Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train-Chapter 167: Target

"If you choose to board, then all the vehicles here will be devoured and recycled by me. In other words, there's no turning back."

Lin Xian’s words abruptly cut through everyone’s thoughts.

Whether they were weighing the pros and cons, contemplating the Predator Effect, shaken by the Fireline Convoy’s tragic fate, or worrying about being abandoned or used as cannon fodder...

At that moment, all eyes turned toward him. Behind Lin Xian stood the massive, black-armored train. Its heavy armor plating was still stained with dried flesh, and the mechanical wheels bore dark brown blood splatters.

Dense bullet holes, gashes left by the Pale Giant and the Giant Dragonfly’s razor-sharp mandibles, and deep dents from the Atmospheric Mica’s tendrils—all bore witness to the train’s harrowing battles as it charged through the darkness.

"That’s right! Cowards have no place on the Infinite Train!"

A young voice broke the silence.

Shasha lifted her face, her expression proud. The crowd visibly reacted, their faces shifting in response.

Miao Lu saw Shasha and immediately stepped forward, unwilling to be outdone. "We’re not cowards!"

Lü Chang, his face flushed with excitement, echoed, "That’s right, Captain Lin! We’re with you!"

"Captain Lin, just say the word! We’ll start moving all the supplies from these dozens of vehicles onto the Infinite Train right now!"

"Sister Qin trusts you, so there’s no doubt in my mind."

"Yeah, exactly!"

"Please let us join you! We won’t run away like cowards!"

The somber atmosphere was shattered.

Lin Xian turned to Shu Qin and said in a clear voice, "Count the numbers. We depart tonight."

Shu Qin nodded, looking at Lin Xian with gratitude.

For a team full of ability users, accepting them into the group seemed to be more trouble than benefit. Though she had a few capable fighters, and she herself had some combat ability, the majority of her people lacked strong fighting skills. Aside from logistical support, they couldn’t contribute much—for now.

But Lin Xian’s words lit a fire in everyone’s hearts. Their spirits surged with excitement.

"Lin Xian."

Chen Sixuan surveyed the crowd, noticing their rising morale, and asked, "So what’s our next step?"

Lin Xian nodded. With all eyes on him, he began to explain.

"Right now, survivors around the world have three basic choices:

"First, follow the Phoenix Organization’s star abyss reports and escape the Polar Night. Along the way, survivors either gather into larger groups or get picked up by the rescue points scattered by the Phoenix Organization. But no matter the route, the ultimate goal remains the same—escaping with the Dawn Center toward safer, more expansive regions."

"Second, head for large shelters or major cities to form resistance forces, like Star City."

"People are still going to Star City?" KIKI scoffed. "Aren’t they afraid of being enslaved by the Federation?"

"They are," Shu Qin interjected. "Many survivors have no real direction. Star City is the capital of Dragon Nation, so when Apocalypse Day struck, most people instinctively fled there, believing in its formidable city defenses. The Phoenix Organization’s guidance only provides a broad escape direction. For many displaced people, the idea of a stable refuge is irresistible. Even if it means hiding in the sewers, they’ll still rush in without hesitation."

Lin Xian nodded. Shu Qin wasn’t wrong.

After Apocalypse Day, information became scarce. Many survivors didn’t even have access to the Dark Radio, and fleeing toward big cities or shelters was simply an instinctive drive for safety.

Take Underground City No. 9, for example. It was a rumored doomsday shelter, never officially listed online, yet it still drew tens of thousands of refugee convoys toward Mount Daluo.

Lin Xian recalled the sight—miles of vehicles buried under a blizzard, a scene still hauntingly vivid in his mind.

"What about the third option?" KIKI asked.

"The third is what Director Ding mentioned before—the Polar Ice Cap."

Lin Xian took a deep breath. "Since most people believe it’s the last safe haven, there are definitely those who made it their target from the beginning. However, right now, it's locked in a Polar Night. In four months, whether they’ve been lying low or wandering aimlessly, they’ll all make a desperate rush there."

Lu Xingchen nodded. "That makes sense. So, are we heading to the Polar Ice Cap too?"

Lin Xian shook his head.

Lu Xingchen frowned slightly. "Then are we following the Phoenix Organization’s guidance?"

"Didn’t I already tell you guys? We’re following the Orbital Rail and heading east," KIKI said, giving Lu Xingchen a glare. "Right, Lin Xian?"

Lin Xian smiled but didn’t respond.

"Wait... not that either?" KIKI’s expression tensed. "You’re not thinking of going to Star City, are you?"

"You’re overthinking it," Lin Xian sighed. Then, looking at the group, he said firmly,

"Before we reached Yubei City, my plan was to enter the Orbital Rail and escape eastward. But now... my thoughts have changed."

Chen Sixuan looked at him. "We’re not taking the Orbital Rail anymore?"

"No."

Lin Xian’s voice was steady. "When I say my thoughts have changed, I don’t mean our route or our method of travel. The destination isn’t the issue..."

The group looked at him, confused.

Lin Xian scanned their faces and continued in a calm tone,

"We’ve been to Underground City No. 9, a doomsday fortress worth trillions, yet its underground tunnels harbored even greater horrors—creatures that devoured 360,000 people in a single night.

"In the skies, the Iron Guard Brigade’s powerful Warhawk Gunships and Lightning Aerospace Fighters couldn’t even prevent the collapse of the sky city Qingluan...

"And in Yubei City, the more people fled, the more monsters appeared.

"It’s as if the entire world has turned into a massive hunting ground, with predators lurking in the darkness, preying on us humans."

He paused, his eyes sharp.

"I once told my team that I’d use my Mechanical Ability to make the train fly. That goal hasn’t changed. And I also said that if we can’t escape the darkness, then we should start preparing for the worst."

"In that sense, our goal aligns with the Phoenix Organization’s."

"And that is—to gain the power to defeat the darkness while chasing the dawn."

Lin Xian’s words struck a chord in everyone’s hearts.

Since Apocalypse Day, all of humanity had been desperately fleeing, clinging to the hope of seeing the next sunrise.

But the Phoenix Organization’s doomsday broadcast had already revealed the truth—in one year and 96 days, the Blue Planet will enter a global night that will last over 571 years.

If the world was doomed to destruction, then running away was nothing more than prolonging the inevitable.

Fleeing with such despair was just slow suicide.

This was also why the Old Federation Government had insisted on the Underground City Project—because a war with no foreseeable victory could only be endured by those with unwavering faith and willpower.

After what happened at Yubei Spaceport, Lin Xian felt an unbearable weight pressing down on him.

"If the Iron Guard Brigade’s sacrifice only allows 20,000 people to barely survive for a year and 96 days, then their deaths were meaningless.

"Those soldiers died believing that the survivors would one day defeat the darkness."

Lin Xian looked at Shu Qin. "Shu Qin, you never thought you’d be fighting monsters barehanded and becoming this strong, did you?"

Shu Qin was momentarily stunned before nodding.

"And the rest of you..."

Lin Xian looked at them all. "Whether you have abilities or not, every single day we survive, we’re evolving. All around the world, others like us are resisting.

"That is our chance."

"So our goal is no longer just to run.

"We will grow stronger along the way, until we can finally face the darkness.

"And when that day comes—will the Polar Night still be an apocalypse?"

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Everyone's eyes widened in realization.

KIKI crossed her arms, smirking. "If we can survive in the darkness, then it doesn’t really matter if the whole world is swallowed by it."

Chen Sixuan nodded. "One year and 96 days suddenly doesn’t sound so terrifying."

Lu Xingchen’s palm ignited with flames. "Then let my fire light up the endless night!"

Shu Qin exhaled, her exhaustion lifting. "This goal... feels way more motivating than just running for our lives."

"So, Captain Lin—what’s our next step?"

Lin Xian gazed at the empty platform, at the two trains they had brought from Jiazhou City, and at the thirty-some vehicles parked along the highway.

The sun blazed overhead, the breeze whispering through the air.

"In a place this nice?

"Of course—we prep the train!"