Apocalypse: I Build A Doomsday Train-Chapter 993 - 391: Vanguard (10,000!)
Under the burning sun, the Double Star Tower of Dawn City shines brightly, standing like a mechanical heart at the center of the Yunjiang Plain. This is the Dragon Country Capital, the central hub, the crown of civilization, and the last sentinel of the Asia-Pacific Continent under Apocalypse Day.
The towering hundred-meter city walls stand like the spine of giants, their surface marked with bullet holes and claw prints. Last night’s bloody battle etched new scars into the metal. The army operates mechas and drones, clearing the bodies of Abnormal Bodies from the city’s edges while collecting Blood Essence.
Soldiers of the Iron Guard Brigade step through the blood-soaked mud, silently searching for survivors. A mecha kicks away the head of a Monster, revealing the face of a young girl beneath. Her eyes are still open, clutching a crumpled city entry permit, though it’s useless now after the parliament’s dissolution.
"Damn it!" The soldier operating the mecha curses angrily, stomping the Abnormal Body’s head into a pulp. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
Since the construction of Walls 1 and 2, Dawn City has never faced such a large-scale attack. With the disbanding of the Federation Parliament, panic and chaos ensued, and the Outer City District plunged into disorder as night fell prematurely.
The Extreme Night attacks from Star Abyss No.5, No.7, and No.8 caught millions of survivors off guard. The Night Patrol Team and City Defense Camp scattered and fled. The 130,000-strong garrison fought fiercely throughout the night, finally relying on the high walls and ample firepower to hold the line.
Woo~
Lin Xian landed on the deck of the Heavenly Calming Ship in a Flying Device. Led by guards, he reached Ye Lan’s office, where the transparent window panels allowed a panoramic view over the entirety of Dawn City.
His gaze fell upon the scars outside Wall 1 and the lingering heavy smoke, stirring a subtle turmoil beneath his calm demeanor.
At this moment, Lin Xian was drawn to a green potted plant on the desk. Small red tomatoes grew on the tiny plant, appearing quite tempting. Lin Xian reached out, picked one, wiped it on his body, and popped it into his mouth. The sweet and sour juice was invigorating.
"They call these cherry tomatoes. Self-pollinating, one of the few varieties found so far that can grow and blossom in soil tainted by the dark."
A voice came, and Lin Xian followed its direction, only then noticing Ye Lan retrieving a book from a high shelf beside the bookshelf. Lin Xian had walked in without seeing her.
"Delicious?"
Ye Lan took down the book, turned around, and calmly looked at Lin Xian.
"You look much younger than you do in the dossier."
This was her first time seeing Lin Xian, a young man with sharp eyes and a confident posture, who walked with a cautious air.
Lin Xian’s eyes scanned the office, finding its interior quite simple, consisting mainly of books, a desk, and a simple single bed.
Ye Lan came over and placed the book on the desk. Lin Xian glanced at it; it was "When the Human Stars Shine."
"The Phoenix Society has reorganized the federal cabinet officials. Some high-ranked officers who colluded with Zhou Mingyuan to persecute survivors have been arrested for crimes against humanity. According to preliminary statistics from the Nightwalker Organization, last night’s attack resulted in over thirty thousand casualties, most of them ordinary people from the Outer City District who were engulfed by the darkness before they could enter the city. "
"Is it because of the Dark Mark?" Lin Xian furrowed his brow. "The Outer City District of Dawn City has held out for so long; how could it suddenly suffer such a large-scale attack?"
"That’s what we want to find out."
Ye Lan sighed and said, "Star Abyss No.5, Dark Erosion Cells, fungal consciousness connected, and our confrontation with the dark is in a silent and passive state. If we view the dark as a civilization invasion, then the human-war with the Dark Civilization has already begun. It’s our first time facing such an enemy; only by having information parity can we seize the initiative."
She turned to Lin Xian. "Chu Zhaonan also understands this, so while fighting defencelessly, he decided to open the gates to let people from the Outer City District into the city for refuge."
"Last night, the Deep Red World launched a sabotage operation involving Red Man Gu and infiltrators, destroying a large number of vehicles, preventing many from evacuating. This is precisely what the Deep Red World wants to see."
Lin Xian looked at the sprawling district of Dawn City outside the window and said, "Professor Ye, can so many people evacuate in time?"
"If we can’t evacuate all at once, we’ll have to mobilize in multiple batches, racing against time," Ye Lan replied at this moment. "The garrison and Iron Guard Brigade will continue to station in Dawn City until everyone has evacuated."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xian clenched his fist slightly. The situation reminded him of the times at the airport again.
"If necessary, my convoy can help with the transportation."
Ye Lan looked at Lin Xian. "I called you here to discuss the Lunar Plan."
Lin Xian furrowed his brow. "The Lunar Plan has already failed; Julius himself from the Giant God Peak Launch Site is dead. He may have known some information but clearly didn’t want us to have it."
"Have you ever thought about why he wouldn’t want us to have it?"
"Because he’s a pervert, a scumbag," Lin Xian scoffs coldly.
Ye Lan remained silent.
"Experimenting on humans, concocting some New World Civilization, burning devices, letting people wait here to die—I don’t think perverts need reasons," Lin Xian couldn’t control his emotions and slumped onto the sofa. "Perhaps they haven’t acquired any information at all; relying on such judgment may be completely meaningless!"
"From last night’s unusual attack, breaking the Heavenly Veil and connecting with the dark must have affected the Star Abyss," Ye Lan calmly states.
"But why me!" Lin Xian suddenly shouted.
