Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Chapter 627 - 374: Losses (Part 2)

Although he didn’t ask directly, after nearly a year of interaction, Tong Zizhan had already figured out their occupation.If they don’t slack off, just relying on these two abilities could bring significant achievements.

Aside from lacking direct combat abilities, both are top-notch support; even if they only advance to Tier Two, they are treasures. Otherwise, Deep Blue Data wouldn’t have paid such a high price to retrieve them after their identities were exposed.

"The potion is for them; others can’t use it, but have Director Xu analyze it thoroughly, so in the future, the train can produce its own."

"Hmm, according to statistics, there are over three hundred Tier One Evolvers on the train now. The rest are on the verge of breaking through. According to predictions, six months from now, the train will have over a thousand people advancing to Tier One, with the Armed Corps having the most, and Tier Two will become the main force."

Su Huan calculated for a moment. There are currently over four thousand people on the train, and having a quarter become Tier One Evolvers is already a terrifying proportion.

Although most Tier One Evolvers in the previous life reached this point within a year, based on the "world at hand" sample, Su Huan observed a proportion of about one in twenty. In the wilderness, that ratio was even more ludicrous, potentially one percent or even one in several hundred.

"The last thing—this morning He Jie dispersed the corps to search for gunfire traces."

"I instructed that. We can’t just wait here for five days without doing anything."

Su Huan raised his head, eyes tinged with a cold killing intent, "The chance has been given to them. Let’s see if they have the guts to swallow this piece of fat meat I’ve offered."

...

Time flies; three days have passed.

The Armed Corps have explored northward to a range of over a hundred kilometers, during which dozens of battles of varying sizes occurred.

Most were with attacking zombies and mutant beasts, with few involving local survivors.

The Gravity Zone is a safety zone, so it’s normal to have more survivors. Their combat level is no different from the Storm Zone scavengers; facing the train, they are in a crushed situation.

However, the train’s target is not them; as long as they don’t cause trouble, the armed soldiers won’t bother these survivors.

On the third day, Tong Zizhan received intelligence from Deep Blue Data, and after communicating seamlessly with the train conductor, Su Huan decided to send two teams to probe.

About a hundred kilometers northeast, Tong Zizhan and others encountered an unmarked armed team.

The opposing side was well-prepared, equipped with a full range of light and heavy firepower.

They fought separately with Tong Zizhan and Yu Yue’s teams. During the battle with Tong Zizhan, they disengaged quickly; in the fight with Yu Yue’s team, two Tier Two Evolvers emerged, showcasing strong combat skills, sacrificing six men to eliminate two of Yu Yue’s officer teams.

The battle losses were nearly 1:2; if Lin Jin hadn’t injured one while fighting two, Yu Yue’s team would likely have been wiped out.

Su Huan who went alone elsewhere realized he was misled by false information, knowing the other side knew Tong Zizhan had defected.

The information from Yu Yue came back quickly, infuriating He Jie on the train—his eyes turned red with rage.

Since the establishment of the Armed Corps, they hadn’t suffered such losses. Without waiting for the train conductor to return, he grabbed a gun and went out to avenge.

As everyone set off, Su Huan could only glare around within the train, initially expecting another empty run, unexpectedly the opponent was truly ambushing He Jie’s team, leading to a fierce battle.

This time, everyone was prepared; neither side talked about ambush.

The battle lasted for half an hour, ending with support from Yu Yue, Qu Hang, and others.

Both sides suffered extremely heavy losses. He Jie was seriously injured on the spot, Liang Kuan received minor injuries, and one opposing Tier Two Evolver died.

In terms of soldiers, six officer teams from the train got wrecked, while the opponent lost over thirty men. If it weren’t for the special ability of another Tier Two, this battle would have resulted in complete annihilation.

A mobile carriage was penetrated while the small vehicles were all destroyed beyond repair.

He Jie was carried back along with the battle results.

Looking at He Jie, whose chest hair was half burned off, Su Huan felt speechless, "Why do you, a battlefield commander, always rush to the front?"

He Jie lay on the stretcher, unable to speak, pointed with a finger to the corpse carried back by carriage, then pointed to himself, raising a thumb, a proud expression overflowing.

Su Huan paused, glancing around, "What does this guy mean?"

Beside him, Liang Kuan, carrying Power Armor back, gruffly said, "I am awesome."

Su Huan’s eyelid twitched slightly, calmly said, "Exchanging for a Tier Two is indeed awesome. Qu Hang, go inform Han Qin that Captain He will be recuperating for a while. If anything happens at home, lend a helping hand."

Upon hearing Su Huan’s words, He Jie’s face instantly stiffened, then turned red, glaring murderously at Qu Hang.

The latter flatly replied, "Don’t blame me, it’s an order. I’ll head over now."

After speaking, he entered the train, directly heading to He Jie’s home, leaving He Jie struggling on the stretcher.

Normally, the officers would have laughed out loud, but due to the heavy losses from the two battles, no one could smile.

Tong Zizhan and Gao Yuan walked over, faces full of shame, "Train conductor..."

However, Su Huan waved them off, casually asking, "Could you discern which faction they’re from?"

Even though the information was from Tong Zizhan, it’s like he told Su Han—as long as the opponent’s identity is confirmed as ours, that’s enough. As for the failed battle, he only considers it as his decision error.

They indeed fought beautifully; there were tricks, but mostly straightforward combat without any frills.

However, the opponent suffered too, initially exposing three Tier Two, ending with one dead and another seriously injured.

Next time, they’ll be even more cautious.

Gao Yuan gritted his teeth, "Can’t tell, the team is extremely mixed with Donghuang People, Northern Alliance Mao Bears, Ximeng People, and Pan-Asian Four Nations—it’s simply a racial melting pot."

"Then it’s Deep Blue Data."

Su Huan affirmed.

If it were Gunfire, they wouldn’t need to conceal their identity this way.

"Is Gunfire..."

"It’s possible, from now on, no matter who we encounter, just fight them as fiercely as possible."

Tong Zizhan hesitated, "Train conductor, could it be that this is Deep Blue Data’s purpose? To provoke us into indiscriminate attacks on everyone?"

Su Huan coldly stated, "If they don’t want to get hit, let them find ways to prove their identity. Fail to do so, and they’ll be killed on the spot."

Everyone’s heart stirred, responding in unison.

In the following two days, that team seemed to vanish without a trace.

On the sixth day, the train directly departed.

Aside from necessary personnel, including Su Huan, all Tier Two Evolvers joined the outer patrol team.

Su Huan led Mirror, Double Deer, and Qu Hang’s team, along with two officer teams, moving northward, maintaining a position roughly three kilometers ahead of the train.

In total, there were three vehicles: one mobile carriage, one armored personnel carrier, and one armed off-road. Especially the mobile carriage, its firepower and defense exceeded even pre-apocalyptic tanks, and boasted comprehensive comfort design—its supplies could sustain a team of twenty for half a month.

Su Huan habitually sat atop the carriage roof, with the ground below faintly covered in frost.

Every Celestial Disaster Zone has vastly different climates; for instance, the Storm Zone is mostly summer while the Spore Zone is rain forest, but once in the Gravity Zone, it turns into a northern autumn. The temperature drops rapidly, with bright heavy frost mist in the morning, imparting a refreshing coolness.

Regarding the temperature drop, it has no effect on those at least Tier One Evolvers; they don’t even need extra clothing—a gray-green coat suffices for the Armed Corps to traverse south and north.

As Su Huan pondered where to raid military supplies without Gunfire, Qu Hang jumped onto the roof.

"Train conductor, we’ve arrived."

Looking forward, Su Huan saw a vast, lush plain decorated with cold-resistant mutant plants, with an abandoned village situated on a slightly elevated mound. Without the remaining buildings, you’d hardly know humans once lived here.

The mobile carriage roared ahead; the plants that struggled when Qu Hang and others passed by quieted instantly as the train conductor passed, like dying, lying on the ground, letting the treads crush them.

Su Huan jumped off the carriage and walked toward the village, noticing the battle scars even before entering the village entrance.

The brick house walls had collapsed, and the eaves and doorframes bore the marks of fire scorch.