The sound of train tracks clashing and the shrieks of zombies echoed through the sky. Countless zombies surged from all directions, completely surrounding the Infinite Train. However, everyone’s attention was drawn forward, their gazes piercing through the sea of undead, locking onto a breathtaking megastructure ahead.
The Infinite Train, with its monstrous horsepower, plowed through abandoned vehicles and zombies alike, showing no mercy as it cleared a path. Finally, it veered onto a dedicated track leading into the underground city, steadily approaching the towering outer walls.
At the center of the tracks stood a massive gate. Behind it was a vast loading platform, where several high-end freight carriages lay dormant. However, the station was eerily empty. The distant construction vehicles, cranes, and watchtowers were all buried under thick layers of snow, as if this unfinished megaproject had been frozen in time.
"Is this underground city abandoned?" KIKI asked in shock.
"It’s possible that it’s already fallen," Lin Xian said grimly. "No wonder we never heard of any survivor convoys mentioning this place. Turns out it’s been a living hell for a long time."
A desolate underground city swarming with zombies—only someone like Lin Xian, armed with a fortress-like heavy train, would dare venture here. Regular survivor convoys wouldn't even make it past the outskirts, let alone risk entering this nightmarish wasteland. If it weren’t for Lin Xian’s Mechanical Ability, who in their right mind would come here looking for supplies?
"So… are we going in?" Shasha hesitated.
Lin Xian exchanged a glance with KIKI before making his decision. "I’ll open that gate. Chen-laoshi, you drive the train inside. The rest of you, cover me."
The moment the cockpit door opened, zombies surged forward like a tidal wave.
KIKI raised her hand, and an invisible forcefield blasted dozens of zombies away in an instant. Lin Xian wasted no time, charging out with his gun blazing. A hail of bullets rained down, carving a bloody path through the undead.
Luo Ye and Shasha had also disembarked, continuously firing to cover Lin Xian’s advance.
Seizing the opening, Lin Xian sprinted toward the massive gate, placing his hand on its freezing surface. His Mechanical Heart whirred to life, quickly linking with the gate’s hydraulic system.
With a deep mechanical groan, the gate trembled against the blizzard before slowly splitting open.
Chen Sixuan immediately pushed the throttle, guiding the Infinite Train into the loading platform. Meanwhile, the others fought their way back, retreating through the opening before Lin Xian sealed the gate once more.
Zombies desperately clawed at the closing gate, their numbers thinning rapidly. Within moments, Luo Ye and Shasha finished off the remaining stragglers.
Tens of thousands of zombies roared outside the walls, stretching their decayed hands through the gaps. The sheer horror of the scene sent chills down everyone’s spine.
"Move back. Stay alert—there might still be something in here," Lin Xian warned. He didn’t believe the underground city was completely abandoned. If the entire operation had shut down, it most likely meant the interior had already fallen. There was no way the former federal government would simply abandon a multi-trillion-dollar project without reason.
The Infinite Train slowly pulled into one of the loading bays. The area was vast and eerily silent.
The underground city’s entrance resembled a gaping chasm in the earth, where warm updrafts clashed against the icy winds, creating swirling mist above the pit.
Unbeknownst to the group, several hidden security cameras inside the loading platform had quietly turned, locking onto the Infinite Train.
"There’s seriously no one here?"
KIKI frowned at the empty station. "This place is huge. How are we supposed to search it?"
"We should’ve expected this," Lin Xian replied. "No survivor has ever received a broadcast signal from this underground city. It’s been silent for ages. But that’s a good thing—without people, we can search freely for useful supplies."
"Yeah, but if there’s no power, we can’t exactly just jump in," KIKI muttered, biting her lip. "And without electricity, the underground city’s main control system is definitely offline. Even if I wanted to hack in, I can’t do anything if the servers are dead."
"Then we take whatever we can find."
Lin Xian wasn’t too disappointed. If the place was truly deserted, it meant fewer obstacles. There were plenty of large machines around, perfect fuel for his Mechanical Heart. With any luck, absorbing them would push his ability to Level 3—not a bad trade-off.
"Chen-laoshi," Lin Xian decided. "KIKI and I will check the entrance. To avoid wasting time, the rest of you stay here and gather whatever useful supplies you can find. We may need to backtrack later, and turning the train around outside would be difficult. We might have to return to Yu Chi Station and take the north route instead."
"Got it." Luo Ye nodded.
Shasha pointed at a flatbed trailer nearby. "Lin-ge, why don’t we use the forklifts on the platform to load stuff onto that? We still have gas, and we can fit a lot of things back there."
Lin Xian nodded. "Good idea. Prioritize machinery first. If you find any useful supplies, load those too. This place is bound to have plenty of valuable stuff. We’ll need it later. KIKI, you’re with me."
"Fine. Let’s see if we can find anything good," KIKI muttered, pulling her hood over her head and rubbing her hands for warmth. She grabbed a gun and prepared to follow Lin Xian off the train.
Chen Sixuan hesitated. "Be careful. It’s too quiet here… I don’t like it."
Just as Lin Xian reached for the cockpit door, a sudden beeping sound echoed inside the cabin.
Chen Sixuan’s eyes darted toward the source. To her shock, the train’s communication system was blinking.
Her eyes widened. "Lin Xian… it’s the radio!"
"What?!" KIKI was stunned. "How is that even possible? Without a red bead, how is there a signal?"
Lin Xian strode over, his expression darkening. "Unless it’s coming from inside the station."
Reaching the console, he hesitated for a moment before decisively pressing the answer button.
The air fell eerily silent.
"Who’s there?" Lin Xian broke the silence.
A mature female voice crackled through the speaker.
"Survivors, hello. This is Underground City No. 9, Floor -52, Research Lab. Do you read me?"
The entire group froze.
There were still people alive in the underground city!