Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train

Above Jinhai City, dark clouds swirled, the night as black as ink. The streets and alleys were haunted by the eerie shadows of the undead. The city lay in desolation. After midnight, fierce winds swept through, howling through the broken skyscrapers and rubble, sending shivers through the night. Shattered billboards littered the ground, metal frames clanged against the asphalt, only to be whisked away by the gusts, crashing and rolling along the roads, as if lamenting the city's former prosperity.

"Raaagh!!" Ratatatatata! Boom! Crash! Boom!

Outside the walls of the industrial district, a tide of hundreds of thousands of shambling corpses surged forward with a slow yet unstoppable momentum, pressing against the barriers.

Countless zombies threw themselves at the walls, climbing relentlessly. The automated cannons fired without pause, while across the outer buildings, watchtowers, and platforms surrounding the industrial zone, more Federation armored troops in power armor rushed over to hold the line against the horde.

Firepower blazed on all sides. Reinforcement drones of all types roared in from the skies, raining down gunfire upon the zombie tide, turning the city into a raging inferno of firelight and smoke.

On the orbital station, military freight trains thundered eastward, stretching for miles with carriages loaded with combat mechs, tanks, drones, and artillery. Soldiers on board fired in both directions as they advanced.

With the industrial zone's mass evacuation order in effect, the whole of Jinhai had plunged into an atmosphere of grim abandonment. Survivor convoys stretched into long, endless lines, swarming toward the city outskirts, where gunfire echoed everywhere.

But it wasn't just the zombies—various dark creatures had also left their marks on the fleeing humans, branding them with dark marks of doom. In the city streets and alleys, strange creatures emerged, shrieking wildly. One small convoy got forced into a side alley, zigzagging through before bursting onto the main street—only to realize, in despair, they were surrounded by a sea of the undead. It didn't take long before the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and screams filled the air, swallowed by the howling night wind and the undead's roars.

Inside the Jinhai orbital rail loading zone, the roar of steel rang out. Blinding searchlights slashed through the darkness like blades, as squads of soldiers in power armor advanced at a rapid pace, weapons ready.

"All personnel, board the train! Complete loading in ten minutes!" "Skyscape-Class Interstellar Train F-60 base module, docking in progress!"

In the massive hovering rail dock, a carriage resembling a starship slowly emerged from the orbital factory's loading line. This "ordinary" carriage was at least 300 meters long at a glance, with a body width five times greater than standard cargo carriers. Beneath it lay an array of star propulsion engines, along with track-guided rail bows. It exuded an overwhelming, domineering presence—yet it was merely one of the Skyscape-Class train's standard modules for crew quarters and cargo transport!

"Front squad, slow down!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Squads of soldiers in power armor jogged past, the hissing of broken pressure valves filling the air. Construction robots and precision equipment were being hoisted into cargo trains and various flying transports. Above, electromagnetic cannons fired into the skies, illuminating the heavens as they blasted down strange flying creatures one after another.

Whoooosh!

"Watch out!"

A crippled Lesser-Wing Demon Bat, its head blown apart, crashed down from low altitude, smashing through the roof of a cargo platform in a burst of sparks. The industrial workers evacuating the area above screamed and scattered in panic—only for the bat, miraculously still alive, to leap up in a frenzy, mauling several engineers before being gunned down by a squad of armored guards in a hail of bullets.

Inside the control tower's upper office of the orbital loading line, Jian Xuwei stood by the window in her nano battle armor, quietly observing the bustling docking area outside, her expression calm.

Behind her, the office's holographic communicator lit up, displaying Wen Dong's face, tinged with irritation. He addressed Jian Xuwei:

"Jian Xuwei, the Chairman has ordered all members of the Finger Group to evacuate Jinhai and relocate to Dawn City tonight. Why haven't your people moved yet?!"

Without turning her head, Jian Xuwei replied softly:

"There's been no large-scale dark creature assault, no S-level detections, and no anomalies in dark marks. Why should we evacuate Jinhai?"

Wen Dong's brows furrowed in anger:

"Why? Because it's an order! Don't you understand?!"

"An order?" Jian Xuwei turned to face him, a cold smile playing on her lips:

"I recall we're partners, not subordinates. When did the Finger Group pledge allegiance to Dawn City? Since we're collaborators, I have the right to refuse."

Wen Dong was momentarily stunned, then chuckled coldly:

"Jian Xuwei, do you really think our evacuation is because of Silent City? And that Silent City is here to bail you out?"

Thud, thud, thud.

Suddenly, a series of footsteps echoed in the corridor. Moments later, the door burst open, and over a dozen armed guards in power armor aimed their weapons at Jian Xuwei.

"They say Jian Xuwei, leader of the Finger Group, is a shrewd and ruthless woman. But all I see is arrogance without wisdom. You've chosen the worst time to confront me."

Wen Dong sneered:

"Do you think the Finger Group still holds any value for us?"

"Just a bit."

"Oh?"

Wen Dong raised an eyebrow:

"And what might that be? Your reputation? Hahaha."

Unfazed by the weapons pointed at her, Jian Xuwei looked directly at Wen Dong on the holographic screen:

"I believe it's the 'Skyscape-Class' train. Designed and constructed by the Finger Group, with its main control system in our hands."

Wen Dong was taken aback, disbelief evident on his face:

"Main control? You mean some password or firewall? Those can be overwritten. Are you out of your mind, Jian Xuwei? I don't have time for this. Given the current situation, you're of no use to us. If you won't leave, then stay!"

Jian Xuwei smirked coldly:

"You're right. Such things can be overwritten."

As she spoke, dozens of drones descended outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, their red targeting lasers locking onto the guards. Before they could react, they were instantly eliminated.

Crash!

The window shattered, glass shards flying as the guards were simultaneously struck in the head, their armored bodies flung backward.

Aboard the armed transport ship, Wen Dong watched as all signals from his subordinates vanished. His face darkened as he glared at Jian Xuwei on the screen:

"Impossible! When did you gain control of Jinhai Starport's drone central system?!"

"Now, do you still think I'm of no use?" Jian Xuwei replied calmly.

"Jian Xuwei! Your Silver Star, your board members—they're all in Dawn City. Are you willing to let them die?!"

"Forget you and Zhou Mingyuan. Dawn City can barely protect itself now. Who can you threaten?"

Jian Xuwei's voice turned icy:

"Thank you for bringing me to Jinhai. This 'Skyscape-Class' will compensate for the Finger Group's loss of the Silver Star."

"Jian Xuwei, that's our Wen family's asset, you..."

Beep.

Jian Xuwei ended the call, then pressed her earpiece:

"Proceed."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gunfire erupted within the Jinhai orbital train loading factory. The massive train halted abruptly, its electromagnetic lights extinguished. An unidentified armed force surged in from all directions, clashing with the Federation's guards. Even supernatural battles broke out, the cacophony unrelenting.

Aboard the armed transport ship, Wen Dong's expression fluctuated. He glanced at his mobile terminal's monitors, watching as various signals disappeared and communication frequencies dropped. Realization dawned, and in a fit of rage, he slammed a desk ornament to the ground:

"That b*tch! I should've shot her when I had the chance!"

Wen Dong hadn't anticipated such drastic changes within a single day. Dawn City and the Federation's upper echelons were in turmoil. Chu Zhaonan had suddenly withdrawn all troops and starship resources from Jinhai. Zhou Mingyuan, aiming to stabilize the situation, prevented Jinhai from acting against Silent City in alliance with the Crimson World. Now, they were at a severe disadvantage. More troubling was that the 'Skyscape-Class' interstellar train, which they had invested heavily in, had been seized by Jian Xuwei.

"D*mn it!"

Breathing heavily, Wen Dong's mind raced. Suddenly, he shouted to the transport ship's pilot:

"Change course! Return to Dawn City!"

Given the current circumstances, heading to Jinhai was futile. Jian Xuwei had taken over the orbital train loading factory, and the starport was in full retreat. The garrison commander, Lu Tianye, was beyond his command. If anomalies erupted there, no support would come. Wen Dong no longer heeded Zhou Mingyuan's orders. He needed to return and consult with Wen Hui about their next steps.

At 2 AM, in the western low-altitude airspace, a colossal shadow loomed from the clouds. Violent air currents dispersed the mist, revealing a massive silhouette adorned with countless propulsion arrays and various aerial lights. It resembled a monstrous beast, its presence awe-inspiring.

In Silent City's cloud district, all defensive weapons were on high alert. Radar scans displayed terrain and biological signals within the surrounding area.

"Quieter than expected."

On the main bridge, Mochizuki Shinji stood before the vast porthole, overlooking the city. Under the starlit sky, only the industrial district's center glowed brightly. The rest of the city lay in darkness and decay. Within, the undead surged, and the industrial zone was a flurry of activity. Anti-aircraft and electromagnetic railguns fired incessantly into the sky.

Despite the chaos, Mochizuki Shinji didn't perceive the monster tide as a significant threat.

"The resistance isn't strong. No signs of massive creatures." Lin Xian scanned the area, puzzled.

"The safer it seems, the more it suggests a deep connection between Dawn City and the Crimson World."

"That's already been confirmed." Monica, arms crossed, approached Lin Xian:

"The real question is, what exactly are Dawn City and the Crimson World collaborating on? Could it involve us?"

"It already does." Lin Xian replied gravely:

"The anomalies in Star Abyss affect us all. Now that the Phoenix Society is here, exposing the Crimson World might be our chance. As for negotiations, we'll wait for the outcome."

"So, we've entered Jinhai, and Dawn City hasn't responded or taken action? Isn't that odd?" Ning Jing frowned.

"There's something even stranger."

Whoosh~

Several drones zipped past the main bridge. At that moment, Qian Suxun approached, his expression stern:

"Guess what my drones discovered?"

Mochizuki Shinji turned:

"The garrison withdrew?"

"Not just the garrison." Qian Suxun's face showed confusion:

"All starships, aircraft, orbital freight trains, and transport vehicles from the industrial district are retreating toward Dawn City. It's a massive operation."

"What?!"

KIKI's eyes widened:

"That's bizarre. Dawn City has millions of people, and their garrison alone exceeds 100,000. They're just abandoning Jinhai?"

"Indeed, it's strange. Even if it's due to the Phoenix Society, abandoning such a crucial industrial base seems cowardly." Shi Diyuan was incredulous.

Their mission in Jinhai was to confront Dawn City, not to wage war. They hadn't anticipated that upon their arrival, the entire industrial district would be evacuating—a baffling turn of events.

"Lin Xian... could something have happened in Dawn City?" Chen Sixuan looked at Lin Xian, who shook his head, his expression growing graver:

"If something happened in Dawn City, they wouldn't abandon the Jinhai industrial base. This situation worries me..."

"Worried about what?"

"You're concerned that Dawn City might take drastic action?" Mochizuki Shinji looked over:

"It does seem illogical."

Their goal in Jinhai was to draw public attention, forcing Dawn City to hesitate in collaborating with the Crimson World. But now, with Jinhai evacuating, Lin Xian feared that Dawn City was planning something significant.

"It's too illogical. I can't make sense of it!"

"Abandoning Jinhai to act against us? That's absurd." Qian Suxun shrugged:

"Or maybe we're overthinking it. Could there be another reason?"

Beep beep.

"Report: Incoming communication."

"Connect."

A static noise sounded. As Lin Xian and the others looked puzzled, Jian Xuwei's voice emerged:

"Lin Xian, long time no see."

Lin Xian's eyes flickered:

"Didn't we just meet earlier today?"

"You received my message, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. And Mr. Mochizuki, my troubles here have been resolved. I've taken control of the orbital train loading factory."

Lin Xian grew increasingly confused:

"Wait... what's happening in Jinhai and Dawn City?"

Standing in the high-rise office of the control tower, Jian Xuwei peered through her electronic binoculars at Silent City hovering tens of kilometers away. She spoke into the communicator:

"You've ignited a fire. Now..."

"Dawn City is making its move!"

Dawn City.

Under the cover of night, chaos erupted across the city!

A video of Zhou Mingyuan's confession spread like wildfire, stirring unrest in an already tense atmosphere. The city exploded into turmoil. The Federation's attempts to

Meanwhile, protests, demonstrations, and riots erupted across districts. Once the network was restored, the internal forums of Dawn City were flooded with outrage—posts, videos, and images were bombarded in waves. It seemed like someone was stirring the pot from the shadows, but more than that, it was the citizens' pent-up resentment towards Dawn City's oppressive regime finally boiling over.

"Collaborating with the Crimson World? Have you no shame? Are you even human?!" "No wonder they built those tall walls, and those red-class monsters kept showing up inside the inner city! So it was a partnership!" "Chairman Chu, you're harboring demons in your own house, don't you know that?!" "The West Desert bandits have kidnapped so many, and you've done nothing. Something's definitely off!" "So many people missing, and no one cares!?" "The Vice Chairman needs to step down! The Federation owes us an explanation!" "Even the Vice Chairman is from the Crimson World? Are we all just livestock to the Federation?!" "Zhou Mingyuan, f*ck you!" ...

Some were protesting in the streets, others hurling curses online, while more were whispering within the ranks of various large and mid-sized organizations based in Dawn City. With the Phoenix Society's Skybreaker Ship approaching and anomalies erupting in Star Abyss, panic gripped the populace. Overnight, some convoys, sensing impending disaster, began preparations to leave, while others had already departed under the cover of darkness, heading toward Qingbo and Yongcheng Port.

A sky patrol ship flew over Wall #1, headed for the Twin Star Tower Starport. On its bridge, Lu Tianye stood with a solemn expression. His sharp features and perpetual downturned lips gave him an air of authority. His skin, weathered by years in the military, was a dark bronze, and a long, thin scar ran across his right cheek. Towering at 1.9 meters, he wore a dark blue Iron Hunter mech suit—this custom armor weighed over half a ton and was covered in crisscrossed battle scars.

His helmet sat to the side as he gazed down at the chaos below, his voice deep as a bell:

"Where is the Skybreaker Ship docking?"

"Twenty kilometers out, near the Helan district, awaiting clearance," his adjutant reported loudly.

"Authorize clearance. A1 berth. Chen Feng, take the mech garrison and secure the area."

"Yes, sir!"

"This is probably the first time the Phoenix Society has returned to Dawn City since the Federation's collapse." Lu Tianye turned to a tall man in a dark blue uniform beside him, his tone low:

"You know why the 'Shattered Curtain Plan' became the 'Vanguard Initiative,' don't you?"

Chu Jing, with his refined features and an officer's aura tinged with a scholarly air, took a quiet breath. Looking at the high-rises, he replied:

"Yes."

Lu Tianye nodded slightly:

"You don't approve of him because you have your own ideas on saving humanity. But from his perspective, the end result is the same."

"I know the result is the same. For humanity to survive, we have to abandon old morals and do whatever it takes."

"Then why do you resist the Vanguard Initiative so much?"

"I don't oppose the Vanguard Initiative," Chu Jing replied indifferently, turning to leave. "I just think that snuffing out hope prematurely... is crueler than the apocalypse itself."

Lu Tianye watched him go, a flicker in his eyes, but he said nothing more.

"General Lu," another subordinate approached: "Vice Chairman Zhou has ordered you to report to the Core Administration Hall."

Lu Tianye waved him off and strode toward the bridge, his heavy armor clanking against the metal floor. His voice was cold and dismissive:

"No time. Let him wait."

"Yes, sir!"

In the Core Administration Hall, upon hearing his subordinate's report, Zhou Mingyuan's face darkened. Yet he remained composed and asked calmly:

"Has the Phoenix Society's Skybreaker Ship entered the city?"

"It has, sir. It'll dock at Twin Star Tower A1 berth in a few minutes," the secretary reported.

"Chairman Chu is receiving them personally?"

"Yes, sir. He didn't inform anyone else."

Zhou Mingyuan nodded expressionlessly. His tone remained even:

"Guests are arriving tonight, and now the city's in chaos. I really can't show my face at a time like this."

He stood up, his expression turning serious:

"Still, the situation in the city is worrying. Xiao Ji, notify the Population Control Bureau, the City Defense Corps commander, the Night Patrol Unit, the Information Department, and Representative Zheng. Have them all come to my office to discuss stabilizing the situation."

"Understood, Vice Chairman."

Once the secretary left, Zhou Mingyuan's demeanor changed. He immediately pressed a communicator:

"Tell Wen Hui to get to my office immediately!"

At 2:12 AM, the Phoenix Society's Skybreaker Ship, a colossal interstellar warship, slowly glided into the A1 berth.

Chu Zhaonan stood on the starport's docking platform, surrounded by rows of Federation garrison soldiers in formation like an iron forest. No other officials were present—he stood alone at the center, his expression calm as he watched the black starship's hatch slowly open.

As the hatch parted, a sudden hush fell over the starport, the night wind eerily still. Only the starlit sky remained as a backdrop.

A silver-haired woman in her fifties stepped out. Thin and slightly stooped, yet her posture was as upright as a pine. Her eyes were deep and steady, as if they had witnessed countless cycles of destruction and rebirth. She wore a sharp black wool coat with the Phoenix Society's golden emblem embroidered on the cuff.

If not seen with one's own eyes, it would be hard to believe that this seemingly gentle, dignified woman—who looked like a university professor—was the Phoenix Society's Supreme Commander: Ye Lan.

She descended the ramp with a single escort—a woman in black power armor—following behind, striding calmly toward Chu Zhaonan's iron-clad formation.

Chu Zhaonan's gaze flickered as she approached, a complex emotion flashing across his face. After a brief pause, he nodded slightly, extending his hand:

"Chairman Ye—no, Commander Ye. Long time no see."

Ye Lan offered a faint smile, extending her hand in return:

"Long time no see, Chairman Chu."

Their hands briefly clasped—one steady and firm, the other seasoned and unyielding.

All around, the Federation garrison soldiers stood in rigid silence. Only the distant hum of the starship's engines broke the quiet.