Armored train in the apocalypse

Chapter 245 Vortex
Despite the strong winds and rain, and the man's disheveled state, the meerkat still recognized him as Li Han.

The meerkat looked slightly puzzled, its round, beastly eyes following his movements.

All the way up to the deck beneath his feet.

"what are you up to?"

"The meerkat asked."

Li Han looked up, the heavy rain making it hard for him to open his eyes, and he didn't have a raincoat. In just a short while, he was completely naked.

"Pull me up first."

Li Han shouted loudly.

"It's very windy up there, you can't stand still."

The meerkat's voice was clear, but to Li Han it sounded like a heart-wrenching purr.

"It's okay, I have this!"

Li Han raised his hand, revealing a touch of tender green vine from his sleeve.

The meerkat then remembered that the other party was a plant-based "manipulator." Although the vine was small, it was as strong as wire. After thinking for a moment, the meerkat leaned over to the side of the train and extended a paw.

Seeing that the other person was stunned for a moment, he then remembered to put his nails away.

Because she uses them so much, she can no longer tell whether they are hands or claws.

Grabbing the vines, they pulled Li Han up in one go.

The two of them stood on the roof of the car, holding onto the vines.

The meerkat asked again, "What are you doing here?"

Li Han scratched his head. "Oh, I came to see you."

The meerkat's expression turned serious. "Is there a mission?"

After saying that, he prepared to jump.

Li Han quickly tugged at the vine in his hand, "No, I wanted to share some good news with you..."

He told the mongoose everything about how he was in charge of the cultivation chamber.

The meerkat listened to Li Han's words, a hint of envy flashing in its eyes. "That's wonderful."

She is currently just a reserve member of the armed forces, and the mission that Major Yu Yue gave her last time allowed her to accumulate some mission points.

But he's still a little short of being a private.

There's no such thing as seniority or experience when you're on an armed train. Currently, the only way to get promoted is to be noticed and promoted by the train conductor or to accumulate mission points.

Mission points and normal points have the same effect, except that the accumulated amount can be used for military rank promotion.

For so long, her military rank hasn't changed at all.

Li Han, who had just been rescued by her, was about to become a Level 5 flight attendant under the chief flight attendant.

"What did you say?"

Li Han felt the meerkat's lips move slightly, but the rain was too heavy and the wind too loud, so he couldn't hear it.

The meerkat said seriously, "Then do a good job. The train conductor is always generous to capable people."

Li Han wanted to say something, but suddenly noticed that many drones on the train were taking off in the pouring rain.

The paddle blades tore through the rain curtain, stirring up gusts of wind and waves.

The meerkat turned its head to look into the distance, where the water was empty except for the surging waves.

It was so overwhelming that it instilled despair.

The torrential rain was so intense that it darkened the entire sky in advance, even more so than when the landslide occurred.

An immense terror surged in from all directions.

She didn't know where the danger came from, but her animalistic fear of nature made it hard for her to breathe.

"Something's about to happen, get in the car right now!"

……

Inside the armed train.

Su Huan stood on the highest command platform, his hands resting on the railing, looking down at the busy staff below.

In addition to the people who originally wore glasses, Xiao Zhao also led a large research team to conduct analysis and mapping in front of the equipment.

"The storm has intensified."

"Has the video footage been sent back?"

"It has been packaged and stored in the warehouse, and the experts in the rear carriages can use it at their own discretion."

"Monitoring the omnipotent reaction..."

"The storm was too strong; five small drones have already been lost!"

"Damn, another one blew up!"

The drone operator shouted, but everyone was too busy to pay attention to him.

Xiao Zhao and Shu Wei moved between the various command platforms, one asking something in a low voice, the other watching silently.

Then they returned to Su Huan's side one by one to report the information.

Xiao Zhao said, "Train conductor, it seems that the natural disaster in the flood area has fluctuated. The train will face a large storm next. The experts on Director Xu's side are calculating the expected losses of the train."

"The supercomputer is not fully activated; otherwise, the computation would be even faster."

Looking at the storm outside the car on the panoramic screen, Su Huan suddenly asked, "How much longer until we reach Jingchao Lake?"

"There's probably about a day and a half left."

Xiao Zhao gave a quick estimate and answered.

"Call me when we arrive."

Su Huan waved impatiently, greeted Liang Kuan who was lying on the chair below, and walked straight to the back.

His carriage number one is right behind the front of the train; it won't take long to walk over.

But no matter what reason I'm woken up in my sleep, I always feel a sense of resentment.

He hasn't rested for many days.

Armored trains can now be submerged without any problems.

How could a mere storm disturb his sleep?
The flooded area is nothing special.

The train conductor returned to his room, lay down on the bed, and instinctively pulled out a pillow to hug, but the pillow was too short; he couldn't reach the bottom when he hugged the top, and he couldn't reach the top when he hugged the bottom.

Moreover, the lines don't quite fit the body.

No matter what I do, I feel uncomfortable.

After thinking for a moment, the train conductor beckoned to the secretary standing by the bed.

A smart business suit lay neatly on the bedside table.

Her shapely body was cool to the touch, yet surprisingly elastic; a gentle warmth would emerge from within her at the slightest touch.

Hands on the convex side, legs on the concave side.

Su Huan pressed his body against the soft new pillow as much as possible.

He silently marveled at the wonder of the Creator, who could create both a scoundrel like him and a masterpiece like Shu Wei.

Every curve holds great potential.

"Don't shake!"

A deep voice rolled out from his throat.

But it didn't work.

Listening to the low hum of the waves lapping against the carriage and the moving train, Su Huan gradually became accustomed to the slight shaking rhythm.

After an unknown amount of time, a dizzying sensation came over him, and whispers appeared in his ears, as if someone was plotting something beside him.

Su Huan suddenly woke up, his eyes opening silently.

A cold light blooms.

A terrifying sense of crisis enveloped him.

Just like that night when I hid in the garbage ruins, facing the hungry evolved beast.

Looking at the empty bedside, Su Huan gave a self-deprecating smile.

'Very lazy.'

In the past, I would remember even the smallest things, let alone someone going missing.

His comfortable life during this period gradually eroded his alertness.

Perhaps it's also because they overestimated their own abilities.

Since I was sleeping fully clothed, there was no need to put on clothes. I sat up and heard rhythmic footsteps in the darkness. A figure walked in from the front of the car, her slender silhouette outlined by the night light of the cabin door.

You look a little flustered.

Hearing Su Huan's voice behind her, Shu Wei's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly recovered and turned around, saying with a serious expression, "The train is in real trouble."

"trouble?"

When Su Huan returned to the front of the car and saw the huge whirlpool on the water, he tried hard to recall what had happened before he went to sleep.

"We're on land now, right?"

Although more than forty people were crammed into the front of the vehicle, Su Huan's words were still so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

As the drone's perspective rose once more, its large searchlight pierced the rain and shone on the clockwise surging water below. The terrifying whirlpool seemed to be pressed down by an invisible hand, suddenly sinking a hundred meters, and this area continued to expand as it rotated.

The water in the middle of the eddy was noticeably deeper than the surrounding area.

The seawater at the edge rises up, forming a steep, arc-shaped wall of water.

A tiny train is "striving to get closer" to this wall.

Even through the thick walls of the carriage, everyone could hear the roaring of the waves outside.

"We've arrived at Jingchao Lake."

The answer was given by Liang Kuan.

The deep, resonant voice, like a giant bell, broke the stagnant atmosphere, making one's chest itch.

Xiao Zhao, who was standing nearby, realized what was happening and quickly said, "Before the apocalypse, the maximum depth of Tidal Lake during its high-water season was only 53 meters. Now it has increased by at least 20 meters, which means it's less than 70 meters deep. And it's not a deep lake formed by a rift basin, so it shouldn't have formed a eddy..."

Xiao Zhao initiated a multi-person video call, and experts such as Director Xu and Professor Ma appeared on the screen one after another. Su Huan placed his hand on the railing, and terrifying energy was converted into electricity and injected into the generator.

The turbocharger screeched, and all the engines in the car were overloaded at the same time.

The train's speed was doubled.

The blurry image shows the train approaching the vortex at a slower speed.

Seeing that he couldn't break free, Su Huan frowned deeply. "What would happen if we couldn't break free and were sucked into the vortex?"

Everyone in the carriage, including the man with glasses, looked at the group of experts.

Although some of them already have their own judgments, they still hope to hear some different opinions from these people who are at the pinnacle of experience and wisdom.

Even if there is little hope.

After a long silence, the factory manager said quietly, "Although we have considered some extreme scenarios, it still doesn't change the fact that the train connection points remain weak points..."

"You can just state the result."

"If they were pulled in, the armed train would be torn to pieces."

Su Huan narrowed his eyes. "What if it sinks to the bottom?"

……

Car No. 4.

A wheelchair was blocking the window, and a small figure stood next to it.

"Little myna, I'm a little scared."

Xiao Ba withdrew his gaze from the distance, pulled the metal blinds next to him shut out the terrifying scene of natural disaster.

She turned on the warm light in the room and gently patted the little boy's head.

"Little myna bird, will we die?"

The little boy's small hands gripped tightly the outer edge of Hachi's wheelchair.

Just as Xiao Ba was about to say no, he heard the little boy say sadly, "If I die, my mother won't be able to see me when she comes back."

The boy's voice was childlike and sincere.

Xiao Ba seemed to be electrocuted, pressed the tip of his tongue against the roof of his mouth, and took a deep breath.

Try to make your smile as bright and cheerful as possible.

"No, there's still the train conductor."

"Is the train conductor very capable?"

"omnipotent!"

"Can he bring my mother with him?"

The little boy's eyes sparkled.

Xiao Ba remained silent for a moment after being asked this question.

Don't know how to answer.

The train conductor has the ability to take your mother away, but he probably doesn't have the ability to bring her back.

"As long as you accumulate enough points, Mom can come back!"

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Ba gave an answer that went against his conscience.

The little boy instantly became happy, excitedly circling around Xiao Ba's wheelchair, shouting, "Great! When I grow up, I will work hard and save up enough points so that when Mom comes back, I can hug Xiao Ba and me!"

Xiao Ba stood there, stunned, his eyes glazed over.

A single tear silently slid down the corner of her eye.

Coming to her senses, she wiped his face haphazardly with her little hands. "Little myna, why are you crying? I know you don't have a mother, but my mother will be your mother someday..."

"Click——"

The room door opened, and Wan Xing, wearing a large coat, appeared mysteriously in the doorway.

Looking at the two pairs of eyes peering into the room, he raised the corners of his mouth slightly, "Do you two need a hug?"

……

The portholes were blurred by the torrential rain, but the enormous, basin-like eddies in the distance were unmistakable.

The entire train was almost sucked into the vortex and flew sideways.

If Su Huan hadn't injected a batch of energy at the last minute, things would have completely spiraled out of control by now.

That was no longer a harmless storm, but a vortex capable of tearing apart an armed train!

The flooded area finally shed its former gentle veil, revealing its true face to these outside challengers.

Carriage number 27, which was intended for the survivors of the shelter, was extremely cramped, making the most of the space, and had very few windows.

All the passengers pressed their faces against the only four windows on the train.

The middle window was crowded with seven or eight faces, and the one in the very center, whose nose and face were distorted from being squeezed, was Xiao Dong.

Looking at the distant whirlpool and towering waves, Xiao Dong felt his hands and feet turn cold, and he couldn't stop sweating.

He could only strain his face against the car window, trying to get a better look.

Having something tangible helps to dispel the fear in one's heart.

"Xiao Dong..."

"Xiao Dong!"

A low shout brought Xiao Dong back to his senses.

Turning around, he saw Old Man Tie sitting on the bed calling him, with two uncles beside him, their faces ashen.

Qi Zhendong sighed, "This time, the three of us are really going to be in trouble. Luckily, we left my eldest brother alone at home."

Qi Zhenbang wiped the hairs standing on end on his arm and said with a hint of arrogance, "The train is so sturdy, it might be able to get through..."

"Get through it?"

Qi Zhendong sneered, with a hint of self-abandonment in his voice.

"This is not a natural disaster, it's a natural calamity!"

"Even if that person surnamed Su is the reincarnation of Yu the Great, he will still die!"

"Everyone must die; no one will survive!"

Xiao Dong didn't know how he left the window, and came to the old man's bedside like a walking corpse.

Qi Zhendong's words struck his heart like the roaring waves outside the car.

The terrifying natural disaster turned into a tide of fear, swallowing up any remaining hope in his heart.

There was no end, and no light could be seen.

Looking at the old man, Xiao Dong swallowed hard, and a trembling sob escaped his throat.

"Grandpa Iron..."

However, the crying was not harsh; there were already uncontrollable cries inside the train.

Some people sobbed softly, while others wailed loudly.

Some people even cursed the heavens and the earth.

They vented all the fear since the end of the world in their cries and curses.

The cries, filled with negative emotions, echoed throughout the carriage.

Old Man Tie glanced at his son, but his expression remained unchanged.

Just like before I got on the bus, it's hard and stubborn!
"You're scared already?"

The old man's voice was not as gentle as before; it was like that of an old wolf, howling through his chest.

His eyes seemed to emit a faint green light.

Xiao Dong's sobs were stuck in his throat; he didn't know whether he should continue.

"I……"

"I'm afraid I'm right."

The old man suddenly smiled.

"Sir, aren't you afraid?"

Xiao Dong asked.

"I'm already seventy-eight, what's there to be afraid of!"

The old man swore.

But Xiao Dong didn't find it offensive at all; on the contrary, he felt that the words gave him courage.

The fear in my heart was largely dispelled by the drink.

Her eyes also became lively.

Old Man Tie sat up in bed, his cloudy glasses gleaming with a sharp light. “When I first went to the battlefield, I was scared too. I was scared to death and couldn’t sleep. My squad leader made me stand guard, watching the candle in the snow cave and calling him every two hours.”

"I held my gun, my heart pounding all night, thinking that if the enemy appeared, I would take them down!"

"After staying up all night, my mind was foggy. When I actually saw the enemy, I wasn't afraid anymore. I just grabbed my gun and charged forward."

"Because of that battle, I made a contribution and was known as Guanchong Tieshan."

"When the leader asked me if I was scared, I bluntly said yes."

He laughed and patted my shoulder, saying, "I never thought Guan Chong Tieshan would be afraid. But it's right to be afraid. Fear is just the last hurdle before victory. Once you cross it, you'll find a new world!"
……

Xiao Zhao's voice was bitter, "It's already being operated, but the train is huge, and it can't be sunk to the bottom in just a minute or two."

Su Huan was about to ask something when he was interrupted by the piercing alarm.

"There are high-intensity energy fluctuations underwater!"

The personnel managing the energy monitoring device shouted loudly.

Su Huan picked at his ear. "Couldn't you just turn off this shrill sound?"

The staff member was taken aback for a moment, then quickly turned off the alarm.

Su Huan looked up at the experts on the screen and asked seriously, "With the amount of explosives on the train, is it possible to disrupt the balance of the vortex?"

(The key broke, so I used needle-nose pliers to start the fire.)
(End of this chapter)