【Scan complete. Blueprint retrieval failed. Target lacks a core drive source, unable to generate blueprint information.】
Lin Xian sighed, turning off his flashlight as he gazed at the massive humanoid machine before him, disappointment evident on his face.
“Too bad. I’ll have to devour it. At least the materials should be worthwhile.”
Unable to repair or retrieve a blueprint, the best use for the machine was as fuel for the growth of his Mechanical Heart.
After ensuring the surrounding dark fields were safe, Lin Xian sat down and began the devouring process.
【Devour progress: 1%】
【Devour progress: 3%】
Watching the progress bar creep forward, Lin Xian estimated it would take several hours to fully process the machine.
【Devour successful. Mechanical Source Points +100, Mechanical Devour Skill Proficiency +40. Bonus Rewards: Strength +2, Speed +1, Defense +1.】
Suddenly, a flash of violet light appeared before his eyes.
【Congratulations! You have acquired an additional skill reward: Backlash!】
【Backlash (Rare): Perform a rapid forward thrust using wind currents. Upgrading this skill significantly enhances speed and thrust distance.】
“Whoa, a rare skill! But… the name sounds kinda…”
Despite his initial thoughts, Lin Xian was ecstatic. It was his first rare skill, and it seemed to be a movement technique, greatly enhancing his mobility.
“I wonder how effective it is…”
He opened his disassembly space, his excitement growing as he reviewed the materials he had acquired.
【Disassembly: You have gained Tungsten-Titanium Alloy Type I ×5, High-Manganese Steel ×10, Forged Inner Armor Steel ×3, Titanium Alloy ×3…】
“Tungsten-Titanium Alloy Type I? That’s not something you see in civilian use…”
Lin Xian was stunned. Such military-grade materials could only be found on cutting-edge equipment . Regular weapons wouldn’t contain anything like it.
The crisp sound of footsteps echoed in the dark.
Kiki stepped out from behind the train, a sly grin on her face as she approached.
Lin Xian, who was about to begin devouring the TFV600 Heavy Dual-Barrel Tank, paused and asked, “What do you want?”
“Uh…” Kiki hesitated, looking slightly awkward. “I wanted to thank you.”
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. “Go on.”
“Thank you for letting me stay in Car 2 and for saving me earlier.” Her voice was soft.
Lin Xian placed his hand on the tank, activating Mechanical Devour as he spoke. “Without your help, whether it was with that giant bug or at the military outpost, we’d all be dead.”
He hadn’t expected Kiki to come and express her gratitude, and the tension he had felt toward her eased.
On one hand, her Ability had been instrumental in their survival twice now. On the other, her sheer power still made him uneasy.
Unaware of his thoughts, Kiki’s face lit up slightly at his words. She suddenly held out her hand.
Lin Xian glanced at the small silver object in her hand. Accepting it, he realized it was a portable hard drive.
“Initial data from the Angel Project. I copied it all. Plus, I found a blueprint for the GK03 Electric Blade in some old files. I noticed you’re always carrying around that old knife. Since you can craft things, why not give this a try?”
She added, “But the materials might be tricky—like the high-frequency current transformer it needs…”
Lin Xian froze for a moment. While his mechanical Ability made using a knife a necessity, hearing this name…
GK03 Electric Blade?!
He recalled reading about it on military forums. Developed by Kehua Heavy Industries for the Starfleet Iron Guard Brigade, it was a standard-issue melee weapon for close combat. Although it had limited production due to its energy demands and practicality issues, it was undeniably impressive.
Moreover, with some modifications, the electric blade’s principles could be adapted for use on his train.
Noticing the eager glint in Lin Xian’s eyes, Kiki tilted her head and asked, “So… truce?”
Lin Xian chuckled, weighing the portable drive in his hand. “Are you referring to the time you stole bread?”
“And the time I attacked you,” Kiki replied with a cheeky grin. “Also, I no longer think your project is boring. I think it’s genius!”
“Oh?” Lin Xian raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you the heir of the Dawn Project’s Level 2 investors? Why the sudden change of heart?”
Kiki took a deep breath. “I know you probably think I’m lying again. But the Dawn Project is real, and so is my identity. My father and I traveled by helicopter to Mount Daluo, which was supposed to house Underground City No. 9 of the project. But after the first Polar Night, the Federal Government collapsed, and the project likely suffered setbacks.
“Honestly, if it were me, I wouldn’t want to be buried underground, waiting for those monsters to come knocking every day.”
"It is!" Kiki looked exasperated. "This time, I’m not lying, I swear." She raised three fingers to emphasize her sincerity.
Lin Xian nodded. "Do you know why I designed this train project, despite all the issues you're concerned about?"
"Isn’t it because of your mechanical Ability?" Kiki ventured tentatively.
"That’s a subjective reason, not an objective one," Lin Xian replied, tapping his fingers on the tank with a serious expression. "You might think I’m delusional, but I’ve listened to Apocalypse Radio’s analyses of the Dark Tides by the Federal Union. My conclusion is that none of us can truly escape the encroaching darkness."
After the Federal Government collapsed, the Apocalypse Union was formed—a coalition of the remaining nations on Blue Planet. In those early days, survivors could still receive rescue and defense broadcasts via longwave radio. However, after the Polar Night, likely due to their proximity to Abyss Zone No. 3, such signals ceased entirely.
"Can’t escape? Then why build this train?" Kiki asked, puzzled.
Lin Xian’s expression turned steely. "The Jiang City vanguard discovered that heading east could evade the Dark Tides and bring daylight sooner. This is valuable information. But the problem is that if the source of the Polar Night isn’t just normal darkness, and if the Dark Tides aren’t what people imagine—something you can simply outrun by going east—then what?
"Here’s an example: When we left Jiang City, every 300 kilometers we traveled east brought dawn forward by an hour. But what about 3,000 kilometers to the east? Does that mean we no longer need to run?
"According to initial Polar Night observations, if the darkness originates from the Abyss, then those in Desert City, near Abyss Zone No. 4, 15,600 kilometers northeast of us—should they flee west or east?"
Kiki’s eyes brightened as realization dawned. "Oh! So you’re taking the Planetary Orbital Rail because it skirts the Abysses—or at least stays near their edges!"
"Exactly," Lin Xian said bluntly. "Now let me ask you this: If Abyss Zone No. 3 spreads its Dark Tides at a rate of 300 kilometers per day, how long would it take to cover the entire planet?"
Kiki frowned, thinking hard. "Let me calculate—"
"No need. 1,066 days."
"Long?" Lin Xian’s face grew grave. "Did you forget that there are 13 Abysses on Blue Planet?"
Kiki froze, her brow furrowing.
Lin Xian’s voice grew firm. "The Planetary Orbital Rail is fixed, and eventually, it will be overtaken by the Abysses’ expansion. That’s why this is only my first-stage plan. My Mechanical Ability isn’t just about racing along the orbital rail. I want to free this train from the constraints of the tracks. Or one day…"
"I want this train to fly."
Kiki’s eyes widened in shock. She stared at Lin Xian, her pupils filled with disbelief. His audacious idea left her mind blank.
She couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would look like—a fully armed heavy train soaring into the skies.
Seeing her speechless, Lin Xian continued, "I don’t fully understand the specifics yet, and no one knows the true cause of the Polar Night. But during our escape, we’ll inevitably venture into the dark zones.
"So, if we don’t want to sit here waiting to die, we have two choices:
"Escape to the dawn...
Lin Xian’s gaze burned fiercely as he finished,
"Defeat the darkness!"