic screech.
Lin Xian was caught off guard and was flung away by the shockwave, tumbling through the air.
Just when he thought Car 3 was going to derail and he himself would crash into the carriage, an invisible force suddenly grabbed him mid-air, stopping his fall!
Lin Xian was stunned. Turning his head, he saw KIKI sitting up, reaching a hand toward him. Her panicked expression was mixed with a faint white glow in her eyes.
Then, the invisible force pulled Car 3 back onto the tracks.
The wheels locked back in place.
Lin Xian was shocked.
This was KIKI’s Ability—she could lift an entire train carriage?!
Before he could process this, the giant insect climbed up the train again, its massive pincer jaw biting down onto the armored plating!
"You f***ing bastard, you just won’t quit!"
Ahead, Chen Sixuan's gaze was sharp as she shouted, "Speed up! There’s a 3-kilometer-long tunnel ahead at Beiwang Station!"
Lin Xian’s heart pounded. He immediately understood Chen Sixuan’s plan and activated Mechanical Heart to accelerate, lowering the hydraulic ramp even further.
"Who are you calling crazy?!" KIKI fumed.
Lin Xian grabbed the tow hook and said grimly, "Use your Ability to tie that beast up!"
KIKI hesitated for a moment, but seeing Lin Xian’s serious expression, she knew it was life or death. She clenched her fists and said,
She focused, recalling the sensation from before, and lifted her hands.
The invisible force reappeared, yanking the tow hook out of Lin Xian’s grip and quickly wrapping around the insect’s tail.
The insect struggled fiercely, causing the winch engine to whine and spew black smoke.
"Don’t let it escape!" Lin Xian shouted.
"Lin Xian, watch out!"
A dark tunnel loomed ahead, lit by the train’s orange headlights.
The insect screeched in terror—but it was trapped.
Lin Xian grabbed KIKI and leaped into Car 2 as the train charged into the tunnel—dragging the monstrous centipede in with it.
The gas turbine engine and electric locomotive roared in unison, accelerating forward. The front carriages surged into the tunnel, while a thunderous crash erupted from the rear!
The red centipede-like creature slammed straight into the tunnel wall, causing Car 3 to derail momentarily. The impact sent the other side of the carriage smashing into the tunnel wall, sparks flying, glass shattering!
The giant insect let out an agonized screech, its countless legs thrashing wildly, trying to break free. But the train's momentum had already dragged it in. With the massive weight of the carriage pressing down, its thick, armored exoskeleton scraped against the tunnel walls, producing a horrendous grinding sound.
Meanwhile, KIKI, pinned beneath Lin Xian, was clenching her teeth hard, bloodshot veins surfacing in her eyes. She lifted her hands, holding the tow hook tightly around the giant insect's tail, refusing to let it escape!
Ssssshhh! Crack! Crack!
The carriage interior reverberated with a series of earth-shattering tremors and gut-wrenching screeches.
Three kilometers inside a tunnel—it felt like an eternity.
Then, all of a sudden, the deafening noise ceased.
Amidst the lingering metallic groans, Car 3 was finally pulled back onto the tracks.