Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train-Chapter 193: Human Traitor

Whoosh—whoosh—!

Beneath the stormy night, the black train tore through the valleys at breakneck speed. Gunfire illuminated the darkness, revealing the monstrous Eerie Entities swarming from all directions. The overwhelming onslaught felt like something straight out of a horror movie.

On top of the train, everyone who could fight was locked in combat, while some of the women assisted in transporting ammunition.

Rat-a-tat-tat!

Bullets rained down outside the train, while the torrential downpour and splattered blood washed over the armored hull, painting a gruesome scene.

Yet, the monsters seemed endless, emerging relentlessly from the darkness.

Just as Director Ding had warned, the Infinite Train had been marked by the scent of blood, drawing countless Dark Entities to attack.

In just over ten minutes, the Infinite Train reappeared at the Rain Town Freight Platform. Its iron wheels screeched as it crushed the corpses of previously slain parasitic impostors, returning through a storm of blood and death.

Boom! Boom!

As they neared the station’s outer perimeter, just as predicted, the Eerie Entities lurking in the dark began to fade into silence, gradually vanishing.

Gunfire on the train ceased as well.

Lin Xian and the others stood by the windows, peering toward the darkened station, fully prepared for a bloody battle against the impostors.

The PX-05 Engineering Robots had already loaded the 1130 Close-In Weapon System with an ammunition belt, ready to fire at any moment.

But something was off.

Despite the train's thunderous return, the freight platform, which had been crawling with parasitic impostors just minutes ago, was now eerily silent.

Only a few scattered corpses and remnants of parasites remained—aside from that, the platform was pitch black.

The eerie silence mirrored the moment they had first arrived here last night.

"Strange… There were so many of those disgusting impostors just now. How did they suddenly disappear?"

"Stay alert."

Lin Xian swept his gaze around before grabbing the communicator.

"Everyone, stay on guard. Resupply ammunition immediately and watch for possible parasitic sneak attacks."

Across the train, Lin Xian's command was quickly relayed.

Everyone moved swiftly, reloading weapons and clearing the firing ports.

Though this temporary pause gave them a chance to catch their breath, tension still hung thick in the air.

In the Living Carriage, no one spoke. Everyone worked in silent urgency.

Lin Xian and KIKI made their way into Carriage No. 3, where the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum inside the plant cultivation chamber glowed with an even more piercing red light—a foreboding omen.

"Killing some of the parasites hasn’t made the glow fade much." Lin Xian frowned.

"This mark was definitely placed on us by the strongest entity in this territory."

Ding Junyi, observing the changes intently, turned to Lin Xian, her expression solemn.

"If we can prove this theory, it could save countless lives!"

Lin Xian took a deep breath.

"Let’s worry about staying alive until tomorrow first."

He wasn’t here to play hero—he came back to keep his people alive.

"So, that means the Predator Effect is at play here too?" KIKI mused.

"If two teams marked by Dark Entities come together, it attracts even more trouble… Wouldn’t that mean large convoys—or even Phoenix’s Dawn Center—are in even bigger danger?"

"No one ever said their trouble was small," Lin Xian said, his gaze lingering on the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum.

"Take Sky City—Qingluan, for example. Didn’t it crash?"

"I’m sure Phoenix Headquarters is dealing with a situation far worse than we imagine. Right now, Phoenix is still the strongest remaining defense force for humanity.

"With the Nightwalkers Organization and the Starfleet backing them, they should still be able to hold their ground.

"But if we can confirm this intel, it could give humanity a strategic advantage.

"That said… we need proof first."

KIKI crossed her arms. "So, what’s your plan?"

"Do you remember the storage tanks inside the chemical plant?"

Lin Xian turned toward her, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"If those explode, it won’t be just for show."

KIKI's eyes widened.

"Ohhh… You want to blow up the chemical plant?!"

Lin Xian nodded.

"If we repair the mechanical crane or simply attach a remote explosive to the metal reaction kettle, we could trigger a chain reaction."

"But there’s no guarantee it will kill that thing beneath the Lantern Flower.

"It might just piss it off even more."

"Good! Let it be pissed!"

KIKI huffed, cheeks puffed out.

"That thing almost got me killed! It deserves to be blown to hell!"

"...But," she suddenly paused, her expression turning thoughtful.

"Logically speaking, Ding Qing and his Titan Convoy should have had the means to destroy it too.

"They knew there was a monster there.

"So why didn’t they blow it up?

"Why lure us there to die instead?"

Lin Xian narrowed his eyes.

"There’s a species of coral called the sea anemone," he explained.

"Sea anemones have toxic stingers, but they can’t move and have limited hunting ability.

"But there’s a type of fish called a clownfish.

"Clownfish can dodge the anemone’s stingers, feed on its digested scraps, and—most importantly—use its stingers for protection against predators.

"Over time, their symbiotic relationship evolved even further—clownfish even started acting as lures to attract prey for the sea anemone."

Ding Junyi, recording the conversation, nodded.

"This town’s ecosystem follows a similar model," she said.

"It has a territorial range, it traps and preys on intruders, and despite its danger, it still offers some level of protection compared to the outside world.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

"That’s why some survivors might choose to coexist with the monsters here."

KIKI frowned.

"...You mean those people are using this place as a safe zone?"

"It’s possible."

Lin Xian recalled the messages on the responder.

"Someone deliberately lured us in.

"And now, it’s obvious—it was Ding Qing’s group.

"Their whole ‘this place is too dangerous, you should leave’ speech was just a cover.

"Look at all the Flesh-Boned Beings inside the cinema and chemical plant—

"Those were probably former residents of this town…

"And unlucky outsiders who tried hiding here, only to end up as prey for the Lantern Flower’s monster."

KIKI hesitated.

"But… there are impostors in this town.

"They’re terrifying.

"How could they only attack us but not them?"

"If that were the case," Lin Xian said darkly, "we’d already be surrounded by now."

"...What do you mean?"

Lin Xian walked to the window, gazing out at the dark platform.

In the distance, Shu Qin, Big Luo, and Shasha stood on high alert, weapons ready.

"They don’t dare go out at night either.

"They must have figured out some of the impostors’ patterns, so they hide in their shelters.

"But honestly?

"They’re not much better off than us."

KIKI clenched her fists.

"So… that makes them traitors, right?"

"Traitors?"

"Yeah! Human traitors. Monster lapdogs!

"Tell me I’m wrong!"

Lin Xian smirked.

"Harsh words—but not wrong."

Lin Xian glanced at Ding Junyi.

"Director Ding, earlier you said this Major Parasite Creature doesn’t have strong defensive abilities or a way to escape from predators.

"But isn’t that just applying Blue Planet’s biological theories to Dark Entities?"

"We ran into that thing earlier, and it didn’t look easy to deal with at all."

Ding Junyi adjusted her glasses.

"Survival and reproduction are the fundamental principles of any living organism," she explained.

"This creature has rooted itself in this town and hunts using territory-based traps—

"That suggests it lacks mobility and relies on its surroundings to catch prey.

"In that way, it’s very similar to the sea anemone.

"And another thing—parasitic organisms, despite their devastating effects, usually have extremely weak original forms before they latch onto a host.

"When we were escaping, all the impostors we saw were already in a fully parasitized state.

"They used the muscles and joints of their human hosts to move—

"Which further supports my theory."