The night was silent, and snow fell gently from the dark sky.
Lin Xian sat in the dirt truck’s cargo bed, devouring the capacitor bank that had been hoisted onto the Infinite Train’s flatbed trailer.
System Notifications:
The 110kV capacitor bank was enormous and intricately designed. Even with his Level 3 Mechanical Devour skill, it took Lin Xian nearly four hours to fully devour it.
When the progress bar hit 100%, a flash of purple light erupted in his vision.
Power Surge (Rare): Accumulate a certain amount of voltage to unleash electrical energy.
“Power Surge? A rare skill?!” Lin Xian’s eyes lit up as he raised his palm, channeling energy. A faint blue glow began gathering in his hand, steadily intensifying and radiating heat.
He aimed his palm at the dirt truck’s steel panel.
A dazzling electric arc shot forth, piercing the truck’s steel plate and leaving a tiny, glowing hole. The surrounding metal glowed red-hot, emitting wisps of heat.
“Generating electricity out of thin air… it’s a perfect complement to my Mechanical Heart. I can now directly produce electricity,” Lin Xian murmured.
He blew on his slightly scalded palm and frowned. “It takes time to charge, though, and there’s a limit to how much I can handle. Otherwise, my body might not withstand it.”
Simultaneously, his attributes received another boost.
Speed Attribute Upgraded!
Lin Xian stood up, feeling the explosive speed coursing through his limbs. More importantly, his vision, reflexes, and coordination had all sharpened considerably.
He blinked, noticing how quickly objects became clear after briefly blurring. Looking into the distance, his night vision seemed to have improved significantly.
“So speed isn’t just about movement,” he realized, overjoyed. His enhanced speed and reactions now exceeded the limits of ordinary humans on Blue Planet. Though still not on par with monsters, the benefits were invaluable.
For someone focused on Mechanical Construction, brute strength wasn’t a priority. Speed, however, greatly enhanced his perception, reaction time, and survivability.
“Perfect. Time to finish this.”
Lin Xian retrieved the unfinished GK03 Electric Blade and began assembling the components: high-energy capacitors, an arc discharge device, and a high-frequency generator.
Before long, the GK03 Electric Blade was complete.
Normally, it could be powered via rechargeable modules or disposable energy packs, but Lin Xian’s Power Surge skill eliminated the need for those.
Holding the blade, he charged it using his ability. Activating the switch, he watched as a faint hum arose, and the silver blade emitted a soft glow, crackling with tiny electric arcs.
“What a beauty…” Lin Xian’s eyes gleamed. This weapon was perfect for close combat and self-defense.
After admiring it briefly, he sheathed the blade and turned his attention to devouring the dirt truck and the appliances Shasha and the others had brought back.
He chose to act before dawn to minimize risks.
Inside the train, Luo Ye and Shasha loaded ammunition, preparing spare magazines. Chen Sixuan assisted, learning the process as they worked. The tense atmosphere suggested everyone was preparing for a major confrontation.
System Notifications:
The dirt truck took over 20 minutes to devour, yielding materials similar to a freight carriage but slightly less.
Appliances were devoured quickly, akin to snacking. While the gains were modest, they provided diverse materials for future projects like water purification, air circulation, and communication systems.
Mechanical Core Status:
“I’m close. One more large locomotive could push me to Level 3.” Lin Xian’s eyes shone with anticipation.
Mechanical Awakening was a milestone he eagerly awaited. However, finding an intact locomotive and having uninterrupted time to devour it—over ten hours—was challenging.
If he relied on vehicles like the dirt truck, he’d need to bring back at least 20 more, a difficult task. Additionally, higher levels of Mechanical Heart would yield fewer points from smaller machines, forcing him to target larger, more complex equipment.
The alarm Lin Xian had set went off. It was now 2:00 PM, but the sky remained shrouded in darkness.
With the flatbed trailer cleared, they had reduced the train’s burden and increased their capabilities—a significant advantage.
Lin Xian opened the tailgate of Carriage No. 5. Inside, Luo Ye and Shasha were fully geared and ready.
“Are we heading out?” Chen Sixuan asked as Lin Xian entered.
“Yes,” Lin Xian replied.
He instructed Chen Sixuan to stay in the driver’s cabin, armed and ready to provide support. Shasha, equipped with heavy firepower, was tasked with guarding the train’s surroundings and providing cover fire when needed.
Lin Xian and Luo Ye, on the other hand, would drive into Yuchi City. Their goal: seek out the eerie entities.