Lin Xian took a deep breath and focused on devouring the heavy TFV600 Dual-Barrel Tank.
The night wind was biting, and he couldn’t help but shiver.
“It’s getting colder,” he muttered.
Hurry up, Dead Hand, devour it!
There was no expected flash of golden light; the damaged tank yielded no new skills.
So far, Lin Xian had gained three skills, two of which came from intact machinery. Had he not obtained a new skill from that broken mecha earlier, he would have assumed skills could only be acquired from fully functional equipment.
The massive tank disintegrated into ashes in his hands, and Lin Xian exhaled deeply. Finally, he had a chance to devour such big machines at his leisure.
“This thing will take at least ten hours to finish. Let’s check out that so-called Mutual Aid Bonfire first,” Lin Xian decided, exhaling deeply.
The train rolled steadily forward as Lin Xian walked from Car 5 toward the cab.
“Lin Xian, didn’t that guy mention something about electrical or unified control abilities? He didn’t seem all that surprised that we’re running a train,” Chen Sixuan noted perceptively, catching nuances in the man’s tone.
“That’s because he’s definitely an Ability User too,” Lin Xian replied solemnly. “It’s possible we’re not the first train he’s seen. He mentioned that the authorities and the Starfleet are still conducting large-scale operations. This suggests that in major cities, basic functions may still be running. Resistance and research haven’t completely stopped. It’s just that we’re near Abyss Zone No. 3, and information has likely been cut off from us.”
Chen Sixuan’s eyes lit up with hope. “For some reason, hearing that survivors are helping each other and that the authorities are still working makes everything feel a little less oppressive.”
Lin Xian sighed. “What I care about is whether the main rail lines are still usable...”
The main rail routes were critical for large-scale material and military logistics. Unless intentionally sabotaged, they would be priority targets for protection. Lin Xian had thought about rail issues before—unless there was significant damage, he could use rail steel and his mechanical abilities to weld and repair tracks. Kiki’s abilities could also help lay tracks if needed. As long as he advanced his mechanical powers, minor track problems shouldn’t be too challenging.
The night deepened, the surroundings silent, as the Infinite Train rolled into a small station where multiple tracks intersected. All five aboard heightened their vigilance. As soon as the train stopped, a young man peeked out cautiously from behind a platform pillar and waved at them.
“Are you here for the bonfire exchange?” he asked, his voice wary.
Lin Xian furrowed his brow and opened the cab door. “Were you waiting for us?”
The young man nodded. “I’m with the Chasing Wind Convoy. Brother Yun told me to wait here and ask if a train arrived whether you were coming to the bonfire. If you are, I can guide you there.”
“We’re going. Wait a moment,” Lin Xian said, closing the cab door.
“How many of us are going?” Chen Sixuan asked.
Lin Xian walked toward the rear carriages. “Let’s load some supplies first. Kiki and Building will come with me. Chen Sixuan, you and Shasha stay and guard the train. Use the walkie-talkie if anything happens.”
“Got it. Be careful,” Chen Sixuan replied.
They loaded supplies and weapons onto a jeep, unhooked it from the trailer, and drove onto the platform with Building at the wheel.
Building and Kiki’s abilities were powerful, so Lin Xian brought them along for extra presence at the survivor gathering. Meanwhile, Chen Sixuan and Shasha stayed behind to guard the train. With weapons in hand, they were reasonably secure.
The young man’s eyes nearly popped out as he gawked at the heavily armored train. When he saw them unload a jeep, he quickly pushed out a small dirt bike from behind the platform.
“Follow me, and try to keep quiet. There are a lot of zombies in the city. We’re camped in an abandoned factory about ten kilometers out,” he explained.
“Let’s go,” Lin Xian said, nodding.
The motorcycle’s headlight lit up as the young man led the way. Building drove the jeep with Lin Xian and Kiki in tow.
“I’m guessing there will be more than a few Ability Users at this gathering. If anything happens, follow my lead,” Lin Xian instructed.
Building silently nodded, while Kiki smiled. “The fact that they’ve all gathered means these convoys likely have those red beads for their radios. They must not be ordinary people. We need to get some of those beads ourselves. Who knows? They might not just connect radios but satellites too.”
Lin Xian exhaled. “Those beads seem to resonate with the Dark Tides’ energy, meaning the Tides are causing significant interference with our communications. Extracting them from those monsters is no small task—they’re undoubtedly valuable.”
“True,” Kiki agreed. “Let’s see what happens. Worst case, we’ll just kill another one of those bugs!”
The vehicles wound along a narrow road, avoiding the city, and sped through a forest. Before long, an open area came into view, and the silhouette of an abandoned factory loomed in the distance.
Around the factory were over a dozen convoys, with at least a hundred vehicles of various sizes. Dim lights flickered from within, and shadows moved as survivors huddled in groups. Some vehicles had armed guards standing watch.
Lin Xian noticed that most of the license plates came from different regions, confirming that these survivors weren’t all from the same place.
As their jeep approached, it attracted curious glances from several groups. Lin Xian found it strange that all the convoys kept a notable distance from the factory. Inside the factory itself, faint bonfire light flickered—it must be the bonfire Jiang Yun had mentioned.
“Stop here,” the young man said, pointing to an open space nearby. “Everyone parks their vehicles outside. Usually, only leaders or captains go inside to talk. Also, don’t bring weapons; it’s a gesture of goodwill. But you should leave someone to guard your car.”
“Wow, this is pretty organized,” Kiki remarked in surprise. “It feels like a mob deal.”
The young man chuckled awkwardly. “People come from all over, and we don’t know each other well. Sitting down peacefully means no weapons. Otherwise, it’d just be chaos like with those apocalyptic bandits.”
Lin Xian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Building, stay and guard the jeep. Kiki and I will go.”
“Got it, Brother Lin,” Building replied with a nod.
Lin Xian and Kiki climbed out of the jeep and followed the young man toward the factory.
“If you’re an Ability User, bringing weapons doesn’t matter anyway,” the young man chatted as they walked. “It’s just a gesture of goodwill.”
He pointed at some vehicles in the distance. “See those? Many are painted red or orange, or they’re flying specific flags. This comes from old maritime practices where ships in pirate-infested waters marked themselves as protected or capable of armed retaliation. Now, convoys use it as a neutral symbol to show they’re not bandits and to avoid misunderstandings.”