Ding Junyi’s words caused the other three to freeze, their expressions shifting instantly. The air in the room turned heavy.
Almost as if in response, Lin Xian’s voice came through the responder.
“We’ll come to get you. Open the gate to GF2 Tunnel.”
The moment those words landed, the people in the lab shot up from their seats, eyes filled with hope and excitement.
“They agreed! We’re saved!!”
“…Director Ding was right all along,” Xu Wen muttered, his face pale.
“Good thing she stopped you, or you would’ve ruined everything,” Zhao Yan scolded, unable to hide her relief.
Ding Junyi, however, remained expressionless. There was no time to waste on conversation. She immediately accessed the system and opened the underground passage to the tunnel. At the same time, she spoke into the communicator:
“The downward tunnel is 31,650 meters long, with a 59.5% incline. The backup power supply is insufficient to support the electromagnetic braking system, so you need to maintain a speed of under 20 km/h. Keep the brake pads from overheating. Although all 127 tunnel monitoring sensors report no anomalies, I’d still advise turning on your lights and proceeding with caution.”
“You’re Ding Junyi, correct?” Lin Xian asked while adjusting the controls.
“This is the Infinite Train. I’m the train captain, Lin Xian.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Lin.”
Lin Xian got straight to the point. “Where exactly did you encounter the underground creatures?”
“Level 106. Everything below Level 100 is unfinished construction. Elevator No. 3 used to reach Level 95, but we lost contact below Level 89. I suggest stopping at the Level 65 Freight Rail Terminal—from there, you can use the freight elevator to load supplies onto your train.”
“Understood. What’s your exact location on Level 52?”
“Sector F13. Once you exit the elevator, you’ll be in Sector K2, where there are some zombies. There’s a zone map posted outside the passage. When you reach the elevator, I’ll send you a visual feed and guide you. Distance-wise, it’s about 1.9 kilometers.”
The information was clear and precise. Lin Xian motioned for Chen Sixuan to sit tight before he accelerated the train into the tunnel, descending underground.
The Infinite Train glided downward, its metal wheels screeching against the tracks. The tunnel ahead stretched endlessly into darkness, illuminated only by the train’s headlights.
As the train descended rapidly, everyone on board felt pressure building in their ears.
“Hold on tight!” Lin Xian called back.
He constantly adjusted the brakes, ensuring the train wouldn’t derail or spiral out of control.
Yellow depth markers flashed by:
The train spiraled downward through the black abyss, moving like a roller coaster. A damp, musty scent filled the air as they penetrated deeper into the underground.
Finally, after a gradual incline, the train emerged onto the Level 65 Freight Rail Terminal.
The scalding train wheels emitted steam as the Infinite Train ground to a halt at a pitch-black station.
Beyond the cracked train windows, flickering damaged lights cast eerie sparks across the cavernous space.
Chen Sixuan, KIKI, and Shasha crowded around the window, peering outside.
A massive cargo station stretched before them, equipped with cranes and conveyor belts. However, something horrifying had occurred here—dark red bloodstains splattered the walls and floors, and mutilated corpses lay scattered across the loading bay.
The oppressive atmosphere of the sealed underground space weighed on them.
At 325 meters below the surface, knowing that this city was filled with tens of thousands of zombies—along with unknown underground creatures—sent shivers down their spines.
Chen Sixuan turned to Lin Xian, her face uneasy. “What’s the plan?”
Lin Xian gestured toward the tunnel behind them.
“This is our only escape route. If something happens, we lose the train, and we’ll have to fight our way out with nothing but our bare hands. That’s not an option.”
“Shasha, Sixuan—you two stay behind and guard the train. If anything tries to cut off our retreat, you stop it.”
“Meanwhile, KIKI, Luo Ye, and I will head to Level 52 to rescue them. Once we’re back, we’ll evaluate the situation and decide which areas to search for supplies.”
The underground city was enormous. Searching blindly was pointless. They had limited time—securing information first was critical.
Chen Sixuan and Shasha had no abilities and weren’t physically on par with the others. Staying behind to defend the train was the safer option.
Lin Xian, Luo Ye, and KIKI armed themselves to the teeth.
Additionally, they equipped gas masks. A sealed underground zone meant they had to prepare for potential air contamination.
“Watch your stamina—don’t waste energy on zombies,” Lin Xian instructed as the cockpit door slid open.
“I know~” KIKI grinned. “Didn’t I tell you? My ability evolved. I won’t run out of power so easily anymore.”
Lin Xian eyed her. “How many times can you use it now?”
“No idea! But it’s a lot stronger than before.”
Lin Xian stepped off the train.
His boot splashed into a puddle—the ground was damp.
He signaled for Chen Sixuan to secure the train doors.
The air was thick with the scent of mildew and dried blood, causing both Shasha and Chen Sixuan to gag slightly. Once the train doors sealed, it blocked out the worst of the stench.
Their walkie-talkies flashed green, confirming short-range communications were still working.
Lin Xian had realized something back in Yu Chi City, after fighting the three-headed spider monster.
Their radio signals seemed to fluctuate whenever eerie entities were nearby.
It wasn’t a perfect detection system, but it could warn them of potential supernatural threats.
With their weapons ready, they advanced into the darkness—toward whatever horrors lay in wait.