CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: "AH?

The "Constant Star" train was already running at full speed!

But...

The gap between them was still rapidly closing, the speed disparity was a bit too great. Even if he upgraded the "Wind-Fire Wheel" to Level 2 and jettisoned all the compartments to lighten the load, it was unlikely they’d escape.

Unless the discarded compartments could somehow attract the enemy’s attention, providing a chance to escape.

But that’s highly unlikely. After all, those trains ahead that tried escaping had lost several compartments and were still relentlessly pursued.

Perhaps because this was the only train visible on the entire wasteland, the giant spider had its sights set firmly on his Constant Star train, its eight massive legs sprinting across the wasteland with unwavering determination.

"Crazy!"

Inside the train, Chen Mang looked at the rearview mirror, seeing the massive spider rapidly drawing near like a small mountain, and couldn’t help but curse, "A spider running this damn fast, is that reasonable? Just because it has more legs it can run faster?"

"Then why can’t my train with so many wheels run faster than it?"

"Master Mang..."

Old Pig, sitting beside him, clutched onto the handrails tightly, his voice trembling with a hint of despair as he said, "This is a Level 3 Boss Monster among the Level 2 ’Cannibal Spiders.’ Mutating into a Boss Monster significantly increases its size, making it a boss. Ordinary Level 1 or 2 offensive vehicle accessories can’t even breach its defense."

"It must be Level 3 or higher offensive vehicle accessories to effectively damage this Boss Monster."

"Typically, a Level 3 Cannibal Spider Boss Monster shouldn’t have such speed unless it’s extremely enraged, which will lead to a long period of weakness after this burst."

"Even if we jettison, our train head can’t outrun it, and the Level 1 armor of the train head can’t withstand its attack."

"We might..."

"...die."

"Hmm?"

Chen Mang, sitting at the control panel, was momentarily stunned upon hearing Old Pig’s words. He instinctively looked at the rearview mirror of the train head, seeing the massive spider rapidly approaching. Did it mean that as long as they had a Level 3 or above offensive vehicle accessory, they could inflict effective damage on this monster?

Well... his "Vehicle Blade" was Level 5!

He originally thought that this white vehicle accessory needed to be upgraded to a dozen or even dozens of levels to see a true transformation. Unexpectedly, the level system in this world was so strict that just Level 3 offensive vehicle accessories could inflict effective damage on this boss?

If that’s the case...

Chen Mang’s eyes squinted slightly, since outrunning it wasn’t an option, he might as well take a gamble.

The abdomen of this spider was practically scraping the ground, with eight rapidly racing legs on its sides. If he could sever all the legs of this spider, then dealing with the rest would be much easier.

The next moment!

The "Vehicle Blade" activated!

Two 70-cm-wide blades flashed out rapidly from both sides of the Constant Star train, spinning rapidly and glinting with a cold light.

Then, under Chen Mang’s control, the "Constant Star" train made a sharp turn back towards the direction they came from, completing the turn in just a few seconds. However, lacking a "Universal Wheel" meant the turning radius was too large, resulting in a wide circle and a significant time delay.

Upon successfully turning, the spider-like a small mountain was merely a few hundred meters away.

"Master Mang!"

Old Pig, who hadn’t had time to react yet, looked through the observation window of the train and saw this scene. His heart leaped to his throat and he shouted in a tremulous voice, "Our train can’t crash into it!"

"Don’t panic..."

At this moment, Chen Mang had completely calmed down, sitting at the control panel, integrating his mind with the train completely. He griped the control joystick, ready for fine-tuning, his breathing gradually evening out as he stared intently at the monstrous, approaching Cannibal Spider.

Everything around them seemed to slow down.

Within a few hundred meters.

At full speed from both sides, it was almost a blink of an eye.

In an instant!

The two were mere meters apart, and at the moment just before impact, Chen Mang fiercely turned the control panel slightly to the left, causing the entire train to snake like a serpent past the spider’s massive head, heading straight for the right legs of the spider!

As they swiftly passed by, the high-speed steel blades on the sides of the train acted like guillotines, easily severing the right four legs of the spider.

Indeed.

Since the steel blades were one meter above the ground, it didn’t cut through the four legs to the root, but the partial severed legs clearly wouldn’t work well anymore.

When the train turned back to face the Cannibal Spider again, Chen Mang stood inside the train and looked at the scene before him, smiling.

The Cannibal Spider, as large as a small mountain, was thrown heavily to the ground on the wasteland due to losing balance while desperately trying to clamber back up, emitting a series of piercing hisses.

This was his first time seeing a spider with vocal organs.

Next, all he’d have to do is sever the other four legs, and this spider would be trapped on the wasteland, unable to maintain its previous speed.

A few more passes to clean up the remaining shortened legs, and this spider would completely lose its mobility.

...

The spider’s four legs weren’t in a straight line, so using the "Vehicle Blade" to cut all four legs at once would require the aid of the joystick for micromanagement movement, allowing the entire train to wriggle forward like a serpent.

Only then could it be done.

A high-difficulty maneuver, one small mistake could result in an accident. Chen Mang was attempting this high-skill maneuver for the first time, and now it seemed that the result was not bad. He had practiced train control during his idle time over the past few days.

"Huh?"

Looking at the scene before him, Old Pig quickly realized what was happening but still murmured blankly, "Wha... what’s the situation?"

However—

Chen Mang didn’t answer this question at the time. His eyes flickered with a hint of greed because if he could take down this boss, it would undoubtedly drop a lot of good stuff. His eyes squinted slightly, preparing to launch another attack immediately.

Although greed had surged in his mind, he remained highly vigilant, remembering the green sticky fluid that seemed corrosive on the surface of the trains initially fleeing. Clearly, the boss’s means of attack weren’t limited to its legs.

Moreover...

Earlier, it was caught off guard—that’s why they managed to score such a victory. By now, the spider had fully reacted.

All eight legs, in pain, were striking the wasteland, each impact leaving large pits on the ground.

Though he could breach defenses, his own defenses were insignificant against this spider.

It was a classic high-attack, low-defense situation.

If he drove the train over again, his train would get perforated.

But he had a better solution.

...

Chen Mang parked the train on the wasteland, detach the train head from the four rear compartments, then separated the fourth compartment from the third, and attached the fourth compartment back to the train head.

Thus—

A compact and agile train was assembled.

"It would be great to have a cigarette right now."

Inside the train, Chen Mang licked his lips, trying to keep his breathing as even as possible before flooring the accelerator.

The next moment!

The entire train, like a wild horse set free, charged toward the giant struggling spider on the wasteland, aiming right for the four intact legs. Just before colliding, Chen Mang unleashed the links with the compartment, and simultaneously, the train head sharply turned left, distancing itself from the boss.

Consequently, the detached compartment, driven by inertia, shot straight towards the four legs thumping the ground continuously!

"Screech! Screech!"

Accompanied by several screeches and the boss’s howl, the boss’s two originally intact legs to the left were severed by the high-speed "Vehicle Blade," and the compartment was skewered by two other legs, held aloft, before being heavily tossed to the ground far away.

Plan succeeded!

Inside the train head, Chen Mang watched the scene unfold in the rearview mirror, grinning. At times like these, the victory cigar would have been appropriate. One compartment only cost 100 iron ore units, and repeating this enough times, this boss would meet its end here.

As long as you don’t let your thinking lapse, solutions are always more plentiful than problems.

...

Meanwhile, inside the train room, Old Pig, who had witnessed the whole event, was overwhelmed with shock and confusion, once again subconsciously opening his mouth slightly.

"Huh?"