Nearly an hour had passed since the giant vortex monster died, yet its corpse resting on the seabed continued to emit an unending stream of black energy, filling the surrounding sea with an overwhelming force of darkness.

This black energy was the dark energy contained within the bodies of the dark creatures, the very foundation of their activity.

At present, humanity's understanding of this dark energy was still very limited. No one knew if the dark energy emitted by the monsters would attract more of their kind. However, for high-level S-class creatures, the blood crystals of their kind and the dispersed dark energy could be absorbed and devoured.

So far, no S-class creatures had been observed. The monsters gathering around Haiyan Island were only seen to reach up to the special-level rank. Lin Xian speculated that S-class beings likely had a strong territorial awareness as dark lifeforms. As a high-tier evil god, the Oceanic Titan's presence kept other S-class entities from approaching here.

At this moment, Lin Xian was considering using this oceanic outlet to attempt a high-power release from that device. Though uncertain if it would work, he thought it better to try than to do nothing to stabilize the device.

With this in mind, a clear plan formed in Lin Xian’s mind.

Soon, under Lin Xian’s instructions, Viola opened the negative pressure valve of the energy outlet fully and set up a series of sensors and monitoring devices connected to the submarine base's lines to observe the real situation.

With Viola in charge, the operation went smoothly without incident. No one needed to risk entering the sea and being marked by the Dark Mark. The energy outlet was successfully opened. Although the crisis was not entirely resolved, everyone in the Falcon Sea Group breathed a collective sigh of relief. At least the first step of the plan had succeeded.

“As soon as the geothermal energy from the Earth’s core is released into this sea area, this place will become extremely dangerous.” Laine looked at Lin Xian and asked, “What’s our next move?”

Lin Xian checked the time. The countdown displayed less than 24 hours remaining, and he said immediately,

“What we need to worry about now is surviving tonight. With the abnormal entities and their dense gathering, Haiyan Island will likely turn into a scene of chaotic demon rampage tonight. Even being targeted by a single abnormal entity could mean total annihilation for us.”

Lin Xian looked at Laine. “I’ve had people scout all the possible shelters on the island. Your fleet will have to come ashore.”

At these words, everyone in the Falcon Sea Group changed expression.

“Are we abandoning the ships?”

“Temporarily,” Geddy soothed the team. “Next, sea monsters, volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis could strike at any time. Staying on land will be relatively safer.”

“But all our heavy weapons are on the fleet.” Azrael frowned. “Without them, we can’t sustain a prolonged fight.”

“Even if we hide on the island, it might not be enough to fend off the abnormal entities, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.” Vanessa added.

Hearing this, KIKI immediately said, “Haiyan Island can’t block them, so how can your ships? A single wave could overturn them, and then everyone would be forced to fight in the water. What use are all the heavy weapons then?”

“But...”

“Don’t dwell on it.” Laine sighed heavily, casting a glance at the battlefield-strewn beach. “Lin is right. Surviving tonight is the only thing that matters. Everything else is secondary.”

“Erica, Geddy, take your people back to the fleet and start moving everyone onto the island.”

“West coast?”

“Offshore island.” Lin Xian suddenly said, “Haiyan Prison is a defensible location. Now that the energy outlet is open, the geothermal wells there should temporarily maintain stability. Hiding underground there will be relatively safe.”

“Ouch, are you moving there too?” KIKI asked Haiyan.

Haiyan nodded. “You should first meet up with Chen, Monica, and the others. There might be better spots beneath the island. You may have to bring the Limited train with you to leap across the strait and retreat to the submarine base.”

“Bad.” KIKI agreed.

“Lin, you’ll wait for them on the offshore island.” Laine added.

After reaching consensus with the Falcon Sea Group, the two teams immediately ended their separate missions and hastened the evacuation of personnel and supplies. They also wrapped up defensive preparations.

Following Haiyan’s nod, everyone activated the propulsion devices of their power armor and shot into the sky.

Meanwhile, inside the orbital station where the Limited train was stationed on Lin Xian Island, a calm battle was just beginning. Beneath piles of construction debris, oozed the disgusting dark green blood of abnormal entities. These abnormal creatures were piled under the rubble, emitting a repulsive stench.

“Captain Chen, it’s been less than two hours since Captain Lin and his team left, and we’ve already suffered three abnormal entity attacks. I’m worried.” Sun Yuzhen looked anxiously at Chen Sixuan.

In such a short time, the Limited train had already faced three attacks. Although they were just roaming abnormal entities, having encountered so many assaults during daylight showed that the dark invasion force around Haiyan Island was intensifying. The density of the dark creatures had reached unprecedented levels. It was easy to imagine what kind of hell would descend after nightfall.

Chen Sixuan calmly replied, “Don’t worry. With the firepower of the Limited train, we can easily repel those attacking abnormal entities.”

“Mom, don’t worry!” Mo Xiaotian held Sun Yuzhen’s hand to comfort her. “I’m pretty strong now. Besides, with Brother Lin and the master’s strength, they will definitely get us out of here!”

“Indeed, you’re quite powerful now. You can even shoot Lightning Fox directly. Your progress is rapid!” Miao Lu, holding a weapon, stood on the roof praising Mo Xiaotian.

“By the way, can you control that movement now?”

Mo Xiaotian scratched his head awkwardly. “Not yet. I don’t know how it happens. But master said it’s probably a trait of my ability, similar to Brother Qian’s Speed Force. He named it... Flying Thunder God.”

“Flying Thunder God? Sounds impressive.”

“Be careful, movement detected northwest.” Chen Sixuan, holding the Night Hunter sniper rifle, stood like a sniper goddess in the sky. She could clearly detect abnormal activity several blocks away, often killing monsters before they could be marked. This was one reason the Limited train avoided a large-scale siege.

As Chen Sixuan finished speaking, a sonic boom sounded in the sky above.

Looking up, wasn’t that Lin Xian and his group?

“Lin Xian, how’s the situation on Chatham Island? Is everything going smoothly?” Chen Sixuan asked with concern.

“The mechanical gate of the energy outlet has been opened.” Lin Xian frowned as he looked at the dense abnormal entity corpses around. “How’s the camp? Have the other squads completed their reconnaissance?”

“We’ve been attacked by abnormal entities three times, but we repelled them all.” Chen Sixuan replied. “They should be returning. According to their reports, the situation isn’t optimistic. Many bunkers and shelters were occupied by survivors before, but whether air force bases or underground forts, they’ve all fallen to the abnormal entities. The darkness on this island is too terrible. That’s why no living person is seen.”

“So those bunkers were severely damaged. To use them, large-scale repairs must be carried out to serve as temporary shelters.”

No sooner had Chen Sixuan finished speaking, another sonic boom sounded. Three squads returned from multiple directions. The teams led by Ning Jing, Qian Dele, and Monica had completed reconnaissance. Judging by the battle scars on their power armor, this simple search had not been easy.

“The city is noisy everywhere.” Qian Dele was the first to speak. “I thought it’d be like Dawn City again, monsters everywhere, even large ones.”

“Have these monsters adapted fully to daytime?”

“Maybe it’s related to the current storm, but almost.” Monica sighed, eyes on Lin Xian. “We detected movement southeast. The gravitational rays in the sky must be your doing, right?”

“Yes.” Lin Xian nodded. “We ran into some trouble. A special-level entity appeared.”

“Do we have to keep resisting here?” Ning Jing frowned. “We’ve been refreshing marks just now. With this density, we definitely can’t escape marking after dark.”

“No choice.” KIKI pointed at the storm clouds overhead. “There are countless atmospheric creatures up there. One slip-up means a level 4 mark. Even if we want to fly out of the island, we can’t.”

“So... we just wait?” Monica frowned.

“Not entirely bad news.”

Lin Xian frowned and pondered, “The denser the abnormal tide, the more likely the hunting is about to begin.”

“Oh my god.” Qian Dele couldn’t help laughing. “So we have to hide from those alien evil god-like monsters to survive?”

“More than that.” Shu Qin said seriously. “But only if Mount Garland doesn’t erupt.”

“Well...”

Qian Dele sighed, sitting atop the Limited train. “Captain, this is a headache. I have no better plan. Just tell us what to do, and we’ll follow orders.”

“Since no suitable shelter was found on Haiyan Island, we don’t need to stubbornly fight the abnormal entities on this isolated island surrounded by them.” Lin Xian said directly.

“You mean?” Chen Sixuan asked. “We go to the offshore island?”

“Exactly.” Lin Xian nodded and continued, “That’s the only option. The offshore island is where Haiyan Prison is located. There aren’t many abnormal entities there, and the prison’s high walls serve as barriers. Even at night, resisting the abnormal tide will be much easier.”

“That’s true. The prison walls are intact, and the submarine base’s defense is strong. But...” Ning Jing looked at Lin Xian. “Abnormal entities still lurk in the tunnel, and the geothermal well’s instability is a hidden danger.”

“Yes, but there’s no better solution.” Lin Xian said immediately. “Everyone, prepare to depart.”

“Understood!”

Without further ado, the entire Limited train team mobilized. The train engines roared as Lin Xian remotely controlled the level crossing gates inside the cockpit. The train thundered past the switch points and sped toward the offshore island.

The iron wheels rang like a golden symphony, crushing debris on the tracks. The heavy train rushed through the dim Haiyan City, quickly attracting a large number of low-level abnormal entities attacking. Gunfire and cannon blasts roared aboard the Limited train.

Meanwhile, on the shore of the offshore island, the Falcon Sea Group’s fleet approached amid turbulent waves. Hundreds of people anxiously transferred supplies and weapons ashore. The shriek of transport planes sounded like an emergency migration before a disaster. Everyone’s faces were tense and suffocating.

Vanessa and other core combatants of the group guarded the surrounding waters. At such a time, if a sea monster appeared, the consequences would be unimaginable. To avoid trouble, all transfers were required to be as quiet as possible.

Rumble!

As the train left the university orbital station debris area, the roar of 1130 engines swept up dust and debris from many buildings. The Limited train unleashed full firepower as Qian Dele’s Speed Force afterimage flickered back and forth along the coastline.

“Eleven o’clock, watch out!” Before he finished, Shu Qin’s pulse cannon exploded with crimson fire. Sasa rotated the mech turret on the roof, firing in sweeping bursts. The girl’s screams mixed with the rattle of bullet belts. “Hurry, a level 1 mark appeared again!”

“Fire Bro!”

“I’m here!”

Boom!

Like a blazing frontline, Lu Xingchen sped across the blocks. A flash of fire ignited the entire street, instantly incinerating over a dozen abnormal entities.

“Marks cleared!”

“Almost at White Beach station!” Chen Sixuan’s voice came through the communicator.

Lin Xian looked out the window, past buildings and the beach, seeing the lead-gray waves rolling on the coast. He immediately arranged over the communicator,

“KIKI, Takahashi Ryunosuke, get ready!”

“Ready!”

Above the roof, KIKI and Takahashi Ryunosuke hovered in midair. Their eyes shone wildly with ability energy. One in front, one behind, at Lin Xian’s command, both used their abilities to control the entire Limited train.

Hey!

Under invisible telekinetic control, the thousand-ton heavy train began to leave the rails, slowly floating and ascending. It flew over low buildings toward the coast.

“According to Viola’s detection, the nearest G16 node is at least 500 kilometers away, and the subsequent tracks are uncertain. Does this mean we have to rely on flight to cross the Pacific?”

Inside the cockpit, Chen Sixuan watched the train fly over the blocks and enter the rough sea area, then asked Lin Xian.

“As long as we avoid this big guy first, crossing the Pacific afterward will be a small problem.” Lin Xian looked at Chen Sixuan. “The tracks are no longer obstacles for us.”

“By the way,” Chen Sixuan responded, “Director Ding’s disaster plants seem to have changed. They appeared during our attack. Once we safely dock on the offshore island, you need to check on them.”

Lin Xian frowned. “Appeared during the attack? Is it the Silver Dragon Ten Thousand Mistakes?”

Chen Sixuan shook her head. “No, it’s the blood vine.”

She looked at Lin Xian. “Director Ding said that disaster plant seems to have come alive!”