CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 65: TRY ENCIRCLING ME AGAIN, YOU BASTARD!

"But things are different now."

"These days, everyone’s got enough bread, enough water, and a can of cola every day. Plus, we have the train’s protection, safe from attacks by those zombies and monsters. Do you think slaves would rebel at this time?"

"Do you think Master Mang needs a slave leader now?"

"If you dare kill a slave now, believe it or not, you’ll be buried soon after."

"This..."

The young man scratched his head, realizing he was being somewhat abrupt: "True, my mind went blank."

No need to say more.

These people have been drifting afloat and sinking for a year since Doomsday arrived, having survived until now. Their minds may not be great, but their luck is pretty good. The past few days have been their most relaxed days since Doomsday.

They won’t go hungry, nor will they worry about dying in the belly of a zombie the next moment.

Everyone cherishes the life they have now.

Yet, they fear this life will soon shatter like bubbles.

Many times, slave uprisings occur because they know they are the Train Captain’s main asset. They’re certain the Train Captain won’t kill them, thus securing some rights. As the saying goes, the law doesn’t punish the masses, and the Train Captain can’t possibly kill all rebellious slaves.

Unless the thugs also rebel, then without the "Built-in Fire Control System," it’s possible the Train Captain’s life could be at risk.

Although the guns crafted inside the train can’t harm the Train Captain, killing isn’t limited to using guns.

At this moment—

A voice echoed in the ears of every Train Captain; just like last time, only they could hear this voice, not even the Deputy Train Captain could hear it.

-

"The number of existing trains has exceeded fifty million."

"Meeting the first stage opening conditions."

"The first stage, officially named ’Setting Sail,’ will have increased monster numbers and types."

-

Just three simple sentences.

"..."

Inside the Constant Star Train, Chen Mang sat at the control panel, staring pensively at those lines on the screen without speaking. Doomsday has been ongoing for a year now, and only now has reached the "Setting Sail" stage?

The increased number of monsters implies the danger in all regions will escalate.

Other than that, there seemed to be no additional content.

He glanced at the "Train Radio" and found that the people inside were passionately discussing the topic, some even showing faint excitement. Soon he understood their points of enthusiasm.

The introduction of new monster types means new bosses.

Being the first to kill a new boss yields substantial rewards. Six months ago, a train on the "Tieling Wasteland" rose rapidly only after taking down a boss first and then left Tieling Wasteland for more advanced regions.

But...

Being the first to kill a boss is extremely difficult. This region has this monster, while other regions also have this monster. Every region has a boss, and only the first person in all regions to kill this monster boss is considered to have achieved first kill.

Aside from the difficulty of killing, the competition is already fierce, competing against people from multiple regions.

"..."

Chen Mang squinted his eyes, feeling a faint impulse. Not mentioning the other monsters, if a Level 3 boss comes again, he could easily slash it down. The Tieling Wasteland doesn’t have more advanced monsters either.

Of course.

Not just relying on the "Car Blade," the Level 10 "Car Blade" can easily break through the defenses of a Level 3 boss. However, it’s still a melee weapon, and against such large bosses, it seems somewhat inadequate. Still, high-level "Heavy Machine Guns" are better used against bosses.

Moreover...

In the past five days, he’s done more than just mine iron. He’s divided slaves into two groups to work.

They’ve already brought him a total of 101,239 units of iron ore and 4,200 units of copper ore.

With the goblin slaves added, mining efficiency has skyrocketed. Those goblin slaves can nearly mine 20,000 units of iron ore a day; all day long, they mine and mine.

He couldn’t bear to watch and sent Old Pig to persuade Doba, worried those goblins might work themselves to death. Sustained progress is the key.

In response, Doba replied:

The great goblin never needs human pity; since ancient times, only battle-dead goblins, never exhausted goblins exist.

Well then.

Keep on mining, just keep mining.

At this rate, he’ll soon have to leave Doomsday Abyss. The bottom of Doomsday Abyss has only one Level 2 iron ore and one Level 1 copper ore. Maybe they will be extracted cleanly in about ten more days.

Then he’ll have to find the next mining site.

He hasn’t yet found a resource point as abundant as "Doomsday Abyss" and can only continue searching for disjointed Level 1 small mines on the wasteland. Getting used to mining Level 2 iron, mining Level 1 ore just feels somewhat unsatisfying.

Just like this Level 1 "Copper Mine" beneath Doomsday Abyss.

Five days of mining, resulting in only 4,200 units of copper ore. The mining efficiency is enough, but the mining site level isn’t; it’s not like Level 2 iron ore, where mining one unit of Level 2 iron equals ten units of Level 1 iron.

...

Whether he encounters a boss and can secure the first kill depends on luck.

But he must prepare first.

So he won’t miss the chance when the opportunity arises. Just like if he hadn’t upgraded the wagon steel armor to Level 2 and happened to arrive at Doomsday Abyss, he wouldn’t have met these hard-working goblins.

After consuming a full 90,000 units of iron ore,

All eight carriages of the Constant Star Train, including one locomotive, have been upgraded to Level 3 "Wagon Steel Armor."

"..."

Chen Mang got off the train room, standing on the open ground gazing at his train. At this time, the armor on the train’s surface exuded a rich sense of heaviness, delivering an unmistakable oppressive feeling.

Level 3 armor nearly immune to all Level 3 attack means.

Whether Level 3 bullets or Level 3 monster attacks, all are immune.

If encountering that Level 3 Cannibal Spider again, things wouldn’t be complicated. Just drive the train straight into it; the boss can’t breach the train’s defenses, but his Level 10 Car Blade can easily break through the boss’s defenses, standing invincible.

No matter how large your size is, he’ll drive around you a few more times, naturally slicing into pulp.

Of course, it might take a bit longer.

But if he faces "Corpse Tide" now, it would be a complete massacre, as there’s no monster in Corpse Tide capable of breaching his train’s defenses, yet, wherever his train goes, is reduced to limbs and scraps.

When "Armor" upgrades to Level 3, the Constant Star Train finally experiences a qualitative transformation.

Extreme defense and extreme attack, each alone is an ace.

Combined, they’re a trump card.

With Level 1 armor paired with Level 10 Car Blade, he was cautious facing the Level 3 Cannibal Spider boss.

With Level 3 armor paired with Level 10 Car Blade, he’d fiercely push the train nose into the Cannibal Spider’s face without hesitation.

"Let’s go test the effect outside."

Chen Mang sat at the control panel smilingly lighting a cigarette, looking outside with faint expectation. Crafting more Heavy Machine Gun bullets, it’s time for a trial run. Though unsure if he can meet a new monster boss... encountering Corpse Tide would be nice too.

He remembers very well. That damned Corpse Tide surrounded and attacked him multiple times then.

He’s back now.

Let’s see if you can surround and attack me again!